bluh bluh huge ball

[thalassino]

Characters: Vatheon
Location: That Castle
Time: Evening, on Sunday
Style: Any
Status: OPEN. Threadjack, threadhop, spam away!

[ Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen of Vatheon— whatever your newfound stature may be, Prince, Princess, Knight, or Peasant, you will all receive a message on your SFC on the eve of Saturday regardless:

You are cordially invited to the castle for this evening's ball. In addition, you are all welcome to try and solve the riddle if it fancies you. It just may break the curse!

The invitation is unsigned, but its intentions are clear. Maybe you hadn't quite noticed the sizeable castle in the distance of the city that had sprung up, but this message would surely garner your attention toward it now.

Should you arrive at the castle, plenty of attractions await you:

Ballroom ❧ A very large and beautiful ballroom is lighted up, complete with a playing violin orchestra. While the curtains will be drawn during this event, there is a windowed view and exit on one side of the ballroom that leads to:

Smee's Rose Garden ❧ A broad and colorful spanse of a garden, complete with many paths and turns. Plenty of roses are arranged in great arches, which provide perfect little places should you need some privacy with your sweetheart. Anyone familiar will even tell you that the garden was purposefully designed for just that sort of thing.

The Riddle ❧ There is an inscription located on a noticeable plaque set in one of the garden's benches. It reads:

Two are necessary to break this curse
Riled up, upset, what kind of love?
Only this kiss will stop it from getting worse.
Look for a winged one is push comes to shove,
Look for a glance slightly dark,
Search for a pair in reluctant love.
One answers a call; that's your mark;
One longs for patria though adverse.

Dining Hall ❧ Connected to the ballroom is an extremely long hall that stretches as far as the eye can see, elegantly arranged as the dining area. Expensive and exquisite cuisine seem to be on the menu— try something new? Chances are you won't be eating from a selection such as this again anytime soon!

Dais ❧ There is a noticeable raised dais that is easily visible via any area within the ballroom. It's locked off from guests, though— what is it for...?

Do enjoy. ]

Comments

[bethehugejerk]

Shut up, would you? I have seen him before, and the less attention these damn wings get, the better.

[He stops hovering, landing instead on the path, and folds them back behind him.]

They aren't interesting; they're stupid. Just like the rest of this thing. Just figures that I would have things to do here anyway.

[the_demonmaid]

I wasn't being insulting. The Signless wasn't an ugly troll by any means.

[She started walking around him, getting the full effect of what he had become]

[bethehugejerk]

That's not the point, Handmaid.

[He twists where he stands as she circles him, eventually turning himself to stay facing her.]

And would you stop gawking at me? I'm a dude in a dress, a fairy on top of that, that's it, and there aren't going to be any mysterious secrets revealed by going in circles like a pouncebeast around her prey or something. Do you think I like being stared at like this?

[the_demonmaid]

Ah? [She blinked at him, surprised] Oh. Merely a habit. I'm more than slightly used to having to take the measure of each troll I encounter. You look as if you're seen your fair share of fights.

[bethehugejerk]

You haven't even seen my scars, and I am being totally, justifiably wary around a troll who is both tall as a fucking frond stem and holder of roll, title, and common lore you are. But yeah, I've been in fights. What does that even matter?

[the_demonmaid]

I don't need to see scars to see the muscle. The way you move. The way you watch me. You watch me as if you're used to fighting trolls that get this close to you. Very different from the Signless.

[bethehugejerk]

I'm not this twitchy around most, let me inform you. You're the one measuring me up, by your own admission. And aren't you old enough that you should know about the whole adult trolls culling young ones thing? - Not that I am inviting you to take up the practice, so don't even think about it, and yes I know not all adult trolls do that or how else would I even still be alive, but - [Breathe!] - you are intimidating as fuck, if you have not noticed, and your manner is far from helping the issue. Give me some goddamn space, why don't you?

[the_demonmaid]

[Blink. Blink blink]

... you find me intimidating? [Oh she sounded confused]

[bethehugejerk]

[Karkat throws his hands out in exasperation.]

Yes, you dense load of shit! Are you even kidding me? Do you seriously not get who you are? You're the fucking Handmaid! The Demoness! Death's own personal servant whether you like it or not, and that is more than just a little bit freaky to be around!

[the_demonmaid]

You seem to be the only one intimidated by me. [Her hand went to her mouth, thinking]

... I apologize, Karkat. I didn't mean to remind you of your own past. I merely wished to see what sort of troll you are, and how strong you could be.

[bethehugejerk]

Then the others have forgotten they're trolls, who you are, and what the concept of common sense is.

[And maybe, just maybe totally and completely with no two ways about it he is a troll who tends to be on guard anyway. But you would be true if you were a self-loathing mutant blood who fights off fear and trust issues with a rough exterior.]

You're not going to see how strong I am just by gawking at me. That doesn't tell you my stories.

[the_demonmaid]

That is true. [She took a seat, gesturing next to her.] Then perhaps we should sit and talk instead? I'm curious to hear about Alternia of your time.

[bethehugejerk]

[That sure isn't what he was expecting. Still terribly wary, but unwilling to totally defy her - that intimidation isn't for nothing - he goes to sit. Not close, and he keeps himself as turned towards her as he can.]

Haven't you been through all sorts of time periods yourself?

[the_demonmaid]

Of your time period, I've been preparing for my final moments. Not to mention you don't quite need me to create war. But even still, it doesn't compare to hearing the stories from another's perspective.

[bethehugejerk]

[Mmm. Interesting, but not something yet to pry into.]

My stories don't even get interesting until Alternia was kind of done for. Past me was just a dumb little shit then who thought he was going to be a threshecutioner someday. ... Wanted to, anyway.

[He's sure he doesn't have to expound there, with his blood known.]

[the_demonmaid]

A threshecutioner? Why such a dangerous job?

god I keep typing Sollux's lisp for him and have to correct myself fhdjsk

[bethehugejerk]

[Karkat stares up (and up) at her like she's dumb. Which just about everyone is in his mind, but hey.]

Because it's completely and totally badass, that's why. I'd be respected and looked up to and no one would fuck with me.

[the_demonmaid]

[She chuckled] That is true. I merely wonder, as so far you seem the type not to wish to take undue risks to your wellbeing. But respect despite your blood... I believe I understand that.

[bethehugejerk]

That's half the point! They're the deadliest trolls around--were, whatever--and that way even if someone was dumb enough to screw with me, I could flay the unlucky bastard before he could even hit me.

[the_demonmaid]

Interesting...

What were you doing to train?

[bethehugejerk]

Practicing by myself, what do you think?

[Swinging his sickle around alone in his room, like a doofus.]

[the_demonmaid]

What was your training regimen? I can assume it was difficult to train without another to watch.

[bethehugejerk]

I don't know?? Swing the thing around and get awesome with it. And sometimes I griefed my lusus because he was a crabby asshole who didn't know when to calm down, but it's not like I had a lot of options.

[the_demonmaid]

Are you still interested in honing your skill, Karkat?

[bethehugejerk]

I guess?

[He gestures awkwardly in the air.]

I got a lot better when I was playing Sgrub, because then I actually had something to fight. It hasn't exactly held me back here when things attack, either, but I usually don't have cause to try to get better than I already was. Why are you asking?