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]

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?

[the_demonmaid]

Because it wouldn't do for me to lose my own skill. If you're interested, we can train each other.

1/4

[bethehugejerk]

[Excuse him a second.]

2/4

[bethehugejerk]

[Two seconds.]

3/4

[bethehugejerk]

[A whole frigging mess of seconds.]

4/4 done being dumb now

[bethehugejerk]

[Eventually--]

What.

[the_demonmaid]

If anything was to happen, we both do need to be in top of shape. You've been self trained, which only goes so far, and it wouldn't do for me to lose my skill. And as I've said, I rather like you. You're... fun.

[bethehugejerk]

[Karkat blinks a whole mess of times, too. He is on top of this confident in control thing.]

Uh.

Okay, wow. Are you even sure? You're ancient and I'm only six and a half.

[the_demonmaid]

[She chuckled] Perhaps, then, it's more that I am your trainer. But... I am sure. [Her hands twisted in her lap, betraying her nervousness]

[bethehugejerk]

[Mother of god. Gods, even. Gods he knows and and gods he does not believe in, both. Did he just manage to make her nervous?]

I swear if this turns out to be a dream I am never sleeping again, and I already sleep hardly ever.

[Another blink or three.]

Okay? That's... that's actually pretty awesome, holy shit.

[the_demonmaid]

[She sighed, smiling] I had wondered if you were too intimidated by me to take me up on that offer. We can start tomorrow.