aterat | A Winter's Ball

Entry tags:

A Winter's Ball

Who; Everyone!
What; The Ball promised by Halcyn!
Where; A newly (and quite abruptly) renovated ballroom in the Noble District
When; December 15th, evening
Warnings; None as of yet, though there is some mischief afoot for those looking for it

The morning of the 15th, the day of the Ball, opens with a letter under every door, reminding the residents that today is the day, that the Ball to celebrate and be merry is upon you. It also includes a small golden ticket that all attendees are asked to present at the doors to be allowed into the hall in the Noble District. It bids the attendees to enjoy themselves, forget their worries for a time, and is each personally signed by Halcyn.

Arrival | Under the Mistletoe;

The chill in the air at the change of seasons makes for a cold journey to the Noble district, though the streets are well-lit (an improvement in the otherwise dilapidated quarter in the first place) and at the end of the street indicated in the invitation letter, stands a beautifully restored building wreathed in white lights and adorned with wreaths and holly. All roads and citizen paths have lead to the ballroom today, and it is a beacon of civilization in the otherwise unused quarter. A guardsman is checking tickets at the door, and allowing admittance to the foyer of the ballroom.

The foyer is also decorated in trees adorned with shining lights. There are people flitting about with trays of champagne and people are greeting each other, gathering in groups and generally enjoying one another's company. Six archways lead further into the ballroom, and into what seems to be a seating area with round tables atop which glittering floral arrangements sit and to which servers bring meals for those who have a seat. At the top of each of the six arches hang six bundles of mistletoe.

Some are able to pass beneath the bundles with no issue, but others may find their way blocked by an unseen wall, unable to escape the arch until someone joins them, and a kiss is exchanged. It could be innocuous, even a cheek would suffice, but who's to know that without experimentation?

Try the Grey Stuff, It's Delicious

In the dining hall, meals are limited, but there are options for various palettes and even a vegetarian option. There is wine and champagne, and also non-alcoholic options of you're less inclined to partake. The music from the main ballroom, accessible through a set of ornate double doors, is muted here, providing a sense of ambiance but not overpowering the conversations that may occur at the tables scattered about the room.

The desert is the same for all who try it, though, and fluffy (is oddly colored) meringue that is simply to die for, but it seems to have some strange side effects. As the night progresses for those who've eaten the strange confectionary, they will begin to feel more and more happy and carefree, but also much more open. Those who are reserved about their feelings or their thoughts, even their histories, will feel less inclined to be so withdrawn. That couldn't possibly make anything awkward, could it?

Shall We Dance the Night Away?

The main even by far is the grand ballroom. A 15 piece orchestra sits atop a small stage to the north of the dance floor, their music varying between melancholic, haunting, warm, and uplifting, and the citizens are quite enjoying the time to let loose and dance the night away with their partners.

Spiral staircases lead to the balconies on the second floor overlooking the dance floor below, affording tired dancers chairs and refreshments with which to rest in order to return to the floor below. The music here, due to acoustics, is muted which affords a more intimate place to converse.

Even more intimate are the outdoor balconies accessed from either side of the second floor. Here, small sconces have been lit to afford a romantic glow to the area, but the light is dim enough to enjoy the glittering starlight above. The flames also give the area some warmth, warding away the chill in the night air and allow guests to enjoy the solitude of the area without freezing. The music out here is a pleasant background hum, making the setting even more romantic and ethereal.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

No Ignis won't hold it against him because he's far too busy being flattered and confused.

And that continued with the other now flushing. But the explanation made him smile and he nodded in agreement to it. "There's no gazebo up there unfortunately. And I'm not sure who to speak to in order to have one installed." That wasn't a bad idea now that Nida mentioned it though. And if they had a better season to get that done it would be a thing to do.

Speaking of serious things, Ignis remained quiet about it until they got home. But when he opened the door, Nida would see the green roses on the table.

Oh no, Nida's laughing at that comment. That's just so Ignis.

"Just because I read it in a book doesn't mean I need done. But perhaps we'll inquire when the weather is better."

But then there was the quiet, Nida walking the guy forward toward Nida's apartment. His smile continues while they're outside of his apartment. And then... Oh. He steps further in and moves to the impossible sigh.

"Ignis, my love... did you do this?"

"Inquiring would certainly be a start." Ignis agreed. And he wasn't offended at Nida laughing at him, in fact it was good to hear even if he was the cause. Keeping his lover happy even at his own expense was worth everything.

But once they got in and Nida rushed towards the roses he nodded at the question. "However, it wasn't possible to get you your gift to go along with it today. But I will be going out to get it tomorrow."

To see Nida's face light up, oh how beautiful it was.

A gift? Nida looks back at the other man in shock. He wasn't expecting a gift. This wasn't the gift?

"No one has ever gotten me flowers before," Nida whispers in awe. "How could there be more?"

Ignis wasn't sure what to think at hearing how no one had ever gotten Nida flowers before. Why not? But he couldn't ask that so he just smiled. "Darling, why do I get the feeling that you're not used to being spoiled?"

He tilted his head. "I should get us a tree tomorrow too and some of those decorations we saw at the Ball to make this place a little more..something of what you might be used to."

Slowly he advanced on his lover and held his hand. "Traditions are important."

"Because I've never been spoiled. Even..."

No, he's NOT doing this. He needs a name for the one he had cared for who didn't try and kill him was.

"I'll call him Seb. The one in the last world. Seb. My Star-eyed boy. Seb never spoiled me. But we weren't in a situation where that was possible."

A tree? Nida looks a touch confused by the idea of having a tree in the apartment.

"You want a tree? Alright. I'll go with you to find one, even if we have to head into the forest. I admit, I'm not used to trees."

Somehow Ignis felt bad and wasn't sure what to do. Sure the gift he'd ordered from the Curio shop was a start, and he couldn't go past what he'd already done because that was too far though it gave him ideas for the future.

What else could he give? What else could he do?

Ignis then caught the questions and green eyes looked into Nida's. "It seems to be one of the traditions someone at the Ball informed me. But if you're not comfortable with the idea we don't have to."

He gently gathered his lover's hands in his and gently kissed them, worried he wasn't doing enough.

"No," Nida smiles. With Ignis's hands in his, he pulls the other closer and kisses him back.

"Let's make traditions together. A tree. But let's see if we can find star or snowflake decorations to go with it?"

Surely that's enough. But he's so very happy to do this. To share this with his lover.

Ignis smiled. "I'm certain we can acquire such things for our first tree."

Those things should be easily enough found because he saw some things like that at the Ball for decorations. Stars were meaningful to Nida with the stories he'd told which gave him an idea for a few more gifts.

And as he looked at his beloved's face that told him all he needed to know right there. He seemed happy and almost a bit excited. The gift was due tomorrow so he thought. And it was a tradition to put gifts under the tree with wrapping paper from what he'd seen with a few of the decorations.

He'd also heard something about stockings. That one might be a bit tougher, but he'd have to see what he could find. Gingerbread cookies or maybe if he could find star shaped cookies could go into the stocking.

And normally he would love to go shopping with Nida, but from what he understood everything was supposed to be hush hush. So gifts shopping solo in the morning after stopping at the curio shop, and he'd bring Nida back some coffee. Then they'd get a tree and Ignis would find some excuse or other to wrap the gifts and hang the stocking after the tree got decorated. Plus he could make plans for a nice dinner.

Plans, Ignis had them.

"Want to go out with me tomorrow to see if the markets have some things to decorate with?"

Nida moves to the kitchen to get out his jug of spiced cider, reaching out to stroke Julia's head when the feline leapt down from the fridge. Soon he ca caught up in scratching under her rhinestone collar. Yes. She was spoiled.

"After I go pick up your gift I can come back to get you and we can certainly go together." Ignis said, thinking fast. He wanted to get the stocking and what was it they said? Stocking stuffers? They would be cookies unless he could find something small perhaps to wrap. Small things to fit inside with the cookies shouldn't be that hard to find and acquire.

Gift? Nida stares at Ignis in shock. "You're getting me a gift? I... what?"

He tilts his head as he considers this.

"Wait, is this like the gift exchange thing in the Iteration? Is that what winter is like? I need to find you a gift."

"Now hold on." Ignis smiled, reaching for his jade pendant. "You already got me this gift, remember?"

The blonde head shook then trying to recall all that he'd heard this evening. "At the Ball, they talked about gift exchanges and stockings. And someone told me about a Saint Nicholas who gives gifts in stockings. That's also where we saw a few decorated trees."

He looked at Nida. "I thought this was all something you would know of but I'm assuming incorrectly?"

Oh, he had. Nida smiles and reaches out, his hand on the pendant. Every time he saw it, his heart ached with joy.

"The Iteration had a gift exchange in the winter. We woke up to a name and a list of five items. There was a box with materials, and we had to make something from the list and put it in the box. And deliver it. But Seb said it was based on a tradition from his world called Christmas. That it was religious, and his religion was different. He told me all about it. I don't remember much of the story."

He really liked the idea of the tree though. The tree with little things on it.

"In Trabia everyone stays up through the longest night, by fireplaces if they can. Too bad we don't have one."

Ignis listened and nodded along as Nida explained though his heart fluttered when his lover touched the pendant. "I have christmas cookbooks, I could see if they have any christmas traditions listed in there." It hadn't occurred to him too much until this point.

But hearing about Nida's personal traditions was perfect. "No we don't have one of those. However, we can still stay up and have some hot chocolate and your star shaped cookies if you'd like." Having said that, he placed a kiss on those wonderful lips.

Well they were going for new traditions, right?

Star shaped cookies.

"I think, perhaps, we should have different cookie shapes. Something... Oh! Like the tree. This time of year it would have to be pine, right?"

That would make a good cookie shape.

"According to what I heard at the Ball, Pine is traditional yes." So he mentally added tree shaped cookie cutters to the list of things he already had in mind. But star shaped ones could be added too because they had the advantage of being the first ones Nida made.

"And perhaps we can find some frosting or some sugar sprinkles." He thought a moment. "I'm not sure if we can, but it certainly won't hurt to look."

"Frosting, huh?" Nida asks, considering it as he moves away and back to the roses, stroking a petal. It's so beautiful.

"I've never seen roses in this color before."

Ignis just nodded. "We don't have to due to it being rather unhealthy to add sugar on top of sugar." Still, if Nida wanted it, he would have it no matter what.

And then he watched Nida with the flowers and a soft smile appeared accompanied by a soft tone in his voice. "I admit I've never seen them either. But I do believe you started a green trend with the pendant and so when I saw them, I immediately knew I had to procure them for you."

"Green is going to be our thing, isn't it?" Nida chuckles, looking fondly at the flowers. They were stunning. "We're going to have so much green."

"That we are." Ignis replied, moving to make himself some coffee though he kissed Nida on the cheek as he passed by. "But I must say, this is really rather all your fault."

He's teasing of course.

"You're the one with stunning green eyes," Nida dismisses.

He let out a laugh. "As if it's all my fault." But there was coffee to be made so he was working on that. "So are we resolved on a time for me to come back and pick you up tomorrow?"

If they wanted to play it by ear he was fine with that too. He really just curious if they needed to do anything in particular. And Ignis was going to be there as soon as the Curio shop opened.

"Let's make it afternoon. I have a morning set of rounds in the markets for work. Meet me there, say, one?"

There was a nod as Ignis finished getting the coffee brewing. "Agreed, and we can eat lunch while we're out if you're hungry by then." Just because they were shopping for gifts didn't absolve the advisor of making sure that his lover was taken care of, which naturally included keeping him fed.

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