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.

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Next year. Nida can't help the pleased little sigh the words spark in him. Once Ignis sat he curled himself around the other man a bit.

"Next year, we shall know how to celebrate even better. And I will find strings of snow-flakes to hang in our space. Like a proper Trabian festival."

He nodded. "Indeed. Things should be different next year. And we can always change the decorations every year to make things interesting." But he looked at Nida with a smile. "I suppose we'll have to see what we find in the markets in order to do your snowflake hanging."

Every year. The way he says it... Nida smiles and holds him tighter, and tries not to grieve the loss of this love too soon. Because he won't have years. he knows it.

"I don't have enough saved up for too much."

He wasn't sure what to make of that tighter hold whether Nida was pleased or worried. But it was a quite poke at their future and his lover hadn't gotten upset.

Hopefully those were good signs.

But he returned the tight hold. "It's alright, I've saved up." Some of the hunts had been rather successful and lucrative so Ignis just tossed it all into savings.

"you don't need to spend all of your money on me," Nida whispers, holding the man tightly. He wants to be close to his lover. He doesn't want to sob.

"But it's so much fun to watch your eyes light up." Like he hoped they would once he got the gift from the Curio shop. It had multiple layers of meaning of course, but Ignis wouldn't give more than Nida was ready for. And then there was the shopping they'd have to do together.

They'd need to get the tree hauled up to the other apartment building but that would be fine too, they'd get it done. Plus dinner would need to be made, decorations to be had and hung, and it would just be a busy day.

And as Ignis was about to say more, he thought he felt Nida trembling. "Darling, are you cold? Shall I fetch you a blanket to wrap up in?"

No, it wasn't cold at all.

"My heart is just... warm."

At least with Ignis he would never need to question whether Ignis leaving was his boyfriend leaving him behind by coice.

That wasn't any kind of answer that he would've been expecting but Ignis nodded anyway, even if a little confusedly. "Alright, as long as you're alright."

Now he's worried.

"Do you want me to get your tea for you? Or would you like to let it cool some more? I brought some honey too." He wasn't sure what to do here, so he was trying to be of service.

"I'll get to it in a second. Having you in my arms is more important in this moment than the tea."

Ignis can't understand how important he is.

Now he's really worried.

"Nida..what is wrong?" It almost feels like the man is clinging to him which is extremely worrying. But he would do whatever it took to make this man happy and set everything back to being right.

What had happened?

"Was it our conversation?"

"Yeah," Nida admits, his voice a whisper. Just let him stay here like this.

"None... none of the places that have taken me have ever let me stay a full year. I don't want this one taking me too. Halcyon said I could stay, but..."

But these places kept lying.

"Then you can come home with me." Ignis offered, holding on. This wasn't the conversation he wanted to have now but he couldn't have Nida continuing to fret.

"I'm planning on talking to her myself, seeing if it's possible to take you home with me. I don't want to leave you alone and break your heart." It wasn't who Ignis was. "I will take you back with me and look after you just as I'm doing now."

Seb had said that too. Twice. And yet here Nida was. But the very idea of a man who didn't otherwise have the magic to achieve it saying it... There was weight.

"I hope you find a way, love. I... I just want to live my life with you in this moment."

"In this moment is fine." Ignis replied, not wanting to push. And he sighed, cuddling Nida closer. Their future might get spoken of again tomorrow with the gift but for now it was just them.

It was a good thing he didn't go over what had been going through his mind on the rooftop because that could've been a problem right now. So if speaking of that scared Nida, Ignis would simply keep it all inside. Here he was to take care of the man, not frighten him.

"I want to be with you," Nida assures Ignis, burying his face in the man's shoulder. "For every possible moment this place gives me. If I could, I'd go with you, Ignis. And if anyone could find a way, it would be you."

And he wished the other luck. But... he didn't see a reason to borrow that future that he would still worry might never come.

He couldn't ask for anything and Ignis made a mental note not to bring it up. Obviously he'd upset the apple cart by trying to broach a topic that didn't need to be brought up at all.

"I'm sorry. It wasn't my intention to upset you darling." Ignis felt like his heart was aching. How in the world had he managed to do that? Well he'd just have to shut up and hope tomorrow went smoothly. Maybe he shouldn't give the gift if it might upset the man. There was always another day..hopefully.

The compliments hit his ears but all he felt was the sorrow that he'd unknowingly brought into their home.

"You haven't upset me, Ignis," Nida counters. "You've made me happy. To want me, not even knowing how often it goes badly for me. To... to give me hope."

Oh Ignis, could you not see? Sure, he's prepared for pain and heartbreak. But he's also... He was absolutely going to move faster with things here than he would back home.

"You make me happy."

It confuses Ignis that he's misunderstood what's going on. He then shook his head, still half lost. "I want to give you a permanent home, where you don't have to be alone ever again and face the things you have." He stopped because maybe that was going over the line.

Nida looked upset and not happy at the moment but Ignis wouldn't gainsay him.

"I want that," Nida admits. "I... I don't want to go home. Ever."

So here, or there, he'd be content. Just... Just not back to Hyne where he would be alone and broken.

"For right now, though, I want to think about how we could have years, here or somewhere else, where I can be by your side and make our own winter traditions."

Yes, that would be nice. A happy little fantasy. One he hoped could come true.

At last he smiles at his lover and kisses him lightly before pulling away for tea.

"You ever cut paper snowflakes as a kid, my flame? Because if not, I'm going to teach you how." So we have plenty of snow to dance around in, without getting cold."

He took a hitched breath and hid it to listen in about the winter traditions. He wasn't sure he'd be here for years either but he wanted Nida by his side regardless. There was no way he wanted the man to be broken and alone anymore ever.

But he had to shake his head. "No, I admittedly had not ever done such a thing." Things like that were beneath gifted children and he was always busy scampering after Noct. They didn't really have snow in Insomnia but they'd heard stories about it.

If only he could go home. He’d stand at Ignis’s side and serve Ignis’s king, and live with his beloved.

“You’re going to be good at it, my flame,” Nida assures him with a smile. “We’re going to have so many around.”

He actually looks pleased by this idea. Almost like he wants to jump up and do it now. But instead he finally takes his tea, puts in some honey, and considers it.

“The idea is that you take a paper and fold it up, usually a circle or a square but you can do other shapes. And fold it so you’re creating radial symmetry. And then you cut only he one wedge in a complicated way. And when you unfold it, it creates a beautiful pattern. Like with snowflakes.”

The blonde head tilted to the side as he listened to the instructions. It sounded simple enough, take a paper and scissors and cut it at certain places or in certain ways. "It all sounds lovely."

But then he looked at the ceiling wondering how they were going to hang the strings. But adhesive tape would be available so that would work having seen some while out and about.

If they can't find tape, small nails they can tie threads around.

"I saw the Trabian snow festival just once. It was... magical. I wish I could show it to you. Show you my memories."

"Unfortunately that's not possible darling." Ignis said, trying to snuggle a little bit though he wish it were a thing he could do. "However we can recreate it as best we can here."

“It might be,” Nida counters. “It happened the last two places when magic went wrong.”

So maybe someday he could.

“What did you do in the winter?”

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