aterat | A Winter's Ball

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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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He smiled. "That's good to hear." And he thought of a conversation he had with Caelan at the Ball.

But then the New Year traditions got his attention. "Parties all night long?" That sounded like a tall order for a generally quiet and reserved chef. "I suppose that could be a thing if you wanted it to be." Hopefully it would just be the two of them celebrating but if guests were wanted or expected, Ignis would just want to make sure that there was more than enough food and drink to accommodate.

"I don't like those much. I only go to them because I'm working," Nida admitted with a shrug. No, he'd much rather the time alone.

"Cook. We'll cook. Teach me a recipe."

"Ah I see." Ignis replied, inwardly relieved that this wasn't going to be a thing of trying to have a house full or have to worry that there wouldn't be enough to go around.

But he was really happy to hear that Nida wanted to cook and he nodded. "Then when the time comes, tell me what sort of thing you would like to learn and we'll do that."

And there his mind went, mentally standing behind Nida as he made something at the stove with his arms wrapped around him.

"Something to feed us both," Nida muses. "Something with rice. Can you make creamy rice?"

He'd love that, and it would soothe.

"That is warm. And... fragrant? Yeah, that seems right."

"Creamy rice." Ignis echoed softly, going through the recipehs in his mind. So he mulled the request over a moment or two as he processed a few ideas.

"Well there's the Creamy Milk Risotto or we could try the Triple Truffle Risotto. Those are creamy rice dishes."

"Risotto," Nida repeats. Yes, he likes the sound of the word on his lips, the curl of it on his tongue. "Triple Truffle Risotto. It sounds so good."

"It's quite the art form. But if you're up for the challenge, I'd be more than happy to instruct you as to how to do it."

Ignis couldn't help but smile because he was looking forward to making it. So naturally he would have to find the recipe in his book and that would be the start.

Well, Nida doesn't mind trying a challenge.

"If I get it wrong, can I send you to the tavern for food?"

Ignis laughed. "Yes and I pay for it this time without any thought of repayment." Sure their dynamic had definitely changed since that first time, but it was still a thing that stuck in the back of the advisor's mind.

Nida laughs and nods.

"I needed to pay you that night," Nida counters. "That place... It was a bad night. You spared me fallign into the bottle, love."

"I understand." Ignis smiled with a nod. "If I had only known what would transpire from that evening." He would totally go back and do it again. And especially that one where Nida had been hanging about in the tree and they ended up dancing that night.

Oh if he'd only known.

Well, little transpired from that evening. But the one with the tree... He had never been so happy.

"I'm happy with what has transpired since then."

"I am as well." he replied, with another smile on his face. Ignis reached over to give Nida a kiss and held onto the man, silently grateful for all that had transpired between them.

Luck. Fate. Chance. He didn't care what it was, just that he had his lover close by. What more could Nida ever want?

"I love you, my dear."

There was something to be said for the little holiday they were enjoying. Ignis's apartment was overrun with their decoration efforts. The tree was up and covered with what things they had found and made for decorations. Though nothing, it turned out, could be on the lower branches because Julia's hunting instincts were just wild over dangling things. Still, the tree was lovely, and the scent of it divine in Nida's opinion. And then there was the room itself, strung with streamers of paper snowflakes that NIda and Ignis had clearly had too much fun making, not to mention hanging from nearly any surface. They weren't glittery or shiny, but Nida thought they were perfect anyway.

All in all, the place was beautiful with the mix of traditions from Nida's world and this one, there was a lovely goose in the oven because Nida had read that was traditional and he'd never had goose before. Hell, he'd even bought something called 'figgy pudding' and helped Ignis make sugar cookies. All in all, he thought they were succeeding in their plans for the day.

Which was why Nida sat by their tree in a warm sweater, a cup of mulled apple cider in his hands, smiling at the wrapped presents waiting to be opened. His own for Ignis were a strange mix, one bulky, the other small. And there was no way Nida could have resisted a gift for Ebony and Julia as well, though that one was simpler, a large basket with a thick cushion on it and a bow on the side for Ebony, and a smaller, padded pillow for on top of the fridge for Julia. Not that both weren't more than large enough for the cats to share.

"You ready for this, my flame?" Nida asks, smiling at his partner. "For our holiday?"

It had been a lot of fun to decorate and Ignis almost had himself and Ebony tangled up in the lights more than once. He had listened to all of Nida's ideas and the two ran off with them. Honestly this was fun, creating something all their own while adhering to a tradition or two here and there. The town had been quite abuzz with all sorts of treats with it, and he hadn't been quite sure what to purchase because just everything looked good.

The fruitcake had been something to see but he passed on it in the end. The snowflakes were cut as he drank something called eggnog. Sugar cookies had abounded with the tree cookie cutters Nida had wanted but Ignis found a snowflake one too so they became a thing. The figgy pudding was interesting looking and he agreed to cooking the goose.

He hadn't given the bracelet over yet and he'd found a few small cakes in the shops to take home. But the real treat was that he'd never heard of something called marzipan so he worked with that while Nida had been away on duty, making cookies out of them to put in the stocking wrapped up. Of course they were covered in chocolate. And the only real gift in there was a pocket watch with a bird motif on it. This was in mind of Nida having said once he wanted one for a pet and that maybe he needed a watch when he'd been sparring with Jacob and thought his phone had lost track of time.

The cats didn't go without either of course. Like his beau, Ignis wanted to give them something so there was fresh fish in the refrigerator to that end. And under the tree was the comfiest looking green bathrobe, having not had one when they first got together.

But seeing the man in the warm oversized sweater, he sat next to him and put his arm around him after setting his hot chocolate down carefully on the coffee table. "I admit that I am." he replied, looking at the tree. "I daresay I feel like the children in the marketplace described, all quite excited."

IT was all so much, and Nida adored it, sharing it all together. Nida was happy to lean against his lover and looking around their beautiful space.

"I think my heart is racing in excitement over what I've gotten you. Should we start?"

As he said this, Julia moved to the basket and curled up in it, mewling at them.

"Attention whore," he laughs at the feline, reaching out to stroke her head.

Ignis laughed lightly as Nida leaned into him. He loved this whole christmas thing and wished he could somehow share it with the lads though they weren't here for the moment. Should they ever show up, he decided he would tell them all about it. And to his credit, he'd taken photos of some of the things on his phone as well. Not that he could take them half as well as Prompto, but he'd even remembered to snap a few of the Ball and the outfits people were wearing.

Green eyes looked over at Julia who needed attention and Ignis smiled. "Ladies first, of course." This was the stuff of contentment, something Ignis rarely enjoyed. Too, he'd gotten a christmas cake if there would be any room after the goose and all of the trimmings they'd procured. But Nida's excitement had rubbed off on him and they had a grand old time with it as the decorations were a testament to that joy.

"As I've been educated, christmas is about giving. And to that end, I never did give you the gift from the curio shop." So he pulled it out of his pocket a little nervously and handed the silver box over.

"All about giving, huh?" Nida asks. "I think it's about spending time with you."

But he smiles softly at the small box. Nida takes it into his hands and just holds it for a bit.

"You know... I can count on two hands the number of gifts I've gotten since I was eight years old. So there's no arguing that you might well be offering me the best gift ever. The list is short, I can make definitive statements."

He leans against the man, setting his cup aside. And then he had to of course take a moment to shoo Ebony away from it before he started to open the box.

"Of course nothing could ever compare to your love."

He didn't bother to try and hide his smile of course and he tugged Nida into his arms for a small hug as the man contemplates the box. Tilting his head to the side he felt a small amount of displeasure as he was told about how Nida hadn't received many gifts. And silently, Ignis wanted to change that though the man did have a full stocking, a gift in his hands and one under the tree.

Maybe he should've gotten him more things.

A sigh of contentment came out as he heard the part about offering the greatest gift ever and then he was leaned against. "It sounds as if we'll have to fix the gifts situation."

Green eyes slid then closed and Ignis smiled. As was discussed at the ball with Caelan, the man in his arms sounded happy and that was exactly what he wanted. So his eyes opened and he looked at his beau, giving him a slight kiss to the side of his head. "And that gift you will always have."

No need to get more. The things he has been given are all so thoughtfully given. And will mean for to him for having them after all.

"I think we're fixing it quite well," Nida counters. "Every little choice is so full of meaning."

At last he opens the box, and stares in shock and delight at what he finds.

"Ignis. It's... It's so beautiful."

"Well of course they are. And no one said anything on limits." So half of Ignis wondered if he was doing it right after having seen shoppers appear to rush home with stacks of gifts. But beyond what he'd thought of, he'd been afraid of not doing it right with too many as well.

But he held his breath as Nida unwrapped the bracelet and apparently it was very well received. "I went with the Jade to match the necklace you gave me. And I saw it had that gold filling you'd spoken of."

He hesitated a moment and wanted to say something else, but chose a more acceptable response. "And you showed me your bracelets, so I thought you might wear it."

It was so beautiful. So beautiful and so what he'd described himself as that Nida wanted to cry. Instead he hands the box back for a moment and reaches to unstrap the leather bracelets.

Of the four bracelets he wore, they were the only two that were always on. He didn't take the one from his sister from the other worlds or his mother's charm bracelet to work, but wore them whenever he got home. But the leather ones were to hide, not to remember. And this?

Something so wonderful shouldn't share space with part of him that he was hiding.

"Here," he says, offering his wrist out, the one with the charm bracelet, for Ignis to put on him.

Getting the box back earned Nida a half confused face but he watched the other curiously as a few bracelets came off. But once the wrist was held out to him, Ignis took a breath and gently slid the bracelet on. It looked good on the other and he smiled.

"I'm rather glad you like it."

The Jade matched his necklace and that had been the first thing that had caught his eye. The next thing was the gold and it matched the art that Nida had told him about. So as soon as he'd seen it, it was a thing he had to purchase.

"I love it," Nida answers, his voice soft. Once it's on he moves forward, arms looping around Ignis's neck to pull the man in for a kiss.

He remembered. He remembered and found it significant. Damn, he loved this man.

"I love you, Ignis."

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risotto, he means risotto. he doesn't have the word. But Ignis clearly would.

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Skip to Christmas

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