A Winter's Ball

[ateratmods]

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.

Comments

[asthecroweflies]

He nodded at her question. "Yeah. Pretty sure all countries do it."

[kree_soldieress]

"The Kree do not," she offers, shrugging her rather massive shoulders.

[asthecroweflies]

"All countries on Earth, you know, because we aren't an intergalactic empire."

[kree_soldieress]

Well, that's a point.

"It continues to confuse me, that your species aren't united."

Why would they not be? They are one people.

[asthecroweflies]

"Human nature tends to hate and fear what's different. Do all the Kree look like you?"

[kree_soldieress]

"Some Kree. Some look like you."

Pink skinned Kree were totally a thing. ANd not all of them were as large as her.

"I was engineered to be the form I am. So I am more of an idealized soldier."

[asthecroweflies]

"And at no time in your history did the ones who look like me and the ones who look like you go to war over differences of...opinion? Religion? Superiority complex?"

[kree_soldieress]

"Oh, no, Blue-Skinned Kree can act superior. They are more likely to be full blooded Kree. But that is not truly an important distinction," Lauri-Ell answers with a smile.

"We are one nation."

[asthecroweflies]

He chuckles, slightly rueful. "If you think being of one nation stops prejudice in humans, you haven't met enough humans."

[kree_soldieress]

"Why would it not?"

Please explain to her. Lauri-Ell tilts her head to consider him.

"Perhaps you need a different enemy."

[asthecroweflies]

"Trust me, we've got other nations as enemies, too." He shrugs. "You mean no where in the Kree Empire's past did they ever fight amongst themselves? Ever? Sounds like a bloody Utopia."

[kree_soldieress]

"We were a war-like people. We fought the Cotati, who lived upon Hala with us. Then the Skrull. We have fought the Skrull always, until now."

The Emperor changed that.

[asthecroweflies]

"Yeah?" Now they were getting somewhere. "What changed?"

[kree_soldieress]

"The Emperor ascended his throne," Lauri-Ell offers, "uniting us. It was his fate."

[asthecroweflies]

"And everyone magically dropped their prejudices and stopped fighting?"

[kree_soldieress]

"To war among themselves at that point would be to invite the anger of the throne, and the justice of Accusers such as myself. The Emperor is... The Skrull had prophecies of him, of how he would unite. The Kree believe in his skill as a warrior, and the honor brought to us by those with whom he shares blood among us."

The Skrull believed in their born Emperor, son of the beloved Anelle, and one said to bring them to peace and power. The Kree just believed in the son of Mar-Vell, the brother of Genis-Vell and Phylla-Vell. Their family went back a long way, and always served with honor and strength.

[asthecroweflies]

He nodded, mulling over the tale she told. "So, to summarize, they're not fighting anymore because they're threatened with more violence. That makes more sense."

[kree_soldieress]

What? No. That's not it at all. And Lauri-Ell bristles at the suggestion.

"Justice and Law are not threats of violence. They are order that is agreed upon by society and culture."

[asthecroweflies]

"And everyone's just converted peacefully? There's been no protests?"

[kree_soldieress]

There were a few, but not many. You must understand, our cultures were both warriors for many millenia. Loyalty to the institution is practical part of our genes."

It's not true, but it's close.

[asthecroweflies]

"It sounds like your people aren't nearly as similar to humans as you think, and maybe what works for you won't work for us. We're pretty big on our individuality."

[kree_soldieress]

"We have not had a chance on it for a long time. We have been at war."

Now that the war has ended, they could change.

[asthecroweflies]

He could have continued, pointed out that a people who'd been at war for so long and had only very recently been told to lay down their weapons didn't really have any ground to stand on when it came to saying how other people should live, but he didn't really see a point. Instead, he nodded. "Well, I'm happy for you."

He took a breath. Normally, he found it uncomfortable explaining to someone who didn't know him why people got overwhelming sometimes, but she was a massive blue woman from an alien planet. Somehow it made it easier. "Anyway, I came out here because touching people's uncomfortable sometimes and there are a lot of people in there." He nodded back toward the entranceway. "I'm psychic, and sometimes a person's aura shows me things about them when I touch them."

[kree_soldieress]

Oh! Lauri-Ell smiles.

"You are a telepath, but your gift only manifests through physical contact. That makes sense. Yes. The situation in there could lead to much uncomfortable and undesired exchanges," she agrees. Here at least, she understands some things. "It is wise for you to take the time and distance. Here, one moment."

She takes a step to put him out of even her arm's length.

"There. Reduced chances of accidental issues. Thank you for advising me. I shall ensure I respect your personal space better in the future."

This was something she understood, very well.

"I have a weapon that can show me people's pasts. It is not unlike seeing into their minds, their memories, in very specific ways. It is far more limited, but it makes me uncomfortable as well. I cannot fully understand, but I can empathize with your situation."

[asthecroweflies]

He frowned at her reaction, though it probably wasn't her intention to make him uncomfortable. In that, he was a bit of a contradiction. All his life he'd been treated like a freak by other people and like a sensitive burden by his father. It made him uncomfortable for people to take measures to put him at ease, that and every bit the freak people treated him as.

"I don't always see memories. Sometimes I see events, and not just from their perspective, but really, it's fine."