aterat | 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

"Can you be certain it's not? Or is that just what you think?" She tilted her head and let a tiny smirk spread across her face. It was easier to tease him than to really think about whether or not he liked her for her. Or why she even cared if he did like her for her or for her ability to hide her mind. Why she cared was definitely the most confusing part of the entire situation.

"You forgot about the tail."

"Yeah, because I enjoy spending time with you...it doesn't even cross my mind." He could tell she was enjoying teasing him, and it was more than slightly frustrating that he liked when she teased him.

"Shit, I did. I guess it didn't really matter all that much to me."

"What does cross your mind?" The smirk on her lips spread and she tilted her head the other way. He was just too easy to mess with. It was almost like he actually enjoyed it.

"Or maybe you liked it. Maybe I was wrong to think I would destroy you." That was the closest to a flirtatious comment she had come in a very long time.

What went through his mind when he was with her? "Absolutely nothing." That wasn't exactly the point, though, and he shook his head, chuckling awkwardly, running a hand back through his hair. "And what I mean by that is my mind...wanders? Only it doesn't when I'm with you. You...I just focus on you."

He wasn't sure if that made it sound better or worse, but it was the truth. Thankfully, what she said next was odd enough to distract him from his awkwardness. "Destroy me? That's a bit extreme don't you think?"

"Just me? And what about me do you focus on?" Now she was actually mildly curious about what he may be focusing in on. Though, she was fairly certain with how awkward he had suddenly gotten that she probably wasn't going to get a very good answer.

She burst into a quick fit of laughter that had a strangely dark edge to it and then shook her head. "Not at all. You have only seen part of my true form." That was perhaps a bit too edgy of her to say, but there was a degree of truth there. Even she wasn't quite certain if the Darkchilde form was her actual form or not.

In that she was going to be disappointed. He smiled slightly, meeting her eyes. "Just you, whatever you're talking about. You're never boring."

He raised an eyebrow, still smirking, tilting his head to the side. "Do you just want me to leave? Is that what this is about? I can go, you know."

"I see. How....interesting," not really, but she wasn't quite certain what she expected him to say. Or if she really expected anything at all.

"If you want to go. That is your choice, isn't it?" There was a mild hint of defensiveness to her tone and then she further elaborated. "Making people leave is what I do. It is what I have done for several years now. It is...easier. I'm not what people think. Or what they want." That was the part that actually stung, though she rarely admitted to that.

"I don't think you're anything besides...you. And I like that, thank you." He never really let people this close, either. It hurt too much when they decided you were too weird. "And you. I like you."

"How...strange." There was clear uncertainty in her tone mixed with just a hint of confusion. She wasn't stupid, she knew what he meant, and yet she still had no idea what to say. "I..." she scrunched her eyebrows and found herself just saying what she was thinking. "I am not used to feeling emotional. It's...confusing. When I finally banished the Elder Gods the bloodstones that held pieces of m--," she stopped herself from saying my and looked down. "the original Illyana's soul. I don't know if that makes me a real girl now or not. I pretend." It was the first time she had told anyone other than Pixie that.

She looked up and tried to give a smile but she couldn't keep the sadness from tainting it. "I suppose I am doing a decent job of pretending."

"You're...you. Whether that means you're the Illyana you were before or not..." He shrugged, smiling. "I don't think you're pretending. You're being who you are. Maybe that means you're not quite human the way the rest of humanity is, but you're still a person. Patchworks are still quilts, and they aren't considered lesser blankets for being parts of other things, are they?"

"Some of my teammates see things different. Even Piotr does sometimes. He thinks...he still sees me as his little snowflake." A hint of frustration laced her voice and she shook her head. Her feelings on the subject were more than just a little bit complicated. In some ways she hated it because she felt guilty for not being able to live up to what he remembered of her, what she felt like he wanted from her. Another part of her, that she was less inclined to admit to, was happy that someone still could see her as something other than a monster. It wasn't something she deserved but something she did seem to want.

She raised an eyebrow and narrowed her eyes. "Are you comparing me to a ...quilt?"

"I...was...yeah. But when you put it like that, it sounds ruddy horrific." Nevermind she'd only called him on the analogy he'd made. "I'm sorry your team doesn't see you and only sees what you've done." It was a stretch of the tale she'd told him, but he felt it was an educated one at least.

"What I have done deserves no sympathy," she looked down and then quickly changed the subject. "It is more frustrating that they only see me as how they remember." There was nothing she could do to bring that little girl back. Even if she was back to being a real girl, even if she had gotten her full soul back, she could never forget what she had seen. Or more importantly, what she had done. She could never be quite the same and she knew that some of them wanted that.

"I can see how that's frustrating." He'd never really had any close friends growing up, preferring to keep people at a distance. "Maybe I have the benefit of not knowing you before, so I get to know you now without any prior influence."

No prior influence...something about that actually made her almost smile. Almost. She stopped herself before the smile became too obvious and looked down. "Benefit or displeasure?" She said with a low chuckle. "I guess we'll see."

He smiles in return. "So far I'm pretty pleased."

(OOC: ftb?)

A Winter's Ball

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