A Winter's Ball

[ateratmods]

Who; Everyone!
What; Christmas Festivities for all!
Where; The Grand Ballroom, Noble District
When; The Week of Midwinter (December 14th-20th)
Warnings; Positive emotional influence; if anything comes up in threads, please warn where appropriate

A Needed Respite

It's been some time since Halcyn has shown herself, let alone put together festivities for those gathered here from other worlds, but this winter, she's pulled out all the stops. While she's also looking forward to the Festival a kind new resident has requested her aid for, she couldn't very well let this festive season pass by without a Ball.

She's assured all those who may wish to attend have the finest clothing available to enjoy the evenings or provides them with a means to obtain finery from Aterat's premiere seamstress. The invitation arrives at their doorsteps, providing directions to the seamstress and a friendly reminder not to forget a complimenting mask. This is a masquerade ball, after all.

On the evenings of the ball, in the square outside the residential buildings, residents there will find a two-meter pylon, its central crystal pulsing like a beacon. Touching one of the hand targets at its top will immediately teleport you to the pylon's twin in the square outside the ballroom. While still present during the day, the crystal sits dull and inoperable during the day. There also exists a similar pylon outside the orphanage.

For those who live away from the community dwellings, each night, the cabs can be found looking for fares seeking to be taken to the noble district.

A Welcoming Gift

The entrance to the Grand Ballroom is covered is tiny bells, glittering lights, and wreathed in holly and evergreen branches. The foyer is equally decorated, its vaulted ceiling carrying easily the lilting music from the ballroom, and at the center of the foyer is a towering and opulently decorated yule tree, with presents gathered beneath it. Halcyn waits beside the tree to greet all attendees to the ball, to thank them, to welcome them, and to wish them a Merry Yuletide.

Everyone who attends will receive a gift, and she'll assure them while the item within the package they are given is not its true image, it is as close an approximation as she could manage to build from their memories. The packages are small, no larger than a foot square, and within is an item they would recognize from home that has a sentimental value to them. If it's a magical item, it will not possess the magic therein, and it is an item that is tied to a fond and caring memory of theirs. Holding it or wearing it (if applicable) or simply having it with them will fill them with a warm sense of whatever emotion is tied to the item. For example, if it is a ring that belonged to a loving parent, having or wearing the ring will make them feel loved and nurtured. The effect will last throughout the ball in an intense state, and after the ball in a more subdued state, but it will always possess that feeling in some regard.

A Serious Spread; feasting and dancing the nights away

The Ballroom beyond the foyer is dazzling in lights, more holly, and evergreen boughs, and enchanting music from the string quartet playing at the far end of the dance floor. Along one wall, near the stairs leading to the upper atriums and the balconies, is set a cornucopia of foods both familiar and alien. If it is a traditional Yuletide or Winter food from somewhere in the known or unknown worlds, it's available here, and nothing seems to run out.

For those old enough to drink, there is a fully stocked bar with refreshments (and non-alcoholic options for those who abstain), and there are also drink options on the food table as well if you want something lighter or less influential with your meal. Those who wish to dine in a semblance of privacy can ascend the stairs with their plates and have a seat at one of the white and gold decorated tables on the balcony overlooking the dance floor. The music here is muted but still present, affording better means of conversation.

From the vaulted ceiling over the dancefloor falls a light snowfall, reflecting all the glittering lights in the decorations, but never touching the floor, disappearing as though it never existed in the first place. Those who try to catch the falling snowflakes, or simply have them fall upon them, will feel a warmth spread through them and will find themselves immediately more relaxed and open to conversation, no matter the sort.

Those who join the dancing on the floor will find they know whatever dance they may begin participating in, as long as they let their feet do the moving and don't think about it too much. They'll also find they don't tire as easily as they normally would and could dance all night long. This impulse can be resisted, though, and someone might want to pull you away before things get out of hand.

Sky Painting; Outdoor Balconies

Those who truly want for solitude need look no further than the balconies off the upper floor. While they do open onto the outside, open-air fire pits along the balcony keep the area warm enough to be inviting. There are refreshments here as well, warm ciders, hot chocolates, and the like, and the sky above is a display all its own.

Every night until midnight, the sky over the Ballroom will be alight with Auroras, though they seem to only be viewable from the upper outdoor balcony of the Ballroom. Those approaching from outside will see only a night sky lit by stars.

Those who seek the refuge of the outdoor balcony will find themselves blanketed in an inner peace they may find foreign. So much so, in fact, that they may even notice its artificial, and if they step far enough away from the glowing fire pits, it fades at the same rate the warmth of the fire does from their limbs, also as though that inner peace were coming from within the flames.

Halcyn certainly wanted everyone to enjoy the evenings without care or concern, didn't she?

Comments

[faeshim]

"I have my own bed."

Daeshim blinks, confusion returning.

"But you are welcome to share it if you are afraid of the dark. I've learned that some humans are, and they are wise to be."

[privatechat]

"You've never had sex have you," Lennon says, taking another drink and shaking his head. What kind of man is so sheltered?

[faeshim]

Daeshim tilts his head at the question. He can't lie, but he wouldn't see any reason to lie about this in the first place.

"No." And since he asked. "Have you?"

[privatechat]

Lennon snorts at the question returned to him and he is more than a little tipsy as he finishes off the drink and tilts his head.

"A lot. Do you want to have sex?"

[faeshim]

"I have never thought about it before."

He's always been alone. And while that might make some people think about things like that even more, for Daeshim it was not a possibility. He steps closer to Lennon, holding on to his arm to help steady them both.

"I should take you to bed though."

[privatechat]

"Why haven't you? It feels really good... " Lennon asks, letting the other take hold of his arm despite his better judgement.

"You're the one that's fallen on his ass," he points out.

[faeshim]

"I lived alone in the woods. My best friend was a crow."

If that doesn't say it all, nothing will.

"Your backside is nicer than mine, it should not be bruised."

[privatechat]

Well, that's not the weirdest thing that Daeshim has said he supposes and does explain some things.

"Do you want to do it?"

Lennon asks and then snorts at the comment about his ass. "Sometimes a bruised ass can be nice."

[faeshim]

"I-"

Daeshim begins and then halts to look up at him.

"With you?"

[privatechat]

Lennon bites back a sarcastic response, it'd probably be lost on this guy anyway.

"Yeah."

[faeshim]

It takes him a few moments. Especially when the question is coming from someone who looks like Lennon, who probably doesn't have to wait normally - or ask.

"Okay."

[privatechat]

Lennon is a bit confused when there's not an immediate answer and it's true he's never really had trouble when he's making a move. Usually people are lining up to get with him and he's turning people down. That's not been the case here.

"My place or yours?" he asks with a bit of a quirk to his lips.

[faeshim]

"I wish to see yours!"

Now his eyes widen, because Daeshim is curious about Lennon's space, and what he can learn about him from it.

[privatechat]

Lennon raises a brow but he relaxes a little and smiles. It's probably better his place anyway. Who knows what they'd have to do for lube at Daeshim's. "What do you know about sex?" he asks as he starts leading the other away and toward the building they both live in.

[faeshim]

"It's the means by which you create offspring. Many animals of the forest have a mating cycle. Heats. And then their babies are born."

Are you turned on yet, Lennon? Daeshim looks down at the other's hand as they walk, and soon reaches for it.

"Oh, and according to you it feels nice."

[privatechat]

Well then.

Lennon rolls his eyes a bit and he allows the other to take his hand even if it's bit of a weird thing for him.

"We're just doing it to feel good."

[faeshim]

"This already feels good..."

Walking with him, holding his hand. Daeshim feels the warmth in his face again. But...he does wonder about one thing:

"Why would you do this with me?"

[privatechat]

“It’s a different kind of good, better if you ask me,” Lennon says and he still feels strange about the hand holding maybe a little before with the other’s comments about it.

“To feel good,” Lennon says simply. To feel validated and wanted for a little while in the way that he had learned people valued him the most. “To make you feel good. It’s fun and it’s been a while since I got to do it.”

[faeshim]

The Fae hums lightly, because he has his doubts about that already. Lennon's hand is warm and soft, not calloused like his own. His fingers are long and slender. They're the most beautiful hands he's ever seen.

Which leads him back to the point he was trying to make.

"But why with me? There were many others, and I am ugly."

[privatechat]

Lennon might think the handholding is weird but it's still pleasant enough. It doesn't take them too long to reach their apartments and he had waited a little while to answer the question.

"You're not ugly and I think we could have fun fucking."

[faeshim]

"Climbing trees is also fun. Perhaps we could climb one together afterward!"

He looks up at Lennon hopefully, but he's distracted once they're actually inside Lennon's apartment. Daeshim lets go of his hand then, running from room to room, item to time, curious about the other's space and everything in it.

[privatechat]

"I don't really know how to climb trees," Lennon says, scrunching his nose a bit and he lets the other start to look around his place. There's not much unusual about it. It's clean and aside from a sketchbook closed on a table there's nothing overly identifying about who lives there.

[faeshim]

"I can teach you!"

That for this. It would be fair, he thinks. Daeshim looks down at the sketchbook for a moment before picking it up too.

[privatechat]

Lennon decides not to argue with that and just gives a shrug. Sure. He'll try to climb a tree he's not sure the other would be able to teach him but that's not the point either.

"Don't... look at that," Lennon says, the first word sharp before he schools his voice calmer.

[faeshim]

Daeshim looks up at Lennon's tone, but curiosity once again draws his gaze back to the book's cover. It must be a book that no one else is supposed to lay eyes on. A book of spells, perhaps. Even humans keep them sometimes.

Daeshim places it down carefully before looking around again.

"I like your space!"