ateratmods: (Halcyn)
Aterat Mod Account ([personal profile] ateratmods) wrote in [community profile] aterat2022-12-14 01:43 pm

A Winter's Ball

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?
cetrary: famira (uWongru)

[personal profile] cetrary 2023-02-07 03:51 am (UTC)(link)
"That's her! She's a really good kid." She gave a halfhearted shrug. "I'm not so sure. But maybe not, I know they were all just following orders."
legacy_blade: (Ready to Fight)

[personal profile] legacy_blade 2023-02-07 05:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Turks following orders. Zack's seen what that means before. But he's also known them to fight those orders too. Like, Tseng had taken her letters, right?

"I asked him, to protect you for me while I was gone."
cetrary: famira (Default)

[personal profile] cetrary 2023-02-12 07:42 am (UTC)(link)
"Well, nothing ever actually harmed me so I guess he kinda did it? And they never tried to forcefully take me." So that was saying something small, wasn't it?
legacy_blade: (Default)

[personal profile] legacy_blade 2023-02-13 09:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Something small, but she and Zack both knew nothing of how much Tseng had done to protect her. Hell, he'd figured there had been a longing there in him.

"I think he loved you, in a way. Sorta like, i don't know, family?"
cetrary: famira (aerith80)

[personal profile] cetrary 2023-02-14 03:01 am (UTC)(link)
"Really? Hmmm, maybe so. I know they meant well, or at least he did. Mom thinks they all mean well and that they just wanted me to go so I wouldn't get hurt. I think she actually really liked Rude and Tseng." Reno...well, maybe not as much. "I don't think she's wrong. I think they wanted things to go as smoothly as possible while also following their orders."
legacy_blade: (Default)

[personal profile] legacy_blade 2023-02-14 03:56 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, that sounds more right to him.

"That's often been the Turk motivation."

Though he could remember things that they had done which were more... problematic. And complicated. But for Aerith he had expected more.

"I suppose if they ever show up, we can ask them."
cetrary: famira (Default)

[personal profile] cetrary 2023-02-15 05:01 am (UTC)(link)
"I kind of hope they do. I think...I'd like to talk to them. They never seemed like bad people, you know? Sometimes I wonder if maybe..." she shakes her head. "Maybe it's silly of me but sometimes I wonder if things couldn't be different if they just...weren't so convinced they had to follow orders." And maybe she'd like to know if they had wanted to do the things they'd done.

"You know...they dropped the plate. I never...even I never thought they'd go that far."
legacy_blade: (Default)

[personal profile] legacy_blade 2023-02-15 04:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Zack sighed.

"Cissnei didn't always follow orders. She let me and Cloud go. Twice," he says. And now he wondered if maybe he would have been better going with her, to let Tseng help him. Then again, he couldn't have saved Genesis then.

"I... The Turks are good people who do bad things, yeah. And doing that was definitely a bad thing. I wonder what was leveraged against them to do that. Because I can't understand them doing it."
cetrary: famira (Default)

[personal profile] cetrary 2023-02-17 01:59 pm (UTC)(link)
"Another girl that just couldn't resist your charm, huh?" It seemed like a decent time to add a little lighthearted teasing. "It's nice to know you both found someone that helped you out like that." Comforting in a strange way.

"I'm not sure. Honestly..." she chewed on her lower lip a bit awkwardly. "They fought really hard to make sure they accomplished it."
legacy_blade: (Default)

[personal profile] legacy_blade 2023-02-17 04:43 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh no, she totally resisted. But that was before I met you."

He had absolutely asked her to dinner once, and she'd blown him off, and not long after he'd met Aerith, and he had been happy for it.

"Well then, if they show up, I'll protect you."
cetrary: famira (Default)

[personal profile] cetrary 2023-02-22 07:00 am (UTC)(link)
"How could she possibly have resisted though?" She teased with a wide grin. "Well, her loss at least. I'm still glad she helped you both out."

Her smile softened a bit. "I doubt you'll have to. But, if they do show up, maybe we can finally get some actual answers."
legacy_blade: (Default)

[personal profile] legacy_blade 2023-02-22 03:26 pm (UTC)(link)
"She really did. I just wish she'd helped me actually get back to you."

That said, he wouldn't have trusted her to do that. Which was frustrating.

Actual answers sounds good though.