squiring ♔ character is doing what you don't want to do but know you should do

[wynn]

♬ Troy - James Horner

WHO || Wynn,  Jimmy Novak, Anthony Hudson, Lissa Dragomir, Diana Meade, Chai Faelan, current Knights attending the ceremony
WHAT || July Squiring Ceremony
WHERE || Knights Headquarters, the Great Hall
WHEN || July 1st, 2013, 6:00PM
HOW || Actionspam

The impressively large Great Hall of the castle could easily pass as a royal throne room, with its length and the red carpet leading up to a set of steps. However, there is no throne set at the top of them, and the Hall is wide enough to accommodate hundreds of Knights. And indeed, several hundred Knights stand in ranks on either side of the wide stretch of red, each wearing the traditional set of ceremonial armor in their possession.

The new squires are fitted to their armor after meeting with Wynn, and it's traditional for each to appear for the first time before the Knighthood wearing it. Each new member is assured that only a very small number of the Knights make use of their armor for other circumstances, but it does create an intimidating sense of unity as they stand shoulder to shoulder in rank and file to receive their newest pledges.

The squires are ushered in together, with a flair of orchestral music that fills the hall with as much pomp as possible. It's a lot like that last scene in A New Hope. Yeah, you thought I was going to get through an entire post being all serious, didn't you.

At the top of the steps, Wynn waits, wearing a sword on his belt that canny eyes† might recognize as familiar.

It's one hell of a long walk past all those staring, curious eyes. Luckily, it's a long musical number.

For additional dice rolling fun (optional):

† Roll or randomize a d20. Those who roll a 15 or above can spot the sword for being the exact same sword that was suspended in the statue above the Round Table, when they met with Wynn in the Prologue.
† Roll a d20 dexterity check. If your character rolls a 2 or 3, at some point during their walk they're bound to stumble. A critical fail will lead to an epic faceplant ... or worse.

Comments

Rose Hathaway | OTA

[littledhampir]

[It was a good thing this bond thing only went one way because Lissa would probably have a hard time getting her pledge right with Rose's irritated thoughts being broadcast in her head.

With an arm folded across her chest Rose watches the new intake of squires, her features contorted as she continues to struggle separating her own thoughts and feelings from the blonde taking her oath.

For any more interested in the peanut gallery than what's actually happening, a spot check of 10 or higher will draw their attention to the fact that Rose's feature's have slackened, eyes glazing over as the glass in Rose's hand threatens to fall to the floor with a spectacular crash.]

[beseeched]

[After his squiring Jimmy wanders aimlessly around the room, his armor clanking as he makes careful steps. He almost runs into Rose, and for a moment he thinks that it's the cause of the change in her features. (Rolled an 11) he's careful to keep a fair amount of space between them, but the look on his face is one of clear concern.]

Are you okay?

[littledhampir]

[It's not his words that pull her back into her own head so much as it is the glass of champagne that starts to tip and splash against her bare arm, Rose's hand flying out to steady herself and gripping the arm of the stranger that she hadn't seen or heard approach.

Rose blinks at him, still trying to mentally orient herself before having enough sense to uncurl her fingers.]

Uh... Yeah my head was just... elsewhere. [Literally, as the case may be.]

[beseeched]

I don't blame you.

[He doesn't totally believe her, but he respects her privacy enough not to pry. He manages a small wistful smile and leaves her hand clamped down where it is on his arm.]

If I was a spectator at this sort of thing I'd be pretty bored too.

[And judging by the turn out he'd probably be a spectator at something like this soon enough.]

[littledhampir]

[She forces a smile into place, one that doesn't quite reach her eyes, trying to block out the second set of thoughts and feelings in her head.]

The after party is usually better. Food, alcohol, people all dressed up... the occasional punch up.

[She'll just omit the part where she tends to be involved in the latter.]

[beseeched]

Maybe for you. I wasn't really endowed with good social calling.

[He's poking fun at himself, sure, but after being married for the past fifteen years the idea that he'd have anything to contribute to a party was pretty laughable. He wasn't even good at entertaining friends most of the time. He was a typical person, with a typical life. At least up until recently.]

[littledhampir]

Oh I just go for the food. Those things are too fancy for me. [A beat.] And you need to eat a tray of those little thingies the waiters carry around to be even close to full.

[Rose on the other hand was anything but typical, especially these days, her eyes shifting to a pretty young woman who had just been Knighted along with Jimmy.]

On a plus note, you can ditch the armor.

[beseeched]

I've been staying away from the hors d'oeuvres. They aren't really what I consider good eating.

[A big fat steak burger was what he considered good eating but since he couldn't have that now...]

That's a relief. I think this stuff weighs more than me.

[littledhampir]

Plus they always have fancy names that sound good but then it just turns out to be gross internal organs like, liver and pancreas.

[Rose would gladly skip the after party and go straight for the burger with you Jimmy.]

Probably. Though - upside, we don't have to wear it that often. Just ceremonial crap like this.

[beseeched]

That's good because it's not exactly functional.

[He shrugs and his armor scrapes against itself which makes him cringe in response.]

[littledhampir]

Neither is evening wear but we're expected to wear that too.

[Upper lip pulling up in a half sneer, Rose's eyes continuing to move between the man and the young blonde whose thoughts invaded her own.]

[beseeched]

Evening wear I'm not as opposed to.

[Jimmy grabs a drink off a near by tray and has a sip. It's not exactly what he'd be drinking himself but it's pretty fitting of the situation.]

Are you okay? You seem like you're... elsewhere.

[littledhampir]

Give me jeans and a t-shirt any day.

[Still watching the girl, surprise touching her features as Jimmy struck a chord that was closer to home than he could even begin to imagine.]

I am... elsewhere. [A slight grimace.] It's... complicated. Also there's no way I can actually explain it without sounding like I'm one straight-jacket short of the looney bin.

[beseeched]

I don't blame you for wanting to be casual, but given the opportunity I'd take a suit over this suit of armor.

[He shrugs, and the metal clanks again. He rolls his eyes.]

I've heard that before. Hell, I've lived that before.

[littledhampir]

[Rose has to work hard to suppress a grin at the clanking armor, merely nodding her understanding.]

Yeah? [Well okay. You asked for it.] Did you wake up one day to find somebody else's thoughts in your head too?

[beseeched]

Kind of.

[More or less. His brows lift.]

But this is about you, not me. Now if you're saying that you're hearing someone else's thoughts or someone else is in that gourde of yours I don't really think that's loony-bin crazy. Considering where we're standing and what we're doing I'd say that's pretty believable.

[littledhampir]

[That was unexpected, Rose's brow lifting to match his.]

Oh I'd be just as happy if this were about you... I'm still in the early stages of this crazy and to be honest, I'd rather pretend it wasn't happening. [So much easier said than done.]

You've heard about the whole... veilnesia thing, right?

[beseeched]

Sorry, doesn't sound like it is. If it's any consolation I don't think you're crazy.

[That next part throws him, but he tries not to let onto it.]

Veilwhat?

[littledhampir]

It's a start. [A half grin.] Now if I could just convince myself of that.

Veilne- Amnesia. You know you come through the veil and forget stuff from back home? Unless... You're not a local are you?

[beseeched]

It takes time. You'll get there.

[His smile betrays him because he's not certain of it and isn't confident she can. He's just trying to be supportive.]

No... I'm not. What sort of things do people forget?

[littledhampir]

Everything? Nothing? [She shrugged.] Depends on the person I think. See her?

[Rose nodded to the young blonde girl who had just been squired along with him, tall and waiflike with a pale complexion and a crown of blonde hair. She managed to look both delicate and fierce at the same time and held herself in a way that made people turn their heads to look at her, like there was a glow around her that made her shine like a beacon in the night a midst a sea of faces.]

She knows me. I haven't got a clue who she is but apparently, we grew up together. [She turned back to him.] If she'd never shown up here, I never would have known who she was.

[beseeched]

Yeah, I see her.

[She doesn't seem like anything special but she'd been fixating on her like she was some priceless piece of art and Jimmy wasn't rude enough to ask.]

So, it can take anything? Anyone?

[Jimmy mulls this over in his head, trying to recall anything of significant importance that he might have lost. In the end he decides he probably wouldn't be able to recall. That'd defeat the purpose of losing the thing he lost.]

That's unsettling.

[littledhampir]

[Not that Rose would have been able to explain it if he asked. It was her Spirit induced Charisma that made her the way she was and Lissa wasn't big on explaining that to Rose just yet.]

I guess so. [Shrugging.] She's the second person I know I've met but don't remember... Which is about all I do know.

[beseeched]

I'm sorry to hear that.

[There's not a lot he can say. He's still so new to everything and the realization that he could be missing huge chunks of his memory is a lot to swallow.]

[littledhampir]

[Of course it was far more complicated than what she was letting on but that all meant spilling her guts which she really didn't want to do.]

It is what it is. [A beat.] And could be worse I guess. At least being here they put you in a nice room and the food doesn't suck.