after-party ♔

[wynn]

♬ Jeux d'eau - Ravel

WHO || Wynn, any and all Knights not currently on missions
WHAT || Squiring Ceremony Afterparty
WHERE || Knights Headquarters, the Ballroom
WHEN || March 2nd, 2012, 9:00PM
HOW || Prose OR Actionspam

The "afterparty" is rumored to be the real main event of the night. A black-tie affair in the lavish, opulent ballroom, it is every new Knight's chance to mingle and meet some of their new brothers in arms. Of course, a couple hours are provided following the ceremony for everyone to change, do hair and makeup, and choose from the vast array of formal attire in the closets of the balcony "dressing rooms" located at the top of spiraled staircases on either side of the ballroom. A separate dressing room exists for men and women, and they include full bathrooms (with, thankfully, very modern plumbing).

The squires are usually among the last to arrive, and the ballroom is full to the brim with a fancy array of people, of all shapes, sizes and species.

Hope none of you are shy. They're all here to meet you.

Feel free to make your own open threads for people to come congratulate your newly pledged knight.

Comments

ota;

[lear]

[ As she was the last knighted, Lear is also the last to arrive — fashionably late, perhaps. Rather than a gown, she's wearing a well tailored suit, and she walks with more confidence on her stilettos than she seemed to have along the walk to her knighthood. ]

[ Disregard the fact that her natural polite smile makes her look like she's considering the best way to mince and devour some souls. She's the opposite of a wallflower, willing to walk into the thick of it, and she moves from conversation to conversation, eying the gentleman as though considering which she should ask to dance. ]

[wildmind]

[Nessa observes Lear from a comfortable distance for a few minutes, making it very clear that she's doing so as she drinks leisurely from her glass at the punch bowl. She waits until the woman is walking in her direction before setting the glass down and heading her way, however.]

You certainly look pleased to be here.

[lear]

[ Lear notices the other woman watching, certainly, but she's gathering there's a sort of hierarchy to the thing and she's not sure approaching would be proper. Better to let her approach. ]

Because I am.

[ A smile, not as warm as it could be when Lear's not yet certain what she's getting at. ]

I'd hope everyone who was knighted this evening is, wouldn't you?

[wildmind]

In theory.

[There's something about the woman's smile that makes it clear she's amused by this whole situation] But then again, many are here because they see it as a means to an end. Their only choice for finding purpose in this world since they don't remember what their purpose was in the first place. I'm not sure I'd call that pleasure so much as... well, I'm not certain what the word would be.

[She dismisses it, either way, reaching out a hand] Nessa Harvey.

[lear]

[ Lear takes a sip of her wine as Nessa talks. She's not entirely certain she likes the implications of what reflects quite accurately her own situation. But no: she refuses to be anything other than delighted to be here. Purpose, after all, is pleasure. ]

[ But she doesn't voice her disagreement. When the hand is offered, she claps it in hers; normally she has a fairly masculine shake, but the woman seems elegant so she keeps it a little genteel. ]

It's jolly good to meet you, Sir Harvey. I'm Lear. Fyrel Lear.

[ Both names only out of courtesy. ]

[wildmind]

Lear, it is. [She meets the handshake with a bold grip of her own]

So what do you make of all this so far? The spectacle part, that is.

[lear]

It's certainly different, isn't it!

[ A cheery look over the place, and back to Nessa. ]

Though probably not to you. But I've not long been in Britain, so it's a slightly different sort of celebration than what I'm used to.

[wildmind]

Oh? [That seems to perk up her interest] What exactly are you "used to"?

[lear]

I spent the last few years in China. Went a bit native, I suppose.

[wildmind]

Sounds like you might have some stories.

[lear]

I may.

[ A teasing smile. ]

It's a fascinating culture. Not that I don't like this sort of thing too, being able to simply mingle without too much regard for status. All the little social rituals are a lot more subtle.

[wildmind]

Ohhh, we have our little social statuses too. But as you say - much more subtle, perhaps.

[lear]

For example...?

[wildmind]

Well, I'm sure you've noticed Wynn's inability to really mingle in a crowd. The Dragon's Claws have a bubble of their own, no matter how friendly they might seem. They have to act apart from the rest of us, in the end.

[lear]

Yes, I did notice our fearless leader isn't quite the warmest of socialites.

[ She opens her eyes briefly wider, sarcastic but smiling. ]

The Dragon's Claws — are they top of the food chain?

[wildmind]

[Nessa chortles a bit at that, swishing her drink back and forth] The very top. In fact, should anything happen to said fearless leader, they'd assume control of the entire organization. Even when he's absent on missions of his own, they take over the distribution of mission assignments, etc.

But that's just the technical aspect. Once they've been chosen for the position, they're in it for life, and they're expected to refrain from the sort of casual socialization the rest of us enjoy. Wynn encourages them to keep a certain amount of distance - which certainly doesn't mean they aren't friendly, as you will no doubt discover if you have the pleasure of bumping into Sir Bancroft, but they keep a bubble around themselves, the same as Wynn does.

[lear]

No fraternizing with the lesser mortals, eh? Sounds frightfully dull. So who ranks after the Claws?

[wildmind]

Our section heads. [She nods towards those who are in attendance] Hasmed, of the Dragon's Fire; Lis'sa from the Dragon's Hoard, Dovan of the Dragon's Hide; Solace of the Dragon's Light, and then Sir Koraith who isn't here tonight. But he's impossible to miss when he is - giant gold half dragon and all.

[lear]

[ Lear nods, taking a moment to repeat that list to herself, finding the connections between the names and titles, the musicality, as she carefully commits each of them
to memory. In fact, she probably spends an unusual amount of time looking them all over, even if she tries to be tactful and subtle by keeping her eyes from lingering too long on any one person. ]

Thank you for the information.

[ She turns back to Nessa, finding her social smile again. ]

Any advice for a new girl? What would you go back and tell yourself after your knighting ceremony?

[wildmind]

[She smiles enigmatically] I do.

"It'll always get weirder."

[lear]

Sounds exciting, honestly.

[ Lear finishes her drink with a smile. ]

But I shan't keep you any longer. There's still a hell of a lot of people in this room I haven't mingled with.