after-party ♔ may

[wynn]

♬ Jeux d'eau - Ravel

WHO || Wynn, any and all Knights not currently on missions (if you are uncertain if your character would be at the castle for this, ask!)
WHAT || Squiring Ceremony Afterparty
WHERE || Knights Headquarters, the Ballroom
WHEN || May 1st, 2016, 6:00PM [backdated]
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 you aren't 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.

ooc; also if your Knight wants to get all gussied up, you can make a Disguise (Cha) check for how good they were at hair/makeup/stylin', etc! This goes for... any time.

Comments

ichabod crane ( ota )

[lichabod]

[ while he'd had some help discovering the new and incredible features of modern hygiene, it is still taking crane time to figure he should be using them daily. fortunately he dresses quite well, despite his desire to be elsewhere (disguise 18).

grand parties for the purpose of elbow-rubbing have never been crane's own cup of tea. but he manages to hold his tongue when the urge to ask after details on the attack strikes him (will 18). though he's eager to be done with all of this and get to work, crane smiles and offers a polite good evening, my lady, or how do you do, good sir? when approached. ]

[graveflowers]

[ okay so crane looks very handsome, but the person approaching him does not notice.

mostly because the person approaching him is an almost one year old baby in a purple ruffled dress with soft brown hair and creamsicle orange skin, crawling forward with the startling super speed only a crawling baby can achieve. she pauses nearby, pulling herself up on a chair occupied by her mother to toddle over, directly into the back of crane's legs, chubby little arms hugging his leg to hold herself up with a weird baby noise and a very clear "UP!"

vi just let's this all happen because she is a monster and because she can. ]

[lichabod]

[ it's orange.

why is it orange oh god someone call the-- no, crane doesn't shriek openly about the demon come to eat his soul (will 18). ]

Oh.

[ it's orange and it's a child. and a demanding one at that. ]

Hallo. Er... [ crane's arms retract, elbows sharply extending on either side of him as he's twisted and conflicted and very much short-circuited. were it not a radioactive infant he might have actually done as demanded. ] Where is your mum...?

[ his helpless, pleading eyes scan the crowd blindly (spot 6???? is that even right) for whoever this orange demon infant belongs to, wildly sweeping from end to end. ]

[graveflowers]

[ lucia's arms lift up, multicolored eyes sparkling with intense flecks of green. "UP!"

her mother is actually, blessedly, not difficult to spot sitting at one of the small tables, mostly from her peel of laughter. (disguise 18) ]

She's not going to bite. With her whole four teeth.

[lichabod]

[ crane's hands fumble with themselves, long fingers bending and straightening as he tries to figure out what to do about this small devil child and her cackling mother???? ]

Erm...

[ shame is what moves him, finally. crane bends and reaches down, down, down-- by god it's ages before his giant frame finally allows his scarecrow's arms to reach the little one. gently, he wedges his long bony fingers beneath those chubby arms and hefts his attacker upward.

with arms straight out in front of him, crane looks about as comfortable as a hog in ballet shoes. but here he is, in all his participatory glory. and-- oh. fine. perhaps he is smiling now. ]

A pleasure to meet you, my lady. I am Ichabod Crane... er-- [ wait what now what does one do with small children after one grants their demands??? ]

[olreliable]

[Willow is getting better at dressing herself in nice clothes and not just overalls and fuzzy sweaters. She found herself a pretty yellow sundress and is looking perfectly acceptable (disguise 17). She has a friendly smile to offer the new squires, but it's Crane's greeting that makes her stop, glancing around.]

Oh, sorry- I thought you were...talking to someone else.

[She's not used to being called "my lady" okay.]

You're one of the newbies right? [She smiles brightly and thrusts out a hand.] I'm Willlow. It's nice to meet you!

[lichabod]

[ okay so in the face of abject ignorance (what in the seven hells is a newbie), crane seems to have most success making up for his acquaintance's lack of social niceties by overdoing it himself.

his left foot plants behind him, head dipping and arms splaying a little at his sides as he offers willow a bow in greeting. with only her first name, he falters a bit upon speaking: ]

The like to you, Miss. Ichabod Crane, at your service.

[ despite her lack of clothing and odd manner, willow has at least offered crane the most polite of greetings he's received so far. once again upright (and despite their height discrepancy) crane offers willow his elbow. only polite to offer a lady who is alone at a ball a willing escort, of course. ]

[olreliable]

[As he gives his little bow, she awkwardly pulls back her hand like 'oh...won't be needing this then...' But she's not bothered. She's met all kinds of people from all sorts of places. She just rolls with it.]

Nice to meet you, Ichabod. Oh, hey! That's kind of a...fun name. Ichabod. Ichabod. Icha- oh! Sorry... [She puts her arm through his, but not like a dainty hand in the crook of his elbow, but full on arm-in-arm like they're about to skip down the yellow brick road.]

How do you like it so far?

[lichabod]

[ what is happening why isn't this woman-- ok. there we go that's better. arm in arm, and with such vigor! it seems to sufficiently calm crane's nerves, and he offers willow another polite smile. the sort a man who finds himself in a country amid a language he's never heard might smile and nod? yeah. that. ]

Ah-- well, thank you. Though without an opening dance, I hadn't been certain the ball had commenced. I had expected formality to match that of the squiring ceremony, but this-- [ whatever this celebration is supposed to be ] --is rather welcome in its composure.

[ nobody's told him to just say 'fine' and throw it back to his conversation partner, oops. ]

[generaldavideus]

[David is actually looking good tonight (disguise 19), which means either the lessons Lissa gave him are finally starting to sink in or someone else dressed him. Regardless, he's making his way around to each of the newly knighted, trying to help them at least put a face to one of the names in the room, if nothing else.]

Congratulations.

[Which will be followed by David extending a hand.]

David Levin.

[lichabod]

My deepest thanks.

[ crane has now had one horrific encounter at the ball and one less so. he returns david's shake of the hand eagerly with a brisk and firm grip, and a polite but tense smile. at least this exchange seems to be one he can handle without too much awkward. so far, anyway. ]

Ichabod Crane. A pleasure to meet you, Sir Levin.

[generaldavideus]

[Was the horrific encounter with Lucia because she may return to try and climb David like a tree. He doesn't mind babies.]

You as well. How did you find the knights?

[lichabod]

[ she is orange!!!!!!!! it was rather ... jarring. ]

They found me, actually. In Scotland. From what I hear that seems to be a common occurrence?

[procurer]

[ Hawley had actually missed the Ceremony (because does he look like a Pomp and Circumstance sort of person? No, no he does not.) but he wanders into the after-party with the intent of at least looking over the fresh meat for anything interesting and maybe to nab a drink or two.

Of course, his plans get derailed almost immediately because old Abraham Lincoln over there towers over just about everyone in a room anyway and this really isn't an exception.

Even so, he still does a double-take in surprise before uttering a soft, very heart-felt curse, and striding across the room. ]

Shit, Crane. When did you get here?

[lichabod]

Pardon?

[ is this guy ... some kind of time manager person? how dare you, crane was extremely punctual!!! ]

I arrived in time with the others after our squiring, I'll have you know. I wasn't aware I was expected anywhere presently.

[ WHY IS EVERYONE IN THIS WORLD SO RUDE ]

[procurer]

Not when you got here here. [ Hawley countered with an exasperated tone, waving at the room, because that's not the important matter. Must you always be so literal, man? ]

Mills and I have been here for a year now, and we've been watching for you - or any of the others - ever since we did. How long have you been here? Has anyone told Abbie? She's gonna flip her shit.

cranky old men unite! :D

[bythedreadwolf]

[ Solas wasn't sure if his presence had been expected at this Ceremony or not, but he'd shown up anyway - perhaps out of sheer curiosity more than anything, but it was interesting to watch as a spectator this time rather than a participant.

During the party afterwards, he ventured in to mingle a bit, but eventually the elven mage wanders up to one of the new squires with a polite smile and a light bow. ]

I'm doing well. It seems you survived your initiation quite flawlessly. Congratulations.

kids these days! and their newfangled contraptions! turn down that noise you call music!

[lichabod]

Thank you, that's very kind.

[ crane bows his head slightly in gratitude, segueing into an introduction that's obviously superfluous but serves his own purpose: ]

Ichabod Crane. Sir...?

get off my lawn!

[bythedreadwolf]

Solas.

[ The elf introduces himself with a faint smile. ]

Also recently arrived to this world and this Order. It is a bit overwhelming, is it not?

[recycling]

[ davin cleans up pretty nicely for a guy who once lived on the streets. he usually doesn't socialize a lot at these things, but he's trying to learn how to people so here he is. ] New guy, right?

[lichabod]

[ crane still feels assaulted when met so casually but he's got a little experience under his belt now and so only blinks like a million times instead of a zillion. ]

Yes, Ichabod Crane. [ he dips his head, and then offers his hand in greeting. ]

[recycling]

[ he picks up on the discomfort - dose heightened senses tho - and smirks a bit as he clasps his hand ] Davin. Also not a fan of this kind of thing.

[twistingveil]

[It's the fact that Crane himself seems to be something of a man out of time that draws Ashelia's attention; for all her misgivings considering her own squiring and the party that followed, she's more at ease with her surroundings by the time this one comes around, and opts to attend in order to get to know some of the new squires she assumes she'll be working with in the near future.

As he parts ways with another Knight, she smiles as she catches both his accent and his manners, and finally approaches when she sees he has an opening, a light wrap pulled around her shoulders to make the state of her left arm just a little less jarring.]

Sir Crane, isn't it? [She'd done her best to try and commit the names of the new squires to memory.] I'm Sir Lavellan-- [The title itself still feels strange, but she's trying to get used to it.] Ashelia. Another squire.

[lichabod]

[ less jarring but hardly unnoticable. crane can't help the way his eyes flick down and then back up again (curse his endless curiosity) to nod his affirmation, and dip into a bow in reply to her introduction. ]

Please-- call me Ichabod. May I? [ he raises out of the bow, and offers his own left elbow so that they may walk and talk. ]

[twistingveil]

[She can't help smiling at the bow, the show of formality-- it reminds her of home, as different as she sure their origins are, and while human formalities had been strange to her back there as well, it reminds her a little of Commander Cullen's awkward attempts to be polite, unsure of how to address her early on.]

Ichabod, then.

[She nods once, taking the offered arm.]

How is the castle treating you so far?