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

[lichabod]

[ despite its quiet humorlessness, crane's laugh is cacophony. it doesn't belong, this anomalous sound grating against his disbelief and his swirling memories of war and death. now, there is yet another layer to pile atop his constant confusion and displacement in this world.

he has to choose whether to accept or deny it, now. ]

That's-- this is nonsense. I've never seen you before in my life, and I certainly don't know anyone called Abbie. That's hardly even a real name.

[ in this moment, disconnecting is safest. he's english, damn it. his upper lip is going to remain quite stiff in the face of a silly fellow and his odd accent. ]

[procurer]

[ Hawley's expression shows equal frustration, uncommonly honest with the man in front of him where before it had often been games, half-truths and dancing around a topic. Not now, though. Not about this. It was too important. To Abbie, at least, if not to him. ]

Mills, Crane. Abbie Mills. Your partner, your other Witness. The two of you have been attached at the hip since I met you. I got the impression that had been true since you woke up. If I thought you'd joke about something like this, I'd be damned pissed at you right now, so I'll buy you not remembering me - they say the Veil does weird shit to people who come through it sometimes - but please tell me you remember Abbie. She's been stuck here over a year now without you.

[lichabod]

[ crane's brow smoothes as one of them quirks upward. he raises his voice, polite and pleasant as if speaking to someone a bit slow, and a bit deaf: ]

I don't know you. I know no Mills'. [ he then bows his head and begins to step away. ] I'm sorry for your mistake, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the festivities.

[ extricating himself from this situation seems most prudent, and so crane turns to continue his exit. ]

[procurer]

What about Abraham? And Katrina?

[ Hawley's voice is mild as he calls after Crane, crossing his arms over his chest as he waits. ]

Do you know them?

[lichabod]

[ ichabod, stay with me... ]

How dare you speak her name--

[ he's blinded by the shock of his wife's name upon some stranger's lips. his long legs bring him back to hawley quickly and he reaches to grab at nick's lapels, shaking with anger and confusion (grapple 5 ahahahahaha) so... in his furious indecision it winds up being more of a pat-down. nice pecs bro! ]

[procurer]

[ Hawley's gaze merely drops down to where the man is currently attempting to manhandle him, more amused by the attempt than irritated by it, although he does catch Crane's wrist in a tight grip to cease his motions, [Attack of Opportunity: 17+2=19] content now that he has the man's attention again. ]

Hey, calm down. The last time I saw her, she seemed fine with me speaking her name, cut the jealousy crap. And don't wrinkle my suit.

[lichabod]

[ the wind knocked out of his sails, crane searches this face that he has no recollection of, who speaks so freely about his life and secrets, and only holds crane lest he commit further physical perturbation. ]

You've seen her?

[ abraham, even crane's identity as witness-- neither is as important to him as the chance to see his love again. his voice wavers at her name, desperately hoping that this hawley will simply take him into the next room and there she will be. ]

Please. Where is Katrina?

[ he knows better, but what is he to do? she is his hope and his light. ]

[procurer]

[ The plea catches him off guard as everything in this conversation has so far and he exhales deeply, shaking his head, although he tugs Crane's hand free of his lapels with a wry grimace. ]

I don't know. I haven't seen her here. Until you showed up, it was just Abbie and me, we haven't seen anyone else from Sleepy Hollow, and believe me, I've tried looking. When I saw her was back before I got shoved through the Veil, back in Sleepy Hollow, with the rest of you.

[lichabod]

My apologies.

[ through a haze, crane is easily manipulated, and pulls his hands back as hawley moves him away. quickly, he works to pull unflappability back around himself, though the mirage of such is now assuredly shattered for any in attendance. once again he must set katrina aside temporarily. ]

Perhaps we might retire elsewhere and work on reconciling our memories.

[ he steps back yet again but unlike last time, it's an open gesture. aside the unflappability there is an air of freshly-donned humility. ]

[procurer]

[ Hawley eyes him warily a moment, debating, before giving the man a clipped nod. ] Yeah, that sounds pretty necessary at the moment. Here. [ Snagging a glass of champagne off a nearby table, he all but shoves it at the other man before downing one himself. Much better. ] You look like you need one of these as much as I do at the moment.

Come on. We can use one of the balconies over here to talk. It'll be quieter.

[lichabod]

[ the flute presses to crane's lips and he splutters as they start to move, unable to keep his commentary to himself after a second sip: ]

So the French finally gave in to Britain's tastes.

[ though champagne doesn't top crane's list of priorities, his smug smirk indicates that his british pride certainly does. the bubbles prevailed! as good a toast as any, crane sets to finishing off the rest of the contents happily. ]

[procurer]

[ Nick just snorts. ]

Yeah, you remind yourself of that when you rediscover lattes.

[ The words are tossed over his shoulder as he maneuvers his way through the crowd of squires and knights filling the room, making his way to one of the doors on the far side, stepping out into the cool open air and finding the little space blessedly empty. Turning, he waits for Crane to catch up and join him. ]

What do you remember from Sleepy Hollow?

[lichabod]

[ a brief moment, crane's features twist into confusion and he's about to ask what a latte is, but hawley's query stops him in his tracks. it's very plain that he's trying to figure out what to say. well-- not what. if.

it takes him a beat.

and another. ]

I died.

[ his chin lifts, obvious pride in the completion of his task telegraphing beyond just those two words. he died and took a demon with him. ]

[procurer]

[ That... hadn't been the answer Hawley was expecting. ]

You what?

[lichabod]

I was slain in combat, as I felled my opponent in kind. The last I remember was laying in a medical tent as Katrina attended me.

[ his shoulders, and pride, deflate. ]

Her voice is the last sound I heard, before...

[ he gestures to the air around them. what are words? ]

[procurer]

[ This doesn't make any sense. ]

Wait, wait, back up a minute here.

When did you die? Are we talking Shakespearean time here or after I left you in Sleepy Hollow with Mills? Which opponent are we talking about? Because Abbie didn't say anything about you dying in some tent.

[lichabod]

[ the continued line of questioning prompts crane to endeavor. to find within the furthest reaches in himself a reserve of patience with which he may weather this continued interaction. ]

Are you hard of hearing?

[ well-- patience is something he's still working on. without a clue about katrina to follow, crane wonders why he's entertaining this conversation at all. but despite the doubt, he proceeds. ]

I don't know you, and I don't know any Mills'. I died in the war with my wife at my side. The war is my last memory of Sleepy Hollow.

[procurer]

[ Well. That.... put some things into perspective and complicated literally everything else. ]

You didn't die.

[ Nick rubbed a hand over his face, because Abbie should be the one here explaining this, not him. She'd been there in person, after all, and she'd always gotten on between with Crane than he had. Which was to say at all, because he and Crane weren't so good at the whole getting along thing. ]

Katrina did something. Put you to sleep, put you under a spell, I don't know all the magic witchy details, but I do know that somehow your fate was tied to the Headless guy. When he woke up, so did you, but it was 2013 and Abbie was the one that ended up... reorienting you, I guess.