after-party ♔ april

[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 || April 1st, 2014, 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

[daredtobelieve]

And what sort of crowd is that?

[nothingsodivine]

The honorable, jump-into-any-danger-regardless-of-whether-or-not-you-might-have-a-personal-investment crowd. Hero-types.

[daredtobelieve]

Ahh.. I see. And none of that would describe you, I take it?

[She already doesn't buy that, for the record.]

[nothingsodivine]

I tend to need a personal investment in something before I'll do anything. That or a nice paycheck. In Wynn's case, I got both.

[daredtobelieve]

Well, it's certainly not my place to disagree. It is a shame that you won't be sticking around.

[She just assumes you will be heading out soon.]

[nothingsodivine]

Given the rate this case has been going, I'll probably be stuck here for two years.

[daredtobelieve]

Well you don't have to seem so thrilled about it.

[nothingsodivine]

Well, I haven't completely hated the company of members of... Wynn's castle of misfit toys, I guess. Except Archer.

[daredtobelieve]

Careful Mr. Descant- or it may seem like you're trying a bit too hard not to like us. [She gives him a look that reads 'I'm on to you.' Even if she's wrong, Helen tends to trust her gut.] I for one haven't had a proper dance in quite some time, so I'll be happy to call on you while you're here, now that I know you're more than capable.

['Some time' is a handful of decades. She's been in this world for about forty years and remembers the greater part of the 150 she lived before that. Helen doesn't open with her extended lifespan, but she doesn't hide it either. With so many supernatural races, it's hardly uncommon. The only thing that makes her unique is the fact that she remains completely human otherwise.]

[nothingsodivine]

Careful making offers like that of strangers, peaches. I might have a jealous lover.

[He raises an eyebrow, smirking in a way that's more teasing than anything.]

[daredtobelieve]

You might, but something tells me you wouldn't be here dancing with me at all if you did.

[nothingsodivine]

You never know. I might like the allure of danger. Or a good cat fight.

[He smirks.] Or they're not the jealous type, and they know sometimes I feel like getting back to my roots.

[Not that... the deep south was ever his true roots, but for those who don't get to know how old he really is, that's all that matters.] It's a little different when you're not maneuvering around a hoop skirt.

[daredtobelieve]

You're right. I wouldn't know. So why don't you tell me something true rather than speaking all these hypotheticals and possibilities.

[nothingsodivine]

Don't go in for the easy requests or anything. [RESPECT HIS OBSCURITY AND CONSTANT NEED TO LIE, HELEN.

He sticks his tongue in his cheek and thinks about it.] I'm a detective. I am actually seeing someone, but believe me that someone would find this amusing, so that's something you don't have to worry about. And I wasn't yanking your chain about the hoopskirt thing. Antebellum south was a decent time for waltzing, but the fashion... eesh. My heart still bleeds. [He cants his head.] There. Less obscure.

[daredtobelieve]

[His personal life isn't really her top concern. He's just happy to hear that she won't have death threats in the morning for whisking him about the dance floor. What is interesting is the admission about hoop skirts and times long gone.]

Seeing as that was well over a century ago, I imagine you've got quite a few stories. And we may have more in common than I first realized.

[nothingsodivine]

I have a lot in common with most Shadowkind who've been around long enough to be jaded. [He assumes she's Shadowkind. There aren't any humans like him, as far as he knows.]

[daredtobelieve]

Shadowkind in that I journeyed through the Veil roughly 40 years ago. But I can assure you that I am very human.

[nothingsodivine]

[He misses a step and has to stop, lest he trip over his own feet.] Excuse me?

[daredtobelieve]

[She looks terribly amused.]

Oh I see that's grabbed your attention.

[nothingsodivine]

Most humans don't live for centuries. It's kind of a thing.

[A thing he thought he was alone with.]

[daredtobelieve]

And I'm the first you've met, I take it. I'll admit, it's the same for me.

[But she takes it in stride, though she is very curious.]

Pardon the intrusion but- did something happen to you, or have you always been this way?

[nothingsodivine]

[He swallows and looks away.] Something happened, all right. Not that I can really remember it being any different.

[daredtobelieve]

[Its more than obvious that its not a story he would feel like sharing. So she'll start with her own tale and see if that makes him any more comfortable.]

I studied at Oxford as a girl. It was long before they actually let women attend, mind you. I was eager to prove myself, so I made it my business to continue my father's work, delving into genetic abnormalities, specifically those that manifested in abilities- though we did also have a great interest in locating entirely new species as well.

[Realizing that she's getting off topic, she gives an embarrassed smile.]

We came upon a sample of blood from an ancient powerful race, long dead. From that sample we derived a serum and a very risky experiment produced extraordinary results. That was some 200 years ago, give or take.

[nothingsodivine]

You did it to yourself.

[quietly. a bit measured.]

[daredtobelieve]

We had no way of knowing what would happen. Each of the five of us developed a gift, presumably something latent in our genetic make up. It took some time for mine to become clear, as the simple act of carrying on isn't all that obvious at first.