after-party ♔ june

[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 || June 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

[bowtimeandspace]

[ It would be a lie to say the Doctor hadn't noticed an air about the place. People seemed to be enjoying themselves only with reluctance, and so many never quite sharing eye contact for long enough that would mean anything. ]

What happened?

[ It's not just curiosity, but genuine concern too. ]

[trebond]

There was a spy.

[ she examines the faces of the crowd carefully, both with concern and with a creeping paranoia that it’ll happen again. ]

Slipped straight through our defenses, learned everything he could about us. It was part of a plot by Dimitris Sarandis. One of ours is still captive on his isle.

[bowtimeandspace]

[ His back straightens a little, alert, and the frown etches deeper into his brow. He doesn't know these people, but that doesn't matter. ]

And what are people doing? [ Quick, demanding. ]

Has anyone gone to find them?

[trebond]

Wynn has a plan, I’m certain. [ if there’s one thing alanna is sure of, it’s wynn’s commitment to this knighthood. he’s poured everything that he is into it—they’re family. the fact that he’s expected to lead and deliberate does not lesson the love she believes he has for each of them. some men were born to lead, no matter how heavy the crown. jon was the same. ] He won’t lose another Dragon’s Claw to Sarandis, but acting too quickly against the Andres Isle is a good way to get good people killed.

[bowtimeandspace]

Yes but does he know what it is yet? This plan?

[ It isn't as flippant as it sounds. The Doctor always has plans, half realised, or plans he starts before he even knows where they end. He can't be alone in that, can he? ]

[trebond]

He's got knights on it. Not my team, so I'm not familiar with the details, unfortunately. [ she waves a hand. ] A few have been on the same mission for years now, related to all this madness with Sarandis. Whatever his plan is, it'll be them enacting it.

[bowtimeandspace]

Years? [ he seems intrigued by that. what could be so involved that people would take years to solve. it makes him think there's a lot more to most of this than meets the eye. he really wouldn't be surprised ]

That'll be why the parties then. Helps people forget what's really going on.

[trebond]

Years. [ she nods. ] They left around the time I joined. The parties have been going on much longer than that, though. We like to celebrate those brave enough to join us.

[bowtimeandspace]

[ well, he can't argue with that. it's a good thing to honour, bravery, and it can be found in the strangest of places. he turns his head a little, looking around the room, and then looks back to her with a conspiratorial look. ]

Right then. Who should I be looking out for?

[trebond]

[ that gets a grin out of her and she leans in, pointing to sir solace as discreetly as she can. ] That's Sir Solace. He's Head of the Dragon's Light. About as exciting as a rug, that one. [ her eyes skim the crowd and she drops her hand. ] There are a great deal of knights who aren't here tonight. You'll have to use your own judgment on them, I suppose.

[bowtimeandspace]

[ he smirks a bit at her description, and glances around to see who she's pointing at. ] Solace by name, solace by nature, eh? [ his eyes flick back to hers, and his brow raises a little ] so where are they they?

[trebond]

Oh, I'm sure some are out on a mission somewhere, but more than likely they simply didn't see the point in coming to a party only to stand around moping. [ she shrugs. ] It seems they had more forethought than some of us.

[bowtimeandspace]

If all you can do is stand around moping, then maybe that's exactly why you should be coming to a party. Feeling sad is the best excuse for doing something that makes you smile.

[trebond]

Or it could simply bring down a party meant to be about someone else. I'm sure it's not self-interest that keeps them stewing rather than dancing.

[bowtimeandspace]

And what about the people that keep themselves away? What about bringing them down? Nothing wrong with being happy when you're sad, you know. In fact sometimes it's all there is.

[trebond]

I don't think happiness in times of sorrow is quite so easy for all as party attendance. It would be nice if it were, though.

[bowtimeandspace]

Oh happiness is never easy. People always think it is, but it's not. It doesn't take much to look past a smile and see how difficult it really is to make.

[trebond]

I wonder: has anyone ever told you that you're terribly dreary?

[bowtimeandspace]

[ It probably shouldn't seem to strike as much as it does, but it's so in contrast to what people usually say about him, it seems to cut sharply. He doesn't really know who he is any more. His expression falls a little, and his old eyes look sad. ]

No. No I can't say they have.

[trebond]

Terrible things may happen, that’s one thing, but never? [ she shakes her head. ] If you aren’t happy, you aren’t where you need to be. Happiness is easy for happy people, and it’s hard not to be if you’re doing what you ought to be.

[bowtimeandspace]

[ And there, right there, maybe she's struck a little too close to the truth. But then there have been plenty times he's done what he ought to be, but maybe too much that simply holds him back. He looks down, as though he can't possibly meet her gaze, needing to steel himself before he does. ]

Yes. Yes well maybe you're right.

[trebond]

And what about you, John? Are you where you believe you need to be?

[bowtimeandspace]

Ah, now isn't that the question.

[ He wishes he could answer it and be sure, wishes he could truly know either way. But he doesn't, not yet. ]

I suppose we'll find out, won't we?

[trebond]

We will indeed.

Regardless, I hope you enjoy the party. It is for you, after all.

[bowtimeandspace]

[ He smiles a little, and touches his finger against the tip of his top hat ]

Ah, well that's one thing I always do.

[ And he's lying, of course, but not really trying to be wholly convincing, not this time. ]