after-party ♔ october

[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 || October 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

desmond descant | ota

[nothingsodivine]

[des is here for the food (and dressed like he always dresses I AIN'T EVEN ROLLING), pretty much. he came all this way back to the castle, so he might as well hang out, eat the food, and pretend like his worldview hasn't dramatically shifted to the left. Thanks obama mark.

it's clear the real reason he's probably here and not sulking in a bar in london has nothing to do with free food though- any decent spot check can see he keeps watching elena, observing who she talks to, like he fully expects someone to make a scene about her walking free. it is, after all, her first public appearance.

#failboatsolidarity, okay. everyone else has bigger fish to fry right now and he's sitting here with a lot of impotent rage and nothing to do about it. might as well be protective big brother about elena.]

[daredtobelieve]

[Their last conversation wasn't exactly... light. But it's nice to see Des in the castle again, even if she is reminded of how resolute he is to keep that a very temporary endeavor. Her spot is 18 without mods so she's definitely noticed that his attention remains set on Elena through most of the night.]

I'm glad I'm not the only one still worried about her.

[Look, she brought you a drink and everything. They're starting to make a habit of this.]

[nothingsodivine]

[oh hai. des definitely still remembers that last conversation and he shifts awkwardly for a moment, before falling into the rhythm of natural conversation, trying to navigate the distance he put between them emotionally.]

She's a good kid, but she's grown up too fast. That makes her both fragile and incapable of thinking she's nothing short of invincible. [And more than that...] If she's not penitent, it's like blood in the water for some of them. She doesn't need a fight her first night back to normal.

[daredtobelieve]

[Her gaze moves back out to Elena as she moves about the ballroom. It's good to hear someone say the things she's thinking. It's good to know that someone close to the girl is still aware of the dangers she still faces- from others and from herself.]

She's lucky to have you, then.

[A beat as she tries to decide if she's imagining the awkward tension between them.]

I'm sorry, Mr Descant- for how I acted when we last spoke. It wasn't my place.

[nothingsodivine]

She needs someone. [someone who will let her make mistakes without chastising her or coddling her. someone who knows she might not make a better choice next time and that's okay, because they're her choices, for better or for worse.] Square pegs and round holes, y'know?

[speaking of square pegs... he closes his eyes and inhales, expression difficult to read.] Don't. It's okay, Helen. I know how you feel. It's pathetically lonely being like us.

[daredtobelieve]

[She feels better about Elena's team, knowing that Des is there. What he says next doesn't stop her from feeling foolish about her conversation with him, though.]

Regardless of how much you may understand the motivation behind my outburst, it was still incredibly rude of me to put you in that position. [Notice how she doesn't deny just how lonely she is at times.]

I'm afraid I find myself too comfortable around you. It's easy to forget that I've only actually known you for a short time. Even after our few meetings, I've come to think of you as a friend. And that made me less cautious with policing my reactions.

[nothingsodivine]

You're not the first and you won't be the last. [It's not really clear if he's talking about her putting him in that position or people getting too comfortable around him. Probably both- or more of the latter than the former.] You shouldn't have to police anything, Helen. I know I'm guarded as fuck, but I don't care if anyone else is. Don't apologize for having feelings or caring about me. [He's not gonna apologize for shooting her down, even if he does feel abysmal about it. He glances down at his feet.] Truth is, I care about you too, but I don't want you to get hurt, because I'm not... what you're expecting.

[airforceful]

[Carol has been out of the loop lately. Way out of the loop. Out of the atmosphere too, which might be why she doesn't have even the barest flicker of recognition when she approaches Des and... makes the wrong assumption.]

Hey, you're newish, right? [Not as new as the squires, of course, but she hasn't seen him. Seems like a decent guess.] Sorry, I've been out of the loop for a while. Why are people avoiding her?

[She means the girl you're staring at right now. She's sure noticed he's not the only one staring.]

[nothingsodivine]

[Des tilts his head at her and is about to correct her when she points out Elena and his mouth snaps closed, while he figures out how much he wants to say.]

She was young and headstrong, she paid for it, and Wynn's forgiven her for it. Meanwhile, the rest of this place don't know how to let a thing die.

[he shrugs.] Not a whole lot more to it than that.

[airforceful]

[Wis 15, which means that's enough for Carol to put things together.]

Oh, so that's Elena.

[nothingsodivine]

That's Elena. [He downs his drink, grimacing.] I'm just expecting someone to start shit.

[airforceful]

[She shrugs a shoulder.] People might surprise you. We've all made mistakes, especially when we were kids. And Wynn let her back in. They'll get over it.

[nothingsodivine]

The people who matter don't even care. [siiigh.] So who are you supposed to be? Aside from whimsically philosophical.

[likedillinger]

[ guess who's also hugging the food table off and on? it's inevitable that they'll bump into each other, and it happens when they both reach for the same plate of meatballs.

recognition flashes across dean's face instantly. ] You were at the castle, weren't you? The big showdown.

[nothingsodivine]

[Des could have taken the high road and pretended to play nice- after all, Dean hasn't offended him personally and his biggest sin is being hired by Wynn to hunt down Elena and having the audacity to have a job that Des doesn't like.

But he crit failed, so he casually spears a meatball with his fork.] Yeah. And you're the guy Wynn hired to hunt down Elena, and, apparently, you enjoyed it so much, you decided to stick around.

[likedillinger]

I was hired to hunt down the guy who betrayed your Knighthood, and bring Elena back for questioning. Think you've got your wires crossed, buddy. Or maybe you just want 'em that way.

[nothingsodivine]

I have this great habit of only seeing what I wanna see, it's true, but we're a little protective of our little doppelganger. And don't get me wrong- I love Wynn. One might even go a little bit over the line and say I respect him, but you don't send a hunter when you want a delicate touch.

[He shrugs.] But she's back in one piece, so I guess I owe you a kudos for not shooting her and calling it a loss.

[likedillinger]

Oh, so it's my fault that your boss decided to call me in. Yeah, you're right. It all makes sense now.

[nothingsodivine]

[Des almost chokes on his meatball.] First off? Wynn is not my boss. I don't work here. I got hired on same as you, except I think I'd look gauche in the armor, so that ain't gonna happen anytime soon. Second of all? Valid point. Allow me to point out two obvious facts, though. You're still a hunter. And this is still a Shadowkind-friendly organization. How's that working out so far?

[unforgivably]

[ a familiar face he doesn't remember hating. it's only been two months or so. but with a spot of 16, damon definitely notices where desmond's attention lies. uh, excuse me, he and his brother are the only ones who should be keeping tabs on her that hard. never mind his up and deserting everyone and not actually rescuing her. ]

I'd say you're a sight for sore eyes, but, vampire. Eyes never get sore. [ look away. from elena. please. ]

[nothingsodivine]

[he spares damon a glance and a nod and grin before shifting back to Elena.] Must save you from eating a lot of carrots.

[unforgivably]

We eat. No nutritional value, but we can eat. [ well, damn it. well, if you can't beat em, you join 'em, spot (12). he pinpoints elena again, clocks his brother. this must be the party for everyone to stare. maybe later there'll be a talking party. ] You a knight, yet?

[nothingsodivine]

Hell hasn't frozen over yet, so no. I'm not a knight. [He tosses a quiche into his mouth.] I'm still here on business.

[unforgivably]

Post-war business? Were you on Andres Isle?

[nothingsodivine]

I was. And it's the same business I've been on since this started. It's one big convoluted clusterfuck.