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

[unlost]

[Snow has likely been looking for Emma since the party first began, so when the dark-haired woman spots her, her heels also click quickly against the floor, helping her close the space between them faster than it would have otherwise.

She's...not answering that question right away, instead throwing her arms around her daughter's neck, hugging her tightly.]

I had no idea you were even here.

[Said into her blonde curls.]

[uncurse]

I—

[ The hug catches her off guard, seemingly knocking the wind from her, because she stiffens awkwardly. A beat later, she melts into it, arms wrapping sturdily around Snow. She's relieved, truly, to see her. All this time, she's been searching: it's hard to accept that it's really over. Her mother's been here the whole time. ]

Yeah. Likewise.

[ She draws back, eyes flicking over Snow's features. ]

After we went through that portal, I wasn't sure I'd see you again.

[unlost]

[She draws back as well, tiny dots of wetness in the corners of her eyes.]

You have no idea how good it is to see you.

[Or maybe she did, it didn't matter. When she'd first gotten here, she'd felt so alone, and now...now it was like regaining some piece of herself that she'd lost.

She gives Emma a sad expression though at those words.]

Emma I...I'm sorry. I don't have any idea what you're talking about. What portal?

[uncurse]

You …

[ Withdrawing her hands fully at long last, Emma raises one to gesture behind her as if vaguely into the past. ]

From the Enchanted Forest. You don't remember? With Cora, and the wardrobe ashes, we were— [ And she probably sounds like a fucking crazy person right now. The enthusiasm drains slowly out of her face. ] You don't remember anything but Storybrooke, do you?

[unlost]

[Snow's smile is sad as she looks at her daughter, as if she feels bad for what she's about to tell her.]

It's...complicated. [She breathes in through her nose before her breath comes out in a whoosh before she tries to explain.] I remember...lots of things, and at the same time almost nothing at all. I remember you, your father, Henry, nearly everyone I've ever met. I know their names, who they are, who they used to be, but I can't remember a single detail about my past, what I've done, or why I feel the way I do.

[She tilts her head.]

I remember you, I know that you're my daughter, but I don't even remember how we met. I just have this...feeling that I didn't get to watch you grow up, but I don't know why.

[Her brain has been a very confusing place.]

[uncurse]

[ It's better than it could have been. In fact, it's everything important. Relief begins to flow through her, but Emma stoppers it as Snow finishes. While Snow might not be able to remember certain things, Emma definitely does. ]

I do.

[ She straightens, turning her gaze across the ballroom to the peacocking queen snapping at the peasants approaching her. Everything that's happened, it goes back to Regina. Having her here feels surreal because it means somehow, Wynn doesn't find her accountable for that. Thinks that she of all people is a hero. ]

[unhappily]

[ she doesn't have to look very far. guess why.

that peacock is RIGHT BEHIND HER. 8) because what this moment needed was some being ruined by regina.

she walks right past emma without a second glance, stopping beside snow, who she seems to already know by the way she jumps right into conversation. ] Where does Wynn find half of these people?

[unlost]

All over the place.

[Snow turns to look at Regina with a smile as she comes up beside her before looking back at Emma, with a very meaningful expression in her eyes.

It says "Play along."]

Emma, I'd like you to meet Regina. She's my new squire.

[uncurse]

[ Luckily, Emma chose this moment to roll a natural 20 on her wisdom check to be on Mary Margaret's level. ]

Regina!

[ Emma blurts out the name quickly as Snow introduces her, turning and slapping on a genial look that's actually fairly convincing (bluff 23). Slowly, she reaches one hand out. ] I'm Emma. One of those people. [ Sheepishly added, that is. ] Not to pry, but … you two seem friendly. [ She looks between them, pointedly meeting Mary Margaret's eyes like guRL. ] Were you the one who brought her in?

[unhappily]

[ I DON'T THINK SHE SUSPECTS ANYTHING GUYS. probably because she's busy looking at emma's hand like 8/ for a moment before gingerly accepting it with a flinch of her lip that might be an attempt at a smile. ] She was. And she was annoyingly persistent about it too.

[unlost]

Well, we can always use more help and you're clearly very adept at what you do, Regina. I couldn't possibly let you slip away.

[This is totally about redemption. Gonna make The Evil Queen into a better person, yep.

ITS TOTALLY GOING TO WORK OUT.]

[uncurse]

Well, that's a rave review if I've ever heard one.

[ And a fairly solid handshake. Not being gentle with this queen at all. ]

What is it exactly that you do? [ Because so fucking help us all if the answer is magic and Snow is encouraging this shit. ]

[unhappily]

[ she frowns a bit at the handshake, but meets it just as firmly. ] Magic. Which Snow implied several others could do here as well.

[unlost]

[Snow nods, looking perfectly fine with all this magic business.]

There's actually an entire sect dedicated to it. I'm sure that, once you're ready, they'll find you a fantastic addition.

[Remember, Emma? Her memories all are kinds of weird. Magic is bad?]

[uncurse]

[ Drops her hand like it's hot. ]

I—Yeah, absolutely. The Dragon's Fire.

[ She looks between them, nodding as if she's eager to help when she's really ready to stab herself in the face. ]

That's my sect. [ Beat. ] The one I'm a part of, that is. Hasmed's the section leader, you should talk to him. [ Offering a pleasant look to Regina. ]

[unhappily]

Is he here now?

[unlost]

I'm sure he is...let's see.

[She glances quickly around the room before she points him out (spot 24).]

There he is. Do you want to go introduce yourself?

[uncurse]

Go for it.

[ Emma encourages with absolutely no ulterior motive to get her mother alone and ask what the hell is going on. ]

He'll give you the spiel, tell you all about what it is we do in the Dragon's Fire. See if it's your speed.

[unhappily]

I think I will. [ she says, as if it were her idea in the first place :| ] I'll be happy to leave the name squire behind as soon as possible. [ and off she goes~ ]

[unlost]

Just come find me if you have any questions or need me for anything.

[And then she watches Regina's retreating back as if...procrastinating.

When she finally looks back at Emma, her smile is a copy of a kid's after he gets caught with his hand in the cookie jar.]

Don't be mad.

[uncurse]

You brought Regina here?

[ She rounds on her mother the minute the Evil Queen's out of earshot. ]

What the hell were you thinking!?

[unlost]

She was alone and confused and...Emma, she barely remembers anything.

[Her eyes are full of hope, her smile clearly confident.]

It's the perfect opportunity.

[uncurse]

To do what? Burn the castle down? I don't know if you noticed, but amnesia doesn't seem to have changed her for the better.

[unlost]

[Snow sighs.]

When I mean barely? I mean barely. Regina...knows she's a queen, but not how or why. [Granted, neither did Snow, all she knew was that she was previously a terrible person, but without context it didn't...mean as much.] She doesn't remember her mother. [Again, she knows who Cora is, and that she was horrible, but nothing beyond that.] She doesn't remember anything that's ever been done to her or what she's done to others.

[She tries to explain further.]

She thinks she deserves power, and that's dangerous of course, but I don't think the hate or the pain behind it is...quite there anymore. Not without memories to give them strength. She could be a better person. Of all people, I was the one to find her and she let me bring her here. To help her. I have to at least try.

[uncurse]

And you remember so much more?

[ Harsh, perhaps, but as far as Emma's concerned, harsh is precisely what Snow needs right now. Glancing around hastily, she drops her voice, stepping in closer. There's something imploring about her tone—less gut instinct frustration, more reason. ]

She is the reason we lost everything. If it weren't for Regina, we wouldn't be here. [ Well, she can't know that, but it seems like a safe bet since they wouldn't have been moving between worlds at all. ] And David … [ Uh oh. ]