knightsoflegend | after-party ♔ october

♬ 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[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.]

[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.

[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.

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.

[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.

Edited 2015-01-05 06:28 (UTC)

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.

[She turns to face him more fully.]

Just what is it that you think I'm expecting?

I think you're expecting someone capable of being a decent person consistently for once in his life and let's be honest, my sense of human decency directly correlates to how I'm feeling at the time. I can go from thinking the needs of many override the needs of a few and suddenly willing to burn a place down for the sake of one person. I run hot and cold. I don't follow any real set moral guidelines. And people want me to. People always want me to.

[now who's getting emotional. it's possibly he's not even talking about her anymore.]

Oh, Des... [She doesn't often use the nickname. But her heart is breaking for him.]

People will always want the world from you, yes. But I don't expect anything of you. Others might- others likely do without even realizing it. And you might be right. I may have some subconscious hope for what might come of you being here, but--

[she lets out a small sigh]

I don't know. I'm not often like this, you know.

I have this tendency to bring out things in people. [sometimes good things, but not always. he shrugs, but the gesture is half-hearted.] But I appreciate it, Helen. It gets to you know? People thinking you're something you're not, wanting you to be better and thinking it's for your own good... And hell, I do it too. I'm just as guilty of it as everyone else. [that gets a bitter laugh out of him.] We all think we know better than everyone else how people should be. And the only person who really knows is us. No one can tell you you're a good person and expect you to follow up. No one can call you a hero and expect you not to break carrying that mentle, all while wondering if you really wanted to be to start with. It's about feeling, knowing what needs to be done, more than doing what's expected or what the world thinks you should. And if it's wrong...

[Des sticks his tongue to the roof of his mouth, as if suddenly realizing something.] ...Then that was your choice, because it might not have felt wrong to you. It might not ever feel wrong.

[He swallows.] I owe someone an apology.

Edited 2015-01-05 19:22 (UTC)

[She has no idea who it he's referring to when he says he owes someone an apology, but she can tell that something in this conversation has brought up some good, which is all she can ever ask for.]

Maybe you're not the only one who brings out things in people.

[There's a bit of amusement there because...she already knew that about herself.]

Can I ask a favor? The life that I've lead has caused people to seemingly disappear in a flash, one moment there and the next gone. Not truly, of course. But time begins to blur, as I'm sure you understand. So what I'm hoping is that when you do leave-- and I do understand that it will happen at some point- I'd like the chance to say goodbye. I've lost too many friends without the chance, you see. I would hate to have to add you to the list.

[Des stares at her for a moment, probably running through his track record of promises made and broken and wondering if he really needs to add to that list, but this one's simple enough.]

I think I can manage that. [he holds out a hand so they can shake on it.] You'll see me before I go. Promise.

[She takes his hand, but instead of shaking it, uses it to pull him closer so that she can place a brief kiss to his cheek.]

I'll hold you to it.

[He squeezes her hand as he pulls away, still smiling warmly.] Enjoy the rest of the party, Peaches.

after-party ♔ october

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