The Honorary Ball

[ST]

AHH WE'RE HERE! It's been quite a journey.

You can start by having your character enter the ballroom (with their date, if they have one.) At first they can just socialize, dance, do whatever they want to do until everyone arrives. Feel free to have them dance with a random person if you really want that. I don't mind at all if you guys want to make up NPCs for this sort of thing. It can't hurt. ^_^

Because I are lazy, I made this ghetto little blueprint of what I'm imagining the ballroom to be like. XD I gleaned what I could from the dancing scene in the actual game, but it doesn't give you much to go on. So a lot of this image is invented.

i193.photobucket.com/albums/z167/trinakening/ghetto_ballroom.gif

Yeah. -_- That officially makes me the laziest person ever, I know. *looks at it and cringes, reminded of Rinoa's train* But it was an easier way to convey things! ;_;

Anyway, when everyone is present, I'll have Xu call them up for their honors and junk. ^.^

---

Softly titillating music, courtesy of the much-respected Dolletian Orchestra, filled the dome-shaped arena. The Balamb SeeD Band usually played for the Garden Balls, but this particular Ball was a little more special. Underneath the sound of Roses and Wine, there were snatches of jovial conversation and the sound of heels against marble. Every now and then a bout of laughter echoed against the walls.

Behind the stage and orchestra an enormous dark blue banner hung, light glinting off of the golden text. It read, "Thank you, Team Trinity."

[Polaris Lyn]

Polaris absently hunkered down just outside the entrance to the ballroom to fix the straps of her stiletto heels. The skirts of her asymmetrical dress floated along the floor, but luckily nobody stepped on her. The stilettos were killer, but her dress was entirely too short for her to wear something more comfortable, and she had to keep up appearances after all.

“Is this a ritual before a dance?” asked a drawling, sarcastic voice, and Polaris straightened and turned to see a sharply-dressed man with sardonic eyes. “Sit on the floor and hyperventilate for a while?”

“Your charm,” Polaris deadpanned, “is impeccable as always, Teru.”

Teru simply held out his arm for Polaris to take. She obliged; she needed a date anyway.

“I heard,” Teru said casually as they strolled into the room, “that Blaze Sanaku has a date tonight. With a boy.” He raised his eyebrows at the prospect of Blaze socializing. “Right after I heard the news, there was a drop in temperature. Hell freezing over and all.”

---

Teru: www.bloggang.com/data/merveillesxx/picture/1125239303.jpg

[Lawric]

*_* Teru is friggin' hot.

---

Lawric stepped into to the ballroom, date on arm and in tow. He felt very suave in his pristine white suit. It was a rather expensive number he'd picked up on a whim, passing through one of Esthar's premier shopping districts one morning during his travels. Not that he'd had the money for it. Back then, he had good credit. Now? Not so good credit. Not so good, at all.

He found himself momentarily jerked off balance when Jaime made a slightly jostling motion, grabbing at his shoulder to keep from falling. She was hopping a little on one leg while fooling around with a heel. He looked away, surveying the ballroom. He was jerked again as she struggled, leaning against him and then pulling away as she needed, pressing her hand into his shoulder and trying to maintain balance. This time he had to change his footing to keep from tripping over her or himself. She wasn't even trying to be unobtrusive.

"Jaime, please," Lawric mumbled, looking down at Jaime with a slight frown. Of course Deo had snagged pleasant little well-mannered Vanesse when they decided to pair up. Of course.

He didn't prefer not to have Jaime on his arm--she looked beautiful tonight, so much so that it was actually somewhat humbling--just... underneath the dress and makeup, she was still very much 'Jaime.' And she was going to be 'Jaime' all night. Patience, he told himself. It was going to be key.

"Do you need help or something?" he asked.

[waterlily43]

Jaime glanced at Lawric.

"Well, d'uh. Can't you see I'm having trouble with my shoe? If I don't fix it now I'd trip all over myself and you'd have to carry me for the entire night." She smirked cheekily. "Of course I wouldn't mind but your arms aren't up to the challenge. NOW if you don't want that to happen..." She started putting her even more pressure into his shoulder deliberately, knowing it would annoy him even further. It was funny how she knew exactly what to do to make him crease his face with deep frowns, which usually wasn't that easy for other people. She was 'special' to him...although using the word special was kind of a stretch.

She decided to test his patience and strength and balance all at the same time, practically leaning her entire body upon his shoulder.

"Don't move. If you make me fall I'll make you regret it for the rest of the evening." She threatened.

[Lawric]

"Of course I wouldn't mind but your arms aren't up to the challenge."

Lawric's 'slight' frown immediately became a full-on scowl. Excuse me? Her smarmy little attitude and cheeky smile only annoyed him further.

"NOW if you don't want that to happen..."

Suddenly she clamped her hand down on his shoulder and pushed all of her weight into the grip, leaning against him very heavily and obviously very deliberately. He stumbled a bit--the sudden movement unexpected. "Don't move. If you make me fall I'll make you regret it for the rest of the evening." she threatened, just as he found his balance.

"If you fall, it's because you're a klutz." he countered. The rebellious side of him wanted to move, but his wiser instincts told him she wasn't lying when she said she'd make him regret it. He turned slightly and placed his hands at her waist, stabilizing her. "Put your foot on the ground, Jaime." He commanded dryly.

When she complied, he knelt down before her. What he then saw only fueled his aggravation. It was a very simple buckle. She had been working at it for, like, a minute straight. What was so hard about a damn buckle? It was small, yes, but it was only a buckle! Only you, Jaime, he thought, resisting the urge to shake his head. He took the two small straps between his fingers and fit them together easily.

Rising, he met her gaze. "Think we can pretend to be graceful now?"

[junkuroki]

Jaime's mouth opened indignantly, before closing and frowning angrily at Lawric.

"It's not as easy as you make it out to be! Do you know how hard it is to try balancing on a high heel while coordinating your feet and fingers to fasten it? Could you do it with one hand? Huh? Can you? Don't criticise if you've never worn something like this before." She complained, not even bothering to thank him for fixing the shoe for her.

-------------

Zacke was pulling Jun into the ballroom eagerly. She had to smile at his enthusiasm, like a little kid on an excursion. She had to admit, this ball wasn't such a bad idea after all. It gave all of them a chance to mingle in a setting other than always on a mission.


"Jaime, Lawric." Jun came up and greeted them upon spotting the couple near the entrance, pulling Zacke with her this time.

She glanced at their peculiar position with interest, for Lawric had bent down and appeared to be fiddling with Jaime's shoe strap. "Haha are you guys playing out the Cinderella story? Trying to find the foot that fits the shoe?"

/Yeah, great start to conversation. I don't even have the words to describe how lame that was./

You're just sore that you can't attend the ball, so leave me alone. Jun snorted at him, maintaining a teasing smile on her face.

[Hadrian D'arcell]

There's no picture of your suitXD I can't find it, so tough luck Hadrian.
---------------------------------------------------

The fresh scent of white roses hung in the air as Hadrian passed by the girl's dormitory. His red-dyed hair was brushed back. He wore a black collared long-sleeve matched with a bronze vest. His black suit was hanging over his shoulder, hooked on the collar by his fingers. Who needed a SeeD uniform when you can look good like this? Plus, they were the honorary guests. A camcorder was pasted on his other hand, filming every good-looking girl that came by him.

He saw some of the girls giggle at him through his screen, and he just grinned at them in return. It was either he looked good, or they were at the elevator this morning--right when he suddenly decided to make a fool of himself. Whatever it was, he didn't mind it at all. What he just found out in front of his terminal this morning was worth the humiliation.

66...6

66...7

Ah, here we are. 668. The thick metal door was slightly scraped, and Hadrian thought that this had to be it. For a second there, he wondered what Blaze chose to wear for the Ball? A bone for a headdress and ripped curtains perhaps?

He pressed the intercom beside her door, and casually said, "Blaze? Are you awake? It's Hadrian. Let's go." There was no need for a lame pickup line.

Smirking, he pointed his camcorder to the door and hit record. Filming Blaze coming out in a ridiculous dress would be priceless.

Anytime now, milady....

[Stella]

Slipping into places unnoticed was something that Stella had become good at over the years. The Ball was no different. People were wrapped up in their dates and dances and no one noticed the girl in the flowing green dress as she stepped quietly through the doors.

The music was lovely and so were the people dancing as they twirled across the floor. She thought she even caught site of the Commander and Rinoa out there doing their thing. It almost made her want to barf.

Grabbing a glass of wine she headed toward a bench situated in front of one of the tall windows of the Garden. Sinking down onto it she took a long drink of the alcohol gazing out at the land below and the ocean beyond. It was indeed a beautiful night.

[Zacke]

Zacke went from being the pull-er to the pull-ee when Jun suddenly spotted Lawric and Jaime and veered toward them. He followed along, helpless to her will.

"Haha are you guys playing out the Cinderella story? Trying to find the foot that fits the shoe?"

Lawric smirked. "Jaime doesn't know how buckles work." He said it that way on purpose. Just to hopefully embarrass her a little.

"Hey, that's okay." Zacke grinned and looked at Jaime. "At least she got the shoes on the right feet, right? Sometimes I have a hard time with that." He looked at Jaime and winked, showing he was kidding. Okay, maybe he was going a little overboard with the friendliness. But this girl seemed nice. And it would be silly to let the altercation over what Karma said come between him and a perfectly good potential friend. Plus, he didn't want anyone to think of him as cruel and uncaring. He had to show this girl there was more to him than what she saw.

"So, have you guys ever been to a SeeD Ball before?" He asked Lawric and Jaime.

[jaimelewis]

Jaime wasn't embarrassed by Lawric's statement about not knowing how buckles work. Not at all. She was just...alright she was embarrassed. Who wanted to have it blabbed in front of everyone she was a butterfingers who can't fasten her own shoes?

She elbowed Lawric subtly in the ribs while maintaining a cheery smile on her face.

"OH you guys look great. Is that suit designer wear? Lawric you would know won't you? You spend loads of gils on your clothes everytime. Worse than a girl, I swear." She winked at Zacke, then grinned cheekily at both him and Jun.

"I have never been to a SeeD ball, even though I used to be a cadet here. Never graduated." She shrugged. "But now that we have a chance I'll be sure to have fun! Right Lawric?" She looped an arm around his arm and tugged him closer to her with yet another blinding grin.

[Lawric]

Lawric couldn't help but be distracted a bit by Jun's appearance. Her smile was radiant. That shade of blue looked amazing on her, and the dress fit nicely in all the right places...

"Lawric you would know won't you? You spend loads of gils on your clothes everytime. Worse than a girl, I swear."

He frowned, distracted by Jaime. "I do wha--?"

"I have never been to a SeeD ball, even though I used to be a cadet here. Never graduated." She was grinning away and chattering on, deliberately ignoring any reaction he had. "But now that we have a chance I'll be sure to have fun! Right Lawric?" She suddenly linked her arm with his and practically yank him off balance, tugging him closer.

He grinned in effort to mask his annoyance. "Yeah, sure Jaime." he said tightly. "I'm having so much fun already." There was a very subtle sarcastic edge in his tone that Jun and Zacke might not catch, but Jaime would definitely recognize it.

He tried to brush off those negative feelings, however, and smiled. "I've been to a few at Trabia. I was a Cadet there for a few years. This one is definitely nicer than anything I've attended though... they really went all out for you guys." He referred to all three of them when he said this. He did not consider himself one of the people who'd slain Adel--and rightfully so. He wasn't.

[Jax Ridean]

Jax had a permanent smirk plastered on his face as he glided down the marble steps of the ballroom, carrying a gorgeous blonde on his arm. In fact, he couldn't believe his luck that he had managed to snag Caliope Trepe at the last minute. After all, it wasn't every day that a guy could get this close to the niece of the "Ice Queen." Perhaps it was wishful thinking, but he could almost feel the envious stares directed towards them. The dazzling gold minidress clung to her voluptuous curves like a dream, and the color complimented her creamy skin. As for himself...well he wasn't looking too shabby either. Opting for an ashy black suit, black vest and a gold tie to match, he had to admit that tonight he was looking pretty sharp.

Gazing around at the glittering sight of couples twirling on the dance floor, the illuminescent sconces of the marble columns, and the sparkling crystal chandeliers that twinkled above each table, he was almost overwhelmed by the transformation.

The name is Ridean. Jax Ridean.

The orchestra then struck up the familiar melody of the Dance of the Balamb Fish.

He flashed a charming smile at his beautiful date. "Shall we dance?" he held out his hand.

She simply smiled back and took his hand.

Score!

[junkuroki]

Jun glanced at Lawric's suit when Jaime mentioned about him spending loads of money on them.

Well at least he spends them well. She thought with an appreciative smile. He looks dashing in that suit.

"Are you guys a couple?" Jun asked Lawric and Jaime. She had noticed from interactions with them so far, that these two had a kind of closeness that ordinary friends didn't have.

But then she didn't know what ordinary friends had, since she had little of those herself. Not like she was anti-social but she felt it hard to click with other cadets when she was still one. Something about being on a different frequency, as she never understood what was so interesting about Triple Triad or the latest clothing trends.

She turned to look at the dance floor, the famed orchestra and the decorations. It was grander than any of the SeeD balls she had ever attended.

"I guess we all deserve to enjoy a little." She smiled a little sadly, remembering this ball was for honouring all the people who worked hard to slay Adel, including the dead. "Adel left an indelible mark during her reign. If that's not good enough reason to splurge, what is?"

[Lawric]

Lawric found himself surprised at Jun's question. He glanced down at the bubbly blonde attached to his arm, his earlier aggravation with her ignited anew. He hadn't realized it before, but Jaime was hanging all over him in a way that would appear to anyone but Deo and Van as very flirtacious. Of course they looked like a couple. The idea was very strange, and given his mood with Jaime right now--very undesirable.

Suddenly it hit him. Jaime probably wanted to be his date so she could sabotage his chances of meeting anyone. Not that she cared for him in a romantic sense, or was possessive--she was just incorrigibly annoying. She liked to push all of his buttons, and suffocating his already lackluster ability to socialize with women he was attracted to... it was just the sort of diabolical scheme she would find amusing.

Jun was saying something about the Ball, and he was trying his best to pay attention as he slowly slipped his arm from Jaime's grasp. If he was nonchalant, maybe she wouldn't notice and make a big deal about it. Hopefully... "Yeah, I guess now is as good a time as any for splurging." He commented distractedly.

He cleared his throat and smirked, straightening his coat. "About Jaime and I--we're not a couple. You'll have to ignore her antics--she's just a flirt by nature." He glanced at Jaime, quirking one eyebrow as if to say 'hah.' He looked back at Jun. "And considering her stamina, she'll probably have danced with every guy in the room by the end of the night."

The grin on his face could only be described as wicked.

[jaimelewis]

Jaime's mouth turned into an 'O' of muted surprise, which was rapidly followed by a flush of anger. It was one thing to act flirtatious with Lawric, and another to blabb it out to these new people who didn't know them well! They might think she was really flirty! She was a girl!

Although a niggling voice at the back of her mind told her it was her karma for trying to annoy Lawric.

"LAWRIC MICHAELANGELO!" She ignored the niggling voice as per usual. Her voice slightly trembled. "Fine, if you want me to flirt I'll flirt. You can dance by yourself."

She stormed towards one of the special tables, settling upon one of the seats. She couldn't wait until Van and Deo appeared. She would so tell on Lawric and they would all gang up on him.

With that satisfying thought, the corner of her mouth turned up a little.