Action: Come one, come all!

[ofthebeast]

Characters: ALL THE PEOPLE
Open? Yes.
Where: The Palace
When: The night of the 3RD
What: A masquerade ball and a very deep sleep.
Warnings: Part of a comm-wide plot!

The Prince Sif has felled an unknown beast, and presented its stuffed head to the King. This would be reason enough for a ball, but there are victories to celebrate. More heroes arrive every day. The kingdom was aptly defended when the forest wall fell. No one has tried to assassinate the king in several days.

All told, a good night for a party. The theme of the ball is a masquerade, and shops in town have been surprisingly (almost suspiciously) able to provide gowns and masks in ready supply.

The palace has been opened to heroes and townspeople alike, provided they can present themselves appropriately. The heroes have been strongly encouraged to attend, and those who do not come voluntarily may well be greeted with royal retainers at their doorstep, outfit and dance card in hand. Expect a very full dance card, heroes.

The banquet table is stacked full of food – roasts and cheeses, summer fruits and vegetables, rivers of wine and more ornate desserts than should be permitted in a time or war. This evening is about success – best to enjoy it.

In the center of the ball sits the beast’s head. A scaly, purple thing. Its eyes have been taken out and replaced with rubies, its mouth twisted in the same sort of anguished look on its face as when Sif killed it. There has never been a beast like this in Schwanheim before – if you like, come closer and take a look. The king is very generous with his gifts.

[ooc: The party is a LIE. Well. No, it isn’t! Enjoy the party. Your characters will be expected to wear full masquerade gear, or they will be shunted aside and dressed properly.

After the attendees go home, they will be plagued with dreams more tangible than they have ever felt. More information here]

Comments

[shadedsunlight]

Odin stretches his neck out and sniffs cautiously back at the child. His head tilts, then he offers a bark in return, sitting and offering a paw.

The butterfly makes it way back to Ginia, landing on her shoulder, a stark contrast against her blue and silver dress. She gently reaches for it with her hand, letting it flutter onto her fingertips, then holds the butterfly for the boy to see.

[greatsquirrelhunter]

Faolan is quite pleased to shake, going so far as to flop on the ground so he can rub noses with the dog. He looks up at Ginia and grins.

"Shouldn't have climbed. Am sorry."

He does not, however, sound very sorry.

[shadedsunlight]

Odin rubs his nose back, having calmed down a little, and finding the werewolf to be very curious. He's never met a human that smelled like a wolf before.

Ginia huffs lightly at his reply. No, he doesn't sound sorry at all, but she supposes she can forgive a child for getting excited. It is a very pretty butterfly even if she's a very poor thing to climb. She takes her journal and a stick of charcoal out of her bag and writes down a simple message.

It's all right, but be more careful.

[greatsquirrelhunter]

Hooray! Faolan has made a canine friend! He nestles close, throwing an arm over Odin's back.

He peers at the paper, carefully whispering the words twice, just to make sure. It's a simple message, but he hasn't been reading long. It just wasn't a necessary skill for the pack, and the scientists didn't care.

"I won't," he promises. After all, he can climb Hawk.

[shadedsunlight]

Odin gives a light, friendly growl as he burrows his muzzle against Faolan's side. One paw reaches up to paw at him in a friendly gesture.

Satisfied enough with his answer, and amused at how well Odin is getting along with him, Ginia nods and offers a friendly smile. If Odin has deemed him worthy of being a friend, she supposes she can give him a chance.

What's your name?

[greatsquirrelhunter]

"I'm Faolan! Why not talking?"

It is comfortable in the floor with Odin, and Faolan is in no hurry to move.

[shadedsunlight]

Ginia carefully brushes her skirts aside and sits on the floor with them, ignoring some of the looks being thrown their way. She gives Odin a light scratch behind the ears before she writes. There's something about children that makes her honest.

I'm Ginia. And I can't talk.

[greatsquirrelhunter]

Faolan hasn't even noticed anyone watching them. He looks at her name and tries hard to pronounce it, using a hard g at the beginning. "Never heard that name before."

[shadedsunlight]

I've never heard of Faolan. :) she swiftly replies, offering a gentle smile to show she's only teasing and means no harm.

[greatsquirrelhunter]

Faolan smiled back. "Means little wolf. Because Faolan is small."

[shadedsunlight]

He is small, that Ginia can agree with. She smiles at the child and thinks about her own name meaning.

Ginia means pure. She's about as far from her name meaning as she can get. My mother liked the name.

[greatsquirrelhunter]

Faolan thinks of his own mother, and curls closer to Odin. It has been a long time since he cried because of missing her.

"Mutti loved Faolan. Your Mutti loved you."

[shadedsunlight]

Faolan's words caught Ginia off guard. It's been nearly ten years since her family was murdered. Only days since the last man responsible for the death of her family was brought to justice and begin the process of finally letting go and moving on. But it doesn't mean she misses her family any less.

My mother loved me very much, yes. I'm happy yours does too. She also notices the use of past tense in his words and wonders quietly. If she's gone, it's a true shame. No child should ever have to be without his mother or father.

[greatsquirrelhunter]

Faolan turned to hug her, going from canine comfort to human comfort. "And here is nice. Nice things to chase, and Hawk and Snow are here. And new family too."

Of which Ginia and Odin are now apparently part.

[shadedsunlight]

The hug is a little surprising to Ginia and she tenses for a moment, but relaxes enough to hug him back. He's a child, so far a sweet one at that, and she can make allowances for that. She smiles a little, pleased he likes it here.

I have friends here too. Family. She writes after she pulls away enough to jot something down.

[greatsquirrelhunter]

"Have family? That is good! Faolan has family too! Made new family!"

He hugs her and presses his cheek to hers, obviously happy that she isn't alone.

[shadedsunlight]

A very sweet child. Ginia sets her journal aside and hugs Faolan back. Even Odin joins in, cuddling close to the two of them. Her eyes close as she smiles happily. Maybe this place won't be so bad.