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]

[A girl in red wearing a dragon mask. What is it about females in red? Ginia glances around herself, curious if she can catch a glimpse of the girl in question, but she also sees no one. But strange as the story sounds, Ginia rolls with it. There are stranger things in question.]

/Someone wished you into a tangible state?/ [A start. Now could it be possible to wish him into a tangible state again?]

[consultmybooks]

[Giles nods, thinking back on the points in question with fondness. They'd only lasted a couple of hours, but they'd been a good couple of hours, and needless to say he was looking for ways to repay Helios and Faolan that didn't involve forcing them to make a rigged wish.]

Twice, actually. They, um, th-they were entitled to a wish, and...well, they used it on me. Faolan, um, didn't know what he was doing. Helios was just, um, incredibly careful with his phrasing. The results, surprisingly enough, were the same.

[shadedsunlight]

[Helios, of course. She smiles, not at all surprised. It'll be two of them trying to find ways to repay him. Faolan too, even if it'd been more accidental.]

/And dare I ask how they came upon entitled wishes?/

[consultmybooks]

Oh, the, the usual way. I believe it was due to coming across a spirit in a bottle. [Giles refuses to call himself a "genie".] In exchange for, um, letting it out, it granted them a wish. If they didn't make a wish, it proceeded to tear up their surroundings. Sad sort of thing, really. I was, um, decidedly relieved when they got it out of their hair.

[Minus the dissociation, none of that is actually a lie, which is probably the really sad part.]

[shadedsunlight]

[Unfortunately for Giles, having been around his company long enough, Ginia has learned how to read between the lines and know when to suspect he's omitting information. Spirit in a bottle. Right. Ginia offers am innocent smile, believing his words, but not that he didn't have something to do with it.]

/I hope someone managed to free the poor spirit. It'd be a pity if it were still stuck somewhere. Pray tell, were you able to make a wish?/

[consultmybooks]

Of course I did. [He wished to be let out of the bottle, and his wish was granted. Repeatedly, albeit temporarily.] Several of the heroes did, as did a few of the towns people. It was, um, a very egalitarian sort of spirit.

[Then, with a rather dismissive air:] But, um, th-that was yesterday. No one's seen any sign of the bottle since, or if they have, I haven't heard of it.

[shadedsunlight]

/Maybe the spirit was released from its servitude and allowed to go free. A pity. I think I would have liked to meet it./

[It's pretty obvious what she would have wished; a way for him to be tangible and/or free of the bottle. Her expression softens back into something loving as she looks at him, so close and untouchable.]

/I'll have to thank the girl if I see her./

[consultmybooks]

I'm sure it would have liked to meet you.

[And it's happy that it got the chance to.

He laughs softly at the words that follow. Unconsciously, almost unnoticeably, his hands twitch slightly at his side, wanting to hold hers', memory unwilling to realize that the time has passed.]

Please do. I, um, I did, before I dashed off. Just...don't shake hands.

[shadedsunlight]

/No shaking hands, got it./

[On the topic of hands, she glances at his, also wanting to hold them again. Her mind clings onto the memory of his body pressed against his, his hands strong and comforting on her back, his lips hot and wet against his. It's maddening not being able to touch and hold him, but she knows it's probably just as bad for him.]

/Maybe there will be an opportunity for more than a few seconds later./

[consultmybooks]

Perhaps there will.

[Perhaps some other unfortunate will ignore his warnings, go poking around the witch's house, and get stuck in a bottle. Perhaps all three of them will make the same wish, and perhaps it will stick.

And perhaps this time Helios will actually find a way to take them to his world and he won't have to die a fourth time. Giles can still muster up just a bit of hope, for that.]

...um, Helios is, is staying at a room in the local inn. I, I'm sure he won't mind you staying as well, for the night. If I can arrange a distraction, then, by any chance, would you like to go and settle in?

[Or, in less genteel language...want to blow this pop stand and take in the town?]

[shadedsunlight]

[Ginia's seen Helios' world, knows how wonderful and beautiful it is. While going home made her realize there was still more to her story, she feels maybe now she can finally settle down. One way or another, they'll make it back to Luceti or back to Helios' world. Though she also knows if it ever came down to it, she'd sacrifice herself if it meant Giles could live on with Helios.

All those thoughts kept to herself, Ginia casts an eye around the party. There's only the main entrance to get in and out and they're too high up to break a window and climb out, not to mention her attire is hardly appropriate for any wall climbing. But getting out of the party? Oh yes.]

/I'll have to borrow some clothes. The little leather ensemble I was given on my arrival is being held by the tailors that gave me this dress./ [Yes. That's right. Leather.]

[consultmybooks]

[...leather. Oh, cruel, unmerciful gods. Giles looks briefly thoughtful, before deliberately shaking the stray thoughts out of his head.]

I'm, um, I'm sure we can find something for you along the way. [The offer is unspoken, but implied. Ginia is a thief, after all. What's a pair of clothes out of a nice shop?]

Wait right here.

[Giles moves away a bit this time before vanishing from sight. He proceeds to appear by the main gate, where he proceeds to play a highly amusing game of 'Frustrate the Door Guard with Useless Questions'.

Distraction in place.]

[shadedsunlight]

[What's a pair of clothes out of a nice shop? Unless the doors are magically sealed at night, Ginia's pretty sure she could break in. The locks looked anything but sturdy and there's a few hairpins that would work as makeshift lockpicks until she can find a proper set. It's fortunate Ginia has enough self control and morals in her to not go out and steal all she can.

Ginia blinks again as he disappears, getting distracted herself by a girl in red. The conversation leaves her slightly shaken and bewildered and she's more then glad for the excuse to leave the party. She locates Giles and makes her way toward the door, letting Odin run ahead of her first before she heads out herself, walking casually, but quickly away without a look back. Or as casually as she can manage in a ball dress. She hikes up her skirts slightly as she hurries off, counting on the fact Giles will be able to catch up with her.]

[consultmybooks]

[Giles does follow along, although it's a little while before he manages to properly catch up. But, when the lights of the castle no longer illumenate the town streets, Giles finally appears just behind her, and clears his throat to announce his presence.

They're more or less alone in the streets. Everyone is either clustered around the castle or locked up tightly in their own homes, the old fear of the dark hard to shake. Many doors are locked to them, but that will present no barrier to these two. What's a pair of clothes?

Giles falls into step beside Ginia, Odin between them, and looks about the street before pointing at a shop.] Here we are. Let's, um, get you some things to settle in, and then on to the inn.

((ooc: Want to handwave the rest from here?))

[shadedsunlight]

[From what she's seen, it's a nice town, or maybe small city. It reminds her of some of the older European villages and towns she's traveled through, places she might have considered settling down in. She turns when she greats Giles' whistle and smiles at him. The strange girl's words still linger about in her mind and she wonders what shrew would do for him or what she might have to do in the near or distant future.

When they arrive at a shop, she pulls a hairpin from her hair and crouches down in front of the door. Without light and proper tools, it takes a bit of patience, but eventually the lock turns and she opens the door.]

/Care to pick out my outfit?/ [She teases lightly before she goes to look for an outfit.]

((ooc: I was hoping they could talk more, but we can end it if you want.))