The Samhain Ball - Come as You Aren't

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

A woman strides through the Nexus, garbed in royal finery of a distinctly Elizabethan style. In the crook of her arm, she carries an ebony scepter shod and capped in silver. There may be something familiar about her confident bearing, her angular features, her mismatched eyes. When she pauses to speak, the cadence of her words might spark recognition--is this Schön?!

"People of the Nexus, friends, in the world from which I hail we stand on the cusp of a special day, a harvest-fest when the walls between worlds grow thin, when masks and costumes are worn to frighten away the wicked spirits--or to invite them in on more congenial terms. So on this day, I invite you, each and every one of you, to join me in a revel to bid farewell to Summer, and welcome with fire and song the coming dark! Join me, won't you?" Letting her gaze sweep the crowd, she raps the heel of her scepter once against something solid, vanishing in a flash and leaving a sparkling trail for the curious to follow.

A cool wind herds dry, crackling leaves through the gathering gloom. On the cusp between the parklands and the residential district, darkness and cloudy skies have been slowly coalescing for days around a stately house of Gothic style, ivy-encrusted and showing its age somewhat. A square tower stands vigil over the entryway, tall windows overlooking the flagstone drive looping around a fountain gone dry. The house’s angular wings stretch to either side, the windows dark save for occasional glints and gleams of colored lights bobbing within. A glow does creep over the line of the roof, however, and the faint throb of distant music hint at something happening behind the house. The door stands open, a silent invitation to every brave soul who passes by.

((Happy Halloween! Enjoy the festivities. All LOLs are optional. Threadhopping is encouraged. Backtagging is forever, so don’t worry about missing out: we’ll still be here when you get back from your more mundane ghosties and goblins.))

Playlist
Visualosity
The Entrance
The Ballroom
The Banquet
The Bonfire
The Corn Maze
Dark Corners
Costume Icon Requests
The Photo Booth

Comments

[brave_heart_verity]

Does she want a hug? Let's see. Does gravity still exert its mysterious force upon them all?

Yeah?

Yes, she wants a hug, and she's not too keen on letting him go. The compliments get the predictable smile from her. "You mean, you like blondes? Well, I hadn't intended to make it a permanent change, but for you... Let's go inside. I think you owe me a dance."

[heirtothearcane]

"No, no, that's not what I meant." People messing with him is still something he's getting used to. Other than two very specific exceptions, his company tends towards the serious. But again she provides him with distractions.

"Dancing?" Can she see the immediate return of anxiety. "I... I-I'm not very good at dancing." Lie. One he believes wholeheartedly, but... "I'll make you fall. I don't want to make you fall."

[brave_heart_verity]

"I know. I clean up pretty good when I make an effort." Leaning closer for a moment, she adds, "And I won't embarrass you in front of your family when I meet them," quietly. She's guessing he's been as worried about that as she has.

There's a brief hesitation when she sees him getting anxious, and a little frown at how he lies to himself about these things. Then she shakes her head. "Nonsense. You won't make me fall. I'm a good dancer and we'll be fine. We can go out on the patio where nobody will see. Okay?"

[heirtothearcane]

"No, but they might embarrass me." Which is equally, if not more of a concern that the idea of her being any trouble. "You do look lovely tonight."

Already fidgeting, Viatorus casts an eye at all the people around the place just waiting to watch him make a fool of himself, and of Verity, and who aren't as distracted as him at all... It's the mention of being able to stay out of sight that allows him to reconsider. "Alright. If nobody can see."

[brave_heart_verity]

"Nonsense. They might embarrass themselves, but I wouldn't think worse of you for it." Oh, V. Don't mistake the fact she chooses to behave around your family for a lack of ability to cause trouble. "Thank you. It's almost like we planned matching costumes or something." Just another way they go together so well.

Yes, there are a lot of people around, but she is the one looking at him. He's always safe with her. Safe as houses. Her smile, when he relents, is brighter than she wore often even before... brighter than has come out the last few weeks, that's for sure. "Thank you." She almost said 'yay'. Almost.

They can skirt around the edges of the dance floor, and when they step out onto the patio she gives a little shiver. It got cold when she wasn't looking. A few steps away from the door and they've got a convenient wall between them and most of the party. It's a little dark, a little private there. The music is faint and so are the sounds of the other partygoers. The only witnesses are a few chao that have toddled out after them.

"How's this?"

[heirtothearcane]

"I didn't actually know anything was on in the Nexus. My family celebrates Samhain but I wanted to check on you while I was waiting for things to start." Samhain is for the dead, after all, and Verity has more than a few to pray for...

Viatorus will gladly let her lead him around the place, since she seems to have explored already. It's a wonder he doesn't trip on the way as he tries to see everything they're passing. The little hidden section is perfect for him, the kind of place he'd be watching from if he didn't have a mask and friends to help him get involved.

"Good, yes, this is good." Except for the part where she shivered. "Would you like my jacket? Or some magic?"

[brave_heart_verity]

"Oh? Must be a fancy party. Or do you always dress up like this when you're going to see grandma?" She has too much to remember, so she's trying not to. Just for a few hours. She needs a chance to rest and remember why she's still alive. "Thank you, for coming to check on me. You're so sweet."

He spoils her. He could give lessons on being perfect, seriously. "You'd get cold without your jacket, silly, and then Isidor would come yell at me. Something that will keep us both warm sounds like a better plan." Maybe she should have said 'all', since the chao remember him and want to say hello too.

[heirtothearcane]

"No. It's... It's an important night. We invite our ancestors, our dead to the house, to share a meal with us. D-Dressing well is a small way to be respectful." He straightens his jacket and hopes that doesn't remind her of things she'd rather forget. "You're welcome."

The chao suddenly clambering to get his attention distracts him enough to get him to kneel down and pet any of them not wearing hats. "Hello everyone. You all look wonderful." He'll coddle them a moment longer before standing again, telling them, "I'd best warm up the place before Verity gets a cold."

Fire and heat aren't his best skills so he has to actually concentrate with his palms turned upwards. Slowly, there's a noticeable rise in temperature. Not too warm. A comfortable room temperature. Another moment to fix it and then he flexes his fingers and tilts his head at Verity. "Is that alright?"

[brave_heart_verity]

There's a flicker in her expression, but there's been a sadness in her eyes for weeks. He can't remind her of what she can't forget. But she's not upset. "That sounds really nice." But she's going to straighten his bow tie while he fusses with his jacket.

Nobody can resist the chao. Including her. They're all going to get pets from both of them, and while he works his magic she'll quietly shoo them back just enough that there will be room for dancing.

The warmth is relaxing, and she's wearing a smile again when he's done. "Perfect, as usual, my dear."

[heirtothearcane]

"It is, some years." That's as pleasantly honest as he can be about it. Disgruntled ghosts are hardly going to be fun company, especially for someone like Viatorus.

Verity's approval makes him beam and then he tries not to look nervous as his mind turns back to the idea of dancing. He should have grabbed a drink before agreeing to this... "I-I only really know ballroom dancing."

[brave_heart_verity]

She wonders... it'd be rude to ask to go with him, but... the offer is in her eyes.

That smile of his is infectious. "Perfect. I love a waltz." A nice, slow, easy dance. She'll rest her hands in his while he works up the nerve. "Or whatever else you'd like. It's just us out here, and we can do pretty much whatever we want."

[heirtothearcane]

Bringing Verity along to meet his family, his entire family, both living and dead, seems like it would end badly. Besides which, she's done more than enough for his sake, he hardly wants to drag her through a family dinner as well.

"A waltz." A deep breath and a nod, then he rolls his shoulders back and corrects his posture. Even with the hesitation in each movement there's a subtle transformation. The awkward bookworm starts to hold himself as a young gentleman when he steps closer, resting a hand on her upper back, standing straight and feigning confidence when he takes her hand. It takes effort, but he has plenty of lessons to guide him and it's just Verity here wit him, no other prying eyes.

Another deep breath and after looking over his stance, he finally meets her gaze again. "Are you ready?"

[brave_heart_verity]

It might be a little soon to bring her to these big family events, true, but she'd go if he wanted. There's no such thing as "more than enough" for her friends.

She has the benefit of enjoying dancing, so it's easier for her to prepare. One hand in his, the other lifting the hem of her dress so it doesn't trip them up. And, most importantly, a smile for him and eyes full of warm certainty that everything is fine. Because everything is fine.

"With you? Ready for anything."

[heirtothearcane]

That is going to contrast nicely with Viatorus' preference of not wanting to bother anyone.

Funny thing is, he likes dancing too. On his own. People always stress him out, and dancing draws unnecessary attention to him.

One more nod and he gets ready, listening for a good point at which to join. A second later and they're off. Perhaps the mask helps hide the concentration on his face. Every step of his is graceful, it's true, but he is a little bit terrified of stepping on her dress.

http://i.imgur.com/3Dt7exN.gif

[brave_heart_verity]

They'll learn. He'll learn how to ask sometimes, and she'll learn how to step back when he needs her to. It's suspiciously like dancing.

People always stress him out? Hopefully, Verity isn't 'people' anymore.

She has no mask to hide behind, but she's enjoying herself so there's no reason to hide. Her dress is out of the way and there's nothing to trip over at the moment; the chao are watching and spinning around on the sidelines but haven't quite worked out the patterns so they can start pouncing feet.

"You're good," she offers once they've fallen into their rhythm.

[heirtothearcane]

If Verity was 'people' then it's unlikely that he'd be dancing with her as comfortably as it is. He might be glancing occasionally to make sure everything is correct, but he's still dancing and keeping his posture at that.

"Thank you." A moment and then he adds, "I had a lot of lessons. Everyone has to, in my family." Another pause. "A-And you're very good too. Did... Did you take lessons?"

http://bit.ly/1k8WMcm y/n?

[brave_heart_verity]

It's progress. She'll take it. And he really is very good. Is this what he'd look like if his family had taught him to be confident? Well. That's like asking if she'd still be easy-going if her dad hadn't dropped that damned ring.

"I did. Entirely optional, in my family, but... it has its uses." He's the better dancer technically, but she's relaxed, so they even out nicely. "There are a lot of fancy parties, in your family?"

Heheh, he'd be far too busy blushing to be grinning

[heirtothearcane]

Who knows what might have been... Tonight's progress is more than enough, more important to Viatorus than could-have-beens.

"Oh, very good." The conversation is helpful, gradually pulling his attention away from how well he's dancing by his tutor's standards. "Yes. A few, anyway. I... I try not to attend. Too many people. Too much competition."

She is /going/ to teach him to cuddle. It's a requirement for being her BFF.

[brave_heart_verity]

As usual, he's right. Better to focus on the present. Down the roads of might-have-beens are fractured timelines and universes spinning and--

She hums in amusement at the idea it's good she learned to dance. What a different life she's living these days. "Too much competition for what, dear? Your attention? I can't say I blame them."

There will have to be a lot of luring him into these lessons using tea and cake...

[heirtothearcane]

The small flirty comment gets him going red under the mask and he splutters a bit. "What? No. No, that's not what I meant. No, the... the kind of competition that comes with everyone trying to be better than each other. Trying to outdo each other without demonstrations. It's... tense. Everyone wants to be the best."

:O Well there's her dreams dashed.

[brave_heart_verity]

She makes a sympathetic noise and gives his hand a squeeze. She knows what that's like, about different kinds of things. Everyone's been there once or twice.

"You know what I've found drives people nuts in that kinda situation? Act like you don't care."

I'm sure she'll find a way.

[heirtothearcane]

A small grateful smile appears on his lips. It's kind of her to care, and wonderful of her to try to help. "I'm not very good at that. I do care. Terribly. I'm not very good at acting, either. My sister always said I was an awful liar."

Does it have to be tea and cake? Could it be cake and tea?

[brave_heart_verity]

"You are an awful liar," she points out. Her tone is awfully fond, considering how much she hates it when people lie. "It's a big part of the reason I like you so much. And, you know, I'm impressed enough with you for the both of us, so at least you've got that going for you?" Who else in the family has their very own Verity Willis, human lie detector, to always tell them they're wonderful?

It could be cake and tea, that would be acceptable.

[heirtothearcane]

"I've never been liked because I was bad at something before," he says, his smile flickering wider for a moment. "I don't mind if you're not impressed. I like impressing you, though, it makes you smile, but... but I'm happy enough that you like me. It's very nice."

It seems like his rambling is a bit worse when he's distracted by the constant, gentle dancing.

Hope is restored!

[brave_heart_verity]

So, the lesson today is, dancing (which she loves) + V (who she loves) = lots of compliments and nice things being said? Definitely need to do this more often.

"I like that you're bad at bad things and good at good things. And I like that when you impress me, it's because you're being your naturally wonderful self and not trying to show off. Mostly, I like that you care. I like..." She pauses, looking down while she blinks away the tears that have decided now is an excellent time to ruin her makeup. "I like that you actually care enough to check in on me. That you don't assume everything's fine just because I'm not in bed weeping."