Grand Ball

[imperial_mods]

Who: Anyone who hopes to attend
Where: Imperial Castle, Great Hall
What: The ball of the season
When: End of Spring Court
Warnings: Not being in attendance makes you a loser in the eyes of the court. You don't want to be a loser, do you?

The Great Hall of the Imperial Castle bedecked in bright, colorful garlands. Entire banquets were laid out on the tables. The floor was polished to a mirror sheen and inviting. As the Grand Ball began, women in dresses of the purest white accompanied by men in suits of white flooded the halls, professional dancers all opening the night. Passing from partner to partner in a pre-planned performance in honor of the emperor, they wove in tight but fluid formations, making symbols of flowers, crosses, and, finally, the Imperial Crest.

Once they cleared, the floor was opened to all, and the Grand Ball had truly begun.

[There will be a number of threads up for you to post in, this is completely open so go nuts and have fun guys. The official announcement of the winning matchups will be announced tonight when I get home from Sakura con likely somewhere in the ballpark of Midnight Saturday morning PDT, you have until then to figure out as many matches in the tourney as you can and post the results here. Whoever is left will be entered in the Grand Melee pool and I will roll for a final victors, which will be announced in its own thread. In the same post, you may opt your character out of the Grand Melee if you wish, they won't be in the drawing to win but they also won't be beat up for the Ball. The final victors will get their own dance and some lavish and ultimately useless gifts from court, and will generally get to play Homecoming King and Queen the entire night. Have fun!]

EDIT: The Women's Bracket victor was decided to be the only woman who had not lost a match, and the Men's Bracket was decided by a die roll (all combatants who had not lost any matches were given two numbers instead of one). As a result, the final couple is Sol Badguy and Arturia Pendragon! They will be crammed into a dashing suit/beautiful gown and paraded around the Court to be gushed at by nobles for about seven hours.

Comments

Banquet Tables

[imperial_mods]

[king_of_flames]

[Roy, in full dress uniform, is over at the table, piling food onto his plate. Once he has everything he wants, he takes his plate to his table and sits.]

[infinitejustice]

[Athrun is walking back to his table with two plates of food; one for himself, and the other for a certain lady.]

[fater]

[ FOOD.

ALL THE FOOD.

Not picking all the food sure is complicated. ]

[fullmoonhalfbreed]

[Somehow, she ended up being dragged here. Well, Riza is going to make the most of it and go for pretty much every piece of food that was once a living animal, not really caring about any stares she might get for stacking a plate higher than it was wide with meat.]

[wanderingbard]

Thankfully somewhat concealed by the crowd around him, Levin makes his through the banquet table performing minor miracles as he stacks his plate with more food than it could possibly bear. Whether he was using his magic to steady it somehow or whether he had trained as a circus performer as a child, he returns to his seat in a rather perilous position.

"Excuse me. My sincere apologies; yes, do mind your foot, miss."

[lady_mayhem]

[Man, someone needs to stop the kid with the wine glass-

... Oh that's not a child.

Regardless, she has a plate full of fruit and cheese and a nice glass of rather fine wine with her. You can call this her 'break' between bouts of wandering around and making friendly with everyone at the ball.

Even you.

And you.

Yes, you, too.]

Re: Banquet Tables

[hair_dress_accent]

Another night. Another party that Kallen was expected to appear at in her father's stead.

His inability to tear himself from his work, even for Court, did not shine the best on him in some eyes... But then, few could argue that he did not know his work very well. Sometimes, out of the way was the best place to be for political work.

She had a light portion of cheeses and some salad handy. Notably, she had - once again - chosen a long-sleeved dress.

After all, even here, things could happen. Things she'd have to get away from, fast.

Dance Floor

[imperial_mods]

[idkmybffalfred]

"Pardon me, [insert name of your character here if she is a smokin' hot babe.]. May I have this dance?"

It's Mr. Wayne, looking dashing in a sleek, black tuxedo with a red rose in the breast pocket. He's holding his hand out to his partner, inviting her to the dance floor. And no, he is not planning on sticking with one lady all evening.

[grandtheftmecha]

Though more of a soldier at heart, it's the first time Katina's been to a Spring Court - and she's making sure to get the most of out of every major event. More social than she'd normally be at an event like this, in a black dress with white gloves, Katina's waiting for a chance to invite some familiar guy or gal to dance, and looking a bit impatient about it.

...just hope you've got strong feet.

Re: Dance Floor

[dowhatyoudecide]

Sara loves this kind of thing. You can find her all over the dance floor, and she'll probably accept most people's invitations to dance or just talk if only for amusement's sake. She smiles and socializes with just about everyone.

[infinitejustice]

[Once they were done with their meals, Athrun took a quick look out to the dance floor, then climbed out of his chair and extended his hand to Euphemia.]

Now that that's done, shall we dance?

[rejected_trash]

[Sync stood off to the side of the dancefloor. He was well dressed, still able to pass for nobility, and still wearing his little mask, but rather than waiting for a dance, he was scanning the area.]

Sidelines

[imperial_mods]

[fater]

[ Here be King Arthur, dressed to win, but otherwise with no idea of what to do with himself.

Pretty ladies are encouraged to force themselves on him. ]

[in_a_nest_of_vipers]

Kushana stands to the side, wearing an elegant, tasteful evening dress. Remember this, for you will never again see her looking as feminine as she does now.

She looks faintly bored.

[greyerrant]

[ The huge (6'4") Astartes stands away from the dancers, a gray cloak and red braid in various points on his armor the only difference between this and his normal field accoutrements. He holds his helm in one hand, under his arm, and just... watches people. Curious and somewhat withdrawn. ]

Re: Banquet Tables

[formerly_known_as_prince]

[Patched up with several bandages, Utena pauses as the dancers whirl. She'd been to something like this before. There'd been something important, about a dress and a...tablecloth? Like so much else, it was a yawning hole where an important memory should be.

She probably looks kindof dumb just staring there.]

[fortheworldtosee]

[The thing about formal occasions in the capitol of a country whose kingdoms can be vastly different? The concept of "formal wear" tends to differ because of said kingdoms' cultures.

So here is the great leader of Rome, dressed in the typical Roman formal attire: a toga and not one of those lame ones that look like they're made of bedsheets thank you very much. And for once, she isn't dressed head to toe in scarlet; instead, the robe itself tyrian purple, a color only members of nobility were allowed to wear in Rome, and trimmed with gold. Her hair, which was normally worn in the same style as her cousin, was still braided, but was freed of the additional bun, letting it fall to just past her shoulders. A few bandages - the only remains of her battles in the tournaments - can be seen patched here and there along her arms among a few gold bands, but she still looked every bit the elegant, powerful leader that she is.

And she sure as hell ain't wallflowering it up! She'll move about the crowds, mingling with anyone and everyone. Yes, even you. Nero is a woman who loves attention, so she'll be more than happy to stop and chat!]

Re: Sidelines

[noblemonster]

[Victoria takes up one of tables near the dance floor with a wine glass in hand. Her own dress is a beautiful burgundy dress that she felt was perfect for the occasion.

Around her neck happens to be a carved bone pendant attached to a lace choker. The very same image that graced a coin handed out to many warriors during the tournament.

It seems~ the appreciative noble has made herself known.]

[wirefu]

[Irisviel, to be honest, was just a tiny bit bummed out. She had been caught in a constant wave of excitement since she and Arturia arrived in the capitol, and ending it with a ball? Well, that sounded way to good to ignore. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't looking forward to dancing with her fiancee...

... Except, well. Looks like that's not happening. Things probably worked out better that way; it was still a big secret, after all. But that didn't mean she couldn't enjoy herself!

She just... wasn't sure what to do. She had never been to a party like this before, and she didn't really know anyone. So for now, she's just going to stand off to the side, looking very much like an excited - yet slightly confused - little girl.]

Re: Sidelines

[proto_riot]

[This one was supposed to be the center of attention right now. Instead...]

[Outside, loitering around in the gardens like a delinquent below one of the ballroom's balconies, was the winner of the Men's bracket; Sol had zero interest in schmoozing with a bunch of tight-corseted noblemen, and had managed to blackmail Ky into doing the literal song and dance role of the party (by threat of horrific levels of embarrassment, both personal and on the Order and Church's parts).]

[That didn't mean he was going to ditch altogether, no, they'd managed to shove him into some terrible formal ensemble before he escaped- now he was just hanging around to a) witness Ky's humiliation, and b) gather any information he could eavesdrop on while he had to be there.]

[He wasn't above picking more fights, either.]

Medical Corner

[imperial_mods]

If you participated in the Grand Melee, you are probably spending some time here getting bandages rewrapped and a crapton of painkillers.

[nightskywind]

[The doctor is in.

Shamal will be fussing over any injured that need it.]

The Lucky Couple

[imperial_mods]

[I'm giving Arturia the win for the Women's Bracket since she is as of now undefeated. There was no Grand Melee for the Women's Bracket as a result.]

After an unscheduled Grand Melee to resolve the long-running men's bracket, the final couple of the night had been reached. After a hard-fought battle, it was finally decided. The winning couple were wisked away to have their various wounds treated and to be shoved into proper finery (no matter how hard they might resist).

"Ladies and Gentlemen!" the announcer proclaimed. "I give you your tournament winners, the fiercest fighters and honored couple of this Court! I give you Sir Sol Badguy and Lady Arturia Pendragon!"

sidelines

[formerly_known_as_prince]

Utena clapped with the most enthusiasm of anyone. Sol had fought hard and deserved the win.