EVENT: The Budehuc Ball

[quicksmart]

(( PART 2 has started! ))

The day of the ball is finally upon Budehuc, and there is a distinctive hum of excitement in the air at new life entering the quiet castle. The evening has just begun, and the weather is fantastically clear outside and still light. All day there has been the hustle and bustle of curious traders flocking to the castle to assess whether it is now a worthy trading place again, and there are many unfamiliar faces walking the castle grounds, exploring. Extensive preparations have been made, directed by none other than Sir Euram Barows himself!

“The ball will be an impressive display of the wealth, ingenuity and importance of the people of...what's this castle called again? Oh right, Budehuc. The theme: Bright new beginnings. Everything must be bright! Spread conversation pieces across the room; sculptures, art, a tapestry or two, that sort of thing. The oppressive grays of the stone need to be polished until they shine, or covered with more aesthetically pleasing tones. There must be a tablecloth, embroidered preferably, on every table and contrasting but matching drapes and flounces on the walls!”

These were the instructions given to the workers, and every detail, word for word, has been carried out… to the best of the workers’ abilities, anyway, because Euram’s vision is quite grandiose and Budehuc has hardly the materials available for such an event! The consequences of such instruction has resulted in Budehuc castle looking fairly colourful for a change, although the alterations appear to only be visible in well-traversed paths that lead to the ex-war room, which has now been transformed into a ballroom. The changes outside of the room include having moved any remaining sculptures and paintings still there from after the war to the front so that they can be seen. 

Opening the door to the war room, however, is like opening the door to another world. It's an assault of color, all of it clashing quite horrendously. There are brightly colored tablecloths, rugs and flounces. If you look closer some of the flounces are in fact bed-sheets because they ran out of material due to the short time frame, and some of those bed-sheets appear to have been painted the appropriate color by the workers, probably to please Euram and get him to shut up.

Still, there are finger foods, fine wine and tankards of ale spread upon the tables at the outer edges of the room and a small band tucked away in the corner playing live music for the dancing guests in the middle. Waiters and waitresses are constantly moving around to set items of food or drinks down and pick up glassware. 

The room is relatively quiet right now, with people sure to be trickling in and out as the night goes on!

(( OOC: Whew! Thank you very much to Junabi for providing an excellent description of the alterations that Euram has made to the castle! This post is basically a mingle post, so thread-jumping and replying to everybody is encouraged! You can start multiple threads wherever you want and everybody can reply to anyone! For re-reference, most people's outfits can be seen here.

Depending on when the first part of the ball slows down, a comment will be posted indicating "PART 2" and then you can play out the events at the conclusion of the night, after the ball has died down! ))

Comments

[what_a_pain]

[ Shigure leaned behind a pillar probably hoping not many would notice him. He wished he could smoke, but was sure that would draw ire from the other attendants and decided against it. He still carried around the pipe to keep in his mouth out of habit.]

[belfar_agent]

[ Hands on hips, seemingly upset that she couldn't find him sooner. ]

How nice of you to show up! Remember, these people could be potential clients for our new agency, understood? I want you to bring your finest-- what are you wearing?

[what_a_pain]

[There goes his peace and quiet!]

What? It's a party, ain't it? I'm wearing what you wear to one.

You sure you can move around to meet clients in that elaborate dress you're in?

[belfar_agent]

I can move around just fine! It is you who looks constrained!


...But I will admit, your choice of colour is sublime. [ Kind of wants one of those herself. ]

[what_a_pain]

Nah. It's way more comfortable than it looks. I'd never wear something that was a pain. I was hoping to look enough like a house plant to avoid notice, but it seems that was a bust.

Anyone you met happen to know about your "gateways"?

[belfar_agent]

Really? I would say you stick out more like a sore thumb. So I'm guessing those clothes are custom where you're from?

Not yet. In fact, I'm getting sick of the looks I get when I do ask. [ Takes another sip of her martini and mumbles under her breath. ] I'm getting sick of a lot of things. I'll just leave that line of questioning to Roberto.

[what_a_pain]

Custom? Hm. I dunno. They might be. My old boss seemed to think so?

That tends to happen when most people are from this "world". If Oboro were here, I wonder if he'd know. The old man seemed to know a lot..

[fierce_marauder]

[ He notices the figure behind the pillar and has to focus before recognising him. He's had a bit to drink by this stage and decides to be social by coming on over. ]

Hey! Havin' fun all by yourself there?

[what_a_pain]

[This was a horrible spot to hide obviously. Everyone passes by it.]

I was. Oh, you're the guy who first told me about the future thing when I got here.

[fierce_marauder]

Sure am. Hervey.

Coming to grips with that whole thing, now? Sorry I had to be the one to tell you, heh.

[what_a_pain]

Oh, don't worry. I'm tougher than I look. I only had a mind shattering experience for maybe three hours before I got tired of that and took a nap.

And I'm Shigure, by the way. I don't know if I told you already?

[fierce_marauder]

... Y'know what, I don't remember.

[ oops, embarrassed, but has had enough to drink that he's shameless about it. ]

But even though I don't remember if I knew your name, I've heard along the grapevine that you're some sorta' investigator. That right?

[what_a_pain]

You heard right. [And despite being an investigator, he's unaware of things about Hervey since he's a lazy investigator.] Why? Do you need me to tail someone for you? I ain't cheap.

[captainfluff]

*Mukumuku is looking for a place to secretly chomp his foods, away from the crowds, when he finds Shigure.

He curiously look up at Shigure. Is this a human...? Mukumuku can't see his eyes.* Mu?

1/2

[what_a_pain]

[Looks down when he hears a noise.]

2/2

[what_a_pain]

[Slides to the side of the pillar and it looks like he almost fell from surprise.]

W-what the hell- This place has giant rodents?!

[captainfluff]

...!!

*That voice is definitely human — Mukumuku runs away, fearing the eyeless human might catch him.

His bundled cape is accidentally loosened during escape and leaves a trail of foods he hid inside*

[what_a_pain]

[Is too shocked to move right away to go after it. He might be a little scared of it.]

Wha.. Who's food is this?

[captainfluff]

*Mukumuku observes Shigure warily, waiting for a chance to take his fallen hoards. He takes the farthest food from Shigure before go back into his peeking spot again.

[what_a_pain]

[Saw a flash of movement from nearby and sees that some of the fallen food disappeared.]

W-what a pain. Where is that thing hiding?

[Comes up with an idea. He pretends to walk away and hides behind the pillar again. He watches a nearby reflective surface to see if that creature comes out from wherever it's hiding.]

[1001_npcs]

[ Hesitantly approaching Shigure, after spending all night looking for him... ]

Sh-shigure, was it...? E-excuse me...?

[what_a_pain]

[Turns around to see Jill.]

Wha-? [Honestly wants to ask why she's here, but it's not a closed venue or anything.] Jill?

[1001_npcs]

I-I just wanted to say thank you for the investigation the other day... and I'm very sorry I started crying.

I actually recommended you to a few people that I knew if that's okay...!

[what_a_pain]

Thanks for that, but... I actually screwed up on your investigation results.

[1001_npcs]

R-really?

[ She looks quite shocked. ]