Dec 07, 2010 23:13
Across the open lawn between the front of the castle proper and the white stone wall, the snow has been cleared away in large rings. At the center of each is a bonfire, roaring away without any apparent source of fuel. Hot drinks and small treats are available, as always, balanced on the trays of servants who wander the crowd. The walls themselves glow, festooned with color-changing ivy.
The fae are all bundled up, necessary or not, eating and drinking and huddling together. Handfuls are singing songs that might sound familiar in languages no human present has heard before. Overhead, the stars grow steadily brighter.
No speeches tonight, no invitations or reminders. If Tempest is even present, she’s cloaked and hooded and effectively disguised. As the night wears on, the fires begin to burn lower, and as they do…
As they do, the scent of pine wood and smoke starts to fill the air, and along with it comes hunger and thirst. The laughter and voices grow louder. Some angrier. Every sip, every bite, every inhalation of the heady smoke drops the barriers between thought and action and encourages all those emotions usually tucked carefully away.
It’s the last night of the Gala’s first half. It certainly will be one to remember.
spike,
tarma shena tale'sedrin,
gabriel,
charlie b. barkin,
dante,
karrin murphy,
emily prentiss,
peter burke,
*npc: the princess of storms,
zhaneel,
jo harvelle,
neal caffrey,
alec mcdowell,
buffy summers,
bruce banner,
juliet burke,
*event: winter gala