Nineteen [event]

[lingers]

Who: Anyone and everyone! Just read the notes below to make sure you know under what conditions your character would find themselves there.
Where: The Dalmascan Estate, inner city
When: Wednesday 5th December, around about 6:00pm
Notes: Ashe's (tornhallelujah) birthday party event - commence! Basically for the unknowing, her father's blackmailed

Comments

[tornhallelujah]

Ashe was stood in the private quarters of the house, having a sentimental moment with the door that led down to where her father stood with the band. She could hear the music slightly through the thick door, which she was currently willing to disappear. The entire feud was a bad idea, and she didn't want to attend. She stared even more harshly at the door until she reached out a hand, pushing it open with the hand that was decorated with her engagement ring.

She glided down the stairs, trying to keep her eyes averted from the many people who had more than likely noticed her by now. She seemed to be a start resemblance to the walls in a dress of pure white which trailed slightly on the floor behind her, and her hair shone with glitter. Admist it all, she didn't have a mask, but that was for the best. She reached her father and faked a smile, before she noticed the banner.

This was definately a bad idea."You... you didn't!" she said overly loudly, but recieved no response. Obviously, he didn't want to make a show of himself in public

[boundtoland]

Said figure's identity was concealed with a golden mask that covered half his face, elegant but at the same time sharp and angular, designed after a some bird of prey - it even had a small beak extending over his nose. He was dressed rather flamboyantly even by masquerade ball standards, in a white silk shirt with a neck cloth and ribbons along the sleeves, black pants and knee-high boots. To complete the look, he had a black sash tied about his waist embroidered with gold, and all in all looked rather like a well-dressed pirate. For someone who claimed quite lazily that he'd 'throw something together', Balthier had certainly seemed to have made an effort to at least stand out.

Upon noticing Ashe descending the stairs, he bowed low as one might to royalty, but the well-practised smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth made it all too clear who was behind the mask. Straightening again, he said with amusement, "It is an honour to see the lady so enthusiastic tonight."

[tornhallelujah]

The annoyance Ashe had gained when talking to her father seemed to pass on to Balthier by default. Five minutes ago? She would have concidered being courteous. "Don't start," she said with annoyance, recognizing his voice and general attitudes, flicking her head sideways so as not to look at him as he spoke. Seemingly calculating something, she tutted under her breath before looking back at him, eyebrows raised, finally taking in his appearence. Even if she wanted to, there was no denial to it - he did look... a handsome, sophisticated man. "And that would be... not standing out?" she questioned, toning her temper as much as she could.

[boundtoland]

"You think this is a bit much?" Balthier asked nonchalantly, looking down at his attire for a moment. "Nothing wrong with keeping up appearances. And who would suspect someone such as yourself consorting with wanted men? Not likely." He folded his arms, as usual completely unfazed by her irritableness, glancing out across the dancefloor and at the slowly gathering guests before looking back over at Ashe. "For someone celebrating their birthday, you're horribly uptight, you know."

[tornhallelujah]

"A bit? I think it is overdone," Ashe said truthfully. It was a major difference between her pure white dress - making it seem he was the one with the party. No surprise there - he certainly did like to be at the centre of attention, in Ashe's view. "I was of a better mood this morning," she said, her voice shallow. "But I protest to this entire social get together - and father had to put that... that..." she gestured in the direction of the banner, refusing to look at it. "That... object up there."

[boundtoland]

Balthier surveyed the banner theatrically as if only just noticing it, placing a thoughtful hand on his chin. "'Ashelia', eh? Very formal," he said in amusement. "I should put one up at the base. It would make for wonderful decoration."

[tornhallelujah]

Ashe had cleared the distance between her and Balthier in the blink of an eye, far too close for comfort, attempting to tower over him but failing, instead glaring upright into his eyes that were centimetres away. "Don't. You. Dare," she said massively, sending her glare of glares at him.

[boundtoland]

Needless to say, what with with all the sparkling and glittering in her hair, the impressive effect she'd been going for immediately lost its oomph. Balthier shrugged and placed his hands on his hips, countering with a thin smile, "Or what? You'll throw a little tantrum for me?"

[tornhallelujah]

If there was any gap between them, Ashe probably managed to cover that as she looked him straight in the eye. "I don't like it," she said simply, not caring to answer his question.

[boundtoland]

Balthier threw up his hands in defeat. There was only so far he'd play along with this before it bordered on childishness, and this was about at his limit. "What is it that's got you so riled up?" he asked. "You don't like your name, or something?"

[tornhallelujah]

Ashe's face was firm. Why didn't she? This had come up before, and yet... perhaps she knew now, if only slightly. Her voice quaked a little, but overall she stayed firm, though her eyes looked sad. "Mother called me that," she said quietly. "And Rasler... he sometimes did too." Perhaps, she wanted to move on from what had happened, if only a little - and that name they had always called her, always? She needed to cast it aside. "It reminds me of them both..." her gaze dropped to the floor.

[boundtoland]

Balthier stepped backwards to put some distance between them and turned back to look out at the dance floor. He didn't much want to get into an uncomfortably sentimental discussion, partially because in that respect, he didn't have much advice for her. After all, he'd changed his own name and very identity himself. "I'm sure they said lots of things frequently," he said quietly. "But do you get upset over those? I should think not. It's only a name, Ashe."

[tornhallelujah]

"Maybe so, yet..." Ashe bit her lip. So what if they'd said other things? It was just... her name, her true name, reminded her of them the most. "Yet it hurts the most," she summed up, clasping her hands together before looking back up at Balthier. "I apologize. I shouldn't press this onto you."

[boundtoland]

"Not at all. By all means, continue," Balthier insisted, but while he seemed as indifferent as ever, he was frowning behind his mask. "Whatever makes you happy. This is your birthday, after all."

[tornhallelujah]

A weak smile of appreciation was on her face for a moment, before it disappeared. She was no fool - and even then, it was a subject she'd prefer to stay clear off. Especially today. So, she shook her head, looking around briefly at the hall, and back up to where the band was playing. A fleeting thought suddenly become a very sudden question. "Would you like to dance?"

[boundtoland]

"Hmm," said Balthier, scanning the dance floor. He hadn't been to such an event as this in over six years; he wasn't even sure he remembered how to properly dance at such events. It was something he'd rather forget. The upper class culture was far too stuffy and pretentious for his liking.

"Well," he said, glancing to her over his shoulder with a knowing look in his eye, "I'd have to find a partner first, wouldn't I?"