The Costume Ball

[tono_twerp]

Characters: Everyone!
When: Friday, July 31st
Where: By the hot springs
Rating: ...R, just in case?
Summary: This is the Adstringendum Costume Ball! Everyone is encouraged to interact with everyone else, and do whatever they like: dance the night away, fall into the springs, get drunk, or do anything else that takes their fancy. There will be

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[replica_flame]

Luke wasn't that big on parties but...Daxter seemed to think this would be fun so Luke decided that he'd go along for the ride. At least if wasn't a formal party like the last one. Maybe he'd have a good time?

Luke readjusted his mask that he had found a few days earlier and aimlessly walked around the hot springs. This place reminded him a bit of the bath house that he and his friends had gone to because of Emperor Peony's pushing for them to relax.

[precursor_dax]

"Hey, Red." Luke suddenly had a small green crocadog on his shoulder...that sounded way too familiar. "You're lookin' sharp."

[replica_flame]

"Hey Dax..."

He glanced to his shoulder and, instead of the little ottsel, he saw...a strange looking dog. He jumped back, though the creature stayed on his shoulder as he flailed at first seeing it. Then, it hit him that it sounded just like Daxter.

"Dax...is that you?"

[precursor_dax]

Daxter chuckled at Luke's reaction, blue eyes peering from inside the mouth of the costume. "Know any other furballs that sound this good, Red?" he asked, nudging the side of his head affectionately with one "paw".

[hapless_medic]

Cassidy had never been to a ball before so she was both excited and nervous as she walked into the party. She'd chosen an old-fashioned maid outfit that was light blue with a white apron. She forgone making a hole for her tail though, so her tail currently hung low under the skirt...she had made ear-holes in the bonnet though. She also still wore her collar and dog tag, so she looked more like a pet maid than anything else.

For her the ball was a bit about fun, but mostly for getting reaqquainted with the people here.

[bloodseal_soul]

Cassidy! Though his "older sister" no longer knew Al's face, she knew his voice from when she was hurt. He wished he could go up and hug her, and put her at ease with his presence like he had in old times, but instead he just approached her with a warm smile.

"Hi, Cassidy!" he said cheerfully. "It's me, Alphonse!"

[hapless_medic]

It took a conscious effort to not wag her tail, since she didn't want to give ANYONE a view of her panties, but Cassidy managed it. She smiled brightly when she recognized his voice. She didn't remember him, but found his prescence comforting.

"Hello Alphonse, I'm glad I got to see you in person so soon." She was definitely much less subdued than she would be in the future, but there was a hint of fresh hurt in her eyes that wasn't present in her older self. "Are you enjoying the party?"

[bloodseal_soul]

Al beamed back. It was nice to see her face light up. She had a remarkably sweet smile, and he'd missed her. Instead of a hug he clasped her hand gently before letting go. She was younger; it made sense.

"You too," he said genuinely, and glanced over to the side at some of the dancing. Some of the guests were already a little tipsy, and Daxter had quite the grin on his face. "Yes! I never know what to do at them though, I'm always so shy when it comes to asking anyone to dance." With a laugh, he rubbed the back of his neck.

[phd_inhorrible]

Billy figured that he'd go to the party for a little while at least. Sure, he wasn't the most social guy around but he was getting a bit bored in his lab. This at least would give him something to do for a few hours before he went back home.

He made sure his goggles were securely over his eyes, he was wearing his lab coat and goggles since, technically, they were part of his costume, and he walked through the entrance of the hot spring. He'd stay out of the crowd for now, just seeing who showed up or not.

[a_wenches_life]

Ah, a person he hadn't seen in quite some time! Gong-gil sauntered over towards Billy, looking very much like the seductive woman as his fan practically vibrated over his masked face.

[phd_inhorrible]

Billy was a bit confused as to why the attractive woman, though not as much as Penny, was approaching him but, upon closer inspection, he realized that this was no female. It was someone he knew, but had not spoken to for a while.

"It's nice to see you again, Gong-gil."

[a_wenches_life]

Billy recognized him! Gong-gil grinned behind the mask, playing it up a few moments more with playing 'demure and shy' an finally closing the fan to tap Billy's shoulder. He lifted the mask to give the man a proper greeting as his skirts swirled to a stop around his ankles. "Hello, Billy. How have you been here? It's been a while."

[motherofalchemy]

Trisha, wearing a nice red dress (though not overly formal) and a black mask that she had found with Alphonse, wandered around the party, simply seeing what was there and who had come. This party, Trisha thought, was just the thing people needed in order to relax and have a good time after an event like they had just had. Parties were not something that happened often here, after all. Having one every once in a while was a good thing.

Hopefully, things went well tonight and nothing bad would happen. Trisha mentally knocked on wood as she looked around the party and saw all the people having a good time.

[bloodseal_soul]

Al had been a little worried about his mother coming, but it was good to see her up and smiling, looking healthy. Times like this he felt a little squeeze in his heart. Sometimes he wished he were still a child, so he could have the same relationship with her. But now, he was a young man, and he wanted to make her proud.

With a smile he stepped up to her, and gave a slow bow before he held out a gentle hand.

"Would you dance a set with me, Mom?"

[motherofalchemy]

"Of course I'll dance, dear."

She placed her own hand in his and allowed him to take the lead of the dance. It made her so proud seeing her sons all grown up, even if she still thought it was strange that they were supposed to be children still in her time. They were everything she could have ever asked for in her children. She only wished that she could have watched them grow up for herself, instead of having to rely on stories.

[bloodseal_soul]

The practice had paid off. Al's dancing was a little bit stiff at first, but he easily relaxed into it, managing to avoid stepping on her toes. It was so strange to be able to look his mother in the eye. Somehow, he'd gotten taller than her.

He had a curiously nostalgic smile on his face as he led them through the steps, as if he were imprinting every precious moment into his mind.

After all these years, she was still his angel.

[harbor_girl]

Chaera wasn't one for skirts or perfumes or lace. She was a swamp girl born and raised in a town that had a Harvest Brawl rather than a Harvest Ball, and thought she knew how to dance, it was more suited for clapping arms with rowdy, half-drunk soldiers while listening to a light fiddle and pipe, the beat kept by the hammering of boots on wooden floors, than to a graceful waltz.

Fully recovered, her hair washed, brushed and rippling down her back and over her shoulders, Chaera had settled on her court armor -- fitted tooled leather and shining chainmail, stitched with subtle leaf designs in gold thread. Though her sword was wrapped and settled between her shoulder blades with the handle poking over her shoulder. A mask covered her face, revealing only her silvery-blue eyes and half an amused smile. She laughed and joked easily as she moved through the crowd.

[notamageiswear]

The armor was what had caught Negi's attention, initially. It looked much too real to be a costume. Well, either that, or it was a very, very good replica of the real thing. Though he couldn't get a good look at who it was beneath the mask, the hair had registered familiar, if only just a little bit, and he ran through his mental roster of Adstringendum's residents. Maybe if he could hear her speak, he could figure out who it was.

The mage approached Chaera from behind, placing a hand on her shoulder. Not generally a good idea, but it was just a party, so he paid it no mind. "Excuse me, miss?"

[harbor_girl]

Sometimes it was hard to recognize someone when they weren't covered in blood, but Chaera wouldn't have minded. The young Knight-Captain was good at judging threats, and though she felt the hand on her shoulder, she'd known there was someone behind her.

With a quirk of her lips she turned around, holding the cup in her fingers like a mug, and giving the young man a bright smile. He looked a little familiar, somehow... almost like Negi. Too young to be his father, though.

"Hello there," she said warmly.

[notamageiswear]

Aha, both the smile and the voice struck him as familiar. Negi returned the smile as he went through faces and names, eventually deciding on the correct person. "I thought so. It's nice to meet you in person, Chaera!" He bowed just a bit, fitting of his costume but nothing more than a habit from back home. "I'm Negi, the one you spoke with the other day."