The Holiday Ball ((Gathering Post))

[prophetepiphany]

All in all, the holiday ball comes together beautifully. There's a huge Christmas tree that Laura has nothing to do with - the village has a way of making things appear, and honestly, she's glad she didn't have to decorate it. There is a group of tables on one side of the large ballroom, decorated with deep red and gold and servers waiting around

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OTA, tag Joslire

[prophetepiphany]

Laura's been making her rounds, talking to people and making sure everyone's having fun. She doesn't have to, it's not her job, but she wants people to be happy and since the village had seen fit to put her in charge, she figured she'd take some ownership.

She'd found a red dress that she loved, and as she smooths a hand down the side, she takes a moment to people watch, taking in the festivities.

[deathtotoasters]

Kyla, clad in a red dress and black flats, spotted Laura and decided to make her way over to her. She was smiling, though she didn't really register it. "Laura."

[prophetepiphany]

"Oh, Kyla, don't you look wonderful!" The dress is gorgeous and stunning on her. Laura moves to hug her. "How have you been, dear?"

[deathtotoasters]

"Thanks. You look really pretty." She smiled, but also flushed a little at Laura's compliment. It was the first time she was really wearing a dress and so she felt a bit out of place, even if her outfit fell in line with everyone elses. "I've been good, actually, even with all the weird village things. How about you?"

[prophetepiphany]

"Well, the village spared me on Halloween and when half the population aged up or down. That has me on my toes, honestly. Wondering what it's saving up for me," Laura says with a wry smirk.

[deathtotoasters]

"Maybe you're one of the lucky ones? I definitely did not get spared on either occasion." She shook her head. Those had been embarrassing times.

[prophetepiphany]

"No, I'm not considering myself lucky. Not in this place. Now I'm just wary."

Laura knows better than to think she'll be spared anything in the coming months. The village is too volatile.

[deathtotoasters]

"You think because nothing has happened for a while you'll get targeted?" It sounded a bit vindictive to her.

[prophetepiphany]

"Oh no, nothing like that," Laura clarifies. "I just don't think it's wise to get comfortable. But maybe war does that to a person. Always puts that seed of doubt in the back of their mind. But this party isn't the place to talk about such things," she smiles apologetically.

[deathtotoasters]

Kyla could definitely relate. It was why even under her ball gown she had a firearm strapped to her thigh.

She smiled a little and nodded. "Are you here with your husband?"

[prophetepiphany]

"I am, he's mingling right now. No doubt glad that I'm done talking about Christmas trees and dancing for at least another year," Laura laughs.

[deathtotoasters]

Her smile widened. It was easy to tell that Laura loved her husband just by the way she talked about him. "I think it was worth it. And now you can relax and enjoy it too."

She glanced up at the tree. It was even bigger up close. "The tree is pretty amazing." She looked at it a bit like a child would, but then she had only seen a Christmas tree once and it had been described by her father as a 'Charlie Brown' tree.

[prophetepiphany]

"It was amazing enough to put itself up...I'm hoping it will also take itself down. I really don't want to have to mess with it. The village just...made it appear," Laura explains.

[deathtotoasters]

She looked at it again. "It's weird.. most of the time the village seems like it wants to mess with us.. and then it does something nice like that."

It didn't sit well with Kyla, actually. It felt like manipulation. It felt like something Skynet would do.

[prophetepiphany]

"I know," Laura says, pursing her lips a little.

"Reminds me of a spoiled child, acting nice and then throwing a fit when it doesn't get what it wants."

[deathtotoasters]

Kyla nodded. "Well... I'm happy it's quiet for once. Not that I really know what to do with it... or do here."

She glanced down at her dress with a slightly sheepish expression, then looked back up. "Leoben convinced me to come."

Which was Kyla's way of telling Laura she was here with him.