daybreakacademy | VALENTINES BALL

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VALENTINES BALL

VALENTINES BALL

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February 14th is a day both famed and notorious for feats of love, passion and confession. And violence, as this year’s theme suggests - a 1920s speakeasy theme, initially based off the Valentines’ Day massacre of 1929 and toned down to be significantly more fun and less a dark reminder of bloodshed. While this year’s event has no predicted surprises like a daemon invasion in store, the Student Council has still chosen to hire extra security for the ball; bulky constructs in surprisingly well-tailored pinstripe suits and hats stand guard outside the entrances to the venue, impassively watching for any signs of trouble.

The ball itself is laid out similar to a 1920s club, with a large space for dancing, a stage for entertainment, and plenty of tables and chairs for sitting, dining, and chatting. Bars on both sides of the room provide a place to order and collect both food and drink, and the second storey of the venue has been put into use to provide quieter and more secluded places to sit.

A. Classy…? Cocktails
As ever, the Academy has provided a lavish and thematic spread of food for the occasion, with a few unique twists to fit the theme. The drinks of are particular note - aside from the usual range of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks that Daybreak provides, many are tailor-made for the ball due to a collaboration between some of the alchemy and culinary classes in Daybreak (who were rather too eager to volunteer). Have you ever wondered what it’s like to drink cake or a steak? You’ll find plenty of experiments here, both savory and sweet, to facilitate that experience.

If that’s not to your tastes, some drinks are purely decorative, providing some unique visual or audio effects - you might find yourself sepia-toned or monochrome, chattering like an old-fashioned radio host or filled with an irrepressible urge to sing everything you say - among other things. Mercifully, everything wears off by the end of the night.

B. Changing Stages
While this ball is by no means illegal, there has at least been an attempt to capture the more ‘forbidden’ aspects of a speakeasy. As the night goes on, switches and buttons appear on the walls, and pressing them will make the room shift and change to reveal secret doors and elevators - partially mechanical tricks, but mostly through clever application of magic and mundane illusion. These exits from the room provide ample opportunity for attendees to stretch their legs and take a walk and a break from the rest of the party through mazelike, glittering hallways and smoke-hazy corridors that lead to balconies and small lounges looking out onto strange, abstract views. Walk far enough, and you might end up in a completely different part of the venue than you were before - though for the truly lost, the corridors will always bring you to someone you can ask for help sooner or later, or guide you out.

Well, eventually. It wouldn’t quite fit the theme of a speakeasy without a little bit of uncertainty, would it?

C. Nyeh, See?
For those who would rather indulge in the darker implications of the theme and have no patience for the other entertainment on offer, this maze of corridors offers one other attraction - enchanted guns and gear for laser tag. In strict adherence to the theme, all guns resemble the kind of weaponry that 1920s gangsters would be boasting - and no matter what you were wearing at the time, as soon as you attach a pendant to your clothing, you're immediately in magically-fitting suits any gangster would envy. They even give off the illusion of bleeding should you be 'shot' by one of these enchanted guns, though to avoid causing undue concern the illusory blood sparkles and shines different colours.

D. Shall We Dance?
No Valentines ball is complete without the opportunity to get close to someone you might enjoy the company of, after all. To fit with the speakeasy theme, music and entertainment has been provided - both stage performances from volunteers and a selection of recorded music from the era. And for those up on the second floor, a station has been provided for whatever you’d like to broadcast to the entire room. Whether you’re up on the stage, down on the dancefloor, or you simply want to set a little mood music for certain people to take a hint, there’s bound to be something to do.

Some of the spirits and other, benign creatures that inhabit Daybreak’s grounds have decided to invite themselves, finding the music and warmth too irresistible to refuse. As a result, masked figures dressed in the vague approximation of 1920s fashion can be spotted among the more solid attendants, and those who don’t have a dance partner might well find themselves being asked to dance regardless - and be given small gifts as a token of gratitude for the indulgence. Or they might just nudge you into dancing with someone new...

E. Wildcard
Anything else you’d want to do at the dance? Feel free to enjoy the night - it’s for everyone to indulge themselves, after all.

code bases by tricklet

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A lot of that awkwardness was from Desidera. As things went on, though, she began feeling a bit more comfortable with what she was doing, and started moving on her own with less guidance, going instead by what she felt she needed to do. It was still slower compared to what some of the other couples were doing, even with GV not needing to try to lead as much, but that wasn't important; what was was that they were doing this at all.

At some point throughout all of it, though, the shawl she was wearing somehow managed to slip a bit, not enough to fall off, but enough that it wasn't covering her neck as much as it had been before. If he was paying attention, Gunvolt would see that she'd chosen to wear her necklace underneath it.

With being presented an opportunity to take a (much) closer look at it, if he was paying enough attention, it would look awfully familiar for more reasons than it just being hers: it matched the one that had been made for him before.

[Emille's been lurking near the entrance to the laser tag arena for a while, watching others go in and mostly hearing them as they play, with the occasional burst of light speeding towards the entrance. Everyone else so far has ignored her, so she's slightly taken aback when Hazel calls out to her. Even though she's put on the spot, she thinks she's read the rules enough to sort of know what to do. There's nothing to lose by trying...]

I suppose I am going solo, unless you are interested in forming a team? Yet it would be unfair if I did not inform you that I have no experience with such a game, so it would be a risk to take me as a teammate.

[Emille seems as if she's waiting for Hazel's reply before grabbing a pendant and a gun, but she's really wanting to observe how she handles her gun before attempting to do the same.]

The slower music here really helped serve to give them time... good time to learn and get comfortable. Once she was ready, his lead grew a little more on pace, but he never got terribly fast either. That... was still secondary.

Her shawl slipping down didn't escape his notice; he did have an eye for spotting movement, if nothing else. At first he looked, making sure it wouldn't fall to the ground, but... her necklace grabbed his attention at that point. ...Huh. He knew that she wore one pretty often, but he never really paid a strong amount of attention to it. It... it was the same as his, wasn't it? Even down to the detailing. His cheeks flushed a brighter shade of red this time, and he struggled to find words for it, but eventually settled.

"...That necklace looks good on you."

It wasn't the smoothest way he could deliver it. Gunvolt was nowhere near gifted in being smooth. But given that she knew him this well, she could probably pick up the fact that he caught onto it being a match to his. The one he almost never took off; especially not after it had saved his life before. ...And he knew by now what it meant to her, carrying symbols of others with her at all times. Removing the old family tattoo, but keeping the scar from the battle with Asimov. Wearing that X crest given to her by Valvatorez. That and more, really.

Before he can say anything more, the current song they were dancing to wound down, and the music stopped for a moment. GV's eyes glanced over to where the music was playing, wondering why it had stopped. ...But it only did for a few seconds. And when the music started back up, the lights dimmed a bit further, and Monarch's hologram flitted to life on the performing stage, and a small spotlight focused on her as she started to sing. A song... quite out of her usual range as a pop idol, but was much more befitting to the theme of the party. Her voice was clear, crisp, and... surprisingly genuine and authentic, as if she sang it straight from the heart with singular purpose.

I say I'll move the mountains
And I'll move the mountains
If he wants them out of the way
Crazy he calls me
Sure, I'm crazy
Crazy in love, I say...

Monarch spared a glance over to them as she sang, and gave a wink to them both as they continued to dance.

The AI pulling any kind of stunt today, even something as harmless (and appropriate) as this, was... Well, honestly, they were both expecting it; there were certainly some people that at least suspected, but Monarch was among those that actually outright knew, ever since that phone call from Marise in the latter half of December.

Desi hummed again in response to the compliment. That same phone call with her mother had made some other things known to her roommates, as well. For example: what her wearing that necklace actually meant.

That hum was her only response for several moments as they continued, but eventually, she actually spoke.

"You already know so I don't really need to say it, but, I never thought that I would ever be doing something like this."

Her arrival at the academy in the middle of last year had been with a specific purpose in mind, and while that purpose hasn't been abandoned, things have...not happened the way she had originally been expecting, otherwise.

He chuckles softly, nodding a bit in response. "Yes, I've met her. She is very earnest, but she clearly has good intentions in what she does." He says.

"To be honest, I really enjoy wandering around in the secret halls, seeing whatever views I found as I went about. The game in there was fun, but the more settled enjoyment was... nicer in the long run." He admits, considering the whole of the dance to offer his honest opinion, since he figured his friend would appreciate to know it for other events.

Oh!

[It's a good question indeed- maybe no one. Maybe only bystanders.

Probably only bystanders. But Gongenzaka beams as much as a bear can, nodding his head.] Auh, indeed it has! Have you been doing well, Desco?

"Auh, I, the man Gongenzaka, shall keep that in mind!"

So he says, but very quickly he's the one being asked for assistance instead! A daemon breed...Known as..?? "Mnh...there are daemons referred to as dragons, instead of being actual dragons?" Now that's curious. He has to frown, pondering the matter in quiet. "Mnhhh... I, the man Gongenzaka, have not heard of such by name...but would it be correct to presume they resemble true dragons?"

Let it never be said that Kohaku is not earnest.

Ever. "Mnh, the maze charms..." He nods in agreement. "It was tricky to put together, but well worth it in the end...definitely not something to experience for long periods of time though," he remarks as he shakes his head. "Finding a good balance between activities like that, and the remaining dance, will be something we have to work on..."

"Desco!" Rex is in such a good mood he doesn't do the polite thing and ask if Desco wants to be picked up. He just goes for it and gives her a quick spin, smoothly working it into his dance moves. "It's good to see you!"

Rex holds still when spoken to and stares silently for a while, largely unemotional on the surface of it all.

After holding his breath for a while he just asks "Do you want me to leave?"

The silence is unnerving. The blank expression more so. He really, really doesn't like that blank look.

"No," He blurts it out, then shakes his head. "No, of course not, you're a student, this dance is for you, it's not my... if this was about that I could just leave myself." He's fumbling this already. Hardly surprising, he didn't even go in with a half-baked plan. This is all raw stupid.

"Just commenting that you dance well. Not many know those dances these days."

Oh, right. Emille is so obsessed with her war against Dragons that she forgets that they tend to need clarification. Time to explain the difference between dragons and Dragons.

"In truth, there are likely other creatures that have been passed off as dragons over the centuries, creating the usual fiery lizard stereotype. The daemon breed does indeed have large fiery lizards, but they are relatively rare compared to the many other breeds of Dragons in existence. They have varied appearances, but many of them are indeed lizard-like. The one component that sets the daemon Dragons apart from all the others is that they expel a swath of deadly orange flowers in their wake when they hunt for prey."

Emille pauses for effect, then looks straight into Gon's eyes. "And we are all their prey. It is my, and Murakumo's, goal to eradicate the Dragons before they consume all of us." In short, Dragons are bad news.

[Hazel handles a gun like someone who is well-versed, comfortable. Keeps the barrel pointed down and the safety on. Fingers along the barrel and away from the trigger. She looks Emille over for a moment.]

Sure, we can team up. It's just a game. No one is going to die if you make a mistake.

[Emille nods. Some people are very into winning their games, as if their lives truly did hinge on the outcome. Thankfully it does not seem that Hazel is that type.]

I am glad that you think so, Miss. [Emille dons a pendant but does not activate it just yet. And now the time has come for her to pick up a gun, which she does, taking care not to point it at Hazel. Emille's goal is to make it seem as if she's not completely new to using a gun, so time will tell if her bluff will hold.]

Before we begin, it would be improper if I did not introduce myself. [She dips her head into a bow.] I am Emille, biology professor and Head of Research. [That may be surprising, as Emille is only four feet tall.]

Desidera was absolutely right that they both expected Monarch to pull something. She did so love to tease, and she also did love to perform for an audience as well. Given this was a perfect opportunity to do both at once, GV figured that she would've tried to find a way, come Hell or high water, just to do something like this. Not that he minded though. He was still an unabashed fan of hers, and well... something like this might as well have come out of a dream. And it was something he fully intended to cherish.

"I don't mind," he quietly replied; even if he already understood that, it... was still nice to hear that she was happy. Knowing well that Desi was having problems accepting herself in the past, and the lonely, secluded life she had before Daybreak... well, a year ago, this being unthinkable wasn't unrealistic, he supposed. "...It's been a whirlwind of a year. Coming here... think it was the best thing that ever happened. To both of us."

His eyes grew a little distant; that's not to say that it had been perfect either. There were tough times, for both of them.

"...I never much thought I'd be here a year ago either. Thought I'd just be training, studying hard, preparing for the worst." He blinked, the distance in his eyes vanishing in an instant. "Didn't think I'd... actually be building an actual life."

"I'm sure it can be done." He offers. "It's rather nice to see such an event have activities for those who aren't keen on dancing, or at least not for long. The few that I've made my way to, before coming here, were all just that, a dance floor, perhaps a photo set up... but nothing that got a person away from a busy dance floor. This has been so very nice, by comparison. So don't worry too much about changes for the future tonight... enjoy the night!"

He wanted to encourage the other to just enjoy things as well and figured the worst he could do was embarrass himself a little bit. "Do you dance?" He asks.

He could ask. But, since Sherlock seems unwilling to speak of it, he decides not to pry. He takes another quick drag of smoke.

His gaze turns upward too, taking in the stars and moon in all their glory.

"Si, it is nice," He agrees. "I always thought I would grow to hate the night just wishing for the day. But it never really happened."

"Oh," He says softly, as her credential rise up.

"Oh," He says again, as they tower over him.

Research. Like what Daybreak wanted him here for, a way to cure blight... He shakes his head.

"Ah, I'm not really specialized in much," He admits. "The night classes are shorter on help, so I just do what I can. They do like me to, let's say, translate for kids who aren't used to this world when some teachers have been a part of it much longer. But really, mostly grunt work, nothing special."

Edited 2020-02-21 09:58 (UTC)

He can't help it, it's a very confusing time.

There's more awkward silence as Rex attempts to work out the trick here, before eventually leaving it- "I like music. So. I dance."

It's all he can think to say and looks like an idiot.

Emille takes Héctor's "oh"s as a bit of disbelief -- it seems to be the default response from many to be taken aback by a four-foot-tall biology professor. She's used to it, though, and just shakes it off: "Yes. I may be short in stature, but I am capable of many things."

Héctor may not think that his "specialization" is much, but it interests Emille. "What do you mean by 'translating,' if I may ask? I myself am still getting used to the world beyond the Veil, only having been exposed to it a year-and-a-half ago. In that regard, I may have more in common with the students that you assist than my fellow colleagues."

That.

Definitely sounds like bad news.

The bear might be slightly in shock. Just a little. It's a lot to take in! "Auh... I see..." Hm. "...I, the man Gongenzaka, must admit that I have not seen such 'dragons' then, but I cannot fault you then, for asking indeed." He should probably look into this a bit more himself actually.

"Ahah! I'll do just that then!" he laughs a bit cheerfully- it's hardly against the grain of what he's already been doing, after all, and-

Uh-

"Mnh? Dancing..." He thinks back to the last time he did. "I suppose a little? I don't do it often I admit..." ...

wait

"D..." Oh. "...Do you want to..."

That's the spirit. ...Actually, whiskey's the spirit- hey buddy, make mine a double! [This poor bartender.]

[At least they actually have someone watching and pouring the drinks instead of leaving alcohol totally unsupervised around all these teenagers. Legal drinking age in this country aside, it's best to have someone keeping an eye on things.]

So, family stuff, huh? [Not exactly something she has experience with.]

Cool, that's way less stressful. [Or it was, before Jail showed up. Then again, she's being relatively well-behaved tonight, in that none of the partying and general hedonism she intends to do is actually unexpected at an event like this.]

Think it was more of an aesthetic movement in general- I've stolen some really good art pieces in that style. [Then again, being an architectural feature isn't enough to keep Jail from stealing something, so there could be an overlap.] Period-accurate, anyway.

Well, you never know until you try, right? [She smiles, smug as the canary that somehow tricked the cat into catching its' own tail.] Sure wouldn't mind finding out...

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VALENTINES BALL

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