The Winter Ball

[central_librarymods]

The Winter Ball

As the Library prepares for the turning of the seasons, another of its rooms opens to the patrons. It is different than the others with a wide, sweeping marble floor inlaid with patterns of holly and snowflakes that is uncluttered by books and shelves. Music drifts through the hall, hinting that the patrons should dance. Do not worry about the gently falling snow; none will slip upon the marble unless they wish to do so.

Tables are scattered well away from the dance floor to allow patrons to gather and talk in small, intimate groups. Along one wall is a table stacked high with holiday foods from dozens of different realities. Evergreens decorated with globes of colored lights and frost remind the patrons that not everything fades with winter's cold. Presents can be found beneath the decorated boughs. Everywhere is a reminder of holidays from worlds near and far, some grounded in reality and some that patrons thought only existed in imagination.

The Library welcomes each patron and wishes each to enjoy an evening of music and festivities. Happy Winter Holidays to all who have answered the Head Librarian's invitation!

Prompts

The Dance Floor

1. Filling Your Dance Card. Each patron will find a dance card in his or her possession. Each being is encouraged to fill the card by dancing with five different people. Those who do will find a surprise waiting for them beneath one of the evergreen. (See note below)

2. Dancing on Air. Sometimes it feels like a song will sweep you off your feet. During this musical number, that can be literally true. While in the midst of a dance, patrons might notice that they're feeling lighter than usual and their feet barely touch the floor. That's because they've started to float above the dance floor. It may be unsettling at first but once the song ends the patrons be earthbound again.

3. The SnowBALL. Someone forgot that this is a formal dance, not a playground. When a patron steps on a certain pattern of snowflakes on the floor, snowballs will begin to fly. Patrons shouldn't worry too much if they in the middle of the action. These are magic snowballs and will not ruin gowns and suits. They can even be lobbed at other patrons if someone is feeling mischievous.

Mingling

4. Eat, Drink, and be Merry! The food at the buffet looks tempting and this time there are not magical side effects (except what might happen in the reality that the food is from). Enjoy a few treats from another world. Enjoy a drink or two... just remember that someone most likely has spiked the punch and that could have exciting or disastrous results!

5. Don't be a Wallflower. People who stay too long in one spot will find small winter flowers and leaves growing around their feet. These are harmless, but encouraging patrons to mingle and move and socialize with each other; especially dance.

Winter is the Darkest Time of the Year

6. In the Dark of the Night. If a patron wanders too far away from the main group, he or she will notice that the candles don't seem as bright and the fairy lights seem to fade. The Library is dark, darker than normal. Nothing more illuminating than a candle, except where Patrons gather. Those who wander away might find themselves lost and need someone to rescue them from the shadows that linger beyond the ball.

7. Tick Tock. In one corner of the ballroom, patrons might notice an item that looks strangely out of place. The old grandfather clock is decorated with scenes of different winter holidays that seem to draw the eye... and the unwary patron. Get too close and the clock case will spring open and a boggart will appear. Those familiar with a certain wizarding world might know the right spell that will banish the spirit and find themselves able to cast it with ease. Those who don't may find themselves confronting their greatest fears.

8. The Mirror of Dreams... and Nightmares. Like the Mirror of Erised, the mirror will show a patron the most desperate desire of a person's heart. At first this may seem innocent but some will be unable to look away and later... The forces that inhabit the Library may take an interest in what patrons see and these visions might come back to haunt them later.

((Note: The dance card prompt will allow players to earn extra points for the event. If a patron tags with prompt 1 and has five patrons tag their entry and the player returns those tags, they will earn extra points. The Cat will be available for dances if someone adds an ooc not to their prompt. Special thanks to wanna_bash_heads mun for assisting the mod team with the prompts. This will also be included in the test drive to encourage new players into the Library.)

Comments

Felicity Smoak

[kittened]

[locked to Barry]

Felicity had been scarce over the last few weeks. Some might have even thought she went home, but she was just deep in the library doing research. She was like a sponge, and just soaked all the knowledge that the library had to offer up like a sponge. She felt awful though because she felt like she missed so much.

She was bound and determined to make it up to her boyfriend though so she chose a special dress for ball, and did her hair and make-up just for him.

She spotted him and made her way over, tapping his shoulder.

"May I have this dance?"

[Later.... Wallflower]

After spending time with Barry, and catching up.... Felicity needed some food, so she could be seen grazing by the food tables. She is very friendly and social, just make sure not to touch her food. She feels like she hasn't eaten in weeks.

[redarrowqueen]

Thea being Thea knew what had to be done when she spotted one of the people who has become an older sister to her. She pulled Felicity into a fierce hug, being careful due to her own recent wounds of course. Of course not everything could be hidden: the stabbing had left its mark as well.

[kittened]

Shocked was an expression that Felicity wore as she suddenly had an armful of Thea Queen. "Wow... um... what are you doing here, not that I'm not happy to see you of course," She hurried to explain.

She pulled away from her. "Are you okay? of course you're not, but are you okay?"

[redarrowqueen]

"Work in progress? I remember Ra's Al Ghul stabbing me and the next I'm covered in both blood and cookbooks." Thea attempted to explain everything that has happened. But Thea's eyes spoke more than words, that she could not hide from someone like Felicity especially given how she and Oliver are expert level shovers of anything emotional. She fished the little leather quiver from the pocket of her dress,"Found this in my coat pocket and well I'm simply trying to find my way yet again."

[kittened]

Felicity sucked in a breath as she looked at the quiver. She hadn't thought about Oliver in so long, but seeing that Quiver brought everything back, so much so that she had to look away for a minute.

"You will.... I know it. I believe in you Thea."

Even if she couldn't believe in Oliver anymore.

[give_me_a_museum]

Barry had looked for Felicity everywhere almost running himself down in an effort to find his girlfriend and he'd been deeply upset when he'd thought she'd gone home without saying goodbye. So when he felt the hand tap his shoulder and heard her voice he almost yelled at her as he turned around.. But it's Barry Allen the hero who forgives and hides his hurt.

He does stammer a little, because that dress and Felicity are a match made in heaven. "Uh yeah," he manages, "I would like to say sorry for any of my feet that step on yours."

[kittened]

Felicity knew Barry better than he did sometimes, and he didn't have to tell her that he was hurting. She just knew. She put her arms around his neck, and pulled him in for a long, slow, languid kiss. The kind of kiss that Felicity saved just for Barry.

"I'm sorry," She whispered softly, her eyes glassy as she looked at him. "I think my feet will survive. You like my dress? I wore it for you."

[give_me_a_museum]

"Don't ever get lost again," Barry whispered when the kiss was over as he wrapped his arms around her and started swaying to the music, "I don't think my heart could take losing someone...losing you again."

[kittened]

Felicity just held on tight as tears filled her eyes. "I'm so sorry baby," She said, not knowing quite where that came from. She hated herself in that moment, for hurting him.

"I promise okay? I won't. You and me for always," She whispered.

[give_me_a_museum]

Barry smiled. "Baby huh," he says, "it's cute I like it. My mom and dad didn't have cute nicknames they used for each other. At least not when I could hear them anyway."

[kittened]

"It slipped out?" Felicity said, smiling sheepishly. She rested her head on Barry's chest as they swayed to the music. "You can give me one if you like? Not that you have to... I mean you can if you want to.... and stopping in 3...2...1"

[give_me_a_museum]

Barry thought for a moment. "Amazing....smart, silly. Goofball seems like a good name for you," he says with a chuckle.