central_librarymods: (Default)
central_librarymods ([personal profile] central_librarymods) wrote2016-01-19 07:18 pm

The Winter Ball

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 [personal profile] 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.)
redarrowqueen: (6)

[personal profile] redarrowqueen 2016-01-20 03:41 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks to the ongoing garbage inside Thea's brain she had been keeping to herself beyond a few little outings. But those outings let her offically meet Barry and also got her to meet Casey (who quite honestly made her smile). But now she had a bigger problem, finding a dress for the ball. But she had found a dress (thanks to a quick portal hop) and was at a mirror waging another battle, this time with her hair. "You can do this, nothing will hopefully go wrong for once." she whispered, not knowing anyone could hear her.
Edited 2016-01-20 04:49 (UTC)
cannonwithagun: (34)

[personal profile] cannonwithagun 2016-01-20 05:06 am (UTC)(link)
Sara walked into the new room in the library, brushing off the skirt of the dress she was wearing. She'd skipped out through one of the open portals, and found something similar to a dress she had at home. She at least knew she would be comfortable in it. Glancing around, she didn't see many people in the room just yet, so she kept to the walls, hoping few people would notice her, since she didn't know many people. For now, she would just be content to watch as people mingled.
directorofhydra: by <user name="icontrol"> (pic#9695620)

Grant Ward + Open.

[personal profile] directorofhydra 2016-01-21 01:15 am (UTC)(link)
Filling your dance card

[It's a positive night, and it's one that he's determined to enjoy. His brother's here, there'll be a family reunion soon enough, but he's got Kara's hand in his and then he's off to get them some punch. Once that's done however there's a very handsome man who's more then ready to mingle.]

Dancing on Air + Snowballs, for Kara.

[Grant Ward is thinking about those moments that you get once in a lifetime. Those moments that you have where everything is good and the gross feeling in your chest of being - disconnected - is gone. With Kara in his arms he's unaware - seemingly - that their feet have moved several inches off the floor.

Pressing a kiss to her neck he holds her close.]


We need to set a date for our wedding. Is it bad that I'm thinking February?
amery: (∞ Nice little smile)

Amery Vallet | OTA

[personal profile] amery 2016-01-21 02:19 am (UTC)(link)
1 - Dance Card

It had been a long time since he'd been to a ball like this, and he almost wished he had his dress uniform instead of his flight uniform. He still looked sharp, as it was; his flight uniform was comprised of a high-collared dark blue jacket with silver and brass buttons, and gold epaulettes, slim white trousers, and high black boots. He'd left his flight gloves in his room, instead fiddling with his white kid gloves, adjusting them and tugging on them.

His dance card was empty so far. Back in Volstov he'd never had trouble approaching anyone for a dance, but at home he'd had Rook or Jeannot to talk to, goad each other on into approaching a beautiful woman. But here, everyone was a stranger, and there was no Dragon Corps to impress. He cleared his throat, shifting from one foot to another, and tried to catch someone, anyone's, eye to see if they would be interested.

5 - Wallflower

He only noticed the flowers creeping around his boots when he tried to move his feet and met resistance. Frowning, he tried again, but was afraid to tear the plants. They didn't seem to be deadly, but they also didn't appear normal.

"Erm," he said uncertainly, "Has this happened to anyone else?"

4 - Eat, Drink

Thank lord there was food. He'd tugged off one of his gloves to eat, so he wouldn't get crumbs or other food on them as he chowed down on snacks. And helped himself to some punch. After his third glass, he realized it was spiked, but it was too late for him to care, so he helped himself to a fourth. On the plus side, a drunk or tipsy Amery was an Amery far less uptight.

"Excuse me," he said to whoever happened to be nearest to him at the moment, his somewhat heavy Volstovic accent, resembling a blend of Russian and French, almost heavy enough now to mangle his words a little, "Has anyone ever told you that you have beautiful eyes?"

[ooc: will match format!]

Thomas Ward | OTA

[personal profile] scarredpsyche 2016-01-21 03:52 am (UTC)(link)
1 - Dance Card

He wasn't exactly big on dancing, and he'd never been to an event this fancy before. It was a little overwhelming, and he wasn't even dressed properly for it. He wouldn't have known how to dress for something like this without some sort of explanation, and he didn't have a whole lot of money to buy anything with. He made an effort at least, put on something nice, and then hung near the sidelines while he tried to figure out who he was going to ask to dance--and how he was going to do it.

4 - Eat, Drink

Strategically, Thomas had placed himself in a seat near the buffet table, though the rest of his own table was empty. There was just him, a plate of food, and his second cup of punch. His dance card was discarded (ha) on the table next to his plate, more or less forgotten about for now.

[ooc: will match format!]
directorofhydra: by <user name="easystreet"> (Default)

Re: Thomas Ward | OTA

[personal profile] directorofhydra 2016-01-21 06:10 am (UTC)(link)
[This hurt.

Watching Thomas all by himself. Seeing the life that he'd denied him because of Chris - and because of himself. Mostly because of himself. He kissed Kara and ambled over to his brother.]


...You know if you keep your feet planted for too long you're gonna have those little flowers growing up inside your shoes bro.
directorofhydra: by <user name="easystreet"> (pic#9695616)

[personal profile] directorofhydra 2016-01-21 06:11 am (UTC)(link)
Grant Ward has a goal - namely - find someone to dance with his brother. The sound gets an eyebrow raised.

"First ball?"
redarrowqueen: (4)

Thea Queen l OTA

[personal profile] redarrowqueen 2016-01-21 06:30 am (UTC)(link)
Filling your dance card

Thea had decided to accept dances with anyone who asked, ladies would of course be platonic. She figured it was the first of many steps to facing the ghosts inside her head and soul.

Wallflower

At one point however her demons went into overdrive so Thea headed to the wall for a breather. But after awhile a bank of flowers was growing just around her shoes. "Strange but an interesting strange." she admits.

Eat, Drink and Be Merry

During another breather Thea wandered to the food table and snagged some cookies and some tea.

Tick Tock

Thea picked the worst time to wander past the clock, springing out a little version of Ra's Al Ghul and a reminder of her past as an addict and angry at the world party girl. "Not her anymore!" she kept whispering, trying to make the memories go away.
redarrowqueen: (5)

[personal profile] redarrowqueen 2016-01-21 06:30 am (UTC)(link)
"Got the ball experience so more like first in quite some time." Thea admits. She kept things close to the vest for now, mostly out of a need to protect herself emotionally.
directorofhydra: by <user name="easystreet"> (Default)

5

[personal profile] directorofhydra 2016-01-21 06:31 am (UTC)(link)
"...I've been moving." He studies the plants, "You feeling all right partner? They're not poisonous are they?"

Ward has had a little to drink.
directorofhydra: by <user name="easystreet"> (Default)

[personal profile] directorofhydra 2016-01-21 06:37 am (UTC)(link)
"I can relate to that. The last party I went to like this..."

He couldn't recall.

"No need to be nervous. It'll be okay."
amery: (∞ This had better be worth my time)

[personal profile] amery 2016-01-21 06:51 am (UTC)(link)
Vaguely, Amery thought this man looked familiar, but he couldn't figure out why off the top of his head. Maybe he'd remember in time.

For now, he frowned down at the flowers curling around his ankles, looking as strangely natural as if they'd always been there. "Ah, I don't think so, no." But the leather of his boots was thick and sturdy, so he couldn't really say for certain.

"Moving prevents them from...appearing? I didn't want to mangle them."
directorofhydra: by <user name="icontrol"> (pic#9698136)

[personal profile] directorofhydra 2016-01-21 06:54 am (UTC)(link)
"They don't seem to be hurting anybody, but if you don't want to stand there all night..."

Ward shrugged. There's years taken off his face. He looks happy, pleased, thrilled even.

[personal profile] scarredpsyche 2016-01-21 07:09 am (UTC)(link)
[He was almost pretty content being over there on his own. Almost. At least he got to be in a room full of people, watching them have a good time. As weird as his life had become, this felt mostly normal.

He looked up when Grant approached, picking a chip apart bit by bit.]


Flowers in my shoes? [Something like that was enough to make him wonder if Grant had been drinking instead of the other way around.]
amery: (∞ Are you high or something?)

[personal profile] amery 2016-01-21 07:16 am (UTC)(link)
Amery hummed softly while he considered that for a moment. "I didn't envision myself standing in this one spot all night, no," he admitted.

Stooping down, he tried to carefully untangle the flowers from around his boots. They were more stubborn than they appeared, and it took a considerable amount of tugging and wiggling his feet around until he managed to free himself, staggering and almost falling before he regained his balance.
directorofhydra: by <user name="easystreet"> (pic#9695618)

[personal profile] directorofhydra 2016-01-21 07:18 am (UTC)(link)
I've been watching it happen. This place likes to gently nudge people into talking to one another.

[His smile dissolves, just a hair.]

We don't know how long you'll be here. There's no point in spending it alone.
directorofhydra: by <user name="icontrol"> (pic#9698136)

[personal profile] directorofhydra 2016-01-21 07:20 am (UTC)(link)
Ward moves forward to help, offering a hand before he shakes his head and smiles, "Ought to warn people about it. Come on over to the punch table with me and let's get you something to drink."

redarrowqueen: (2)

[personal profile] redarrowqueen 2016-01-21 07:28 am (UTC)(link)
"Its just a little bit nerve wracking." as Thea clipped in a pair of earrings. "But once things are in full swing we'll be fine."
directorofhydra: by <user name="easystreet"> (pic#9695616)

[personal profile] directorofhydra 2016-01-21 07:36 am (UTC)(link)
"Meeting someone?"

Keep it calm, cool, and casual Grant. He keeps his eye out for Kara. Having seen her dress, he knew she'd look amazing.

[personal profile] scarredpsyche 2016-01-22 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
I've talked to people.

[Totally. Tons of people. He was convincing, right?]

Maybe I want to spend it alone.

[No, he didn't, and he wasn't convincing about that, either.]
alec_lightwood: (Not really believing you)

4

[personal profile] alec_lightwood 2016-01-22 03:20 am (UTC)(link)
Alec was looking through a tray of sweets, a glass of the spiked punch in his hand when he heard the comment. Looking up from the tiny, frosted cakes he gave the being an amused look as he realized what he'd said. It was a comment he'd heard before, either from well meaning relatives despairing over Alec's life choices or from beings who were trying to seduce him. His eyes were a startling shade of blue that were made brighter by black hair and the black suit he wore.

Looking over the patron, he tried to remember if he'd seen him before. If he had, it'd been from a distance. "Was that an observation or were you coming on to me?" No one had ever accused Alec of being subtle verbally.
directorofhydra: by <user name="easystreet"> (Default)

[personal profile] directorofhydra 2016-01-22 08:00 am (UTC)(link)
[Ward stares at him and stares at his feet. Then shakes his head at him.]

...Not gonna fly.

amery: (∞ This had better be worth my time)

[personal profile] amery 2016-01-22 08:13 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm quite alright, thank you." He didn't need any help, but he appreciated the thought.

Straightening his jacket a little, he tugged on his gloves and straightened up. "Punch would be lovely."
redarrowqueen: (4)

[personal profile] redarrowqueen 2016-01-22 09:58 am (UTC)(link)
"Not this time, just going to see what happens." Thea offered.
dulcet_cellist: (Suit Porn w/Jacket)

Sebastian | Wallflower & Drinks | OTA

[personal profile] dulcet_cellist 2016-01-23 11:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Finding something to wear was easy. Sebastian had a lot of experience choosing nice clothes and having them fitted. For him clothes were worn like a shield. They made him feel better and more confident and he enjoyed being comfortable in clothes when most of his life he wasn't even comfortable in his own skin. He didn't choose his clothes to impress anyone.

But a ball was something special and he did try to choose something appropriate. A simple, but stylish black Jacket, white dress shirt, and a black tie. The same for his Pants , fitted perfectly to his frame.

As much as he loved his clothes and as much as they helped him feel better there was still the room full of people he had never met and despite being a musician he couldn't dance. So he grabbed himself two cups of punch and found a quiet spot away from everything where he could watch.

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