6:oo A deep voice booms from the brass mask above Cintamani House’s door: "Time is!" Inside, the Rubbery Choir is replaced by more conventional musicians. Dancers rush to fill in the last blanks of their dance cards. Flapping matrons perform their usual duties, informing young things (and occasionally their husbands, who already know) of the rules: dance with anyone who asks, leave no one without a partner, don’t dance with your own husband or wife.
However, space has been provided for those disinclined to dance. Across from the foyer the Albedo Room has been opened. Here, under the Firebird chandelier, long tables of refreshment have been set up. There is a selection of amuse-gueule, there are towers of croquembouche, there are candied chestnuts and solacefruit, there are cheese plates of Roquefort and Camembert and Gruyère, there are bowls of pale fish, there are neat stacks of candles. Above these, garlands of greenery have been strung on the stark white walls. The garlands’ benignancy is questionable, but they are high enough to be no particular danger.
The Nigredo Room has also been opened, at the north end of the hall. Here the floors are black rippled stone, with black-and-silver wallpaper. A large stone Fourth City tortoise dominates the room’s center. The rest of the room, however, belongs to card tables. The decks are new, with distinctive gilded backs to prevent anyone from sneaking in marked cards. Already the first games of whist are beginning, and at a corner table some old men have located a pair of dice and begun a game of hazard.
Back in the main room, the Professor leads Dione out to begin the ball. The band strikes up Brahms, and the first two dancers begin a Viennese waltz. They twirl through the ballroom for a few minutes alone. Then Ondine and August take the floor, and the first dance has begun.
Finally, the ball has begun. C. looks around for likely partners and sees Dirae Erinyes a little to her left. “Shall we?” she inquires, with a raised brow.
Ixc goes back to find Nora, who is discreetly slipping whatever food she can into a small bag. She briefly considers a candle before pilfering one of them too. "I’m going to find a dancing partner, if you don’t mind."
Nora grins. "Well more time here is more food for me. I’ll join the dancing later on. Once the bag’s full."
Ixc looks around the crowd, searching for a partner.
August jumps down from the podium as the Rubbery Choir is replaced by the conventional musicians, he gives them a polite nod. He smiles as he dances with Ondine and is delighted to have been honoured with the first dance. "Thank you Ondine, it’s an honour to have the first dance." He says whilst dancing slowly with her.
(edit: my apologies to Siankan, I misread a part of your post.) edited by Honeyaddict on 12/22/2019
[quote=Siankan] and at a corner table some old men have located a pair of dice and begun a game of hazard. [/quote]
the old man leans over to the men mutters a obscure joke about zailors and tells them to play the game out without him. He then ambles to the dance floor and looks at his dance card, relived he doesn’t have to dance with that occtotairan. He then walks over to start his first dance of the evening
[quote=Jolanda Swan]
Jolanda hugs Sapho back, openly delighted to see her. "Why, thank you dear! I would say I caught a glimpse of you at Neathmass but… that would be rude, wouldn’t it? And being rude simply wouldn’t do!"[/quote]
"Rudeness has its place, but not between you and me and not at such a fine ball," Sapho agrees. "And speaking of balls, I hope you have a space or two still open on your dance card. I’m sure partnering with you would be a delight as you glide through the dance floor like a … well, you know."
"I do, as a matter of fact. I’m not the lightest on my feet, but I can hold my own." She smiles. "Is there space on your card or were they all snapped up before I arrived?" edited by Iris Sims on 12/22/2019
Thanos Black enters the fine abode of the esteemed Professor with some timidity, a bottle of Broken Giant 1844 clasped tightly in his gloved hands. After so many days (nights?) locked in research in his cramped and damp decomissioned steamer, the sight of so much light and beauty takes a while to get used to. The sight of the Tiger at the entrance also takes him by surprise. The Blemmigan Tourist perched lightly upon his shoulder seems unfazed however, and with squirming tentacles urges him to don his mask and move ahead. Not wanting to stand out too much into this gathering of London’s elite, he has clad himself in a simple, almost plain, yet elegant black suit, with the necessary white tie attached, and his mask is a plain white featureless one, except for zig-zagging cracks that have been filled in with rostygold. The only other item that breaks his monotonous attire is a small pin on his lapel, carved in jade in the shape of a bat. Nodding courteously to the Tiger (and secretly hoping his head won’t be bitten off on the way) he walks on.
the old man shouts as loud as decorum allows a greeting to thanos "good morning my friend I expected you earlier allow me to warn you one thing before the dancing begins there’s a snake in the side room"
Thanos’s initial joy at seeing his friend and mentor was not lessened by this warning, although if a featureless mask could raise an eyebrow, this was as good a time as any for it to do so. "A snake you say, dear friend? Am I to assume it is safely and harmlessly contained? Part of the entertainment or, dare I say, the guests?" Thanos seemed a bit at a loss as to how he should react to this bit of news. Should he run over and inspect the creature? Or should he have taken a weapon with him after all?
Putting those thoughts aside for the moment he asked "And where is our gracious host? I’d like to offer my respects before the dancing and the revels start."
The man in the young-and-old mask came up to Mr. Black, and pointed out to the dancers. "Professor Kan is the one in the red-and-gold fire mask. So I’m afraid he can’t shake your hand at the moment. However, let me welcome you to the House on his behalf. Can I assist you with locating a dance partner, or would you prefer to find the refreshments first?"
[quote=Thanos Black]Thanos’s initial joy at seeing his friend and mentor was not lessened by this warning, although if a featureless mask could raise an eyebrow, this was as good a time as any for it to do so. "A snake you say, dear friend? Am I to assume it is safely and harmlessly contained? Part of the entertainment or, dare I say, the guests?" Thanos seemed a bit at a loss as to how he should react to this bit of news. Should he run over and inspect the creature? Or should he have taken a weapon with him after all?
Putting those thoughts aside for the moment he asked "And where is our gracious host? I’d like to offer my respects before the dancing and the revels start."[/quote]
"the snake seems to be a pet. Also for you information weapons seem to be banned, I learnt that in conjunction with the snakes existence actually. So how is life in London treating you
"A refreshment would be lovely indeed, sir" Thanos replies to the man "Shall I give this bottle to you?" he says, proffering the bottle of blood-red Broken Giant.
Taking the bottle with a bow, he leads Thanos into the main hall. He deposits the bottle with the first available servant (masked in silver, as all are) and brings him across the hall into the Albedo Room. Once thoroughly satisfied that the guest is in the good hands of a croquembouche, he takes his leave and melds back into the crowd.
[quote=the old man]
"the snake seems to be a pet. Also for you information weapons seem to be banned, I learnt that in conjunction with the snakes existence actually. So how is life in London treating you[/quote]
"Well enough my friend. It seems I have recently been way too engrossed in my studies in the Correspondence and the setting up of a Correspondence department at the University that I scarcely had the opportunity for socialising. This ball ought to do me good. Not to mention allow me to meet some interesting people. And you?" Thanos asks politely, softly waving away a tentacle that the Blemmigan on his shoulder had draped over his mask.
[quote=Lady Sapho Byron]Lady Byron leans close to Iris and whispers in faux conspiracy, "I always keep two or three spaces open for people of my choosing."
Returning to normal tones, she continues, offering her arm, "Then shall we proceed to the dance floor?"[/quote]
"Well enough my friend. It seems I have recently been way too engrossed in my studies in the Correspondence and the setting up of a Correspondence department at the University that I scarcely had the opportunity for socialising. This ball ought to do me good. Not to mention allow me to meet some interesting people. And you?" Thanos asks politely, softly waving away a tentacle that the Blemmigan on his shoulder had draped over his mask.[/quote]
"oh I haven’t been up to much writing plays, catching up to my brethren in the colony’s, I have been teaching a new Londoner some persuasive techniques, well done in that field by the way I believe you have nothing left to learn from me. In any case I mustn’t distract you for too long in getting dance partners, a handsome young man like yourself should have no trouble, I may have to sit this one out with my friends however.