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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2016 3:34:59 GMT
 | Dorian HP: 100% MP: 100% |
An invitation? Dorian had just opened his door to set out into the forest for a day of gathering, when he was greeted by a small letter that had been left on his doorstep. "Interesting," he had muttered under his breath, bending down to pick it up and stepping back inside the house, closing the front door behind him. There was no writing on the front of it, nor any indication of who it was from, but the letter itself gave off a strangely aromatic sensation, like a cherry blossom just after it had bloomed upon the tree. Chuckling softly under his breath, he opened the letter, and found inside... an invitation. "You are cordially asked to attend a prestigious masquerade ball held under the light of the Moon Spirit," the Shaman read out loud; he was alone in his abode at present, but of course he was always joined by his Shikigami, the fox tail companion who resided in his mind. Aurelia was still somewhat sleepy at the moment, by she also toiled over what she could see through Dorian's eyes, who continued to read the rest of the letter. "Spring has been around for much time now, and to celebrate it's beauty and the joy it brings to the village, and of course the entire Forest, we host a special ball for any and all residents of the Unfounded Kingdom. Alas, this can be a busy time of the year, so not many Adventurers come, but we hope you will be able to attend. Don't forget to bring a mask!"Putting down the letter, Dorian ran his fingers through the ragged curls of his hair, scrunching up his face as he realised he had no mask to wear... But, it would be a pinch just to go out and grab one, and he did have his 'Man of Mystery' gear he hadn't quite put to use yet. "What do you think, oh spirit friend of mine?" The Shaman spoke plainly to his Shikigami companion, he rubbed at her eyes and yawned before nodding her head... metaphysically, of course. I think you should go; you live in the forest now, might as well get to know the customs and the village itself. She was right, of course, and with a gentle hum, Dorian got to work, getting himself ready for the night's festivities.
You look good, Dorian, quit being so nervous, Aurelia kept mumbling to him as he walked up alongside the stream; the flow of water went all the way down to the lake outside his house, so it was the easiest way to find the path to the village, just by following the small font of water upstream. Besides, you have a mask, you don't have to worry. Releasing a sigh, Dorian reached up to touch the flashy mask he had procured for himself; it was designed so that it covered everything between above the tip of his nose and his cheekbones, to the top of his forehead. The design was of a dragon, black in colour, the scales shimmering whenever light reflected off of them. Down the centre, between the two eyes, were small metallic ridges, grey in colour. Off the sides of the face, three horn like structures poked off from the corners, creating a fierce yet soothingly adorable masked appearance. His hair remained the attractive mess it always was, with two braids sticking out under his ear, as they always did. His emerald hues peered out from behind the small holes in the eyes of the mask, letting him see the world clearly. "I suppose this will be a good chance to work on my dancing; I have... neglected it for some time now," he muttered in reply, dusting himself off to make sure his new trench coat attire was clean and presentable. This was the first time he was going to be wearing this out in public, so it felt a little tight in places, but altogether comfortable, thankfully. Nodding his head, Dorian continued traversing the side of the stream, until finally he found the path to the village; following it, his eyes glanced up at the tall trees that lined the path either side, his hands moving instinctively behind his back and clasping together. As he approached the village proper, his posture began to straighten... 'A gentleman must always keep up appearances,' his step-mother would oft say. Taking in a few calming breaths, he followed the path towards the centre of the village; it had just become night, with the sun having disappeared under the horizon, leaving a dark, starry night sky. It was amazing how clouds never accumulated over the village, making a beautiful spectacle of dazzling lights whenever dusk came around. The Moon Spirit was very visible, glowing with a supernatural brightness that dwarfed, and yet accompanied quite well with, the various flickering flames that kept the village itself illuminated. Getting closer to the festivities, Dorian could hear the music beginning to swell, becoming louder as he grew near. Dancing was all ready under way beneath the Moon Spirit, with various different colourful attires and fantastical masks. The Shaman stood for a moment, taking in the sight of so many lively people, and of course looking out for a possible partner to dance the night away with.
Coded by @serenityspace of LH |
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Fox Tail
Inactive Player
Gold:
Chef
Dancer
Guild:
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Post by Nala on Apr 12, 2016 13:31:44 GMT
Stretching out, Nala greeted the day as normal. Rolling onto the floor, groaning a little bit at how cold it was, but the sleepiness leaving her quickly with the action so she was up with her energy high while she made breakfast. The food in the fridge was running low though so she had fled out the door of the apartment-like building she lived in without a second thought to the quiet man at the counter who tried to flag her down. She had tried talking to him a few times, but it was often a one-sided conversation. Throughout her excursion into the market, her thoughts flew off to how she was often feeling a bit lonely there without her horde of brother's there to cause a ruckus. Metro was a constant companion for her, but he was so clean and often went off places without her whether to train or meet someone in private. She wished her life were so spontaneous.
Day dreaming of cave adventures, sudden expeditions, and even a hardy tavern brawl that she would likely run from than participate in, Nala returned with her groceries. It was evening by then, and she got a slight surprise when the man behind the desk actually came out to step in front of her. How adventurous of him! She thought, simply surprised that he actually had legs instead of tentacles or something hiding behind that desk. Blinking when he held out an envelope for, she stared at it for a moment before taking, giving him a large smile for taking the time to give her this, "Thank you very much~" Of course, he only responded with a nod like usual, but it was progress. She'd have him open up to her eventually.. maybe in the next year or so, heh.
Hurrying up to her room, she put the groceries away quickly to open the letter and read the contents. It was.... an invitation! To a special ball of all things! Or, a masquerade she figured out with more reading. Oh goodness, she didn't have much in the lines of formal wear OR a mask, she'd have to make another quick trip to the market place before night hit. Running out the door for a second time that day, she waved a quick goodbye to the man back at his place behind the counter.
It was surprisingly difficult to find a dress that suited her fancy, Nala hated anything pink -likely an influence of her brothers- or with too many frills, she did like some frills though, they were cute. In the ended, she settled on on a deep blue dress that went down just past her knees and flowered out to allow her easier movement. It was a dance after all, and she was determined to put her dancing skill to use. The mask was simpler to find, she had always loved the white kitsune masks with red stripes on the sides. Picking out one of those, she changed quickly before heading out to the village where the dance was mentioned to be held.
It was a little late, and she hadn't thought to invite her friend Metro or her three brothers along though... Then again it said everyone in the Unfounded Kingdom had been invited so perhaps they had all happened to be busy anyway. Sighing, Nala wished she had thought to drag one of them along anyway as she stood at the side of the crowd, looking out at the dancers a little enviously. It would be awkward for her to go out and dance alone, but she was far to shy to ask any of the other men around that she didn't know to dance with her. In the end, she wound up pouting down at her feet, aching to go out and dance, but having no one she was comfortable enough with to go out under the lights with to celebrate the lovely moon spirit.
Word Count: 660
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2016 14:12:29 GMT
| Dorian HP: 100% MP: 100% |
Yet another habit-induced dust off with his hands, his palms brushing down his coat, skimming over the buttons and feeling the fabric of his attire as it gently rustled under his skin, before Dorian was glancing about the area, eyeing the festivities with a wandered jealousy. He had developed his dancing quite a bit since the Catastrophe, and was likely one of the more skilled members of the Adventurer elite; but he never really got to enjoy the passion of moving with a partner in time with vivid music, and here, now, he had the opportunity. Dancing was an art form, one that deserved to be celebrated and enjoyed by anyone who could, no matter their skill or ability. But, it didn't hurt to not have two left feet.
Releasing a soft sigh, the Shaman lifted his hands up to readjust his mask, making sure it hadn't gone skew on his face, before his eyes glanced through the crowd. An older male with a woman on his arm was walking towards him, the couple evidently departing from the dance for a night in the village, perhaps to spend the evening together. Love blossoms in the Spring, so they say. Are you not going to get a partner, Dorian? Aurelia murmured, drawing a blink from the male as he realised he had been staring for a bit too long. With a chuckled sigh, he nodded his head, rolling his shoulders to ready himself before stepping forward a few places, his posture straightening once more as he presented himself towards the large group of dancers.
The light of the Moon Spirit was dazzling above them, reflected beams of various colours glancing off the various masks, with glitter and gems and materials that made a brilliant light show. Dorian's own mask likely sparkled quite magnificently, with the dragon like black scales having a metallic, almost mirror-like sheen to them when he picked it out from the store this very morning. His eyes lingered on the pride and joy of the Moon Dance Village, the beacon of balance and peace that never failed to bring a joyful smile to anyone's face, as soon as they witnessed it's beauty. But of course, he couldn't exactly just watch the Moon Spirit all night, and expect someone to just waltz up and take him to dance; no, as a gentleman, he knew that it was chivalry for him to make the offer, not take it.
As his eyes fell back down, he couldn't help but notice a solemn young woman, standing on her own, a soft pout to her lips as she stared down at her toes. She was a fair few inches shorter than him, judging by the height difference he could see from a distance, but he could see she was in need of a partner... Dusting himself one last time, he clasped his hands back together behind his back, and began to stride around the large group of dancers towards the girl. As he got closer, he began to notice her more prominent features, picking up that she was a Fox Tail; of course, she didn't bother to hide this, as her mask was of a design that resembled a kitsune. A fox and a dragon - an interesting combination.
"Good evening, miss," he spoke softly, his voice a deep yet calming tone with a tinge of British in his accent, as he gave a gentle bow to the lonesome Fox Tail. Removing his left hand out from behind his back, he offered it out to the girl, as was custom when asking someone to be your partner. "May I take the offer of having this dance?" Simple words, fluently spoken over the gentle swell of the music, his hand left open in front of her, allowing her to take the next step; would she accept his offer, or not? It was up to her. Dorian simply curled his palette up at it's corners, giving a warm, welcoming smile; with a mask, it was difficult to reassure those who were possibly distrustful, but he did his best to make sure she knew he was safe.
Coded by @serenityspace of LH |
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Fox Tail
Inactive Player
Gold:
Chef
Dancer
Guild:
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Post by Nala on Apr 12, 2016 15:47:41 GMT
Frowning at her feet, Nala was doing her best not to pout to much, but she just couldn't help herself. As childish as it was, she ended up thinking, 'It just isn't fair..!' Scoffing at the grass with the toe of her shoe, she didn't make too much of a dent there, not wanting to take her frustration out on the foliage. She was sure that if it could, it would dance with her; the thought bit back a little of her somber attitude, but not enough to let so much as a light grin ghost over her features. It was unusual for her not to put on a brave face, but with the mask covering most of it, she didn't feel the need, perhaps she felt more safe than she should have. Ah well, it didn't really matter too much now.
Nala was actually about to turn around and head back home when she noticed a new pair of shoes in her vision in front of her. They didn't seem to be moving anymore when they stopped in front of her so she carefully raised her gaze to come face to fa- er, mask to mask with a man who was definitely a full head taller than her, maybe a little more. She absolutely adored his choice in mask, how it glittered and shown just subtle enough that it didn't look gaudy, and who could possibly say no to a man in a coat tail? Sure, it may have been old fashion back where she came from, but she had always loved them, not to mention they fit perfectly here. Surely any girl would swoon at his slight accent as well, not Nala though, no, she tended to squee instead. She held it back this time though, too happy to want to scare her possible new dance partner off.
Slightly flustered, she barely registered that he was holding his hand out to her, distracted by his sudden appearance and her own glee that someone was actually asking her to dance. Clearly, today was Nala's day as most of her wishes for excitement from the letter and a partner for the dance were granted. Dragged back into reality once she realized she was leaving the poor guy just standing there, she quickly nodded and hesitantly placed her hand in his, still shy. As eager as she was to dance with someone, this would actually be the first time she had ever done so, before she had only danced by herself to practice or in front of just one other person. Now she was dancing with someone else AND in front of -or more so, with- a large group of people! Nervous, oh yes, she was definitely nervous. However, oddly enough, the man's smile put her more at ease. Nala had always trusted people easily, not questioning the stranger who wanted her specifically as his partner, but it brought a smile of her own to her face to see him being so polite and friendly towards her.
That's right, they were still strangers, how rude of her! The least she could do was give the ruffled-haired man her name! "O-Of course, I would love to d-dance with you!" mentally she slapped her forehead for stuttering, a bundle of nerves and excitement too much to do otherwise. Clearing her throat, she did her best to calm herself as much as possible. "It would be my pleasure."
Word Count: 574
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2016 23:36:17 GMT
| Dorian HP: 100% MP: 100% |
The girl was obviously quite nervous, that much was certain; she seemed focused on his mask and appearance, not even acknowledging that his hand was held out for her to accept or deny, and when she did, it was with a gentle fluster and a stuttered few words of approval. Though, of course, he couldn't really blame her in this situation; he was able to hide it well, but Dorian was also just as nervous about this situation, and was mentally crossing his fingers in the hope that it would go well. His partner was a little bit shorter than him, but if they took it slow and started off simple, he reckoned they would be dancing quite a lot, or at least enough to enjoy themselves here.
In times like this, where nerves were high, it was always helpful and customary to give a compliment; while she seemed to have calmed herself somewhat, and she appeared to trust the Shaman so far, it wouldn't hurt to release some of the tension in the air. "For a beautiful girl like yourself? The pleasure is all mine," he muttered softly past his lips, making sure he was just at the right volume to get his voice over the music, whilst making sure his partner was the only one who heard it. With another winning smile, he gently took the hand she had so kindly placed within his own, turning towards where everyone was dancing, his eyes spotting a spot amongst the crowd where the two of them would be able to move freely.
Holding his new dance companion's hand, he began to lead her through the various people all ready dancing, managing to narrowly dodge the spinning couples and avoid stepping on any toes. After a few near misses, they had arrived at the spot he had chosen, his body turning gracefully on his heels to now face his partner. "If you'd like, I can take the lead to start, help you relax and get comfortable with the dance," he reassured his new friend, glancing down at her through the holes in his mask, his emerald hues showing off a gentle care in their expression; he was assuming here that she may not be ready to dance with another just yet, so he wanted to make sure she knew she could rely on his guidance for the time being.
By now, the music was beginning to change into a more traditional waltz rendition, with of course a soft tinge of oriental played within the harmony of the melody; this was good, a simple dance to start things off. With his left hand holding her right, his own right hand dipped down to gently rest on her waist, not enough to feel like he was grabbing her, but enough to make sure she knew it was there. With his left, he moved both their hands up slightly, creating the familiar and easy to manage dance hold for the waltz. He waited patiently for a few moments until she had placed her empty hand onto his shoulder, before he slowly began to move his feet; in a matter of moments, the duo was now moving within the slow rhythm of the larger crowd, turning slowly on the spot while moving around under the Moon Spirit.
The steps were easy to understand; a box waltz, one, two, three, one, two, three, following each other's movements to flow in time with the music. Feeling a little too much space between them, Dorian gently pushed on the girl's waist, drawing her form in closer towards his own; it was important to keep close together when dancing the waltz, otherwise you lose the room to move freely around your spot on the floor. "With these masks, I find myself curiously wondering whether I should introduce myself or not; might spoil the mystery, would it not?" He was genuinely intrigued about the rules and social manners of the masquerade, having never attended one himself, and he had all ready passed the point where he would normally feel comfortable passing on his name; but, he didn't want to do anything to ruin the night, and so, he left it open to his partner as they continued to waltz.
Coded by @serenityspace of LH |
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Fox Tail
Inactive Player
Gold:
Chef
Dancer
Guild:
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Post by Nala on Apr 16, 2016 13:07:44 GMT
"O-Oh my, thank you." Flushing lightly, Nala could feel the color start to grown behind her mask and was suddenly grateful for the thing that kept it at least mostly hidden. She wasn't able to hide it when it crept up to the tips of her ears or down to her neck, but she could hope he wouldn't notice couldn't she? She loved it though, being complimented and knowing those words were said solely for her alone. It caused her to let out a pleased little sound, closest to a 'hmm' and the soft purr of a cat. He had a very good way of stroking her nerves and making her calm down with his treatment, she couldn't help comparing it to the barbaric treatment she got from her brothers. Always poking fun at her, occasionally picking her up when she demanded to stay grounded, but they were sweet and loved her as only a sibling could, this change of pace was well welcomed though.
Moving through crowds had never been her favorite thing to do, inching closer to the man as he led her to an open area ahead for safety reasons. When it came to dancing, she was well and able, but doing casual things like walking could cause her to trip over her own feet, making her extremely glad to have taken the skill she did. In the back of her mind, Nala wondered if they would spin or be able to dance as naturally as the couples out here. How many of them had known each other before meeting here?
Reaching their destination as the music changed, she turned to her partner, finding herself looking back into his lovely green with the assurance of patients, clearly willing to go at her pace instead of setting one himself. It brought a small smile to her face and almost made her laugh at the thought of him having a good amount of confidence without the usual arrogance she tended to see coupled together. "If you wouldn't mind, thank you." Nala wasn't terribly familiar with actual dances, just making it up as she went usually. She jumped slightly at the feel of his hand at her waist, able to feel the warmth it offered as a mark of its presence. Thankful that she had such a gentle partner, she placed her own free hand to his shoulder before they started to move.
It amused her slightly that the waltz actually did play out like it did in the movies, a slow box sort of movement that she found herself easily falling in line with under guidance. Though she did look down often to watch their feet, not just to make sure she was following correctly, but partly because she enjoyed watching them dance around one another so fluidly. Her interest was soon brought to a close though, making a soft 'eeping' sound when she was pulled closer, looking back up to the man who held her. "Weeeell, I suppose so." She drew out, easily distracted from the tug with the question. "But what about after the dance?" Moving her hand ever so slightly, she went to play with one of the brown braids hanging loose, "These are a little recognizable if I see you again." She was sure her brightly colored hair, as well as her tail and ears would give her away too. Nala thought that she would very much like to see this mystery man again though, he was sweet, gentle, and made her feel at ease in a situation that otherwise she would be rather tense in.
Word Count: 601
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2016 13:35:43 GMT
| Dorian HP: 100% MP: 100% |
Thanks was rarely ever needed for a personality like Dorian's, but it was a welcome change to hear the words spoken back; so often had his helping hands gone unnoticed, and now just the slightest compliment was acknowledged and met with gratitude. It would certainly appear that the Shaman was now softly beaming with a smile, a tinge of red over his cheeks... His mask was unfortunately not low enough to cover the crimson tinge, but he hoped that the heat of the moment, as well as the nervous tension that always came with strangers meeting in more romantic circumstances, would give reason to his embarrassed flush, but of course neither his own, nor the young lady's reddened ears would gain mention; likely he was focused on the dance, for now.
The waltz itself was a livelier movement, a faster pace than Dorian was used to when it came to the box, but he managed to keep up with the tempo of the crowd around himself and his partner; he noticed as his emerald orbs peaked around at other dancers, that there were little tricks one could play within the box, simple things like soft twirls or spins, even occasional lifts... He wasn't sure if he should try any of it just yet, but it was certainly on his mind. For now, the humble dancer was content to simply lead on, keeping the girl close as they moved in rhythm; one, two, three... one, two, three...
"Hmm?" His train of thought was disrupted for a moment as he heard the girl before him speaking, no doubt aptly replying to his own words. A gentle chuckle later, and he managed to coax out a reply whilst keeping a lazy multi-tasked thought on the motion of the dance, cooing out softly, "After?" It was a pleasant thought, that was for sure; after all, he had snatched this girl up for a dance, oh so selfish of him, so the least he could do was allow her to have his company for the evening after. From what he could tell, the stranger was a kind girl, and perhaps a fast friend. However, he was once again drawn from his reverie when he felt the slightest tug behind his ear, quickly noticing the girl was now playing with his braids.
"Well, in that case, I suppose it wouldn't hurt," he replied calmly, the corner of his mouth tweaked up into a soft, teasing smirk as he decided on a trick to perform within their waltz; gently grasping her hand that was held out by his left, he pulled his hand away from her waist, stepping back fluidly with the music and the crowd and lightly spinning the girl in place. It was fast enough to keep up with the dance, but slow enough so that his partner was not plagued with dizziness immediately after; just a sudden thrill of movement before returning to the repeated box of the waltz... one, two, three... one, two, three... "The village has a few memorable places, that I know of, we could perhaps visit one of them together after the dance?" His mind trailed off once again, seemingly in multiple places at once.
As his hand returned onto her waist, gently drawing her back in for the last few turns of the waltz, Dorian could hear the slight rise in the music, signalling that the dance was almost at it's end. A shame, he had enjoyed his time quite a lot. But, he continued the conversation, as a thought dawned on him. "The Lunar Lake is always a beautiful sight, especially on such clear nights as this..." His voice trailed off as he realised he was forgetting something, a gentle puff of air leaving his lungs in a subtle laugh. But perhaps he could play a game with it...? "Though, the only problem with the lake is that somebody lives there; a quaint little house just off of the water's edge. I'm sure the owner won't mind us sight-seeing though." Of course he didn't let on that he was that very owner; he had just left that same house to come here moments ago, with a spring in his step and a coat tail on his back. But of course, he kept this a secret for now... A playful, hilarious secret.
Coded by @serenityspace of LH |
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