[SWE] [SE] The Flowerbirth Ball

flowerbirth All the best things are worth waiting for. (That’s the admin excuse we’re going with and you’ll like it.) And so as the sun reaches its zenith on an airy, warm day in the Oerwoud, a party is starting. Gnarled and twisted branches of trees boast eclectic arrangements of hanging lanterns and garlands, heralding the way towards the festivities. Opening out onto an impressive meadow, a substantial feast has been prepared on an expanse of enormous branches, bent and coerced to serve as seats and tables. There are platters of glistening blushberries, bushels of apples and sprigs of mint; wild boar and game; root vegetables and potatoes roasted and drizzled with honey, as well as an array of other seeds, nuts and sweet treats. Around the feast, a flat area of fresh grass makes a fitting ballroom. Socialising is encouraged. Dancing is optional. Welcome to The Flowerbirth Ball! You have 72 hours to post your characters arriving. If you have left an offering for Ghilio and/or crafted your own outfit for the ball, please include the links to these threads at the bottom of your post!

Deimos

Dare we know the halo's hanging low

Deimos made good on his promise of flower crowns – and was content to remember he’d instilled layers in his outfit. The moment they’d arrived within the humid, airy Oerwoud, he peeled away the portions of anything fur-lined, stuffing the navy mantle directly into his bag and forgoing it entirely until they made their way home. The rest of his outfit coincided well, the tunic rich and blue, pants accompanying not stained in blood, and the wreath of blossoms alternating in orange and cobalt hues; complementary, as they were arranged over hair pulled away from his neck in a messy bun.

He offered Evie a crown as well, in case she hadn’t concocted her own, and was half-tempted to steer them directly to the feast and its tables, though the meadow and its flattened expanse, earned a wrinkle of his nose and a teasing air. Lowering his voice to a whisper along the outside of her ear, he resorted to mischief, perhaps to ease any apprehension when it came to festivities – no matter how many years had passed. “Did you proposition me to dance at the masquerade?”

--

{se} solar flares Ghilio Offering
{se} live for the fight Outfit Making

Lena

and sweetest in the gale is heard
and sore must be the storm

Unencumbered by the trauma of past festivities in years gone by, Lena arrived amidst the Oerwoud, with Mittens in tow, sporting her handmade finery. Cool, spring colors curled their way through her hair, arranged with flowers in pink, purple, and blue hues, matching the shades of her lavender dress (adorned in dragons; a homage to her sister). With her basket laden over her arm, she figured the picture complete, and didn’t mind the airy whims of the land’s climate.

Rather than heading for anywhere in particular, she found herself, and her companion, marveling at the spread of the meadow, the feast nearby, and the hanging lanterns, garlands, marking the route to take. From there though, she couldn’t help but snag a seat towards the end of the long table, helping herself to some fruit while others meandered in.

--

{se} nine in the afternoon Outfit Making
{SE} Flowersong Birdbirth Ghilio Offering

that could abash the little bird
that kept so many warm

MELITA

The Honeybee waltzed into the Oerwoud, and its garland-lined route system (helpful, since it meant none of them should get lost on their way to the festivities), with the air of complete utter confidence. Despite the fact that Jack had to finish making her dress for her, and there were obvious bloodstains on it – she could pretend it was part of some spring…death ambience.

With weaponry tucked here and there under the frilly lace, she sauntered amidst the world with her two companions, also outfitted for the occasion. Well, she’d tried anyway. Fangorn had already eaten the flowers she’d twirled and curled around some of his vines, and Sila’s were falling off her wings, but attempts had been made.

Regardless, she sauntered and skipped around the large meadow barefoot and careless, having already snagged an apple, looking around for someone to harass, annoy, or tease.

--

{SE} if god's the game that you're playing Ghilio Offering
{se} a preference for clashing metal Outfit Making

This is a gift, it comes with a price
Who is the lamb and who is the knife?
Midas is king and he holds me so tight
And turns me to gold in the sunlight

Evie

Evie luckily has the boon of her Academy blessing to attend to any chill during the travel, allowing her to remain in her far looser, cooler dress instead of removing outer layers the way Deimos does. The little forehead crown she'd crafted herself (intentionally so, to make room for the one Deimos would surely make as he had promised) is lifted only to wipe the smallest bit of sweat from her brow before repositioning it. It is rather hot - she wonders if the blessing is making it worse for her.

Gladly taking the crown as Deimos hands it to her, she smiles up at her partner as she carefully pins the ends into her hair to keep it attached. Before she has a chance to thank him he is leaning down and towards her ear. Evie turns slightly to accommodate, expecting it to be some measure of proposed mischief - only to have her cheeks flood with color at what he says instead. She had suspected it was him beneath the mask despite the clear differences in appearance. But she had tried to adapt her own approaches just in case. "What? I mean - well -" she blusters, and turns to narrow her eyes at him, a smile twitching reluctantly on her lips. She's a horrid liar, and he would know regardless. "I thought it was you. I hoped I had hidden myself better though." Perhaps her acting skills need some work as well.

- - -
{se} solar flares - Ghilio Offering
{se} I want so much more sometimes - Outfit Making

the difference between a garden and a graveyard
is what we choose to put in the soil

The Flowerbirth Ball was underway, and Alys was less sure than ever of her decision to come. She was garbed in the most ridiculous gown of her own design - emerald green, with sleeves of delicate lace. In actuality, it had turned out quite well (for someone who had no experience in clothing manufacturing), and save for some questionable measurements around the waist and several less-than-perfect hems, she thought that she'd done alright. If nobody looked too closely, it would be a reasonably attractive dress.

She'd been sure to sew pockets into the dress - and oh, what a royal pain that had been! - to hold her precious tarot decks. She'd only been able to bring two - one in each pocket - and so she'd left her handmade deck with her belongings. It irked her to have only two of the three with her; it made her feel a little bit naked, as though she'd left some important article of clothing behind and would dearly miss having it. But she'd done it all the same.

And for what? Alys wondered. She was among the first guests to arrive, and that made her even more uncomfortable than trading in her comfortable, practical day dresses for something that resembled a ballgown. She saw Deimos with a woman she didn't recognize; not wishing to interrupt, she meandered over to the long table and took a seat, not quite comfortable enough to begin eating, and not quite willing to embarrass herself by dancing alone.

------

{se} you don't have to believe me - Outfit Making

Alys

these aching memories still dance around me

The day of the Flowerbirth Ball had finally arrived, and Sohalia could hardly contain her excitement. She hurried into the Oerwoud, taking care not to snag her gown on any wayward branches. She'd worked hard on it, after all, and she was proud of it. Now it was time to show it off! It was a brilliant red gown that hugged her torso and flared out at the waist. She felt positively scandalous with her bared shoulders and plunging neckline. (In all honesty, the dress was pretty tame, but Soh was innocent - give her a break.) She wore her hair in a loose updo, with ringlets escaping to frame her grey eyes. The overall effect was one of classical beauty.

Soh finally made it to the scene of the ball, and her gaze quickly skimmed over the scene. She could see Deimos with a woman she didn't know; Melita skipping around with bare feet in the grass; Lena sitting at a long table; and at the other end of the table, a dark-haired woman that she didn't recognize. It seemed that Soh was one of the first to arrive, then.

Feeling relieved - half the fun would be seeing who all came and what they wore, after all! - Soh meandered over to Lena. "Hello, Lena!" she chirped cheerfully. "Isn't this place just beautiful?"

------

{SE} if god's the game that you're playing - Ghilio Offering
{se} it's just my humble opinion - Outfit Making

Sohalia

 

There was room on the Peregrine for one more, and Tal had saved the spot for the person who'd helped him with his outfit. It was oddly nostalgic to be heading back to the Oerwoud with her, and the courier grinned at his best friend fondly as they disembarked with one dragon - wearing a dapper bow tie - in tow.

Their conversation about overheating had resulted in a last-minute adjustment to his suit in transit, and the dark blue silk jacket had become a vest over his black shirt and the close-cut trousers he'd stitched together with Sah. The most important piece of the ensemble, however, was the calf-length cape with its blue silk lining, which he swirled dramatically as they approached the party. His eyes lingered on the food table but, seeing no alcohol in immediate view, he turned to Hotaru instead with a wicked grin.

"Are your feet healed up yet?" he asked cheekily, offering her his hand and heading for the dancegrassfloor.

---

{SE} Flowersong Birdbirth - Ghilio Offering
{se} needle and thread - Outfit Making

Hotaru

It is her first long flight on the Peregrine, and though the wind in her hair had led to a few golden feathers sprouting in it with the nigh-insatiable desire to fly on her own power, it had been nice to preserve her energy while still enjoying the skies. As Talyson swirls his cape as they enter the outer boundary of the meadow, Hotaru grins, sharp and pleased with how well both of their attires had turned out. Undoubtedly they would see a wide range of skills on display with the requirement of hand-creation at play. Sometimes being a retired seamstress really did come in handy. She notices Alys lingering on the outskirts, and lifts her hand to wave at the woman - she would have to stop by later and give the lass some company. Best not to ruin any prospective new clients by taking residence at her side too early though.

"I treated them on the way just to be sure," she teases right back, laying her hand trustingly in her friend's as he leads them backward in the grass. The ground is surprisingly - and thankfully - compact, and though she had worn flat shoes just to be safe, it makes dancing far easier. Placing her other hand on Talyson's shoulder, the Valkyrie breaks out the grin normally reserved for their private moments, a spark of mischief in her eyes. "Ready to show everyone up?" It was time to put their lessons to use. And if it didn't work, well...there was always other mischief to be made to draw the eyes of all those gathered.

- - -

{se} needle and thread - Outfit Making

I'll tell you only once that if you don't love me now
you will never love me again

Noah

So much of Halo had gathered at the festival. The ball? Whatever it was, Noah strode in to the brightly decorated place adorned in the outfit he had made with Deimos' assistance. He tugged at the collar around his neck some and then settled, closing the distance between him and some of those he knew. He stopped first at Hotaru and Talyson, a smile offered to each of them. "Interesting that there aren't more nations represented here." He lifted an eyebrow to his fellows before turning and looking over the slowly forming crowd. He thought of stepping away from them to see Deimos and Evie, but the two of them seemed involved enough in what they were doing that they certainly did not need their advisor to advise them.

But, Ru and Tal too seemed to be ready to mingle and dance and enjoy their time here. They had all traveled far from their island, and Noah wouldn't get in the way of their frivolity. "Excuse me." He said, giving Hotaru's elbow a little squeeze before starting to move away from them to find himself a drink.

---

{SE} Death of Innocence - Offering
{se} live for the fight - Outfit

Hadama had hoped to lure a few more Torchers to the party, but in truth he didn't mind how small the gathering was this time around. He used his aquaportation to reach a nearby waterway and then worked his way through the rivers to the edge of the celebration, enjoying the dappled sunlight on his skin and scales.

He offered nods and sometimes small smiles to his many friends who were scattered about the festivities. Constrained to the water on this sunlit afternoon he could do little more - but spying Melita he sent a small splash of water to hover in front of her, hoping to catch her attention. "Is there anything good on the food tables?" he rumbled in sly question if he could draw her over to the water's edge.

She would know where his priorities lay.

---

{SE} Mapquest 1 - Offering
{SE}Silk and satin, leather and lace - Outfit

Mateo

Should'a seen what I wore
I had a cane and a party hat

He arrives - late, but fashionably so (in his not so humble opinion, anyway) - and with curls tousled by rushing walking very purposefully through the Oerwoud to the celebrations. Mateo's gown is a work of living wonder; a frame of sentient vines that cling to his rakish form, embellished by bursts of fragrance and colour.

The botanist has fashioned his outfit entirely from living flowers; lilies bloom at one shoulder of a tunic dress painstakingly crafted from snowdrops, and a train of chrysanthemums and peonies create a heady cape that billows with every step. Sure he's barefoot and he'll have to carefully replant every bloom once he's done (not to mention misting his outfit every hour or so, just to make sure the flowers are safe), but he thinks it's worth it.

Spotting Lena up ahead with a woman he's unfamiliar with - something that bothers Mateo not one jot - he greets her with a dimpled grin and a wave, heading over to collect some fruit and a drink. "Che bellissima!" he trills, clearly intending the musical words as a compliment to her outfit.

I was the king of this hologram
where there's no such thing as getting out of hand

Deimos

Dare we know the halo's hanging low

The Sword made it a point to nod towards others around them, his sense always honed in on surroundings, due to the multitudes of experiences. Festivals should’ve been in a comfort, but that ease had faded long, long ago – even as he strived to summon it back on occasion, the apprehension never quite left. So he extended acknowledgments to Noah, Alys, Sohalia, and Hotaru, before returning to teasing the Evergreen.

Despite the usual misgivings, he couldn’t help but laugh the moment she was caught. One round of laughter launched from his chest, with a smug grin to follow. “You would be the only one daring enough to approach,” and he wrinkled his nose at her, before hooking her arm along his elbow. “Food or dancing first then?”

MELITA

Hadama was lucky and fortunate in his pursuits, because her restless and wandering beelining had nearly avoided the water. But the splash caught her attention, and so she snorted around the apple in her mouth, chewing contentedly before answering the sovereign. “Of course,” and she smirked, starting with the duller stuff first. “Fruit, mint, boar, vegetables…,” counting on her fingers, pretending these weren’t the finer courses lingering nearby. “And then some potatoes, pretty sure they drizzled honey on ‘em, and then you’ve got some seeds and stuff…sweets,” and she grinned again, perhaps waiting for him to pick an option she could inevitably toss his way.

This is a gift, it comes with a price
Who is the lamb and who is the knife?
Midas is king and he holds me so tight
And turns me to gold in the sunlight