Dancing Through Life [OPEN]

[niepokonany]

Who: Feliks, and whoever shows up. Mingle log, everyone's invited!
Where: The old Łukasiewicz manor
When: In the evening, on the day after spring's sudden onset.
Warning: Alcohol will be available? Otherwise, depends on the players--stick a warning in the subject line if anything gets out of hand.


The rumors and casual invitations started a long while ago, in the wake of Team Evolution's departure, but it took a while to nail down a date, and to shine up the rarely used public areas on the lower floor of the Łukasiewicz family estate, two floors on top of one of the towers towards the outskirts of the residential district. Paper invitations came several days ago, to damn near everyone with an address (though of course, the nobles' are on finer paper, hand-written by Feliks's grandparents and properly sealed.) Though everyone is invited, the general public has also been reminded to dress well and behave themselves presentably--it isn't every day you're invited into a noble house, is it?

Even for the nobles, honestly, it's rare to see this one. The heads of the family are aged, and while they often appear and are pleasant enough at everyone else's events, they have little energy for arranging their own in general.

They seem to have gone all out on this one, though, perhaps because the first ball of the spring demands it and perhaps because they're celebrating so many things at once. First there was Feliks's performance in the tournament, then his evolution, and of course they're still looking to find him a nice match. And spring, quite suddenly, is in the air, the weather pleasantly warm and the balcony gardens overflowing with blossoming flowers--a small legion of gardeners has been brought in to keep the plants under control, actually, given their overabundance lately.

The food and drinks are fantastic, varied, and plentiful, laid out at strategic points around the wide, gleaming dance floor. The best musicians from all over the city have been hired to encourage people to make use of it, and to keep the atmosphere nice and light.

So come on in--talk, dance, eat all the little berry pastry things, and welcome the spring!

[OOC: Will put up a couple of threads for different areas of the party to keep it organized, feel free to mingle and tag around with everyone!]

Comments

Dance Floor

[niepokonany]

[The ballroom is a grand, sweeping on the first floor, straight ahead when you come in. It opens onto balconies on three sides, letting in the dying evening light and the slightly heady spring air. Garlands of flowers are hung everywhere, and the band is playing some of the latest dance music--it would really be a shame not to enjoy it, right?]

Open!

[aidolsenshi]

[Would you look at all of this? It was all so grand, so elegant, so grandiloquent, so insert flowery words she probably wouldn't use right anyway.

Basically, this was the place to be.

So obviously, when she heard that the Łukasiewicz family was throwing a shindig, of course she had to be there. Dressed in the fanciest dress that she could find (see: probably store bought) that would possibly show off just the right curves, Minako was, for the time being, watching, trying to not look too far out of her depth.

Because she wasn't.

She totally should be here.

It's her destiny.]

[incousinswithyou]

[heeere's Michiru coming up from behind, wearing a nice fancy dress that looks deceptively simple.]

Enjoying yourself, Usa -

[...no wait.] Ah, my apologies.

[niepokonany]

Feliks knows very well that his grandparents have an agenda tonight: find him a girl, any girl at this point.

And while he has no intention of going along with it completely, he doesn't really want to piss off his grandparents by pointedly ignoring every girl in the room. Besides, there's such good music tonight, how could he not dance? Got to find someone who looks like she'd be good at it, and also someone with fun taste in clothes...

He approaches Minako while she's looking around all awestruck and stuff, bowing like he's always been taught to at high-society parties.

"Hey. So, like, can I have this dance?"

Re: Open!

[bejustorbedead]

[Ky was doing the obligatory meet and greet - dressed in a typical suit with a snowdrop in a button hole and a cerulean cravat in a mail coach-style tie - quietly brushing off the subtle hints of matchmaking as he makes he way to less crowded areas of the ballroom.

He moves to pass by Minako - and noticed she's a new face to him, and nodded to her politely in greeting]

open

[incousinswithyou]

[Michiru is by one of the balconies, looking up into the darkening sky as ruddy reds and oranges chase blues and blacks into the vault of the sky.

She wouldn't mind a dance or two, but she also seems perfectly content to study the sunset. Honestly, when it comes to rich parties, she could take it or leave it.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka is bucking the system: she went upstairs to the snooty rich people tearoom, fetched two cups of tea, and slipped out again. There's better refreshments upstairs, but better company here.

Here, have a beverage in a fancy cup to complement that sunset. ] It's a good palette.

Open!

[niepokonany]

The guest of honor's outfit is a masterpiece of compromise, agreed on via tense and skillful negotiation. He consented to the conservative, if tightly-fitting, black trousers, and to wearing a white shirt, waistcoat, boots, and his hair tied back. On the other hand, the shirt has what Feliks insists is a moderate amount of frill, the boots have rather a higher heel than he's usually allowed in polite society, and both the waistcoat and the hair ribbon are fashioned of bright red and gold brocaded silk, and trimmed with pale lace.

He's not really keen on his grandparents' plan to convince the women of the city that he's a catch, or on talking to a bunch of strangers. Dancing with them, though? Well, that could be a different story, especially if you get him after a drink or three.

Open

[celebrity_commentator]

[Rise's type of fame is certainly not high-society enough to get her invited to these parties normally, but she's enjoying herself while she's here anyway. For one thing, she got paid a fair bit for the theater's new show, which she'd happily blown on a new dress], along with plenty of fancy ribbons for Himiko, her chaperone for the evening, who is making sure to keep her trainer near the dance floor so she can party with the other elegant and well-mannered Pokémon.]

By the Refreshment Tables

[niepokonany]

[Refreshment tables are set up all over the place, and overflowing with fruits, pastries, elaborately put together little canapés, and every drink you can imagine. Help yourself!]

Open!

[ladyofluminosity]

[Social obligations. Thus was the theme for tonight for one Luxanna Crownguard. But she would not be alone in this, oh no.

Still, if she had expected her maid would be kind and not force her into one of her old dresses and--once again, a corset--she was sorely (emphasis on sore) mistaken.

Dressed in a blue and gold evening gown, hair wrapped and held back with glittering hair comb, she looked both poised and somewhat uncomfortable, choosing to hover around the wall next to one of the refreshment tables and watch instead of mingle. Right away, at least.]

open!

[hidamari]

[Parties are fun and all, but of course she has to be here for social obligations. Alice is certainly dressed in one of her more finer dresses with a matching clip in her twin hair buns, looking fancy and pretty.

She did her mingling with others, but it's a little obvious that other things are on her mind... She moves herself off to the side near the refreshments, waiting for Sebastian or one of her family servants to come get her once her father is done doing his own mingling.]

[inthenameofthemoon]

[ It wasn't very often that Usagi was able to step into the Noble Quarters unless she was allowed to tag along with her father, much less without her pokemon. The top of her head felt empty without Pinky holding onto the buns for dear life and that just added to the loneliness that Usagi felt.

Even if she were the only human, having Pinky at least gave her some companionship. Being without someone was causing a very unsettling feeling to crawl up her spine, when really there was no reason for it.

So, Usagi's at the refreshments table with a small plate that's been half eaten at, and is quickly being devoured. Food was a good distraction, and boy was there a lot of rich food to eat! ]

Re: By the Refreshment Tables

[stop_cannontime]

[Jayce, dressed for the event, is indeed helping himself. Already in his hand is a glass of red wine. At the moment he's trying to decide what food to take with him.

Feel free to recommend something!]

open;

[chompion]

[ Cynthia is no stranger to parties like these. She's been forced into one too many to not even be slowed down by the giant dress she's been shoved into. If there's someone easily recognized by name or reputation, she'll be making her way over towards them with a friendly greeting.

Otherwise, she'll be trying to hide behind the servers at the refreshment table or even ducking underneath the table anytime a previous suitor will stroll on by. It's hard staying single! ]

OPEN?!

[makeitquick]

[ She does not dance.

But she also doesn't feel like she belongs here. She feels under-dressed (the nicest thing she owns period is basically a button up shirt and a comparatively not ripped or dirty pair of pants, and thus is that was she has on ). Feliks invited everyone, and so a rep for the poor here, she's... lingering by the refreshment table and not sure if she should be feeling like a mooch for eating and drinking as much off it as she is. Oh well.

She also is running a pinky along her scar and wondering if she should warm in some of her pokemon to at least have someone to make her not feel like a heel here ]

Open

[moemoetentacles]

[Anyone partaking of the clam chowder at this particular party might find a surprise lurking in the bowl. Namely, Squid Girl's new Shellder, the Clam, cleverly disguised and doing some reconnaissance for his next big scheme. He'll do his best to remain secret and hidden, but let's face it, that's pretty noticeable unless you're a total idiot.]

Gardens

[niepokonany]

[Both floors of the residence have several large balconies, with well-kept, airy gardens for the guests to enjoy!]

Open, later in the evening!

[niepokonany]

Hours of socializing took their toll on Feliks--as energetic as he was, talking to new people could stress him out, and it was just... noisy and crowded, more so than he cared to deal with. Late in the evening, still a little tipsy, he ended up on the balcony, sprawled out rather gracelessly in a corner of one of the gardens with Jadwiga the Kirlia and Huzar the Dratini, whispering quietly to them. He can't understand their replies, but that doesn't mean they aren't good friends and a great comfort.

open!

[portraitor]

[Mary is not from a noble family, but she is the adopted daughter of Ib's parents who, despite their current absence, was still one of the richest families in Union. Not that her social status really concerns her, she's mostly here because she wanted to be with her sister.

At some point though, it appears that she's lost track of Ib and is now wandering around in the gardens, looking at all the different flowers and plants that they have here. They almost remind her of some plants she thinks she saw before (maybe they were the ones that grew around Ib's house?), so this young lady will likely be spending some time out here should anyone be looking for her...]

The Snooty Rich People Only Tearoom Upstairs

[niepokonany]

[Look, how else were they to invite the public AND coax half the other nobles to show up? Grandma and Grandpa Łukasiewicz's private dining room is elaborately furnished in dark wood, with the same food as downstairs and better wine. Anyone with reservations about mingling with Commoners has been assured that they can rest easy there.]

open

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka was born rich and has only gotten richer, but while she takes a lot of these nicer amenities for granted she's never gotten the whole social stigmatization thing. In fact, the uptight atmosphere at these fancy parties kind of ticks her off.

So she's just up here for the tea. Unfortunately, she isn't inconspicuous, so feel free to notice her (in her gorgeous men's formalwear) as she tries to slink towards the refreshments. ]

Hallways, Kitchens, Etc.

[niepokonany]

[Bored? Shy? Avoiding someone? Feel free to explore, just remember that most of the private living quarters upstairs are locked.]

open

[wordsidk]

[ Ib's family wasn't nobility, not even close. They were just rich. That much she could understand although she doesn't know what she is without her parents. Other than a Pokemon trainer. Looking out at the party she instinctively tightens her arms around what she's carrying. But instead of getting a reassuring Bu. Budew there's nothing. It was just her hat. It had only been a month since she decided to become a trainer still it felt weird to be without her little companion.


In her nicest dress Ib looked like a flower ready to bloom. With the top layer in white cut in a petal pattern over layers of reds. Her usual neck tie pinned in place as a loose bow. While it might be cute it doesn't at all compare to the other dresses she's seen out there. Maybe it was a mistake to come to this...

Ib stays hidden in the hallway just wandering about, looking at what artwork might adorn the walls. ]

Open

[makeitquick]

[ Not quite shy, but definitely feeling out of her element and depth, Melaka has ended up lost in the house once she came in mostly to look for somewhere else she could lurk and feel less ... lost. Ironically, she then got physically lost, and then she realized that she was not only underdressed, but she looked rough and tumble and not four years ago had a small rep as a troublemaker in her home district. She doubts it spread as far as the noble houses, rationally. But and irrational fear of someone assuming she is a thief kicks in (particularly given how her eyes dart to any signs of wealth she walks past) and it puts her in a hurry to find her way back to the main party grounds.

Ooops ]