Return of the Dämmerung Royal Ball (Open to all)

[vincent]

Vincent grumbled as he had his drink refilled.

"I know she'll be fine, Andy's a dumb guy but he won't hurt her. I just don't like seeing her go," he stared down into his glass as he paused, "wedding will be soon. Probably a few months, give or take. The woman's got fancy preferences but forgets we don't really have much time for that so she's getting what she's getting and that's it."

Now angered, Vincent took a quick gulp of his drink and growled, "women are stupid."

[Yeligar Maelstrom]

"Vincent, that's the alcohol talking." Yeligar said as finished his wine. He put the wine on the tray and whispered to the butler Don't give him have anymore drink, just give him some bitter nectar. He has seen Vincent drunk, and let's say... it's not pretty.
"I wish I can help you out."

[Seigmand Dezmar]

"Sire, we've arrived." A low voice belonging to one of Seigmand's entourage stirred him from his slumber. Removing his head from the side of the carriage he groaned lightly as his eyes adjusted to the bright lights surrounding the castle.

"We're late." He said sternly, his eyes never leaving the pathway to the ballroom.

"M-my apologies sire, please forgive us." The one man stammered out, but Seigmand wasn't bothering to stay and hear out any excuses. With a reserved pace he ascended the staircase with nothing more than a quick gesture to his men to stay where they were. As the doors leading to the foyer were opened he let out a deep breath.

I suppose I can't hide anymore, time to head into the public eye.

With a cursory glance Seigmand made his way about the vast hall, all the while glancing at faces, familiar and unfamiliar alike. For now it seemed best to observe. After all, it was what he was best at, wasn't it?

[Andy Jammer]

Andy flinched a bit at the milord bit, it just so happened to remind him the one thing he hadn't gotten around to telling Jasmine yet. His past, that he actually was born in Allorum 700 -Allorumian- years ago and not only that, he was technically Ignisian Royalty. Technically.

His family, 700 years ago, was on the throne then...but he was sure when he got sent to Earth to live his days normally that his family line died out of power. Kevin did tell him though that didn't mean some parts of Ignis were enchanted with magic that would respond to him...but he was pretty sure he wasn't a prince or king anymore.

Not that he'd want to be one.

"Jas," Andy spoke as they danced, "There's something I may need to tell you..."

He stopped when he thought he saw a familiar shape in the crowd, a person who he hadn't seen in awhile...but vanished as soon he saw him.

"What the..."

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

"Brea!" I smiled broadly. "It's good to see you again! How's the President doing? I hope well."

I glanced at the King of Santo-Luce, then his disagreeable bodyguard, then to Brea.

"Um, I kind of have some... important stuff I need to discuss with His Majesty, but, I'll join you later, if that's okay?"

[Alex of Santo-Luce]

This guy made Alex uneasy. Really uneasy. There was a feeling of something not-quite-right here, he wondered if everyone else could feel it.

He pulled Alexander away slightly.

"Sir," he said, quietly, "there's something.... not quite right about that man. I don't know why, but he makes me uneasy. And he's armed, quite obviously. I'd be careful should you decide to meet with him."

[Brea Cao-Wei]

"Of course!" Brea beamed with a smile, giving a small nod to the others. "I am unfortunately under orders to go and have a drink, and 'enjoy myself' something I'm not quite accustomed to, so I shall leave you gentlemen to it." With that, he slipped away and made his way over to a table covered in glasses of wine and other drinks for the guests to indulge in. Brea picked up one of the many glasses and let out a sigh as he took a sip, given his inexperience with drink, he was the definition of a lightweight.

'I'll limit myself to this one drink...' He thought as he kept an eye on Benjamin from afar, his blades clanking against each other softly.

[Zelos Shinigami-Mezmillion]

"Enjoying yourself Andy?"

The voice appeared from the corner behind Andy, he stood there as if he had been there the entire time. "I realize you're dancing so you don't need to make conversation, just wanted to see how you have been doing since we last spoke."

[vincent]

"It is not," Vincent snapped at Yeligar, "let's see you be widowed and try raising a teenage daughter who hates your girlfriend-now-has-to-be-wife and chooses to leave because..."

Vincent stopped, a surprisingly hurtful look on his face. Too stubborn for his own good, he shook his head to try to hide it.

"I think I've given you a good list to start with. Get to it and then come back to lecture me."

[glitters]

Jasmine saw Andy's reaction to the term 'milord' but giggled, thinking it only because of the formality involved in it, the shocking truth still quite the secret to her.

Andy also seemed to have something to say, making Jasmine tilt her head a little as she looked up at him with a welcoming grin and asked, "What's on your mind?" Another way to perfectly tie in him being distracted by...whatever out of the hundreds of things around them. To Jasmine, he was getting better but he was still fidgety when it was just the two of them.

[alexanderthegreat]

While Brea and Vash spoke, Alexander listened to the words of his trusted captain and tried to keep a very intriguing look on his face as he did so and responded.

"You think so? How so? You don't think it's a magic thing, do you?" he asked quietly, thinking over the situation at the moment and realizing how very odd it really was for him to have attended this ball and be approached by a random (yet so very familiar) man who apparently needed to see him.

[Alex of Santo-Luce]

"It might be. I... don't really know."

He shrugged, resettling his wings.

"I don't think it's.... bad, sir," he said, realizing that it made him uncomfortable, not threatened. "It's just... strong. That man isn't who he appears to be, I can be sure of that."

[Benjamin Kírix-Unda]

The sound of a fork hitting a glass of wine echoed across the room as one of Crepusculum's servants worked to get everyone's attention. "Excuse me..." the frail, older man repeated several times, "Ki-, um... President Benjamin of Unda would like to address the crowd."

He stepped away from the podium to let the President step forward. Benjamin looked over the crowd, spotting various royals and warriors.

"To new beginnings and better future..." Benjamin spoke out. His voice was soft but powerful at the same time, "It is said that the than Queen Micilia spoke that to Queen Elexa. It was to mark a beginning of a truce to bring about a better world."

He paused, looking over the crowd once more before speaking again, "Before I came to Crepusculum I visited Vuoto where our Marines are conducting humanitarian operations as we speak. Over 20,000 dead civilians from the fighting, at least triple that amount of those who starved to death. We were too late to act, we failed."

"The better world that the great Queen envisioned has alluded us. Death has never been so common in the world we live in now with so many failed states around us, it is now easy to see bandits running wild and even worse, the governments attacking their own people."

"So perhaps as this point you're wondering why I'm interrupting everyone at this moment. It is to tell you this: Unda will not watch the world bleed itself to death." Benjamin said sternly, people seemed to be absorbed by the power in his words, "I'm changing Unda's foreign policy to be one of action, and to be stern on this rule... I've authorized the invasion of Roccia."

"I've just got word that we've captured one of Roccia's fleets and our ships move in closer to aid the rebels in the taking of the capitol."

This was met with shock by the crowd, after all, how could Unda invade Roccia? The largest and most populous country in the world?

"And I'd like to say a message to those in power: you're going to be with us in fostering a better world, or you're going to be against us... and by the gods that's the last thing you want."

He spoke the last part of his sentence in something of a whisper. Everyone could hear the words though, having the entire crowd entranced he suddenly pulled off and said, "Enjoy the rest of the night everyone. And may the gods be with us."

[Seigmand Dezmar]

As Seigmand had finally just gotten comfortable at a large table by himself the soft clinking of glass drew his eyes to a mature, finely dressed man. He looked important, and by the way he carried himself it suggested he thought he was too. He didn't look familiar, but Seigmand had spent too long away from the buzz of topical politics to know if he should be worth noticing.

Yet as the man droned on it was a particular sentence that finally drew his attention. In a flash he bolted upwards, his hands drawn tightly into fists as he shot Benjamin an intense glare.

Let's see how smug he acts with a boulder shoved right up his...

He paused, and became all too aware of his surroundings. In an instant his usual composure returned. His fiery glare settled back into a small wry smile and a coy look in his eyes.

A bold opening move. Let's see if you are indeed any good at this game.

Taking a drink in hand he moved through the crowded hall, ignoring all but Benjamin and his escort. As he neared he called out, "Quite the emboldening speech. I dare say I don't know whether to compliment you on your blunt honesty or ridicule you for it, Mr..." He spoke ever so louder than he should have, just enough to draw a little attention to himself.

[Zeke Omoihake]

Drawn in by his curiosity Zeke slowly rose from his seat and slunk towards the two Alexes.

"Hey, I thought we agreed I got to get in on this whole secret hush hush talk stuff now. Are you guys talking about the blond Lunar Knight guy? If you're worried about him I could give him a good frisking first." He smiled afterwards, then seemed to catch himself and forced a "serious buzniz" face on himself.

Please don't tell me they noticed that. Note to self, do not act happy about patting down dudes, especially in front of these two.