[NYE Party] happy new year and lots of fun

[nascensibility]

Who: EVERYONE, but especially you!
Where: Wonderland Ballroom
When: New Year's Eve
Rating: PG - PG13 (will change if applicable)
Summary: New Year's Eve Party
The Story:

[ Previously in the month all residents received an invitation to a formal event: a black tie affair to ring in the New Year. The ballroom and adjacent areas are decked out for the party starting at eight o'clock sharp, meticulously planned and executed, glittering décor to match the no doubt glittering attire as music pours into the halls from the dance floor.

Bars flank each side, service for all manner of alcohol unless a minor requests something, and the primary setting stage features an enormous clock for the countdown. ]




[ Where will you be when the clock strikes midnight? ]

Comments

Emiel Regis | OTA

[mandrakes]

[The vampire's attire puts him entirely out of place, but he does not look uncomfortable with that fact. Regis enjoys parties - he enjoys the bustle, the life, the laughter and the stories to tell or be told, and as yet he has not missed any that he has received an invitation to. He arrives not long after things begin and spends some time first at the bar, then retreats to a table where he can easily watch the people milling about.

At his age - or, at least, the age he appears - and with the appearance that comes with it, Regis gives off a certain air of dignity. In a place like this, with the grandeur of it, that air is only intensified. He fits into such scenarios with ease, a man accustomed to moving about a room and finding ways to please everyone with either a drink or a witty anecdote, and he isn't shy at all about approaching anyone who looks as if they might be able to use a little company.

Later on in the night, he can be found outside instead, with a peculiar-looking bottle that he occasionally pours a strong-smelling liquid from, sipping at it casually. He'll happily offer it to anyone who looks curious, with a wry warning that it tends to make people very talkative if they drink too much.]

[spiritofgoodness]

[ Regis actually looks the most like what Snow's familiar with, and maybe her ball gown style is familiar to him, too. Either way, she's drawn to him because of how he carries herself, and she watches as he makes his way outside.

Following, she approaches from the side, a friendly smile on her face. ]

I have to admit, you're the first person I've seen dressed like someone from my home might have been at a ball like this.

[mandrakes]

[He hears her coming long before she speaks, and glances to her with a warm and gentle smile on his face. Regis, for all his power and ability, has an appearance that gives off the air of a common or garden tax collector and he finds that works to his advantage... only in the way that people are rarely afraid to come and speak to him.

People like this lovely young woman, who is wearing a ballgown in a very familiar style.]

As are you. [At least, his home in more recent times.] You would not have looked out of place in the finest balls held in Beauclair, my dear.

[spiritofgoodness]

Beauclair is the name of your realm? It sounds quaint.

[ She says that with a smile, then politely curtsies. ]

And thank you. It's been quite a long time since I've worn a gown like this. My name is Snow.

[ It's only polite to introduce herself. ]

[mandrakes]

Of the capital city of the duchy of Toussaint, within the Empire of Nilfgaard, in the southern half of the Continent.

[He returns her curtsy with a neat bow of his own.]

Regis. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Snow.

[spiritofgoodness]

I've never heard of it, but it's always interesting to hear of new places. Where I'm from doesn't sound half as...busy.

[ She means that as a compliment and smiles softly. ]

My original home is the Enchanted Forest. No one I've met here outside of family has ever heard of it or been there.

[mandrakes]

I know of a number of forests that could be said to be enchanted, but none that are named so plainly.

[Regis can understand the sensation of being isolated, when it comes to people not knowing where you're from in a place like this. Even back on the Continent, he was an outsider in that respect, pining for a place he'd never seen but knew he belonged in.]

[spiritofgoodness]

It does have another name. Misthaven. But I suppose because of the magic and how wooded it is, well. I'm sure you can put two and two together.

[ She smiles softly, then wraps her shawl a bit tighter around her shoulders. ]

I was just going back there after so long away when I wound up here instead.

[mandrakes]

Misthaven... That would not be a name thought out of place where I come from. The most notable 'enchanted forest' of the continent is called Brokilon.

[He observes her for a moment.] Humans call it the Forest of Death.

[Very cheery.]

Are you cold? We can move back indoors.

[spiritofgoodness]

It is a little chilly, oh but I don't want to interrupt the time to yourself. I came out to get a breath of fresh air, myself. And because I was curious about you, admittedly.

[ She smiles softly; she understands, though, he might just want to be alone. ]

[mandrakes]

It isn't an interruption.

[Regis is polite, but he has no qualms about civilly removing himself from the company of somebody if he doesn't want it at the time. He looks at her with an inquisitive smile.]

You were curious? Why is that?

[spiritofgoodness]

Only because you seemed at least somewhat close to dressed in a way that reminded me of home. I think I'm a little homesick, honestly.

[ Not necessarily for the Enchanted Forest, even though that's where she's headed when she leaves here. But for the way she felt during balls like this, and mostly for her husband. ]

[mandrakes]

Ah. I can certainly sympathise.

[Maybe not in the way she might think, but he understands homesickness well enough to be able to describe it quite well.]

We can speak of it, or not... Whichever you prefer.

[spiritofgoodness]

It used to be a beautiful place. Until a curse forced us out and ogres took over the land in the nearly three decades we were gone. I went back, a few months ago.

[ She smiles a bit sadly. ]

Our castle, our home, was in ruins.

[mandrakes]

[They might be from different places, but the things she talks about are more than just stories to Regis. Such a story could have come out of any land on the Continent or off it.]

I'm sorry.

[A sentiment like that could easily sound hollow, but there's a depth of feeling to it as Regis says the words.]

[spiritofgoodness]

Thank you. There's been quite the debate back home. Go home and rebuild or stay where we currently are.

[ She lets out a breath, watching it puff out in front of her. ]

Though now we've been cursed back to that land, so I suppose the choice was made for us.

[mandrakes]

A difficult debate to resolve.

[And one he doesn't envy, but one he understands.] I'm afraid something of the opposite is true for me, but given the choice, I believe I would make the choice to return to where my people came from.

[spiritofgoodness]

[ Snow lets out a soft breath. ]

That's what I think I'd like to do. Where we're at is modern: indoor plumbing, medicine, hospitals, technology. Going back home would literally mean going back in time. But it is our true home. We would never have known about modern life if not for the curse.

[mandrakes]

Your perceptions of 'modern life' are... somewhat different to mine.

[Bearing in mind that they seem to come from similar time periods originally, 'modern' has become a concept that's entirely subjective.]

But convenience can undoubtedly be tempting.

[spiritofgoodness]

It is and...more to the point, I don't think my daughter who has lived her entire life with convenience could be talked into leaving that all behind. And that would mean my grandson wouldn't come with us either, I'm guessing.

[ Snow pauses, realizing she needs to explain why that's significant, why visits couldn't simply happen. ]

In order to get between worlds, you need a portal. And they're extremely rare, sometimes dangerous to find. If we were separated, I have no idea when we would see each other again.

[mandrakes]

[The concept of needing a portal to travel between worlds is not an unusual one to Regis. Indeed, there are many closed portals blocking the way back to the world that his own people came from, so many centuries ago.

They had come through it, but none had been able to go back since.]

A risk I could understand not wanting to take. Did you ever come to a decision?

[spiritofgoodness]

Not before we were forced there by magic anyway. Decision made.

[ She looks down, wrapping her arms around herself a bit. ]

I wound up losing part of my family anyway.

[mandrakes]

[He understands loss. He understands it very well indeed.]

... I'm sorry.

[This has to be hard to talk about. With decades of dealing with loss behind him, Regis still finds that it can tear at him.]

Sincerely.

[interpersonal]

( elena finds regis once he has retreated to a table for people watching purposes. since she was seeking a brief respite from the party herself, it's with a smile she approaches the table, thinking it would be nice to catch up with someone she thinks very highly of. )

Is this seat taken?

[mandrakes]

Should it have been, I would certainly have made an effort to clear it for you.

[But no, it is not. Regis shakes is head with a smile and briefly extends one hand to said seat, offering it to her.]

Do sit down. It's been far too long.