isleofavalon | EVENT ✨ SAVE THE LAST DANCE

EVENT ✨ SAVE THE LAST DANCE

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POST TYPE: Event

DATES: 9/20
PROMPT BRIEFS

Not-So Death Ball: A party inspired by the Death Ball is planned to send off the Otherworlders before the final mission to try to stop the Calamity. Follow the candles to the Forest of the Felled for the party. Oh, and it's enchanted to be a costume party.
Dine n' Dash: The food isn't enchanted, but all the dining utensils and dishes are.
Angry Birds: Harpies perform a sword dance, then offer to teach it to those who wish to learn. Training swords are enchanted- anger will get enhanced if you don't trust your partner, if you do, you'll sync up and learn the dance easily.
Parting Words: Arthur and Elphame have a brief speech for everyone. A deal for those who save the day is granted. Elphame loves alliteration.
It's My Party, I'll Cry if I Want To: It's time for one last dance party together! The music is enchanted, so anyone you dance with you'll feel an attraction to until you share something you haven't told them yet.
Thx fr the Mmrs: Cool candle magic lets you share fond memories of Avalon with others.

NOT-SO-DEATH BALL

Time has been frozen for a year now, so there have been no new dead passing into Avalon from outside of the world, and all of the previous souls were consumed by the Stone Giant. It also makes most of the fall equinox ceremonies unnecessary this year, as the only newly deceased souls are the ones who passed within Avalon and are either hanging around as ghosts or trying to figure out information about this new realm of the dead there have been whispers on the wind about, but none have quite figured out where to find it with it being held within a very peculiar vessel.

Because of this, the annual Death Ball is not being held in the traditional sense either... but instead, in collaboration with Camelot and Elphame alike, will

candles hovering around trees, really pretty

be used as a send-off for those who will soon head into the heart of the Calamity itself to save all universes. Whether or not this is a send-off for the dead-to-be or the heroes of the multiverse.. well, that remains to be seen, but it is a goodbye and a thank you regardless and takes many of the traditions of the annual Death Ball and turns them into celebration of the Otherworlders who have spent this long and tried so hard to make things right.

This year, the candle pathways lead from Nicnevin, The Land of Maidens, Camelot City, and the newly revived Celliwig to the Forest of the Felled. Thousands of candles lead to the Forest for two nights ahead of the Death Ball, as a guiding light to help the Otherworlders find their way to the celebration. As they get closer, they will notice that any rivers in their way have magical bridges built of vines woven together with green magic from the mages of Malous to offer safe passage. As they approach the Forest itself, many candles float in the air, giving the entire forest a warm, magical glow.

As each person enters the forest through an archway of black and dark red flowers illuminated by light magic that floats about it like fireflies, they will find themselves enveloped by sparkles swirling about them like they've been Bibbidi-bobbidi-booed into a costume. The costume is chosen by the fae who cast the magic, so it could be something your character would want to wear or it could be something absolutely unexpected and mischievous. (Player's choice what their character's costume is. Have fun with it.) The Death Ball is traditionally a masked costume ball, but for the sake of Otherworlders being the ones who are being sent off, masks are not required.

DINE N' DASH

Fae were told not to bring food from the faery realm so as to not trap Otherworlders within Avalon, and as such had a little prank to play at the food tables set up near the entryway to the forest party. Every part of the set-up is kinetically enchanted to move about and play games with you: the teapot will pick up a stirrer and try to shoot three-pointers with the sugar-cubes into your tea cup, the tea cups will giggle when you drink out of them because it tickles, the champagne glasses will start floating away like bubbles if you let them sit for too long without drinking, and the dish will run away with the spoon before you try to put food on it... Don't worry, most of the dinnerware will settle down once you catch up so long as you don't let it go again. The food itself seems to have a lot of fusion dishes, like Korean BBQ tacos, Curry Pizza, Hamburger Bao, Chorizo Ravioli, and so on. They were trying to hit everyone’s taste as much as possible, alright?

ANGRY BIRDS

Combat is as much a dance as it is for a fight. Before the dancing gets underway, while food is being served and drinks are distributed (non-alcoholic for those not old enough by their world’s standards to drink, as always) everyone is treated to watch the Harpies perform a sword dance passed down by their people. The dance itself is enchanting, and casts upon those who watch it a protective spell to help make them less vulnerable in the journey to come.

Those who wish to learn afterward may speak to the harpies, but can only learn the dance if they find a partner willing to learn it with them. After all, the sword dance is only as effective as the trust you have in your partner not to cut your throat.

What’s more, the training swords are enchanted. While holding the swords, if you do not have trust in your partner, the blades will cause you to behave more violently toward your partner and bring out any underlying issues or anger you may have and multiply it. It’s good for processing anger, but it may go a little overboard if you end up trying to stab someone over leaving the toilet seat up too many times. If you trust in your partner, you’ll find yourself more easily synchronizing and able to sense the other person’s movements while holding the training swords, guiding you through the proper motions so you’ll be able to learn them correctly and replicate it on your own later.

PARTING WORDS

King Arthur and Queen Elphame are sat together at the royalty table with Queen Mab, Princess Bluebell, the royals of Celliwig, and a couple other unfamiliar faces. Before the dancing and music begin, both have something to say to the Otherworlders, and thus give the following speeches before the music starts:

What a journey it has been. Like many of you, this has been a learning experience for me. There are a good many things that I would do differently, and some things I would not change for anything. I am sure many of you feel the same. This party is normally for the dead, and some are saying that we say our goodbyes with it as we do not expect all of you to come back, but I do not believe that is true. I believe in every one of you. Time and time again, through happiness and hardships, I have seen you rise above. I do not think this mission will fail. I think we will come home, and we will see our loved ones again, and the Calamity will finally be over thanks to all of you. Thank you.

Arthur sits down, giving a nod of his head to Elphame, who takes her turn to stand up once he sits. She looks upon the crowd, a small smirk upon her lips as she begins to speak in riddle and rhyme for the final time. Though perhaps with a much more pleasing solution to this puzzle than one might expect from the fairy queen.

Precious people persevering past pernicious precarity, I deprive you no more. People of perilous pasts, I pardon. People profiting, people praying, people preying, people proclaiming "praytell, panacea," I proffer prized passage as payback for perfect performances. Your place in Avalon is preserved, as you please.

Arthur looks at her a little tiredly, because keeping up with what she’s trying to say when she gives speeches is, as usual, pretty perturbing. Merlin, who had been standing behind the lot during this, declares the party get started to break the tension and allow people to depart their tables and get moving!

IT'S MY PARTY, I'LL CRY IF I WANT TO

multicolored flames blending together

The music itself is a variety of modern songs and melodies played as if by medieval artists. Think this, but any song or country you'd like from modern times. The band is quite skilled, they can play anything from Airplane pt 2 to Ziggy Stardust and everything beyond and in between. The only thing is, their music is enchanted with special dark magic. Any dance partner you groove with, the next time you speak after you finish dancing, you will feel a special connection to them. It's a form of compelling attraction, though certainly not a love spell, it could be misconstrued as such if your character can’t tell the difference, and cannot be stopped until you tell them something you haven't told them yet. This spell is typically used in the Death Ball to make sure that anything left unsaid to a deceased person is said so that no regrets are left, but in this case… it will certainly help to make sure no one leaves Avalon with personal relationship regrets, either.

THX FR TH MMRS

At the end of the night, each person is encouraged to find a candle that speaks to them. Once they do, the candle’s flame will change to a color that matches whatever color you feel best matches your character. They are encouraged to find someone whose color either complements or matches their own. When they get close, the two flames will start to magically swirl around each other and characters will be able to mentally share memories they’ve made in Avalon with the person they’ve found. Though they may not be able to control which memories those are, they will generally be positive ones. Memories of happiness, love, relief, achievement, and more. It’s a way to share good emotions and memories of their time in Avalon, remember those who may no longer be with us in Avalon, and remember that even if the mission to the Calamity soon fails, they will have gained something precious being here in Avalon. Once at least one memory is shared from each person, the flame swirls will surround both characters and will fill them with a warm, fuzzy feeling that will last the whole night and may cause characters to be more amenable to trying things they normally wouldn’t with others.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

No, I've got to go home. Once time moves on I can't leave my homeworld to the morons there. I'll visit here, however, if and when I can... though I guess I won't have access to my magic anymore without Arashi.

[He doesn't assume that his familiar will want to stay in touch with him back in their homeworld... but then who knows? Perhaps they can strike up a penpalship!]

All things in their place, and places for all things. [her mouth pulls in a wry smile for a brief moment.]

Luck to you, then; for we will not meet again.

[It's rare that he sees her smile... perhaps she's made peace with some of the things that were troubling her? But of course he can't not rib her back!]

You mean: luck to you. But don't be so sure about having seen the last of me; I think the multiverse has taken a liking to me.

[This was already the second time he's bee isekai'd, Cecelia! The second time!]

[rookie numbers, captain.

she lifts her chin, an eyebrow arching.]

Crossing my path once more means there's trouble you ought to be tending to yourself. I pray you need no further pushes from forgotten people, because I have plenty of work waiting for me.

I told you, I won't forget you. You'll have to personally mind-wipe me if you want that! Also what pushes have I needed? I've forged my path here all on my own!

[Of course everyone he met here, Cecelia included, had an impact on him and may have steered his decisions on some occasions, but it's not like he needed hand-holding!]

No man is a monolith, but the decisions are your own, indeed. [she strikes ahead to go have a wander about.

airily:] You'll forget, don't worry about it. Simply live your life!

[He catches up to her, not intent of being left all puzzled again! They make an odd pair as they walk side by side in their mismatched costumes.]

Hey... at least tell me the reason. Don't always make mysterious allusions and leave me in the dark.

[gads, couldn't he have worn better shoes at least? clomp-clomp-clomp... armor is not befitting a gala; she could be clear across the room and hear him as if he were stomping around on her very feet!

she peers over her shoulder before stopping near the fringes of the dance floor to snatch a passing goblet.]

Didn't I let it slip before? That I'm not someone who is designed to be remembered anymore. [she swirls the cup and gives its contents a look-over and a tentative sniff and testing sip.]

[Don't blame him, blame the fae!! He uses the opportunity of not having anyone right in their immediate vicinity to light a cigarette.]

I'm not saying you didn't let it slip, but it didn't stick in my memory.

[For what it's worth, he thinks her character design is really memorable... but he has an inkling that that isn't what she meant, and that she wouldn't appreciate him breaking the fourth wall on her.]

You said "anymore", so at some point people remembered you, and that was fine? What happened for that to change? Don't make it so suspenseful!

[she doesn't answer right away...because she kind of wants to needle him with silence. that's rude, she knows, but something about him compels her to press those kinds of boundaries anyway. he ought to get sick of trying soon anyway, and he'll forget, and it'll be fine.

tsk.] What do you mean to do with the information I give you? [what does it matter?]

[Why do half the people he meets love to push his buttons?! But at least he has a quick retort ready.]

If I'll forget anyway, then what's the harm in telling me? I just want to understand; no reason to treat me like an enemy spy!

Given the unraveling that started up on the mountain, I'd crumble to tears rather quickly in even trying, I wager.

[ah yes. a slight hand tremble. unraveling.

she takes another sip, puckering her lips and brow furrowing. wines are always too sweet in this place; doesn't anyone enjoy a good dry, bitter merlot these days?!]

The more you know, the stronger the fibers of memory weave into the rest of you; I imagine it'd just make things strange for you in the future, feeling a more significant gap than the minuscule impact I had as it is. Sensations like when...mm, when you wander into a room and forget the reason why? Like that, but without having to wander at all.

[just hearing herself talking like that makes her want to scoff in disgust.]

Pretty roundabout and infuriating talk, isn't it? I should probably apologize for allowing it to happen at all.

I think...the certainty of the brink we collectively stand on is what loosened my tongue, and the long, long silence from my overseers has left me rather awash in what my next move ought to be!

I don't find myself stranded alone for so long without a plan, after all. [sip.] Improvisation without contingencies in place...or promises that get kept...

[she side-eyes him.] Have I not vexed you enough yet?

[The minuscule impact that I had... why is she downplaying her role in other people's lives like this? Hijikata still has no idea if everyone she meets really, truly, literally forgets about her, be it due to a curse or somesuch, or due to her nature - whatever that is -, or if she's just that convinced that she's a forgettable person. He's been increasingly suspecting the former, but probably with a healthy (unhealthy, rather) dash of the latter. At least he's finally getting some bits of confirmation.]

So you've got overseers. They haven't been in contact with you since this calamity kicked off, then? Or already beforehand?

[Isn't this just Cecelia not trusting her own judgement, not thinking she'll make the right choices without her overseers' guidance? It seems to be terribly hard for her to talk about, but to Hijikata this is simply a competent person having no faith in her own competency. It's as if he didn't know how to lead the Shinsengumi back home without his Commander - and frankly, while he can easily do it if Kondou is preoccupied with other things he couldn't do it if he were... gone. Without his warmth and idealism Hijikata would be left in the dark.]

[her mouth pulls. detectives gonna detective, huh.]

I was on a different assignment, left to my task before my unceremonious drop into the bay. I gather none of the messages I coded in the city reacted to the happenings since my absence, which means they haven't responded.

But that's normal. None of us have been able to reach anyone on our homeworlds.

[Sure, most of them wouldn't even have had the means to try, but even so!]

The calamity froze the multiverse for everyone. I'm sure once we sort it out they'll get right back to you! But you know, this still doesn't explain why or how everyone has to forget about your existence. If you just observe and don't meddle in the history of the worlds out there, why do you have to be so secretive?

I'm not just an observer, that's why. What I do is meant to matter, but who I am is designed to be forgotten.

It's not so bad in the lengthy span of time, but...if the same red-haired woman keeps lingering in the memories of people who survive momentous times, it can lead to tales, and tales spun can lead to new threats and new things born.

[flatly:] And no, polymorphing isn't in play here; that's not the kind of work I do. A changeling would suit the tasks better, but I'm the one who signed the contract.

[Oh. So the reason is so straightforward, after all... the good news for Cecelia is that Hijikata won't argue about how this concept it wrong or unfair or whatnot; he does understand the logic behind the rule. But he also understands what a burden it puts on her.]

I get it, now.

...

I guess I'll let you delete my memories, then. I wouldn't want to mess up your work.

[Now he feels the sting of something more than an impending goodbye, and he, too, snatches a finely made glass of alcohol as it twirls past. Look, he doesn't think that he's important enough to deserve special treatment and be ~the only one who remembers Cecelia Ardenbury~... but it still doesn't sit right with him how isolated she has to feel. He recalls well how hurt he was when Riou, whom he first met on Prismatica, ended up on Avalon from a different timeline and didn't remember him. Experiencing that over and over, through a long, long life... it has to be hard to bear.]

[she breathes out something that could be a grim laugh.]

Dear man, I told you already: I don't have say over that. It's just what happens, and it'll happen one way or another. Oblivion or the righting of things.

[she smiles ruefully, more honestly.]

How kind of you to give me permission, all the same.

Good. At least it's out of your hands, then.

[Despite his sullen moment just now he offers a faint little smile in return. He may feel concern for her long-term wellbeing, but certainly not acute fretful worry or pity - he puts too much stock in her for that.]

Let's celebrate tonight, shall we? This may just be your biggest 'righting' yet... unless the multiverse is frequently in such big trouble and I'm just clueless because I was time-frozen the other times?

Hmm. Blame the cluelessness on that, yes. [her mouth twitches at a corner before she has another, more generous sip.]

...Very well. I'm not so far gone as to forget how to at least pretend to celebrate.

Here's to our success, then. And to a long time before the next calamity!

[He raises his glass before likewise taking another long sip. Honestly, he's happy, semi-melancholic as the occasion is. He was able to steer his subordinates through the aftermath of the stone giant tragedy and to help ensure that Avalon's dead would be safe from such disasters from here on out... when did ghosts become his top priority, really? This world completely scrambled his priorities.]

[she'll lift her own just slightly before tsk-ing his remarks and finishing off the drink in a swift, silent throwback - after which she carefully tests whether or not the goblet will float on its way. it does, and she lets it wander off so she can dust her hands of it.

she squints, frowning. hm.]

...No adverse effects to the drinks this time? Curious. Uncharacteristic of Avalon.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

EVENT ✨ SAVE THE LAST DANCE

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