shylarah

How Not to be a Douchebag 101

@Metronome I was gonna give @Hero a chance to post.

Also, does the alien seem just weak, or does it seem like the lack of shadows is hurting him, or maybe scaring him?

When Royalty Collides (#YIKES)

> S P A R K S , A C I R A S I T
status: gotta have blue hair!

> > Some royalty had interesting fashion sense. The first several were pretty standard, but then came a fellow in a full suit of plate mail, and it took all John's control not to chuckle. The herald had named them Princesses Liviana and Domitia, and from the staff briefing he was pretty sure Liviana was the one in the blue dress, so that meant Domitia was the one in the armor. Even though he was amused, he was also impressed. An outfit like that, it took guts.

Another princess favored all black, which was daring but in a very standard sort of way. The loud prince not long after had Sparks hiding a wince. Mentally, he took bets over whether the lad would end up confronting him over some detail of palace IT. He sincerely hoped not.

The Liangii contigent sent quiet ripples through the room -- after all, Princess Ayleanna would be marrying into that nation's government. The Haneul group sent ripples of a different sort, and their princess looked like a cotton-candy confection in pink and purple. Traditional dress was fine, but the colors were a bit much, in John's opinion. Still, she wore them well.

A handsome fellow -- John was pretty sure he was the Veredunian prince -- grabbed a flute of champagne off his tray without comment. Several people had, actually, but the prince was a particularly fine specimen of humanity and worth notice. Hos outfit was nothing special, a suit and some medals that were probably Very Important, but damn the man was hot.

And then the Argenyonni prince, in pants that matched Princess Ayleanna's dress, was...asking his permission for a drink? No, no, just being polite. "Of course, your highness," John replied smoothly, subtly adjusting the height of his tray for maximum convenience. He expected that would be the end of their exchange, but instead the prince lingered, looking him over with interest.

The commentary on his hair brought a wide grin to John's face, even though he wasn't really supposed to be interacting with the guests. "Thank you~ Gotta say, you look dashing yourself." Keep it simple, man -- this isn't the time or the place to be socializing. Even if his accent is hot. And isn't he in a band, or was that one of his siblings?

The Plague Knight Chronicles: Chapter 1

@Overlord Thraka I'm here! But I posted last for the underground crew, so idk. *flails* I was having fun, too~

How Not to be a Douchebag 101

Rhylaen was pleased to see the unknown one sitting up. He moved slowly, and still seemed wary, but it was a start. He seemed weighed down, lost. She'd been the same shortly after her arrival, with so many strange things around her and no good way to communicate. She ventured a couple steps closer, then knelt on the floor near the old oatmeal. She left that be -- it looked quite stale -- and instead picked up the tin cup of water. She had no way to say what she wanted, save through actions. He needed to eat. So she drank some of the water herself, enough for the cup to be visibly emptier, then set it on the ground in front of her and pushed it towards the unknown one. The cup scraped as she moved it across the floor, a harsh sound, but she didn't pull back until she'd left it within what she judged to be arm's reach. Then Rhylaen sat up again and waited. If he copied her, she'd have Agent-Day bring something to eat.

How Not to be a Douchebag 101

Her suggestion of a second, suited person earned her the right to enter unsuited herself. Pleased with the small victory, Rhylaen waited for Agent-Day to suit up, and darted eagerly to the antechamber leading to the cell. The locks couldn't cycle fast enough to suit her. Inside it was the same temperature, and the unknown one sheltered in a burrow of cloth. She wondered a little at the oatmeal. Why would they feed a warm food to one who seemed to prefer the cold? She'd ask about that later.

For the moment she studied the lump curled on the mattress. She could see one jewel-bright eye watching her, and though the size was different she felt a pang of loss for her own home. Setting that aside, Rhylaen gathered her focus, and tried to project the ideas she wanted to convey. "Let me help you," she said, though she used her own tongue instead of the human one. "You are a stranger, as I was. I mean no harm. Let me help." She extended her hands before her, palms upturned in a sign of peace. For the moment she stayed near the door -- she would not step closer yet, hopefully not until she received some sort of acknowledgement. She could sense the wary presence of Agent-Day behind her, and hoped the other woman would do her best to be unthreatening as well. Her own attention remained on projecting the idea of safety and aid.

When Royalty Collides (#YIKES)

@Glyph oh. That's...proibably a good idea, to know if a pc is near yours.

When Royalty Collides (#YIKES)

@Glyph Do whatever works for you, but I'd advise against designated partners personally. If you were only going to rp with two or three other people, then why did you join a group rp?

I'm not sure what you mean by spatial awareness.

If there's questions about who's where, the OOC or discord are easy places to make quick questions. I find that asking for quick reactions or about hypotheticals helps me write good posts, and I usually reread things as I'm writing to make sure I don't miss stuff. I also often make a quickreference sheet in my notes just so I keep people straight, and add to it as things go on and dynamics develop. But that's just what works for me!

When Royalty Collides (#YIKES)

> S P A R K S , A C I R A S I T
status: servitor

> > John adjusted his bowtie for the last time. He really didn't like having to wear them, but sometimes he got drafted from his usual job and put on other duties. In this case, "other duties" required him to wear a three piece suit, and the unfortunate bowtie. At least they let him leave his hair its sky blue hue, a splash of gentle color in contrast to the black and white of his clothing. He had a bluetooth walkie nestled discreetly in one ear, so he was reachable in case of emergencies, but most of his usual tech was either left behind or secreted in one of his several pockets. He was signed off for the duration of the event -- barring catastrophe, or a reasonable excuse to be otherwise.

He swept his designated tray up off the counter and balanced it on one splayed hand, then pushed out the side door into the ballroom proper, taking up his position among the other servitors. It was hard for him to keep from smiling. They looked like a bunch of penguins scattered about the room, but that wouldn't last. The bright colors of noble attire would cover them like wildflowers taking over a bare lot.

He could see the lady of the hour and her family, greeting the guests as they entered. Princess Ayleanna was a sweetheart, and she was handling her upcoming marriage with enthusiasm. She always had a friendly word for the castle staff, especially the fellow that kept her net connection alive and well. She wouldn't be saying hello at the event, of course, but he'd have a chance to watch all the guests, and that was a good way to pass the time.

When Royalty Collides (#YIKES)

Suggestion: make pairings that you know won't work, for the pleasure (and drama!) of breaking them later.

When Royalty Collides (#YIKES)

Rhiannon Heledd Cadfael of Wales

Rhiannon had actually arrived in Aciras a few days early, to spend time with her cousins before the main event started. As a result she was settled in already and ready for the ball some time before it actually began, and consequently one of the first people in the doors when the Acirans opened them. "I still think what I thought about that dress the first time I saw it," she whispered in Lea's ear as the two young ladies embraced, earning a laugh from her counterpart. "But you make it look stunning. Ta~" There were comparatively few pleasantries to exchange at the ball, since the stiffly formal welcome ceremony was already over and done with, and soon she was out on the main floor. She probably should have waited to arrive until after Prince Edwin's party, since he outranked her, but this was Lea's big deal event, and she had a good defense if anyone fussed about the matter. She doubted they would.

Her outfit was not super showy, though still gorgeous: an off-the-shoulder dress that hugged her top snugly with a cross-wrapped design and then turned into a generous chiffon skirt in turquoise, yellow, cream, and half a dozen shades of green. The ombre effect was lovely, and the skirt had a slit that ran up past her knee, perfect for moving or dancing or just showing off her legs. She'd gone with actual jewelry instead of her usual eclectic mix of resin, beads, and metal: an emerald-and-diamond set, bracelet, stud earrings, and a necklace that drew the eye down her collarbones to her surprisingly modest cleavage. Despite the low neckline, the dress was classy, and that meant it provided good coverage for what needed covering. Her hair was tamed to a quiet roar, a tumble of ruddy curls pinned back from her face and brushing the tops of her bare shoulders. She hadn't had the patience to do anything with it beyond that, even with the offers of help from her attendants. She was not just there as Lea's cousin but also as the future queen of Wales. It was public knowledge that she was unmarried, and an open secret that she was supposed to have something arranged soon. Rumor suggested that she as much as her parents would decide her spouse -- and that was where Princess Lea's event came into play. There were a few potential candidates among the guests, and while Wales had made no promises they'd dropped careful hints about her availability and the potential suitability of certain individuals. It was expected that she'd be getting a better feel for as many of the potential suitors as possible over the course of the months to follow, where she would (hopefully) have a chance to determine who had a good personality as well as the required skills to be her fellow monarch.

For the moment she took up a position near the main entrance, where she had a good view of those arriving. It was just the first day today -- a bit nervewracking, but nothing to worry about. And while she would have to get down to business eventually, for the moment she was there to have fun.