[Event] Winter Battle Ball

[Aethyrium]

Ladies and gentlemen, warriors and adventurers, the time has come to prepare for the most anticipated event of the season - the Winter Battle Ball! This extraordinary evening promises to combine the elegance of a grand ball with the excitement of epic battles, all set against the backdrop of an enchanting winter wonderland. Whether you bring someone special or come alone, brace yourself for an unforgettable night of dancing, dueling, and daring feats.

Our theme this year is "Enchanted Winter Wonderland," where the magical beauty of the winter season meets the thrill of mythical battles. Picture a venue transformed into a shimmering snowy realm, with ice-covered trees, sparkling lights, and frosted landscapes. The atmosphere will be one of both serenity and excitement, inviting you to immerse yourself in a world where fantasy comes to life. Dress in your finest winter battle attire - whether it’s regal and refined or fierce and formidable - and prepare to be enchanted.

The evening begins with the Grand Ice Waltz, a dance that will transport you into the heart of our winter wonderland. The ballroom floor, designed to resemble a glistening frozen lake, will be the stage for an elegant and mesmerizing waltz. Couples and singles alike will have the opportunity to glide gracefully across the floor, guided by professional dancers. The Grand Ice Waltz is a perfect way to start the evening, connecting with others through the beauty of dance and the magic of the season.

For those with a competitive spirit, the Frost and Flame Duel offers a chance to showcase your skills in an exhilarating showdown. Participants will be equipped with safe, foam weaponry and protective gear, allowing for intense but safe combat. The duels will take place in a specially designed arena, where the icy decor will add an extra layer of challenge and excitement. Whether you are a seasoned warrior or a newcomer to the art of battle, the Frost and Flame Duel is an opportunity to engage in friendly competition and demonstrate your prowess. Winners of the duels will receive special prizes, and all participants will earn the admiration of their peers.

For those seeking adventure and intrigue, the Enchanted Quest will be a highlight of the night. Guests will embark on a treasure hunt throughout the venue, solving riddles, uncovering hidden secrets, and facing various challenges. The quest will lead you through the enchanted forest and snowy realms, offering a unique way to explore the magical setting of the Winter Battle Ball. Teams can be formed to enhance the experience, and solo adventurers are also welcome. The quest will culminate in a grand reveal, with treasures and rewards for those who complete the journey.

As the evening unfolds, guests will be invited to partake in the Winter Feast - a banquet of epic proportions. Long tables adorned with evergreen garlands, candles, and sparkling ornaments will be laden with a feast that celebrates the bounty of the season. Enjoy roasted meats, seasonal vegetables, and decadent desserts that will warm your heart and soul. While you dine, prepare to be captivated by the Fire Spectacle, a performance by fire dancers who will illuminate the night with their fiery routines. The juxtaposition of fire and ice will create a mesmerizing visual display, adding to the enchantment of the evening.

After the main events, the dance floor will open once more, inviting everyone to dance the night away. A live band will play a mix of classic ballroom tunes and modern hits, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy. The DJ will take over later in the night, turning the ballroom into a lively dance party. This is the perfect time to let loose, have fun, and create lasting memories with friends, old and new. The Winter Battle Ball is designed to be a welcoming and inclusive event. Whether you bring a partner, a group of friends, or decide to come alone, there will be plenty of opportunities to meet new people and share in the joy of the evening. Special seating arrangements, ice-breaker activities, and group dances will ensure that everyone feels included and part of the celebration.

As the evening draws to a close, guests will be invited to gather outside for the final farewell – a spectacular fireworks display set against the winter night sky. This grand finale will be the perfect end to a night filled with wonder, enchantment, and epic battles.

[shengami]

Character Name: Chee Tortious
Date | Time: 12.17 | 8:13pm
Location: Onyx Prairie - Central Quarter
Wearing: White suit jacket, white pants, white mesh tee, white dress shoes. Darklash is Carried/Concealed.
Tagging | Mentioning: @CurvyKitten /Roar @Rainbae /Koko Super-Open | Lionel, Joan, Arick, Cub, Vesper
Note: A View to a Chee
Chee dropped his bag on the check table. He'd wondered how they'd manage that. A lot of his friends were planning a lot of dancing, a little fighting, and an adventure. The dress code for each was a bit different. Chee'd brought along a go bag of things he'd need just in case. It included a couple of dresses just in case. Things he'd promised certain friends he'd bring. But not his primary attire. For that, he'd broken out something a touch more formal. Something he'd had for a bit but had taken to the new shop he'd found, Seams Like a Dream, and had altered. He adjusted the jacket and felt the air across his torso. He liked how the suit breathed. The pants felt soft and smooth on his skin. He bounced and stashed his claim ticket got the go bag in his pocket and stepped through the doors into the event hall.

He whistled long and low as he surveyed the already in progress event. The big lights were down, various strobes and spot lights working. The dance floor was the current focus. Surveying the crowd, he saw lots of his friends as well as several upperclassmen. More than a few of his friends were already cutting it up on the dance floor. He gaze slid over, caught on, then deliberately passed Koko. He was still waiting for her to figure it out, whatever it was. It had taken a while. He was starting to worry he had lost a friend. Maybe he should talk to her again?

But, no, he'd made it clear the last time.

Soem of his friends were hovering near the snacks and drinks. He grinned. A few were sitting at tables or holding up the wall. Chee knew that different people enjoyed their lives different ways There was enough types of joy and happiness to go around. He'd be on the dance floor. He might try to pull a friend or two off the wall. But he didn't think they were missing out on anything. He'd only pull because he wanted to enjoy some time with his friend his way. If they insisted, he'd camp the wall with them for a dance or two. Whatever.

He bounced a bit and felt his tail swish behind him.

Oh, there was Lionel! Chee bit his lip and watched them a moment. He saw Joan nearby looking utterly stunning. It looked like Arick had found a date. Chee had considered a single date, but that wasn't really his style. He didn't want to be tied down. He wanted to spend time with everyone important to him.

That said, he'd made a point of reserving time with two people. He'd have made time for three, or four, but Vesper was still under cover and Koko... well, that was that. No, Monday morning during his morning coffee routine he'd made sure Roar was going to be here. They'd seemed reluctant. He knew they were uncomfortable with this stuff. he'd even offered to wear the dress in his go bag for her if that helped. He'd also suggested they show up in a tux if that worked better. It was all good as long as they were here. He checked in with them again yesterday. His tail flicked. Roar was his bestie. He'd also reserved a dance with his other bestie, Cub. But he didn't see the man yet. He bounced again and moved toward the punch table. The music thrummed into his bones and he wondered if Aerie might like it.

His tail lashed as he felt his energy rise. The grin was glued to his face.

[CurvyKitten]

Character Name:  Aurora "Roar" Torvoe
Date | Time: 12-20/8:15
Location: their room, centeral quarter
Content: wearing this dress, and a pair of pale blue sneakers
Tagging | Mentioning: Chee, open


Roar stood before the mirror in their room and sighed. Hands trailing down the soft layers that flowed down their long legs. The dress's slit flashed a hint of those lovely long legs with each step Roar took. The deep slope of the neck again exposed just enough flesh to entice. When they wrote home to ask Teara a friend back home to make them something to wear to the ball they never expected this. The suit for sure, but the dress was a whole other thing altogether.

It was a before-and-after look for the evening. It came with a little note. “I double dog dare you”. Damn it, now they had to wear it. Damned double dog dares. The laws of dares stand, and Roar could not refuse it. So there they were wearing the dress, with a pair of sneakers because fuck heels. With one last look, Roar grabbed their go bag for the night and left the dorms behind.

Arriving at the ball kicked that odd feeling into high gear. The feeling was something that Roar had never felt before. Was it the dress or that Chee had gone out of his way to ensure they were coming? What did that mean anyway? Probably not a damn thing. Roar reminded themselves before dropping off their bag and attempting to slip into the ball as stealthfully as possible. Their eyes scanned the crowd for any familiar faces. However, Roar wasn’t sure if they wanted to be discovered. Still, as Roar spotted Chee they smiled and gave a little nod before the crowd slipped between them and Roar slipped back towards the edges of the dance floor.

[shengami]

Character Name: Chee Tortious
Date | Time: 12.17 | 8:13pm
Location: Onyx Prairie - Central Quarter
Wearing: White suit jacket, white pants, white mesh tee, white dress shoes. Darklash is Carried/Concealed.
Tagging | Mentioning: @CurvyKitten /Roar @Rainbae /Koko Super-Open |
Note: I Want You Off The Wall If You're Playing The Wall
Chee was bumping and bopping to the music near the snacks table. He'd taken out his phone and was recording the throbbing music to send to Aerie later. He was certain she'd dig it. He might need to find the DJ and get the playlist as well if possible. Maybe they had a CD? He was grinning and sipping some punch that was 'definitely not spiked.'

Idly, his gaze swam across the crowd and the dance floor. It was no easy task as many champions weren't just bigger than him, but significantly larger. Honestly, it annoyed him. It was one of those facts of life that just never got better. His ears flicked and his tail snapped, but his smile was wide and genuine. The fact didn't really get him down either. There wasn't anything that could be done about it.

A flash of pale blue and shocking pink hair pulled his eyes. But the crowd moved. He knew that color though. He saw it every morning over hot coffee and not infrequently in individual training times. He tapped the 'stop' button and slid his phone into his jacket as he started navigating the crowd. Slip between those two, side step there, a little turn here, duck that arm: he navigated bodies like he did obstacle course but with a lot less touching. A lot of people didn't like that stuff. So he tried to be vocal if he needed a bit of space or before nudging even folks he knew were cool with it.

Circling the dance floor, he was able to come up behind them. Thus, he was able to get a look at the dress before they spotted him. It flattered their form nicely. He liked the way it hid her legs, mostly, but gave enticing little glimpses. It also put her muscles on display as well as more than a little skin. That skin was marred by a few scars and other things, but that just made Chee appreciate it more. Chee's seen most of them previously anyway when they sparred. Roar was a stunning individual. He whistled a compliment as he stepped up beside her, "You're goin ta give some poor fool a complex, Roar." He grinned and play-punched their shoulder. He wondered idly if this was a 'she' night, but he already defaulted to 'they' normally. He'd pay attention though. He liked treating people they way they wanted to be treated.

A thought flickered in his head, but he ignored it.

Instead, he tilted his head back and drained about half of what was left in his cup. He offered the rest to Roar. The tall brawler probably needed a bit of bracing. Chee knew this was outside their comfort zones. "Tanks for comin Roar. I know dis ain't your usual haunt. I know you were hesitant. So I preciate it. I really do." He sent a serious smile of thanks up to his friend. Then he set the cup, drained or otherwise, aside and grabbed their wrist. He made for the dance floor with some power. Enough to pull them behind if they allowed; not enough that he'd overpower them if they were really hesitant. His tail swished in time to the music.

[CurvyKitten]

Character Name:  Aurora "Roar" Torvoe
Date | Time: 12-20/8:15
Location: their room, centeral quarter
Content: wearing this dress, and a pair of pale blue sneakers
Tagging | Mentioning: Chee, open
Roar’s eyes roamed the dance floor as the crowd worked around it, the bodies bumping and grinding against one another. Some more elegantly than others. The champions were all dressed to impress and all seemed larger than life. Roar felt so out of place. Give them fighting gear and something to pummel and they were set. But making them get dressed up to pretend to be a proper lady, was like turning into an alien. 

Still, some part of them felt genuinely eager to find Chee and find out what he thought of the look. Would it be something he’d like? Was this what people went for nowadays? Were they trying to impress anyone? Fuck if Roar knew. But somehow the idea of feeling wanted was alluringly and almost addictively…something. Something that Roar couldn’t explain or put words to. 

A slow breath slipped free as Roar tried to calm their racing heart. The exposed fleshed, scars and all were something that Roar wasn’t so sure would go over very well. Most people wanted the pretty, none scared, none fucked up person in their corner and bed. And Roar certainly didn’t feel like that sort of person. Those thoughts vanished though as Roar spotted Chee, a breath of relief slipping free as he skillfully made his way through the crowd to end up by…her side. Roar faked an ouch sound a bit as Chee complimented her and playfully punched her shoulder, “I doubt that,” they laughed it off and brushed nervous fingers through her hair. 

Roar took the cup, and without much thought downed what was inside. Not caring if it was spiked, at the very least it would help solve the Cotten mouth situation. “I wouldn’t miss this.” Roar shook her head as a look of surprise came to her lips. Chee pulled them to the dance floor, and Despite hesitating at first Roar followed with a curious but unsure excitement. Roar slipped up close as Chee pulled them, to the center of the dance floor. “Lead the way,” Roar said with a smirk as they..she…they….damn it…the dance began.

[shengami]

Character Name: Chee Tortious
Date | Time: 12.17 | 8:13pm
Location: Onyx Prairie - Central Quarter
Wearing: White suit jacket, white pants, white mesh tee, white dress shoes. Darklash is Carried/Concealed.
Tagging | Mentioning: @CurvyKitten /Roar @Rainbae /Koko Super-Open |
Note: I Want You Off The Wall If You're Playing The Wall
Chee's ears flicked as Roar disparaged themselves, but he left it for now. He didn't need to say anything. He'd show them that what he said was true. His smile was a little bit determined as they cleared a bit of space together to occupy. Chee would not stand for anything less than center stage for his friend.

It took a lot of trust to allow someone to pull you out of your comfort zone. Chee wanted Roar to more than know how grateful he was they had come, he wanted them to feel it. In their very bones, he wanted them to know that they were important.

The song changed over even as they squared off. It was less thumpy and grindy and more groovy and boppy. He nodded along with the bouncy bass line and the playful guitar. His shoulders got into it next. Chee had no dancing skill, per se. No formal training at all. But he knew how to feel the music and move his body. He bounced up and down a few times, gaining more height each time, then spun in a circle, his head whipping around, with each jump. He landed and locked eyes with Roar and grinned, "Let's go!"

He then stepped forward and grabbed their hand to pull them toward him. He trusted Roar to know how to move. They'd sparred a handful of times in and out of classes now. They were familiar with it. This was just a different way of moving. He spur around them as their centers of gravity merged and then they whipped out at his arm's length again. Chee's feet moving in time with the beat for a few measures, his face locked on Roar's. They spun around a center as they did.

He pulled again and they rolled this time. Their back leaned into him, he caught it with the palm of his hand and then lowered them until his partner was nearly parallel with the floor, then lifted them. On a whim, as Roar extend again, he stepped in, planted a foot on her knee then leaped up to swing his leg over her head. Their arms were still connected though. As he landed, the link passing between his legs, he felt Roar pull. He grinned as he went with it and flipped forward.

They were back to arms' length, feet moving, chests heaving, and he grinned madly. Chee didn't know how to dance really, but it was easy when they both knew how to move so well. The game was to see how much they could managed while not letting go, right? He laughed unaware that they'd grown their circle. His tail thrashed behind him. He was zeroed on Roar. He waited to see what was next. No plan, no order, just act and react in real time to his partner. Why should he care that they were being watched?

[CurvyKitten]

Character Name:  Aurora "Roar" Torvoe
Date | Time: 12-20/8:15
Location: their room, centeral quarter
Content: wearing this dress, and a pair of pale blue sneakers
Tagging | Mentioning: Chee, open
A ball, yeah a ball. It was the last place Roar would have guessed they would have found themselves at. Specially when Chee reached out to them. But trusting him without thought, Roar took his hands and followed him to the dance floor.

In an instant Roar found their hot starting to pound within their chest. The act was more nerve racking then any test the school could have thrown at them. But still Roar was there falling into place as Chee took the lead. “Right.” They nodded with a soft smile.

Together they moved taking over center stage of the dance floor. But for Roar it was just Chee and them dancing and having a blast. Nothing could change or tarnish that, nothing could steal this moment away. Fear fell away as joy took its place. And Roar moved with ease to the wild steps Chee threw at them.

The dip caught them of guard though, but a smile still slipped up upon their features. Eyes closed slowly opened and gazed up into Chee’s. His hand sliding along the flesh of Roar’s  posed thigh caused a warm tingle to rush along the pale skin. The smile only brightened as Chee brought her up once more. The crowd around them fading away and the nervous energy vanishing in a few short moments with Chee on the dance floor.

As the parted and their circle widened all Roar could do was smile. Biting their lower lip they watched as Chee gleefully swayed across from her. As inspiration struck Roar moved. Their body spinning, the flowing fabric moving about Roar in gentle amazing waves. Each spin exposing a new flash of leg as they moved. And each time Roar spun towards Chee, they made eye contact. As their bodies grew close Roar Roar kicked up so Chee would catch them as one leg wrapped around Chee’s waist. Arms coming up to warp around Chee’s neck as the found themselves face to face again. A bright beautiful smile spilling over Roar features. “You’re amazing you know that.” Roar said without hesitation.

[shengami]

Character Name: Chee Tortious
Date | Time: 12.17 | 8:13pm
Location: Onyx Prairie - Central Quarter
Wearing: White suit jacket, white pants, white mesh tee, white dress shoes. Darklash is Carried/Concealed.
Tagging | Mentioning: @CurvyKitten /Roar @Rainbae /Koko Super-Open |
Note: You Spin Me Right Round
Chee's breath pumped in and out, but he controlled it. Hyperventilating was an athlete's no-no. It was panic; it was letting the body override sense. Chee supposed there were scientists doing science and coaches who knew that science, but he knew it from experience. He'd felt his body betray him; he knew better. It had come to the point that his body trusted him, and he trusted it.

And yet, the flush crawling up his neck wasn't just activity.

There was an old piece of wisdom Sarge liked to share: I'd kill for my friends, I'd die for my family. Chee had friends: lots of friends. He made friends fast and easy. He made enemies fast and easy, too. Family was an entirely different and far, far more exclusive category. Not even Vesper or Cub were family. Koko had been close until recently. As he looked across at Roar, he wondered.

But then the bubble his thoughts floated in collapsed. They rushed out his ears as Roar came at him, he grinned at them. He watched as her skirts kicked up. He saw her legs, their arms, their torso, their shoulders, their scars as well as their face lit up. He saw her own flush. Roar was a beautiful person. And he knew what she was going for. It was in how they stepped off, how their muscles flowed, in the flick of their ocean-blue eyes. He braced and caught them on a hip. He felt their leg wrap around him while the other dragged behind. Their weight settled onto his shoulders. Chee took a few steps back for that drama, twisted to pull them into a spin. Their skirts flared up and out.

As they spun, he met their gaze again with his grin as the flush crept up further. Then he lifted them up and propelled them away thought the air. Even as they landed, he was already moving in, aimed at their left. He was suspecting just how in tune they were and he wanted to push it. Trusting them to catch on, to pivot and catch him, he didn't hold back. He moved and trusted them to be there as he pushed into the flip. Even as his feet left the ground, he knew that if they didn't catch him, he'd land on his head.

[CurvyKitten]

Character Name:  Aurora "Roar" Torvoe
Date | Time: 12-20/8:15
Location: their room, centeral quarter
Content: wearing this dress, and a pair of pale blue sneakers
Tagging | Mentioning: Chee, open

The moment could have been stilled in time as Aurora moved, each step sweeping them ever closer to Chii. A grace that surprised all who doubted what they first saw. The scars, the tattoos, the form before them spoke of nothing but blood and pain. But what was displayed before them was a figure full of beauty and grace. The pair of them, enchanting to watch, found the floor forming a circle around them.

Each spin that drew Roar closer to Chii had their gaze locking with his for only a moment before passing again. But those quick moments felt like they grounded Roar. Kept them in the moment, so they didn’t fly into the night in shame. Thankfully the stress of the moment fell away, as a familiar warmth grew within them. Roar nearly paused as Chii caught them and brought their gaze upward.

Blue eyes, crystal and clear and filled with nothing but joy looked up at Chii as he followed the flow of the movement with ease. But that didn’t surprise Roar, somehow they just knew he’d be there. And that he’d know what to do. Maybe Chii was secretly a mind reader? That playful smirk came to their lips as Chii lifted them and shifted the way the dance was moving.

Rockabilly dancing had a fun fast pace to it. It got the heart racing, the skin flushed, the body heated as it was tossed about like a rag doll. One would think that the body would give under such stress. But the energy shared between the two dancers kept them moving. Roar moved in time to catch Chii and help him complete the flip. Laughter spilled free as his feet found solid ground once more.

When the pair found themselves finally still on the dance floor, they were nearly nose to nose. Roar’s smile, small, simple, and beautiful, slipped over their features as the light caught their eyes. “I.., that is,” Roar stumbled over their words for a moment. So instead they reached up with one hand and cupped Chii’s cheek. And in one soft moment, Roar’s lips met Chii’s, their lips moved against His. Their tongue tickled over the sensitive flesh for just one quick moment. A gentle nibble of his lower lip was all Roar left behind as a reminder of their presence. “Thank you for the dance.” The words were soft a whisper, nervous as if reality had already started to set in.

Roar dropped their hand and blinked before stepping back. “I’m sorry.” Roar looked around for the quickest escape. “I shouldn’t have…” their brow scrunched as an ache gripped at their chest. “I just messed this…messed this all up.” Roar sighed and quickly turned and attempted to slip into the crowd of dancers. Hands gripping at the dress's many layers, escape the only thing on their mind. Roar realized then they just utterly demolished one of their closest friendships in one stupid move.

[shengami]

Character Name: Chee Tortious
Date | Time: 12.17 | 8:13pm
Location: Onyx Prairie - Central Quarter
Wearing: White suit jacket, white pants, white mesh tee, white dress shoes. Darklash is Carried/Concealed.
Tagging | Mentioning: @CurvyKitten /Roar @Rainbae /Koko Super-Open | Dawn
Note: Oh!
As the music faded out, applause faded in. Chee grinned at Roar then at the audience they had captured with their acrobatics. He was high. His chest pumped like bellows, his muscles roared with life, and his face was a rictus snarl of energy and elation. This was life at its essence. A moment of purest satisfaction: no future, no past, no complications. Just life.

He turned to the person that had made it possible, gratitude and camaraderie bursting from him, directly into her hands. The kiss followed. A long second happened where Chee didn't understand what was happening. Then he blinked and saw Roar in close, tasted their lips, and felt their hands on his face. His eyes opened wide and he felt a surging energy. It rocketed up from the soles of his feet into his stomach. It vibrated through his chest and exploded in the base of his brain: Did Roar like-like him?

His brain ran in two directions at once.

He could count on one hand, with fingers left over, the number of people he'd felt that way about. He was pretty sure he'd felt romantic attachment to only one person ever. He was also certain he hadn't thought of Roar that way. Not until a second ago. It was like a fire lit in his brain. Roar was amazing and beautiful. Chee definitely thought they were worth someone's love. He adored them. Was that love, affection, even lust?

No, not lust. He knew he didn't want to do things to their body. Not that way. Not to make himself feel good.

And the other part of him remonstrated himself that if he had to think about it, then it wasn't any of those things. Everything he'd ever heard about this stuff said it was supposed to be instant, emotional, instinct. Like what Roar had just done.

If that was the case, then he'd never been in love either. Even Dawn had been a slow sort of awakening thing.

He blinked at Roar's retreating form. He was thinking too much. He flushed and felt his lips. This was like Orym. It wasn't about him, yet. Maybe. His ears flicked. He darted after them. He caught them close to the exit even as the crowd started to mill and collapse back into the space they'd carved out. He caught their wrist. Rather than trying to overpower them, he knew better, he shifted their weight so he shot around them.

Words were in a pile-up behind his teeth. His tongue was trying to direct traffic, but getting nowhere. Fast. His eyes looked up into hers. His mouth split into a bright smile and his ears were pointed at them. His fingers gripped theirs, pulled their hands forward. Words tried tumbling out: thanks, explanation, excuses, apologies. They all tried to get out at once. He bit down hard on them.

Then he leaned in and returned the kiss. It was fumbling and a bit harder than he intended. Chee didn't know how to do this stuff. He'd thought about it. He'd wanted to kiss people. He had wanted to Kiss Dawn, Lionel, and now Roar. It awakened in him as he pressed strongly against them. He cared about them deeply. He wasn't sure if it was deeper than for Koko or Cub, but it was different. He let them go and his ears pinned down; he bit his lip shyly. He toed the ground. All his confidence and prowess from seconds ago was gone.

Chee could fight Hollow, climb mountains, face down full-blown champions. But a person told him they liked him and he was on his back foot.

But worse, he didn't know the words for how he felt right now at all. Nothing had changed from before. Roar was his best friend. That was absolute. "You didn't ruin anythin." He stumbled down the path as it revealed itself, "You shared somethin amazin wit me." He knew them. They'd talked. That day in the back of Ol Blue, over coffee, sparring, in classes, at the Night Market, their feelings about who they were, what they wanted from the future in bits and pieces. Chee never pried. He'd always been willing to follow their lead on it, listen, and take them for who they said they were. He'd always believed them. He preferred to believe people.

And this was like the dance: neither of them leading or following, but taking turns, trusting, figuring it out in lock-step. Roar had taken the first steps. Here he was following. "I said dat if you ever figured you out, I'd be dere for you, ya? You sayin you figured sometin out? OK. I got you. Always." He nodded. That felt right, "So tell me. Worst dat happens, we go on bein best friends. But who knows what else could come of it?" His ears were straight up, his tail swayed excitedly, and his eyes were big and open. Something warm was growing, but he didn't know what it was yet.

[CurvyKitten]

Character Name:  Aurora "Roar" Torvoe
Date | Time: 12-20/8:15
Location: their room, centeral quarter
Content: wearing this dress, and a pair of pale blue sneakers
Tagging | Mentioning: Chee, 
Run, just run that was all that was on Roar's mind. Retreat wasn’t normally something that Roar did. But in this moment it was all they wanted to do. They had fucked up something good. Something that made Roar feel seem in ways that no one had before. A freedom with it they’d never had before. Acceptance and validation was a big thing, and Roar had fucked that with one stupid unthought action. 

They moved as quickly as possible through the crowd as possible. Wishing in that moment that they had worn their gear. If only. Roar’s jaw clenched as someone crossed their path and slowed their pace. The feel of a hand grasping their wrist causes Roar’s whole body to come to a halt. Like an engine that some had just thrown a monkey wrench into. 

Thoughts were lost to action as Chee swiveled around them. Their eyes met for only a moment before Chee pressed his lips to theirs once more. Roar shivered in confusion for half a moment but quickly melted into the kiss. One hand gripping the shirt Chee wore. The other slipped up and smoothly worked up his caller's bone and to the back of his neck. 

Roar had kissed people before, it wasn’t anything new. But this felt different. This was the first time Roar had honestly craved to kiss some. The first time it just happened without thought. And the first time it left her breathless with the softest tingles still on their lips when Chee pulled away. 
His words only brought that strange feeling from the truck back. It swelled up in them and all Roar as he said that could take and understand anything they figured out. Or more so wanted to figure out. When Chee stopped speaking Roar nodded and pulled themselves boldly closer to Chee. Softly nodding again and again till their lips met Chee’s again. This time they met with an energy somewhere in the middle of their first soft touch, and the second crushing urgent meeting. It was the first time Roar could understand desire.  So they stole another moment before pulling away and speaking. “Chee, I …you…you make me feel…” Roar’s eyes glanced back up to meet his as they spoke. “Seen. It’s terrifying and amazing, and it makes me feel,” The hand on the back of his neck came to trace light fingers along Chee’s chin. “It’s here,” Roar touched his chest, unable to put words to the sensation that just grew when Chee saw them that day. Their lips brushed Chee’s again the tingle returning, the feel of drawing Roar into another kiss. Soft, and short a roar kept their eyes closed and forehead pressed against Chee’s as they spoke, “I’m sorry if I messed up everything. I don’t ever want to lose you.” 

[shengami]

Character Name: Chee Tortious
Date | Time: 12.17 | 8:13pm
Location: Onyx Prairie - Central Quarter
Wearing: White suit jacket, white pants, white mesh tee, white dress shoes. Darklash is Carried/Concealed.
Tagging | Mentioning: @CurvyKitten /Roar @Rainbae /Koko Super-Open |
Note: Oh.. oh, that's.. Oh! Oh my!
Even as the third kiss started, Chee was stiff. He felt them pull him in, felt the warmth and softness. It was nice; it was Roar. He was happy that they were happy. But there was still a gap, a dissonance between what was happening and his feelings. Part of him desperately wanted to understand. Part of him worried that he didn't.

But then they were talking, stumbling over their words much as he had done. He watched them first. But they he looked at them. Unconsciously, he leaned into the finger along his chin. Something jumped the distance from their eyes to him. He felt it hit. They touched their chest.

Roar cared about him.

Something in him almost panicked. His eyes went to their hand over their heart, he processed the words. He understood the silent implication. Terrifying and amazing didn't even start.

But then their lips touched his again. The feeling that had jumped earlier unfolded. His eyes opened.

This was Roar. He didn't need to worry. If she cared about him, that was good. That was great. Their forehead pressed against his and his brain swallowed the truth. Roar cared about him, and he cared about her, too. It wasn't some big, earth-shattering, all-consuming thing. But he cared and he wanted her to be happy. He wanted to see her every day. He smiled.

He pushed off their head and looked them in the eye, "Don't be silly. I said I got you. If I'm willin ta let you beat me black and blue on da regular, den I'm not goin ta mind kissin you. It's kinda really really nice actually." He blushed heavily and his tail swished. His ears flicked as a new song started playing. It was slower than the first. Chee pulled Roar against him and swung into the rhythm, "Just make me one promise, ya? Never let me win." He laughed happily as he felt their form move beneath his hands and against him a new way. The idea that they were going to be friends, best friends, and more for ever was the best feeling. "Both of us like da chase!" He giggled feeling a bit high.

[shengami]

Character Name: Chee Tortious
Date | Time: 12.17 | 11:00pm
Location: Hammer Academy
Wearing: White suit jacket, white pants, white mesh tee, white dress shoes. Darklash is Carried/Concealed.
Tagging | Mentioning: OPEN, Cub, @FyreFoxx /Lyra, @Rainbae /Koko, @CurvyKitten /Roar, @Envious /Thessa @Aethyrium /Marlowe? |
Note: Off to the races! (Next post from me: 10/30 (my time))
Chee was flushed as he leaped up onto the stage. It had been a very big night for him. He'd planned a big night, but it had been unexpectedly massive. His eyes scanned the crowd as people focused on him. He spotted Kiki and his face split in a grin as his renewed friend. Words did not express how much stress that had relieved. He had his friend back; he was ecstatic. Near to Kiki, he spotted Roar's pink hair and felt a blush rush into his cheeks. There, he not only had a friend but something more was growing. He felt it. He smiled into their eyes. His ears flicked happily.

And then there was this. This event that he'd run past administration and gotten permission to host. Others were doing other things, but this was his thing. Him and Cub had come up with it together. Some of the missions were silly things, but all were fun and Chee thought the whole idea was fun. He grinned at Cub who was using his shimmer to bop around the crowd and distribute a pamphlet that contained the rules but also the list of missions. At his feet was a basket of custom cameras he'd had made for this. Each took only five photos. He crowed as the excitement bubbled up in him.

He grabbed a bullhorn as not even his own prodigious vocals would handle a night of this. It squealed to life, bringing eyes up from pamphlets, "Check. Check. one-two~ one-two? OK, hi guys! A lot of people signed up. Tanks a bunch. I'm Chee tortious. Dat dere's Cub Coran, my partner in crime for dis. But you all will need your own partners, ya? Dat's da first ting ta do. K? Everyone needs to find a team. Four to six people. Feel free to mix and match Teams, Squads, and even grades. No limits except da four ta six ting."

The bullhorn squelched again as he released the trigger. He scanned again and saw people already milling. Plenty were already gravitating to their team members, but he saw a few more adventurous types. He grinned. Once things started to look basically congealed, he'd move to that next part. They'd review the basic rules, give an example, then set them off. He felt an electric buzz filling his chest. He, once again, found the eyes of his friends and grinned at them. He wanted this to be a fun time for everyone. He wanted to do something fun for his friends, all of them.

He looked to Roar. Maybe, he wanted to be important to people in a way that he couldn't escape if needed. He'd been learning about that sort of thing lately. He'd been learning about taking certain risks, putting himself out there, and accepting the possibility of hurt.

[Envious]

Character Name: Thessa
Date | Time: December 20 | Undisclosed
Location: Dance Floor
Wearing: hair, outfit, Orym's ring
Tagging | Mentioning: | Cub, Artanis, Azir, Umber, Reini
Notes: italics text = elvish
”Who is Walt?” Thessa gave Cub a confused look over the rim of her newly filled cup at the punch bowl and pointed a thumb to the silenus on the dancefloor while she finished up the remainder of her drink. Cub followed her gesture to the professional dancer and returned the confused look. ”Just because they have fluffy ears on their head doesn’t mean I know them!” Cub said, rolling his eyes. ”That’s like expecting you to know everyone out there with pointy ears.”

”Me do know ‘em. Cannot help ain’t none of yer kind wanna know you,” Thessa responded. Cub opened his mouth to respond to the absurd statement, but then closed it and gave her a suspicious look. She said nothing as she watched him contemplate the validity of her claim. He had seen her swirl out on the dance floor when the evening began. On her own, someone might have mistaken her experience in dancing for grace, but next to professionals she would not have been considered dainty. Where they were light on their feet, she was full-bodied. She was, as always, a presence, and kept in step or at least in rhythm as spontaneity swept over her. There was no mistaking that she knew how to dance, though, and the professional dancers had delighted in taking turns dancing with her. ”Know every elf on that dance ground!”

”Dance floor you inarticulate hick,” Artanis interjected, pushing between Thessa and Cub to reach for a the ladel. She ignored him and so did Cub, both leaning around the human to continue their stare-down.

”Do not.”

”Do.”

Artanis filled his cup and dropped the ladle and moved further down the length of the table to get away from the squabbling. There was a tense moment as silenus and elf refused to back down before both darted for the ladle. Cub was faster, snatching the utensil with a toothy grin of triumph. Irritated at the minor defeat, she started listing off the names of the Elves. She popped up a finger with each name. ”Bo. Isadora. Fre-”

“Yeah, yeah,” Cub spoke over her, rolling his eyes. “How do you know all the dances, anyway?”

She didn’t bat an eye over the loaded question, but the grief of her loss made the simple inquiry infinitely more complex. Taking ownership of her name hadn’t made her Thessa again, but she had made small strides. Chee had pushed her to consider who she was on the battlefield. Shir had helped her come to terms with her mixed emotions over her losses and her fears for the future. Artanis had suggested that maybe she’d do better spending her energy being her instead of pretending to be someone else, but she had no energy left over at the end of each day to contemplate who she had become. She knew she had changed. She no longer wore her earrings. She no longer talked about her imaginary children. She no longer dreamed of her future. She had become her roles; champion, leader, student, friend, and it was nice pursuing being the best at those things while she mourned. Most days it felt as if she were simply surviving, but today? The Battle Ball was refreshing. The dance floor was healing. She said none of those things as she leaned in towards Cub and smirked.

”All elves know the dances,” she said, her lip curling upwards in amusement and her eyes narrowing in challenge.

”Do not.”

”Do.” She turned the the dance floor to spy the first solo elf out there - Azir. There was a moment of hesitation. He looked… distressed wasn’t the correct word, but he wasn’t on the dance floor to dance. With Cub following her gaze, she couldn’t think too hard on it. She started to raise her hand to wave him down, but Cub grabbed her by the elbow to stop her.

“He hardly counts!” he said in alarm, interjecting before Thessa could grab his partner’s attention.

”He an elf!” she retorted in frustration. She could see him trying to reason his way out of her selection, but then she caught Umber out of the corner of her eye. She grinned. ”Umber!”

“Hah! I saw you two earlier!” Cub said with a smirk. Thessa had danced with most of the first years and even a few of the upperclassmen already.

”You is mistaken,” Thessa flat out lied with a playfulness that caused Cub’s ears to twitch. That smile was nothing but trouble. ”’cause iffin’ you had, you’d know I is right.”

“Are not!”

”Are!”

They squabbled as one song ended and another began. The new tune was softer and more romantic. The slow rhythm spawned an insidious plot. Cub wasn’t wrong - Umber was an awful dancer - but nothing a little guidance couldn’t help with. ”’n when me prove ya wrong, I wanna touch yer ears ‘n see how soft they is!” Her offensive request made Cub straighten up, but she could have sworn there was a hint of color that blossomed on his cheeks.

“You’re on!”

The elf wiggled her fingers in goodbye before turning to shout at Umber. Cub snagged a slice of salami on the charcuterie board and watched with smug satisfaction as Thessa’s demeanor change. He had no idea what the two were saying in their native tongue, but Thessa had placed both hands on her hips and looked to be scolding Umber who turned to give Cub a look that made the Silenus respond with a toothy grin.

”I didn’t think Thessa was your type!” Reini observed playfully, grabbing a block of cheese.

“She isn’t. I’m just watching her make a fool of herself,” Cub responded hotly. “She says Umber can dance.”

Reini barked out a laugh and then covered her mouth to continue giggling. ”As if! Umber can’t turn a corner without running into a wall.”

***

”Let me lead!”

”I think not!” Thessa said with an open smile, delightedly pulling Umber in a slow rotation. ”Get ready for me to pull your left foot.” There was a gentle tug on his boot as Thessa lightly yoinked to slide his leg out into the proper position to take the next step. The use of her shimmer was artfully masked by a showy arc of her arm, as if the movement was part of the choreography.  ”And now slide forward with the other foot.” As he slid forward, Thessa mirrored the movement as if being pushed back.

”This is not as fun when you sound like you are giving me a lecture.”

”Umber! You take direction so well! Your future wife will be lucky - even if you are likely to step on her feet!” she said with laughter and Umber couldn’t help but quirk a smile. ”Now hold your hand up. Do not try to twirl me, I will twirl under your hand and then you will hold me at the waist when I face you again.” Bless him, he started to hold up the wrong hand and like a magnet, Thessa yoinked it to her own and tilted her head towards the correct hand. To his credit, he raised it up and Thessa placed the tips of her fingers against his palm as she twirled. Umber gave her a toothy grin and Thessa laughed as her gaze swept around the room.

”Look at them!” She said with triumph as her mischievous prank successfully blossomed into a spectacle. Umber matched her giddy amusement and it finally became too much. As he stared at Thessa, he stumbled over his feet and tripped into her. She caught him and helped him orient himself as he issued apologies. Thessa laughed again, having too much fun to care. She ignored his politeness as they settled into a swaying rhythm. ”That pup was barking up the wrong tree with me!”

”Reini’s face alone made this worth it. Good idea.”

”I told you!”

***

“How was I supposed to know all elves could dance?” Cub groaned dramatically.

”What?” Rieni turned in confusion. She was impressed that anyone could manage to keep her klutz captain upright for any complicated task, but her lip curled up in disgust as she watched Cub frantically paw at the platter.

“There is no way I’m letting her get her hands on me! I’m outta here.” he said, grabbing a handful of sliced meat and then shoving it in his mouth. ”Don’t tell her where I’ve gone,” he said around chunks of food as he chewed.

”Ugh! I’m deleting you from my brain immediately.” What was he even talking about? She turned to look back at Thessa and Umber. The two had stepped away from each other with the end of the song and any semblance of elegance Umber may have had dissolved without Thessa’s guiding hand. The two were already parting ways - Thessa had her eye on Cub for some reason - and the elf shook her head to forget the entire interaction and get back to the festivities.

[Envious]

Character Name: Thessa
Date | Time: December 20 | Undisclosed
Location: Dance Floor
Wearing: hair, outfit, Orym's ring
Tagging | Mentioning: | Blake, Ano, Irona, Ruan, Joan
Notes: italics text = elvish
”If ya cannot beat me, ya might as well join me,” Thessa suggested with a smirk. She stood confidently with a hand on her hip.

”But I did beat you, Thessa,” Blake said with his own wry smile of amusement. Thessa waved a hand, dismissing the truth.

”Hardly! You was draggin’ ‘n ya know it! Yer time is comin’, sir. Don’t let this be the place that marks yer defeat!”

”You’ve convinced me.” He held out his fist. Thessa bumped it with much enthusiasm. In tandem, they pulled back from the fist bump and gave each other a high five with enough force to become the loudest sound in the room for a brief moment. It was their loudest clap yet! They each gave a silent nod of approval at their combined might before going back to business.

”Who else?”

”Ruan!” The name surprised Blake.

”But he doesn’t like you.”

”Not yet!” she said with an exuberance of enthusiasm.


”That does not sound enjoyable,” Ruan responded. Blake looked at Thessa with a smirk, but the elf looked completely unphased.

”C’mon now. I’ll whisper most quiet like to keep them delicate ears of yers from bein’ offended.” Ruan didn’t appreciate the tease, but he also recognized that Thessa seemed to be dead set on including him of all people for Brothers-knew-why. He heaved a deep, soul-shattering sigh.

”Fine. Bu-”

”Yes!” Thessa hissed in excitement, slapping Ruan on the back with enough force to cut him off. The man groaned, regretting every decision that had lead him to this very moment.


”Hey Ano.” It had taken her a few minutes to find him and when she had, she found herself uncharacteristically at a loss for words. He had been the first person outside of her team to offer his condolences over the death of Orym. She hadn’t forgotten that unexpected kindness or the familiar look of grief in his own eyes. She could feel that he had a story to share as well. She hadn’t asked - while they were sociable, they weren’t that close - but she had wondered.

”Thessa.”

”There a picture contest. Do want you on mine team,” she asked. He contemplated quietly for a moment before nodding in the affirmative.

”Sure.”


She didn’t think Irona wanted to say yes. She stood rigidly, but attentively. Thessa laced her fingers together rocking her hand back and forth to beg. ”It’ll be fun!” Thessa sorely believed Irona needed some fun. Or at least a distraction. She wondered if being at this event without the ability to share it with Vesper hurt. She had asked once about him and Thessa had nothing to share. After that, she had taken to murmuring ’no news’ when walking past her desk on Wednesday mornings to spare the woman the misery of asking.

”Alright.” It wasn’t enthusiastic, but it was enough. Thessa pumped her fist in the air in triumph.


”Joan Nu Elen Atoara,” Thessa said in Elvish, causing the half-elf to start. She hadn’t been expecting any attention let alone elven attention. Truthfully, a half-elf was… unpleasant in many ways for Thessa. It definitely wasn’t a choice Thessa would make for her own children and she didn’t understand why any elf would. But Joan wasn’t an imaginary future - she was a Squire doing work to keep the world safe.

”Hello, Thessa,” she said with a practiced calmness, but she couldn’t mask the sparkle in her eye.

”It would be my pleasure to have you on my team for this activity. Join us fer the fun,” she said, sticking her thumb behind her to show the merry band of adventurers she had assembled. In an uncharacteristic response, Joan smiled.

”Yes!”

[Crash]

Character Name: Ginger Eloise Fizz
Date | Time: 12.17 | 11:00 pm-ish
Location: Hammer Academy
Wearing: Black Dress, Hair, and Makeup
Tagging | Mentioning: | Khaedra, Sora, Minnow, Reini
“HI!”

Ellie started, almost spilling the glass of punch she had just placed to her lips. Silvery nails lifted to catch a dribble before it fell, and she turned in surprise to see the bright elven eyes and a big smile greeting her.  Ellie sucked at her finger lightly before she returned the bubbly greeting. 

"Huh-hi," she replied, smiling around her finger at the round, cheerful face of Khaedra Onat Yanir Fyrsiv.  Her updo made her long ear tips look even longer and pointier than usual.  It was fucking adorable.

"We need one more for the scavenger hunt and I pick you." Khaedra pointed her finger at Ellie as she spoke. 

Ellie blinked.  "I'm not going to get a say in this, am I?" She replied with an amused smile.

"Of course you do.  You can be a boring grump and stay here, or come and have fun with us.  I'm betting on fun," Khaedra nodded, waiting expectantly. 

"Well.  I wouldn't want to be boring," Ellie laughed.

"See!  Told you," Khaedra said, grabbing her hand and pulling Ellie bodily along behind her.

"Wait, wait… I'm still new to these heels!" Ellie wobbled along but managed to stay upright as she was pulled towards the crowd gathered around Cub and Chee.

***

"You realize I came with Falkner, don't you?"

"He won't wither away without you. I promise.  And you would be too distracted if he was on our team anyway. I wanna win, not watch you stare at each other all night."

"We do not st…."

"Hey Khaedra!" Reine waved at the red-haired elf and Ellie as they approached, purposefully ignoring Minnow's protest.

"I found our fifth!" Khaedra called to a cluster of students standing off to one side of the gathering.  Ellie recognized the others, though her interactions with them had been brief her first month at Hammer.  "Eloise is going to join us."

"You can call me Ellie or Elle. Either is fine," Ellie said with a bit of a half-wave as they approached.

"She got you, too?" Sora took a drag off her cigarette; the slightest curl of amusement touched her lips.

"She threatened to out me as a boring grump," Ellie affirmed.

"Same."

Khaedra rooted around in her clutch for a moment, pulling out a chocolate bar. She peeled back the wrapper and waved it toward Ellie.  "Chocolate?"

"Light save you. Yes, please," Hulta had forever corrupted Ellie into a bit of a sweets fiend.  Lemony stuff was her favorite, but chocolate was not far behind.  Khaedra broke off a piece and handed it over before biting off a corner for herself. "Thank you.  I think I still have some chocolate I got from this fancy dress place. I gave a whole box to Hulta but kept some for myself.  I'll bring some to class on Monday." Ellie offered. 

"You've made a friend for life," Reini joked, and Khaedra stuck out her tongue. 

"That's not a bad thing, right?" Ellie said with a wink.  "Soooo…what are we doing?"

"I think Chee's about to tell us," Minnow interjected, motioning towards where he and Cub were about to get the contest going.  Ellie turned towards the stage and gave Chee a piercingly loud whistle.  "WOOOO CHEEE!" She yelled enthusiastically before he set about explaining exactly what they were supposed to be doing.

[shengami]

Character Name: Chee Tortious
Date | Time: 12.17 | 11:00pm
Location: Hammer Academy
Wearing: White suit jacket, white pants, white mesh tee, white dress shoes. Darklash is Carried/Concealed.
Tagging | Mentioning: OPEN, Cub, @FyreFoxx /Lyra, @Rainbae /Koko, @CurvyKitten /Roar, @Envious /Thessa @Aethyrium /Marlowe? |
Note: Ready! Steady! Go! (Round to last two weeks? 11.17 for Round two?)
A piercing whistle caught his attention and Chee's grin was broad. He waved enthusiasticaly to El. Cub elbowed him and arched an eyebrow, "Seriously, why do all the cute girls go for you?" Chee frowned at his fellow Silenus, "First, dey're women. Dey don't go for me. And if dey did, it's because... Wild One if I know!" He frowned as his eyes drifted to Roar. She had definitively gone for him earlier. His was still reeling from it a bit. Chee never noticed these things, not when he was concerned. It was hard to ignore it in others at times.

He shook the thoughts loose. He gazed at Roar a bit longer, affection and confusion warring, then refocused. The loose crowd had sort of coalesced into pods now.

"Right, bud. Like tall, ravishing, and pink hasn't been all kitten eyes for you for a while?" Chee blinked at the man and grinned. He had no idea. He trusted Cub on that. It hardly mattered now. He and Roar would figure things out moving forward. Looking back wasn't Chee's style.

His eyes went back to El and saw her with four other women. Girl had a thing for elves? Reini and Khaedra were both there. He blinked and his ears flicked seeing Soraya. He'd been trying to get know her better himself. He'd have to talk to el about that later. The flame-haired human, Minnow, rounded out the group.

Shifting his vision, he saw Thessa with a more motely team. He blinked and suddenly realized that, other than SWAGger and XiPHoiD, each of the squire teams was represented. That made a ton of sense for the gregarious elven woman. He grinned and waved at her. He was ecstatic that she was leaping in so enthusiastically. He felt tension flow out of him. Irona made him wonder where Vesper was. Blake, Ano, Ruan, and Joan weren't individuals that he knew well. Maybe he should.

He swept over a couple more teams before spotting the tiny elven woman from gRAVIty among a team of men. He smirked. Kiba and Umber made her and Artanis look tiny. Azir wasn't helping that effect much. That'd make for some interesting pictures. He met her eyes and grinned before giving her a big thumbs up. Then umber passed in front of her like an eclipsing object and he moved on.

Close to Lyra's group was Koko among a collection of Hammer's gender defying members. He blinked when he saw that Lionel was in another group. Just earlier that night, he and Koko had made up in a rather dramatic way. After their fight and the rather gruesome duel she'd had with Maria, Chee hadn't known what to think. That duel had made him want to reach out to her, but not enough. He'd also wanted to despise Maria for it, but he liked her. He still felt some conflicting emotions, but the past was the past. They were friends again. He gave her a big thumbs up. He had spotted the ways Mir looked at her and saw it again now. Citrus he knew of from the few times he'd caught himself staring at Lionel. Ruth and Tay he didn't know well.

But that was part of the point. This was a chance from cross team friendships to form.

"How do you- so mercurial! Honestly! So, she invited back to the prankster's meetings now?" Chee blinked and grinned at the other Silenus who grinned back. It was a bit odd at times how much they could be on the same wavelength.

At last, his eyes went back to Roar and the group around her. Orion and Torina were not people he knew well. He chided himself again for his desire to get to know more of the Silenus. He'd spent time with Torina a bit, but not much. Orion and Jasper were both on FaTHoMs, so that team was well represented today. Many Teams were. Grayt's standard leather jacket had made it even to the ball. Did the man ever take it off? He chuckled. He met Roar's eyes again and smiled softly for her.

He cleared his throat, "OK! I tink we're set. I see lots of eager faces! So, once more. Da name of da game is ta have fun. Enjoy yourselves. Be a little competitive..." He grinned at Koko, Thessa, and a few others he knew who had the spirit. "A little!" He held up his hadn with his fingers very close. Each team will get one camera..." He spotted Cub flitting among the groups and people passing out the devices, "Each camera can take only ten pictures," He held up all his fingers, "polaroid style. Each round, you can go anywhere you can get ta, use any tricks or tactics you like, and get a picture dat captures as many of da mission elements as possible. Uh, Cub passed dose out before. Uh, I believe dat I am etically obligated ta instruct you ta not break any school rules or Onyx laws durin da game. Da missions should all be possible but not all possible togeder. But if you can find a way ta do it, be my guest. Me and Cub are da judges dough. If we tink you're cheatin, well..." He shrugged. He seriously doubted that it would come to that. It was supposed to be fun. He bit his lip and his tail lashed. It wasn't hard for him to imagine someone's competitive spirit getting out of hand.

"Ok, you all have until tirty minutes before da start of da banquet ta get your pictures. By my watch dat gives you a bit over one hour. You can submit pictures ta us whenever you want. However, only five pictures can be submitted for points. Da rest are just extras. For, you know, whatever. Uhmm, yeah..." He glanced to Cub. The other man shrugged. Chee hadn't really practiced the speech. Was there anything he had forgotten? He went through a mental checklist, "Uhhh, I tink- dat's. Everytin? Yeah. Missions, Teams, Cameras, Time Limit. Uhh, oh! No fightin? Er, What else? No cheatin? Ya know? Whatever! If I forgot somethin, so be it. Have at it! Go!"

He watched the teams collapse. Some circled up right away looking over the mission lists. Others moved away for privacy and to start using their time. Still others had already been strategizing while he spoke and broke apart as members went to fetch items for the missions. He saw several pointing to clothes, jewelry, and other things debating what met each mission. He expected a few clarifying questions to come their way. He grinned and bounced. His ears were up, alert, twitching. His tail lashed.

[Envious]

Character Name: Thessa
Date | Time: December 20 | Undisclosed
Location: Dance Floor
Wearing: hair, outfit, Orym's ring
Tagging | Mentioning: | Blake, Ano, Irona, Ruan, Joan
Notes: italics text = elvish

Blake

Ruan

Ano

Irona

Joan

”I have to show my feet?”

”I am not doing that.”

”Mine toes is out ‘n ready!” Thessa exclaimed. There was heatless bickering as Blake convinced Ruan to take his silken slippers off. Irona and Joan stepped out of their heels. It was odd, but not a deal-breaker. Blake and Thessa had enough competitive enthusiasm that the initial awkwardness had worn off as they attempted to stack their photograph with as many of the mission elements as possible.

”Maybe Blake and Ruan can play-fight,” Joan suggested and Thessa immediately snapped her fingers and pointed to the half-elf in excitement.

”Yes! ‘n Blake, make thine hair bigger!”

”What are you talki-” Thessa shushed him and invaded his personal space. His height annoyed her - it was one more thing he beat her at as silly as it was - but she ignored it for the moment to rake her manicured nails through his styled hair (28) to lift it up.

”The color green,” Irona supplied helpfully.

”Here.” Ano walked up and took a quick stock of the situation. Everyone was barefoot and he stepped out of his shoes without word (1), holding up an umbrella and hat in one hand with a small black case in the other. Ruan reached for the umbrella.

”My weapon of choice,” he suggested, finally finding some of his competitive spirit, waving the object at Blake as if it were a sword (36). Irona took the beanie and slipped it over her head and pulled down until it reached her eyebrows and completely covered her ears (32).

”Hey, flip out yer dress robe so it wavy-like,” Thessa suggested. Then they started bickering with each other over the best way to set their stage to make all elements obvious. They ended up in the courtyard by the statue of Ninmori (18) with Ruan pointing the umbrella at Blake who was pretending to block an attack (3). Ruan, as requested, had flung the back of his azure dress robe upwards and back to let it seem like it was billowing behind him (27). Irona had a drink and was sitting criss-cross knocking back an unidentified liquid in a red cup (29, 39). Out of the case, Ano had taken out three arcanite crystals (10, 11, 12) and given them to Joan (31)  who had expertly flicked them up to sparkle in the light mid-air. Against her ear was a phone (34) and she pointed to the crystals she had tossed (23) while Ano had a finger over his lips (35). They were both seated. Next to them, Thessa had a hand on the skirt of her dress and had struck a pose to indicate she was dancing (21, 51).

[Crash]

Character Name: Ginger Eloise Fizz
Date | Time: 12.17 | Sometime after the Grand Ice Waltz has already started
Location: Ballroom
Wearing: Black Dress, Hair, and Makeup
Tagging | Mentioning: Doya, OPEN | Gravity, Autumn, Azir, Hulta, Dariaq, Estelle, Doya
Ellie was late.  It wasn’t one of those intentional things.  It just sort of happened.  Everything took longer than she had anticipated.  Dariaq’s makeup, her makeup, her hair.  Trying to get everything just right and inevitably finding something new that wasn’t. She was the last one in her dorm as she stood in front of the mirror, twisting this way and that to get a good look at herself.  Ellie hadn’t done anything like this before.  Done up the way she was, she looked different. But it was a good different.  She liked this different. 

Dilemma had been so much help the past week. Marlowe with her hair and some fashion tips even her sister hadn’t shown her.  Lyra had been teaching her how to dance some of the formal dances Ellie knew nothing about.  Thankfully, she was a quick study, so the toe stomping had been kept to a minimum.  It was Ellie’s ankles that suffered the most as she was given a week-long crash course in walking (and dancing) in heels. 

Ellie expected to be nervous when she arrived at the Ball.  She had been for most of the day.  Most of the week, really, but she felt amazing.  The elegant fabric that hugged her form hadn’t lost a bit of its luxurious feeling against her skin.  The tips of her hair were frosty silver where they had been lavender and violet before and cascaded down her back where they fell from her intricately braided mohawk.  A fierce look that stirred so much confidence in the young woman that it seemed to chase away any butterflies.  Across her back, painted in shadow ink, was a majestic dragon, its fiery breath shattering the moon against the night sky.

Before her, figures in beautiful gowns and stately suits swirled in dance on the ballroom floor under chandeliers of glittering ice.  It was surreal and magical at the same time. Ellie stood, just taking it all in for some time.  It was hard to believe that she was here.  That this was her life now.  It was like her entire being was fighting anything good that came to her. That at any moment, someone would shake her awake, and it would be over or pull her aside and say there was a mistake. That she wasn’t really this person.
 
Autumn breezed past with a smile and a wave. Ellie returned it with both of her own, snapped out of her self-reflection by the kind greeting, and lightly stepped aside.  Her eyes swept the dance floor for her friends and teammates. Lolo and Hulta, Lyra with Azir.  Dariaq was already dancing because, of course, he was.  Ellie smiled at his grinning face before he disappeared into the swirl of dancers again. Thessa too.  Their team leader had no aversion to a good time.  Ellie craned her neck back and forth, hoping to see Star among the gathered dancers, but she did not.  It was possible her tiny stature might be lost among the taller squires and dancers. The thought made Ellie smile.  Stella hadn’t seen her in the dress yet, and Ellie wanted to surprise her.  Ellie had thought about asking Stella to be her date, but she didn’t want to make things weird, so she settled on getting the promise of a dance at some point in the evening with her friend.

Not quite ready to try out the steps Lyra had taught her, Ellie strolled around the outer edge of the dance floor, enjoying the pageantry of it all but not quite ready to engage with it as she looked for familiar faces and said hello to the other squires milling about.  Ellie wasn’t a standoffish person.  She just wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea. An acquired taste.  But she enjoyed talking to people and, in the last month, had chatted with other squires or played dominos or other board games. Even went out carousing with a few of them when she wasn’t otherwise busy playing catch up or visiting her sisters.  So when she spied Doya off by herself, she wandered over in her direction. 

“Hi, Doya,” she greeted the impressive squire with a smile. “You look so pretty.  That's a beautiful dress,” Ellie complimented the rarely standoffish woman as she saddled up next to her, her eyes wandering over all the people.  She let out a slow, calming exhale. It was still an unbelievable sight to behold.  “It’s a lot, isn’t it?” Ellie marveled as she stood there so they wouldn’t look like they were hiding from everything so much as having a quiet conversation, which they were.

[Crash]

Character Name: Ginger Eloise Fizz
Date | Time: 12.17 | 11:00 pm-ish
Location: WBB to Ettinus’s Office
Wearing: Black Dress, Hair, and Makeup
Tagging | Mentioning: Khaedra, Sora, Minnow, Reini, Falkner
"Hey.  If we want to have everyone in these pictures.  Shouldn't we get someone to take them?" Ellie was looking at the scavenger hunt list as the rest of the teams started to peel off.

"Pretty sure there is a timer on the camera," Sora observed

"Oh, right. You ever used one of these before?" Ellie had only ever used the camera on her phone and wasn't sure what to do with it, so she handed it to Sora. 

"A photographer wouldn't hurt, though," Reini cut in. "Minnow!  Go get Falkner!"

"You just said you didn't want…" Minnow retorted

"Never mind what I said!  Go get him.  Go-go!"

Minnow made some sort of frustrated sound but started to leave anyway.

"Wait!" Khaedra called, and Minnow stopped and gave the group an exasperated look. "We need to figure out where we want to start."

"Well. Ettinus's office is on the list.  Maybe we start there and work our way down?" Ellie suggested.  "Does anyone have some arcanite we can use?  I could swing by my dorm and pick up some yellow. 

"We can get the black and white on the way up," Sora suggested.

"Great! Let's go.  What are you waiting for, Minnow? Let’s go get Falkner.” Reini said. Minnow threw up her hands and followed with an eye roll as the others rushed out of the ball, towards the elevators.

A few minutes later, they were all gathering in front of Ettinus's office, an orange balloon floating along behind Khaedra, a long string held in her hand.

"Where did you find…?"

"Don't ask," Sora said, the hint of an amused smile on her lips.

"You don't have balloons?" Khaedra asked as if not having them was more surprising than having them.

"I…um…no…not really,"  Ellie swore the look Khaedra gave her for the lack of balloons in her life was one of the saddest she had ever seen.

"I told you not to ask."

"Here, you should have it," Khaedra said, tying the balloon to Ellie's wrist like a bulbous rubber corsage.  "That's better," she said, quite satisfied.

"Thank you," Ellie replied with a smile, to which she received beaming dimples in return.

They could all hear Minnow and Reini down the hall before they even arrived in front of Ettinus's office with a rather confused Falkner in tow.

"Thanks for helping," Ellie said to their newest team member. 

"I'm not sure I had a choice," He said, his dry wit showing through.

"Well," Ellie said, looking at the list.  "Kheadra's got all the reds covered," Ellie noted with a smile.  "Your dress and your dress cover blue and green.  We have dresses galore," she started mentally checking off items as she went.  "Okay, how about the three of you lovely squires give us your best fashion pose?" Ellie suggested as Minnow and Reini stood at either side of the door. Reini turned their back away from Minnow, their arm raised like they were checking a non-existent watch. Minnow looked like she was trying to show off Ettinus's door as if it were a prize on a game show. Khadra found a spot between them, her legs crossed under her dress, hip cocked to the side, her arms raised as if in a shrug, her head tipped with a whimsical smile.

"Come here," Ellie suggested to Sora.  "Let's kneel and pretend you are buying this arcanite from me."

"Oh.  I can hold up three fingers, and you can hold up eight. Like we are haggling," Sora offered

"That's a great idea!  Khaedra. Instead of holding her hands like that.  Maybe hold on one finger in one and three fingers."

"To make four….Oh, wait. I get it. Thirteen!"

"Can we get anything else into the picture?" Minnow asked, and kneeling down, Ellie looked at the picture again. 

"You know. I think I can!" Ellie said excitedly and carefully drew the hem of her dress up along her leg. 

"Ooo la la," Reini cooed, earning them a flirty wink. "You getting all that Falkner?" They chirped.

"Better not be," Minnow replied dryly, and the others snickered.

Coiled about Ellie's foot and ankle were dark root-like lines coalescing into the twisted form of a groot growing up her calf.  The only thing she couldn't capture accurately was the glowing red eyes. The ability to use anything other than greyscale was a limitation of her shimme. Still, the twisted creature depicted on her leg was frighteningly accurate in all other ways.  "We have our hollow."

Scavenger Hunt Items in Image 1

Outside Ettinus’s Office Door
A Redhead
Someone wearing red
The color red
Wearing a dress
The color green
The color blue
Someone wearing something orange
A Hollow
Number 4
Number 8
Number 13
Buying Something
Black Arcanite
White Arcanite
Yellow Arcanite
A balloon

[Eye of Horus]

Character Name: Dariaq Syvanios
Date | Time: 17th December | 8pm
Location: The Winter Ball, Hammer Island
Wearing: This
Content: Kuzko door-slam entrance
Tagging | Mentioning: Open | Team Swagger, team Gravity, Estelle
Do Dariaq’s look. Ellie had advised. And therein lay the problem that had required some thought. Was he now first and foremost an elf, a Syvanios, a scion of Le Havre, a squire of Hammer?

In the end Dari had donned his shadow-grey Hammer uniform, freshly pressed and polished, and worn over it a winter solstice coat that he had written to Mum and Mother to send across. It was a simple wraparound garment, half black and half white to mirror the turning of the year, and embellished at the hems with a thin stripe of gold. Thumbing the lined linen fabric was almost like being back home.

For the solstice paint, he had chosen pale blue for Mum, zagging out from his eyes in dramatic swirls for Mother, and the runes for himself. Within each blue stripe he had carefully etched elven script in contrasting white - runes for his Hammer comrades across his right cheek, for Wooshed and Swagger, for Ellie and Marlowe, for Thessa and Chee and Estelle; and across the left his family and friends from Le Havre. Even Arrian.

He had needed Ellie’s expertise to blend the shimmer-blue around his eyes into the paler paint spidering off them. He would gladly have accompanied her to the ball itself, but she had bustled him out of the door as soon as they were both happy with his eyeshadow, cussing him out about needing to finish her own hair and makeup. Maybe she was nervous, or maybe she wanted to spring a surprise on them all. Either way, Dari hadn’t argued, and had walked back to his own dorm with a smile. Now he was making his entrance alongside his teammates from Swagger, and he could already hear the buzz of conversation ahead, carried along by upbeat Onyxian music.

Dari paused for one second in the corridor, pulling up beside a noticeboard hung on the otherwise sterile white wall. Among the newsletters, rank tables and information flyers, was a plain square of paper tacked atop several others. Elegant elvish runes looped across it to proclaim the simple message Thessa Almentis is the best. Dariaq Syvanios has noodle arms.

“Just a moment.” Dari excused himself, and solemnly pulled a matching square and a pen from his inside pocket, before carefully scribing Dariaq Syvanios is the best. Thessa Almentis is too slow to catch him. He pinned it over the series of alternating messages.

“Alright.” he said, grinning broadly, “Good to go!”

He strode through the door with a stride to match their team name, and punched a double fist-bump to Hulta on his left and Koko on his right as they entered the room.

[shengami]

Character Name: Chee Tortious
Date | Time: 12.17 | 11:00pm
Location: Hammer Academy
Wearing: White suit jacket, white pants, white mesh tee, white dress shoes. Darklash is Carried/Concealed.
Tagging | Mentioning: OPEN, Cub, @FyreFoxx /Lyra, @Rainbae /Koko, @CurvyKitten /Roar, @Envious /Thessa @Aethyrium /Marlowe? |
Note: Ready! Steady! Go! (Round to last two weeks? 11.17 for Round two?)

scores?

Team SMoKiER - 17
Team aMTRaCK - Pending
Team yAmULKA - Pending
Team JOGTRot - Pending
Team TRIBAl-J - 17

"Dudeman, I cannot figure out Thessa's team name. I cannot get the b, j, and t all in the same word."

Chee looked up from the latest picture dropped off by the selfsame group and frowned, "Huh? You sure? Lemme see." He shuffled behind Cub at the scoreboard and looked at the letters until his eyes crossed. "Where's Lyra when you need a smarty pants? Did you try da last names?" Cub gave him a thumbs up and then Chee went back to looking between the picture and the missions card. "Ten, Eleven, Twelve. Dose were too easy, yeah Cub?"

"Need to be some easy ones, Chi-chi. What was Joan's last name again?"

"Uh, Nu Elen Atoara. I tink. Dat's 19 and... 21." He squinted at the picture. They should have figured this would be hard to see. He scooted closer to a bright light and held the picture to it. His lips move silently as he checked the missions. "Oh, did you see dat 34 and 55 basically are da same mission?" He looked to his partner for the mission biting his tongue and rearranging letters. He moved to look again.

"Not working, Chi-chi."

Chee cuffed him lightly and grinned, "I get dat enough from Koko. Knock it off. Dangit. It was such a clever idea. All da  rest work?"

"More or less. Some are funky. What even is a yamulka?"

"It's a funny hat dey wore in Kalanos. Or so da professor said. Let's use dat one and just put da J at the end. Ya?" He got another thumbs up and Cub started scribbling. Chee double checked his math, [glow=violet,]"Tribal-J gets 17 for da first picture. Tied to Smokier."[/glow]

"Didn't think anyone was going to get the Hollow mission!"

"Well, someone's bound ta tink ta use a textbook, yeah?"

"That's a pretty accurate name for El's team, ain't it?"

Chee looked at him funny for a second then shrugged, "If you say so."

"Brothers! The guy makes out with one cute girl and suddenly he's immune to feminine charm?"

Chee blushed but shrugged again and held up his phone as it buzzed, "Team Amtrack is takin deir photo now. Pendin. I'll count da oders now. Send da invite for second round pics ta da rest." Chee pulled out another picture even as Cub grabbed his own phone and set the score board on the easel with a cloth over it.

[Envious]

Character Name: Thessa
Date | Time: December 20 | Undisclosed
Location: Dance Floor
Wearing: hair, outfit, Orym's ring
Tagging | Mentioning: | Blake, Ano, Irona, Ruan, Joan
Notes: italics text = elvish

Blake

Ruan

Ano

Irona

Joan

To be fair, Thessa’s dress was outdated. She would have called it traditional. As Ruan had so delicately teased, he thought of it as grandma fashion. A modest cut of cotton with hand-embroidery and wooden embellishments was definitely a little folksy amidst the silks and satins of the event, but Thessa liked her outfit!

”It’s very pretty,” Joan defended and Thessa whirled on Ruan with a triumphant look on her face, as if Joan’s approval was all that was needed to make her outfit acceptable. ”Very traditional.”

”Khaedra is with another group,” Ano said, ignoring the bickering, ”but maybe Orion will do it. Has anyone seen him?”

”Hulta or Minnow?” Irona suggested. There were only a handful of redheads to choose from.

”Minnow is with Khaedra’s group. They’re stacking all the redheads!” Thessa and Ruan stopped arguing enough for her to suggest Apple as their redhead and everyone turned to look at her as if she had grown another head. ”You think she would?” Blake asked hopefully.

”’course she would! She like me, yanno?” There was disbelief, but… hadn’t the rumor been that Apple had put a stop to Thessa’s questioning during the Inquisition? The Squires clearly didn’t know what to think of it. ”Bet I can get an upperclassman, too! Oh, and Chee! But one of you guys needs to find the teacher.”

In the end, Thessa pulled through, earning a few brownie points from the different squads. The photo ended up being more of a group shot than an attempt to stack as many items as possible due to the guests, but they were able to sneak in some easily accessible marks due to location! Thessa stood between Apple (46) and Shir (25). She was also able to talk Meena’s ex, Kolton (26) into standing in the frame. At Thessa’s request, Chee had enthusiastically appeared (9, 65). Blake had successfully brought Silk (24) as well as a slice of cake (15, 50). They took the photo in the dance hall, next to some balloons (49).

[Rainbae]

Character Name: Koko Gero
Date | Time: 12.17 | Evening
Location: Winter Battle Ball
Wearing: This
Tagging | Chee  | Hulta
Koko huffed a bit as she swirled a half drunk cup of punch around and sat at her table. The night was going reasonably well all things considered. Things were going well with Mir. She had a lot of feelings to sort out about the whole thing but one thing she did know was that she wanted this to work. They’d broken off from one another after the treasure hunt reasoning that they both should say hello to their friends a bit. They’d find each other later for sure. Koko stared into the thin hazy pink liquid that was some mix of peach juice and various herbal tastes. It was exactly the kind of drink Koko hated but it was here and it was sweet so she’d already chugged a cup or two. She looked up at the target of her current mood as she leaned an elbow into her dress and propped her hand up on it.

Chee was across the way, dancing and cheering along with various members of their class. He seemed to be enjoying himself. So much so that every time Koko tried to approach him he somehow found an excuse to avoid her. She supposed he didn’t want her to ruin his good time. Which was fair, she thought, considering how she’d treated him last they talked. Still, she was determined to make up with him today. She’d smoothed things over with almost everyone at this point. She even went and apologized to Chandra for how she’d acted out on the streets that day. All in all things had started to mend in her life. She looked across at Maria and smiled. Her partner looked lovely tonight. She was happy she could smile at her now. Less happy in the way everyone seemed to be eyeing her as they passed SWAGger’s table but not really surprised. It was to be expected after how things ended up. They’d just have to work on it.

Koko inhaled sharply and downed the rest of her drink suddenly. She slammed her cup down on the table and slapped her own cheeks a few times. It was performative but it helped her find her courage. She stood from the table suddenly and picked up her skirt. “Wish me luck, I reckonI’m gon’ have to go on a lil bit of a goose chase, or rather…a rat chase.” Strutting forward Koko walked on her heels until she eventually reached the dance floor. She stepped into the crowd without much difficulty. A few people tried to stop her to say hi but she shouldered past them, determined to reach her friend. As like before Chee was not where she had seen him as she pushed through the crowd. She looked up to see him slipping through the throngs of people easily. She called out to him but the sound of the music was loud and made it so conversation was only really possible within a foot or two. Still intent to catch him however Koko pushed rather forcefully through the crowd now. She rushed forward and saw him exit the dancefloor. Right before he could make his way around the space and into the relative safety of the gRAVIty table Koko caught his wrist.

“Chi-chi wait!” Koko huffed tired breaths. “Just slow down for a minute wontchya’?” Their eyes met and Koko could see the hurt already. She stood shocked for a moment. Those weren’t the kind of eyes she wanted her friends to have when looking at her. There was a brief pause as they just looked at each other before Koko looked over Chee’s shoulder at his table. She didn’t want a crowd for this.Especially not with how publicly things had gone down last time. “Can we talk? A bit private like would be nice. You ain’t gotta say a peep if ya ain’t willin’. Just open your ears to me is all I ask. Just for a minute?” She tried to put on the most apologetic face she could before letting go of his wrist. She wasn’t going to hold him here. He wasn’t her prisoner. If he was going to listen to her she wanted it to be willingly.

[shengami]

Character Name: Chee Tortious
Date | Time: 12.17 | 11:00pm
Location: Hammer Academy
Wearing: White suit jacket, white pants, white mesh tee, white dress shoes. Darklash is Carried/Concealed.
Tagging | Mentioning: OPEN, Cub, @Envious /Thessa @Aethyrium /Marlowe? |
Note: Ready! Steady! Go! (Round to last two weeks? 11.17 for Round two?)
"Dude man, I got it."

Chee was hunched over the pad of paper they'd been using to track the points. The event had been a riot. The pictures had all been amazing, fun, chaos. It was the kind of disorder Chee really liked. Creativity felt like it was overflowing and everyone seemed to just open up to new ideas and trying stuff. More, people had seemed to be genuinely enjoying it. It filled his chest with a warm, soup-like feeling.

"Last pic?"

"Yeah, El and Koko officially done. Seems like they teamed up for this one. That against the rules?" But the gri and color in Cub's face told Chee the other Silenus that it was a rhetorical questions. The man was also having a ton of fun; Cub liked chaos in general. Chee chuckled.

They set to adding up the final bevy of points. The low-hanging fruit had been picked early and the first three or four pics from each group had been over ten points each. But the last couple rounds had been harder as they tried to come up with solutions for the missions. Chee chuckled as he saw Koko play-fighting with El. "Man, dat's a- riot of colors dere."

"Yeah, well, Koko never really liked pulling punches, eh?"

Chee nodded enthusiastically. Then eh double-checked his math as some of the teams started to trickle back into the event hall. The large board with the current standings had Thessa's team in the lead with El's team just trailing by one point. He whistled as he updated the lower scores. A few teams moved up and down. He heard the chatting and conversation spiking behind him at each move. Finally, he updated Smokiers's points and moved her above Thessa's team. Smirking, he turned to make big eyes at the crowd. No one was buying it though and he shrugged. He updated Tribal-J's points, as all were waiting for, and it put Thessa two points up. She'd had a great last round.

Turning, Chee ta-da'd the board's final points totals. "Well, it was a great game, but Tribal-J comes out on top! Congrats ta Thessa, Blake, Ano, Ruan, Koan, and Irona!" Chee joined the rest in applauding the winning team. "Now, if anyone cares, me and Cub have compiled all da pics and we can send dem-" But he hadn't finished before several shouts to share came. The duo was busy with their phones for the next few minutes while people who got the images pointed, conversed, laughed, and joked. Chee was grinning and pointing out his favorites by then as well.

~~End Scene~~