The Gathering

[bladeoflight]

IC
Characters: EVERYBODY
Summary: It's been a year since Chaos was defeated and the world was saved. So, naturally, it's time for a reunion party, right?
Location: Lindblum Grand Castle
Date: November 1st, 1806
Style: Up to you!

About two weeks ago, an invitation was sent out via skyphone to all of the sky people of Gaia- and a select few natives, too. It invited everyone to Lindblum, for a one year anniversary celebration of Garland's defeat. Such an event couldn't pass by without a celebration, after all. Yesterday, airships had been sent out to the far corners of the world to pick up everyone and bring them to Lindblum. Even the most reticent and party-hating of adventurers won't be able to avoid this. It is a worldwide celebration. Besides, it's best to celebrate with friends.

The Lindblum castle is covered in decorations for the occasion. Most are plain and themed for the upcoming winter, though for some reason, moogles feature rather prominently. Tables set around the ballroom are covered with snacks and foods, from snowmen to more moogles to- are those cookies shaped like Garland on a chobobo? ... Maybe it's best not to ask.

In the center of the ballroom is a clear space for dancing, and musicians sit off to the side and play for those who want to dance. To the side, there are tables for those who are looking for a simple conversation or who are taking time to eat. And, of course, for those who want to get away from everything for a while, there are always places in Lindblum to slip away to. But why would you want to do that, when everyone is here?

Comments

[redthespian]

A dragon did tend to draw attention and panic, Blank had noticed, a lot of unwarranted panic. Mistral was a fine beauty and had many poems written about her penned by Blank. And a cockatrice tended to amuse and confuse people. It was wonderful to see their puzzled faces.

"Whatever you think best, love."

[wishtolivefreely]

"And we shall then have more time to ourselves." Mjrn reaches for a hand, squeezing it gently. "Were it not for the opportunity to see so many we have not, I would suggest such a journey right this moment."

But there were people they both needed to see; Zidane, Garnet, so many others. One more night wouldn't kill them.

[redthespian]

He draws her hand to his lips and kisses her knuckles lightly. "There's no rush, we have all the time in the world. Tonight we celebrate and then? We take to the skies."

[redthespian]

And Blank couldn't pass up an opportunity to see his favourite sister in law! Well, sort of sister in law... He made his was over to her, tapped her on the shoulder and bowed with a smile.

"Your majesty, may I have this dance?"

[summonerqueen]

It was all technicalities, really. Cid wasn't really her uncle, and technically, Queen Brahne wasn't really her mother. Blood didn't mean anything when it came to family, at least, not to her, and not to Zidane. So, when Blank greeted her, she turned, and smiled.

Theatrics was a family trait, too.

"Well, seeing as my Husband's gone and left me for the moment, I suppose I could spare one," she said in jest, extending her hand in that terribly formal way, so that he might lead her onto the dance floor.

And then, her smile widened, into something a little more genuine; it really was good to see him.

[summonerqueen]

Dagger nodded. "Yes, she was getting a bit restless, so he took her off my hands for a while."

She paused to glance around. There was no immediately sight of Zidane, or Amber, but she wasn't worried... too much, anyway. "He's really very good with her, though sometimes, I think they're both trying to send me to an early grave by giving me a heart attack."

[summonerqueen]

"It's really amazing to me... how you, and Kain, and other Dragoon's can raise Dragons. That they listen to you... Burmecia had a league of Dragon Knights, but Freya had no such inclination toward Dragons. At least... not that I know of..."

She paused then, her brow wrinkling ever so slightly. Freya. she hadn't thought about her in a while. They'd been through so much, and yet, she wondered how well she really knew her. Freya had always been more of Zidane's friend after all...

Like so many of the Warriors of Cosmos. Sometimes, she felt like an outsider. So lost in thought was she, for the moment, that she didn't realize she'd lapsed into silence.

[mistlegacy]

A wry smile forms. "I can imagine. Cuore can be much the same way, without meaning to. We've discovered she has an aptitude for blue magic, which...isn't exactly safe to learn. And yet if I tried to stop her, she would slip away and try, anyhow." And so, Rydia's taken to going with her, nerve-wracking as that can be.

[tosavecocoon]

He's not allowed to be a wall-flower for long as a certain redhead jogs over. Soon enough Vanille will be invading his personal space as usual and trying to pull him into a hug. "Hope! You made it!"

[wishtolivefreely]

"Kain and his father have been instrumental in rebuilding such a force. They...Dagger? Are you well?" Mjrn eyes her with a little concern, wondering if there's something wrong.

[summonerqueen]

"A Blue Mage? Really?" It was intriguing; the only Blue Mage Dagger had ever known, was Quina, and s/he was... well, quite different. "I imagine she must be pretty resilient though, if that's the case. She would have to be, in that circumstance."

[waitedinwinhill]

Raine's not actively trying to socialize but keeps finding herself doing so by sheer circumstance. Namely her whirlwind of energy 22-month old running and cackling through the crowd and crashing into people. She keeps trying to rein the little one in, but she's just as vivacious as her father, and Raine finds herself frequently following in Brooke's wake apologizing.

Fortunately the baby's being really good when she finds Rosa, by flinging her arms up to the somewhat familiar face and demanding, "Uppy!!"

[summonerqueen]

"Hm?" That snapped her out of it. "Oh! I'm sorry!" she added, immediately apologetic, "I just, I was thinking of... an old friend."

[mistlegacy]

"Oh, she is." And then she grows solemn. "I had thought -well, hoped- that she would become a Summoner as well, but the maenad's history with the Eidolons has left its mark. She had no part of that, but even so, she's scared to try...."

[redthespian]

They always said friends were the family you picked yourself, but Blank was pretty sure you could pick your own family too - Tantalus were living proof of that. Baku the father figure, Marcus, Cinna, himself and Zidane as the siblings, not to mention Ruby and the other brothers. It had been the only family he'd ever really known. His memories of his birth parents was limited. But his memories of Tantalus were some of his happiest.

He took hold of her hand with a smile and led her to the dance floor. "So where is that bro of mine? Causing trouble, no doubt. Well, I'll just have to entertain you in his place."

[wishtolivefreely]

"Freya? I do remember her, though not as well as you. Would that she were here, as well." It seems ironic that a native Gaian like Freya had left, never to return home. She could only hope that the Burmecian had found peace in another world.

[summonerqueen]

"Don't say that! He's looking after Amber right now, so I hope he's keeping the trouble-making to a minimum."

One could never be sure with Zidane.

As Blank led her onto the floor, it was easy to fall into step with him. They had a sort of ease and comfort with one another, something Dagger couldn't say she had ever shared with any of the other Tantalus brothers. "I worry. She's not even two-years-old, but I think she's taking after him," said Dagger, in an almost conspiratorial way.

[summonerqueen]

Dagger smiled sympathetically, and laid a hand on Rydia's arm.

"Just give her time. She's young yet. Maybe, if you just showed her, a little bit at a time. Maybe take her out to the wall? Let her speak to Anima?"

[waitedinwinhill]

"It looks like it."

Ellone was a lively child, but this is Raine's first time experiencing toddlerhood for any of the children. She wouldn't trade the experience for anything though, realizing how blessed she is to even have the opportunity in the first place.

Brooke squirms to wriggle free from Raine, this time demanding, "Elle! Elle!!" and making small grabby hands at her.

"I swear, she's so much like Laguna..."

[holycross]

Rosa notices the familiar child, smiling warmly as Brooke hurries up to her and makes her demand. The adult wastes no time in granting the child's request, leaning over to lift her up and hold her close. "Hello there, Brooke," she murmured softly, planting a gentle kiss to the baby's forehead before she glances around to see where Raine is. "Where is your mother? Is she playing chase with you?"

[mistlegacy]

Rydia nods, relaxing a bit. "That's a good idea. Anima had no part in that, so she would be a 'neutral' Eidolon. We haven't had the time to travel to that continent in a while, but that's worth changing."

[waitedinwinhill]

It doesn't take Raine long to spot her son hanging out on the fringes of the crowd. It does, however, take her some time to collect her wiggly toddler for the umpteenth time and pull her down from the newest climbing acquisition... which is usually a person. Brooke isn't fond of this brand of containment, but Raine's patience is starting to wear.

Which doesn't stop her from breaking out into a warm smile when she finally gets her chance to approach Squall, or issuing a one-arm hug.

[vierablessed]

This white-haired girl, maybe?

Ritz is busy mingling (as best as Ritz ever does), and it seems she still can't dissuade one or two of her moogle entourage from following her, even to a party; especially some of the ones who have been following her since her arrival, and also some of the young ones, who have taken to calling her their Aunt. It was kind of cute, if she was honest. She's just passing out some kupo nuts to keep them occupied when she spots Hope. She may not have seen him for the best part of eight months, and he may be taller (he's taller than her, now) but that doesn't matter; she recognises him straight off. She stands to her full height and waves, smiling, before making her way over.

"It's been too long, Hope."

[wishtolivefreely]

"A better fate I cannot imagine." And she does him one better, leaning in to brush her lips against his.

[vierablessed]

Fifteen going on sixteen, Ritz has perhaps left most of her childhood behind; she's not grown much taller, but she has matured some, particularly in her face, where much of the childish roundness has gone. She's also noticed she gets taken a lot more seriously by looking, and well, being older when she's researching and presenting finds, which is something she's not going to complain about. Not to say she wouldn't complain if they did rebuke her, but that aside.

Whilst Ritz was always keen on travel, her travels over the past year have slowly become more focused on one continent in particular; the outer continent. She's still a little too adventerous to settle down completely; she can usually be found flitting between Goug, Guadosalam, and occasionally Eryut Village, but mostly at the Library of the Ancients. Her drive to learn mostly takes over her drive to explore, though she still has flights of fancy every now and then, and her swordarm is still at the top of her game, as well as her magic.

Her moogle entourage that began to follow her shortly after her arrival on Gaia hasn't ceased, either, though she only has a few of them following her today at the promise of being well behaved, as the rest are back at the library. Some of the ones that are with her have been following her the longest, and some of them are only young.

Right now, Ritz is taking a moment aside from the party to entertain her moogle friends, and partly to people watch, keeping an eye out for those that she knows. It's good to take a break sometimes.