The LeDames Winter Ball

Purebloods, Hans had decided were odd, but their games proved to be even odder, though not particularly in a negative way.

Returning her smirk with a grin as she presented another handkerchief he clapped playfully at the achievement. “Félicitations!” He congratulated, flashing one word out of the little French he knew. Then Hans flipped his hand and placed his own piece atop the one on Aurélie’s right hand, asking with a wink, “Can I get a third of the grand prize by any chance?” Though that curious, eager heart of his wanted to take her arm and lead her to the matriarchs for the prize, he and his stomach decided that they had only just settled down from dancing and could use some nourishment right about now. Usually he would not see himself as one for such games, dismissing them as far too anti-climatic in comparison to the high-speed, high-altitude races he adored, yet the LeDames atmosphere had drawn him in, even if their daughter was still sitting doll-like above them. Hans guessed Otto was right — he should just enjoy the night, which had proved itself to be not as uneventful as he had first expected.

Pulling out a chair in the gentlemanly way he was taught — more so sat through bored, but his grandfather had a way of bringing life into even the dullest of subjects, that being etiquette — he gestured for the young lady to sit as he set down his own plate of food. “Well, are there more games I don’t know about? I mean you seem pretty familiar with this; what do you usually do at such gatherings that we haven’t?” Offering her a small smile at his change in attitude, “First pureblood party I attended, might as well give everything a try, no?” On the topic, of trying everything, Hans ate his first escargot, which looked suspiciously like minuscule versions of the hag slugs they encountered over the summer, but tasted surprisingly good for a snail.

@Ophelia Northwell as Aurélie Duval

ROLEPLAYING AS BEAUXBATONS iNPC AURÉLIE NATHALIE DUVAL

@EmmaLee LeDames Hans Jenssen (@Archer Duncan)

sta 6 | eva 9 | str 6 | wis 8 | arc 6 | acc 7 fearless, perfectionist

"french" | "english" | thoughts | "others"

action. the Duvals are on the dance floor, except for Aurélie who is near the food

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Aurélie beamed at Hans' congrats. She hadn't really played this game to win, hadn't put her competitive self fully into it, but somehow the luck was on her side, because here she was, winning this odd little game that EmmaLee's family had cooked up. When Hans gave her his single handkerchief, Aurélie grinned. So this was a group effort now. "We'll see." But she tucked all three of them away without a care for whether Hans would object. She was a fair player, of course she'd split whatever the prize was this year with the boy. Hopefully he knew that and wouldn't cause a scene.

"I think the LeDames have another game going on over there." Aurélie nodded over to where some simple parlor game was being played. She couldn't tell what it was from here, but it wouldn't be too complicated to figure out if that's what Hans wanted to do. "We could go participate in that, if you'd like. But all I usually do is go talk to someone I've never seen before." She sighed. "Though, that's been getting harder as I grow older. The pureblood crowds are all the same, I'm afraid." Sure, there was some variation here and there, but when it was French event, finding someone that you've never seen was hard. That was why Aurélie had stopped coming to these events with her grandparents for the past couple of years. Clearly, she was a bit outdated in the party guests now.

"I hope you're having a good time. These things don't have a lot to offer for those who prefer some excitement."

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Abilities Perfectionist 1 & 2 Evasive Maneuvers Muggle Condition Outfit

Action Introduces himself as Miles Thatcher and dances with her Open for Interactions @EmmaLee LeDames English || Russian Sta 10 °▪︎ Eva 13 °▪︎ Str 8°▪︎ Wis 11°▪︎ Arc 5°▪︎ Acc 9°▪︎

From the sidelines, Stephen watched his girlfriend on the dance floor, and silently seethed inside. He was regretting more and more his decision to allow himself to be talked into coming to this puffed up pageantry. Seriously. Why was he even here? What was to be accomplished by it except to stand idly by and get gut punched at the sight of every new suitor who approached his girlfriend and took her in their arms. There was Pureblood political gamesmanship going on here, and maybe more, that he simply didn't understand. As he stood there, he began to wonder if he even wanted to understand. He didn't have an immediate "yes" spring to mind in answer to that question, and that bothered him.

He looked away and let out a sharp hiss that no one else could hear because of the music. His eyes were searching the crowd for his father, hoping there might be a chance at talking the man into getting them the hell outta Hell, but he did not spy him in the Ballroom. He was probably off in one of the smaller salons, talking business, or trying to. His father was a bright, capable, charismatic man, but Stephen believed he had no idea what he was up against with this crowd.

Neither did Stephen. Not really.

He needed to do something or he was going to go mad just standing here and watching. A plan had kicked around his head loosely before leaving the States. He had spoken to, and had received, permission from Miles to pretend to be him for a time at this shindig. Miles, to his great shock and surprise, seemed surprisingly amenable to allowing his Muggle friend to use his Pureblood name for such base intrigue. The only thing he asked in return was to be told all the sordid details. "Really?" asked Stephen, shocked that his friend could muster the energy to care about Pureblood politics as far as they intersected with Stephen's love life. "No," Miles responded flatly. Ah! That was more in line with the Miles he knew.

So, that was the plan. EmmaLee always said he was a man with a plan, but as his plans usually went, this one rather sucked bilge water. He was just about to take a step from behind the pillar when he was stopped cold by the next person he saw approach her for a dance. It was none other than the his Hexwizard nemesis, the deadly black knight, Ginyami Midorimori. Stephen spent, well shared is more like it, a nightmare of a cabin with him at Hogwarts' summer camp a year or so ago. He would have loved to have gotten to know Ginyami better, but Stephen was too busy avoiding the cabin that looked like Jackson Pollock had vomited paint all all over it for one thing, but for another, and more importantly, he was too busy spending time with EmmaLee.

A slow, volcanic eruption was threatening to blow right then and right there in the frigid Pyrenees. "Oh, hell to the no to this!" Stephen was fine being bested on a battlefield, but this fellow was not going to get to know EmmaLee any better than he knew Stephen, or more to the point, any better than Stephen knew EmmaLee. And this time, if it came to it, he was certain he would not be bested.

With a sudden resolve, he stepped from behind the pillar and moved onto the dance floor, not caring who saw or what it might mean to the delicate business of securing a modern-day indentured servitude of sorts in the guise of legacy building through arranged marriage. He had the cover of other dancers as he made his approach, so she had not seen him yet. He did not have to dodge and weave much as the music ended just moments before he reached them. He stopped as well, no longer able to see EmmaLee as his sight line on her was blocked briefly by the the Japanese suitor who was graciously thanking her for their dance. When the competition stepped out of the way, Stephen stepped forward, trying to bury his anger and hurt and confusion. He was pretty good at it, having done so for all the years of his life. He said nothing, but smiled. It felt more forced than usual, but it loosened easily enough when he saw the genuine look of surprise on EmmaLee's face. Behind that surprise, he could have sworn he saw excitement, and maybe relief?

"Good evening, Miss LeDames. My name is Miles Thatcher," and he cocked his head to the side and widened his eyes as he bored his gaze into hers, signalling her to just go along with the ruse "... and it would be my great honor to share this next dance with you." He did a slight, half bow at the waist, and without even waiting for her to answer, he stepped forward and took one delicate hand in his and placed the other on her waist. The first thing he noticed was how warm her hands were.

Of course they are warm, putz. They've been held for too long and by too many.

"Apologies for my cold hands, Miss LeDames. The sidelines are a cold place to be. In the Pryenees. In winter." His tone was not cold, but much like Miles' reply to him had been, it was rather flat, but also with an oddly rhythmic, winding down of sorts. He concluded with "Anywhere." That observation was its own brand of cold he supposed, and then he gazed at her again before sweeping her into a turn that allowed him to look away. It was then he noticed for the first time that the dance floor had pretty much begun to empty itself, but for them and another couple.

He looked back at her, calling up his competitive mindset and gave nothing away. "Pardon my ignorance on the niceties expected of me in such a circumstance as we find ourselves. Shall I tell you all about my Pureblood heritage and the good, reputable name of Thatcher? I can promise you there is nothing in my pedigree that would besmirch the good name of LeDames."

A moment of silence before which he guided her into a spin. When she was once again facing him, he stated matter of factly, "Unless it is being a Muggle-born wolf in sheep's clothing. In which case, smart money might say this is simply a waste of time, oui?" ^[1]

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^[1] oui - yes, in French

banner by Haven Bohannon || interacting as Hans Jenssen

Following Aurélie’s gaze as she nodded towards a parlour game played in the distance, he squinted at the gathered crowd though could not discern their topic matter; in fact, if it happened to be a word game, he doubted he could play it if it was in French. Hans found a smile on his lips and a wink at his eyes as she mentioned her tendency to strike up conversation instead of participating in their games, “Well, I suppose that already has been done for this ball, hasn’t it?”

Her sigh elicited a curious glance from Hans as the French girl explained the lack of new faces at every ball. He could sympathise, for novelties and different perspectives, or even just a unfamiliar figure added a new dash of spice to a handed-down family recipe. Of course, that worked both ways, making him the stranger here.“Perhaps that’s why they allowed international guests to attend this year. And all the—” he waved his hand, mildly disgusted, though not enough to care much anymore. “— things with the marriage and whatnot.”

"I hope you're having a good time. These things don't have a lot to offer for those who prefer some excitement.”

Hans smirked at the observation, working in line with his expectations for the LeDames ball. “I beg to differ,” he offered, with mock formality, “Often, the real excitements are not offered by the activities but the people who attend them.” A thrill seeker at heart, observation might not strike the stray passerby as an activity fit for a boy with as much energy. Yet even more interesting than the science that propelled rockets or the magic behind brooms were the cogs that worked the human mind. To manoeuvre through their crowds with such dexterity required a deep understanding of their quirks and charms. To be a good person himself, well, one must first define the terms. “You just need to learn how to properly spectate the fun.”

Returning to his food with the handkerchiefs safely tucked in Aurélie’s pocket he gestured, “Perhaps we should finish eating first, then finish the night with some good ol’ parlour games?”

The coddled entertainment of his pure-bred blue-blood and, slightly taken aback he realised, peers, proved its own innocent enjoyment. Hans, who would have rather dirtied himself in mud, was never meant for the prim and proper world of heirs meant to act not as theirselves but reflections of their household. Yet something about their careless extravagance, laughs hidden behind gloved hands and elusive wavings of their fans, brought him to realise he was not stepping into a house ridden with snakes ready to pounce but just another community. They too gossiped, small-talked, giggled, and they too loved, proving his former antagonisations of their lifestyles an utter falsehood.

The entire room tinted with rose and reassured with the comforting acknowledgement that money and status could solve any problems even daring to arise, Hans settled into the dreamy state and allowed himself to enjoy the luxury tonight, for after all if he kept criticising their lavish expenses he would end up a hypocrite. Eyes flicking across the room in search of him Hans hardly required any effort as he pinned down his gold-cladded grandfather, always the centrepiece of any arrangement in his blooming glory. Keeping his gaze on his Opa for an affirmation the elder man would turn, catch his attention, and wink before returning to conversation.

Networking, socialising, but more importantly there to enjoy the fun, Hans knew his grandfather had few expectations for him tonight, most of the little already met in his own nature. Charisma was no learnt skill through the drilling of lessons but one picked up is swiftly as the wind sweeps away the leaves. Only made unnatural through futile classes of etiquette, he had only learnt from the best of examples. With little concern his first pureblood gathering had simply been meant as a taste test, dipping his toes into unfamiliar waters before, inevitably and with a beaming smile, jumping into its depth with an ecstatic shout and a backflip.

Up till this point, sat with a new friend over a plate stacked with exotic dishes, his uncertainties had been proven wrong as his tastebuds relished in the new flavours.

ROLEPLAYING AS BEAUXBATONS iNPC AURÉLIE NATHALIE DUVAL

@EmmaLee LeDames Hans Jenssen (@Archer Duncan)

sta 6 | eva 9 | str 6 | wis 8 | arc 6 | acc 7 fearless, perfectionist

"french" | "english" | thoughts | "others"

action. the Duvals are eating

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Aurélie grinned at Hans' easy demeanor. He was, in a sense, so much like her. She, too, tried so incredibly hard to charm all the people she met, though it wasn't with winks and smiles but with laughter and dancing. They were much the same, her and Hans. "I suppose it has." She responded.

When Hans reminded her of the whole marriage thing, Aurélie's mind went back to her friend EmmaLee. She scouted out the French girl, who was currently on the dance floor with a boy. However, she seemed comfortable with this one. For now she was pleased that her friend was in good hands, so she turned to her own dance partner for the evening.

"Oh, sure. You can say that, but when you see the same people for your whole life, I assure you, it doesn't provide the same excitement." She laughed a little. It was quite true. When she was little, she frequented these gatherings, and knew almost everyone there was to know, she was sure of it. But then she stopped coming, preferring instead to stay home whenever her parents and grandparents allowed it. Now, entering this society once more, she had so much to pick back up, and it was only for that reason that she was ever mildly entertained by the functions. Otherwise, she was sure, she'd have grown wings and flown away from the boredom the events gave her.

"Why not?" Aurélie agreed to Hans' proposal for the passing of the rest of the evening. There couldn't be much left to this event, and Aurélie couldn't wait to get back home. But, that didn't mean she didn't want to enjoy the last few moments she had in Hans' company. She'd have suggested they dance again, take a spin on the dance floor, but most people, she has learned, don't love the thrill of graceful movement as much as she does. "I'm almost done." She assured him.

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FINAL ROUND

Guest List

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@Aleksandra FairBairn @Yağmur Harrow @Jack Burnett as Ginyami Midorimori @Prat Pass Artorias Pass @Archer Duncan as Hans Jenssen Otto Schafer	@Ira Thornfield Apsara Thornfield Reginald Thornfield Ivy Thornfield @Ophelia Northwell as Aurélie Nathalie Duval Anaïs Océane Duval Henri Duval Augustin Duval Élodie Duval Yasha Volkov Olexi Volkov Alyona Volkov
>>>>	>>>>
@Opeila Winters Jarno Virtanen Hilja Virtanen Lysander Virtanen Annika Wehrle Matthias Ravensburg Alexandra Ravensburg Leopold Ravensburg Genevieve Ravensburg Malyen Ravensburg Dorian Crane	@Evpraksiya M. Y. Vinogradova Morozov V. Vinogradov Ekaterina Y. S. Vinogradova née De Beauharnais Nadezhda M. L. Vinogradova Tatiana M. I. Vinogradova Konstantin V. C. Vinogradov Stanislav V. O. Vinogradov Ludovic M. D. De Beauharnais Clémentine K. De Beauharnais Marguerite V. De Beauharnais Adélaïde M. C. De Beauharnais

There will be three different moderated events for this ball.
Please put somewhere at the bottom of your post whether your guests are playing The Matriarch's C at, on the dancefloor, or wandering the ball.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ROLEPLAY EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOUR GUESTS (you can of course) BUT PLEASE TELL ME WHERE THEY ARE OR I WILL ASSUME THEY ARE ON THE DANCEFLOOR.

DANCING

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The dancefloor is not magical, you may enter or exit at your leisure, but it is a set dance.
A Le Changement De Dames (Exchange of Ladies) Waltz is a waltz where partners are changed during the song or during the transition between songs.
Description: https://www.libraryofdance.org/dances/e ... -partners/
Video Example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S02fo0PLibE

Those who are on the dance floor will be switching partners but this is not a fast dance. The point is to have time for conversation. There will be seven changes.
OOC partners will switch every Saturday.
IC partners will switch as one song turns to another.
EmmaLee and her suitors will be force paired according to her dance card, everyone else will be paired via randomization.

PAIRS

EmmaLee LeDames | Stephen Schwartz (@AngelFyre McCubbin

THE MATRIARCH'S CAT

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This is an old, Victorian era parlor game.

Players go through the alphabet saying an adjective about the cat. The Matriarch's cat is Adorable, Beautiful, Callous, Daring, and so on until you reach Z and then start over.
Once everyone has gone once, the circle swaps places, and play continues with the last letter. You cannot repeat an adjective throughout the whole game.

For ease of roleplay, I will make a randomized list of player order and then also randomize who is able to come up with an adjective and who fails to think of a new one and post it with each moderation.
You may add whatever spice you like to your guest's pass or fail. (Ex: You can decide whether they can't come up with one or they repeat a previously said adjective)

No Players this round

BEWARE THE WHITE WOMEN

EVERYONE IS PLAYING THIS GAME
Whether intentionally or unintentionally.

Reducio

All of the French guests, who have been here before, have an advantage because they know that there is a secret game being played.
Anyone who is actively searching gets ANOTHER advantage.

There are SEVEN LeDames girls hiding around the ball.
Each girl has long, loose, white hair and is wearing a simple white dress and no shoes.
If you find one of the girls, they will give you a white handkerchief and you will need to bring her the Matriarchs seated at the head of the hall.
Some of the girls are actively hiding and some are right under your nose.
You may use spells (that are in your trunk) and other clever means to find them.

OOC: Each person who finds one of the girls will get a chocolate frog at the end of the ball. The person who finds the most will get two chocolate frogs for every girl they found.
IC: The person who finds the most girls when all are found will get a Black Forest Cake baked by EmmaLee. Usually, her aunt, Genvieve's Second daughter, LaLune makes the cake.

White Women Found

1. Charlotte (Soliel's Second Daughter) by @Aurélie Nathalie Duval
2. Anthonia (Soliel's First Daughter) by Henri Duval
3. Justine (LaLune's Third Daughter) by Han Jenssen (@Archer Duncan)
4. Loup (Mylene's Second Daughter) by @Aurélie Nathalie Duval (@Ophelia Northwell)
5. Antonette (LaLune's Second Daughter) by @Ira Thornfield
6. Anais (LaLune's First Daughter) by @Aleksandra Fairbairn
7. Colombe (Mylene's First Daughter) by @Ginyami Midoroimori

The winner of the Beware the White Women game is @Aurélie Nathalie Duval.
OOC she will get six chocolate frogs for finding Charlotte, Anthonia, and Loup and IC she will receive the Black Forest Cake baked by EmmaLee.

Still very sorry that this went so long. @_@ But moderation bits are over now.
Anyone is welcome to continue posting as long as you wish.
Anyone on the guest list who has not jumped in yet is very welcome to jump in and enjoy the festivities as well.