Let There Be Love

[dystopiadreams.livejournal.com]

Who: Selphie (and everyone!~)
When: Evening
Where: Balamb Garden
What: Love Ball!
Rating: PG?

Selphie stood at the entrance to the hall surrounded by all her efforts and hardwork. The entire room is decorated in whites, pinks and reds in a fun but delicate way. After all, the focus of this ball was love. Little handmade doves can be found littered around the room, waiting in places for people to find. As for the dining area, it looks fit for a queen, like something straight out of a fairy tale with its soft lighting and candles.

At one end of the hall a band play gentle waltzes, allowing for couples to dance, or for single people to meet and fall in love under the soft string music. The way the place was set up tonight, it would be impossible not to want to be in love.

So Selphie stood, all dressed up in a ball gown. She had traded her usual yellow affair for a cute cocktail dress of a very flattering rosy pink colour. A yellow carnation is resting in her hair above her ear. She laughs, just happy watching couples go by, single people flirting. It was just so great to see people coming together and having fun in the name of peace and love.

Comments

[tl;dr time?]

[duel-heaven.livejournal.com]

Zell wasn’t exactly sure how Selphie managed to lasso him into a blind date and when thinking about it now it was all just a blur really. Something about all the hotdogs you can eat, he hadn’t really been paying attention to the rest of her fast talking since he’d been convinced in that one sentence. In retrospect, however, maybe he should have held out for something bigger now that she was ushering him into the dining room and towards his seat. Drinking in his surroundings he couldn’t help but notice that the dining area and the dance floor looked as though a bottle of Cherry Pepto-Bismol had erupted and splattered all over the place. There was pink, white, and red everywhere…not to mention the delicate shade of green that was Zell himself taking in the surroundings. There were pink, white and red streamers roped together that hung extravagantly from the walls. There was glitter, confetti and heart shaped balloons in much the same colors and Zell couldn’t help feeling just a little queasy as he took note of some pink teddy bears holding roses and some hand made doves. Typical boy reaction, though no doubt to the more tactful observer this could be considered romantic and beautiful. So much for that!

Another sensation built up inside him as he was led to his table and it was something that felt akin to having one’s intestines squeezed. One chair had a box of chocolates in it and the other a rose, Zell looked between the two chairs wondering where he should sit. Was it more appropriate to give the girl—because he thought he would be courting a girl something that was only obvious to him—the chocolate or the flower. It looked like a trap to him, some kind of Sphinx’s riddle in which either answer would result in an insult. If he sat in the seat with the flower would he be accused of not being romantic enough? If he sat in the seat with the chocolates would he be accused of trying to make her fat? He needed a guide: Women and How Their Minds Work. After deliberating for several moments he opted for the rose seat, he’d rather be unromantic than be accused of making a girl he didn’t know fat. After much deliberation Zell lifted the rose out of the seat, laid it carefully on the table of which he took some note. There was a long red table cloth spread out across it with a shorter white table cloth draped neatly over top in a diagonal fashion so that the red and white seemed to mingle. The center piece was an ornate glass dish filled with water and in the water there were floating flower-shaped candles and rose petals. The table itself was also littered with petals and more shimmering confetti.

As for Zell himself, he decided that for this one occasion and at Selphie’s prodding, he would dress up. He wore his SeeD uniform, something he generally wore quite proudly and neatly as opposed to his street clothing and his cadet uniform. His hair was styled in the usual fashion, like the crest of a fowl and he tried very hard to set his face into something pleasant at which he was failing most exceptionally. He couldn’t quite get the screwed up look of romantic overload off of his face, but maybe that would change when his date showed up. At present he was leaning on his elbow, cheek in his palm and playing absently with the rose petals trying to look as though he were deep in thought as he waited impatiently. Several times the impulse to stand up and perform the usual shadowboxing routine nearly overcame him, but he suffocated the urge, tapping one foot against the floor instead. Part of Zell thought if his date didn’t turn up he’d be able to call it a night early and spare himself some embarrassment.

Re: [tl;dr time?]

[bronco-down.livejournal.com]

Cid felt sick as soon as he entered the hall. Pink and glittery had never been his favorite mood, and this…was incredibly thorough. He had to hand one thing to Selphie, the coordinator of the event: a lot of effort had gone into this. A lot of effort. What he could hear of the music was relaxing, and it calmed his nerves somewhat even as he remembered why he was here. Several people around him seemed equally concerned, while others looked as if they had never known anything as exciting. Someone in clown getup was in the distance, and Cid thought he saw Vincent, but that couldn’t be right. In fact, Vincent would probably laugh at him if he ever heard that Cid had been here.

For a few moments, his heart pounded as he toyed with the possibilities of being seated with Vincent. Would it be awkward? No doubt. How would that end? Who knew?

Thus Cid was partly disappointed and partly relieved when he was directed to a table whose other occupant was a scowling blond boy. He reached into his coat for the rose he had bought on impulse on the way here and cautiously extended it toward the boy, clearing his throat as he did. “Uh…hi.” This kid looked younger than Cid had imagined his date being. Much younger, in fact. Perhaps even bordering on illegal. He groaned inwardly; this had been a very poor decision on his part. When did blind dates ever end well, anyway? “Name’s Cid.”

[duel-heaven.livejournal.com]

It was debatable, but Zell wouldn’t call himself illegal, young sure and naïve absolutely so he wouldn’t argue there, but he thought he’d seen and done enough to be considered a man at least. He was SeeD after all, a soldier and proud of it, yet he had no idea those were the thoughts of his new arrival ‘Cid’ as he called himself…could anyone say déjà vu? Zell merely gazed at the much older man blankly, wondering what he was supposed to do with him. It hadn’t struck him that this was his date, at least not for a few moments and then he finally registered the rose being held out to him. He also realized that he was gawking with a complete dumbstruck look on his face; at least he didn’t look like a grouse anymore. Then, as he came down to earth once again, he realized this was a greeting and bounded to his feet with all of the pent up energy of a very eager puppy, it was almost comical. Keyed up and looking bemused Zell extended his hand for the rose already bouncing on the balls of his feet, “’m Zell Dincht, but Zell’s fine…uh…and hi…I thought…well I guess it doesn’t really matter,” Zell managed a wolfish grin as his gaze traveled across the room over the odd assortment of partners, “guess it wasn’t meant to be an…ordinary shindig.”

Reaching for his own rose that he had laid out on the table he offered it to Cid, might as well if they were exchanging flowers with their pleasantries. Afterward he took his seat again eyeing the other man with some interest, wary interest, but interest all the same. It was kind of elating actually, guys were easier to talk to…well most guys were easier to talk to, Zell could think of a few who liked to clam up and a few more he’d like to give a swift kick in the ass. Girls were usually more difficult, you needed a broader range of emotions and Zell rarely operated outside of cheery, he hoped it wouldn’t be a bother, “kinda unexpected, huh? I’m not exactly the cute and dainty type, Selphie’s always been kind of,” Zell made a crazy hand gesture that was meant to be playful, “about settin’ things like this up…how’d you get roped in?”

[glenn-cc.livejournal.com]

Glenn sighed heavily. Never did he enjoy attending parties such as these. He may have been the strongest, and probably one of the most diligent of the Acacia Dragoons, but celebrations such as these, well, irked him.

But because of his stubbornness, it was either go to a lovely ball/dating service for free food, or risk injury and death by simply trying to find Sephiroth.

Needless to say, the former was more appealing.

He straightened his collar as he waited in line. This tuxedo wasn't exactly his style. It fit him perfectly, and even he had to admit the excellent tastes of the tailor. The tumbleweed in his wallet however made a vein protrude on his forehead. At least he didn't try and play the card game he heard about...

He eyed all the guests, some of them forcing his face to turn a deep crimson, and others, well, the vein merely got bigger as he saw some of their antics, particularly the jester; had he met the clown before?

Shaking his head, he placed a hand on hip, tapping his foot, annoyed. "Why am I even doing this again?"

[serahfarronsnow.livejournal.com]

Serah stumbled through the crowd. Twice, she had accidentally tripped on someone's train. Squeaking an apology out, the pink head rushed off to the side.

"....I'm never going to find my date in a huge crowd like this...." She sighed.

Then again, her blind date was probably appalled with the idea of having to dance the night with her.

Snow wouldn't have mind.......would he?

So here she stood, dolled up in a soft peach floor length dress, standing beside an annoyed guy who was tapping his foot with a hand on his hip, looking quite annoyed.

OOC: Sorry about Glenn! He got his ass handed to him and wants payback! XD

[glenn-cc.livejournal.com]

The wait was finally over, and Glenn sighed in relief as he rushed to find his table. Yet the moment he entered, he was star-struck in awe at the design. None of Viper's annual celebrations were this fancy or elegant. He whistled at the sight of it. "Maybe this won't be so bad after all..."

Eying his table, he nearly took his seat, careful to pick up the rose on top of it. He stopped however, blood running cold at the sight of Sephiroth. "What!?" On instinct, he reached for his Einlanzers, but he grasped only the air, and growled. "That's right. These people stored them away...but..." He stared at his glowing palm of elements, but just as quickly dismissed it. "No. It's far too risky. I use any elements in here, this place may go under. Still..." he growled under his breath before taking his seat, his arms crossed over his chest. The opportunity of defeating Sephiroth was right in front of him, yet he simply couldn't take the shot. It irked him, and pissed him off further when he realized that they actually allowed this madman in here. Were the host so blind as to not notice killers amongst their guests!?

Sighing again, he decided to wait it out. If Sephiroth made a move, he would be there stop him. His wounds may not have fully healed, but thanks to Dagger's assistance, he was able to at least walk again without cringing. He wondered if she was here as well.

Taking a sip of some wine, nearly cringing at the taste, he awaited his date of the evening.

[theroseliege.livejournal.com]

Firion sat at his table, tapping it litely as he waited for his date. He didn't know who it was, he just hoped it didn't end up being a lamia. He shivered at the memory as he glanced at what he was wearing. He was wearing a nice shirt and pants, with his blood sword sheathed at his side. He could never be too careful.

[crystalstiletto.livejournal.com]

Once Garnet had gotten her table number, she began looking around frantically for it. However, she hid her unease and anxiety under a mask of poise and elegance. She was a princess, she wasn't supposed to get nervous!

Finally she spotted the table, and her face turned red as she noticed it was already occupied. 'Oh, that must be him...' she bit her lip lightly. Just stay calm, approach him steadily.

She made her way over to the table and smiled. Holding up the number card, she asked "This is Table 1, right?"

[theroseliege.livejournal.com]

Firion smiled as he nodded. "Why yes it is, you must be Dagger" he said as he stood, bring the other chair out for her. "You look nice" he said as he looked at her. "Though I must admit.....I haven't seen anyone with the name Dagger" Firion stated, thinking back to his own adventures with a man named Guy

[psychokefk.livejournal.com]

Kefka meanwhile popped another chocolate in his mouth as he waited for his partner. Maybe they would be good enough to make a slave, either way they'll burn. Everyone here would burn....it just wasn't time yet

[laguna-loirerp.livejournal.com]

Laguna spotted the rather.... colourful man, and he blinked in surprise. Not... exactly what he had expected. And not only that. It was a MAN. Laguna looked around, wondering if something had been done wrong. But nothing seemed to show so. His body guard were not far off, tho. He moved over to the other, rubbing the back of his head nervously, and his leg aching. "Umm.-.. Hi."

[psychokefk.livejournal.com]

Kefka grinned, as he looked at Laguna. Despite what Lynx or Sephiroth thought, he was a master of deception. Just tell the losers what they want to hear, and everything will go fine. "Hello" Kefka said, as he gestured to the chocolates, a good bit still remaining. "Please try one, they're delicious." he said as the man hesitated. "You seem nervous, it's the face paint, isnt it" Kefka waved his hand in a forget it gesture. "I'm going to do a play for some kids later and I won't have time to change. It's in Bevelle, you see"

[immoralkuja.livejournal.com]

Love! What a ridiculous notion this whole affair was based on! An excuse to court attractive strangers and indulge, for those who felt they needed to justify such behavior--that was the real reason for these sorts of gatherings. Far be it from him to turn down what may prove a veritable goldmine of information, however. And, if nothing else, he had enjoyed the occasional gala in Treno; perhaps this would be--

Oh, no. Oh, no.

The instant that Kuja swept into the dance hall, he reassessed the intelligence of signing up for this. Reds, whites, and delicate shades of pink dominated the hall, and were those heart-shaped balloons he saw in the corner? He stopped dead, nearly causing a waiter with a tray of drinks to walk into him, and simply stared for a moment. Never had he been to a ball done up like this.

He himself had traded his usual attire (it would take more than one laundering to get the stink of death out of it) for something more traditional, a black cavalry coat with slacks to match and, beneath that, a ruffled white silk shirt. With it were knee-height leather boots, a tophat, and a cane with a gold lion's-head handle that he had found utterly delightful because it doubled as a sword. Well, nobody would accuse him of having a fashion sense that was in any way modern, but in this outfit he could almost blend with a crowd.

He held in his free hand a card that proclaimed the number of his table for the evening, but he paid it no heed for the moment, first taking in the hall, the mood of the people in it, and why did that woman over there look so very familiar--

Well, never mind. Number three, wasn't it? He headed there, although he threw a glance or two over at table one, his brows furrowed.

[esperprincess.livejournal.com]

Already seated at the table was Terra Branford. She looked as though she hadn't moved for quite a while, but her head tilted up as she noticed Firion at Table 1. She thought to give him a little wave, but noticed his blind date had arrived. Not wanting to be rude, she just smiled and went back to waiting. Thankfully for her, she didn't have to wait long before Kuja neared the table.

The half-esper found herself admiring the way he appeared. He carried himself proudly, showing off the best of himself, and he was dressed like the finest of gentlemen to boot! She looked down at herself and her own attire and felt a bit small. Her dress looked like just an ankle-length version of her regular red dress -sans cape-, complete with the jeweled belts and strings. Despite how lovely it truly was, she couldn't help but envy how this man was the total opposite of her. Perhaps she could take lessons...

[immoralkuja.livejournal.com]

Kuja's gaze lit briefly on table nine, and he looked appalled. If he found a clown at his table he'd turn around and leave, information be damned!

He breathed an inward sigh of relief when he saw Terra instead. She seemed unsure of herself, but she was attractive and not wearing a jester's outfit, thank his good fortune. He whisked his hat from his head and bowed to her with the fluidity of long experience, as poised and self-contained as a gentleman much older than his twenty-four years.

"You must be my companion for the evening," he said, and hooked his sword-cane over the edge of the table so that he could take her hand and press a brief, chaste kiss to the back of it. His manners were curiously antiquated, but impeccable.

[leatheredlion.livejournal.com]

Squall wasn't entirely sure just how Selphie had managed to rope him into this. For one thing he wasn't even single. If Rinoa found out that he was even here, much less actually involved in a blind date he would be a dead man walking. And knowing his luck she'd find out.

He sat at his table toying with the hem of his t-shirt as he looked around the room. Once more Selphie had really outdone herself. The decorations looked amazing, even if pink really wasn't his colour.

Sorry for the lateness, but family decided to celebrate V-day all of a sudden. Dx

[radiantxsmile.livejournal.com]

Aerith walked into the room with a soft smile appearing on her lips, but deep down she was worried about this situation. Who put her up to this? Why was she even here? Wasn't her experiences with Zack or Cloud a good reason to give up on....she couldn't finish her own though.

The flower girl decided to attend the ball because she didn't want her blind date to be completely alone at the ball while everyone else was having fun together. Just the thought made her feel a tiny bit guilty.

She arrived to the ball with a red strapless top, long white skirt, a red hair band on her wavy long hair with a tiny bit of lip gloss on her lips. She held onto the gift that was given to her and looked around the room for her table. The decorations had her completely and undivided attention because it looked beautiful. She's never seen anyone going all out into decorating.

Somehow she felt embarrassed because the room didn't seem to fit her.

Once she found the table that was assigned to her, she was surprise to see someone that she clearly recognized.

"Leon? You're my blind date..?" asked Aerith with surprise easily seen on her face.

[xiv-obsession.livejournal.com]

Xion looked up at the hall, feeling a little nervous, and chewed her lip lightly. She walked inside and stood behind a young man and, of all things, a clown. She tilted her head, but shrugged it off.

'I wonder who my date is...' she thought. She hoped she at least looked decent. Her dress, a purple off-the-shoulder kind with elbow gloves and dark violet fringes, had been borrowed from Miss Aeris for just such the occasion, and she rather liked it. She'd even gotten the nice woman to help her with her hair before heading off.

She sat down at Table 4 to await her date. Naturally, being the one to arrive there first made her nervous as one could possibly be.

[thespianred.livejournal.com]

Blank was nervous. He'd never been very good at meeting new people despite putting on a cocky, out-going front. He was pretty good at charming the ladies into his bed for the night, but when it came to anything deeper than that, he wasn't so good.

He spotted his table, pausing for a moment to look at the woman looking there. She was ... pretty. But she looked pretty young. He made his way over, offering her a smile. "Is this Table 4?"

[missdredemption.livejournal.com]

Vincent Valentine couldn’t believe what it was he was about to do. Or rather, more appropriately, what he had just done. It was bad enough his name bore the same one as this un-holiest of days, but now he had been talked into attending a dance. But what really puckered his ass was the fact that this ‘dance’ also included a “blind date”, a fact that was withheld when this idea was proposed to him. He gritted his teeth as he began to walk up the steps to the dance hall, straightening his simple, yet elegant black suit as he went. He had said that he would attend, and he was a man of his word. He could only hope that his “date” didn’t show up and he could make a discreet and unnoticed exit, or something would happen and someone would snap…and he could make a discreet and unnoticed exit.

Vincent sighed, shaking his shaggy mane of black hair out of his face as he walked through the front doors. It would be my luck that I get some simpering, weepy female who is going to cling to me all night and demand that I dance and buy her drinks and- His thoughts broke off as he came to stop, staring around him in slowly mounting horror. “Oh…gods…” he breathed. Pink. Everywhere, there was pink. Soft, romantic lighting touched every part of the room, dissipating any shadows and causing the glitter that adorned nearly everything to twinkle merrily. Stuffed bears holding flowers, elegantly crafted doves and hearts where everywhere. Couples were dancing to soft music, while others were tucked away at tables and in corners in various stages of public displays of affection. His jaw literally dropped when he saw Cid Highwind sitting at a small table with an attractive young boy, and he began to feel a little queasy. “Oh hell no…” he muttered and turned to leave. He may have been a man of his word, but there were times when that word had to be broken in favor of self-preservation.

He was stopped however by someone clamping down on his elbow, effectively making retreat impossible. Looking down, he found himself gazing into Selphie’s large eyes and smiling face. And so, like a lamb to slaughter, Vincent found himself being led to an empty table. He sighed again as Selphie flounced off and looked down, taking note of the rose on one chair and the box of chocolates on the other. One elegant black brow rose as he considered the hidden meaning of these little gifts. Opting for the chair with the rose, he picked up the delicate bud and seated himself. Crossing his legs, he eased back into the chair to get more comfortable and leaned on one elbow that was propped upon the table. Holding the rose to his nose, he found the light fragrance appealing to his enhanced senses, and his ruby eyes began to scan the slowly building crowd for anyone who might zeroing in on his table.

[black-masamune.livejournal.com]

Parties were never his strong suit. Back in the days of SOLDIER, Sephiroth would opt out of such things. Being of an aloof nature, he preferred smaller gatherings with close comrades. He certainly wasn't one to go to a place literally covered in pink, white and red decorations.

Much like Kuja, Sephiroth was dressed for the occasion. However, he lacked the great hat and cane, as he was less outgoing with his choice of clothing. The long silver hair that was his trademark had been washed and neatly brushed before being put in a long, perfectly formed braid down his back. His suit was traditional enough: a long black dinner jacket with silk lacings, black trousers also possessing just one such lacing per leg, a freshly pressed white, button-up shirt, black leather Oxford shoes that laced up, and a white boutonnière in the pocket on his jacket's left breast. His entire outfit clashed with the outrageous pink of the hall, save for his silk tie which was a deep scarlet.

Immediately a smirk came to his face as he noticed just who he would be spending the evening with at Table 7. The Valentine himself. How...right.

He strode toward the table with even steps, holding the very air of confidence. He placed his hand on the back of the chair with the chocolate-filled box and smiled.

"My, my. I certainly wasn't expecting you, Mr. Valentine. My I sit?" Even while asking, he picked the box of chocolates out of the seat cushions and sat himself down.

[livelydancer.livejournal.com]

Penelo made her way to her table. She was nervous. She had never even been on a regular date before, let alone a blind date. She wondered what her date would be like. Would they be fun or serious? Good looking? Maybe a fairytale prince? Or a suave pirate?

She looked at the two seats, deciding to sit in the one with the chocolates on it, placing the chocolate box on the table.

[eclipsed-purity.livejournal.com]

After having to back track due to getting lost a few times in Balamb Garden, Roxas had finally found the ball room indicated in his invitation. The expansive and grandeur room had been definitely decorated with Valentine's Day in mind. Clearing the lump of nervousness gathering in his throat, he walked through the thresh hold. According to his card, he was seated at table eight which wasn't exactly hard to find since the tables had been marked. He was not sure what convinced to oblige to a blind date on Valentine's Day, but there was no turning back now. He was sure Terra wouldn't let him hear the end of it.

His blue eyes settled upon the girl sitting at his table, suddenly the dozen white roses he had managed to procure felt like weeds, and his hair felt like a dried out mop. Was he always this ugly? He cleared his throat and decided to follow Aqua's advice on how best to approach his blind date.

Clearing his throat yet again, he held out the bouquet with both hands for her to take.

"Hi." he said, his tone managing to eep intact despite his heart being stuck in his throat. She was rather pretty after all. "I'm Roxas."

[xx-cowboy-up-xx.livejournal.com]

Irvine had made it clear he would not be missing Selphie's party. Though, it took him longer than he would have liked to clean up. He was sober, for once. He stepped through the doorway, his long leather coat tickling his shins. He had dressed well for the night. A white silk shirt with a dark red vest, black tweed coat, and black leather pants. His boots were shiny and black, with silver buckles. A silver chain hung around his neck.

He had shaved his face save for his chin, leaving a small cropped goatee. His hair was pulled back, the tail hanging below a black cowboy hat. He moved slowly, scanning around the room, tipping his hat back and smiling.

He wasn't here for any date specifically, but he was hoping to find the hostess and show he had arrived.

Just for her.

[dystopiadreams.livejournal.com]

By this stage in the evening, Selphie was sitting on one of the chairs at the side of the dancefloor. It had been a long night, already. At first she had enjoyed watching all the other couples, smiling as single people met and flirted, had fun. She was glad that all her hard work had paid off but really, now she felt a little lonely.

With a soft sigh she sat back in her chair, green eyes casually scanning the dance floor. What? Was that...? It was crazy how her heart had started beating quicker in an instant. She leaned shuffled forward in her chair now, trying to see past the dancing couples, just to see if Irvine really had showed up and that she wasn't just making it up.