Zi'da 49
Festivals and celebrations were always such colorful events, considered the hybrid as he gazed outward upon the assembled crowd from the top of the grand staircase. The stairway consisted of two sets of stairs upon opposite sides of the building which began parallel to one another, and then promptly swiveled inwards over the top of the main lounge before pausing together against the second floor. All in all, they looked almost like a pair of snakes winding over the crowd before joining together and becoming of one flesh, ending their journey as a single entity as opposed to a pair of diametrically opposed ones.
From his vantage point upon the second floor of the manor house, he could see the crowds below milling about, hear the vivid chatter of patrons as they conversed on manners of business and pleasure with their entourages and their allies. These busy-bodied socialites remained mostly upon the periphery of the crowd, sticking to the series of tables and chairs which had been setup to facilitate the less energetic portions of the party; conversation and dining, namely. Within the midst of these conversationalists was a series of circles stretching down the length of the building, wide enough that there was plenty of room for the people to be away from the tables and chairs, and not risking bumping into them accidentally, but close enough that they would be able to disengage and escape back to social niceties should it suit them.
People of all shapes, sizes, attitudes, and types danced within the series of circles, some of them dancing alone, merely listening to the gentle noises of musical instruments and taking them as a queue to reenact some ancient cultural phenomenon. Others among the crowd had taken hands with partners, and now danced smoothly across the floor, looking not altogether unlike pairs of swans gliding gracefully over the surface of a lake. Still others had determined that they would dance not as individuals, nor as a pair, but rather as a collective, and they began to implement their group dances wherever room permitted; there was rather a lot of room in the place, and so it was certainly not hard to find.
Side rooms appeared every dozen tables or so, sitting just outside of the ring where the socialites mingled, and provided a private space for any conversations of a more secretive nature. Some had been requisitioned by the wealthier nobles to act almost as their private spaces, as though their having gotten to the room first somehow showcased their magnificence and wealth. The mere thought of such selfish ignorance nearly made the hybrid spit, but he refrained himself, instead returning his attention to the assorted dancers, the beautiful women in their dresses, the handsome men in their gentlemanly attire, and even the small children who bounded around the place, enjoying the company of playmates. All sorts were present, the rich, the poor, the young, the old, the noble, the peasant, and it made him smile that there could be such unity at last.
Noth thought that he could see smoke pouring forth from one of the side rooms, and he almost immediately burst into action, beginning to sidle down the staircase so that he could warn others of the consuming fire which had clearly engulfed the entirety of the room, but then he observed as a group of young men and women stepped free from the room, giggling quietly to themselves about the mess they had made, and puffing away on their chosen smokes.
Crimson eyes gazed around the establishment once more, taking in the orchestra which had been arranged to provide music for the event. There were not many of them, but certainly enough to create a beautiful music, and he found himself shivering slightly at the intensity of their skills and talents, as though he were gazing upon something uncommon and rare, divine in origin. It seemed others felt similarly, because adoring fans fawned over the musicians, nearly salivating at the majesty being brought forth by the talented group.
The twilight hybrid felt suddenly somewhat out of place, as though his mere presence was marring the sanctity of the event, and he glanced down at his attire. Relief spread through his features when it was revealed that he had chosen to dress in a similar fashion as the other attendees, having refrained from wearing his armor to such a lucrative event. Instead, he wore what appeared to be a gentle green coat over a silken shirt, and a pair of trousers equipped with knee pads; decorative, not defensive.
With his confidence reassured that the event would continue to be festive, and not interrupted by his presence, the twilight hybrid began to stalk down the stairway, searching for a drink, and… perhaps, Fates-willing, a warm body to share a dance.