onepassingnight | 002nd Promotion ♛ Shall we dance?

[In the Great Hall of a palace made of crystal, gold and white marble, there's a party, a big one with many guests who mingle with each other, dance, talk, laugh and eat, enjoying themselves. Everyone is in their best suits and dresses, even you, unexpected guest, will find yourself perfectly dressed for the occasion, the only difference between you and them is that them all wear masks covering their faces completely or partially. Even the musicians, at a corner of the gigantic room, cover their faces as they play music without rest or pause. The music is delicious and keeps tempting you to dance. The delicate food spread all over the tables at each side of the room also invite you to take a bite or take a drink, it doesn't matter how much you eat or drink, the food never runs out neither do the drinks.

The ceiling raises high over your head, higher and higher than your eyesight can reach, point at which it melts into a nocturne sky full of sparkling stars that shimmer and dance on their own private dance floor. No matter where you look the large windows, that show to a garden full of bright crimson and silver flowers, are all closed. Yet there must be a door or a window open as to explain the natural present of those golden butterflies and brightly red cicadas that circle around in the air, flying everywhere but not bothering anyone. Then again, they aren't exactly normal insects, are they? There are no butterflies or cicadas made of golden or red light that burst into small harmless sparkles the moment you poke at them. But it doesn't matter, why should it?

Come and relax uninvited guest. No one care where you're from or why you're here so don't worry yourself with those things either. Just relax and enjoy yourself in this dreamlike party. Who knows how long will it last?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I -

[he doesn't recognize the man approaching but he thinks maybe it's the host if it's someone checking to make sure he's enjoying himself. He has to pause and look around the room at the swirling dancers and the golden candle light and the gardens through the windows. No one's tried to drag him out on the dance floor or pulled him off to meet people that he won't remember the names off two minutes after they're given. Thoughtful, as if the man expected a real answer instead of a polite automatic response, he nodded, a single dip of his chin. Truth is - ]

Yeah. I am. [focusing back on the questioner, he asks in return:] What's the party for?

Nothing in particular, though if the guests have something to celebrate they are free to do so through this. Otherwise, just think of it as a simple gathering for those who want to have fun for a while.

[After all, there's little to do in the world of witches and wizards during the waiting times between games.]

Hn.

[free to celebrate if they've got a reason to. He... supposes he does have a reason to celebrate.]

A world being saved should count, right?

Definitively, it's probably one of the best things to celebrate on.

[Not that he really makes a distinction between one reason to celebrate and another. It doesn't matter how big or small the reason is.]

Is that your reason?

[it loosens Cloud up, just the smallest bit obvious in the way his shoulders relax and his lips do too.]

Yeah. Yeah, it is. Maybe for good this time. [it earns a pause and then a slight twitch upward at the edge of one side of his mouth.] Or maybe just for another year or so. [his eyes shift and focus.] Are you celebrating anything?

I would say it's better if it's something that doesn't last forever and can be renewed, but that's probably just me. In this world we don't have reasons like that to celebrate, nothing really happens unless we cause it.

[Or look at other worlds in search of some entertainment. Primo smiles and shakes his head calmly.]

Not right now. Unless wanting to celebrate that others have reasons to celebrate is a good reason.

I - think it is. [the answer's slow but Cloud's sure of it. Being happy for other people's happiness... it sounds right to him. His eyes shift and he takes in the room, the people in it, the colors and lights. And it makes him wonder, because he's not:]

Why's everyone wearing masks?

I guess you could say this is a masquerade. Though I never stated that when I invited my guests, it turned out this way because some guests were worried about meeting people they didn't want to meet here. With such a gathering it could have happened.

This way everyone can celebrate for their own reasons and forget who they are if they wish for it. The world is infinite but it's small at the same time and it's hard to relax and celebrate when you spot someone you dislike doing the same, don't you think?

[As he talks he eyes his own mask, cleaning it lightly with a hand, sparkling red powder falling to the floor.]

If you wish for a mask it could be fixed.

No. [a small head shake but he's sure of it] I've worn them too long already.

[he looks back at the crowd in their masks, dancing to forget each other. For all some of them know, they could be dancing with their worst enemy apparently.

None of Cloud's enemies dance.

Which, in a round about way brings up the question of:]

What will you do, when the party stops?

Understandable. It's a pity not more people realize of that and act accordingly.

[He says this as he eyes a particular group of guests, all with their masks so even if Cloud follows his sight he wouldn't be able to recognize them. Probably he wouldn't know them either, Beatrice's court, but Primo knows them, he knows them well enough now to see through their masks.

He turns to Cloud at his next question.]

Hmm... Rest, I suppose. It's why I returned to this place that I call home for now, the party is good and a delicious distraction but it may not be enough rest for me. Once I rest, or if I decide I don't need to rest after all, I'll return to my search. I would ask you what you will do, but it's probable that what you'll do is nothing but wake up and go on with your daily routine if you have any.

[he'd thought it was a dream and the other man's words just solidify that. Still, it's a nice dream and again, he has a moment of wishing he could have brought Tifa and the children. Sharing dreams seems ludicrous and yet, he's learning that he already does.

Go about his daily routine...

He likes the sound of that.]

What are you searching for?

Too many things at once to focus on just one. And just one thing to concentrate in. For a lot of things and for just one, I just go and search, I always find something even if it's not something that brings an end to my quest.

[As confusing as it may sound it's an honest and true reply.]

I'm what could be called a world traveler, searching for something specific but I can also work with things if I just find something more general. I've no rush to reach my goals after all.

[it sounds overly complicated to Cloud but he's used to a lot of people's living sounding that way to him. It apparently works for the guy in front of him and at the end of the day that's all that really matters. He makes a low noise in his throat to show he's heard and a brief nod. Having finally found a measure of something he'd been searching for, Cloud's sincere when he says:]

I hope you find it.

I'm sure I will. The question is when rather than if. But it's okay, I've more time for it than eternity itself.

002nd Promotion ♛ Shall we dance?

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