#whiteheroncup2022

[thyrosus]

two to tango— white heron cup 2022 round 1.

HE HAS WAITED ALL YEAR FOR THIS.

Second place has never sat right with him. Last year, he came away only a runner-up to victory, and while there is no mark of shame for how far he came, it still left a chip upon his shoulder that has never quite gone away.

This year, it will be his year.

This year, he is not alone, and has twice the reason to succeed.

Anticipation may work itself quietly through his body before Lorenz and Maria step to the floor for their dance, but Lorenz reaches for Maria’s hand, gives it a light squeeze before the spotlight is at their backs and all the eyes in the room rest upon them.

“Let us show them our grace, and leave our competitors in the dust.” The words are not gentle, but assured, and Lorenz beams brightly at dear Maria before he starts them off.

He believes them to be the epitome of elegance. Their bond is strong, and in the moment, Lorenz feels as though it’s reflected in their dance—

The judges have a rather peculiar idea otherwise:

7, 3, 3.

—No, that can’t be right.

↳ @princessmacedon 🌹 next up: @concealedbybreeze & @supportingdancer!

#whiteheroncup2022 #toaball2022 #princessmacedon #concealedbybreeze #supportingdancer #[ lorenz in denial and annoying ksjdfjskdfkjsd ] #[ GOOD LUCK LEWYN AND SILVIA!! : D ]

[theofficersacademy]

Our competitors entered this competition with hope in their hearts. Where they may have lacked in technique, they made up for in flair and passion as they twirled and leapt across the dance floor.

In the final hours of the ball, two teams made it to the finals: Coirpre and Lene versus Byleth and Elincia, pitting passion against passion, skill against skill. Blood, sweat, and tears went into their performances, Their movements captured their audience and impressed the judges, but in the end, only one could prevail…

“And, without further ado, this year’s White Heron Cup victor is– well, I should say victors are….

Byleth and Elincia!”

Byleth and Elincia each obtained the Heron’s Garland! With the help of magic, frost coats this crown of blue-gray winter roses and downy heron feathers. This crown enjoys a long and storied history in chivalric tales as a grand prize at royal jousts, traditionally given by the winner to the person they intend to court.

“Let’s not neglect our runners up in the competition, who also made a strong showing tonight… Coirpre and Lene!”

Coirpre and Lene each obtained the Heron’s Silk! The embroidered scene on the silk handkerchief depicts a popular winter scene in Fódlan: a draconic heron as it alights on the branches of a barren tree in the midst of a flurry of snowflakes.

“And finally, our semi-finalists, who gave it their all in the final rounds of the competition: Maria and Lorenz and Rafiel and Nailah!”

Maria, Lorenz, Rafiel, and Nailah each obtained the Heron’s Brooch! This is an elegant silver brooch of a standing heron, holding a small garnet in its beak as a dragon’s tail curls around its feet.

“To everyone who has competed tonight, please, give yourselves a round of applause! It is your passion and dedication to dance that makes the White Heron Cup such a joy to hold each year. Thank you all, and have a great night!”

The White Heron Cup has concluded!

#toaball2022 #whiteheroncup2022

[ashenprofessor]

Apology Dance

There was an immediate tension between the pair of them, thick in the air when Byleth approached the Faerghas Prince. If she could turn back the wheel of time and at least discuss her decision with the house leader before switching alliance, she would in a heartbeat. It was regrettably how she'd left even if at the time she could justify it to herself. The Professor missed her old house and students but wanted to help the other houses too.

"Thank you" She said grateful that he'd accepted, bobbing in a small curtsey as she'd seen other noble women doing that evening. Dimitri's gaze was refusing to meet her own, only contributing to her feeling that the Blue Lion was angry with her decision. She considered backing out and sparing them both the awkwardness of interacting but felt committed now.

"It's been nice so far. That foto-artifix machine has been interesting to check out. What about yourself?" Simple questions, short answers. Byleth could do this. One dance, it was just one dance then she would leave. She didn't want him to hate her further.

@elegiac-boar

#thread: apology dance #whiteheroncup2022 #ashenprofessor #elegiac boar

[baldramuste]

baby you light up my world

the routine they try for the second round is nothing the two have ever danced before, but sigurd wants to go big or go home. plus it didn't matter to him all that much that they executed their routine perfectly; it only mattered that the two of them had as much fun as they possibly could.

and it was safe to say that they did not do everything as perfectly as planned, as he thought they would. in fact they did quite terribly, missing the timing of turns and steps with sigurd even having to improvise at some point over forgotten steps in order to keep the routine from going off the rails.

but even amongst all that, deirdre still smiles and giggles and laughs with him, and sigurd does just the same with her. he loses himself in his wife's beauty, forgetting his surroundings. nothing else matters in this moment but her, and sigurd slowly stops to a halt to place a kiss on her lips with the competition all but forgotten about.

white heron cup starter for @nagaficat @amitieos @ashenprofessor

#whiteheroncup2022 #{ ic. } #{ they started smooching in front of the judges and just completely forgot about the dance. im sorry. }

[verseandrhyme]

1, 2 Step

She remembers not faring particularly well the year prior, either.

And yet as the music swells, as the judges find their seats, as the participants are encouraged to grace the dance floor and attempt their best at impressing the judges, Mitama finds herself swept up once again in the low simmering fire of competition.

(Perhaps it is her. Perhaps it is the company. Then again, Claude’s track record...)

She still takes his hand and restrains a wide grin to a teasing smile as the two of them find their place upon the stage. “I am still not quite confident in Fodlan dances.” She confesses in a quick whisper as they set into place, hands on shoulders and hip and hand in hand. She is not quite confident in Hoshidan dances either, aside from the small festivals at her little deeprealm village, but that was not relevant.

And yet despite the nerves, despite the worry, the music swells and the two start to move. Claude, it seems, is not good at Fodlan dances either.

They shift and move with the music, slowly transforming from the waltz that the music seems to ask for to something else. A mix of Hoshidan and...not quite Fodlan. Mitama cannot place it, but she does not mind it either. Soon enough, the sound of her laughter accompanies their steps as she laughs on turn and  giggles on step. It will probably affect their score. She does not really care.

The song comes to a close and scores are passed out. Mitama nearly misses theirs, too busy laughing alongside Claude as she keeps her hand in his.

8, 9, 1. 18!

Hmm. Not as bad as she anticipated.

next: @boundlesshart

against: @viridescent-lance & @aimlessarchery

#ic #toaball2022 #whiteheroncup2022 #boundlesshart #viridescent lance #aimlessarchery

[renegadeofmacedon]

White Heron Cup Round 2

“Oh.”

Coirpre was her next opponent? And another woman, who very clearly was a trained dancer. Minerva couldn’t help but be dismayed by the matchup - Coirpre was so nice to her when helping her pick something to wear for the ball, and how bad would it look for her to win against him as a thank you? But then again, she didn’t want to let down Azelle...

“I am no tactician, but perhaps we should play it safe and try to replicate what worked last time?” She asked, one eyebrow raised in question. “I’d rather keep it consistent than do anything risky, as I really don’t want to trip over my own feet on the ballroom floor.”

The resulting dance goes smoothly, in Minerva’s opinion. And as she waited for the judge’s scores, she held Azelle’s hand nervously in hers.

2, 6, 10 - an 18.

“A two for style...? I suppose that is what we get for playing it safe, then,” she said with a long sigh. 

“At least we got a ten for technique, but I should have known we wouldn’t impress the judges with the same thing twice. I’m sorry; but in fairness, I warned you, didn’t I?” Minerva said to Azelle, both disappointed and a little relieved. “I honestly cannot be too upset at the result, as I am a beginner after all, and our opponents clearly knew what they were doing. We did our best - and I must thank you as well, as I didn’t think I would get this far at all.”

Next up @fjalarspark followed by @obragi @sylphade

#whiteheroncup2022 #fjalarspark #obragi #sylphade #toaball2022 #IC - Your words may have been honed by a cutting edge... but here comes my reply.

[hatariqueen]

Poise and Power- White Heron Cup Round 2

Dancing with @earthbound-chorister

Style: 10

Choreography: 5

Technique: 4

Total: 19

“With one victory under our belts, this should be less nerve wracking, right?” It wasn’t about winning, of course. It was about a night of dancing, joy, and beautiful amidst meeting new people.

It was also a little bit about winning. They had their home to represent, after all.

Nailah held Rafiel carefully as they danced in fluid motion with each other. They’d been married for longer than many students at the academy had even been alive, yet she still found herself appreciative of moments spent together like this.

She hoped it never changed.

They gradually spun to a stop, eyes on the judges. Nailah breathed a sigh of  relief, hand still on Rafiel’s shoulder. “We are stylish. As for the rest... I felt in sync with you, so don’t fret.” The true judge of a dance was one’s partner after all. “What did you think? Your opinion is really what I care about.”

@grimalealkin

#thread: poise and power #thread #whiteheroncup2022 #toaball2022 #earthboundchorister #grimalealkin

[braveryinblue]

to us, treasure bestow~

The marquess wasn’t sure what had possessed him to ask the pegasus knight to partner up. Heavens knew he’d skipped out on his fair share of etiquette lessons back home - or he’d damn well tried, but insofar as matters of dance etiquette went... dance had been the one thing Uther would forcibly drag Hector back to class for, by the ear, time and again.

At least that way you can pretend at being a noble for some short period of time if ever you should have to, dear brother of mine, he’d chided with a chuckle.

Even still, out on the dancefloor, Hector felt woefully unprepared. What had he been thinking? It had been on a whim, after Farina had ambushed him at the photo-artifex. He’d surprised himself when asking - and had been doubly so upon hearing the knight - or prof, now, he supposed - had accepted. The knots in his stomach had started that very moment.

But whatever nerves or agitation Hector felt standing up on stage, Farina’s hand in his as they awaited the judges’ signal to begin... whatever trepidations he felt, the fire of competition incinerated from the moment they started until the very end.

It had all been a blur. Brows furrowed, Hector could but stare as the judges announced their scores. Had there been a mistake somewhere...?

[ Style - 9, Choreography - 10, and Technique - 7 ] [ Total score: 26 ]

He glanced to his partner, perplexed, and hissed in question: “Do they have the wrong duo or what?” A pause, nose crinkling. “We did that?”

Vaguely, he could recall a whirlwind phantom of their dance. She’d jumped at some point, and he’d caught her, right? A high tempo piece, risk weighed against reward - certainly, lessons had never taught him that, and yet...

Well. He could always blame Farina. From the first, he’d always found she had a way of sweeping people into her pace. Not like he was complaining though.

Next @making-dough ! VS @nagargent & @sharpscion

#whiteheroncup2022 #whiteheroncup2022 farina #toaball2022 #makingdough #nagargent #sharpscion

[ashenprofessor]

[ Embrace ] "Show me your skills, professor." Arvis coos, insisting Byleth lead

After their 'successful' trip on the lake for the last Academy event, Byleth was willing to accept Professor Arvis' smooth invite to a dance. "I hope you don't find them lacking" She responded, grasping his hand in hers and leading him out onto the floor. Once in position, Byleth waited for him to lead her through the dance but no such movement occurred. So it was going to be like that. Taking decisive action, the Professor took charge, pulling Arvis in close and directing his movement. Leaning in close, she whispered. "You owe me a stamp for this, darling"

#whiteheroncup2022 #ask: groovin' & moovin' #ashenprofessor #avemaera

[baldramuste]

cinderella waltz

the promised heron cup finally begins and sigurd can say with ease that he’s confident, with deirdre as his partner, that he’ll at the very least win a few of the matches. the music cues for the two of them to begin, and sigurd holds deirdre in a waltz form as natural as ever. it’s exactly as he remembers, dancing with her like this.

the smile on his face is almost unforgettable, showing how much he truly enjoyed himself with her. the twirls they pull off look especially stylish with deirdre’s dress, if just a bit tame in actual technique. all that mattered truly was how much fun they were having.

white heron cup starter for @nagaficat & @ylisseanstar !

#whiteheroncup2022 #{ ic. } #{ the power of true love babiee }

[thyrosus]

third tango’s the charm—white heron cup round 3.

THE SEMI-FINALS means the heat is on—they’ve skirted through two rounds on grace and laughter, but there is a real chance, now, that victory remains within reach. Fatigue and focus come in equal measure; familiar faces are their adversaries, and Lorenz offers Byleth and Elincia a polite bow before leading Maria on with them.

He remembers, this time last year, feeling a certain longing, up against couples time after time whose love echoed in step, whereas he displayed his grace alone. Not lonely—at least, he hadn’t thought so at the time. This time, however, he holds a friend dear and leads them through their paces, and while there is sweat beading at the top of Lorenz’s brow, what he notices first is the fact he cannot stop smiling, even still. Maria’s enthusiasm carries far more than his ambition to see them both crowned champions.

“Thank you,” he mouths, somewhere in between a change in step, earnestly meeting her gaze and squeezing her hand in time. A dance is better suited for good company, after all. He’s been schooled, soundly, without question.

3, 2, 6.

Lorenz had been certain he’d fretted over both of their appearance enough before they were at the mercy of the spotlight once more—apparently, not close enough to pluck a stray feather or two before they got underfoot.

It’s innocuous in and of itself: a stray flies away in the movement of a dip, into his face, tickling his nose. One mere sneeze is not enough to knock the Gloucester heir down to size, though. No, that remains his own fault. Momentary distraction means he does not look where he steps; the heel of his boot comes down incorrectly, and by the grace of the goddess, thankfully not on Maria’s foot.

But luck does not give out, and recovery is bleak. Lorenz is thinking of how grateful he is for Maria’s friendship, and in the final seconds, time liquefying as he knows the slip and uncommon angle and telltale crack of a heel—well, he supposes it will be tested.

He falls, face-first, his final coherent thought thankful he let go of Maria’s hand, lest he drag her down as well.

↳ @princessmacedon 🌹up next: @amitieos & @ashenprofessor!

#whiteheroncup2022 #princessmacedon #amitieos #ashenprofessor #[ WE HAD A GOOD RUN <3 ] #[ congrats elincia and byleth!! : D ]

[theofficersacademy]

The White Heron Cup begins!

The White Heron Cup this year is a dance tournament! Give a round of applause to our competitors [link]!

How It Works

The White Heron Cup is an optional mini-event within the Ethereal Ball, so these event conditions are completely separate from our Ethereal Ball conditions. White Heron Cup participants will face off against their opponents in a funktastical battle of Style, Choreography, and Technique!

1. Check your first round matchup here. Note: Battle 0 and Battle 1 will be competing in Round 1. The winner of Battle 0 will be matched against Rafiel & Nailah as soon as the results of Battle 0 are in.

2. The participants in the top bracket of each battle will begin the dance battle! If your muse has a partner, decide which of the two of you will post first and/or roll the dice.

3. Roll 3D10 (three 10-sided dice, !roll ul 3d10 with dice maiden). These three results will be what you (and your partner, if applicable) receive from the judges for your dance. Each score corresponds with one of the three categories - Style, Choreography, and Technique - so use this to flavor the way you write your muse dancing.

4. Please start a new thread and tag your partner and your opponent(s). Please also include your Total Score somewhere in the post. If you have a partner, they will post next, and then you turn the round over to your opponent. Your opponent will roll their own 3D10 and reply to the thread.

5. Whoever’s total score is 2 points greater than their opponent’s score will progress to the next round.

6. The mods will count the scores as soon as they’re rolled, so that winners can be moved on to the next round even if a thread is stalled. Each round will last at least 24 hours, and no more than 2 days. Posts should be short and quick, but you’re welcome to continue your threads after a winner has been decided for the sake of character development.

7. Tag all posts with #whiteheroncup2022

And that’s it! If you have any questions or concerns, please let the mods know!

- The House Leaders

#whiteheroncup2022 #toaball2022 #toa announcements

[ashenprofessor]

Byleth also changed out her dress for the Heron White cup. She felt much more at ease dancing her part wearing a suit.

#toaball2022 #whiteheroncup2022 #outfit change

[ashenprofessor]

[ Zofia ] - Modeled after an Archanean court dance, but with an energetic twist. The entire body is engaged with the dance, creating a spectacle that is enjoyable to watch.

Janaff has never in his life heard of this dance, but he's a quick learner. The uptempo dances are a lot easier to fake, too...

"Professor Byleth!" He calls to her across the room, zipping over to his fellow Golden Deer. "Care to dance? I know nothing about this one, I admit, but it should still be fun!" He doesn't give time for her to answer before he adds "I'll give you my stamp, if that makes it better for you." He grins, holds out his hand.

Byleth had been hanging on the edge of the floor, watching the dancers twirl around, most of them in time with the music. As the dance came to a close and the music changed for something faster, there was a flash of feathers in her periphery as Janaff appeared, hand extended.

"What --?" she said as she ran back over the blitz of words. Dance, fun, stamp. "Ok." she agreed taking his hand. "I don't know this one either but I'm sure between us we can figure something out"

They took their starting positions on the dance floor as the tune repeated itself. Leaping side to side as she's seen others do, Byleth attempted to dance in time with the others. "I'll give you my stamp too" She promised "Provided you don't stamp my toes first"

#whiteheroncup2022 #ask: groovin' & moovin' #hawcculi #ashenprofessor #stamp exchange

[ashenprofessor]

[ Embrace ] - The sender gets in closer, practically embracing the receiver as they dance.

Bernadetta lets out a quiet whine as she ducks her head against the professor's shoulder. "Sorry, sorry! I just." She whimpers. "Are people staring?"

Byleth had been surprised when Bernadetta had come up and asked her for a dance. The Black Eagle student was usually quite shy and reserved so she was willing to encourage this new boldness. She led her onto the dance floor but stuck closer to the edges so as not to overwhelm her partner.

This proved to be a good move as something spooked Bernadetta causing her to try and hide against the Professor's shoulder, the long cape like attachment of her dress providing some privacy.

"It's ok." She whispered. The music currently playing was a slow waltz. "We can just take it slow and do our own thing. No-one is watching"

#whiteheroncup2022 #ask: groovin' & moovin' #ashenprofessor #minorindech

[ashenprofessor]

[ Crimea ] - A traditional dance that requires quite a bit of athleticism to pull off. In addition to keeping up with fast-paced music, the dancers must perform a variety of leaps and flips.

“I have an idea that might spice up our routine for the contest,” Elincia says thoughtfully, scouring the ballroom for enough space. She leads Byleth over, standing as straight as a matchstick and taking deep breaths. “Traditional dancing in my homeland is quite… acrobatic? It might be silly to attempt the flips but we could try some leaps and holds. It’ll take a bit of practice but I’m sure you’ll pick it up quickly!”

"Really?" She asked curiously. "This is why I left the choreography up to you. I'm better at battle strategies than dance strategies" She'd noticed some of the energetic dancing which had been taking place on the floor this evening and upon enquiry learned it originated from Elincia's homeland.

The Professor hoped her experience and sword practise had equipped her with either some acrobatic skills of her own or simply natural grace. She had faith in the young Queen to teach her the moves.

"Let's give it a go anyway. If we pull it off it will certainly impress the judges. What do you have in mind?"

#whiteheroncup2022 #ask: groovin' & moovin' #ashenprofessor #amitieos