The Samhain Ball - Come as You Aren't

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

A woman strides through the Nexus, garbed in royal finery of a distinctly Elizabethan style. In the crook of her arm, she carries an ebony scepter shod and capped in silver. There may be something familiar about her confident bearing, her angular features, her mismatched eyes. When she pauses to speak, the cadence of her words might spark recognition--is this Schön?!

"People of the Nexus, friends, in the world from which I hail we stand on the cusp of a special day, a harvest-fest when the walls between worlds grow thin, when masks and costumes are worn to frighten away the wicked spirits--or to invite them in on more congenial terms. So on this day, I invite you, each and every one of you, to join me in a revel to bid farewell to Summer, and welcome with fire and song the coming dark! Join me, won't you?" Letting her gaze sweep the crowd, she raps the heel of her scepter once against something solid, vanishing in a flash and leaving a sparkling trail for the curious to follow.

A cool wind herds dry, crackling leaves through the gathering gloom. On the cusp between the parklands and the residential district, darkness and cloudy skies have been slowly coalescing for days around a stately house of Gothic style, ivy-encrusted and showing its age somewhat. A square tower stands vigil over the entryway, tall windows overlooking the flagstone drive looping around a fountain gone dry. The house’s angular wings stretch to either side, the windows dark save for occasional glints and gleams of colored lights bobbing within. A glow does creep over the line of the roof, however, and the faint throb of distant music hint at something happening behind the house. The door stands open, a silent invitation to every brave soul who passes by.

((Happy Halloween! Enjoy the festivities. All LOLs are optional. Threadhopping is encouraged. Backtagging is forever, so don’t worry about missing out: we’ll still be here when you get back from your more mundane ghosties and goblins.))

Playlist
Visualosity
The Entrance
The Ballroom
The Banquet
The Bonfire
The Corn Maze
Dark Corners
Costume Icon Requests
The Photo Booth

Comments

Entrance

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

Inside the door, a checkered marble floor echoes under a vaulted ceiling painted with a fresco of a star-spangled sky. Staircases flank the far side of the room, rising to the second floor, but are roped off with velvet. A butler in a black domino mask stands waiting to greet new arrivals and direct them toward their area of interest.

To the left of the door, blocking the hallway into one wing of the house, stands a desk graced by a bell and card, and attended by a smiling individual in costume. The card reads, “Coat check, peace-bonds, safe storage. Management accepts responsibility for the safety of all items stored.”

To the right of the entrance, an unobstructed hallway is brightly lit, flanked by a sign which reads, “For our honored guests, costumes provided by local businesses. (Enchanted pieces as marked.)” Down the hall, doors stand open on rooms in which some of the Nexus’ purveyors of clothing, accessories, cosmetics, and more wait to craft a costume for anyone who wants one but didn’t bring their own.

Straight ahead are light and sound, and the rail of a balcony that overlooks the ballroom, flanked on both sides with stairs descending to it.

[magnetite_plz]

"Welcome to the bitchenest shindig around, myaaa~!" Yes, that is a demon. Yes, that is a Nekomata, and yes, somehow she is dressed as a video game catgirl. It was easier than trying to hide her paws and tails.

"Have some candy! See the sights~ Tricks and treats, spooks and greets nya! Everybody's welcome~~!"

[gate_crasher]

Shade-Seeker donned his robes of office as Archmage of the Mages' Guild to attend the ball, but it's a larger and more formal gathering than he is accustomed to attending (and, given its informality, that is saying something). He's been lingering in the entrance area, trying to determine whether he was supposed to bring a coat to check, when his eye is caught by the (possible) Nekomata.

"Excuse me," he greets her, "but have we perhaps met before?"

[rekindledtitan]

"Hey, I've got a question." ...Feline person with an odd vibe, but that's not the question today. "Suppose you've already got candy and you need to offload it on some folks who can digest the stuff?"

Inquiring pumpkins need to know! She's got a couple bulging sacks in her hand right now.

[bestdadinamestris]

Wait, what is this? Lt. Colonel Maes Hughes not in his trademark blue uniform?

GASP!

Hughes is going to take a moment and look around this entry way and give it a low whistle as he takes it all in. No, friends, he's not wearing a costume, but he looks rather dapper in his black suit and orange-red shirt. Hey, if a guy's not gonna dress up for Halloween, he's gonna not dress up for Halloween correctly.

He places his hands on his hips as he gives the place a second look. "Well ain't this a fancy sight. Never seen anything quite like it where I'm from."

[juststeverogers]

All Steve had really gotten in way of warning was Verity's word that this was happening, but he's still rather startled to see such a grand display in what was once his favorite artist nook.

"Wow...this is..." This is definitely something, Steve.

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"Mister Rogers, how wonderful of you to join us!" The woman who invited everyone made a sweep through the entryway just in time to see Steve there, and welcome him personally. "Welcome, welcome, and how are you?"

[heirtothearcane]

When Viatorus had come to the Nexus he wasn't sure if there would be any sign of Samhain or Halloween. This is entirely and delightfully unexpected. That he's dressed in full white tie attire is completely unrelated to the Nexus festivities. For the sake of blending in he gets himself a mask from one of those on offer.

After that he's at a bit of a loss. There's so much colour and noise and things to be investigated. So excuse him while he looks a bit lost and scoots from one place to the next, hopefully not knocking anyone over as he runs about like a kid in a candy store.

[magnetite_plz]

"Heeeeeey, hold on a moment mya!" There's a cat demon dressed as a catgirl chasing after you Viatorus. Not in a bad way though. She wouldn't be shouting then. She'd be hunting.

When she finally catches up with him she hands him an empty bag and a small celebration popper (LOL-Free).

"For your tricks and treats needs mya. You almost forgot 'em!"

[prototype_infiltraitor]

Guess who Viatorus isn't going to knock over?

THIS GUY.

Stone Cold Steve Austin doesn't take kindly to being bumped into! A thick-bodied professional wrestler who's a special kind of ornery, is now giving Viatorus his full attention.

"Now, what the hell is going on here!" The loud-mouthed redneck shouts while he invades personal space. "You best not run into Steve Austin, boy, unless you're ready to kick his ass!"

[damn_yourself_early]

And a child shall lead them (into trouble)! A boy dressed as Prince Valiant flashes a charming smile to Viatorious. "Hi! Wanna come play Werewolves? We're trying to get a game together."

[bornstrong]

Iphigenia has no clue what exactly is going on. They didn't really do costume parties in Bronze Age Greece, so she's understandably confused and also distinctly not wearing a costume. Figures.

She'll step inside the entrance, staring up at the ceiling with wonder.

"I've never seen anything so grand." Not even the palace she lived in back in Mycenae was this fancy, she thinks.

[smartass_captain]

This is probably not the best time for Jim Kirk to run into her, then. If she's in shock by the locale. His costume might be illegal in her world.

Jim's not even sure it's legal here.

"That's what parties are all about, Princess." He shoots her a wink, bow tucked under one arm. "There's a costume parlor just down that way. Join the festivities."

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"Your highness," coos the lady who started it all, "you honor us indeed. Welcome, welcome."

[notalldead]

Jesse arrive with his posse of undead, all of them in costume! Sure, they could have come as themselves, but that's kind of insulting to them and their illness. Instead, it's a cavalcade of standard halloween costumes on the green bunch; cheerleader, rabbit, pirate, devil, so on.

Jesse himself has switched out his usual hat for a white one, tied up his kerchief different and donned a domino mask. Sure, it's not a stretch, but what else would you expect from the guy? Hiyo Silver, away!

The Rotten disperse to shyly mingle and look around at the festivities while their leader takes in the view still at the entrance, grinning around his cigar.

"Y'all really don't celebrate Halloween back home, Basheda?"

[sweetrolled]

Hovering near Jesse is a nervous-looking "cat"; a dark elf dressed in the simplest of feline costuming, with some painted-on whiskers and a pink nose. He seems at once amazed and a bit intimidated by the crowd of costumed revelers.

"I'm afraid this holiday is completely alien to me. Is it just a day to disguise yourself? Or is there more to it?" He looks to Jesse.

[smartass_captain]

"Jesse!" There's an arm thrown around the cowboy's shoulders as Jim swings by, depositing a bottle of cider into the undead's hand as he does so.

"How's things, pardner?"

[drehnifusbahi]

Vanyel shows up dressed the part of Archmage of the College of Winterhold; it isn't a costume per se (they are his actual robes of office) but at it's at least somewhat more festive than his armor.

He examines the masks and costumes on offer, lingering over one in particular before apparently deciding against it. He does, however, pick out a prop 'wizard's staff' that catches his eye and more or less matches his robes.

[magnetite_plz]

When he's done selecting his wardrobe and props, there's a catgirl with bright blue hair who looks completely out of place amid the other wait staff and helpers on hand. She's holding a bowl full of LOL-free party poppers against her waist with one arm. The other is pointing his way.

"Welcome to the festivities, mya~! On behalf of Myaster Schon, welcome to Hogwarts--I mean Happy Halloween!" She'll crook her arm for him to take before leaving the entrance to show the new guest around.

"Feel free to ask any questions you might have nya~ Nekomata is happy to help."

[fightlikehell]

There's a degree of trust you put into people when it comes to clothing selections. Matt has very few specifics. One is always comfort. As far as he's concerned, he has a hat, glasses (as usual) and a cane still. The joke has been explained to him in college. No harm in doing a repeat costume. He steps down the stairs and takes in the sound and smells of the party.

YEAH I finally won you over! /victory lap and high fives for everyone

[brave_heart_verity]

Verity's costume is going to be so lost on Matt. So, so lost. Oh well.

"So, if I'm the first one who found you, are you going to get me a drink or hate me forever?" Silk dress, rose-based perfume, and something small and squirming in her arms. "And, ah, mind the chao. They're going to want to play with your cane."

[juststeverogers]

Yet another costume Steve is just too 'old' to understand. He wonders briefly if it's some kind of comic character, but he knows enough to know that it's definitely a costume. People aren't that colorful generally.

If there's a distinct rustling when Steve walks, it's because he's dressed as the Scarecrow form the Wizard of Oz. If there's a slight wheezing, well, that's just Steve Rogers, ninety pound asthmatic.

"Welcome! Happy Halloween."

[ixis]

At last, at last! The Nexus and this party will no longer be so sorely deprived of his grand presence! Ixis Naugus, sorcerer supreme, has arrived! And does so in his usual way; a gust of wind knocks open the door and the wizard conjures himself into being by way of orange sparks and a cloying puff of purple smoke. Arms outspread, staff (as always) in claw, he cackles in a manner greatly befitting the season as the cloud disapates, revealing that he is dressed a little more fancy than usual. He even braided his beard! A nice touch.

"Hhhhahahaha! Now the festivities may begin!"

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"Naugus, how kind of you to grace us with your presence." Is Schön being wry, or sincere? "I had wondered if you would find the time for us. Welcome."

[conjuredskies]

"Excellent!" You'd almost think he was watching the door. Felix greets Naugus with a grin and a careful bow: someone has coaxed (or tricked) him into a magician's costume, and he's trying to stop the hat tumbling off. "I was hoping you'd come."