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

Banquet

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

The dining hall of the old mansion was built to feast royalty. Long tables run the length of the room, the thick tablecloths barely seen beneath the array of dark and decadent morsels. Dishes full of every delicacy crowd the tables, offering everything from sweet and (un)savory finger-foods to the most elaborate desserts. Situated between the doors into the dining hall, a sleek bar offers almost any drink desired and regular displays of flair and showmanship. Smaller tables arranged to accommodate groups of varying sizes fill the rest of the room, lit with candles and firelight and the occasional twinkling fairy light. Servants circulate to clear away dishes and clean up as needed.

One table stands apart from the rest, bearing covered dishes marked with small signs. Each sign warns of the specific LOL the candies beneath that cover will bestow. Passing waitstaff check the table regularly to see that the covers are always replaced, and the signs remain present and legible.

Will wear silly hat for food

[conjuredskies]

Felix has staked out the banquet first. It’s a chance to sample free food from across the multiverse! Plus, one of the easiest places to start a conversation. Instead of grabbing a plate and gorging himself, he strolls between tables and admires the decorations, the food, the other guests. Occasionally he picks out something to try himself. Better yet, to allow himself to be persuaded into trying so the other person can be smug when he likes it.

Personally, he’s quite pleased he managed to ditch his armor within ten minutes of arriving. He’s not clear what this costume signifies, but the handsome fellow who found it for him seemed sure it would fit. Actually, it fits rather more tightly than Felix is used to, and he’s trying to ensure the funny hat doesn’t tip over when he least expects it. There was some sort of wand to go with it. He left that behind. He’s never believed in carrying props you don’t have to.

Will wear silly hat for food: the life and times of an Imperial Soldier

[brave_heart_verity]

"I should have known I'd find you here." Verity was at the bar when she spotted Felix in the crowd, and now she's making her way through that crowd with two glasses of champagne. Nobody says no to champagne at a party. "Cute costume. Will you be pulling a rabbit out of your hat later?"

Available from your local Bard's College next time he goes broke!

[conjuredskies]

Oh dear, has Verity rumbled his tactics? And managed to surprise him, too - he nearly wouldn't recognize her except for her voice and tattoos. He responds to being caught by sweeping a bow, holding the hat at his chest. "Verity! You look marvelous!"

He gives the inside of his hat a theatrically concerned look. Totally not mimicking Stratos. "Is there something I should know about this hat?"

FINALLY someone's impressed with the costume! :D Thank you!

[brave_heart_verity]

"Thank you." She's not immune to compliments, especially when she's wearing the prettiest dress she's ever owned. The theatrics get a giggle from her. Particularly the part where he's not imitating his brother. "I think you're supposed to be a stage magician? So there's supposed to be a rabbit coming out of that hat at some point. Champagne?"

[notalldead]

This is where Jesse's gonna zero in on. Forget the food, it's time for the drinks. Tis the season, people!

"Y'all look like you'd appreciate somethin' a bit more girly, huh," he asks of his grey-skinned, kitty companion. Then, turning to the barkeep, "Hey, uhh, gimme a neat Jack Daniels an' a Sex on the Beach."

Basheda can gather what he wants of that drink's name.

[sweetrolled]

"A- A what and what?" Basheda's eyes widen at the names of the drinks that Jesse is ordering. Well, he hopes those are only names!

"And why something more, ah, girly? Are drinks traditionally gendered where you are from?" This cat has no idea.

[notalldead]

"Not really. People just call stuff that's sweet girly. Bitter stuff's manly. I dunno, I don't really care, drink is drink." Speaking of, the beverages have arrived! Jesse takes them both and hands over a tall drink that's all red and orange on ice. Nice fruit garnish on the rim too!

"Ooooone Sex on the Beach for the dunmer!"

[onemorebounty]

*A woman in a distinctive costume steps up to the bar, nodding a greeting to Jesse before having a word with the bartender.*

Gavan brandy, no ice.

*The tumbler she's handed has about an inch of blue liquid in it, glowing faintly. She raises it in greeting to the Lone Ranger and the gray cat.*

Gentlebeings.

[sweetrolled]

"What a name... Who made it up?" He looks over the glass before taking a sip.

"Oh, it does taste good, though. I was a little worried it'd be salty, with a name like that." Seems the cat is satisfied with Jesse's selection! He has a few more sips.

[westfallcorndog]

The banquet: Come for the alcohol, stay for the zombies. Some time before getting himself trapped in corn maze hell heaven, Harrowheart wanders into the dining hall and catches sight of someone he knows. With his arms held wide at his sides he stumbles drunkenly over toward Jesse, clearly already plastered. Guy must have been pre-gaming this.

"Heyyyyyy guy! There's a face I reco–" hic! "Reckanize! And...!" He catches sight of Basheda and grins the watery, wobbly smile of a drunken man. "Hello FELLOW ELF!" he says a little too loudly. Then with his eyes closed one of his hands fumbles blindly for Basheda's shoulder, and in a seriously whisper he corrects, "I mean, 'Hello cat-person.'"

Khajiit is probably not paid enough for this.

[sweetrolled]

By the time Basheda has figured out the drunken 'elf' was indeed talking to him, it's too late. This odd stranger now has his hand clapped on his shoulder and he isn't sure what to do. He looks around a bit, wondering if some other elf has lost their friend.

"I, ahh. Hello there." He leans away, just a bit.

[westfallcorndog]

Oh no! The elf is getting farther away! That means Harrow should lean a little closer!

"What kinda elf're you, man? I never seen one with red eyes," he says, then quickly raises a finger to make a point. "But! They're real pretty and very becomin' on you."

http://tinyurl.com/p434pok LOL-free treats!

[sumarusfinest]

Of course the first place Officer Suou found would be the banquet hall. Not for stuffing his own face, but for setting up a small table full of Halloween themed treats he's baked for the occasion.

He suspects not even Schon would mind, after he'd sampled some. He's quite proud of the spread he's got set up to add to the festivities.

He can't just come and dance, can he?

[brave_heart_verity]

Verity doesn't quite notice Katsuya the first time she passes him, because she's busy chasing a chao that has managed to abscond with one of her earrings. "You give that back. No. No, don't try to wear it, that would hurt." This particular little cutie seems to be dressed up as Verity for Halloween.

But who's this blonde chick anyway?

But the cupcakes D:

[sumarusfinest]

The tiny Verity Chau attracts Katsuya's attention more than anything else, since getting his cupcakes set up had obviously taken priority.

"Well hello Verity. Aren't you looking lovely today." He'll get down on his knees and hold a hand out for the little one to run over to him. He knew they'd imitate her and this is adorable. So adorable. He wonders if he should get one sunglasses. Then he can have a doppleganger too.

"And apologies for being late. The garden path up to the house is actually a maze. Who would have thought?" He'd recognize that tone anywhere.

Has she officially lost her rank as 4th most important thing in his life to baked goods and/or chao?

[brave_heart_verity]

Obviously.

Did the Verichao take on Verity's personality too, or is it just happy to see him? Either way it is going to beeline for his hand and pounce! This requires dropping the earring, which Verity scoops up and refastens in her ear where it belongs.

"Which one of us are you talking to?" Has he even looked at her yet? She looks amazing and he should be more impressed.

[bestdadinamestris]

Hughes is absolutely floored not only by the amount of food in the banquet hall, but also the size of the table. How the hell had he not notice this place before? Did Schön make this place with magic? He's very curious about all of it, but it'll have to wait until after they get through some of the edibles being offered.

"I have no idea where to start. Do people normally start with the more dinner-like options or go straight for the dessert?"

[sumarusfinest]

"It's a party. I'd say whatever strikes your fancy." Katsuya will excuse himself briefly to get the both of them a drink. Non-alcoholic, in his own case.


"There's cupcakes I've made, but I"m rather curious about some of the food Schon has prepared."

[onemorebounty]

*Overhearing the gentlemen talk, a wonder of a woman decides to interject. Her voice might be familiar, even if her current appearance isn't.*

Try the honey locusts, they're great. Sweet and just the right crunch.

[shardofwinter]

It's the smell that lures him in at first. The delectable aroma that tugs on memories of starvation and has him beelining straight for the banquet. In all his life Reynard doesn't think he's ever seen such a feast cooked and begging to be eaten. Such wonderfully Seasonal delights too! If he had his hat he'd be fanning himself. As it is, he's gone hatless for his Snow Queen King costume. (Best not ask how he managed to get his hair and beard blond). He will, however, rest a hand on his heart while he has a moment. "It's beautiful..."

Now the only question is: Food or drink first?

[smartass_captain]

That gets answered for him easily. There's a Jim Kirk in an eye catching purple getup that seems barely legal sauntering over with a glass of wine for the King of Winter. He doesn't get the reference, sadly, but he appreciates the sight Rey makes in it.

"Good to see another familiar face." He'll hand the wineglass over and gesture around them. "Quite a spread they've got here.'

[shardofwinter]

This is why you share wine, because sharing with the right people at the right time ensures that the favour is undoubtedly returned. The drink shakes him from his swooning over the banquet and brings him back to grin large and wide once more.

"Jim." He casts an eye up and down the other man, lifting an eyebrow and trying not to be cheeky in his reply. It's difficult. Jokes could be made. "It looks like it's not the only thing dressed to impress."

Thank you for appreciating the spread! :D And thank you for the costume choice!

[brave_heart_verity]

He's not the only one going blonde tonight. Add a long black gown and makeup instead of her glasses, well. It's a hell of a disguise. "Isn't it?"

Rey loves his food. A couple more votes won out.

[shardofwinter]

"It really is." He looks to his new company and eyes her carefully. "You're familiar." After a bit of squinting at her eyes, his smile blooms and cheer replaces confusion. "My dear, I almost didn't recognise you!"