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

[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.

[notalldead]

Jesse thankfully wasn't drinking yet by the time Basheda has his first taste and comments. He sputters and cackles. "Salty! Cuz of the name! Ohhh, holy sh-"

Oop, but there's a lady present now. No swearing allowed in front of women and children! "Shoot! Holy shoot. Did you hear this guy? I got him a Sex on the Beach and he thinks it's gonna be salty cuz of the name! Oh man!" He tilts his hat to the lady. He may be a little clueless when it comes to pop culture, but there are certain icons everyone in North America knows! "Lookin' nice tonight, Ms. Wonder Woman."

After raising his glass in turn, Jesse belts it back and thunks it on the counter, gesturing for another.

[onemorebounty]

Looking good, yourself, Mr. Lone Ranger, Mr. Grey Cat.

*She smirks.*

Give him the benefit of the doubt--maybe he was thinking of seawater?

[sweetrolled]

"Of course. A beach is always accompanied by seawater, isn't it?" He nods to the lady who just arrived. While appraising her costume he notices that her drink has a soft blue glow to it, and finds himself staring that that curiously.

[notalldead]

"Aw, well, now I just look like a perv. That ain't right." Another shot of the JD is up and Jesse slugs that one quick and taps the bar for a third. He's on a mission tonight and that mission is to be seeing double by the time this party's over.

"You always Wonder Woman here or there someone else under the costume, miss?" You never know, it could actually be her!

[onemorebounty]

Oh, this is just a costume. I was at a Girl Scout Halloween party before this, and the girls thought this would be a good fit for me.

*There's a little mischief in her tonight; she's going to let people guess. Noting the feline fellow's gaze, she waggles her glass.*

Gavan brandy. You might like it.

*There's no alcohol in it, but it does stimulate alpha and beta endorphins. It tastes like berries, and makes you feel like you've laughed 'til you're lightheaded. It'd also be a good remedy for aches and pains, if it weren't ridiculously, obscenely expensive. Let's hear it for the open bar, eh?*

[sweetrolled]

"Oh, perhaps. I was just interested in the glow. What causes it to do that?"

Basheda does glance to Jesse as he has yet another shot. Was that the third..? He raises his brow at the green fella briefly.

[notalldead]

Jesse is too busy to notice that skeptical look. Too busy slugging back his forth shot, that is. "Sir, just bring me the bottle, cuz I intend to kill it. There ya go, thank ya kindly." He grins when the Jack Daniels is in fact brought to him, where he pours himself a liberal fifth shot.

"And who's Gavan, for that matter?"

[onemorebounty]

Chemoluminescence.

*She pauses, considering whether that word is likely to mean anything to someone elfy-looking. They're usually more magically inclined.*

You know how glow-bugs glow? It's sort of like that, but I don't think there's any bugs in it. Although the honey locusts they've got over there are good, have you tried them yet?

*Jesse gets a chuckle and a shake of her head.*

"Gavan" as in "made by Gavs." They're... little blue-furred people.

[sweetrolled]

"So it's more like an insect's glow, then." Basheda thinks on this a little more before noticing Jesse has a full-on BOTTLE of booze now.

"Are you aiming to black out before we've even finished a conversation, Jesse?" Basheda, meanwhile, is a little more than halfway through his tall glass.

[notalldead]

"Black out? Son, you ain't never seen me drink proper, have you? This is just a warm-up." Maybe to poke fun, he just sips the latest shot, pinky up. Before he slugs that one as well.

"Although I don't think I'm big on drinkin' somethin' what comes from a bug. I mean, I'm undead, but I still got standards, y'all."

[onemorebounty]

You can tell you've had enough when you can see your veins glow through your skin.

*Basheda gets a nod.*

It didn't come from a bug! Probably

*Her tone rose in annoyance, but amused, good-natured annoyance.*

What's the matter, Lone Ranger? Afraid of an unfamiliar bottle?

[sweetrolled]

"I've eaten bugs before. A bug drink would probably be more palatable. You should try it, Jesse." He nudges him playfully.

[notalldead]

"You just-...You just drop that all casual. 'Oh sure, I've eaten bugs.' The hell, Bashy?! This boy ain't right, I tell ya.

"Yer so hungry for crawlies, then you drink it!" He nudges the dunmer.

[onemorebounty]

*Samus signals to the bartender.*

Another Gavan brandy for the brave cat.

*In a trice, there's another tumbler of glowing blue liquid being pushed across the bar to Basheba, and Samus' glass is raised in a toast.*

Bottoms up!

*The drink has a sweet, fruity scent, and tastes of mixed berries. There's no alcohol, but the endorphins are a giddy rush for anyone not expecting them. It just takes a few minutes for them to settle in.*

[smartass_captain]

"Yo, Jesse! Basheda." Jim's been a good boy and steered clear of the bar all night so far. But one does not simply dance with Verity without getting a bit dehydrated. So here's the good Captain, looking over the wine list.

"Aw, hell. I don't know what Ver likes best..." A slight frown, and then a doubletake.
"Hell, you picked up a goddamn superhero since I last saw you two. Told you the cider would help with the confidence!" Jim don't give the lady a flirty smile. Just don't. She could break your legs with a look.

Too late.

[sweetrolled]

Seems like Basheda is now committed to trying this mysterious blue drink. He joins Samus in the toast and downs his share bravely. He's pleasantly surprised by the fruity taste.

"It isn't so bad. You should still try one, Jesse."

When Jim arrives, Basheda greets him with a smile and a small wave.

"The cider was good, thank you."

[smartass_captain]

"You seem a lot less skittish than when you guys first got here. I'm glad you're having fun." Jim will give Jesse a nod as he settles in between Basheda and the smoking hot tall lady in the super hero getup.

He could get used to sitting here between all the pretty people. Samus gets a hand her way in greeting.

"Hi, Jim Kirk." Aaaand a charming smile!

[onemorebounty]

*Samus clasps not the extended hand, but the forearm behind it.*

Samus Aran. Nice to meet you.

[smartass_captain]

Good grip. Strong grip even. Jim looks quite pleased.

"You're verity's trainer? Get outta town! She and Clint talk about you all the time."

[onemorebounty]

*She raises a brow, amused.*

Oh? Would they be worried, if they knew you'd told me that?

[smartass_captain]

"Naw, you're her trainer, right? Clint says he's gone running with you guys before. Verity's been trying to get me to go with, actually." Jim laughs and raises his champagne flute in greeting.

"Was starting to think she was kidding, since I'd yet to meet you."