happy holidays { open }

[disasdeer]

A HOLIDAY PARTY

I. Arrival

There were postings around town, and fliers going out around the end of November. The holiday party starts early evening, December 1, thanks to the help of several hands. They had worked for a couple of days prior to the start to get the large ballroom decorated to everyone's liking. He had rented out a large ballroom, and started decorating the day before, adding finishing touches early on the day of. Everyone was invited - and while there's no real dress code posted, everyone is invited to dress their best for the sake of the party.

When one approaches the building, there's a clear set of rules posted outside written in neat script:

There's only a few easy rules to ensure everyone enjoys their night:

One, no fighting - if you have to - please take it outside.
Two, no weapons on the premises.
Three, all children under the age of sixteen must leave before nine in the evening.

Welcome in. Grab a mask if you want - or don't - and join the party.

II. Welcome In

When walking through the entrance, the first thing that is easy to notice is how it is decorated. It has the colors of the holidays - red, green, blue, white. It’s mostly deeper shades with pops of brighter shades of the color. On the right of the entryway there is a table with a dark blue cloth over it. On top of it is a wide array of masks - different styles, shapes, sizes. Whatever their heart may desire, you can find here. Masks are, of course, optional! But who doesn’t love a great masquerade?

Above it is a sign that says Yours to Keep - so they may keep whatever masks they pick up.

Next to it is a large book with lined paper where people can drop a short message about the winter holiday they celebrate at home - their favorite part, how they celebrate, anything they'd like to share with other people! This will be picked up at the end of the party.

Not much further ahead is a dancefloor to the left - spacious as ever. To the right is catering - set up as an elaborate display of food and tables arranged so people can sit and eat. There’s food from a variety of places, including Golden Silence. They’ll find not only savory foods, but sweet desserts. In the back corner, not far from the food is a bartender, who is happily serving free drinks for anyone of drinking age.

Past the bar is a hallway with a couple of private rooms. These rooms are quiet - with none of the noise of the party being able to reach them. They're perfect for stepping away from the party for just a few moments of peace and quiet. In this rooms, there's decks of cards and a few simple board games. Each room can hold up to four people and can be locked from the inside.

Don't worry - there's signs posted everywhere so they'll will be able to find what they're looking for.

III. With So Much To Do

A. Dance the Night Away

The music at the party is provided by a variety of individuals. Various talents have been invited through the night, even! If no one is set to perform, there's a playlist set to play. The music goes on non-stop and the styles that will be played will vary. Most of the songs will be fairly upbeat through the night. Some of them are slower paced - so pick a partner and dance.

B. Mistletoe

Throughout the venue there's going to be mistletoe set up in a few spots throughout the building. The spots they're hanging are easy to identify. Most doorways have mistletoe hanging from them. There's also a few prime spots where there's some hanging - such as the corner not far from the bar. It's a perfect place to steal a kiss.

B. Charity Raffle

Near the food, there's a sign directing people to participate and purchase tickets for the charity raffle for a few prizes for people. There's donations (or things purchased) from a few businesses around Camelot. All funds raised from the Charity will go towards helping everyone who lost things during the events with Celliwig/Lestari. There's a variety of things: brunch for two, a date package, opportunities to learn a new skill, and other experiences. Several prizes will be raffled off, and people may purchase as many tickets as they want.

IV. Late at Night

After 9 in the evening, the entire feeling of the party changes. The lights get lower and glowsticks become available just off of the dance floor where they weren't earlier in the night. The music remains upbeat, though there's no performers for this part of the evening - only a playlist cycling through a variety of songs. This is a perfect time to grab a partner for a dance, or grab a drink. There's no real end of the night in sight, people are welcome to stay as long they'd like - even into the next morning if they should want.

Just be sure they're out by lunch the next day when clean-up starts.

Some quick ooc notes:

Anyone is free to assume their character participated in helping decorate.

Anyone who is a musician may get a short time slot to perform (15-30 minutes).

Feel free to have your character win anything from the raffle if you want - I'm not particular here!

Please mark anything NSFW as such in subject lines.

Have any questions? Drop one in my question thread!

Comments

mistletoe

[morns]

( among the people who have been trying to avoid the mistletoe is a face Izō may find familiar. Kate had been doing pretty well at that whole thing — avoiding the ones out in the open, finding opportune moments to dart through doorways and less travelled paths when she needed to go that way — until she's heading back to the bar, just as Izō decides it's the perfect time to show off his bravery.

sigh.

her heels click against the floor as she taps her foot, stuck behind him as he declares himself not a coward. )

What're you doing?

[hitokiri]

[ he spins around at the sound of her voice, which might've looked more graceful if he was even a little less drunk than he is right now. whatever he was about to say he forgets immediately as he sees what she's wearing though. whoops. ]

Huh. That's... uh... well, it's somethin'.

[ very profound commentary. what was he talking about again? ]

[morns]

What.

( that isn't an answer to her question, nor is it getting out of her way. :| )

[hitokiri]

Whaddaya mean "what"?! The dress! What else would I be talkin' about?

[ she's so colourful. there's just so much here for him to deal with. ]

[morns]

( she looks good in orange! gosh.

but the fact that she's wearing a dress... ugh. )

...'S not a big deal.

( which is clearly a lie given that she's wrapping her arms pretty tightly around herself as she grumbles. )

You going to move or do I have to kiss you?

[hitokiri]

What, didja lose a bet or somethin'?

[ it's not that kate doesn't look good — she looks great! izō is just... remarkably bad at speaking, apparently. but also, who wears a dress they seem like they don't like...? it's a justifiable confusion. probably. maybe.

he's busy mulling this over for a few seconds when she asks her question, and kate can probably see the gears in his head turning slowly as he realises what she's asking. izō was laughing a little, but it trails off awkwardly. ]

That s'posed t'be a threat? Hehe, that's a new one. The Western type clothes really make that big a difference?

[ there's no reason to make a connection between the plant he's standing under and kisses, so in izō's mind kate must be talking about kissing him because he's well-dressed. it's logical! ]

[morns]

( she did, as a matter of fact, but thankfully her second comment has the desired effect of dragging them away from her sartorial choices and towards Izō's, uh, debatable bravery*.

*also known as drunken stupidity by everyone else.

Kate's brow raises — a frequent sight, let's be honest — but there's amusement dancing at the corners of her mouth and lighting up her eyes. ah. )

You're s'posed to kiss people when they're under mistletoe.

( she points a finger upwards. that's what you're standing under, dimwit. )

1/2

[hitokiri]

Say what now?

[ izō heard her, he's just having a hard time accepting this. sounds fake. ]

... That's fuckin' stupid! Why would anybody be afraid a'somethin' like that?! Knowin' that changes nothin' 'cause what I said is still true 'cause I ain't a coward!

[ look, this isn't awkward for him at all. is what he would like everyone to believe. but he looks a little thoughtful after a moment or two. or about as thoughtful as he's going to get right now. ]

2/2

[hitokiri]

But, see, I think to m'self "why should just anyone get a kiss? I'm a manslayer with standards."

[ a pause. ]

Not that I'm sayin' ya don't meet standards or that I wouldn't, only that I'm not... y'know... holdin' ya to obligations...

[ see, he's doing kate a favour here! he's a nice guy! it's a good thing he's too drunk to have shame right now. ]

[morns]

( keep digging that hole, Izō. you see, she was going to put them both out of their misery and get it over with, but now?

oh, let a lady have some fun. )

What standards?

( please, share these standards with the class. )

[hitokiri]

... Ah.

[ he's unprepared. ]

Well, y'know, like bein' attractive. Otherwise, what's the point?! Anyway, it's complicated shit...

[morns]

( well, she'd like to think she passes that bar, perhaps especially when she bothers to make an effort like she is now.

but there's still more to be uncovered here, isn't there? )

Lots of attractive people here. Must be a busy Manslayer.

( it isn't often Kate drips that much innuendo in the way she speaks, but the word Manslayer is laden with it.

and, just to make things worse, she takes exactly one step forward into Izo's personal space. )

You get lots of practice slaying men?

[hitokiri]

Huh?

[ it's not that izō doesn't ever get innuendo when it happens, but it wouldn't be the first time something's gone over his head. ]

Er... what's that gotta do with this?

[ and why is she so close?? he has no choice but to stay put though because anything else would imply weakness. ]

[morns]

( ah, first things first...

it's weird pulling someone in from this height, but Kate keeps her grip firm as she finds Izō's collar and pulls the space between them closed for a quick, but hardly chaste, kiss. )

Sounds like the kind of thing someone who fucks a lot of men would call themselves.

( shrug. ladykiller, manslayer. very similar concepts, don't you think? )

[hitokiri]

[ the kiss surprises him enough that it's finished by the time he can string two thoughts together well enough to do something about it. it's not like he's a prude. or a virgin. he's just not used to people going around kissing each other like that. ]

Wh—..?

[ give him a second, and he'll use his words. izō knows what he could use right now, his nerves being what they are at the moment. he fishes a lighter and a pack of cigarettes out of his back pocket, glancing up at the now stupid mistletoe for a moment before he finally steps aside and out of the way.

taking one from the pack, he offers one to kate as well. he has no idea what the rules are about smoking in here — or that people might have rules about that at all since izō's used to people smoking everywhere — but he'll stick his head out a window somewhere if he has to or just go outside like a normal person. ]

Why the fuck do people keep sayin' that? It means exactly what it means. Got nothin' t'do with fuckin' nobody.

[ izō is just going to neatly sidestep any mention of how many men he has or has not fucked, thank you very much, and lights his cigarette. he would light hers too if she took one because he has some manners. and if not..? more for him. ]

[morns]

( honestly, Kate wouldn't have kissed him like that if it weren't for the mistletoe, if it weren't for his bragging, if it weren't for the alcohol.

there's the softest uptick of the corners of her mouth as she pulls back from the kiss, amused and vaguely smug as Izō tries to compose himself in the wake of everything, the expression fading to a lingering moment's contemplation as she eyes the cigarettes.

... nah. she kicked that habit years ago. )

'S innuendo. ( shrug. there's just something about it that sounds more sexual than Izō intends.

but mostly she just thinks his blustery frustration is funny. )