isleofavalon | happy holidays { open }

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A.. fertility symbol. [Only her well-polished manners save Rinea from wrinkling her nose. Certainly that has its uses, and families are cherished things, but... is it really appropriate for a party????? It doesn't seem to match up. Clearly she is missing something here.

The person speaking to her seems friendly enough, though. Rinea matches Gareth's smile, curtsying with the hand not holding her drink.] Yes, I have been quite enjoying myself! Thank you for enlightening me on the subject of the decor, as well... though I must confess I am still a bit lost.

[Rinea's gaze looks out across the room to another of the Cursed plant, where she can see someone give the thing a wide berth. She is beginning to look concerned.] Is that why people are... I'm sorry-- are they avoiding it?

[ Gareth can't help laughing just a bit more brightly, smile cutting through like a sunbeam despite her attempts to hide her mouth, out of politeness. She supposed people WERE avoiding it, but that just seemed... ]

It's a bit silly, isn't it? Perhaps they fear it's been enchanted in some way, but if I had to guess, I can only imagine they just don't want to feel obligated to go along with a certain tradition associated with the plant.

[ Gareth cleared her throat, the natural blushmarks on her cheeks managing to grow a bit, visible even despite her mask. ]

You see, when under the mistletoe, because of its various associations and the like, people are usually expected to, well...

[ Another laugh, anxious this time. ]

To kiss, of course. N-not that anyone is obligated to! At least I should certainly hope so, but I suppose others would rather avoid being caught beneath them less they be expected to kiss the nearest stranger.

[Oh, well THAT explains it. Rinea cannot help a surprised blink as this explanation settles on her, staring almost uncomprehendingly at Gareth.

A kiss. A kiss??????????? A KISS?????????? By the Mother. Rinea has not kissed anyone in months, unless you count the good night pecks she has pressed into a sleeping Chris's hair when the woman was sorely overworked. Other than that, the last time she has a proper kiss was Berkut, and that particular memory is... ...uuuh, uuuuwuhuhsddsksjdsd]

My! [Rinea holds her glass to her mouth. Her expression is somewhat stricken.] How... forward.

[Still, she rallies, unable to help peeking up at the greenery above them. oh god they're right under it, aren't they. Duma grant her strength.] I would think to say I have much yet to learn of this modern era, but... it seems those familiar with it are just as-- just as...

[What's the word for this. She looks at Gareth a little helplessly.] ...bashful, it seems, at the prospect.

[ Gareth at least greeted her with a smile, gentle warmth in her features. She shook her head in a small bit of assurance, waving her hand before her. ]

Worry not, milady, as I'd hardly act untoward in any situation, regardless of traditions or plants abound. [ A small giggle. ]

[ This girl, she... it was impossible to miss, wasn't it? Surely, she didn't look like her, but something about the quality of her voice, the cadence of her words... Her mind drifted to previous galas, in Camelot, of escorting Lady Lyonesse... She could feel her face warm even further.

Best not to think about it too much, but it was hard to not feel something tighten in her chest as well. That dagger that had remained there, had only pushed further in when her brother had left Avalon. A blade called loneliness... She tried to ignore it. ]

Would you, instead, honor me with my lady's name? I haven't properly introduced myself, either...

[ Another bow. ] Sir Gareth of Orkney, at your service...

Sir Gareth, then. [Rinea's expression perks up again.] I am Lady Rinea, of Rigel.

[Receiving so formal an introduction feels like a rarity these days, in comparison to home. But-- speaking of formalities...!

Rinea offers Gareth her gloved hand, tittering. This joke is perhaps more bold than she'd normally act with a stranger, but she has had enough fun tonight to make her primary emotion "merry" rather than "ashamed."]

Perhaps this will sufficiently fulfill the custom? [Hehehe.]

[ Strange as it was, this all felt so much more... comfortingly familiar, for Gareth. More, that dagger seemed to prick at her, but for once it was oddly... welcome? She couldn't help but laugh herself, though subdued, trying to keep herself together. She was a Knight, after all, representing the Round Table. Lancelot's words rang in her ears, low and calm, assuring her of how to proceed. ]

To have any of my lady's favor, would give me wings to sail winter's winds...

[ Spoken softly, the warmth in her tone still present, but less like sunlight and more like... a hearth, gently blazing, permeating a room with its aura.

Gareth took the offered hand, tender in her own, and knelt before Rinea, to a knee, lifting her knuckle slowly to her lips, keeping her eyes trained upwards, towards the other girl's, as said lips brushed the gloved nuckle, letting her breath play upon them first. ]

You honor me...

[Rinea cannot help but look a little surprised at how ardently Gareth accepts her hand. Eh?? Ah? Ueh??? This girl is certainly... intense, isn't she! Most knights back home gave Rinea only the most perfunctory of greetings, even after her rise in status. Except... Hmm. Actually, this reminds Rinea of Sir Fernand. Perhaps such devout knighthood is more common than she thought.]

I worry that you perhaps overstate it. I haven't a real title any longer, after all. [Oh my God, she is kneeling and people are looking at them. Rinea's smile is genuine, but her cheeks are definitely a little pink.]

Oh... but Sir Gareth. [Rinea tilts her head as she regards the other girl curiously. She's heard that name before. Gareth, Gareth... what was it. --Oh!] Forgive me if I recall incorrectly, but... Were you perhaps a champion of the Celliwig tournament some time ago?

[ She'd been following the Lancelot Strategy to the letter, almost, when Rinea brought it all to a very sudden halt when she mentioned that. Gareth hadn't quite let go of her hand, and her grip even seemed to tighten some, but the resolve in her eyes faltered almost completely and she found herself being the flustered one, clearing her throat and averting her gaze as her blush became that much more apparent. ]

A-ah, yes, that is... Y-yes, that's me, ah heh...

[ An awkward giggle. Celebrity, she would never feel comfortable with it, would she? Of course this girl would recognize her. Now she had all of that over her, as well... How was she going to recover from this? ]

So it was you! Congratulations, then! [Gareth feels more awkward, and Rinea feels more comfortable. Ah, so the pendulum swings!]

I must confess I saw very few of the matches, having been so occupied with the Familiar tournament... but from what I understand, the competition was very fierce. [Rinea withdraws her hand from Gareth's to clasp her own together, pleased (and more or less missing Gareth's inner conundrum entirely).] How lucky Camelot is to be in the purview of such a person! Are you part of their knightage?

W-well...

[ As much as she strove to prove her strength and the excellence of her training in tournaments like that, she never carried the glory that came with it very well, constantly stumbling in her own celebrity. And now to be recognized for it in a moment like this... ]

I am not, nor do I seek to be made knight of another besides my own king... I simply do what I can to aid those here, however I am able...

happy holidays { open }

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