cuddlecity | EVENT: A VERY NICE BALL.

EVENT: A VERY NICE BALL.

Blink, and a week goes by; close your eyes, and the evening of the fifteenth comes to life, the cool glow of moonlight illuminating the quiet streets of the city. For once, it seems like the entire city's come to a standstill — many of the local businesses have closed early today, with signs advising they'll reopen first thing in the morning, and even the dependable, cheerful squawks of the street vendors have hushed for the time being. Hurried as this year's event may seem, the annual celebration is a city tradition that's not to be missed; bakers and booksellers alike know this all too well, and any lingering souls in their shops will be gently but firmly shooed to the exits by late afternoon. They've got to get all dolled up too, after all, and such finery takes time.

Whether the Social Committee's video enticed you or you've been dragged by the metaphorical scuff tonight, the Samhain Ball hopes to offer you an evening of seasonally appropriate escapism. There's something for everyone tonight, from the comforting swells of smooth jazz and upbeat swing pouring out from the stage where a live band plays, to the mouth-watering smells and tastes of a gourmet plated meal served early in the evening, to even the simple beauty of the decorated ballroom itself.

The first hour or so of the evening allows for guests to enter at their leisure through double doors at the north end of the ballroom, where all are greeted by the smiling faces of Flora and Cornelius in their matching cream pantsuits. Should you choose this main entrance, you and your companion — or companions, if you've brought more than one — will be announced in grand style, befitting the occasion. (Savvy — or sneaky — attendees may note the auxiliary entrance on the west side of the ballroom. Follow the garden path, and be mindful of the sprinklers. They do have a tendency to go off at the wrong moments.)

Take a look around, and soak in the sights. The ornately carved ceiling of the ballroom has been obscured for the evening with tasteful black draping dotted with the gentle glow of strung lights. It lends a twilight quality to the evening, enhanced by the soft flicker of tea lights placed at the center of each table on the east side of the ballroom and the sconces hung on the wall throughout. Each table, too, features a soft cream tablecloth and a bounty of autumnal florals, perfectly arranged to match the golden chairs surrounding. There's plenty of seating for all, and no assignments — feel free to claim a table for you and yours, and free your hands of anything you may not wish to carry.

The slow fade of music from the stage signals attention to a single woman illuminated by spotlight, whose silhouette should look familiar to anyone who's spent time in the city. With a small, tired smile, Mayor Drake welcomes you and yours to the city's annual Samhain Celebration Ball; her speech is short, but touches on the importance of the holiday, from the appreciation of the harvest to the welcoming of the new year, and reminds both natives and visitors alike to take time in the coming months to cherish their blessings — including this most immediate one, the promised Samhain feast.

Once you've settled around a table, the ballroom welcomes you to chat with strangers and friends alike, encouraging conversation with soft instrumental music and the quiet, pleasant generosity of passing waiters carrying flutes of happily bubbling champagne. A little liquid courage never hurt anyone, after all.

Dinner is an affair in itself, plated and served by hushed but skilled waiters whose capable hands whisk courses in and out with no more than a smile. No matter your dietary preferences or needs, there's an appetizer, entree, and everything in between available for you — simply raise a hand, and a member of the waitstaff will be at your side to assist in taking your order when you're ready. Linger as long as you like at the table; there's no rush to leave, but when you're ready, let the swells of the music from the stage entice you to the west side of the ballroom, where a dance floor's lit by the warm glow of so many twinkling lights overhead.

The music itself goes on through the wee hours of the evening, so there's plenty of opportunities to fill your dance card with any number of partners. The songs themselves vary from gentle waltzes perfect for cheek-to-cheek swaying to faster rhythms suited for swing dancing's signature dips and twirls, and requests are always welcome if you've something particular in mind. There's even a microphone tucked to the side, just in case you feel the urge to croon with accompaniment to someone special as the night goes on.

Of course, if you don't feel like dancing, or just need to rest your feet, there's plenty of entertainment tucked in the hall. In a small room just off the ballroom, you might find a collection of old-fashioned photobooth machines, ordered on accident and set here where they won't clash with the rest of the decor. They're operational, of course, and free of charge; feel free to take a few silly photos, but be sure to wait for them to print. There's the gardens, too, equally decorated with twinkling lights, though the effect is muted by the moonlight that trickles through the canopy overhead; the adjoining hedge maze and walking paths have often been a perfect site for quiet walks and romantic interludes in years past.

While a perfect world might allow such a charmed evening to last forever, unfortunately all good things must come to an end, and as the late hour of the evening gives way to the promise of dawn, a familiar tune is played to signal the end of the event. As the lyrics go, you don't have to go home... but you can't stay here. Time to make your way to the exit, and see where else the night takes you.

Whew, talk about words. Should you need a recap: be pretty, because this is a fancy event. Bring a friend or come stag, whatever you choose; eat, drink, dance (or don't) and be merry, for this is an event without any dramatic accidental consequences. Well, except the sprinklers... and maybe your own excessive consumption of champange, but that's up to you!

And, though we say it every time, please don't forget that your mod team is here for you with answers to any questions you might have, whether related specifically to this event or the game in general. If you have any further questions specific to this event, we encourage you to ask away on our QUESTIONS COMMENT here in this post. If you have general questions, or prefer a more private venue, our GENERAL INBOX (and SCREENED INBOX) is always available for you.

Enjoy your evening, cuddlers, but if you would, please — save the last dance for us?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[when they're announced, he's all grins, one arm hooked around caitlin's, and an amused look thrown past her shoulders to cisco on her other side. sure, he's been to a fancy party or two in his life. but this is somehow a step up from the queen mansion. different, but impressive in its own right.

he's gone the plain and boring route, though granted he's also sporting something that's gone a few steps beyond a five o'clock shadow by now. but with a theme in place and two "dates" there with him, he had to at least make the effort.

despite all that, despite being the one to bring it up in the first place, he doesn't really want to be at the ball. that much is likely obvious from the look on his face every time he's off on his own. coming with cisco and caitlin had seemed like the right choice at the time. the only way for him to go in the first place. without them, that hole by his side would be a lot harder to deal with. as it stands, it's already painful enough knowing that there's no way to fill that void. no way to even pretend that he doesn't miss them. but with no return ticket home in his future, he knows he just has to...make do.

thankfully, once dinner comes, he has all he needs to try and distract himself. his meals look a little different to most, stuffed full of calories that still only fill a portion of what he needs. that, combined with the off-hued champagne make it clear to him that the city has taken his specific needs in to account when making his meal for the evening.

dancing doesn't really happen. not because he's incapable of it, but rather because he isn't all too interested in it. to the friends who want a partner though, it doesn't take all that much to convince him to change his mind. but he's quick to reclaim his seat after the songs end. happy to duck out of the party entirely once the coast is clear enough. there's a garden to go wandering around. a maze to explore.

don't mind him.]

[ leonard catches sight of barry when he first arrives. glances at him a few times over the course of dinner, maybe gives him a smirk across the ballroom should their eyes meet. he doesn't go over to say hi, though. at least, not until barry's making his way off the dance floor and a slower song starts up. then there's a warm hand that rests on the small of his back as len comes up behind and around him, raising an amused eyebrow. ]

What is this? [ he reaches up and rubs a thumb along the line of barry's jaw and the... fuzz that's currently growing there. ] Trying to get rid of the baby face?

[throughout the course of the evening, barry does his best to ignore len's presence. it's not that he wants to pretend the other man isn't there. rather, it's that those few times that their eyes do end up meeting, barry manages to make a fool of himself as a result. a misplaced foot causing a yelp from his dance partner at the time. a fumbled glass sloshing alcohol onto his pants. he could really do without having to field the questions that come after each mess up, thank you very much.

but ultimately, it seems as though his plan fails completely the moment that len finally heads over to him. the moment he touches him. any hope of keeping up the facade is lost as barry ends up smiling back at him.]

I thought I could do with a change. [he doesn't fight it when his hands come up to rest either side of len's waist. to keep him close despite how public of a place they are.] It's not going to be a problem, is it? [you know, what with the whole wanting to make out a lot more in the future.]

( the soft strum of guitar and cello accompanies the next song. it's slow and sweet and all too warm, and while kara's quite content to linger in her comfortable perch near the dining table, she's got an iou on her dance card that needs filling. it's barry's wrist that she catches as he tries to slink away, alien strength a blessing as she tugs him along with her, his quiet protests falling on deaf ears until they're snugly swaying on the floor, his arms guided around her waist as she leans up against his sturdy frame.

it's lucky for barry, too, that he's likely the only man kara could dance with like this, cheek to cheek, without the threat of arrows puncturing his skin.

she could have opted for a faster song, something more lighthearted, but the slow sweetness of this particular rhythm means the ambient noise around them is quieter. it lends itself better to gentle whispers, like the ones scattered against his ear as they move to and fro. )

Thanks for dancing with me.

( as if she'd given him much of a choice in the matter, but it still bears saying. )

[his protests are cursory at best, kara, caitlin, and cisco being the only people here who he wouldn't put up a fight against dancing with. they're his family, afterall. so he has no reason to try and escape spending time with any of them.]

S'probably just as well you picked a slow song. [because right now, he's pretty sure anything faster will leave him feeling a whole lot more nauseous than he already does. and the last thing he wants to do is be that guy. the lightweight who can't handle a couple of drinks.

as it is, he's more than content to snuggle up against her as they sway, a quick smile being thrown in oliver's direction before he continues.]

I know I probably don't say it enough, but I really am happy for you two.

( in a snug black dress with her hair done just so, kara feels a little bit like a princess. it's a new feeling for her — the last formal event she'd had reason to attend had been the catco magazine launch, and she'd wound up attending in a bulletproof green number that alex had pulled out of her closet at the last minute.

it had felt a little like playing dress up then, pretending to be someone she wasn't, and reverting to her supergirl best had been a welcome relief. but tonight, kara feels like herself. just a little fancier, a little more done up, but still kara. coming down the stairs arm-in-arm had felt like stepping into a fairy tale.

she follows the line of his gaze as it darts away from her only to come back, and his words only earn a widening of her smile, eyes closing for
a moment as she relishes the happiness that bubbles up in her chest. )

Me too, ( kara finally replies, throat a little thick until she swallows again, coughing a bit to clear it. ) I never really... expected any of this. I didn't think we were allowed to, you know?

( to have something just for themselves, as heroes. to have that private, personal space, the sort of regular life that other people took for granted. in these sorts of multiverses, though, they could. they didn't have to balance between one identity and the other. they could just be themselves, and let the responsibilities lay aside for a moment. )

Come on, Barry.

[ thea's hand curls around his wrist as she walks up behind him in the gardens, high heels already dangling from her other hand. she circles around him until she is backing toward the maze and tugging him with her. ]

I always failed the maze on the back of the Denny's placemat, so I will need a partner for this.

EVENT: A VERY NICE BALL.

barry allen | open

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