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

( oh, boy. oh boy oh boy oh boy. felicity's wobbly walk is definitely not the reassurance kara was looking for. she really did a number on this girl, and felicity doesn't even know how, does she? kara has to bite back the urge to overexplain — because it's really tempting right now — in order to focus instead on guiding felicity towards the closest seat, pulling it out as gingerly as she can to make it easier for the blonde to sink in. at least they're comfortable seats. a small miracle. )

Here, I — you know what, I don't think you're supposed to have alcohol with aspirin, but a little bit can't hurt, right? Just a couple sips?

( who knows. kara doesn't know. alcohol doesn't really register with kryptonians, and her sister has been on the verge of casual alcoholism for so long that it's just never been something she's thought about. a beer with advil never stopped alex. surely a few sips of wine and aspirin won't kill felicity.

at least, kara sure hopes it won't. )

Are you sure you're okay? You're not seeing double or weird floaty lights or hearing things backwards, are you? Because I'm pretty sure those are bad signs and we should probably get you to a hospital if that's the case.

( she could, in theory, scan felicity for internal injuries. she's done it before. but she doesn't want to freak her out too badly in the process, so kara holds back on that particular talent for the time being. )

[ When Kara says it like that, somewhere in the back of Felicity's newly sensitive head, she remembers that maybe there is some kind of problem with taking painkillers and have alcohol. But would it actually be bad news? Or can she just have some and figure it out later?

To be fair, she really does consider it for a second, before she waves off the concern with her free hand. That ice pack for her head is really starting to numb things out. ]

Mmmm. No floaty lights. Or dancing stars.

[ She smiles, in an effort to comfort Kara that she's okay. That everything is totally and completely fine. All she did was bump her head on Kara's shoulder! But if her head hurts this much ... ]

Kara, how's your shoulder?

[ Because the two of them must have hit pretty hard if her head needs an ice pack. And aren't skulls supposed to be stronger than the bones in your arms? Maybe she made that up. ]

Oh, it's fine...

( but she's brushing off the question as soon as it comes up, a hardly believable deflection that's quickly swallowed up by the next motion; kara's eager to grab the attention of a passing waiter and request a glass of ice water to replace the glass of red wine she's given felicity to nurse. )

I'm pretty sturdy.

( this would make more sense if felicity actually remembered her. if she remembered the last time kara had been on earth-1, when she'd seen much stranger things than a flying supergirl with super cool ice breath. but for whatever reason, felicity doesn't remember. she doesn't know anything, and kara's terrified of being the person to spill the beans (again).

so, instead, she'll just continue to try and toddle around the truth until someone a little more experienced manages to figure out a better way to do this. )

Do you want me to get you anything else? Water's coming... and you still have ice. It's not melted, right? Because I can go get you more ice or something if you need it.

[ It's okay Kara. Right now, Felicity is still of the opinion that literally anyone else is in better shape than her. Most people can do more than ten sit ups, right? Maybe shoulder strength works the same way. Or maybe, she'll think harder about it after the party, when the world is quieter and she has a longer moment to breathe. ]

You must be. [ Pretty sturdy, that is.

In terms of anything else ... ] No I'm good, Kara. If you're okay, then you should- you know, go and enjoy the party! [ Is she trying too hard there? She probably can't pull off excited and wincing at the same time quite yet. ] I'll be fine, I'm promise.

( in all fairness, felicity is probably not in any worse shape than any other tech-obsessed blonde bombshell. which is to say, her shape is fine. it's good. felicity is beautiful, and kara will hear no argument to the contrary. even if felicity looks a little worse for wear right now, what with the telltale splotches of red that will eventually turn an ugly shade of purple if the offended area isn't properly iced and cared for. kara's given her fair share of accidental bruises. she knows that look.

but hovering over the other girl and making her feel uncomfortable isn't her intention, so when felicity tries to shoo her away, kara is willing to take the hint. somewhat, anyway. ) Okay, okay. If you promise you're okay, I'll go.

( but not without one last offer. supergirl is nothing if not super persistent. )

But if you feel light-headed or dizzy or anything, call me. No stumbling off and then passing out on your way home, do you hear me?

Oliver would kill me if anything happened to you.

( not to mention her own personal guilt complexes... )

I promise ... how about this. I promise that I can very successfully get myself home after this. And if tomorrow morning I feel weird I'll definitely go to the hospital.

[ A beat. ]

This place has hospitals right?

[ She never quiet thought about that before. Since you know, it's as close to paradise as she can imagine. ]

And right. Yes. I'll call you Kara. Thank you. Really.

[ AS FOR OLIVER THOUGH. The mention of the name triggers something in her — mostly the memory that someone who seemed to be Oliver Queen messaged her once. And then literally never replied again. ]

Oliver ... Queen?

EVENT: A VERY NICE BALL.

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