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CUDDLE CITY ● MOD TEAM ([personal profile] cuddlemods) wrote in [community profile] cuddlecity2017-10-15 12:18 pm

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?

acuerdo: (28)

[personal profile] acuerdo 2017-10-21 12:57 am (UTC)(link)
[color him surprised when the curtain flutters open. and wouldn't you know, he doesn't even have enough time to register who has joined him in the booth when buffy's up and kissed his cheek. his eyes go wide as the flash goes off and then just as quick she's gone. he blinks for a moment, still seeing spots from the infernal flashbulbs. why couldn't cadelle figure out how to fix that too, huh?

barely a minute later he's exiting the booth and shaking his head as the telltale sounds of a bruno mars song emanate from buffy's mouth. he crosses his arms as he goes to stand next to her.]


Do you always sneak up on innocent partygoers?

[personal profile] gr8muppetyodin 2017-10-21 08:13 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Buffy's smile grew as she looked at him, mirroring his stance by crossing her own arms. She actually couldn't wait to see the photo but mostly because of the look on Robbie's face. Years of sneaking through graveyards finally bore something good. ]

Mm, no. Just the really cute ones.
acuerdo: (22)

[personal profile] acuerdo 2017-10-27 10:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Must be a lot of sneaking around going on then.

[because from his take, there seems to be a whole lot of particularly attractive people about in full force and tonight is no exception to that. another couple of seconds of standing around and the machine spits out the picture. he reaches for it and holds it out for buffy to examine.]

Not too bad. What do you think?

[personal profile] gr8muppetyodin 2017-10-27 11:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Actually not all that much. At least on my side. I mean, there's Vasquez. I wouldn't call that sneaking.

[ But he's really not wrong about all the gorgeous people. The city had some mighty fine taste in might fine looking citizens. And all of them seemed to look like they were born in formal wear.

She took the picture and stifled a giggle. ]


I think the last one is a winner, and not just because I'm in it. You make startled really work for you.
acuerdo: (04)

[personal profile] acuerdo 2017-11-02 12:00 am (UTC)(link)
Probably for the best. I imagine the direct approach is better with that one.

[he raises an eyebrow at her. it's tempting to just rip the thing to shreds, but she seems to really be amused by it. best make nice on this one.]

You should keep it. It'll be the only time you manage to sneak up on me because from here on out I'm making it my mission to return the favor.

[personal profile] gr8muppetyodin 2017-11-02 12:34 am (UTC)(link)
After the misunderstanding got cleared up, definitely. Plus I went all Sadie Hawkins and asked him to the ball. I think he's still kinda cursing me because it means socialising, but hey. He still came!

[ She would have been a little heartbroken if he had ripped it to shreds. Instead she broke into a wide grin and bounced just a little in her heels. ]

Thanks, Robbie! I am definitely gonna treasure it. I mean, you were my first for a lot of things in this city. [ But the smile soon faded as he started to threaten payback. ] Oh no, you do not sneak up on a slayer. If you're planning on starting this war you better be prepared to lose.
acuerdo: (138)

[personal profile] acuerdo 2017-11-08 03:40 am (UTC)(link)
That's progress. I picked him up for drinks once and he seemed like he was going to jump out of his skin because there were people in the lobby of his building.

[he's not joking. not one bit. this means war, buffy.]

I'm pretty sneaky. Remember you're not the only one who's familiar with things that go bump in the night.

[personal profile] gr8muppetyodin 2017-11-08 10:57 pm (UTC)(link)
To be fair he seemed to have spent a lot of time on the run. He's just as obsessive about eating. But hey, we all have our quirks, right? I was waiting for the language barrier to be more of a hump than it has been.

[ don't worry, she's already making mental notes because game on. ]

Uh-huh. You keep telling yourself that. Oh, I know that. But I'm still going to win.
acuerdo: (153)

[personal profile] acuerdo 2017-11-10 03:08 am (UTC)(link)
If you're worried about the language barrier, I could always show you a few choice phrases...

[though, does 21st century spanish really resemble that spoken by a vaquero from the wild wild west. robbie makes a mental note to suggest the will smith song to buffy. it's about damn time she annoy someone else with an ear worm.]

Them's fighting words. I hope you're ready to lose.

[personal profile] gr8muppetyodin 2017-11-10 08:15 am (UTC)(link)
I'd actually really like that. I was going to ask if we could maybe trade since I'm giving you slayer lore and all. You could help me with the Spanish. I promise I'll actually pay attention.

[ he really does love her annoying him with that song. she has no idea if the spanish will match but at least she can try. her vocabulary right now is about ten words none of which make a sentence. ]

So what are we playing for? Besides bragging rights.
acuerdo: (94)

[personal profile] acuerdo 2017-11-18 10:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Sounds good. I'll be sure to teach you the most important ones first.

[if she presses, he'll make mention that the most important are the swear words. never know when someone's talking shit. it's a valid concern and common occurrence as far as he's seen.]

Drinks on the loser?

[personal profile] gr8muppetyodin 2017-11-19 09:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Should I brace myself now for what you consider the most important?

[ Or just start laughing, because it's probably more Vasquez that needs to brace himself. However she is all for learning the swear words in any language. ]

Sure, but I hope you're ready to be broke.
acuerdo: (80)

[personal profile] acuerdo 2017-11-23 06:46 pm (UTC)(link)
It's the same as it should be in any language. You gotta know how to tell someone off. It'll come in handy with more than just Vasquez.

[like every other spanish speaker in this city.]

Just you wait Buffy. Just you wait.