EVENT: A VERY NICE BALL.

[cuddlemods]

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?

Comments

[quinientos]

[That's why he doesn't like it already. Being social is something that Vasquez is forced to do recently, and even before the bounty, he wasn't exactly the kind of friendly person that reached out and made acquaintances. He more tolerated them.]

What are you trying to accomplish with all the talk? Trying to find something out?

[Because why else would you willingly talk to strangers? They must have something. Well, or they're pretty and can offer something very intimate, Vasquez knows a thing or two about courting conversation for that.]

Where I come from, people don't start talking to others so easily. Trust isn't so quickly given.

[He raises a brow at the possibility of more drinks coming later.]So why are you staying? For the mingling? Or the drinking?

[scrimshanding]

Me, personally? Or just in general? [ Jax crossed his leg, settling the ankle of his right on top of his left, as he sussed out if that 'you' was general or not.

Jax pondered the other man's words for a second. He never thought about it that way. If anything, he saw some types of mingling as a perfunctory type of social reaction. Or like he said, an icebreaker. But there could be a sort of openness required - even if a person was just shooting the breeze.] Sometimes it can be. You know, people looking to make a friend. Looking for a connection for whatever reason. Sometimes it's just people talking about the weather and other boring stuff. Just making conversation because you don't want to keep the wall company.

I'm Jax, by the way. I'm realizing I never said. [ Jax extended a hand. He figured he should introduce himself before satiating his curiosity about the his dinner partner's perspective. ] And since I'm kinda here for the mingling, I probably should've. [ He was also there for food.

Speaking of which, the waiter returned with their order. ]

[quinientos]

You, personally. When you go talk to others, why?

[ It might be a stupid question, seeing as he's sitting here talking with a stranger, which means that he shouldn't even be asking, but his curiosity is flaring. ]

Where I come from, friends and allies, it happens because you have a purpose in common. It's because you want the same thing, so because of this, then you connect, bond.

[ Or, if you're like him and Goodnight, you sass at him and poke until you find common ground. Perking up when the waiter returns with the food, he's already working a napkin into his lap, eager to tuck into some more food. ] Vasquez. I'm Vasquez, and I hope you're very hungry, because I will not be very polite in my eating.

Phone tagging, please excuse any errors

[scrimshanding]

[ Jax shrugged. He barely had to think about it. He went with the rationalisation he has given himself (despite all of his internal, and a little external, complaints about mingling). ] I like meeting new people, some times. [ As a football player it had been important for him to socialize. And as a could have been, an injured high school graduate who needed to work, those skills kind of fell to disuse as his classmates moved on with life and his family, his job had become his priority.

Yet in both scenarios, despite adapting to circumstances and environment, Jax considered himself fairly sociable. ] And I figured this was a good place and time to just that.

We've got some of that too. [ Jax stated after a thoughtful mod. Vasquez' words bringing to mind the number of times he'd ended up forming connections through a shared cause ... among other reasons. ] I've met some of the most important people in my life that way.

[ Jax snorted in good humor but he shot Vasquez a curious sideeye. ] I can handle myself, man. Eat how you want, I'm betting I've seen worse. But I hold the right to shove your hand out of the way if it reaches for something of mine. [ He grins to show he's joking. Mostly. After the crew and church events, Jax knew how to protect his plate along with whatever else he might want to the table. A dirty look could go a long way. ]

[quinientos]

[As soon as the food's in front of him, Vasquez turns out to not be a very attentive conversation partner, his face buried in the place as he hunches over and starts to eat, glancing up every once in a while, but not speaking much until he's chewed (a little too much with his mouth open) and swallowed the majority of the plate.]

Maybe if you don't eat quicker, then I'm going to start reaching, hombre.[It's a light warning, not really a warning at all, seeing as he's not in the mind to actually steal a man's food (which is more of a sin than other things, to him).]

These important people? Are they here too?