The Creepy And Now Holiday-Appropriate Mansion, Thursday Evening

[deathsmajesty]

Once again, the gate that blocked off the bottom end of Phoenix Way was opened, inviting everyone to the creepy (though much less abandoned) mansion. This time, however, instead of being guided around to the gardens, the lit path led them to the front door, where the a tall figure in a tattered robe and deep cowl gestured for them to step inside the door and get onto a...boat? Once people had climbed in settled themselves, the ferryman began to guide the ship down the River Styx. Or, okay, their long entrance hallway, with blue lights to either side of their boat to mimic water and bathing everyone in an eerie blue glow. (Yes, okay, the boat perhaps wheeled down the hallway rather than floated, but they had not refinished this house just to flood the hallway for verisimilitude. Even if Liliana had considered it for a few minutes.)

The double doors leading to the ballroom were opened, with thick fog rolling out of the doorway. And through that doorway, people could descend the stairs into the Underworld proper. Black and gold were the prevailing color, with deep red nods to a pomegranate motif. Gold coins and loose gemstones added to the decor, a nod to Hades' wealth - but even amidst all the dark opulence, touches of other colors could be seen: tucked away in various corners and small niches were flowering plants, a surprise kiss of springtime to be found in the least likely places. Rather than one large chandelier, they had several, creating areas of both light and shadow around the ballroom.

Welcome to the Underworld, dear friends.

Comments

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[slothbabyproductions]

Okay, Kamala arrived in her Captain Marvel cosplay for the party and somehow felt overdressed and underdressed at same time.

At previous adult parties she had gotten by with working at it so that might be fueling some of her anxieties as well but in the end she decided to stick it out and try to be as inconspicuous as possible as one can be in a red, blue and gold costume with a mask that had an orange Mohawk.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

"Hey Captain Marvel," desert warrior Arden said, sidling up to Kamala because they were best friends and not because she was at all intimidated by this fancy house. "Let's tell Cal that next year, we're getting Professor Vess to plan his birthday party."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[slothbabyproductions]

"Can we also have her do both our birthdays as well?" Kamala requested in quiet awe."I'm pretty sure I'd have to take out a home equity loan just to get on this level."

She pulled her mind away from the decor to focus on her friend or her friend with a smile. "Is this the part where we gush over each other's outfit because yours is fantastic. Has Cal seen it yet?"

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

"Yeah, but the difference is, we'd appreciate it. I think Cal would combust and die." She was acing this girlfriend thing.

"And, funny enough, he has! Not tonight, but when I first got it, going to Daventry with Graham for his Tournament. One of the laces on this little arm part thing got all knotted up as he was passing by my room and he came in and got it untied for me."

And they didn't once have any kind of deep meaningful gazes or anything in that conversation. Honest.

"And, duh, obviously this is when we gush! You look so awesome!"

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[slothbabyproductions]

"This is actually the costume I was wearing when I got my powers a few years ago," Kamala said striking a pose. "If I hadn't destroyed some of the convention with my powers, I'm pretty sure I would have one."

Unfortunately with that pose, the stress of the hot glue on the Captain Marvel logo on her chest failed and fell on the ground. "Oh, crud."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

"Oh wait, you made this?" Arden asked, ducking down to pick the logo back up. "Did you bring the hot glue gun?"

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[slothbabyproductions]

"No, it's fine. It's not like half the island knows who I am anyways," Kamala said with a shrug and a sigh. "This kind of thing happens all the time."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

"Sure, but this is your Halloween costume," Arden said. "We can fix it. This place's gotta have a hot glue gun somewhere."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[slothbabyproductions]

"You really think Professor Vess has a glue gun?" Kamala asked doubtfully. "I'm looking at her outfit and all the decorations and there's not a single thing here that has been bedazzled."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[deathsmajesty]

"I will admit, Kamala, I have no idea what you're supposed to be," Liliana said, with a soft laugh. "Or is it who?"

Look, she was still learning cowboys last year. Superheroes were an entirely new genre.

"Hello darling, and welcome to the party." She leaned in to whisper, "And thank you for dressing up."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[slothbabyproductions]

Kamala wasn't sure why she felt the need to curtsy in front of Liliana but she did and immediately regretted it.

"Oh, it's a famous hero back in my reality," Kamala said quickly and preparing herself to explain to almost everyone who she was dressed as. "It's Captain Marvel. I love your house! Uh, everything is amazing!"

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[deathsmajesty]

"Keep your back straight, darling," Liliana told her. "You bend forward."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[slothbabyproductions]

And now Kamala was fumbling trying to get her posture right and in doing so, somehow knocked the orange mohawk on the helmet slightly askew. "Sorry! Is that better?"

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[deathsmajesty]

Liliana chuckled and reached out to fix the helmet. She assumed. That mohawk didn't look good at any angle.

"There are two kinds of curtsies," she said, then amended. "Three. There's the all-eyes-on-me curtsey, the deferential curtsy of respect, and the bob of a poor maid who's been run off her feet but still has to pretend she cares. We'll be ignoring that one. Which one would you like to learn first?"

Oh yeah, sorry Kamala. This was now a teachable moment. Professor Vess was here and ready.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[slothbabyproductions]

And now there was a panic setting in. "Uhhh. The respect one?" she offered

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[deathsmajesty]

"An important thing to note, darling," Liliana said with a wink. One might even say the Art of a Wink. "They can all be all-eyes-on-me curtsies if you know what you're doing. Now then. Left foot out, put your weight on it, and then place the ball of your right foot behind it. You can pull your right foot back a bit until you feel your stance becoming steadier, but try to keep it in line with your front foot."

The good thing about Kamala wearing pants? Liliana could correct her stance as needed.

"Now bend at the knee, arms straight by your side, and bow your head to me. The trick here is not how far down you can go. All that will do is off-balance you and possibly tip you over. No, you go slow. Count to three going down and then again as you're rising. Go."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[chef_chocobro]

"Ah, Miss Khan," Ignis offered her a pleased and welcoming smile, and a nod. "Welcome. I'm so glad you could come and join us this evening. Are you having a good time?"

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[slothbabyproductions]

"Oh! Hi!" Kamala said cheerfully and not at all awkwardly.

Let's be real, it was hella awkward.

"Thank you so much for throwing the party, I'm having a great time."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[heroic_jawline]

"Do you mind if I take a picture to send to Carol?" Steve asked.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[slothbabyproductions]

Kamala was first going to recover from Captain Roger's outfit before responding. She had to bite her cheek to keep from laughing.

"Let's do a selfie!" Kamala suggested because she definitely wanted to share his costume with her Carol.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[heroic_jawline]

"Of course," Steve said, leaning in for the picture.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[slothbabyproductions]

"I have to say I never expected you in this type of outfit," Kamala said holding out the camera and flashing a peace sign.

She might have added a giant purple hand to give it some extra panache.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[heroic_jawline]

"Tony and I are dolls," Steve said, grinning, "from that movie?"

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[slothbabyproductions]

"Ohhhhhh! That's adorable!" Kamala cooed. "I need to get a picture of the two of you together."

And then make sure she was on facetime to get her Carol's reaction.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[heroic_jawline]

Steve looked around the room until he found Tony, fur coat, leather pants, bandana and all, and grinned. "He looks incredible, huh?"