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

[deathsmajesty]

"Oh, this old thing?" Liliana asked with a laugh. "You can Ignis has been in a delightful mood lately, he barely fought me on any of it."

Well. 'Barely' on a scale of Ignis, so take that as you would, Gladio.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[sword_chocobro]

"That guy," Gladio pointed out, with a knowing sort of look, "has always known when to pick his battles. But I gotta tell ya, Lils, talking him into one-upping me on shirtlessness is a dirty move. I might need to take that one personally."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[deathsmajesty]

"Oh darling," Liliana purred. "I hate to break it to you--" he could tell how much by her shit-eating grin "--that wasn't my idea? I'm not that much of a masochist. I even gave him a gorgeous pin to wear on his shirt. He happened to walk out with it off."

And did Liliana look like a stupid enough bitch to argue? No.

"All I did was add some powder to his chest to make he shimmers in the light."

Was she turning to glance at him, biting her lower lip as she did so? Yes.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[sword_chocobro]

Gladio took a moment to follow that lip bite, then looked back at Liliana, and grunted, shaking his head.

"Gods," he murmured, "never mind. Forget I even said anything. You know what?"

A big hand fell on Liliana's shoulder. "Lemme go get you a drink. Seems like you might need to cool down there a bit."

He was moving before she could object or argue or amwhatever else, buy he was going the long way, toward the source of that lip bite. When he reached Ignis, he leaned in to murmured something to him, then gave him a few light pats on that firm and sparkly stomach of his, before turning toward Liliana to give her a wink and sauntering off, whistling now, to resume his journey to the bar and leaving a sighing Ignis in his wake.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[deathsmajesty]

And Liliana was just going to look after him. At least until he left Ignis' side, when he wandered out of frame and out of mind.

She'll have to ask Ignis what he said. Though for now, she was simply content to look.