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

[mylandmyrules]

"Gladio helped me find it," Nell said with a smile. "And you look gorgeous as always, Liliana. I think you've outdone yourself tonight."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[deathsmajesty]

Liliana preened a bit. Look, she wasn't going to get tired of people telling her what a fantastic job they'd done. They had. "It was the boat, wasn't it?" she said with satisfaction. "Set the tone immediately. And Ignis said we didn't need our own gondola."

Who was feeling silly now, Ignis?

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[mylandmyrules]

"The boat was quite unexpected," Nell said, "But definitely set the mood well, but I particularly love all the pomegranate touches. So beautiful and rich."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[deathsmajesty]

"I got Ignis a truly lovely pomegranate pin to wear," Liliana said, her eyes tracking her paramour through the crowd. "However, more fool I, I had gotten it assuming he'd be wearing a shirt."

Was it time for everyone to go home yet?

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[mylandmyrules]

"He could wear it on the lapel of his cloak," Nell suggested. Goodness, there was a lot of skin on display everywhere tonight. She was considering wrapping her cloak around Gladio - at least around his waist.

And it was your fault everyone was here, Liliana. You needed to stay till the bitter end, while Nell and Gladio could head home earlier if they wanted. Nell had no sympathy for you on that account.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[deathsmajesty]

Nell was drastically overestimating Liliana's commitment to doing what she wanted, when.

Don't be surprised if you looked up and couldn't find either of them in the crowd. There might be some kind of 'party emergency' that required their attention in a different part of the house. It could happen.

"Yes, but that might take away from his torso," she sighed. "I put a bit of gold shimmer powder on his skin so the light glimmers on him sometimes."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[mylandmyrules]

"Oh my," Nell said. "Well, I suppose I can understand that."

She would not be looking to see if Ignis' skin glimmered in the light. No offense, Ignis. Or Liliana.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[deathsmajesty]

Drastically underestimating Liliana's commitment to doing what she wanted, when she wanted to, that first sentence of the previous ping should say, sigh self.

No apologies needed! It was your loss, darling.

"Gladio accused me of being the reason Ignis is shirtless tonight," she said. "Honestly it took me a second to figure out which would be more fun, to confirm or deny."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[mylandmyrules]

Nell laughed. "I'll just say that I think Ignis would do pretty much anything for you, Liliana, and leave it at that."

SHe looked around the room again. "Everything here is so beautiful."