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

[stykera]

Stark could have leaned into the Other Side of it all for this party.

Matching Summer was more fun and his stylist had picked out something he was pleased with and even with the totally pink not red cape the magician outfit wasn't too similar to the creepy opera singer of Halloweens past.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[deathsmajesty]

Seeing him, Liliana just stopped and regarded him, brow crinkled in thought.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[stykera]

Stark regarded her just as curiously.

"Is something wrong?"

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[deathsmajesty]

"I should have thought that you would be in some kind of...synergistic costume with Summer," Liliana said slowly.

The pink was there, but...was that simply a nod to her? Liliana had no idea what was happening here.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[stykera]

"Magicians sometimes pull rabbits out of hats, as a trick," Stark explained in the tones of someone who had recently had this explained to him.

He took off the silk top hat and held it out if she wanted to inspect it.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[deathsmajesty]

Liliana's eyebrow had bought a timeshare at her hairline, but she took the hat and looked it over. "This is definitely a hat, Stark," she affirmed.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[stykera]

"No rabbits inside. But sometimes there are, for magicians, so Summer chose this to go with her outfit."

"Yours," he said, is lovely. Your outfit. And everything you've done here."

So was Ignis's outfit but he couldn't say that. He might mention it later to Summer that he had no idea Ignis looked like that under his shirts!

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[deathsmajesty]

Wait, why couldn't he say that? He was only speaking facts. Liliana had been trying not to think about outlining the places of his chest with her tongue all night.

"Why, thank you, darling. We had a delightful time planning it," she said. "The gondola was inspired."

Also her idea. So you know, it was gonna get mentioned. A lot.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[stykera]

Ignis would not appreciate such commentary from Stark. Probably. Almost certainly.

"I've read about that ferryman, I think," Stark said. "I did like that. And your chandeliers."

So many of them!

"Did you do parties like this before you were here? In your other homes? Not Halloween ones, unless you have that in one of the other worlds..."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[deathsmajesty]

"Sometimes," Liliana said. "Ravnica and Innistrad. I'd throw giant bashes any of the times I won a Championship in the arena...But mostly I attended. Less to do. And - the other Planeswalkers especially - would go all out to make their party the most lavish, the most exciting, the most sensual, the most beautiful, the most artistic...all of that. And I was the youngest by...centuries at least. Possibly more. We're very rare. I was happy to go and see everything that I'd be able to do one day."

Her eyes had gone distant, her voice soft, talking more to herself than Stark for a moment.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[chef_chocobro]

Ignis had considered making an exception to his duties as grateful host, but he had always prided himself in being exceptionally polite, even when he didn't exactly feel like it, and so there would be a nod and a cool (he carefully tempered it to not be cold, thank you very much) greeting Stark's way.

"Stark," he said. "Welcome to the party. I do hope you enjoy yourself."

Albeit perhaps less so than others.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[stykera]

"Thank you, Ignis. I'm sure I will. The parties here have never disappointed."