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

[heroic_jawline]

Thanks to a certain popular movie, Steve was dressed as a flourescent version of Plastic Blond Himbo. Tony was around here somewhere in the version that wore an amazing coat.

Still riding the high of the Dodgers' win last night, Steve was even more inclined than normal to love everything he saw tonight. "This looks incredible."

He was going to have to make sure Tony didn't make it snow for the Yule party now, wasn't he.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[deathsmajesty]

LET IT SNOW!

"Why thank you, Steve darling," Liliana said, coming up on his side. "Though, darling, you know I must ask. What is...?"

This was her fault, actually. She'd gotten into a discussion once with Irene about men needing to wear more colors and somewhere, a monkey's paw had curled.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[heroic_jawline]

He was, indeed, in all the colors. So bright. So the opposite of moody. "I'm a children's doll," he explained with a grin. "They come in many different outfits. This outfit, apparently, is for rollerblading." And showed off his shoulders, which was why Tony had bought it. "You look fantastic."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[deathsmajesty]

"And you didn't get it for your own rollerblading party?" Liliana chided, enjoying those shoulders. Thank you, Tony darling, you were a true humanitarian. "Why thank you," she said, striking a pose for a moment to better show it off.

Everybody knew that Liliana and Tony were the same person, just gender coded with fantasy and sci-fi, right?

"While I would not have matched you in...brightness...some of my gown choices were also fairly...colorful. I truly did try to go more for a Goddess of Spring approach. I truly did!"

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[heroic_jawline]

"It's very sad that I have to admit to owning multiple rollerskating outfits," Steve admitted with a sheepish laugh. "And Goddess of Spring is tough to pull off in October. The seasons are against you."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[deathsmajesty]

"So are the pastels," she said. "Steve, darling, they wanted to put me in something called 'cotton candy pink.' Me. I had emotionally prepared myself for the florals, but the pastels were a bridge too far."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[heroic_jawline]

"Cotton candy is not for you," Steve agreed.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[chef_chocobro]

Ignis was half-tempted to make the usual 'I'll take your word for it' joke, but even he felt it was a bit overdone at times.

Instead, he just looked mildly pleased by the compliment and the trust that it was, in fact, true.

"Thank you, Steve," he said, "and thank you for coming, as well. Always lovely to have you along. Are you a big fan of Halloween?"

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[heroic_jawline]

"It wasn't nearly this big a deal when I was a kid," Steve admitted, "but it's fun to dress up and see other folks. Back home, Tony and I are kinda recognizable, so if we go out at Halloween, we'll see kids dressed up as us and other members of our team."

Tiny Hulks were the best.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[imafuturist]

"I'm really enjoying your arms in this costume," Tony said with a happy little sigh.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[heroic_jawline]

Steve grinned. "And you finally get to wear that amazing coat somewhere," he said.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[imafuturist]

"I'm almost certain that I inherited it at some point," Tony admitted, snuggling into the fur.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[heroic_jawline]

"Well, I'm glad we found a way to use it," Steve said, reaching out to pet the coat.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[imafuturist]

"I'll have to let you borrow it in the winter."

Because Steve's shoulders would fit in that thing. Also, he'd look... interesting in it.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[heroic_jawline]

"And it will fit?" Steve asked, looking dubious.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[ifwebeworthy]

"Steve," the 'god of thunder' greeted him. "Congratulations on your long national nightmare being over." Since Thor had been the one around last night when the Dodgers clinched the series.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[heroic_jawline]

"Thank you," Steve said gleefully. "Um, I should probably apologize to Thor about all the things I said in the 7th inning. I was stressed."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[ifwebeworthy]

Don had to laugh at that. "No hard feelings," he assured Steve. "He understands. Our Steve was, uh, passionate about baseball, too."

And also still physically pained by the Dodgers' move to LA.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[heroic_jawline]

The abject betrayal, Don!

"I'm sending Mookie Betts a signed shield," Steve admitted. "And only 30 percent because his name is really swell."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[ifwebeworthy]

"Who knew there were still Mookies around?" Don asked in reply. He would have made a joke about what century was this, anyway, but: too soon. "I'm sure he'll be thrilled with the shield." Or he oughta be.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[heroic_jawline]

"I'm as excited about that as anybody," Steve admitted with a grin. "I love the costume."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[ifwebeworthy]

"I had to," Don said. "Thor was a surgeon, but he's...out for the night. Your costume is very, uh...bright." His retinas, Steve.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[heroic_jawline]

"Thanks! Tony told me that was very popular in the 1980s," Steve said.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[ifwebeworthy]

"Yeah, we both skipped that decade," Don realized. (Don for multiple reasons, depending on whether one was using real world chronology or in-universe.) "That might have been for the best...but you're pulling it off, I gotta say." Probably had something to do with looking like Captain America.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[heroic_jawline]

"Thanks!" Steve said, beaming at him. "I think this is a one-time only event, though."