deathsmajesty: Katie McGrath (Sultry - Candles)
Liliana Vess ([personal profile] deathsmajesty) wrote2023-10-31 05:32 am

Halloween Party, Creepy But Nowhere Near Abandoned Mansion, Tuesday Night

After basically being dared to do it by Tony Stark (and putting in six weeks of renovations, bless Hannibal for the contractor), Liliana, dressed as an empress, hair pulled back in a profusion of curls by her angelic headpiece, was ready to throw her first Fandom party. Sure, it was for a holiday she didn't really understand, but she'd heard enough about it to make due: there was supposed to be candy and people were supposed to be in costume. Done. Everything else was just the same as a regular party, right?

Granted, the last party she'd hosted had actually been for a bunch of vampires and that had been seventy years ago on a completely different plane, but bah, details. You had food to eat, music to dance to, dark corners to sneak off to, and either enough witty people or enough alcohol to keep the conversation flowing. Liliana was hoping that there would be plenty of the former showing up, but just in case, she'd made sure to stock plenty of the latter.

Though her newly refurbished ballroom was actually very light and airy, she had done her best to recreate some of the spookiest elements she'd seen in her travels. The dancefloor was covered in about a foot of heavy fog that swirled and eddied with every movement. While most of the chandeliers were shrouded in fabric and false webbing, she personally found the main chandelier was decorated in something she much more unnerving. Black and red candles flickered about the room held by ghostly hands, dripping skulls, and the occasional elegant standing candelabra. One of the few concessions to magic she'd used tonight was to have the candles lit with tongues of false fire, which provided light but no heat. And they glowed blues and greens and purples, which was a nice effect. Red roses were placed upside down in vases, while more questionable arrangements sat in decorative vases. Out of deference to her guests' squeamishness sensibilities, all creepy critters, skeletons, and dead bodies were all cunningly crafted fakes, not a single real bone or drop of blood in the place.

Other than, of course, what her guests brought in with them. And should they leave with fewer of either than they'd come in with, well, that was hardly her fault. Probably.

Arrive and Mingle / Photos / Dark Corners [NFB] / Refreshments / Dance / Gardens / OOC

[Please hold for OCD up! Do the thing!]
pocketpretzels: (smitten)

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[personal profile] pocketpretzels 2023-11-01 12:55 am (UTC)(link)
"You may," Watts smiled at him. "In absence of a form to sign I will accept a kiss."
hasaknightjob: Steven kiss (Steven kiss)

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[personal profile] hasaknightjob 2023-11-01 12:59 am (UTC)(link)
"Luckily I've those on hand, since I've no forms," Steven said. He tilted his head up to give Llewellyn a kiss, keeping it light in respect of them being in a public setting.
pocketpretzels: (kissing)

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[personal profile] pocketpretzels 2023-11-01 01:01 am (UTC)(link)
"And thus has your request been processed and approved," Watts informed him.
hasaknightjob: Steven fond smile (Steven fond smile)

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[personal profile] hasaknightjob 2023-11-01 01:03 am (UTC)(link)
Amazingly that got a chuckle out of Steven. He looked at Llewellyn with great fondness. "Have I mentioned how wonderful you are, Llew?"
pocketpretzels: (fond)

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[personal profile] pocketpretzels 2023-11-01 01:05 am (UTC)(link)
"A few times," Watts said, blushing furiously even as he said it. Not that the blush was all that visible beneath the mask. "I'm glad you think so."
hasaknightjob: Steven chatting (Steven chatting (unsure))

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[personal profile] hasaknightjob 2023-11-01 01:07 am (UTC)(link)
"I know so," Steven said. "Only you could find a way to make me laugh in spite of everything. Good in spite this time."
pocketpretzels: (fond)

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[personal profile] pocketpretzels 2023-11-01 01:10 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh, well," that blush wasn't going away any time soon. "I'm glad, too, that I am able to do that for you."
hasaknightjob: Steven chatting (friendly) (Steven chatting (friendly))

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[personal profile] hasaknightjob 2023-11-01 01:14 am (UTC)(link)
"You make me laugh and smile and feel safe," Steven said. He reached to take Llewellyn's hand, if Llewellyn would let him. "Present. Not lost."
pocketpretzels: (smitten)

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[personal profile] pocketpretzels 2023-11-01 01:17 am (UTC)(link)
Watts did indeed let him, threading their fingers together and giving Steven's hand a squeeze. "Your anchor," Watts reminded him. "Always."
hasaknightjob: Steven chatting (Steven chatting (casual))

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[personal profile] hasaknightjob 2023-11-01 01:22 am (UTC)(link)
"Real," Steven agreed, giving Llewellyn's hand a squeeze in return.

He looked around them. "Though I suppose it'd be hard to mix the date up while we're here. Pretty clearly Halloween."

And thus perhaps a good thing the party hadn't been on Saturday as it had totally never been originally planned, nobody saw anything we swear.
pocketpretzels: (concerned)

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[personal profile] pocketpretzels 2023-11-01 01:34 am (UTC)(link)
“The costumes aren’t a bother?” Watts asked, concern etched on his face.
hasaknightjob: Steven chatting (Steven chatting (unsure))

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[personal profile] hasaknightjob 2023-11-01 01:37 am (UTC)(link)
"I wouldn't mind being a little more certain of who some people are," Steven admitted. "In hindsight maybe going out for a coffee yesterday or today would've been a better first step."
pocketpretzels: (pardon?)

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[personal profile] pocketpretzels 2023-11-01 01:45 am (UTC)(link)
Watts nodded. “It’s quite the leap, going from the safety of our home to a large room full of people.” Many of whom were wearing masks or otherwise not dressed as they typically would be. “But I’m here, and the furthest I shall go without you is to the snack table.” And even then only if Steven were comfortable with that.
hasaknightjob: Steven chatting (Steven chatting (casual))

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[personal profile] hasaknightjob 2023-11-01 01:51 am (UTC)(link)
"Long as I can see you, I'm all right," Steven said. Their outfits hadn't been planned with this in mind, but Steven realized it helped a great deal that Llewellyn was wearing one of his normal suits. "And... maybe heading home a little earlier than we might normally."
pocketpretzels: (paying attention)

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[personal profile] pocketpretzels 2023-11-01 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
“That is all right with me,” Watts said. “You need just say the word.”
hasaknightjob: Steven neutral (Steven neutral)

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[personal profile] hasaknightjob 2023-11-01 02:02 am (UTC)(link)
"I will. Not just yet," Steven said. He looked around to see who was there. "I'd like to say hello to our host at least. Oh! And there's Liz. Be nice to say hi to her as well."
pocketpretzels: (thinking)

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[personal profile] pocketpretzels 2023-11-01 02:09 am (UTC)(link)
“Is she taking photographs?” Watts asked, following Steven’s gaze. “It would be nice to get some of both of us, don’t you think?”
hasaknightjob: Steven chatting (friendly) (Steven chatting (friendly))

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[personal profile] hasaknightjob 2023-11-01 02:12 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh I'd like that," Steven said. "And she's very good at it. Pictures."
pocketpretzels: (fond)

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[personal profile] pocketpretzels 2023-11-01 02:18 am (UTC)(link)
Watts nodded. “I do like selfies- and we ought to take some! But professional-looking portraits are appealing as well.”
hasaknightjob: Steven chatting (Steven chatting (unsure))

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[personal profile] hasaknightjob 2023-11-01 02:20 am (UTC)(link)
"Agreed," Steven said. "You know, we could get those done outside of parties as well. I'm sure Liz and Prompto would be happy to set up an appointment, assuming appointments are how that's done."
pocketpretzels: (answering door)

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[personal profile] pocketpretzels 2023-11-01 02:34 am (UTC)(link)
“Oh!” Watts snapped his fingers as something occurred to him. “With Raphael too, do you think?”
hasaknightjob: Steven chatting (friendly) (Steven chatting (friendly))

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[personal profile] hasaknightjob 2023-11-01 02:36 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh that'd be lovely," Steven said. "I'd like that. I'd like it a great deal, actually. Him and his little tie, perhaps?"
pocketpretzels: (paying attention)

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[personal profile] pocketpretzels 2023-11-01 02:39 am (UTC)(link)
“For a formal portrait? Of course,” Watts agreed.
hasaknightjob: Steven looking with affection (Steven looking with affection)

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[personal profile] hasaknightjob 2023-11-01 02:42 am (UTC)(link)
Steven was looking at Llewellyn rather besottedly.
pocketpretzels: (smitten)

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[personal profile] pocketpretzels 2023-11-01 02:43 am (UTC)(link)
“What is it?” Watts couldn’t help but ask.