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

[deathsmajesty]

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!]

Comments

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

Steven was, pardon the expression, still not quite feeling like himself. But he did still want to show support to Liliana as she threw her first party.

And so, after convincing Llewellyn that it would be all right and promising he would speak up if he felt overwhelmed, Steven and Llewellyn made their arrival.

Their outfits were very nice suits that others had perhaps seen both men wear at other events. But this time they included masks. Specifically Llewellyn had on a cat mask (though in grey instead of black, in honor of Raphael) and Steven wore an adorable raven mask which had, perhaps, elicited a long suffering sigh from a divine being which Steven had promptly ignored.

As such, when combined with their festive clothes, it meant that they had dressed up as - wait for it - party animals.

Yes, Steven was very proud.

Steven looked around to see who was there while making sure he could always see Llewellyn modded with permission who would ping himself in in case he needed him.

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[pocketpretzels]

Yeah, Watts- in his dark grey suit with the pinstripes- was quite frankly never that far from Steven’s side. Not quite hovering, but close.

“Fancy,” he commented, looking around.

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

Steven didn't mind the close to hovering. He wasn't as bad as he'd been during the worst of Sunday but his feet weren't fully under him yet either. Having Llewellyn there to anchor himself with helped immensely.

"She did go all out on the decorations," Steven said, having no idea if this sort of goth aesthetic might be how Liliana normally decorated regardless of whether a party was involved.

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[pocketpretzels]

To be honest, Watts wasn’t certain a party whose central theme involved dressing up as something you were not was the best idea, all things considered.

“And the food,” Watts noticed, his gaze naturally drawn that way.

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

Llewellyn was probably not wrong about that concern. Especially combined with being somewhere they'd never been before. Which was one of many reasons Steven was trying not to stray too far that Llewellyn got out of his sight.

"Looks like there's plenty of things we can eat," Steven said. "That's kind."

Of course most events on the island were thoughtful about including vegan options. But that didn't mean it wasn't nice for Liliana to do the same.

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[pocketpretzels]

“A nice selection,” Watts agreed, already sizing up what would survive being stuffed in his pockets for a few hours. “And there’s a dance floor…”

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

Steven smiled at the idea that Llewellyn felt brave enough to dance with him. "Could be nice. See how it goes?"

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[pocketpretzels]

“I plan on collecting at least one dance from you tonight, Steven Grant,” Watts informed him. “Whether it’s here or at home makes no difference to me, but I will not consider our night complete without it.”

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

That coaxed a smile out of Steven. "I can promise you at least one dance tonight, Llewellyn Watts. Even if I'm not yet certain where I'll feel up for it."

Regardless, extended time in his beau's arms sounded like a good cure for what ailed him.

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[mylandmyrules]

Nell waved at him. If not for the cowboy hat she'd look just like her usual self. "Hello, Steven."

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

"Hello, Nell," Steven said. "You look nice. Having fun so far?"

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[mylandmyrules]

"It's a bit overwhelming," Nell admitted. "And everyone is so fancy and beautiful. But it's fun to be here, and Liliana put lights out in her garden so I can go out there if I need a break."

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

Steven nodded at the part about it being a bit overwhelming. "That's good to know. About the garden. Get some fresh air, maybe."

Steven was keeping this in mind for himself as much as anything.

"She seems to have thought of a lot of details," Steven said. "Good hostess, that."

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[mylandmyrules]

"She certainly has," Nell said. "It's particularly kind of her because I'd told her I found bg parties rather overwhleming and she remembered and did a nice thing so I'd feel better."

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

"Seems to be a good crowd so I'd call it a big party," Steven said. "And you're well? Oh! I forgot to ask you how your holiday in New Zealand went."

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[mylandmyrules]

"It was wonderful," Nell said. "It was so nice to be able to spend time with Gladio, but also be able to go off and do my own things. Then If we found something we thought the other would like we showed them later. It was perfect."

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

"Excellent," Steven said. "I'm glad it went well for you both. Even if I imagine loads of people on the island wouldn't mind a holiday now after the strangeness of last week."

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[deathsmajesty]

"Steven, darling, you've made it!" Liliana said, coming over for a proper greeting. "How lovely to see you, it's been a dreadfully long time. How have you been?"

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

"Has it?" Steven asked. He felt a moment of uncertainty about time as he couldn't recall the last he'd seen Liliana (as opposed to sharing texts). He tried to banish the uncertainty by telling himself that this was clearly a Halloween party and thus it must still be October 31.

(He might surreptitiously confirm that on his mobile and pocket watch once he and Liliana were done talking).

Steven plunged ahead on more steady feeling subjects. "The party looks wonderful. As do you. You don't go halfway, do you? Thank you. For the invitation. And the food."

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[deathsmajesty]

A bit of a furrow in her brow at his response, but she smoothed it away momentarily. "And thank you, darling. That is a very well-tailored suit, which I always have an appreciation for. As for going halfway? Never. That's for amateurs and dilettantes."

Liliana was just extra, all the way around.

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

It was fine. Just Steven questioning the nature of his reality. Nothing to worry about. Totally fine.

"You must throw events like this all the time, be so good at it," Steven said, looking around with admiration. "Oh - and your home is lovely as well."

Almost the kind of place that in another version of the world Steven and Marc might have moved into with Liliana, if anyone could imagine such a thing.

"Do you mind if I take photos of the decorations and the like?" Steven asked. "I like to keep mementos of things I've done, but I understand if you'd rather keep your home private."

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[deathsmajesty]

Look, sometimes that just happened. Who hadn't been there, really?

"Truth be told, darling, this is the first party I've thrown in decades," she admitted. "But I'm finding it's much like summoning creatures. You never really forget the basics."

She listened to his request and nodded. "Oh, please, go right ahead," she said with a gesture. "I asked Liz to do much the same, but if you'd like to take your own, that's not a problem. So long as you limit it to the ballroom, of course. And the gardens. But you must tell people that the gardens are that way for the ambiance, not simply because I haven't gotten around to properly taking care of them yet."

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

"Of course, of course," Steven assured her at the request to limit photos to the ballroom. Then he frowned with confusion, because he hadn't been outside yet. "The gardens are only gardens because you haven't taken care of them yet?"

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[deathsmajesty]

"Oh, they're terribly wild and overgrown," Liliana explained. "I haven't gotten anyone in to landscape, yet. There's the remains of a maze, I think, and a broken down greenhouse, all of which I'm declaring atmospheric and intentional."

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

"I see," Steven said. "Well, perhaps I'll have a look later all the same. It's nice there's a place to get some fresh air if needed. Not that this isn't wonderful but sometimes - sometimes a little quiet can be nice as well. So cheers for that."