deathsmajesty | 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!]

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"That is true," Arthur allowed.

It's movember, Arthur! Give it a fucking chance!

Arthur sighed. "Apparently there's some sort of tradition this upcoming month for growing facial hair. I'm not entirely sure what it's about."

"It's getting cold and dark and people look for entertainment where and how they can?" Liliana suggested.

Arthur snorted. "As good an explanation as any, I suppose. That would also explain why parties, holiday or not, are so popular these next few months. I wonder if it's the same in Australia?"

Why Australia?

"Oh." Arthur gestured, explaining to both John and Liliana, "it's in the southern hemisphere. So it's lighter and hotter this time of year."

"Near New Zealand," Liliana noted, a fact she knew for no reason whatsoever, honest. "But yes, as the days die, most sentient species huddle together for warmth, comfort, and entertainment. So many more parties to while away the long dark."

"Yes!" Arthur agreed. "I didn't realize you knew about New Zealand. "Anyway, I wonder if they have as many holiday parties at this time of year, or if they have more when it's summer up here. I don't know any Australians or New Zealanders to ask."

We could Google it, John muttered. He pulled out Arthur's phone and set about doing that as Arthur was talking.

"There was a party on the school trip, but from what I gather, Summer does that every trip, so I'm not certain it counts."

"I only know about it from the school trip," Liliana explained. "I'd heard of it and had to look up more information. I'm ever-curious."

Sure, Lili. Just random curiosity, obviously.

"It was an interesting place," Arthur said. "Relaxing. It was good to have a bit of holiday."

John grumbled to himself, still fussing with the phone, but since it didn't seem to be urgent, Arthur ignored him.

"I only saw it through pictures," Liliana said. "But it did seem lovely. And the wine I've tried there was quite excellent. Good wool, too."

She had a sweater. Well. There was a sweater. Ownership was being negotiated.

"...Is everything all right with your phone?"

"Hm?"

Arthur belatedly realized what was going on. "John?"

I can't find anything useful about when Australians have parties, Arthur! Fucking useless Google.

"Ah. Apparently there's nothing to be found about when Australians party." Because the real answer was always.

"What is the wool like? I didn't get to look at clothes much." Ha.

"Incredibly soft," Liliana said, frowning at that exchange and ultimately tucking it away to mull over another time. "High-quality. Ignis brought me back a sweater."

Although, if you asked Ignis, he might agree that he certainly brought back a sweater.

"Ah, so knitted. Wool is a versatile fiber." He lifted his arm in demonstration, since he was wearing a wool suit. "It takes color well, too."

"Indeed. And finely woven. In all, an excellent acquisition." For somebody. Who may or may not be the person who acquired it.

"I'm pleased to hear it. The school does these trips periodically for all the students and teachers, so if you want to take or teach a class, you'll have more chances."

"...They'd let me take classes?" Liliana asked, surprised. "They'd let me teach classes?"

Not that she doubted her skills as a professor, but shouldn't there be some process by which she was vetted?

"As far as I know, anyone can take classes," Arthur answered. "Actually, as far as I know, anyone can teach them, too. They don't seem to be terribly hung up on qualifications. Or on the types of classes there are."

Look, there was Beaker, okay? He'd heard the stories.

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

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