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

[pocketpretzels]

“I wouldn’t have made you come on your own,” Watts said. However lukewarm his feelings on Liliana Vess, he cared about Steven above all.

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

"I think I can manage work all right," Steven said, already thinking ahead. "That's sort of familiar ground."

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[pocketpretzels]

“If you’d care for an escort in either direction, I am happy to provide my services,” Watts told him.

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

"I'd never say no to more time with you," Steven told him with a smile. "For any reason."

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[pocketpretzels]

“Nor I with you,” Watts said, beaming back at him. “That’s settled, then.”

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

"You're sure you don't mind?" Steven asked. "No reason for you to get up early if you'd prefer not to."

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[pocketpretzels]

“I offered,” Watts pointed out. “I would not have done so if I truly minded. Your safety and comfort means far more to me than a little extra sleep.”

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

Steven relaxed. Once again it was good that Llewellyn was fully honest, even about the details that made things difficult. "All right then. I trust you. And will greatly enjoy the company."

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[pocketpretzels]

"It is my pleasure to provide it," Watts assured him. "And if you would care for a walk home, just send me a missive via text shortly before you expect to be done for the day, and I shall meet you there."

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

Steven smiled at him. "Am I meant to be able to resist the idea of walking home with you as well? Because I'm not certain I could."

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[pocketpretzels]

"Who am I to say, really?" Watts asked. "All I can tell you is it would give me great pleasure to be your escort."

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

"Can I make a reservation for a walk home as well then?" Steven asked. He smiled. "Is there somewhere I sign for that?"

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[pocketpretzels]

"You may," Watts smiled at him. "In absence of a form to sign I will accept a kiss."

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

"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.

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[pocketpretzels]

"And thus has your request been processed and approved," Watts informed him.

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

Amazingly that got a chuckle out of Steven. He looked at Llewellyn with great fondness. "Have I mentioned how wonderful you are, Llew?"

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[pocketpretzels]

"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."

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

"I know so," Steven said. "Only you could find a way to make me laugh in spite of everything. Good in spite this time."

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[pocketpretzels]

"Oh, well," that blush wasn't going away any time soon. "I'm glad, too, that I am able to do that for you."

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

"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."

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[pocketpretzels]

Watts did indeed let him, threading their fingers together and giving Steven's hand a squeeze. "Your anchor," Watts reminded him. "Always."

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

"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.

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[pocketpretzels]

“The costumes aren’t a bother?” Watts asked, concern etched on his face.

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

"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."

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[pocketpretzels]

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.