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]

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

[pocketpretzels]

“Then I am satisfied,” Watts declared, leaning towards him- and then stopping with a slight frown.

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

Steven saw the frown and worried. "Everything all right?"

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[pocketpretzels]

“I had not considered,” Watts admitted. “That your mask covers both your cheeks and your mouth.”

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

Steven touched his mask. From the inside it didn't feel like it covered too much because he could still easily talk and breathe. But as he touched it he realized that Llewellyn was right. The beak did get in the way.

"I could lift it?"

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[pocketpretzels]

Watts sighed. “I realise, of course, that obscuring of one’s identity is part of the holiday. But it makes it very difficult for me to spontaneously offer you a show of my affection,” he grumbled. “Lifting it would solve the problem, but at the expense of either the purpose of the mask or the spontaneity of the act on my part.”

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

"I do like you being spontaneous," Steven said. He couldn't help it. Llewellyn being grumpy about not being able to kiss him made Steven smile. "I don't mind lifting it. Say here?"

Steven pushed the mask up so that it rested more on his forehead, with the beak now coming down towards the top of his nose.

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[pocketpretzels]

“Can you still see all right?” Watts asked.

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

"I can see my handsome beau," Steven replied, smiling up at him.

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[pocketpretzels]

“Flatterer,” Watts laughed, rewarding that with a very quick peck to Steven’s lips.

It was getting easier, being properly affectionate in public, the more he did it.

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

"What else do I need to see?" Steven replied, which really only proved he was earning that comment. The kiss did help the smile to linger on Steven's face, though, so there were benefits to it beyond just the kissing.

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[pocketpretzels]

“Your punch glass, perhaps?” Watts said. “It would be a shame were you to spill juice upon this tie,” he noted, reaching out to straighten said tie unnecessarily.

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

"Good point," Steven said. He stepped closer to make it easier for Llewellyn to do that entirely necessary tie adjustment. "It is a very nice tie. Have to make sure to take it off carefully later as well."

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[pocketpretzels]

“That, I would be pleased to assist you with,” Watts all but purred, tugging gently on said tie.

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

"I'll certainly need the help," Steven said. "Good thing I have you about."

Steven hadn't had the issues with physical shaking that he did on Sunday but what did things like facts matter here? Obviously he would need help with his tie.

Steven leaned up to give Llewellyn a kiss but then hesitated, silently questioning if it would be all right.

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[pocketpretzels]

“I am here for whatever you need,” Watts said, answering Steven’s unspoken question by tilting his head downwards slightly to meet him in the middle.

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

Steven kissed him, keeping it light and quick, but a kiss all the same. "I needed that, so thank you. Thank you for being here with me as well. I mean - obviously you would. You're my date. But staying close. Thank you."

Re: (Eventually) Arrive and Mingle

[pocketpretzels]

“Of course, darling,” Watts said. “And we needn’t stay a minute longer than you should care to.”