(MINGLE) 🦇🎃 the halloween party 🦇🎃

[sophielicious]

WHO: all of etraya are welcome!
WHEN: the 31st of october
WHERE: the mutant school.
WHAT: it's the halloween party mentioned here.
NOTES\WARNINGS: there is going to be drinking and partying in this post. please be mindful of your cws in your subject lines. also, since it's a mingle, i think it's nice to add whether your threads are threadjackable/stop being so for maximum mingling, but that's optional!

On the evening of the 31st, the Institute for Mutant Education and Outreach opens its doors for its neighbors. Orange and purple lights glow on the gates to mark the spot, and jack-o-lanterns illuminate the path to the back of the mansion, where the fun starts.

Everyone who offered to help had their work cut out for them, considering a certain host is extremely perfectionist, decorations perhaps over-the-top with the spider-webs that cover the furniture and stairways, uncanny lightning with white, purple, and neon green in the darkness, and the ever-so-present fog that seems to be everywhere inside and outside the house. Every hallway on the main floor has been methodically organized to give out the most liminal space sensation as possible. The inside has been turned into a dancefloor and a bar, with a selection that ranges from the finest wine to the nastiest tequila — for all tastes, not to mention a few jars of cocktails! Some of the finger food (included in that post) is also available here.

Outside, where the pool and the baseball field are, one can find the more dinner-like options, plates, utensils, and whatever they need for a spooky dinner experience. The alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks also have a space outside, near where the couches had been moved to, along with tables and chairs for a relaxed time.

Games can also be found outside, with or without alcohol, with beer pong, good witch bad witch, bobbing for apples, trick or treat (which, in this case, is basically truth or dare), and Jenga. Other games might be added, and the baseball field and the pool are up for use, so feel free to take a swim in these chilly times or to play to your heart's content.

Music inspiration, only the fun ones, can be found here: 1, 2, 3.

Last, but not least, the rules of the house will be in all points of interest, including the first thing after the main gate:

HOUSE RULES.

1. Respect the space. Damage to the property not caused, encouraged, or participated in by the residents is liable to physical, telekinetic, demonic, or telepathic retaliation.
2. Regarding fights. Fights are fine, but must be done outside the main building. Fighters will not receive any compensation that might come from potential betting rings.
3. No murder. This behavior brings unnecessary work for the residents that we would rather not have. Illyana Rasputina will turn the survivor (if any) into a frog should this rule be broken; therefore, there are no winners, only losers. Avoid at all costs.
4. Do not go sneaking around outside the bounds of the party. Consequences for breaking this rule are Sophie Cuckoo triggering the perpetrator's brain to adverse effects in reaction to everyday words, and she will not tell you which. Effects include, but are not limited to: nausea, unwanted erections, headaches, tinnitus, intermittent hearing volume changes, and so forth. She kindly counts on the understanding and vigorous collaboration of party-goers in keeping her parole intact.
5. Regarding drinking. Due to the nature of Etraya and its lack of a drinking age, the mutants will not be carding at this event. We are, after all, not your real dads. Just don't be fucking dumb.

Comments

[twin_blade]

[ They lost hours when they had dinner together. It amazes Vax that they always seem to have more to say. More to share. He's certainly not used to having conversations that last this long with anyone.

Is Dion concerned for him? How relentless does he think Vax's family can be? The answer is pretty relentless, but his smile does not communicate any worry.

He gives Dion's hand a gentle squeeze. ]

Nothing I can't handle. And, I don't want to stop dancing.

[ Vax is enjoying himself, so he's not going to let any future teasing get in the way of that. ]

[oblige]

[ Given the experience Dion has with family isn't close or caring, he relies on what he observes. Vax's family cares deeply, and if he is any indication, teasing seems something one might readily expect. But if Vax is unconcerned, he supposes he shouldn't be either.

So his shoulders relax by small degrees, because of course he worried a little. He'd not realized he was monopolizing his friend's time, but their talks are so often long without feeling that way. ]

Very well... But shall we try a dance from your world?

[ They'd agreed on that, and Dion wouldn't want to forget something they'd discussed a second time in such short order. ]

[twin_blade]

[ Vax is close with his friends. They've been teasing each other for years. Some lighthearted jabbing is all part of the relationship, so Vax can't help but poke fun at Dion every now and again. He's a lot gentler with Dion than he would be with his friends from home, though. ]

Sure. They're simple by comparison. You just kind of.. move.

[ But they'll have to rearrange their hands so Vax can lead. They won't need to do any counting, though.

Vax releases Dion's hand so he can hold his other one, instead. Dion's left hand is guided to rest on Vax's shoulder, and then Vax takes a step in to place his right arm around Dion's waist, so his hand rests against the small of Dion's back. It's a near embrace with just enough space between them for some movement. ]

Now we just step together. I think it’s less about the dance and more about the company, so you can’t really mess it up.

[oblige]

[ Dion goes along with the rearrangement, listening to what Vax has to say about it. It does sound quite simple, and doesn't seem to require any particular sort of music to accompany. But when he says that it can't be messed up— ]

You ought not make it sound like a challenge.

[ He tries to make it sound like some form of warning, but he fails. Dion couldn't pretend to have taken the words that way no matter how hard he might try. ]

[twin_blade]

[ Vax chuckles softly, taking steps for a small turn. It's easier not to bump into others, at least, since dancing close doesn't require a big area. ]

I guess you could step all over my feet until they're black and blue.

[ Would Dion do that to him? He has never struck Vax as the clumsy type.

Vax is the one who is fighting to keep a handle on his confidence while looking into Dion's pretty eyes. ]

[oblige]

[ Considering how he immediately frowns at the mental image like he'd bitten into something unexpectedly sour, no, Dion most certainly wouldn't do that to him. His face says it all.

Vax's poor hypothetical feet in that scenario. He knows it's just a joke, but still... ]

That is the worst.

[ Just so Vax knows. Terrible. ]

[twin_blade]

[ Vax looks suddenly amused again. This close, it's easy to see the little frown on Dion's face or the line in his brow over the mental image. ]

Speaking from experience? A bad diplomatic dance, maybe?

[oblige]

[ Though Dion had put the memory well out of mind, or he'd believed as much, the question reminds him... ]

Have you any experience with a woman stomping about like a soldier in pointed little heels?

[ Dion cares about diplomacy. He does. He'd rather do that than fight one war after another, but among the few occasions he'd had any part in such matters, Greagor had tested him mightily in this way. ]

[twin_blade]

[ Vax can't help but laugh at the mental image that brings. The suffering of a prince. Poor Dion. ]

Not quite, but once everyone is drunk enough, there's always some mishaps on the dance floor.

[ Vax neglects to mention if that mishap would be his own or someone else's. ]

You're a very good dancer, though.

[oblige]

[ Dion endured at the time, as one might expect. Of course, it was very obvious because his face hides absolutely nothing. ]

She was entirely sober. [ Somehow this makes it worse. At least had she been tipsy he might've understood. Who'd taught that woman to dance and why did the answer seem to be no one? ] But she never did notice.

[ That part impressed him, given...she was looking at him the whole time. ]

I'm not so light on my feet as you, but I was instructed as a child.

[twin_blade]

I guess not every noble received a proper education.

[ And some people are just born with two left feet. Vax doesn't entirely blame the woman, given who her dance partner was. ]

You are kind of distracting.

[ If Vax were made to attend some diplomatic snoozefest and ended up dancing with Dion, he wouldn't be able to take his eyes off the prince, either.

The series of slower songs ends and the music shifts into one with a thumping beat like what Dion might have heard on Earth. ]

Do you know how to dance to this?

[oblige]

[ Dion would agree he's distracting, but only when he channels his aether. Light has a way of drawing attention. As it is, he can only shake his head at the thought. ]

I'm not so distracting as to make one forget their own feet.

[ The music, on the other hand, gives him pause. He tips his head, recognizing the sound as reminiscent of what thrummed through certain buildings in passing, but that's as far as his knowledge of it extends. ]

This I am unfamiliar with.

[twin_blade]

Dion, you could make someone forget their own name.

[ He can mull over that for a while.

Vax gently releases Dion from their hold and steps back to make some space between them. ]

It's easy. You just move your body however you want to the music. The only point is to have fun doing it.

[ Vax easily begins to move just like the rest of the crowd, lifting his elbows and moving his hands or his hips and catching the beat. ]

But if it's not your thing, we can get a drink, instead.

[oblige]

[ How, exactly, could he do that? Good chances he does mull that over for a while.

He observes the way Vax easily slips into this other style of dance, and it doesn't look difficult. But the suggestion bears consideration. ]

Effortless as you make that appear, perhaps we could use the respite.

[ They have been dancing for a while. ]

Do you yet know whether the drinks are worse than the bar's offerings?

[twin_blade]

[ A break is probably a good idea. ]

I've had the ale. It's not bad. They have fruity cocktails too, if you want to disguise the taste of the alcohol. There's also some wine.

[ He doesn't know if it'll be as good as the selection Dion brought back from Earth, but it might be decent. ]

[oblige]

Well, "not bad" already surpasses the bar.

[ Literally and figuratively.

Dion gestures for Vax to lead the way with an open hand. ]

After you.

[twin_blade]

Sure. Let's see if we can get you drunk.

[ Vax leads the way off the dance floor and to the bar area where the refreshments are set up. There's a lot to choose from, so hopefully Dion can find something that is to his liking.

Right away, Vax takes a mug and fills it from one of the casks. He also helps himself to some of the fingerfood on a stick for easy snacking. ]

[oblige]

I'm beginning to think you take that as a challenge.

[ The words are said with humor as Dion helps himself to some ale. That, at least, is familiar to him. Some of the fruity drinks look so vividly colored that they might go either way on taste.

He has a sip as he watches the crowd, and just as Vax said, it's not bad. They have surpassed the tragedy of the bar's drinks. ]

[twin_blade]

We all need goals in life, Dion.

[ And there's not enough of them in Etraya, so why not make this one of his? ]

Cheers.

[ Vax lifts his drink to his friend and then tastes some of the ale. ]

It shouldn't be long before another mission begins. It's nice to unwind like this before it starts.

[oblige]

[ It may be an ambitious goal, or a lost cause, but Dion only shakes his head. If nothing else, it would be a feat if it ever happened. ]

Yes, it is about that time... At least, judging from the missions that have occurred during my stay.

[ Vax has been here yet longer, so if they agree, the only surprise would be Aurora not issuing them some task. ]

I dare wonder what might be in store for us, after the fog.

[twin_blade]

[ If they went the normal amount of time without having a mission, Vax might grow paranoid. At least some things are predictable around here. ]

No idea.

[ He frowns in thought. ]

During the fog, you weren't able to turn into Bahamut, right? But your jumping skill, was that something you could still do?

[oblige]

[ Dion shoots him a curious look. For what reason would Vax be bringing that up...? ]

Yes, of course. [ In fact, he'd leapt into the air on Antigone's suggestion, though they'd only seen yet more fog in the end. ] Dragoons need no magic in order to perform jumps.

[ A pause, and though he suspects Vax would make as much clear regardless, he asks anyway. ]

Why do you ask?

[twin_blade]

[ Vax takes another drink and shrugs. ]

I was just thinking about our training. The two of us could cover a lot of ground, you know? But my armor doesn't always work when there's a mission. In the fog, it did because the magic isn't mine, it's in the vestige.

[ Should the magic in items be blocked, Vax would be grounded. He'd have to rely on his own abilities without any enhancements. ]

[oblige]

[ Dion takes a swig of his own drink as he weighs that thought. There did exist the possibility that all magic could be nullified regardless of its origin. And Vax did mention his armor's power could be depleted, as well.

He hesitates to ask, because it is rigorous work, and none have made a pursuit of it in Etraya, but he'll venture for clarification's sake. ]

Is that to suggest you'd wish to undergo dragoon training?

[ His tone suggests he isn't confident as to whether he has followed Vax's train of thought correctly. ]

Or do you mean to strategize?

[twin_blade]

[ Vax blinks, then laughs a little. ]

I'm not sure I've got what it takes for that.

[ Sure, he's a fine rogue, but a dragoon? He can only imagine the strength and fortitude of Dion's men back home. How would Vax compare? ]

I only mean to strategize. I can use a sword and crossbow, but not as effectively as my daggers, of course.

[ He doesn't even know where he's going with these thoughts, but sometimes, he just likes to mull things over and pick Dion's brain. ]