Night Tournament Opening Ceremony

[undergroundmods]

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Every four years the Night Tournament is held in London as a celebration of the physical, mental and magical prowess of its supernatural inhabitants. Over three weeks the chosen competitors will take on various challenges in an effort to be crowned Champions of their species. Tonight, the grand opening ceremony is taking place at the Redbright Institute, where guests can expect a spectacle of magical wonders and of course the parade of this year's competitors.

The ceremony takes place from 8pm-11pm Sunday 6th August. It is being hosted by the school's Chancellor, Sylvia Redbright, accompanied by event organisers Alexandrie Belrose, the Dean, and Yasmine Merad. Guests must have purchased a ticket in order to attend the event, unless of course you are one of the competitors or someone involved in organising the tournament.

Rules of entry
• No weapons. Any weapons or objects that could be used as weapons will be confiscated.
• No drugs or alcohol except that provided at the event. Don't try to sneak any in.
• No violence.

There is security present on the grounds during the event. The school itself is shut. (In fact, if your character is a member of the Redbright Institute, you could have them acting as security if you want.) They will respond to and put a stop to any trouble.

Order of events
The entirety of tonight's ceremony takes place outside in the grounds, namely the football field. There are stands around the field where the audience can watch the show. A number of stewards (student volunteers) will check tickets and direct guests over to the right place. They are also selling a variety of drinks and snacks to cater for all supernatural tastes. Vampires without daylight jewellery are directed through to the "shade zone": a section of the stand which is completely shielded from the sun.

8pm-8.30pm: Redbright Choir
Led by the Head of Music Ms Sandra Ng, the Redbright Choir is comprised of a variety of students representing all supernatural beings coming together to sing in harmony. They are accompanied by a live band.

8.30-9.30pm: Welcome to the Night (nb. sunset is at 8.45pm)
Settle in for one hell of a show. The hour's entertainment, proudly organised and performed by students at the Redbright Institute, features a showpiece from every supernatural type, from witches performing a spectacular light show of magic, meta humans showing off their powers, to werewolves and shapeshifters dancing in fur costumes. The theme again is harmony: the show ends with all performers joining hands in a giant circle on the pitch before performing their final dance.

9.30-9.45pm: Sylvia's Welcome Speech
As the host and sponsor of the Night Tournament, Sylvia will then step up to a podium to say a few words. She talks about (you guessed it) peace and harmony and coming together to celebrate supernatural diversity. She speaks proudly of the Redbright Institute's record of welcoming and teaching any supernatural student, no matter their background. The one thing that does get all the journalists scribbling furiously, however, is a brief mention of the Night Council's new President. Though she doesn't mention him by name, she does say that she welcomes the President's stance on promoting peace and unity.

9.45-10.15pm: The Parade
At last the 16 competitors are introduced one by one. Dressed in spectacular costumes, each competitor gets their own float which makes one round of the field before they all meet in the centre of the pitch. The parade is accompanied by inspiring music and showers of glitter (or is it pixie dust?). Smile and wave, everyone. Smile and wave.

10.15-11pm: General Mingling
Finally, the audience are allowed to invade the pitch where they can mingle with the competitors as they please. Stewards walk around serving more drinks, and there is a live band playing until the end of the event. Stick around to catch some gossip, place a bet on your preferred competitor, or offer support to your favourites.

[OOC: Please see the information post for more details on this event and to ask any questions!]

Comments

open!

[hurtcomfort]

1: the choir
He's supposed to be back by the floats. But there's music and he wants to hear more of the music, so eventually he makes his way closer to the choir. He's sitting on a patch of grass near the entrance to the bleachers, listening. Sometimes he manifests himself, otherwise it's a bit harder to see him. As such, some of the less observant members of the supernatural...just straight up walk through him a few times. It doesn't bother Cole. In fact, his attention remains firmly on the choir--until someone approaches him.

"I like this," he quietly says, as if just realizing that he likes something for the first time. "More events should have music."

2: general mingling
It's a bit odd that a ghost would be competing. Ghosts were loners, ghosts stayed by themselves, why would one want to compete in the Night Tournament? There's no sign that Cole recognizes how odd this is, however, because he's just sitting on his float (which is inevitably the saddest float of the lot because how do you decorate for a ghost?) and idly talking to whoever approaches.

"I don't really have a strategy," he admits to one woman. "I think it's a good staring. Talk to him," he mutters to a were. "You should bet on Desmond," he tells one of the witches. "I like him." He has about a fifteen minute conversation with a vampire who just wants someone to talk to, you know, it's hard when you've suddenly got to reschedule your entire life and you can't see some of your friends anymore, they don't tell you these things when you get turned, and so on and so forth.

All of his conversation is equal parts Cole answering questions about the Night Tournament despite the fact that he has zero clue what the Night Tournament entails and Cole just giving advice to whoever listens.

slaps this down for 2

[ghoulaid]

Cole's float is... something. Ghoul's not sure what it's supposed to be, actually, but he does know that it's a lot calmer over here. It'll be a good place to take a break.

Ghoul climbs on to Cole's float, lying stretched out on his belly behind some sort of large, half-assed decoration. It's the best hiding spot he's found so far. Cole is such a generous host... even though he has no say in the matter, since Ghoul has already barged in and made himself at home. The details don't matter that much, do they?

"I like your float. Wanna trade? Let's trade."

[hurtcomfort]

The decorations are exceedingly half assed. It was going to be this beautiful sliver sort of aesthetic but then people realized wait a minute, ghosts can't wear clothes, so everything was hastily redesigned to fit Cole's khakis.

As Ghoul stretches out behind the decoration, Cole can't help but look over a bit confused. Okay? This is what they were doing now? He doesn't mind company (he really likes company, as a matter of fact) but normally you have a bit more warning before something like this happens.

"Which one's yours?"

[ghoulaid]

Ghoul bends an arm before resting his head on top of it, using his free hand to point in the direction of his own float. "The one with the dead stuff. You can hang out on it if you want, 'cause I'm gonna borrow this one for a minute."

He doesn't seem to realize it could be seen as rude, herding the dead guy on to the Dead Stuff float. The connection hasn't even crossed his mind, honestly, because all he wants to do is hunker down behind this fucking silvery-brown-cloud??? and take a power nap. Even though he's pretty sure he's not supposed to shut his eyes with freaky contact lenses in... Ugh. Ugh.

[hurtcomfort]

Yeah, Cole's staying put where he is. In fact, he's adjusting his posture slightly so that he's still sitting on the float but also looking at Ghoul--though he does peer over at the float in question as if to make sure of the one he's seeing. Yep, that sure is a float covered in dead things.

"Why would they put dead things on your float? You're not dead." It's an honest question because really, so much of Ghoul's float is downright confusing to poor Cole.

[ghoulaid]

"'Cause I like dead things." Because of course he does. He'd better, anyway, or else he'd have some real problems with all of the dark-themed tattoos he's got all over himself. "And it goes with my costume. I'm like a wolf version of the grim reaper." It only makes sense for a harbinger of death to have a corpse posse, geez.

"What, uh... What were you supposed to be?"

[hurtcomfort]

Okay, Cole will admit that 'wolf version of the grim reaper' does sound pretty cool. And Ghoul looks pretty cool as well. All of the costumes might be confusing, but they're quite fun to look at.

"They wanted to make something ethereal? Lots of silver, lots of spangles, floating in the fog. But I can't wear the costume, so they had to change." Which really? That's a bit of a shame. Cole would like to be spangly, at least for a little bit.

"I wouldn't mind wearing the costume. I just can't."

[ghoulaid]

Ghoul gets one of those thoughtful looks on his face seconds before he props his head up against one of his hands. "It makes sense that you can't wear normal clothes, but can't you change the way you look?" This is definitely not napping, which he should be doing. The pack has had him awake since 7AM, for fuck's sake. But ghost-stuff will always get him talking.

[hurtcomfort]

"I don't know?" said with a little shrug. "I've never really tried."

He has issues becoming tangible, he doesn't know if he can change the way he looks, he occasionally forgets how to human...truly, Cole is a shining example of ghost representation.

2

[outstandingbalance]

"Imagine running into you again." Natasha says, curiosity on her face as she looks over Cole. Her expression is friendly though. "I didn't realize there would be ghosts competing in the games."

[hurtcomfort]

"Oh! Hello there!" Cole's expression is equally friendly, just lighting up into a small smile as he spotted Natasha. That's good--it's good to see someone you know, especially at something like this where there's so many people Cole doesn't know.

"I'm competing because it looked like fun," he simply responds, as an answer to her question.

[outstandingbalance]

"That's a good reason." Especially if it's not like you have other things going on, other things you should be doing or obligations that you might be at odds with. "Are you enjoying it so far?"

[hurtcomfort]

Being a ghost means you don't really have much in the way of a daily schedule or things that need to happen. This looks like fun, Cole's going to do it.

"I am," he admits, with a little nod. "So bright, so busy--and all the amazing hats!"

Cole has his priorities straight.

[outstandingbalance]

"The hats are what stands out to you?" Natasha asks, but to each his own apparently. If that's what wows Cole, that's what matters. Ghosts have strange priorities at the best times. "I didn't notice them."

[hurtcomfort]

"Of course," Cole responds, as if it's obvious. Well, if Natasha didn't notice them, then he needs to point them out.

"You should try and get a look at Mogget. He has a tiny crown." It's just said in a matter of fact tone. Cats are alright, cats in tiny crowns are even better.

[outstandingbalance]

"I'll keep an eye open for that." Though Natasha's opinion of a cat in a tiny crown might not be the same as Cole's. Seems sort of cruel to the cat. Of course, Mogget isn't a normal cat. "Thank you, for letting me know."

It's not important, but she's willing to treat it with at least a little seriousness.

Only a little, though.

"So do you know what you're up against in the tournament?"

[hurtcomfort]

"I don't," Cole remarks, with a shake of his head. Even if the rankings were posted, Cole has no idea where to seek them out or who to ask in the first place. Still, this doesn't matter.

"I don't think I'm worried, though. I've heard people talking." More like he's been a terrible eavesdropper. It's easy to not be seen when you don't want others to see you. "Isn't the first round combat?"

2

[dredefulchilde]

Joscelin is just about to stake the whining newly-turned vampire to get him to shut up. He's too new to know who Joss is, of course; he's just looking for someone to vent to. Which is annoying because Joscelin had just seen him telling the exact same story to the pet store ghost Joscelin had met some time before.

"I could always tear your head off or stab you with a bit of wood and then it wouldn't be a problem anymore." He gives the vampire his most winning smile. That scares the bit of filth back to wherever he came from.

Ah, freedom. Except, not quite.

He looks over the pet shop ghost, who is still hovering around.

"I suppose you think I shouldn't have threatened to kill him."

[hurtcomfort]

Oh. It's the awful pet shop vampire. Cole tries to be helpful and tries to see the good in everybody but it's really hard when you've got someone so annoying.

"You shouldn't have done that," he responds, with a frown. "I didn't mind us talking." Even if the helping was just listening to someone complain, he was still helping.

[dredefulchilde]

"He was being obnoxious." Joscelin shrugs. "I don't understand why half these vampires are turned. They're not up to it." Says the person who was turned as a fatally ill preteen by a woman who missed being a mother and didn't think anyone would mind her absconding with their child. It was a long time ago, okay?

"So how is this supposed to work out?" He gestures vaguely at Cole, who is very much an intangible spirit. "At least no one can kill you a second time."

[hurtcomfort]

Cole shrugs. How is this supposed to work out? Hell if he knows! He applied because it looked like fun, because people would see him and he would be seen. He didn't really think it through.

"It'll work out how it works out," he explains, as if that's a perfectly sound explanation that makes total sense--though it does to Cole.

[dredefulchilde]

He really is rather pathetic, isn't he? Like a kicked puppy. A few hundred years ago Joss might've even pitied him, before he got rid of all that pesky empathy.

"I suppose if anyone gets too close you can...rattle the windows at them," he says mockingly.

[hurtcomfort]

"If anyone gets too close, I won't let them see me." Again, that's a perfectly sound explanation in Cole's mind. He likes manifesting himself and he likes it when other people see him, but the long and short of it is that he's still a ghost. If there are any problems, he'll just make himself invisible, intangible, unseen.

"Besides, there might not be windows in the first place."

[dredefulchilde]

Joscelin has to fight to suppress a snigger. Cole is just so pure. He must have lived a very sheltered life before being murdered.

"No, I very much doubt there will be windows."

[hurtcomfort]

"If you don't think there would be windows, then why mention windows in the first place?" Cole can't help but lightly complain, pouting slightly. It's obvious that Joscelin's mocking went straight over his head and Cole thinks that rattling windows is a perfectly valid strategy.

This truly is an aggravating vampire.