undergrounds | Night Tournament Opening Ceremony

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Night Tournament Opening Ceremony

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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

When Evie signed up for this, she hadn't thought anything about the float or the costume. It was all a little Hungry Games to her, truth be told, and it really didn't help that the costume they'd come up with was a gladiator. Evie found it appropriate, her float a chariot. Keeping with her preferences, however, her whole costume was in shades of black and a dark gold.

Honestly, despite being strapped into a bit of a corset and wearing a skirt that really wasn't even a skirt so much as leather straps and a pair of booty shorts, she couldn't help but think she looked good.

After the ceremony, Dame Evie Frye as she'd allowed them to introduce her as, can be found mingling with her new-found fans, and enjoying a drink. She's happy to be competing, though she can't help but wonder if all her training made it cheating.

Oh well.

Ghoul lingers in front of Evie's float, looking it over (and maybe her costume a little bit too- but mostly the float, really, honestly), his head tilted beneath his fluffy hood. Eventually, he comments, "Y'know, I wasn't alive at the time so I'm not an expert or nothin', but I don't think that's how that armor's supposed to work."

That sure is a lot of uncovered arm. And leg. And... everything? How very impractical for battle.

Arm. Leg. Ass. It's a bit ridiculous, considering they've only got her in bracers and the leather straps holding the bodice of her outfit up. At least her calves are covered by her over-the-knee gladiator sandals. Still, it's oddly revealing, all things considered.

"Good thing this is all just ceremonial then, eh?" She asks, taking the thickest of her braids and throwing it over her shoulder.

Oh, thank god her calves are covered. Those are obviously the most vulnerable points on the human (well, vampire in this case) body.

"Better be. If we all had to fight in that, I'd quit right the fuck now." Fur and makeup? Fine. But he draws the line at leather straps and short-shorts. Not everyone can pull off that combo.

Oh, 100% the most vulnerable place on a vampire.

"You're American- aren't you supposed to love all that WWE sort of pageantry?" She raises an eyebrow.

He's not ready for WWE to come up so casually, and it startles a laugh out of him. How the hell did she find out about the armpit of American entertainment? "I mean, sure, but not for myself. I don't even have a tacky wrestler name ready."

No, Fun Ghoul does not count. Better not even say it. "Lemme guess, yours is 1 Hit Wonder."

His name is totally his Tacky Wrestler Name. But then he goes ahead and gives Evie her own and it takes her just one moment to look at him, blink, and then double over in laughter.

"Oh my god- that's brilliant! Thank you, yes, that's exactly what they'll call me." She straightens up a bit, still grinning. "I'd go with something like The Laughing Wolf for you. But I've always been rubbish at names like that." When she'd run a gang, they had been the Rooks. The idea had been Jacob's, but neither twin had name skills.

It's nice to know his genius is appreciated around here. Ghoul grins up at her. "That makes me sound like a hyena," which... Okay, is actually pretty fair. Good game, Evie.

"If I end up wiping the floor with you in the fight round, it totally won't be from a grudge over you kinda calling me a giggly bat-dog."

"Is there a problem with that?" She asks, raising an eyebrow at his skepticism. "I think it's a lovely name." It was a terrible name.

She laughs, not just at the image of Ghoul managing to wipe the floor with her, but at the description of the hyena. "It's supposed to be a complement."

Ghoul just smiles, briefly propping his elbows on the edge of her float. "Fuck, I gotta be in parades more often. I'm gettin' all kinds of compliments." There are much simpler ways to get them... No one tell him.

He gives her float an encouraging pat before pulling back- he can't hang around for long. She is, after all, a vampire. "Don't be too rough on the other guy from my pack. He's kind of a baby, I don't wanna hear him whine for the next four months."

"Well, thank you for the complement, Ghoul." She smiles at him.

It's a pity that he feels the need to rush, like he can't talk to her. But that was the nature of the beast, as it were. Hopefully, they could work to change that.

"The one dressed like he's a king?" She'd recalled something about him being related to a werewolf queen? "Don't worry. I'll be merciful."

That'll be the one. Ghoul nods, only seconds before rolling his eyes so hard that it hurts. "Oh my god, speaking of- don't ask him about his costume."

It's for everybody's benefit, really. It'll spare the poor pack from having to hear The Story for the millionth time, and it'll also probably prevent Evie from wanting to outright kill him later.

"Dully noted." Evie nods and gives a glance over towards the other competitors.

"I won't ask him, and I won't kill him. I think I can handle that."

(no subject)

ghoulaid - 2017-08-18 15:25 (UTC) - Expand

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freelife - 2017-08-18 15:31 (UTC) - Expand

"You know," Natasha appears at Evie's elbow out of the crowd, "I wish I'd been in the room when they convinced you to wear that. I might have learned a thing or two."

She smiles, her presence (hopefully) supportive of Evie's decision to come out and compete. "You look impressive. I wouldn't want to be one of your opponents."

Evie looks over at her girlfriend, the most unimpressed look on her face.

"Take a picture, because you'll never see me in this again." Evie picks at one of the leather straps on her skirt. Still, she smiles. "Thank you- there was a motion to wear my proper Assassin robes, but it didn't feel quite right. So now I'm dressed as a goth Warrior Princess."

"Oh, don't think I won't. I'll keep it on my vanity mirror." Smirking as she says it, too. Of course, Natasha is well aware that Evie knows she doesn't own a vanity. But she likes the image. "How long are we honored with this? I'm guessing you'll be out of it a soon as you're out of the spotlight."

She smiles, her eyes on Natasha's. "Oh good, kiss it every day before work?" She can tease, too.

She glances down at her costume. "Well, I was going to change before getting back home. But now I'm considering wearing it home, just for you." She winks,

"Don't tease me with that if you're not going to follow through." Evie gets a kiss on the cheek for that. Natasha's not big on public displays of affection, but she's not entirely against a little kiss when they're deserved. "You could always put it back on later."

She smirks, giving Natasha's hand a squeeze. There's a moment there where she hears her name called out, and she's got to turn for the cameras and smile. When the photographer moves on, she turns back to Natasha.

"Pardon- I'm starting to think that's a very good idea. The costume originally came with a whip at my side." She leans in close, practically whispering in Natasha's ear: "Perhaps we'll see what other sort of uses it has."

Let the cameras catch them being affectionate. Evie really didn't care. She had nothing to hide when it came to her relationship with Natasha.

"Is that so?" Natasha responds playfully, her eyebrows rising in mock astonishment and real humor—and interest. "How long do we have to stay at this thing? Suddenly I'm feeling like we should slip out early."

Evie glances around her, trying to weigh how much she'll be missed. Vampires weren't popular right now, and Flint had a fare number of people paying attention to him- pirates were more exciting than gladiators.

"Don't tempt me."

Please tempt her. Drag her out. Make her say fuck the rules.

"I'm sorry, I'm not sure I can promise that." Natasha's smile is absolutely a smirk. Hard to feel guilty about it when she's well aware that Evie would rather not be here anyway. Floats and costumes, big public displays? Not that Evie can't handle it, but the two of them are the same in that they'd rather not be in the spotlight.

And the same in that they both enjoy fooling around. "No one's going to miss a costume and a prop or too. Maybe I'll sneak them out. Not my fault if you happen to be in them still."

Evie pulls a face, forcing her lips downward in a frown. It doesn't last too long, however, and she tilts her head toward her girlfriend.

"No, no, it's certainly not." She glances around. "I think we can stand to sneak out a few minutes early..."

"A few minutes," Natasha agrees. "After you've put in your dues. You have to be at least half way there. You made an appearance. Quite an appearance."

"I really hope that this appearance is quickly forgotten by everyone involved." She squeezes Natasha's hand and dips her head down a little bit more to whisper: "Present company excluded."