undergrounds | Night Tournament Opening Ceremony

Watch on YouTube

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

"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."

"Good. Because I plan on remembering this for a long time." Natasha draws out the word long in a gentle drawl, teasing. "Might even have to save the costumes for later. What do you say? I won't make you wear it out of the flat."

She sighs. "Of course you will. If we're together long enough, I don't imagine you wouldn't commission it as a portrait."

That was something you did when you were Victorian.

Or was that just a terribly weird thing to say?

"A portrait? How bourgeois." Natasha says, teasingly, and pulls Evie in for another quick kiss, smiling as she pulls back. "But I might try to get a picture. Maybe I'll make it my lock screen."

Evie drops her head and grins into the kiss.

"Lock screen! Is that what Modern Romance is, now? You kids and your new ways of expressing love." Love. Oh. Dear. That was new.

Night Tournament Opening Ceremony

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject