undergrounds | Night Tournament Opening Ceremony

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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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

This your idea, or did someone else come up with it?

[She's not unaware of his history, at least to a degree. Not all the details. But a few of them. Enough of them. She has to wonder if this is someone else's idea of the joke.

Hard to say with Flint which it might be.]

It's very striking.

[ He inclines his head at Natasha in welcome and glances back at his float. He's honestly quite pleased at how it turned out, and even more pleased at the attention it seems to be getting him.

Which was exactly the point. ]

Isn't it? The original model was far more impressive in its day, but this design was appropriate for the occasion.

[ He looks back at her. ]

I understand that I won't competing against you in this tournament, then?

You understand correctly. I'll just be a spectator this time around.

[Seem like the safer choice to her. Honestly, Natasha's not the competitive type.

Not like that, anyway.]

I know a lot of the contestants, though. It'll be interesting to see how it pans out.

[ Flint's smile is a touch regretful — he would have enjoyed competing against her. ]

You would have made a worthy opponent. [ She did have a reputation, one he was well aware of. ] Not to disparage the others. [ A pause. ] Any weaknesses you know about that I should be aware of?

You flatter me. [Natasha says it humbly. She knows her own reputation. She might be young as vampires go, but she's beaten vampires much older than herself. Her training goes a long way.]

I'd hate to make the game unsporting—but most of the the people I know in it are tough. Tough, but not heartless.

I wouldn't ask for unfair advantage.

[ Mostly because he's exceedingly confident and while he does appreciate having underhanded tactics as backup plan, he feels he won't need to rely on such tricks to win the tournament. ]

Even the fae? It appears to me that the very essence of their being would be ... unsporting.

Only if he decides not to play nice. [Natasha glances in the direction o Eames' float, her smile very wry.] Have you met him?

[ Flint follows her eyes and gives the man in question a somewhat judgmental once-over. ]

No.

He's a good person to know, if you're planning on staying in town long. [She doesn't add more to explain why. Aside from his rank among the fae, it would be hard to explain why she has that impression without getting into details that aren't hers to give, or into speculation. But she feels it deeply.]

[ Flint nods slowly, considering.

He has no faith whatsoever in the fae — but if this particular one proves useful, he might reconsider.

He gives Nat a small, amused sort of smile. ]

Ah. Define "good".

[Natasha hums at his question. She can imagine his distrust, but there's room for distrust and mutual interest.]

Beneficial. He's smart, in position of power, and while he doesn't love vampires, he's not above flirting with them.

[She says the last lightly, as though joking, but she means it as much figuratively as literally.]

[ he'd be likely to agree, but at the moment distrust, and a healthy dose of competitivity, are what have his ear.

he cocks an eyebrow at her choice of wording. ]

Really.

[ that could be one way to go about it, he supposes. ]

Better brace myself, then.

Edited 2017-09-09 05:42 (UTC)

That's the most you can do. Most of the people competing, you won't have as many advantages as you're used to.

[He has a fair amount of experience—more than Natasha by centuries—but so do some of the others, vampires and fae.

Still, a vampire his age has strength to go with their tricks.]

When you see an opening, don't hold back.

Night Tournament Opening Ceremony

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