acrookedchild: (He found a crooked sixpence)
Abigail Widdowson ([personal profile] acrookedchild) wrote in [community profile] undergrounds2015-07-01 07:21 am

Stroke of Midnight [OPEN]

Miss Abigail Widdowson cordially invites you to Geap Manor on Wednesday, July 1st at 19:00.

Food, drinks, and music will be provided.

All are welcome, but individuals are to be aware that any hostilities during the evening's festivities will not be tolerated.


It is the first time in at least a generation that the doors of Geap Manor have been opened to the general population. Or, at least, as general as the supernatural community could be considered. Some invitiations were made personally, but most were formally sent to the higher ranking members of the various factions.

Dinner is announced precisely at 19:30. The small, intimate eating area for the family has been turned into a buffet room. The caterers Abigail hired have obviously been paid well to make sure there is something for everyone. Rich meat dishes, hearty vegetarian dishes, light fish dishes, plenty of accompaniments and finger food. There is also plenty of fairly fresh blood for vampires. For the others, there are wines, water, and tea available.

The grand dining room has had its large table removed, replaced, instead, by small tables that can comfortably hold four. They can, of course, be pushed together to allow for more room.

The ballroom is open to the guests, and the DJ has also been highly paid to make sure the music played is precisely to the hostess's tastes. There is plenty of modern music, good for dancing, as well as older classics. However, interspersed are classical pieces meant for waltzes and foxtrots and other such ballroom dances.

In the sitting room is a drink cart with wine, tea, water, and blood. Chairs and divans are available, as the room is a quiet place, a little away from the ballroom, so conversation can be had with ease. There is an unlit fireplace, and a portrait of Abigail a few years younger than she is now hangs above it.

Most of the rest of the house is locked. One can wander the hallways, but it may prove ultimately fruitless. One who simply walks up the stairways will find the walls of each lined with the Widdowson family portraits of every generation, starting with one of a ten-year-old Abby, her parents, and her six-year-old brother. As one takes in all the paintings, a pattern presents itself. Every Widdowson woman featured is pale, thin, and blonde.

The grounds are beautifully maintained and fenced in by wrought iron on top of stone. A very traditional look for such an imposing manor. On the path from the street to the house, there's little remarkable, save the knocker on the door. Behind the house, however, if one ventures away, one might get the keen sense of something from inside the house watching, waiting, and hungering. On the ground floor, the locked rooms are mostly unremarkable, save for the study at the back of the house. Linger too long near there, and one might hear a sound coming in a pattering set. It isn't a knock against the door, no. Instead, it is the sound of something hitting the wall. If someone were to force their way into the nursery on the second floor or the attic several stories up... Well. They likely won't be coming back to the party. Or to anything.

Wandering, of course, isn't a suggested enterprise. The old house doesn't like people poking around and trying to find its secrets.


(Everyone who has at least a familiarity with the supernatural is welcome, as the invitations were distributed widely. Mingle, make your own top comments, enjoy the food, etc!)
rules_winter: (over the shoulder)

[personal profile] rules_winter 2015-07-02 04:39 pm (UTC)(link)
"We do like ceremony." She replied, her head turning to look down the stairs at the girl. Her lips quirked a little, "Speaking of which, your announcement was an impressive display of disobedience in the presence of those who would have retaliated in a less public venue." There was something like approval in that sentence.

"I expected to see your uncle here." She said thoughtfully.
rules_winter: (gaze)

[personal profile] rules_winter 2015-07-04 06:57 am (UTC)(link)
"Ah, then the gathering was your choice?" Her voice is curious though her eyes lift a little as though she might see through the walls to the reclusive fae. Such a shame, he seemed like he would be an interesting character. To so insinuate himself into a full witch family and continue for generations. Mab would never do something quite so restrictive but she knew of fae who did such things. It gave them insular power.
rules_winter: (considering your predicament)

[personal profile] rules_winter 2015-07-06 12:55 am (UTC)(link)
"You are still young, it is to be expected." and the Fae didn't much care for those they invest effort into going off and trying to get themselves killed. Her fae had a vested interest in keeping her alive. "I encourage trial by fire." If someone wasn't strong enough to survive something like this, then they probably weren't worth the effort anyway. She thought this young witch might surprise some people as she'd already done Mab.

"And it is not as though you do not have those you can call on for favors." There was a slight smile there. A challenging look from Mab and then she turned her head to look at the picture again. Letting it lie there for Abigail to decide on in her own time. Mab was patient. Be it now or in ten years, a dark witch would be useful to her.

rules_winter: (pleasant)

[personal profile] rules_winter 2015-07-09 07:31 am (UTC)(link)
"It is more fun to negotiate with someone who can make the negotiations interesting." Mab pointed out. "Any fae worth their salt should appreciate your knowledge."

Desperation and recklessness always came eventually and this girl had put herself at the forefront, a target for those who did not approve of what she was. Desperation would come. "Your home is lovely" the Lady segued diplomatically.
rules_winter: (cape)

[personal profile] rules_winter 2015-07-11 08:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Mab looked as though she believed kind wasn't the proper term but was still amused none the less. Her gaze moved about the house. Improvements was a minor statement, the house was likely more just stone walls that far back. Plumbing and electricity made it liveable. Insulation would make it comfortable. The threshold on her house would be rock solid though. "An impressive legacy."

As for some things refusing change, that would be the magical influence. Witches coupled with fae were bound to make bits and pieces stubborn or whimsical. "Are there parts you are particularly interested in changing?"
rules_winter: (secret smile)

[personal profile] rules_winter 2015-07-14 04:38 am (UTC)(link)
Mab's eyes went unfocused as she recalled the doorknocker and then smiled a little. "Lights can be replaced with candles at the very least." The craftsmanship on the knocker hadn't been pleasing but it had a certain... feeling of dread and despair that the rough edges broadcasted quite well. "Perhaps it is important to the spirit of the house."

Likely that or the fae who gave the house it's essence had a bizarre sense of humor. But magical things could sometimes take on their own personalities. And stubbornness ran in nearly every creature.
rules_winter: (aren't you interesting)

[personal profile] rules_winter 2015-07-16 04:24 am (UTC)(link)
Mab turned to look at Abigail with an intensity in her eyes. "Don't we all?" It was only kind of a question. It was especially important for creatures like the fae. Belief added power.
rules_winter: (over the shoulder)

[personal profile] rules_winter 2015-07-17 05:50 am (UTC)(link)
Mab would be very interested to hear her house had become an entity of it's out even outside the fae's influence. A Genius Loci was rare indeed. And interesting that her family would be so linked to it.

Stepping toward the stairway she finally started to move back toward the main party, pausing next to the girl moving to put a hand on her shoulder though she will draw it back if the girl shrinks back from her touch. "I hope you enjoy your coming out Abigail Widdowson. It was well done."