Game Opening: May Ball

[undergroundmods]

LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED.

"" (Watch on YouTube)

It had to be done.

Welcome all to the Redbright Institute's May Ball! This evening is a celebration of the Institute's achievements over the past year. Students aged 16 and above can attend on their own, while younger students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Meanwhile, friends and guests of the Institute are invited as a gesture of friendship and harmony between the various factions.

Rules and etiquette
• This is a black tie event. Formal attire is required.
• No weapons. This is a school, there are children present. Any weapons or objects that could be used as weapons will be confiscated.
• No drugs or alcohol. Obviously. Don't try to sneak any in.
• No violence.

There is security within the school and present at the event. (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.

Places to go
The main action takes place in the large Assembly Hall. This is where the Chancellor Sylvia Redbright will give her address. It's also where you can party later on. The disco is family-friendly – not exactly a rave, but the kids will love it.

Drinks and snacks are available in the dining hall. The drinks are non-alcoholic. Vampires, no need to worry about your cravings: blood cocktails are provided! They're given in good faith on the assumption that you won't be snacking on anyone else tonight.

Just off the dining hall, one of the classrooms has been converted into a chill-out area. The lights are off, the desks and chairs have been replaced by beanbags and there's a table in the corner with a chocolate fountain, marshmallows and strawberries. A video of young witches taking part in various night-time rituals (they mostly seem to involve chanting and bonfires) plays silently on the screen.

One of the lecture theatres has been opened up to showcase students' work from the past year. On the screen you can watch a slideshow of notable events and achievements. Strangely enough there aren't many people in this room.

Outside, there is a giant chessboard on the lawn. The pieces are made of plastic and can easily be moved around. Why, you ask? Why not, is the answer.

Finally, a large marquee has been set up in the quad. This is the adults-only area, with wine and cocktails served at the bar, nibbles available at a few high tables dotted around and a sophisticated atmosphere. No children under 18 allowed. (Note that the legal drinking age is 18.)

Timeline of events
20:00 – Doors open.
20:57 – Sunset.
21:15 – Sylvia Redbright makes her address in the Assembly Hall.
22:00 – Disco in the Assembly Hall. The DJ has atrocious taste.
01:00 – Disco stops. The event officially ends.

Comments

[apolly]

Apollo briefly tries to imagine what it would be like if L.A. and N.Y.C. got into a fight, but drops it immediately.

"Oh, I believe you. I got a ton of that character here right in front of me."

[detectiveofthewest]

Don't even joke about that, Apollo...

Heiji raised his eyebrows. "You castin' aspersions, Mr. Justice?" Although honestly Apollo was kind of right; Heiji was what would happen if Osaka was distilled and purified and set loose upon the world in a completely reckless scientific experiment.

[apolly]

"I... you know what, nevermind," Apollo wisely decides, tossing his now empty cup into the nearby trash can. He just created a "date" with Heiji and there was no way in hell he was going to make this worse.

"You have something to do, don't you? Like investigate scandals or something."

[detectiveofthewest]

"I ain't usually into scandals -- I leave that kinda thing for reporters. No cheating spouse cases, either. Not sayin' they don't come up sometimes, but anyone can look into those."

But Apollo should identify with that much. No boring cases, only ones that were completely nuts. "By the way, I haven't seen your office yet, have I..."

[apolly]

"You are not dropping by." And this is the tone of someone who expects you to do your own research and find where the hell he works.

... Which isn't hard, he put up a hiring posting on the billboard not too long ago.

But STILL.

"Only if you have business, which we rarely do! You'd just touch everything!"

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji sounded absolutely offended. "What? That's just rude! What're you sayin', you think I'm gonna paw through your drawers? Throw off all your fancy instruments?"

Just for that, Heiji was going to aggressively pay you a visit, Apollo. YOU WILL REGRET THIS.

[apolly]

"I'm not being rude, I'm being real. You're formally not invited. Have a good party," Apollo concludes, throwing a peace sign over his shoulder as he finally leaves in the most snotty was possible.

Yeah, show up and do exactly everything you just said plus digging through my kitchen for all of my groceries and coffee. This is Apollo's view of Heiji Hasegawa: a freeloader.

[detectiveofthewest]

Wow, dick move, bro. Now Heiji really wouldn't be able to get in... though he could certainly still find the address.

Rude.