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 The lights are off, the desks and chairs have been replaced by beanbags and there's a table in the corner with a chocolate fountain, marshmallows and strawberries.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

[brightwitch]

1) The Assembly Hall
The assembly hall is packed. Community leaders and interested parties from across the city have come to see the Chancellor make her address. There are rumours that she has an announcement to make, though no one knows what. They're packed in like school children, seated on flimsy plastic chairs, but the room falls silent when Sylvia steps up to the podium. A few cameras flash. She holds up a hand to stop them.

"Ladies and gentlemen," she begins, "everyone. Welcome."

Her speech doesn't sound much different from what you might expect at any high-achieving school, except for the occasional mentions of "celebrating supernatural diversity" and "stellar performance in helping students to control their abilities, magical and physical". That is, until she starts talking about the Institute's work outside the school.

"Redbright has a long and proud history of promoting harmony between supernatural communities. Thanks to our people, in the last few years we have not only made Ealing a safe and secure home for our children, we have also extended our influence to other boroughs, including Harrow, Brent and Hounslow. We call it the safe zone, a place in London where every supernatural and non-supernatural person is welcome, where they can walk freely without fear of harm. We keep the peace. We will continue to keep the peace."

There's a pause. She's warming to her theme.

"Tonight I am delighted to announce that we are extending that safe zone. With the full backing of the Night Council, Redbright is claiming jurisdiction over Barnet. We will be establishing a presence on the ground there, to enforce our no-hostilities policy and to drive out any criminal presence. I hope that you will all join me in supporting our efforts, as we look forward to a safer, brighter future."

A smile.

"And finally, because I know all the adults in the room will be wondering: You can buy drinks on the lawn. There's a big white tent, you can't miss it. Thank you."

2) Cocktails
For around an hour or so after her speech, Sylvia can be found enjoying a cocktail in the marquee. She's approachable, but constantly in demand. If you can get past all the witches and other very important personages surrounding her, you might just be able to have a few words.


[ooc: Option 2 is really the only one where you have a chance to talk to Sylvia, but feel free to react to her speech amongst yourselves!]

2

[acrookedchild]

There is an advantage to having a name. A powerful, wealthy name. Being a Widdowson has always had its advantages, Abigail knows that, but she's never had it at her fingertips before. After the death of her family, she was kept inside the manor as much as possible. Before that, she only saw her father wield the name. Now, out on her own, she is her own woman. The name is hers.

And she uses it to its full advantage to perform the society dance around the notable figures to bring her close enough to Sylvia Redbright to address the woman personally. By now, Abigail's fairly sure everyone who's anyone knows that she's here and who she is, but introductions are still polite

"Abigail Widdowson, ma'am." She smiles, her youth and sheltered life showing through. At nineteen, she's had a lot less experience out in the world than some people half her age. But she's had education and lessons in formality, which are worth a great deal in the right situations. "That was a lovely speech."

[brightwitch]

She's a speck of a girl, this one, but the fact that she's bold enough to approach Sylvia says something. Sylvia lowers her drink, regarding Abigail with a faintly pitying look.

"Widdowson." She rolls the name over her tongue; it is a familiar one. "I haven't heard that name in a while. Thank you."

She knows some of the Widdowson family history, enough to know that the family are cursed and that Abigail's story is inevitably a tragic one. If anything, she's a perfect case study of the dangers of dark magic.

[acrookedchild]

Abigail bows her head in polite reply, but she manages to keep her smile.

"Hopefully you will hear it more in the future." There was only slight cause for the name to be talked about before, what with a young woman not yet of age being the last of the line. Now, she is nineteen, and she can fully be part of society, step away from the gilded cage and see the future. She wants it to be talked about again, but this time for the right reasons. Not the curse, not the tragedies, but because a Widdowson is doing good in the world, is making the right kind of difference.

[brightwitch]

She's holding her cocktail glass with both hands, a slight frown creasing her brow. That sounds as though Abigail intends to make a name for herself. Which could be a good or bad thing, depending on whether she follows the same path as the rest of her family. But Sylvia has a responsibility towards all witches, and she takes that seriously. Perhaps Abigail has come to seek her guidance.

Her tone softens. "What can I do for you, Abigail?"

[acrookedchild]

What can I do for you?

It's a delicate question. One she knows she should have expected. One she did expect. But not one she thought of a proper answer to. Because she doesn't know herself what she wants of Slyvia. Perhaps, it's best to start small. Like the things she never got to ask about the school when she first told her father about her desire to attend.

"I was curious about the school. Would you mind just a few questions?"

[brightwitch]

"Not at all." There are probably no questions about the school Abigail could ask that she hasn't been asked before, so this is familiar territory. "Just a few though, I get a bit of a queue."

Indeed, there are already several interested parties hovering nearby, a couple of whom are listening in to their conversation. They might also want to hear more about the school. Or maybe they're just nosy. Either way, she often finds herself addressing several people at once.

[acrookedchild]

"Of course. I wouldn't be so selfish," Abigail replies with a small smile and nod. Timing is important. Being a bore is a distinct threat. Better by far, her mother used to tell her, to say too little than too much. "I suppose the most important question is something of a personal one. At what age is someone ineligible to begin attending Redbright?"

It's an old fantasy, one she probably wouldn't live out even if she could. But part of her wants to pretend she could still become a student, wants to imagine she wouldn't be turned away as quickly as her father always said she'd be.

[brightwitch]

"Oh, there's no age limit!" She's genuinely pleased to hear Abigail express an interest. This is a positive step. "Full-time education is up to eighteen, but we have evening courses for adults as well. Are you interested in applying?"

[acrookedchild]

"I might be. I was taught at home a great deal, but I'd like to learn more." Especially with the name Redbright attached to it. There was a lot to be learned.

[brightwitch]

"Pop by during the day and ask at reception," Sylvia advises her. "Are you over eighteen? They'll be able to let you know what's available."

She's not sure whether Abigail is over or under eighteen. Teenagers these days can make themselves look much older than they really are.

[acrookedchild]

"Nineteen," Abigail replied with a small smile. It wouldn't be a bad thing to learn from the Redbright Institute, especially if Sylvia did want to bring everyone together. If there really was to be peace. "Thank you very much, Ms. Redbright. Is there anything else I should know about applying? Or can reception answer all of those questions?"

Her family's name was her main concern. Their reputation, their powers, and their name.

[brightwitch]

Sylvia smiles back. "Of course, they'd be happy to answer your questions. But since you came to me personally and I do know a little about your family, I hope you won't mind me offering a piece of advice."

She leans forward, one hand lightly brushing Abigail's arm, and lowers her voice. No doubt half the onlookers will hear anyway, but at least she's making it look like this should be a private conversation.

"Dark magic is not allowed at Redbright. We say this to all witches who pass through our doors: it doesn't matter what you may or may not have done in the past. We can help you choose a better path. Talk to your coven. You'll have a better chance if they can vouch for you."

She means a Daybreak coven, of course. The ones that are well-regarded and occasionally choose to send their most promising young witches to Redbright in order to broaden their supernatural horizons. Or curry favour with Sylvia, which is typically the underlying motive.

2 -- no worries about replying to this, it just needed to be done, haha

[livelongenough]

All Henry has in his hands is a cup of coffee. After all, tonight, he's not allowed to drink, which is no great loss to him. He stopped drinking for thirty years; he had go a night without it. After all, he's volunteered to be part of the security team tonight.

He doesn't approach Syvlia, no. She has far too many people to attend to, and he quite understands. Instead, he simply catches her eye and gives a nod to indicate his presence out here for awhile. He'll make sure to do the same (and make sure his task out here has passed to someone else) before he changes location again.

2

[mensrea]

The DJ should have been playing the Mission Impossible theme while Stiles sneaked into the marquee—it was that impressive. He even did a little somersault for dramatic effect. Granted, he crashed into a table in doing so, but he's pretending that bit didn't happen. Once he's gotten past security, he makes a beeline straight for Sylvia.

"Excuse me. Pardon me. Coming through." All those witches and very important people? Totally being elbowed in their faces accidentally as he squeezes by. "Hey. Hey! Mrs. Witch Lady?"

Should Sylvia look in his direction, she will see a very energetic young man waving at her and beaming.

[brightwitch]

Sylvia is fond of children, really, even teenagers, but she likes them best when they stay where you expect to find them. Like in the classroom. And definitely not in the adults-only marquee.

Anyway, the sight of this overenthusiastic teenager barging towards her might have been alarming for some (and indeed is, judging from the reactions of those around her including a bodyguard who looks ready to leap on the boy and wrestle him to the ground), but Sylvia simply puts down her drink and steps forward.

"Is there an emergency?"

Because that has to be why he's so eager to get to her, right? Some disaster had happened, like one of the sixth formers passing out or a werewolf picking a fight with a vampire, and of course some student had the bright idea that only she could solve it. Or maybe someone is playing a prank. Either way, she'll soon find out.

[mensrea]

Now that he has her attention, one might expect Stiles to dial it back a bit. Oh no. This meeting will not be quite so painless. Utterly oblivious to the bodyguard eyeing him like a particularly pesky rodent, he slides up to Sylvia and then rocks back on his heels, all boundless energy. The party has him wired, senses overstimulated by everything going on.

“What? No! I just wanted to talk to you. That’s okay, right?”

Before she even has a chance to answer him, he’s barreling along at full speed.

“I heard your speech earlier. Not really sure what you were talking about, but I get the whole peace spiel. That’s important to me too. Back home, things were…”

Stiles trails off, then continues as if he hadn’t; Beacon Hills is a bit of a sensitive topic for him in that he’s protective of it, and perhaps far too suspicious to discuss it with others.

“Anyway, I wanna know how to get involved. Y’know, in the school.”

[brightwitch]

Sylvia listens to all of this with an increasingly furrowed brow. Who is this kid and more importantly, who let him in? But finally he comes out with what a lot of young people say when they approach her: he wants to know about the school.

She laughs, more in relief than anything else. "You want to apply? Young man, you didn't have to come barrelling in here to ask me. Why don't you come back in the morning? The reception staff would be glad to help you."

Also, she pays them to deal with queries like this so that she doesn't have to.

[mensrea]

“No, see, my situation is a little bit different.”

Being raised in a small, backwater town with his father as the sheriff, Stiles doesn’t shy away from the idea of pestering Very Important People. He sees an opportunity to get information directly from the source, and he’s going to seize it. Even if he does make a fool of himself in the process.

“I’m human, right? But I’m already involved in—” A wide, encompassing gesture. “—everything, really.”

Everything being almost nothing, honestly, but to a young human who is still new to the supernatural, it feels a hell of a lot more intense than just that.

[brightwitch]

He's caused a scene, that's for sure. There are several people giving him dirty looks and one or two muttering none-too-quietly about the rudeness of teenagers these days. No one has actually stepped forward to chuck him out yet though.

She exhales, folding her arms. "I see. Do you know one of the students here? Did they tell you to talk to me?"

She's sorry that she's going to have to disappoint him. Especially if it turns out that one of her students gave him the wrong idea about coming here.

[mensrea]

Uh oh. Stiles can already sense the impending rejection. Determined to change her mind somehow, he wets his lips and crosses his arms over his chest in a mirror of her own body language.

“No,” he admits, unsure if that’s the right or wrong answer. “If you need references though, I’m sure I could ask around.”

Stiles is pretty sure that’s not where she had been headed with that line of questioning, but he is the master of derailing conversations and deflecting.

“I mean. Where else am I gonna learn what I need to? I’m sure you guys have accepted humans into the school before. The whole ‘promoting harmony’ thing must include people like me too.”

[brightwitch]

So the obvious question is how did he hear about the school, but she's not going to ask it. That would only encourage him.

"Not as students, I'm afraid." She breaks the news as gently as she can. "I'm sorry to disappoint."

She's getting less sorry by the second, but it's still more true than not.

[mensrea]

He’s way too old to pout, but he is genuinely disappointed by her answer. Learning is something Stiles is passionate about, even though the subjects that interest him have hardly ever been typical school-fare. This would have been the perfect opportunity. He wants to try pushing his luck, but Sylvia seems pretty firm on the matter, and thanks to Derek, Stiles is very aware of how very useless he is.

“As what, then?” If he can’t be a student, there must be something.

[brightwitch]

An eyebrow raise. "Part-time work in the cafeteria?" That's not a job offer, although he does have her sympathy now. He just looks so deflated. "Listen, I do appreciate your enthusiasm, but running in like this isn't going to get you a job or a place here. I'll give you two options. You can come back tomorrow and leave your contact details at reception. Or talk to your friends who brought you, ask them about Redbright, and see if they'd be willing to enquire here on your behalf. Does that sound reasonable?"

She hopes this will satisfy him. Clearly he didn't sneak in to walk away empty-handed, although she would be within her rights to throw him out. But she won't go that far unless she has to.

[mensrea]

Stiles pauses, considering. It isn’t so much that he’s interested in the offer—mostly, he’s reflecting on a distant level of admiration for her negotiation skills. He may be new here, but it’s obvious that she is in charge for a reason. He’s vaguely reminded of Ms. Morrell. Shaking off the nostalgia, he rubs the nape of his neck and then slowly nods.

“Okay. Reasonable enough. Thanks.”

It’s not a dead end, so he’ll take what he can get.

“During your speech, what did you mean about claiming, uh, Barnet?” It takes him a moment to remember the name. “Is it like the police force taking on a new county or something?”