undergrounds | Game Opening: May Ball

LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED.

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 The lights are off, the desks and chairs have been replaced by beanbags and there's a table in the corner with a chocolate fountain, marshmallows and strawberries.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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

His own scrutiny of the work hasn't turned up any brighter ideas, and honestly in the echoing silence of the room it feels almost stranger not to respond to the sole bit of commentary than to offer his own two cents.

"... Who is Dashiell Hammett." No one said those two cents had to be impressive in any way. Or partnered with something useful like an introduction. No, Sasuke offers nothing further as he stares ahead at the credits of that film, drink in hand and face somewhat pinched as if he's forcing himself to sip something horrible.

Heiji grinned; at least someone was having fun at this party. Well, okay, he mostly just liked talking about detectives, which was what he was going to do now. "He's a famous American author! Ever heard of the Maltese Falcon? He invented Sam Spade! Who then went on to influence Philip J. Marlowe."

"...Say, you all right?"

"I'm fine; don't be nosy." A prolonged sip of sugary coffee. End my life now.

"Not all of us sit around studying old novels or authors. I assumed you were going to reference someone supernatural since that's what this whole place is about, but I guess you had other ideas."

That was like asking birds not to fly. Unless they were flightless birds, in which case it was not like that at all. "You really ain't look like you like that coffee, is all."

WOW, DID YOU JUST CALL DASHIELL HAMMETT AND RAYMOND CHANDLER OLD?? They were younger than Heiji, though...

"When you're in school, you're s'pposed to study old people! Besides, they're classics. 'Don't be a hero, young man. There's no percentage in it.'"

"It's fine if I'm still drinking it. Isn't that obvious?" And yet here he is setting it down, momentarily distracted by another slide featuring a newly devised potion, complete with labels. How detailed.

"Just because we're in a school doesn't mean I'm in school. And it doesn't mean I ever attended an institution focused on American authors. Instead of calling me a 'young man' you should explain who you are and what your purpose here is."

"Nah, but the kids here are, and they're the ones who made the film! Although come to think of it, you do look a little fresh-faced. You really oughtta broaden your horizons a bit, though. I mean, that was a quote."

You did know what a quote was right Sasuke. Someone presumably educated you, you cultureless swine who probably hated detectives and especially Murder, She Wrote. Anyway, Heiji was just going to ignore Sasuke's comment about his purpose in being here because the answer was basically just seeing if anything fun was happening (so far: no).

"I'll tell ya my name if you tell me yours!"

I'm a perfectly cultured swine, excuse the hell out of you. Maybe I just prefer poetry. You don't know.

"I don't want to hear that I'm 'fresh-faced' from someone who looks like you. Still... My name's Sasuke Uchiha." How well he's learned to use Western order. "So now yours. Your species would be beneficial to know too."

It's true, we're all sorry for doubting you Sasuke...

"I'm gonna take that as a compliment." Sasuke thought he was looked young and cute. That was what Heiji was hearing, anyway, and he was sticking to it.

"Heiji Hasegawa!" He'd stick to Western order if Sasuke did, though why were they pretending. "As for my species, that's rude. Besides, I'm sure the old chancellor would say somethin' about how Redbright is all about inclusion and tolerance and all that junk."

"You're making it sound like you're someone who shouldn't be tolerated." You did walk into that one yourself. "That's all I'm hearing from you right now, Heiji Hasegawa."

"You're sure jumpin' to a lot of conclusions. Sasuke Uchiha." Heiji apparently thought this was a fun game, possibly entitled let's refer to each other by our full names.

If that's even your real name.

"You're the one refusing to identify yourself. Are you a plain human and you're just ashamed of that fact or something?"

Well I mean what is real. How do you define 'real'? Puts on sunglasses.

"That would be pretty shameful," said Heiji. "I mean, I wouldn't even be allowed to be a student. I don't know if they'd even let me into this party! If they knew about it, I mean."

In fact, he'd be some kind of gatecrasher, just like Stiles...

"Now you're purposefully trying to bait me by being vague. It's like I thought, you aren't a trustworthy person at all." And to think, we just met and already these are the accusations being thrown out.

"Well, I mean. No one's totally trustworthy," said Heiji, treating this as more of a philosophical question than an accusation. "But I like to think of myself as a positive influence overall. Plus, I help old people cross the street!"

He even talked to paranoid weirdos, someone give him a ribbon.

"Is that what makes someone a good person? That's a pretty low bar... We can trade instead, if that suits you better. I'll tell you what I am if you return the favor."

Don't make this philosophical; we'll be here all night.

"It's one of the markers, which I think everyone can agree on!" Like could you be a good person if you pushed old ladies into traffic, probably not.

"We could trade, but..." Heiji tapped his chin as he regarded Sasuke. "I think it'd be more fun if there was a little mystery. Plus, I gotta go hassle my lawyer friend. So I'll see you around, yeah?"

"Why am I not surprised that you have a lawyer present..." Under his breath but still one hundred percent audible. The audacity of a teenager.

"I doubt I'll see you again, but sure. Later, Hasegawa."

Game Opening: May Ball

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