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 The lights are off, the desks and chairs have been replaced by beanbags and there's a table in the corner with a chocolate fountain, marshmallows and strawberries.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

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji was way too old for the prospect of masquerading as an 18-year-old to be particularly appetizing, and he wasn't all that interested in pretending to be a teacher, either.

[A]: Free food and drinks, on the other hand, weren't so bad. He ended up tooling around the lecture theatre, curious to see if any of the students had come up with anything interesting -- maybe a boss painting or a nice film noir short.

"I kinda like this one. Maybe they're going for the Dashiell Hammett angle..."

[B]:Failing that, he'd head over to the marquee and look for someone to chat up. It was cool, he was totally supposed to be here.

"I don't know about the whole disco deal; shouldn't they at least have karaoke or somethin'?" At least then he could have taken some amusement in the terrible, terrible singing. He wasn't into sweets, either, so this event was kind of a bust for him.

[ B! ]

[warmheartedly]

Clara smile at him as she drifts to him when she spots the familiar face, still keeping a careful eye on her granddaughter who, to her relief, was more engaged in conversation than alcohol with her friends gathered around her. Thank goodness she seems to take more after her than Francisco's love of drinks.

"Considering some of the children's abilities here, I don't think bruised egos and powers will mix well if someone doesn't like another's rendition of Dancing Queen," she chuckled. Especially when some have had a glass or two. "So -- Are you having fun?"

[detectiveofthewest]

"Aww, the whole point is ya don't have to be good at it," said Heiji cheerfully. "So are you looking after the kids again? Maybe another little girl?"

He was joking, of course; the students here were a bit older than Clara's previous charge.

[warmheartedly]

"More like anyone I think needs my help," she tells him, rolling her eyes playfully before looking around to find her reason of being here.

Upon spotting her, she points to the laughing girl among a gaggle of friends and the look of pride is obvious on her face when she looks back at Heiji with a smile on her lips. "That's my granddaughter, Magra. I meant to be looking out for her but she's doing just fine. I think it's the other students I need to worry about. They're just so excited for this! I'm worried they'll get in over their heads somehow."

[detectiveofthewest]

"Yeah?" Heiji glanced over at the girl. "She's a cutie, ain't she? Must get it from her grandma!"

Honestly, the clear pride Clara took in watching her granddaughter just hang out and be happy was pretty endearing. Hopefully her granddaughter appreciated it! "Do the students here tend to, ah... make a few mistakes here and there? Not that that'd be too unusual. I mean, that's one of the privileges of bein' young, right?"

[warmheartedly]

"I see you still haven't lost your silver tongue," she demurred, waving her hands as if that will shoo away his very nice compliments that's causing her to look bashful but pleased and flattered. Mission accomplished, Heiji.

"They should be allowed to blunder now and then without fear of it. I just don't want them to get too hurt is all. It's all fun and games until someone goes to the pharmacy for something serious." She smiled though, watching a trio she had been observing rush off to somewhere else. "But you're right. This is a cause of celebration isn't it?"

[detectiveofthewest]

He gave her a sunny smile -- silver tongue or not, he liked Clara and figured she deserved the compliments. Besides, she reminded him of some of the ladies back home.

"It is... unless you're the one whose homework is startin' up again!" Supernatural school or not, Heiji had always found sitting around in a classroom kind of boring. Though he was for some reason fine with spending hours reading with a good book.

"So how ya been? Stayin' out of trouble?"

[warmheartedly]

She smiles at his concern, more than proud of herself being able to nod as a response to the question. Clara did her best to keep her nose clean.

It was how she acted in the limited time she was in school, it'll be how she continued to act. "I was able to make sure two couples didn't just run off somewhere. Two! Quite an accomplishment with how I can't do much and how, well, lively everything is.

And Magra or her friends never noticed me! That's a good sign."

Huh. It's making it sound like she can't let her only relative see or notice her for some reason.

[detectiveofthewest]

That did strike Heiji as odd. "You don't want your granddaughter to notice ya? How come?"

Maybe she was just trying not to look like too much of a busybody? Or like Magra needed to look over her shoulder? But he would have thought Clara would be a reassuring presence.

[warmheartedly]

She shook her hands back and forth, letting him know the reasons were not sinister or ominous. "Nothing really! She can't see spirits all that well and she's just moved on from my husband's passing, her grandfather's. I would hate for her to be... I don't know. Bothered by my presence."

See? Nothing too serious. There's nothing wrong with her wanting the young girl to be happy, which she clearly is judging by the sudden explosion of high pitched laughter that comes from her gaggle of friends.

[detectiveofthewest]

What a strange concept. "Well, if she's moved on and all. I always figured people'd like knowin' their relatives were around. The ones they got along with, anyhow..."

But maybe Magra just had her head full of Teenage Things and Clara didn't want to barge in on that. "So if you're not gonna hang out with your granddaughter, what else you got planned for today?"

[warmheartedly]

"Spying," Clara answers in a deadpan manner. It's the most honest thing she can admit. There's a mischievous twinkle in her eye, subdued or not. "Making sure the others keep themselves out of trouble from pulling pranks or getting into brawls. I don't think that will happen but just in case."

She cocks her head to the side, raising an eyebrow at him. "And you? If it's not too rude to ask you that question. I just didn't expect to run into you today."

[detectiveofthewest]

He laughed. "I'll probably bail after a bit. Formal parties ain't really my thing, and I usually only dress up for special occasions."

Like murder mystery parties; those were always a blast. But sadly, it didn't look like there were any plans in that direction.

A, this is happening

[eyeforaneye]

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.

Re: A, this is happening

[detectiveofthewest]

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?"

Re: A, this is happening

[eyeforaneye]

"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."

[detectiveofthewest]

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.'"

[eyeforaneye]

"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."

[detectiveofthewest]

"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!"

[eyeforaneye]

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."

[detectiveofthewest]

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."

[eyeforaneye]

"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."

[detectiveofthewest]

"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.

[eyeforaneye]

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?"

[detectiveofthewest]

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...