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 The lights are off, the desks and chairs have been replaced by beanbags and there's a table in the corner with a chocolate fountain, marshmallows and strawberries.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

[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?”

[brightwitch]

Sylvia nods, and actually turns away to talk to another guest when Stiles interrupts her. She glances back, surprised, but regains her composure with a small laugh.

"Something like that." It isn't really much like that, but she's guessing by his accent that he might be new to London. "We're making Barnet safe for people like you. For everyone. My colleague here can tell you all about it."

Said colleague is the bodyguard who has been silently fuming at Stiles all this time. He's also well over six feet tall and therefore great at looming. Which he does now, in order that Sylvia can quietly resume her conversation with the other guests.

[mensrea]

Following her gaze, Stiles sizes up the bodyguard with a blank expression before looking back to Sylvia. There is a very tiny voice in his mind crying, "Please don't sic your ogre man on me." Fortunately, he doesn't say as much aloud.

"Yeeeah, I think I'll pass. Thanks though, buddy." He almost goes to pat the guy on one big, meaty bicep but hastily retracts his arm at the last second. "I'll, uh, I'll just...see myself out. It was great chatting with you though, lady. Real great. My people will be in touch with your people."

Did he just double finger-gun and wink at the most powerful witch in London? Yes. Yes he did. And now he's trying to casually walk away without revealing just how terrified he is of the bodyguard.

[brightwitch]

Sylvia is only half paying attention, watching Stiles out of the corner of her eye. She suppresses a smile at the wink. The young man is impulsive and he's got a bit of a motor mouth, yes, but she has to admire his gumption. He certainly made her evening a little more memorable.

The bodyguard remains unimpressed, glaring at Stiles all the way out of the marquee.

Congratulations, Stiles. You made it out alive.