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 The lights are off, the desks and chairs have been replaced by beanbags and there's a table in the corner with a chocolate fountain, marshmallows and strawberries.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 grinned. "See, you seem like a ghoul who can appreciate a good time. I bet if you and me tossed some ideas around, we could throw a real hallowed eve!"

This was terrible...

[megidoomed]

The grins are infectious. Quarrantine might need to be enforced soon, before it spreads too far.

"I'm sure we can make it a real fright to remember!" That. Might be the most 'alive' she's sounded in a while, all thanks to the magic of puns. "We might need to wisp up some volunteers though. A two-man horde would be lonely."

[detectiveofthewest]

"Yeah, I'm thinkin' it'll be a real exorcise in coordination. But it'll all be worth it when we can make our party day-boo!"

It was too late... they had a pandemic on their hands...

[megidoomed]

Somewhere in a far off land, sirens are going off at an alarming rate as these two dweebs drive the pun economy into sharp decline. Thousands of families go pun-less because of their poor taste in humour.

Though, uh. She has to wince a bit at that exorcism pun. Biiit of a sore subject there. "If they miss it, well, it'll be their funeral. Which just means they'll need to make the wight choice!"

... that one was a bit sinister, Aradia. Pls.

[detectiveofthewest]

Sorry, Aradia. If it helps, sometimes people try to exorcise Heiji...

"But we need to figure out how to plan it without coffin up a ton of dough. I mean, I like fancy shindigs as much as anyone else, but I don't wanna get my apartment repossessed..."

[megidoomed]

Exorcism is the worst. People gotta stop doing that.

"Graverobbing is always an option. Of corpse, that's also illegal." Aradia idly drums her fingers on the speaker she's perched on, causing a mild burst of static each time. It's taking a surprising amount of effort to hold an entire conversation in puns. "And that leads to reaping some nasty benefits."

[detectiveofthewest]

"I hear what you're seance, and I agree," said Heiji, "But -- "

Uh oh. It looked like at least one person had noticed the changeup in song choice (and perhaps also the bursts of static); a man was wading through the crowd and straight to the DJ booth.

"Whoops -- I think I better practice my dis-apparition act." Heiji patted Stephen quickly on the shoulder. "Thanks for the fun, Steve! We'll do this again sometime!"

Heiji melted into the crowd, the better to lose his pursuer. He'd simply regroup outside the entrance gate. No sense getting too risky here.

[megidoomed]

"Wait--"

And he's gone, leaving her with a DJ coming to his senses and a grumpy security guard advancing towards her. Neither poses a true problem to a ghost, as she quite easily darts through a wall in a different direction, but it's still rude.

"... What a ghasthole."

...okay, her metaphorical heart isn't in it, but she'd been saving that pun damnit. Someday she'll go for round 2, mysterious pun man. Someday.