InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I'mma build a harem"

Gooseberry Mods (goosemods) wrote in gooseberry,
@ 2016-10-31 13:23:00

Entry tags:

! ic/ooc, coralee wong, henrietta gray, philippa nightingale, ravinder dhaliwal

HALLOWEEN DANCE

Afternoon classes are cancelled in preparation for the beloved Halloween Dance. Chaos overtakes the school as everyone scrambles to perfect their costumes, or the Atrium's decorations. The dance may not start until 7:00 PM, but there's a lot of work to be done before then. And after that particularly vicious anonymous post, some students could use the distraction.

After dinner, students have a little more time to run back to their cabins, throw on their costumes, and find their date if they have one. Joanna May and [Dateless Character Y] are mistaken for a couple when they stop to discuss a very large squirrel they saw. They impulsively decide to go to the dance together, because why not.

Finally, the sun starts to set, and it's time for the dance. Upon entering the Atrium, students discover it's been transformed into a stunning haunted Victorian manor... with a rather rustic log cabin feel. Cobwebs are carefully arranged on dusty velvet curtains, and fake bats flutter around the upper levels in time to the music. Books occasionally rattle on fake bookshelves, and stern-faced portraits will scream "boo!" at any wallflowers who let their guards down. The Atrium is lit only by blue, green and purple lights, giving it an appropriately moody feel, and all teachers and staff have decided to get into the spirit by donning their sharpest-looking Victorian costumes.

At the refreshments table, the eerily lit punch bowl constantly emits fog from dry ice, and an array of spooky snacks have been created by the house-elves. Decorated skulls, bloodshot eyeballs, vampire teeth, giant spiders, tiny tombstones shoved into cups of chocolate "dirt"—these creepy offerings are in fact incredibly delicious, even if some of them might look just a little too realistic. Vegan options are also available, and will be pointed out by Prospero.

Outside on the large balcony overlooking the lake, potted trees and magically flowering bushes have been scattered about, along with little benches and soft fairy lights, giving a fairytale feel that cooperates nicely with the idea of a Victorian garden. The surrounding area is full of jack-o-lanterns and candles.

Anyone who needs to go to the restrooms will find that someone has taken cutouts of aliens and UFOs and decorated the doors, walls and mirrors with them. A small musical device is playing the X-Files theme on repeat.

Afternoon classes are cancelled.
By 2:00 PM, the Atrium is fully cleared out and decorating begins.
Dance starts at 7:00 PM and lasts until 11:00 PM.

Setup: After lunch, Event Committee, staff and volunteers help to get the Atrium looking its best. Event Committee has thrown up magically impenetrable curtains around the Atrium, so even students headed in for dinner at 6 PM won't be able to see what they're working on.

Before the Dance: Glitter, hairspray and bloody makeup fills every cabin as students ready their costumes!

The Beginning of the Dance: Students are allowed into the Atrium and get to admire the decorations and one another's costumes. The student band, The Holy Rosicrucians, plays a short set to get things started. (~7:00 PM)

The Middle of the Dance: Finally, things really take off! There's dance music, refreshments, and everyone is milling about freely. (~8:00-11:00 PM)

The Balcony: The balcony overlooks the lake, and some students mingle out here to chat or appreciate the scenery. (~8:00-11:00 PM)

Outside by the Docks: Even more privacy and quiet. It's a little eerie down here, though... (~8:00-11:00 PM)

End of the Night: The dance is wrapping up, and everyone begins to return to their cabins. (~11:00-12:00)

Detention: Sylvester Stoker, Rosemary Stoker, Reid Wainwright, Ursula de Luca, Kurt Wolfhart, Riley Stamper, Olivia Sanchez, Casper Kim, Casey Patterson and Jacob Wood are all expected to show up for detention. They will be assisting in cleaning up the Atrium after the dance. If your character does not show, there will be IC repercussions. (~11:00-12:00)

Late Night: After the dance has long since passed, is there anything else happening? (12:00 AM onwards.)

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	Diego & Ravi morale 2016-10-31 09:32 pm UTC (link)
	Later on during the dance, Diego slips away and ends up outside on the balcony. He's leaning on his elbows, and probably should be looking out at the water, but instead his head is hanging kind of pathetically. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

paladins
2016-10-31 09:46 pm UTC (link)

It's not a coincidence that Ravi comes out a few minutes later. He wishes it was. He wishes he could pretend his interest in Diego is 100% friendly and casual, but recent events have made that impossible. Still, he really does just want to know if Diego's doing alright. They haven't talked since that disastrous monthly bonding.

"Tired already?" Ravi moves closer, but not too close, watchful for any sign that his presence isn't welcome. "Don't tell me the blue jay got partied out before the trout."

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	morale 2016-10-31 09:55 pm UTC (link)
	Diego jumps, startled. "Oh! Oh. Ravi. Sorry, I didn't..." He trails off, and then shakes his head abruptly to clear his face of any pensive expression it may or may not have had. "Having fun?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	paladins 2016-10-31 10:01 pm UTC (link)
	"Yes. Lots of fun." Ravi could elaborate, but he feels bad for obviously intruding on a private moment. For a second, he hovers between just making an excuse and leaving, or plowing forward with this awkward conversation, before he realizes he's overcomplicating things. "I'm sorry." Ravi smiles sheepishly. "Did you want to be alone?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	morale 2016-10-31 10:10 pm UTC (link)
	"No." Diego honestly never wants to be alone. At least never so badly that he'd refuse company. And he likes Ravi, even though just like with Cricket, Diego kiiiind of feels like he's stealing him. "I just needed a minute. I didn't sleep much last night." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	paladins 2016-10-31 10:18 pm UTC (link)
	Ravi looks curiously at him for a moment, then nods, taking a few steps so he can lean against against the balcony too. It's chilly out here, but not too chilly. Event Committee must have thought to warm the area by a couple degrees with magic. "The anonymous post?" Ravi asks sympathetically. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

morale
2016-10-31 10:30 pm UTC (link)

Diego nods and sits on the railing, which is technically not something he's supposed to do, but he's forgotten that. He takes off his hat and lets it rest on his thigh.

"Yeah," which is true, but it's only half of the problem tonight. He can still spot Levi and Cecil through the window because like an idiot he looked for them earlier before deciding to face the less upsetting lake. A couple of guys over six feet tall in elaborate suits aren't hard to pick out of the crowd. "Did you come here with the person you wanted to?"

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	paladins 2016-10-31 10:41 pm UTC (link)
	"That's... an odd way to phrase that question." Ravi glances back at the party, and can't help but smile at the thought of his date attempting to dance with a cute girl with snake hair. "I came with Sun-mi. And I asked her last week, so yes, I suppose she is the person I wanted to be here with." He looks back at Diego. "You're not happy you came with Quinn?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	morale 2016-10-31 10:47 pm UTC (link)
	Diego winces, like the regret of saying anything at all just slapped him upside the head. He is having a great time, really. "Yeah, I am. I mean, of course I am, Quinn's fantastic. Sorry, I didn't mean that." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

paladins
2016-10-31 11:09 pm UTC (link)

Ravi brings a finger to his lips in a "shush" gesture, as in I should really shush before I say something else stupid. But he's not going to, because Ravi can't stop himself from getting involved with things he shouldn't.

"No, no, I didn't mean it like that either. You two seemed like you were having a lot of fun together." Wow, Ravi. Make it horribly obvious that you were watching this boy, why don't you? He quickly moves on. "Just... you can be having a good time with a friend, and still feel unhappy."

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	morale 2016-10-31 11:14 pm UTC (link)
	"Yeah," Diego agrees, but his voice is dull and lackluster. "I shouldn't be obsessing over this, though. I had my chance and I didn't take it." In fact, he's done everything in his power to bury it. He killed every moment. He's taken every opportunity to undermine himself. It's over now. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

paladins
2016-10-31 11:26 pm UTC (link)

Ravi knows what he means without having to ask for details. Unrequited love is a near-universal experience, even for Ribbonfins who claim to be too busy for dating. "Diego..." He takes a deep breath. He's suggested it before, but Ravi has never thought he was close enough for Diego to confide in him. The other boy has so many friends.

Even so. "Do you want to talk about it? Sometimes we have no choice but to obsess about things when we keep them bottled up inside of us."

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	morale 2016-10-31 11:32 pm UTC (link)
	"I don't know what to say." Diego doesn't look at Ravi. He keeps staring inside at the dancing. "I wish I'd told," his voice catches, "her. I know why I didn't, but it feels like I'm going to regret it for the rest of my life. And I know, I know, it'll pass. But you can tell when someone is really special." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

paladins
2016-10-31 11:42 pm UTC (link)

"I'm sorry." Ravi doesn't ask why Diego can't tell this girl now. There must be a reason, a good one. There always is.

He looks from Diego's face to the rippling lake. That seems kinder than staring at the vulnerable expression he's wearing now. "You're right. You can." Ravi sounds wistful. "There are people who enter your life and change you forever, just by being who they are. It's hard to let someone like that go. I can't blame you."

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	morale 2016-10-31 11:47 pm UTC (link)
	Diego's composure crumples for a second, and he takes off his glasses, making him look at least three years younger. He dabs his eyes with his sleeve, careful not to mess up his face paint or stab himself with the straw sticking out of his jacket. "It's a cliche, but I'm fine as long as they're happy," he mutters. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

paladins
2016-11-01 12:01 am UTC (link)

"Clichés are clichés for a reason." Ravi smiles wryly. "To use another cliché."

He reaches into one of the pockets he'd sewn into his cloak, and pulls out a white handkerchief to offer to Diego. "Yes, I know. I'm a seventeen-year-old boy who carries a handkerchief. Trust me, they come in handy when you're talking to upset freshmen." Ravi keeps holding it out, obviously not letting Diego refuse it.

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morale
2016-11-01 12:21 am UTC (link)

Diego is clearly caught off guard when he's offered the handkerchief, but he takes it without argument. He's not nearly macho enough to refuse some princely skull-faced boy giving him a handkerchief while he's crying over the White Rabbit.

"I shouldn't be surprised," he sighs as he dabs his eyes carefully. He looks at Ravi for the first time since he started being (mostly) honest, his eyes shiny with not-quite-tears. "Thanks."

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paladins
2016-11-01 12:40 am UTC (link)

Ravi looks back at him, and smiles, more warmly this time. "You're welcome, Diego."

He pauses for a moment, not knowing if he should say what he wants to say. But he's carried those kinds of feelings before. Wanting someone, and knowing they were better off with someone else. He has long experience with coping with it.

"It's... okay, you know? To let yourself be broken-hearted. It doesn't mean you care any less for their happiness. It just means you have a heart."

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	morale 2016-11-01 12:46 am UTC (link)
	"I feel... really not okay." Diego offers the handkerchief back to Ravi. "But I actually feel a little better now." He suddenly looks back at the dance, with a less pained expression. "I've got to go do something really quick. Thank you. Again. Thanks." He hops off the banister. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	paladins 2016-11-01 12:59 am UTC (link)
	Ravi accepts the handkerchief, and tucks it back into his cloak. "You're welcome," he says automatically, too surprised to notice he's also repeating himself. "Um, I know this will make me sound hopelessly boring and prefecty, but... this isn't something dangerous, right?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	morale 2016-11-01 12:26 pm UTC (link)
	Diego almost laughs and wrinkles his nose at Ravi as he passes him to go back inside. "Why's that your first concern? I'm not the explosions sort, and you interrupted my chance to jump off the balcony." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	paladins 2016-11-01 10:12 pm UTC (link)
	Ravi does laugh, because he secretly has a morbid sense of humour. "We're not that high up. You would've survived." He bites his lip, and nods. Whatever it is, he trusts Diego. "Okay. Sorry. I'll... wish you luck, then." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	morale 2016-11-03 02:25 pm UTC (link)
	"There's a serious lack of good places to jump off of in this school," Diego complains with mock-exasperation, flashing a final grin at his classmate before disappearing inside. (Reply to this) (Parent)

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