InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "It's only time."

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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KURT & PIPPA

lovekurts
2016-11-01 09:33 am UTC (link)

Kurt has been trying to enjoy the dance because he's kind of never been to a dance before and not stayed after the first ~~thirty minutes~~ hour. He's teetering somewhere between 'Grossly Uncomfortable' and 'I'm Here With A Cute and Funny Girl,' although he tries not to let any leanings toward the former—which are not Pippa's fault, but the fault of, well, the dance—show.

There are definitely benefits! The combined noise from music and people talking, laughing, and singing actually makes it easier for Kurt to speak without quite so much a problem as he normally would; something about knowing he could be drowned out at any time is comforting.

Things Kurt has done so far include: initiate conversations with Pippa, drink normal punch, insist it's okay if she wants to go and talk to her friends, not argue in the case that she brings him along, and trying very hard not to dance.

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KURT & PIPPA

orangepip
2016-11-01 10:17 am UTC (link)

Pippa is enjoying the dance, despite her failed attempt earlier to hold Kurt's hand. The nerves are still there, fizzing just under the surface, but she's having fun too. A large part of her can't quite believe that she's at a dance with the boy she has a crush on, so it's easy to pretend this is just a wonderful dream whenever she starts feeling a little overwhelmed.

At one point she goes over to talk to her friends, but as much as she wants to show off her date, she'd rather talk about Kurt. So she lets him wander off to do his own thing for a while before finding him on the dance floor once more.

Ah, the dance floor. Pippa loves dancing, loves the feeling of moving in time to the music, and there are enough people cutting loose all around her that it's easy to let her inhibitions go. Well, except that Kurt doesn't seem to be so enthusiastic about dancing as she is? Deciding to lead by example, Pippa yells, "I love this song!" over the music. It's right at this point -- just as she opens her mouth -- that the song changes to something a little slower, and all around them other couples step a little closer to each other. Oh. Oh.

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lovekurts
2016-11-01 10:38 am UTC (link)

Kurt has been trying to convince himself, once more, that maybe he should keep trying new things; New things like, and we're just speaking theoretically here, dancing.

Dancing wasn't anything like Grotto parties, stupid kissing games, stupid wrestling matches, or stupid anonymous posts! He wouldn't get sick from dancing! And Pippa seems like a really good dancer, so he probably won't get bruised, either!!

Having suitably psyched himself up (LET'S DO THIS.), he slips his hatchet between his belt and the back of his jeans and walks over to Pippa, telling himself that this isn't the end of the world. When she shares her like for the song he even gets the social cue, and in the moment when he's about to Man Up and Ask the Girl to Dance, the next song is revealed. Ohhhhhh noooooo. A slow dance?? He hadn't signed on for a slow dance. But he looks at Pippa and she looks excited and he also realizes he's in too deep, and he that just has to go for it.

Kurt nods toward the dance floor and offers an arm. His inner monologue sounds an awful lot like OHNOOHNOOHNOWHATAMIDOINGWHATIFISUCKWHATIFSHE'SREALLYGOODANDIREALLYSUCKWHATIFSOMEBODYSEESMEREALLYSUCKINGOHNOOOOOOO, but his outer monologue only asks nervously, "Do you, um– do you wanna dance?"

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orangepip
2016-11-01 11:00 am UTC (link)

"Yes," Pippa exclaims, probably too quickly, before realising that she doesn't know how to slow dance. Oh Merlin. Don't panic. It'll be fine... probably?

Kurt's flannel shirt is soft under her hand as she takes his arm and they make their way to a vacant spot on the dance floor. Heart racing, Pippa moves in closer to Kurt, awkwardly stumbling a little on the hem of her dress, which is the first time that's happened all night and she really hopes it isn't a bad sign. Breathe, Pippa.

"Um -- should I --" She laughs nervously, and before she can overthink it, puts her hands on Kurt's shoulders.

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lovekurts
2016-11-01 11:41 am UTC (link)

Pippa's excitement was actually kinda cute, and her trip makes him smile empathetically. "I—" he tries to help, but he honestly has no ideas how he could. He quickly, and hopefully subtly, looks around the dance floor for some kind of indication. Okay... making out? No thanks. Holding hands and staring into each other's eyes? Seems awkward. Some kind of primal writhing? Uh, not today. Ah-ha!

Kurt shrugs helplessly at her half-question and rests his hands on her waist, at what he deems an acceptable and gentlemanly distance from anything inappropriate. Pippa's hands make his shoulders and neck tingle in a way that's a little weird for how unfamiliar it is, but also, a little exciting. "I might, um–" Kurt glances Elsewhere, evidently a little uncomfortable, "might not have any idea... how to dance." As he confesses what is currently his deepest, darkest secret, Kurt is struck by the sudden mental image of his arms flapping out unattractively like naked chicken wings. He moves in closer, shifting his hands to the back of Pippa's waist. A purely practical move, of course.

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orangepip
2016-11-01 12:10 pm UTC (link)

Pippa swears her heart actually stops beating when Kurt puts his hands on her waist. It starts up again a moment later, even faster than before, taking her straight from rabbit to hummingbird territory. Pippa is dangerously close to swooning. Even through the fabric of her dress, Kurt's hands feel warm and strong and safe.

His confession sends a tender feeling of warmth radiating through her. "It's not so hard," she tells him, swaying a little from side to side. "Just move in time with the music. You're doing fine." She shoots him a shy smile before adding, "Honestly? This is my first slow dance." She makes eye contact with Kurt, briefly, before ducking her head in embarrassment. Hopefully the coloured mood lighting hides how hard she's blushing now.

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	lovekurts 2016-11-01 01:29 pm UTC (link)
	He raises his eyebrows a little as she looks away, but smiles. He finds it a little easier following her lead. "I'd, um, I'd have thought you'd done it a lot." Realizing that could have undertones of HAHA MUSTA BEEN AROUND THE BLOCK AMIRITE?, he quickly adds, "Because it's dancing." So, on a scale of a million, maybe dancing isn't all terrible. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

orangepip
2016-11-01 01:45 pm UTC (link)

"Oh, well. You, um --" Pippa hesitates before blurting out, "you need a partner for slow dancing." Her face feels uncomfortably hot now, the familiar anxiety that I said the wrong thing, everything is ruined creeping up in her. But Kurt's not the kind of person who'd make fun of her for something like that, Pippa thinks. And even though it's terrifying, she wants to be honest with him, so he knows this is something really special for her.

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lovekurts
2016-11-01 02:57 pm UTC (link)

Kurt nodded, because obviously, that makes sense to him. He pulls Pippa in a little bit closer to avoid her coming in contact with a pair of writhing neighbours. "I-I've got a good partner," he replies matter-of-factly. He tries actually looking at her, but that is way more forward than he ever thought he would be so instead he blushes and looks at her shoulder. Ah, yes. shoulders. Pillars of society.

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orangepip
2016-11-01 03:28 pm UTC (link)

Tingles shoot up and down Pippa's spine as Kurt pulls her in even closer. Being held by him is better than she could've imagined: she's got butterflies in her stomach and hasn't been able to breathe properly since they started dancing and it's absolutely wonderful. Suddenly, Cricket's comment about leaving room for Jesus comes unbidden to her mind and Pippa has to hold back a nervous giggle.

"Thanks," she says, charmed by the compliment, her fingers unconsciously smoothing out wrinkles in Kurt's shirt. Pippa finds she doesn't need to fill the gap in the conversation with nervous chatter, that it's enough just to sway to the music, but gradually she becomes aware that the song is winding down. Oh no. It's too soon! She doesn't want this dance to end!

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	lovekurts 2016-11-01 06:08 pm UTC (link)
	As the music starts to change, Kurt purses his lips. He's not really sure if he can take a second dance in a row purely because of all the new things. He bites his lip and looks at Pippa, then around the atrium. "Wanna go outside? Air'd be nice." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	orangepip 2016-11-01 06:22 pm UTC (link)
	Pippa nods gratefully. "Yes please, it's getting a little warm in here. I could do with another drink, actually. All that dancing was thirsty work." She grins a little self-consciously at Kurt, and tucks a curl behind her ear. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lovekurts 2016-11-01 06:41 pm UTC (link)
	"I'll, um, I'll go get some and meet you outside." Kurt's smile is a poor attempt at hiding a similar grin. One of his hands lingers on her waist for a moment before he wanders off in search of provisions. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

stokers
2016-11-03 01:54 pm UTC (link)

When Kurt is over by the refreshments table, he nearly spills his cup of punch when someone suddenly slaps him hard on the back. Kurt's attacker makes himself known with a boisterous "HEY THERE, BUDDY." Sy reaches past Kurt to grab a cup. By now, his face has fully healed, although you wouldn't be able to tell anyway with the zombie makeup he's wearing. "You having fun?"

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lovekurts
2016-11-03 04:03 pm UTC (link)

uhh...

Kurt's goblet knocks into the punchbowl at exactly the same time that his brain tries to process something so very strange, so very unexpected, that it feels like it shorted out.

What the heck?

He looks up and blinks at Sy; he can't really do much else. His entire body, like a gazelle on the savannah shortly before bounding away from a cheetah (they're all in the same place, right?), has frozen in place.

All that he can manage is a simple "W-w-what?"

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