The Watchers of Night ([personal profile] thewatchers) wrote in [community profile] daybreakacademy2020-02-14 03:12 pm

VALENTINES BALL



VALENTINES BALL

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February 14th is a day both famed and notorious for feats of love, passion and confession. And violence, as this year’s theme suggests - a 1920s speakeasy theme, initially based off the Valentines’ Day massacre of 1929 and toned down to be significantly more fun and less a dark reminder of bloodshed. While this year’s event has no predicted surprises like a daemon invasion in store, the Student Council has still chosen to hire extra security for the ball; bulky constructs in surprisingly well-tailored pinstripe suits and hats stand guard outside the entrances to the venue, impassively watching for any signs of trouble.

The ball itself is laid out similar to a 1920s club, with a large space for dancing, a stage for entertainment, and plenty of tables and chairs for sitting, dining, and chatting. Bars on both sides of the room provide a place to order and collect both food and drink, and the second storey of the venue has been put into use to provide quieter and more secluded places to sit.

A. Classy…? Cocktails
As ever, the Academy has provided a lavish and thematic spread of food for the occasion, with a few unique twists to fit the theme. The drinks of are particular note - aside from the usual range of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks that Daybreak provides, many are tailor-made for the ball due to a collaboration between some of the alchemy and culinary classes in Daybreak (who were rather too eager to volunteer). Have you ever wondered what it’s like to drink cake or a steak? You’ll find plenty of experiments here, both savory and sweet, to facilitate that experience.

If that’s not to your tastes, some drinks are purely decorative, providing some unique visual or audio effects - you might find yourself sepia-toned or monochrome, chattering like an old-fashioned radio host or filled with an irrepressible urge to sing everything you say - among other things. Mercifully, everything wears off by the end of the night.

B. Changing Stages
While this ball is by no means illegal, there has at least been an attempt to capture the more ‘forbidden’ aspects of a speakeasy. As the night goes on, switches and buttons appear on the walls, and pressing them will make the room shift and change to reveal secret doors and elevators - partially mechanical tricks, but mostly through clever application of magic and mundane illusion. These exits from the room provide ample opportunity for attendees to stretch their legs and take a walk and a break from the rest of the party through mazelike, glittering hallways and smoke-hazy corridors that lead to balconies and small lounges looking out onto strange, abstract views. Walk far enough, and you might end up in a completely different part of the venue than you were before - though for the truly lost, the corridors will always bring you to someone you can ask for help sooner or later, or guide you out.

Well, eventually. It wouldn’t quite fit the theme of a speakeasy without a little bit of uncertainty, would it?

C. Nyeh, See?
For those who would rather indulge in the darker implications of the theme and have no patience for the other entertainment on offer, this maze of corridors offers one other attraction - enchanted guns and gear for laser tag. In strict adherence to the theme, all guns resemble the kind of weaponry that 1920s gangsters would be boasting - and no matter what you were wearing at the time, as soon as you attach a pendant to your clothing, you're immediately in magically-fitting suits any gangster would envy. They even give off the illusion of bleeding should you be 'shot' by one of these enchanted guns, though to avoid causing undue concern the illusory blood sparkles and shines different colours.

D. Shall We Dance?
No Valentines ball is complete without the opportunity to get close to someone you might enjoy the company of, after all. To fit with the speakeasy theme, music and entertainment has been provided - both stage performances from volunteers and a selection of recorded music from the era. And for those up on the second floor, a station has been provided for whatever you’d like to broadcast to the entire room. Whether you’re up on the stage, down on the dancefloor, or you simply want to set a little mood music for certain people to take a hint, there’s bound to be something to do.

Some of the spirits and other, benign creatures that inhabit Daybreak’s grounds have decided to invite themselves, finding the music and warmth too irresistible to refuse. As a result, masked figures dressed in the vague approximation of 1920s fashion can be spotted among the more solid attendants, and those who don’t have a dance partner might well find themselves being asked to dance regardless - and be given small gifts as a token of gratitude for the indulgence. Or they might just nudge you into dancing with someone new...

E. Wildcard
Anything else you’d want to do at the dance? Feel free to enjoy the night - it’s for everyone to indulge themselves, after all.

code bases by tricklet
adjectiveprince: (The irritated prince)

[personal profile] adjectiveprince 2020-02-15 02:29 am (UTC)(link)
Not as good as yours, I'd hazard.
nor_iron_bars: With wine we steep (Watch you take a bite)

[personal profile] nor_iron_bars 2020-02-17 09:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Wanna see if a drink can fix that? Bar's still fully-stocked, which is kinda impressive given how long I've had to get at it.

[She will probably leave something for the rest of the partygoers.]

[Probably.]
adjectiveprince: (The relentless prince)

[personal profile] adjectiveprince 2020-02-18 06:04 am (UTC)(link)
I'm not one to turn down a drink freely offered.

[Between Zagreus' semi-divine constitution and Jailbreak's everything, they'll drink the place dry]
Edited 2020-02-18 06:05 (UTC)
nor_iron_bars: With no allaying (Problem child)

[personal profile] nor_iron_bars 2020-02-22 09:13 pm (UTC)(link)
That's the spirit. ...Actually, whiskey's the spirit- hey buddy, make mine a double! [This poor bartender.]

[At least they actually have someone watching and pouring the drinks instead of leaving alcohol totally unsupervised around all these teenagers. Legal drinking age in this country aside, it's best to have someone keeping an eye on things.]


So, family stuff, huh? [Not exactly something she has experience with.]
adjectiveprince: (The exhausted prince)

[personal profile] adjectiveprince 2020-02-23 04:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Family stuff.

[Zagreus drank whiskey like it was coke. Divine constitution lets you REALLY put the drinks away.]

Mine's been called the most dysfunctional family in the history of families, and I was really hoping they would leave me alone when I got here.

But, I mean, how would I stop them? They're gods. Much stronger gods than me.
nor_iron_bars: Whisper at the grates (Playing with the good girls)

[personal profile] nor_iron_bars 2020-02-27 07:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Oof. Yeah, not exactly the kinda thing where you can just ghost 'em and hope nobody calls you on it.

[There's an underworld joke in there somewhere...]

Guessing you ain't exactly keen on the whole "going up to Olympus" thing, huh? [Aphrodite's last comment didn't go unnoticed. She suspects it's not entirely proverbial- they really can't wait, or at least they won't, and when you're a god then your timetable is everyone else's problem.]
adjectiveprince: (The mournful prince)

[personal profile] adjectiveprince 2020-02-28 03:50 am (UTC)(link)
My mother is somewhere out there.

[Another drink.]

The mortal world is so much bigger than I expected and I have no idea where she is. I know she's alive because if she was dead she'd be back in the underworld, but I don't know WHERE.
Edited 2020-02-28 03:51 (UTC)
nor_iron_bars: Alone that soar above (Keep doing what you're doing)

[personal profile] nor_iron_bars 2020-03-04 09:50 pm (UTC)(link)
[A shrug.] If it makes you feel better, that's still way more than I know about my mom. [She pauses briefly, looking thoughtful.] I mean, assuming I even have a mom. There's honestly no way to know.

[She gives him a vaguely comforting pat on the shoulder.]

Can't say I'm an expert on gods or families, but you're in a school run by Seers. Odds are someone here oughtta be able to help you, right?
adjectiveprince: (The sentimental prince)

[personal profile] adjectiveprince 2020-03-05 12:10 am (UTC)(link)
Not everyone does, you know. My cousin Athena was born from my uncle's forehead. Admittedly, that doesn't seem very likely in your case.

[He did look a bit less gloomy, though?]

I suppose that's why I'm here in the first place.
Edited 2020-03-05 00:12 (UTC)
nor_iron_bars: Enjoy such liberty (Default)

[personal profile] nor_iron_bars 2020-03-12 07:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[Jail snickers.] Knowing me, I'd bet on coming out the other end- being a real pain in the ass since day one.

[Well there's a worrying mental image.]

Missing persons cases ain't exactly my strong suit, but if I see anything promising I'll drop you a note about it. [She's in a good mood, might as well be generous.]
adjectiveprince: (The foolish prince)

[personal profile] adjectiveprince 2020-03-14 05:21 am (UTC)(link)
Would you really? It'd mean a lot to me. Her name was Persephone.