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
superstylishsquid: (Would you look at that.)

[personal profile] superstylishsquid 2020-02-15 02:38 am (UTC)(link)
"I'll drink to that."

He held his own drink out in a toast.

"I might not have a domain of my own anymore, but it's pretty nice to be somewhere where a daemon can just hang out and not have to either pretend to be something else or get treated like a monster."
adjectiveprince: (The joyful prince)

[personal profile] adjectiveprince 2020-02-15 04:30 am (UTC)(link)
"When I first made it to the mortal realm, I IMMEDIATELY got arrested by those police fellows. People seem much less uptight around here."
superstylishsquid: (Oh yeah...)

[personal profile] superstylishsquid 2020-02-15 04:54 am (UTC)(link)
"Hah, yeah, mundane humans aren't exactly very understanding of out of towners. Not that I'm all that great at blending in in the first place..."

Even with his hat covering the tips of his ears, the purple tint to his skin stood out.

"But being a couple thousand years behind the times tends to unnerve them even when they can't get a good look at me."
adjectiveprince: (The relentless prince)

[personal profile] adjectiveprince 2020-02-15 04:56 am (UTC)(link)
"So I learned. Also they had guns, which was a shock. I thought that cursed knowledge was still held solely by the gods. Tranquilizers were something of a shock to the system too."
superstylishsquid: (As if.)

[personal profile] superstylishsquid 2020-02-15 05:04 am (UTC)(link)
"Nah, daemons figured guns out a long time ago, too. Dunno if humans bought the knowledge from them or figured it out themselves, but I can't say I'm exactly interested either way. Never really cared for them, they feel cheap. I'm more the swordsman type."

He picks up his cane and grips it just below the decorative dragon head. If Zagreus has any sense for magic, he'll be able to easily tell that the metal is practically radiating daemonic power...along with containing part of a soul.
adjectiveprince: (The joyful prince)

[personal profile] adjectiveprince 2020-02-16 01:48 am (UTC)(link)
They were talking weapons, now? "Spear and shield is my armament of choice, but I'm alright with a sword. My tutor made sure I could fight with most types of weapons."

His weapons were formed out of pure shadowstuff. Echoes of the legendary weapons the Gods themselves wielded in their battle against the Titans.
superstylishsquid: (As if.)

[personal profile] superstylishsquid 2020-02-16 05:13 am (UTC)(link)
"Spear and shield's another old classic, though I prefer having a hand free for magic. Larger swords are nice and flexible when it comes to that, and elemental magic has nets beat hands down."

Not that he could really use his favored element right now...conjuring lightning took way more energy than he could spare.
adjectiveprince: (Default)

[personal profile] adjectiveprince 2020-02-16 05:29 am (UTC)(link)
"I supposed I've got my own style of magic, but it's pretty different from the stuff mages use around here."

He held out one hand and a whirlpool of darkness appeared above it. After a moment, it solidified into a shining red crystal spike, which landed in his palm.
superstylishsquid: (Oh yeah...)

[personal profile] superstylishsquid 2020-02-16 05:36 am (UTC)(link)
"Mortal magic has always been different from what naturally magical beings use. I'm a storm spirit, myself. Humans used to think I was an aspect of Zeus."

He wrinkled his nose and took a swallow of his drink. He didn't at all care for being associated with the affair-happy blowhard.
adjectiveprince: (The irritated prince)

[personal profile] adjectiveprince 2020-02-16 07:04 am (UTC)(link)
"Ah yes, Zeus. I've definitely heard of him. But who hasn't, I guess?"

He shrugged. "I suppose I shouldn't speak ill of him since he was one of the ones helping me reach the surface world."
Edited 2020-02-16 07:28 (UTC)
superstylishsquid: (Huh?)

[personal profile] superstylishsquid 2020-02-17 02:57 am (UTC)(link)
"He's not all bad, but I don't exactly appreciate getting flak for his romantic reputation. Not that I've never been known to flirt with a human, but going behind someone's back about it? That's pretty low."