Cometh the Big Crying Wheel

[initiates]

Date & Time: Sept 15th
Location: A refurbished castle on the outskirts of Exsilium.
Characters: Anyone at the party!
Summary: Vanadi hosts a party that goes very poorly.
Warnings: Violence, probably! Let a mod know if we should update this.


It’s a lovely night for a party!

The venue at the outskirts of town is, unfortunately, a bit drafty — and actually rather sparsely furnished, as well. In fact, party goers are encouraged to mingle, drink, and enjoy themselves in the courtyard, as the castle itself wasn’t able to be renovated in time, and has proven to be a little bit architecturally unsound. Any explorative guests might find a small hail of dust and pebbles on their heads if they venture too far in — and who knows what else, if they continue on.

But the drinks and snacks both are plentiful and delicious, and the large canvas set up from castle wall to castle wall keeps off the sprinkling rain. The weather could even be described as warmish and pleasant, if one were feeling generous. A group of Exiles plays classic instruments in one corner of the courtyard, having been paid enough to even smile at any Transports that wander near.

All in all, it’s shaping up to be a good night. Until about 10 PM, that is. Come 10 PM, the Misery rolls into town, tearing down the canvas, nullifying powers, and crying corrosive blood everywhere. That’s the cue for all hell to break loose, as the final wave of mind-controlled characters snag their victims and make for the hills — or at least for the UE. The mind-controlled characters will also have the backup of a squadron of 20 of the Masked, the UE's special ops force. The Masked's main goal is to grab those on their list and get away, but they're certainly not above shooting to kill at anyone that gets in their way. They're also highly trained in hand-to-hand combat and physically enhanced by their suits, so they're a good bunch to try to avoid.

But do have a wonderful time until then, won’t you?

Comments

Peeta Mellark | open

[peeta_bread]

before 10pm

Peeta's enjoying himself, though a part of him wishes Katniss were there. But Peeta's never been one to shy away from socializing, so he grabs something to eat and drink and heads out in the crowd, apologizing for bumping into people and starting up conversations with people he knew or people that looked interesting.

He looks nice in gray slacks and a deep red button-down shirt tucked in, his hair slicked back. He's friendly and charming, and willing to talk to just about anyone.

"It's a very nice party," he comments throughout the evening, "I kind of miss dancing. I haven't danced in a while."



after 10pm

Peeta is staying out of the way of the Masked. He's only adding to the chaos. Whether he saw Effie or not earlier, she's the first one he's looking for. At one point, he trips, still clumsy on his fake leg even after all this time.

[crocodilesmiles]

Collette glances up at him with a grin, an eyebrow quirked up. "You like dancing?" Kind of missing it wasn't the same thing, but she found it curious. From where she sits in her wheelchair, people who are the kind to indulge in dancing have been doing a decent job so far. Ah... but a name goiong off network niggles at the back of her awareness. Katniss Everdeen. In the many iterations of Peeta Mellark she's met so far, Katniss has been the one constant they've looked to, or spoken about, in their own way.

Weird to think of someone as a collective, but run into him often enough, and he starts to be the amnesiac who comes back for more. Besides, she's liked him each time she's met him, so her ready grin is openly friendly enough. "You should ask Ahiru for at least one dance, if that's true! She's great out there, a real natural!"

Gesturing to the loose amalgomation of people on the dance floor, Collette smoothed down the skirt of her chaniya choli with the other hand. "You look nice," she adds, taking him in and considering if this was naturally part of him, or something related to the horrible things from their world. Easier to set that aside and assume for now it didn't matter. He's as much here to have fun as anyone else, and if dancing is his thing,, maybe she can help set something up as a pleasant distracction! Both he and Ahiru miss people who aren't here, she believes, so why not start there?

[peeta_bread]

He nods. "Yep. I'm sure I'm not the best, but it's fun. Especially with the right partner." He glances away, letting himself imagine Katniss being there, glued to Peeta, making faces when he laughed at her.

He looks around the crowd when she mentions Ahiru. "Really? I've never met her."

"Well, you don't look nice," he says seriously, then grins, "You look stunning." The side of Peeta he doesn't get to show often here, his charming, cheeky side. He does think Collette looks quite pretty, and he's thankful to be talking to someone he knows.

[crocodilesmiles]

She laughs at the compliment, taking it none too seriously. Regardless, it's nice to hear. People bothering with pleasantries is nice overall. "Stunning? But you can still speak! I think you're exaggerating a bit here."

Collette looks around too, spotting Ahiru as a flash of color when bodies shift around. "Oh! Oh, that was her, she has this great orange hair and she's -- right over by that table, I think!" She gestures, biting down on her lower lip as she leans to the side, willing people to move so she can see past them. "I didn't think it'd be this much of a crowd here!"

before 10!

[candystar]

[Ally isn't the most fashionable person at this party, but she did manage to get her hands on a swishy little pink dress, which she took in to fit her with some handsewing and a few well-placed safety pins on the inside. Her frizzy mess of pink hair has been tamed a little into a bun on each side of her head, and she borrowed a little make-up, though it's clear she's a little rough around the edges. She gives him a grin, though]

We should dance, then!

[peeta_bread]

[His expression brightens.] Really? You want to?

[candystar]

[She grins]

Sure! I mean, I'm probably not that good, this isn't the sort of music I usually dance to but - it's a party! May as well have fun.

[peeta_bread]

[He grins back.] Well then... [He holds out his arms, one for her hip and one for her hand.]

[candystar]

[She grins and takes his hand with her own, bringing her other up to his shoulder. Truth be told she's moooostly only seen people do this in movies and stuff but she will try! She can keep rhythm at least]

Sorry if I step on your toes or something.

after 10

[controlledvariable]

It's hard to help everyone, but she happens to be close by when Peeta trips, and she automatically moves to his side to help him back to his feet. She's given up her staff by this point, and there's more than a little blood (mostly from the Masked, some of her own) on her Batgirl uniform, but her injuries don't slow her down at all.

"Are you hurt?" She didn't see any shots fired in their direction, and there's no sign of him being hit by the acidic blood, but there are plenty of other things that could have happened.

[peeta_bread]

"Ah..." He pulls up his pant leg, revealing his fake, metal leg. "I'm just clumsy on my leg."

His leg is aching from falling on it, but he's okay. He leans on her for support as he tries to stand up. He's not seriously hurt, but he's even slower now.

[controlledvariable]

That is't quite what she expected, but she can roll with it, anchoring her arm around his wasit so he can lean on her more easily.

"That must have an interesting story behind it," She's talking just for the sake of talking, because she can see he's in pain and is trying to keep him focused on something other than that, "Did you come with anyone?"

She's still leading him to the exits, but if there's someone who she can grab who can help him from there, it would make her feel better about heading back into the fray.

[powdered]

After being separated from Saul there was only one person Effie could think to look for, and she desperately hoped he was okay. Someone had done her an accidental favour by trampling and tearing off the hem of her long gown to leave her with only a knee's length of layered skirt. It looked atrocious, but at least she could move this way.

She saw two blonde heads in the distance, one of them immediately recognizable. The other seemed familiar, and she connected a name to the face as she trotted through the crowd on stilettos to join them and immediately grab the boy's arm and glare at Stephanie with a protectiveness that even startled herself.

As always she doesn't quite think before she speaks, or even really pay attention to the fact Stephanie is leading him toward the exit and not away.

"Let go of Peeta right now young lady, I won't let you take him!" Effie wasn't sure what she could or would do if Stephanie retaliated, but she wouldn't lose him- Katniss would never forgive her.

Before 10!

[powdered]

"Well, I'm sure something could be arranged."

Effie was glad to find Peeta, whom she had been looking for after parting ways with Saul. She was even happier to see that he didn't look miserable, Peeta was always substantially more handsome with a smile on his face- and he did deserve to smile.

She offers a glass of pink, bubbling champagne to him with lacy fingers and a glossy smile. Tonight she was a vision of gold fabric and feathers, the most shocking aspect of her ensemble a hint of blonde hair beneath the layers of extensions and powder that could only be her own. Her wig simply hadn't matched, and Effie was a perfectionist.

"And it is a very nice party, one... wonders where all this food came from."