Open: In a shout of joy at the only shrine where you come benighted and leave benign

[vineleaves]

Dark has come and gone again, which means it’s time to party.

In some ways the party is very similar to last year’s - same large banquet room in the mansion, a similarly large abundance of food and drink, and the promise of a night full of letting loose for everyone in attendance. It’s far from a direct clone of the previous party though. For starters, Dionysus has had Claudius help him in all of the planning (sometimes a god’s blessings come in the form of enrichment for one’s enclosure). They’ve gotten several of the mansion’s residents to agree to play live music during the night, and Dionysus was able to find some, ah, more widely appreciated CDs to play during the breaks between performers.

The room has been decorated to the nines again, but where last year he had green vines draping on the walls diffusing the glow from the twinkling fairy lights, this year he has strung up swooping vines of silver, glittering almost like tinsel. The large food tables have an almost ridiculous amount of things to munch on; there should be something for everyone there.

It should go without saying that the beverage tables are well-stocked, considering the host.

The festivities are starting a little earlier this year than last, out of respect for those who may or may not have earlier bedtimes. Come dressed in your finest, it’s a yearly tradition now!




Just as there was last year, there is to be an ‘after party’. If your character is part of the standard Orgy Invite Crew, they will have received another invitation to that half of the evening as well. Just like last year, this part of the event is to be handwaved, for obvious reasons.

Comments

[sagramore]

"It's a pleasure. Have you been here long? We live outside, on the hill, so I miss people sometimes, I never used to," with a smile.

[notalone_anymore]

"I'm new here, yeah," she says. "Been rough, but I think I'm settling in."

[sagramore]

"Ah, I'm sorry it hasn't been easy. If there's ever anything you need, you know-- I understand it might not be that sort of thing, but even if you'd like to have supper with some company, we're always happy to see people."

[notalone_anymore]

"Thank you," Effie says, and means it. She can tell he's a nice guy. "D'you know what the occasion is for...all this?"

[sagramore]

"The worst of winter is over, and now spring will arrive apace. If you've been struggling with the Dark, that's done."

[notalone_anymore]

"Really? Oh, thank fuck," she replies, visibly relieved. "It was bad, wasn't it?"

[sagramore]

"It's bad," he agrees. "I'm sorry you had no warning. Have you ever gotten a calendar? I'm sure Claudius can make you one if you haven't."

[notalone_anymore]

"A calendar would be an excellent idea, yeah," she says. "Who's Claudius?"

[sagramore]

"Oh, you haven't met him! You will. He did help to arrange things tonight." (It's impossible that he not know this -- for weeks Claudius has been appearing in doorways with the abruptness of an apparition, twirling a pen across his knuckles or sipping an aperitif, and saying things like, "Sagramore. Cocktails that express the ennui of a long winter and the hope of the spring to come," or "Sagramore, I assume this year there will be no issue with Asmodean contributing to the entertainment," his keen gaze on Sagramore's face for any sign of apprehension.) "He's the rather short man with remarkable sense of style," fondly.

[notalone_anymore]

"Ah, cool," Effie replies. "It's a good party, for sure. Lots of booze."

[sagramore]

"Dionysus would never have it otherwise." He is so aware of all the booze that it makes his skin pricke.

[notalone_anymore]

"I love it, myself," she says. "It's fucking fun, right?"

[sagramore]

"Absolutely. I'm so glad you're having a good time."

[notalone_anymore]

She grins.

"Hey, do y'wanna dance?" She twirls in her dress just then.

[sagramore]

This is an irresistible ask, given Sagramore's love of moving. He immediately brightens. "Absolutely! Will you lead or shall I?"

[notalone_anymore]

"Why don't you lead?" she says, partly because she feels like being at least somewhat ladylike around him, and partly because she's just curious to see his abilities.

[sagramore]

"I'd be delighted." One of the easiest dances he learned for his wedding was the Ravkan waltz, and he offers one hand to her and rests the other at her hip.

[notalone_anymore]

She takes his hand and will let him lead her in the dance, grinning all the while.

[sagramore]

Dancing is, no matter what, a pleasure -- he was born to this, to be in motion, for the grace of his body to carry him joyfully along. Effie is a good partner, too; she catches on to the steps quickly enough, and lets him add in occasional flourishes like twirls and dips, which aren't part of the original dance. It's exhilarating.

[notalone_anymore]

And Effie is laughing all the while, feeling just so happy and carefree - a feeling she hasn't experienced in, well, quite some time.

She twirls in her dress, loving how she feels in it.

[sagramore]

Effie's joy only enhances his own, building the sense of something communal in the wake of Dark. Finally he leans in and asks, "May I lift you?"

[notalone_anymore]

"Hell yes!" she exclaims, excited.

[sagramore]

So at the next sweeping crest of the dance he sets his hands at her waist and lifts her into the air in a swirl of her skirts.

[notalone_anymore]

And Effie throws out her arms, will let him spin her around if he feels like it, and laughs, feeling such honest joy.

She hasn't felt this way in a long time.

[sagramore]

When he finally puts her down, it's only because he has to -- he hasn't got Laertes' impressive upper body strength -- and he makes sure to do it with an additional flourish; he's laughing too. "That was marvelous! What a splendid partner you are."