VALENTINE'S DAY DANCE

[finchmods]

VALENTINE'S DAY DANCE

The red carpet has been rolled out at Finchwood, and the decor does its best to distract you from the fact that this is still taking place in the gym. Banners proclaim that this is the Oscars ceremony, and for the first part of the dance freshmen mob the red carpet. [Character A] answers the freshman reporter's questions with grace as camera flashes go off in the background. [Character B] on the other hand says or does something terribly embarrassing by accident, which a freshman paparazzi catches on camera.

Inside there are elegant tables to the left, a dance floor and stage to the right. Once everyone is settled, Venus Rosales and Neal Valentine take the stage as the hosts of tonight's award ceremony! They give a banter-filled speech about how the night will go, and wish all these talented actors and actresses luck! Thalia Mitchell (and their band/partner if applicable) gets the night started with a cover of a Hollywood classic, and now it's time to party!

Throughout the night, Sabrina Lane is continuously assailed by paparazzi freshman who didn't get the memo that they only had to play this part for the first few minutes. Meanwhile [Character E] visits the refreshments table where Rose Chapman is "bartending", whether or not they have clearance. The drink they make is... suspect. Gross.

After the awards are given out, students file out of the gym in their fancy dress. The night is cold but clear, and the stars overhead are bright. Their lives might be complicated, but tonight was very silly and simple.

HOW THIS WORKS

• The theme of the dance is old Hollywood glamour! The dance begins at 7:00 PM and ends at 11:30 PM. Then everyone must return to their dorms.


• At the end of the night, some students will be awarded Oscars if they pose for photos! The categories are: Best actress, best supporting actress, best actor, and best supporting actor! These will be chosen via RNG. Just make sure you reply to the Nominee Photo Op header to qualify! ♥ (You must have replied to this header by Monday, February 18th at 11:59pm CST.)


• There is a "bar" where student council members and volunteers are making mocktails for the guests. While none of it is alcoholic, the drinks are served in cute glasses with convinging garnishes. The menu is:
  1. Cupid's Kiss. Hibiscus, strawberry, and seltzer.
  2. Bee's Knees. Honey, lavender, and lemonade.
  3. Green Light. A cucumber cooler with mint and tarragon.
  4. Casablanca. Rosemary, pear juice, and ginger beer.
  5. Leading Lady. Mixed fruits in mixed fruit juice, garnished with cinnamon.
  6. Golden Globes. Raspberry, mango, and lemon sorbet in Sprite.
  7. Shirley Temple. Ginger ale, grenadine, and a maraschino cherry.
  8. Tall Dark and Handsome. This is chocolate milk in a martini glass.
• All night, the music played is from Hollywood's golden age, and the lighting is dim and romantic. A plush red carpet leads to the stage, and the dance floor around it is mellow and romantic.


• One corner of the dance has a projector set up as a tiny theater, with chairs set up in rows. On the projector, movies like Casablanca, Breakfast at Tiffany's and Singin' In The Rain are being screened.

» Before the Dance: It's time to get ready! Be sure you look your most glam for the red carpet.

» The Red Carpet: Students arriving at the dance must walk down a red carpet, lined with freshmen asking them questions about their relationship and taking tons of photos. Awkward!

» The Bar: Just inside and to the left, there's the reprieve of a bar and table. Sadly, no real alcohol is being served, unless you slipped a flask in to spike your mocktail.

» The Dance Floor: Classic romantic songs play through the speakers tonight. It's not a very up-tempo dance, but it sure is classy.

» Movie Screening: Would you rather enjoy a Casablanca than cut a rug? This tiny makeshift theater is for you. The movies are being projected on a white sheet, and chairs have been arranged in front of it.

» Nominee Photo Op: Anyone who poses for a photo on stage, be it alone, with their date or in a group, could win an award tonight!

» Awards: And the Oscar goes to...

» Around Campus: Some people have decided to opt out of the dance, so they're free to enjoy the quieter-than-usual campus.

» The end of the night: It's been a long, fun night, but it's time to rest.

» OOC - Discussion

Comments

Monet and Pansy

[forgerie]

Outside of Pansy's view, Monet rolls her eyes and exhales between her teeth, then takes a poised sip from her glass as if neither of these things just happened.

"You wouldn't say that if I were holding my crossbow," she murmurs, comforting herself.

Thankfully, Henry's exuberant display lightens the mood immediately. Monet is sufficiently distracted by the brightness of his expression, which glows all the way across the floor. Clarissa looks unsteady when she returns to the earth, like a baby foal.

"Silly boy," she titters fondly. "We're officially off duty if they start making out."

Monet and Pansy

[tippedin]

Pansy can pick out Monet's defiant words, but the fact that she's mumbling brings a sense of satisfaction to Pansy. Enough so that she doesn't feel a need to respond. As Henry and CC disappear to the dance floor, Pansy doesn't move to follow. "I figure they can have a couple minutes of unsupervised time," she allows graciously. "So," she turns back to Monet, "I'd be a bad date if I didn't ask how you're doing. The dance. The night. That invite from Noah." Time for Pansy to focus on her other ward.

Monet and Pansy

[forgerie]

Monet is happy enough to let the pair go, though she watches them until they're out of sight. Pansy's new, undivided attention puts color in the high points of her cheeks, but she manages a casual, disaffected shrug.

"I'm having a lovely time," she says truthfully, prickles forgotten. "This is far more entertaining than if I'd come here alone."

...Or with someone else, probably. A person who might expect more getting-to-know-you small talk, or for her to want to dance with them, or maybe a kiss at the end of the night. Monet is grateful she's been excused from these expectations.

"Though," she jokes drily, sweeping the dance floor with an icy stare as if saying Noah's name aloud might have summoned him, "Now that I'm on the ground, I may need to abandon that particular side objective. This setting is too dramatic. He'd have the upper hand."

As much as the wilted, chained romantic within Monet is enjoying swanning about in red silk, a starlet on a mission.

Monet and Pansy

[tippedin]

Pansy is glad to hear Monet is having a good time. She is, too. Stalking Mothering Looking out for Henry has been more emotionally tiring than Pansy expected, but it's also been more entertaining. And she has Monet to thank for that.

Pansy's eyes sweep the room when Monet's do. She doesn't spot Noah, but she catches sight of Suzy and Kodi tearing up the dance floor. It bring an envious smile to her lips. They seem so happy. "Dancing isn't the worst thing," Pansy treads carefully. Eyes still on the party-goers, Pansy turns her head slightly toward Monet. "What do you think? Not with Noah, but like, with someone else here?" Even before Monet answers, Pansy's eyes are searching for potential partners. Someone who might be fun for Monet.

Monet and Pansy

[forgerie]

Some people do look like they're enjoying themselves. Monet supposes it's the thing to do, really. Do a turn on the floor. Rock back and forth, awkwardly laying hands on waists and shoulders, trying not to make serious eye contact.

But all she can do is shrug again, neatly.

"I can take it or leave it." The words are detached and mildly arrogant, but there's a note of shyness to them that Monet must immediately tamp down with Shirley Temple.

She then seems to consider things, since this feels like a logical extension of their previous game, and after a moment grants Pansy a less than earnest, "Maybe. Depending. Like who?"

Monet and Pansy

[tippedin]

Pansy can hear the shyness in Monet's voice. Well, she can hear something. She might not know exactly what it is, but it's enough to make her clarify, "Nobody is making you." She doesn't want to force something un-fun on her Second.

To Monet's question, Pansy laughs quietly and just shakes her head, no, a smile coming to her mouth. "Not this again. Last time I gave you a list, you ruled out everybody and ended up with me. It's up to you."

Monet and Pansy

[forgerie]

"Of course no one's making me," Monet agrees, somewhat exasperatedly. Her eyes flash, and she waves her hand at Pansy -- give me a moment -- but finds herself laughing, too. Just a little.

"You're a known quantity," she confesses. "I can be sure you won't..."

It's difficult to put this in words without giving away too much, unfortunately. She hates the way she sounds when she trails off like that: uncertain, shy. Monet closes her eyes for a moment, breathing in, then opens them back out on the dancefloor. "Anyway, you're right. Perhaps I ought to just go mingle. See if anyone strikes my fancy."

Monet and Pansy

[tippedin]

"Are you going because you want to or because you don't want to finish that sentence?" It's a little taunting. Meant to engage Monet and not scare her off. But whatever playfulness exists in Pansy's tone is sorely lacking in her look; her eyes are locked onto Monet now, trying to suss out what's going on below the surface.

Monet and Pansy

[forgerie]

Monet may not, at this very moment, be able to use her words, but she can always stand up under scrutiny. It's one of her best qualities, if you ask her.

She stares back evenly, quirking an eyebrow at Pansy as if daring her to say something else. It buys enough time: syllables fall into place, and she ponders them over the rim of her glass, swallowing down her discomfort with watery ale and grenadine. She even manages to get back some of that laughter, from a minute ago.

"God, I wasn't going to say anything that interesting," Monet says at last, placating. "I just know what to expect from you, that's all. And I like to know."

Monet and Pansy

[tippedin]

"I see," Pansy says slowly. "That's good. I want you to know where I stand. For my expectations to be clear." She gives Monet a warm smile, but doubts that it'll get her to open up any more. She's already working on how she can handle this better next time. Make Monet more comfortable.

She pushes this aside for now, turns that warm smile into a big smile, and dips into her bag of parent lines. "Have I succeeded at making this awkward?"

Monet and Pansy

[forgerie]

Monet bites her lip around an answering smile -- less warm, more practiced -- then nods, hair bouncing.

"Of course. But..."

She glances out at the dancing crowd again as though it's a pit of pretty snakes, and offers Pansy her crooked arm. "I'm willing to share responsibility if you come with me."

Monet and Pansy

[tippedin]

Pansy shelves a half-formed joke about not even giving Monet a list but still being chosen, and instead happily takes her arm into her own. The dance floor isn't a pit of snakes in Pansy's eyes. It's a desert island and the music has been a siren's call. With Monet's permission, she's now happy to answer.

"Come on," she tells her Second as she leads them towards the floor. "We'll have fun. I promise. Plus, we can always do a little more Henry-CC recon if we want."