[NYE Party] happy new year and lots of fun

[nascensibility]

Who: EVERYONE, but especially you!
Where: Wonderland Ballroom
When: New Year's Eve
Rating: PG - PG13 (will change if applicable)
Summary: New Year's Eve Party
The Story:

[ Previously in the month all residents received an invitation to a formal event: a black tie affair to ring in the New Year. The ballroom and adjacent areas are decked out for the party starting at eight o'clock sharp, meticulously planned and executed, glittering décor to match the no doubt glittering attire as music pours into the halls from the dance floor.

Bars flank each side, service for all manner of alcohol unless a minor requests something, and the primary setting stage features an enormous clock for the countdown. ]




[ Where will you be when the clock strikes midnight? ]

Comments

Ben Tallmadge | ota c:

[spycurious]

[Formal parties are not Ben's preferred social event, but Wonderland parties are less rigid than the affairs of the 18th century and well, he did accept Evelyn's invitation. Any party she'll throw, he thinks, will surely be enjoyable to some degree.

Ben arrives not in 20th century attire, but in his Continental Army uniform. It was the only thing the closet would supply. Much to his amusement, Caleb's closet had decided to insist the same (causing Ben to wonder if the closets were somehow alive and also in cahoots). His hair is parted expertly and as usual tied back in a braid with his signature blue ribbon.

Over the course of the evening, like Caleb, Ben can be found at the bar, with friends and acquaintances, or lingering between the wall and the dance floor. He seems to be in a good mood no matter what, though. After all, it's the New Year, and according to his and Caleb's calendar, it's only halfway through the 12 Days of Christmas.]

[mucked]

[ peggy is in red velvet tonight -- and looking all the world like she belongs here, despite a rather stiff and professional meeting the last time around in the library. she taps two fingers on the bar counter and requests another glass of scotch.

but while she waits she turns on a heel and glances at the soldier in all his dress. it's nothing like what she she knows from home, of course, but there's something strangely normal about someone turning up in uniform. ]

Enjoying yourself, Major?

[spycurious]

[Ben's poison of choice is a dark and dulcet wine, a glass cradled carefully in his hand as he turns to Peggy and smiles in greeting.]

You look lovely, Miss Carter. I certainly am, yes, and yourself?

[Despite his formal words, his movements are more at ease than their last meeting, perhaps eased by the wine and festivities. He's so put together, it's hard to tell.]

[mucked]

I'm certainly making a go of it.

[ gainful and gaming. she stands with an elbow crooked against the bar. and she watches him with an appraising eye. she can see the ease, yes, but she certainly doesn't know him well enough to determine its source.

not that it much matters. she'll happily enjoy it whatever the origin. the tip of her chin is all the thanks she needs to say in respect to his compliment. ]

-- And I would say something about how nice it is to attend a party a little deeper in my wheelhouse in terms of style and song, but I imagine that might come across a little cruel between the two of us.

[ after all, it must still be a far cry from his. ]

[spycurious]

Not at all. [he's quick to reassure her, his sincerity pulled from a place of honest relief.] Social customs are mixed here and that alone partly relieves the burden of a certain kind of propriety one would find at a formal society gathering.

I'm trying to think of it as another chance for festivities and perhaps an enjoyable learning experience. [He sips his wine and smiles.] It's going well so far.

[mucked]

And what, pray tell, have you learned thus far?

[ surely this topic is safe and amicable enough. peggy aims to skate just above the level of earnest -- play up that old easy socialite persona, one that has brought her in and out of so many rooms with nary a scrap of suspicion.

right now, however, it's more like a safety blanket. ]

Bar bc I want to do things with you! :D

[scoutsniper]

Didn't know it was a costume party.

[Sure, Frank's wearing his Marine mess dress, but that's normal. This guy looks like an escapee from Williamsburg or something. And in his defense, Frank may have had a bit much to drink. It's been a rough month.]

I like the commitment, with the hair and all.

oh my God Frank NO

[spycurious]

[Ben isn't aware he's being spoken to right away, not until the second comment that has him slowly turning toward Frank as offense at the first comment stokes a fire of great irritation. He places the glass of wine in his hand on the counter, having suddenly lost the desire to enjoy it but simultaneously acquired the urge to smash it upside Frank's head. Ever the diplomat, Ben opts for the smaller escalation.]

Major Benjamin Tallmadge, 2nd Continental Light Dragoons of the United States Continental Army. A real rank, and a real regiment in a real military institution. [He very nearly adds that they are things for which his brother and many close friends have died, but he bites his tongue.]

[Ben knows who you are, sir, at least in name if not rank, and in light of that he'd like to at least attempt to get along, so...] ... But... it is the New Year, and I am from a different time. It would be remiss not to forgive another soldier.

[And so, he extends a hand.]

YES

[scoutsniper]

[ Ah, shit, the guy's for real AND outranks him. Just his luck. ]

Yeah. Uh. Good job. I mean, winning that one. [Go team America?]

[spycurious]

[Ben drops his hand, but tempers his irritation to avoid taking offense. Celebration. Good times.]

Thank you. [He thinks??] It was 1777 last I recall but I studied the end of the war to find out how we did it. [It's been a Fun Ride.]

You're 20th century, I assume?

[scoutsniper]

Pretty much invented guerilla warfare, you guys did.

[Hey, he knows history. At least military history.]

Twenty first. Totally different war. It's complicated now.

[morework]

[ Garrett encourages him to mingle. Cullen grits his teeth and takes the suggestion. He looks around for familiar faces. At the bar he meets half a match, so to speak. Garrett only pointed the man out from across the room. ]

Hello. [ Bran. Ah. No, Ben. ] Ben? [ Hopefully. ] Garrett mentioned we have you to thank for our new glasses.

[spycurious]

[A relatively new face for Ben, but when Cullen mentions Hawke and the glasses, Ben instantly knows who this is. He lights up immediately.]

Ben, yes. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Cullen. [And so it is.]

[morework]

And you. [ A beat.

Garrett only said so much, and the circumstances of his latest encounter with the man, for instance, make for a poor choice of conversation.

He does recall one thing which he seizes as more promising subject. ]

He said you were a military man as well?

[spycurious]

[Ben perks up noticeably. He'd been casting around for something to say that didn't involve recounting his second more notable meeting with Hawke, when he was naked.

War is a more comfortable topic than nakedness.]

I am, yes. We met first when we were ah, burning the remains of one of the events that plagued us with the undead. [A delicate way of saying "we burned corpses and bonded over a rotting death pyre."] My world is one without magic, so we use blades, firearms and artillery. My rank is that of Major, but I assume that would be meaningless, so... I am an officer and Head of my army's Intelligence.

[thecourier]

Lookin' sharp, Ben.

[Unusual, but sharp. Dan's not so far removed from all sorts of military that he doesn't recognise a military uniform when he sees one (and previous conversations with Ben have given him the knowledge he needs to connect the dots), and he gives the young man a friendly smile as he greets him while he's subtly wallflowering.

Dan takes up position against the wall beside him, clasping his hands loosely behind his back.]

Enjoyin' yerself?

[spycurious]

[Ben's uniform is really just a fancier, blue and gold version of the plain 18th century garb he wears round the library. He smiles in turn and sets an empty wine glass aside.]

Thank you! And you as well. So far I have had an excellent evening. Evelyn's parties are grand and the wine is... well... the wine is very good.

And you? How has your evening fared?

[Ben is in looser and happier spirits than usual, apparently very socially inclined once his nerves are eased by a smooth wine.]

[thecourier]

[It's always good to see someone who usually seems to be nervous in better spirits than usual, and he can't help but smile at the comment to the wine.]

Never been a wine man, m'self [He says, tilting his own glass - still half-full of whiskey - in Ben's direction.] Always gives me a headache.

[But he's right about the party - particularly Evelyn's parties.]

Evenin's been fine. Evie told me t' go off an' mingle, so I guess that's what 'm doin'.

[uncaging]

[ Elizabeth approaches near midnight, her dress floating out behind her. She's sipping at a glass of champagne and offers a second glass to Ben. ]

Happy new year, Major.

[spycurious]

[Ben's eyes go wide and he laughs in delight, his cheeks are rosy red. He's had such a wonderful evening already and seeing Elizabeth is always a lovely time.]

Elizabeth!

[Ben bows and reaches out to her hand to kiss the back of it.]

Happy New Year--almost!

[uncaging]

[ Elizabeth blushes bright red as Ben kisses the back of her hand, biting her lip to try to disguise her smile. ]

It looks as though you've been enjoying yourself.

[bloodmagics]

[After he initiates his Master Plan, Hawke does actually want to spend some time enjoying the party with his partner and friends. So he takes an appreciative look at Ben, before joining him at the bar, clapping his hand on his shoulder as he does.]

You look like you're enjoying yourself.

[Did he miss the strange, almost upset look on Ben's face while ogling him? Definitely yes.]

[spycurious]

[Ben's jovial attitude chills over and he turns, eyeing Hawke's hand and then the man himself.]

I was.

[bloodmagics]

[This is not what he expected.]

Everything alright?

[spycurious]

[Ben faces Hawke properly, his shoulders squared, with a restrained, stormy expression.

He doesn't know exactly why this is bothering him so much. What Garrett and Cullen do together is none of his business, and yet--]

Does Cullen know you like to flirt so openly with other people? I met him. He seems like a very good man. I don't know if that's how they do it where you're from, but to me, making a pass at someone when one already has a lover is inappropriate at best.

[Usually he might have let something like this go, but this? This has ruffled his feathers considerably.]