[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

[nascensibility]

Have you ever tried taking a compliment without arguing the point?

[Evelyn asks politely, patting his lapel. Rhetorical question. He enjoys contradicting her, it seems, and who is she to argue with his fun?

Moving to his side and turning back to face the rest of the ballroom, Evelyn keeps a sharp eye out for any disturbances. She doesn't want a repeat of last year's evisceration.]

I'm glad you came.

[scoutsniper]

Why would I want to do that?

[Don't try to crush his innate, inner Frank, Evelyn. He's a goddam national treasure.]

Why? You expecting trouble? [Because he'd be good in that situation. It'd be nice to actually goddam do something useful. ]

[nascensibility]

No.

[She does try, quite desperately, to be patient with him. But Frank is apparently structured to see the potential worst in every scenario and while that vigilance is commendable, she has to imagine it gets exhausting.]

I enjoy your company. [Evelyn snatches another glass of champagne from a passing server and smirks.] Although you haven't yet said how nice I look, so perhaps I enjoy it less so at this precise moment.

[scoutsniper]

Really? Because this would be the time for some crazy bullshit to happen.

[ Everyone hanging out in impractical clothes, guards down...? Yeah it's exactly when he'd kick off an ambush. ]

Didn't think you needed my approval for how you looked.

[Or, anything else for that matter.]

You look beautiful. But it's not really much to do with the dress.

[nascensibility]

[Don't worry, Frank, the only crazy bullshit Evelyn will experience This Night is unwanted advances and you can't keep an eye on her 24/7 anyway.]

Hm.

[Looking unfathomably pleased at this concession Evelyn lifts her chin to look back at the milling crowd, some of whom have wandered to the dance floor. No doubt there will be isolated criticisms of the music choice at a later time, but frankly, if people want to complain about things being more "old-fashioned" then they might as well hold their own parties.]

I didn't have a formal wedding when I got married, [she says absently, watching the guests.] Thought it might be too posh and I didn't want my grandmother to make a scene about me marrying 'beneath my station.' But I think it might have been more fun, had I been the planner.

[scoutsniper]

[ If he catches any of those Unwanted Advances there will be an Unwanted Meeting with his Fists. Just sayin'. ]

Nah, weddings aren't fun for the people getting married. At least not where I'm from. Too much stress. The real fun is someone else's wedding.

[nascensibility]

[Too late, buddy!!!!!]

Really.

[Colour her surprised. Generally one leaves the wedding to one's family, as the bride is entitled to relax while the rest of her kin run about in a panic trying to set up marital funds, arrange old-fashioned dowries, and the like. Had she been able to put something together herself, she knows it would have been perfect - but the chapel at the officers' club served its purpose well enough.]

Would you say the same thing about regular, run-of-the-mill parties?

[No doubt it is much more fun to attend things like this than plan them.]

[scoutsniper]

[ Siiiigh. This is what happens when he isn't up on his stalkingveillance. ]

Yeah, really. You don't have to worry about the whole, you know, Bridezilla thing. Or if your best man's going to get drunk and throw up on a bridesmaid and that will be the big thing everyone remembers about the whole day.

[Just, you know, random things anyone would worry about. Right? RIGHT?!?!]

Nah, not as much at stake at a regular party. But weddings? People get real superstitious about them.

[nascensibility]

[Get it together, Frank!

He makes his opinion abundantly known - she doesn't recognise one word, but also does not press him to explain - instead looking at him in abject confusion. If she didn't know any better she might accuse him, a (once) married man, of actively disdaining the rituals that follow the practise.]

People get superstitious about anything.

[Evelyn states plainly, down the rest of her drink.]

[scoutsniper]

[ Is she sure she wants him to? Did she...did she miss him?! ]

Yeah, but your wedding is a big deal. You know. That person, the rest of your life.

Hell, when you enlist in the military, it's not the same kind of commitment.

[nascensibility]

[She did, actually. Very much.]

I don't believe in superstitions unless their merit has been unequivocally proven in a controlled environment.

[Something she feels abundantly comfortable saying, because if she can see it, and she can touch it, then it's real. Wives' tales and folklore are for children.

Evelyn looks at him over her glass, sly.]

You never struck me as someone who bought into that.

[scoutsniper]

Yeah, well, you end up believing a lot of probably weird shit once you've been in combat. Knew a guy who wore the same damn underwear every firefight.

[It was his lucky charm. A smelly lucky charm.]

That's me. Full of surprises.