IO, SATURNALIA! | OPEN

[vitaelamorte]

Who: EVERYONE
Where: THE BALLROOM
When: THREE WHOLE DAYS - 12/17-12/19
Rating: PG-13 (or higher depending how rowdy you guys get)
Summary: IO, SATURNALIA! The party has arrived and it is here to stay for 72 hours straight of good food, gambling, dancing, drinking, singing, and so on and so forth!
The Story:

A few days into Ewaymas, on December 15th, everyone will wake up to a scroll outside their door. This scroll is an invitation to a Saturnalia celebration in two days, and everyone is welcome! If asked for clothing for the party, the closets will provide synthesis – brightly colored Roman robes – for the occasion, but the dress code is mostly just colorful and fun, if you choose to abide by it.

Starting on the 17th there will be a lavish feast in the ballroom, and food and drink are never in short supply. Drunkenness is encouraged, but there will be non-alcoholic beverages as well. There will be tables set up for gambling and dice games, music from a wide variety of worlds (specifically to encourage loud singing along and dancing all night - some are holiday remixes but others aren't), and areas for dancing and playing other games. The decorations are all in a rainbow of bright colors like the synthesis, with suns hanging up and candles floating in the air. Laurels and pileus will be available at the party for everyone to wear on their heads.

It's the kind of party that will get increasingly louder and rowdier...and it literally won't end for three whole days. Those prone to gluttony, greed, or even just escapism will find themselves not wanting to leave the party at all. There's always something to do and you can always just pass out of the floor when you're tired, right? Right! No one knows how to party like the Romans did. At the end of the day on the 19th though, all of the decorations and food will vanish and the party will abruptly come to an end.

Prose or [Action Brackets] are more than welcome, and if you have any questions please send them over to the FAQ thread for the event!

Comments

[ceruleans]

[He's doing a splendid job not pressing on any of the issues that she isn't ready to talk about, and it's putting her at ease. When he mentions his feelings on hope, she ducks her head and smiles a little sheepishly.]

Well, some of us need a reminder of that sometimes. You get stubborn and stuck in your ways after a few decades of people more or less hating the 'race' that you belong to.

[The smile turns a little sad when he brings up Charles.]

We were, once.

[She glances over to him.]

It's -- kind of a long story.

[Long, painful, and involving several missiles. No, really.]

Maybe we could be again, with time ... but thinking about that while I'm here might drive me kind of crazy.

[fatherlesskind]

[It's hard not to wonder at how much there might be in common between people like Mystique and the mages of his home. Hate is too strong a word but there can still sometimes be trouble between mages and normal people. Although presumably Mystique doesn't run the risk of getting possessed and turning into an abomination, so they may be less alike than he'd thought.

Alistair nods in understanding - he knows a thing or two about those kind of long stories. Putting on a bright smile he nudges her again, determined not to let a blue mood - pun so intended - ruin her night.]

Well if there were ever a good place to go crazy this would be it. You'd fit right in.

[His expression softens momentarily as he adds-] For what it's worth, you're lucky to have had someone like that.

[ceruleans]

[She'd is be groaning over that pun if she knew he'd made it in his head, but as it is she just does her best to return the smile.

He's really right about fitting in here if she goes crazy, though.]

Well, if you notice me running around and 'fitting in', you'll know something's up right away.

[His second comment catches her slightly off-guard, and before she can really think about it, she frowns.]

I know. I mean, I'd probably have starved to death if Charles hadn't run into me when he did, but it's still -- hard to lose people.

[fatherlesskind]

I know. Maker, I know.

[He looks away, jaw tight emotion. It's been months since Duncan died but it still hurts sometimes, knowing he's gone. He hadn't been family truly but he'd been closer than anyone else had been to Alistair.

Clearing his throat he turns back to Mystique, offering in explanation-] My mentor was killed a while back. It wasn't easy to deal with at the time.

...I'm sorry about your brother.

[Whatever had happened between them, the feeling of loss was much the same and he knew how much that could hurt.]

[ceruleans]

[It's an easy reflex when he sees his jaw tighten like that to slip her hand into his for a gentle squeeze. While he's saying that it was a while back, he's obviously still upset about it, and that warrants at least a mildly sympathetic response.

She manages a slightly lopsided, sad smile.]

I'm sorry too. I shouldn't be complaining about a soured relationship, when at least he's -- you know, alive.

[Paralyzed from a stray bullet ricocheted by his former best friend, but -- details.]

What was he like, your mentor?

[She'd read somewhere that talking about the person helped bring back positive association with them instead of sadness.]

[fatherlesskind]

[Alistair ducks his head smiling shyly at his knees. He's blushing as he squeezes back, more touched by the gesture than he can say. It's only when she tries to dismiss her own loss that he can make eye-contact again, shaking his head at the apology.]

No, it's fine. It would be just as hard knowing someone you care about is out there but you can't see them even if you want to.

[Whatever the circumstances of Mystique and her brother's falling out it's clear she still cares about him and the separation must sting.

He brightens when she asks about Duncan, clearly pleased to be able to talk about him. He hasn't had the chance to do so much and it does make him miss the man all the more.]

Duncan. He was a good man and the first person who cared about what I wanted and not just what was... convenient. If it weren't for him I'd be a- I wouldn't be in a good place right now. [It's hard to explain what would have happened to him if it weren't for Duncan without explaining so many other things first so he skirts around the matter.] I owe him a lot and I never had the chance to repay him.

[ceruleans]

[She doesn't mention that she's just not sure that she'd be able to deal with seeing her brother again -- there's no barrier except her, as far as she knows, but she just -- isn't ready yet.

As he talks about Duncan, it occurs to her that Magneto was probably considered to be her mentor (and although the thought isn't unappealing, it was probably pretty unprofessional for them to get involved in a romantic relationship). Would she be able to talk about him like that, leaving out the whole 'presidential assassination' snafu?

Probably.]

I get that. He helped you find your way instead of the way that people had been pushing you toward your whole life.

[She understands that -- really, she does.

She runs her thumb over the back of his hand absently while she speaks.]

He must've known you were grateful, though. I mean -- no offense -- but you don't seem to play your cards too close to your chest.

[After a brief pause and a clearing of her throat,]

Which isn't a bad thing, I mean.

[fatherlesskind]

Heh. Not really.

[He knows he's obvious about his feelings, even when he'd rather not be.]

I didn't think of it like that. [But it would have been obvious to anyone with eyes how happy he was to be recruited by Duncan.] I hope he knew. [Even if gratitude doesn't feel enough for what was done for him. It's too late to change now.] Thank you for letting me talk about him. It means a lot to me.

[With nothing physical left to remember him by his memories of Duncan are all he has. Being able to share them with someone is like keeping him alive in a small way.

His cheeks are still slightly flushed as he glances down at their hands but it's more of a pleased look than embarrassed. It's nice, just being close to someone and feeling like they care. When he looks back up at Mystique his smile turns playful.]

So I guess that's my quota of complaining used up for, what? The month?

[ceruleans]

[She doesn't get this sort of intimacy often, not really -- not the genuine sort, where she isn't trying to hastily seduce a bureaucrat so that she can steal his invitation to a Trask function, for example. It's a strange thing to have stumbled across at this party, but with how focused he is on her it hardly seems like they're in the middle of a crowded function.

He seems to be cheered, at least, so she can't say that she completely managed to spoil his party mood. She returns the smile, her lips twitching up to one side.]

Mmm...I'd say two weeks. Three, tops. And you're welcome. Should I let you return to the party so I don't make any of your friends jealous of all this attention?

[Still teasing -- she can't help it, okay?]

[fatherlesskind]

I think you mean relieved they don't have to listen to me go on. But I take your point. I should let your myriad of admirers have a chance, milady.

[And the buffet table is calling to him again, his own metabolism being fairly impressive in its own right.

Getting to his feet Alistair makes a flourishing bow before he turns to leave. Pausing after just a few steps he looks back at her hopefully.]

I'll see you around?

[ceruleans]

[She snorts.]

Right, I'm sure you'll trip over the line on your way out.

[She can't help the small laugh that bubbles up when he bows. She's smiling when he turns around to look at her, though.]

Yeah, definitely.