+ FOURTH WALL EVENT: THRONE ROOM PARTY +

[vitaelamorte]

Who: E V E R Y O N E
Where: The Queen of Hearts' Throne Room (Mirror Side's Ballroom)
When: Sept 3rd to Sept 10th
Rating: G to PG-13 (please label higher ratings, thank you!)
Summary: It's about time Mirror Side had its own party, instead of just making the Mirrors sneak over to Real Side for their parties every time! And don't forget to have a look at the Fourth Wall Master Post for event rules, puzzle clues, and more places to mingle!
The Story:

The Queen of Hearts' throne room is more inviting that it has ever been. Beginning on September 3rd, anyone passing by will notice a tunnel of red, white, and black balloons leading inside. Those who grow curious and investigate will not be punished, but instead rewarded - with a party.

As each guest enters, they will receive a mask from seemingly nowhere, and they are encouraged to leave their masks on during the party - for once, it does not matter who is Real and who is Not and who is a double and who is an original. There are only Guests and all are welcome.

There is plenty of food and drink for all to enjoy, and music is always playing. The party is very red and black, and lit by candle light. Each place is carefully set and there are lovely centerpieces featuring the only playing card that matters - the Queen of Hearts.

But hm? What is that on the back?

Comments

[mypartnerintime]

[Wow, she actually made a kid sad. Way to go Max!] N-no, I just mean like... when you get older it's still good, but for different reasons. [She can't even tell if she's lying or not. She tries to think of a better way to put it.] There are a bunch more low points, but the high points are way higher.

[There. The low points get way lower, too, but... but she doesn't have to mention that right now.]

I don't think they'd miss out on it either way. [She looks thoughtfully aside, trying to remember the stuff she's learned about Wonderland.] You'd sort of... be a kid again, anyway. And hey, Neverland sounds pretty awesome to me. Pirates, adventures, flying...

[And man, she definitely has to remember to use goody gumdrops in the future.]

[doorkey]

Most of the adults I know are either really crazy or really boring. [ Coraline observes, pointedly eyeing a few around the room who fit at least one or the two. The mansion might attract more of the kooky-neighborly variety.]

And being a teenager...well, it seems pretty complicated. [ She exhales, looking Max up and down with an apprehensive expression- for now, Coraline may even seem a little bit admiring. After all, the older girl's been really nice< to her, taking two pictures, thinking her outfit looks cool?]

It can get adventurous here too! It did all the time! And even I go to fly before- on broomsticks, when it was wizard school. (That was fun.)

[mypartnerintime]

[Crazy/boring adults? Complicated teenagers? Max follows Coraline's gaze and looks over the unique guests as well.] Yeah, that... is actually a perfect summary. You could write a whole dictionary on teens and adults using only those words. Throw in hormonal and-

[Err, she really means hormonal like emotional and maybe impulsive. But she bites down on the rest of her sentence because Coraline's a kid and she's probably going to take it in a weird way.] Uh. [Change topic.] Well... sometimes events are fun I guess. So were you here before?

[doorkey]

[ The teenage girl was just barely getting into saying something interesting about how older people worked when she cut herself off, and Coraline cocked her head with a faintly disappointed frown. And... what else? She had wanted to hear more about what else was there besides being hormonal and preoccupied to look forward to.]

Yeah. For almost two years. It was just... Christmas time, just past New Years? Last I checked, but now it's right near the end of summer.

[Right around the same time of year she remembers it being, back home with her parents. Coraline thinks about grey school uniforms, and how colorful life has been in the Mansion, and can't help but feel a little guilty for liking the place so much.]

[mypartnerintime]

We probably just missed each other then. Unless it was a different year. Wouldn't put it past Wonderland.

[Max is pretty much in love with Wonderland- but for different reasons.]

And then you just poofed? Vanished? [She frowns at Coraline.] No warning at all or anything?

[doorkey]

It's been a long time ago. [ She frowns doubtfully. ] I barely know anybody anymore. My journal-making-thingy... the little pocket-computer? Needs a big update, becauuse it's not even working right!

I... don't think I poofed? I just went to sleep one night, and... when I woke up again, I wasn't even in my old room anymore. And there were these party invitations everywhere. Everybody living here's strangers now. And there's a whole Other-Mansion? But none of all that used to be here!

Or maybe I got mirror-kidnapped on the Other Side, like Alice? Nobody must have known about it.

Sorry I thought I replied to this!!

[mypartnerintime]

...A lot of this stuff wasn't here a few days ago, either. There's so many people now, and that extra mansion is brand new. All in the span of a few days.

[Max shrugs at the younger girl. What can she say? Wonderland is weird.]

I'm pretty sure someone would've noticed. So I guess you went home for a while, way back. And there was no warning, was there?

[doorkey]

I saw the other mansion! With the cafes and shops and everything on the first floor and then the big dance party and the snuggly room on top!

[ Coraline nodded enthusiastically ] I was surprised about it, but in a very good way! This party's even weirder. The mirror-people on the other side have never thrown us parties before?

[ Sort of suspicious, if you ask her. She still keeps peering around hoping this isn't some trap to keep them on the mirror side, with the awful queen who might even be more awful than the Other Mother. ]

You've never seen anybody on the talky-journals asking around about me, have you? I looked back a long ways, but never found anything. The last time I used mine was before Christmas... the mansion really goes all out for the holidays. It gets really distracting!

And no, there was no kind of warning, it just feels like I had a really... long dreamy sleep, I guess. Except I woke up in the front of the mansion, not my old room.

[mypartnerintime]

[All of that just goes to show how long Coraline was in Wonderland- as well as how long ago. She studies Coraline with a curious expression.] No, nobody's posted recently about a, uhh... I didn't actually get your name.

[Max grins sheepishly.] I'm Max. I haven't even been here long enough to have a Christmas yet, but it's September now. Does it go all-out in a good way?

[doorkey]

It's Coraline Jones. [ She says, doing another little curtsey and twirl in her denim dress. ] Maybe they were asking about a Caroline instead? My name gets mixed up all the time.

...but I... I think it really has been a long while.

[ Which is unsettling, and might have continued to trouble her, if not for mention of Christmas launching her into fervantly nodding enthusiasm.]

Uh-huh! The mansion decorates itself and there's music and the vendors sell all kinds of neat crafts, there are snowball fights and presents and everything!

[mypartnerintime]

Neat. [She's a little wary because sometimes the idea of events sound okay, but the reality is... upsetting.] Sounds a little like what's up right now. Sans presents. [She looks around appreciatively at the decorations and the large crowd.]

So... how long was it before you disappeared?

[doorkey]

I mean I guess we could all give each other presents, if we wanted to, but... I barely know anybody here, so that might be a bit tricky. [ She shrugs, pulling out a chair at the nearest table and plopping herself into a seat. ]

What do you mean? [ Coraline frowns, the end of her nose crinkling as she squinted. ] I said I was here almost two years.

Once Christmas finished up, it was... a few days after then? Then I jumped to now.

[mypartnerintime]

O-oh, right, yeah. Two years. [The mun Max Caulfield is not a very good conversationalist.]

Sounds like a wild ride. Confusing. [Yeah, confusing. Here one moment, here again years later. Time travel.] All things considered, you're taking it pretty well.

[doorkey]

Well, you know, waking up to a whole bunch of parties and a whole new house to explore helps.

[ Coraline shrugs with the sort of smile that says she's taking that as a flattering compliment, putting on her bravest smile. ]

And now I get to meet you?

So... even if I wake up and this turns out to be some weird future dream, at least I can say it was fun?

I've never had any fun on the mirrorside before. Usually the queen's people aren't exactly so, uh-

[ She shoots a nervous, slightly suspicious glance around, lowering her voice. ] Welcoming, you could say.

[mypartnerintime]

Uh-huh. [She's seen the Mirrors. And she's been avoiding them just about the whole event, so far... the one's she can tell are Mirrors, anyway.] They've probably still got a few days to prove themselves.

[Which sounds like a real downer, but there's hope!]

So make sure you stay safe, okay?

[doorkey]

I'll try.... [ The older girl probably only means well by it, but that sounds a little bit like a verbal pat-on-the-head send off, a cue that maybe she ought to be not so chatty and let Max get back to her picture-taking.

But it's an assuring reminder that nice people will be looking out for her, all the same. Coraline slips a hand into the pocket of her dress and curls her fingers around the seeing-stone, its presence always making her feel a little more secure in her own luck and instincts.

She steps back as if to retreat into the crowd with a little wave.] Thank you for taking my picture!

I'm pretty sure she hasn't given either over yet??

[mypartnerintime]

Oh, right! [Max pauses in the act of waving back to hold out the pair of pictures she took of Coraline.] You get to keep one. Just pick!

[She also takes the time to tuck away her camera. The party's loud and she's mingled a bit by now, which has tired her out (massive introvert and all). She really needs to find Chloe, soon.

...Hopefully she's not on the dance floor.]

[doorkey]

Ooh, yes! [ Coraline advances on the pair to peer at the final result, choosing the first- where she looks a little less sassy and more naturally delighted in being caught off guard by the flash. ] I like this one best, thank you so much! I'll clip it up somewhere!

[Maybe it's time to start another wall collage, or start cellotaping things over the mirrors in her room... She considers it thoughtfully as she wanders away, after a fleeting flutter of her fingers at Max.

That was very very nice of her.]

[mypartnerintime]

[Max gives a mock curtsy in reply, mimicking Coraline's earlier action.] You're welcome.

[She watches the younger girl wave and disappear into the crowd, remembering fondly how happy she was at Coraline's age, and thinking to herself how much she liked their brief interaction.]