The Hogwarts Hocus Halloween Hextravaganza, Before Midnight.

[pumpkinpatchsir.livejournal.com]

((Okay, the party will be divided into two parts, one taking place before midnight, and one after the Halloween spell is starting to work. This is the first part, obviously. The other will be posted immediately afterwards but takes place roughly five hours later or so, in game time. Remember, this post is for partying only, and no people-turning-into-their-costumes crack!))

ASK NOT FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS, IT TOLLS FOR THEE

Jack watched the words that were magically carved above the door to the Great Hall, in plain view of everyone entering it, and he smiled secretively. Everything was set. Tonight was going to be interesting. Who would have known magic could prove to be so useful? He made a mental note to investigate this even more for next year. Now that Sally was here, he'd be able to discuss it with her at great length. She always had such lovely ideas.

Since Jack was not exactly a beginner in the scaring people business he had carefully checked out the atmosphere of Hogwarts and gotten a distinct impression of what was considered frightening here. Outside the Great Hall the lights were out and shadows lurked in the corners. At irregular intervals (but always when one was least expecting it) the mad cackle of a deranged evil clown echoed through the Entrance Hall. Small cats black as midnight stroke around the walls, not speaking to anyone but constantly smiling evilly at anyone passing them, showing gleaming, pointed teeth. Also, because Jack never had it in him to resist the absolute classics, bats were hanging upside-down near the ceiling.

Inside the Great Hall, it was less dark and spooky, but still obviously Halloween. Cool white mist was trickling along the floor. Jack-o’-lanterns hovered in the air around an area cleared for dancing. Along one wall stood a large table with various Halloween treats: pumpkin pie, candy corn, toffee apples, hot cider, mini-cakes and a large bowl of punch.

The Halloween party could begin.

Comments

[every-daae.livejournal.com]

Christine smiled gently at Hakkai. She found his embarassment very endearing. "Oh, please! Don't blame yourself at all! You were doing so very well before that."

She took his hand and placed her other hand on his shoulder, settling into the waltz frame very comfortably. This was quite nice. She wished she'd tried to do it sooner. "Hm? Oh, yes. Raoul rescued my scarf when it blew away out sea I was... eleven, I think, at the time. He joined the Navy when I went to Conservatory. I just met back up with him recently, actually." Christine paused a moment to consider it all. Raoul occupied a very private place in her feelings, and she missed him quite a lot.

Christine smiled brightly at Hakkai again. "You're not giving yourself enough credit, though! You dance wonderfully. See how well we're doing now? Even professional ballerinas fall. I should know; they complain quite indignantly about it back-stage."

[polite-sinner.livejournal.com]

Hakkai led them in another waltz, being a bit more mindful of the limitations of his costume. He laughed softly at her remarks about the ballerinas. "My, that seems like it would be a little amusing to hear about, actually. Ah, but you're doing quite well, yourself! It's fortunate that I have such a graceful partner to make-up for my own clumsiness."

He smiled cheerfully to her. "It seems like you and, ah, Mr. Raoul must have been very close friends, if it's not too forward of me to comment. It must have been nice for you both to see one another again, after all that time. Did he watch you perform at he opera when you worked there?"

[every-daae.livejournal.com]

Christine laughed. It was a light, trilling sound, that made her sound as if she was singing very quickly. "That is very kind of you. I've had to dance onstage from time to time- whoops." She stumbled on the hem of her dress, but righted herself quickly enough to stay in tempo.

Blushing and smiling in embarrassment, she added, "I suppose that we are perfectly matched in clumsiness, now. Ah, yes. Raoul was... is a very good friend of mine. He was the best friend I think that I have ever had. I do not... oh! Yes, he did see me perform. Once he realized I was singing at the opera, he came every night." Conscientiously, she added, "His family owns a box, you see."

[polite-sinner.livejournal.com]

"Oh, careful!" Hakkai paused briefly when Christine tripped to make sure she was all right, and was a little relieved when it seemed she was fine. Even if he could heal sprained ankles (http://community.livejournal.com/hogwarts_hocus/948218.html?thread=47038714#t47038714) now, the last time he attempted it left him feeling drained and light-headed, and he would have been forced to excuse himself earlier than intended from the party and go straight to his room to sleep it off afterwards.

"Well, at least we'll be able to keep each other from falling -- or I should, hope, anyway." He laughed a little bashfully. "So his family was a patron of the arts, I gather? It seems like it would be reassuring, knowing that there is someone in the audience supporting and encouraging you in pursuing something you enjoy doing."

[every-daae.livejournal.com]

"If not, we can both fall together," Christine added, with a laugh. "Yes, they were. I was... well, I was too busy working with my tutor to see him at first, but I was glad of his company later."

[polite-sinner.livejournal.com]

"Well, it's good that you found the time eventually, which is the most important thing." The song began to wind down to its end, and when it was finished, Hakkai took a step back and bowed a bit, chuckling softly. As he righted himself, he said lightly, "My, that was fun -- and it looks as though we made it through a song and both managed to stay standing. That's certainly a feat worth praise, I think."

[every-daae.livejournal.com]

Christine curtsied in turn and smiled up at him. "We did inded! Thank you very much for the dance, Monsieur. I quite enjoyed it."