2017 Winter Holiday Party!

[sailor_v]

WHO: OPEN TO ALL!
WHAT: Holiday party! Date auction! Shenanigans.
WHEN: December 15th, 2017 - Evening
WHERE: Fairy Tale HQ - Fayren
NOTES: The auction and the kissing contest are time sensitive! Bids close and the last kiss will be accepted on Friday, December 22nd, at midnight PST!

Fayren didn't have electricity, but it had something even better.

MAGIC!

There were twinkling colored lights that burned, flickered, and floated in an ethereal way, enchanting the building in a way that fluorescent lights never could. Branches of evergreen were hung here and there to give the air a fresh pine scent. There were also pinecones doused with cinnamon and nutmeg near the doorways.

Except near the kitchens, because the food smells were more than enough to entice the senses. There were mini-sausages swimming in a thick and spicy sauce, sweet and tangy meatballs on toothpicks, vegetables and dip, bite-sized cream puffs, iced sugar cookies, cheese and crackers, mulled cider, and eggnog in alcoholic and non-alcoholic varieties.

The main room, expansive as it was, had plenty of room for music, dancing, and mingling. There were some tables and several chairs set up, and a small stage where musicians were welcome to perform to their heart's content. To the side was an even smaller stage where a sprig of mistletoe was suspended on a loop of scarlet ribbon, with a sign that reads: "Test Your Passion! Win This Arcade Game!" And next to that was a full-sized arcade game version of Alley Brawlers. Might be worth checking out!

But there were more games than that, and more than a few maps set up on easels of the headquarters and where to go to play certain games. A single lane bowling alley (with manual set-up of the pins), a "fishing" booth where people toss a clothespin on a fishing line over a curtain to have a little prize attached by someone hidden on the other side, a ring toss for cans of soda, a cake walk (with full-sized cakes for the winners and cupcakes for the losers), ornament decorating, pin-the-tail-on-the-unicorn, face painting, a pool of rubber ducks with numbers corresponding to prizes on the bottom, goldfish scooping... Almost anything one would find at a carnival was sure to be found here.

As for the auction? Step right up, right past the gauzy white curtains into a big room lit with twinkling golden lights. Anyone was welcome to come in, but if someone wanted to participate as a bidder, they'd have to make a donation at the door. In return, each donor would receive a packet of 100 red tickets with the same number assigned to the bidder name: one roll of tickets with 101 for the first donor, a roll of tickets with 102 for the second donor, and so on.

Cookies and punch were available in this room, with several tables and chairs set up before a large stage with a microphone. Along the wall was a line of clear plastic boxes, with slots on top, set in front of each auction date's face. A card that indicated the name of each person, their age, and a brief description of what they were all about was pasted onto the front of the boxes. People were welcome to look at the line-up if they wanted, or even use some of their tickets prematurely if they wanted, as they were clearly for a drawing. Until the auction starts, soft piano music plays from a stereo running on batteries.

Comments

Re: #22 - Winter Schnee, Age 27 (men only)

[specialist_snowflake]

[Winter has been quietly seething ever since she noticed her picture above one of the ticket boxes. If she ever discovers the identity of the fool who slipped her name into this ridiculous auction, there will be sharp words, and sharp slaps upside the head.]

[But, given that her number is one of the later ones in the series, she's had time to compose herself and think of what she wishes to say. After all, public education is important, she won't storm out just because SHE HATES EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS.]

[She will, however, set some conditions. Upon reaching the stage, she stands stiffly and formally in her military uniform, imperiously regarding the bidders.]

I have but one condition: the winning bidder must prove to be capable of besting me in martial combat if we are to proceed to any kind of 'date.' If this is not acceptable, then we shall simply have afternoon tea with no romantic delusions attached.

[Look how fun she is, who wouldn't want to date this bundle of sunshine?]

[alwaysimpaled]

[Dante was going to just ignore this whole thing. He came for the booze, after all. But then Winter of all people just HAD to go and throw out a challenge. One he would be all too happy to rise to.]

100.

[specialist_snowflake]

[That startles her. Winter's head snaps around. That's all of his tickets. All of them. Wasn't he one of the many who'd responded to her criticism just to chew her out? There's no way he's doing this for romance, she's certain of that. So that begs the question: what the hell does he want? Her eyes narrow suspiciously as her chin lifts.]

[This is just begging for an explanation. Unless someone out there is planning on getting some tickets from their friends, he's pretty much won this.]

[alwaysimpaled]

[Dante just shrugs with a shit eating grin on his face.]

Might wanna get your combat boots, ice queen. You're gonna need 'em if you intend to keep up with me.

[specialist_snowflake]

I'm already wearing them.

[There's heat there, despite her attempts to keep her voice frosty. No, she doesn't like this. If his goal is only to humiliate her, she'll make him regret this decision.]

[alwaysimpaled]

[Dante glances down at her feet, and back up to the frosty gaze before busting out into laughing.]

Those? You're expecting to go one on one with me in heels? Your funeral I guess.

[specialist_snowflake]

[Her lashes lower. He's underestimating her based on her footwear.]

[A slow, sinister smile creeps across her face. He'll see soon enough just what she can do in heels.]

[alwaysimpaled]

[Considering he's pretty sure she's overconfident in her ability and nobody really has much of an idea just what he can do in a fight yet, he's just going to roll his eyes. He's seen that look a thousand times before in bars. Doesn't last long when he doesn't even flinch after the first punch is thrown. ...Or knife.]

BID

[vulcanyounot]

[Far from the master of romance, it had taken awhile for Kirk to finally get through to Spock that he should bid on Winter to let her know that he's still serious about her and it wasn't just his AU self that was into her. He was going to bid his full 100 himself (not being interested in anyone else here) when Dante had beaten him to the punch. The fact that someone else was into Winter bothered him more than it should, but he could analyze that later. He'd somehow convinced Kirk to give him a hand and the man had reluctantly relinquished a single ticket, just enough to tip the scales.]

101.

[alwaysimpaled]

[Dante is just going to side-eye Spock while simultaneously glancing around to see if there's anyone he can bum a ticket or five off of nearby.]

You sure about that? No offense, but you don't look all that sturdy, and you heard the lady. If you want to date her, you gotta be stronger than her.

[Why yes there was a bit of a mocking air in is tone.]

[vulcanyounot]

[Spock meets his gaze and lifts his chin ever so slightly.]

I am certain of my actions. I have already bested her in combat. She is aware of my capabilities.

[His eyes glance over Dante. He may look fit, but that doesn't necessarily make him a fighter. Besides, Winter has a few tricks up her sleeves.]

Perhaps you should worry more about your own capabilities. She is an admirable opponent in combat.

[alwaysimpaled]

[Oh, that did it. He was winning this war if it was the last thing he did. He holds up a finger before wandering off into the crowd. One heated discussion with Mobius later and he returns, holding up a fist full of tickets.]

200!

[shelteringwings]

[Really, Mobius had no idea what that was all about, but he wasn't going to use those tickets anyway.

There's just a bit of a confused bird man elsewhere. Go, Fight, Win, Dante???]

[vulcanyounot]

[Well, he certainly hadn't expected that. If anyone asks, he'll claim it was to save Winter, but it's really his own motivation that has him asking Weiss for her tickets. They got along well enough and she knew that her sister and he had been on a couple of dates (even if they had been over alternate universe week). He comes back a couple of minutes later, stopping in front of Dante and looking him square in the eye.]

201.

[alwaysimpaled]

[Dante makes a face somewhere between frustration and enjoyment before storming off. ...Only to return a few moments later after finding and obtaining Ayame's tickets. This time, however, he's going to play things a bit closer to the chest.]

202.

[vulcanyounot]

[Oh, so that's how he wants to play it, huh?

Well crap, he's all out. At least he was, until Gale came over and just handed him his lot with a grin on his face. Spock isn't sure why he did it (he doesn't even know the man), but for once he isn't going to question it.

But if Dante wants to slow things down, he can do that.]

205.

[alwaysimpaled]

[Dante makes a rude gesture at Gale. Gale will owe him a beer later. Still, it's a good thing he's got plenty to spare.]

206.

[mouth_breather]

[Kirk, meanwhile, is smearing a hand over his mouth as he gapes in wide-mouth idiotic-grinning wonder. WOW SPOCK WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF TESTOSTERONE! This is amazing! Why is Bones missing out on this?!]

[specialist_snowflake]

[A variety of emotions have been flickering over Winter's face, and it's become increasingly difficult to maintain her rigid militaristic stance on the stage. She glares at Spock when he mentions that he's already beaten her in combat, for that wasn't something she wanted made into public knowledge. But her harsh expression eases somewhat when he compliments her as a warrior.]

[And the bidding is ramping up. Her furrowed brows lift, and she shoots a quick glance at Weiss. Why is this happening? Certainly she doesn't mind her sister's assistance to Spock, since she at least knows his intentions aren't to humiliate her, but the more tickets that are lent out, the more bewildered she becomes.]

[She...she gave that edict to deter bidders, so no one would bother and she'd be allowed to return to her seat. What's going on?!]

[orlokbutterfly]

[From a distance, Gale had been observing the bidding on Winter. How would he not? He was the one who secretly put her in (sure, maybe he hadn't spoken to this Winter, but the last Winter made it clear that he had to mess with her).

But never in the world did he expect such magic to unfold between Dante and Spock. Gale had sown chaos, and he had only stoked the fire further when he gave Spock the tickets he wasn't using. He'd definitely owe Dante a drink or three later, but man, he could not help himself.

He'd wandered off for a bit and came back to observe from a distance again with a bunch of cream puffs in hand. This alone made coming out to this dumb event worth it.]

[zenoh]

[ My, those are some nice looking cream puffs in your hand, Gale! Would it be great if nobody creates a cleft in the fabric of space-time to just stick their hand through it and steal one? Because Ayame just does that, taking just one cream puff under Gale's nose before her hand slowly retreats into the portal. Where Ayame really is, well, nobody knows. ]

[orlokbutterfly]

[He was so focused on that sweet sweet bidding action that he'd barely noticed the hand disappearing through the portal with one of his cream puffs. That fiend! How dare they steal one of his cream puffs!]

Hey! Someone here owes me a cream puff! Puff thief!

[Not that it's a big deal because he can just grab another, but he'll be dramatic about it anyway.]

[zenoh]

[ Ayame's hand momentarily jolts frozen while the cream puff is still pinched in between her fingertips. She could be heard stammering a little in the other side of the portal. Quickly, her arm retracts entirely to the safety of the portal, disappearing into thin air. One would think that Ayame would have learned her lesson not to steal more from Gale, but she did it again not very long after. Attack from a different angle this time, her hand slithers through a hole in space from below! ]

[princeliers]

Amazing! Splendid! A battle of the heart is it?! I approve! And if one cannot best you, then tea sounds great as well! What a wonderful way to get to know more people! I believe in you!

[and he'll just wave for her in the crowd.]

[specialist_snowflake]

[Winter turns a cool gaze on this...Faunus?...with no indication of warmth or appreciation. Who is this fool? A battle of the heart? There will be no such thing.]

[She turns her head away. Well, he's not bidding, so it's fine.]