EVENT ❦ Black Tie & Tails

[uncagedbird]

WHO: Everyone's invited!
WHERE: At the nearest convention center.
WHEN: Saturday, April 22nd
WHAT: The Black Ties and Tails charity fundraiser, a.k.a. an excuse to dress like a prince or princess-- and your pets, too.
WARNINGS: None, but please PM me if this needs to change!

❦ Before the Event.
Saturday afternoon rolls around at the Recollé convention center. Some people have been here since the morning, putting up decorations and making sure everything is perfect. Maybe your character is part of the crew putting up last minute chandeliers and decorations, or maybe they've been working furiously to make sure all the food is aligned perfectly on the plates. Perhaps they're from the shelter and frantically setting up crates and walking the animals before the event starts.

There are certainly some things that need to be done before the doors open, after all.

If someone shows up early needing an outfit and some help, they'll be taken to a large side room that's been cordoned off by shades to give privacy. Racks upon racks of formal wear in every shape and size are found here, and the outfitters are happy to help. Need makeup? That's covered too: the beauty school has a few students eager to give partygoers the newest vogue looks-- for free!

No one is getting into the fundraiser proper unless they're a volunteer, though. And volunteers are expected to be working! Those chairs need to be placed at that table, and the streamers over here are falling down-- it seems like there's no end to the things that need doing.

❦ A Fantastic Soiree.
People start to line up an hour before the event begins. The bouncers check to make sure that everyone attending is dressed properly and has a donation (monetary or food) before letting people inside the building. There's some confusion at first over a woman's glamorous Nicki Minaj-tier outfit, but the proprietor herself smooths the misunderstanding and lets her in. Those with volunteer badges have the donation waived, though anyone with outfits falling short of the ideal are told to pick up a spare outfit in the fashion room.

Despite all odds, the double doors open at five o'clock sharp. The sight that greets those waiting is something out of a dream. The room is huge, as big as an airplane hangar but made much warmer by the netting full of twinkling lights above. Dozens of (fake) trees decorated with flowers line the path leading into the venue, and more lights besides. Lastly, there's a scarlet rug leading to the doors so that everyone can have that red carpet experience.


There are tables toward the front-- furnished with plates and silverware, silk flowers, and fake paw prints all over the cloth. More lights are spread throughout to give the room a golden glow. Each table has two menus highlighting what's available: one for people, and one for pets, if they decided to bring a cat or dog along! All the food has cute animal themes like cookies 'n' cream paws, kitty cat cupcakes, puppy love pie, purrfect pizzas, and the like. There are buffet tables nearby with snacks, drinks, and a multitude of punny desserts. There is, of course, one for furry friends as well. It's clearly marked but hey, if you're daring enough to eat gourmet wet dog food... no one's stopping you.

There is a small stage set up for musicians to play, including a fabulous grand piano. Whenever there isn't something live being played, a DJ in back sets up a cheerful classical playlist highlighting modern dance hits and... Dvorak? It's a little eclectic, sure, but it gets the job done. Near the stage is, of course, the dance floor: a careful arrangement of sturdy flooring and soft fairy lights. It would feel more romantic if the lights were down, but the lights are kept at a level that people can keep track of their limbs and their pets.

Clearly-marked cute signs point to a large adjacent room. This is where the shelter animals are kept in large enclosures, and they're all incredibly well-dressed. The sponsored animals are mainly cats and dogs, each with a little biography, a comfy bed, water, and food. The volunteers are instructed to walk the animals every hour or so, and of course the cats have litter boxes hidden in their crates. Volunteers are on standby for those who'd like to meet the faces here, or put in for an adoption! Patrons will be urged to visit the shelter on Sunday to finalize arrangements.

❦ Some Furry Fun.
At some point, the DJ calls for people to share a dance with their friends-- including dogs! To prove a point, he 'dances' with a very confused but eager chocolate Labrador on stage. Nothing quite like "You've Got A Pal In Me" to make people laugh and cry simultaneously. For those who are perhaps not as embarrassing, rumor spreads quickly: there's a pet loose!

Darting under tables, tripping servers, and knocking stuff over: that's what this pitbull pup is doing. He's growing into his paws, too, which doesn't help; he keeps failing at the turns and slamming into tables. There are heavy casualties to the drink station.

And then the pup lunges for the food table.

Will you watch? Will you apprehend the dog before he can run amok any longer? Or will you guard that seven-tiered chocolate cake with your life?

The nametag he's wearing marks him as one of the dogs available for adoption. If someone can get a hold of that leash, they might be able to wrangle him back into the side room.

❦ The End to an Evening.
After a couple hours, a final call for donations is sounded. Those who would like to donate even more to the Recollé Animal Shelter are encouraged to do so. The dance floor is cleared and people are urged to take their seats.

About a half hour later, it's announced that the fundraiser is a success-- they've raised over fifteen thousand dollars! Goodie bags are given to everyone present. While the black bag itself is fashionable for any gender, it's the inside that counts. Every guest gets the following:

- cruelty-free eyeshadow, eyeliner, and lip gloss
- coupons for 15 percent off the boutiques that outfitted people before the party
- a dog or cat beauty mask
- a paw-patterned clip on bow tie that works for pets as well as people
- and lastly, a cat or dog themed necklace in sterling silver.

When the clock chimes eight, it's officially over and everyone is encouraged to leave. Unless, of course, you're a volunteer... Most of the work will be done tomorrow but a few things must be done in the next hour. The animals need to be packed up and taken back to the shelter, and the food needs to be disposed of; the plates must be stacked, and the chairs arranged neatly along the wall.

At nine, regardless of how clean the place is, staff is officially dismissed. Go home! Get out of here! Hug your pets if you have them!

And thanks, of course, for supporting the Recollé Animal Shelter. ❦

[ooc: Go wild! here is the plot info if you need it. Feel free to handwave speaking to Ari for clothes help or volunteering. This is a stress free plot for anyone and everyone to dress up nice and pet the pets-- or bring their own as long as they're leashed. Let me know if there are any last minute questions via PM or fonfabre. Thank you!!!!]

Comments

Sorey | OTA

[openhanded]

[I. let's get this shindig started!!!]

[Sorey's never been to something this formal so it's kind of an affair. He's very grateful that his mother taunt him how to iron. Though most people will probably be looking at Mikleo tonight, he doesn't want to embarrass his other half by looking sloppy, so he's dressed in a crisp off-white suit and bowtie. Look, no one banned paisley. Let him live. Adding to the animal theme, of course, is a pair of brown wolf ears that make him look like a puppy given human form. They look a bit odd against his gold ear cuff and studs. His history kids may be surprised to see multiple ear piercings on their straight-laced student teacher.

He ventures away from Mikleo to get food for the both of them. While he's eyeing some vanilla custard cups in the shape of rabbits, he realizes someone nearby is about to grab the last solid chocolate cat with ganache filling and white chocolate accents. The chocolate cat that someone else sent him to grab.]

Ah, w-wait! I know that's the last one, but do you think you could hand it over? Please? It's for a friend.

[He flashes a nervous grin. This is not the face of a liar.]

[II. puppy love]

[Sorey is just enjoying his evening, taking lots of pictures, petting dogs, sneaking ridiculously sappy glances at Mikleo when he thinks no one's looking. You know, the usual. But then the call goes out and it becomes clear that a pupper is after supper. His eyes narrow on the ungraceful pup darting to and fro, slamming into poor passersby and knocking over the ones who aren't careful.]

Is that...?

[Yep, the pup has just caught scent of the food. Off he goes. Sorey ditches his chair suddenly and gives chase, apologizing the whole way.]

Excuse me! Sorry! Dog on the loose!

[He weighs his options in a split second and decides to take a shortcut that involves jumping a lady's long dress train and sliding beneath a trellis. There is yelling. He's not sure from which direction but it doesn't matter. The dog is within his sights. Sorey leaps...

... only to land far short of the mark, face first into the floor. He doesn't move immediately, but this is partially owing to the fact that he just got a face full of someone's dinner plate. His face looks like a pie.

He wonders, distantly, if this is what it's like to roll a natural 1.]

[III. wildcard]
[As usual, feel free to make something up! He spends a lot of time avoiding the dance floor, preferring to coo over the pets instead.]

i

[complementing]

[Minako's hand hovers over the chocolate cat, looking up with a mischievous grin. Koromaru watches the exchange at her feet, and blinks with mild interest at the wolf ears Sorey's wearing.] Aren't I your friend?

[openhanded]

[Sorey starts to sweat-- nearly visibly.]

W-well, yeah! But Mikleo is...

[He also begins to blush.]

If I come back empty-handed, he might just kill me.

[complementing]

You're here with Mikleo?! [Minako looks absolutely delighted. She hasn't heard about how his attempt to confess has gone, so this new knowledge is encouraging!] If it's for him then of course you can have it.

ii

[fashioneebo]

[Mikleo still can't believe that Sorey managed to convince him to wear a dress with matching cat ears to the ball. Then again, it's a nice excuse to let his hair down from its ponytail, since it covers up his scars that might be seen through the lace perfectly. It's also a nice excuse to weave in some hair ornaments that match his headband. At least they make his hair more presentable, though it's still a shock of color among everyone else's very ordinary hair colors.

None of these things make him look more masculine, but that's why he sticks closely to Sorey. His boyfriend likes it (...more like cried because he loves it on Mikleo so much) and it's honestly nice to look this pretty. Mikleo...just has some issues with how people will react to him wearing this, so Sorey and the cat corner have become his safe zones.

The announcement about the runaway puppy has Mikleo wanting to run for the cat corner right now. He only stays because he sees that look in Sorey's eyes and knows that it's in both of their best interests to stay. Then his dumb boyfriend is off in a flash, though Mikleo isn't too far behind. He might be wearing kitten heels, but Mikleo is surprisingly agile and fast in them. His ballet lessons really are paying off right now.

Too bad they don't help with preventing his partner from flying face-first into someone's dinner plate. Mikleo winces as he rushes to Sorey's side, putting gentle hands on his shoulders after kneeling down.]

Are you okay?

[Sorey's pride probably isn't feeling too good, but he hopes that the brunet didn't get injured on top of that.]

[openhanded]

[Sorey jerks his head up to look around for the dog, more concerned for the puppy's wellbeing than for his own. Luckily someone else has stepped in to wrangle the mutt into submission-- that is, they're dragging him away from the food while more handlers come out.

Sorey's face does look like a pie, unfortunately, so he rubs his face on his sleeve. There are little flecks of crust everywhere. Goodness.]

Y... yeah, I'm fine. Just a mess. [Mikleo looks like a freaking angel right now.] Are you all right? I didn't think you'd run after me, especially since... [... you're afraid of dogs, he almost says.]

[fashioneebo]

Oh, don't do that, Sorey, you're wearing white!

[It's a light scolding, all things considered, but seriously. Mikleo goes to grab a few napkins, a couple of which are damp with water, and returns so that he can wipe off Sorey's face properly. He huffs at the almost slip at calling him out on his cynophobia, but he'll answer.]

I'm fine. The dog didn't get anywhere near me, fortunately. I just.... [He trails off for a moment to scrub at a particularly stubborn spot on his partner's face.] I just wanted to make sure you didn't slip and fall and get hurt.

[Mikleo cups the brunet's chin, tilting his head gently to make sure he's gotten all of the food off of Sorey's face. Satisfied, he wraps up the dirty napkins with the last clean one and goes to toss them in the trash. He'll return shortly after, fishing out a Tide pen in a cleverly concealed pocket and hands it to Sorey. He's not gonna be the one to clean up the stains on his shirt...unless Sorey misses a spot.]

[openhanded]

Oh! Oh, sorry!

[Sorey didn't even think about it. It's so obvious that he's out of his element. He at least gets up off the floor and sits on a chair, but whoever's plate that was has completely abandoned it.]

A little slip isn't gonna kill me, [he mumbles as he's napkinned nearly to death.] It's really not a big deal.

[Mikleo returns with something that Sorey has never seen before.]

... What's this? [A pause.] Where were you even keeping that?

[fashioneebo]

[Jeez, Sorey. So dramatic.

Mikleo has the audacity to smirk smugly at him.]

That's a secret. Anyway, it's a Tide pen. It gets out any stain that isn't particularly stubborn. Just uncap it and rub it on the stain until it goes away.

[Of course he carries something like this everywhere.]

[openhanded]

[... A secret, huh. Well, now he's gonna be eternally curious-- though he can't dwell on it with the detergent pen being shoved at him. He glances over the directions, shakes it, and then pops off the cap.]

Nice. I'm gonna smell like chocolate and chemicals the rest of the night.

[The pen squeaks as he rubs at the stains. He can't help shaking his head.]

Very attractive, I'm sure. I'll be lucky if you don't ditch me on the dance floor.

I

[strawberrypunch]

[Oh no it's the student teacher.

For a moment, he debates how likely his grades are to come up if he goes to retrieve the cat vs if he doesn't. It's a fairly short debate, because chocolate cats have very little to do with grades to begin with, and also because Tatsuma can't really find it in him to abandon a man who, for whatever reason, really needs to get his hands on a chocolate cat.

He quickly turns and, just in the nick of time, swipes the cat with what looks like a mix of surprise and apology to the partygoer. They do look a bit miffed, but there are plenty of other desserts available, and soon they're eyeing some particularly adorable dogs instead. With a sheepish expression, he turns back to Sorey.]

This one, right?

[openhanded]

[Sorey almost worries a fight is about to break out, but then Tatsuma turns to him instead. His eyes widen.]

Wait, you're giving it to me? Are you sure? [He pauses, hand outstretched to take it.] It's not like I'll flunk you or something if you don't. Mikleo will be disappointed in me, but I'll survive the night. Probably.

[strawberrypunch]

[Talk of grades is pretty much unavoidable, huh... Well, he scored alright on his SATs, so that's maybe worth something.

He goes ahead and hands it over.]

...It's alright. [It's not like he was really expecting it to affect his grades either way.]

Mikleo?

[openhanded]

Thank you so much, Tatsuma.

[He takes the cat and guards it on his plate. He's seen the way that girl is looking at him.]

Mikleo is my best friend. He's the one in the corner, with the light blue hair down to his waist. [And wearing a dress, but whatever. If you look like Ruby Rose, rock that shit.]

[strawberrypunch]

Hmm...

[Tatsuma does take a look around, trying to locate the elusive friend - oh, there they are.]

Ah... that's a nice dress.

[His soft voice does not change in the slightest when he says that. He means this genuinely.]

I

[redarm]

[Of course Noah is a regular visitor of the food tables. He was just about to grab a cat that did look positively delicious when he hears someone pleading with him. Someone familiar sounding enough to make him look up. ]

Mr. Doushi?!

[He's surprised first because he was not expecting to see the student teacher here- or any of the teachers for the matter. It was weird to see them in any setting that wasn't school.

And for the second reason was well....wow. Even when this guy goes to a fancy event, he still looks like a nerdy teacher. Possibly even more so than at school. How does that even work.]

[openhanded]

[And just like that, Sorey forgets what he was here for.]

Noah! You look nice. Are you volunteering or just attending?

[He's not going to steal a chocolate cat from a kid, all right.]

[redarm]

Uh, my cousin's hosting it...?

[So...both?]

[openhanded]

Wow, really? [He doesn't watch the news or care.] It's nice of you to help your cousin out! Though even if you weren't obligated, it's an amazing party to go to. A bit fancy for someone like me, but... Anyway.

[Noah seems to be doing okay, though Sorey gives him a once-over to make sure.]

Have you met the dogs yet?

[redarm]

Well, we live together so... [Better not to piss off the lady letting him stay. He shrugs at that statement in agreement. ] The fancy stuff's her thing.

[It's really not Noah's. He felt like a fish out of water in this place.]

Yeah. [Not all of them, but he will GET to it] Just needed some food before I got back to 'em.

i!

[sharplydressed]

[Food theft is just happening left and right at this table tonight, because while Sorey is busy finishing up with his Chocolate Cat Rescue Mission, here comes Kiyomitsu to eye the custard rabbits...]

Wow! These ones are super cute. They look pretty light, too... What is that, anyway? A pudding?

[Who even cares about how light party foods are!! This moron, apparently.]

[openhanded]

[Sorey manages to win over the chocolate cat with his puppy eyes. Thank goodness. As he guards that on his plate, he sees what Kiyomitsu is pointing to.]

Oh yeah! Those are really good. I think I've eaten around five or six of them, actually...

[sharplydressed]

Woah— seriously?

[HE'S IMPRESSED. Maybe even a little concerned. Six puddings... Considering he doesn't know the chocolate cat is for someone else, either, he's extra concerned.]

I didn't know you had-- eh, wait, no. I totally did know you had a sweet tooth that big. You're always looking at the desserts we get at cafes like you wanna eat it all right away.

[He notices.]

[openhanded]

[He may look half Japanese, but his stomach is All American.]

Uh-- well-- yeah, I guess that's true. But it's not for me this time!

[He glances over his shoulder.]

Mikleo likes chocolate. I couldn't just tell him no, go get it yourself. That'd be awful. And I think he's still worried about the dress...

[sharplydressed]

Oh... Where is he?

[SUDDENLY THE PUDDING SEEMS LESS INTERESTING as he stands up straighter to see around the room. Mikleo is gorgeous and now apparently has ocean hair, so he's sure whatever he's worried about isn't an actual issue at all...]

That's really nice of you, though. Those little cats are pretty popular, I wouldn't have been surprised if you had to stab someone with a fork to get one.