recolle | EVENT ❦ Black Tie & Tails

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persona 4: souji seta

EVENT ❦ Black Tie & Tails

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!!!!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Ardyn will take the lead in the dance, then. It's obvious that he's halfway decent at it -- there will be no stepped-on toes this night, and he moves with an ease that appears to belie his otherwise tall stature. He seems confident, unshaken even, in their closeness.

(And yet, though there's amusement in his words, he's secretly glad that she's not making an effort to take his pulse again.)]

Is that so? And what was it about them that drew your attentions so fervently in their direction? I must know.

[she'll match him, falling into step and following. this is easier than singing was, and much more enjoyable - but that is also being awake enough to commit the whole experience to memory. externally, she's calm, but it'd be a lie to say she was entirely so underneath. at least her heartbeat isn't the one on trial.]

I know them to be good at conversation, never placing too much in other people's opinions, and occasionally being impossible to handle. But they have a way of making me laugh, I enjoy myself in their company, and they did turn up looking not half bad. Oh, and it helps that they're a decent dancer.

[she could go on, even if his ego hardly requires the boosting.]

[He can't help but laugh lightly at that. Despite the veneer of humor that encompasses the whole of their repartee, Ardyn feels... flattered. Glad, even, that she would approve of him in such a way. Impossible to handle or otherwise.]

Someone who sounds increasingly very difficult to compete with.

[He steps in time with the music, slow and swaying.]

Though if you'll allow me to be so bold, I do know of a way I still may impress you more.

Do you now.

[impossible doesn't mean she doesn't approve. more the opposite, and she keeps herself from saying how competing with himself would be a futile endeavor.]

Then please, impress me.

Very well. But remember... you did just give me permission to.

[Words that sound an awfully lot like a warning, if not for how utterly charmed he sounds. Besides, it's a statement too puzzling in its own right for her to prepare herself, one way or another.

They're close enough, dancing like this, but his hand at Grell's side presses her gently forward to close the space proper. He leans in and presents her with a kiss, lips brushing against hers in a surprisingly gentle way -- a contrast to his rather courageous gesture to begin with.

How's that heart rate now?]

[thoughts of her heart rate are very far, actually, but she wouldn't be surprised if it stuttered or decided to stop for a second. caught off guard enough that she doesn't think about where they are or anything other than what's happening. Ardyn is kissing her, and the world's put on hold for a moment.

when Grell pulls back, it's only enough that she can see him, not sacrificing being close. she should have something witty for this, some decent reply or comment, but nothing won't sound completely idiotic. rendering her speechless is a feat unto itself, and so she settles for smiling, something soft, slightly shy, and wholeheartedly genuine.]

[Ardyn's own expression, so often etched with something akin to amusement or self-satisfaction, is now schooled with a sight more uncommon. A quiet sort of fondness, a genuine affection that he shares with Grell, brief as the moment is during their paused dance.

Regardless, he'll be the first one to comment; her lack of a quip in his direction can only be considered a good sign, and he's the sort of man to take advantage of the silence between them when he feels the moment is right. And so when he does speak, the usual confidence behind a vaguely wry grin returns.]

So, did I impress?

[And if the kiss had made him more self-conscious of their closeness now, he'll certainly not say.]

[she won't bring it up, only note the change in the way he looks. filing it away in memory, to be remembered later at her leisure. words do come back when she takes a breath - the happiness doesn't fade, only her smile reshaping itself to something more usual for her.]

You did. Though I don't know if I'll stay such for long. You'd need to impress me again at that time, I think.

[a flimsy, transparent excuse of a phrase.]

[Ardyn huffs out a light laugh at that admission. He'd be a fool to complain about a reason to "impress" her again, never mind if it was just masquerading as a paper-thin excuse.]

Then you can either let me know when this time comes and I'll happily oblige, or I may choose to surprise you when you're least expecting it.

[Since she's approving, Ardyn muses to himself that it's sure to happen again. Meanwhile, around them the music stops, the song reaching its end with a flourishing cadenza. They hadn't danced through all of it, but Ardyn's self-imposed interruption made up for this, as far as he's concerned. They have the choice of dancing once more when the music starts again, or leave the dance floor to enjoy the rest of the festivities.]

Does that sound agreeable to you?

It sounds perfect.

[alternately, she might take the chance to surprise him, if that can be managed. fair is fair, after all, and she thinks he won't raise any fuss about it.

later, the fact that this happened so publicly will hit her, and she'll blush a little in the remembering until the shock wears off. but at the moment, it doesn't matter, she's not paying attention to anyone seeing her aside from Ardyn, and the end of the song only reminds her that at one point, they were supposed to be dancing.]

May I have the next dance? That is, if dancing wasn't simply your clever pretense.

[they are still in the right place, after all.]

Of course. Though-

[And Ardyn situates himself for another dance, as it doesn’t take terribly long for another song to start up. He seems amused at her implication.]

-that you would think I’m so devious surprises me. Using the promise of a dance as pretense to kiss you.

[He totally would.]

What kind of rogue do you think I am?

Somewhere between a scoundrel and a perfect gentleman, not touching on either extreme.

[that's the sort of deviousness that can be excused given results. it's not like they're in the 19th century and someone needs to watch out for scandal or something.

resuming a dance is easy since the DJ's playing something more mellow to go with the previous song. almost like they never stopped in the first place.]

Or were you hoping for a more specific answer?

Edited 2017-04-29 06:11 (UTC)

[It is indeed easy enough to resume the dance; falling in-step with the music might as be the most natural thing in the world, considering the ease in which he focuses instead on their conversation.]

Admittedly, yes. "Somewhere between two extremes" can be interpreted as nothing more than average. And what more scathing criticism is there, than to be called mediocre?

Average? You're reading the statement to paint you in the worst light. Allow me to enlighten you to my meaning.

[don't insult her like that, she'd never spend so much time with someone who was mediocre.]

You're not as boring as a perfect gentleman would be, who would be well mannered but impossibly dull if he was always proper, and you aren't nearly as dishonorable as a perfect rogue, who'd be cruel and self-centered. To be outside of a definite point, to be somewhere and yet not touch down, to elude classification with consideration, it's a good thing, Ardyn. You are yourself, and what that means is something I'm still finding out. With your permission, of course.

[Naturally, he had been turning her words around on purpose (as all lawyers are trained to do) for the sake of teasing her. Ardyn knows that Grell would not censure him as a mediocre man; even those who might not get along well with him would not go so far.

Still, that she would refute it with such sincerity is unexpected to him. It’s not unwelcome by any means, but to be met with these sentiments in the face of his levity is almost, almost enough to fluster him. It’s funny (or is it painfully cliche of him, he wonders?) that she’s the only one who’s managed to do this to him — the first time being a brief moment when he invited her over to his place for a second date, after he had given her the assortment of roses.

The only sign of this is the way he casts his gaze to the side, finding interest at looking at nothing in particular. He’s putting extra effort in making his next question sound rather casual, though maybe the implications are anything but.]

I’m more than willing to give my permission. Assuming your interest does not wane into only a passing fancy someday.

[it's the levity that makes it easy to say what she does, cloaking it in a easy tone. like it was the only thing to say, when inside, there's a part of her that's going to end up hiding her face later and questioning why she had gone and said her mind like that. not like Grell was trying to fluster him, when she's already taking as much care as she can to seem not too much so herself.]

I highly doubt that will be the case.

[he says it so calmly, and though she tries to match it, there's a slight hesitation in her voice that betrays her. she's used to passing moments, brief flashes of feeling. that would have already started a decline at this point. this...hasn't. whatever it is.]

[That does cause Ardyn to look at her again, potential for being flustered be damned. His grin may be lopsided, but it lacks the sharpness of its usual wry appearance.

This is not a moment he'll reflect on later in embarrassment. And fondness and sentimentality that he won't admit to readily, maybe, not certainly not embarrassment.]

Good. The same could be said for myself.

[His grin widens a little.]

Shall we call it an... ah, adventure? A commitment in getting to know each other better? [d a t i n g] Or the verbiage too cliche?

Whatever we call it, the meaning will be the same.

[if they're going to deliberately avoid the one word, then so it shall be, but they'll know. the same contents in a different package. her eyes glance away before they come back, steadying herself by looking at the lights for a brief second.]

On my end, it feels something like...I suppose you could call it a promise. But I do like the sound of adventure, making it harder to choose. At this rate we'll have a dozen names for the same thing.

Edited 2017-05-02 07:49 (UTC)

[Yes, they'll know. But what's the point of calling it something so straightforward, when other words would do just as well?

A thought that would sound less hypocritical if Ardyn didn't feel inclined to poke gentle fun at the notion.]

For the same thing? So when you get to the heart of the matter, are you implying that there's one singular word that would define it best?

[Say it, Grell, say that they'll be dating now.]

A word you seem reluctant to voice out loud.

[there's the higher potential for him to not be hesitant and instead just goading her into saying it, and it'd be simple to deny him that and keep spinning loops around the subject, but there is also the equal possibility to shift slightly closer than is necessary for dancing and to lower her voice a little like it's something dangerous to admit.

a chance to be dramatic? of course she's taking it.]

There are numerous ways to say it, but you have to admit, the word "dating" is remarkably succinct.

[and if she's giving quiet thanks that her makeup will hide a bit of blushing, no one needs to know.]

[The notion of goading anyone to say anything decreases exponentially in its efficacy when Grell (seemingly) manages to steer around the embarrassment with zero effort. In fact, it almost has the opposite effect of pleasantly surprising Ardyn, and the noticeable pause is not at all because of her unexpectedly closer proximity, okay!

A moment while his mind laces words together. Thankfully, it's a practiced art, so he manages, though he has to lean on his usual grandiloquence to do so.]

You've uttered the word out loud. You realize this makes it official, and there's no turning back now?

I know.

[it might have been a word she steadily had avoided applying to them seeing each other, leaving room for it to be nothing more than a flirtation should things go that path, but she'd said it. she said it and she's forcing herself to keep eye contact instead of looking away.]

Don't tell me you expected me to shy away from the idea? Please. [you know her better than that, Ardyn.] Besides, you're the one who kissed me.

Shy away? Not quite. Though I admit I did expect the smallest amount of embarrassment.

[Easily admitted now, and shamelessly at that. Ardyn leans in, refusing to break his gaze as well.]

After all, we are in the middle of the dance floor, for everyone else to see.

I know that too.

[but it's said too quickly to be casual, because she had been trying to block out that fact from her mind. and the more she's aware of it, the more likely it is that she'll get flustered, and then there's a faint blushing showing through.]

Men's eyes were made to look and let them gaze.

[easier to hide behind a quote for a second than dwell on it.]

[The expedient way in which she responded seems rather taut (much to his amusement), and there's no way a man as observant as Ardyn, standing this close, would not be able to notice that blush. (Also much to his amusement.)

At any rate, a continued quote for a quote. Because they obviously have to be that extra.]

Men's eyes were made to see things, so let them watch.

[A sound of amusement from the back of his throat.]

Brave words, for someone who's blushing.

EVENT ❦ Black Tie & Tails

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