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

[viktorymaker]

Absolutely. [ He grabs Yuuri's wrist once he's done, and pulls him along towards the dance floor. Yuuri can leave his glass somewhere on their way, it's not like he's really hurrying. ]

[katsudonfatale]

[ Oh my, so forward Viktor! Yuuri recognizes the gesture as "I don't want to talk about it" so he's not pushing for answers. Hopefully dancing will help Viktor take his mind off of whatever happened? ]

[viktorymaker]

[ You're so right, Yuuri. He doesn't want to talk about it, and dancing will, in fact, help! It always does.

So. Indulge him for a few minutes, yes? This old Latin crossover pop song probably doesn't need all these twirls and casual hand switches, but hey, the point is to have fun, right? ]

[katsudonfatale]

[ Yes. One could say Yuuri is indulging him, but the truth is he's indulging himself too. Dancing is enjoyable, therapeutic, and doing it with Viktor just adds a whole new layer of excitement to the experience, no matter how often they do it.

Though on that topic, this is probably the first time they do it in public outside of an educational context, isn't it?

Yuuri's heart rate increases just a little at the thought. ]

[viktorymaker]

[ It is.

Viktor isn't really aware of it until he notices more than a couple of eyes are on them, and that they're causing a bit of a scene. He grins at that, and at Yuuri, and that's where the Latin dance moves stop being casual. ]

[katsudonfatale]

[ That's where they should become MORE casual, not the opposite!! Though Yuuri doesn't have the courage nor the lack of... pride to de-escalate the situation. He keeps up with Viktor all the while, pretending to remain unaffected by all the attention they are currently drawing. ]

[viktorymaker]

[ Well, you're not being too good at pretending (or maybe Viktor is starting to understand him more?), because when the song ends, so does the show. The song fades out before it's over, just as a similar one fades in. Viktor keeps Yuuri close loosely so he can move away if he wants, still dancing but it's much less... involved now. ]

The boss won't be back for a few months. She has business abroad.

[katsudonfatale]

[ Well, that does help keep Yuuri's mind away from the show they just gave everyone. ]

Eh? Isn't that too long?

[viktorymaker]

[ Viktor kind of shrugs. ]

She's still keeping an eye on the cameras, supposedly. But yes. It is too long. She's been away since January, if I remember correctly. Maybe she trusts me enough not to need to oversee this branch anymore?

[ This is a laugh that says impossible, but this suits me anyway. ]

[katsudonfatale]

[ Yuuri looks away, momentarily at a loss. ]

Is that a good, or a bad thing?

[ It's 100% a bad thing for Yuuri and his personal agenda re: getting Viktor back into dancing full-time, but he's interested in Viktor's own thoughts on it. ]

[viktorymaker]

It's good for me. As long as she's not here, Makkachin can be at the studio with us. No one to tell me we're slacking off as private investigators.

[ Which they are, and Viktor is very aware of it. ]

Well, she did tell me that, but she can't do anything about it.

[katsudonfatale]

And she doesn't even know anything about Retrospec, does she...?

[viktorymaker]

Just the name, since we're expected to look into it for that Recollé officer.

[katsudonfatale]

But not...

[ Trails off, gesturing with his head. You know what he means. ]

[viktorymaker]

[ He knows. Casual turn and twirl, ok, no one seems to be paying attention to them. ]

No, not that. They'd be all over it if they knew.

[katsudonfatale]

[ Yuuri sighs and nods, saying nothing else. At least the dancing makes the silence not entirely awkward. ]

[viktorymaker]

[ He doesn't push the conversation yet. A new song starts, and his body language and posture make it clear that it's your turn to lead, Yuuri. ]

[katsudonfatale]

[ Notices, shifting himself to adjust to that, now with his hand on Viktor's waist. As the next dance starts he also sneaks a glance at Makkachin and the volunteer looking after him, everything looks okay over there. ]

[viktorymaker]

[ Good! He follows Yuuri's lead effortlessly as usual. It's feels natural at this point. ]

How are your Retrospec memories coming along? Anything new?

[katsudonfatale]

Not really... I'm not sure if I should be relieved or not.

[viktorymaker]

It's strange, isn't it? It's unsettling when it happens, but I'm also curious about it.

[katsudonfatale]

Curious?

[viktorymaker]

Yeah.

Aren't you?

[katsudonfatale]

[ Looks away. That's an unfair question, Viktor. ]

I guess...

[viktorymaker]

[ I think the word you're looking for is straight-forward.]

I saw you skate a program I choreographed in one of those memories.