21:09 <Crion> Finally, the night arrives. 21:09 <Crion> How's everyone dressing? 21:13 <Crion> Lauren's in a black number that would be out of place in such a celebration of verdance, life, and well, pure sex -- except that it's been cut so that the LED light tracks in her mien are accentuated and shine through. It's at least fifty percent cyberpunk, which might not be specifically on theme, but it's pretty hot if she does say so herself. And Spring has released everyone from thematics 21:13 <Crion> this time around anyway; usually they at least try to constrain people by asking them to make their outfits emanate 'rebirth' or 'sensual high' or whatever, but this year they're content just having this party at all. 21:14 <banana> Melanie wants to wear a prom dress. It doesn't exactly have the same resonances as last time, but she believes in the spirit of this thing... in practice, that leaves two options: 21:15 <VoxPVoxD> Stewart went and bought a tailored tux just for this. From Italy. Beyond regular pride, and dressing to the standard of whatever Lauren picked out, now he has an office to uphold. The only overtly wizardly affectation in his dress are his cufflinks, which are onyx, flecked with silver ore that glitters like a starfield. Prom pa ram. Prom prom pa ram. 21:16 <banana> Something too small with weird lumps and bulges, or something too large which hangs off wooden limbs a little like a scarecrow's raggedy cloths. The second one makes her laugh when she looks in a mirror, so the unnaturally-tall clothes hanger dress it is. Blue and white, vaguely gown-like. 21:16 <CBN> After what felt like months of pondering and planning, and some real, deep, dark, midnight-of-the-soul type shit, Tony popped out to the real (awful, plagued, half-shuttered) real world, hit up a consignment shop, and he did it. He found what he would've worn to his real prom, if he'd made it there. Not the original suit (one hopes, dear god), but stylistically? Yes. And that's how it came to be that Tony ended up wearing a cornflower 21:16 <CBN> blue tux. That real good prom shit. 21:17 <VoxPVoxD> Dad suit. 21:17 <banana> The Mask is kinder to mortal eyes, conjuring high heels and adjusting proportions through some psychological trick. There might be a bit of dissonance to those who can see both, though. 21:18 <CBN> The last suit a boy wears. The first suit a man wears. The only reason anyone knows how to spell 'cummerbund'. In his Mask, he looks downright handsome. In his Mien, well. That's other people's problem. Tony's feeling good. 21:19 <trenchfoot> Nels has on a glittery purple dress that would have been very risque in her life before, but now people just sort of... wear these? Not regularly, but you can walk around without getting arrested for wearing it! 21:19 <banana> We'll look like a couple that could've, should've looked fuckin' aces. Did and didn't don't come into it. 21:21 <dammitwho> Maggie had to throw her original outfit idea in the trash once she realized that Lauren was wearing black. Instead, she's managed to thrift herself a green dress with stylized bees drawn on it, which she likes on its own merits, fits the theme (pollination! rebirth! spring!), and supports the fake scenarios (or 'headcanons', as the children say) she's been considering about this event. 21:21 <dammitwho> Maggie's the science teacher chaperone who lets the bad apples get away with drinking behind the bleachers! 21:23 <Crion> Union will show up to pick up Maggie (he'll insist, not for traditional masculinity reasons but for vague unstated "look, this year's event is gonna involve magery" reasons) looking halfway respectable; black pants, black shoes, white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, black/green vest (front green, back black). Sure, he hasn't shaved in a day or two and he's vaping, but this is positively 21:23 <Crion> dressed to the nines for him. The vest even has some vine embroidery tastefully tailored in! 21:25 <Crion> Once everyone's dressed and ready, you've all been told to meet...down an alley a block away from The Sidereal, that sort of lets out into the back of its parking lot. 21:27 <Crion> When you drive by The Sidereal, if you think to spare it a glance -- and for some reason you won't unless you're actively, intentionally trying, and you keep this goal in the forefront of your mind -- it will be utterly dead, silent, and still, with CLOSED FOR RENOVATION signs still plastered on it. 21:29 <banana> Probably not worth renting a limo to get to an alleyway. 21:29 <banana> ...if they even operate at the moment. 21:31 <Crion> Schools are closed statewide and the governor has declared a state of emergency, so, it'd raise some questions. 21:32 <VoxPVoxD> Stewart's unfashionably punctual, because he's fussy, and if anyone else was allowed outside nowadays it'd probably look incongruous to see two twentythirtysomethings dressed to the nines pull out of a sensible Kia into a weird little alley. This doesn't occur to Stewart, who's half preoccupied with how Entitlement might recontextualize what'd have otherwise been an "ordinary" party, half 21:32 <VoxPVoxD> preoccupied with remembering to have fun, and half preoccupied with how hot Lauren looks. It took a lot of focus and a pregame drink to bring Stewart all the way down to 150% preoccupation. 21:33 <Crion> Lauren: "You are so lucky that you get cuter when you get flustered." 21:37 <VoxPVoxD> Stewart spent the ride over trying to compose a joke about how he's basically here as Lauren's aftermarket cooler, but all that surfaces now is a faux-defensive "Sh- you are." 21:38 <Crion> Lauren: "Yep. Just like that." She'll lean over and kiss him once they're safely parked, but sensibly pull away before they decide to ruin each other's clothes, makeup, and hair in the front seats of an economy car (just like a real high school prom!) 21:38 <VoxPVoxD> There'll be time for that later. 21:39 <Crion> When all of you do arrive, you'll find Fireman and Canterbury lingering (or loitering, as the law may state) down said alley. Canterbury's got his rifle, which is a bit distressingly out of place with his gallant tux and cumberbund, but he appears to be working security so whatever; Fireman is dressed in an all-black suit, even the dress shirt, which he pulls off well -- it's slightly more 21:39 <Crion> dressy than his usual attire, but only because he's got expensive cufflinks in. He is holding...a hand-stamp. 21:41 <Crion> Did Maggie and Union arrange to cater prom with their booze? 21:46 <VoxPVoxD> Oh hey, Stewart brought a stamp too! It's hidden in his pocket. Did you know how hard it is to keep a normal 2020 amount of stuff in a tux without fucking up your creases? Stewart does, now. When he went to real prom, in the Before Time, he only had to wear his One Suit, because it wasn't a real date - he just went stag with Maura, who didn't get a date either for some reason. Anyway, 21:46 <VoxPVoxD> rather than thinking about that, he gives the mages an upward nod and says, "Nice." at the outfits and the rifle. 21:47 <dammitwho> Sure did! 21:48 <Crion> Excellent. Then Union will be driving a van with a goofy wizard on the side to pick Maggie up, and he'll be slightly chauvinist in offering to load the entire vehicle himself so as not to mess with Maggie's dress. 21:49 <VoxPVoxD> Standing half-in, half-out of the flickery alley light, when Stewart turns around to wave at the other motley-mates, the shadows that dance over his features and his suit are alive with signs and stars, twinkling motes of light dancing around his throat, where his nose throws a shadow on his mouth, and in his eyes, which look deeper and darker for the contrast. 21:49 <CBN> Tony and Melanie (and up to two other people who either have short legs or don't mind squeezin') arrive soon after, looking the level of prom-ready that brings to mind the "peak" in "peaked in high school." 21:50 <banana> Melanie keeps giggling about it, too, like some kind of reversion to teen-dom. 21:50 <Crion> Canterbury does the chin-nod back, while Fireman does a normal one. "Hey, Stewart. Lauren. You both look darling. Fireman has to stamp your hand." 21:51 <banana> Although her impressions of prom were strong, many of the details are as hazy as her other old memories, so... "What's with the stamp?" 21:52 <CBN> Tony: "Prom!" Said like it's the most obvious explanation in the world. 21:52 <dammitwho> Maggie will begrudgingly submit to not having to carry heavy boxes around, heh heh heh. But she is going to help carry them in, once they get to the Sidereal. 21:53 <VoxPVoxD> Melanie and Tony look like if you met your own parents after traveling back in time, and you know what? It works for them. 21:54 <dammitwho> Oh! Maggie saw that movie! It gets kind of weird, if you think about it. 21:54 <Crion> Fireman will give each of the motley the same speech, or all of them the speech once if they've arrived roughly at the same time: "This stamp is a magical artifact. By having your hand stamped, you will be permitted to enter the Sidereal, and consent to the following three spells: ruling Mind and Forces, to allow you to perceive the Sidereal; ruling Mind again, to allow others, including 21:54 <Crion> those who are not fae, to see you in your mien; and ruling Life, to render inert and destroy the SARS-2 virus if it is present in your body or blood. You must consent to all three of these spells to enter the Sidereal this evening." 21:56 <CBN> Tony presents his hand with an eager "Prom!" and the grin of the perfect, beautiful idiot. 21:56 <Crion> Fireman takes that as consent. 21:56 <VoxPVoxD> Stewart, who looks way cooler in his mien, holds out his hand without hesitation. 21:57 <trenchfoot> Nels has to think about it for a moment, but, well. Prom. 21:57 <VoxPVoxD> Important: what is it a stamp of? 21:58 <Crion> A blooming flower under a field of stars -- the logo of the Sidereal. 21:58 <banana> ...#2 though. There was a time, not too long ago, that Melanie would've objected to that one. Tonight, she says: "Nobody likes SARS Cov Two" and gets stamped. 21:58 <banana> ...#2 though. There was a time, not too long ago, that Melanie would've objected to that one. Tonight, she says: "Nobody likes SARS Cov Two" and gets stamped. 22:00 <Crion> Once you're stamped, there is actually a comically long red carpet from where Canterbury and Fireman stand to the back door of the Sidereal. We're talking over a hundred feet, with at least one near-right turn, etc. Union and Maggie, of course, will be heading back the other way to get into his mystery machine and pull up around back of the place. 22:01 <VoxPVoxD> Zoinks. 22:03 <Crion> Everyone was given an opportunity to submit to the Spring Court the phrasing for how they'd like to be introduced coming through the door. Lauren just told Stewart to put 'whatever' for her, since they'll be entering as a couple. What did the rest of you send, if anything? 22:03 <Crion> This is an opportunity to show off your titles, brag about something, embellish a lot...or you can just be introduced by your motley, if you've got a snappy name. 22:04 <dammitwho> Maggie will agreeably get her hand stamped and, now visible to everyone as Kek'Tungsssha, start moving crates of hedgebooze and a few smaller boxes of hand-sewn masks and hand sanitizer in. Once she gets the table for people to take masks and sanitizer for their homes set up, she has a little sign for it asking them to please be polite and not to drink the sanitizer. 22:04 <VoxPVoxD> Stewart is obviously having them announce him as Stewart Reader, Lord Sage of the Unknown Reaches. Gotta get used to it sooner rather than later. This is who he is now. 22:06 <CBN> Tony put himself down, at Steve's urgent honking, as 'Tony Bowen, Fewer Hands Making More Work, Baron of the Lesser Ones, Friend to All the Lil'est Guys" even though, honestly? A bit much. 22:08 <banana> Melanie would like to go with 'Melanie Lucas' please. Accepting yourself is one thing but being, like, known? Big maybe. 22:08 <VoxPVoxD> By his reckoning, 'Lauren Ipsum' needs no embellishment. 22:09 <trenchfoot> Nels Foulke probably gets some attention anyway, without any additions. 22:10 <Crion> Do you all enter as a motley, or in your pairs? 22:10 <banana> Seems more in keeping with the spirit of this thing to do pairs. We can be cool friends later on when there isn't school(?) pride at stake. 22:11 <VoxPVoxD> Stewart'd rather enter with Lauren, but he won't resist motley-wide pressure to go in as a group. 22:11 <CBN> With gesturing and quiet nudging, Tony advocated in favor of the motley-pairs going one after another. Best of both worlds. 22:11 <CBN> Staring absolute knives if anyone tries to cut in line between the cohesive group. 22:15 <Crion> Going in pairs, then, merely prolongs the standing ovation the Wherehouse gets as DJ Fuck You on the mic introduces you one after another, the applause building as more already-arrived partygoers recognize precisely who has finally come on scene. 22:15 <Crion> You are, after all, the heroes of the last few months. 22:15 <VoxPVoxD> Aw, shucks. 22:15 <VoxPVoxD> Do keep going, though. 22:16 <trenchfoot> That's fair. 22:16 <dammitwho> Thanks, everyone! Have some drinks. No, really. 22:16 <Crion> Looking around it becomes somewhat obvious to you that your invitations perhaps were listed thirty minutes later than everyone else's, just to make sure this moment went off. 22:16 <CBN> Tony's response is, in his head, a polite shucks-wave. But, overcome with Prom? It's finger-guns. Pew-pew folks. Smiles all around. 22:16 <Crion> Union: "Thank you, everyone! Thank you. I've done so much." 22:16 <VoxPVoxD> Stewart's briefly irritated at that - he hates being late! - but an ovation washes away all sins. 22:17 <banana> Ah what the fuck. This would be overwhelming if it weren't kind of.. familiar. Like, walking into the high school dance late and everyone cheering because you're finally here is actually, kind, of, normal, or it was once, so.. fine! Let's dispense largesse in the form of regal smirks. 22:20 <VoxPVoxD> Applause is like saying poggers with your hands. 22:20 <Crion> Once the honors are done -- there's no precise elaboration on or discussion of what is being honored, since of course that's painful to talk about with Kit and Jameson still in the hospital, and this is a night for enjoying oneselves -- the first organized stage act kicks in: Samaritan with the full backing band of Harlan Jape, DJ Fuck You, and yes, there's Lister on keyboard. https://www 22:20 <Crion> .youtube.com/watch?v=A9KOn2JrRfs 22:20 <Crion> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9KOn2JrRfs 22:25 <VoxPVoxD> Niiiice. OK, Stewart's feeling pretty good now. 22:28 <banana> So if we're 'late', where is the night at - dancing rather than mingling? 22:30 <Crion> Looking around, the party is getting up to mostly full swing. There's a place behind the bar for Maggie if she wants to guest bartend -- Union's going to take up some station there, but he's flighty and likes to run off, especially once he sees that the werewolf he's kind-of-dating is around. All the heads of household are here; this is as much a bi-annual opportunity for the power players 22:30 <Crion> in Baltimore politics to meet as it is a feel-good party -- and Lister's seat at the table across from Jesuit and Cuth, with Kingsley in the middle, is occupied by a face that might be familiar to Stewart, with his genial fanged smile and tasteful half-cape: The Count of St. Sebastian. 22:30 <VoxPVoxD> Oh hell yes. There's a man who can pull off a cape. 22:30 <VoxPVoxD> Speaking of which, did Rose show up? 22:31 <Crion> Meanwhile on the floor, just about everyone has arrived; if you've met someone in the Freehold, they're around here somewhere, except for Canterbury and Fireman, of course. Nissa and Smote appear to be away as well. There are some vampires you haven't seen before, however. 22:32 <Crion> Rose is actually lingering nearby the summit, talking with Santander, who looks visibly older than when you saw him last and lacks the full force of his old mantle, but doesn't appear to have lost any energy or be infirm. 22:33 <VoxPVoxD> That's good. Stewart's glad it's a 'genie, you're free!' thing, and not a 'genie, you're free!' Robin Williams meme thing. 22:36 <Crion> There's also some other effect going on -- it's hard to tell if it's a magic spell or something one of the freehold cooked up with a contract; probably the former -- you can actually hear yourself talk despite the music, like someone's doing podcast levelling but for your ears so that the music can all happen while you're still able to hold a conversation. 22:37 <VoxPVoxD> Stewart's gonna go say hi to Santander, Kingsley, etc. If Lauren doesn't want to come, he'll meet her at the bar in a minute. He actually kind of really wants to dance. 22:38 <Crion> Lauren will come with, both to see the Autumn courtiers and so Stewart can have a b-b-babe on his arm just before he's presented to city leadership as one of the new Lord Sages of the Unknown Reaches, which it becomes quickly apparent is what's about to happen now that he's here. 22:39 <dammitwho> The music autoducking is a neat effect, but it's a little sad to lose that thing where your friend is saying something to you that you can't hear over the music, so you smile at them in the specific "I don't know what you said and asking you to repeat yourself would be useless and we're both drunk" way. 22:40 <Crion> Spring, Cider Stitch, and Angelfire of all people have a table in the back; Spring will wave at Tony when he walks in, but won't quite wave him over -- as always with Spring, she strives to make sure you know she's not gonna force you to socialize. 22:40 <VoxPVoxD> Hell, Stewart loves having a babe on his arm while being presented to the city leadership as one of the new Lord Sages of the Unknown Reaches. 22:40 <dammitwho> Maggie'll guest bartend so Union can spend more time with his werewolf girlfriend. If she desperately needs to leave she can just line up some cans on the bar with another sign asking people to be polite. 22:41 <VoxPVoxD> Fuck, man. Can you believe all this shit started like, six months ago? He met Lauren, he met Santander, he met Melanie and Nels and Maggie and Tony... he gets a little emotional thinking about it as he makes his way up the steps. Luckily, thanks to male socialization, no outward display of this surfaces. 22:42 <Crion> Santander: "Stewart! WELCOME! So happy you could make it. And LAURRRRREN! You look lovely, dear." 22:42 <Crion> Lauren: "Thank you!" 22:42 <Crion> Rose: "Hey. Nice dress. And nice...cufflinks?" 22:43 <CBN> Tony's too Prommed up to take a hand wave as anything other than a wave-over, so he heads over with an enthusiasm bordering on 'bounding', gesturing for Melanie to follow along. "Spring! Everybody else! Happy Prom!" Smiles and attempts at hugs all around. 22:43 <VoxPVoxD> Stewart looks down at his cufflinks to make sure no one turned them into pigs or something when he wasn't looking. "Thanks! You guys look good too. Lord Sage. Lord Sage Emeritus." 22:44 <banana> Melanie has NO idea whether she wants to dance and is happy to drift along following Tony's lead for now. Of course, she doesn't get along with Spring or Cider at all, but whoever that other guy is might be interesting. 22:44 <Crion> Spring: "Heyyy, man. You look...whoa, hug, okay...you look good. Enthusiastic." For her part, Spring is wearing a dress instead of a hoodie and jeans, and while it's not a prom dress, this is easily the most work Tony's ever seen her put into appearing Social. 22:45 <Crion> Angelfire adjusts his glasses and will accept a brief handshake, and sort of squawk and sputter and rock on his feet like a penguin if/when Tony instead makes it a hug. "Greetings. It is -- ack! -- to finally meet you. I am the computer man." 22:46 <CBN> Tony: "Thanks! I like your outfit." And to Angelfire: "Oh nice! Like our Stewart. Are you on The Twitch too?" 22:49 <banana> Melanie, helpful: "That's only for particularly photogenic computer men." 22:49 <Crion> Theatrical sigh from Angelfire. "I am on 'The Twitch,' as you say, but my streams are of a bespoke nature and high quality only suitable for sufficiently advanced like minds who wish to explore, with me, the wonders of old and forgotten gamesoft. It is nothing like Stewart's operation. I hear he is very successful, and wish him the best." 22:50 <Crion> At this point Melanie and Tony may recall that Angelfire and Lauren used to date. 22:50 <CBN> Tony: "Oh! That sounds really cool man. I haven't played anything newer than Pong so I should check it out sometime!" 22:51 <Crion> Cider Stitch is in a tux but is already somehow in the 'afterparty, have ruined this shirt and jacket and lost the cumberbund' phase of things. "Hey, man! Long time no see. At least I'm pretty sure we've met. No worries if you don't remember." Tony gets the distinct impression that last sentence has the unspoken follow up 'just about nobody else does.' 22:52 <CBN> Tony, to Cider Stitch: "The way the last couple months have been, I feel like sometimes we should all have nametags." Laughing, own joke. 22:52 <banana> ..actually, Melanie may have had Cider Stitch confused for someone else. Winter people are like that." 22:52 <Crion> Angelfire smiles indulgently at that. "Excellent! I would be honored to have another discerning 'retrogamer' in Twitchchat." He proceeds to give Tony the stream details, and even sound like he means it. 22:53 <CBN> Tony takes them and does his best to not mention he'll need help doing anything with this later. "So what's new with all of you? I feel like people kinda...know what we've been up to." 22:53 <Crion> The Kitchen is working...the kitchen, and if Maggie's guest bartending that means he'll be putting apps out for her to serve at the bar. "Hey! Mags! How ya doin." 22:54 <Crion> Has Nels coincidentally made herself scarce from the bar area? 22:55 <dammitwho> "Heya, Kitchen! Pretty good, pretty good. Nice to unwind a bit, yeah? You seen Nels about?" She waggles her eyebrows. 22:55 <Crion> For his part, Canterbury will be hanging around her until she gives the slightest indication he should make himself scarce. You dance with the one that brought you, until they say you don't have to. 22:56 <Crion> The Kitchen half-scowls. "Won't say I don't want to, but gimme a break, Mags. I'm working here!" 22:57 <Crion> Pronounced, of course, 'heah.' 22:59 <Crion> Santander laughs at the new title from Stewart. "Emeritus! Those used to be forbidden by the law of succession! Grand mal uselessness, they said! Interfered with the next generation's work, they said! BOTH TRUE! GUILTY ON EACH CHARGE! But while I am not a man to simply go fishing, I will enjoy my retirement." 22:59 <Crion> Rose, to Stewart: "So you met the dracula guy before?" 23:00 <VoxPVoxD> Stewart bows from the neck to the Count. "Only at a glance. Good evening, Seneschal." 23:00 <dammitwho> Maggie chortles and literally lets off some steam. "Well for God's sake, come by if you get thirsty!" 23:01 <VoxPVoxD> Sounds like he is already. 23:02 <Crion> From three tables over, the Count of St. Sebastian, with his preternatural hearing, bows his head back at Stewart and gives a wave. 23:02 <Crion> Rose: "Ah, fuck." 23:02 <VoxPVoxD> Whew. Almost looked like an asshole there, instead of just an idiot. 23:03 <VoxPVoxD> Stewart offers him a compensatory drop of life force. 23:04 <Crion> The Count of St. Sebastian -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHLbaOLWjpc I'm quite sure that you'll tell me just how I should feel today. 23:07 <Crion> The Kitchen: "Drinkin' and cookin'...can't say I mind doing it. But only one for now!" 23:08 <Crion> Spring, to Tony: "It's been tough. You haven't missed much." 23:08 <Crion> Cider Stitch: "Not like we're, you know, holding meetings." 23:09 <Crion> Spring: "Jordy and Jameson are still in the hospital. We're hoping they'll be out by the end of spring. The mages are helping but putting two minds and bodies back together again, well. It sucks." 23:09 <VoxPVoxD> Back to his colleagues: "So how's the party? Anything going on that's not obvious?" 23:10 <Crion> Santander: "FOR ONCE thank god, no. The occasion is the occasion. We've got to present the two of you to the assorted personages, of course, but with the Seers disciplined for the time being there is a frankly CALMING lack of intrigue." 23:10 <CBN> Tony: "Well, if there's anything I can do, or anything you ever need from me or the hobs that you think I can help with." He taps the side of his hat. "Having a job's no good if you aren't doing it for people." 23:11 <VoxPVoxD> Stewart: "Okay, now you're tempting fate." 23:11 <Crion> It's Angelfire, somewhat unexpectedly, who quite genuinely responds, "Indeed." to Tony. 23:11 <CBN> Tony, suddenly: "Oh also! This is probably a little early, but, all three of you, and anyone else you want to bring, are invited when I eventually get my boat and we have a boatwarming party. This should be all sorted by summer, right?" 23:11 <Crion> A wink and a nod from Santander on that. 23:12 <Crion> Angelfire: "Oh. Oh no, absolutely not. Hundreds of thousands of people are going to die." 23:12 <Crion> "You mean the virus, yes?" 23:13 <CBN> Tony: "Yeah. But like...it couldn't be that bad, right?....right?" 23:13 <Crion> Angelfire: "True. It could be worse." 23:14 <Crion> Cider Stitch: "Ahh, you're just being a downer." 23:14 <Crion> Spring: "Well, yeah. Winter Court." 23:14 <VoxPVoxD> How's Rose dressed, anyway? 23:14 <CBN> Tony: "Either way. Boats, man. Does all your distancing for you. And the sun, and..." He trails off, dreaming of boat ownership. 23:14 <Crion> Santander receives a signal from Kingsley, and that's his cue to usher Rose and Stewart over to the big table. 23:15 <Crion> Goth glam. Black lipstick, heavy blush. 23:15 <VoxPVoxD> Nice. Oop! Showtime. Stewart adjusts his bowtie. 23:15 <Crion> Spring: "I, at least, will definitely check out your boat, Tony." 23:16 <CBN> Tony, back to reality: "Hell yeah. I'll call you on my personal cellular phone!" He looks around. "I should probably circulate though. Good talking to you all!" And with that he drifts off to the greater minglingsphere. 23:17 <dammitwho> Hmm. Wizards can't see through the Mask normally any more than anyone else can, right? How cool do they all think we are now, then? 23:19 <Crion> Kingsley will stand as the three Lords approach. "Gentlemen! Our outgoing office-holder surely needs no introduction, and as his final act of office he has, in his inimitable way, found a method by which to split his entitlement without diluting it. An atomic act, surely. May I introduce the two new Lord Sages of the Unknown Reaches, Stewart Reader and Gaunt Rose. You will already be familiar 23:19 <Crion> with Rose from the joint operation involving the interlopers that were driven west and out of town this recent winter, and Stewart from...various adventures." 23:21 <VoxPVoxD> Stewart: "Steward, Hierarch, Seneschal. Hey, Cuth." 23:22 <Crion> Union has explained that when wizards want to see through the Mask they have to do it with a "stupid filter" over it, so being able to do so in the normal range of human vision has had him a bit more distracted by Stewart, David Smitten, and the Young Street than perhaps he was previously. The vampires are the ones that seem most startled, honestly, because they don't really have any way of 23:22 <Crion> breaching the Mask nor particularly care to, generally. The werewolves are werewolves. 23:24 <Crion> Kingsley, Jesuit, and the Count nod in varying flavors of graciousness; Cuth says, "Yo." 23:25 <Crion> Rose: "Uh. Hey. It's nice to meet you all." 23:26 <Crion> She didn't visibly restrain herself from saying 'what he said,' but just barely. 23:28 <Crion> The Winter table lets Tony go; they're waiting on apps, which will arrive soon courtesy of David Smitten, who is roving majordomo/waitstaff. 23:31 <Crion> The Count of St. Sebastian: "So. Two of you! Twice the...delight, to be sure. And I see you, Sage Reader, are with the young lady with whom the Prince plays that ungovernable video game. Fate? No. Destiny." 23:32 <VoxPVoxD> Stewart's voice says, "Yes, sir." but the grin on his face says, too fucking right I am. 23:33 <VoxPVoxD> Just beset on all sides by success, validation, love, respect... is this what being around people was supposed to feel like the whole time? 23:35 <Crion> The Count's smile widens in return: "That means someone less politically savvy or attuned might think they could go around me. That person would be a mistake." 23:35 <Crion> *would be making 23:35 <Crion> "But congratulations all the same. The Prince likes you more than her last boyfriend." 23:36 <VoxPVoxD> Stewart: "Seneschal, please! That would be a violation not just of my oaths to Court and Freehold, and the respect owed your office and station, but my very honor as a gamer." 23:36 <VoxPVoxD> Just brush right past the other thing. 23:38 <Crion> Jesuit: "Rose. Excellent to see you again, especially under such auspicious circumstances. Thank you again for your help with Johns Hopkins; will that be continuing in your capacity as a Sage?" 23:39 <Crion> Rose, stiffly: "How could it not?" 23:39 <Crion> At Jesuit's slightly puzzled expression at this response to his thanks: "We're fully initiated." 23:39 <Crion> "Fully." 23:40 <Crion> The Count gives Jesuit an arch look; the Hierophant presses his lips. "I see." 23:40 <Crion> Cuth: "What now?" 23:40 <Crion> Both, and Kingsley almost in unison: "The Doctor." 23:40 <Crion> Cuth: "Ohhhh. Right." 23:41 <Crion> "That shit's fucked up." 23:41 <VoxPVoxD> Little bit. 23:41 <Crion> Jesuit: "Yes. Thank you." 23:42 <Crion> Cuth: "Anyway. Nice to meet you both, again, Rose you're welcome to party with us any time but you already know that, we'll have some SPECIAL shit for the new Lord Sage or Lady Sage or whatever. Drop by, the kid misses you." 23:42 <Crion> The Count: "I swear, sometimes it feels like we're running one giant daycare. I suppose nightcare for me." 23:43 <Crion> Cuth: "It ain't all that bad. Anyway! Formal shit over! Jesuit!" 23:43 <Crion> A withering look from the Hierophant. 23:43 <Crion> Cuth: "Yer up!" 23:44 <Crion> Jesuit blinks. DJ Fuck You is indeed winding down a set...and Harlan Jape is looking over to the big table expectantly. 23:46 <Crion> The Hierophant sighs. "I suppose I am." He stands, keeping his pristine white suit on, and heads for the stage. Father Jesse effortlessly pulls himself up onto the stage, grinning, to back the senior mage up. 23:46 <Crion> Cuth, helpfully: "He lost a bet." 23:46 <Crion> Jesuit centers himself, becomes fully motionless and calm...and then begins to vibe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx2_iHftARo 23:47 <VoxPVoxD> Oh, this'll be good. 23:47 <Crion> It is absolutely shocking how good a dancer in this specific genre the older man is. 23:50 <Crion> Anyway, the Lords Sage are released from the dire meet and greet. Actual work starts in the near future, possibly tomorrow; tonight's for the boys (and girls). 23:50 <VoxPVoxD> Nice. Does Lauren want to get drinks and a table or go straight to the floor? 23:50 <Crion> She's feeling like dancing. 23:50 <VoxPVoxD> So is Stewat. 23:50 <VoxPVoxD> *Stewart 23:57 <Crion> Once Jesuit is done, to high acclaim -- everyone is absolutely nailing their songs tonight -- DJ Fuck You does another short set of up-up-slow-up-slow song mix, giving you some cooldown in between the high-octane funky beats. 23:59 <Crion> Samaritan's in the bit, Cider Stitch has filtered down and is dancing with her, there's a couple vampires Stewart hasn't seen before going at it -- hands over clothes, no penetration, but if this was a high school prom chaperones would be stepping in -- as the rest of the Freehold and their guests gravitate on and off the dance floor. 00:00 <Crion> Somewhat startling is that both Peter Montgomery and Gemma Franklin are here, and dancing...near each other, if not precisely together. 00:01 <VoxPVoxD> Life is too short, so love the one you got. 00:02 <Crion> Richard Dreamer -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kAU3B9Pi_U There's been a load of compromising on the road to my horizon. 00:02 <Crion> Bianca Vuota -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v84E3u315VE She dresses for the weather; after dinner's when she dines. 00:06 <Crion> The two notice the libation, and curl-twist to look at their benefactor. One imagines the look they're trying to give is both inviting and sensual. Stewart's gotten pretty far without having to meet vampires like these, but these are some vampire-ass vampires. 00:07 <Crion> Thankfully they're quickly back to wallowing in themselves, with each other. 00:07 <VoxPVoxD> Stewart was around for the first season of True Blood which was more than enough to warn him off that kind of vampire forever. 00:08 <VoxPVoxD> Besides, he'd be trading down. 00:09 <Crion> There are two other vampires on the floor who aren't together; both seem to be dancing by themselves, but accepting partners. The first is Gabrielle Menendez, who was there on Halloween; the second is a large, silent lug of some Latin American extraction who is incredibly nimble on his feet. 00:09 <VoxPVoxD> Hit me, big guy. 00:10 <Crion> San Sangre -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIT0oVQ661U ♪♫♫♪ 00:12 <dammitwho> Alright, time to set up the politeness sign and dance for a little bit. Hi there, big fella. 00:13 <Crion> As they say: he's got the touch; he's got the power. 00:13 <VoxPVoxD> The best part of Hedge Busker's Tip is seeing all these people from a novel angle. The worst part is for a moment Stewart is dancing to the wrong song. 00:15 <Crion> The next song to round out this set is just Harlan Jape, DJ Fuck You, and Lister, who at some point Blushed and looks...happier than you've ever seen him. Now, you've only seen him once or twice, but. 00:15 <Crion> Anyway, this one's a shoutout to the reason for the season, with Harlan on lead guitar and vocals. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXtPycm5dGc 00:21 <Crion> After that, Amelia Banthem hops up on stage. Harlan hands her the mic. "How's everyone doing tonight?" A tepid response. "I said, how's everyone doing tonight?" A much louder one; people know how this works. 00:24 <Crion> "We're gonna do one more number, and then it's intermission. We've got tables set up; dinner will be served for those to whom that's applicable. I believe our Kindred friends have already been very well fed tonight, as is our wont, but we have selections available for them as well on request. Alright, you know what time it is." Samaritan's up there with her too, now, as they launch into: 00:24 <Crion> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jp6kxPtdFs 00:26 <VoxPVoxD> We're not actually, right? This isn't a coded message or anything. 00:26 <VoxPVoxD> Dancing is so much more fun when you don't want to sit down every 15 minutes. 00:26 <Crion> It is not a coded message. It seems to be a tradition, actually. 00:26 <Crion> Well, it's a coded mission for intermission, one supposes. 00:29 <Crion> While everyone's been dancing, the indefagitable David Smitten and some helpers have been setting out expanded tables so everyone can sit down. Everyone was asked what their choice of entree was between chicken tikka masala, chicken and waffles, and a vegetarian falafel and salad, with quiche, charcuterie, and side salads available at each table. 00:30 <Crion> So whatever you put down in your e-mail back to the Spring Court, that'll be what you're served. If you were lazy and didn't reply, well, there's a LOT of chicken tikka masala 00:30 <Crion> . 00:31 <Crion> The Kitchen has clearly been busy for the whole day. 00:33 <VoxPVoxD> Chicken and waffles is so bizarre to Stewart and he gets weirded out by seeing it on every remotely nice place's menu now. But hell, it's a party. 00:35 <dammitwho> "Stewart! Lauren! How's the night? You get feted by the hobnobs and the bigwigs?" Maggie says, a chicken wrap made of waffle in one hand. Her eating is more interesting in the Mien - a great deal of high pressure crushing action. 00:36 <Crion> Lauren: "Stewart was such that the Count of St. Sebastian deigned to remember the name of a video game on his second try." 00:36 <banana> To nobody in particular, Melanie says a kind of grace: "To the chicken, the humans; to the humans, the vampires or fairies, and so on to something I don't even want to know. As roasted, so below." 00:36 <Crion> This is said with the air of a great feat. 00:37 <VoxPVoxD> How is Lauren doing? Stewart, for his part, seems in a fantastic mood. "Even his wrong guess was almost correct," he says proudly. 00:38 <Crion> Lauren seems to be having a blast. When she hasn't been dancing with Stewart, she's been mingling with Freeholders and others she hasn't gotten to see in a bit. Lister is unfortunately seated with the bigwigs but she got to at least say hello to them before the entrees rolled out. 00:39 <VoxPVoxD> Hell yes. 00:40 <CBN> Tony reconvenes with the group, having made the same 'if hob stuff comes up, let me know' general quest-solicitation that any good Baron would to every fellow Lost he's on an any-name-basis with that's there tonight. It's not really sure what he's eating because the way he eats is...really horrifying and best not to look at, and makes the food go away very fast, at any rate. "Hmphey guysmph!" Please let that be the end of it. "Great 00:40 <CBN> Prom!" 00:41 <dammitwho> Maggie: "The one you play, right? Minecraft?" Turning: "TONAAAAY" 00:42 <CBN> Tony: "MAGGIEEEEE!" 00:43 <Crion> It would be incorrect to say Union has 'abandoned' Maggie since their date was mainly a formality, but yes, he's hanging out with the werewolves now. He did pull his weight at the bar when Maggie wanted to go to the floor, though. 00:43 <VoxPVoxD> Aside, to Melanie: "How's it going?" 00:45 <Crion> Lauren: "How many proms have you been to, Tony?" 00:46 <CBN> Tony:"One now, Lauren! Batting a thousand." 00:47 <banana> It's not that Melanie can't eat normal food; it tastes just the same as it always did and as far as she can tell it's got the same nutritional value. It's just that the way she eats is too embarassing for most company, so she's happy to be chatting instead. "Good actually. It's nice to see so many of us having a good time and putting the, as it were, dark seasons behind." 00:47 <banana> "Kind of surreal to think you can't have a party without magic protection right now, but.. that won't last forever I guess?" 00:51 <Crion> There are booths and private dining options available if you'd like to have already been moved to them; some of the vampires have gone full baroque and are literally consuming their blood ration -- served in a wineskin -- with a napkin draped over their heads, as the chef eating the ortolan. 00:52 <VoxPVoxD> Stewart: "Yeah... next Prom'll be completely different." 00:53 <VoxPVoxD> He can't even imagine. March 2021 sounds a thousand years away. 00:54 <CBN> Tony: "Just think, we'll have nautical titles next time, hopefully. Someone else will have to wear the captain hat obviously." He points to his badge of station, wicked sick as it may be. 00:54 <dammitwho> In a lower voice: "Is that vampire thing with the napkins making fun of the rest of us or are they doing it seriously? I can't tell. It's like talking to teenagers." 00:54 <dammitwho> "You could wear the captain hat atop your other hat." 00:54 <Crion> Lauren grins. She's quite impressed by the hat. 00:55 <CBN> Tony, low as well: "Vampire weirdness is even weirder than wizard bullshit man." 00:55 <Crion> Lauren, to Maggie: "The Count and Dreamer like to do it. Others follow suit." 00:55 <banana> Melanie: "They're individuals enough that their reaction to being vampires is like. Very difficult to predict." 00:55 <VoxPVoxD> Stewart: "It's affected, but it's not really a joke as such, I think." 00:57 <VoxPVoxD> "Plus even if it was, if you do a bit for a hundred years it sort of just becomes who you are, right?" 00:57 <CBN> Tony: "Listen it's rude to say, and I acknowledge this" he says, waving a tallboy, "but it's just the people version of Steve and the Watermelon Boys and I still throw up thinking about that, sometimes." 00:58 <Crion> Lauren: "Huh?" 00:58 <banana> Melanie: "Hobvegecannibals." 00:58 <Crion> "What's -- who are the Watermelon Boys?" 00:58 <Crion> "...Oh." 01:00 <VoxPVoxD> Stewart: "Snitches." 01:00 <banana> "Right, but I didn't see anyone providing emergency medical services." 01:00 <VoxPVoxD> Stewart: "Would you rather get into a hob ambulance or a hob cop car?" 01:01 <CBN> Tony: "Were the Watermelon Boys. I think Steve converted them into, I don't even wanna think about how that story ends, awhile ago." 01:01 <VoxPVoxD> The Agua Frescas. 01:02 <dammitwho> Maggie: "Is the ambulance driven by hobs or is it, itself, a hob?" 01:02 <banana> Melanie: "The pig car. I haven't got the right kind of insurance, and you can just kill the pigs." 01:03 <CBN> Tony: "Maggie, the correct answer is yes." 01:03 <VoxPVoxD> Stewart: "You could ask the same question about a cop car, right? Tony's the expert there, I dunno. But yeah I agree, Melanie. Like, you sort of know what you're getting if the pigs grab you. A hospital in the Hedge could be anything." 01:03 <CBN> Tony: "This is the wisdom I can offer as the Baron." 01:04 <VoxPVoxD> "Could be St. Elsewhere. Could be Hellraiser 2." 01:05 <Crion> Lauren: "Yeah, I think Jackie has a story about a Hedge hospital. Long story short it wasn't one and they won't go near there anymore." 01:05 <banana> "What was that game that guy you linked to was playing with the inside out hospital with the brains in it?" 01:09 <VoxPVoxD> Stewart: "That could be like five different games. Was there an air raid siren?" 01:10 <banana> Melanie: "...no... I think the kid could jump on the brains, or into them, but it was all twisted. Looked a LOT like the Hedge." 01:11 <VoxPVoxD> "Oh!!! Psychonauts." 01:11 <VoxPVoxD> "That one's a classic. Truly, truly great game." 01:12 <banana> "I'm just saying, if we asked John-a-dreams he could probably show us to the place it was filmed." 01:12 <VoxPVoxD> Stewart: "I would absolutely vacation in the technicolor matador world."