MAY GROTTO PARTY

[goosemods]

MAY GROTTO PARTY

It's clear, upon stepping into the Grotto, that someone has particular hopes for this Sunday's game. Orange dominates the decorations: the budding tree branches are strung with orange streamers (magicked to vanish after a few hours, making cleanup easy) and the Solo cups have been charmed orange and black. Also, the glitter-painted banner saying "COPPERTALE PRE-VICTORY PARTY" is kind of a giveaway. Sylvester Stoker is one of the first faces you'll see entering the Grotto, and he looks very smug about it.

In the name of fairness, other people get into the impromptu decorations within the first hour of the party. Veronica Powers transfigures half of those tree streamers with Ebonhide colours, with the addition of magical sparkles, so the plum and gold catches the light even after the sun lowers below the horizon. [Azurcrest Volunteer B] uses magic to tint all the cans and bottles with bright Azurcrest colours, and Diego Morales creates a hundred floating blue and white lights that pulse in time with the music. Meanwhile, Ivy Templeton conjures green and coppery balloons to attach to the Grotto's stone house, and Rosemary Stoker vandalizes the banner to say "COPPERTALE CRASH & BURN BASH" instead.

It's spring at Gooseberry, and the Grotto is full of colour. Let's all remember what we're here for: drinking, relaxing, and shit-talking the other team.

RULES

• The party starts at 7:00, and runs until 12:00 midnight. The prefects are still strictly enforcing curfew.


• Prefects: assume the system of on- and off-duty prefects is still in place. You may choose if your prefect is on- or off-duty, or if they’re going to show up at 12:30 AM to write up curfew breakers.

If you signed your character up for either Spin The Bottle or Seven Minutes In Heaven, find their partners below:

Anuhea Alapai STB #1: Dahlia STB #2: Casey 7MiH: Beatrix	Beatrix Armstrong STB #1: Casey STB #2: Riley 7MiH: Anuhea	Jaime Castillo STB #1: Laurel STB #2: Veronica 7MiH: Avery	Avery Davenport STB #1: Todd STB #2: Wyatt 7MiH: Jaime
Sofia Delgado STB #1: Lucas STB #2: Ana 7MiH: Penny	Marilyn Fairchild STB #1: Faye STB #2: Charlotte 7MiH: Dahlia	Ariadne Flint STB #1: Jeffy STB #2: Isabelle 7MiH: Riley	Milo Greer STB #1: Isabelle STB #2: Hazel 7MiH: Joanna
Dahlia Hale STB #1: Anuhea STB #2: Antonia 7MiH: Marilyn	Regan Hobbs STB #1: Charlotte STB #2: Lucas 7MiH: Zachary	Hazel Keating STB #1: Samantha STB #2: Milo 7MiH: Casey	Jefferson Key STB #1: Ari STB #2: Joanna 7MiH: Essie
Lucas Kowalski STB #1: Sofia STB #2: Regan 7MiH: Bash	Sebastien Lacroix STB #1: Zachary STB #2: Samantha 7MiH: Lucas	Takeru Maeda STB #1: Veronica STB #2: Laurel	Joanna May STB #1: Micah STB #2: Jeffy 7MiH: Milo
Charlotte Meer STB #1: Regan STB #2: Marilyn 7MiH: Isabelle	Estella Morales-Tran STB #1: Oscar STB #2: Jade 7MiH: Jeffy	Jade Otterwell STB #1: Riley STB #2: Essie 7MiH: Antonia	Antonia Papadakis STB #1: Penny STB #2: Dahlia 7MiH: Jade
Casey Patterson STB #1: Beatrix STB #2: Anuhea 7MiH: Hazel	Veronica Powers STB #1: Takeru STB #2: Jaime 7MiH: Todd	Isabelle Sargent STB #1: Milo STB #2: Ari 7MiH: Charlotte	Todd Skynner STB #1: Avery STB #2: Zachary 7MiH: Veronica
Micah St. Clair STB #1: Joanna STB #2: Oscar	Riley Stamper STB #1: Jade STB #2: Beatrix 7MiH: Ari	Samantha Sweeney STB #1: Hazel STB #2: Bash 7MiH: Ana	Laurel Templeton STB #1: Jaime STB #2: Takeru 7MiH: Faye
Faye Turner STB #1: Marilyn STB #2: Penny 7MiH: Laurel	Penelope Vargas STB #1: Antonia STB #2: Faye 7MiH: Sofia	Susana Velasquez STB #1: Wyatt STB #2: Sofia 7MiH: Samantha	Wyatt Winslow STB #1: Ana STB #2: Avery
Oscar Zabinsky STB #1: Essie STB #2: Micah	Zachary Zheng STB #1: Bash STB #2: Todd 7MiH: Regan

RULES

1. Teen peer pressure (and player sadism) aside, no one is obligated to do anything they don't want to. Characters doing Seven Minutes In Heaven can spend the time just talking or staring awkwardly at each other, and characters playing Spin The Bottle can opt out of a kiss (although people will probably boo).


2. If characters get up to anything more racy than PG-13, please fade to black on that! This includes sexually explicit conversations. Many people track IC/OOC posts, so please have consideration for your fellow players. Talking about sex is fine (and part of the flavour of a teen game), but there's no need to get into detailed descriptions of anatomy or sex acts.


3. If you'd like to say two characters were partners in STB or 7MIH in addition to what's been rolled, go ahead! Obviously, get the permission of all involved characters first.

» Before the Party: It's one of the last Grotto parties before the end of the year! If you've never gone before, now's your last chance. Come on come on come onnnnn.

» Around the Fire: The large bonfire is warm and romantic. Pull up a log and grab a blanket, make some s'mores, or dance to the party music. There's a karaoke setup for anyone who feels bold enough to sing along. If you don't care for music, there's beer and soda in the ice chests, along with bins for empty bottles and cans. Don't litter. This isn't your home.

» Body Shots: It's well and truly spring now, and you know what that means: body shots! Shamelessly getting shirtless in the forest! Licking salt off your attractive classmate's abs!

» Quidpong Championship: Not far from the bonfire, a table's set up with Quidpong. Today, the table will be dominated by a Quidpong tournament organized by Casey Patterson, so sign up before all the spots are gone!

» truth or shot: The rules are simple: tell the truth, or take a shot. Post your characters to this comment with their name in the header, and other characters will ask you uncomfortable questions.

» Kissing Games:

• Spin The Bottle: Everyone sits in a circle and takes turns spinning the bottle to find their partner. Anyone who squeezes in (or happens to be accidentally standing behind a gap in the circle) gets a shot at a kiss. People can leave and enter the game at any time. Participants will be encouraged by their drunken classmates to kiss on the mouth.


• Seven Minutes in Heaven: "Heaven" is a narrow, closet-sized room adjacent to the main party, and is dark except for some cracks of light from the door. (The "door" being a heavy wooden board that's propped against the doorway and magically "locked" for seven minutes.) You can use your wand to get more light, but really, you two should be making out.

» By The Treeline: The prefects probably won’t let you wander too far in, but why would you want to anyway?

» After the Party: At midnight, on-duty prefects will be clearing the party and guiding everyone home. Don't walk back alone! Anyone left at 12:30 AM when the second wave of prefects hits the Grotto will be written up for punishment.

» OOC: QUESTIONS, COMMENTS & CONCERNS

Comments

AFTER THE PARTY

[goosemods]

Herding Cubs - Casper, Iliya, Ulysses, Cameron, Wilde, Nia & Clem

[casperkim]

Casper hadn't been surprised to see his housemates playing Quidpong or otherwise drinking all throughout the party, but he is a little surprised by just how many of them ended the night hopelessly shitfaced and in need of an escort. In his opinion, anyway. Unwilling to leave any of them to fend for themselves, he gathers as many as he can - Iliya, Ulysses, Cameron, Wilde, Nia, and Clem to start - into a group and insists on walking them back to Ebonhide. It's like herding cats. Loud, obnoxious, ridiculous and occasionally endearing cats. He ends up holding the worst of them (Cameron and Ulysses) by the wrist as they make their way from the Grotto.

"You're all fucking idiots," he informs them flatly, but without much venom.

Herding Cubs - Casper, Iliya, Ulysses, Cameron, Wilde, Nia & Clem

[gonnabefamous]

Cameron grins vaguely, stumbling along through the woods. He lets Casper lead him without complaint. "Your hair is sooooo pretty," he tells him, "It's stupid pretty, like, why though?" He runs into a branch, briefly flails his arms against attackers, then once he realizes it was only a (relative to him) low hanging branch, he sticks his wrist out for Casper to grab again.

"But I won so gooood," Cameron answers, "I caught the thing, did you see?"

Herding Cubs - Casper, Iliya, Ulysses, Cameron, Wilde, Nia & Clem

[destructobot]

Wilde laughs at this display from the edge of the group, where he's somewhat lolly-gagging.

"Dude, you so caught it."

Herding Cubs - Casper, Iliya, Ulysses, Cameron, Wilde, Nia & Clem

[neattrick]

"Only 'cause he's freakishly tall," Clem adds grumpily. She's right behind Wilde, because her primary tactic for not getting lost on the short walk home has been to hold onto the hood of his jacket like she's on a child leash. (This may have been a more effective tactic if he weren't also wasted, but at least if one of them wanders off they'll wander off together.)

Herding Cubs - Casper, Iliya, Ulysses, Cameron, Wilde, Nia & Clem

[gonnabefamous]

"CLIMB ON MY BACK, CLEMINEM," Cameron says, too loud for the quiet of the forest, eyes wide and smile bright, like this is THE BEST IDEA RIGHT NOW!

Herding Cubs - Casper, Iliya, Ulysses, Cameron, Wilde, Nia & Clem

[neattrick]

... you know what? She's gonna try it.

"Someone give me a boost," she demands. (It's important to note that nobody has actually stopped walking yet. Whether or not she thinks she's going to pull this off while the group is still ambulatory is up for interpretation.)

METEOR SHOWER ON THE DOCKS: open to all.

[evercreep]

Calvin has less than two months and nothing to lose, and he's more than happy to take Wilde's advice. Detention? Who cares. Points? They won't carry over to Hogwarts. Nothing here really seems to matter anymore, which might be helped by Calvin's slightly inebriated state.

Regardless, he confidently will go alone, or with others, to the docks to watch the meteor shower. It feels like a better sendoff than he deserves.

[OOC: Participating in this may get your character into trouble. But, come on, live a little.]

Cole & Ennis - Ribbonfin Junior Boys Cabin

[colemoss]

Cole didn't go to the party at the Grotto. After a conversation with Calvin, during which he'd learned that the other boy would not be returning to Gooseberry next year and during which the other boy had also insisted on breaking things off, he hadn't felt like going. He hadn't felt like doing anything, really. After walking by the lake and along some of the trails, he'd eventually come back to the Ribbonfin camp, but he didn't want to go back to his cabin. So he'd gone to Ennis' instead.

There had been no one there, initially, and he'd simply crawled up into his friend's bunk and hugged his pillow against his chest and stared up into the ceiling. Eventually, he'd dozed. Then he'd been woken up by Ferdie, who had questions: did he know he was in the wrong cabin? was he all right? had he taken something at the party? It had all been kind. Because Ferdie was always kind. But he hadn't wanted to talk and the prefect had eventually told him that it was all right to stay. So he had. He's still lying there when Ferdie goes to help get things wrapped up at the Grotto and when Ennis returns.

He doesn't say anything; he just turns his head to look at his friend. But the night he's had is written plainly on his face.

Cole & Ennis - Ribbonfin Junior Boys Cabin

[sheepish]

Ennis tries to be very, very quiet when returning to his cabin. He didn't play Spin-the-Bottle and he didn't make it very far in Quidpong, so he's not as drunk as he usually is but there's still a bit of a wobble to his walk. At first, he doesn't even notice the boy up in his bunk. He goes about his nightly routine, checking on Cecilia and then grabbing his toiletries and nightwear before exiting the cabin again to go to the restrooms to prepare for bed. God forbid he changes into his pajamas where his roommates could see him.

Only when he returns and begins to ascend the ladder, does he finally notice Cole. His heart gives a leap of surprise and he recognizes the familiar scent of the other boy before his eyes can even adjust to the darkness. He looks over his shoulder toward the other bunks and then pulls the privacy curtain shut behind him as he climbs the rest of the way into his bed.

His brows furrow with concern and he lifts a hand to run his fingers through Cole's hair. It's what his mother does for him to soothe when he's upset. Ennis hasn't had a chance to read his journal yet and see the ward that Calvin has left him-- he's only glued to it on the nights of the New Moons-- but it's obvious that something's wrong.

"Cole..." he states softly, canting his head as he looks down at him. "Would you like to talk about it?"

Cole & Ennis - Ribbonfin Junior Boys Cabin

[colemoss]

Ennis has never done this before, never looked at him with quite that expression of gentle concern or brushed his fingers back through his hair. Cole's never needed either of these things from Ennis. He's still not certain that he does, but it's better to have his friend here. He holds the pillow more tightly to his chest and shakes his head and answers quietly, "No." He's not even certain how to talk about it yet and the longer the reality of the situation has to settle the worse it feels.

Instead of elaborating, he adds just as softly, "...can I stay? Ferdie said I could stay."

Cole & Ennis - Ribbonfin Junior Boys Cabin

[sheepish]

Between the two of them, Ennis has always been on the receiving end of the comforting. He's not used to seeing Cole like this and he's not quite certain what exactly he can do to put the other boy at ease. But if Cole wants to stay, of course he can stay.

Ennis nods in response, withdrawing his hand and resting it on the bed as he shifts his weight back onto the ladder. "I have a night shirt if you need? Another pillow?"

Cole & Ennis - Ribbonfin Junior Boys Cabin

[colemoss]

Again, Cole shakes his head. Minor discomforts like going to sleep in his jeans and sweatshirt don't matter to him much on a normal day; he's barely aware of them at all now. Not when his mind is so chaotic and filled to the brim with uncertainties and heartache.

Cole & Ennis - Ribbonfin Junior Boys Cabin

[sheepish]

Ennis exhales a small sigh and pulls back his covers to slide beneath him before resting his head on one of the several pillows he already has on his bed. He shifts closer to Cole, nudging his leg with his foot in a universal sign to scoot, and then draping an arm over his shoulder once they're settled. They can talk in the morning, then. He won't press right now.

"M'knackered out," he mumbles, giving Cole a lazy little patpat on his back where he can reach it. "G'night, Cole." Then, to his rat, "G'night, my Lady."

Veremy

[jerras]

Jeremy was enjoying a bit of leisurely time in the cabins when he saw that post by Vee go up pretty late at night. Naturally, shocked and worried didn't even begin to cover half of what he was feeling right then. He didn't have time to explain to anyone else what he was doing, just grabbed his jacket and went out.

He didn't know the Evercreeches personally, but he still had heard of what happened a couple nights back through the school grapevine and it was more than enough to alarm him to think that Vee's friends had left her completely alone out there. Jeremy had decided to sit out this grotto party because he honestly wasn't interested in kissing anyone or whatever it was kids got up to these days. But now it seemed like he really ought to have gone anyway. For all that her friends claimed to care about her, it seemed none of them could remember to care about Vee over their own fun and drunken revelry.

He was out searching and still trying to get to Vee through the journals. And then, finally, he spotted her just where she said she'd be at the edges. "Vee?" he called out, putting away his journal. The relief in his voice was palpable when he finally came up to her. "Are you okay?" He gave her a quick once over for injuries. "Merlin, how much have you had to drink?" He took off his leather jacket and immediately placed it over her small frame.

Re: Veremy

[cheerpowers]

Vee honestly didn't know how so much time had passed without her noticing. One minute she'd been around the fire with everyone else, the next she'd wandered a little ways and decided to sit down. It was nice and quiet, and someone had mentioned looking at the sky? For something? She wasn't sure, but she maybe dozed off or something because the next thing she knew it was much quieter. The fires were dying down and she didn't see her friends anywhere when she wandered back to the clearing. Huh.

Pulling out her journal, because drunk writing was obviously the way to go, Vee had written a post and then was delighted to see her friends hadn't been eaten by ghosts. Excellent. She wasn't even upset that they were back at the cabin. Envious, maybe, but not upset. Of course, her ability to get back on her own might have been slightly less competent than she'd indicated to Reece. Seeing Jeremy's reply, and being ever the obedient drunk, she took a seat like he said and waited.

When he came up to her, she was idly counting stars above her head. Giving him a smile, she nodded. "I'm good!" she answered, though her speech is slightly off. Not slurred, just off. Cocking her head to the side at his question, she tried to think. "I'm not sure?" She giggled, taking the jacket he offered with a happy sigh. "What are you doing here so late?"

Veremy

[jerras]

The relief was palpable. She wasn't hurt, she was just drunk, like all the teenagers in this school were from time to time. "Worrying about you," he replied, not bothering to hide the slight admonishing tone his voice took on. Now assured that she wasn't actually in imminent danger, he sighed and bent slightly to ruffle the hair on her head a little.

At least she was smiling and happy. That was a good thing. Jeremy had been worried that Vee would be upset and alone somewhere. He would never got how her little circle of friends worked that they couldn't seem to realise how sensitive Vee could be. "Babe, can you stand?" he asked, holding a hand out to help her as well. The term of endearment was just that. And regardless of what people thought, Jeremy was hardly the sort to change his habits just because of a few voices of dissent in this school. He was ready to support her, whether she could get to her feet on her own or not.

Re: Veremy

[cheerpowers]

"Me?" Vee looked genuinely confused as she repeated the word. "But why?" It's not like she's thinking clearly enough to really know what's wrong. Sure, it's a bit upsetting to be stuck in the grotto without any idea where everybody went, but she was too drunk to really consider that. And her friends are also drunk, though she wouldn't blame them even if they weren't. It's just no wonder someone was left behind. At the ruffle of her hair, Vee laughed but playfully batted him away, though she almost immediately regretted it. She really didn't care if anyone touched her hair. Nia's braid would be messed up, though.

From her place on the ground, Vee is amazed by how high up he is. "Not as tall as you," she replied, as if that were an answer to his question that made sense. She giggled again before attempting to get to her feet. She only wobbled a little before she was up, placing her hands out and grinning. "Ta-da!" As if this were the only feat she had to perform tonight. Now that she was standing, Jeremy was still tall, but his closeness was even easier to recognize. "You're very warm," she murmured, stepping close.

Veremy - in the right journal this time omg *facepalm*

[jerras]

"Because you are so very drunk," Jeremy answered honestly. But also because Vee was probably not going to remember much of this tomorrow when she woke up. "And it's dangerous out here alone." He was ready to catch her if she stumbled, but she thankfully didn't.

Her random comment about his height confused him. But it made him grin a little too. "What are you on about, you silly moose." He bopped her on the nose too as he said that. "C'mon. Let's get you some place warmer and safe yeah?" The weather was turning warm, true. But this was still late at night when it was starting to turn cool. Jeremy tugged the jacket tighter around her shoulders and had an arm around her for support if it looked like she was going to trip.

Escalating the Madness: A Vee Powers Rescue Initiative

[heyitsnia]

It is very late. Vee is not in the cabin.

This is not acceptable. This is a personal failing on Nia's part. This is what happens when you have fun. Never a-fucking-gain.

Scowling with enough ferocity to seem sober, Nia heads with at least one other person in tow back to the Grotto to fetch her roommate.

Escalating the Madness: A Vee Powers Rescue Initiative

[neattrick]

Clem has carefully tucked her flannel PJ pants into her hiking boots and she is READY TO GO. She even has the presence of mind to light up her wand with a lumos spell to use as a flashlight as they navigate the increasingly dark trails towards the Grotto.

"How did we forget Vee?" she laments aloud. "Her hair is the color of a shiny copper penny."

Escalating the Madness: A Vee Powers Rescue Initiative

[heyitsnia]

"It's crazy, right?" Nia shoves her glasses back up on her nose. "This is why you should never, ever drink." A lesson learned.

Escalating the Madness: A Vee Powers Rescue Initiative

[neattrick]

Clem mumbles an answer that is probably a disagreement in the cadence of an agreement, because she doesn't want to argue with her prefect, but also... drinking is fun. Still, she walks in somber silence for a few minutes before she continues.

"That white moose you guys saw earlier," she says, now that she's a little more sober than she was before. "How big was it exactly?"

Re: Escalating the Madness: A Vee Powers Rescue Initiative

[heyitsnia]

"Huge." Nia says, trying not to sound as unsettled as the thought of it makes her feel. Making conversation makes the short hike back to the grotto less creepy, so she keeps talking. "But, I don't really know how to compare it to standard moose sizes." She pulls the sleeves of her lavender hoodie up over her hands.

I am literally dead from this lmao

[cheerpowers]