it's a party! time to mingle!

[trettende]

[ The mood may be shifting as the days go by, but Hans is still totally confident that everybody's still working together on the whole "not murdering" thing! Definitely. I mean, a guy can dream, right? In any case, this morning upon leaving your room you may find a folded note under your door. Unless you're a really early riser, then you're going to have to come back to get your invitation. Sorry, bro. ]

Dear [Your Name]((It really will say your name, he hand wrote these!))

I think we can all agree that this situation is far from ideal. It's fair to have doubts and expect the worse, but if we all stick to our morals I'm sure we can wait this out together. We can't let the Management think they can get us down with false promises and their crazy rules.

With that in mind, I hope you'll consider joining me in the Dining Room tonight for some refreshments, snacks, and a good chance for us all to spend some time together. There will be wine and champagne for those who wish to partake in it, as well as crackers and cheese and whatever I was able to find in the kitchen (I can't cook, but if anyone wants to bring anything, feel free!) If drinking and dining isn't your thing, maybe we can sit around and trade stories from home.

I look forward to seeing you there.

-- Prince Hans

(P.S. Set-up is at 5pm if anyone wants to help.)

[ Whether you're here early to help with set up or showing up fashionably late, the dining hall has been... well, not so much decorated really, but there's music coming from somewhere, maybe. Hans dragged the piano over from the music room and set it up in a corner, that should work. Plus if we all keep humming, music plays itself in the background, that's how it works, right?

The refreshments are laid out on a table with flutes of champagne and wine glasses, and beside it you'll find, besides champagne and fine wine, a pitcher of water, maybe some juice and soda from the kitchen. It's all self-serve, so have fun with that. There are also some snacks: crackers and sliced cheeses and what-have-you nearby, complete with napkins and forks to serve yourself.

Not a drinker or much of a partier? That's alright, you can just hang out! A stack of playing cards is laid out by one end of the dining table, looking perfectly inviting for anyone who wants to give that a try. And Hans did promise there'd be stories from home to pass the time, so perhaps find yourself a group of people willing to listen and tell the group about the real you!

...Or if you'd rather avoid the whole mess entirely, stick to the wall and hope no one sees you. That's not suspicious at all. I mean, the dining hall is big enough for twenty, right? ]

Comments

[tellthestory]

[Nearly an hour later, after the party is already well underway, the Balladeer appears.

Unlike his previous public appearances, there's no grand musical entrance. He just slips in, hands tucked in his pockets, and glances about. So, here's the party. He's at the party. Now...partying happens?

He seems a little on edge, or perhaps just unsure of himself; he glances from group to group as if trying to figure out what he should be doing. After a moment, he settles for side-stepping out of the doorway. Maybe he'll just stand by the wall here for a little while until he gets his bearings.]

[dontfeedplants]

[Hey Balladeer, here's another guy who's just hanging out by the wall.]

Oh hey, you're here.

[He is not entirely sure yet if you're the Balladeer or Billy Harris, pardon him.]

[tellthestory]

Yeah! Yeah, it seemed...fine to come.

[The identity question doesn't seem to have even occurred to him tbh]

[dontfeedplants]

Right, it doesn't look like anyone is going to die here anyway?

[I mean, someone still could...]

[tellthestory]

No... [He smiles.] ...it really doesn't. I knew you guys could handle it. You've just gotta keep it up.

[IF ONLY]

[dontfeedplants]

Of course. Everyone here is really nice so far, at least nice enough not to kill anyone.

[...]

So you're the Balladeer, right?

[onthebusagain]

Is there some kind of party game that involves standing against the wall? [aka what is wrong with you people? this is a party. she's showing very little of that sympathy towards him she held the other day.]

[tellthestory]

...I don't know, is there?

[??????]

[onthebusagain]

No. There isn't. [Ugh. You guys are all so lame.]

I didn't expect to see you here.

[tellthestory]

I didn't really expect to be here. Hans left me an invitation, but it took me a while to decide if I should...

[onthebusagain]

It's good you came! Don't you get lonely, in that office?

[bestof]

[Eliza doesn't notice him right away when he slips into the party. Maybe she's chatting with someone or maybe she's fetching herself a burnt quiche when he comes in but when she finally notices him it's at the snack table next to the champagne flutes.]

Oh...Mr. Balldeer. I wasn't expecting to see you here.

[tellthestory]

[He looks up from his consideration of champagne flutes.]

I wasn't expecting to be invited, so...surprises all around tonight!

[trettende]

[ Hans is keeping an eye on the goings-on of the party, so of course he notices the Balladeer. ]

Wow. You actually came.

[ Like, don't get him wrong, he's the one who invited him. But he didn't think he'd actually show. It probably shows in his surprise. He should've planned for this... ]

Can I get you a drink?

[tellthestory]

Haha, well. You did say it wasn't for murder, so...it seemed rude not to.

[He still doesn't seem entirely relaxed, like maybe he thinks it could still be for murder a little bit. But, well, he's here now.]

Sure, I guess.

[trettende]

It's really not. I'm glad you showed.

[ Seriously! Hans has only information gathering planned for this party. Give Hans a minute, he nods and goes to grab a drink, bringing back some champagne for the Balladeer. ]

Here. Honestly, it just seemed a waste to have asked for alcohol and be the only one drinking it.

[ I mean that's one excuse sure. ]

[tellthestory]

How generous.

[His tone isn't even a little dry! He considers the champagne for a second before taking a sip.]

Hmm, this isn't bad!

[solomonjihad]

[Oh!]

Hello...

[tellthestory]

Hello!

[...great talk, guys]

[solomonjihad]

...How...have you been?

[Socially inept people awaaaaay]

[tellthestory]

About the same. [Nothing changes in here. But that's not a real answer.] So, fine. You?

[dechagny]

[w h a t]

...Good evening to you, Mister Balladeer.

[Raoul may not like this guy but he won't be rude, he has wine and it's a fucking party. You just don't be an asshole at a party.]

How are you this fine evening?

[tellthestory]

[The Balladeer glances once more around the room before answering.]

Pretty good, I guess. How're you doing?

[dechagny]

[Raoul shrugs, glancing at his wine glass.] A bit better than I have been, but mostly the same. A bit bored, perhaps. But, I am aware that you've supplied quite a bit of kindness to us so far, which I am thankful for.

[Translation: thanks for getting Hans the wine for this shindig bro]

[tellthestory]

You're...welcome? [He's not sure if he was being thanked for real there, but he's gonna act like he was.] Yeah, I didn't anticipate how boring a lot of this would be. Lotta downtime!