[open] Happy Halloween~

[princessvegas]

Who: Julie Lawry + OPEN
When: October 31
Where: The Horizon
What: Julie's annual Halloween party! Costumes are mandatory.
Warnings: In headers


At the beginning of the month, everyone with an existing domain will find themselves in possession of an invitation, delivered under the cover of night by a horde of tiny creatures. No other information follows.

I | WAIT
On October 31st, the pink neon that normally illuminates the edges of Julie's club goes dark. The pink carpet and velvet ropes disappear. In fact, the entire immediate area appears to be cast into almost pitch black. By evening, the building has been engulfed in heavy vines and thick tree roots, climbing upward into an oppressively thick canopy of treetops. Lush tropical plants bloom along the walls, their vibrant colors a natural sign of warning. Large flying insects flit into them, only to find themselves entrapped, stuck in thick sap that holds them while the petals close and devour the bugs.

Next to the closed double doors is a sign, but otherwise no signs of modernity. The ordinarily smooth walls of the club now have carvings that appear ancient, hidden under the leaves and moss. Anyone who looks closely will see that the carvings depict savage battles and human sacrifices, vicious animals tearing the people limb from limb. Anyone who looks really closely might find some of the carvings to be a bit... familiar.

Primal screeching echoes in the darkness, furious and inhuman. There's the distinct sensation of predatory eyes peering from the trees, in the bushes. A distant clock rings nine times.

Suddenly, there's movement on the ground. A truly massive snake, easily fifty feet long and thick as a tree trunk, slithers next to the ankles of the waiting crowd, hissing. Its muscles flex and shift under scales so black they shimmer iridescent, and its eyes are eerie yellow. The doors swing open and it disappears inside. Music pours out into the crowd.


II | CREEP
Inside, the lobby is gone. Instead, there is only more dense jungle flora. A barely visible path, made of more carved stones covered in moss and leaves, winds between the plants. The starting stone simply says Watch your step. Land on one of the stones marked with a dusty jewel and pay the price -- rabid monkeys might swing toward the unlucky adventurer, or perhaps a vivid green tree snake will drop its tail down to try and coil around them, or maybe you'll just barely miss a blowdart to the cheek (it will never actually hit its targets, only sail harmlessly past and into the leaves).

When the travelers reach the huge stone "temple" doors, aggressive guards in masks and indeterminate tribal garb leap from the shadows. (Those familiar with Julie's live-in partiers might recognize their faces under the markings.) They'll holler and scream for a moment, but then the doors will open, revealing the "temple" inside.


III | PARTY
In the main entrance to the club, the darkness is broken by crude torches lining the walls and support beams. More eerie carvings, larger and more intricate, are placed throughout the space; several have large gemstones for eyes, shimmering in the spare light. Skulls and bones, both human and not, litter the edges of the room, with piles taller than the average man in the corners. The remainder of Julie's Horizon-dwelling club kids are all dressed as tribal warriors of indeterminate origin (she's not out to mock any specific cultures, but she figures that shit like "face paint" and "bones" and "feathers" are generic enough) -- they all seem to be having a ball playing their roles for the night.

The bar is now hewn from stone, matching the rest of the carvings. As always, Steven the bartender is serving drinks, dressed to match theme. Tables contain a variety of food, much of which appears to be meat roasted on sticks, but, unnervingly, there's a huge platter of skulls and what appear to be raw human hearts. Look closely and you might notice them still beating. An "altar" bears several bowls, all of which hold drugs; cocaine, different types of pills, and of course, large amounts of cannabis products.

The dance floor is lit from below in stark white, casting unsettling shadows in every direction. From above hangs a disco ball shaped like a skull, bouncing the lights around disconcertingly. Behind the dance floor is an elevated throne crafted of bones, and this is where Julie herself can be found.

Happy Halloween.

Comments

Julie - OPEN

[princessvegas]

I | Arrival
[ As everyone finds their way into the temple, the lights seem to direct attention to the opposite side of the dance floor. On an elevated dais, there is a large throne made of bones. Sitting regally atop is Julie, in full jungle goddess mode. Her skin is painted gold from head to toe, although her hair remains pink, tied in two tightly braided tails that fall on each side of her neck.

Draped across her shoulders is another snake, this one a shimmering opalescent viper. Which is very real, actually, and entirely bonded to Julie. It will strike if you piss her off.

Despite the intensity of her costume, Julie is genuinely excited and happy to greet everyone, an odd dichotomy of her (sometimes overwhelming) bubbliness and her complete devotion to Halloween as a holiday. She heads eagerly into the crowd, all cheek kisses and hugs and warm welcomes. ]


II | Party
[ Julie is, as always, a consummate hostess. She moves through the room like she has a radar -- anyone who needs a drink is handed one, sometimes by her invisible third hand. Small plates of food are presented as soon as anyone begins to look uncomfortable or ill. Those who hover at the edges of the dance floor are found and breezily pulled onto it, drawn to dance with her whether they protest or not. She doesn't take no for an answer.

Anyone who seems unhappy, upset, or overwhelmed might be surreptitiously pulled into one of the small, secretive side rooms, where Julie will supply whatever is necessary to help. She's here to serve.

Sitting behind the bar with Steven, or occasionally carried by Julie as she roams, are four teacup-sized animals, three in costume; while her pocket kikimora requires no dressing up, the others -- a golden dragon, a black unicorn, and a tyrannosaurus rex -- are all dressed as tiny temple guards. ]


III | Done
[ As the party peters out and people make their way out, elements of the extensive decorations begin to slowly fade out of existence, back to the ordinary state of the club. The first parts to go turn back into the warehouse half of her domain, her loft becoming visible as it happens. Other pieces follow as Julie relaxes her hold on the Horizon's magic, allowing the space to revert.

Her partiers mill around, some still in costume. By morning, they will all be their regular selves again. Steven walks around and collects abandoned cups and plates.

Julie relaxes at the bar as this all takes place, drinking something neon orange and foaming. She looks a bit tired -- this level of continued manipulation is exhausting to maintain -- but otherwise satisfied, leaning back in her seat with her legs propped up on the bar, crossed at the ankles.

She doesn't make a point of pushing anyone out; she figures that the changes and lowered music should be enough. Besides, anyone who's still sober enough to want to keep partying can go do so in their own domain. But she's happy to speak with those who do remain, and will stay this way until everyone is gone, the doors all locking behind the final straggler so that she can release the magic entirely. ]

Nadine - Open

[nadine_he_loves]

Arriving

Okay, this is definitely different than the previous Halloween parties. Nadine never knows quite what to expect from Julie's parties. As she'd mentioned to Louis, she doesn't think she knows anyone more creative than Julie Lawry. The things she does with her domain are proof enough of that. It's always going to be spectacular, it's always going to be impressive.

Once again, she's managed to outdo herself. This amazing. And also intimidating. Her mind goes back to afternoon movies of her childhood, King Solomon's Mines and the like. Exciting but frightening at the same time. The same sort of feeling comes over her now. Possibly a bad year to wear heels. They can't even be seen under her dress.

Taking a deep breath, she shimmies her skirt up her legs so she can see her feet - and where she's putting them - and gingerly begins making her way along the path of stones.

Definitely a bad year to wear heels.

The Party

After the harrowing journey to the club itself, Nadine's just thankful to be on relatively trustworthy ground again. She's excited for tonight. Halloween's come to mean something to her, in her time in this world. She even picked her own costume tonight, the slinky and gothic black dress paired with red eyes and a pair of very real fangs. She'd had plenty of pointers from the real deal.

All of which will be put to use later. For now, she's enjoying the party. While staying away from the harder stuff, she'll often be found with a joint fitted into an elegant black and crystal cigarette holder. It's the little details. A lot of thought and effort went into her costume this year. Usually she just lets Julie pick it out for her. But this year's special.

Feeling boldened by both her outfit and the atmosphere - not to mention the cannabis - Nadine's more inclined to dance and chat and possibly even explore the complex decorations. It's a good night, and she feels good.

Why not live it up? That's what Halloween is for.