[open mingle]

[badfeyth]

WHO: Anyone helping with prom renovations!
WHAT: An open mingle log!
WHERE: District 4, Science Discovery Center Planetarium
WHEN: Anytime until December 2!
WARNINGS: Please warn for content in individual headers!




An open mingle for threads relating to prom setup and the planetarium renovations!

★★★
Possible renovation activities include, but are certainly not limited to:

• Ripping out and disposing of a couple of rows of chairs in the planetarium to make room for a dance floor
• Laying down flooring for the aforementioned dance floor
• Clearing room for and rigging four stations where food can be prepared
• Kitschy photography station design
• Installing light fixtures, darkness shutters, and other aesthetic additions provided by Kaveh
• Playing toolbox dodgeball (IF YOU CAN DODGE A WRENCH...)
• Impromptu caber-tossing match feat. lumber somebody probably intended to use for something important
• Assorted various OSHA violations

Anyone is welcome to drop in a top-level, just please warn for content as needed on individual thread headers!

Comments

ghost | original

[badfeyth]

[Where can Ghost be found at the renovations site? Basically everywhere! She'll be running around with a clipboard, her satchel, and Post-It notes for days, keeping tabs on...well, everything, really. Who wants to be the Star Of The Week™ and keep her perpetual to-go cups of coffee flowing? Or maybe if it's late in the day it'll be too late and you'll just find her asleep somewhere.

This is a wildcard header for general interaction — I'm happy to write starters for people, or run with ones you might throw at me!]

[excaliburden]

[She saw the invitation, of course--but a fancy party like that probably isn't the place for her. Surely it'll be much too grand and lovely?

But! That means she has to work extra hard in the preparation part of things, and doing what she can to help out. Then she can enjoy it still in her own way, right?

So she peeks her head in on the prom set-up, and upon seeing Ghost bouncing between every single aspect of this prep work, she can't help but divert her path that way instead.

Interrupting is probably the opposite of helpful, but you know, she's not great at thinking things through before she does them.]

Excuse me...!

[badfeyth]

[Ghost is, at this point, moving with the unbridled energy of someone who's either on their fifteenth cup of coffee in the past six hours, or so aggressively in "fix-everything" mode that she's running on willpower and adrenaline. Or possibly both.

Either way, it makes for an authoritative, matter-of-fact experience when Altria eventually flags her down; she raises a finger to wait, yells at someone across the room about where a spool of copper wire does and doesn't belong, and then pivots back like a champion figure skater, all without missing a single beat of rhythm.]

Hi. You're who and why do you need me?

[excaliburden]

[Oh, this lady is prompt and business-like, and clearly holding five hundred strings at once. That warrants a prompt and business-like response in return, so as to note waste her time.]

I'm Altria Caster! I'm here because it seems like you're helping everyone with everything, so I wanted to see if you need help on anything yourself?

[It feels like that's the most sensible option she's got; everything seems very in hand by capable people, so...! Support the competent leader!]

[badfeyth]

Ummmmmmmm. Oh. Right. That's me, I'm Ghost, I'm facilitating this project. And you're Altria Caster —

[She says, like a person distracted by about twenty different things and repeating things to herself to be sure she'll remember them.]

— Right, okay. What's your skillset?

[excaliburden]

[Oh boy. This lady is working way too hard, and yet she can't help but be impressed by the work ethic and juggling of responsibilities.



Unfortunately, she does not have a good answer to that question.]

Um...

[What can she do, what can she do...]

I can do some magecraft...?

Alhaitham | Genshin Impact

[justscribing]

[Signage]

[Spread across one of the temporary folding tables to work at is papers, cardstocks, and inks. In fact, Alhaitham's taken the whole thing over for the sake of drafting out signs large and small in a neat, flowing script. He is, of course, here because Kaveh insisted his handwriting was ideal for all the calligraphy needed and Alhaitham can at least appreciate that this gala has purpose beyond being just a party.

He's very focused on the task, but not so absorbed he's unaware of anyone behind him.] Don't get too close.

[Dance Lessons]

[That is, Alhaitham is not here to teach other people how to dance, but to learn to dance. It's something he's never considered a valuable skill for him to know, despite his apparent interest in learning everything at least through theory if not practice. And Kaveh started him off, but Kaveh insists on perfection and just doesn't have the time in between making sure everything else about this goes off smoothly.

So he's here, accepting his fate of being paired off either with other students or an instructor.] Am I leading?

signage;

[badfeyth]

[With a thunk, a hefty hard-bound tome entitled The Idiot's Guide To Fae Negotiation (third edition) lands on one of the corners of the folding table — so, considering folding tables, maybe it's not so much of a thunk as a thwump, but at least she does it at a time when he's not actively doing calligraphy, because that would just be mean.]

Here.

[justscribing]

[He would have forced Kaveh and Ghost both to accept the ruined sign if she had. Still, there is the slight frown when the ink vibrates as Alhaitham watches to ensure it doesn't knock over.

He sets the pen down and leans over to the backpack sitting under the table, pulling out the other book. He hadn't expected the exchange so much as just giving it back to Ghost because he didn't actually want to keep it indefinitely.

So: he offers it to her.] Your book.

[badfeyth]

Thanks.

[It's an easy, businesslike trade, with all the finesse of undercover spies making a dead drop in a charming French cafe. And really, that should be the end of it; she could just put her book away and leave the other and get back to all the four thousand other things she's supposed to be doing, and Alhaitham could get back to calligraphy, and that would be that.

Except she doesn't.]

...This is going to be a lot of work.

[She means the venue. Probably.]

[justscribing]

[Alhaitham does still go back to calligraphy. He can multitask.] Did you expect event planning to be otherwise?

[badfeyth]

[She is not going to grind her teeth into dust because if she does that Kaveh is going to see she has no more teeth and make her a bite guard, or dentures, or a muzzle. She is not going to do that. She is not.]

I'm aware of what goes into event planning.

[SHE'S NOT GOING TO ROLL HER EYES OUT OF HER HEAD EITHER BECAUSE THEN KAVEH WILL INSTALL HER SOME NEW ROBOT EYEBALLS OR SOME SHIT. FUCK.]

What I was getting at was, I hope the end result turns out to be a success befitting the work expended.

dance lessons;

[savewell]

Well, I should imagine so! That's how it's properly done, after all, and I'm certain any lady with the good fortune of being your partner will appreciate it!

[This is the prettiest, politest, sweetest way of saying yes, you're leading, what are you, stupid in human history. And here is Alhaitham's teacher, the prettiest, politest, sweetest, definitely-a-fairytale-princess-from-toes-to-gown-to-big-blond-curls you've ever met.]

Now, then, let's start with the basics. Have you danced much at all, or would you say we're starting from the very most beginning?

[justscribing]

It won't be a lady. [Well, unknown to him now is that he's obligated to give Tsuruno a dance. But mostly it won't be a lady, and Alhaitham and Kaveh are close enough in height.

He moves his hands so they're ready for the leading position.] I've practiced a couple times in the past few days, but I'm still a beginner.

[savewell]

Er — well, as you say. Um. But even so, it's settled that you're to lead, then? Just so.

[Spoken like the sort of person who's going to be trying to work out, for the entire rest of the lesson period, who he's going to be dancing with if not a lady. Princess Rosella's Math Lady adventures.]

Well, the most important part of your position, leading, is that it's up to you to keep to the beat and to direct how you and your partner move across the floor. And it all depends on your arm! This one here, you see, where mine goes —

[She steps into position opposite him, moving one hand to rest on his shoulder, and gesturing to how she drapes the length of it over top of his.]

— like so! That's where you're properly leading from, and what guides me about where to go as we move. See?

[justscribing]

[Alhaitham, who decides the matter is settled and there's no need to elaborate, simply places his hands accordingly. His grip is secure, at least, even if his arms are stiff about it.] All right. You follow based on the pull of my arm and the memorization of the steps, correct?

[savewell]

Yes, that's it! Though, it's a bit less about simply repeating steps memorized and more about...well, knowing the right way to respond to something you do. So, there's the basic steps that guide everything else, like so —

[She shows him a little box step, just in place, with small enough movements that he can see what she's doing without pulling altogether out of his arms.]

But if you wanted me to do a twirl, for example, you would put this arm up a bit, you see — and that's how I would know to follow along and step under it, like this —

[Again, she motions, but very slightly.]

It's not quite like memorizing a piece of music and playing it back, you see. It's more like playing the music, but adding in little improvisations as you go along. You see?

signage

[excaliburden]

[Oh, he caught her. She was absolutely stepping closer to peer at his work (not stealthily at all, despite her best efforts), and when he calls her out, she freezes.

Ah.]

R-right...!

[...]

I was... just trying to see what you were working on. But I can stay back here. [For sure!! Nooo interruptions necessary!]

[justscribing]

[Alhaitham does not even look up.] If you were to bump me or the table I would have to redo this whole sign. I'd like to avoid that.

[excaliburden]

[She'd like to say she wouldn't have bumped into the table, but she is not confident in that at all.

And this man's no-nonsense attitude really doesn't seem to invite Shenanigans.]

All right. I'll be careful and stay over here.

[Juuuust in case.]

I was coming over to see if you needed help with anything. Even if it's just fetching things, or anything like that! I'm great at fetching things for people.

[justscribing]

Is that the task they've given you. [Well, someone has to be the fetcher.] Are you equally good at deliveries?

alucard | castlevania

[reposing]

i. renovations and demolition

[Primarily, Alucard is focusing on helping with construction and disposing of items (namely, chairs bolted to the floor) in the way. Fortunately, they all appear to be generic wood, otherwise this would be a bit more problematic for him to deal with, weakened as he is.

Weakened as they all are.

After rolling his sleeves up, Alucard is casually ripping chair after chair out of the floor, casually tossing them away like they weighed nothing more than a couple of branches at most.]

Do we have any plans for these chairs, anyway?

Or are they simply fodder for something else. Seems a waste to merely throw them away.


ii. dance lessons

[After having washed up from post-renovation work for the day, Alucard stands ready with his arms folded behind his back. For people who have encountered him in the past, he actually looks like he's had decent rest and has been sober for awhile. Even bathed, like what the hell.

And should you approach, he offers a hand out.]

Tell me a bit on your experience in terms of dance, and what you are expecting.

ii.

[badfeyth]

Absolutely none, and I'll be honest, this is mostly a mandated work break so I don't get a wrench thrown at me. I figured I might as well put the time to some practical use.

[Because here, in fact, is Ghost, with a pencil shoved through her sagging ponytail and blotches of ink from at least one pen staining the tips of her fingers, stifling a half-yawn against the back of her hand as she comes over to Alucard's side of the presumably finished dance space.]

How are the lessons going?

[reposing]

Perhaps you should follow your own advice when you tell Kaveh to not be overworked? Just a thought.

[Alucard smiles crookedly at her before he gives a pleased nod.]

Decently. I'm pleasantly surprised at how quickly others are learning. Although I must say, I don't know that you speaking to me is much of a break, Ghost. Shall we get you to sit?

Wanderer | Genshin Impact

[featheradrift]

i. food station

[ Later during preparations, the Wanderer will stop by to assess the space given to the food stations. At this point, the room has been cleared of extraneous objects and tables are being moved in for the stations.

He circles around the area, imagining how he'll move about as he prepares food. Seems good enough. But he's curious about a few things. ]

How are the appliances going to be moved in here? And is there anything we need to bring ourselves? Ingredients, presumably? Or is that being supplied too?


ii. decorations

[ He's not helping with putting up decorations so much as he's standing back to look at them, and then criticizing them. Because while he's no artist, he's got a decent eye for aesthetics and the way that some things have been put up sort of annoy him, so he can't help himself. ]

Are you blind? That's way too close to the curtain. Move it to the right by a bit.