Charity Ball

[fixedpointintime]

WHO: The well dressed and ready to party of Alpha Complex
WHAT: being well dressed and partying?
WHEN: daycycle 116, 1800-2200 hours

NOTES: There will be dedicated threads for the big pillars of the Ball, but feel free to make your own top level if you want to. You can use the account sweetcharity to RP as NPCs at the ball. The Game NPC journal is also been made available by Sam. Information on how to access both can be found here.

ADDITIONAL NOTE: All raffles/auctions/sign-ups/whatever will end when the daycycle is over. All basket raffles, dance raffles, and the winner of the dance contest will be decided with RNG and I will comment with the winners.

NEW! The dance auctions seem to be wrapping up on their own as they reach a natural conclusion, so we'll just use that method. If you need an NPC, let me know and I will try to find you one.

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The mingling portion of the ball lasts for about half an hour. The band playing light instrumental music that doesn't so much encourage dancing as it does give people ample opportunity to enjoy the buffet, browse the items available in the silent auction and the baskets for the raffle, and get a good eyeful of the various Specials in attendance, who they're with and what they're wearing. It'll be important later on.

On one side of the room, tucked out of the way but under a prominent sign, is a table where couples can register to be part of a dance contest with the promise of an exciting mystery prize for the winners.

Along a back wall, small round tables are lined up and showcasing items donated for a silent auction. There are a mix of actual physical items, as well as less tangible experiences, and bids are made on electronic input pads set up in front of each item, and using a citizen's ME card. Funds will be automatically deducted for each item won. Groups can bid on items together that the individuals might be otherwise unable to afford on their own. Physical items and vouchers for experiences will be delivered next daycycle.

In addition, there are a few baskets that will be raffled off during the evening. Winners need not be present to claim a raffle prize. Each basket has a theme, and tickets can be purchased at any time for five credits each using your ME card.

At 1830 hours, Stiles silently slips through the crowd, placing a lavish setee in front of the stage. Once Stiles is gone, Morgana makes her way over and sits on it. As soon as she's settled, the pre-recorded music dies down, then swells again in a new song. There is no formal announcement of the beginning of the entertainment, Jack Harkness simply crosses the dance floor, moving through people when he has to, and he and Morgana perform a choreographed waltz routine. Half way through the routine, a curtain on stage is pulled back to reveal a bandstand of actual live musicians, each wearing a suit jacket or dress of their clearance level. Yes, it's a bit of an eyesore, but they sound fantastic. Besides, people are meant to be watching Jack and Morgana.

Once the routine has got everyone's attention, Jack will activate a lapel mic and welcome the crowd to the evening's event. Someone will bring him the jacket for his suit, a suit so orange it's almost painful. He thanks Morgaga, kisses her hand, and then the band takes their cue and the music abruptly takes a turn for the upbeat. Jack encourages everyone onto the floor to learn a few line dances. Volunteers (including Stiles) will move through the crowd, encouraging people to join in as those in attendance are taught the hustle, the time warp, the YMCA, and yes, the unkillable chicken dance. Stiles will start a spirited conga line around the room while Jack sings Copacabana.

Around 1915, now that the crowd is good and energized, Jack will draw attention to the area available to sign up for the dance contest, and remind everyone that the silent auction and raffle tables will be open until the end of the evening.

He'll also be joined on the dance floor by Isabelle Lightwood, and the two will perform a tango routine in order to encourage bids for the auction prize of a private dance lesson with the pair of them. Anyone who doesn't want some one on one time with Izzy after seeing her in that dress is obviously insane. Jack will also follow this with the exciting news that the celebrity judge for the dance contest is none other than Alpha's beloved Teela O'Malley. All couples who have signed up will receive their numbers, and be asked to take the floor, giving spectators the chance to eat and to spend even more of their money on bids and raffle tickets. Couples will be eliminated by Teela, moving through the crowd, until only one remains. Their prize is an appearance on Teela's show, during Jack's opening section, on daycycle 118.

At about 2000 comes the part that quite a few specials won't enjoy. They haven't quite raised the funds he was hoping for yet, and Jack is auctioning off dances with Specials. As bidding progresses, he may attempt to persuade them to give even more of their time in an effort to drive the bidding higher. A few Specials have agreed to help out in this way ahead of time, and quite a few more will be talked into it on the spot. The rest of the evening will be peppered with Jack stopping the music to auction off a few more dances.

2100 brings a new idea from Steve that the specials aren't going to like any more than the dance auctions, the last dance raffle!. Which is really just an excuse to get the maximum number of Specials up on stage, through all of Jack and Steve's combined charisma and manipulation, for one last big fundraising push.

[[OOC: It should be noted that everyone who has helped Jack with the planning and execution of the Charity Ball, including anyone who took part in a choreographed dance routine, will not only get into the Ball for free, but will be able to come to the wrap party the next day after Teela's show, where even more real food and alcohol will be available. If you want your character to have a choreographed routine, or to otherwise contribute to the evening, you still have plenty of time to let me know.]

Formal Wear! In alphabetical order: Cisco Ramon, Jack Harkness, Lydia Martin, Natasha Romanoff, Primrose Everdeen, Steve Rogers, Tony Stark

Comments

[sanguinescry]

Lydia does her best to look especially hurt by the low numbers, because come on. She's absolutely worth more than freaking seventy-five credits, look at her.

...okay, so maybe she's a little more vain than she'd like to admit after all.

Hearing the familiar voice call out a much higher bid, Lydia smiles, wrinkling her nose a little and kissing her fingers before pointing out to him. Partially to thank Tony for putting the bid out there at all so that she doesn't feel like a total loss standing up here, and partially because she wonders if showing some form of affection to higher bidders might actually goad more people into bidding, you know, higher.

[fixedpointintime]

"Two hundred fifty credits coming in from Tony Stark! Now, don't let that put you off bidding simply because he's a Special. We get to see each other all the time! We hardly ever get to spend time with you. Though Mister Stark does clearly have fabulous taste. You know what they say about redheads." He lets the moment drag out just long enough for the crowd to wonder if he means something filthy and inappropriate. "Firey!" Jack runs his knuckles against one errant curl of Lydia's hair, tucking it gently away, then makes a show of blowing on his fingers like he's just been burned.

[alphanpcs]

If he was being honest, Alexander hadn't planned on bidding on anyone tonight. He doesn't keep up with the gossip or who the latest Specials are because he doesn't care. He's a self-made man. He worked hard, made connections, stayed on the beaten path, and now he runs half of IntSec. Deputy director, if you wanted to be so specific.

But just because he doesn't pay attention to gossip doesn't mean he doesn't pay attention to their files. There were two Specials he was interested in. Matt Murdock and Lydia Martin. The only two Specials, in his opinion, who have used their own skills to make something of themselves — and he can see Lydia's potential rising even higher.

"Five hundred," he says, calmly, before taking a sip of the dry martini in his hands. And yes, that's an indigo suit he's wearing.

[sanguinescry]

Lydia's not honestly sure she's going to be getting a bid higher than Tony's because it gets a little quiet for a moment and look, she's not Steve Rogers. She's a YELLOW who got her ass beaten to a pulp and rose up out of spite. She's not saving lives, she isn't on anyone's lists; there are no posters of Lydia Martin #Anything anywhere. So if Tony wins, that's two hundred fifty credits toward the cause and she'll get another dance with one of her favorite people.

But then another bid comes in and it's hard to see right away where it's coming from because of the lights in her eyes, but she's...reasonably sure that it came from someone in a dark blue. That's interesting. Lydia can go with that.

She'll let Jack do the talking, but she's willing to show her appreciation for the bid all the same with a wink before blowing a kiss. If it was the indigo guy then hopefully message received and if it wasn't, hopefully now he'll throw in a bid to make it legitimate.

[alphanpcs]

When he sees Lyida blowing him a kiss, a small, pleased smirk emerges, and he raises his glass towards her.

Yes. He's certainly invested, now.

And once Alexander bids, it thins the heard so to speak. It's clear that some people in the crowd who might have bid on Lydia are hesitant to do so now. Comes with the territory, being so high up IntSec. Wouldn't want some friendly competition to get you sent in for questioning — at least, that's sometimes the impression. But Alex would never actually do it.

Most of the time.

And yet, there's a flip side. Because he's interested, others higher up the totem pole are now interested, and a few bids come in shortly after.

"Six hundred."

"Six fifty."

A beat.

"Seven hundred!" from across the room. Alexander squints, looking across the room towards an all too familiar face. Regina.

Cooly, he takes another sip, pursing his lips before he looks up towards the stage, and in a completely calm and collected voice, doubles the current bid, again.

"Fourteen hundred credits."

Top that, Regina.

[alphanpcs]

Honestly, Regina was mostly planning on waiting until one of the big, burly Specials ended up on the block to start bidding, but when she hears that Alexander — she hates that guy. You try working with him, all right? He's a nightmare — is winning a bid on a Special, it doesn't really matter who that Special is, she's not going to let him have it without a hell of a fight. If she can empty out his bank account in the process, that's even better. Seriously, she hates that guy.

So when a couple of people outbid him, she waits and then decides she might as well jump in and let him know it's coming. Really, half the fun is going to be seeing that shitty look on his face when he realizes it's her, anyway. So she bids seven hundred and when he looks over, she raises her glass at him, giving him a smug little grin to spur him on. Regina doesn't have to win this particular auction, she just has to hit Alexander where it hurts: his bank account.

Fourteen hundred, he says, and Regina rolls her eyes. Oh please, like she can't outbid that. What does he take her for?

"Fifteen hundred," she says cooly, lifting her eyebrows.

[alphanpcs]

Fifteen hundred? A measly additional one hundred? Why even bother Regina. Why. Even. Bother.

And right now, there's nothing that would please Alexander more than wiping that smile off her face.

"Seventeen hundred," he says, not even looking at the stage anymore as he stares her down from across the room. Alex waves a hand and an attendant runs over. He hands him his drink.

"Bring me another." He's about to leave when Alex puts a hand on his arm. "And send one over there. To the ever dashing Regina Franklin."

You want to play Regina? Let's fucking play.

[alphanpcs]

Oh for crying out loud... Really, you're barely moving the dial, Alex. You doubled the last bid. This is ridiculous.

"Five thousand," she says simply. Come on then, big guy. Bring it.

She gives a condescending, sarcastic smile to the man across the room when she receives her drink a moment later.

[alphanpcs]

He quirks his head around when she says that number, eyes narrowing as his lips quick into a smile.

Five thousand is it? So you did bring your big girl guns to the Charity Ball tonight Reg. Why don't you try this on for size?

Alexander flexes his fingers, waving for the attendant to just stand there and hold his drink as he takes a step closer to the stage.

"Ten thousand credits." Like it was no big deal. Like it was chump change — when in fact, yes, okay, he can probably guess how much Regina makes in a week, and it's probably not that different from what he makes. And they both know that ten thousand credits isn't something you can just throw in the trash.

But this was war.

[alphanpcs]

There it is. Regina's fairly certain that's got to be Alexander's lucky number, because she's a little worried that if she bids higher, she might actually win this one and, to be perfectly honest, while Lydia Martin is, in fact, a little interesting to her, she's not more than ten thousand credits interesting, that's for damn sure.

So when she hears that bid, instead of upping it, Regina takes a sip of her drink and then starts to laugh.

"You win," she says with a cavalier tone. Ten thousand credits is a lot, even for them, to be throwing around for one dance with one YELLOW clearance Alpha, even if she is a Special. "Too rich for my blood," she adds, but it's clear from her tone — at least, it will be to Alexander — that she hadn't ever really been interested in winning this one. "I concede."

[alphanpcs]

There's just a twitch in his eyebrow that she can't possibly see from across the room when he hears that tone of voice. He knows he just fell into a trap, but he sure as hell isn't going to show it.

Especially since the entire room seemed to gasp when he first said ten thousand.

"Anyone else?" There's a edge to his voice that wasn't there before as Alex reaches for his drink and downs the entire thing before reaching down to close the button on his luxurious blazer. He's already walking to the front, as if he's declaring that he's won — and the look in his eyes says only one thing: Try so much as a whimper, and you're going to jail.

[sanguinescry]

Even Lydia from her spot on stage has lost her ability to play with the crowd, too much in awe of the bidding war in front of her. This is a girl who was nobody a couple of months ago. Whatever is going on between the bidders — and she assumes it must be something because there's no way she's worth that many credits just to dance with for one freaking song — Lydia has no idea, but she also doesn't care because a part of her, quite frankly, is afraid to show anything on her face beyond the flicker of surprise that registers before she carefully hides it away again.

The audible gasp in the room at the man's bid is one that Lydia doesn't join but absolutely feels. Her eyes shift back and forth between the two and then settle on the man as he challenges the room and gets no response. No kidding, she would've been even more shocked if someone had.

So for ten thousand credits, Lydia listens almost detached from reality for the surprise and awe overcoming her as the auction closes and the man in the blue suit wins the dance. Lydia shakes off the shock and gives him a smile and a silently mouthed, "thank you!" before she makes her way toward the stairs that'll lead off the stage. This ought to be interesting...

[fixedpointintime]

All right, so Jack doesn't know exactly what's going on, but it's something and it's strange and it has nothing to do with himself or Lydia or the auction or anything of that sort. No, not at all. After the steel in that voice, the bidding is over, and Jack does the 'going once, twice, sold' line, a large smile pasted on his face. It's mostly bullshit. If a fight breaks out right now, he's pretty sure this event is over and he won't get another crack at proving he can pull off something on this scale.

He needs to collect this man's winning bid, but he hustles to come up even with Lydia, join her on the way down the steps. He kills the mic, and leans in close so that only she can hear him. "If he starts making you uncomfortable, scratch your nose and I'll shut this down. I don't care what he paid." If Alexander wants to be an ass to the woman he was bidding against, Jack doesn't care in the slightest. If he tries to redirect that onto Lydia, well... then Jack is about to undo a whole lot of the progress he's made.