Muse Academy Holiday Party 2011
The planning is done. On with the party!
Date: December 18, 2011
Categories: Muse Academy, The Musiverse
Friday, 29 March 2024
Life, the universe, pies, hot-pink bunnies, world domination, and everything
The planning is done. On with the party!
Date: December 18, 2011
Categories: Muse Academy, The Musiverse
First Post?
HELLO!
I have no idea how this works.
[We tend to arrive in character and roleplay. Non-RP conversations are often denoted by brackets and/or text effects such as italics and bold.]
I enter the room. Removing my scarf and gloves, I walk away from the doors and along a short path. It’s made of some sort of candy and has a little give to it and leads between two gingerbread houses.
Past the houses is a large dance floor, made out of dark red hard candy. I am still standing with my back to the path and door, and the floor appears to be encircled by a number of cozy-looking gingerbread houses including the ones I walked between. Snow is falling, but it does not accumulate or lend an uncomfortable feeling when it lands on me.
To my left there is a stage with a sound system. The subwoofers seem to be large round mints and the stage itself is the color of sour apple and has what looks like a Tootsie roll inside. To my right, where, were the pattern unbroken, another gingerbread house might have stood, is a large fireplace with a chimney leading up through the rafters. There are rafters, but no roof, and while the dance floor is technically outside it still is quite warm and the whole area feels cozy and building-like.
I exit the circle of houses from the path at 6 o’clock and walk across the floor to the gingerbread house at 12 o’clock. It is longer than the others and takes the space of three. Inside there is a long table filled with food and drink.
I pour myself a glass of warm cinnamon cider while I wait for more party-goers to arrive.
I enter quietly, wearing a midnight-blue dress with white fur trim. Seeing that almost no one else is here, I wander over and stand awkwardly by the snack table.
((Nonsense. I see you standing there, and “awkward” is the last word I’d pick to describe you. You are perfectly poised and self-possessed.))
((Is all this going to happen again? I remember last year you made some interesting points about what people were capable of pretending to be.))
((Really, though, who in their right mind would choose to pretend they’re being awkward? There’s no point.))
((Oh, I don’t know. Remember Saffron on “Firefly”?))
((Well, I’m not going to place restrictions on what people are allowed to imagine here, but I will say that Muse Academites seem far too modest. They studied graceful public interactions in the first three weeks of World Domination, and I happen to know that every one of them aced the unit. So if they claim to be standing around awkwardly and mutter apologies about the state of their social skills, I can only conclude that they are doing it deliberately in order to achieve a precisely calculated effect.))
I sidle in wearing a nondescript black suit with a translucent green cummerbund. Walking over to the snack table, I attempt to start a conversation with Rainbow*Storm. “Oh dear, I’m not very good at this,” I mutter, staring down at the floor.
I turn and see Rainbow*Storm and muselover talking. Well, muselover is doing most of the talking, and doing it in a slightly awkward fashion, but that’s ok because she looks just as awkward as he does. I smile to myself and continue sipping my cider.
I put it down for a moment and examine myself. I’m wearing a black suit with very dark stripes – hardly noticeable if not for the strange pulses of light they seem to emit. My shoes are somewhere between sneakers and loafers. More comfortable and every-day than dress shoes, but they have the same shiny black look to them. My pants are very slightly too long, making me look casual and comfortable yet fancy.
I walk over to muselover and Rainbow*Star, hoping to give their conversation a little kickstart before walking away.
“Hey, guys,” I say. “Man, someone with a serious sweet tooth designed this place, eh?”
“Indeed,” I say, glad to find someone to initiate a conversation. “Especially the snacks. Are we supposed to eat all of this?” I gesture toward the table on my right.
“Grmph?” I say apologetically, then swallow. “I think we may need to bring in another platter of puffin puffs.”
“Well, hopefully some more people will show up,” I say with a wry smile. “I doubt that the three of us could go through the whole table.”
I walk the length of the table, locate the Puffin Puffs and grab three.
I return to muselover and Rainbow. They have looks on their faces that are either revulsion or pure, unfiltered love for the Puffs.
I look at Rainbow. “You know how to eat these? You too, muselover?”
I hold up two in my left hand and one in my right, making it clear that Rainbow and muselover should grab a couple.
“If you’re meat-free they also morph into tofu when you squeeze its beak,” I say. “The Wungs have a very interesting morph-ready cooking procedure.”
“This food is problematic,” I comment as I attempt to debeak the Puff. I’ve actually never had one of these before, but I pop one into my mouth. “Hm. Tastes like Chick-Fil-A mixed with pastry and awesome.”
I freeze. “She’s quoting Firefly,” I realize. “It’s the perfect opening.”
“So, uh, Rainbow,” I say, taking a couple puffs. “You like Firefly, I take it?”
[The reply system seems problematic for the roleplay flow. Perhaps we should post CHRONOLOGICALLY and use the old number system to reply to older posts.]
I enter and see that I am wearing a black trenchcoat over a simple long red gown. I slip off the coat and hang it on a coatrack that looks suspiciously as if it has been coated in sugar. I wander over to a conversation at the snack table.
“Are we supposed to eat all of this?” asks somebody.
“If we are, I certainly hope more people show up,” I say, glancing around.
I’ve been at the door for a while, but I didn’t come in immediately because I was too busy looking at all the edible decorations. I’ve seen gingerbread houses before, of course, but none of them were big enough for me to enter. I’ve always wondered what that would be like, and I’m a bit agog. It’s cold outside, of course, and I’m dressed quite thinly compared to everyone else I’ve seen come in at the door. I’m wearing a long, green dress with a floral pattern, white dress shoes, a scarf, and of course my four tardigrade brooches. I do come in now, though, because I feel that I have something to add to the conversation (which I’ve been listening to the entire time) now, and besides, I’m getting rather hungry.
Once I’m in the gingerbread house, I walk gingerly over to the snack table, careful to avoid touching any chocolate, to which I have a serious allergy.
“Hello,” I say. “It’s nice to see all of you. Castle, you said that the puffin puffs become meat free when you squeeze their beaks. How does that work, exactly? What happens to the meat that was already in them? Does it go into something else, because I’m vegan and have always wondered what puffin puffs taste like, but I don’t want their meat to just go to waste–is it teleported?–and anyway, I’m really curious; I’ve never heard of anything like that, and I’m wondering about the science behind it. We should have a class about teleportation! Or do we; have I just not heard of it?”
“Hullo, Bibliophile,” I say, brandishing my Puffin Puff. “See, the Wungs have a special kind of magic when it comes to foodstuffs. Don’t ask me how it works, all I can tell you is that you squeeze it and all of a sudden it’s vegan, yet with all the flavor of a real Puff.”
I grab the legs on my Puff, tear them off, debeak the Puffin and swallow it whole. “Mmph,” I say. “Mpgh fthrphs armph a lil’ ‘ard to thwallow, bu’ ith woph it!”
((Helga Gunnarsdóttir’s unfortunate addition of a honey-orange glaze makes the puffs stickier than usual this year.))
Helga has catered so many Muse Academy parties so effectively, and with such good grace. We ought to do something nice for her.
((Sorry, forgot the parentheses.))
” I say, munching on a puff of my own.
I walk through the door and immediately my first reaction is that the gingerbread house looks amazing. I’m sorely tempted to just start eating one of the walls, but I manage to restrain myself. I’m wearing a shimmery light blue dress decorated with snowflakes, with a matching silver scarf, which is warmer than it looks.
I make my way over to the table covered with food we’re actually allowed to eat, where a few people are gathered, deep in conversation. I take a piece of gingerbread from a large plate of them and join in, replying to Bibliophile.
‘Greetings, everyone,’ I say. ‘You know, that’s an interesting question, Bibliophile. I’ve never really thought about it before. I suppose it just disappears – “into non-being, which is to say, anything” in the words of Professor McGonagall.’
“Well, I think her exact words were, “Into non-being, which is to say, everything, but it’s still a good point. I think that means that people who are vegetarian for health reasons or find the idea of eating puffins disgusting can still eat the puffin puffs, but it wouldn’t make much sense for people who don’t eat meat for ethical reasons, like me, because then the meat that was already produced goes to waste and the tofu has to be produced as well–but I’ll ask the wungs about it later. Maybe the meat is saved for the next party or something like that. I’ll have to see…” I trail off, grab a large plate, and pile sweets onto it. Once my plate is full, I begin eating, although I speak between bites. “Speaking of which, does anyone else think there really ought to be tighter regulations on Vanishing Spells?” I ask. “It seems to be legal to Vanish anything except people and their property, which means you could animals–and there’s no good reason to Vanish them, because once they stop existing, you can’t use them in any way. I wouldn’t be surprised if they did that in Transfiguration, actually, but I don’t remember whether we saw that happen…. And why don’t they just go to all the landfills that are taking up space on earth and vanish the trash? Wizards can be so illogical…” I return to my cookies and candy as someone replies.
‘Oh, yes, that was what I meant to say. Silly slip of the tongue, really! If you’re not a vegetarian, though, will the puffin puff remain meat-filled if you don’t squeeze its beak? There’s no obligation to get rid of the meat, is there?’
I’ve finished my first piece of gingerbread and grab another two. They’re almost addicting, they’re so delicious.
‘Can you Vanish animals? I suppose there’s never any good reason to Vanish anything, if, as you say, they stop existing and you can’t use them in any way. It doesn’t stop people from Vanishing other things, though, so perhaps the same applies to animals and the like. And the landfills idea is a good one, but don’t you think Muggles would start wondering if the trash in landfills started disappearing? Might be a violation of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy, don’t you think? Still, it would be a good idea if the wizards could figure out a way to make that happen without raising any awkward questions – though in general I think they’d prefer not to interfere too much in the Muggle world.’
I laugh, slightly sadly. “Indeed. Magic itself tend to be rather illogical. I mean, technically it could be possible to use it in so many ways for good… or for such bad. And I guess that’s the risk – if you start using it for big, important things, it gets… well, big and important.” I bite into a piece of gingerbread as I trail off, munching and thinking.
Slipping through the door, I peer in an anxious fashion around the hall. Taking in the stunning gingerbread houses and the snow, I suddenly realize that it’s very warm. That fireplace might have something to do with it, but without taking too much time to worry about it, I start to unwrap.
I do not like to be cold, and it’s evident in my apparel – knitted gloves, hat, and scarf wound tightly around my neck, all blue and embellished with small penguin appliques. My navy peacoat also sports signs of penguinism, but more subtly – a pin on the lapel. I leave that on for now, but open it, revealing a simple black skirt and blue shirt. I’m wearing a tie as well, with (whaddya know) penguins pacing up and down it – I like ties. Having learned to tie them only fairly recently, I have been taking every opportunity to wear one.
Noticing a small group of people, I approach them, feeling a little uncomfortable. My eyes alight on a plate. Food. There is food. Always a good way fill conversation. And then they might have dishes that I can clean later… Escapes are good.
“Hi?”
“Hey!” says I, as an new guest walks up to us in an almost waddling fashion. “Puffin Puff? They’re in season. Then again, dead inflated puffins are ALWAYS in season.”
I grab another one and toss it en’s [pretty sure you’re female, but trying not to offend] direction. “Guys! Initiation ceremony over here!” I call, summoning the others over to watch. “Hey, it’s Adeliae, right? Aight, this is really easy. If you’re a vegan or otherwise dislike meat, squeeze the beak. Otherwise…well, I like ’em whole, but it might be a good idea to remove the beak and legs. It’s the Puffin Puff equivalent of watering down alcohol. And then you swallow it. Up for it?”
I smile, remembering my first Puffin Puff.
I nod, somehow managing to flail out and catch the Puffin Puff. Hey. That’s unusual for me. I take a second to celebrate my small victory.
“Remove the beak, eh?” I say, examining the… thing. Carefully, I remove the beak and legs and pop it into my mouth and swallowing.
“Very… nice.”
I drift into the room in my usual detached manner, singing Christmas carols quietly, and take in the decorations. The room is simply breathtaking. Taking off my coat and scarf, I head over to the refreshments table to join the others. I am wearing a long, dark green shiny dress with a light green gauzy overskirt and a gold sash and embellishments.
Scanning the table, I pick out a few items that look the least dangerous. I turn to Agent Lightning. “All the glass in this room looks like candy,” I sigh. “Would it be a breach of decorum for me to start eating the windowpanes?”
I hastily enter the room, slightly late. My dress is midnight blue with a feathery (as in, consisting of feathers) white neckline, cuffs and hem and a white sash (not made of feathers), simple yet elegant. The decorations are stunning as usual, only this year they make my mouth water. I head over to a group of people by the buffet table and somewhat absently pick up a glazed lump. Only belatedly do I realize that what I mistook for a form of icing is actually a feather. I try to discreetly drop the offending puffin puff onto another platter, only to realize that the glazing has somehow glued it to my hand. So they’re taking things to a new level this year, are they?
However, I’m prepared as well. I back away a little, position a bowl under my hand and scan the table until I find the Punsch I was looking for and carefully begin to pour some of it over my right hand. This helps unstick the puffin from my finger. Yes, we go way back, the puffins and I…
I overhear a conversation between two other partygoers discussing the windowpanes and decide to join in. “I think it is, but if you want to go for it I’ll help you break the windows.” I say.
“Hmm,” I say, “I’ll leave you to to that.” part of me wanting to stop them and part of me restraining the first part. bookgirl and CO are discussing exactly how to break off a piece, and I pick up a Puffin Puff, watching Castle as he demonstrates to Adeliae the best methods of eating the strange pastries. Keeping an eye on the windowpanes, I decide not to squeeze the beak: I’ve never had puffin meat beofore. I pull off the legs-or at least I try to, but somehow they’re rather hard to snap off.
Grunting a bit, I yank even harder and the Puffin Puff goes shooting across the room, smashing the windowpane.
Why didn’t I go for the peppermint bark instead? I groan inwardly as something like an awkward silence descends on the room.
“It’s all right,” I grin at Agent Lightning. “This means we can eat the windowpane shards and just make it look like we’re cleaning up.” I steer clear of the puffin puffs and instead pick up a harmless-looking gingerbread cookie. I twirl around a few times for no particular reason and spot Adeliae choking down the remains of a puffin puff. “How are they?” I ask.
((BTW, I do this at real parties too.))
Picking up a piece of windowpane, I discover that it is the best windowpane I’ve ever eaten.
“You’re right; these are delicious!” I say to an equally enthusiastic CO.
I raise my eyebrows slightly at Agent Lightning, and then burst out in a fit of laughter. “You don’t even have to do that,” I say through my laughter. “I ate my first one whole!” Grabbing another, I demonstrate the more efficient way of removing the Puff’s legs and beak.
“See, with the legs, you have to kind of twist while pulling down. They’re not brittle, you can’t just snap ’em. And the beak?” I place my middle and index fingers on the top of the beak and my thumb on the bottom. I quickly put pressure down on the upper fingers and pressure up on the thumb, levering the beak out with a slightly wet “POP!”. “And THAT is how it’s done,” I say kindly. “Want to give it another shot?”
I wander over to a group of partygoers testing out the Puffin Puff method, and join several of them in eating the windowpane. I can’t seem to stop eating tonight.
‘Hey, try doing two at the same time,’ I say to Castle, who has been demonstrating the correct procedure for removing the legs and beak.
En concentrates. The Puffin Puffs, one in each hand, make an exploding sound and its contents splatter everywhere. ‘Oops!’ says Castle.
‘Ah well. No matter,’ I say. ‘Incidentally, his windowpane really is delicious, isn’t it? The icing is just perfect, in my opinion.’
Choklit Orange and Agent Lightning nod their agreement.
‘By the way, do you know when we do the gift exchange?’
“Hey,” I say to Selenium. “Give me another chance here. S’been a while.”
Walking over to the table, I grab two more Puffs. Not bothering to debeak or deleggify them, I look over at the gathering. “Check this out!”
I take the unfortunately inflated bird in my left hand and use its beak to gently deflate the right. I repeat the procedure with the right bird, smoosh the two together into a deflated feathery squishy sandwich and swallow both whole, legs, beak and all.
[The reply system seems problematic for the roleplay flow. Perhaps we should post CHRONOLOGICALLY and use the old number system to reply to older posts.]
((We could deactivate nesting for this thread, though I’m not sure how that would affect comments already posted. Want me to give it a try?))
((I say, go for it.))
[Yes, perhaps we should. I…I appear to have lapsed in my duties.]
“Yes! Firefly is awesome,” I reply to muselover. “Probably my second favorite show ever, next to Doctor Who.”
I stand and watch the proceedings, absentmindedly munching on a pillar that seems like it’s made out of entirely candy cane. I then hear a small crunch, and look over just as a section of the ceiling caves in, showering me in powdered sugar.
“oops…”
“Oh, you like Doctor Who, too?” I say, getting excited. “Have you seen Sherlock?”
“No, sorry … What’s it about?” I say, taking another puffin puff.
I enter, late and not entirerly sure what to. I am wearing a fuzzy blu snowflake dress, with matching a matching hat, gloves, and scarf. I feel slightly embaressed in the dress. They’ve always made me feel that way. I stand by the table of food, looking at the various people talking and wondering if I should join a conversation.
‘Hello!’ I greet a newcomer who has just walked in. ‘I love your dress – it’s somewhat similar to mine, isn’t it? Do try one of these Puffin Puffs. Castle will demonstrate the proper way to debeak them so you don’t get a mouthful of Puffin extremities.’
I brush some feathers away from my mouth, smiling in a slightly panicked way. My hands are sticky with candy and glaze. At some point my mind experiences several processes, including “HOLY MALTESERS DID I JUST EAT THAT” and “…did I do it right?” and “Actually… it wasn’t that bad.” I attempt to sum up my thoughts in a sentence.
“These Puffin Puffs are… unique,” I manage, mustering a surprisingly authentic grin. The holiday cheer is getting to me. Noticing some newcomers, I wave my sticky hand at them. “Hello there!”
I help myself to another Puff. Not quite ready for the intense culinary acrobatics happening around me, I go for the more basic route – prying the legs off delicately I pop the… creature into my mouth.
They’re not that bad, when you get used to them.
Sorry about that, I didn’t really bother to read the descriptions of everyone’s clothing. I usully don’t. I suspicously pick up a Puffin Puff. “Um….I’m a vegatarian.” I put Puff down carefully, and instead try one of the various other candies in the room.
I wander over to where some people are discussing television shows. “Did someone say Sherlock?” I ask.
I rush in, dreadfully late. I remove my navy-colored felt jacket and hang it on a hook. I am wearing a white turtleneck sweater, dark blue corduroy pants, and a silver necklace decorated with a wind rose.
“Sorry I’m late! Some urgent museum business came up at the last moment!” I apologize, and head over to the snack table in the hopes that something still will be left.