[OPEN] you can swing it, you can groove it, you can really start to move it at the hop

[appetitive]

Who: Magnus bane (appetitive), Alec Lightwood (angelic_archer), & YOU!
Where: The Vinyl Destination music store
When: night of May 14th
What: An open-invitation party to celebrate the opening of the store
Warnings: Please tag accordingly in your threads!

I. Rock Around The Clock Being that this party is for the opening of a music store, it makes sense that the main feature of the night is a dance floor! Music from throughout the 1950s will be playing, both in the store itself as well as the large loft above that has been converted into a miniature sockhop for everyone in attendence. Records and streamers hang from the ceilings and there is a lot of black, white, and pink to be seen. There's also a small stage in one corner set up for anyone brave enough to pick up one of the guitars that usually adorn the shop downstairs, as well as several microphone stands that are hooked up to a karaoke machine. Come in and dance the night away! Anyone wearing era-appropriate attire will random prizes. II. All Shook Up Being that this is a Magnus party, there is a wide range of cocktails to sample being made at the open bar. Most of them are were what was popular at the time—Manhattans, Old Fashioneds, the classic Gin & Tonic—but requests for specialty drinks are being taken as well. There are also, in true 50s style, milkshakes that are creamy enough to tempt even those who would usually try to resist. But there's a twist: they're alcoholic. None will be served to minors, but it's totally possible that the adults won't realized their delicious treats are spiked until after they've had their second (or third) glass. Also, though the upper loft is well-lit for dancing, the first-floor store has plenty of dark corners for making bad decisions. So grab your honey, grab a drink, and enjoy the night together. III. Tutti Frutti Half of the upper loft is dedicated to refreshments as well as boasting furniture looks like it was ripped from a diner—you guessed it, chrome with red vinyl upholstery. A table along one wall is ladden with miniature versions of popular diner food—cheeseburgers, hot dogs, even tuna melts—as well as french fries and plenty of other finger food. And, because this is the 1950s, there's jello. Lots of jello. So much jello that it's insane, how can anyone love jello this much? Luckily, if you don't go ape over gelatine-based desserts, there are also record-shaped cookies and non-alcoholic milkshakes for the kiddies. Seeing as this is a small town with families, and thus minors, there are plenty of drink options for those who aren't yet old enough to drink or who prefer not to. IV. La Bamba No invite is necessary, IC or OOC, for anyone who'd like to jump in and join the party! It's safe to assume that flyers have been up around town to announce the time and place. Hopefully, with enough people in attendance throughout the night, there's plenty of chances to make friends (or maybe enemies). Feel free to choose your own adventure, and don't worry about boundaries—if it doesn't break the game, it won't break this party post! But be aware that your hosts, one of whom is a warlock and the other a demon hunter, won't stand for any altercations inside the store. Instead, maybe take it outside if the mood or your ex-girlfriend strike you. If you'd like to assume that you're helping run the party—bartending, music playing, etc—go nuts and have fun! CODE BY TESSISAMESS

Comments

[otrazhenie]

[ That fork move was completely accidental, thank you very much, and she'll swear it on a great number of things if asked. (Whether she'd be able to keep a straight face while doing so is a completely different question.) But it was not intentional and she absolutely did not get a thrill from knowing Damon was watching.

Nope. Except actually yes, very much so.

She tries to keep her focus on the other people at the party, striking up conversations and enjoying the provided libations, but he's like a sun she can't help orbiting around. Those glances aren't enough, the brief conversations certainly aren't enough, but she does her best to hold off as long as possible before giving in to the one thing she wanted that they could actually do here in public.

Downing the last of her glass of something that was alcoholic with some cute old-fashioned name, she set the empty glass on the bar before sidling up beside him as he finishes talking with another partygoer. ] So what's a girl gotta do to get a dance with her brother-in-law?

[ She might be tipsy, but she does remember the parts they have to play. ]

[unforgivably]

Ask nicely.

[ He smiles. He doesn't smirk. But, he does offer his arm to hers. Leading her to the dance floor, his arm loosens, pulling back and taking her hand. One twirl out and then back in and their dancing, Damon not being able to hide his grin. ]

Enjoying all the polite small talk?

[otrazhenie]

[ Dancing with Damon will forever be one of her favorite things to do. She remembers that first time, when it was Stefan she'd been expecting to turn around the floor with her, and all those times after, including the one when they'd been saying goodbye. She lets him lead her now just like he had then, trusting him to not send her careening into someone else. ]

Yes, actually. I'm having a good time. [ So long as she doesn't think about things too much. ]

[unforgivably]

You are. [ His intense eyebrow raise is only minimal, indicating he knows she's had a few. But, she deserves them. But, his expression turns more to one with concern, making sure she's alright. ] Are the memories still coming?

[otrazhenie]

[ Don't worry, Damon, she promises not to overdo it. Having the world's worst hangover in the morning is not on her agenda. ]

Every so often one hits me really hard. [ She keeps her voice quiet because she knows he'll still be able to hear her just fine. ] Twenty minutes ago I remembered a funeral, but since it's probably the tenth one I've remembered this weekend...

[ Well, she's not crying, so that says something, right? ]

[unforgivably]

Caroline's mother, Liz. If they're coming in order. [ But, he doesn't know. Only his came in order, like he'd lived through it. They didn't come chopped up. They came as one long movie. ] And, Katherine?

[otrazhenie]

[ It had been that particular funeral, actually, but not everything had come in order so far. Sometimes it all got jumbled up, which didn't make it any easier to put her pre-Pines life back in order.

She frowns in confusion at the mention of her not-sister. ] What about her?

[unforgivably]

Any unpleasant memories? Elena, of anyone I could be married to, or fake married to, Katherine would be the last person you'd want. [ He searches her eyes, realizing it hasn't kicked in yet, that she is jumping around. ] You don't remember anything about her.

[otrazhenie]

[ She shakes her head, not understanding exactly why he's reacting this way. ] No, I do remember some things. I know she was pretty horrible over the years and I hated her for a long time, but things are different now. [ Aren't they? ]

[unforgivably]

Really. Different. [ Wut. ] Look, we've made a truce with her here, but make no mistake, we still hate Katherine. I thought I'd have to apologize for being married to her. It really doesn't bother you. That I'm married. To Katherine Pierce.

[otrazhenie]

You don't have anything to apologize for, Damon. It bothers me that you're married to someone who isn't me, but it doesn't make it any worse that it's Katherine. [ If anything, it sort of makes it better. Katherine wouldn't do anything to hurt her, so she trusts her with Damon in a way she wouldn't with most anyone else. ]

[unforgivably]

[ He nods, borderline happy there isn't extra drama to worry about, but a little confused because he thought he knew how she felt about Katherine. Not like this. ] You don't have to pretend for me, Elena. If it angers you, if it's hard, you can tell me. I'm the one who has to be publicly married to her.

[otrazhenie]

And I have to be publicly married to Stefan. So far as anyone here knows, I'm with your brother and you're with my sister - that's really not that much stranger than anything else we've dealt with. [ Why did he think she was pretending to be okay with this? Well, not okay, but she wasn't going to attack Kathy in her sleep. ]

[unforgivably]

Your -- [ And then, as he twirls her back, memories finally invade his mind. Memories of Katherine's little sister, and Caroline. Elena and Stefan's courtship. Being best man. Katherine being maid of honor. A toast Katherine gives. He's without breath, Elena's back to his, still holding her. ] Katherine's your sister.

[otrazhenie]

[ He hadn't known. She'd been sure he'd remembered it when she and Katherine had. No wonder he hadn't understood. ]

And Nyx is our brother. [ She reminds of him of the rest of their family tree, even though she knows it isn't real beyond this town. ] ...are you okay?

[unforgivably]

I'm -- wrapping my head around our next complication. [ And swaying to the music, sighing. He spins her once more and pulls her back to him. ] Fine. Katherine's your sister. Nyx, I could take or leave, but like I told Katherine, the more people willing to die for you, the better. And what's better than established family. [ It's harsh, but it's Damon. ] You're not disturbed that Katherine Pierce is your blood relative here. Or confused that you're ten years apart but identical.

[otrazhenie]

[ Complication? How exactly Is all of this a complication? Is it just the alcohol and the spinning making it hard for her to follow his train of thought, or is she seriously missing something here?

She doesn't much appreciate the way he frames everything with Nyx, but she understands how Damon thinks, in this instance at least, so she lets it go for now. ] Why should I be? Nothing here is the same as it was before, and wouldn't it make things more complicated if we weren't related? [ Of course, that doesn't really account for how she actually feels that Katherine is her sister, but that's neither here nor there. ] And we're only a few years apart, not ten. Not here.

[unforgivably]

No, it would make things less. One less twist in this incestuous saga. [ It would be less complicated, that she wasn't trying to tear Katherine from limb to limb. His eyes narrow, studying Elena. ] You're not related. You know that, right, Elena?

[otrazhenie]

Yes, Damon, I know that. [ But there's something about this conversation that's making her uncomfortable, and irritated that he's acting like this. So much so that she steps back, pulling her hands away, ending their dance abruptly. ] Before we weren't, but here we are. It feels like we are. And here my sister loves me, and she would do anything to make sure that I'm not unhappy. Isn't that a good thing?

[unforgivably]

I'm sorry, what. Who said that? She said that?

[otrazhenie]

[ Did somebody say it? Is that really important? ] What does it matter who said it, or if anyone said it? It's the truth.

[unforgivably]

Here. And, it's not. [ This is exasperating. ] Katherine Pierce doesn't love you. She hates that you exist. I'm sure she hates that you're here and that you're married to Stefan! [ He takes a breath, seeing that he's actually upsetting her right now. Is this the town's hold on Elena. ] Elena, I feel for Katherine, and I remember years spent dating and then not dating and then dating and then marrying her, but I don't love Katherine. You don't find it odd that you're defending Katherine. Have you remembered her stealing your body, Elena?

[ He's riding the line here, wanting to keep the truce with Katherine, but wanting to get underneath whatever's happening here. ]

[otrazhenie]

[ Upset is a mild way to describe the distress she's in from everything Damon's saying. Katherine doesn't love her? She hates her? That makes no sense, she knows those things aren't true. Yes, she is fully aware that they've had their issues in the past, but none of that matters right now because--

What. ] She what? [ It's almost a whisper and full of disbelief, because no she doesn't remember it. But Damon wouldn't lie to her about something like this--

And then the memory surfaces, as if called up by the mention of it, and she feels like she's going to be sick. ] I need to get some air. [ She doesn't wait for him to respond, just makes a beeline for the stairs. ]

[unforgivably]

[ He wouldn't. He wouldn't lie, but he wouldn't intentionally inflict the pain he's inflicting. ] Shit.

[ He spoke to Katherine earlier in the evening. Things weren't pleasant, but they were cordial. Katherine even made it sound like she expected Elena to dial up her hate. Elena's practical. Damon knows, even as a human, she'd never try to go toe-to-toe and not while they all need to be allies here. But, there's allies and there's love from her sister.

He looks around the party. He could go to Stefan. Stefan could calm her down. Stefan could berate him and then calm her down. If Nyx is here he could comfort her without asking questions.

But, Damon would rather go to the source.

Katherine's mid-schmooze across the way, gabbing with a few busybodies about something or other. Definitely her husband. No, she's not. The ladies are busy-bodying and she's speaking to one of the husbands. So Katherine. It's not a surprise, then, to these ladies when Damon approaches and sets a hand on her shoulder. ] Sorry to interrupt. I just need a quick moment with my wife. [ He looks at the man she's chatting up. ] Aren't you tall. Excuse us. [ As he whisks her away, the grip on her arm isn't friendly in the least.

He pulls her upstairs and away from the crowds, most of which have joined the dance floor or are drowning themselves in the downstairs bar.

Letting go of her arm finally, Damon finally addresses her with the backdrop of the party below. ]

[immoderation]

[ Stefan's never been much for dancing, as Elena well knows. He'll dance with her some when they first arrive, to be a good sport and help lighten the mood, which he knows has been a bit dismal around the house all day -- in no small part thanks to him. But there's nobody else here that he really goes out of his way to dance with. Except Caroline, curiously enough. Of course, Elena should remember by now that the pair have blossomed into the most unlikely best friends over the last several years, but if she's paying attention -- as one of the people who knows Stefan best -- she might just be able to observe the brooding intensity which surrounds Stefan in the blonde's presence, if only because it's the very same kind of subdued longing that she herself used to be on the receiving end of.

However, despite his attention to Caroline, Stefan doesn't miss Elena's abrupt exit from the room. He gives her only a short head start before quickly draining his drink and following after her. ]