Party Like It's Your Birthday [OPEN!] [Mingle-friendly]

[niepokonany]

Who: Feliks and anyone and everyone!
What: Big fancy noble birthday party!
When: November 11th
Where: The Łukasiewicz family estate in Union
Summary: Missing Boyfriend Quest kept Feliks from fulfilling his social duties, so for his birthday, his grandparents are shoving him back into noble society! But that's boring, so Feliks invited the ill-bred masses to come and make his birthday party actually fun.





It's been a long time since Feliks put in much of an appearance at any kind of noble function. When was the last time? Lux's birthday, maybe? Ages ago.

Now that his main reason for being away all the time is gone, though, his grandparents made it pretty immediately clear that he isn't going to get out of his social obligations forever. And what better opportunity than his birthday to throw a party and get him back into the whole noble thing? It's sort of like they're trying to re-debut him to Polite Society or something, he thinks.

Of course, Feliks doesn't care much for Polite Society, as much as he cares for his noble friends, so he's taken the liberty of inviting everyone else to come and keep him entertained. More guests mean more presents anyway, right?

The Łukasiewicz family might not be quite as prominent as some of the bigger, richer noble families, but they rather famously never do anything by halves. Every cobweb has been cleared out of the old ancestral residence that his grandparents stay in, every inch of marble and gold and mahogany in the place polished to a brilliant shine. Flickering candles and glittering overhead chandeliers light the entirety of the estate with a warm glow, from the elaborate ballroom down to the quieter sitting rooms and balconies, and there are lush floral arrangements everywhere, set into vases or twined around pillars and draped over doorways. A large orchestra is set up in the ballroom (which is left otherwise rather open to encourage people to dance), where they're alternating familiar dance tunes with a surprising number of adapted songs from Calderan and Citadel music, even one or two from as far off as Sanctuary or Glacier. Wherever people aren't dancing, a number of humanoid Pokemon in snazzy little butler outfits are wandering around with trays of drinks and fancy little hors d'oeuvres, offering them to anyone who looks thirsty, hungry, or in need of something to do with their hands. (The Gardevoirs are particularly adept at singling out people who need something.) A Blissey at the door (his grandfather's, Feliks thinks?) seems to be in charge of greeting everyone and taking their coats for them.

The guest of honor is dressed relatively conservatively (for him) this evening -- though for Feliks, all that means is that he felt more like wearing pants than a skirt this time. He is still wearing a wine-red tailcoat over a ruffly cream-colored shirt and a gold brocade waistcoat, with gold trim on his tight brown breeches and knee-length boots that have a bit more heel than is strictly considered normal for a man. (What good is "normal" anyway, right?) There are moments when he looks a little overwhelmed by all the people, but with several good friends in attendance, he's able to largely keep it together and enjoy himself, mingling with his friends and dancing with anyone who so much as stands close enough to the dance floor to get dragged in.

[[OOC: Going to put up a couple of headers for different areas of the party; feel free to use this as a mingle post and interact with each other!]]

Comments

Birthday Wishes

[niepokonany]

[This is kind of Feliks's party, so there's really no helping a certain amount of (ugh) socializing and playing host. Every so often, spotting someone he hasn't talked to yet in the evening, he'll break away from what he was doing before to come and talk to them.]

Hey, like, good to see you here! Thanks for coming tonight.

[Or maybe you approach him first? Either way works!]

[wishingalone]

Oh, of course!

[Mami had been mingling. She's hidden any awkwardness she feels -- it's there, perhaps even intensely there, because she's used to being alone. But, she has that practiced, graceful smile on her face.]

It was a wonderful idea, making it open to so many. And the refreshments are splendid!

[niepokonany]

Well, there's no point in a party when no one's having fun, right?

[And if you didn't shake the nobles' way of doing things up a little, who was going to have any fun?]

Glad you like them! Like, did you try the little sitrus berry tarts? They're kinda my favorite so far.

[untalented]

[Waver approached first-- carrying with him a simple brown paper bag with twine handles and parchment paper overflowing from the top in almost florid bunches. He seemed to be using said bag as a shield to protect him from the rest of the gathering, as if he were unsure about what to do in such a setting...

But his hair was neatly pulled back into a prim little ponytail, and his sweater was the nicest he had in his closet. Though it wasn't much, it was a good start.]

Here, [He said after he got Feliks' attention, holding the bag out to the blond.] It's customary to give gifts for one's birthday in Union, right?

[niepokonany]

Waver!

[Feliks burst into glitter again at the sight of his friend, waltzing right over and taking him by the arm in a comradely fashion.]

Is it like, not customary in Sanctuary or something?

[rainsrespite]

[Yuuna saunters right up, and throws an arm around the Birthday Boy, giving him a big, one armed hug.]

As if you'd let me live it down if I missed it, dude.

[niepokonany]

[Feliks makes a little noise of surprise at the sudden hug, but it's not as if he objects! He laughs, slinging his arm back around her.]

What, like you'd want to bail on me for this?

[wise_maiden]

[Big social gatherings just really aren't Raine's thing. The invitation had been open enough, and she was polite enough to attend, but on the heels of what felt like one celebration after another the experiences were just starting to get dizzying, in a way.

Mostly she tries not to draw attention to herself, though at least thanks to her fashion conscious Pikachu once again her outfit is well put together. She also has a small wrapped box that's on the chair next to her. Surely there's a gift-pile somewhere, but that felt impersonal, especially with the sheer amount of people there.

At least that makes it a relief when the birthday guest of honor approaches.]

Goodness, you really are making it around to see everyone, aren't you. [When one picks a good viewpoint for observing... it's really not difficult to notice. In any case, she picks up the gift, offering it.] Happy birthday.

[niepokonany]

[Feliks gives her a little wink in reply to her question.]

I mean, I am kinda the host, right? Even if it's my grandparents' place.

[They were bound to leave it to him eventually, so it was sort of already his, right?]

[He lights up as he takes the gift out of her hands.]

Can I open this? I'm totally gonna open it!

[Annnnd he's already started. No self-control whatsoever.]

Hope this isn't too late

[lunchleader]

Feliks! Oi~!

[And here comes Right, dressed in one of his better outfits, carrying a gift-wrapped box in one arm while waiving with the other. His lovely Herdier, Wagon, is all dolled up very fancy for her breed, and happily trots alongside her Trainer.]

I'm always good for it!

[niepokonany]

Hey, Right!

[Feliks's Sylveon, Anna, bounds up to Wagon curiously, tail and ribbons wagging in greeting.]

Having fun~?

Dancing

[niepokonany]

[The ballroom takes up a substantial portion of the lower floor of the residence, with a gallery on the floor above. It would really be a shame to let such a pretty space and a talented orchestra go to waste, wouldn't it? Of course it would! Now go dance!]

Open!

[niepokonany]

[If there's one thing about noble parties that Feliks actually enjoys, other than pretty clothes, it's the dancing.]

[Any people standing around idly in the ballroom (those he knows in particular) are very likely to suddenly find themselves with an excitable little noble grabbing them by the hand and dragging them out into the floor, glimmering brightly in the candlelight. Even those who were already dancing are apt to be grabbed in between songs with no more explanation than:]

I'm like, stealing you.

[windyflower]

[And meanwhile, here Fuuka was! Just standing awkwardly around the ballroom having no idea what to do. Of course, she could always attempt to ask people to dance with her but she was much too shy for that. Of course, even if she did, she had no idea how to dance!

So just when she was ready to leave the ballroom, she felt someone suddenly grabbing her by the hand...?]

A-Ah um...okay then? But I'm afraid I don't know how to dance...?

General mingling and chatting (sitting rooms, parlors, etc)

[niepokonany]

[If dancing isn't so much your thing, there are plenty of other rooms nearby to relax and chat. Instead of a buffet or a formal sit-down dinner, uniformed Pokemon are making rounds with drinks and snacks, so people can eat and mingle at the same time, wherever they happen to be.]

Open!

[niepokonany]

[My goodness, but what is that delicious-looking thing in that person's hand?]

[Feliks looks around, but can't spot which Pokemon has that particular snack on its tray. He's been dancing so much, and he's really worked up an appetite, and now he's reduced to enviously eyeing someone else's food, sort of wondering if he can like, get them to put it down for a second and steal it without them noticing...]

Open!

[wishingalone]

[Mami is in one of the sitting rooms, on one of the sofas, watching the dance floor. She has a champagne glass, cradling it in her fingers, and looks around for a moment. She has a shiny yellow dress on, with highlights of gold.]

[She also has teacakes. Of course.]

Re: Open!

[windyflower]

[Meanwhile, here Fuuka was watching the dance floor as well. While most of it was her having no idea how to handle such extravagant parties, she would much rather people watch instead.

Although, when she spotted a familiar person nearby?]

Aren't you...? [She said to herself without realizing she said that aloud]

open

[flying_chains]

She didn't know Feliks very well, but...

Well, to be honest she mainly wanted to see what the upper crust of Union lived like, and he HAD said everyone was welcome, after all. She had on her nicest, cleanest dress, which was white with (fake) gold trimmings. She even had on shoes, despite generally disliking them. These preparations still had her looking moderately shabby compared to the aristocrats in attendance, but it didn't seem to bother her.

She wasn't wallflowering so much as she was more interested in the house than the people. It was an awfully fancy house, after all. She hadn't been anywhere like this since she had lived in Gigas. The upper class really did live completely differently.

Mingling

[frozenflame]

[Yukiko didn't really know Feliks too well at all either, but Fuuka had wanted to come, and far be it for Yukiko to not rise to the occasion. She's happily flitting from place to place, socializing with people she knows, glowing rather radiantly in the evening light, and her dress is a really formal, red Union number that's just the right mix of flashy and modest. She doesn't want to catch just anyone's eye though, since she's taken but a little dress up never hurt anyone.]

Oh! Hello there. That's a lovely outfit, you know.

Avoiding the crowd

[niepokonany]

[Maybe all the people are getting to be a little bit much? It could be a good idea to step out onto one of the balconies or into a quiet study or something, just long enough to catch your breath...]

Open!

[niepokonany]

[There comes a point in virtually any party of sufficient size when Feliks swears he could never see another human for the rest of his life and be okay with it. Honestly, no one should invite him to any big parties without the expectation that he's going to try to bail before the end.]

[This time, he's taken to one of the less-used studies, where he's removed all the cushions from two sofas, made a fort out of them in the corner, and is now hiding inside with a Growlithe, a Dragonair, and a Sylveon for company. If anyone enters the room, it's quiet for a moment, before a chorus of curious Pokemon sounds and slightly pointless shushing ensue.]

Open!

[copperpiercing]

[Vin's never been around this many people before--or, at least, not in a small place, in a social situation. She sticks out like a sore thumb, too. She's wearing black traveling clothes; trousers and button up shirt, with boots. She cleaned those.]

[Her tasseled cloak was left at home. Not the place for a mistcloak.]

[But Vin also has a large cheese plate, all to herself, and she's inspecting each one. To see which ones she can save for later. Some things don't change.]

Open!

[untalented]

[Here was Waver Velvet, clad in the best sweater and shoes he could afford with his meager savings, standing near the edges of the food tables and feeling incredibly out of place amidst the glitz and the glamor of an actual nobleman's party. His lanky hair was mercifully pulled back into a neat little ponytail to keep it from getting in his face, but that was the only extra effort he took in dressing for such an occasion-- and he knew he stood out as readily as his foongus stood out against the newly fallen snow.

His obviously unassuming dress and his uncanny resemblence to Feliks was made all the more apparent in the way he could feel the nobles eyes on him-- it was embarrassing.

So he was just going to stay near the wall and drink his tea. That seemed like a safe way to spend the evening.]

Other

[niepokonany]

[Anything that doesn't fit under the above categories can go here!]