Charity Gala

[wingspanned]

Charity Gala

welcome

It’s a warm evening in Phoenix, Arizona. The sun is going down, and the wealthy are here (in theory) to donate to the reconstruction of downtown and protect at-risk young mutants from Kick. (Tickets were incredibly expensive.) The night opens with Warren Worthington III and (newly outed) Emma Frost thanking all of the attendees for their support. Warren speaks about how deadly Kick can be, and emphasizes that the death of Mona Elswick is a tragedy that could have been averted. The pair also mention that the actions of the Sentinels were dangerous and frightening, and legal action is being taken against their manufacturers.

But let’s keep the mood of this event optimistic. Warren and Emma invite the participating X-Men (including themselves) to join them on stage. They read out the names of their dates as the heroes step forward, with applause after every announcement. A live band begins playing as the party finally starts.

auction

Drama.

The setting of the gala is the BOOJUM TREE HIDDEN GARDENS, a five acre private garden. The grounds range from beautiful outdoor dance floors to romantic gazebos, private nooks, water features, and open bars. It’s easy to get lost here. Local and tropical plants crawl across the grounds, and as the sun sets the whole place is lit up with romantic fairy lights and lanterns. The on-site horticulturist, Lovell Sun, is a mutant who can encourage plant growth, and they’re very proud of the gardens.

Linford Duncan, a moderate politician, has a little too much to drink and starts talking about how Kick just emphasizes how dangerous mutants are. Some of them can do this much damage when perfectly sober! Any type of drugs or alcohol could make them just as much of a threat. Of course the X-Men are valuable to America, but there's a reason why they have mutant registration laws.

Volunteers.

Paige Guthrie ends up hitting it off with Lovell Sun, the mutant horticulturalist. After some time talking at length about plants, they share with them a rumor about where local mutants are getting their Kick. They’re worried about what’s happening in Phoenix.

Even though Remy LeBeau has a date, a strange man who introduces himself as Brenton Moreau won’t stop trying to get their attention and strike up conversations. He asks them to dance while their date is distracted, and it’s up to them if they agree.

Scott Summers is just trying to get through the night when a waitress accidentally crashes into them, spilling several drinks onto their outfit and the outfit of another attendee. She’s deeply apologetic, and Scott has to defend her to the billionaire she dumped a martini on. The waitress is grateful and, in a panic, gives them some weed in thanks before she scurries off.

The end of the night.

It’s 1:00 AM when the party starts to wind down. Many of the attendees are drunk or just exhausted, but the festivities trail along until 2:00 AM. There’s a limo planned in advance to take the X-Men home, assuming they don’t have anywhere else to be. Warren, however, does insist on a roll call just so that he knows where everyone is going at the end of his event.

Overall, the gala was an incredible success. An absurd amount of money was earned, and things are looking up for Arizona's rebuilding efforts. (Feel free to roll for how much your character earned in the auction!)

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Comments

BEFORE THE GALA

[wingspanned warren worthington iii 🪽 angel]

ARRIVALS & FASHION

[wingspanned warren worthington iii 🪽 angel]

DATE AUCTION RESULTS

[wingspanned warren worthington iii 🪽 angel]

<b>Name:</b> <b>Do you want a random date?:</b> Meggie and Rin will choose for you! If you have any preferences (gender, level of chaos, etc) state so here. <b>If no, who is their date?:</b> You need to describe them! <b>Anything else?:</b>

CAMEOS

[wingspanned warren worthington iii 🪽 angel]

<B>Name:</b> Character name! <B>Name of the Cameo:</b> Who are they? <B>Behavior:</b> What are they doing, how are the behaving? <B>Volunteer Interactions:</b> An opportunity to make your own volunteer spots with these NPCs. <B>Anything else?:</b>

SCENES

[wingspanned warren worthington iii 🪽 angel]

OOC 🌳 DISCUSSION

[wingspanned warren worthington iii 🪽 angel]

OOC 🌳 VOLUNTEERS

[wingspanned warren worthington iii 🪽 angel]

Re: OOC 🌳 DISCUSSION

[frost_queen Emma Frost ♕ White Queen]

Yayayayay thank you Meggie!!! I'm trying to be an adult and clean this weekend so I'll be in and out BUT I'm obviously down for anything! Both Emma and Paige are here - Emma is mostly schmoozing, hanging out with her purchased date, trying to get more people to donate money, and definitely not looking at Scott a bunch, and Paige is trying her hardest to be normal about being in an expensive dress. Half the night she is texting Jono about rich people things she sees. I'll post at least one open, but hit me up if you want either of them!!

Re: OOC 🌳 DISCUSSION

[glovedup rogue]

Thank you so much meggieeee!!!!
Both my girls will be auctioned here. Would love threads w both! Deep in the bowels of moving currently but I’ll be around as poss

Kitty is here to argue w billionaires about ethics and maybe blow one off to kiss a caterer we’ll see how the night goes. Wants to dance with Ambrose and will inevitably be nosy to all her friends.

Rogue is also here and after almost a week undercover it’s nice to be just her. She’ll be an attentive if aloof date to her paid date and be like “ah!!!!” at some of the other guests

ARRIVALS & FASHION: Emma

[frost_queen Emma Frost ♕ White Queen]

Emma had initially planned on a relatively simple dress with burgundy heels to match Scott's gala outfit, but, of course, that was before the break up. She's changed outfits entirely, going for a much more dramatic dress and heels, though her lipstick remains on the burgundy side. Her hair is down and curled, and, as usual, she looks perfectly put together. She arrives early to help make sure everything is set up properly and so she can greet guests as they arrive. Before any of the others go on stage, she tries to fuss with them a bit, making sure they all look their best, but otherwise she's not going to critique anyone's outfits. See how nice she is?

CAMEOS: Christian Frost

[frost_queen Emma Frost ♕ White Queen]

Name: Emma Frost
Name of the Cameo: Christian Frost
Behavior: There was no doubt that Christian would be here, even if he's not involved in running the gala at all. He's chipper and friendly, and while not as skilled as his sister at rubbing elbows, he's doing a good job convincing other rich people to donate as much as he is. Throughout the night he's trying his best to not be super clingy with Emma and manages pretty well. Scott gets one (1) glare that's incredibly short-lived, and he is, predictably, kind of weird at Bobby.
Volunteer Interactions: Later in the night, Christian gets a liiiittle drunk and asks [Character] if they know if Bobby's dating anyone. Also, did he really get married? And also divorced? Emma won't tell him anything about her fellow X-Man. :(
Anything else?: He's stupid.

ARRIVALS & FASHION: Paige

[shake_it_off Paige Guthrie 🌻 Husk]

Paige, who remains eternally grateful that she was not up for auction, is still not overly pumped about being at the gala but has come out of a sense of obligation. In a dress that she refers to as DRESS to Sam, with the front part of her hair pinned back by bobby pins and make-up on, she feels completely out of place but still manages to smile and be polite when she needs to be. At least the venue is cool! Her plan is to look at plants most of the night, and eat a million tiny hors d'oeuvres.

Re: OOC 🌳 DISCUSSION

[allhell magik 🖤 illyana rasputin]

illyana needs to bother kitty...

Re: OOC 🌳 DISCUSSION

[passingthru KITTY PRYDE]

Yes pleaaaaase
I may be rude and ask for threads from both of yours bc rogue and remy may have to talk here too sorry

Re: OOC 🌳 DISCUSSION

[seeingred scott summers ⊗ cyclops]

Scott is trying very hard to act like he is not having a terrible time, which will be derailed later when his (other) ex shows up. There's a chance he'll quit early, but I'd love to do scenes before then!!

Laura is all dressed up and ready to practice being a normal person. She will probably not start any shit but no guarantees. Still figuring out her voice so I'd love to do something with her too 🥺

Re: OOC 🌳 DISCUSSION

[allhell magik 🖤 illyana rasputin]

illyana available at any time to be scott's getaway car fwiw

CAMEOS: Gayle Edgerton

[morestars morestars]

Name: Jono Starsmore
Name of the Cameo: Gayle Edgerton
Behavior: Gayle is Jono's former friend, former bandmate, and ex-girlfriend. She was there for the manifestation of his powers and left paraplegic from the injuries she endured. Rather than having the difficult conversations after the fact, Jono ignored her attempts to contact him and then ran off to America. Not his proudest moment. She's come to this party hoping to reconnect and speak with him. But...he's not here.

Understandably disappointed, Gayle will nevertheless make an effort to enjoy herself. She's still at a party with the X-Men, after all. She's an outgoing, confident girl with a quick wit and a lot of opinions about the ultra-wealthy (...like her parents) that're gathered here, but at least this is for a good cause. She won't mention Jono to any of his teammates until she's had a little bit to drink, then she'll start asking after him. Why he's not here. How he's doing. All that. She does end up striking up a conversation with Paige and wants to exchange Instas.
Volunteer Interactions: Gayle coaxes [Character] into a people-watching drinking game after they spy a rich couple having a 'subtle' argument at the other end of the bar. Each time one of them can predict what a member of the couple is about to say, the other takes a drink! When they abandon the game, she laughs and cheerfully labels them a lightweight. They do feel a little wobbly...
Anything else?: She's wearing a black gown with ruffled shoulders that shows off a tattoo on her back and has dark, striking makeup.

Re: OOC 🌳 DISCUSSION

[morestars morestars]

Thank you for this Meggie~! ♥

Jono isn't here, but his ex is. 😌

Manuel is here, schmoozing and playing nice in an attempt to earn money for the cause/rehabilitate his public image. He's not a dangerous, manipulative mutant. He's just a charming, sophisticated guy. Please tell all your friends. He'll take a little bit of time for friends, but he's mostly focused on his date and the task at hand. This isn't a fun event for him, but at least he got to dress up.

ARRIVALS & FASHION: Scott

[seeingred scott summers ⊗ cyclops]

Scott considered ditching at the last minute again, but is only here to prove that he's normal and no one needs to worry about him. Courtesy of Emma, he is wearing a burgundy tuxedo, accessorized with a floral lapel pin and matching pocket square in white silk satin. He looks handsome and overly serious and, for once in his life, actually gets a drink at the bar. Maybe two drinks. TBD.

Re: OOC 🌳 DISCUSSION

[wingspanned warren worthington iii 🪽 angel]

Obviously Warren and Kurt are here, and I'd love to do some scenes :>

Warren is completely at home in this environment, chatting up the guest and guiding them towards donating more money. He's attentive towards his date, but they kind of have to share him with the rest of the room.

Kurt is busy wooing whoever won the auction for his time, giving them an exciting, romantic evening (even though he might not return their calls tomorrow). He also intends to bother all his friends, and maybe pull some of them onto the dance floor with him.

CAMEOS: Shinobi Shaw

[frost_queen Emma Frost ♕ White Queen]

Name: Emma Frost & Warren Worthington III
Name of the Cameo: Shinobi Shaw
Behavior: Shinobi is here to """be supportive""" but really, he was just kind of bored and figured bothering Emma and Warren would be a good time. He's charming and chats up the X-Men whenever he gets a chance. He definitely gives off slightly menacing vibes, but it's fine, he's not misbehaving.
Volunteer Interactions: [Character] notices Emma and Shinobi having a quiet conversation that grows tense and ends with Emma "accidentally" spilling her drink down his front. She walks off with a thin smile, and he seems to be quietly seething.
Anything else?: Nooooope

ARRIVALS & FASHION: Laura

[wildlike laura kinney (wolverine)]

Laura is in a fringed black dress, domino mask*, combat boots, black lipstick, and no jewelry. Whoever won her as a date may or may not get treated to a monotone description of how she'd kill everyone in the room in under 15 minutes.** That's what they paid for, right?

Provided the music selection doesn't completely suck, Laura will get into the spirit of things later in the evening and drag a couple of friends onto the dance floor.

*She is not doing Wolverine business without a mask. Boundaries.
**Not serious, but her date doesn't need to know that.

CAMEOS: Ambrose Porter

[367 367]

Name: The X-Men!
Name of the Cameo: Ambrose Porter
Behavior: While Ambrose is dressed for the occasion and looks like he belongs here, thanks to the efforts of Emma Frost, he's clearly out of his element. He drifts from place to place, often lingering at the edge of the festivities, and when he finds himself in conversation groups he's quiet and has a deer-in-headlights look about him. He doesn't seem to know what to do with himself or what to talk about with any of these mundane people. He drinks too much as the night progresses and near the end of the party can be found attempting to explain the infinite vastness of existence and the interwoven nature of alternate realities to a very confused socialite. Maybe it's time to get him home.
Volunteer Interactions: When [Character] invites Ambrose to share a dance with them, he's reluctant and insists that he doesn't know how to dance. And, at first, that seems to be true. He's stiff and he stumbles along, trying to follow their lead. After about half a song, though, something seems to shift and he finds his rhythm. His movements become smooth and easy, as if he's done this a million times before. He even starts to show off a little and they catch him smiling. Once they're off the dance floor, he thanks them for a...pleasant recollection before slipping away.
Anything else?: He's here! He has a surname!

CAMEOS: Undercover Facility Agent

[wildlike laura kinney (wolverine)]

Name: Laura Kinney
Name of the Cameo: Marissa Oshita, personal assistant to one of the CEOs in attendance.
Behavior: An unassuming, dark-haired woman in a modest cocktail dress who follows around her boss, acting unobtrusive. Despite her professionalism, she seems very interested in watching the X-Men (they're celebrities!!), particularly Wolverine. Oh sorry, she's on the clock right now, can't chat.
Volunteer Interactions: At one point, Marissa steps outside to take a phone call. [Volunteer] overhears her detailing the activities of someone named "X-23." She receives orders to "continue standing by." When she realizes she's not alone, Marissa abruptly starts talking on the phone about "arbitrage" and "stockholders."
Anything else?: nothing to worry about

ARRIVALS & FASHION: Warren

[wingspanned warren worthington iii 🪽 angel]

For all intents and purposes, Warren is at work. He's talking up the X-Men, guiding more money into the charity event, and winning sympathy. He knows that the energy of this event is a little strained in places, but as long as nobody makes a scene, he pretends it's not happening. He's dressed in a off-white dinner jacket, and his pocket square features a pattern with the saguaro blossom, Arizona's state flower. It was purchased from a local artist, obviously. And, of course, his suit has been altered to accommodate his wings.