A SAVAGE LAND FOR A SAVAGE NIGHT

[professorlionface]

WHO: EVERYONE OF ALL AGES
WHERE: The Xavier Institute
WHEN: June 15th, early evening to all night long!
WARNINGS: Who knows! Language is likely, violence is possible, dancing is mandatory.
SUMMARY: prom night prom night gotta get down on prom night
FORMAT: MINGLE

As you enter through the doors of the Danger Room, the sound of cicadas chirping clues you into your arrival to a tropical paradise. Red and orange lights show a room transformed, vines all along the walls and trees that seem to reach the beyond the ceiling. There's no doubt now, you're deep in the heart of the jungle. You can almost feel the heat of a distant volcano, the humidity wafting in from a river just outside, but that's only your imagination. Luckily, someone had the foresight to bring an exterminator into this jungle beforehand, as there isn't a bug in sight.

Fierce papier mache dinosaurs look down on your throughout the room, some perhaps planning their next meal, others regarding the intruders to their home with something not unlike fear. From the stage, the gleaming jaws of a downed Tyrannosaurus look on at the partiers, hungry even in its taxidermied stated.

But there's one ornament that stands above them all: the mirrored surface of what appears to be a pterodactyl man, reflecting the lights all across the room in ways most disco balls only wish they could.

Welcome to the Savage Land. Hope you survive the experience!

quick links!
DANCE FLOOR
REFRESHMENTS
SIDELINES
OUTSIDE

Comments

[invoking]

Uh...! Yes, I do. [ He does end up being dragged out there, because he's too shy to do the leading.

When they get to the floor, he stands there awkward, staring down at her. (Well, trying not to let his gaze linger because of her dress.) ]

Um...

[wisecracked]

[She chuckles lightly as she positions his hands, one on her hip and keeps the other in her's while placing her free hand on his shoulder.]

Then you can lead.

[invoking]

Me? [ He's baffled by her suggestion and he wants to argue, but it already feels like he's been stalling for so long and his hand is holding hers and he's so glad for gloves so she can't feel how hot and sweaty his are.

He's very conscious of everyone around them, half-expecting them to turn their attention to the two and scrutinize Gil's every move.

Gulping, he slowly reaches a hand to her hip. Right hand on the partner's hip and left hand should be holding her right hand and raising it about shoulder level. He manages to do so, but not without visibly shaking. ] I-Is this okay? I'm not holding too tight, am I? Or moving too fast?

[wisecracked]

[She snickers and nods.] If it wasn't I'd let you know. So just relax.

[She keeps a respectable distances between them for the time being, no need to have Gil any more nervous then he already is.]

[invoking]

[ His shoulders are tight with tension regardless. He tries not to think much on where his hand is and the fact he's touching her. When he does, he tries to tell himself it isn't inappropriate, it's just dancing. They do this all the time back home at high society events.

It's very little distance anyway. This kind of dance you need to be close to each other. He checks his feet to make sure he's not about to step on hers and begins slowly so she can match his pace. ]

I'm fine...

[wisecracked]

[She could be pressed right up against him, which she'd do if she thought he wouldn't jump out of his skin.]

Gil. [She levels her gaze on him.] Lying is bad and I know you well enough to know you're not fine. But it's just one dance so relax. When it's over you can go back to hiding against the wall.

[invoking]

[ He pauses mid-step before he carries on, although he looks down at her bewildered, like he hadn't expected to be caught in a lie.

Who is he kidding? Hadn't they spent enough time with each other to know when one was lying? He takes a deep breath and lets out a heavy sigh.

He feels like an idiot. ]

I'm sorry.

[wisecracked]

[She smiles up at him, her apparent disappointment gone in a moment.]

Don't worry about it. You just need to learn to lie better. [Her smile turns into a bit of a grin.] But you still wouldn't be able to fool me.

[invoking]

I've made the atmosphere so depressing again. And you deserve to enjoy the night...

[wisecracked]

[She lightly slaps his shoulder.] No you haven't! If you had I would tell you. Trust me on that.

1/2

[invoking]

[ He recoils instantly. ]

Ow!

[invoking]

[ Would she tell him? He has no idea. His face lights up like a red light bulb once more. ]

I-I just...!

[ He can't even look her in the eye as he tries to find the words. ]

I just wanted you to have a good time tonight because of... [ Well, he doesn't have to say any more. ] You like parties!

[wisecracked]

Oh I didn't hit you that hard you, big baby. [Teasing.

Her smile drops a bit as he starts to explain but quickly comes back.] Damn right I like parties. But don't worry so much about it.

[invoking]

Who's a baby? [ He grimaces and then tries to focus on his steps again. ]

Then you're... ah, having a good time?

[wisecracked]

You are. [She sticks her tongue out at him.]

I already told you, I would tell you if I wasn't and I am. So stop worrying.

[invoking]

[ He merely grumps at her again. ]

That's good... then.

[ He frets and he can't help it. While he would rather be at home then here, in the end, his problems hardly outweigh the problems of others. No matter how he feels, everyone else he cares about comes first. ]

[wisecracked]

[And she's just going to giggle. Adorable grump.]

Are you at least having fun? [Despite her selfishness she does want Gil to enjoy himself.]

[invoking]

[ He swallows nervously, but he nods. ]

Yeah... it's been a nice night so far. [ Save for whatever happened with the punch bowl and those kids. His hand sensed someone's power, but he wasn't too sure what it was. ]

[wisecracked]

I'm glad. I was hoping you'd have some fun. [Spiking the punch is an age old tradition. Just be surprised Kenzi wasn't the one doing it.]

[invoking]

[ In a way, there's some comfort knowing he's not the only non-student here. ]

You don't have to worry about that... you wanted to come tonight. You should probably mingle with the others later.

[wisecracked]

[Everyone had been invited so there was no way Kenzi was missing out.]

I've done a bit of that already. More won't hurt though.

[invoking]

Julian is here. [ Maybe she'll want to talk to him. ]

[wisecracked]

Yeah I saw him with Sofia. [Ever seen Kenzi look awkward? No? Well, now you have Gil.]

[invoking]

[ He does, though he isn't sure what to make of it. ]

Sofia... [ He actually does turn to look wherever the two are. When he spots them, brief recognition crosses his features. ] Oh, she was at your party. We also met in that machine city... Metricog.

[wisecracked]

Yeah. She's Julian's girlfriend. [Pushing the awkward away because her crush on Julian doesn't matter. She's totally over it.]

Ah, right, he called while we were there, asking about her. Course, by the time I called back he had his answer.