[this is backdated to the day after Ethan's post and before heartbreak, okay? ;o;]

True to his word, Ethan throws the speed dating even after he makes the journal entry. He has had a lot of help to pull it off from people who volunteered, but he's worked pretty tirelessly throughout the day and night since writing the entry to be ready for the party held in the main restaurant of the ship. It's been good for him to throw himself so completely into it, into doing something positive and productive on the ship.

When one enters the restaurant, they will get a name tag to write their name on so they can wear it throughout the night. This whole event is really more about meeting people, making connections with others who are on the ship too. It's about making friends more than anything else though obviously if romance blossoms than it absolutely would be encouraged with great enthusiasm. It just isn't the actual expectation placed on those who might attend today. The event is meant to be light and casual with no pressure at all on anyone. There are plenty who are here for friendship only too though or just to get to know others, which is totally okay.

There are separate sections set up throughout the restaurant, which has been decorated beautifully by Marissa. There's a buffet table set out, and it is filled with Italian food primarily different types of made-from-scratch pizza as well as focaccia (a thanks to Marissa for all her help throughout the event). There are trays of veggies and meat and cheese for little bites of food. Naturally, there's dessert too at the end of the table (brownies). Trust, every piece of food is absolutely delicious, okay?

There's another small section set out with different tables. Each table has a set of cards on it containing a multitude of questions to ask the person sitting across from you (like If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? or If you could have any super power, which would you choose and why? or What's the wildest thing you've ever done?). After five minutes, the timer will go off, which will indicate that you have to change to the next table to meet whoever might be there. There are no separations based on sexual preferences since this is about getting to know people and making friends too. It's a simple but fun way to get to know other people with questions provided to keep the conversation flowing as best as easily as possible.

These questions that are on the table also appear throughout the room on cards left in various places. Some of them are basics but others are more fun and interesting so feel free to turn to your neighbor who you may or may not know and ask them a question from the card. There are even Would You Rather? questions available to ask.

There's a section with tables spaced out in a more relaxed way with board games of all kinds (the Hale brothers searched high and low to keep a full, varied stock of games to play), room to sit and eat and relax. Everything from Apples to Apples to Monopoly to Cranium to games specifically tailored for getting to know one another. There's a final section with space for dancing. There's music always playing throughout the restaurant, but it's never playing so loud that it would drown out the conversation. The mix of music is pretty wide but remains upbeat with only a few slow tunes in case people want to slow dance a little too.

Don't want to attend the party? The ship may just pull you here against your will because the ship likes to do what it wants, okay? Once here, there may be invisible barriers to leaving too. Men, the ship may also spontaneously remove your shirt or any other random shenanigan to spice up the evening. ;) Just cause.

[Everyone on the ship, they'll find a magic journal in their room, and it is all attached to a magical network. People can write in it, and their name appears beside what they write. It is the best way that Clark knows to get across information to a wide number of people at once on this ship.

Some might not see the entry. Some will be out through the door in their own worlds at this time so they might miss out, but he believes everything has a purpose. Those that are meant to go on these trips, they'll be the ones that see the journal entry about it.]

You want answers to why the ship is here, why you're on it, and how to stop the door from sending you back some place you never want to return to. You want answers as to what brought you here and what the hell this place is. The answers are out there.

I know how to get them, but it won't be easy. Believe me, don't believe me. That's up to you. Don't have a lot to convince you that I'm telling the truth, but I am and I want these answers for my own reasons. Got questions of my own. All I know is my role is to lead the way. Don't have much else beyond that.

We're gonna need three teams of people, and I'm taking volunteers for each team.

One team will be with me, heading off ship to find the coordinates to where all the answers are at. This is the only team headed off of the ship. The unknown is certainly greater out there and so the risk is greater.

The second team will be with a different guide. They will be breaking into the bridge so that when the time comes, they'll get the call from team one and they'll be ready to key in those coordinates.

The final team will be with the last guide. They will be tasked with heading into the engine room to make the ship go the right speed to get there by adding some more heat to the fires making the steam that powers the ship ahead.

There are obstacles and danger that each team will face beyond what is apparent at face value. Even on this ship, there are traps set and dangers lurking. You just have to decide if the knowledge is worth it to you.

On the evening of the twenty-ninth, the ballroom on the main deck of the boat is decked out in lavish black and gold, thanks to Carol and Sophie, and the assistance of the very strong men they enlisted to help (thank you, boys). It's been a while since Carol has thrown a full out ball, and she liked the chance to stretch her event planning limbs again, even if those attending are mostly the ghost robots in their cater waiter wear.

A soft music is playing over the guests as they enter. As they pass through the threshold, there's a table with simple masks for them to choose from, in case they've forgotten their's. Once they pass through the main archway, they'll find their way to the large dance space where the ghost robot band is sitting, because live music is so much better than a recording, and they actually don't sound half-bad, all things considered. They also take requests, so feel free to tell them that song where you always wondered what it would sound like with a full orchestral backing. There's a large, expansive dance floor in the middle, and you're welcome to get out there and shake your groove thing whenever you see fit.

Tables with food line the far left wall of the room, as well as clusters of tables for the guests to sit when they so choose. There's also an open bar nestled into the far corner, for all your alcoholic needs. There are also plenty of dark corners to slip into, if you don't want anyone to see what you're doing, however the narration suggests watching those dark corners carefully. Rabbit holes lurk in pretty much every shadowed area of the ballroom and while they won't always drop you into a strange location of your choosing, there's a high chance they will. There's probably a high turnover of people arriving back in the ballroom, looking like they've gone five rounds with a bull.

Probably because they have.

The boat seem to want to promote this event as much as possible. While not everyone loves a good ball, some non-attenders may suddenly find themselves in attendance, completely dressed and no idea of how they got there. Trying to leave? Might not go so well either. For some, socializing isn't so much a choice as a punishment, but there are probably plenty of people to help you have a good time.

Or you could go on a trip to Narnia. One never really knows.

[OKAY BALL IS GO sorry I was late getting this up. Rabbit Holes are to be used at your discretion, but if you need suggestions or want me to randomize something for you, just shoot me a PM/private plurk/ping me (iluvroadrunner6) and I will give you a scenario. Otherwise, mix, mingle and have fun with all the pretty formal wear. o7 Actionspam/prose/whatever floats your boat for this, it was easier to just write up the top part in prose.]

[ Things you need to know before you ever, ever tag Sophie Wilder, in very particular order:

1.) She has two overprotective supernatural hunter brothers that look like they're built out of stone, one of whom you may have already seen sulking around the boat, destroying one sandbag at a time.

2.) She has an equally protective and at times ornery guardian angel.

3.) She may or may not also be in possession of an psychotic extremely morally questionable vampire ex-boyfriend. You thought Damon Salvatore was trouble.

You have been warned.

Anyhoo, she's going to end up exploring every inch of the boat; at the very least, as much of it as she can. Sophie is in the process of opening doors, curious to see what's inside the countless rooms making up one of the hallways. Each and every room has a different theme. Are you already in this room when she stumbles on it? Or do you get swept into the room along with her? Do you want to choose what this room contains or do you want to risk Ella picking for you?

We just don't know yet. ]

Cordelia is a girl on a mission today. One might find her around the kitchens of the ship, poking around where she probably doesn't belong. But it's for a good cause! She's trying to find where the meat is stored -- and if they've kept the animal blood along with it. She hasn't found an actual butcher yet or she'd just ask someone but as the case is? She's being nosey. She has a vampire friend who is sulking in his room and drawing and it's in everyone's best interest that she finds some for him. They need to figure out a consistent supply anyway because it seems like they'll be stuck on this ship for a while. Better to make it as easy (or as easy as it's ever going to be when they're stuck here away from all their friends -- let alone Connor) as possible, right?

Of course, if you catch her she might try to come up with some sort of excuse with what she's doing. She doubts Angel wants her spreading what he is to everyone.

--

Rebekah is having a pretty terrible day, all things considered. She opened up a door that led to something that pissed her off pretty badly and long story short? Well if she was wondering if her rift change is still in effect here the answer is yes. Because right now a very pretty white kitten is sitting in the hall next to a pile of clothes (including one very important daylight ring) meowing loudly. She wants to go back to her cabin to wait this out.

But she also knows she can't just leave her things here either. Not with her necklace and her ring. So please help her.

You're her only hope.

--

Maxwell is not the cruise sort. Cruises are for people who like to relax and have fun and as Lois likes to remind him -- he doesn't know how to do either one of those things. Case in point -- although he's out on the deck he's fully clothes in his normal sort of hispetery attire with sunglasses and an umbrella over him.

He's currently trying to read a very worn copy of The Lords and the New Creatures by Jim Morrison. Because that's what he does to have fun. He reads poetry. Unlike most people, he doesn't have much desire to explore the ship and see what it has to offer. He's much more content keeping to himself.

Of course, that's often easier said than done.

When Logan falls through the door of the ship this time, he is wet and naked (though his hair is cut unlike in those gifs). It's been a few months since the last time he was here, and he doesn't appreciate being thrown back in mid-bath that he didn't even want to take in the first place.

...it's a long story. Come say hi to the naked, incredibly muscular man on the deck who is beyond tense. He is truly completely and totally naked. Unf.

James Wilder has been here for days at least. The Hunter's mark has taken over, has taken so much from him over time. He got it ten years ago. The mansion is quiet and empty, but his siblings are there and that's all he can ask for. Maybe the ship finally took pity on him, standing around on its deck, searching for something to hunt or kill only to turn up empty handed every time, because he is now in a gym in the ship. He's been here for hours.

Training with various weapons, crossbows, swords, and the like. He's shirtless and sweaty but focused. Need self defense/hunting classes? Come get trained by a really buff dude... who has a hard time being social or 'normal' or having fun so apologies for that, but he is single and... shirtless. That's a thing that can be appreciated given his... abs.

Finally, there's Katniss Everdeen who went to Chicago and then was sent back into a very au version of her own world where both Peeta and Gale are women and it is totally a thing in that world that gender doesn't matter in romance and that two girls can be chosen for the Hunger Games as well as two boys or a boy and a girl, which is what apparently happened to the Katniss that was there before her. She is currently, standing on the deck of a ship with a bow and arrow pointed outward and a confused expression on her face. She has yet to finish it yet (and has been setting the whole arena on fire due to her Rift change, this is a highly AUed version of her world on every single level really).

Nothing is okay.

You've come through a door, and you are on a boat. Specifically, you're on a cruise ship in the middle of some giant body of water. You've come through the door behind you which is attached to nothing and may now be locked. It's relatively empty as giant as it appears to be. The only other passengers that are here appear to also have come through the door for the most part and it is not nearly enough to fill up this entire cruise ship.

Also, who knows who the hell is driving this thing since all of the employees appear to be either ghosts or holograms...

Is this your first time here or your hundredth time here? Do you want a drink or a dip in the pool? Is it day or night? Do you stumble on your room or some other situation either fun or painful within its many rooms, shops, and facilities? Do you run into someone you know or a complete stranger?

The possibilities are unlimited!