03.2023 | WELCOME BACK! Hello friends old and new! I'm so excited to welcome you all back to SITW! I've made some changes to the plot and added the ability to play supernatural charcaters! So come and check it out! I can't wait to jump back into this little town with all of you!
A strange history surrounds the town, it is a place where mysterious and supernatural things have been known to happen. The reputation of the town reguarly draws in visitors and newcomers alike. While some residents avidly believe in the supernatural, others are far more skeptical. What do you believe?
Every year at the beginning of May, about a month before school ends for the summer, the Hollifield family hosts an incredible gala auction in their home in the Country Homes in order to raise money for the schools and the library in Sweetwater. It's one of the 'must go' events that happens in town each year. Items up for auction range from art and antiques to experiences like a trip to wine country and sky diving. Each person who purchases one of the items up for auction also gets entered into a raffle to win a prize at the end of the night. This year's prize is a brand new Lexus!
The event is a formal affair where everyone is invited to dress for the evening, grab an auction paddle as you enter, and enjoy the time socializing while drinks and hors d'oeuvres are served. A string quartet plays classic music that fills the house and every twenty minutes or so a new item is brought up for auction.
GUIDELINES -Anyone who is OLDER than high school aged students may attend tonight's event! -Played characters who fit this guideline: Kalena IrwinPrice Vanderson @kali @zane @murphy Jack HollifieldBrooks Sterling @charlotte Waylon SandersNadine Cartier @julian West VandersonAshley Hollifield -I will not be 'running the auction' so feel free to describe any sort of auction moments that you like in your posts. -To make things a little more interesting: At the end of the thread, everyone who described purchasing something will be entered into a random name generator to find out which character wins the Lexus!! -Have fun! This thread will end on May 29th!
Post by Jack Hollifield on May 1, 2021 14:00:52 GMT
Jack, as the family representative for the family who was hosting the event, had had a strong hand in its planning. Though must of it was done by his now retired father who had hosted so many of these that Jack had lost count, and the hired help who actually did the manual labor, Jack had certainly been involved.
He showed up early in a sharp blue tux and a winning smile and was ready to greet the townsfolk of Sweetwater. He had always enjoyed these events, giving the people of the small town a reason to dress up and enjoy a night of high class enjoyment. With a paddle tucked into his jacket and a glass of whiskey in his hand, he strolled through the growing crowd.
Post by Brooks Sterling on May 1, 2021 14:10:23 GMT
Brooks wasn't used to these sort of upscale parties and while he loved him a good, loud party, this wasn't exactly the atmosphere he was used to. He didn't even own a tux and had ended up borrowing one from @zane. It was a tiny bit short in the legs but not enough to really notice. It was a simple, classic black and white getup and Brooks was more than okay with that.
As he entered he grabbed a paddle, though he wasn't sure if he'd be able to afford actually buying anything, and started looking around for anyone he might know. He hadn't bothered actually asking if Zane was coming and he had only been in town for about a year, so the likelihood of actually knowing any of these was on the slim side. Still, he wasn't too shy to get out among strangers.
Julian would seize any opportunity to go out on the town, particularly for an affair as fancy as this one. As a founding family member it was expected that he would show up to these sort of things, even though he wasn’t the family representative. Besides, it was an excuse to get dressed up and see who was passing for Sweetwater’s best and brightest nowadays.
Grabbing a paddle as he entered, he took in the room, scanning to see whether Kalena Irwin had yet arrived. Almost instinctively, he took note of a couple good-looking women who he hadn’t met before that he resolved to talk to sometime this evening. Part of the fun of being in an open marriage is that they could be each other’s dates AND wingmen at these sorts of parties.
The decorations were elegant and beautiful, with the soft winding sound of the string quartet setting a buoyant but sophisticated tone. Though he still wasn’t sure how he felt about Jack Hollifield , he had to admit - he could throw one hell of a party. Julian turned to Charlotte, glowing with pride and admiration at just how stunning she was. “Well, my love? How about some champagne?”
Post by Nadine Cartier on May 2, 2021 12:34:11 GMT
Nadine didn’t like the fuss of making an entrance, so she always arrived early. Even lurking at the edge of the room, leaning against the wall and sipping her champagne, she was pretty hard to miss. She was a tall woman that always dressed to impress - tonight, in a tailored pantsuit with heels that made her six inches taller than she already was. However conservative she was in her day to day life, she knew how to glam up for a party.
She still wasn’t sure where she fit in among the Sweetwater crowd. Nadine secretly hoped that her brother Waylon Sanders would show up and provide her with a little bit of a distraction, but she wasn’t going to count on it. Draining the rest of her champagne, she let the intoxicating sound of the string quartet fill her senses. Even if she spent the whole evening leaning against this wall, it was worth it for the music. Nadine figured she should take a look at some of the offerings, though. As Councilwoman it wouldn’t do for her to be standoffish. Setting down her empty glass, she made her way towards the table to make a bid - on what, she was not sure.
Kalena arrived shortly after @julian. In fact, she entered in her lovely silver gown only steps behind him, snagging a paddle and pulling up in time to hear what he said to Charlotte.
"Do grab me some, too, Jules." Kalena's red lips spread into a wide smile that would be there to greet her brother as he turned towards her, as surely he would. Despite the tensions in their family, Kalena loved her brother and his wife. If they had a problem with her, it was their problem.
"I'll occupy your love until you return." She bounced her brows at @charlotte.
Post by Price Vanderson on May 2, 2021 18:55:37 GMT
Attending this affair was one of the last placed Price wanted to be, but he was destined to be the next Vanderson head, thus his attendance wasn't optional. Of course, he only cursed and complained in the privacy of his rooms. In front of his parents, he nodded obediently and said something about the value of learning from the best. Something sickly sweet. Something stupidly fake. But they believed it. Well, they either truly believed it or let themselves believe it, but either way there were no quarrels and no screaming, just peace and apparent agreement.
Choosing to treat it like a black and white affair, Price attended in a rather simple outfit, the kind he'd been wearing since before he could walk. He entered on the heels of his parents, and snagged a paddle only because he knew whatever he bought tonight would go on daddy's bill.
He caught sight of Brooks Sterling and and beelined towards him, subtly elbowing his friend in the arm as he reached him.
"Hey," he said in a regular voice, then jokingly added in a whisper, "ya little shit." He grinned and bounced his eyes over the outfit Brooks had on. "Well, well, well. That doesn't look like something you could pick up at a mall. Did you rob someone?"
Charlotte loved these events, she loved the high class feel that she so rarely got in the small town. She wore a sparking red dress , her long blonde hair in perfect waves over her shoulders. She took a deep inhale as they stepped inside, enjoying the atmosphere of the event. She smiled at her @julian with a nod for the suggestion of champagne when Kalena Irwin approached them.
She felt a stirring of dislike in the pit of her belly but outwardly was only friendly smiles. She didn't particularly enjoy her sister-in-law but there was part of her that realized that it wasn't entirely her fault that she had been named family representative.
"Hey, Kalena, how have you been?" she asked with a smile.
Julian cringed as Kalena used the nickname of his childhood. It was something that he had hoped he’d left behind him when he left Sweetwater, but it seemed like nobody in his family missed an opportunity to push his buttons. But, he let it slide. Turning to his sister, he smiled with a hint of loving sarcasm. “Whatever you say, boss.” Knowing full well that his wife wasn’t Kalena’s biggest fan, he leaned in and kissed Charlotte softly on the cheek before departing for the refreshments.
He saw Jack Hollifield greeting guests and playing host. It seems like it was only yesterday when Jack Hollifield had just been a kid, and that’s how Julian often remembered him. It was jarring to see him as the man who now led the Hollifield family. They’d only really seen eachother in passing since he and Charlotte had moved to Sweetwater.
Quickly, however, his eyes darted away from Jack to the enchanting woman that had just joined the Hollifield boy in conversation (@kali). Julian studied her out of the corner of his eye as he moved towards the bar, discreetly checking her out. Luckily for Julian, the bar wasn’t all that far away from where Jack was standing. Maybe he’d get a chance to break into the conversation and introduce himself to her, and say hi to Jack while he was at it. If not, the night was still young, and he’d make sure that he’d cross paths with the bright-eyed, curly haired beauty sometime that evening.
Post by Ashley Hollifield on May 4, 2021 22:55:52 GMT
Ashley was glad that they had the family auction, and she kind of enjoyed helping to plan it, but it was never something that she enjoyed attending. It was often overwhelming crowded, and a bit noisy. She still attended of course, but mainly just because it seemed wrong not to.
She wore a long yellow silk dress, with a matching jacket, and black dress shoes with a short heel. She wore her blond hair down. She put two pieces of jewelry, a sterling silver necklace and matching bracelet. She did not torture herself with any disgusting make-up, even though she knew that most of the women at previous auctions did.
Ashley hung around her father, for a little while, but his conversation with another man was boring. She began to wander around, by herself. She tried to listen to the music playing, but she mostly just heard people talking. She stimmed with her skirt, but in a subtle way.
Post by Jack Hollifield on May 5, 2021 13:25:15 GMT
Jack's smile lifted as @kali approached him, his gaze subtly drifting over her form. She looked stunning in that black dress, no matter how simple it was. It was a shame they hadn't got to talk more at the prom but they had both been busy.
"Why thank you," he replied with a handsome grin, "And Jack is just fine," he said with a little laugh. "I'm glad that you could make it, Kali. It's nice to see you outside of the school."
That was when he spotted @julian at the bar near them. "Hey Julian, nice to see you again," he commented. He was more familiar with his sister as she was both his employee and a fellow family head, but he still definitely knew the man and his stunning wife. "Have you met the lovely, Miss Kali Wyatt?" he asked, tossing a small flirty smile at the woman and not feeling like Julian was a threat, because, hey he was married.
Post by Brooks Sterling on May 5, 2021 13:43:52 GMT
Ah, of course Price would be here. He should have been expected it. As his friend came over Brooks grinned at him. Price was, of course, looking as dapper as he imagined he would. Brooks wasn't entirely sure how he had ended up friends with a bunch of rich kids but he never judged them for the money they had. He liked Price Vanderson and @zane because they were fun to hang out with. It didn't hurt that both were incredibly easy on the eyes too, not that Brooks had ever said that to either of them.
He chuckled at the added whisper and gave a casual shrug in response to the question. "Ya, your brother," he tossed back easily with a smirk. Looking out at the crowd his gaze fell upon Ashley Hollifield and Brooks leaned a little closer to Price.
As if on cue, Julian turned around and flashed a roguish smile at the ravishing woman Jack had been talking to. He heard Jack greet him, but he didn’t bother to look his way. Instead he looked at @kali , connecting with her eyes as if their magnetism could draw her in. Julian was practiced at the art of seduction; while his wiles didn’t work on everyone, he knew he stood a pretty damn good chance at making a woman’s heart flutter.
“Miss Wyatt,” He extended his hand to shake hers, intending to move a half step closer when he did so - provided she didn’t back away. “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure. And I’m sure I would remember meeting you.” Julian always kept a respectful distance, but in his opinion both men and women were far too indirect when it came to showing they were interested in someone. There was a balance between being flirty without being too forward, if you could find it (and in Julian’s case, get away with it).
He idly wondered what Jack Hollifield would think and whether Miss Wyatt was his date for the evening. But then decided he didn’t care. In fact, he secretly enjoyed when people were taken aback by his and Charlotte’s flirtatious behavior. Sometimes people would make snide comments to him about how Charlotte was getting awfully friendly with such and such a person, to which he would respond, “why wouldn’t he be interested? Charlotte’s a stunning woman. She’s free to do what she damn well pleases.”
While Julian and Charlotte didn’t plainly talk about their open marriage, it’s not like they were secret about their intentions. When they were at a party like this one, neither of them were shy about flirting or - if the opportunity presented itself - referencing their martial arrangement to a potential conquest. It wasn’t entirely out of the ordinary for Julian to introduce women he was interested in to Charlotte, partially to gauge her approval of his choice, partially to assure his potential date that his claims of an open marriage were legitimate.
He in no way assumed that Miss Wyatt would be open to such an arrangement. For the moment, he’d be happy to just enjoy the woman’s company.
There was a chance she had underdressed for the event, though she was quite sure anyone who had seen her around expected nothing less. She still wore a dress, floral and to her knees, but her leather jacket was still draped over her shoulders, and instead of dress shoes she's opted for her usual combat boots. At least she'd curled her hair. It wasn't as though she was there to buy anything anyway. If it weren't for work, there was a high chance she wouldn't have even been there. With her camera in her hands, she tapped idly on it with one finger as she weaved her way through the people that were actually there to participate.
Her goal was to get at least one photo of anyone in attendance, but even more of those who were running it. Hadley stopped, her camera lifting to her eyes as she snapped a few pictures, particularly of the council members she saw there. When she lowered it again, the blonde leaned near the closest person to her, a small smile tugging at her lips, "anything interesting yet?" She questioned curiously, lifting one eyebrow. It was a pity she couldn't drink while working, at this rate, she was going to need it.
Post by Nadine Cartier on May 5, 2021 21:14:10 GMT
Lingering around the auction table, Nadine glanced at the familiar names of businesses that operated in Sweetwater. She was familiar with them all, of course. The town council could make or break a business, and Nadine saw to it that her support came with a price tag. Her eyes glanced over at a listing for free lawn maintenance for a year from a landscaping business that she recognized. The previous year, she’d granted them an exclusive contract to perform all the landscaping on town buildings and property. To show their gratitude, they’d discreetly handed her a check for $10,000 that she’d promptly deposited into her personal account. Bribe wasn’t the word, no. She preferred to think of it as a coincidental gift. Nadine smirked to herself.
“Anything interesting yet?” Nadine startled a little at the question, turning to see an edgy, attractive young woman holding a camera. Not just attractive, Nadine realized on second glance, stunning. A coy smile drifted across her lips, knowing that the woman was familiar but unable to place where she recognized her from. At six feet tall plus heels, Nadine towered over her, but by the way the young woman was standing she could tell that she wasn’t one to be intimidated. “Found something just now,” Nadine said smoothly. She held out a hand, introducing herself, “Nadine Sanders. I have to say, you seem awfully familiar.”