( open. ) masked gala

[uncourteous]

WHO: Any Outsider is more than welcome!
WHAT: The Royal Gala (citation needed)
WHERE: "Ruby Room," an event hall in Neo Tokyo.
WHEN: 10th day of September.
WARNINGS: Alcohol, potential suggestive topics, and will update as we go!

Throughout the week leading up to the event, every Outsider will have received an elaborate invitation in a wax-sealed envelope. Each letter will be relatively unique, but ultimately seems to carry the same contents:

Your presence has been summoned to the first annual royal gala, which will take place at the Ruby Room on the 10th day of September, the year 2078. Please come dressed appropriately, and do not forget a mask. While not required, depending on your dancing abilities, it is highly suggested.

- Callisto Regulus

CODED BY TESSISAMESS
Whether people attend out of a sense of obligation, out of suspicion in finding more about the event (and by extension, what it entails), or even simply as an excuse to dress up and raise ones spirits— all is welcome. While no theme is established, one could likely surmise from the envelopes that the colors of the venue will be predominately decorated in reds, black, and golds.


No matter where one looks, the entire hall has been intricately decorated. While the vast majority of the venue appears to mirror what one would see in a palace, including all the pillars and seemingly expensive items put on display, if one peer through their oculars, they will find it is designed much like ones room upgrades are: through technology. Though, a smaller percentage of some of the items appear delicately handmade, including the lace on the dining tables thanks to some assistance. It is as much the decadent scenery as one could envision, even if to some degree, it's fake. But, listen, they do technically have some sort of budget.

Additionally, as specified on the invitation, as soon as anyone walks through the doors of the venue, and have their names announced (per course of a royal celebration)— if they are wearing a mask, they will find that their identities are obscured from others. This includes their appearance and voice, which may appear blurry or slightly different to what it usually is. This is because the venue itself casts an affect on anyone wearing a mask, making them completely anonymous to one another. However, the illusion is quick to break if one just removes their mask!

Aside from the mystery of the masks, there will also be several other forms of entertainment available for the night:

1. DANCE
As with any gala, there will naturally be music and dancing throughout the night. Soft music will play throughout the venue and will include several tunes. If one doesn't know how to dance, perhaps they will have a partner who knows all the steps? If not, if they open their oculars, they will find several guides passive aggressively attached to a folder dropped to all Outsiders called "Educate yourselves" made by yours truly. They do, however, appear to be fairly good guide videos, even if they are made through AI, and may even utilize your own face? Oops.

2. GARDEN MAZE
There will be a section in another room of the venue that is labeled as being a maze. When one enters, they will find themselves surrounded by extremely tall shrubs, or what appears to be that. Instead, it is much like a virtual escape room. The point is to find the exit that will lead them back to the dance hall. However, it won't be so easy. Hopefully no one loses their partner for the night in here.

3. SECRET PASSAGEWAYS
If one explores the maze deeply, they will find that the main hall isn't the only place it leads to, instead they will discover that there are several hidden passageways that lead to secret rooms. Perhaps, it was made to provide some people some privacy. Privacy appropriate for such a demure and mindful event, that is.

4. FIREWORKS
At the end of night, there will also be a firework show. Considering that actual fireworks weren't permitted even during the festival period, it's reasonable to say there will be no real fireworks here. However, what guests will get is a VR firework show at the end of the night. Perhaps, not an entirely poor way to end it.

Perhaps, these events and how elaborate the venue is at least makes up the lack of food items. While there are food, they are kept rather simple. Maybe in light of recent events, it was decided they keep it within means. While the food may appear fancy or delicious, they will be made with what is similar to ration bars, but in varying flavors. To make up for it, the main dish, however will be a delicious mystery meat. No one knows where it comes from, or what it's made of.

There will also be several speeches throughout the night, and perhaps you may also feel inclined to make your own before a toast? Whichever the case, surely no one is here for Callisto's speeches, at least.


( ooc note: the mask prompt was approved by mods and purchased with points, but feel free to have your character remove their mask if it's not their thing! i just wanted to add in a fun surprise in the log. also, you're free to assume whatever is typically in galas to be here, so don't feel locked into anything! the most important rule of all— have fun!!!

once again, your character is free to get an invite as everyone was invited! 👍 )

Comments

[uncourteous]

[ he supposed it's what most men at war drank as well, and by this extension, he can sort of picture what it's like. men at sea were likely just as much in war or peril in a sense.

he can sense she probably is holding back from being sentimental, maybe, and so he also seems to brush over it. though, who is to say whose benefit it's for. ] They say being out at sea can make time feel like it stretches out for far longer. Likely because all you see around you for so long are the same stretches of ocean and sky. I have also heard people's feelings seem to be amplified at sea, whether it's from the danger, or something else entirely. So it's an impressive feat. [ saying this because he genuinely thinks so.

he definitely was more accustomed to land himself. ]

Do you desire to go back to it?

[wheft]

[ his words made her blink in surprise. he's... right, actually. the sea can be humdrum most days, but when the Waves kick up and bring forth the Whale that guards a specific part of the Lake, all hands must be on deck or else. and that's not yet taking ahab's emotional abuse on the crew in account...

and at his question, there's a longing look in her eyes as she stares off into the dancefloor. ]

I always yearn for the sea.

But... I don't desire going back to the Great Lake. At least not now.

[ she has the whole world to see, after all. ]

You speak as though you've fought in the sea before, Callisto. I'd commend you if so.

[uncourteous]

[ he does notice that look, and so for second he just seems to absorb it in silence. especially, before she speaks. ] You really are a lady of the sea.

[ ... ] The Great Lake... Is that because you are focused on the here and now?

[ it's clearly unfamiliar to him as with anything would be in another person's world. it's almost a reminder that they were all equally displaced to some degree. at her own words, he gives a brief chuckle. ] Not as extensively as you, but as I mentioned before, I am no stranger to conquering neighboring nations. [ while the bulk of these travels were by land, occasionally they did need to traverse through ocean and rivers. ]

[wheft]

[ the lady of the sea... set had called her the lady of the lake too. she'll take it as a compliment for now and ignore the weird feeling in the hollow pit of her stomach. ]

I... suppose you could say that.

[ there's a lot of trauma to be found at the bottom of the sea, things that ishmael does not want to dredge up just yet -- and during someone's birthday party, at that. why she keeps bringing up death in this party lately, she doesn't know.......

anyway, she'd rather shift the topic to the man of the hour than on herself, shifting in her seat so that she's facing him. ]

But why conquer lands in the first place? Was there some sort of war where you're from?

[uncourteous]

[ he doesn't know if he believes her statement. he figures there could be something else, but perhaps it was no less dreadful than what one experiences at war. then again, she didn't exactly say for what purpose she had set to sea...

he seems to swallow down this question, however. in spite of how he behaved, he was at least aware enough to see it likely wasn't a topic she wanted to breach. ]

You could say that. Our empire was often at war. Mostly sparked from remnants of the empire's past. [ he supposed even their empires past relationship with magicians is what sparked their ire. ] But, I am sure you are not here for a history lesson. If I had to be honest, the Empress probably sent me to war to watch me die. [ but, he says this in a way as one might deliver a joke.

no real hint of emotion behind it, or maybe it's a point that he is putting on this front. ]

[wheft]

[ war... war never changes, as one would say. whether it be a battle between two nations or more, or fending themselves from oceanic abominations beyond their imaginations. but no, she's not interested for a history lesson -- not yet anyway, when she's still wary of callisto's intentions.

until he just drops that bomb, that is. like it's some kind of jokes. and yeah, she'd heard those kinds of stories before -- hong lu would happily regale tales of how his own family would've tried to kill him in numerous occasions before he'd joined limbus company -- but hearing it from another person makes her feel a certain way nonetheless. ]

She didn't succeed, then. You wouldn't be here celebrating your birthday, after all.

[ a shrug. ]

[uncourteous]

That seems to be the case.

[ whether she intends for it or not, he does appreciate the words, if just because they were a form of acknowledgment in a way.

though— ] How did you know?


[ ?

then, a smile. ] Should I take that as interest? [ thanks, now he can ruin everything. ]

[wheft]

[ ... ]

I have a boyfriend.

[ just drops that bomb like that ]

[uncourteous]

[ ... ]

Interest can mean any number of things, my lady. But, who is the lucky gentleman? A fellow seafarer?

[wheft]

Something like that.

[ technically wriothesley works underwater but - ]

I don't want to know what kind of interest you have in store for me. I'm just setting up boundaries, is all.

[uncourteous]

Do I seem like the type who would cross boundaries?

[ his fake hurt aside. ] I assure you my interest is as pure as fresh snow.

[wheft]

Oh?

[ she puts her wineglass down and looks at him straight in the eye. ]

Then tell me all about it. I'd rather you be upfront with me than beating around the bush.

[uncourteous]

We are on the same team, are we not?

[ he puts a hand to under his chin, as if ruminating over this. ] While I have never been a part of team in any official capacity before, I figure it would be good to become more familiar with one another.

[wheft]

[ blinkblink ]

Really? That's it?

[ THAT'S... SO EARNEST... but she can't help but be on guard anyway. ]

You could start by going away with your arrogant way of speaking, for starters. I don't care if you were nobility from your world, but ranks and the like don't matter here anymore.

[uncourteous]

Why not?

[ would it not be considered novel and new enough to evoke anyone's curiosity? or so he would say, but at her sudden suggestion. ] Arrogant way of speaking? Then how would you suggest I talk? If there is anyone who knows how worthless my title here is, it's me. [ but, should that change his entire character?

to be honest, he thought he was being pretty tame by his own standards. ]

[wheft]

Don't even try to act dumb with me. I've seen how you talked to Wriothesley earlier. Marcille too, for that matter.

[ LIKE... IT'S LITERALLY ON THE NETWORK FOR EVERYONE TO SEE... though ngl it was kind of funny seeing marcille go off at him but those are still her besties u_u ]

And it seems that no matter how much other people try to spell it out for you, you wouldn't listen.

[uncourteous]

The Duke and I simply have our own conversations. He hardly struck me as the sort who would be offended. [ marcille pointing out the fact that callisto said the wedding he (wriothesley) planned was awful is still on his mind, and does actually get a small huff of humor out of him. ]

While I am often misunderstood, it does not mean that I have to like it. Nor does it mean I need to accept others questioning me or my aide. Do you not also believe that to be my own freedom?