( 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

[queenofkur]

[ Well she can't disagree with him there. It may be obvious by now, but her opinion towards her own kind is rather low. She wonders though if their receptions really were that bad...

... Considering they attended them, probably. That and there would have been Ishtar too. What a nightmare. ]

Callisto can be cruel, vile and cold-hearted...

[ Positive adjectives, all of them. ]

But he still did something to help the entire group.

[coordination]

[ Since Eresh mentioned her enjoyment of these events and the romantic aspect of the dancing she's practiced, Yzak takes it upon himself to lead and put a little more flair into it. Wider steps, bigger, more dramatic turns. He is absolutely showing off ... but he's still making sure to focus on how she moves as well so he can adjust accordingly. ]

All accurate descriptors.

But in my experience ... which, unfortunately is a lot, [ Endless exasperation in his voice. ] even those who turn out to be the worst people can sometimes say profound things and have good ideas.

Which isn't to say I think he's actually that bad, just an annoying bastard...! So I'll give him credit where credit's due.

I'm just pleased that so many of us Outsiders showed up.

[queenofkur]

[ Oh wow, he's really good at it! She would applaud, were she not doing her best to follow his steps. It's fun, he's probably the best dancer she's danced with tonight. ]

That's right. [She nods.] And even those people are oft victims to circumstances that were outside their control.

[ Children are rarely born evil. Life just kind of ruins it all for them. ]

Besides, positive reinforcement may encourage him into becoming a better person.

[ Mhm... Maybe she should train Callisto into becoming his better self. Thanks Yzak for this conversation that absolutely will not ruin Callisto's entire night after she gets served a drink or two. ]

[coordination]

As a commander who has to occasionally reinforce a certain soldier of mine here, [ Who could he mean, what a mystery. ] I can only approve of such a method!

[ He's speaking lightheartedly, almost fondly when he says that about Dearka, of course. His partner's clearly capable and not a shitty person (anymore, bless character development), but he's a fucking goofball clown sometimes. This is the ballpark of what joking around is for Yzak. (what a dork) ]

I do think there is much to be said about making your own problem everyone else's just because you're pissed off about it. I've seen beyond my fair share of that.

But you ... you're a good example of how easy it is to not let shitty circumstances corrupt you. They can in part define you, but you prove that there's agency in what that definition becomes.

[queenofkur]

[ She wonders who that person is... She has no idea he and Dearka even know each other, after all! That he uses her as an example of bad circumstances not necessarily corrupting you... She's not sure what to think about that.

There's her low self-esteem at work of course, but also she's not always been who she is today- Both literally and figuratively. ]

W-Well, that's not entirely true. I had become cold and embittered... In some respects, even cruel.

[ Ishtar hadn't deserved it. The humiliation and suffering she went through... All she had wanted was to help her.Save her. Poorly so - even awkwardly - perhaps. Ishtar can't do anything in a simple and efficient way, such is her nature.

But she'd been so angry and filled with resentment, she hadn't even let her sister try. ]

It was obtaining a human vessel and meeting someone who treated me as a friend that helped me return to whom I had once been. [She shakes her head.] Had we met but a year ago, I would not even have been able to talk with you.

[coordination]

[ They're always together on and off base and on missions, so she's more than free to Be Aware in some capacity. They even came to the gala together, but, you know, platonically.

The terms she uses are ... familiar. Painfully so. The start of the first war turned Yzak into something arrogant, disrespectful, cruel ... and all it took was one bad loss to throw him into the deep end where he became so wrapped up in hatred and vengeance that it nearly consumed him.

It's something he can admit and even speak of, now. Because he's learned, he's grown, he knows better now. ]

That sounds familiar enough.

Sometimes it takes someone who doesn't give up on you to pull you out of a place like that.

Who was it that you met?

[queenofkur]

[ Familiar...? he must have suffered through a similar fate. It's not surprising, she could tell when they first met that there was something in his past that had led him to becoming so angry and grumpy.

(he's not like that any more at least!)

Her expression softens when he asks her this question. ]

Ritsuka Fujimaru. [She closes her eyes.] She's the most... The most shining example of humanity you'll ever meet.

[ Sudden mood shift to being happy? Dreamy sigh? Longing expression? Reddening cheeks? Yes, she's absolutely in love, even if she has no idea what Ritsuka's own feelings are. ]

She's not here, and it's for the best really. [A pause.] She deserves a break, not to deal with yet another crisis.

[ Even though... She really wishes she was here, but she knows it's best for her not to be. ]