( 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]

[ Oh no... H-He's trying to engage in more small talk. She thought it was over! She's used up all of her confidence and energy to give that confident smile thinking he would leave after, so what now?! Deep breathes? No, that would betray her anxiety rising.

He's so kind, she doesn't want to make him feel like he's doing something wrong, when he really isn't. ]

I-I work at a flower shop during the week and at the graveyard on weekends.

[ Is she shrinking? No? And yet it looks as though she's sinking into the bed, as if somehow the goddess is subconsciously trying to disappear. ]

Y-You should find something that you... That you like?

[photosympathies]

Tsurumaru's flower shop?

( Vash isn't quite sure it's his specifically, but it feels right to connect the dots. ) That's so neat! I visited once, I really enjoyed it inside. We don't have flowers where I come from so everything was just - ( There are no words, so instead he just lets out a very big breath. ) - lively? You know? But you must be real busy with both.

( He talks too much, he knows this. But sometimes distraction helps him? So he's going for it. )

I'm trying. I'm thinking ... well, I'd like to work with kids. My buddy Yato said I could be a teacher's aide maybe. So I'm looking into it. We'll see where it takes me.

[queenofkur]

[ Ah... He knows Tsururu, Yato and he likes flowers too? That helps her hold on to what little confidence she has left! ]

Yes! He's the one who encouraged me to work there when I was still hesitating... [And she doesn't regret her decision one bit.] I understand what you mean. There are no flowers where I come from either. But I hope my experience here will help me fill my underworld with flowers when I return.

[ Hopefully. Maybe he could learn too...! Then he'd get flowers home as well. ]

Yato gives good counsel. [Sometimes.] If you like working with kids, that sounds like a good path to follow.

[ After Kindergarten Cop, the unexpected sequel, Kindergarten Stampede?! ]

[photosympathies]

Oh! That's a real good plan.

( He hasn't been thinking about his return at all, mostly because if he thinks about it too hard he'll have a nervous breakdown and there's nowhere to run off to. So, swallowing all that down and pasting a nice cheerful façade on top. ) I'm real glad to meet someone else who gets it though. The first time I saw the ocean here I could have cried. And I've seen grass back home, but it's mostly preserved inside of the ships, it's not just ... on the side of the road, you know? So it's really nice to be able to just go look at flowers or pat the side of a tree. I feel really lucky.

( Earnest about it. )

Maybe one day we could go walk around the gardens together? ( Anxiety buddies. ) It always calms me down!

[queenofkur]

[ Wow, his world must be in a terrible state, seeing how he describes things. It's to be expected from the Underworld, but for the world humans inhabit to also be like that? That's... sad. That's not how things should be. She tries not to look too sad though! She knows if it was her, she wouldn't want people to look at her with sadness in their eyes... ]

Yes... Though this situation is terrible, it feels like a vacation to me. Hopefully we will manage to bring this world to its salvation.

[ Though it's going to suck so hard once she'll be back home... She doesn't really want to think about it either.

A walk though...? H-he's really so much more social than she is! But after everything they've said, she feels a tad more comfortable, so she won't say no. He's a good person - and friend with some of the people she respects the most here. ]

O-Of course! [She stands back up and picks her mask, putting it back on.] Even if they're all illusory, those gardens are really beautiful.

[photosympathies]

( Ah. If this is a vacation to her then Vash is firmly putting her on the list of people to check up on. She was already mostly there because of the anxiety, now she's solidly on it. It's steadily growing but she seems nice. )

I like to at least tell myself that even though they're fake here they must be real somewhere, right? The idea has to have come from someplace. And who knows! Maybe we'll get to go somewhere with a proper garden soon. Though I absolutely will lie down in the grass if we do.

( Photosynthesise. )

[queenofkur]

[ She can't help but laugh. The way he speaks is so genuine and what he just said... It is kind of funny, is it? It's probably her first real laugh in a while. She often smiles and laughs of course, but most of the time they're fake so people don't see what's hiding under her figurative mask.

And besides: ]

I... I think I may do that too. [She nods.] Let's remind each other if we ever visit such a garden.

[photosympathies]

Yeah!

( Brightly, because he just really likes making friends, and she has a nice laugh. ) That'd be real fun actually. Especially if we're both not used to it, we can appreciate it together.

( And he's curious about her, about her world. But she doesn't seem like the kind of person he should immediately start prying with, her anxiety aside. A more gentler approach ( or as gentle as Vash the Stampede can, really ). ) Man, okay. I should really find my buddy. He's new and I don't want to leave him alone too long. But can I help you get anywhere first? Or fetch you anything?

[queenofkur]

[ She nods and ah- ]

I'll be fine, I'm going to take my time going back to the gala.

[ Besides it means she can pull herself together while she's on her lonesome - recharging your social batteries is harder when you're talking to someone, somehow. But she doesn't regret it. Meeting new people - good ones especially - is always a good thing. ]

Thank you again and please take care, alright?

[photosympathies]

Okay, but if you change your mind you can use the thingy to contact me, okay? And I'll come back.

( A bright smile, a little wave, re-situating himself. )

It was really nice to meet you Ereshkigal! I hope you enjoy the rest of the party. Let me know if the candy thing works.