oh, we dance in misery

[headandhand]

WHO: Open to all Dualizens!
WHAT: the Plague Memorial Masked Ball
WHERE: the Mayor's Mansion (central Dualis)
WHEN: the evening of November 16
WARNINGS: Visuals/discussion of disease and death in the setting. Anything else, please use appropriate warnings!

At 8 p.m. sharp, the lights inside and around the Mayor's Mansion turn up, and the doors are opened to the crowds that begin to trickle inside. All entrances are manned by Iterations, and all party-goers are scanned for both proper attire (formal and masked, mandatory) and weapons (absolutely forbidden) before being allowed entry.

Once inside, attendees are greeted to a spectacle of warmth and light and lavish decorations, all themed in white accented with gold and violet. Venture into the ballroom, and you'll see intricately carved ice sculptures in various representations of death, all laden with garlands of marigolds and violet chrysanthemums. At one end of the room, a rotating cast of musicians plays soft music in differing arrangements of strings and piano. Long tables at the other end of the ballroom are piled high with punch fountains and platters of delicious party foods, and a few bar stations serve beverages of the more adult variety to those of age.

Outside the main ballroom are seven smaller rooms, for more intimate conversations and quiet recovery from the main gala (or just skulking like a brooding weirdo, if that's your thing). Six of the rooms are decorated in monochrome blue, purple, green, orange, white, or violet, and the seventh room is pitch black with red accents.

Throughout the night, the mayor herself winds in and out of the crowds, shadowed by a pair of bodyguards. She is all smiles, greeting people with a friendly handshake and effusive words of thanks for attending the ball, but she never stays in one place long enough for a true conversation. This is a celebration of life and a remembrance of the dead, after all - not the time or place for talks of business or politics.

Enjoy yourselves tonight, everyone! And remember - death eventually comes for everyone.

Comments

[notverycinematic]

Aw, don't be like that. They tried really hard. [Ever the optimist, huh, Dom?]

[axiomed]

[ he glances at her. ]

What makes you say that?

[notverycinematic]

Any party that looks like this they put a lot of effort into.

[axiomed]

Perhaps.

Though they could use it more productively.

[notverycinematic]

Nobody ever said it was a great idea.

[axiomed]

I refuse to believe no one spoke up for this.

[ like. not one person? sounds fake. ]

[notverycinematic]

Doesn't matter if they're not the one in charge.

[axiomed]

[ isn't that a sobering thought. charles purses his lips. ]

I suppose no one is, not at the heart of it.

[notverycinematic]

You're a real downer, you know that?

[axiomed]

[ deadpan. ]

I'm old, I'm allowed.

[notverycinematic]

Wow way to just accept it.

[axiomed]

Should I not?

[notverycinematic]

Well, you don't have to be grumpy.

[axiomed]

I don't think criticizing decor makes me grumpy, just a man of taste.

[notverycinematic]

Nah, you're definitely just being grumpy.

[axiomed]

And you're intuiting this how exactly?

[notverycinematic]

I'm literally here talking to you and you're being grumpy.

[axiomed]

[ bemused. ]

That's not exactly a compelling case.

[notverycinematic]

So, what, actually talking to someone isn't enough proof now? Fuck, you must be great at parties. Besides this one.

[axiomed]

I am, actually.

And I'm a telepath.

[notverycinematic]

Yeah, I can totally tell.

Cool? Not sure where that came from, but okay?

[axiomed]

[ charles gives a loose shrug. ]

It means that I avoid generalizing. When you have inputs from not just words, but thoughts and emotions, it changes the context completely.

But perhaps you're right and I shouldn't bring down other people's moods.

[notverycinematic]

Everyone else appreciates it.