dualislogs | oh, we dance in misery

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Hey, same. Had plenty of funding benefits and shit back in the UNSC and a couple with the Project, did the dressing up and playing nice bullshit all around." She hated it, trying to hold back and make a "good impression" so they could get funds for their gear. At least here all she has to bother with is the dressing up part and not hitting anyone, that's pretty simple.

"Yeah, the virgin ones aren't awful, either." She says as she leans in like it's a hushed secret, and it kind of is. She's playing up her act here, alright, can't go around blabbing to everyone her drinks aren't all actually alcoholic.

Edited 2019-11-25 18:07 (UTC)

"Really? I guess the bartender has a talent." And she has a talent for wielding what really amounts to a juice mix like a fancy display.

Considering she's officially here guarding the mayor, it's unsurprising she'd need to be on the sober side.

"And god, I fuckin' thought I was done with this shit forever." It's a heavy weight that comes with promotion. And a heavier weight that comes with a newfound obligation to protect the piece but also try not to be replaced by pod people.

She nods over the bartender bit, personally quite pleased with both kinds of drinks. Though she certainly prefers the 'good' ones with alcohol, maybe before she leaves she'll snag a few extras.

"Right, can't escape these idiotic 'duties' no matter what crazy place we end up in. Could be rotting in Hell and Satan would probably still set up some formal bullshit." Not that she's convinced they're not already in Hell or purgatory at least, with all the shit that keeps going on.

"I think Hell is probably all formal bullshit, no chance to relax whatsoever."

Then, strangely, he feels compelled to actually ask a bullshit question to someone he just met. Much along her thoughts, actually.

"Do you think this might be some sort of afterlife?"

Sure, he's supposedly figured most of this place out. But maybe he hasn't. Maybe they're all actually dead, just a few of them happen to remember what caused it.

"Probably loads of paperwork, too." She adds in a slight grump, though her attention is instantly more focused on his question.

"Wouldn't doubt it. When I first got here I was thinking I either died and got stuck here, or got knocked in the head too hard and was coma'ing it all up." She still doesn't know what she believes, she's just trying to keep her head above water here.

"I had some things I hoped for if I kicked the bucket." Mostly seeing his son again. Hank's gaze goes distant, looking at those melting displays of death decorating the room.

What a shitty fucking afterlife if that was the case.

Speaking of which, "I still don't know where they fix people here, bring them back to life."

South can sympathize, she'd figured and hoped she'd see her mom again whenever she finally died. Then again, her mother was practically a saint or angel, while she...wasn't.

If they do separate people between heaven and hell, she's always been pretty sure where she'd end up, but the lack of her mom cemented where she was.

But she doesn't mention any of that, pushes the thoughts of her mom from her mind and focuses on shrugging, "I have no idea, but it'd be kinda neat to jack their process to bring back home, try to use it there or something."

"Hey uh... that actually has me thinking."

He scoots a little closer. "Look, I can't say too much." Not here, anyway. "But since you work for the mayor, can you do me a favor? Wait about three weeks, until there's not been one of these 'invite all the new fuckin' people' parties, for a little bit, and then see if there's anything about the old plague in city hall?

"Make sure no one is around and there wouldn't be camera surveillance if you do. Don't take any unnecessary risks and feel free to refuse but... I think this might be kinda important and I don't think you're gonna be able to ask her about it directly."

And the bodyguard of the mayor who has been dutiful and well behaved until now can probably manage a little more discovery than him.

While she's certain there's no listening devices around, she's not taking chances as she scoots in closer to listen. Can't be too safe around here, especially given the topic.

Nodding, South tucks away mental notes on this favor, already fully on-board with it. She's done a little snooping on her own about some of these...stories they've been told, she's absolutely good to do some more about the old plague specifically.

"No prob, boss, I gotcha covered." She replies, expression serious before she sits up and pulls on a wide smile, "Now, I can't just go off with any boy who flutters his eyes at me, gotta stick around in case I'm called back on duty."

See, they're not talking about anything secret, no need to pay any extra attention to their heads together while talking quietly.

"Thanks, yeah. I appreciate it."

That part is quieter. And if she's willing to play along on this, maybe he can trust her enough to work with him on what's going on. He doesn't want to compromise anyone. He knows how violently the Head is looking for the Heart right now.

God he is not going to get over how stupid their stunt was.

He leans over and points towards Connor, who is currently trying to protect everyone from a bubbly blond in a white dress. "That was actually supposed to be my date, but he ended up having to follow through on a promise and god, I think I'm gonna have to get out of here."

"I know him!" She lets out with a small grin. "I threw his ass in the pool at that thing a few weeks back." Just chucked him in there and proceeded to tease and pester him in her actually-tipsy, good mood.

"You're gonna leave? Did you at least dance with him already?" It's a radical subject change, maybe, but they can't say much here anyways, and she has the info needed for a special stealth mission.

"Oh, yeah. He had a lot of fun there." Hank hadn't gone into the pool. Instead he'd acted as a giant burly towel for his skinny android.

"I'll stay long enough to see if he can spare five fucking seconds. I can't actually go over to her- apparently she has powers that Connor doesn't think that I in particular should be near. So."

He spreads his hands.

"Here I am for now."

Powers. Whatever. South is still getting used to the idea of magic and all of that bullshit, but she thinks its all a load. Clearly, obviously, she can handle anything- even magic'd up somethings.

"I...can probably help?" She says after a few seconds of considering it. "Take over for him for a few minutes, if you guys wanna go do lovey dovey shit before this thing's over."

Because she kind of likes Hank, and Connor was a neat guy. She doesn't know what crap he's dealing with, but she's confident she can handle any of it for at least a few minutes.

oh, we dance in misery

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