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

[notalive]

'Patty' has no idea what she's letting herself in for, and he's still trying to consider what to do about this - maybe he can covertly find her network ID and send her a text? - when Jane turns to Tannis...and her eyes glow, the exact colour Connor's LED was right before it pinged yellow with sudden urgency.

"Shit-- Karen!" He tries to dart between them and be some kind of android shield, but he has no idea if he got there if time, shit shit shit-- "You don't need to do that, Karen."

Of course she doesn't, even she knows she doesn't need to do this. She just wants to.

"Patricia, are you OK?" he asks, and he's honestly not sure what to expect from the woman behind him as he stares down at Karen in the manner of...well, a cop, who knows you didn't do anything illegal, but he's disappointed in your choices anyway.

[sirentologist]

How interesting. That almost seems Siren-like, and why is she even still asking questions, clearly the woman only has her best interests at heart and is the best person in the room. And why is this man now standing in front of her? How rude.

"Of course I am. Or I will be once I get out of this room. Or you get out of the way. Perhaps both. I need to have a chat with the wonderful woman behind you." In a quiet room away from the crowd and the people.

[fuckregularpeople]

More pouting ensues, Karen emitting a tiny exasperated huff of breath. Why does everyone get on her back as soon as she makes a connection with someone? "It's all right, Con-Con, don't make a federal case out of it. Patty's fine, aren't you Patty?" She ducks to one side and peers around him at the other woman.

"Come on." She reaches a hand around Connor to Patricia, and glances up at him without amusement. "We're going to talk somewhere that's not crowded. Are you coming with or are you going to judge me all night?"

[notalive]

He can almost feel the sharp stab of Jane's disapproval, and just a second, his gaze flickers up over Karen's head as he mentally regroups. This is workable. Karen's not going to go home with Tannis. They might even keep each other distracted, far away from everybody else, and that's the thought that makes him realise this might not be so bad.

But he still finds himself glancing very briefly across the room at a tall figure with long, grey hair, just to ground himself, before he looks back at Karen.

As for her question - he's going to do both.

"OK," he says like he's pulled himself together. He has. He can work with this. "I'm sorry, Patricia." And he even steps out of the way. "Let's find somewhere a little bit more quiet.

"I wasn't judging you," he adds to Karen in an undertone, going for apologetic. "Just worried. That's all."

[sirentologist]

Good, Tannis is very ready to get out of the main room and into someplace where she can catch her breath, and this Karen woman is amazing for the suggestion and for taking charge. That man is still being annoying getting in between them and trying to keep them apart and she glares up at him while stepping around him toward Karen.

"Thank you. I appreciate it."

[fuckregularpeople]

She's not. Karen's not on the hunt for a partner here, she just wants someone on her side and Tannis is an easy enough target. Karen gets one-on-one attention while still being nice to someone, and her Siren-esque powers prevail while Connor tries to understand her stance. He steps aside and Karen reaches for Tannis' hand. "Thank you!" She smiles at him, then pulls Tannis to her by the hand.

"No problem! It's totally cool." She guides her new friend toward the hallway, turning back to smile at her. "What's your favorite color, Patty? I think they did some theme parlors. Shouldn't be many people in them. Don't be lame, Con-Con, we're all friends!"

[notalive]

"I'm not saying anything," he protests, deliberately holding up his hands in a peacable gesture and smiling. It's not his genuine, slightly lop-sided grin, but something more charming. Perfectly symmetrical. "I just..."

Pause, like he's trying to think how to phrase his feelings when really he's rapidly trying to calculate just what those feelings should be.

"I didn't realise you and Patricia were friends." Neither did Patricia, for that matter. He looks at her now, none of his worry about her sudden brainwashing showing on his face. "I just didn't want Karen spending her night worrying about strangers, you know?"