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

[be_notorious]

"Yeah, it is..."

And then he pauses for a bit. "She's pretty, too. Ain't nobody wearin' dresses like that back where I'm from anymore. Especially nice lookin' ladies."

He's seen a psion or two geared with glowing attire. But they're not that easy on the eyes.

[wishalone]

"I mean..." Kyoko hadn't noticed. Not really. The dress was more distracting. But he isn't... wrong.

She doesn't notice the touch of color growing on her face.

"I can't say I've seen anyone wearing something like that before, either." She wouldn't be surprised if there'd been a magical girl with a glowing outfit. But she hasn't seen one. "You'd have to like attention, you know?"

[be_notorious]

Drifter, however, notices that little bit of pink that hits her even in the dark. "I know that green-haired woman in the black get-up down there. Look how good that cut is on her."

He gives her another go with the scope so she can check out Lorna's attire. Just because he's getting the inkling that this girl's never really had the chance to see someone pretty and really consider why they might be pretty.

[wishalone]

Kyoko takes the rifle back without a hint of suspicion. It's on topic, after all. She closes one eye and peers down the scope. It takes her a second to pinpoint the woman he's talking about, and then it takes her yet another second afterwards before she responds.

"Musta been made for her." To Kyoko's eye, it's as suiting as if it were her magical girl costume. It fits perfectly, like it was meant for her.

........

When she hands the rifle back, she pushes it towards Drifter with a little more force than strictly necessary.

[be_notorious]

"Hey, waitaminute, got one more person for you to look at." He says before accepting it back, putting his hand on it. "There's a tall drink-o-water in a tux down there. She was near the doors a minute ago. I don't know if you're a dress kinda girl or what, but just as a note, if you wanna get dolled up and still look good, you can always go the way of that kinda formal wear."

Kyoko seems like the type that might consider a tux or at least a dress jacket if she decided to pretty up.

[wishalone]

"I-I've seen enough!" She keeps pushing the rifle towards him. "What's with you all of a sudden? I don't need fashion advice."

Though something tells her this isn't about the fashion.

[be_notorious]

"Haha! Nothin' wrong with findin' somebody easy on the eyes." He straightens out, and rather than watching down the scope in a fit of paranoia he takes it. And oddly, he gets a little more serious.

"You from somewhere where it ain't okay or has it just been a case that life's too quick to give it much thought?"

Because she's a teenager. She should be thinking this kind of thing.

[wishalone]

Kyoko feels herself bristle, and though she couldn't tell anyone why, really, she just knows she doesn't want to be talking about this any more.

"Maybe I've had more important things to deal with than this kind of thing," she bites out, volume rising. "Why do you care, anyway?"

Pure teenager.

[be_notorious]

"I don't especially." He outright says. "But hey, you're a good kid. You want a pretty girl or boy, you go for it. Don't know when the chance'll pass you by and kickin' yourself is a hell of a lot worse than a little embarrassment."