Console, Video Announcement

[redlightgreenlight]

[When the video feed begins, there are not one but two figures visible. Valdis should be familiar to almost everyone. The other is probably only familiar to those Foreigners who frequent the Midnight Hotel: ostensibly male, he's wearing a bright blue frock coat and a wide-brimmed, feathered hat that covers most of his face, except for rouged lips. They're seated close together in what looks to be one of the tea houses in Keeliai, with patrons and servers wandering in and out of view behind them.

When Rue speaks it's with a very poncy, nasal English accent.]

Now then, darlings, my dearest new friend Valdis and I have a bit of an announcement to share with you all. [The hat turns slightly, to indicate that he's looking over at her.] Would you care to do the honors, love?

[A brilliant smile lights up Valdis’ face.]

Of course, after all, it was my idea . [She laughs] My dear Rue and I have decided that we need to have a bit of fun. We are going to put on a Masquerade Ball and everyone is invited. [She glances at Rue, then back to the screen.] It will take place at the Courtyard of Public Opinion on the evening of the 30th. As it is a ball, formal wear is a must, and of course, being a masquerade, masks as well.

This is a chance for all of us to come together, Kedan and Foreigners, to celebrate our individualities as well as our similarities. After all, who doesn’t love a good party?

[Rue, meanwhile, has become visibly distracted by one of the men wandering off to the side in the tea house, just barely visible on the screen. There’s a very definite smirk on those rouged lips now.]

I know I do.

Comments

[redlightgreenlight]

[She gets it and laughs lightly]

Of course! Rue and I would love to have your help.

[backwordscompatible]

Cool.

Any ideas for a theme? Or are we going as stuffy and faux-aristocratic as our sequenced ball gowns allow?

[redlightgreenlight]

I would like everyone to be able to express their individuality, so I suppose that would be option two? [her smile says she's teasing about that last bit]

[backwordscompatible]

Sounds about right to me.

[Then again, you're talking to a girl who modeled her vigilante uniform directly off her father, a famous magician. Meaning their were coat tails and button-up shirts and bow-ties involves. Especially the bow-ties.]

[...she should wear a bow-tie to the ball.]

The last time we had one, I'd set up a casual poker game in the back of the room for anybody who'd lasted to that late of an hour. [It had been one way of dealing with, at the time, conflicted feelings towards two boys who turned out to be the same person. ...it was complicated.] I should do that again. It went over really well.

[By that, she means she won a lot of chocolate pieces that night.]

[redlightgreenlight]

We can most certainly have a table set up for you in a corner.

[backwordscompatible]

One of those low-seated ones, preferably. And pillows instead of chairs.

Way more comfortable.

[redlightgreenlight]

I certain that can be arranged.

[She has connections whom will be very helpful in setting up the ball, a small table in the back should be no problem.]

[backwordscompatible]

[Yes. Good.]

Can't wait.

And thanks for starting all this up again. That was really cool of you.

[redlightgreenlight]

[Her smile brightened.]

You are welcome. I'm glad I could do something nice for once.

[backwordscompatible]

Hey, I wouldn't put yourself down entirely.

You did kind of help me figure out the idea for the magic ritual a while back, remember?

[redlightgreenlight]

Oh, I wasn't...

[She realized now how that had come off.]

I'm just not used to doing things like this, for fun, you know?

[backwordscompatible]

[Just making sure.]

Why not?

I mean, I know things can get kind of intense here sometimes...okay, a lot of the time...but there are good times, too.

[redlightgreenlight]

It's a bit complicated...

[Not particularly something she wanted to reminisce about.]

It's more the sincerity of the matter, doing this just because it's fun, not for any base other reason.

[backwordscompatible]

So you never do things just for the sake of pure enjoyment?

[Almost.]

[redlightgreenlight]

I've...never really had the chance before coming to Keeliai.

[backwordscompatible]

And how long have you been in Keelai by now?

[redlightgreenlight]

Over a year, if you don't count the year in the Dreaming.

[But there had been Malicant and after that, she had lost Dante, bad decision after bad decision, it wasn't really until now that she had even considered doing something for the sheer fun of it.]

[backwordscompatible]

[Yeah, no, Dreaming didn't count. That was like another world entirely.]

Then that's a year's time we'll have to start making up for. Minimum.

[redlightgreenlight]

Sounds good to me.