Let's live it up

[maskormods]

WHO: YOU.
WHERE: De Chima, VA.
WHEN: Saturday August 9th.
WHAT: Registration in motion... among other things.
WARNINGS: None anticipated; please let us know if this should be edited.

" The new frontier of which I speak is not a set of promises -- it is a set of challenges. It sums up not what I intend to offer the American people, but what I intend to ask of them. It appeals to their pride, not to their pocketbook -- it holds out the promise of more sacrifice instead of more security. But I tell you the new frontier is here, whether we seek it or not. "
( from jfk's speech "the new frontier," 7/15/1960. )

While known for being surprisingly quiet compared to other bustling cities like Nonah, De Chima is loud and packed this weekend with news of the Swearing-In Ceremony being held at one of its lavish halls this evening. Spreading like wildfire, people from nearby cities show up at the hall in attendance, many there for the publicity or for the opportunity to meet an imPort themselves. There's no shortage of non-locals in the hall and one may even begin to wonder if just how many non-locals outnumber the De Chima residents who are attending the ceremony.

The hall is brimming with excitement, with members of City Hall having joined the party (but the Mayor had other business to attend to, sorry!) to public figures who've decided to make an appearance much to the surprise of the media who are present (as usual) at these events. Reggie Pressley, Swaggy-Swag McSwag, Bartolomeo Zoccarato, and London Marriott can be found around the hall, some being interviewed by the local media, getting their photographs taken, or giving out autographs to those who ask. Marriott in particular will be poking around imPorts for juicy gossip and other information. Other public figures who have made an appearance tonight are local businessmen and women from the city itself, scouting imPorts in the hopes some will take an interest in their work. While many are looking for imPorts to work in computer, research, and medical fields, there are many entry level jobs in data entry, paying slightly more than minimum wage. These business folk will be around till the end of the event, handing out their cards to anyone who takes an interest.

If anyone is paying close attention to the De Chima locals who are attending, or if they had been out exploring the city earlier, they will have noticed something... peculiar about many of them. Silky smooth hair, unblemished skin that almost radiates, straight, white teeth, perfect eyebrows, noses, jawlines... you name it. These people are good looking and they know it, but more importantly, you can be, too! There are various doctors in the hall, make beelines for identifiable imPorts, and they apparently haven't established what boundaries are. If they can, they will grab a hold of an imPort's arm, shoulder, or boldly go for the hips and babble about their appearances, offering their cards and pointing out any flaws (or perfections that can be improved) the imPort has. "I can help you with that," they'll say about crooked noses, scars, wrinkles, anyone with a little extra weight, etc. A few may forget they're here on business and flirt with the adult imPorts, taken in by good looks (or other appealing features). One particular doctor, Dr. Nic, a man with buoyant personality, will be trying to pass around as many of his business cards as he can.

There are long tables set up overflowing with all kinds of food and drink. Alcohol is served at a bar where ID is a must, so sorry to anyone under twenty-one! There's a space in the middle of the main room of the hall for dancing, where Swaggy-Swag McSwag will domineer unless someone wants to challenge him to a dance-off.

In one corner of the hall, a small crowd has gathered to watch local businessmen exhibit their latest invention: a roomba with musical capabilities! At the top of the room is a slot to fit portable music players and it has wi-fi capabilities, allowing it to connect to someone's music folder from their computers. Like many roombas of the current time, it displays low level intelligence, able to repeat a couple of basic phrases. It also purrs at some point, which results in the crowd glancing at one another with perplexed expressions.

Unsurprisingly, or perhaps surprisingly to imPorts, is stricter than usual tonight. Before entering the hall, security checks everyone's belongings at the door. Jackets are scanned, purses are checked, sometimes pockets are asked to be emptied. Security will ask this of everyone, so don't pick a fight at the door unless you want to be escorted off the premise! Inside the hall, there's a security guard or two at every doorway and roaming up and down the other hallways.

The event begins at 5PM and ends around midnight, but imPorts are free to linger. De Chima is also known for its rainy weather and today is no exception, unfortunately. It pours outside and will continue even late into the night, so imPorts better take care not to wet their nicely done hair or clothes!

( Please state your character's official status -- REGISTERED or UNSETTLED -- in the subject header of your thread. Please also read and state your character's official status at THIS post, considering not every character will post a starter thread!

Additionally, NPCs will not be NPC'd by a mod, but players are welcome to utilize them as they wish, provided it's within reasonable bounds. (Don't shank anyone!))

Comments

Clementine | Registered | OTA

[ohmydarlinme]

She didn't really like how crowded the place was - and with her tinier height she kept bumping into people, or getting bumped into as she tried to squirm by someone. Having to decide between registered and unregistered - ultimately she went What Would Lee Do? and made her decision that way.

Registered it is. Shortly afterwards she picked her way towards the spot where she was least likely to be stepped on, watching the roomba and listening to the music for a while, hovering around the food (holy crap two meals in a day is a record!), and eventually watching the rain outside the window. She... doesn't have an umbrella. But that'll be okay because surely it will stop soon! Right?

[ Feel free to encounter Clem in A) The Crowd, B) By the food, C) Watching the Roomba, D) Watching the Rain or E) Whereever! ]

( D )

[corviform]

[ De Chima and Nonah are cities Gil hasn't explored yet, so despite having Registered long ago, he takes the time to travel over. He manages to avoid being identified as an imPort in long sleeves, but a few of the doctors point out his nose ("It looks a bit crooked. I can fix that...") and he finds himself with a handful of their business cards after some time.

How annoying. His nose isn't that bad! He sulks quietly to himself, suddenly itching for a cigarette to calm his nerves. He doesn't fare well at big parties like this.

Due to the rain, he doesn't stray too far from the building, not wanting to drench himself. As he slips a cigarette to his lips, he finally notices Clementine and he stops everything he's doing. ]

Oh... I'm sorry. I didn't see you there.

[ He's not going to smoke when there's a kid hovering about. ]

Hanji Zoe | REGISTERED

[observationalhazard]

Hanji tries not to be overwhelmed. She really does. But she's still brand new to the world and to all of the technology and - well, almost everything around her. There's so much to see and hse wants to see all of it, so she can be found at one end of the hall or the other, staring, or asking questions (at one point, she's chattering away to one of the doctor's about changes to first aid and emergency procedures). By the end of the night, she has a giant collection of business cards. She ends up staring at the roomba for a while as well - the concept isn't above her, but it's still the strangest thing in the world to be able to hear music coming out of a box smaller then her head (and mounted on an automated wheeled thingy, too boot).

But what really gets her attention is the food. The tables and tables of food, just sitting out there, and she can have as much as she wants. She spends a few minutes just watching it and throughout the night she keeps wandering back to snap up another plateful of appetizers. In fact, she can be spotted wrapping rolls in napkins and stashing them in her pockets for later.

Old habits die hard.

[skullshako]

Fancy parties, which is basically what this whole ordeal feels like, is nothing new or special to Nonon. Her father owned a very successful transportation company and, being a Deva, she was used to a life of luxury. Parties like this were practically second nature, not that she actually cared much for them. Although this one in particular was pretty bad. People grabbing her shoulders, saying they could help fix whatever imperfections she had. What a load.

On the bright side, there did seem to be lots of interesting people around. One such person being Hanji. Every so often her eyes had glanced in her direction, and it was hard not to notice that stare she was giving the food table. Or the fact that she was literally stuffing food into her pockets. This oughta be good.

"You know those things you're stuffing in your pockets are called food, right? They aren't a fashion accessory."

As friendly and warm as always.

Kristoff Bjorgman | Unsettled and OTA

[malodorous]

Kristoff wasn't normally prone to social events, but he'd been getting restless spending so much time in Heropa. That had been the biggest draw in this, bundled with the fact that the food at these things was usually awesome and always free. Of course, he regretted the whole thing almost as soon as he walked in. He'd failed to understand that this was meant to be a more upscale affair. He walked in wearing jeans and flannel, and that only served to make him more conspicuous. That, in turn, led to more people approaching him. As pushy as these people were, it was both nerve-racking and annoying.

So it wasn't long before he'd tried to make himself scarce, sticking to the edge of things and avoiding eye contact. After a certain point in the evening, he also put a certain amount of effort into concealing his nose from view. All in all, it probably didn't help his here's-a-total-weirdo factor, but keeping his hand cupped over half of his face was his last-ditch attempt to stand being here.

His nose wasn't that big. Who even says stuff like that to total strangers?

[observationalhazard]

"Do you need a handkerchief?" That's Hanji, being oh-so-helpful. And holding out aforementioned handkerchief. Personally, she doesn't understand these people and their flimsy disposal ones - what's the point of just tossing things out like that?

Just in case Kristoff thinks she might be making fun, she has a wide, friendly grin on her face and napkin full of rolls in her other hand. No, she's totally sincere. And more then a little oddball herself.

Margaery Tyrell// Registered// OTA

[throneinmyside]

Waring a modest dress of dusty rose with her hair pulled back, Margaery is making the most of this night. Smiling and warmly greeting anyone who comes up to her, taking their card and hearing them out, she moves around the hall. She's more than happy to pose for photographs and speak with people, signing autographs. Nonetheless her gaze is sharp as she moves around, observing as much as she's able to. She had been thinking about their situation, how she had been brought here so suddenly. It still feels so strange though but she does her best to look confident and at ease nonetheless.

She stopped with a slight yelp of surprise as one of the roombas cross her path with a purr, watching it move along. She's not sure what exactly that thing is but she can't help but watch it with fascination for a moment before turning away.

[brushoff]

Hello, cute girl. Dorian's also looking at the roomba, mostly to wonder if he could get one of them for himself, but looks up at Margaery's yelp of surprise. Smiling slightly, he walked over to her. He's dressed to the nines in the one expensive suit he owns and is holding a glass of wine.

"Let me guess--it's your first time seeing one of those in action?" Because even in his world, he doubted that there were multiple people who had a roomba.

Samara | Unsettled | OTA

[justimom]

When she was younger Samara had greatly enjoyed parties and social gatherings. That was a long time ago and to say she was rusty at these things might just be the understatement of the year. Still, she was curious about this and so she decided to go.

( A )

When she first approached the entrance of the hall the security guards immediately jumped to attention. Who could really blame them? Samara was a sight to be seen from her blue skin to the black skintight outfit with the gold trimming that left little to the imagination. She walked up to the security checkpoint with a confident stride and waited for the guards to do their job.

After a few seconds one of the guards finally asked her to empty her pocks. She frowned and a look of slight confusion crossed her face.

"I do not have pockets to empty." This was not going to go well.

( B )

Once the mess with the security guards had been settled Samara finally headed inside and took a brief look around. It didn’t take long for the doctors in the room to make a beeline for Samara. The first few people she encountered she tolerated well enough with a polite smile and brush off. . By the time a man decided it was a good idea to wrap his arms around her hips and babble about the uniqueness of her appearance her patience had almost met its breaking point.

She attempted to push him off and then began to scan the room for a potential escape route. It was either she made an attempt to get somewhere away from this man, and every other pushy person here, or she’d end up causing a very big biotic scene.

[feel free to encounter Samara in a or b or somewhere in between]

B)

[biotically]

Kaidan had shown up dressed as well as he could be -- considering the limited income, and bad cuts of the clothing, he somehow managed to make it to the right place, in clothing that wasn't grossly in appropriate. Or at least it wasn't as bad as what he'd worn to his night with Freddie Lounds. It at least looked like a suit.

Or as close as what he could gather -- a suit worn by people these days. He could see the Asari, he'd been watching her for a long time, Asari were easy to pick out of a crowd, after all.

When she showed signs of concern, started looking around, he stepped in, trying to peel the guy out of her way. "Hey, I'm sorry, she's with me, would you mind if we..."

He trailed off, pointing toward the dance floor, and hoping that this...Asari, this Justicar would take the lead of a Spectre.

stephanie brown | registered

[bratarang]

Wandering around such a luxurious event filled with stars and the wealthy can really overwhelm a person. While Stephanie is definitely used to hanging around the rich (thanks Bruce), it's not like she is used to that lifestyle. If anything, it's more like she's an occasional visitor who stops by for small talk and appetizers to said lifestyle. So, as expected of one in her position, she is making the most of this situation and taking every advantage that she can get.

Which is why Steph is standing near the crowd surrounding the roomba. It's actually pretty cute, if she were to be honest. Maybe she could get one? Or maybe she should probably focus on other things besides purchasing things she does not actually need after being here for a total of a day and a half.

( feel free to do action spam as well instead of prose. )

[khajidont]

These kinds of events really aren't Jaime's type of shindig either, which is why he - sticking out like a sore thumb in clothes really not meant for this kind of thing - has been sticking mostly to the sides and at the food tables. He wouldn't be here in the first place if not for the Swearing-In Ceremonies' track record of horrible calamity, but while he's here, he might as well take in the sights.

Eventually he tires of the rich and famous staring at him as he cheerfully divests the food table of its hors d'oeuvres - or as Jaime knows them, tiny, buttery pastries filled with strange, strange things - and he just brings the whole plate with him to go take a look at the state of the art roomba.

He pops one pastry in his mouth and chews on it thoughtfully as he watches the extravagant display before swallowing and leaning towards Stephanie to ask, "Is that thing purring?"

Rei Ryugazaki | Registered, OTA

[theoryandcalculation]

Rei is still pretty upset about this whole "getting kidnapped to another dimension" thing, but he's attending the ceremony anyway. If anything, it's a way to gather information.

He's gone ahead and registered with the government, reluctantly, and only because they've promised him a place to live and part-time work. It's better that he's at least being taken care of, rather than kidnapped and on his own. He's still a high school student, after all.

Throughout the night, he can be found poking around the food bar (he's been eating more than normal, which can't be good for him but lately he's been so hungry all the time), asking questions about the roomba, staring a little too obviously at De Chima residents (he has a purely aesthetic interest), giving a business card an offended look ("There's nothing wrong with wearing glasses..."), or staring at the rain like someone kicked his puppy.

Or he might even tap you on the shoulder and, sounding apologetic, ask, "Excuse me, I'm sorry, but are you an imPort?"

[corviform]

At least five doctors have offered to "correct" Gil's nose in an hour, so when he feels someone tapping his shoulder to grab his attention, he immediately winces at the thought of having to try and turn down yet another offer. Shoulders pinching, he slowly turns around, but the dread in his expression quickly gives away to surprise.

"Huh? Oh... yes, yes I am." He answers, canting his head.

Rei looks young, perhaps too young to be a local attending the party unless he's here with his parents who could be important figures in the community, but Gil gets the feeling he may be facing another imPort.

bart allen | registered | ota

[moded]

In a perfect world, Bart would have just ignored the entire idea of registering. He'd have just run off, crashed on his grandpa or one of the Flash's couches and gone about life like that. But the only other member of the Flash family that was here was only three years older than him, and with none of the connections to the rest of the family or the League that they'd been able to benefit from back home.

So there he was at this big event, that big ol' registered note settling into his wrist, always dragging his attention down to it, despite the fact that he knew he couldn't see it. He couldn't help but keep his arm tucked into his side, rubbing his wrist absently and unconsciously. And while Bart was usually a flurry of motion and chatter when there were people around, tonight he was more or less just skirting the edges. A skinny thirteen-year-old kid alternating between grabbing food and watching the roomba exhibit.

Although, throughout the night, various people might notice the kid starting to pick up speed again. After all, he seemed pretty intent on talking to the businessmen every few minutes ("Trust me, you can never have too many beta testers!", "Dude, you should see my room, it'd be a stress test!", "Do you have one that can climb up walls because I keep finding feathers on top of the fridge") hoping to come out of the evening with one of those things in hand.


[ ooc: feel free to meet Bart just about anywhere! and totally open to prose or action spam ]

[foreshadower]

There were certain old fools who could slow a Flash down. It wasn't that the Shade was interested in fighting them, not really, but he was interested in Flashes -- in general. Maybe it was the speed, or maybe it was the fact that they were so...Flash, speedy little men that contrasted with his old, tired ways. Men who could run circles around him, while Shade skulked and hovered in the shadows.

But he figured he could stop Bart Allen, as he'd called himself -- Barry Allen's grandson -- and he stepped in where he thought he would make his way, standing there in victorian-suited glory, cane against the ground, and he smiled, peering over his sunglasses at the boy.

Expecting him to stop.

Dana Scully | Registered | OTA

[starbuckaroobanzai]

Scully had expected the affair to be uncomfortable. Given the nature of the event it had seemed inevitable -- one can dress up an event designed to force people to swear under implied duress an oath of allegiance to an organisation which had kidnapped them for that express purpose all one wants, but that hardly makes it any less distasteful. If anything, the air of celebration adds to Scully's disgust. Even with the sugar, it's a bitter pill to swallow.

What she hadn't quite expected is that it would be so creepy. Too many perfect smiles, too much tight, flawless skin -- her finely-tuned sense for the abnormal means that all of it leaves her even more unsettled than she'd expected to be. As such, she sticks to the edges of the crowd where possible, watchful. She does her best to hide her disdain, but her posture and expression both betray how little she wants to be here, and it's more or less obvious that it isn't because she doesn't like crowds.

As she stands, watching the attendees mill about, she finds herself wondering if she'll have enough time once all of this is done to visit this world's DC, or whatever its rough equivalent might happen to be. She wonders how familiar familiar territory might really be. Maybe, if it exists, she'll stop by the J. Edgar Hoover building. Take a tour. The idea is darkly amusing, but something about it, something better left unexamined for the moment, makes her stomach clench.

[observationalhazard]

"Not having a good night?" Hanji's not the best at reading people, but she knows how to do it. She just joins Dana rather casually, a plate of appetizers in one hand, glass of something sweet and bubbly in the other. She's still a little overwhelmed by everything and she's been chattering her head off for most of the evening. But she's noticed the disconcerting little things about the get-together too.

Ah well, what's one oppressive military government to another?

"Here, try one of these-" She thrusts the platter toward Scully with an enthusiastic grin. It's got all sorts of things, but she points out one of the little deviled eggs with her chin, "They're delicious - they've got loads of food!"

NERO | UNSETTLED | OTA | TRIGGER WARNINGS | SPOILERS

[chaospath]

[ooc: opt-out post ]

A

Nero decided not to be registered with some military that he didn't even know. If he was supposed to be seen as less than what he was, whatever. More importantly, he had to find out where One was. The Gods were interesting sorts if they decided to actually separate them, but if they didn't, how hilarious would that be?

The elf stared at all the technology literally running around. Well. What the fuck? He supposed that was "better" than seeing some maid cleaning up around the rich wandering around him. But it wasn't nicer to look at it. Running his tongue over his teeth, he couldn't say that he was overwhelmed with anything yet though.

"Neat." He crouched down to poke the small device roaming about the floor. Nero couldn't help but wonder how much damage that it could take before it broke, but that was just how his mind sometimes went. But with all these rich pigs about, he decided that he better not. Military and security was tight so all he did was poke the device with his finger whenever it came around.

B

What brought him pause was someone handing him a card, he listened to the spiel on how to make him look perfect. The tips of his elfin ears wiggle once. "What the fuck's wrong with imperfections? What's wrong with a few scars? The way I see it, it means that you lived through something. It gives character. Gives meaning to you." Nero tore the card up in the person's face before he decided that he would have to head off to the buffet table instead.

"All I see is a bunch of people who haven't really lived." His sister wanted to bring One under her wing by hiding the hideousness of the Red-Eyes. He paused to turn to stare at the food. Narrowing his eyes, he tried to see if there was any illusions over it. Things were just too pretty here for him, and he couldn't help but wonder if there was some glamour over it all.

"Well, fuck me." Nothing. Not a single thing.

[observationalhazard]

Hanji's also found the Roomba absolutely fascinating, but her attention is distracted when Nero comes over to take a look. She stares at him for a long moment, then shuffles over and starts peering at him from different angles. Nope, no mistaking it. She taps him on the hsoulder after only another brief moment of thought. She's got a slightly apologetic (if still enthusiastic) grin on her face, "Excuse me - but - are those ears real?"

Toph Beifong | Unsettled | OTA

[rockthisworld]

Yeah, screw authority. Toph Beifong certainly hasn't run away from a sheltered life only to commit herself to another gilded cage.

Speaking of which, since Toph sees no point in buttering up to anyone here, she also hasn't taken steps to show that she actually has some high class upbringing. So yeah, she's around - in travel-worn clothing with a smidgen of desert sand still clinging to it here or there, feet bare and dirty, hair an unkempt mess. The 12 year old looks a bit more like a street rat than an honored imPort.

And hey, it's all good, she only stumbles over the strange, moving music box once, nearly but not quite faceplanting as a result.

What's more bothersome is the fact that some of the adults here keep calling her a poor girl and giving her slips of stiff paper. Toph is rather irritated by that. Some of them sound reluctant - but apparently believe in investing in future opportunities. Meanwhile every card thins Toph's small reserve of patience and pretense of politeness. So when another card lands in her hands, she stomps her foot, causing the floor to rumble impressively around her. Dr. Nic only doesn't get a pillar smacked in the face because Toph considers herself awesome, but not foolish enough to provoke a fight in a place filled with people who can't bend, but can do other stuff. Still, she's pissed, and points at her face.

"Seriously, what's WITH you people? I'm BLIND, but I can TELL this is not the crinkly thin paper you people call money, so what gives?"

[proteus]

"Hey, screw off."

The voice is deep but unquestionably female and contentious as a snake pit. Almost as soon as Bader saw that Nic character swoop in like a vulture on that kid (who also just announced herself as blind in addition to being an unaccompanied minor) Bader had saw that this behavior fell outside her scope of tolerance. She marched up, flanking Dr. Nic before he could stuff another business card this kids way and the level stare she offered sent him on his way after a few forced platitudes on his part.

"Hey," Bader says without sounding insipid like every other adult that had approached Toph that evening, "Sorry, but what they were giving you are business cards as a self-promotion thing. Just throw it at them if they try that again."

Unbeknownst to Bader, the fact she lacked a beating heart or had taken an actual breath during that entire exchange was damning her to being outed by the one person who could sense that sort of thing.

( open ) karen starr | unsettled

[boobwindow]

A | arrival

[ She's not too keen on these Swear-In ceremonies, but given its location this time and the various job opportunities she's been hearing about lately in De Chima, Karen does her makeup and hair, grabs a matching yellow clutch bag, and arrives when the doors to the hall open. She's not here to swear allegiance to anything, evident enough by the mark of UNSETTLED on her arm that she doesn't bother to conceal tonight. Naturally, it makes her a beacon for nosy journalists and other locals, but it works in her favour, getting information on how upcoming businesses fare in a busy city like this. ]

B | roombas

[ She winds up drifting toward the small gathered crowd, wondering what it is that's caught their attention. As she joins them, she overhears music, nearly drowned out against all the chatter, laughter and music playing, coming from the roomba gliding across the floor. She stills, staring at it mildly impressed and confused someone actually took the time to modify a roomba of all things.

And then it purrs and she looks back and forth between others, taken aback by what she's just heard. ]

... Did that thing purr?

C | doctors without boundaries

[ Now, she's not one to think anyone should ever have to cover themselves up to deter unwanted attention, but after being followed not just once, but eight times by various doctors (of either gender) whom insisted she allow them to take a "better" look at her face, Karen wonders if she should have concealed her tattoo.

She's nursing a glass of sparkling champagne in her hand when she feels not one, but two hands press against either side of her hips. She startles, part of her drink spilling out onto the floor before she whips around to face the doctor who is rubbing his chin thoughtfully, faking concern about her "proportions". He starts on her weight, insisting she should come in for a check-up and maybe to consider abdominoplasty.

She can't believe the nerve of these people tonight. ]

That's. It. [ She curls her fist and delivers a sharp uppercut, knocking the doctor off balance. Another local, possibly a friend of the doctor's, swoops in, grabbing a hold of him and dragging him off before Karen can get another blow in. ] Made me spill my drink. Little creep.

b

[lyingheart]

That wasn't it breaking down?

[ No, seriously, wasn't that a sound of robotic demise or something? Annie looks as perplexed as some of the other people, only over here because music had eventually caught her attention - and look, she recognized it as music by now!

Well, she might have before, but now she tries to listen. ]

Dorian Gray | registered | ota

[brushoff]

a: booze
[ okay, this is pretty much the best thing ever. Dorian has spent way too much time at the bar, taking drinks and ultimately trying to chat up celebrities, specifically Bartolomeo Zoccarato. Look, they're a fashion designer, Dorian is utterly pretentious and in need of new clothes, so he's spent way too much time trying to worm his way into the designer's heart.

But, not at the moment. No, at the moment he's at the bar, knocking back yet another drink, wild grin on his face. ]

b: doctors
[ Yeah, that good mood he had when trying to chat up celebrities and drinking booze? All gone. Mostly because one of those doctors had the nerve to suggest that he do something about his chin. How utterly ridiculous. For a man who sold his soul for eternal youth to change something about his otherwise perfect (at least, in his mind) appearance?

Ridiculous.

So, he's...not sulking. But he's damn close to sulking. And anyone near Dorian will get hit with massive complaining. ] Can you believe the nerve of those doctors?

b!!

[hostage]

Don't let it get to you. It's just a sales pitch.

[Jesse's been standing there for a while now. In fact, Dorian's one of the only reasons he's here at all, and he's been keeping an eye on the guy from a distance all day. Not in any obvious way, of course. It's easy to stalk someone at a party, pretend to mingle while observing from across the room. Eventually Jesse narrowed the space between them, lingering close enough to be addressed first.

He takes a sip from his glass of whiskey and eases even nearer now. Jesse's obviously not one of the beautiful people. He's technically flawless, health-wise, but he's scruffy. And while he's dressed in a designer jeans-and-leather-jacket ensemble that's worth some thousand dollars, he isn't dressed fancy. Those doctors have been giving him shit all day.]

They try and wear down your self esteem, then you take their card and they get rich off carving you up.

annie leonhart | registered | ota

[lyingheart]

( a: under my umbrella, ella, ella, aye, aye, aye )

[ She's no stranger to the rain. By and large she'd prefer to avoid these ceremonies, but especially following what she and Bertholdt and Reiner had announced on network, she knew it wasn't really viable. She's going to have to keep coming, she's going to have to keep learning names and faces, and she's going to have to pretend to dress up to do it.

Pretend being key. In white pants, knee high leather boots, and a cream sweatshirt, Annie at least hits pristine, if pretty much no other note known to mankind. As she's standing in the front entrance, looking for somewhere to set her dripping, black umbrella, when someone else hands her their umbrella. ]

- Clara, darling, it's just too much! Ah, the help... here you are. Thank you, dear.

[ The well dressed man says before turning around, insincere smile leaving with him. Annie blinks, staring at the two umbrellas she now has in hand. Flatly: ]

... Ah, look. A free umbrella.

( b: the nose job )

[ People here are too perfect. It's creepy. Annie finds there's a sick sort of fascination in staring at too white teeth, too perfect skin, too perfect everything: one that sends a shiver down her spine and makes her stomach turn. When nothing mars the outside, what does it really mean? She doesn't even find them all that attractive... if this is the ideal of beauty, she wants nothing to do with it. It's too foreign. Too weird.

What she doesn't expect is to deal with any of the doctors selling this crafted perfection herself. Hell, she was mistaken as help staff by the front entrance, after the security check point. ]

Look, we can fix this. This whole... nose of yours. It was in style in what, Roman times? The whole Roman profile, but -

[ The doctor reaches out and grabs an arm of whoever's passing by, pulling them over to likewise scrutinize Annie. ]

Have you ever seen a nose like that before? Incredible! Irresponsible! How can this be allowed to continue?

[ Don't mind Annie's look of disbelief. This can't actually be happening, it's legitimately too stupid. ]

[ ooc: action or prose welcome! ]

b!

[reptiledysfunction]

[ Man, all he wanted to do was get some food and then go. As soon as people started accosting him about certain...defects (which really, is not the best thing for a one-armed scientist with self-esteem issues to hear), Connors had been slowly trying to get the fuck out of Dodge.

So, of course, one of the doctors grabs onto his arm and yanks him over towards...Annie? Of course, Connors recognizes her from the video broadcast. But, after a brief moment, he realizes that he's not sure she recognizes him. Did his aversion to video extend to that post? Maybe he could remember, if this guy wasn't shouting about Annie's perfectly fine nose. ]

Actually, I think it's fine, [ he remarked, with a shrug. ] Anyway, I'm sure that you can find better clients elsewhere. [ Connors tries to fix the doctor with a stare. It...slightly worked. Huffy and annoyed, the man turned to harass examine someone else. ]

They're obnoxious, aren't they? [ he smiled a small, gentle harried smile--the smile of someone who had been dodging doctors for the past half hour. ]

Erwin Smith | Registered | OTA

[sacrificusdux]

Erwin didn't particularly mind the rain, he hadn't bothered to grab a coat or umbrella when he had seen the dark clouds on the horizon. He paused for a moment to look up at the sky, ignoring the fact that the heavy rainfall was starting to soak through his clothes.

The minute he stepped through the door, there is someone there with a business card in his face and he only vaguely paid attention to the spiel, something to do with his eyebrows. But before he could ask what exactly was wrong with his eyebrows, which he happened to think were just fine, the man was off once more, leaving Erwin holding a business card and looking slightly perplexed.

As he glanced around the hall, apparently it wasn't just him who was getting these suggestions. It wasn't long before he was attempting to evade yet another proposal, again with his eyebrows and something about lasers. Either way, he was already looking for a way out, nearly stepping on one of the roombas in an attempt to side step yet another doctor in the process. This certainly promised to be an interesting evening at the very least.

Freddie Lounds | unsettled, ota!

[redhairring]

a: before the catfight
What do you get when you put a combative blogger and an equally combative tabloid reporter in the same room as each other? Lots of snippy conversation. For pretty much the entire evening, Freddie had been an utter terror to London Marriot who, in return, had been an utter terror of her own. Jibes at each other's blogs, attacks on each other's websites, snide remarks over the punch bowl, occasionally butting in conversations in order to distract whoever the other was talking to...Freddie was in full high school teenage bitch mode this evening.

The fact that the 'doctors' kept badgering her about her hands of all things only made Freddie more irritated.

Freddie Lounds wanted to punch somebody. And hell, by the end of the evening she probably would. But not at the moment. At the moment, she's at the bar, nursing a fruity drink, complaining to anyone in earshot. "And the name is equally terrible. 'London Sees You'? Basing your blog name off a childish schoolyard rhyme utterly reeks of immaturity."

Says the woman that came up with Tattlecrime.

b: CATFIGHT!!!
Look, there's always going to be someone who's the problem child at the parties. And that someone is the currently intoxicated Freddie Lounds. She had spent the whole evening snipping at that dreadful woman, tossing back sarcastic conversation and caustic one-liners. Well, the party's winding down slightly...and Freddie is at her breaking point.

So she might have, hypothetically, hipchecked London in a rather vicious way, sending the blogger face-first into the punch. Hypothetically. She wouldn't do anything as base as that, of course not! She just happened to be in the way. Or something like that, thinking up a cover story wasn't priority number one at the moment...mostly because Freddie Lounds and London Marriot were currently in a screaming match. Though, the likelihood that the screaming match would come to blows looks very, very imminent.

There's about to be a what? Girl fight!

b, if you'll have me~

[dogsled]

He couldn't help himself. Fraser was drawn to trouble like a moth to flame, and the sound of someone going face first into a punch bowl made a great deal of noise; noise followed by screaming. Quickly - "Excuse me. Thank you kindly. I'm terribly sorry, excuse me" - weaving his way through the crowd, he made his way closer to the sound of raised voices, glancing around at the other eager party goers who, probably due to boredom and frustration at the onslaught of cosmetic surgeons, were all eager for some entertainment.

Fraser only kept his distance long enough to give them both time to settle their differences and decide not to fight, but as usual when alcohol got involved things didn't progress in that direction. London struck first, throwing a silver tray of largely untouched cucumber sandwiches before flying at Freddie with her nails, and only then did Fraser step in, a flash of red uniform, putting the full width of himself between the two young women.

"There's no dispute that need be solved with violence." Apparently that was patently untrue, because when he tipped his head to ask Freddie if she was alright: "Are you okay, Miss?", London gave him a scratch across his jaw for his efforts, apparently determined that if Freddie wasn't already hurt then she was going to amend that mistake in due order.

jessica jones。/ registered / ota

[motherfucked]

a) near the bar

[ Jessica Jones has had two vodkas and her fingers are wrapped around the bell of a wine glass. She shouldn't, she knows. She can— she can hear Carol Danvers saying that she shouldn't, in her head, like some weird sit-com voiceover. But she shouldn't be here, but she is anyway, so all the other shouldn'ts could go screw themselves for a while.

She hates places like this. She hates dressing up and dancing and being here just reminds her why she hates it. Her body language is cagey, paranoid: back against the wall, eyes narrowed to a glare. Jessica said she'd register, because it was that or go homeless, but she still feels unsettled. But she was too tired to fight. She didn't do that anymore. She'd quit all this alternate universe shit. She shouldn't, shouldn't.

So she takes another drink. ]

b) the business card

[ One of the plastic surgery superdocs has apparently given Jessica his card. She is staring at it like she could burn it with her eyes. Which she can't, because she doesn't have that power. But, you know, like she could. ]

Fuckers! [ Jessica is mumbling under her breath, but maybe not as quietly as she thinks. ] Piece of shit fucking asshole! [ Her voice turns high pitched, like she's trying to make a voice: ] "I can help you with that!" [ And then, back to normal. ] Fuck you.

[ She pauses for moment, not looking at the card anymore. ]

I don't— there's nothing wrong with my nose. [ Is there? She looks around at this hall of perfect toothpastey people and all their chandeliers, letting it all fall on her. And then, making an expression that writes more lines on her face, she decides: ] Fuck you.

a

[viced]

[ Mitchell Hundred, on the other hand, loves things like this. He's here because he feels invigorated, and energized by the prospect of learning names, and talking to people from this world. He's in the middle of a discussion with someone from the Mayor's office -- introducing himself. The Mayor might not be here, but he can talk to anyone close enough to count.

It's when he's done, that he notices her, and it's with a few quick steps across the room, before he's at the damn bar. He doesn't even bother ordering, just slides close, eyes wide. ]

Jessica?

Kang | Registered

[governorkang]

Kang was really regretting coming to this swear-in. As soon as the plastic surgeons had noticed the mass of scars on his right hand, they'd swooped in like seagulls with a crust of bread. Not even temporarily switching to his human form had helped, as the scars were present no matter his appearance. A few had commented on the slightly tarnished coloring at the edges of his dark bronze scales, asking if that was a flaw.

One had even gone so far as to grab his wing without asking permission first. The doctor had gotten a face full of snarling draconian for his rudeness.

The only way Kang was handling this was with alcohol, and telling himself that maybe he'd see someone from home or learning something interesting.

[corviform]

Kang?

[ He's not very difficult to spot, even in a crowded hall such as this one. Gil weaves his way through the crowd over to Kang's side to greet him properly.

In his hand he has a few business cards that he's not sure what to do with, so he's been clinging to them for no discernible reason throughout the evening. A card is poking out of his pocket, but he hasn't noticed someone's slipped that in yet. ]

Good evening. I'm surprised to see you came up all the way for the ceremony.

Benton Fraser | Registered

[dogsled]

[ After several brushes with doctors over the state of his teeth, where Fraser had - each time, politely - gone into storymode over how difficult good bridgework was to obtain in the Yukon, his suspicion had begun to mount. He'd begun to seek out those bright-skinned-perfect-teethed people deliberately, talking with them at length about the procedures, taking their cards and pretending to be interested with the efficiency of a lie dressed as the truth "I have to admit, I hadn't considered cosmetic surgery to be a realistic possibility in my line of work." There was just something fishy about the whole thing, something that with his long experience of investigating similar fishiness, he just couldn't let go.

He'd come in uniform, expecting formalwear to be a prerequisite--that had been a mistake. As usual the red uniform made him stand out among the crowd, and between the photographs and the flirting, the demands for dancing and the eager celebrities pressing into his space to shake his hand, the whole event became overwhelming in short order. At last he escaped the press of the crowd, heading out past the front doors to stand under the palisade. The fresh air was a relief, even if the sheets of pouring rain blocked his escape route, so under the palisade he stayed, staring out into the blackness of the night and the rain and longing - not for the first time - for home. ]

[biotically]

[ It was damn hard to miss the uniform. Honestly, he really shouldn't feel a little...happy at the fact that there was a part of his homeland's history here. Really, they'd gotten rid of that sort of thing, when Earth got a little closer in terms of governments, but every kid in Canada knew what mounties were.

They were cool, quaint. There was probably a million animated children's characters based on them, but it was still neat. He leaned against a rail, happening to be in the area -- missing rain just as much -- Vancouver rained a lot, and he shook his head. ]

Chit for your thoughts?

Bruce Wayne | Registered

[chiroptophobic]

[ It was much easier to blend into this crowd than it had been on the boat. Bruce kept a low profile, chatting in particular with the suits that worked in city hall, speaking with some of the people in the technology and research business. He brushed shoulders and handed people drinks, and hovered near the buffet table with a plate full of carrots, celery sticks and a slice of pink watermelon.

It was an interesting if not suspicious crowd. He watched the newcomers sharply as they faced the question of whether or not to register: take the governments payout and conform or risk being thrown out on the streets of a city they didn't recognise, in a world where history had been irreconcilably altered. Not much of a choice. ]


[OOC: Bruce can be found around the buffet table, or in the deepest parts of the crowd. He might even be caught introducing himself - either to your character of a stranger - his hand outstretched "Bruce Wayne, nice to meet you." ]

[justimom]

[ At this point in the evening Samara had completely given up on her attempts to blend in with the crowd. It just was not going to happen while she was the only blue skinned alien in the room. At least giving up on blending in meant she had no qualms about walking up to the buffet table to look at the food items on display.]

Excuse me. [She bowed her head slightly as she attempted to reach around Bruce to get a plate.]

REINER BRAUN | registered & OPEN

[soldiarity]

( A. ) help I'm being opPRESSed

Contrary to how Reiner usually is at these events, he arrives quite begrudgingly this time, lacking his by now familiar friendly energy. After coming clean about what he was along with Annie and Bertholdt, going out in public like nothing was wrong felt uncomfortable; he might have stayed home if not for the fact Annie seemed to think it wasn't a bad idea.

Dressed in dark pants, a green t-shirt, a leather jacket, and with hair still wet from the rain, Reiner decides that while he's here he can at least make an effort to mind his own business and hope that his presence doesn't rub anyone the wrong way. Unfortunately, at his size he is not the most inconspicuous of guests, and some of the local media flock in his direction before he even has time to see who else is at the ceremony.

But at least being forced to socialize snaps him from the urge to stand sulking in some corner. After the press leaves him, he is too confused to do much else but wander.

( B. ) soldiering on

The crowd is stifling in a way that Reiner usually doesn't mind, but as time wears on a sort of peaceful haze falls over his thoughts, allowing him to move around with more confidence and amiability. He's helped himself to some of the food, walking with it rather than lurking by the table so he can observe the roombas with a confused sort of wonder and quickly collect a small stack of business cards from doctors he can't shake off while his mouth is full. One of them even holds his face in their hands so they can point out to their associate his over-pronounced eyebrow ridges, his large hands, the way his skin and facial structure makes him look ten years older. Reiner might be too nice to refuse the business cards, but Doctor Handsy gets an aggressive shove backwards so that Reiner has room to flee.

"What the hell is wrong with everyone here?" He's definitely going to need more food to distract himself from the regrets of showing up at all, though the longer he's here the more he forgets why he'd had reservations to begin with -- he always comes to these things. Why should this time be any different?

B

[theoryandcalculation]

Rei is poking around the food table when he hears Reiner's exclamation, and he looks over just in time to see him getting away from an offended looking doctor and coming over to the food. He shakes his head in disapproval, but at the doctors, not Reiner.

"They're far too pushy," he says in sympathy. "Normally I'd appreciate such attention to aesthetic beauty, but not when they're telling people about their supposed flaws."

Even if he might agree that the bridge of his nose could be a little straighter and his teeth whiter... but no one's more critical on Rei than Rei himself.

HARVEY DENT | unsettled & OPEN

[indenture]

( A. ) game face: on

Of the many imPorts there, Harvey is perhaps one of the few whose appearance is met with little complaint, and for good reason; De Chima is where he had gone to get the plastic surgery to cover up his extensive scars and whatever else needed covering. His hair is combed, smile bright, and his skin appears flawless even where it shows his weariness from poor sleep -- aside from that and a light dust of stubble from missing a shave that morning, he looks immaculate.

Which means, of course, Harvey is grabbed by a doctor -- his doctor -- and shown off as if he were a photograph or a portfolio instead of a person. Every minute that passes of this, every new doctor shoved in his face, is ticked off by an increasing twitch at his eye and throb at his temple.

Don't do anything Harvey Dent wouldn't do, Harvey reminds himself constantly, but what the hell does it even mean? Harvey Dent's done a lot of things, many of them regrettable, without even beginning with all that Two-Face has done.

As it turns out, he's able to excuse himself quite easily by kicking the roomba which has helpfully glided by his feet into the legs of the doctors who won't let him go, which causes one to fall over into the other, sending them both to the ground. Harvey escapes to the (more accurately, the bar) in the confusion.

( B. ) the bar exam

And then he sits there consumed with whiskey for the rest of the evening.

:')

[glassinine]

[ Edgeworth had seen Harvey being shown off like a prize pig. He knows the man well enough now to have been able to see the growing distress, too, had noticed his discomfort and unhappiness, but he'd been at a loss as to how to intervene. It's no mystery why they're so proud of him: his skin is flawless, his face perfect, a complete contrast to how he'd looked a month ago - but it's so utterly mannerless and inappropriate for them to be treating him like this -

When Harvey storms off, Edgeworth follows him. He gives him a few minutes before slipping in next to him. ]

Sparkling water, please.

[ He doesn't greet the man; he just places that order. If Harvey wants to speak about that embarrassment, he will; otherwise, Edgeworth will divert the conversation to something a bit more neutral. Legal matters. Something of the sort. ]

Thane Krios | Unsettled | OTA

[chancetoatone]

This was a crowd large enough to get lost in, which was just the type Thane liked, especially after so many stares in his own city of Nonah. The perfect human specimens didn't go unnoticed to his eyes, and he found them a little disturbing, but he opted for observation rather than conversation where they were concerned. Clad in what he assumed would pass for human formal attire, he hoped to avoid notice here, but with so many humans, he still stuck out.

He'll be found in various places, never staying in one place too long unless someone stops him, which does happen at one point, a prospective plastic surgeon specifically, who touches his arm as he passes the refreshments.

"No, thank you." He remarks to them as he slides from their grasp and flits away into the crowd. Why was such a gathering necessary? Is it a show of force? Did these people mean to brag to their enemies?

[OOC: Feel free to encounter Thane anywhere! He's keeping moving so as to avoid unwanted attention, but he's not going to be rude if you stop him!]

[viced]

There were oddities all over. Being mayor of the City had taught him that well enough. He'd learned to look at people with fresh eyes, understanding that they were all different, and that they were all going to be unique, and different worlds sometimes meant...aliens, robots...

Any number of being.

But he was really curious about this one. His voice...sounded different -- and Mitchell often focused on voices, for good reason, even if they were barely audible most of the time. "They're fucking pushy, aren't they?"

Jean Kirstein | registered

[isaytheeneigh]

plastic surgery

My face isn't even that long!

[Sure enough, Jean has more than one business card in his hand as he tries to get away from numerous plastic surgeons. They look upon him with pity. There have been numerous offers: hairplugs to make his hair permanently blond, a way to get the dark rings from underneath his eyes, and a way to reset his jaw so that he doesn't look quite so ... long-faced. They have offered him a way to look more pleasant: his lips won't look like they're in a constant grimace, and his eyes will stand out, adjusted ever-so-slightly so that he looks like the kind-faced teenage boy that he was always meant to be.

Needless to say, he hates it. After Dr. Nic bouncily adds his voice, Jean turns away grumpily, clenching all the business cards in his fist at a loss for what exactly he should do with them.

After finally escaping to the other side of the room, he looks down at the business cards uncertainly. What the hell does he do with them?]

observing

[Given his own ambitions to help protect these events, Jean uses the quieter moments to observe the surroundings. He has his doubts that another event will be held at a place like this, but the fact that there is security to ensure no one comes in and harms anyone is a plus. He has a feeling that the best way to keep these events secure is to patrol on the outside—or at least have a group doing so.

His face is as harsh as ever as he does observe, but it's obvious he's deep in thought. Jean's not exactly the type to sit around and talk to himself—at least with his jaw moving—but there's obviously a lot on his mind. Every now and then, he takes a sip from the soda he grabbed, but the combination of the various chemicals and carbonation just lead to his nose wrinkling.

Somehow, it's not getting any better no matter how much time he puts between himself and the dark liquid in his cup.]

Lightning | registered

[heralding]

[Lightning is uncomfortable.

It's not the dress that she's wearing that does it, but the way she's standing around with a glass in her hand trying to figure out what direction she should take. The fact of the matter is that Lightning isn't very good at events like this. She has a feeling Serah might be better, but in light of everything that has happened to both of them, they might both be at a loss. Lightning is almost too much of a soldier, and Serah is almost too different from a life like this. And though it occurs to Lightning that she should act, that she should play a role—the last time she tried that, she knows her performance fell flat. (And this time, there aren't any pyrotechnics to save the day.)

It's when she goes to refill her glass of white wine for lack of anything else to do that she runs into Bartolomeo.]

Ah, you would be a great piece for my collection. You are near perfect, with one exception ... but not all mouths are beautiful without some help. Surely, surely enough, Dr. Nic can help you!

[Which is the point where Bartolomeo hands over her glass, procured from the bartender's hand.]

... Right. [It's the first thing that comes to mind: the typical phrase when she's at a loss of anything else to say. Her mouth words uneasily (and somewhat self-consciously) as she takes a step away.] I'll ... consider that. Thank you.

[After all, even if she feels somewhat accosted and awkward, she doesn't want to snub someone who has given her a compliment of sorts. Beyond that, Bartolomeo is here for professional reasons, and she can understand that.

Still, she turns away sharply with a nod and presses on ahead. While Lightning is the type to hold her head up, her escape is largely met with her barely looking where she's going. It's quite possible (and very likely) that she's both going to run into someone, and also spill that recently procured wine in the process.]