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

[observationalhazard]

Probably a good thing that Hanji didn't know she was being judged on the size of her chest. Then again, it also might not have occurred to her to think about that sort of thing - she was usually all business, all the time. Well, maybe not strictly business, but much more interested in the world around her then anything else.

His response piqued her curiosity. There was a story behind that and Hanji briefly considered asking - who were the elders? Why did he dislike them? What was his story?

But there was a more immediate topic of discussion, so Hanji filed her questions away for later. She arched a brow at Nero with a little hum, "Filth? How do you mean? You mean corruption? Or something else entirely?"

[chaospath]

The more he thought about it, he wondered if her world even had elves. If they did, it would be depressing if the elders actually kept them all in the village. Nero still wondered if One was around this city, and only came to this party because it looked like a lot of people were gathering. Seemed like the easiest way to figure out if his companion was or wasn't around, but it seemed like it was a dead end.

"Hm." Nero tilted his head slightly at the questions. "There's corruption everywhere. There's no place that is free of it. Even the happiest kingdom has its shadows." That was something that was just fact. The elves back home were thought of as pious and peace-loving creatures and look at him.

"But I'm just saying that the sight of all these people... those that want to hide everything wrong with you. Those that just smile so pretty while saying absolutely nothing. Don't you think this place is unnaturally filthy?"

[observationalhazard]

The longer Hanji listened to Nero, the more convinced she was that he was a rather gloomy fellow, all things considered. Well, not gloomy. Not like Levi. But certainly pessimistic. Or cynical (not that she blamed anyone for a certain degree of cynicism). She wrinkled her nose at his question and took another quick look at the swirling crowd around them. Well... that was one way to put it.

"Trying to cover up imperfections is understandable, but our hosts - well, they take it to an extreme," Her face slowly split into a grin, "I'm used to people saying nothing, even if they use a lot of words. Politicians are a constant, aren't they?"

[chaospath]

"There's always something we want to hide." He lifted his hand to lightly scratch at his bandanna. It was nice that he didn't come completely fucked from the fight that he had. The brand had returned to its original shape upon his skin. But that didn't mean he wanted to broadcast to everyone where it was.

"But what's wrong with a few scars. Missing a few limbs. Sure, you're not gonna have anyone spread their legs to you any time soon, but you lived." Nero clicked his tongue as he thought of his companion. It still pissed him off just a little, but that rage quieted as he looked around the party. These people wouldn't let One die. Their military wouldn't allow it -- his gaze turned back toward the security.

How hilarious.

"Politicians. Those that can't see beyond their own little worlds." He opened his hands. "It's all the same, you're right."

[observationalhazard]

The conversation has taken a turn for the serious (And the political), which she isn't sure is incredibly wise - but Hell, nothing ventured, nothing gained. She rolls her shoulders in a shrug - it's true, something about this reminds her uncomfortably of the people of the inner walls, the way the king and the Military Police have controlled information and turned her and her companions into fugitives. There's the same sense here. She just happens to be on their side this time.

"People who rely on others - well, nothing wrong with that. I think for me it's people who use others, without consent, without people knowing they're being used - and then who try to hide it. That's a problem."

[chaospath]

"Then you must be feeling real sore about being here." He lifted up his wrist to show that he did not decide to join the military. It branded him as something negative, but he wasn't going to be a dog to anyone that had such boring thoughts running through their heads. Wiggling his fingers at her, he felt his smile widen that much more.

"But really ... that happens everywhere, Hanji." Nero drew out her name with a slightly apologetic tilt of his head. "And there ain't nothing that either of us can do about it. So, you're just gonna have to swallow it. I hope that you can, because if you can't, I'd be real worried about you." Snickering loudly, he dropped back down to look around for that little metal golem, but it had gone somewhere else.

And Nero thought that at this time that One would be on his case for saying something "unnecessary" to people. Sigh.

[observationalhazard]

"Sore? Mmm, possibly," Hanji shrugs, bouncing up on the balls of her feet. She's apparently not rising to the bait, "It makes things more difficult in some respects, easier in others. But I would rather be at home!"

His remarks on the nature of the world earn him an amused laugh, "That's a silly way to look at the world. We can change things - often for the better - we just have to try. It might take time and hard work and we might not even live to see it - but we can change it."

[chaospath]

"You won't live to see it, because it won't happen." Nero let his expression turn to a colder one. Regardless of what anyone did, the world would turn toward chaos because that was what it wanted. "No one will pick up the baton when you drop it, because there's too many people living that care too much about self-interest.

"If you're going to do it, do it now. Saying that it'll come after and putting your faith in people..." He really wished that he could have found out where that little device went, but he decided that will be how it was. No use crawling around the floor looking for it. "What a boring way to see the world."

[observationalhazard]

Hanji gives Nero a look. What a cynical way to view the world. True, there was nastiness - but why did that matter? She laughs softly, "You're quite cynical. And I guess I can't blame you - but the Survey Corps - we keep sacrificing our lives in the hope that it will mean something for the future. For the survival of humanity. So..."

She makes a sweeping gesture, "I'll keep trying. Even if it means my death."

[chaospath]

"If? It will." Sacrificing one's life for the future. He sucks in a deep breath before letting it out. It makes him think of One and irritation rests heavily on his shoulders. Willing to die to protect the world. Nero pushes himself up to stand and brushes off his clothes like he actually got dirt on it.

"Hope is nice, but I do wonder how it'll be when things start falling to shit for you all." Nero scratches the side of his neck, because he wonders if they are ever going to return home. Ah, that's a thought he only humored for a few seconds.

"After all, you're stuck here now. So... I guess you won't be able to see what future awaits your world." Yes, he is a very nasty person and it takes just a little while before people to realize it, but he applauds her in being able to keep the conversation where it was before he shows this side. "But, either way, good luck, Hanji. I look forward to seeing how you survive in this city."

[observationalhazard]

"When things go to shit, we keep trying. What's the alternative? Give up? Let ourselves die?" Hanji's still smiling, but it's a sharp sort of smile, the one you might see on a predator. She lifts a hand in a wave of farewell.

"And good luck to you - try to expand your point of view a little more."

[chaospath]

"No, fuck that. But I'm certain that humanity will do it the more they keep ignoring the reality of the situation." His hands open in surrender. Because a person can only keep drinking and believing in hope before it turns to ash in their mouth.

"I'm not the one blinded by the light, Hanji." He gives a small wave back to her before he decides to go and see what they have to offer at the banquet.