Welcome to Gaia! ::

Good evening and welcome to the Fundraiser Gala for Destiny City's new state of the art hospital facility. I am your host and the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Ian Hadly. If you are here this evening, it means that YOU, dear friend, are responsible for this building's creation and will be remembered in the history books as a patron of not only science, but for the well being of your fellow man. Your charitable contributions have created not only a new safe haven for Destiny City's citizens to flock to for aid, but your support also sponsors the advanced research we are conducting in efforts to conquer the world of its most terrible epidemic.

Here with me tonight at the large table located to the left of the room are the esteemed members of our Board of Directors. Please do not hesitate to approach any of them with your thoughts, opinions and suggestions towards our upcoming projects.

Towards the right, you will not only see our exquisite buffet table, but also our prize table, where we will be raffling off several gifts at the end of this evening. As you entered tonight, you received a ticket - please hang on to these tickets just in case you hear your number called out!

Please enjoy your evening and thank you ALL once again for your help in making the brand new Destiny's Star Hospital a fantastic success! We hope to see you all tomorrow for our grand opening celebration!

~

((OOC: This is your excuse to get your guys and gals dolled up for a night out on the town! You are welcome to come up with any reason for your character receiving a ticket into the Gala - whether they themselves donated, they created a fundraiser in help, they were gifted a ticket from a friend, etc - any reason is a workable reason for them to be here!

This is a free for all ORP so feel free to mingle and meet new people or collect with the old. Andrew Collins (Tsunake), Julianne Payne (Ghouliboo), Ariel Mishnah (Whimsical Blue) and Isaac Harrison (Shanyume) will all be near the Board of Directors table, if your character is in need of someone to talk to, so please don't hesitate to quote any of us.

If your character is a member of the Negaverse, you may assume a position as a waiter or bus boy if feeling inclined to be helpful towards General Obsidian or General Cinnabar. You may get brownie points with them for doing so, or you may end up getting mocked by Obby for looking like a penguin. Who knows.

Lastly, don't worry about the "tickets" into the raffle - we'll handle all that at the end! )))

Cerissé Belcourt


To be fair, Cerissé was far from being the only member of the Symphony there. One of the conductors had mentioned the outing a week or so in advanced and mentioned that it would likely do good for both their reputation as well as a little publicity for some of their members to go. Whether she was enthused about the idea or not, Cerissé was always easily persuaded by 'but do it for your violin'.

That beautiful lovely violin that was tucked safely away at home.

Her hair was carefully tucked up, pinned into place by a lace-patterned pearled hair clip that always added a few extra points to her 'stunning' stat, as well as a purple-and-lace vintage dress that she really felt was just right for the occasion. At the very least, if anybody else from her section slouched, she'd outshine them.

At least she'd be able to say she looked nice, even if the entire 'social' aspect of the outing would be..questionable.

((please ignore this gaia hates me))

Julian Ashleigh Laurence


The Destiny City Ballet Company was not performing at the Gala, of course, but Julian had been asked to accompany the orchestra performing because of a violinist whose sickness had only progressed over the course of all of the rehearsal times. He was second chair here as well, as he was in the DCBC orchestra, but no matter. He would make his way to first chair soon enough, that Julian was sure of.

He wasn't playing now; the orchestra was currently taking a break to reorient themselves, and Julian, a substitute player (something he despised even thinking about, because it put into mind the premise of not being good enough), had not been required to stay when they had shifted people around.

"Go get drinks and mingle," the conductor had said.

Julian did not want to get drinks and mingle. Julian wanted to go back to playing, or possibly to go home, standing by the buffet table with an irate look on his pale face, blond hair swept back away from his eyes and neatly smoothed to keep it from falling anywhere while he played.

He plucked a toothpick of what looked like cabbage something or other off of a passing waiter's tray, stuck it in his mouth, and chewed, looking probably more annoyed about chewing food than any person should be.

Jada Chamberlyn

Almost within minutes of telling her little ward that yes, she could join Jada at the Fundraiser Gala, the older woman had deeply regretted her hasty decision. Jada had not remembered how bad her sister Kayley could be when a party or a big dance event came about, but as the little girl had bounced around preparing to ensure that everything in her appearance met her princessly expectations, Jada had remembered. Remembered, and found it absolutely exhausting. The child had considered every kind of option for her gown, from dresses by Mischka Aoki to Disney Princess outfits. Everything so far out of the logical price range for a teeny little gala like this... But she had wanted to look an adult for her very first proper party, and so Jada had indulged every exhausting whim, from selecting the perfect tiara headband for her blonde curls, to getting an early morning manicure.

Now the evening of the gala had arrived, and she guided the little princess down the stairs, watching her ward twist her purse around her fingers nervously. Bending down, careful to ensure the back of her gown didn't somehow pop right down what little seam she had, she brushed a curl out of Giulia's face, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. “Go on,” she told her. “Have fun. Make sure you can see me all the time, remember? You don't have to hold my hand, but you have to stay where we can see each other, unless I know who you are going off to play with.” Something softened in her eyes, a little smile quirking her mouth. She had almost set the little girl loose to go seeking her prince or princess dance partner for the evening, but it wouldn't be safe. It was her little sister's first such event, and hopefully Giulia would have an excellent time. Still, Jada planned to keep a close eye on her. There was no better time for mischief than at a big event like this; and with their family, mischief was an almost certain possibility.

They were here in time to hear the speech from the CMO. As he spoke- Doctor Hadly up there with his soulless eyes- Jada's own bright eyes flicked over to the Board of Directors. Strangely, she didn't think she actually recognized any of them from other financial engagements she'd had previously. Usually such crowds ran similar. Perhaps there was new interest in their war-torn city? There were, however, some interesting people nearby- was that Drew? She'd not seen him in years- and hadn't he been a teacher? To see him now up by the Board was a bit of a surprise. She shifted, her gown swirling around her legs. Thoughts, concerns and suggestions, hmm? Well, she had few enough of those this early in the evening. She donated money, and as long as she wasn't hearing that the hospital was making a mess of things, she would leave it to their better-specialized discretion exactly what they did with the funds.

Slowly, she began a loop of the ballroom, keeping a careful eye on the child who was already testing the limits of her boundaries. So far there did not seem to be very many people there, and as the model circled, she took first a glass of the nonalcoholic juice, smiling thanks at the person who had passed it to her. Where was- ah. Giulia was already wandering off again, and Jada picked up her pace in circling the area and considering. Buffet. Prizes. Fancy clothes... It was increasingly like old times. Yet there was no one she recognized off the top of her head yet. She had been out of the social circles for far too long.

Jericho Cross

"Did you borrow that one from Lovely, too?" The comment was made with a small smirk--playful, not cruel--as Jericho nudged his companion with a gentle elbow. Melinda and David had donated quite a bit to the fundraiser, happy to assist however they could to the newest hospital in Destiny City. They were there, somewhere, mingling and enjoying their time out.

Of course, they'd gotten two tickets--one for Jericho, and one they'd assumed would be for Ilian, though they'd left that to Jericho to give to his friend, largely out of being unsure if Ilian was comfortable being around them much.

Something that Jericho had made clear when he'd tossed the ticket at Ilian one afternoon. They wanted Ilian to go. He wanted Ilian to go. Even if Jericho himself felt awkward standing there in the black suit and tie, white shirt stark against his dark skin. "We can grab food if you want?" He nodded his head towards the buffet table, trying to relax himself. His shoulders were stiff, back straight as a board and unable to keep himself from looking this way and that around the collection of bodies. Crowds were never his strong suit, and now was no different.

Even if he was trying to relax and actually... maybe enjoy himself. Sort of. No familiar faces caught his eye, beyond those of his adopted parents, and he made note of whomever they might speak to. This fundraiser was risking be a bigger stress than it was worth, if he didn't watch himself.

Guine

Quote:

Jericho is open for interaction! Feel free to pester him and Ilian 8>

Shahar Montague

Shahar was not normally the sort to go to fancy parties. But this was one she could not bring herself to pass up. Tying her bright hair up in a knot had been something that had taken most of the day, but it had been well worth it. The colors- dark and bright, greens and blues and almost-purples- had separated out into fine style, patterning against each other and then being smoothed into a whirlpool of color surrounding some delicate, shimmery hair decorations. Next she had worked on her eyes, lining with bright teals and purples, the Egyptian woman winging out the black liner to distinction. She used liquid eyeliner, tracing every bit carefully into a sharp point.

The dress she had chosen was the perfect finale to her mermaid-inspired look. Shimmery, sparkly, and teal, it draped down to the ground and pooled around her feet. A bit longer than she may have liked, but the back and the neckline were super comfortable, and it was flowier than anything she had worn before, and if it was a bit more expensive than anything else she owned, at least she was reasonably certain she could find someone at a fancy party like this who would help her make her effort worth it. Reasonably being a key word. The empire waistline added a bit of heft to her bosom that wasn't always there, and the halter showed off her arms to great effect.

Yes, she decided, as she bent down over the bathroom sink and took a little something that made her eyes begin to sparkle and shine a few minutes later- tonight was going to be a fantastic night. She's left out the undergarments just for this occasion.

Inside the room, there were already all kinds of boys and girls making friends and taking drinks, nibbling on food, or listening to whoever Doctor Evil was up at the front. (All doctors were doctor evil.) The amount of people that she knew up at the front- from Christmas parties that had been hosted when she first came to town- had nothing to do with the little tilt of her head, the narrowed consideration of her brightly-sparkling eyes. Shahar's sway down the stairs had nothing to do with drunkenness for once, and everything to do with the fact she was pretty much high as a kite, wearing shoes that were as gorgeous as they were deadly.

She licked her lips, inhaling, and stretching up onto her tiptoes to see who she knew in the local area. At six feet and change, plus the added 4” from her boots, and dressed as close to a mermaid as she had an excuse to be at such a fancy little get-together, she was probably quite the sight for anyone. Slowly, she swept her way through the ballroom, looking all around with interested eyes. “Oh!” she cried with delight. “They have mini quiches.” her heavy Arabic accent was extra-pronounced thanks to her powdery friend before her taxi ride, and she wasn't even ashamed to bend down and grab a quiche as she made her way happily towards the Board of Directors table.

Mathias White

The voice was familiar - if loud, and overly bubbly - and as he moved through the crowd to get a better look, the face and body were familiar as well. Though more glammed up than he'd probably ever seen her. He allowed himself to admit that Shahar cleaned up well - very well - but the thoughts began and ended there. If there was one thing to be said of Mathias, his loyalty was something to be envied.

The fact that her heels now had her slightly above him on the height scale made him chuckle a bit. But he supposed such things were the nature of such occasions. Moving through the light crowd with quick foot steps, he reached out and gently placed a hand on her elbow, only to let it slide off as he fell into step next to her.

"I didn't expect to see you here tonight, Shahar," Mathias said, his voice warm and curious. "What brings you to this little soiree? I would hope not just the quiche."

The last thing he wanted was to find out she was on the prowl for prey. This was hardly the time or place. He just hoped that she was here for personal reasons. Either way, he'd do what he could to distract her away from the board. If there was one thing Mathias knew about people with money - it was that they rarely treated those below their station kindly - no matter how attractive they were.