One Night Only

[edge_of_nothing]

Who: OPEN TO EVERYONE because of Julian
When: October 30th, 2012
Where: The Xino E. Mao Corp building
Summary: MASQUERAAADE: A costume party of the swanky kind! Yay!
Warnings: None...?
Notes: Forward-dating so there's more time to tag in. Action and prose are both okay! ALSO: tag yourself in on the log!

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Halloween doesn't just belong to the young and young-at-heart. Candy isn't hard to come by. So why not spend some time partying it up?

Thanks to a mistake and Network spam sent via Julian, Xino E. Mao has been dressed up for precisely that line of thinking. Thanks to Xigbar's quick fixes (i.e. connections and a few spells for the occasion), the rooms reserved for special events have been opened up for the masquerade. Yes, masquerade. All are expected to dress in costumes that aren't corny.

The lighting is dim, overlaying fitting decorations which fulfill the eerie ambiance necessary for such a Hallowed Night. These are far from cheesy store-bought decorations, of course. It's stylish and...alive. Why yes, those are Heartless Shadows creeping along the walls.

Don't get too caught up staring at the details – the details will stare back at you.

To all who enter here: enjoy.

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Comments

[oujomerchant]

[When taken at face value, it's actually rather mysterious. Not wanting to ruin the mystery, she decides not to ask for elaboration.]

Oh, ah.. W- Well, before arriving here at the Port, she was heiress to the most successful chain of item shops in Europe! Now her work is a bit more.. *ahem* menial, but she will make her mark here as well, given time.

sorry this was late, crazy weekend!

[czes]

...No one's using you for child labor, are they? [The 'doctor' suddenly looks very concerned, his brow furrowing, peering at the archer through his autoscope.]

Np, welcome back!

[oujomerchant]

.. Comment? (What?) Is that some sort of legal issue in this time? Where I am from it is not abnormal to start a business at our age. Uncommon, oui, but that is another matter.

[czes]

Um, yeah. Children aren't supposed to work. They're supposed to go to school, or the adult responsible for you could be put in jail. Of course, there are plenty of folks who'd prefer newcomers to stay out of school, so it's a huge deal, but you should be careful.

Don't you want to go to school, though?

[oujomerchant]

W- What?? I did not know that! [Goodness gracious it's good she got that information now; it seems she's going to have quite a bit of research to do to get around this! To the question, though, she can't help but look a little smug.]

That is rather shocking. But to answer your question, I have already been thoroughly educated in my profession; though I admit that I do have 'catch up' to do with today's economy and rules.

I am perfectly capable of educating myself.

[czes]

Great! I so love smart girls. [That at least is sincere, Czeslaw enjoys seeing children who are self-possessed, especially girls, who tend to have the rest of the world that much more against them. That's why he decides he ought to help her.] So what is it you sell, anyway? I know someone you can get in touch with if you need to sell some stuff under the table. If you produce under the radar, you won't have to pay taxes, and no one will care if you're not technically old enough to run your own business.

[oujomerchant]

E- Eh?

[The first comment catches her off-guard, clearly. Though she soon settles down, while still perplexed- perplexed mostly by her string of luck, though. People have just been so helpful!]

Ah, well.. The truth is I am still working on that. I have not been here long, I have been looking around for a niche that I may somehow be able to fill. At home, we sold weapons, armor, herbs.. Adventurer things. I probably cannot get those as easily now."

[czes]

No. But I do a little alchemy, maybe I can help you get your stock up, for potions? But we'll need a little seed money for supplies. I've been thinking it'd be better to get a storefront going, but I was sorta hoping for an adult...

[oujomerchant]

'Seed money'? I've never heard of starting capital reffered to in such a way.. Anyway, I just so happen to be working on that.

[Alouette seems really surprised that he's into alchemy.]

My my, it sounds to me like you are brewing up a brilliant plan! I have been mingling here and there, and have an idea for a person or two who would be able to assist; or at least give us some advice- I trust them. Shall I give you my NV number so that we may keep in touch?

[czes]

Great idea! [Czeslaw pulls his NV from his coat pocket, a small item apparently made out of warm brown bakelite, but looks like an e-reader inside.] It's always a good idea to team up with more powerful people, but you gotta be careful who you trust.

[oujomerchant]

[This is so exciting for the french girl! Alouette is glad she came to this party; it's much better to meet this boy sooner than later it seems. Alouette takes her NV, a somewhat clunky book with a compuer for pages, out from her backpack worn with her quiver of arrows.]

Well then, since we are now partners, I should tell you that my real name is Alouette Emeline Mercier Bouchard. Of course there is no need to address me by my full name.

Ah, though I do have another question. It seems many newcomers detest the two major companies here.. Do you believe it is unwise to affiliate with either of them? Are they not the only ones that have a chance to understand the core?

[czes]

Can I just call you Alouette? [Czeslaw smiles brightly.] That means lark, doesn't it?

My name's Czeslaw Meyer. You call me Czes, all my friends do!

As for allying... it's pretty complicated. I think if someone could figure out the Core, they would've done it already.

[oujomerchant]

Oui, but of course you can, Czes! Czeslaw? That is a rather interesting name, what language is it? My first name does translate to 'lark' in common, though. You know a bit of French?

Hmnn. I suspected it was not that simple, though to me 'science' is so very complex.. But I shall keep the thought in mind.

[czes]

I've worked with a French person or two in my time. And I've had a lot of time to learn a lot about a lot of language. Czeslaw is Polish. I'm from Poland, but I've also lived in Italy and also in America.

You can leave the science to me, okay? I'm good at it.

[oujomerchant]

[She claps her hands, impressed.]

Oooh, you are so cultured! I do not believe there was a Poland where I am from but I do recall seeing that on today's map of Europe, how interesting. It almost makes our meeting appear fated, does it not?

[She then blushes a bit, not uncomfortable with the idea of Czes being in charge of science, but embarrassed that she doesn't know much. Perhaps she'll learn through him.]

Also, I recommend we should meet at my home sometime, it has a massive garden with all sorts of plants and herbs and roots that you just may find useful. It is quite far north, however.

[czes]

That sounds beautiful. Are you all by yourself out there?

[Czes doesn't miss the blush, but he's kind enough not to tease about it.]

[oujomerchant]

Ah, well, it isn't exactly.. all beautiful, but you will see soon enough.

[She shakes her head.

Oh non, non, I actually live there with my rival, Recette. We are on a temporary alliance though, considering our position. Ahem, we did use to live with an impressively built robot, but I am afraid she had returned home not long after we moved in.

[czes]

--That's really no good, Alouette! You should keep an adult around in case of an emergency. It's a dangerous world out there, and if anyone finds out two ordinary kids are living alone, it could be bad...!

[oujomerchant]

Ah.. Is it? Well, I suppose I could see why that might be the case. Perhaps I was blinded by the amount of freedom I have- and someone needs to water all those plants.

I have not been spouting this upon the network, but I am uncertain whom to go to in a situation like this. Of the people I have met, none of them were adults that do not live with someone else.

[oujomerchant]

What do you think I should do, Czes?

[czes]

What kind of space do you have? [Czes taps his chin, thinking.] I have a grown-up I use for such purposes, he likes kids so maybe he could help.

[oujomerchant]

It is a luxury home with five bedrooms. As you could imagine, it could potentially house a good number of people.

[She grins.]

I really would appreciate that. In fact, if you find the place to your liking, perhaps you could convince your adult to stay with us as well for a reasonable fee. I confess it is a long travel though.

[czes]

Can I come visit it sometime? So I know if it's a good place to live.

[oujomerchant]

It goes without saying that you may come and take a look. In fact I just had a friend over a few days ago for lunch and it was quite fun giving a tour of the place!

A weekend would be most convenient to visit.

[czes]

Okay. Why don't I give you a ring in a few weeks and we'll work it out? I gotta float this idea past Kenzo, too. I wanna have something to tell you when I come by.

But till then, are you doing okay? With money and stuff.