Gala Metiochidon [IC/Sign-ups]

[Seleucid Pergamon]

Gala Metiochidon

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OOC Thread

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Just pretend the lights' colors are different

19 December, 5:30 PM PGST

Lights of pale azure and scarlet adorned the front facade of the Basileus Seleucus Megas Museum of History and Antiquities. The differences in shades gleaming from their source radiated the Museum in an almost ethereal glow. Even one might not be wrong in assuming that this museum is a unique temple in disguise, blessed by the ancient gods with a alluring shield, upheld apparently by the statues embedded with the architecture. Within the night sky and with it at its back, the Museum constituted a memorable photograph, and guests arriving at the place would be amazed when catching a glimpse at it first hand.

Preparations for the Gala were extensive, and the Museum closed early to visitors as the Demetica, customary to their hosting, rented the entire institution for the night to give time for their completion. The Hall of Monarchs was set as the dinner room for the event, its paraphernalia arranged in meticulous detail to match the theme of the event and look appealing to the guests while not overwhelming their eyes simultaneously. Alongside, the interior design was fitting: the piers had columns of the Corinthian style; its arches they support each contain an aegis of Medusa placed in the middle of the elaborate border, and the roof instilling a reminiscence of the Metiochid past. The arches contain busts or statues of various Metiochid kings who have played a significant part of the Empire's history. For the Gala, the room was illuminated in azure, with the fiddle leaf figs placed in front and covered in red light. The tables are covered in a silver cloth, and enclosed by the rim of plates, wine glasses and silverware is a wavy glass stand protruding from the rim of candles glowing a usual, yellow flame and white flowers. A clear path on the wooden floor divides the tables into two sections, providing another path for the guests to excuse themselves outside or head to the open bar, which is placed behind the right-side aisle. Finally, multiple strings of white flowers hang from the ceiling, rising from the still azure, symbolizing the love by Damoris upon the dynasty and the Empire. One could gaze at this sight and lose oneself if the person was not mindful of the surroundings.

Indeed, the workers, even the coordinators felt that way, leading them to feel proud of themselves. When the Vascopolous and the Chatzigeorgious came into the venue, impressed dominated their visages as they stared, made way to their seats after complementing them. As the evening went on, more guests came to the Museum, and may be surprised once seeing the accommodations on their way to settle at their assigned tables.

[The Selkie]

Princess Aurelia bint-Damir.
I was back, everyone - and now, after the 2022 Meyarieno-Genoise Royal Weddings, the Foreign Office was not ashamed to send me around the world as a representative of the Sultana's will and of the Sultana.
Of course, Ballroom Diplomacy being my speciality, I was sent to do exactly that.
Aside from my other duties, of course, as Beyeha of Malakiard, Advisor to the Princess-Regent of Tanin, and a few other things. It was a lot of stress, sure, I had a break (and a breakdown) not too long ago, yes, but it was fun, too.
And this, I thought, would be fun, too.
650 PS turbocharged twin-turbo V8, it purred like a kitten on steroids, as I gave a bit of gas, enjoying riding the Walaea Motorworks W-120 High Performance Grand Tourer while I still could. The guy on the passenger seat, my supposed driver, was more my valet at this stage, he'd look for a parking spot.
But not yet.
I had an entrance to make. 1.75 metres tall, blonde, half-Kyrenaian, blue eyes - and wearing a deep red dress. Hugging my body nicely, it emphasized the curves I had, and true to the black tie dress code, dressed in an evening gown. Its plunging neckline led to a bodice, which emphasized a natural waistline. The skirt, with a side slit up to the thigh for easier dancing, was of silk organza, a bit see-through, but not too much. High heels with bearable heels finished the ensemble. Very little jewelry was worn, typical by the Kyrenaian fashion, that less jewelry indicated more.
Either way, not only I was done up for the party, so was the venue, it seemed. Pale azure and scarlet lights decorated the Basileus Seleucus Megas Museum of History and Antiquities, giving it an ethereal, otherworldly aura, especially at night. That the hosts had pulled out all stops was something I'd learn soon enough.
I let my car roll out until the red carpet lined up with the passenger door, through which my driver jumped out, gave an apologetic smile, and hurried once to the driver's side. I, meanwhile, grabbed my little handbag, looking into a mirror to see, if my makeup was alright, put on my most self-confident, youthful grin and saw the door opening, the hand of the driver.
I allowed him to help me out, gave him the keys with a grin, and then turned to the venue - and my self-confident grin morphed into one of joy.
The tall, nearly two metres tall redhead in tuxedo, a woman in Geansai on each arm, grinned at me, his brown eyes sparkling in delight.
"Mister Gadhair!", I said with joy, "How wonderful to see you here!"
I approached as he and his escorts bowed their heads, a gesture I returned, before I threw my arms around his neck for a short hug.
"Likewise, Aurelia.", he said with some familiarity. He had said familiarity because... "Daideo sends his best regards."
Who he called Daideo, Grandfather, was the Grand Old Man of Selkie Foreign Politics, Donald Crionna of the Tribe of Louth, my Uncle.
"Thank you. Please give him my best regards back.", I asked of him and let him go, then turned to the two women in Geansai. A white-haired woman, a bit taller then me, more mature, in Fermanagh's Colours, and a Wexford, a dark-skinned woman in fish leather. I knew both Miss Uasal and Miss Donn, still smiled at them. "And who may I ask to carry the other part of the best regards to him?"
The representative of the Merchant Guild of Leuda stepped back for the Ambassador of the Selkie, the cultural representative. Mhairi Uasal was a famous musician and she was a good hugger.
I planted a kiss on her cheek. "For Daideo."
She nodded. "And for me?", she answered with a cheeky grin.
I pecked her on her other cheek.
There was a round of chuckles, I greeted Miss Donn, we entered, chatting a bit.
The evening began wonderfully.

Vin, Prinz von Dorch.
The evening began horribly.
Tuxedo, tie, thus binding tie... I had needed help. My girlfriend, Mina (the Burggräfin of Fuchsbau, a redhead with a neckline, which plunged all the way down to almost her navel and a red dress), had tried her hand, no luck, the remnant of the Teressian Ambassadorial Mission, Miss Ida Findehof (another woman with a full neckline) had tried her hand...
...and while both women had fumbled around my neck, I had very interesting insights.
And of course, they both noticed.
Miss Findehof left it at a smile (the sort of smile a big sister would give to an unruly sibling) and a "I feel honoured, Prinz Vin, but I do have a boyfriend.", but Mina... was my girlfriend. And she was a massive tease.
And as she looked up a tutorial on how to bind a necktie on the internet, she could not help but quip. I tried to give back as much as I got, but I think she won by points. By a landslide.
And she could not leave it while ahead as a driver drove us to the venue.
But, as we were about to park at the red carpet, she leaned over, pecked me on the cheek and whispered: "Love you.", she told me.
"Love you, too."
Well, the evening was looking brighter.
Miss Findehoof was the last to leave the car, I was the first, offering my hand to the two ladies. Mina, in her red dress, linked her arm with mine, smiled, her red eyes sparkling, while Miss Findehoof wore Tracht, making up the rear. Close enough to be clearly part of our group, far enough behind us to allow Mina and myself to shine.
And shine especially Mina did.
Two Film Studies Students almost in a movie themselves... what could possibly go wrong?!

[The Pinelands]

Though the journey to the Basileus Seleucus Megas Museum of History and Antiquities was equally as interesting and marvelous for the not-so-internationally-journeyed Lieđđi Sirunieida, not discluding the plane journey from Vuoražas Hámman to Pergamon and then staring with not-so-disguised wonder at the sights and sounds of the Western Anatolian city as she was chauffeured to the event that she was both excited and vaguely terrified for as they passed by through the window of the BMW M5 that the man; of whom was Lieđđi's chauffeur drove, there was obviously something more marvelous awaiting the semi-famed singer when her chauffeur parked near to the venue.

The Museum - rented out for the Gala as was presumed and also true indeed - was a spectacular sight to behold, and one that only seldom attractions in the Pinelands offered any similar majesty. With the azure and scarlet lights casting an almost magical glow on the front of the equally great building adorned with statues and majestic architecture aplenty, it truly did take the Pinelander some time to wrench her eyes from the building itself.
Eventually, they would indeed be forced away. The chauffeur would've left his seat and after a small wait and a friendly nod to his passenger, left the BMW to invitationally open the door for Lieđđi and would offer a hand to her. With a smile towards it, her eyes would finally turn from the building outside, the lights and the crowd, and now meet his. With a polite nod she'd take the hand, and soon after left the car, stepping out into the dark but relatively warm outside...

Lieđđi was well-dressed for the occasion; one that itched her nerves especially now. A formal, fetching black pleated dress would cover her from her shoulders to the knees, leaving both the arms and lower legs without any cover, not from the Anatolian air nor the potential gaze of others. Her feet were covered foremost in equally dark socks that matched the occasion well, and a pair of formal ankle boots that she found surprisingly comfortable. She wasn't awfully tall at 160cm, give or take. Nor was Lieđđi model-level pretty, having a modest but appealing physique. It wasn't her aim to show herself off during the Gala, she dressed for the occasion in the way she felt most convenient and comfortable, so though perhaps it might turn out that her looks would catch one or two eyes, that would be a byproduct, little more.

Lieđđi Sirunieida: "Thank you ever so much. For the lift, for the conversation and everything else..."

Is what Lieđđi would've said to her chauffeur, before giving him a soft gaze and a polite nod.

Chauffeur: "Will you be needing anything else, ma'am?"

Lieđđi Sirunieida: "I don't think so. Thank you again, truly. Take care"

Chauffeur: "It was a pleasure, madam Sirunieida. Enjoy the Gala."

When they broke off contact with one another; Lieđđi making her way toward the venue proper for instance, the sound of a V8 Twin Turbo engine would sound, and with that a rich BMW would soon make it's way from it's temporary parking spot into the distance...
Lieđđi had nobody in particular to meet, so she'd simply make her way into the crowd, and wait for her to be approached and to perhaps be asked for her identity or identification.

[New Visayan Islands]

CDR Sergey Mikhailovich N. Ikemoto, VCN
Basileus Seleucus Megas Museum of History and Antiquities
December 17th, AD 2022
1737 PGST

If there was one thing Commander Ikemoto couldn’t help but notice, it was how...different...things were. The Military Attaché, a naval officer, was in full dress, a ceremonial saber where his sidearm would normally be. In an environment such as this, it was only logical that he and the Ambassador, citizens of a nation currently in the early days of what was already called the Irredentist War, would be present.
Crossing himself in a manner that gave him away as Orthodox—Ikemoto was Kirishitan, initially Russian Orthodox until events earlier in the year saw him attending a parish under the Ecumenical Patriarchate—he wondered how Ambassador Adamson was faring.

Hilarion M. Adamson II, MS (International Relations)
Basileus Seleucus Megas Museum of History and Antiquities
December 17th, AD 2022
1740 PGST

Hilarion Adamson was with his wife Angelica as they entered the museum. The Visayan Ambassador to Pergamon had quite a few things on his mind, chief among them the defensive war the Confederation was engaged in with New Luzon. Seeing his military attaché among the crowd had him thinking...

[Nova Secta]

Basileus Seleucus Megas Museum of History and Antiquities, Pergamon

As the black luxury sedan which had transported them from the airfield to the site of the Gala Metiochidon pulled up before a bank of photographers waiting to snap new arrivals’ pictures, Caitríona felt a sense of nerves well up inside of her stomach. For the first time in her life as a royal daughter of the Glorious Dominion, she was being asked to represent Saescia abroad at a diplomatic function, and one of such grand magnitude and fanciful repute at that. Saescians were accustomed to formal galas and the revelry, the pageantry of empyrean carnivals; even by Saescian standards however, this Gala Metiochidon was rising high up the ladder of gaiety and brilliance. The building was bathed in an effervescent glow, illuminating the architectural wonder of its magnificent construction; ushers in crisp tuxedos and black ties were standing at the beck and call of the new arrivals, adding to the bacchanalia of lavishness hanging in the air over the Baileus Seleucus Megas Museum of History and Antiquities.

It was all a brand-new world for Caitríona; the Princess of Artica was seldom accustomed to this sort of diplomatic gathering, having often avoided them even in the Glorious Dominion when and where she could. Shy to a fault and of an introverted countenance, the eldest daughter of the King would find any excuse she could to slip away from diplomatic functions and functionaries, often taking to the royal gardens or the music hall where she could spend time playing her hammered dulcimer away from prying eyes. Now, though, things were different: the King was not travelling as much as he used to, and yet the Glorious Dominion’s international footprint was growing ever larger by the day. These sorts of functions were a necessary part of international diplomacy, making connections with other states in the formal sense, but oh how she dreaded being responsible for the full breadth of a nation’s first conduct with other dignitaries of state. The nerves were shredding her up from the inside out, freezing her in place.

For a long moment, it was all she could do but stare outside of the sedan window as it came to a stop near a long, outstretched carpet, watching as all the people amassed outside the museum milled around in the general revelry of the moment. Her eyes kept glancing at her own reflection, causing her to instinctively fidget with her diamond tiara – her damned crown – for the hundredth time since they had landed, not even bothering to adjust the emerald centerpiece on her choker any longer. In a huff, she unclasped the latch of the necklace and allowed it to fall into her lap, her hands instinctively covering her face as if to shield herself from the world around her. It was all just so unnerving, so intimidating, to have to take on this kind of responsibility. Wert she so tired from the flight, she had half a mind to try and escape out the opposite door of the sedan, just take off running down the street in her gala attire, the long navy-blue evening gown her mother had had custom made for the occasion…

“Just breathe, ma’am.”

Caitríona turned to her left, the words resonating within her like a soothing wellspring. Thank goodness she had Jessamyn with her, otherwise she may actually have followed through with her plan to break out. Knight-Captain Longstreet of the Royal Sentinels had been assigned to her the previous year as her formal escort, and the two had become fast friends in the process of getting to know each other. Jessamyn was able to provide a sort-of street sense that Caitríona lacked growing up inside the grounds of the royal estate in Williamstown, while she had bequeathed unto Jess the taste of regal life – a fine treat for someone that once had no home of their own. The Knight-Captain was wearing her dress uniform attire, with gold buttons down the center and gold epaulettes adorning the black uniform. Her tricorn hat, molded in a way that had the brim running front to back cut an imposing figure, even by Sentinel standards. Her brown hair was tucked back into a ponytail, her trademark look if one had existed.

Jessamyn Elyse Longstreet, as I live a breathe, a Saint of a Sentinel...

“I have to be honest, I’m nervous as hell,” Caitríona quipped back at her, shaking her head. I knew it was going to be a big event, but I don’t think I realized just how big it was going to be. This? This is massive, and I’m not sure I’m ready for it.”

“There have been bigger events in Williamstown before than this one; you have attended the end-of-year festivals that attracted tens of thousands of people,” Jessamyn reminded her, pointing outside. “This is only a fraction of the size as that was.”

“It isn’t just the size of the event, though,” the Princess of Artica chided, looking out at the bank of photographers eagerly awaiting to snap her picture. “It’s the importance of it; diplomatic relations weren’t conceivably on the line at those festivals now.”

“Something is always on the line, ma’am,” the Knight-Captain corrected her, reminding her of her status as a royal of the Glorious Dominion. “Every single time you step foot outside the walls of your estate, you carry the prestige of Saescia upon you.”

“Yeah, well,” Caitríona replied in a huff, throwing up her hands, “I never asked for that kind of pressure! I never asked for any of this! All I care about are my charities, helping people less fortunate than I. Why can’t that be enough, why must I do all this?”

“Because you are Saescian royalty, ma’am,” Longstreet replied. “Because the convictions of a nation have fallen to your family to entreat with the other nations of the world over; because it is your destiny. And because your father makes you do it, of course.”

That last little jab was delivered with playful, almost zealous glee. Caitríona turned to give the stink eye over her shoulder to Jessamyn, who was beaming from ear to ear with that mischievous grin of hers. “You ass,” the Princess snarked, “you enjoy this!”

“Of course I do, it gets you out of your shell and helps to make you into the leader Saescia needs you to become. Your father will not always be there for you to take the lead on things like this, and it’s good that you’re stretching your wings and flying around.”

“And if I fall flat on my face here tonight?” The Princess asked inquisitively, turning back once again to stare outside the sedan window, her nerves ceaselessly knotting in her gut. “What then, hmm? Will you laugh and gawk at the failure of a Saescian royal?”

“No, ma’am,” the Knight-Captain said reassuringly, placing a comforting hand on Caitríona’s shoulder. “I will be there to help pick you up, dust you off… and then point and laugh at you when you turn away from me. I’m not a sadist or something, Jesus.”

Caitríona actually managed a chuckle, shaking her head in mock-disbelief. “You know something? In the ye olden days of the Dominion, I could’ve had your head for something like that. It’s a shame all I can do now is give you a haughty look of derision.”

“I know, right? And you do it so well, too,” Jessamyn joked, pushing on the Princess’s shoulder playfully. She then changed track on a dime, her earnestness poking back out: “I know you’re nervous, but I’m with you every step of the way Miss Caitríona.”

“Just promise,” the Princess sighed, “not to leave me by the punch bowl unattended. You know my conversational skills aren’t very good, and it helps to have a winger ready and willing to serve with life and limb to preserve me from the scary dignitaries.”

“I promise,” the Knight-Captain said reassuringly. “I will only leave you alone if someone cute comes to hit on you, and then I’ll let nature take its natural course. After all, you’re a young, gorgeous maiden and the heir to the Throne of Sturdivant, I’m sure-”

“Okay, that’s enough,” Caitríona cut her off quickly, not wanting to go down that particular road tonight, even in a joking manner. “I guess this isn’t going to get any easier if we just sit in the car the whole night waiting. Are you ready to go outside now?”

“I’m right behind you, ma’am,” the Sentinel replied, once more placing her hand upon the Princess’s shoulder. “Just remember everything your father has taught you, and you’ll be fine, I promise. We’re going to have an absolutely splendid evening!”

There really wasn’t any more sense in pushing off the inevitable; unless she intended to order the driver back to the airfield and create a minor diplomatic incident in the process, she was going to have to get out of the sedan and step outside at some point. Even now, as her nerves attempted to eat her up on the inside, she recognized what a huge honor this was for the Saescian royal family to even be invited to such a formal occasion. And with the museum decorated so vividly, the lighting and the ambiance so very intoxicating, it made for a sensual atmosphere to say the least. At the end of the day, whether she was beset by nervousness or exhaustion, it was her duty to the father whom she loved so dearly to do this task on behalf of the people of the Glorious Dominion of Saescia. Whatever her personal reservations were, they really mattered very little; at the end of the day, she was her father’s daughter in the end, and she would do her duty because it is what he asked of her, what he expected of her, and what he would want.

Whelp, here goes nothing...

With a pull of the car door handle, the sedan door slowly opened outward, triggering a sudden rush of flashbulbs going off from the bank of photographers situated by the valet entrance to the museum grounds. Caitríona took a deep breath, inhaling sharply as she felt the air snake around her knotted insides almost, struggling to get a good breath (or perhaps it was the tightness of the evening gown that was a size too small, that might have played a role in her breathlessness as well). Exhaling slowly, the Princess of Artica stepped out of the car, holding her hand up in a salute towards the photographers that almost clamored over one another to get their shots. Whether they were official photographers for the evening or the paparazzi, she could not say, not that it really mattered in this instance. All the attention was now on the Saescian delegation as they made their formal entrance outside the museum grounds, the Knight-Captain moving to escort the Princess ahead of where the photographers were stationed.

"This is about as awkward as I feared it would be," the Princess whispered aloud under the humming buzz of activity surrounding the museum, trying her best not to shield her eyes from the flash of the photography going off all around her.

"Relax, ma'am," the Knight-Captain said through a broad smile, patting her on the shoulder. "Only a few more hours to go."

[Abetton]

Sorisana Valbalar

My car pulled up to a stop and the driver opened up the door for me. I gave a silent nod to thank him as I made my way inside the museum. Ugh, what am I even doing here? I'm really not good with people in general and well these people don't look like they'd be good with me. Uhhh, that may have come across a bit weird when I say it like that. You see, this whole thing was father's idea; father whom acts as my literary agent, publicist and probably everything else you can think of, felt this would be good way to network, mingle and overall just continue to market myself. I'm an author, if you can believe it. An author of a very popular line of children's books in Abetton, Small Witch Scholarly a fun series of books about cute witches who are big hearted but not the top of the top among their peers. They get into trouble a lot they have to solve problems they often cause, yeah classic! They're classified as children's lit but I really write them that any person of any age can enjoy them but as such they're really popular among kids. Well oh well, readers are readers, I'm not a ashamed of it but this crowd doesn't look like the type to enjoy such books, if my books have even left Abetton and Katase (I know they're in Katase at least.) These look like scholarly high academic types, the types who'd read large thick philosophy books and history books. I like history, philosophy, maybe not as much. There seems to be a lot of interesting historical artifacts here too. Small Witch isn't my only line of work, I also write quite a bit of high fantasy, Tales of The Elfenryden Kingdom it does well among people more my age, also fine, but critics also deride it for the lack of originality. It has the usual fantasy staples, elves, humans, beastly creatures, magic, et cetera, et cetera. I write what I like. One person my age also really seems to love my work, my live-in-servant, ugh I really hate calling her that, she's not a slave or anything, she's paid, well treated, has time off, just she's hired to take care of me.

I'm rather reclusive,not because it's the arty thing to be, not because I'm some amazing savant with a million IQ who mastered quantum physics at 9 or something like that, I'm just kind of retarded. Not mentally challenged, just developed a lot differently compared to my peers. But one area i'm seemingly gifted in, is imagination and the written word so I write a lot of books. Many are just loose manuscripts that I may or may not send off but the others are my two core works. I'm fine now at 14, as fine as one can be. Therapy, education and the like has helped me manage but I still wouldn't do well in a normal school most likely. Anyway, that's why I have a live-in-worker, yeah that's a lot better. Just Abetton still behaves like a gilded kingdom from the far flung past or one of my novels, so she's regarded as just the help. But she's my dearest friend and -- the sounds of my phone, oh! Somehow I felt a thousand piercing stares glaring at me for my lack of courtesy, but that could be my imagination but still I answered it.

"Ye-yes it's me. Hey what's up?"

"Ah Mistress Sori, are you there now, have you made it safe and sound?" The voice from the other line is Dani, the mentioned girl who has been living with me for part of the year now.

"Yes, I'm fine. I told you not to call me Mistress, I'm not even nobility." I heard the sound of her yelping and what sounded like a large stack of papers falling over. Probably one of my ongoing manuscripts - funny word manuscript, no doubt derived from the days when you would manually script but these days we type everything- I'm getting off track in my narration -

"Oh no, I'm so sorry, I think I knocked over your papers again. I really was just trying to clean around it. I'm so sorry..."

"Dani, it's fine, I can sort it when I get back. I've got another month until my next deadline anyway so what's a little reshuffling." Not to mention give me a chance to proof it before sending it off. Kind of a bad habit of mine, I tend to not go over what I just wrote. But nobody complains. "I'll see you when I get back, I better go and not talk too long. Just take it easy, okay, you don't need to work there all day and night while I'm gone, no matter what father tells you." Hanging up and stuffing the phone back into my bag I let my eyes wander. Yeah I think it was my imagination that everyone was staring at me, that's a relief. Dani is so considerate to have called me though, I really wish she could have come with me, honestly I was prepared to take her but again father said "She's the help, this is an A-list event, do not be silly" I think father is another one of the wicked Ice Queen Beatrix's decedents, cursed to live in poverty for all time for the sins committed, but clinging to the scraps that one day the glory of old will return and the rightful will have their place in society. If not her then certainly one of her inner circle. Admiring how lovely everything was, the scenery was sparking another flare of imagination for both my works. This was a museum but it felt like a palace of royalty. Back home, I've seen Castle Sauville, I mean who hasn't, it's a tourist trap more than anything, but nobody outside government has seen Castle Liek which is the actual residence of the Royal Family. I kind of imagine it might look like this? Well maybe not, pictures kind of tell me otherwise but this would make such a nice setting of a book.

"Abra, Pera, and Xyla go to the palace of...." I was finding myself lost in thought even more so thinking of who I should make it the paalce of, I'd largely just muddled over the politics in Small Witch so maybe it's better for Tales? Too lost in thought now I wasn't even minding my surroundings.

[The Selkie]

Though the journey to the Basileus Seleucus Megas Museum of History and Antiquities was equally as interesting and marvelous for the not-so-internationally-journeyed Lieđđi Sirunieida, not discluding the plane journey from Vuoražas Hámman to Pergamon and then staring with not-so-disguised wonder at the sights and sounds of the Western Anatolian city as she was chauffeured to the event that she was both excited and vaguely terrified for as they passed by through the window of the BMW M5 that the man; of whom was Lieđđi's chauffeur drove, there was obviously something more marvelous awaiting the semi-famed singer when her chauffeur parked near to the venue.

The Museum - rented out for the Gala as was presumed and also true indeed - was a spectacular sight to behold, and one that only seldom attractions in the Pinelands offered any similar majesty. With the azure and scarlet lights casting an almost magical glow on the front of the equally great building adorned with statues and majestic architecture aplenty, it truly did take the Pinelander some time to wrench her eyes from the building itself.
Eventually, they would indeed be forced away. The chauffeur would've left his seat and after a small wait and a friendly nod to his passenger, left the BMW to invitationally open the door for Lieđđi and would offer a hand to her. With a smile towards it, her eyes would finally turn from the building outside, the lights and the crowd, and now meet his. With a polite nod she'd take the hand, and soon after left the car, stepping out into the dark but relatively warm outside...

Lieđđi was well-dressed for the occasion; one that itched her nerves especially now. A formal, fetching black pleated dress would cover her from her shoulders to the knees, leaving both the arms and lower legs without any cover, not from the Anatolian air nor the potential gaze of others. Her feet were covered foremost in equally dark socks that matched the occasion well, and a pair of formal ankle boots that she found surprisingly comfortable. She wasn't awfully tall at 160cm, give or take. Nor was Lieđđi model-level pretty, having a modest but appealing physique. It wasn't her aim to show herself off during the Gala, she dressed for the occasion in the way she felt most convenient and comfortable, so though perhaps it might turn out that her looks would catch one or two eyes, that would be a byproduct, little more.

Lieđđi Sirunieida: "Thank you ever so much. For the lift, for the conversation and everything else..."

Is what Lieđđi would've said to her chauffeur, before giving him a soft gaze and a polite nod.

Chauffeur: "Will you be needing anything else, ma'am?"

Lieđđi Sirunieida: "I don't think so. Thank you again, truly. Take care"

Chauffeur: "It was a pleasure, madam Sirunieida. Enjoy the Gala."

When they broke off contact with one another; Lieđđi making her way toward the venue proper for instance, the sound of a V8 Twin Turbo engine would sound, and with that a rich BMW would soon make it's way from it's temporary parking spot into the distance...
Lieđđi had nobody in particular to meet, so she'd simply make her way into the crowd, and wait for her to be approached and to perhaps be asked for her identity or identification.

Mhairi Uasal of the Tribe of Fermanagh.
Aurelia departed soon after we entered, Miss Donn went shortly after and I have gone for the bar shortly after that – finding something far more interesting along the way.
A woman, a bit unassuming (in a positive way), a bit on the shorter side, but less in the sense of being a shorty and more in the sense of being compact sized cute.
And I knew here.
Lieđđi Sirunieida was not that well known internationally, much like I was (sometimes I missed Eileen and the days of Dísréad), but word got around. She had a quite interesting traditional style and as a Selkie-Country Musician in my solo career, I would be remiss to not approach her, one colleague to another.
Joik, a religious, guttural music with religious connotations, from what I understood.
At the bar, I took two glasses with water and approached her.
“Good evening, Miss Siruneidda.”, I greeted her and held out one of the glasses. Now, I will remind the dear reader, that I was a good twenty centimetres taller and wore a colourful traditional outfit of fur and cloth. And I was sure, that I had mispronounced her name. “Lovely to meet you here, one musician to another – Mhairi Uasal of the Tribe of Fermanagh, I am from the Free Lands of the Selkie. Please, call me Mhairi.”
I smiled at the last part.

Sorisana Valbalar

My car pulled up to a stop and the driver opened up the door for me. I gave a silent nod to thank him as I made my way inside the museum. Ugh, what am I even doing here? I'm really not good with people in general and well these people don't look like they'd be good with me. Uhhh, that may have come across a bit weird when I say it like that. You see, this whole thing was father's idea; father whom acts as my literary agent, publicist and probably everything else you can think of, felt this would be good way to network, mingle and overall just continue to market myself. I'm an author, if you can believe it. An author of a very popular line of children's books in Abetton, Small Witch Scholarly a fun series of books about cute witches who are big hearted but not the top of the top among their peers. They get into trouble a lot they have to solve problems they often cause, yeah classic! They're classified as children's lit but I really write them that any person of any age can enjoy them but as such they're really popular among kids. Well oh well, readers are readers, I'm not a ashamed of it but this crowd doesn't look like the type to enjoy such books, if my books have even left Abetton and Katase (I know they're in Katase at least.) These look like scholarly high academic types, the types who'd read large thick philosophy books and history books. I like history, philosophy, maybe not as much. There seems to be a lot of interesting historical artifacts here too. Small Witch isn't my only line of work, I also write quite a bit of high fantasy, Tales of The Elfenryden Kingdom it does well among people more my age, also fine, but critics also deride it for the lack of originality. It has the usual fantasy staples, elves, humans, beastly creatures, magic, et cetera, et cetera. I write what I like. One person my age also really seems to love my work, my live-in-servant, ugh I really hate calling her that, she's not a slave or anything, she's paid, well treated, has time off, just she's hired to take care of me.

I'm rather reclusive,not because it's the arty thing to be, not because I'm some amazing savant with a million IQ who mastered quantum physics at 9 or something like that, I'm just kind of retarded. Not mentally challenged, just developed a lot differently compared to my peers. But one area i'm seemingly gifted in, is imagination and the written word so I write a lot of books. Many are just loose manuscripts that I may or may not send off but the others are my two core works. I'm fine now at 14, as fine as one can be. Therapy, education and the like has helped me manage but I still wouldn't do well in a normal school most likely. Anyway, that's why I have a live-in-worker, yeah that's a lot better. Just Abetton still behaves like a gilded kingdom from the far flung past or one of my novels, so she's regarded as just the help. But she's my dearest friend and -- the sounds of my phone, oh! Somehow I felt a thousand piercing stares glaring at me for my lack of courtesy, but that could be my imagination but still I answered it.

"Ye-yes it's me. Hey what's up?"

"Ah Mistress Sori, are you there now, have you made it safe and sound?" The voice from the other line is Dani, the mentioned girl who has been living with me for part of the year now.

"Yes, I'm fine. I told you not to call me Mistress, I'm not even nobility." I heard the sound of her yelping and what sounded like a large stack of papers falling over. Probably one of my ongoing manuscripts - funny word manuscript, no doubt derived from the days when you would manually script but these days we type everything- I'm getting off track in my narration -

"Oh no, I'm so sorry, I think I knocked over your papers again. I really was just trying to clean around it. I'm so sorry..."

"Dani, it's fine, I can sort it when I get back. I've got another month until my next deadline anyway so what's a little reshuffling." Not to mention give me a chance to proof it before sending it off. Kind of a bad habit of mine, I tend to not go over what I just wrote. But nobody complains. "I'll see you when I get back, I better go and not talk too long. Just take it easy, okay, you don't need to work there all day and night while I'm gone, no matter what father tells you." Hanging up and stuffing the phone back into my bag I let my eyes wander. Yeah I think it was my imagination that everyone was staring at me, that's a relief. Dani is so considerate to have called me though, I really wish she could have come with me, honestly I was prepared to take her but again father said "She's the help, this is an A-list event, do not be silly" I think father is another one of the wicked Ice Queen Beatrix's decedents, cursed to live in poverty for all time for the sins committed, but clinging to the scraps that one day the glory of old will return and the rightful will have their place in society. If not her then certainly one of her inner circle. Admiring how lovely everything was, the scenery was sparking another flare of imagination for both my works. This was a museum but it felt like a palace of royalty. Back home, I've seen Castle Sauville, I mean who hasn't, it's a tourist trap more than anything, but nobody outside government has seen Castle Liek which is the actual residence of the Royal Family. I kind of imagine it might look like this? Well maybe not, pictures kind of tell me otherwise but this would make such a nice setting of a book.

"Abra, Pera, and Xyla go to the palace of...." I was finding myself lost in thought even more so thinking of who I should make it the paalce of, I'd largely just muddled over the politics in Small Witch so maybe it's better for Tales? Too lost in thought now I wasn't even minding my surroundings.

Princess Aurelia bint-Damir.
I had left Áed and company soon, decided to mingle, but nothing really stuck...
...until someone bumped into me.
Now, bumping into someone, who is wearing high heels, was potentially dangerous, starting with twisting the ankle to actually snapping it, not to mention the indignity of stumbling or even falling, but I managed, I'd like to think.
I whirled around, a pleasant, wolfish smile on my lips to greet whoever had been idiotic enough to bump into me and to tell him or her where I'd love to shove my heels, heel first, into their body, only to find...
...a girl.
No, seriously, I was honestly stumped for a moment, my anger forgotten, she was what? Thirteen? Fourteen? Who let their kid run around here unattended? In time, I could see her mature into a fine young lady, but right now... she was a girl.
One, which ran into me.
I could not be angry at a kid for doing a stupid (the Gods knew, how many of those I do even today), so...
“Hey, kid.”, I greeted, trying to put a friendly, comforting smile on my face, “Are you alright?”
Gods, I haven't been much older then she seemed to be, when I attended my first diplomatic functions, by my own choice and basically clinging to my Father's arm, too afraid to step on anyone's toes, both figuratively and literally. Ironically, it had been very similar to this, that I got my first dance with someone not my Father during one of these balls, bumping into Imperator Tjark II. during a ball in Auwalt in 2015...
How time flies, eh?
If she had fallen to the ground, I'd help her up, a tissue from my handbag at the ready.

[The Pinelands]

Mhairi Uasal of the Tribe of Fermanagh.
Aurelia departed soon after we entered, Miss Donn went shortly after and I have gone for the bar shortly after that – finding something far more interesting along the way.
A woman, a bit unassuming (in a positive way), a bit on the shorter side, but less in the sense of being a shorty and more in the sense of being compact sized cute.
And I knew here.
Lieđđi Sirunieida was not that well known internationally, much like I was (sometimes I missed Eileen and the days of Dísréad), but word got around. She had a quite interesting traditional style and as a Selkie-Country Musician in my solo career, I would be remiss to not approach her, one colleague to another.
Joik, a religious, guttural music with religious connotations, from what I understood.
At the bar, I took two glasses with water and approached her.
“Good evening, Miss Siruneidda.”, I greeted her and held out one of the glasses. Now, I will remind the dear reader, that I was a good twenty centimetres taller and wore a colourful traditional outfit of fur and cloth. And I was sure, that I had mispronounced her name. “Lovely to meet you here, one musician to another – Mhairi Uasal of the Tribe of Fermanagh, I am from the Free Lands of the Selkie. Please, call me Mhairi.”
I smiled at the last part.

To say Lieđđi was lost within the crowds and the building of the large, majestic museum repurposed for the event; that being the Gala Metiochidon would be a bit of an understatement. The most the Pinelands offered in terms of prestigious buildings was the Onstad Estate; the previous luxurious building of the Norwegian governor of the colony of Nye Tromsø that had been usurped and left derelict for some years after the June Revolution before being repurposed as a tourist destination in the 1950's. And it was safe to say that the Onstad Estate never was as busy as this Gala seemed to be, or if it was it was truly informal, unlike this.
So, when a certain Mhairi would approach and slightly blindside the Pinelander singer and introduced herself, it was safe to say that Lieđđi was actually quite thankful for it. If anything, just to break her eyes - and much more importantly, mind - from the surroundings, something that would practically keep her sane.

Mhairi Uasal: "Good evening, Miss Siruneidda. Lovely to meet you here, one musician to another – Mhairi Uasal of the Tribe of Fermanagh, I am from the Free Lands of the Selkie. Please, call me Mhairi."

In response to the Selkie's approach, and her supplementary introduction, - as polite as it was - Lieđđi would have turned speedily yet with perhaps a surprising amount of grace to meet the woman whom had introduced herself to her. The first thing she really picked up on is the... Unique code of dress that she wore, that though did not reveal anything sensitive didn't do much more. Whether subtly, or more likely; not so subtly, the singer from Vuoražas Hámman's eyes did indeed fall on "the whole thing", but she made no mention of that. She certainly wasn't interested in being rude and bringing it up, and there could be a perfectly innocent reason for the code of dress that Mhairi wore to the Gala, or at least she so reasoned. The second? That she was... Well, tall. Perhaps to a surprising amount, for though the Pinelander Joiker knew she was slightly smaller than the average Pinelander - and Scandinavian in addition - woman, the difference was noticeable. But any surprise she may have had that this humble narrator won't lecture about for the sake of keeping things relatively brief. She was ultimately happy to have someone to talk to, even if the person was practically a stranger to her, despite their similar interests as it would so seem. Especially since she was hardly impolite.

So, Lieđđi would smile faintly yet not at all without genuine intent, and would curtsey slightly in response. After taking the glass of water offered to her, word had to come and it indeed, it would.

Lieđđi Sirunieida: "My pleasure, Mhairi. It's especially nice to meet another singer so soon. The guest list was long, especially filled with royalty. Not that I have anything against that, but I honestly think I would act quite nervous around people like them.

Sirunieida is correct, but you're free to call me Lieđđi. As in, Lie-dyyi, if you want to know the pronunciation. Though I wouldn't be awfully offended if you slipped up, it happens and I don't mind..."

After her own address, Lieđđi would fall silent for a moment. But, without thinking too much about it, a mute smile formed on her face again and once more, she'd speak surprisingly freely. Though if this was because of confidence or lack thereof, that isn't something this narrator will reveal

Lieđđi Sirunieida: "I won't lie, I'm not really sure where to start here. It's not that I'm really nervous, I am a little bit, but everything here is a bit overwhelming. I've been less overwhelmed during the Árbi Festivála, and that's quite something. Though I guess there, I was the one performing, not the one being a witness, and once you're on the stage and begin to perform it's almost like the world melts in front of you as you focus. Here, it's hard to focus on anything, I can already tell.

But I'm sure it'll be good fun. This is something really out of my comfort zone, but honestly I'm looking for something new to experience. So, here I am, surprisingly enough."

[Abetton]

Sorisana Valbalar

How long had it been? Five minutes, ten, twenty, two hours? I really didn't know, I was truly lost in thought taking in all the details of this lovely place while plotting out how I would write about it later when I went to fictionalize it. I still hadn't even set on which universe I wanted to set it in, maybe it would be best for Tales but I could still see that silly Abra making a mess all the same and trying every spell in her book to fix whatever she broke. And then and then....WHAM! All of a sudden the ceiling and walls blurred and I fell onto the floor. My heart was beating like a hammer as I adjusted my gaze to see I just ran right into someone. A hot wash of embarrassment and shame washed over me, I think one could probably see it on my face. And the same thousand angry stares from when I answered my phone returned, again though that could just be my imagination getting the better of me. I saw a woman standing there, at least she didn't fall like I did, she was older than me but still young, tall, tan, pretty, she looked kind of familiar somehow but I couldn't place her. Was she a Colonial national I'd seen in the media? A famous actor from the region or someone in the government? She wasn't the Princess' fiancee was she? No, wait, she was set to marry a man not a woman. Arranged marriages say that's another aspect I should address with Princess Ashla,-- agh, Sorisana this isn't the time to think of that. Guess mother was right, I could hear her scathing words about how I always walk around with my head in the clouds and one day I will walk off a cliff with how clumsy I am and we live in a mountain Duchy so that's possible. Given this was the kind of place that drew a lot of high society, probably people even greater in status than me, the gods only know who I just walked into. The young lady offered me a hand and a tissue which I cordially took. "I'm so sorry!" I really wish Dani was here. Frankly she's probably more clumsy than me but she really always knows how to make the most of it. Some think her foolishness and clumsiness rubbed off on me but I've always been a bit awkward, just I try to hide it where she just smiles and shrugs it off. Not that I'd want her to make a spectacle of herself but just her sunshine personality just kind of makes everything feel good. "It's my fault, I really wasn't paying attention. I just kind of got caught up in everything here and started daydreaming I guess."

I looked around to see if I could make a hasty retreat but it seemed other people were kind of starting to crowd nearby, not watching us just kind of in the area. Honestly she didn't seem mad at me, a relief when I half expected an angry Watch where you're going, stupid! I'd gotten plenty of that growing up these past 14 years of my life. Developmental disabilities do make it hard in many ways. I wanted to say more but beyond I'm sorry what else is there to say. That's usually where I'd get another tongue lashing. You'd think with my cold demeanor, I wouldn't mind it but I do mind, I hate it, I always feel so small when I get yelled at. It's childish, I know.

[Dayganistan]

President Aryana Zahir

A black Porsche Cayenne with diplomatic license plates waited in the procession of cars pulling up to the museum, dropping off their rich, famous, or powerful occupants at the red carpet leading to the entrance of the museum. Inside the Porsche sat President Aryana Zahir of Dayganistan. While she was no stranger to such galas and high society events, she generally only attended them at home and rarely overseas. And at home in Dayganistan, she felt constantly being watched at such events by the public, by political opposition, even by her own party. The youngest head of state in Dayganistan's republican period and the first woman to occupy the post since the monarchy, she felt always under scrutiny lest she fall victim to unscrupulous journalist and opportunistic opposition figures taking the chance to claim the most powerful nation in Central Asia is being lead by an immature little girl, and that the Zahir family should have fell from political power when her father stepped down. Indeed, Aryana Zahir the person did feel this way deep down inside, she didn't think it was her place and just wanted to be a regular person, get married and have a family. But Aryana Zahir the president would never let this lack of self confidence in her place in the world show. She hoped attending an event in a foreign country would give her a nice break, a chance to be something closer to a normal person hopefully away from Daygani journalists and political figures. Of course, she still had to maintain some level of professionalism and be prepared to engage with foreign leaders and diplomats at any time. Although, from what her aides and advisors had been able to gather nobody too high up in their countries were attending so she might not have to work too hard.

As the SUV started to move closer, she took a look at herself in the selfie camera of her iPhone as if it were a mirror just to make sure her appearance was still in order. Her long black hair was slicked into a tight, high ponytail and she wore a dark red matte lipstick and a glittery black eye shadow. She wore golden earrings and a diamond stud in each ear. It was a fairly typical look for her in public life, but one that was just as well suited for high society galas as it was for her political life. The SUV would soon stop at the red carpet, a horde of people with cameras waiting to take photos of whoever would step out. The driver stepped out and came to open the door, with the president stepping out not long after. She wore a black and metallic silver patterned dress which had a high neckline and was quite form fitting down to about the knees before becoming loser fitting and reaching to slightly above the ankles, her outfit completed by a pair of heels of a fairly substantial height. Photographers snapped photos but she tried her best to ignore them, looking instead at the illuminated building ahead. It certainly wasn't something she had never seen before, but she still couldn't help but be impressed.

Walking inside, the museum had been converted to something that looked almost like the type of venue a fancy ball would be held in a movie. The organizers had clearly gone through a lot of effort to create an experience for their guests, and it showed in the decorations. Plenty of guests had already arrived, but the president had not yet seen anyone she recognized. That was both a good thing because less likelihood that anything she happened to get up to tonight would be major news back home, but also a bad thing as she wasn't quite sure where to begin mingling with other guests.

[Katase]

the Kujo Sisters

In the early evening hours of this December night a white SUV of non descript design and origin pulled in. First out wasn't our two lovely Princess sisters but another cute young lady wearing a snappy suit. This particular lady was their bodyguard most nights but she wouldn't be escorting them inside, she was only there while they were out and about in the city, beyond that the gala was well taken care of by local authorities that there was no need for extra security within the venue so she would just see that they entered and be off back to their hotel for the evening until it was time to pick the sisters up. She opened the door for the two princesses to slide out. "Miladies we have arrived." She told to them, standing at the ready to see that each made it out of the car. Out first was Yukiko, followed by Momiji, twins but still different in their own ways. For the Princesses they had to find new outfits appropriate for a black-tie-event, kimono were deemed not suitable for this, so a quick call to their friend, Princess Peri in neighboring Abetton they both got some good fashion tips and found what would suit them. Yukiko went with a muted light pink and blue dress while Momiji went for the bolder birghter red-violet-scarlet? well whatever color dress. It matched their personalities quite well, Yuki, calm like her namesake, gentle winter snow, Momiji, bold and colorful like autumn leaves, her namesake. "Inoue-san, thank you. We'll see you later." Yukiko thanked.

"Take care, Miladies, and enjoy yourselves." She nodded entering the car again which drove on back to the hotel, leaving the sisters to enter on their own accord. "Gee hold up, I'm not used to walking in heels, ya know" Momiji urged her sister to wait

"Momi," Yuki's nickanme for Momiji, just as sometimes Momiji might call Yuki, 'Ki' Other names might include 'Ji-chan', 'Ki-chan' 'Yu' or whatever, honestly they also used each other's names just as much. Yuki continued her response to Momiji's complaint, "Walking in heels is not that different than walking in geta."

"Geta are flat and elevated these are somehow supported by a single spike in the ground. Ugh when I find the misogynist who invented these, I'll kill him! Western dress indeed."

"I think we look cute, and you look cute too. But really you could have stayed home if you didn't want to."

"What and not spend time with my favorite twin sister?"

"I'm not your only sister but I am your only twin sister. I'm glad you like spending time with me but you always seem to force yourself"

"Anything is better than you being on your phone all day on PruChNet or whatever."

"I haven't been on that much lately. So much studying to do, it really kind of is a drag!"

Their conversation continued as they made way inside "Maybe brother should have come, time he be," She shifted her voice to be deeper "the Princely Prince of Katase"

"Hehehe big bro has so much to do as is, and we're the oldest now of the family so we should try to be out there to represent Katase on the world stage."

"We should have gone to Phibeta or something."

"I'm sure we'll get a chance to see the Great Phibeta kingdom someday but for now let's see what else we can do to really make an impression here. Their eyes did notice a poor unfortunate girl their age getting knocked to the floor. "Ooh hopefully better than that girl" Momiji sardonically said.

"You think she's all right?" Yukiko asked with concern

"I'm sure she's fine, she's close to the floor." Momiji replied rather plainly.

"Momiji. That's not very nice."

"Who said I'm nice?"

"You are always nice. And don't forget the way you keep wobbling in your heels, you could be next/"

Momiji sighed "She'll be fine, see the other gal is helping her up already, let them work it out a moment and let's fan out and see who else is around. And maybe see if they have a tray of little snacks or something, I'm getting hungry already." Taking her sister by the hand and taking charge, Momiji plowed into the sea of people, they'd hate to intrude on a conversation in progress but they had to scope out the place a bit, maybe get lucky and see someone they could get acquainted with if not well the night was young yet.

[The Selkie]

To say Lieđđi was lost within the crowds and the building of the large, majestic museum repurposed for the event; that being the Gala Metiochidon would be a bit of an understatement. The most the Pinelands offered in terms of prestigious buildings was the Onstad Estate; the previous luxurious building of the Norwegian governor of the colony of Nye Tromsø that had been usurped and left derelict for some years after the June Revolution before being repurposed as a tourist destination in the 1950's. And it was safe to say that the Onstad Estate never was as busy as this Gala seemed to be, or if it was it was truly informal, unlike this.
So, when a certain Mhairi would approach and slightly blindside the Pinelander singer and introduced herself, it was safe to say that Lieđđi was actually quite thankful for it. If anything, just to break her eyes - and much more importantly, mind - from the surroundings, something that would practically keep her sane.

Mhairi Uasal: "Good evening, Miss Siruneidda. Lovely to meet you here, one musician to another – Mhairi Uasal of the Tribe of Fermanagh, I am from the Free Lands of the Selkie. Please, call me Mhairi."

In response to the Selkie's approach, and her supplementary introduction, - as polite as it was - Lieđđi would have turned speedily yet with perhaps a surprising amount of grace to meet the woman whom had introduced herself to her. The first thing she really picked up on is the... Unique code of dress that she wore, that though did not reveal anything sensitive didn't do much more. Whether subtly, or more likely; not so subtly, the singer from Vuoražas Hámman's eyes did indeed fall on "the whole thing", but she made no mention of that. She certainly wasn't interested in being rude and bringing it up, and there could be a perfectly innocent reason for the code of dress that Mhairi wore to the Gala, or at least she so reasoned. The second? That she was... Well, tall. Perhaps to a surprising amount, for though the Pinelander Joiker knew she was slightly smaller than the average Pinelander - and Scandinavian in addition - woman, the difference was noticeable. But any surprise she may have had that this humble narrator won't lecture about for the sake of keeping things relatively brief. She was ultimately happy to have someone to talk to, even if the person was practically a stranger to her, despite their similar interests as it would so seem. Especially since she was hardly impolite.

So, Lieđđi would smile faintly yet not at all without genuine intent, and would curtsey slightly in response. After taking the glass of water offered to her, word had to come and it indeed, it would.

Lieđđi Sirunieida: "My pleasure, Mhairi. It's especially nice to meet another singer so soon. The guest list was long, especially filled with royalty. Not that I have anything against that, but I honestly think I would act quite nervous around people like them.

Sirunieida is correct, but you're free to call me Lieđđi. As in, Lie-dyyi, if you want to know the pronunciation. Though I wouldn't be awfully offended if you slipped up, it happens and I don't mind..."

After her own address, Lieđđi would fall silent for a moment. But, without thinking too much about it, a mute smile formed on her face again and once more, she'd speak surprisingly freely. Though if this was because of confidence or lack thereof, that isn't something this narrator will reveal

Lieđđi Sirunieida: "I won't lie, I'm not really sure where to start here. It's not that I'm really nervous, I am a little bit, but everything here is a bit overwhelming. I've been less overwhelmed during the Árbi Festivála, and that's quite something. Though I guess there, I was the one performing, not the one being a witness, and once you're on the stage and begin to perform it's almost like the world melts in front of you as you focus. Here, it's hard to focus on anything, I can already tell.

But I'm sure it'll be good fun. This is something really out of my comfort zone, but honestly I'm looking for something new to experience. So, here I am, surprisingly enough."

Mhairi Uasal of the Tribe of Fermanagh.
I smiled.
To her credit, she did not stare, instead let her eyes run over me for but a moment.
"Yeah, I know the feeling, Lieddyy.", I told her with a nod (hoping, that I indeed pronounded her first name right). "Wearing fancy clothes, being surrounded by people with long names and longer titles, being afraid of making a fool of oneself, and by extension one's people..." I let a beat pass. "A little tip I learned from a Teressian Prince: Treat it like a performance." I raised a hand. "Not in the sense of singing, though I'd love to see, if we can't do something like that later together, but more in the sense of demeanour. But always remember, if it gets too much, there's always the little girls' room."
I gave her a wink at that.
After taking a sip, I added: "So... you up for a little bit of music later or tomorrow, depending on your schedule?"

Sorisana Valbalar

How long had it been? Five minutes, ten, twenty, two hours? I really didn't know, I was truly lost in thought taking in all the details of this lovely place while plotting out how I would write about it later when I went to fictionalize it. I still hadn't even set on which universe I wanted to set it in, maybe it would be best for Tales but I could still see that silly Abra making a mess all the same and trying every spell in her book to fix whatever she broke. And then and then....WHAM! All of a sudden the ceiling and walls blurred and I fell onto the floor. My heart was beating like a hammer as I adjusted my gaze to see I just ran right into someone. A hot wash of embarrassment and shame washed over me, I think one could probably see it on my face. And the same thousand angry stares from when I answered my phone returned, again though that could just be my imagination getting the better of me. I saw a woman standing there, at least she didn't fall like I did, she was older than me but still young, tall, tan, pretty, she looked kind of familiar somehow but I couldn't place her. Was she a Colonial national I'd seen in the media? A famous actor from the region or someone in the government? She wasn't the Princess' fiancee was she? No, wait, she was set to marry a man not a woman. Arranged marriages say that's another aspect I should address with Princess Ashla,-- agh, Sorisana this isn't the time to think of that. Guess mother was right, I could hear her scathing words about how I always walk around with my head in the clouds and one day I will walk off a cliff with how clumsy I am and we live in a mountain Duchy so that's possible. Given this was the kind of place that drew a lot of high society, probably people even greater in status than me, the gods only know who I just walked into. The young lady offered me a hand and a tissue which I cordially took. "I'm so sorry!" I really wish Dani was here. Frankly she's probably more clumsy than me but she really always knows how to make the most of it. Some think her foolishness and clumsiness rubbed off on me but I've always been a bit awkward, just I try to hide it where she just smiles and shrugs it off. Not that I'd want her to make a spectacle of herself but just her sunshine personality just kind of makes everything feel good. "It's my fault, I really wasn't paying attention. I just kind of got caught up in everything here and started daydreaming I guess."

I looked around to see if I could make a hasty retreat but it seemed other people were kind of starting to crowd nearby, not watching us just kind of in the area. Honestly she didn't seem mad at me, a relief when I half expected an angry Watch where you're going, stupid! I'd gotten plenty of that growing up these past 14 years of my life. Developmental disabilities do make it hard in many ways. I wanted to say more but beyond I'm sorry what else is there to say. That's usually where I'd get another tongue lashing. You'd think with my cold demeanor, I wouldn't mind it but I do mind, I hate it, I always feel so small when I get yelled at. It's childish, I know.

Princess Aurelia bint-Damir.
...was this how Tjark had felt, all those years ago?
Gods, I sounded like Grandmother.
Anyway, she looked almost afraid, that she'd get chewed out, lashed at or something, but... much like I had way back when. Then...
I put a hand on her shoulder, softly, but not firmly. She could shrug it off any moment she liked.
"You should watch where you're going.", I told her kindly, softly, "Walking into someone is bad enough, but imagine walking into a lamppost. That'd be weird for a pretty young lady such as you." While others had glared down at me, way back when, the old Emperor had given me the full grandfatherly treatment. While I was almost repeating him word for word, I was not a grandmother (and I did not plan to become one for a very long time). And there I decided to deviate from the 'script', if you will. "I am Aurelia."
There was more to the girl then met the eye in the first moment.

[The Pinelands]

Mhairi Uasal of the Tribe of Fermanagh.
I smiled.
To her credit, she did not stare, instead let her eyes run over me for but a moment.
"Yeah, I know the feeling, Lieddyy.", I told her with a nod (hoping, that I indeed pronounded her first name right). "Wearing fancy clothes, being surrounded by people with long names and longer titles, being afraid of making a fool of oneself, and by extension one's people..." I let a beat pass. "A little tip I learned from a Teressian Prince: Treat it like a performance." I raised a hand. "Not in the sense of singing, though I'd love to see, if we can't do something like that later together, but more in the sense of demeanour. But always remember, if it gets too much, there's always the little girls' room."
I gave her a wink at that.
After taking a sip, I added: "So... you up for a little bit of music later or tomorrow, depending on your schedule?"

Lie-ddyy... It was close enough, that was for certain, and if anything the Pinelander was glad that Mhairi was attempting at all. And though the "old" Dísréad Musician didn't nail the name completely what with the absence of a "yi" sound towards the end of the pronunciation, nor was she wearing the most... Standard get-up for the kind of event that she was present at in the Joiker's own perception, those thoughts would've only subtly affected her actions. Maybe a milisecond look away from the face here, a smile failing but for a moment before it returned, all small, unconscious stuff really.

Most of all, Lieđđi was happy to talk to someone like Ms Uasal first. Gods forbid should she have to talk to a Prince or Princess straight away, for though she didn't really let political dogma or prejudice rule her life much like one might expect from someone who hailed from a country that fought a royal house and it's country in the 20th century for their own freedom, establishing a Socialist-aligned nation soon therefore after, it's not unfair to say that there was influence, even if just slightly... Plus, they would be much more important than her. In front of Mhairi, she didn't need to even subconsciously judge her importance against hers, so that was good.
Ms Sirunieida took a small sip of the glass of water in her hand, not letting the act wrench her eyes from the face of the one conversing with her, whilst said person finished with their response. The comment about "the little girls' room" was an interesting one, especially as followed by the wink, something that would've caused the Pinelander singer to look towards Mhairi with a face mixed between quizzical, humoured and nervous all the same. Other than that, she didn't attempt to pay it any mind to the point that it'd affect her too much.

And then; the Selkie would invitationally comment:

Mhairi Uasal: "So... you up for a little bit of music later or tomorrow, depending on your schedule?"

Which was certainly a proposition. Lieđđi's eyes would've fallen subconsciously on the figure in front of her rather than her face for a moment before she regained her bearings. It wasn't that the Pinelander had any... Thoughts, at least not in her perception, rather that she still couldn't get truly used to the free dress code her partner in conversation was wearing. It wouldn't last long though, soon she'd respond with a warm smile, one perhaps charmingly small as if not to overburden, and with a nod of her head she'd respond with

Lieđđi Sirunieida: "I'd love for that to happen, Mhairi."

[Abetton]

Princess Aurelia bint-Damir.
...was this how Tjark had felt, all those years ago?
Gods, I sounded like Grandmother.
Anyway, she looked almost afraid, that she'd get chewed out, lashed at or something, but... much like I had way back when. Then...
I put a hand on her shoulder, softly, but not firmly. She could shrug it off any moment she liked.
"You should watch where you're going.", I told her kindly, softly, "Walking into someone is bad enough, but imagine walking into a lamppost. That'd be weird for a pretty young lady such as you." While others had glared down at me, way back when, the old Emperor had given me the full grandfatherly treatment. While I was almost repeating him word for word, I was not a grandmother (and I did not plan to become one for a very long time). And there I decided to deviate from the 'script', if you will. "I am Aurelia."
There was more to the girl then met the eye in the first moment.

"Yeah-yeah, I know." Oh that probably didn't sound right like I don't realize my actions. " You can see why I write my main character, Abra the way she is, she really is just an extension of me. "You're very right and I am again so sorry to have bumped into you, Miss Aurelia. Good to meet you, I'm Sorisana." Well she introduced herself so I might as well do the same. Huh.... Aurelia, Aurelia, Aureliaaaa why did that name ring so many bells? It was a name in Abetton sure but I honestly didn't know anyone personally with that name. Actually a cute name, one I gotta tuck away for later myself. "Really, I didn't spill anything on you, did I?" I wasn't holding any food or drink but I didn't know if she was at some point. "Because if I did, I'm sorry I'll pay for any cleaning that needs to be done."

[The Selkie]

Lie-ddyy... It was close enough, that was for certain, and if anything the Pinelander was glad that Mhairi was attempting at all. And though the "old" Dísréad Musician didn't nail the name completely what with the absence of a "yi" sound towards the end of the pronunciation, nor was she wearing the most... Standard get-up for the kind of event that she was present at in the Joiker's own perception, those thoughts would've only subtly affected her actions. Maybe a milisecond look away from the face here, a smile failing but for a moment before it returned, all small, unconscious stuff really.

Most of all, Lieđđi was happy to talk to someone like Ms Uasal first. Gods forbid should she have to talk to a Prince or Princess straight away, for though she didn't really let political dogma or prejudice rule her life much like one might expect from someone who hailed from a country that fought a royal house and it's country in the 20th century for their own freedom, establishing a Socialist-aligned nation soon therefore after, it's not unfair to say that there was influence, even if just slightly... Plus, they would be much more important than her. In front of Mhairi, she didn't need to even subconsciously judge her importance against hers, so that was good.
Ms Sirunieida took a small sip of the glass of water in her hand, not letting the act wrench her eyes from the face of the one conversing with her, whilst said person finished with their response. The comment about "the little girls' room" was an interesting one, especially as followed by the wink, something that would've caused the Pinelander singer to look towards Mhairi with a face mixed between quizzical, humoured and nervous all the same. Other than that, she didn't attempt to pay it any mind to the point that it'd affect her too much.

And then; the Selkie would invitationally comment:

Mhairi Uasal: "So... you up for a little bit of music later or tomorrow, depending on your schedule?"

Which was certainly a proposition. Lieđđi's eyes would've fallen subconsciously on the figure in front of her rather than her face for a moment before she regained her bearings. It wasn't that the Pinelander had any... Thoughts, at least not in her perception, rather that she still couldn't get truly used to the free dress code her partner in conversation was wearing. It wouldn't last long though, soon she'd respond with a warm smile, one perhaps charmingly small as if not to overburden, and with a nod of her head she'd respond with

Lieđđi Sirunieida: "I'd love for that to happen, Mhairi."

Mhairi Uasal of the Tribe of Fermanagh.
She tried to keep her eyes on mine, which was an advantage she had over many foreign men, who I had the (sometimes) dubious pleasure with over the years. My comment about the little girls' room did puzzle her, though - should have used the restroom or something like that.
Excusing oneself for 'other' business was a convenient strategy to get out of uncomfortable situations, if one asked me.
Her response to my offer was clear, though: "I'd love for that to happen, Mhairi."
"Really?", I said with a grin almost splitting my face in half, "Awesome!" I saw, that there were many questions on her mind, some of which I might be able to answer. Yet, she did not ask them. Maybe she might soon realize, that the free style of clothes also included being free for (nearly) all sorts of questions? I was certainly no fashionista, but I knew, what my Geansai did and why. I continued: "Meet you tomorrow at ten for a jamming session, then lunch? It'd be on me."
I let a beat pass.
"Well, the Foreign Office, but they do give us Cultural Ambassadors a small budget anyway for such things.", I added with a grin.

"Yeah-yeah, I know." Oh that probably didn't sound right like I don't realize my actions. " You can see why I write my main character, Abra the way she is, she really is just an extension of me. "You're very right and I am again so sorry to have bumped into you, Miss Aurelia. Good to meet you, I'm Sorisana." Well she introduced herself so I might as well do the same. Huh.... Aurelia, Aurelia, Aureliaaaa why did that name ring so many bells? It was a name in Abetton sure but I honestly didn't know anyone personally with that name. Actually a cute name, one I gotta tuck away for later myself. "Really, I didn't spill anything on you, did I?" I wasn't holding any food or drink but I didn't know if she was at some point. "Because if I did, I'm sorry I'll pay for any cleaning that needs to be done."

Princess Aurelia bint-Damir.
I waved it off.
"Nothing happened, don't worry." I smiled as I said that, thinking that if anything did happen, her pocket money might not be able to cover it. Miss Aurelia had a nice ring to it, though. "And my ankles are alright, too."
A small lull.
"If I may ask, Miss Sorisana, where are you from?", I asked politely, "I'm from Kyrenaia, you see. Much, much sand... my Grandmother, the Sultana, sent me here to be her diplomat, but really, sometimes I think, that she sends me to ballroom diplomacy so that I'm out of her hair." I threw her a conspiratory wink. "I'm a bit of a troublemaker, you see?"
True enough, only that it was not harmless pranks. Well, not only. Right now, aside from the usual about the Movement to Change the Law of Marriage, it was, that I had a photoshooting a few months ago, for a gentleman's magazine.
She might be too young for the details.
Actually, I was quite sure, that she was too young for the details.

[The Pinelands]

Mhairi Uasal of the Tribe of Fermanagh.
She tried to keep her eyes on mine, which was an advantage she had over many foreign men, who I had the (sometimes) dubious pleasure with over the years. My comment about the little girls' room did puzzle her, though - should have used the restroom or something like that.
Excusing oneself for 'other' business was a convenient strategy to get out of uncomfortable situations, if one asked me.
Her response to my offer was clear, though: "I'd love for that to happen, Mhairi."
"Really?", I said with a grin almost splitting my face in half, "Awesome!" I saw, that there were many questions on her mind, some of which I might be able to answer. Yet, she did not ask them. Maybe she might soon realize, that the free style of clothes also included being free for (nearly) all sorts of questions? I was certainly no fashionista, but I knew, what my Geansai did and why. I continued: "Meet you tomorrow at ten for a jamming session, then lunch? It'd be on me."
I let a beat pass.
"Well, the Foreign Office, but they do give us Cultural Ambassadors a small budget anyway for such things.", I added with a grin.

Lieđđi certainly did try, and to a success that'd surprise herself more than anyone else. The Pinelander Singer was hardly ready to bring up the topic of the Geansai though, even if Mhairi wouldn't have minded. For the time being, she concluded that if her code of dress was allowed for the event in the first place, it's not to be taken with any sort of offense. Besides, if there's one thing even a semi-famous person comes to know, it's that bringing up questions and comments that could be taken in an offensive way; any offensive way is a bit of a one-way ticket to "being cancelled"... Realistically, though the Selkie she was talking to seemed completely reasonable on a first interaction basis, even if that "little girls' room" still confused her and even seemed slightly suggestive to her, she was still mainly a stranger to Lieđđi, so assumptions aren't really something to be made quite yet...

But, that was hardly a jab against Mhairi. In fact, as she reacted jovially to the Joiker's willingness to accept that "singing session" she invited her to, to the point that the smile she beamed back at the slightly shorter woman almost seemed too large to be healthy, a more reserved but no less happy reaction was given in addition as well. After Ms. Uasal's exclamation in response; that being

Mhairi Uasal: "Really? Awesome! Meet you tomorrow at ten for a jamming session, then lunch? It'd be on me."

Lieđđi would react soundlessly with an enthusiastic nod, with a continuation of her smile in addition. Though that "soundless" response would change upon the mention of the budget given by the Foreign Office, something that she would politely chuckle to

At this point, Ms. Sirunieida's glass was practically empty, so with a final drink she'd empty it, now holding a glass empty of water. Alongside that and a stomach that at this point if it could talk it'd be saying "hey, don't you think it's time for a little bite to eat?", Lieđđi's eyes would drift from Mhairi's, past her frame and towards the open bar, which assumedly the Selkie Musician got the glasses of water from, a gaze that would last with vague longing for a few seconds, before returning to the woman whom approached her. With a subtle nod towards the bar in question, she'd ask Mhairi:

Lieđđi Sirunieida: "This evening's still large, and I believe we have some time before the opening speech. I think I'll take myself over to the bar to... * ahem *, fuel myself, and I'd be happy to see you join me. I haven't really got anyone to meet here otherwise, that's for sure."

[Seleucid Pergamon]

Outside the Museum, 17 December, 5:40 PM PGST

Ten minutes in, and both the red carpet and the Museum lobby and nearby bar were filling with guests. Though with the bar, only water was offered at this time, to which the alcohol and other beverages are offered later. The party was still young, after all. After the Chatzigeorgious and the Vascopolous came in, there were the sisters of the Qian family; prominent members of the Tansan Janggok clan, of whom are their representation; Stamatios Demetriopoulos, Pergamon's Minister of the Interior; Aristarchos Chaconallis, President of the Pergamonic Archaeological and Heritage Society; Neofytos Nassakis, Publisher of Fotepsycha Literature Company; Takis Harropoulos, a famous movie director from the nation; Haralambos Totelis, Professor of History at the Royal University of Ephesus; Alexandra Koldaki, the incumbent Prime Minister; and a bundle of foreign guests anyone at the event were welcome to meet. Outside, the press were busy with the white flashes of their cameras, sporadically timed like the shine of glitter. To a far-off observer or bystander, it was a dream to attend, to be amidst a kaleidoscopic sea of expensive fabric and jewelry, mingling and dancing until the night ends.

At this moment, the room where the most of the Gala will be held is closed to all attendees until 5:50 in the evening. Once the time hits, the master of ceremonies would assemble everyone into their tables to await the arrival of the last two families of the Demetica: the Royal Family of Pergamon and the Nadirid dynasty of the Levantine Sultanate. For now, the lobby and bar were the only places where guests can wait. Within the crowd, a visible rim of floor was formed, and it was as if the statue in the middle was not meant to be touched by mortal hands. If one had a taste of Metiochid history, the statue is a depiction of the Museum's namesake, Seleucus V Megas, gazing at the doors proudly as if to proclaim his glory to the newcomers with his armor, helmet and lion headdress as he stands with dignity.

-snip-

Dimitroula & Nikolas Thomas Vascopolou

Dimitroula was viewing the lobby with eyes displaying excitement like a bright flame. It was these types of events that she appreciates both new people and aesthetics. The last social event she attended observed her friends and numerous people being complimented on their dresses by the fashion enthusiast. After scanning her eyes around, she sighted two young twins wearing strapless dresses of vivid color that would earn the adoration of on-lookers alike. She ran back to her brother, Nikolas, carrying the long skirt of her aqua-green, flora-ornamented gown like a sack. Her brother was who was busy finishing up a quest on Tangutian fantasy gacha game on his phone, staring at the device as if he were alone in an empty room.

"Nicky, you got to come with me," exclaimed Dimitroula.

"Good God, Dimi. You just cost me my boss fight," replied Nikolas aggravatingly.

"Whoops, sorry about that," she chuckled, before her eyes gleamed again, "But, you can always come back to it later. I found a pair of twins that I'm dying to meet, and they're so pretty!"

Nikolas stored his phone in his pocket, before being dragged by Dimitroula who was dashing. Nikolas called to her several times to slow down. Settling down close to the twins, Dimitroula held a wide grin, and Nikolas a apparently blank stare.

"Might I just say that you two look absolutely gorgeous. I love both of your gowns, very stylish," she complimented, "By the way, I'm Dimitroula Vascopolou and this stiff guy is my brother, Nikolas."

"Pleasure to meet you both," Nikolas bowed.

-snip-

Theonymphi & Aristeidis Chatzigeorgiou

Theonymphi and Aristeidis returned from the bar to get glasses of water. Theonymphi tried out a curly ponytail for her hairstyle, a new ground to tread on apart from her recognizable straight hair which complimented well with the red-violet sunset-colored gown with a black top. Aristeidis kept the straight cut while wearing a tuxedo with a charcoal-colored suit, which calls back to his cool demeanor. Blending themselves among the crowd, they looked around until they saw two women in the picture. One woman was wearing a long navy-blue gown with a tiara and a choker with an emerald centerpiece. The other was wearing a fanciful military uniform with a tricorne hat.

"Those two look interesting," said Aristeidis, "I like her tricorne hat. It's like she's an 18th century soldier"

"Nice dress," Theonymphi eyed the one with the navy-blue gown, "Love everything about it."

"Let's meet them."

They sauntered up to the two women and offered their greetings.

"Greetings, Miladies. Where's the 12 pound cannon, if I may ask," Aristeidis chuckled after kissing the hands of the two ladies.

-snip-

Alexandra Koldaki

As Prime Minister of the nation, it was a obligation to attend, especially with the Royal Family dragging her with an invisible lasso with or without notice. She wore a black dress with skin exposure from her waists aside from her back. Koldaki was a popular Prime Minister, with her admirers giving credit to her policies and her beauty. Once the photographs from the Gala come out onto the web, many fan-arts would bloom like a flower. She searched around after conversing with the Interior Minister for a while, and that's when she found the President of Dayganistan after recognizing her visage.

"As-salamu alaykum, Ms. President," she greeted with a smile, "Hopefully, you are enjoying yourself, so far."

[Oflia]

I arrive at the museum in a Cadillac which was rented at the airport. 5 cars behind me filled with armed royal guards and at least 2 secret security forces in one of the cars behind the Cadillac I am in. We park at the parking lot and my driver helps me out. I am only a 20 year old King. After I get out, I am surrounded by my royal guards. The Sergeant of the royal guards steps up. ¨Sir. Your orders?¨ he says. ¨Give me 2 of your men and the rest of you camp out here.¨ I tell the Sergeant. He salutes and order 2 men to wedge behind me. I walk inside the entrance and find a lot of people talking to others and drinking. I grab a drink and begin looking at everything.

[Dayganistan]

Alexandra Koldaki

As Prime Minister of the nation, it was a obligation to attend, especially with the Royal Family dragging her with an invisible lasso with or without notice. She wore a black dress with skin exposure from her waists aside from her back. Koldaki was a popular Prime Minister, with her admirers giving credit to her policies and her beauty. Once the photographs from the Gala come out onto the web, many fan-arts would bloom like a flower. She searched around after conversing with the Interior Minister for a while, and that's when she found the President of Dayganistan after recognizing her visage.

"As-salamu alaykum, Ms. President," she greeted with a smile, "Hopefully, you are enjoying yourself, so far."

President Aryana Zahir

The first person to approach was Prime Minister Koldaki of Pergamon. Another woman in a high level government position, surely someone relatable to President Zahir just for that reason alone. The Prime Minister gretted her with the standard Islamic greeting, one which President Zahir very much did not prefer. She wasn't a highly religious Muslim and didn't think it necessary to be greeted that way, although she was used to foreign dignitaries defaulting to it to avoid the risk of causing offense. She returned the Prime Minister's smile.

"I'm glad to be here, the weather back home is starting to get terrible. You know how winter is in the Hindu Kush," she spoke with an accent that sounded somewhat British, but would still be clear to anyone she is not a native English speaker and had a soft, gentle sounding voice. "Besides, I needed a break anyway, you should know how exhausting our work can get. I'm here as a private citizen just as much as I am a high level government official."

[Katase]

Dimitroula & Nikolas Thomas Vascopolou

Dimitroula was viewing the lobby with eyes displaying excitement like a bright flame. It was these types of events that she appreciates both new people and aesthetics. The last social event she attended observed her friends and numerous people being complimented on their dresses by the fashion enthusiast. After scanning her eyes around, she sighted two young twins wearing strapless dresses of vivid color that would earn the adoration of on-lookers alike. She ran back to her brother, Nikolas, carrying the long skirt of her aqua-green, flora-ornamented gown like a sack. Her brother was who was busy finishing up a quest on Tangutian fantasy gacha game on his phone, staring at the device as if he were alone in an empty room.

"Nicky, you got to come with me," exclaimed Dimitroula.

"Good God, Dimi. You just cost me my boss fight," replied Nikolas aggravatingly.

"Whoops, sorry about that," she chuckled, before her eyes gleamed again, "But, you can always come back to it later. I found a pair of twins that I'm dying to meet, and they're so pretty!"

Nikolas stored his phone in his pocket, before being dragged by Dimitroula who was dashing. Nikolas called to her several times to slow down. Settling down close to the twins, Dimitroula held a wide grin, and Nikolas a apparently blank stare.

"Might I just say that you two look absolutely gorgeous. I love both of your gowns, very stylish," she complimented, "By the way, I'm Dimitroula Vascopolou and this stiff guy is my brother, Nikolas."

"Pleasure to meet you both," Nikolas bowed.

Still in a bit of conversation the twins found themselves approached by a couple of other party guests, locals perhaps? Well anything was really possible but they seemed nice and eager to make acquaintance. "Ah thank you very much. " Yukiko thanked, with Momiji echoing "Yeah thanks. Oh uh, Momiji Kujo. My sister, Yukiko."

"Good evening, Dim-it-roula." It took a bit of practice for Yuki to try to say the name "Nikoolas" She also repeated the brother's name. "Anyway, we're from Katase so admittedly western dress isn't our specialty but our friend said these dresses would be the best look on us for this event."

[Diarcesia]

Antioch expected the Metiochid gala to be a success, and a part of it is because the Museum is one of the most beautiful buildings in Pergamon. He has seen the interior of this building before. The history of the Empire and its people is preserved there, a meticulousness rivaling that of Diarcesia's own Hall of Diereses. In addition to it being a special place for the Metiochids, it is also considered a point of exceptional architecture for Antioch. The Diarcesian apostle to the Pergamonians is not afraid of getting lost in its corridors and rooms if it comes to that.

Back in the Diarcesian embassy in Kastorissa, Antioch stood in the Stelae Room. There, he awaited the arrival of two additional guests he would accompany to the gala. The apostle already knew them well, having seen them several times before. One is a man of considerable pedigree: Pimen of Arkess, the hereditary archon of the capital's dieresis.

When one of the embassy's cars stopped on the driveway, Antioch knew right away that inside it carried Pimen. The doors to the Stelae Room opened to reveal the archon. By his side was the other guest and his wife, Camilla. Antioch had a few things he wanted to tell her too—things she may not have known since their official trip to the Holy Land. He didn't want to let the opportunity slip away, especially now that the three of them would attend the gala.

"Welcome to Pergamon, honored Archon of Arcesia and Madam Camilla," he started, moving from his station and walking towards them. "I have good news for you." He then put a hand on Pimen's shoulder like an old friend. "It's about something I've told you before you left Arcesius." He looked at Pimen who stood quietly as if giving Antioch some time to discuss further. "The gala is planned to be a grandiose celebration of Pergamon's founding anniversary. As such, do you mind refreshing what we hope to achieve once we're there?"

"I don't mind," Pimen answered casually and Camilla smiled softly to affirm the response. "It's best for us to do it in the car to make use of our travel time to the museum grounds."

"With pleasure, sir." Antioch escorted his fellow guests to the car, an imported Diarcesian Pryfors Bilar sedan, that will take them to the Museum of History and Antiquities.

[Abetton]

Princess Aurelia bint-Damir.
I waved it off.
"Nothing happened, don't worry." I smiled as I said that, thinking that if anything did happen, her pocket money might not be able to cover it. Miss Aurelia had a nice ring to it, though. "And my ankles are alright, too."
A small lull.
"If I may ask, Miss Sorisana, where are you from?", I asked politely, "I'm from Kyrenaia, you see. Much, much sand... my Grandmother, the Sultana, sent me here to be her diplomat, but really, sometimes I think, that she sends me to ballroom diplomacy so that I'm out of her hair." I threw her a conspiratory wink. "I'm a bit of a troublemaker, you see?"
True enough, only that it was not harmless pranks. Well, not only. Right now, aside from the usual about the Movement to Change the Law of Marriage, it was, that I had a photoshooting a few months ago, for a gentleman's magazine.
She might be too young for the details.
Actually, I was quite sure, that she was too young for the details.

Now I started to calm down more, the hot wave of embarrassment disappeared. Miss Aurelia was quite friendly indeed, she introduced herself further saying where she was from, again sounding strangely familiar but still I just couldn't quite put my finger on it. I must have read up about Kyrenaia at some point. To find interesting and fantastic names, or just exotic phrases to fit in a fantasy setting, I do often just toil on online translators and browse encyclopedic contents to get good ideas. Perhaps that's the case here, Kyrenaia is one of any dozen lands I've pulled a few snippets of inspiration from. Strange, I would think I would remember that, though, I tend to remember most of what I write but then again I often do write stuff I may never have intent to send in or sometime just daydream up stories when I'm in bed about to fall asleep or out shopping with mother or -- okay again I am rambling!

"My father sent me here. Says it'd be good for my work to gain more attention outside Abetton. I did say I was from Abetton didn't I? Well now you know. But to be real with you, Miss Aurelia, my work isn't exactly the kind that appeals to this kind of crowd if you get what I'm saying? I write mostly fantasy, works enjoyed by kids and teens. Derivative at times. But it's what I enjoy writing so I guess it really doesn't make much difference if the high art crowd doesn't like it or not, but here I am."

[Phibeta]

Basileus Seleucus Megas Museum of History and Antiquities, Pergamon. 19 December, 5:30 PM

And then there were three. Three royals of Phibeta who have not wed or are engaged in any relationships. Though, it does not matter to these young royals. These bachelors and bachelorette enjoyed their lives as distant from the line of succession. With their eldest sister, Queen Diane II bearing children, two of them already, so the siblings do not need to worry about themselves much, just their reputations. The three siblings walk out of their carriage and into the museum of where the gala is to take place.

Prince Jerald is the second eldest brother of the siblings. A very polite and cheerful fellow, a good friend to the Queen, his eldest sister. A seasoned veteran too, serving in the Phibetan army as captain of the Greens and Purples Regiment. He holds the title of Duke of Beakdale and many other titles.

Prince Alfred, the youngest brother of the queen, is quite the opposite. Brash and loud, ignorant and proud. He, a rear-admiral, works with aircraft in the Royal Navy, but is also quite the ocean lover. He has those wholesome moments but oftentimes would side with the Nationalists on national opinions. He holds the title of Duke of Billington, along with others like his brother

Princess Cathrine, the youngest sister, is more or less like her brother Jerald. Soften-spoken and polite, but oftentimes very loud and direct. She is a lady of literature, arts, and justice. She is an Air Marshal in the Royal Air Force and like her siblings holds the title of Countess of Creeton. As they make their way inside, the three converse.

“I don’t understand why I have to go,” says Prince Alfred angrily. “I had plans with my good friend Mr. Torrance. He doesn’t like it when I have to go away”.

“Dear brother, you must understand that what our sister wants, we must do,” says Prince Jerald calmly. “We have a duty not only to our sister, but to our kingdom. Her Majesty couldn’t make it tonight, since being a mother comes first for her newborn, especially as her duties will be keeping her at Kensington Palace”.

“Oh, couldn’t Prince Harold do it. That spineless brother of ours likes doing these international things

“We are here to represent the kingdom, no matter who we are. Besides, we think some away time from that Mr. Torrance character might do you good”.

“Why you!” Alfred shouts.

“Don’t lose your cool Alfred” says Princess Cathrine. “You may not like it, but this it the only duty we have as members of the royal family. So chin up, straighten up, and for Heroes sake, don’t say anything that will hurt our reputation”

“Fine”

At long last, they enter the gala room. The interesting choice for decor and style caught the eyes of many, including the siblings. There were many other dignitaries too, some from the region. This was a time to mingle with others, learn their cultures, and bring out the best of Phibeta and especially the royal family.

[Brettenwald]

"Right, listen up you two." Astrid's piercing gray-green eyes met her half-siblings' in the rearview mirror while her wine-red Mercedes G63 AMG patiently rumbled away at idle in the dropoff line. When the Captain asked you to listen you snapped the hell to attention and you listened, and therefore Alexander and Erika immediately put their phones away & leaned forward.
"Normally I wouldn't do this kind of thing, but I looked at the guest list beforehand. We have a major problem in the form of one Andre Åltasson." Erika said something you couldn't print in a family newspaper, earning her one of the slight lifts by the right side of Astrid's mouth that were the closest she got to a smile while in maximum-overdrive girlboss mode.

"Agreed. Anyway, as you both know he's an Aureumterran prince, which means the following: do not talk about politics, especially regarding Cassadia or Nifon, do not talk about religion, and do not talk about our family. Take the high road if he starts an argument and I've got a seventh sense if things devolve so I can swoop in and break anything up. End of discussion. Got it?" Her half-sister nodded an affirmative and the prince gave her a mock salute with a "yes ma'am".
"Smartass," Astrid laughed, moving the big SUV up slowly as various guests made their way out of their cars and into the party.

Their cousin Helena chimed in from the passenger seat, briefly pausing a lipstick touch-up in the vanity mirror. "She means behave yourselves, basically. No pressure."
"Easy for you to say, you do this kind of thing every month." Alex sighed, running a somewhat nervous hand through his hair.
"Don't worry, just think of it as making up for lost time. It's in the blood, after all."
Astrid finally pulled the G-wagen up to the red carpet and the four disembarked, heading into what was uncharted territory for the teenagers, a refreshing change of pace for Astrid and just another day in the office for Helena.

The older women would likely have made the photographers' night by themselves but their combined star power was something else entirely. Perhaps unexpectedly tall at five feet eleven inches, Helena was the lissom ballerina type and more on the cute end of the scale than outright smokin' hot though the curves were very much in all the right places, attired in a sapphire blue evening gown with a neckline almost down to here and thigh slit almost up to there that perfectly set off elaborately braided platinum blonde hair, frost blue eyes and enough gold jewelry to get the point across.

Astrid had brown hair in a millimeter-precise bun and was decidedly more likely to bring either the serene reserve of a jungle cat or Lucy Lawless in Xena: Warrior Princess to mind, carrying a much more athletic frame of the same height with soldierly discipline. Attired in tall black riding boots, white trousers and dress shirt with a black tie and white gloves, a black peaked cap, a red coat trimmed with gold and a black Sam Browne belt, the Captain took a moment to reattach her ceremonial sabre before starting on her way through the gauntlet of incessant camera flashes.

Her half-siblings hadn't cleaned up badly at all, either. Alex with his now slightly mussed golden blond hair stood a lanky, easygoing 6'2" in his black leather dress shoes and looked sharp in a young gentleman's de rigueur tuxedo in accordance with the dress code set off by a fancypants Breitling chronograph watch Astrid had given him last birthday, entered the lobby with brown eyes wide in awe at, well, everything. His twin sister Erika had her similarly golden hair done up in a simple ponytail, wearing a strapless rose evening with only silver earrings and a matching necklace & bracelet in the way of jewelry, and stood 5'7" with the kind of figure that could have stopped traffic even if clothed in a burlap sack.

"Now we mingle or whatever, I suppose," Helena said mildly after the quartet had made their way to the lobby at last. "Festivities don't start quite yet and I doubt the bar's open yet."
"I hope you're wrong, I could murder a martini. Champagne for you, as usual, and you kids aren't getting anything until much later. Dad's orders." Astrid gave Alex & Erika one of her signature Big Sister Looks before heading off in the general direction of the bar, leaving the trio to whoever happened to come their way looking for conversation.

[New Visayan Islands]

Hilarion Adamson II
Basileus Seleucus Megas Museum of History and Antiquities

There was something about how the statue of the museum’s namesake was given a healthy—and because the COVID-19 pandemic was still something elsewhere, expected—level of distance. Luminaries from Pergamon itself and the SEA were present in force, and to the Ambassador, the idea of the Visayan presence being a gateway to backdoor talks was something he explicitly anticipated. To that end, he and Commander Ikemoto were present; seeing the Military Attaché making the rounds was something.
He and Angelica went to the bar for a quick drink; alcohol was tempting, but it was, by his admission, far too early for that.