meadowlarklogs | EVENT | the outer worlds foundation charity weekend

Entry tags:

EVENT | the outer worlds foundation charity weekend

WHO: Everyone
WHERE: New Amsterdam
WHEN: March 13-14
WHAT: A charity event
NOTES OR WARNINGS: Please see the OOC Planning Post for further details!

> THE FOUNDATION GALA & SILENT AUCTION

In early February, invitations begin to be dispersed to power players in various industries across New Amsterdam and other global megacities. From famous artistes (one of whom sadly never confirms his appearance) to CoolTalk influencers, banking moguls and scientific pioneers, anyone who is anyone receives a personalized, couriered invitation to a very exclusive event — a silent auction, co-hosted by Joseph Lynch and the New Amsterdam Events Committee, with all proceeds benefiting the newly minted Outer Worlds Foundation. Established after the first gubernatorial debate by Lynch and his campaign, the Trust aims to honor those whose sacrifices have paved the way for humanity's exploration of space by funding environmentally-savvy research initiatives and providing support to organizations devoted to providing a better quality of life for all those who work and live on the colonies.

Of course, even charities are rarely all that they seem. Political journalists and bloggers have long speculated that Lynch plans to capitalize on the social unrest stemming from the recent Mars colony uprisings, and with frontrunner Katelin Jovavich's recent debate missteps on this topic, the rumor mill has been hard at work pointing out just how timely a charitable trust like this one must be. Positioning himself as a champion of the underappreciated (read: exploited) citizens sent out to toil for the advancement of the elite is a savvy political move, and one that proves difficult to dismiss in the polls.

With such a politically-charged opportunity and the promise of plenty of media coverage, the event itself becomes a must-do on the social agenda of many of New Amsterdam's most recognizable names. Elin Zepatka and her philanthropic organizations are quick to lend their credo to the event, along with a selection of art pieces from her personal collection. (Rumor has it they're being donated to avoid having to catalogue their worth in her upcoming divorce.) Also on the guest list? Beyond host and gubernatorial candidate Joseph Lynch, his opposition Simone Durcell will be making an appearance. (Jovavich, notably, is not.) Employees from Ibis and Caudata Tech will also be on hand, the latter especially as a subsidiary under Durcell's management, despite corporate boards still throwing in with the front-runner. Most interestingly, however, is the fleeting promise of spotting reclusive Matek Kattan. The Displaced may remember this name from the recent Lunar New Year celebrations, when Pulsar subsidiary Tempo's newest VP of Marketing pitched in to run community meal programs. Clearly, charity outreach is just another ball this mystery man is capable of juggling.

The auction itself remains as exclusive as the invitations. With the large number of VIP attendees and the stressful year New Amsterdam has had, security remains a high priority throughout. Those without an invitation will find it difficult, if not impossible, to "sneak" their way in. However, with the influx of notoriously particular VIP attendees, the expectations also remain high. To meet them, companies involved in the auction begin to take on temporary workers, offering short-term job opportunities in everything from catering to janitorial work to even checking coats and bussing empty glasses. For those that are willing to undergo background checks and sign non-disclosure contracts, this is a lucrative opportunity to make high hourly rates — and potentially get their foot in the door for long-term employment if they impress the right person!

Of course, it wouldn't be a New Amsterdam event if the Displaced weren't given a particularly special way to participate. As a last-minute addition to the program, Caroline has worked with the New Amsterdam Events Committee to allow urban explorers and treasure hunters to submit rare, previously unseen artifacts from various areas of the globe up for auction. Members of the Displaced who have brought back items and artifacts from their voluntary (or involuntary) treks around the world may want to take this opportunity to make a few credits — or make a name for themselves as charitable members of the community, which may just earn them attention considered far more valuable than a few credits to their name. To sweeten the deal, each member of the Displaced that opts to present an item for sale at the auction will be provided an invitation for themselves and a plus-one of their choice.

> THE WHITE DAY AUCTION

As media coverage begins to speculate on the who's who on the guest list (and what they might donate for the cause), another event is organized to follow shortly after. Not satisfied with extending the olive branch of charitable goodwill to the upper echelons, Caroline and the NAEC begin to draft up an opportunity for all those affected by the recent crises in New Amsterdam and abroad to give back to their community, taking advantage of the upcoming White Day holiday to promote a special, seasonally-appropriate opportunity for giving (and getting) back.

The White Day Auction, as it's formally billed, isn't a new concept. Matchmaking parties and speed dating events have long been part of the New Amsterdam social scene, and while they typically are held in the weeks prior to Valentine's Day, the upcoming pressure to "give triple" (still referred to as sanbai in New Tokyo) means finding a suitable gift is still high on the to-do list for many of the city's population. For those that don't have a significant other... advertising alone would make it clear that securing a potential plus one for any auction winnings should be top priority.

To entice attendance, the event just so happens to be in a rather exclusive location — a mansion in the more upscale area of town, typically reserved for events like the recent masquerade ball to kick off Carnivale season. It's the perfect backdrop for CoolTalk selfies, making the first move on a certain someone, or impressing your date with your nouveau riche ensemble.

To ensure all are welcome and able to attend, admission is reasonably priced, and while attendees are encouraged to dress to suit the theme, there are no masks or other requirements to attend the event.

◉ In the east wing of the mansion, those with money to burn can explore the well-advertised Sanbai Selection. Here, potential purchasers can peruse a variety of couples' packages, all donated by local businesses and the occasional affluent individual. There are varying options here, with everything from the classic "dinner and a VR movie" arrangement to a full day's VIP experience at Riverstone's Dream River theme park, to even the more scandalous "Red Room Experience", offered by one of the Red Light District's most well-known brothels. Whether they offer a hard-to-beat discount — like two-for-one couples' massages or a prix-fixe menu at a recent Restaurant Week winning venue — or a rare experience, each of these opportunities are exclusive to White Day attendees. Many of the more popular options will be available for multiple purchasers to collect at lower prices, while some of the most exclusive and sought-after are sure to go quickly.

◉ For those who may not have a date, a bachelor's auction will be hosted later in the evening. Sponsored by one of New Amsterdam's newest craft breweries, the New Amsterdam Bachelor(ette) Auction offers a chance for those who may not have the funds to donate to offer up something else for charity. For those ready to bid, winning a date with one of these potential bachelors (or bachelorettes!) up for auction will grant access to a unique date experience, each tailored to the man or woman on offer's skills and interests. Dancing lessons, self-defense classes, art history lessons — there's a wide variety of options on the table! The Displaced are highly encouraged to sign up as potential bachelor(ette)s, or to bid on each other.

◉ In addition to the various auction opportunities, the evening offers a variety of opportunities for charitable giving! Attendees can visit the multiple full bars staffed by local culinary school students, purchase some of the winning food items from New Amsterdam Restaurant Week participants at reasonable prices, and pick up last minute gift ideas from pop-up shops — with all proceeds donated to the Foundation! Banners and signage all thank attendees for giving, and every so often, video messages from Joseph Lynch on VR screens profess his deep gratitude for the city's endless generosity, with a reminder that 'together, anything is possible.'

> OOC NOTES

Welcome to the party! Just a few reminders:

▸ Players are welcome to have their characters sign up for any kind of short-term job opportunity. No special arrangements are required! If your character decides midway through the night to abandon their duties and try to mingle... well, they'll just have to hope their boss doesn't spot them first!

▸ There will be opportunities for NPC interactions during the silent auction, hosted by the mod team. Keep an eye out!

▸ Feel free to go wild with couples' package options. While most of the companies participating would be from within New Amsterdam, who knows what kind of global opportunities lay out there. If you want to utilize this offer to make connections with a new destination, check in with Plot Engagement!

▸ For Displaced opting to sign up as a Bachelor or Bachelorette, please remember that no intimacy is required. Characters can, of course, voluntarily provide things like massages or dancing lessons, but no characters should feel obligated to be anything more than professionally friendly with their bidder.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

While your characters are at the gala on either day, you have the opportunity to schmooze with the rich and philanthropically-focused folks of New Amsterdam—as well as anyone else who might catch someone's eye. We've pointed a few people in this direction, so come here and discuss anything you might have in mind.

As a note, replies may be delayed while the mods continue to be gone for the weekend!

[ When it comes to arriving at the first half of the event, Ball—or Matek Kattan, as he's known to the world—is dressed sharp, but elusive. He doesn't take a table, and seems to largely keep to himself off at the edges of the room. He's dressed sharp—but also a bit bombastically. His tux for the first evening is an indigo shade with a lavender tie, as well as flower of life cuff links. What's the point of being subtle? Being elusive is half the fun.

For the first night, Ball is keen to offer a sly smile and welcome anyone who comes close. Any of the Displaced will be beckoned closer knowingly, even if they have no reason for knowing Ball already.

For the second night, Ball will be dressed in a forest green suit, along with a white tie. He might throw in a few bids on the Displaced packages—though he won't be looking to win. If anyone wants Ball to win them, feel free to go for it. ]

[ooc: We will be in and out until Tuesday. If you have any questions related to Ball, ask us under the Questions thread.]

( The first night, Klaus arrives with Tim Gutterson in tow. Dragging a friend along and sprucing up his wardrobe is fun enough, but ensuring he'll be accompanied by someone he won't tire of, that's something to celebrate.

He is certainly not in the same tax bracket as anyone here, but the withered old journal he found down in the caves won him access - maybe even a heap of credits by the end of the night.

He decided to channel a simpler time, moving in both a steampunk and traditional direction - something a different Klaus might wear in a different time.

When not handling his moderate amount of alcohol, (seriously, it will only be three glasses of champagne tonight), Klaus browses the different auction items, eats off of a passing tray or generally makes polite conversation all while keeping one eye on his ~~date~~ friend from across the room if need be.

The second night Klaus is dressed in more metallics, taking the more muted approach. Tonight, Klaus Mikaelson will be up for auction. The date he offers comes with the collective offer of a top shelf whiskey tasting and a behind the scenes look at the New Amsterdam Art Museum thanks to a connection through his philandering boss. His boss may be a terrible human being, but he is charitable. And the proceeds are going to what he believes to be a good cause.

He's back, this time with nobody on his arm.

Still, he is friendly, and nurses the same glass of champagne that passes by on a tray when he arrives. He may even ask someone lovely to dance if he's feeling it (and he knows them.) He will be partaking in culinary confections, and eating entirely too much at each of the posted bars. You may catch him bidding on a couples' option. He is here to impress, to schmooze, and to do his charitable duty. )

[ if you have a specific scenario in mind or would like to win klaus, please hit me up at

manipulative or send me a PM. I'm good to go with the flow, too, if you feel like a wildcard option or want your own scenario. ]

Edited 2020-03-01 20:59 (UTC)

[ Tim is steadfastly avoiding champagne. He's only had it once, at Mark's attempt at a "fancy" party after their first tour, and he got so irredeemably drunk in the worst possible way that he's sworn off the stuff for life. The requisite flute of orange juice, instead, is making him feel like a wet blanket, but needs must.

Thinking about champagne obviously makes him think about Mark, and he doesn't want to be thinking about Mark, because then he really will become a wet blanket. He'd floated away from Klaus to chase up a tray of canapés that had caught his eye a few minutes ago, except now he's really lost, and he didn't even get a canapé in the end since the tray had been emptied by the time he got to it. Irritated, he stands on his toes for a minute to look over the heads of the sea of people to try and pick out Klaus among them.

Is that—? Nope.
Maybe that's him over there by the...? Definitely not.
Did he leave? He wouldn't.
...Or maybe he would?

Tim sighs, landing back on his feet again, and has a morose sip of his drink. And then, as if he'd been broadcasting himself as 'available' or something, he's suddenly waylaid by a woman, definitely not Displaced, who's trying very earnestly to flirt with him. This kind of thing happens rarely enough that he doesn't really know what to do with it, just kind of nods and smiles at her in what he hopes is a polite sort of way. She's quite talkative, telling him all about how she saw him from across the room anyway because he really stands out in all-white like that, it looks great with his eyes, and she's here with her boss and totally doesn't get this vibe in here anyway, it's full of so many crazy rich people, and really she's supposed to be working tonight anyway, it isn't even about a party, and ugh this must be so boring to listen to, she's so sorry, she should be asking him questions too, right, she just has to listen to her boss talk, like, all night so it's like, blurting out of her now, she doesn't even have control over it...

Tim's heart leaps as he finally spots Klaus in the crowd. He can't exactly wave him over, but a second after making eye contact he bugs his eyes out wide in the universal symbol for panic, and then jerks his head very lightly in the woman's direction, and then, for emphasis, lifts his eyebrows. ]

( He wouldn't, for the record, leave without giving word. But, as this isn't New Orleans it doesn't seem there's a threat on the horizon, at least not tonight. Not something that will simply take him away. On the contrary, he is planning on enjoying himself. As stated before, not too much, but just enough. His wariness about his shift in power has evened out. He's better equipped and acquainted with his unearned modifications. What he can check off the list: he no longer needs an invitation, which must have been stripped when the magic keeping his vitality and energy up was also stripped from him. It seems there is something out in some universe that can disrupt Esther's thousand year old magic. He is not infallible anymore, nor invulnerable. And a paper cut he received took a day to heal, not seconds. It is not the ideal situation he's been put into, but it's nights like these that remind him to keep his head up.

And to earn money, work a crowd and impress a friend.

Said friend is ... where did he get to?

He spots Tim before Tim sees him, embroiled in what looks to be an animated conversation with a lady he has yet to meet. Surely not one of them, it doesn't seem as the dress she wears doesn't reveal anything chest-plated. Tim has the, he'd rather be anywhere but right there, look, and Klaus takes a sip from his champagne. Amused. He doesn't approach just yet, because my she can go on, can't she?

And then Tim finds his eyes, Tim's own eyes widening in the universal sign of 'Help. god damn it' or 'Dag nammit', or something equally Southern. His eye contact is followed by an eyebrow raising and yes, Klaus should then save him, yes? From a fate worse than -- being stuck in an ongoing conversation that looks like it just won't end. He smirks to himself, ignores the glint in Tim's eye or the feeling he feels as he approaches. )

Timothy, where did you get off to?

( He smiles in the direction of the chatterbox. He switches his glass of champagne to his left hand so he can hold out his right. )

I don't believe we met. Klaus. I have something up for auction, a rather old manuscript. Am I interrupting?

i. night one; working the gala

[ Somehow, despite signing up for security or coat check or something that didn't require him to mingle, Wash has been designated a server tonight. He's well out of his comfort zone both in the tux and role, having to judge when people might want a snack or drink and approach them accordingly. How's he supposed to read total strangers and tell if they're hungry, really? So he winds up just walking in slow circles around the venue with his little tray, and anyone who looks at him will have it offered to them politely.

At least his excellent memory means he remembers exactly what everything is, which is usually where a new server will struggle. He's also sampled a few and the food is good, at least in his opinion.

Should you give him even a passing glance you'll find said tray held out to you, and Wash awkwardly asking: ]

Um. Hors d'oeuvre?

ii. night two; up for auction

[ God, how did Carolina manage to goad him into this... no, he knows. By implying he couldn't do it, sarcastically saying he'd be an amazing date, of course he should sign up, and his pride had wanted to prove her wrong. Right? Of course things had become far more complicated only two days later, but she wasn't letting him off the hook. When he awkwardly suggested pulling out of the auction she'd doubled down -- it's for charity! You're not worried, are you?

So here he is. A bachelor in the auction and looking very uncomfortable about it, a constant light flush beneath his freckles. What the hell was he even thinking? His pride got the better of him, that's all.

His "special date experience" is a personal training session of the winner's choosing, the list being anything he feels he's good at that doesn't require weaponry: running, weight lifting, hand to hand combat training, a custom obstacle course, hoverboarding, yoga... physical things, followed by a meal together because he figures that's part of most dates, right? It's always "dinner and x/x and dinner" so as long as he's not expected to cook for someone, he tossed that in.

No, he's never actually been on a date before. But Carolina helped with his hair and he looks pretty cute in the suit they've stuck him in, which he keeps tugging at the tie of. ]

i. night one; working the gala

[ As far as bussing duties go, this event is a pretty sweet gig. Drake's more used to helping out at the bar he bounced at back home, which can be kind of gross... drunk people leaving messes left and right. This is mostly abandoned plates and glasses, sometimes offering to take the latter off someone's hands and send a waiter their way if it's empty. He seems happy to be here and is friendly and cordial to all the attendees, more or less the perfect employee. Long practice at slotting himself into whatever role was necessary means he blends right in.

He's so new he doesn't recognize all of the Displaced among the crowd, though, so although he's being cautious there's a chance he might accidentally brush someone's hand while taking their glass or plate. Anyone who this happens to will feel that he's not quite as happy and at ease as he appears, it's just an excellent act. He's calm, sure, but also keeping an ear out for any interesting conversation that might be happening. There's still so much he has to learn about what's going on behind the scenes in New Amsterdam, and catching discussion of the relics and who's interested in what might give him a clue.

If you're not up for an accidental brush, small talk isn't out of the question. Especially if you're also working the event and catch him returning a bus tray or taking a quick break. ]

ii. night two; up for auction

[ Signing up as a bachelor was a choice that actually gave Drake some small pause, as technically he's not, but. It's for fun and charity, right? And probably a good diversion from the shit going on in his life already so once he decided to do it he went all in. And what he's best at is helping people relax -- he noticed there were a lot of options like massages and spa days for couples being auctioned off, but not for solo bidders so that was an easy choice to make. He's got some actual practice in it, even.

Anyone who bids on him will be winning a home cooked meal and up to an hour's therapeutic massage, and it's noted the latter is especially good for athletes and fighters. Just a chill night, no strings or stress.

He's backstage before going up for auction just leaning against the wall peeking out at what's going on onstage, for what and how the other auctionees are doing. The funny thing is his precinct holds a similar auction at the Officer's Ball every year, but he's never actually been. Mostly due to working undercover.

If another bachelor/ette approaches him he'll give a friendly smile and ask curiously: ]

You ever done this kind of thing before?

up for auction

[ It's the charity aspect of this that caught Trevor's attention -- he doesn't have much money or interest towards bidding on either things or people, but once told he could auction himself to help out. Well. That can't be so bad, can it? And he's come up with what he thinks is a fun special experience for whoever bids on him: a night out of town rather than on it, with a campfire and rustic snacks, horror stories of monster hunting and some stargazing away from the city lights.

He's agreed to wear a suit for the auction but wasn't willing to leave the Morning Star at the Safehouse without him, so it's coiled at his hip and hidden underneath his coat, the tip in his pocket. Should he have to take his coat off to go onstage, he'll just claim it's a fashion choice to wear a chain.

Currently, though, he's struggling to tie the tie that came with his outfit, having never worn one before. Everything else was self explanatory but this strip of fabric is bewildering him. He grumbles in the mirror backstage, getting it all twisted and wrinkled in the process of trying to tie the kind of knot it demands. It shouldn't be that difficult! He's a skilled warrior being defeated by a tie.

And no, he's not asking for help! ]

[Events like this land directly in Diana's wheelhouse. Ever since she'd decided to begin working in museums and art galleries in her own world, she'd had to learn how to navigate the societal standards of the upper class. It had taken a while, but nowadays she can schmooze with the best of them and pretend it isn't her preference to be home wrapped up in a blanket with a cup of tea.

However, with so much work to do, there isn't an overabundance of time for casual conversation. She's here not only to represent the Lilly&Moki gallery, but also to monitor the sale of the artifacts most of the displaced had brought back from their excursion to the gates. Honestly, this auction couldn't have come at a better time; she's practically been pulling her hair out trying to figure out what to do with these items, and this event had turned out to be a miraculously good choice. And now that everything is arranged and the relics will likely move to the homes of private collectors, she's given herself leave to let her hair down, as the saying goes, and try to enjoy herself at least a little.

Not everyone, she knows, is here to sell their relics, though. She's seen more than one familiar face toting around trays and monitoring doorways. When she sees Wash, she offers a warm smile, meeting him halfway as he moves towards her.]

They went all out for this, didn't they?

[For probably the hundredth time, Diana wonders why she'd put herself on the list of bachelorettes up for auction. It had been a spur-of-the-moment decision, fueled by her desire to help out the charity because she doesn't have much disposable income to donate. The owners of the gallery had encouraged her, seeing it as a great way to gain publicity. So here she is backstage, fifteen or so minutes before she's slotted to be auctioned, not exactly fretting with her dress, but also not looking as enthused as she did at the previous night's event.

She runs her hand through her hair just before his question registers, and she offers a small smile, shrugging.]

No, never. But the things we do for charity, right?

night one

[ as the face of new amsterdam's event committee and the primary party planner for tonight's big to-do, caroline is everywhere, her red dress easy to spot at a distance. she may not have vampiric superspeed at her disposal any longer, but she barely needs it to manage the effortless multi-tasking that seems to come part-and-parcel with an event of this magnitude. there are vips around every corner, expectant and demanding in equal measure, and the pending favor of both her day-job boss and a night-gig woman in the wings means she needs to be on her toes.

find her checking invitations, welcoming guests, chit-chatting with donors or familiar-faced displaced, or simply encouraging the hired help to do more around every turn. it's a party, after all, not a funeral — there's no excuse for empty trays where there should be champagne, or dirty glasses when there are bussers around to pick them up. that said, despite her busy bee movements and general high-strung appearance, she doesn't seem stressed. if anything, caroline looks more at home here than she has anywhere else in new amsterdam. this is, after all, what she knows how to do best.

but even still... when the night winds to a close and the event is behind her, she is all too glad to slip out onto a quiet balcony, a well-earned glass of champagne between her fingers as she watches the last guests make their way out to the street where a fleet of taxis and black cabs await them. it's here where some of the polish rubs off, and caroline's youth is on full display; seemingly alone, she's content to sip at her drink and breathe, and to slip out of her heels if only for a moment to rest her feet on the cool stone ground. ]

night two

[ the white day auction requires far less hands-on attention than its predecessor, and so while caroline spends a few hours in the early morning hours getting things set up, she is free to attend as a guest with her friends. even still, she abides the theme, all too happy to have an excuse to wear a color that shows off her recent egyptian-influenced tan. besides, the shirt is just cute. she'll take any opportunity to wear it.

with funds from the previous night's auction sales of a few bangles burning a hole in her pocket, caroline spends a good amount of time perusing the items on offer in the sanbai selections. she's got a special someone she wants to splurge on, of course, but she's not limited to romantic date offerings today! no, there's friend dates in the making for a good number of items in her sights — whether it's a cooking class to share with silena or a personal photography session for two with lottie, caroline's feeling particularly generous. should anyone she knows catch her eye while she's perusing, she might even stop them with an airdropped pamphlet, head tilting a bit as she inquires: ] Does that sound like fun?

[ later, once caroline's managed to soothe herself with a little retail therapy, she'll stick around to help out with the charity auction. she's not planning to put herself up for bidding unless there's a real need to pad out the numbers, but she's happy to help fuss up anyone's attire or give them a few quick words for a pep talk before they take the stage. after all, the displaced do have a strange tendency to be attractive in one way, shape, or form. lucky for her, many of them are willing to be paraded about a bit for a good cause. ]

wildcard

[ whatever, y'all. i'll be slow this month as i'm on hiatus and traveling, but i'm game to do whatever might come up. you know where to reach me! ♥ ]

Kal would be interested in meeting and trying his not so impressive best to talk to and charm the philanthropists available to find out what they know about how things are, and if they are willing to help the more downtrodden in society who are still finding their own way.

[ Kal is bartending the first night, but this man definitely catches his eye, so on a break, he makes sure to wander close and speak with the man. ]

You seem in good spirits, sir.

[ Kal's smile is warm and friendly, and curious. ]

[ caroline had given silena the opportunity to attend the party as a guest, but silena wanted (more) money and she wanted to give something back to caroline -- in the way of flawlessly flavored canapés and chou à la crème.

(side note: silena wants to be a profiterole) ]

That dress is so pretty, [ silena says as she sidles up with a tray of very adorable mini tofu shepherd's pie that tastes, not unsurprisingly, exactly like shepherd's pie. silena has complimented caroline already tonight, but it's worth noting again. ]

I think the bracelets are doing good? I keep seeing people linger by them.

( marcos had missed the first night of the auction because he's been busy with some things in the city. he'd hoped it wouldn't run long but it had and he'd promised to come to the next night.

and thus, he was here, dressed in a white button up shirt after having thankfully gotten some sleep. the insomnia isn't as bad as it has been which he's taking as a good sign. he spends some time just wandering around, checking out the various people that are auctioning themselves off to the highest bidder.

when he finally spots caroline through the crowd, he moves closer and slips his hand into hers and asks: ) How much would you bid on me if I was up there?

[ It's a good thing that Wash is a gentleman, because that's one hell of a dress. As it is he can't help his eyes flicking over her form as she approaches him, mesmerized by the way her skirts flow and the crossing straps of the bodice, but then his gaze is firmly affixed to her face. Come on, Wash, it's like you've never seen a woman in formalwear before. (Actually, he hasn't, not in person.)

He recognizes Diana, though, and offers her a tiny smile of greeting, knowing he doesn't have to be as formal around her but maintaining a straight pose in case the supervisors are watching him. ]

Hey -- they sure did. This is the fanciest thing I've ever been to, actually.

[ Second would be the masquerade his group arrived to, which... says a lot about his life, actually. He extends the tray he's holding in her direction so she can help herself to a snack. ]

You seem right at home.

[ He could have guessed. The woman seems... not quite nervous, Drake thinks, but not entirely comfortable, either. She's incredibly beautiful, though, and he's pretty sure she's going to rack up the bids the second she steps onstage. Maybe that in and of itself is cause for a little discomfort? ]

The things we do for charity, [ he echoes her sentiment with an understanding nod. ] It might be fun, too, though -- what are you offering as a date?

[ He's thinking a little chat might set her at ease as they wait to be auctioned. ]

[ silena would make an excellent profiterole, if this were the kind of fantasy movie in which people were transformed into food items. she is sweet enough, and dainty enough, and certainly pretty enough even in her working wear to pull off a french dessert that was far too fussy for caroline to ever attempt to make. ]

You think so? [ silena has already told her yes, but she is not above fishing for reassurance. ] I was worried it'd be too... you know. Red.

[ maybe she's just paranoid. ]

I hope we can sell them all. My boss seems really focused on it.

[ in all honesty, caroline had been too busy to do much more than stop for a snack or two. she would have been a poor date the night prior, and while she would have been happy to see marcos enjoying himself, she knows this is a much better chance for them to spend some time together.

there's no more than a second that passes before her hand squeezes his in return, an effortless smile brightening her features as she turns towards him. ]

Oh, tons, definitely. I wouldn't let anybody else get to go on a Marcos Diaz date special.

Marcos Diaz date special, huh?

( it makes him laugh, that he might have some kind of date special. he wonders just what kind of date he'd actually take someone on if circumstances were different. he's never really been great at taking someone out.

people got kidnapped too often. )

What kind of date do you think I'd plan for us if you bid on me?

[ honestly, he doesn't need to be there. it's more curiosity than anything-- the kind of thing he'd do back in Gotham a few years ago. look for where all the rich people were, pick a pocket here and there, and scram before the cops could get called, and otherwise make himself scarce.

so, even if pickpocketing is functionally useless in new amsterdam, it's a hard habit to break.

he takes one glance up at the decorated venue, and then tosses an empty soda can close to but not quite into the garbage. as he considers what would be the best vantage point if he thought it was worth sticking around.

his hood is pulled up over his head, if only to prevent immediate recognition. ]

[ although she's pretty proud of how she managed to manipulate wash into signing himself up for this, carolina's original interest in the charity weekend was more curiosity than anything else. not quite enough to warrant putting in the effort towards working at the gala (and it turns out she was emotionally exhausted and would have hated anything to do with people, so that was probably a good call) but the white day event is accessible enough.

a frustrated hour of shopping after work had updated her wardrobe the bare minimum required and she's wearing the fruits of her efforts now: a high-necked, long sleeved white blouse and flowing navy pants, a cute bow at the waist. both reusable, versatile pieces she'd found on sale. as a bonus, the pants have pockets, mostly for keeping carolina's still noticeably banged up hands out of sight. they're healing but she has no desire to use this world's technology to speed it up, even if icing them had helped.

as soon as wash goes to check in as a bachelor, carolina disappears, giving herself some time for recon around the venue before eventually showing back up again. she's not going to leave him alone all evening long. ]

Still blushing, huh?

[ he may very well have a new reason for it, but he was flushed when she left him and it's an easy target for her teasing. ]

I hope it would be romantic.

[ but a charity bachelor auction date usually wasn't, so she might have to rethink this. her free hand taps at her chin for a moment. ]

Well, if it was for me, I'd hope it was romantic. But if you were planning a date for charity... maybe not. Maybe a trip to a carnival? You never did win me any teddy bears at the last one.

[ carnivals could go either way. you could have fun with friends or you could have fun with someone who would wind up being far more than a friend. though, if she's honest, caroline would have a hard time tamping down her jealousy if marcos decided to get in a ferris wheel with someone else at this point, platonic or not. ]

[ caroline has spent the better part of several days in and out of this venue, making sure each aspect of it meets her exacting standards. the streamers have been hung just so, the table linens ironed and steamed to avoid wrinkling, the music selection carefully tuned to avoid jarring genre clashing or volume jumps — and now, last on her list for tonight, she'll make sure the sidewalks have been swept prior to tomorrow's big event.

of course, that would be when she'd encounter some hooded stranger throwing trash in the direction of the can. it isn't a big deal, but it's late, and she's tired, and her patience is running extremely thin. ]

Seriously?! [ she makes no pretense about huffing with displeasure as she stomps over, picking up the trash and shoving it into the garbage can. ] What are you, too lazy to walk the five feet?

We got a little distracted the last time we were at a carnival. ( there'd been the ferris wheel and then stepping out to leave early for other reasons. so no, he hadn't won her a teddy bear but he thinks they'd still had fun. )

I think I'd keep it basic if I was taking someone out for charity. A quick meal and then maybe a movie or something. Something easy and light without a lot of expectations since I'm really not in the market for more than a friend these days.

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EVENT | the outer worlds foundation charity weekend

QUESTIONS

insomniac ball (matek kattan) ▴ npc ▴ ota

klaus mikaelson — open

first night (obviously), SAVE HIM KLAUS

TO THE RESCUE

Washington; both nights, OTA

Drake Holloway; both nights, OTA

Trevor Belmont | night two; OTA

night one

night two

caroline forbes — both nights, fully open

Re: QUESTIONS

First night

night one —

night two

no subject

Re: night two

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no subject

wildcard

ii.

no subject

no subject

no subject