jalan: (#10905494)
sᴛᴏʀᴍʙᴏʀɴ. ([personal profile] jalan) wrote in [community profile] maskormenacelogs2017-04-16 01:20 pm

open.

WHO: Daenerys Targaryen and anyone who enjoys looking pretty and open bars.
WHERE: Venice Theater House, Heropa.
WHEN: April 14.
WHAT: The fashion label launch of STORMBORN X MARQ: a show, a drink, and some dancing. While some invites were dispersed amongst acquaintances to ensure imPort presence (and, frankly, moral support), the doors are open free of charge to any imPort dressed to impress, and word is quick to travel. You are most invited to make an appearance!
WARNINGS: n/a

It's here, the fashion event of the season! Local Floridian designer who exclusively goes by De Marq has teamed up with imPort Daenerys Targaryen to bring you the most exciting luxury transdimensional fashion label that America has yet seen! Or so the promotional material may tell you. Hosted at the Venice Theater House, the venue is glitzy, buzzy with excitement, and plagued with natives who are probably only somewhat understanding of the fact a lot of you are probably recovering from or are still in the middle of a dream sickness!

Whoops. But the show must go on.
THE SHOW;
After a little preliminary mingling, guests are invited into the showroom and seated onto elevated rows where you may find yourself in conversation with aloof designers, prying journalists, and fellow imPorts alike. The stage is glossy white and silver, and becomes the single lightsource (save for the glittery pop of cameras). Most of the women who walk are models, professional and sleek and six foot tall. Among them, however, are also imPorts -- any imPort lady who wished to volunteer her time and grace ahead of time will find herself squeezed into the most likely dress and directed down the catwalk. The cameras tend to frenzy whenever a more familiar face marches down the stage, and Daenerys among them to finish the show, her stride practiced and her smile only a little ironic. The clothing is sleek, in colours of black, white, and metallics, and sheer illusions and patterns. It ranges from evening gown to business attire (allegedly), and the heels tend towards tall.

And if you need an excuse to participate, the luxury tokens and vouchers gifted each model might win you over. It is, after all, for a good cause! The good cause being Through The Glass, which Daenerys explains in a brief speech in the show's conclusion, before passing the mic to a spokesperson.

But never mind all that. The free champagne is just outside.
THE AFTERPARTY;
A wide open space hosts the muddle of media and party goers, although much of the press is ushered out after the first half an hour so that networking opportunity can transform into celebration. The champagne, as mentioned, is free, offered in tall glasses on serving platters, but a bar for anything more particular is set up towards the back of the room. Food is bite-sized and adventurous, mostly vegetarian, seafood, or dessert. A live DJ ensures that all awkward pauses are underscored by pulsing music. You still know where you are, though, with curtain banners erected displaying the relevant brand of STORMBORN X MARQ, some with Daenerys herself photographed, others with ambient art backdrops of storms and lightning and other expected aesthetics. Models mingle, wearing cocktail dresses from the collection.

Dancing is permissable but most people seem more inclined to chatter, despite Dany's hopes and dreams. There is a lot of group selfie-taking, giving the impression that this is a specifically influential social media event, and a lot of conversation revolves around what everyone is wearing, the fashion staples of other worlds, and critique and commentary on the event itself.

The afterparty is also a silent auction, set up on tables out of the way, security guards presiding over the items on display, from necklaces to perfumes, from fashion show tickets to expensive dinners in New York City, or an exclusive fitting with De Marq himself, and of course, some items from the collection. All proceeds go to Through The Glass. Every now and then, someone raises a glass to an especially generous donation, and polite applause breaks up the conversations.
AND BEYOND;
And if you need an escape for all this glamour, empty balconies, a courtyard, and the side alley where smokers huddle might be your speed. All of the signage inside, too, make for quick little escapes if you need to step aside, make a call, or duck out of the way of a particularly determined gossip columnist.
flowerette: ([ 206 ])

Raina | OTA

[personal profile] flowerette 2017-04-17 02:03 am (UTC)(link)
A; Before & During The Show

With filming underway for That's So Raina, a reality TV show all about modeling -- it was no surprise that she had managed to wedge her way into this fashion show. Her film crew was there as well, hovering around her backstage to catch all of the bluster and drama of catty models as they got ready. The attire was not so much to Raina's liking. But they did manage to find something floral for her to wear that fit both the theme of the line and her own personal theme. Although, one rather Amazonian-sized goddess pitched a fit because she had much better legs than Raina and should have been the one to wear it, even going as far as to criticize her for being too short to be a real model. And those cameras kept on rolling because this was the sort of drama those fans were going to eat right up.

Of course, anyone who decided to intervene in this fight will find themselves filmed, too. Because what's better than a catfight? An even larger catfight! And that one model wasn't holding her disdain for imPorts back at all, more than ready to let the insults fly.

But regardless of the drama backstage, none of that translated on stage by the time the show rolled around. And although Raina fit more in line with the shorter models, she proved that her legs did look damn good in that dress.


B; Afterparty

Raina had shed her catwalk attire for a beautiful dress in burgundy. The film crew had stayed on with her for an hour or two while she mingled, but ultimately packed it in because they had only been allotted a certain time to film. Enough to advertise the brand and catch something interesting backstage, but not long enough to capture anything truly incriminating that might happen after the fine guests drink a bit too much alcohol.

Either way, Raina breathes a sigh of relief when they're gone, heading over to get a refill of her drink and mumbling to whoever happened to be nearby. "Now the party can truly begin."
Edited 2017-04-17 02:04 (UTC)
slightlyoffchilt: (Outré.)

B

[personal profile] slightlyoffchilt 2017-04-17 02:29 am (UTC)(link)
"Can it?"

Unusually skeptical and sporting a whiskey neat, Chilton wore a suit to echo Raina's own brassy tones. He had been sidelined during her shining moments amidst the celestial hubbub, making his own Milky Way to and from the bartender. But now they had a moment together, now they could talk.

Chilton had been tense ever since his return from that damned dreamscape.
Edited 2017-04-17 02:29 (UTC)
flowerette: ([ 82 ])

[personal profile] flowerette 2017-04-17 03:06 am (UTC)(link)
"Well, perhaps not for you. Not during the event, at least." She nudged him lightly with her shoulder, quite pleased by his style. And he had even dressed himself to match her. Chilton had come quite far in the fashion world. Now if only he would incorporate fresh flowers pinned to his suit jacket. "This whole thing is probably a bit banal for you. But after the rest you already had, it's unlikely to put you to sleep at the least."

Raina flashed a cheeky grin and then reached into her handbag to withdraw her compact, flipping it open to give herself a quick check. "Your captors let you go cleanly? You didn't have to fight your way free?"
slightlyoffchilt: (Inchoate.)

[personal profile] slightlyoffchilt 2017-04-17 04:08 am (UTC)(link)
"Are you speaking of this world, or the other one?" He couldn't help the sour hint in his mouth; it hadn't been a pleasant experience. And while Chilton would not abscond from a Targaryen exhibition, as he had already given his word, he nevertheless felt some anxiety over meeting with Daenerys once more. He wasn't sure how much she would remember, and if he would have any explaining to do regarding his own consciousness.

Drink to his lips, he scanned the room.

"I don't mind." He meant in reference to the banality. "This is glamorous, the sort of scene I've always wanted, and you have a stake in the matter."
flowerette: ([ 131 ])

[personal profile] flowerette 2017-04-18 03:45 am (UTC)(link)
"This world. I mean, I didn't have to come in and murder anyone. That's good." Raina finished off her appearance check with a little retouch of lip gloss before packing everything away. "For once, though. Just for once, I would like for us to not be split up during a crisis. I mean, is that too much to ask? Seems like it is."

Raina gave him a look. "Except that one time I found you and you called me insane for trying to rescue you." Who held onto things forever and never let go? This woman.
slightlyoffchilt: (Receptary.)

[personal profile] slightlyoffchilt 2017-04-21 07:05 am (UTC)(link)
"I did not call you insane for recusing me. And who brought those men to my hideaway, anyway?"

A pointed look at Raina.

"You were very easy with that gun, Raina. Killing those men like it was nothing."

And maybe it was nothing, ultimately -- they were figments of a shared, collective imagination. They hadn't been living, breathing men with families, and the blood that stained Chilton's face had been simply fictional. Perhaps it wasn't unnerving whatsoever, and Raina's hand not lethal in the way Chilton had dreamed.

Perhaps.

"Shouldn't you be enjoying the evening, anyway?"
flowerette: ([ 02 ])

[personal profile] flowerette 2017-04-22 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
"I don't mean this time. That time with the altered memories. Where you forgot you were in a relationship with me and Sam had you tied up with a belt while he was naked. Enacting a fantasy of his, no doubt." Raina was catty about it, but not angry. She was in fairly good spirits here, so it would take a lot more than past indiscretions to sour her mood.

She took a sip of her drink and looked at him, mildly bewildered by his statement. It surprised her. Had he blinded himself so much to her truer nature? Had he forgotten so easily how she had tortured him just because he hurt her emotionally? And if she would do that to someone she loved, then what would she do to someone she had no feelings for? She had told him from the beginning, she was a monster. And she didn't just mean her other form.

"It was nothing. I would kill the entire world without hesitation if it threatened you and I being together." Raina leaned up against him, absorbing the warmth of his body, affectionately nuzzling into the crook of his neck as she murmured. "Simply because I have empathy for you, darling, does not mean I have much of it for others. I hope you don't think of me as being better than I am. I hope that you love me for who I am, and not the image I present the public." It would be a little disheartening for her to realize Chilton loved the lie and not her truer self.
slightlyoffchilt: (Anomalistic.)

[personal profile] slightlyoffchilt 2017-04-22 07:59 pm (UTC)(link)
"Must you bring that up now?" While Raina had distanced herself from her anger, allowing the coals of that incident to cool, Chilton still had his own indignity to consider. He had hoped she would lay rest the saga of Sam Mickens, but Raina maintained a long and fruitful memory.

Chilton turned his chin towards his chest as she leaned in and against his body. It wasn't so much the fabrication that blinded him as much as his own cognitive dissonance; it was the same mental collar he had willingly slipped on that would ultimately justify her continual torment of him, both physical and sexual. He thought it was love, he thought she had her reasons.

So when something jarred that dissonance, Chilton needed to recalibrate.

"You are so poetic in your romantic gestures, Raina."

Almost a tease, almost a paternal chastising. But undeniably a tone cautious of the boundaries, submissive to her torrential whims.
flowerette: ([ 51 ])

[personal profile] flowerette 2017-04-23 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
"You're the only thing that matters to me." Raina stole a peek up at him from her nestled position -- eyes wide and full of emotional depth. "Which says a lot because for the longest time, I was the only thing that mattered to me. But we're kind of one now, aren't we?"

Nibbling on her lower lip, she took his hand within her own, bringing his thumb across the engagement ring. Not even a speck of blood to be seen on any of those diamonds. Raina had cleaned it off immaculately!

"Sometimes I think about what a perfect offspring we could create." Offspring. Yeah. Raina was definitely mother material. "But that would still require having a child, which I don't want to do. Even if I could. Even so -- how perfect we are, you and I. Mingle our DNA and imagine what a thing of envy it would be."
slightlyoffchilt: (Pacable.)

[personal profile] slightlyoffchilt 2017-04-24 08:10 pm (UTC)(link)
"I -- quite honestly, I am not sure if imPorts can. I've never seen a couple reproduce, and you know how long I've been abroad."

Abroad. A casually expensive way to define multiversal travel. Chilton smiled at her, lightly using his manicured fingertips to stroke back some of the hair framing her face. If he was concerned over this potentially childless state, he exhibited no indication of it.

"But I would prefer my company spent with you, and you alone."

No time for sharing her attention with a child.

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trouvaille: (265)

a.

[personal profile] trouvaille 2017-04-17 03:02 am (UTC)(link)
"Do you fucking mind?"

--speaking of deciding to intervene, Gwen - wrapped in a robe over her knickers, ready to be laced into the equally affronting little dress and coat that make up her own runway look when time gets tighter - is right there with her sharp elbows and a finger jutting directly under the taller woman's chin.

"I don't know if you've been paying attention," in highest form, dripping elegant condescension, "but we're all doing this for charity. Wonderful people, TTLG, supporting women to get work? Why don't you fuck off over there and think about whether or not you want your picture taken supporting their work or needing their help?"

Or, in layman's terms: bitch I will have your arse fired so hard and so fast your extensions will still be here when the rest of you leaves.
flowerette: ([ 13 ])

[personal profile] flowerette 2017-04-17 03:53 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, Gwen is absolutely Raina's hero. Raina couldn't hide the expression of delight as she watched the exchange between them. And that camera zoomed right in on Gwen, who managed to look as amazing on film as she did in person by some miracle. The model in question scoffed, however. "And who the fuck are you, huh? You think because you're some imPort you're all big and hot? Let me tell you, that's about the only reason either of you are in the show. Because otherwise, you'd sure as shit never make it as a model."

Raina gave Gwen a look at the stupidity of this girl's claims. "Seems to me like she's choosing the second option you gave her." Turning back toward the mirror, Raina begins to line her lips. "It's going to be a real pity for her when she outgrows her looks."
trouvaille: (093)

[personal profile] trouvaille 2017-04-17 04:02 am (UTC)(link)
Once Gwen is safely the subject of ire, and not Raina - her head tilts and, probably somewhat infuriatingly, much of her irritation melts into the sort of cruel amusement that makes it so easy to dismiss the other woman as beneath responding directly to with less than a look. She leans against Raina's vanity, tilting backwards slightly into her eyeline, and pulls a most melodramatic face--

"And here I will never make it as a mouthy coathanger. Whatever shall I do." Her fingers catch on the sleeve of a passing dresser-- "Would you be an absolute darling and write down that girl's name for me? I just think Daenerys might not want to use her again."

The motto of posh girls the world over: if at first you don't succeed, pull rank.
flowerette: ([ 103 ])

[personal profile] flowerette 2017-04-18 03:54 am (UTC)(link)
"Some very lucrative and successful career, probably." Raina retorts in response to Gwen's comment, lips pursing in amusement. It's hard to walk the fine line between making good TV, telling someone off and still coming across as lovable for it. Raina has to keep some of her more catty comments to herself. But she's sure Gwen knows what she's thinking. And that's this girl is going to pay. And probably in more ways than just being removed from Dany's future modeling list.

But upon being asked to write down the name, Raina answers. "With pleasure." Grabbing a tissue and some eyeliner, she makes do with what she has and jots down the name. "You know, for someone who despises imPorts, she certainly had no qualms about signing up to do the show. It must be that she despises imPorts only when it's convenient."

The girl, throwing a temper tantrum now, gets up to her feet and throws some of the provided makeup on the floor. "No! It's just you two bitches that I can't stand!"
trouvaille: (206)

[personal profile] trouvaille 2017-04-18 05:42 am (UTC)(link)
Not prepared to fuck up either of their makeup for anything less than an actual crisis, Gwen kisses the air near Raina's cheek as she takes the tissue and tucks it carefully between her smartphone and its case for safekeeping. Walking that line is a fucking tight-rope act, and she's - well, she doesn't want to be lovable, per se, but there's a good television moment and then there's getting a little too much attention for her edges when it had been fifty percent affront on Raina's behalf and fifty percent a cannily spotted opportunity to push Daenerys' charitable agenda. Neither of which are going to catapult her to any kind of personal stardom, but actually hauling off and landing one on this overpriced doll's jaw might do--

She ignores the part of her that thinks: soft flesh easily torn she'd have something to fucking cry about then, but her teeth dig into her lip for a moment before she says -

"My mother," very ruminatively, not deigning to turn her attention back to the fit being thrown a matter of feet away from her, "always said that children should be seen and not heard. I would hate to be in her mother's shoes, watching this later. Wouldn't you just be so disappointed?"
flowerette: ([ 206 ])

[personal profile] flowerette 2017-04-22 02:04 am (UTC)(link)
Raina lets out a short, but admittedly haughty laugh. This woman was probably in her mid-twenties, and Gwen had just relegated her to being a child. There was something delightful about that. "Disappointed, sure. Embarrassed? Absolutely. To know someone so embarrassing came out of my loins, well -- it would be absolutely mortifying." And Raina, too, talks as though the model with an attitude doesn't exist. This, in turn, pisses the girl off and she effectively trashes her work station before storming off to bitch VERY LOUDLY at some of the other girls.

Raina spares a glance toward Gwen, amusement glinting in her dark eyes. "I highly doubt she's going to be finding work in the near future." One model's career completely ruined in a matter of minutes. Just another day in the life of Raina and Gwen.
trouvaille: (282)

[personal profile] trouvaille 2017-05-01 03:21 am (UTC)(link)
Gwen doesn't do anything so gauche as turn to watch, but the way her eyes track in the mirror -

Well, you have to enjoy the small victories where they come. There's an adrenaline rush of satisfaction, and maybe if she were somebody else then after the comedown she'd feel badly, think twice about ruining someone's career over a temper tantrum, but maybe girlfriend should've thought twice about throwing one in the first place. Maybe she needs to learn to be humble, and Gwen's just an instrument of whatever higher - haha, no, but it was hilarious, so who cares.

She uncaps, finally, the lipstick that she'd been about to touch up before she'd stomped over to intervene, and swipes it over her lower lip before saying, "What a shame," brightly. "I hope they don't have too hard a time finding some other girl who can wear clothes and walk in a straight line."
idesof: whispers i told you so (here to say i told you so)

afterparty best party

[personal profile] idesof 2017-04-23 04:09 am (UTC)(link)
And there's good ol' Jimmy March, sliding up beside Raina and refilling his drink as well.

"I heard you had a bit of a scuffle behind the scenes, my dear." Being a ghost has its benefits. Don't need super hearing to eavesdrop. So blessed, he is. "Would you like me to take care of your clearly jealous offender? I'm sure there is a dumpster nearby with room to spare."

How fortunate Raina is to have a Murder Man at her beck and call.
flowerette: ([ 20 ])

[personal profile] flowerette 2017-04-26 09:22 am (UTC)(link)
Ah. Raina smiles, delighted. Even though this isn't March's event -- here he is, acting like a good host. She drinks at that and laughs softly. "Well, I certainly wouldn't be opposed. But my camera crew did get such wonderful footage. They probably would hesitate to air it if the offender suddenly went missing."

A pause.

"How about after her career has been effectively ruined?" Make her suffer before the end, that's Raina's way. The world had been too cruel to her for her to give any fucks about it in return.
idesof: so definitely not plotting something awful (wow so charming)

[personal profile] idesof 2017-04-27 03:15 am (UTC)(link)
March laughs, a truly pleased noise that is both amused and amazed. What a clever idea! He goes so far as to clink their glasses together in a sign of deal-sealing.

"Marvelous idea, darling. You are a diamond among coal. Just as you were on that walkway." A big ol' spot of bright brilliance amidst a dim world. Chilton is definitely a lucky man. "Long after my passing from the world of the living to the next, a fashion designer came along and bought my hotel. He was an intensely private man about his designs, however, and not long after his unfortunate death, his stocks began to plummet, and we realized without a steady flow of income into the Cortez, we could be bought by someone else. We could even be demolished. He pulled himself together and we had fashion shows inside my hotel. I didn't participate, had no interest, but I did see the world backstage from time to time. Who knew all the work that went into it? Sprays and powers, tape, all manner of hosiery, last minute plucking and shaving. One must have a great deal of patience to make a career of it."

Or a great deal of drugs stored up, if Tristan was any indication.
flowerette: ([ 106 ])

[personal profile] flowerette 2017-04-30 04:39 am (UTC)(link)
She certainly perks up at that description. What woman doesn't want to hear she's the diamond among the rest of the beautiful model coal? But likely, March was talking auras. After all, did any of these other models have an aura as dark as Raina's?

But his story is interesting and certainly explains why the Countess was always dressed in such exquisite fashion.

"Beauty is pain, they always say. And there's truth to it. How many of your models have died young so they could remain eternally beautiful?" If Raina had that option -- if she could be as true to touch or as corporeal as March himself -- she might have opted for it. Because as the years start to tick on and Raina outlives the life she lived back home, she finds herself hunting for fine lines and wrinkles more often than not.
idesof: when i murdered all day every day so great (the good ol' days)

[personal profile] idesof 2017-05-02 11:50 pm (UTC)(link)
He smiles, looking off. Seems a fond memory she's dredged up inside of him. Which is, like, not worrisome or anything. Not with someone such as Raina at any rate.

"Our models were ghosts, mostly. There were other creatures under our roof. The sort that needed to drink blood in order to sustain beauty and life. Now, Mrs. March called quite a few to the fold with that promise, I do believe it. She had a whole cadre of children who'd never grow a half inch taller than when she made them in her image. They loved her."

He pauses, mulling over the question a bit more.

"There was a psychic who came to the hotel. She came several times for her television show. It attracted an interesting clientele. People who wanted to be visited by ghosts as they slept." The way his face morphs makes it obvious what he means by visited. "Some of them would have certainly died for the experience, though...that rather ruins the fun of it, I would think."
flowerette: ([ 34 ])

[personal profile] flowerette 2017-05-13 03:36 am (UTC)(link)
Raina's breath caught at the mention of Mrs. March. Oh, she could understand how those around the Countess would love her. And having that suspicion confirmed that there was a reason for that ethereal beauty only made her more admirable to Raina. A goddess with the ability to create her own children of eternity. Perhaps that was what she had wanted to offer Raina when she had requested they meet up post Valentine's Day.

She'll never get the chance to know unless the Countess returns to her.

But her eyes are rapt on March all the same, listening to his story with fascination. "Mmm. I would think so. But everyone has their own fantasies. And danger can be quite titillating." She rests her chin on her palm with a smirk, her eyes sliding toward Chilton as he mingles.

"Frederick certainly finds it so. But I fear lately, he is headed in the opposite moral direction than I would like him in. He actively tried to help people awaken in that whole dream world business, you know?" Especially after Raina had expressly told him not to because it was a cover up for a larger plan of her own. Good thing he was hardly successful.
idesof: it's stuck in your head now isn't it (can't touch this)

[personal profile] idesof 2017-05-17 04:42 am (UTC)(link)
He follows her look, the usual smile falling into something far less pleased the longer she speaks. He oozes Disapproval. He reaches into his jacket for a cigarette, face one of worry.

"No. That won't stand." Inhale, smoke through flared nostrils like some mustached dragon, March shakes his head. He's determined to see this one through its best course. To see Chilton become, bit by bit, more what he could be. "I'll have to invite him for some time together. Help put him back on course. Do you know what might have put him on the wrong track?"

A person, a dream, whatever, it can be any number of things, or nothing at all. Still, fitting to ask. If it is a specific person March may be helpful there. If it's nothing...he'll fill that nothing with something that will keep Chilton moving elsewhere.
flowerette: ([ 147 ])

[personal profile] flowerette 2017-05-20 01:18 pm (UTC)(link)
"I don't know. It could be a number of more positive influences in his life." Chilton's hospital staff. His friends outside of that hospital staff. Being content in his position of power. And maybe even Raina herself. It had been confusing, his moderate surprise that she would kill. Maybe he forgot her more deadly nature. In her two years here, she hadn't killed anyone. It was like a track record for her.

"So to that, I say he needs you in his life more. In fact, I implore you to spend more time with him." She reaches out, her hand covering March's own. "Turn him away from that light he's treading toward and back into the darkness where he belongs."

Because Raina most certainly didn't want to be with a man who would act like a hero. She would much rather be with the villain who masterminded the destruction of everything.

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