OPEN / "Bring Yourself" Arts & Culture event!

[enveloped]

who: Cameron Waltz and you!
what: "Bring Yourself" Arts & Culture event!
when: Today!
where: Riverside Community Centre.
warnings: None predicted.

Open invitation on the network!


The community center is normally a modest building, albeit one with a spectacular riverfront view. Tonight, it's putting on the ritz. Multicolored lanterns hang on either side of the sidewalk leading up to the front of the building, and music of all kinds, depending on what time it is, pours out of the open doors and into the street. Local vendors have set up small carts to show off their wares and offer small trinkets and fresh food for sale, displaying their local pride.

Inside, things have been completely redecorated for the event. It's a modern open concept gallery, with blank walls for artwork and written word, empty pedestals to display objects, and plenty of tables with chairs. Some pieces are already on display, from paintings to exotic foods. Small crowds gather around people telling stories or showing off their special skills and talents.

That music plays live from the small main stage overlooking a dance floor, both of which can be cleared for demonstrations of everything from dance to martial arts. Anything physical that requires that little bit of extra room.

Musicians are free to write their names for a time-slot on the stage, and can choose to be accompanied by the onsite pianist and guitarist, bring their own instruments or backup, or perform solo.

All throughout the room are food and drink stations, where staff serves wine, beer, limited spirits, and soft drinks. The exotic foods are on display here, from which the guests can help themselves. If you can imagine it, someone has managed to cook it.
At the far end of the building is an outdoor patio overlooking the river, with seating and torches to light the area through the night. Most displays of magic take place out there, where practitioners can go all-out casting their most extravagant spells.

The crowd ebbs and flows, gathering to socialize during lulls and splitting off to see new events and installations as they come in. Other than opening and closing statements by Cameron Waltz, there's very little structure.

Casual and relaxed, the focus is on learning, generating conversation, and meeting new people. It's an organized free-for-all, a mini festival dedicated to the celebration of the cultures and backgrounds of everyone in Riverview. And in a city made up of a thousand universes worth of people, there's more than enough to see.

[Characters can bring pieces with them as they arrive, and simply set themselves up around the room. Contributions aren't limited to art, anything goes! Feel free to play random observer/staff/performer NPCs. The party goes until midnight, have fun!]

Comments

OTA

[tevinteraltus]

More and more often, the wearing of his robes, imbued with enchantments that increased his mana regeneration and thus invaluable when say performing huge magic displays, was feeling like the donning of a costume. Dorian would think more on the implications of that fact later, when an audience didn't await.

His demonstration would occur on the large patio overlooking the river. It was a tight area, yes, but Dorian had full confidence in his ability to control the powers he would summon to his disposal. Once the crowd had gathered, giving him about 30 feet in a circle in which to work, he nodded, pacing slightly as he moved to regard all those gathered in turn. This was clearly a man who'd spoken to a forum of people before.

"First, allow me to thank you all for attending, and Cameron Waltz for his ingenuity and sense of community. Clearly his position in the Quarantine was well chosen." He joins in the modest round of applause that follows that simple statement before leading it to an end. "Throughout the day, I have seen and heard momentous demonstrations of your cultures, from art to music, tales of history and achievement. It is truly an honor to stand with all of you." He was buttering up the crowd, sure, but Dorian was nothing if not a great showman. "Now, then, I'll not bore you with the socio-political upheaval that's recently blighted my homeland of Thedas at which mages such as myself are at the crux. I will simply state this: in most places in the world of Thedas, Circles of Magi are bastions in which those born with the ability to touch the fundamental fabric of creation, mages, are placed to protect the non-magic majority from their influence, and to watch them, should they fall to demonic possession." He raises a hand, one finger aloft, to accentuate that point. "A topic for another lecture, I'm afraid. Now, then, in the Tevinter Imperium, my homeland, Circles of Magi are more akin to...rather prestigious universities, where mages may come together and explore the boundaries and limitations of their craft. I am a Senior Enchanter of one such university."

He steps to the center of the circle around which people are gathered, pulling his carved staff from the loops of his harness which keep the shaft of wood strapped to his back. "And I happen to be very good at the whole magic thing." He proceeds with his demonstration, raising his staff high and a pulse of silvery light flashes across those closest to the circle. "A shield," he explains, "But I can assure you, none are in danger. It's simply a precaution to protect you from the worst of the heat, and the moisture. On my honor, it is only water." A quick staff reversal and the crystal at its point begins to hum with a bluish energy and he e drives the staff, tip down, to the ground before him. A circle of frozen air blasts in all direction, stopping just short of the gathered crowd, who gasp at the sudden change in temperature and the circle of ice before them. "The elements bend to our whims, at least rather locally." And another reversal and flame encircles the mage, melting the conjured ice in an explosive wave that splashes the recently melted water against those closest shielded and envelopes them in the warmth of a camp fire.

"The battlefield can be ours to command." And he presses a button on a controller in his hip pouch, activating the target drones he's placed behind the gathered crowd, twelve in total, which begin to circle above the crowd, gaining momentum as they do until their movements are difficult to track. "Target drones, compliments of Gramarye Magic Research. Rather useful little tools, really, but I digress." Another raise of his hand and Dorian is enveloped in a white light and seems to move faster than most can see suddenly. Half the drones above explode in small balls of fire before Dorian's speed returns to normal. Smalls beads of sweat dot his brow and he takes a breath and raises his staff and the remaining drone. Lightning arcs from its tip and chains to each. They vibrate in the air and begin to fall. He reverses position again, raising staff and hand, muscles tense as he sends out a wave of energy that catches the falling drones before they fall on the heads of those gathered and he clenches his free hand into a fist, moving the drones to the interior of the circle, where he drops them at his feet.

He's sweating freely now, and his breathing is somewhat heavy, as though after an intense workout. "I thank you all again for your attendance. This is, by far, not all magic might accomplish, but a taste. If any of you are interested further, I'll be around." He smiles, "near the refreshments, most likely. Enjoy the remainder of your evening."

And Dorian does proceed to the refreshments table, for wine, because wine is good to have after a workout, right? He'll be around!

[tempredmental]

"That was pretty impressive."

Keith had needed some time out of the house, so here he was, exploring different things around town, and he wound up at this place. He wasn't sure why he'd decided to come in, but it had seemed interesting enough.

[tevinteraltus]

Dorian can't say he isn't pleased to see Keith out and about rather than confined to quarters and withdrawing from friends and he pours the man a glass of wine, modestly at least, and offers it to him.

"I am rather impressive, it's true." He smiles his confident smile and inclines his head. "Are you enjoying the festival, then, or simple gladdened to bask in my talent and charm?"

[tempredmental]

Keith took the glass, looking into it for a moment as Dorian spoke. Well, it wasn't like he was underage anymore, he supposed. Though, do two years on a space whale while everyone else only experiences a few weeks count towards his age? He wasn't sure.

He managed a weak smile at Dorian's comments, somewhat amused.

"It's okay. Not my usual thing, but I was kind of curious when I saw it while I was walking by. Figured I'd check it out." He shrugged a little.

[tevinteraltus]

"You wound me," was Dorian's reply, but if that were true, he didn't look it, smiling to spite the flush in his cheeks from the magical exertion and the wine. Any day where he was afforded the opportunity to bend the primal forces of nature to his will to applause and awe was a good day. It eased the pains of other things as well, or at least provided an apt enough distraction to suffice as such.

"And have you learned anything worthwhile in your impromptu visit?"

[tempredmental]

Keith managed a small huff of a chuckle, and then shrugged a little.

"It's pretty cool, I guess. Probably not something I'd ever get the hang of, though." He glanced around for a moment. "Is this for the magic school or something?" Even though they were at the community center, there a lot of different things going on.

[tevinteraltus]

"Not precisely." He motioned back toward the open porch where he'd most recently performed his demonstration. "That was more to celebrate the place magic has in my own culture. It's an often contested practice in my world, but my homeland takes particular pride in it." He looked back to Keith with a friendly smile.

"And what of you? Have you no hobbies with which you fill your time? No talents particular to your world?"

[tempredmental]

Keith shrugged a little in response.

"It's not like I can show off being a pilot with a miniature Lion, and I certainly can't fit that shuttle Kirk restored here in the community center," he said. "And, well, with Shiro laid up after we opened those canisters we got, we've kind of put the martial arts training on hold for a while. I can probably still do it, but he needs some recovery time."

[indigobird]

This is so fucking weird. But in a good way, really. Because there is a mage, loudly proclaiming as such, standing in front of a group of people and demonstrating magic. There's not a templar in sight. And the people love it. They cheer and clap in awe of the display. No one decries that he's an abomination, no one shouts for the templars to come. Just a bunch of people appreciating magic and going about their lives. Perhaps it was the same old, same old in Tevinter, but for a Southerner like Hawke, it defied everything she experienced as a mage.

(Sometimes, in moments like these, she gets it, where Anders was coming from. Like, really gets it. No, no, still doesn't condone how he went about things, but damn...)

Relm watches, in awe herself though for reasons different from most of the crowd. This world, this quarantine, for all its faults, continues to warm itself to her. Maker, if it weren't for Carver and her friends back home... well, this place could become home. A traitorous thought, or so it feels like, but it's there. Maybe the welcoming committee was right: maybe she really did wish to be anywhere else other than Thedas. What did that shithole ever do for her? A handful of people made that place worth living in. Really, is it any wonder she wanted out?

Before she realizes it, the performance is over and the crowd disperses. Naturally she seeks out Dorian afterwards, and the first place she looks is the refreshment table.

"If I'd known you were doing a presentation, I'd have dug up some bodies for you and hid them. That would have really given them something to talk about."

[tevinteraltus]

"The freshly dead are the most useful, but the thought is appreciated." He smiles charmingly and inclines his head at the compliment, unstated as it is. "I did incorporate a necromantic ability into my display, of course," he adds, and by way of explanation, "the quickening."

"Unlike others present, aside from my natural charisma and proclivity towards fashionable choices, magical endeavors really are my only talents. You seem to be rather well-rounded, Hawke."

[indigobird]

"Good to know? But damn, there are a shortage of people around here worth killing, unlike back home." Which, like, is overall a good thing because less criminals and less shitty people, but for necromancy demonstration purposes, that poses a problem. "Is that what that was? I'll admit, I've never seen that spell before. Did you speed up or did time slow down?"

Her lips twist into an almost bashful smile before she laughs, just a hair nervously. "Oh damn, then I've been discovered. You saw my art, I take it?"

[tevinteraltus]

"There are plenty of beasts out there worth the killing, and which make fine vessels." He raises his glass as though to accentuate his point. "Of which I have first-hand experience." He takes another pull from that glass afterward.

He preens at the opportunity to explain and makes a motion with his hand. "I sped up with the aid of spirits. While it is possible to slow time down, the very action of doing so increases the instability of the very fabric of reality. I really don't recommend it."

He nods, though. "You have and I did. I saw nothing to be ashamed of, however."

[indigobird]

"A valid point, but... I don't know. Reanimated animals and monsters don't seem quite as hilarious in my head as reanimated people. Perhaps I'm leaning in too much towards comedic effect and not dazzling effect." Something of which she's quite guilty of on a number of occasions.

"Oh darn, and here I was, all set to try and screw with the flow of time." Yeah, no. No worries on that end, Hawke's perfectly content with zapping people and warping gravity a bit. "Interesting application of spirits there. What's your record time for being able to hold that spell? Not terribly long I take it."

"Not ashamed, just... not used to it. My art's always been a very private matter." Aside from when she sketched out stuff in the early days in Kirkwall just to make some extra coin. That was just desperation. "I've never really shown it off. I could count on one hand the number of people alive who know that I draw."

[tevinteraltus]

"Indeed. I'm not entertainer." He inclines his head. "I'll leave that to you. If you're ever a mind to learn the subtle and complicated art of manipulating the spirits of death around you, I may be able to teach you a thing or two, but keep in mind, to maintain control of the reanimated corpse, your focus must never waver, even as you continue the fight."

Translation: it's a very complicated and encompassing form of magic. "No, less than half a minute at most. It's rather draining on mana stores, and we're woefully low on lyrium."

He nods, able to appreciate the secrecy, the desire to have something private when faced with celebrity...or infamy at the very least. "I'll tell naught a soul."

[indigobird]

"I'll do my best for the both of us." He can be the smart, technical mage and she can be the dumb, flashy one. She's good at it, so why change it now? "Consider your offer noted. Can't say I've ever been keen on learning it but if I change my mind I know precisely who to go to."

She gives him a little smile. "I appreciate it, though the cat might start coming out of the bag regardless. Others have seen it, and I'm sure one of these days someone at the house will pop into my little room and see what I've been working on."

[tevinteraltus]

"It's a rather intricate and complicated practice, Necromancy. I can understand the hesitance." Because she is the dumb, flashy one after all.

"Have you thought of displaying them? We do have a few walls."

[indigobird]

"Oh, please. I grew up with two siblings. I'm well aware of the 'goad them into doing something by insinuating they're too much of a coward/dummy/whatever to do it' tactic. It won't work." Even if he's just doing it to get under her skin a little, she's not rising to the bait. She's perfectly fine with zapping people, thank you.

"I don't know. Maybe? The Wounded Coast one might not be too bad. I doubt Cullen wants the one I did of him hanging up, though." She smiles wryly. She made him look extra grumpy in that one.

[mutant_messiah]

Cable could appreciate the looseness of the event; this could have easily been a boring suit and tie sort of deal. While he admittedly looked good in anything, suits were a pain to move around in--especially if moving became more than the usual mode of transportation that it was.

The mutant watches the demonstration closely, his eye glowing the softest of colors when Dorian's speed increases. He continues to watch and listen. Dorian makes for a good speaker, but Cable isn't much surprised about that after leading the mage in their little group exploration. When the demo is over, Cable moves through the crowd to meet Dorian in the refreshments area.

"The gift of magic, and the gift of gab? I'm a little jealous now."

[tevinteraltus]

After their expedition, truth be told, Dorian hadn't expected to see Cable again. They'd worked quite well together, though, and he wouldn't have minded it. He was also a rather handsome man, rugged and capable, heroic is a way, and all the things Dorian tended to notice about a man that tended to end only in heartbreak and disappointment. Best to steer clear of such thoughts.

He smiled amicably at his approach, though, bowing slightly at the shoulders as he smiles that charming smile of his.

"I do have that effect on people. And why not? I'm charming, well-dressed, and very good at the whole magic thing."

[mutant_messiah]

Every piece Dorian put together about the puzzle that was the man named Cable was right on target--the mutant was romantic trouble with a capital T. Ask the right people and they might suggest a few more letters from a few other chosen words.

"So I've noticed." Cable would have added 'well-spoken' as well, but there was no need fluffing Dorian's ego too much..at least not at this very moment, nor all at once.

"By the way, that was a good presentation. Enough information to bring the curious to you."

[tevinteraltus]

Perhaps that was the case, but Dorian wasn't known for making healthy lifestyle choices, and even less so when interpersonal relationships were called into question. Still, nothing about the man even suggested he'd be interested, so there was no point in dwelling on the matter, was there?

He preened at the praise, and nodded his head in agreement. "Indeed, what better way to discuss my favorite topic?" Though the mischievous glint in his eye suggested he was jesting...mostly.

"I dare say, I never expected to see you here, though."

[mutant_messiah]

"Mostly just on duty. You held up pretty well back when I last saw you. Wanted to make sure everything was okay still." See? Cable was just full of surprises! Just because Hope wasn't here in the Quarantine with him, didn't mean he ought to go around letting people potentially fall into madness.

Couldn't very well go around doing a shit job of guarding the city and its' people, either.

[tevinteraltus]

Was that actual concern Dorian detected? Cable was, in fact, full of surprises, and this was only the latest. Still, the Tevinter altus mage played it off nonchallantly, waving his hand in flippant dismissal.

"I'm a necromancer, Cable. Do you really believe me to be afraid of a few ghosts?" Fear, of course, was a misnomer. Disturbed? Set off to rights? Certainly, but not afraid. Ghosts couldn't hurt you, well, unless they solidified, but then they may as well be demons, and those could be dispatched.

"You're on guard duty, then? Shall I stop distracting you?"

[mutant_messiah]

"Appreciate the concern Dorian, but I'll be fine. I'm pretty good at multitasking." That and Cable had a tendency to keep an eye on those that held any sort of potential within them.

No, not quite any..."Just haven't met that many necromancers in my life. Gotta make sure there isn't some sort of protocol or thing to watch out for. Guessing that would've already shown itself by now?"

[tevinteraltus]

He arched an eyebrow at that response. Cable was specifically keeping tabs on him then? That was somewhat concerning.

"Protocol? Whatever would that be?"