Opening Night [Open]

[CaptainBonkers]

As Eudon understood it, grand ballrooms were not a standard feature in many embassies across the galaxy. However, no Tapani building designed to represent the nation as a whole would have been complete without one nor would have any true Tapani ever dreamed of erecting such a building without one. Such a room was required for just about every major event worth celebrating as well as for dozens of cultural events. It had been truly a stroke of luck that the old mansion the Foreign Ministry had acquired to serve as the Tapani embassy had come with a modest one to begin with. Thus, instead of having to build one from scratch all that had been needed instead were extensive renovations and expansion of the existing structure. Had saved the Crown a substantial amount of time and money.

Eudon had not paid much attention on the whole embassy business himself, just enough to have a basic idea of what was going on in case a member of the media inquired him about it. Otherwise the whole project fell squarely outside his zone of interests. Father, however, had apparently been keeping an eye as well as weighing in on the various aspects of it quite eagerly, which was hardly surprising. He did after all take a very active role in everything foreign relations related, almost to the point of rendering the office of Foreign Secretary irrelevant.

In this case, at least, father’s influence seemed to have been in the right; the grand hall was a marvel to behold. The Tapani Embassy might not have been quite as large as that of the Republic or the Empire but Eudon had no doubt that their embassies could not boast of having such a beautiful room within their walls.

The room was two stories tall with a high roof and a mezzanine running around the whole hall midway up. The ornate pillars supporting the roof were each decorated with intricate carvings and each sported a different coat of arms; either that of one of the great houses or one of the sigils of the Free Worlds. The Mecetti Royal Crest was the only one that did not hung on a pillar; it had the honor of having been placed on the wall on the opposite end of the room from the main entrance, where it would be the first one visitors would spot. Beyond those, both the floor and the ceiling had been decorated with traditional Tapani motifs.

At this point of the evening the place was gradually filling up with guests. From where he was, Eudon couldn’t yet spot many too influential people beyond few Prazhian officials among the guests but there was still time for them to show up. Invitations for the embassy's opening ceremony had been extended to a great many people and some might wish to arrive fashionably late. Like father. He wasn’t even officially supposed to make an appearance but would be making a surprise visit later in the evening.

Eudon checked the time. Prime Minister would be holding his speech soon; he’d better be on his way. After all, they had quite graciously requested his presence at event and snubbing them by arriving late would have been quite impolite. Afterwards he could see if anyone interesting had come to take part in the festivities. He adjusted the cuffs of his tailored suit and got on his way.

[Meira]

It had not been a surprise to Viatrix when the Ambassador's office had contacted her to retain her services in the preparations for the opening of the Tapani Embassy. She'd known about the plans to establish an embassy long before the old mansion had been purchased. She'd even passed along a few promising locations herself. She'd been envious of whoever had found the winning property, but it was not in Viatrix's nature to dwell on such things. When the renovations were complete, the preparations for the event began and Viatrix was the first person the Ambassador contacted. A logical decision. Viatrix was in high demand throughout the capital as the premiere event planner. It only made sense that she, as a Tapani subject, would put her vast array of skills to use for her home system. And did she ever. Viatrix could not claim the genius of all the preparations. The specifics of decor, cuisine, and music were all left to the considerable knowledge of those placed in charge of those specific items. No, Viatrix's genius was on display in the manner in which it all came together. It was by her recommendation that the selected chef's were hired, that the army of florists be given carte blanche, and so on. Through her connections and experience, Viatrix wove together a tapestry of masterful components that combined to create an evening that was sure to be remembered for decades at the least.

The most satisfying aspect of Viatrix's involvement in the preparations for the evening was that, once all the right people were put in the right places, she was able to remove her own hands from the controls and merely enjoy the ride. Earlier that morning, rather than pouring over last minute items, Viatrix lazed luxuriously in her bed, calling for her breakfast to be brought to her. The meal was followed by a several hours long bathing and grooming process, taken slowly so as to be properly enjoyed. She took a late lunch with several old friends who'd come to Prazhi for the grand opening and they all talked and laughed over finger foods and wine. Only once through the whole morning and afternoon was she interrupted to address a matter. And that was a simple approval of additional funds for more gift bags due to an increase in the estimated number of guests. And so, when Viatrix made her way to the new embassy, she did not arrive hours early as she usually did when working an event. She did so at the same time as any other guest, wearing no ear piece or anything else that might keep her working rather than socializing. It was refreshing.

Viatrix entered the grand ballroom among a stream of other similarly leveled attendees. She was not a high priority guest by any sense of the word, but like many present, she was a notable figure in Prazhi's high society. Not only was she recognized among the political crowds, but among the deep pocketed private sector as well. Sure, there were fewer Arena Champions on display than at other events she frequented, but there was a considerable amount of overlap between those here and those who attended her other parties. She wore a gorgeous gown that she'd had custom made for her for this event. In all honesty, she would likely never wear it again. A shame, perhaps, but that contributed to the gown in its own way, making it a unique work of art. The draped shoulders moved smoothly into a sweetheart neckline. The fabric, a soft green, was covered over the entire bodice in a series of golden scales. The scales were most concentrated at the neckline and bust of the gown, tapering off to reveal the green silk beneath as they moved down to her waist. From there, they grew increasingly spare over the fitted skirt until only the green fabric remained from about knee height downward. The dress had no train, as that would be impractical as she circulated among the guests. The last thing she needed was to be stepped on by some hapless businessman. She could trust the Tapani guests to move easily in such a formal setting, but those who were new to high society -arriving abruptly after wildly successful business ventures launched them several tiers above their previous station- often moved with the grace of a toddler just learning to walk. Her hair was expertly curled and piled on her head, ringlets held in place by a number of golden pins and clips. More gold hung in teardrop shapes from her ears, and a braided gold necklace dangled a modestly sized emerald (borrowed for the evening) just below the hollow of her throat. Her arms and hands were unadorned, save for one gold ring that she wore, bearing the crest of the junior branch of the Mecetti family she claimed as her own.

As she circulated among the guest, Viatrix did what she did best. She smiled, remembered names, and spoke to each person warmly. She touched an arm here, laughed enthusiastically there, and nodded along to the various assertions made. She complemented suits and gowns, uniforms and peacockery. She left each individual she spoke with a little happier than when she met them. She primed the guests into expressing their impressions of the events, asking how they were enjoying the wine, and did they try the hors d'oeuvres? Did they like the music? Were there any pieces they hoped to hear that evening? And on and on. When she could, Viatrix would pull aside a server or attendant and whisper a quick instruction in their ear, but mostly she just enjoyed herself. Soon enough, she could feel the time was coming for some official action. She could feel the energy of the crowds. They were ready for a welcome speech. Her eyes scanned around and found she was not far from the head of the room, where a small platform had been prepared for just such an occasion. Viatrix moved herself closer to that space, so that she might have prime real estate when the time came.