video; @doom

[metalmenace]

[The feed opens up on Doom sitting at his desk in his office at Gramarye, looking Very Professional, which is basically second nature to him because that's just the kind of guy he is.]

Good evening, everyone. My name is Victor and it is with great honor that I announce that Gramarye Magic Research is going to putting on its first ever fundraising gala next Saturday. It will be a masquerade with the theme of otherworldly. Everyone in the city is invited and we will provide the masks.

[He pauses for a moment to clear his throat.]

Attendance is mandatory for everyone who is currently employed at Gramarye.

[There's a glint in his eyes when he says that. Like he's completely willing to hunt every single one of his coworkers down and drag them kicking and screaming into nice clothes to go to this.

That look disappears almost as quickly as it appeared.]

We will also be holding a bachelor and bachelorette auction during the event to help raise money for to keep Gramarye running at its current level. If anyone would like to volunteer, please contact me privately and I can sign you up.

If anyone else has any questions or comments, I'd be happy to speak to you about them.

Comments

[ private ] [ video | un: trickster ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ This is great and Loki resists the urge to applaud. ]

Do you believe we'll receive many sign ups for this "auction"?

private

[metalmenace]

I'm sure we'll get a few.

[private] [video un;thunderer]

[worldsaway]

The cause is sound, consider me a volunteer for your auction.

private

[metalmenace]

[Well, there's a somewhat familiar face.]

I'll add you to the list and I thank you for volunteering.

video, un: j.k.

[aeturnus]

Well, there goes all the fun of coordinating the outfit with the mask.

[metalmenace]

I'm sure you'll survive the disappointment, Jacob.

text; @RuffRabbit

[bunnyblock]

People love the word fundraiser.

So much they hardly ask what kind of things the funds you're making are going to be pooled into, you know.

text

[metalmenace]

I did mention what the money was going to. It's going to help fund Gramarye Magic Research and allowing it to keep running as it has been with the possibility of expanding if we raise enough.

If you happen to have a problem with magic, then you can always not bid in the auction.

video; b.potts

[tutee]

Hypothetically speaking, can the people who volunteer for the auction choose what sort of people bid on them, or is it just anyone?

[metalmenace]

Hypothetically speaking, yes, everyone volunteering can give preferences if they wish to.

private text; @falconwings

[wingedman]

Sure, I'll sign up. Should be fun.

private text

[metalmenace]

Your name, please?

@dodger/audio/private

[smokedout]

What exactly does this auction entail? Never attended one before.

private

[metalmenace]

People who volunteer go up on a stage and try to convince people to buy them for a date. I've found that bidders usually tend to be drunk and enthusiastic during these types of things.

private; text; un: stranger.things

[potentialed]

"Mandatory" for employees? Seriously?

private text

[metalmenace]

Yes, seriously. Do you have a problem with this?

@blake; voice

[jettisons]

What kind of research are we talking here?

[metalmenace]

We research the different types of magic brought through the portal, either connected to items or people who can use it through various means.

@ciscodelamancha | text

[franciscoramon]

a bachelor auction? for real?
classy.

@fromTV

[spellslots]

You're welcome :)

[Of course he had a hand in this.]

Text @arcarius

[angelic_archer]

What is the Gramarye Magic Research?

Why are the masks provided instead of guests finding their own?

text

[metalmenace]

It's an institute where where people such as myself research the different types of magic that have shown up here through the portal by various means.

We thought it would be easier for the guests. We have enough variety to suit any type of style you or any other guest would want.

audio, @chronicler

[scholiast]

(Mandatory, huh. Great.)

Is dancing mandatory too?

[metalmenace]

It's not. All you have to do is show up and be something close to social.

text; private

[inebriety]

I'm signing myselves up as a set, goatlegs.

private text

[metalmenace]

I'm not even going to ask why, Stark. Have fun.

[He knows better than to even ask why with these things.

video;

[appetitive]

[Magnus is smiling, both because the thought of a masquerade is thrilling and because he's been looking for an excuse to find out more about the organization hosting it. A party with the goal of raising funds seems like the ideal opportunity to ask questions.] I'd love to attend, but is it acceptable to bring masks of our own creation? [He pauses, smile curving into something a little more sly.] And are we allowed to nominate others for the auction?

[metalmenace]

I personally see no problems with bringing your own mask. And while you are allowed to nominate others, I would advise against it.

[He would also not stop you, but that's implied.]

Video; un; Treasure.princess

[thegreatninja]

I have a few questions.

[She counts them out on her fingers as she goes through them.]

1. Do I have to dress up for the party?
2. What sort of magic research do you do? Do you have Materia?
3. Does anyone signing up for the auction get anything?
4. Will there be food?

[metalmenace]

You do have to dress up for the party. I personally am merely a teacher and I don't have materia myself, but I'm sure other researchers would be in possession of some. People signed up for the auction don't get much beyond a date with the person who won them. And yes, there will be food.

video » @LOKIOFASGARD

[ikols]

[ Victor. A masquerade. With masks.

Loki raises a finger and opens his mouth ... only to shut his mouth and slowly put his hand down. He's not gonna say it. ]

[metalmenace]

I know.

[He was waiting for this, tbh.]

video; un: stark.naked

[amelioraate]

[..... you did not. you just--

what the fuck, Victor. ]

Masks mandatory. Right. Coming from that isn't strange at all.

You aren't gonna lace the inside with acid so we all have to suffer as you did, are you?

[metalmenace]

Is there something wrong with masks, Stark?

[He promises not to bring up your ex.]

That's almost insulting. If I wanted you to suffer as I did, I'd put microbombs in the masks. But to answer your question, no because I'm not the one in charge of making them.

video @lightemup

[umbrastaff]

Shit, there's gonna be even more partying around here? Gonna make a girl get all partied out for the next decade, my dude!

Aaaanyway I was gonna go hit up your place-thing anyway to see if there was some part-time stuff I can do so it looks like I choose a good time!

[metalmenace]

I'll have to remember for next time to not have it fall right after Carnivale.

While I'm not the person to talk to, I know someone who would be.

video | un: swan

[sheriffing]

Gramarye Magic Research? Should I know what that is?

[ testing of magic, for magic, or some morally questionable thing that's going to leave her in over her head if she looks too close? doesn't matter, since Emma has decided magic is the way home, she's interested.

... and also new here in case he hadn't noticed from the question.]

[metalmenace]

I suppose not, especially if you're new.

[Which he could guess.]

It's a place to research magic, learn magic, and assisting others in dealing with magic.

text | un: a.brennan

[striketwice]

mandatory, huh?

[ he's not pleased about that, but he's not about to do anything that will get him fired considering he just got here ]

[metalmenace]

Yes, mandatory. There is free food, though.

video; @Link

[bluechampion]

[A masquerade so soon after that carnivale? Were there things here that people didn't celebrate?]

What research is being done at Gramarye?

[If they were researching the portal, then Link would certainly be interested.]

[metalmenace]

Magic. We research magic. It's in the name.

[Sorry Link, this is like the eighth time he's answered some variation of this question.]

video, @anders

[judicia]

I assume that you'll want us to show up looking our best?

( As long as feathers aren't prohibited, he's sure he can wrangle up something. The last part of Doom's message does leave him a bit curious, though. )

I must admit that I've never heard of a bachelor/bachelorette auction before.

[metalmenace]

I was hoping all of you would look your best.

[Feathers are totally okay. It's not like Doom has any sense of style, according to people who know him.]

Well, to put it simply, it's buying someone for a date while the money goes to a good cause. The good cause in this case is making sure we continue to have jobs.

video; un: ghostking

[deathkid]

[ squints at the feed, very concerned. ]

How does- [ nope. ] Why would you- [ nu uh ] Are you sure you're not related to Aphrodite?

[metalmenace]

I'm quite sure. If that was the case, I'm positive my life would have been somewhat easier.

video | un: cphantom

[sweetlies]

[He looks thoughtful, and a bit unsure. Parties are not his favorite thing but he was also raised with the reminder than attending was also expected of him. So-]

Could you find a mask that would accommodate someone with one eye? I'm afraid I don't go anywhere without my eyepatch but I recognize it may look awkward with most masks.

un: b.zethir, text, private;

[inlaid]

Volunteering Taako Taaco with his permission, with a preference for male bidders.

[Spoilers, she doesn't have permission. More spoilers, she doesn't care. It's her duty as one of his friends to rope him into it.]