It's a Small (Brave New) World After All - 2nd Annual World's Fair

[bravenewmods]

[It’s been a long year in this brave new world, in which the known span of human civilization has expanded more than ever before - but also come together. Between the attacks on Glacier and Union and the war with Gigas, an event like the World’s Fair feels especially poignant.

Union is making the best of it, too. Hosting the Fair for the second year in a row, the organizers have decided to use this attention to show off their newly rebuilt city, encouraging visitors to tour their refurbished industrial district and enjoy local culture at a theater or on the radio. Once more, said Entertainment District has decided to play host, and any number of booths and stalls can be seen lining the streets, with special discounts available to fairgoers at local businesses.

Excitement is running high - but so is tension. Gigas has been formally invited this year, and accepted with gusto; so has Glacier. Gigan tourists are easily identified by the propensity they have for taking pictures of everything (using much smaller cameras than anyone in Union has ever seen!) and for conversing in very loud voices about how quaint and old-fashioned and charming everything is. Will the goodwill the two cities forged after the Emperor’s fall manage to withstand the might of Gigas’s nationalism? Only time will tell.

Time, and the goodheartedness of the Union people. It’s time for the second World’s Fair!]

Comments

[divine_braid]

Oh, what the hell... [muttering...] Why not?

[Duo tentatively raised his hand.]

Sure, I'll give it a go.

[actsmagnificent]

[ ...Her mechanic?

Well, okay. Haruka offers this bold gentleman the hat. ] If you would, sir.

[ What sort of prompt will he draw? ]

[divine_braid]

[He pulls out a paper and looks at it.]

Haruka sees Duo at a local café and falls in love. They are too shy to approach them.

[He coughed, though the paper shifted enough that Haruka could probably see what it was.]

Uhhh... can we pick again?

1/2

[actsmagnificent]

Unfortunately...

[ ...the world of the stage is a cruel one, she means to say. Eliminating the fickle whims of chance lessens the enjoyment for the audience, she means to say. ]

2/3 whoops

[actsmagnificent]

[ Then she gets a look at the paper. ]

[actsmagnificent]

...sometimes that's necessary.

[ HERE HAVE THE HAT AGAIN PICK FAST. She'll smile at the audience to thank them for their patience, totally not rattled at all! ]

[divine_braid]

[He was a little startled at the hat being shoved at him so quickly, but sure. He can definitely pick again.]

Haruka is the leader of an organization. Duo is their loyal second-in-command.

[Well... he wasn't sure about being a 'loyal second-in-command', but whatever. It was better than the last one.

He handed it over.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka reads it. Her eyes narrow. She stands up taller, and, putting the hat away somewhere (who knows where?? a mystery), looks down at him from above. ]

Well?

[ Her voice is so cool, you could save an Amaura from heatstroke with it. The scene has begun. ]

[divine_braid]

[Woah... no warning? Duo looked momentarily startled, and then nodded a little.]

Well? [He straightened up a little, trying to work his way into character.] Well. The reports are in. I gathered them myself and was just bringing them to you.

[He hesitated for just a second and then held out his hand, like he was giving her a folder with paper in it.]

[actsmagnificent]

I see. [ Haruka accepts the "folders" and flips through them. ] And? What of the enemy encroaching upon our shores?

[ .....no one ever said the Union Divine Theater put on good plays. ]

[divine_braid]

Nothing we can't handle.

[He clasped his hands behind his back. Figures... military... so not his strong point.]

I have full confidence in our abilities.

[He was loyal, right? That worked, yes?]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka nods. A shadow of anxiety passes over her face. She turns to the audience, clearly pained. There is a sigh of longing floating over everybody's heads now. ] For it to have come to this....should they set even one foot upon this sacred land, I will have betrayed my duty. And will the people I protect forgive that slight...?

[ THE UNION DIVINE THEATER DOES NOT PUT ON GOOD PLAYS. ]

[divine_braid]

[Duo coughed and then shook his head.]

There will be no need, for we will not allow them. [He was slowly picking up things now... speaking patterns, dramatics.] I, your loyal second-in-command, shall lead the forces forward. We can stop them before they reach our borders. There is still time.

[All the serious expressions are go!]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka nods. ] Make haste. All those who fall protecting this land shall be avenged.

[ A gesture to the "borders" on the other side of the stage. Her next barked command has real authority behind it, as if she's actually used to leading some kind of fighting team.

Weird, for an actress. ] Move out!

[divine_braid]

[Duo had to suppress a small jump at her sudden authority level change, but he nodded, giving a sharp salute (or as sharp as one not used to military training could provide) and turned on his heel. Should he leave? Did that mean the end of the scene? Well... he started for the edge, but then paused.]

Still... [He turned back with a grave look.] Good luck.