[Day 5 - EN] The Malay Benefit Halloween Gala

[Dapper Dog]

The Malay Benefit Halloween Gala was a Black Tie Masquerade affair, and some of the most influential regional politicians, business leaders, and celebrities were on hand at the Mudaba Adin Convention Center overlooking the beautiful scenery of the waterfront.

The affair was high class and open to those who could afford the steep price per seat, all proceeds of course going to the Malay Beneficiary Group. Mr. Chang of Chang Associates looks quite proud of the event and is on hand to speak about the good his work has done and introduce anyone willing to the leadership behind the Malay Beneficiary Group.

OOC: Contestants are given tickets as it would be good for publicity for the UNJE, otherwise, it is an expensive ticket that requires the Wealth benefit to cover or appropriate contacts or connections.

[Tsehay Moqe]

Dressed in a beautiful native inspired haute couture gown, Tsehay Moqe was here, no her scene but this was what came with duties of the job.

[Galatea]

It had been a while since she'd been to such an event as this but she needed to be there for a few reasons. Networking was one, be seen in her halloween dress was another, keeping an eye out for the goings on of the influential was the third

She would be seen tonight, some might even break their necks to ogle her. She was prepared for that.


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Form 2

[Bee Haw]

Bea had been invited to attend as the guest of the Second Counsellor to the President of the Africa Central area of the LDS church.

He was a handsome young man, born in Ethiopia. Dawit Hakim. A rising leader of the local LDS church. Glad to invest in worthy charitable causes.

He was dressed as King Solomon and she was dressed as the Queen of Sheba (called Makeda in Ethiopian writings, including the Kebra Nagast and the Book of Aksum), with a fabulous gold dress and black wig he had provided to the purpose, inspired by an old movie about the two figures. (But a more modest version with full sleeves and a modest neckline!)

She was excited to be the Queen of the South, the Queen of Aksum, the same area that she had traveled with her host family to study the Tigray bees. Their white honey was surely one of the many extraordinary treasures that Makeda had gifted Solomon!

She had told him that she had gotten her powers from eating the white honey found in that underground cave. Ancient pilgrim's nourishment left on the journey to the promised land?

She watched curiously what others were wearing to a 'Halloween' event. They were wearing the kind of wholesome modest costumes the church permitted. Nothing with a hint of the demonic or witches or other evil occult figures.

[Uri-el]

The angel had a small problem with masks and the fire that was his eyes, but one of the few features of looking abnormal is that dressing relatively normally became a costume all its own. The hair dye had flowed like wine, the silk had been expensive--for some--, but Malik took little notice.

He looked uneasily from face to face, waxing curious as to who precisely fancied themselves a true force in the world.

[Iris Pythia]

Iris was not exactly a fan of this type of event but her mom's phone call had left little doubt as to her expectations. So with a sigh she'd gone to get ready.

The elite had opted for a black pantsuit with the only concession to Halloween being a mask which she'd spent a couple days putting together.

Might as well be on theme.

[Dapper Dog]

Mr. Chang took to the stage, wearing a penguin mask, and said, “Thank you, and much thanks to our donors and everyone for coming out, tonight is about giving back to the communities that need it the most. I want to take a few minutes to say that I’m humbled by the outpouring and support for this cause and I feel blessed to stand here and see this community come together for such a good cause.”

He finished with, “So I would like to introduce my silent partner, Miss Zara Musa of the Malay Beneficiary Group, please give her a warm welcome.”

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A crimson-orange portal opened up on the stage and a Malaysian woman took the stage wearing a beautiful dark gown. She gave Mr. Chang a hug and then spoke to the group in Malay, translation on the screens, “Welcome to everyone, and we at the Malay Beneficiary Group are humbled by the donations from this community and support for this worthy cause. I will be brief and just say that there is a silent auction for a lunch with Sakura Red, and other amazing opportunities. And I want to thank Mr. Chang for his support, and all of you here tonight.”

Then the party gets under way.

[Lil Disaster]

Lil Disaster was present, he just wore his normal costume.

Good enough.

[Dapper Dog]

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Ynez was in a beautiful elegant witch-like gown, standing nearby to Miss Zara Musa and greeting high dollar donors.

[Thousand Miles]

Thousand Miles was there, dressed in his tuxedo and mask. Miles had suspected who might be behind the Malay Benefit, but still was not fully prepared for the impact that seeing Zara again had upon him. As Chang and Zara gave their speeches, Miles applauded along with everyone else, unable to take his eyes off of Zara.

When an opportunity arose, he attempted to approach her.

[Uri-el]

Malik was a bit surprised. Zara. Chang. Pantheon? Too bad none of them worked as Captain Accountancy. That would come in useful at a time like this.

He wended his way over to Bea, smiling politely, if a little coolly, at her guest.

"Good evening," he began. "It is good to see you here. Who is this?"

[Dapper Dog]

Thousand Miles was there, dressed in his tuxedo and mask. Miles had suspected who might be behind the Malay Benefit, but still was not fully prepared for the impact that seeing Zara again had upon him. As Chang and Zara gave their speeches, Miles applauded along with everyone else, unable to take his eyes off of Zara.

When an opportunity arose, he attempted to approach her.

She had a glass of wine in hand and said as he approached in Malay, “Thousand Miles, what a surprise to see you. It’s been years. How are you?”

[Thousand Miles]

She had a glass of wine in hand and said as he approached in Malay, “Thousand Miles, what a surprise to see you. It’s been years. How are you?”

"I'm doing well, Zara," Miles replied gamely, unable to look away. "You're looking great tonight. What.. what brings you to Ethiopia?"

[Dapper Dog]

“I am working with the Malay Beneficiary Group, and I am trying to help my community back home, you know like we used to before you went all hardcore Influencer,” she joked. “I came here to work with Mr. Chang, and he has been a great partner in getting our name and business notoriety.”

“Are you planning to donate?”

[Thousand Miles]

“I am working with the Malay Beneficiary Group, and I am trying to help my community back home, you know like we used to before you went all hardcore Influencer,” she joked. “I came here to work with Mr. Chang, and he has been a great partner in getting our name and business notoriety.”

“Are you planning to donate?”

"Of course," Miles replied with a smile. "How could I refuse, especially with a friend as spokesperson for this cause? I imagine Mr. Chang found you very ... persuasive as well. But we're rather far from Malaya here, I'm just ... surprised you decided to base yourself here."

[Dapper Dog]

“I go where the work goes,” she said. She brushed off the comment about persuasion, “I doubt I I am that persuasive, we just had a good reason for him to invest. At the end of the day, as long as we can do some good for the people that need it, then the means justified the ends.”

“You’re latest content has been really good, I can see the UNJE has made you more popular than ever.”

[Galatea]

Slowly but surely, Galatea had made her way towards the high donor section. Ynez being there gave a lot of the game away but not entirely was this a pantheon operation or just an opportunity to charm the wealthy and powerful of the city? She had no doubt.

She was particularly vexed at the idea Pantheon could get their claws into her fellow contestant.

''Ynez!'' Galatea called out cheerfully ''How have you been?''

Ynez was not the only social monster here today

[Dapper Dog]

Slowly but surely, Galatea had made her way towards the high donor section. Ynez being there gave a lot of the game away but not entirely was this a pantheon operation or just an opportunity to charm the wealthy and powerful of the city? She had no doubt.

She was particularly vexed at the idea Pantheon could get their claws into her fellow contestant.

''Ynez!'' Galatea called out cheerfully ''How have you been?''

Ynez was not the only social monster here today

Seeing Galatea brought a smile to her face ad she greeted her in Spanish, “Galatea, I am surprised to see you. Are you looking to donate?”

“Oh that gown is amazing,” she said warmly with admiration.

[Bee Haw]

Malik was a bit surprised. Zara. Chang. Pantheon? Too bad none of them worked as Captain Accountancy. That would come in useful at a time like this.

He wended his way over to Bea, smiling politely, if a little coolly, at her guest.

"Good evening," he began. "It is good to see you here. Who is this?"

Bea smiled brightly to see Malik.

"Oh, hello Malik. You look angelic, as always! Very fashionably so, tonight."

"Let me introduce you. This is Second Counselor Dawit Hakim. He plays an important role in advising the area President of Central Africa, for my church, which includes Ethiopia. The Church of Latter Day Saints."

"Counselor, this is Malik Bekhit el-Eskandarani, a fellow elite contestant for the program that I am in."

"Can you guess our costumes?"

[Thousand Miles]

“I go where the work goes,” she said. She brushed off the comment about persuasion, “I doubt I I am that persuasive, we just had a good reason for him to invest. At the end of the day, as long as we can do some good for the people that need it, then the means justified the ends.”

“You’re latest content has been really good, I can see the UNJE has made you more popular than ever.”

"Thanks!" Miles said with a smile. "The spotlight from the UNJE has been amazing. Engagement on my videos is up, like, a thousand percent. It's like a dream!"

"You would've been great at this sort of thing if you'd stuck with it," Miles suggested, with a tinge of regret. "But I know your interests were elsewhere. Though, it looks like things are working out pretty nicely for you." He gestured toward her beautiful gown, then towards the charity gala overall.