Urahra

Gold & Purple - 300

@DrakeHaze. Mr. D'Arkent would receive his clothes folded up neatly inside a tidy, brown-paper package. After removing the wrapping paper, he'd find a grey woolen coat over a maroon silk vest with black trousers. Dear Mr. D'Arkent, I hope this package finds you well. This coat ought to keep your friend warm on those misty Providence nights as he wanders the streets in search of criminals! It's thick and warm with a cushy interior lining. It's perhaps more functional than stylish, but I imagine your friend is a practical sort. I hope he'll find it most useful. Signed, Sarah Styrne-Napier

@DahStalker A package arrives at Ms. Kovachev's home in Providence, wrapped in the usual brown paper and tied off with a bow of sturdy twine. Once removed, the packaging would reveal a set of navy blue play-clothes fashioned after the sailors of the Orenian Navy. A card included in the package reads: Dear Ms. Kovachev, I hope the little fellow in your life enjoys these play-clothes! I chose blue corduroy for his attire. The dark color doesn't show dust and dirt quite as easily, so he can romp and ramble all day while still looking fresh and fancy. The fabric is sturdy, so it shouldn't wear out easily. No need to patch this little suit! Signed, Sarah Styrne-Napier

Tanith, the head curator and Chief of Research at the Northern Geographical Society, blinks as she reads the missive, confused. Serve the oppressive government? What? The NGS had made a vow not to be beholden to any government - and they'd made strong efforts throughout their entire existence to remain independent with no government oversight whatsoever? Indoctrination? Truly? When their policy had always been to avoid strong opinions and present facts in a politically neutral light? Even though this Matthieu man was threatening the NGS, she couldn't help but laugh just a little. "He doesn't know what he's talking about," she muses before taking her copy of the missive and feeding it into the fireplace of her home.

200 on Gold & Purple.

"If there's anything this profession has taught me, it's that no work is ever finished. It keeps evolving and taking new forms." "Very true. This art form is not so set in stone, like a painting. It is much more alive." “That's precisely why I have loved it so. The fact that it's always changing. A play lives anew every time it's retold.” "It's a lovely thought." She paused for a time. "I put everything I had into these plays, you know. They're not even really about the historical figures." "They're about me." "An autobiography written in verse. My voice, speaking through the mouths of individuals long dead." "It's a morbid thought, but one that reoccurs as I get older. As long as these plays live, as long as this theater lives… I can live too." When she turned toward him, there were tears threatening to spill down her furrowed cheeks. "You won't let me die, will you, James?" He took her hand in his. "Never. You will outlast the Empire as long as I have anything to say about it." The words made her smile. She gazed at where he sat amid the dark theater seats. It was there, in that stale, warm, and hazy darkness, that she had always felt most at home. Together, with him. "No one ever understood me quite so well as you, James," she said - and meant every word. "You've understood me better than anyone too," he replied. All her life, Yuliya Styrne had hungered for love. She suffered from what felt like an incurable loneliness of the soul. A gaping hollow in her heart, begging to be filled by someone, anyone. For a moment, There, In that theater, The hollow closed up. And she thought... Oh, what a joy it is. To find the one person in all the world who knows you fully and completely. All the darkened corners and crevices of your heart, laid bare to them. To have your soul fully understood by another soul. Whatever souls are made of, hers and his were forged from the same stuff. Yuliya knew that to be true. In that one moment, together in the dark theater, she found what she had been hungering for all her life. And so, when the end of her journey arrived but a day later, she met it peacefully and in wholeness. He would be the one to complete her story, for no one had ever understood her so well as him. It wasn't an ending. Not really. James would write the rest.

Somewhere in the Seven Skies, Yuliya Styrne can't help but smile.

Tanith regards the missive, which they had all agreed upon during that meeting in Celestine's office, with a small frown. Was there anywhere in the world where she could feel safe and at peace? She thought she'd found her long desired stability within the NGS - and yet... Yet now her family, her peace, her stability - all of those things were being threatened. Would it ever come to an end? She couldn't say.

Yuliya Styrne - better know by her famous pen name Bianca La Fleur - pauses in her spirited badminton game with Lorina Carrion up in the Seven Skies. "You know," she muses to her distant ancestor. "We wanted to make this the official sport of Providence, but it seems Haense took to it much more readily." "Da!" Lorina replies cheerily as she tosses the shuttle in the air for a serve. "The ball is called the 'birdie', after all." "Good point," Yuliya chuckles and readies her racquet to strike back. ((this post is meant for funny and is noncanon))

120 on Gold & Purple.

@Stevie Mr. Puller would receive a package in the mail wrapped in brown butcher paper and tied with twine. When he cuts the string and peels back the wrapping, he would find a blue coat, creamy yellow vest, and periwinkle slacks. Atop the folded garments is a note on thick cardstock: Dear Mr. Puller, Thank you kindly for your patronage and I hope this package finds you well. The suit and coat should be tailored to your specifications. However - if something fits poorly or needs alteration, don't hesitate to contact me. Working with you was a pleasure and I'm sure you'll be the most striking man in town in your new suit! Signed, Sarah Styrne-Napier

@Wholesome_Thomas James Chapel receives a brown paper package in the mail. When he removes the wrapping, he'd find a black suit coat with silver buttons, paired with a pair of tailored green trousers. On top of the folded garments is a card on thick, high quality cardstock. Written in green ink: Dear James, Long time no see. Papa mentioned you didn't have any funeral attire, so I went ahead and worked my magic. Don't ask how I got your measurements! I just have them, all right? Didn't anyone teach you not to look a gift horse in the mouth? Anyway, I'd like to see you again sometime. I'm working as a maid in the palace, so drop by and say hello. She meant a lot to me too, so... maybe it'd be nice to talk about it. You know what I mean, don't you? Your friend, Sarah

The gentleman in need of garments Knows that rags will not suffice! To appear at balls and fancy luncheons, He requires something very nice! So, what is a gentlesir to do, then - When his shirts are stained and socks need darning? All the tailor shoppes filled with ladies' clothes - He'll find no new suits to make him charming! But then - thank God! - he spots this flyer! And reads the poem written hence! He learns of Napier Men's Attire - Well crafted garments at a small expense! He resolves to write his order down, Tucked in envelope with payments attached - Then soon he'll receive a bespoke garment, Fresh and fancy, a perfect match! If this gentleman resembles you And you find yourself in need of clothes, Then look no further than you do - Napier's the one HE chose! Below this poem, you'll find a form. Help yourself! Fret not, they're free! Fill in the details of your order... The postman will send it straight to me! In no time at all, you'll receive your wish - Something pretty to suit your shape! Whether it's yellow as a golden fish Or deep and purple like a grape! So, I ask, what are you waiting for? Until you write, I can't begin! You won't regret it, on my honor. It's time to send your order in! OOC Examples This shop is Pay-What-You-Want. What does that mean? You can pay me whatever you feel like my skins are worth. I will accept any amount. I accept minas, USD, and trades. Rules 1. This shop is for masculine clothing, but not for exclusively male chars. Does your female or nonbinary char wear men's clothing? That's fine too! :) I'd love to skin for you. 2. I have the right to refuse an order for any reason. 3. Payment must be received before I begin work. 4. You may request one revision if you don't like the skin. If you'd paying USD, you can request three. WIP updates are available if you like. 5. I work at my own pace, which can be slow. If it's a rush job, let me know and I can make arrangements to get it to you faster. 6. The garments are ICly made by my character, Sarah. 7. Kindly ping me when you place an order. Form - IC - Name: Place of Residence: Describe Your Order: - OOC - IGN: Base Skin: Reference pics: Payment Method [minas, USD, art/skin trade]: Worklist 1. Geoff Turgon 2. 3. 4. 5.

Update! Big overhaul for new-and-improved adult Sarah.

Portrait of Yuliya Styrne-Napier, age 61. Painted in 1804 in honor of her knighthood and winning the Petrine Laurel. Dame Yuliya Styrne 13th of the First Seed, 1743 F.A. to 2nd of the Amber Cold, 1812 I.S.T Dame Yuliya Styrne - also known by her pen name Bianca La Fleur - was found dead today in the La Fleur theater in Providence, Oren. The famed playwright fell to her death from the edge of the stage while overseeing construction on the set of Lorin + Siegmund, a show she had been planning to stage in the upcoming Saint's Weeks. She was, uncharacteristically, without her cane - a fact which is believed to have contributed to her misfortune. Her cause of death, according to doctors who arrived on the scene, was a broken neck. She was 70 years old. Yuliya Styrne was born on the 13th of the First Seed, 1743 F.A. She grew up in a small, rural whaling village situated on the northern coast of Haense in Arcas. A tavernkeeper's daughter, she spent her early years learning to cook and brew alongside her father. A house fire in 1756 F.A. gave the Dame her distinctive burn scars, crippling her for life. The accident left her unable to walk without the aid of a cane. Styrne was most well known for her achievements in the theater. As a young woman, she wanted to become an actress. Unfortunately, her dramatic scarring and disability prevented her from ever achieving her dream. She instead channeled her love of theater into the written word. Her first play, Lorin + Augustus, reached publication in 1772 F.A. when Styrne was twenty-nine years old. It became an overnight success, winning the Wailer Society's Nikischruwe award and launching an extensive forty-year career in stagecraft for Styrne. She published a total of twelve plays over the course of her life before retiring from writing in 1808, when she began to suffer from arthritis of the hands. She continued to direct theatrical productions up until the day of her death. Aside from plays, her other works included several academic pieces on history. Styrne was an accomplished historian specializing in the Reformed Kingdom era as well as the Carrion & Chivay empires. Her pen name, Bianca La Fleur, was devised as a cheeky reference to the ancient Order of the White Rose. She was also an advocate for the rights of the disabled. The Styrne Act, a law in Providence which mandated handrails and elevators for public buildings, was named in her honor. A longtime lover of leisurely sports activity, Styrne also published a rulebook for badminton - one of her final publications prior to her retirement. Styrne is survived by her husband, Edward Napier, and her two adopted children John and Sarah Styrne-Napier. Per her will, she requested that several letters be published alongside her obituary addressed to the people she loved throughout her life. To E.K. - To E.R. - To S.B. - To E.A.N. - To H.P. - To S.N. and J.N. - To E.N. - To J.C. - OOC: A big thank you to everyone who roleplayed with Yuliya and made this character so special!

From the Desk of Dearest Theater-Lovers of Oren - One Saint's Week ago, I published the submissions for our Rising Stars of Providence Contest. You cast your votes and chose the drama which you felt most deserved the 100-mina grand prize. A carefully-selected panel of three judges then reviewed the submissions for themselves and compiled their own choices for the winner. After assessing everyone's favored submissions, we chose the ultimate winners. Before I publish the winners of the contest, however, I have some disappointing news - Overwhelmingly, the people chose the three-act play ANGUSTIA as their preferred play. All three of our judges also favored Angustia. Without a doubt, it is a beautifully and sensitively written drama - and it would have won if not for one particular incident that occurred during the judging period. The author of the play, who shall not be named to protect his privacy, behaved in an abominable way toward two of the judges on our panel. We will not go into the details of the incident, as it would be in poor taste to publish gossip. However, we at La Fleur Production company cannot, in good conscience, financially support such behavior. So it is with great regret that I must announce we were forced to disqualify Angustia. Without further ado, we would like to present the winners of the Rising Stars of Providence playwriting contest. Audience Choice: Angustia Nocturne to a Wild Flower The Kiss of the Stars Judge #1's Choice: The Curious Case of Mrs. Klept Nocturne to a Wild Flower Celestiality and Sin Judge #2's Choice: A Nocturne to a Wild Flower Angustia The Curious Case of Mrs. Klept Judge #3's Choice: The Curious Case of Mrs. Klept Nocturne to a Wild Flower The Kiss of the Stars WINNERS: Nocturne to a Wild Flower by Kaia Faust PRIZE: 100 minas @RaindropsKeepFalling The Curious Case of Mrs. Klept by Henry Penton PRIZE: 75 minas @CharmingCavalier The Kiss of the Stars by Olaurae Divadri PRIZE: 50 minas @TheBigBubbles Winners, please contact Dame Yuliya Styrne to receive your prize money and for further details on the staging of your shows! And a hearty thank-you to all who participated by writing and voting!

From the Desk of To the theater-lovers of Oren - numerous as I am certain you are! As you'll recall... four Saint's Weeks ago, I announced my Rising Stars of Providence playwrighting competition. In the announcement, I invited young writers from all across Almaris to submit their content. From among those submissions, I would choose the three best pieces and stage them at the La Fleur theater in Providence for the enjoyment and enrichment of all. Part of me worried that no one would answer my call. Well! I am delighted to state that was not the case. I received five short plays from five up-and-coming stage-crafters across the globe. Today, I would like to share those submissions with you, the literary elite of Oren, and give you the opportunity to vote for your favorite. You shall find the plays below. Review them thoroughly and make your selections by answering the questionnaire above. May the best, most compelling, most moving, and most beautiful drama prevail! Signed, Your Devoted Servant, The Curious Case of Mrs. Klept By Henry Penton @CharmingCavalier CAST Mr. Catus Advo - An established, yet crooked, jurist interested in only two things, his snuff and money. Mr. Moore Onn- The new apprentice of Mr. Advo, arriving on the day of our scene. He is idealistic and in pursuit of justice but will have difficulty finding it in the courts. Mrs. Klept O’Mayneeac - A heavy-set and dim-witted countrywoman. She has a kind nature. Mr. Pyr O’Mayneeac - A lively fellow wearing a stained dress stretched over his protruding gut. Celestiality and Sin by Zel @Kur0 CAST Khela -A delirious dark elven woman, obsessed with her lover Virallim, addicted to wine, has an overly elaborated speech pattern. Virallim -A self-deprecating high elven woman, quite modest with her emotions, idealizes death. Gehrartic -A witch hunter mage that controls flames. Angustia by B.L. @Sweet Plants CAST The Press - Five journalists. Some local, others foreign. Amelia Adnet-Molina - Imprisoned for cooperation with insurgents of the State. Daughter of Aurora. Niece of Maximillian. Claude Adnet - Woeful, fearful, and worried mother of Amelia. The Brothers Équité - Dead insurgents and classists. General Maximillian Molina - Authority of the State and Amelia's captor. ACT i | THE WORLD ACT ii | THE FAMILY ACT iii | THE TRUTH A Nocturne to a Wild Flower by Kaia Faust @RaindropsKeepFalling Dedicated to Basileos Balthazar Baelius, my late father. CAST Nadia - A young, modern woman of tomboyish fashion with brunette hair, and of a short stature. She left her home young, now returning to face old memories. Young Nadia - A younger, innocent, mirthful Nadia full of vigor, between the ages of 8 and 12. Bennett - Nadia’s late father, a stern, older man: tall. Rhett - Nadia’s lover, her significance, a soft voiced young man with dark hair of an average height with thin, pale features. The Kiss of the Stars by Olaurae Divadri @TheBigBubbles CAST Margaret Wihara - A teenage noblewoman and lover of art. Maria Arslan - A young woman in love with Margaret. Figure - A mysterious figure observing the scene with ill-intent.