Topic: Thundercats! A Moment with ... Riley Lo

Chase Dawson

Date: 2011-08-14 13:40 EST
http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab51/RhyDinLittleTheatre/61.jpg Chase Dawson Staff Reporter

Once again, my wanderings into the personal psyche of the known and unknown of Rhy'Din's finest brings me to the Zen Building, located in the heart of the West End. A haven of calm amid a bustling city, nonetheless this handsome building has had its fair share of the sublime and the ridiculous, not to mention the heart-stopping and downright scary.

And while no one would suggest that it is entirely because of the management that these things have happened in the past, what can be said is that Riley Lo (formerly Riley O'Rourke) has carved out a safe, beautiful little niche in one of the city's wilder areas and opened it to everyone. Whether it is classes at the Black Cat Yoga & Dance Studio, tea at the Bodhi Tree cafe, the opportunity to star-spot on the sly, or the simple expedient of living in this setting, Riley Lo's Zen Building seems to offer just about everything. Of course, it was only a matter of time before I tracked her down for an interview.

The meeting is set for the rooftop gardens, between the ballet classes Mrs Lo herself teaches. For those who have not yet visited the Zen Gardens, it is a beautiful little eye of tranquility amid the storm of business that is the West End; a perfect place for meditation and quiet, or even just to grab a few moments of peace with yourself. When we find her, Mrs Lo is refreshingly down-to-earth, dressed practically for the classes she teaches in rehearsal clothing that looks well-loved. The sharp line of her profile is unsoftened by the severe restraining of her hair in a very practical bun; she is the epitome of ballet madams ....except, perhaps, for the Raybans protecting her eyes from the afternoon sunlight.

Where to begin, with such a lot to cover in a single interview" Since arriving in Rhy'Din only two years ago, Riley Lo has made quite an impression, proving to have many strings to her bow, be it as the former Minister of Justice, the lawyer, the ballet dancer, the teaching madame, and the owner of the Zen Building, to name but a few. But the question must be asked ....what was it that brought her to Rhy'Din in the first place"

The answer is prefaced with a moment of silence, and then a warm laugh, which instantly eases the air of intimidating confidence that hangs around the indomitable Mrs Lo. "It was a mistake the first time," she admits, and even this small piece of information has me instantly intrigued. Many people come to Rhy'Din by mistake, but few make the impression that the then Riley O'Rourke has.

"You see, it was when I was still working as a Preternatural Defence Attorney, in Tucson, Arizona . I was defending a mage who had been accused of fraud and when the jury came back with a guilty verdict, he blamed me, of course." There is a pause here, and one can only imagine what is running through her mind as she shakes her head. "So, to prove that he wasn't a fraud, he opened a portal in the middle of the courtroom and shoved me through it. I ended up here, and he was brought up on charges of kidnapping and attempted murder, so he's serving 25-30 in a maximum security prison."

Some might say a lucky escape, but it is this reporter's opinion that Rhy'Din came out best in this turn of events. Why did Riley choose to remain, though, with such a promising career left behind her on Earth' An expression of heart-breaking sadness flickers momentarily across Mrs Lo's face, and for a moment, I regret having asked at all. But she is gracious enough to reply to my query; however vague the response may seem, some things are best kept private.

"It was a decision born of a desperate need to get the hell out of Tucson. I needed a fresh start, where no one knew me, where I could build the sort of life I'd always wanted."

As mentioned above, Mrs Lo is the owner of the Zen Building, a project that seems to have taken shape very shortly after she arrived here at the Nexus-hub. Being a landlady to some of the city's most recognisable faces - Jonathan Granger and Fiora Shantalaine, among others - is not the sort of career move most of us would be willing to take on. What drew Riley to the prospect of making other people's homes her responsibility"

"I needed income and a place to stay," she grins, the expression lighting up her face in a charming manner. "I'd been squatting in this building for a month or so. It had great bones, you know" And I'd always wanted a mixed-use building, where people could live and work in the same space. And I needed a place for a shrine. So I went to the Goblin Bank, met an amazingly shrewd Personal Banker, and the rest, as they say, is history."

The shrine in question, of course, can be found here in this setting, the focal point of the Zen Gardens atop the Zen Building. Religion and personal choices aside, though, what I am digging shamelessly for here is gossip, and Mrs Lo offers it with surprising aplomb when questioned about her tenants.

"I love them all. They're like extended family. My best friend, Mataya De Luca, lives here with her fiance . David and I used to have these competitions with them..." As much as I would love to know more, I suspect many of our readers will understand why Mrs Lo trails off here with a blush. "Never mind that."

Speaking of Ex-Constable Hotstuff, David , whom Mrs Lo is alleged to have met while working as Minster of Justice when he was still Constable Hotstuff, I am curious to know if romances in the workplace are something this taciturn woman recommends or disapproves of.

"I love that nickname for David, by the way. Please tell Emmet that for me." Editor's Note - do not tell Emmet anything of the sort. His head is big enough as it is.]

"In hindsight, it probably wasn't the wisest career decision I could have made," Mrs Lo admits with commendable honesty. "Getting involved with David while he was technically my subordinate. It didn't....It gave the force the wrong message, I think. But the heart wants what the heart wants and I'm eternally grateful that we met. He's the centre of my universe."

"It's not that interviewer's words)]," she adds, when invited to expand her statement. "I'm sure there are situations where it's perfectly acceptable for colleagues to hook up, you know" But when one of them is a public official and the other is his or her employee, it's probably not the best idea. Compound that with the fact that we were working on a very important case together and he was in line for a very big promotion ....It could have been messy."

The fact that it all seems to have turned out for the best, if the loved-up look of Mrs Lo is anything to go by, is tactfully not mentioned further. Moving on, however, and I'm sure everyone is by now aware that the arts seem to be a new love of Mrs Ex-Constable Hotstuff's. It is no secret that Riley Lo has been spreading her thespian wings in a series of productions over the past year; her ballets have drawn some high praise from all walks of life throughout the city, and in only a few months' time, we will be seeing Riley Lo on the silver screen for the first time. What is it that draws her to performing"

She smiles softly as she answers, offering a glimpse of the gentle woman inside that forceful package she presents to the world. "It's in the blood, I think. My grandmother was one of the last 'real' geisha in Kyoto. My mother was groomed to become one, but instead opted to emmigrate to Boston to attend Harvard University." After a pause, no doubt to gather her thoughts following this reminiscence. "I knew that I wanted to be a ballerina when I was three and I pushed my mother to let me take dance lessons. She refused for the longest time, not wanting to be accused of being a stage mother, but I insisted and she eventually gave in."

A fact for which we, the theater-going public of Rhy'Din, should all be grateful for. Of stage and screen performance, however, which does this prima ballerina turned actress prefer" Is there any difference between the two"

"I haven't actually started filming yet .... ....though from what I hear, it'll be long, hard days and many, many takes. I think, though, that I'll end up preferring the stage. The immediate reaction of the audience is something that just can't be beat and if you screw up, it goes away as soon as you leave the stage. If you screw up or act poorly on film, well ....it's there forever."

For all her high profile in the public eye, Riley Lo remains something of a mystery to many people. We know her name, we can pick her out of a crowd, and yet we know little else about her. What truly interests the mysterious Riley Lo' Is it people, places, or events that set her mind to turning and her emotions running wild"

Her eyes grow wide at this last question; the embarrassed laugh that escapes assures me that her mind has gone straight to something not suitable for print. "Um....I'm gonna assume you don't mean..." Breaking off, she hides her face in her hands for a moment, and I feel a warm sort of satisfaction at the knowledge that I have utterly nonplussed the always calm and in control Riley Lo. "No, of course you don't mean that ....I suppose it's a combination of people and events that capture my attention."

This reporter is not entirely heartless, and since it is clear that Riley is at a loss for words, the next question seeks to clarify the answer she is looking for. What does a person or event need to be to attract the interest or friendship of Riley Lo"

"Wow," she says with an impressed smile. "No fluff pieces from you, huh?" During a momentary pause, Mrs Lo licks her lips and takes a deep breath, a thoughtful frown creasing her brow as she considers her reply. "Well," she begins slowly, "I suppose people who are as passionate as I am really attract me. People who have a certain ....driving force within them." She breaks off and shrugs helplessly. "It's hard to quantify, you know?"

Hard it may be, but one only needs to look at the people Mrs Lo surrounds herself with to understand. Duci Lovasz, David Lo, Mesteno, Daniel Tej, Mataya De Luca ....they all possess a certain abundance of energy, a lust for living and making the lives of those they can touch somehow more enjoyable, one way or another. And these, of course, are qualities that Mrs Lo shares with them in equal abundance. Rhy'Din is fortunate to have attracted them all, and the thousands of others who share these tendencies. Without them, we would not be the vibrant city we are.

Mrs Lo is known to be a big supporter of the smaller businesses that spring up in the city almost everyday. The Bon Bon Boutique, in particular, enjoys her patronage openly and without reserve; she is also remembered by many for her brief but courageous stand as Minister of Justice last year. If she could be Governor for just one day, what would she insist upon for the good of the city at large"

This garners a low whistle as the woman before me considers her reply. "I don't envy Fio ....uh, Governor al Amat, I mean. She has a tough job, trying to govern a city that doesn't want it or really even need it. But, I guess what I'd do is set up wards that each function as a little kingdom in and of their own ....Most cities have districts in them, wards, uh ....whatever else they're called, and they report to the Mayor and sit on the City Council. I think Rhy'Din needs that. Businesses and industry and the arts and hell, even visitors have representation, but what about the people" They don't have anyone to speak for them. The Governor's too busy dealing with all the councillors to possibly have time to meet with citizens' groups, you know?"

And in the current crisis, the Governor has even less time on her hands. I'm sure we all appreciate the work that is going into protecting the health and safety of the citizens. Mrs Lo's suggestion is one to ponder for the future, no"

After opening the Zen Building, starting the Black Cat Yoga & Dance Studio, and playing an integral part in the ongoing popularity of the Shanachie Theatre, it might almost seem that there is little else that Riley Lo could do to make her mark on the city of Rhy'Din. I have heard, however, that plans are in place to open a hotel, together with her husband, David, and a former flame of hers, Mr Daniel Tej. If this is true, I am sure our readers would be thrilled to hear all about it from the woman herself.

"Oh, it's totally true. We recently closed on the building and are in the process of hiring an architect and a construction firm to begin work by early August. We're planning on bringing a bit of Monaco to Rhy'Din ....There will be a casino, a five-star restaurant, a roof-top bar and pool, and three floors of luxurious suites. Oh, and a day spa, too."

I, for one, will be booking my holiday time to spend in this promised paradise of sumptuous luxury and ridiculous pampering almost the moment the proposed hotel opens. And I expect to see many of my readers doing the same. Sadly, however, the allotted time for this interview draws to a close, and before the children of the Black Cat Yoga & Dance Studio start clamoring to have their Madam Lo returned to them, I have time for one more question.

We know that her friendship with Mataya De Luca guarantees that the balletic grace of Riley Lo will be a permanent treat for those who avidly follow the Shanachie's productions, and that her performance in A Murder Of Crowes will capture for all time the gorgeousness of the woman sitting with me right now. Aside from hotels, theatre, filming, and spending copious amounts of time with her equally gorgeous husband, what can Rhy'Din expect from Mrs Riley Lo in the weeks and months to come"

Again, Riley laughs, clearly embarrassed by my compliments. "I suppose more of the same. It's not terribly exciting, I know. But after nearly five years of living in the very public spotlight and having every facet of my life and career picked over and placed under the microscope, I'm craving a little boredom. No more saving the world for a while. I'm just going to concentrate on raising my puppy and being married and spending as much time with my friends as I possibly can. Normalcy is something that's unfamiliar to me."

Normalcy in the Lo's lives" Will Rhy'Din be able to cope?

(The Black Cat Yoga & Dance Studio will be presenting demonstrations of ballet and martial arts at the upcoming Fine Arts Festival, to be held in Founders Park from the 19th to the 21st of August, as well as Mr Tej offering free samples of the promised luxury hotel's gourmet menu.)