(Plot) The Masquerade

[Trickster]

Come one, Come All
All are welcome at the
Sacramento Masquerade Ball!

Costumes are encouraged, but not required and all proceeds go directly to charity!

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It was only just approaching dusk, but the party was already in full swing; the convention center that had been booked for the night was well on it’s way to being packed, revelers flooding the dance floor in the center while booths full of costumes, accessories and props lined the walls. There was even a couple bar stations set up on the balconies; where those who wanted to drink and people watch were safely tucked out of the way. All of the booths were doing a brisk business as people who thought that they would come in street clothes suddenly decided that they just had to have a certain look for the night. There seemed to be a certain freedom is partying with a mask, a bit of anonymity that people seldom ever found in today’s over connected world.

Here, for one night, they could be anybody that they wanted to be.

And they were certainly taking advantage of that fact. Within just a few moments, an attendee could easily find a bevy of beautiful princesses (warrior and fair maiden), a few space cadets, three princess, several bad boys, two aliens and several storm troopers. It was enough to stun the mind and quite easy to see why people were getting caught up in the moment.

[Tally Benoit]

Tally's costume for the evening is skeleton, she got the woman's long sleeve shirt with leggings and finger-less gloves that features the skeleton printed upon them from a local specialty store. She also bought some face paints so she could do up her own face as a white, grinning skull. Around her neck is her Hedgespun pendant that she keeps under her shirt along with a belt pouch to store her wallet, she heads for the party.

Once within, she can't help but grin in excitement as she moves among the crowds. The dim of conversations fighting the music. The decor and seeing people dressed up, all seem to be enjoying themselves as she heads for the bar.

[Coco]

Coco's wasn't entirely decided upon her costume for the evening, even as she walked across the convention center's threshold. Oh, that wasn't to say that she was like the plebians that had to buy their costumes now. She was certainly wearing her guise for the evening. The trouble was, she couldn't quite say exactly what that guise was. In many ways it wasn't that different from outfits she'd worn before. The corset was new, as was the simple black mask which lay across her eyes, and the hat too, she supposed, but otherwise the outfit felt entirely usual.

Which...was the source of the dilemma. By dressing as herself, what was she saying? That she was her greatest fear, or a fear for others? Or was this merely donning the facade of her better self, of a slain dream, a strangled hope? Perhaps, instead, it was simply signaling that she, herself, was a facade. A creation of such artifice that there was no point at which the costume ended. Perhaps, in some twisted way, by donning a mask and pretending to be someone else she was not obscuring the truth, but rather unburdening it from the weight of the fabrication and contrivance.

The thought sent a shiver down Coco's spine and, despite the practice sword in her hand and all the cloth upon her, she felt a hint vulnerable.

She should have chosen a different costume...

Le costume!

[Terri Nutkins]

Terri felt like she hadn't been back five minutes when she had read about a masquerade party and the Beast went all crazy excited inside. Sure, Rick had been busy with stuff, L'aire too, but Terri was free and the idea of dressing up and going out for a night was simply too good to miss.

If she had had more time to prepare, Terri would have definitely broken out some raiment. As it was, she broke out a peacock inspired ball gown and matching mask to cover her face, along with a pair of silvery heels. Happy with her choice of attire, Terri caught a cab to the party.

And what a decision to go! All manner of outfits were on display and Terri found herself beaming as she took in the great atmosphere. With her petite purse (large enough for some essentials) dangling from her wrist, Terri headed for the bar to grab a drink.

Squee! Costume!!

[Trickster]

The crowd swirled together and parted again, everybody enjoying themselves as they danced and shopped. At the far end, a band started setting up, getting ready to provide a bit of live entertainment for the throng. Out on the dance floor a young man dressed in the finest of Renaissance garb stopped in front of Coco, falling to one knee as he swept his hat off and pressed it to his chest.

"Fair maiden, I fear I've been struck blind by your exquisite beauty, for I can see nobody but you. Would you favor me with a dance?"

At the bar, things were a bit less formal as alcohol loosened tongues and inhibitions and made it a bit harder for people to stay in character. A man wearing a bright red domino mask turned and gave Tessa a cheerful grin. "Well hello! You look . . . drop dead gorgeous." He laughed, clearly amused by his own wit. "Can I buy you a drink?"

A bit further down, a slim figure of indeterminate gender was dressed traditional ninja garb was talking to the bar tender, requesting a round of drinks. They turned and spotted Terri, throwing her a cheerful wink.

[Tally Benoit]

Tally looks towards the man next to her as he greets her, she blinks at the remark while feeling a slight blush. "Sure, why not?" She tells him, taking him up on his offer.

It's not like she's seeing anyone or doing anything tonight beyond enjoying herself at this party.

[Coco]

For some seconds Coco simply eyed the man as one would eye a flirtatious piece of fungous. She knew what this fool was about. Indeed she knew it well, because, ironically, she had behaved in a similar manner many times before.

"I will do you the favor of telling you to go get struck elsewhere," she replied with a sneer, "for I, too, seek beauty, and that is most certainly not what you possess. Now shoo, I will not waist my time on you."

A dismissive fluttering of her hand was shot at the kneeling man and then Coco stalked past him, making her way towards the bar. She'd spotted some sort of peacock squirrel there, a strange costume though one so exceptionally well done that she simply had to investigate it.

"Excuse me," Coco said from behind the peacock squirrel ( Terri Nutkins ), "but how did you make your costume so marvelously lifelike?"

[Terri Nutkins]

Waiting to order her drink, Terri caught the wink from the ninja and simply smiled in return, the corners of her lips rising before looking away to see what drinks were available. The voice she heard from behind her, however, surprised her. One that Terri wasn't expecting.

Smooth, Terri, she thought, forcing her mien behind the Mask fully, not wishing for anymore slip-ups tonight. The bushy red tail slowly dissolved beneath the illusion of the Mask, as did her ear-tufts and blackbird feathers in her hair, becoming dark low-lights in the vibrant red of her locks, hair the same colour as Coco's.

Behind the peacock mask, Terri grinned, looking down at her outfit before raising her eyes along with a hand towards Coco playfully. "Just something I felt appropriate for the evening, my dear; the peacock is an animal one can aspire to. Although I must confess that it pales in comparison to such wonderful garb such as yours. May I ask if you would gladly escort me to safety this evening?"

Life could be fun and a game was worth playing in pairs.

-1 Glamour to harden Mask

[Trickster]

There was honest pain and embarrassment on the young man's face as Coco so callously dismissed him. Standing up and stuffing his hat back on his head, the young man made his way through the crowd, only pausing when one of the vendors called him over and started talking in a low, earnest voice.

Up on the balcony, young man speaking with Tally was trying unsuccessfully to signal one of the bar tenders; unfortunately they all seemed to be busy further away. Finally he gave up and turned back, "So, um. I'm Mark and..."

"Ladies and Gentleman!!"

A booming voice drew every eye to the center of the stage, where a tall figure dressed in scarlet robes and a grinning skull mask waved his hands grandly. "We welcome you all to the Masquerade Ball! As it tis now the witching hour, our party shall truly begin! But be warned, not all is as it seems! There shall be tricks for those unwary and treats abound for those who care to see." Behind him, the guitarist started playing a low and compelling melody. "Tonight is the night for casting off our earthly cares and mortal masks. Be who you wish to be, for one night at least. With the tolling of the morning bells, all shall be as it once was..." And then with a sudden thunderclap and a plum of smoke, the masked figure disappeared from the stage.

The band launched into it's first number as the crowd flocked towards the stage, with only a few patrons still interested enough in the vendors to continue shopping. Two of the vendors leaned closely together, trying to hear each other over the music, before one of them turned away and walked towards the door, probably for a smoke break, judging by the way he was rooting through the pockets of his jacket.

[Tally Benoit]

Tally looks towards the stage and listens to what the man wearing a grinning skull mask says. Huh. She mentally muses before turning towards Mark.

"Tally." She introduces herself to Mark.