[Event] The Red Masquerade

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[attr="class","header1"]The Red Masquerade

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"A mysterious missive containing a letter and a mask has been sent to all characters. Saint Valentines has invited all of them to his masquerade ball, but a spell has been cast on this fateful night. Two characters have been linked with the red string of fate. If the pair can find each other by the dance’s end, their love with blossom. But if they cannot, then their fate may not be so clear."[break][break]

"On the fateful night, moonlight illuminates a grand castle cutting through a mask of fog. Music fills every corner of the storied building centering on a lavish ballroom. Drinks and food are laid out in abundance for the guests. St. Valentine welcomes his beloved attendees, "Whatever reason brings you here, I wish you well on your quest, may it be for love or something else.""

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The time for the Red Masquerade has arrived! Pairings are listed below. Not all signed up characters had a romantic pairing. Platonic and random pairings were used for those that didn't have a romantic one. Everyone should have received a message about their mask and instructions on how to use it. To recap, a sword icon in the bottom right corner of your screen is where you'll find your masks. Remember to select your mask before posting or you'll reveal who you are! Use your detective skills to figure out who is beneath each mask and find your destined partner![break][break]

This thread serves as the main ballroom for the event. All characters may freely mingle here. You are free to start your own private or open threads for individual characters in the event board should they leave the ballroom. The Runway can be found here so feel free to post what your character is wearing to the event.[break][break]

The event will close on Feb. 29th.[break][break]

Important Notes

- No posting templates are allowed.[break]
- All event posts must be made using the Mask NPC Profile. Any posts made without the NPC mask will be deleted.[break]
- Tags will not work. Be clear on who you are addressing.[break]
- As this is the first event of its kind on Midsummer, bugs and issues are to be expected. Let staff know if you need any help![break][break]

Pairings

Romantic[break]
Gemini Enigma & Jin-Hwa Mei[break]
@asuka & @jazspar[break]
Calanthe Willowlace & Luca Oleander[break]
Amaris Silvershade & @moonflower[break]
Guinivere Marcel & @cheshire[break]
Albert Alder Coult & Quinn Allegra Stone[break]
Ayianna Belle Sivané & Marcellus Yong[break][break]

Platonic[break]
Annalise Lorelai Luce & Cassie Eloise Enigma[break][break]

Random[break]
Sutton Elizabeth Bane & Tsukishima "Suki" Kagome[break]
@noctis & Talia Avedon[break]
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[Gemini Enigma]

Luca Oleander

He couldn't help but luxuriate in the glittering anonymity of the evening. Not that he faced consequences for much besides sadness anyway, but tonight's memories would be tied to nothing, shiny dreams that needed no following through come morning. It was paradise. He could weep in a corner and no one would look twice, save to avoid the bowl from which he'd filled his cup.

He swept into the sea of masks with an easy stride, eyes sliding over the silk-swathed, dazzling bodies in attendance. Even with faces hidden, it was easy to be drunk on the beauty of the fae. And he was even more in his element when heady with influence. So, who to talk to? Who to dance with? The night was young, just like everything else in Faerie.

[Gemini Enigma]

It would be curious to see how this night tipped the balance of power, particularly if anyone's identity was revealed after the fact. He was eager to see the results. Reputation was power in Faerie, after all, except of course for those to whom it was a detriment. Especially an unfounded one. There was no personal bitterness there, of course—at least not tonight, when he was no one. Just a pair of eyes behind a glittering mask, one of many in a crowd.

At least, that was how he appeared. He would never be just one in a crowd. Still, it would certainly be an experience to try it out for a night.

The mask he'd been given brought an amused grin to his face. Whoever Saint Valentines was, they had quite the sense of humor. Mask and invitation in tow, he'd arrived at the promised location at the promised time. As was characteristic of his mask, he leaned against the rail on the second level overlooking the main ballroom. Black feathers glinting off the light, a tell-tale smirk painted his features as he observed the party-goers. To what would this night bring, he wondered.

His eyes swept the crowd, noting the variety of masks. With their identities hidden, the attendees could mingle without fear of repercussions. At least, as along as they remained unknown. For now, he'd analyze and observe. Tricks would be for later.

He stood at the edge of the dance floor, cautiously observing the crowd. The room was full enough to almost make him uneasy, but then again, it had been his own choice to attend. Hopefully, having a half-full goblet in hand would keep him from being swept into the tide of the dance; the song that was playing from seemingly nowhere was at a quick pace, right now, and skirts and capes swirled in a dizzying array of glamour as the masked partygoers changed hands again and again. Would being anonymous break down some of the borders between the Courts, between classes, between land and sea? The uniting factor of the night was beauty and splendor, which he could at least appreciate as he watched.

[Guinivere Marcel]

It was events like this she would have to get used to. Anonymity though, not so much. Even if she found herself much more comfortable in the shadows, it wasn't a blessing at a ball like this, where no one knew anything. The night might be full of potential, but with all potential came danger, no matter how beautiful or lovely it might seem in the moment. She didn't have to force herself to smile or play a farce now. She could just be, but like anywhere else, there was danger in any position. Dancing was as dangerous game as any other, and tonight she was playing with in the grand arena. 

[Annalise Lorelai Luce]

She was a dancer at heart, but she was a dancer when dancing was an art, not when dancing was a challenge. There was an art in precarious propositions, but it was the art of who could be the first to draw, who could be the first to fire, who could land the most devasting blow. This was more of that, a game in which she didn't really understand the rules. But finding? She had been searching all her life. Finding wouldn't be that difficult. She had been searching her whole life anyway

[Talia Avedon]

At this point in her life, she had grown used to strangeness. But this was like someone had taken a snowglobe and shook it, red streamers on the wall, roses falling in piles, towers of champagne, glittering pink light covering everything, soft white faux snow falling down. The lighting was all rose-colored, like she was looking at the world through rose-colored glasses, like everything was made of candy. She had never been an optimist. She was always cynical, always suspicious, always rubbing away the false gilt and glitter. But this was as real as any dream, and it was certainly beautiful. 

[Ayianna Belle Sivané]

It was odd to feel free for once, like a dove that had been thrown free or a willow that had torn up its roots. She was no longer clinging to a bank or wishing for water. Rain had come and the drought had broken, and for once she could properly breathe.

Of course, there was no rain here, not really. But she was free because she was alone. She was free because she had no expectations weighing her down. There was snow, and that all melted into water in the end. The snowflakes caught in her hair, on the tip of her nose. She could help but laugh, just a little. It wasn't cold like expect. It dissolved the moment it touched the gathered roses in the corners. But all of this just felt truly magical. The roses on her dress and in her hair matched the roses on the tables, and she wanted to pluck on and add it to her confection. But first, she would dance. 

[Gemini Enigma]

He filled his goblet and surveyed the room, in search of a target with whom to converse. What did a person's choice of mask reveal? Perhaps nothing at all? There was one mask in particular, a sunburst skull, which drew his attention. Death had courted him shyly, so perhaps it was time for him to answer. He took a long, slow sip, lips curling into a slight smile beneath his silver mask, then set the goblet aside on a draped table and approached.

He wondered if she was his age or slightly older—it was difficult to tell with the fae. This would be quite a curious conversation. "Good evening," he greeted. "Do you wish ill to this revel or just have a taste for the macabre?"

[Cassie Eloise Enigma]

It was interesting to see the world leveled. Masked fae milled around, flirting, arguing, negotiating. But it wasn’t like they could recognize those with whom they were engaging. Tonight, everyone was concealed. On the same level. She watched them all from the crowd's edges, a flute of champagne rolling between her fingers. Her eyes flit from mask to mask, analyzing colors and mannerisms, playing a game with herself. How many identities could she guess correctly? She would never know. Tonight she was an observer. She didn’t want to participate. Didn’t want to instigate anything. She wouldn’t make that mistake again.

[Jin-Hwa Mei]

It was rare for her to find herself at such events as this. Of course, with a regular position in court, she was invited, but she found herself less and less interested in parties. They simply didn't appeal to her anymore. Whatever she was searching for there, she hadn't found. Whatever she needed, she would have to make or take for herself. She knew perfectly well that this ball wasn't real. Nothing so lovely could be. The roses didn't wilt and the pages of this storybook would never close. And if she played her cards just right, then her story might never end either. 

[Tsukishima "Suki" Kagome]

The world seemed to tilt and twirl with her movement, circling around the power in the room like planets in orbit. She didn't have to look to see it. She didn't have to see to feel it. She had always been able to feel-- power, pulsing like a heartbeat, danger, running like a current. This was a current. This was a tide that pulled you under if you moved too fast. And now she was tired of metaphors, and she was ready to move into the practical. She turned towards the champagne table. She could smell it already, a heady thing. Perhaps many would meet her there. Or perhaps everyone was too busy getting pulled under.

[Marcellus Yong]

The event would turn out to be an interesting experience, that much he was sure of. He'd been to his fair share of balls and galas, but never one where he was hidden behind a mask. He supposed there was a strange sort of comfort in the anonymity of it all. He supposed it made it easier, in a way. But then again, with the fae, was anything ever truly easy?

The glittering splendor of it all was one he could appreciate. Mingling on the outskirts of the crowd, he took a moment to admire the strange, yet beautiful, masks that adorned everyone's faces. Everyone had put so much effort into making themselves grand for this event. That, at least, was something he could admire. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. Interesting indeed.

[Talia Avedon]

She turned once, twice, her eyes catching a boy glittering and golden, a gold mask and gold shirt. He seemed almost familiar to her. Not quite, but like she had met him before, a haze through the water. She preferred to be on the edge of the circle. She preferred to avoid the spotlight. But tonight she might revel in anonymity, and she might do what she dared. Was that beauty? It was unpredictable for sure, but not loud. A low murmur of conversation at most. What might be. She took a step forward, then another towards the boy in the gold mask. She stopped before him, entirely unsure of what to say. She had not planned this far ahead.