❀ May Day Masquerade ❀

[ensorceler]

may day!


[ The castle grounds holding the gardens have been transformed into a spring party sensation. Tall banners carrying the Tudor rose have been arranged in a representation of a border surrounding the celebration and events, but there are no real walls or barriers. It might make guarding difficult for the few in her employ, but that's hardly Queen Anne's problem. Nobody will be kept away unless they arrive with no mask (or representation of a mask), and although it might be hard to tell considering it's a masquerade, there will be some people (not many) from the city who have decided tentatively to accept Anne's invitation, helping fill in the crowd.

The theater stage has been covered in flowers of all sorts, as are the four wooden thrones arranged in the center. Each seat is taken, a tie for both King and Queen making for double the fun! Robb and Lucrezia have dressed as Orion and Diana, while Zelos and Galadriel have chosen Odysseus and Penelope (with a little help). The tops of their heads have been left bare, at least for the opening ceremony.

In front of them stands Anne in her costume, and she waits for the crowd to quiet before she speaks. ]

Good citizens of Cair Paradisa and City Royale, you come here today to seek pleasure and company, and I have never seen a finer or more unique looking peoples. I know you may find it difficult to smile in the wake of such recent tragedy. All here have known loss, but we have not let it conquer us, have we? God is with us. Brave souls here risked the unknown to discover the cause, while other remained to help rebuild. I am fiercely proud to see such dedication to one another, and I can only hope such unity continues to blossom! The work on the city will continue, as will the rehabilitation of the survivors most affected by calamity.

But today we spread our arms wide and heartily welcome summer. Today we make merry and keep our loves close. Today we celebrate an unprecedented event, two Queens and Kings!

[ She turns and walks over to the thrones, where the ladies hold crowns of roses in their laps and the men crowns of wooden antlers. She names each as she settles the crowns atop their heads. ]

Queen Galadriel. King Zelos. Queen Lucrezia. King Robb.

[ In playful deference, Anne will lift her skirts and curtsy to the four of them when they stand to announce that the festivities begin! ]



{ Maypole Dance || Dance Floor || The Feast || Music & Donations || Maze & Wine Fountain || Bonfire }

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MAY POLE

[ensorceler]

[ A ways off from the dais and the food is a large Maypole, with long ribbons mirroring every color of the rainbow and more that billow down to touch the grass below. There may not be a ribbon for every person, but there's quite a lot, and with such a towering tree post, it might take some time to finish.

But while this is meant to be a celebration, there is still a rhythm to the movements (under, over, under, over), and the resident Kings and Queens of May will no doubt show everyone how it's done while Anne plays the music on a lute. Don't want to give the Maypole a try, then feel free to stand around and mingle while watching! ]

[wilder]

[Zelos sat patiently through Anne's speech, sitting poised in the manner that only someone from a noble upbringing can manage. His clothes are not his own, rather dressed up in decorative armor, cape and mask with his hair carefully braided back with white flowers and ribbons braided into it. According to Anne he's supposed to represent Odysseus, a man who was separated from his wife for ten years until they were reunited. Galadriel was meant to be Penelope, his wife who waited and resisted suitors for all that time. ]

[Or was it Othello? Gah. He can never remember all the different Earth stories. When the crown is placed on his head, he'll wait until she's moved onto Queen Lucrezia to break the poised character and adjust it a little. Crowns never suited him. ]

[When Anne finishes does his curtsey, he knows it's his cue to move. He gets up from his throne and holds his hand out to take Galadriel's with a slight bow]

[inafadingcrown]

[Galadriel really isn't much better about knowing the stories, in all honesty. But at least she looks pretty fabulous.

She stands and accepts Zelos' hand with a little smile. She can't help but think that she was rather fortunate in her partner of chance; she had no objection to dancing with strangers, but far better to dance with a friend.]

[wolfskin]

[ Robb certainly isn't comfortable but he does not show it, long ago he perfected the art of such things. Though he does try not too look so grim, he tries to smile as he awaits the end of Anne's speech dressed in armor and cape, a spotted lion pelt decorating his shoulders, with a silver mask shrouding his face.

He is to be Orion, a great hunter who had gained the love of a goddess, a goddess who was seriously considering breaking her vows of chastity and wed him. Only her brother did not approve and tricked the goddess into killing her love, and in her grief she placed him among the stars.

A sad story, he thinks, looking beside him to Lucrezia who is supposed to the goddess herself. Diana, or Artmeis, a different name for the same goddess.

Once the crown is placed upon his head and Anne is finished, Robb gets to his feet, turning to offer his hand to his Queen (for this day only). A smile upon lips and a respectful bow. ]

My lady.

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia, on the other hand, feels as comfortable as if she is wearing any other dress from her time. Her feet may still wobble in the unfamiliar shoes but is that not what an escort is for?

All smiles, (because who would think she could ever stand on the same stage as the Lady Galadriel? What would Cesare say?) she takes the offered hand with a delighted giggle. Orion today, not Robb. She wonders if even the great Diana ever felt so giddy, maybe only when she was in love. She only ever had this one almost lover.

She squeezes his hand in reassurance with a gloved hand before moving to start the maypole. She may be getting ahead of him out of too much excitement. ]

Re: MAY POLE

[lightbranded]

[Will had arrived at the Maypole early enough to see the start of the dance. Dressed in a simple costume and mask, it doesn't take him long to silently step forward to join in the dance.]

[secondchances]

[Steph stands around watching in her white gown and matching mask. She's content to just watch the whole thing--she can just imagine herself strangling someone with a ribbon on accident.

Just so she's not a total loser, she'll clap along with the music a bit.]

[kryptonian]

[Kara pops up next to Steph, dressed in her cute gold party dress and a cute little deer mask. She links her arm with Steph's.]

Hey, BFF. Nice dress.

[hellofist]

[Once Cass finds Stephanie, she sneaks up behind her and covers her eyes so she can't see.]

Guess who.

[cloaklikeblood]

[Despite only having shown up in the last two days, she'd managed to get a dress and mask. It hadn't taken her long to pick up the rhythm of the other people at the May Pole. It was suprisingly easy to move in the long dress]

[courageous_wit]

[for now Hermione is happy to watch the May Pole dance. She has on this dress and is wearing a matching mask on her face]

[peacockherald]

_{[ Vanyel comes up, wearing an elegant carved silver mask, wearing creams and dark, midnight blues lined in silver. Long white sashes hanging off the back of his coat simulate a horse's tail. ]}

You do not wish to participate, Hermoine?

[storiestotell]

[ Wanting to see what it was all about, Katherine had decided to come along to join in the festivities. She managed to find a costume as well as a mask to wear that she felt comfortable in. And for the moment she's watching the others dance around the May Pole, smiling brightly, but could be easily persuaded into to joining. ]

[unvarnished]

[August has a special love for kids. He smiles at this girl]

Are you dressed up as Snow White or a female Robin Hood?

[not_mafia]

[Yep, and guess who's being a party pooper off to the side and just kind of side-eying all this? He didn't even want to be here but his tutor had forced him to come, so he at least got on a simple suit and mask...

Well, until Paradisa had changed the mask from whatever simple thing it was to a mask that it clearly thought much more appropriate. Again.

So he'll just be over here, muttering to himself.]

Is that supposed to be some sort of dance? I have no clue what's going on...

[wilder]

[Hey Tsuna guess who is behind you somehow. How did he get there? No one will ever know]

Well I think it's supposed to be both a dance and a game. Didn't you wear the same thing last time?

[ino]

[ hands on her hips ]

Tsuna -- ! You can't wear that again, you wore it last time!

[misconstrues]

[ Tsuna, you suffer alone no longer! A small figure in a very decorative red kimono and a full-face kitsune mask has suddenly taken up residence beside him. She's quiet for a moment, then lifts her mask a little.

:D Hi, Tsuna! Even if she feels ridiculously out of place, it's nice to see a familiar face. ]

Tsuna-san? S-so, you were also forced into this..

[solowingpixy]

[Through some talking, Pixy was convinced to show up at this little banquet in military dress and a red and silver mask, with a certain gorgeous red head at his side.

He's not interested in this particular fesitivity, certainly. Right now, he'll probably just be following his escort's lead.]

[bravelittlegirl]

[Ib has come to the party dressed to the nines, with her rose very carefully fastened at her waist, blooming bright. She has also come holding the hand of a much taller chaperone, also rose-themed.

It's clear she's impressed by all the decorations and grandeur, though! And there's a lot more people here than she expected. On noticing the dance at the Maypole, she points eagerly.]

Garry, look!

[rose_of_battle]

[After releasing Danny and making sure he was staying, Sheena turns from him and watches the opening ceremony, smiling when she recognizes Zelos before he's introduced--that hair of his giving him away despite the costume and armor.

Forgetting about her own distinct hair (covered with a pearl snood)--shared by maybe one or two others--she'd confident her own identity is well-hidden by her own gown and mask as she watches in wonder--not the dance, but the pattern the ribbons make high above the crowd.]

[both_neither]

[Gren isn't exactly the may pole sort, at least of his own volition, but it's not too bad standing back and watching the strands of color move. It's almost hypnotizing, really. He's opted for a rather basic but tightly tailored suit, with a dark mask that almost disappears against his hair. He smiles as he watches, arms crossed in front of him.

Maybe he can be convinced to get off the sidelines?]

[misconstrues]

[ Someone is trying her hardest not to be noticed, even adjusting her mask occasionally as if she thought her face might be peeking through. It's all wrong! The fancy hair and the clothes. Plus, the bright red kimono probably doesn't take attention away from her -- but she's hoping the more elaborate costumes are more distracting.

Tsukimi is lingering near the Maypole, giving it a curious little look. Was this another costume for this celebration? It's.. pretty, but she isn't quite sure what she should be doing with a ribbon. So she just stands there with a ribbon in tow, looking a deer caught in headlights. Thankfully, the mask hides her comical expression but not her eyes! Finally, she drops the ribbon and sighs while absently picking at one of the flowers in her hair. ]

.. Maybe I could still go back to my room. It's not rude if she doesn't know I was here, right?

[kungfuwitch]

[Phoebe's just glad to see an event that hits closer to home than many of the others around the castle. Beltane has always been one of her favorite holidays, after all, and she's not going to pass up the chance to Dance around the Maypole with everyone else.

She's certainly dressed for the occasion with a mask to match. Not about to go halfway she's even donned a blond wig, looking for all the world like she's become the starlet she's portraying for the evening. She watches for a moment, waiting for the right chance to cut in and grab a free green ribbon, joining in the dance.]

[sugarwaffo]

[Off to the side, a young fairy hovers near the front of the crowd. Sugar is still wearing her usual outfit. (Does she even have any other clothes??) The castle gave her a little white mask which Sugar, not knowing what to do with it, has placed over her hat.

Sugar claps along with the music as she watches people dance. She's not sure what is going on, but it looks like fun!]