❀ 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 }

Comments

BONFIRE

[ensorceler]

[ The sun has set, but the gardens have been illuminated with white lights woven around trees and bushes, the scattered torches and candles lit. But there needs to be more light, more heat! This is not only the celebration of lovers, but also the initiation of summer.

It's now that the children would be ushered back into the castle or city (though who's to stop a few from sneaking back into the party?), and the giant bonfire lit. By now people have had their chance to eat, drink, and dance. What state are they in? Do they feel like sticking around to keep partying (possibly to make fools of themselves), or do they want to run off with their chosen May Day lover? ]

[wolfchild]

[ The wine making her sleepy, Arya sits on the grass and watches the fire. She lays half-draped over Nymeria's back. A white lion pelt rests over them both, the head on Arya's shoulder. It covers the girl's mostly naked back and grants her a level of warmth. It's almost too warm trapped between the pelt and Nymeria's warm, warm body, but Arya is too comfortable to move.

Most of the paint on her face has faded. A lot more clings to her hand with which she had wiped at it. She pulls on Nymeria's ear and giggles when the direwolf tries to lazily lick her face only to fail. ]

[bronwe]

[ Frodo feels tired too, maybe more from all the hopping about than the wine exactly, but he still hesitates at the sight of giant dog direwolf before braving himself to go over and plop over near its head, watching them with a little smile. ]

[wolfchild]

[ Arya shifts so she can rest her chin on her hand. Nymeria rolls her eyes toward him, but another tug at her ear keeps her settled. ]

Tired?

[whistles_the_blues]

[A big social gathering was usually the last place where you'd find Blues, unless he was dragged out there, which he totally was. Someone had even found a way to convince him to get dressed up, he probably wasn't too impressed about that either. But hey, that fire looked awfully nice, so he decided to lay down by it for now. He's still in his trade mark scarf and shades, but he's got a black dress shirt and pants on too, along with a red vest. No shoes though, just a big red pair of robot feet.]

[kryptonian]

[Kara is still dressed in her cute gold party dress, though hercute little deer mask is pushed up to the top of her head and she's carrying her high heels in one hand. It's been a night of partying, okay? She doesn't have to wear her stupid shoes.

She crouches down next to Blues.]

Enjoying yourself?

[whistles_the_blues]

[When Kara comes by he'll shrug a little before propping himself up with his elbows.]

Not really my thing, but it's not that bad either.

[Yeah... Someone still has to act like he's too cool for school. If he had to be honest though, which he'd desperately try to avoid, the whole night reminded him of the days after he was first activated. Days with the Doctor that he sorely missed.]

You?

[pint_sized_carnivore]

Hey, you showed up! [Chie walked toward Blues and sat beside him] What's up?

[whistles_the_blues]

I suppose I did.

[He shrugs a little, he's still deciding whether he's enjoying himself or not.]

Taking a break, how about you?

Re: BONFIRE

[hardenedimmortal]

[He's stretched out in front of the fire, his armor and mask sitting in a pile beside him. He's now dressed in a robe like outfit. With a glass of wine in his hand, he looks very content]

[both_neither]

[Gren is more than little tipsy, especially after discovering the wine fountain, though the draw of the feast table itself had been strong. He's spent most of the evening wandering about and talking to people and enjoying the party for what it was. Now, however, as the bonfire lights up the night, he's gone out in search of the man he'd drug here in the first place - the one person who might qualify as a lover]

[nothingtobelieve]

[Vicious had spent the evening skirting the party, watching, but not participating beyond the occasional nod or brief word with people whom he did not know and did not care to. He'd dressed all in black in direct opposition to the gayety of the celebration, a shadow in the midst of the revelry.

The fire drew him in, however, and it wasn't long before he spotted a familiar figure in the crowd. He approached from behind, stopping just behind Gren's shoulder before speaking]

Here you are.

[both_neither]

[There is a moment of surprise, where his breath stops and his heart is in his throat. To some people being startled out of their skin was a reason to be annoyed. To Gren, at least in his situation, it felt like being alive.

He moves as if to turn around, stops, and looks over his shoulder instead with a smile.].

Here I am.

[madetosin]

[It had been a pleasant enough evening, Muraki had decided, though somewhat mundane it's amusements. As the night wound down, however, he turned his thoughts to other things. He sat back in the darkness, his white outfit aglow in the light of the fire, as he smoked a cigarette and watched the party wind down, watching for any potential targets that might be suitably inebriated]

hey look fireworks

[hard_talker]

[oh hell yes fire. Mark has wished himself up pockets full of bees, and stands off to the side, acting totally cool.

every now and then he'll toss a couple into the fire and wait for them to ignite and go spiraling up into the sky with a buzz and a shower of sparks.

HE DOES NOTHING]

busted 83

[psych0p0mps]

[Oh shit, fireworks! Aradia was just starting to get her relax on when that happened, but forget relaxing, somebody's got fireworks. She'll just make her way over to whoever's throwing them. I can't think of a way to cleverly mention her outfit so there you go.]

What kind of fireworks are those?

no regrets

[hard_talker]

They're called bees. [he grins and holds out a handful] Wanna try one?

[courageous_wit]

[she sees them and laughs]

I really should have brought some of Fred and George's fireworks.

[last_rat_standing]

[Someone is unimpressed by your antics, Mark. He steps up behind him]

I don't believe there were any fireworks on the agenda for the evening.

[ensorceler]

[ Sitting around and watching. :) Those look fun. Anne approves of these shenanigans, really.

Doesn't mean she won't let Bond hound him just for kicks, but she'll step in before he gets in real trouble. Poor silly Fool. ]

[last_rat_standing]

[Bond stands back, watching the couples with a blank expression. He came to the feast alone and may very well leave alone and that's fine by him. He's abandoned any notions of ever finding anything that would expand beyond a few lustful moments. He tried that once and he would likely die before he ever trusted anyone else to get that close again.

He sips his drink, eyes gazing deep into the heart of the bonfire for a moment before he throws his glass and the remaining liquid into the flames]

[unvarnished]

[Booth's been drinking, too. Because it's there and no one's stopping him. He does want to try to be better, but his vices have been a part of his life for too many years for him to change so easily. He starts a little seeing Bond throw his drink into the fire]

Whoa. What'd that drink ever do to you?

[ensorceler]

[ At this point Anne has had a lot to drink, and she's danced so much she's lost her shoes along the way probably from singing tavern songs while dancing on tables, the cage mask also having been lost and the white glitter paint around her eyes half rubbed off on the grass.

Since that's where she's currently sprawled, just staring at the fire like she's hypnotized, only occasionally rolling onto her back to gaze up at the stars. If this had been home, she would be in her chambers by now to save face, but what does she care here? Besides, masquerades have always been different.

She could drift off like this, but she's struggling not to. ]

[last_rat_standing]

[... oh that's just great.

Bond resists the urge to sigh as he crouches next to the sloshed queen]

This has certainly been a night to remember, Ma'am.

[i.e. call it a night and let him help you to your room before you make a fool of yourself.]

[cloaklikeblood]

[Ruby's curled up in front of the fire, a part of her really wishing that she had her cloak with her. The wine and all of the dancing had made her sleepy, but content. She knew that she would be leaving for the castle soon, but for now, the warmth of the fire felt too nice to pass up]