❀ 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

[heloise]

[ Apollo is the sun! She just laughs when she sees him and his gold suit, covering her mouth to stop her giggling as he leads her away, and look, doesn't the moon shine brighter with him around?

She moves into the dance easily, like breathing, still biting back a grin. ]

Your tie is black. Does the sun have shadows?

[ofhope]

It casts some shadows, does that count?

[heloise]

[ She just smiles, quiet, walking around him slowly. ]

But it should not touch you. The shadow.

[ofhope]

[ His favorite part! Lazy. ]

Maybe that's the jealousy darkening the sun.

[heloise]

[ She laughs. Joshua, please. ]

Then your tie should be green.

[ofhope]

I've already gone with the green theme.

[heloise]

[ She holds up her palm so he can match it and they can spin around their hands, smiling to herself for a minute or two. ]

Your face is brighter without the mask.

[ofhope]

[ Joshua doesn't mind just dancing and not talking, but occasionally hearing her voice helps keep him focused and less prone to distraction. At least for now his gaze isn't wandering. ]

You're going to complain about the mask, now? Maybe I should have just shown up not wearing anything.

[ Laughing... ]

[heloise]

[ Wandering to other skirts?? It isn't very nice to put such ideas in her head when they are in proper places, Joshua. She laughs anyway, now stepping away for a different part of the dance. ]

So long as you paint your skin gold!

[ofhope]

[ If he were a normal guy! Instead she has to compete with all shinies and loud noises ever. He waits until they move closer before responding. ]

Then you'd have to paint yours silver.

[heloise]

[ TOO. MANY. SHINIES. She giggles and pinches his arm playfully too. ]

What if we blind their eyes with our brightness?

[ofhope]

[ He feigns an 'ouch' just as they pass. ]

I think I'd worry about that with this suit, regardless. But with any luck they're all looking at you.

[heloise]

[ She snickers at the ouch! And she wasn't even using her murderous golden nails then. ]

The moon cannot blind them when she is only reflecting you. So their eyes are safe.

[ofhope]

[ He'll laugh if he ever sees her use those on anyone, but someone would have to be pretty dumb to try to anger one of the May Queens, huh? Especially one with claws. ]

I think Diana glows plenty on her own. So brightly, she's impossible to miss right in the middle of the day! Who even cares about the sun, that's around every day.

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia laughs it off, but she so isn't blushing nope. That's just the sunlight stinging her skin. ]

When else can they see the sun and the moon together now? This dance itself is special.

[ofhope]

[ Sorry babe he knows better, but it's fine since he'll take that as his reward. It's just too adorable, especially since she doesn't get flustered very often. ]

We better keep it to one, then? If it's supposed to be so rare.

[heloise]

[ So the blushing is enough to drive away all traces of jealousy? ]

So generous of you.

[ofhope]

[ Oh, who knows if that's possible... ]

I'll just have to get a waltz out of you later, away from their gazes.

[heloise]

A waltz?

[ She laughs too, taking hold of his hand before moving closer, breaking away from the dance entirely but see if that matters to her. ]

Dancing instead of singing now?

[ofhope]

[ And he never cares, so... ]

The two don't have to be mutually exclusive.

[heloise]

[ Close enough to drape one arm over his shoulder and drop her voice to a mutter. They can make up their own dances. ]

Tell me where.

[ofhope]

[ Blatantly teasing now, one arm settling around her waist while he keeps a grip on her other. ]

Didn't you want a dance on the roof?

[heloise]

[ She can tease him back, tickling the back of his neck with her fingers. ]

Will you whisk me there now?

[ofhope]

[ He's harder to tease considering he'll just call her bluff. His angelic wings suddenly appear, though they don't spread out all the way with the people around. Anyone nearby might notice them, but this is Paradisa after all. ]

If the Queen commands...

[heloise]

[ But then he falls for it too, or so she thinks. ]

so jealous now, or are we showing off?