❀ 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

[ofhope]

[ When he's not having to dance and when he's through eating, this is where Joshua will be, although he'll have found a less occupied area of the maze to sprawl on a bench as if taking a nap (even if his eyes are open most of the time). He's still hard not to notice with such a bright suit, his black tie and mask barely enough to dim it down. ]

[hellofist]

[The fake nap doesn't fool Cass, though. When she finds him, she leans over him and looks down at him, a pleasant smile on her face.]

Tired?

[ofhope]

[ What, he was trying to see if the sun would burn his retinas out! No dice, especially not with a shadow now looming over him. He doesn't recognize her immediately, and it isn't because of the costume, his selective memory just isn't doing him any favors yet.

Not that it changes his easy smile or response, though. ]

Not if a pretty lady needs somewhere to sit.

[hellofist]

Wouldn't dream... of making you move.

[Not when he's all comfortable, that would just be rude.]

Are you hiding?

[ofhope]

[ Her off-beat speech triggers the memory, and he recalls her name now. Cassandra. Lucrezia's friend. She liked the kittens there...

Since he knows her, he'll just push himself down so he's only taking up half of the bench, legs hanging off the edge comfortably enough. There, he was half a gentleman. ]

From the noise.

[hellofist]

[In the future it may become a game to see how long it takes for Joshua to remember her. For now, she sits and smiles at him one more time as she pulls her shawl off and starts to fold it up.]

It's nice, here. Out of the way, less people. Here, lift head.

[The shawl is folded into a pillow for him now, so she doesn't have to rest his head on the hard bench.]

[ofhope]

[ At least at this angle, she mostly blocks the sun when he looks up at her. He's a little surprised by the offer, actually, lifting his head to accept! Makeshift pillows are always nice, but he still has to tease. ]

I got a lap as my pillow at the last masquerade. No dice?

[hellofist]

[She doesn't see anything particularly wrong with that, so Cass just nods and scoots closer so he won't have to move as far.]

When was last one? Do these... happen often?

[ofhope]

[ Oh, well. He might have been teasing, but that didn't make it a bluff. Since she offers, Joshua scoots back again to drop his head against her thigh, though he'll hand the shawl back up to her. No need for it to go to waste. ]

Hm, the Autumn before last? Maybe... Or was it spring, too...

[ Joshua? Time? What? He just stops it, he doesn't tell it. ]

I only remember three masquerades since I've been here, but maybe there were a lot more I wasn't invited to.

[hellofist]

[Once he's settled, Cass drapes the shawl across her shoulders again. It won't get lost like it very likely would if she just set it aside.]

Would you have gone, if... had been invited?

[ofhope]

If it was by someone I liked, and was a good day.

[hellofist]

What makes for... good day, for you?

[ofhope]

A quiet day. Little noise... Good energy.

[misconstrues]

[ A wild, Japanese girl appears! Truthfully, she's trying to escape the onslaught of pretty people who are enjoying the party. It's too many stylish people in one place for her, she can't take it. So she's scurrying through the area when she spots a familiar head of hair -- yes, she remembers his hair. Shh. Even though it's the crazy suit that first caught her attention.

Creep, creep, creeeep. Are your eyes open this time, Joshua? Because a fox mask, kimono-wearing Tsukimi is leaning over to peer down at him. She lowers her voice, though it's still muffled due to her mask still being on. Why does she whisper? Who knows. Maybe, if he really is sleeping, she doesn't want to wake him. ]

.. Joshua-san? Are you sleeping?

[ofhope]

[ Zoinks! He's been discovered. By... He squints up at her. What's her name? Don't call her Uru, don't call her Uru. ]

...

Uru?

[ Even that he doesn't say right. Ooroo. He can't help it, she acts so similar and even adds the same honorific. ]

[misconstrues]

.. Uru?

[ Have you been drinking, Joshua? Reluctantly, she lifts up her mask. If she were wearing her glasses, she might have been blinded by all of this gold! At least she still has them with her, for emergencies. ]

.. I'm sorry! It's Tsukimi. Y-you can go back to sleep, I won't bother you further!

[ofhope]

[ Well, he's not drunk . . . ]

Oh, Miss Tsukimi.

[ He sits up. ]

I wasn't asleep.

[misconstrues]

.. Oh!

[ She has a way with words, yes. Tsukimi fidgets awkwardly for a moment before opting to sit at the very edge of the bench. ]

Did you come here with Lucrezia-san?

[ofhope]

You mean Diana...

[ He chuckles. ]

She's the May Queen. Her date is the May King, Orion.

[misconstrues]

Diana? I don't understand this at all..

[ She looks like a kitten, who is trying to figure out how to pounce on a bug. What is this weird celebration? ] I haven't met an Orion yet..

[ofhope]

It's a masquerade. You're supposed to be someone else.

[ So simple minded... ]

Didn't you watch the opening ceremony? He was the King sitting next to her, and the one who danced with her first.

[misconstrues]

[ Well, now she feels silly. ]

I-I'm sorry! Admittedly, I was late getting here..

[ofhope]

[ He chuckles, sitting back and draping his arms across the back of the bench. ]

Diana is the goddess of the moon and the hunt, and Orion was her almost lover.

[misconstrues]

[ Ohh, that makes sense. She'll just fix her mask to hide her embarrassment. ]

L-lover?! B-but Joshua-san! Aren't you and Lucrezia-san.. ? Is that why Orion is an "almost".. ?

[ofhope]

The theme is lovers. Of course they would have to match.

It's just a party. You seem more concerned than me.