❀ 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]

[ 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?

[ofhope]

[ Well darn, in that case... Nope not embarrassed. ]

Just granting wishes.

[heloise]

[ She giggles. Her heels make it easier for her to stand on tiptoes and kiss the corner of his lips. ]

It may be my turn to do that.

[ofhope]

[ That's what gets his smirk to soften, and he pulls her off of the shallow platform onto the grass. ]

I'm sure one day I'll think of something. In the meantime, I'll settle for showing off. Step onto my feet.

[heloise]

[ She only spares one glance over her shoulder at the dance floor as she follows, stifling a grin. Showing off, now? ]

But my shoes...

[ofhope]

[ Does she think she's going to lose them or something? Lightly rolling his eyes, he gives Lucrezia a tug to pull her even closer, then spreads his wings out wide. There's a small golden shimmer in the air before he jumps up, stopping only twenty feet or so high to give her a slow spin.

Just needs to show this Queen off a little more, since the other one's a tell beautiful elf and that can be hard to compete with. (Not that it's a competition.) ]

[heloise]

[ --Oh, okay, well she can stand on his toes while trying to put most of her weight on his shoulder, which is mostly her holding on for dear life because she will never get used to having no solid ground underneath her feet. At least they have stepped far enough from the dance floor that others might not see her white knuckles and her face buried in his chest while she peeks down anyway. Her chuckle is still nervous. ]

For us to see them or the opposite?

[ofhope]

[ They're far enough away to keep most from getting the chance to see up her skirt, too. Assuming some stupid soul doesn't walk underneath them... ]

I'm not looking at them.

[heloise]

[ Because the hypothetical stupid soul will get a taste of her fearsome 24-karat gold nails.

But since they aren't looking at the rest of the guests (and the rest of them must all be watching), she might as well wrap her arms about his neck and steal a kiss. Chaste enough, but she wouldn't be the first to break it. ]

[ofhope]

[ They might have a kissing stand-off, then.











Okay not really, but he will let it linger for quite awhile before exchanging it for an eskimo kiss. ]

[heloise]

[ How merciful, since in a kissing stand-off with Joshua... she would surely be the first to die from lack of oxygen. The eskimo kiss makes her laugh though, crinkling her nose and pecking his chin just so. ]

Staking your claim, Phoebus?

[ofhope]

That Orion did have his paws all over you, flinging you around like that... Maybe I should just teach him a lesson.

[heloise]

[ It would be kind of her to calm him and spare Robb all the trolling trouble, but she is more curious than kind. ]

What lesson?

[ofhope]

Drop a scorpion into his bed?

[ Orion died a few legendary ways, yep. ]

I wonder if the castle would deliver a giant one if you wished for it. It seems to cough up kittens left and right.

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia does like having the excuse to lean on him, since there is nothing else for her to lean on, way up here. She tickles his neck with the back of her fingers and chuckles. A giant scorpion, what a thought. ]

Would it be kinder to die by my arrow?

[ofhope]

[ Which he is totally fine with, although she could dip back and she'd stay secure with his arm around her waist. He's lowering to the ground little by little, taking his time. ]

Probably more merciful. And an innocent person should at least earn a quick death, right?

[heloise]

[ Is anyone innocent? Even she doubts so, but Robb is kind. ]

But would it sate your jealousy?

[ofhope]

[ Joshua doesn't think so, either, as he often points out, but he's not even sure about real kindness. He does think there's ignorance and naivety. That seemed to sum up Hendric pretty well, and maybe this Robb Stark too. Joshua could tell just by how he had handled Lucrezia during the dance that there wasn't a lecherous bone in his body, unlike that Florentine. ]

I don't know. I keep thinking about what happened at the last masquerade...

[heloise]

[ For all her words, Lucrezia somewhat enjoys this. Even god's love is a jealous one, so it can't be all bad. She drops her hand to fiddle with his collar. ]

Perhaps you should be the one to take me somewhere quieter.

[ofhope]

Diana doesn't want another hunt?

[heloise]

[ She gives him a mock pout, barely there when her smile is trying to break through. ]

Would you give me a mark? Orion and his bobbing head in the water?

[ofhope]

He might actually make it more of a challenge than the last one. But since he's that type, then he'd fall in love with you.

Well, we could stick to accuracy!

[heloise]

[ Somehow this sounds terribly exciting, even if she gives him a playful shove for suggesting it. ]

What will you do if I fall for him too?

[ofhope]

[ Hey lady, want him to drop you?! The whole...half a foot to the ground? Really, she can comfortably step off to the grass, now. ]

Then I'll have another Florentine to deal with. Worse, even. Love is a lot more dangerous than lust. You sure put me in a bind...