❀ 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

[waterproofed]

You still look kidna like yourself... if that makes any sense.

[unstitched]

I... do? But I'm human-- I'm huge now, I'm a different color too and my face is totally wrong and I have... this stuff on my head.

[He tugs at the curls of his hair a little, apparently baffled by it; even though he knows pretty much all humans have it, it's never something that's come up in conversation.]

I don't see how I look the same at all.

[waterproofed]

You just have a... Fiveness about you. I knew Six right away when he was human.

[unstitched]

[That statement almost makes him laugh; his smile widens, at the very least, and he sits up straighter.]

Maybe you're right. If you knew who I was, then there has to be something.

Wait, it happened to 6, too? ... Was he okay?

[waterproofed]

Oh, yeah. I mean, it was Six so... you know. He was being Six-ish.

[unstitched]

Hahah, I can imagine. I don't know if he'd even be fazed by something like this...

[And yet it bothers him so much, to be turned human. If his friends would be able to deal with it, then... maybe he should, too.]

... I wish he was here. I wish all of them were here.

[waterproofed]

Oh, right, there are nine of you all together, right? What are the other ones like?

[unstitched]

[He smiles wistfully at that question, straightening up in his chair.]

1 is our leader. He's-- kind of intimidating, a lot of the time, and keeps everyone under his watch. I'm pretty sure he just wanted us to be safe, back then, but sometimes he was... um. A little too controlling. 2... was... my best friend, who taught me everything I know about building, and fixing things. He... was always confident and kind, l-looking out for me. He even saved my life once.

[Thinking about 2 seems to distress him; his face scrunches up, as though he's trying not to cry.]

3 and 4 are twins. They never speak, but I could usually tell what they were trying to get across through their actions. They're always playful and excitable, curiously examining everything, and the two of them are inseparable. Then there's me, heh, and you already know what 6 is like. I heard that 7 was here at one point-- you didn't meet her, did you?

Well, anyway, if you didn't-- 7 is strong. She loves to fight, which is something that I, ah, was never very good at doing... I don't think she's afraid of anything. When she makes up her mind to do something, nobody can tell her otherwise, so she usually went off and did things on her own. And 8, he's... um. Really pretty scary. He's bigger than the rest of us, and does whatever 1 tells him to, which is usually, er... to push us around, and get everyone to do what 1 wants if they won't listen. I-I usually listened, I didn't want to get hurt.

9 didn't show up until much later, but-- everything changed when he joined us. He wouldn't let 1 boss him around, and he got me to... to go out into the unknown, and do things that I normally wouldn't. I've never met anyone so brave and determined. Sometimes he messes up. A lot. But he never runs away from his problems... I kind of wish I were more like him.

[waterproofed]

Wow, they all sound amazing... And if they're anything like you and Six, I really hope I get to meet them some day. I mean, it would suck that they're trapped like the rest of us but still... It'd be cool. And you'd have all your friends.

[unstitched]

I don't want them to come here, not if they'll have to suffer. But part of me wants them here anyway, so I can see them again. I shouldn't be selfish, I know that, but I care about them a lot. They were all I ever knew before I came here.

[waterproofed]

Hey, no, I know what you mean. I miss all my friends, too.

[unstitched]

Did you have a lot of people you left behind, back in your world...?

[waterproofed]

A lot. My parents, my best friend, my brother, lots of really good friends... I know they're okay but I still miss them.