❀ 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]

[ That makes him laugh, genuine but not necessarily soft. "Friend", sure. He calls Spike a friend, and he always uses the term ironically. ]

You're being sincere, so I'll reward you by saying I don't have those. We aren't the same, Miss Cassandra. There's no one like me.

[ He looks back to her finally. ]

Is there anyone else like you?

[hellofist]

Something else, then. Whatever is... nice to each other, doesn't mind company.

[The actual label doesn't matter to her, just how they treat each other. And his question makes her frown.]

No.

[ofhope]

Then I guess we can be alone together. Whatever that's called.

[hellofist]

Will probably still say friend. Don't really have... better word.

[ofhope]

For Diana?

[hellofist]

Friend, too. What do you call her?

[ofhope]

[ A beat. ]

Family.

[hellofist]

[She smiles.]

Good. Everyone should have that.

[ofhope]

[ He smiles back, but again it's displaced. ]

Apollo has to have his sister around, after all.

[hellofist]

Don't know their story. Want to tell it?

[ofhope]

He's the sun, and she's the moon. The gods and goddesses have a lot of stories. Unless it's her and Orion you want to know about. You know, the constellation?

[hellofist]

[That's one of her only non-violent memories, from her childhood. Up on a roof with her father, curled against his side while he pointed out the stars to her. He didn't speak, but she understood the basics from what his body said.]

The... belt one?

[ofhope]

[ He looks up, even though it's day, and all he can see is the sun. He doesn't look away from it. ]

Apollo was so jealous of Orion's love for Diana that he tricked them both, and Orion was killed. She laid him among the stars as his final resting place, to honor him.

[hellofist]

Are you... Orion, or Apollo?

[ofhope]

Apollo. Orion's her King.

[hellofist]

[Should Robb drop dead now, Cass will know who to ask about that. Still, it's mostly a story, so she just smiles.]

Who picked who... you dressed up as?

[She can guess, but she just wants to know for sure.]

[ofhope]

We thought of it together, when she found out she was May Queen. We were going to go as Beauty and the Beast originally...

[ Cheeky grin. ]

[hellofist]

[Well she'll just give him a grin in return, then.]

Which one is Beast, though?

[ofhope]

Isn't that obvious?