❀ 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

[secondchances]

[Too easy. She laughs, not even trying to mask how amused she is.]

Problem?

[dorkwonder]

It's not that I didn't like the kiss...[is more comfortable with casual smooches in public, these days.]

I just don't want someone to look over and you know...[Know that they are about to go do things.]

[secondchances]

It's a masquerade. Who cares if people see us if they don't know who we are? [She places a lingering kiss on his cheek, but it's tame. She doesn't want to make him uncomfortable.]

[dorkwonder]

People are still going to figure out who we are in our masks. [Maybe. No one suspected who he was in his Robin mask.

Looks around the room before he looks at her.]

Didn't you mention something about a quiet corner?

[secondchances]

Quiet corner or spot behind a plant. [Her lips trail down to his neck.]

Why do you mention that?

[dorkwonder]

[Such a tease, Steph. Closes his eyes over, gripping some of the fabric on the back of her dress with his fingers.]

I'm feeling distractible.

[secondchances]

I'll have to take advantage of that, then.

[She grins, taking his hand and pulling him away from the dance area, past the boundaries set for the masquerade and into the rest of the gardens. It's not entirely empty of people, of course, but Steph's sure they could find some privacy.]

[dorkwonder]

[Tim grins as he follows along with her. There's an exciting energy in the air that's electrifying. In moments like this, he feels like Tim Drake and only Tim Drake. All of his other roles are temporarily set aside.

Leans in to whisper to when he spots a secluded area that offers some privacy thanks to the plant life.]

[secondchances]

[It's a tiny alcove, probably meant for an artist or someone wishing to just sit and read in the shade during the day. A stone bench, secluded by a tree and some large hedges. Perfect.

She tugs Tim towards it, then switches their positions so she's behind him and can push him to sit.]

[dorkwonder]

[Stumbles forward a couple of steps before settling onto the ground. Stares up at Steph with an amused expression.]

Are you sure you can pull this off? Your dress wasn't exactly meant for much more than standing and dancing.

[secondchances]

I'll manage.

[She hikes up her skirt so she can sit, straddling him. She's got this, Tim, don't you worry. However, she does ditch the crown on her head, dropping it onto the grass.]

If I can fight ninja-assassins in a dress, I can make out with you in one.

[dorkwonder]

[Before coming here, Tim didn't think it was possible to feel the kind of adrenaline rush he gets when he's up on a rooftop, surveying Gotham, breathing in the scent of the city, and becoming a part of it in a way very few people do.

Then things between the two of them changed here, creating opportunities to experience the same kind of adrenaline rush, like he currently is.]

Like with any good hypothesis, it needs thorough testing.

[secondchances]

Oh, really?

[Hands on either side of his face, she kisses him deeply, but much slower than before.]

[dorkwonder]

Mhm.

[Closes his eyes over, leaning into the kiss, and matching the pace of the kiss. Rests one hand on her shoulder and brings the other one around her waist.

[secondchances]

[As she slides her hands into his hair, she slips her tongue into his mouth. For some reason, making out in masks is amazingly hot.]

[dorkwonder]

[Yes, yes it is. Tim's always had a thing for costumes, even if he isn't fully aware of it. Since they aren't that far away from other people, he's trying to contain the intensity of the kiss. If they were by themselves, he'd be quickening the tempo.]

[secondchances]

[It's fine, Tim, Steph will take care of speeding things up. As her kissing grows a bit more needy, a bit more wanting, she puts her hands on his shoulders and gently pushes down. Lay down and enjoy the affection, Tim.]

[dorkwonder]

[Done and done. Follows her lead, resting his back against the ground. Then he returns his arms to her waist and shoulders, reengaging their kiss.]

[secondchances]

[She rests her weight on top of him, oh-so-subtly pressing her hips against his.]

You have two weeks of making out to make up for.

[dorkwonder]

Mm, we can make up for some of it after the dance. [And by some, he means a lot.]

[secondchances]

You read my mind. [Her fingers slide under the edges of his mask so she can push it up in order to see his face. Masks are hot, and god knows Tim wears them well, but she likes seeing his entire face, too.]

Oh, good. It's my boyfriend under there.

[dorkwonder]

[Smiles as his gaze follows her hand, watching her remove the mask from his face.]

Gasp, you know my secret identity! What am I going to do now?

[secondchances]

[Much better than the first time this happened.]

Well, you can't run.

[Hopefully that's something they can joke about, now.]

[dorkwonder]

[Steph has been such a big part of his life since then, and he loves her even more than he did before, that he can smile easily.

Just don't make jokes about running off to Africa.]

I can't. I'm completely at your mercy.

[secondchances]

You have no idea how much I like the sound of that.

[She takes his hands, lacing their fingers together, and pins them above his head on the grass. There's not much pressure on them, since she's not REALLY trying to pin him down. Her face hovers over his.]

I'll keep it a secret for another kiss. [THINKS...] And a footrub when we get back.