estdeus_innobis | Masquerade! Hide your face, so the world will never find you!

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Masquerade! Hide your face, so the world will never find you!

Saturday, October 31st
Evening
The Home of Alessandra Ferdis

The last few days have been, at best, a blur of activity and I can't say that it's left me in the best of spirits. Party planning is always a chore, even a gathering as small as this, and I suppose it's the price to be paid - blood, sweat, and countless hours spent hunched over fabric - for an evening of excitement. Alessandra has been more than accommodating, as I've measured, decorated, and almost completely reordered most of her house. It will take some time, tomorrow once the festivities are well over, to put things back to sorts, but I've already hired hands to assist in that.

That is one benefit of living in Excolo, there is never a shortage of strong backs willing to do a bit of labor for good pay, and in a matter of days the entire place has been transformed into something resembling a fitting locale. The walls have been covered with lush fabrics, the garden littered with a multitude of hanging lights, and the main room leading to the back cleared for the guests. After that, it's only been a matter of setting up the refreshments, finding a suitable place for the music, and dimming the lights.

I could kill myself over the details of course, it's in my nature, and so as soon as things are well in hand, I retire to the upstairs guest suite to dress. It's a simple design, more a personal amusement than anything else, and I doubt anyone will get the joke. Those always are the best sorts of fun, though, the personal chuckles that are mine alone. I finish strapping my sword to my side, mask still sitting on a nearby table, and cross to the balcony doors to peek outside. The sun has faded into the horizon and guests have started to arrive. That leaves me with a bit of time - I have no intention on making anything less than a memorable entrance - and so I lean against the door frame, careful to keep out of sight of those out front, and light a cigarette.

There's movement from the adjacent dressing room. Glass. I'd nearly forgotten, in the insanity of preparations, that she was dressing here as well. It certainly wouldn't do to have Iago see her before the game has begun, after all. I smile at that and call out, "You can't hide in there all evening, pet. Might as well come out and let me have a look."

~~[Open]~~

[It's midnight! Wrapping up!]

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Oh goodness, a lot of people have come in since Tess and I slipped away, and I smile and blush a bit to myself at that thought, and I look at Tess and see she's a bit flushed. It makes me wish I could just pull her aside again and kiss her. But no, we should talk to people, that's the point of a party... I distract myself by looking around at the costumes. I recognise Zann, because the goggles don't really disguise her face, and I smile at the giant fish. People have worked so hard on their costumes!

"Is the green river spirit Mr. Klavec from the butcher's?I think it is, though I ain't quite sure who he's talkin' with."

I look over.

"Oh, yes, I think that's Simon," I say. "And is that - no, it can't be... Reed?" I stare across the room. It seems so unlikely, but there aren't many black women in town, and none of them have muscles like Reed. "This is a surprising night," I say, and we walk over.

"Good evening," I smile, and give them both a little bow. I wonder if they'll guess who we are, too.

"Evening. Is it rude to guess who's under the mask?"

Know the voice but I ain't placin' it right now.. "Might have to kill you if I thought you gonna let anyone know," I say to him, but I'm smilin' a bit under the feathers. He's drippin' wet an draped with somethin' dragged up from the bottom of a pond. Don't know what he is, but it's a sight.

Nother voice behind me - "Good evening," - an I turn. Girl an a boy. No - boy's straight'nin' up from his bow, an I think I know the person under there. Leanin' bit close to the girl, an her I don't know. Look like they been drinkin', an that's not so like Kate.

"Evenin'." Give her a smile. "Some party, ain't it?"

"Might have to kill you if I thought you gonna let anyone know," she says, but there's a joke in her voice. "Might have to keep it to myself then, Miss Reed." Seen her around town. Think she's a friend of Kate's.

A couple's come up to us, greeting Reed. "Good evening," says one, dressed like a hunter. Don't recognize either - they hunter seems more of a boy with that voice, and the maid isn't anyone I'd know from sight. "Evening, Sir and Miss. Having fun?" Reed leans in to greet the boy. Bet she knows him.

Party looks like it might get a bit wild later. Wonder if I should stay or go, then.

The water spirit's definitely Mr. Klavec, but I dunt think he recognizes Kate 'r I. The big woman in red though, I think she knows who Kate is, and there's a quick flash 'a her eyes t'me that ain't quite friendly. Oh - she must be Kate's friend from that afternoon, muscled woman with a square jaw and no nonsense about her. I hope she dunt think I'm off corruptin' Kate 'r nothin', and I set my jaw some.

"It sure is, and we sure are," I say t'both 'v 'em. "It's a bit more 'n I'm used to mind - townie party's ain't usually so fancy, are they?"

Simon doesn't recognise us, and that gives me a little thrill, I think. Reed does, if I read her careful look correctly, and I give her a little smile and a nod.

"Some party, ain't it?" Reed says, and Simon follows with "Evening, Sir and Miss. Having fun?"

"It's a bit more 'n I'm used to mind - townie party's ain't usually so fancy, are they?" says Tess, and I laugh.

"Not quite so fancy. Unless they are thrown by the Marks family," I say, and then I bite my lip, remembering what happened to Ares. "But this is quite something," I add, looking around. "It's a fine evening," I add, and I smile. "What's your costume, sir?" I say, looking at Simon, dripping wet. "Some kind of water spirit, maybe?"

Kate's friend's bristlin' at me some, an I looks straight back at her. Ain't no one going to take advantage of Kate if I can help it. Not that Kate can't normally take care of her own self, but she's lookin' not so steady as she might.

Relax some when I hear her voice, though - "It sure is, and we sure are - It's a bit more 'n I'm used to mind - townie party's ain't usually so fancy, are they?" - cause that's Tess Thiess under there, by the way of talkin', as's living with Kate. But I ain't sure I like not seein' folks' faces when I talk to them. Reckon people find things like that a way to do what they wouldn't dare to, and it ain't always kind.

I smile at 'em, though, because I glad to see Kate enjoyin' herself, lookin' all happy an a bit flushed behind her mask. Kate's talkin to the fellow with me, so I turn to Tess. Reckon I can figure who she is from her getup.

"That punch worth the drinkin', Miss Marian? Looks a mighty strange color from here." Keep smilin' to let her know I ain't chidin'. Both of 'em's got pink lips from drinkin' it, like little children been in the cherry cordial, or youngsters been kissin' on their parents' porch. Makes my smile warmer to see it -

- well now. Ain't that a thought? Give Kate a bit of a look, sideways like beneath my mask. If I'm right 'bout that, she sure lookin' happy about it, and I glad.

Edited 2009-07-22 17:00 (UTC)

The hunter smiles at Reed and nods. Definitely recognize each other. "Not quite so fancy. Unless they are thrown by the Marks family," he says, and it takes me a second to realize. Not a boy, and that might make her Kate, with that crisp way of talking. Still can't place her friend. She stops at the mention of Marks. Looks around and carries on.

"What's your costume, sir? Some kind of water spirit, maybe?" Smile at her, then step up and bare my teeth, raising my arms in threat. "I'm a vodjanoj. I live in the river, in the millpond, and I pull unwary travellers to their deaths." Smile and step back. "And are you someone in particular?"

"Not quite so fancy. Unless they are thrown by the Marks family," Kate says reassurin' me, except then she remembers what happened. "But this is quite something," she adds. "It's a fine evening." She turns t'Mr. Klavec askin' after his costume.

Kate's friend looks right back at me, and she's somethin' fierce even dressed up in feathers 'n such. But when I speak she relaxes some and smiles at us, so I figure she must recognize me now. It makes me glad then, that knowin' who I am makes her feel easier. "That punch worth the drinkin', Miss Marian? Looks a mighty strange color from here."

I nod. "Yeah, it's tasty 'nough, but it's got a fair kick." I glance over at Kate. "My fair lord," and the playin' makes me blush, "figured we'd best have small glasses, 'n I'm thinkin' that weren't no bad idea. I'd almost think there was somethin' in there other 'n fruit 'n liquor."

m a vodjanoj. I live in the river, in the millpond, and I pull unwary travellers to their deaths. And are you someone in particular?"

I slip my bow off my arm and raise it mock-threateningly, pulling back the string.

"I am Robin Hood, outlaw and friend to the poor." I smile, and I take in how Reed is looking at me. It's hard to see her expression behind the mask, but I can feel myself colouring up anyway.

"My fair lord figured we'd best have small glasses, 'n I'm thinkin' that weren't no bad idea. I'd almost think there was somethin' in there other 'n fruit 'n liquor."

I feel a bit warm at Tess calling me lord. I'm not sure what kind of game you could call it, but - I like it, I think. It makes me feel giddy, like I've spun round and round.

"What else could there be in the punch?" I say, furrowing my brow. "No, don't tell me!" I decide. "Excolo is odd enough, but we can pretend for tonight we're the strangest things here. Would you like to dance, Maid Marian?" I ask, because I think if Reed looks at me any longer I'll blush in earnest.

"What else could there be in the punch?" Kate looks worried fer a sec - well, she sounds worried, 'cause it's hard t'tell with the masks. "No, don't tell me! Excolo is odd enough, but we can pretend for tonight we're the strangest things here." She turns t'me, puttin' her bow back over her shoulder. "Would you like to dance, Maid Marian?"

I smile and turn my head all demure. "Certainly, my brave Robin," I say light, and she takes my arm and leads us away from the butcher and her fiend, t'where there's dancin'. It reminds me 'a the other night, and I let her me pull me close, enjoyin' the feel 'a her arm 'round my waist.

"Certainly, my brave Robin," says Tess, and oh, I do like her saying that. I don't want to be an outlaw, of course, or a man, but it's fun to play the hero.

"I hope we'll see you both on the dancefloor," I say, smiling teasingly at Simon and Reed, and then I go off with Tess to where people are dancing - a girl in gold with a knight, a beautiful couple in powdered wigs and blue clothes, pirates and fairies... I smile and hold onto her waist.

"Let's see if I remember how the boy's part goes in these dances," I say, taking her hand. "I'm not used to leading." But I manage to lead us in something that looks at least mostly like a waltz, and I smile at Tess. "I like dancing," I say. "When I was growing up there'd be a barn dance every week, it seemed like. But I hardly dance at all now, it's a shame." I lean a little closer. "I liked our dance between the raindrops," I say softly, and feel a pleasant shiver pass through me at the memory of that night.

"I hope we'll see you both on the dancefloor," Kate says laughin' t'the pair as we go. "Let's see if I remember how the boy's part goes in these dances," and she takes my hand. "I'm not used to leading."

She ain't right t'worry though, 'cause it works even if we're neither 'v us quite sure how the steps ought t'go. "I like dancing," she says in my ear as we move. "When I was growing up there'd be a barn dance every week, it seemed like. But I hardly dance at all now, it's a shame." I nod, enjoyin' the feel 'a her close 'gainst me, guidin' us in the dance. "We go out t'them sometimes," I say. "Mostly at harvest and the winter farm gatherin' at Solstice." I ain't bin fer a year 'r two, though, so I guess that's both 'v us who ain't bin dancin' much recently.

But then she leans right in and says "I liked our dance between the raindrops." I smile at the memory, her astonished and joyful, the cold rain soakin' us so we shivered in each other's arms. "I'm glad you liked it," I say back. "There's more, if you want." I dunt mean it t'come out like it does, but there's less a promise 'a magic and more one 'a flesh, there.

"I'm glad you liked it. There's more, if you want."

It doesn't feel like Tess just means magic, thee, and the air between us seems to shimmer, somehow, the air heavy in my lungs.

"I'd - I'd like that. To learn more," I say quietly, and somehow for once the blood doesn't come up into my face, though my woollen hose is certainly feeling warm. I graze Tess's cheek with my mouth, even though there are all these people around us. It doesn't seem to matter so much tonight. "I trust you," I say softly, and I do, even if I am nervous about - whatever comes next.

"I'd - I'd like that. To learn more," she says, and she brushes her lips over my cheek. I push down the waves 'a lust that rise up through me at that, 'cause this ain't the place 'r the time, really. It's not like there's that alcove just in the other room - "I trust you," she says, and that helps some 'cause I know Kate dunt want t'rush into things.

But I still kiss her straight on, here on the floor, 'cause we ain't the only ones and few 'nough would recognize us. "I'm glad, Kate. I swear, 'f you ever dunt want somethin', 'r want t'go back a step I will."

Tess kisses me on the lips, and oh, we've hardly been here any time at all but I'd almost like to suggest we slip away. With Laurence I learned kissing was something I enjoyed, but with Tess... It's different. I think I could do it all the time and not get tired of it. I don't think it's because she's a girl. I think it's just... her.

I realise we've stopped dancing, but no one's looking at us as far as I can see.

"I'm glad, Kate. I swear, 'f you ever dunt want somethin', 'r want t'go back a step I will."

I smile at her.

"Thank you," I say. "We'll be honest with each other, won't we?" I touch her cheek lightly, underneath her mask. "But... I don't feel scared, with you, when..." I blush. "I hope that doesn't change. I don't... I don't think it will." And I twirl her round the room again.

The wolf headed boy looks at our choices then makes up his mind, With my - with Maid Marian and Robin Hood, I suppose. He says taking my hand as we head over to them, squares are forming up already so we are just in time. I think he chose this couple because he knows them. Good enough. I smile at them, up close I'm not so sure that Robin is a guy, not that I will say anything. None of my business what's under the costume.

"Mind if we join you?" I ask.

There's farm music startin' up, and I look 'round fer partners but there's already another couple headed over, a tall slim boy with long hair and a simple mask, and a slightly shorter boy in a coat and dog headed - oh, he can't be dressed like him. I shake my head, but I dunt say nothin' as his friends asks "Mind if we join you?" I smile back at him. "Not at all," I say, 'n I link arms with him as the dance gets goin'.

The hound-god one must be local, 'cause he knows the steps pretty good, but his friend take a few rounds t'get it. I think it's kind 'a cute 'n nice, seein' others do what Kate 'n I are doin' and takin' advantage 'a the masks and costumes t'dance with who they please. I think Excolo's more open than the farms 'round it, but these boys 'r riskin' more 'n Kate 'n I.

The music is a bit faster now, and I'm a bit sad to let go of Tess because the waltzing was pretty, but on the other hand perhaps a more sociable dance will help stop my mind drumming on all sorts of unsuitable things...

Two boys come over and ask if they can join us. I'm a little shocked to see two boys here together, and I know that's hypocritical of me when I'm here with Tess. But still, girls can get away with it more easily than boys. One of them doesn't really have a costume at all, though I wonder if his long hair is real - not many men in town have long hair except for the doctor - and the other is dressed as a dogheaded thing. I smile at them both and we all start dancing, and I think to myself with amusement that it must look strange from the outside, three boys dancing with one girl.

"You enjoying the party?" I call to the boys as we step in and twirl.

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