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

[dorian-excolo.livejournal.com]

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!]

Comments

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

She sighs into me, and then pulls back and draws the curtains so we're enclosed in the alcove, with just the dark outside and us in here. She giggles and then kisses me again, deeper, her hand tanglin' in my hair and her tongue twinin' 'round mine.

Oh, lord, I want this so bad. Does Kate? I guess we ain't had that much t'drink though, and it's not like either 'v us 'll take it too far, not here. I lay back 'gainst the cushions in the alcove, pullin' her over me, strokin' a hand 'cross her chin as we kiss, my dress feelin' too tight 'n my breath comin' fast.

[kateohara.livejournal.com]

Tess pulls me against her, and I don't know if I'm feeling her heart or mine, but whoever it belongs to it's fluttering fast. I can't help making a little stifled sound at the feel of her pressed against me. I kiss her until I'm feeling dizzy, and then I pull back a little. There's a dull ache between my legs and I'm breathing fast, and I lean against her, twining our fingers together.

"When - when did you decide you liked me?" I ask. I know it's not really related to anything, but... I want to know, and sitting here by the dark window it seems easier to ask these things without getting too embarrassed.

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

It's Kate who pulls back first, 'n I make a noise deep in my throat 'a protest 'afore gettin' hold 'a myself. I push my hair back over my shoulders 'n give myself 'a bit 'v a shake. That punch might 'v had more 'n just juice 'n liquor in it, the way I'm feelin'. "When - when did you decide you liked me?" Kate leans in and slips her hand into mine.

I take a minute t'catch my breath, feelin' her warm 'gainst my side. "It's hard fer me t'say," I ponder out loud. "There was your smile at the picnic, and you gettin' mad when I got mad at you in the store, and from there it just sort 'a stole over me. I suppose it was that mornin', you Reed Mrs. Beddau 'n I talkin', and somethin' made me faint, and you went 'n got me a cup 'a water. It started 'afore that, but I think then, that's it."

[kateohara.livejournal.com]

Tess makes a low sort of noise and it almost makes me kiss her again. As it is I bite my lip as I feel my stomach tighten.

"There was your smile at the picnic, and you gettin' mad when I got mad at you in the store, and from there it just sort 'a stole over me. I suppose it was that mornin', you Reed Mrs. Beddau 'n I talkin', and somethin' made me faint, and you went 'n got me a cup 'a water. It started 'afore that, but I think then, that's it."

I smile at that and press in closer to her.

"I wanted to look after you," I say. "It's funny. Normally it takes me a long time to make friends. As a rule I like people well enough, but it takes me a long time to get close to anyone. But I feel like I've known you for years." I run my finger along her cheek, and feel my heart flutter at the feeling. "I think - I think I could fall in love with you. I think it would be easy." I have no idea why I'm admitting that, and I don't even know if I realised it until now. "You're not like anyone else I ever met." And my gaze drops to my lap because my face feels hot, and I'm not quite sure I can look at her.

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

She smiles at me 'n presses herself more firm 'gainst my side. "I wanted to look after you," she says. "It's funny. Normally it takes me a long time to make friends. As a rule I like people well enough, but it takes me a long time to get close to anyone. But I feel like I've known you for years." She runs her finger 'long my cheek and I sigh. I dunt know if it's like that fer me - we've always kept ourselves kind 'a isolated, so I ain't ever really tried t'get close t'people.

"I think - I think I could fall in love with you. I think it would be easy. You're not like anyone else I ever met." She drops her gaze then, blushin' and the air's still 'n stiflin'.

"I - yeah. Same. I ain't ever met anyone like you, Kate. You make me feel different than usual." I dunt know how t'put it into words, really, 'n so I push the curtains open a bit t'let in some air. "Come on - let's go meet some folk." We've said a lot, 'n I want t'try 'n get a handle on it 'afore it goes much further.

[kateohara.livejournal.com]

I look up at Tess and smiles as she says I make her feel different.

"Come on - let's go meet some folk."

I don't know how I can feel disappointed and relieved at the same time, but I do. It's a strange sort of feeling, but I think I am mostly relieved. It would be too easy here to - Well, I don't know what. Go too far with words, or with - and that thought is definitely making me hot, and I spring up to my feet to try to shake it off. I set my bow back over my shoulder and hold out my hand to her.

"Let's see if we can find anyone we recognise," I smile, and walk with her back into the main room.