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

[john-thiess.livejournal.com]

"Are you the big bad wolf then?" She sounds amused, but that's not it. "No," I say carefully, tryin' not t'think 'a the knot in my belly as I name myself. "I'm dressed as Gaueko." I figure it won't be so bad, if I say it as a costume and not as a name.

Zann chatters away 'bout her costume and I'm back t'smilin', followin' in her wake t'the tables where a tall person with long hair's standin. I can't figure if it's a guy 'r a girl, and even their scent ain't helpin'. It's kind 'a weird. Their voice ain't too deep fer a girl's 'r too high fer a guy's either. "My evening is much improved, now that I have set eyes to your wonderous self." Whoever they are I dunt like them bein' all fancy talkin' like that. "Indeed, all of you are a wonder to mine eyes."

Huh. I roll my shoulders, settlin' the mask some. "Thanks," I say, 'cause it's a party and I can't think 'a anythin' nicer t'say. "What're you?"

[glass-beddau.livejournal.com]

Punch is interesting, dark juice (raspberries? among others, as well) and a liquor I'm not quite sure of--thick dark wine or a sweet port--and a slight soft burn to it besides. Not cinnamon or ginger; it leaves me thinking of newspice apples, far away down south and east. Haven't thought of those in months, since Wanda was after me over a favourite food.

Still, judging by the marks on folks' mouths, it's like to stain--and while it won't show on black, there's little enough of that I'm wearing, and quite enough skin and feather. Swallow down the glass and set it down for someone else to mind, and circle the table and oh spit and staunchweed, is someone playing at being the Shuck? They are, they are. Come up behind the group of them, four women all standing about the man who's after doing that, and drape my around 'round his shoulders from behind just as he's asking the dull one what she is.

"She's polite," and "You playing at the gwyllgi, truan adyn?" I say in his ear, laughing low. "Leave me sorry I've given a gift of warding to another. Wear it well." Grin and then nip at his ear afore heading off, giggling a little.

[al-shairan.livejournal.com]

"Time and space and movement, spinning through the spheres, and the procession of motion, the measured and beautiful motion--" says Zann, and I know how Kent would reply to that, and feel almost a pang I am not here as him to answer it. But instead when she shrugs and puts the words away as if embarrassed, I smile up at her as if a little star-struck.

"Don't you just talk like the prettiest thing? Half the time when I think something as sounds pretty in my head I end up stumbling over it if I say it."

And then Zann takes us over to where an androgyne is acting as waiter, and everyone flirts together in a human sort of way. Gaueko's whelpgirl appears and nips at Johnny's ear, perhaps recognising in him something of a brother. I will have to tell Gaueko that Johnny dressed as him to this party. I am sure he will be amused, though I do not know whether he shall take it as an insult or a tribute. Perhaps both. Gaueko is fairminded in that respect.

"I don't know Gaueko," I say doubtfully. "Is he a wolf god or some such?" I look at the table. "Ooh, punch." I take a glass and sip it. I believe it contains a potion of some kind. I feel it warm this body, a tingle of blood rushing to the genitals. Ah, an aphrodisiac. Well, this should be amusing.

"Indeed, all of you are a wonder to mine eyes."

I giggle at that, girlishly, and twist a lock of my hair.

[metal-minstrel.livejournal.com]

Sweeping my eyes 'round the scene, I'm a tad taken aback. Sure I knew t'was gonna be fancy, but this fancy? Damn. 'Least I dressed up rightwise. Not quite sure what else to do with my hands, I grab a glass of the punch and sip at it. Good *god* it's strong, an' sommat else besides, bit o' a funny feelin' in my bones. Might be a good thing if I go easy on it for now, empty belly an' all. Don't wanna be in my cups five minutes after the party's started, do I? I swing my train around so I can get at a bunch o' grapes and watch as a strange woman comes up and whispers in Mr. Wolf's ear. I frown a bit; that looked right surruptitious.

I gesture to Clockgirl (pretty sure she's Zann by the sound o' her and the look, wouldn't take Einstein to know her, 'specially like this). "What say we see who's who? Bet I can guess right more than you. An' look at this place, there's sure 'nough room f'it!" I take 'nother sip at the punch, second zoom to the stomach an' even with the grapes I know I'm in for a ride t'night. I figure it'll be fine to leave Wolfy and the Victorian girl together.

[damien-dw.livejournal.com]

The wolf guy kinda shrugs, Thanks, he says kinda short but not yet hostile, What're you? The golden belle giggles and plays with her hair. The firey dark woman ignores me to talk to the Clock Girl. i'm about to try to answer wolf boy when a very scantily clad peacock woman comes up behind him and whispers in his ear. I wait til she leaves before clearing my throat and speaking. I know I have to tread carefully as I'm not actually a guest even if I've been mistaken for one. Discretion is the key.

I wink at him conspiratorially,"Oh I'm nobody famous, just a ghost or possible phantom. Barely here at all."

[john-thiess.livejournal.com]

"She's polite," someone says in my ear, her voice husky. "You playing at the gwyllgi, truan adyn?" I get a quick look at her, bare tan skin and feathers and her scent hits me at the same time I remember the only person who uses words soundin' like that. "Leave me sorry I've given a gift of warding to another. Wear it well." And she nips my ear, makin' me start, and stalks off on long legs and tall heels, laughin'.

I'm blushin' hard, starin' at Glass as she goes through the crowd. "I don't know Gaueko," the farm girl says, gettin' herself a drink. "Is he a wolf god or some such?" I want t'correct her but I'm still so bewildered over Glass I just say "Somethin' like that." I pour myself some punch and down it quick. Geez.

Zann and the Mercedes woman head off t'go look at folks, Zann givin' me a quick hug and wishes me luck, makin' me blush again. And then the woman in the simple clothes winks at me. "Oh I'm nobody famous, just a ghost or possible phantom. Barely here at all."

I might need some more punch. But she seems friendly 'nough, and I feel bad fer bein' stiff earlier. "I can see you plain 'nough," I say a bit unsteady, missin' havin' my arms 'round the girls who just left. "I think I ought t'know you, but I just can't place your - um, your voice."

[al-shairan.livejournal.com]

Zann and her friend go off, and Johnny downs a whole glass of punch. Oh, this should be quite the amusing evening for him now. If I had not already played with him, this would be an excellent opportunity. But no, I shall leave him to the androgyne, and perhaps he shall learn something interesting about the world from it. So I lean in and give Johnny a squeeze around the waist, letting him get a look down the front of this dress, which does raise Danika's breasts quite alluringly, and smile.

"Thanks ever so for letting me tag along with you! Maybe later we'll see what happens when you huff and puff?" I suggest, smile widening. I nod at the other. "Nice to meet you too!" I bounce off with the steps of a girl already a little tipsy.

[damien-dw.livejournal.com]

The two women hug the wolf and then head off. He gets himself a drink and downs the whole glass. Must be really strong from what i've been seeing it do to people. As both he and the remaining girl are looking a bit unsteady on their feet. I can see you plain 'nough,I think I ought t'know you, but I just can't place your - um, your voice.

He sounds a bit familar as well but his mask is doing a fine job of distorting it just enough that I can;t place it either. I'd do better at identification if I had managed to meet anyone more than once so far. Again I don't quite get to answer before before the golden belle speaks up once more. Thanks Wolf for letting her tag along and higs him nice an tight before nodding at me. Nice to meet you too! and soon she's bouncing away. I'm a little sorry to see her go.

I smile at my remaining companion, "Glad to know I'm not completely invisible. We've probably met in town, but I can't place you either." I laugh. "Seems we've disguised ourselves very well tonight."

There's no other servants around so I pick up a small punch glass and fill it.

[john-thiess.livejournal.com]

The farm girl gives me a quick hug, and her dress ain't cut so modest 'n I'm glad fer the big coat as I look down at her. "Thanks ever so for letting me tag along with you! Maybe later we'll see what happens when you huff and puff?" I'm not a wolf, I want t'say, but her insinuation has my mouth dry 'n I dunt.

The last girl's still here though, so that's some cheer even if she does smell strange t'me, and still familiar. "Glad to know I'm not completely invisible," she says in that sort 'a low contralto voice. "We've probably met in town, but I can't place you either. Seems we've disguised ourselves very well tonight."

I chuckle. "I guess so - I'm done up so well only a couple people get what I am." Glass did though, and Zann, and thinkin' on it makes me think 'a Zann's arm 'round my waist, and Glass' distinctive heavy scent and the sway 'a her hips as she walked away laughin'. I clear my throat 'n look at the punch, but I think I'd best wait 'afore havin' any more. "You ain't from 'round here, then?"

[damien-dw.livejournal.com]

He chuckles. It's good that he can be amused rather than annoyed at finding he's picked something a little too obscure. I guess so - I'm done up so well only a couple people get what I am. He clears his throat while looking at the punch. I take a sip. Yeah. Very strong. I place the cup back on the table near me. While the boy seems to decide against having any more punch and instead says, You ain't from 'round here, then?

I smile once more and shake my head. "'Fraid not. Hope you won't hold that against me?" I lean forward just a touch, "Instead why don't you tell me about yourself, the you that you are being tonight? That way there'll be at least one more person here in the know?"

[john-thiess.livejournal.com]

She sips her punch and then sets it aside 'n I guess she dunt got much stomach fer booze. "'Fraid not," she says with a shake 'a her head. "Hope you won't hold that against me?" I shake my head as she leans closer. She's got green eyes, startlin' green, 'n I lean forwards 'n bump her nose with the snout 'a then mask 'n laugh. "Instead why don't you tell me about yourself, the you that you are being tonight? That way there'll be at least one more person here in the know?"

"Sure," I say, movin' closer. "I'm the hound-god, the terror who stalks in the night, who watches the folks in their houses and hunts those who dare t'walk after dark. I touch the dead in their graves and wait in the shadows fer the unwary." I feel cold all 'v a sudden. "I'm - that is Gaueko."

[damien-dw.livejournal.com]

He leans forward with me and the snout of his mask bumps into my nose. We both laugh. And I raise a hand to rub it before realizing my nose is covered by my little mask. He moves closer, and begins to speak, I'm the hound-god, the terror who stalks in the night, who watches the folks in their houses and hunts those who dare t'walk after dark. I touch the dead in their graves and wait in the shadows fer the unwary. His voice hushes the way you do when telling ghost stories, I'm - that is Gaueko.

I shudder a bit theatrically at his words, playing along. "Gaueko..."I say slowly and with deliberation, tasting the name in my mouth. Wouldn't be the first time I heard of a previously unknown creature of legend.

[john-thiess.livejournal.com]

She gives a shudder. "Gaueko..." she says slow. I nod. "Dunt use it too much, mind, 'r out 'a doors at night." My voice is serious now. "I dunt think he minds this tonight, but even if he says he's friendly, it's only so long as it amuses him."

I feel bad fer bringin' the tone down, so I nod towards the dance floor. "You feel like havin' a turn there?"

[damien-dw.livejournal.com]

He nods. Then says in serious voice, Dunt use it too much, mind, 'r out 'a doors at night.I dunt think he minds this tonight, but even if he says he's friendly, it's only so long as it amuses him.

I raise an eyebrow at that. Uusually people don;t talk about legends as if they were able to talk rather than just scare or kill. but he;s nodding to dancfloor and asking if I want to dance, so I tuck that into the back of my mind to think on later.

A quick glance round shows no other servants, so I smile and nod my agreement. "Sure. I'd like that."

[john-thiess.livejournal.com]

She raises an eyebrow at my talk 'a the hound-god, but she smiles and nods when I ask her t'dance. "Sure. I'd like that."

We go out t'the floor, the two 'v us. I see Tess there dancin' with some - no, it ain't a boy it's Miss Kate, and while I seen plenty 'a girls go t'dances with friends it seems off somehow. But I dunt want her knowin' I'm here so I put it out 'a my head. The phantom girl's tall, and pretty skinny. I think she's even more boyish than Zann, but what I can see's pretty 'nough. Probably one 'a those girls who does lots outdoors and gets called handsome. There's an awkward bit when I go t'lead, but I guess she dunt dance lots, and I ain't bin out t'one 'a the farm dances fer a while.

[damien-dw.livejournal.com]

We make our way out to the dance floor. People are doing a waltz. There's a gorgeous couple in eighteenth century getup complete with powdered wigs. A guy in forest green with a bow dancing with a girl in a medieval style dress. A knight with a golden princess.

We take our place among them. There is a bit of awkwardness to start as I forget to let him lead but we soon get it out of the way. I smile wistfully as this is nice. Been a long time Since I was anywhere this civilized and mostly back then I was with the musicians rather than the dancers.

[john-thiess.livejournal.com]

The waltz is stiff but I can dance t'it. There's not much t'do in the evenings in the winter, and Ma insisted we all learn when we were younger. It starts t'come back, and even so tall as she is she dunt seem so strong as me, and I move us in time with the steps, countin' one-two-three one-two-three and hopin' I dunt step on her feet.

She seems t'be havin' fun though, so when it picks up t'more 'v a village tune I grin and say "One more?" There's groups formin' up fer it and the steps ain't too complicated if she dunt know 'em.

[damien-dw.livejournal.com]

The music changes to some kinda folk dance. Young Gaueko looks at me and says in a cheerful voice, "One more? I can see people forming into groups of four. I don't know if I know this dance or not, I've probably seen it in the villages I passed through but I doubt that I've danced it myself. I look over at our choices of partners. "Sure I'm game for one more, Should we join the knight an' his lady or ask the maid and her green lad?" I say with a hint of mischief in my voice.

[john-thiess.livejournal.com]

"Sure I'm game for one more," she says soundin' pleased. She looks about. "Should we join the knight an' his lady or ask the maid and her green lad?"

I follow her gaze. Well, I think it'd be weird t'dance with my boss while he's kissin' some girl, and it ain't like Tess'll recognize me with this mask. "With my - with Maid Marian and Robin Hood, I suppose." I take her hand and we step over (http://community.livejournal.com/estdeus_innobis/278861.html?thread=7274573#t7274573) just as the squares are formin'.

[tereixa-zann.livejournal.com]

"What say we see who's who?" Mercedes says, picking up a handful of grapes. "Bet I can guess right more than you. An' look at this place, there's sure 'nough room f'it!"

"Sounds fine," I say, looping one arm 'round her waist, "and I'll take that bet. Hey, Gaueko, honey--luck with the next girl who whispers something in your ear, yeah?" Give him a one-armed hug and head off with Mercedes. "You want to start anywhere in particular?"

[metal-minstrel.livejournal.com]

I grin and put my arm over her shoulders. "Seems ter me there should be a serious awful fate for the loser. What say you? An' what about the couple o'er there?" I point out a couple swayin' over in periwinkle an' gold (http://community.livejournal.com/estdeus_innobis/278861.html?thread=7271245#t7271245).