[open] welcome to the masquerade

[implying]

Date & Time: Friday the 7th, 4pm to midnight.
Location: Palace of Versailles, France, 1772.
Characters: anyone! Even characters not yet accepted as of when this log goes up. 8)
Summary: It's just some fancy masquerade dance with spiked punch.
Warnings: here be pictures, slow connections beware.


Welcome to Versailles.

The decorations are arranged, the food is prepared and laid out, the music has been rehearsed, and... most people have their costumes and masks ready. At precisely 1600, the Transporter machine activates, and a full room of people and all of their decorations, food, musical instruments, and costumes are sent back to 1772. The Palace of Versailles is in the height of its splendor, the weather is perfect and cloudless, and the gardens are in full bloom for the spring.

➣ Explore the Palace

Holy shit look at this, you have the chance to get your grubby little fingers all over history before it even becomes properly history. Do you know how many famous butts sat in all these plush velvet chairs? Or are going to sit in these plush velvet chairs? And they were all probably just talking the hell out of French, too. Wow. Go invade some bedrooms, poke your head into the kitchens (but no more than that, or territorial cooking elves might take offense), just. Touch everything. Everything. Just know that where ever you are, there's no escaping that beautiful music your fellow Transports are inflicting on you, that shit's just echoing all over the place tonight.

➣ Admire the Gardens

Jeez look at this, these people just had way too much money. But you get to benefit from it! You can basically just get yourself lost for hours here, so try not to starve or anything. Meet all the statues, go streaking through the fountains (please don't, no one wants to see that), get lost and desperately burst through cute little trees in your increasingly frantic attempts to find the exit. There's all sorts of fun you can have!

Just don't wander too close to the edge of the grounds, or you'll encounter (run into?) the invisible forcefield set up to keep wandering guests from utterly ruining history. That's probably a good way to get yourself a bloody nose.

➣ Enjoy the Banquet

There's tables and tables of this finger-licking good finery here, and it's all for you. And can you believe how fancy it is? Oh my god, those sausages have adorable little spears through them. And those spoons gently cradling their cheesy goodness? Yeah. They're made of crackers. And don't even get me started on these desserts. This is amazing. You've never eaten this good. And naturally, each drink (some of which are spiked, you're welcome) has adorable little frozen flowers in the ice cubes. Who even comes up with this stuff? Elves, that's who.

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Comments

[got_it_memorized]

Yeah, but I was just planning to cover your eyes and say Guess Who, I wasn't expecting seafood warfare. [He points at the sausage stick in Demyx's hand.] By the way if you just ate one of your cousins I'm not accepting any blame for it and that's final.

[He reaches out and picks up one of the little sticks of prepared food, turning it in his hand before popping the edibles into his mouth. Yes, shrimp and all. Deal with it, Demyx.]

Hm, not bad. [And then the stick is in the corner of his mouth as he folds his arms and gives Demyx a mildly incredulous look.]

Demyx, please, you're the only one who pimped the shoulders of his coat out like an 80s glam rocker--it's not like you're hard to pick out of a lineup.

[biwinning]

The guy who threw it- he'th a real douche. Probably thlept with thomeone to get thomething thith fancy. And I can't even find him to thock him one, thince everyone'th in mathk- masks. And he's not wearing his normal one.

[rota]

Not at all. [Parties and crowds may not be her thing, but she's completely fine with one-on-one chats.]

I don't find anything wrong with speaking to people.

[ladyofrivendell]

I've had a great many years to perfect my skills in the arts. I shall be glad to show you some day.

[It really doesn't occur to her that he's trying to flirt or laying it on too thickly. As far as she's aware, honestly, he's just being polite and so is she, in turn.]

I've never heard of this place but it is magnificent. Nothing at all like that places of Middle Earth.

[got_it_memorized]

[He's really not sure why the kid seems so on-edge. They've never met, after all.

[... Have they? Demyx did seem pretty insistent that a lot more had happened than he himself had experienced, all that nonsense about defecting and so on. Could he have really forgotten having met Riku?

[No, this is absurd, even if they had met and he'd given Riku a reason to be afraid of him, that wouldn't explain how the name Lea was familiar to him. There's something else afoot here, and as much as Axel likes a good mystery, this one's shaping up to be a little too close for comfort.

[Shifting his weight and folding his arms over his chest, partly in an attempt to show Riku he had no particular immediate interest in any asskicking, he narrows his eyes.]

I'm thinking I should ask you the same thing. Last I checked, your little carbon copy was the only one of you who knew who I was, but it seems perhaps someone's sold me out.

1/2

[ninthserenade]

What's wrong with 80s gla--

_[Wait.]

[fourcenturies]

I can show you around, if you want. I've been here before.

[Granted, the last time he had been to Versailles was over two hundred years ago, but the layout hadn't changed. He could manage to navigate his way around the building (hopefully). He flashed another smile at Celebrían, trying his hardest to win her over with kindness.]

I'm Adam, by the way.

[deadelfwalking]

It is not a matter of strength. Most of the residents here do not take Arthas for a serious threat. They can't be trusted to understand the gravity of his presence in Exsilium.

[ninthserenade]

<sub>[...He did what.

Wat.

Demyx gives the stick an incredulous stare, then turns the same look to Axel. Back to the stick. Behind himself to the table. Back to the stick. Back to the table. To Axel.




And suddenly he's dropping the stick back on the table to crouch down, grabbing the corner of the table cloth to furiously scrub at his tongue.]</sub>

EH--EW--EW--I DI'NN 'US DO 'AT! EUGH!

[tipsygnostalgia]

[Oh hey that sure is his DATE sliding up next to him and casually linking an arm around his. Roxy's generally being her usual self which means she's smiling and is happy and excited to be here, setting a glass of something alcoholic down on the table.

She wants to spend time with him, so now it is time to suggest all these things that Eridan's probably going to say no to but she's hoping he might say yes this time seeing as that's what DATES do.]

Heeey~! Having fun? [Lol nope, judging by that expression.]

We should go walk around the gardens. Or explore this kick-ass palace. Or even better, dance!

[limitstorm]

[ those narrowed eyes say otherwise, Axel.

Riku tries to reason with himself. at the very least, he knows what Axel can dish out should this turn ugly.

and as he speaks, it dawns on him that he's from Castle Oblivion. he's only seen the replica. He hasn't been able to witness Roxas, and--

if that hasn't gone down, he's not even half the person Riku knows. he didn't know Axel at all. ]

I know you in the future.

[ he finds himself saying, despite himself. ]

[ladyofrivendell]

Oh, that would be wonderful~! Though I'd not wish to take up too much of your time, I'm sure there are other things you would prefer to be doing.

[She returned his smile with one of her own, tucking a strand of silver back behind one of her ears.]

A great pleasure, Adam. I am Celebrían.

[arcanepower]

[Belth is flustered and pink-cheeked, because he knows that Axel is right and also because someone basically just took advantage of him. He doesn't stammer an apology like one might expect; instead, he reaches out to grab the book as soon as possible, like it's a precious thing that no one else can touch.]

I hate parties like this, so I'll do whatever I want to entertain myself. And you should be more careful, or else someone will set you on fire.

open; anywhere

[notstubborn]

[ At some point she moves from the area Chloe had attached herself to, but never straying too far, she keeps as close as she can. Hovering you could call it, though Elena wouldn't admit to it.

The decor has her attention at the moment, however, there is so much history in the walls, in the ceilings and floors. She should be more exited about it, she thinks, but excitement is something that Elena Fisher hasn't felt for over two weeks. Nor is it something that will return to her in the blink of an eye.

But she smiles regardless, because she has to, because she needs more than just make up to cover the dark rings under her eyes and the still fading bruises. And somehow she can still managed it after everything. ]

[foolish_seal]

...

[Maybe he should have helped her pick out something better...]

[Oh well. Too late for that now.]

Didn't expect to see you here. Having fun?

[shoesfitperfectly]

[Oh, but it's so pretty anyway.]

Hm? [He looks 'round from where he'd been watching people dance and grins when he sees her.] Hullo, Feferi! No, I didn't run off. I was just called away for a while to do something rather pressing. I don't plan on leaving again, though.

[chargethesebatteries]

[Tamora's never been much for small talk, but it's not like she has much of an opportunity for idle chatter in Hero's Duty. Plunked down here in the middle of this city full of civilians, though, and she finds herself out of her element to the point of awkwardness, and it's kind of jarring. She still isn't quite sure what to think when people actually make eye contact and strike up conversation in line at the grocery store. What is social interaction? How does this work?

[Well, she doesn't really know too many people here yet anyway, so it's not really rude if she doesn't stick around for the latest gossip by the punchbowl, right?

[She's making her rounds around the banquet hall when she does spot a familiar face. Or, well, a familiar thatch of silver hair poking out from under a hat. That isn't supposed to be worn inside. Kids these days.

[Sidling up behind Riku, she reaches out and flips up the back of the hat so it tilts forward over his eyes.]

Tsk tsk, breaking the rules already, rookie? Party's barely started.

[shamanism]

[This is a guy who probably shouldn't be snuck up on. He looks like he could benchpress Lexaeus, and that's saying something. Even so, there's a mild expression on Thrall's green face, and the blue eyes behind his mask are gentle, not monstrous. He's got a nice suit.

It's interesting to see his huge hands holding a wine glass so delicately, yet here he is, sipping wine and tasting hor'deurves and seeming for all the world like he's not the only green giant in a crowd of a couple hundred people.

He spots someone lurking in the shadows nearby-- the cloak isn't exactly haute couture.]

It is easier to enjoy the festivities when one participates, [he says, and offers a plate of some kind of cream puff thing.]

[whatsupcroc]

Barnaby, what happened to your hair?

( It's a sign of how much they don't talk anymore -- or how the unofficial retirement of hers as a coach has led to drifting. )

I thought you wanted to get a trim, not get it butchered.

( She's restraining laughter after her mouth has dropped open in surprise. Collette is in a blue and green dress, styled to look like something of a mermaid. She doesn't have a mask, instead having opted to paint her face up in blue and green glitters she found in the last week. She hadn't even known they'd made glitter still, let alone body glitter. It seemed the right kind of silly highlight for a mermaid.

Besides, she hadn't managed to finish her own mask while working on Caesar's and Lyms'. Even with Lym gone, she'd wanted that mask done in time. Just in case. )

[whatsupcroc]

( isn't this artwork really amazing though Martin? Collette is tempted to think so, and art's not much of a Thing for her.

Though she takes care to point out what she notices in one of the paintings they're both near. )

That is one of the fattest babies I have ever seen.

[got_it_memorized]

[Well he wasn't expecting an apology, but the kid's attitude could use a little realignment. It's not Axel's fault he was too caught up in being a nerd to pay attention to what was going on around him.

[Brushing his sleeves off, as though the book made them dusty, Axel manages to refrain from rolling his eyes as the boy insists he hates parties.]

I hardly think anyone made you come, half-pint--

[And then he just snorts a loud, derisive laugh at the thinly veiled threat.] Re~ally? Someone will set me on fire? You don't say.

[He lifts a hand and twists his wrist in the air, summoning a small tongue of flame to his palm and letting it dance there a moment before closing his fist and extinguishing it.] Somehow I don't think that would actually pose much of a problem, but I suppose you get points for effort.

[got_it_memorized]

[Axel watches, bemused, as the gears in Demyx's head turn, picking up velocity, and then actually takes a step back when they spin out of control as he realizes what just happened. He palms his face when Demyx starts pulling at the tablecloth though, and then reaches down and hefts him up by the hood of his coat.]

Oh knock it off--you're so melodramatic. I won't tell anybody you're a cannibal if you promise to stop trying to retaliatorily eat the tablecloth, good grief.

[implying]

[ Speaking of Vanadi! There are a few people (okay, a lot of people) that Vanadi is looking forward to flaunting his dyed-hair/make-up-away'd-scar/maskless self to, and Equius rates pretty high on that list. So as soon as Equius comes into sight through the crowd, Vanadi excuses himself from whatever conversation he's currently enjoying and makes a beeline.

He's smiling even before he arrives, head canted and a long ear cocked inquisitively. ]

That's quite the mask, my dear.

[arcanepower]

[Axel totally nailed it, too. Not only is he a nerd, but he's the de facto bratty half-pint in the center now that Martin's gone super saiyan. Belthazar starts to make a horrid sort of face, the kind that precedes a vicious remark, but then Axel casually pulls out a fireball.

Showing off is kind of fun. He's tempted to dump water on the guy just to see how he likes it. However, he's never seen magic quite like this, and it has his interest. Insult momentarily forgotten, he eyes the human (or he assumes it's a human) under the hood.]

Another mage? I suppose you must think yourself powerful because you can conjure fireballs. Tell me, is there anything else you can do, or is it all parlor tricks? I would rather not waste conversation with a talentless plebian.

[heavyhanded]

[ Guess what Jaime came in? Here's a hint: it involves a lot of white and he wears it basically all the time anyway. And also, fuck masks. He quirks a brow when he catches sight of Tali, who, speaking of masks, is still pretty recognizable despite hers, and heads over. ]

It looks as though you've had some luck. [ With the humanizing. No comment about the outfit... which in itself could be a good thing, considering the usual speed of his compliments. ]