Action: Come one, come all!

[ofthebeast]

Characters: ALL THE PEOPLE
Open? Yes.
Where: The Palace
When: The night of the 3RD
What: A masquerade ball and a very deep sleep.
Warnings: Part of a comm-wide plot!

The Prince Sif has felled an unknown beast, and presented its stuffed head to the King. This would be reason enough for a ball, but there are victories to celebrate. More heroes arrive every day. The kingdom was aptly defended when the forest wall fell. No one has tried to assassinate the king in several days.

All told, a good night for a party. The theme of the ball is a masquerade, and shops in town have been surprisingly (almost suspiciously) able to provide gowns and masks in ready supply.

The palace has been opened to heroes and townspeople alike, provided they can present themselves appropriately. The heroes have been strongly encouraged to attend, and those who do not come voluntarily may well be greeted with royal retainers at their doorstep, outfit and dance card in hand. Expect a very full dance card, heroes.

The banquet table is stacked full of food – roasts and cheeses, summer fruits and vegetables, rivers of wine and more ornate desserts than should be permitted in a time or war. This evening is about success – best to enjoy it.

In the center of the ball sits the beast’s head. A scaly, purple thing. Its eyes have been taken out and replaced with rubies, its mouth twisted in the same sort of anguished look on its face as when Sif killed it. There has never been a beast like this in Schwanheim before – if you like, come closer and take a look. The king is very generous with his gifts.

[ooc: The party is a LIE. Well. No, it isn’t! Enjoy the party. Your characters will be expected to wear full masquerade gear, or they will be shunted aside and dressed properly.

After the attendees go home, they will be plagued with dreams more tangible than they have ever felt. More information here]

Comments

[canistricari]

[ Coyote (disguised as a handsome blonde man) is naturally drawn to the woman, and his smile, once charming, turns wild as he approaches. His mask seems to change when nobody is looking, because he can't resist showing off, but it's nothing compared to her dress. ]

Hello, hello!

[through_fire_be_reborn]

[[There's no words in reply, but she reaches out to gently run a light finger over the surface of the mask in almost coy approval.]]

[canistricari]

[ Somehow his face stretches, and he smiles even wider. ]

Do you like it?

[through_fire_be_reborn]

[[she nods, fingers trailing a moment more before her hand falls away, only to be held out in a silent offer.

Will you dance with the dragon, Coyote?]]

[canistricari]

[ He would love nothing more. He takes her hand, still smiling more like a maniac than a charmer, and bows. ]

[through_fire_be_reborn]

[[She pulls him close, putting her arms on his shoulders as she begins to dance, small butterflies of sparks swirling out from the edges of her dress as it brushes the ground. There's an almost primal rhythm to her step, her body swaying much like the flames her dress almost seems to be made of]]

[canistricari]

[ He lets her lead, and follows just a touch off beat. Too fast at times, and too slow at others. It just feels right. ]

Is that dress your handywork?

[through_fire_be_reborn]

The mask bobs as she nods, fingers trailing over his mask with a questioning tilt of her head.

[canistricari]

"Oh yes, the mask was my own design. It pales in comparison to you though, my dear." And that's the honest truth. His mask is garish and the magic is subtle. But hers is radiant.

[through_fire_be_reborn]

There is a soft, airy laugh as she taps the nose of the mask before tapping his chest over his heart.

[canistricari]

His eyes sparkle with a touch of madness.

"It is so much easier to talk to humans in this shape, I've found." At least when he wanted them to be caught unawares.

[through_fire_be_reborn]

'To pass unaware, like ash from a pyre
but to be unobserved, do you truly desire...?'

The voice echoed gently in Coyote's mind as the dragon-masked girl takes his hands, spinning them both in a fast circle.

[canistricari]

He laughs, a short animal bark of laughter.

"The only thing I want is fun! Life is so short! So boring!"

[through_fire_be_reborn]

Another light laugh.

'Then hold back not your whims...'

[canistricari]

"It's all in the timing, my dear." And he has some thoughts about that. Mostly they involve nobody suspecting his true identity.

[through_fire_be_reborn]

'Time may not be for much longer,' Another spin, a whirl of sparks shimmering from the folds of her dress.

[canistricari]

"I have all the time in the world."

[through_fire_be_reborn]

She laughed lightly. 'Even when it comes unraveled...?'

[canistricari]

He laughed again, another bark.

"If I should unravel with it, then so be it!"

[through_fire_be_reborn]

'Then dance with me, child of Chaos,
Dance along with me as the world returns to ash,'

[canistricari]

He continues to laugh as they spin, ignoring the stares and the odd looks from the other party-goers. This is probably the most excitement they've had all day anyway.