#event: masquerade

[tomaspriestley]

THE LEIRY CONSPIRACY AUGUST 2024, Vol 9, Iss 3.

[laurestcphens]

closed masquerade starter who: @retrospectral

The night is progressing smoothly thus far, though the hour is still early. With anonymity at their disposal, she has no doubt that things will descend into mild chaos. Such was the fun of these events, and half the reason for throwing them. It was odd, when people gathered at functions like this. There were creatures of all species, and she had no doubt that some of them were even hunters, mingling among them like a silent threat. She doubts they would be so bold as to make a move tonight, right in the middle of the lion's den, but then again, she doesn't count them among geniuses.

She watches from her perch, higher up than all the rest for a better viewpoint. Conversation, wine and blood have all flowed freely and despite the anxiety that had gripped her earlier, Laure feels herself relax. It is odd to be at such an event without Kiri by her side, and she supposes she may have overcompensated a bit by bringing not one, but three, women to accompany her. Suddenly, she's grateful for the masked theme, not that she's being all that subtle to begin with.

"Morgan, if you please," she says, gesturing for the woman to follow her and expecting her to obey. She takes her out towards the dance floor and begins leading them in a slow waltz, away from other pairs. "Are you enjoying yourself? Be honest now."

[kevma]

KEVIN MA — masquerade; august 2024

This is a last-minute decision by Kevin entirely, mostly made when he hears that his younger sisters plan to attend. Now that he's learned about Port Leiry's dark underbelly, he digs through his closet for anything appropriate, which includes a mask he used for Halloween three years ago. He leaves Saturn at home, but he hopes the cane helps give him a more distinguished look to make up for the rest of it.

[huntedarte]

ARTE RYAN — masquerade; august 2024

Arte is there only because they know as Eventide Alpha, their presence is expected. They manage to borrow a suit from one of the guys at the garage and just hope they tied the tie correctly.

[reidhalstead]

REID HALSTEAD, Masquerade, August 2024

Ironing an old suit from a box he's only recently brushed dust from, Reid doesn't care nor much think to consider the rules on white tie. So he's forgone the tie entirely, in bitter annoyance. The panther's mask had once been a buried thing from an old hunter's prank that he'd upheaved from another box. The irony is never lost on him. But if he can hardly pay his water bill (for two now, mind. thank you @anikabooker), he isn't forking out for an event he barely wants to be at. He turns up with his roommate after they both note they're attending; she asks, and he reluctantly agrees. With the recent reunion with his sisters and the attack, he's there to protect them — since he’s now out of the shadows. But he's also hunting in the crowd for the one responsible.

[kannivalistic]

closed event starter: masquerade for: @sntsatticus

Her only solace in the evening is that no one here knows who she is. Valka is powerful and haughty, but walking among these monsters is like hoping that the nest full of hornets was just smoked up enough not to go full frenzy if someone thought it would be fun to give them all a swift kick. She knows she can't take them all, and the other hunters who are no doubt in attendance are all wrapped in their own agendas. There would be no coordinated strikes by the Fellowship (at least, not that she was planning) and the Brotherhood were likely here to leech off the high society vamps and make nice if it got them any trappings of privilege.

Pathetic.

Admittedly, the masks preserving their anonymity make it hard for her to see given her missing eye. Depth perception and lace did not good bedfellows make. Valka manages to catch herself, bumping into a stranger and instinctively scanning to try to discern what manner of creature this was.

"Sorry about that, hon," the woman crooned. "Gotta admit, I don't play dress up often."

[witchkore]

KORE MATSUI — masquerade; august 2024

Kore arrives on their own, the mask one of their personal creations, eager to see what dramatics the vampires will get up to. Bonus points to any vampires who are able to feed without ruining their suit.

[bookedrevenge]

BOOK (JUST BOOK) — masquerade; august 2024

Book escorts @heronyearwood to the night's festivities. The suit is one he's used periodically over the years, usually for events such as these that requires a stuffier touch than his usual attire. He finds the mask mostly amusing, and partly a nod to @kannivalistic because he thinks he's funny.

[dahliaalcott]

DAHLIA ALCOTT — masquerade; august 2024

Despite her recent arrival to the shores of Port Leiry, Dahlia does not miss the opportunity to learn more about the city she's found herself in. She arrives alone, with little fanfare, content to observe for most of the night.

[fengforhire]

JAC FENG — masquerade; august 2024

Jac arrives along with a gaggle of other Fengs, trailing behind the larger crowd. Dressed in a traditional qipao and an embroidered mask that covers the bottom half of her face (just so she didn't have to fight with contacts), Jac stands ready to dutifully mingle as is expected of her.

[nsilocastillon]

For: @wretchedsums

Fingers thumb the corners of stained lips. There had been no desire to engage in the frippery of the night's atrocities. It's a wasteful spread in so many corners of the room. It's very Markus. Most had scattered, scarpering into the night — escaping with whatever life they came in with.

But she's got blood staining the corners of a mask; it bleeds down her face in beads of glistening red.

It's taken her a while to realise, too long, she might later scold to notice the swagger of a figure milling through the dispersing guests. Someone familiar enough that forgetting them isn't in her capacity. Few get to run out the door in haste like tonight when they owe such a debt to Castillon.

Fewer still, get to almost get away with it.

The old rockstar does not belong here. Not unless he's got an astounding price to offer her for repayment. Beyond the green, beyond blood — repairing something far more priceless; her respect; to find a reason to be granted continued existence.

If he hadn't stayed, to cover himself in hunter's blood. He may have got away again. Or at least, for a little while longer. She's a flash of crimson as her dress whips at the fast movement, an arm that shoves away the creature Skinner's got in hand, they skid across the room, forgotten.

Irrelevant of a witness.

Nsilo's reunion; the images she had of seeing the practically traitorous, coward of a man after so long, did not come when she had a viciousness fresh on formerly elegant features. But she has a hand gripping the scruff of his neck, rearing his gaze back to make sure she can see what she needed; the eyes that sting.

Her grin is cold in this entertainment: "Hello, sunshine,"

[tomaspriestley]

For: @nishaxeleazar

Tomás doesn't know how he ended up on the floor, commando crawling along the ground as the performances ensue. His shoes are sliding on the red wine spilt. It's got his heart racing; this is it. The scoop of the century.

He's seeing Leiry's shadows, in the flesh — in their element.

Scribbling, whispering in hushed noises into a dictaphone to try drown out the noise in the background, a finger tight on the record button as he attempts to pick up what he can. Holding it out in front of him to capture all the chaos.

Tomás elbow knocks a pair of heels — Versace, if he has to take a guess, custom, maybe. He rolls over onto his back, smiling up at the person he belongs to. Eyes shoot straight up, and the bottom of a dress brushes his arm. "I wasn't looking," ... you know, there.

Honest. He's not a creep.

"—Shit," he gasp-curses, eyes widening as he sees the jaw of the creature. The ease of fluidity; the calm in the catastrophe. "You're a child of blood — a creature of the night!" a beat, for doubt to settle in, his angle from the ground is a different perspective. "You had the fight — you threw a chair, didn't you? Good show, that was." He remembers the mask, it's the same one. Blushing, (unaware truly of the danger here), he scrambles from his laid position to his knees to let the enthusiasm fall from him: "Big fan—"

[laurestcphens]

closed masquerade starter who: @sntsqnns

She knows it's her, despite the glamour that covers them all. None else carry that same touch of death with her, perhaps other than little Nikko, but even the spell wouldn't change her features that drastically. For several moments, Laure considers ignoring her, like she is probably hoping, but tonight is also a night of politics, beyond the revelry, and Desmona still leads her own coven.

"I'm surprised you've let your little shadow flit about without you," Laure says in greeting as she steps up beside her, a glass of champagne tucked neatly in her hand. "Or are your thoughts preoccupied with someone else? I've heard some interesting rumors as of late."

Perhaps she should think twice about throwing stones from glass houses.

[kevma]

closed masquerade starter who: @autumnshowell

He knew he must look terrifying with this stupid mask on, but he can't bring himself to pull it off, like the world's worst security blanket. At least people seem to give him a wide berth for it. He had found Jessie and Ellie and sent them home, and for once, they didn't argue with him. Meanwhile, Kevin had turned back inside to look for Aria, and he figured Autumn would be nearby too.

Kevin skirts around the outer edges of the scuffle, doing his best to avoid any altercations, and he spots a familiar head of brown hair sitting on a planter. "Autumn?" he asks, limping towards her. His fingers ached from how tightly he'd been gripping his cane thus far, and he knew that there would be hell to pay tomorrow once the adrenaline wore off. "Hey, what are you doing? We need to get out of here. Have you seen Aria?"

[huntedarte]

closed starter for @sntsryans

The scent of blood is thick in the air and it makes their bones tremble. They fight back the way their bones want to break and elongate. Beginning the shift now would only make them a liability and it's that idea that makes them swallow down the panic that rises in their throat. They can hear the sound of flesh ripping and Arte once again has to fight back the urge to run. But they have a pack now, people to be responsible for, and people they don't want to see hurt.

They see a group of people, humans maybe, or witches. The scents are hard to tell apart amidst the chaos, but there's a matching look of uncertainty and fear on all of their faces, rather than the bloodlust and anger of some of the others. Their suspicions are confirmed when they see someone lunge towards them, a stake in hand. Even if none of them were vampires, the weapon would still do damage.

Arte tackles the hunter with a grunt, sending the wood clattering away as they scuffle briefly. Once again frustrated by the way the mask limits their sight, they pull it off and send it smashing down on the hunter's head, and they shudder as they feel something crack underneath the force of their blow. "C'mon, we need to move," they say as they stumble to their feet, leading them off towards where one of the doors leads out to the parking lot.

The Alpha kicks open an emergency side door, figuring that this counted as one. As they emerge outside, they freeze as they nearly crash directly into someone running the opposite direction. The flash of red hair is distinct and gnawingly familiar, and they blurt out the question before they realize how strange it sounds.

"Why do you look like me?"

[reidhalstead]

For: @anikabooker

It's never how he wanted them to know. All fear and hatred — blood and fury in the wake of a near tragedy. He'd stayed to see through what he'd done to Belle; to make sure she breathed and rested, that nothing of the poisoned blood left her ruined. Fought with Lis about the right place, and the right time to talk it out, to explain.

It hadn't been then. It wasn't now either. He wonders if her attendance is purely to revenge spite him, knowing he'll go — and that he deserves this anguish, for all his sins in death. It leaves him with a gaping hole that hunger only seems to fill.

He's stalking out of his bedroom door — capturing the pair of shoes on the floor living room floor with a frown. He pauses in his path to the kitchen. It's odd to see — the some-kind-of-suede boots sitting by the door. An open zip that travelled up the calf to the knee. Reid's pulling on the cuffs of his jacket as he stares, entirely bewitched with their purpose. He's quickly reminded of his roommate when he tunes back into the reality of his apartment and escapes the hell of his bitter thoughts.

He's going to be furious if his sisters dress like they're planning to be a second course of a dinner. Several years without him or not, he's no longer limited to catching whispers of them in the shadows. They know his fate and he'll be damned if he lets it befall them now he's a little less of a phantom to them (maybe he is because he doesn't feel any weight lifted by them knowing).

A door opens suddenly on the other side of the sitting room, and his eyes travel across to see Anika emerging. She's in a short emerald dress, a gold mask in hand. Reid's black panther one is sat on the top of his head, the rope-like string wrapped around the slick strands of gelled hair. It's stupid, he feels stupid; all dressed up in old suits, and a prank mask from something around Halloween that he reminds himself that it's nothing he hasn't seen before.

Monsters aren't new. It's the side he's sitting on that gets complicated when a blackened heart has him dreading who he might stumble across — praying this anonymity serves him well.

Naturally, (after Reid's drawn his gaze to the same shade of eyes as her dress) he comments on her appearance. "Not many places to hide something sharp, princess." It's more relevant now; dolled up. It's not outwardly mocking, because he won't deny she doesn't look nice. But he doesn't exactly know what Anika will do in the mass of creatures; he barely knows her. So, he's never asking why she's going — he could warn her of the dangers she already knows. "Don't tell me you're looking that nice because you want to go."