gooseberryhigh | MASQUERADE

MASQUERADE

Classes are not cancelled this afternoon, which leaves Event Committee scrambling after 3 PM to get everything in order in the Atrium. Students having dinner are given only 30 minutes before they’re ushered out past the privacy curtains again, since EC claims they need the cafeteria for a “special surprise.” At 7 PM sharp, the Atrium opens, and the Anonymity Charm activates.

Mardi Gras is the theme of the night, and the Atrium has been decorated all over in purple, green and yellow. Floor-to-ceiling backdrops are arranged along the walls, depicting a festive city street, and painted figures of masked performers tumble, juggle, swallow swords and perform magic tricks for the students. The ceiling is decorated with glimmering, stylized stars and a smiling silver moon, and multicoloured confetti falls continuously, vanishing just above everyone’s heads. Purple, green and yellow balloons are strewn across the dance floor, but will magically skitter out of the way so no one accidentally steps on one.

The refreshments table is the real star of the night, with a chocolate fountain surrounded by plates of various fresh fruits, marshmallows, caramels, cream puffs and cakes. A long table features treats styled after the theme, with mask-shaped cookies, cupcakes with edible beads, macarons in purple, green and yellow; glittery cake pops, and sprinkles on literally everything. (A few special treats have been set aside for vegan students, and Prospero will point to them.) At the far end of the table is an open bar adorned with feathers and colourful silk, where students can order mocktails from a menu. Isabelle Sargent, Ursula de Luca and Todd Skynner all volunteer to take shifts behind the bar for an hour (or two), and make conversation with their anonymous classmates while serving up drinks. A masked house-elf will always be present behind the bar, if no one wants to play bartender.

Step through the doors into the cafeteria and you’ll discover a stage has been set up with anonymous karaoke. Have you been too afraid to sing in front of your classmates? Now, if you perform badly, no one will know who you are, so get up there! This room is also popular for the MVSC photobooth in the corner, which automatically spits out a strip of four animated photographs for the low, low price of a half-dragot.

If you want a quiet moment, then the balcony is the place to go. The decorations out here are just as bright and glittery, but the little benches have comfortable purple, green and yellow cushions, and there’s bluebell flame lamps providing warmth and light on this chilly but romantic February night.

Staff is present and also wearing masks, but they aren’t using the Anonymity Charm, to make it easier for students to get help if there’s any trouble. Anyone who’s using anonymity to harass others will be given only one warning before they’re ejected from the dance. Observant partygoers will spot Dr. O’Hare on the arm of Mrs. O’Hare (appropriately, they’re wearing matching rabbit masks), but his partner, Agent Larke, is nowhere to be seen…

Just before midnight, Mr. Oakes presents an awe-inspiring fireworks show right above the lake. You can walk outside for the full view, but the backdrops will be taken down so you also watch from the tall windows of the Atrium. The last fireworks light up the sky at the stroke of midnight, when the Anonymity Charm ends.

HOW THIS WORKS

Decorating the Atrium begins around 3:15 PM, and the cafeteria is cleared at 6:30 PM.

Cocktail dress code. That’s party dresses and suits, but you won’t be dinged for getting too fancy or dressing slightly more casually. No jeans or t-shirts, though!

The dance starts at 7:00 PM, and runs until around 12:00 AM. These are also the hours of the Anonymity Charm: the charm activates just as the clock strikes 7:00 PM, and only within the confines of the lodge and the immediate surrounding area, and permanently deactivates at midnight. If students don’t have a charmed mask of their own, a simple domino will be issued to them at the door.

Anyone wearing a charmed mask becomes unrecognizable to those looking at them. You might have known a person by their voice, height, hair, skin, or lips, but now suddenly… you aren’t certain. This could be anyone.

This effectively means that you can’t guess the identity of an individual by their physical traits. However, you might recognize them either from their speech patterns, or something they tell you.

It’s easier to recognize people by their masks, but if you want your character to struggle with this as well, you may. (The same applies to clothing.) This means you might be at risk of losing track of your date if you come as a couple. This is up to individual players.

Mr. Calderon-Boot has the power to take the charm away, though, so if you act in a truly horrendous manner or break a rule, you could still get caught. Not to mention that a lot of people will remember if the guy in the blue domino mask was being a total dick all night, and someone might later see it amongst your possessions.

If you leave the dance, the charm deactivates until you return. If you remove your mask, the charm deactivates, but will reactivate once you put your mask back on.

» Setting Up: In the afternoon, Event Committee works on getting the Atrium looking its best. Event Committee has thrown up magically impenetrable curtains around the Atrium, so even students exiting dinner at 6:30 PM won't be able to see what they're working on.

» Before the Dance: Dress to impress! Do you let your friends see your mask, or are you hiding it until you get to the dance? The trails have been swept by Mr. Covington, to make it easy as possible for students get to the lodge. (He recommends wearing your boots, and changing footwear once you reach the lodge.) Doors open at 7 PM.

» Beginning of the Dance: Students are allowed into the Atrium and get to admire the decorations and everyone's masks. The music aims to get everyone dancing with a playlist that’s heavy on the jazz, ragtime and brass band. (~7:00 PM)

» Refreshments Table & Open Bar: Food and drinks are available all night, and there’s little tables, decked in colourful tablecloths, if you want somewhere to sit. Head to the bar if you want someone to mix a drink for you—all non-alcoholic, of course. (~8:00-11:00 PM)

» Anonymous Karaoke: Through the doors to the cafeteria is a stage with a karaoke setup. Can you guess which one of your classmates is performing? (~8:00-11:00 PM)

» Photobooth: In the corner of the cafeteria, you can take instant mementos of your night. Just insert a half-dragot coin, and strike a pose! Note that the Anonymity Charm does not work in photographs, so your pictures might give away your identity... (~8:00-11:00 PM)

» Balcony: The balcony overlooks the lake, and some students mingle out here to chat or appreciate the scenery. (~8:00-11:00 PM)

» End of the Night: The music winds down with some slower, romantic songs. Just before midnight, there’s a fireworks show. The charm immediately ends at the stroke of midnight, Cinderella. So either leave the dance by then, or stand around with everyone else to unmask and see who you’ve been talking to! (~11:00 PM-12:00 AM)

» OOC - Questions, comments, concerns!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ree is ALL ABOUT THIS, and drags everyone in with her. Everyone. She doesn't know who most of you people are, and she doesn't care, you're taking photos with her and her giant feather mask. DEAL.

Oh, hey, it's Ree. Actual, real life Ree, non Anonymous Ree. Levi waves enthusiastically and greets her with a, "YOOOOO!" before trying to cram himself into the photobooth with her without even introducing himself.

"Baby!" Ree cheers, though she has no clue who it is crowding in with her. The spell is good. It's kind of freaking her out, but she's refusing to give into that. "Or...wait, are you going for Count Dracula or Edward Cullen? Because I gotta tell you, one of those is the wrong answer and I'll kick you in the nuts."

"More like Count Chocula. I ate so many fucking cupcakes, Ree, I felt like that fat kid in Matilda. Do you have any gum or mints or whatever? I'm hoping for some vampire-on-vampire action tonight and all I've got is Firewhisky to wash the chocolate vom taste down." Yep, that's Levi.

Ree laughs. "Nah. No mints. Sorry, sweetie. Who else is a vamp, though? Cecil? Or are you just trying to mack on random strangers with coordinating costumes because this Anonymity spell is kinda foolproof?"

Levi puts his hand to his chest and gapes at her in mock offense. "Why would I want to kiss anyone who's not my husband? Nobody's lips compare to Cecil's. -- Okay, but he dressed up as a vampire for me. Isn't that the most romantic thing you've ever heard?!?!"

"One, he's not your husband. Unless I missed something big, in which case fuck you. Two, if you think that's romantic, it's hella romantic and I'm super happy for you," Ree assures. "You're adorable. Now compliment my costume too."

Levi pulls back and eyes her outfit up and down. "You look like a big, sexy bird trying to attract a mate and your mask looks like it belongs to a shoujo anime villain." That was a compliment, right?

Ree considers for a minute, then nods, accepting it. "More or less what I was going for," she decides. "Thanks, babe. You look hot too."

After a disastrous first attempt at contact, Jesse is in desperate need of a costume change. He's seriously considering marching back up to Azurcrest, which seems like ... too much work, when he spots Ree. Beautiful, creative, trustworthy Ree. Just hanging out, being so obviously herself. Perfect.

Without identifying himself, he physically scoops her up and carries her into a photo booth like the literal ogre that he is. "I need your help."

Ree kicks a little, but just for fun. She doesn't actually mind being swept off her feet. "Well, hello to you too, sailor," she says, laughing. "What's up? Also, who the hell are you?"

He lifts her legs and drapes them over his thighs, so he can squeeze himself onto the photo booth bench beside her. "I am the bat," he says, a little wistfully. It's his last chance at getting a laugh before ditching his Batman alter-ego for the rest of the night.

"No, but seriously, it's Jesse," he says, after a substantial pause, and pushes his mask to the top of his head. "I need a new outfit. Can you work some artsy magic on me?"

Ree squirms a little, making herself cfortable, and waits him out. When he finally reveals himself, she laughs.

"Oh, hey, babe. I should've known, no one throws me around like you do. Why? I like the bat thing, where'd it go wrong?"

"Thank you," he throws his head back dramatically when she does finally laugh. He knew it was funny. Alas, he can no longer be The Bat.

"I said something dumb to a cute girl and I need a do-over," he explains without hesitation. "It's not technically lying! Just minimal deceiving," he adds, before she can protest, "And it wasn't mean or anything."

Ree's eyes narrow. It sounds a lot like lying. Then agsin, this whole party is a lot like lying. "Nope. More info before I'm into this plot. What did you say, and why does it matter? And are you just gonna keep switching costumes til she falls into your arms? That sounds creepy, Jesse. Don't be creepy."

Goddamnit, Ree.

Jesse slumps back in his seat and groans in frustration. "I'm not a creep," he insists. He's had to insist he's not being creepy way too many times in his young life. This should tell you something, Jesse.

He truly believes he's not doing anything wrong, though, so he has no qualms divulging every last detail. "Ivy Templeton told me to stop double dipping in the chocolate fountain," he begins, as if that's the craziest thing a person could ask of him, "And I told her that she's lucky to be eating my spit. Which was a joke!" He pauses there, holding up one finger. It's important that Ree understands he was just kidding.

"But, Merlin willing," he presses his palms together in prayer, "I would very much like to swap spit with Ivy Templeton one day. So, I panicked and pretended to be a twelve-year-old medical savant and then I ran away..."

Not his proudest moment. He pinches the bridge of his nose and mumbles pitifully, "Oh my god, please help me."

"A prepubescent medical savant?" Ree asks, obviously amused. "That's sexy, Jesse. Your brain is amazing. Ok. So let's turn you into...uh. I mean, the bat mask is kind of...definitely a bat mask. We might have to get you a new one. We can probably bribe a freshman. An actual one, not an imaginary one with a medical degree, though if one of those exists he's my new back-up husband, forget you."

MASQUERADE

Ree

Ree & Levi

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Ree & Levi

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Ree & Levi

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Ree & Levi

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Ree & Jesse

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Ree & Jesse

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Ree & Jesse

i fucking love jesse

plz help him he is so dumb <3

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Ree & Jesse

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