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

Ravi's timing couldn't be better. Before long, a dark, beaked figure has spotted the golden sun on 'Ravi's' forehead, and after a quick detour to the refreshments table, he makes his approach. The royal agent slides up beside who he is very convinced is his dastardly spy. But, for the sake of stopping chaos from erupting in the court, he's decided to play this cool. Diego's holding two mocktails, one of which he offers to Asher, the picture of a gentleman.

"I knew a snake like you wouldn't be able to resist making an appearance," Diego says with a charming smile. "It must be quite a prize to draw you out of hiding."

Asher isn't horribly surprised when he's approached so quickly after Ravi's departure, but he is surprised by how he's approached. Yep, he's been dragged into LARPing without even really knowing it, and now he has to keep himself from laughing and do his best to try to keep who he assumes is Diego occupied. He knows this is all just for fun but he really doesn't want to let Ravi down.

He's got this. He thinks.

Asher smiles, doing his best to seem completely nonchalant as he takes the offered drink from Diego(?). He's doing his best to mimic Ravi while attempting to figure out from context clues what the hell they're playing at. There are very few context clues. They sound like they know each other? Ravi maybe steals stuff? Also they... definitely probably flirt. Is he going to have to flirt with the boyfriend of one of his closest friends? This isn't how he anticipated spending his evening.

"And you couldn't seem to resist seeking me out alone, could you?" He takes a sip of his drink, slow, drawing it out so he can desperately try to think. "Fishing for information? I thought you would have been able to sort it out by now yourself."

Diego remembers he's supposed to be troubled by his attraction to Ravi, and his acting experience lets him show that at least a little. Improv is hard. He thinks guilty thoughts to try and get himself in the moment. He's just been accused of wanting his sworn enemy's company. Diego artfully allows his mask to obscure his mouth from ~~Asher's~~ Ravi's view, so his expression is a true mystery.

"Maybe your faith in me is misplaced," he says plainly, almost sadly. "But my convictions remain unchanged. Tonight is the last time we'll speak, I promise you that."

Lawful Good Ribbonfin prefect Ravi Dhaliwal would probably feel a deep, abiding shame over tricking his boyfriend into flirting with one of his closest friends. But that's not who's attending this dance tonight. Oh no. Currently, in that boring prefect's place is a Chaotic Neutral court spy with a vague but threatening mission to carry out, and he's just successfully duped his enemy into chasing the wrong lead.

Whistling to himself, Ravi takes this opportunity to get a drink from the bar.

This really is hard, Diego. Why does Ravi do this?! Asher suddenly realizes that he doesn't even have to pretend to be Ravi. He has to pretend to be Ravi pretending to be some sort of thief person, which in some ways is both harder and easier. Less to go off of, but more freedom. This loosens him up a tiny bit.

"How disappointing." He does feign something of a playful exasperation. What is he even doing? He's going to kill Ravi later.

Asher manages to give a smile that's significantly more controlled than he would have expected. His brow is a little creased as he does some mental backflips trying to bullshit something, but the mask pretty much hides any signs of that. "It's endearing that you think that - I have no plans for this to be our final meeting."

Diego chuckles, and then abruptly breaks character and actually laughs for a second or two. "Uh, sorry, sorry," he says, before clearing his throat and composing himself again. A moment of reflection is all he needs, just to go over the scenario again. Last time he let Ravi go after an intense investigation. It was due to a lack of evidence, but he wonders if his feelings added to his decision.

Okay, he's got it.

"Things have changed," he says, attempting to be severe. "I have no more patience left for these games." Diego leans in as close as his mask allows (which thankfully for Asher isn't that close) and whispers, "I will stop you."

When Diego starts laughing Asher uses absolutely every ounce of self-control he has to not start laughing himself. He clears his throat a little and looks away to regain his composure, but his entire body is rigid with the attempt to keep his laughter in. There's no way Diego isn't going to sort out soon that he's not Ravi, right?

He looks back to the other boy, and only moments later Diego's face is pretty much right there and Asher is really thankful for these masks. He totally has this under control, he reminds himself. But he also maybe chokes out a little bit of an embarrassed laugh accompanied by a breathy 'shit,' as he leans back. "Di- Sir." What the crap is he supposed to call Diego? Ok maybe he doesn't have this under control. "I'm-"

It's at this exact moment that someone else leans in close to Diego, and whispers two words into his ear: "Fig wasp."

Ravi takes a step back before Diego can jump and knock the drink in his hand. He's smiling as he holds out the glass for Asher to take. A Bloody Mary felt thematic for this evening of life-and-death court intrigue.

"For you, my good sir," Ravi says with no trace of embarrassment in his voice. "Thank you kindly for your mask."

Fig wasp. Their password.

Diego spins on his heel and looks aghast at the cat-masked criminal who tricked him horribly and is acting so endearingly smug about the whole thing. No one can see it, but Diego's face has heated up very nicely as he takes a step a w a y from whoever this other guy is. He points at Ravi, the real Ravi, mutely for a second.

"You... you," Diego has to stop and search for a more thematic insult, "rogue."

Asher lets out a tiny but audible sigh as Ravi appears, saving him from any more awkward interactions with Diego. Downing the rest of the drink Diego had brought him, Asher takes the newly offered Bloody Mary, nests the cups, and takes a long drink as though it weren't virgin. At the moment he sort of wishes it wasn't.

"It was...interesting," he responds to Ravi, taking off his friend's mask to reveal his slightly flushed face. He holds it out in offering before looking to Diego.

"...you've got to get better at holding in those laughs, dude. I'll give you a solid 8 out of 10, though." He's just making jokes to keep from immediately retreating. At least Ravi and Diego are having fun. He himself is a little mortified. And Casper is never going to let him live this down.

MASQUERADE

Asher & Ravi & Diego

Asher LARPing Ravi & Ravi & Diego

Asher LARPing Ravi & Ravi & Diego

Asher LARPing Ravi & Ravi & Diego

Asher LARPing Ravi & Ravi & Diego

Asher LARPing Ravi & Ravi & Diego

Asher LARPing Ravi & Ravi & Diego

Asher & Ravi & Diego

Asher & Ravi & Diego

Asher & Ravi & Diego