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Gooseberry Mods ([personal profile] goosemods) wrote in [community profile] gooseberryhigh2017-02-24 09:36 am

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!

Wilde & Roxie

[identity profile] destructobot.insanejournal.com 2017-02-26 12:52 am (UTC)(link)
Wilde grins at that. "You don't look like a joker."

This charm is crazy. He can tell this is a girl, the outline of her mask, but whenever he tries to look at the face behind it he can't quite sort out the angle of the jaw or the color of the eyes. He only knows she's smiling, too.

"Nice mask."
uponawire: (words are spoken with tap wire)

Wilde & Roxie

[personal profile] uponawire 2017-02-26 03:27 am (UTC)(link)
That startles a laugh out of her, before she tips her head. "How can you tell?"

It's amazing, really. She might not know everyone's name, but she'd been reasonably certain that she could pick everyone attending school here out of a lineup with relative ease. She was good with faces. But everyone was a mess of maybe and no, definitely not and I could've sworn.

"Not nearly as nice as yours."

Wilde & Roxie

[identity profile] destructobot.insanejournal.com 2017-02-26 04:12 am (UTC)(link)
"Actually, I can't," Wilde admits. "This charm is crazy."

He kind of... likes it. Words seem to come a bit freer, looser. He doesn't sound sharp and rehearsed, the way he usually does. Maybe it's the flask, maybe not.

"Thanks. I am vengeance and the night, I guess that's kind of hard to beat."
uponawire: (my head is the canopy high)

Wilde & Roxie

[personal profile] uponawire 2017-02-26 06:31 am (UTC)(link)
"It's definitely strange," Roxie confirms. "Not being able to recognize people you know. Even when they're inches away from you."

She can't quite decide whether it's a good or bad sort of strange. The verdict changes from moment to moment. There's joy in being no one for a little while - but it's a bit off-putting to be surrounded by strangers that you're well aware that you know.

"Does it get tiring," she asks instead, still on the enjoyment side of the fence for now. "Being both vengeance and the night? Seems like a big commitment."

Wilde & Roxie

[identity profile] destructobot.insanejournal.com 2017-02-26 09:28 am (UTC)(link)
"I think it would, if I wasn't soo strong from bearing the weight of these platonic ideals," says Wilde, half-laughing at himself.

When the light hits the girl's face the right way, her mask takes on the look of a death's head. He wonders if that was somehow on purpose, but doesn't say anything. It's an effective memento mori either way.

"Wanna dance?"
uponawire: (with my hands on my heart)

Wilde & Roxie

[personal profile] uponawire 2017-02-26 10:24 am (UTC)(link)
"I must say," she murmurs, sounding appropriately complimentary. "It's a very effective work out."

It's a nice laugh, as far as she can tell. Honestly, it's all that she can tell - not a clue about who it belongs to, or even whether or not it's familiar. But it is nice.

"With you?" One set of fingers braces delicately at the base of her throat, chin ducking demurely before she sticks out her other hand in s manner far more akin to invitation than acceptance. "I'd be honored."