MASQUERADE

[goosemods]

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!

Comments

Jacob + Definitely not Isaiah, mate, wtf are you on

[evercretin]

Dimi's lost Mina again. She's probably berating one of the bartenders or a freshman. He'd go find her, but she seems to enjoy that. So when the music winds down he's not pressed to rejoin her, but at the same he is absolutely not whittling away the last moments of this dance alone.

He spots a tallish, shortish, handsomeish, maleish stranger nearby. One who looks both exactly the same as every other tallish, shortish, handsomeish and maleish strangers in the hall and at the same time not like them at all. Dimi clears his throat and approaches the young man in the black and gold mask.

"Dance with me?" He asks in his best American accent, holding out his hand expectantly. He sounds like Gregory House, MD. What is with British dudes thinking overhard r's and growling = American accent?

Jacob + Definitely not Isaiah. He'll be omitting this from his future job applications. :x

[shirtsoptional]

Honestly, Jacob's accent isn't much better. The heavy American mimicry mangles with a lighter Glasgow accent that causes every 'Bro' he utters to come out sounding a bit odd. Though when faced with the alternative of a full blown Glaswegian accent in effect, it's probably a good thing that Jacob tries so hard to fit in with his classmates.

The question startles him. He was supposed to rejoin Isaiah not far from here. Can't get confused by anonymous mask charms if you just don't move, right? But maybe Isaiah saw him coming and wanted to surprise him with some dashing classic romance move, like all the flowers and the dance invitation had been.

Jacob looks over the stranger and apparently crit fails his perception check as the cutouts in the stranger's mask start to blend as if they could instead be the silver of Isaiah's mask. His skin and eyes and everything else about him are just as uncertain as they were when he was with Isaiah.

"That's why we came here, right?" Jacob teases, shy smile pulling into a grin as he places his hand in the stranger's.

Jacob + Definitely not Isaiah. Wise choice.

[evercretin]

Dimi guides Jacob out onto the dance floor, a playful grin on his lips. They're just in time for the next song to start, and Dimi takes the lead, for better or worse - this event was a crash course in dancing for him. He manages to avoid stepping on Jacob's feet, at least.

"So, have a good time this evening? Meet any handsome strangers?" He says with a laugh.

Jacob + Definitely not Isaiah. Continuing to fail his perception check.

[shirtsoptional]

It's late. There's romantic music playing. He's dancing with the boy he fell in crazed magical love with only to kind of fall in actual like with. It's like the big end scene from some Hollywood romance. (Not that he would ever fucking watch one of those, shut up.) But okay, even Jacob can admit this is all pretty sick, to borrow a word from Casey.

"Just the one," he replies, moving boldly? familiarly? closer to the other boy as they dance. There's no hesitation when he tilts his head in to where he estimates Isaiah's ear ought to be - it keeps jumping up and down in his vision - and adds, "Want to find us a nice corner once the fireworks start?"

Jacob + Definitely not Isaiah. FUCKING THANK YOU GOD

[evercretin]

My goodness, how forward! Looks like Dimi picked the right random to end the night with. His grin broadens. He leads Jacob in a small circle to better scope out the hall for a good spot. “Sounds like a plan.”

When the song comes to a close, Dimi gestures toward the far side of the atrium. Secluded, but near enough to a window that they won’t miss the light show - if they’re still even interested in it.

Jacob + Definitely not Isaiah. blarhghg my icons :C

[shirtsoptional]

Jacob certainly hopes Isaiah doesn't actually want to watch the light show. Kissing him in public is thrilling, knowing they both wouldn't do it normally, and there's not much time left, so best to savor it. He eagerly accompanies the stranger into the suggested alcove, laughing a little when his back bumps against the wall.

"Think I can be more interesting than the fireworks," he teases and playfully tugs on the stranger's tie to pull him in closer and--

Wait a second.

Tie?

Isaiah didn't wear a tie. They talked about this. Jacob almost took his off as well. If this stranger is wearing a tie, then this isn't--

Shit, shit, shiiiiiiit. Jacob releases his hold on the tie, abruptly pushing the stranger away from him, demanding, "What the fuck?"

Jacob + Definitely not Isaiah. KISSES UR FACE I'M JUST SO HAPPY WE CAN POST THIS FINALLY

[evercretin]

A surprised but not uncomfortable chuckle escapes Dimi as Jacob reels him in. He rests a hand on the wall behind Jacob’s head for balance and then-- is instantly shoved away. Merlin, what?

“Hey, mate, sorry!” He exclaims, losing track of his barely convincing accent. Dimi takes a couple of steps back, his hands up at his chest. Was it his cologne? His breath? The bad accent? “Thought you were interested. Change of heart?”

Jacob + Definitely not Isaiah. whoa there let me see some id first

[shirtsoptional]

"What? No. Ugh," Jacob sputters through barely concealed mortification. He forces himself to finally look at the other boy and... okay, shit, what are you on Wood. The charm is playing tricks with his mind, but there is no way that this is his boyfriend. Person. Isaiah. Whatever.

"I thought you were--," Jacob snaps defensively, suddenly all too glad that at least his own identity is obscured. The other boy's accent, utterly unremarkable to Jacob's ears after years spent at Hogwarts, rather quickly narrows down the possible suspects and that only makes this more uncomfortable.

Jacob + Definitely not Isaiah. I don't have ID I'm the batman

[evercretin]

“Thought I was…?” Dimi repeats. He catches himself sounding irritated and tries to walk it back, scratching his forehead just above his right eyebrow and focus his thoughts. This guy sure does sound familiar all of a sudden. And not at all American.

“Wait, who are you?” Dimi asks. His hand slides down to the corner of his own mask.

Jacob + Definitely not Isaiah. sorry no batmans allowed near my face

[shirtsoptional]

Shiiiiiit. Of course that's the next logical question. And the very last question that Jacob wants to answer. He's reasonably certain that the boy before him is the hero of his Hogwarts days, Dimi Evercreech. A boy who is still way too close for comfort. Because right now anywhere other than the other side of the fucking room is way too close.

If ever there was a time to embrace being a Coppertale it was now.

"Fuck off," Jacob answers, pushing off the wall and shoving his way past Dimi.

Okay, now to go back to being a Ravenclaw and get the fuck away as fast as possible.

Dimi gettin' Cinderfella'd. Tragic tbh

[evercretin]

“All right, sorry,” Dimi hisses, trying to back off and give Jacob space to flee. He’s not fast enough and their shoulders connect as Jacob shoves past. He adds, “Wanker.”

Dimi paces a few feet off, clicking his tongue and stretching his arms up behind his head. Posturing. Whatever, mate. No big deal. Still, he tosses a glance over his shoulder and frowns. What’s wrong with him?