WINTER MASQUERADE

[goosemods]

WINTER MASQUERADE

The privacy curtains are erected in the Atrium as soon as lunch ends, and it's all hands on deck as Event Committee get ready to transform the Atrium. Students having dinner are given only 30 minutes before they're ushered out past the privacy curtains again, so the cafeteria can be claimed for a "special surprise." At 7 PM sharp, the Atrium opens, and the Anonymity Charm activates.

House-elves will take cloaks and coats when students arrive, and usher them past festive red curtains into a light-filled carnival. Yards of colourful fabric drape out from the center of the ceiling and fall all the way down to the floor, creating the illusion of a circus big top. Blinking holiday lights cover the walls, twisted into familiar designs: candy canes, evergreens, dreidels, green and red candles, etc. At different corners stand four tall trees decorated in honour of the four houses: one in plum and gold with fuzzy bear decorations, one in olive and copper with glass trout, one in azure and white with feathery jays, and one in orange and black with felt foxes. A mystery gift exchange is taking place by the trees, so come claim your present!

The dance floor is outlined with twinkling lights that magically strobe along with the music. Cheer captain Madison Ives has organized a dance spectacle opener with the help of the other cheer captains, and student band The Heretics are set to perform tonight!

The refreshments tables lining one wall features fair foods such as bagged popcorn (mixed with green and red M&M's), hot pretzels, candy apples, funnel cakes, corn dogs, french fries, cotton candy, and endless varieties of fizzy soda. (A few special treats have been set aside for vegan students. Prospero recommends the falafel on a stick.) Communal tables and chairs have been adorned with red-and-white-striped fabric, to give them a candy cane circus feel.

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 carousel-themed photo op, where you and a masked stranger can pose in front of seasonally appropriate mounts in the shape of a reindeer, a polar bear, a two-seat swan with holly and red ribbon around its neck, and a plastic Santa Claus inviting you to sit in his lap. Only once you've stepped up to the carousel mounts will you see the sprig of mistletoe hanging overhead. Event Committee volunteer photographers will take your picture, to be publicly posted later so you can guess who was posing with you!

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 red and green cushions, and there's bluebell flame lamps providing warmth and light on this chilly December night. From here, you can see the sleigh rides running just outside the lodge, within the sphere of the Anonymity Charm. These romantic magical sleighs seat up to three, and circle the lodge on a set track that takes you past trees also decorated with brilliant lights.

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 (1) warning before they're ejected from the dance. The same applies to a handful of MACUSA agents, in identical black masks and black robes, but they appear more interested in patrolling the dance than talking to anyone.

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.

CLICK HERE FOR ANONYMITY CHARM RULES

• 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. Also, the charm also doesn't affect your sense of touch, smell or taste. (But please don't lick anyone to figure out their identity.)


• 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. The effective area of the charm is the lodge and the area immediately surrounding the lodge, enough to cover the sleigh rides.

» Setting Up » Before the Dance » Beginning of the Dance » Refreshments » Mystery Gift Exchange » Anonymous Karaoke » Carousel Photos » Balcony » Sleigh Rides » End of the Night » OOC - Questions, comments, concerns!

Comments

BEGINNING OF THE DANCE

[goosemods]

Students are allowed into the Atrium and get to admire the decorations and everyone's masks. Madison Ives leads a dance opener that's sure to get everyone into the mood. (~7:00 PM)

A discerning girl. (open to multiple)

[goosemods]

A girl stands alone, watching the crowd from beneath a glittering silver mask. There's the sense that her gaze is discerning as it shifts from person to person. When it meets yours, she offers a lipsticked smile that shows none of her teeth.

A silly girl. (open to multiple)

[goosemods]

A girl crouches behind a table in her poofy formal dress. When she notices you, she holds a finger up to her lips, urging you to not give away her hiding spot. Her shoulders shake a little and it looks like she's having a very hard time not giggling.

A focused boy. (open to 3)

[goosemods]

A boy in a white mask stands at the edge of the dance floor, his thumbs and forefingers held before him to form a picture frame. He appears to be trying to find the perfect shot to capture the colourful, twirling dancers.

A shy girl. (open to multiple)

[goosemods]

Standing alone by the wall, a shy girl looks like she's deep in thought. Clearly struggling with asking someone to dance or not, she's been standing there for just a bit too long by herself. Searching, maybe for friends or someone she'd like to dance with? Either way, she remains still and looking indecisive.

A disheveled boy. (open to multiple)

[goosemods]

The boy by the door sticks out against the glamour of the dance simply because his overall appearance is so disheveled. No crisp ties or glittering sequins here; his mask is a black and silver domino, and his dark suit may never have been introduced to a proper hanger. Maybe he knows that. He breaks away from his spot on the wall and exits, only to pause, and come right back. He drops a napkin on the floor. Protest by littering? Hard to say.

A bright girl. (open to multiple)

[goosemods]

A girl who seems to be the epitome of motion stands alone, though oddly doesn’t strike one as lonely. A bright smile is on her face and bright eyes can be seen under her dusky rose mask. She greets everyone who passes as if they are an old friend, enticing them to dance with her even if there is no music. She gives off the impression that if you join her then it might make your night a little brighter.

A juggling boy. (open to multiple)

[goosemods]

A boy in a bowtie and a red and navy pinstriped suit jacket stands off to the side of the action. Apparently, he has taken the theme to heart, because he pulls a set of multicolored balls out of his pocket and starts to juggle. "Catch!" he says, tossing one towards the nearest bystander.

An observant boy. (open to multiple)

[goosemods]

A boy in a simple mask and smart, but slightly too casual, clothes stands off in the shadows. Watching the crowd, hands clasped behind his back.

Micah & Calvin

[stclair]

Micah chose a simple domino mask outlined with white feathers. Usually he goes for showier, but he's taking photos for both Event Committee and the student newspaper tonight. He didn't want to wear something that would get in the way of the perfect shot. It does put a bit of a damper on all the sexy anonymous flirting of the evening, but Micah is... fine with that, actually.

He's not inspecting that thought too closely. Just line up the next shot, point and click. He knows, after having deployed his photobooth last year, that the Anonymity Charm won't be active in the photos, but maybe if he develops them the wizard way, there will be a trace of whatever anonymity conferred on them. Colourful figures in masks, twirling around the dance floor. Everyone feeling bolder, prettier and more interesting as they grab the hand of a stranger and pull them in close.

On the edge of the dance floor, Micah gets down on one knee, trying to find a different angle with his camera.

A wistful girl. (open to multiple)

[goosemods]

A girl in a glittering gold dress wanders through the crowd, as if she is searching for someone. Every now and then she lets out a deep sigh, though you get the impression it is more bittersweet than disappointed. You bump into her, and find she apologizes to you politely even if you accidentally stepped on the hem of her dress.

Avery & Open (to multiple!)

[un_kept]

Excited for this dance, and according to Ursula definitely dressed to devastate, Avery wastes no time. When Madison is done starting off the dance (whom she cheers for very loudly!) she heads out onto the dance floor, ready to have fun and dance with her unidentifiable classmates.

Isabelle & Open (to multiple!)

[cant_even]

Isabelle adjusts her mask slightly, stepping up towards the dance floor. She's late to this part of the party, and everyone is already in full swing as she joins into the fray.

Concordia & Open (to multiple!)

[cheer_leader]

While it was obvious her dress didn't match her mask, it was also obvious that Dia absolutely didn't care. She proudly rocked the mask she had gotten from the mask exchange, dancing her way through the Atrium - both on and off the dance floor. She doesn't hesitate to grab anyone who looks like they want to dance but isn't yet, or who is on the dance floor alone.

Ennis (Open to multiple)

[sheepish]

Ennis carries himself with grace and a playful confidence, trying to channel the spirit of Josephine, his LARP character, instead of his sad squonky self. After doing a few shots with Yancey earlier, he's a bit tipsy at the start of the dance but that only calms his nerves and emboldens him.

He extends a blackened hand, long, false nails sharpened to a point; it's a severe contrast to his seraphic gown and headpiece. "Would you care for a dance?" he asks the stranger, offering a warm and inviting smile.

A bunny fairy. (open to multiple)

[magitechnically]

The elusive bunny fairy has reappeared! The Masquerade was Essie's favorite dance last year and even though she won't be able to dance with Diego this time, the good news is that Mina's not here to yell at her if she maybe decides she's going to play a grand game of hide and seek with---

Uhhh. Wait. Is she on a date??? Did she forgot to ask Jeffy if they were on a date???

OH WELL. WHATEVER!!! She's going to BOUNCE and TWIRL like ALL NIGHT LONG!!! Or, like, for at least twenty minutes until she goes and finds a closet to hide in.

Hazel & Open to multiple

[lilwitchhazel]

After having gone to great lengths to not reveal her outfit for the night, Hazel has arrived at the dance in a long hooded dress in red, blonde curls spilling out, and a white, lupine mask. Her usual animated presence is gone, replaced by something a little more controlled and mature. She'll try to find her friends without giving herself away, just for curiosity's sake, but otherwise she'll happily dance or talk with anyone. It's sort of nice, to just be here with no expectations from others or for herself.

Lachlan (Open to Multiple)

[lachlangalbraith]

While Lachlan is attempting to take Reid's reassurances about the masquerade to heart, the whole candygram fiasco with Jaime still has him tightly wound and he's visibly tense as he wanders through the Atrium in a plain blue suit (the white shirt beneath lacking a tie but currently buttoned up to the top, though it would undoubtedly look better if it wasn't) and the seraphic mask that he'd received during the exchange. The one that Yancey had made and that he'd been absurdly pleased to receive. He'd only allowed Addy to see him prior to coming here and he doesn't see her familiar golden mask anywhere among the crowd as he takes in the sights and tries to decide what he ought to be doing.

Lucas & Bash

[bubblewrapped]

Last year, Lucas had come to the masquerade, hidden in a corner and read all night. The memory pops into his head the first time he walks by that particular corner, but just in passing, and never again after that. No, tonight Lucas, well-dressed in simple black and white, with his face hidden behind a black witch moth mask, (hey it totally goes along with the ghost animal theme.) is here for a reason beyond obligation. He's on the hunt, and there's a small smile fixed on his face as he maneuvers the atrium.

Sure, he still bobs awkwardly through the crowd, careful to avoid brushing against other students. And maybe approaching strangers to grill them on their identities is slightly more nauseating than exhilarating. But the prize at the end is worth it.

He's checked around the trees, under tables and by the popcorn machine, and now he pulls aside a bit of colorful drapery with a dramatic flourish, mostly sure that someone is absolutely hiding behind it.

One Half of Jedward & Open! (To Multiple)

[lilipad]

Out on the dance floor, a very tall figure is holding court. One moment, they're dancing with their arms raised high over their head and sensually rolling hips that suggest this person has feminine curves beneath their flashy, blue tuxedo jacket. The next, they're leading a petite girl in an enormous tulle skirt in a distinctly masculine manner. If you watch them for long enough, it becomes apparent that this person is playing characters. If you're close enough to listen in on multiple conversations, you'll notice they're even changing the cadence and pitch of their voice.

Lilika is riding a high from the fallout of her candygrams. She's drunk with power and intends to continue wreaking havoc among the masses.

Heathcliff (Open to Multiple)

[heathclifflacey]

While Heathcliff had come to dance with Fern, the two aren't planning to be attached at the hip tonight and it isn't long before the Coppertale is wandering around some on his own. He's in a good mood, wearing a bright grin beneath his simple black and red (and sparkly!) mask and looking pretty comfortable in his black and red suit. Probably because he's wearing sneakers with it. The classless oaf. He's happy to chat up or dance with just about anyone.

Gwen and open to multiple

[gwenniepop]

Although she and Webster had come together, they had separated for a while to greet their respective friends. So for the moment, Gwen found herself at the edge of the dance floor in her flowered dress and bee mask, admiring all the brave dancers who were already out there.

A flower merchant.

[goosemods]

A tall, slender figure in an ill-fitting tuxedo weaves through the crowd attempting to sell their wares. In their arms, they carry a heavy bundle of chocolate roses. "Getcha roses heeeyyeaaaah," they call to no one in particular, "Just one dragot a pop!"

Ari & Jade; a hallway

[odder]

It's late in the evening, and Jade's ducked away from the main festivities into a smaller side hall, in order to enact Phase B: Eyeballs. She's actually danced, tonight, and her face feels warm and stuffy in her wolf mask. She glances around a little, and decides that she probably doesn't care if anyone here discerns her true identity. She pulls the mask off her face for a moment, giving it a moment to breathe before it's inflicted with Jade's next costume piece.

A confused boy. (open to multiple)

[goosemods]

There's something behind the Azurcrest tree, shaking the branches, the ornaments clinking together and threatening to fall off. After a second, a tall boy emerges, a confused look on his face as he makes his way back toward the dance floor, checking under tables and behind pillars along the way. Is he looking for something in particular, or just confused?