the Malfoy Masque, part deux

[mirror_darkly]

Date: Twelfth Night! (January 6)
Location: Malfoy Manor, the 'Ballroom'
Characters Involved: those ready to dance!

Comments

7:45

[percys_grail]

Percy held his invitation in his hand, wondering why one had been delivered to him in the first place. If he was still working at the Ministry of Magic, then he could have understood. Perhaps he was still on some sort of mailing list? In any case, Percy was happy to attend, despite the fact the gala was being held by the Malfoys at their Manor. He was ready to enter the job market once again and had spent hours pouring over his CV - this party would be a good opportunity for him to hobnob with influential people in Wizarding Society who might help him in his search.

Percy didn't have much money, but he wanted to put on a good first impression, therefore his costume was based on traditional Venetian Carnival attire, red for Gryffindor, with an appropriate mask . He felt rather silly in the tights and he expected to hear jokes made about his skinny legs, but after all, it was a masquerade, and everybody was participating in the fun.

Percy made his entrance directly behind a masked lady, whose costume he admired from behind, and then looked around to see the lavish architecture and decor of the Manor. He could not help but feel a hint of envy: he had always envisioned himself living in such splendour, after becoming successful, but things didn't turn out as they planned.

Re: 7:45

[mirror_darkly]

It didn't matter how they were dressed, it was impossible to miss a Weaseley. Since Lucius had taken great pains to get a certain Weaseley at his Masque--for purposes of his own--the man in the ridiculous feathers who could not pull off wearing tights to save his life simply had to be Percy Weaseley. Giving the faintest of significant looks to Millicent, he moved slightly so that she was no longer blocking him and called out to the confused-looking young man in front of him.

Making a show of flicking his eyes at the invitation--as if realizing that this must be an Important Guest, as he had one--Lucius said graciously, "Good evening, busker. I do hope you will enjoy yourself this evening at our special event."

Re: 7:45

[our_discontent]

Between his attentions to his meek new protégé, Draco too noticed another entrance to the Masque, one he and the rest had been silently, eagerly, awaiting. The man’s costume was loud, laughable-if only Percy had the legs and airs to pull off tights. And if only he hadn’t chosen red to go with that same audacious shade of hair.

Weasleys, would they ever learn?

Well, tonight this particular Weasley would be an obliging pupil.

Draco looked on as his father made a polite ‘show’ of welcoming the guest, as opposed to letting the rather befuddled thing make his way to the hosts like the rest had done. Hm. Hopefully none of this would look too important, since Lucius had made his expectations about subtleties clear for the evening. He caught the glance to Millicent just a mere foot or two away, and he cast his eyes toward his female peer as well.

She looked well. He could admit that without being distracted.
Millicent had certainly undergone a flattering transformation since her school days.

Draco chose not to join any of them for the moment, such a thing would only make Lucius’s special greeting inordinately conspicuous. Percy shouldn’t think himself any more important than he already did for merely receiving an invitation. That was plenty for the moment, lest he be suspicious of his treatment when… certain merry revelations occurred later.

He was pleased Percy showed up-an invitation would be a mystery in and of itself, but this particular Weasley was infamous for his attractions to the pomp and circumstance of the bureaucratic life. Draco returned his attentions to his other guests, his hand warm on the cane that concealed his wand, biding his time.

Re: 7:45

[la_morte_bella]

A gloved hand came to rest on the back of the young red-head; long, thin fingers (covered in green) curled over his shoulder, squeezing the bony appendage gently. A pressure was applied, supposedly to keep him from jumping. Likely it would be unsuccessful.

"Mr. Weasley," a soft voice from behind him could be heard. The hand on his shoulder guided him to turn just enough to bring the tall woman into view. "Our guest of honor, I presume?" She added, looking to the boy. Though her voice was soft, regal even, it was like being caressed by a jeweled dagger as it rolled down your spine and through your nerves -- elegant, dangerous, and a mere nanometer from cutting your flesh.

She offered Percy a smile before her attention turned to Lucius.

"Dear Lucius, your evening is magnificent."

Re: 7:45

[percys_grail]

Indeed, Percy had jumped a bit, startled at the unexpected touch, but it was the voice that made him shiver. He was quite glad that his mask covered his entire face, for it hid his nervous expression from the rest of the guests.

Pulling himself together, he smiled and chuckled at himself and responded to the lady...who could it be? Was it Narcissia? No, well, perhaps. Was Narcissa that tall? But the way she spoke to Lucius, and the voice...he recognised that voice.

"Good evening Madam," Percy said with a small bow. What did she mean by 'guest of honour'? Instead of asking, he turned to Lucius. "Yes, quite magnificent," Percy said in all honesty, smiling broadly behind his mask out of habit when addressing high-leveled personalities. "Though I've only just arrived, everything looks absolutely smashing. It's quite a pleasure to be able to attend."

Re: 7:45 (continued from Bella's comment above)

[mirror_darkly]

Lucius, the lower part of his face bare under his half-mask, unknowingly answered Percy’s social smile. “And we are, of course, honored that you did attend, busker. Aren’t we, my dear?” Lucius asked, turning to his wife on his right.

“I regret to say that there are no guests of honor at our Masque,” he continued, returning the focus of his attention to Percy. “But that is because each guest is equally special. Please, make yourself at home here and enjoy our festivities.” Lucius made an encompassing gesture of the house and all the party rooms.

Re: 7:45

[mirror_darkly]

“My thanks, my dear Lady,” Lucius responded with a smile of his own. He was not sure whether the ‘guest of honor’ knew who Bella was in-costume, and he was loath to give her identity away. Above any normal costume-ball, it was imperative that her identity, like the identity of a select few others, be kept secret. “It is the amiability of my guests that make the evening such a pleasure.” The compliment easily tripped off his tongue without a thought.

“But I believe you are mistaken, my lady,” Lucius said evenly. “There is no guest of honor at my party. Every guest is equally special.” He gave a gracious nod and smile to both Bella and Percy, doing his best to say through his eyes for his sister-in-law to hold her tongue for now. Under no circumstances should their guest of honor know he was such until he was safely in their grasp.

(continued in reply to Percy)