Every new beginning... [[ Open ]]

[wantsaporsche]

Characters: Alice, whoever wants in
Time: New Year's Eve
Location: A masquerade ball at Chicago's Union Station
Content: It's time to ring in the new year with unfamiliar faces in an unfamiliar city for circumstances not yet revealed. Or perhaps...?
Format: Any
Warnings: Some celebratory shenanigans

(Ooc: Posted early to get a hop on threading)

Comments

[doomedtheworld]

Vin took a deep breath and held it as she walked into the party wearing the dress and mask Jenn had picked out for her. Along with the white elbow-length gloves and, of course, the necklace she'd given her as well.

She strode into the party as if she'd been wearing dresses like it her entire life, the skill she'd learned during her time scamming the Lord Ruler not having faded a bit in the time between, and smiled up at the decorations. It wasn't quite the splendor of the nobles' balls she'd attended as Valette Renoux but it didn't have to be. For her, it was nearly perfect with the only possible improvement being a certain ill-mannered nobleman reading a book in the corner.

After a few moments, Vin gravitated away from the center of the room, keeping an eye out for any familiar faces.

[godofcologne]

The familiar stir of his Hunger under his skin was a welcome distraction from his thoughts, and Thomas let it tug at him, neither fighting or accepting its call, simply letting it be, reminding him of what he was. He was concentrating so hard on that familiar feeling that he barely noticed the woman as she moved into his path, only catching himself when he nearly walked into her dress.

"Pardon me, miss," he murmured with an automatic, graceful bow. When he straightened, his lips twitched in sudden, amused recognition. Swallowing his laughter, Thomas added, "If I may say so, you look lovely this evening."

[doomedtheworld]

Vin caught sight of the man wandering apparently aimlessly and stepped out of the path of the impact with a practiced subtle grace. It was a learned skill, moving and weaving through a crowded room but Vin had learned with even wider gowns than the one she wore tonight, the next part had taken a little extra practice. Pausing in her step, she turned ready to accept the apology when she heard that voice and felt the telltale chill run down her spine at the sound of it.

"What do you want?" She demanded and slipped back another step to keep more than arm's distance between them, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

[godofcologne]

"Just to apologize, my lady," Thomas drawled, tilting his head in her direction in a shallow bow. The veneer of the courtier still clung to him easily, despite the amusement tinging his words, and Thomas continued, "Since my inattentiveness did lead to me nearly...plowing you down."

[venusloveshock]

Minako entered the room cautiously, holding the wire venetian mask to her face as she surveyed the party. She didn't really recognize anyone, but perhaps that was the whole reason as far as Masquerades go.

She managed to find a beautiful replica of Guinevere's dress from a painting she had always admired... And what better time to showcase it than a New Year's party? She helped herself to something to drink before mulling around the room, eager to find a familiar face.

[eroded_earth]

Terra being, well, Terra, had shown up wearing his usual clothes. He didn't understand the need to wear costumes and thought that just a mask would work. He looked around when he got there and realized he might have made a small error in judgement. He almost forgot to put his mask on until one of the party goers tapped him on his shoulder and explained that the whole point of the masquerade was to keep your mask on at all times. With a sigh, Terra brought the gold and red mask up to his face. It was a simple half mask so at least his mouth and nose were exposed and wouldn't impeded on any eating or drinking.

Speaking of which, he HAD walked here without anything to eat, perhaps it was time to stop by the snack bar. Terra passed a woman whose presence was familiar but with the mask on he couldn't tell who it was. So he politely helped himself to some punch instead.

[venusloveshock]

Minako was quickly finding that it was difficult to pour punch and hold a mask at the same time. She made a face, trying to remember why she'd picked the mask on a stick as opposed to one that tied.

Finally managing to pour her punch, she took a slow sip of it and turned to leave... Until Terra showed up. Minako only knew it was him because his outfit hadn't changed. She smiled slightly and tilted her head at him. "Hey! Couldn't find a costume?"

[eroded_earth]

Terra hadn't been expecting anyway to approach him and he nearly dropped the cup of punch he was filling. "Huh?" He turned his head and found the girl who was familiar and realized as she spoke who it was. "Minako," he paused and looked down at his outfit, "I didn't realize it would be a requirment to attend. I suppose I thought just wearing a mask would suffice."

[becauseimboring]

[godofcologne]

He hadn't planned on coming to the party, but by the time New Year's Eve had rolled around, Thomas was more than willing to admit he was thoroughly sick of staring at the interior of his suite. The idea that he had more family out there, more blood than just Harry out there watching, was a disconcerting one, and it still didn't sit well with him, nor with his demon. Being around people, real solid people with their emotions and their temptations, that was at least something familiar, something he understood and remembered.

If all else failed, he could drink himself into a stupor again. Or feed.

So that was how Thomas found himself at Union Station, dressed in jeans and leather, with an incongruously ornate mask obscuring his face. He hovered around the outer edge of the room, uncharacteristically uncertain.

[legallygreen]

A dance with John and she was still in rapture. It had been one of those times where she had forgotten, just for a few moments, that terrible things were always around the corner, especially in Chicago. Jennifer was still light on her heels as she hummed the gentle tango that had ended, scooping up a new wine glass before gravitating towards the edge of the room to catch her breath.

Lowering her mask, she pushed a curl out of her face, searching for somewhere to stop and just people watch for a few minutes. It was then that someone unkindly jostled her, and in her attempts to keep the red wine from splashing her cream colored gown, she dropped her mask. Unfortunately, it dropped right at the feet of a man in jeans and leather.

"Excuse me." She murmured before leaning to pick it up. Jennifer froze then as She-Hulk suddenly scrambled against her mind, and she recognized the face beneath the ornate mask.

"Oh...good evening Thomas." She said shyly, the mask remaining where it was.

[godofcologne]

The mask that obscured his face wasn't the only one Thomas wore and, when a mask skid to a stop at his feet, he donned another one. "None necessary, just glad I could help," he answered smoothly, bending down to pick up the mask. As he straightened, he gave Jennifer a practiced, courtly bow as he offered her the mask.

He didn't play the chivalrous courtier often, since it reminded him of all the trappings and intricacies and gilded monstrosities of the White Court, but it was a better choice today. A reminder of the family he knew rather than the family he suddenly found himself having. It was a retreat, all the same, into the monster and the depravity. But it was at least a subtler one.

For better or worse.

"Evening, Jennifer," he added, dark hair falling into eyes already near obscured by the mask. "You're looking lovely tonight."

[legallygreen]

Jennifer wondered if she should just turn and run. It seemed like a good idea, considering what had happened the last time she had been around Thomas. But she was in control this time. She-Hulk knew what was out there and while she wanted to come out and play, Jennifer was too aware of how long it had taken her to get ready that evening, and how it would spoil everyone's night.

"Thank you." She managed, taking the mask from him. The compliment went untouched, because she had to wonder if it were truly meant. It was not like John's blunt comment that had put her at her ease.

After a moment of awkward silence, she took a step back to excuse herself. "It was nice to see you. Have a good evening."

[secondcity_npc]

The lights shimmer and the countdown begins.

10...9...8...7...

Even if it's not home, there is a thrill of excitement in the year. Perhaps with something new, something will finally change, something will be revealed.

6...5...4...3...2...

Or...

...1.

And as the revelry explodes and the lights dance and the music plays, a message is sent to everyone's phones.

[becauseimboring]