Endless Night: A Masquerade For All

Alright! My newest thread! I'd like to apologize for my lack of ability to finish ANYTHING including RPs, so please, if you are a part of something I'm in or created, or even helped create, please do not be offended by my absences there. I just, you know, have a life to live. That's all.

ANYWAY.
Persuaded by Genesis, our beloved Admin, I have come up with an ingeniuos idea to put you all in a wonderful little story I just came up with in like 20 seconds. "Endless Night: A Masquerade For All" is about your characters (2 each, max) attending a fantastic Masquerade Ball. A Masquerade is a particular party where everyone dresses up in a classical style with formal attire, but in disguises. All your characters arrive at different times so not only does your pair not know each other are attending, but they do not recognize anyone else's characters either, despite how lame their costume might be.
Do not bother with villains, for I'll be handling that. The other rules are as follows:
-do not kill any characters
-you may genderbend your males or females if you want to fit roles
-crack pairing is allowed (as well as cannon, or whatever you have - doesn't strictly have to be anthro, human, etc. whatever you want is fine. i.e. GearicXToaster)
-this is not cannon and won't be unless you want it to
-please do not kill the NPCs (you can control them if you want, it doesn't always have to be me)
-and describe your costume when you enter the party (I may draw it, but that's not a promise)

Are we all clear? Are you ready to party? (You don't have to talk in fancy tones either, it's just a party. Planet and location really doesn't matter right now. You're just all some how there.) LET'S PARTY.
~~~~~~
The massive mansion, roughly four stories high, had just begun to host the biggest ball of the century! Everything was there: delecacies and sweets, soothing and beautiful music from a prime orchestra, people of all sorts dressed for the nines! It was everyone's desire to be there, but only those who were invited could come. From planets and places all around, it seemed that two of each world had arrived, though neither of them knew about their counterpart. Facemasks hid their distinguishable features, and everyone was having fun when the bell tolled to 2 o'clock in the afternoon. The hostess, an elderly woman who fancied many parties like these, was unbelievable wealthy, and it showed clearly by her dress. Jewels and garments from foreign countries decorated the rims of her silky satin gown, and her hair was upright with pins and berets. Human in figure, this woman was the talk of the party, but now, she began to speak.

Madame: Everyone, everyone, I need your attention, please!

She smiled widely as she caught everyone in the foyer's eye, and some even bowed by her graceful presence. She gently glided down the carpetted marble staircase she stood upon, ready to mingle, but held her chin high as she finished speaking.

Madame: It has been two hours since the party had begun, and I just wanted to thank you all for coming to such a lovely evening. Spending this Hallows eve with you all should be a special treat to an old woman like myself. Thank you again, and do enjoy yourselves!

A grateful cheering came from all rooms of the mansion. One cheer in particular was made by a younger boy, invited through several connections, dressed in a long black coat with silver trimming, black trousers with silver stockings and a green satin shirt matched with a light blue neckerchief and dark brown shoes. He clapped along with the others, happy to be there as any other, his long ears bouncing with him.

Had he not been wearing such a getup, he would have been most recognized as Wrathias Kaos.

Wrath: Yahoo!! So happy to be here!!



(And now, I let everyone else join. Have fun guys/gals!)

(its been so long I dont even remember some of my own rules for rping.)
???: Hey kid your ears are kinda in the way.
~a slightly taller figure said behind Wrath, trying to catch a glimpse of the women who had set the entire party. His name was none other then Genesis and he had received an invitation to this party after the hostess had caught word of his good deeds, he decided that he was in need of a break and decided to celebrate hallows eve. Dressed in a nice suit his father had left him he was wearing a mask in the shape of a bat. He was hoping to have brought his good friend Juliet with him to have fun but sadly had to go by himself since something had come up for the girl. Little did he know the event that came up for her was the masquerade itself.

Juliet: Wow such a pretty dress.
~the young girl was wearing a long black gown and wearing a mask similar to Genesis' but more attuned for a woman's face. She was having a fun time but had wished her friend Genesis could have attended with him. Sadly he too had an event that he had to attend to not knowing... you know what you already know.

(hope thats a good start.)

Wrath then turned around and flattened his ears, almost poking another few people in the back with them. He sheepishly grinned to the stranger under his mask of silver glitter and red gems.

Wrath: Heh, sorry buddy. I just get really excited about parties sometimes. I really dig your suit though! You look real snazzy!

Under regular circumstances, these two oddities of the universe would normally recognize each other, them both being globally known to their home worlds, having great power, and of course, their looks are rather different than most. Tonight however, things became different. See Madame Hostess (her name for now) knows a bit of magic you see, and she cast an extremely powerful and unbreakable, UNDETECABLE spell upon her mansion doors and windows, so that once inside, everyone's special markings, speech patterns, and interesting features about them wouldn't occur to the viewers as being irrelevant or memorable. In other words, the people inside do not see familiar hedgehogs or cats or humans or what have you, but they see someone new to them, some one that may seem familiar, but cannot for the life of them, put their finger on who it really is. Secret identies are welcomed here tonight...

A little ways back from the meeting of the two hedgehogs, a moss green and teal bird strode over to a massive table of drinks and beverages of all kinds. He too wore fancy attire similar to Wrath's, but more adorened in red and white feathers and gems rather than glitz and glam. His mask was more gold than silver, and the second he brushed his three major feathers back, his brown eyes laid on a beautifully masked blonde hedgehog. The hawk who appeared older than he actually was, Uwriyel (pronounced Yoo-ree-yell), smirked and approached her.

Uwriyel: Your mask is really interesting. Where would you get something like that?

Genesis: Ha, no problem kid, and thanks. It was a gift from my father. I gotta say though something about you seems familiar but I can't for the life of me place it. Oh well, what fun would a masquerade be without the masks? Am I right?

Juliet: *blushing* Oh why thank you. It was a gift, i told my mom i was going to a fancy masquerade and apparently she had been to several herself, so she gave me this mask. I thought it was really pretty.

Wrath: I wish my dad was that cool. But yeah, definitely got me there!

He tugs on his own mask and smiles. He had also sensed something eerily familiar about this hedgehog, but had no recollection of such a character. Even retracing his memory banks as he continued to speak, he saw no counterpart for this guy. To stall, he struck up another kind of conversation, just to learn a bit more about him.

Wrath: Will you believe it's the first real formal dress up party I've ever been too? I was way excited when I got my invitation, but I was sad to go without any of my friends or family... especially after knowing my "brother" was coming for a visit! Did you have any friends to bring along too?

Back with the beautiful blonde and the green bird, Uwriyel nodded and closed his eyes to agree with the statement Juliet had said.

Uwriyel: Yeah, I could believe that. I inherit a lot of my father's things, so I would know what it's kind of like, except the whole "Masquerade" thing. I get the masks, but I'm not really sure why we have to hide ourselves. My first theory is that with everyone exposed, we'd all be showing off too much and it'd get out of hand, but... I'd like to hear what you think!

Genesis: Well there was this girl I like, we've been through a lot and I wanted to bring her with me so we could have fun but she had some other arrangement to go to. *grins then elbows wrath lightly) What about you little man, any one special in your life?

Juliet: Well I just think its all for fun. I mean on Halloween most kids dress up to be scary but we just wear mask for fun, it also adds to the mystery of who everyone is and makes it all the more fun to learn about someone. With these mask on we can be completely different people. *giggles* isn't that fun?

Wrath: Haha, lucky!

He blushed brightly when Genesis nudged him and spoke about a possible love interest. Wrath had a lot of romantic complications, even for someone his age, but even though he knew this party was supposed to be secret, he still described a few of his "favorites". Twisting his ears and wrapping his arms around his body as if he were to hug himself, he explained the best he could.

Wrath: Aside from my best friend, there's a couple other girls I know who I would love to be with; there's this really pretty fox that I met a year ago, and she loves parties like this, and then there's this really smart pink-furred hedgehog who really likes this high society stuff, but she hates me with every fiber in her being I think... At least that's what she keeps telling me. *sweatdrops* But I wouldn't be with them for anything dirty though, oh no, my Mom wouldn't allow that just yet! I mean as a strong relationship! But you're older, so I bet you've had dozens of girlfriends before meeting your special someone, huh?

He said this last part with curiosity in his youthful and excited voice. He was happy to learn from his elders, even if they were teenagers like him. Meanwhile, Uwriyel enjoyed more of what the wise Juilet had to say about Halloween and costumes, so he branched off into another part of the conversation.

Uwriyel: Heheh, way fun! So then, judging by what you said, you can be whatever you want, and get away with it? Just for one night? This I like!

Being sort of a nice guy, he decided to zip over to the drink table quickly and rushed back over to the girl he was chatting with, this time, with two matching punch-flavored beverages in his hand. His speed was so quick, he barely made the liquid splash around in the special glasses he held in each gloved hand.

Uwriyel: The options for that sound endless! If you could be anything in the world, what would you be? *handing her one of the glasses* That is, if we weren't here right now? Heheh.

Near the drink table was another young woman, wearing a blue dress with a decidedly frilly hoopskirt. She was wearing a frilly domino mask, drawing attention to her brilliant green eyes, and her brown hair was hanging loose. It was easy to notice that she wasn't wearing high-heels, and there was a grey, hands-free device on her left ear bearing the Seraphim insignia. "Guinevere, when I leave this party I am going to brand you," she said... in a barely noticeable male voice.

"Oh, come on Rufus!" the sanguine Unicorn's voice came back over his earpiece. "It's a masquerade, nobody is supposed to know your identity!"

"Wouldn't a suit have sufficed?" the crossdressing Rufus asked.

"Nope," Guinevere giggled. "Prosephine was right, this is almost too funny!"

Rufus could swear he heard laughter in the background, from Pelleas' (Sleipnir's) immature laugh to his own uncle Prometheus' deep, hearty guffawing. Sighing, "she" tapped an inconspicuous button on "her" headset. Audible only to him, it blurted out, "Voice modulator active. Alteration, female."

"I get found out, I'm changing," Rufus muttered as "she" poured himself some punch, his voice now sounding more like Diana Clearnight's, a Somniem friend of his.

(Haha, NPC time - also new plot developments! Get ready Ray!)

The party was filled to the brim with all kinds of people, from aristocrats, to lucky poor folk, to royalty, to just plain scum who snuck themselves in by stealing their "friends'" tickets in secret. The variety was immense. One slimeball in particular was getting rather drunk (yes, even though it's only a little after 2), and with his fancy black and red costume and matching mask and cape, he wound up mingling with a few of his upper classmen (or wanna be upper classmen - no one could tell). This loser's name was Nedric.

Nedric: So I just got back fresh from the bar-room everyone! The drinks are fabulous.

A few women and other men who were chatting added on to his statement, but he was too tipsy to really respond well.

Woman 1: Yes, I just went in there to admire the artwork hanging on the walls. For Madame's tastes, it seems a bit dark for her... don't you agree?

Woman 2: Mmm. I was thinking the same, but I really don't care much for art. I honestly would like to get a better look at those gems on Madame's gown...

Man 1: Gems. Psh. Women's best friends. I was admiring the swords she showcases in the dining hall's cabinets. Rather stunning I should say. It seems she's a collector as well.

Nedric: You all don't know what you're missing....

The caped ignoramus said this whilst slurring his words around. He then spun around to eye the "woman" in blue, looking rather irritated underneath her mask. To his distorted eyes, "she" was the most beautiful of the night's offerings in terms of women, and immediately, he shoved the others out of the way to get to her, attempting to gather himself as he stepped. From a distance, Uwriyel's hawk eyes caught this abrupt movement instantly, as he turned his body a bit while still chatting with Juliet.

Nedric: Why my lady, your amazing green eyes do appear to be reflecting irritation... Is that normal for someone as gorgeous as you?

Rufus instantly froze. All of his experience with psychology dribbled away when faced with the need to act, but he didn't have to smell Nedric's breath to tell he had a BAC of at least 0.3. "Um, no..." Rufus tried to get the thought of branding Guinevere out of his head, the voice modulator doing exactly as intended. "I'm sorry, I simply lost a friend of mine in this crowd... She likes to run off."

Standing near an expensive vase on a pedestal stood a mahogany fox, his hand tugging at his crimson tie slightly to loosen it. He then smoothed his jet black pinstripe suit before readjusting his crimson fedora. He then fidgeted with his black rheinlander mask, before sighing. It seemed he couldn't have both the fedora and the mask and still look sophisticated. He shoved his hands in his pockets, feeling as though everyone was staring at him. This feeling was not unusual to Steam the Amalgam.

Steam: Hrm...

He finally rests his fedora on a coat stand nearby, no longer wishing to bother with it. His cerulean hair had been slicked back, unlike how its usual shaggy appearance. He once again preened his suit before calling down a waiter, carefully grasping a glass of champagne in his hands.

It was then that he noticed that the ice sculpture on the nearby table had begun to melt. Which was his fault, of course. Not too many other people here had a tail of magma! He briskly walked away before anyone could notice, sipping his drink as he did so. His destination-- the bathroom, so he could wait the party out until it ended.

Nedric: Have you really? Oh you poor thing, you're all alone!

The man seemed to be quite histerical when he said this, drawing attention of a few others since he was also pretty loud. Unhappy expressions targetted the two as they hoped this loser wouldn't disturb the rest of the night for them. It was only a half an hour after two...
Nedric then bowed lightly and offered his hand to Rufus in a gentlemanly sort of way... well, however any drunken man could act in this state of silliness.

Nedric: Come, my dear! We shall find her together, but perhaps may I interest you in a drink for yourself? I had just visited the bar after, even thought it's very difficult to tell!

A glass then came smashing against the man's outstretched hand. After screaming in pain, Nedric turned to look at the hawk who threw his empty glass at him.

Nedric: You greasy little bird brain!! Did you know that was my favorite hand?!

Uwriyel: That favorite hand won't be touching anyone tonight then, now will it?

The hawk smiled and gave a peace sign with his two fingers towards Rufus. He knew she really didn't want to be picked up, so he thought it would make her a little happier if she saw some action.

-

Madame Hostess' mansion was rather large, of course, and so her bathrooms were much like that of a hotel on the bottom floor. There were two other men in the stalls when Steam walked in, and they were talking about the party's host and her choice in guests.

Man1: Did you see some of the guests tonight?

Man2: Yeah, they all looked pretty fancy. Though, I've known Madame for years and know how she works. She loves charity and gives away free things to all kinds of people.

Man1: Doesn't she also host this party every year?

Man2: Yep. It's kind of a like a tradition, or ritual or something. Really fitting for such a holiday.

They both walk out to wash their hands and clean up a bit before going back to mingle, but they then lay their eyes on the mysterious mahogany fox.

Man1: Hey, buddy. There's no line, go right ahead in.

He was referring to the five different stalls and row of urinals on the opposite side of the wall.

Steam: A-ah! T-Thanks-er, alright, um...

Thankful for his fur color, Steam quickly shuffled to the nearest stall, completely flustered. He stayed there for a moment, trying to gather himself. He needed to get over his phobia of crowds eventually. And apparently, this party would help him. He smacked his forehead. How could he have been so naive?

He took in a deep breath. In. Out. In. Out. There, much better.

Steam: Let's see how Round 2 goes...

He opens the stall, hoping he'd be confident enough to tackle his fears this time.

The two men leave the bathroom, still chatting, but with a bit of awkward expressions on their faces in reaction to the fox's bewilderment. They had no idea there were shy people invited tonight! Madame was usually quite talkative, but she had much sympathy for those less fortunate. Perhaps it was for this reason that Steam was invited?

The night was still the afternoon, and the party was still a-thriving. Noise hadn't settled since it began almost three hours earlier, and if Steam were to spend the rest of the party here, he would never be alone....in a few more hours, he should be willing to expect a fleet of drunkards, and even later in the night and wee hours of the morning, the hangovers...

Was it really a good place to be? The mansion was full of rooms, and other places after all. Four stories is a lot of space.

In fact, he could go outside, for some fresh air, or look out upon the balconies on the third and second stories. He couldn't go far though, since Madame's magical barrier prevented anyone from leaving early or going home too soon around the 20-25 ft. mark.

In addition to this, Madame's power could not withold others from remembering each other outisde her spell-bound doors or windows. Anyone could walk out with anyone else, recognize them, and if they came back in at the exact same time, and somehow physically connected via hands or something, they could be some of the only ones to remember each other at the party. Also, once inside the mansion, masks donned by all the guests cannot be removed, only altered or adjusted.

(a bit of commentary and rule changing right thar - feel free to make up rooms or areas you want your characters to be in or go to ^_^)

Rufus took a step back. Action was the last thing he wanted right now. Over her earpiece, Ragnell's voice came through. "Want help?" she asked.

Rufus' cell phone was hidden under his skirt, with only Ragnell; she had demanded to be with Rufus in case something went wrong. At a second's notice, he could easily mount Ragnell, giving even a drunkard a reason to run. The only problem was that Ragnell's serrated hooves would cause quite a bit of collateral damage to the marble floor, and Rufus did not want that.

Nedric swung back over to Rufus, and still holding his injured hand with his free one, he started yelling.

Nedric: You're the most stubborn piece of work I've ever met!! You may look great, but your attitude is not something to be desired!!

As the crowd around them gasped at the loud disturbance the drunk man created, an elderly graceful voice filled the silent air.

Madame: Not something to be desired? Why my good man...

The hostess of the party finally had arrived to fix the problem, her heels barely heard on the marble beneath her. No one was about to ruin her party...

Madame: ...everyone I've invited has something to be desired. Might I ask why you've come?

More flustered than before, his face a beet red and his mouth quivering in between gasps, Nedric then spoke in response to his hostess, trying to get sober rather quickly.

Nedric: I-I-I've come o-on account of y-your request, Madame!! S-she's the one who-who's not in the spirit of the night!

Madame: I believe she's in plently spirit. All you need is time to warm up to things. It will get better, my dears. It's only three.

Nedric: What?! What?!

Madame: Come with me, good sir. I'd like to show you something in the drawing room on my second floor.

She reached out for Nedric's bad hand, and instantly, without another tremble or scream, he followed. Amazingly, he now appeared sober, and without minding that she was pulling him along gently, he followed her up the stairs and into the drawing room. As soon as they strode up the stairs, the chatter down stairs and throughout the mansion's few floors, continued in its usual roar. Rufus was left in peace once again, perhaps giving him a chance to find his way around and meet a few others?

Rufus only stood there. "... what just happened?" he asked.

Meanwhile, outside the party, a young man and his little sister were standing just outside the magical barrier. Astor and Ariel Devine, though you wouldn't have recognized Ariel; she was dressed in a cute little tuxedo, and had a domino mask on. "Are you sure you don't want to go, Astor?" Ariel asked.

"I'm sure," Astor responded. "That's the only ticket the warlord had, and you should be having fun rather than hiding in a trench."

He then kneeled down and patted her on the shoulder. "Trust me, I'll be watching," he reassured her, holding a fairly large sniper rifle. "There's also a friend in there, although his uncle tells me you won't recognize him."

"I'm not supposed to, right?" she asked.

Astor chuckled. "Nope. Now go have some fun, alright? And don't forget to use your boy voice."

With that, Ariel began to walk down the cobblestone road towards the mansion, unwittingly entering the barrier. Astor quickly climbed up into the nearest and tallest tree, hoping for a good vantage point inside. This place may not be Veritas, but he was not taking chances.

(sorry its been a while, things came up with work and what not.)
Genesis: Well um *looks a way with a blush* To be honest, I never really had time to date many girls. I have been quite busy my whole life. *turns back to Wrath* It was actually during one of my missions that I met her and we started to get to know her. Especially after i started teaching her to control her power.

Juliet: *when Uwriyel returns* Well that was um...Interesting to say the least. But it did give me some time to think about your question and I think I may have an answer. If I could be any one *she turns and looks to the ceiling in thought* I would want to be a hero just like this guy I know. He had it hard his whole life but no matter what happened he was always there to do the right thing. When someone stronger then him was doing something bad he never hesitated. He always took the pain so others wouldn't have to. *turns back to Uwriyel* If I could be anything it would be to be strong like him. *Giggles* Hows that?

(Oh, dude, don't worry, I'm just glad you're still willing to keep up with this. ^_^)

Wrath: Really? Wow...

Eyes wide with curiosity and ideas swimming through his head, the long eared boy really found his story fascinating. He began to scan his brain once again for memory of this guy, but he couldn't trace it. All of a sudden, he got really hungry, so grabbing onto the hedgehog's arm, he pulled him along the rooms, through the foyer and into the main hall where many of the h'ourderves were being served.

Wrath: So you really like the girl you were helping train?! Dude, that's the best thing to do! I bet you'd learn all her weaknesses and strengths, so you can protect her and teach her to be brave! Man, that's nice of you! I never trained anyone before. What do you do for that?

He seemed really into this idea as he reached for the little quiches on silver platters placed so evenly apart upon the clothed table.

-
Uwriyel watched her closely as she answered his previous question. He seemed really intrigued by her gratefulness and indebtedness to this guy she knew, so he had a feeling she liked him. This sort of let him down a bit, since he did think she was really pretty, especially in the outfit she wore tonight, but he felt that, if he tried to find this guy - maybe he was here - she could finally confess her feelings to him, and he could unite a happy couple! Despite his roots as a criminal, he really enjoyed seeing smiles and people happy. Must have been a part of his mother's genes.

Uwriyel: It's great! Strong guy like him, pretty--er, nice girl like you, I'm surprised you're not a couple already! Are you sure he had plans tonight... and not here in secret? I mean, it is a costume party...

Rufus decided to make a quick break for somewhere else, preferably away from that exact location. His first thought was the staircase, hoping to find a more private area, which is precisely what he trotted towards. "Freaking out?" Ragnell asked over his earpiece.

"Kind of," Rufus tersely and quietly responded. Phantasian or not, he still looked like he was speaking to a ghost.

Meanwhile, Ariel had just arrived at the front door. The problem? She was too short to open it. Grunting, she attempted to jump for the handle, but it just wasn't working.

Steam began to walk among the crowd, trying his utmost to blend in and mingle. It was then that he bumped into someone, spilling his champagne on someone else.

Steam: *Softly* Oh no...

Outside, the young girl who couldn't reach the large majestically bordered doors was approached by an elderly woman.

Madame: Allow me, my dear child.

Twas Madame Hostess! But alas, as she reached for the door to open it, standing over the young girl, the woman seemed to've appeared out of nowhere. She smiled daintily as she turned the handle and pushed it open, allowing Ariel to enter first, like the gentlewoman she was brought up to be.

Madame: Please, enjoy yourself. I've been expecting a guest like you. And no need to worry about being late; any guest of mine is welcome at any time.

In this particular light, the Madame seemed to give off, not only a friendly aura, but somehow...a creepy one....

Steam had bumped into Rufus, who had narrowly dodged the champagne. "Oh!" he gasped, instinctively cupping his hands over his mouth. "I'm so sorry!"

"Thank you," Ariel said, with a boy voice Astor had helped her train.

She daintily walked inside, suddenly finding herself happy. Astor, who was watching, wasn't. He was too far away and too well-concealed to spot, but he had his eyes on Madame Hostess. Or maybe he was overreacting? Even he wasn't sure.

Steam: No, it's my fault... Shoulda been watching where I was walking.

He forces a smile, but probably looked like he was going to eat Rufus. Pointy teeth and all that jazz.

Elsewhere, a female falcon was having the exact opposite reaction to being at the party. She wore a sparkling light blue ballgown with a white petticoat. She wore long white opera gloves and light blue satin bow heels, the bow itself a pearly white. A victorian white lace choker with dark blue glass beads was wrapped around her neck. Her name? Pennatus Pouli. Currently, she was in "deep" conversation with several other party guests.

Pennatus: Oh, yes. Madame does have interesting taste in fashion. Did you see what she was wearing today? Absolutely stunning!

Admist the crowd of people, a blue deer with bright red hair wandered about. She tugged at her teal rhinestoned mask uncomfortably, not used to such formalities. Her strapless purple gown trailed slightly behind. She sighed lightly as she looked around for someone.... knowledgable to converse with. Advent wasn't used to places or events like this, but when she was invited out, she wouldn't turn it down.

Advent: :/ Not a single person here that I know... I even had to leave Tanto at home...