happilyeverbeginning | THE MASQUERADE MEME

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THE MASQUERADE MEME - 2023

You’re invited to a Masquerade
One night only, let yourself escape
Make your way as black cats serenade
You’re invited to a Mysterious Masquerade!

THE MASQUERADE MEME

In the simplest of terms, a masquerade is a masked dance, and that’s what this meme is all about! Pop on a simple domino mask that goes around the eyes or go with a full brand-new ensemble, gather in a gigantic ballroom, and let the music take you away. Though this trope is a tale as old as time, there’s many ways to go about it! You know the usual rules – pop a character with any preferences or leave it blank, and go for it! Mix and match prompts or make your own!

Royal Regalia

The royal family is throwing one hell of a shindig in order to get their prince/princess to find a worthy bride/groom, or maybe the lucky one is already hitched and celebrations are underway! Has Cinderella been invited to this ball or did she stumble in by accident? Maybe you’ll meet your one true love without realizing the crown comes with the mask!

Supernatural Sides

Get a taste of the macabre when all the monsters show up for this mash! Perhaps it’s a Vampires Only party with you as the special exception. (Or their dinner!) Are the witches and warlocks gathered to perform a special spell once every hundred years? Or you thought this was an ordinary humans-all ball, just to discover your elaborate costumes are taking over your own personality!

Criminal Caper

Bring this party to modern times with this take on Ocean’s 11! You (and maybe your gang!) are here to steal something or someone precious, and everyone has a role to play. Observe the crowd, blend into the crowd, or be the major distraction. On the flip side, you may be the eager detective trying to finally get the cuffs on your target. There could be a huge UST blow-up if criminal and copper wind up in a dance – especially if they don’t recognize each other!

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That is the hard part... they'll all be keeping an eye on me. So me getting away with anyone would raise suspicion. Even now, they're probably wondering what we're doing out here, so until we can find an escape plan...

[ She uses a single finger to tilt his beak up, smiling quite wickedly. ]

... You may have to pretend to be my date for the evening. If you don't mind?

[ Translation : Use him as possible bait until she can ditch this place. After all, he's from a line famous for monster-hunting, he can handle it, right? His fault for being so naive. ]

[His knees grow weak as she tilts his beak! And her proposal has him blushing while going heart-eyed.]

I- I- I- We-

[He clears his throat.]

Truly a brilliant plan! I would love to date you! ...Er, pretendingly, that is. I- I do have a background in theatre, as a matter of fact! I'm sure I could do a very convincing job of acting head over heels for you!

[In fact, he looks like he's method acting already!]

[ He's playing the perfect part, all right... a helpless puppet while she pulls the strings. She just has to make sure he's so completely enamored he won't suspect her of ditching him when the time is right. A shame a cute face like his has to be sacrificed for her freedom, but maybe he'll die happy. ]

My my, a brilliant hunter and an amazing actor? So you won't mind that I might have to pretend to whisper sweet nothings in your ear?

[ Leaning in - ]

Or to cuddle up oh-so-close when someone else is watching?

[ Leaning in - ]

Or if I have to give you a little kiss for a job well done?

[ Leaning iiiin - all right, she's laying it on thick, but this is the most fun she's had in... a way too long time. ]

[With each set of words and leaning, Drake lets out an increasingly unintelligible noise while sinking a little, until he's melted into a puddle on the floor, blushing wildly.]

Y-yeah...! All, all fine with me...!

[With that, he tries collecting himself.]

See? I- I'm doing a real convincing job, aren't I? Almost like I'm already madly in love with you! [A nervous laugh.]

[ It's so easy, it almost feels mean. Or maybe she does have a shred of guilt about this after all.

After playfully booping his beak, she straightens up, lest she give him a heart attack before he can serve his purpose. ]

Yes, I think everyone will be properly fooled in no time at all... but until I - we make our daring escape, I will have to call you something... the name Van Shellsing won't do if I have to introduce you as my date. So, for the time being, what should I call you, darling~?

[He rises up to his feet!]

Ah yes, of course! One doesn't dance into a den of deviousness unprepared! I've devised a fittingly frightful name to fit in among those most malicious of monsters, those slaughterers of saints. A 'nomme de gore', if you will!

[A dramatic raise of his cape!]

Introduce me as the terror that flaps in the night!
The piece of food that gets stuck between the teeth of my enemies and just won't get flossed out!
Call me... The Darkwing Duck!

[He tries to imitate the sound of lightning at the same time.]

... Just don't call me late for dinner!

[ ... How was that simultaneously dorky, endearing, hilarious and yet also rather intimidating?

If her heart was capable of beating, it also might have skipped!

Trying to shake off... whatever weird feeling that was... she fires off a few girly giggles to keep her game up. ]

Darkwing Duck... mmm, yes, I like that. I'm afraid my name is a lot less... unique. But I am called Morgana McCawber.

[ She offers her arm, gesturing to the ballroom from whence she just tried to escape. ]

Shall we...?

It sounds like a one of a kind name to me! Mystifying and majestic all at once...!

[He slides right over to hook his arm around hers! ...While sweating bullets.]

Y-yes, Madam Macawber... Let's!

[ That's probably the nicest thing anyone's ever said about her... her heart's doing that weird twisty thing again. What's that about?

Not important! She squeezes his arm, and leads him back into the ballroom... and as she expected, all eyes are on them at once.

Next clan head, Morgana McCawber, who had put up a fuss about being the next head and being forced into marriage, now had a man on her arm?! Who was this stranger, and how did he win her over? ]

Hm hm hm... I think a proper date would ask his lady fair to dance. What do you think?

[Drake tries to contain himself. He grins from ear and ear, but he tries to smooth out his smile to look like more of a cool-headed operator! To limited success. He feels like he's walking on clouds as she walks with him back to the dance floor. It's easy to forget he's sauntering back into a ballroom full of monsters who could tear him apart with little to no effort!

At her question, he beams at her.]

I would think, that sounds 'fair' enough! [With that, he steps back and does a little bow while trying to hold onto one hand of Morgana's.]

My dear lady... would you care to dance?

[ She follows with a proper curtsy of her own. ]

I would love to, darling.

[ It's one of those terribly broody vampire waltz songs playing - gods, she couldn't wait to get out of here and listen to something else for a change! - as they sway back and forth on the dance floor. The plan is working just as she intended - creating a gigantic target on his back as people whisper and try to figure out who he is.

"He can't be a cyclops, he's got too many eyes."
"He doesn't have the sparkly aura of a vampire."
"Nowhere hairy enough to be a werewolf... and who invited him, anyway?"

Mwahahaha! Now, just as long as she doesn't get anymore weird twisty feelings, this should be just fine... it's not like this handsome charming monster slayer could actually win her over. ]

[And so Drake goes right into the dancing, melting into the movements as they sway to the music. As far as he's concerned, this is the most romantic accompanying music he's ever heard! It's easy to just forget everything, including his mission, while dancing with someone so irresistible!]

It's like the rest of the world doesn't exist right now! It's just you and me.

A-huh. That's nice.

[ She doesn't quite feel the same way - that is, it's definitely not just the two of them. Instead of focusing on his mooning over her, her eyes are all over the crowd. But her plan has hit a small snag... she hasn't gotten everyone's attention yet. Some are ignoring this and are just assuming Morgana's cozying up to the first guy she found just out of spite towards them.

Granted, they're a little right, but - she needs them more than annoyed. She needs them angry. And she has an idea of just how to get them all riled up. So, she keeps her voice low and assumes Darkwing can handle this little demand... ]

I need you to kiss me.

[Ahhh, he could keep this up forever-!

Wait. What did she just say?

Time to turn red (and accidentally step on her foot) as she asks that of him.]

Y-you do?? Right- right now?? Right here?! [He whispers with nervous excitement!]

[ Ow! She winces, but tries to turn it into a fancy spin dance move into his arms. Gotta play it cool! ]

I told you, we have to pretend to be passionately in love with each other!

[ She did not say those exact words - spins out of his arms, still holding one hand! ]

You said it yourself, you've got a background in theatre, you've kissed plenty of women before, right?

[ He's cute, he's funny, he's heroic, he probably had plenty of fangirls during his time on the stage... not that she cares. A-hem. Turns back to him, hand in hand! ]

[What a elegant spin! Drake doesn't even realize what he did there.

In any case, he nods along vigorously.]

Right! Passionately... Madly in love!!

[He prepares himself as she spins around!]

Sure, I-I've totally kissed plenty! [But all of them might have been faked state kisses] Just never a woman like - like - like you!

[With thet, Drake launches his beak directly at hers, getting on his tippy toes to deliver the most passionate kiss he can can muster!]

[ She turns to give him further instructions, and that's when lips meet lips.

It only then occurs to her she didn't clarify she meant on the cheek. But she thought that was obvious! They just met! Who would be comfortable full-on-lip-kissing someone they've known for such a short amount of time?

Darkwing Von Shellsing, that's who! She freezes in place, stunned... and then just... kinda sorta... melts into it. Oh dear. Oh my. There's a big bump in the plan she didn't see coming. He's not supposed to be good at this! She's not supposed to enjoy it, hands linking with his and pressing back with a soft little sigh.

When it does end - and that takes a while - she's now matched him in having forgotten several vital details about their surroundings. ]

That was... very convincing...

[For that moment, he feels like he's in heaven! ...No wait, he already felt like that. ...Now he feels like he's reached a higher tier of heaven! He's left in a stunned, giddy state in the aftermath, one hand still clasping hers while he tries to stay on his feet. It takes him a moment to issue a response, accompanied by a raised finger.]

...Acting! [He declares that with dramatic pride. Even as he continues to look like he's melting away.]

[ As Morgana had predicted, this really sets off the rest of the crowd. Who did this upstart think he was?! Was Morgana really going to choose this man to be her royal consort? The same question keeps firing back and forth, each response angrier - "Who invited him?" At this rate, someone is going to confront them directly and demand to know who he is. Then Morgana can throw him to the wolves and flee.

Except Morgana, much like her new beau, is so overcome in pure fluffy feelings she can't even think straight. Who knew a monster killer would also be a lady-killer? ]

You know... maybe we should do that again, just in case. To be extra sure we convinced everyone here.

[Drake's in a state of pure bliss in the aftermath of that kiss! He takes a moment to blink to make sure he's hearing her right.]

Of- of course! [He squeaks out his response and doesn't waste a moment more. He rockets their lips right back together, hopping into the air as he intensifies the smooching! Monsters? What monsters? No need to worry about any of that stuff!]

[ This time, having seen what was coming, she was more than ready to give and receive. Drake doesn't have to worry about staying on his tippey-flippys, because Morgana's taking initiative enough to dip him low for this smooch. Mmmm, this was the best plan ever, whatever it was!

Until someone very loudly clears their throat.

"This a dance floor, not a make-out floor, Lady McCawber!" snaps one of the nearby guests, now having stormed over, arms crossed and glaring hotly.

Morgana jerks, dropping Drake like a hot potato. Oh, right. The actual plan. The original one. To get everyone's attention on Darkwing so she could split.

"And who is this... uncouth ruffian?" ]

... Uh. Um. Er. Right, he's uh...?

[He gives a confused blink as he's suddenly made aware of the fact that they're still surrounded by monsters, as if he was just stirred from a particularly deep rest.]

Hey, where'd you guys all come from...

[But as he mutters that, the words sink in. And now he's back on script.]

Ah yes, of course! You want to know who I am. But in reality, you don't want to know.

[He raises his cape dramatically.]

I am the terror that flaps in the night!
I'm what the monster under your bed fears is under his own bed...!
I am Darkwing Duck!

[Then he gestures dramatically towards Morgana, in the height of improv.]

And I am this lovely lady's fiancee!

[ Okay, okay, okay, this is fine! He's doing the big dramatic introduction, everyone's eyes are on him! She just has to shake off lovey-dovey stupor and sneak away now that he has an audience! She had just started to inch away...

... wait why is he gesturing toward her -

WHAT IS HE SAYING - ]

Fiancée?!

[ "Fiancée?!" repeats the surprised interrupter.

"FIANCEE?!" repeats the entire crowd... which guarantees they look at her as well. This plan is going to hell in a handbasket. ]

I... I am? I mean... ahahaha... I... am... I guess?

[ "Impossible! She's refused to marry several monsters of high standing, and instead she picks you?! I refuse to believe it!" ]

[He has just a slight blush as it all sinks in. But he stands determined! As an actor, he has to go with the flow of a season.]

W-well, uh... you should believe it, bucko! It's nothing personal. None of you were just the... the right monster for the job. Yeah! Remember that awesome introduction I just made? [He chuckles sheepishly while starting to inch away.]

Now, uh, if you excuse us... the two of us really should be going...!

[ Morgana just has her head in her hands. How could this get any worse?

"Hold it." The slighted guest yoinks on Darkwing's cape, making sure he gets back. "I've never seen you here before. No one here knows you. And you're her fiancé? How long has this been going on? When did this start?"

Oh, there it is! That's much worse!

Morgana clears her throat. Can she somehow get the spotlight off of her again? She struggles to make something up off the top of her head, except now she's kind of getting into this silly story... ]

Yes, well... we've... been having a secret affair, obviously! I knew none of you would accept us, so... we've been having our madly passionate, extremely romantic relationship completely in hiding!

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