happilyeverbeginning | THE MASQUERADE MEME

Entry tags:

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ 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!

[He stumbles somewhat as the cape is yanked on! Then he quickly tries to dust hismelf off and look smooth again. He watches as Morgana goes along with the story, with his eyes starting to sparkle!]

Oh yes! So passionate. So, so passionate! [A dreamy grin.]

She's right, you know. We've been keeping a tight lid on things. And only meeting under the cover of, uh, of daylight! [It took him a second to find the right wording for this crowd.] It's been a truly ghoulish experience...!

[ Murmur murmur, whisper whisper. It's an odd story, but... Darkwing does seem to be head over fangs for her! Just see the way he looks at her! Maybe it really is the truth! ]

Oh, absolutely! It was... love at first fright! He's ruined all other men for me! I can't imagine being with anyone else but him! He's the only one who... really understands me...

[ But the more she tries to give this story life, the worse she feels. None of this true, and the second he finds out about her, his real and fake affection for her is deader than any zombie in this room. There's that weird twisty feeling in her chest again...! ]

... Even if I'm not that good enough for him...

[Drake quickly waves a hand in the air, dismissing her last statement.]

Pish-posh! That's nonsense! You're perfect, drearie!

[He offers her a sincere smile!]

If anything, I worry that I'm not bad enough for her! But you know, you'll have to excuse us. We need to, uh, stare lovingly into each other's eyes in the moonlight for a while!

[ The corniness emits a room-wide "Dawwwww!" from everyone in attendance... save the guy who interrupted them. Maybe he wanted Morgana for himself, or he just has an instinct distrust of this outsider... but he smiles in a way that is not friendly at all.

"Why the rush? If all that you say is true... then this is cause for celebration. Morgana's taken the first step..." ]

Wait! No, no, no! Don't say it! Don't say it!

[ "... as the true Head of our Clan! All hail Morgana McCawber - our royal ruler of fear and fright!"

Applause rings out for the happy couple and for the head of the clan, the very person Darkwing was supposed to eliminate... and the person who wishes she was eliminated, given by that awful guilty look on her face, backing away from Darkwing. ]

[Drake has a vacant smile on his face for a moment and takes some theatrical bows in response ro the applause.]

Thank you, thank you all! We're very happy to have your support, especially with Dame Morgana's position as-

[He then freezes and goes pale as a sheet, before slowly looking towards Morgana.]

... Wait, what??

[ Morgana sputters, trying to come up with an excuse, a way out, a feasible lie... and she's got nothing. It's over. She's not only still trapped, but she's put an innocent fool in trouble too. Eventually, she can't even take the applause anymore. ]

OH, SHUT UP! I don't want to be the head of the clan! I don't want to rule! I've told all of you that over and over and over! I just... I just want to leave!

[ "And we've told you over and over - it's time to grow up and put those childish notions of yours behind! You're not going anywhere!"

Morgana is being backed into a corner - literally at this point! She only has one trump card left, and that's to sic 'em on Darkwing - the Von Shellsing! - and run while they take him out! ]

What about him? He's... he's... he's...

[ ... But she can't bring herself to do it, and any accusatory pointing just falls, as she folds into herself. She can't let them hurt the one guy who's been nicer to her in an hour than any of them have for her entire life. ]

... He's... nobody... and he's got nothing to do with this.

[There's hope in his eyes for a moment! Of course, she's being forced into that position! She doesn't really want to be some kind of malicious master of monsters...!

But it's what she says next that really trips him up. He looks towards her, crestfallen.]

Is that all I really am to you? Just a... nobody...?

[ She's unable to even look at him, her words driving a stake into her heart. But it's better to have him hurt emotionally, than have him very hurt physically by this entire room ripping him apart. Besides... it was all an act to begin with, wasn't it? He couldn't really be in love with her! ]

... Of course you are. I just wanted to get them off my back, and I thought them seeing me date an outsider would be enough for them to throw me out. You weren't anything but a shield.

[ Now those are sad "Dawww"s in the audience.

"Yes, well, the best laid plans of mice and monsters... back to the party, everyone. I'll see this... unfortunate gentleman out, since he clearly has no place here." ]

[He stares at her, feeling like he's been stricken in the heart. He's completely stunned!]

Wha-what...? [He gives no resistance when he's grabbed - at least not initially. He very quickly starts struggling and flailing for freedom.]

Hey, I- I'm no no nobody! I'm Drake van Shellsing, the renowned monster hunter! Of- of course I belong here...!! [He says while stakes and cloves of garlic fall out of his clothes!]

Wait, did I- did I say the inside part out loud?

[ Morgana slaps a hand to her face. Her one act of true kindness and nobility was apparently good for ten seconds.

The exact result she wanted earlier was now happening, because no one is looking at her anymore.

"VON SHELLSING?!" The entire party shouts, glasses dropped, monocles falling off of faces, and even the sad music that had been accompanying this charade was being replaced by a dramatic slamming of the piano keys.

The guest who'd been about to throw Drake out drops him, seething with anger. "A Von Shellsing! I should have known! Well, your famous legacy ends tonight... You're about to become the main course!"

That's right, nobody was looking at Morgana... until she ran forward, snatched the hero by the hand, and kept on going! ]

RUN, YOU IDIOT! RUN!

[Their initial looks of surprise and exclaimed cries bring a smug smile to his face, even as he's dropped to the floor.]

Ah, like music to my ears...

[And before he knows, he's being pulled along by Morgana! He starts moving his feet to tey to keep pace with her.]

H-hey, I'm supposed to be one doing therescuing here! [With his free hand, he tries pelting some of their pursuers with what few garlic cloves he didn't drop!]

Did you even count how many monsters are in there?! You'd be taken out before you uttered a single cool catchphrase!

[ "GET BACK HERE!"

The chase is on, and while a few are scattered by the smelly cloves, there's still way more ready to take a bite out of both of them! Past the ballroom, past all the stereotypical paintings that watch you where you go, past the creaky front door... ]

Head for the rose gardens! We might be able to lose them for a while in there!

Hey, don't underestimate me! I've imagined myself taking on ten times as many monsters! ...I- I just haven't gotten around to trying that in reality against any monsters at all yet...

[Drake suddenly feels himself running faster! And he's quite receptive to her suggestion.]

Good thinking! That sounds like a great area, very romantic!

[ Oh, he has got to be kidding her - ]

YOU'VE NEVER ACTUALLY HUNTED ANY MONSTERS BEFORE?! And you're just telling me this NOW?!

[ To be fair, it certainly explains a few things about his earlier actions... she just thought he was a love-sick fool! Turns out he's just 100% a fool anyway!

But she makes a quick turn into the rose garden/hedge maze, stopping before a perfectly trimmed and perfectly shaped row of black roses that she can kneel in front of and hide... and keep him hidden too, via holding him very tightly to her body. Hope he doesn't mind. ]

It didn't come up!! It's because this is a trial by fire... This is nothing for a Van Shellsi- mph!

[He's muffled while being held up against her. Much more up close and personal than he expected! A blush spreads across his whole body, and he feels warmer than ever as he tries to go along with this and wraps his arms around her.]

[ Morgana stays silent as the crowd of monsters passes by the gardens...

"They couldn't have gotten far! Search the entire grounds! Allowing a Von Shellsing in our midst... that tears it! Lady Morgana's first act as clan head should be to tear off his head!"

... And fortunately, the partygoers don't seem to think of looking through the gardens for now, going by them completely. Morgana lets out a sigh of relief... before remembering what she's doing and with who. She's now also blushing a bit, releasing her hold on him. ]

... Hmph. You'll never get a better chance to stake your first monster... so. Go ahead, Shellsing. I won't fight it.

[Drake just lets himself melt into the warmth of her hold for the moment, forgetting the imminent danger once again. At least this keeps him quiet!

Then, she releases her hold, and he takes another moment to pull back. He looks at her in shock as he hears what she's saying.]

Really? You'd... be my first...? [He blushes. But then he quickly shakes his head as he reminds himself of what that entails!]

Wait, no, I can't do that! Why are you giving yourself up like this?!

Because there's nothing else for me... I'd rather be staked than go back there.

[ She gently pulls off a rose from one of the bushes, and begins to pluck each petal as she tells her Tragic Backstory. ]

All my life, everything has been decided for me just because of my last name and my bloodline. I never had a choice about what I wanted to do, or who I wanted to be... all because of some great McCawber who I never even met. It's all anyone ever sees of me, and all anyone wants from me. All for some last name I never asked for... you could never understand.

[ Sure, he may be a newbie Shellsing, but the name itself carried a ton of power! Surely someone like him has complete and total control of his own destiny. To think she'd be envious of someone like him... ]

[He frowns, his heart aching as he hears the life she's been forced to go through.]

I- I guess it's not something I can completely relate to. But I did kinda not choose the Van Shellsing name. Sometimes I feel like I'm not naturally cut out for this kind of thing... But then again, look at me. I am kinda oozing with talent!

[He flips a stake around in his hand, then winces and pauses for a moment before treating a splinter, before sticking it back in his cloak.]

...Sorry, but I only stake real monsters. And you sound like the opposite of a monster to me! This kinda just makes me loop back around to wanting to rescue you?

[ Granted, the fact that he's still alive does show some talent, and hopefully not dumb luck. She looks back at him, the rose mostly stripped away and laid bare, just like her soul. ]

How can you say that, after all I've done to you so far? I've tricked you, lied to you, tried to use you as a shield, hurt you... Those sound very monstrous to me. And how do you know I'm still not trying to deceive you?

[ Perhaps as a way to make up for all she's done, she tries one last play to scare him off. Maybe if she threatened his skin, he'd finally stop risking his own and protect himself?

She leans over, running a finger down his throat. ]

For all you know, the second you turn your back to me, I could sink my fangs into that pretty little neck of yours.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject