THE MASQUERADE MEME - 2023

[melplayspersonal]

 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!

 

Comments

[flapsin]

[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?

[lovebites_sodoi]

[ 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.

[flapsin]

[Yeah, definitely... definitely all talent and not that other thing...

She can probably feel him gulp while he looks right at her, his eyes widened in surprise.]

R-really?! But it's just our first date! [Then he blinks for a second as it hits him, and the excitement fades from his voice.]

Oh, you mean in a... vampire-y way. No, I don't think you'd do that. I trust you! You might have done all those things, but... It was out of desperation, right? It's not because of any alleged badness. See? You're still good, you're great!

[lovebites_sodoi]

[ Wow, there wasn't a trace of fear in his eyes! Being a Shellsing must endow him with incredibly bravery! Plus all that sincerity... he's so pure, it's like being hit with a blast of sunlight! It's a wonder she hasn't crumbled into ashes! Although she is feeling weak in the knees... ]

But... what would people say? You're supposed to be a legendary monster-hunter! If you let a monster like me out of your grasp... your good name would be tarnished forever! I'm not worth damaging your reputation!

[ The date was supposed to be fake, so why are all his feelings so real? ]

[flapsin]

[Yeah, there doesn't seem to be fear in those eyes. Just beating hearts!]

Reputation, shemputation! [He waves a hand dismissively.] If I'm going to take a public hit for doing something that seems right to me, than so be it! ...Plus, I'm sure I'll make up for it with plenty of other awesome and mind-blowing victories!

And hey, who knows? Maybe the rest of the world will realize you're better off alive, too! Maybe they'll start seeing things the way I do.

[lovebites_sodoi]

[ Could that really be possible? Could other mortals accept her the way he has? Can she have a life outside of that dreary castle and its cruel inhabitants? Can a monster actually have a happily ever after?

Just like the rose has shed its petals, she seems to have shed all the masks and layers she was hiding under, so the real her can shine through. She can finally start being honest with him, and with herself! Slowly, hesitantly, maybe with still one fraction of fear left, she tries to reach for his hand... ]

If... If you really believe everything you've said, I... I've always wanted to... to sing, really sing, for a whole audience, to really be hard at last...

[flapsin]

[Drake grips her hand excitedly! but softly. And he looks back at her with an encouraging smile.]

See? You should do that! Now I only caught a little taste before, but it was the loveliest bit of music I ever heard! You'll really kill it alright. On stage!

[lovebites_sodoi]

[ And with that, she does something she hasn't done in what feels like an eternity - give a genuine, honest smile. Not an seductive smirk, not a evil expression, but an actual happy smile, all across her beak. Her hand squeezes his own, and her entire heart feels so full, it could burst! She has to let something out! ]

Never knew I could feel like this,
Like I've never seen the sky before.
I want to vanish inside your kiss,
Every day I love you more and more...

[ Which is a sweet, heartfelt thing to do... but also incredibly stupid when you're trying to hide. ]

[flapsin]

[As for Drake's heart, he feels like it's exploding ten times over! It's just such a heartfelt moment, he can't think of a single reason to be quiet about it! So he grasps her hands and looks into her eyes, touched by her look of pure happiness, as he sings along with her.]

Listen to my heart, can you hear it sing?
Telling me to give you everything.
Seasons may change, winter to spring,
But I love you until the end of time!

[lovebites_sodoi]

[ She's never felt more alive! Never felt more free! A night she's long since dreaded has now become one she never wants to end. Their hands clasped together in a tight yet gentle embrace, gazing deeply into each other's eyes, their faces getting closer and closer together, absolutely nothing exists outside of this perfect harmony. ]

Come what may...
Come what may...
I will love you,
Until my dying day -

[ Except, obviously, something does exist - namely the guy who outed them before, who rips apart the very large part of the garden they'd been hiding behind.

"THERE YOU ARE!" Which might be a total mood killer, and judging from his anger, intends to be a Darkwing-killer as well. ]

HEY! We had finally a perfect duet going on! ... I mean, Darkwing, watch out!

[flapsin]

[He was completely caught up in the magic of the musical moment! And why wouldn't he be? On stage, a song is never interrupted until it's over!

But that golden rule has been broken by the guy who found them. Any of the monsters who heard and saw that are probably very bewildered and thinking something like, "Ma'm, this is a Frankendenny's".]

Some people can't understand how good art is supposed to work...!

[He then gives a nervous yelp as he dodges out of the way of their fanged foe. Okay, now to remember how to do the thing he came here for!]

D-don't you worry. Leave this to me! I'd "stake" my reputation on it-!

[He gives an aggressive wink as he says that, and he reaches for a stake in his coat! ...Except it's kinda jammed there, having poked into the fabric, and now he hops around while trying to extract it.]

C-c'mon now!!

[lovebites_sodoi]

[ The Bad Guy laughs, in classic "mwahahaha" fashion, but it's actual laughter about finding something funny than just enjoying evil.

"This is the famous Shellsing? You're pathetic! How could any monster be afraid of such a pitiful sight? I was going to force Morgana to take care of you, but I can get rid of you all on my own!" ]

YOU LEAVE HIM ALONE!

[ A damsel in distress no more, Morgana may not have much in the way of weaponry, but a sucker-punch can still hurt like hell! ]

[flapsin]

[Drake grunts and flails as he keeps up his struggle to pull the stake loose! But it's really stuck in there, protruding out the other side of his coat. In any case, he takes a break in awe of Morgan knocking out The Bad Guy.]

Yeah, you tell him! ...But leave the rest to me, I've... got this!

[But as he focuses solely on trying to free the stake, of course he trips and tumbles right into the bad guy, bowling him over back first! With that protruding stake ending up right where it was supposed to go.]

[lovebites_sodoi]

[ Stake through the heart, and you're to blame, Drake gives love a bad name! Granted, a stake through the heart would probably kill most people anyway, but it's the thought that counts. Count Bad Guy Gasps, and that's the last sound he ever makes as he begins to wither to dust.

The other monsters gasp in horror. He was taken down so easily! Surely that was Shellsing's plan all along, and he only made himself look like an incompetent fool to lower their guard!

Morgana, for her part, has gone heart-eyed at last. ]

You did it! Oh, Drake, that was marvelous! You're so brilliant!

[flapsin]

[He blinks in confusion, while sprawled on the floor.]

...I did? [He's still reaching for the stake stuck through his coat, but he lets go of it as the realization sinks in.]

...I did! I mean, of course I did! [He clears his throat. Without getting up, he shoots a confident look towards the assembled monsters.]

I hope you now know what you're messing with when it comes to a Van Shellsing! Now... who wants to be next?

[lovebites_sodoi]

[ Eek! The whole group begins to back up in fright... Shellsing managed to seduce the Clan Head, and take out one of their most powerful members! Who could stand a chance against him?!

Morgana lets out a classic evil laugh, though it's for the power of good, so maybe more of a anti-hero laugh? ]

That's right, you fools! If any one of you ever dares to try and take me back to that wretched place, take a look at what's in store for you! As of this moment, I'm never again a McCawber!

[flapsin]

[He can't believe it! She's really turning away from her evil destiny for him! This is the kind of thing that's only happened in his dreams! He gives a surprised, if proud look, but he also manages a quick stage whisper to him.]

It's okay if you keep using the last name, though - it's a very good alliteration!

[With that, he turns his attention back to the assorted monsters.]

That's right, you vampiric villains! Stand back while you still can! Before this party turns into quite the high-stakes dinner...!

[He decides it's time to stand up to face them! ...Although as he tries to get up, he immediately falls back down and slaps his bill on the ground.

That stake that's stuck through his coat also seems to have planted itself in the ground when he fell!]

[lovebites_sodoi]

[ ... Huh. Is he still trying to play the part of the hapless fool? Because there's really no point to that anymore. He seems more eager to kill the tension than to kill any of them...

Morgana gets on her knees to try and pull the stake out, hoping the caustic crowd doesn't change their mind about him as quickly as she did. ]

Here you go, darling... Oof, these things are really huge... you must be ever so strong to carry so many of these all the time!

[ Still be scared of him! He's still a threat, she promises! ]

[flapsin]

[It's part that he seems to be very good at playing! Like an advanced form of method acting, almost as if this is who he really is inside!]

Wh-why thank you! [He says with a quick blush while she helps to pull him loose. The stake really seems to be stuck in there!]

A hunter of horrors can never be too careful! Although let's try to be gentle, this is the very last one I have on me. I wouldn't want to be completely defenseless!

[He says with a slightly nervous laugh... but then there's a snap, as Drake is now freed and lifted right off the ground towards Morgana like a rubber band, while the stake has snapped into pieces.]

[lovebites_sodoi]

[ The man REALLY needs to learn not to say everything that comes to mind, because the once frightened crowd definitely heard the little admission.

"... So, five bucks that he killed Vlad by accident?"
"Raise you twenty we can get rid of him before the dessert trays come out."

Meanwhile, with a very ungraceful thud, Morgana now finds herself flat on her back with her handsome hero on top. Which, in any other circumstance, she'd happily welcome! ]

... Darling, I don't suppose you have any emergency back-up plans in that cute cape of yours?

[flapsin]

[Well at least on Drake's part it's one of the most pleasant landings he's had all night! He's caught up in being on top of her for a moment before being reminded of the situation.]

Emergency back-up? [He blinks. It's hard to think straight while looking into Morgana's eyes, in which one can easily get lost forever!]

Oh right! There is the gliding function built into this cape. If we can get into the air, it can get us soaring to safety like some gliding mammal! [He chatters excitedly, hoping she's impressed by it, while the monsters start to close in...]

[lovebites_sodoi]

There is an obscenely tall and intricate water fountain the middle of the hedge maze! Who would've thought that eyesore would finally be good for something?

[ Hopefully he only gets lost in her eyes and not in the hedge maze! In fact, why take the risk? If he doesn't mind, as she gets up she's just going to scoop him up bridal-style and make a run for it.

He probably envisioned the get-away with these potions reversed, but hey, he also probably didn't envision it with a horde of monsters at their heels. ]

[flapsin]

[He blushes slightly as he's scooped up! And he looks around nervously, while coming back to his senses.]

Wait, shouldn't I be the one carrying y-

[He looks at the encroaching monsters. And clings to Morgana.]

You know what? You got this! My- my hero! [He'll just handle the next stage of the escape, that's all! Completely flawlessly!]

[lovebites_sodoi]

[ No time to argue as she puts in the legwork! Luckily she's spent enough hours brooding in these gardens to know her way around and hopefully puts some distance between themselves and the exhausted, annoyed audience.

True to her word, right in the middle of the hedge maze is a fountain that is ridiculously gaudy and just as ridiculously tall. Morgana had hoped to never see the stupid thing again...

... Considering the statue is of her. Embarrassed, she sets Darkwing down. ]

This was a birthday present from last year. I demanded they built this maze so no one would ever see it again!

[flapsin]

[Drake's protest dies as he nestles against her while she carries him. As they reach the statue, he gazes at it with awe!]

But it - it's a vision of artistic beauty! I didn't think stone could capture your eyes so-

[The murmurrings of the crowd reach Drake's right.]

Right, right. The escape. Let's get that started! [He leaps onto the statue and hugs it tightly while climbing it!]