Having selected and placed the Lotus Visager mask on her face, Rosamund rejoins the party. She helps herself to a glass of wine and searches the crowd for another single who might like to waltz.
the old man walks over to the new arrival. "Hello I don’t believe I have had the pleasure of your acquaintance, I’m the old man care for a dance?"
[quote=Iris Sims]
Iris takes her arm. "Lead on, milady"[/quote]
Lady Byron leads Iris to the dance. “Ah, excellent, a waltz! A waltz is a splendid way to warm up. Shall I lead, or shall you? I’m happy in any position.”
the old man walks over to the new arrival. "Hello I don’t believe I have had the pleasure of your acquaintance, I’m the old man care for a dance?"[/quote]
Rosamund smiles. "A pleasure to meet you, old man. My name is Rosamund Atwood." She extends her hand. "I’m be delighted to dance with you. Shall we?"
Seeing there are currently no free waltz companions, Thanos Black moves to the side room, where the old man warned him of a snake, wine glass in hand, Blemmigan still comfortably perched on his shoulder. A little cautiously, he enters said room, looking around for signs of danger. Or company. Or both.
edited by Thanos Black on 12/23/2019
[OOC: The "side room" in question is the foyer where you entered.]
[quote=RosamundAtwood]
Rosamund smiles. "A pleasure to meet you, old man. My name is Rosamund Atwood." She extends her hand. "I’m be delighted to dance with you. Shall we?"[/quote]
"of course it seems the waltz is in order. I must confess I never learnt it so you may have to lead." The old man begins dancing with a fair degree of spryness considering he’s technically dead and begins conversation, "so what brings you to this party" he whispers the next bit "am I to assume you were not on the original guest list." He spares a brief thought for his protégé mr black, but is quietly confident that he will find a partner.
[quote=Siankan]
[OOC: The "side room" in question is the foyer where you entered.][/quote]
[OOC: Apologies, I totally missed that part]
Having casually strolled around the mansion, Thanos eventually finds himself back at the foyer. How could he have missed this snake on his way in? He was perhaps too preoccupied with passing through the Tiger guarding the entrance to notice. Keeping a safe distance, he takes mental notes on the physiology of the creature, before returning to the main hall.
Maxwell Bradford’s expression as he arrives is hard to decipher. His eyes are covered by a mask – no, a skull – no, the mask of a skull that covers the top of his head. A pair of curved, ebony horns stick from the side, meticulously decorated in silver – a stark contrast to the skull’s ivory tone, whose eyes sockets have been trimmed in gold. The animal’s fur seems to continue down his back, but it’s only an illusion – the cape draped over his shoulder has been trimmed in fur, concealing his otherwise subdued three piece suit, similarly decorated in black and silver.
The lower half of his face shows only dark stubble and the lit end of a thick cigar. Now and then, this, too, is covered – by a dense cloud of exhaled smoke.
Linking arms with him is Tanith Wyrmwood, who wears a simple gown of pure white, but her mask glows with brilliant color.
The mask covers all of her face except for her lively dark eyes. It’s an elaborate work of luminous stained glass. At first the colors of the glass appear to be arranged randomly, but on closer inspection there does seem to be a pattern of sorts.
The mask is divided into top and bottom halves, each half divided into regular segments. Each segment is of brightly colored glass, arranged thus:
TOP: Red, red, blue, blue; then half-segments of indigo, violet, white, and indigo again; then a double-wide segment in blue.
BOTTOM: Two segments in green, two in yellow, two in orange; then a double-width segment in red.
Her golden crown is decorated in elaborate scrollwork, but what at first look like mere decorative swirls resolve into symbols: a treble clef above her right temple, and the Roman numeral IV, repeated, above her left.
She approaches the hosts demurely, at first, before hugging them. "Merry Christmas, Professor! Oh, it’s so good to see you. Ondine! Merry Christmas!"
Maxwell approaches Ondine first, courteous enough to pull the cigar from his mouth as he bows his head in silent greeting. As he approaches the professor, however, he takes a long, contemplative drag – eyeing the man from behind the mask’s hollow sockets, a heartbeat longer than strictly necessary, before reaching a conclusion only known to himself. “Professor Sian Kan.” He says, a wisp of smoke trailing after his words. Soon enough, he smiles – as amicably as his perpetual frown allows -, and nods. “Well met. Hieronymus speaks fondly of you – I trust the man’s sanity has not affected his judgment too harshly.” Is it a joke? It probably is.
He produces a bottle from underneath his cape – absinthe, of the Strangling Willow kind. “Do save it for someone special.”
edited by Slyblue on 12/23/2019
Ixc smiles, and readies for the waltz, taking care not to ruffle Jolanda’s feathers. “Sadly, it’s been a while.&quot Ixc says. “August’s wedding was certainly something, especially after my more hasty ones.” He winces as he glances at Maxwell, before continuing in a whisper. ”By any chance, are you still in touch with our… feline friends?” He tilts his head towards the foyer, where Ithuriel twines in the branches. ”It seems a remarkable number of guests are in the know.”
edited by Ixc on 12/26/2019
Sian walks Dione off the floor as the first dance completes. There is barely pause enough to change partners before the band strikes up the next number, but he takes courteous leave of the lady and leaves the dancers behind. Someone had caught his eye.
Tanith, of course, he knows. He hasn’t spent this many years in London without learning how to recognize body language, and if he couldn’t recognize his own niece behind a mask, he had really best retire to Venderbight. Besides, how many others would walk into his home in a stained glass mask?
The gentlemen with her is less obvious. However, there weren’t that many of her acquaintances who would walk into a masquerade puffing on a cigar. He would guess… three. One had recently taken a steamer northward (something about an heiress and a misunderstanding); another was usually honey-soaked, more her patient than her friend. That left one. Probably.
Ondine had seen them, too. She had let go of August, flirtatiously put off the next name on her card, and fended off a couple of young men (boys, really, you think they’d know better) who were willing to jilt their own partners for her. With an exclamation of delight, she flings her arms around Tanith. Her greeting of the gentleman is more measured.
Sian, for his part, kisses Tanith’s cheek by way of greeting. Then he turns to her escort, making, behind the mask, his own calculations. But he takes his hand, and his gift. "Ah, thank you. A bit messy, perhaps, for someone special"–there is a hair’s-breadth pause–"but I’m sure it is most excellent." A servant appears to take the absinthe, subtly making sure it is well-corked. "Am I right in guessing that I have the honor of meeting Mr. Maxwell Bradford? Wonderful! Tanith has told me nearly as much about you as I’ve learned on my own. Quite an honor to meet the man himself. Please, come in, and enjoy the ball! Shall we find you a partner first, or a drink? Or do you play cards?" He takes Maxwell’s arm familiarly, and leads him through the crowds.
Ondine meanwhile has taken Tanith’s hand. "Well, those two will get on like a house on fire. One way or another," she adds, after a moment’s pause. "But come! I believe half the Society is here. Would you prefer to gossip or to dance?"
edited by Siankan on 12/23/2019
As the Six Handed Merchant flows in front of his view, Thanos feels a tug at his ear. Looking at his Blemmigan friend, he sees him flailing his tentacles back and forth between himself and the octopus idly sipping sherry on the Merchant’s hat. After a few confused seconds, he realises the problem. "My dear Truffle, how could I have forgotten to provide a mask for you! Let’s see how we can remedy the situation!" Looking around, he spots the man in the young/old mask moving among the crowd. "Forgive me, but I seem to have neglected to provide a mask for my Blemmigan friend here. Is there a possibility for our gracious host to lend us one for the occasion?
the old man seeing thanos say this apologises to his dance partner "ill be a mere moment" rushes over "by god my man make sure your out of range of the d–m tigers hearing" he says looking furtively around.
[quote=the old man]
the old man seeing thanos say this apologises to his dance partner "ill be a mere moment" rushes over "by god my man make sure your out of range of the d–m tigers hearing" he says looking furtively around.[/quote]
Upon hearing this, Thanos looks around in a split second of panic. Certain the tiger is not anywhere near them, he takes a deep breath and in a hushed voice asks the more experienced bandaged man "Why should I be worried so? An oversight on my part, for sure, but one I seek to remedy at once. Shall our host (or his tiger) be offended?"
[quote=Siankan]
Sian, for his part, kisses Tanith’s cheek by way of greeting. Then he turns to her escort, making, behind the mask, his own calculations. But he takes his hand, and his gift. "Ah, thank you. A bit messy, perhaps, for someone special"–there is a hair’s-breadth pause–"but I’m sure it is most excellent." A servant appears to take the absinthe, subtly making sure it is well-corked. "Am I right in guessing that I have the honor of meeting Mr. Maxwell Bradford? Wonderful! Tanith has told me nearly as much about you as I’ve learned on my own. Quite an honor to meet the man himself. Please, come in, and enjoy the ball! Shall we find you a partner first, or a drink? Or do you play cards?" He takes Maxwell’s arm familiarly, and leads him through the crowds.[/quote]
Maxwell chuckles, following the host’s lead with no apparent objection. “You are well informed, Professor. I was wondering if you would mistake me for a common thug, maybe have me thrown out, but…” He glances around, and any subtlety the action might have had is ruined as the skull turns with him. "…I don’t suppose they are allowed in this fine place of yours.” He considers the options presented as he strokes his stubble, feigning a pensive frown. “A drink, then, that you might be free to do –“ A small pause, a light shrug. “-Whatever it is that hosts do in parties such as these. I’m afraid you’ve caught me in a place far from my element.”
He turns towards Ixc’s general direction, taking a short drag from his cigar. “Well. Perhaps not –quite- that far from my element. It’s a small world, after all.”
[quote=Lady Sapho Byron]Lady Byron leads Iris to the dance. “Ah, excellent, a waltz! A waltz is a splendid way to warm up. Shall I lead, or shall you? I’m happy in any position.”[/quote] "Perhaps you should. I’ve danced the waltz on the Surface, but everything seems different in the Neath. For all I know, it’s danced backwards!"
The young man bows slightly. "It is only the custom of the evening. All attendees at the ball should be masked." He gestured slightly toward a refreshment table, where two blemmigans in simple black dominoes were doing serious damage to the punch. "We can help your friend here without bothering Balkis. Come with me."
He leads Mr. Black and Truffle over to the already-plundered display of Visager masks. "These are part of the Professor’s private collection, but as long as it’s properly returned he will not mind their use tonight." There remains a Lion, a Frog, and a Moon-Moth. "I am afraid that I have not studied the arts of Visage. From what I understand, however, the Frog signifies a boorish tourist, and the Moth signifies someone who doesn’t like wearing masks. I don’t know about the lion. Which would you prefer, sir?" He inclines his head toward Truffle.
[quote=Slyblue]Maxwell chuckles, following the host’s lead with no apparent objection. “You are well informed, Professor. I was wondering if you would mistake me for a common thug, maybe have me thrown out, but…” He glances around, and any subtlety the action might have had is ruined as the skull turns with him. "…I don’t suppose they are allowed in this fine place of yours.” He considers the options presented as he strokes his stubble, feigning a pensive frown. “A drink, then, that you might be free to do –“ A small pause, a light shrug. “-Whatever it is that hosts do in parties such as these. I’m afraid you’ve caught me in a place far from my element.”
He turns towards Ixc’s general direction, taking a short drag from his cigar. “Well. Perhaps not –quite- that far from my element. It’s a small world, after all.”[/quote]
Sian laughs. "Well, what a host mostly does is make people happy, and occasionally prevent a mauling. So you see, I am doing my job as we speak." As they pass through those who would rather watch than dance, he exchanges a word here, a head nod there.
"You really oughtn’t have worried about your reception here. A friend of Tanith Wyrmwood is a friend of mine. She’s quite wise enough not to arrive with trouble in tow, and there are many ways of handling matters should she ever be proven wrong. And not even a common thug is going to be thrown out of here (assuming he gets in) unless he leaves me no other option–and a man with a tiger on payroll is rarely out of options."
They reach the bar Sian has had set up. "Now, what is your preference? Surface, London, or Overzee?"
[quote=Siankan]The young man bows slightly. "It is only the custom of the evening. All attendees at the ball should be masked." He gestured slightly toward a refreshment table, where two blemmigans in simple black dominoes were doing serious damage to the punch. "We can help your friend here without bothering Balkis. Come with me."
He leads Mr. Black and Truffle over to the already-plundered display of Visager masks. "These are part of the Professor’s private collection, but as long as it’s properly returned he will not mind their use tonight." There remains a Lion, a Frog, and a Moon-Moth. "I am afraid that I have not studied the arts of Visage. From what I understand, however, the Frog signifies a boorish tourist, and the Moth signifies someone who doesn’t like wearing masks. I don’t know about the lion. Which would you prefer, sir?" He inclines his head toward Truffle.[/quote]
"We thank you, kind sir" says Thanos with obvious relief. He wouldn’t want to give a bad first impression to such a gathering of exquisite people. "Well Truffle, which do you fancy?"
Truffle scuttles joyfully towards the masks, shuffling them around and trying them on. After some inner deliberation, he finally chooses the Lion mask. With one more nod and a heartfelt thanks to the young man, he turns again towards the ball, while Truffle stays behind to attack a nearby plate of croquembouches.
Lady Byron laughs brightly, “Have no fear, a waltz is a waltz even in the Neath!”
And then they begin. Lady Byron, it transpires, is splendid dancer who glides more than steps through the dance and her lead of Iris is gentle, warm, and exceedingly confident. “See,” she chuckles, “nothing reversed … we save that for those Elder Continent dances! And when you are not collecting candles or charming ball attendees, how do you amuse yourself?”