| Logs |
2000-09-17
| Starfall |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
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The Queen's Masquerade Birthday Ball, take II
The guests are truly a sight, in fanciful clothing and sometimes even more fanciful costumes. There are pirates and soldiers, dragons and unicorns, generals and woodsmen and outlaws and heroines. Some of the costumes are enhanced by magic, others are entirely the artifice of tailors and seamstresses. The conversation is lively as folk try to guess who is who.
Grand Ballroom
Once again, the Grand Ballroom is full,
the glittering gold-framed mirrors that line the walls reflecting a
crowd of brightly and outlandishly costumed furs. The Queen's Birthday
celebration is a masquerade ball this year, and the furrs important
enough, or lucky enough, to be invited have tried to outdo each other
in fanciful costumes. The party-goers wander through the Grand Ballroom
and several adjacent rooms for food, conversation, and dancing.
Alex's eyes are sparkling with enthusiasm and alight with interest as she wanders around the ballroom. She's impatient for the dancing to start, of course, but it's still quite a bit of fun trying to figure out who's the queen! Carroll smiles and nods to people who he may or may not know, making quiet small talk. He's keeping an eye out for the Queen, and also keeping an eye on Horatio and Jessie, to make sure both of them are doing all right in this environment. He expects Horatio to be overwhelmed and Jessie to eat it up, but wants to quietly make sure.
Some furrs are either too difficult to disguise, or just unwilling to try to be completely anonymous. Duke Redtail is one, his height and rack of antlers obvious in spite of his tunic and hose of Lincoln green... though the femme-wolf in ancient leather armor is quite unfamiliar. Alex heads for the wolf in the dress of the ancient warrior, where she's talking to Duke Redtail... that's one of the two 'completely concealing via magical means' costumes, and she thinks it may well be a good bet that one of them is the queen.
Horatio and Jessie are chatting with a vixen in a fanciful pirate outfit, the mink's hunter's garb doing quite well as a costume. Carroll smiles quietly and approaches his brother, Jessie, and the vixen, murring, "Good evening," to the vixen, and trying to fathom whom she may be. The vivacious red-furred vixen is chatting with Jessie, who is doing her best to imitate what she thinks a proper lady should be. It's not that good an imitation, but on the other hand, she's being a bit more proper than White Haven... Carroll skips introducing himself at great effort, because it is a costume ball. Instead he murrs, "A lovely party so far, don't you think?" to the small group in general.
The vixen smiles. "Oh, yes. Her Majesty always has something new at these affairs." She is wearing a tight leather vest, loose green trousers, and knee-high black boots. She's got heavy gold rings in her ears, a gold chain around her neck, a red bandanna tied over her scalp, and an eye patch -- a stereotyped pirate vixen. She grins at Jessie and Horatio before turning to chat with Horatio. "Remember, the unmasking is at midnight. Try to figure out who everyone is before then, though -- it's more fun that way."
Carroll ohs, and asks the vixen curiously, "Really? What has she done in the past? What kind of thing might we expect?" He smiles and admires the vixen or her costume politely, although, only just.
The vixen smiles. "Well, let's see. Last year it was a treasure hunt. This year it's a masquerade. Two years ago she had it out on the lawn and there were fireworks at midnight, and the year before that it was an eclipse party."
Carroll ahs, and murrs, "That's wonderful. Something a little different each year." He grins a mischievous grin, and adds, "Perhaps it's to set off the predictableness of the ceremony from this morning."
She grins. "That's probably it, milord."
Jessie smiles. "They all sound delightful, milady. I wish I could have been there for the treasure hunt." Her accent gives her away in spite of her efforts... Starfall's language is a little different from Maidstone's, and her country origins make the difference more pronounced.
Horatio blinks (though behind his mask it isn't quite so obvious) to the vixen. He has some idea that the lady is... well, supposed to be a pirate... though having recently been of that same profession, or at least close to it, he can't say that it's exactly... accurate. Then again, he reasons, I had an awful time coming up with my own costume alone. He's silently glad for Jessie's help in securing it with him. He looks to Jessie as she speaks, smiling quietly. He's certainly glad she seems to be enjoying the party! though he confesses to himself that he liked Solstice back on Ettore somewhat more. Then again, that's just me.
Horatio Donal St. Genevieve is not himself tonight. More
specifically, he's not dressed as himself tonight. Apparently
half on a whim, and half at someone 's suggestion, his costume is
that of a somewhat stylized seagull. A costume more in keeping with
a royal costume ball than an actual masquerade, the mask is a white
curve of elegant fabric, and draped slightly upon his muzzle is a
'beak' of brightly shining gold, or at least what appears to be gold,
cloth. His arms are enveloped in stylized 'wings,' trimmed panels of
white cut lengthwise to vaguely resemble feathers. His hands though,
in white gloves, are barely visible through small, discrete slits or
cuffs set cunningly within the wing-sleeves. A tunic of snow-white with
a slight train down to his knees done in ripples of increasingly-darker
grays tops a pair of light dove-gray breeches.
Carroll looks out over the crowd carefully, commenting, "Figuring out who is who is more difficult than I expected." He looks back to the three he's talking to, adding with an offhand gesture to the Duchess White Haven, "Other than a few who are truly unmistakable, I haven't had much success. Midnight will be fun indeed."
Alex hms at a sudden thought as she heads towards the elk and the wolf... what's the best way to hide something? Where no one will look for it. She remembers Dimitri teaching her that... and where would people look immediately for the queen? In a completely concealing costume, of course. She grins, her eyes lighting up again with interest -- she suddenly knows how she'd hide herself, were she queen -- she'd make sure there were a few completely concealing costumes, and then do just a few touches on herself, so she wasn't obviously the queen! which would mean... hmm... what vixens are there in the room? She looks around curiously, noting the pirate vixen talking to her brothers... oh! she grins ruefully -- and herself, of course.
The wolf-warrioress is chatting animatedly with Redtail, whose Robin Hood-style costume doesn't really conceal his features at all well. She smiles as Alex approaches. "Good evening, milady."
Alex grins again to herself -- not that anyone would mistake her for the queen, since she moves like herself, not like the queen, and she came in with her brothers. Still, it's an amusing thought. She turns her attention to the twosome talking and smiles cheerfully, "Good eve to you both!" She nods... looks like she and the pirate vixen aren't the only vixens here. On the other hand, she suspects any vixen with no magic on them can be discounted as possibly being the queen... unless they're either dark-phase, or their fur is obviously dyed. Ah... and it looks like the pirate vixen does have some magic on her -- her earrings! She tilts her head back to look curiously up at Redtail and grins... My but he's tall! she thinks amusedly! She adds politely, "Are you both enjoying the party?" then grins, "Can't wait for the dancing to start!"
The wolf-warrior grins. "Well, that means you definitely aren't Baroness Millicent, then."
Alex laughs softly, then grins, "I am devastated to reveal myself so!" She doesn't try to hide her accent. Instead she lets it mangle slightly, as if someone from here were trying to imitate a Starfall accent. She grins cheerfully to herself -- might as well play along as if she could be the queen walking in with her companions, she thinks happily. What's the worst that happens? The queen is undiscovered for a few more moments, and has a little more time to play!
Redtail nods, not as seriously as usual. "It does at that. Millie hates dancing." The elk continues. "I've missed this sort of thing. I'm glad I was invited to the party this year." He watches Alex to see if she reacts to the statement.
Alex smiles with quiet amusement, "Doesn't she though..." her gaze gets mischievous as she looks up at the elk again, "Indeed, milord... so, might you invite both the lady wolf and myself for a dance or two apiece later tonight?" She knows she's probably pushing it a little... but what the hey, she thinks with a little breathlessly happy excitement, how often do I get to play a queen? She grins quietly to herself as her internal voice adds, and dance with a handsome duke... tonight's probably the only night he'll ever relax enough to do so, considering he's married and tense about politics and all...
Redtail bows. "I might at that, milady. If my wife doesn't mind too much."
Alex smiles and curtseys politely in return, "Then I shall leave it to your discretion." She shifts her stance slightly to politely include the wolf in the discussion more, "And yours, of course, milady."
The wolf grins, in that typical canine tongue-lolling way. "But what if I'm Millicent?"
Alex grins in return, "Then discretion would dictate that you politely decline, of course!"
The wolf sighs... "Unless I didn't want to be found out."
Alex chuckles, "Ah, suffering for one's art? My advice would be not to bother tonight... since this is quite possibly the only night we can be ourselves... and not our titles." She also sighs softly, then adds, "At least... until midnight..."
Redtail smiles, then. "It doesn't seem to stop Minerva, though. She's always herself."
Alex laughs softly, glancing at the cheerful houri and the now rather flustered looking coyote, "Indeed!" As she glances back to her current companions it clicks in her head -- the wolf femme is actually Baroness Morgana, the queen's aide-de-camp and Matthew's mom. It had taken Alex a little while to place the mannerisms, since they're magically overlain by wolfish ones. In fact, she suspects it would have been impossible to tell if she'd not seen the costume was illusionary. She smiles as her small suspicion is verified -- then grins happily to herself -- this is fun! She eyes the tall elk amusedly, wondering if he will indeed ask the wolf and/or herself to dance... then grins again -- best to wander on a bit. While it's daring fun to play lightly at being the queen, it would be bad to push it. She grins at the wolf and the elk, adding, "I am glad you are both enjoying yourselves... but I should wander a bit. Do have fun when the dancing starts!" She curtseys politely again so she can withdraw and check out the other vixens she can see.
Carroll continues to admire the costumes and the people, keeping a sharp eye out for any of the few he knows who might be in attendance. "Now that I think of it, there will be plenty of fun before midnight," he adds, his eyes sparkling under the shadow of his hat and a grin spreading across his face as he explains, "-there will be dancing, after all." His bearing and smile suggest that he is truly looking forward to that. Something suddenly occurs to Carroll, and while he continues to look at and admire the amazing array of costumes, while not ignoring the lovely if unknown vixen and Jessie and her escort, he also glances now and again at Ludmilla. The tall tigress should be visible from almost anywhere in the party... and he expects she'll be keeping an eye on the Queen. A moment later he smiles ruefully as he realizes the tall tigress is keeping an eye on things, but she knows better than to just watch the queen.
Various other furrs are wandering around the room, trying to guess who the other guests are. One of them approaches Alex, a very odd-looking fellow with armor plates covering his back and head. He swivels his ears forward as he bows. "Good evening, milady."
Alex curtseys politely and smiles, "Good eve, milord. Are you enjoying the party?" She wonders what this costume is supposed to be of... she doesn't recognize the species, at least initially.
"Most certainly." He's dressed in the same fashion as the Hamasuran ambassador at the earlier ceremony, white tunic and plaid kilt, with the addition of military insignia on the tunic. He doesn't seem to be disguising himself well at all. "I thought I would pay my respects, just in case you are the queen.. and to say hello to a lovely lady if you weren't."
Alex chuckles softly, "How kind of you, milord. A pleasure to meet you." She decides best to react as if they've just met... she'd guess the queen would do that, since pretending she didn't know the gentleman might provoke offense at midnight. She raises an eyebrow... this isn't a costume at all then? Fascinating!
The armored furr bows over Alex's hand, brushing his lips against it. "Colonel Alessandro Villejo, military attaché from Hamasura." He waves a hand somewhat deprecatingly. "I'm afraid I would not be very able to disguise myself, so I didn't try."
Alex smiles, "You are not alone in choosing no disguise, milord... and indeed, the celebration is for all, not just for those in costume. Do please continue to enjoy yourself." She remembers to keep her movements carefully controlled, just as her training has taught her. She nods internally to herself... she doesn't know why Carroll chose to not walk in with her on his arm like usual, but it certainly feeds the illusion nicely that she's not Alex.
The armadillo smiles. "Oh, I think I will, thank you. And how are you enjoying Maidstone, milady?"
Alex grins, "As always, it is a pleasure."
Behind his mask Horatio blinks slightly at the cheerfully chatting pirate lady. He glances a little towards Jessie, who seems to be enjoying herself. No, she wouldn't recognize any of Maidstone's nobility... he reasons, then politely tucks the knowledge away into the library of his mind. He attempts to maintain conversation as best as a near-hermit of the Starfall Academy can muster, or rather a once-hermit. Being thrust into the court isn't the easiest thing... but he has his siblings, at least... and Jessie, bless her. Carroll watches the party for another moment, and then looks at the vivacious piratess and murrs, "It seems that the few I know in town have occupied themselves nicely. This is lovely, except that it leaves me without anyone to dance with." He smiles and asks, "Would you be kind enough to do me that honor?"
The pirate-vixen smiles. "I would be delighted, milord." The musicians are just now starting to play dances rather than background music, and couples begin to drift toward the center of the ballroom.
Carroll smiles, genuinely pleased, and offers her his arm, murring, "Shall we? At least until some other fellow demands attention of such a lovely lady?"
"You flatter me, milord. How could I turn down such a gallant offer?" She takes his arm in hers and walks out to the dance floor with him.
Carroll murrs, "Only deserved flattery, milady," to her as they begin to dance. As he truly likes dancing, it's easy for him to enjoy himself, and he hopes his energy and pleasure is shared by his partner. Alex pauses for a moment to watch Carroll dance... Carroll and the pirate lady. She's watched the queen dance with Dimitri... let's see if I can pick up any common mannerisms she thinks interestedly.
Horatio watches Carroll move off to the dance floor with the pirate-fox, smiling quietly behind his mask. He looks up to Jessie and asks warmly (albeit quietly, almost a whisper), "Are you enjoying the party so far?"
Jessie is grinning behind her domino mask. "This is... this is just fantastical, Horatio. All these fine lords and ladies, talking to me like I'm one of them... I love it." She nudges Horatio. "Are we gonna dance, too?"
Horatio laughs softly, and takes Jessie's hands gently. The image is somewhat odd, a stylized bird holding the huntress's hands in his wings. "Jessie, to me you are one of them. More, in fact. You are the lady I care about, more than I care about... well, most anything I ever have in my life. And you will always be the greatest of ladies, to me." He blinks behind his mask, then grins softly. "I'd love to!" I didn't really just say that, did I...? He proffers his arm to her. Yes, I just did! The huntress mink takes her partner's arm and lets him lead her out to the dance floor. The two of them dance as well as many of the couples, as it turns out...
Duke Redtail finds Alex as the music is beginning. "I believe I do have a dance free, milady, if you would still like to dance with me...?" He leaves the question waiting in mid-air.
Alex blinks a little startledly at the elk -- she'd not expected him to actually take her up on it! -- then grins suddenly and offers one small paw, "We'd be delighted, your grace!" She feels almost breathless again -- is she daring too much with that statement? Still... he is quite good looking... she lets herself get swept away in the excitement of the moment.
Redtail smiles and takes Alex's hand as they head out to the center of the floor and begin the dance. "We? There's barely enough of you for one vixen, milady." He turns out to be a passable dancer -- not spectacular, but he's not clumsy -- a good thing, considering his size. Alex laughs softly, and simply enjoys herself dancing.
The dancing continues, Alex partnering quite a few of the furrs present... including Don Carlos, who keeps looking nervously around to make sure White Haven isn't sneaking up on him again, acting Ambassador van der Berg, who insists that wearing civilian clothes and the ambassador's sash is a costume - for him, and Colonel Villejo, who turns out to be the best dancer of them all, surprisingly. Alex smiles and assures the acting ambassador that he looks quite dashing indeed, and thanks the colonel quite sincerely for a lovely dance. She can barely resist drifting with Don Carlos near to White Haven, but manages to contain that wickedly delicious impulse... barely...
Horatio makes note of the two separate persons, briefly entertains some theories of why the two are apart, and realizes that there may be more than one person here who has quite an elaborate costume... much more elaborate than might seem at first glance. But he drags himself back to the dancing with Jessie, simply enjoying being with her in perhaps the first night of gaiety and happiness since the whole incident at Starfall, with Father's return, was finally finished.
One thing that all three of the St. Genevieves notice is that Carroll's pirate vixen and the dark-phase highway fox take pains to stay as far from each other as possible. Carroll rather happily dances with the pirate-vixen, apparently feeling no rush to change partners. When she tries to avoid the dark-phase vixen, he wordlessly assists, both helping her move a bit farther off, and probably keeping himself between them. He is curious but doesn't ask, figuring she will tell him if she wants him to know. Dancing skillfully and pleasurably, although without his sister's joy de vivre, he admires the pirate vixen some more, and decides she's well worth admiring. He tries to remember where he knows her from, but nothing leaps to mind. Eventually he decides not to worry about it, as he'll find out at midnight, anyway.
Alex beams suddenly as she's dancing -- she knows who the queen is! Oh, she so loves being right! She relaxes then, letting herself get lost in the glory of dancing -- it's a lovely night, she's wearing a beautiful dress (just for dancing, of course -- she certainly wouldn't wear it otherwise, indeed not...), she knows she looks wonderful, and she's doing a good deed by pretending a tiny bit to be the queen -- and if anyone sees through the disguise, it won't harm anyone anywise! She wonders a little gleefully if she could possibly finagle one more dance with the duke... this is just too much fun! Alex can't resist pausing near her brothers at one point, however... just to grin and wink at the pirate vixen and comment very, very softly, "What lovely earrings, milady!"
The evening passes, uneventfully but enjoyably. Don Carlos seems to want to dance with all the ladies, or nearly all... after his close encounter with the Duchess, he avoids the other minks. He does manage to borrow Carroll's partner for one dance though. Carroll graciously lets the Don -- and anyone else who asks, and who she doesn't seem to object to -- have dances with the vixen. While the Don dances with the pirate vixen, Carroll asks the Duchess White Haven if such a lovely lady would be so kind to share this dance with him? Unlike the Don, Carroll is not afraid of the mink. The Duchess is happy to oblige, and is quite... thorough in her dancing. "I thought you'd never ask, my dear boy. How's everything back in Starfall?" Dancing with White Haven is in some ways a more thorough experience than being married to some furrs...
Carroll smiles and responds to the Duchess' dancing as much as politeness will allow; why not enjoy himself and her as well, presuming she doesn't object? He answers her question by saying, "Things are very well, Your Grace. Our family is restored and our nemesis caught quite completely." As an afterthought he adds, "A pity our Father couldn't come back with us, but he has accepted a position on the Council and needed to stay and take care of that business." He does suggest, "I'm certain he'd be pleased to see you again, if you made it to Starfall yourself."
The Duchess considers this. "Hmm. Might be fun at that. I'll have to think about it."
Alex is feeling a little gleefully reckless and breathless again after her commentary... she takes a deep breath and decides she'll try one more time with the handsome duke. What's the worst that happens, after all? she asks herself internally. He'll refuse. I can handle that. She doesn't show her nervousness, however... Nanna being an excellent teacher certainly makes the difference. Instead she'll end up near the duke at some point, where she can calmly inquire as to whether he's possibly free for the next dance?
Redtail is resting between dances when Alex approaches him, seated with another furr who is probably his wife -- she's big enough to be an elk doe, at any rate. In spite of his earlier comment, she doesn't seem to mind his dancing with other furrs -- she hasn't shown any inclination to dance herself. Alex wonders slightly at her own audacity... then takes comfort in the fact the doe seems unflustered. It's not like she's really doing anything naughty, after all... she's just dancing, really! And no one else has seemed to mind... I should stop worrying and just enjoy myself.
After his dance with the Duchess, who he lets free to persecute some other lucky or terrified fellow, Carroll looks around curiously, wondering if the pirate-who-he-doesn't-know-her-name has finished her dance with the Don, or even perhaps needs rescuing from him, or perhaps is quite happily still dancing.
The Duke waves to Alex to join them. "Enjoying yourself, milady?"
Alex brightens slightly and joins the Redtail couple, "Indeed, milord." She smiles at the lady, adding, "And yourselves?"
Duchess Redtail smiles. "We're fine, my dear. It's been years since we've been invited to the court. His Grace says that you had some part in that?"
Alex smiles politely, "Less than others, I am sure, your grace." She adds with another polite smile, "I was wondering, milady, if your husband might be free for one last dance?"
Redtail snorts. "Don't be too modest, milady. Around this crowd they'll believe you." His wife smiles. "I'm sure he can manage that." She nudges him to get up.
Alex laughs softly at the duke's comment, then smiles at the duchess, "That would be lovely, thank you both." She thinks hastily back -- did she herself actually do anything to help the Redtails? It was mostly the family, wasn't it? Oh, wait... there was that time she was almost drunk with tiredness where she blurted out stuff about the gambler rabbit. Maybe that's what they mean? The Duke makes a production of being too old and stiff to get out of his chair easily, but then leans over to kiss his wife before leading Alex back to the dance. Alex smiles quietly, not missing the duke's careful non-verbal body language.
The handsome elk again handles the dance reasonably well. He whispers to Alex as he bends over her hand to kiss it afterwards, "I owe your family a favor or two, Dame Alexandra. You uncovered Westmark's involvement, or at least got the tigress to look in his direction. Don't be overly modest about that."
Alex smiles at the duke and whispers equally quietly, "I'm not sure how I'd go about being immodest, your grace... but thank you. Both for the dances and that you are pleased." She adds with dry gallantry, "We were happy to be of assistance to your family, after all, your grace. We, of all the families here, should understand what it is to be wrongly accused."
Redtail chuckles. "A very good point, milady." He turns to lead her back to the side when the dance ends and the herald comes out to the center of the stage and announces, "And now, milords and miladies... it is nearly midnight, and time for the unmasking. First, though... if the vixens would step forward, please?"
Alex pauses where she's standing next to the Redtails and looks over in faint surprise. Does that include her, she wonders? then grins to herself. Of course it must, you dolt! You are a female fox, after all! Redtail turns again, a little surprised, then shrugs and offers his arm. "I suppose I should take you up there, milady. Shall we?" Alex turns back to the Redtails, intending to drop a polite curtsey and a thank you to them both. She's both startled and gratified that the duke offers her his arm, and smiles and thanks him happily. She wonders idly what's up... where's the pirate vixen? Ah, with Carroll, good... and... just for security's sake, where's Ludmilla? Ah, there she is... standing behind the heralds waiting for the queen to be revealed so she can take her customary position at her shoulder.
Carroll looks up at the herald, as the dance slows. He isn't sure what's going on, but asks his lovely partner, "Shall I escort you, milady?"
The pirate-vixen nods, her eyes bright with glee. "Please, milord." Carroll smiles, and offers the lady his arm, rather pleased, and escorts her to the front where the others are gathering. He's still unsure of what's going on, but isn't too worried it will be anything unpleasant.
Horatio watches the lineup with amusement, not yet realizing Ludmilla isn't really visible. This should be interesting, he thinks. I wonder what folks' reactions will be? He looks around discreetly as the lineup forms, keeping one eye on the lineup and the events on the center of the floor and one eye on the spectators.
Alex walks with careful pride... might as well keep the illusion up as long as possible for the queen... for anyone that hasn't figured it out already. The five vixens line up with the herald. "And now, milords and miladies.. how many of you guessed which is the queen?" He starts in the center with Alex. "Is this the queen?" A few furrs applaud, but not many. "Milady, if you would unmask?"
Alex grins at the herald, and with a small flourish removes her mask... then grins cheerfully at the crowd. Ah well... I guess I need acting lessons from Carroll if there's to be a next time, she thinks amusedly. Horatio grins softly. Had she planned to actually impersonate the queen some time in advance, he's certain, she would have pulled it off quite dramatically. Carroll smiles as his sister unmasks. That one, at least, he knew. He's quite curious to see who this lovely lady he is escorting is. Alex grins mischievously at Carroll, then winks at him. It hasn't occurred to her yet that he doesn't know! Carroll smiles again at Alex. He's wondering which of the other vixens it could be. Maybe the dark-phase one, but that's too easy. Alex steps back politely so the other vixens are center stage... and so she can see the crowd's reactions better.
The herald moves to the second red-phase vixen, the one dressed as a sailor. "Who thinks this is the queen?" This time there is silence... no one was fooled. The herald shrugs. "Milady, if you would unmask?" She takes off her mask and is revealed as one of the baronesses from the morning's ceremony. Alex looks faintly pleased... well, at least she fooled some of the folks. Carroll watches, and really hasn't much idea. He'll know soon enough anyway. He looks at the pirate he escorts and smiles brightly at her.
The sorceress gets a few takers, and turns out to be the Crown Princess wearing high heels. This leaves only the dark-phase highwayman and the pirate. "The highwayman or the pirate?" The guests have pretty much decided it's one of these two, and the applause is about equal. Alex grins and applauds for the pirate, of course. She enjoys herself, standing next to Redtail... well, okay, so it's more a courtesy by him, but it's still nice! She's glad her family was able to help them. Horatio as well quietly applauds for the pirate-vixen, and in a brief moment of pride can't help but wonder if the exploits of the St. Genevieves in recent months didn't influence her choice of costume... He does wonder who Jessie thinks the Queen might be. Carroll doesn't applaud there on the stage. He's relatively sure it's the dark-phase, though.
The two smile and move to the center of the floor, their hands touching as they remove their masks simultaneously. There is a shimmer, and then their colors flow onto each other across the joined hands, leaving the Queen, now in her normal dark-phase, revealed as the pirate and the highwaymen, now in red-phase, revealed as the mysterious Baroness Millicent. The guests applaud at the trick as the two bow in acknowledgement.
Alex sweeps a slow gaze across the crowd -- especially its edges -- rather than at the two vixens. Old training dies hard, after all. Horatio blinks. While he'd guessed that the queen had changed her fur color somehow, he hadn't realized it would be done quite so... dramatically. Carroll is quite startled, although he manages to applaud with the audience. He doesn't quite gape, but he is definitely surprised. Queen Arianna smiles. "Thank you, thank you... Baroness, it was a pleasure being you for a while tonight. And now, my friends, if you would all join me in revealing your identities?"
Carroll is still looking in a rather startled way at the Queen suddenly revealed. He blinks, a moment slower than many of the audience, then unties his bandana/mask, takes off his hat, and pulls it aside, his ears flickflicking as they come out of it. With one brisk shake of his head to smooth his fur, he puts the hat back on and tucks the mask out of harm's way. Alex is mildly curious as to who the dragon is, although she's still watching the crowd more warily than not. Horatio manages to get the bird-mask off with a minimal of difficulty. He had never really expected it to fool anyone, but it was actually fun to wear it for the evening's festivities.
All around the room, masks are being removed. The wolf warrior turns out to be Baroness Morgana, the palace seneschal, who looks quite a bit less dangerous when the wolf-illusion collapses. The dragon turns out to be Ambassador Rishala. Captain Winthrop is present as well, having been disguised as a raccoon lady-in-waiting. Alex grins cheerfully at Baroness Morgana, and wonders if the illusion would have held up were she to have actually danced with Duke Redtail. That would have been amusing... the tiny mouse lady and the looming elk! Carroll remembers to look back out at the rest of the people in the room, and smiles as he recognizes some people. He'd have never recognized the Baroness-Captain, for instance.
Alex smiles up at the duke thoughtfully... that was fun, she thinks quietly, although I suspect he'll be uncomfortable with any more attention from me. She drops a small, polite curtsey to him and murmurs, "Thank you so much for your courtesy, your grace. I do hope you enjoy the rest of the party."
Once the masks are removed, the heralds retire to the doors again. The queen smiles at her guests. "Let the music continue!" Carroll smiles at this, the somewhat startled look finally making its way off his face. The queen makes her way back to Carroll, pausing to chat with well wishers on her way. "Did I surprise you, too, Captain?"
Carroll smiles cheerfully, and murrs, "You certainly did, Your Majesty. You caught me completely by surprise."
Arianna smiles. "Good. If it fooled you, it could probably fool a lot of people. I think I'm going to use that spell a bit more now, to get out of the palace once in a while."
Alex wanders by then and hears that -- and both ears shoot up! She grins and says amusedly, "Good evening, your majesty. Um... surely you don't intend to drive your poor, dedicated bodyguard into an early grave due to heart attack?"
Carroll nods, and murrs, "It fooled me, even up close." He blinks at Alex, and then glances over to Ludmilla.
The queen chuckles at Alex. "Of course not. She'll be coming with me when I do that. We've got other folks lined up to trade skins with her."
Alex frowns a little worriedly, then adds seriously, "All teasing aside, your majesty, do please be careful? Um... I do not mean to be immodest, but you um... have some distinctive mannerisms?"
Arianna nods. "I know. I'll work on that sort of thing before I do it in public." She holds her hand out. "How do you think I'd look as a raccoon?"
Alex blinks... then giggles! Carroll smiles, and murrs, "Probably not as nice as you do now, your majesty." Alex grins amusedly at Carroll... and quietly wanders on, so he can have a moment alone with the queen. She knows others will doubtless interrupt them soon anyway. No need to hasten that moment.
Arianna smiles again. "Flattery, Captain? I know perfectly well I'm not the most beautiful femme in the world."
Alex chuckles quietly as she paces silently away... she already knows that people in love consider the beloved the most beautiful person in the world. She wonders if the queen does. Carroll shakes his head and murrs mildly, "That depends entirely, your majesty, on how one defines beauty." He looks about, realizes the music has started again, and asks, "Would you be interested in joining me for another dance, or have I monopolized your time too much, even unaware?"
Arianna sighs. "I think we can get one more dance in before everyone else descends on me. Shall we?"
Carroll smiles, and murrs, "I would be very pleased." and offers the Queen his arm.
Alex sighs softly, looking around, and wonders if she can persuade someone to dance with her. Things sort out quickly, and soon Alex has her pick of partners again. The first one to ask her is a rather handsome young otter, an heir to one of the barons. Alex smiles and happily accepts his offer to dance -- she has, after all, a lovely swirly dancing dress and a lot of energy! -- an unbeatable combination, in her book!
Carroll sees that Jessie has firmly and cheerfully clamped on to his brother and that Alex is leading a fresh partner to the floor to thoroughly wear out, as he escorts the Queen to the dance floor again, and is reassured that he needn't worry about his family for a moment. As he and the Queen begin the dance he smiles, oddly happy, and admires the dark vixen.
As the first dance ends the Queen is asked to dance by other furrs, and she reluctantly does so, since there is always a need to keep political allies happy. Carroll is approached by Baroness Morgana, still in her Xena outfit. "Would you mind sharing a dance with me, Captain?"
Carroll smiles and thanks the Queen for lovely dances, and also reluctantly, if graciously, sees her in to the hands of another partner. At the Baroness' request he smiles and murrs, "I suddenly find myself without a dance partner, and would enjoy that."
Ambassador Duvalier, meanwhile, is requesting the honor of a dance with Dame Alexandra... Alex curtseys politely, "It would be a pleasure, ambassador." She hopes amusedly he can actually dance, and won't be quite so floppy on the floor as he was before the queen. She can't help but wonder as she dances what the Empire now thinks of them... now that House Pravinchandra's having such troubles. She can't help a small smile at that thought either.
Baroness Morgana dances with Carroll, her warrior's costume at odds with her small size. "Captain, we may have a request for you. The only leads we've been able to find on that assassin seem to point to someone having a connection to the jungle tribes deep in the interior of Boveya. Would you be willing to go down that way and investigate for us?"
Carroll dances with the mouse, listening. He looks at her and murrs, "It certainly sounds like an intriguing thing to investigate, Baroness. I will have to discuss this with my family, both here and in Starfall, to see if we can be spared. It's quite important for us to resume our normal trade routes as soon as possible." He adds after a brief pause, "However, it is interesting, and I too would like to know the answer."
Alex wonders with a bit of interest, as she dances, if the Empire would be so crass as to abandon Pravinchandra and attempt to woo House St. Genevieve... she's not sure she's comfortable with that thought... or with the thought of working anywhere near Westmark. She finds him a tad bit... repulsive. Assassination... yuck! The rabbit seems to be a fine dancer, in spite of his large feet. During the dance he takes the opportunity to speak to Alex. "You seem to have overcome your... difficulties... with that merchant, milady. My congratulations."
Alex smiles sweetly at the rabbit, "Why thank you, ambassador! How kind of you to notice... after all, I'm sure you have so many other important matters to deal with, that a small family squabble would seem positively insignificant to one conducting the important affairs of the Empire." She dances gracefully, not shrinking at all from touching the rabbit, and her expression is shyly pleased... even if it is a lie.
The rabbit smiles, a bit sarcastically. "Hardly a small family squabble, milady. Pravinchandra was getting too close to having a trade monopoly with us. The Empire is not as strong as she once was, and you've saved her some trouble as well as yourselves." Duvalier smiles more broadly now. "Besides, my family wasn't trying to ride on his coattails. You've managed to cut a few of our rivals off at the knees. Thank you."
Alex blinks, "We did? Er... why thank you again, ambassador!" She smiles, "I'm glad we could be of some assistance. Um... although... if you don't mind my asking, how did we save you some trouble?" Better to play charming but under-informed (which is true) and hope he's willing to update the pretty and attentive lady, she decides, than to feign knowledge she doesn't have -- and potentially screw up and show she's faking it. She adds, "er... the Empire, I meant." She smiles, tilting her head at the rabbit and letting a slightly mischievous glint light her eyes, "And how nice, to hear we were able to help your family as well, ambassador."
The rabbit nods. "Let's just say that we have enough factions in the Imperial court on our own without having outsiders try to influence things. Pravinchandra was well on the way to having a majority of the Privy Council in his pocket, and if he'd managed to succeed, the Powers Above only know what he'd have had them do. Probably legalize his monopoly for starters."
Alex raises a thoughtful eyebrow, "Oh my... yes, that would definitely have been bad." She gives the rabbit a curious glance, "Did you hear what happened to him? It was quite mysterious... no one seems to know anything about who might have engineered such a fate for him."
Duvalier shakes his head. "I'd heard... and that worries me even more. If someone was backing him... what will they try next?"