sirenspull_logs | Halloween Masquerade Ball

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Halloween Masquerade Ball

Who: The Newcomer Political Party and The Newcomers!
When: October 27th, 7:00pm till Morning Sirens.
Where: The Newcomer Community Center
Summary: Time for some Halloween Masquerade Fun!
Warnings: Anything is possible!

The Community Center has been transformed into a sophisticated autumn dance hall, with bits of Halloween decorations around the room. When the door opens, you find yourself in the hall before the main room, someone ready to take your coat, if you have one, and another ready to give out bracelets. That way no one who shouldn't be drinking won't be able to.

The dance floor is surrounded by a number of small, round tables, each with an elaborate centerpiece of cobwebs. There are lights within the hanging decorations, with draped fabric over the sides, to give it a more close knit feeling. At the head of all the tables is a bar serving free drinks and cocktails to anyone over age. There is also a buffet

And then, of course, there is the dance floor, where people are dancing to the music supplied by two talented DJs, lights blinking and the room ready for everyone to have a good time.

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T-there are other balls? [Marius rubs the back of his neck, trying to compose himself. Clearly this girl is of the higher society in the Port, when he's middle-class at best.] Perhaps I should...attend those as well. I often did at home. [Not really, but he wants to make an impression upon this girl.[

Oh! W-would you like one? I could...there is punch or...wine. [Frantically, Marius glances around, spotting a waiter nearby and plucking a glass of wine off of his tray to offer. Trying to channel Courfeyrac, he gives her a little bow and holds out the glass.]

"What?"
Eponine is momentarily stumped, but recovers quickly enough. "Oh yes. Balls. All the time. Every week. That's why I dressed down for such a little affair. It does not do to be too showy, does it?"

She's dying to laugh - but she's keeping a straight face for now.

"Perhaps you should attend. We only allow the richest, most beautiful people in, though. Would you pass, do you think?"

As Marius turns, Eponine has a little giggle to herself, before straightening her face, and acknowledging the wine with a little bow of her head. Then she takes a sip - and the charade slips.

"Oh M'sieur - it's delicious. Try it. So long I have wanted wine. And never - not for years and years. Oh try it, M'sieur."

She drinks another sip, and another and another until the glass is half empty. And then she remembers the charade.

Oh, I...well. Perhaps not. [He smiles somewhat awkwardly and adds after a moment.] But I...can see why you would attend, mademoiselle.

[His eyebrow quirks upwards under the mask as she speaks. Now that voice he knows, but it seems absurd... Marius studies what little of her face he can see and suddenly blushes as he realizes just who is underneath that mask.]

Do we...ah...know each other, mademoiselle?

[She smiles, murmuring a quiet thank you at the compliment, but inside, she's buzzing. Marius thinks she's beautiful like this? - but then - oh. Is she caught? She could kick herself for slipping, so she puts on the snootiest voice she can muster - the voice Hattie uses when Eponine is in trouble.]

Know each other? I think not. I have never seen you before in my life. How dare you insinuate it?

[He's not very bright in the best of times, but Marius has caught sight of familiar features, and the voice is clearly hers, underneath her attempts to disguise it.]

You look lovely, 'Ponine. [His reply is quiet and rings true. She does, after all, and Marius is still even a little nervous. Her beauty is enough to rival Cosette's now, though his mind hasn't been drawing to her quite as much recently. So much time away...it hurts to think that she might have forgotten him, but going to all of these new places has distracted Marius quite a bit.]</small.

[She smiles guiltily, fidgeting with her borrowed bracelet.]

Didn't mean to be rude, M'sieur. Well, maybe... I was just pretending, though. Only fancy. I'm sorry, M'sieur."

[Marius' smile is warm and gentle. He isn't angry, after all, and truth be told, he's glad it's her and not actually the lady she'd been pretending to be. In an oddly gentlemanly gesture, he gently takes hold of her hand and presses a chaste kiss to it, if only to make her feel better.]

You needn't be. [And he drops her hand after a moment.] I am glad to see you. You are truly enjoying yourself?

Yes... Never have I been to a ball. I went to a party when I was little. We had a tree and candles, I remember. And I got that doll. But nothing like this.

[She beams]

See. My Lady made me this dress - she says it is fashion. And she paid for my hair and my make up and - see - a manicure. She is good to me."

[Or else plotting to hold all of this over Eponine for eternity, but shhhh.]

She even leant me the jewellery so I can be a lady.

Do you like it, M'sieur?

I...I...yes. Yes, I do. [He may know her now, but Marius is still nervous. He's never seen Eponine in anything but her ragged clothing, and to see her like this is a bit of a shock. But, he knows what he can see of her face and he knows her voice. Both are comforting right now.]

I did...mean what I say when I told you that you looked lovely. [He might be starting to blush. Oops.]

Do you really think so?

[She's just as shy. People here more and more are telling her that she's pretty, bt after so long of hearing the opposite, it's still hard for her to believe.]

I think you do. I mean... Do you want some wine?

Of course I do. [He doesn't lie, after all. Not usually.]

[Marius manages a soft chuckle.] It is usually the gentleman that offers the lady a drink, you know. [He's teasing, of course, and it's obvious.]

[It still makes her blush though] Sorry. Don't know these things.
[You can take the alleycat out of the gutter, but a pampered prim miss she'll never be.]

I think it's silly anyway. Does it matter who offers who what? Is that what happened in France? I didn't know you went to balls there. Does Enjolras go - and your other friends, M'sieur?

[Her expression becomes worried when she thinks about Enjolras. But never fear, Marius. She'll save him! Just for you.]

[He rests his hand on her shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze.] You needn't. Things are different here, I think, anyway.

[Whoops. Caught lying.] Ah...[Marius rubs the back of his neck again.] I...actually have not have been to many balls. I did not like them very much, without anyone to speak with.

[He doesn't even know what happened to Enjolras, though it's worrying him that they haven't spoken for some time.]

Edited 2012-10-28 23:38 (UTC)

Did you not? Perhaps you should, M'sieur. It'd be better than listening to my Papa and me arguing or Mama snoring or Azelma crying. I should have gone if I could. Just think of the nice clothes and the food and wine - lots of wine. We only get gin down the road. S'alright, but wine tastes better. And you could have talked - you might have found...

[She sighs] You would have found lots of pretty girls to fall in love with. Not just Cosette.

Perhaps. But, there were not many pretty girls that wanted to speak with me. [He doesn't offer an explanation why. Surely, how he had acted was enough to show her that he wasn't...good with people. Especially females.]

[The comment about falling in love stings more than it should.] Besides, it does not matter. I am here now, yes?

[His gaze wanders to the dance floor, where the other party-goers have begun pairing off to dance. For a moment, the urge to ask Eponine wells up inside of him, but for now, Marius ignores it. She won't say yes, and besides, giving her false hope would be cruel of him.]

Yes, we all are. It's okay here, though. I have jobs. And a house. And no Papa or 'Parnasse or anyone. I don't even care about the monsters. And I have friends. Have you made friends yet?

[She eyes the dancefloor too - but Eponine's a bit nervous. She's never danced, excepting the awkward jerkings she gives when customers urge her to dance. That doesn't count.]

Not...not really. [Becoming a female almost right after he arrived sort of stunted Marius' ability to make friends. Couple that with his shy and rather awkward manner, and the fact that he hasn't talked to many people isn't so strange.] But, I have you and a few others, so it does not matter.

[He notices her watching the dance floor and is briefly torn. Marius doesn't want to hurt Eponine, but perhaps she'll only get this one chance tonight. Clearing his throat slightly, he offers his hand.] I do not dance very well, but...perhaps you will honor me with one?

[He's actually nervous that she'll refuse him, which is rather strange. Or that he'll just trip over his own feet the whole time. Marius isn't the most graceful of people, but he knows the basics, thankfully.]

"You had M'sieur Enjolras... I am sorry, M'sieur."

[She's upset - but she's going to save him for you, Marius. But then she forgets all about him. She's shocked.]

You want ME? To dance with YOU? Me? But...

[She looks longingly at the dancefloor] I do not know how. I don't want to make you embarrassed.

[Wait. Hold up.] Had? Eponine, what-?

[Enjolras' attack on AGI. Oh god, what if...no. No, he won't think that way until he's seen proof. Enjolras could be perfectly all right, after all. He wouldn't be so foolish as to attack right away...would he?]

[Distracting both himself and Eponine, he smiles a little.] It is not hard, I promise. I will show you. [His hand is still offered to her.]

[Her face falls.] Check the network, M'sieur. But believe me, it is not lost yet. I can get him back for you, M'sieur.

[She takes his hand shyly. She's holding Marius' hand. All other thoughts are out of the window. Completely gone. Vanished. Who cares? She's holding Marius' hand]

Teach me like one of the ladies dances. Teach me one that you do at your balls.

I shall do my best. [He's still worried, and he'll definitely be checking the network at home, but at the moment, Marius tries to focus on the party.]

[Gently taking her other hand, he moves it to his shoulder, and then nervously rests his hand on her waist. Feeling the warmth of her skin through her dress is enough to make him blush, and the fact that the dress is revealing so much of her skin is becoming very apparent now that they're so close.] Follow my lead.

[Slowly, to allow her to pick up the rhythm, Marius moves through the familiar steps, stumbling just a little from his nerves. He also may or may not be praying he doesn't step on her feet.]

[Eponine is slow, hesitant... half scared that she's dreaming. It feels pretty surreal, after years of dreaming, that Marius is finally holding her close. She doesn't blush - in fact, her face is stony beneath the mask and she looks down, concentrating on her feet. She doesn't really have a natural rhythm. She stumbles just because... well, this is so unnatural]

[Almost against his will, Marius lifts Eponine's chin to look at him.] Do not concentrate so hard. It is best if you do not think about it.

[He's just echoing the tutor he had as a child, though, so don't quote him on that. He's too busy trying to help to notice that his hand lingered for just a few seconds longer than usual on her cheek.] And you know, you are allowed to smile.

[She sighs in frustration, even as she jerks her head away. It's too much. He can't be this close and touch her face and - no too much. Too fast. And Eponine is freaking out. This is kinda like dancing with a god, for her. She just shakes her head]

I can't.

[He blinks in surprise, but follows her off the dance floor. And he can't quite meet her eyes when he speaks.]

I'm sorry...did I frighten you? We...we do not have to dance if...if you do not want to, there are other things...

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