Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » Trick or Treat: Masquerade's Masquerade Ball

Properly fueled by cupcake fairy magic now, Taluna floats briefly off the ground before twirling around, happy as a gnome can be.

She pulls on a cord attached to her puffy pumpkin suit and it deflates turning into a swirling orange dress with black stripes. It is time to initiate the phase two of the fae ball, time to thoroughly show off! As it is custom with the fae, her dress is two fold, appearing as something else first before turning into something entirely different. The fair folk can almost be considered shallow to a certain extent, as they heavily judge things by looks and looks alone, if it ain't pretty nor flashy its just not worth their time for the most part.

To a gnome like Taluna this feels almost instinctive, even though she has long lived and mingled with mortals, she doesn't question any of the whims of the fae-- it feels right somehow.

Heavily under the influence of her cupcake still, the gnome jumps and hops and twirls into the dance floor. She joins in with the mass of bodies, not dancing with any particular partner, but rather dancing with the group as a whole, like some kind of overly whimsical mosh pit. Her dance is a spirited one, with rapid foot work and arm wiggles making her look flashy but silly as opposed to the allure of most fey.

Eric's eyes widened as the buds on the bough burst into bloom, all at once. He'd never seen anything quite like it, and it was beautiful. He turned towards Masquerade once more as she explained what powers it had. "I'll have to try that, next chance I get," the shifter replied. "Thank you so much. Or... should I be thanking the forest for this?" Something told him it was probably best to just thank them both. He wasn't as familiar with fae magic as some here, but he'd heard stories here and there. He did wish he had something to offer in return, but he had a feeling the supplies he had on him wouldn't exactly fit the bill.

Still, he felt a bit freer now to take a cup of juice and some fruit to munch on. Turning his attention towards the dance floor now, he watched as Taluna danced and spun amongst the others. It wasn't like any dance he'd ever seen before. He found himself wondering if he should join in as well, but he knew so very little about dancing. Still, the temptation was certainly there...

((All the Trick or Treat threads are open for anyone to join in, DancingDawn! ))

The attempt backfired. As the masked goblin attempted to duck between the two elves, she tripped herself up on her oversized boots and fell forward with a little shriek. She pulled the spark of fairy magic close to her chest, protecting it like a football and somehow, miraculously, managed to keep it from escaping.

But that gave the brownie and sprites the time they needed to get the acorn-filled jar to safety.

"No!" Rivka whined loudly as she saw it disappear into the tree.

Well, that was ominous. Krepta didn't think she liked that little rhyme, nor the promise of the 'trick' for her 'treat' later. In fact, she was sure of it. She frowned at the little candy in the walnut for a long time, as if she could banish it, and this whole terrible affair, with her willpower alone. But, she had what she came for, and what was done was done, so eventually she carefully picked it up and relocated it to it's home in the jar in her bag, which, for now, sat empty outside of this first sweet.

She didn't bother to check if the candy was drawn to the bead. It was faerie food, gained by a faerie deal. If it wasn't the real McCoy, then nothing was. Besides, she could feel it in her bones. It was unsettling, but what about this place and these people wasn't?

She did, wonder, however, if she was expected to stay and wait for this 'trick', or if the little thing would simply find her another time-- probably when things were the most inconvenient. She decided to give it an hour, and then go. That was a polite amount of time to spend at a party anywhere else before taking off-- it would be good enough for the fae too.

Not that she planned on doing anything during that time but sitting. She didn't need the temptation.

Although she did close her eyes, resting the back of her head against the trunk of the tree. Not sleeping, just resting her eyes. All this excitement was wearing her out. Just for a little bit.

The other dancers are more than happy to have Taluna add her gyrating form to their already existing movements. Swirling around and slipping through the moonlight, the company are ready to dance the night away. As Eric stands off to the side and watches the gyrating bodies with interest, he's approached by a woman. At least, she appears to be a woman. Her gown is thin and red and wispy and most of her face is hidden behind a mask of cloth into which tiny bird bones have been sewn. A small, sly smile can be seen just barely peeking out form beneath said mask.

"Fair eve, sweet mortal." Within twin holes surrounding by bones two too black eyes shimmer out at Eric with interest and delight. "Are you enjoying the dance of the little ones? I agree that their antics are amusing. Though perhaps you might be tempted to join the Queen's waltz?" With that she glances upwards to where the fairies of the forest twirl and cavort so much more elegantly in the air above their heads.

Should Eric choose to take this strange woman's hand, he'll find himself lifted seemingly effortlessly into the air, feet dangling beneath him as his body twirls and swirls among the fey in their endless dance and not released until many, many years later, though to him it shall seem as barely one night has passed.

When Rivka tumbles gracelessly to the ground, all around her brownies and sprites twitter in amusement at her failure. Several of them had noted what she was up to and were curious as to whether she would succeed and if so, what would happen to her. Watching her trip and fall is amusing, but a little disappointing as well. They had been hoping to see her punished, the wicked little things. One of the tiny fey, tittering with glee, skitters up to Rivka and places a walnut down on her nose before giving the goblin a wide, sharp toothed grin. "Silly, green skin. Fairy magic can't be contained by mortal means."

With that it dives away, disappearing into the swirl of dancers. Should Rivka inspect the odd gift it left her, however, she'll find that the walnut is empty and the shell has been sown together on one side by a bit of vine so as to act as a sort of hinge. A fairy container for fairy magic it would seem.

As for Krepta, she will find herself unharried as she sits silently at the edge of the celebration. No trick comes her way that she can see. A few of the smaller fey attempt to use her as a climbing tool and one hides in the small of her back from a few others that seem to be bullying it, but for the most part she shall find herself unmolested until the end of her hour comes. It would seem that her 'trick' is to be served at another time. Another place. Just before she leaves, however, she'll hear the faint jingling of metal nearby along with a tinkling laugh like that of sleigh bells.

Taluna wouldn't be satisfied with simply being 'allowed' to join the mosh pit. She was in this ball for aall the walnuts, as they said, or maybe it was an exclusively fey saying, she didn't really cared to learn the difference between wholly fair folk things and mortal things. One could almost say that she was a being stuck between two worlds, but really, that was just gnome nature of mingling in different social circles without even realizing there's social circles involved. Some half fey, half mortal might have the whole woe is me sob story about not belonging anywhere, and yet to a gnome like Taluna it was very normal to mingle with mortals and fey. In fact, if she wasn't able to she'd feel very limited.

Anyhow, the reason why Taluna seemed so determined this year was because she had learned decidedly mortal dance moves that she planned to show off in this year's ball. 'This year for sure!' thought Taluna as she imagined herself being crowned the queen on the masquerade ball. There might, or might not be an actual crown involved, or even a queen of the part title, but appearances and social status was important for a fey-- and not economical or class status at that, no, Taluna knew the important bits was how awesome her peers thought she was.

The fey called it 'being interesting' while mortals had a nice term for it known as 'coolness'.

Taluna was going to be the coolest this year, she just knew it!

The tiny gnome danced her way to the center of the dance floor where all the best dancers and couples were showing off their moves. No hanging around the sidelines whilst supporting a tree with your back. Oh no! That wasn't interesting or aka lame! Despite the very drastic size difference she had with the elves and the centaurs and even the satyrs dancing, she was going to plow in there and make a scene.

"Yaaaaaaaah!!" She ran in with a somersault to claim the spot at the center and then proceeded to, shall we say, establish dominance of the dance floor by spinning quickly in her axis like a top; a fey dance move yes-- though she was just gaining momentum for the follow up!

The gnome put her hands on the ground and pushed both her legs to the side to suddenly start spinning on the ground using only her shoulders to keep propelling herself. Windmill kicks, as she had heard the mortals call them. She was certain her fey peers would be thoroughly impressed with her breakdancing.

As she spun on the ground, she used the kinetic energy of her kicks to suddenly stand on her head, arms crossed over her chest to continue that upside down spinning, her legs spread to look like a helicopter. At least she was wearing her usual shorts under the skirt, wouldn't want to look too scandalous.

Eric turned as a woman- or at least someone who seemed to be a woman?- approached him, her face largely hidden behind her mask. "Ah, good evening," the shifter replied. "I am, yes. I've never seen anything quite like it before."

The stranger then directed Eric's eyes upwards. So focused had he been on watching Taluna and the others on the dance floor that he had not noticed there was another dance going on up above him as well. "Well... maybe. But I don't really know how to dance," Eric said. What if he made a fool of himself before the Queen? He might never live that down. Still, he found himself to be tempted by the woman's offer, and he slowly reached out to take her hand.

The next thing he knew, Eric was being lifted high into the air, and he clung to his newfound dance partner for dear life! But soon, the shock had faded, and he found himself spinning and dancing with his partner for what felt like hours. Occasionally, he would glance back down at the dance on the forest floor, but it and the rest of the party seemed to be becoming blurrier and blurrier as time went on. Eric didn't recognize the significance of this, though. He was completely carried away by the fairies' dance, and found himself having a very enjoyable evening in the process.

It would only be after it was all over that the shifter would find he'd been dancing for much, much longer than he had thought. Perhaps in the future Eric would remember to be more cautious around the fae and their magic!

Kytsora Thorne quietly walked along the path behind the palace garden walls, their usual grayed bark white with the light of the moons of her realm. The familiar path wound its way deeper into the glowing, thickening Wüvënthärï forest until it was compelled to a new direction. As the path would change and morph into the new realm, she hesitated.

"This can't be... The Fae never run through our forest here, especially when either my cousin or myself are on the palace grounds." Though, it wasn't as if they weren't welcome; the Wüvënthärï were a breed of Fae all of their own. Anthropomorphic wolves with ties to the creation of their realm were not something the magic of the world messed with lightly. Did someone wish to meet the reincarnation of the Great Moon Spirit, Lothüíäl? Pausing to touch the smooth screen encasing her left forearm, her clothing shimmered and swirled with a soft white-blue light.

Upon her auburn brown fur, a simple pale blue ombre laced front dress shone in the moonlight. A black leather collar adorned with her lunar symbols fit snug at her throat. Her ornate crystal circlet glittered with multiple shades of matching blue in the moonlight among the soft wave of her chocolate brown waist-length hair. White-silver cuffs lined her soft wolf's ears, small matching gems lined their natural curved designs.

"I suppose there is no turning it down now..." She frowned, still unsure of her place among her own people. As she strode further into the party, her eyes and blue markings began to glow and grow around her. She would represent the people of the Vaemirwyn realm as best she could, bare-pawed or not.

As the trees opened up for her, she realized she was late. Her heart nearly skipped a beat at that thought. "Deep breaths. Relax. You are a powerful being-- you got this." She steadied herself and walked calmly to the refreshment table. With a deep breath and exhale, she sensed for the magic aura of the host of the party with which to introduce herself.

It would take a lot of explaining to her mate to explain where his newly pregnant wife had gone off to and she knew her mother in law would lay in as well. It was a consequence she would simply have to deal with later.



[Wuventhari--Woo-venn-thaah-ree|| Lothuial-- Low-Thoo-Ee-aahl|| Vaemirwyn-- Vaay-mere-win|| Figured I'd give an idea how they're pronounced. The accents don't denote how they're spoken, just that they are derived from her people's language and thus must be written with the proper lettering. Also, I apologize in advance if I mess up... I have been here for... 8 years now and this is my first trick or treat reply. Her profile may not be finished as well, I'm awful at that too.]

Rivka swats in aggravation at the brownies and sprites, even taking a quick swipe at the tiny fey that dared add insult to injury by putting the walnut on her nose. Luckily enough for the fey, Rivka's gloved hand misses grabbing ahold of it to throttle it. It did not occur to the goblin that the tiny fey would give her something useful. She looked quickly at the object to see it was a nut.

"Not nuts! Jar!" she said in frustration, not appreciating that the shell was intended to serve the purpose to which she had hoped to put the jar.

She grabbed the nut and simply hurled it away as hard as she could after the creature. Unfortunately, it missed and headed straight toward the newcomer ... Kytsora.

"Stupid fairies!" the goblin muttered.

Inches before the small nut would collide with her face, it stopped flat in midair. Tilting her head slightly with a frown, she inspected the acorn. She recognized the fresh, angry aura-print as goblin, and gingerly taking the small container from the air she made to look for the owner.

As she spotted Rivka, she felt a pang of sadness strike her. Poor thing seemed to be confused and angry. "Excuse me...? I believe this is what you need." She held out the tiny acorn, kneeling down gently with a soft smile on her muzzle. "Would you like some help?"

She hoped the host wouldn't mind this distraction, but her job back home was to help-- whether it be for justice, or passing to the afterlife.

Fey do not appreciate being insulted. Fey do not appreciate rude behavior in general, but insults are right at the top of the list of big no no's. While the littlest may not mind so much, perhaps choosing to express their displeasure with little tricks or creative swears, the older, more deeply magical creatures of the forest are much more likely to take such slights to heart in dark and unnatural ways. Though Rivka may not realize it, there are numerous bright yet narrowed eyes turned in her direction from all sides. The goblin is lucky though. Tonight is All Hallow's Eve and this is a celebration of magic and mischief. Titania would be very displeased if aught should happen to her guests while they are under her protection.

As such, off to the side still near the refreshment stand, the host of the party sits atop a gourd carved with a frightening visage and simply waits. Tiny little Masquerade is curious to meet her newest guest. This one is different. This one is powerful. She shall require a special treat indeed...

While the Key Bearer waits, on the dance floor Taluna is the life of the littlest's party. Brownies and sprites and will o'the wisps all gather round to gawk at the gnome and her strange new form of dance. Several try to emulate her actions only to wind up with twisted necks and scattered wings. Not that such small inconveniences would keep them from hopping right back up and joining the audience again, though perhaps a bit humbler now. It is generally agreed among all the littlest fairy creatures that this gnome is without a doubt the most interesting guest at the ball!

The goblin at first seemed unaware that she'd drawn the ire of the fey creatures and simply sat pouting for a few moments, not caring that the dancers had to circumvent their way around her.

"Excuse me...? I believe this is what you need. Would you like some help?"

Rivka looked up at the wolf-like face, her eyes narrowed as if wondering why the canine had brought back the very thing she had just chucked away.

"Need jar," she grouched.

But then something else, something unseen caught her attention and her ears pricked up as if listening. The spirits that aided her were warning the young shaman that there was danger here. "Fine. Rivka leave," she grumbled, pulling herself up. She still cradled the fairy spark and started working her way away from the party, most likely destined to lose the magic for lack of container.


((Sorry for my grouchy goblin! This was fun, Dndmama, thanks for hosting! ))

She watched the goblin pick herself up and leave before she could say anything with a slight frown. "Good evening then..." She turned back to the table with acorn in her paw.

As she approached the table, the carved gourd caught her attention, making her smile. Her eyes drifted up to the tiny fairy on top, and she gave a slight bow.

"I apologize for being late-- I had just slipped away to go home from my own festivities before my path was quite suddenly redirected. Thank you for allowing me to come to your party."

Masquerade's eyes follow the demon until the little thing disappears into the brush, never to be seen by the Queen's court again. As Kytsora begins to speak, it's as if the fairy hears her from far, far away. She blinks and tilts her head up to gaze at the wolf-like creature. She smiles her little pointed smile at the woman's words.

"Her majesty often forgets to invite those who are required to attend her events. Your presence was required, so you came. The forest remembers what the Fair Folk sometimes forget."

With that the little fey on little wings lifts herself into the air and disappears within the gourd she had just been sitting on. When she returns, she is holding a beautiful blue rose with a long stem. In the very center of the rose, where the pollen should be there's a shimmering silver dust instead.

"On this festive night, a special treat and trick in one. A magic treat. A secret trick. The dust of the Midnight Rose can end a curse no matter how ancient and powerful. Using it comes at a price though. Be not afraid to bargain. Politely."

Should Kytsora ask what the price is that must be paid or with whom she is to bargain, Masquerade will only shrug and flit away. Above the canopy of trees, the sky is beginning to lighten. The will'o the wisps are dimming. The centaur's heads are nodding. The brownies and sprites are disappearing into the earth and trees. The dancers up above are vanishing into the waning moonlight.

The fairy ball is coming to an end. One woman, above the rest, smiles down, her expression both kind and wicked, a crown of thorns and winter flowers upon her fair haired head. Then all is gone. The magic fades. As the first light of dawn appears over the trees, the refreshments table is show to be ancient and cracked. The food upon it withered and spoiled. The clearing is so overgrown no one could possibly have danced here. No footprints of the revelers remains. The otherworldly music is gone. The only sound left to be heard is that of a lone frog, singing to himself between the roots of a nearby tree.

"Thank you for you generosity." She said simply to the wind, turning back to her own night through the gates with her rose. Before she left, she stopped to admire the change of the grove.

"To those that dwell within the light of the moon, I bid you a fine Spirit's Gathering. May your spirits protect you and guide you to your destiny. I await you at the end, should you choose my company."

And with that, she disappeared through the gates with a blue fiery flourish, twinkles of lunar embers lingering where once she set paw.