masquerade ball

First topic message reminder :

I pm'd elfie and asked and she said it was fine as it will get people into the spirit for the big masquerade event later on.

so here we are, a masquerade ball


::the great hall was decorated with a spectacular array of lights and tinsel as it awaited the arrival of the students in masks::

::She walked into the hall, mask on her face, wondering whether anyone would recognise her::

"Well, I can tell you for a fact that it hasn't shown a bit, except for a little while when we were outside, and then I was acting the same way," Elana said, blushing softly behind her white sequened mask. She was so glad that they were able to talk about things like this without fleeing very embarrassed.::

"Yeah, that." He rolled his eyes and smiled. "I tend to get more nrevous with less people around." He glanced down at his watch...or what he could see of it through his gloves. It was getting late, but he didn't care...he was having a conversation with a girl without rambling on like an idiot...it was nice.

"Well, I'm the opposite," she admitted. "I find it easier to just be with a few people, not in the middle of a large crowd."

::All good things have to end, don't they? she thought as the music ended.::

Adam comes in and he's dressed nicely and smells of very light cologne. He looks to see if anyone is interested in his company.

"I really wish that I was tha way." He chuckled a bit. "I love crowds...it much easier not to be noticed." He sighed and shook his head. He stepped back as the song ended, keeping her hand in his and looking down at her with a half-smile. "So, what do you want to do now?"

Adam waves to all the people and continues walking around in the Great Hall.::

Jess walks into the great hall she completly changed her outfit in her long leave from the ball. her dress was a short white strapless dress that hugged her. and she had a white mask with black beads around the eyes. She looked even better than before and she knew no one would recognize her this time as she had just died her hair to a nice shade of brown.

::Amber watched the new arrivals with intrest, she couldn't put a finger on who they were but she knew that she knew them somehow. She smiled finally some people she didn't know imedately.::

(OC: When should we have the unmasking? Anyone have any ideas?)

"So, what do you want to do now?"

::Elana returned the half-smile, noting happily that he kept her hand in his. She glanced over at the refreshment table, and seeing some of her friends and realizing that she was thirsty, said, "Well, I don't know about you, but a drink sounds good to me. Want to head over there for a bit?" she said with a nod over to the refreshment table. "A good crowd for you to hide in," she added grinning.::

::Lifey adjusted her crystal mask carefully and strolled around the outside of the dance floor alone...she decided she might as well go out side during the unmasking as she wasn't really with anyone::

::she stepped out onto a terrace and sat down on a carved stone bench, looking out over the beautuful moonlit grounds as the wind played with her loose hair.::

His emerald eyes turned towards the table and he grinned. He just reakized how bloody thirsty he was. "Sounds like a great idea to me." He stared over, still hand in hand with her. He smirked at her last comment. "Indeed, my favorite place." He laughed a bit as they walked across the vast room.

::Elana smiled, blushing a bit after realizing how she must look when they got to the table and her friends. (OC: Some of you are still here, right?) Hand in hand with a guy she had been dancing with for a long time when she didn't even know his name and was one of the founders of the DCotHE, strange eh?::

"Hey guys," she said, still blushing along with her smile.::

He offered a smile to the group of people that he was pretty sure he didn't know. "I'll be right back." He let her hand go and walked a bit down the table, retrieving two cups of punch. He looked back a moment before setting the glasses back down and turning his back to the group. He lifted his mask slightly, his upper cheeks and around his eyes rather red from the heat of the leather. "Bloody hell." He rubbed his eyes and blinked a few times. "They better have the unmasking soon." He muttered as he set the mask down, taking up the glasses and walking back. "Here you are." He smiled and handed her a glass, sipping from his own.

"Why thank you," Elana said, taking the glass. She leaned against the table, drinking the punch and smiling to herself as the world sped around her while she was lost in her thoughts. She was thinking of who he might turn out to be when unmasked and though she knew he was in Gryffindor still didn't have much of an idea. But that wasn't bothering her. She had learned to take what good there was left in the world when it came to her and not dwell on the unknown for long.::

"Of course." He smiled and downed the punch. It was bloody hot in the Hall with all the people. He wished the unmasking would come soon...for many reasons. He wanted to get this blasted mask off...and he wanted to see who the Ravenclaw girl really was.

::Lifey, completely bored now, rested her head against the vines creeping up the wall that her stone bench was next to. She smiled slightly remembering some of the better moments of the night.::

::Adam was wearing his green crimson mask adorned with soft velvet and his green eyes peered out at the crowd and the dancers on the floor. He didn't recognize anyone yet, but once the unmasking happened he felt hopeful of seeing familiar faces. And he stood against the wall, watching the room::

::Amber looked around wondering were everyone had went. Of all the people at the ball she had seemed to lose sight of the people she actually knew, which might not be a bad thing. Now should meet some new people for a change, although, chances were she'd already know who they were but it was worth a shot if anything.::

::Lifey looked up from her spot out side to notice someone else was also rather bored with the proceedings. He was leaning against a wall not far from her. ::

Well, might as well be bored with someone rather than alone

::she muttered to hersef and stood, taking care to brush off her elegant long teal gown and to adjust her crystal covered mask::

Hello ::she said, approching him:: Seems to be going on a bit in here doesn't it ::she commented on the ball.:: I hope they unmask soon, i'm dying to know who everyone is ...at least then i know who to talk to ::She smiled slightly::

::Cookie sighed, tired of sitting and tired of being bored. Getting up, she Walked towards the edge of the dance floor. Smoothing down the back of her dress's skirt, she looked around for an unsuspecting victim- ah, I mean someone to dance with.::

::She saw a girl with a very pretty teal dress talking to a guy with a green mask, and decided not to interrupt them. Looking out onto the dance floor, she saw that not many people were actually dancing. Sighing, she turned around and walked towards the refreshemnt table, where she saw a small group forming.::

Might as well chat while I'm wating for this to be over, she thought, as Cookie didn't like leaving early from anything. She stopped next to the table, and nodded to the people there.

::Lifey saw a girl looking bored. She sighed. Well...not many people were dancing anyways...so she and this guy probably wouldn't dance anyway....::

HEY! ::she called waving:: Come join us!

::With an excitement, Adam hurried to the bathroom to check his hair, pop breath mints, and comb his hair. He also sprinkled some nice light not heavy cologne on himself. He was so happy to now have a beautiful date to the ball:::

::So then he ran back out from the little boy wizards bathroom and back into the Great Hall were the ball was::

::He looked around anxiously for his date, hoping he looked nice enough in his suit and straightened his green mask::

::Lifey looked a little shocked as the guy in the mask hurried off.::

Er....::she mused aloud. She wandered a little, wondering where he had gone.::

::she hoped she was not all alone again.::

::She looked up and caught a glimps of his mask bobbing back through the crowd.::

He looked about the hall again, sipping down his punch. He was growing ancy...and anxious. He wanted to get this whole unmasking thing over with...he wanted to know who she really was. "Suppose they'll be doing the unmasking soon?" An almost irritated tone came to his Irish drawl as he looked about. He wasn't irritated though....just impatient.

* skully got up, while thinking: *

Enough with just sitting around here. Man, does this ball never end?? I wanna go home.

* yawn *

Oh well, if there's gonna be a unmasking, i guess i could stay just a bit more.

* she thought and then sat down again. *

Everyone has a date. Everyone is part of a couple.

* She smiled *

Cute. I guess i can't complain. I knew this would happen if i came alone. This ball was fun when they started the Limbo, but now it's boring again. Besides, i see no couple action anywhere! I need a drink.

* sigh *

Coriander rushed into the Great Hall, still trying the fix her hair. It had come undone from it's bun and she hoped it didn't look too bad.

Beautiful she thought, looking at the decorations.

She adjusted her rose colored mask and looked around, hoping to find someone. But no one she knew was around. She blew a loose strand of hair from her face and decided to go the snack stand.

::Amber sighed looking around. Bored out of her mind.::

I knew I should have just stayied in the Gryffindor common room in frount of the fireplace.... I could have finished half a book by now!

::She looked around once more, atleast some people were having fun.::

(OC: HECK YEAH! Lets unmask the people, although I should go hang with people first....)

::Amber walked over to the group by the refreshment table.::

"Hey guys the unmasking is going to be soon!" She said happily.

(OC: Sounds good! We'll socalize for a moment, then unmasking time!)

::Elana jerked out of her thoughts, hearing a familiar voice near her. She turned, smiling, to Amber.::

"Hey! Long time no see!" She refilled her empty cup and leaned back against the table again. Hope the unmasking's soon...::

::Amber smiled, not yet knowing who she was talking to.::

"Yup," she answered.

I'd be know if i knew who I was talking to

::Elana cocked her head, looking at Amber. Did her friend not recognize her? Ah well, can't expect everyone to know who I am.::

"Ladies and gentlemen, students of all ages," called someone from the front of the room. "It is time for the unmasking!"

::Elana's bright green eyes grew wide, as she snuck a look up at the boy. He'll finally know who I am...hope he doesn't regret spending so much time with me once I take off the mask. Well, only one way to find out, eh? And so, with slightly trembling fingers, she reached behind her head and untied the thin white ribbon that kept the white sequined mask on. Here goes nothing. She sighed as she finished taking the mask off, and, suddenly shy again, looked at her feet, still trapped in those dreadful heels. One of her hands automatically stationed itself on her shoulder, fingers wrapped around a curl as she bit her lip, still keeping her eyes focused on her feet. Her left hand held one end of the thin silk ribbon, cupping her right elbow in the palm. Maybe I should've run out while I could...::

::Amber took of her mask, knowing that everyone knew who she was anyway. She looked at Elana.::

Oh well I feel stupid

::Lifey sighed and carefully removed her teal crystal mask::

"Tada!" ::she laughed sarcastically rolling her eyes.::

Finally, my god. He smiled, looking down at the girl he had spent the whole night with. Time for the moment of truth. With slightly nervous hands he brought his gloved fingers to his leather mask, carefully lifting it from his eyes. In the moment he froze, emerald eyes on the edge of the table infront of him. Get it together Drake. He lifted his head and looked at her, staring at her feet. Well that wouldn't do. She looked amazing. A more confident smile spread his lips as he placed a finger gently beneath her chin, lifting her head up, simply looking down at her, studying her for a long moment.

::Feeling a warm rush of happiness flow through her as he lifted her chin to better see who she was, Elana immediately felt the shyness she had been feeling a moment before evaporate. She locked eyes with him, and returned his smile. So her mystery man was...Drake?! Suprising, yes, but not totally unbelievable. See, you knew it wouldn't be someone terrible, she thought, instead someone...goodness, you might as well say it Elana, no one hears thoughts.....wonderful.

Shawn came in and saw people taking off their masks so he took his off too and then looked around seeing if anyone noticed him yet or if he was a blend of the scenery.

::Lifey grinned at everyone who looked shy and amused after taking off their masks::

::she ran a hand through her loose hair to make sure it was still straight, and smoothed her dress self consiously.::

"Dissapointed?" There was a half-sarcastic half-serious tone in his voice. I mean...it was him. Wow, its Elana. He smiled and began to wonder how he possibly ended up spending the night with her. "I know I'm not." The hand that was beneath her chin flew to his hair, running through it nervously and only succeeding in messing it up more than it already was. Bloody nervous habits.

::Amber watched as skully walked over.::

"Nope not really," she said. "But then again I was the girl who was going to stay in the common room and read."

::Ginny walked out of the bathroom and noticed that everyone had their masks off. She blinked twice and pondered. What in the world did I miss? Well might as well take my mask off as well She removed her mask and shook out her red hair so that it loosened a bit out of its up-do. Her brown eyes scanned the room. Where is he...he's taken his mask off so this should be easier... Ginny mused to herself as she began walking through the crowd.::

"Hmm..." ::she turned around and saw who she was looking for, smiling slightly she snuck through the groups of people until she was behind Adam. Standing on her tiptoes she reached up and covered his eyes with her hands and laughed.::

"Guess who,"

"Dissapointed? I know I'm not."

::She flushed, biting her lip again. He was too good.::

"Of course I'm not," Elana said, smiling and shaking her head. "Now I just feel stupid because I should have realized it was you all along. Though I must admit that I didn't know about the Irish accent."

::Her hands crossed in front of her stomach and long fingers began fiddling with the white ribbon, eyes still looking up at Drake. What a night this turned out to be. I still can't believe I spent most of the night with Drake! He was the most handsome and charming guy at Hogwarts in her opinion, and she couldn't believe her luck. 'The only certain thing about luck is that it will change' she thought, remembering a fortune inside a cookie she had had a few months ago. So true.::

::Cookie reached behind her head, untying the blue ribbon that held her mask to her face. Looking around, she saw all of her friends standing and talking. Cookie was a little surprised- she didn't know that she knew so many people and hadn't realized who they were. Grinning, she started walking over to where a little group of people were.

But of course, her clumsyness/bad luck got in the way, and she tripped over a chair leg on her way over. Luckily, she didn't fall over this time, but it sure was embarrassing, especially now that people could see who she was.

"Whoops," she muttered to herself as she continued over to her friends.

"Hey Amber, Hey Skully!" Cookie grinned as she reached them. "I thought that unmasking was never going to come." She laughed.::

~With a cocky stride Jesse returned to the ball and flung his black mask off revealing his very handsome features~He saw that there were a lot of people he recognized.~

"Woohoooo!! Party time!!!!!!!" He shouted happily.~

::Kitty removed her mask and then saw a lot of people that looked familiar::

"HI!!!!!!!!! EVERYONE!!!!! Skully! Elana! Lifey! Amber! Traci! Ginny! Jesse! Adam! Shawn! Everyone!!" she shouted happily.::

::Amber smiled.::

::Oh might as well she thought before dancing along with both Skully and Jesse::

"I knew there was a reason I didn't stay in the common room and read all night," she laughed.

::Lifey grinned as Ginny stepped over to them::

"hey gin! nice dress!"

::she grinned and peered around at all over her friends who where now unmasked.::

He smiled and looked down at his hands. "Course I'm not." He glanced up at her sheepishly and smiled. "I tend to try to hide the accent." He scratched his head in a puzzled way. "Not quite sure why though." He chuckled and fainlly looked up at her. This is amazing. He could hardly believe he had spent the entire night with Elana, that was wondeful...and he hadn't made an arse of himself...though there was still time for him to do that....