[SWE] masquerade revelers

Carved wooden mask with golden glitter

It wasnt often that she would actually attend to parties, even less the ones that seemed to happen around this time of the years. Naturally there were a few reasons for that, ranging from the amount of people that tended to be at such parties, over to the fact that she didnt take too well to alcohol and it didnt take a lot for her to gt drunk and lastly because she disliked noise. Three things which usually were in abudance at parties. And yet, thos time of the year she actually had decided to attend to one, under the precaution that she would remain anonymous.

And she had prepared for this as well, namely in form of a nice blue dress which left little skin visible and was hugging her body tightly. Her hands were hidden by dark blue, long leather clothes and her feet were encased in elegant shoes, while her face was hiddn away by a mask made of carved food and painted with gold dust. naturally, Freya had thought about the problems which came with a full body mask and her solution had been to make it so she still was able to talk and eat while wearing it.

Being at the party now, she would take a glass of wine from one of the tables and took a sip of it, as she looked around, somewhat lost as for what to actually do.

Birch tree mask

---

You weren’t exactly sure how it happened, since as far as you knew all manners of magic were nullified in this place, but everything that you had been wearing before was replaced with something new. The outfit matched the colors and markings of the mask you had chosen, and it was far fancier attire than you’d ever choose for yourself — or have enough resources to purchase. Running your hands that had been clenching at your sides moments before down your chest to feel each fiber of the new fabric was the perfect distraction for the wolf masked one to approach you.

”Oh.” Really? That’s what you’re going to say? Try again.

”No, I mean, kind of. Just other things on my mind right now I guess.” That’s better.

Turning towards them, broad shoulders opening some to invite the conversation, you let your eyes wander up and down to take everything of the mystery canine clad one in. ” Big groups aren’t really my thing, though, if I’m being honest.”

Blue Horned Mask


Half-hoping he wouldn’t be acknowledged at all, he snagged at a cookie at the far end of the table, and intended to blur and blend back into the surroundings and crowd. Amidst a world of colors and hues, feathers and frivolities, he was certain he could stick to shadows, and simply circumvent and circle around individuals.

But it wasn’t to be. From behind his mask his eyes widened, staring at the red panda facade and its wide cheeks; half tempted to laugh. Uncertain what to do with the bow, or anything at all in this situation, the deep rumble of his voice pinpointed back. “That depends on what you have in mind.” For he was a man of boundaries and some manner of morals, as his teeth closed down over the dessert with a satisfying crunch.

White Domino Tuxedo Mask || Blue and Gold Mosaic with Feathers Mask

There was someone else at the drinks table ahead of him and the tall, dark-haired gentleman took a deep breath straightened his bowtie before he turned to flash the Blue and Gold Mosaic with Feathers Mask a shy smile. ”Come here often?” He toasted her with his wineglass as he spoke and the red liquid within swirled with scarlet highlights that matched the lining of his cape. He didn’t make any move towards the dancefloor, however. He looked perfectly comfortable right where he was, hanging out and raiding the hors d’oeuvres.  His plate was already starting to teeter dangerously as he loaded a few more canapes onto it.

Green Checkered Peacock Mask || Red and Gold Plumed Firebird Mask

---

“Well now, what a stunning sunset.” Comes a voice from the green checkered peacock mask, as well as a carefully masked smile offered to a woman with fiery hair and smooth curves, hues of red and yellow and an eye catching shimmer of orange between them embodying her. An arm is offered to her the second he’s finished his drink, aiming to guide her toward the bar alongside him. “We’ve got good drinks and great food, is there anything you’d like?” Ever the gentleman, he angles his masked face toward her, awaiting to see if she has any preferences toward anything.

Whether she did or didn’t, the green checkered mask orders yet another drink for himself, casting a curious glance around the rest of the party to see how others are grouping up.

Carved wooden mask with golden glitter

Continuing to watch the other participants which had attended the party and how they mingled with each other, she would continue to take sips of her glass until it was nearing its end, before she placed it down, entirely empty now and reached for a second one as well as one of the small snacks which were present for everyone. After all, noone should be drinking with an empty stomach, even less with a body like hers, which arguably didnt handle the alcohol in the wine too well to begin with.

WIth the second glass finsihed and the snack as well, she finally would find some people and engage in a friendly political discussion which revolved around the fact what services should be paid by the public and which on a private basis, where the consens overall was that most things should be publicly paid, simply because it allowed for a better general state of the people and their leadership.

A red fox mask that fades to white towards the edge.

A ball after the last year may be the best thing to happen. He had chosen a matching red coat so that the costume is suitable for the mask. so he went lightly dancing past the music towards the bar and first allowed himself a good sip of the local cocktail.

He wanted to be like the fox that sometimes here sometimes there listened. Just times fun could have without that he had to worry that in someone condemned for it. Fun had been difficult in the last year for everyone present here, he suspected. It was time to just let himself fall.

Black and Gold Filigree with Black Feathers Mask || Carved wooden mask with golden glitter


He pauses as he took a sip of his drink, brow furrowing beneath the mask. The person beside him, a woman, seems oddly familiar. Nothing about her strikes him as one of his close friends or family members. But something in the way she moves tugs at his memory. Letting out a hum, he walks over and joins the conversation.

"You have a point, but it can become rather complicated when you consider a specific region's culture or the level of their development. That'll certainly have an effect on to what degree services should be left to the public or to individuals." He really wasn't expecting a conversation like this at the masquerade, but hey. At least it was an interesting topic to debate.

Blue and Gold Mosaic with Feathers Mask || White Domino Tuxedo Mask

Seemingly absorbed in the drinks table, the youth hadn’t noticed anyone else approaching. Instead, she knocked back several glasses of champagne, wrinkled her nose, and then edged around to find something else wholly entrancing, when someone else approached. Ordinarily, she might’ve scuttled out of the way, or not given a single whim or care, but when they addressed her, she was forced to glance their way.

Given the ceremony at hand, she didn’t recognize the voice or stature. Blinking dimly, she arched a brow beneath her own mask, half-tempted to cough at the bizarre question. “No.” Looking around, she shrugged, because it was the truth, and then began to load up her own plate with a bundle of cookies and maybe something savory…

Realizing she might be being rude (nothing new), she stared back at the stranger. “Do you?”

Dark Grey Wolf Mask --> Birch Tree Mask

- - -

The wolf smiles, pleased that her intended seems willing to converse for the moment. Slim shoulders turn to block out the crowd, taller stature helping where short hair could not. If the man wasn't comfortable with crowds, he was more than welcome to focus on her.

"Frey might be sad if your mind is far away from this lovely party they've set up," she teases, ensuring her smile is easy to see and her tone plainly innocent so as not to offend or worry the man. "Would you like to find a corner? We can enjoy the music without mingling." If he was open to a singular companion, of course (or a new thread). If not, the wolf would leave him to his devices, intent on finding a suitable conversational partner. Even better would be a dance partner, but most seemed shy at this little rendezvous.

Red Panda Mask --> Blue Horned Mask

- - -

What did she have in mind? Well, that was a great question, because admittedly she'd sort of picked the angriest looking person in the room and had hoped spontaneity would get her halfway. Which to be fair it clearly has, but now she's left trying to come up with something fun that would be engaging for both herself, an utter stranger, and a corner full of uneasy also-strangers.

"Eating the entire dessert table sounds great, but I'm sure there's some magic at play that makes it never-ending so..." trailing off, the silver-haired woman lets the vowel elongate as she quickly searches the crowd. "We could dance? Hand to herald I swear it doesn't have to be good. I'll even let you step on my feet." And from the holes of the red panda's smiling eyes her own shine through, bright with humor.

Gold Lion with Giant Feathered Cheeks --> White Tiger Mask

- - -

The savage response has him laughing freely, hands coming up in a placating gesture. "Well first of all, I'm certainly not trying to have sex with you, I don't think this is that kind of Frey party anyway." She picked the perfect person to snap at, because the lion man is as easygoing as could possibly be conceived of. Still smiling, but giving the woman her space in case she decided to flee regardless of his lack of pressuring, the long-haired man shrugs.

"Seems a little sad to not 'do friends', though. Especially at a party. Do you want to dance? No strings, promise." He'll give it one more go before he leaves her to her peace, though his heart does ache a bit for her, sentimental type that he is. Standing alone at a party seems more torturous than enjoyable to someone like him.

A red fox mask fading to white towards the edge.

People saw this as a fuckfest or what. Here they talked about drinking, eating and sex. Had the people here no more class. Was the suffering simply forgotten. He thought that this is about the exchange of opinions and suggestions for verbässerung. Not about the exchange of body fluids. Yes Frey also stood for it. But not only forgot that the people. He took a sip of the beer and looked at the whole thing for a while before he left in a huff.

White tiger mask --> Gold Lion with Giant Feathered Cheeks


They relax when the man backs off, grumbling as he laughs. "Don't laugh at me." It comes out more of a pout then a threat, against their wishes. They were a threatening being, dangerous. They were not about to stand at a party and be made a fool of. The only thing keeping them here was the free food.

Even with all of that though, the offer for a dance is shocking. For a moment, they scan the man warily. Dancing was like fighting, right? Had they ever danced with someone before? Curiosity won out and they hesitantly they held out a hand, "Fine. But no complaining when I step on your feet." They paused, "Or laughing if I trip and fall on my face." Both were equally likely.