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Post by Jules on Sept 22, 2008 0:57:24 GMT -5
[Blame Kel if you don't like it, she made me do it.]
Even in these times of supposed acceptance and community, the Nightmare population had not stopped observing the Day of the Dead. Dreams were strictly prohibited, although it was possibly for their own good. The atmosphere, charged as it was, would be almost painful for them. This year the Opera had (with funding provided by the monarchy) gone all out, as if to prove yet again that Nightmares really do Have More Fun.
The Opera di Incubi's largest ballroom was barely recognizable as part of the building. It was as though once one stepped through those grand double doors one was carried away to a darkly beautiful wasteland of a party.
The decor was all dripping finery and sparkling, although there was something inherently wrong about it that the Nightmares present seemed to relish in. Until one realized the blood-red punch was perhaps not bloody in color only, that the fine detailing on the plates often depicted mortals in various expressions of raw, naked fear, that the jack'o'lanterns looked ready to snap at any hand that strayed too close and that grinning skulls nestled in different vantage points in the room, giving the occupants the oddest feeling of being watched, all embodied fear in all it's glory.
Tables, dressed up in black and ivory almost bent under the burden of delicacies and refreshment. Every taste was accounted for, this was a public event after all and Swamp monsters had such an affinity for live rats. Music filled the room while not being obnoxiously loud; funeral dirges rewrought to be waltzed to. The air swelled with feral energy---so many Nightmares having recently fed off fear was conducive to an almost seductive atmosphere.
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Post by Jules on Sept 29, 2008 23:23:18 GMT -5
[fine you chickens. I'll be the first. LIKE ALWAYS]
Hugh looked a little more demonic then usual, his eyes fluctuating wildly with a pupil that was widely dilated. He had ditched the homemade sweater his mother had forced him to wearing. The dream in him cringed a little, tucking itself away and although he didn't want to admit it, part of it kind of hurt but it was nothing he couldn't handle, like a minor headache and besides this was all too much amazing fun to give up.
He wanted to find Alexander because he was pretty sure Nellie wouldn't be coming to this thing and Armand would probably be too busy to bother with him and besides it was Alex who did all the fun stuff at dancing all Armand ever did was brood in a corner and that was boring, he'd tried it and didn't get the appeal but maybe Zizzy wasn't going to let him do that, who knew.
----------- Marie came in wearing something close to what would happen if a prom dress and tutu had wild sex on the beach. Her hair stood in a little lemon-meringue style poof and she looked even more wicked than usual. Her features lost their supposed innocence to take on a naked slyness that befitted her personality much more. She fluffed up the aqua tulle and waited for Genn to get out of the carriage after her before entering.
Hopefully there would be someone to dance with here. Maybe she could fish for details about the whole Nellie thing. She doubted the hick was coming to tonight's party.
Fear did not bring out the best in Marie. ------ The air surrounding Zizzy was charged with static, the fine hairs on her arms and the back of her neck stood on end and little spurts of light followed her, like miniature camera flashes, like winking stars. She was standing off to a corner, having arrived separately from Armand. She just hoped he didn't know his sisters wardrobe too well because Genevieve had provided a relatively short, very modern little cocktail dress. It was thigh-grazing silk chiffon number, banded at the bottom, creating an extremely ‘Now’ silhouette. The color faded from a vibrant, ultra-saturated blue at the bust to a more subdued, cloudier blue at the fullest part of the skirt. It was already making her nervous. At the very least, the dangling silver earrings and the one thick silver bangle had been her own. Still, she hadn't been there very long and she was already taking hand-outs and she had never, ever worn something this expensive what if she ruined it.
At the very least Genn was good with this kind of thing, it wasn't like she wasn't conscious of the fact that she looked damn good in it. As long as Armand didn't realize it was from his sister's closet, she was kind of looking forward to seeing him. She hadn't exactly let their moving in together erase her independent schedule. While she did see him much more often, she wasn't expecting, nor did she want to, spend every waking moment with him.
Since he was taking so long, she was decided to punish him a little for making her wait. Ryan had come and he'd been smiling at her since he spotted her, so she asked him to dance. He wasn't as good as Alex, but he was lively enough to make up for it. They were among the first couples on the dance floor.
--------------------- Mary did not seem abashed about being the only girl in jeans. They were dark jeans, ergo, fancy. And it was even a clean shirt that had some sort of detailing on it that sounded too retarded to even say out loud (roushing or something, she didn't know). She'd left a note inviting Vince, but he'd been translating something so she doubted he'd come, even with her purposely provocative P.S about how many cute Nightmares there were bound to be who didn't have their noses stuck in books.
She didn't mean it, however. If Vince didn't show up, which she doubted he would, there was still Henriette, Pia and such and she could usually talk one of the boys into taking her for a whirl when their respective wives/girlfriends wanted to rest their high-heeled feet (she was wearing sneakers).
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Post by Miss Jack on Sept 30, 2008 17:17:47 GMT -5
They were still late, even though they didn't have to wait for the better, more glamorous half of the Ira family. Walking up the steps to the entrance of the Opera di Incubi, Alexander groaned, pressing a hand over his stomach.
"I ate too much."
The Day of the Dead, for Alexander, meant hitting death row. Ill-fated prisoners were always easy targets for fear of afterlife repercussions. It was almost too easy; and too much, too fast meant accidental gorging and after-party regrets.
Armand, ever the more prudent twin, shook his head, sending Alexander a look of amused sympathy. Neither twin was a fan of ties or cravats, but each looked nice in their respective designer jackets and tailored slacks. Not that they could name the designer, but their sister didn't just play fairy godmother to female victims.
Alexander sighed, eyes scanning through the crowds. He could only imagine Nellie if he'd dragged her along to this: white, woozy and trembling. He kind of missed her. Living with her hadn't made her grating or annoying, but necessary and addictive.
"Where's Zizzy?" he asked.
"Don't know," Armand answered, already looking for her. "Ah, nevermind. There she is."
Alexander looked, curiosity spurred by the rare hint of spite to Armand's usually silky voice. He laughed once he spotted her on the dance floor. "Uh-oh."
"He's one of her classmates," Armand replied, and only someone who really knew him would be able to detect the edge of moodiness.
"I think you'd better go defend your territory. She looks really good tonight."
Armand sighed, giving his brother a pained look. "Go antagonize someone else, please."
Alexander saluted, happy to oblige. Armand was clearly going to wait for Zizzy, and Alexander didn't want to stick around to be the third wheel to their cozy party-for-two anyway. He passed Mary, and double-taked, spinning back around. "Hey," he said, flashing a glowing, I've-been-literally-raising-hell-all-night grin. "Looking good. Save me a dance tonight?"
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Post by Jules on Sept 30, 2008 17:46:57 GMT -5
When the song finished, Zizzy was glowing as well as sparking. Not because of her dance with Ryan, but because she'd caught sight of Armand as they'd twirled around. She shook her head as Ryan asked her for another dance and shrugged helplessly. "You've been outmatched." She teased and walked off the dance floor towards Armand.
He looked dashing in that suit and when she got to him, she had to stop to appraise. "Nice duds." She grinned,
If Alexander thought it was easy for him to get fear, he should've come along with Mary as she visited only a teaspoon of the chronic smokers in the world., the family members of sick patients, patients themselves (morals didn't really play into her feasting). Severly under-dressed, Mary still grinned at her nephew.
"'Course. Didn't bring Nellie along with you?" But of course he hadn't. The poor thing would be a puddle of nerves around this crowd and not everyone would tolerate the Dream fear tainting the celebrations.
"Seeing as she's the only young lady who can seem to tolerate you, it might've been a good idea."
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Post by Princess Katie on Oct 2, 2008 0:19:15 GMT -5
Significantly more subdued than her cohort, but shining with the same holiday-borne luminosity as she stepped out of the carriage and onto the landing. Genevieve was swathed in silk-satin the color of spiders’ dreams (which was a sort of grayish-brownish). The full skirt was cut in knee-length fluffy layers in the front lengthening into a train in the back. The bodice was embellished with dusty lavender beads that coordinated with her heavy-handed application of amethyst jewelry.
The environment of the party put a healthy flush in Genevieve’s cheeks and a glint of mischief in her eye. But, she couldn’t help but feel a little guilty; Genn preached integration like it was going out of style, and she attended a Nightmare-only celebration every year, and had a blast with it. Not to mention, every year, around this time, Marie and Genn would blather on and on about their party outfits, how they were going to do their hair, and how they hoped that so-and-so would be there right in front of Samantha. She acted like it didn’t bother her, but Genn knew it had to get to her, if even just a little bit.
Genn pushed the nagging guilt to the back of her mind and grabbed Marie’s hand in a sudden whirl of girlish excitement. The decorations were wonderful, and just about half of the people in attendance were dressed by Genevieve. She sighed blissfully, “I think it’s even prettier than last year!”
---
Finnie decided she would go this year. Some years she did, some years she did not. It really all depended if she had an ongoing experiment or not. She had mostly figured out the way around the headache that many mixed kids got from situations like this. The fear had to be a sort of fun-fear. Like a rollercoaster. Of course, this made the whole scaring process a lot less fun, but it was better than getting indigestion.
As always, Finola dressed subtly fashionably, in an unobtrusive black shift-dress and striped mauve-and-gray stockings, her delicate little feet cased in heels less than an inch thick. She was a pragmatist through and through. She had straightened her hair especially for the festivities, and removed of its wild curl, it was much longer than normal. The colors proceeded to ripple and undulate as usual, but the more melancholy tones, like gray and indigo, were noticeably absent. Still, parties weren’t exactly her scene, so she lingered close to the walls, looking entirely bored but feeling rather exhilarated.
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Post by Miss Jack on Oct 2, 2008 22:28:55 GMT -5
Alexander feigned offense. "That's ridiculous. Everyone, ladies especially, love me."
Nellie's only fear should be that he remain faithful on this night of temptation. The thought sounded stupid even in his head. He knew the signs of a smitten fool, and knew he displayed most of them. He was finding he'd sooner do anything than make the young shepherdess unhappy. He'd began to accept it as his lot in life to cater to the whims of a waify Dream girl.
He gave Mary's jeans a longing, almost envious glance, wishing he'd thought to dress down too. "And as a fellow lady and sole tolerator of a certain-obnoxious-someone, you're here alone too."
-----
Armand's lips twitched into an amused smirk. "Thank you," he said wryly. His voice softened. "And you. You look beautiful."
The words sounded trite, but of course she always looked beautiful. The only difference tonight was the confident light in her eyes that said, for once, she shared his opinion. To an extent anyway--- she probably didn't think she was the loveliest creature in the room.
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Post by Jules on Oct 2, 2008 22:59:02 GMT -5
Marie took her friend's arm, actually missing the presence of their third member. Stupid Samantha being born a dream. Even if she would've stolen anyone Marie was interested in, it was still a little weird to be a duo at a grand event. They entered the ballroom together, and immediately she scanned the crowd, the two Princes had already arrived, both looking good enough to eat.
"Zat's who Armand iz going out wiz?" She asked in cruel disbelief and then snickered. "'e could do zo much bettair." Like me, she thought sulkily. She was royalty after all, of a sorts. She was the one who deserved a Prince.
"I 'ave a plan to stir zings up a leetle." This was when she wished Samantha was here most. Genn would just try and stop her with her niceness and morals. Ew.
------
Mary grinned, "I invited him, but I think it'd take a miracle for him to actually show up." She had more in common with Nellie then she'd thought. Huhn. Not that having Vince here would be a blast. He'd probably sit in a corner and scare people.
She wanted to dance and have fun, be light-hearted. She was discovering many challenges about loving Vince, and this happened to be one of them. "But he can be a downer." She grinned, they knew this. Alex had grown up with Vince.
"But we fellow ladies can have our own fun."
----
Zizzy smiled softly, took his hand and led him onto the dance floor. It was a slow waltz, more dirge-like then the previous one, less call for liveliness. Here, feeling confident in them, in herself, she felt she could finally approach something she'd been avoiding for awhile.
"Is this the first time you've been here in a while?" She asked as she rested her hands on his shoulders, not looking to do a proper dance.
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Post by Miss Jack on Oct 2, 2008 23:18:00 GMT -5
Alexander smirked. To call Vince a downer was a kind abbreviation. "Oh, he might show up. Just to make sure no one is taking advantage of you in those smoking jeans." He winked and then spotted his sister and her other-royal-highness Marie as they came through the door. He hadn't yet asked them how shopping with Nellie had been, and Marie had yet to take him up on his offer of driving lessons.
-------
Armand followed her lead and took her waist in his hands. He frowned a little at her question, his eyes growing wistful. "No," he replied carefully. "I've been back once. But otherwise..." His gaze left her to absorb the ballroom, a small remnant of lifestyle that had once been so important to him.
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Post by Jules on Oct 2, 2008 23:26:21 GMT -5
Zizzy stiffened, the glow faded, but she rested her head against his chest. "I'm sorry." She could guess why he'd made that one trip back. "I know you love this place. And I know it's not because of me you're not here anymore. But, I..." she took a deep breath, this was harder then she'd thought it be, "...I trust you. I want you to know that. If you ever find your way back on stage, I'd be happy for you. Just don't expect me to come watch you play out love scenes with her."
It was a sad attempt at a joke since too much of it rang true and her hands tightened involuntarily on his shoulders as if to keep him there, with her. Where she finally felt he belonged.
------
Mary laughed since she'd put something to that affect in her little note. Catching him gazing at his sister and her friend, much more in his age group, she pushed his shoulder. "Go say hi to your friends. Stop hanging out with your Aunt, it'll ruin your image."
She would just....uhhh....eat, or something. Hopefully some of the Cold Shadow was planning on showing up. Johnny was a fun dancer if Henriette didn't wear him into the ground first.
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Post by Princess Katie on Oct 3, 2008 0:36:54 GMT -5
“Be nice, Marie. Zizzy’s sweet and I think it’s love. I mean…Armand doesn’t just date around or anything. It’s still crazy to me to see him doing anything other than languishing.” Genn said quietly, waving across the hall at a group of socialites that she knew, but that were definitely below Genn and Marie on the social scene, so she didn’t bother going across and seeing them. Her jovial expression dropped into a slightly-horrified one.
“Oh no,” Genn muttered, glancing at Marie from the corner of her eye “What kind of plan? Your plans are mean and oftentimes hurt people’s feelings.” The whole Samantha-David plan had worked out, true, but it was a miracle.
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Cozy
Full Member
Posts: 172
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Post by Cozy on Oct 4, 2008 0:15:07 GMT -5
Sparing a glance at his pocket watch, Mikhail decided that now, finally, would be just the right time to arrive fashionably late. Head held high, and eyes sparked with the sort of light only a night of lovely, charming infidelity could give them, he checked himself once more in the mirror. Wonderful.
Between the wide doors to the celebration corridor, he made sure to enter at the very centermost point, smiling almost fiercely as he did so. Ah, now this, this was what he had missed about Chimera. This was lovely.
And he was ready to have the night of his life.
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Post by Jules on Oct 4, 2008 16:46:39 GMT -5
Marie's eyes automatically went to the opened doors and smiled broadly and the figure who came through. There was someone who would appreciate her plans just as much as she did. She waved an arm, confident that he'd accept her invitation.
"Mikhail!" She called happily, they weren't too far from the entrance themselves so it wasn't like she had to scream. "Mon dieux you look 'andsome."
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Post by Princess Katie on Oct 4, 2008 23:55:28 GMT -5
Genn put on a big smile and waved at Mikhail (she didn’t know him, but she knew of him. Most socialites did.) but she cringed on the inside. If Marie couldn’t even tell her, then it was something Genevieve would definitely disapprove of. She knew that look in the aristocrat’s eye; they had been friends long enough to recognize what that malicious little glint had in store.
“Marieee…” she hissed, squeezing her friend’s hand, as if she were trying to squeeze the plan right out of her fingers.
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Cozy
Full Member
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Post by Cozy on Oct 5, 2008 9:58:28 GMT -5
Mikhail perked slightly at the voice, after a moment spotting its owner. A broad smile crossed his face, and he made his way (not too quickly, of course) down the stairs to her.
"Marie, darling, you look absolutely ravishing!" He greeted her immediately, placing a delicate kiss on each cheek. Then, turning to Genevieve, "And good heavens, what luck I have tonight. You must be the lovely Princess, mm?" He asked, offering a hand, palm up, for hers, "I've heard ever so much about you. All good, naturally."
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Post by Jules on Oct 5, 2008 12:27:37 GMT -5
Marie smiled, returned the kisses, ignoring her friends urging completely. She didn't want to listen, she wanted to have fun. Rolling her eyes, "Like there's anything else to hear about her." She muttered under her breath and then laughed.
"Oh yes, Genn is quite ze goody-two-shoes. Wierd, I zink, for ze daughtair of someone like ze Queen." She patted Genn in a condoling manner on the shoulder as if being nice was some kind of incurable, terminal disease.
"Somehow we get along just ze same."
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