genessia | EVENT- Genessia Masquerade

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EVENT- Genessia Masquerade

Masquerade! Paper faces on parade
Masquerade! Hide your face so the world will never find you
Masquerade! Every face a different shade
Masquerade! Look around, there's another mask behind you

Welcome
Though the evening outside is chilly, there’s nothing but warmth and lively atmosphere inside. The room itself (the ballroom atop the self proclaimed ‘most romantic and luxurious’ Genessian getaway) is almost blinding, glittering with gold from floor to ceiling, save for the towering framed windows that provide a beautiful sight of the city below. Tables are scattered here and there around the perimeter should attendees wish to rest their feet, but the centerpiece of the evening seems to be the massive, sparkling chandelier casting its warm, golden glow over a rather extensive dance floor. One end of the room is reserved for the band, poised just near the hearth featuring a roaring fire, while the other showcases a grand staircase on which one may make their entrance, should they choose to explore the upper lofts that surround the room beforehand.

Early in the evening, once the room has begun to fill, a couple steps up to welcome everyone on behalf of Genessia’s Performing Arts Center and the cast of their most recent musical. While the event is free, and they are delighted to be able to share a magnificent evening of splendor with everyone, they do wish to make everyone aware that should they choose to donate tonight, be it through benevolent gift or through the auction or gambling tables, all proceeds will be donated to the Red House Foundation- more specifically, Genessia’s branch, located in the heart of the city herself.
The call to enjoy the masquerade is punctuated with a deep bow and the swell of the band picking up once more to lead everyone into a night of majestic merriment.

Photos
With numerous celebrities about and the event in full swing, it’s to no one’s surprise that there are photographers practically crawling the place. Fortunately for all, quite a few have been hired by the event planning team and will be snapping moments (both candid and posed) of everyone in attendance. There’s even a designated area with various props to play with and a lovely backdrop doused in gold. These photos can be downloaded from the network later, so take advantage of these professionals, should your heart desire! After all, did one really look their best if there’s no photo to prove it?

Dancing
While there’s certainly no pop star performing and the music is much more classically suited, one will hear a familiar tune more often than not, spun by the tuxedo clad musicians to suit a more modern crowd. It’s upbeat and energetic for the most part, but every so often, they're likely to switch the mood to something much smoother (dare they say, romantic?) to sway to. Instructors are scattered throughout the crowd, should those unfamiliar with the ballroom style wish to learn something new!

Food
A party without food is absurd, regardless of the occasion. Drink flows readily from the bar, and an impressive variation of hors d’oeuvre has been laid out in a brilliant spread on the long tables along the edges of the room. Partake as you will, and leave a donation to show your appreciation if you’re so inspired!

Costume Parade
What’s the point of a masquerade without an outfit promenade? Show off your inspired attire to all who will gaze upon you. The more flamboyant, the more attention your costume will draw, and the more in-character one seems, the more believable the evening will be- Embrace the masks and let loose! Tonight is the night to be whoever (or whatever) your heart desires.

Gambling/Auction
Thanks to the generosity of local businesses, there are multiple donated items on which to bid, ranging from weekend getaways to baskets of sweets to… rather peculiar fashion and odd home decor.
To the right of the auction display, there are multiple gaming tables with waiting croupier, ready to assist those with heavy wallets attempt to woo Lady Luck. The winnings (should there be any) can be kept or donated- the choice is yours.

Gardens
If one finds a need to escape the swirling of dance and swell of the music, the gardens below may serve you well. There’s a lovely courtyard, and just beyond the fountain, a garden maze, well lit for the season with the gentle glow of dazzling lights. Take a stroll alone, or hide away with a lover or confidant, or snag a seat for the fireworks- the choice is yours.

Fireworks
No grand gala ever ended without a burst of excitement to round out the evening. Toward the end of the evening, the sky will be lit with a brilliant display of silvers and golds, all timed perfectly with the band’s final performance. One can watch from the gardens or the rooftop, or, if in need of something more ~private~, the balconies throughout the hotel.

Masquerade! Burning glances, turning heads
Masquerade! Stop and stare at the sea of smiles around you
Masquerade! Grinning yellows, spinning reds
Masquerade! Take your fill, let the spectacle astound you

((ooc: Questions? PM this journal or poke dovefire on Plurk! Have Fun!))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Dumbledore turns towards Ten as he appears, immediately noting the tie on his forehead and the flashy attire. He chuckles lightly and almost speaks, but then Ten is pulling him out onto the floor.

The grasp of his hands takes him by surprise (and he admittedly does have the flash of insight that Gellert will not be happy if he sees this) but he doesn't resist it, letting Ten pull him into the dance.

Grinning slightly, he asks, "Enjoying yourself tonight, Doctor?"

Ten pulls Albus in as close as possible; which isn't something he'd do so carelessly usually because that can bring up questions; mainly why do you have two heartbeats?

Then begins to slow dance; he's not sure exactly what dances Albus knows.

However; Ten does trust Albus even when not drunk and adores Albus too.

There's a playful click of his tongue; "Yes, and you?"

Albus only knows the dances of his time, slow waltzes and the like, but he keeps time well enough. Everything about Ten has always struck him as very unusual -- peculiar in a delightful and intriguing way, but also very well beyond the realm of what he knows.

And then he feels that second pulse beating through his chest and well, that is certainly very curious indeed.

"I'm enjoying it very much," he says with a small grin. "I can't remember the last time I've been to an event like this where I wasn't a chaperone."

Rose said to live and dancing with someone one greatly admires is living. Besides if Gellert does see this and go into a rage of fury; Albus will protect or Ten will take the hit and play dead. Regardless, the concern is not on someone's mind.

In the meantime, The Doctor is just going to enjoy the slow waltzing with Albus Dumbledore; he's not sure which of them is leading; they may be taking turns for all Ten knows.

"You know - thar's always something I did wonder.." Before Albus can ask what, Ten takes a deep inhale near Albus's neck.

That -- well, that certainly catches him by surprise. He freezes slightly at the deep sniff to his though he doesn't pull away or let go, even as he's admittedly befuddled.

"You've wondered often about the scent of my neck?" he asks, bemused and also a tad concerned. How drunk was he?

After the deep neck whiff remarks; "Parchment and ink and old books... And a hint of cologne. The books I figured."

Ten continues on dancing and acting like none of that was strange because to be honest; even sober he would do that.

That earns another pause out of him, enough to misstep in the dancing even as he hears the words. He's already suspected Ten was something...different, something outside of his understanding, but this only added to it. Albus doesn't often feel that he isn't on sure footing with others, but this is one of those times where he seems to be glancing at something he could not fully understand.

"Where do you get such a sense of smell?" he asks, curious.

Oopps, might have just stepped on your shoe for a moment and eyes Albus thoughtful. You don't think that someone is going to hurt you, do you?

"Basic Time Lord physiology."

However, someone clearly didn't brain before mouthing before saying that.

Well, that is certainly a good piece of information to know. Albus continues dancing, though a little more steadily now, the cogs of his mind whirring at a wickedly fast pace.

"And what other quirks of physiology does that include, I wonder?" he says, his voice nearly teasing even as he's listening carefully.

"Whut? You can't tell me you don't feel that?" Which Ten is referring to the two heartbeats on each side of his chest.

"For some reason, I thought you'd also smell like peppermint. Or ginger. I've always wanted to be a ginger. I still can't believe in three lives after me - still not a ginger." Cute pouting face.

Edited 2018-11-15 23:08 (UTC)

"Mm, I did, but I didn't want to be rude and comment on it unneccessarily," he says, slightly bemused but still intensely and deeply curious. Especially at the mention of three lives.

"Unfortunately, no peppermints for me today. Perhaps tomorrow I'll have peppermints and in your next life you'll have ginger hair."

"Knowing you thought you'd smell of some candy." A deep sigh and leans his head next to Albus, "I don't want to keep on going on. I don't even understand how she exists. My older selves don't tell me much of what will be. Granted I wouldn't tell my younger selves much anything either but given I'm dead and they know you'd think they would explain."

Yet - somehow has a very clear pulses.

"I wonder... I wonder if when he was dying he was thinking of Rose again... If that's why she's blonde."

Albus lets him lean his head against him, getting an even stronger sense of the two pulses thrumming past his skin. "Sometimes it's best not to ask why. Sometimes it's best just to keep going and take things as they come."

It's advice he's tried to give himself before. It hasn't always worked.

"Perhaps so," he says. He's met Rose, and even if he doesn't know the full extent of their bond together, the words and the tone along speak enough. And he's also met Thirteen, the other Doctor who is a woman and does in her own way have a similar appearance. "Would that be good, then, that she can influence you so?"

"Why do I havef to keep going?" There's a whine; even if in his stomach does know why, because there isn't another bloke in the universe that would do this.

There's a long pause on the question about Rose; and a whisper, "Yes... Because I couldn't give her what she wanted... I gave her what I thought would make her happy."

"Because you do," he says quietly. "We all do. We just keep going until we get through to the other side, because that's just what living is sometimes."

He listens to that and asks, in a low voice, "What did she want?"

Ten pushes Albus out of his arms; there's a look of inhuman fury in those brown eyes, along with a pointed look. "I won't ever get to the other side. Even if we are assuming that works within my rules."

Then grows quiet and sad but still isn't jumping back into Albus's arms. Just when a moment ago those eyes had fury and gives Albus a loser look that says somewhere along the lines of 'making babies' or being imitate.

A hard swallow and with a whisper; "A house together."

The anger doesn't startle him the way their earlier interactions did. Anger aimed at him is something he knows all too well. He just lets Ten push him away and watches calmly, his expression placid as the emotions on Ten's face swirl and storm.

"Why not?"

A question for both ends of the conversation -- for the other side, for the house.

If Albus is keeping eye contact; now is a great time to be using Legilimency; as there are memories swirling in his head and one is able to see surface thoughts thanks to the intoxication.

Which thoughts are buzzing rapidly about all his deaths, so fast one may not be able to keep up. On repeat The other 'why', Ten thinks more slowly on.

"Why what?"

His mind is open and he sees visions swimming in front of him in blurs and flashes, and then slower as it gets to Rose. He recognizes faces from this place, from other Doctors, from other citizens here, and he sees Rose clearly towards the end of it, as Ten's thoughts settle.

Albus thinks for a moment, and asks, "Why not live with her in a house?"

The inner flames settle for now; which they were never about Albus - it was about someone existing quite literally to the end of the universe; as it would seem. No. Watch someone survive the end of the universe. A very old and worn face - he needs more wine.

"She wouldn't want to live in a house... I wasn't being literal about the house - just didn't keep her with me for as long as she would live. Because that's what she would have wanted."

There's an image for a moment of them both in landscape view; 10 on the left and Rose on the right on some beach. Just standing and looking at each other.

Just a sad brown eye puppy now.

He seems the image clearly, feels the regret soaked into it, like rain seeping into the earth. The picture of it is clear, but the emotions embedded into it are far more palpable, radiating off of every single memory that floats through them.

"Why didn't you?"

There's a very, very long pause and there's a sad puppy with very big brown eyes staring at you Albus, which somehow despite it not raining; looks like the puppy is standing outside in the rain looking inside.

A deep inhale.

His hearts twitch because he knows the lies that he tells himself. That her mum, dad and Mickey were in that other universe. That Meta Crisis could make her happy. That he couldnt leave Meta-Crisis alone with her family.

A hard swallow and squeaky voice; "Because... I couldn't watch her die."

A long single tear down a cheek; another hard swallow and hoarse voice, "But I should have - because I died anyways. Even knowing she was alive and happy."

Which he means emotionally. And literally later.

Dumbledore watches, his expression a mix of sympathy and calm. Ten's pain aches through his thoughts, bleeding out of him like a wound. Even if no one else around them sees it, it hangs heavy and thick in the air between them, like a cloud of blood in water.

"But she is here, and so are you," he says after a moment. "Knowing that, would you choose the same?"

There's a headshake, but there's a worn 'victory' look and more memory blurs of the past year and a half of them fighting about being together and Rose not wanting him because of that very reason; and him not understanding at first that he would ever do such a thing if he found her again.

However, there are battle scars. Lots of battle scars of settling things. However, there still something to say about the guilt about it to go entirely away still.

Especially, after their near recent talk about how he's done nothing but hurt her but she still trusts him and him not feeling worthy of that trust.

Dumbledore listens to the words unspoken, the run of months upon months of fighting run past him in a blur, and the tangle of regret and pain and love all twisted throughout. And muddled into it all is guilt, a sensation he recognizes all too well, the bone-deep conviction of one's own worthlessness.

He smiles sadly, then says, "Plenty of impossible things have happened in this city. Plenty of others have happened that only seem impossible have happened, too. Even the ones we might not feel worthy of."

For a moment, he thinks of Gellert, his face flashing across his thoughts.

EVENT- Genessia Masquerade

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