There were covered faces everywhere. Left and right, no matter where she turned. Rhiannon was overwhelmed by the amount of people surrounding her. She felt as if she was back in the water, with everyone crowded together and her, feeling like the outcast. The feeling of being the fish out of water had become something Rhiannon had now become accustomed too. The feeling hurt, it left a pang in her heart, but she could hide it better. The only way it ever really lifted was when she was Adriana. But where was Adriana?
Picking up a glass of a red coloured drink from a tray that was floating through the crowd, Rhiannon shook her head to herself. She wouldn't dwell on her insecure feeling and her fears. Now wasn't the time for that. She had come to this Masquerade Ball for two reasons, and two reasons alone. One, The Siren Times had assigned the interns to report on the event so that it could be featured in the next issue and Rhiannon, as always, was striving to come out on top. Two, Adriana had said she was going and wanted Rhiannon to accompany her.
Squeezing through the crowd, putting her drink over the heads of others so it wouldn't spill completely, Rhiannon found herself outside of the mass crowd and on the sidelines. She was in the breathing space. Looking around, she tried to see if she could spot Adriana amongst the crowd. She had become quite good at this, and it surprised her as a while ago, she had never noticed Adriana then all of a sudden, she was everywhere she looked.
Except now. She figured that her girlfriend would be late, but it still made her anxious. Rhiannon was always the more punctual one out of the two, and it frustrated when Adriana would take hours and hours to show up or get ready. Taking a sip of her drink, Rhiannon makes her way towards an open ceiling to floor door that leads out of a balcony. Some fresh air should do her some good right?
Walking right up to the balcony, Rhiannon has a view of the entrance seeing people pile out of big and small cars alike as the moon shone down on her. She sets her glass down on the balcony, letting out a deep sigh. The event was night, real lavish, but nothing intrigued her about it. She wasn't used to fancy, that the amount at the ball overwhelmed her. Most of the Shipwreckers didn't attend as they thought it was a joke, and made fun of Rhiannon for attending but she tried to convince them that it was for the paper. Other than Isla and Isadora, who she had seen earlier, she didn't really know anyone.
Looking down at a pair of headlights that just pulled up, Rhiannon expected a couple, probably an old man and a young girl who were already drunk, to stumble out but that wasn't it. Instead, a pair of legs slid out to expose fair skin from a slit in the girl's dress. Rhiannon was in awe when she saw the girl emerge from the car. It was Adriana and Adriana was stunning. Almost knocking over her drink, Rhiannon leans over the balcony a bit more to see if she could get her girl's attention. When it didn't work, she whipped out her phone, she texted her where she was before slipping her phone away and smiling to herself.
Maybe tonight was going to be a good night after all.
Lady was a term of a endearment she used for many women around Barton Hollow. In her mind it was one of the greatest compliments. Being a lady wasn't easy, it involved being strong, courageous and utterly badass while remaining feminine through it all. Isla was the woman she modelled herself off for the ball. She was a femme fatale with an edge of wit that had the power to dominate any conversation. Nyx stood in front of her mirror and could only smirk to herself. Words seemed unnecessary at that point in the night. Things were only beginning and she didn't have anyone's reaction to go off just yet. Once her dorm room was a distant memory she noticed stares and glances while getting in and then out of her taxi on the way to the ball; just what she had hoped for.
Men would want to buy her drinks and raffle tickets, so would women but they'd envy her too at the same time. And all Nyx would have to do was relish the feeling of it all. She'd move her hips like a pendulum and walk with a purpose that no one would be able to figure out. Nyx was good at putting on a show even though she was definitely no actress. Everything she did was off the cuff, line learning didn't suit her. Smiles sat on her lips even when she was desperately unhappy and stony apathy riddled her face when she felt a little more than she should. It was complicated being Nyx Hunt day to day so she let herself be free of complication on nights like these. Nights where she was anyone else but herself.
Nyx made her way in with a confident smirk on her lips. She could feel the eyes on her as she strode over to one of the waiters, grabbing herself a glass of champagne. Her lip was tucked in between her teeth as she met momentary eye contact with some of the gentlemen spotted in the crowd and soon they were over trying on their charm. Her eyes always did draw luckless souls in. "I do wish I'd brought more money for the raffle tickets. You know, to support the cause." Nyx had forgotten what the cause was but that was unnecessary information. Soon she had two tickets in hand and her money was still safely stowed away. It was going to be a very successful night for her, she was sure of it.
Lou looked around again at the people around her, each with a partner tackling the dance floor together. She smiled at the symbiosis of each group, it was beautiful; all the swirling gowns and grinning men--and women--in tuxes. She was glad she got to go to this event, even if the dress was itchy and the thought of all this big business charity affairs made her skin crawl. She ran her hands up her arms to warm to goosebumps that has risen when she thought of the inner workings of the rich in this town. She had seen some things on those streets, a few secret looks into the world of the wealthy and it was one she didn't want any part of. She felt out of place and reckless, not a good combination for a girl like Lou. Soon she would start getting antsy and overwhelmed and feel the need to wipe her mask off and pull her hair out of their rolls.... but Scarlett had spent such a long time making her pretty. She owed it to her to attempt to keep it on for as long as she could handle.
She looked up at Roo, who was as always standing right by her side, and she grinned. He had just said something in jest that possibly he shouldn't have. He didn't understand how much she actually did want to just strip naked out of all of the bullshit she had on her and walk free. She giggled and leaned on his shoulder, leaning over to fix his tie only to realize he wasn't wearing one. She shakes her head and takes a step back. "Roo, I don't think you know what you're saying. Because I take dares very seriously..." She reached one hand up and smudged off part of her mark. With one eyebrow quirked and a Cheshire-like grin on her face, she questioned,"So... are you daring me? Is this now formally a dare? And if so, do I get anything if I do it? Or does a game commence?"
Kenny had been hanging around the bar, scanning the ballroom for Natalie, when he felt something tickle his side. He whipped his head around and caught a girl in a gold dress and mask with her hand in his pocket.
"Hey!" he said, furrowing his brow as he pulled away from her. He spilled his punch a little bit in the process, droplets spattering across his unwanted new suit, and he brushed them away, returning his attention to the golden girl who'd tried to pick his pocket. As he stared at her, he realized that she looked incredibly familiar. "Wait... Sawyer? What are you doing?"
Victoria was burning coal. She was the red-hot fire hidden in a sea of black. Everything about her was enticing, dangerous, and beautiful. And by God, did she know it. From her tiara to her glittering dress that gave an illusion of a burning fire, VIctoria was Hell's fire in the flesh. A Queen in her own right. So as she sauntered into the party, Victoria was full of confidence and the stares she received only fueled it. Menacingly immaculate, a darkness with each step.
Victoria loved masquerade parties. They were generally the only type of party she would never decline attending. Something about the masks and dresses sparked a certain feeling in her. A good one. It rippled throughout her body like venom. Due to that, Victoria was charming, seductive, and alluring. Dangerous and enticing. Her ravishing look shimmered in sex appeal and her personality adapted to that, her demonic charms at their peak. However, the darkness surrounding the half-demon was eminent. Tonight her humanity was nearly nonexistent and that meant there were no limits to what she'd do. Victoria had one thing on her mind: fun. And she would make sure she had it.
Victoria walked over to the refreshment table, grabbing a strawberry. To her left, she noticed a figure approaching her. Victoria turned her attention towards the crowd, her impeccably curled hair swirling behind her. "If you're going to hang out with me tonight, you better have the right mindset." She warned the stranger. "Tonight I'm having fun." Victoria gave them a smirk, as she took a bite of her strawberry, watching the crowd with a sinister eye.
Sawyer glanced around, her now blue eyes bouncing off of each and every face that blurred past her peripheral. The sound of glasses clinking and the high pitched voices of the wealthy made Sawyer cringe. Taking one of the drinks off of the platter that a waiter brought by, the brunette whirled around, her heels clicking against what she thought to be expensive flooring. Too bad she couldn't sell porcelain tiles in the black market. Raising the drink up to her lips, Sawyer watched as people moved to and fro, wondering if they expected to see half of what was in their coat pockets in the coat closet to be gone when they checked out.
The masquerade actually wasn't terrible so far, as long as Kenny stayed far away from his parents. Right now, that meant rushing to the opposite end of the room from them and pretending to care about the strange raffle items that had been set out so delicately on the long tables there.
"Hey, we match," Kenny said to the girl beside him, pointing at his blue tie and then at her blue outfit. He was right, the colours were an exact match. "It's like it was meant to be. Just kidding, a lot of people are wearing this colour. My whole family is, actually. My parents wanted us to have a family colour scheme." He rolled his eyes.
"I'm Kenny Hayes, by the way. Oh, whoops. I guess I just defeated the whole point of the mask, didn't I?" He laughed at his mistake, but honestly he didn't really care. He hadn't put any effort into making himself more difficult to recognize; if he'd had his way, he would have even worn the same old suit he always wore. "You actually look super familiar, though. Do we know each other from somewhere?"
