BALL: our muses dance together at a masquerade, not knowing the other's identity until the party is over. (For Patrick if you want to 🤭)
The ballroom was lit by a massive cristaline chandelier right in the center of the oval, it's intricate pieces shining like the first stars of the night's sky.
The event had long stretched out through the evening, its several patrons dancing, swaying to the rythm of the string quartet. Anonymity was both part of the fun and a condition for such event. Behind a diverse types of masks, people would pick and drop whoever crossed their flow through the group dance. Some attendees giggled and lounged in the velvet sofas, enjoying the company of strangers.
Strangers, that was the key aspect that made Patrick give it a try at such event. Nobody knowing who he was, what he looked like, his history or lack of ambitions.
His movements were partly stiff, for and from dancing with another man. Through the black, feather-covered masks, only a small peak at the other's eyes could be seen. Theirs seem to be a shade of green. For the more bold ones, their smile and lips too. But neither of them seemed to possess that sort of ease.
As the masquerade ball let the final candles slowly fade, people began to leave. Newly met couples, parties, friends... people taking the leap between strangers and acquaintances, taking their masks off the moment they left the palace. Some kept it on, and there would be no judgment of such, of course.
The last song gave its final breath. And Patrick let go of the other man's hands, which surprisingly greeted him with a bow. The detective retributed the gesture with a simple nod, his mask not giving away the small smile for such a pleasant company, even in silence. They both headed out together, and once outside, the other man removed his mask completely, making Patrick stop on his tracks, the heels of his leather shoes silent down the marble stairs.
"...A-another Rick?!" The surprise and etched in his features, still covered by his own fantasy. Did they know who he was? Was this some type of set up? Their face looked familiar, and not from the obvious resemblance with one another. It was the scar gave them away:
"...Don't I know you from somewhere?!"
