Paper Faces on Parade

[applesaucemod]

The residents of Manhattan will once again find themselves drawn into the currents of the rift when they sleep tonight. Once again, too, the rift is drawing in people from other worlds, both those who might one day find themselves pulled through in waking life and those who might yet escape its grasp.

Tonight, it seems, a celebration is in order. The ballroom of a country manor is the setting for tonight's gathering. Wood and marble gleam in the gas lighting, and a bar at one end of the room provides the, ahem, social lubricant some guests may require. At the other end, a staircase leads to a walkway that runs the entire parameter of the room, allowing guests to watch the dancing from above. While the party is localized in the ballroom, who knows what secret passages and hidden ways a grand old house like this one might conceal?

Those who appear here will find themselves wearing a disguise on arrival. Should the rift cause one to appear in a costume not of their liking (as it is fairly likely to do), an enormous wardrobe can be found through a door near the bar. In it, guests will find a seemingly infinite assortment of costumes and masks of all sizes and varieties ready for their use.


[Mod note: Usual dream-party rules apply. Both members and non-members are welcome to use any character, be they already in the game or no, and players can choose whether to have their characters remember this in the morning.]

Comments

[edgar_sawtelle]

Edgar is drawn to the bookcases and before too long winds up with a thick volume in his hands. He's through a entire chapter before he surfaces. He replaces the book on the shelf and wanders over to Daine's side.

We don't have to stay, he says, giving her a guilty grin. We probably shouldn't, actually, as I'll just wind up trying to read every book in here.

[wildmage_daine]

Seeing Edgar absorbed in a book, Daine grabs a (slimmer) volume off one of the shelves and settles herself in one of the armchairs by the fireplace. She glances up when he rejoins her and smiles.

"All right." It's nice and quiet in here, too, but she's eager to resume exploring the house. She stands, leaving the book on the armchair rather than attempting to put it back where she found it. "My turn, is it?" Smile widening, she takes Edgar's hand and leads him back out into the hallway.

She follows the hallway around a corner, where the carpeting gives way to stone tiles. Shortly after, the hall widens into a little, round room, empty but for a spiral staircase that leads down. There's a shimmery quality to the light, as if it's reflecting off of a body of water, a faint, salty tang to the air. Daine doesn't hesitate, but heads directly for the staircase and descends.

She climbs down about two stories before reaching the lower level, and she grins at the huge indoor pool that's revealed. The floor here is stone tiles, same as above, and it ends in an irregular edge that makes the pool look almost natural. The fact that it seems to be filled with salt water only heightens the effect, and she turns to give Edgar a look that's almost pleading. "D'you mind?" She's fair itching to take a swimming shape and dive in.

[edgar_sawtelle]

Edgar holds up his hands in acquiescence and, smiling, turns his back to allow Daine any privacy needed for her to get water ready.

[wildmage_daine]

Fortunately for everyone, this being a dream means there's no potentially embarrassing preparation necessary. Her dress just vanishes as she transforms into a sea lion and splashes into the pool with an echoing bark.

[edgar_sawtelle]

Edgar admires the quick way seal-Daine cuts through the water, a little jealous. Toeing off his shoes, he makes quick work of removing his socks and rolling up his pant legs.

Unclasping his cloak and letting it fall to the stone floor, Edgar lowers himself to sit on the edge of the pool and dips his legs in the water.

[wildmage_daine]

It's been months since she went for a swim in any shape, and Daine is enjoying herself immensely. The pool is large enough that she can build up some speed without having to worry about crashing into the sides, and since it's salt water, she doesn't even have to worry about getting it into her mouth.

She arcs back toward Edgar and notices his feet dangling in the water. Unable to resist, she swims up from below and gently bumps his foot with her nose before resurfacing to bark at him.

[edgar_sawtelle]

Thankfully, the water is clear enough that Edgar can see Daine coming, so he isn't surprised by her foot boop, but she moves far too fast for him to pull his feet out of the water. Not that he would have.

He grins and signs at her, /Bark to you, too./

[wildmage_daine]

By this point, she's good enough with his signs that she recognizes 'bark' and 'you' and can guess the rest. She pushes her whiskers forward in amused acknowledgment, then swims farther along the wall so she can haul herself out of the pool without getting him wet. She gives her head a little shake, then shifts back into her human shape, dress and all. Her hair is still a little damp, but that's the only visible sign of the dip she's taken.

"Thanks for waiting," she says with a sheepish grin. "I couldn't resist."

[edgar_sawtelle]

Edgar smiles in understanding, then pulls his feet out of the water. By the time he's rolled his pant legs back down, his socks and shoes have found their way back on his feet (and his cape about his shoulders) and he's ready to go.

Taking Daine's hand, he leads her back up to the hallway. Where to next?

[wildmage_daine]

"It's your turn," she says, because fair's fair. "I wouldn't mind finding a way outside, though - if there even is one."

[edgar_sawtelle]

Pondering his choices, Edgar opts for a door on the right this time, just a little farther down from the one where they just stopped. The door opens directly onto a tight spiral staircase that winds up. Giving Daine a shrug, Edgar leads the way up it.

Eventually, they reach a trapdoor in the ceiling. Edgar pushes it open and climbs through, then turns to help Daine up.

They appear to be in a tower or turret. There is an opening all the way around, but nothing covering it. Over their heads, the conical roof is open at the top, revealing a sky full of stars.

It isn't quite outside, Edgar says. But it's nice. He walks over to the window to stare at the ground far below.

[wildmage_daine]

Odd's bobs, just how big is this place? She looks up with interest when Edgar shoves open the trapdoor, and gives him a nod of thanks when he helps her up.

"Oh," she says quietly as she takes in the little turret. It reminds her a bit of Numair's tower, though it's smaller - and far less cluttered. He's right about it not quite being outside, but it's close enough to be getting on with. There's a pleasant breeze blowing through the open windows, and the stars are bright overhead. She joins Edgar, smiling as she takes in the view. The lawns around the house are neatly sculpted, and she can see the pale curve of a gravel drive, but the landscape turns forested less than a mile out.

And in the forest, she can hear some of her friends. "How do you feel about bats?" she asks, wanting to make sure he's not frightened by them before she invites anyone over.

[edgar_sawtelle]

I don't mind them, Edgar replies, but I also haven't been around them much.

He smiles. Are we about to have company?

[wildmage_daine]

"... Maybe," Daine says, her smile turning distinctly sheepish. "I haven't invited anyone over, yet, but I could. There's plenty of the People out there - mostly bats and owls at this time of night."

[edgar_sawtelle]

Edgar has no problem meeting more animals with Daine around, and tells her so. Besides, he says, I've always wanted to see a bat or owl up close.

[wildmage_daine]

"Do you have a preference? Only I don't think the bats would want to be here at the same time as an owl." Owls aren't a bat's natural predators, but sometimes mistakes are made, and most bats wouldn't want to take chances.

[edgar_sawtelle]

You decide, Edgar replies. Truth be told, he's fair thrilled at the idea of meeting either.

[wildmage_daine]

Daine considers for a moment. "Owl first, I think." Owls are impressive, and Daine likes them, but there's no denying that they have a bit of a haughty streak. Besides, an owl probably won't want to stay as long. Bats, on the other hand, tend to be friendly and might task Edgar's patience if she lets them.

She listens to the forest, picking out a barred owl that isn't actively hunting before politely asking if it would like to come over. The owl agrees, and a minute later, it swoops up to land on the window ledge beside her.

"Edgar, this is Softwing. She's a barred owl." The owl, for her part, ruffles her feathers and blinks at Edgar.

[edgar_sawtelle]

The owl is gorgeous, and Edgar finds himself holding his breath respectfully. He dips his head a little - half nod, half bow - before gently taking Daine's wrist.

Can you tell her that I'm very pleased to meet her, he asks, feeling a little foolish even as he does so, and that she's lovely? It seems a silly thing to say to an owl, but it's the truth and he feels he should say something.

[wildmage_daine]

"Of course," Daine says, dutifully passing the message along.

Of course he is, Softwing replies, though Daine can feel genuine pleasure at the compliment lurking beneath the owl's cool exterior. It's not every day that a human expresses appreciation for her that she can actually understand. After giving Edgar an appraising stare, she says, He's well enough, for a two-legger. Quiet, she adds approvingly.

Daine's not sure if it would be rude to pass that last bit along, so she just says, "She likes you - says you're all right, for a two-legger."

[edgar_sawtelle]

Edgar can't help it - he all but beams at the compliment. Feeling strangely sheepish, he signs /Thank you./

[wildmage_daine]

Daine recognizes that one. He's thanking you, she explains to Softwing, who gives Edgar a solemn blink of acknowledgement. And I thank you as well. She's familiar enough with owls to know better than to try one's patience, even for something as innocuous as admiring it. Good hunting.

True to form, Softwing takes off without any further discussion, gliding low over the lawn as she heads back toward the forest. Daine watches her until she disappears into the trees, then turns to Edgar. "Bats?"

[edgar_sawtelle]

Edgar grins and nods enthusiastically, before leaning on the wall to peer out toward the trees. He doesn't want to miss incoming bats.

[wildmage_daine]

Daine waits until Softwing has put a bit more distance between herself and their tower, then calls for the bats. Some fly out of the trees, others were already flying over the lawn in a hunt for bugs, but they're all eager to meet Daine, and within a minute, she has a handful of hoary bats and almost a dozen pipistrelles clinging to her dress like little furry ornaments on a Christmas tree. One enterprising hoary has even landed atop her head, snuggled comfortably in her hair beneath her mask.

Daine smiles a bit sheepishly. Perhaps she should've warned him that they'd all land on her like this. "Most of them are pipistrelles," she explains quietly, mindful of their sensitive ears, "but the larger ones are called hoary bats."

[edgar_sawtelle]

They're... kind of cute, Edgar offers, somewhat surprised to discover as much.