tragic_mask | Le Masquerade

[ooc: please go first to the Through the Door thread. Thanks.]

ETA: As of this thread, all new threads in the masquerade are now after midnight [the links below are now re-linked to after-midnight sub-threads]. React at your leisure.

The ballroom itself is a burst of dazzling light. Hanging from the vaulted ceiling are two gold-wrought chandeliers, both of which glow brightly over the occasion, and tall lanterns shine throughout the room.

The grand staircase descends with a flourish and opens onto the main ballroom. A balcony, which providing a clear view of the goings-on below, runs all the way around the edge of the room. It can be reached via any of the four spiral staircases in each corner of the ballroom.

Below, the wooden dance floor flickers gently in the light from above, and musicians in the side room play soft, classical music. Meg Giry, the dance mistress for tonight, is on the floor with a microphone in hand.

A low, wooden bar in the corner provides hors d’oeuvres and drinks to revelers; small tables for two sprinkle the area.

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And it's so much all at once that her eyes blurred. And the girlwomanstill so much a child, was afraid she might cry. Because she had seen something that no mortal should see.

She is dancing with something that escapes her scope. Something someone might very well pray to.

"I think it is right, to be kind." She finally found her voice, feet moving slowly.

"Sometimes." He offers a reassuring smile. "Tonight, for sure."

Thea took a graceful step back, forward; all the moves seemed to make sense now.

"There is a moral matter in that point. Does everyone deserve kindness?"

"Mortals always do at some time or another." And he knows that she saw, knows she knows what he is. "But sometimes there are lessons to be learned."

It is for that reason her dancing has become more respectful. That of a child acknowledging an elder, wiser relative. Or a witch with something beyond them; something that had to be respected at all costs.

"There is someone I must stop. When my door comes back. And I don't know if I have the strength."

The truth of the matter spilled from her, but she didn't pause in the dancing. It was impossible to stop.

"I love her like a sister."

He doesn't stop dancing, but he looks at her with old, old eyes.

"More reason to stop her, then. There's more ways to save a girl than one."

"She's Aphrodite incarnate."

The sound of blasphemy. Blasphemy was not a word Witches used, Thea knew. But somehow it seemed wrong to say it to one such as him.

"She can't stop destroying human men. It's in her nature. And there's no law against it..."

Doubt crept into her voice, she let her feet lead her, considered her true feelings on the matter.

"But it's not right."

He tilts his head at her, birdlike.

"Aphrodite incarnate. The goddess herself?"

"Not technically. But that's what she's like."

The lady tipped her masked face, seeming thoughtful, her grace momentarily stumped.

"There's a tale of Maya and Hellewise our ancestors. Hellewise was good and gracious. Maya went bad."

Beat.

"Blaise is often compared to Maya. Looks like her too."

"And why is it your task alone to bring her down?"

There are several moments with no words spoken, just the slowness of the dance. Even with the mask, the shame on her face is clearly visible.

"Where I come from, it isn't seen as wrong to hurt a human."

"...I see." The disapproval there isn't of her. "The stronger race, and you r people hurt the weaker?"

"Not all of us. Most witches are alright." In Gran and some others she had seen kindness towards normal people.

"But shifters, werewolves, the vampires and others..." She trailed off.

"It's a moot point anyway, since my door isn't there. But a moral dilemna that has plagued me since my arrival here."

Because humans were just like her...some of them even understood.

"The door won't be gone forever", he says with a nod.

"On that you are right." And it brought a whole slew of worries back to the witch.

She pushed them away. "But tonight, is for dancing."

"Of course", he says, shrugging away the previous conversation easily, and spinning her.

Thea laughed carelessly. Tonight was for dancing, indeed.

She played her part very well. The maiden, spinning and following his lead; dancing with a grace fashioned from years of yoga and paying attention. And for a while, she forgot how lonely she was, forget how terribly much she missed Viktor and simply allowed herself to be.

Le Masquerade

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