TDM I

[thetonmods]

The Ton Test Drive Meme I

Welcome to the The Ton's first ever Test Drive Meme!

The game will officially open on the 1st of April (lol) and we will announce this via the game's Plurk account. Applications will open on this date - please do not submit an application before then as it will be ignored until the opening date.

Please note that the Test Drive Meme does not require an invite.

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Arrival

I. WELCOME

You don't remember when or where you fell asleep exactly.

Perhaps it's the tickling sensation of a low hanging tree branch brushing against your nose or the feel of the slightly damp grass underneath you that causes you to awaken but when you do you'll find yourself lying amongst a glade of wisteria trees. You're not alone - nymphs of the trees laugh and dance about you, clearly amused at the new arrival. Along with them, your new loyal servant is here on Pheme's bidding. How this servant looks is different to each arrival. Some are saddled with short, stout butlers, others are welcomed by towering, busty maids. Regardless of their appearance, they introduce themselves with a kindness and warmth that is simultaneously reassuring and strangely impossible to resist when they beckon you to follow them from the grove and out into the city of Andovale.

The closest structure within sight is the Palace and its grounds. It is here that the Lady Pheme resides and from here that she rules over the city, your servant explains to you. You have been selected and brought here personally by her. It is she who assigned the servant to guide you through the regency-inspired city that is your new home.

Eventually, they will bring you to your new residence within the outskirts of somewhere called the "Trade Quarter". You are now the resident of a room within one of the many imposing town houses which make up the Grand Crescent. Throughout your stay here the servant will be your own personal butler or maid. This is where all new arrivals will be living for the time being you are told. Your servant will also give you a crash course on life here and the concept of Thumos - the energy or life force that keeps Andovale and all life within it going - including you now that you are here. It's generated through acts of intimacy, whether that be physical or emotional.

Once you have been shown to your room, you are given two things: a network communication device and a letter. The letter reads as follows:

My dearest reader,

Welcome to Andovale.

The delights of our fair city are yours to explore.

I do hope that you make your stay here a most interesting one. I shall be frightfully disappointed if you do not - and we do not want that, do we?

You will hear from me again very soon.

Yours Truly,

Lady Pheme

You are free to wander about and explore the house and its surroundings as you please. It's certainly spacious enough. As well as your own quarters, each of the townhouses of the Grand Crescent have large communal areas, which includes the kitchens (although why you'd like to go there when your servant can fetch any delicacies you'd like for you!), a dining room, a parlour with its own small library, two drawing rooms (somewhere you can go to chill out basically - harp music anyone?) and a generously sized garden. Strangely, unlike most accurate regency townhouses, there do not appear to be any servant's quarters - perhaps these servants don't need to rest? Or they go somewhere else entirely for that.

Why not introduce yourself to your new housemates? Or enjoy some tea and cakes that have been prepared for you personally by your retainer, which they seem to keep insisting on bringing to you?

---

II. AN INVITATION

Your arrival coincides with the beginning of spring and with it the height of the ton's social season. What kind of social event can signify the start of this better than a grand ball?

Coincidentally you won't have long to enjoy your new home in peace and quiet. Wherever you are within the Grand Crescent your house's assigned butler or maid will track you down sometime during the day. They are not empty-handed and they carry a silver tray, upon which is an envelope with a wax seal bearing the letter "P". Inside the envelope is an invitation. An invitation from your benevolent ruler, Lady Pheme herself.

Each character will receive an invitation identical in wording to the one below:

MASKED BALL

YOUR CHARACTER'S NAME HERE


Is requested to attend the ball at THE PALACE, on 25th of March current, at 9 o'clock p. m.


Do not trouble yourself - masks will be provided upon your arrival.

Lady Pheme

You have already been told that an invitation to the Palace from the lady herself is the only way in. So if you want to find out anything about the tyrant lady then you better get yourself gussied up. Your servant can help you find something appropriate to wear - or not appropriate, the choice is entirely yours after all. The ball awaits.

Masked Ball

For the first time tonight, the gates of the Palace are open. Whether you're arriving on horseback, by carriage or on foot, you must travel through those gates and down a wide sweeping roadway, lined with immaculately trimmed hedges and roses bushes.

Stone steps and huge double doors greet you at the other end. Once you go through these doors, you will enter a grand entrance hall. You will see this room and the ballroom only. All other rooms are out of bounds and no amount of physical force or magic powers will get you to them.

In the short time that Andovale has been in existence, Lady Pheme has already built herself a bit of a reputation for being rather erratic when it comes to the Palace's interior. She seems to change it on a whim whenever she feels like it. She does so hate being bored after all. The colour scheme she fancies on this particular evening is black, white and silver. The many servants and attendants milling around are dressed all in white and are of course, wearing masks themselves. Every free surface is covered in grand flower arrangements, also in white.

Upon arrival, you are handed two very important items. The first is your dance card, the second is your mask. You will not be able to enter the Palace ballroom without both of these items.










The delight that is the dance card is key to every regency ball experience. Traditionally held by young women, at this ball everyone gets one. The dance card is used to record the names of those with whom you intend to dance each successive dance with at a formal ball such as this.

Got cold feet? Dancing not your thing? You might find that card being magically filled out for you. One second it's completely blank, the next you look down and find yourself with a list of delightful individuals with whom to show off your dance moves. (You have Pheme to thank for that - she's just looking out for you!)

Curiously, there is no sign of your generous hostess herself. Just a throne sitting empty at the top of the ballroom.

As for the masks, well... they're not quite what they seem too. It isn't as though you'll have any choice but to find that our for yourself. As previously mentioned, there's no entering the ballroom without one on. You might be able to persuade someone to swap masks with you or ask a member of the Palace stuff for another one - but they're all about as chaotic as each other.

Hey, at least the drinks are unlimited.

A typical regency ball usually ends around 5 in the morning so you might be here a while.

Note: The images below are just a guide, you can decide exactly what your mask looks like as long as it fits within the colour/animal category described.

Silver Mask

Simple and classic - unless you go for one of the more elaborately patterned ones.

The wearer of this mask will find themselves experiencing only the most pleasant of hallucinations. We'll leave the interpretation of that up to you.

You're also hungry. Really damn hungry.

Blue Mask

Masks of this hue will leave the wearer with an overwhelming sense of sadness. You're just plain bummed out.

Unless that is, you get yourself someone to dance with. In fact the only way to feel remotely normal or cheerful while you're wearing this mask is to dance the night away and you will feel compelled to do just that. Otherwise you're just going to be a giant sad sack all evening and nobody wants that.

Peacock Mask

Wow, so you like to make a statement, huh? Or maybe it was the only one within reach. Either way, nobody's going to fail to notice you in one of these.

Seriously. No, seriously, is it just you or is everyone staring at you? You know the mask is pretty garish in comparison to the others but this seems like an overreaction...

The truth is this mask makes you irresistible to others. So you have the personality of a shovel? Your problems are over, my chum. All of the ton will now be dazzled by your sparkling wit and the positively flawless way in which you conduct yourself. Everyone's laughing at your jokes, even when you didn't make one. Everyone wants to be the first name on your dance card. You might even find yourself with a couple of marriage proposals by the end of the night.

You lucky thing you.

Pink Mask

Two words: MEET CUTE.

Come on, it's everyone's favorite trope! You know that romcom hero or heroine who is delightfully and cutely clumsy? Always bumping into their future love interest? Well, this mask lets you become just that.

You know, after your third spilled drink of the night this could actually get really annoying.

Harlequin Mask

There is no such thing as privacy for those who end up with a harlequin mask. It may take you a while to realise (unless someone else takes pity enough to point it out to you) but this particular mask projects the wearer's innermost private thoughts onto the front of it for anyone else to read.

Let's hope you're not thinking anything too insulting. Otherwise, we might have a fight on our hands.

Cat Mask

This mask causes the wearer to start acting... well, like a cat.

Chasing shiny objects, randomly knocking glasses off the drinks table, rubbing yourself against somebody else's legs... all of that. You weirdo. What will it take to ward you off? A spray from a water bottle? A laser pointer? If only those had been invented...

Golden Mask

This mask will really amp up your Thumos production. When we say really, we mean really.

The slightest touch from another will suddenly feel like ecstasy to you. Even something as simple and bland as someone tapping you on the shoulder is liable to have you feeling weak at the knees.

Naturally this could get a little awkward if you've never even met the other person before. Oh well, at least they can't see your face properly.

Red Mask

Red is the colour of passion. That must be why you're passionately angry at that person. Specifically the first person you lay eyes on once you enter the ballroom. You might even say that they are your nemesis.

Does this person even know that they're your nemesis? Probably not. (Unless they just happen to also put on a red mask and lay their eyes on you at exactly the same moment!) It doesn't matter. Clearly they must be stopped.

Now no decent, upstanding member of the ton would condone actual violence of any kind. Particularly not at a high society soirée such as this. Your fighting must be sneaky, subtle - make them feel like they're simply not welcome here! Throw thinly veiled insults at their attire, literally throw one of the vol-au-vents at them when their back is turned, accidentlly spill your glass of lemonade in their lap... Do whatever it takes. Well, within reason.

How do you like them apples?

The bustling market of Andovale's Trade Quarter is known for having only the finest produce. This week there is a new stall that has never appeared before and it does not specialise in your run of the mill fruit and vegetables.

This particular stall is selling golden apples. In appearance they appear to be literally made of solid gold yet the beautiful woman minding the stall demonstrates that they are perfectly edible. In fact, they're downright delicious - you just can't stop yourself taking a bite. We would venture to say that they are probably the most delicious apples you have ever tasted.

They also come with side effects.

The legendary Golden Apples of the Garden of Hesperides were a wedding present to the goddess Hera from Gaia, the ancestral mother of all life. The apples promised immortality and anyone who ate them would never again experience hunger, thirst, suffering or illness... well, these apples are but a pale imitation of that. No, you won't become immortal but for exactly twenty-four hours after you've taken your first bite you will find that you don't need to eat, drink or rest. Your strength and stamina will increase tenfold and things that would normally cause harm to you cannot. Optionally, you may also be feeling extremely concupiscent, as the locals would put it - aka horny to you and me.

Somehow there's always a bad apple in the bunch though, right? Or several.

Unfortunately some of these apples are Apples of Discord. If you happen to pick one of these, one bite will still give you all of the traits mentioned above but for the next twenty-four hours you will find that unluckiness and chaos seems to shadow your every step...

So maybe you're passing beneath an open window and a maid accidentally empties a vase of water and some dead flowers on your head. Maybe you're in your local inn just trying to have a quiet drink but find that others are constantly trying to start a fight with you. Trying to get lucky with that special someone? Maybe certain parts of your anatomy just will not get with the program. And we advise you to maybe avoid carrying anything delicate and breakable for the next short while.

Wildcard

To assist you with inspiration our full list of Andovale's locations can be found here.

Want to play something that isn't listed here? Go ahead!

Please note that TDMs are considered game canon.

Both prospective and current characters who are already in game will be permitted to top-level on TDMs.

As your first port of call, we would recommend having a read of the premise page, as well as our rules. For any general game questions you may have which are not answered by the FAQ then please leave a comment on the FAQ page - for any questions specific to this TDM then please respond to the questions comment below.

Most importantly - have fun!

Comments

[floresco]

[ My handwriting... supplies her mask as Aerith looks at Essek's dance card, confused before his mention of their task of providing energy changes the mask's message to not this again, hoo boy. Lorcan mentioned that part quite a few times since he found her under the wisteria, and each time Aerith had done her best to ignore it. As expectations go, it's a very weighty one - intimidating even, though she does her best not to show how in over her head she feels.

Instead, she gives Essek a decisive nod, her eyebrows raising behind her mask ]

Well, I don't know if I can dance that fast, how about you?

[ Her bright eyes dart to the glass he takes a sip from, a longing do I wish I had one of those, replacing her mask's most recent message. ]

Have you learned anything else about this place?

[dunamagic]

[He cannot help but wonder if she is aware that she projecting her thoughts. Was it the mask or was she unaware of her telepathy? It could be a number of things and he cannot help but feel a growing concern for who else might be listening in to her. Essek was rather certain that his mask didn't come with mind reading abilities.

If he had a tail, it would be swaying slowly behind him.]

The dances of my homeland are mostly fast, but an.. ah, acquaintance [his tongue feels heavy on the word,] taught me one that is slower. And some about the ball, but the general location? Nothing more than the retainers have already offered.

[He follows her gaze, well more her line of thought.]

Wine before or after?

[floresco]

[ For all her talent when it comes to keeping a level expression on her face, the mask works hard to betray her, revealing a brief oh no as the subject of dancing fast gets lingered on. The mask continues as Essek speaks, I guess, if I have to dance with a stranger, at least he sounds like he knows what he's doing. ]

Before, I think. Lead the way?

[ She says, perking slightly. By which I mean - I know. Maybe it'll help with the dancing. Just don't let me step on this poor guy's toes- wait. When did I say anything about wine? Her eyes narrow behind her mask, but she steps to the side, falling in beside him as they head for the wine, the mask going a mile a minute while they walk, even as her smile lingers in place. I didn't say I wanted wine, did I? Can this guy read minds?! Ah shit. Okay, just don't think about anything weird Aerith, think about... Sandwiches. ]

[dunamagic]

[Well, that very clearly answers that. She has no idea of her telepathic ability nor that she is shoving her thoughts at people. Well, that won't do at all, yet he also doesn't want to embarrass her in front of everyone, so once they approach the bar, he takes a glass in hand.]

I believe there is one aspect about this place you should know about.

[With a nod he takes her to one of the terraces, so they might have a moment of privacy. Oddly, she reminded him of Jester, perhaps that's why there was a purr to his accent, a softer eyes behind his own mask.]

Let us talk privately for a moment. We can leave the doors open if that is more comfortable.

[floresco]

Oh?

[ Her voice is a little tighter than before, eyebrows raising beneath her mask while she takes the offered glass of wine out of his hands. He's reading my mind right now. At least he sounds like he's going to tell me about it. Oh no! You can hear me! Sandwiches, Aerith. ]

What's on your mind?

[ She asks, a few notes of nervous music threading through her words, but to her credit, the friendly smile on her face hasn't budged an inch. It's a hard-learned gift, but it might take her places in this world - or at least that could be the case had her mask not announced - Sandwiches. ]

[dunamagic]

[As they pass through the doors, Essek rubs his whole body against the jam for a second, like a cat scent-marking before further stepping onto the terrace. Scanning the area around them like a cautious animal, wary of people who might listen.]

Yes, sandwiches, I hear you.

[He has no intention to hide this, he only hopes to help her get whatever this is under control because Essek knows he would be absolutely loathe to be in her shoes. He would take his previous golden mask over whatever is going on here.]

You are projecting your thoughts-- rather loudly. Is that normal for you? Telepathy that is.

[floresco]

[ Wincing at his mention of sandwiches, Aerith ducks her head and puts on a little speed as they head onto the terrace. Yeah, I guess you do.

By the time they're facing each other, her expression's turned apprehensive though that quickly gives away to shock when he tells her she's the one broadcasting what she's thinking, rather tha ]

What do you mean? That's never happened to me before.

[ How is this happen-- The words are cut off as she pulls her mask from her face, needing a break from it as its presence only intensifies how overwhelming getting news like that is. ]

So not just you can hear what I'm thinking? It's this place, it has to be.

[dunamagic]

[Upon Aerith taking off her mask, Essek notices the sudden silence from her direction. His mind whirls quickly over the gathered information and the fact it may have stopped when she took off her mask--

Taking off his own, not much seems to change in his posture or presentation, but the almost predator aspect of his demeanor immediately melts away. He places a corner of the mask at his lips in thought.]

This is not a normal occurrence? Hm.. others were likely able to hear you too. [He pauses.]

Think about your favorite sandwich? I.. may know what's going on.

[floresco]

Would this be a normal occurrence for anyone?

[ While she might be a little too caught up in trying to think her way out of this problem to notice a specific change in him, some part of her is a little relieved when he takes his mask off as well, though if pressed she would chalk that up to having a face to speak to, rather than an elegantly appointed barrier.

Aerith looks off to the side thinking about how the night's gone for her, a few strange interactions suddenly not as bizarre. She's mortified and it shows on her face, but she makes herself meet Essek's eye again, nodding when he asks her to think about sandwiches.

Except, she doesn't think about sandwiches, deciding that if this is all part of some weird trial this place is foisting on her, she should start throwing curveballs. She thinks about going home instead because it's hard not to at a time like this. ]

Well? Can you tell me what I'm thinking about?

[dunamagic]

Where I am from.. telepathy is not a common ability, but there are magics and items that can allow for such capabilities.

[Essek does his best to keep an open mind, to receive any thoughts she might be transmitting, if perhaps her awareness is causing a block. Even with how mortified she looked not a second before, she seems to brave the task given to her. But he hears nothing, even with her meeting his eyes.

The main change in this situation is her lack of a mask. Nothing else seemed to change about her when she took it off, though not all masks change demeanor, but he also doesn't feel differently about her.]

I believe the mask causing your telepathic predicament.. Would you put it back on so we can confirm it?

[floresco]

[ She studies his face, wondering if she'll be able to catch any clues that he can still hear her thoughts as they waft between unsettled curiosity and longing for home, her friends, and the unfinished business she isn't sure can wait.

There's a moment when she looks incredulous at his suggestion that it's the mask that's giving her problems, briefly averting her gaze to frown down at it, shaking her head. ]

What a stupid party favor.

[ Aerith looks back up at Essek, giving a reluctant sigh before she does as he asks and pulls the mask down over her face. It's really one of those days, huh? ]

[dunamagic]

[Essek's eyebrows tick up at the sound of her voice in his head again. Well, that confirms it quite surely, it is the mask then.. Such powerful magics should require attunement, yet it seems to not be the case as she would be aware of it's affects if that were the case.]

Yes, one of those days indeed... I thought the gold mask was the worst of them, I think that yours, ah.. takes the pastry. [He means cake, but from his accent and his pause of thought, it seems that he's not speaking in his native tongue.]

Seems as if the masks here are capable of a great many things. [He lifts his black cat mask up.] This one seems to make one act as if a cat.

[floresco]

[ After he echoes her thoughts once again she's quick to pull the mask back off, shaking her thick braid of hair free from it once and for all, deciding that whether or not it was expected at this party she has no intention of putting it on again. ]

What's the gold one do?

[ Misery loves company, right? Thankfully even without answering that question, Aerith feels a little better when Essek tells her the strange influence the mask he'd been given had.

Despite everything she has to laugh, her gaze wide and skeptical as she looks first at his mask, and then at him, remembering the wine in her hand and taking a grateful sip from her glass. ]

Then I guess I should thank you for giving me this wine and not knocking it over! Do you think I could just stay out here all night, or go inside without it?

[dunamagic]

It was... hard fought not to. [He remembers the urge to knock over the glasses on the table.. to get on the table and sit there while knocking them over to make room for himself.

It was difficult to fight the urge of the mask, but he had convinced his inner cat that it would be messy and loud, both of which the cat in him seemed to agree about.]

The gold one.. ah, the one I was originally given tonight caused me to..hm, well experience touch to an exceptional degree. [It was like every touch was an erotic experience.] But at least with it you can.. avoid contact. One cannot really avoid forced projection of their thoughts.

[floresco]

[ Without question Aerith's mask has given her a lot of trouble tonight, but she still goes slightly wide-eyed while trying to imagine the weird night the people in the gold masks are having. ]

Maybe I won't feel so bad now, knowing I'm not the only one making a weird first impression tonight.

[ Aerith looks towards the party as she says it before turning back to Essek. ]

Say, how many masks have you gone through tonight? What do the other colors do?

[dunamagic]

[Essek cannot deny that dancing while wearing the gold mask left him with a definite problem. One that made him immediately start the mask trading game so that Caleb would be the only one to get such a... intimate dance with him.

Because he didn't want to have that again. Not because of Caleb. No.

He's glad he's not in Aerith's mask at the moment.]

Ah, this is my third. I also had the opportunity to wear the peacock mask, the only think I noticed different about it was.. I got more attention? As if people were more drawn to me?

[People's eyes are often drawn to his lilac skin and white hair, a drow in a room full of mostly humans draws attention. Yet, he seemed to draw more when he was wearing the mask.]

[floresco]

[ After thinking about the looks she's already gotten in her first mask, Aerith can't help but look a little apprehensive when Essek mentions what happened to him in the peacock mask. ]

Maybe I won't replace mine with that one. I think an audience would make me a somehow worse dancer.

[ Which, considering he's on her dance card, she can't help but flash him an almost apologetic smile following that remark. If they ever get around to dancing, she'll do her best not to get too caught up in the hem of her dress like her feet have been on the verge of doing all night.

She sighs, the hold she has on her mask tightening as she squares her shoulders determinedly. ]

I guess I have to just, think about sandwiches and try to grab a new mask, right? Unless you want to pick for me while I hide out here?

[ They both seem to have bad mask luck as it is, either way, how much worse could it go? ]

[dunamagic]

[Her worry for his feet would be unfounded as he had no intention of asking for a dance after the first instance. It was more to break the ice than for want to actually dance. Touch was something he struggled with and for the moment had no desire to engage in unless he has to.]

I found it a little unnerving when the person I traded with started to clap for me..

[It was a little flattering, but he felt like some kind of spectacle being clapped for turning around.]

Normally, I would offer to trade, but.. I really have no desire for even touching that mask. [Zero, and while he was willing to help her, he was not going to sacrifice himself.]

Hm, I will go -- my mask gives me a certain stealth advantage. [If he can resist knocking over glasses.] Do you have a preference? Other than not gold or that again.

[floresco]

[ Aerith brightens when Essek says he'll go for her, and she can't help but bounce slightly on the balls of her feet, hands clasping in front of her. ]

Really? I can't thank you enough. Consider me willing to go and get you drinks all night, I owe you!

[ As out of place as she finds herself at a fancy party like this one, she doesn't really want to have to hide out on the balcony all evening. This party might be strange to her, but she likes to think being here will help her pick up on how she's supposed to act to get by in this city that looks so weirdly out of time. ]

Maybe not the peacock one either, okay?

[dunamagic]

[She really did remind him of Jester in some ways, her brightness and carefree attitude seemed to bring a joy around her that he'd only ever seen from the blue tiefling. It made his heart ache for the one person he felt he could still call his friend.

He hoped at least.]

I may very well take you up on that, Ms. Gainsborough, until then it would be best to stay out of sight while without a mask. [Putting on his cat mask again, Essek's demeanor changes again, his body goes almost languid and tall, his eyes look unblinking and judgmental -- predatory. He doesn't even look away from her as he gently bats his whine glass off the balcony into the garden below.]

I will be back shortly.. [Acting as if nothing happened, he steps to the doors, opening them as he rubs full bodily against them and slips back into the crowd.

It takes a while, a good couple dozen minutes, enough that she might think he's not coming back from her. There are a couple shattering of glasses in that time inside, but no real sign of Essek or the mask he promised her. Not until he slips out onto the balcony once more, body rubbing against the door as he closes them.

Taking off his mask once more, he holds out a pink mask that should hopefully not clash with her dress too much. He's decidedly not liked this mask when he tried it on after snagging it, but thinks that perhaps it will suit her well enough.]

I kept tripping into people when wearing that.. [Not all the glasses broken by him were because of him being a cat.]

[floresco]

[ As he knocks the glass off the ledge, Aerith has to stiffen up, pursing her lips to hold in the laughter that immediately threatens. She doesn't want this very nice, very helpful person, to think she's laughing at him so much as she is the startling shift the mask brought on.

Managing a nod and a hum of acknowledgment, she makes it until Essek's off the balcony before a glance over the side where he'd let the thing fall sends her into a fit of giggles.

Considering how the night's been going for her, the laughter is a welcome reprieve from letting herself think about what her stupid mask has been sharing with people without her knowing.

By the time Essek returns Aerith's gotten her amusement back under control, and she lifts the offered pink mask curiously. ]

So it made you clumsy? Maybe that means I can sit all night and not worry too much about dancing!

[ Thoughtfully she looks back up at Essek, tilting her head. ]

If that's the case though, you're asking me to get you drinks all night at your own risk.

[ Aerith sounds cheerful enough that it should be clear she's teasing, but just in case she flashes him a wink before busying herself with situating the mask on her face. ]

Well? [ She lifts her head, settling it against her cheeks before stepping back and striking a pose. ]Is it alright? Can you tell what I'm thinking?

[dunamagic]

[Essek huffs an amused sound at her comment, because yes, he was probably decidedly not going to be asking her to get him drinks. After the second person he bumped into and spilled their drink, Essek had been done with that particular mask. He had a large personal bubble and bumping into people was... not enjoyable for him.

Still, it wasn't the worst of the masks.]

Yes, I think maybe we can just call your gratitude a minor favor to be called in at a later time. [Very minor, like asking for whiskey one night later.]

It suits you well, pink compliments your undertones well.

[And taking a random guess at what she is thinking, he wryly comments:] And.. ah, actually, I am not much of a sandwich person.

yours to wrap or wrap here?

[floresco]

No sandwiches this time! I guess this mask is a success.

[ Aerith laughs in relief, adjusting the mask on her face as she shakes her head and takes a step back, nearly stumbling as she feels the pointed goes of the satin evening slippers Lorcan made her wear out, get a little tangled up in the hem of her long dress.

Thankfully apart from a moment of faltering, she stays on her feet, reaching for her wine to take another restorative sip. ]

Wanna people watch with me for a little while?

This is perfect

[dunamagic]

[Essek gives her a soft smile, this one less edged with condensation and mystery. It made be because she reminds him of Jester or perhaps her own charms, but he was starting to like her and the idea of spending time people watching was not off putting at all.

Placing his own mask back on, his demeanor changes again, but he slinks up beside her with his own new glass and nods.]

Though, if I end up rubbing up against you, please know it.. ah, has no greater meaning than as if a cat were to.

[Because he was barely suppressing the urge to do so and would eventually fail.]

Come, let's see what the mice are up to.

[And he leads the way.]