Britwitch's Annual Hallowe'en Party 2014

[Britwitch]

The doors creak open with a suitably spooky whine, the candles that light the way dancing eerily in the gloom.

Along the long corridor that leads from the front door to the main hall the walls are decorated with chalk boards.

Along the way are several blank boards with baskets of colours chalks, a silent invitation for guests to leave their own messages. Such boards can be found through the castle too.

Black and white ribbons and streamers hang from chandeliers and candelabras, fluttering as people wander by. The colour scheme continues, pumpkins carefully carved at the Autumn Retreat glow in the shadows, many painted white or black with others left to provide a splash of colour.

The whole of the castle is open for guests, rooms on the upper floors have been made available for those wishing to sleep or...for other purposes.

There are many halls to explore, twisting stairways to climb and secrets to discover.

The hall is large and a well dressed band in the corner will take requests for songs for those wishing to dance their way to the witching hour.

Tables are laden with goodies of all kinds, staff carefully chosen for their ability to blend into the background will make sure the food and drinks never run out.

A bar in the corner is already serving many cocktails with a halloween theme.

All are welcome here and warmly so. Costumes are always fun but not a necessity.

And so as the party starts your hostess is around, giggling somewhere in the shadows no doubt, so please...enjoy yourselves and let the party begin!​

 

[Britwitch]

Brit can hardly contain her excitement. It's one of her favourite times of the year - Halloween.

The music is subtle, enough of a beat to dance should one wish but quiet enough to provide a soft soundtrack to a conversation and nothing more.

Eyes sparkling in the darkness she waits for her guests.

Her costume this year is hardly scary but she felt it suited the venue. She's Cinderella, or at least, she is to a point. She's worked hard to make the evening a success and now she gets to go to the ball.

A heavily beaded dress with voluminous skirts covers the equally encrusted corset beneath it, making the most of her curves. It's a ballgown, nothing less, and Brit loves it a little more than perhaps she should.

She can't wait to see the costumes everyone else wears and hopes that the party will be as good, if not better, as those of past years.
It promises to be a great event.

Ordering a drink from the bar, she waits. Swaying slightly to the music.

 

[thestruggle]

She doesn't normally dress up fancy like this, but she's always wanted to go... a little mad. The dress is long and virginal and white, but the innocent paleness that radiates outwards from her is offset by dark touches. Here and there. Eyes dark and wide in her face, nails tipped with black, and brows winged against the blonde of her wig. A clever one, though - there's probably a reason for the subterfuge. Maybe. She stops in an alcove and studies the effect of her lipstick. Awfully dark on such small features. Her tongue is stuck out in silly defiance before she sneaks back out into the action. This time, she drinks in the surroundings with all of her senses.

Oh, this is so neat.

She beams, momentarily forgetting about her costume and "character." The color scheme is cheerful enough but the dipping of the candle flames lends a creepy air to the proceedings. Music spills out from the corner and she snags a cake pop in the shape of a small skeleton when she passes the refreshments table. As she's about to raise it to her mouth to nibble on, she realizes that doing so will spoil her lipstick. Flummoxed, she glowers at the treat before catching sight of Brit in all her glittering loveliness.

My, my... I would say something about dresses disappearing at midnight, but you look so lovely and why spoil the jokes that someone else is probably dying to make?

Tess laughs and swishes her skirt just to hear it move. A delicate kiss is placed on a freckled cheek, and she finally gives into the temptation of the morsel in her palm. Compromise reached, she breaks off a small piece of cake and sighs happily. It's delicious, and it gives her a moment to watch the candlelight playing on the beads that adorn the pretty Witch.

Thank you, for this. This is wonderful, and you are too. It's going to be great fun!

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

Brightwell stands near the bar. Watching the crowd slowly start to form. He walks over to the Bar. "Ah, Blood MaryPlease!" He turns and waves. Then smiles broadly. He turns and picks up his drink. Then tries it.
"AHHH...just like mother used to make. Mighty fine. Yes in deed, mighty fine."

He turns and looks over the crowd.

 

[Britwitch]

Brit smiles and waves at Brightwell, happy to see someone enjoying themselves, before beaming at Tess, a vision in white.

Thank you, lovely, and you look stunning.

The kiss is returned, Brit's sparkling lip gloss leaving a glistening patch on her flawless complexion, before she draws an excited breath. The action bolstering her cleavage for a second and serving to boost the sparkle in her eyes.

I'm so excited. I love this time of year and it's always fun to see who comes and who or what they come as!

 

[Scuttle Buttin']

The mist in the valley seemed oddly appropriate as he moved through it, like the gas drifting through a countryside shredded by war. The castle loomed ahead, bright in the darkness, dominating a landscape that, given the height of the trees, was not exactly easy to dominate. Sometimes, all it took was a force of will, the decision made that the upper hand would be taken. And then, it had to be taken.

There was a sense of wetness underfoot, mist clinging to blades of grass and fallen leaves that both muffled his steps and changed the sounds of them. He was darkness in the dark, the muted moonlight and polluted photons straying from the castle doing little to illuminate him on his path. The amount of black he wore was a part of the reason for this, functioning as a disguise about as well as it did as a costume. In front of him, just above his navel, a pendulum swung in the darkness, a dance of physics to the music made by the step of feet, the shift of hips, the sway of arms. If one listened very carefully, if one dared get close enough to the strange figure that approached the light-flooded exterior of the castle to do so, they might be able to hear the oddly muted tone of his breathing. A signal that, despite the almost inhuman appearance, there was a person inside there. Somewhere.

The door was approached, dark gloved hands closing around the handle and pulling it open. A wedge of light spilled out, like water offered passage by the breaking of a dam, and music was right on it's heels, dragging distant conversation along behind it. To his ears, the sounds were dimmer, more distant, but still he stood for a moment in the doorway and listened, sifting through the sounds for artifacts he recognized. A hidden, fleeting smile came to him as he thought he hit upon a couple.

Stepping sideways through the open door, he reached both hands behind him, covered fingertips light against the heavy wood of the door as it closed slowly, silently behind him. Behind the wide, dark lenses his eyes moved, taking in the diminished scene in front of him. The refreshments would post a problem, of course, but there would be time worry about that later.

Moving towards the main hall, his head turned slowly, smoothly side to side, taking in the decorations and the mounted chalk boards. His pace slowed even further, then sputtered to a stop when he came upon a series of blank boards. Turning, he squared his shoulders with the board, the bug eyes of his mask pointed first in the direction the music and voice poured from, then to the empty path he'd just traversed, and the closed door at the end of it. Smiling behind his mask, he took a step forward and lifted a piece of chalk...

...sometimes he does things he's sorry for later. Sometimes he doesn't think the way he should. That doesn't happen very often, but sometimes it does.​

The chalk was replaced, and the expressionless mask that made up his face stared up at the writing for moment longer. The scrawl was unsteady, uneven, the various words and even individual letters of varying size and orientation along a fractured horizontal plane across the board. Reaching out with his gloved hand, he pressed the pad of the thumb and forefinger against the surface of the board, leaving smudged and inhuman fingerprints behind from where he'd held the piece of chalk.

Turning at last away from the board, the final distance to where everyone has gathered was consumed in the same slow, drifting pace with which he'd approached the castle. Stopping just inside the doorway, he surveyed the scene in front of him. The sight of a couple of familiar, although altered, faces drew a hidden smile on his face, though the only indication of a change in his expression was a slight tilt to his head.

Just in front of his navel, the pendulum swung slowly back and forth, consuming the rest of it's momentum.

 

[TinyDuchess]

“Late, late … late. Always LATE!” She muttered to no one other than herself, as she made her way along the cobbled pathway. Her voice, though soft, seemed stark and loud in the silence of the night. No other sound could be heard for miles.

As she continued her trek towards the castle, her feet ached slightly - the soft soles of her gold brocade shoes offering little support to her steps. It occurred to her then that perhaps she ought to have thrown caution to the wind and opted to be carried in on a divan borne by four able-bodied males. Dressed as she was such an entrance would certainly be fitting, though perhaps somewhat … ostentatious.

Speaking of the wind, she shivered momentarily as the chilly evening air caressed her skin. Her light blue silk pantaloons rode low on her hips, while her rose pink chemise with its delicate pearl buttons stopped just beneath her bust, leaving her arms and midriff bare. A shimmering gauze veil embroidered with rose buds sat atop her head secured by a gold and pearl comb, its length flowing behind her as she walked. Yards of fabric, and yet it all did little to keep her warm.

There was little sense in fussing about it, as she was now only steps away from the doors. She considered for a moment how she would go about opening them as her hands were laden with treats. To her surprise they opened before in welcome, as if some unseen force had heard her thoughts. Stepping inside she took in her surroundings, smiling brightly as a wave of excitement coursed through her. If there was ever a place to enjoy one’s first Halloween, this certainly seemed to be it!

Setting down the twin trays in her hands at the dessert table, she turned back to admire the room. As she flexed her wrist in hopes of brushing off the dull ache that lingered from carrying her offering, the gold bracelet that encircled her wrist caught her eye and brought a smile to her lips. Gold bracelets adorned each of her wrists and ankles. Though thin as threads, they affirmed a singular truth – in this place she was no longer a Duchess but slave to whatever may come.

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

After the first night of hard partying Brightwell slumps in a chair looking bleary eyed at the party goers. He fell asleep around 3 in the morning. He scratches his head, stretches while still in the chair. Who was that wild woman that kept raising her skirt to him. He looks around but does not see her.

He finds a little strenth and stands up, though not very quickly. He tries to refocus his eyes with some moderate success. He moves through the room almost tripping on a rolled up rug. "That is different. " he says lightly. Thankfully the lights are low and he makes his way to the main hall. He sees what he is looking for. A wooden sign boldly anouncing 'Gentlemen's". He walks in and finds the place empty. He finds a stall closes the door and passes out.

 

[Britwitch]

The best thing about parties like this was never quite knowing who was who, until they spoke or came up close at any rate. The shadows and dancing light from the candles meant everything seemed that much more mysterious and magical.

Bright smiles were thrown towards those she recognised instantly, like the gorgeous lady who just entered. Sweet treats added to the table and a suitably pretty costume for a pretty lady.

Then slightly more cautious ones for those she couldn't immediately identify, like the figure who entered before the Duchess. Masked and clothed so his figure wasn't entirely clear, she had a hunch who it might be but the lifeless 'eyes' of the mask were giving little away and so 'he' was given smile and an incline of her head - all guests were welcome after all.

The jewels on her dress tinkling as she moved, Brit headed first for the band. She had a request to put onto their list. It was a great song that never failed to make her smile and fitted the evening rather well too. Plus it was fun to sing along with even if she didn't have anyone to dance with whenever it was played.

Next, she stopped by the food table to try and pick a morsel to nibble on that wouldn't put too many crumbs down her cleavage.

 

[saysalice]

Stepping out of the car just outside the castle gate, the swell of the music and the murmur of conversation reaches her ears through the open door. In windows and lining the front hall she glimpses the tell-tale twinkle of candles and merry jack-o-lanterns. Of course the party has started! She's fashionably late, as is becoming her MO. The kiddies in her neighborhood have all been treated, and now it's her turn to take her chances on this night of mischief.

But she can't enter like this! To promise "creepy" and then to show up as herself would make some sort of statement, sure, but...it's only one night a year, and she does love the dress-up bit.

She sees her chance with the timely return of one of the staff members, and bribes her way to a quiet entrance through a back hall. Retrieving her costume, she even manages to persuade the pretty hireling to assist her with the trickier parts of dressing and makeup.

Yes, she's gone the macabre route again...she just can't resist the pull of the ghastly, this time of year. As it's a Lounge party, she's tried to tip the scales at least partly in favor of sexy, but...well, "sexy" is so subjective anyway, isn't it?

Steadying herself in front of a mirror in one of the dark bedrooms to pop in a pair of opaque black contact lenses, a gasp is jerked out of her as her genial attendant laces her tightly into a black satin underbust corset. Pausing to catch her breath and blinking the contacts into place, she glances again at the picture that's inspired her costume, and hopes she's made the right wardrobe choices.

One problem with the photo is that the model in it doesn't appear to be wearing anything from the waist down. It is Halloween, and a Lounge party, and she expects to be amongst friends, but...she's not quite that adventurous.

"Anyway," she mutters to herself, "there'll be food around - that's just not sanitary!"

She's opted to pair the corset with a matching satin panty and thigh-high patent leather boots. Over it all, she'll wear a black leather duster, for a bit of modesty. Of course, it will leave her breasts bare...sort of.

Checking the clock, she groans worriedly and sets to work, pinning her hair up in a chignon and beginning to apply the somewhat complicated makeup and effects. Before she has her look completed, she shoos her helpful assistant out of the room, swearing her to secrecy - it's a night for surprises. She just hopes this one won't be too...discordant.

Finally ready, she throws open the bedroom door and sneaks one last glance back at her reflection.

Grinning incredulously, she murmurs, "Jeeze, I look like I've switched sides..."

But there's no time to think about that now.

Anyway, my friends know me better.

She clatters down the stairs, holding tight to the bannister in these heeled boots, and she flicks the wrist of her other hand to toss and absently catch a pretty little laquered box.

As the main hall where the other guests have gathered comes into view, she pauses to take in the lovely sight of them...oh, there is magic in this, it's her favorite holiday, too. But so far, no one else has gone gruesome.

Well - there is some creep lurking about in a gas mask.

Suddenly she decides she needs a drink - just one. She steps up to the bar and speaks quietly to the bartender, not ready to draw attention to herself.

"May I have one of those cocktails with the black vodka? I've always wanted to try it. But not too strong, please - in this costume, I really don't want to get...uh...hammered - oh - wow - God!"

She bursts into giggles at the inadvertent pun, and reaches for the drink with a grateful smile. "And a straw too, if I could, please?"

Taking a deep breath, she pushes away from the bar to approach the other partygoers, slipping the puzzle box into a coat pocket so that she can wave shyly at their absolutely stunning hostess.

"Heya! Happy Halloween, everybody! You all look so wonderful - I guess I stick out like a sore..." she glances down at herself pointedly and shrugs, "...thumb. But, you know - variety, and all that."

She winks at Brit and pauses to sip at her drink - it's maybe a little stronger than she would have made it.

"Brit, this is amazing, I love it - I had no clue, when I saw you with the chalk! Everything is perfect, you've outdone yourself!"

 

[havinfun50]

It's a simple costume, a plain white T-shirt, blue jeans and sneakers. Nothing fancy, but a simple placard strung over my neck hangs across my chest "ERROR 404, Costume Not Found" written in large bold letters.

I I enter and wander through, I wave and say hello to Alice, Tiny Duchess and thestrugle, before greeting SB and Brightwell. I make my way to the hostess and politely give my thanks for her generosity.

"Thank you Ms. Britt, it's a fabulous party, and as usual you have done a fantastic job setting the mood." I give her a warm hug ask a passing waiter for a drink as I mix into the crowd.

 

[Scuttle Buttin']

Commotion is all around, seemingly increasing with each beat of the music issuing forth from the band. Behind lifeless lenses, he watches it all , the tilt of his head unchanged, silent and strange curiosity in his posture. In what could be considered his features. A princess with skin that seemed unusually white... though he didn't have much room to talk when it came to unusual, did he? A princess of another sort, it seemed, this one bathed in swinging, tinkling crystals. The hostess, of course, the one who arranged this little shindig.

He thought of the hedge maze. Behind his mask, he followed her movements as she seemed to float through the room. Under the black hood that covered his head, obscuring any sign of hair that may or may not exist there, he watched her smile in his direction, and he saw instead the hedge maze of time gone by, and her in it. And he smiled his own hidden smile in return.

He is about to approach the hostess, or perhaps her pale friend, when another comes into view. He blinks at the sight that filters through the goggles of the mask, and just inside the doorway he shakes his head once, slowly. Almost imperceptibly.

He could approach her straight away, though without the ability to do much in the way of speaking it would be perhaps too forward. And he has decided, while he wears this mask, to be true to the character he has formed here. They all create them, this group, characters of all stripes. More than a few that wear stripes a time or two, as well. And so, if any were to appreciate commitment to a character...

Well. Eventually they would, maybe.

He moves from the doorway he entered through finally, the soles of his shoes silent on the castle floor, muffled entirely be the mixed sounds of chatter and the music from the band. The exact direction of his gaze, behind the empty eyes of the mask, is all but impossible to discern, but the direction is clear: the crystal-wearing one, the pale one, the newcomer so on display, all three remain under his survey as he circles around the outside of the gathering. Just above the buckle of his belt, the pendulum has taken to swinging again.

His slow circuit is bringing him gradually closer to them, and he cuts into the crowd to erase a little more of that distance. His shoulders shift and pivot, guiding his body past small gatherings of people sipping drinks and laughing merrily. He is aware of glances, of hesitations in conversation as he passes even with his reduced hearing, but he pays them no attention. His focus is clear.

Finally, he reaches the small group of women, the crowd between them having been discarded, dissolved away. A small expanse of floor stretches between them, precious few feet separating him from their group. He remains silent, he has every intention of remaining silent. Closer now, much closer, he watches them as the end of the hose slows in it's sway, robbed once more of momentum. His head tips. His gloved hands flex, and relax. Behind the mask, he breathes slowly, and watches them.

 

[Britwitch]

The atmosphere is building nicely. People slipping in through the door, each smile that creeps onto their faces boosts her own. She loves planning these things but loves even more when people come and enjoy her hard work. She almost wants to bounce and clap her hands with glee but she manages to restrain herself. Just.

A hug comes from a relatively subtle costume wearer that makes her grin.
"Thanks, what can I say, I love a good party!"

Eyes widen then as a familiar face approaches in an amazingly eye catching costume.

"Alice! Wow! I want to hug you but...!" she giggles "not sure about getting fake blood on this dress, I have to give it back after the party...that is, if it doesn't turn into a tatters when my rental runs out." A wink of blue eye and then a slightly hesitant smile as she senses someone else getting nearer.
Someone silent.

"And thanks, I figured the chalk would look good and, you know, be kinda apt. I am a teacher after all."

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

He found himself in the 'Gentlemen's room". That had been a wild first night. Brightwell straightens his clothes. He walks out to to the main hall and goes out to his car. A garment bag lays across the back seat. It would not due to be seen in the same costume he had first arrived in. He carries the garmet back inside. He reenters the main receiving area and tells Britwitch. "I'm going upstaires to change." She waves at him and he climbs the stairway to the second floor.

 

[prettyserpentine]

Adjusting the rather realistic crow onto her shoulder and smoothing her hair black, her eyes a little wide and black, seemingly soulless and vacant, she hurries up the cobbled entrance to the castle.

Crap, I'm late, stupid work keeping me from my favourite holiday...

Slipping the door open and silently entering, hoping it doesn't creak too loudly as she closes it behind her, she glances around at the chalkboards, a smile creeping across a face that isn't made up for smiling tonight. It's perfect. Just perfect. And all the black and white suits her own outfit just wonderfully.

The lights illuminate her ghostly painted skin, almost a porcelain quality, the little cut along her shoulder blade oozing slightly down and over her 'just enough' exposed cleavage. She smoothes down the skirts of her dress, takes a deep breath and silently approaches the group of revellers, lifting a glass of ... something ... along the way. Her shoes make no announcement under her floor sweeping skirts, and she sneaks a candy before pressing a little kiss to Brit's cheek in greeting.

So sorry I'm late... The place looks wonderful. Everyone looks wonderful! Happy Halloween!

Widened eyes survey everyone's gorgeous costumes and a small smile belays the larger one that lurks within.

I'm excited!

 

[Britwitch]

Warm lips press against her cheek and she gasps in fairly genuine surprise before turning to see yet another face she'd hope to find at some point during the festivities.

"Hi!" She hugs the black and white clothed lovely, being careful not to knock the crow on her shoulder. "Great costume, by the way, and better never late than never, I always say."

She looks around with a happy sigh, so many friends in one place. New and old. It always feels so good to see people getting together like this.

"And don't forget, the whole castle is ready for exploration. Rooms and corridors, plenty of creepy shadows and tempting closed doors." She giggles, making no attempt to hide her own glee. She lowers her voice to a mock whisper, attempting a serious expression for a moment or two. "They say the castle is haunted so who knows what you might find if you go wondering off by yourself. Of course, who knows what you might find if you go exploring with another as well!" An utterly wicked giggle this time with a completely salacious smile.

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

Bright lights?

Brightwell finds a bedroom to change in. The room is dark so he feels around the wall for the wall switch. He finds it and the room floods with light. It blinds him for a few seconds. He raises his arm to create a shadow and keep some of the glare outof his eyes. Slowly he moves to the side out of the focused spot light.

Now he can see the room better. He walks over to a recorder that is sitting on a peice of furniture behind the light. He turns it on .


Take off your clothes and lay on the bed!

Brightwell changes in the semi-darkness behind the bright light. Then as he is pulling up his pants. The bedroom door opens. He see the woman from the night before. The one that had raises her skirt in front of him.

Take off your clothes and lay on the bed! the recorder repeats

 

[TinyDuchess]

She had taken up residence in the far corner of the room closest to the bar. She stood quietly, occasionally sipping at the drink in her hand while looking out across the room at the animated faces. The crowd was no doubt lively, some chattered trying to be heard above the music while others danced to its beat. Her own hips moved and swayed rhythmically, changing in pace and tempo every time the songs changed. She had the vague realization that her movements might appear all the more exaggerated due in no small part to her costume. But oh well, it was a party after all; a little bad behavior ought to be allowed if not expected.

Of course misbehaviour was more difficult to accomplish on one’s own. Standing by herself was quickly growing old; and in any case people watching was always that much more fun when standing in a group. There’s little to no fun to be had in being a wallflower, she reminded herself. Having made up her mind with that thought, she made her way across the room to a group of familiar friendly faces. As she made her way through the congregation of bodies, she offered smiles to those that offered nods and greetings. She made a special effort of walking in a wide circle around the masked individual that stood just a few feet away from her intended destination; and cast the figure a wary glance before turning her attentions to the hostess.

“Haunted, you say?” she couldn't help be ask having arrived just in time to catch the tail end of the conversation. Looking around the room, she gave a casual shrug. “Seems safe enough to me, so long as there are other people around. Not sure I’d be brave enough to go wandering about, even if it was with someone else.”

 

[Scuttle Buttin']

The tilt of his head was altered, first one way as a newcomer approached, then back as yet another joined the group. The hose connected to his mask bobbed a little, uneven swaying at the center and the end of it giving it an oddly disjointed appearance. The numbers of the group had swelled considerably since he first began watching, a fact that... pleased him. The more the merrier, the saying went, though there was little about his appearance that seemed merry.

Turning his feet and shifting his shoulders, he moved at last, walking a slow and silent circle around the gathering of friends. The circular goggles that made up the eyes of his mask, and hid the true ones beneath, focused first on the girl with the bird on her shoulder, all skirts and macabre. She was somehow both a contrast and an accompaniment to those already gathered, slipping effortlessly into the circle of people.

Halfway around his orbit of the group, his focus turned to the last new arrival, all exposed dark skin and flowing silk. More contrast and accompaniment, and beneath his mask he smiled a little. Secret, hidden, he realized short of overt movements, he could do virtually anything beneath the mask and it would remain unknown to anyone who watched him.

Most of the way around in his slow circle now, he slowed to a halt and aligned his shoulders with the chattering companions. The fabric of his hood moved as his head tipped again, and his black gloved hands disappeared behind his back, where they clasped loosely together. With a new angle, and even more people to set in his dark lenses, he stood just a few feet from their circle again, and watched.

 

[TinyDuchess]

Everyone knows that feelings are all subjective by nature; illusions and convictions created from within, grounded solely by personal beliefs. Very often they are nothing more than self told lies used to offer reassurance. Had she taken such knowledge into account when speaking earlier she may have been more selective in her choice of words.

As the masked figured drew nearer - walking in a slow circle around her new found congregation, staring seemingly blankly ahead out of lifeless oculi - she couldn’t help but fidget somewhat nervously. She had the distinct feeling of being very much like prey being assessed by a predator. Drawing herself fully upright, her back rigid at the effort, she did her best to avoid that blank gaze.

 

[Britwitch]

The band were awesome, she'd have to remember them for the next party she threw. Blue eyes moved around the circle of chatting friends, marking people off the RSVP list in her head. A few faces were yet to show, busy lives keeping them from the festivities no doubt.

One face in particular was conspicuous in his absence. A face she'd been hoping to see, more than a little. She felt a pang of sadness that he might be too busy to attend, the real world could be such a pain at times.

Her eyes fell on the swinging nozzle of the masked stranger who had been circling them eerily for a little while. His silence and head tilt was all perfect for the event but more than a little unnerving. Chewing her lip for a second a smile then started to grow on glittering lips.

Perhaps her missing guest wasn't so missing after all. Maybe hidden in plain sight. She could be wrong, of course, she often was.
But she was the hostess after all and it was rude not to welcome a guest properly.

"Maybe we could all go exploring together, safety in numbers and all that." She grinned, making a step towards the black eyed figure beyond their circle. Her dress tinkling as the movement set the crystals swinging. Her entire outfit sparkling in the candlelight.

"What do you think?" She asked, cocking her head at the mask with a quirked brow. "See what lurks in the shadows, who's hiding behind their masks?"

 

[TinyDuchess]

The sense comfort and ease that had so quickly fled her, once again settled itself upon her shoulders as the radiant lady beside her spoke. The gentle twinkling of her gown in the candlelight only served to enhance the sparkle of her friendly smile. The playful mischief that danced in her eyes was too much to refuse.

“I’m up for a little exploration, if you are.” She said with a decisive nod of her head, unable to stop the smile that tugged at the corners of her mouth.

At the mention of masks, her gaze followed the delicate tilt of her companions head, over to where the masked figure still stood … staring whilst almost unmoving. Casting one more wary glance in that direction, she turned her gaze back to her friend and gave her a brave, albeit shaky smile.

“Alright then.” she said, as she held out her hand. “Shall we?”

She stifled a giggle as a sudden thought crossed her mind …

What would they find on their newly started expedition? Lions and tigers and bears ? Oh my!

 

[Britwitch]

Taking the offered hand, Brit smiled a little brighter at the others and threw a wink towards the black eyed mask.

"I'm sure we won't be gone long but well be upstairs if anyone wants us..."

Leading her companion over to a table, she picked up an ornate candelabra with five candles flickering brightly in it's holders. The light illuminating them both, highlighting her crystals and making the veil that danced behind her friend's head shimmer.

Making sure she didn't trip over the bottom of her dress, they started up the large staircase at the rear of the hall. It split in the centre and curved off into two matching spirals. Each leading to a different wing of the house.

After a moment's pause, they headed up the right set of stairs. Higher and higher until they reached the corridor at it's peak. The music was almost too quiet to be heard up hear. The hum of conversation non existent. There was just the sound of their breathing, the tinkle of her dress and the swish of her friend's costume.

It seemed darker too. The lanterns on the walls throwing small circular patches of dancing light on to the floor. Doors lining the corridor at irregular intervals.

"Maybe we should open one...?" Brit suggested quietly, almost afraid to make a noise in case they disturbed anyone. Or anything.

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

The woman shades her eyes from the bright light. "I'm not in the mood for this. Turn down the lights!"


Take off your clothes and lay on the bed!the recorder repeats.

The woman looks angy now. She still has her arm up blocking the light. Then she turns and starts to undress. Her glittering top comes off over her head and she drops it next to the door. Brightwell can see her naked back fore she woares no bra. She steps out of the glittering skirt. She drops it uncemonisously over her top. Now a pile of glitter is on the floor next to the door. A timer clicks and the lights go out. Fade to black.

Brightwell stands in the dark looking toward the door. Slowly the curtins in the far side out the room starts to open. The light from the half moon slowly fills the room. It outlines the four poster bed. The lights retract into the flloor and diappear. Brightwell watches as the woman now in only a glimmering thong walks over to the bed. She looks at the window, then climbs on to the bed. On her hands and knees she makes her way to the center of the massive bed.

"Now what? I'm waiting!" she states hauntingly.

 

[prettyserpentine]

Serpentine leaves the bird perched on the back of a chair as she silently wanders the room, looking at the chalkboards and lifting a small piece of chalk to write a friendly message. Some of the party have left to explore, some are still chattering amiably by the hallway. She regards them with the big, vacant, black eyes and tries her best to hide a smile.

I think I'll go and have a bit of an explore too...

'But maybe I'll take the other branch, so not to disturb the two ladies and their explorations...' she thinks to herself with a coy smirk as she begins to climb the staircase, holding up her black, dusty skirts, leaving small white marks where her chalky fingers touch.

The corridor ahead is long and a little ominous, and there is a muted noise coming from one of the bedrooms. She peeks in through the keyhole...

...and sees a man standing by the bed and nothing else is visible to her...

...so she moves along, black tipped fingers scratching occasionally on the walls, often looking behind her, moving along like a ghost.