headandhand: (mayor marcelina)
the head | the hand ([personal profile] headandhand) wrote in [community profile] dualislogs2019-11-16 05:12 pm

oh, we dance in misery

WHO: Open to all Dualizens!
WHAT: the Plague Memorial Masked Ball
WHERE: the Mayor's Mansion (central Dualis)
WHEN: the evening of November 16
WARNINGS: Visuals/discussion of disease and death in the setting. Anything else, please use appropriate warnings!

At 8 p.m. sharp, the lights inside and around the Mayor's Mansion turn up, and the doors are opened to the crowds that begin to trickle inside. All entrances are manned by Iterations, and all party-goers are scanned for both proper attire (formal and masked, mandatory) and weapons (absolutely forbidden) before being allowed entry.

Once inside, attendees are greeted to a spectacle of warmth and light and lavish decorations, all themed in white accented with gold and violet. Venture into the ballroom, and you'll see intricately carved ice sculptures in various representations of death, all laden with garlands of marigolds and violet chrysanthemums. At one end of the room, a rotating cast of musicians plays soft music in differing arrangements of strings and piano. Long tables at the other end of the ballroom are piled high with punch fountains and platters of delicious party foods, and a few bar stations serve beverages of the more adult variety to those of age.

Outside the main ballroom are seven smaller rooms, for more intimate conversations and quiet recovery from the main gala (or just skulking like a brooding weirdo, if that's your thing). Six of the rooms are decorated in monochrome blue, purple, green, orange, white, or violet, and the seventh room is pitch black with red accents.

Throughout the night, the mayor herself winds in and out of the crowds, shadowed by a pair of bodyguards. She is all smiles, greeting people with a friendly handshake and effusive words of thanks for attending the ball, but she never stays in one place long enough for a true conversation. This is a celebration of life and a remembrance of the dead, after all - not the time or place for talks of business or politics.

Enjoy yourselves tonight, everyone! And remember - death eventually comes for everyone.
magneticfields: (smug)

[personal profile] magneticfields 2019-11-21 01:46 am (UTC)(link)
[ Erik laughs and glances away, not doing much to hide the pleased twinkle in his eye. ]

Oh, so that's what I am. I'll remember to wear something more low-cut next time.
axiomed: (The teardrops too)

[personal profile] axiomed 2019-11-21 09:17 am (UTC)(link)
[ charles pats his arm. ]

You most certainly should. At least for me.
magneticfields: (amused)

[personal profile] magneticfields 2019-11-23 06:33 am (UTC)(link)
And you could certainly make me appear to wear anything. At least to you.

[ He's not interested in wearing a sequined minidress to this particular affair. Although his grin widens slightly, takes on a mischievous edge. ]

You could make them see anything you want. Or conceal anything you want.
axiomed: (You mean nothing to me anymore)

[personal profile] axiomed 2019-11-23 09:29 am (UTC)(link)
I could.

[ but he shakes his head. ]

But I wouldn't do that without good reason, I'm afraid.
magneticfields: (smug)

[personal profile] magneticfields 2019-11-23 09:38 am (UTC)(link)
[ Erik suppresses a sigh. He leans forward, his fingertips lighting on his forearm as he tilts his head to murmur low. ]

What if I wanted to make the party a little more exciting.

[ He thinks they did something like this once, in their careless youth. Right? Or maybe he just fantasized about it enough that it feels like a memory. ]
axiomed: (My heart and my head)

[personal profile] axiomed 2019-11-25 01:46 am (UTC)(link)
[ charles cocks his head at erik, bemused. ]

And what did you have in mind?
magneticfields: (cheeky)

[personal profile] magneticfields 2019-11-26 09:44 am (UTC)(link)
[ Erik traces soft circles on the back of Charles' hand. He leans close enough for his stubble to brush against Charles' cheek as he murmurs. ]

Do you want me to say it out loud?

[ Because he's thinking it very clearly. Sinking to his knees and... ]
axiomed: (I've been standing on the shoreline)

[personal profile] axiomed 2019-11-30 01:28 am (UTC)(link)
[ there's a twinkle in his eye as he responds. ]

I think there's a certain bravery to saying things out loud, don't you? Why don't you do that and I'll make sure we have a little privacy.
magneticfields: (amused)

[personal profile] magneticfields 2019-11-30 05:37 am (UTC)(link)
[ That twinkle does not go unnoticed. He continues to speak softly. Not because he's ashamed, but because he doesn't generally care to have an audience for intimate activities. ]

I was thinking...

[ He drops his hand to rest on Charles' thigh. ]

That I could suck your cock right here and now.
axiomed: (Leave the mind)

[personal profile] axiomed 2019-12-07 08:36 am (UTC)(link)
[ charles can't fully repress the whole body shiver at that. there is a faint dusting of pink on his cheeks. ]

And you trust my powers will give us both adequate privacy?
magneticfields: (smile hug 2)

[personal profile] magneticfields 2019-12-07 08:40 am (UTC)(link)
[ He kisses Charles' neck, lips soft and teasing as his hands smooth over his legs. ]

I have faith in you.

[ It's true but also... it's Charles' problem. Erik kisses the corner of his jaw where it meets his neck. ]
axiomed: (Anyone in there?)

[personal profile] axiomed 2019-12-08 07:48 am (UTC)(link)
[ charles huffs at that, even as he kisses back with a pleased hum. ]

Well, then.

No time like the present.
magneticfields: (side smirk)

[personal profile] magneticfields 2019-12-13 08:15 am (UTC)(link)
[ Erik catches Charles' lips for a slow kiss, rumbling quietly against his lips before breaking the kiss and giving him a heated look. ]

Try not to lose focus.

[ He lowers to his knees in front of Charles' chair, back toward the table so that he's at least partly concealed. ]