Gathering: Masquerade Ball

[concierge]

A large sign placed prominently in the Nexus lobby reads:

The Nexus Hotel
proudly presents the
MARDI GRAS MASQUERADE BALL

Event Location
Nexus Dining Hall
8 PM - 2 AM

Masquerade dress recommended, but not required for all guests

The Dining Hall's central table and chairs had been removed to create a dance floor wide enough to accommodate fanciful masquerade costumes. On one end had been placed a long bar providing free drinks, and on the other a small chamber orchestra providing the music for dancing. The entire room was bedecked in gold bunting and twinkling candlelight, and masks were available for those guests who hadn't brought their own.

Comments

[silverandcold]

Elsa still found crowds made her nervous, but every passing day that she spent at the hotel--especially with Anna present--lessened her fear. Where she might have hidden from Shrove Tuesday celebrations in the past, tonight she let herself be bold in the guise of a fairy. Even though she wore a mask, Elsa was certain that her pale blonde hair would give her away to her friends, but she found it didn't matter.

The whole point of this place was that she'd learned to be herself, even in fancy dress.

[twicefrozen]

"Elsa, you look beautiful." Anna keeps her voice low in case Elsa wanted her costume to be a secret but there's no hiding that this is her sister - even if it's in a way that Anna has never seen her before.

For her part, she has on a green and gold mask that she thinks looks nice with her hair. She hopes.

[silverandcold]

Elsa laughed, soft and delighted, just because she could. Every day that she saw Anna happy and free was a day that made Elsa breathe a little easier and trust herself more.

"You too," she said, reaching out to tuck a loose curl away from Anna's face. "Green's always been your color." Whenever she'd peeked out into the hallway, Anna had always seemed to wear green. "It sets off your hair." Especially with that little streak gone.

[twicefrozen]

"It's like I'm born for spring or something," Anna says, teasing a little. She reaches out and touches Elsa's dress.

"This is definitely new, though. Where did you find it?"

[silverandcold]

"One of us should be," Elsa says. Feeling playful, she flicks her fingers, sending the tiniest flurry at her sister. It's so much more casual and carefree than she'd ever allowed herself.

"I...found it in Arendelle. I've been back through. I marked the door."

[twicefrozen]

Anna claps her hands excitedly. "Really? What did you mark it with?" Anna has wanted to go back for a while now and the idea that she can, with Elsa by her side is a good one.

"We could totally go back and forth!"

[silverandcold]

"A little snow flurry," Elsa replies, laughing a little. "Did you think I was going to go hunting for a jar of paint?" It feels so good to laugh to tease her sister. She knows it's just what she owes her sister after so many years of being afraid of everyone.

[twicefrozen]

"Well, duh, of course it would be snow," Anna says, sticking her tongue out at her sister. This is so much more relaxed and happy, this relationship they have now, and Anna wants it to go on forever if it can. It feels good to be best friends with her sister again.

"We should go back soon. Just for a quick visit?"

[silverandcold]

"Yes...I've been hiding here long enough. It's time to stop being scared." She needs to be a Queen of Arendelle again, even if she's lucky enough that little time has passed there without her, she's still been hiding too long.

"But there's lots of nice things here too."

Like some of the guests.

[twicefrozen]

"Well, yeah. Like the food. The food here is amazing!" Anna has always been easily swayed by a tray of good sandwiches.

"I wonder if the people here can come to Arendelle, though? We could...have a party of our own?"

[silverandcold]

"You mean the ready supply of chocolate at your beck and call?" Elsa teases. Not that she hasn't indulged herself. Chocolate is so much easier to get here than in Arendelle, where it's still on the slightly expensive side of luxury.

"Maybe. Who would you invite?"

[twicefrozen]

"Umm. Charming?" Anna suggests. "He says he knows where Arendelle is but he hasn't been there. It's like, a boat ride away or something. Oh, and we could always invite Legolas," she teases.

Anna thinks that might be a good thing, getting her sister out there.

[silverandcold]

"Anna!" Elsa replies, turning red under her mask. "You need to stop pushing this, please! And...Charming? Are you telling me you know someone named Charming?"

[of_mirkwood]

"Vanya onna."

Legolas was taken aback by how simply beautiful Elsa was in her chosen costume and while she did not look anything like her usual self, there was no mistaking that fair hair for anyone else. He had attended a masque before back in his own home but it seemed different here in the Nexus - a different energy.

He'd donned a blue and silver tunic and a silver circlet for the occasion, court wear at its finest, and paired them with a blue and silver mask to match.

"Forgive me, I find it difficult to speak Common when I am so overcome. My own tongue comes to me first."

[silverandcold]

Elsa was very glad for the mask because it helped cover up the blush that was rising to her cheeks. Legolas looked similarly grand in some of Elsa's favorite colors and she couldn't help her smile, curtseying as wide as her skirt allowed.

"Overcome by what?" she asked, just a little shy and cautious. "You look like someone out of a fairy story. The handsome prince, maybe."

[of_mirkwood]

"Your beauty," Legolas said. He was still a little star-struck by it, honestly, and to be star-struck as an elf was something rare indeed.

"Will you honor me with a dance, Elsa?"

[silverandcold]

"Me?" Elsa asked. "I should be saying that about you." After all, he was the supernaturally handsome one. She, for all her gifts, was merely human.

"I'd love to dance with you."

[of_mirkwood]

"Then I am truly honored," he said, offering his hand to her. He knew that Elsa did not like to be touched but he hoped, in this, she would be amenable with sharing a dance with him for a short while.

"I am happy you said yes."

[silverandcold]

Elsa appreciated that he offered, but didn't touch her outright. It gave her a moment to gather herself before she laid a cool--but not frozen--hand in his. "I'm ashamed to say I'm not much of a dancer," she admitted. She'd learned the steps, but never gone out to balls or parties.

"What was it you said, if I can ask?"

[of_mirkwood]

"I called you a beautiful creature because you had enchanted me so," Legolas said. He was slightly embarrassed about this, that he would let his feelings show so openly to someone who may or may not be comfortable with such displays.

"I lost my head and it was the only thing that would come to my lips."

[silverandcold]

She laughed a little, both flattered and pleasantly shy at such praise. Even in her limited experience, she'd heard such things from sycophants at court before, but coming from Legolas she knew it was genuine.

"You've seen so much," Elsa said, thinking aloud. "And you see beauty in me too?"

[of_mirkwood]

"Seeing beauty many times doesn't diminish that which is in front of you," Legolas said gently.

"And what is in front of me is beautiful, Elsa, whether you think it so or not. I shall simply have to keep telling you until you believe me."

[silverandcold]

"No, I know..." Elsa said, looking away from him and hoping she still looked composed. "That kind of makes it more special. You've seen so many beautiful things and you think I'm one of them."

[of_mirkwood]

"I do," he agreed. "And I am very lucky that you endure my attention for hours at the time so that I get to bask in your beauty."

It was a little much, he thought, but he wanted Elsa to know that he thought her beautiful and a very close friend.

[silverandcold]

Elsa laughed and shook her head. "I'm not forced to endure anything. You've been wonderful company and I..."

She gripped his hand. "I feel braver for knowing you."