|
Post by This One on Feb 8, 2008 17:41:38 GMT -5
Tate dabbed up the blood that ran down his chin, looking at Krystal through narrowed eyes.
"Did you know that he was going to do that?" he whispered to her, a bit pained.
|
|
|
Post by Kainus Maximus on Feb 8, 2008 18:09:52 GMT -5
A short distance away from the town, an old manor stood in evergreen fields. A black BMW 540i drove along the dirt road up to the manner, parking a small distance away from it. Mark Auvern stepped out from the car, taking a small briefcase with him, and proceeded to walk up to the manor. There already, a butler was ready awaiting him.
“Master De’Avod has been expecting you sir. I assume you are here for the service?”
“Yes.” Mark replied simply.
“Very good. Follow me sir.” The butler then turned around proceeded to lead Mark through the Mansion into the back of the mansion on the upper level. A vast room, full of hunting trophies, animals stuffed, poses and hung adorned the walls. At the end, a large fire place, the back of a long chair stood in front of the fire place. Another chair stood across from it. The butler then announced in an echoing voice.
“Master De’Avod, Mr. Auvern has arrived to discuss the contract.” In reply, a racked decrepit voice replied.
“I’m aware. Come before me.” Mark nodded, as he stepped up to the fireplace, where he could see the figure who sat in the chair. A very old man, of at least ninety years. His body incredibly fragile, as if simply tripping and falling would break him in two.
“From what you have told me.” Mark began pulling out some papers from his briefcase as he took a seat in the chair across from the lord of the manor. “You want me to attend a… party in your place?” He questioned a bit perplexed.
“Yes.” Mr. De’Avoid replied with a wheeze. Mark paused for a moment, trying to imagine how to phrase his confusion.
“Does that not seem… simple?” Mark questioned. “Why not just decline the invitation?” The lord glanced at Mark, anger growing in his eyes.
“Do not presume to know the situation as well as I Mr. Auvern. Are you aware of the old Victorian Home within the town?”
“Cant say I have.” Mark replied. The Lord then explained to Mark, the situation that had occurred, about the Victorian house’s destruction, and rebirth, and the invitations that had gone out.
“Such things do not simply happen every day Mr. Auvern. And for this, I have a morbid feeling about such a place… yet… I cannot ignore the invitation… it will call to me until I find out what it wants with me. I want you to find out about it… and find if it delivers a message of hope… or if it has it’s own Red Masque of Death.” Mark continued to go over the details with Lord of the house, writing up a contract and certain details that Mark was to look for. He was then handed the opened invitational letter, and then kindly asked to leave. Mark then left the house, and decided he would have to search for a mask in case it was that kind of party. He would have a lot of planning to do before tomorrow.
********
Traffic had not been favorable the night of the masquerade, but luckily, Mark had taken care of everything beforehand, renting a suit and a mask, as well as loading his vehichle with some important materials. He made sure to take his Glock and keep it hidden under his vest, as well as a very special BLack Bear classic Combat Knife under the other side of his vest. He would make sure to wear his overcoat if he was able to, or the regular jacket, but he'd still be able to hide his weaponry effectively if able to. Soon he arrived at the destination. He made sure he had all his materials, including a pen and note pad, and a hidden camera. He also put on his mask that he bought, a red mask that completely covered his face except the eyes, ending in scarflike frills that would wrap around the mouth and neck. He wore the Mask over his perscription sunglasses, adding an eerie effect to the mask, making the eye slots appear black.
Getting out of his car, he then proceeded up to the incredibly large mansion, ready to begin the investigation into the mystery. If he was able to find any strange events, the pay the Lord of the Manor would be paying him would quadruple. He proceeded up to the mansion's heavy door, and gently banged the heavy knocker on the door.
|
|
|
Post by Giant Brother on Feb 8, 2008 18:58:31 GMT -5
There was the sound of someone running echoing through the room. Karen soon came into view, though not quite as gracefully as one might hope. The evil scientist had let her red hair go long and straight for the mors part, but a long braid was made on either side, moving to the back of the head where it combined into one single braid, which sat atop the rest of her hair. She also had a pink, crystalized flower carefully and delicately placed in her hair by the right side of her forehead.
What was attention grabbing about the girl, though, was her outfit. The aspiring dictator was definitely aiming for a seductress angle. Her black satin gown consisted of a very low cut skirt, so low one had to fear (or fantisize, depending on how clean the thinker's mind was) what might happen if it was in any way tugged or yanked on. The upper portion was a single strip of cloth, starting from the right hip and going up, around the neck, and then going down to the left hip in an X. It only covered the necessities, really, and all the rest of the upper body was for the most part exposed to the world.
"I'm sorry, sir..." Karen said as innocently as possible. "No one was at the door, so I let myself in..."
"She waited less than a minute..." A raspy voice answered. Colin slowly and unsurely walked into the room, still clad in suit and fedora. "I'm very sorry, I tried to stop her..." "He" said regretfully.
|
|
|
Post by Thy Masked Tragedy on Feb 8, 2008 21:59:07 GMT -5
Charlie smiled and bowed to the other female with a fond curiosity in his eye. “How unique.” He tipped his head to the side, glancing over her features in a tasteful manner. “May I inquire your name ma‘am?” as he waited for a response he turned to look at Nayra “I will go over tonight's events when a few more guest have arrived. Repeating myself gets awfully annoying. For now, we have food and a large selection of refreshments located to your right, please help yourself. At eight I intend to have all my guest file into the feast room and everyone will be served a three course meal. Followed by dessert for those who want it, at nine.”
*up stairs*
Krystal turned to stare at Tate with a well rehearsed form of shock. Her head tilted slightly as though his question had honestly stirred some curiosity in her. “I have no idea what you are talking about Tate. Why, what ever did master do?” She stared at the blood on his chin, fighting back a smile and pulled out another rag to help get the spots he had missed. “Here, mind if I help?”
|
|
|
Post by This One on Feb 8, 2008 22:30:51 GMT -5
Tate's steel blue eyes looked down at the slender wrist and delicate hand that wiped the iron-rich blood from his face, then looked to her masked face. This girl was definitely different from the ones at his school who would have been far too squeamish to even look at the blood.
"Thanks," he said, the pain in his mouth finally subsiding. His vision shifted to look at the newcomers while Krystal finished up with his mouth. He thought, at first, his vision was failing him, but he realized that the skin of one of the women was actually blue in color.
Weird, he thought to himself.
|
|
|
Post by Ninmast on Feb 9, 2008 0:53:33 GMT -5
Keeping the mask before her eyes at all times, Nayra stood straight once more and nodded in thanks. "A three-course meal? I hardly think I'll be able to get through it all. But it will certainly be a good opportunity to meet the other guests."
|
|
|
Post by CHANGEME on Feb 9, 2008 0:58:33 GMT -5
Veritas did pause for a second to decide which action would most likely be the more proper. Should she give him the full version and risk sounding odd, or... Well.
Her choice made, she simply bowed at the waist, this motion far less feminine than her curtsy. "Veritas Alpha, First Guardian of the Gates of Pyra, servant of Mogg and the Northern Empire." She glanced up before straightening. "A pleasure, Sir Charles."
|
|
|
Post by Ninmast on Feb 9, 2008 1:02:31 GMT -5
Nayra's gaze flitted over the blue-skinned girl, but only for a moment, and her face betrayed no thoughts on the matter. But that wasn't to say her mind was silent. I don't recognize any of that. Perhaps she really is an alien. But why is she here?
|
|
|
Post by Thy Masked Tragedy on Feb 9, 2008 15:35:04 GMT -5
Charlie kept a smooth expression when he heard the introduction the other female gave. Being as polite as he was, he had learned how to keep his face from showing resentment toward any of his guest. Not to mention in all the years he had thrown masquerades, he had heard longer, and surprisingly odder titles. “Charmed Ms. Veritas, was it? May I call you that or would you prefer I address you a different way?” Charlie slowly turned his eyes toward the door--when he heard the knock--capturing it's view through his peripheral vision. Suddenly the large metal object swung open, throwing the butler back. Of course, considering Charlie had made no noticeable movement to suggest he had caused the event, the females would have probably thought the butler lost his grip, or his balance on the door and fallen. Light from the room poured out onto the figure who stood before the door and instantly the butler grew suspicious of the man. Who kept their whole face blocked from view at a party, much less their eyes? Once the butler managed to find his footing, he bowed to the gentle man and held out his arm to take his coat. "I welcome you to the Bates manor, sir. Your host for the night is Sir Charles."
*upstairs*
After Krystal had gotten what she could of the blood off of his chin she smiled and wondered away to dispose of the bloody rag. When she returned she placed a hand on Tate’s shoulder and gestured him to move down the stairs with a light nod. “Sha’ll we?”
|
|
|
Post by This One on Feb 9, 2008 15:41:56 GMT -5
Tate gave a half-grin and nodded, moving down the stairs with Krystal to join the others. Trying his best to be discreet about it, he kept a fair distance between himself and Bates once he was on the floor-level, the pain in his lip reminding him that this man was potentionally dangerous.
|
|
|
Post by CHANGEME on Feb 9, 2008 16:13:45 GMT -5
"Veritas is fine, thank you." She answered somewhat distractedly, glowing eyes also on the man that'd just arrived. Would he trip, wearing those dark glasses inside?
|
|
|
Post by Giant Brother on Feb 9, 2008 19:37:51 GMT -5
"Karen Jameson, sir." Karen said, a mischevious smile curling her lips for an unknown reason. "A pleasure."
Meanwhile, Colin discreetly looked left, then right, and then slipped away to go into the room with the food.
|
|
|
Post by Ninmast on Feb 9, 2008 19:48:54 GMT -5
After the introductions, Nayra met up with Karen in the area with the food, passing her a glass of lemonade, holding a chilled glass of milk for herself. "So, you found a date after all?" she asked as she motioned over to Colin, who was out of earshot.
|
|
|
Post by Giant Brother on Feb 9, 2008 20:04:11 GMT -5
"Huh?" Karen looked over at Colin. "Oh, no... He just showed up the same time I did. I've never seen him before in my life." She took the glass Nayra offered her. "Thanks." She said quietly.
|
|
|
Post by Ninmast on Feb 9, 2008 20:18:38 GMT -5
"No problem," Nayra answered as she continued to watch Colin. "So he didn't come with anybody? Probably means he's single. And he's cute. Not really big or muscular, but cute."
|
|