Murder at the Masquerade (Mag/Darth)

Discussion in 'Northern Hyrule' started by Magnere, Dec 19, 2017.

  1. Magnere

    Magnere Momentai vet

    Messages:
    382
    Trophy Points:
    18
    3DS Friend Code:
    1521-6426-3927
    Murder at the Masquerade
    Opal: 50 rupees + 20 rupees from Flayre.
    Flayre: Actor's Illusion (-30r)

    It was late in the evening, the sun already set across the horizon. But for the partygoers, the night had just begun. The mansion was crowded full with members of high society from all kinds of professions and nobility. Only the upper echelon of society had been invited to the masquerade ball. Fancy suits and large, poofy dresses, and masks of all shapes and sizes. Part of the idea was that nobody knew who someone else was without asking first, which made this the perfect opportunity.

    Opal had prepared for this moment for weeks. Ever so slowly working, charming and bribing her way to an invitation. It was surprisingly difficult to snag an invite, even for her. With no title or estate to her name, some of the more pompous nobles wouldn't even glance her way. That is until they got close enough, but that was beside the point. As fun as charming the pants off of every nobleman within five feet of her was, she had a job to do.

    The ballroom was absolutely massive. Giant glass chandeliers hung from the tall ceilings, huge draping tapestries hung on every wall. It was an absolute goldmine for someone like her. Now if only she could distract the guards long enough to be allowed to explore the rest of the mansion. And if she was caught? Oh, she could just claim she was lost and work her magical charms. Never failed her before.

    But that was going to be easier said than done. There were guards everywhere, and none of them even seemed to sport a smile. That is asides from the one that wore a smiling mask atop his face. Biding her time, she scanned the room as she walked across it. Her elegant red dress flowed around her legs as she walked, perfectly matching the ring on her finger. A perfectly carved ruby in the shape of a rose, an Aroma Ring. No doubt that it gave her an absolutely appealing scent. Her own mask was decorated with dozens of flowers, each one a different colored rose. Had to match her outfits theme for the night, after all.

    Of course, as she walked past people they almost always stopped and stared. Of course, Opal never passed up the opportunity to fool a rich sucker. Easily distracting them, small rings and even a broach seemed to slip off of the nearby partygoers. Nobody even seemed to be aware that their newfound affection was illogical at all. Eventually, she finally was able to slip away from the major crowd. Drawing too much attention at a scouting mission wasn't the best of ideas... But she couldn't help it.

    Just before she could slip away and into the rest of the building, she paused. She had to find out... Who was that pretty girl smiling in her direction? Where did she come from, and how could she get to know her better? And why did her mission no longer seem as important?
    Last edited: Dec 14, 2018
  2. Darth_Slaverus

    Darth_Slaverus Member vet

    Messages:
    498
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Flayre's ability to alter her form at will had long been one of the most potent weapons in her arsenal, allowing her to shift her shape to conform to the Desires of her prey. At some point during her imprisonment, she had been stripped of this power, and its reclamation had been one of her top priorities following her release. After much trial-and-error, the Great Fairy had finally succeeded at attaining some limited mastery over her appearance through a rather depraved blood ritual, and on a lark she decided to put her newly regained power to use by infiltrating the grandest gala of the season: A masquerade ball in Castle-Town, attended solely by the wealthiest Hyrule had to offer. It had been some time since she had last walked among Hylian gentry, and she yearned for the exchange of gossip and the clinking of wine glasses, the sweet symphony of salaciousness with which to concoct conspiracies!

    Procuring an invitation had been a troublesome affair, necessitating the seduction and subsequent disappearance of a distinguished lady from Mido, but it was done. Now, in the guise of a backwoods baroness who had recently come into a great sum of money, Flayre set to work, her resplendent violet gown trailing behind her as she strode into the manour, her face concealed by a mask wrought in the image of a blue butterfly.

    Alas, nostalgia proved a treacherous emotion, for her mingling yielded only disappointment. These so-called nobles were possessed of a most insipid character: Pious, conservative, more concerned with their apparel than their own advancement. Flayre held back a heavy sigh as she crossed the ballroom floor. Not even the lavish decoration could lift her spirits. Where were the schemes? The plots? Boring, boring. They were all so dreadfully dull.

    ... Except one.

    The Great Fairy smelled her before she saw her. Struck by a thick, overpoweringly delectable scent, Flayre quickly searched the immediate vicinity for the source of this daring perfume; as chance would have it, she whirled around just in time to see a young woman, clad in scarlet and bedecked by flowers, surreptitiously slip a ring off the finger of an oblivious aristocrat. Without missing a beat, the girl pocketed the trinket with a blinding speed, still smiling and socializing as if nothing untoward had happened. Flayre resisted the urge to gape in astonishment. A thief roamed these halls.

    However, no common ruffian would ever have been admitted to this event in the first place. To even be here, this woman would have had to have been well-to-do... which meant she was either ruled by an insatiable greed or an addiction to danger. Both possibilities intrigued Flayre, and she hurried to follow her quarry as she traversed her way through the assembled crowd. She had to make contact.

    The most obvious approach would be to ask her for a dance, of course. But would the sight of two women dancing be too scandalous for their present company? Perhaps, perhaps not. Flayre had absolutely no inhibitions regarding that particular subject- a true connoisseur left no flavours to the imagination. Still, Hylians had never been the most enlightened of the races, and the spectacle would likely attract undue attention if not scorn, which benefited neither she nor the young thief.

    Instead, the Great Fairy settled for stalking the woman until she turned in Flayre's direction, then flashing her the most pointed, piercing, knowing smile she could muster before withdrawing back into the throng and excusing herself from the celebration with meekly muttered claims of needing fresh air, as was fitting for her assumed identity of a bumpkin belle. Once she had retreated into the solitude of the manse's gardens and ascertained that she was alone, Flayre called upon her shapeshifting powers to transform into a darkly handsome nobleman, draped in masculine finery, yet her eyes and her mask remained unchanged- a clue for the enterprising burglar, should she be observant.

    Her disguise thus revised, Flayre returned to the festivities with none the wiser, scanning her surroundings for any sign of the woman. Before long, she came into view again- she was subtle, but now the Great Fairy knew what to look for- and Flayre wasted no time in closing the distance between the two of them, desperate to finally meet someone who actually lived.

    Holding out a hand, she coughed politely to get the thief's attention.

    "My lady. Might I have this dance?"
  3. Magnere

    Magnere Momentai vet

    Messages:
    382
    Trophy Points:
    18
    3DS Friend Code:
    1521-6426-3927
    Opal had to force herself not to frown as she saw the beautiful woman dash away out into the courtyard. She was just about to follow her before the air cleared of the sweet smell and she immediately paused. Now was not the time for this. As enchanting as the lady was, she had work to do. Perhaps after scouting, she could find the mysterious beauty once more. Calming herself, she slipped back into the crowd. Immediately consumed by the swarm of the hopeless rich, Opal had almost forgotten about the beautiful lady.

    That is until someone spoke to her, someone unknown to her. She quickly turned around and was surprised by what she saw. It was a man, yet there was still that sickly sweet smell that she had attached to the woman. And even more curiously, there was the exact same mask. Where they a couple? No, couldn't be. He wouldn't be asking him for a dance if he had a lady friend with him. Almost immediately, she found herself saying yes and taking their hands in hers.

    Why was she doing this? This was exactly the opposite of what she came here to do, but she couldn't help herself. Something about that woman and this man were driving her crazy. Confused and intrigued at the very same time, she leaned in close as she spun around the dance floor. Quietly, she spoke up. "You know... I saw a lady with the very same mask earlier. Would you happen to know where she vanished off to?"

    Of course, Opal suspected some foul play. Someone this... this alluring had to be someone special. And special people didn't come around very often. Or at least, never at these boring parties for the rich to flaunt their wealth. However, the closer and longer she remained close to them, the less and less she seemed to think about how weird this was. Perhaps she should just let herself dance and be merry with this stranger for just a bit. Scouting could wait. "May I perhaps know your name, stranger?"
  4. Darth_Slaverus

    Darth_Slaverus Member vet

    Messages:
    498
    Trophy Points:
    18
    As the woman accepted Flayre's invitation, placing herself squarely in her clutches, the Great Fairy took a few seconds to appraise her latest conquest. Striking blue eyes, not unlike her own... A soft, warm touch... Good fashion sense, with a dress that complemented her figure... Yes, quite an attractive specimen indeed. And yet, the girl's most appealing trait was something intangible: Namely, the irresistible scent she exuded. The sensation was so intense that it almost disrupted Flayre's magical glamour- maintaining this inferior shape required no small amount of focus, for her natural perfection instinctively defied any attempt to hide it, and the disorienting aroma threatened to break her concentration.

    Despite this inconvenience, Flayre allowed herself a smile as her dancing partner revealed that her unspoken message had not gone unnoticed, her teeth gleaming ominously in the light. A perceptive one, then! Her curiosity bespoke an utter enthrallment, an obsession birthed from the tiniest of glances.

    Well. She did have that effect on people.

    "All in good time. You shall have your answers soon enough." Masterfully and delicately, she guided the woman across the dance floor, waltzing to-and-fro, before coming to a halt near an unoccupied side-hall and continuing. "But for now, allow me to savour this moment. After all..." Pulling the thief close, Flayre rested her chin upon the woman's shoulder, as much to bask in her invigourating smell as to whisper in her ear.

    "It is not often that one meets a lady so fair... That said lady should have such nimble fingers, rarer still."

    Now how would she react to that? Would she panic? Express anger at the accusation? Feign ignorance? This would be the first test of her character. There was much to learn about this girl, and precious little time to digest it. So it was with the Game. Not the least among these mysteries was how she had procured her alluring fragrance... Did she deal in exotic cosmetics, or was her scent a byproduct of fate, designed to bring them together? Flayre Desired that knowledge, motivated by the prospect of an ideal servant... and perhaps even the slightest hint of envy.
  5. Magnere

    Magnere Momentai vet

    Messages:
    382
    Trophy Points:
    18
    3DS Friend Code:
    1521-6426-3927
    Opal's eyes widened a little bit as she heard them speak. Nimble fingers, eh? She couldn't resist the urge to smirk softly, leaning in just a little bit closer as they spun around the ballroom. Surely, someone who noticed her... talents, wouldn't exactly ask her to dance up close, would they? It didn't make sense. Even if they were trying to proposition her to steal something for them, or call them out for theft, in the middle of the ballroom were not a good place for either of those options. Still, one question entirely eluded her. Just who were these two entrancing individuals? And why did they... Oh.

    She had but a single glance at her own ring to realize what was going on. The aroma ring, of course. Surely this individual and the woman also had a ring themselves. Opal couldn't help but smile a bit flirtatiously, her fingers with the obvious rose-shaped ring waving near her face to simply, and silently, reveal that she was aware of their entrancing effects. Still, even now that she realized what was going on, she simply didn't want to just up and leave. This man had intrigue about him. Something interesting that drew her in, even without their own attractive charm.

    "Oh?" The red-headed woman spoke out loud, her fingers ever so slowly beginning to trace up her dance partners arm. "I hear men quite often like my hands, so I'm not surprised." She finally let out a soft chuckle, rolling her eyes at her own joke before continuing their dance. Stealing from them while they danced was a bad idea, especially since he had already noticed her habit. So instead, Opal simply continued to spin for the moment.

    Suddenly, with a soft smirk, Opal mumbled something under her breath, almost entirely inaudible. When she spoke again however, it was like her voice had a slight warbly tone to it, and yet somehow it only made it seem even more attractive. This was indeed her Charmed Speech, her favorite magical spell. Who could resist such feminine charm paired with magical ability? Few to none in her personal experience.

    "You know..." She paused for a second, her eyes locking right onto theirs. "You should tell me what you want with me, friend. After all, someone as attractive as you must have some reason for approaching me. Right?"
  6. Darth_Slaverus

    Darth_Slaverus Member vet

    Messages:
    498
    Trophy Points:
    18
    The girl gave a measured response to Flayre's remarks, clearly cognizant of the value of discretion and keeping a cool head. Impressive in itself, but more importantly, there was a certain lyrical quality to the woman's voice that filled Flayre with elation. To hear it heap praises upon her or whisper sweet nothings would be... an experience. Those dainty digits might abscond with a few trinkets, but that voice could steal hearts. And THAT was a talent the Great Fairy could make use of! Had she at last found her newest champion?

    "Do they, now? Well, they aren't the only ones." Flayre replied to the woman's statement that the male sex were quite taken with her hands, offering yet another teasing hint to her true identity. Still, the moment of truth was drawing near. Already the girl had grown bolder, demanding to know what Flayre had in store for her. It was a calm, reasonable request, but the Great Fairy could sense the impatience teeming at the edges of her words. Dragging out the deception would only risk raising her ire, so it was time to cut the chit-chat and talk business.

    Once more, Flayre pulled the woman into a conspiratorial embrace, only this time, she rested a hand upon her cheek, caressing it softly, enjoying the feel of her silky skin.

    "The woman you seek possesses power beyond mortal ken. For those who are willing to pursue their Desires at any cost... she will grant their wishes. Of all the guests at this ball, you alone are worthy. She has chosen you to receive her blessing." Confident the girl would find delight in the knowledge her secret benefactor found her special, Flayre released her and stepped back. "You must have many questions. But if such an arrangement is to your liking, I can... make an introduction. All would be revealed, then." She nodded in the direction of the empty hall adjacent to them, where they might find refuge from the uncouth eyes and ears of onlookers.

    Would she accept? Or would suspicion carry the day?
  7. Magnere

    Magnere Momentai vet

    Messages:
    382
    Trophy Points:
    18
    3DS Friend Code:
    1521-6426-3927
    Opal didn't quite understand exactly what was going on, but it seemed someone had grown fond of her. Someone with power, it seemed. Normally, she might simply laugh at the situation, but someone who was this alluring? Surely there was some kind of truth locked behind all of this. The idea of having her wishes granted was more than enough temptation for her. She let her hands linger on the man as they stepped backward, an inquisitive look in her eye.

    She simply stepped forwards, letting her arm slowly wrap around their own. Opal was planning on being cautious, letting her excitement catch her off guard in case this was a trap of some sort was a bad idea. However, the possibility that this was more than genuine was increasing with every second. Already, visions of power were dancing through her head. What kind of woman could simply grant wishes? Why did she care about their desires? Was it that woman she had met earlier? In the end, she didn't have an answer for any of her questions. All would be answered in time, she supposed.

    Looking up at the man, she fluttered her eyelashes at him as Hylian temptress herself spoke. "Oh, I would be delighted to meet her." She let her fingers slowly trail up their arm, a seductive grin on her face. "Shall we? For if there is one thing you must understand about me, is that I am very... impatient." Whenever Opal wanted something, she simply went out and got it. Longer heists that took time to play always made her uneasy, yet the pay off was almost always more than enough to make up for the distaste of waiting.

    With that said, Opal began to take charge and walked ahead, gently pulling the man along with her and towards the empty hall. Hopefully... Everything he said was true, and this wasn't a very convoluted plan to take her out of the picture for good. She was very careful, making very few enemies, but that didn't mean she didn't worry.
  8. Darth_Slaverus

    Darth_Slaverus Member vet

    Messages:
    498
    Trophy Points:
    18
    "What others call impatient, I call decisive." Flayre purred, allowing herself to be tugged along by the girl. How forceful! Much as the Great Fairy had tried to keep their meeting clandestine, the sight of a woman dragging a wealthy man off to parts unseen might well generate rumours of a licentious romp all on their own! But that too, was to her liking. Restraint was a poison, a pox on all existence. Any who would discard theirs in single-minded pursuit of their Desires was worthy of her blessing.

    Once they had escaped the ballroom, Flayre, prioritizing privacy, directed her new friend to take her into one of the deserted hall's side-chambers, whereupon she let go of the girl's hand and closed the door behind them, turning her back to her companion. This was the moment of truth, and while she did not have the luxury of being able to have a proper unveiling, it did call for a minimum of theatrics.

    "Here we are..." She intoned, her voice as smooth as the sweetest of wines, "... You long for the woman who wears my mask's twin. You have found her, for I am she." As she whirled to face the thief once more, her face had changed- she had altered her illusion to resemble her previous guise. With a wink and a few flutters of her eyelashes, she continued. "... But more than that..."

    Without warning, Flayre began to levitate, utilizing her innate capability of flight to hover before the girl, as a demonstration of her divine nature. Such an action would cause her glamour to crumble, of course, but it was time to shed this unseemly shape, breathtaking though it was in its artifice. As the illusion faded, the Great Fairy's true form was revealed, bursting forth as if from a cocoon, a vision of purest beauty.

    Her wings spread, her antennae sprouted, her feet freed from the confines of illusory footwear, Flayre gazed down upon the girl, eyes brimming with mischief.

    "... I am Flayre, the Great Fairy of Desire. And you have earned an audience with me."
    Last edited: Apr 21, 2019