(OPEN) Capulet Manor Costume Ball|(Fast paced)

[sasha]

:Costume:
Dress|Hair (sans brooch)|Mask (Top Right)|Necklace|Clutch
Find me in the pool area

After a few moments went by, Elissa suddenly began to feel as though the water were weighing her down. Had her dress suddenly turned to lead, or had the water changed its gravitational pull? Her feet were planted firmly in place, and Faustus's sudden vice-like grip on her wrist did nothing to calm her down. The euphoria that she had felt just minutes before had taken a downturn, and her insides turned to ice. To make matters worse, Faustus's words stung her like poison. The poison was deep-seeded, and it began to corrode all of the tactfulness she had in her. She could have been like one of those cartoon characters who had steam bursting out of their ears.

"Lightweight?" she spat. "You're calling me a lightweight? Have you any idea of how much I drank after Sychaeus was killed? After Aeneas left? I drank like a fish. You just don't..forget how to hold your liquor! You did something, and I'll find out what!"

Her voice was certainly drawing attention. A few guests who had gone outside to see the spectacle stood with their mouths agape. A few took pictures with their cellphones. It didn't even register to the senator's daughter that she'd be regretting this in the morning. She was too angry, too disgusted, and too depressed, all at the same time! She was almost glad when he pushed her away. Good riddance to him!

She watched the doctor get out of the pool, but she stayed cemented to her spot in the shallow end. "You're talking to me about turnoffs? Last time I checked, arrogance and being a pervert were turnoffs! Has the world suddenly changed, Doctor? Are you upset that you couldn't get up my skirt, even with the assistance of loading me up with...whatever it was?! Fuck you, Faustus. If I had to choose between death and being saved by you, Oh Messianic One, I'd choose death!"

Who was he to tell her what to do with her life? He was just as pathetic! Her mind continued on in an angry tirade, but her body grew tired. With all of her effort, she walked to the edge of the pool and leaned against the ledge. She rested her head upon it and groaned, crashing down fast. If it weren't for the water, she'd be burning.

[JOHN "DOOLITTLE" MOREAU]

:Costume:
costume[/size] Mask
mask
Polynesia
www.lostandfound.ie/pics/186355_blue-and-gold-macaw_Large.jpg
Find me in the pool area.

The other doctor was giving him another tongue lashing.When he reached the part about Doolittle staying home and teaching Polynesia the alphabet, John wondered whether he should interject right then and try to deflect the coming storm.

After a split second of thought he decided not to. He had been having a bad night and the last few minutes made it even worse. The two main reasons were standing right near him, well actually one was perched on his shoulder, but close enough.

Speaking of Polynesia, her feathers were fluffing out, and her eyes blazed with anger from what she perceived as an insult. Parrots, and especially macaws have very sensitive egos, and the man's comment had put a dent in Polynesia's.

At least that's what John figured. He remembered the occasions that she mentioned the great pride she took in her intelligence. And the other man had put some question to that. At least that's what John had figured.

And from the angry torrent of words flowing from Polynesia's beak, he was right.

Polynesia shifted her position so she could look the offender straight in the eyes. Then she put her vocabulary to a good use.

"I'll tell you sir that I am as much as a thousand times smarter than any ordinary avian. Which probably puts my IQ some hundred or so points above yours, but that's something a foul mouthed, knuckle dragging, troglodyte like you will never even hope to understand. Teaching me my alphabet, indeed. Maybe you should go inside and dry off before you catch pneumonia and fever burns away what brains you have left."

As John sat and listened to the angry torrent, he almost pitied the other man. Though he was asking for it, even though the man couldn't have realized how touchy Polynesia was about her intelligence. John scowled as he realized this would probably end even worse for him than if he had managed to distract Polynesia from her coming tirade.

Though if he had deflected her from defending her ego she would have let him hear about it. "This evening is shaping up just perfectly," John grumbled to himself sarcastically, as he sipped his tea and contemplated visiting the bar for something stronger.

[hamlet]

------------------------
Costume: Pardon my never-edited-a-photo-like-this photoshopping skills
(You get the idea 1930s-esque suit with a fedora)
Mask: Simple-mask-that-Harry-chooses-not-to-wear-but-its-on-his-person
(he might put it on once and a while though)
Find me on the front lawn
(its goin' dooown. )
-------------------------

Harry stopped swaying when she did and saw her looking up at him. Something in her eyes was searching for something. But all that was going through Harry's mind at the moment was the prospect of telling her he loved her. For Harry, the thought of confessing is love for her made everything around them seem to stand still. He knew that if he told her...he'd ultimately ended up hurting her. But how long could he go on pretending? He needed her more than anything else right now. If he didn't say anything, he would lose her sooner rather than later. Either way, Harry was cursed.

But one fact remained. Ophelia was all he had. When his father died, he thought he had nothing. But with his uncle and mother betraying him so blatantly, it was clear that he was completely alone. If he didn't say something, if he didn't say how much he needed her, he'd lose the only thing keeping him truly sane.

At least, during how ever much time he had left on earth (or as much time he could stand to keep living), he wanted to spend it with her. This innocent, gentle, beautiful soul.

Harry gently stroked her face affectionately with his hand. "I mean..." he started, gazing into those captivating blue eyes that seemed to stare into his very being. "I mean I've fallen in love with you," he said, his voice low and just above a whisper. And feeling it only right and no longer able to control this impulse, he slowly leaned in, their lips almost touching...hesitating for less than a split second to see if Ophelia wanted this...and then he let their lips touch, kissing her, wanting to make it last...wishing it could last forever.

[THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO]

:Costume:
Suit/Mask
Find me in the ballroom | Exiting via foyer and front lawn.

Monte Cristo found his way out of the ballroom and into the foyer. Most of the crowd seemed to have moved elsewhere- probably into the ballroom, which had become unbearably crowded. Generally, Monte Cristo did not enjoy being in cluttered spaces; if it had not been for the brief conversation with Richard, he might have left the party even earlier than he already was. There was, also, the problem of avoiding further conflict with the heavily-inebriated Edward, which had also factored into his decision to leave at what he presumed would be early into the evening.

He reached into the pocket of his suit and tapped out a very short message to his driver. He did not know exactly where the driver was, but he was certain the car would be brought up to the front door with all haste. Monte Cristo's staff was that talented and thoughtful; he only hired the best. His staff were investments, and he selected them as carefully as any project that was proposed to him.

The unfortunate fact was that Monte Cristo had things to do, business-related chores that had to be dealt with. He probably would have been better off holing himself up in his office for the night. Still, he was glad he had attended the ball, albeit for a very brief time. It had, in the end, been time well spent.

He strode out of the foyer and bout the front door, catching a glimpse of a couple on the lawn. He had wanted to speak with Mr. Chandler before leaving, but knew better than to interrupt with something as superfluous, in comparison, as business. There would be other opportunities.

As Monte Cristo had expected, the sedan he had arrived in pulled into the driveway seconds after he exited the manor, giving the press very little opportunity to snap photos of him. The reporters would surely note that he had been the first to leave the ball; whether that would be interpreted as a wise or rude move, Monte Cristo could not predict, and in all honesty, did not really feel concern over.

"To the apartment," he instructed, removing his mask for the first time since leaving Richard's company. The driver nodded, and the car rounded the driveway and faded from sight.


[Fin for Monte Cristo.]

[madeline]

:Costume:
Dress | Mask
Find me in the pool area | Then escaping from the nightmare on the front lawn.

Madeline's mouth immediately closed, as the unidentified man decided to lash out on her as well. Her throat was too dry to even attempt to explain that she was not mocking him. Though that would most probably only bring more verbal onslaught.

The fragile woman looked down at her blue dress, was he serious? There was no possible way she would jump into that water. First the dress would stick to her body like glue showing far too much, secondly that water was probably full of undesirable bacteria, and finally Madeline could not swim. She'd never been in a pool of water deeper than her bathtub and intended to keep it that way.

Madeline began backing away from the pool area all together. This was far too much for her, she had never liked soap operas and did not wish to remain a character in this one. She scurried back inside, navigating through the manor until she reached the entrance. Thank God! Her rescue was only a phone call away. Standing out on the grassy lawn, she reached into her matching handbag and frantically dialed her driver. In those fractions of a second she spent pushing in all seven numbers, Madeline regretted not having the number set in her speed-dial. Did she really need Roderick's number plugged in of all nine speed-dials? It's not as if she'd ever forget it and even if she did it was written in several places. Anxiously, Madeline waited for the driver to answer his damn phone. As soon as she heard the other line chime, she simple said "Pick me up now," then hung up. Standing outside, she had her arms laced over her chest while waiting for that familiar black sedan to pull up and take her away from this nightmare. And soon it did, the car stopped just short of the curb, without waiting for the driver to get out and open the door for her, the woman hopped into the backseat and buckled up. She looked out of the window and watched the manor fade into the distance as the driver took her to her safe haven.

[yolanda7g]

Same outfit.
Leaving the pool area

Dr. Faustus rolled his eyes at Elissa's spewing. Yes, he was a bit apprehensive about the fact that Elissa was using her head and correctly deduced she was drugged, but as far as Faustus was concerned..."You know what? You can say what you want but I ain't the one jumpin off of bridges and I ain't the one talking to animals. Even if I did want to drug you, ain't no drugs could help ya'll out with that mess."

Ohhhhh damn. Now the parrot got something to say. Ain't no way in hell he was gonna sit here and argue with a parrot. He threw his towel down and said, "You know what? Fuck you," he pointed to Elissa. "And fuck you." He pointed at the guy and his parrot. He turned around and saw people standing there gawking.

"Daaamn why ya'll standin' out here for?! Ya'll ain't got shit else to do?!" He shouted at them. He turned back to the woman in the pool and the man with the parrot. "I don't have to take this shit from either one of ya'll. I ain't do shit to you," He told Elissa. "Now get out that pool and sober the hell up. Damn." He hastily grabbed his fur coat.

He saw the other girl that laughed back away and leave the pool area. "Yeah. That's right." He said to her back as she left. "Think twice before laughing at somebody." To everyone at large he said, "I'm done with ALL of ya'll. Every single last one of ya'll."

With that he turned around and stormed back inside, wet suit and all.

[erin]

:Costume:
Eat your heart out Harry
Find me on the front lawn.

This can't be real... Ophelia thought to herself by blushing in embarrassment as she wanted to pinch herself to make sure it was in fact real. As those words uttered his lips, she couldn't believe her ears. Harry Chandler was in love with her. Ophelia could not grasp it still moments after. Her eyes stared up at his in complete bewilderment.

"Harry I...I don't know what to say." Ophelia finally said after realizing something had needed to be said. Truth was, there was a myriad of things she could respond with but none seemed to quite explain what her emotions were at this moment.

A wave of sparks was sent through every bone in her body as his lips connected with hers ever so gently. Everything she had ever wanted had been blessed to her in this moment. She could hardly hold herself from throwing herself onto him at this moment. Slowly, her arms came around to drape over his shoulders as she deepened the kiss just a tad more.

Her mind was jumbled with so many thoughts and fantasies caressing each corner of her brain with what life will now hold. Ophelia then came back to reality realizing she hadn't given a proper response. Parting her lips from his a little, just enough to speak, she let out the words she had longed to upon meeting him. "I love you." And then it became clear how much she meant those words.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

:Costume:
www.flickr.com/photos/41533634@N02/4529597273/

Find me in the ballroom

Richard, having once more seen enough of Edward, had instead fixed his attention on his whisky and thereafter retreated inside his own head to think some things over. There was a lot he needed to think about, plots, plans to be carried out...

He still hadn't the slightest clue just how he was going to dispose of Edward. For that was what he planned to do. It didn't matter that his older brother way dying on his own terms; for Richard it simply wasn't fast enough. Knowing that Edward was going to die soon but never knowing how soon... Richard knew it would drive him insane.

So engrossed was he in these thoughts that it would have taken a lot to jerk him out of it. And that was just what happened, when a sudden shout accosted his ears.

"Faustus, you fine fellow...why on Earth are you all wet? What, did you take a dip in the pool or something? Or is it raining out?"

The voice belonged to none other than Edward. Richard was very glad he and Edward looked less related than usual in their different costumes...he really didn't want to be associated with him right now. He looked up from his whisky glass and sure enough there was Doctor James Faustus, looking decidedly less arrogant and more than a little irritated.

Richard couldn't help a smirk, one which he quickly wiped off his face in case Faustus came back his way as he'd said he would. He continued to grin inwardly though, quite sorry he'd missed whatever comeuppance the man had received.

[IRENE ADLER]

:Costume:
quizilla.teennick.com/user_images/W/WA/WAF/waffleLOVESlinkinpark/1178428840_ballgown14.jpg
Find me in the foyer. Find me in the bathroom.

She felt the man in front of her try an dig his nails more into her, an drag her as she was crying to much an was feeling an imense pain reach her arms, her fingers trying to pry off from her arms as she saw blood an only tried to jerk away.

Irene Adler a talented thief an yet she had her life just upside down, an not the way she had imagined it what a glorious evening it had been for her indeed, if only her Holmes was around he would save her but sadly she just had herself in the current situation,

She finally had managed to slip out of her bosses grasp, an all she could do was run as she saw the furious man behind her start to follow her in his fit of rage, she hated it when he was in a drunk stuppor an just suddenly decided that she should not look back.

Her dress had been torn in places, an her arms had bruises as well as her cheeks were red with to much crying an yelling, an her hair bun had been let down an was all messy as she did not care about anything else, she just had to get to safety.

Her best bet for safety was in the bathrooms, but if she would be able to reach them that was a little bit hard due to trying not to make people fall in their faces due to her rushing.

Arriving finally at the door, she started to shake the handle for it to open, an sighed when she could not budge it to open . Looking back she could not see were Archibald was an started to bang on the door for it to be opened, " Please help me!!" she screeched an wished that whoever was inside would open for her at least.

[yolanda7g]

Same outfit.
Find me in the ballroom

He scanned the room looking for Richard so he could say what he had to say and leave, but instead he encountered the mayor...a very wasted mayor. After his comment, people gazed in Faustus' direction and grinned amused. His eyes blazing with anger, Faustus snapped. "Get the heck out of my face man, I ain't playin with you!" He didn't care if that was the mayor not. He was tired of this mess.

He stormed passed Edward once he saw Richard. He approached the man by the bar and said, "Alright look, the woman I was with managed to pull me in the pool against my own will, alright? Trust me, this is not a normal look for me. Before I go and get myself dry, I wanted to talk to you a bit more about my practice and if you ever need anything...." He reached in his, thankfully dry, fur coat pocket to grab one of his cards. He passed it to Richard.

"Like I said, I work miracles. Ask any doctor out there." He sighed heavily and looked out to towards the ballroom. "And if you need to keep your drunk brother in check, I'll be happy to do that too...no offense," he said, clearly still irritated.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

:Costume:
www.flickr.com/photos/41533634@N02/4529597273/

Find me in the ballroom

Even Edward could tell Faustus wasn't in the mood to be joked with through the fog of spirits clouding his brain. As the doctor snapped at him Edward wisely retreated, muttering something about 'no hard feelings'.

Richard had to admit he'd laughed at what Faustus had said; why, the man was almost as good at putting Edward in his place as he was! He wiped his smirk off his face once again as he saw Faustus heading his way, deciding he didn't want to be on the receiving end of his soured mood.

"Alright look, the woman I was with managed to pull me in the pool against my own will, alright? Trust me, this is not a normal look for me. Before I go and get myself dry, I wanted to talk to you a bit more about my practice and if you ever need anything...."

Richard tried his hardest to look sympathetic. This Elissa Purcell certainly seemed crazy. He had to admit he was somewhat irritated that he hadn't seen it happen though; he was sure it would have amused him no end.

He took Faustus' card with a polite nod and placed it in the pocket of his robes alongside Monte Cristo's. The one problem with this costume, the only problem as far as Richard was concerned, was its lack of pockets. He'd had to have one sewn in, somewhat marring the authenticity. Not that it mattered all that much. But Richard was the sort of man who wanted things done right. Even if right wasn't necessarily...right.

"Like I said, I work miracles. Ask any doctor out there. And if you need to keep your drunk brother in check, I'll be happy to do that too...no offense."

It seemed that Richard was doomed to fluctuate between extremes with this man; either he despised him for his ego or he liked him for the fact that he didn't seem to appreciate Edward (and that fact that there was always the possibility of him proving useful to Richard).

He wasn't about to reveal anything about his plans for Edward to Faustus just yet. That wouldn't do at all. But he suspected that if Faustus could perform some of his miracles he could help Richard out in more ways than one. What if, Richard mused, what if his medicine, so famed for helping people, was used for another purpose entirely? What if, instead of curing Edward, Faustus helped Richard to...kill him?

How on Earth was one supposed to bring that up without sounding like a complete psychopath? Maybe it would be a good idea to have Faustus help him out as an individual, gaining his trust, before turning matters to his brother.

"I think it would be a miracle if anyone could keep Edward in check," Richard said, with a small, harsh sort of laugh. "But thank you, Doctor, I appreciate your sentiments."

He paused, took another sip of his whisky, and continued.

"You mentioned before that you've made the crippled walk. How did you do that?"

Yes, Richard track record with medical personnel was dreadful. But here, at last, it seemed there was a doctor who actually could help him.

[yolanda7g]

Same outfit.
Find me in the ballroom

Faustus grinned broadly at Richard's crack at his brother (he deserved it) and his question. "Well," he said, preparing to be boastful. He just couldn't pass up an opportunity. "I don't want to bore you with the medical details but my research on spinal discs and how to, in some cases, repair the places where the sciatic nerve is damaged." He waved the details away. "Its a lot that goes into it, but bottom line, its about experimental surgery. Don't let the name fool you. I'm just the kind of guy who can really think about things and actually have the guts to put theories into practice. Ask Ms. Sarah Reese. You might have seen her in the papers. She was in an accident, doctors deemed her crippled for life, and I had the privileged of preforming her surgery and voila! The girl can walk."

Haha, watch out world. Here comes Faustus, the best doctor on the planet! Faustus boasted in his head.

He then looked at Richard curiously. He obviously knew the man had some deformities and he was itching for him to say those magical words, "fix me." He also heard something about that asshole of a brother having some kind of illness. If it meant the money, Faustus would be more than happy to treat him. The price better be worth it though.

"So if you need any of my services, anything that needs treatment, you can guarantee I'd get the job done, know what I mean?" He grinned, waiting for him eagerly to ask him directly.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

:Costume:
www.flickr.com/photos/41533634@N02/4529597273/

Find me in the ballroom

As Richard listened to Faustus' explanation he had to admit he was enthralled. It appeared the man hadn't been showing off and that he really knew what he was doing, if the story of Sarah Reese was anything to go by. Richard did recall seeing her name in the papers; it was generally acknowledged that you shouldn't believe everything you read, but Faustus had just backed up the story...

There was a possibility, then, that he could be cured. Walk normally again, without a limp. And what of his arm? Faustus hadn't mentioned anything about something like that but, considering he was willing to put theories into practice as he said he did, then surely something could be done about that too...

Richard could be cured.

The idea, had it been proposed to him before meeting Faustus, would have seemed ludicrous, ridiculous...impossible. And yet now the hope of a cure had been handed to him he wasn't as inclined to be skeptical.

This could work. It would work. And when it did, Richard would have Faustus on his side, undoubtedly a powerful ally what with his prowess in the field. And if he paid him handsomely enough he'd be able to exploit that prowess to get rid of Edward...

It was all Richard could do to hold back a triumphant laugh.

"So if you need any of my services, anything that needs treatment, you can guarantee I'd get the job done, know what I mean?"

Well. Richard was most certainly not going to let this opportunity slip through his fingers.

"Funny you should say that Doctor," he said, with another short laugh, though much less harsh than the first. "You're well aware of my less than perfect appearance, I trust...I was hoping that, maybe, there might be a chance of you...being able to do something about it. There might be a chance you could help me."

Richard hated to sound needy. But at this point he couldn't help but sound any other way. His tone was serious and calm, not whiny and plaintive in any way, yet his desire to be changed was somehow made clear through it. He only hoped Faustus would listen.

[yolanda7g]

Same outfit.
Find me in the ballroom

"Ha, well I thought you'd never ask." Faustus responded. Cause damn, the way he walks, he just might need a miracle. "Of course I can do something about it. You know I really do pride myself in helping others out of the goodness of my heart. Its the best thing about being a doctor." Yes he was laying it on thick. Its what he does best.

"To make people better, it's my goal in life. My purpose. So you can go ahead and call me at your convenience, all my info is on the card. Of course we'll uh, heh heh, have to discuss pricing because as much as I'd love to do everything out of the goodness of my heart, a brother can't work for free." He winked. "But we'll discuss your condition and set up a date for treatment that works for you. Sound good?"

I think I just hit a gold mine! Faustus thought. I am such a genius! He had a good amount of high paying patients but this was, admittedly, the first in a good while. Hmm, what would be in Dr. Faustus' future after this patient? New car? Yes, a new car...

...and maybe a new suit on top of that.

"If you'd excuse me, I have to...get out of this suit," he finished, his irritated and angered tone returning.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

:Costume:
www.flickr.com/photos/41533634@N02/4529597273/

Find me in the ballroom

"Ha, well I thought you'd never ask. Of course I can do something about it. You know I really do pride myself in helping others out of the goodness of my heart. Its the best thing about being a doctor."

In Richard's experience, doctors weren't much in terms of help. If anything they only served to make things worse. He wasn't entirely sure of Faustus' sincerity, but in this case he was willing to overlook it.

He nodded as Faustus spoke, a small smile playing about his features at the prospect of the cure this doctor promised.

"To make people better, it's my goal in life. My purpose. So you can go ahead and call me at your convenience, all my info is on the card. Of course we'll uh, heh heh, have to discuss pricing because as much as I'd love to do everything out of the goodness of my heart, a brother can't work for free. But we'll discuss your condition and set up a date for treatment that works for you. Sound good?"

Richard laughed as Faustus did when the question of pricing came up. In truth, for once in his life, Richard didn't care about the costs. Being able to walk normally again, not to mention the possibility of having the use of both his arms...why, a man would pay any price for these miracles, surely.

"That sounds more than good Doctor Faustus," Richard said, his smile widening. "Who would have thought one could look forward to a doctor's appointment? I may as well inform you that, in general, people of the medical profession and I don't get along. But I think you'll be an exception to that rule."

In the excitement at the possibility of being cured, he'd almost forgotten about Edward. He got the impression he really should be dealing with his brother first...but if he announced his plans to Faustus now Richard assumed the doctor would want as little to do with him as possible...not to mention informing the press, the police and even Edward himself. Bad idea. Best to gain Faustus' trust before he went about exploiting it.

"If you'd excuse me, I have to...get out of this suit,"

Richard shook his head despairingly. He wasn't about to ask just what had prompted Elissa to drag Faustus into the pool; doubtless Faustus wouldn't want to talk about it, and Richard was trying to get into his good books.

"That sounds like a good plan indeed, Doctor," he said, with another nod. "Wouldn't want you to catch your death."