The Hapes Consortium Masquerade Ball

[Persephone Callas]

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The Hapan Consortium cordially invites you to attend​

The Hapes Consortium Masquerade Ball​

At the Fountain Palace upon Hapes.​

Dinner and Dancing with Music provided by the​

Starlight Classical Quartet.​

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Formal Attire is required.​

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The invitations had been sent out, the band had been booked along with the caterers and bartenders. The finishing touches had been added to the Palace, along with the many streets and gardens surrounding its glorious grand entry. Persephone Callas, Ducha of Selab and Charubah had gone all out to make Hapes a mysterious winter wonderland not just for the Hapan people but also for the visitors that would be attending the event.

Lights had been strategically placed to represent fairy lights, snowflakes of crystal, gemstones, and paper had been carefully crafted and hung up upon lines and lines of invisible to the naked eye wiring. Carriages of a sleigh design with single ivory coated steeds waited at the spaceport to bring every guest to the palace, and to return them to the port once they were ready to retire for the evening. Some of the hotels upon the planet had even been alerted that some of the event’s guests might require rooms and to be ready.

Standing at a balcony overlooking the grand staircase inside the Palace, Persephone was dressed in a white gown embroidered with silver and glinted with pale cerulean jewels. Her hair was upswept in a dazzling display of curls, with jewels glistening like ice crystals upon it's crimson length. A white mask was placed over the upper portion of her face, shielding her identity from view. While this was a masquerade ball, it had a certain wintery touch to it. One may wonder how akin to Life Day it was.

The Starlight Classical Quartet was already playing that night’s selection of holiday songs, waltzes and other instrumental melodies. Songs that would not only welcome the attendees but also was being broadcast so all in the main city would be able to enjoy it. All of this within neutral territory, a celebration that rarely ever invited outworlders from beyond the Consortium itself. The Queen Mother, along with her attendees, would stand in honor, as a valets would bow to greet the guests.


“Welcome to the Hapan Consortium’s Masquerade Ball. Please enjoy the winter wonderland we gladly present you.”

 

[Ashin Varanin]

"And so," Ashin murmured to [member="Spencer Jacobs"], "we bow to the Ducha and hit the refreshments."

She'd taken a leaf out of Spencer's book; there was nothing in her self-presentation tonight that spoke to the brutal lightsabre combatant, the merciless sniper, or the fleet commander who'd been leading targeted, enigmatic raids across the Rim. Maybe someone from the Republic would try to arrest her; maybe someone would try for the half million on her head and the eight hundred million on the head of her wife.

Tonight she didn't look like a fighter, an admiral, a despot or a wanted woman. She just looked like this.

And that was fine with her.

"I think there's cake."

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer listened, well she half listened as her fingers moved across the soft felt of the stick on mustache. Her wife was more than enough of a distraction from conversation and other things of the evening. Spencer's mind had completely skipped over the possibility of a nice of dancing then some mingling with others straight to the end of the evening where she would only see her wife and no one else. [member="Ashin Varanin"] knew what to say though and the typical arm candy blinked quickly and a smile formed under the felt stache. "Cake." Leaning forward she stood up on her toes and gave the woman's mocha skin a light kiss on the cheek.

"You look amazing tonight. Much better than cake. Who is this Ducha by the way?"

Despite being something somewhere in the Fringe diplomacy department, the Hapes Government was something she rarely looked at. Smiling sheepishly she shrugged and then once more touched the felt on her upper lip. "Bit much?" The hand fell and straightened the tight black button down, it was an odd feeling being at something like this not in a dress.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Spencer Jacobs"]

"Persephone Callas. She also serves as the Senator of Hapes. Can't remember if she was there when I spoke before the Senate." Ashin slipped on her mask, a tasteful, basic affair in black satin, and ran her thumb along the corner of Spencer's felt moustache. Her descending hand brushed against a modestly protruding button. "And no. This'll work just fine."

She made for the refreshments.

 

[Cross Ikon]

Spoiler

What Cross is wearing:

Back on Hapes again. Amazing. It was even more opulent and wintery than it'd been nearly a thousand years ago. More gold and silver than could be defined as tasteful extravagance, and there was snow inside the palace. Well, that was unusual. I was wearing something slightly more understated than I was used to: A jacket with tails, buckles, and buttons. It was also dark red and black. So, understated compared to my usual flowing admiral's jacket, or my party tux.

I wasn't awed by the presence of the Queen Mother, or any of the nobles. There were ten to one chances that I'd had sex with a great-grandmother or something of theirs nine centuries before they were even born. I seriously wondered what would happen if I just walked up to her Highness, and kissed her. Sure, Rikki would possibly get a little jealous, but she'd understand the joke after a little bit. But what would the Queen herself do, huh? Nobody recognized the hero of the Royal Fleet a millennium after the fact.

Once in a while, I saw the odd shock of red hair that meant that I probably had a grandchild or two, or fifty, milling about. None of them recognized me as the man in the painting in the hall of war, or as the bust in the Royal Museum. Very few people here had actually managed to make the connection so far, and most of them complimented me on my 'patriotic costume'. Damn them to hell.

Sadly, Rikki wasn't here, yet. She'd taken some time to look around, but I'd elected to come straight here, and get a few laughs when people finally figured out who I was. But it hadn't happened yet, and that annoyed me, slightly.

[member='Rik'Tani']

 

[Cryax Bane]

Cryax Bane wasn't quite sure how he and [member="Anastasia Rade"] had gotten invited to The Hapes Consortium Masquerade Ball at Fountain Palace, but here they were. Somehow the invite had ended up crossing his desk at the Dragon Palace Casino and the Chiss had almost tossed it in the garbage along with a few bits of junk mail and the latest Arkanian's Secret catalog. But the lavishly perfumed envelope had piqued his interest and he opened it out of curiosity.

A masquerade ball wasn't normally the slicer's cup of tea, but he thought that his girlfriend might enjoy it so he said, 'what the frell.' Plus, it was a chance to get off the planet of sin for a while and go somewhere he'd never been.

The palace was exquisitely decorated, and elegant classical music set the soundtrack for the evening. Cryax was looking sharp in a black three-button tuxedo jacket with a notched satin lapel. Single-pleated pants with a satin side stripe completed the look.

He felt a bit silly in his mask, but he didn't want to tick off the Hapan nobility by eschewing their rules.

A waiter walked past them carrying a tray of glasses filled with the finest Hapan champagne. He took two, one for himself and one for his date. He took a huge gulp of champagne thinking of the possibility that the guests might at some point during the night be forced into some kind of lavish couples dance. Between his lack of coordination and his cybernetic knee, Cryax would need all the alcohol he could get his hands on if he wanted to endure something like that.

[member="Cross Ikon"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Tsolan smiled as he entered the room, a fanciful mask wrapped around his face. Certainly, it was similar to his others in its canine base, but it still had an excessive amount of frills and trims to make it fancy enough for such an occasion. Around his body he wore a simple black suit which hid a single dagger in the fabric as well as a place to hold his saber. He had no expectation to use such weapons, but what was the point of a specially tailored suit if you didn't get to use it? Of course, there was another slight alteration, one that allowed his furry black tail to sway behind him as he walked across the floor. At his side would likely be walking [member="Alexandra Lianne Feanor"]. "Been a while since we've been to a party like this."

 

[Anastasia Rade]

She didn't get invited to fancy balls or anything of that nature. It wasn't a Mandalorian thing as she quickly realized. Drinking was much more their type of thing which Ana excelled at. She wasn't proud of getting wasted at times but that was past her. She still drank but now most nights were not spent at the pub.

Ana had been surprised to be asked to a masquerade ball but had of course accepted. She loved the idea of dancing the night away with Cryax. Ana knew he would rather spend a quite evening alone so she would have to make it up to him.

As she sipped at her champagne she glanced around the ballroom. It was beautifully decorated, stunning even. Ana almost felt out of place in such a setting. It was so different than what her life was. She knew that she wasn't the most fashion forward woman here but she liked what she had chosen to wear. It fit in nicely with her mask.

"You seem nervous," she smiled lightly as she turned her attention back to Cryax. "Have I told you yet how handsome you look tonight?" Smiling she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. She knew she had but he seemed nervous as he never did drink that much all at once.
[member="Cryax Bane"]

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

[member="Darth Tsolan"]

Alexandra smiled as she stood next to him, eyes staring at him with the familiar presence of Daeda off to the side of the room. She wasn't sure if Ace was with Vulps, but if he was she was even less sure how close to vulps the wolf, but she was sure he was watching. None the less here they were and she smiled as she reached up to fix the mask on her face. Normally she would be wearing the skin tight dark blue dress she had but she had to settle for her normal white robes, though such was altered to appear more like a dress. The reason the most obvious one, her pregnancy and the bulge that had so far formed. "Indeed, last one was in the Republic right?"

 

[Vulpesen]

He wrapped an arm around her and the tempo of his tail increased slightly. "It was. I distinctly remember trying not to stumble over my words when I saw you in that dress." He kissed her cheek and smiled broadly. As for his other companion, Ace. The azure wolf was running around the buffet, slipping under the table as he sniffed at the delicious food above.

[member="Alexandra Lianne Feanor"]

 

[Edric Vanyan]

"Interesting..." He wore a suit and smiled at a couple as they passed him, dipping his head to them and drinking from a glass as he smiled to himself and tapped his hand on his side that wasn't occupied by the drink. He was wearing a mask like all the others, his hair actually in a suitable state and the suit, while not the finest, was still well enough for this sort of place. Who he was though? Well no one knew, nor needed to, after all, that was what the mask was for right?

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

[member="Darth Tsolan"]

"Shame i can't wear that tonight, guess this will have to do, and you realize the reason i can't is your fault fox face... i just hope no one realizes you are you, or you are going to have a lot of explaining to do to them." She smiled and glanced at the moving tale before speaking again. "Then again, most anyone that knew you knew you didn't have a tale... By the way... i can tell you are a bit happy." She smiled and as a joke patted him on the head.

 

[Thalia Rist]

Thalia moved through the door, hands crossed over her front and eyes peering through the holes on the mask she wore. She was curious and very interested into the going on's of the outside galaxy and she moved with light steps into the area. She already took stock on those that obviously knew each other and she toook careful notice of those that strayed into the realm of the unknown. Her hands came up and touched the red mask she wore that closed on her features, matching the red dress that flowed around her body and covered her form. She now smiled and moved into the room, getting a drink herself and drinking as she watched.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

Purse? Check.

Bracelet? Check.

Ring? Check.

ARHVN personal entertainment unit? Check.

Tourist's Guide to the Fountain Palace? Check.

Lethally impressive dress, with matching mask? Check.

[member="Sicarius"]? Vanished. Probably bound for the finger sandwiches.

The palace was amazing, and she'd been Silk's CEO; she'd encountered ostentation. Hapes did everything with class, did everything right. Immense chandeliers, well-dressed guardsmen, the best food she'd ever seen at a formal function. Her few effects had attracted no attention; everything was slimline, and fit tidily inside her purse.

She found herself hungry.

 

[Nimble Nike]

It was Nike's turn on stage in a new outfit that he himself had created called the Champille de Neuf, as he walked up he saw the faces of his adoring crowd and fans. He pressed his hands to his lips and then threw them out towards the crowd. He placed his lips around a napkin to make sure his lipstick was fine and then preceded to grab the mike and began to sing his heart out. The vibrato in his voice was powerful and he sung with such raw emotion that halfway in the song he began crying, with his eye-liner and mascara running down his cheeks. The band behind him was good too, but he was the showstealer, with everyone watching him. After he finished his first song and wiped the tears from his eyes, he began accepting requests, or whatever the host told him to play. A job is still a job.

 

[Sicarius]

Contrary to popular belief, Sicarius was not bound for the finger sandwiches nor had he absconded with the paltry, bread bound morsels. He enjoyed sandwiches as much as the next man, but finger sandwiches were a joke, more or less. The things weren't enough sandwich to have an affect on the hungry and to try and eat enough to take the edge off of being starved made you look bad in front of the host and their guests. Plus, they never had enough meat inside nor did anyone think to put enough condiments on them. Sure, meat and cheese was tasty enough on light bread, but where was the mustard or mayo? The cooks, if one could call those that made finger sandwiches that, never put any or, if they did, they never put enough. Sicarius liked to taste the mayo and mustard on his sandwich. He enjoyed the crunch of pickles and the occasional pepper. Olives and lettuce? Yes, please. Finger sandwiches just didn't do it for him. They weren't filling and could simply be put as small, bread wrapped bundles of finger food sized disappointment.

Instead, Sicarius had made a beeline for the other end of the table. Here there were briskets and what looked to be chicken. Protein a-la-lunch. Doing his job burned a lot of calories. Meat and complex carbs like the tasty looking pasta dish nearby provided kept him going. The man adjusted the wrist bracelet on his arm so as not to bump the trays on accident and deftly tossed a few slices of meat and a nicely sized spoonful of pasta onto the little plate they provided him. Snagging a fork, he proceeded to dig in a bit. Sure, they'd eaten before they arrived, but he was still hungry. McYoda's could only satiate so much of Sicarius' desire for food.

Food problem solved and the carbs being ingested, he turned to find his partner for the evening. As he walked, he made sure not to spill anything on his nicely made suit or to drop anything on the floor. That was the downside of meatballs in pasta dishes, unfortunately. One wrong move and that meatball went rolling on its own like a rock trap down an ancient and abandoned temple hallway.

[member="Selka Ventus"]

 

[Alva Calvarona]

So this was Hapes.

Well, at least this was a wonderful event on it that she was attending.

Resplendent in the dress she had worn to naboo, and her meeting with Aurna, the Second Princess of Crina was not going to miss this event after she had heard of it. Naboo, Hapes, and Onderon were all planets she felt were close to Crina's own ideals, at least when it came to governance and world structure. Alva was making it her goal to visit each of these worlds to see them, experience them, and determine whether they really were what she imagined them to be. Perhaps someday she would officially make trips to the planets once again to really see about initiating relations with Crina, once her homeworld had a strong position to emerge and announce itself to the galaxy. Something she hoped would be possible by using the Imperials. By far she liked the nature of Naboo, and she deeply loved Hapes power and ability to stay confined while dealing with the rest of the galaxy.

Not to mention, and really Hapes especially, she liked all the other beautiful women she was able to meet. Perhaps she would meet some more tonight.

There appeared to be a number present already.Touching her mask, Alva grinned hoping to perhaps have a fun evening with a few.

 

[Melanctha Dallamoor]

Melanctha had come to Hapes a day early to ensure she was prepared in the manner as befitting the Duch'a of Cheruba. It was the duty of every Hapan to attend just as it was their duty to look as beautiful as they could. To wear the finest clothing the most beautiful jewels.

Mel smiled at her image she wanted to make an entrance and had asked Aiden to meet her on the steps of the palace. He had not seen her dress and she had fought to keep it secret from him.

She wanted to see it in his eyes how much he liked this dress. She loved it for many reasons one was that it left some things to the imagination, and two it showed off her skin and swept up hair quite nicely. As she traveled now towards the palace she had to calm her nerves she did not know what [member="Aiden Merritt"] had planned on wearing. She assumed he would be more than appropriate and stunning.

 

[Alan]

Slick black. That was the color of the suit that the Jedi wandered in with, his footsteps light in the black dress shoes. He politely grabbed a drink from a passing waiter, some type of wine or champagne. Upon tasting- it was champagne. An interesting process to make, rigorous and regimented by those who wanted it to earn the title of such a beverage. But to Tracyn- it was just fancy wine.


Tracyn moved through the crowd, his hair styled, his suit bitchin, his shoes polished, his beard bitchin, and the hand that held the wine- straight gangster.


A sip of the wine told him, that the wine- was also bitchin.

 

[Aiden Merritt]

[member="Melanctha Dallamoor"]

Aiden arrived early and found a comfortable seat to sip a glass of champagne and people watch until the Duch’a Dallamoor arrived. Aiden had a feeling she would be only slightly late as she tried to balance the Hapan propriety of being fashionably late with her own aggressive, driven nature to be early or at least on time.

He wondered how he should greet her – after all – they were engaged now even if they had justified it simply as a means of appeasing their families until they could better control their own futures. As a Hapan male, even if he was the heir to Relephon, he supposed he should bow and kiss her hand if offered; very much opposed to what Aiden and Melanctha would be inclined to do with their fiancée by their nature. Aiden grew up on Arbra and tended to be an affectionate, touchy-feely jedi type which Melanctha seemed to be growing to appreciate… even it was in private.

Aiden put his empty glass on a passing waiter’s tray and stepped outside to wait for Melanctha on the steps as she had requested. As usual, his innate sense of time was correct and he didn’t have to wait long.

Their engagement may have been arranged to appease their parents, but, Aiden’s smile when he saw Melanctha walking regally up the steps revealed his true affection for her. She was stunning in her long white gown and, Aiden, thought with a smirk, as grand as her dress is, it shows a larger galactic influence in her style choices than a typical Hapan ball gown.

Aiden decided to throw caution to the wind. He stepped forward to greet her, took the hand she offered and pulled it to his chest drawing her nearer, then with his other hand, tipped her chin back and kissed her lingeringly on her soft lips.

“Melanctha,” he whispered to her, “my Duch’a… you look amazing.”