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Masquerade Madness {Self} {Quest}

Postby Kallile » 10/23/2016 9:11 PM

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The young man tiptoed around the others crowded into the tiny pop-up Halloween store; one of many that happened to dot the streets of Nabias these days. There was a bit of everything here, rows of nothing but color block suits, fan themed costumes, and random bits and pieces to make yourself your own monster. Alonzo had never really been one to get too crazy over Halloween but even he could see the fun in it despite putting on many different faces in his day to day life.

He was half surprised that Devi hadn't paid him to tag along with her again--she liked the arm candy adn the muscles to carry all of her things on her shopping sprees. Plus being a paid escort meant that she had the final say in everything he did while on the clock: something she absolutely lived for. It was getting a bit weird to be honest. But one good thing had come of her constant calling--Alonzo had been introduced to her best friend, Roux.
"I have been hidden, scorned, adored, worshiped, forsaken, coveted and banished more times than I care to count. But the one thing all those experiences cannot steal from me is the gentle soul I was born with, the kind heart I have molded, and the bright ideals for the future that have lit my way through the darkness of the past."




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Re: Masquerade Madness {Self} {Quest}

Postby Kallile » 10/23/2016 9:38 PM

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The very young man that Alonzo was thinking of was a few people back and trying to advance towards the male escort. He, however, lacked the 'smashing good looks' and prowess of his larger friend (not to mention the confidence) and so ended up finding the task rather difficult. After a few moments more of trying to "uh, excu-use m-me?" himself through, Roux turned around to survey what was on the walls around him. Witches hats, stringy black wigs, some fake skeleton animals...nothing too exciting or worth picking up to try and call Alonzo back to him rather than the other way around.

"Uh..h-hey Alonzo!" he tried to call over the crowd around him. "we should buy these for Devi...s-see how mad she gets..." He chuckled lightly to himself, knowing in his heart that more than likely Alonzo hadn't heard him and he would just look like some idiot talking to an imaginary friend again. The hat and wig he'd held in the air to flag for some attention were slowly lowered and the young man seemed to fold into himself a little with that simple action. He shouldn't have even tried...this was such a dumb idea to come along...
"I have been hidden, scorned, adored, worshiped, forsaken, coveted and banished more times than I care to count. But the one thing all those experiences cannot steal from me is the gentle soul I was born with, the kind heart I have molded, and the bright ideals for the future that have lit my way through the darkness of the past."




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Re: Masquerade Madness {Self} {Quest}

Postby Kallile » 10/23/2016 9:48 PM

It had been like listening to a fly talk, but Alonzo had just barely made out Roux's voice. By the time he turned he could see the younger man puddling on him and sinking back into the crowd. He had to act fast--Roux was fragile on a good day and being in crowds was not his strong suit. Alonzo kicked himself for even getting that far ahead in the first place when he knew his companion was so soft spoken and easily discouraged. He grabbed the nearest pair of masks he could and turned back into the masses to retrieve the emotionally melting man.

"Hey, look what I found!" he offered cheerily as he switched one mask and then another over his face. "Think we could pull these off at the masquerade ball this weekend?" He hadn't even taken the time to look at what he grabbed, but that was alright. He was willing to play the fool for his most frail of friends.
"I have been hidden, scorned, adored, worshiped, forsaken, coveted and banished more times than I care to count. But the one thing all those experiences cannot steal from me is the gentle soul I was born with, the kind heart I have molded, and the bright ideals for the future that have lit my way through the darkness of the past."




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Re: Masquerade Madness {Self} {Quest}

Postby Kallile » 10/23/2016 10:07 PM

Roux lifted his eyes as Alonzo reappeared in the crowd and quickly stuffed the hat and wig back into their places to hide the fact that he was on the brink of tears. He had fully expected to be left behind and forgotten about, and he would have been alright with that. He was used to it, no one ever took him seriously or seemed to value him. But Alonzo...he always seemed to go out of his way to include him. Even now...as he held up two identical masks that both looked like glitter had thrown up on Betty Boop. The meek man blinked with big doe eyes.

"Uh...those are...different. I don't think I'd look v-very good in drag..." he finally managed with an embarrassed smile. He laughed just a little when Alonzo turned them around to inspect them himself, looking totally baffled.
"I have been hidden, scorned, adored, worshiped, forsaken, coveted and banished more times than I care to count. But the one thing all those experiences cannot steal from me is the gentle soul I was born with, the kind heart I have molded, and the bright ideals for the future that have lit my way through the darkness of the past."




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Re: Masquerade Madness {Self} {Quest}

Postby Kallile » 10/27/2016 10:47 AM

Well, that wasn't what he had hoped for. But Alonzo just grinned and held one out to Roux. "Hey, don't knock it before you've tried it!" he responded cheerily as he placed the masks down on a nearby shelf. "But you're probably right...how embarrassing would it be to show up in the same fabulous costume?"

He heard his companion laugh a little and Alonzo gave an inward sigh of relief. At least he hadn't dove too deeply into the realms of depression and anxiety that he couldn't be pulled back. "So what did you have in mind? Something classic...or something scary?"

Roux silently contemplated as Alonzo led them to the less-crowded stretch of the aisle. "Well, uh...I've only ever been a ghost before...so classic I guess?"
"I have been hidden, scorned, adored, worshiped, forsaken, coveted and banished more times than I care to count. But the one thing all those experiences cannot steal from me is the gentle soul I was born with, the kind heart I have molded, and the bright ideals for the future that have lit my way through the darkness of the past."




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Re: Masquerade Madness {Self} {Quest}

Postby Kallile » 10/27/2016 10:55 AM

Alonzo balked at the very idea in jest, turning to the shy young man with an exaggerated look on his face to show he was a Broadway-worthy level of shocked. "You have only ever been a ghost? Roux, where's your sense of adventure! It's Halloween--you can literally be anything you want to be with a free pass for one night a year!" Multiple nights a year, he thought, if you were a male escort. "Come on, we can think of something better than a ghost. What's something you've always loved? Always admired? Always daydreamed about doing?"

This time Roux really did pause in both thought and forward motion. He'd...never really thought about it before. The days of 'what do you want to be when you grow up' had never really come true for him, and he'd forgotten most of what he had once so foolishly dreamed. "Well....I-I don't really know.."
"I have been hidden, scorned, adored, worshiped, forsaken, coveted and banished more times than I care to count. But the one thing all those experiences cannot steal from me is the gentle soul I was born with, the kind heart I have molded, and the bright ideals for the future that have lit my way through the darkness of the past."




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Re: Masquerade Madness {Self} {Quest}

Postby Kallile » 10/27/2016 11:04 AM

The anxious man thought, pondered, and wracked his brain. What had he always dreamed of being? Sure, for a while he thought cooking was cool but he'd never really wanted to be a chef per say. He'd always just been lost, to be honest. With no real parental direction Roux felt as though he'd simply existed through his childhood. Alonzo cleared his thought gently to pull his friend out of his own head--knowing too well the early signs of a panic attack on the other man's face.

"Or just a favorite character? Anyone, really. It doesn't have to be a life-changing decision. Start small--what do you always enjoy doing? What characters have you always loved the most?" Alonzo offered, walking over and placing his hand comfortingly on Roux's shoulder. "Here, let me show you what character I've always loved."
"I have been hidden, scorned, adored, worshiped, forsaken, coveted and banished more times than I care to count. But the one thing all those experiences cannot steal from me is the gentle soul I was born with, the kind heart I have molded, and the bright ideals for the future that have lit my way through the darkness of the past."




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Re: Masquerade Madness {Self} {Quest}

Postby Kallile » 10/27/2016 12:18 PM

Alonzo led them to a different aisle strewn with character look-alikes of all types. Classic scary horror monsters, cartoons icons, live action heroes. None were what Roux found himself drawn to immediately, but he was more than a little curious to see what his companion was going to show him. Alonzo motioned for Roux to wait at the mouth of the aisle for a moment and disappeared within it's depths. Roux just stood, one arm crossed over his stomach to clutch his elbow on the opposite side, and waited anxiously. He didn't like standing alone, he always felt so...exposed.

When Alonzo returned he had a most unusual costume in his hands. It was made up of a crazy, spiked blonde wig the doubled as a mullet, a fluffy white dress shirt with open chest and frilled arm hems, a black faux-leather low-cut vest, grey leggings with an exaggerated cod-piece and black knee-high leather boots. He also held a small riding crop and three small 'crystal' balls that he was juggling in one hand.

"Umm...."
"I have been hidden, scorned, adored, worshiped, forsaken, coveted and banished more times than I care to count. But the one thing all those experiences cannot steal from me is the gentle soul I was born with, the kind heart I have molded, and the bright ideals for the future that have lit my way through the darkness of the past."




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Re: Masquerade Madness {Self} {Quest}

Postby Kallile » 10/27/2016 12:31 PM

"It's Jareth! From my favorite movie, the Labyrinth!" Roux nodded slowly, still taking in the very...unusual costume. It was like the Victorian era and the goths from his high school had collaborated to create the monstrosity, though once the name was stated he immediately recognized the character. He forced a smile, unable to take his eyes off the pants for a moment.

"You'd...really wear that?" he said skeptically before looking back to Alonzo. The bolder of the two laughed and nodded excitedly.

"This is one of the characters that influenced me a lot when I was a little older. He was so commanding, so sure, and yet even he couldn't control everything even in his perfect world. It taught me a lot about what it takes to be a strong person, and a brave person. So yeah, I'd wear it. Even with the pants." he jested.
"I have been hidden, scorned, adored, worshiped, forsaken, coveted and banished more times than I care to count. But the one thing all those experiences cannot steal from me is the gentle soul I was born with, the kind heart I have molded, and the bright ideals for the future that have lit my way through the darkness of the past."




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Re: Masquerade Madness {Self} {Quest}

Postby Kallile » 10/27/2016 12:48 PM

"You've just got to go on instinct--do what feels right for you. Jareth feels right for me, because I've got a connection to the character. Just have a look, see who might jump out at you." After the horrified look on Roux's face he added "Figuratively speaking."

Roux inhaled deeply to muster up his courage and paced down the aisle while Alonzo and his rather...flashy costume waited at the end for him. He could do this...Alonzo had come right back out with success. He could surely find something that spoke to him even a little bit. Anything that spoke to him would work, really. He just didn't want to let his friend down.

As he turned to see the costumes behind him, he caught sight of it. It wasn't the pinkish-purple and black spotted costume inside the bag, or the rather comical plush mask/hat combo that came with it that caught his attention. It was the show's title printed on the label that grabbed Roux's eyes and refused to let go.

Courage the Cowardly Dog.
"I have been hidden, scorned, adored, worshiped, forsaken, coveted and banished more times than I care to count. But the one thing all those experiences cannot steal from me is the gentle soul I was born with, the kind heart I have molded, and the bright ideals for the future that have lit my way through the darkness of the past."




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