Yet Another Victorian Chat!

Chance winced at the word 'master'. He hated that word. "Fine," he said. "I'll go, but make it quick."

Ella relished every bite. When was the last time she'd had cake? Mm...she couldn't remember. When it was gone, she was tossed back to the reality that she was in a black carriage with a strange man going who-knows-where. She looked down at her hands and sighed.

Lucien: "Good. You'll be needing this, and I think I can smuggle you some of Dmitri's clothes. You guys are about the same size." I offer him the black mask I'd pulled from my purse, but pull it back just as his fingers graze it. "One thing though," I murmur, suddenly completely serious.

Chance's eyes narrowed as he studied the mask, then her. "What?"

Lucien: My eyes meet his and I frown. "When I tell you to go wait in the hall," I say, "I mean it. No mesing around and eavesdropping. No sneaking bavk in. You'll wait in there until I personally lead you back inside. Understood?"

The man sighs as he looks put the window. "We're here," he murmurs. The giant and wild plants outside of the house draw closer before the driver turns to go to the back entrance. "Remember what I told you."

"Alright..." Chance said, and took the mask. no turning back now.

Ella nodded slowly, still not sure whether to trust him or not.

Lucien: "Good," I say as I start to smile again. "Wait right here and I'll have something for you."

When the driver stops, the man helps the little girl out of the carriage. He raps on the door that easily would've been missed, the only thing telling it apart from the wall being the slightly out of place stone that acted as the handle. It opens slowly and a sleepy and bored looking man pokes his head out. "Why are you here?" he asks. "Why did Eve bite the apple?" asks the man. They stare at eachoter for a moment before the door is opened all the way.

Ella looked up at the man, then she peeked through the door. She had an uneasy feeling about all of this, but curiosity had charm, and it made her wonder what lay ahead.

Chance watched as she walked away. Maybe he should leave? But, no, he had to find out what was going on, now.

Lucien: I come back down wearing a jeweled turban, a simple red dress with large ruby earrings, and a white mask. My hands are cover with rings and my hair is flowing over my shoulders. And hand Chance a pile of clothes. "You could try to sneak in, but be careful," I say.

The man who opened the door looks down at the girl. "A present, Matthew?" The man, Matthew, nods slowly. "Good. Go on then." The man gives the girl one last sorrowful look before leaving her and passing through the beaded curtain.

Chance looked at the pile of clothes. Sneaking in. He hadn't done a thing like that for a little while. "This'll be fun," he said.

(wait, so Ella isn't with Matthew anymore? Who's where and with who?)

(Yea, she's with the guy who opened the door and Matthew is on the other room where everyone else is. And gtg.)

Really? Aw

Ella watched the man go, suddenly wishing that she was back with him. She looked up at the new man. Present?

hello?

The man who answered the door scrutinizes her, taking in her appearence and calculating in his head. "Can you read?" he asks.

Ella shook her head, staring up at him with wide eyes.

(Wait, is that a yes or no?)

(that's a no)

The man nods. Good. Reading often meant ignorance and naivety. While she wasn't as young as he would've liked, she was certainly much younger than some of the other "gifts." "Do you have an illnesses or imparities? A partially blind eye perhaps? A bad cough?"

Lucien: I grin. "That's the spirit! Now hurry up and get changed before we miss the food. I'm terribly hungry."

"Well...I've been told I'm near-sighted, and every now and then I get a coughing fit. Other than that, nothing much," Ella lied.

Chance changed and they headed to the 'party'. He still felt that he was missing something, but he would find out in good time. Maybe he was making a mistake. Or, he could be seizing a fun opportunity. (What's his costume look like?)

(It can look how ever you want it to look, although it needs to be a tad elaborate. His suit could have a pattern like wallpaper or something, and he should probably have a few rings.)

The man is about to ask her more questions when hebhears another knock. Seven knocks exactly. He tells the girl to wait before opening the door a bit. "Why are you here?" he asks.

Lucien: I almost curse when I see who's at the door. Dmitri. He was spoiled enough to not recognize old clothes, but I step in front of Chance just in case. "Why was Prometheus condemned?" I ask. Dmitri opens the door wide, but I can see a hint of suspicion on his face. "And what is your gift?" he asks. I open up my purse and hand him something wrapped in silk scarves. He opens it so that only he can see it and smiles. "And this is for the man as well?" When I nod, he holds open the beaded curtain leading to the main room. But before I walk in, I notice the girl he's talking to. I take out my fan to hide the frown on my face. Poor dear.

Chance followed Lucien, eyeing the man at the door. Sketchy. Real sketchy. He took in the masks, the beaded curtain, and finally a girl standing there and watching everthing with wide eyes.

Lucien: "Thank you," I say to Dmitri before leading Chance through the curtain. The room is grand and large, the lamps placed around the room burning dimly. And yet the fire in each of them are different colors- purples and blues and golds. Everyone is dressed wildly, no longer bounds by the rules of society. Tables of food sit on either side of the room and people have begun go dance to a band dressed in black and white.

The man, Dmitri, turns back to the girl. "Have you ever broken or dislocated anything? And what is the greatest crime you have committed? And finally, are you a virgin?"

A hint of a smile showed on Chance's face when he saw the ballroom. It was amazing. He'd never seen so many bright colors so close in one room...if you could call it a room. It was more like ten large rooms combined.

Ella bit her lip. "Yes...um...well, I've stolen a few watches and such...yes?" She took a half-step back.

Dmitri nods. "Good. Please go through that door then." He nods towards the door across from him. "Mind your step on the stairs- if you break something now, what would we do with you?"

Lucien: "Oh, we came just in time," I say, absentmindedly playing with a piece of hair. "Feel free to do whatever you want. I won't keep you on a leash likely dog. Just make sure I can still find you later." A few more people have arrived, dressed even more strangely and with markings on their faces. The entertainment. A woman holds a flask to her mouth, lights a match, and blows into it. The spout of fire singes a man's suit, who only laughs.