{ network / all-purpose post } [slightly backdated]

[mayoralty]

[The notice goes up in the journals early Monday afternoon. Carol's learned that things can change quickly on the boat, and announcing far in advance doesn't really do you much good. Especially considering the rooms can change and the formal wear stores you need to make sure people are ready might not be there on the day in question.

Regardless, when she sees the stores there, she makes the announcement, writing neatly and carefully into the journal:]

Masquerade Ball

Hosted in the Main Ballroom on Friday, August 29th at 7 p.m.

Formal dress attire is required. All inquiries may be directed to Carol Lockwood.

[And that is that. There are several formal wear "stores" on the upper deck of the boat for all your fancy ball needs. This post can be used to talk to Carol, or to organize your dates, or to go clothes shopping - knock yourself out!]

[OOC: IF YOU WOULD LIKE CAROL, PUT HER NAME IN THE SUBJECT LINE. Otherwise, use this post to do your thing. =D]

Comments

Carol!

[crescents]

[ now we're talking. ]

Mrs. Lockwood?

[ the handwriting is elegantly scrawled as sophie breaks in her journal. ] My name is Sophie Wilder, and I wanted to offer my help if you were in need of any assistance. I host balls for my family a lot of the time back home, so I have some experience.

[ because her parents are dead and there's no one else to do it. :') the wilders are a big name back in sophie's home universe, but she's not expecting it to mean anything here and she isn't a snot about it. her impeccable taste and sense of fashion will have to speak for itself. ]

[mayoralty]

[Oh! Help! Help is good! Especially help she doesn't have to flirt con into it *coughLogancough*]

Any help would definitely be appreciated, Sophie. The ghosts do what they can but it's hard for them to really ... grasp the concept.

[crescents]

Oh, totally. But for the most part, they're good at taking orders when you give them some direction. [ As long as they have good direction, and Sophie has a feeling Carol Lockwood has that part down pat. ]

I might also know a person or two that could help with heavy lifting.

[mayoralty]

That is always appreciated as well. I have a friend I can sweet talk into it, and my son as well, but the more hands the better.

[Sorry, Tyler. Time to put those big strong hybrid muscles to use.]

[crescents]

Excellent. [ There's a smile here, not that Carol can see it. ] This was a great idea, thank you for putting it all together.

[mayoralty]

It's my pleasure. I know things can get a little monotonous around here. Every once in a while it's good to spice things up.

Thank you for the help.

[crescents]

Of course! I love to help. I love anything that brings people together and lets them forget their troubles for a while. [ She is kind of like anti-James in that respect. He's far too severe and broody, if you ask her. ] Bonus points if we get to dress up in the process.

[mayoralty]

We used to throw a masquerade every year back home in Mystic Falls. It was my husband's favorite event of the year.

[crescents]

My parents would throw one back home, too. I don't really remember them, outside of sneaking out of my room after bedtime and peeking through the staircase, but I've been kind of trying to bring them back to continue the tradition. It's a work-in-progress.

[mayoralty]

Well, maybe I could give you a few pointers. For when you head back, at any rate.

[crescents]

Really? I'd love them.

[mayoralty]

Of course. I've been throwing events like this for years. I'd be happy to pass the knowledge along.

[It's not like it's something she can really share with Tyler.

No offense, Tyler.]

Carol :x

[uncompliant]

[logan took one look at the neatly written letters, and he knew immediately who had written it before he checked to see the name beside it. he picks up his pencil to write.]

A masquerade ball?

[mayoralty]

[She smirks a bit, though he can't actually see it.]

Everyone could use a little mystery every once in a while, don't you think?

for mary jane }

[impetere]

[So Derek's guardian - whatever that is - is making him go to this stupid ball. Derek, in turn, is making Cora go and while for most girls that probably wouldn't be a big deal - most would even be excited to - Cora hasn't been to a formal event since before the fire (which basically equates to "ever" in girl years), and she has no idea where to start in getting ready.

Especially when staring down the racks and racks of dresses.

In fact, while she can run at alpha werewolves who could easily kill her without breaking a sweat, the idea of that much chiffon, lace and other fancy materials have her looking seriously intimidated when really, they're just dresses. The worse they can do to her is be something she could trip over. But they're probably the scariest thing she's ever seen mostly because handling this feels like something she should know and she doesn't.

(For not the first time, she misses her mom. She misses Laura. It's not as though she doesn't miss them all the time, but it's moments like this that bring up a sharp pang of sadness that becomes hard to shake because she should have someone to help her with this, and she doesn't.

Alternatively, she also wishes Lydia were here, because she knows she would just take charge and get this done without Cora having to really think about it, but that's another set of feelings entirely.)

She takes a deep breath, before taking a tentative step forward, hand raised as though she's about to start combing through the rack, before hesitating and letting her hand drop again. Really, where does she even start?]

[outgunned]

[ Mary Jane - who is a Lydia look-alike but admittedly not Lydia, apologies for that, Cora - never really turns down a good party. Sure, when she was younger part of that had to do with her desire to get away from home and dance away her troubles, pretending she never had any. She could smile the night away and no one would know what was waiting for her back home - a sickly mother, a drunken jerk of a father, and a sister who didn't understand.

But she's feeling a bit nostalgic herself for other reasons.

Mary Jane misses her mother dearly and has felt her absence every single day since she died, but it's Gwen she is thinking about today. This was the kind of stuff they did together, back when all of them - Harry included - were friends. Gwen, with all of her grace and sophistication, her poise and her effortless beauty, was always such a stark contrast to Mary Jane's wilder and messier ways, but together, they made it work despite their differences. They were best friends, and she is certain Gwen would be helping her pick a dress right now if were here.

(But then, if Gwen were here, maybe her and Peter - it always is a dangerous train of thought, so Mary Jane doesn't follow it too closely.) ]

Need some help?

[ Mary Jane couldn't help but notice Cora's indecision, and if there is something Mary Jane understands - it's fashion. ]

[impetere]

[Cora glances back to her and for a moment she blinks, doing a double take, almost as though by wishing that Lydia was here, she magically summoned her to the boat somehow, but the scent comes the moment after and she course corrects. Just Mary Jane. Not the person she thought she was.

Not that there's anything wrong with Mary Jane, just it takes a moment to disconnect her thoughts. She glances at her sheepishly for a moment, before nodding a little.]

I've never dressed for a ball before or ... anything like that and my brother is making me go. It's kind of like being thrown into the deep end when all you know how to do is doggy paddle.

[outgunned]

[ Mary Jane smiles at her, and if she notes Cora's sheepishness, she doesn't mention it.

Honestly, Cora is a very pretty girl. It won't be hard finding something that suits her, and while Mary Jane's help hasn't been explicitly solicited, she is going to help anyway. Because she can. ] Are there any colors you favor? [ She's already thinking of a few schemes that would look great on Cora, but she'd like to know if the other girl has an opinion one way or another. ]

[impetere]

[She pauses for a moment, before giving a half shrug.]

I never really thought about it? I mean, I usually wear dark colors.

[outgunned]

Hmm, yeah. I'm thinking black. It's sexy, sleek, and you can never go wrong with it. [ Mary Jane studies her critically for a moment, before she grins, lifting up her arm in offer to Cora. ]

C'mon. Let's go find us something spectacular.

[impetere]

[Cora is okay with black. Black is a good color. She studies the offered arm for a moment, before nodding and taking it, letting Mary Jane lead her to her doom something spectacular.]

[outgunned]

[ The clothing store itself really is rather spectacular. Mary Jane purses her lips as she contemplates the dress styles, before she turns to Cora with a critical eye. ] We might want to consider a hair up-do, too. You've got such a pretty face. Might as well flaunt it. [ Already her mind is running with a hundred possibilities. ]

[impetere]

[ .... Did she just call her pretty?]

Uh. Thank you?

[outgunned]

[ ...Yes? ]

Anytime! Don't tell me no one's ever pointed it out before.

[impetere]

I haven't really spent a lot of time around people.

[Or it hasn't been relevant. She knows she's attractive in an abstract sort of way, but direct compliments? Not so much.]