Behind the Mask

[The Dread Pirate Roberts]

The Dread Pirate Roberts watched the slowly growing crowd from behind his mask, watched the motion of skirts swishing and the secretive glances. He had already decided to forget the usual rules for the night, and so he was his character of choice, witty, brave, mysterious. Of course, he had yet to be tested.

[Marie]

Marie made her way over to the seats, thinking of waiting until more people arrived until she would dance. She gazed around, taking it all in. A feast for the senses, the deocrations were divine and the costumes were exquisite, she adored her own. She had chosen to portray a tudor Lady, one often forgotten in history. To fit her role, her gown was sumptuous, her bodice was embroidered with gold thread and her heavy skirts made a satisfying swish against the floor. As she saw who she thought was a pirate, she took a seat next to him, a hand raised briefly to check her mask was secure. "This is going to be one amazing night" she said, starting a conversation. Her voice was soft and husky, a surprise and relief as it further masked her identity. Tonight, she was Marie.

[The Dread Pirate Roberts]

The pirate's gaze shifted to rest on the girl who had sat beside him, a moment's pause reminding him that he was someone else tonight. His lips curved into a smile. "It already is, fair lady," he said, inclining his head in greeting. "The Dread Pirate Roberts, at your service," he said. "Let not the name frighten you; there is no danger for you here."

[Marie]

Marie inclined her head in return, a small smile pulling at her lips. "It is kind of you to say Sir" she replied, every inch the princess she was portraying. "Tonight I am simply Marie" she said, giving him her name. She reached up and smoothed one of the blond curls, a characteristic of her character.

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[Marie]

[The Dread Pirate Roberts]

"Marie," the pirate repeated, lightly catching her bare hand with one black-leather glove and bowing over it. "A lovely name for a lady of such exquisite beauty." The mask was, apparently, all he needed to make the night extraordinary. But how far would he push his character? Only time would tell.

[Marie]

Marie laughed softly, letting her hand remain in the pirates. "Thank you" she replied softly. "And yet The Dread Pirate Roberts hardly seems a fitting name for such a charming gentleman" she continued, her voice silky. "Or are you no threat to fair maidens?" she asked, the glimmer of frivolity in her voice. This evening was about unwinding and giving yourself a chance to relax and have fun, when nobody else knew you. Marie intended to do just that.

[The Dread Pirate Roberts]

"The Dread Pirate Roberts never leaves captives alive," he said, "but you, my lady, have captivated me." His lips curved into something between a smile and a smirk at that, his eyes laughing at the near-ridiculousness of his own words. Not to demean her undeniable beauty, but tonight was not about repressing oneself, but playing an elaborate game of fantasy.

[Marie]

Marie leaned forward, letting her voice drop to a secretive whisper. "Well if that is the case, then I too am a pirate, yet my plunder seems to be not gold but men" she said. She looked at him, wondering who the man behind the mask was. She knew that anything that happened tonight would be due to the magic of the ball.

[The Dread Pirate Roberts]

The pirate's eyes gleamed at that, and his smile seemed unwilling to fade, not that he had tried particularly hard to fade it. The moment was by far too magical to take for granted.

The pirate bowed over Marie's hand again, lifting it this time to press a warm kiss light as a butterfly against the back. His eyes lifted to hers before he straightened, glittering as he asked, "And what will you do with your prize?"

[Marie]

Marie smiled as a kiss was pressed against the back of her hand. "Well the prize is often guarded by the captor, yet tonight I feel my success as a pirate will be high, so it may be hard to watch over all my treasure" she teased. She knew that she looked beautiful tonight, and that men would be entranced by her. She wasn't willing to stick to one man during the evening so she made no concrete promises.

[The Dread Pirate Roberts]

The pirate's gaze did not leave hers as he straightened, releasing her hand. "As you wish," he said softly, the words coming easily to his lips. His eyes still shone with the promise of the evening, but they had darkened now, slightly enough that the change might not have been noticed.

[Marie]

Marie smiled slightly and tilted her head to one side, looking intently at the pirate. "So far though I have little to guard, although what I do is not unworthy of my strife to keep it. Therefore I shall rest a little longer within the company of a dashing pirate, before I get whisked away into the dazzling magic of this evening" she said, letting him know that she was intrigued by him. "I hope you won't have any objections" she finished softly, giving him the opportunity to end their meeting. This evening was all about playing the games you wouldn't dare to without the masks.

[The Dread Pirate Roberts]

He would accept what opportunities came his way. The pirate inclined his head in acceptance of Marie's declaration. "Then, for now I am your willing servant," he said. He would not end a meeting that had only just begun simply because he knew that it would end.

[Marie]

Marie leaned back in her chair. The corset of her bodice was pulled tight, making her already slim wasit seem tiny and she had to be careful to breath properly. She smiled at the pirate. "My stories of pirates call tem all rogues, I see this is not the case though" she said, inclining her head towards him, showing she meant him. "Now what would a willing servant do for his mistress" she teased, with the masks for anonymity, everyone was bolder and more forthright that evening, risks could be taken as the damage would be limited if your true identity remained concealed.