Hannah Louise Brixton Sarabi, who had made herself perfectly comfortable on the pretty satin sheets, the colour of the roses her Aunt Ivy had kept in her garden, stirred as Anna sat down on the crisply made bed, her little ears twitching. The four-poster looked so comfortable, Anna was tempted to crawl in right there and then and sleep. She could probably sleep for a decade in that beautiful, big bed, with it's ivory bedposts that contrasted prettily with the scarlet sheets. She wrapped one arm around one of the posts, leaning her head on the hard wood while looking down at the invitation in her hand.
Acacia Malikov Acacia had mumbled lightly to herself as she'd walk along the ground level of the large building. Left hand loosely wrapped around a suitcases handle whilst her right firmly gripped the leather length of a leash. Emerald hues with flecks of brighter greens flickered about before stopping dead and centre at the base of the staircase. A set of amber eyes had shifted, staring up at the slender girl. She smiled lightly down at the figure before drawing herself and the bag up the stairs. Each floor had an assigned colour and she stopped at the first floor she came across. This level had the garnet room and she rolled her shoulders back, the ginger locks dangling loosely down her shoulders and back as she headed for the door labelled '
Garnet' and stopped for a second to think.
She couldn't avoid meeting whoever she was staying with and reach to twist the door-handle. As soon as she opened the entrance she wandered in and let it swing shut behind her. If anyone was in the open living area their eyes would meet not with the girls, but with the form beside her, standing roughly 70cm high he was past her knee and with a high held head and sharply pointed ears caught nearly everyone’s attention. His leash was dropped in the matter of a few moments when entering the dorm. Figuring no other pets had been allowed he had privilege to wander as he wished.
His nose raced, velvet panels pulling scents in and out from all around him, a rippled figure of muscle just heaved as paws dragged him away from his mistress and around the room. He almost seemed to freeze after a while. Head lowering and neck tensing as he'd stare at the door of a room. Docked tail stiffly raised and chest heaving as he simply stared.
Hannah Louise Brixton Anna was busy staring at the letter in her hand. The thick, cream parchment was pretty, embellished with golden, glittered edges. It was pretty and grand, just like the rest of the place. Anna was used to grandeur, but this was even more than she was accustomed too since her mothers death and her departure from the family home she'd grown up in.
Did she go to this party? The tone of the invitation suggested that it was mandatory, and she hadn't looked at her dress or mask yet, but if she was going to guess, based on the experience she'd already had of the school, Anna was willing to bed they were beautiful, probably clothes the likes of which she hadn't worn in a long time. It was then that Sarabi, who Anna thought had gone back to sleep, made a little noise in the back of her throat. It wasn't quite a hiss, but it was getting there. Anna frowned and set down the heavy parchment on her bed, gently picking up the kitten and holding her close.
"
What is it, Sarabi?" She said, soothingly, stroking the cat's head. "
Do you not like our new home?"
Acacia Malikov Hardly budging to check on the canine at this place, Acacia simply rolled her eyes as he stared at a room "
Glupyy durak" she huffed lightly in a natural tone. Looking at that particular door for a moment she figured someone must have been in it and headed for the room off to it's left. Opening it's door she'd drag her luggage in and sit it off to the side. The room was already decorated with furniture, her eyes danced over everything, mouth gaping the slightest as she'd blink in disbelief, she hadn't seen anything so grand in probably all her life, on the outside the splendid grounds were no give away of the magnificence within any of the buildings.
Acacia spoke louder as she looked at the door "
Koshmarik, priyekhat!" she said in a firm tone, whoever was next door could probably hear her, but, Koshmarik didn't respond. Alerted ears raised forwards heavily picked up the noises within the room and he raised a paw taking a solid step forwards. His maw opened as his vocals rubbed deep in his throat and rumbled as he emitted a heavy bark, the base tone rumbling like a growl uncertain of what was in the room. He hadn't encountered a cat before, well not in a long time anyway. He simply stood there and stared with wide eyes.
In a louder tone as she emerged the door she clapped her hands and spoke heavily "
Koshmarik! Dostatochno, ostavit' tot, kto nakhoditsya v tam odin. Prikhodite!" the accent of the NeoRussian's rung in her voice as she took on a stare of dominance. The canine himself glanced and almost huffed a heavily discontented groan as he stood stiffly, staring. He wasn't always great with his obedience and challenged his own mistress half the time. Though after a few moments would begin towards her stopping now and then to glance back.
Hannah Louise Brixton The cat wriggled in Anna's arms, struggling in a way that was unusual for her contented temperament. Anna shushed her and stroked the cats head, standing up and moving over to the window, looking out of it to see if there was a bird or something else that might have spooked the kitten. Finding nothing, Anna frowned and looked down at the cat, holding her up and away from her face, when she tried to claw at Anna to get away. "
Stop it, Sarabi!" She told her. Sarabi seemed even more panicked at this point and shot out of Anna's arms, hitting the floor on all fours and sprinting across the room, clawing at Anna's ivory wardrobe and climbing right on top of it in a way that only cats can. "
Well, Jesus." Anna mumbled, looking at the cat in surprise, her hands resting on her hips. It was then that Anna heard it, the bark that shook her bones. She squealed, turning around, her eyes resting on the dog that stood in the doorway.
"
Heavens-" She stumbled back a few paces in shock, before she heard a voice that entered behind the dog. She didn't realise at first that the girl was speaking foreign, but the words meshed together and the accent was clearly not one that Anna was familiar with, so she clicked on soon enough. Still, she didn't relax, looking from the dog to where Sarabi was still hiding, shaking, on top of her wardrobe. However, after what seemed to Anna to be an extremely long time, the tension in the dogs muscular shoulders seemed to lessen as he looked back at the girl who was clearly his owner. Anna crept around her bed, reaching up to Sarabi and forcing the cat, who clung to the wood like a lifeline, down into her arms, holding her tightly so she neither escaped or became a meal for the hell-hound standing in her doorway.
"
Uh," She said, with uncertainty. "
Hello? I'm Anna Cutter. Do you speak English?"
Acacia Malikov Seeing the canine taking his time Acacia moved with a graceful stride. Moving herself as she grabbed at the leather length latched onto a thick brown harness. She stood tall as she moved into the doorway herself and stared lightly at the form gripping onto a grey fur-ball. Noticing the movements of the unsettled creature the girl held she looked down at the canine and almost growled herself, a glance of his eyes meeting hers set him into a sit as if he knew what he'd done. "
I am terribly sorry about that." Her voice was gentle, a sudden change from the hefty tones of commandment, though the accent clung without any hesitation. "
I am Ace," is all she exclaimed name-wise, jiggling the leash as she watched the figure evenly the same height as her, "
This is Koshmarik, he isn't used to um... cats, you could say" she couldn't really word it, he didn't like anyone in general, but in her head cats was a good point for now.
"
He won't harm it." she seemed hesitant in that simple statement, but was confident he should hopefully stick to her own side like he normally does. She raised her left hand to rub the back of her neck and the messily curled strands dangled about her face before she looked up again and moved it out of her vision. Silver piercings sat about her face, she seemed to have a thing for them, but the didn't seem to bother her as she spoke lightly through them.
"
Cute animal though," she smiled and tried to lighten the air, "
I might go put him in my room though." Attempting to turn quickly she'd start for the room, not too much of a people person herself she only communicated when she really had to. If the girl tried to stop her then she'd calmly turn, if not she'd slink back into the depths of her room with the canine close to her side and shut the door lightly.
Hannah Louise Brixton Sarabi didn't seem to be calming, her nails digging into Anna's arm through her thin sweater. Her owner kept moving her around, dislodging the felines claws from one area of her body, only for the cat to attach herself to a different area. In the end, Anna gave up and let Sarabi's claws lightly scratch her arm. Not once did the cats gaze leave the dog, even though it's owner took hold of the leash. Anna couldn't really relax either; the girl didn't really look strong enough to control that animal if he decided he wanted to make a meal out of Sarabi. Anna glanced at the window, wondering if it came to it, would Sarabi land on her feet? She almost smirked at the dramatisation of events in her head.
"
It's not a problem, really." Anna said, in response to Ace's apology, her NeoBritish accent contrasting with what had finally identified as NeoRussian. "
I'd shake your hand, but..." She nodded towards the cat. "
I don't think I could hold onto her if I brought her any closer. Her name is Sarabi."
Anna looked over the girl who had introduced herself as Ace, noting how bright her green eyes were, how they stood out against her fair skin. Anna smiled back as Ace complemented Sarabi, who Anna could feel had finally settled down a little, instead choosing to nuzzle into Anna's sweater, evidently trying to hide herself. As Ace dismissed herself, Anna glanced at the open letter on her bed and, setting Sarabi down, she followed the girl out of her room, shutting the door behind her so that she could keep the pets apart.
"
Ace?" She said, the heels of her boots clicking on the light wood floor in their shared lounge "
Have you seen the invitation to the Masquerade yet? The letter reads like it's mandatory, and we have all been gifted with gowns, or suits, and a mask. It sounds quite fun and I was wondering, if you want to go, if you'd care to walk down together? I believe we've got..." Anna was interrupted by the striking of the clock, and she noted the time as she glanced at it. "
an hour in which to dress."
Acacia Malikov Acacia had stopped in her tracks for the time being, her bright eyes shifting as she stopped at her own open doorway and glanced within before looking at Anna. "
I haven't had a chance to really look about," she lightly spoke as she'd raise her spare hand and point at the cage provided in one corner of the room "
Koshmarik, go on, get in." Her hand released the leash and without too much of a fuss and the cat now out of sight and attention the over-sized hound found himself drawing forward, shoulder rolling as his head ducked and his entire body entered into the bared cage, a simple crimson dog bed sitting within for him to lay on, in which he did.
Reaching in slightly she'd shut the door until it clicked and turn to face the one who asked about the masquerade. Running fingers through what looked like knotted hair without any hassles she looked around "
Not sure if I will be going," she fiddled with a lip ring for a small moment before looking at the brown haired girl, "
I am not too much of a people person, neither is he." She gestured at the door with the light glance of her eyes. "
After all, he will be coming with me." She spoke in a simple tone, "
He is a, as you'd call, service dog, so he never gets left behind."
"
So it is mandatory?" Acacia question after a moment, "
If the invitation states mandatory I guess I will tag along." She nodded and smiled partially, waiting for a response.
Hannah Louise Brixton "
I'm assuming it is," Anna said, glancing over at the dog, who seemed to follow his masters orders swiftly enough now that her cat was out of sight. He didn't look so intimidating, curled up in his bed. "
The invitation read so, and that is where they're serving dinner tonight. I've not had a chance to look at my gown yet so I can't imagine what they're like, but I can't see them being any less grand than our surroundings." She smiled upon hearing that Ace would be coming, "
Wonderful," She commented, "
It'll be nice to have somebody there I've already met."
Acacia Malikov Acacia seemed to smile herself "
I guess then it's time to change." She nodded "
It is always a good feeling to never be alone, especially in a place that seems too good to be true," she stated softly and turned to her door, "
I wonder what mine will look like" she reached for the door handle and looked to Anna "
I do hope that the two fur balls accept each other." She smiled and let the door open in front of her as she disappeared into it and let it click shut once more behind her.
Once secluded once more she glanced over at the pale cream parchment on the bedside table. Her eyes fluttered about the room and hardly acknowledged the canine staring after her. She moved towards the large garnet wardrobe and reached with both hands for it's doors, opening it she'd look within, mouth dropping open almost at the satin like fabric of an
emerald green gown. She looked it up and down as she reached to pull it from within the cabernet and lay it flat over the bed instead. "
Oh my!" she spoke as she glanced at the companion on the other side of the room.
Turning she'd look back in the cupboard and see what else there was black heels, simple in style that wouldn't be seen from under the dresses length. Another item sat near them. A mask? Acacia thought to herself. A mask of a light almost metal looking material, matching in emerald tones it branched off at the top in swirls of speckled seemingly sparkling glitter. It was the perfect
masquerade mask.
Hannah Louise Brixton Back in her own bedroom, Anna walked over to the large ivory structure that stood against her deep red walls, and was more than large enough for her to climb inside, and pulled open one of the doors. The inside of the wardrobe was quilted red satin and Anna ran her hand along the smooth, shining material, ever taken by the beauty and attention to detail she was surrounded by. A shock of white caught her eye and she looked down at the
mask that she was to wear tonight.
White She thought,
The colour of purity, innocence. She smiled picking up the seemingly weightless object, the delicate ribbon trailing through her fingers like water. She tenderly stroked the feathers that flared out from the top of the mask and would curl around her head. Setting down the mask on her bedside table, noting that Sarabi had once again fallen asleep, nestled in among the sheets, Anna turned back to the wardrobe and opened the second door.
All of Anna's breath was gone the moment she laid eyes on the
dress. Anna had experienced beauty, she had experienced beautiful people, beautiful places, beautiful clothes, but this dress...this gown was the substance of Anna's dreams. She tentatively reached out to touch the ivory material, scared that the oil from her skin would mark it, at the same time knowing that was a silly assumption to make. The material fell through her fingers, light as air and soft as Sarabi's fur. Anna had to laugh, biting her lip and looking in disbelief around her, catching sight of herself in the antique mirror that stood across the room from her. Finally, she felt like she had found a place that could last.
Acacia Malikov Acacia almost seemed breathless as she wrapped tender fingers around the edges of the mask. Moving to lay it beside the dress she'd look at the colouring, the fabric and the way both looked like they were made to compliment her eyes, hair and figure. Whoever made them was a master tailor indeed. She'd move about lightly on her toes as she began to undress herself removing the casual wear and replacing them with the formal length of satin fabrics. After moments of struggle and almost falling over with a
bang she'd caught herself with the bedside table and finished getting into the glorious item. It fit like a glove.
Moving towards the wardrobe again she'd remove the heels from it's flooring and close both the doors. Placing herself on the edge of the bed she'd begin to strap the shoes around her ankles so they wouldn't come off. Green eyes of a bright emerald flickered to the mask as she finished the leather buckling and reached for it with a porcelain toned hand. Fingers grasping it lightly as she drew it to her and flipped it over, she'd raise it to her face and felt the chill of the metal against her cheekbones. Satin ribbons slipping through her grasp as she'd tie it behind her head, the mess of ginger hair sat naturally down her back, she liked it out and in comparison it curled gently and danced about like it was made to be that way.
Acacia soon arose to her own feet, the heels clopping lightly as she moved around the large bed and headed for the mirror that bore everything in the room. She smiled bright and lightly ran her hands down the dress, the fabric elegant and smooth as it moved with her. Fingers lightly playing with it as she spun to the left and then the right.
"
How do I look Koshmarik?" She turned to the canine, laying almost like royalty as he raised his head to glance at his mistress. He made no noise and simply blinked as amber eyes shifted about the room. Chuckling softly Acacia moved towards the door to grab at it's handle "
Priyekhat." she said firmly yet with a sense of contentment. The canine raising as he emerged only to stretch out, hind legs stiff while his chest dipped down and front legs extended forwards. After a moment like that he'd pulled himself forward and raised up, moving to the emerald fabrics side, a faint hand grasping the leash he dragged about and held it firmly.
Hannah Louise Brixton It took Anna a little longer to get ready than Ace. She pulled her hair free of the pretty braid it had been tied in all day, running her hands through her hair and loosening the curls that fell naturally about her face. She didn't feel the need to do much with her hair, especially since she would be wearing the mask anyway. She touched up her eyes with the make-up she dug out of her suitcase, darkening her lashes, lining her eyes in black Kohl and making her eye-shadow smoky and mysterious, the dark make up striking against the lightness of the mask. She painted her lips with lipstick that merely acted to enhance the appearance of her own lips, making them look full and pretty. Then she slipped on the dress.
The white chiffon cascaded over her, a waterfall on her skin, smooth and cooling, covering the small tattoo she had on her ribs. She fastened the straps behind her neck, feeling the golden embellishment and admiring the outfit in the mirror. She looked mysterious, but somehow alluring and innocent all at the same time.
How curious. Anna remembered when her mother was alive; Eloise and Richard used to attend gala's and go to the opera and the theatre and Anna used to see her mother dressed in gowns and her father in a different tux all the time. It always struck her how perfect they were, how they fit together. Anna winced as a horrific scene flashed through her head. Her mother's face, smiling and then bloody. Anna put her hand to her head, trying to blink away the images and she tore her eyes from her own reflection to the pretty, vintage lace
shoes that she saw in the cupboard. The perfect fit, she slipped them onto her feet, tying the ribbon at the back in a bow. Standing up, she shook out her skirt and caught her own eyes in the mirror.
"Time to make an impression, Hannah." She told herself, smoothing out her skirt, grabbing her
bag for the evening and walking to the door, glancing back only to make sure Sarabi was still sleeping soundly. She looked at the cats water-bowl that she had filled up pretty much as soon as they arrived and saw that it had barely been touched. Having a thought, Anna pulled the door too and moved to her bedroom window, shutting it. Sarabi's ears twitched, but she didn't quite stir. She didn't know her way around this place and Anna didn't want her cat getting lost any more than she wanted Ace's dog to eat her. She softly closed her bedroom door behind her as she left, desperate for the time in a few hours when she would crawl into that huge, inviting bed.
Acacia Malikov Acacia pulled her own door open as she emerged from within, door being closed behind her as she looked down at the canine so near and glanced around the open space. She had already moved towards a chair to sit in, not a fan of make-up too often or most other fashion accessories she simply wore the dress, shoes and mask with a clean slate of skin unaltered by powders, liquids or liners.
Sitting patiently she took the time to look about at all the details and decorations of the dorm. It was a splendid place, a place that looked fit for royalty, not someone likeAcacia
I don't deserve to be here, neither of us do was the only thought that ran through her head. As she thought back to her old life, foster families and homes that weren't all that great, the only thing that was the same in her life, was the loyalty, protection and comfort of the creature so many people deemed dangerous and unsuitable for a child.
Click she heard the closing of a door off to the other side of the room. Koshmariks ears alerted as he watched the figure that had emerged from the space, sitting in a regal position as he huffed and didn't remove his sights from her until his own human arose to her feet. Her bright eyes complimented by the darker tone of the light weight metal mask. Her locks naturally dangling as they were before over her shoulders and down her back and chest, the fabric of the dress making her skin evermore so pale than before, almost like a doll that could easily be broken if knocked too hard.
"
Oh my, you look stunning," she spoke gently as she was struck by the innocence of pure white and silver highlights. The dark locks of chocolate strands let down unlike before sitting almost similar to that of Acacias, she bit down on her bottom lip lightly as if almost jealous or something along those lines. She tried to keep most her comments to herself and moved around the chair so that it would be easier to escape the dorm when they were ready to start for the hall. "
Whoever made these must have worked really long and hard, especially if they made one for everyone!" she looked Anna up and down, the materials were like that of flowing water, elegant and feminine, fit for anyone with money to spare.
Hannah Louise Brixton Anna blushed as Ace complemented her, her cheeks turning a rosy shade of red, her pale skin darkening for just a moment. She wasn't a stranger to complements, but it had been a while since she had gotten one like that. The last person to call her stunning had been her father, on her prom night. She raised a hand and tucked her hair behind her ear, fiddling with the bag in her hand. She smiled, modestly, and looked at Ace's dress. The green was rich and full, the perfect jewel shade that accentuated the paleness of Ace's skin and brought out the different shades of red in her hair, the shades darkening on the inside of the roses that encircled Ace's narrow waist.
"You look gorgeous!" Anna said, her eyes meeting those of her new room-mate. She smiled, her cheeks full and back to their normal colour.
The mask on Ace's face cast shadows down her pale cheeks, defining her cheekbones and darkening the freckles scattered across her nose, which trailed down across her exposed shoulders. She looked like something from someone's imagination, mystical and enchanting.
"And I think they are handmade," Anna said, moving to the door and opening it, giving Koshmarik a wide berth, but trying to be subtle about it.
"Shall we go down?"
Acacia Malikov Acacia looked down as her cheeks seemed to instantaneously tint to a pale rosy tone at the compliment. She didn't get those often, then again, she didn't normally hang around others who got on well with her. As the door was opened and space was given she nodded and smiled lightly, the curl of her lips pointing at her ears as she began striding towards the door, elongated legs swiftly carrying her as the heels emitted
clop, clop noises with each step. The canines paws spreading over the flooring below as he glared at the woman who bore enough space for him to pass by. Koshmarik could sense something about her that gave away a sense of probable uncertainty around him, but it didn't bother him so, he got the vibe of seemingly harmlessness at this point, keeping alert for anything that may change around him.
"
I believe it is time for us to find our way to the ball." The parchment of the masquerade invitation still sitting on her bedside table, unsure if it was needed she left it there, though she more so forgot about it more than anything. Waiting for Anna to emerge the room and shut the door she'd look towards the stairs and slowly begin for them allowing Anna to catch up and remain with her "
It honestly is nice to know someone already, I don't normally go out or do anything with others," she spoke softly as she walked "
But, even if I wanted a private room, I think it might work well sharing with another person." she smiled and glanced at the girl beside her.
"
I hope we do get along well and become friends." she looked ahead again and continued walking as they reached the stairs to descend. Slender digits holding the leather leash tightly as the canine remained on her right light a magnet that couldn't resist being near.
Hannah Louise Brixton "I would like very much if we could become friends," Anna replied to Ace,
"It will be nice to have somebody to call a friend so early in the year. Loneliness is a terrible thing." Anna said it with the sad smile of somebody who knew the feeling all too well.
Anna lifted her skirt as they began descending down the twisted staircase, her heels clicking on the solid marble beneath them. Her hand trailed on the bannister, smooth and cool. The doors at the bottom of the stairs were open, the night air fresh, blowing in on a gentle breeze that ruffled her skirts only a little. They made their way out into the night, a series of pathways leading them to what Anna knew to be the Main Entrance, and off which she believed was the Grand Hall in which they were to have the Masquerade ball. As they walked through the grounds, Anna noted their beauty, even in the night. There were tiny little lights that twinkled through shrubs and endless shrubs, all sporting a different flower. Rose bushes here, clusters of tulips or lilies there. And the smell. The flora mingled with the crisp night air, subtle and overwhelming all at once. Anna felt more relaxed now than she had for a while, even if she was dressed in a gown that suggested a rather decadent evening was ahead.
