She was more excited about this year’s masquerade than she had been in the past. Though she would deny it, Cass knew it had to do with the fact that all she wanted to do was think about anything other than the attack on the school. She had been lucky. She hadn’t been involved in both attacks but she still did her best avoiding the Joyeau side of the third floor. If she didn’t have classes on that floor she would have avoided it altogether. With the ball she didn’t have to think about the attack or the fact that it was nearly winter break. It was like being sucked into one of her stories while still remaining conscious of the world around her. Plus it gave her a chance to see whether what happened was a good thing or just confusing.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and reminded herself to stop wringing her fingers and to just stop thinking in general. She didn’t want the others to know. Even though they probably already did. Would Annette really not tell them? No, she probably already told Peter who probably told everyone. Why was she even thinking of this? The masquerade was supposed to just be fun. There wasn’t any guarantee they were even going to talk or see each other. She opened her eyes and stared at herself in the mirror. Her red hair had been carefully pulled into a reverse crown braid. She had on a strapless blue ballgown that she had charmed to look like rippling water when she moved. She couldn’t go out there looking like this. Cassie had never worn anything like this at the school before. Certainly not around her friends and especially not around Blake. She grabbed the blue mask before placing it on her face and tied it. She looked back into the mirror, grinning at the reflection. She could see herself in the mirror but it wasn’t the everyday Cassie staring back. She looked different, but a good different. She stretched her fingers before placing them calmly next to her body. Her reflection looked almost confident.

With new found courage, Cassie finally made her way downstairs. She was late; she knew that but for once in her life she didn’t mind. It wasn’t like people would recognize her right away with the mask and the dress. That was the beauty of this whole night. The masks made it hard for everyone to be recognized. The downside to that was the fact that it made it harder for her to figure out where her friends were. Dang, she knew she should have asked the group what their costumes would be. It would have made this easier. She took another breath before walking into the dining hall. She couldn’t help but smile at the room in front of her. She couldn’t find the adventure group but she did recognize one of her friends from the stables. She made her way towards the other girl, all the while trying to keep an eye out for Peter, Annette, Art, Logan, Casey, Dei or Blake. Maybe not Blake yet. She could already feel her confidence slipping away. She just needed a little more time to find Annette and have the older girl talk some sense into Cassie.

So instead she chatted away with the girl, occasionally looking around for her friends so she could wave them overor join them.

Art was not one to long ponder on his outfit like that. He was cocky enough to know he always looked good in practically anything. Even now, while he was going with the girl he wanted to go with, he still hardly cared what he looked like. The boy had just plainly pulled the first tux thing he had out of his closet, which was actually a white one but who cared about that and put it on, checked his hair a bit in the mirror, but it was messy as ever. A guy like Art could not look gay, no matter how hard he tried, so he did not bother about the white jacket and the not really tuxy-pants. In fact, poor Art was just wearing jeans. He had a certain 'je ne sais quoi' and not laidback thing over himself that made that he was a person who could wear that to a masquerade. And he knew it, which was the worst part.

And yet, all Art could be was happy, as he made his way to the Renard commons to pick up Dei, his mask in his hand, casually swaying around with it. His mask, he had picked out with care, because he had to have something that was connecting him with his house. A mask with obvious peacock feathers did the trick, so he thought. He arrived at the Renard common room and saw Todd, his 'friend', who he had tricked before to let him into the commons. He just did not think the man would be as difficult this time. "Please, Todd, let me in. I'm here to pick up my date for the Masquerade." Art pleaded and somehow the painting seemed to remember the last time he denied Art a request and got to do what he wanted anyways, so Todd just gave up already and opened up for the Joyeau boy.

He was there with his Renard friends, waiting for the girls who took way longer than them to get ready. And then Dei descended the stairs and all Art could do was gawp and stare at her. She was gorgeous. The boy grinned, offering her his arm as she stood besides him. "You are the prettiest woman I have ever seen." He said with a playful wink, pulling his mask on his head. When finally Annette and Casey had joined them too, he motioned for the door. "Shall we go now?" The group walked to the dining hall, and Art found himself not looking at Logan a lot. He did not know whether to feel thriumphant or guilty or plainly just what to feel at all, so he just shove it aside and focussed back on Dei.

As they got into the Dining Hall, and it was all very very pretty. But the moment the music started, Art was one of those persons who could not stand still. Preferably he would've started making music himself now, but well, that was not his task for the night. Maybe Annette and him would hijack the band if it was getting boring, but the 8th year doubted it. His hand glid around his date's waist as he leaned closer to whisper in her ear. "M'lady, would you like to move to the dancefloor? I am afraid my dancing skills are not adequate, but you'll just have to bear with me." His lips pecked her on the cheek, before turning into a teasing grin. It was true, Art was a horrible dancer. He just liked being here with Deirdre, and all. He felt like kissing her over and over, but knew he couldn't -and wouldn't- and it also scared him a bit. Damn, he wished he had some booze.

((ooc: sorry if godmodding xd))

"Jesus. I always KNEW I had a pretty sister somewhere under all the dirt." Cathy's voice was bright and happy, even as she jabbed at her younger sister. Casey scowled deeply at her as the older girl tugged on her hair. "Wow Cathy, for a minute there I was hoping you'd say something useful." Cathy snorted, a smirk playing on her delicate features. Finally with a flourish, she threw her hands over her head. "Voila! You look like a girl, petite soeur!" Casey laughed gently and looked at her sister's reflection in the mirror. Casey had begged asked her sister to help her get ready for this ball... mainly because she wanted to look good for Logan. God forbid anyone know how desperately she wanted to impress him, because that... that was just strange... right? Of course. They were going as friends.... weren't they?

Leaning forward, Casey inspected her hair, now curled and in soft ringlets. She looked like she was gonna get married or something, and she felt so silly in this dress, which her mother had informed her was a tradition to wear... or something like that. Lifting the dress up, Casey slipped her feet back into the heels that Cathy had gotten her and stood up, feeling unnaturally tall. She turned to hug Cathy who smiled up at her and nodded. "Your boyfriend is gonna be stunned, hun. Casey flushed brightly and mumbled "He's not my boyfriend..." before grabbing her fox mask from the counter and walked out of her dorm with Cathy sneaking past her to exit the school. Casey nervously stepped into the stairs to see Art and Dei down there.

She strolled down the stairs, graceful on the heels, putting on an air of cool confidence, she wasn't going to let anyone see her inner fears. Give her a pair on tennis shoes and she's stumble over her own feet; but put her in a good pair of heels and Casey was a damn ballerina. "Hey guys. You look great." she purred, walking up to them and brushing a curl out of her face. She waited with them, smiling gently at her friends until Logan came. She swallowed hard and was thankful for her mask, so he couldn't see how red she was. Casey nodded as Art suggested they go and Casey took Logan's arm with a slight smirk and smiled over at him. "Thanks for... uh, you know, asking me to come with you, Logan..." she said softly. God, how the hell did she let herself get this smitten with a guy and not even notice it? Walking into the dining hall, Casey looked around and squirmed slightly, before looking over at Logan. "So, uh, do you, um, wanna dance... or something?" So much for confident.

Annette never took so long to get ready. She was always the one who was done quickest and still looked good. That was her. And now here she was, fixing every bit of make-up and strand of hair for it to be in perfect shape. And it was. Her blonde hair was flowing over one shoulder, pinned to the right side, her fox mask covering most of her pretty face. She did not know why exactly she had bothered putting on make-up, but ofcourse she had. Her blue orbs were darkened by black mascara and eyeliner, making them look dark and mysterious from behind the mask. Annette was not one to use foundation or something like that, so other than that she just painted her lips flamered, giving somewhat more edge to her look. Honestly, Annette was still strolling around in her underwear -don't tell Art- because at first she would have to fix Dei's hair and make-up and get her in the dress.

"I still can't believe you're going with Art." The blonde said, squatting in front of the chair where her best girl friend was sitting on. Honestly, Annette would've never chosen Art, no matter how hot he looked, because if she would be the girl to commit to someone, she knew the Joyeau was not that dude. And Logan was. "So, why not Logan again?" The girl continued with a questioning raise of the brow, still visible because she was not wearing her mask yet. Annette glanced at Deirdre's face critically and to the dress she was gonna wear, to decide what to do for the make-up. Dei had not specifically asked her for help, but well, the two of them always ended up like this before a party. She reached up a little to make some lines on Dei's eyes with the black eyeliner, biting her lip in concentration, because she did not want to mess up her best friend's face.

If it weren't for Peter, Dei would be Annette's best best friend. Now she was her best girl friend, because well, Peter. And Annette was rather annoyed with Peter these days, she did not know why. But instead of focussing on that, she focussed back on listening to Dei and her stories and troubles about her 'guys', as Annette called them. Yeah, that was pretty fucked up , she had to agree. It made her wonder how it was possible that literally everybody in their group had love problems. Cassie with Blake -though Annette hadn't told anyone about that, not even Peter, which was a miracle- Dei with Logan and Art (and Casey was probably somewhere in that weird situation too). It was as if the hormones had suddenly kicked in with everybody. It was weird and fucked up and the Renard wondered where it was all going, but looking at her younger housemate, she did not want to confuse her more than she already was and let out a sigh. "You know what? Guys, there's nothing they're good for. Let's become lesbians." Annette chuckled, shaking her head amusedly, before getting up from her knees to show Dei the result of hair and make-up. "Voila, c'est ça. You like it? Let's go." She asked, before handing her friend her dress and hopping in her own.

When looking at Annette's dress was pretty, but nothing spectacular. Ofcourse, the strapless thing looked good on her, it fit with the mask she was wearing, but it was nothing special. And ofcourse, the blonde could not not be special on occassions like this. It had been a difficult charm, to create what the others were about to see, but in the end, Annette had succeeded. Hey, you were an A+ student or you weren't one. As the girl descended the stairs, the illusionary flames started whirling around her legs, like she was going up in flames. Like she was on fire. Naturally, Annette wasn't planning on getting herself or anyone hurt, so they were illusions, but they looked so real that you could almost feel the heat (ooc: think hunger games style). "Hey guys, sorry we took so long." Annette said, rolling her eyes as she saw the look on the boys' faces. They couldn't help wanting to be pretty. When Dei and Casey joined their dates, the blonde Renard ended up with her best friend anyways. She scanned his outfit and grinned a bit, shaking her head amusedly. "Alright then, let's go."

When they arrived at the Dining Hall, Annette made a mental not to herself, that she would spice this party up. It was on like Donkey Kong. But first, first she had to find Cassie. Cassie, who needed her more than anyone else right now, not that they knew about that. She saw Dei swing away with Art and Logan taking Cassie for a dance and then smiled gently at Peter, noticing the eyes of several younger Renards (let's say, 4th-5th-6th years) focussed on him. That was no something she particularly liked, to be honest. Don't be ridiculous, that has always been this way, she corrected herself and decided not to keep on pondering on it. "I'm gonna find Cassie." Annette said to her best friend, leaning closer to say it in his ear, to get over the music. And then she strided away, the flames whirling around her.

It was not that difficult to find her younger Sagesse friend. Adding the house elements to the hair, it was easy really. "Cass!" Annette said, taking her friend by the hand and pulling her in a hug. "You are gonna be fine. Trust me. Blake likes you in the same way as you like him, or he wouldn't have kissed you. Just be confident and go for it." The older girl said, taking the redhead's head in her hands. "You can do this. Now don't chicken out. You wanna dance?" Annette said, winking at Cassie before taking her hand and pulling her on the dancefloor. There was his hot looking Taureau boy who was almost begging the 'girl on fire' for a dance.