gifpersontrophyThe Masquerade BallA magnificent chandelier greeted guests as they entered the ballroom floor, illuminating the entire area with a soft, orange glow. Those who flocked underneath wore garments filled to the brim with silver and gemstones, and yet their beauty only seemed to excel with the elaborate masks that adorned their faces, a treat to all who gazed upon them. The crowd filled the space with delightful chatter, as they compared each other's wardrobes down to the finest detail. Concurrently, Jac stood alone near the hallway, her chin low with her fingers clasped together. Never mind the fact that she wore what she once thought was the prettiest aquamarine dress, topping it off with a vibrant yellow eye-mask decorated with patterns of roses and thorns. No, instead she felt like a sardine in a coy pond, which only aided in increasing her hesitation tenfold. "It would be a unique experience, that's what the lady who handed me the brochure said anyway.." Jac said in the tiniest voice. "But... where is he? He said he'd be here by now. And yet..." Days before, Richard voiced his reluctance to attend, something Jac should have listened to in hindsight. But the initial excitement of getting to wear her newfound outfit at a seemingly fun event won at the end of the day, and her best friend knew that he couldn't say no to that. They even planned on keeping what gown they wore a surprise, which upon recollection made her slap herself in the face. He could be anywhere in the crowd, anyone... To melt into the mass of masked people seemed inevitable, but it was hard enough when her anxiety was steadily crawling up her limbs. The pressure of everything collapsing down on her added more weight to her shoes. Minutes felt like hours, the young woman's shoulders slumping further with every one that passed. And worst of all, she couldn't shake off that loneliness she felt. Jac had half a mind to bolt away for something more humble. "That burger joint down the street looks appetizing. I'll... let Rich know there's been a change of plans." But just as soon she reached for her phone, suddenly, she noticed a peculiar figure in the corner of her eye. Someone who stuck out in the metaphorical fish pond. Dressed from top to bottom in a seal brown garment, a man with a dark plague doctor mask stumbled into view. He awkwardly tried to slip between the cracks in the swarm, bumping into a few shoulders along the way before he managed to break free. His inept legs took him far in the clearing before he straightened his posture, and this action gave him a direct view of the little lady who stood alone on the sidelines. Sure enough, the two locked eyes with one another. And somehow, in some inexplicable yet enchanting way, they paused in the sight of the other. And without a peep from either, they slowly drew closer. Whatever anxiousness Jac had, while still present somewhat, dissipated quickly the moment they met in close proximity. The man took his time to scan her from head to shoes, which in turn caused Jac to laugh in spite of herself. It was that height, that very gait, that posture.. there was no mistaking it. But before either of them could get a word in, a sharp buzz blasted from a speaker overhead. "May I have your attention please! The first dance of the gala will now commence! Please choose your partner, or multiple if you'd like, and get ready to dance to your heart's content! Remember folks, the most important thing is to have fun!" Soothing strings began to fill the room with a delicate, harmonious chord. The others in the crowd gathered the person adjacent to them, moving in tandem to the slow rhythm. At the same time, the two outside of the cohort turned their heads towards the other in an awkward silence. Jac could not pinpoint why the man who stood before her was so hesitant, but after a moment of contemplation she nodded. "Are you... perhaps waiting for my approval?" The masked man watched for a few seconds more before he slowly nodded back. "Of course. Why wouldn't I?" His voice was muffled, but this was all the validation Jac needed. She bowed her head low while extending an arm, her knees trembling slightly as he bended forward. "May I have this dance?" The man tilted his head slightly, another little quirk that reaffirmed her decision. "With pleasure." He replied after a small ahem. Their fingers intertwined, hand by hand, side to side. They soaked in each other's presence for one last moment, before they extended each other's arms and prepared for liftoff. And from there they soared, bounding in near perfect unison in their improvised waltz. They swung to and fro, making brisk steps across the dance floor; away from the bustling excitement of the rest of the crowd, they were free to spread their range as far as they wanted, as well as change styles on a whim. They spun clockwise and back, wounded their arms in a cartwheel, and shifted to what would best be described as a chicken dance shortly after. Their style was not perfect, far from it as they were both guilty of stepping on each other's toes at least once, but they nonetheless had a great time. And in the end, that was exactly what they hoped for. As soon as they caught wind of numerous eyeballs staring them down, the duo went right straight back into their slow waltz. They could not help but let a snicker escape them in turn. "It sure would be funny if I had picked the wrong guy." Jac said with a giggle. "It would." Richard replied. "Where were you? You left me hanging out there for a while!" "Sorry! Sorry.. I tried to text you but I couldn't get a good signal. I'll admit... I got lost." "...Me too. Well, the important thing is that we're together now." "Y-Yeah.." "So! What do you think of my outfit?" "Ah! You.. look stunning! That dress, the mask? Everything! It suits you well! I didn't think that you'd go all out! How much did it...?" "Believe me, it's a rental." "Ah! Makes sense. By the way, how did you figure it was me?" "Richard, let's face it. Compared to everyone else's wardrobes, you stick out quite a bit with how.." "Simple?" "Let's say how flugal, your clothes look." "Still not flattering." "You just pulled it out of your closet. I recognize your office party clothes when I see it! But... you still look nice." "The mask is a bit stuffy, I'll admit." "Don't get me wrong, I really dig the plague doctor aesthetic! Though as cool as it looks, I'll be honest, I do miss your face." "I miss your eyes, too." Jac gave out a tiny smile in response. "Hiccups and awkwardness aside, I'm glad we took a chance on this place. Get to scratch that one off of our bucket list." "I'm glad. Though I do have one teensy complaint. The food here is way too expensive." "I guess they gotta make their money somewhere." "Burger joint later?" "Yes please." With that, Richard placed a hand on her head. It was the same gesture that he would give when he was in his full height, and Jac appreciated it just as much now as ever. She leaned in on his chest, which no doubt took the Wile aback by how swiftly his head turned to the side. It wouldn't be long however before he gently folded his arms around her for deeper hug. What was once a nerve-wracking ordeal for them both turned into another night to remember. The duo continued their dance well into the night, soothed by the other's presence at last.trophy