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The Masquerade was being held in a fabulous and famous hotel somewhere in the depths of the most stabilized Latin American country Wraith could possibly find - Peru. With English being the most common language spoken in the world and Spanish being a very close second, he had come to the realization that if there was one thing his organization needed it was more recruits who could speak the native lingo of more countries. That could help prevent any possible...disagreements that could be had due to poor translation. It was in this vein that when it was suggested by several people at LOTUS they do something for Halloween once again he had finally relented and agreed to host a Masquerade Ball in a location of his choosing. While his reasons were his own, he did hope that after the fiasco with Einar and the tenseness he'd sensed around LOTUS that his people could have a break and relax enough they'd do their jobs. Perhaps even better than before.

Even though Wraith was livid with Lokiari for her actions during a previous mission, he had allowed her to pick the place and as the group of Elites and staff showed up it was noted with a bit of surprise that the hotel picked was extremely large - plenty big enough to hold the Masquerade three times over and give the LOTUSians a place to sleep should they drink too much without cause for concern. The pillars out front and much of the exterior face of the building were made of marble, clearly the finest and imported from before the break of time. Much of the building had also been decorated in gaudy Days of the Dead attire, complete with skeletons, pumpkins, marigold laden pathways and much more for near the hotel was also a grave site and many locals were celebrating the lives of their loved ones that had since passed on.

Upon entry to the hotel, there were signs posted in both English and Spanish (with an obvious local spin on things) posted indicating which way to Ball Room A which was where the Masquerade was to be held. Along the walk there additional decorations had been set up, including some more American themed Halloween items including witches, broomsticks, ghosts and ghouls. The sound of Latin music ranging from traditional latin to the Puerto Rican reggaeton was soon to be heard and was mingled in an odd, but appreciable way with Halloween music. Things like zombie moans and groans, ghoulish screams and other traditional haunting noises.

While the main ball room itself was set up for dancing and having a good time, though there was also a large food spread off to the left side, opposite the orchestra and main dancing area, where there were also small tables that could seat perhaps 4 or 5 people while they ate and enjoyed the food and drink of Peru. Should anyone get bored of eating, dancing, and merriment, through a doorway that lead from Ball Room A to Ball Room B was a Haunted House set up. The closer one got to that door, the more they could hear the moans, groans, and screams emitting from it. The sign on the door said in large, bolded letters, "Not for the faint of heart. Enter at own risk." For those who didn't mind being scared out of their minds, it was an added place for fun and games.

Now all that was needed in addition to LOTUS staff and the hotel staff, was for his recruits to show up. For the Masquerade to begin.

At first he hadn't been too sure on going to Peru (mainly because of the plane aspect but a couple tablet-shaped downers had made that part but a foggy half-dream, though also because of Einar's recovery process and last year's Masquerade fiasco) but now that he was here the Russian was glad the blond had worked him into it. Compared to Nepal, the weather here was wonderful. A touch humid yes, but he could look past that for the all around warm weather, the easy breezes, and the lush scenery.

Given what had happened in the past few months, Lai wasn't exactly prepared for this gala. He hadn't the time nor the mind to come up with a costume; so instead of some richly decorated clothing he was instead in his simple tuxedo, the same from last year though with a few touch ups so it wasn't so tight around his chest. There were a few changes this time too; instead of pomade enriched hair it was simply tied back and the darkened dampness of it was because he had just recently stepped from the shower. He looked sleek and as he passed a wall-mounted mirror and paused to check his reflection, he felt that way too.

Despite rooming with Einar in the hotel - per the Level One's request - the Russian was alone on the staircase he walked down. After showering, dressing, and all the personal care in between he had been promptly "booted out" of the shared room - his Norwegian counterpart claiming he wanted his own costume to be a surprise and instructing the brown haired man to start off to the ballroom without him. Lai had almost protested, given his beloved's still recovering state, but in the end he honored the other man's wishes and had since ended up here. In his hand was a white mask which he put on just as he reached the bottom step. It was different than last year's mask and the Russian had purchased it from a market earlier in the day while Einar slept off the trip and some of the effects of his medication. Like his tuxedo it too was simple and felt right on his face. A good trinket to mark his trip to the Latin American country.

Once he felt set the Russian man took steps toward the doors that led to the main hall, which in turn would lead to the proper ballroom. He paused by those doors, turning around to look over his shoulder and see if Einar was coming. No one there so Lai stepped out, making sure the one door he opened clicked softly in the latch. He turned left and caught sight of one of the bilingual signs. Left it was then. As he walked the sound of music started to grow louder, so he took to following that rather than the pieces of paper tacked up. As the hallway opened up into a spacious room at its end, the music was somewhat drowned out by voices; one of them shouting with an accent as heavy as his. Lai kept walking but did catch the tail end of a giant cake entering the hallway. Names escaped him, but he remembered the foreign "hamburger" costume of last year and had a feeling he knew who it was.

Oh dear.

His head turned, surveying the opened area with doors on either side that led out to darkened grounds. No one out here besides himself for now. The question 'should I stay here or go into the ballroom?' came to mind, but that was stamped out as his eyes caught site of the crumbs from Estrelas' costume.

"Here is good for now." He took a seat on an out of the way bench and waited.

"This year will be different."


That's the mantra that Johannes was saying to himself over and over again in his head, as he finished putting on his costume. For him to repeat last year's actions was NOT part of this plan -- he's determined to only drink water and well-known brand alcoholic drinks, if he wants (which he's not sure yet if he will drink if it's the same bartender from LOTUS....) He is also hoping to not offend anyone -- well, actually, scratch that. His costume will certainly either scare, offend or anything else that entails other negative adjectives. Johannes wasn't planning to do it on purpose, but seeing as how he's limited on ideas (there's only so much Spanish figures you could dress up as, seeing as how his explorer last year was not liked) and this costume idea actually seemed fun to do -- warum nicht?

He also hoped that maybe going to the Masquerade would help him quell some worries about back home. Someone already helped him with that and he was grateful for that -- but naturally, thinking of one's home is lodged in that part of your brain along with memories. He felt a bit guilty because of that, but at the same time he couldn't exactly stay cooped up in his room. His brother wouldn't have liked that.


One good thing about this year is that it's here in Peru, thought Johannes as he was walking along the hotel on his way to the ballroom. He fit in perfectly with the decorations aorund the hotel. "Never would I have thought that I would come to a country like Peru on LOTUS schedule." "We always seem to go to more 'exotic' places..." Being able to understand the language was an added bonus.

Johannes was getting more excited as he got closer. The fact that he could read easily all the signs (he chuckled at this mere fact) and the music was somewhat more familiar to him, gave Johannes a bit more of a adrenaline rush. "I mustn't forget to get into character...it is El Día de los Muertos, after all." Checking his gloves and his 'mask' to make sure that everything's in place, Johannes walked up to the door of the main hall. He tried out various voices, breaking into character. Lastly, he chose a harsh guttural voice that sounded like a perfect fit for his character. He noticed some crumbs on the floor and wondered what they were. "Leftover food?" "Did someone come and leave already?"


3 horns on each side of his paper-machéd head. A ragged blue-colored robe with splatters of dark reddish patterns on it. A contorted smile painted on the mask that was more like a helmet. Fingerless gloves.


Johannes had dressed up as one of the devils.

"Oh my...Oh my..."

Del was not used to the activity of dressing up, especially for a holiday. To her, Halloween was as alien as a being from another planet. But since it was her first, she decided to give it a chance. Breathing in to grant herself some refreshing air, the Mongolian fixed her posture and smothered out her dress which shimmered in a dazzling display of shines. The feathered plume in her hair sagged to the side but Del was too concentrated on looking for food she did not notice. Taking a couple more steps in as she followed other recruits to the entrance, her feet clicked with the sound of heels and beads swayed as they lay wrapped around her thin neck. Del had dressed as a flapper for Halloween though she did not know it.

She had spotted the picture inside a thick book that had quite too many words. She did enjoy looking at the pictures though and the flapper image caught her eye. To her, the outfit did not scream 'ritzy' but 'shiny'. If all she had to do was glue a couple of shiny dots onto a dress than she would have her costume complete. But it took much longer than she had expected. She had messed up on her first two tries of creating her costume (meaning she soiled two perfectly good olive gowns). It took her days to collect fallen feathers from birds of the garden and fit beads through a string but she was content with the final product.

Waving her hand in front of her face due to the heat, Del's nostrils caught the whiff of something sweet. Whatever it was, it smelled delicious. Turning her gaze towards the floor, she spotted crumbs left behind like some of the other recruits had seen. That probably meant they had food and she was eager to go inside and spend her time at the snack table. Walking a couple more steps into the hallway, Del fought with her feathered snake who had decided to wrap its way around her mask. She shook at it for a small moment before the boa dropped away in retreat. Del smiled to her little victory and held the mask within grip. Her mask was a matching accessory to her dress. It was a highway man mask speckled with black dots. It was simple but it matched flawlessly.

Finally, the Mongolian had reached at the entrance. She tiptoed into the party as casually as she could. Drumming her finger together, it took her a moment to analyze her surroundings. She took quick steps towards the left side of the room, the snack tables her destination. Del dived at the dishes, sampling foods left and right. Her eyes sparkled with life as she thought, "This is delicious!" and "I have to have more of this!". To her, if the food was great, she was going to have a wonderful time.