[h2] 8:15pm[/h2]

"[color=green][b] Mari! Are you ready yet? We're already late. Rodger is probably looking for me![/b][/color]"

Erika, the closest thing that Maribelle could consider a "best friend", screeched from her master bathroom. Maribelle, sighing, stared at herself in her friends full length closet door mirror. She had donned a floor length white dress that revealed her slim shoulders, complete with a black ribbon to accentuate her tiny waist. The dress was simple but beautiful, yet Maribelle felt awkward wearing it. Was she even able to pull it off?

"[color=green][b] Mari, did you hear me?[/b][/color]"

Her blonde haired, blue eyed friend emerged from the bathroom having finished curling her long locks. She looked as beautiful as ever all dolled up for the masquerade ball - though, that was nothing new. Her icy eyes met Maribelle's, then scanned her attire. 

"[color=green][b] Oh, you're going with that dress?[/b][/color]" She inquired, with a hint of attitude. 

"[color=dodgerblue][b] Does it look awful?[/b][/color]"

"[color=green][b] No, just...[/b][/color]" Erika's eyes darted around the room, clearly looking for something. "[color=green][b] White is just so... simple. Unexciting, don't you think? Who is going to notice you in that? And what's the point if no one notices you?[/b][/color]"

Maribelle hadn't agreed to go to find a lover, as Erika liked to believe even though she had said as much - but rather to get out of the house. She had been spending far too much time on her own, getting lost in more than enough novels. It was time to live her own life instead of imagine herself in another life. That, and the secret suspicion that her ex-husband would be attending the ball. How could he not? He knew so many important people - he was bound to have received an invitation. Perhaps he would be there with [i]her[/i]. Why she cared after a year of divorce, she couldn't say. The idea filled her with dread and made her heart race, but curiosity, and maybe a tinge of jealousy, dragged her here anyway.

"[color=green][b] Ah-HA![/b][/color]" Erika reached for something on the edge of her dresser, creating the sound of jingle bells instantly. "[color=green][b] Here. THIS will grab some attention.[/b][/color]" Before Maribelle could decline Erika was tying a black ribbon around her wrist that was embellished with two jingle bells. It looked like it could have come from some sort of Christmas decoration, and now jingled with every hand movement Maribelle made. 

"[color=dodgerblue][b] I don't really think-[/b][/color]"

"[color=green][b] Come! We don't have time to change now. Lets go! Don't forget your mask![/b][/color]"

With that, Maribelle was whisked out of her friends house and headed off to the ball as more of a pity date than anything. Erika wanted her to find somebody and felt bad, so she offered her second ticket to Maribelle. Erika's current love interest had ways of getting his own ticket, so Maribelle ended up with the pity ticket. 

[hider=Maribelle's Outfit] [img]http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m181/Music_Sugar/82a31418-3685-49ab-a2df-c070574a3ea1_zpscos4qbux.jpg[/img][/hider]
[hider=Maribelle's Mask] [img]http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m181/Music_Sugar/ce1f66f23cfc0b54dd96bfa02068067a_zpsid1ymzzd.jpg[/img][/hider]

[hr]

[h2] 8:30pm, Arriving to the Ball[/h2]

Once they handed over their tickets, Erika basically gave her a pat on the back, told her to enjoy herself, and then ran off to find her beloved rich man. With a heavy sigh Maribelle walked into the ball room alone, black heels clicking on the marble floors with every step. In the middle of the dance floor were a few people dancing, one couple who seemed to be enjoying themselves perhaps a bit too much in the eye of the public. Then again it was a masquerade ball for a reason, right?

Inside Maribelle's heart was pounding at the thought of her ex-husband being in the vicinity. Perhaps she would stand right next to him tonight and she wouldn't even be aware. Beneath her rabbit mask she felt a sense of security; if he saw her at least he wouldn't recognize her... probably. 

Standing on the sidelines like an awkward wallflower, Maribelle pushed her way through the crowds beginning to gather around the dance floor. She hated crowds, but something in the back of her mind still made her come here. Trying to find an out, Maribelle laid her emerald eyes on a near by window. Luckily for her only one man seemed to be hanging out around it; alone, she noted ([@Rekaigan]). Holding the edge of her dress up as she walked, Maribelle smiled at him when he noticed her approaching and their eyes met.

"[color=dodgerblue][b] Getting some air?[/b][/color]" She asked, leaning up against the edge of the window to look out at the sky. She stared out for a moment, green eyes searching the stars. "[color=dodgerblue][b] They get a great view of the stars up here, don't they?[/b][/color]" She turned her attention back to the man, continuing to smile. Was it appropriate to introduce yourself at a masquerade party? It was about anonymity after all, but she wasn't sure.. so instead she remained quiet, awaiting some sort of response.