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Crissy has spent a small fortune on this year’s Mardi Gras party. It was not so much the party itself that cost, although, it was fast becoming pocket draining. Elsa Beth had warned her that she would help but Cristiana had worked extra hard, with her personal assistant Becky, by her side decorating the two offices. It had come out quite well, better than she had even expected. For all that extra work she was over paid for the job, the extra money in her pocket now went to the people working hard creating the floats to run around town. The floats would start in Wickbridge from the Metronome Club to the Honeymead Market in Honeymead, Harper Rock. The hardest part of this entire festival had been getting the permits to run the floats, with the way the towns’ mechanics and politicians ran this city; it was hard to find the right papers to turn in. But the last of the papers were signed and sealed, and the floats were going to run, closing off the streets with the help of the Harper Rock police force manning the streets to keep the festival in order.

Madi gras floats 1, Float 2, Float 3, Float 4, Float 5, Float 6 & 7, Float 8, Float 9, Float 10

This was mostly an American tradition that she was trying to make into something for this Canadian town. A cyclone of feathers, costumes, beads and booze that whips through city streets this one night of the Fat Tuesday holiday, it was going to be the wildest fete for the town itself. It was her hope there would be plenty of party goers that would flock to the event that would make the Big Easy, New Orleans, cry in delight and pleasure.

Mardi Gras, meaning Fat Tuesday in French, originated in medieval Europe. It was brought down to the America’s becoming a legal holiday in 1875. It was thought of as a Christian holiday with roots of the roman traditions. Instead of demeaning a pagan tradition, the leaders of this forming Christian belief into the new faith, creating this special holiday to kick off Lent. A last hurrah before the 40 days of penance between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. The holiday spread from Europe into the New World of the Americas. Since its earliest days in New Orleans, the traditions have grown by leaps and bounds by colossal proportion. It included several traditions such as throwing of the beads, wearing masks, the king and queen of the festival, and wildly unknown coconut painting; origins of this coconut painting have been almost forgotten.

For one, everyone on the floats will be wearing masks of gold, green and purple. But the origins of during the earlier days of the Mardi Gras was to conceal the identities of the richer class so they may come out and mingle with the everyday people of different classes and could be whomever they wanted. Holding with this tradition masks would be given to those who did not come in wearing one. Cristiana had purchased enough of one generic mask for everyone. If the people who attended didn’t come in wearing one, she would have Becky stationed there ready to hand one over to them.

Beads, beads and beads plenty. The beads have been a wildly know tradition for the Mardi Gras. Now if the girl raises her shirt to the bead holder to gain the beads from them. But this wasn’t how the tradition started. The tradition was that the people would be given one of three colors; royal colors. The purple was for Justice. The gold was for power. The last color, green was for faith. The people would hand them out to people who shown the greatest of these meanings. What had been thought of before, giving the glass beads to the men who were willing to give them out to the woman who caressed their sight in the most gracious of bodily forms, revealing their top halves. Cristiana decided to go with the traditional, letting people decide who exhibited these features. She posted many of boards around the Metronome Club to help people understand their meaning and why they would be giving them out.

Mardi Gras Beads

Along with the other traditions Cristiana hired many of men and women who were skilled in flame throwing, a spectacle for the floats to be carried down the street and those people lighting the way. Also she hired extra for the club. Many torches would light the club. Although unlike tradition, she’d have other lighting in multi colors floating about the room casting glows to rotate about the people. The main lighting would come from the flame throwers walking among the people. The flambeaux carriers would put on quite a show with their torch bearers dancing and kerosene lamps.

The King and Queen of the Carnival, someone who would be picked from those who were attending the party, this man would be picked tonight and crowned in front of everyone. Cristiana would have slips of papers for people to write the name of their choice down so she might riffle through them and be chosen. In front of all of the people, she would rest the crown atop their heads. This would be marked with them being the King and Queen of the festival this evening.

Crowns and Tiara

(OOC Note: There is two ways to win the tiara and crown. The most posters to this thread, one female and one male. And the two who is picked at the party tonight. This thread will be given one weeks time before the winner is picked on 3/11/14 )

Traditional party goers, those who showed up to many of events would be pulled aside and given painted coconuts to be handed out to other who attended the event tonight. This was something of the eldest tradition, black Krewes, where the tribe would hand out their special Zulu coconuts. These coconuts were known as golden nuggets appearing in the 1910’s. Thus becoming making this tradition one of the most sought after events.

Painted Coconuts

(OOC Note: Everyone in the thread and party will be given a painted coconut)

The plethora of food was going to be abundant. From king cakes to classic gumbo, freshly fried beignets and warm bread pudding, shrimp and grits or hearty muffulettas, we've got all the dishes you need to let the good times roll. These New Orleans-inspired recipes are sure to please any fan of Fat Tuesday and be a huge celebratory piece of the Metronome Club, although it would only be incorporated for this evening and not served any other night of the year. For this she hired many cooks serving the food. This night was not just for the vampires of the city, it was for everyone, humans included. The servers would walk around holding platters above their heads taking them down only to offer the food to people who attended the party inside the club. The people who attended the carnival would be allowed to buy some of this specialized food to go.

The drinks would be served inside hurricane glasses. Drinks such as Hurricane Lamps, Red Snappers, Mai Tai, Mojito, Tiger Paws, Bahama Mama’s and Burbon Slush would be served to top off the ethic foods served. The people attending the carnival, with the floats going by, would also be able to buy these from stands of people selling them along the street.

With everything set in details minor and large, Cristiana set home with Becky to change into her costume for the event. She wanted to be freshly showered and smelling like sweet honeyed vanilla for tonight’s event. There would be plethora of events on the city streets, carnival games and the parade, not to mention the spectacle going on within the club! She could only hope the most of the city would be there making this one enticing event for the club and city of Harper Rock. Becky's Costume was going to be wearing something regal and sexy. Cristiana wanted to stand out from the crowd, she picked something pure white to let people know she was the host of the event. Her costume was sleek on the verge of sexy. She couldn't wait for her husband, Quoth, to see her in this gala events costume smelling sweet and feminine.

( OOC Note: Thread is open for those not in attendance of the party itself inside the club grid chat. Please only RP the carnival and parade and not the party itself. If you include extra floats, please keep them Mardi Gras themed only, that is opened to who ever would like to add in a float no need to ask permission. Thank you! )

Mardi Gras was almost over before Alexandrea even realized what day it was. She thought back to the Ball that she had planned with Kira, was it really two years ago? Alex shook her head in disbelief at how quickly the time had passed by and then smiled fondly at the memories of that night. It had been the first time she had met Odin.

Chances were the killer wouldn't be able to make it but she left him a message anyways, just in case. The last time her escort had been Elliott dArtois, although they went just as friends. This time, she would go stag and hope that Odin might surprise her. It wasn't as hard to get a costume together as she had worried it would be, she found a long gold dress and the perfect mask at the same place.

It was lucky for Alexandrea that the mall was so close to the Metronome and she arrived in time to see most of the parade and enjoy the spectacle of the Flamer Throwers. Alex loved fire. She took some pictures with her phone so she could paint the images later. Wandering through the crowd outside the club, she looked for some of her friends but either she couldn't recognize them from all the other revelers or else no one she knew had arrived yet.

Surely Crissy would be around somewhere though, Alexandrea was sure of it. Determined to find the woman who taught her so much at the SoA Alex continued to circulate though the other party goers.

The party was in full inside the club. Party-goers from all families, friends and foes came into the club to celebrate knowing it was neutral ground and no one was to get attacked. Besides, there were times when she did a ritual to insure that would never happen. People just never knew when the place would have a spell cast upon it. Not to mention the hefty amount of security she added on the staff for the event readily at hand, which kept most people in the understanding you just don’t act out on these nights. Crissy herself would step up first to tell them to calm down if the case ever arose for it, but the others in the party itself would make sure things went without hitches.

Being that she was inside the building, and unable to attend to the streets, Becky was there in her stead. Yes, her human thrall but one that Crissy trusted in the fullest to keep to the ideas the two worked out and be professional about it. Becky, true to her job, was busy hustling about the outside of the parade with headphones on that looked much like a blue tooth ear bud piece. She was telling the next float to begin to leave while keeping an eye on the screens of t.v. monitors watching the other floats roaming down the street making sure one float didn’t bump into another. But there was another agenda at play, her eyes didn’t just scan the floats and hired help, she watched the people on the streets and reported to the police of Harper Rock. If any pickpockets or thieves were caught on camera, ones that they had placed for the events, the police force would be alerted for them to detain the persons responsible. She was very busy calling out orders with a clipboard in hand watching everything going on.

When she seen Alexandrea on the screen, she knew the woman quite well from Cristiana’s description and being in the club when Alex had been there many of times. Now with her being a human thrall and them being vampires, they tended not to notice her as much. She overheard so many of things that she immediately would report back to Cristiana, her employer.

With a fragile hand, so thin and frail looking, she waved over a rather large impressive looking man handing out the reigns to him to continue on with the progress. He was almost as large as Quoth and Micah. The two men always made her feel like a midget among them, but Cristiana who was a few inches shorter always held her own being around such large gentlemen. Even when the men frightened the heck out of her, Crissy never seemed to sway under their bulk. The things she had done for them, best to be forgotten. She learned that rather quickly. They could be cruel and tie her to a chair when she stepped out of line for their own amusement, or they could be kind and let her go about the normal day when she did what they asked of her with no objections. After working for nearly two years for them, she knew her place. Head down, keep quiet and do what was asked no matter how strange the task. It was no worse than other jobs she’d had in the past. At least here she had some money flowing in and a bit of respect when her boss wasn’t in a mood of hers. Becky already figured out Cristiana had to be bi-polar or something much like that. She knew things about the woman, secrets that would follow her in silence to her grave.

Making the ways through the crowds, she found the woman easily. She reached out from behind the woman to tap her on the shoulder. “Miss!” She called out loud enough to for the other woman to hear her. “How are you finding the parade?” Her voice rung out over the hooting and hollering of the crowd of humans lined up on the sidewalks watching the floats go by catching the beads that ran like streamers in the air. “If you are looking for someone, might I be of assistance? I know Cristiana would want me to lend a helping hand.” She offered a touch of aid to the woman she knew, mask or no mask. The hair, the lean of the body under the costume, and the height all gave the hints but now that she was up-close, that sense in her knowing all too well that this woman was a vampire. To her their essence was different, but not only that their walk with confidence and stature gave them away at least in her eyes. Cristiana left her very specific instructions to go out of her way to see to the happiness of all the kin at the events.

THE night was here. I'd prepared the perfect ensemble for Mardi Gras. I knew the history and enjoyed stories from people who'd gone in the past, but alas, I was a Mardi Gras virgin. I had no idea what to expect, other than beautiful costumes and masks, floats, food and drink a plenty and a special someone I was to meet up with.

I spotted Becky right away. The obstacle course of people made it a challenge that I gladly accepted and I came out victorious. Standing behind Momma's ever trusty go to girl Becky, I tapped her on her shoulder and started barraging her with questions. "Hey Becky! Have you seen him yet? Is he here? How about Momma? She always works so hard at these things, she needs to have some fun too!"

For the moment Becky doubted herself, had she just walked up to a random stranger and thought they were someone else? She’d been so sure that she had the right person but with so many people out on the street it had been hard to tell. There were many people who looked alike. When the honey haired woman turned, she knew the mistake she made in finding the wrong person. It hadn’t been the woman she had seen from the Metronome Club, the one who use to be there almost every day and night she knew from Cristiana saying her name, Alexandrea. No, this random woman had been someone else entirely. Feeling extremely foolish, she mumbled an apology to the woman she approached, “I’m sorry I thought you were someone else.”

She had been so sure she’d seen Alexandrea in the crowd though. Now she stopped mid step and looked up and down the street spotting everyone which the same golden locks of hair peeking out from the costume. It was chaos on this end with so many people around coming out of their houses for the food, to watch the floats and collect beads. People were having a great time, and in the mixture of that this lone woman stood there looking lost. She was about to head back toward the production area cursing herself for leaving, for being so foolish, when Elsa Beth found her. Now this was one woman she was absolutely positive of without a doubt in her mind. Especially after she opened her mouth to talk, asking who Becky could only wonder if she meant the red-haired man Elsa Beth had been spending a great amount of time with, even at the club.

"Hey Becky! Have you seen him yet? Is he here? How about Momma? She always works so hard at these things, she needs to have some fun too!"

She took to the questions the excited woman threw out in a stream at her. “Ms. Cristiana is inside the club with the party event. Once the doors closed, and it started, she wasn’t coming back out until it was over.” Becky explained, though she would love it if Cristiana had come out and seen if she was just losing her mind or if the one woman who had been walking was the woman she seen in the club more times then she could count on one hand. If the woman was here, Becky had lost her in the crowd.

“I have seen many males, look there and there, but,” At this she stopped and tapped her chin, “The one I think you mean to ask of is Aurelius, the one Ms. Cristiana is friends with, and him I have not seen as of yet tonight. He has not made an appearance but for your sake, I do hope he does soon.” She seemed so very excited and it would be such a shame if he didn’t show. Becky would have to report that back to Cristiana. That was sure to make her mad if Aurelius didn’t show, and Cristiana had a bit of a temper on her. Mindlessly, her arm rose to hug herself with the memory of Cristiana’s temper. Back when she was young and first became the assistant to Cristiana. When she fell out of line, needed a reminder of her place, Cristiana gave her that reminder. Now, now it was alright. She knew her job and did it well. Even once in a while she threw in a snarky attitude that amused Cristiana and not push it overboard or else.

“When I see Aurelius, I will tell him you are looking for him. Is there anything else I can do for you? Would you like a copy of the map?” She reached into her back pocket and held out a map of the street where the floats were going down and where all the concession stands were on the map. It was handy to have and Becky made sure she photo copied a few spares just in case. “Psst, I am sure Ms. Cristiana is having a great time. They were doing some body painting to end the night with. She loves to paint.”

Uh oh, did Elsa Beth know that already or had she just revealed a secret she shouldn’t have. The flash of worry that ran across her features was cleverly replaced with turning to look for this one male she was so excited on seeing. “Can you see him in the crowd?”

My excitement had diminished slightly when Becky didn't know the where abouts of Aurelius. I thought for sure he'd be there, considering I'd been a bit late. That was alright though, I'd just send him a message to hurry his cute little butt up. Momma on the other hand...she was...body painting? I laughed rather loudly. I was learning new things about the woman nightly.

Becky was always polite with me, showing me 100% of her attention when ever we met up. Something was seriously preoccupying her. Considering I was waiting for Aurelius, perhaps I could help her. The gods only knew how many times she'd helped me out. "Hey Beck? You okay? Can I help with something?" Momma could be one of the best, but no one dare cross her. I didn't want Becky to get into any trouble with my adopted sire, at least, not if I could help it.

Although Alexandrea heard someone calling out 'Miss', she didn't realize it was directed at her, having never met Crissy's friend before. But after Elsa Beth arrived, Alex recognized that voice and turned around to make her way back towards the two women. She hadn't run into Elsa Beth in what seemed like ages.

"Elsa Beth?" The blonde called out as she joined the pair. "It's me, Alex." Alexandrea lifted her mask and chuckled. "Heck of a show, Cristiana put on for everyone. Best parade I've seen in years.. how have you been?"

Turning to the other woman, Alex held out one slender hand and looked up at the taller woman. "Was it me you were trying to get the attention of before? I'm sorry I was rude, it didn't occur to me that you might have been talking to me... I'm Alexandrea. But please just call me Alex."

The noise and commotion of the crowd was starting to rattle Alexandrea's nerves but she found her center and stayed calm, making sure that the smile never left her face.

"Have either of you seen our hostess, Crissy? I'd love to tell her what a wonderful job she did with this event."

From the look on Elsa Beth’s face, Becky frowned. She had told the truth about Aurelius not being there. One she would be telling Ms. Cristiana about later, and the look not so much in the facial features of Elsa Beth but in the woman’s eyes. She made herself a reminder on her cellular phone quickly by brushing her fingers over the keys in shorthand. “I am terribly sorry to have told you. Maybe he is just running a little late.” The woman tried to give the slightest bit of hope toward Elsa Beth. Instead she got this wonderful idea. Something that she hoped would brighten the mood. From her bag that hung on her shoulder she withdrew a lovely Crown. “By the powers vested in me, I name thee Queen of the Parade of Mardi Gras!”

Becky reached up placing the crown atop the woman’s fiery red hair to let the tiara style crown rest nestled into the design of the placement. She smiled hoping that would brighten the woman’s mood back into the enthusiastic state in which she was in to begin with. “If you wish, you may ride on the last float of the evening and wave out to the crowd, tossing beads and over all being all Queen like.”

The second woman approached from behind, she made Becky jump. Now she was certain the woman she seen earlier was Alexandrea but the woman didn’t seem to remember her. “I am Becky, Ms. Cristiana’s personal assistant. I have seen you many times at the Metronome Club when you use to visit their everyday and sit in the red booth by the doorway.” She tried to remind Alex of when the encounters had happened, but it was a very long time ago, no wonder she couldn’t recall when they had seen each other. She had been in Cristiana’s employment for well over a year, closer to two. Or maybe three now. It was hard to tell when time has passed by that quickly. The months and days blurred into each other. She was sure it was closer to two years.

Becky looked to the two women, “I would like to present you with a second Crown Miss Alex.” The two could both be the Queen of the Parade Mardi Gras. “You two may reign together!” She said pulling out a second tiara like crown and placing it on the honey colored hair of Alexandrea’s head. “The two of you get prizes!” She had nearly forgotten and handed them each an envelope with the prize money (Aka 5 Karma directly from Mooncalf ) on the electronic card held within the envelope. “Spend it well ladies.”

By now she stood pleased with herself knowing that Ms. Cristiana would be proud of her. Even though there wasn’t a male and female, she had still made a good choice in picking the two. “Ms. Cristiana is inside the Metronome Club with the party guests. I am out here on the streets watching over the parade and making sure crime is kept minimal.” She pointed to a hidden surveillance camera on top of the street corner light. “I have a small crew monitoring everything to keep as much happiness going on, and no .. riffraff from happening. We have them placed in several areas around the city.” It was then a man came running up to Becky, he was nearly out of breath and sputtering out the words that she was needed back at the head quarters, or the alleyway behind the Metronome Club where the screens were being closely watched. From what she had gathered some vandals knocked out or spray painted one of the cameras closer to Honeymead. She excused herself by saying, “A hostess job is never done. If you two ladies will excuse me. And if you two wish to ride the last float of the evening, show them the pass inside the envelope. The crew will let you on it. There is a box of bright pink beads with little crowns and tiaras on it made specifically for the Queen’s of the Mardi Grad. There is also some bright blue ones if you guys run out, those were meant for the king but seeing as I skipped crowing one, you can throw those ones too. Granted, if you decide to ride the float. I must attend to this.” With that, she scampered off in the direction of the Metronome Club alley, hidden away from the glimmer of the parade to behind the scenes once more.

"Oh Becky, he probably is. I know he's not really into crowds, but I thought for sure, he'd be here." I looked around again, to see if by some miracle, Aurelius was actually approaching the club. Alas, he wasn't. Turning back around to Becky, the woman had a beautiful crown. After pronouncing Queen of the Mardi Gras, she placed the crown atop my head. "Me? Queen? Really?" I was stunned. What did "I" do that was so special to make me the Queen? Momma and Becky should have been the Queens. I curtsied and smiled all Queen like. "Thank you my royal subject, thank you", I said giggling. "Wait..wut? I get to ride a float? Awesome!"

A blonde woman approached us just then and identified herself as Alex. Just the person Becky needed.

"I've been great and you? What the bloody hell have you been up to?

Alexandrea tried to recall Becky but failed. She had spent many a night at that red booth in the Metro, it was true. But that was over two years ago and she had spent most of those nights trying to see just how much she could drink and not get sick. She had met so many people, vampires and humans, since then. She felt really badly that this "Becky" wasn't able to jog her memory and for a moment she was considering lying, faking remembering the woman. But she just didn't feel right about being fake like that. So she smiled softly at the human and offered out her hand.

"I'm flattered you remember me so well, Becky. And I am so sorry and ashamed that I can't say the same about you. Forgive me? Let's start fresh?"

She hoped the woman wouldn't hold it against her and would shake her hand. Perhaps they hadn't ever done that before. Alexandrea was a highly physical and tactile sort of person. Her sense of touch as important if not more so than her other senses. If she had never touched Becky, that might be why the woman didn't stick out in her memory.

Before a handshake could happen, Becky was placing a crown on Elsa Beth's hair and then one on Alexandrea's. Alex just stared in amazement as the woman declared them both 'Queens'. Her fingers felt the crown gently, almost gingerly, and she bit her lower lip. Flattered beyond words. At last she murmured a soft; "Thank you so very much, I'm honored..." just before Becky excused herself and left after passing the blonde and the redhead a pair of envelopes.

Bemused, Alex looked inside quickly and then looked up at Elsa Beth.

"I'm so glad you have great!" Alex chuckled and reached over to hug the woman she hadn't seen in far too long. "Me? Just keeping busy with my shop and my... hobbies." She gave the redhead a wink.

"So shall we go ride a float and address our court?" Alexandrea bent her arm and offered it to her 'sister Queen'.