Title: The Masque
Fandom: FF8
Pairing: Quisfer
Rating: PG
Note: It's all just fluff. Events leading up to fluff. And ending on a fluffy note. FF and characters belong to Squaresoft and junk. Beta'd by finding beauty; she's around here somewhere.
October 30th – 1813 hours
"What's the worse that could happen?"
"People could die … I think that's as bad as it can get."
"C'mon, guys! No one's going to die! I guarantee it's one-hundred percent safe!"
The taller blond shot the petite brunette a skeptical look. Brow raised she asked, "You promise to clean the mess before the next school day?"
Squealing with joy, young Selphie nodded furiously, "Yes! I promise! I'll even get Zell to help me!"
"WHAT?!?!" Nearly jumping with fury, Zell moved to protest but was stopped by Quistis's warning glare. Grumbling, he settled back on his heels, folding his arms across his chest.
"Fine. I'll relay the information to Headmaster Cid. But you only have until tomorrow to announce this thing."
"Sure thing! This is gonna be great!" Bouncing with excitement, Selphie grabbed Zell by his elbow and started to drag him towards the quad, "Let's go, Zell! We have to start setting things up!"
Groaning with regret, he caved into her lead and followed as slowly as possible, "Okay, but it's your turn to write the invites. People gave me weird looks the last time I did that …"
Watching the pair head in one direction, Quistis began walking in the other, wondering exactly how a masquerade was going to unfold in a place like the Garden. Shaking her head at the thought, she raised a hand to her forehead, asking herself what she'd just gotten everyone into.
October 31st – 2000 hours
Holding the evening's agenda in a folder in one arm, and a bottle of water in the other, Quistis strode along the second floor corridor, heading towards the elevator. It was about then when she was met with a forceful shove on her left shoulder. Taking a slight stumble forward, she quickly regained her balance before snapping her attention towards who – or what – had run into her. Narrowing her eyes, she was able to catch sight of Seifer and his pair of goonies snickering as they continued walking down the hallway. Apparently they were amused with running into people in hallways.
Jaw set, she reached up with one hand to push her glasses back up her nose. Rolling back her shoulders, she continued towards the elevator and rode it down to the ground level. As the doors split open, she was met with a rosy-face Selphie, who seemed about ready for the celebrations already, "Quisty! What are you doing?! The masquerade starts in an hour!" Pulling the startled blond out of the elevator, Selphie began leading her towards the dorms, "I'll help you get ready! Things are already set up, except the food of course. And you won't believe it --!"
"Ah—Whoa!" As she was pulled out of the car, Quistis offered Selphie a confused look, before remembering that tonight was Halloween, "Oh, right! – I just wanted to keep things a surprise. Didn't want to give anything away."
"Oooh! I can't wait to see your costume. We're gonna look great!" As they reached the dormitories, Selphie shoved Quistis into her room and waited for her to get dressed, "Hurry, so we can get there before everyone else does! I'll show you the thing that I said that you wouldn't believe!"
Fumbling with her bottle of water and folder, Quistis nearly turned around and smacked Selphie upside the head, before she realized that she was just trying to help. Taking a deep breath, she tossed both items onto her bed before moving towards her closet to get her costume, "Well, can't you just tell me now? So we don't waste ti – um, energy?"
"No, not at all. You're just gonna have to find out like everyone else." Her nose upturned matter-of-factly, Selphie began swaying to the bubbly music playing her head … whatever it was, "Okay, are you ready yet?"
"Uh, no, hold on." Tying the last of the fasteners, Quistis shifted uncomfortably in the skirt before snatching her mask from her bedside table and stepping back out into the cluster, "So? What d'ya think?"
Selphie's eyes widened with glee, as she'd never seed Quistis out of that nasty, out-dated jumpsuit, "You look sooo pretty!" Grabbing her wrist, Selphie began dragging Quistis out to the corridor, "I heard Squall and Rinoa were going as two lovebirds!"
" … Literally, or metaphorically?" Pushing back her blond curls, Quistis was about ready to give herself a new hair cut.
"Who cares? I think it's cute!"
"… Personally, I think they've been spending a little too much time together to be going as a pair of brainless birds."
"They're not brainless – just special." As they neared the ballroom, Quistis was taken aback by the sheer magnitude of the foundation.
"Hey … nice job …" Blue eyes wandered towards the crystalline twilight hanging above their heads. The silence of the room added to the effect of the stars hovering like a comforting blanket.
"I know, isn't it great? But I have to show you the best part." Walking towards a group of silver light switches, Selphie lowered the house lights so the dimness covered the entire floor. The stars, however, shown so brightly it illuminated the sparkling marble tiles of the ballroom.
"Wow …"
Oct. 31st – 2327 hours
The masque was in full swing, and the dance floor was littered with students and faculty, swaying and twirling to the music. Quistis remained a safe distance from this particular area of the room, hiding happily behind her red and gold disguise. Fingering the rim of her glass of champagne, she took another sip, feeling highly uncomfortable in her constricting outfit. Unable to withstand the rising heat, she turned and stepped out onto the balcony to get some cool air beneath her mask.
Reaching up with a gloved hand, she lifted the warm disguise from her face and rested it against her forehead. Breathing a sigh of relief, she leaned against the stone railing of the balcony and waited for the music to stop inside the ballroom. Feeling cooled by both the stone and the fall breeze, she turned and sat carelessly on the railing.
She barely had time to gather herself when a tall figured stepped out of the ballroom, white cape billowing in his wake. His hair not visible beneath a feathered fedora, he approached Quistis like a beckoning ghost. Hearing his footsteps, she quickly reached up and tugged the mask back over her face, knowing how disappointed Selphie would be if she found out that she'd taken her mask off before the clock struck midnight. Rising from the railing, she moved to head back into the party, thinking the man wanted to be left undisturbed.
It was about then that all the lights in Balamb Garden blacked out, leaving the celebration in suspenseful mystery. It was also at that moment that Quistis was snatched by the elbow and pulled firmly in the direction of the masked man on the balcony. As the first clock struck twelve, he reached up with his free hand to tug his mask from his distinctly scarred visage. Dropping his own mask, he reached out with a gentle hand to pull the gold and red countenance from Quistis's fair features.
As the clocks struck a third time, he held fast to her waist and pressed his warm lips against her own, his breaths dancing across her cheeks and chin. The clocks rang a fourth time, and it was then that Selphie's big surprise was finally initiated.
The star-studded skies filled with fluttering fireworks, glistening prettily against the black night. Missing most of this spectacle, Quistis melted into the long-awaited kiss, her hands holding loosely onto the man's shoulders.
At the tenth ring, the man suddenly released Quistis and broke the kiss between them. Turning too quickly for Quistis to get a proper look at his face, she called out, "Wait!"
But he wouldn't turn. Watching the mysterious figure run back into the ballroom and into the massive crowd, she could catch sight of his fedora slipping from his head to reveal what looked like white-blond hair … but under the circumstances, she couldn't be certain. The fireworks still a-blazing, Quistis was left to think on this herself. Gazing a moment longer at the empty space which was her apparent admirer, Quistis then shifted her gaze towards the shooting fireworks over head.
Selphie was right … this was a great idea.