but with blue ribbons instead of black

with a light blue ribbon corset back and no belt

The picture isn't working so I'll just give you a deion: The mask covers the eyes and the surrounding area of face (like, not a full face mask). It has a grey/green base, with multicoloured (but not unnatural) flowers around the top and sides. There is a nose cover, but it leaves the tip of the nose free.

Plus brown suspenders and a jacket which he'll take it off once he's inside the ballroom

Though she would never wear something like this if she had the choice, her handmaid is making her wear it to the ball.

::Other:: She was adopted by the Queen of Cyndamere, who couldn't bear children of her own, after she was caught stealing vegetables from the palace garden when she was eight years old. Though technically she is not an heir to the throne, the queen sent her to Relkinshire to be safe anyway.

Valkyrie

(Accepted Keegan. Let us begin.)

Lilly looked at herself in the full length mirror that stood in her room. She gave a small twirl to check that she could move in a proper manner before she put on her mask. She looked down at the silky black dress and patted it down a bit before exiting the room. This would be her first time visiting the grand hall of the castle. In fact it would be her first time to do many things. This would be her first chance to interact with people who were not part of staff. Elda quickly followed after her. Lilly looked down at the dragon and the small black bow that she had tied around her companions neck, "What do you think?" she asked before gesturing to the dress. Elda gave a small nod as they entered the hall.

Rex watched as Lilly and Elda entered the hall. His mother had told him that the girl all in black was his younger sister. It was strange. His mother hadn't even mentioned her until around two days before now. Sure he had wondered why he was never allowed in the western wing but the only explanation he had ever gotten was, 'Because that is where the monster lives.' or something similar. Had she been the monster all of these years? Had she been the poor child that was heard crying no less than a week previous? He adjusted his mask a little before leaning against a window, "Such a situation." he muttered.

Sky escorted his younger sister into the hall and held her mask firmly in his right hand. he shook his head at her, "Why in the world did it take you an hour to get into that dress?" he grumbled, "Surely even I could have been able to put on such a dress quicker than you."
"Oh I think not dear brother." Lavender said with a small laugh, "For you have not got the legs to pull off such a dress."
"The dress itself is touching the floor my dear sister. I think my legs matter not." Sky said.
"Ahh but could you bear it's weight on legs such as yours?" Lavender said before snatching her mask, "So fair and pale my dear brother is. He shall make a wonderful bride when he is older. But when that day comes I shall not give her away. For he is not mine to give."
"Ladies do not snatch." Sky stated before putting on his mask.
"But you did not snatch it." Lavender said, "So all is fine and dandy."

Midnight sat on a window with her legs dangling over the edge outside, "Such a unsettling place." she said quietly, "Tis almost as if nothing was wrong in the world. As if it were cut off from the outside world. It is a very curious thing. Many secrets must it hide in the very walls.". She gazed up at the sky which was ablaze with the stars that slept in the skies dark blanket. She closed her eyes and listened to the ballroom music that played behind her. Oh how I wish my parents could be here she thought something is not right.

Talon and Sin danced together in the middle of the hall with a small smile on both of their faces. "I shall end you my dear sister." Talon said before sending Sin into a twirl.
"Shall you?" Sin said with a smirk, "Because I sir have more elegance than you."
"Ah but I am more attractive to the eye." Talon said with a small laugh.
"I have more skill than you do sir." Sin said, "And it is I who has captured more hearts."
The siblings continued to dance in an elegant manner as they argued. Neither one wanting to admit how much they admired the other ones traits. Their loyal dogs circled them and watched out of those who would approach the pair.

Tomix and Matthew sat next to each other on two of the many chairs that lined the outskirts of the hall. "Do you think you shall meet your princess whilst we are here, Matthew?" Tomix asked as he watched the pair that danced in the middle of the hall.
"Oh no." Matthew said, "I shall not find my princess. For you are the eldest, Tomix. Mother would surely wish for you to be wed first."
"And what if I am not one for marriage?" Tomix asked, "What then brother?"
"Then you will hear mother heart shatter." Matthew said with a small laugh, "Surely you do not will that to happen?"
"I surely do not." Tomix said with a small nod, "But what if the right girl for me is simply not among the girls that are here?"
"Then look beyond the girls." Matthew said, "Surely if it is not a female companion that you fancy than maybe a male companion?"
"Maybe." Tomix said, "But I do not think that I will take more fancy upon a male."

Keith sat on the opposite side of the room from the two blond seemingly male creatures that were conversing. This whole set up was a little ridiculous in his opinion. What was the point of it? He played with the whiskers on his mask with a small smirk. His handmaid had told him not to wear such a mask but he found it to be quite appropriate. Because it was the only mask he found that would compliment his eyes in such a manner.

Summer looked around before spying a red haired girl with a dragon. She walked over to her with a smile before tapping on her shoulder.
Lilly spun around and looked at Summer, "Hello there." she said with a small smile, "If I'm bothering you I could surely move to a different location."
Summer shook her head with a small laugh, "Oh no my dear." she said, "I wished to ask you to dance."
Elda looked at Lilly and gave a small nod. "Elda says it's fine." Lilly said before summer whisked her away and onto the floor.

Blaze walked over and leaned against the wall next to a red hair male who was leaning against a window. "Don't fall out." he said as he looked at him.
"I won't." Rex said simply, "I always do this. Anyway I've only ever fallen out once. My lesson was learned after that point."
"What happened?" Blaze asked as he crossed his arms.
"I leaned to far and I fell? End of story." Rex said before closing his eyes.

Ventes entered the hall with a figure in a red dress. They had long brown hair and a red mask over their face. "Now miss I have escorted you." He said, "Now can I have your name?"
Max laughed a little before walking away from him, "Maximum." he said simply before walking onto the floor.
Ventes stood and watched as Max walked away from him. A confused look clearly plastered on his face, "What......."   

***

Just down the hall from Ridge's room, Daphne was fitting Arabella into the beautiful green dress she has picked out for her. Well, sort of. She had suggested a few dresses, and the only one Arabella would even consider wearing was this one, because it was one of her favourite colours. Arabella lifted her arms up once more, and Daphne tugged the fabric down to remove the creases. 

Of course, Daphne knew how she would have to help her younger siblings get ready for the ball, so she had gotten into her dress quite a while ago. She had asked her handmaid, Anna, to do her hair for her. Although Daphne had good hands for braiding and pinning, the particular style she was wearing today was far too difficult to do by herself. 

"All done," she said, proud of her handiwork. It was the best she could have done, given that Arabella had refused to tie her hair up. Arabella looked at herself both ways in the mirror before turning to try and get a look at the back, unsuccessfully. She grinned. "Thanks, Daphne!" she said, her cheery voice sounding even more merry than usual. She picked up both hers and Daphne's masks, putting hers on and handing Daphne's to her. Daphne took the mask gratefully and put it on her face.

"I'd better go help Ridge with his tie, now," Daphne said, "Wait here so we can go down to the ball together." 

"Can't I come see Ridge?" Arabella asked.

"Okay, if you wish," Daphne agreed, and led the way out of the room and down the hall to Ridge's room. 

Ridge had obviously tried, and failed, to tie his tie by himself, because it was now looking impossibly knotted at his collar. He smiled apologetically. Daphne gave him a look that said 'At least you tried', and took the tie in both hands.

Arabella sat down on the side of the bed while Daphne used her long nails to unpick Ridge's tie. She was eventually successful, and managed to tie it the right way without any more hassle. "There," she said, "All ready. Now put on your jacket so we can go down to the ball."

"Can I... not wear the jacket?" Ridge asked, picking it up with distaste. He didn't like the arms of it. They were too tight, he said, and he couldn't move properly in it. 

"No." Daphne said curtly. Ridge put on the jacket, frowning. He picked up his masquerade mask from the bed and put it over his eyes, completing his outfit.

Arabella got up and sauntered over to the door, impatient for Ridge and Daphne to keep up. They walked down the stairs, Daphne and Arabella both hitching up their dresses so as not to trip over them. The ball was nearby to where they were staying, so it only took them a few minutes to get there. Arabella was first to enter the ballroom, as she was the most eager to get there, followed by Daphne and then Ridge. 

Daphne walked over to a man and a woman to strike a polite conversation. She thought she recognised them as the royal brother and sister, Sky and Lavender, of the Kilzone kingdom. She approached them, offered her hand to shake. "Hello," she said, smiling kindly.

Arabella and Ridge felt a little out of place at such a place as this, so they ended up standing by themselves in the corner by the tables of nibbles and treats. Arabella wanted more than ever to dance with someone, but she didn't want to leave Ridge alone, and he certainly wouldn't want to dance; he would likely trip over his own feet within seconds. She picked up a chocolate truffle from one of the various platters on the table and ate it slowly.

***

Madison's handmaid, an elderly, but by no means fragile, lady by the name of Ada, brushed Madison's hair in powerful strokes of the brush. "Argh!" Madison cried. Her hair hadn't been brushed in months, due to her evading Ada every time she called to get her ready in the morning. Now, she paid for her irresponsibility with the painful battle of her hair and the dreaded brush. 

Madison felt her scalp was raw by the time Ada had finished. "Now, aren't you glad your hair is nice and brushed for once?" Ada said, naively expecting 'yes' too be the answer. "No," Madison replied with impertinence. She massaged her head dramatically and glared at her handmaid to further show her disapproval. Ada just laughed, which made Madi pout even more. 

"Don't keep that face, Missy, or the wind will change and you'll stay like that forever!" she scolded. Madison rolled her eyes. Ada took her thick, curly, red hair once more and brought it together to tie at the back. She ended up having to put multiple ties in at different places down the hair to stop it from going all over the place as it usually did. 

"Stand up now, and let me see you," Ada said. Madi reluctantly got up from her dressing table chair and turned to face her handmaid. She folded her arms over her chest, but they were put back at her sides within seconds. "Don't fold your arms, dear. It makes you look grumpy," Ada said. 

"I am grumpy," Madison muttered, but kept her arms by her sides. As much as she hated Ada's rules and ways of how she should act, Madi had known her for most of her life, and didn't want to disappoint her too much. "Oh, Madison, you look wonderful!" Ada doted, smiling, and twirling Madi around by the shoulders to get a full 360 degree view, "All the young princes will want to dance with you at the ball. You'll be the prettiest one there!"

Madison scowled. She picked up her mask and put it on, before retorting, "Well then it's a good thing they won't be seein' me face." 

Ada ignored her, and asked, "Do you want me to take you down to the ball, or will you be able to manage by yourself?"

"I'm fine by myself, thank you very much." Madison said. Ada gave her a hug, much to Madi's discomfort, and saw her out of the room.

Madison walked down the stairs, wobbling on her high heeled shoes. She made her way leisurely to the ball room. She walked inside, and tried to smile, but she couldn't. Don't get her wrong, she was very fun loving, but a fancy ball with fancy stuck-up royals wasn't at all her idea of fun. 

She sat down on one of the chairs that were lining the room, and watched other people dance and chat amongst themselves. A small, very small mind you, part of her wanted to join in and try to have fun, but she shut down that notion just as quickly as she thought of it.

((Do I win?))