Masked Ball is a beautiful excuse to leave your identity behind, don the most beautiful mask you can find and dance around with your hands in the air and your hair flowing free, just like in the movies.
My mask was a beautiful excuse of white and pink and my eyes shined through two diamante circled black holes in the center of the mask. High on the ecstasy of excitement, we powered through the crowds. Aiming for the most mystical tent we could find, we stumble upon a rabbit hole that leads to a wonderland of flame throwers, cocktail mixers and beautiful burlesque fancy dress.
I was intoxicated and over whelmed by my surroundings; terrified of letting go but so thrilled by the freedom that I couldn't help but to fall down my own metaphorical rabbit hole into total, beautiful, all-consuming madness. It was a wild night.
It was a dark Knight. Suited, but mask-less. Staring wonderously, seductively at a girl standing behind me,
swaying from side to side in time with the music, but somewhat more captivated by the angle of his stare. I stare back; amazed that one person could look at another stranger in such a way that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
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At the bar I'm pushed forward into an available gap, one arm reaching over my shoulder to grab the attention
of a rabbit; who takes our order and in a magical minute, our drinks sit in front of us. I can't feel my mouth. Or my hand for that matter. But I somehow manage to quench my thirst from dancing that can really only be described as faulted and clumsy.
His suit jacket looks like tweed but feels soft. His friends all smile and wink while I tumble into madness; staring past them all at the beautiful dancers on stage. The queen of hearts and ace of clubs are a beautiful blur of black and white high above my head. My distractions aren't silly though, and I'm not falling over. I'm being supported by a protective arm round my shoulder and remember that I'm not alone- despite having lost my companion for the night, I have somehow found another.
My head has cleared enough for me to dance, because life is too rigid and awkward to spend nights out bobbing like a parent at their child's Birthday party.
Leaving threw a substantially larger door to the one I came in threw, we enter darkness and a cacophony of music beats from the surrounding tents. Smoke exhales from my mouth and I recognize the dark Knight standing in front of me making idol chitchat to pass the time. He has freckles on his nose and is convinced I'm merely using him for alcohol consumption; but he smiles and the night is beautiful, so I forgive his accusation.
There appears the familiar faces, in glowing UV paint. Dancing as they walk, arms round each other and singing like night crawlers at quiet nights out in pubs. We laugh and hug and join the group of crazy misfits that I love. The knight disappears as the night comes to a close, tents start closing and fancy people stop dancing and change behind secret doors.
I'm in a UFO. It's not the first time I've been here but this time I've soiled my stunning white mask that glows blue due to the alien lights with orange paint. Even my dress looks more purple than pink. The UFO has died it with it's night-club lights and some guys white shirts glow so blue that they themselves light up the dance floor, just through reflection.
We walk under enchanted trees and down narrow paths riddled with uneven steps and fantasy lights. I look up to the sky, trying to decipher if it's stars I can see, or just the imprint of fairy lights in my vision from staring at them too long.
I'm down to one other misfit; the others have retired to beds and cars for the night/morning. We walk into the biggest, squarest tent to dance; and after taking a picture for a happy couple, pushing all the way to the front of the less mystical and more disco-lighted white box just in time for a drum and bass remix of Florence and the Machine. I'm standing on the moon, screaming the lyrics, loosing myself in the music and paying no attention to time... until it hits me.
My intoxication has subsided and been replaced with an overwhelming urge to fall over. It's 5:30am. We stumble back to the car, with the cold, early morning sun rise turning the sky blue, and revealing the damaged done to our enchanting wonderland.

The field is full of little cars, filled with empty cans and bottles of shame from fellow revelers. I'm given a hoody to keep warm and juice to dampen out the dehydration I've inflicted upon myself. The sky is so pretty and blue and my own little blue car in the distance looks like a distant dream as I stroll lonely up the road and back into common society, leaving behind my misfits spread out inside two cars that have been adjusted for sleep.
A warm beverage, hot shower and long sleep is all I need. All is provided. Over all, a magical night; with, or without a magical Knight.