Night was slowly setting upon Miami, its citizens retiring home and preparing for a relaxing night at home. But City Hall tonight was a hive of activity - tonight was the annual MDPD Masquerade Ball. The sound of chatter and classical music filled the air as detectives, officers and CSIs arrived, some with their significant others, some alone. The hall was a sea of colours and gorgeous gowns, each person slightly unrecognisable under their mask.

Madison stepped out of the taxi and smoothed her dress. She adored these events. She loved dressing up, especially in olden-style clothing. And in her outfit tonight she felt like a princess. She walked up the stairs, hovering by the entrance and wondering if she'd spot any of her friends here.

Ava smiled as she looked at herself in the mirror. Usually, she was not very fond of parties, but masquerade balls were a whole different story. Despite the fact that she might not have looked like the type to do that, she enjoyed dressing up, especially in old outfits. It was different from having to wear a modern dress. And tonight, she liked the way she looked. Her black dress was nicely contrasting with her blond hair which was up in a messy bum. She really felt like a princess and she actually liked that.

She got out of her car, locked it and shoved the keys in her purse. She walked up the stairs of the City Hall, looking around. It all looked so beautiful and elegant; just perfect for the way they were all dressed.

Madison noticed a blonde walking up towards her and by her posture and walk decided it must be Ava. "Ava?" she asked the female. "Wow, you look seriously amazing hun," she told her with a smile. She gave a bounce. "I'm so looking forward to it - it's gonna be such a fun night, I can just tell."

Ava turned around as she heard a familiar voice calling her name. She smiled when she saw Madison, looking even more beautiful than usually. "Hey, princess," she teased with a small smirk. "You look awesome yourself."

Maddy smiled. "Thanks..." She went inside and grinned. It was like she'd stepped through a time-machine into Victorian times. "Wow," she said looking at everyone chatting and dancing. "Everyone looks so pretty..."

Victor stepped out of his car, nervously fingering the invitation in his hand. Since he was not actually a member of MDPD he had been sent an invite as apparently he and his fellow surgeons were considered 'prominent' people. He was wearing a tux with a simple black mask lined with silver. As he made his way up the steps he saw a familiar figure slip inside. He smiled. Very Cinderella-like, he thought.

Ava nodded as she looked around with a smile plastered on her face. "It's gorgeous..." she mumbled softly, more to herself.

"Imma go mingle," Madison said with a smile. It was always interesting meeting new co-workers and being in costume made it less awkward. She was also hoping to run into her other CSI friends or someone else.

Ava nodded with a small smile. "Okay," she said, as she watched her friends losing herself in the distance. Ava was not as sociable as Maddy; she loved making new friends, but she was not exactly like Madison. So, she just remained there, looking around, trying to spot someone she knew.

Victor spotted a familiar figure not far from him and smiled. She'd been pretty much the only reason he'd turned up; he'd hoped to see her here all dressed up and beautiful. Sneaking up behind her he murmured, "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair," in her ear, placing a soft kiss on the back of her neck.

Ava's body tensed and she almost gasped as she heard a voice in her ear. However, as soon as she recognized it, she relaxed smiling a bit to herself. "I hope the original version, not the Beastie Boys' one," she smiled, not turning around yet.

His hands went to her waist, holding her as he smiled. "The original of course. I am a gentleman after all," he replied.

Ava smiled as she put her hands over his and slightly leaned her head back, so it rested on his shoulder. "Thank God for that," she said quietly.
The relationship between her and Victor was an unexpected one. They were not exactly dating; she didn't know what they were doing. She had no idea if they were actually seeing each other, she had no idea if they were exclusive. All she knew, was that she really liked him.

He brought his hands fully around her so he was kind of hugging her at the waist. "You know, you'd fit into this era so well," he told her. "An aristocratic belle, fighting all the males off with a fan or whatever weaponry females had those days," he joked.

Albert entered the City Hall for the MDPD anual party. He was not a police officer nor a detective, but he had got an invitation too. And as he wasn't the type to miss parties, especially big, elegant ones like masquerade balls, he put an a tux, a dark mask and armed himself with a red rose. He came in the huge hall where the party was held. He looked around, trying to spot someone familiar and smiled when he saw exactly who he hoped to see. He sneeked up behind Madison and put a hand on her waist, while the one with the rose went around her, so she could see the flower. "What a beautiful lady in what a beautiful night," he whispered in her ear.

Ava chuckled softly at that. "You think so?" she asked quietly. "You want me to fight you off?"

Madison froze slightly, feeling someone behind her, but recognising the voice she smiled. She almost gave a 'nawww' noise because of how sweet and cute she found it, but stopped herself just in time. "Thank you kind Sir," she replied with a smile, smelling the pretty flower and finding it a perfumed rose. "It is beautiful, thank you," she said, craning her neck slightly to look at him, a smile on her face.

He gave a laugh at her words. "Not me. All the other suitors who are gonna be lining up for you. I hope that you are well trained in fan-fighting mi'lady,"

Ava finally turned around to face him. In that tux, and with that mask on his face, he was simply breath-taking. She smiled up to him. "Well, I am. But you are in that line too, so I may fight you off as well," she teased softly.

He raised an eyebrow. "So you want to play it that way, huh? Well then I shall go find myself a rose, or some other pretty flower and use that because then you wouldn't want to hit me and risk breaking such a delicate bloom. And that way I'll be safe from your fan," he told her with a grin.

Ava grinned back to him. "That's how you know me?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "I actually thought that you have found out more about how I am."

He pulled a face. "No, I know you'd do it anyway. But it was worth a shot," he added with a grin."And you know that I now know you a lot better than that," he murmured in her ear.

Ava smiled at that. Once again, as many times before, his whispers in her ear sent nice shivers down her spine. "Hmm..." she murmured in his ear. "I wouldn't be so sure about that," she teased, a light smirk playing on her lips.

Albert smiled as he spun her around, so she was facing him. "Not as beautiful as you, darling," he said, taking a whole look at her. She was always gorgeous, but tonight, she was so much more mysterious and simply attractive.

She bought her hand to his cheek, smiling. "You always say the sweetest things," she said, kissing his cheek, looking at the flower for a moment then back at him. "Any more sweeter and I'd need the dentist," she teased sweetly.

He smirked. "Well maybe not that well yet, but I certainly know what makes you gasp and moan, so I must get some points for that," he murmured cockily to her. "And I also know how to make you blush," he added teasingly.

Ava's eyes widened and she reddened slightly at the moment and place where he decided to bring that up. She looked around for a bit, before getting closer to him, in order to whisper to him. "Oh, why don't you say it out loud? I don't think the people from the other side of the room have heard you yet," she said sarcastically.

Albert chuckled a bit at her words. "You might want to check yourself of diabetes too," he joked. "I use to be pretty sweet usually."

He smirked. "I said it quietly enough," he replied. "But if you insist, I could repeat it again so they can hear," he teased.

She crossed her arms over her chest, as she looked away from him. "Stop it," she said shortly. It was not like their previous experiences were not a nice memory for her, because it was not the case. Just that he kept teasing about that, which made her love him and hate him at the same time. But honestly, she liked it this way.