**Masquerade Ball: Lights Turned Off**

The grand estate was abuzz with the who's who of London's high society, all donning their finest masquerade attire for the night's festivities. The air was electric, quite literally, as the lights flickered and dimmed, only to be replaced by a dazzling display of string lights that illuminated the opulent chandeliers. The music pulsed through the crowded ballroom, and the guests erupted into applause as a stunning figure emerged from the shadows. Cruella de Vil, resplendent in an electrifying dress that seemed to crackle with energy, strode into the room, her eyes gleaming with a fierce inner light. Her raven tresses cascaded down her back like a waterfall of night, and her porcelain skin seemed almost otherworldly in the dim light. Jasper, her longtime friend and confidant, couldn't help but smile as he gazed at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He mouthed the words, "That's my girl," and Cruella's lips curled into a sly smile as she blew him a kiss. As the evening wore on, Cruella effortlessly worked the room, charming guests with her wit and charisma. Meanwhile, Jasper found himself in a situation of his own, one that was rapidly spiraling out of control. A rambunctious Dalmatian, known affectionately as Dipstick, had wandered over to him, licking his face with reckless abandon. Jasper chuckled and ruffled the dog's ears, his eyes shining with amusement. Dipstick, a puppy Jasper had adopted from Anita's litter of Dalmatian pups, had always shared Jasper's love of music. The young pup was the youngest of the litter, and Jasper had been smitten with his energetic personality from the start. As Jasper scratched behind Dipstick's ears, the pup gazed up at him with adoring eyes, his tail wagging furiously. "What's the matter, boy?" Jasper asked, his voice low and soothing. Just then, a voice nearby spoke up, "You let that mut near miss Cruella?" The speaker, a burly man with a cruel grin, sneered at Jasper. "It's no joke. Who's the favorite?" "Estella is just a friend," Jasper replied, his eyes narrowing slightly. Dipstick, sensing tension, began to growl low in his throat. "Control that dog," the man snarled, taking a step closer to Jasper. In a flash, the man kicked out at Dipstick, who yelped in pain. Jasper's eyes flashed with anger, and he stood his ground, his fists clenched. "You leave my dog alone," he warned, his voice low and deadly. The man sneered, taking a step closer to Jasper. "You wanna get into this?" The air seemed to vibrate with tension as the two men faced off. Jasper, however, was not eager for a fight. "Wait, I don't wanna fight," he said, holding up his hands in a placating gesture. But it was too late. The man lunged at Jasper, and the two of them tumbled outside, the sound of scuffling and grunting echoing through the night air. A few moments later, Cruella's laughter and the music were interrupted by the sound of barking. "What's going on?" she asked, her brow furrowed with concern. Anita's voice replied, "He's never acted like this before." Cruella's eyes narrowed as she followed the sound of Dipstick's frantic barking. They ran after the puppy, who finally stopped running and looked back at Jasper, his eyes wide with worry. Jasper lay on the floor, his eye bruised and his nose bloody. "Cruella, thank goodness you could come," Artie exclaimed, his voice anxious. Cruella's eyes widened in horror as she took in Jasper's battered state. She quickly dropped her drink and rushed to his side, cradling his head in her lap. "I'm gonna call an ambulance," Horace said, his voice firm. "Who did this?" Cruella demanded, her eyes flashing with anger. Just then, John walked in, his eyes scanning the scene before him. He pushed forward, his face set in a determined expression. "You stay here, darling. I have to go deal with something." Cruella's gaze lingered on Jasper's battered face before she turned to the men who had attacked him. Her eyes blazed with fury as she grabbed one of them by the shirt collar. "You insulin bitch. See that boy? No one touches him. He is my best friend, and not only that, but one day, my fucking lover. And I'll be damned if you were going to think you were gonna take him away from me."