[open mingle] from my laboratory in the castle east

[gekkajuu]

Who: EVERYONE!
What: Diva's! Birthday! Masquerade!!
When: August 4
Where: the Nadril caves
Warning(s): This is a mingle, so please indicate if your starter isn't OTA. Also: please put any necessary warnings in your subject lines when things pop up!

Atsushi has been planning this for a while now, but needless to say, a certain dragon forced him to adapt his plans, and arguably not for the better. Still, he's determined to make this work! Diva told him she's never had a birthday party in all of her long life, and that is just not all right - so of course he promised her she'd have one this year.

He... should have maybe not said anything, and just done this in secret. Or at least he should have known better than to ask Diva what kind of party she wanted, because she sure had a lot of wishes... That's Diva for you, though. Besides, after more than 170 years without a birthday party, she deserves to say exactly what she wants!

Atsushi has spent more time than he probably should have, decorating a part of Nadril's cave system with fairy lights and anything else he could find. For being in a cave, the setting is very atmospheric! There's food, drinks, and recorded music - not all of it suited for a party, but there are instruments too, for the more talented guests.

A masquerade was Diva's first and foremost wish, and with everyone having limited means and fewer possessions here, masks have kindly been provided by your hosts at the entrance. Some are classy; some are a little unusual; some are -....... Well, you should probably be at the party in time, so all the good masks haven't been taken yet. How well have you disguised yourself? Did you bother to hide your identity at all?

A gift for the birthday vamp is appreciated, but your presence is the biggest gift. There's no better time than the present to forget the unresolved situation elsewhere on the planet, and have a little fun together!

Comments

[dancerefresher]

[She has no idea; she's met some people who flirt as easily as they breathe, just their way of being friendly. She still blushes a bit when she gets her hand bowed over, just...well, something that happens. Whoops.]

Over here then.

[She starts leading them, before she stops and makes a noise.]

Oh! Omigosh I forgot my manners, I'm sorry! I'm Olivia! N-nice to meet you.

[conqueredhearts]

Ha! What a find joke that will be! I approve of this little trick of yours.

[It's neither terrible nor cruel. Just as a little joke or prank should be. Why, he's even thinking he'll play along!]

Hm? You cannot normally get into parties like this?

[conqueredhearts]

[He looks at the drink and grins when he sees how red it is.]

My favorite color!

[Because of course his favorite color would be the color of his own hair and eyes.

Without hesitation he tips it back and drinks the entire thing down. Yep. The entire thing. Right down to the last drop. When he's finished, he slams that glass onto the counter and lets out a satisfied sound.]

What a fine kick! In spice too! I can still feel the burn on my tongue and in my belly!

[He laughs and pats his stomach.]

Ahhh. I haven't had a drink so strong in awhile. This is even better than the ones I have been mixing for myself!

[By the way, he loves new flavors and can really old his liquor, Chuuya.]

[conqueredhearts]

Well I really only know those of when I was King. It is my understanding that those are considered ancient now. So mostly I listen to the music and make it up as I go. So as long as you do not mind looking foolish with me we should fare well!

[He's good at dancing but when you don't know the dance? Well, just have a good time! That's his motto for life really. One of them anyway.]

Besides, the music is slower right now so we should be fine.

[colorature]

It compliments it well.

_{[If there is one thing Diva will give Solomon credit for it's his attention to detail and aesthetics. She stands still as he wipes at her mouth, her gaze fixed upward toward him. Leave it to Solomon to always be a tease though. His coyness gets a fanged grin out of her as she tries not to rock back on her heels, resisting the urge to forget.]}

You've never forgotten my birthday before. Of course you got me something.

_{[Unfortunately patience isn't a virtue Diva was born with. She can wait, sure, but that doesn't mean she likes to. She manages to pluck the small, pretty wrapped box, out of the pile, holding it to her chest excitedly.]}

Can I open just one? I want to open yours!

[diamondize]

[What could possibly go wrong. Diamond wanders out then to the exit, glancing around at the decorations and things as they go.] Diva really went all-out with this, didn't they...

Oh! Are you going to get cold? These temperatures can get dangerous for organics, can't they?

[fabrications]

The one and only.

[ It hasn't occurred to Akechi that Diva might find his scent distinctive, so he just assumes it's due to his voice - until the shock of having someone reach for his face overrides the thought. Even that only lasts a moment, however, and he doesn't resist if Diva decides to remove it outright. ]

I wish I could take credit for it, but that was provided by the hosts. Still, it appealed to me more than any of the others that were provided.

[mollymocked]

I'm what's commonly referred to in society as "common riff-raff," which is fair and true, but makes it hard to get to any place fancy.

[A beat as he pauses to grab some alcohol someone is passing around- one for him and one for his friend.] Not that fanciness is worth anything. Rich people are bastards. But you can have so much fun with that lot if you know how to.

[mollymocked]

No, no, I think they're more polite than that, dear. [Okay, he's gonna have to tone it down. She's breaking his heart here. Underneath all that smarm and sass there's a guy who is very protective of those in dire situations... and apparently being fraught with emotions is dire.]

It would kill the mood of the entire party and everyone's having so much fun.

[morbide]

[Perhaps they were so taken by the atmosphere of Diva's masquerade party that they managed to miss the silver-haired mage's approach, but he's taken to enjoy sneaking up on people with quieted steps and even breathing. Henry watches them people watch until they muse aloud about the nature of the party, about the drink in their hand, before he speaks up.]

But didn't you serve yourself a drink? [It's an earnest question: not often does one meet somebody who looks at a drink and wonders what on earth to do with it.] Unless you're just not a fan of alcohol and grabbed it by mistake. If you hate it so much, just dump it out and try again. That's what I would do.

[dancerefresher]

O-oh...oh.

[She took in a deep steadying breath, her hand on her chest. So much for smarm and sass, he needed to look out for this hot mess.]

Oh good. I...I didn't know that was, was a thing.

[Another deep breath. And out.]

Sorry...I'm kind of a mess.

[diamondize]

[Diamond yelps and jumps in surprise, fumbling a little with the glass. Nothing spills, thankfully, but they whirl around to face Henry with wide eyes.]

I- Um. [They shakes their head a little to clear it before they answer] I did, but... I can't actually drink anything. I thought maybe I'd be able to taste something, but I don't think I can really do that either.

[They frown at the drink again, disappointed]

[thetaintedsorrow]

It wasn’t all that big a deal, but you’re welcome.

[Thank the Natha for the pin in the first place...]

You want wine? Or something a bit stronger?

[morbide]

[Before, Henry wasn't really looking at the radiance of their glimmering hair, but it becomes more evident under the changing light as they turn to face him that they have a very unique... luminescence. Like a crow, he's mesmerized by how it glitters, so it takes him a moment to compute what they're saying. He sort of sits there with a neutral smile instead until he snaps out of it.]

Eh? Wait, why not? I've heard of a liquid-only diet, but definitely not one that excludes them. Not even a taste? C'mon, it's a party! Nobody would even blink if you indulged a LITTLE.

[conqueredhearts]

Riff-raff? Common? Certainly not you.

[He has no problem hiding the fact that he disapproves of his friend being treated that way.] I am a wealthy person and if you had come to my lands I would have seen you welcomed and treated like royalty! For now though, I will simply celebrate that you can be appreciated here as you should be.

[thedarkbond]

[Ren would answer to that remark about being foolish, except he kind of tuned out with an expression of mildly vacant interest when the point of having been a king is mentioned. Obviously there'd be a lot of places that still have kings, and some would have been saved, but it's still pretty unusual.]

You were a king...? [He wonders that aloud before seeming to realise belatedly that other things were said between that information and now.] Oh, I don't mind looking silly, most people think I look pretty silly anyway~

[It works to Ren's advantage anyway, so he's fine with it.]

[thedarkbond]

[At the mention of her name, Ren's expression shifts to something rather thoughtful, as if he's trying to remember something. It's a few moments before he snaps his fingers and instead takes on a look of delight.]

Oh, I think I met a friend of yours in Nadril. A girl with long red hair kind of like mine, and a lance...

[Cordelia thankfully isn't that difficult to describe, but she did mention Olivia's name when he was talking to her.]

She said you were good at using swords.

[conqueredhearts]

I am a King still actually! [And he would elaborate more on that but then his new friend says...that. He blinks and looks at him.]

You do not look silly. You look beautiful.

[He's never been one to have a filter.]

[thedarkbond]

[Ren doesn't have much of a filter either, which means he doesn't necessarily expect anyone else to, and being referred to as beautiful doesn't seem to bother him. In fact, he laughs a little as he tucks one of his forelocks behind one ear.]

That's nice of you to say. [He doesn't want to go all-in accepting a compliment when he's trying to get on the better side of people right now, so he plays it safe and takes the neutral option of not confirming, but not denying it.] What kind of king were you? Or I guess I should ask where you were king of...

[Even if wherever that was may not exist anymore.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

Mine too, actually~

[For various reasons. It’s such an intense, passionate color, fitting for an ex-Mafia executive.

He grins from ear to ear when Iskandar drinks the entire thing in one go, feeling just a little proud of himself for making it that strong. He laughs and clears the empty glass away before starting to mix up another drink, this one bright green in color.]

That right? You look like a guy that can hold his liquor.

[Which means he’ll add an extra shot to this particular drink before sliding it over. This one is insanely sour but also incredibly alcoholic, with a hint of green apple flavor.]

How about this one?

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Chuuya pours some cider and slides it over without delay. It’s not as fun as mixing up drinks, but oh well.]

Diva asked me to do it. I’ve known her for a while.

[Long enough to know what she’s capable of...]

What about you? Do you know her or did you just show up for the party?

[dancerefresher]

Cordelia? Cordelia said that?

[She's surprised, and she feels herself grow pink. Well. Pinker. And she shakes her head, hard enough that her braids bounce against her shoulders.]

N-not at all! I still have so much to learn! I-I mean I dance with a sword, but still...it's just too bad she doesn't have her pegasus, she's amazing! It's like seeing poetry in motion!

[dancerefresher]

Maybe not.

[She smiles though, politely disagreeing. Her head tilts though.]

Stronger? I'm not familiar with anything other then wine and beer.

[Which is a polite way of saying "I hope you're not serving me rotgut"]

[dancerefresher]

Oh yes...b-but I guess that's to be expected? Being a birthday long coming?

[Or something like that. She pauses though, and blinks over at Diamond.]

O-oh...um. You...have a good point...I'm not dressed for the cold...

[thedarkbond]

Right~ [Or, almost. Ren taps his chin with one finger like he's trying to remember the exact words.] Or, well, she said you'd be better than her at helping me learn how to use a sword, so I figured you must be pretty great since she seemed really intense about her training...

[He seems to think about that for a few moments longer before he shrugs.] It is a shame, though, isn't it? I would have liked to meet a pegasus. But if we're talking about cute things, sword dancing sounds pretty cute too.