nysalogs | [open mingle] from my laboratory in the castle east

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[open mingle] from my laboratory in the castle east

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!

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[Ren pokes the cider glass thoughtfully for a few moments, as if testing it for something, before picking it up.]

Oh, I just showed up, I thought it sounded fun~ [Ren doesn't know Diva well enough to know what she might be capable of, but then, he's not one to assume anyone has completely benign intentions anyway.] I offered to help cook, though, since I'm pretty good at that and it sounded like she needed more people...

People have no idea what's good for them. It's very sad.

[Him. He's very good for them. He's good for everyone, whether it be humbling the haughty or giving joy to the downtrodden. And clearly doesn't care that he's riff-raff- he's happy. And happy that he isn't treated like shit here even if it's made it hard to find people to fleece. It'll turn- it always does, but at least Iskander seems to be one of the genuinely kind people here.

Though he does give him a look of complete surprise over the lip of his glass.]

I wouldn't have guessed that about you. You seem like the kind of person who knows precisely who likes him, regardless of how much money and power you have over them.

In my experience, everyone's a mess... Just in vastly different ways.

[WHO HURT THIS GIRL.] But you came out here to have a good time, and you should have a good time. Better than good. The best time. So what can I do to expedite that process? What's the one thing you enjoy doing over all else?

[She's only hurt herself. By tripping. MOSTLY.]

Y-yes I'm just...a...I'm not sure what.

[She tries to laugh a little but it comes out warbly at best.]

I came here to dance for Diva's birthday so...um....dancing?

Oh! Oh, that'd make a lot more sense!

[Since she did know more about swords then the rest of their current group. She still does blush and bite her lip, shaking her head. Flirting. Flirting!]

B-but you're too kind. If-if you want me to teach you how to use a sword then-I can try my best.

Excellent. [He holds out a hand, which would be fine if his nails weren't sharpened to a clawlike point and the snake tattoos on and above his palm weren't so prominent. He can control how he looks and he looks fabulous, but some times are always going to make people a bit nervous.

But watch him.] You're in the presence of someone who is in desperate need of a good dance partner.

[A perfectly good way to draw a mother of all life into your space is to have food aplenty (easily accessed), and happy commotion. People gathered and enjoying themselves is its own kind of warmth. She's been present for some minutes, wagging her tail at familiar faces, but not wanting to intrude on their conversations and dancing.

Diva has a way of drawing her attention avidly, not only because she's unfamiliar, and Ammy has a habit of rectifying this, but because she swirls around the party like some blue star. Anyone would be magnetized. However, she's also like a busy swallow, visiting and visiting her guests, and the white beast who's wandered into her party passes some time snacking off the table. Another, unavoidably, helpless habit.

Eventually, with some patience, she finds her in a quiet, unoccupied moment, and she goes to her with dropped ears in subconscious gentleness, raises her tail to wave it amicably, and thinks:

Please, look here, lovely girl. Please, don't be afraid.]

(honks!! i hope this is okay, lmk if you need me to change anything! 💕&, i couldn't remember where we landed on telepathy, but i can remove that if you don't want it, too!)

[It's easy enough to make this girl blush that Ren is probably leaning slightly more towards flirtatious than he generally would just for the sake of reaction, but he thinks it's funny enough to keep right on doing it anyway.

Perhaps thankfully, the sword mention distracts him a little into looking rather pleased instead.] Oh, it would be nice if you could, but if you're busy with other things then just giving me some pointers would be fine too~

[Extra as always, Takasugi's brought his own mask to the party. For the moment, he's wearing it properly, disguising his face but hardy his identity. The bandage around his head is ever present, and he smells strongly of a rich, earthy tobacco.

Lively as the get-together is, he isn't directly participating in the festivities. And he certainly doesn't want any cake. Takasugi lingers around the fringes of activity at first, dully interested in the proceedings. Too many people he knows, and doesn't care to approach...

And one he does.

Superficial intrigue may not be much of a seductress, but here Takasugi is, approaching the embodiment of it like a moth to the flame.]

Did you vet the guest list yourself? [From the way Solomon has been fidgeting with the layout of the gifts, Takasugi assumes he's grasping for some semblance (ay) of control. Which means the answer to his question is a resounding no.]

[This guitar is out of tune.

Shamisen left on Thesa, Takasugi had stared at the instrument with a mix of disdain and exhaustion. His fingers felt clumsy when he'd played this thing, months and months ago. It hadn't served as a suitable accompaniment to Diva's song, dissonance between twang and ethereal too severe.

He'd intended to pass it by entirely, but Diva had caught him staring. Urged a song from him. Shifting his mask to the side of his head, Takasugi complied without a word. Just a little sigh-

She's the birthday girl, though even on a normal day she won't be told 'no'. That appetite of hers is a pain, but he can't help but enable indulgence.

Unfortunately, he hardly has perfect pitch, so he can't tune the thing without a bit of help. After a moment of fiddling with the keys, he looks up.] Give me a C.

I am the King of Conquerors! [Is he swaying to the music now as he says this? You bet he is. They're supposed to be dancing, after all!]

My land extended from Macedon all the way into Persia due to the campaigns I ran during my conquests. It is actually something I am very well known for.

[That's putting it surprisingly mildly.]

Well, I never saw a reason to hold power over someone. I may be a King but that is a title that should be an inspiration to all rather than something one looks upon with disdain. I have always felt that a King is someone that others look up to and want to follow because they are his as much as he is theirs.

[And he knows not all rule this way. Which is unfortunate because it leads to thoughts like this where if one has wealth and power they use that to abuse instead of do wondrous things with it. Honestly it's a terrible shame.]

Though if someone really doesn't like me that is fine. I can only extend the hand of friendship and if it is not taken then there is not much else to be done.

[Lifting up this glass, he notes the color of it. How impressively green!

Just like the other, he drinks the entire glass in one go. This one though, he smacks his lips after and bursts out with a surprised laugh. A pleasant surprise though.]

Why, it is sour! Yet there is a sweetness to it too! It is like a candy I ate once.

[He points to the empty glass he's holding.]

What is this flavor?

There’s whiskey, but I’m not about to take a cute girl by surprise with anything too crazy.

[He gives her a wink. Maybe his tastes run in the other direction, but he can still think she’s pretty.]

Or maybe some spiked hot cocoa?

Yeah? What kinda stuff can you cook?

[Because Chuuya really isn’t very good at making anything that isn’t mixed drinks or instant noodles...]

Did you bake a cake?

[Diamond looks thoughtful before wandering over towards one of the walls draped with fabric for decoration. They looks left, then right, then promptly tears the fabric down.

They walk back over to Olivia, setting their drink aside briefly to throw the fabric around her shoulders like a cape and smiles]

There! This'll work, right? When we get back, I can replace it.

[Diamond laughs a little and waves their hand as if trying to dismiss the comments]

Oh no, it's not like that! I really can't drink! [They open their mouth wide and point. There's no opening in the back of their mouth that would indicate a throat. The inside of their mouth is the same color at their hair, nails, and eyes.]

See? But I'd been hoping maybe something could happen. [They shrug and smile sheepishly] But it might be best to just give this drink away to someone who can actually enjoy it.

[She giggles, the noise soft. She's okay with this, mostly because-well it doesn't feel like Chuuya means anything by his compliment. Harmless flirting!]

I'll go with the spiked hot cocoa? Whiskey might go right to my head.

[She's pretty small, so it's not just a fruitless concern, like her fretting can be.]

[Ren is actually a bit of a history buff, and particularly a history buff on the subject of conquerors, so he blinks in apparent surprise for a moment at that statement. It's definitely an interesting turn of events, but it's not one he can say he was expecting at all.

It doesn't seem to faze him for long, though, because after another moment he instead looks quite delighted with the situation. Thankfully, he is also going along with the dancing...ish. As much as he can while he's being carried.]

So that means you're Alexander the Great, right? Or do prefer another name...?

[He's pretty sure that's just the common knowledge version of his name, like a few other conqueror types have ended up with.]

_{[Well Phoenix's getup certainly does stand out...but it isn't his outfit that catches Diva's attention, it's the way he looks at the piano that's been set up that has her curious. It doesn't take her long to meander past the other guests and come to where he's standing, not caring whether or not her sudden hovering is too close for comfort or not. Sorry Phoenix, she doesn't really understand personal boundaries.]}

You wonder? About what?

_{[That'll get him a small, fanged grin.]}

Can you play?

Yeah? What about them?

_{[Just. Oblivious. What's your deal girl?]}

Do you need one?

[Poor Olivia. Then again, this is not the first time she's been teased into flustering. At least Ren stopped, even if it was to his interest to do so.

She shook her head a little.]

I'm-I'm still new. I don't really have things to do yet so...if you have a sword or something you could use as one...that'd help a lot. And then we can get to the lessons.

[And then he'll find the blushing beauty becomes a harsh taskmistress.]

[Yeah those nails were kind of...much. The tattoos didn't make her bat an eye; she thought it was more or less like makeup. Claws, she was used to being aimed to claw into her.]

Y...you do?

[She nibbles her lip. Straightens up and lightly makes to press her palm against his.]

Well. I can...do something about that.

You have heard of me then! I often go by Iskandar now but I will respond to any of my names you wish to call me.

[He laughs and clearly is thrilled that another person recognizes him. Even if he's sure a lot of that information is wrong. Again. He's getting pretty used to that part. People thinking him short or with another hair color and so on.]

I suppose this means you have a good idea of what sort of King I am now too.

_{[Ah yes, butter her up. She loves it. The mere thought of someone being distraught at not getting her attention leaves her feeling giddy. Whether he's genuine in his words or not about such a thing doesn't matter to her.

Settling into place she readies herself to be lead, attention focused forward as she listens to what he says next.]}

It is nice, isn't it? I've never really had a birthday party with proper guests before.

_{[Just whatever weird events or displays her Chevalier would put together to appease her.]}

People are far too serious.

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[open mingle] from my laboratory in the castle east

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wildcard!

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first option? wildcard? idk anyway heres wonderwall

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