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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Danced? No, not all!

[He has been thinking about it though. All he really needs to do is find a partner. But since this fine young man has asked obviously that leads him to this conclusion...]

Would you care to dance with me? Then I will have made sure to have danced!

[See? Problem solved.]

[Problem solved indeed, considering Ren smiles widely and laces his fingers together to one side of his face at the suggestion. Dancing is pretty fun, and he is here to get to know more people...on their good side, ideally.]

I'd love to. But I'm a little bit clumsy, so I might have to apologise in advance if I step on your feet... [He's better at dancing than he's making it sound, but it also means he has free reign to look less skilled if he feels like that'll be more fun.] Oh, and I guess you'll probably have to lead, too.

[Ren is...delicately built, to put it lightly, so he'd probably look a bit ridiculous trying to guide Iskandar around.]

You are welcome to stand on my feet if you like. They are very sturdy.

[Oh wait!] Or I could carry you! That should allow us to dance and for you to be higher up so we can better speak as we move!

[Flawless plan? Well, Iskandar thinks so. Honestly he's just waiting for the tiniest hint of interest before lifting him right up into his arms. Otherwise he can wait patiently for another idea.]

[Well, that's one way to respond to the suggestion of stepping on someone's feet. Ren looks a little bit amused at the response before he lets it clear away into a more normal smile.]

Well, if you think that'll work better, then I don't see why not~ [Ren is not one to have much care about personal space or dignity in situations like this, so he's happy enough to be lifted up. He did piggyback on someone from Nadril's entrance to their lodgings, after all, and Ren's weight is pretty negligible considering he's a "sixty kilos wringing wet in heavy clothing" sort of build.]

What kind of dancing do you like? [Ren kind of figures he's not going to have his own feet on the ground now, so he might as well ask what it is they're doing.]

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.

[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.]

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.]

[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.]

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.]

[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.]

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.

Well, that's a nice name anyway... [Also, Iskandar is a lot shorter than Alexander the Great, which helps.

A light little laugh comes from Ren at the mention of knowing what kind of king he was now - it's the type of king that most often goes down in history, of course.] Oh, definitely. "Champions crowned with glory"...I've always been pretty fond of learning about conquerors. But this is a pretty different opportunity to what I'm used to.

[Ren offers a playful wink, and then it seems to belatedly occur to him he should introduce himself back.] Ah, that was rude of me, wasn't it...? I'm Suzugamori Ren. Just Ren is fine, though~

Ren? What a fine name that you have, my friend! It has a beauty to how simple it is.

[He laughs and gives him a wink back. He's finding that this young man is quite fun to talk to! And dance with, of course. But that is a given with how he's still moving to the music while he holds him like this obviously.]

What is it like for you to be able to meet the King of Conquerors? You mentioned you are fond of learning about them after all.

I'm glad you think so~ [Look, it's still technically not just taking the compliment if he says it's the other person's opinion, right? He's pretty sure that's how that works.

At the question, Ren lets out a somewhat exaggerated hum, swaying somewhat absently back and forth in time with the music. There's definitely no denying his interest has sharpened somewhat since finding out who the person he's dancing with is, and he makes no real attempt to hide it even if he's still keeping his cuter mannerisms.]

Mmm, it's definitely fascinating...and you seem like a pretty fun person, too. But I think I'll really know what it's like whenever I have the chance to see you on the battlefield.

[He holds his hands curled against his chin in a surprisingly cutesy and dreamlike motion for a remark like that, especially considering his tone is decidedly...distracted by that thought.]

You have unique interests my friend!

[Oddly it doesn't sound like he's bothered by this. Instead he seems almost...delighted? Yeah that's probably the word for it. There's not much of a reason for him to be worried about this as far as he's concerned. So someone has an interest in the fact that he's a conqueror and interested in how he would be on the battlefield. What's wrong with that honestly?]

I hope you will like what you see when the time comes. Though, I don't see why you wouldn't. I am magnificent!

[And not even a little bit humble.]

[That is certainly one way to describe Ren's interests, and he laughs a little at the comment, not seeming particularly bothered himself. Nor by the lack of humility, because honestly, there's no fun being completely humble if you have the strength to back it up anyway.]

Oh, you're building it up even more now~ [His tone is gradually deepening as he speaks, going from cutesy to something that might be better described as breathy and a little bit dark.] I'll have to really hope I'm not disappointed when it happens, then, with all that confidence.

[There's a fine line with confidence - it's fun if you can back it up, and boring if you can't, as far as Ren's concerned. Iskandar strikes him as the type who would be able to in the first place, though, even if he didn't already know who he was.]

Ah but with confidence you know that you will not be disappointed. It is in cockiness that you find disappointment. For those are the people that don't know their limits or do and ignore them.

[And being cocky is dangerous for all that are involved. Iskandar has seen many fall simply because they thought they could take on the world without anything to back it up. A tragic fate but also one that is rather expected if he's to be honest.]

So I feel that you will enjoy what you see when it comes to be revealed.

[Oh, he likes that attitude. His amused smile tweaks up a little bit more at it, and he inclines his head as if conceding to the point.]

You know, I think you're right about that...but I guess I can't keep lingering on it, otherwise I'm going to get impatient. [So he holds a finger to his mouth briefly, as if to indicate he'll save the topic for now, before he lets his expression fall back to the more absently cutesy one from earlier.]

I'm really glad you asked for this dance now, though. [His tone has heightened back up to airy again to fit with his current look.]

I am glad to have asked. It seems I've made a fascinating new friend.

[He knows that he'll be eager to get to know him better. Already he likes him a great deal and has adopted him into that harem of friendship he has. Which is basically where most people end up until they prove they don't belong there actually.]

Tell me, what are some of the things you enjoy doing in this place? Things you like to do for fun?

[Ren offers a slight smile at being described as "fascinating" - the feeling is mutual, he supposes, though he's met quite a number of interesting people in the short time he's been here.

The short time does mean his expression crinkles a bit in thought at the question posed, since it's not one he's had much chance to think about yet.] Well, I haven't been awake here for very long...I've mostly been meeting new people and going to gathering kinds of places. Oh, and I guess I've been trying to read a little about this place as well even if it's a little bit dry. But for things I like doing for fun, I've always really liked games even if I haven't had much of a chance to play with people here.

[His tone is cutesy, but that particular phrasing makes it somewhat hard to tell what sense of "playing with" people he means, whether it's the literal game or toying with someone.] What about you?

I'll play with you.

[Seriously. He's just going to cover that right now. If he's having a hard time finding people to play with then he'll volunteer himself. After all, he adores all sorts of games and even it means learning a new one then he's quite read to be signed up for that.]

I've really just awoken those this place honestly. So I'm still discovering what there is to offer. Which means that if you like games I would be glad to play them with you.

Oh, that's nice of you. [Ren claps his hands together to one side of his face in a rather childish mannerism.] I won't be able to play my favourite game here, but I'll definitely have to find a deck of playing cards sometime, I promised to teach one or two other people how to play poker...and that's definitely the kind of game where you don't want the same opponent all the time.

[If you learn to read someone's tells, then it's going to be boring playing against them. Ren's unnaturally good intuition and skill with reading deck contents and probabilities doesn't just hold to the main card game he plays.]

I saw something about that game once. I think that it could be fun to play against the same opponent all the time if you think about it. Then both of you have to learn how to hide your tells. The little things that give you away. If you can learn to fool the person who has watched you the closest you'll stand a better chance of fooling those who won't think to.

[It makes sense to him anyway. But he's always loved the idea of a challenge. So learning to hide his tells sounds like a great time.]

[Well, he's not wrong, but the remark makes Ren laugh a little and give a smile that's almost wistful.]

That takes a pretty rare kind of opponent, though. Most people who play it aren't a little bit as good as they think they are...it's a shame, because I'd certainly enjoy it more if more people were like that about it...

[Granted, it can be fun stomping people who think they're good for a little while, but it does get boring pretty quickly.]

Then I will be like that for you! I can practice learning to hide what I can reveal. Trickery may not be my strongest skill but it is one that can be useful. To better myself at it will be beneficial.

[And of course he winks.]

And practicing with a beautiful young man would be a pleasure.

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