[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

[semblant]

[Never.]

...That's right, I'm being an imbecile.

[Sometimes he forgets -- like early onset dementia, that Diva's the way that she is. It is nice to watch the anticipation build as she tears away the paper that probably took him far too long to fold and tape.

Another gift nailed. It helps to know in advance how dazzled she is by: a.) shiny stuff, and b.) jewelry.

It's a standard formula or most girls....]

Oh? I'm glad you like it. It stood out to me at the shop, I knew that it had to be yours.

Would you like to wear it?

[Thre's a 50% chance she'll lose it before the night's end, but the chances of her asking him to help her clasp it around her neck are much higher anyway.]

[colorature]

_{[At the end of the day her tastes are rather simple and easy to appeal to. Like a magpie she's always been dazzled by shiny, especially jewels and jewellery. Part of it's due to the early years she spent living in her awful tower. Solomon knew about her past upbringing, sure, but if he'd been there to witness it first hand maybe he'd have an even greater understanding of why her mind ticked the way it did.]}

Oh yes, please.

_{[At least if she's wearing it the chances of it being misplaced are significantly lowered. She seems to be vibrating in place as she holds her gift out to Solomon, to let him pluck it away from her and fasten it around her neck.]}

[semblant]

[Precisely why he's offering; if the thing's bound to her neck, she won't immediately misplace it or have it pilfered by one of her charming guests.

And so, without further ado, he's taking and unfastening the necklace, winding it about her neck and blindly clasping it at her nape while standing before her. It settles at her collarbones, glittering accentuated by her fairer skintone. His hands drop, he'll take a half-step in reverse to mark his mission complete.

I'm pretending she's not wearing the necklace stuff from ur post with her outfit.]

There. How is that?

[There should be a reflective surface somewhere..........]

[colorature]

<sub>[To Diva's credit she stands quite still as Solomon fastens the necklace, but she's more or less exuding pent up excitement as she does stay put. It's only when he's finished that she rushes off to try and find something reflective, choosing one of the metal serving trays (that is empty of objects, thankfully) to use as a makeshift mirror.

Lifting it in front of her face she coos, fingers from her free hand reaching up to touch the gem around her neck. She really does love it.

Letting go of the tray, the object clattering on the ground, she moves back to Solomon's side, only to scoop up each of his hands within her own, giving them a small squeeze.]</sub>

Thank you!

_{[What's this? Manners?]}

[semblant]

[It's all very impressive, and he's inwardly appreciative of her cooperation, lest she start flailing and he loses the pendant or something equally as asinine were to happen.

He'll walk after her, less excited, closing the gap between them in a leisurely manner just to observe her response. He's pleased with himself, grinning smugly as she admires herself.

It's something that ultimately garners a courtesy that takes him by surprise. His brows raise, fingers curl into her grip, slight but responsive.]

...You're welcome, but you don't have to thank me. It is your birthday.

[More accurately, as his queen, she should expect such forms of idolization, especially on her birthday.]

[colorature]

You're right...it is my birthday! Which means you've to dance with me!

_{[So much for the tender moment...now that she's got hold of his hands she's more or less going to drag him with her to where others seem to be getting their groove on. There's no room for protest either...not that she expects Solomon will. Not on her birthday of all days.]}

[semblant]

[Whiplash...]

Very well.

[He's about to ask if she'd like to wait for the next song, as this one seems to be midway through...but he's being lead and there's little reason to question her plans. He'd exchange a handhold were there one to exchange..but being towed off is perfect tradition.

Without a hiccup, he'll train his hands to either side of her. Hopefully it's a slow song playing because he's not gonna do the YMCA................]

[colorature]

<sub>[No, he's spared the YMCA, thankfully. Small blessings.

Instead Solomon's been subject to a waltz, and thankfully one that's tempo isn't too demanding. Does that mean he'll get out of spinning Diva until she's dizzy? No, of course not - but that can wait for the second song to kick in.]</sub>

It's been awhile since we danced together, hasn't it?

[semblant]

[A waltz is fine; nothing foreign for him, and similarly, nothing embarrassing. Up his alley, even if it's a little sloppy...considering his partner, which is fine. This ain't goddamn dancing with the stars.

He is a little concerned about her hurling? But she's having fun, something he shant put a fork into.]

It has. There hasn't been much time for it.

[Another spin, maybe he should try to dip her? He's gonna try to dip her, just to implement something different...]

But if we were to indulge so often, it would spoil the experience for times such as these.

[colorature]

<sub>[Luckily for Solomon Diva's for a pretty strong stomach. It doesn't look like there's vomit in the foreseeable future...unless she decides to eat her entire birthday cake all by herself.

The sudden dip has her squealing with delight, cheeks flushing from the headrush it gives her.]</sub>

That doesn't mean we can't indulge a little more than usual.

_{[It's been years.]}

[semblant]

[A dip like that can only be followed up by another quick twirl; he'll take her waist just after as a precaution, steadying as much as he's holding.]

That's exactly what it means. But you're free to do as you see fit for today.

[Something like that, not to suggest he's ever in a position to mitigate her whims.]