[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

[conqueredhearts]

If you think about it, everyone is interesting. Even those that are not have something fascinating to contribute to the world in the ways you least expect. It is why I like to have all be my friends unless they prove unworthy of that.

[And one has to do some really truly terrible things with no regret to get that kind of response from him. Iskandar is a very forgiving type of person even with the temper history knows him for. One doesn't really become so beloved without loving so greatly first. At least not in his experience.]

[thedarkbond]

[That's an optimistic point of view, though it's not one Ren necessarily disagrees with, either.]

I guess that's one way of looking at it. Some people like to make themselves boring by acting like they're the only interesting people, though...

[Nothing bores Ren quicker than people who think they're more powerful or fascinating than they actually are. Boasting without basis is more likely to get him yawning in someone's face than anything.]

[conqueredhearts]

Mm. I think that's less boring and more foolish in the all the wrong ways. Besides, those sorts tend to fall fast and hard so in the end there's really nothing to be bored by. For me anyway.

[He's seen those types be the cause of their own demise more often than not. Why bother with being bored of them when they're sure to end themselves soon enough anyway? Far better to devote his attention elsewhere.]

[thedarkbond]

Hmm, I guess if they crash and burn hard enough... [Ren still sounds a little doubtful, though. His main exposure to those kinds of people are "take over the world" sorts, and specifically the ones that like to waste a lot of time monologuing and inconveniencing him in various ways before they get taken down.]

But it's probably not really important right now. I haven't seen anyone like that here yet.

[conqueredhearts]

Well if they arrive then I'm sure we can easily handle the situation.

[He laughs and shifts Ren up higher. Not because he's heavy but because it puts them more at eye level. And he wants to make sure that he can have a good view of that pretty face.]

Until then we have time for some fun instead.

[thedarkbond]

[Ren makes a very mild (and possibly feigned) noise of surprise when he's lifted up higher, though the remark that follows it has another smile playing around his mouth. His pupils, already slitted similarly to those of a cat, narrow that little bit more with the nearer focus of being in this position.]

Oh, definitely. It wouldn't really be worth being here at all if I wasn't planning to have as much fun as I can~

[He says that in a bright enough tone, but the manner of amusement in the smile doesn't quite match it. There's probably all sorts of fun at hand in this world.]

[conqueredhearts]

[Some might be thrown by that smile but it seems that Iskandar isn't going to be. Instead he laughs as he cocks his head to the side, grinning brightly. Is there anything that can dim these spirits? We just don't know.]

Tell me about the kinds of fun you enjoy. I want to know all about you.

[thedarkbond]

[That makes Ren laugh, and he raises a finger to his lips with a slight tilt to his amused smile.]

Well, I know I find it more fun to leave people guessing a little. I like people to work a little bit to learn more about me, you know? So they earn it.

[That and he tends to be wildly dishonest about himself if they don't earn it, which doesn't really help anyone except him.]

[conqueredhearts]

Work for it? Why have I not earned it yet?

[He seems less hurt and bothered and more just curious. You know, since there's plenty about himself revealed here and he's danced with him and agreed to play games with him and so on. It just seems logical to get something.]

[thedarkbond]

Hmm, I don't think I said that... [Ren looks a tiny bit pouty about it now, tapping his lip with one finger.] I've actually told you a lot more than I usually tell people in a first conversation with me, because we've been having fun. If I say too much more, I'm going to run out~

[Well, not really, but there's a point where he'd have to start touching on things he's really not prepared to tell people he doesn't know a little better than on the surface.]

I guess maybe I could still say a bit more...

[conqueredhearts]

If you feel you will run out so soon then you would be a very boring person. Something that I doubt very much that you are.

[He laughs softly then gives him another one of those winning smiles. That one that he's so clearly very, very good at.]

But if you'd like to say more I will listen. I like you so learning more about you will be wonderful.

[thedarkbond]

Well, I certainly hope that I'm not~ [He's just a bit secretive about the more interesting parts of his person. Still, the question that prompted the tangent was harmless enough, and he taps his chin a little as he tries to think of a few more things he could say on the subject.]

I guess if we're talking about fun, I think it's pretty fun to watch people show what they're capable of. If someone's really passionate about something and they put all of that into doing it, it makes it a lot more interesting, right?

[conqueredhearts]

Well of course. People who don't put their all into something are pathetic really.

[That's a harsh thing to say but he clearly doesn't regret his words. He feels that if you're going to do anything in life then you need to just give it your entire being without hesitation. Not doing so might as well be a crime. Why do something at all if you're not going to be passionate about it?]

[thedarkbond]

Oh, that's pretty harsh. [Ren sounds more amused by it than anything, though.] Though I don't think you're wrong about it either. It must be sad to be the kind of person who doesn't even have one thing they can put their all into...

[Ren can be a bit lazy about things he isn't passionate about, but then, he's made quips about being pathetic for that before. So he can go along with this train of thought merrily enough, since when it comes to important things, he definitely feels it should be all or nothing.]

[conqueredhearts]

Sometimes the truth is a harsh one. Not all are prepared to face that.

[Iskandar shrugs, noting the music has come to close for the end of the song. Smiling down at Ren, he tilts his head. It almost looks like an over-sized dog seeking attention honestly.]

Would you like another dance? Or should we get a drink instead?

[thedarkbond]

No, they really aren't... [Ren may or may not be thinking back to the reactions he typically gets when he calls people boring.

He belatedly notices the music has stopped, though, and blinks briefly at the question, tilting his head back and tapping his chin with one finger.]

Hmm, I wouldn't mind getting a drink, but I don't really drink a lot of alcohol...so I guess it depends a bit on what they have.

[He did get cider off Chuuya earlier, though, so that's probably an option.]

[conqueredhearts]

Then I will drink the alcohol while you have something else.

[Setting him down, he walks with him to get drinks. After all, now is the time for it. Besides, they can always come back to dancing later. For now he's content to just enjoy the company of his new friend over drinks.]

[thedarkbond]

Alright then~

[Ren has to take a moment to find his feet again once he's placed back on the ground, since he can be a bit wobbly, but after that, he's happy to head back over to the makeshift bar and see about locating the cider again.]