I see trouble on the way.

[lacquers]

Characters: Everyone! Yes, you too!
Summary: Mandy's Masquerade hosts a fantastic Halloween party with a costume contest, some very special cocktails, and a few other surprises.
Date(s): Late in the month of October.
Warnings/Notes: Please mark any threads that need content warnings.

Mandy's is looking a bit festive this evening. Arrayed with spiderwebs, pumpkins, and other ghoulish decorations, the interior resembles a spooky haunted house. Spooky, not scary! Everyone's invited to stop by and celebrate All Hallow's Eve with spirited drinks, excellent company, and a lot of that Magnus flair.

You can loosen up on the dance floor to Monster Mash, Thriller, Dead Man's Party, or maybe something from this list. The spooky sky's the limit! Visit the bar for one of several special drinks you won't soon forget. You can also sample some tasty and holiday-appropriate baked goods, courtesy of the other Mr. Lightwood-Bane. Finally, stop by the table with the MAGIC 8 BALL to learn a little more about your fellow partygoers.

---

Potions.
drink list

Siren Song
If you're a little tone-deaf, don't fret. This drink will turn you into a master at serenading. It won't actually give you the ability to influence anyone via magical means, but maybe if your song choice is apt, you'll woo someone either way!

Firework!
A drink that comes with a portable fireworks show hovering over its surface. Drinking it will give you the sensation of ingesting liquid pop-rocks.

Blacklight
Does what it says on the tin and makes the drinker glow under a black light. It's also kind of sour.

Frankenstein's Monster
This drink is quite shocking. Not dangerously so, but when you drink it, you'll have the impression of getting a tingling little jolt of electricity down your spine. It's aliiiiive.

To Be or Not To Be (A Daemon)
Drink this and you will find you've been magically swapped with your daemon. It only lasts ten minutes, but hey! You'll get to see how the other half lives. A note: you won't inherit one another's abilities!

---

Who Wore It Best?
costume contest

Congratulations to our costume contest winners!

In first place for individual costumes...

Rafa wins for his devilish costume and he'll be awarded 2 potions: the first of which will up his luck stat, granting him good fortune in an endeavor (it says "Deal with the Devil" on the bottle) and the second will up his persuasion stat, helping him to be more successful in an argument (it says "The Devil's Advocate" on the bottle).

In second place for individual costumes...

Nico plunders the second place spot and will be given a treasure chest full of chocolates that are rum flavored. Careful, they pack a bit of a punch and when consumed, they'll make whoever eats them feel especially happy. No sad drunks here!

In third place for individual costumes...

Zeke and his amazingly sunny costume are in third and he wins a sunflower plant that will never cease to bloom and seems to have a bit of a glow about it. Plus, perpetual supply of sunflower seeds?

In first place for couples costumes...

Magnus and Alec came first for their portrayal of... each other... and they win a pair of seemingly mundane t-shirts that say "Bennet" and "Darcy" on them. What's that about?

In second place for couples costumes...

Vex and Kenzi delighted with their take on the Addams' family patriarch and matriarch and won second place. As a prize, Kenzi will be given a shampoo and conditioner set that seems pretty innocuous until you check out the writing on the bottles: 'Have YOU ever wanted hair like Cousin Itt? Are you ever in luck!' Just a small amount will make her locks lustrous and smooth. Vex will be given a very lifelike and animated hand in a box.

In third place for couples costumes...

Rose and Kaz were drop dead gorgeous in their mafia-inspired garb. As prizes, they will receive the following: for Rose, a pair of magical die that make music when thrown, and for Kaz, a set of playing cards that are intricately illustrated with astonishing art that seems to move. Watch out for the face cards, they get very opinionated about your playing. They both also receive a chip that can be relinquished to Magnus for a small magical favor.

Comments

[astralera]

It is a plant related to tomatoes and popotoes. It is a deep purple hue and shaped like a stretched pear.

[ she probably has one in her inventory tbh. she's got a lot of shit in there. ]

[linny]

I... haven't heard of any of those vegetables. But why would you be it?

[astralera]

[ wh..at ... but. they are such basic ones! she will need to remedy this. ]

There is an old tale that if you eat too many wizard eggplants you will turn into one.

...I can show you a variety of fruits and vegetables at a later date, if you wish.

[vexy]

I like you better when you're mean, darling.

[salveo]

It's a date, then. Tell me when and where.

[salveo]

[ Zeke can't help but laugh. ]

Yeah, truth is definitely in there. Is your name really Loki or is that just the name you're going by here?

[linny]

[ He wasn't sure why that would make her want to be one herself, but... he supposed it would seem odd to pry. Besides, she distracted him with food and his eyes lit up with clear interest. ]

Yes, please!

[salveo]

Just one wish right now, the only thing I could wish for: I want to go home.

[salveo]

White, I think. I usually wear black but if I had to wear it all the time I'd probably start to feel like I was going always going to a funeral.

[salveo]

Sunrise! I always see it when I go out jogging, and that's my favorite time of the day. That's when nature starts to wake up and it inspires me to give it my all.

What'd you pick, cutie?

[salveo]

I'm with you, buddy. Dragons all the way. I've got some dragon kids that are close to hatching, too.

[linny]

[ Link says nothing, he just blushes profusely and slowly slides his hand into Sidon's. ]

[astralera]

[ more or less just to fuck with people by making the old wive's tale a reality, if we're being honest. ]

I'm Era Ra.

[ and she usually isn't this tall or this blonde but that isn't something that comes to mind right now. her horns are probably a dead giveaway no matter her hair colour tho. ]

Era Ra ☘ OTA

[astralera]

SPOOPY

[ Era had never been to an All Saints' Wake party before (and regardless of others calling it 'Halloween' Era will continue viewing it as such) and hadn't been sure what to expect. How similar was 'Halloween' to her All Saints' Wake? Apparently very similar, at least aesthetically. It reminds her of the haunted manor that the imps in the Continental Circus set up the year prior. They tried so very hard to frighten the masses but instead gave them much enjoyment. And Pumpkin Cookies.

The costumes are something new to her though. Some people dressed up for the festival, but almost never in elaborate costumes like she sees here. Era has to admit that it's really quite fun, even if she doesn't recognize what a good portion of the costumes are meant to be. Her own took some work to perfect - if she was going to dress up as something with references she was going to do it perfectly. Or as perfectly as she could given her own physiology compared to that of the elves in Middle Earth.

Era had at first been skeptical when Rose introduced her to all the Lord of the Rings movies, having never experienced such a thing back in Eorzea. But it didn't take long for her to become smitten with the aesthetic of the world created on film, and when she introduced Aymeric to the films he fell for them rather quickly as well.

It was a simple enough matter to for her friend to be convinced that dressing as an Elven king would be great fun - after all, Elezen seemed to be a close enough match to the elves of film lore. Era herself had originally intended on dressing as a very tall Hobbit, right up until Rose declared that she needed to go as an Elven queen. She wasn't keen on the idea until she recalled how beautiful the Elven gowns were... And so here she is, wearing a long, flowing white dress and shoes with as high a heel as she could manage wearing in an attempt to appear taller (and it worked, sort of. five foot one is taller than four foot eight, but it still isn't anywhere near six foot and up).

The long, curly blonde hair is a fun experience. It had been a few years since she had long hair herself, having cut it short when it became a hindrance in battle, and it's nice to have the chance to enjoy it again for an evening (not permanently - long hair is beautiful, but too inconvenient for her lifestyle).
Her wig is so long that it reaches her hips, conveniently hiding the silhouette her tail leaves under the fabric, and the fabrics she wears are beautifully detailed. They were tricky to work with at first, but worth it in the end - especially the fine lace cloak she made.

Not quite sure what to do with herself at first, Era spends some time simply admiring the decorations. One might be surprised to see her move so fluidly and confidently in such a long, flowing dress and heels given that she has always dressed very practically in Xistentia so far, but the small Auri woman seems entirely at home in such regal attire. ]

CREPPY

{ CW: reference to prior experience being drugged. }

[ Despite how lovely the drinks all look and how thirsty she may be, Era doesn't dare take one for herself. Too many bad memories followed sharing a drink with a friend, and more recently having one in a tavern on her own. She has no problem with food prepared by strangers, but drinks... The way her mind went hazy and her body grew heavy is still vivid. Being roused by Thancred from where she had fallen onto the dusty wooden floor, groggy and confused, but given no time to recover before she needed to get moving again.

Era knows that the extent of her distrust toward drinks is bordering on irrational at this point, yet still...

At least she planned for this scenario and incorporated an bottle of Cordial with her outfit, attaching it to the belt around her waist. The crystalline bottle is elegant, and similar enough to the bottle of light the elf queen gave Frodo that it doesn't seem odd. Especially after she drains it of the orange liquid and fills it with some tap water. ]

BOO

[ At least she has no reservations about the food. For all that she is poised and graceful under normal circumstances, Era is anything but when it comes to stuffing her face. The pumpkin pie looks delicious and she has no shame over stuffing her face full of the sweet pastry, cheeks occasionally rivaling that of a nutkin's in size. She'll make sure to try a little bit of everything at least twice.

She's definitely more Hobbit than Elf when it involves food. ]

MASH

[ It's not a widely known fact even among her fellow Scions back home that Era actually quite enjoys dancing, and is actually quite good at it. She has no set style of dancing, having learned from many various cultures, but in general it's rather traditional and old-fashioned. The only dance she knows that would really fit with some of the faster songs would be the Gold Dance, or even the Manderville...

Despite knowing a variety of dances, Era has never actually learned how to dance with another person though - only alongside them. So she sticks to what she knows, doing her best to keep out of the busier parts of the dance floor lest her skirts get stepped on or she accidentally hit someone with her hands. ]

TRICK or TREAT

{ bring me your ideas! i am down for anything. feel free to contact me froakie / Era Ra#4916 / PM. }

[smileslie]

[Mandy is quite sure the little jolt that goes through her at Rose's sweet voice is not just because she's inching towards being tipsy. Though that helps]

You're very welcome darling. It's hardly your fault some people have absolutely no taste.

[she might be miffed she and Arthur didn't win either, but that's more the insult to her own cosmetic skills, she knows they look grand]

You know where you find me, if you want me to...soothe your ego a bit more.

[dothelokimotion]

One hopes.

But love is unpredictable. It comes in the guise of a person. Can you always tell what their true intentions are? And if you believe you are loved, would you be able to separate the hurts?

[dothelokimotion]

No.

[ His reply is curt. ]

And I choose not to be in the foreseeable future.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki grins, all jagged edges in his smile. ]

Was I meant to? I thought I merely had to share it.

[dothelokimotion]

I could.

[ Loki knows his prowess. His ability with words and guises remains unparalleled. He could easily fake and lie to get his way and it would be easy. But in such matters, Loki finds himself . . . disinclined. He has already spent so much of his life living out different lies. He did not want to exist in a new realm forging another one for himself.

And yet, who would stay if they knew what he was? A hollowed husk of a man. Instead, he keeps his smile sultry and his eyes hooded. ]

But where's the fun in that?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Look, picking on people is what he does. ]

Ah, so you were. That explains your answer.

[dothelokimotion]

It is the name I was given.

[ Though he wonders where it came from. Odin? Laufey? Who knows. ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki briefly squints at the man. ]

Unlimited wealth does not seem like an easy task.

[helical]

No, actually. But it doesn't mean the same thing to me because the society I'm from doesn't work like that. I'm a soldier. I live where I work.

( so wealth doesn't mean much. your family name and how you honour it does. but alec has never felt neither rich nor poor; never needed money he didn't have, rarely thought of it at all. he's never had that kind of financial agency, only a family name with some wealth attached, but no need to make use of it.)

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki falls silent before shaking his head. His thoughts often wander to the funeral, the one he could not be present at. Even now, he wonders who gave the order to tell him. Was it Thor? Odin? His doubts and guilty reflections swarm his mind. ]

Her departure, no doubt, was grandiose enough.

But your offer is . . . appreciated.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Hmm. That sounded like Asgard. ]

How does your society function then?