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.

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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

[miss_brilliant]

[Amanda laughs a little, ducking her head slightly] Thanks. It was all just off the shelf things, since I can't sew and I wasn't even going to ask Kavinsky and it was the best thing I could do that way while still being sort of accurate. Pretty sure my inner child who spent a month building an accurate-looking proton pack is kind of ticked at me for skimping out.

[which...is a cultural reference Arthur probably won't get. Oh well

She takes the drink gladly, since it gives her something else to look at so if she is flushing it won't be noticed] I'm not looking forward to getting all the pins out of my hair at the end of the night though. I know why Amelia kept hers so short now. The two of you are way more dedicated to this kind of craft than I could ever be.

[it makes sense, from what he's told her. She respects the craft, as someone who works with machines, but it's not her craft and it took her months to learn how to shave her legs and she really doesn't see the point most times]

Was it your idea or hers to do the Munsters? Because either way, I didn't see it until like thirty years after it aired and I still think that's really cool.

[monologue]

[ juno's mouth twitches a little bit, possibly somewhat combative at first before it gives up on the notion. instead, he drinks a little more like a punctuation mark set before a sentence.

yeah, well. blue could be worse, couldn't it. ]

More of a purple kind of lady myself, but you take what you can get I guess. 'Least it's not red.

[monologue]

I'll take anything that won't make me glow in the dark. Or do other weird stuff. The simpler the better.

[ juno rests his chin on his palm as he looks over the bar, perched on a stool in a dark trench coat and detective's hat on. beneath the shade of the brim, his right eye glows a remarkable spectrum of colors as it sits on standby. he offers up a light smile. ]

How about just a whiskey?

[shadowblends]

[Fingers curl around his own and rather suddenly, scarred blue cheeks are tinting violet as he's pulled in. If he's being honest with himself, maybe part of him is uncomfortable, but Wyatt makes him feel ... well, normal. He likes it.

And cue that flush darkening a shade when Wyatt encircles his waist, the free arm raising to drape loosely around his dancing partner's shoulders. This isn't anything like ballroom dancing; another thing he seems to be enjoying, taking into account the way he shimmies along with the other male.

He dips his head, lips curling upward, even though he's obviously flustered. Thankfully, Wyatt's making small talk-- a perfect diversion.] Actually, before I moved to America, I hadn't properly celebrated either. My friends were getting me excited to do so, but I— [a pause] Uhm, we never got that chance because I came here.

[shadowblends]

[That makes him wilt somewhat, head dipping, the end of his tail also drooping.]

There are other blue mutants, but neither of them look like me.

[shadowblends]

Oh.

[Okay, that makes a little more sense.]

I'd like to see that. It seems plausible, but I'm not sure if I'm imagining it correctly. You must be able to act quickly, though, if you can continue to open and shut it in the air.

[shadowblends]

[His own fangs gleam in an exuberant grin.]

Can I ask what it was like or is this some secret dragon riding mission?

[A giggle escapes before he can stop it, one hand reaching up to cup around his face.] I'm going to go ahead and say it's safe to assume that the dragon didn't exactly appreciate being a mount?

[shadowblends]

[To be fair, he didn't know Sidon meant right this minute; Kurt is nothing if not resourceful, though, so he's more than willing to oblige.]

Okay, uhm— [he pauses, waits for a new song to come on.

It's something modern-- definitely not eighties, which is when he's from, but dancing has a lot to do with rhythm and finding the right movements for the beat that flows through the music.] Remember, you won't be a professional at first. Making mistakes is totally fine because you can learn from them and perfect your technique with lots of practice!

[So, with the tempo in mind, Kurt begins to move, gesturing with one hand for the fish-man to follow along. Hopefully, Sidon knows he won't judge him in any way. He simply wants him to have fun!]

[dothelokimotion]

[ For a moment, Loki feels the temptation to escape. He didn't need to have this conversation. There is no link between him and this creature. Still, he answers. ]

There is a Realm, far beyond mortal eyes. Blue and with markings upon their faces, to signify their familial connection. You are not as odd as you may think. Though you are unique.

And being unique can be terrible and precious.

[shadowblends]

[His features twist in a mixture of emotions. First, it's disbelief, followed shortly after by an odd bit of irritation, then finally settling on confusion. Loki has never had a reason to lie to him, although they haven't known each other long enough for him to be sure about that.

Still, he doesn't understand why the other male would make up a thing like this-- something that he has no idea of, too.] You have seen this place with your own eyes? [Doubting in the most polite way he can manage.

Then, regarding Loki's second comment,] I like being unique, even if it means I get treated differently. Learning to take the compliments and insults in stride took a while, but I wouldn't change it.

[He just. won't mention his self-esteem issues right now.]

[dothelokimotion]

I have. It is known as Jotunheim. If you pick up the old legends of the Norsemen, it will be detailed there as well.

[ Loki will not say more on this. His ability to deal with heritage waxes and wanes. Some days, he feels he can confront it without a stain in his soul. Other days, he would prefer to peel his skin back and pretend it is not there. ]

Why not? Is it truly worthwhile?

[shadowblends]

To be fair, I've got no clue who 'Nicki' is, but I'd choose Queen either way.

[Maybe that's a smirk, but it isn't there long.] There's a chance I'm biased, though. [Considering his timeline and all.]

[remarkablymodest]

[ Good company, she says, and Aymeric is inclined to agree. Despite how mismatched the lot of them are, they've formed a comfortable little community here within Xistentia. For all their differences, they tend to come together and enjoy it more often than not. There's something remarkable to be said for that.

There's also something remarkable to said that for all the people who are scattered, torn from home and the only friends and family that they've known, that Era and himself have each other. ]

It's important to take time to appreciate what we have when we never know what will come next. [ A beat. ] On that note, Era, I just wanted to say again how much I appreciate you. Having your company here in Xistentia, dancing with you tonight... It's nothing short of serendipitous.

[remarkablymodest]

[ Ah. That's actually the first he's heard mention of it being voluntary, of it being a choice. He'd just... assumed that it was in a similar vein as Xistentia where there was no other real choice besides death. ]

I imagine people were a lot more amicable, yes. So far here most people have been rather friendly as well. I suppose only time will tell how well that holds up.

[remarkablymodest]

[ ... Well, then. ]

My, that sounds like quite the adventure. I suppose that ordeal the title would rightfully be yours.

[remarkablymodest]

Well-met, [ he returns. ] Prince of all nine of them? That's quite the title.

[ No comment on 'god of mischief' though it's certainly noted. ]

[remarkablymodest]

Exemplary, [ which is probably far too fancy a word for soda but gets his earnest approval across all the same. He thinks he might have found a new indulgence. Variety never hurt anyone, right? Even if he was partial to birch syrup in his tea still. ]

I'm enjoying it quite thoroughly so far. And what of yourself? I'm not familiar with your costume, but it suits you.

[remarkablymodest]

Oh? What's the problem with red? [ Aymeric, why are you so boring. Making small talk about colors! Gosh! ] It's a staple color of the Starlight festival in my realm.

I think on earth - the common world, it seems - it's similar to. Christmas?

[ He'll never get used to all these strange terms, truly. ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ He tilts his head in acknowledgement, even if it seems slightly mocking. ]

It is mostly ceremonial in the case of some Realms. We allow them a form of self-governance.

[helical]

Hopefully well and for a while. ( alec does not look forward to things getting messier. he's been getting on someone's case on the network for requesting drugs, has made mental notes of who he thinks might be more of a liability than any help at all if an attack was to occur.

he's keeping an eye on things. he hopes they won't start fighting each other, since that might be the ideal time for D.E.S.T.I.N.Y. to choose to attack. ) I think we all want to save our world. And those who don't want to save their own asses, at least.

[monologue]

[ you're precious regardless. ]

Just not my favorite. I don't need a good reason.

[ juno rests his chin in his palm curiously. ] Does some guy do a B and E via your chimney and leave you presents or rocks depending on how good or bad you are during that Starlight festival thing? Because that's what Christmas is. They do it on Mars too.

[miss_brilliant]

[Amanda doesn't mind not lingering on her roommate--she'd find it hard to defend him to most people if it really came down to it, although she'd could probably at least throw out that he was one of the first people she knew to find out about her past without treating her with much pity.

It was probably sad how far that could go.

Still, she grins, nodding]

Yeah, that's why I loved watching them when I was a kid. I couldn't travel much, but I could see all sorts of places and learn about what they used to be like. That's part of how I got interested in space, some show talking about how we were all made of stuff that came from the stars a long time ago.

[which, even with what she'd learned through work, was still correct just...in a different way]

It's not as good as the real thing, but it's close. And it's usually a lot easier to stay engaged than with academic texts.

[smileslie]

Still not sure I'd call what I had 'proper', considering the entire open marriage thing. But fair point.

[she's still not sure if it was them or the entire concept that failed, if it can work or it it was foolish to even try.

She raises a brow a bit. Having spoken to Magnus and a few others, the comment doesn't shock her, but it does make her curious]

This is incredibly rude to ask a gorgeous woman, but how many years do you have racked up then?

[astralera]

I would not have worn this if I wasn't able to combat in it, though admittedly it would be difficult to perform adequately as a ninja.

[ back flips and dresses are a tricky combination - she knows this from experience. ]

It is said that All Saints' Wake is a time when The Twelve honour all of the saints by inviting them to the celestial realm for a feast. However, this leaves the mortal realm to suffer the chaos of those demons from the Void, who slip through the cracks between our worlds. In eras past people would lock themselves in their homes, fearing for their safety until the saints' return with the sun. Even now there is some danger, though in recent years it has become more of a friendly sort of chaos that people of all ages enjoy.

*whispers* <i>just kiss already

[astralera]

I have some idea what to expect, though not when. [ She frowns, then shakes her head as though to rid herself of the thought. ] But we need not concern ourselves with such things tonight.

[ There are more important things after all, like enjoying the proximity to her dear friend, who is unsurprisingly a very good dancer... And flatterer. She manages not to become flustered by the compliment; instead moves a little bit closer, so that there is less distance between them. Which is the slightest bit awkward given the difference in height between them, but they can handle it!! ]

I cannot imagine being in this world without your company, and am unspeakably grateful for your presence at my side.