xistentia | I see trouble on the way.

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

And yet, coin is tangible. Love is not.

Oh, I beg to differ. Surely you have not grown so cold. Love is warmth, seduction, sweetness, pleasure. It is as tangible as lips touching. Hands holding.

What is a coin, but a piece of metal we have taught ourselves must mean something? Even its value cannot be relied upon. It changes, over time, where true love is eternal.

[ Surely you have not grown so cold. Loki's lips are pressed together tightly, almost white. ]

And what do you know of my coldness?

You were always warm with me.

[ His shoulder lifts. ]

Does that trouble you? I always liked your company, Loki. I remember, even if you do not.

I do not.

[ It is close to a snap. His skin itches. Loki isn't sure which part he takes offense to, the coldness or the fact that this person has seen glimmers of warmth — warmth Loki buried on Svartalfheim. ]

So I find a stranger's ramblings troubling.

[ Rafa only smiles, and inclines his head. ]

Then forgive me. I do not seek to trouble you.

[ He takes a sip of his drink, and then: ]

Warmth can always be found again. If you know where to look.

[ Loki deliberately slides his gaze away, no matter how obvious it may seem. ]

And if I do not?

[ He seems more unsure than angry. Curious. He's much changed from the Loki Rafa knew, but that only makes his interest rise. ]

Then, find someone to show you. We all must begin somewhere.

[ Loki grimaces. While he understands the system, the idea of revealing anything of himself to strangers is anathema. Loki can barely muster up trust to his family. ]

I have very exacting standards.

[ That makes Rafa smile again. And move closer, just a little. ]

As you should.

[ He waves his hand. ]

Tell me. What do you like to see?

[ His brow furrows as he glances at Rafa in question. ]

I do not know. I no longer keep such things in mind.

[ Seeing that frown, Rafa softens his tone. ]

I think you know. Otherwise, how could your standards be exacting? That implies some rigour.

[ Loki snorts lightly. ]

I suppose I know that I'm not keen on being anyone's dalliance or paramour. If I am to indulge, then I demand one's complete attention.

A fair comment. Gods are allowed to be demanding, I suppose. Do you truly think it would be hard to find?

I think you could charm any one of them, if you put your mind to it.

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?

[ Well then. Could it be that Loki seeks genuine companionship? Or in the lack of it, then nothing at all. It’s at odds with everything Rafa thinks he knows about him. He’s slowly learning that what he knew must be forgotten, with the real truth relearned. It gives him cause to wonder whether the Loki he’d known had been a lie, or whether he truly has changed so much.

Either way, it’s curious. He nods acceptance. ]

There is some fun in that, surely. Fleeting fun.

But if you want more...if you want something more real. In my experience, these things happen when you expect them least. They are worth waiting for, I believe.

Well, then.

[ There's a dark twinkle in his eye. To any normal gaze, Loki looks ordinary. A bit eccentric, perhaps. He is not trying to pull all gazes to him (at least, not yet). But to the more discerning eye, it's clear that Loki is powerful and he choose not to display it overtly. ]

Thankfully, I have plenty of time.

[ That twinkle makes Rafa smile, just a little. That's exactly the sort of look that makes him think Loki won't struggle for the right kind of company. ]

I am sure. [ He gestures, waving his hand at Loki. ] That air of mystery helps. One would almost thing you've practiced it.

Mischief, mystery. They are really not so different.

[ Though it is less deliberate and more Loki's strong levels of distrust and paranoia. It extends itself to all things. Loki knows the world is his enemy. It is only a matter of when. ]

Oh, that is debatable. Plenty of people are mysterious, and it does not make them fun. Mischief, on the other hand…

[ He gestures, and gives Loki a cheerful smile. ]

Who would not enjoy that?

[ Loki blinks, clearly at a loss. ]

Most people do not.

[ Rafa's nose wrinkles while he smiles. ]

Yes they do. Tricks, teasing, games? What are those if not mischief? Fun is fun. I like fun.

[ Loki is at a clear loss and it shows before he schools his expression. ]

Hmm. Perhaps I might like it here after all.

[ Rafa has the impression he's surprised him, and the impression that Loki is not often surprised.

Well. That thought pleases him. ]

I dare to hope so. I would be glad to see more of you.

I see trouble on the way.

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