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!

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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

[mordacita]

[ Rafa doesn't move; in fact he stays unnaturally still, though his stance is certainly not inviting. Do not touch his fangs, Sidon. ]

I am. [ His tone has turned a few degrees more frosty. You are in his face; please amend this position. ] There are several of us here. Who was the boy you met?

[jawsitivity]

[ Not to worry, Rafa, he doesn't have any plans to touch. In fact, he recognizes how icy the man has become immediately and that he possibly overstepped. Something he needs to work on, perhaps!

He sincerely meant no ill will. The Zora does, in fact, go back to standing upright and towering over the vampire once he registers his mistake. He folds his arms behind his back, just to be certain. See, Rafa? He swears he won't touch you without your consent! ]

His name was Joseph Kavinsky, I believe! He was quite rude.

[mordacita]

[ That's better. Rafa's shoulders ease up on some of their tension, which is the only visible sign of him relaxing. His tone loses its ice, though, and now he sounds quite genial again. ]

That would be his natural state. I doubt it had anything to do with you. [ Although, it might have done, if Sidon had gotten in his face like that, too. Hmm. ] He is my fledgling. You may run into others as well. There were few of us at first, but our community is growing again.

[ He looks at Sidon now, eyes traveling over his large frame. ]

May I ask as to your own species? Your scent reminds me of the sea.

[ Which actually isn't a good thing. It's part of why Rafa is tense, too; not all of that had come from Sidon's proximity. ]

[jawsitivity]

Well, I'm relieved to know that it isn't anything I had done!

[ He'd hate to be making enemies on his first night here, honestly. He'd hate to make enemies. Yet, he knows that not everyone can get along. Even if he, perhaps naively, wishes they could. ]

You have a good nose! I'm a Zora, the water is our element. Though Zora's Domain is freshwater, we can swim in the sea easily as well.

[mordacita]

A Zora.

[ Not a word that should have been familiar, though it's clearly familiar to Rafa. A smile flickers on his lips, and suddenly, he searches the crowd for another face. ]

That is the second time I have heard of your people tonight. A boy told me. He was from Hyrule. That is your world, yes? A water dweller from Hyrule.

[ He pauses, smiling, and then adds: ]

The water dwellers of my world are not quite so friendly, I'm afraid.

[jawsitivity]

[ Recognition (and excitement) is immediately present on his face at the description. ] -You must mean Link! Yes, that's him and that's where we're both from: Hyrule.

[ His enthusiasm wanes, however, at the mention of the creatures of the water from Rafa's world not being as friendly. Ah. That wouldn't be the first time he's heard that, actually. There's another couple here - the dragon woman and tall, slender man - who had made mention of a species from their homeworld known for attacking people. ]

I'm sorry to hear that. But I assure you, I mean you no ill will!

[mordacita]

I believe you. Were you like them, you would have already attacked.

[ In fairness, that is not strictly true. they are currently not at war, and it would break the fragile peace if either side were to attack the other. Rafa doesn’t think any of them would do that lightly, even the water fae.

But if they had the chance, one on one, to kill him? Perhaps they might.

At any rate, this one has shown no threat. ]

I am glad to meet you. From what the boy said, I think your world has some similarities to mine, though the creatures within are very different.

[jawsitivity]

[ Then they are very different species indeed. Beyond the monsters controlled by Calamity Ganon, Sidon didn't attack unless provoked. Even then, he'd be very hard-pressed to fatally harm anyone if there was any other way. And even if there wasn't, he'd likely try to find one. ]

That's a relief to hear! It seems to be common to come from 'earth' but there's also a lot of variations of that world, too! [ It makes him wonder if there are other iterations of Hyrule in the multiverse. It's... a little overwhelming, however, so he doesn't ponder on it long. ]

I'm pleased to meet you as well, by the way! My name is Sidon and I am prince of Zora's Domain.

[mordacita]

A prince?

[ Rafa lifts his eyebrows. It used to be that meeting other royalty was commonplace. That was the case in Eudio at first, although it had died down after a while. Now, it's a rarity. He nods, though, his demeanour friendly. ]

That is interesting. I am Rafaello d'Este, King of Vampires. Was your friend royalty as well?

[jawsitivity]

[ Sidon has only recently started meeting other royals and having the responsibility of interacting with them. Usually, that fell to his father as king and- ]

Oh! Your majesty. My apologies for not addressing you properly! [ He says after despite the fact his demeanour or attitude doesn't change. ] As for Link, he is actually the Hylian Champion and comes from a proud line of royal knights.

[mordacita]

[ Rafa is quick to raise his hand, waving the apology away. ]

If I cared for ceremony here, I would have made a point of it earlier.

[ This is interesting news about Link, though. Rafa wouldn't have guessed it just from talking to the boy. ]

A champion? Well, that is interesting. How are champions chosen in your world, may I ask? It must be important, if it is recognised by your people as well as his own.

[jawsitivity]

[ Not many people might, at first glance. And here, Link had a chance to show off other sides of himself that often times were pushed aside for the line of duty. It's been nice, honestly, getting to know him as a man, as a friend, as more without the constant threat of Ganon hanging over their heads or the responsibility of the reconstruction of Hyrule. ]

It depends! My sister, Mipha, was the Zora's champion because both her proficiency with a spear and her healing abilities. I assume Link was chosen because of his amazing ability in all manner of weapons and courage!