xistentia | I see trouble on the way.

Entry tags:

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

[ Magnus would definitely be able to see Alec negotiating with the wish-giver for more wishes. Making a solid argument about how it would help more people and isn't that a good thing?

That mental image would make him want to swoon all over again. He's so fond of you, Alec.

Speaking of fond, the look on his face when Alec imparts that highly secret information is probably a bit priceless. He puts his hand to his chest and adopts an expression of faux-surprise. ] Why, I never would've guessed! [ A beat. ] How can I help?

I promise if I get offered three wishes, one will go to assisting your noble goal.

( he was being silly, but now he grows a little more serious, though his expression remains light. alec would love help, but in this case he would reject the offer. )

You don't have to do that. If you get three wishes, they're yours. ( said matter-of-factly, in spite of his voice getting that soothing higher note of his he uses with magnus more than anyone. )

But I appreciate it. It helps when you say you want to help.

[ Alec is so principled, so honest. It really does wreak a little havoc on Magnus' heart, but in the best possibly way. ]

I can't think of a better use for my wishes than helping you with your goals. [ He cocks his head to the side. ]

They're my goals too, after all. [ He's glad to share that with Alec. That's something he relishes and cherishes about their relationship. It's a partnership as well. And the things Alec wants are things that will benefit their world. Their worlds. They're things that will bring them together. ]

Partners in... ( well, not crime. that doesn't sound right. he thinks, then makes a dubious, amused face. ) Improving Shadowhunter-Downworlder relations?

( that doesn't have that great of a ring to it. he makes another face, then laughs softly, but his hand reaches to give magnus' arm a squeeze. he's happy they're in this together. happier now after their return home to know they can and will work through and for this, side by side. )

[ To that, Magnus veritably beams. Yes, he's more than happy to be Alec's partner in that particular venture.

He nods, easing closer to his husband. They're shoulder-to-shoulder now, which feels apt. ] I think I like that title. Not only because I like being your partner, but because that seems like a worthy cause to partner up for. [ There's a bit of a light in his eye. ]

Would you like to be my partner for something else? [ He extends one hand Alec's way. ]

( that was smooth. alec looks down at the offered hand, then back up to magnus' face, and does that tight lipped smile of his. he's never been huge on dancing, but he's... hopelessly charmed, dammit. )

Okay. ( he takes magnus' hand, giving it a squeeze. ) Let's dance.

( he is, for once, not immediately thinking about how many people will end up staring at him, only the warmth of magnus' hand in his own and the expression on his face. they have a lot to celebrate, and he wants to with magnus in this particular way, right now. )

[ Magnus, happy that he's brought a smile to Alec's face, smiles a megawatt smile. Their fingers intertwine and he leads the way to the dance floor. ]

Let's dance, [ he reiterates, giving a firm nod. It's not the most solemn of music, not a slow ballad or anything of the sort, but it's not so wildly energetic that they can't set their own pace together.

Somehow, it's just right for celebrating, though Magnus could dance with Alec to no music at all, if allowed. ] I intend to take full advantage of these festivities.

[ That means a lot of drinking and dancing and polishing off a good amount of those treats Alec fixed. ]

( anything for magnus to smile like that, honestly!!! even dancing. in public. at a party.

it doesn't really matter. he's not looking at anyone else but magnus as they take their place on the dance floor, keeping his hand in magnus'. he's going to go with what magnus surely told him before: just feel the beat, and go with the music. this kind of dancing doesn't have a strict set of rules, which adds to alec's slight discomfort with the concept.

but looking at magnus he sees no reason to be worried about anything at all. )

Good. We should.

[ Magnus feels like he's seeing a lot in Alec's eyes right now and some of it causes him to unwittingly reflect on the last few months. As ever, they seem to be propelled through life at a breakneck pace, making more memories together in a year and a half than Magnus had previously made in a decade.

He loops his arm over Alec's shoulder, still holding onto Alec's hand. They don't have to follow any particular rules for dancing, just as they don't have to follow any particular rules for building a life together.

Just take one step at a time, together. ]

We have a lot to celebrate, [ he says quietly, eyes locked with Alec's. ]

( he falls into pace with magnus easily, his other hand going to his waist, stepping in close. magnus is right. a lot has happened and yet they're still here, hand in hand, on a dance floor of a halloween party, dressed as each other. it goes to show how strong they are individually and how much stronger they become together. )

We do. ( though, honestly, alec thinks every day is a day to celebrate. they're immortal, they're together, they're both safe. even when things get difficult, their love is something alec wants to celebrate. ) That's what I've been focusing on today. All those things. Everything.

[ It's easy to watch Alec and chat with him and let their bodies move together to the rhythm of the song. All very natural and right. ]

Oh? Today in particular, or lately? [ He's curious, in a quietly happy sort of way. Not because he can't conceive of the answer, but because it's nice to talk about it. Nice to talk about the good things after spending so much time and effort getting free of the mire of the recent past.

They did it. Not without a few new scars, but they did it. And here they are. ]

( and comfortable, too, in a way. alec never thought he'd be comfortable dancing in public with another man, and yet. it feels nice. since meeting magnus there are a lot of things he's been eager to try that he always thought were below him, like silly photo booth pictures and romantic kisses on hotel balconies and star gazing and shopping. turns out he enjoys all of these things when he lets himself. )

Lately, but today in particular, too. ( he gives magnus' hand a squeeze. if they can come out of that together, if he can keep being there for magnus through difficulty and if they can move forward with better ways to handle things together, what can't they face? he's only more convinced of the rightness of this, even if it was tough. ) I'm just... relieved. And happy you're here with me and safe.

[ Magnus would be delighted to hear all that, though it's undoubtedly true he knows. He can see it on Alec's expression when they do these things together and he can hear it in Alec's voice when they reminisce about those times. He can see it now, if he opens his eyes to look. Because he feels that relief, too. They're breathing out and settling into a space that's both new and familiar.

Finding their footing again, if you will. Magnus laces his fingers with Alec's. ] I'm glad to be here with you, safe and sound.

Always, but today in particular. [ He smiles a bit there, not really cheeky at all. It's not a bad feeling, to be dancing with your husband at a Halloween party, with nary a care in the immediate future other than perhaps getting ahold of another magical cocktail. Not a bad feeling at all. ]

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I see trouble on the way.

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