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

[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?

[drehnifusbahi]

It's no secret, but it is a bit of a story. To make it as concise as I can - I was pursuing a different one, and he had fled to a place only other dragons could reach. So I had to persuade one to fly me there.

[He grins back.] No, he didn't. Dragons are very proud, you see, and only respect those stronger than them. Hence why I had to convince him to help me in the first place.

[shadowblends]

Ahhh, [he drawls, head nodding in understanding.] So, to catch your dragon, you had to acquire the help of another? Rather clever, I'd say.

[Kurt snickers again, lowering the hand and moving both to settle at his hips.] Taking into consideration that you are standing before me, I'll say it's safe to assume that you didn't have too much trouble.

[drehnifusbahi]

Right in one. [He answers, grinning. It was pretty clever, if he does say so himself.]

He had to be trapped before he'd settle down and listen, but once I got him there... no, not too much. It helped that he'd lost some respect for Alduin -the one I was searching for- in the interim.

[shadowblends]

[Another cheeky little lift of the lips, his left eye briefly shutting in a wink. Blue can appreciate intelligence when he recognizes it.]

Alduin, [he repeats, testing the syllables with his accent.] Interesting name. Why had the other dragon lost respect for him? Did he do something wrong?

[drehnifusbahi]

[His grin gains a slightly saucy edge, and he sketches a little bow. Thank you, kind sir, for your recognition.]

In a manner of speaking. Dragons, in my world, only respect those stronger than themselves. Alduin was the strongest of them all, and therefore the leader. But he retreated from a fight, and that was enough to make some start questioning whether he was worthy of leading them after all.

[shadowblends]

[Keep impressing him and there will be plenty more where that came from!]

Was there a reason for the fallback? Maybe he did so to prevent them all from being slaughtered or something. [But he's making assumptions again.] I mean, either way, it's not a bad idea to question his motives, but— [a frown.] A legitimate rationale would make sense.

[drehnifusbahi]

[Promises, promises~.]

It was a one-on-one fight, against what I suppose must have seemed like an easy opponent: me. I've no way of knowing why, but he flew off as soon as it became clear he wasn't going to be able to finish me in just one or two blows.

[shadowblends]

Amazing, [he breathes.] Absolutely fantastic!

[The azure skinned boy clasps his hands, settling them beneath the curve of his neck.] I wonder, being here on Xistentia, if I'll ever get to see a dragon. I'm not sure they exist back in my world.

[drehnifusbahi]

[That gets a another smile out of him, pleased by the implied praise.]

I haven't seen any myself- [he starts, only for his daemon -a gray, spiky, foot long dragon- to swoop down and land on the table with a 'harrumph'] -this one aside. It wouldn't surprise me, though.

[shadowblends]

[Iridescent eyes widen with bewilderment, one hand moving to reach toward the dragon, but he comes shy of brushing its nose before withdrawing like his fingers have been burned.] Sorry! I should remember to ask before touching someone else's daemon.

[His sigh is wistful,] If I don't see others, at least I'll have met this one. [Kurt's head dips, respectful and somewhat apologetic in response to his earlier overzealous intentions.] As fine a specimen as any dragon, I'm sure.

[drehnifusbahi]

[Zeymahd sneezes (or gives a credible impression of doing so) and shakes its head, then shoots Vanyel a baleful look when he chuckles.]

I don't know about anyone else's, but I can promise this one won't mind. [As if on cue, Zeymahd preens at being called a 'fine specimen' and Vanyel has to bite back another chuckle.] As you can see, he thrives on the attention.

I am fierce and mighty. [The synthesized baby dragon voice chimes in.] It is my due.

[shadowblends]

[Oh, no, how adorable is this daemon? Vanyel's reassurance is all he needs to gather his courage back up and reach out, the thumb and first digit on his right hand rubbing across the dragon's head.]

Mighty and fierce, indeed. [He laughs, too, entirely genuine as he glides his hand down then around, gingerly scratching beneath the little guardian's chin.] Sounds a lot like another daemon I know. [Kurt spares a glance over his shoulder, lips quirked with amusement at the ocelot that lies near his legs.

Shebad barely lifts her head, eyes narrowing in the most irritated look she can muster before dropping back down.] You owe me that attention at the end of the day. [He rolls his eyes, nudges her gently with his foot until she flips onto her side away from him, which he counters by slithering his tail around to rub her belly.] She isn't wrong, I suppose. We are rather busy most days.

[drehnifusbahi]

[The little dragon folds his wings and edging closer to Kurt, blinking lazily at the petting. It makes a little grumbling sound when he laughs, which transitions into almost a purr as Kurt starts scritching under its chin.

Vanyel, for his part, looks down while all that's going on to try and get a glimpse of Kurt's daemon in turn - helped when it? she? speaks up.

His attention is drawn back to Kurt, though, as the two banter.] I think all of us are, in our own ways. What with in your case?

[shadowblends]

[It's clear on Kurt's face how excited he is to be petting a dragon, despite the fact it's not a real one and Zeymahd's pretty small compared to a full-sized winged drake.

A noise akin to a low purr escapes the ocelot before Shebad lifts her head, meeting Vanyel's gaze with half-lidded eyes for a moment then stretching back out. He returns his focus to the other male, still giving both daemon's the attention they deserve.]

Well, aside from attending parties, [he begins, voice lilting with amusement.] We do a lot of training, studying and taking care of the multitude of plants in the apartment.

[drehnifusbahi]

[And Zeymahd quite clearly revels in it, eyes slipping closed and a low rumbling not unlike a purr starting up in its chest.

Vanyel gives the ocelot daemon a polite nod in turn (manners cost nothing, even toward what are essentially sentient computers) before turning his attention back to Kurt.]

Would it be too nosy of me to ask 'training in what?' [He smiles a little as he asks, trying to show that it won't bother him if the answer to that is yes.]

[shadowblends]

[The oversized house cat (as he likes to joke) gives Vanyel a lazy blink, effortlessly showing that she accepts his gesture and that he's deemed safe for Kurt to interact with.

He gives a few more absentminded scritches then reluctantly withdraws, both hands lacing together at his front.]

Not at all. See, back in my homeworld, I was in training to become an X-Man. We're a group of mutants that are [a beat] hoping for the best, but planning for the worst? If that makes any sense.

[drehnifusbahi]

[Having received the daemon's approval, he relaxes a little - unlike his own daemon, who grumbles when the petting stops and tries to follow Kurt's hands.

Vanyel catches Zeymahd, though, taking over the petting, and though the dragon's tail is still twitching in annoyance it settles down again.]

Yes, it makes perfect sense. [Even if some parts of the explanation don't, necessarily, that much is clear.]

[shadowblends]

[Ever observant, Kurt's eyes flick to where the dragon is shimmying about, one hand loosening so he can grab him, although Vanyel's quicker than he is.]

I mean, you've probably never heard of the X-men, though. [Most people here haven't, but there are those who have surprised him.]

[drehnifusbahi]

[Zeymahd still grumbles, but gradually settles down again under Vanyel's touch.]

No, I can't say that I have, but I wouldn't mind hearing now.

[shadowblends]

[He blinks, deliberately, eyebrows arching with surprise. Most of the time, Kurt'd be worried about boring people to tears, but if Vanyel is genuinely curious ...]

It's the team I'm on. We're still in training, at the moment, though our teachers say we're doing well.

[drehnifusbahi]

[Vanyel is genuinely curious, enough to kill several cats several times over. And he especially enjoys learning about the wider multiverse.]

In training, and preparing for the worst. [He repeats thoughtfully.] You don't have to answer this if you don't want, but - what does 'the worst' entail in your world?

[In his it was a dragon god. So he can't help but wonder, and worry a little, about Kurt's.]

[shadowblends]

[As much as he hates talking about En Sabah Nur, he did agree to answer Vanyel's questions, even if the other male just said he didn't have to. And besides, it's not like he's being forced to explain who Apocalypse was, how terrifying the ancient mutant had been.]

A rogue mutant trying to wipe out all of humanity? Our kind included, should you decide you're not going along with the plan.

Most days, I'm still amazed that we managed it.

[drehnifusbahi]

[The answer makes him wince in sympathy - he's dealt with a world-ending threat or two himself, and it was terrifying enough as an adult. He can scarcely imagine going up against Alduin when he was as young as Kurt seems.]

That certainly seems like it would qualify. And from the sound of it, even just surviving would have been a major accomplishment.

[So he raises in a toast, as subtly as he can.]

ignore any changes in typing ;;;

[shadowblends]

[from beneath his dual-toned bangs, kurt blinks at the gesture, appreciating how thoughtful the other male really is, despite his not knowing the full story from the blue boy's homeworld.

to be honest, a simple,] Thank you, [doesn't seem like quite enough, but it will have to do.]

It was certainly miraculous in a way— a bunch of teenage mutants defeating one that'd been able to obtain so many abilities over thousands of years ...