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

[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.

[remarkablymodest]

Not...exactly. [ He's not sure what a B & E is either, actually. ] Most gifts are given just by people themselves during the Starlight season.

You see, The tradition of the Starlight Celebration dates from several generations ago and begun in Coerthas - my homeland - during the beginning days of the Dragonsong War. Many were left homeless with Ishgardian children forced to endure in the land's chilling winds. [ A part of the history that is painful yet still important to remember. ] But each night, a handful of Ishgardian knights would seek these children and offer them room within their company barracks. As this act of kindness was strictly forbidden by the knight's charter, these kind men and women - many being once orphans themselves - would conceal the children beneath the red jackets of their uniforms.

After several months, the fighting eventually subsided during one of the Dragonsong War's ceasefires and the incident was soon forgotten. However, a group of former orphans gathered together years later to pay tribute to the knights who rescued them so none would ever forget their remarkable deeds. During the coldest weeks of each year, they would dress up in brilliant scarlet uniforms and pass out gifts to the children of the realm, passing along the happiness that they once received on a starlit night long ago.

[monologue]

[ juno listens pretty intently all the while, leaning on his arm now as aymeric explains. there's a tug to his mouth as he offers him a smile. ]

Sounds way more wholesome than the whole capitalist bullshit we do back home. Guess red's not that bad a color...

[remarkablymodest]

[ Starlight is something he takes great pride in. Actually, anything related to Isghard he takes great pride in. He's just a tad partiotic. ]

I'm inclined to believe not. Though I'm not about to say you switch your color preference, of course.

[monologue]

[ well, you know, nothing wrong with being patriotic or proud of where you came from or anything. if anything, it's relatable, being so in love with your home. juno would probably say the very same about hyperion given the chance. ]

Good to know, [ he turns and pulls from his drink just a little bit, curiosity biting at him. ] What's your name?

[remarkablymodest]

[ Right!! Juno gets it. Totally. They're gonna be buds, fo sho. ]

Aymeric de Borel, [ he says, and it sounds smoother than any alcohol here tonight. ] Leader of the city-state of Ishgard and her peoples.

[ It's kind of difficult not to sound a bit regal, with a mouthful like that. He doesn't consider himself nearly as lofty as his title, however, and hopefuly his easygoing smile conveys that. ]

[monologue]

[ it's enough, juno leaning lightly against the bar and taking stock of the name before lifting his glass a little to the introduction. honestly, it sounds like something from one of those really old fantasy books. ]

Well, you sound like your from a pretty, uh, interesting place. [ truly. from the bottom of his heart. it's like a fairy tale already. ] I'm Juno Steel, Private Eye.

[remarkablymodest]

[ He isn't entirely wrong in thinking so. Eorza does seem to be similar to most legends of old in most people's realities. There are a couple people from places similar to his, however, and for that he's thankful. It makes him feel a little less isolated here in Xistentia. ]

That it is, [ he agrees. ] Private Investigator? That isn't a common profession in my world, I admit, though there are tales of one that came through Ishgard working on a case within the church.

[monologue]

Yeah, that's it. I don't think it's too common. Most people just wind up with the police if they want to do that kind of thing without all the legwork. I like working alone.

[ a lie, but one he's too easily bought into over the years. ]

[remarkablymodest]

So did Estinien, [ Aymeric hums thoughtfully. 'Did' implies a past tense though... The man still tended to take on solo missions above working with other people. ]

Sometimes though it doesn't hurt to have someone help shoulder a bit of the responsibility you're carrying.

[monologue]

And sometimes it just puts other people in pointless danger they don’t need to get involved in. It’s a case by case thing. More often than not? It isn’t helpful.

[ lies, but juno’s mouth is very set on this! ]

[remarkablymodest]

Sometimes, but not always. [ Which is true of most things. ]

Still, I suppose we will have to agree to disagree on this matter. I don't much feel like debating during what's supposed to be a more enjoyable affair. Perhaps another time.