[Azura Rayume]

"Wyatt?" June sounded kind of tinny. She was probably in the garage, working on some new invention. He wanted to ask for a brief moment before she cut him off again. "Why are you calling me? Aren't you at a party or something?"

"I am," he confessed, turning away from the general crowd to make himself focus. "I am, I just... Do you know anything about this guy? I showed you the invite, so I was wondering if maybe you knew something about who sent it?"

"Worried he might be encroaching on your imaginary territory?" she laughed from the other end, and Wyatt frowned.

"Just... can you look into it for me? Please?"

[Freezair]

It was cute that Mary thought she was going to go to the event alone.

Shelly didn't FOLLOW her, exactly. She just knew where Mary was going, despite her best attempts to hide it, and incidentally decided to go there as well. Besides, it sounded fun. There would be food and cute costumes, and Shelly liked both those things.

She slunk in just behind her good friend, picking a dressing room a little bit further away. And what a selection of ugly sweaters they had! Shelly picked one covered in half-a-dozen pompoms, each one representing a snowflake, with a giant plush 3-D snowman on the front.

Now to play the hide-in-the-crowd-and-see-if-her-bestie-noticed-her game. (It would be a shame if she didn't!)

[ToxicShadow]

Attending to guests that sought out the dressing rooms and the plethora of clothing options free for borrowing was a brand new face, well, at least a brand new face within the Quest Master's tavern. The somewhat petite woman had the sort of face that made others often go, "Don't I know you?" The type that seemed familiar to everyone. Perhaps she resembled someone famous or something; not that she had any ideas or opinions about that, really. Though, the eyepatch and the make up, including a painted purple heart on her cheek, helped to alter her appearance enough to deter most folks from making assumptions about her identity.

She tended to her duties with a fair amount of enthusiasm, seeming to genuinely enjoy fashion and dressing up, and was exceedingly helpful to guests that asked for her assistance or opinion.

[Adelie]

Apparently, accidentally walking into a party gets you an invitation to the next one. Which was pretty cool of the host, honestly. And maybe a little creepy, because Chi didn't remember doing anything memorable at the last party besides helping herself to the food, being a wallflower, and helping herself to even more food.

Being invited to a party conferred its own set of obligations, of course. She hadn't really intended to show up to this one - hadn't even known it was a yearly thing - but when the invitation showed up in her mailbox, she was suddenly struck with an irresistible sense of responsibility. Maybe it was because she didn't get invited to things much; maybe it was just that she didn't want to turn down more free food. Maybe it was the festive spirit finally getting to her despite her best efforts to tune out all the incessant Christmas music and sparkly decorations.

Whatever it was, she was here now and determined to do at least two of the same things she had done last year.

[crow]

If Senah was happy, she sure didn't look it. She sighed, then looked up at the sky, as if in a silent entreaty for the gods to give her patience. Not the first time she'd made that gesture in Koh'a's presence, and he rather doubted it would be the last.

But they had reached an agreement, and so she stepped aside to let him pass, then fell into step beside him as they entered the hall. It was a grand affair, lavishly decorated -- one might say even gaudily so. Koh'a thought it interesting, though not necessarily impressive; but a glance at his companion showed that she was more affected.

[Jaykobell]

Eventually, his opening came. Slowly but surely, the guests went away to try out their new costumes. Unfortunately, his guess was proved right: very few good costumes remained for the picking. Regardless, it was better to have a costume, to have a little bit of a cover, than nothing at all. With his skills, he would be able to make it work.

He nabbed one last appetizer. Then, when the crowd started to thin out, he made his move. He casually walked over to the costumes, and he browsed slowly, but with purpose. He had to look casual, but he couldn't dawdle.

Now, what would work best...?

[Lilith Michaelis]

[

They had not been invited, but that did not matter to the crewture that entered the tavern turned mansion. Their feet did not touch the ground as they entered the dressing room, floating off the ground by about an inch. They were humanoid in form but there was no mistaking them for human. Their form was shadow and rainbow luminescent hair floated behimd and above them, ignoring the limits of gravity. Their cyan glowing eyes finally landed on a form fitting, sleeveless indigo dress and dawned it vefore joining the crowd.

It would be interestingto see how the mortals celebrated their wimter holiday.

[FrostWynd]

Having made the discovery that there was a huge mansion over here, seemingly as if from out of nowhere, the girl would end up having eyes as big as moons at the extravagant sight. "Whoaaa...." Kassia breathed. Not a moment later, Bacca would manage to catch up to his much quicker companion, and swiftly found himself getting yoinked right off the ground immediately to be held up towards this new discovery. "Look, Bacca! Look!" The girl cried out excitedly. Her enthusiasm, and lack of prior warning, threw the cat completely out of the loop and he yowled out his initial shock. "W-What are you doing, Kass?!? Put me down!" Too bad for him, she had gotten good at using her hands, and had a firm enough grip on him that no matter how hard he tried to wiggle around, there was no getting out of this on his own.

"But the thing! With all the things! Bacca! We need to see the things!" The girl countered in nonsensical fashion, proceeding the hurry along through the estate with her friend in tow, heading straight for the large doors.

[Day 3]

[zapdragon555]

Jigen Daisuke | Goemon Ishikawa XIII
[#0040BF] [#8b88c7]

Late. Late! Horrifically late! Jigen was practically fuming at the ears as the tow truck they'd hired on Jigen's dime slowly pulled the Fiat into place in front of the mansion and let it down with a mechanical thud. The driver didn't get off without a few choice streaks of words from Jigen's mouth, shaking his fist and shouting something or other about 'If I see even a scratch on her, you're dead meat, dead in the water, dead like rabbit stew. Deader!' as Goemon surveyed the mansion with a suspicious frown.

"Do you suppose we should've asked him to put the car down... somewhere other than the front? It's... it's a bit in the way," the samurai murmured, and blinked in surprise as Jigen whirled around and growled at him, only to stalk past him towards the mansion.

"We're doin' this without Lupin. C'mon, Goemon. I don't care anymore. This treasure, or trap, whatever the hell this is, it's ours now. Our problem. You 'n me, buddy."

"'Buddy'," Goemon mused, an affectionate sort of exasperation on his face as he lightly patted the Fiat in apology, and followed the gunman inside.

[Day 3]

[zapdragon555]

Fujiko Mine | Arsène Lupin III
[#43bcb4] [#BF0000]

"So how'd'ja hear about this one, Fuj?" Lupin mused with a whistle of appreciation for the rich red carpets and elaborate crystal chandelier overhead. There were some rather tacky paintings on the walls, rich monarchs Lupin didn't care for or hadn't heard of, and he silently ran through a mental catalogue of how much each one might sell for, if they were even worth stealing. "The thing was pretty outta the way, wasn't it? Seems like we drove through the middle of nowhere to get here."

"As did everyone, I imagine. Hush, and look up there," Fujiko lightly pinched Lupin's skin beneath his sleeve where she held onto his arm, and nodded towards a staircase that led to a handsome mezzanine adorned with beautiful red and silver trim. As if sensing the excitable tension building in him, Fujiko gave his arm a sharp pat. "Behave. I haven't told you what it is, yet."

"Y'didn't have to," Lupin grinned, eyes wild with curiosity. What could it be—what treasure could this mansion hold? What was up there beyond that mezzanine? Some sort of office of some filthy rich proprietor, filled with ancient artifacts that hardly rightfully belonged to him at all? Or a safe, hidden behind bookshelves, set up with all manner of alarms and security systems?

Fujiko sighed, two parts exasperated and one part affectionate as she steered Lupin away from it and towards a refreshments table. "There's two suits at the bottom of the stairs. They look important—don't let the Santa hats fool you."

"I know better than to mess with a man in a Santa hat," Lupin mused, reaching out to pluck a cheese cube off a platter and pop it in his mouth, then biting down on the toothpick with a calculating grin. "Only two, though? Fuji, you wound me with your concern."

"Just trying to let you have a little fun, dear," she retorted, leaning up to plant a kiss to Lupin's cheek, quite liking the red lipstick mark she left. It added a little something to his whole attire, she thought, satisfied with the red of his face quickly overtaking it, the grin spreading wider. The poor thing really did look like he was in heaven.

Well... poor thing indeed. Poor thing. She'd have her own fish to fry, soon enough.

[Day 4]

[SpringsSong]

Xyshari. Lana.

The two women continued to make their way around the party, picking up the occasional hor d'oeuvres and another mug each of the eggnog, though Xyshari was keeping a close eye on Lana - her ability to purge toxins from the body was as natural as breathing, but it was also a technique commonly associated with the light side of the Force, and Lana was still a Sith in the long run.

"You know, you needn't fret over me like a mother hen, my love," Lana said after a moment, and Xyshari offered a rumbling purr as she placed a hand on Lana's cheek.

"Ra'pras, svetlobi," Xyshari said. "You know I cannot help it - I have to actively think about not purging those toxins from my body, now, because I'm so used to doing it that it's second nature, but you don't have that same luxury."

"I have my means," Lana said, taking a small sip of the eggnog. "But... if I start singing, you might want to cut me off."

[Sarah]

It was another time for gathering. The Advent Calendar was set up beautifully inside the Quest Master's Tavern. The entire affair made it abundantly obvious what time of year was raging outside.

"What are we doing here?"

"What do you think?"

The retort was given curtly and quickly. Neither wanted to stay outside the festivities for long. It was cold and wet and entirely unpleasant to be outside at all.

"You really think something so valuable would be found here?"

The derision was, perhaps, unwarranted.

"Naturally."

[GrayGriffin]

Despite his attempts at deflection, somehow the Werebetta found himself shoved into a waistcoat and tophat anyways, complete with a teacup attached to his fin by a wire. He could have carried it even without, but the Diosol had insisted on "authenticity."

"So how long do you plan to stay here?" he asked his companion.

"As long as it takes," said the Diosol mysteriously, before pulling out a camera from nowhere. "Now, say cheese!"

The Werebetta groaned, but complied.

[ToxxicRenegadeAngel]

Lloyd grumbled as he swung himself onto a couch, draping himself across it with what he considered to be just the right mix of dapper, melancholy and precision. Even the drink in his outstretched hand - placed there by a passing waiter - failed to raise his spirits.

At gatherings like this, he would normally be raising havoc, but Rheese had threatened to relieve him of his un-death if he so much lifted a finger towards mayhem tonight, and so he lounged brooding, casting longing looks at the fire and the nearby decorations.

An evil smile crept onto his face as he saw a curious eye meet his own. Perhaps mayhem wasn't quite out of reach, after all, albeit of a different sort.

[ToxicShadow]

One person wearing a neat vest, a plumed hat, and held a cane that was very clearly decorative rather than practical strolled through the event hall looking as though they donned a fun outfit for the party. In their other hand, they carried around a glass of either champagne, wine or sparkling juice. The fabric mask covering the lower portion of their face made it unlikely that they were actually partaking in the beverage, however.

When said person approached the cloaked Quest Master, the latter responded by reaching out and giving them a warm hug. "Hello, my dear. Thank you so much for lending me your crew this year! I'm delighted to have you all."

Veer, the person with the plumed hat, returned the hug just as warmly, though only with the hand holding onto the cane, so as not to accidentally spill their drink on the Quest Master. "It's not a problem at all. They're all just as to delighted to be here."