[Azura Rayume]

"Try to have some fun," Wyatt grumbled, shoving his phone back into his pocket. She wanted him to have fun, surrounded by all this mystery? At best, he could wander back to the snack tables and people watch some more, but that wouldn't sate his curiosity about the party's host.

The costume table however... There were a few masks strewn about when he passed it earlier in the evening, and that would at least give him some measure of anonymity. As casually as he could, Wyatt made his way over to the table, doing his best to look inconspicuous.

[zapdragon555]

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

He probably should have known good and well that he would be underdressed, in nothing but his usual raggedy black suit and tie, but as Jigen stepped through the ornate mansion gates and up to the grand entrance, he couldn't help but wish he'd at least gotten the thing ironed. Goemon was a bit better, but... at least most foreigners would see a nagagi and hakama and not know whether to call it formal or not. It wasn't fancy, at least. And Jigen was caught a second time wondering why the hell he should care.

So he stormed inside, hands jammed into his pockets, still fuming from his ears about the Fiat and about 'that rat bastard Lupin' and how he was gonna stuff his face once he got inside, trap or no trap, when all of a sudden his eyes landed on a familiar form, and Jigen Daisuke saw red.

Literally. One look at that half-cocked posture and clinging red suit and Jigen instantly knew what he was seeing—but couldn't process it. It was as though his brain had flatlined, staring at Lupin's back dumbly, staring too at the figure looped into his arm... Venice, his ass. Venice, his ass!

A steadying hand came to lightly rest on Jigen's shoulder, and he jerked his head over to stare at Goemon's dark eyes, unimpressed and a bit wan himself. "Somehow, I had a feeling."

"You did not. Don't lie to me," Jigen griped, shouldering Goemon's hand off and stalking towards the two at the snack table with an irate set to his jaw.

[Day 5]

[FrostWynd]

It were yet another one of those days that Amala would be out and about meandering through the town of humans, snooping around to see what these creatures were getting up to around this time of year. And thankfully she wouldn't be disappointed one bit as it looked like they were once again starting up their own celebrations and gatherings, and she just so happened to be fortunate enough to get her hands on an invitation of her very own. The one to bring it to her came across as a source of curiosity for her, but sadly they didn't seem very interested in staying for long once she noticed they'd vanished.

Ah well, maybe it was for the best, because now there was somewhere for her to be, and quick.

[Day 5]

[Adelie]

Oh god, not this again. First, it was a last-minute invitation to a party that disrupted every single plan she had for the holidays - and now she was running late. No thanks to her stupid brother, of course. Actually, maybe every thank to her stupid brother. It was all his fault - him and his stupid wardrobe obsession - that she was cutting it this close to not even making it there at all.

Like yeah, seriously. Who was even going to be looking at him at an event like this?

[SpringsSong]

Xyshari. Lana.

The two women danced contentedly with each other for what felt like an eternity. Lana's steps were slightly less sure than Xyshari's, and the Cathar took the lead in the dance. They would dance for a while longer, simply enjoying each other's presence, before they finally came to a stop. Lana smirked slightly as she placed a hand on Xyshari's cheek.

"You've been practicing," Lana said, and Xyshari nodded.

"A certain former Zakuulan prince insisted that I at least have a basic knowledge of such dances - he's rather persistent when he wants to be," Xyshari said. "Especially when our three children gang up on me with him."

"I had a feeling they were involved in this," Lana said, laughing as she shook her head. "I do hope everything is all right back home - this may be the longest we've left them in their care."

"They'll be fine, I'm sure," Xyshari said. "Learning pike with Senya, handicrafts with Arcann, slicing with Theron..."

"I'm not worried about pike or handicrafts, but slicing? We may have to develop our own encryption to keep things private," Lana said with a smirk.

[Freezair]

"...Mary?"

Mary's entire body clenched, from her ears going flat to her tails bushing out. That couldn't be. But she'd known that voice for years--

"Mary! I didn't know you'd be coming here as well!"

She swished her fan in front of her face and put on her best Edwardian debutante accent.

"Why, sirrah, you must have me mistaken for some other!"  

"Quit screwin' around, Mary! I'd know you anywhere. Besides, you're supposed to be the sensible one of us."

Ouch. Right in the friendship.

She closed her fan with a sshnck and glared at him. "If you tell Shelly I dressed up like this, you are D-E-A-D DEAD, you hear me?"

A chuckle came from behind her. "Tell me WHAT, now?"

[ToxxicRenegadeAngel]

Candy twirled on the spot, her long brown curls bouncing behind her as her wings flapped and her skirts rippled over her legs. A long ribbon dangled from her wand, and her sparkling tiara glimmered as it reflected the colours of the fairy lights that were twinkling merrily overhead.

"Pardon me, my lady, may I have this dance?" Crax's warm voice was music to her ears as he took her hand and twirled her until she giggled and leaned against him for support, mindful of the decorations on his outfit.

"A Nutcracker Prince for my Sugarplum Fairy - how wonderful!" she whispered in his ear, placing a kiss on his cheek.

"What else could I be my fair lady?" Crax's grin was easy as he twirled her once again, before wrapping his arms around her.

"Look up" he whispered, gesturing with his head. Above them was a sprig of Mistletoe, and Candy blushed and smiled warmly as she stepped closer to him, eager to follow the holiday tradition.

[Azura Rayume]

Never in a million years did he think he would be sneaking around a party like this, eavesdropping on conversations and wearing as mask, but here he was. And it honestly felt... right? Maybe he should add this to his repertoire. It could be what he was missing this whole time, a mask. Hide himself.

Oh, right.

So far, none of the conversations he had heard gave him any kind of clue. They said he was mysterious but seemingly benevolent, gave away gifts without expecting anything other than the promise of a fun party, was apparently the same benefactor as the same kind of event the previous year, though most in attendance only knew that last note by rumor and not experience. Perhaps, he was just some kind eccentric. Junebug would be sure to find out.

[Firetra]

Arean sauntered into the ballroom, dressed to the nines with his wife Kai holding onto his elbow. She was outfitted in a dazzling fiery dress that slightly trailed behind her as she walked with her husband. Though, it should be more like she was dragging her husband into the ballroom rather than being escorted. If anyone was close enough, they could catch a small argument in hushed tones and sharp whispers.

"Did we really have to come darling? It was just an errant invitation, hell it might have just been a fluke." Said the man, his eyes darting around the room nervously.

"Arean hush, just deal with the crowds today. I know you don't like them, but its not every day that we go out and have a date night with just the two of us." She said sharply through a smile, her lips barely moving.

"Is it really a date night? I would much prefer a quieter venue with just the two of us. You know, like that small town just north of Aldrect, where you, OW!" He hissed in pain as Kai stepped on his foot with her sharp heels. He turned towards her in bewilderment and then sheepishly turned away after he saw her deadly gaze. He know that look, and he knew he didn't want to see any further consequences if he continued. "Alright, alright, you win! I'll zip it."

[Jaykobell]

They had had...an emergency, to say the least. Now they roamed aimlessly, trying to distract themselves as best they could. A strange invitation had been given to them about a large party to celebrate the holidays. At first, they were outraged: why would they want to party in these circumstances? But as they gave it a bit more thought, there was nothing else they could do, in that moment. They weren't in control anymore.

All they could do was try to think about something else. And maybe this large mansion, with its free food and maybe activities and gifts, could give them just a sliver of solace during this hard time.

[ToxicShadow]

A rather tall, handsome gentleman in a fetching brown suit with a dark paisley patterned button up underneath descended the staircase. And although it seemed coincidental that the Quest Master happened to be passing by the staircase at the time, it was certainly not

"Would you care for a dance?" the gentleman dared to say to them, as he lightly tapped the cloaked figure on their shoulder.

The Quest Master gave a turn, seemingly to look the man up and down, before nodding. "That would be delightful."

The pair made their way to an area that was more or less the dancefloor, the man taking an open dance posture. The Quest Master placed one hand in his but snapped with their available hand. In that moment, the cloak disappeared from her person and her outfit had changed to a long gown. It was an incredibly rare sight to see. She then placed her hand on his shoulder, and he placed his hand on her back, and the two began to dance.

"Any trouble?" The Quest Master inquired secretly between the two as they glided across the dance floor.

"There are a few suspicious figures, but nothing to worry about," the man, Ivan, answered. The Quest Master's magic alone would be enough to foil anyone's plans, and he and the others were here, too.

"Thank you for all the trouble. And keeping an eye on my child."

Ivan smiled. "Veer is an incredibly capable person. I am fortunate to hold my place beside them." The look on his face easily reflected the respect he had both for Veer, and for the Quest Master.

"I am glad to hear it."

Once the song they were dancing to ended, the two naturally parted ways.

[Adelie]

God, she hated parties. Hated everything about them, hated everything that came with them. Heck, she even hated the fancy invitations that they usually came with. Waste of paper and delivery Wilsons' time, the lot of them.

Of course, she could hate parties however much she wanted - with a burning, seething passion - but that wouldn't change the fact that she was at one. A full-scale, fancy ensemble with games for children and a full buffet, of all things; the kind of thing she'd normally scoff at and proclaim something about how she wouldn't be caught dead at an establishment like that.

[crow]

At first Senah was confused. "Why do you need a change room? You're already dressed." In fact, she wouldn't have let him leave the place where they were staying otherwise.

But Koh'a flashed her another cheeky grin. "They've got costumes! You should try one too."

At once a crease appeared between her brows. "This isn't All Saints Wake," she said. "We don't need costumes."

"Maybe you don't, but I want to see what they have on offer." And before she could talk him out of it, Koh'a made a beeline for the change rooms, leaving Senah to sigh and follow in his wake.

[FrostWynd]

Had Kassia actually stopped to consider any of Bacca's advice, perhaps her little grand entrance into the party would have gone over more spectacularly than it actually did when she threw her shoulder into the door. Not super hard, but definitely with enough weight behind it to throw her off balance when the door gave in much more easily than expected. "A-Ah!" Next thing she knew, she would be stumbling forward into the foyer, and finally fell to the floor face first.

It all happened rather quickly, but fortunately for Bacca, this was the best opportunity for him to free himself from her grasp and make a much better landing by comparison. Although how well either one performed their landing was the last thing on his mind. His own attention was on the fact that they were now in a strange place with lots of people around.

[Day 6]

[Lilith Michaelis]

They did not approach the young mortal directly. They did not feel ready to speak to them, they were merely curious. The creature pivoted their approach, turning away for them for awhile. They slipped through the crowds until they found a darkened corner and dimmed the glow of their flames. Satisfied, they placed a hand on the wall and began to spider crawl up the sheer wall to the ceiling. From there, they used the bright decorative lights as cover, changing form slightly as to better do so. They did allow themselves a moment to admire the beautiful lights.