[ME] [SE] paper faces on parade

Theea

True is false, who is who?

 I smile back at Sunjata, feeling my pulse still a little quicker than I’d like under the weight of his easy charisma. ’You… knew Vai, right?” I ask, voice soft but hopeful. ”My Nonna.” There’s a flutter in my chest just saying it aloud—half pride, half nerves—before my attention is pulled toward Flora as Sunjata conjures her a perfectly chilled glass of water like it’s the easiest thing in the world.

Flora’s grin and her answer catch me completely off guard. ”Wait—you lived on the Ark?” My brows shoot up, and I can’t help the laugh in my voice. ”That’s how I got to Torchline—working on the Ark.” I take a long drink from my glass, the sweet-citrus heat sliding down my throat.

And then she says it.

I almost inhale my drink, coughing once as my eyes go wide. ”Jack was your stupid boyfriend? I blurt, instantly flashing back to our first meeting when she’d teased me about my taste. ”I’ve talked to him a few times since I hitched a ride on his ship—I had no idea it was you he dated.” My voice tips toward disbelief, then softens into a crooked, nervous smile. ”Does this mean I’m considered some kind of traitor to the family now for associating with him?” I joke, though there’s a flicker of genuine nerves under it.

curl of lip, swirl of gown

yeah I got heartbreak that I reminisce about

Flora’s brows lift in mirrored surprise, the expression tilting into something warmer when the pieces slot together. "Gods, your first ride into Torchline was on the Ark?" she says, the words carrying that mix of disbelief and sympathy usually reserved for someone who’s been caught in an unexpected storm. Her lips twitch, though, because Theea clearly survived it with her sense of humour intact, which only makes Flora like her more. "I should probably apologise on behalf of the whole region for that being your welcome tour, but hey—if you can handle Jack’s crew, you can handle anything."

The laugh that follows is bright and unrestrained, spilling out before she can stop it when Theea connects the dots back to their first meeting. "Yeeeeah," she admits with a grin, drawing the word out just enough to make it both confirmation and confession. Normally the admission might taste bitter, but right now—still flushed from her latest escapade—her mouth curves in a small, secret smile that’s impossible to hide. She tips her head slightly, as if to shake it off, curls brushing her bare shoulders. "We’re...on good terms now," she adds, the understatement heavy with more than she’s willing to unpack in the middle of a masquerade.

Her cousin’s joking question earns a slow, feline grin, and she gives her head a small shake, the gold of her earrings catching the lamplight. "Traitor? Gods, no. If you ever need to be sworn enemies with someone on my behalf, I’ll make it painfully clear." She tips Theea a conspiratorial wink, letting the moment stretch long enough to make the mock-seriousness of her promise land.

some real big things I still gotta figure out

Code 100% taken from the queeeeeeen herself, Sky <3

NIKI

"I am glad to hear it. And glad to see you have returned to the Greatwood again to visit, too," Niki says with a warm nod towards Theea, before they are both thoroughly distracted by the Flood's approach and all that happens in the following minutes - his drink's attempt on his life included.

"A city?" He smiles to Sunjata, at least more conversational now that the alcohol is starting to warm his blood in the sort of way that makes it feel ridiculous that anyone tries to do anything sober. "You have been busy," he remarks. "Since meeting Flora, I have been introduced to The Sugar Tide, so I have a feeling my horizons are going to expand more quite soon."

All of that is to say that yes, perhaps he will visit King's End in good time

As for his boxes, Niki ducks his head in a nod. "They turned out well, thanks to our efforts. I still have one kept back for you, if you would like me to send it your way."

stay your pretty eyes on course
keep the memories of who i was before

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

// hope, is wonderfully messy //

“Most unwise,” she winked, but became utterly enthralled in the spinning – maneuvering along to the rhythm of the music, the beats, and Zavien’s touch – wholly enamored and besotted. Delighted by the sweeping turns and the nuances, she kept pace quite willingly, feet moving elegantly across the makeshift dance floor.

Eventually though, they’d have to pause, and she laughed again, leaning within to once again kiss his cheek. “All right, I say we’ve earned some food now,” ignoring the distinct rumble in her stomach, or the sudden loss of some jerky treats she’d intended to save for their companions. Fanning herself, delighted and merry, she used her other hand to slip her fingers within his grasp, dragging them over towards the snack table once more.

Lena

// we must weather the potential of happiness //

It's a real life boogie and a real life hoedown

Withdrawing from the tables and Thalassa, Colt is on the hunt more thoroughly now for her favorite brand of midnight She spotted Hawthorn finally, but he seems perfectly content, and he's not the man she'd really been hoping to discover, so she leaves him be. Each masks she passes she glances into, lingering when it's blue eyes that blink back, but each pair isn't quite right. After staring into enough, she's starting to doubt if she even can pick him out of a crowd, if she'd already passed him and hadn't known. How is it she can tell five different black colored horses apart but can't find one particular man at a party?

The golder shimmer of Calypso in the distance is like a glow of salvation, and Colt's pace picks up as she weaves through the pairs and the groups to her. "Hey Caly," she greets with an edge of relief as she steps in beside the familiar face, grateful for her more gilded take on Ludo. "You, Nova, and Vesper having a good night so far?" she asks, casual as can be about the whole thing.

Colt

Don't be a bitch, come take it to the floor now

Way too blessed to be stressed

A group of Dragoons from Stormbreak pass by them, and Kaisel flags them down. "Hey!" He says, calling them over, faces familiar behind skimpy masks and half-assed cloaks. "Hey, Sohalia is drunk, can you guys watch over her while I find water?" he asks them, leaving her in their capable, if confused hands while he breaks off towards the main line of the party for the first time tonight.

That's when Melita suddenly appears next to him, her voice like a lightning strike that's just missed him but has set the tree nearby on fire. He jumps, hand rising to his thumping heart with a laugh when he realizes who it is. "Fuck's sake Mel," he breaths shakily. "You're highkey terrifying, you know?" Her idea is an interesting sounding one though, so he holds out his hand, accepting her offering of sponges. "Yeah, alright! I just gotta grab some water first." He puts them in his pocket, unaware that not long after half of them would be swiped by Ludo.

So he continues on, leaving Mel to her pranks, or to follow him, as he threads his way through the crowd on a mission for hydration. At least, until one of the Dragoons, Gregory, trots up to him, telling him the water wasn't needed. All was well, according to dear ol' Greg, which is...deeply confusing. "Wha?" Kaisel asks, but Greg is insistent, and just shakes his head, shrugs, and walks back to his friends.

Scratching beneath his chin, at a complete loss for the fuck is happening, lately (maybe this is all just a really vivid dream?), Kaisel continues towards the drink table. Maybe he just needs to get on Soh's level or something. A glimmer of gold nearby catches his eye though, and he turns, half hopeful it'd be Flora's hair catching the lantern light.

This particular brand of amber belongs to Calypso though, equally unmistakable as she shines amid the dark. He sprinkles on a smile to keep back anything else that might try to break through, because friends don't get sad about seeing each other looking lovely at a party. "Hi," he says with a false lightness as he sidles up beside her and Colt. "I believe this counts as the first week, so you owe me one thing."

Kaisel

Enjoy the life, it's a great day to be alive

With no one wearing their real face It's a whiteout of emotion

Music swelled, endlessly leading them from one dance into the next. Maea thought she could have kept going through the night and into the wee hours of dawn, but eventually the point came where she'd laughed herself hoarse and her feet began to demand a break. Parting from Liam only to go on a quest for food and drink, it was meant to be only a moment - but soon enough she realized that she'd lost track of him in the crowd.

Standing haplessly by the refreshments with her hands full of plates and glasses, scanning the crowd for the familiar silhouette, she only vaguely registered something soft and dark whisking past her, and noticed not at all that a wooden hairpin disappeared from a pocket. She did register Colt passing by, however, and as she turned to see where the woman came from, a dark silhouette seated by the tables momentarily drove all thoughts of missing partners out of her head. She hadn't seen Thalassa in a while... and despite knowing it likely wouldn't lead anywhere, her feet still carried her over. Drawn in by a hope that seemed unquenchable, in spite of everything.
"Hey... Can I join you?" She offered out a glass, filled to the brim with some amber liquid that smelled of honey and spice, warm enough to steam softly in the cool night air.

And I've only got my brittle bones to break the fall

Maea

Thalassa

The problem
with wearing a dress

As Colt departs, Thal drinks the last dregs from her bottle, having decided she'd rather not deal with any more people. In fact, she's on the verge of leaving altogether, willing to take the risk that her light buzz is enough to keep the heart-wrenching thoughts at bay. It seems better than having to deal with whatever emotions the next person might stir up - particularly a pale Ancient that she'd hoped to never see again. 

It's not hard to recognize Maea despite her Ludo disguise, the white hair and short stature revealing enough even if she hadn't recognized the voice that sometimes plays on repeat when she's feeling especially insecure. That vital piece that had made everything so clear is gone, along with the alcohol in her system, making everything muddy again, her emotions complex and confusing, the pain taking a forefront. 

She doesn't immediately turn away, lowering the empty bourbon bottle to accept the glass. Her aching blue eyes are narrowed, her fingers delicate around the glass like it might shatter in her grasp. She doesn't even let her fingers brush Maea's, waiting for the catch or the barbed words to strike. "I didn't realize you'd be willing to associate yourself with people like me. Aren't you worried I'll sully your morals? Corrupt you?" There's a bite to her words, even if it's softer than before, wounded.

is that it clashes
with a sword.

there's so much time for me to speak up, but i keep quiet

Shaking off Koa and his generous offer, Caly’s smile is still just as vibrant even as she hangs back from the party, letting her sister and the motorman drift out onto the dance floor to enjoy the night. Nova, as always, glitters with an iridescence that was eye catching in spite of the dark tones she wears (though Caly’s quite positive this might be the first time she’s ever seen her sister pick to wear something back. It was, after all, Vesper’s vibe).

Suddenly, though, she isn’t alone — the young attuned glancing sidelong over at the familiar blonde the reaches her side and Caly can’t help but to flash a bright smile back at her. “Hey Colt.” Comes the quiet bubbly greeting, nodding. “Not sure where V went, but yeah. Nova’s havin’ a blast, looks like.” Content to sit there and shoot the shit with Colt, it’s as Kaisel appears that she’s straightening a touch, watching with amusement as he steps up to join them.

“Hmm, a dance?” She cocks her head, her smile amused as she extends her hand to him and flashes an apologetic glance toward Colt for her sudden departure.

Calypso

i'll complicate the mantra

It's a real life boogie and a real life hoedown

So he's here, is what she gleans from Calypso, but fucking where? Before they can speak more however, it seems Calypso has found her own dance partner, to which Colt just nods and smiles with a murmured, "enjoy."

She opts to do another lap, more thorough this time. After far too much walking and scooching and excuse mes and not nearly enough dancing though, she ends up back at the bar, grabbing a double of their Blanco and shooting it back. She regrets not taking the tequila Jack had offered earlier, she just didn't expect to need the liquor to keep her smile on tonight.

The plans she'd built up inside her mind for how this night would play out have started to crumble. She hadn't told them to anyone, hadn't laid any framework for them to unfold as she imagined, so there's no work or failure on anyone's part that they aren't panning out. And yet, while she understands it's completely nonsensical, it doesn't stop the bite of disappointment from setting into her chest. That makes it all the worse, because now she's utterly annoyed at herself for it, at letting something so small and stupid affect her.

Contemplating another drink, her gaze passes the tall beacon that is Sunjata among his little group. He's a security blanket she can pull on when night's empty of stars and the dark presses in too deep. He's safe, comfortable, fun—all the things she's looking for after hurting her own feelings. There's no risk of rejection with him, nothing tangled up in her head about him, it's just easy.

Striding with purpose towards his group, she sidles up beside him, flashing a too big smile at everyone, the only greeting they'll get with her focus sharply on finally getting this damn dance she's been chasing all evening. "Flood," she croons, "could I steal you for a dance?"

Colt

Don't be a bitch, come take it to the floor now

regions of moonlight and chaos

A wide grin settled upon the Honeybee’s features - delighted at Kaisel ’s fear and compliment, pressing her hand over her heart as if it’d been the best thing she’d ever heard. “That's so sweet. Thanks!” She laughed, tipping back more of whatever drink she’d snagged. Her eyes roamed around, counting out several she’d qualify as future victims, but it wasn’t her plan of action now – nay, she was only setting the Dragoon on his very own fire-forged path. “Good luck! Let me know how it goes!” Then she winked – suddenly gone again.

Except, really, she was merely drifting through crowds and dropping some of her own sponges here and there, waiting for the sound of surprised screams or giggles of delight.

Eventually though, she still wound her way back to Iskra, reappearing as if she’d hardly been gone at all. “Look, aren’t you proud? No stabbings.”

the honeybee

Lights flash and we'll run for the fences
Let them say what they want, we won't hear it

”Drama?” Alys said, arching a brow behind her mask. She looked up at Deimos. ”Anything good?” The seer was perhaps not as well-versed in those in attendance, or of any potential drama that might unfold. In any case, she followed the tilt of his chin towards others, and, finding that they were too far to pick up on any emotions, promptly lost interest. ”I’ve been fine. Glad that there doesn’t seem to be anything major amiss.”

In truth, she was growing tired, and missing Tal, and didn’t wish to infringe upon Deimos’s peace any further. ”I think I might wander the stalls for a while,” she said after a moment. ”But it was good to see you. Enjoy your solitude - and the good food.” And then she was off, meandering through the vendors and trees, and if her pockets were a little lighter afterwards, then she would attribute it to purchases made rather than trickster gods afoot.

Loose lips sink ships all the damn time
Not this time

Alys

Way too blessed to be stressed

He chuckles low at Calypso's feigned innocence, the idea of a dance extended as if that wouldn't be on the agenda tonight regardless. "A dance is a thing, yes," he confirms, his own amusement tilting at the corner of his lips beneath his pale mask. He uncurls a hand in exaggerrated fashion towards her, even going so far as to bow a bit, which admittedly is a bit of a requirement anyway with her. Since she's short and all.

With his arm extended for her to take, he's only got eyes for her, the rancher the least of his concern now with his sun nearby. "Surely you don't think that's all you're getting away with tonight?" The flick of his eyes down the length of her rendition of Ludo suggests there's plenty more he'd love to take, and a very confusing reevaluation of Ludo as a whole after this is said and done. Oh right, but friends don't eye fuck each other, that's the part he always gets wrong with Flora too. Turns out it's hard to have such hot friends, and he'd know, plenty has been hard about the whole thing.

Kaisel

Enjoy the life, it's a great day to be alive

How could I say goodbye?
We've come too far to turn back now

Liam spun Maea around, settling into the rhythm of the music. ”I’ll be sure to be more unpredictable, then,” he teased, lifting her hand to twirl her. Then, when she swung back into his arms, he dipped her backwards smoothly, as though he’d done it a thousand times. On and on they danced, until eventually they parted ways for a time. One minute Maea was there, and then she’d disappeared into the crowd.

For his part, Liam went off to the food tables, gathering a little of this and a little of that until he had a plate full. Then he went to find somewhere to sit. With Maea presumably occupied somewhere in the party, Liam was content, for the moment, to enjoy a bit of solitude. There were very few in attendance he recognized, particularly given the various masks.

Who are we without each other?
Too entwined to untangle now

Liam