[ME] [SE] paper faces on parade

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

Alys wandered through the party, sticking to the well-lit paths if only because she'd seen a few couples disappear into the darkness of the trees beyond, and she had no interest in accidentally stumbling upon anything that she'd later have to try to scrub from her brain. Instead, she picked up a bit of food here and a cup of cider there, eventually making her way through all of the stalls and fires and back around to the dance floor. Not particularly interested in dancing, herself, she finally spotted Deimos, who was blessedly alone. While he was sure to be enjoying the solitude, Alys was growing bored, so she slipped over to stand by his side.

"Hey, Dei," she said, picking up some kind of pastry from the small plate she'd been carrying and popping the last bite into her mouth. The music thrummed through the forest, the lights strung about seeming to twinkle in time with the beat. "How's it going?"

Loose lips sink ships all the damn time
Not this time

Alys

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

Of all the costumes that Liam could see at the party, he thought that Maea's was his favorite. Perhaps it was because she'd been so well-acquainted with Ludo at one time, but the Ancient seemed to have taken the prompt very seriously. She certainly put his simple outfit to shame, particularly with the rags hanging in a subtle rainbow of hues, the glass trinkets that jingled softly as she walked, and the stunning mask of pale bone and gold antlers.

Leading Maea to the dance floor, the soldier offered a low, flirtatious chuckle. "And is danger a good thing?" he asked teasingly - though her own tone had betrayed the answer already. He took her into his arms and began to twirl her around. He was a decent dancer, though perhaps a bit out of practice, and he was looking forward to spending this time with his partner now that he'd seen that dancing was an option. He was sure they'd make their way to the food tables eventually (which also looked divine), but here and now, all he wanted was to hold her close, the rest of Ludo's Wood be damned.

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

Liam

When you hold me, it holds me together

Soh listened to Kaisel as he made assumptions and provided explanations, not bothering to correct him that she'd been with Flora quite recently indeed, and that the distance between the Doubletake and the former dragoon was entirely his fault. Instead, she feigned ignorance, sipping at her drink as she gazed at Kai over the rim of her glass. "Mm," she said, a soft hum that suggested this was the first Soh was hearing about this. "I'll be sure to go find her, then." As soon as she could get rid of Kai, anyway. Maybe she'd sneak Flora off into the trees to avoid accidentally leading the young man right to the woman he'd so offended.

There was a pause, and Soh hoped that that meant that Kai would be on his way, perhaps spurred by her lackluster response - but then he was saying something about assholes and Jack, and perhaps it was the drinks she'd already imbibed, but she couldn't help an incredulous laugh. Gods, Kai really couldn't read between the lines, could he? "Sorry," Soh said as she choked back another derisive chuckle. "Too much to drink. It's really quite good," she mused, losing the plot a bit as she gazed down at the flute of something in her hand.

Ah, right. But Kai was making an ass of himself.

Turning her silver gaze back to the young man, Soh tried to be kind. She really did. But what really came out was clipped and cold: "I haven't seen Flora tonight, but I'll be sure to look after her when I find her. In the meantime, if you don't mind, I'm not really in the mood for company. Maybe you should go find Caly instead."

And you kiss me in a way that's gonna screw me up forever

Sohalia

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

Dark lipstick accentuated the curve of her mouth, turning the curl at its corners into an impish smile, ever so slightly wicked. "Oh, definitely," Maea replied, as her hand settled upon his arm, while the other nestled comfortably in his. Any rust on Liam’s dancing skills was compensated by her agile feet that followed wherever he lead them, her petite silhouette as soft and supple as a shadow beneath his touch. "Dangerous means unpredictable, right? And coming from you, I can think of nothing more exciting than being surprised by whatever you do." Call it spice, or an antidote to boredom - not that she'd settled that hard into routines just yet - or just a kink of hers; the notion of getting in trouble with this sterner, darker, slightly more intense looking version of Liam sent thrills down her spine.

The masquerade was a blur around them, smudged lights and masked faces blending together with the swelling music. Even without alcohol Maea felt tension bleed away; she picked out half familiar figures from the crowd, yet remained content right where she was. Swirling, dancing, moving through the night in the arms of her partner. Had she ever been more content with life? She couldn't recall.

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

Maea

Nova

Happiness and confidence

The denial has Nova doubting herself for a moment, a flicker of confusion fluttering across her face in an adorable pinch of her features as her hand falls to her side. But the voice is unmistakable, the jawline and glimpses of sculpted muscle beneath the disguise only further solidifying her belief that it has to be Koa. 

Feeling quite confident again, Nova puffs her chest, a playful giggle on her lips. "Fine, then I am Glitter Ludo, the brightest light of the night!" A shimmer of magic falls around her, her robes fluttering with the air she sweeps around them. She looks like a vortex of stars and midnight rippling into existence, a blinding smile sitting atop the galaxy like the brightest star that's decided to grace them all with its presence. 

Nova doesn't even pause to consider the offer, bouncing forward to take his arm while still clutching Calypso like she plans to have the three of them dance in some seance circle of fluttering rags. "Sure!" Her voice chimes crystal in the night air, the echo dampened by her sister's departure from her arm. Stuttering a moment, a small frown falls across her face as she finds Caly's golden form lingering a step behind them. She almost changes her mind, slowing to stay despite the bubbling energy of the music already coursing through her limbs. Only once she hears the soft insistence does she let Koa guide her forward again, peeking her blue gaze from the darkness of her hood and the small pout on her lips. "I won't have any fun if you aren't, so I expect to see you dancing by the next song!" Figuring one song can't hurt, she leaves her sister for a moment and takes to the floor, a giggle already flowing from her lips as she twirls into Koa's arms.

are the prettiest things you can wear

The sound of the laugh is so at odds with everything he's currently feeling that it stuns him a little. He blinks back at her, 'brow rising behind the mask with utter confusion. Sohalia's apology and the tilt of her flute however, make him realize she's fucking sloshed. Apparently she's a bit of a mean, bitchy drunk too, judging by her attempt to dismiss him and continue to what, wander the woods alone and drunk?

No fucking way is he gonna let her do that.

Any other possibility that the kindhearted Luminary had suddenly grown so cold didn't seem possible. "Soh, are you alright?" he asks softly, concern nestling in behind the mask. He realizes he's selfishly launched into some drivel about his needs without even seeing how she's doing after Tarak and everything with Stormbreak as of late. Where the hell is Koa?

He reaches out to take the edge of her arm, to help steady her since she's so wasted. "Maybe you should switch to water," he suggests with a half-smile. He'd go get her some, but he's a bit worried to leave her side now, and if she's this rowdy of a drunk then she'll likely refuse and need to be tricked into drinking it. He glances back towards the main party, thinking perhaps he could steer her wobbly, grumpy ass back that way at least to get some water.

 

Kaisel

Ashetta

burning glances turning heads

 His teeth catch my attention—not as long as mine, or as the Ancients I’ve seen tonight, but there’s a sharpness there that suits Hawthorn. It makes his grin more interesting. More dangerous, in the way a blade’s glint is dangerous.

I tip the last of my cider back when he finishes his own, the warmth sinking deeper into my limbs. It’s enough to have me already thinking about what I’ll grab next from the table behind us, even though the edge of a buzz is already humming through me. I search the options, and select another shot—downing it just as he addresses masks.

When I turn back to him, my jaw works once, a restless tic that comes with the thought of another kind of mask—polished wood and, gleaming paint and anonymity. The Guild of Masks. A name, a place, a lifetime ago.

“I’ve worn many masks myself,” I say at last, my voice a little lower, not unkind but edged with memory. ”Born of necessity or just a guarded nature?”

He leans in, and I meet it with a slow lift of one brow, steady and curious. “If by it you mean Ludo, then no. I haven’t.” My head tilts slightly, as if that might catch the wisp of a Herald’s presence in the air. “Do you think it’ll show? Considering all this is for it?”

I take a small step closer, the murmur of my next question for him alone. “Are you loyal to Ludo? Had any experience with it?”

stop and stare at the sea of smiles around you

I carried my own ashes to the mountains

Deimos had been content to wander, snack, and be left to his own devices (i.e. be left alone), but it seemed he was either noticed, taken pity upon, or Alys figured he’d be easy enough to tease amidst the fold of clusters and gatherings. Glancing at her, he snorted, giving a faint smile beneath his mask. “Fairly well.” By his standards, since he hadn’t been forced to converse with anyone until this moment. “Watching drama unfold,” he tilted his jaw towards the groups of individuals immersed on themselves, shrugging his shoulders, and taking another bite of some of the jerky he’d broken apart in his hand. To be fair, it was nice to not be a part of any present shenanigans.

Tilting his head and directing his attention back to her, a singular brow arched. “How are things for you?"

DEIMOS

regions of moonlight and chaos

In truth, there were plenty of victims to be had. She could pick on her usual ring, but there seemed to be some kind of drama filtering through the groups breaking off, and she hovered in between the masses, invisible and nosey, floating from place to place and understanding only several nuances of it. If any at all; a bit like a game of telephone.

The whole Kaisel and Sohalia situation surprised her though – she hadn’t seen the Luminary ever be quite so curt, cold, or evasive. Eh, some shit goin down.

So she waited until they seemed somewhat dispersed with one another, when she suddenly appeared at Kaisel ‘s side, not unlike some devil hovering on one’s shoulder. “Hey,” she spoke out of the blue, with zero explanation whatsoever, hand reaching out to show some tiny sponges in her hand, in the shapes of small spiders, snakes, and insects. “Want to help me put these on people or in their drinks? They expand when they hit liquid.”

the honeybee

// hope, is wonderfully messy //

She waited, hovering in anticipation; intending to be won over by the notions of Zavien ’s newfound abilities in swaying to the beat and time. Utterly delighted the moment he took her hand, guided along the open dance terrain, she laughed, spun around in elegance and refinement as he led her around particular steps. There didn’t seem to be a guided frequency or dedicated movement, more in the glide and quality of their motions – and she placed her other hand on his shoulder, giggling incessantly as they went in for another turn.

Intending to tease, and maybe amplify the course and flow, she listened to the beat pick up, quicker and swifter. “Think we could go faster?” She leaned towards him, granting another giggle, light and airy and elegant, ready to be swept around other dancers or maneuvering in between the melodies.

Lena

// we must weather the potential of happiness //

LUDO

The night draws on, dizzying in its splendour, the dancefloor awhirl with many talented(?) Ludos, whilst other representations of the herald eat, drink and make merry. (Very merry in some cases out in the woods, and Ludo isn't sure that's in the spirit of what it represents, but whatever - it was probably pretty scary, if someone happened upon it unexpectedly). 

Regardless, the evening is alive with mischief and trickery and drahmah in abundance - so much so that, naturally, another masked and raggedy addition is hardly noticeable. Some might catch a glimpse of a barefoot, masked youth whose feet are too dark to be merely dirty, or hear the giggle of a child's laughter as something brushes past their legs and hips. It's fine though - probably just another party-goer, right?

And they wouldn't be incorrect, but it isn't just any attendee - it's the host.

Only when the night starts to wind down will people notice, perhaps, that they are missing things from their pockets. Unless, of course, they have prepared for such a thing happening. How odd. 

---

Ludo has pickpocketed all those still in attendance! (This does not count if you have already left the ME. No official items - i.e. those listed in profiles - have been taken, this is just for flavour so have fun with it!)

Koa

Koa, too, is ready to form a circle of dancing rags, the grin widening beneath his mask as Nova takes his arm. But it seems her sister isn't feeling the same vibe, and the young man waits while the girls titter, tilting his head to the side. It's clear Nova would rather not go without her sister, and Koa would be quite the cad to not at least try coaxing Calypso out. "No reason you can't join us, Miss Caly," he offers invitingly, extending his hand for her to take. "The more the merrier, as they say. I promise to do my very best to keep up with both of you." A wink flashes from beneath his hood.

Whether the golden girl joins or not, Koa accompanies Nova to the dance floor, his body falling easily into the rhythm of the beat. With a laugh he takes her hand to spin her, remembering how much she had enjoyed twirling around at the club. In her glittering rags she's like a starry disco ball, catching brilliantly on the ambient light.

Something passes close behind him; Koa turns to look over his shoulder, but there's no one there. Shrugging, he figures it must have been another dancer moving in and out of proximity. Only later will he realize that the jerky he always keeps in his pocket has mysteriously disappeared, something Pipsqueak is certain to be indignant about when she's inevitably bereft of treats.

Let's fall in love for the night
And forget in the morning

I can do this all day.

Just like he might fall into the flow of battle, Zavien let the rhythm of the music give shape to his movements, guiding Lena along with him. Her laughter and giggles had his heart skipping beats, his own joining hers as they spun again. He didn't know how he got so lucky, but he wasn't going to start complaining anytime soon.

The light in her brown eyes reminded him of lanterns strung through the trees, illuminating the night with wonder as she leaned in closer. Zavien grinned, eliminating any remaining distance between them so he wouldn't lose her as he picked up the faster pace of the bounding music. "You need only ask." His hand was splayed across her back as his feet moved a little quicker over the fallen leaves, chuckling. "I don't think I could ever tell you no." And then he spun them in a blur of fluttering black fabric and blinding smiles, unaware of the switch knife that slips from his pocket.

Zavien

RONIN

"I can still be handsy come Deepfrost, if that would make you happy," Ronin says, his voice dipping into something low and secretive - mainly because those very hands are already slipping beneath the Bastion's rags to seek out pockets that have been stitched in just for his enjoyment. "You might just have to come and find me in bed a little more often than you do now." So sue him, Deepfrost makes him want to do little more than rest and cook (and eat).

Turning to press a gentle kiss to the curve of Remi's jaw where the mask doesn't quite cover, Ronin raises an eyebrow at Flora and the boy she's with, tilting his head. "If it is, I hope she has given him fair warning. It'd be nice if she gave us warning too," he adds; their dinner with Jack is also still a bitter point at the forefront of his mind, evidently.

"Isla?" Ronin repeats, subconsciously tucking his husband closer against him and glancing around for the Remedy, before softly shaking his head. "I haven't seen her for a little while, to be honest." Granted, she might be actively avoiding him at this time of year. Nodding towards the drinks as if to ask if Remi wants to go and get something, the Knight won't notice that an emergency snack has been thrifted from one of his pockets until it's far, far too late to do anything about it.

soft spoken with a broken jaw
we step outside, but not to brawl