bsumone | ❝ Masquerade ❞

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❝ Masquerade ❞

{ seething shadows breathing lies }

Traditional thing that Iseul is, he made a point of sending out invitations to every monster and supernatural being with whom he's acquainted the day after telling Damian of his masked ball. Each is written in a large, looping hand and reads:

My Dear Friend,

You are cordially invited to a most exclusive masquerade ball to be held at my estate on the next new moon. The attire is formal with a theme of silver and gold. My doors will open promptly at 8:00pm. Dinner will be served with music, dance, and festivities to follow.

I do so look forward to your attendance.

Kindest Regards,
Your Host

Iseul's calling card is included for those who may not recognize his handwriting. It also happens to have his address on it, as well.

Guests will find the house dark and sprawling, positively goth in decor and style. For those who know or know of Iseul, this won't be a surprise. There's a running joke in the community that the Fae is truly meant to be a vampire... more so than his long-standing vampire rival. Those in attendance will be shown to the parlor, the pocket doors thrown wide to the adjoining suite to make it something of a small ballroom. Musicians sit off to the corner playing with few breaks throughout the night.

The dining room boasts a long table with a veritable banquet. Though, one must be careful about eating Faerie food. Never fear, dear guests, for none of this food was prepared or even harvested by Fae hands. Outside, the grounds are covered with sprawling flower gardens, topiaries, and even a small maze of hedges. Lanterns light the paths since there's no moon for light. Both in and out, the house has many dark nooks and crannies and unoccupied to rooms to disappear into. All guests are welcome to stay if, for any reason, they are unable to leave at first light.

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"Ah, it's always a pleasure to meet someone's +1," he quips with a subtle smile. That much is true. He doesn't know many of his guests particularly, save for a few, and he does so enjoy having new names to add to his future guest lists. Plus, it's never a bad thing to know who and what is around. "You must leave me your address so I can send you an invitation directly next time," he adds.

"You may call me Iseul." It's certainly not his name, but it's what he goes by. "While you're here, please make yourself at home. The whole of the first floor is open for the party. If, for any reason, you will not be leaving at first light, I've made guest rooms available."

It's all Iseul can do to keep breathing when he feels Damian finish inside him. Softly panted ohs spill from his lips as he struggles to pluck actual words from his mind. How can he sing Damian's praises when he can barely remember the name he calls himself? Just give him a moment, please.

A moment for his body to go boneless. A moment for his arms to loosen around the vampire's shoulders and his legs begin to slip lower. A moment for him to lift his head from the trunk of the tree, to pry his eyes open to gaze at Damian with such affection that warms his cold features.

Finally, he says the only thought he can pull from his mind. "Stay with me."

“We could always try,” he teases, dropping his head a little to nuzzle Tiras’ neck. And maybe the thought of clapping his hand over Tiras’ mouth while they’re fucking is a little appealing. Will it help? Not at all, but it would be fun.

“I’m not any sort of expert on that,” he stammers. It’s getting a little difficult to follow the conversation. But, what Snake says is true. He doesn’t claim to be an expert on any of the creatures he encounters. That’s not his aim, after all. He doesn’t want to be a creature expert. He just wants to meet the ones who hide in shadows.

And right now, someone he’s been following online for the better part of his life is practically in his lap, staring at him like he could eat Snake up, and professing to like him. W O W. And the way he tilts his head like… Snake can’t resist closing the distance to brush his lips against those oh-so-inviting lips.

“Listen to you, being all sentimental~” He reaches over to playfully swat Sam’s shoulder, then nods off in another direction. “I’ve been through no fewer than five different gardens here and I still think there are some I haven’t yet!” It sounds like he’s whining, but for someone who knows Matthias as well as Sam does, they’d know it’s an invitation.

“I should never have let you go off on your own. It’s been dull all by myself.” Though he’s spent plenty of time chatting with other guests, they just don’t hit the same note as Sam. Maybe it’s because they’ve been companions for a while. Maybe it’s just the flavor of him that pulls Matthias back again and again. Not like he’s tried hard (or at all) to leave.

“What have you been doing without me, hm?”

Though Nam has worn suits and collared shirts in the past, he's not usually overly fond of them. They often feel a little too restrictive for his liking. A good thing, perhaps. Merely carrying this beautiful necklace around for the rest of the night would have been a terrible injustice. Such a marvelous item doesn't deserve to sit in a box all night, it should be on display for all to see.

He runs his fingers over some of the larger gems that crawl up his chest to the middle of his throat before he drops his hand back down into his lap. Yes, this will indeed live among his most prized of possessions. He looks forward to seeing how it shimmers in the sunlight.

It almost feels instinctual to lean into the fingers against his jaw, to turn his head in toward them. He breathes out a content sigh and lets his eyes fall closed. "Such ridiculous little creatures, you birds are." There's a fondness to his tone and a small smile tugs at his lips. "It's a beautiful gift, Gaja."

Those three words. They were something that could mean so many things. So many and that meant that he couldn't be sure of what they were exactly. Licking his lips, he tasted the blood that lingered there and Damian gazed into those beautiful eyes. And in that moment?

He knew he didn't want to fight him. He wanted to be part of him. With him. Forever.

Helping the fae to balance on his feet, Damian gazed at Iseul and trailed his fingers along his cheek. "Here with you? The two of us together forever?"

It was all a murmur but there was so much emotion in what he had to say.

Oh. Well this was a fun surprise. Those lips were on his own and he blinked then smiled. Since he was already almost in his lap then why not... Tiras shifted to plop himself right onto Snake's lap and pushed his fingers through his hair as he kissed him back. On that tongue he could taste the eager lust and it made him shiver.

He hadn't planned to taste his new pet tonight but he certainly wasn't complaining. He was so sweet on his tongue. Like a delicate little dessert...

"That sounds stupid."

He huffed then went to squirm in his arms, clearly trying to make Su-jin get over to where he wanted to go. Namely over there where it was going to be a lot more fun. For both of them. "Let's go."

"Mostly talking to people at the party. Spending time watching people." In other words, not much of anything really. He'd mostly just been getting a feel for everyone around him and actually really enjoying that. Even if it probably wasn't what one, even himself, might call fun. But he didn't suppose he always needed to have fun.

He was now though. Now that he was here with Matthias. A demon who made him smile and made him remember what it was like to feel hope again.

"Has is really been so dull for you without me?" How curious.

"A pleasure, Iseul." He bowed his head politely to him. "Though I think that you'll find my address is already in your registry. I share my residence with Matthias actually. We've been living together for several decades now."

He spotted the demon across the room and nodded to him to indicate who he meant even though he was certain that his friend was a known face.

The movement of Nam’s hand over the jewels catches Gaja’s attention and he watches in rapt fascination as his fingers graze over the gems. Ah, they will be even more beautiful with the sunlight dazzling off them like it does off the surface water. Ah~

Gaja blinks and refocuses his gaze on Nam’s face, meeting his eyes until he closes them.

They so rarely use each other’s names. When they do, it’s always so earnest. Gaja smiles in kind, the expression less subtle than Nam’s, but equally fond. The phoenix always has been more effusive than his companion. And, truly, he’s pleased by Nam’s receipt of his gift. It would have been a shame for it to go unseen tonight, especially when the dragon looks so otherworldly.

“Then it’s a fitting gift for you, Nam.”

Not actively having fun doesn’t mean something is miserable. However, Matthias was a creature who needed constant entertainment or, at the very least, distraction. Typically, he made it for himself, but it almost always required others. He’s just a very social creature even if much of his social interactions are faked. That’s the thing with Sam: he knows what Matthias is. Matthias doesn’t have to play a part for him. He doesn’t have to pretend there’s some deeper meaning to everything he said and did with Sam. It’s oddly comfortable.

Taking another sip from their glass (yes, it’s theirs now), Matthias’ brows lifted and he nodded several times. “Lovely as all this is, flowers make for dull conversation. Besides, it’s nighttime. They’re all folded up and refusing to be admired.” H huffed out softly through his nose. The demon was nothing if not dramatic about these smallest of inconveniences.

He stared off into the middle distance for a moment, then sighed in earnest. “It’s like walking on eggshells with them. They’re all so… stuffy and easy to leap to offense.” The last thing Matthias wanted in his life was an immortal nemesis. Being locked together in some eternal battle was not his idea of fun.

"The party is a lot like the ones of old I used to attend back when I was Hwarang. Everyone smiling but everyone careful about what they say. Who they say it too. Carefully assessing..."

Sam shook his head then smiled over at Matthias. "An immortal nemesis doesn't suit you. But if anyone were to bother you..."

He paused then shook his head, just walking a few steps away to look up at the sky instead. "The stars are so beautiful tonight."

Matthias hummed in agreement. The idea of playing chess with some other immortal creature for the rest of forever was not appealing in the least. Even he takes breaks from toying with people now and then. No, no, he’s definitely not in the market for a lifelong enemy, thanks.

That dangling offer left an itch Matthias can’t help but scratch. He followed behind Sam, hooking a hand around him arm so he couldn’t escape any further. Oh, he’s sure it’s Sam being gallant and offering to protect him. Someday, Matthias may need that. However, at present, any ‘enemies’ he’s made are all baseline humans with little or no means of affecting any real harm to him.

Still, he’s charmed by the thought. Or rather, what he assumed was the thought.

“Wait, wait, you can’t just change the subject like that!” Why? Because Matthias said so.

As Nam reopens his eyes to gaze at the phoenix - his phoenix - he pulls off his mask and sets it on the table. He'll put it back on should the need for it arise at some point during the evening, but for now he's done with the masquerade part of this ball. He's done obscuring his face. Mostly, he's done with the way the light catches on the mask once in a while and ruins his view of the gorgeous bird.

Using each other's names always feels like such a special moment shared between only the two of them. To anyone listening, it would be relatively meaningless, it would sound no different than any other conversation, but to them it means much more than that. Nothing can compare to hearing his name pass Gaja's lips.

"I only regret that I didn't think to bring you anything." The smile grows only a small amount. Just enough for no one but the bird to notice. "You'll have to settle for my company, I'm afraid."

Sam looked back to him. He hesitated a moment then shook his head. "It was nothing really. A desire to protect someone I deeply care about. But you don't need my protection so it's a silly thing."

The wolf sighed and went to remove his mask so he could fix his hair. Strands fell elegantly into his eyes just as they always did. Like they were just artfully meant to be there even when he wasn't realizing it. "I've known for a long time that you don't need my protection, that you're likely to only ever care about your own needs and pleasures. But that will never stop me from adoring you, Matthias. I'm content for it to only be on my side but when I think of you being troubled by others it doesn't stop my desire to protect you."

Ah, Gaja’s so pleased when Nam takes the mask off. He’s truly too lovely to be obscuring his face. Not that the phoenix needs to see it to know its every detail. Were he so inclined, Gaja could draw Nam’s face in his sleep. In this form or his true form. A few seconds pass in which the phoenix simply admires Nam. Then, he, too, removes his mask. It didn’t say anywhere on the invitation that they’re required at all times.

Gaja heaves a sigh and gives a mournful shake of his head. “I am resigned to my fate,” he laments. But there’s a playfulness in his eyes, one most often drawn out by his dragon. “I’ve suffered your company for this long. I suppose I can suffer it longer.”

Oh. Oh, he’s being very earnest. Almost too earnest. Matthias long wondered if there weren’t some feelings on Sam’s part. Maybe not romantic, but something still more than platonic. He never asked because he didn’t need to know. Feelings only mattered when he could toy with them and, truly, he had no desire to play those kinds of games with Sam. Sam knew exactly what Matthias was. The wolf didn’t need to be manipulated to give Matthias what he needed. So there was no need for Matthias to worm into his inner life.

“You don’t need my protection, either. You have it, nonetheless.”

Alright, let’s just avoid that whole feelings part. Matthias knew he was a selfish creature. It’s the nature of most demons. Sam didn’t need him to confirm what they both knew was true. Nor did Sam need him to deny how much he enjoyed being adored. Being on the receiving side of whatever undefined feelings Sam had has had Matthias basking like a cat in midday sunshine for years, decades! One of the reasons he was so comfortable with Sam was because Sam never expected any reciprocation. Nevermind that Matthias actually did consider the wolf as something of a friend.

Yes, yes. Every word Damian uttered made sense in Iseul heart. It didn’t matter that his body felt weak, that his legs were boneless and he could only stay upright thanks to the tree behind him and Damian pressed against him. It didn’t matter that his mind still felt foggy, that he was drunk on his desire. He knew with all the certainty that the sun would rise, that the moon would wax and wane, that he wanted to spend his eternity with Damian. Loving Damian, not locked in some silly battle of wills.

One arm slipped from the vampire’s shoulders so Iseul could trace the curve of his cheek. His skin felt warmer now, perhaps a combination of the fresh blood and exertion? Iseul couldn’t know. Some of the haze cleared from Iseul’s eyes and his focus sharpened before he nodded.

“Always, my unholy angel.”

There it is. His phoenix's lovely face in full view. Now he can truly appreciate the way the gold from his eyes seems to have spilled out onto his face. He once again reaches out to brush his fingers over the flecks of gold, though this time it's the ones beneath his eyes. This time it's the one he didn't get to touch before.

Nam pulls his hand from the bird's face and instead covers his own mouth as he chuckles softly at Gaja's display. "That's the spirit. You can go back to your world travels tomorrow and leave me to my river, all you have to do is make it through this singular night in the company of a common water snake." Though there's an unspoken hope that Nam will get to see Gaja tomorrow as well.

Oh, he will definitely be seeing Gaja tomorrow. For such creatures as them, months pass by like hours. One evening alone will hardly be enough to satisfy Gaja before he goes wandering again. No, he’ll accompany Nam back to his river and reside nearby for some time before his wanderlust returns. That’s usually how it goes. And when he’s travelling? The urge to return to Nam’s river grows day by day, month by month until he’s drawn back.

“I suppose I can give you just one night.”

It really wasn’t like him to be forward like that, but it felt like that was what Tiras meant with his body language and proximity. At least, that’s what Snake thought, what with Tiras’ passive abilities working on him. Even with Iseul’s charm, Snake’s only human and they’re in a less crowded room...

When Tiras shifted into his lap, Snakes hands moved immediately to rest on those slim hips, urging the incubus closer. He wore so little, Snake could feel his body heat so easily and it seemed to just melt into him, burning through him. When did it get so warm in here?

He sat up straighter, only so he could be closer to Tiras. To make that kiss deeper so he could sweep his tongue into the wet heat of his mouth and map out the terrain. Oh, yes, there’s definitely lust boiling just under skin, sitting heavy in his mouth and his eyes. But underlying all of that, everything conjured up by Tiras’ natural abilities, is a genuine admiration.

That was...not what he expected to hear. He didn't want to believe that Matthias suddenly had feelings for him. That couldn't be possible. But the fact that he would want to protect him? And it really felt like he meant it as more than just to keep his food source safe as well. So Sam was quiet for a moment to process before he had to shake his head.

No. At most they were likely to only ever be friends. He had to be content with that. He was content with that.

Right?

The wolf smiled a little and reached to take the hand that was holding his arm. Giving it a squeeze, he looked over at the demon, tilting his head a little bit as he did so. "Thank you. That is very kind of you. I'm glad that I have you in my life, Matthias. I really would be lost without you."

Always. His unholy angel.

The words wrapped around him like a warm blanket and Damian leaned in to press a kiss to his lips as he sighed softly. Then he smiled a little and he nodded. He didn't need to hesitate or think on this further. He knew what he wanted and what would feel right. And it felt so good to have that confidence in his answer.

"Yes. I will. Please let me share a bed with you as well when we rest. So I'll know you're close."

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❝ Masquerade ❞

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