❝ Masquerade ❞

[vowelsinyourheart]

{ 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.

Comments

Sam

[hwarangalpha]

The werewolf hadn't been given an invitation but he had come as a guest of another who had been invited. Given how he preferred to keep his head down in the modern world, he wasn't surprised that this was how it turned out. But that didn't mean he felt insulted or wouldn't use the chance to go out shopping to dress himself properly. He was a werewolf who adored fashion after all.

Towering over many people around him, he easily stood out. But he looked handsome in his suit and mask while doing it. Sam was polite to everyone he spoke with, definitely drawing eyes to him due to how handsome he was even with the mask.

He did seem to have a sadness in his eyes though. One very old and one that had clearly been there a long while. Still, he smiled and worked his way through the party, sometimes watching a certain demon across the room...

[vowelsinyourheart]

At some point before vanishing from sight, Iseul makes it a point to chat with most, if not all, of his guests. His focus is on those he doesn't know well or at all. Those are the people he chooses to spend more time with, trying to get some knowledge of who they are and taking note. There's no interaction too small that it can't be leveraged at some point with enough time and effort.

He wanders close to Sam once, looking very much like he intends to engage him in conversation before sharply veering off in another direction. Thankfully, given Sam's height, it isn't easy to lose him in the crowd. A few minutes later, when Iseul appears in front of him again, he has a folding stepstool in hand. Without a word of explanation, and as if it's the most commonplace of things to do, he merely unfolds the stool, sets it directly in front of Sam, and then steps on it.

"Greetings, dear guest," he intones with a polite smile that does nothing to brighten his eyes. However, the words and his cordial tone should indicate that Iseul is the host of this event. "I do hope you're enjoying the hospitality. Though," he pauses, looking thoughtful. "I'm afraid I've not yet had th e pleasure of making your acquaintance."

[hwarangalpha]

Sam could smell the fae on this one and was sure that he was likely the host. Turning to him, he paused in smiling when he realized...was that a step stool? He blinked a few times then let out a soft laugh before offering the host a polite bow in greeting.

"Thank you for coming to speak with me, good host. I am Sam and I was brought here by Matthias. You have my gratitude for allowing me to come enjoy your party. It's been some time since I last was able to attend a fancy gathering." A very, very, very long time. But he didn't elaborate on that presently.

[vowelsinyourheart]

"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."

[hwarangalpha]

"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.

[vowelsinyourheart]

“Matthias,” he repeated, looking thoughtful. Then recognition pours over his face. “Ah, yes.” The demon. Even still, his gaze followed Sam’s just to ensure he was thinking of the correct creature.

“I will be sure to make a note of that for next time.” He’ll send Sam his own invitation, just to be safe. Iseul wasn’t going to make presumptions about the nature of their relationship. Long-lived things like them get lonely and often wind in the company of other long-lived things for a time… or forever. Who can say?

“Needless to say, you’ll be a welcomed guest, Sam.” Not just someone’s +1.

[hwarangalpha]

"Thank you. I'll work hard to keep it that way. I wouldn't wish to cause you any trouble."

One thing he knew how to do was always be polite with the fae. They were very particular about manners. If you were polite to them and their people? Then they would treat you well. It was always just a matter of navigating the system. It reminded him of dealing with royalty really.

"I own a bar in the city. Please feel free to ask for me should you ever visit. It's called The Howling Moon."

[vowelsinyourheart]

Oh, this wolf wouldn’t cause him any trouble. Iseul didn’t tolerate trouble, especially in his home. His judgment is swift and decisive. But he doesn’t worry about what may be. Iseul’s guests behave themselves or they’re never his guests again, end of story.

And this one doesn’t seem like the sort to start trouble. Finish it, perhaps, but not a troublemaker himself.

“The Howling Moon,” he repeated. “I shall definitely call on you there.” Though, Iseul doesn’t drink alcohol. He won’t be rude. Sam met him in his domain, he can do him the same honor.

“Do keep an eye on the demon. That one is trouble.”

[hwarangalpha]

"Aren't all demons?"

But there was a fondness in his voice for this demon. He looked over at him and he watched him for a time before shaking his head.

"I've known him since the 1800s. I won't let him cause trouble for you." As for himself? Well, he knew that Matthias might do that but he didn't mind. He could handle it. Would gladly handle it even.

"Right now he's just having a good time."

[vowelsinyourheart]

A single brow inched toward Iseul’s hairline. “You associate with more than one of them?” That’s concerning. It took everything Iseul had not to ask specifically what kind of demon Sam’s companion was. He doesn’t know Matthias well. Maybe he should do a little more research into the people in his Rolodex.

“I shall hold you to that,” he replied in a low tone. At least he knew from previous encounters the demon didn’t usually push the bounds of his hospitality. He doesn’t seem the sort to be malevolent for his own sake. Still.. demons weren’t to be trifled with. Nor were they to be trusted.

[hwarangalpha]

"Not regularly. But I've been alive long enough to have met a few." Something not very common for his kind. Wolves were immortal, yes. However they didn't to get involved in more disputes than many other supernaturals which meant that they typically didn't age to be as old as he was. Something he was well aware of.

"I've only associated with him for over a hundred years now at this point."

[vowelsinyourheart]

Over a century with a demon? Iseul hasn’t known of them to stick around for that long. But he’s only ever met them in passing. What he knew about them was second-hand information at best. Still, for creatures such as themselves, a hundred years wasn’t long at all.

Something like genuine concern slipped into his voice. “Look out for yourself.” Even if this one specific demon wasn’t troublesome… they attracted trouble. “Anyway,” he waved a hand and his demeanor returned to its cooler, more distant norm. “Please enjoy yourself while you are here. If there is anything I can provide for you this evening, you have only to ask.”

[hwarangalpha]

"Of course. Though please make sure to enjoy your own party too. I know that being a host can make one get lost in the hospitality and I'd hate for that to happen to you."

He smiled kindly at the fae and bowed his head politely to him. After all he'd never ask him to stop being hospitable. That wasn't in the nature of the creature. But he could still wish him well and that was all he wanted of his generous host.

it's time!

[dangernoodle]

Sometime between his encounter with Tiras and Sam leaving the party with his demon in tow, Snake managed to come across him. He’s pretty tall and thus hard to miss. He also seemed to be wandering alone which was as good an excuse as any to go talk to him. Snake grabbed two cups of punch and brought one over to the stranger as an offering.

He's sure everyone here knew he was the lone human. Snake’s counting on his continued good luck to avoid any bad experiences. Oh, he’s had a few in the past. That one time he met a chupacabra sprung to mind. That was one encounter he barely managed to get away from unscathed.

He doesn’t know it, but a good portion of the people here could smell Tiras on him. Maybe they didn’t know him personally, but they definitely caught a whiff of Powerful Incubus™ on this lone human as he continued to mingle. And, in all truth, he’s still feeling a little dazed from his romp with Tiras.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much food at a party,” he commented, holding out the cup to Sam.

[hwarangalpha]

He smiled down at the young human as he took the offered drink. He could smell a powerful creature all over him. In a way that marked territory rather than just an experience. Interesting. Incubi weren't common and they certainly didn't tend to mark territory. Then again they were usually considered problems and killed off pretty quickly...

Beckoning the young man to sit down, he took a seat himself, not wanting to see him continue to stand after being fed on by such a creature.

"The fae do love to provide at their parties. It would be considered rude to not have plenty to feed their guests when they invited them in the first place," he informed him. Then he tilted his head curiously. "May I ask how you got in invitation? They usually don't invite humans."

Intentionally anyway.

[dangernoodle]

Oh no, the last one who asked him to sit ended up in… Well, the most mind-blowing hook-up he’d ever had. Yes, he’s certain he’ll probably never see Tiras again in person after tonight. Little does he know. But he still felt somewhat drained so the offer of a seat was very welcome.

Snake laughed awkwardly and rubbed the back of his neck. “It wasn’t meant for me, I think. Maybe the one who lived at that address before me.” But since he’d showed up with an invitation, he couldn’t be turned away. “it’s kinda funny, I end up in situations like this a lot.”

[hwarangalpha]

"Ah you lucked into that invitation." For good or bad? Well that remained to be seen. But with the mark of that incubus on him? Well, he'd imagine it could be bad. He didn't know the creature to be able to tell but he could smell age on him. Which was so unusual for incubi and succubi. Especially with the Council around to eliminate any supernatural creature who caused problem to make their presence obvious to humans.

They probably ignored this one because he likely wasn't believed by any friends he had. Poor thing.

"Do you have an interest in our world?"

[dangernoodle]

Sam sure hit the nail on the head. Snakes blog was popular in some circles – people who are interested paranormal things and cryptids – but most readers think he’s writing some sort of serial urban fantasy fiction. Little do they know everything he writes about is true!

He lucks into a lot of things. Situations like this. And he kind of loves that. He’s very interested in the supernatural creatures of the world. Not just to check off all the sorts of non-humans he’s met, but he’s interested in them as people. How their lives are perhaps complicated by living among humans. That sort of thing.

“I do, yeah!” He even brightened a little. “I’ve been lucky to meet a lot of, um… non-humans?” No one’s ever told him if there was some proper term they liked to use. Creatures seemed a little impersonal.

[hwarangalpha]

What good luck that he was somehow still alive. He wasn't so sure that many humans survived meeting supernatural beings and being aware of what they were. Though he had a feeling that this one would last longer now that he was claimed by one who seemed to smell very, very old.

So Sam decided to let that matter go and just smiled at him. "We usually call ourselves supernaturals. It's what the Council decided we were many years ago."

[dangernoodle]

Oh, yes. Snake’s got very good luck. Eerily good luck, actually. Always has. Not that he tries to press it. It’s not like he usually goes out looking for supernatural creatures to bother. It just happens.

Snake cocked his head to the side. “You have… a governing body?”

[hwarangalpha]

"More like we try to. Something to keep us safe from those that would bring us harm because we aren't human."

Sam relaxed and watched him, wondering what it was about this human that drew creatures like him to him. Maybe some cosmic way of trying to tie the worlds together. He truly had no idea really.

[dangernoodle]

Snake often wondered that, too. He wasn’t unhappy about it; no, indeed, quite the opposite.

He nodded in understanding. It made sense to him that there would be some worry for their collective safety. It made Snake wonder if this Council was monitoring him since he wrote about the supernaturals he met openly. Maybe it was a good thing; most average people assumed he was writing fiction.

“It’s too bad we can’t all just live together… Human beings can’t even live and let live, though, so I get it.”

[hwarangalpha]

"It's more a recent thing that we've gone into hiding actually. I remember an age where we were part of the world."

Which honestly hinted at his own age he realized. But he just smiled a little and shook his head. "I remember when I could walk down the streets and be recognized for what I was but not feared or shunned for it. But I know many places were not like that. Hence why the Council came to be built in the first place."

[dangernoodle]

“I wonder what changed,” Snake pondered aloud, though it was more to himself than to Sam. He always assumed the reason the supernatural creatures of the world went into hiding had something to do with human fear of the unknown… but haven’t there always been myths and monsters? Maybe it was more when humans stopped accepting the fantastical. After all, weren’t these creatures just as much a part of the world as humans?

“Is it hard? Having to hide, I mean.”

[hwarangalpha]

"Fear. And more powerful weapons being used in that fear." Unfortunately. It was no wonder so many creatures went into hiding. Only the most bold dared to stay out in the open and, honestly, he found them to be foolish for trying that. More and more types of creatures were going extinct each day as a result of that boldness. Something that pained him each time he realized another race was gone from the world.

"There are days it can be hard to hide, I'll admit. I was once a soldier of a king and now I run a bar. In other ways, it's very peaceful for me and I prefer that piece."