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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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.”

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."

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.”

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.”

There may be a slight worry that the phoenix had been mid-travel when the invitation to the masquerade came along, and that he would be itching to get back to it once the night ended. With months feeling like hours, a single night passes in the blink of an eye. To spend just one night together would be just a tease of the bird's company and the loss of it come morning would be more deeply felt by the dragon than usual. Of course Nam could simply ask him to stay a while longer and likely will before the night ends (or rather find out that the bird does indeed intend to go home with him after the masquerade) but to be so upfront about it so early into the evening just feels so unlike them.

Nam climbs to his feet and his expression says that he wants Gaja to do the same before he ever has to speak the words. "If a single night is all that you can stomach in exchange for the beautiful gift, then I don't intend to spend it sitting here, watching you rip apart meat like an animal."

Nam is right. It’s far too early in their reunion for either of them to admit to missing and wanting to be near the other. One night would pass in the blink of an eye for them. The dragon needn’t know yet of his phoenix’s plans to remain with him for a time. An undisclosed amount of time that would end when Gaja’s wanderlust resurfaced. He’s been traveling for a while now and his desire to return to Nam is irresistible. Leaving him now is out of the question.

When Nam rises, Gaja’s eyes follow him, full of curiosity. And maybe a bit wary that the dragon is about to leave his side. His eyes go wider and a little pout bows his lips.

“... But I’m hungry…”

Things would be so much simpler for them if they were to just stop with all these games, stop playing coy and admit sooner how much they enjoy each others company. Oh they usually concede eventually. One will crack and admit to wanting to see the other for just a little longer, and the other will often echo the sentiment, but getting there is a slow process. In the meantime, instead of sharing how he feels, Nam will just fret over the idea that this is his one and only night with the bird before he disappears once more. He will let the very idea of it eat away at him for most of the night and when it gets to be utterly unbearable, that's when he'll finally ask Gaja to come home with him, unless Gaja gets to him first.

"I hear tell that plates are rather portable. It'll allow you to bring some food along with you."

But Nam, did you not see the bird using both hands to rip his food apart? How can he possibly carry a plate and eat? That little pout remains as he peers up at Nam with wide, sad doe eyes.

“So you’re not asking me to dance?”

Perhaps it was too early in the evening for that. Too early for complete softness. Much of their game involves wearing the other’s edges down. Still, he doesn’t want to waste too much time. So, with a dramatic huff, Gaja stands and makes a show of grabbing his place, clutching the dish in both hands.

“Where do you want to go?”

Ah but that's part of it! If Gaja only has one hand available, he can't as easily eat like a feral creature. Were his eating habits not an absolute travesty, Nam might actually offer to hold the plate for him as he ate. As it stands, however, he would not even dream of encouraging such a thing.

At least when Nam does it, it's in the comfort of his own space!

"Mm I'd considered it but you said you're hungry so I suppose not. It'll be difficult for you to dance with a plate in your hands!"

Oh, they're dance before the night is out, but it's true that it's too early in the evening for such things. Those are things best left for when both sides have agreed to a truce and the game is temporarily on hold. Soft, tender moments are for when they put the claws away. They'll dance, just not yet.

"The wanderer suddenly needs a destination? Just walk with me."

But, Nam, he is a feral creature! Who ever heard of a domesticated phoenix? Woefully, Gaja opts to simply leave the plate behind. He highly doubts their host will allow the party to run out of food. He can always come back for more later when Nam softens.

Until then, Gaja fixes him with an offended look. “I don’t presume the old crocodile enjoys wandering aimlessly. Especially when he hardly ever leaves his abode.” The bird huffs, but holds out an arm for Nam to take. If they’re going to walk, he at least wants others to know the dragon is his companion for the evening.

The phoenix can be quite possessive.

Nam would argue that he's now only half feral at best! He'll never be truly domesticated, but it seems that his days of being fully feral are long since gone.

"I've been known to aimlessly wander and enjoy it." It's perhaps not aimless wandering in the way the phoenix may mean, but it still in just that in the strictest meaning of the idea. He gives himself boundaries, distances he won't often travel outside of. He wanders within those limits, but can it really still be called that at that point? Even still, aimless wandering inside of a home seems perfect for him.

"Someone needs to watch over my home. Who'd do it in my absence? A lowly pigeon?" He cants his head ever so slightly to one side and raises a single brow. He can't help but laugh quietly, then, at the bird's huff as he takes holds of the offered arm. Despite how things might often appear between them to onlookers, he'd also like others to know that he's the phoenix's companion for the evening.

The phoenix is the only one permitted to posses him.

What Nam considers to be wandering is vastly different from Gaja’s idea of it. There are no boundaries for the phoenix. His travels take him across the globe, to the most rural countrysides and the busiest cities! Humans are ever-changing creatures and there’s always something new and exciting to catch Gaja’s interest.

But Nam is exciting, too, in a way that other people and places cannot be. Nam is the light that beckons Gaja home. He never feels more comfortable than when he’s with his dragon.

“I wouldn’t dream of spending my time watching over a river! In case you’ve forgotten, I am a creature of fire.”

But he’s happy when Nam takes his arm and leaves the table, food forgotten. “I understand our host has a magnificent garden,” Gaja pauses to glance at Nam from the corner of his eye. “Though, I don’t know if an old crocodile can appreciate flowers.”

There are times when Nam wishes he could see and experience the new and exciting ways the humans have changed the world around him. He's gotten tastes of it in his far less interesting travels, and Gaja has been kind enough to tell about the world when he's decided to ask, but it still gives him little idea of what the world at large is like. His own imagination can only take him so far when he doesn't know what he's trying to imagine.

No, he doesn't get to see the changes the humans make to the world around them, he just gets to see the changes the humans have undergone, themselves. It's not been a pleasant experience. Not for the dragon.

"A creature of fire with one of water on his arm!" Fire and water. A combination that shouldn't work. Two creatures who should be opposed to each other, but instead care deeply for one another. Creatures who should be glad to be separated, but miss each other when they are. A combination that shouldn't work but does.

"I'm sure I can appreciate the flowers far better than some silly bird can. Take me out to see them."

Fire and water is what started their old rivalry. A very long time ago, a much younger phoenix crashed near a certain dragon’s river. Gaja’s life cycle is never exactly one-hundred years to the day. No, that would make his life far, too easy. However, the closer he gets to that inevitable moment, the weaker he grows. It was a dangerous meeting as he didn’t know if Nam would be a threat to him in his weakest moments. Of course, he didn’t burn right there on the banks. Gaja managed to stagger off for that. To a secluded place where his ashes would be left in peace until he emerged from them again.

It took many, many centuries to get where they are now. From the outside, it looks like little has changed. But they know better. What else matters?

Gaja feigns offense, shooting a mock glare at Nam.

“Many birds have a great appreciation of flowers! Some common water snake might try to eat them.”

A day that's forever burned into Nam's memory. The phoenix crashing down on the bank of his river and Nam worrying that the bird would burn his home. Only then would Nam have been a threat to the vulnerable phoenix. The opportunity is rare when the dragon feels the need to strike first. So he watched the bird closely while preparing to defend himself from the flames. They never came but still, Nam watched. First the bird, then the direction he stumbled off in. He'd not slept but rather, just watched until he was certain the bird was gone. Watched until he was certain his home was safe.

Nam watched until he knew the bird was safe. Did he ever tell Gaja that part? Oh well, it doesn't matter now.

"Some common water snake would prefer to eat the birds over the flowers."

Even that day, Gaja was careful where he ended his life cycle. He prefers secluded areas so his ashes will be safe, but also places without a great deal of trees or underbrush. While his is not mundane fire, it can still easily set such things ablaze in his burning. Oh, how horrible he would feel if something like were to happen again?

He has no idea that Nam watched over him from the beginning. Would it have changed anything? Probably not. They were never enemies, but they certainly didn’t begin as friends. The way some see it, they still aren’t. But what do they know of the intricacies of these two immortals? What would outsiders know of their bond built over centuries?

“Creatures have been known to choke on bird bones.”

Rivals, but never enemies. Creatures of opposing elements. They never should have gotten closer - and some would say that they never have - but they did. Over the years, things changed between them. Oh, they're still rivals, but they're also more than that now. They're something that's hard for Nam to define. Or perhaps something that he simply would prefer not to define. They know what they are to each other. It doesn't need to be spelled out.

Rivals who are so much more than rivals. Isn't that just a part of what makes it all so interesting?

"Creatures who are much weaker than I am, perhaps."

“What a gut you must have to be able to digest bone,” he mused. “No wonder you’re so indiscriminating in what you eat.”

Gaja hums thoughtfully, leading Nam through the house to the back door leading to their host’s gardens. Of course, there’s not much to see at night (and finding one’s way through the maze of hedges will lead to invading on the host’s very private moment, a sure way to break the rules of hospitality the Fae cling to so dearly).

Thus, they have to settle for enjoying the topiaries and please aesthetics of the garden’s arrangements. Oh, and of course the scent of the flowers still wafting through the air. The lanterns hung throughout, providing enough to light to allow Iseul’s guests to wander without worry of crushing his precious plants.

“What are those flowers that grow by your river, Nam?”

"Some stories have us eating and digesting entire humans, you know." Granted, those stories are about different dragons in different places, but it suits his purposes for the moment.

For a moment, Nam closes his eyes, trusting Gaja not to lead him astray. He's just taking in the scents of the flowers around him. It's beautiful, really. As lovely as Iseul's home is, Nam much prefers it out here in the garden. He's always been much more of an outdoor creature. While not usually a problem, he starts to feel a little cooped up after spending too long inside. He prefers to be out in the open air.

As Nam opens his eyes once more, he looks down at the necklace once more, bringing his free hand up to slide beneath the gems to hold them away from his chest. It allows him to see the stones better, and the way they catch the lantern light. Absolutely beautiful. Gaja really outdid himself this time. When the bird speaks again, Nam lets his hand drop, allowing the necklace to fall back against his chest and he turns his attention to his companion. The way the phoenix looks in the lantern light is absolutely breathtaking. He frees himself from Gaja and steps out in front of him, head canting to one side as he gazes up at the beautiful bird.

"Oh, the little pink cosmos flowers, you mean?" he responds almost absently as he reaches up to run his fingers back through the front of Gaja's hair, pushing it back from his face. What a truly magnificent creature.

Gaja cringes. “Disgusting. Why would anyone want to eat a human?”

The phoenix feels much the same about the indoors. Too much time under a roof and enclosed in four walls makes him feel like a caged bird. It makes him restless, longing to stretch his legs or his wings in the open air. Even when he visits human cities, he prefers to stay outdoors as much as possible. Sure, he’ll sleep in a hotel or some such, but for the most part, he’s out in the world.

But tonight? His focus is on the dragon. It’s been some time since they’ve seen each other and he wants to keep his memories of Nam fresh in mind. Those gold-flecked eyes watch him, titling his head as only birds do. He delights in the way Nam admires the jewels he gifted. This lighting catches them differently than the electric light inside Iseul’s house. It makes it shine like the stars up above them.

His eyes brighten and a broad smile splits across his face.

“Yes! Those are the ones! I would like to see them again soon.” Is that his way of saying he wants to come visit Nam again? Of course not! Why would he want that? Gross!

"Only source of food, perhaps? Though I think I would turn to eating flowers first."

Nam lets his hand fall from Gaja's hair, down to just lay it flat against his chest. Lost is the whole pretense of admiring the feathers that the bird has adorned himself with. These fake feathers have nothing on the phoenix's natural plumage anyway. For a time, he completely loses himself in looking at Gaja, eyes following the gold up the side of his face up to his eyes, which catch the light beautifully. At time like these, in a setting such as this, it's so easy to start showing how soft he truly is for the bird.

Then he presses his lips together and clears his throat as he pulls his hand back. Without a word about it, he returns to the bird's side and takes his arm once more.

"They're at their most beautiful this time of year, you know." Is that his way of saying he wants Gaja to come and visit sooner rather than later? Of course not! Awful.

“Are they?” He cants his head curiously, watching Nam as the dragon simply stares at him. It’s moments like this when it’s plain for all to see that they are more than mere rivals. More than just long-suffering acquaintances. All their sharp edges fall away and Gaja finds himself truly breathless, gazing back at Nam.

And as spontaneously as it happened, the spell breaks.

Continuing on their walk through the garden, Gaja offers the smallest of eager grins. “Are they? Perhaps I’ll accompany you back to your river… just to see them.” It’s entirely about the flowers. Why would he care about an old crocodile’s company?

Most times, outside observers would have a hard time imagining that they're anything but bitter rivals while there are other times when those around them would find their rivalry hard to believe. Look at the way they look at either other, listen to the tone of their voices when they speak, pay attention to the soft touches they think no one else sees. Their rivalry isn't much of a rivalry at all.

As they walk, Nam reaches out to lightly brush his fingers against some of the plants they pass. Gorgeous, each and every one of them. He's not really giving them the attention they deserve, however. It's merely a distraction, a way to keep himself from getting lost in his phoenix's beauty. He does spare a glance for the bird, however, when he speaks and offers a grin of his own.

"If you'd like to see them, then that would be best. You wouldn't want to miss out." There's an almost imperceptible change to his tone, a sudden lightness to it that none other than those who know him very well might notice. It sounds like this isn't to be his only night with Gaja, after all. His happiness at the prospect may be subdued, but it's still there.

Ah, but what care have these two ancient beings for the thoughts of outside observers? Whatever they see is little more than the metaphorical tip of the iceberg, mere fleeting glances of something much older and deeper than they could possibly imagine. It’s a relationship forged and reforged over and over again across time immemorial. How could anyone understand that without experiencing all of its intricacies and complications themselves?

They couldn’t.

The change in Nam may be imperceptible to most, but to Gaja it was like the change from darkness to midday light. Nam wants him to visit, wants to welcome him once more, in his way, to his precious river lands. And what was that land, that water without Nam? If not for Nam? It’s nothing without him.

A bright smile spread over Gaja’s face. Why hide his pleasure at being able to spend more time in a place that’s grown precious to him? It’s important to Nam, so it’s become important to the phoenix over the centuries. Gaja doesn’t consider himself sentimental over places or things, but this place is an exception.

“Ah, ah~,” he sighed. “I didn’t plan for a visit. I have no offering to give the river spirit.”

❝ Masquerade ❞

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