❝ 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

[unseely]

Kellan's eyes drift after Suho first, then Sumin, each in their turn when they wander away from him. But only for a few second. He could never neglect the brother who remains behind with him. In the time Suho's away, the Prince leans closer to Sumin, flicking a worried look his way.

"We don't have to stay long if you do not wish it, my darling. This is the Princess's wish, not mine. She may be a brat, but she dares not disobey me when I play chaperone." If Sumin seems at all worn or discomfort, if Kellan cannot make an escape, he will merely prevail upon the laws of hospitality and insist their host provide Kellan's precious sun a quiet room in which to rest.

His easy smile returns when Suho does. Oh, how easily he smiles with his dear twins. For others, it's merely polite, a duty required of his station. Reaching out for the offered wine, Kellan makes no effort to hide the intentional way he brushes his fingers against Suho's with warm affection. Then his eyes sweep toward the long banquet table, seeking out a place for the three of them to sit when Sumin rejoins them.

"Perhaps we'll try them all," he quips with a grin. "Then we shall dance!"

[dissimilis]

Sumin's eyes follow his brother as he scampers off toward the food and drink, then he turns his attention back to his beloved prince, whose shoulder he rests his head on for a moment with his eyes closed. He just needs a brief minute to relax, to decompress, to feel his Kellan against him. The stress of the princess' impromptu fashion show had already started to dissipate once they'd finally arrived here, but getting to just exist near his prince with no more external stressors is helping.

Being around Kellan is always rather relaxing.

He opens his eyes and slowly lifts his head to look up at the enchanting fae he's currently attached to. Then he shakes his head and glances over at his brother as the over-eager pup samples the various foods. "I'm okay now." For now. That could change as the night wears on, though. He's not the night owl that his brother is and he's a little pricklier around people than Suho. Suho is a bit of a social thing but Sumin is far more of a one owner dog. "We can stay awhile. Suho looks like he's already enjoying himself and I don't want to take that away from him."

Upon Suho's return, Sumin looks up at the prince and then separates himself from the fae to walk over and secure a glass of wine for himself and his brother. The same wine that Suho grabbed for Kellan. He's not even quite back yet when he takes a few drinks from his own glass. It's pretty good, actually! He smiles around the rim of his glass at Kellan as he holds out the untouched wine to his brother.

"Oh, yes! That's a - thank you, Min! - that's a great idea! I would love to dance. And then maybe we can find a nice, quiet place to sit down for a little while." Suho gets everything out before Sumin even has a chance to lower his glass.

"And maybe a bite to eat while we sample the wines."

[unseely]

Ah, how these two bring him such peace. Twins, yes, but like two sides of a coin. His beautiful sun and moon. At least tonight, the three of them could enjoy themselves with minimal duty to get in the way. Oh, yes, the Prince has to watch out for his sister, but that's an easy enough task. She's a brat but not a troublemaker. Nor are there any particular threats to her here. And Kellan will, in secret, do his best to steer his beloveds away from her. How selfish of him to want to enjoy a party without any obligation weighing on him with Suho and Sumin alone.

Kellan finds a spot near the end of the table where the three of them can sit and leads the twins there. He places his glass and the plate of fruits down and settles into a chair. "One of us should stay here to save our seats." Kellan would happily eat anything they brought him, he's not picky about that. Or he could fill his own plate when they return.

[diversus]

The prince and his guard dogs, rather. Kellan won't be watching out for his sister alone. There's little that he has to do alone. Even as Kellan tries throughout the night to keep them separate from her, they will keep as watchful an eye over her and their prince. Even poor Sumin who is too often very easily exhausted by her.

When Kellan sets his glass and plate down on the table, Suho steals back one of the delicious looking fruits with a grin. He reaches over for his brother's glass of wine to set down on the table along with his own, then grabs his hand, just as Sumin is about to take a seat next to their beautiful fae. "You can here with our seats while Min and I get us all some food okay?"

Sumin glowers at his brothers as he tries to pull his hand free, then he glances down toward the prince, his eyes pleading behind the mask. Help him. "Suho, you can at least let go of my hand. I'll come with you."

"No~" Suho chirps as he tugs his brother closer. "Wait here for us. We'll be right back."

Suho tugs Sumin along with him, not releasing his grip on his brother until he's reached some food that caught his eye. They grab two plates eat and grab a little bit of everything that looks particularly good. For their own plates, repetition isn't a concern, but of their secondary plates, they're careful not to choose the same food. A wide variety of choices for their Kellan. Meats and cheese, breads, vegetables, more fruits, each appetizing little morsel finding a home on one plate or another until all four of them are full (though not heaping. They don't want to chance wasting food!).

Upon their return, each twin sets down their own plate and then another in front of Kellan before they take their seats on either side of him.

"I hope you like what we brought for you."

"There's plenty more that we didn't manage to get to if you'd prefer something else."

[unseely]

Kellan’s never alone, not when his beloved twins are near. He knows they’ll look after Yileana, even without anyone asking them to do so. They’re so loyal to their Prince, and thus, the Court. And Kellan is so very loyal to them. He’ll have no others, now or ever.

He flashes Suho a small grin when he snatches the piece of fruit. It fades quickly as the Prince pretends to give him a chastising look. He truly doesn’t mind. What’s his also belongs to these two. He’ll deny them nothing. Even before Suho suggests it, he’s sure his moon is about to drag his sun away with him.

Poor Sumin. These social events always drain him. But Kellan won’t deny the brothers their time together.

The Fae’s eyes never leave them as they fill up several plates. For themselves, of course, and also for him. Once they’re seated, Kellan reaches out a hand to each of them, sharing a fond smile at each twin. “You brought my favorites,” he mused warmly. “And delicious food, as well. Thank you.”

[dissimilis]

Sumin reaches out for Kellan's hand once he settles in next to his beautiful fae prince, threading their fingers together. On the other side of Kellan, Suho does much the same, only he grasps Kellan's hand and then wraps himself around the prince's arm. Laying his head against Kellan's arm, Sumin closes his eyes for a moment. Despite all the people milling about, it's not impossible to shut them out for a few moments, to allow him a few extra moments before he simply has to escape. He knows that both Kellan and Suho will likely follow him once he excuses himself from their current social engagement and even though both are always willing to accommodate him, he simply doesn't want to do that. Not just yet. So he just closes his eyes, blocking out his view of the people, and he focuses on Kellan. The sound of his voice and breathing, the way he feels, his scent. Of course there is also the ever comforting, ever familiar presence of his brother just on the other side of their shared prince. A helpful focal point for shutting out the world.

"Your favourites for our favourite," he responds, opening his eyes to look up at Kellan as Suho confirms the sentiment with an affirmative sound.

With both of Kellan's hands currently occupied, Sumin takes it upon himself to grab a piece of fruit with his free hand and hold it up for Kellan to eat. "Care for some of the delicious food?"

[unseely]

Anyone who might gaze on the three would find the Prince absolutely serene. How could he be anything but with his sun and moon beside him? His precious, adoring bulgae. How empty his life would be without them. They are, for him, a fulfillment, people for him to love and adore completely removed from his duties to the Court.

His.

And each other’s. Their love for one another sustained him in his dark hours. Knowing that neither would be alone when he couldn’t be present is a salve on his soul. Kellan peers at each in turn, tilting his head one way then the other to press his cheek against each twin’s hair.

The smile he answers with is warm and loving, the sort of expression given only to these two and his younger sister. “Sumin, my love, you spoil me so.” It isn’t a yes or a no, but he does open his mouth for the fruit which should be signal enough that he welcomes being fed and doted on by the bulgae brothers.