❝ 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

[unholyangel]

"I haven't."

Not that this surprised him. He hardly ever spent time with his own kind. So he really didn't know much about what was going on in their lives. Not even a little bit. And he'd never really cared either. It had just been what it was and that was fine with him. Particularly given how quick they were to tease and even mock him for his interests.

"Is he special to you?"

[tappingthevein]

“Special?” That word hardly touched the surface. “Oh no,” Laurent explained with a slow shake of his head.

He and his fox have been together for so long, he can hardly remember a time without him. Nor does he want to. Almost losing him once was hard enough. When he thought Elyas was dying, Laurent could feel his own existence shrinking. Everything went cold and first the first time in memory, fear gripped him tight and cold. For many years after, he wouldn’t let the gumiho out of his sight.

“Elyas is my reason for being.”

[unholyangel]

Oh. So it was quite serious. He had to wonder if this creature was mortal. If he was then this was a relationship doomed to tragedy. Of that he was very certain. Which he imagined would cause Laurent to fall apart when he lost him if he was truly his very reason for being.

"And where is your Elyas then? If he's so unique in your life perhaps I should know him."

Not that he and Laurent were close at all but that wasn't the point.

[tappingthevein]

“Socializing,” he sighed. His partner was a far more social creature than Laurent. The vampire glanced around the room, looking for the familiar wine-red hair. Upon spotting it, his expression softened subtly and nodded toward it. “I can make the introduction when he returns.” Which could be a while.

“What have you been getting up to?” He wasn’t completely interested, but one never knew when an interesting topic or anecdote might come up. And maybe, just maybe, he was hoping to hear something about the possible change in status between Damian and their host.

[unholyangel]

"Making arrangements for my new muse for my paintings actually. I've gotten quite involved in it lately. Iseul actually will be in a number of my future works due to a contract we made."

Though when the contract ended he was going to keep painting the fae. Because now he was his muse in so many other ways. Ways he'd never realized he wanted him to be. But he was grateful he'd discovered the fact when he had.

[tappingthevein]

Laurent chuckled quietly. “They do love their contracts, don’t they? Fae and demons alike.” He looked across the room for their host, then back to his fellow vampire. “I hope you’re getting something worthwhile out of the arrangement, as well.” He’s not trying to be nosy, he’s just heard how manipulative the Fae could be. Being something of a homebody without Elyas’ prodding, Laurent has very little experience with the Fae.

[unholyangel]

"It's a part of their very genetics it seems. But I would say that the arrangement to be worthwhile since I will get something just as exquisite and rare from him in return. An entire wardrobe prepared by his own hand." Which anyone would be envious of given the skill of the fae with cloth. He knew plenty, especially among vampires, who longed for the outfits that Iseul liked to make. And here he was going to get so many of them all to himself.

[tappingthevein]

Okay, that made Laurent gasp. His hand fluttered to cover his mouth and he stared, wide-eyed at Damian. He didn’t have much experience with fae in general, but even he knew of Iseul’s gift with cloth and a needle. Was he a little jealous? No, he was a lot jealous!

“An entire wardrobe?” His eyes darted over Damian and then grew incredulous. “For you?” Was Iseul really going to make something for Damian’s aesthetic?? Laurent couldn’t imagine.

[unholyangel]

"An entire wardrobe all for me." He smiled so wide his fangs showed. Was he a little excited? Oh he was extremely excited! The thought of having such exclusive clothes made by someone with that amount of talent? Oh they might not be quite so cute as what he usually got for himself but he had a feeling they would have equal parts of his and Iseul's flair in them.

Especially now that their relationship had suddenly changed.

[tappingthevein]

Laurent was so jealous and he could not hide it from his face. “What’s he getting out of it?” Letting Damian paint him and compensating him with a wardrobe? It didn’t seem like Iseul was getting anything out of this at all!

[unholyangel]

"He has first rights to every painting I do as well as rights to say what happens with these paintings."

So it was really quite a lot that he was getting and Damian was very pleased with the deal. After all he didn't care about keeping the paintings (even if apparently he would be now that they'd be living together).

[tappingthevein]

That made more sense, at least by Laurant's understanding of Fae contracts. Even snobby Laurant had to admit Damian's art was good.

"I do hope he doesn't intend to keep your talent all to himself. That would be a shame."

[unholyangel]

Damian wasn't used to other vampires acknowledging him any fashion. So for a moment he paused, schooling his features so he wouldn't reveal the surprise written there. When he recovered he smiled again.

"Oh? Did you want one of my pieces?"

[tappingthevein]

"Perhaps," he drawled casually. "If Iseul has first claim to them, shouldn't I be dealing with him?"

[unholyangel]

"If you'd like to. At least to get his permission. After that you would still have to deal with me since I am the artist and have a say on if I agree or not."

There was something nice about having that kind of power after years of being looked down upon by his own kind too.

[tappingthevein]

"Will it not offend him if I deal with you first, since we're already speaking." The Fae, he knew, were sticklers for that sort of propriety. Offending one was not something Laurent wanted to willingly do.

[unholyangel]

"You haven't made me an offer yet nor have I agreed to anything. There is no reason for him to be upset when no business has taken place." Of that he was very certain. If they'd actually agreed to or planned anything that might be another story. But so far? None of that had taken place.

"So you are free to ask him first for permission."

[tappingthevein]

"I shall. I wouldn't wish to cause offense to you or to him." But Laurent was in the market for new art to change up his home. And, well, he was actually impressed with Damian's skill. "Perhaps you'd do me the honor of speaking with us together? It would make the business easier."

[unholyangel]

"It would. I would be glad to do so. It would be nice to hear what he has to say too. Then I can be sure the deal is properly made." After years of dealing with a fae it was easy to understand how they worked. And, more than that, he loved to watch his love work.

His love. Ah what a beautiful ring that had to it.

[tappingthevein]

Other vampires may be too snobbish to include Damian, but what has this to do with being vampires? This is merely Laurent including an artists in the potential purchase of art. So what if it happened to be one so many of them laughed at? Laurent himself was a bit of a hermit and had little to do with his kind, either, so why should he care what the others think?

Reaching into his his pocket, be produced his calling card and offered it to Damian. "I'm sure tonight is not a good time to discuss business matters. Please feel free to ring me to set up a more opportune evening."