deathsmajesty | Halloween Party, Creepy But Nowhere Near Abandoned Mansion, Tuesday Night

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deathsmajesty

After basically being dared to do it by Tony Stark (and putting in six weeks of renovations, bless Hannibal for the contractor), Liliana, dressed as an empress, hair pulled back in a profusion of curls by her angelic headpiece, was ready to throw her first Fandom party. Sure, it was for a holiday she didn't really understand, but she'd heard enough about it to make due: there was supposed to be candy and people were supposed to be in costume. Done. Everything else was just the same as a regular party, right?

Granted, the last party she'd hosted had actually been for a bunch of vampires and that had been seventy years ago on a completely different plane, but bah, details. You had food to eat, music to dance to, dark corners to sneak off to, and either enough witty people or enough alcohol to keep the conversation flowing. Liliana was hoping that there would be plenty of the former showing up, but just in case, she'd made sure to stock plenty of the latter.

Though her newly refurbished ballroom was actually very light and airy, she had done her best to recreate some of the spookiest elements she'd seen in her travels. The dancefloor was covered in about a foot of heavy fog that swirled and eddied with every movement. While most of the chandeliers were shrouded in fabric and false webbing, she personally found the main chandelier was decorated in something she much more unnerving. Black and red candles flickered about the room held by ghostly hands, dripping skulls, and the occasional elegant standing candelabra. One of the few concessions to magic she'd used tonight was to have the candles lit with tongues of false fire, which provided light but no heat. And they glowed blues and greens and purples, which was a nice effect. Red roses were placed upside down in vases, while more questionable arrangements sat in decorative vases. Out of deference to her guests' ~~squeamishness~~ sensibilities, all creepy critters, skeletons, and dead bodies were all cunningly crafted fakes, not a single real bone or drop of blood in the place.

Other than, of course, what her guests brought in with them. And should they leave with fewer of either than they'd come in with, well, that was hardly her fault. Probably.

Arrive and Mingle / Photos / Dark Corners [NFB] / Refreshments / Dance / Gardens / OOC

[~~Please hold for~~ OCD up! Do the thing!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

deathsmajesty

For those who hadn't been to her home yet, she hadn't had to do much with the exterior to make it fit the theme. The gate was set right before the bend in Phoenix Way, making it look like a desolate stretch to continue through. Sooner than one might expect (especially if one takes a rickshaw, there were several explicitly hired by Liliana to provide transportation for folks who might not have realized the distance), the front of the house could be seen, but the trail of flickering lanterns lead around the side instead, taking the guests into the overgrown gardens, lit up for your safety.

The double doors to the ballroom are opened up wide to the night, spilling out music and candlelight, and bidding you come inside.

Welcome! Arrive and mingle as is the tradition!

From:

chef_chocobro

While Ignis' costume that evening* was clearly meant to be a mirror to the theme of Liliana's, it was hardly as lush or luxuriant as hers, which was absolutely fine. After all, it would be quite rude to try and upstage the party's hostess. He was mostly just here to judge the catering, enjoy Liliana's noted excellent taste for wine, and, well....never mind the rest. No need to mince details, really.

___________________________
*Actual costumes should be considered much fancier and finer than they appear.

From:

deathsmajesty

"Hello, my darling," Liliana said, voice cool and collected as ever. And even though she had been present when the costume was ordered and had been instrumental in helping choose most of the details, she still had to pause to admire him in it. "You do cut a fine--" A pause as she leaned in to examine the costume more closely, one of the small alterations he'd done himself once he'd received it at home. "Who did these alter--" Another pause as she sorted through several options and the pieces all fell into place.

"I'd ask you to pass along my compliments to your tailor once again," she said, timbre of her voice now warm and approving, "but unless I miss my guess, they wouldn't have to go very far, would they?"

Unless it turned out Gladio was as deft a hand with a needle as he was a sword.

From:

chef_chocobro

That faint smirk that now seemed to linger in the corner of Ignis' mouth in Liliana's presence these days had surfaced well before she even spoke; to say that, even among the flurry of activity around him that often left him a bit distracted from the overload of sensory details, he was focused on a few particular details would be....an understatement. His brow arched at the pause, at the incomplete assessment of exactly what he had cut so fine, and that faint smirk grew slightly more at the revelation of what had distracted her so.

"Not very far at all," he confirmed, "and, rest assured, your compliments will be duly noted."

There was a pause, then, and perhaps a slight bit of tensing on his part, with a moment of uncertainty over how, exactly, to best conduct himself in this situation. They'd hardly let their increasing closeness over the past...handful of weeks (truly, only that much?)...be a well-kept secret, but an occasion such as her own party felt a bit...different, and to reach for her now in the way he wanted to felt a bit....well, presumptuous. After all, one of the things he adored about Liliana was her dedication to a certain style, and the last thing he'd want to do was cramp it.

"The party," he observed, "seems to be quite the success. All that hard work, finally paid off."

From:

deathsmajesty

What are you talking about, Ignis? They weren't couple-y at all. That was all Gladio propaganda.

There was another slight pause on Liliana's behalf as she registered the tension, though she remained ignorant of what caused it. There was also the subconscious expectation that he would reach for her and the way he didn't do that left things feeling subtly off in a way she couldn't put her finger on. At least, not yet.

"I surprised I made it," she said. "Between the ungodly hours of construction and the cruel demands that I travel for my breakfast, I am nearly worn to a shadow of myself." She smiled at him, before reaching out to lace their fingers together. "Thank you," she murmured, soft but sincere.

From:

chef_chocobro

As soon as Liliana's hand found Ignis', that tension immediately seemed to relax and dissipate. A particularly keen observer might have even caught the incredibly faint breath of relief escaping the subtle part in his lips. A bit foolish, perhaps, but the assurance of exactly what his place in all of this was perhaps more needed than he'd initially realized.

He nodded, an acknowledgement to her gratitude but a suggestion that he needed to even think of saying so was wholly unnecessary, as he gave her hand a squeeze.

"If that mere shadow manages to survive the night," he said, "then I believe some very well-earned recovery time shall be in order."

And you knew it was well-earned if even Ignis was suggesting it!

From:

deathsmajesty

She slid her arm through his and leaned against him briefly, letting him support her weight for just a moment, finding a subtle moment of refuge in him before she went back to being the effervescent hostess. "Careful about your promises," she murmured. "Or I shall end up demanding to be even more pampered and spoiled than I already am. Baths...backrubs...breakfasts in bed..."

From:

chef_chocobro

"I find it incredibly difficult to fathom," Ignis drawled, smile grown a little warmer with a head tilted slightly more her way, "many ways in which you could become even more pampered and spoiled, though, no doubt, for a woman of your formidable determination, where there is a will, there is a way...

"Two," he then proposed, after a brief pause. "Choose two methods in which you would like to be utterly and completely indulged tomorrow, and I shall do everything in my ability to ensure that you're not left wanting for anything in that regard. But only two..."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Massages," Liliana said immediately, which neatly covered back, foot, scalp, and other massages of all stripes. "And...breakfast in bed. Served when I wake up, complete with cuddles."

Look. She knew what she wanted.

From:

chef_chocobro

The alacrity and conviction with which that answer may have easily have actually earned Liliana several more other options, despite what Ignis had said. Granted, he had already been considering as much, but that level of certainty...

"Well, then," Ignis laughed, lightly, "your wish is my command, darling. I look forward to smoothing out all the ache and pain of all your hard work from your poor, sore muscles, and bringing you the most delect--"

He stopped, head tilting, as if a thought had just struck him.

"Oh, well, can we really call it breakfast if it's practically being served at dinnertime, though?"

From:

deathsmajesty

She was already plotting on wheedling more spoiling out of him anyway. Which he almost certainly knew and was planning for anyway. But surely a scalp massage could be combined with shampoo...

"My darling, dinner is only served in the midafternoon when you go to bed with the sunset," Liliana chided. "For the rest of us, that's barely even tea."

She turned her head and stole a kiss. "That sounds lovely," she said quietly. "I can think of nothing I'd like more."

From:

chef_chocobro

"Well, if something does come up," Ignis said, the grin on his face feeling as though it had emerged almost directly from the warmth spreading in his chest over the entirety of this interaction, "do let me know."

Not because he'd forgotten about only two over just one stolen kiss from the magnificent person on his arm at the moment, of course. But it could always be useful information.

From:

deathsmajesty

She leaned over, drawing a cold finger down his face. "Will you dance with me later?" she asked softly.

From:

chef_chocobro

"I would be inconsolable," Ignis murmured back, leaning into that cool touch of her finger, "with disappointment if I don't."

From:

deathsmajesty

That hand was joined by the other as she pulled his face in for another, deeper kiss. "Well, I can't have that," she said. "You should come find me. You have rights to my time, too."

From:

chef_chocobro

Ignis' hands found Liliana's face, as well, in a mirror of her own placement, but his was not just to help kiss her (although he did do that, too). It was more just so that he could hold it there, since he could not hold her gaze to convey the intent in this next words.

"No one," he said, "has a right to your anything, Liliana Vess."

Especially not three pesky daemons, who were going to be taken care of.

"But I will come find you."

From:

deathsmajesty

For a brief moment, Liliana's breathing just...stopped. She looked at him, eyes wide and wondering, mouth a perfect 'o' of surprise.

She'd meant it lightly, of course. Simply that he needn't keep himself apart from her in deference to the other guests. That she liked it when he sought her out.

But his response. He'd been so serious, cutting through that idle phrasing with intensity and fervor. Like it was so important, so precious, that he would stand up for it, even if she did not.

If anyone had ever done that for her before, she could not remember it.

"Ignis..." she whispered, and nothing more. His name was the only word she could summon. "Ignis."

From:

chef_chocobro

It was only then that Ignis realized that he may have gotten a bit...caught up in a moment there. Being with Liliana had a rare effect on him, more often than not, where everything around him seemed to fade into the background and the only thing that seemed to exist was her. Which made sense, really, when it was just the two of them, as it usually was, but that effect became incredibly prescient now, as all the din of conversation in this ballroom filled with people had become almost nonexistent except for as some sort of distant chatter at the very back of his mind. It had happened a bit at the diner, too, after the raid on the Walmart, but it was like he was slowly remembering things like time and places and the ones that they were currently in.

"I..." he started, then faltered for a moment, shaking his head lightly. "I'm sorry. Too much?"

Even if it probably was, he still couldn't actually feel too sorry about it. In that moment, it just felt so...important to him, that she heard that, that she knew he felt that way. Caught up in a moment, perhaps, but she was just so good at inspiring that out of him.

From:

deathsmajesty

She kissed him. She kissed him hard, and long, fingers slipping down to wrap in his collar because she needed to hold onto something and she wouldn't be so inconsiderate as to ruin his pompadour in the middle of a party. She kissed him like he was the only source of air in the room and didn't stop kissing him until actual air demanded otherwise.

"When, my darling," she said when she finally let go of his lips, still just a breath away from his face, fingers knotted in his costume, a trace of reproach in her voice, "have I ever complained about too much of a good thing?" She shook her head. "You have no idea--" she said, and only realized then that she was trembling. And that, yes, they were still surrounded by people, and even if she were willing to pull back some of the mystique she cloaked herself for Ignis right now, that offer did not extend to everybody else.

"I have spent two hundred years being told I am 'too much' and refusing to pare myself down to be acceptable to others," she said instead. "I will be damned to every hell in existence before I say the same to you."

Edited Date: 2023-11-01 12:50 pm (UTC)

From:

sword_chocobro

Gladio's usual requirements for a costume to something like this were pretty simple, and revolved around finding something that would allow him to be shirtless, but he was clearly willing to compromise. It might not have really fit some of the fancier costumes he expected to see tonight, but he was pretty pleased with being a cowboy tonight.

No hat to be seen on him, though; that had gone to a special little lady already when she said she didn't know what to dress up as.

From:

mylandmyrules

Plus it showed off his marvelous chest to great advantage.

Nell was in her usual long skirts and tunic top with the addition of said cowboy hat.

"This is amazing" she whispered to Gladio, a bit awed by just how fancy it all was.

From:

sword_chocobro

Well, the vest did sort of spoil it a little, and forget about how it ruined the possibility of showcasing his fantastic back, as well.

Maybe that just meant he'd have to ditch it at some point. It was probably small enough to wind up another enhancement to Nell's 'costume' like the hat maybe.

He gave a small huff of agreement, although he maybe looked a little less impressed as he glanced around again and tried to appreciate it a little more through Nell's eyes, and not through the admitted nostalgia it was digging up from his times at the Citadel and the Amicitia estate.

"It's definitely exactly what I'd expect from Liliana," he offered. "It's nice. Definitely went all out while still keeping it classy."

And he was begrudgingly coming to terms with the fact that Igs would probably love all of it, too.

From:

mylandmyrules

It would definitely make a funny addition to Nell's outfit, though probably coming down over her hips. Still, she'd think it was funny. Plus it would carry his warmth and his scent. Always a plus.

"Everything is so fancy - and elegant. And everyone..." looked like they belonged there. She felt more like she should be bustling around serving people. Except even the servants were fancier than her.

Oh well, Gladio was happy with her, and Liliana wanted her here, and she was happy just being her ownself, so everyone else could just go on being all fancy.

From:

sword_chocobro

And here Gladio was rocking completely unfancy blue jeans and was feeling incredibly comfortable and unworried about it.

"Everyone around here," he said, "definitely loves a chance to dress up and go out. Tonight's obviously no exception."

He grinned down at Nell, giving her a little nudge with his elbow.

"Just remember to stick you pinkie up nice and high when you drink your tea, and you'll be fine."

From:

mylandmyrules

Nell laughed and nudged him back. "Be careful or I'll just make you carry me on your shoulders and I'll pretend your my horse." Not that he wouldn't love that!

"It's all righy, though, and Liliana says she put lights out in the garden so I can slip out if I need some space." Or, take Gladio with her if she wanted a little less space from him.

[The writer decided against "or I'll just ride you like a horse' for ... reasons.]

From:

sword_chocobro

"I do make a pretty good horse," Gladio assured Nell, with a little bit of a wink in there, because, come on, how could he not? "But lights out in the garden sounds pretty nice even if you don't need some space. A little fresh air, a few moments to ourselves, maybe..."

[The writer was probably....wise in that editorial choice, although this writer cannot guarantee the effect was still successfully avoided entirely].

From:

mylandmyrules

"I was thinking that myself," Nell said with a grin. "A beautiful night, music drifting out from the ballroom, tucked away in a cozy garden alcove..."

She sighed happily. "Maybe we should go out now."

From:

sword_chocobro

"Well," said Gladio, his grin gaining a good deal of softness at that sigh coming out of Nell just then, "we do have all night ahead of us, but I gotta admit, I'm with you on that sounding like a pretty good idea."

Which meant he was now holding out his arm for her to take. "Shall we?"

From:

mylandmyrules

"I think we shall," she said cheerfully as she took his arm. "We can walk in the garden, steal a kiss or two, and decide the best place to rest when our feet get too tired from dancing."

The garden was indeed beautiful, a bit overgrown, but wild and lovely and Nell couldn't help but catch her breath. "Oh Gladio, this is wonderful!"

Leave it to Nell to be more impressed by a wildly overgrown garden than a beautiful ballroom.

From:

deathsmajesty

"I have absolutely no idea what you're supposed to be," Liliana said with a merry, since there hadn't been a Wild West block yet. ~~Thank god~~.

"Thank you for for coming, Gladio. Recovered from your multiple dunkings?"

From:

sword_chocobro

"I'll have to make sure I leave some books about it out for you," Gladio said with a faint snort. "And yeah, thanks. I'd complain about how everyone here is apparently such a good shot, but I knew what I was signing up for.

"Party looks good," he then offered, with a small nod of small approval.

From:

deathsmajesty

"Thank you," she said, looking around with a satisfied smile. "I'm quite pleased with it. I think it might even have met with Ignis' approval, which is high marks indeed." Shut up, her smile was perfectly normal and very much not inspired by anything key-related in the least.

"And I would happily take you up on your offer of books if it's sincere," she added. "Ignis was telling me about your gods and your magic and I have an ever-growing list of questions about the theory behind it all."

From:

sword_chocobro

Hey, now, Liliana, no fair getting Gladio to sway a little more on that fence he was currently sitting on by being charming and making an appeal toward things that increased his best friend's happiness and stuff.

"Oh, yeah?" He lifted one scarred brow. "What sorts of things had he told you?"

From:

deathsmajesty

Darling, what on any plane at all made you think Liliana ever fought fair?

"He was explaining about the magic in crystals and how only the royalty can use it, which led to him naming all of the gods, and..." Here Liliana went on for easily a minute or so, summarizing everything Ignis had told her in the Waffle House and offering up several of her questions as well. "So, if Ramuh, Shiva, and Ifrit's are represented by the magic within the crystals and, I suppose, one could argue that Titan is represented by crystals themselves, then where is the Leviathan's element? How are these crystals even created in the first place? How is their power extracted? Are the royals somehow connected to Bahamut that they can use the magic? And how does that fit in with the Starscourge?"

On the off-chance Gladio had been assuming Liliana was just blowing smoke up his ass about all this, her clear curiosity likely put that ridiculous notion to rest.

Edited Date: 2023-10-31 08:22 pm (UTC)

From:

sword_chocobro

"Oh, well," said Gladio, snorting a bit, and then there seemed to be a sort of shift in the air, as if Liliana had gone and flipped a sort of switch, a switch that activated his...oh no...nerd mode, "Leviathan has always disliked humanity, so it wouldn't be surprising that she just didn't want to lend us her powers; she definitely wasn't happy about it when we woke her up so that Noct and Lunafreya could commune with her, but I might be a little irritated if a bunch of ants tried to rouse me up from a 2000 year nap, too. And the power of the crystals is extracted by the royal family itself; they're usually found around Havens, and so Noct could just...pull their energy and use it. There are some more industrial ways of extracting it, but the magic's never as powerful when you do it that way. As for how they're created and why they're tied in with the bloodline? That is all Bahamut. He's the one who created the crystals to help combat the Starscourge, which....well, there's not a lot known about the origins of the Starscourge, but some sources say that it arrived with the gods, on the Meteor of the Six, which crashed into Eos before the dawn of civiliza--"

He stopped, abruptly, as he realized he was sort of rambling and shook his head. "Oh, man," he said, "you probably better not get me started, I'm gonna end up talking your ear off all night..."

From:

deathsmajesty

"...The only reason I'm agreeing to that is because I have a party full of guests and it would be unfair to Ignis to tag him in unexpectedly as host," Liliana declared. "But we're putting a pin in this discussion to continue later. Preferably over good food and better drinks, all the better to yell about theory with."

At least, that was always how it had been for Liliana.

From:

sword_chocobro

"To yell about, huh?" asked Gladio, and Liliana was getting both brows lifted now. "Well, it's looking like both of us will have no shortage of good food in our future, so I'm sure you'll get the chance eventually."

From:

deathsmajesty

"You've never sat around arguing theory at increasing levels of volume?" Liliana asked, surprised. "Why this thing works one way and not another, what that thing means in the grand scheme of things? It's not even necessarily an argument or debate, but you just get so excited--."

Wait, that couldn't have just been her and her cohort at Strixhaven, right?

From:

sword_chocobro

"Theory?" Gladio snorted. "No. There've been some pretty heated debate over things like tactics and strategy, King's Knight and whether or not the break of dawn is...too early for running, but I mean, it's usually resolved pretty quickly."

From:

deathsmajesty

"The break of dawn is absolutely too early," Liliana declared. "For anything but going to bed."

From:

sword_chocobro

The next snort was much different.

"Those sunrises, though," Gladio said, grin resurfacing on his face, but it was softer, and there was something that seemed to go a little beyond just some smart-ass comment.

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana could imagine why a sunrise would feel extra special to the chocobros, enough so that she didn't make a snarky comment about it.

"They are lovely," she acknowledged. "I just see them from the other side."

From:

sword_chocobro

See, and Prompto got it, too, but it was a lot harder selling Specs in on the idea.

"There's some pretty good sunsets, too," Gladio allowed, especially now that didn't just come with dread for the nights. "Why not try to enjoy both?"

From:

deathsmajesty

"Because I like the cool silence of midnight," she said softly. "The starry sky overhead like a pathway leading to other worlds, like the Blind Eternities made manifest."

From:

sword_chocobro

"Well, you can enjoy that, too," said Gladio, who clearly couldn't help himself. "Who even needs more that four hours of sleep, anyway?"

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana raised her hand. "I am a delicate hothouse flower," she informed him. With a straight face, even. "Fragile and wiling, and in need of a great deal of sleep to bolster my wavering constitution."

From:

somethingwithturquoise

When all was said and done, Summer finally decided to lean into going to this party as a sexy arrow shooty lady because she really wanted to show off the results of all that working out she'd been doing, it was an easy match to have Stark come with as a sexy arrow shooty guy, and there was no way in hell she was ever doing that episode, so it worked out perfectly for a costume! Liliana's place was so swanky, though, that she started to wonder if she should have gone with something a little more glam, but just look at her abs in this thing! Look at her legs!

No, no. She's definitely made the right choice, she looked cute as fuck, dammit!

From:

Summer looked amazing, of course, and Stark was there in his leather pants, a pair of leather arm braces and not much else. There was a leather jerkin somewhere but he'd been convinced to at least try not wearing it.

At least his hesitation at being here in Liliana's home was warring with his hesitation at being shirtless so he wasn't overwhelmingly nervous about either.

From:

somethingwithturquoise

Was the fact that, whenever Summer look at Stark, her face lit up with a proud, pleased, satisfied sort of smile over the fact that she'd convinced him to go tarp off for this helping him feel any better about it?

"I'm really glad we went this route," she decided with a nod at some point, in case any further indication was needed.

She did feel she could have gone fancier, maybe, but then she saw Gladio in jeans, so lol, no, she was good.

From:

"You look wonderful," Stark said. He'd almost certainly said that already. Multiple times.

He was trying not to self-consciously cross his arms over his chest too often. He was mostly succeeding!

"And I do like matching."

From:

somethingwithturquoise

"Like I said for homecoming," said Summer, resolutely and with a firm nod before grinning over at Stark, "if you're going to be my date, then matching is required. Also required?"

She poured some sweetness into her smile and fluttered her eyelashes as if she had to, placing a hand gently on Stark's shoulder to support her as she kissed his cheek.

"Getting me a drink?"

From:

"Of course," Stark said. "Whatever you like. Should I surprise you? Or did you want something specific? Do you need a snack?"

He closed his eye, smiling, as she kissed his cheek.

"I like being your date, then. Not just for the matching."

From:

somethingwithturquoise

"Mmmm," Summer pretended to think about it, and, since she was already pressed up against Stark and her hand was already on his shoulder, she was going to let that hand just drift down to his chest while she thought. She'd told him that she'd really appreciate it if he went without a shirt for his costume, and she was making good on that promise, dammit. "Surprise me. Get me something that looks like it might be complicated; I want to see what these jags that are bartending instead of me got. And maybe a snack, if anything looks particularly good."

From:

"Snacks and drinks," Stark agreed, nodding.

He was in no hurry to move. Not when Summer was so close. He raised his own hand to cover hers and leaned in, hoping to steal a kiss. To fortify him before the arduous journey to the refreshments where he might get cold without someone to warm him up.

From:

somethingwithturquoise

Since he was being such a good sport about his costume tonight, Summer was definitely letting that kiss be stolen, and might have even gone so far as to make sure he even got the money hidden under the mattress, so to speak, while he was there.

"Shacks and drinks," she then confirmed. "Thank you, Stark."

From:

Even if he hadn't actually procured that adorable pink Squish from yesterday?

"You're welcome," he said. He didn't move away immediately. Lingering was so appealing and he could give her one of those soft smiles that were only ever aimed at her. "I'll be right back."

He wasn't right back. It was a large ballroom and there were choices to be made and coming back he had to be sure not to spill anything. He came back with a plate with a little of everything except for the chocolate fondue because that was far more fun to dip for yourself. He also had one glass of the eyeball sangria and one of the mulled pomegranate cherry juice.

"Pick your drink," he said. "I'll take the other. Or we can share?"

Edited Date: 2023-11-01 01:00 am (UTC)

From:

deathsmajesty

"Summer," Liliana said, a trace of surprise quickly hidden under warmth. "Lovely to see you, I'm glad you made it."

She gave the costume an approving once over. "You look fantastic, darling."

From:

somethingwithturquoise

Well, Summer didn't really have much of a choice, did she? What else was she going to do? Miss it?? Try to hold a competing Halloween party against the necromancer? Please. She might have cute abs and newly impressive arms, but she also had a brain, too, thank you.

(Sometimes).

"Thanks," Summer lifted her chin a little to tamp down any self-consciousness rising as she put on a smile and gave Liliana a look over. "So do you, bu, I mean, like, that is literally surprising to absolutely no one. Also, like, nice job." Her eyes started to rove around the ballroom a little. "This place looks great."

From:

deathsmajesty

Maybe next Halloween she'd really spice things up. This party was missing out on the many possibilities of undead entertainment.

As far as she could tell, Halloween was basically 'Innistrad The Holiday' and she was here for it.

"Thank you, darling. It might just have been worth all those early construction mornings after all. Also, I need you to know that the bartender had suggested a number of jello shots which I absolutely refused. I may have unplumbed depths of audacity, but even I know where to draw the line."

From:

somethingwithturquoise

"Oh, well," said Summer, "I mean, that's just smart. You don't want to be known as the party that served subpar jello shots. Good move."

Not that anyone was trying to also tamp down a bit of offense and disappointment at not being asked to bartend or anything! It was totally fine! Like, she understood that the whole 'sucking half the life out of the guy you sleep with' of it all could make that a bit awkward! She would have probably had said no anyway! You know, because of the life sucking stuff!

But also, like, he was totally better now, too, soooo......

From:

deathsmajesty

It really would have made the whole thing awkward.

"Precisely," Liliana agreed. "And I wasn't about to make that kind of name for myself. But for this, my first party, I was adamant that everyone should be a guest. I threatened to have it written up in the contract for Liz, in fact. We'll see if Ignis forgives me for not putting him to work in the kitchen for it. Though now that the cork has been loosed from the bottle as it were..."

Look, Summer, could you be mad you weren't bartending if she didn't even have Ignis cooking?

From:

somethingwithturquoise

"I'd guess that Ignis' forgiveness is going to be pretty heavily based on how good the food he's getting instead actually is," Summer mused.

She would be fine if the drinks sucked. In fact, she actually would prefer it.

"But, hey!" she offered as a potential subject change, unless Liliana wanted to go into more explanations on why she shouldn't feel totally slighted at the lack of jello involved in this party. "That seems to be going well, huh?"

From:

deathsmajesty

More explanations were totally not Liliana's style. Because that suggested she felt she needed to explain herself and, yeah, she didn't.

"That?" she asked. "Ah. Things with Ignis?" She smiled, unaware of just how much her expression warmed and softened at his name. "They are going quite well, yes. We're having a delightful time."

You know, totally chill and casual, no major anythings here for anyone! Keys and consorts say what?

From:

somethingwithturquoise

That expression wasn't passing by Summer, not in a million years, although there was that weird feeling she always got of being just so self-serving when she asked Liliana about Ignis, for some weird reason.

"Well, he can be a pretty delightful guy," she said, "so I guess tracks."

From:

deathsmajesty

It was probably because she and Ignis had been friends for so long! And Liliana was pretty sure Summer had involved herself in Ignis' romantic life. So clearly it tracked.

"He is," she said softly. "I remain shocked how few people seem to realize it."

From:

special_rabbit

One of the things Amaya had been working on heavily these last few days now that she had the forge back was her costume for this party. Sure, she didn't know the host, but a party was a party and a party where she could show off her own work was even better! It all started with a black bodysuit, normally something a bit too tight and constrictive for Amaya, but it was to serve a purpose to highlight all the pieces of metal bones set into cleverly crafted metal pieces to fit over her limbs, her tosro, her back, and even her hands and feet into the form of a skeleton. All topped off with a skull-like mask, and she was all set and pretty proud of herself for being able to whip this up.

From:

You know, it was sort of funny, and she'd never admit it -- but it took Irene a moment to place that this was, in fact, Amaya. (She would also not be admitting that tracing that familiar curved outline of the bodysuit with her eye yielded the immediate recognition, followed then by, 'Ah, yes, she's covered in metalwork, good job Detective Adler.')

"Aren't you spooky," Irene commented, not doing the slightest to hide how pleased she was with the effect of Amaya's costume when she sashayed over with a drink. (And while Irene tended to sway her hips and vamp in her gestures in her day to day life -- today she was, quite clearly, intentionally exaggerating that effect.)

From:

special_rabbit

And Amaya, for her part, didn't recognize Irene really until she spoke, which, really, didn't that sort of mean they were winning at this whole Halloween thing? Her dress, however (and the whole look overall, really), seemed incredibly familiar to her for some reason she couldn't quite put her bony metal finger on, and she was squinting at it trying to figure it out when Irene approached.

"And aren't you not," she noted, blinking a moment to consider the costume now with newly appreciative eyes.

"Looks nice, though," she added, with a little red seeming to glow a bit under her mask.

Still couldn't shake that odd feeling like she'd seen this dress before.

Or at least she thought she had.

From:

Probably just in Irene's closet! Where else would she have seen it? On her own person, as part of a venom-induced hallucination? Crazy talk.

"Thanks," Irene replied with a wide smile, because she knew she looked great (but also ridiculous.) "It's making me consider whether red might not be a nice change for summer, next year."

This was delivered with a little pat to her wig, so it was clear she meant her hair and not the dress, but her hand also went quickly enough from that wig to the metallic structure covering Amaya's back. Irene did so love an excuse to touch in public, and she figured that running a curious, gloved finger along that metallic frame provided enough plausible deniability, right?

"And you've outdone yourself." Because really, she should have expected something cool from Amaya, and that's what this was: it wasn't intentionally sexy, or campy, or even all that scary -- it was fucking cool.

From:

special_rabbit

"Oh, well, I think that'd be a pretty hard task to pull off; Summer does seem pretty set on her pink."

The pat of the wig, it would seem, was futile, since Amaya clearly hadn't thought of hair or dress, but, in her defense, she was a bit, erm, distracted.

"But!" she added hastily, the hand at her back not helping the red she was sporting very mich, but let's be honest, she didn't make all these pieces for them to go unadmired, either! "It looks very good on you, too. And I don't know about outdoing myself, but it did seem like a bit of a stroke of genius, right? Especially since I can't really do armor anymore, had to really think outside the box this time.

"Or I guess...inside the skin, maybe?"

Look, she tried.

From:

"Your creative process continues to fascinate me, either way," Irene assured her with a little laugh, enjoying the absolute hell out of the blush she could see under that mask, yes. "But, see, that's an idea -- I wouldn't mind wearing armor for a night. I should've thought to commission something with you weeks ago. A Viking shieldmaiden or lady knight, or something. Sexy chainmail. Maybe next year."

For the record, this was the third potential costume for next year that had been floated this evening.

"Or," she noted, dropping her voice as she lightly traced up along the bone gracing Amaya's shoulder, "just for fun, sooner than that."

Just to, you know, plant a few seeds for upcoming holidays, Valentine's Days, long winter nights, et cetera.

From:

special_rabbit

"Chainmail shouldn't be sexy," said Amaya, although there seemed to be a certain sense of...obligation to it, really, like she couldn't look herself in the mirror anymore if she didn't at least mention it. That hand on her shoulder, though, was really doing a lot to just suck the vehemence right out of it, "it should be practical, and that goes the same for all sorts of armor, really. That said....almost everyone should have a good bit of armor on hand, regardless. For...reasons."

She tried to come up with something a little more specific.

"...armored reasons."

Tried was the operative word there.

From:

"Amaya," Irene murmured, stepping a little closer to make up for the loss in projection and volume (and not for any other reason, of course), "are you suggesting I couldn't make perfectly practical chainmail look sexy?"

Granted, Irene had been envisioning something more akin to what, say, Summer was wearing, except in fetching chainmail -- but that was now beside the point.

From:

deathsmajesty

"Blind Eternities, I love your costume," Liliana breathed. Introductions could come in a moment, first things were very first. "Who--? Where--?" Liliana prowled around Amaya, taking in every aspect of the costume. "Exquisite craftsmanship!"

From:

special_rabbit

Who needed proper introductions anyway, when that right there was the perfect way to skyrocket you straight to the position of Amaya's second favorite person in the room, Liliana?

Only thing that would have improved it was if you'd brought over meats on sticks, really.

"Thanks!" Amaya preened and pulled herself up in a way to best show off the various parts of her gleaming skeleton. "Just whipped it up this weekend!"

To elucidate further, she offered out a bony hand. "Amaya Blackstone, local blacksmith. I don't believe we've had the pleasure."

From:

deathsmajesty

That's what this party was missing. Meat on sticks. Truly a failing that Liliana will have to rectify for next time.

"Liliana Vess, semi-local necromancer, and I can say for certain we haven't," Liliana replied, taking Amaya's bony hand with a chilly one of her own. "You did this in a single weekend? Truly?" She clapped her hands like a little girl at a birthday party. "Is it gauche to do business at a party? Because your costume has given me a brilliant idea for a gown. That spine is magnificent."

From:

special_rabbit

"Oh," Amaya assured Liliana, unabashedly and with utmost confidence, grinning and liking her even more now, "the only reason I even go to parties is to do business."

Well, that, and flirt with Irene Adler and stumble home with her, but that was a big old secret that no one knew about, shhh.

"And, well, the last few days, anyway," she continued, "so about the equivalent of a weekend. A bit of a rush job, admittedly, on account of my shop being a Starbucks for the majority of the week, but I had a few of the pieces already lying around."

For what, Amaya? How? Why??

"But I'd love to see what I can do for you, Liliana. My specialty's weapons, but I've been making a pretty deep dive into the fashion industry lately. Be happy to outfit you with your very own Blackstone original, too."

From:

deathsmajesty

Why wouldn't she? If you asked Liliana's opinion (which everybody should, obviously), Amaya had quite the right idea of it. What, was she supposed to ignore a whole avenue of inspiration because other people hadn't realized the appeal? Folderol.

"I'm not much for weapons, though I will admit that the occasional finely crafted blade can turn a girl's head--" even moreso now for also big old secret reasons, she saw you, Amaya, "--but blending fashion and metalwork sounds ever so much more my style." Perhaps she could rope Boc into this, too. It wasn't like Liliana was a seamstress. "Especially..." She went to drag a finger down Amaya's spine - the metal one, specifically. "Metalwork of this variety and quality. Oooh. Imagine something like your skeltal hand around shoes."

From:

special_rabbit

There was a little bit of uncomfortable shifting underneath Amaya's metal bones at that trailing finger, but she reminded herself that, well, this was just displaying the workmanship and if Liliana had an interest in commissioning a piece, then she'd certainly want to verify the quality of it. Amaya just wasn't used to wearing a piece when someone was inspecting it!

"There's definitely a lot of potential there," she agreed, "and if you come up with something and I don't yet know how to do it, well, I'll work on it until I do! But I think you'd be pretty hard pressed to find something like that, at this point."

From:

deathsmajesty

"What are your normal business hours?" Liliana asked, studying the spine intensely. "Perhaps not this week, as I intend to do glorious amounts of nothing this week, but in the future..."

From:

special_rabbit

"Oh," said Amaya, "I'm there all week, plus, I live just above the shop, so you could always just ring. I like to think I'm ready..." Amaya paused a moment to pull on her gloves, although it didn't have quite the same effect as it usually did since her gloves were bones instead of her usual workgloves, "...for any occasion of emergency blacksmithing. But I do tend to get most of my business on Tuesdays."

For some weird reason.

"Just down Unicorn Way, right between the Trooper station and the butcher."

There was a joke there, but, unfortunately, Amaya wasn't from here enough to know what it was.

From:

deathsmajesty

Neither was Liliana, sadly.

"I do tend to spend a lot of time in town on Tuesdays--" also for some reason. "I'll need to stop by."

From:

died8yearsago

As in grand party tradition, Rosa was just here for the free booze and to judge people, but she was ready to throw down if anyone had any shit to say about her Selena costume.

From:

deathsmajesty

Another face Liliana vaguely recognized, but couldn't place the name. "Welcome," she said with a smile. "An excellent color on you."

Did she know the costume? Nope! Did it matter? Also nope!

From:

died8yearsago

"Yeah, I know," said Rosa, because, hi, have you met her?

Oh, wait. No, you hadn't. She squinted a little at Liliana because she definitely didn't care enough to pay attention to most people unless she had to before asking, "Who are you?"

Hey, she didn't usually bother asking! Her manners were on point tonight!

From:

deathsmajesty

"Liliana," she drawled, highly amused. "Your hostess for the evening. Who are you?" Since she had absolutely no idea either.

From:

died8yearsago

"Evelyn Mendoza," Rosa offered, without missing a beat, because it had been way too long since she was able to just claim a different identity with some new(ish) person. "Nice to meet you."

Her chin quirked toward the room as a whole.

"Cool party, though."

And that, actually, was sincere. She dug the vibe.

From:

deathsmajesty

Guess who was going to call her Evelyn forever now, even after she learned her real name.

"Thank you, Evelyn," she said, dimpling. "I decided that if I was going to throw a party, I was going to throw a gods-damned party."

Because of who she was as a person.

From:

died8yearsago

You know, so many people started doing that, but eventually, it always seemed to come up Rosa in the end.

Rosa snorted faintly. "Why just half-ass it, right? Especially if you got a space like this."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Precisely," Liliana. "...Though, admittedly, I didn't have this space until just a few days ago. Before I had the wreck of ballroom and six weeks of construction. But all the more reason to go all out."

She took a sip of her drink and asked, "So, what is your costume?" she asked, not being from Earth and all.

From:

died8yearsago

"Selena," Rosa answered without missing a beat. She'd been on this island long enough to not even expect most people to know who that was.

Which meant she was already prepared, and was now holding up a phone for Liliana, already cued up to a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIMgfqY27PM'>comeplation</a> and handing it over to her. "You're welcome," she said, and then turned to leave Liliana to discover what her poor, sad life had been clearly missing. ....yes, she'd literally bought burner phones expecting them to hand them to people so they could listen to Selena uninterrupted without her phone having to get involved.

From:

deathsmajesty

Okay but Evelyn, this was entirely worth it and anyone who said otherwise was incorrect. Selena produced bangers and everybody should know it.

Liliana looked down at the phone in her hand, shrugged, and tucked it into her pocket for another time.

From:

beautiful_boc

If anyone just so happened to be wondering where Boc had been lately (he couldn't imagine anyone would even notice, much less wonder), they would probably not be surprised to learn that he had, once again, found himself ~~conveniently~~ in the predicament of being a tree. If it wasn't so lovely, being a tree and having very little cares in the world, he might not have minded so much, actually, although it did get rather boring sometime, and roosting birds were an absolute menace. But, as it were, it just so happened that Boc found himself Boc-shaped again today, and he found he'd turned into a tree somewhere near the mansion instead of the preserve this time. Naturally, all the commotion snagged his attention, and his curiosity got the better of his nervousness as he edged toward the garden to have a look at what was going on. Nothing for him, no doubt, but he was curious, and he planned to scamper off back to his shop after having a peek, but then there were costumes, some of them of excellent quality, some of them quite unfortunate, in his opinion, and he became a little too fascinated with observing them to remember to run off and avoid the place like he probably should.

From:

deathsmajesty

"Boc!" This time, Liliana didn't bother to hide her surprise, but it was immediately followed up with a smile. She kept her greeting soft to not draw additional attention from the other guests. She was pretty sure she couldn't stop from startling him, but at least she could keep him from becoming the center of attention.

"Darling, I'm so glad you could come! Welcome!"

From:

beautiful_boc

It truly was a cruel bit of fate, wasn't it, that Boc would be called something that just naturally had a startling quality when leaving most mouths, no matter how gently expressed. That, with his natural nervousness and tendency to feel like he shouldn't be allowed pretty much anywhere ever, he still jumped a little at Liliana's approach, eyes immediately widening and trying to find pathways for escape before he lifted his hands as if to prove they were indeed quite empty and harmless.

"Oh!" he said. "Oh...oh....no, no, I'm sorry, my apologies, I didn't mean to intrude, I didn't mean to stay, I was just passing through, promise, I was just in the area, you see, and I....I'll not trouble anyone, I'll be on my way!"

You'd think, by now, he'd have learned that parties on this island included nearly everyone, including Bocs, but he wasn't quite there yet.

From:

deathsmajesty

"Nonsense," Liliana said firmly, and if you thought for a moment you could out-stubborn Liliana Vess, darling, you were drastically mistaken. "You've only just arrived! Why, I don't think you've even had a drink yet. You must stay another few minutes at least, I insist."

From:

beautiful_boc

Out-stubborn her? Liliana, the closest thing Boc would have to a backbone would be if he spent the rest of this party sidled up next to Amaya.

"Oh, but I shouldn't..." Boc started, ducking his head and wagging it shamefully as he hands started to roll into each other, "that is, I mean...it's only that....oh, I just don't know, I suppose if it's only a few minutes, then no one would be too offended by my presence, maybe they might not even notice! I'll keep quiet, I'm good that that, when need be! And you don't have to worry about wasting any of your lovely drinks on the likes of me, wouldn't want to have it go to waste like that, I'm just fine, right here. I can hear the music, and see all the fine costumes, just from right her..."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Go to waste?" Liliana asked. "Would you not drink it? Because otherwise I would be providing an invited guest with a refreshment."

She pointed up to the second floor balconies. "If you are truly worried about being underfoot, you're welcome to spend your time up there, watching the goings on here below. But should you do that, I must absolutely insist you bring not only a drink but a plate of snacks as well."

Otherwise she'd had to send some up after him and then how would he feel?

From:

beautiful_boc

Terrible. Just terrible, that's how he'd feel!

But Boc would feel terrible regardless, as indicated by the distressed little whimper that squeezed out of him as he followed Liliana's hand to the balconies indicated, then looked over the crowd in the ballroom, and perhaps even sent a skittering glance toward where the food and drinks were located.

He shook his head a little more, and ducked it again, although his eyes were glancing back up toward Liliana.

"But if I don't retreat to the balconies," he reasoned, "then I...don't have to have a drink or snack?"

Though he did, actually, desperately want at least the snack, now that it was on the table, because he'd just spent an indeterminate amount of time as a tree, and photosynthesis could only satisfy so much.

From:

deathsmajesty

"I mean, you certainly don't have to," Liliana said. Dubiously. "But there is plenty there. And I would hate for that to go to waste and need to be discarded."

Just saaaaaying...

From:

beautiful_boc

"Good food gone to waste," said Boc, miserably, with a sad shake of his head, "is a terrible shame, isn't it? Perhaps...perhaps maybe, if there does seem to be quite a...quite a bit of...well, I suppose one might call it...a bit of...erm, excess, I could...help...with that. Ah...assuming there's no one else who will..."

From:

deathsmajesty

"You would be doing me a favor," Liliana said. "I abhor food waste."

She gave him big eyes and a hopeful smile. "Would you be so kind?"

From:

Halloween, if you asked Irene, was for camp. (And cleavage, but that was most days for her.) And while she had toyed with the idea of leaning further into camp and just outright silliness, she'd ultimately gone with something that toed the line nicely.

A long, slinky red dress was selected from Irene's closet (don't check the label; it was way too spendy to be repurposed as a Halloween costume), along with a few liberal (ahem) enhancements to her bust and hips for extra effect. Some carefully-applied makeup, a red wig, some gloves that probably wouldn't last the whole night if she had enough drinks to find them an annoyance, and a lot of dress tape later, and Irene found herself wandering into a house she hadn't been in in years dressed as a cartoon lounge singer.

Complete with a cigarette holder that she, politely, would not light indoors.

Edited Date: 2023-10-31 01:33 pm (UTC)

From:

deathsmajesty

"Oh my," Liliana said, making her way over to the truly stunning woman in red. "I do not believe we've met before, but welcome."

From:

"We haven't met before, and I think it might be an actual crime," Irene agreed, offering out a hand to shake and smiling widely at Liliana. "Irene Adler. Thanks for having me -- your home is gorgeous."

And Liliana's costume, in turn, was getting a very appreciative look -- not just from a general admirer of beautiful women, but also the scrutinizing and approving eye of someone who recognized the fine arts of tailoring and accessorizing.

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana took Irene's hand in her own chilly grip, returning both smile and sentiment whole-heartedly. "I have clearly been playing into the reclusive necromancer stereotype far too strongly, it's the only possible reason - though still highly inexcusable - that we haven't met yet. Liliana, the pleasure is mine, and...may I let you in on a little secret?"

She leaned closer and dropped her voice, taking the opportunity to also clock Irene's gown, the end result a large number of Ravnican zibs and zinos unless she missed her guess.

"The reason you all came into the back was less about making an entrance and more because I'm still refurbishing the rest of the house. There are perhaps six rooms ready for company and the rest is all shrouded furniture, dust, and unrealized potential."

From:

"The best and worst part of moving house," Irene noted in a sympathetic undertone, though the delivery of this information -- and Liliana's entire demeanor, honestly -- elicited a more genuine, playful smile. "It's always how much there is to bloody do before hosting, but then there's that potential to keep the despair away."

Irene had solved this problem for herself by downsizing tragically when she'd moved to Fandom.

"Your secret is safe with me, darling," she assured Liliana, theatrically crossing her heart. "Though only if you promise to elaborate on the matter of being a necromancer -- really, truly? I've never met one before."

Which was kind of saying something at this point in her Fandom residency.

From:

deathsmajesty

"Really and truly," Liliana said, appreciating yet another person who didn't immediately take offense to her existence. She didn't care when people did, but the moralizing got tedious. "And I am happy to elaborate all you'd like about the subject, though we may need to come up with a conversational safe word to let me know when you've heard quite enough."

She chuckled softly, gesturing at one of the bartenders to bring over a glass of the sangria. "Can I interest you in a drink, Irene? And ask what it is that you do, before I monopolize the conversation entirely?"

Look, she could talk about herself all day. It was one of her favorite subjects (to a point, anyway), but she did actually know how to socialize. Mostly.

From:

"Oh, yes, thank you." Irene gratefully accepted the drink with a winning smile at the bartender in question, before helpfully supplying, "And you know, while we're mentioning safe words -- I'm the proprietress of Dite's, just over there?"

She gestured vaguely in the direction of the shop, a habit she'd adopted some time ago in order to allow her conversational partner the wiggle room to pretend they'd never noticed the island's sex shop. Liliana did not seem that type, of course, but discretion was also more fun sometimes.

"And while I have my own war stories, of course, I hail from a completely unmagical, and thus I'm forever fascinated by all things...mancer," she added, offering a cheeky little shrug on the last word, there.

From:

deathsmajesty

"Oh! The store with the most intriguing window displays!" Liliana declared, because discretion was a sometimes game and now wasn't 'sometimes.' "I've seen it once or twice, but usually en route somewhere else. Now I'll need to make a point of dropping by for a visit. And if you're curious about magic, you simply must come by the Infinite Consortium. I sell magical artifacts and would certainly be happy to find you something magic of your very own."

A bartender brought them over two glasses on a tray and, trying very hard to look at Irene respectfully. "Are you aware in general of what a necromancer does?" she asked, sipping her wine with amusement.

From:

"You just wait until we move on to Thanksgiving," Irene replied with a lift of her visible eyebrow as she took a grateful sip of her drink and favored that respectful look with a curved smile. "I have found so many things to put in the window."

And then, onto all things sexy Santa. Everyone loved sexy Santa, right?

"And, forgive me if I'm wrong, but I had the layman's understanding that you raise the dead?" she prompted.

From:

deathsmajesty

"Part of it," Liliana agreed easily. "Raise them as undead, specifically. Resurrection is possible, but not with my magic. But, more broadly, a necromancer is a mage that specializes in death magic. Corruption of the life force. But necromancy has various disciplines within it as well. I'm a master of ghoulcalling - that's the raising of undead and binding them to my will that you mentioned, fleshcrafting, lethemancy, and ghostslaving. There's also Stitchery--" Her lip curled with contempt on the word, "--and galemagery, neither of which I am particularly adept at, though for Stitchery, that's out of self-respect."

From:

"You really don't like this Stitchery business," Irene observed casually, too curious to keep the observation to herself as she might normally. And while all the rest of it was fascinating -- just the evocative suggestion of ghostslaving had Irene's interest piqued -- the outlier always took precedence. "I'll be so bold as to assume that's more complex than the needlework it sounds like, right?"

From:

deathsmajesty

"I absolutely do not," she said, sniffed. "Stitchers are...have you seen--" She looked around until she spotted Beaker. "Him! Do you recognize his costume? That book, the obnoxious doctor, that is the truest stereotype of a Stitcher I have ever come across, and that includes fiction written on Innistrad!"

From:

"Frankenstein?" Irene prompted, snorting lightly. "Okay -- so that's a no-go because...he's multiple people's parts stitched together? Is that a taboo?"

Irene, predictably, loved a good taboo. And the idea of there being particular veins of necromancy that were viewed as being, well, tacky -- this was just a fascinating idea.

From:

deathsmajesty

"What?" Liliana shook her head. "Oh no, darling, that's fine. My objection is one of...outlook and intention. And method, I suppose. They take what is an art and try to mimic it in their filthy little labs, stinking of chemicals, sewing flesh together, but for them, the importance is not their creation, but proving their latest theory correct. They have no compunctions about abandoning their creatures if they do not fit their grand plans. They create their abominations as testimony to their egos and their inflated sense of cleverness. I find them wasteful, tedious, and bereft of taste of imagination, and yet, they get lumped in with the rest of necromancy." She wrinkled her nose. "Our relationship is, I suppose, something of a master craftsman and the people who created the kind of trash our shops were transformed into last week, if that makes sense?"

From:

"It does," Irene replied with a nod, possibly enjoying this track even more than the idea that it was some sort of forbidden thing. "It also sounds like a case of science versus magic, perhaps? Though there is a famous quote in this universe about the two being indistinguishable -- I tend to disagree. And even in the case of --" She gestured over towards Beaker and his costume once more, "The novel, as I know it, is a reflection on creation and ego and consequence, but interpreting art is a lost cause these days."

From:

deathsmajesty

Amusingly, Liliana and Steven would end up having a conversation about the overlap of science and magic a bit later in the evening!

"And that's why I found it so particularly resonant," Liliana agreed. "It felt like someone watching an incompetent Stitcher with an unwarranted god complex fall victim to his own hubris and manage to blame everybody but himself for his own failings, while demonizing his creation that he considered a failure for not living up to his lofty goals that were out of reach of his level of competence. I'm not entirely sure Mary Shelley wasn't a Planeswalker, or knew of of one, the depiction was so realistic." She laughed. "Steven recommended me the book, and I devoured it in a day, yelling at it mightily and throwing it at the wall. And now I'm reading it to Ignis, but it's very slow going, as I have to frequently pause and rail about something in the text that's caught my ire."

From:

"Have you done any research into the life of Miss Shelley herself?" Irene wondered, slanting a look over at Liliana. "I daresay, she was your kind of gal, whether or not she was a -- Planeswalker, you said?"

But also, like, Mary Shelley: the original goth girl, losing her virginity on her mother's grave and setting the standard for melancholy dramatics evermore.

From:

deathsmajesty

"I haven't," Liliana admitted. "Ignis left me a book of planarwide poetry before heading off to New Zealand, so I've been devouring that, instead. And yes, Planeswalkers. Those few about the Multiverse who have the ability to traverse the Blind Eternities without injury and leave the planes of our birth to wander the Multiverse at large. "

From:

mylandmyrules

Nell wasn't exactly in a costume, wearing her usual skirts and tunic top, but she was wearing a cowboy hat to go with a certain someone's cowboy outfit. She was a bit overawed by everything Liliana had put together here and found herself whispering every time she spoke.

From:

"Nell, darling, do you know -- I very nearly had the same costume idea," Irene greeted her with a wide smile.

It was true! Irene had toyed with the idea of being a cowgirl, mostly because it would amuse her to play American and tip her hat all night -- but ultimately, Jessica here had won out.

(And it went without saying, of course, that her variation on 'cowgirl' probably would have been a skosh different from Nell's. Just a skosh, though.)

From:

mylandmyrules

Nell laughed softly. "I think yours might've been a little fancier than mine," she said softly, still feeling like she needed to whisper amid such elegance. "You look very beautiful tonight."

Not a dress Nell would ever dream of trying to wear, but she could appreciate its beauty.

From:

"You don't think it's too much?" Irene asked playfully, winking at Nell as she cocked a hip in a way that was definitely too much. "How've you been, dear? Survive last week okay?"

Obviously, but she could only imagine what sort of...Home Depot Garden Center Nell's shop might have become. Or maybe a doTERRA pop-up!

From:

mylandmyrules

"It would definitely be too much for me," Nell said honestly, "But you manage it very beautifully."

She smiled at Irene. "I was lucky. My plant shop was protected, so it managed to stay itself, if hard to find amid the coffeeshops and TV head people."

From:

"Oh, I think you could pull it off. Bet you'd glam right up," Irene assured her, and she did -- but she left it at the compliment, lest she make Nell uncomfortable or feel self-conscious.

"Coffeeshops everywhere, and not a suitable cup of tea to be found amongst any of them," she continued, grousing good-naturedly (though, admittedly, she also had not tried very hard; perhaps Peet's would have delivered.) "My shop became a much...seedier establishment than it normally is. Not my favorite."

From:

mylandmyrules

Nell looked at Irene's costume and just chuckled a little. "Maybe, but I'm not so sure I'd dare leave my house with something like that on."

She nodded in agreement. "Coffee's good, but there's something about a good cup of tea. You're always welcome to stop by when the shop is open. I'll make you some."

From:

Nell, who said anything about leaving your house? Who said anything about leaving your bedroom? Irene was fairly sure there was an audience out there for Nell in a similar getup to her own. (Maybe an audience of just one cowboy.)

"That would be lovely," Irene replied warmly, nodding. "I keep an electric kettle in my own office for emergencies, so consider the offer extended if you ever find yourself in my neck of the woods, as well. Your teas are medicinal, though, aren't they?"

From:

mylandmyrules

Don't think Nell wasn't considering just that very thing. Perhaps when their relationship was a little further along. Soon! But yes, for only an audience of one particular cowboy.)

"Thank you," Nell said. "Yes, many of my teas are medicinal, but some are just tasty."

From:

"Then it sounds like I need to sample a few and likely invest," Irene decided. "I can be a bit choosy about my tea -- shock of shocks, right? -- but I wouldn't exactly turn my nose up at something drinkable that can get rid of a headache better than paracetamol, you know?"

From:

mylandmyrules

"Oh, I have teas for that, and I can customize them so that the flavor is palatable for whomever buys it," Nell said. "It's the beauty of making them yourself. And there's nothing wrong with being choosy about teas. I definitely am."

From:

"Sometimes I'm worried I might come off a bit snobbish," Irene confided, with exactly zero external trace of irony. "At least, about tea."

Just tea, though!

From:

mylandmyrules

"Doesn't bother me the slightest," Nell said honestly. Her few interactions with Irene had all been positive. "And I did enjoy your company the last time you stopped by."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Nell, darling, hello!" Liliana bustled over to the little woods witch, arms outstretched. "You did decide to come, I'm so glad."

Lowering her voice, she added, "If things get to be a bit much, feel free to step outside into the gardens ~~which I had forgotten to add to the OCD this morning but will once I'm settled~~. They're wild and overgrown, but will certainly be quieter and I made sure to have lights placed."

From:

mylandmyrules

Nell hugged Liliana, assuming that's what the outstreched arms were for and smiled at her. "Thank you," she said. "I might just take you up on that. But Liliana, this place is beautiful! So fancy and elegant! Just like yourself!"

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana was just going to roll with it, even if there had been a half-second of startlement there, it was quickly replaced by as warm an embrace she could provide. Emotionally warm, Liliana's body was quite obviously below a normal, human body temperature. "Thank you, darling. I'm quite pleased with how it came out." She preened a little, humility was for people less accomplished than Liliana Vess. "And you are charming as ever. But help a girl out, darling, what is your costume?"

From:

mylandmyrules

"I think I'm a sort of cowgirl" Nell said, touching her hat self-consciously. "To go with Gladio's cowboy. You look like a beautiful queen."

From:

deathsmajesty

"That's exactly what I am!" Liliana declared, pleased as punch. "But...forgive me darling, I mean this in the very best way possible, but...you don't look any bit like a cow."

Gladio got his nickname 'Beefslab' honestly, though.

From:

mylandmyrules

"Oh no," Nell said with a laugh. "Cowboys are the people who take care of cows. They ride horses and herd cows where they need to go. I didn't know what to wear, so Gladio had me wear the hat."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Cows...need...herding?" Liliana asked. Huh. Things she had literally never known. "Well, it is an excellent hat," she added with a nod. "...I'm surprised he didn't convince you to wear the vest as well, but perhaps he thought he needed that to convince me it was an actual costume."

From:

mylandmyrules

"I may end up wearing it yet," Nell said with a smile. "He'd much rather be shirtless anyway."

From:

deathsmajesty

"I've seen worse views," Liliana said with a shrug and an amused smile, though his physique wasn't her particular cup of tea. She preferred lithe, to the likely surprise of literally no one. "Though there are a distinct lack of ladies who share his preference for shirtlessness and that is a disappointment. Simply for parity, if nothing else."

From:

mylandmyrules

Nell's eyes widened and then she laughed. "Well, I'm afraid I won't be helping you out in that respect either," she said. "My shirt is staying on."

Until she took it off for Gladio later, but that was a whole different matter.

From:

deathsmajesty

"Don't worry, dear one, I definitely didn't think you would," she assured her. "It's fine, I'll find someone to take up my cause of gender shirt parity with me, I'm certain."

From:

mylandmyrules

Nell laughed. "As long as it's not me, I wish you good luck."

From:

hasaknightjob

Steven was, pardon the expression, still not quite feeling like himself. But he did still want to show support to Liliana as she threw her first party.

And so, after convincing Llewellyn that it would be all right and promising he would speak up if he felt overwhelmed, Steven and Llewellyn made their arrival.

Their outfits were very nice suits that others had perhaps seen both men wear at other events. But this time they included masks. Specifically Llewellyn had on a cat mask (though in grey instead of black, in honor of Raphael) and Steven wore an adorable raven mask which had, perhaps, elicited a long suffering sigh from a divine being which Steven had promptly ignored.

As such, when combined with their festive clothes, it meant that they had dressed up as - wait for it - party animals.

Yes, Steven was very proud.

Steven looked around to see who was there while making sure he could always see Llewellyn ~~modded with permission who would ping himself in~~ in case he needed him.

From:

pocketpretzels

Yeah, Watts- in his dark grey suit with the pinstripes- was quite frankly never that far from Steven’s side. Not quite hovering, but close.

“Fancy,” he commented, looking around.

From:

hasaknightjob

Steven didn't mind the close to hovering. He wasn't as bad as he'd been during the worst of Sunday but his feet weren't fully under him yet either. Having Llewellyn there to anchor himself with helped immensely.

"She did go all out on the decorations," Steven said, having no idea if this sort of goth aesthetic might be how Liliana normally decorated regardless of whether a party was involved.

From:

pocketpretzels

To be honest, Watts wasn’t certain a party whose central theme involved dressing up as something you were not was the best idea, all things considered.

“And the food,” Watts noticed, his gaze naturally drawn that way.

From:

hasaknightjob

Llewellyn was probably not wrong about that concern. Especially combined with being somewhere they'd never been before. Which was one of many reasons Steven was trying not to stray too far that Llewellyn got out of his sight.

"Looks like there's plenty of things we can eat," Steven said. "That's kind."

Of course most events on the island were thoughtful about including vegan options. But that didn't mean it wasn't nice for Liliana to do the same.

From:

pocketpretzels

“A nice selection,” Watts agreed, already sizing up what would survive being stuffed in his pockets for a few hours. “And there’s a dance floor…”

From:

hasaknightjob

Steven smiled at the idea that Llewellyn felt brave enough to dance with him. "Could be nice. See how it goes?"

From:

pocketpretzels

“I plan on collecting at least one dance from you tonight, Steven Grant,” Watts informed him. “Whether it’s here or at home makes no difference to me, but I will not consider our night complete without it.”

From:

hasaknightjob

That coaxed a smile out of Steven. "I can promise you at least one dance tonight, Llewellyn Watts. Even if I'm not yet certain where I'll feel up for it."

Regardless, extended time in his beau's arms sounded like a good cure for what ailed him.

From:

pocketpretzels

“Then I am satisfied,” Watts declared, leaning towards him- and then stopping with a slight frown.

From:

hasaknightjob

Steven saw the frown and worried. "Everything all right?"

From:

pocketpretzels

“I had not considered,” Watts admitted. “That your mask covers both your cheeks and your mouth.”

From:

hasaknightjob

Steven touched his mask. From the inside it didn't feel like it covered too much because he could still easily talk and breathe. But as he touched it he realized that Llewellyn was right. The beak did get in the way.

"I could lift it?"

From:

pocketpretzels

Watts sighed. “I realise, of course, that obscuring of one’s identity is part of the holiday. But it makes it very difficult for me to spontaneously offer you a show of my affection,” he grumbled. “Lifting it would solve the problem, but at the expense of either the purpose of the mask or the spontaneity of the act on my part.”

From:

hasaknightjob

"I do like you being spontaneous," Steven said. He couldn't help it. Llewellyn being grumpy about not being able to kiss him made Steven smile. "I don't mind lifting it. Say here?"

Steven pushed the mask up so that it rested more on his forehead, with the beak now coming down towards the top of his nose.

From:

pocketpretzels

“Can you still see all right?” Watts asked.

From:

hasaknightjob

"I can see my handsome beau," Steven replied, smiling up at him.

From:

pocketpretzels

“Flatterer,” Watts laughed, rewarding that with a very quick peck to Steven’s lips.

It was getting easier, being properly affectionate in public, the more he did it.

From:

hasaknightjob

"What else do I need to see?" Steven replied, which really only proved he was earning that comment. The kiss did help the smile to linger on Steven's face, though, so there were benefits to it beyond just the kissing.

From:

pocketpretzels

“Your punch glass, perhaps?” Watts said. “It would be a shame were you to spill juice upon this tie,” he noted, reaching out to straighten said tie unnecessarily.

From:

hasaknightjob

"Good point," Steven said. He stepped closer to make it easier for Llewellyn to do that entirely necessary tie adjustment. "It is a very nice tie. Have to make sure to take it off carefully later as well."

From:

pocketpretzels

“That, I would be pleased to assist you with,” Watts all but purred, tugging gently on said tie.

From:

hasaknightjob

"I'll certainly need the help," Steven said. "Good thing I have you about."

Steven hadn't had the issues with physical shaking that he did on Sunday but what did things like facts matter here? Obviously he would need help with his tie.

Steven leaned up to give Llewellyn a kiss but then hesitated, silently questioning if it would be all right.

From:

pocketpretzels

“I am here for whatever you need,” Watts said, answering Steven’s unspoken question by tilting his head downwards slightly to meet him in the middle.

From:

hasaknightjob

Steven kissed him, keeping it light and quick, but a kiss all the same. "I needed that, so thank you. Thank you for being here with me as well. I mean - obviously you would. You're my date. But staying close. Thank you."

From:

pocketpretzels

“Of course, darling,” Watts said. “And we needn’t stay a minute longer than you should care to.”

From:

hasaknightjob

"Doing all right so far," Steven said. "Not too bad yet. I promise I will say if I need to leave. Or get some fresh air."

Apparently there was a garden area available for that very thing!

From:

pocketpretzels

“Good,” Watts said firmly. “Take care of yourself first and foremost, everything else is secondary.”

From:

hasaknightjob

Steven smiled at him. "Easier to do when you've a beau who will catch you if you need it. Don't know that I could have come on my own. Well, as much as I'm ever on my own."

Though considering Marc and parties it would've probably still been very much alone.

From:

pocketpretzels

“I wouldn’t have made you come on your own,” Watts said. However lukewarm his feelings on Liliana Vess, he cared about Steven above all.

From:

hasaknightjob

"I think I can manage work all right," Steven said, already thinking ahead. "That's sort of familiar ground."

From:

pocketpretzels

“If you’d care for an escort in either direction, I am happy to provide my services,” Watts told him.

From:

hasaknightjob

"I'd never say no to more time with you," Steven told him with a smile. "For any reason."

From:

pocketpretzels

“Nor I with you,” Watts said, beaming back at him. “That’s settled, then.”

From:

hasaknightjob

"You're sure you don't mind?" Steven asked. "No reason for you to get up early if you'd prefer not to."

From:

pocketpretzels

“I offered,” Watts pointed out. “I would not have done so if I truly minded. Your safety and comfort means far more to me than a little extra sleep.”

Edited Date: 2023-10-31 11:33 pm (UTC)

From:

hasaknightjob

Steven relaxed. Once again it was good that Llewellyn was fully honest, even about the details that made things difficult. "All right then. I trust you. And will greatly enjoy the company."

From:

pocketpretzels

"It is my pleasure to provide it," Watts assured him. "And if you would care for a walk home, just send me a missive via text shortly before you expect to be done for the day, and I shall meet you there."

From:

hasaknightjob

Steven smiled at him. "Am I meant to be able to resist the idea of walking home with you as well? Because I'm not certain I could."

From:

pocketpretzels

"Who am I to say, really?" Watts asked. "All I can tell you is it would give me great pleasure to be your escort."

From:

hasaknightjob

"Can I make a reservation for a walk home as well then?" Steven asked. He smiled. "Is there somewhere I sign for that?"

From:

pocketpretzels

"You may," Watts smiled at him. "In absence of a form to sign I will accept a kiss."

From:

hasaknightjob

"Luckily I've those on hand, since I've no forms," Steven said. He tilted his head up to give Llewellyn a kiss, keeping it light in respect of them being in a public setting.

From:

pocketpretzels

"And thus has your request been processed and approved," Watts informed him.

From:

hasaknightjob

Amazingly that got a chuckle out of Steven. He looked at Llewellyn with great fondness. "Have I mentioned how wonderful you are, Llew?"

From:

pocketpretzels

"A few times," Watts said, blushing furiously even as he said it. Not that the blush was all that visible beneath the mask. "I'm glad you think so."

From:

hasaknightjob

"I know so," Steven said. "Only you could find a way to make me laugh in spite of everything. Good in spite this time."

From:

pocketpretzels

"Oh, well," that blush wasn't going away any time soon. "I'm glad, too, that I am able to do that for you."

From:

hasaknightjob

"You make me laugh and smile and feel safe," Steven said. He reached to take Llewellyn's hand, if Llewellyn would let him. "Present. Not lost."

From:

pocketpretzels

Watts did indeed let him, threading their fingers together and giving Steven's hand a squeeze. "Your anchor," Watts reminded him. "Always."

From:

hasaknightjob

"Real," Steven agreed, giving Llewellyn's hand a squeeze in return.

He looked around them. "Though I suppose it'd be hard to mix the date up while we're here. Pretty clearly Halloween."

And thus perhaps a good thing the party hadn't been on Saturday as it had totally never been originally planned, nobody saw anything we swear.

From:

pocketpretzels

“The costumes aren’t a bother?” Watts asked, concern etched on his face.

From:

hasaknightjob

"I wouldn't mind being a little more certain of who some people are," Steven admitted. "In hindsight maybe going out for a coffee yesterday or today would've been a better first step."

From:

pocketpretzels

Watts nodded. “It’s quite the leap, going from the safety of our home to a large room full of people.” Many of whom were wearing masks or otherwise not dressed as they typically would be. “But I’m here, and the furthest I shall go without you is to the snack table.” And even then only if Steven were comfortable with that.

From:

hasaknightjob

"Long as I can see you, I'm all right," Steven said. Their outfits hadn't been planned with this in mind, but Steven realized it helped a great deal that Llewellyn was wearing one of his normal suits. "And... maybe heading home a little earlier than we might normally."

From:

pocketpretzels

“That is all right with me,” Watts said. “You need just say the word.”

From:

hasaknightjob

"I will. Not just yet," Steven said. He looked around to see who was there. "I'd like to say hello to our host at least. Oh! And there's Liz. Be nice to say hi to her as well."

From:

pocketpretzels

“Is she taking photographs?” Watts asked, following Steven’s gaze. “It would be nice to get some of both of us, don’t you think?”

From:

hasaknightjob

"Oh I'd like that," Steven said. "And she's very good at it. Pictures."

From:

pocketpretzels

Watts nodded. “I do like selfies- and we ought to take some! But professional-looking portraits are appealing as well.”

From:

hasaknightjob

"Agreed," Steven said. "You know, we could get those done outside of parties as well. I'm sure Liz and Prompto would be happy to set up an appointment, assuming appointments are how that's done."

From:

pocketpretzels

“Oh!” Watts snapped his fingers as something occurred to him. “With Raphael too, do you think?”

From:

hasaknightjob

"Oh that'd be lovely," Steven said. "I'd like that. I'd like it a great deal, actually. Him and his little tie, perhaps?"

From:

pocketpretzels

“For a formal portrait? Of course,” Watts agreed.

From:

hasaknightjob

Steven was looking at Llewellyn rather besottedly.

From:

pocketpretzels

“What is it?” Watts couldn’t help but ask.

From:

hasaknightjob

"A formal portrait of the three of us," Steven said. "It's sweet."

From:

pocketpretzels

“Well, we are his ‘cat-dads’ as you say, of course we ought to have a formal portrait,” Watts said.

From:

hasaknightjob

"I would love it," Steven said. "I can ask Liz about it if you like? See what we'd need to do?"

From:

pocketpretzels

"Oh, please," Watts said, pressing a quick kiss to Steven's cheek. "Thank you."

From:

hasaknightjob

"It's no trouble," Steven assured him. He gave Llewellyn's hand another squeeze. "I've been meaning to catch up with her anyway. Feels like every time I intend to stop by when she's working something gets in the way."

From:

pocketpretzels

"That is most maddening," Watts agreed. His original impulse had been to mention something about time slipping away, but for once his brain was faster than his tongue and he did not.

From:

hasaknightjob

"Maybe it'll help having a goal," Steven said. "Getting the photo done. Try to have it happen before the new year?"

Which on the one hand was two months away but on the other did it hurt to be cautious?

From:

pocketpretzels

"That seems reasonable to me," Watts said. "Though possibly sooner rather than later, as people tend to get busier as the end of the year approaches."

From:

hasaknightjob

"Good point," Steven said. "They'll probably be busy with holiday orders and the like."

From:

pocketpretzels

"Not to mention their first Christmas with the Little Miss," Watts pointed out. "I'm sure that will occupy a good deal of their attention."

Edited Date: 2023-11-01 04:01 am (UTC)

From:

hasaknightjob

"That's true." Steven sighed. "She must be getting so big now. Maybe Liz has photos."

You know, what were the odds?

From:

pocketpretzels

"I'm sure she must," Watts said, bumping Steven's shoulder lightly.

From:

hasaknightjob

"Oh right," Steven said, looking sheepish as he realized.

Which technically worked well with his costume.

"Well maybe she'll have a chance to show me some when we chat."

From:

pocketpretzels

Okay, but the sheepish look was irresistibly adorable, hence the quick kiss. "It cannot hurt to ask."

From:

hasaknightjob

This wasn't encouraging Steven not to look sheepish. Though it was encouraging a smile at the same time which cancelled it out somewhat. "Another kiss for luck maybe?"

Did that have anything to do with Liz's photos? Pfft, details.

From:

pocketpretzels

“All right,” Watts decided. “But only because it’s you.”

From:

hasaknightjob

Steven gave Llewellyn's hand a possessive tug. "Better be only me."

From:

pocketpretzels

“Always only you, darling,” Watts informed him.

From:

mylandmyrules

Nell waved at him. If not for the cowboy hat she'd look just like her usual self. "Hello, Steven."

From:

hasaknightjob

"Hello, Nell," Steven said. "You look nice. Having fun so far?"

From:

mylandmyrules

"It's a bit overwhelming," Nell admitted. "And everyone is so fancy and beautiful. But it's fun to be here, and Liliana put lights out in her garden so I can go out there if I need a break."

From:

hasaknightjob

Steven nodded at the part about it being a bit overwhelming. "That's good to know. About the garden. Get some fresh air, maybe."

Steven was keeping this in mind for himself as much as anything.

"She seems to have thought of a lot of details," Steven said. "Good hostess, that."

From:

mylandmyrules

"She certainly has," Nell said. "It's particularly kind of her because I'd told her I found bg parties rather overwhleming and she remembered and did a nice thing so I'd feel better."

From:

hasaknightjob

"Seems to be a good crowd so I'd call it a big party," Steven said. "And you're well? Oh! I forgot to ask you how your holiday in New Zealand went."

From:

mylandmyrules

"It was wonderful," Nell said. "It was so nice to be able to spend time with Gladio, but also be able to go off and do my own things. Then If we found something we thought the other would like we showed them later. It was perfect."

From:

hasaknightjob

"Excellent," Steven said. "I'm glad it went well for you both. Even if I imagine loads of people on the island wouldn't mind a holiday now after the strangeness of last week."

From:

mylandmyrules

"I don't want to go anywhere after that," Nell admitted. "I just want to stay right here all comfortable on the island the way it should be."

Of course, she'd always been a bit of a homebody, partly by lack of options, but she also did truly love her own spaces.

From:

hasaknightjob

"I suppose there is that as well," Steven said. "Comfort of the familiar. Known."

Steven could certainly appreciate that at the moment.

"Also nice to get back home and to your own bed, yeah?" Steven said. "Hotels are nice but not the same."

From:

mylandmyrules

"Exactly," Nell said. "And my kittens aren't there either to curl up next to me as I sleep or snuggle with me in the mornings."

From:

hasaknightjob

"Raphael was pleased to have us home," Steven said by way of agreeing with her. "And we did miss him as well. Can't exactly ring him and say how things are going, can you?"

Well maybe somebody who could communicate with animals could do that. Sadly not Steven though.

From:

mylandmyrules

"I suppose you could call," Nell said. "If you had a landline and an answering machine. You could call and they'd at least be able to hear your voice. And I think there are contraptions that let you watch your cat from far away and talk to them and listen to them as well ."

From:

hasaknightjob

"I'm picturing him trying to hold up a tiny phone to his ear," Steven admitted.

From:

mylandmyrules

Nell laughed. "Mine would probably be too busy playing and just let it go to voicemail."

From:

hasaknightjob

"It's a very busy life being a kitten," Steven agreed. "Have to take probably twice the step adult cats do just to keep up."

From:

mylandmyrules

"But they have ten times the energy," Nell said with a laugh. "They tear around and around and then just flop down and nap whenever they are."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Steven, darling, you've made it!" Liliana said, coming over for a proper greeting. "How lovely to see you, it's been a dreadfully long time. How have you been?"

From:

hasaknightjob

"Has it?" Steven asked. He felt a moment of uncertainty about time as he couldn't recall the last he'd seen Liliana (as opposed to sharing texts). He tried to banish the uncertainty by telling himself that this was clearly a Halloween party and thus it must still be October 31.

(He might surreptitiously confirm that on his mobile and pocket watch once he and Liliana were done talking).

Steven plunged ahead on more steady feeling subjects. "The party looks wonderful. As do you. You don't go halfway, do you? Thank you. For the invitation. And the food."

From:

deathsmajesty

A bit of a furrow in her brow at his response, but she smoothed it away momentarily. "And thank you, darling. That is a very well-tailored suit, which I always have an appreciation for. As for going halfway? Never. That's for amateurs and dilettantes."

Liliana was just extra, all the way around.

From:

hasaknightjob

It was fine. Just Steven questioning the nature of his reality. Nothing to worry about. Totally fine.

"You must throw events like this all the time, be so good at it," Steven said, looking around with admiration. "Oh - and your home is lovely as well."

Almost the kind of place that in another version of the world Steven and Marc might have moved into with Liliana, if anyone could imagine such a thing.

"Do you mind if I take photos of the decorations and the like?" Steven asked. "I like to keep mementos of things I've done, but I understand if you'd rather keep your home private."

From:

deathsmajesty

Look, sometimes that just happened. Who hadn't been there, really?

"Truth be told, darling, this is the first party I've thrown in decades," she admitted. "But I'm finding it's much like summoning creatures. You never really forget the basics."

She listened to his request and nodded. "Oh, please, go right ahead," she said with a gesture. "I asked Liz to do much the same, but if you'd like to take your own, that's not a problem. So long as you limit it to the ballroom, of course. And the gardens. But you must tell people that the gardens are that way for the ambiance, not simply because I haven't gotten around to properly taking care of them yet."

From:

hasaknightjob

"Of course, of course," Steven assured her at the request to limit photos to the ballroom. Then he frowned with confusion, because he hadn't been outside yet. "The gardens are only gardens because you haven't taken care of them yet?"

From:

deathsmajesty

"Oh, they're terribly wild and overgrown," Liliana explained. "I haven't gotten anyone in to landscape, yet. There's the remains of a maze, I think, and a broken down greenhouse, all of which I'm declaring atmospheric and intentional."

From:

hasaknightjob

"I see," Steven said. "Well, perhaps I'll have a look later all the same. It's nice there's a place to get some fresh air if needed. Not that this isn't wonderful but sometimes - sometimes a little quiet can be nice as well. So cheers for that."

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana gestured towards the open doors everyone had come in through. "They're there for whenever you fancy a turn," she said. "There's a lovely little pavilion that's lit up if you'd like a place to rest, and then the full gardens themselves if you'd rather stretch your legs, darling."

From:

hasaknightjob

"Cheers," Steven said. "And you? Are you doing all right after - all of it?"

Steven knew mainly what Marc had passed along to him and Marc tended to skimp on details for the bottom line of things like "She's alive so she's fine."

From:

deathsmajesty

Well, he wasn't wrong. Ish. By this point, there was nothing wrong with her that hadn't already been!

"After all--ah." What did it say that her first thought had been about the past week's events and she had been very close to prattling excitedly on about blighting the Walmart? "I have fully recovered," she said. "The week afterwards was admittedly trying as I am not best pleased with feeling weak or helpless--" Which she'd absolutely been, but best of luck getting her to admit it "--but that passed and I recovered. I spent the last few days flitting about the Multiverse preparing for the party like nothing had ever been wrong."

From:

hasaknightjob

See? Marc would argue that this only proved that he summarized things just fine, thank you. Her being alive was the important part anyway, right?

As for the rest, it probably said a great deal about Fandom. On the plus side nothing had come up to get in the way of her having a nice party? (Not to jinx it...)

"That's good," Steven said. "Good to hear you're all better. I could - "

Steven started to say he could see some images of what Liliana had looked like when she'd landed on the beach, but then hesitated when he realized he couldn't say for certain if those images were accurate.

" - imagine how bad it must've been, falling from that height," Steven went with instead, since that felt safer. "Have you some sort of healing that helps? Marc and me, our suits take care of that for us. Dead handy."

Amazingly given that it was Steven, the pun was not intended.

From:

deathsmajesty

"I do, yes, but it's not the kind of healing that comes without consequences," she said calmly. "Black mana is the enemy of both green and white, where the traditional healing magic lies. My best bet is laying in a stash of healing salves and artifacts that give me access to the mana to trigger them when I need them most."

Because otherwise, she was left harvesting the life energy of living beings around her. You know...trees...plants...animals...glowy aliens...

From:

hasaknightjob

Steven nodded along as he listened, because he was trying to learn all about mana and the like. Not that it would ever be knowledge that he used personally, but it was always good to learn things about other people, especially things that mattered to them.

"We've medicine here as well," Steven said. "It's not magic, of course. But if you're talking about salves and the like could be worth looking into for options."

Say if Liliana's homeworld could really use some penicillin for example.

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana hadn't been back to her homeworld for two hundred years.

"Knife and herb healing," Liliana agreed. "No magic, just skill and the properties of the plants."

From:

hasaknightjob

"Some say magic is just science that hasn't been figured out yet," Steven said. "Plants were considered magical until people understood how they actually helped with things like healing. Chemical makeup and the like. No real magic there in the end."

Unless you were Nell of course. Then the plants were probably magical regardless.

From:

deathsmajesty

"I would have to first ask how you're defining science," Liliana said. "I mean, magic is magic, what would make it science?"

From:

hasaknightjob

"Where I'm from, usually if someone says scientific they mean quantifiable in some way," Steven said. "And magic is more - " Steven made a hand gesture to indicate the concept of vagueness " - unknown. It happens but no one knows why."

From:

deathsmajesty

"So magic could still be science if it broke the usual rules of reality, so long as how it had done so was explicable?" Liliana mused.

From:

hasaknightjob

"Something like that, yeah," Steven said. "Sort of the idea that magic can be knowable, we just haven't caught up to the ins and outs of it is all. Not yet."

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana considered that. "I mean, I suppose, in that way, all magic would need to be a science," she said eventually. "After all, magic itself needs to follow rules, otherwise it would simply be chaos any time we tried to cast something. Like wild magic, almost, which is chaos, but using it is not unlike trying to get as much order out of it as possible before the chaos reasserts itself." She couldn't help but grin, this was exactly the kind of conversation that she loved. "At its heart, I suppose magic is taking a specific kind of energy and using your will to give it shape and form. But there are so many different rules and methods out there for how one goes about doing that."

From:

hasaknightjob

Steven enjoyed this sort of conversation as well. Especially since it was a good distraction from other things best not focused on during a party.

"Right," he said, glad for Liliana's wording. "And when you think about it what's a light bulb if not taking energy and giving it shape and form? Or, er, a candle for that matter? It's just that in my world more people understand how lights and candles work, not as many do spells and the like."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Ah, but lights and candles work on the same principles every time, correct?" Liliana said. "And work the same way for everybody. But magic certainly doesn't do so. Even if you took two black-aspected Planeswalkers, we wouldn't cast magic the same way, even though we're using the same mana to do so, our spells would be different, and a white mana user and someone without the spark at all wouldn't be able to do anything at all."

From:

hasaknightjob

"It does seem that magic's much more complicated," Steven said. "And on our world sort of... secretive? Like we've only found out it exists fairly recently. And I think you have to have some sort of talent for it? Innate ability maybe? I couldn't go up to a Sorcerer Supreme and ask for lessons, for example."

Possibly get recruited to work with a special group with a cool name, but not get magic lessons.

From:

deathsmajesty

"For us, the ability to use magic is innate as well," Liliana explained. "But neither my parents nor my siblings were mages. And being a Planeswalker is...vanishingly unlikely, and there's no genetic component or anything that can be pinned down at all. It doesn't follow any rules or laws or logic."

From:

hasaknightjob

"How do you find out you're a Planeswalker then?" Steven asked. "I mean - if that's not a personal question."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Your first Planeswalk is always accidental," Liliana explained, matter-of-factly. "Usually something quite traumatic happens, most usually a threat to your life, along with the intense desire to get away. And your Planeswalker spark alights, and you tumble through the Blind Eternities, ending up somewhere else." She took a calm sip of her wine. "Of course, that's true of most races now. I believe the ancient dragons Planeswalk as a part of just what they are, but that's speculation."

From:

hasaknightjob

"So you sort of blink and find yourself somewhere you might not recognize without knowing how you got there?" Steven asked.

Not that he could relate or anything.

From:

deathsmajesty

"A little more than a blink, but yes," Liliana said. "More like an eternity of falling compressed into a single moment, along with all of the panic and fear and horror you were feeling before. But then you're somewhere completely different and hopefully dressed for the weather, though your spark will never let you land somewhere that will actively kill you. One of the other Planeswalker abilities is that you immediately speak whatever languages appear on the plane, so you can always be understood, though things like slang and proper nouns and things for which we have no concepts will still trip us up. Reading, however," she sighed heavily. "Much slower. Hours to days, depending on the alphabet."

From:

hasaknightjob

"Oh that's handy," Steven said, a little envious. "I've woken up with people trying to kill me. The language thing is a bonus as well, isn't it? Shame about the reading though. But if you enjoy translation maybe it's not so bad?"

From:

deathsmajesty

"I usually start just trying to read everything around me immediately in an attempt to jumpstart it before I need it," Liliana admitted. "I appreciate how many things on this plane come with pictures. That helped immensely."

From:

hasaknightjob

"Sounds fun actually," Steven said, in case it wasn't obvious that he was a giant nerd. "But hard if it's not close enough to something you know, I imagine. You have things like that with Earth based languages. I can only imagine how much difference there is when it's entirely different planes."

From:

deathsmajesty

"I have so much more trouble with languages that use pictographs over letters," she sighed. "Because people see things so differently. But it does mean that I get to amass an impressive library wherever I go."

From:

hasaknightjob

"And does it mean the thing pictured? Does the picture symbolize a sound? Both? Neither?" Steven had some experience here. "I mean fascinating to find out about but a bit hard to pick up without context, agreed. Not often they leave a handy stone about to walk you through it."

From:

deathsmajesty

"...That must be a reference to something," Liliana said with a laugh. "Otherwise...stone?"

From:

hasaknightjob

"Rosetta stone," Steven said. He gestured to indicate the fairly descent size of the thing. "Helped translate hieroglyphics, you see. Had the same message three times. Two in Egyptian scripts, one in ancient Greek. People knew the Greek so that helped suss out the rest. Major discovery for understanding ancient Egypt."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Ahhh!" Liliana said. "Yes, clever! If planes could start doing that with Dominarian, I'd be ever so grateful."

From:

hasaknightjob

"We certainly were," Steven agreed. "Well, I mean not me personally. Finding it was well before my time. But after the fact, very grateful. Though now your situation makes me wonder if there's a linguist Planeswalker out there who might think to make such a thing."

From:

deathsmajesty

"There was, once," Liliana said, some of her sparkle dimmed. "Well, I don't know if they made stones like that, but they did make a study of languages over the planes. I didn't know them well, but their work was brilliant."

You know what Liliana hadn't thought of in a hot second and needed to be reiterated right now? Fuck the Mending.

From:

hasaknightjob

Steven of course didn't know about any of that but he could pick up on Liliana not being as brilliant as she'd been a moment earlier. He could certainly sympathize even if he didn't know the cause. "They sound very interesting. Imagine it must have been fascinating for them. Being able to work with all those puzzles. I like puzzles, myself."

Which was Steven offering a gentle change of subject if she was looking for one.

From:

deathsmajesty

You lose many people even over a span of two centuries. It just especially stung when you they were people who shouldn't have died - who only were able to die because of the interference of others.

To save the Multiverse, sure, but Liliana was still bitter.

"Oh? What kind of puzzles?" she asked, not quite lunging for the new topic but certainly reaching for it very quickly.

From:

hasaknightjob

"Oh all sorts," Steven said, warming up to it. He was after all British and if the puzzle topic hadn't worked he'd have been happy to chat about the weather. "There was a time when I was trying not to fall asleep, you see. So I would try to keep myself awake by doing puzzles and the like. Have you ever seen a Rubik's Cube? Those can be fun, especially if you're the sort of person who prefers having something to do with your hands."

From:

deathsmajesty

"I know of Delif's Cube, but not Rubik's," Liliana said with a small smile. "Is it a jigsaw puzzle, or...?"

From:

hasaknightjob

"Not like a jigsaw, though those can be fun as well," Steven said, proving how accurate his party animal costume really was. He gestured with his hands to indicate the size of the average Rubik's Cube and how one might manipulate it. "It's a, well, it's a cube as the name says. But it's got different colors on it you see. And you twist and turn the sides to get the colors where you want them to go."

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana laughed. "That sounds just like the kind of thing that an artificer mage would create to generate specific types of magic, honestly."

From:

hasaknightjob

"Or to hide it," Steven said, as picturing what she said made him think of the flip side. "Like you have to solve it in order to unlock the spell or something."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Setting up a specific kind of pathway that needed to be unlocked for the mana to flow through and power it," Liliana murmured. "That sounds exactly like something that Urza or Mishra would build, honestly."

From:

texted3times

Eric was there as the world's laziest vampire. (Because he was already a vampire, you see. He thought this was hilarious and had thought so for the last few hundred years.)

He had his fangs out, of course, and his hair done, and had even put on one of those ridiculously generic capes to go with his all-black shirt and leather pants attire.

And now he hovered (not literally, that would be weird) by the door and waited to be invited in. Because there were rules to be followed, especially on Halloween.

From:

deathsmajesty

Listen, some people made hovering look good, okay?

"If you've come looking for the dainty necks of virgins, I'm afraid you've come to the wrong place," Liliana said, standing in the doorway. "Is that why you're lurking in my gardens instead of coming inside?"

An invitation? Magic vampires were just built different.

From:

texted3times

"I need to be verbally invited inside," Eric said. "Old rules, I'm afraid."

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana blinked in surprise. "Fascinating," she murmured. She almost seemed inclined to ask more questions, but then remembered she was a hostess more than a necromancer right now and stepped aside. "Please do come in, Eric," she said, gesturing inside. "The party wouldn't be the same without you."

She paused. "Hmm. I procured some refreshments for you, but now I have to wonder if there are other ways you differ from the vampires I know best."

Blast. Was she going to have to offer him a bartender to sip on for a bit?

From:

texted3times

"What sort of refreshments?" Eric asked. "I can drink synthetic blood."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Synthetic blood?" Liliana asked, blinking. "Is that truly a thing?"

Now she was tempted to bring some to Olivia, see what she thought.

"No, I have some blood mixed with a good wine and, if you can't drink that, a nice blend of several farmhands. I'm assured it's very robust and both were bottled this morning."

From:

texted3times

Eric nodded. "It's the reason we came out of hiding. The humans weren't so terrified when they weren't all just walking snack cakes to us."

Though Eric still mostly viewed them that way. Sorry not sorry.

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana gave him a skeptical glance. "Ah, yes, several thousand year old entities, so well-known for changing their views about people they consider cattle."

From:

texted3times

"Well, humans are fairly stupid," Eric said, "and fascinated by getting to come close in what they think to be safety."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Oh, like you don't go out of your way to cultivate an attractive image though," Liliana said with a laugh. "Though any human who hasn't learned that bright colors and pretty scales are often a sign of danger needs to pay closer attention to nature, it's true."

From:

texted3times

Eric smiled sharply. "I'm always happy to provide that lesson."

He was a giver like that.

From:

deathsmajesty

"Of that I have little doubt," Liliana said with a laugh. "But truly, darling, can I get you a glass, either pure or diluted with wine? And will room temperature be fine or should it be warmed slightly for you?"

Liliana would never be such a bad hostess as to not have some refreshment on hand for him.

"Or do you subsist wholly on the synthetic variety now?"

From:

texted3times

Eric made a face. "I prefer the real thing," he admitted easily. "Warmed, undiluted. Please."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Of course darling, just a moment."

Not that she went, perish the thought. Liliana didn't fetch. Instead, she gestured to one of the bartenders who brought her over a flute of champagne. And while she was there, Liliana murmured some instructions and sent her off.

"There," she said. "Any time you'd like a refill, simply let that one know and she'll make sure to fetch you another glass." Raising a playful eyebrow, she added, "Do refrain from nibbling the help, won't you, darling?"

From:

texted3times

"Just for you," Eric said, smiling. "I used to have a parade of DJs through the club until Lucifer arrived and declared that déclassé." Eric rolled his eyes. "He didn't need to eat them."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Thank you, darling. What you do with your humans is on you, but these are mine, at least for the night," Liliana said. "Also, I've been to enough vampire parties to be able to continue on a conversation while getting arterial blood on me because someone couldn't wait until the next round was brought out and attacked a thrall, but I highly doubt most of the people here can say the same. Not that you'd be that--" obvious "--gauche, I'm sure."

From:

texted3times

"Certainly not," Eric sniffed. "Baby vamps have no manners sometimes."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Not just the fledglings is the problem," Liliana said, wrinkling her nose. "Also, the older, entitled vampires close enough to their progenitor that they think manners just don't apply to them."

From:

texted3times

"Then they never learned manners," Eric said. "My sire would have never allowed for such a thing."

From:

deathsmajesty

"They really never did," Liliana sighed. "It's why I never wear my best gowns when going to vampire parties. Which is a shame, because otherwise Olivia throws the best ones. But there's always someone who decides to be a messy eater and someone else who thinks that just because I'm a human means I'm prey."

A beat, as she finished her wine, before she admitted, "Granted, depending on my mood, the latter can be fun, but still hard on my gown."

From:

texted3times

"And I'm sure they never covered dry cleaning," Eric said sympathetically.

From:

deathsmajesty

"...Dry cleaning?" Liliana asked, brows drawing together.

From:

texted3times

"An invention in this time good at getting stains out of clothing," Eric said.

From:

deathsmajesty

"Ah," Liliana said vaguely, since she wasn't the one worrying about actually doing the cleaning. "Either way, you're correct, they don't pay for the laundering."

See? No manners!

From:

imafuturist

Never let it be said that Tony didn't know how to dress to impress. And he might have needed to work a little overtime on his and Steve's costumes, but he managed with all that extra coffee that'd been on island before.

Tony was a knight in his traditional colors, mask, red suit, with a very stylized take on the armor covering one arm and shoulder. Which went along with Steve's outfit...

Edited Date: 2023-10-31 03:17 pm (UTC)

From:

heroic_jawline

A sparkly blue dragon, complete with mask and hand-made chain mail (with the arms left unclothed because Tony prepared for invasions even at Halloween), scaly irridescent wings, and a tail that swooped to the ground from the wide metal belt over Steve's navy leather pants.

Steve would eventually remember he had a swoopy tail, too!

"That was a walk," Steve said with a grin. "Very invigorating."

And long. So long.

From:

imafuturist

"At least it's decent weather for it," Tony remarked. And not, you know, snowing.

From:

heroic_jawline

What kind of insanely cold places have snow at Halloween?!

"Especially since you didn't give me sleeves," Steve agreed with a grin.

From:

imafuturist

"It's a look!" Tony insisted.

From:

heroic_jawline

"It is," Steve said with a fond smile. "Thank you for all of the time you put into it."

And not just because Steve very much enjoyed watching Tony hammering things.

From:

imafuturist

"You look great," Tony said, leaning over to kiss him. Their masks for sure knocked into each other. "Ow."

From:

heroic_jawline

"Okay, so there's a tiny, tiny miscalculation in the costumes," Steve said with a chuckled.

From:

imafuturist

"Noted," Tony said, pushing his mask up for a proper kiss.

From:

heroic_jawline

"Enjoying yourself, Sir Stark?" Steve teased.

From:

imafuturist

"Planning to slay a dragon by the end of the night,' Tony replied warmly.

Because they were just ridiculous fucking people like this, folks.

From:

heroic_jawline

"But what if the dragon ends up on top?"

Steven. Stop it.

From:

imafuturist

Tony wasn't laughing. Really he wasn't.

"Well, we'll just have to see, won't we?"

From:

heroic_jawline

"We should get drinks," Steve decided. "Many strong drinks."

From:

imafuturist

"Yes, dear," Tony said, laughing as he tugged Steve along.

From:

deathsmajesty

"So help me, if the words 'rustic' or 'quaint' fall out of your mouth this evening, except in the negative, I will toss you out on your ear," Liliana declared, coming over to greet Tony and Steve with a genuine smile of pleasure. "Welcome, darling. A knight errant?"

Finally! A costume she ~~maybe recognized! Though Steve-the-dragon helped.~~

From:

heroic_jawline

"We'll also skip 'drafty,'" Steve said helpfully, grinning back. "You really pulled out the stops tonight. It looks fantastic."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Much appreciated," Liliana said to Steve with a smile. "You can currently stay, even if you're on thin ice with your whole 'morning' outlook." She winked at him. "And thank you, darling. I will admit, my pride was on the line, so I had reason to go all out."

That reason being 'Liliana was an extra bitch.'

From:

heroic_jawline

Well, Steve was married to Tony "Let's Build a High Rise on Teeny Island" Stark, so he more than appreciated people who were...he'd say "exuberant."

"Mornings are the best part of the day," he said with another grin. "You're missing out. Sunrises, not a huge line at the coffee place yet--"

From:

deathsmajesty

"Oh no, darling, are you having a stroke?" she asked, all false concern. "You're babbling nonsense. Should I sit you down and bring you over a refreshment?"

Who needed sunrise? Sunsets were the same thing but in reverse. And waiting in lines sounded like something other people did. People who didn't have staff.

From:

heroic_jawline

Steve laughed. "I'm not sure the dragon tail is made for sitting, but I would love a drink and a chance to reflect on my advanced age."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Oh?" Liliana asked, curious. "Are you so very ancient then?"

She eyed the tail. "Hmm, might a stool work?" she suggested. "Under you, and let the tail fall over."

From:

heroic_jawline

"Well, not ancient, but I have a few more years on me than it looks," Steve said.

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana winked at him. "I'm two hundred going on thirty myself," she said.

From:

heroic_jawline

"You don't look a day over 25," Steve said, smiling.

From:

deathsmajesty

"Oooh, I like you, you can stay," Liliana said with a delighted laugh. "I'm almost willing to forgive your terrible taste in times of day."

From:

heroic_jawline

"That's incredibly generous of you," Steve teased.

From:

deathsmajesty

"I do what I can to be an inspiration for the betterment of all," Liliana said.

You know. Modestly.

From:

heroic_jawline

Steve laughed. "You're doing us all a great service," he agreed, nodding.

From:

deathsmajesty

"Oh, see, I do like you," Liliana said, laughing along with him. "So, tell me about yourself, darling. Since I know little about you, other than you were gifted with a great deal of charm that you've learned to use well."

From:

heroic_jawline

"Well, I teach Renaissance art up at the school this year, I'm married to Tony, and I fought in World War II," Steve said.

That was a pretty quick synopsis.

From:

deathsmajesty

"And exactly one of those three proper nouns means anything to me at all," Liliana declared, blowing a kiss to Tony for being the one that did.

From:

heroic_jawline

Steve's cheeks went pink until his dragon mask. "I apologize. I know what it feels like to not have context for what people are talking about. The Renaissance is a period of amazing art and engineering on this planet a few hundred years back. World War II was a global war that took place in the 1940s. We're now in 2023 on the island--my own dimension is a few years back."

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana waved off the apology with a languid hand. "I'm assuming the implicit compliment of you forgetting that I'm still very new to the plane," she told him. "So thank you, darling. And I must say, one of the things I find hardest when integrating on any new plane is figuring out how the calendar system lines up with my own, you know? We're at harvest now, right? When is the winter solstice? Do you have a winter solstice?"

From:

heroic_jawline

Steve nodded. "It's in mid-December, two months from now, though the solstice celebrations have been mostly overrun by Christmas."

From:

deathsmajesty

"I have heard of Christmas, if only vaguely," Liliana said. "Hmm, two months? Well, then, we're not particularly far from my birthday, I don't think."

From:

heroic_jawline

"Happy early birthday, then," Steve said with a smile.

From:

deathsmajesty

"A few more weeks yet," Liliana said with a smile. "But thank you. I'll be turning twenty-four."

From:

heroic_jawline

"Twenty-four," Steve repeated, smiling. "And how many times have you turned 24?"

From:

deathsmajesty

"Why, this would be my very first time!" Liliana said, wide-eyed and innocent, completely ignoring how she'd already told him she was over two hundred just a moment ago.

From:

heroic_jawline

"Well, enjoy it," Steve said because he was far too polite to mention that she'd said she was over two hundred. "I was in a war when I was 24, so don't take my example."

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana's expression shuttered, ever so slightly. "If only war were so obliging, hmm?" she asked lightly. "To leave out those below a certain age."

From:

heroic_jawline

"Oh, I wanted to go," Steve said. "My best friend was already there and it seemed important to stand up against what was happening and say that I wasn't okay with it."

He pressed his lips together. "And then I saw actual war."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Ah," Liliana said with a nod. "Yes, the reality is very different than the propaganda." She took a drink of her wine. "War came to my home, instead."

From:

heroic_jawline

"I'm sorry to hear that," Steve said earnestly. He'd walked through France, Germany, and Belgium. The civilian losses had been hard to take.

From:

deathsmajesty

War was brutal. Even having enemies called skin-witches and the like didn't change the tenor much. It was always gruesome.

"It was quite the interesting backdrop to grow up against," Liliana said, her tone sounding like they were discussing the weather or a particularly fine up of tea. "I was never on the lines - far too young and not a warrior besides - but I was a cleric. A healer. So I saw much of the aftermath of battles."

From:

heroic_jawline

Steve winced. "I'm sorry you saw that."

From:

deathsmajesty

"I could say the same for you, darling," Liliana said quietly, her eyes a little distant. Not the kind of stare that suggested she was reliving any of her memories, but more the type that she suggested she was almost taking stock of them. "That war was longer for me than yours was for you, I believe."

There had been others, of course. There were always wars.

From:

heroic_jawline

Steve nodded. "I was only in it for about a year before I went on a suicide mission."

What a fun party conversation topic you've chosen, Steven!

"I went under the ice, came back out 70 years later."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Under the ice?" Liliana asked, unaware that that was a literal phrasing.

From:

heroic_jawline

Steve held his hand like an airplane and swooped it down towards the ground. "I crashed in the North Atlantic Ocean," he explained.

From:

deathsmajesty

"Which is very icy...?" Liliana hazarded. "From whence you were rescued seventy years later?"

Honestly, that made a fair bit of sense when you were coming from Magic: The Gathering lore.

From:

heroic_jawline

Steve nodded. "More or less, yes."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Fascinating," Liliana murmured. "I suppose that is one of the best case scenarios you could hope for when undertaking a suicide mission."

Or just...don't do them. Liliana suggests not doing that at all.

From:

heroic_jawline

Steve nodded. "It was definitely not what I'd been anticipating."

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana went to lay a cool hand on Steve's shoulder, if he'd allow it. "Here's hoping you needn't be in a situation where that knowledge can be used again," she said softly.

Catch Liliana Vess agreeing to a suicide mission. Would never ever ever happen. Surely.

From:

heroic_jawline

"Well," Steve said with a humorless little huff of laughter, "I wouldn't completely count it out."

His life was insane.

From:

deathsmajesty

Have you considered just...not doing that, Steve?

Patpat. "Darling, I'm pretty sure you're expected to go on exactly one of those in your life and then the next person in line stands up."

From:

heroic_jawline

"But what if no one else stands up?" Steve asked. "I can't let that happen."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Why should anyone else stand up if they know you're going to?" Liliana asked, arching an eyebrow. "At the very least, waiting to see if anyone else does seems like a sensible alternative."

From:

heroic_jawline

Steve's glance went towards Tony again. "Depends who the someone else is."

From:

deathsmajesty

Oh noes, there were two of them. She had been assuming that Tony was a right-minded person like herself who had no intention of flinging himself onto any grenade that just happened to roll across their path.

"Perhaps those people would be less inclined to volunteer if they weren't trying to stop you?"

She didn't even know any more. How were you all so eager to leap into danger?

From:

heroic_jawline

"Well, it's kind of our...other job," Steve said. "They call us when the world is in danger. Aliens, world-destroying robots--"

From:

deathsmajesty

"So you...joined an organization, voluntarily, where your job was to volunteer for near-certain suicide missions?" Liliana said, flabbergasted.

Again, something she would totally never ever do. Honest.

From:

heroic_jawline

"Well, we haven't died yet, so--" Steve said earnestly, "--but yes, basically."

From:

imafuturist

"What can I say? I was always a fan of the knight in shining armor."

Which should shock absolutely no one with the whole Iron Man thing.

"The place looks lovely."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Thank you," Liliana preened. "I am pleased with how it turned out. And keeping you all guessing whether I've decorated it for the holiday or if this is my natural aesthetic."

From:

imafuturist

Tony hummed and he looked around. "Why not the both at the same time?"

From:

deathsmajesty

"I don't know if I've heard anyone saying both yet," Liliana said thoughtfully. "Though I'll admit, my taste runs a little less macabre than this."

Not much, but a little.

"I don't tend to decorate like my house is an ossuary. I prefer more of the creature comforts."

She was firmly in the Victorian goth camp.

From:

imafuturist

"Creature comforts?" Tony repeated with a grin. "Luckily I have Steve around to make sure we have some comfortable furniture and not just whatever catches my fancy."

From:

deathsmajesty

She winked at him.

"And important function," she agreed. "Do your tastes run towards the weird looking furniture that looks like someone dipped torture implements in shiny paint and called it good?"

Look, that's just how futuristic furniture looked to her, okay?

From:

imafuturist

"Well, that's one way of putting it," Tony replied, laughing. "I grew up in a home full of old, expensive things that I was not allowed to touch. So maybe I've swung far in the other direction."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Ahh," Liliana said with a nod, though her understanding was clearly theoretical and not personal in that. "Now it's all futuristic that no one wants to touch," she teased.

From:

imafuturist

"Excuse you, everyone wants to touch my stuff," he replied with a wink. Because married, he may be. But Tony Stark was an irredeemable flirt.

From:

deathsmajesty

And everyone appreciated it.

She glanced back at Steve and then grinned. "But when it comes to stuff you like to touch, you did go for the antiques after all, didn't you?"

From:

imafuturist

"Antiques?" Tony said, following her gaze and expression softening as he looked at Steve. "A classic, we'll say."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Handsome and terribly charming," she said. "Almost enough to make you forget he things that dawn is an acceptable time to go for a run."

From:

meepmeepmeep

There had been a Spirit Halloween right there, guys, so of course Beaker had gotten his Frankenstein costume there! Did it fit him? Not at all! Could he see out the eye holes? Kinda!

Would this be a problem around open flames? Maaaaaaaybe.

From:

deathsmajesty

And this right here was why Liliana had gone with heatless flame. Not that she knew Beaker, apart from his very memorable charge on the Walmart, but just the exact kind of person he was.

"Oh!" she said. "I know you! You're dressed as the monster of the Incompetent Stitcher!" She laughed, delighted to be able to recognize a pop culture icon.

From:

meepmeepmeep

"Meep meep meep meep," Beaker agreed, sticking two felty thumbs way up. "Meep meeeeeeeeeee."

Don't hit on Liliana, Beaker.

From:

deathsmajesty

In fairness to Beaker, though, who could blame him?

Liliana looked down at him, troubled. "I'm sorry, darling, could you say that again?"

From:

meepmeepmeep

"Meep meep meep--" helpful hand gesture to demonstrate her dress, "meeeeep."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Darling, you absolutely couldn't handle me," she drawled. "Not even if there were three of you."

From:

meepmeepmeep

A Muppet could dream!

"Meep meep meep."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?" Liliana demanded.

From:

pocketpretzels

Watts had arrived with Steven, and was not spending too much time outside his beau’s reach, but there were moments here and there where you might catch this ‘party animal’ on his own (though shockingly, with Steven still in line of sight).

From:

deathsmajesty

"Detective Watts," Liliana greeted. "So good of you to come. Have you had a chance to look over the refreshments? I do remember Steven mentioning you enjoyed snacks."

From:

pocketpretzels

“Good evening, Miss Vess,” Watts replied. “I have, in fact, had a chance to peruse your selection. I appreciate the decent array of vegan options.”

From:

deathsmajesty

"No guest of mine is going to go hungry due to a lack of available options," Liliana declared staunchly. That included Eric, but she wasn't going to mention that to pretty much anyone but Eric. "I may not have hostessed in a few decades, but even being rusty, there are things I will not abide."

At least, assuming she liked the individual(s) with the dietary restrictions and/or was trying to make a good impression. Otherwise...

"And how have you found yourself recently? It's been awhile since I've touched base with Steven."

From:

pocketpretzels

The question was whether Watts fell into either of those categories or was just lucky enough to be associated with someone who did.

“I’ve been well. Busy. Steven and I returned recently from holiday in Peru, which likely means very little to someone not of this world.”

From:

deathsmajesty

An excellent question indeed!

"I had a reason to go out and purchase an atlas recently," Liliana said, that reason being 'wanting to know where New Zealand was.' "So it still means relatively little, but at least I have a general idea of where and what you mean. And how did you enjoy your trip?"

From:

pocketpretzels

“Immensely,” Watts confirmed. “We saw many historical sights of interest, and enjoyed good food.”

Yeah, the fallout afterwards had been… complicated, but that was not for discussing with a stranger.

From:

deathsmajesty

"It is one of my favorite things about being a Planeswalker," Liliana agreed. "Seeing the sights of a new plane, talking to the people, learning new things. And being fed delicious local dishes. Anything you've brought back to continue enjoying here?"

From:

pocketpretzels

“It’s not food, but- one of our excursions was to a winery,” Watts said. “I brought back- several fine vintages.”

Edited Date: 2023-10-31 07:43 pm (UTC)

From:

deathsmajesty

"Oooh!" Now he truly had Liliana's attention. "Ignis brought me a bottle--" half of one "--from New Zealand that I've positively fallen in love with. What did you bring? Reds? Whites? Do tell, darling."

From:

pocketpretzels

“Mostly red wines- but some white as well,” Watts said, listing off a few of his favourites.

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana listened intently, asking several questions about the vintages and the grapes ~~and other wine shit I am too much a pleb to understand~~. "Are there any other wine fans around the island that you know of?" she asked. "If there are enough of us, a wine tasting from our various peregrinations might be an enjoyable way to spend an evening."

She'd have to mention that to Ignis sometime.

From:

pocketpretzels

"I had suggested the possibility to Mr. Scientia some time ago," Watts admitted. "Miss Beniko has also expressed an interest in learning more about wines from Earth," he shared. "I'm sure she'd be keen to explore vintages from even more worlds."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Well, that's four of us, five if either Steven or Marc were interested in wine, and I'm certain there are one or two others who might enjoy it as well. Once I've properly recovered from throwing this, we'll have to put our heads together to make this a reality."

From:

pocketpretzels

"I wouldn't presume to speak for either of them, but we'd have more luck getting Steven to attend such an event than Marc," Watts told her. Both because of the specific kind of alcohol that would be the focus and because of the fact that it was a social gathering at all.

From:

deathsmajesty

"I would assume so, but it felt wrong to exclude the possibility when I don't know Marc much at all," Liliana admitted. "We met under very fraught circumstances and neither wine nor socializing really came up." She gave a small, ironic smile over that. "But, honestly, trying some wines along with delicious foods and pleasant conversation...there are worse ways to spend an evening by far."

From:

doctorgingerspice

Halloween was one of those holidays that had some… complicated… emotions attached to it for Will, but here he was, in costume and everything.

Edited Date: 2023-10-31 05:02 pm (UTC)

From:

deathsmajesty

Another person she didn't know in a costume she didn't recognize! Neither of which were stopping Liliana from coming over to say hello. "Well hello, welcome to my home," she said, offering him a smile. "Are you comfortable here, or should I be setting you up in my gardens?"

Urza help her, if this scarecrow went all Shadowmoor on her...

From:

doctorgingerspice

“In the- oh. I see what you did there. No, no, here’s great,” Will laughed.

“Doctor Halstead. Will,” he added, sticking out a hand. “When I’m not busy being a scarecrow.”

From:

deathsmajesty

"Liliana Vess," she replied, taking his hand in hers. As a doctor, he probably clocked immediately that her body temperature was concerningly low, though she seemed just fine and not suffering from advanced hypothermia. "Proprietress of the Infinite Consortium. A pleasure. I'm so glad you could make it."

She did not seem to recognize that he was any particular scarecrow, no.

From:

doctorgingerspice

He did notice that, skilled diagnostician that he was. However, he'd also been in Fandom long enough to know that there were people who appeared human who were far from it, and so had more or less gotten out of the habit of assuming human normal was everyone normal.

"It's been a hot minute since I actually got out and socialized," Will admitted. "So- thanks, for hosting." There had been a long internal debate whether to come at all, but that wasn't her doing.

From:

deathsmajesty

Wise of him. Both the shedding of assumptions, of course, but also deciding to come in the end. "I would say it is my pleasure - and it is, mind - I was shamelessly snookered into it by Tony. He practically dared me to throw one, and then followed it up by suggesting my home was rustic and so clearly I had no choice but to make him eat his words."

If allowed, Liliana would slide her arm through his and slowly try to guide him towards the refreshments. Some snacks and a drink or so might help him relax into that socialization a little more. "But, hopefully, my guests benefit, at least."

From:

doctorgingerspice

Yeah, Will wasn't putting up too much of a fight with regards to letting himself be led towards the refreshment table.

"Oh, well, you couldn't back down from something like that," Will agreed.

From:

deathsmajesty

"See? You understand me completely," Liliana said with a warm chuckle. "And so I've spent the last six weeks being awoken with the dawn--" or, like, eight which, if not dawn, was still an ungodly time "--by chainsaws and jackhammers and all sorts of things. Because I certainly couldn't let him win, could I?"

She pulled away slightly to regard him. "Please tell me you're not one of those people who believes that mornings are for being awake and industrious in, as opposed to the civilized understanding that mornings are for sleeping through. I don't think I could take the disappointment."

From:

not_a_goddamn_princess

You know, when you had an eyepatch anyway, you could go the obvious route. Or you could show up dressed like this, with a plastic crow on your shoulder, and tell everyone you were taking Odin for the matriarchy.

Margo knew which one she was doing. So there she was.

From:

"I feel like you could just wear this. Like as an outfit," Irene observed with a smile when she sauntered her way over, gesturing to Margo's whole leather-clad person with one hand and gripping her cigarette holder and drink with the other. "The bird's a bit much for just Tuesday, though, I suppose."

From:

not_a_goddamn_princess

"I dunno," Margo said, glancing at it as well as she could under the circumstances. "I'm starting to dig the terrifying witch vibe."

From:

"So different from your usual terrifying magician vibe," Irene teased lightly, carefully patting her wig to make sure it stayed in place. "Though the crow does sinister things up a bit for the occasion."

From:

not_a_goddamn_princess

"Hey, there are two ways to go on Halloween when you're as badass as we are," Margo said. She nodded at Irene. "And you already got 'sex me up' covered."

From:

"I try," Irene replied, cocking one generously padded hip. "Though maybe next year, we ought to lean out of type and do mascot costumes, or the like. Maybe a giant inflatable unicorn, or a tyrannosaurus rex everyone has to negotiate their way around all night?"

From:

not_a_goddamn_princess

"A costume that'll fuck up somebody's day?" Margo asked, tilting her head. "Okay, I'm interested."

From:

"Maybe something with an absurd hoop skirt that whacks everyone the whole party," Irene mused. "Help maintain personal space, too."

From:

not_a_goddamn_princess

"I'd have to find a spiky hoop skirt," Margo mused. "That's also fucking cute."

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana had no idea who Odin was but she firmly supported taking things for the matriarchy, so good on you, Margo darling.

"Margo, hello darling," she said when she spotted the queen. "Lovely to see you again. I heard radio say your shop escaped the infestation of tawdry unscathed?"

Jealous.

From:

not_a_goddamn_princess

"I made sure it knew I was gonna fuck it up if I tried anything," Margo said. "And it knows when causing shit ain't worth it."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Alas, we have discovered one of the limits of my power," she said, studiously ignoring the corvid on Margo's shoulder. "I have yet to be able to successfully intimidate shops and inanimate objects into submitting to my whims. But now I have a new goal."

From:

not_a_goddamn_princess

"You just gotta foster some rage," said Margo, who had at least once been described by someone as 'anger and armor, all the way down', and was happy to live up to it. "And focus it into whatever you wanna do."

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana laughed. "Rage? If my magic worked like that, I would be unstoppable."

She wouldn't have needed stupid demons, she would have become immortal again through sheer force of will and the desire to mangle everyone who had taken it away from her in the first place.

From:

not_a_goddamn_princess

"I figure if we have to have a magic system that runs on pain, why not use it?" Margo said, wry as anything. "Not that it gets me more than keeping shitty corporate branding off my soap."

From:

deathsmajesty

"That's fascinating," Liliana said. "Red mana is aligned with rage, but it is not of rage. I have seen pyromancers and the like tapping into their emotions to fuel their spells, but it still needs the spark from elsewhere. But you can just use your fury, nothing else needed?"

Hello magical theory conversation, Liliana is here for this.

From:

not_a_goddamn_princess

Margo snorted. "No," she said. "Where we come from, magic is math. You can have all the aptitude and the pain in the world, and it won't get you anywhere. But you can channel it, if you know how to make the equations work."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Oh, how my classmates in Quandrix would love to hear that," Liliana said with an amused shake of her head. "While everyone in Silverquill might have just paled and gone to lay down. For the magic users in my neck of the Multiverse, it's mana and will. The will shapes the spell, the mana makes it happen. You can have all the aptitude and will in the world, but if you don't have the right mana, you're screwed."

From:

not_a_goddamn_princess

"Nah, there was always enough ambient magic for anyone traumatized enough to be able to use it," Margo said. She shrugged the non-raveny shoulder. "Until the gods turned off the faucet."

From:

deathsmajesty

"The same gods that made you Queen of Fillory?" Her lip curled. Gods.

From:

not_a_goddamn_princess

"Their parents," Margo said. Her face gave very impressive whacha going to do. "Apparently they get shirty when you kill their kids, who knew."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Perhaps they could have given thought to raising them to not be little shits?" Liliana suggested with a shrug.

From:

not_a_goddamn_princess

"That's what I keep saying."

From:

Stark, still shirtless and occasionally regretting that choice, offered a nod and a "Hello, Margo," in her direction.

"You have a bird?"

He had a random bow and arrows, so.

From:

not_a_goddamn_princess

"A crow," Margo agreed, eyeing the bow and arrows and coming to a conclusion. "I'm Odin, but better. You Cupid?"

From:

"No." Stark shook his head. "I don't think I'm anyone in particular. Just an... archer."

To match someone else who looked better in her costume than he did, of course.

"Odin is a god?"

That tracked for Margo.

From:

not_a_goddamn_princess

Yeah, Margo was choosing to ignore whatever weird thing Stark and Summer had going on that involved dressing Stark up like a Barbie doll for any occasion. "The Norse king of the gods," she said. "He's kind of a shit, allegedly, but the title's aspirational."

From:

Summer liked matching and Stark felt loved when she picked things out for him. It worked for them.

"You want to be a god-king?" he asked. Margo could pull it off if anyone here could. "What sort of god would you be?"

From:

not_a_goddamn_princess

Margo was going to keep YKINMKing her merry way out of addressing anything to do with the matching. She felt that was a good gesture of friendship on her part.

"At the very least I'd be better at this shit than every god I've ever met," she said. "Might as well be worth a shot, right?"

From:

"I think you would be a terrifying god," Stark said honestly. "But that doesn't mean you wouldn't be a good one."

From:

not_a_goddamn_princess

"Well, obviously," Margo said. "Terrifying's kind of my brand."

'Good', she was - privately - not so sure.

From:

"I had noticed that about you," Stark said. "I wouldn't want to make you angry."

From:

not_a_goddamn_princess

"Aw, that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me," Margo said, patting his shoulder. "Though, unfortunately, like the big green guy, I'm always angry."

From:

suitably_heroic

Atton showed up to the thing wearing black Jedi robes and holding a too-large bottle of fancy shampoo.

Yeah, he thought he was funny.

(He was also still up in his karking mood, but he figured he might as well check out the scene.)

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana didn't know Anakin well enough to get the joke, but she barely understood any of the costumes tonight. Though the shampoo did give her pause.

"I'm trying to figure out if that's part of the costume or a very intriguing hostess gift," she admitted. "Either way, welcome to my party. I'm Liliana, a pleasure."

From:

suitably_heroic

"Part of the costume," Atton said. "Though I don't use this crap, so you're welcome to it when the evening's over."

He gave the bottle a little wiggle. "I'm Atton Rand. I'd shake your hand, but it'd ruin the Skywalker vibe."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Skywalker?" Liliana asked. "Like...Luke?" He had been wearing all black when she'd met him.

From:

suitably_heroic

Atton rolled his eyes. "No, the older irritating one who thinks he's scary."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Oh! Right, I believe Luke mentioned his father was the dean of the school here." She wasn't sure she could pick the man out of a crowd, but he'd at least been mentioned. "I'm looking forward to other people's reactions to your costume then."

From:

suitably_heroic

"Sadly most of the people who actually know him personally have left the island," Atton sighed. "I'm left bearing the 'mocking Anakin' torch all alone."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Oh, see now that is sad," Liliana said. "Sharing something enjoyable with another may be the more common foundation of friendship, but I've found that mocking something together is a much faster route."

From:

suitably_heroic

"And it takes less effort," Atton agreed. "Always works for me."

From:

deathsmajesty

Yeah, Liliana wasn't exactly an expert on 'friendship,' so it made sense she would also gravitate to the lower-effort end of things.

"So how do you know the Dean well enough to tease his haircare products?"

From:

suitably_heroic

"Well, we're from the same universe, just four thousand years apart," Atton said lightly. And, dryly: "We also got much better acquainted when he found out I'd served on the opposite side of his team back in the day and he gave me up to the authorities. But that's water under a decade-old bridge."

Almost decades. He was getting old, even if he didn't look it.

From:

deathsmajesty

See, Liliana had gotten old once and then decided she'd hated it, and had taken steps to reverse the issue.

"Four thousand years separate the two of you and the teams are still, hmm, vital enough to give you up?" she asked. "That is some grudge."

From:

suitably_heroic

"Jedi will probably be fighting Sith another fifty million years into the future," Atton said. Bitterly.

It was part of why he'd decided to distance himself from the Jedi. For a while, anyway.

From:

deathsmajesty

"Oh! Jedi and Sith!" Liliana said. "I've talked to Lana about them. Jedi sound ridiculous."

From:

suitably_heroic

"I'm a Jedi," Atton said dryly.

He was absolutely going to wait a second before he said anything else, like a shit.

From:

deathsmajesty

"Then I'd be fascinated to hear if you can explain your order's views to me in a way that doesn't sound ridiculous," Liliana replied without batting an eye.

From:

suitably_heroic

"Not even a little," Atton said, amused.

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana crooked a smile at him. She appreciated the lack of posturing. "But it seems like you and Lana have found an accord, despite being on opposite sides of this eternal conflict?"

From:

suitably_heroic

"I'm also ex-Sith, so I'm a little squigglier on the eternal conflict," Atton clarified, finally, "And Lana believes in cooperation, which, let me tell you, is a rare thing in our galaxy."

From:

deathsmajesty

"I'm not sure there's a plane I've been to where it wasn't," Liliana admitted. "Even without an eternal conflict. Am I correct in understanding that the crux is that Jedi feel that there is a type of magic that is bad and the Sith use that type of magic, and therefore both sides are to be enemies forever?"

From:

suitably_heroic

"To be fair, Sith do like to use 'that kind of magic' to subjugate and/or murder a lot of people," Atton noted. "It's just that when the Jedi show up to stop it, they don't exactly make things better. Historically."

From:

deathsmajesty

"And what do the people who are neither Sith nor Jedi think?" she asked.

This sounded much like the clashes between vampires and werewolves in Innistrad, honestly. Both of them eternally at each other's throats and neither particularly good for the human population. As a necromancer, Liliana stood outside their ancient enmity, though she was at least nominally allied with some vampires.

After all, they threw much better parties.

From:

suitably_heroic

"That'd be nice if we didn't have a galaxy-spanning religious war that set fire to all of our homeworlds for at least a little while," Atton said, faux-brightly.

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana blinked at that. "Well," she said a moment later. "I suppose one must congratulate you lot on both ambition and scale, if nothing else."

Galaxy-spanning wars?

From:

suitably_heroic

Atton snorted. "Thanks," he said. "I hate it."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Oh yes, it's terrible," Liliana agreed. "I believe the only Multiverse-spanning threats we've faced were 'natural' disasters - or however you'd categorize threats that are the consequences of terrible actions but still had no driving sentience behind them - and those were horrifying enough. I couldn't imagine something like that but with an agenda."

Fortunately, she wouldn't have to! In a few years, she'd get to witness it instead!

From:

suitably_heroic

"Well, imagine lots of dead people and planets exploding. Or imploding. Or both, for extra points," Atton said, and really wished he had a drink all of a sudden.

"And all the while a handful of other people are monologuing."

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana immediately glanced away and down and if Atton were feeling particularly perceptive, he might guess that she didn't need to imagine it.

Or perhaps he simply might think she was squeamish! Who knew?

"Yes," she said quietly. "Because what that situation needs desperately is commentary." And for no reason at all, she followed that up with, "Can I get you a drink, darling? I'm about to summon a bartender over with some wine."

From:

suitably_heroic

Atton was always perceptive; it wasn't something he could turn off. But he knew better than to bring anything up.

"Tempting," he said. "Sure, wine, why not."

He probably wouldn't finish it, but he still couldn't help but put on the pretense.

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana gestured to the bartender for two and then turned back to Atton with a serene expression firmly in place. "So, if you're both Jedi and Sith, what does that make the Dean?" she asked, bringing the conversation back to where it started.

The bartender hurried over, carrying a tray with two glasses on wine on it, both reds.

From:

suitably_heroic

"I'm an ex-Sith, turned Jedi," Atton said, reaching for a glass. "He's an ex-Jedi turned Sith turned Jedi again."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Blind Eternities, is he a man or a revolving door?" Liliana couldn't help but ask.

From:

suitably_heroic

Atton snickered. "The jury's still out on that," he said merrily, "But he's super-sure he's a Jedi now."

From:

deathsmajesty

"As oppose to those other times, where I'm certain he was only moderately certain he was one or the other," Liliana snorted.

From:

unusual_sith

Lana absolutely got the joke, and she was loving it.

"Perfect. Has he seen it yet?"

From:

suitably_heroic

"I think he might be doing Halloween stuff with his kids," Atton admitted. "But thanks."

From:

unusual_sith

"Ah, right." Lana shook her head. "He tries so hard to present himself as the perfect, uptight Jedi, I sometimes forget how very much he isn't. At least by the standards of my time," she amended.

She looked over Atton a bit more seriously, then shrugged. "I won't push about anything, but if you want to spar to work off whatever it is, just let me know. We've got those holorooms, or you can come back to Odessen with me and run a gauntlet of Masters and Lords if you want a challenge."

From:

suitably_heroic

"Don't try to read me," Atton said. He sounded a lot more casual about it than he would have with most people - he actually liked her - but still, it was a point he was instinctually required to make. "But sparring doesn't sound too bad. No gauntlets for me, though."

From:

unusual_sith

Lana nodded to show she understood; she hadn't read him yet, but it was near-instinctual, so it was probably good of him to set the boundary. "Whenever you like. You've got my number. And who knows - maybe the island will throw something at us purely because it's a holiday."

From:

suitably_heroic

Atton had always been good at throwing up barriers, confusing people away from his mind; his instincts meant that any casual attempt to read him would bring nothing but base emotions and little rhythmic details from his surroundings-- the sound of the wind, the clicking of a power coupling.

But there were plenty of people who had actively tried to go further. It never ended well.

"I hope not," he said. "I kind of like being able to nope out of here and head back to New York most days of the week." He sighed. "How's your schedule tomorrow?"

From:

unusual_sith

"I'm free any day we're not teaching." Lana shrugged. "Unless a last-minute emergency happens back home."

From:

While Stark might have been something of an accessory for Summer he was also still his own person, as was she, so he was alone at times for mingling purposes.

Shirtless mingling while wearing leather arm braces and leather pants with an arrow and quiver over his shoulder. As one does.

From:

deathsmajesty

"Good evening, Stark," Liliana said neutrally, stepping up beside him. "I meant to ask Summer. Are you particular archers? Or are archers generally topless on this plane?"

She sounded curious about that, rather than judgmental, at least about the lack of shirt. Because who would be judgy about that? Liliana had plenty of gowns that showed more skin than they covered.

From:

Well, Stark had been working out...

"Not anyone particular that I know of," he said. "She talked me into the outfit. I would have worn a shirt. Are you meant to be someone?"

Besides an intimidating necromancer lady?

From:

deathsmajesty

Intimidating necromancer was a lifestyle, not a costume!

"Just an empress," she said airily. "But I know very little about the myths and stories of this plane. Nell had to explain what cowpeople were to me. So now I'm asking what people are, since it's unlikely I'll recognize them. Beaker's costume notwithstanding."

From:

Shirtless psychopomp could be a lifestyle? For someone less bothered by the cold than Stark, probably.

"I used to share quarters with a dominar," Stark said. "I don't think I ever met an empress."

An emperor, yes, but Stark tried not to think too much on those times.

"It helps, with the costumes, having been here a long time now."

From:

deathsmajesty

"A dominar?" Liliana asked. "And what about the costumes? Wearing revealing ones? Or just costumes in general?"

From:

"Recognizing the costumes," Stark clarified. "I've been here long enough, now, that I can figure out most of them. I think." Not all.

"And Rygel is the dominar of the Hynerian Empire. Over 600 billion subjects, across many planets. He liked to remind of this. Often."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Ah," Liliana said, curling her lip. "One of those. I haven't the time nor the patience for most kings."

Eliot was an exception. He was clever and generous with his alcohol.

From:

"He pretends to be much worse than he is," Stark said. "He's a good friend. When he isn't being insufferable."

From:

deathsmajesty

"And how often was he not being insufferable?" Liliana asked, still skeptical.

From:

"That," Stark said with a slight snort, "depends on the day. But he's a friend and was one of my shipmates."

From:

deathsmajesty

"How did you end up on a ship with a dominar anyway?" Liliana couldn't help but ask. Especially since one usually wouldn't refer to sailing in state with a ruler as being 'shipmates.'

From:

"He was on Moya as a prisoner," Stark said. "After his cousin deposed him a very long time ago. He got his throne back last year after we were all imprisoned. Again."

That was how they rolled on Moya.

"When I was freed from where I was being held it was by my friends on Moya. They weren't friends yet. And they let me come aboard and then come back later and then I stayed."

From:

deathsmajesty

"After you were enslaved by the via--" right, no, they weren't viashino. "The lizard people who saw you as a trophy," she confirmed.

Look at her, putting Stark's rambling thoughts into a cohesive narrative! It might not be correct, but it was coherent!

From:

"I was in a cell on a Peacekeeper Gammak research base then," Stark clarified even though it didn't make things any clearer.

"Being used as a science experiment, mostly. Then Crichton was thrown in my cell with me and then I was free."

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana just stared at him. "Delivering narratives was never focused on in your education, was it?"

From:

"Crichton infiltrated the base to get medical help for Aeryn because she'd been stabbed but he was found out by the Peacekeepers and captured. That's how he ended up in my cell and then they were torturing him for information and I tried to comfort him and when Aeryn and the others came to rescue him they took me with them. Is that better? There's more to it but most of it won't make any sense without knowing even more."

And Stark just kind of assumed Liliana didn't really want to know that much about him.

From:

deathsmajesty

Mostly, Liliana just didn't like having questions.

"I see like every other group ever in the history of sapience, people calling themselves 'the Peacekeepers' use torture to extract the information they wanted," Liliana drawled. "Good to know that everything remains to be expected no matter where you go."

From:

"They killed most of my people," Stark said. "Those that are left are enslaved, as I told you before."

Well, he'd said he had been kept not that everyone had. Details!

"Though we've freed some. Rygel did help with that." A little begrudgingly but he had helped. Eventually.

"There was a war, before I came back here, between the Peacekeepers and the Scarrans. It nearly destroyed everything."

He'd felt so many people die, Liliana. So many.

From:

deathsmajesty

"This tracks even further with everything that I have cone to expect from groups that call themselves things like 'peacekeepers,'" Liliana said, looking unmoved at the concept of a war that had destroyed everything.

No reason, probably. Just who she was as a person, most likely.

"Was there a reason for this war?"

From:

But had Liliana's war involved a weapon that would have destroyed the entire universe left unchecked? Had it?

"There are always reasons," Stark said. "They both wanted knowledge that only my friend Crichton had. They were willing to sacrifice everything for it. For a weapon they didn't even understand the capabilities of. But it's over. We ended it."

From:

deathsmajesty

Hey whoa whoa, I thought we'd all agreed that it was because she was a jerk and no other reasons! And also, yes. Starting with the destruction of her home plane and then expanding from there throughout the Multiverse. Because of course.

"Ah, the willingness to sacrifice everything for the right to stand on the smoking crater of while declaring yourself the victor to the bones around you," she said a little bitterly. "Are any of them at least necromancers to make that victory even the slightest bit less hollow?"

Edited Date: 2023-11-02 01:16 am (UTC)

From:

"They didn't realize there would have been nothing left. Everything would have been gone. The universe itself. And...no. I don't think any of them have magic. It's not so common where I'm from as it is for many others here."

Sure, he was a glowy plot device of an alien who could do some mystical shit but that totally wasn't magic!

"The dead stay dead, there. Except in very, very rare instances." Like say, Stark and Zhaan engaged in time shenanigans. Or Zhaan used Stark as a battery to bring Aeryn back from the very edge of death.

From:

deathsmajesty

That's some 'Sure, Jan' levels of not magic there, Stark.

"Dead and undead are different," Liliana said absently. "Though we also do have proper resurrection, though it's very rare and very expensive, magically."

From:

Look, just because Stark's dead lady love could essentially join souls with someone didn't mean she had magic either. So there.

"We brought Aeryn back. Zhaan and I. Although I was unconscious at the time. I had no say in it."

No, Lili, you hadn't brought up any memories or anything when you tried to eat Stark for your health. Not at all.

"But she lived. She's still living."

From:

deathsmajesty

Sure, Jan.

Liliana's face sure did go on a journey at Stark talking about how he had helped bring someone back, though settled somewhat when he clarified that he'd actually been unconscious. "It sounds like Zhaan brought Aeryn back," she noted mildly.

From:

"She needed me," Stark said simply. "She just didn't ask first."

Good thing Stark had so much energy to spare?

"She knew what to do but she didn't have...she said she needed my strength. But Aeryn is fine, now."

Zhaan was very dead though, except for those priceless weekends when she wasn't.

From:

deathsmajesty

Oh, Liliana was not going to react well during those terrible weekends. Very much not.

"Is there no one on the island who could work with you in that same way?" Liliana asked. "Use your strength to bring people back from dying?"

You know, rather than the opposite?

From:

Those weekends were a gift. And a time for your gorgeous dead not-quite-betrothed to make things real awkward with your don't-call-her-a-girlfriend.

"Not that I know of. It isn't usually needed here. Deaths are thankfully very rare. It's one reason I like it here."

From:

deathsmajesty

There were just so many snide comments she could make right here. But she wasn't! Because she was playing nice. You're welcome, Stark.

"True," Liliana said. "Especially compared with its environs. Still, very rich in swamps and black mana."

Edited Date: 2023-11-02 03:31 am (UTC)

From:

Snide comments wouldn't be needed if someone hadn't fallen out of the sky mostly dead and then gone right upstairs where someone else could feel them DYING.

"Mana is... your magic?"

From:

deathsmajesty

Maybe someone'd DYING senses had grown rusty with disuse and couldn't be relied upon anymore. Ever think of that?

"In a manner of speaking, yes," Liliana said. It was more technical than that, and the simplification made her a little twitchy, but for the sake of a casual conversation, she could let it go. "Mana comes from the land, a natural upwelling of energy. Wizards and people with magic can tap that mana and use it to cast spells. Different types of mana cast different types of spells. And while all magic users can use all types of mana, most of us gravitate to one or two, maybe three at the outside, colors and specialize in those."

From:

Wow, aggressive, Lili.

"And the island here provides enough for you?"

When you weren't trying to eat poor glowy aliens instead?

From:

deathsmajesty

See? Comments she wasn't making out loud!

"Indeed," Liliana said. "It's an island, so blue is very strong, but green, white, and black are surprisingly abundant as well. And red isn't absent, even if it doesn't exist in the strength as the others."

From:

"What does red do?" Stark asked.

He liked the sound of blue, of course, but he always liked blue. "Or...any of them, I suppose."

Had they talked about this before, the day of the fire? They might have but most of what he remembered of that day was the fire.

From:

deathsmajesty

Much the same for Liliana. She remembered he liked the Dukhara peafowl and that was pretty much it.

"Fire and lightning are the most iconic spells of red," Liliana explained. "Red is good at haste and damage. It's the color of chaos and passion and impulse. It's damage and destruction all at speed, very much the color of 'a good offense is the best defense.' It's the primary color of goblins and dragons, and is the color most aligned with the philosophy of freedom through action. Don't wait, do. No subtlety, but you don't really need subtlety when you're swinging a brick at someone's face."

From:

"What about the other colors?" Stark asked.

Look. He was very clearly not magical at all but magic was interesting.

From:

deathsmajesty

Sure, Jan. Not at all magical.

"Black--" because obviously she'd start with her own "--is the magic of amorality and free will. It's blight and decay, freedom through power. It's the magic of the utmost responsibility and the refusal of fatalism - we strive to be the masters of our own selves and our own destinies, and to give up that power, to give in, is the worse sin. Black mana is, at it's heart, competence and using everything in your power to thrive. Blue is is the magic of logic and technology, and seeks freedom through knowledge. Blue is cunning and riddles and questions, seeking out secrets and creating opportunities by manipulating what it knows compared to what others do not. Blue is the color of control, of denial of resources to others, and most of all, of mastery. If black is mastery of the self, then blue is mastery of a subject. It's the magic of illusion, thought, and the future."

She paused to take a sip of her wine. Red and blue were easy, they were allied with black and she sometimes dabbled with both, like with her attack on the Walmart. Green and white were black's enemy colors and, sure, she used to use white as a healing cleric, but that had been two hundred years ago.

"White is the magic of community, of structure, of law. It is the magic of civilization, ultimately, prioritizing morality, order, and conformity. White magic believes in freedom through peace - any peace. Peace through fascistic crackdowns is just as legitimate as peace through cohesion and even the peace of the grave."

White did have the most board removal spells, after all.

"It's proud and righteous, through rigid. It is very much the magic of 'the needs of the many'. It is healing and solace and succor, but it is also...uniformity. Conformity. And finally green. It's the power of nature, of growth, of unchecked vitality. It is the magic of ancient wisdoms that cannot be taught, only experienced. Freedom through interdependence. It is the color of harmony, but also the color of survival of the fittest. Nature is violent, the foodchain is a type of interdependence as well. It's instinct over thought and nature can cruel."

She looked at him. "There are no 'good' or 'evil' colors. They come from the land, which means they have no morality, which is a purely sapient construct. They simply are."

Edited Date: 2023-11-02 11:04 pm (UTC)

From:

Zero magic here! Not even a smidge.

"That's not what I would think of for the colors. Especially blue." Blue was love and comfort and Zhaan.

"But then I don't know much of magic. Thank you, for trying to explain it."

From:

deathsmajesty

Blue was not even a little bit those things. Landscapes didn't care much for individual people, simply survival.

Liliana inclined her head. "Of course," she said. "I adore teaching magic."

From:

"I enjoy learning," Stark said quietly. "And your magic seems very interesting."

And creepy, what with all the dead things.

"Perhaps a little too interesting."

What with the lifedraining and all.

From:

deathsmajesty

"How can anything be too interesting?" Liliana asked, looking at Stark in 'you're speaking nonsense.'

From:

"I've seen some of what it can do," Stark said mildly.

Some hands-on experience had him wary for some reason.

From:

deathsmajesty

"Then you can certainly make the argument it's too effective, but interesting still makes no sense in this context," Liliana retorted.

She'd still think he was wrong, but at least it would make sense.

From:

Stark's words made sense to Stark, ok? Other people, eh, not always.

"I don't wish to know more about some of it, at least."

From:

deathsmajesty

"That is, of course, always your prerogative," Liliana replied.

From:

but_mostly_america

Halloween was weird.

Halloween was also an excuse for Sam to wear his Captain America costume.

The latter won out, for now, and there was a Muppet in the ballroom looking extremely patriotic.

From:

deathsmajesty

Which was actually hilarious, because guess who Liliana had never seen?

Well, also Sam, it was true. But also...

"Good evening," Liliana said, giving Sam a welcome smile. "I'm Liliana and welcome to my home."

From:

but_mostly_america

Oh, the hostess was well-dressed and well-mannered! Sam was so pleased.

"Good evening," he said in return, nodding his felt head. "I am Sam Eagle. It is a pleasure to meet you!"

Because he didn't know about the necromancy, obviously. Sam would not approve.

From:

deathsmajesty

Excuse you, Sam, but it was her right to practice necromancy, as guaranteed to her by the protections offered by the documents of the government and bled for by generations of the American armed forces!

...Not that Liliana knew shit all about any of that. "The pleasure is mine," she said. "I adore your costume. It looks quite well-made. What is it?"

From:

but_mostly_america

Necromancy was not guaranteed in the Constitution!

"Thank you madam! I am dressed as the great hero Captain America! He lives on this very island!"

From:

deathsmajesty

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, baybee!

"He does?" Liliana asked, unaware that she had been teasing him and his husband just moments before. "I don't believe we've met."

Edited Date: 2023-11-01 02:01 pm (UTC)

From:

heroic_jawline

"You're me!" Steve said, looking absolutely thrilled to see it.

From:

but_mostly_america

Sam puffed out his chest.

"Sir! I am! Do you approve?"

From:

heroic_jawline

"Very much," Steve assured him. "I like the shield in particular."

From:

but_mostly_america

"Thank you sir!" Sam said, standing up straighter. "I am quite proud of this outfit!"

From:

heroic_jawline

"Well, you look swell," Steve said, smiling. "I'm sure Tony--Iron Man--would like it too."

From:

unusual_sith

Lana wasn't much for costumes, so she'd just gone with what the costumer on the mainland had suggested. She wasn't sure it was really her, but at least it was easy to move in.

And she was rather looking forward to a party.

From:

deathsmajesty

"Lana, darling, it's been far too long!" Liliana said, coming forward through the crush to greet her. "How lovely to see you, hello!"

From:

unusual_sith

"Liliana!" Lana nodded in greeting. "You look lovely, and your house is impressive. Thank you for the party."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Why thank you, darling," Liliana said, closing the distance to give Lana's costume a curious onceover. "And it was my pleasure, truly."

She gestured at the costume. "Who are you meant to be, my dear?"

From:

unusual_sith

"You know, I'm not entirely sure?" Lana shook her head. "Some sort of warrior or spy, I gathered. I went to a place on the mainland, and this was one of several they suggested. I chose it as being easy to move in and even fight in if necessary."

From:

deathsmajesty

"If there's fighting at my party, someone will regret it," Liliana said darkly. She was not here to play, island, you hear her? "But, either way, it's certainly a very good look." She shared a conspiratorial grin with the other woman. "Between you and I, I have no idea what most people are supposed to be tonight."

From:

unusual_sith

Lana smiled. "I know some of them, but some are still a mystery. And let's hope there's no fighting, but given the island, it's never a certainty. Especially on a holiday."

From:

deathsmajesty

"All right, I simply must ask," Liliana said. "Is the island truly sentient? Or is it simply a kind of shared joke to speak of it like that?"

Perhaps the island was some kind of...Multani-esque creature?

From:

unusual_sith

"I would say semi-sentient," Lana answered. "Or perhaps sentient in a way we're not equipped to handle. It definitely has a mind of some sort, but communication is difficult."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Huh," Liliana said, somehow not having expected that answer even though she'd asked. "A semi-sentient island may be the oddest thing I've come across in my travels yet, and that's saying quite a bit."

From:

unusual_sith

Lana chuckled. "There's something new for everyone on Fandom, no matter where you're from, I think."

From:

deathsmajesty

"That does seem to be the prevailing attitude," Liliana admitted. "There's something shocking here for everyone. An equalizing effect, I'm sure."

From:

unusual_sith

"It is that," Lana agreed. "For every person who's never heard of a cell phone, there's one that thinks that magic is a myth. Or one that's never met non-human sentients, which is still odd to me."

From:

deathsmajesty

"This island has so few!" Liliana burst out, because honestly, it bothered her. "Everywhere you look, it's humans!"

It had been like that in the Caligo Forest, but that had been a factor of geography, not a lack of non-humans in general.

And she had left Caligo behind two centuries ago.

From:

unusual_sith

"Isn't it so strange?" Lana agreed. "The Empire where I grew up was ridiculously xenophobic, and we still had so many more other species! I had a friend when I went to school here who could only go onto the mainland if she could convince people she was wearing a costume - how insane is that?"

From:

deathsmajesty

"It's just nonsense!" Liliana declared, throwing her hands up. "I was honestly so glad to meet Sidon that first time because otherwise I had assumed there weren't any non-humans about."

From:

unusual_sith

"Oh, and Sidon is so...I'm not sure if someone his size can be considered 'darling', but honestly. He's so very good and cheerful all the time."

Lana thought about it. "Actually, we are incredibly light on nonhumans at the moment. Or at least light on those who can't pass as human - there are those like Eric that aren't but still seem to be. We usually do have at least a few."

Most of the current nonhumans were muppets.

From:

deathsmajesty

Somewhere, Arden was sweating and didn't know why.

"Oh, he's absolutely a darling," Liliana said. "Just the sweetest man. But yes, and even vampires used to be human. It's so baffling."

From:

unusual_sith

"It really is. Though I suppose it's somewhat understandable since there's only one world. Still, you'd think at least one other species would have evolved civilization here."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Perhaps the humans killed them all," Liliana suggested, having met humans before, even one time.

From:

unusual_sith

"Entirely possible," Lana agreed. "Though if so, it's far back enough there are no records or memories of it. Which doesn't mean it wasn't covered up."

From:

deathsmajesty

"I will admit, I have no idea what this plane's timescale even looks like," Liliana said. "Or how far back their recorded histories go."

From:

unusual_sith

"Only a few millennia," Lana said. "Five or six at most. It does have an astonishing range of cultures for one world, but most of them are very young."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Such babies," Liliana said with a shake of her head. "I know multiple people older than their recorded history."

From:

unusual_sith

"Oh, now that sounds interesting!" Lana said. "Galactic culture goes back much further, but I've only known one being over a millennium old, and the less said about him the better."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Ignis and I just had tea with an acquaintance of mine, Olivia Voldaren, and she's roughly six thousand years old," Liliana said. "The great dragons are countless millennia old, I'm certain I don't know how many." She looked thoughtful. "I could ask Nichol Bolas sometime, I'm sure, but I'd have to listen to him drone about how ancient and powerful and wise he is compared to mere humans and I can honestly say I don't care enough for the answer to deal with all of that."

From:

unusual_sith

"Sounds like an immortal being," Lana said wryly. "Apart from the one I mentioned, we've got a few more long-lived species in my galaxy, but most hutts have the same arrogance problem, and you'd have to find a neti first."

From:

intheeyeofthebeholding

Jon wasn't entirely sure about this holiday, but...well, he supposed it couldn't do much harm.

He was wearing a pullover with a giant googly eye on it. Who said he had no sense of humour?

From:

deathsmajesty

"Another costume I simply do not have the cultural context to understand," Liliana said, coming over to greet Jon with a smile. "Hello, darling, welcome to my party."

From:

intheeyeofthebeholding

"Oh. Um. It's...well, most people here probably don't, to be fair," Jon admitted. Margo and Eliot would know, but probably nobody else. "It's...well. Hello, thank you for having me."

And for the lack of visible zombies. He appreciated that, too.

From:

deathsmajesty

Tch. So prejudiced against the living impaired.

"You're quite welcome," she assured him. "Sometimes I feel like the only time to meet people is to throw a huge ball and chat with whomever comes out of the woodwork"

From:

intheeyeofthebeholding

"Yes, well." Jon smiled awkwardly. "I don't get out much, but Summer frowns if I don't try to make it to parties. She was my, um. Mentor, I suppose you'd say, when I first arrived here."

From:

deathsmajesty

"...Your mentor?" Liliana asked, head tilting. "In what way? Are you also a bartender?"

From:

intheeyeofthebeholding

"Oh, god, no." Interacting with people all night sounded a bit like Hell to Jon. "I'm a teacher. She teaches, too. I ended up here not expecting to be...well, anywhere, really. The school assigned her to help me. She's...she's terrifyingly good at it."

From:

deathsmajesty

"At teaching? Or at mentoring you to teach?" Liliana was intrigued; she hadn't really expected either to be within Summer's purview. "What are her views on pedagogy?"

From:

intheeyeofthebeholding

"I don't know if she has any formalized views," Jon said. "She was very good at, um, explaining this place and helping me settle in, I suppose. And she doesn't approve when I stay at home too much."

Sometimes Jon needed the thought of someone's disapproval to motivate him. He was aware he had issues.

From:

deathsmajesty

"That, I can see," Liliana replied. "She was very useful and setting up my phone. And reading in between some of the lines, I believe she's chivvied Ignis to get up and out of the house from time to time as well."

From:

intheeyeofthebeholding

"I wouldn't doubt it," Jon said. "She's very...um...social."

From:

deathsmajesty

"And you are not," Liliana noted. "What is it that you do instead?"

From:

intheeyeofthebeholding

"I...well, I-I teach," Jon answered. "And I, um. I have a cat, as you know. She's lovely. And, um. I like to watch documentaries. And read. And sometimes the building I manage needs things done."

He was a workaholic with very little work to do, Liliana. The man needed hobbies and was bad at getting them.

From:

deathsmajesty

"Issa," Liliana remembered. "Yes, I remember her."

She eyed him. Even as a giant nerd, that didn't sound like a whole lot to do. "How do you feel about magical artifacts?"

From:

intheeyeofthebeholding

"They're dangerous as hell and should all be burnt," Jon answered immediately. "Except for the Desolation ones; they'd enjoy that."

He belatedly remembered what Liliana's business was. "Oh. Um. Possibly...possibly not everywhere. In my world, they, um. Well, th-there's no such thing as an...an innocuous or helpful artifact. I imagine it could be different other places. Just, um. I'm used to...to everything coming from the Fears." He fidgeted. "Sorry. No offense meant."

From:

deathsmajesty

"None taken," Liliana assured him. And she was being honest - she was no artificer and besides, watching his reaction was far more interesting. "All things created bear the stamp of their maker. There are plenty of artifacts out there that carry the malice and ill-will they were made with."

From:

intheeyeofthebeholding

Jon winced. "Still, as I said, where I come from, they're all malicious. All artifacts, all...powers, or magic, or beings, or what have you. None of them come from anything good. I...I do realize it's apparently not like that for everyone here. It's just been difficult to get used to."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Are you a Jedi?" Liliana asked, intrigued.

From:

intheeyeofthebeholding

"A wh...um, no?" Jon was very confused now. "Why would...um. I'm not sure why you'd assume that."

From:

deathsmajesty

"I talked to Lana and I know that Jedi see some power as being inherently evil and corrupting," Liliana said. "I know some people also have that view of black mana--" She rolled her eyes "--but I don't believe you're from anywhere that has the same idea of mana that I do. Which leaves me with Jedi."

From:

intheeyeofthebeholding

"No, I'm, um. I'm from Ear- well, a version of Earth. I just." He took a deep breath and let it out. "There are the Fears. They're the only powers there. They...they embody and feed on and generate fear. Every sort of power comes from them, and thrives on traumatizing people. Nothing good ever comes from them."

From:

deathsmajesty

It seemed best to not point out that Liliana found fear to be a very effective tool in her own arsenal.

"If it helps any," she said instead, "where I am from, our magic comes from the land itself. A sign of rich, healthy, thriving land. It can be used for good or evil as all tools can, but it just is the same way a river is or a mountain."

From:

intheeyeofthebeholding

Jon nodded. "I...as I said, I'm aware it's different for other people. I just...well, it's one thing to know it and..." He huffed in a sort of bitter laugh as he realized. You who watch and know and understand none. "It's one thing to know and another to really understand and internalize it. It's...difficult. But I am trying."

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana shrugged. "We are made up of our experiences, and experiences cut deep," she said, dismissing his insistence he was trying not as unimportant but unnecessary. "I am a lethemancer and I can assure you, the memories of things someone has learned are nowhere as deep or complex as that which they have experienced."

Especially traumatically.

From:

intheeyeofthebeholding

"I...I'm familiar." Jon had the marks to prove it. "Are...um. Lethemancer sounds like you make people forget things."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Indeed," Liliana said. "It's an aspect of necromancy. I can go into your mind and remove memories, either dispersing them into the aether or keeping them for myself. It's not an aspect I practice often, but I'm well-versed in it."

From:

intheeyeofthebeholding

"That sounds...tremendously tempting," Jon admitted. "If inadvisable."

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana gave him a catlike smile. "That's how most people would categorize interacting with me at all, darling, so thank you."

From:

Hannibal had to come check out the neighbor; he was curious to see what Liliana had done with the place. And parties were always welcome.

He was dressed in a top hat and tuxedo modeled on the style of a hundred years ago, and looked around curiously.

From:

deathsmajesty

"Hannibal, darling, a pleasure as always to see you," she said, giving his suit an openly approving smile. "And exquisitely tailored, as usual. If you're someone specific, I'm afraid I don't know it, but I admire the look anyway."

From:

"Thank you, my dear." Hannibal bowed over her hand. "Nobody specific, I'm afraid. I ~~only had one nonstandard icon left~~ had hobbies that kept me rather busy these last few weeks, so I elected for a more general look. This is formalwear from this area a century ago. And you? Look divine. Are you anybody specific?"

From:

deathsmajesty

"Thank you, darling, and no, nobody specific," Liliana said, hand smoothing over her gown. "I don't know Earth culture enough to choose a costume from that, and I felt it easier to just go to my modiste on Innistrad than try to find someone new."

From:

"If you'd like someone on Earth, I would be happy to recommend a tailor, and I imagine Ms. Adler - have you met her? - could also help; she has extremely good taste. Is this current fashion on Innistrad?"

From:

deathsmajesty

"Only just a few minutes ago," Liliana said. "Which, having done so, I can say is an absolute crime that we hadn't met before. She seems an absolute delight. But I've been introduced to multiple people tonight and if nothing else, I'm going to count my party as a success for that reason only."

And then she smiled and waved down at her dress. "Oh hardly. Innistradi fashion is...closer to yours, I'd say. It's slow to change, as most of the nobility and leaders of fashion are secretly vampires. This...if anything, the design of the fabric is very New Capennan and the style is...something we collaborated on, I suppose, when I showed various sketches of Earth inspirations. Goddesses, empresses, that kind of thing. I wanted something that was very clear was a costume."

From:

"Parties are wonderful for meeting people," Hannibal agreed. "I should have another myself. Perhaps for the next holiday - it centers around food," he confided.

He shook his head at the Innistradi. "Immortality is no excuse not to keep up with the times. Why not experiment and drive new fashions? See how far you can push it." Said the grinning man who usually matched plaids and paisleys. "But in any event, your outfit is lovely, and yes, very indicative of Earth royalty or mythology."

From:

deathsmajesty

"I was talking to Detective Watts about having a small wine party or the like," Liliana said, "and you were on the list of people I knew I needed to mention that to. But tell me more about this food holiday." She paused to calculate the rough date, since the concept of 'October 31' meant nothing to her. "Ah. A harvesttide festival, then?"

From:

"A wine party would be delightful," Hannibal agreed.

He nodded. "It's called Thanksgiving. Its origins are questionable, but yes, it's a harvest festival at its heart. A time for gathering with friends and family and eating a very large meal, with autumnal foods traditional."

From:

deathsmajesty

"That sounds delicious," Liliana said. "I love holidays centered around meals. You find so many that are about religion, which is fascinating to learn about but dreadful to be subjected to."

Tilting her head, she asked, "When is this Thanksgiving in comparison to today? And to the Winter Solstice?"

From:

"We're currently at the last day of October; Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November," Hannibal explained. "So, four weeks. The Winter Solstice is around the twenty-first of December. There's another major religious holiday just after that, and some minor ones for other religions around the same time. The focus is generally on winter-themed objects, presents, and rebirth."

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana nodded. "Dominaria's - my home plane - year is 420 days long, with twelve months of 35 days each," she explained. "So I'm trying to situate where we are in this plane's year roughly around the Argivian Reckoning." She winked at him. "My birthday is coming up it seems, and I'm trying to figure out when. The easiest way I've found to do that is figure out when the Winter Solstice is on a plane, if they have one, and then counting backwards a little less than a month. Well, 32 days."

From:

Hannibal chuckled. "Always a good date to know. So, that would put it around the nineteenth of November, shortly before Thanksgiving. What are Dominaria's birthday traditions?"

From:

deathsmajesty

"Is it?" Liliana nodded once. "The nineteenth. So Earth months are thirty days long?"

Because why wouldn't you have uniform-length months? Otherwise would just be ridiculous.

"Oh, celebrations and gifts and the like. For most, it's usually a small gathering of friends and families, for the nobility or royalty, it's great feasts throughout the land. I remember my brother's--" The barest pause, a slight inhalation of breath "--tenth birthday was quite the festival, or though it seemed to me."

From:

"Similar to Earth, then," Hannibal noted. He noted that pause and said, all too casually, "My sister's final birthday was quite the production."

Then he shrugged. "Months in the predominant calendar are of varying length. November is thirty days; today is October 31st, and December will also have thirty-one. There are mnemonics to remember it, but if you're still learning the names of the months, the easiest thing to do will be to purchase a calendar."

From:

deathsmajesty

Interestingly enough, that reply made Liliana twitch. Very slight and subtle, something most people likely wouldn't even have noticed.

But Hannibal was hardly most people.

"Well, who came up with that nonsense way of timekeeping?" Liliana asked with a laugh, definitely focusing on the calendar discussion for no real reason. "Does it follow some natural phenomenon? Or is there some other reason that you all didn't decide to keep your months tidy?"

From:

Hannibal chuckled. "It's meant to be a lunisolar calendar. But it was also created centuries ago and hasn't been adjusted in some time.

"Roughly every other month has thirty or thirty-one days, and one month has twenty-eight three years in a row, and then twenty-nine on the fourth year, unless it's divisible by one hundred and not by four hundred," he added cheerfully.

Edited Date: 2023-11-02 02:20 am (UTC)

From:

deathsmajesty

"Ah yes," Liliana drawled. "I do so love needing an abacus and a mnemonic in order to figure out the date. Perhaps I'll ask Detective Watts to have his wine party on the square root of the third week of the last month with thirty days."

From:

Hannibal laughed. "It would make about as much sense as trying to figure out the date for Easter. That holiday's in Spring."

And actually probably made more sense, since it was lunar.

"You do get used to it, but I can't claim it makes much sense."

From:

deathsmajesty

"I don't suppose it's a holiday based on figuring out the best time for planting or something and therefore it's a confusing date but it's at least based on something concrete like weather?" Liliana asked hopefully.

From:

"You give religion too much credit," Hannibal said wryly. "It's the first Sunday after the first full moon closest to the date on which the equinox often - but not always - falls."

Welcome to Earth!

From:

deathsmajesty

"Mmm, I look forward to being absolutely surprised by it when it comes around and putting in exactly no effort into knowing when the next one will occur," Liliana said with a laugh.

From:

Hannibal joined her laughter. "You and many others. It's not a terribly interesting holiday at any rate, unless you follow its religion or are a child."

Look, Easter brunches weren't terribly interesting. Hannibal had his priorities.

From:

deathsmajesty

"That's true of most holidays, I've found," Liliana noted wryly. "Once the wonder wanes and the obligations begin."

From:

"True enough," Hannibal agreed. "Although some, such as this one," he gestured around the ballroom, "have found ways to keep the amusement going."

From:

two_idiots_one_body

Arthur wasn't much for parties. Or for Halloween, which was barely a thing in his time.

John had eventually worn him down. Of course, it had been too late for an actual costume, so Arthur was wearing the faceless white mask of the King In Yellow's cultists, which would at least let John see anything magical that came at them. Thankfully, they had no yellow robes to go with it, which Arthur would have considered a touch too far, so he was in his nicest suit, with a yellow silk scarf.

From:

deathsmajesty

"Arthur, John, hello my dears," Liliana said, offering her hands. "I'm so pleased you could come." She looked at the mask a bit curiously. "That is quite an uncanny thing there, darling. Perfect for the season, I suppose."

From:

two_idiots_one_body

John's hand reached for hers, with Arthur's following a second after, when John prompted him.

"We didn't really have a costume. This was the best we could do."

Because you wouldn't go shopping for one.

Arthur sighed.

From:

deathsmajesty

"Think nothing of it," Liliana said with a wave of her hand. "That is a lovely suit, darling, and the mask is certainly Halloweenly. I think you're dressed up just fine."

From:

two_idiots_one_body

Thank you, John said smugly.

"John says thank you, since he picked the suit. The mask is...well, I got it off a cultist that tried to kill me. It seemed appropriate."

From:

deathsmajesty

"And any time you can repurpose something you got from someone trying to murder you is a good day," Liliana approved. "I generally tend towards repurposing the murderer, but we all have different talents. And your most welcome, John darling, good taste should always be appreciated."

From:

two_idiots_one_body

"Er...yes, I'd prefer never to see another cultist." Not that he would. Ha. "Don't encourage him too much; he thinks I should have a moustache."

It would look dashing, Arthur!

"It would mean far too much upkeep, John."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Mmm, I'm not particularly a fan of facial hair, so I would need to be convinced," Liliana said thoughtfully, like, you know, she had any say in this argument. Not that had ever or would ever stop her. "But if it did look good, a bit of upkeep would be worth it, wouldn't it?"

From:

two_idiots_one_body

See? She agrees with me.

"If, John. I'm still not convinced, and it's my face. But I'll consider it, all right?"

Sometimes it was easier not to argue.

From:

deathsmajesty

"That is the benefit to mustaches," Liliana said serenely, still helping where no one asked her to. "You can try it and it's quite easy to remove if you hate it."

From:

two_idiots_one_body

"That is true," Arthur allowed.

It's movember, Arthur! Give it a fucking chance!

Arthur sighed. "Apparently there's some sort of tradition this upcoming month for growing facial hair. I'm not entirely sure what it's about."

From:

deathsmajesty

"It's getting cold and dark and people look for entertainment where and how they can?" Liliana suggested.

From:

two_idiots_one_body

Arthur snorted. "As good an explanation as any, I suppose. That would also explain why parties, holiday or not, are so popular these next few months. I wonder if it's the same in Australia?"

Why Australia?

"Oh." Arthur gestured, explaining to both John and Liliana, "it's in the southern hemisphere. So it's lighter and hotter this time of year."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Near New Zealand," Liliana noted, a fact she knew for no reason whatsoever, honest. "But yes, as the days die, most sentient species huddle together for warmth, comfort, and entertainment. So many more parties to while away the long dark."

From:

two_idiots_one_body

"Yes!" Arthur agreed. "I didn't realize you knew about New Zealand. "Anyway, I wonder if they have as many holiday parties at this time of year, or if they have more when it's summer up here. I don't know any Australians or New Zealanders to ask."

We could Google it, John muttered. He pulled out Arthur's phone and set about doing that as Arthur was talking.

"There was a party on the school trip, but from what I gather, Summer does that every trip, so I'm not certain it counts."

From:

deathsmajesty

"I only know about it from the school trip," Liliana explained. "I'd heard of it and had to look up more information. I'm ever-curious."

Sure, Lili. Just random curiosity, obviously.

From:

two_idiots_one_body

"It was an interesting place," Arthur said. "Relaxing. It was good to have a bit of holiday."

John grumbled to himself, still fussing with the phone, but since it didn't seem to be urgent, Arthur ignored him.

From:

deathsmajesty

"I only saw it through pictures," Liliana said. "But it did seem lovely. And the wine I've tried there was quite excellent. Good wool, too."

She had a sweater. Well. There was a sweater. Ownership was being negotiated.

"...Is everything all right with your phone?"

From:

two_idiots_one_body

"Hm?"

Arthur belatedly realized what was going on. "John?"

I can't find anything useful about when Australians have parties, Arthur! Fucking useless Google.

"Ah. Apparently there's nothing to be found about when Australians party." Because the real answer was always.

"What is the wool like? I didn't get to look at clothes much." Ha.

From:

deathsmajesty

"Incredibly soft," Liliana said, frowning at that exchange and ultimately tucking it away to mull over another time. "High-quality. Ignis brought me back a sweater."

Although, if you asked Ignis, he might agree that he certainly brought back a sweater.

From:

two_idiots_one_body

"Ah, so knitted. Wool is a versatile fiber." He lifted his arm in demonstration, since he was wearing a wool suit. "It takes color well, too."

From:

deathsmajesty

"Indeed. And finely woven. In all, an excellent acquisition." For somebody. Who may or may not be the person who acquired it.

From:

two_idiots_one_body

"I'm pleased to hear it. The school does these trips periodically for all the students and teachers, so if you want to take or teach a class, you'll have more chances."

From:

deathsmajesty

"...They'd let me take classes?" Liliana asked, surprised. "They'd let me teach classes?"

Not that she doubted her skills as a professor, but shouldn't there be some process by which she was vetted?

From:

two_idiots_one_body

"As far as I know, anyone can take classes," Arthur answered. "Actually, as far as I know, anyone can teach them, too. They don't seem to be terribly hung up on qualifications. Or on the types of classes there are."

Look, there was Beaker, okay? He'd heard the stories.

From:

deathsmajesty

Please wait for our lovely photographer,

flamesburned, to ping in to get pictures of you in your excellent costumes!

From:

flamesburned

Liz had a few different cameras set up to take photos as she waited for people who might like their photos taken.

From:

hasaknightjob

Photos or not, Steven did want to see Liz. So at some point in the evening he made his way over to her. Though his manner was more subdued than it usually was at parties, he still looked pleased to see her.

"Liz, hello! Are you busy working? I don't mean to interrupt."

From:

flamesburned

“Steven hi,” Liz smiled, “and you’re not interrupting,” she assured him, “I can take a break now,” she added.

From:

hasaknightjob

"Wonderful," Steven said. "It's good to see you. I keep meaning to pop by the Photo Hut to say hello but ~~real life keeps messing it up~~ you know how it is with island strangeness and travel and the like. You're well? Noctra enjoy her first Halloween?"

From:

flamesburned

“Same here, we ended up heading home last week when we weren’t sure how things were going to go,” Liz told him, “but Noctra’s been enjoying Halloween, she’s at home with Prompto while I work here for the evening,” she said, “how have you been going?”

From:

hasaknightjob

"I wondered where he was," Steven said, since he hadn't been fully certain if he just hadn't spotted Prompto in the crowd, especially with everyone in costume. "And, er, you know. Got back from holiday. Returned to all that strangeness. Been... interesting."

It was times like this when Steven especially regretted that he hadn't been able to go visit Liz as often as he would have liked. He wouldn't have minded getting her thoughts on some of the things going on with him but a party was not the place for it on several levels.

From:

flamesburned

"Oh how was your holiday?" Liz asked, "I know most of the school went off to New Zealand, it would be a wonderful place to visit one day," she said, "and last week was definitely rather strange, the Photo Hut turned into a Staples, that was definitely new,"

From:

hasaknightjob

"Llewellyn and I went to Peru," Steven said. "He planned the most amazing holiday. Thought of all the details. Didn't get back until about midweek, though, when everything had already started changing. Luckily Midnight and the Museum were all right. Blathers had some strange offers about educational programs but no other problems that I'm aware of. Suppose I can't blame you for wanting to get away, it being your home getting changed and all."

From:

flamesburned

"Oh I'm glad you and Detective Watts had a really nice holiday," Liz smiled, "it definitely took some getting used to but I think everything is back where its supposed to be, I haven't done a full inventory yet to see if anything's missing but I think everything's changed back but it was nice going back to the BPRD for a few days even if it wasn't planned,, I know Noctra enjoyed getting to visit,"

From:

hasaknightjob

"I'm sure they loved seeing her," Steven said. "Growing like a weed, I imagine. Hard to believe we're coming up on a year before we know it."

From:

flamesburned

"They did, she really loves Hellboy, she's really taken to him, I think sometimes we're not going to be able to get her to leave," Liz smiled fondly, "she's growing so fast, she's over eight months old now, I still can't believe it,"

From:

hasaknightjob

"Don't suppose you have any pictures?" Steven asked, looking hopeful. Or at least as hopeful as could be seen while he was wearing a bird mask covering half his face.

From:

flamesburned

Liz smiled, "of course," she assured him and got out her phone, she brought up her photos so she could show him, "there's quite a few of Noctra and Hellboy there and with the cats as well," she said as she handed over her phone.

From:

hasaknightjob

Steven pushed his mask up, then patted himself down to find his glasses. He put those on then took Liz's mobile so he could see. "Oh that's precious that is. Look at her and all those cats. She must've been having the time of her life."

From:

flamesburned

"She really was, its going to be interesting once she starts crawling," Liz smiled, "she's going to be all over the cats when that happens, I don't think Rain has any idea what's coming when that does,"

From:

hasaknightjob

"Can she go up?" Steven asked. He handed Liz her mobile back and put his glasses away before he forgot. "Onto a shelf of some sort? Get out of the reach of tiny hands?"

From:

flamesburned

Liz took her phone back and put it away, "once Rain realises what's happening she's probably going to try and make herself as scarce as possible, I think she's going to be liking higher places once that happens," she said with a fond smile.

From:

hasaknightjob

"At home Raphael has little cat shelves?" Steven said. He held out his hands to indicate shelves put on walls at various heights. "Midnight makes them for him. He can go from room to room without his paws touching the floor if he's in the mood for it. Might be too much for your flat but maybe one or two might come in handy? Give him a perch to safely watch from?"

From:

flamesburned

"Oh I'll have to have a look at that, it mightn't be a bad idea for Rain to have a couple of higher places she can get to once Noctra starts crawling," Liz considered, "I'm sure Rain would appreciate the shelves,"

From:

hasaknightjob

"It occurs to me Prompto might know about them already," Steven said. "I know you can get them in pet shops. He might know where to order some if he doesn't already have them in stock.

"Oh - speaking of you and yours in a professional capacity," Steven said. He gestured to where Llewellyn was not far away. "Would it be possible to get a professional portrait of me and Llewellyn? Not tonight - well, actually also tonight. But, er, in addition? How does that work, do we make an appointment to come to your shop? Or you come to us? Or...?"

From:

flamesburned

"I'll have to ask Prompto about them then when I get home," Liz considered and then smiled, "and of course we can do a professional portrait," she told him, "we haven't actually had any requests for a portrait but we could set it up at the Photo Hut, we can get a nice background set up at the store if that would work?"

From:

hasaknightjob

"Could we include Raphael as well?" Steven asked. "At the shop? Llewellyn had the brilliant idea it could be the three of us. Er - him and me and Raphael, that is,"

Since you did have to get more specific about which three, given who was currently talking.

From:

flamesburned

"Of course," Liz smiled, "you can definitely have Raphael in the photo, let me know when you would like to have the portrait done and I'll come up with some backgrounds that you can choose from for your portrait,"

From:

hasaknightjob

"Brilliant," Steven said. "And a couple of ~~handwavily done~~ photos of him and me tonight, if that's all right?"

From:

flamesburned

Liz smiled, "of course, I can definitely take some photos of you and Detective Watts tonight," she assured him.

From:

hasaknightjob

"Wonderful," Steven said. He smiled. "I'm glad you were here tonight. It's a bugger how ~~real life~~ things keep coming up to get in the way of a visit."

From:

flamesburned

"I'm glad I'm here too," Liz smiled, "especially when I don't know when I'll next be able to go to something like this, its been nice getting to talk to you,"

From:

hasaknightjob

"Same," Steven said. "Here, I'll go ~~handwavily~~ get Llewellyn so you can ~~handwavily~~ take those photos of us. I know I've already taken up a lot of your time while you're meant to be working. Thank you."

From:

flamesburned

"You're welcome it hasn't been any trouble at all," Liz assured him, "I'm glad we were able to catch up,"

From:

deathsmajesty

"Hello, darling," Liliana said as Liz was getting set up. "Thank you so much for agreeing to do this. Though you will spend some time as an actual guest, right? Or do I need to write that into the contract somewhere?"

From:

flamesburned

Liz smiled as she finished getting ready, “you’re welcome and I’m sure I can spend time as a guest,” she assured her.

From:

deathsmajesty

"Excellent," she said with a curving smile. She extended a slim and chilly hand. "Lilliana, to make it all official. Lovely to finally meet you, darling."

From:

flamesburned

"I'm Liz," Liz introduced herself as she took Lilliana's hand, "and same here, I'm glad we can finally meet, I'm not always able to get out to social events so I'm glad I was able to make this one, you've done a great job with the party," she added.

From:

deathsmajesty

"A baby will do that, I hear," Liliana said with all the vagueness of someone whose experience with small children was mostly theoretical. "It's one of the reasons I called the store instead of just reaching out to Prompto. I wanted to meet you and make sure you had a chance to come out and have a good time this evening."

From:

flamesburned

Liz smiled at that, “that’s true but it’s nice being able to come out here, thank you for giving me this opportunity,”

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana waved that away. "No, thanks needed," she said. "But I am glad to have gotten a chance meet you."

From:

flamesburned

“Same here,” Liz told her with a smile, “Prompto’s told me a lot about you, I’m glad I’ve been able to meet you,”

From:

deathsmajesty

"Prompto is a delightful source of information," Liliana confided. "It's how I know much of what I do about Ignis."

From:

flamesburned

Liz smiled at that, "Prompto told me about you and Ignis, how has everything been going with you two?"

From:

deathsmajesty

At some point, they were going to have to figure out the right way to answer this question, especially with them both firmly denying they were a couple...while also tacitly agreeing that they were a couple.

For now, Liliana was able to answer in specifics, at least, rather than the difficulty the generality would create. "Ignis has been an absolute gift these past few days," she said. "I don't know that I would have been able to get everything done without his help."

Well, she could have. Just not as stylishly.

She gave Liz a mischievous look. "Though now I'm wondering what Prompto said."

Edited Date: 2023-11-01 03:45 am (UTC)

From:

flamesburned

Liz grinned at that, "well I think he gets a lot of his information from Gladio," she said, "a lot of it was after 3MD, so I heard about Ignis cooking for you after that," she added.

From:

deathsmajesty

"He still does, but now he's more bossy about it," Liliana said with a laugh. "Like his very rude insistence that breakfast should be served in the morning and not in my bedroom."

From:

deathsmajesty

There are plenty of shadowy corners, especially on the second floor of the ballroom. There are plenty of small alcoves ringing the area, as well as a much larger one overlooking the garden. A good place to skulk and people-watch, as well as have conversations you'd rather weren't overheard.

[Anything that happens here in this thread is NFB, but please take anything not-okay-for-public-spaces back to your own journal as per usual, please!]

From:

deathsmajesty

Liliana had broken with tradition and had food catered in and bartending services hired. What? She wanted her guests to be guests! But not to worry, there was still plenty to eat and drink.

Food:
Pumpkin and Pesto Crostini (made without cheese to be vegan)
Abracadabra Purple Fruit Crudite Plate
Poison Apples (Vegan)
Eyeball Rosettes
Bloody Good Chocolate Fountain (with a selection of things to dip, all kept carefully separate)
Assorted Cupcakes, sweets, candies, and snacks
Rosemary Pimpkin Seed Brittle, made vegan with butter substitute.

Drinks
Smoking Bishop Punch
Bloody Eyeball Sangria
Shrunken Head Sparkling Apple Cider (non-alcoholic)
Mulled Pomegranate Cherry Juice (both alcoholic and non options available)

Plus an open bar with ~~moddable~~ bartenders. They're even alive, you guys. Liliana spared no expense.

Edited Date: 2023-10-31 10:37 am (UTC)

From:

hasaknightjob

Steven appreciated the thoughtfulness of the multiple vegan options and made sure to at least try a nibble of each. He avoided the alcohol though. It seemed lovely but he didn't want to risk anything that might cloud his thoughts.

From:

Stark did enjoy party snacks, and drinks. At some point he had to make his way over, especially once he saw there were cupcakes.

From:

meepmeepmeep

Yay, food! Could Beaker reach most of it? Eh. He'd improvise. There had to a chair around here somewhere, right?

From:

It was basically a rule that Irene, dressed as she was, needed to find a short and toonish figure to socialize with, at some point. Bonus points granted for the bagginess of his costume.

"Need a boost, darling?" she offered when she made her way over to the food. "I could drag a chair over."

From:

meepmeepmeep

"Meep meep," Beaker said gratefully. "Meep meep meep mee?"

The cupcakes were far away!

From:

Tragic! And while, you know, Irene could be smart about this and get things down for Beaker...no, instead she appeared to be choosing chaos, and was pulling over a pair of chairs to allow him the room to peruse the full length of the table!

"How's that?"

From:

meepmeepmeep

"Meep meep meep meep," Beaker said thankfully, climbing up on top of the chair with minimal wobbles.

From:

deathsmajesty

There's some music and a whole ballroom to dance in!

[Halloween playlist to be completed later, look, I forgot.]

From:

deathsmajesty

Noise all a bit too much? Just need a chance to step away from the crowds? Want a private place to talk and all the alcoves off the second floor balcony in use?

Feel free to head into the gardens proper, beyond the walkway that led you inside and past the smoking fountain. They're just as lit up as the path, but even more wild and overgrown. Some of the statuary is a little unnerving, but that wasn't actually Liliana's doing, and the pavilion is actually quite nice!

From:

deathsmajesty

Awake, back from the doc's, and painfully aware of all the things I'd meant to do but failed!

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Liliana Vess

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