Teagan’s Windermere Autumn Solstice Ball
Date: 2025-10-18 19:03
(Teagan’s Windermere Autumn Solstice Ball)
[Sat Oct 18 2025]
At the Ancient Central Plaza Fountain
The central plaza fountain rises from a circular basin of weathered granite,
its three-tiered structure reaching nearly fifteen feet into the air. Water
cascades from carved stone faces at each level, their features worn smooth by
decades of constant flow, creating a steady murmur that carries across the
intersection of paths. The fountain’s base spans twenty feet in diameter,
surrounded by a low stone wall perfect for sitting, though the limestone
bears dark stains where the spray reaches during windy days. Bronze plaques
set into the fountain’s pedestal commemorate various graduating classes,
their inscriptions growing increasingly difficult to read on the older
dedications, particularly those from the 1800s where the metal has developed
a peculiar greenish-black patina. The water itself appears crystal clear in
daylight but takes on an oddly opaque quality after sunset, and careful
observers might notice that coins tossed into the basin sometimes seem to
disappear entirely rather than settling to the bottom. Four ornate lamp posts
mark the cardinal points around the fountain, their wrought iron bases
decorated with intertwining vines and barely visible symbols that could be
mistaken for mere ornamentation.
It is night, about 55F(12C) degrees, and there are clear skies. The mist is heaviest At Church and Lake
There is a waning crescent moon.
As the hour hits, what seem like thousands of fireflies suddenly flicker to life within the branches of the trees that create a canopy above the quad. The two braziers to the west blaze brightly with a WHOOSH of flame before settling back into place. Music that had been playing very softly is turned up louder by the current DJ at the covered-over fountain. It’s nothing loud at the moment: mostly pop hits from the last decade played at a volume one can still talk over, but dance to if they wish. This is the time for mingling, it would seem.
Over the music, the DJ does announce: “Welcome to the Windermere Autumn Ball. Please, enjoy refreshments provided by the Brine Pool Lounge and libations courtesy of the new juice and cider bar at Wild Bloom Orchards. The maple pumpkin spice is a limited time offering, so if you enjoy it, make sure to go and buy yourself a growler this weekend.”
At the aforementioned refreshments tables, Teagan is finishing up arrangmements and finally steps away slipping her phone away into… don’t ask. She looks a bit relieved as everything seems to be going according to plan. As the trees above drop some leaves, a yellow one settles into her hair briefly and she catches it up, looking at it with a brief smile before letting it go where it fades away into nothing like all the others that fall before the cycle of summer to autumn begins anew over everyone’s heads. “Don’t forget to surrender a memory with the changing of seasons,” she offers up to a few people as she passes into the crowd while the music comes back up to those ‘mingle, but dance if you want’ levels.
Aoi turns to the smaller looking feminine person she arrived with and places a hand upon their shoulder, stating to Blair. “Well, i’ve been doing a lot of getting dragged around, and you’re all stitched up. You should meet some people. I on the other hand, am going to go get something to drink…” And like that, she starts strutting off towards the refreshments, the tanuki ears upon her head bouncing. It would seem she has to almost weave through people, as it’s starting to get crowded with the student populace…
With the great illumination happening as the DJ announces the start of the Autumn Solstice (Much Delayed) Ball Matias will remain near the bonfire greeting guests as they come in. Although he is wearing a feline-esque mask it is obvious he is the latino professor from Windermere. “Windermere welcomes guests and requests you give a memory to the changing of seasons, write or speak the memory and feed it to the fire.” he informs those coming through the eastern archway in a resonating baritone of a voice.
Blair nods over to Aoi, but the words fall on deaf ears as they seem to stay to the margins and avoid much mingling.
Jakem walks right in and immediately makes for the cider, giving an approving nod as, only once he’s tested its quality does he stop to look around, replacing his mask over his face.
Tamar makes her way into the plaza with Celestine clinging to her side. Perhaps she should have masqued as a candle instead of a fox. With everyone else in masks also, there are very few she seems to recognize though Teagan is given a small nod of her vulpine head.
Obadiah stares at the braizer for a moment then wiggles his fingers in that general direction as if tossing a piece of paper in that direction. He says nothing on what memory he has condemned to be purged but such it is.
The percussive ‘THUNK’ of Celestine’s cane heralds her arrival far before she manages to shamble into the area, each forward press of the shaft into the flooring beneath dragging her forward with the inevitability of an oncoming plague. Her leftmost leg seems to shudder as she walks, locking in place only as she settles all of her weight upon it… its uncanny, metallic creaking filling the room with a rasping melody reminiscent of aching bones. Clinging closely to Tamar’s arm, wide, owlish eyes gaze upon the gathering like twin full moons… basking the gathered crowd in the radiance of their luminous, eerie glow. She smiles as she and Tamar approach the tables, arm in arm, eyes skimming over the gathered drinks. “… Bah. Justine should have come. These would have been much more fun to drink!”
Matias reminds people that we are in dynamic places so be sure to type out the whole join message while standing beside the brazier and handing off a piece of paper to a guest who writes out a memory and feeds it the brazier which flares with the fresh fuel causing a waft of heat over the quad.
After a short time, the DJ makes another announcement: “In a little while, we’ll have some members of our very own orchestra up here to play for you for a more… classical ball experience. But for now, you’re stuck with me.” And the music is turned up for a bit, though not before he adds: “Don’t forget, if you don’t carry a Windermere ID then you’re expected to feed a summer memory to autumn-” pointing toward the braziers at the western point of the quad. “It can be a postcard, that last photo of your boo that left you as soon as the leaves changed, or just write something down. The flames are not picky! Just go right on over there and USE BRAZIER to give that memory to the changing of the season.” And then the music is up and people are encouraged to dance… or move a little closer to talk.
It is the hair that helps Teagan recognize Tamar, but she finally tilts her head in a nod. “You’ll owe a memory,” she says quietly to the vulpine-masked one, gesturing toward the braziers. And of course, Celestine is recognizable too: for different reasons. “Ah, did someone not wish to see another… how did she put it, circus?”
“Would you like something to drink?” Tamar asks Celestine, tilting her head towards her with a foxy look. “I am not sure what is good or not.” When Teagan speaks up, the vixen’s attention returns to her though there is a brief glance towards the brazier and she watches Obadiah send off his memory. There are a few heartbeats of tension at this idea of giving up memories but eventually the girl gives a nod of her head. “Very well,” she murmurs, untangling herself from Celestine and moving over to the brazier.
“You do not like circuses?” Celestine asks of Teagan, head falling slightly askew.
Obadiah uses an autumn ball brazier: 96The braziers fla02mes shift briefly08, flaring amber-g14old before settli20ng again. A faint 21curl of 48silver smoke 28rises, carryi29ng the scent of r31ain on warm stone.
“I have nothing for or against,” Teagan tells Celestine. “But she made several complaints about the school apparently becoming one.” There is a turn on soft-shoed heel to look out over the gathered (and gather-ing) crowd in satisfaction. “I don’t think this is a circus.”
Nemi quickly weaves her way through the crowd, like a cloud of snow dancing around an autumn landscape as they head for and pick up some refreshments for herself with a soft nod as she makes her way over to the fire. She holds up a card, stopping, freezing and thinking, reflecting before her fingers flick it into the fire as her grey eyes look down at the flames and she steps away lest an ember catch her dress. She walks around as she gives a nod to Tamar as she tries some of the fresh apple juice.
Obadiah returns to the table and picks up an apple and Brie slice and takes a nibble flashing a smile to Tamar when he returns but says nothing to her. His mouth is full after all
Matias is brought a cup of a fizzy hard cider from the growlers and takes a drink while looking out over the crowd. There is a lick of his lips and then a nod to Obadiah as they feed the flames with a memorable scent of rain on warm stone emnating from the waft of heat that comes with the offering. “If I might ask, what was the memory sir?” he wonders in a conversational baritone apparently placed there to pry on such things and provide banter for the evening.
Jakem calls over helpfully to Teagan “Did you need me to make some calls? I know a ringmaster who can work on the fly. He double majored in trapeze artistry.” He says as he lingers near the hard cider, mostly ignoring the other refreshments.
Wide, silvery eyes follow Tamar as she pulls away… but her porcelain smile remains. Gently letting the woman pull away should the angelborn choose to loosen her grasp. “…A drink does sound nice.” She admits, considering her options. “I think that I will leave it to fate. Please choose one for me?” Celestine glances aside to Teagan, shrugging her shoulders softly. “I quite enjoyed mine first class. It was entertaining. like a circus.”
Tamar makes her way over towards the brazier, offering Matias a polite nod. From her pockets she fishes out a pen and what looks like a small prayer card. With the card in one hand, the vixen proceeds to spend an inordinate amount of time writing something out. Childishly large and shaky letters barely fit the tiny card. Once she is done, the card is folded in half and tossed into the fire.
Tamar uses an autumn ball brazier: 96The fire sti02rs, releasing08 a low hum 14almost a sigh20 as faint m21otes of 17pale blue 28light dr29ift upward li31ke fireflies.
Nemi uses an autumn ball brazier: 96The fire sti02rs, releasing08 a low hum 14almost a sigh20 as faint m21otes of 17pale blue 28light dr29ift upward li31ke fireflies.
(repost) Wide, silvery eyes follow Tamar as she pulls away… but her porcelain smile remains. Gently letting the woman pull away should the angelborn choose to loosen her grasp. “…A drink does sound nice.” She admits, considering her options. “I think that I will leave it to fate. Please choose one for me?” Celestine glances aside to Teagan, shrugging her shoulders softly. “I quite enjoyed mine first class. It was entertaining. like a circus.”
Nemi hums softly as she looks about and drinks some of her applejuice with a soft hum.
“No,” Teagan tells Jakem, but her initially firm expression softens into a more appreciative smile. “But thank you for cleaning up. You do still owe a memory as well, though.” She finally reaches out to take up some of the hard cider for herself. After a drink, she looks toward Tamar as she makes her way to the brazier, but blue eyes behind domino mask shift to Celestine. “I heard that you allowed them to hypnotize you at the end. I am almost sad to have missed it.”
Nemi provides Helen a soft nod of acknowledgement, and welcome as she waves her fingers while she enjoys some of the bacon brussel sprouts.
Jakem glances to Celestine “Hypnotized? I thought we were in a grand duel, one that will go down as a battle of the ages? You’re telling me, picking that fight wasn’t even your idea?” Tsk. Dissapointings.”
Obadiah moves over to /mat when he is called out and chuckles a little to his fellow courtier. “Well I don’t remember. Isn’t that the point? To give up things we are better off not dwelling on?”
Helen makes her way through the area of festivities towards the table of refreshments first, perhaps on a mission to peruse what is available to drink or munch on before she looks up and around herself. She flutters a wave towards Nemi and others, moving in closer to Teagan as she says, “You look lovely and so does this all, thank you for putting it on.” She adjusts her mask some and turns to look at the others, waving and including them as well, “Everyone looks very lovely, actually.”
Matias laughs quietly to Obadiah and points out, “It is not a magic rite, it is symbolic. If the school were actually collecting memories. I would be over on a roof top somewhere performing weather or time magic with all the energy such sacrifices would give up.”
“They made me take off mine leg and throw away mine cane.” Celestine murmurs, wincing as she raises a hand to her bandaged head. “I was expecting something bad, but not necessarily that I would crack mine head open on the desk. Perhaps next time I should use a student.”
Once her memory is dutifully consumed by the flames, Tamar drifts away from the brazier and back towards Celestine. The mothy woman is giving a quick tilt of the vixen’s head when she’s tasked with choosing the drinks and the girl gazes over the table, stalling. It is then that she notices Helen and her attention shifts towards the platinum-haired woman, studying her quietly.
Nemi chuckles softly at the mention of the earlier lesson. “I do apologize, I should have spoken out against such and volunteered.”
Jakem nods a bit to Teagan “A memory? I’ll see if I can’t purloin something before the night’s through.” he says with a salute.
Jeremiah smiles at /teagan. “I didn’t have a mask, but I at least wanted to stop by. Nice work.”
Jeremiah smiles at Teagan. “I didn’t have a mask, but I at least wanted to stop by. Nice work.” (fixed)
Kai wanders into tto the party and heads for the food, he yoinks a few different appetitizers, tips his mask up to reveal his mouth and tosses one into his face, munching.
There is a grimace from Teagan as Celestine describes what happened. “And Kai wasn’t even there. That is a bit excessive, making you remove your leg.” She shakes her head slightly, moving along the table to the food and making sure to nab some of the crostinis. Perhaps fearing they may be at greatest risk to run out. Or perhaps she’s hungry. Even if they are unlikely the most filling. Either way, she is on a mission! But before she can put one in her mouth, she looks to Helen and smiles. “Everyone does look quite good, don’t they? You do as well. All your own work?” She is about to step away, but nods to Jeremiah. “I barely have a mask, so why worry? Thank you for coming… though as penance, you will need to commend a memory to the fire, I’m afraid.”
Jeremiah nods. “Can do.”
Jeremiah approaches the brazier. Retrieving a slip of paper from his pocket, he drops it into the fire, and watches as it is consumed.
“Already mentioned!” Kai declares chipperly and pops another appetitizer, humming as he looks around at people, “Looking hot Nemi!” he points at Nemi and nods, “Nice mask Jakem!” he waves to Jakem.
“I am well aware of the nature of magic and rituals, professor,” Obadiah tells Matias with a chuckle and good natured bob of his head.
Helen turns slightly when she notices Tamar studying her and she drifts her attention to focus more fully on the other woman. The mask she is wearing covers most of her features, but her eyes are still noticed behind the red flare of the mask itself. They drift and she says softly, “I do like that we all chose similar colors, at least some of us. We look good all together.” She flutters a wave towards the woman and then, reaching into a small bag she carries, pulls out a piece of paper, tucking it against herself, “I did not make the clothing, but I did make the mask. Excuse me for a moment…” She walks towards the brazier, lifting the paper up, looking to it, as if reading it, and placing it into the flames before turning back towards the group she was speaking with and mingling her way closer after picking up something to drink to Celestine and Tamar.
Teagan does remind from the tables that the growlers are just to drink from while the juice is to take with you.
“Given mine breathtaking beauty, it is no wonder that you are so quickly able to recognize me beneath the mask.” Celestine coos coquettishly, gravitating back over towards Tamar as she returns. She lands against the taller woman for support, striking a pose and winking at Teagan. “I mean. Truly impressive. I cannot imagine what tipped you off.” She muses, accepting the offered drink from Helen. “Thank you!”
Matias takes another slow drink from his cup from the growler while nodding in agreement with Helen and wondering, “Your mask the more popular western style dragon from the looks of it. Have you ever seen one off-world?”
At the wave from Helen, Tamar lifts one hand to return it with a curl of her fingers. She waits for Helen to come from the brazier and join them then murmurs, “The work on your mask is wonderful,” the vixen’s voice laced with a quiet awe. She glances down at her own whites then back up to Helen. “It was Cel– moth’s idea,” she says, gesturing to Celestine as she leans against her. The taller woman a solid post for the other, smaller one. Thankfully she is absolved from having to make choices about drinks and looks a little happier for it.
Obadiah takes a bite of his Brie and Apple snack and looks around as he tries to identify the people that came out for the event. “I admit Matias, I don’t get to campus often,” he squints behind the mask, “But I received a special invite. Dragons? Oh yes I have killed one before.”
“Who else, who else…” Kai says as he looks around and points rapid fire, “Tamar, Helen, Celly, Nemi, Jakem, dunno who the guy is with Matias,” he indicates Tamar, Helen, Celestine, Nemi and Jakem in turn.
“And then of course Teagan, Tech guy and some Only Fans girl,” Kai indicates Teagan, Jeremiah and Aoi in turn, the latter gets a fist in the air, “Girl power! Hashtag feminism!” and grabs a skewer, “Want a glass of whatever this liquid is?” he asks Kaelyn.
Nemi smiles and waves some of her fingers towards Kaelyn and Kai with a soft hum as she eats more of the sprouts from her plate. “Obie is my bet.” She adds onto Kai. “Also curse you Kai.” She states firmly towards them in addition.
“You’re welcome,” Helen says to Celestine as she looks towards Matias briefly, “Good evening!” She turns towards the others nearby afterwards as well, looking to Tamar, “It suits you and was a good choice, you both look wonderful together, and thank you! I actually really enjoy working with silver, especially, or just fine metals in general. There is something satisfying about hammering out shape and making sure it all forms well.”
Jeremiah says, “I’m Obie, in costume.”
Kai sniffs a couple of times in Jeremiah’s direction and shakes his head a bit.
Jeremiah grins. “You super noses! Foiled again.”
Nemi hums, she then shakes her head as she looks about with a soft sigh.
There is a change in musical acts coming. It’s fairly obvious by the string quartet coming out. Second violin, though, as first is playing hostess. And seems perfectly content doing so at the moment. The DJ continues to play as they get setup, but he does start winding down. It’s a good time for further mingling, stepping away for a moment if one must, or just taking a breather if one has been dancing.
Teagan glances down at her midnight blue gown at the mention of similar colors, surrounded by many in forms of silver and white. Though there are silver and white accents on the gown, at least. “Excuse me. I want to get a memory sent off.”
Matias nods politely to Helen and motions towards the bonfire in the brazier inviting them to offer up a memory. Then continues his chat with Obadiah, “You have? Color and size, was it in the Godrealm or the Wilds?”
Kaelyn takes her chance to look over every one as their name was listed off, really taking the time to look over the costume. “Hey, super noses are both a blessing and a curse,” She teases.
“Mine foxy friend here would have looked gorgeous in anything I put her in.” Celestine openly admits to Helen, settling straight to sip from her champagne and lean into the support of her cane. “You look gorgeous too. I think I poured more money into mademoiselle Vixen’s outfit than I did into mine. But the detailing on the dress was tres expensive. Originally I wanted to wear this for King, but…” Celestine shrugs.
“It must be quite satisfying to shape something with your hands like that,” Tamar replies to Helen, her own hands not really seeming to know what to do with themselves so she slides them into the pockets of her pristine trousers. Her attention seems easily distracted, the foxy mask glancing from person to person as they speak and then finally returning to Helen and Celestine at her side. It ducks at Celestine’s words, staring down at the ground for a few heartbeats before coming back up again.
Jeremiah smiles at Kaelyn. “I’ll take your word for it.”
Nemi eats more of her brussel sprouts as she looks across the others gathered. Smiling softly she moves to hang about the only person in a actual costume. An eyebrow raises at what someone days before she looks back towards the fire. “Well, This is nice at the very least I must say.”
Jakem hmmm’s as he ponders Teagan’s words, glancing about for a moment, gaze moving from masked individual to refreshments table. “Memory hmmm, Oh I’ve got it.” he grabs a piece of paper, supplying his own purple pen.
“Godrealms, and kind of a bluish gold if memory serves correctly,” Obadiah says pursing his lips in thought at the memory then when he overhears someone his lips tug into a grin, a mischievous grin, at not being recognized.
“Godrealms, and kind of a bluish gold if memory serves correctly,” Obadiah says pursing his lips in thought at the memory then when he overhears Kai his lips tug into a grin, a mischievous grin, at not being recognized.
Nemi eats more of her brussel sprouts as she looks across the others gathered. Smiling softly she moves to hang about the only person in a actual costume. An eyebrow raises at what Celestine says before she looks back towards the fire. “Well, This is nice at the very least I must say.”
Kai nods to Kaelyn a couple of times, “Oh yeah, it is Obie,” he realizes after giving Obadiah a second look, he looks to Kaelyn, “Did you want something to drink?”
“You are quite right, your foxy friend does look like quite a glowing figure tonight, and beside you, it just seems to be like you’re quite the pair,” Helen says to Celestine and Tamar as she gestures forth between the two of them. She reaches up to run her fingertips along the mask, “Something you will learn in time.” She steps closer to the duo and leans in to be able to speak to them more easily through the mask, “There is a softer touch to it than normal metalworking, and I think the patience and care that goes into it feels more dutiful sometimes.”
“Impressive. I have never killed a dragon, but I have surveyed them. Unfortunately not the western style they were spirit dragons representing rivers and wind. So a mix of fur and scales, snake like bodies. Very mobile. Impressive ability to crash through anything.” Matias says in a chattering with Obadiah as Teagan approaches the brazier and the professor nods to her. “Miss Lawson, will you be playing with the orchestra at any point this evening or enjoying mingling as your official role?”
Tamar is in the midst of supporting someone so she is unable to step closer to Helen, but there is a subtle lean as the three of them speak. The hammered mask seems to be of some fascination to the vixen and she asks quietly, “May I touch it?” fingers curling in her pockets when she says that.
Tamar is in the midst of supporting Celestine so she is unable to step closer to Helen, but there is a subtle lean as the three of them speak. The hammered mask seems to be of some fascination to the vixen and she asks quietly, “May I touch it?” fingers curling in her pockets when she says that.
Nodding in quiet agreement with Nemi, Celestine glances aside with a sheepish, almost apologetic smile… seeming to note Tamar’s discomfort with a sudden, anxious start… reaching into the confines of her purse to retrieve a small, amethyst bracelet from within, and wordlessly slide it over her wrist. Almost instantly… all tension seems to melt from her shoulders, and she turns an impassive stare back to Helen. “How have you been holding up? I was thinking about inviting you over for tea sometime, but, well.” Celestine glances aside to Tamar. “I have been busy.”
“I’m sorry?” Teagan says to Obadiah as she approaches, something cupped in one hand while the other holds a plate with some crostinis. “And here I thought you’d be happy to see me enjoying the food.” She gives a dramatic sigh, but turns to Matias, tilting her head in a nod. “I am just remaining as hostess. Adding rehearsals on top of all of the event planning would have been just a touch too much for me.” There is a smile as she steps over to the nearby brazier and after just a brief hesitation drops something in; small, with a box-like shape.
Teagan uses an autumn ball brazier: 96The braziers fla02mes shift briefly08, flaring amber-g14old before settli20ng again. A faint 21curl of 48silver smoke 28rises, carryi29ng the scent of r31ain on warm stone.
Jakem uses an autumn ball brazier: 96The brazier’02s glow deepen08s, and the sc14ent of autum20n leaves fill21s the air – c28risp, bitter29sweet, gone i31n an instant.
“I am happy to see you,” Obadiah says with a chuckle, tacking on to his former, lower breathed comments. “I just thought I had one over on Kai, and I clearly didn’t.”
“Of course,” Helen says to Tamar as she leans herself closer to the other woman to allow for such a thing. She does respond to Celestine afterwards by saying, “I am well enough. Though, tea would be nice and good company. Being busy with…” She nods over towards Tamar, “Is a good thing!”
Nemi nods softly, humming softly as she walks around, Dess having autumn leaves shift, lit and exposed by fire-light as something lurks hidden within the designs, foxes hidden among the autmn fall, either to stalk prey or hide from the oncoming snow from above as she walks about
Blushing furiously, the crimson seems to spill across Celestine’s cheeks like red wine across pallid parchment. In lieu of having to respond, Celestine raises her glass to her lips, drinking the entire thing down sloooowly.
Nemi nods softly to Mercy as they arrive, causing her to smile softly.
Matias watches as Teagan feeds an item into the fire and then looks back out over the crowd. “That is true. The committee did very well putting this together, even if there was scheduling issues.” he says in a resonating baritone of a voice before spying Kaelyn and lifting a hand in her direction. “Miss Miller your outfit is lovely. It almost makes up for some peoples lack of effort.” he comments from afar with a shake of his head at someone , disappointedly!
Matias watches as Teagan feeds an item into the fire and then looks back out over the crowd. “That is true. The committee did very well putting this together, even if there was scheduling issues.” he says in a resonating baritone of a voice before spying Kaelyn and lifting a hand in her direction. “Miss Miller your outfit is lovely. It almost makes up for some peoples lack of effort.” he comments from afar with a shake of his head at Kai , disappointedly!
Tamar casts a small glance Celestine’s way when she sees her slipping on the bracelet, but the temptation of getting to the explore the worked metal is just too much for her. She slides her right hand from her pocket, tentatively reaching up to brush her fingertips along the cool silver that makes up the crane mask’s beak. Behind her own foxy mask, bronze eyes study the metalwork adoringly and eventually her fingers reach the crane mask’s cheek, brushing with her thumb before letting her hand fall away. “It is gorgeous,” the vixen compliments. Seeing Celestine start to blush and then down her drink, the girl tilts her head to one side.
Mercy wobbles into the area with all the grace of a newborn fawn, really struggling with those heels but determined to stay upright and get to that refreshments table.
Jeremiah nods to Mercy. “Good evening.”
Mercy offers Jeremiah a tentative wave while her other hand reaches rather desperately for the edge of the nearest table- which she leans her weight into for support the second she’s close enough, safe at last. Nailed it.
“When we are not in such large amounts of company, I can take it off and let you explore it more fully if you wish,” Helen says to Tamar as she keeps herself still enough to allow the woman to explore with her fingertips. she tilts her head some afterwards to let her see from a different angle, “Perhaps silverwork is something to focus on in the future…” She does look towards Celestine as well, head tilting, bird-like almost, “Is the drink good?”
“Bro I had to dig this out of a ton of stuff in my trunk, it took like five minutes,” Kai complains to Matias, “Plus I had to pause my game to be here,” he rolls his eyes at Matias.
Mercy says “Fuckin’ shit man ain’ get why anybody wear high heels.“
Mercy looks Kaelyn up and down, quiet for a beat, then two, then clicks her tongue somewhere beneath the mask. “A wolf, huh?”
Nemi tsks softly when she hears what Kai says, she walks towards the refreshments tables, but she looks at Mercy, walking over and smiling. “Do you need a hand walking about dear? A first time in heels is always a pain.” She says softly with a warm smile.
Tamar draws her hand back from the crane mask, taking up a lean against Celestine once more and then sliding an arm around hers before slipping it back into her pocket. “I had though more of working on weapons and tools,” the vixen informs someone. “I had not considered fine work. It was not the sort of thing my father worked on.”
Tamar draws her hand back from the crane mask, taking up a lean against Celestine once more and then sliding an arm around hers before slipping it back into her pocket. “I had though more of working on weapons and tools,” the vixen informs Helen. “I had not considered fine work. It was not the sort of thing my father worked on.”
“She’s super hot right? Like the hottest one here,” Kai tells Mercy as he looks to Kaelyn and whistles at her wolfishly, “I’m such a lucky guy!” he grins and bumps her hip with his, “High heels are super overrated and they make ladies’ feet all like… gargoyle-chicken-feet.”
“I do not like alcohol.” Celestine admits rather openly to Helen, shaking her head softly. She moves to set her drink aside… though visibly relaxes as Tamar leans back into her, seeming to accept that… this was fine.” Celestine sighs… a long, weary exhalation of breath. “She mentioned wanting to make a new leg for me, too.” She offers.
“I guess some are concerned about the vote for student council,” Teagan says to Matias as she steps back from the brazier and settles in for a moment to eat her crostini. There is a sidelong look for Obadiah, amusement in bright blue eyes even behind the simple black domino mask. “Well, the book is wonderful. Thank you again, unmasked or otherwise.” And with that, she does nibble at her crostinis happily. “Green apple was the right choice,” she amends once her mouth isn’t full. There is an encouraging thumbs-up toward Mercy upon seeing those (oof) stilettos.
The DJ finally fades off and steps off the fountain-turned-stage to take his break, fading off past the refreshment tables to go smoke, sit down, whatever he needs to do. The quartet stirs and goes into some classical chamber music: the kind expected at a ball. It is definitely more traditional, but it does mean one can still talk and be heard… or take those ball gowns out for a proper spin.
“Well, someone should step out there,” Teagan says as she catches another leaf from above, smiling at it before releasing it to fade with the rest before stepping toward the area kept clear for dancers or would-be dancers.
(fixed?) “I do not like alcohol.” Celestine admits rather openly to Helen, shaking her head softly. She moves to set her drink aside… though visibly relaxes as Tamar leans back into her, seeming to accept that… this was fine. Celestine sighs… a long, weary exhalation of breath. “She mentioned wanting to make a new leg for me, too.” She offers.
Mercy holds a palm up to the unrecognized Nemi to politely decline, determined to face this challenge as she does all others; alone, face first and with no experience. “Fixin’ fer a drink rather than a hand, presently.”
“You’re going to give me an ego,” Kaelyn laughs, bumping against Kai with an hidden grin. Her green eyes land on Mercy still with a laugh in her voice, “A little on the nose, you think? You look great, by the way.”
Jakem calls over to Celestine “You hear that? They’re playing music so you can dance. There’s even a dance floor, all for your benefit. Let’s see some moves, teach!”
“I had thought I just picked out fresh apple juice for you,” Helen says to Celestine as she takes a sip from her own drink, “Perhaps I grabbed the wrong cup!” She looks between the other woman and Tamar, “Fine work is a part of it. I am sure you can break from your father’s tradition if something thrills you more. It is about the passion for something created that often makes it more than just another … thing.” She does nod her head as she looks towards Celestine and down towards her leg, “Possible, yes. I actually have experience in this from various capacities in the various wars I’ve served.”
Mercy catches Teagan’s thumbs up and returns it- with both thumbs, almost teetering to the side the second she lets go of the table.
As Teagan joins the dance floor there is a lift of Matias’s hand towards the numerous fireflies in the trees above the quad. A guse of wind swirls through the trees causing leaves to fall and fireflies to take flight buoyed by the heat of the brazier causing the makeshift dance floor to become quite romantic for the couples that choose to take to it.
Nemi smiles and nods softly to Mercy. She looks towards the other and hovers to hang out by the brazier once more.
Jeremiah steps over to Teagan on the dancefloor. “Would you like to dance?” he asks.
“I did,” Tamar agrees with Celestine, nodding at her then looking at Helen. “She said it might be too difficult, though I am sure there is very little that you cannot do.” Her gaze shifts over towards some other people though, focusing on Mercy when she wobbles her way in and then flicking between her and Kaelyn.
Obadiah looks up from his snack as watches Kai from across the quad, sizing him up across the room before turning to Matias as Teagan abandons them. “You know it’s hard to believe that nobody likes you r pickled carrots. Or was it the peppers? I found them delicious,” he says apropos of nothing and then quickly pivots to smile at Nemi.
“Hmm?” Teagan turns from watching the extra leaves fall from Matias’ gust as the classical music begins. There is a smile for Jeremiah and a tilt of her head in a nod. “Sure. Just forgive me if I miss any steps… I’m usually the one making the music-” She turns to him and offers up her hands in a classic, but simple ballroom dancing position.
Kai grins at Mercy a little and nods to Mercy a couple of times, but he also nods to Kaelyn in agreement, “Probably,” he looks over to Obadiah, squinting at him when he notices the man sizing him up. He pulls his shoulders back and puffs up his chest but doesn’t verbally respond.
“Oh.” Celestine says, covering up her player’s forgetfulness with a wrinkling of her nose. “I think this is bitter.” She logically concludes, pulling away from Tamar just long enough to deposit her glass and exchange it for a new one… stocking just the tip of her tongue into the glass to test it. Someone is REALLY committing to the moth aesthetic. “This is better.”
Nemi smiles softly and chuckles. “I am doing well, This is a nice night. I just wish I had someone like others do here. But then again I think a few of us share that wish hm?” She wonders curiously, but mostly looks at Obadiah before chuckling a small bit.
Jeremiah takes her hands in his and begins to lead. “It’s alright. I haven’t done much dancing in a few years, myself.” And in truth, he’s a bit rusty, but soon enough he’s leading them well.
Mercy sips from her cider demurely while peering at Kaelyn through the eye holes of her mask, some mischief or other no doubt brewing in their ambery depths. “Naw it’s jus’ fer dramatic effect.” Then she throws her head back with dramatic panache
“You know someone just go up to Kai and tell him that it’s hard believe no one likes you,” Obadiah sneers to himself behind the mask but his eyes don’t leave Kai
“There is plenty I might not do as well as I used to once, but there are many things I’ve learned over the years. Specializing in some though,” Helen says to Tamar as she nods her head, “We can explore a lot of options.”
After a brief dialogue, Teagan begins to dance with Jeremiah. Both appear to be a bit rusty at it, but at least the more classic ballroom dancing style is simple enough if one does not try to put any spin (literal or figurative) on it. “Thankfully, if I do step on your toes,” Teagan warns the man, “I’m in fairly soft shoes. You’ll barely even notice.” A brief pause, “probably.”
Jeremiah asks Teagan, “So is Sarah not able to make it this evening?”
Nemi smiles softly non the less, but she does look towards the fire once more.
Tamar watches Celestine with mild amusement as she dips her tongue into the drink to test it, perhaps not all the familiar with the machinations of moths but it is cute all the same. “I do not usually drink either,” she murmurs before shifting her attention back to Helen. “Silver is a very… useful metal to know how to work,” she says, glancing briefly to Mercy and Kaelyn.
Kai looks over to Mercy and says, “Want me to cut off your heels?” as he leans away from Kaelyn to stop whispering with her. He turns his face toward Tamar after her comment and tilts his head, staring at her through his mask.
There is a grimace from Teagan at that. “We’ve been apart for… a while now,” she says. “I’m surprised you missed the rumors, they were… quite extensive for a bit there. No, I’m just focusing on classes and not getting caught in the mists so much.”
Obadiah turns his head and looks to Nemi and nudges her with his elbow, “Go dance with Matias. I’ll be fine. When our host is free I might try to snag a dance with her.”
Mercy watches Teagan and Jeremiah from her haunt by the table with some interest, perhaps trying to gauge their dance ability and whether or not she’d look better or worse by comparison. This is briefly interrupted by a glance to Kai whom she snorts at. “Ain’ wanna cheat, these heels not gonna get the best of me.”
Kaelyn sticks her tongue out at Mercy and… licks her mask. Her hand squeezes Kai’s. “And, hey, grass is nasty and gets everywhere. Can’t see why you’d suffer that.” Her head turns to Tamar, “We’re all friendly her and now. It’s a lovely night and a good time.”
Mercy catches Tamar’s glance and returns it, as directly as one can from under the guise of a deer. Her focus is held there for a time and she lifts her drink to the other woman in acknowledgement.
Glancing aside to Teagan and Jeremiah, wide, luminous moons seem to linger upon the dance floor as the pair begin to dance. There is a… quiet longing, hidden within the luminous glow of her gaze. The moon above casting a silver sheen over the surface of burn-scarred skin that had never been given time to fully heal. “Do you know how to dance, Tamar?” Celestine asks dreamily, her glassy-eyed stare swooping somewhere far beyond this world.
“Ah, I am sorry. I go out of my way to avoid the rumormill, and I didn’t know. I hope it is for the best, then, and I am sorry to have brought it up. It’s usually a safe bet, though, that if something is going around as gossip or rumor, I don’t know about it.” Jeremiah says to Teagan with an apologetic smile.
“I partake every so often, but do not feel up to it tonight,” Helen says to Tamar. She pauses, looking towards the dance floor, taking a hand to brush over her bracer she wears and she releases a soft sigh though, looking on towards the decorations as a whole and rocking back and forth on her heels, “Even if you don’t. Take her up there, Tamar…”
“Well, I am somewhat relieved at that,” Teagan says with a slightly broader smile. “It was a bit of a trial for a while. And I do think it is for the best, in the end, even if it was difficult. I should be focusing on school, anyway. In January I start my senior classes so it’ll be that final push.” There is a slight tilt of her head. “And howabout you? I’ve been seeing and hearing you around more. Seems you’ve settled in fairly well?”
Tamar holds the various looks that are sent her way up until Celestine asks if she dances. Her attention now flicks between Celestine and Helen and she replies to the former, “I was taught how to dance though I am not very good at it. But I do not know the dances of your world.” A pause, perhaps to gather some courage, “Will you show me?”
Jeremiah nods. “Not too badly, yes. My job is going well, even though I have to go back and forth to Boston more than I’d like lately. And I met Esme, and things were great there. She’s leaving town for a while, but I’ll wait for her. She’s worth it. And otherwise, I just… try to get by in this crazy place. Mine is a somewhat boring existence, I guess.”
Matias takes Nemi’s hand with his own and nods to Obadiah as he leads the younger woman out to the makeshift dancefloor for the next song. While his own attire is airy and voluminious he moves with it easily enough. Not an amazing dancer but surefooted in the simple movements of step step turn of your classic ball music. One hand at the small of Nemi’s back and the other holding her hand he leads her through the circuit.
“Do not pressure her.” Celestine suddenly insists, snapping her gaze towards Helen. There is no anger, there. It is simply spoken as a command. Expected to be followed. As Tamar responds, though, some of that color returns to Celestine’s cheeks, and she extends a hand to someone. “…I will try, if you want. But I could not show you here. Could we maybe… try, together?”
“Do not pressure her.” Celestine suddenly insists, snapping her gaze towards Helen. There is no anger, there. It is simply spoken as a command. Expected to be followed. As Tamar responds, though, some of that color returns to Celestine’s cheeks, and she extends a hand to Tamar. “…I will try, if you want. But I could not show you here. Could we maybe… try, together?”
Mercy nurses her cider some more, a discreet flick of her eyes linking Tamar with Celestine, and she gestures to the dance floor after attempting a gentle elbow-nudge to Kaelyn’s side. “Ain’ you gonna go dance? Yer like, a couple. Thas’ what couples do. Prance around together.”
Nemi smiles happily as Matias takes her hand, she chuckles softly as the question is asked. She follows along quite well as she tilts her head in a so/so manner. Her ability to perform the classic dance seems quite adequate as she softly whispers with one hand in his, and the other arm going around his to have her hand on his upper back.
“I like Esme,” Teagan says with a nod to Jeremiah as they dance, taking their time of it: not too bad, but also not trying anything fancy. “Shame she had to go out of town for a while. And nothing wrong with boring. I’m hoping for some boring for a while, myself.”
“True, we could dance. I probably won’t step on your feet,” Kai supposes to Kaelyn after Mercy’s works, his hazel-eyed gaze on Kaelyn once more, a little grin on his face as he gives her hip another nudge with his own.
Helen lifts her hands up in front of herself towards Celestine, but seems to listen to the woman’s demand. She turns herself briefly away after as she moves herself off to the side of the tables, watching now.
Mercy attempts to be the devil on Kaelyn’s shoulder as Kai joins in on pressing her. “Do it.”
Jeremiah smiles as they continue to move around the floor. “She’s pretty great. I miss her already. But she’ll be back before too long. And I get you. Boring is safe, usually. And it allows you to focus on other things. I got a lot of my partying and so on out of my system when I was in college. So now… yeah, boring, please.”
Obadiah works his way over to the refreshment tables and leans next to Mercy, waiting for her to finish being a bad influence.
Tamar dips her foxy head, reaching out to take Celestine’s offered hand and supporting her somewhat as she hobbles over to the dance-floor. Instead of draping arms over Celestine’s shoulders or drawing in close, the angelborn takes a small step back from her, crossing one arm over her own waist to touch at her hip and making a bow. “M’lady,” she murmurs. It seems she is more familiar with courtly dances than ballroom, and waits expectantly, watching Celestine.
Shifting on feet, Kaelyn look to Mercy and then over to Kai. “I, uh, don’t actually know how to dance.” Her hand lifts to the back of her neck rubbing nervously, “If you don’t mind your getting stepped on then we can.” There was a little bit of excitement in her voice that gave her away, the returning bump into Kai was a little more forceful as intended, Kaelyn thrown off by Mercy by just enough. Chuckling, a hand came up to lightly swat the other woman’s shoulder. “I’ll step on your toes next.”
The quartet winds down from one song to start building into the next. It is seamless enough that one could continue dancing, take a break, or change partners. Every so often, the braziers blaze brighter to the west as memories are fed to them. People come and go: some fading off into other parts of the quad in small groupings for more private conversations.
“If only it was partying for me. Maybe I chose the wrong school-” there is a glance, playful, toward Matias as he and Nemi have joined the dance floor. However, Teagan seems to be one of those ready to take a break, disengaging from Jeremiah when she has the chance, looking a touch winded. “I need a drink,” she says to him apologetically. “But thank you. For the dance and for coming to the ball.” And she is stepping aside to retrieve some juice to drink by the edges of the dance floor as she takes a breather.
Jeremiah nods. “It’s my pleasure. Thank you for putting it together.” he says with a smile.
Mercy is, for the moment at least, oblivious to Obadiah’s hovering as her attention shifts entirely to the dance floor again to witness this exchange between Tamar and Celestine. The swat to her shoulder does startle her some however and she turns her head towards Kaelyn so sharply that one of her mask’s antlers might smack into Obadiah.
Jeremiah steps off the floor to get a drink.
Jeremiah leaves the dancefloor and approaches the drinks table.
Obadiah sees Mercy’s antlers coming towards him and is able to duck out of the way. “Bonk Kai with those will you?” he grouses but no harm no foul. “Anyway… how are you doing Mercy?”
Mercy ducks her head a little and very carefully turns to lean her lower back against the table, the jagged tip of her skull mask inclined slightly to glance up at Obadiah. “Ain’ bad, all things considered. Life’s kinda taken some strange turns but c’est la vie. How ’bout you? Where are Esme an’ the corpse at these days?”
“I can take it and I bet you can too,” Kai tells Kaelyn and moves in front of her, sets both hands on her hips and lightly sways from side, “Dancing,” he informs her with a firm nod, grinning at her a little.
Mercy checks her phone for what’s meant to be a second but almost spits out her cider through her nose after reading what’s on the screen.
Obadiah glances to Jeremiah and says, “Esme is out of town with her family but is dating Jer Bear over there…..” Whatever more he is going to say is interrupted with the cider spray
A furtive, nervous glance is shot around at the surrounding couples, Celestine’s eyes shining like a die caught before the headlights of an approaching truck. True to this nature, Celestine freezes in place, limbs stiffening, as Tamar bows before her. She flushes with embarrassment… the red-hot nerves of first times and youthful romance, something that Celestine had thought Would be long lost to her. Leaning over upon trembling legs, Celestine cautiously lowers her cane to the floor. Her prosthetic leg bearing the full weight of her body as she attempts to respond as any bookish woman absorbed in fantasy stories would. She brings both hands to the sides off Her skirt, lifts them in some uninformed imitation of a curtsy, trying, stiffly, to tuck her good foot behind her metallic ankle in something resembling a formal bow. Celestine does not move. She cannot. She simply waits for her partner to approach, cheeks as red as roses.
Helen takes a few more sips of her cider and then says to those nearby, “I think I am going go for a little walk myself. This was certainly lovely… I hope everyone has fun!” She keeps her drink with her though, moving now after a fluttering wave to step off from the main area of the party to take a stroll.
Hovering between the dance floor and the tables of refreshments, Teagan takes a moment to herself to recover. She closes her eyes and sips at the juice, enjoying the cooler air after being in near constant motion for most of the day. Spare moments are important, after all.
Mercy texts furiously, painted nails flitting all over the screen, though she does pause to shoot Obadiah another glance and ensure him she’s listening. “M’sorry to hear, ain’ mean to pry. Who exactly is ‘Jer Bear’ anyhow? Seen him before in passin’ but thas’ about it.”
“I am delicate and fragile,” Kaelyn solemnly informs Kai as his hands rest on her hips. Stepping closer, she wraps both her arms over his shoulders with a laugh. “Not sure if this counts as dancing.” Still, she mimics the sway with a smile in her voice as it drops a little quieter. “It’s perfect.”
Obadiah motions for Jeremiah to come over to where he and Mercy are standing. “Jeremiah! I want to introduce you to a friend of mine!”
Mercy snorts while watching all the little, human exchanges between other guests her mind can only half-comprehend at best. “Man y’all too stiff an’ formal an’ shy, go on an’ get that dance floor turnt UP.”
Jeremiah walks over to the pair. “Hello there. I’ve seen you around, including the night we came to rescue you. I’m Jeremiah Deacon. Nice to meet you.”
Tamar seems equally as nervous as Celestine is, though if there is any blushing it is well hidden behind her dark velvet mask. After the curtsy that Celestine gives, the girl straightens up, studying her for a few moments with gentle blinks of her eyes. She is waiting for instructions but when they do not come, she tilts her head to one side. A glance is cast towards the abandoned cane, then to Celestine’s prosthetic leg — the wheels turning in her head as to how to dance dances that were made for people with more mobility than her partner. Still remaining silent, she eventually takes a step forward closer to Celestine and reaches for her hand. She brings both of them up between the two of them, bent at the elbows and fingers facing upwards, their palms touch lightly against one another. Then the vixen slowly starts to circle around the moth-lady, her small steps easily finding the timing within the music. The circling continues around behind Celestine until their hands can touch no more so she drops her own and brings up the other, ready to receive Celestine’s opposite as she comes around to her front again.
Kai lowers his hands from Kaelyn’s hips and turns around, he starts to twerk on her instead, “Well, you heard her,” he says and glances Mercy’s way, laughing a bit as he then looks over his shoulder at Kaelyn.
Nemi chuckles softly as Mercy says that, she smiles softly as she watches the others dance. “And Are you too weary to attempt to dance at this time?” She asks in a polite and curious tone.
Mercy huffs at Obadiah but nonetheless introduces herself to Jeremiah, phone flipped down and lowered. “Mercy, nice to meet you in more open spaces an’ with clothes on. What’s yer whole deal then?”
“What?” Obadiah seems totally oblivious as to what he did or didn’t do by facilitating the introduction. “You asked who he was. Smart guy that’s dating Esme.”
Jeremiah smiles at Mercy. “My whole deal? Well, I grew up here, left for college, and moved back to town about two months ago, give or take. I work remotely, but my office is in Boston, so I do have to go there sometimes.” He smiles. “And you?”
Mercy tilts her sights over to Nemi, quite literally needing to tilt her head and body with her peripheral vision being hampered. “Me? Naw, jus’ ain’ wanna be rude an’ interrupt the little soap opera playin’ out over there jus’ yet.” Given Kai has gotten the idea though, she lets out an encouraging ‘WOO!’ and then, “Get all up on ‘her.”
Mercy informs Obadiah, “Teasin’ yer ass fer puttin’ an introvert on the spot.” then absorbs Jeremiah’s short and sweet backstory, tragically lacking in any juicy details for her to hone in on. “Aw you know, m’jus’ a student here, doin’.. learnin’ an’ stuff. Occasionally gettin’ into trouble as yer aware.”
As she finishes her juice (and properly disposes of the cup!), Teagan seems to be enjoying the display of Celestine and Tamar on the dance floor. Not in any mocking way, no, but in a faintly bemused way that might even have a hint of ‘cute’ to it. She sends out a text before simply moving a bit further out of the way for other dancers that move out to enjoy the more thematic (and even seasonal, really) music.
nods. “What do you study?” Jeremiah asks Mercy.
“What do you study?” Jeremiah asks Mercy. (fixed)
The sound that escaped Kaelyn was clearly the sound of part of her soul leaving her body. Mercy was the worst kind of influence and would suffer some sort of consequences for this, later. Kaelyn for her part was seemingly unsure how to react. A quick step to the side and she did a small spin. “I’m going to bite you when we get home,” Kaelyn warns Kai, holding out her hand. Her eyes said he was in some sort of trouble, but there was also a hint of mischief there too.
With fluttering lashes, Celestine can’t help but to giggle nervously to herself as Tamar comes around on her opposite side, circling the amputee of a woman like some injured prey animal. Waiting for the Angelborn to make her lap… Celestine turns to face her, pressing one palm to the other woman’s own, fingers interlacing themselves into close-knit contact of skin against skin. The other hand reaches up to press upon the taller woman’s shoulder, perhaps trying to steer clear of the implications of a chest, letting her fingers drape loosely until Celestine is leaning into Tamar for support, and turning in tandem with the masked girl. Each shambling step causes Celestine’s body to lurch as her weight settles upon the prosthetic leg… locking It firmly in place. But with a little careful guidance… and of course Tamar’s aid, Celestine’s skirt sweeps around the dance floor in time with Tamar’s steps, her smile warming the expression upon her face. “It is… I good thing, I said no to the drape.” Celestine admits, glancing down at the floor. “I would be tricking myself up like crazy, right now.”
Kai reaches out for Kaelyn’s hand and gives it a squeeze, a little grin on his face as he tries to pull her back over to him, “Do you know any other dances?”
Mercy actually has to think about that one for a second, and she fills the time her brain needs to come up with an answer by sipping from her cider. Finally she clears her throat tells Jeremiah, “Zoology. An’ some other things here an’ there.”
Jeremiah smiles. “Oh, that’s cool. My undergrad roommate was studying zoology and then went to vet school.” he says to Mercy.
Mercy seems to squint at Jeremiah, her eyes narrow slits of amber in the dark crevices of the deer’s hollow skull. She even leans a little closer to him, like she’s trying to sniff out what he’s not saying and doesn’t believe anyone can be so pleasantly normal. “Ahuh.. An’ you work remotely doin’ what exactly?”
Tamar glances a moment at the hand that goes to her shoulder, but then she sees Kai and Kaelyn out of the corner of her eye and seems to decide that perhaps this touch isn’t as improper as it seems compared to them. The vixen places her own free hand on Celestine’s shoulder in turn, supporting her as they move in slow circles, the able girl taking smaller, quicker steps almost double time to Celestine’s slower ones so that they match in the end. “A drape would be difficult to dance in,” she agrees, eventually speaking up and sounding amused. Drawing a step back she lets their hands find each other, never letting go of Celestine as their arms stretch out and ready to catch her if she wobbles. She lets Celestine hold her own in place as the angelborn steps in two steps closer then back out again only to return. “It has been a very long time since I danced.”
“Excuse me, will you,” Obadiah says placing a hand on Mercy and Jeremiah’s shoulders before peeling off committing the second cardinal sin: abandoning the introvert with the new person. Boyo is batting a thousand tonight. Without waiting for a response he peels off and heads towards the dance floor.
Matias continues to enjoy the hard cidar and lingers near the bonfire brazier for late comers and early goers alike. “Always so interesting to see whom pairs up with whom. Autumn is such a cuddly season.” he says to another professor who appears to have come as a flock of Geese migrating for the winter.
Mercy cannot even as Obadiah does her dirty, watching him depart with frozen posture.
“I work in cybersecurity for a private think-tank in Boston. We provide… solutions for issues faced by our clientele. I have a Ph.D in computer science from Caltech, and they recruited me from there.” Jeremiah says to Mercy.
Nemi just watches Obadiah leave, looking over to Mercy she chuckles and sighs softly. “Well then.” She states as she smiles softly.
Tucking her phone back away gods know where, Teagan turns toward Obadiah as he approaches the dancefloor. There is an arch of eyebrow for the masked man, though she’s fighting a smile as she offers up her hand. “I thought it was proper to ask for a dance in person,” she says to him, lightly.
The quartet does move into another song, but with the DJ returning (though he is taking his time, chatting with some friends, sipping at a drink) it is likely leading into their final one or two songs.
Unable to resist the pull or maybe unwilling to, Kaelyn was drawn back close to Kai. “Hmmm,” She starts, considering the man with a long look. “Well…” Lifting her mask she leaned in to murmur something to him softly, before leaning back with a little shake of her head. “Could try copying them.” A little dip was given to the wholesome couple over on the dancefloor.
Mercy sucks her teeth audibly then takes a great risk in pushing away from the table to step up to Jeremiah, getting a little more in his space when she continues her apparent interrogation in search for even a shred of something sus in his story. “What kinda solutions an’ issues? You like hackin’ banks an’ shit? Did yer undergrad roommate who became a vet betray you at a pivotal moment in yer life an’ leave you fer dead?!”
Kai leans in against Kaelyn and starts to slow dance with her again, he rolls his eyes a bit at her but smirks at her whispered words.
Jeremiah grins. “I can’t discuss specifics, but sometimes… people of influence, or people who can afford our services, run into problems. And we work to help them resolve those problems, ideally in a way that keeps them from public embarrassment. And no, Jerry and I still get along fine. He’s got his own practice in upstate New York. Mostly focuses on horses.”
Kaelyn chuckles leaning her head on Kai’s chest. “Tell me you were not thinking similar thoughts,” The wolf dared the devil.
“Maybe,” Kai replies to Kaelyn, smirking a bit as he leans in to bump his forehead against Kaelyn’s lightly, their masks clinking together audibly.
Matias is standing near the eastern entrance and the bonfire containing brazier and nods to Seraphina , “Look who made it.”
Nemi smiles softly, immediately making her way trowards Seraphina.
Nemi smiles softly, immediately making her way towards Seraphina. Abandoning the group near Mercy as she smiles softly.
“This might surprise you, Mademoiselle Tamar –” Celestine muses upwards as she dances in slow circles along with the leading, able-bodied woman, some of that dreamlike innocence fading from her cheeks in favor of the playful, coquettish smirk that swims along the length of her lips. “–But I have never had the pleasure of dancing in the moonlight ever since I lost mine leg. It shocking, I know.” The teasing remarks seem slightly accusatory — though only playfully so, a soft laugh spilling from Celestine’s lips with the melodic intonations of tinkling glass. She gazes up into Tamar’s eyes… with all the wonder of staring into a sky full of stars. “…I used to dance often, You know. The coven does these things as a rite to respect the fallen. You might think what you like of mine practices, but never have I found so much love as I have in the souls of the departed. You learn to think of the fonder memories, when someone that you love is gone.” Celestine pauses, Trying — and failing, to shake her hips a bit. “Dancing is a celebration of life. Of the lives we have lived. Of the lives lived before us.”
(repost for announce) “This might surprise you, Mademoiselle Tamar –” Celestine muses upwards as she dances in slow circles along with the leading, able-bodied woman, some of that dreamlike innocence fading from her cheeks in favor of the playful, coquettish smirk that swims along the length of her lips. “–But I have never had the pleasure of dancing in the moonlight ever since I lost mine leg. It shocking, I know.” The teasing remarks seem slightly accusatory — though only playfully so, a soft laugh spilling from Celestine’s lips with the melodic intonations of tinkling glass. She gazes up into Tamar’s eyes… with all the wonder of staring into a sky full of stars. “…I used to dance often, You know. The coven does these things as a rite to respect the fallen. You might think what you like of mine practices, but never have I found so much love as I have in the souls of the departed. You learn to think of the fonder memories, when someone that you love is gone.” Celestine pauses, Trying — and failing, to shake her hips a bit. “Dancing is a celebration of life. Of the lives we have lived. Of the lives lived before us.”
“I presumed you wanted a dance,” Obadiah says with a slight laugh glancing at Matias’s commentary before spying Seraphina and flashing her a warm smile before returning to his conversation with Teagan
All smiles, and finger wiggles, Seraphina approaches the bonfire. “I have arrived! Just in time, it seems to enjoy a little cocoa, around the fire. But there’s no roasting my marshmallows!”
Seraphina returns Obadiah’s smile, though her gaze lingers on them for a while, perhaps in an attempt to name that masked man!
“Mhmm, because you are Trouble.” Kaelyn says a little proudly tapping one sharp bit of metal to Kai’s chest before both arms wrap back around his neck. She takes a step back, swaying her hips a little more dramatically. Pulling Kai along she attempts to take this dance on the road, blindly wandering them around the table. If she happened to bump into Mercy along the way? All the better.
Teagan talks quietly with Obadiah as he leads her onto the dancefloor with grins and bits of laughter.
The reason for the DJ becomes evident as he steps up just to trigger a recording of a piano and the quartet starts to play along for a rendition of Chopin’s Nocturne Op. 9, No 2. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPC1tzwC3FM). Appropriately slow for dancing while remaining just spritely enough for interest.
Mercy lets out the quintessential, angsty teen ‘UGH’ by the end of Jeremiah’s offered information. “Horses are awful creatures man why anyone would wanna deal with ’em is beyond me.” though everything prior had seemingly caught her interest some. Shady business practices detected. “Ayeah? Bettin’ yer involved in all kinds’a sketchy things then.” She states with apparent approval, sipping from her cider once more. Her hearing can’t help but catch the exchange between Teagan and Obadiah on the dancefloor, chin inclined so a grin with a flash of teeth can briefly be glimpsed. “Coulda asked me Obie, but I only know how to bump an’ grind.”
Matias adjsuts his feline-esque mask with whiskers and then looks around for whichever student had been running drinks for him. “Bring Miss Hawke whatever she would like from the refreshment table.” and then nursing his own hard cider he wonders, “So what do you think. I think Miss Lawson and the student committee did a good job myself. Catering from Dovie’s new cidar business is quite good and Obie did the food. I think I have not tried any yet.”
“I’m afraid I’d have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m just a cybersecurity consultant.” Jeremiah says to Mercy with a smile and a wink.
“I think that you owe me a dance, Dragon.” Seraphina tells Obadiah. She then calls out to Mercy, “I don’t see nothing wrong with that..”
Kai actively tries to steet Kaelyn toward Mercy as he follows along, also swaying his hips from side to side, a shit-eating grin mostly hidden by his mask as he follows along with her.
Mercy holds one open palm up to Jeremiah in deference. “Course, course, I ain’ know nothin’ otherwise.”
Tamar lifts one of Celestine’s hands above her head, dancing with skipping steps around her rather than making the less-abled woman try to spin. As she comes around the front again she finally stops, holding both of Celestine’s hands in her own and squeezing gently. “Just this,” she murmurs quietly, the words perhaps only understood between the two of them. The dancing seems to have been of no great exertion to her but she half steps away from Celestine now, bending down to retrieve the other woman’s cane and pass it over to her before looking around, keenly aware of people watching the dance floor.
“Of course I do, but you’ll have to make sure Mercy doesn’t kill me first,” Obadiah says with a laugh then assumes a proper waltz position with Teagan and ends up just grade school swaying in a circle with the musician.
Jeremiah smiles at Mercy. “So, are you planning to go to vet school or something when you finish at Windermere?”
Seraphina settles beside Matias at the bonfire, offering out a bite of a brussel sprout that is one of many on a skewer. “Sorry I am so late. I hadn’t forgotten but when I got home, all I wanted to do was lounge a bit. Are you going to dance with me, Professor?”
Nemi sighs softly, moving to stand around near the bonfire.
Matias turns down the bite of the brussel sprout and decides, “Perhaps. I already did a dance with Miss Ivorstead. I may be danced out.” his tone is lighthearted and conversational while nursing his hard cidar. “Are you sure you do not want to dance with Mister Ashford. He is the one with the katana and a hoodie in the spirit of Autumnal ninja attire.” he points out Kai from afar though Kaelyn who is near him is very dress appropriate. “Also how do you like your masquerade attire, suitable or a miss?”
Mercy waves away both Seraphina’s assurances and Obadiah’s fears playfully with a backhanded swish, a little chortle heard after Jeremiah’s question. “Naw nothin’ like that, prefer to leave things open ended fer now an’ see what happens. Jus’ like animals. ‘Cept horses. It’s interestin’ to learn ’bout predators an’ how they hunt, to what extent instinct drives ’em an’ all that.”
Seraphina pouts as Matias turns down not only a nibble of her food, but also a dance with her. She plucks off a brussel and nibbles on it herself, leaf by leaf, as she studies his attire, But the snow fox grabs her attention, so replies to them first, “Manifique!” Then: “It is suitable, Magician.”
With their two powers combined, Kaelyn and Kai manage to work over to Mercy. She winks, taking a step back from the man, reaching for his hand and then lifts both up and over the poor deer’s head. Thus the circle was complete and Mercy was trapped within its confines and ‘shaken’- or rather bounced between Kaelyn and Kai’s arms. The horror. “Sorry,” She tells Jeremiah, mostly on instinct for her menacement.
“Yeah, that is interesting. I used to watch a lot of those nature shows on TV, the ones that seemed to just be a glorified excuse to show lions and tigers killing things.” Jeremiah says with a grin. He laughs as /kaelyn apologizes. “No worries.”
“Yeah, that is interesting. I used to watch a lot of those nature shows on TV, the ones that seemed to just be a glorified excuse to show lions and tigers killing things.” Jeremiah says with a grin. He laughs as Kaelyn apologizes. “No worries.”
Joy turns to Jubilation as Celestine is brought into something resembling a spin… though it isn’t so much the world whirling around Celestine’s eyes as it is Tamar herself. Celestine grins as she is spun, giggling wildly to herself… only for her voice to fall away from her as Tamar brings her to a stop. She watches the woman intently… following her every word, before her smile seems to soften, and she dips her head in a curt, singular nod. “Just this.” She agrees, reaching out to take her cane, and pull it close to her breast. For a momentary flash of emotion, everything can be seen within that porcelain smile. Affection. Adoration. Sadness. Celestine’s eyes meet with Tamar’s own, and the warmth of her smile returns. Driving her cane into the floor below with a decisive ‘THUNK!’ “…This was nice, Mademoiselle Vixen. Thank you.” She curtsies, again, this time lifting her dress only with one free hand, and bowing at the waist.
“Gotcha Mercy, no mercy for Mercy,” Kai tells Mercy, waggling his brows a bit as he tries to pull in Kaelyn to sandwich hug Mercy between them, laughter in his voice.
Tamar takes a step back from Celestine, bowing deeply with a flourish of her hand and drip of her head. When she straightens the fox mask is turned back towards the entrance of the university and she murmurs, “May I step out for a while?” It is phrased, as most things are with her as a question and she looks back to Celestine clearly seeking her permission.
“None.” Kaelyn agrees.
Matias nods agreeably with Seraphina and says, “If no one else wants to dance with you, I will of course Miss Hawke” he finishes off his cidar cup and tosses the paper thing into the bonfire to be consumed. “See anyone else you wish to dance with this evening or just enjoy the fire and the music?”
Matias uses an autumn ball brazier: 96Sparks shimme02r for a heartb08eat, taking on14 fleeting sha20pes that might21 almost be let28ters, before 29dissolving int31o ash and air.
Nemi smiles softly as she bashfully cups one cheek with a hand as she smiles warmly. “Oh Thank you Mademoiselle, It is lovely for a compliment to be given, and quite appreciated I must say.” She says with a soft smile before she goes back to eating sprouts.
So this is what it comes to. Mercy is about to offer Jeremiah another hot take on the brutal killings that are commonplace in nature when she finds herself ensnared, trapped, fair game within the extents of its laws. Does she cower? No. If such is to be her fate she’ll go down swinging, or in this case dancing. The girl’s arms snake up and behind her head, platform heels spreading farther apart to ground her as she busts out those bump and grind moves previously mentioned. Manners, eating habits, dance style; everything with her was honed on the streets and in questionable alleys and she backs that ass up against Kaelyn as her hips pop side to side.
“You may.” Celestine permits, nodding eastward towards the exit. “…Let me know if you will be getting into any trouble. I might try to pay Justine a visit.” She explains, letting her lips curl into a slight smile. “Be safe, starlight.”
“I will. I just need to take a breath,” Tamar replies to Celestine. She reaches out one more time to take her hand and give it a subtle squeeze before the vixen ducks out to deal with RL.
“Woot! Get her Mercy!” Kai laughs, turning traitor on Kaelyn almost immediately when Mercy starts to bump and grind, he shifts his own hips from side to side while holding onto Kaelyn’s hands, bouncing her arms around the trapped woman.
Jeremiah laughs out loud at the dancing trio, not even slightly trying to hide his amusement.
Seraphina punches a few keys on her phone’s keyboard, then side-eyes Matias. She seeks to boop the ceramic nose of the cat mask. “I feel very sligthted, Professor. I did come for you, afterall.” She slips up from the seating around the fire, to slide into over to the refreshments, being one, herself, it only makes sense.
Jeremiah is still laughing as he sees Seraphina walk over. He waves, but keeps watching Mercy try to twerk the life out of Kaelyn.
Celestine stands alone amidst a hurricane of dancing bodies, one hand on her cane… The other reaching to retrieve her phone.
Matias departs the bonfire and trails along with Seraphina while brushing off the front of his whiskered cat mask from the booping. “For me, you are a part of the faculty you should be coming to support the school.” he says in a chiding baritone of a voice before noting some more bump and grind dancing happening though he is unclear whether there is the DJ or the orchestra playing in the moment. “What sort of dance are we doing or have I already slighted my way out of such things?” he muses in an unbothered voice.
(repost for dc) Celestine stands alone amidst a hurricane of dancing bodies, one hand on her cane… The other reaching to retrieve her phone.
There is a sound of slight surprise as she’s twirled, but thankfully Teagan is in ballet flats rather than heels, so she’s able to handle it well enough as she’s drawn back in. Whatever was whispered earns him a raised brow and a smile. Well, in addition to her leaning up onto her toes to give him a kiss on the cheek as the song winds to a close.
Nemi smiles and chuckles softly as she stands near Obadiah with a soft smile.
Seraphina snorts a little at Matias. “You lost your chance at a dance with me, you finicky, fussy feline.” Her attention drifts to the ciders on display, and seems to be contemplating which to have.
As the quartet winds down, the DJ is back in his booth while the classical players break down. Thus the music returns to something that… well, perhaps you cannot bump and grind to, but at least moreso than the classical music! It’s back to the pop music played at comfortable levels. Loud enough to dance to, but low enough to be heard.
As the song ends, Teagan is twirled by Obadiah and manages to keep her feet (score one for not wearing heels) and as she’s drawn in against him, she leans up to kiss his cheek in response to something he says before disengaging and nodding toward Seraphina. “I believe you have others on your dance card,” she reminds him before stepping away toward the refreshments. There are other delicious snacks at hand still!
Obadiah smirks at something or another and guides Teagan to the edge of the dance floor, “One more song right?” He glances towards Seraphina to pay that debt but it seems Matias is going to snag her but then not. Oh the humanity! And just ends up just lingering.
Nemi chuckles softly as she looks between Obadiah and Seraphina as she smiles softly. She turns to Matias. “This was nice, I think it might end soon but…. it’s been nice.”
“Just so.” Matias says with a tip of his chin up at Seraphina his hands disappearing in his robes while trailing behind the hot chocolate themed woman. “I believe this Dragon is here to exchange damsels.”
Admittedly, Kaelyn should have seen this one coming. A grave tactical error had been made. If she had not sure how to handle someone’ actions before she certainly had no idea how to react to Mercy’s. But, this time it was her own consequences and she was just going to have to bare them. With a squeeze to one of someone’ hand she pulls hers back and shakes the skirt of her dress just so. Meeting the man’s gaze she makes a much sadder attempt to answer Mercy in kind. Luckily masks where good at hiding expressions.
Admittedly, Kaelyn should have seen this one coming. A grave tactical error had been made. If she had not sure how to handle Kai’s actions before she certainly had no idea how to react to Mercy’s. But, this time it was her own consequences and she was just going to have to bare them. With a squeeze to one of someone’ hand she pulls hers back and shakes the skirt of her dress just so. Meeting the man’s gaze she makes a much sadder attempt to answer Mercy in kind. Luckily masks where good at hiding expressions.
Admittedly, Kaelyn should have seen this one coming. A grave tactical error had been made. If she had not sure how to handle Kai’s actions before she certainly had no idea how to react to Mercy’s. But, this time it was her own consequences and she was just going to have to bare them. With a squeeze to one of Kai’s hand she pulls hers back and shakes the skirt of her dress just so. Meeting the man’s gaze she makes a much sadder attempt to answer Mercy in kind. Luckily masks where good at hiding expressions.
Kai snickers and releases Kaelyn’s hands and moves around to try to now make Kaelyn the meat of his and Mercy’s twerk sandwich, bouncing his backside at her butt as he holds his hands up above his head in what someone generous could call a dance.
“Did I already miss ‘Play That Funky Music White Boy’?” Jeremiah asks, then walks over to get another drink.
Plucking up a cider, Seraphina is sipping it before her gaze drifts from Matias with a little pouting disappointment as the Finicky Feline Fae is so unbothered. Clearly the man is either just frustrating, another f-word to add to his list of personality traits, or oblivious! Those eyes flow over to Teagan, flashing her a wink, then onto Obadiah. Whom she walks over to.
As Seraphina walks away there is Matias lifting a hand up and miming like he’s pushing her towards Obadiah and then makes like the mug (because she is hot chocolate) falls off the table and smashes with an idly chuckle to himself before turning his attention onto Teagan, “Miss Lawson.”
Mercy just rides the motion of the arms that jostle her whilst she’s trapped, using it to guide the momentum of her body rocking as she shamelessly throws it all back into Kaelyn. There’s no stopping this train now, it’s staying on course till it becomes an all-out wreck and when she’s no longer confined she dips right down till her hands almost touch the floor and keeps on going, miraculously without spilling the drink still clutched in one palm.
Stepping away from the dance floor and toward the refreshments, Teagan demurs: “I don’t know about exchanges. I just need a drink.” There is a dip of her head and a smile to Seraphina as she makes her way up to the table to grab not only a drink, but also some of the arancini. “Professor,” she replies to the man, gesturing to the arancini as well as the crostini. “My favorites. You should try them if you get the chance.” As she also gets herself some of the hard cider.
Obadiah holds out to his hand to take Seraphina’s to guide her to the floor, if she so wishes. “I have no clue what the next song will be and Teagen won’t tell me.” He muses to the hot coco, perfect snacc for this time of year. “Come take your prize then, hmm? Or will you continue to hold the owed dance over my head as leverage that I don’t stray too far?”
Taking, Obadiah’s hand, “Just don’t melt my marshmallows,” Seraphina sing songs like she’s Katy Perry. Once she is near, she slides in close to whisper into his ear.
“TELL’A DJ TO PLAY BATTY BOY BY LIL NAS X!” Mercy shouts to- whoever, really, in case requests are being taken as the end draws near.
Matias uses his phone to snap a picture of the dance floor and send off a text before commenting to those near the refreshments specficially Teagan, “I have not been hungry this evening just enjoying the cider and people watching… Ah I see we are getting to the party end of the masque.”
Kaelyn can only take so much and it seemed she was coming to the limit. Kai’s bumps push her into Mercy and Mercy grinds her back into Kai’s bumps. An embarrassed laugh escapes Kaelyn as she joins in the lunacy. The she half stumbled away, pulling up her mask to levy a less than half hearted glare at the two. Maybe it was the red cheeks and the wide smile on her face. “Alright, alright.” A tactical retreat was in order. “You both are troubles.” Kaelyn was, of course innocent.
Kai snickers and straightens up, he wanders after Kaelyn, “You live by the twek and die by the twek,” he tells her, swaying as he follows the wolf-masked woman.
“I am dying by it now,” Kaelyn confirms, leaning into Kai with one arm wrapping around him.
Teagan cannot tell Obadiah what song will play next as the DJ now has control of the musical selection. He does snap-point to Mercy, but there’s no telling if he will actually play her request or no! Right now it’s just danceable pop music. Not quite club hits, but recognizable and stuff you can dance (or sing, if you wanted) to. Good for wiggling marshmallows.
“I will be sad,” Teagan says to Matias, “if you do not try the crostinis at least. It’s one of my favorite combinations. Green apples, brie, and honey. Surely you can have at least one bite.” She does lean over after he takes the photo, trying to catch a peek of it. “Who skipped the party?”
Mercy has not only been released but claimed victory this night once Kaelyn calls for a truce and backs off. That being said she’s gotten so into it now that she just keeps going, turning her assault onto the refreshments table instead. A sip of cider is skillfully stolen between hip pops and dip drops.
Jeremiah looks at Kaelyn. “So how do you stop her, once you’ve started her?” he asks, indicating Mercy.
Seraphina drapes her arms onto Obadiah’s shoulders, and his are on her waist and the small of her back, making the couple look far more like kids at a high school dance, as she sways (jiggle and wiggle like marshmallows do), in a match to the man’s own movements. “That sounds delightful!” she calls out to Teagan. “I’ll have to get one when the dance it done.” This is said when pointedly glancing at Matias, with a crinkled nose. Familiar danceable stuff is fine for this beaut, keeping a graceful time as the couple circles until the refreshment’s table is out of her line of sight.
Jeremiah nods at Teagan. “I think you’re right.”
Kaelyn nods as Teagan answers, “That’s the neat part you don’t.” She giggles, looping a hand back in Kai’s. “Unless you can find suitable bribes, but you might be out of luck since she has her booze.” She informs Jeremiah, cheekily.
Jeremiah laughs at this. “Well, then she’s like a top. You just watch until she eventually falls over.”
Kai squeezes Kaelyn’s hand in his and leans up against her, he looks between Teagan and Jeremiah but keeps quiet, though he does glance Mercy’s way after a while.
Matias looks at the crostini and promises, “I will take some home with me.” his tone reassuring but the same fickle feline that has been demuring all evening. There is a cheshire green for Seraphina when she looks at him and he simply waits off to the side. “Miss Miller, I meant to ask. Will you be assisting with the student council ballots. Since Sophie left school the list of reliable students is quite short.”
While she won’t be getting any tips from the table, there’s a symbiotic relationship as its sturdy frame keeps Mercy from twisting an ankle and summarily eating shit from inevitable collision with the ground. She’s lost in a haze of hard cider and even harder whitegirl dancing and happy to be there.
Obadiah danced the high school dance moves with Teagan too so at least he is consistent. The music is bubble gum pop enough that there is a bounce in his step when the move around the tarp, occasionally leaning in to tell Seraphina something softly
Mercy belatedly shrieks out a painfully southern “HOOOOO!” that’s a howl in its own right.
Mercy yells over to the dancefloor next. “EY ENOUGH WITH THE PSPSPSPSPS THIS A PARTY NOT A LIBRARY!”
There is a pause as Kaelyn attempts to figure out how to answer that question. “I-” She hums, “Perhaps it might be better discuss what that would exactly entail before I agree to anything. I’d hate to sign up and be unable to do the task, sir.” Leaning into Kai, she looks up to him and then back. A small sigh as Mercy is unleashed on the world, truly they were doomed.
Matias looks aside to Mercy and reluctantly begins walking around the refreshment table towards the uppity coed with a swish swish swish of his airy robes.
It is that time that all parties come to where things get a little more rowdy and people have begun to peel off, groups have begun to divide up into their respective spaces. The DJ turns up the music a little for those dancers having a good time. And as one song winds into the next, it seems Mercy gets her wish: BATTY BOY does come on the speakers.
Meanwhile, Teagan winces away from Mercy’s near-howl and sidles closer to one of the growlers to refill her cup. She does look out toward the dance floor, taking a long drink. “I’m trying to decide,” she muses, then stops to aside to Mercy “I recall you and Kaelyn doing nothing but pspspsps at a bonfire not long ago.” A loft of brows before she clears her throat, another sip, and goes on to say: “I am trying to decide if I want to just go and put up my feet after this or get some coffee.”
Kai glances from Kaelyn to Matias and shrugs to the former, smiling at her a little, he loops an arm around her waist and leans up against her idly.
All that Seraphina is missing to make the image complete is a pair of braces on the perfectly white teeth that are shown with a smile. Clearly, they were there at one point. When the new song begins, Seraphina does break from Obadiah though, to avoid the desires to get quite jiggy with it, and end up popping, locking, twerking, and whatever else the kids do today. There is a laugh at the call out of her and Obadiah telling secrets on the dancefloor. Much better than a murder on one, no?
Nemi chuckles softly as she watches, if she had a better camera she would totally have been recording as she smiles happily while hanging out near the fire.
Mercy slows in her attempts to buff the table with her backside to lift her drink to Teagan in acknowledgement of the counter. “Ayeah alrigh’ but I were more shy back then, an’ I thought I were more socal- socically-” There it is, the slurring has started kind of. “So-ci-a-lly awkward than y’all.” Took some effort but she got it out. Matias’ dramatically swishing robes catch the notice of her movement-triggered gaze and, assuming he’s on his way to come add to the festivities throws him a jovial wave. “Oh eeyyy teach you gonna show us all how it’s done?”
“Anyway that is the story of how I got my first edition x-men issue 234 comic book,” Obadiah says raising his voice so that everyone can here the sordid secrets he has been sharing with the hawt cocoa. These puns won’t end folks. He makes his way off the floor with Seraphina and back towards, presumably Matias and Teagan
Teagan leans over and stage-whispers to Mercy “I think someone’s in,” she switches to a sing-song: “trOOOuuuuUUUUble.” There’s a wink for her but a nod to the dance floor. “I think they’re playing your song.” To give the girl an escape route, maybe.
A bit belatedly a hand is raised to Teagan, “Also forgot to say earlier but you did an excellent job with the decorations. And the dress looks amazing, too.” Kaelyn offers a sheepish look, “Whispering is a time honored tradition. Mercy is just a savage.”
Mercy sips cider and Obadiah’s tea with equal delight, though she freezes a little from Teagan’s warning and swings a dangerously antler’d glance out in a completely different direction from Matias to find the source of incoming trouble. “Wha’ where?!”
Jeremiah smiles. “And that’s my cue.” He turns to Teagan. “Thank you again for arranging this, and the work you put in. It was great.” He waves to those gathered. “Have a good night, everyone, and stay safe.
Mercy says “BYE JER BER!“
psppsppsp! Seraphina whispers again before picking up her cider drink. She’s missing a whiskey drink, though.
“Miss Matlock, if you cannot hold your cider. We will have to send you to bed.” Matias intones in a disappointed and mildly annoyed voice while standing over Mercy with a look down behind the feline-esque mask. “Now, why not go get some food in you before you float away.” and with that he turns his attention back to the dance floor noting the pairings have ended and looks around for Seraphina
Seraphina pats Obadiah on his rear before breaking away from him entirely, to stand beside Matias. “Yes, are you going to show us all how it is done, to the soothing sounds of Lil Nas X?”
Nemi chuckles softly.
“Thank you,” Teagan says to Kaelyn even as she ducks under the wildly swinging antlers. She’s had some hard cider, but has certainly not let herself get too carried away. Mostly because she’s been eating where she can. There is a very real risk she has not eaten much at all throughout the day (other than the sour patch kids some of her fellow students saw her eat at class earlier). “And please, take on handling the ballots for student council or he’ll ask me,” she pleads with Kaelyn quietly.
Moving a little off to the side, Teagan leans her hip against the table and takes out her phone to tap away at it for a moment.
Meanwhile, yes, the DJ is indulging in a lil Lil Nas X. The more widely danceable and not quite straight up club pop music will continue after.
“You act like I did not grow up in south America.” Matias replies dryly and he holds out a hand towards Seraphina but more grabs her by the wrist and begins leading her out to the dance floor to the lyrical brilliance of lil nas.
Kaelyn tugs Kai closer to the table, a warm color spreading over her cheeks. Biting her red lips she considers him before taking a snack at random from the table. “Careful you,” She warns the man, what he had to be careful of was up for debate. Her head turns to Teagan dropping to a stage whisper, “But, then I have to do work. Terrible thing that.”
Mercy shrinks under the weight of Matias’ catty disappointment, just a little, clearing her throat gently and fumbling a hand around to reach for what ever snack item happens to be nearest. It finds an empanadita and quickly holds it up for view. “Ayeah, got somethin’ righ’ here teach.” Alas she cannot resist bursting back into motion now that her song was on, a drink in one hand and an empanadita in the other, shouting after Matias when it seems he does intend to school them all. “WOOOOO YEAH!”
“I know,” Teagan says as she looks up from her phone to Kaelyn, voice entirely somber. “But someone’s gotta do it and I want to nap a week straight after this.”
Kai replies to Kaelyn, “I think you should actually refuse, cause I think Matias wants to spend more time with her anyway,” he shrugs, “Plus, you know, less work for you,” he waggles his brows at Kaelyn and Teagan.
Seraphina is whisked off onto the dance floor once more, her drink barely making it bak onto the table, and left to hang precariously at the edge.
Nemi smiles softly, looking into the fire she stands next to it before looking over to the dance floor as she chuckles softly.
Kaelyn hums glancing between the two, “Both of you have good points.” One hand on Kai’s waist she considers things. “Could talk to him and see what it actually does. Maybe split the work so you can sleep.” She bobs to Teagan with that. “Or,” Her head tilts to Kai, with a smile as she bites more apple bites. “You could convince me what to do with all that extra time.”
Mercy sways side to side and sings aloud to the song, poorly of course, her drawl and lack of vocal training not leading into the best of remixes. “I don’t wanna love no-body, I jus’ wanna love yer bo-dy. Take me to yer best friend’s place, maaaaybe we can make mistakes-” but hey, she’s having fun.