MASQUERADE PARTY, 33 Apocalypse Ave, Friday Evening

[not_a_goddamn_princess]

Party night. The best of nights. An ornate sign on 33 Apocalypse’s door invited all to knock and make themselves known.

The space inside was bigger than it looked from the outside, stretched and displaced by magic. The wallpaper was green and textured, hinting at the English countryside. On one side of the room sat a significant bar offering food and drinks, while the other gave ample space to sit. A large Jenga tower held prominence in a corner.

It was easy to miss it, though, in favor of the little streams of water that ran across furniture and floor. Tiny glass gondolas, animated by magic, made their way back and forth across each stream. The gondolas were real, though the water itself was an illusion. It called attention to the ceiling, doubly enchanted: both to draw all cigarette smoke to itself so it wouldn’t blow in anyone’s face, but also to mimic the starry sky above Venice.

You could watch the stars twinkle, or see the occasional cloud go by. Magical fireflies added to the illusion, dancing through the air like tiny lights. If you listened closely, you could hear the sea rolling in across an invisible beach. Even the air smelled faintly of it: the sea, warm food and good wine.

Welcome to Eliot and Margo’s pad, people. They’d make damn sure you had a good time.

[ocd up, come party!]

Comments

Re: Arrive and Say Hi

[stykera]

Stark always wore a mask. Stark always wore the same mask, out of necessity and lack of other options, and tonight was no exception. Hopefully that was acceptable here.

He did not, however, always wear such nice clothing. This had necessitated a shopping excursion for a new black jacket and a hint of purple to tuck into the pocket.

Re: Arrive and Say Hi

[not_a_goddamn_princess]

Look, Margo had to coordinate her mask with an eye patch. Or at least a special lens to fit behind the mask. She got it. “Hi,” she said, smiling with a touch of yeah-I’ve-been-there amusement. “You wanna borrow a mask to zhuzh up the one you got a little more? ’Cause I think I might have something back here that’ll work real nice with that.”

Re: Arrive and Say Hi

[stykera]

"I need this one," Stark said hesitantly. "Or I... leak." He could be a festive light source very briefly but not if he wanted to stay and actually enjoy the party.

"But if there's something to go with it that could work. I could try that."

Re: Arrive and Say Hi

[not_a_goddamn_princess]

“I did mean on top of the mask you already have,” Margo promised. She studied Stark’s outfit. “Hold on.”

She reached for the stack by the door and picked up a subtle black-and-purple metal mask. She made an elaborate gesture with one hand, then moved it down, as if she was pulling on something.

Half the right side of the mask came off, leaving just the upper arch.

She held it out for him. “Hold this for me for a second. Your mask’s metal, right?”

Re: Arrive and Say Hi

[stykera]

Stark watched this process intently, then nodded as he reached out to take the offered piece of the mask.

"It is metal," he confirmed. "This isn't anything permanent?"

Re: Arrive and Say Hi

[not_a_goddamn_princess]

“It should wear off sometime tonight,” Margo promised.

She formed an oval shape with her hands. She brought her palms together, and moved each finger in turn. Then she spread her hands again, and. . . done.

“There,” she said. “Now it’s magnetic for a few hours. Should stick to your mask just fine.”

Re: Arrive and Say Hi

[stykera]

"Oh. Magnetic is a good idea." Stark turned the mask over in his hands before carefully reaching up to put it into place.

"Thank you," he said with a small but clearly delighted smile. "Magnetic is a good idea. Does it look alright?"

Re: Arrive and Say Hi

[not_a_goddamn_princess]

“It’s pretty,” Margo promised him. “And goes perfect with that pocket square. I think you’re good to go.”

Re: Arrive and Say Hi

[stykera]

"Thank you," Stark said again. "That was thoughtful. And appreciated."

And if it had just been that his face wasn't sparkly enough for this evening, she'd still made it work with his own mask and that was still appreciated. And if this went with the pocket square then it ought to go well with Faye and her outfit and that was also appreciated.

Re: Arrive and Say Hi

[existencemisspent]

"Hmmm. The spirit's there, but it's a little . . . industrial for our theme. . . ."

Re: Arrive and Say Hi

[stykera]

Even with Margo's magnetic addition?

It could probably still use some more sparkles.

"I can't really leave it off," Stark said. "I'll leak."

Re: Arrive and Say Hi

[existencemisspent]

Eliot nodded slowly, like he knew what that meant.

". . . Leak . . . what?"

Re: Arrive and Say Hi

[stykera]

"Energy," Stark said, like that explained anything. "I glow."

Re: Arrive and Say Hi

[existencemisspent]

". . . Thematic." Eliot blinked and shook his head slightly. "That's an alien thing, yes? A. . . ." What had Stark called himself on their mini-date? ". . . Stykera thing?"

Re: Arrive and Say Hi

[stykera]

Stark nodded, pleased to be remembered. "Right, a Stykera thing. The mask keeps it held in. Keeps me held in."

Re: Arrive and Say Hi

[existencemisspent]

"Then by all means, the mask will remain," Eliot said. "Especially since I see Margo has made sure it has some flare to go with it."

Re: Arrive and Say Hi

[stykera]

If the mask had to go Stark would have gone with it, so that was for the best.

"She did," he said, touching the additional mask gently. "She found one and made it fit and made it magnetic so it would stay."

Re: Arrive and Say Hi

[existencemisspent]

"And matched it to your pocket square. That's my Bambi." Eliot smiled fondly. "Welcome. Would you like anything to drink?"

Re: Arrive and Say Hi

[stykera]

"I do like the purple," Stark said.

"And yes. A drink would be good, I think. Thank you."

Re: Arrive and Say Hi

[existencemisspent]

"You are entirely welcome. Signature cocktail, or would you rather start off with some wine?"

Re: Arrive and Say Hi

[stykera]

"I'll try the cocktail," Stark decided.

"What is it?"

Those two sentences probably ought to have switched order.

Re: Arrive and Say Hi

[existencemisspent]

Quite possibly, yes.

"It's a little thing dubbed 'death in the afternoon'," Eliot said proudly. "A combination of champagne and absinthe, with a touch of simple syrup for a hit of sweetness. Are you a fan of licorice, by chance? . . . Or hallucinogens?"

Re: Arrive and Say Hi

[stykera]

They'd tried absinthe during drinking class over the summer and that had been fine. Much better than, say, the malort.

"Hallucinogens?" Stark asked, alarmed. "No. None of that. Licorice is fine but no."

Re: Arrive and Say Hi

[existencemisspent]

"One non-hallucinogenic signature cocktail coming up then," Eliot said easily.

At least someone would opt for the hallucinatory one. Seivarden and Eliot were probably better off not becoming too good friends, or they might manage to encourage all the wrong addictive habits in each other.

Re: Arrive and Say Hi

[stykera]

Stark had spent too long pretending to be crazy and then slipping back into old habits and had a head already full of bits of people's souls to be comfortable with anything that might make him hallucinate.

"Thank you," he said again. "Alcohol is fine. Other things seem unwise, I think."