The Samhain Ball - Come as You Aren't

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

A woman strides through the Nexus, garbed in royal finery of a distinctly Elizabethan style. In the crook of her arm, she carries an ebony scepter shod and capped in silver. There may be something familiar about her confident bearing, her angular features, her mismatched eyes. When she pauses to speak, the cadence of her words might spark recognition--is this Schön?!

"People of the Nexus, friends, in the world from which I hail we stand on the cusp of a special day, a harvest-fest when the walls between worlds grow thin, when masks and costumes are worn to frighten away the wicked spirits--or to invite them in on more congenial terms. So on this day, I invite you, each and every one of you, to join me in a revel to bid farewell to Summer, and welcome with fire and song the coming dark! Join me, won't you?" Letting her gaze sweep the crowd, she raps the heel of her scepter once against something solid, vanishing in a flash and leaving a sparkling trail for the curious to follow.

A cool wind herds dry, crackling leaves through the gathering gloom. On the cusp between the parklands and the residential district, darkness and cloudy skies have been slowly coalescing for days around a stately house of Gothic style, ivy-encrusted and showing its age somewhat. A square tower stands vigil over the entryway, tall windows overlooking the flagstone drive looping around a fountain gone dry. The house’s angular wings stretch to either side, the windows dark save for occasional glints and gleams of colored lights bobbing within. A glow does creep over the line of the roof, however, and the faint throb of distant music hint at something happening behind the house. The door stands open, a silent invitation to every brave soul who passes by.

((Happy Halloween! Enjoy the festivities. All LOLs are optional. Threadhopping is encouraged. Backtagging is forever, so don’t worry about missing out: we’ll still be here when you get back from your more mundane ghosties and goblins.))

Playlist
Visualosity
The Entrance
The Ballroom
The Banquet
The Bonfire
The Corn Maze
Dark Corners
Costume Icon Requests
The Photo Booth

Comments

[sumarusfinest]

"I might have packed a couple away in a box especially for you, just in case." Katsuya gives her a sideways glance and a smile as they stroll back toward the banquet hall.

"I'm eager to see what different types of soup and the like are available." Just the thing to warm a body up on a cool Halloween night.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Mm, so thoughtful. Thank you." She smiles up at him in turn.

"There's a very nice pumpkin chili. I've had my eye on the squid-ink pasta." It's one of those things people only make to be shocking, in her experience, so she's looking forward to seeing what all the fuss is about. "And a lot of little puff pastries filled with I don't know what, but I want to find out."

[sumarusfinest]

"Indeed, the mysterious puff pastries will have to be investigated thoroughly." Is that a gleam in the officer's sunglasses just now? No, probably just a trick of the light.

"Ah, that should be rather good, if you enjoy the somewhat briney taste it gives a dish. If I'm honest I'd prefer to add roe to a dish to achieve that kind of flavor, but it's definitely worth a try." And pumpkin chili sounds like comfort food to Katsuya. Kabocha squash is essential for fall dishes. Or, whatever variety of pumpkin is used for that dish.

[brave_heart_verity]

No, it was a gleam. She can see through these things.

"Sounds like we have a lot to discover. We'd better get started." After she checks that the Verichao has been able to get off the table. Yup, looks like someone saved her. Not the cupcakes, but that's okay, there's only two that seem to have been in accidents.

She'll take a few bites worth of pasta and several of the little pastries for herself, and a handful of honey locusts to snack on while Katsuya decides. Crunch crunch. Yummy!

[sumarusfinest]

Katsuya is both relieved and disappointed that the Verichau has been saved and has wandered off somewhere else. It's too precious for words. Probably for the best though, or else Verity might have someone stealing some of Katsuya's attention away from her.

Though chau distraction is totally understandable.

Katsuya is happy to get a small soup cup of the pumpkin chili and a plate with a seasonal salad and one of each of the little pastries to try. He will abstain from the honey locusts. He's had a bad experience with them already.

Chao make everything 20% cooler.

[brave_heart_verity]

Verity can share attention with the chao, because that means there's chao around and that is always awesome. They can catch up with her little doppelganger later.

Eating bugs isn't for everyone, and she can understand that. More for her.

Once they've got their plates she'll nod to one of the little tables in the back of the room. It'll be relatively quiet back there and it's unlikely anyone will sneak up on them.

Only 20%?

[sumarusfinest]

The crunch and taste is fine, but one of them squished. That was not so pleasant. In his defense, he still ate them.

The little tables is in a quiet corner of the hall, with little floating paper lanterns hovering above in conjured splendor. Katsuya will set his plate and bowl down gently before going to fetch them both a new drink before he sits down with her.

"Ms Aran had me try those." Katsuya nods to the locusts. "It's...interesting. The flavor." And he'll set her drink down in front of her.

Each chao. Individually.

[brave_heart_verity]

Again, not for everyone. No need to make an issue of it.

"Thank you." While he was getting drinks, she was moving the chairs so they can sit next to each other. He may not be okay with public displays of cuddling, but she can at least sit next to him... can't she?

"Samus is from space, and anything that isn't a ration bar is a treat for her," she points out with a smile. And then she pops another locust in her mouth.

This makes more sense

[sumarusfinest]

Of course she can, he's come to understand her desire to sit next to rather than across from by now. When he comes back he settles in next to her.

Of the few times he's spoken to Ms. Aran, she's always been interesting conversation. But here and now is Verity. And her and their meal is more important for the moment.

"I can't figure out what's in this pastry." He thinks it might be a fruit? but it isn't one he recognizes. "Is this one of those Nexus fruits you found?" He'll lean over and offer her the second half of his bite sized pastry for her to try.

And they get synergy bonuses in a group.

[brave_heart_verity]

Being close to him is important. She's glad he can allow this much.

Verity glances to the pastry bite he's offering then takes it to examine the filling. Scent first, then her tongue darts out to get a taste of the filling alone. "Hmm. I think so? But there's something... something with it. A spice." She'll eat the pastry bite then, chewing thoughtfully.

"Warm, but not pepper or cinnamon... clove, maybe?"

This is the sort of mystery she's good at solving.

Hand feeding so adorbs

[sumarusfinest]

"I wouldn't have thought to pair it with the..." Melonberry? He can't remember what it's called. "The fruits you brought over that one evening. The name is escaping me."

He watches her puzzle it out, smiling fondly at her methodical progress. She really is precious.

"Whatever it is, it's quite good." Puff pastry makes anything taste better, as far as Katsuya is concerned.

Yeah, but he didn't sing. :P

[brave_heart_verity]

"I don't know if they even have a proper name yet. Melonberry works." He might have just named them. Congrats!

He's a cop. Methodical should be his jam. She's a cook, and will make him his jam. There is nothing precious here she is snarky and mean stop it.

"It is. You know, with less sugar, this would be good on chicken." Chicken in sweet-spicy fruit glazes is always good, right? "Maybe... we could try making that next time you come over?"

Canon does not tell whether the one Big Suou could ever sing. And so it remains shrouded in mystery.

[sumarusfinest]

It is absolutely precious there is nothing you can do verity he is so enamored with you.

"I could see that. It wouldn't be a bad addition to a teriyaki sauce either in small doses." And now they're both analyzing the possible flavor combinations like good foodie robuts.

"I'd love to give it a try." And there, in the quiet of their little corner table, he'll lean over and give her a quick kiss on the lips. "The melonberry is rather good." Is his only excuse.

So sad.

[brave_heart_verity]

Then clearly, the precious thing is him!

It's nice to talk about something they both enjoy. These quiet conversations, working out something that will be just theirs, this is what she loves. This makes her so happy.

And she had more ideas to contribute before he so rudely interrupted her with a kiss. But, well, she can't argue much when she's grinning like an idiot.

"Uh... uh huh."

[sumarusfinest]

Careful what you wish for Verity, you may tend to get it, just not when you ask for it. Katsuya seems pleased with himself even, taking a moment to take a bit of his salad with a thoughtful little hum.

These little geek sessions over recipes and ideas is something Katsuya loves as well. It's their own little world.

[brave_heart_verity]

She's not complaining about getting kissed. On the contrary, she's glad he finally worked up the nerve. Now, if he works on the timing...

Verity is going to be horribly rude now, putting an elbow on the table so she can cradle her chin in her hand. Watching him eat that salad is tremendously interesting right now.

[sumarusfinest]

Small steps. It helps that they're relatively alone in their secluded corner.

He seems a bit curious when he notices she's ignoring the food on her own plate. His fork stops midway up, hovering before heading slowly back to the table.

"Is the food not very appetizing? Or have I unintentionally done something amusing?"

[brave_heart_verity]

"Mm, no. Sometimes I just like watching you." It's not something she gets to do much when he's awake. (She's certainly not going to admit to sitting around watching him sleep. Perish the thought.) But since it's making him uncomfortable she'll turn her attention to her plate. It's not nearly so interesting.

[sumarusfinest]

"Curiosity doesn't mean I think it's a bad thing." He'll lean over and squeeze Verity's shoulder with his free hand.

"I like to know what you're thinking about."

[brave_heart_verity]

She's a little on edge tonight, Katsuya. The patience is appreciated. So is the touch, which makes her sigh and helps her relax.

"I'm trying not to think too much tonight," she admits. "I don't want to ruin the party."

[sumarusfinest]

"You're hardly ruining the party. You're enjoying a dinner with me. And then more dancing." The addendum is more of a promise than anything else. This is merely a refueling date stop.

"Or whatever else you wish to do." Because he doesn't want to be forceful.

[brave_heart_verity]

She didn't think she was ruining the party, but she suspects she would do so if she had a crying jag in the middle of where everyone can see her. It'd be a domino effect: she'd start to cry, one of her friends would notice and come over to help and make a fuss, more friends would notice and come over, and then other people would notice the huddle of concern around her...

"More dancing, please." That's an easy decision. "But maybe we should go explore the garden or find the bonfire first? I haven't really had a chance to explore yet..."

[sumarusfinest]

This is true. Katsuya would take her somewhere private if she did though! He is a considerate boyfriend.

"We can do that. The field out front should be avoided, however." Katsuya seems tired when he says this. "It is not, in fact a scenic route to the manor."

[brave_heart_verity]

How would he keep her brothers out, though? And the chao? And then V would come check on her, and it'd just be a parade.

"Got caught in the corn maze? That explains why you were late." Because yes, she was watching for him, as much as she could.

[sumarusfinest]

Fire and threats? Oh, who are we kidding that wouldn't work and verity would get mad if he and Jim started arguing in the hallway.

"I..I thought it was a side path." He looks a bit embarrassed. "They don't have corn mazes traditionally in Sumaru." Pause. "The minotaur lady watching over it is quite the challenge, too."