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Shanuh had forgotten all about D.S. The thought of dancing, though encouraged for others, did little to pique the interest of the shop keep. Two eyes watched through the shadows of his mask, passing silent judgement over all whom entered. Most of what he saw was written off as white noise, people whom were nothing more than stains that would be wiped up and forgotten before too long. Occassionally, the man did steal a double take, here and there. . . but for the most part, he watched only those select few whom mattered.

Kin.

Those that meant only one thing - his existance. Those that were his precious beloveds, the ones that could break him with a single stare or a cutting word. If Shanuh could ever be jealous of any, it would be the ignorant companions whom were the chosen ones to his wards.

His thoughts wandered, expression showing nothing of the battle that raged within. Shanuh was as unreadable as a brick wall, and about just as expressive.

Still, he did notice the approach of a turkey. The feel of Kin was so familiar to Shanuh that he needn't see who it was to know. Regardless of how exquisite the costume, there were senses and forces unseen that were dead giveaways to exactly who was near.

A movement in his general direction was the catalyst.

In a deliberate movement, Shanuh had bridgd the distance between Gam and himself. Upon his approach, he checked out his ward. It had been quite some time, and he wanted to make sure cannibalism was in good condition. From what little he saw behind such a 'creative' costume, everything appeared to be in good order.

Nice to know his little companion was treating him well.

"Thus the prodigal son returns. . . "

Pink and yellow gaze are focused only on the turkey. Nothing else mattered beyond that gaze, nothing else was more important than Gamvial.

[[*does too exist*]]

Lyle found himself in almost the exact state as he had entered: alone, bleeding, and confused beyond all recognition. At least now he had some form of a bandage and someone to fall back on if he felt the blood loss made him faint in any way [or if he died spectacularly, an idea which, although it vaguely frightened him, seemed quite humorous given the situation and the attitude of the majority of people who noticed his injury]. Now suddenly he was a bit colder, and he realized the doors were opened again to let in another guest to this party [likely invited this time], and he decided against lingering in the entranceway, moving forwards onto the true floor of the hall. He wondered how he would explain this late night disappearance to - ah - who was it he was living with now? Some friend-of-a-friend roommate, letting him occupy his extra room for so much a week as long as he did his share of necessary chores. Whoever it was. Lyle considered; ten more dollars would explain his leave for the night.

There went his new acquaintance, he noticed, a stealthy fluttering of wings landing nearby her. And he considered that squirrel again. He aimed himself at the tables of what could be considered refreshments and eyed the stuff warily a moment before catching his common sense again and remembering he didn't need all of his formal education to choose primarily edible things to eat. He swore that squirrel was looking at him, anyways.

[[summary of post: Lyle moves athataway.]]

Diacyn distracted by food, the short ninja merely got an enthusiastic hug around the shoulders and an uncharacteristic hard kiss on the cheek. "Merry Christmas, happy new year, all that good s**t, Diacyn. Don't eat too many kittens."

The hatter laughed, ducking back to twist and peer at the other people who were in the room. So many! He recognized quite a few (Savius and Xaxis recieved waves and smiles) and many others were still very, very new.

When the new person entered - he wasn't like Shanuh or the Kin, but he awasnt mortal - Iamel felt it. His wings fluffed, just barely, and his eyes flicked just a little. What a CURIOUS ******** Cane boy came into view. That 'familier lanky frame' twisted in order to see Matsuo fully, he paled and those red eyes started looking for someone safe to hide with. Not Diacyn or Savius or Xaxis... The little red and white b*****d would takl to them too, if he approached. Iamel didn't WANT him to talk, damnit!

Maybe Shanuh? But SHanuh was busy. Gam and Shanuh were talking. Other people were talking. He had no one to hide behind. So it was to Matsuo he went, face tight with upset. The Japanese boy nearly got his wrist grabbed and head shaken.

"What are you doing here?" He hissed, jaw setting roughly. "Are you stalking me or something? Get out."

Iamel was growing into the 'intense' part rather nicely.

"Hot shopkeeper?" Iamel paused at that, twisting slightly in order to peer at... Oh. "Shanuh. You mean Shanuh?" Eyebrows arched at that because, honestly, any of Shanuhs little pet Kin had a better chance of getting under the leather then a cocky little mortal did.

Well, and living, that was.

"Shiniee's been chasing after him since I was created. He's better looking then you too, so good luck there." Speak of the devil; Patrick entered. He was dressed in his regular clothes but he had added glitter to one of those simple masks to make it acceptable. Tight fighting jeans, torn and painted, hair styled just so, dark skin, red eyes, piercings every which way...

He moved to Iamel first. "A friend of yours, Mel?"

"He's trying to get into Shanuhs pants."

A pause at that and Patrick snorted, lips pulling into a wide grin. "Right. Fun times there. I'm Patrick." A dark hand was thrust towards Matsuo, "Iamels gaurdian. Iamel, go play with Diacyn or something."

Flush. "I do NOT play with Diacyn--"

"Iamel."

Another pause, "I'm going to talk to Shanuh." The woodpecker grumbled, twisting on his heel and heading towards Gam (who he would not blow up, he promised himself) and Shanuh. Time to hide with Shanuh and Gam.

Impossible didn't exist in Matsuo's vocabulary. And really the bigger the challenge, the more he wanted to take it on. "yeah Shanuh... You know him?" Raising a brow. Apparently this was a smaller world than he believed. He relaxed a little as the orange haired boy's threatening presence lessened, giving a grin "maybe you can give me a little inside information then? Actually trying to get anything out of the guy is frustrating as all hell..." He stopped there though, his eyes narrowing at the better looking comment, scoffing "you're still young so I'll allow you that slip but.."

He trailed off as the newcomer came, giving him a once over... and then a grin. Well... He was rather attractive too, abet a little darker than his usual tastes. "Why Hello there~" He purred, accepting the hand with a shake, using it as leverage to lean in close "Its a pleasure to meet you. Matsuo. So you know Shanuh too?"

His eyes flickered to watch Iamel leave, hesitating briefly as he debated following and dealing with a less than pleasant Iamel, and, if past experiences were any judge of character, a less than pleasant Shanuh.. as well as a stranger.. when there was this seemingly friendly person talking to him who could feed him information just as readily. Not to mention Matsuo wasn't sure if the one night stand he had with the birdboy would be the type of information that would be good to let slip out around Shanuh before he found out exactly what the relationship was between them. He'd be prudent for now. It was possible from time to time.

"Hey!" Diacyn shouted and wiggled, half-heartedly trying to escape Iamel's embrace. The kiss on the cheek made him blush, which was annoying. Why the ******** was he blushing? And why-

He didn't let on to how wierd he was suddenly feeling, though. "I'll eat as many kittens as I want!" he shouted to Iamel's retreating back. He wanted to follow the woodpecker, but he too was interested in the many new people around. And in the food.

This was a very, very good thing.

If he had noticed just how angry Iamel had been getting, he would have been very, very eager to try out his brain hook. And maybe stick a few ninja stars in some uncomfortable places.

But there were currently other things to worry about. Like a sudden dead duck. His muscular hand shot out to snatch the new piece of food, but someone else got to it first.

A girl.

Black-and-white eyebrows furrowed into a puzzled frown as a few gears clanked in Diacyn's brain. Where had she come from?

"French fries?" he said, by way of a reaction to the sudden appearance. "Eeew. They're too salty and warm. What's your problem?"

(( ;_; merry christmas!! This is what I've always wanted!))

Change. It was a warm senation. The duck lifted into the air, and was gone. Away to flock with more winged companions? Luis glanced in the direction where she had flown off with a twange of parental nerves. Let her go, he thought. Enjoy herself. With a smile.

CRASH! A flurry of fresh white down rose from a near-by table. Like reverse snow.

" Not again!-" Luis cried, exasperated. No sooner were the words out of his lips than he was by her side. He moved past a tatooted man touting an ancient egyptian outfit.

Her. A little girl with an awkward yellow plaid shirt, droopy eyes and two twin tails of grey hair. A few guests backed away. The duck's neck hung limp in her hands. Life had slipped away from the tiny body instantly, leaving a peaceful corpse. Luis felt his stomach drop. A new wave of nausea.

Outside, on rooftops and sidewalks, snow gathered and settled in for the long haul.

"Hey. The names Hylusis." Words formed in her mouth naturally, like they were born there from the start. She tugged at his shirt with her empty hand. It took a few moments of wild, sickening silence before Luis tore his eyes off the dead bird and refocused them on the little girl.

Movement of wings. Fresh from growth, they spread out and in. She stood with growing confidence, her toes spread wide underneath socks and shoes.

Her socks
Her shoes.

A life was brushed away. Luis regarded the Hylusis nervously, with a dimmed freneticism. Even with Birds falling dead at their feet, a strange comfort was creeping about his shoulders. Sneaking across his vision.

Birds were dying all around them. It happened every day. Like stones out of the sky they would tumble, gracelessly, their bodies hitting the pavement with a terrible emptiness. Like a punctured drum.

Beside a vomit-stained sidewalk in the lower east-side of a dying city, there was a park where pigeons used to frequent. Sometimes they were fed. Sometimes, they were not. Even so, they managed. The ambience of survival.

She held onto the white pressed shirt even as she moved towards the banquette table, pulling Luis towards it without explanaition. She brandished the ducks' corpse in her other hand, warding off the masked figures that swarmed around it. "Where's the french fries?" She asked, looking up and down the crowded hall.

Just Shakey Luis followed around the girl, a growing question sprouting in his head. He hadn't seen her come in. Hylusis' wings - grey brown white specaled bobbed up and down, perfectly complimenting the rest of the ballroom's inhabitants.

A life was brushed away. It slipped down the drain, to the ocean where it belonged. For some impossible reason the bird's "death" evoked no sense of loss in Luis' mind. Had he grown cold? Encased in ice? Luis came expecting more. More sick, more dizziness. More tears for a friend. He was Just Shakey.

No, thought Luis as he watched Hylusis, a question blooming in his head. Something was different.

"H-hey!" He said, placing a hand on the boney girl's shoulder. She looked up. Looked sickly. Underfed. Luis swallowed hard. He didn't know what she was doing with the duck, or whe she handled it with such casualty. Or the wings. " Look here, Hylusis." He took a serious tone. " That bird you have there, uh-"

" That was me." Hylusis answered a question before it had flowered. There were fruits still to bear out. She grabbed a handful of chips off a near-by table and began to shove them in her mouth. Not exactly fries, but it was a start. She didn't mind the hand on her shoulder but she brushed it off without thinking.

A shiver went down the spine, making his hand grow cold. That was me? did she kill the duck? Well, no. Not really... There were certainly many winged creatures - avian or otherwise - here tonight. Luis had assumed it was an outwardly unintelligable custom of a strange pet store. And eventuality that fans of birds would mimmic their idols.

Snow settled on the ground like a fine powedered sugar. Ice chips. Luis noted how similar the two-corpse and child- did match. Two sets of identical wings.

The girl looked up at the balding, hook-armed man with droopy, unattentive eyes. Uniterested. Like she knew something he didn't.

"French fries are delicious." Hylusis said flatly with quiet confidence. She knew her tastes. Tender friend crisps of potato crunched loudly in her salt covered mouth. She looked at her fingers, already covered in chip-grease.


Change was a warm, numbing sensation. It fills the senses, like drowning. A paralitic.