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[[Aphismet = Wine Tasting >> Outside]]

"Ah!-..." he spoke again in his highly intelligent manner, taking a step to follow Alex when she disentangled from him. His hand trailed after her for a moment as she scuffed the wine and then walked off.

Wh-what had just happened? Aphismet just stood there dumbfounded, heart-broken all over again once the sunshine left his side. Had she really just kissed him? Was he drunk, as Josh teased? Did he dream that just now? Confused beyond belief and half-wobbling from the shock now, Aphismet turned up shy eyes to the Santa-clad man left in his company, chuckling sheepishly.

"I-I'm sorry you s-saw that. I, uh... If you'll excuse me a moment, I think I need some air. It was really nice talking to you, Santa-Josh. You and Lulu should come visit our new home sometime. Our phone number's still the same. Well, erm... See ya around. Have fun tonight!" Self-conscious and turned around, Aphi gave Josh a friendly clap on the shoulder and slowly walked away from the table, stopping by the coat check before exiting into the chilled autumn air. He needed to breathe and get ahold of himself. He needed to stop thinking around and around in circles, wondering and hoping and despairing in a vicious sequence.

What had just happened???

((Melisande - Entrance))

The corners of Melisande's eyes crinkled ever so slightly as the Frei dipped. "Lulu~" She repeated, the lightness of her voice making the rabbits name sound like a tiny blessing. The Sigel relaxed back into a new pose, the fingertips of one hand resting innocently just below the hollow of her neck. The ghost of a smile stayed, even though she couldn't see the Frei as well now that she was arched back a bit. "Melisande...but you can call me Pasha, if you'd like." The Muse's voice seemed to drift ethereal between them, her lips not quite moving as they should to enhance the illusion. "You really do have lovely eyes, Lulu~"

She kept the same shy pose, one hand still resting delicately against her chest, but cupped her wings slowly towards the Frei for aesthetics. "Are you enjoying yourself?" She tried to ignore the sudden rise in sound around them, realizing that she was surprisingly vulnerable being more than half blind, as she was. It also occurred to her that a few years ago she wouldn't have even known the word vulnerable.

((Josh: Wine tasting -> Buffet; LuLu: Entrance ))

LuLu’s name seemed foreign as it rolled off Melisande’s tongue. The sigel’s smooth diction put a spin on the vowels in a way that had never been heard before. The rabbit’s wings gave a gentle shake, her excitement getting the better of her. However, disuse caused the bones to crunch and scrap together in sickening way. Yet, somehow, it was fitting for Halloween sounding almost like a skeleton rattling about in its grave. The clatter could have been mistaken for ambient noise. LuLu breathed out at last, “Pasha.”

LuLu’s vision trained closer on the sigel. She finally noticed the muted appearance of Pasha’s eyes. A milky blue hue took place of the cerulean glimmer her irises generally possessed. Together, the creamy white and paled azure looked much like a foggy night. It only seemed to add to the muse’s allure. The change in appearance added a touch of mystery and eccentricity. The rabbit cooed at Melisande almost if whispering a secret, “Yours are much prettier tonight. What have you done to them?” The concept of contacts was still unknown to the frei. With her perfect vision she had yet to encounter the devices. For now, the girl was curious what sorcery had given her elder new eyes for the evening.

The rabbit coordinated her thoughts in order to answer Pasha’s question. She took time forming her response not wanting to make a fool of herself. Rosy lips parted with a newfound confidence as she began to speak, “I am we-”

Wasabi took that moment to butt in.

The fabric like membrane of her wings flared wide. The vibrant colors snapping open like a warning as she was interrupted midsentence. She had completely forgotten that Melisande and she were not the only ones in attendance. She lowered her ossified appendages accordingly. Her tone was a bit duller as she greeted the newcomer, “Hello.” She did not bother bowing for the human. Wasa's compliment was acknowledged with a nod though.

Josh blinked in surprise as he was abandoned at the wine booth so quickly. He did not even have time to send Aphi off with a goodbye. The boy sighed to himself. The chef’s retreat could not be helped. Josh would have probably done the same thing had he been in the man’s shoes. Nevertheless, it appeared as though Josh would have to find another group to bless with his company.

It did not take long to pick out a promising quartet. Namini quickly stood out among the crowd. Though Josh’s personal bias was probably attributing to that. Even in costume, his infatuation with the young lady gave him the ability to spot her among all the other party goers. He wasted no time in swaggering over to the girl. The only thing that slowed his stride was David’s form looming just beside his crush. As much as he hated her brother, he would not let the playboy get between him and a chance of saying hello to the brown curled cutey.

Josh came up behind Namini and gave her hair the lightest of jostles. He quipped coolly at her, “Hey Missy, have you been naughty or nice?” His face split into a wide grin.

[Melisande -Entrance]

Pasha's slight smile never wavered as Lulu appraised her, and only the faintest hint of pink was visible through the white paint of her cheeks as the Frei complimented her eyes. "It's part of the costume," she confided, sharing the secret with the rabbit. The girl was certainly charming! Melisande shifted slightly, about to change poses as Lulu continued, when a new voice interrupted.

The Sigel's reaction wasn't much different than Lulu's. Meli's wings snapped wide, no longer artfully curved towards the Frei. She saw a flash of color from Lulu, but tried to focus on the new figure as best she could. Her head tilted back as she recoiled slightly, but Melisande found her composure and once again stilled. Her new pose was dramatic, wings spread and chin lifted like a vengeful angel.

"Wasa." She did not breathe the word, as she had Lulu's name. Instead, the Muse's words were clipped, seemingly icy, unless one knew the Sigel well. It wasn't indifference that colored her tone. It was fear.

"Is Aki with you?" It wasn't like Pasha to skip over the niceties, but inside, the Muse was terrified. If Aki had found her...

...she would take Pasha away. Forever.

Blindly, one of her alabaster hands moved towards Lulu's, seeking comfort from a Raeven she'd only truly just met.

((LuLu: Entrance ))

The rabbit nodded appreciatively at Melisande’s words despite the fact she did not fully understand them. It was part of the costume, but the mechanism was still uncertain. The frei decided to attribute the new eye color to magic or some other mysterious force. After all, it would not have been the first time a princess had done a wardrobe change with the aid of sorcery. A princess of Melisande’s caliber could probably do it without batting an eyelash; however, despite her capability, LuLu was certain that the muse would still don the fragile façade that every good princess wore. Always hiding their true warrior within until it was called upon. LuLu let out a wistful sigh. Oh how she wished to be on that level right alongside Pasha.

The frei’s brows knitted together in concern as her statuesque heroine seemed to morph her tone around their human visitor. It was a chilled tenor that did not seem fitting of the older raevan. LuLu was a bit shocked as a hand was offered to her. Nevertheless, she gratefully took Meli’s fingertips in her own. She gave them the gentlest of squeezes as if to remind the sigel of her presence. She was here and that she would make sure nothing happened. Rather it was fear or anger Melisande was expressing, LuLu would be there to back her up. Her words came out more concerned than intended, “Are you alright Pasha?”

LuLu’s weighted gaze shifted onto the woman, a bit more judgmental that before. So this woman was Wasa. Who was Aki? Did Wasa have something to do with her? The rabbit finally addressed the woman, “How do you know Pasha?”

(( Anita – Buffet Table | Cruz – Under Pumpkin Carving Table ))

Anita paid little mind to David as the talk of alcohol sprang up between he and Zeke. Occupied as they were, she would have felt out of place as a non-drinker anyhow and eagerly latched on to Namini's quick response. ”Great!” she chirped, readying her thumb over the numbers. She had David's work number as it was, so if an emergency cropped up she could always get his own personal number from his office or himself later on but to be able to get in touch with Namini probably meant a faster response time anyhow, especially when Raevans were involved. The normally pigtailed girl caught sight of her companion's sudden discomfort, but she seemed to quickly recover. Her own green eyes roamed the scene but settled on a similar deduction for where they had gone off to.

”I'm sure they're okay,” she smiled, tapping in Namini's name for the contact list, ”They're with Eiry too. He's a handful but I don't think he'd let them stray too far.” Once both girls were at the ready, Anita listed off her own digits and padded in Namini's as well, organizing it with a [LAB] before her name to signify what the contact was for. Even if they became good friends later, as Namini seemed to hope (and also didn't seem to be too far outside the realm of possibility with their current interaction) the identification would not change, but that meant little when it was strictly for organizational purposes. Even Zeke was still listed as [LAB] Zeke but it kept everyone together and right at the top of her list.

Once they were squared away, Anita returned her phone to its rightful pocket and turned to Zeke with curious eyes. ”Would you recommend any of them for an alcohol virgin?” She was kidding, of course. If there would be a time that she would test her tolerance, in public with mostly strangers around – Lab people or not – would not be it.

Shrugging with a grin, she turned back to Namini with excited eyes. ”I think I'm gonna go check out some more of the food and mingle a little, but if you start to get worried about Prajna just give me a ring if you can't find me,” Anita patted the pocket her phone was housed in, ”There's someone I'm looking for so I gotta go scout 'em out.” More importantly, she had to thank them properly and that certain individual was none other than the Raevan Zul. So generous he had been, giving her a bottle and vial that lead her to this very place, with these very people, with a Raevan all her own to look after and care for.

Nudging Zeke gently in the ribs with her elbow, she gave him a smirk before smiling and waving to Namini and David, backing away from the group. She hoped it wouldn't be seen as rude, but there was only so much time at these functions and so many people present she didn't want to bog anyone down too long, or be bogged down herself. They would meet up again, especially if Cruz, Eiry and Prajna were still together.

Of course, she couldn't have predicted what the three of them were up to, nor how her little crocodile would react.



The reptile felt badly for putting his minty friend on hold, but while Eiry was chipper as ever, Prajna appeared deeply troubled by something. However, as quickly as that troubling feeling and look crossed across the star's face, it also disappeared and the androgynous Frei pulled itself from Cruz's grasp without so much as looking back at him. If it hadn't been for the soft but strong words that followed, he would have assumed he had done something to upset it but that seemed not to be the case as it called for him to follow. Letting out a quiet sigh and a relieved smile, the crocodile hurried beneath the cloak of the table cloth behind Prajna and huddled beside it, all eyes on Eiry for now as it was he who was best with words and he who would regale them with strange stories.

Ready as he thought he was for tales of dread, Prajna's question surprised him but he only looked curiously at Eiry for an answer. He wanted to say yes, but his idea of what the word 'ghost' meant was loose at best and he couldn't quite remember if the minty Sigel had used it to describe himself during their first meeting or if he had heard it used elsewhere. Its familiarity tugged at him, and so Eiry's prompt response and eerie display brought a smile to his face. Yes, he was not quite sure what it meant but if Eiry was a ghost then surely ghosts were good things.

Green eyes watched his friend's pale hand touch their bright red companion, a look of confusion changing to awe as the cold touch was moved through the other Frei, then back around and passed through Eiry's own head with no ill effects. A low rumble of an appreciative chuckle rose from Cruz's throat and chest. He knew that trick well after Eiry had used it to frighten he and Anita while she was driving a much larger contraption than her bike. The lengthy and wordy response that followed ghosted through Cruz's attentions just as Eiry could, but he understood most of the tone given and was able to keep an enthralled grin all throughout even if most of it made little sense to his young mind. At the very least, he could appreciate Eiry's extravagant delivery even if he could not quite understand the meanings.

Wings shivering excitedly, Cruz briefly passed Prajna a glance to judge its reaction to everything, and then began to fidget with his hands inside the lengthy crimson sleeves of his costume. The Lady Widow? Did Eiry know of such a lady? His dramatic pause only caused the mistletoe Frei to creep closer, peering to Prajna occasionally. He was all but bouncing with anticipation by this point; stories were fun, if they were anything like the things shown on the moving picture box.

With a whispering flourish, the fanfare began. Cruz strained his ears for each and every syllable of Eiry's sly wording, every single sound of the Lady Widow's tale. The mood was quickly set, allusions to darkness easily pouring into his brain with the darkened scenery beneath the table. A fair maiden with poor sight, happily married to the man of her dreams, it was a lovely and romantic tale but the tone for such a thing was obviously off and it did not take long for the crocodile's heart to begin hammering. Each curling verse of subtle despair given by the woman of her unfaithful husband caused his brow to crease with worry, his throat to tighten, and his rune to shudder. Before long, he was lost in Eiry's colorful world of deception and he saw clearly through the Lady Widow's blurry eyes how her husband was untrue, lying and cheating, he felt what she felt but did not fathom yet that it was for another woman for the concept was still lost to him entirely. He felt betrayed, just as she did, that was all he knew and that was all that mattered to the story.

Confirmation of his betrayal hit him like a brick in the chest and he released his breath, suddenly winded, as the Lady pounced upon her lying, scheming beloved. His hands tightened into fists as hers clawed into his throat, his eyes widening in distress as she spied the truth and saw the monster she made herself to be... and for nothing. By then, his heart was in his throat and his breaths quick and shallow. Never had he heard a story like this, never had he felt this absolute panic even as Anastacia had outright attacked him. She devoured her gift, the Lady Widow, and became a true monster before destroying herself as she destroyed her love.

A mist clouded Cruz's vision, then. What a horrible story with a horrible ending! But oh, Eiry had promised a tale as unnerving, as frightening, and he had delivered with great success to the crocodile. A soft sniffle came from him, but he continued to stare almost unblinkingly with large doe eyes and a quivering lip. The worst, he found, had not yet come. A confession passed through Eiry's lips that prickled the tiny hairs all over his body, the scales across his half-formed back tightening against his flesh and his pathetically small wings frilling as wide and tall as they could go.

This story was not a story at all: It was truth.

It happened here, in this place, on this night, and here they all were! Oh, surely his Anita did not know! Surely no one here did for why would they ever bring them to such a sorrowful place such as this?! Something clicked in the back of his mind, that perhaps this was all just a trick, a game Eiry was playing like when Anita thought she had hit him with the car. He waited for something, anything to give him away; a smirk, a wink, a banshee shriek of laughter, but none came. Only the opposite, the most awful thing he could have done.

He fled.

Eiry's own face appeared stricken with a horror Cruz had never seen and it sent him spiraling. Once again the basket was dropped, his hands more intent on protecting something alive, something vulnerable beside him, and quickly they reached for Prajna to shield it from whatever horrifying entity was behind them. A defensive roar uttered deep from his chest and Cruz attempted to follow Eiry with the star in tow but rose too quickly, knocking the top of his head roughly against the underside of the table. What followed was a growl both nasty and pitiful as he released the star as fast as he had grabbed it, both hands holding the top of his head as he fell back against the floor, face contorted in pain. His rune was pulsing like mad and the tears that had welled from the Lady Widow's sorrowful tale leaked from his clenched eyes.

Her lingering spirit, the monster consumed with hate, was going to get him...!

((The Nao's: Food Buffet | Prajna: ...Still underneath the table))

As Eiry demonstrated his talents, which seemed to range from everything from going through walls and tables to running through even solid bodies, Prajna couldn’t help but ask the question that everyone always thought of when encountering Eiry for the first time, “How was he doing it?” The magic tricks presented through simple flicks of his wrist seemed so effortless and elegant. Prajna felt its throat tighten as the Will-o-wisp’s frosty fingertips grazed the nape of the Star’s neck before sliding through it entirely. And then through his own merry face. Every pore on Eiry’s green skin seemed to be laughing as he performed his witchcraft and Prajna couldn’t help but feel impressed. No other Frei had shown such wonderful powers and, after glancing at its own fingertips for a moment, imaging the dull blue flames that resided there occasionally, Prajna wondered if one day it too would be able to act out such marvelous antics.

Suddenly… Eiry’s gleeful voice dipped in volume and pitch, becoming a ghastly whisper as he began his tale of horror. Prajna stared at the Sigel’s face as he weaved each sinister detail in with one another and noted that even his face had such talents, of being able to morph themselves into expressions which Prajna thought it was still incapable of doing. Its blue eyes trickled toward the bottom of Eiry’s torso and wondered if these were the gifts growing such a body would give you. Rivener had possessed some extraordinary talents, if Prajna remembered, as well, and his strength … what strength! Prajna remembered being pinned down and slowly devoured. The hair on the back of its neck slowly started to stand erect, the goosebumps spreading as Eiry began to divulge deeper into his gruesome tale. As he described the monstrous snarls and the Lady Widow’s twisted face, Prajna’s mind couldn’t help but apply all of the details to its past experience with Rivener. Everything had been so fun and carefree and then, just like the devilish woman, he was on top of the Star, consuming what he could of its very soul, his scorpion wings quivering.

Then, just as quickly as he had started, Eiry’s voice began to calm itself. Prajna blinked its thoughts clear, though small fearful tears had begun to fill its eyes. What was he saying? The woman was here? Would she try and eat Prajna too? The Star clenched its hands into fists so tight, its nails began to dig deep into the palms of its hands. It waited. Eiry couldn’t honestly be speaking the truth. He quite clearly was a prankster. He had to be telling lies---

Out of nowhere, Eiry let out a deafening shriek and scrambled past the two young Freis, abandoning them with their nightmares. Cruz, who had been sitting closely to Prajna, suddenly gripped the Star and held it like a shield in Eiry’s departure, hoping it would protect the crocodile from any unforeseeable monster but then he released his grip and, in an attempt to follow Eiry out, struck his head -hard- against the underside of the table. Prajna watched as the crocodile floated back down, rubbing his sore head.

Prajna… on the other hand, remained motionless underneath the safety of the table and the tablecloth. The tears that had been welling up in its eyes were now streaming down its flushed cheeks, its entire half-torso shaking in fear, its wings immobilized by the thought that, the hungry demon-woman was not underneath the table, but rather, OUTSIDE of the table, waiting for her prey to come out. The darkness of the table seemed reassuring, that yes, she was surely out there. There were more people to attack and ruin out THERE, in the exposed barn. Prajna pulled its ribbon closer to its body, the only movement it seemed to have enough energy for, before wondering if it should call out to the lone soul, its new friend Eiry, who had accidentally wandered out. Didn't he know? She was definitely out there!

It hadn’t heard any screams of terror yet, but perhaps silence was just as bad? What if she had strangled him too, the second he had dispersed from the tablecloth’s safety? Oh Eiry!

Prajna wanted to peer out from underneath the tablecloth, but soon found itself simply curled up underneath, crying and shivering like a cold, wet kitten, ignorant of Cruz's pain. Didn't he realize? Eiry could have been dead at that moment! It was no time to be stressing over a bump to the noggin! Prajna even tried to mew to its ghostly companion, though made very certain that its voice was not at a volume that even a Lady Widow could hear, “ Eiry still alive? … please… be okay.”

Slowly though, when there was no immediate response, Prajna turned its glassy cerulean eyes towards Cruz and felt its lower lip quiver in fear. Had she.. had she really gotten him?

"Cruz... does think... Eiry is... strangled?" Prajna choked, lifting a pale and shaking hand to its neck, mimicking the action it had asked about. Were they next?! Did she know they were here?!? The crimson dinosaur spread out its crow like wings, and, for a moment, flapped them like a panicked chicken, or perhaps a headless one, and then curled up so that its wings covered its tear stricken face. Even as a Sigel, Eiry had been helpless; They were surely next! And as Freis, they were going to be no match for the wrath of the Lady Widow. This...This wasn't fair! Prajna had lived such a short life!!


“We’ve been involved for quite some time now… hm… maybe… a year or two? Namini usually acts as the spokesperson for our little family though, since I tend to be tied up with work” David explained to Zeke, growing quite fond of the man’s easiness to talk to. Perhaps the small amount of alcohol running through David’s body was also helping contain his sharp, judgmental tongue. The man did not seem bad, but then a familiar face popped up and David’s eyes trickled to the back of an oh-too-familiar-teenage boy, his attention drawn to the boy’s entrance through Anita’s sudden leave. David remained in conversation with Zeke, luckily for Josh but made the mental note not to let the kid too close to his sister. David returned to Zeke with another wholesome grin.

After exchanging numbers with Anita, Namini waved a sweet adieu to her new companion, after finishing her contact entry with a small star beside Anita’s name. Her favorite contacts tended to have stars beside them, and, simply perusing her phone, the cute cavegirl stopped at a familiar name, though she hadn’t seen that friend in such a long time…

“Josh..” Namini murmured, pouting, when, as if it truly was Christmas, she felt someone ruffle her hair and heard, “Hey Missy, have you been naughty or nice?”

The young girl turned around, her entire face the color of Josh’s Santa robes, and immediately began to stutter the other’s name, “J-J-J-aahh-Josh! How long have you been standing there?! Don’t scare me! I know it’s Halloween but geez! Just popping out of nowhere like that~”

Her heart was racing faster than a human running from a mob of zombies. Was this really happening right now?!

[[ Eiry - In Anya's face before the pumpkin carving table
Isi - Sitting on a barrel by the food table with Kyou ]]

What a success! What a roaring, astounding, avalanche of a success! Eiry could hardly keep himself from breaking his cover and bursting into a fit of laughter. The looks on their faces as they slowly invested themselves more and more into the story only gave Eiry more strength in telling it. When he saw Cruz's eyes mist over with concern and grief, he was certain that he had done his work! Though he hoped he hadn't driven them to tears. Eiry enjoyed pranks, but he never liked causing harm or tears by them. But still...The looks on Cruz and Prajna's faces! That was all worth it! Every word! He had to throw his arm to his mouth to keep himself from laughing aloud as he fled the underneath of the table in a hurry. So riveted he was by his success that he hardly noticed the tell tale ribbon, the half-developed torso, and the bosom of Anastasia as he veered up from underneath the table and proceeded to run face first into the plush of Anya's chest. So surprised was he that Eiry didn't have the time to react to Anya like any other obstacle that he would have encountered. His instinctive intuition of intangibility was all but nonexistent the moment he ran into her and only came into call for a few moments after he bounced back and tried to straighten himself up in the air. He blinked stupidly, his face filling with flush from the awkward run in, and he tried to open his mouth and apologize, before he realized the unconscious slip up that he had made. That Lady Widow story, that was entirely based on sleepy thoughts of Anya! Eiry let his face crack into a sheepish grin and he made the motion to speak and clasp his hands together in apology when the unthinkable happened.

"It looks really great," said Isi to the doctor, admiring his careful handiwork on the mauling of his own face with make up. He knew the work, the play and musical, the Phantom of the Opera. It was one of the musicals that Beauregard wouldn't stop singing for a while and eventually it was a book that Eiry picked up and read aloud around the house. He enjoyed it, it was a good play. Isi smirked at the work of the costume and pointed out conversationally, "You should leave the mask off, or at least tie it around the other side of your head so we can see all that hard work you put into the make-up, Doctor."

Isi took the plate of food, looking down to spy on the miniature feast that Kyou had prepared for them to share. He smiled. There was a combination of healthy harvest fruits and a lot of typical party junk food, and Isi appreciated the collaboration of tastes. He picked up some sliced apples and stuck them in his mouth, chewing with cracks and crinkles as he listened to Kyou. He nodded his thanks at the orange juice, which he had stuck carefully in between the press of his thighs, which, sadly, wasn't enough to really hold the cup in place rather than guard it. "Yeah, I like orange juice. I like milk a lot more, but orange juice is pretty good. Apple cider is best, though. I know how to make some mean apple cider if I'm given the right ingredients."

Isi relaxed on the barrel, letting his back slump as he cradled the plate of food on his lap. He made sure it was accessible enough for Kyou to grab whatever food he wanted. "I would like that a lot, actually. I'm sorry I haven't really been around lately at the Lab. Moving and getting adjusted and everything was really hectic. Though I'd be more than glad to come back and hang out and give you some help if need be. I can help with your hedges and flowers again." Isi liked offering help, or just being invited anywhere at all. It made him feel like he was wanted, like he had a purpose, and a duty to uphold gave Isi energy like nothing else. He nodded eagerly to the idea of cake. "I would really like that actually. Cake and orange juice would be really ******** cool actually. I'd like that a lot. Besides..." Isi's voice dampened a bit. He looked down to his legs again, and then back to Kyou, trying to earn a brief and personal connection of their eyes, so he could ask a quiet and precious question. "You think we could get together and talk someday soon? I have...I need to talk with you about something important. If it's alright with you, of course."