"A pleasure, Tanwen. I'm Jean, and the little one hiding in my hair is Sihr." She shook the offered hand, her grip firm and her palms calloused. "Would you like one of these little tarts? They're delightful, and I don't know if you've had a chance to dance yet, in order to acquire trinkets of your own."

"Where I grow up, at least my home town, /you/ be exotic one," the girl commented with a smile. When Kyriel lead Tieran off, Shylarah followed willingly, but stayed quiet for now so the winged woman could introduce her boyfriend to the others.

Archer noticed how Liana seemed to sudden start breathing more heavily. He furrowed his brow in concern and nodded his head at her in apology. "I am very sorry if I have pressed you for more information than you meant to give." He said ordering more drinks for both of them.

"If it will make you more comfortable let's take a completely different turn to the conversation. What do you think of this years decorations? Personally I feel like they've gone a little overboard with the gauzy curtains." He said as he waived around at the various colors and lengths of fabric seemingly randomly draped around the room. he really didn't want to startle or make Liana feel uncomfortable. She was someone a constant figure at this event that Archer found that he'd come to count on seeing.

Kia blinked owlishly at the winged woman who came up to them as if she knew who Kia was. She slowly smiled and threw a confused look at her brother as she searched her memory. She remembered there being a winged woman at previous balls and some other gatherings that the group occasionally had. But that woman was extremely different looking than the one in front of her.

"Ahh yes, thank you. You know I must apologize profusely but have we met before?"

((OOC: Sorry I've been kinda busy, so I haven't posted in a while! Also, welcome, !))

[edit] This post has been re-arranged, sorry xP

[img align=right]http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x416/kibu_subeta/darkright.png[/img] Lucas was just as confused as Kia. To be fair, he had only been to the Masquerade a couple of times and most of his attention had been wrapped up in Ashworths - at first because Kai was the only person he had known, and then because Kia was his sun and stars. "Hello," he said, feeling it was the safest thing to go with.

[img align=left]http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x416/kibu_subeta/violetleft.png[/img] "Good evening once again, Miss Kyriel," Kai said, supplying her name. "I was unaware that you'd made the acquaintance of my sister and her boyfriend." He glanced at the two in question with an affectionate smile. "We were just going to go find Archer."

(( ~ Welcome back! However, Liana, Archer, Jean and Tanwen are all in the Lounge and the others have yet to enter it. Your last post doesn't exactly match up because the owner of the cat and the angel are in two different spots n.n;; ))

Pushing her old drink aside Liana’s eyebrows creased, though her mask did well do hide it. It was hard to believe that people like this were real. Then again when she first arrived on Subeta she had a hard time believing anything was real. Five years later the illusion had diminished, eventually replaced by a hard truth that set like a stone in her stomach. There would probably be no going back. May as well make the best of it.

“Well I…” She considered Archers comment on the drapery glad to have a reason to look away. “It is a bit like a glamorized circus isn’t it..?” Especially later on in the evenings when just about everyone was two or three drinks in and inhibitions had been easily swayed. Liana covered her mouth realizing that even if Archer accepted the fact that she was a magic user, it did not mean that he was ready for her crude sense of humor. They were after all attending an upscale event, most of the patrons there would not much appreciate her commentary in the slightest.

((OOC: Oops, sorry about that xD. I'll edit it.))

((OOC: There we go, I'll just moved the edited post here))

IC: Zahyl smiled to himself as they left. Of course they didn't want to stay around him, his natural dark radiation usually putting off most people. He then began searching for the others that seemed to have wandered off. He eventually found Archer, Liana, Jean, and another new face. He began to relax his stature as to not scare the girl again, and began walking her's, Archer's, and the new girl's way. "That's one way to put it." Zahyl said with a smile to the owner of the cat. He was already anticipating Liana to jump out of her skin again.

"Oh. Er, my mistake, I keep forgetting I'm not as recognizable as I used to be." Or that some of my knowledge may not exactly be firsthand... Chuckling nervously and drawing herself a half-step closer to Tieran, she continued, "Sorry. I'm Kyriel. I'm fairly certain we've met at least in passing before, either here or perhaps at the wedding?" She thought the siblings had been there, at least, though her memory was a little hazy regarding that. She gave an uncertain half-shrug. "Mind if we accompany you? Hopefully that will simplify the introductions a little."

Recognition lit up in Kia's eyes. "Ahh Yes, Kyriel. It is very nice to see you again. That is a very lovely dress that you have," she said politely. She did remember the winged woman, at least in passing. Kia always thought that she had beautiful blue skin. It was a shame that she had changed it. "Did someone get married at the Masque one year?"

Archer looked up as their conversation was suddenly joined by one of the men from earlier and swallowed the lewd joke he was about to make about trysts behind curtains. "I think it's a rather clever way of putting it," he chuckled. "Far more classy than my thought that they are attempting to turn the lounge into some sort of hareem."

Gritting her teeth Liana turned toward the voice that had been directed at her. Someone had heard her comment and it wasn’t just anyone, but the dark man from earlier. Mog meanwhile finished his plate, glanced up to eye Zahyl, and then slowly began washing his paws and face.

“I beg your pardon, I hope I haven’t offended you in any way sir.” Liana hastily reached for the newest drink that Archer had been kind enough to order. Clearly the first drink was the only thing keeping her nerves intact. Being in such a dark presence was rare, terrifying, and strangely intriguing. There had been but one other creature in this world who she knew to radiate much the same, but that had been an introduction she gladly avoided. At least in this case there was an angel in the general proximity. Liana felt somewhat confident that trouble would be kept to a minimum, but the thought didn’t prevent her skin from crawling.

Archer’s impromptu joke broke some of the tension and caused the corner of her mouth to witch, threatening a smile.

[img align=right]http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x416/kibu_subeta/darkright.png[/img] Lucas looked up sharply at the word 'wedding', his eyes flicking nervously toward Kai. He shifted his feet, forcing himself to stay casual as he linked his arm through Kia's. He was fairly sure that he had never met Kyriel before, and the idea of someone knowing him before they actually met him was beyond strange. He was just an ordinary guy from an ordinary family, afterall. "Getting married at the Masquerade sounds like a very... public affair."

[img align=left]http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x416/kibu_subeta/violetleft.png[/img] Kai had wondered about the dramatic change in Kyriel's skin tone, but was far too polite to comment on such a delicate topic. It was, by far, one best left untouched. "If I remember correctly, Miss Sui's brother was married in an airship nearby. It was not at the Masquerade proper," he said, rubbing the back of his neck and glancing in the direction of the lounge.

Zahyl could feel the anxiety coming off of Liara, and a tiny bit off of Archer as well, but at least they weren't almost instantly leaving like last time. He let out a small laugh at Archer's comment, "I suppose so. No need for concubines wandering the ballroom." He then simply waved off the nearly panicked apology from Liara, "No need for apologies, really." He said with a slightly lopsided smile. He turned to the bartender and ordered for some strangely named drink that sounded along the lines of 'Cactus licker'. He turned back to the two of them, "So is this your second time here? This is my first time appearing at this little... Circus?"

Tanwen shook the hand politely, noting the callouses that brushed her lightly furred hand, "I've had a few dances. I brought tokens from last year's dance incase it was a slow year, as well." She didn't want to be rude and reject the tart so she took it and bit a small piece off. It was good, although a bit sweet for her taste. "Sihr, I'm sorry Avery frightened you. Won't you come out?" she asked, directing her question at Jean's shoulder. She nibbled on the tart, and ordered a few small quiches from a passing waiter. When he came back she placed one on her knee for Avery to eat.

Tieran was just about as lost as some of those that they approached seemed to be. Still, he kept his composure and gave a smile to the three. "It is always a pleasure to meet friends of Kyriel. My name is Tieran, and, well, it is my first time at this masquerade." He looked at the three and paused, before asking, "Ah, may I ask your names? This is quite a bit of information to take in all at once, after all." He offered his hand out to them.

More like fourth or fifth, but what a demon didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. Just to be safe Liana touched the edges of her concealment spell. “Something like that…” She really wasn’t interested in detailed conversations with the dark side. Tempting thought it was. Cautious by nature, when in the vicinity of such magic she would be fully on guard. After all, she hadn’t ever known a demon to enjoy dancing and was growing more and more suspicious of Zahyl’s intentions.

Mog yawned clearly bored with the conversation, but stayed dutifully glued to his chair lest the fox at the table across the way see him and want to play chase. Mog was generally easy going but had little patience for high energy animals.

Archer shrugged and sipped at his drink. "I've been coming for years now, but it's only been in the past few that I have been here for something other than work," he explained and looked Zahyl up and down. "How are you finding the 'circus' so far?"

((OOC: I'm going to be really really really slow with replies. This is the last weekend before our convention and there is A LOT that needs to be done.))

"We can try to convince her," Jean answered, picking up the discarded berry and holding it out. "Besides, you need to get out of my hair. I'm quite certain you've gotten custard on my collar, in addition to the bit I can feel on my neck." The woman looked at Tanwen. "Give her a few minutes, and she might show herself."

((OOC: That's ok with me, ))

"I'm finding it quite favorable, actually. The people here on Subeta are quite peculiar, and I mean that in a positive way." Zahyl said with a smile. The bartender passed him his drink right at that moment. There was thick red liquid was in the glass, but not thick enough to be just blood, with black sugar lining the rim of the cup. He took a sip of it and he gave a small smile. "Don't worry, it's not human or anything like that. It's cow blood mixed with alcohol and boiled together." He said almost immediately after as to not disturb either of the two, or at least not as much. "Unfortunately this is only one of my free days I spend each year in order to go here, so I try to make my best time here in the mortal world until I need to go back to you-know-where." He sighed as he took another sip of the strange drink.

Tanwen grinned at the comment, messes were always a hazard with pets. "So how long have you been coming to the ball?" she asked, unsure of how to continue the conversation. She wasn't used to conversing with somebody for more than a dance. Of course usually she didn't have Avery tagging along either.

"This is my first year, actually." Jean smiled. "A friend I met recently said I should come, and I have to say, I'm glad I did." The woman grinned. "It's not my usual scene, but I'm always up for an adventure." A small gray head peered out from behind her neck as Sihr looked carefully for the fox. Is it gone? she asked Jean. "Not gone, but I think Tanwen has her under control. Neither of us is going to let you get eaten." Jean's answer was a nonsequiter for the other woman, but it shouldn't be too hard for her to figure out what was going on. The faeling considered for another long moment, before slipping fully into view and flitting over to Jean's hand. However, the woman pulled the berry away. "Manners, Sihr," she scolded. "Say hello first." The creature grimaced, but looked over at Tanwen, still hovering a couple inches off the table. Hello, a small voice said inside the other woman's head.

((ooc: Like Kia, I'll be pretty slow with replies for the same reason :) ))

[img align=left]http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x416/kibu_subeta/violetleft.png[/img] "My name is Kai Ashworth," Kai said, shaking the man's hand. "This is my twin sister Kia, and her boyfriend, Lucas Tennison." He was clearly distracted, only meeting Tieran's eyes briefly. "My deepest apologies for cutting and running; with hopes I may have the opportunity to chat with you at another time. There's just someone I was hoping to get a dance with." He smiled sheepishly before leaving the little group, wending his way through the crowd to get to the lounge.

Kai found Archer and Liana quite easily, noting the addition of the dark man from earlier. He slid into the seat next to Archer, setting a hand on his shoulder. "Hello, my love," he said, giving Archer's shoulder a small squeeze. "How are you doing in here?"

[img align=right]http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x416/kibu_subeta/darkright.png[/img] Lucas was a little surprised at Kai's quick exit, but he nodded to Tieran and shook his hand. "As Kai said; I'm Lucas. It's nice to meet you. Well, both of you I suppose," he added awkwardly.