Kyriel offered Archer a polite bow and a smile. "Thanks very much. Pleasure to make your acquaintance." She ignored the small claws digging into her shoulder for now, and the indignant snort that the little dragon gave the three of them. "I doubt we ever had much more than a passing word before, to be fair. And I've certainly changed my appearance fairly significantly over the years." A small puff of flame flew from her companion's maw, and she sighed. "Alright, alright. Kai, Archer, this is Achemar. He's a familiar of sorts... And poorly behaved, tonight. Sincere apologies for that."

Ven couldn’t help it, a laugh escaped his mouth before he could stop himself. ( ) Clearing his throat he apologized. “You know, I’m not sure.” He had exactly zero abilities to be able to tell if something was magically enchanted. Unless of course the enchanter told him verbally as much. Liana had been kind enough to conceal his blade as a cane for the sake of the masquerade. Other than that, he was a little fuzzy on the details of his weapon. He wasn’t so sure if he could take the blade’s own word seriously or not. “From what I’ve been told, it used to be a sentient being. Or likes to think it was. I don’t doubt that some sort of magic had something to do with it…” He paused a moment. “But it is unquenchably thirsty, and will poison anything it cuts.” Suppose Ven just got lucky the first time he was bitten by the blade. Being a connoisseur of toxins probably didn’t hurt.
~ After finishing what she could of her pastries, Liana sat back and took a long look around the room. It was getting a bit late and she still had a partner to annoy out on the dance floor. Pushing the plate away she stood and brushed the crumbs from her lap. Carefully so as not to draw any attention she gently tugged on the invisible string that connected her to Ven. He must have been outside because it didn’t take long to feel the tension.

“There you are.” The voice over her shoulder caused her skin to crawl, and she spun around with her hand raised ready to slap the hell out of the person who had startled her. The slap it seemed had been anticipated and was caught before it could land a stinging blow.

[img align=left]https://s26.postimg.org/rk8yht1ft/Dev2017.png[/img] “Come now, I know you better than that.” She must have been grimacing because the look on the young man’s face was incredibly amused. Her eyes narrowed. “Your Majesty.” She said in a mocking tone, and was pleased to see a glint of disappointment in his eye. “I had hoped not to see you this year.” The prince laughed a bit too loud and caught the attention of a few partygoers around them. Liana blushed and wrenched her wrist free of his slimy grasp. “Anyway, if you don’t mind, I have a dance partner to find.” She should have worded it differently because the moment she said it she regretted it.

Devin gave a most elegant bow and sweeping his cape behind him, extended a hand toward Liana. “My lady, it would be impossible of me to refuse.” Letting out a long, long sigh, Liana rolled her eyes. “Certainly a plebeian such as myself has no business dancing with royalty.” Devin chuckled. “Nonsense, we know how fond my mother is of you.” His eye sparkled dangerously and made Liana’s skin crawl again. “Besides, when have I ever followed the rules?” It was true, she had to give him that. If there was one thing the prince truly excelled at it was breaking the rules. “Alright.” She muttered. “But just one, and then you leave me alone.” Devin didn’t say anything but took her hand delicately in his own and swept her out to the ballroom to make a mockery of every other dancer yet left.

(( lol look at me being all ambitious playing three kids at once. sendhelp XD ))

She'd handled the flare of Saintzer's aura well enough, though the whole scyth and the way Kasiya jumped on him bothered her greatly. When he said he couldn't let the shorter man out of his sight, Shy sighed. "Is...is something here you not saying. Both of you." Her gaze shifted from one to the other, what could be seen of her brow furrowed in a frown. "Is really problem if Saintzer not in sight?" she asked, frowning even more when Kasiya gave an affirmative answer. "I think maybe not something for talking here," she said. "I not care if scandal for going off with people. Why they think bad thing for being off with--" The girl froze as she figured out why, precisely, people might talk about a young lady wandering off alone with a man or men, and she flushed. Would they really think something like that?! "I not care!" she repeated, grabbing both of their hands and heading off towards the gardens to find somewhere quiet.

On the way out she thought she saw Devin bothering Liana. The quiet woman tried to hit him -- good for her, even if he had caught her wrist. The prince's mother was a pain for both of them, and Devin got on Liana's nerves as often as not. Shylarah liked the mother least of the three, but wasn't particularly bothered by any of them, so long as she didn't have to sit through long formal welcoming ceremonies. She wasn't the sort to be fond of staying still for long. Indeed, she was perhaps even wayward, far more comfortable off in wild places than in large crowds.

When she reached a quiet spot in the gardens and released the two men, Shy seemed more at ease. She took a deep breath of the fresh air before turning around, her wings shifting at her back. "So?" she asked, looking between them. "What going on? Kasiya, you free? You working? Why so much fuss? Why you scaring him? Saintzer...what happen he think you make trouble?" She'd started out on the forceful side, but as she talked the girl's voice evened out. "You not seem like bad person, so why he treat you like that? Why you not say something, make him stop? To have watcher until you better at controlling, that normal. This--" she waved a hand "--not look like that."

(( YEEEEE. glomps I need shy to find Devin, but not right now. It'd help if i knew a little more about how those two get along -- Liana and Devin, that is. I made some educated guesses for the moment, but I think she visits fairly often, if Devin's folk let her.

a reply for you and Cheshire will happen...soon. Ish. x.x))

(no worries, dead on my feet and sorn's not cooperating lol.))

“It would be interesting to know,” Sorn replied. “Remarkable blade.” He wouldn’t mind wielding it but knew better. “Most of us who were forged in the shadows seem to find weapons that are blood thirsty and have a will of their own. Or perhaps it is just my interpretation. Then again, two of my sister’s blades are drow-made and both exceedingly dangerous. She has locked one away and will not let me near it.” The look on his face was hard to read. Surely there was a hint of amusement there. “Poisonous is marvellous. If one doesn’t die from the blade one might from the poison. Of course we are both far too careful for such methods ourselves.” Owning such a blade would make Ven have to carry antidote or have a tolerance buildup, so making such a bold remark wasn’t much of a stretch in Sorn’s mind. But Ven seems a little distracted at the moment. “Is something the matter?” He didn’t know about Ven’s tether after all.

(SORRY!! I got super busy with costuming stuff yesterday and barely even went on my computer.)

Archer chuckled at the tiny dragon and nodded to it in greeting. "Well apparently neither of us are fit for society"He joked and sipped at his drink. "I most certainly could be worse, but before I do, we need to get a more comfortable couch for me to sleep on," There was a tenseness around Archer that wouldn't be noticeable to anyone who didn't know him. He put a hand on Kai's back and nods politely to Kyriel. "Well it's lovely to meet you Kyriel and Achemar"

(Iffin it's cool to call you to some of your kids. XD ))

The danced wrapped up and Kia held onto Lucas so that they could dance in the next song. She glanced over at some of the new dancers moving to the dance floor, her eyes widening at a certain couple, a large smile on her face. "Devon? Liana?"

"There are two guest rooms," Kai pointed out with an arched eyebrow. "You don't have to sleep on the couch unless you're trying to make a statement." The hand on his back was noticed before it even actually touched him, and he glanced at Archer with an expression that was difficult to read. "I think I need to steal him away for a bit, Lady Kyriel. It's been lovely speaking with you."

Lucas helped Kia to move over closer to the couple who had caught her attention. "Friends of yours?" he said in an undertone to her, curious but not immediately recognizing the people she hailed.

The comments were met with a very slightly raised eyebrow from Kyriel, but she offered a polite smile and a nod anyway. "Of course, by all means," she said. "It's been nice to meet you, too, Archer, and to have a proper conversation with you, Kai. I hope you have a pleasant evening, if we don't see one another again." She offered a bow and another smile, which faded slowly as they left. Well, maybe this was a good time to track down Shy again. Kyriel hesitated briefly, but then slowly drifted off in the direction she had seen - and felt - the other woman head off in earlier. There was always a chance she might run into someone else on the way, too.

((Seems I'm open again, if anyone feels like bumping into Kyriel!))

“I was lucky the first time it bit me. It had been during a sparring match between myself and Venom’s original wielder. She hadn’t meant to actually cut me, but I was careless.” Ven frowned slightly. He may have had more to say, but his words were cut short. He had felt a tugging sensation and it meant Liana was calling him. “Ah, it seems my free time is up.” He pushed his mask back over his face, pressed his weapon back against his hip, and made a low bow. “Apologies, it has been a pleasure.” Nodding to both Sorn and Jean without waiting another moment Ven crouched and sprang off back toward the balconies. A blur in the darkness. ()

Breezing past the curtains he stepped into the ballroom just as another song was beginning to play. Searching the crowd over, after a few turns he spotted his charge and her curious choice of dance partner. A while longer he loitered at the edge of the swirling crowd, but It did not appear she was in any immediate need of assistance. His gaze narrowed wondering why she had bothered to pull his lead at all. Then again it wasn’t up to him, the odd whims of the people he worked for. Probably just keeping tabs.

Out of the corner of his eye he noticed the big pair of wings again, and his hair stood up a little. () ~ Liana heard someone speak her name and immediately felt her face turn red. It was bad enough she had to dance with him, but someone she knew had spotted her. Her heart skipped a beat when she realized who had spoken. “ ! Your hair! I’m mean, you’re here!” She was making it worse. “I’m mean, how good to see you.” Now she was feeling entirely like her old self, anxious as ever and very ready to run away.

Devin’s eye twinkled as he absorbed the vision that was Kia and her sort of lackluster choice of accompaniment. “Very good to see you, indeed.” He was quite sure he was a pleasure to look upon as well, never doing anyone the disservice of trying to cover much of himself. “Your brother here somewhere as well?” ()

Liana waved away his words as if they wouldn’t reach the other couple. “Oh would you shut up.” Her heart felt like it was lodged in her throat. “Or well, you know how he is.” She blushed again. Swallowing her pride for Kia’s sake she turned and grabbed Devin’s hand. “Dancing remember, with me?” She spoke a little more forcefully than usual, perhaps even weaving a subtly untraceable spell into her command. The prince however took a while longer to detach his lingering gaze. When it finally did it gave Liana a bit of the chills. What was she going to do with him when the dance ended? Certainly not unleash him back upon them.

“Frustration looks good on you.”

“I told you to shut up.”

(( - Liana hasn’t visited since she moved and it has been about a year. Queen lady makes her very uneasy and Devin is a perv so she really has no reason to XD ))

Sorn was unable to reply because Ven suddenly off. He was disappointed. But he couldn’t help himself either. He nodded to Jean. “I guess we should go back.” He was sure Ven had gone back to the ball. He wouldn’t leave his charge after all. Sure, he could have tried tracking, but why waste all that effort when logic sufficed. When he arrived back in the room, he scanned the dance floor and saw Ven. And then Liana with a dance partner. Would it seem like stalking if Sorn went back up to Ven? Did he care? Sorn hadn’t bothered with another mask, he honestly didn’t really care. He slid up to Ven. “Who is that your charge is dancing with?” he asked. “Sorry, I was curious—why you left, but I can leave you in peace.”

(( she moved out of Peka? Last I remember, she'd just moved /to/ there from the Saheric, and Shy helped with that. Should be able to post tomorrow!))

(( nope other way around. She moved to study with the wizard c: I'll post when I get off work. ))

(( oh whoops! I could have sworn it was a welcoming ceremony...eh whichever.))

Kasiya and Saintzer shared a glance over the fairy-girl's head as they were towed outside. Well, if she didn't care... It wasn't as though either of them were looking for a fight or anything worse anyway. She peppered them with questions. The more she asked, the more Saintzer seemed to wilt and curl up as though to shield himself. Kasiya, however, frowned.

"It shouldn't concern you," he said, "But since you saw it anyway..." He shot a glare at Saintzer who adjusted his posture so he couldn't see Kasiya. The older angel continued. "Saintzer became acquainted with the powers of the void known as Henir. He lost control of it and destroyed an entire world. Because of that, he was arrested and taken away to serve time for his crime. Platina and I fought for his incarceration instead of him being executed. There were other circumstances... but anyway. He was allowed to come out of solitary confinement on account for good behavior, hence why we're here. But he isn't permitted to use his magic, even something as small as materializing his scythe. I should've had limiters put on you." Kasiya sighed and ran a hand through his hair, briefly removing his mask to do so. He replaced the mask and frowned at Shylarah again. "That's everything in a nutshell." Saintzer looked ashamed and terrified. He didn't look at either of them, instead looking at the grass beneath them.

Ven kept his eyes on the couple as they danced. He could tell Liana was uncomfortable, but she was usually uncomfortable around strangers. Maybe it had something to do with the choice of her partner's clothing, or lack thereof. Whatever the case, he didn’t see a need to intrude. He hadn’t learned about cutting in anyway. Ven acknowledged Sorn () but kept his gaze focused on the dance floor. “Not a clue.” The pointy black ears on top of his head pressed backwards in mild agitation. “I don’t mind the company.” It was true, but Ven tended to be neutral on most matters. Alternatively he wouldn’t be offended if Sorn had more interesting things to do.

(( sorry my roommate bought Fantastic Beasts and I got sucked into watching it last night XD Very cute movie. ))

( have yet to see that movie xD glad you liked.)

Sorn watched as Liana dancing around with the stranger. "They make a pretty couple. He has a lovely physique," Sorn observed with a twitch of a smile, "though she does not appear to be enjoying her dance."

(( GO SEE IT! Newt is a precious cinnamon roll oh my gosh. And the beasts area amaaaazing. <3 You'll love it.))

((and since I didn't post for Jean for a while...))

Jean mentioned that no, she didn't have any magical weapons. She wasn't a fighter, and hers were mostly for use when she didn't have any other choice. She did mention that there was a bit of enchantment on her grappling hook, and on her satchel, but nothing heavy-duty.

She had no objection to heading back inside, and when Sorn sought out Venom again she hid a smile. He was in for a big surprise if he tried hitting on the warrior, she was sure. "Isn't that the prince from Peka?" she asked, when Ven didn't know the half-dressed man. "I've heard he's...ah...quite the ladies' man. And not just ladies, either." The woman dancing with the prince did seem singularly uncomfortable, in a way that reminded Jean of someone caught between a rock and a hard place, with no good escape route. "She doesn't look like she's happy to see him at all. ...Sorn, why don't you cut in? --For the prince, that is. Ven, you can grab your charge after Sorn has her partner occupied." She didn't know the other lady, but Jean was not the sort to leave a woman stuck with the sort of fellow all accounts said the prince was. If she truly didn't mind her partner, the woman could tell Sorn to back off.

The girl's eyes went even rounder than they were to start with behind her mask, and her hands went to her mouth. A whole world? "How awful!" The words slipped out in a whisper. Shy was visibly distressed by the thought, her wings stirring uneasily against her back. "I can't...."

However, instead of being repulsed by Saintzer, she went up to him and gave him a tight hug, careful not to crush his wings. "I can't imagine how must feel, making mistake like that. Bad enough when mistake like mine. I am lucky, I hurt others only because they think I died." She shuddered, and let go. "Can't imagine how you feel."

Saintzer was quite still until Shylarah hugged him. He froze, eyes huge. A small shudder rippled through him and tears filled his eyes. She wasn't dwelling on his crime. She was concerned for his mental well-being on account of ending so many lives. She didn't hate him. A quiet whimper escaped his throat, and he hesitantly hugged her in return. Some amount of tension left his body when he did so.

Kasiya sighed softly and turned his head away. He would let Saintzer have this moment. He was put through the ringer and no doubt missed having someone hold him and comfort him.

"Not easy, knowing you did bad thing." Shylarah looked up at him. "Especially if no way to fix. But it not mean you bad person. Just...just sometimes not smart. Like me. My friend say, answer is do better next time. Learn from mistakes, and promise yourself you not let it happen again." Her ears tilted slightly downward. "...That not easy either." She sounded a little guilty about it. "But no giving up. Okay?" The girl took his hands and squeezed them. She could tell Saintzer was upset, though she wasn't entirely sure why. It was different from how he'd acted when Kasiya explained what he'd done. She'd not said or done anything exceptional. But maybe he still needed to forgive himself?

She decided that she'd better let him have some time to gather his composure. Her own was not all that solid either, because it always hurt to think she could never return to her first home. She took a deep breath to steady herself, and went over to Kasiya again. "I think I would like dance now," she told him, holding out a hand. "Don't want to be thinking about my mistakes today. Want to be spending time with friends and having fun. ...But maybe he do better if you not so harsh." Shy dropped her gaze to make the suggestion. She wouldn't insist; it was Kasiya's job not hers, after all. But she couldn't help but think that kicking someone when they were down only made things worse.

Saintzer found a spot on the grass to sit down and he took a few deep, steadying breaths. He would learn from his mistake. It wasn't hard to realize what went wrong. The difficult part was making sure it wouldn't happen again. But, like Shylarah said, it wasn't easy. He pulled his legs to his chest and rested his forehead on his knees.

Kasiya looked at him, and then at Shylarah before he nodded. "Fair enough. I'm sorry it brought up some bad memories for you as well." He accepted her hand and drew her in close so they could dance. The music from inside was barely loud enough to be able to hear, but it was enough.

(folks bought it so I can soon xD)) (he put Mirror away, I'm jsut being lazy lol ))

Cut in? Hmm, that had its appeal. It was bold, and noticeable. "Alright," he said with a smirk, "Ven." He patted his new friend on the bum and stepped onto the dance floor. There he tapped Liana. "Pardon me, but I wish to cut in. How about it," he asked looking at Devin. "Beautiful creatures belong together." He looked back over at Liana, "No offense." He gave a slight bow as he wedged his way in, bumping Liana out. "I am called Sorn, you are welcome to nibble my ears if you like--or other places." He wiggled his eyebrows and purred a smile.