[img align=center]https://i.postimg.cc/763m3fx9/flakedivider.png[/img]

[img align=center]https://i.postimg.cc/763m3fx9/flakedivider.png[/img] Prizes:

Outfit Not Found

While out one a wonderful sleigh ride in a wood area and stopping for a much needed rest, a stranger emerged from the evergreens. He was a dapper fellow and dressed to impress. He approached with such dignity and class, that I was a bit hesitant to turn my head, so the hair covering my unfortunate blind eye could be seen. I have always been self conscious about it you see and a bit anti-social due to stares and whispers.

He politely came up to me and handed me an invitation and said your presence to attend has been requested, and then turn and walked away back into the evergreen trees. The invitation read "You are cordially invited to the Winter Solstice Silent Auction." The invitation included dress, time and that I would be picked up by carriage. I was left dumbfounded as I had never heard of this auction before, yet excited that I had been chosen.

What would I wear? What should I do with my hair, I thought? Then the panic set in. I remembered the stares and whispering over my blind eye and suddenly became a little upset. Suddenly, this stunning snowy owl came out of nowhere and landed on my arm. It startled me a bit. The owl looked at me hard, with only one eye open, and began to speak to me. It told me its name was Wisdom and it was my animal spirit. Wisdom told me not to concern myself with my eye, that all would be great at the auction, to go and enjoy myself. Then Wisdom flew off as quickly as he appeared.

The day soon came for the silent auction and I was super excited! I had been to town and got a lovely dress and got my hair done. A beautiful horse drawn carriage arrived to pick me up and we were on our way. When I arrived I was so nervous but once I entered it was glorious! Every kind of appetizer, main course and desert you could imagine. I was so relieved as no one seemed to notice my blind eye or the Roselace Garnet Eyepatch I was wearing that matched my outfit, just like Wisdom said.

After the meal was finished the auction began. I was so shocked when I was announced the winner of the auction! I won a beautiful snowy owl pendant, earrings and ring to match. It was perfect! They reminded me so much of my spirit animal, Wisdom. It was the night of my life.

The apartment was a two by one meter cage, stacked four tall with others of its kind, in a converted high rise block whose walls were locked in a constant battle between the forces of institutional eggshell white and the black of encroaching mold. Liao Yun lay there on his narrow strip of bedroll, surrounded by the colors of everything he owned. Little hooks clung to the cage bars, stretched out of their original shape from the labor of suspending his three changes of clothes. Keeping them company were a scattering of hanging plastic grocery bags, containing utensils, toiletries, and the sundry necessities of living. He also gave audience to a hot plate, a tiny kettle, a single mug, and a few cloth bags of cherished little things.

His two dozen neighbors called the place the chicken cages, and they shared a single sink and toilet between them. There was just enough room in his cage to stretch out and lay flat. Standing out amongst his necessities was a velvet bag left to him from his grandfather's belongings, from a time when his family had money and station. Bulging with sacred contents, it took up far too much space in his tiny cage, but they were a piece of another world, and proof that someone had once loved him. His mind drifted then, as it often did, to places he would never see and company he would never keep, beneath the forks and plastic and socks he imagined to be a chandelier.

Soon enough, it was time to venture back out onto the streets in search of something to put in his stomach, whatever the few coins kicking around in his pockets could buy. He wasn't especially hungry, but his body needed it, and any excuse to slip out of the chicken cages was welcome. He found dim sum in the street market, and made his way through the narrow alleyways eating it. He decided to brave the cold and take the long way home, passing by the gated communities and fancy homes that might as well have existed on another planet: houses with fireplaces he would never warm himself beside; mid-rise apartments with balconies he would never stand on; little homes with full bathrooms he would never get to use and big comfy beds he would never sink himself into.

Then there it was, in the gutter just inside the gate, a discarded piece of paper and the remains of a torn gilded envelope. It was half-swallowed by snow, a dog-eared corner fluttering with a gust of wind. He bent down carefully and reached his arm through for the prize, to dust it off and perhaps enjoy the artistry and calligraphy of a world far removed from his own. A deft hand had obviously put great care into the invitation. With each word he read his eyes grew bigger.

Dearest collector. . . . . .once in a lifetime opportunity. . . . . .dress code will be enforced. . .

Of course, the invitation wasn't meant for him. Caged chickens don't get invited to exclusive auctions. But when he felt the thick paper stock and traced his fingers along the fancy lettering he could just smell the champaign and see the throngs of wealthy people in their dazzling clothing and sparkling jewels. In his mind's eye, they were holding up fans, throwing out extraordinary amounts of money against one another, all for the opportunity to welcome a precious object into their already opulent collections. For him, just to see a precious object would be an adventure. To sit in a clean dark place among those who wanted for nothing and watch their bidding wars, to pretend to be one of them, even to parody them right under their noses. Then if he was truly bold, to approach the object of the auction and pretend to inspect it for quality. These thoughts made him giddy. Of course, it was a risk. He would have to put on an act, and they wouldn't hesitate to throw him to the wolves if he gave himself away. He was threading a dangerous needle and the safest bet would be to squirrel the invitation away into his treasure trove of plastic bags and never dare to think about what he had missed. His fingers traced the words again, Once in a lifetime opportunity. Without giving it any more thought he wrote his RSVP and instructed it to pick him up at this very spot, styling himself Lord Liao.

He waited his turn at the chicken cages' single sink so he could scrub himself down. He threw perfumes into the mix, perhaps overzealously, anything to hide the scent of this godforsaken place.

Then it was time. He delicately took down the velvet bag and began the process of unpacking it. The fine cravat, cape, and hat of his grandfather greeted him like old friends he had not seen in years. He filled out the ensemble with a rough and rugged selection of his own best all-purpose streetwear, surprised at how well the fancy blended in with the basic. With a little luck, he might just pass for eccentric and chic.

His throat tightened as he passed by the rows of cage homes, the heads of his neighbors poking out to gawk at him. Finally he beheld himself in the rusty, mold-damaged mirror they all shared between them.

Caged Chickenby Vic

A small crowd gathered around him. He didn't know which of his neighbors laughed first, but it spread like a wildfire. He left them behind on his way to the gates. They could laugh all they wanted. They were going to spend their evenings in cages. He was going to spend his savoring being someone else, in the presence of something beautiful.

He couldn't have it, but that was all right. He could see it. Maybe even touch it. He was Lord Liao, just for one night. The imposter among them.

chance for a slot on this gorgeous Eyepatch!

tagging you lovlies as well since I believe it is on a couple of your wishlists, but I don't remember who!

TWO AND A HALF DAYS LEFT~!

( pinging you for a lil time reminder while I am posting too~ )

Two day reminder! This mini event is wrapping up on the 21st. See first posts for info ♥

come back here ASAP!!

Hihi! 💕 Is it possible to enter, and if I was lucky and win a paid slot but unfortunately unable afford it, be able to request to decline an invite? I'm away at the moment and still need to work on gifts so I can't say with confidence I'd be able to afford it in time ^^' but would love to try for a chance if possible ❤️ I understand if not, and thank you for hosting!! 💕

Sure thing! If you win a slot (there aren't many entries yet so your chances at this moment are high) and need more time to afford it, as long as you keep me informed I am happy to hold on to it for you until you can. Anything being held for long periods of time without communication will be something that gets warehoused. c:

Thank you so much 💕 I'll let you know if I think I can't afford it, I'd hate to be a bother and ask you to hold it for too long ^^' I'll be aiming to get my entry in soon! ❤️

Glancing down at the invitation while sipping her darkly brewed spice tea she thought the finely decorated paper must have been sent in error. Grant it, how many would know to accidently send a demon, of all beings, a paper invitation by accident? She grimaced into her tea, then again... those constant annoying ouija board calls and whinging of summoners never ceases to annoy her. Why would mortals invite a demon to a winter solstice event of all times anyways?

Sighing she places her delicate tea cup down and looks at her many servants, "An event I surely must not miss then if they managed to waste time, paper, and sanity to send it here of all places." On that note she clapped for her demon maids to aid her in finding a suitable look for the evening.

Exiting the car she looked at the warehouse sighing at the oddities of mankind. Upon entrance to the event, she observed the many other mortals and immortals alike partaking in this silent auction. " Good to see the skeletons from crypt 5B are having the time of their lives" chuckling at the irony the demoness nearly walked right through another frantic guest "hmm it would seem even the ghost of Hamlet himself was also invited, I wonder if he still ponders if he is or is not in fact a ghost, to be or not to be in my way more like it, although at this rate let's hope he never runs into a real phantom..."

Checking that her kimono was still in place, the demoness glances once more at the details of the invitation, "let's see what is in-store for us all this fine winter solstice" With a grin she walks to the nearest waiter, grabs a fine glass of blood wine and proceeds to mingle with the other interesting guests.

by Latreia

She blinked. So this is the auction she has been hearing whispers about? The invitation was not a prank? Bemused, she glanced at the ice-covered walls and began to contemplate her situation while twirling silver ringlets absent-mindedly. Glitzen is not a common name. Considering the size of her small town where everyone knows each other, a strange name would have been exchanged numerous times among top gossipers, then spread like wildfire as people attempt to outclass each other with their own opinions on the origins of the name, potential deep dark mysteries behind it, or even their fantasies on the name owner's noble roots.

That smile was devious for sure. She was sure she saw shadows of horns, wings and perhaps even a tail. What are the auction items going to be? With an abandoned warehouse as the backdrop, and numerous unrelated guests who are still arriving, this seems to be the perfect setting for a murder mystery, a horrific chain of events or deadly survival game to happen.

How are the guests selected? She scanned her surroundings. An eyepatch guy. A lady in a bloodstone dress. Another eyepatch guy, this time with a crown and smothered by red roses (is this the latest fashion statement?). A kimono lady with horns (wait...are those horns real?). She touched her own petit demon horns gingerly to make sure they stayed in place - those are suggested by a friend who was more excited than she is upon knowing she got a mysterious invitation. You must dress up! Her friend had exclaimed. Do the elegant countess look - here, put on those horns as a finishing touch. You must not look your age, and certainly do not give away that your occupation is a detective.

This certainly looks like a case for a detective. Smoothing down the edge of her skirt, she smiled. This is going to be an interesting evening. Come what may, she is ready for a challenge.

Last call! Contest ends tonight at midnight subeta time.

(( PS - I'm in the path of a winter storm arriving tonight/tomorrow. If our internet doesn't get knocked out things should go as planned, but if not I'll get back as soon as I am able. Stay safe! ))

Thanks for the reminder and I am super glad I got my entry in under the wire. Good luck everyone!

silence (traveler)by Undomesticable

Silence turned the invitation over and over. What was this about? Lovely, but not from their mother. This wasn't her handwriting at all, and they had never heard of the Curiosity Society. So why was it cold, if not from her touch? Why would it have a pretty silver snowflake on the seal? Touching the paper, they had a vision of blue lights glittering on ice, finely dressed guests, and a black eyepatch with a red rose blooming in its center. Ah, that made sense. They fiddled with the half-blindfold they wore. Mom loves red roses. Their mothers must be going, and maybe they had made rosy eyepatches for everyone to make Silence feel welcome. Maybe Silence would remember why they would have decided to have an auction by the time they got there. They hoped they hadn't left a car and driver waiting somewhere. The address meant nothing to them, but Winter Solstice...once in a lifetime... Ah, so it would be easy to find. They reached for history and wrapped it around their vision, unobtrusively appearing in the ballroom just as Glitzen's welcoming speech began. If nothing else, a Society that could deliver a letter to a time traveler was worth seeing for themself.