...what the hell?

"I'm sorry." The apology slipped out of her before she had a chance to stop it, blowing out a long, slow breath as she shook her head, staring forlorn at the tissue now clutched between her fingers, smudged with day old makeup and damp. "I didn't mean to be mean. You just... pop up at the worst times sometimes. It's embarrassing when someone so cool and put together sees you falling apart." Her eyes darted to him, locking on him for a moment and drinking in his figure before she looked down again quickly, not at all interested in getting caught checking him out. "Gee, thanks, Syrus. Now tell me how I'm naive and silly for falling in love in the first place. Or better yet, tell me how love isn't real and it's all just a chemical reaction in the brain." Despite the words, there was a faint smile tugging her lips up, and she had to duck her head for a moment to try and hide it. "Haven't you ever be so irrationally in love with something that you threw caution to the wind and said fuck it." She sighed, and then sat up again, twisting to look at him with an eyebrow lifted. "I could use something a lot stiffer than a drink, but ladies don't talk about that sort of thing." The giggle she let out as she lifted a finger and pressed it to her lips was equal parts mischief and cutsey, and she shrugged. "I'll go with you if you take me somewhere that I can dance. I know you probably aren't the dancing type, but it's an excellent method of blowing off some steam."

"Sometimes I can guess." Leia admitted. "Usually based on how recently Indi or Dulce have stopped by. If I've not seen you within a few days of seeing them then something's off and you've got a cold or something."

"Well, I don't like the idea of getting you ill when I am." Mona retorted, her lips twitching slightly. The fact that Leia kept an eye out for her appearances made her stomach flip over and she tried not to show her surprise. She might have failed spectacularly at that though, as she wrenched her tooth from her bottom lip, before swiping her tongue across it to ease the sting.

"Ellie takes hers with two massive spoonful's of honey, no judgement here." He was gonna have to take up beekeeping at this rate. How did his parents ever keep up? Maybe they'd share their secrets if he asked nice enough. He put the kettle to boil and began summoning ingredients for breakfast: eggs, peppers, chives, cheese.

"I've never tried it with honey." Zara murmured, leaning against the counter and staring towards the window, content to let someone else make the tea, and the coffee, and the breakfasts for once. She would be doing it all herself in a couple of hours anyway.

xavecamour​:

xavecamour​:

xavecamour​

"Pardon my french, but are you out of your fucking mind?" Her voice was still pitched into a low whisper, not trusting herself not to shriek if she didn't throw her full focus into it, but managing somehow to keep at least some composure. "We are absolutely not doing that, I am not going to let you get killed by a mad man throwing books around. We'll just have. to be sneaky. Together." A long pause, and she looked at him for a moment longer, really studied him. "I know you, don't I? You work in Diagon Alley. I own the Pumpkin Patch. Duri. Now may not be the best time for introductions."

"I'm not going to get killed. I'm going to distract him. There is a slight difference between those two actions." Arkie pointed out, his eyebrow raising out of indignation. "Okay, and if we're sneaky together, and we reach that door and find it locked, what do we do then?" His eyes turned back to the mad man who looked to be thoroughly enjoying throwing books across the room. The menacing smile on this face, only caught from one side, sent a shiver down his spine. "Arkie Alderton, of Arkie Alderton's Kwik-Repair Shop. You're the famous Duri, then? Hm." Arkie nodded quickly. "No, we'll save those for later. Slide over slowly to your right then, we need to get moving if we're ever to get out of here..."

"Geese have teeth, you know. Quite ridiculous and terrifying." The only way that Mary would survive this night was by finding humor in the smallest things. The fun fact was, in fact, a stupid little moment where she managed to make herself smile, even for a moment. "Mary. Under all this. Do you have any idea what's happening?"

"Quite ridiculous and terrifying... well, I certainly have been described as such in the past. I suppose I ought to lean into it." Andromeda's lips quirked upwards into an amused sort of smile. In truth, she'd had no idea that geese had teeth at all; just that they had beaks and hissed at passers-by when they moved too close. "None at all. I remember waiting on the sofa for Ted to come home I must have drifted off, and the next thing I knew... I was here". She sighed, "and you? Any theories as to how we ended up in this... place?"

"Barty..." Her voice trailed off, catching a little as emotion seemed to well up in her like a sudden faucet. Her movement was shaky, but quick, as she moved quickly down the seemingly endless hallway to reach his side, hand coming out to touch him, almost afraid she might move right through him. When it was solid, relief flooded her for a moment, a quick sharp sigh loosing from her. "Holy shit, you're real, great." Any sense of grace she might have had faltered away quickly, Mina returning to herself slightly in company that felt safe. "Some guy called me Past, and my mother is here, and I can't get this mask off and I truly, actually hate this dress a lot, it's itchy, Barty. Silk should never be itchy. God, please don't leave me here."

His previous misgivings about the current situation simultaneously jumped up a notch, and slithered back into the far corners of his mind, upon feeling her hand resting on his arm. He placed his own over the top, closing his thumb around her fingers. "I can't remove my mask either, and I can't see you well through it. Stay close to me." Barty knew he wouldn't leave her, but if she slipped away from him he might struggle to find her again. "Your mother we can avoid. As for the dress... there are wardrobes in the room that I woke up in. Do you think that our clothes follow the same rules as our masks, or should we attempt to find you something more comfortable, or at least, less itchy?"

🐺

"nothing to be sorry about love, I was actually rather enjoying myself." he murmured gruffly, lips twitching into an amused smirk. perhaps teasing while standing inside what appeared to be a literal haunted house, surrounded by enemies who were as masked as they were, wasn't the wisest move. fenrir wrapped an arm protectively around her waist as she leaned against his chest, and shelved his improper thoughts for a later time. "so do I. our masks are not as bad as some I have seen around though. whoever is responsible for this certain has us pegged." they were wolves, matching in all but their colours. "em will be fine. they can take care of themselves." fenrir answered quickly, though his tone betrayed his own worry for the whereabouts of their child. he pulled away and held out an arm. "shall we?"

where; somewhere in the haunted mansion whomst; antonin @xavecamour

His hands no longer shook, his eyes had dried behind the mask and his hair had been fixed hastily in a hallway mirror, before he had proceeded to follow a sea of confused masked figures through the mansion, and away from the library. He had no intention of looking back, and just hoped that Wendy kept her promise and did not tell the others.

who: anyone where: masquerade event

fenrir had recognised her instantly; how could he not? even in masks and ridiculous ball gowns, his pack would always be familiar to him. stalking towards her, frown lines creasing his already aging face behind the wolfish mask he wore, he noted the tension in her shoulders and her frozen stature with concern. "easy love" he murmured as he was pressed against a wall, hand at his throat. should have known better than to sneak up on her in her current state. lifting his own hand to her chin, he pinched it gently between his thumb and forefinger, forcing her eyes up to meet his. the hand on his throat held no threat to him. fenrir was used to it by now, though of course, they were usually far less dressed and never quite so public whenever they played that little game. "it's just me."

who: sterling ( @xavecamour ) where: haunted mansion

sterling had seen zoey earlier in the evening. and he had meant to go over to her but he… hadn't, and as he had sulked in one of the creepy manors many dark corners, he had refused to let himself dwell on the reason why. it was pathetic. and not the thing he should have been focusing on given the current situation. "zoey." he greeted, his tone flat. "if gilderoy came up with this, he deserves more credit than he's currently given." he cleared his throat. "you er... look nice. in that."

"You flatter me. Fetching doesn't even begin to describe how you look." Quin wondered if the mask was the cause of the sudden boost of confidence that quickly tampered down as a shot of sparks moved up his arm. The room lights, dim as anything, didn't seem effected. "I haven't seen an exit, but I'd be remiss if I didn't accompany the lady to find one." And he moved to offer his arm, a slight bow of his head as he seemed to slip into a full part in this twisted ball. "And we'll be sure to avoid the library."

"Perhaps I'll wear this for our real wedding." Melinda tipped him a wink, before turning in a slow circle to take in the entire room, glad that her mask covered enough of her face to obscure the blush she could feel growing at his compliment. She was a model. She was used to being complimented, but something about Quin's words felt more sincere. Like he saw past the fact that her face was her job, and genuinely believed she looked pretty. For just being herself. "Such a gentleman." She took his offered arm, about to remark that her brother was probably just being over protective, when she heard an eerie voice drift into the room and jumped in surprise. "You heard that too, right?"

xavecamour​:

Melinda had done all manner of stupid things in the past. It was an assumption often made among her friends and family that, should something truly idiotic happen, Melinda would likely be behind it. She stared at the ring on her finger, while her mind made frantic attempts to remember the night before; though it felt too much like cupping water in her hands, they slipped away as fast as she tried to hold on to them, just like the words that were spilling from his mouth, creating a buzz in her ears rather than registering as coherent sentences. She needed him to stop, for a moment. Just one. Unsure at what point in his rambling she was interrupting him, her hand shot up quickly and she placed three fingers over his lips, fixing him with a uncharacteristically serious look. The lights had flickered around them, and she was reminded of something else that had happened the night before. "You need to be quiet." She winced, before dropping her hand, letting her thumb brush his chin affectionately before both hands returned to her lap. "We're not married. You can't get married on a whim, don't ask how I know… you need a bunch of licenses and stuff, my brother has been muttering about it. And no-one would marry us if we were that drunk. We were drunk." Melinda took a deep breath. Part of her felt a little sad that she wasn't married; and wasn't that just something to think about later? "Coffee would be good. Six shots of expresso in a big mug. And while you're doing that, maybe you could elaborate on those missing steps you'd like to have taken first…"

where; walking with; open

"I have no idea, but philosophically speaking, does anyone?"