"Ohhhhhhhhh," groaned Ollie as Onzi gave him butt scratches, going thoroughly cross eyed. But then, a small child tackled him! Surprise play time? Yes! His front half dropped into a play-bow, his tail wagging even harder on poor Onzi's knees. The offered hand was duly slobbered all over, and instead of saying yes to being hugged, he jumped up to put his paws on Chiara's shoulders and give her face a very wet tongue bath. Then, he saw the treats! He practically climbed the little girl to get at Cris. "Treats?! TREATS! I'M A GOOD BOY HERE IS MY PAW! LOOK! I CAN SIT~!"
Ess let the music carry her and Silver for a few easy moments before the night’s many threads tugged gently at her awareness.
She felt the Myconid’s sincerity, the apology honest and unarmored. Ess answered not with words, but with a calm acceptance, a gentle easing along that shared channel. No harm done, the response carried. Intent matters, and yours is kind. Her eyes flicked briefly toward Aurelian, a small nod offered in visible reassurance before she let the connection fade.
As they swayed, Ess’s gaze traveled.
She noticed Malachite still dancing with that easy confidence, the spores catching in his cape like stars clinging to fabric. There was relief in him now, a lightness, and she gave him another fleeting glance of quiet acknowledgment.
Her attention shifted again as laughter and barking cut through the music. The dog, impossible and exuberant, careening joyfully through the legs of guests. Ess’s lips curved, amused, eyes warming at the sight of so much uncomplicated delight. Some worlds were healed simply by allowing such creatures to exist.
Nearby, tension flared and withdrew around the satyr, Imp’s unease sharp but understandable. Ess caught the retreat, the too-bright politeness, and made no move to stop her. Not every soul needed pressing. Some needed exits more than invitations.
She felt the Father’s radiant presence, the Duchess’s steady authority, the soldier finding his place among dancers, the child’s wonder sparking dangerously close to joy. The party was alive now, truly alive, and vibrating with many frequencies at once.
Ess turned her attention back to Silver Wren, squeezing her hand gently as they moved.
“You see?” she murmured, voice low and steady amid the sound. “The night doesn’t hate you. It just… overwhelms easily. Like a crowded room that forgets how to whisper.”
She guided their steps a little closer to the glow, keeping Silver comfortably within her orbit, never pushing her into the center unless she leaned that way herself.
“And look,” Ess added softly, eyes flicking meaningfully around them before returning to Silver’s face. “Everyone here is strange in their own way. You’re simply brave enough to feel it.”
Her smile was warm, “Stay with me as long as you need,” she said. “We’ll let the night get used to you.”
She felt the Myconid’s sincerity, the apology honest and unarmored. Ess answered not with words, but with a calm acceptance, a gentle easing along that shared channel. No harm done, the response carried. Intent matters, and yours is kind. Her eyes flicked briefly toward Aurelian, a small nod offered in visible reassurance before she let the connection fade.
As they swayed, Ess’s gaze traveled.
She noticed Malachite still dancing with that easy confidence, the spores catching in his cape like stars clinging to fabric. There was relief in him now, a lightness, and she gave him another fleeting glance of quiet acknowledgment.
Her attention shifted again as laughter and barking cut through the music. The dog, impossible and exuberant, careening joyfully through the legs of guests. Ess’s lips curved, amused, eyes warming at the sight of so much uncomplicated delight. Some worlds were healed simply by allowing such creatures to exist.
Nearby, tension flared and withdrew around the satyr, Imp’s unease sharp but understandable. Ess caught the retreat, the too-bright politeness, and made no move to stop her. Not every soul needed pressing. Some needed exits more than invitations.
She felt the Father’s radiant presence, the Duchess’s steady authority, the soldier finding his place among dancers, the child’s wonder sparking dangerously close to joy. The party was alive now, truly alive, and vibrating with many frequencies at once.
Ess turned her attention back to Silver Wren, squeezing her hand gently as they moved.
“You see?” she murmured, voice low and steady amid the sound. “The night doesn’t hate you. It just… overwhelms easily. Like a crowded room that forgets how to whisper.”
She guided their steps a little closer to the glow, keeping Silver comfortably within her orbit, never pushing her into the center unless she leaned that way herself.
“And look,” Ess added softly, eyes flicking meaningfully around them before returning to Silver’s face. “Everyone here is strange in their own way. You’re simply brave enough to feel it.”
Her smile was warm, “Stay with me as long as you need,” she said. “We’ll let the night get used to you.”
Chieara squealed with happiness when Ollie licked her face, and she hugged his neck, almost disappearing in the thick golden fur. "Mr Pupper is the nicest pupper ever!" she exclaimed. "Do you like ribbons? Next time mum brings me I'll make one just for you, gold like your pretty fur!" She KNEW Ollie would look fabulous with a ribbon around his neck!
Laughing, Cris extended the treats on the palm of her hand for Ollie to take. "They're peanunt butter flavored, someone who keeps a trak on good boys told me you like that", she chuckled.
Laughing, Cris extended the treats on the palm of her hand for Ollie to take. "They're peanunt butter flavored, someone who keeps a trak on good boys told me you like that", she chuckled.
Okay. First order of business. Rob this place blind. Second, find that cider. Now on a dual mission for this apparently delightful drink, and something shiny, Imp skirted the edges of the dance floor, her silver eyes scanning the crowd, the tables, anything that glittered. Where was that kid that came in earlier? Looked like he'd have neat things to snatch, and kids were easy. She placed her empty flute on a passing tray without breaking stride, her movements fluid and practiced - And yet, like an utter fool who did not know how to navigate a crowd, she 'accidentally' stumbled directly into Zechs as she grew close to him.
"Terribly sorry," Imp said, her voice dripping with synthetic remorse as she steadied herself with a light touch on Zechs' arm. Her fingers lingered for a fraction of a second too long. Her other hand, now free from its flute-holding duties, was a blur of motion. "These crowded dance floors are a menace, aren't they?" She smiled, a dazzling, toothy (but careful) display, her silver eyes locking with Zechs' from behind her caprine mask. Her mind was already working, probing, a delicate psychic tendril reaching out to brush against the surface of Zechs' thoughts, searching for... anything. A sense of unease, a pocket to watch, the location of a wallet. Anything she could use. Good practice.
"Terribly sorry," Imp said, her voice dripping with synthetic remorse as she steadied herself with a light touch on Zechs' arm. Her fingers lingered for a fraction of a second too long. Her other hand, now free from its flute-holding duties, was a blur of motion. "These crowded dance floors are a menace, aren't they?" She smiled, a dazzling, toothy (but careful) display, her silver eyes locking with Zechs' from behind her caprine mask. Her mind was already working, probing, a delicate psychic tendril reaching out to brush against the surface of Zechs' thoughts, searching for... anything. A sense of unease, a pocket to watch, the location of a wallet. Anything she could use. Good practice.
(Sorry for throwing a rogue in the middle of a party lolll </3)
Sliver happily let Ess lead her around the dance floor. She laughed. "Yes, it really does overwhelm." She decided that from now on, she would listen to its whispers. She leaned a little toward the center, sensing she might want to go there.
When Ess made the comment about the many different people, she involuntarily looked around at all the other people. She was right and smiled.
Sliver smiled at her invitation and felt touched. Pretty soon, though, she'd need a drink to help her nervous and quench her thirst.
When Ess made the comment about the many different people, she involuntarily looked around at all the other people. She was right and smiled.
Sliver smiled at her invitation and felt touched. Pretty soon, though, she'd need a drink to help her nervous and quench her thirst.
(( I am having a pretty big crash right now from lack of proper sleep for a few days. Please assume Aurelian is just vibing on the dance floor until the party's over 
This was so much fun, thank you everyone! ))
This was so much fun, thank you everyone! ))
((Thanks for coming Aurelian! 
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((Have a good night 😴))
((it was so nice RP'ing with you have a wonderful night))
((Goodnight Aurelian have a good night!))
((Gnnn! ♡))
(Goodnight!! 'Twas quite fun!)
Malachite finally took a break from his dance, dabbing a few beads of sweat off his face with a handkerchief. He went to retrieve another glass of cider, retreating to the edges of the dance floor to observe the other partygoers. While he’d been busy dancing, there had been many new arrivals- the adorable golden retriever standing out to him in particular.
“A talking dog.. hehe, just like the air bud movies.” He muttered to himself, taking a sip of his drink. A part of him wondered if a basketball was anywhere nearby, maybe they could test if this was a descendent of the dog from those iconic films.
His gaze wandered around the party some more, eyes befalling the imp again. His intuition, after having been a vigilante for the past few months, told him that she was up to something fishy
So what did he do? Nothing. He averted his gaze, as if he hadn’t seen anything. Instead he listened closely, taking advantage of his acute sense of hearing. Until he caught evidence of her doing anything bad, it wasn’t his business to intervene.
“A talking dog.. hehe, just like the air bud movies.” He muttered to himself, taking a sip of his drink. A part of him wondered if a basketball was anywhere nearby, maybe they could test if this was a descendent of the dog from those iconic films.
His gaze wandered around the party some more, eyes befalling the imp again. His intuition, after having been a vigilante for the past few months, told him that she was up to something fishy
So what did he do? Nothing. He averted his gaze, as if he hadn’t seen anything. Instead he listened closely, taking advantage of his acute sense of hearing. Until he caught evidence of her doing anything bad, it wasn’t his business to intervene.
(( Thank you! I wil set them to non-anon after the event ends 
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((Sleep well friend!))
Goodnight Aurelian! I really loved your character
Edit- i forgot to mark this as OOC please forgive me lol))
Edit- i forgot to mark this as OOC please forgive me lol))
The offer of a return gift was, in fact, expected. "I thank you and the Grande Duchesse on behalf of Her Eminence," he says with a low bow as he accepts the box, "And assure you that Her Eminence will receive your generosity the moment I return to her Citadel. The note in the case will convey the goddess's well wishes, and includes an invitation of her own. A pleasant evening to you."
With that, Niskali will also take his leave, departing to the cloaked shuttle waiting out of view of the bluffs and the ongoing celebration.
((Get good rest, Aurelian!))
((I have to go for a run before fancy breakfast things, but am glad I got to at least kinda visit, even if it was as much of a token gesture OOC as it was IC!
Happy writing, everyone!))
With that, Niskali will also take his leave, departing to the cloaked shuttle waiting out of view of the bluffs and the ongoing celebration.
((Get good rest, Aurelian!))
((I have to go for a run before fancy breakfast things, but am glad I got to at least kinda visit, even if it was as much of a token gesture OOC as it was IC!
Happy writing, everyone!))
((Have a good night!))
(have fun, niskali!)
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