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Myk stands in the centre of the ballroom that is to be the destination for his self-bought cadeau d'anniversaire – birthday present. Pewter eyes sparkle as he takes in the view, the product of his imaginings brought to life. The venue is dressed in white and red striped satin, bowing from the ceiling and to trail down the walls to give the impression of being inside an extravagant tent. The floor is simple oak, polished to a shine that reflects the twinkling fairy lights strung loosely overhead. The room has a dark, intimate feel, but there is something else too; an unknown tension, as if the air is charged with magic and deviance. Myk absolutely loves it.

It has taken a veritable circus to dress the room, prepare the carnival-themed canapés, arrange the shocking cocktail flavours, make the top-hat cake, wait on guests, entertain guests, and prepare a mountain’s worth of balloon animals. Myk has done his best to help too – buzzing back and forth from one job to the next – but even his supernatural stamina is starting to fail him. Flyers were put up all over the city some few nights ago, inviting people to a Cirque du Solei themed event – a party that wasn’t specifically or publically revealed to be a birthday party nor related in any way to the Telepath. Although this was his birthday present to himself, that didn’t mean that Myk wanted the limelight. His only wish was that people would come, be entertained and enjoy themselves.

There is no dress code to speak of and the invite extends to the living and living-dead alike. Myk is looking forward to seeing who will turn up to the proposition of a party that provides free nibbles, a free glass of champagne and some crazy entertainment. Performers have been hired to re-enact the “Unicycle Duo” act from Cirque du Solei: Kooza at midnight. Dancers, acrobats and magicians will be on the floor all night. Free gifts are being given when a guest leaves – a balloon animal of their choice. There is a make-your-own caramel apple stall; even popcorn and candyfloss are available. Set up near the back of the room, through a small corridor of mirrors, is a photo booth where guests can put on silly props, have their picture taken and keep a memento of the night.

Since Myk has only put in the order to turn away people once the venue reaches its maximum capacity, the chances are rather high that the place could be heaving even if Myk doesn’t manage to recognise a single face. Everyone loves free food and alcohol, right? Provided there is no bloodshed, the guests could stay as long as the party was going too. It was a disappointing fact, but Myk had to hire some kind of security to keep the peace. A little deviance here and there was tolerable, but if anything got out of hand and complaints were made, the offenders would have to be removed. Nevertheless, Myk was optimistic that such things wouldn’t really happen. This was a night to have some harmless fun! A celebration that anyone and everyone are invited to.

The party is due to start at 9pm and continue on until 4am. That gives Myk approximately one hour to get ready. If he’d been planning on doing anything particularly fanciful and dramatic with his appearance, one hour wouldn’t have been nearly enough time. As it happens, the Telepath is happy going low-key. His short black hair – down to the base of his neck – is gelled back loosely. Myk dresses in a loose band t-shirt – Rise Against – and a plain pair of rock-washed jeans, matte-black combat books and very little in the way of accessories save for the short pair of studded, leather bracers. This smart-casual, rock-fan style will do the job of letting him blend into the crowds. All primped and ready to go, Myk is there, ready and waiting for when the doors open, the dance music – mixed with carnival tunes – plays and the party is well and truly ready for its guests.

Dress: https://s-media-cache-ak0.p i n i m g.com/73 ... ce4533.jpg

Having just made a deposit at the bank, Alexandrea was just taking a small drive around town looking at some of the real estate listings in the area when Liz's mind touched hers. The blonde pulled over to communicate with the Elder, she wasn't the best driver and was learning to be more cautious in the things she did.

A party wasn't what she had in mind for the evening but this was Myk. And Alex simply adored Myk. And being around Elizabeth was an added bonus. With a bright smile, the Allurist replied to the Telepath.

*That sounds wonderful! I'd love to. Must pop home and change first, and then I'll head for the Ivory Tower. Where is the party?*

Alexandrea hoped it was the former, it would give her a chance to catch up more with the head of the family and see how her regaining her lost memories was progressing. And to compare outfits, of course. She grinned as she drove her car back to the parking lot by the mall and then hurried inside, heading for her shop and the fade portal there that went to the Mausoleum. She kept most of her clothes in her lair there these days.

Some time later and with a pile of dresses piled on the floor up to her knees, the blonde finally selected something to wear with matching shoes and a bag. Her hair and makeup were quickly freshened up and then she took her tome out and recited the words that would bring her to the rooftop garden and then tucked the scroll of magical paper away safe inside her purse.

The phone that was nestled in Astrid's back pocket, began vibrating. She pulled it from it's denim grasp and swiped her finger across the screen; Alex had sent her a text. MYK was having a party and her overly social sire wanted her to go to it. Astrid started to text back an excuse of having to study, when Alex fired off with a preemptive strike and texted her saying not to make any excuses. Gah!

Running into her bedroom, she tripped over one of her shoes that had been strewn across the floor earlier, when she was looking for her boots. It was one of her running shoes. If she were still human, that would have easily caused her to fall flat on her face, but her vampire reflexes allowed her to divert the rug burn disaster and kept her on her feet. She did however stumble just a little. "Mother Dog!" Astrid kicked the offending shoe out of her way and continued on her path to the closet.

"I don't even know what kind of party this is supposed to be." She mumbled to herself, as she pushed her clothes across the pole that they were hanging from. Her fingers sorted through the different colored dresses, shirts, and slacks. Finally they stopped on her favorite go to dress. Astrid wasn't what one would call a fashionista, but she did pay attention to fashion rules such as: you should always keep a little black dress and never wear white shoes after Labor Day. Since she didn't know what kind of party it was, exactly, she pulled out her black strapless dress and held it up to her small frame. Yes, that would have to do. Searching around, she found her gold chain choker and a pair of black strappy heels.

After utilizing the trick of using a web cam to apply her make up (thanks to Alex for that tip), she had her dark eye make-up and red lipstick in place. And since she settled on letting her hair hang loosely around her shoulders, she didn't have to do much else.

Happy with the way she looked, the red headed vampire made a quick call to a cab company. Once he arrived, she handed over the address that her sire had texted to her. As the driver opened the door for her, she made sure to sit as close to the door as she could. This was yet another trick that was taught to her by her sire. The purpose was to always make sure you that you can't be seen in the rear view mirror, or to be more exact, that your non reflection can't be noticed in the rear view mirror.

Astrid had to admit, despite her original feelings about attending a party, she was actually a bit excited to be attending. It had been forever and a day since the last time she had done something that didn't involve studying and a paycheck.

Astrid's outfit: http://www.p o l y v o r e.com/myks_party/set? ... 69160#fans

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--


<Cosimo> Cosimo lay in bed, his fingers idly running over the silk of his new pyjamas. He’s just woken up, and put the pyjamas back on when he’d wandered out to the lounge room to find his phone, which had been discarded there the night before. When he returned, he stared at the ceiling for a while, thinking, before he rolled over and gently allowed his fingers to play across Athena’s skin; tucking her hair - now a strangely alluring blonde - behind her ear, thumb grazing her lip, fingers dancing over her shoulder, her hip. Waiting for her to wake up.

On her other side, Artu was curled up, peacefully asleep, his warm purring body gently pressed up against Athena’s back. It didn’t matter how much she seemed to hate the cat, he gravitated toward her. As was the way with cats, most of the time. Drawn to the people who didn’t want them anywhere near.

When he’d checked his phone, Cosimo had realised the date. Myk’s birthday. And the party that he hadn’t been personally invited to but which he’d seen posters for around the city. And Cosimo wanted to go. And he wanted Athena to come with him.

<Athena> It was the night after she got her hair done. Athena had many little bad habits and doing things on a whim was definitely one of them. Instead of her dark inky black locks she shifted back to her original color -blonde. After seeing her siress and her family she was curled up happily in Cosimo's bed, tucked as close to his body in her sleep as she could manage. It was a wonder that she didn't attempt to mold them both together, anyways.

Usually it took her a lot to wake up but once she felt his fingers on her, felt the man stirring beside her she couldn't help but to open those blue eyes of hers. Long eyelashes blinked sleep from them and before she really knew it her lips spread into a smile and she knew she was awake. Those simple touches enough to wake Athena from her sleep even if not too long before she had slept through three long nights without a blink of her eyes. "Cosimo." She whispered, sleep even obvious with how groggy her voice sounded. That smile though, sleep didn't cloud that. Her love for him brightened her considerably despite her sleepy brain.

<Cosimo> “Athena,” he rumbled, his smile echoing hers as she finally stirred and woke up. His fingers rested over her hip as he shuffled a little closer, her face now within a breath’s distance. “There is a party. Myk - he is family. It is his birthday. A Circe de Soleil theme… at a pub, somewhere. Tonight. Soon. Will you come with me?” he asked, cutting straight to the chase. Getting to the point and planting the idea in Athena’s brain, before she even thought about work. Because he fully expected her to tell him that she couldn’t. That she was rostered on, somewhere, in one of her numerous jobs. But he hoped she might cut class and come with him instead.

<Athena> It took her a moment to register what he said. A party? Milk? What? Her eyelashes fluttered closed again, then she opened them to look at her lover. "Uh?" She mumbled, a arm wrapped around herself to keep the blanket up. Slowly, she sat up some which only made her more aware of that damn cat curled up at her side. Why didn't it just curl up with Cosimo? She hated that cat. Her nose wrinkled and after a moment she smiled at him again. "You want to take me to a family party?" She asked, leaning over to kiss him good morning regardless that she just asked him a question. Leaning back, she settled on his bed with her sitting up, arm holding the blanket over her mostly nude body. "I would love to go."

<Cosimo> “Si… and no. It is a public party that everyone is invited to but Myk, he is family,” he said. He sat up, too, so that he was level with Athena, allowing her more access to the blanket that he had otherwise been half laying on, trapping around his legs. “You do not have work? I will like you to meet him. Elizabeth will probably be there, too,” he said, beaming. It was about time that he introduced Athena to some of his family. The last thing that he would want is for them to think that he had no interest in them anymore. Or that he was ignoring them. Or that they were not important enough to be introduced to the woman that he loved. More than that, though, he was just excited for them to meet Athena, for the simple reason that he loved her.

<Athena> Work, that reminded her. Did she? No, of course not. Well.. Athena shrugged. She didn't care. She owed him this, at the very least. It wouldn't hurt to go to a party with him. "Well, I can go anyway. I don't have to work today." She smiled then, knowing how happy that would make him. Which of course, made her happy to make him happy. Leaning over she kissed his lips softly before she managed to just lay back down on his bed. As active as she was naturally, as many jobs as she had- sometimes Athena could be lazier than all the bums put together. Sad enough for Cosimo, this was one of those times. "Is it now or can I just lay here for awhile...?"

<Cosimo> Cosimo checked the time on his phone. By now it was eight - the sun had set about half an hour ago. The time on the poster he’d seen had said nine-o-clock. “It is in an hour,” he said, shifting a little amongst the sheets. The silk was smooth against the sheets, and he liked the way he felt. “You can lay there as long as you want. But it depends on how long it will take you to get ready,” he said. Women were notorious for taking forever to get ready, weren’t they? He tugged at the blanket, lightly. As if threatening to pull the whole thing off, to force her up and out of the bed.

<Athena> Sure, most women were notorious for taking too long getting ready. Athena was still a woman after all and she wasn't excluded from this. However, it was getting her out of bed that would take the most time. Even with him telling her the current time and the time of party- it didn't light a fire under her *** in the least. In fact, her arm folded under her head, eyes gazing up at him with a lazy smile spread over her lips. "We don't have to be the first dorks there, Cosimo." Those blues rolled, it was amusing to her that he was always in such a rush. With him trying to threaten the blanket off of her she stayed put, laying happily on his bed and willing to do so covered or not. If he wanted to toss that blanket off- she was more than willing to lay there topless with just her underwear on. It wasn't as if he hadn't seen her before. Or that she were ashamed. "We've got plenty of time, handsome."

<Cosimo> Cosimo was excited about the party. About getting out and about with Athena. Staying in bed wasn’t as appealing to Cosimo as it could have been, and he did just as he threatened; he pulled the blanket away as he meandered out into the apartment, into the kitchen. The blanket lay skewed on the ground, halfway out the door. Within seconds, Artu was on his feet, thundering out the door after Cosimo, meowing for his food. Cosimo collected the cat from the ground, cuddling the cat against his chest, cooing at him in Italian as he wandered back and forth in front of the bedroom door. On purpose. They had plenty of time. But he was restless, anyway, in his excitement.

<Athena> She sighed then when the blanket was pulled from on top of her. The fabric lying useless on the ground now. But those blues narrowed- right on that cat and Cosimo when she saw him whispering to him in his mother tongue. The little furball curled up in his arms. It infuriated her. The jealousy rose from the pit of her stomach and now she sat up sharply. "Oh, so you want me up and going to this party with you but you give the damn cat more attention." Again, those blues rolled and she slid her way off the bed and to her feet finally. Swaying her lazy way to him she reached over to touch him, her gaze locked with his and she yanked those satin pants down. "Come on, don't we have some party to be too early for." With a sway of her hips, another roll of her eyes and a flick of her blonde her hair she made her way to the bathroom. He wanted her to get ready so badly? Then so be it.

<Cosimo> As soon as Athena got out of the bed, Cosimo beamed. It was a gamble, of course. Whether or not she’d still want to come if he deliberately made her angry. He deposited Artu on the bench as Athena approached, grinning at her. If they were human and this was their morning, they might fiddle around in the kitchen for a while, making coffee and toast. But they didn’t have to eat anything at all - except blood, but they could do that later. Cosimo arched a brow as Athena yanked his pants down, watching her as she sauntered toward the bathroom. He chuckled. “Si. It got you out of bed,” he mumbled, before he stepped out of the boxers and finally went to the cupboard to get Artu his biscuits. The cat stopped his meowing after he was fed, and Cosimo followed his lover into the bathroom.

<Athena> When he answered her she ignored him. Not to be mean or anything she was just making her way to the bathroom to do as he wished. She turned on the hot water of the shower, letting the room steam up before she stepped into the tub and started to wash her body and her blonde hair. With her head tipped towards the water she closed her eyes, letting the water hit her flesh as her head imagined the sound of her drums.

<Cosimo> Cosimo stepped into the shower after Athena, the smile still lingering upon his lips. His fingers ran a trail down Athena’s spine before he pushed in. “You are hogging the water,” he said with faux seriousness. He didn’t feel dirty. He didn’t feel like he needed a shower, really. He’d had one before bed the night before. The only thing he smelled of, now, was Athena. There was no cat hair, because Artu didn’t have hair. He plucked the soap from its holder, regardless, and washed himself, grinning down at Athena as he pushed himself into her space.

<Athena> She knew he climbed in behind her, palms moving to slide over her face with a sigh. His fingers touched the flesh of her back and she arched forward a little. Blinking away thoughts of her drums she heard his playful mumble and she turned her head over her shoulder to look back at him. "Well, you didn't have to shower with me." Teasing back, now turning to face him with the water hitting her spine. "Are you going to wash me too?" Her blues scanned his body as he moved, almost too energetic for her to go to a party. But, if he was excited she could try to be at least too.

<Cosimo> Cosimo roughly and quickly shampooed his own hair, after he’d scrubbed under his arms and down below with the soap. He shrugged his shoulders. “You were the one to pull my pants down. A man can only assume that you wanted me to join you,” he said with a wink. And then he shook his head. “I will wash you later. When we have more time. If I wish you now I think that we will be very very late,” he said, leaning down to capture a wet kiss from Athena, the water hot over their lips, before he twisted away. He still didn’t know how long it would take Athena to get ready, without dallying too long in the shower. His intention had only been to get wet, to wash his hair, and to get out again. He snatched a towel from the rack and wrapped it around his waist. “Hurry up,” he said, wandering out of the bathroom and into the bedroom, where he would find something to wear.

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

<Athena> Ath watched him rush his shower and it was all she could do not to roll her eyes at him yet again. The man were moving as if the party started in five minutes, as if they would be late and miss everything. If anything, she knew they wouldn't miss anything good. That always happened at the ends of parties. Maybe this were his first? Hell, she didn't know. It sure seemed so. The comment about his pants was ignored. She had yanked those down in revenge for him coddling the cat. Not to get him to follow her in the shower and further rush her. Those brows of hers knitted together and she watched him. "Very very late? What is that to you, Cosimo? Only ten minutes early?" Athena mumbled, cranky now. She hated being rushed. After his brief kiss, she turned back around and as if she didn't challenge him enough- she took her sweet time.

<Cosimo> Cosimo was in far too good a mood to be put off by Athena taking her time. The woman was not wrong - an hour was plenty of time to get where they needed to be, and they didn’t have to get there at nine on the dot. But the Italian had slept good, and he had excess energy to burn. His good mood wasn’t only attributed to his good sleep, though; the simple fact that Athena had taken off the engagement ring given to her by Hunter - Cosimo had noticed - was enough to make him positively buoyant. When Athena got out of the shower she’d find him dressed in dark navy slacks and a crisp white shirt, buttoned all the way up to the neck. There was a colourful pattern on the shirt, on the left hand side, as if someone had scribbled on it with crayons. It was one of his better shirts, though. Italian silk. Cost him a fortune, back in Rome after one of his and his father’s last cons together. He was still barefoot, though, and his hair was wet, though brushed. He sang to himself, a low hum, the words indecipherable. He was standing at the ironing board - the jacket was crumpled. He glanced up as soon as Athena entered. “Did I tell you that I love the blonde?” he said. It was different. Distracting.

<Athena> Her eyes closed, head tipped back as she enjoyed the water. She had no clue that one of the reasons he was so happy was because she hadn't put her engagement ring back on. Athena hadn't noticed at first- she always took it off to bathe but when her siress announced her engagement she had taken a peek at the impressive ring only to realize it was still in its little bowl in Cosimo's bathroom. It took awhile but she had decided to wander through a few nights of life without it. How would that feel? Athena didn't even think about it as she washed her body or her newly dyed blonde hair. The color of her true roots. After turning off the water, climbing out and drying herself off. She walked out only to get complimented by a nicely dressed Cosimo. Despite herself, she smiled at her lover and shrugged. "You hadn't." Making her way now towards the bag of things she always brought over to his place.

<Cosimo> The Italian nodded, the steam rising in his face as he finished the last sleeve of the jacket. He flicked it in front of him, the material ‘thwacking’ in mid-air. He pulled the jacket on, even while sauntering over toward Athena. The material was still warm as he lifted a hand to brush the wet hair behind her ear; to press a light kiss to her temple. “Io ti amo,” he whispered against her ear. I love you. Three words, spoken in the Italian that, by now, Athena should very well understand. He wandered away, then, to find shoes and socks, to lazily sit on the end of the bed to pull them on.

<Athena> He pushed her hair behind her ear and she melted. Cosimo had a way that caused him to warm her up and freeze her cold. With a sigh, her blues flicked to his face as he whispered that he loved her. She did know those words by now. They still had the ability to make her melt. It was Cosimo alone that made her knees weak even if she were too proud to show it. "I love you too." Smiling, she made her way back into the bathroom to blow dry her now blonde locks. It didn't take her too long, coming out in her towel again to return to her bag to wrestle through it for something nice to wear. Looking over at him she smiled. "Cosimo, you look handsome in blue.."

<Cosimo> As soon as the laces were tied on his shoes, Cosimo was ready to go. Aware that Athena might not appreciate it if he lingered - even if he had told her to hurry up in jest - and watched as she got ready, he instead found his way to the armchair in the corner of the room, collecting one of the books from the bedside table to read while he waited. Seeing the opportunity to sleep on a still lap, Artu joined Cosimo, trying to curl up between his owner’s leg and the arm of the chair. It didn’t work so well, but Cosimo made no attempt to move the cat. He lowered the book when Athena came back into the room, admiring the way the blonde now framed her face, giving her a softer edge. His smile broadened as she complimented his outfit. “I thank you,” he said. “There was another suit. It was a… lighter blue. I think, maybe too light,” he said with a shrug. At least he was a man who knew how to dress himself.

<Athena> Maybe too light, he said. It was enough to make the woman roll her blues in good humor. Now pulling out the new pair of leather pants she bought, plucking then after a dark red top to match. "I'm sure you'd have looked handsome regardless." Dropping the towel she began to pull on her clothes. Her palms dusting off the cropped top to rest correctly over her flat stomach, showing off hints of pale flesh. The leather hugging her body as she sat on the bed to pull on socks and her normal combat boots. "Alright, I'm ready." As she stood, Athena put her palms on her hips and gazed over at her lover. "Ready to be early?"

<Cosimo> The book was all but forgotten as Cosimo watched Athena get dressed. The woman had no shame - nor should she, given the things they’ve shared thus far in their relationship. And he enjoyed it, being able to watch her, knowing that she didn’t care. When she said she was ready, Cosimo put the bookmark back into the book and grinned at Athena. “We will not be early. We will walk slowly,” he said. The cat gave a disgruntled mewl as Cosimo pushed himself up out of the chair; Artu stretched, and then curled up again in the space Cosimo had left behind. It was that easy for a cat to forget. From the dresser, Cosimo found his wallet, keys, and phone, pushing each into different pockets. “Let us go,” he said, reaching out a hand for Athena. Waiting for her now, rather than rushing ahead without her.

<Athena> The woman watched with a broad smile when he stood up from his seat. She saw the cat fall and she attempted to stop the flicker of annoyance on her face. While her blonde hair softened her features naturally it didn't help much with her expressions. Keeping her hands playfully on her hips she walked over to the man, her hand finding his to grab and instead pull him down to her. "We are still going to be the first dorks, anyway." Lifting up then to press a quick kiss to his lips before walking towards the door with him. Athena didn't have her keys, or her wallet, or even her bag this time. When she was with him she had a bad habit to leave her stuff behind. All forgotten besides Cosimo. At the very least, she had her tome and her phone. "So, should we bring a gift?" She asked, eyebrows raising as they made their way out the door.

<Cosimo> Cosimo could be thoughtful in a lot of ways, but as soon as Athena mentioned a gift, he paused. “Aaaaah,” he didn’t have one, obviously. And he couldn't say he knew Myk well enough to know what to get the guy. The first thing that came to mind was a bottle of bleach, but that was hardly appropriate. “I do not know Myk so well. He does not… open up. I will have no idea what to get him,” he said. “I will ask him, perhaps. I will think of something later,” he said. Typical male, leaving things to the last minute, or evading them entirely. He locked the door behind them, sauntering toward the elevator to press the button that would summon the machine to them.

<Athena> He said he didn't have a gift and she should have assumed that. Cosimo was all man, after all. With a laugh she shrugged at him and continued to smile. "I'm sure you will, Cosimo. It always helps to ask, though." When the elevator finally came she walked in with him. Turning her head slightly to eye the corner that more or less helped start everything between them before. Laughing at herself silently, she reached for his hand again. Letting her long fingers intertwine with his while her thumb caressed the skin of his hand. While she wasn't particularly excited it was nice to be with him. Maybe, hopefully, that was enough to keep her in a good mood.

<Cosimo> Cosimo noticed that corner, too, but didn’t do what he had done, then. Instead he brings Athena’s knuckles to his lips, kissing each one slowly as the elevator took them down. While he’d been waiting for Athena he’d also checked the address of the pub, and the route to get there. It wouldn’t take them too long, but nor would The walk be quick. Perhaps fifteen minutes. Twenty five, if they walked slowly like he suggested. Really, he could know Myk better, but he’d been distracted. Easily so, by Athena. He was looking forward to seeing the two of them meet; he wanted to know what they would think of each other. On the way, he told Athena about Myk; about the white apartment, every single item within it, white. And the male himself, with his pale skin and his bleached blonde hair. Cosimo, obviously, had not seen Myk since the change.

<Athena> She enjoyed those little kisses. If you asked her, those were her favorite. They were kisses that he didn't have to do. A little gesture that said how he felt without words and Athena loved it. As they walked, she listened to what he had to say about Myk. It was funny to hear about the white apartment considering she had first thought his name was 'Milk'. For once, she offered her own bit of information. She told him that her sire had her own little announcement. Athena was excited and hopeful. Without even telling her siress first she told him- she hoped it was a wedding announcement. Especially after seeing how upset Rion had gotten a few nights ago when a joke went wrong about it. Athena could hope, at least.

<Cosimo> As Athena told him about her sire, Cosimo could only hope, too. The smile remained steadfast upon his lips, the dimples shining from his cheeks. As he held her hand he couldn’t help but run his thumb over that finger of hers, now bereft of a ring that he had been jealous of. But it was no longer there; and Athena was coming with him to meet his family. And soon, maybe, he’d be able to meet hers. It wasn’t something that he mentioned; he didn’t want to assume. But he would be there, if she invited him. If it was what she hoped it was to be. When they reached the pub, it was just past half past nine. They weren’t on time, but they weren’t entirely late, either. Cosimo immediately searched the room for Myk, of course looking for the platinum blonde hair that he expected to see. He curled his arm around Athena’s waist; he couldn’t see anyone he knew, yet. But there were still people around. They weren’t the only ones there, at least. Myk certainly had outdone himself with the decorations and the entertainment. Surely, the man himself had to be here, somewhere. Cosimo, with his arm around Athena’s waist, began to circle the room, searching.

<Athena> Of course, if she were told she could bring Cosimo- she would. Maybe she wasn't the best at these things but she did want him around. Her free time was spent with him, being with him or just being near him. His arm slipped around her waist and casually she leaned against his side, her head finding his body to rest against as she walked around with him. Her nerves bubbled in the pit of her stomach but she pushed that thought away. Trying, not to be difficult for this one time. She would greet his family with a smile on her face even if she thought she was doomed. Hunters family hadn't liked her too much but this was different, right? Swallowing hard, she kept walking with him regardless of how obvious it was on her face that she didn't want to be there.

The party is running as expected. At nine o’clock there is a queue of individuals ready to burst through the doors. Myk is somewhat surprised, having reserved himself to expect the worst, he now smiles upon the best possible outcome. Perhaps it is still too early to tell, but the Telepath feels rather successful. Managing an event like this is something new and unexpected to him, but since he has always been the type to entertain, Myk wonders why he has waited until now to do this. Perhaps it is that inferiority complex of his, the anxiety of failure that creeps like ivy along the brainstem and binds him, restricts him. Myk doesn’t even fully understand the reason he thinks so little of himself. His father is never so cruel as to call him useless so repeatedly that it sticks to his heart like treacle. Even his mother, as callous and unfeeling as she was, only really got upset with Myk when she felt left out; she was never intentionally malicious. Myk’s mother is the type that would never push upon people until the last resort, she would expect them to come to her if they wanted her, needed her, respected or loved her. She wants to stay out of people’s way and be there when they want her to be. Unfortunately, her logic often causes people to believe that she is the one that never wants to be bothered since she never comes to them. It is a tragic cycle of events – something Myk has inherited, but is working on.

Thinking of his parents on such a day puts the Telepath into a brief state of misery. Of course the guilt is heavy on his mind, but there is no time to linger when there is so much to do! The doors are opened promptly at 9pm and the crowds pour into the intricately decorated ball room like so much glitter in a champagne glass. Speaking of which, the staff are eager to hand a glass of fizzing gold to every guest as they enter through baying red and white silk. This glamorous tent they are in puts them all into a playful mood and even if Myk is no Allurist, he’s enough of a studied empath to recognise the tingle of excitement. Myk is impressed too that so many people have taken the theme so seriously, even if he doesn’t know who these people are. There are people in Masquerade ball gowns, their faces disguised with ostentatious masks. There are jugglers and fools and jesters and clowns – some forgetting that Halloween is a few weeks away still. If not for the uniform black and red outfits that the staff are wearing, one could almost think that these people were a part of the show!

The scent of Human life explodes under Myk’s nose and the Telepath smiles, not hungrily, but happy to be amongst them. He can so easily be lost in their swaying mass and pretend to be just like one of them. Myk does not want to be that cliché wolf amongst the sheep, but he knows what he is and how escaping his fate is impossible. Still, for tonight, the Telepath will do what he does best: escape reality. He does this best by forgetting himself and focusing on others. Pewter eyes scan the crowd for a moment or two before his attention is stolen, hijacked and wrestled away from him. A familiar face puts a terrible grin on the Telepath’s features and he decides to play a game. Using his new appearance as a disguise, Myk approaches Fable from behind, then turns his back to the other Telepath. The pair stand – back to back – against a colourful backdrop of life and sound and beauty. Their clothing is so normal that they look utterly drab against the fanciful delights all around them. Myk finds the juxtaposition truly alluring, not that Fable could be any more alluring in clothing…

“It’s so good to see you,” Myk speaks, or rather telepathically projects his voice into the other man’s mind. “I am so glad you could make it tonight.”