[open] Happy Halloween~

[princessvegas]

Who: Julie Lawry + OPEN
When: October 31
Where: The Horizon
What: Julie's annual Halloween party! Costumes are mandatory.
Warnings: In headers


At the beginning of the month, everyone with an existing domain will find themselves in possession of an invitation, delivered under the cover of night by a horde of tiny creatures. No other information follows.

I | WAIT
On October 31st, the pink neon that normally illuminates the edges of Julie's club goes dark. The pink carpet and velvet ropes disappear. In fact, the entire immediate area appears to be cast into almost pitch black. By evening, the building has been engulfed in heavy vines and thick tree roots, climbing upward into an oppressively thick canopy of treetops. Lush tropical plants bloom along the walls, their vibrant colors a natural sign of warning. Large flying insects flit into them, only to find themselves entrapped, stuck in thick sap that holds them while the petals close and devour the bugs.

Next to the closed double doors is a sign, but otherwise no signs of modernity. The ordinarily smooth walls of the club now have carvings that appear ancient, hidden under the leaves and moss. Anyone who looks closely will see that the carvings depict savage battles and human sacrifices, vicious animals tearing the people limb from limb. Anyone who looks really closely might find some of the carvings to be a bit... familiar.

Primal screeching echoes in the darkness, furious and inhuman. There's the distinct sensation of predatory eyes peering from the trees, in the bushes. A distant clock rings nine times.

Suddenly, there's movement on the ground. A truly massive snake, easily fifty feet long and thick as a tree trunk, slithers next to the ankles of the waiting crowd, hissing. Its muscles flex and shift under scales so black they shimmer iridescent, and its eyes are eerie yellow. The doors swing open and it disappears inside. Music pours out into the crowd.


II | CREEP
Inside, the lobby is gone. Instead, there is only more dense jungle flora. A barely visible path, made of more carved stones covered in moss and leaves, winds between the plants. The starting stone simply says Watch your step. Land on one of the stones marked with a dusty jewel and pay the price -- rabid monkeys might swing toward the unlucky adventurer, or perhaps a vivid green tree snake will drop its tail down to try and coil around them, or maybe you'll just barely miss a blowdart to the cheek (it will never actually hit its targets, only sail harmlessly past and into the leaves).

When the travelers reach the huge stone "temple" doors, aggressive guards in masks and indeterminate tribal garb leap from the shadows. (Those familiar with Julie's live-in partiers might recognize their faces under the markings.) They'll holler and scream for a moment, but then the doors will open, revealing the "temple" inside.


III | PARTY
In the main entrance to the club, the darkness is broken by crude torches lining the walls and support beams. More eerie carvings, larger and more intricate, are placed throughout the space; several have large gemstones for eyes, shimmering in the spare light. Skulls and bones, both human and not, litter the edges of the room, with piles taller than the average man in the corners. The remainder of Julie's Horizon-dwelling club kids are all dressed as tribal warriors of indeterminate origin (she's not out to mock any specific cultures, but she figures that shit like "face paint" and "bones" and "feathers" are generic enough) -- they all seem to be having a ball playing their roles for the night.

The bar is now hewn from stone, matching the rest of the carvings. As always, Steven the bartender is serving drinks, dressed to match theme. Tables contain a variety of food, much of which appears to be meat roasted on sticks, but, unnervingly, there's a huge platter of skulls and what appear to be raw human hearts. Look closely and you might notice them still beating. An "altar" bears several bowls, all of which hold drugs; cocaine, different types of pills, and of course, large amounts of cannabis products.

The dance floor is lit from below in stark white, casting unsettling shadows in every direction. From above hangs a disco ball shaped like a skull, bouncing the lights around disconcertingly. Behind the dance floor is an elevated throne crafted of bones, and this is where Julie herself can be found.

Happy Halloween.

Comments

[cointosser]

He laughs in return, stumbling back mid-flight as he carts through the air, as if shocked by the appearance of her fangs. There's a puff of smoke, and Jaskier appears in the moogle's place, wearing a fuzzy white costume, and a pom, glowing blue, springing up from the center of his head. There's tiny -- working -- bat wings on his back, and his nails have turned into claws.

It's certainly not as sexy as his satyr costume, but he wanted Nadine to have that privilege tonight. Exclusively.

"I'm bewildered. Astounded. Flabbergasted, even." He smiles brightly, leaning in to kiss her -- to get a real taste of those fangs. They're hardly creatures unknown to him, being on the Continent too. And, you know, half of Alucard. But for Nadine... ooh. It suits her so well. "A vampire you may be, but only a beacon of life do I see."

[nadine_he_loves]

"Clearly, you're moved to poetry."

But she's grinning like a teenager when he pulls back from the kiss, fangs and all. Jaskier's costume may not be the sexiest, but it's cute. And there's something endearing about him going as his little Horizon friend.

"I'm glad you like it. Apparently I'm killing it, I got lessons from the real thing."

Nadine's voice drops as she leans in, close to his ear so he can hear her over the music and sounds of the party.

"All kinds of lessons."

In case he had any doubt that this costume was sticking around after the party.

[cointosser]

He would argue he is always onto poetry, but. Moglad is certainly not near as talented as himself. Nor any moogle he's learned about, apparently.

"You are absolutely killing it. And you did all of this?" Not with surprise, but genuine excitement. The fangs, the pallour, the dress and her hair... there's even a faint coolness to her touch that he swears is truly there.

He pauses a moment later -- "Wait, lessons? From "the real thing"?"

Jaskier swallows. Heavy. "Oh." It's almost a squeak.

"So... you've had your fun at the party already... yes?" So what if he only just got here?

[nadine_he_loves]

"Mmm-hmm. To both. Yes, I did it all myself this year, and yes, I talked to a vampire about it first." Probably not the sort of vampire Jaskier is familiar with, but...from everything Nadine was told, the sort of vampire he'd very much like to go home with. As much as it's his fantasy, she's looking forward to it, too. It had been described very sensually.

She laughs again.

"Wow, not even a lap to be seen together first?" But there's an affectionate tone to her teasing. They both know she's not much of a party person, and tends to slip off early either way.

"We can head out whenever you want. I...prepped my domain."

[cointosser]

To be fair, his only company to be considered a vampire is Alucard, and Alucard -- bless him -- could not have possibly anything helpful to say in how to be a vampire and very sexy. He sort of gets away with it by being naturally good-looking.

He laughs back, and there's a faint pink to his cheeks. It's absolutely excitement.

"I think I can manage that, but not if you tell me any details on what you've done to your domain." He knows he isn't that strong, because Nadine has... particular ideas, and they are often very, very good ones. "You're making me feel very underdressed, and I think if I am to feel underdressed, I may as well be undressed."

[nadine_he_loves]

"Don't get too excited, it's just a couple of rooms." Unlike Julie, Nadine is not skilled at shifting her whole domain. It mostly stays the same. But the insides of the little houses and shops...those she changed.

"You're dressed just right for the party. But...yeah, when we leave, you should change. You're the light of my life, but we're not doing sexy vampire roleplay while you're dressed like that."

The undressing will come. She has plans. Nadine isn't one to do things halfway, and besides, Halloween is sort of their anniversary. Definitely the one that calls for a little something extra in bed.

It's almost a tradition.

"And I mean it, we can head out now, if you want."

[cointosser]

"Nadine." He takes her hands, looking at her quite seriously. "Do not wish upon me to do the impossible."

He will always be too excited when he's with her. That's the entire point of enjoying her company.

He does something suspiciously close to a pout, but he is a grown man, and does not do something like pouting. "It was meant to be cute." Which it is, obviously. Moglad is adorable. (And he enjoyed being a moogle for a bit.) But, yes... she has a point.

"Oh, I can be a damsel in distress! The poor victim of such an irresistible, dangerous creature..."

She has absolutely pinned him down.

He looks around, a little desperately. It is Julie's party. She's worked so hard on it. To tell her he went and bedded Nadine before they even indulged -- all right, honestly, he's not sure if she'd be pissed or very pleased with herself, considering she was the reason they met.

He turns back to her, squeezing her hands. "A courtesy drink. A part of me is afraid Julie may kill me if I do not indulge after all her hark work."

[nadine_he_loves]

"A drink," Nadine agrees. She doesn't think Julie would be too upset - Jaskier had to make his way here and appreciate everything after all - but she understands exactly. It's just part of the social trappings. And Julie did put so much work into it this year. Once again.

Besides, he's a famous celebrity. Even among the Summoned, she understands the desire to be seen, to mingle.

"There's some very good drinks, and plenty to appreciate in here. I don't know how she manages to outdo herself every time...." In the meantime, she lights herself another joint in lieu of a drink.

And then they can make their way to her domain for...after-party indulgences. She hopes it lives up to whatever Jaskier is imagining.

[cointosser]

He smiles, rising to offer her his arm. "As a fellow artist, I think I understand her need to. We can never allow ourselves to falter in sight of the next big... whatever." A show, or a painting, or a song, or a party. To ever-improve is the life of an artist, and he does not deny that Julie is one.

He doesn't know a man alive who could have put up such a varied and fascinating world for simply a party. They do become their own, small, contained worlds -- complete with local fare and population.

Jaskier leads them to a bar, where Steven is, as always. Not since last holiday has Jaskier attempted to kiss him -- he has plenty of real people to find company with now, and ever since he told Julie, it's been... strange. Nadine has her herbs, but Jaskier plucks them both up a martini, and a cookie for himself he already knows is laced with the same herb Nadine smokes.

He can't do the smoke. Murder on his throat.]

[nadine_he_loves]

"Well, she's certainly managing so far. This is..." Nadine doesn't even have words for it. But Jaskier's right. Julie is an artist. Nadine may appreciate art a great deal, but it's not a word she'd ever apply to herself. She can't begin to fully understand the passion for creation that drives people like Jaskier and Julie.

She just enjoys what they do.

"It's almost a little overwhelming." Intended fully as a compliment.

"And thank you." A martini is barely a drink. It's not that she has anything against getting drunk - sometimes she enjoys it - but she wants to be relatively coordinated for later. Her teeth and nails are very sharp tonight.

The last thing she wants is an accident mid-coitus.

[cointosser]

"Oh, no, you're right, it's completely overwhelming." Even as he looks up, there's fog (maybe smoke? Gods, he hopes not) and jungle vines. Or, you know, at least what he understands to be a jungle. The Continent is, mostly, blessedly free of such things, though he imagines the south, into the unknown, into no man's land -- there might be such things.

It's absolutely overwhelming.

He takes a sip of his drink, leaning back on his elbows against the bar. "But I like to think that's her point. Julie understands being over-the-top without being tacky. It's a hard line to draw over." Like himself, obviously. Jaskier has not been tacky a day in his life.

[nadine_he_loves]

"It's definitely an art form." Not crossing that line Jaskier mentioned.

"And not one I'm any good at. I'm just not a really visually creative person. To the surprise of nobody who knows me." Nadine laughs. She's not being self deprecating, she just knows that visual arts aren't her strong point. They never have been.

Hell, it's taken her years under Julie's instruction to figure out how to dress herself fashionably.

"It's always been words, for me. I don't always know what colors go great together or that kind of thing, but I know what words go together. Poetry and music always connected with me better than paintings and sculptures."

Which probably isn't very surprising, either.

[cointosser]

He knows quite well she's being simply truthful, and to be fair, he does not rush to correct her, either. "If everyone would be an artist, we'd all be starving to death, or dying of the plague. You know what you're skilled in, dear heart. And you're incredible at them."

He won't list them now because he's done it before, but he still is surprised by such things -- her patience, her will, her ability to look at blood and broken bones and shattered brains for hours on end without losing her meals. That would be fortitude, probably.

"And as much as I love extolling your virtues -- there will be plenty of that later -- we should drink more than, say, one drink, if such thoughts are threatening you now. This is a night of indulgence. I shall only allow you to indulge in recognizing your perfections, which are many."

[nadine_he_loves]

"Oh, nothing is threatening me. I don't feel bad about not being an artist. I'm surrounded by brilliant ones. You'll just have to make more art for me." She's teasing, of course. Nadine treasures every song Jaskier has ever written for her. As he said, she knows her strengths.

"Besides we don't want me drinking too much...I'm still getting used to the fangs. And these." She holds up a hand, showing off her longer than usual, slightly pointed nails.

"But you are welcome to drink as many drinks as you'd like. I have plenty of these." A wave of her joint. "And I really want you to enjoy tonight. I know it's not exactly the real thing, but....it's really close."

The Horizon allows her to make it as realistic as possible - but removing any real danger. Aside from possibly some mild trauma if something goes wrong, but she's determined to avoid that.

[cointosser]

"As if I won't." That's the number one benefit of being his lover. And also knowing the very specific sounds he can make in the bedroom. Very sexy ones, if you ask him. It's quite easy to come up with songs when one is so... motivated.

Though several of his bawdy little songs about Nadine shall never hit any other ears than theirs.

"Fair. I'd rather not have any veins outside my body where they don't belong." Which is his absolute promise that there's going to be biting. Possibly a lot of it. He downs his drink in a few swallows, hits the glass on the bar, and has Steven pour him another -- a sour appletini, he says, which serves to pucker Jaskier's mouth in the most delightful way.

Though he does reach to her mouth between hits of her joint, pressing a thumb against her reddened lips. "I wouldn't mind a demonstration." Surely a bit of a bite to his finger isn't a bad way to start.

[nadine_he_loves]

"Right here?"

Nadine has no doubt as to what he means. Jaskier couldn't be more clear if he'd come out and said it. She doesn't even sound shocked, or opposed. There is an appeal to the idea. Right here, at the bar, in the darkened club. Who would even notice? Or think anything of it if they did....

She presses a kiss to the tip of his thumb, letting it linger.

"Are you should we'd be able to make it back to my domain in time? From what I understand, even a little nibble is...a very heady experience."

For both parties.

[cointosser]

His smile is vulpine, a slight raise of his eyebrows. "Why not?"

He traces her lips, a tease as he sets his drink down, moving in close, brushing against her body. This is Julie's whole thing. These places are made to be sensual, aren't they? The drugs, the drinks, the scantily clad party goers. Considering what Julie has chosen for Nadine's costumes, after all.

"Heady?" He's already intoxicated with the promise of it all. "Then we should do a test run, should we not? Just a finger."

[nadine_he_loves]

"Heady," she repeats, a little glimmer in her currently red eyes. It probably isn't fair, to keep dropping little promises and preludes and then making Jaskier wait. Nadine knows this is a fantasy of his. It's just teasing him, really, if she refuses to indulge a little.

What's the worst that could happen? They end up just slipping off to a private spot here instead. As often is the case at these parties, her inhibitions are pleasantly lowered.

"Well...it would be cruel of me to keep tempting you like this and just keep talking about it..."

Just a finger. Pushing out of her mind that there are other people around, Nadine closes her lips around the tip of Jaskier's thumb. She keeps her eyes on his, focusing on him. Who cares if someone does see? Like he said. It's that kind of party.

And it's funny what the power of the Horizon can do. She swears she can feel the beat of his heart, smell his blood. It sends a little jolt through her. Slowly, carefully, she presses the tip of one fang into the soft pad of his thumb.

[cointosser]

It's a good thing she agrees, because Jaskier is just on the edge of petulant, to insist this is, actually, quite unfair -- that she should know all of these things, these effects, that a vampire's bit could have, and not let him have even a hint of it.

Though it makes him wonder if the one she learned this from... if they shared it, personally, with her. A story to ask her when she is delightfully naked later, he thinks.

For now, this is distraction enough. Jaskier has enough experience he has a sense for when he's getting his way, and he can see it in her eyes that she's agreeing. Agreeing this is cruel. So he keeps his hand where it is as she decides.

It is rather good she suggested the bite would have an effect, as he isn't entirely sure what to be prepared for. Not the jolt from his hand, or the cool comparison of hers; not the shock that fires down his body, a rush of warmth blood leaving his head heady and his body in rapt attention. She sucks, and another drop of blood rolls down his thumb.

And that was only a finger.

"Oh."

Oh, this is a most excellent surprise.

[nadine_he_loves]

'Oh' indeed.

It's only a tiny little taste. Just a couple of very small drops. But it sends a jolt of sensation through Nadine that makes her shudder. She has to pull away, quickly. It isn't as though she's feeling things she's never felt - she doesn't think it works that way - but she wasn't prepared for the strength of the sensations.

It's almost overpowering. And very certainly erotic.

"We need to go," she says, firmly. There's a brightness in her eyes that's almost a glow.

"Now."

[cointosser]

He swears there is a new, unnatural glow in Nadine's eyes. It's all Horizon magic. It's not real. Yet there is a sudden jump in his heart -- and thing in him that warns that this is a predator, and he is prey.

Oh, it's delightful.

He knows, without asking, that he must taste good to her. At least in this... form. Costume. Whatever it is. At least some vampire, even a temporary one, can find enjoyment in the taste.

"Yes." He's already abandoned his drink. Sorry, Julie. It was a wonderful party. He takes Nadine by the hand -- his finger now healed, for now -- and a portal opens behind him. It's unnecessary in the Horizon, but Jaskier personality likes travel of substance... to convince himself, his brain, that there was real travel involved. "I've a bedroom already set up in the tree."

With a large bed, and a snowy scene outside the window, looking out of the branches of Bleobheris... but warm as if a fire was burning inside the hearth, and the music of hooting owls in the distance.

[nadine_he_loves]

"Good."

He tastes very good. Nadine would be hard pressed to put the taste into words. Some blend of familiar flavors, but somehow combined in a way that defies comparison. Sweet, and somehow hotly bitter, but pleasantly so. There's notes of honey, of wine, of sweat... but that's not exactly right either.

And at the moment, she's not very inclined to dwell on sifting through adjectives anyway. Her senses are filled with Jaskier in a way they never have before. To say that she hungers for him wouldn't be a metaphor right now.

Thankfully he's quick to agree that it's time to go. She doesn't even care where at this point, it doesn't matter. And the cozy bedroom in Jaskier's tree is perfectly suitable. More importantly, it's private. Now that they're truly away from others, Nadine is able to shake off the rest of her inhibitions. This isn't a night to get caught up in her own mind, or for overthinking. Tonight is a night to tap into that darker part of her. That part that craves power and control.

Tonight she's a vampire queen, and Jaskier her willing 'victim'. The magic of the Horizon, her current outfit, the blend of herb and spirits in her system all help her embody the role.

"Do you know what happens, when you invite a vampire into your home?"

[cointosser]

The sky appears to darken as they land in the bedroom, the portal closing with only a soft noise, and then silence behind. Oh, yes, he's very willing now -- that single bite's already surged something through him that he's only felt from adrenaline.

He may already be taking off his shirt when her question comes. He's very efficient when time no longer calls for foreplay.

He looks at her with eyes a little wide, cheeks already with a hint of flush, like his blood's offering itself. (It may as well.)

"I would think I then have a vampire as my company." The Continent doesn't have such superstitions when it has actual vampires. Now he cannot help but wonder who, exactly, gave Nadine such lessons. "You tell me, my lady. What happens?"

Heading to NSFW Territory

[nadine_he_loves]

Nadine stays where she is, just watching him. Her lips part to show her fangs.

There's nothing informative to come, she's just slipping into her role. Ruby red eyes look him up and down, slowly, pointedly. She never does tire of looking at him, regardless of his state of dress. But uncovered...his fanciful clothes often mask how fit he is, how sculpted. He could have been a model, in a world that had that sort of thing.

She doesn't like to consider herself shallow, likes to think she's better than that. But by god he's a beautiful man and there's something fiercely rewarding about the fact that he's hers.

She punctuates her words with a flick of her tongue over her lower lip.

"Whatever the vampire wants."

[cointosser]

She's meant to kill him, then, if he is the one getting undressed while she stays there, watching him. His upper half was unveiled with a quickness, but now, with her unnatural crimson gaze on him, his fingers tug at the ribbon carefully holding his trousers together at the groin, which he pulls with marked slowness now.

It may as well be a show until she tells him otherwise.

Jaskier shivers. His heart quickens with an insistence that he is being considered as dinner. A feeling which he lovingly embraces.

"And what does the vampire want?" His trousers loosen, but don't fall, snagged on the edge of a hip. "Or shall I beg first?"