June Event Log

[kaisoumods]

June Spirit Realm Event Log
Dominant Element: Light
Waning Element: Shadow

Full Moon: June 11th - June 13th

※

It's summertime! June in Kaisou has the best weather, and this year is no exception. Warm days, comfortable nights, sunshine that hits just right without being sweltering--it's perfect! Even the Spirit Vein is perfect, filling the night sky with beautiful colors.

Home At Last

♪- Home At Last

After the chilly, haunting month of May, June is a welcome relief. There's Pride events happening all over town, including the yearly contest at the Vogue, and the city feels like one big summer party. It's the start of the tourist season, too, meaning there's more people milling about than usual and just adding to the festive atmosphere.

Oddly enough, at the start of the month everyone on the app got a beautiful invitation to the Goblin King's Masquerade. There's nothing online or around the city about such a masquerade, so maybe you thought it was a prank and threw the letter away.

Maybe you shouldn't have done that. If you throw the letter away, you'll find that something important to you--your voice, your color vision, your time--was stolen from you. Odd, that..

Thirteen O'Clock

♪- Thirteen O'Clock

On the morning of June 15th, your phone will receive a notification from the Zodiac on the Libra app.

ALERT: SPIRIT REALM GATE DETECTED IN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT
Element Classification: Light
Danger Level: High
Designation: The Goblin King's Labyrinth
Zodiac has detected a Spirit Gate in the Entertainment District. Reports indicate it's the domain of the Goblin King.

When you get to the Zodiac building, you're met with a ton of typical corporate Pride decorations plastered all over the building. HR seems keen to assure everyone that they've learned from the latest PR fumble. Professor Barbie, at least, makes the rainbows and glitter look good as you head into her lab.

She informs you that Zodiac had been hoping they were wrong about the readings this month, but the invitations and the fact that those who tossed them out are missing something confirms it: the Goblin King himself, Jareth, has invited everyone to a masquerade deep in his realm. He's generally not considered a high threat, as the most he tends to do is steal people away, but his realm is...noteworthy for how dangerous and confusing it is to navigate. Unfortunately, there's no short cut to his castle.

The gate is located in the Entertainment District, just down the street from the Vogue. It looks almost like a bedroom window, with curtains blowing in from the Spirit Realm, and you might be able to hear faint music coming from the gate. Step in, and enter the Labyrinth.

Into the Labyrinth

♪- Into the Labyrinth

As you step into the gate, for a moment you can get a look at the entire area. It's massive, and it seems like the Labyrinth goes on for miles. It twists and turns, confusing all who enter it.

And then you're flat on the ground, standing in front of a long, stone corridor. A very, perhaps oddly, straight stone corridor. There's no telling how far it goes, and any attempts to fly up and figure it out (or just cut straight through to Jareth's castle) are stymied by the Goblin King's magic. Looks like the only way through the Labyrinth is to enter.

The Labyrinth is utterly bizarre and confusing, even more a labyrinth. The stone corridor seems to go straight on for ages, unless you happen to find one of the exits hidden by an illusion. The exit leads you to a confusing stone maze (because of course it does), and if you're not careful you might fall down into an oubliette. You'll be quickly rescued by a goblin, however, who will lead you back up into the maze. After that, there's the hedge maze to contend with, which is surprisingly easy to navigate, and then the Fiery Forest. Watch out, because here you'll be accosted by the Fire Gang, a group of odd goblins who can take off their heads to play games...and they may try to take yours.

Put the Fire Gang in their place, and you'll be faced with the most vile part of the Labyrinth: The Bog of Eternal Stench. It is exactly as nasty as the name implies, a perpetually oozing bog that utterly reeks. There is, thankfully, a bridge across it to stable ground, but unfortunately the bridge is ancient and guarded by a small dog-like goblin who refuses to let anyone pass without permission. Ask him for permission (or fight him, if you really want to) and you may pass. Hopefully the bridge won't give out and send you tumbling into the stench!

Dance Magic Dance!

♪- MAagic Dance

If you make it through the Bog, you'll find yourself on solid, stink-less ground once again. Looking around, you'll also realize you're close to the center of the Labyrinth and the castle. Surely you are in the home stretch, free of faerie nonsense?

Oh, if only. Upon reaching the next bit of land (and passing through a bit of forest), you'll end up in the Junk Yard, which is exactly what it sounds like. Piles and piles of junk, all of it rusty and old, fill this place and make it very dangerous to navigate. One wrong move, and an entire pile might come crashing down around you. Linger too long (or just look particularly lost for long enough), and you might be found by one of the residents of this area. They seem helpful, but they're eager to get people to stay in the Junk Yard and will lead you to their house if you choose to follow them. Inside, you'll find your childhood bedroom or a favorite relative's kitchen or just anywhere that makes you feel safe and at home, full of all of your favorite things. They'll do everything they can to keep you there, so you might have to break free on your own or with the help of your friends who came looking for you. Be quick!

After all of that, you'll find yourself in the Goblin City itself and if you thought the Labyrinth was a pain to navigate, one look around the Goblin City might having you wishing to go back into the maze. The streets are tiny, winding, and...filled with you can only assume are the goblins' best attempts at rainbows? They mostly seem to be made of junk haphazardly painted in rainbow colors, but it seems they are trying. At least any goblins around will point you in the direction of the castle. They'll also warn you about the stairways, for some reason. Those of you who have been nice to the goblins might actually get an offer of help, if you're lost or just want an escort to the ball.

Once you reach the castle, the doors are thrown open and you're able to enter. The entrance hall is grand and imposing, but at the far end there is a door. Push it open and--

Find yourself in a hellish room where gravity doesn't play by the rules and there are so many stairways going in directions they should not be going in. Those warnings make sense now. You can eventually find the path out of here, but it seems to be random like pretty much everything else in this place. In the event the Escher Room stymies you (or if you get lost in the Labyrinth yourself and weren't polite to the rest of the goblins), don't worry. A helpful goblin will eventually show up to help you, complaining all the while.

As The World Falls Down

♪- As The World Falls Down

You finally make your way to the ballroom (with a quick stop for a shower if you did indeed get dunked in the bog), the big doors open wide to let the guests come and go as they please. After all of that, this party better be worth it.

Step over the threshold, and you'll find your clothes magically changed into something appropriate for such an event. Look around, and you'll see that the ballroom is almost excessive in its decorations, though it still somehow manages to look good. At the far end, lounging on his throne, is the Goblin King himself. He thanks you for coming, and the moment he does anything you had stolen is suddenly returned to you. He does at least apologize for taking such precious things, but it's clear he doesn't really think it was a problem since you got them back in the end.

There is a massive dance floor with tables filled with food and other goodies lining the walls. The food is entirely safe to eat, and there are even little place settings for each attendee. These place settings are marked by three glowing peaches that will open up to reveal gifts from the Goblin King, as well as edible peach fruit. Again, he doesn't seem at all concerned if anyone is horrified by the peaches. Rude.

A closer look at all the decorations also reveals something a little...interesting. They're all tastefully colored, rainbows and silver mostly, but there are also a lot of songbird-and-dragon motifs. And apple cider and osmanthus wine. And tea. And if you ask Jareth about it, he will simply shrug and say he couldn't let such old friends get married without some sort of engagement party.

So eat, drink, dance! Have fun at this one of a kind masquerade! And then get out of here as soon as the ball is over, because this place is crazy.

Aftermath

♪- Sarah

Once people show up to the masquerade ball, everything that was stolen will be returned! And thankfully you won't have to re-traverse the Labyrinth to get out. Once the ball is nearing its end, Jareth will just open a door and drop everyone off back outside the gate in the Entertainment District. In your masquerade outfits. Looks like he's letting everyone keep the clothes he gave them.

OOC Notes

The dominant element this month is Light! Anyone with an affinity to the shadow element will find themselves boosted throughout the month. This could mean a boost to their power, having more energy, feeling more inspired with creativity, having better luck on different attempts -- the boost can manifest in all sorts of different ways. By contrast, anyone with an affinity for Shadow will be experiencing the opposite. Perhaps their powers will be weaker, they have less energy, they're having a creative block or general worse luck - again it can manifest in all sorts of way and players are free to play with this mechanic as they'd like.

The original OOC plotting post for this event can be found here.

Comments

Viktor | Arcane

[hexcrafter]

[i; dance magic dance]

[It was a tremendous credit to Viktor's patience that he had yet to start swinging his crutch at the next thing that moved. A little walking, sure, that was to be expected. Traversing every manner of hostile terrain imaginable had already been asking a little much. Sure, it elicited the occasional curse in his native language under his breath, but the task was manageable enough.]

[Traversing endless stairs, however, was beginning to test the limits of his politeness towards everything involved. Which was how one might come across him, having stopped to rest by sitting on a horizontal set of stairs with his crutch leaning on his shoulder.]

I am going to build a time machine. Then, I am going to lock Escher's art studio and destroy the key.

[Which was a very calm response given how irritated he was, but so it went.]

[ii; as the world falls down]

[Unsurprisingly given the hassle it was to get there, Viktor spent most of his time sitting off to the side, crutch leaning on his chair and a cup of tea in his hands. Admittedly, that alone went a long way to defuse a terrible mood. Not that those ever really lasted, for him. Easier to just move on rather than dwell on how in Janna's name they were getting home after this, which he pointedly refused to resign himself to considering just yet.]

[Regardless. That left Viktor a quiet wallflower, watching the proceedings in a way that was bordering on wistful--feeling wildly out of place, but not wholly unfamiliar with such an extravagant event. Too familiar, for hiss own taste.]

[He just...couldn't seem to decide if that familiarity was annoying or not.]

[iii; wildcard]

[u kno the drill]

[art source]

ii

[illucesco]

[Noctis, clad in an outfit he finds a little too fancy, makes his way over to Viktor quickly, looking for all the world like he would much rather be home fixing the newest batch of bugs in his game than out here dancing with anyone. Even people he likes. He's never been good at huge gatherings like this, and even in his past life he'd found them little more than a chore to get through.

But he'd rather not piss off the fey, so he's putting in the absolute barest minimum. Now he's desperately checking the time on his watch, wishing he could go home already. If he can't do that yet, might as well be a wallflower with someone he knows.]

You all right? This is...the strangest engagement party I've ever been to.

i

[droptheious]

[Varian's not been having a good time with the stairs, honestly. It's miserable and disorientating and his fear of heights is playing havoc with all of this. He can be found taking five, trying not to look down when he hears Viktor talking. He turns his head, confusion. ]

Wait... who? Is- is this a thing? The-the whole stairs thing?

Dion Lesage | Final Fantasy XVI

[light_warden]

A: An Escher Nightmare

[Dion has an iron stomach to match his iron will, but the anti-gravity and impossible staircases are definitely challenging him today. He takes a deep breath through his nose, closing his eyes for a moment before opening them again. If the person who has just arrived seems unbalanced, he'll reach out a hand to help steady them.]

I see now what they mean by being careful of the stairs, but this is still beyond what I was imagining.

[He sounds faintly annoyed.]

If you feel too disoriented, it's alright if you use me as a way to balance yourself. This place seems meant to truly confound the senses, and I would rather not find out what happens should someone fall.

[If it means saving someone's life from such a fate, he has no issue priming in order to do so. Still, Dion would very much prefer to not have to do that in the first place.]


B: A Beau of the Ball

[Dion is grateful to not even need to pick and choose his outfit, especially after the nightmare of a labyrinth they all had to traverse. In hindsight, he's also very glad to have only brought his armor and halberd, just in case. He's pretty sure that any clothes he brought for the occasion would've been destroyed by the bog alone.

The magical clothing have done an impressive job for the former dragoon. His suit and shoulder cape are in the perfect colors, though it brings a sense of nostalgia and a pang of pain to see that they're Sanbreque colors. The dragon is a splendid touch, though, and is met with Dion's silent approval. His mask fully covers his face, yet simultaneously makes his brown eyes stand out.

Dion can be found being a bit of a wallflower on the edges of the dance floor. Please bother him; he looks lonely and shy.

Alternatively, if he spots someone he recognizes as having helped in the labyrinth and got separated from later, he will approach on his own volition to check in on them.]

Excuse me, I believe we met while traversing the labyrinth. Are you alright?


C: Wildcard!

{OOC: If there's a prompt you don't see listed, but still want to tag in, feel free to use this option!}

B

[burgersplease]

[Anby's never been to a party like this. The clientele that the Cunning Hares worked for hardly were in this tax bracket, and when the Black Order had missions that involved fancy balls.... she was not high on the list of people to send to attend.

As such, she's also standing near the wall. The fae dressed her in a fancy dress and matching mask. She's trying to assess what to do, as all the movies she watched came for research to this party with the assumption that you'd have a date. They did not cover what you do when you're alone.

So.... she'll try to make conversation with another nearby wallflower.]

First time?

B: A Beau of the Ball;

[qilinzuo]

[ Wallflowers at a stage where people are expected to perform? Say it isn't so! Jokes aside, Childe himself isn't exactly planning on having brought anything too special, either. Originally maybe looking for a way to fight if this so-called Goblin King wants to kill everyone instead - isn't that exciting?

Whatever the case, when he spots the person off to the side, he comes on over, dressed appropriately (sans guitar, this time.) ]

What's this? Hiding away from the excitement?

[ Stranger this man may be, there's no reason not to ask! ]

A

[aslowburn]

[ This is absolutely obnoxious. It feels like the sort of thing Pan would put together just to see people fall to pieces over it. The whole area rankles Persephone and makes her regret her choice to come to this foolish celebration. She shakes her head at Dion's offer, glowering at the next set of steps before them like their very existence is a deep insult to her entire being. ]

No. Thank you, but no. I expect this is his idea of a test, to see if we are worthy of attending his damned ball. I do not plan to find myself wanting here. I plan to arrive without him having the slightest inclination this gave me trouble.

[ Her pride will not allow this any other way. ]

B!

[temperedbyice]

[Jill...still isn't sure what to make of Dion.]

[There are a lot of complicated emotions there, but at the end of the day, he is a friend. If there is anybody here who can understand what she went through in her past life--what she went through in the Black Order--it would be him.]

[Naturally, she finds herself beside him, sipping gently on her drink. She doesn't like parties; not when the person she wants to be here the most is gone, at least.]

Yes. I've certainly weathered much worse before. And yourself?

Harumasa Asaba | Zenless Zone Zero | OTA

[life_ethereal]

A: Fortress Field Trip

[Once they've received word that a new Gate has opened, Harumasa immediately brings out his magic chalk. There's a look of determination that replaces his normally carefree expression. He sighs as he goes into the Fortress group chat to let them know that he's making a door directly to the new Spirit Realm, and they're free to use it if they don't want to walk all the way there.]

This had better lead directly to wherever the masquerade is and not some kind of maze.

[Apollo might not be here to say it, but once again he's going to be hit with the dodgeball of prophecy. Not that he knows that right now. Harumasa simply starts to draw a door on the wall near Fuckass Alley while concentrating on the specific Spirit Realm he wants to enter.]

You guys have everything, right? I'm not sure how long this is gonna stay up, and it's definitely a one-way trip, so make absolutely sure you're good to go.


B: Reunited

[Harumasa isn't about to complain about the suit and mask his clothes magically change into for the masquerade. Honestly, it's way less work this way and the labyrinth escapades have only made him feel validated in not taking anything more than his bow.

Honestly, though, he almost cries when he finally gets to hear Apollo's voice far more clearly again. He actually takes a moment to stand off to the side by himself, and he has a silent conversation with the god in his head. A weight that's been on his chest the past two weeks finally feels like it's completely gone. However... Harumasa gets the sense that Apollo is hiding something from him.

Please, Harumasa, just take this night to enjoy yourself. You have my strength again, so dancing shouldn't be out of the question for this.

There's a conflicted expression that crosses the young man's face for a brief moment. However, after a beat, he sighs softly and answers aloud.]

Alright, alright.... It would be a waste to not experience a masquerade to its fullest.


C: El Tango de Roxanne

[Unfortunately, Apollo is right that Harumasa is enjoying himself at the masquerade. The dancing is a lot more fun than he expects and he's happy to mingle with people. It helps that Apollo's able to help him with the steps to certain dances. There's just one dance that's on his bucket list.

Fortunately, that opportunity arises as a song begins to play. Harumasa brightens immediately, and he's going to drag the person he's talking to out onto the dance floor.]

C'mon, you can lead me in a tango~! I've always wanted to dance one with someone, but I've never had the opportunity before now.

[He looks so excited, and so much more lively than he's been for the past two weeks. Are you really going to say no to him?]


D: Wildcard!

{OOC: If there's a thread you want to do, but don't see a prompt for, hit me up for anything else!}

A

[whiteshroud]

[Jun was standing by in his knight uniform but with the hood down. He's got an outfit for the masquerade ready (because like hell he wants the fae to dress him), but it's been safely stored into hammer space to put on later.

When Haru starts asking if Jun has everything, Jun will give a sigh as he puts his hand on his hip.]

Yes Haru, I have everything. [I know what I'm doing bro god! B( ] Do you have everything?

A

[droptheious]

[ Varian has his backpack full of bombs he might need, along with his outfit for the ball, carefully folded up His ARCUS and Vision dangle from his belt, as he holds his quarterstaff in one hand, watching his brother-in-law with not well disguised worry. ]

I'm good to go. If we DO have a maze, I have a yarn of ariadne we can use. Might make us marginally less lost.

[ He's being sarcastic, but he'll regret that comment in a few moments. ]

B!

[centralfiction]

[While Harumasa was having his reunion, a certain wallflower was trying to get away from the dancing. Trying to get around that Labyrinth was the biggest pain in the ass of the month. ... Alright, maybe the second biggest. The drag bullshit was the biggest.

Ragna was dressed shockingly well and honestly cleaned up nicely even if he's spent most of the night fiddling with these damn suspenders. He was given a mask but wasn't wearing it, instead letting it sit on the side of his head where his hair was combed back.

He was only coming into the corner as Harumasa finished his conversation with Apollo. He was holding something in his hands, a picture it seemed. He wasn't thinking about who was around, just holding onto this thing like it's his most precious possession.

And of course cursing. But goddamn did he look hot doing it for once.]

Fucking David Bowie rip-off asshole...

Ritsuka Fujimaru | Fate/Grand Order | open

[prunedworlds]

[I. The Bog]

One of the gifts the strange powers of Kaisou had seen fit to bestow on Ritsuka had been a ridiculously good sense of smell. This had come in handy on occasion, too, letting her track down hard to find things or people, or giving her early warning of approaching monsters.

Right now, however, an amazing sense of smell was pretty much the absolute worst possible trait to have. Others crossing the bog might find Ritsuka doubled over, desperately trying to cover her nose.

"Ugh... I can't stop smelling it...!"


[II. Stairs Everywhere]

Eventually, Ritsuka somehow managed to get past the bog (though probably not without some serious nasal trauma) only to find still more trials ahead. Others passing through might spot a three-tailed, winged fox staring up(?) at the gravity-defying stairs about the room, clearly pondering something.

"So... What do you think would happen if I flew over there?"


[III. A Mask for a Masquerade]

This was hardly the first time Ritsuka had received a somewhat... ominous and unexpected invitation. In fact, that made it easy for her to pick out what to wear, given what it reminded her of. So thanks to a little help from a magic outfit wand, she showed up at the ball decked out in a rather over the top ensemble. And if that weren't enough as it was, for the mask?

She was wearing a pumpkin head. Complete with glowing eyes and mouth. And yes, that little crown was on top of the pumpkin.

"This isn't too bad, huh?"


[Home Shopping - Closed to Ganymede]

"You really need a bed though," Ritsuka said as she all but dragged her friend into the mall. "It doesn't have to be fancy, and sometimes you might be someplace you just have to make do, but a good night's rest is pretty important!"

She'd had that drilled into her head often enough back at Chaldea. Though, as she scanned the various storefronts to look for something appropriate, a certain display caught her eye...

"Oh! And along with more extra clothes, you should probably get a swimsuit too if you don't have one, since it's summer now and all."


[Wildcard]

Have another idea? Want to plot something? Feel free to hit me up in PM or Altocumuls on Discord! Or just throw a tag my way, that works too.

Home Shopping;

[ganymed]

"Oh really?" Ganymede says at first, sounding even kind of unenthusiastic, because he does have at least blankets and pillows. In all honesty, he can be compared to one of those ancient people who are slow to adapt, and dislike change in some ways. Or perhaps his time in the 'garden' still affected him.

After all, it isn't like Apollo, Zeus, or whatever asshole of a god who dropped by never gave him proper bedding. He inevitably became apathetic to the concept. "...I'm not sure if having one is going to do much difference at this point. It isn't like I can't sleep."

There's a momentary pause, though. A look of curiosity comes over his face as he happens to ask, "A swimsuit? Why do I need one of those?"

lapis agapov | original

[crisantemo]

[ this is where i'm gonna put closed starters, if you would like anything lemme know!! ]

[ closed to jinwoo ]

[crisantemo]

[ It had been a long

long

long trek to get here. Lapis had managed to avoid the bog, at least, even if the rest of the adventure here was a bit of a test of patience and endurance. At least things got easier when they got to the city, with some of the goblins even helping them around... Then there was the stairs. In all directions and angles. She just turned into a wisp for that, far easier than trying to get used to the shifts in gravity.

But they're here and Mildred-Husk has his name back, and with her outfit now changed into something more suitable for the event (though still far fancier than what she's used to), they may as well try to enjoy it. And it does seem all... safe, at least. At least grabbing something from the food table hasn't led to terrible consequences, and she is pretty hungry after all that - though she makes sure she doesn't hog everything, so her partner can eat too. ]

Do you feel confident in trying out our new dance skills?

[ She may be a little nervous... She doesn't want to step on his foot, and her new outfit does come with heels. ]

Cotton Cookie | Cookie Run Kingdom

[creamcottonshepherd]

[WHO WANTS AN ESCORT MISSION]

[At the entry to the gate, there is perhaps a surprising addition.

Or maybe not very surprising at all. Either way, wee old Cotton, with her snake hair and creepy eyes, is hovering at the gateway.]

Ohhhhh. [She's not trying to get someone's attention, but she's definitely hesitating for. Some reason?

...

Oh.] Dear me, I hope I don't end up too lost in there...

[Oh No.]

[DANCE MAGIC DANCE]

[Well one way or another Cotton's gotten this far! She's hobbled her way through muck and mud, chattered her way through the Fire Gang (somehow), and made it...here.

To more maze. Junk Yard? Goblin City? The escher stairs? Either way, escort or no, Cotton just beams to whoever's nearest and says-]

Well, best be on our way now! We don't want to be late!

[AS THE WORLD FALLS DOWN...]

[Grandma Cotton honestly looks rather spectacular. She has a lovely hanbok she pulled right out from a carefully preserved box, and even went through the trouble of a matching mask.

She's also of course 65 and not really used to this kind of thing, so in terms of dancing she's mostly doing a lot of some kind of dottering sway. But she's happy to be here, and has a beaming smile the whole time, so that's something?]

Ohhhhh but what I wouldn't give to be able to dance with that one...

[Why's she looking directly at the King!]

AS THE WORLD FALLS DOWN

[wiseoldbartender]

[ Look, sometimes you are in your sixties and you decide to spend time with the only person on his stupid app who's your own age while all the youngsters dance around the party, being young and obnoxious about it.

Husk is wearing a pretty snazzy suit. He has a mask too, but it's currently perched on top of his head, between his ears. He's not mingling with the party, and he is drinking a glass of what looks like peach juice. Every now and again, he looks longingly at the champagne being carted around, but he's trying his best to not imbibe.

He glances in the direction she's pointing, snorting as he takes a drink. ]

You wanna go after the Bowie-guy? Christ, I dunno. Guy has hair I ain't seen since '86. Don't get involved with people who still have mullets in his day and age- that's gotta be some kinda red flag.

Zulius | Centaurworld | OTA

[bebest]

Into the Labyrinth

[ Zulius is deeply unhappy about the labyrinth- he was expecting to just go right to the party and get his voice back. But nooooooooooo, they have to traverse this nonsense. As soon as they get to the bog, he looking down at the stinky mess, at the bitch-ass dog guarding the bridge and heaves out an annoyed breath. He gestures to the other side, where solid ground can be seen, then pulls out his memo board, writing on it. ]

OKAY! Flunk ALL of this! Grab onto me, I'm teleporting us across!

[Zulius is a great teleporter! This shouldn't be an issue at all- unfortunately, Jareth's magic is designed to stop people from cheesing his maze and as soon as Zulius teleports you with him towards the edge of the bog, you instead find yourself... right in the middle of it, and it stinks. Zulius raises on single zebra leg out of the muck, feels it in his mane, and the starts SCREAMING.

Except he has no voice still, so it's silent. But oh boy, you can tell if he could make a sound right now, you'd no longer have eardrums. ]

As The World Falls Down

[Zulius had to take the longest of showers to watch the stink of the bog off of him. He stills feels dirty, even if he's been scrubbed clean. Jareth has provided him with a fabulous dress, perfectly suited to his zebrataur body. His mask is equally perfect, but none of that matters. Because Zulius is RAGING and he finally has his voice back. He's yelling at Jareth. He is yelling at Jareth very loudly and jabbing a finger at him. ]

And ANOTHER thing, I can't BELieVE you'd take my voice from me in JUNE!! Do you KNOW how hard I have to work in June? Do you KNOW how much HARDER that job was without having a voice? That was homophobic!!!! And then AND THEN!!! You throw me in the gross bog??? That STANK! MY mane was WET and GROSS?!! two times homophobic!!!!!! You are GROSS and now? NOW!!!!!

[ He gestures at the party around them. He's shrill enough that some glasses are breaking.]

You STEAL my thunder in giving my bestie an ENGAGEMENT PARTY??? What the flunk? You are LITERALLY the worst and I am gonna eat ALL your cakes and I hope everyone looks around and says "man that little bitch Jareth can't even give good cakes for his party, what a loser!" AND THEN I'M GONNA DRINK ALL YOUR CHAMPAGNE. You're gonna RUE this day. You're gonna RUE it!!!!

as the world falls down

[lapislazily]

[Zhongli is, of course, here at the party. He managed to wiggle his way here (maybe literally) and he looks completely unfazed as per usual, wearing white and brown dragon hanfu with a transparent wrap. His mask does nothing to hide who he really is.]

Don't worry, [he says, coming over with an entire bottle of wine and two glasses, one of which he's already been drinking from,] we'll still hold the engagement party as soon as I've found someone who can sculpt the crystal cranes. The last five people tried casting them in plaster for the draft and they weren't the quality I asked for, so I moved on.

But never mind that. You look very fetching, my friend. Would you like a glass of champagne or the whole bottle? It seems like a whole bottle sort of night, considering what we all went through to get here.

Jun Nightroad | Tokyo Xanadu

[whiteshroud]

I. As The World Falls Down
[Jun had spent the entire trip through the labryinth helping make sure his family got through. When they arrive, after a quick shower, Jun refuses any outfits the fae offer him (because no thank you fae) and instead uses his spatial closet to shapeshift into a feminine form and put a red dress and mask combination. He doesn't know if this evening will end in a dance or a fight, but at least he'll look cute through it.

Fortunately, getting back their precious things turns out easier than Jun had been anticipating. Once making sure his loved ones were squared away- he's going to take a moment to adjust to having his teleportation back- it's been too long!

Which... means if you're just minding your own business, there's a very real chance there'll be a flash of blue light before Jun appears right next to you- practically bumping into you]

Ah- sorry about that!

II. Closed to Varian!
[With his teleportation returned and there seeming to be no danger for anyone, Jun is going to let himself relax and seek out the one thing he was looking forward to this night- time with his fiance.

So Varian's getting a shoulder tap. When he looks, there's a dressed up Jun smiling at him]

Hey, not busy are you?

[Yeah as if Varian, the introvert who'd rather hide in catacombs than go to a party, would be living it up here]

[droptheious]

[Varian had been hugging the absolute life out of Ruddiger, beyond delighted that he got his precious raccoon back. Ruddiger had, at least been clinging back- even if was clear he'd been giving the goblins a run for their money, given how many of them glower and mutter at him as they pass him by. Once he knew his raccoon was unharmed (and he'd checked that Haru was feeling as better as he could be again) Varian had snuck off to get changed into his outfit, his mask carefully on his face.

Jun is right, of course, parties are not Varian's thing. If they didn't need to come here to get their stolen everythings back, there's a good chance he would have avoided this. He's been watching Ruddiger horf down a fruit platter when he feels the tap on his shoulder, a smile crossing his face as he hears his fiancee's voice. ]

For you? Never! I've always got-

[And then he turns around and gets a sight of Jun and his outfit. His eyes widen, his breath audibly catching. ]

W...wow. You look- wow.

Jin Ling | Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation / Mo Dao Zu Shi

[orchidingold]

[one: escher's magnum opus]

[Jin Ling already has a pounding headache just from being here. He hasn't brought his dog along, partly because he doesn't trust the goblins not to steal Sunny away from him, and partly because his uncle is terrified of dogs, but boy does he kind of wish he had a little dog's fur to bury his face in right now. This nightmare of a labyrinth is getting on his nerves, and they'd been already frayed by the sheer pressure of Everyone And Everything on his mind. Literally, that asshole Facilier's little gift still hasn't gone away.

He pinches the bridge of his nose, breathes in, then out. All right. Okay. He can figure this out. Probably. He shuts his eyes and puts his right hand on a wall, recalling advice years ago when he was much younger.]

All right. Okay. I can do this. Can't be too hard to find the exit, I just have to not look down.

[One eye opens. Shuts again.]

Where the fuck is down in this place?

[two: life is a prom]

[Look, he'd come to the masquerade in a domino mask and his usual jacket and jeans combo thinking that it would be enough. It's not as if he'd be sticking around long, after all, just long enough to be polite before he ducks out and goes home and lies down in the dark for a bit.

Unfortunately for his plans, the second he steps through the threshold, he is no longer wearing the cool leather jacket and ripped jeans that only an edgy teenager would think is masquerade material. Instead, he's wearing something much fancier than that.

He stares down at it in shock, then cringes visibly.]

I don't need a prom outfit! Yeah, I missed prom, but I wasn't going to attend it anyway—just give me my jacket back, I'm not going anywhere!

[But that plea's going to fall on deaf ears, so he's just going to miserably stick to the sidelines, playing wallflower with the best of them and trying not to wince too hard at the headache from sensing so many people in one room.

At some point, though, you can see him quietly talking to Jareth. Once he pulls away from the Goblin King, he looks rather more smug than before. When asked, he just shrugs.]

He thinks it's funny hearing Uncle Ying whining for his balloons. [Tucking his hands into his pockets.] I think the food's safe, by the way. I tried some and it didn't do anything weird—or, uh, weirder than usual, I guess.

two

[thewarriorqueen]

He wasn't the only one who wasn't a fan of fancy formal outfits, but Meredith at least wasn't going to whine about it. She just considered herself lucky to have gotten away with a more straightforward--and more importantly, covering--gown than the sorts she had no doubt a fae could potentially conjure up.

But more importantly...

"Safe, huh? So what would've happened to you if it hadn't been?"

Caelus | Caleb Sheridan | OTA

[actnormal]

General Labyrinth Shenanigans

[Look. You would think, as a delivery guy, Caleb would have a good sense of direction.

You would be wrong. He uses GPS, okay, because otherwise? He is going to get so fucking lost.. He manages to get out of the stone bit, at least, but the second he gets to the hedge maze?

You will find him at a crossroads, looking around.]

I swear I was just here...?

As The World Falls Down

[After a long, long shower because of course he fell in the bog, Caleb is looking around the ballroom utterly fascinated. His outfit is frankly fancier than anything he's ever owned, though his mask is a pretty simple black mask. This is insane, and he kind of loves it.

He also loves the food and can be found hanging around the tables most of the time. He's too shy to ask people to dance.]

As The World Falls Down

[blossominghopes]

[At some point, Lia--in a brand new dress and mask--taps his shoulder.]

Hey, Mr. Wallflower~ You're looking good tonight.

Luke Waldorf | Tales of the Abyss | OTA

[replicannot]

[You're Gonna Go Far Kid]

[Or not far at all, in Luke's case.]

[He's been somewhat spoiled here the first few months. Only one of the realms was anything near traumatizing, and he didn't go in there! But he's smart enough to heed the warnings about going to Jareth's ball (he had a fae phase growing up), and stupid enough to try the labyrinth on his own.]

[He used to do puzzles like this as a kid? How hard could it be?]

[Very hard, apparently. He's been walking for the last hour and made absolutely zero progress. If you find him in the maze, he might be shouting:]

Hey, what gives!? You can't change the layout of the maze while we're in it!

[They aren't. Also, if you aren't paying attention, you might just trip over Luke as he sits on the ground.]

What? I needed a break.

[Prom for Everyone]

[Luke makes it to the party! He's even unscathed, mostly.]

[He's wearing a formal outfit, and sipping his apple juice.]

[He doesn't know what to do, so he's mostly standing there awkwardly, munching on things on the snack table. He's been to prom, so this shouldn't be a surprise. He was like this there, too.]

[OTA]

[Lemme know if you want something else!]

You're Gonna Go Far Kid

[switchaxe]

[What was that about tripping over Luke?

Ash normally pays attention to his surroundings. But he's tired, separated from his siblings and his partner in this fucking maze, and he is really hungry. So he is not terribly observant right now.

Which means the only warning Luke gets before Ash comes crashing down on top of him is a very loud:]

Fuck!

Gwendal von Voltaire | Kyou Kara Maou | OTA

[cutenessproximity]

[Labyrinth]

[Gwendal has worked for Zodiac long enough that he knows better than to throw away an invitation from a powerful fae. Unfortunately, his life is made of slapstick, and a series of unlikely events caused it to be destroyed anyway. He wasn't even surprised when a gift from his younger brother went missing the next day.

Within a week, a sword had appeared in his work cubicle, which seemed like an odd gift until he picked it up and remembered that it was his own. Now, it's strapped to his belt, incongruous with his formal suit and feathered mask, as he picks his way grimly through the labyrinth by trial and error.]

[Banquet]

[He's not really one for fancy parties, but he was raised among the rich so he knows how to behave. With a glass of wine to sip at in one hand, he's watching the dancers neutrally, feeling twinges of old memories resurface.

What's odd about this image of a stoic gentleman is the large stuffed bear tucked firmly under his other arm, which was handed back when he went to greet the Goblin King.]

[Wildcard]

[get rescued from other parts of the maze! make him use that sword for something! idk]

Banquet

[prunedworlds]

While naturally still dressed up for the party, Ritsuka had, at least, taken off the pumpkin head she'd been using as her mask. After all, she'd just hit up up the tables for some snacks, and as cool as a pumpkin with glowing eyes and mouth was, wearing it did make it a little difficult to eat.

So, plate piled high with goodies perched on said pumpkin head held in one arm, Ritsuka paused when something caught her eye. No, not the perpetually grouchy-looking man, those were a common enough sight, but rather the big pile of fluff under his arm.

"Oh, that's really cute!"

"Danielle" / Dance-For-Us | The Blackout Club

[dancedwithplenty]

Face Thyself (Open to friends/close CR)

[Danielle had just gotten back from a shift at work, ready to shower relax when she saw it. An ornate mask hanging up in her bathroom. One that had decidedly not been there when she left for the day.]

[At first, she wondered if it had something to do with the invitations that had gone out earlier. She reaches out to remove the mask, hoping to get a shower later.
But then she noticed the design shaped into the nose and forehead. The upside down star with a small horizontal line at the base. It oddly reminded her of that pentacle charm necklace she had fiddled with until the star hung wrong way round. She doesn't get to ponder that connection for long before her mind is slammed with image after image. Dozens upon dozens of memories of the exact same symbol. Booming in her ears are three words]

[ DANCE-FOR-US ]

[Once the vision finally passes, the mask is thrown to the side. Danielle stares desperately at her reflection in the mirror, gripping the sink tightly. There are too many thoughts. She has to text someone. Anyone. She can't be alone with this.]

Knock knock
You free?
I... could use some company.

Into the Labyrinth

[Not wanting to miss another party saved Danielle the fate of losing anything this month (or at least anything noteworthy). So outside of helping friends, she's mainly arrived with plans to dance the night away.]

[Sadly that's not how the night is going thus far. After making her way through the second maze, she groans when faced with a whole ass forest.]

Oh would you look at that, more walking!

[She slips off her shoes, grumbling.]

The invitation didn't mention anything about a hike.

Ballroom Groove

[Once at the ball, any grudges from the trip wash away. Danielle already put her mask on once arriving at the city, but once inside, her outfit changes to a proper gown.]

[That said, she can still be hear chatting to their host or some of the goblins around. Bold but cheerful:]

I'm just saying, a chauffeur service would be a nice touch for a big party like this! I was starting to wonder if we weren't wanted!

[And of course, she can also be found dancing! By herself right now, but this is a ball. If you're staring at the dance floor, she might approach with a grin and offer a hand.]

Care for a dance?