MABON } 22nd September

[falsify]

The times, they are a'changing. But in this case, it's the same way they change every year. The 22nd of September is the Autumn Equinox, and aside from it being a great time for witches to get up to all sorts of shady shit with fae, it's time for the seasonal change in power between the two Courts. And in typical Fae fashion, this event is to be marked with a hugely ostentatious party. They've taken over Crystal Palace Park for a party that'll be going near on 24 hours. The trees are lit with twinkling lights, and many fae have chosen to forgo their glamours — some are indescribably beautiful, others monstrous, and quite a few... Well, they look more or less human, but obviously it doesn't bother them and it shouldn't bother you either! There is dancing, flirting, and laughter. And the drinks and food are free flowing. Slipping between realms is also extremely easy, but there's been strict instruction not to steal any mortals tonight or there'll be hell to pay. This also marks the first official appearance of Eames as the Lord of Autumn, (it's not something he could readily get out of, you see,) so expect plenty of gossip about how odd it is he seems to shy away from his title, his obsession with mortals, and how very un-Fae it is of him to cancel the hunt.
	The RULES are as follows: All vampires must have a fae chaperone. The open invite does extend to vampires, but we can't just have them walking around doing whatever they like, can we? In addition, drinking blood is strictly forbidden. Consensual or not, any vampire found drinking blood within a half mile radius of the park will be killed. It's just not good manners. Violence is also forbidden. It's just not fun for everyone. If you really need to have it out with someone, challenge them to a duel. The children's playground has been made into a duelling area with guards to make sure it all goes smoothly. There are weapons available and they're all very medieval.
That's about it, they aren't a very rule-heavy bunch and honestly just want to have a fun night.

Comments

OTA

[thelittlemerman]

Social gatherings never used to put a lot of stress on Finnick. When he was younger he loved an excuse to drink and act like a fool, but now it's a considerable effort to pretend he doesn't want to be at home under a blanket with some weak fae wine. He's still an extrovert, sure, but now he's the quieter kind.

That's not the impression that he's going to give, however. Finnick is the picture of perfect health and fae indulgence. He didn't even bother bringing a full shirt with him, opting for an open vest that doesn't even bother to cover his chest, and somehow he seems to effortlessly glitter. He fits right in with the twinkling lights and general extravagance, and wherever he appears he has that smug but somehow still youthful and mischievous smile on his face. That is, when he doesn't have Annie on his arm and is gazing affectionately at her.

He's there most of the time, though he disappears for short periods of time for some peace and quiet. The breaks help him keep up appearances, to retain his stamina to make it through this 24 hour party.

[anniesgonemad]

Annie can practically feel Finnick's stress radiating off of him. As such, as doused in glitter as she is, she stays near him as much as she can. She's not one for parties, either, the far more introverted of the two. But this was an important deal and she was happy to be here with him. To be here for him.

But the hours wore on and it's not until the early hours of the morning that Annie feels she can hardly keep her sea-green eyes open. Accent increased by sleepiness, she leans her head against Finnick's arm. She won't ask him to take her home, but finding some sort of bower to take a nap on was looking more and more appeasing as exhaustion started to win out. She stifles a yawn.

"is there coffee?"

[thelittlemerman]

Finnick's been waiting for Annie to ask him to go home, honestly. He's been watching her get more and more tired but he doesn't want to push her home if she doesn't want to go, so he's just been waiting for her to say something. The yawn doesn't come at all as a surprise, but the request for coffee instead of a request to leave makes him raise his eyebrows.

"No, I'm sorry love, I don't think so," he tells her. "I'm sure there are some shops close around here, though."

[anniesgonemad]

She hasn't said anything because she doesn't want to have to drag Finnick away.

"Oh," she says, after a moment, accepting this. "D'you think they're open yet?" She makes a small face, wrinkling her nose. "What time even is it?" Early, late, she couldn't really tell.

She really just wants to go home, Finnick. Spend the rest of whatever-time-was-left until normal people woke up in bed.

[thelittlemerman]

"Is it that late?" he says, looking around. The tone of the party hasn't shifted at all since they arrived, making the passage of time kind of muddy.

"I guess I've completely lost track, but there must be something open twenty four hours."

[anniesgonemad]

Annie nods. "Or early. The sky's getting lighter." She points up at the murky grey-blue that signaled approaching dawn.

"D'you want t'get some? Coffee?" The beer Daryl had given her the night before was long since out of her system.

[thelittlemerman]

Finnick looks up at the sky as if it's the first he's noticed that it has changed a bit, because it is. He's been solely focused on the people around him, making sure he blends in as well as he can and leaves a good impression.

"I wouldn't mind stepping out for a bit," he says softly, smiling at Annie. "We could also make coffee at home if you prefer."

[anniesgonemad]

"At home?" She blinks slowly as the idea occurs to her. "Oh. That'd- that'd be nice." Honestly, if he sat her down for coffee, she'd likely fall asleep waiting for it to brew.

"Let's get coffee at home. If- if you don't mind."

[thelittlemerman]

"Of course not," he says, squeezing her hand in his and starting to lead her in the general direction of home. "I could use a break from all of this anyway."

[anniesgonemad]

Annie gently bumps against Finnick with her shoulder. "I, ah, figured you could," she said just a little bit too deviously. She could always tell when he was tense.

[thelittlemerman]

"A few hours, then," he tells her with a smile. "Just enough time to cool off, take a nap maybe."

[anniesgonemad]

Annie sighs happily. "Oh, yes, please. I miss your bed." He had the best bed, she fully believed it. But more than she missed his bed- "I miss having you in my bed."

Casual sleepy flirting. No big deal- but it was a fact that Finnick was probably the world's best cuddler, and she liked to take advantage of that whenever she could.

[thelittlemerman]

Finnick smiles right to the edges of his eyes, feeling so much affection for her at that moment. "You don't think I spend enough time there?" he asks playfully.

[falsify]

"Welcome back to the land of the living," Eames walks up to Finnick with his own party-appropriate smile and a glass of wine. It hasn't escaped his notice that Finnick's been quiet as of late, but beyond that Eames isn't about to say anything about it. He similarly would rather be somewhere else, but he can't give that impression here. Fae are a catty bunch, he can't give them that ammunition.

So here he is, and he wears the 'gracious host' costume with an ease that might be disconcerting for someone who's a little less performative.

"How are you finding the party?"

[thelittlemerman]

Finnick's mask is holding up well and he smiles graciously when Eames approaches him. The smile turns wry when Eames asks him how he's finding the party, but his eyes still twinkle happily as he looks around.

"Long," he says, "but it is nice. I much prefer it to a hunt."

[falsify]

Eames hums softly, indicating his agreement on both points, "they're tedious at the best of times. I haven't joined one in decades."

He glances aside, at a couple of fae deep in conversation, and then he looks back to Finnick with a smirk and a raised eyebrow, "I hear the gossip mill is going wild with rumours about why I refused to have one this year."

[thelittlemerman]

"Mm, plenty of stories floating around," Finnick says lightly. "A lot of details to make them sound more legitimate, but the gist is that you like the humans more than you like us."

[falsify]

Eames actually barks a laugh at that, seemingly genuinely amused, "apparently I'm the only person in the entire court who finds them impossibly boring."

Maybe if it was vampires, that could be fun. But things are too tense right now to rock that particular boat.

[thelittlemerman]

"Really?" Finnick asks, raising an eyebrow at Eames even though he's not that surprised. Finnick can't claim to share the sentiment, given that most of his live revolves around one particular human now. That's not really relevant, though.

"You spend an awful lot of time here."

[falsify]

"They have internet on this side." And how can anyone argue with that?

[thelittlemerman]

Finnick laughs softly and nods in agreement. He spends enough time in the mortal world that he's almost taken the internet for granted, but he supposes it is a luxury that Faery can't quite match.

"Well, whether you called off the hunt because you love humans or not, I much prefer this to having to worry about Annie whenever the court decides it's redhead season, so I must thank you for that much."

[falsify]

Redheads are a popular autumn choice, it's true. Eames can't say that's not something he considered, but it was largely the overwhelming tedium of the hunts that made him cancel this one. Even if people would rather think he has some kind of ridiculous love for the humans as a whole.

"I can't guarantee anything come Samhain or Yule, but she'll be safe tonight."

[thelittlemerman]

Finnick nods in understanding. "We're used to it anyway," he says lightly. But enough about that. Finnick decides it's time to change the subject just as swiftly as he brought it up.

"Are you enjoying your new position?"

[falsify]

"Nobody demands I show them how to use smartphones anymore," Eames says with a wry smile. He's not a fan of the limelight, but in terms of being called to deal with petty issues, it's pretty cool how that doesn't happen anymopre.

[thelittlemerman]

Finnick smiles knowingly. "Me neither," he says, a little hesitant. He says it like he's trying to be relieved as well, but his expression dampens noticeably as he feels a surge of shame at having lost his title. All of a sudden he's self-conscious again, like he's worried all these fae are talking behind his back. He was only a minor lord, it's not like many of them even pay attention to that stuff, but a few must have noticed. Surely Eames did.