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Scrawled on a black invitation in beautiful, gold coloured handwritten calligraphy is the date and time of the party, as well as one of Vena's addresses. Beautiful waterfront property just outside of a nearby city. The time on the invitation is listed as 8PM. Vena's attempt to accommodate any guests who may not be able to face the sun. Vena has a preference for nighttime anyway.

The home, itself, sits on a large piece of land with a well manicured and expansive garden on one side, and the harbour on the other. Inside, the home is very open, with plenty of space for party goers to lounge, and plenty of rooms for them to disappear into. There are only two bedrooms closed to the guests: Vena's own and one that that he keeps for his partner. There are floor to ceiling windows that look out over the large deck (where there's ample seating and a fire pit that will have a fire burning all night) and the harbour.

The decor and furnishings, themselves, are all dark shades (and not all white like in the picture!) of varying colours. Greys, blues, reds, and black, of course, with gold and silver accents and the occasional white showing up in a variety of places to break up the darkness.

There is a vast array of finger foods and an open bar, as well as a chef in the kitchen should anyone desire something a little more substantial to eat. He may even have a few humans set aside who are willing to be fed on, should that be what someone wants. Well, more like they're willing to do anything Vena asks, but to Vena, it's all the same thing.

As for the actual guests, an invite has gone out to anyone who isn't human, from demons to mythical creatures and everything in between. That isn't to say that humans aren't permitted (as more than snacks and servants) because they are, but as a +1. They must have something not human to accompany them, who will then be responsible for them for the evening. Don't let you humans get out of hand and ruin it for everyone else. The dress code is semi-formal and the colours are black and gold, just like the invitation.

Vena, himself, is dressed a little more than usual, with a few pieces of gold jewelry and some simple black around his eyes to fit his chosen colour scheme.

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Tres, on the other hand, has never before been seen at a party. Not once ever. Even if someone he knew well was attending, he'd still feel awkward and lonely (lonelier). He doesn't socialize easily. Which is fine since he's been traveling a lot. It's only recently that he even came to this particular city, so how anyone got his (old) name and current address for an invitation is beyond him.

Why not go? Why not try to meet people? If it's too much, he can always leave, right?

Dark colors aren't really his thing, but the invitation specified, so Tres shows up all in black, save for the vaguely metallic gold and black patterned shirt. At least it adds a little fun and whimsy to the attire. He spends a lot of the evening walking around the perimeter of the party, not really approaching anyone first. The garden is a nice respite from the sounds of others. Eventually he finds himself at the bar for a drink when what he sees makes it feel like the world fell out from under his feet.

Is that...? Dancing??

The fresh waves of nervous energy has nothing to do with introversion. He moves through the party to get to Three, positioning himself precisely in his line of sight. "Hello again."

Really? He couldn't think of anything better to say??? Please let the ground open up and swallow him right now!

Maybe 'personal assistant' should be added to Dorian's list of titles. His little mentee can keep him in the loop about anything of interest that he might learn about. Or maybe Sivan will just used Dorian's address for his own. Or all of the above? Yeah, probably all of the above.

When Dorian approaches, Sivan is wearing an incredibly offended expression. It has nothing to do with his dear little mentee, of course (have any negatives feelings toward Dorian? He could never!) but everything to do with the fact that he's just been shooed away from a conversation that he actually had no business trying to be a part of in the first place. Don't they know who he is and what he does? Don't they know that he simply can't help himself? Getting into other people's business is kind of his whole thing! Whatever. They seemed boring anyway.

Like flipping a switch, his entire face brightens when he actually takes note of Dorian. Dorian and the offered drink, which Sivan wastes no time taking off his hands. Before he actually partakes of the champagne, however, he takes a low, sweeping bow. "Of course! I wouldn't dare risk upsetting and disappointing my adoring fans!" he says as he straightens.

Three is dancing and jumping up and down to music that isn't really made for dancing. It's the sort of music that's meant to play just beneath conversations, not the sort that's really meant to be acknowledged. That's probably why he spends much of the time dancing alone. A few people sort of wander into his orbit and get swept up a little in the dancing before moving on to something a little more interesting.

Only one person walks directly toward him. Purposeful. Seeing that face (his face. But not his face. Not just his face) and having it speak to him in a voice that isn't quite his (there are differences. To everyone else, they may sound the same, but there are differences) makes it feel like he just got punched in the stomach. It knocks all the wind out of him and makes it hard for him to catch his breath again. His eyes widen and he just stares at Tres. He thought Tres was just... gone. There was just a hole in his life where Tres used to be. And now, just like that, here he is, just standing in front of Three. Even though he can feel Tres again, this still feels like one of those 'too good to be true' moments.

Three barks out a rather sardonic laugh before fixing Tres with a look of utter disbelief. "'Hello again'? That's it?"

Kun-woo does, indeed, have the most devastating puppy eyes. Once upon a time, such a thing would've had zero effect on him. He didn't really care for puppies until he got one for himself. Perhaps he's not as cold and unfeeling as he once thought. Or perhaps it's just the puppy. He squeezes Kun-woo's cheeks a little more firmly before releasing him entirely. "I know you will."

Yesung moves to Kun-woo's side, hooking his arm around the younger vampire's. "Have you met anyone or anything particularly interesting tonight?" He's generously allowing Kun-woo a few moments to gush about the party and those he's met.

He winces just a little under the pressure of Yesung's grip. But it's gone quickly enough and the question that follows ignites him once more. He squeezes the arm looped around his, ready to follow along if Yesung wanted to walk while they chat.

"Oh, I met a pretty blond! Two actually! But they're not as pretty as you." He's quick to add that last part. "They were both super friendly. Some others were more, uh, reserved. I don't think they wanted to talk much to a stranger. And I met another vampire, too!"

Ah but hearing that little wince from Kun-woo is absolutely delicious. Apply pressure not with the intention of hurting him, but just enough to make him squeak. Like a little toy. It really is quite cute.

Yesung starts to lead the way around the party, walking with no real destination in mind. He offers the occasional soft greeting to people they walk past, otherwise his attention is on Kun-woo, listening as he speaks of those he's met so far tonight. He peers at Kun-woo out of the corner of his eye when he mentions the 'pretty blond' (two actually!), as though waiting for that final clarification. The faintest smirk touches the vampire's lips before he expression becomes rather neutral once more. Good boy. "Remember that most here are used to living in secret and have been doing so longer, even, than you've been alive. Even in a settle where they're free to be who and what they really are, it's hard for some to let go of their secretive ways." One night of open living versus lifetimes of being secretive. It's not easy.

"Another vampire, hm? I suppose I shouldn't be terribly surprised that we aren't the only ones here."

Listen, all these supernatural people are pretty! Is that an unspoken requirement? No creature or monster can be among us if unsightly? Sorry, ugly people, you're stuck as humans forever. Too bad so sad. That would be kind of awful. But, gosh, everyone here really is beautiful. Or maybe Kun-woo's just seeing things differently now that he has a vampire's sight instead of a human's.

"I've been very good about not asking, I promise!" Not that it hasn't been obvious with each and every new interaction that he wanted to ask. Maybe if he were here alone he would. But anything he does as Yesung's guest reflects on his sire. Kun-woo is keenly aware of that and doesn't want to embarrass Yesung in front of people he's known longer than Kun-woo can imagine.

"Mmhm. He's, uh..." Hold please while he scans the crowd for... "There, with the purple hair. Do you know him?"

Gardens are very special by Bunny's estimation! No two are the same and each means something different to the one who cares for it. A garden tells the story of someone who loved it for whatever reason they did.

"I am!" he chirps happily, bouncing as he walks. "I grow herbs and flowers and foods and sometimes mushrooms."

Gardens are incredibly personal and special things. They're so unique. Each and every garden of flowers is different than the last. No two gardens full of vegetables are the same. They're like snowflakes. Or like looking up at the sky. You can look up at the sky every day for an entire lifetime and never see the same one. Seren loves it. It's incredible.

"You can eat flowers and herbs and mushrooms, right? So those are food too? Oh, you grow so many things! Is that all on the moon? Have you tried growing things down here too?"

Vampires, were-creatures and the like, the types of monsters who are created by others, Yesung assumes they were all once people beautiful enough to attract the eye of the monster. Outside of the most dire of circumstances, of course. Attractiveness is certainly what made Yesung take notice of Kun-woo the first time. Then there are some shapeshifters who are able to choose their human form and thus are able to make themselves very eye-catching. For everyone else? Just luck, perhaps. Or maybe it really is just Kun-woo's inhuman sight allowing him to see the world differently now.

"I believe you have been." Chances are rather high that if Kun-woo started to poke his nose in where others don't think it belongs, Yesung would've heard about it by now. Yesung has little doubt that some of the guests would've been quick to tattle on the baby vampire to his sire the moment they felt he overstepped. Even if not for all of that, what reason does Kun-woo have to lie about something like that? It would've gotten him nowhere.

Yesung's eyes follow Kun-woo's, then he cranes his neck a little to spot the vampire the other is speaking of. "Though I've seen him a time or two before, I don't really know him. As far as I'm aware, he tends to keep to himself."

There have been times when Vena's wondered what it might be like to walk through a shopping centre without feeling like he's under surveillance. He's considered how it might feel to sit in a theatre without pulling some focus from the stage or screen. Without people trying to catch his eye in a desperate attempt to get him to give them just a few seconds of his time. He's wondered from time to time how regular people live their lives, going entirely unnoticed by those around them.

Vena's wondered by he's never really desired that life. He likes being noticed. He likes when people watch him. He enjoys everyone wanting him. He loves seeing the way their expressions change ever so slightly as dirty thoughts of him creep into their minds. He supposes it can come in handy from time to time, though. Or it'll just sit upstairs on his bedside table until he's once again invited to something at Iseul's.

"I will let you know when I feel it start to weaken, yes." Or Su-jin can let him know to let Iseul know. Chances are that his partner would notice it before Vena, himself, ever would.

Vena takes one last look at the cuff before letting his hand drop back to his side. The Fae really does such beautiful work. "What of yours will I be wearing next?"

Surely he'd remember meeting an incubus if he had, in fact, met one before right at this very moment. Snake's definitely met a few creatures who left an impression, but nothing like this.

"No, I can't say that I have."

Vena and those like him do tend to make quite the impression on those around them. An impression gets strong the closer the creature manages to get. Vena runs his hand down Snake's chest, then slowly walks his fingers back up.

"Ah, so I have the pleasure of being your first." Unclaimed. No one's touched this one before. He thought the human felt... untainted. Which means that Vena gets to be the one to taint him. "Would you like to share in that pleasure?"

"Oooooh," Kun-woo sighed dramatically. "I'm going to do so badly as a vampire!" Keeping to himself isn't something he could do on pain of death! But it seems like that's what vampires do? Well, the sample size has been small so he's not sure, but oh, he doesn't want to keep to himself!

"But if you all keep to yourselves, why do come to parties like this?"

"Fancy meeting you here?"

Is that better? It's better than 'Weird how I can't feel you even though you're not even a meter away.' He had no idea Three was so close, let alone in the same place at the same time! It's jarring to be so close and still unable to sense him. It's a crowded party, Tres might not have even encountered him at all!

That's not much better.

"Fancier meeting you here. I belong here. What's your excuse?" This is the sort of situation that he's always been way more comfortable in that either of the other two. Being surrounded by people both familiar and strange. Making new friends where there were none before. This is the sort of environment where he thrives. This is also his own, personal self-destructive path. One where he never imagined encountering Tres. Truthfully, he never imagined encountering Tres again. Hoped to, yes, but he'd stopped thinking it would ever happen. It hurt less that way.

'Where have you been' is sitting on the tip of his tongue but he can't make himself ask it just yet. He can't even justify why, exactly. It's just... hard. It's one of those questions he shouldn't ever have to ask. They always knew where the other was, but now, everything's different.

Instead, Three looks down at the bottle he's still clutching, gripped so tightly in his hand that he can feel the glass straining under the pressure. He thrusts the bottle out toward Tres. "Drink?" A simpler question.

Though Jaeseok is a part of this world, he's not always invited to these sorts of functions. His human side often gets him overlooked by other monsters. The curse of being a part of two worlds but not really belonging to either. So while there are some familiar faces here, there are a lot more than he doesn't know. Which just makes those familiar faces stand out to him all the more.

Especially one in particular.

At first, Jaeseok isn't sure that he wants to go over to talk to Kun-woo or even be noticed by him. He's spent their entire friendship lying to him. Well, a lie by omission and can that really even be considered a lie? Barely. While he tries to figure out what it is he actually wants to do, he simply stands there, staring at Kun-woo, an act which feels like it all but makes the decision for him.

Jaeseok puts on a bright smile and waves to his friend as he approaches. "Kun-woo, hey!"

This entire evening has been one filled with eager excitement for Kun-woo. He's done his very best to fit in (not ask everyone instantly ever detail about themselves) and keep his excitement retrained (barely). But when he sees someone he's been friends with for such a long time, the mask slips and he actually looks shocked. Utterly, unabashedly shocked. Aghast, even! If they were cartoon characters, his jaw would be on the floor. He's that Spider-man pointing meme right now.

"Jaeseok?! What are you doing here?"

Kun-woo's officially seen him. Kun-woo's acknowledged him. There's no changing his mind now. There's no suddenly deciding to spend the rest of the night going fully unnoticed by his friend. It's probably for the best. Avoiding Kun-woo all night sounds exhausting and like the least enjoyable way to spend his time at a party.

Jaeseok laughs a little awkwardly at his friend's reaction and digs around in his pocket, pulling out the invitation with his hand on it and holding it up for Kun-woo to see. "Oh, uh, I was invited."

"Something sweet? Surely one of your guests fits that bill."

Su-jin knows of one for sure, but that guest is off-limits for Vena. Aqua is Su-jin's guest and he'll have no harm come to his little selkie friend.

"Wait here."

He takes a sip from Vena's glass and decides to keep that for himself. In it's place, Vena will end up with a sweet and fruity cocktail Su-jin has whipped up for him by the bartender. Su-jin knows a few drinks, but he's not inclined to start making them in the open where other guests can see and assume he's bar tending, too. Handing the newly concocted drink to Vena, Su-jin lifts a curious brow.

"Better?"

"Let's say I'm still sampling the menu, trying to find someone to my taste." Vena makes a show of looking around, even standing up on his toes as though that'll allow him to see over the heads of those who've gathered for the festivities. "Your new pet seems awfully sweet. Maybe he's just what I'm looking for." Don't worry, Su-jin, because Vena is well aware that the selkie is not for him. He knows that Aqua is the one creature at this party that he's not to touch. If that came from anyone else, Vena would ignore it. He would seduce the off-limits person right in front of the one who told him no in the first place and fuck them out of spite. But not Su-jin. He respects Su-jin. If Su-jin says no, Vena will begrudgingly listen. Most times. This time.

Vena follows Su-jin with his eyes, watching as his partner dutifully makes his way over to the bartender to fetch him a new drink. Of course it would've been easier to be sure that there were drinks set out that Vena enjoys back when the party was still in its planning stages, but that's what the bartender is for. At a party where most of the guests won't really benefit from his services, the bartender has to earn his paycheque somehow!

Taking the offered glass from Su-jin, Vena first takes a small sip, immediately followed by a longer, deeper drink. Perfect. "Better. Your sweet pet is safe from me for another day."

This probably way more dangerous than if feels in the moment. He knows the stories about incubi. Stories are never satisfying when you can meet the real thing. But in stories, they're dangerous. Very dangerous.

And yet...

Maybe if Snake realized he's already under the spell... Well, it wouldn't be a very good spell if those it was cast upon knew they were under it, would it?

"Yes." It comes out soft, a little breathless in its anticipation. "I mean, aren't I already?"

"Invited?!" he splutters. So much for behaving nicely! "How...? Why?! This party isn't for huma..." And there it is: the dawning realization that his best friend isn't and probably never was throughout their acquaintance, a human person.

Jaeseok gives an almost apologetic smile as he shoves the invitation back into his pocket. "Isn't for humans. That's what you were going to say, right?" Sorry Kun-woo, but Jaeseok has never been human. To be completely fair, though, he's never been entirely inhuman either!

"This isn't really how I thought you'd find out."

There's always an element of danger when it comes to getting in bed with a demon, literally or figuratively and the incubus is no exception. It twists up people's minds until they can think of no other, until they believe they will die without the incubus, until they want to dedicate their entire lives to it. Then it takes from them. Their time, their belongings, their minds, their entire life. Kill them slowly and make it feel so good that they beg for more. Give them a death so pleasurable they won't even know they're dying.

There are many things that make a demon dangerous. There are many things that make an incubus dangerous.

"Not quite yet. Not in the way I intend you to. Follow me." Vena turns his back on the human and starts to weave his way through the other party guests, making his way toward the stairs. At no point does he look back to see if Snake is there. The expectation is that he is. Vena climbs the stairs and leads the way down a few hallways. He practically travelled to the other side of his home before he stops and throws open a set of double doors. Beyond lies Vena's bedroom, with all of its dark decor and elegant splendour. Only then does he finally turn to see if Snake has actually joined him.

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it's just one of those words!

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oops that was supposed to be 'with his NAME on it' LOL. but you probably figured that out

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