marothius | (no subject)

(no subject)

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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"I know most of the guests, that's true." But they're not all his friends. Acquaintances, allies, people he knows through others. Su-jin, for all his outwardly social behavior is actually very closed off to others. It's natural when discussing a core part of who you are is a danger. And many of these monsters have long been able to accept their place in nature. Su-jin still struggles, even with Vena's support.

"Have you noticed that it can sometimes be tiring to spend time in certain atmospheres?" He offers a small small as he glances back toward the house. "Vena enjoys these sorts of affairs and I make sure they run smoothly for him. He is someone very important to me, so I find joy in assisting him. Do you know what a partner is, Aqua?"

Aqua is unfamiliar with the subtle and not quite as subtle differences between the varying levels of a relationship. Lovers, friends and strangers are how he categorizes every one. Acquaintances and allies? Friends. People he knows through others? Friends. So as far as Aqua can tell, Su-jin has a lot of friends. Which makes him appreciate all the more than he's choosing to spend time outside by the water with Aqua.

"I have noticed that!" Aqua glances up at Su-jin, smiling in return, and then follows his line of sight back toward the house. Vena. The person whose party this is and whose house this he. Someone very important to Su-jin. Aqua finds it sweet that Su-jin seems to take joy in helping him, just like he seems to take joy in helping Aqua. ...is Aqua important too? Oh wouldn't that be nice? To be important to Su-jin as well? "I've heard the word before but I don't know what it means."

That's okay. Subtlety doesn't really quite Aqua. Maybe he should know those distinctions, but maybe now isn't the time for that lesson. If Aqua is fortunate enough to have nothing but friends that's all the better for him.

"A long time ago, we were both very dangerous. Those with some wisdom and maybe some foresight put us together to curb our deadly appetites." Even to Aqua who probably has no idea the Council even exits Su-jin's hesitant to give them much credit. They made a bet that happened to pay off in the way they wanted, that's all. That's all he would ever think.

"A partner is someone who challenges you to be a better version of yourself. They minimize your negative qualities and accentuate the positives ones. A partner is someone who is an equal in all ways. I am fortunate that Vena had me. I wasn't always his equal. I'm not even sure that I am now, but I'm far closer to it."

The distance of time creeps into his face as he speaks. Those years so long ago, yet still fresh in his memory. All his fear and uncertainty that Vena taught him to overcome. His eyes sharpen back into the present and his smile widens as he peers at Aqua. "Because of him, I was able to live the life I have now where I could meet you."

The more time Aqua spends on land, the more he'll likely start to learn the intricacies of human relationships. He'll probably get to know that there is a huge variety of relationship types between 'stranger' and 'friend' and 'lover'. Boiling it down to a mere three categories works for Aqua's purposes though. It tells him quickly where he stands with someone. Sub categories can come later.

"Dangerous?" That word doesn't match up with the Su-jin he knows. It doesn't sit right and feels strange. This kind man who's been so patient and helpful to him. This lovely creature who makes him smile so much is not someone he can imagine as being dangerous. "You were told to be together because you're dangerous?"

Aqua once more looks toward the house, toward the host who's somewhere inside. Su-jin's partner. The one who's made Su-jin into a better version of himself, he says. "Your partner sounds like a good person." Good to Su-jin. Good for Su-jin? "A good person who lead you here." To where Su-jin and Aqua could meet. To where they can stand here together, looking out over the water.

Su-jin chuckles softly. Vena's a far cry from a good person. But good for Su-jin? Oh, yes, very. Vena's not a good person, but he's not an evil person, either. He is what he is and he embraces his monstrosity. Nothing more, nothing less.

"If I am proof of his goodness, then perhaps he is good." That logic makes some sense.

Su-jin glances back toward the house, then to his friend. "Have you noticed that most of those here are something other than human?"

Aqua obviously doesn't know Vena (it should probably stay that way. He should stick with the image of Vena he has in his head right now and leave it at that. But he's important to Su-jin and that makes meeting him some day feel important) but he does know Su-jin. Maybe he doesn't know Su-jin well, but he knows him well enough. Well enough to understand how good of a person he is. Trust him. Animals have a sense for that sort of thing. So if his partner helped even just a little to make Su-jin into the person Aqua got to meet, there has to be some good in him. So Aqua bobs his head up and down in a quick, confident nod, then gives the other a bright smile.

"You are. You're proof."

Tipping his to one side as he thinks about Su-jin's question, he gives the people he can see a quick glance then once again nods his head. "Mhm. I've noticed that. There's not that many humans here." Though he's not sure what everyone else is. So many smells, so many creatures he's unfamiliar with. There are so many intermingling scents that it's hard to pick any one out. Except for Su-jin's. He's growing rather accustomed to Su-jin's scent and is getting closer to being able to pick him out of a crowd. "Wait, why are there only a few humans here?"

There's really no need for Aqua to have more than a passing acquaintance with Vena. It's not important that they become more than passing figures in each others' lives. Unless either Aqua or Vena want more than that (which Su-jin would strongly object to, but facilitate regardless).

"This party is primarily for inhuman people. There are shapeshifters and vampires and what humans call mythological creatures all in attendance here. The only humans were carefully selected."

Aqua would love to be more than a passing acquaintance to someone who helped Su-jin to a place where he could meet him. He'd at least like to be friends with Vena! Granted, he wants to be friends with everyone, but this one more than others. Unbeknownst to him, Vena does not feel the same and never will. Vena wants very little to do with him. Poor little selkie.

"But why? Why is this a party for inhuman people?" Aside from the fact that inhumans deserve nice things too. They deserve to have spaces where they can be open about themselves without fear of what the humans might do to them. Oh, maybe that's the reason right there, huh? He looks up at Su-jin and gives his head a quick shake. "Never mind. I think I figured it out."

He can see the understanding working across Aqua's face, so he nods.

"Sometimes, we simply want to be in the presence of those who we don't need to hide ourselves from. Have you met many inhuman people before?"

So it's exactly as he thought. It's to give them a night to just be themselves. Give them a space where they can be free of the humans. It's such a nice idea. It's a great thing to do. Everyone here seems relatively relaxed (even with the small handful of humans milling about. They were carefully selected, though, Su-jin said. Because they already know about inhuman creatures and are okay with it? Because they can be trusted to be discrete?). Aqua realizes that he, too, is feeling a lot more relaxed here than out there in the human dominate city. He's not sure, though, if it's the company of all the guests, or just the one standing next to him.

"I don't think so, no. I don't usually go all that far off of the beach." So his opportunity has been limited. "Unless tonight counts. I've met people tonight."

Su-jin wouldn't be put off if he were the reason Aqua's feeling more relaxed. There was a time, long ago now, when he wasn't the most comfortable around strangers. Even before the monster woke within him, he was somewhat of a shy boy. He understands that's it can be uncomfortable away from certain places or certain people.

"Tonight can count," he assures with a slight nod. "You may have met inhuman people before and simply not known. A lot of us do what we can to blend in with them so as not to draw attention to ourselves."

Aqua has never been particularly uncomfortable around strangers, but even he starts to get that way when he starts to stray too far from the ocean. His home, his people, his means of escape. That he still gets to be right next to the water here is nice (since Su-jin and the house's owner are close, maybe Su-jin and Aqua can come back here sometime. Between big fancy parties), and that he gets to be next to Su-jin is even nicer.

"I blend in too," he says softly, resting his head against Su-jin's arm, staring out at his beloved water. Doing what can be done to blend in with the humans around him. As a creature that removes its skin to appear no different than a human, that's not a concept that Su-jin needs to bring up to Aqua. He knows it rather well.

"Very well," he assures. At least, on sight. There's not a single discernible flaw in Aqua's human mien. Once one gets to speaking with Aqua, well, sheltered begins to cover how gaps in knowledge. He's done well enough with humans so far. Su-jin isn't really in a place to give any notes when Aqua's doing just fine on his own.

Very well. The only indication he'll give of knowing that Aqua isn't a human creature. He had only his suspicions until Aqua confirmed it with his softly uttered 'I blend in too.' And though Su-jin would adore knowing exactly what Aqua is, he still doesn't ask. Partly because he doesn't want to offer in kind. The revelation that he's a flesh-eating monster might end this charming friendship that he's already grown to value.

"Have you met many others tonight? Even if you don't know their names, you can describe them to me and I'll tell you what they are, if you like."

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