"no, It's Fine. Really." The Human Argued As He Swung His Feet Over The Edge Of The Bed So He Could Pull

"no, it's fine. really." the human argued as he swung his feet over the edge of the bed so he could pull himself up to stand. despite originally wanting to take a breather for himself and be alone, he found himself gravitating towards the stranger; even going so far as to close off the space between them so he could gently place a hand on the other man's bicep, cupping over the muscle, to show that christopher wasn't telling him to leave. "if our roles were reversed i'd be a bit curious too; i'd want to know how shows up to the so called event of the year and almost immediately hides." he teased, himself mostly, with a soft smile.

"nerves?" he offered in defense of himself. "which is why i grabbed this... which, i'm not sure if i was allowed to take the whole bottle so let's just keep this between us." the man laughed weakly under his breath as he took a few steps back to pick up the handle of tequila; eyes cutting back over through his mask to glance at the stranger darkening his doorway. "i don't know anyone," christopher added on, unprompted, as something made him feel like he needed to at least try and a make a case for himself to the handsome stranger. "th-that's one of the reason's why i'm in here by myself, and why i'm in here in general. surprisingly the mask's don't help the whole feeling out of place thing..."

"sorry, i don't know why i'm dumping all of that on you. here," he twisted the cap of the bottle, breaking the seal, and took a swig of the tequila before smiling and holding it out for the stranger to drink from. "i'm making things awkward, the least i can do is offer you a drink."

although bayram's parents insisted that he attend the ball and that they'd be fine for a few hours, he had this nagging thought eating away at the back of his head to go check on them and make sure they were fine. sneaking out of the ballroom, the harpy made his way upstairs until he found his parents room. his mother scolded bayram, telling him she was fine and didn't need anything and he better not come back until the ball was over.

once he was sure they didn't need anything, the harpy finally left and headed back towards the ballroom. the hallway was mostly empty still, the evening had just started so people hadn't excused themselves upstairs to the various rooms made for this very occasion. except for one door that was cracked, although bayram knew he should mind his own business he couldn't help but peak in to see for himself.

it was a handsome guy who was sitting on the edge of the bed, just as he was about to turn around and leave the guy he stepped on a creaking floorboard and got the mans attention. "oh no no," he tried to assure the stranger, taking a step back. "i was heading back myself and saw your door open." he tried to explain. "i shouldn't have been snooping."

"yeah," he answered with a warm, unembarrassed laugh and nod of his head as the other seemed surprised with how much food thomas had gathered for himself. "whoa, wait, how did you see all this? you can see through that?" he questioned with an almost childlike sense of fascination as he looked up at the other's mask; and the feather's covering his eyes. in fact, thomas went so far as to lift his free hand and wave it in front of the other's face as if he couldn't see him. "that's pretty cool. if i had that mask i'd be walking into walls and tripping over everyone."

chuckling, clearly amusing himself with the thoughts of him wearing a mask that obscured his vision like that, thomas picked up chocolate covered strawberry and unceremoniously popped it into his mouth; taking a minute, or two, to chew it without acknowledging that the man was still with him.

"oh, yeah," blinking, he seemed to snap his attention back and remember that he currently had company. "people tonight clearly don't know what's important. do you want some? i have plenty... but, actually, wait..."

turning to face the stranger, thomas pushed away from the surface to stand up straight. smoothing out the front of his suit, he fussed over his appearance for a second to make himself look better before speaking again. "first," he furrowed his brows and deepened his voice to make himself appear more serious. "if it is satisfaction you seek, you must first answer my riddles three."

masquerades weren't exactly new for arthur, his family had been old money rich from new england. the circles the ashe family ran in were known to throw all sorts of extravagent events like this but the key difference was that those had been filled with people artie knew his entire life and kids he grew up with. he'd only been in alexandria for six months, only collecting a small handful of friends.

at first, the bookstore clerk hoped he could run into thomas and angelo but they were nowhere to be seen. he mentioned the ball to the them, did they ghost him? because of that, he was sitting alone in the back of the ballroom and watching other people dance. around an hour or so into the event, artie could hear his stomach growling. scanning the room, he saw a corner where plenty of food was sitting. perfect.

"oh, is this all yours?" he asked, realizing this wasn't the food table but someone's plate instead. the stranger seemed to be hoarding a lot of the food, or so it seemed. nobody seemed to paying the two of them any mind, more focused on dancing the night away or sneaking off to the rooms upstairs. "yeah.. i don't think they even realized there was any food to eat."

"is it good." thomas repeated with a soft, amused chuckle of disbelief. "is it good? this is my third plate so i think it's safe to say it's pretty good." calling it a plate was being a bit generous. the familiar had some much food huddled and hoarded together on his dish that he could have spread it out on one of the large trays they were carrying drinks around on and still had a layer or two of food.

"here," reaching out, he nudged the edge of his collection closer to the center of the counter he was leaning against to offer some to the newcomer. "try it for yourself." while there was a considerable amount of fruits piled together-- bananas, strawberries, blueberries-- it quickly became clear that there was nothing but sweets on thomas's plate; even the fruit was drizzled with various dark, milk, and white chocolates. cupcakes, petit fours, cookies, pastries, were stacked high and he had every intention of eating all of it.

"sorry," he chuckled as he realized that his plate was lacking of any real substance; it was all sugar, upon sugar, upon sugar. "i get a bit of a sweet tooth when i'm drinking. or after a nap. or after i go for a run, or work out. or in the afternoons; and mornings; and most nights... yeah," thomas nodded with a smile. "i guess i just have a bit of a sweet tooth."

"i can go grab you something, though, if you want actual food. they have this really good little finger sandwiches and a few charcuterie boards floating around... or you're more than welcome to help me tackle all of this."

he had debated on showing up at all, being so new to the town and only knowing his bandmates. in fact he would have much rather been back in his room with a book in his lap, notebook by the side as he got inspiration for their next album. oz may have been the more creative leader and face for the band but carver had just as much creative liberties even if he kept it behind the scenes. it was his name alongside oz's in the songs and that was all he cared about, more into the music than getting laid because of it. for a while growing up carver even thought about becoming a ghost writer for musicians and bands not wanting to really be seen by thee world or putting them at risk with his screams. yet the musically gifted had met oz and now he was spotted occasionally on streets when he went to get groceries which still felt funny to him. it's one reason he had kept to himself since arriving a few weeks ago only really leaving his room when needed and tonight it was the call of hunger that drove him out.

after realizing he was out of food and it was too late to go get something fresh, he had remembered the invitation of the ball that arrived at his door. they had to be food there, right? slipping on the given mask, watching it shift from plain and boring to one that mimicked an open mouth skull carver headed down to the ball slowly as if he was walking to a firing squad. really he was just going to grab food and leave. maybe even enough that he wouldn't have to leave his room again until dinner time the next day. really it wasn't that he didn't like people or was trying to be a recluse it was just...well talking to people was hard to carver to the point that sometimes he couldn't talk at all when his anxiety got overwhelming.

go in, grab food and get out. it was carver's plan and he kept repeating to himself so eagle eyed focused on the food he hadn't even realized that someone had spoken to him at first. turning his head to look at him, eyes were wide almost like a deer in a headlights. shit someone was speaking to him. did they recognize him? did they want something from him? did-- oh it was about the food. that fear fell from his face and he smiled some and nodded his head in agreement. "shame...is it." carver forced himself to clear his throat and try not to sound too much like the little green alien from star wars as he said, "i came here...for food....is it...good?" it looked like it by the way the other was eating instead of partying like everyone else but his therapist had encouraged him to keep conversation going if he was in moments like this where he could feel the anxiety but still able to speak. baby steps.

"i haven't been a religious man for a long time now but if this night somehow manages to never end i might have to change my stance and start believing again because that sounds like actual hell." he halfheartedly joked with a hint of a smirk pulling at the corner of his lips. part of him knew being out like this, being here, was good for him but at the same time he could have easily stayed at home without really missing out on anything. with the masks, and anonimity being the driving force of the night it's not like he was really meeting anyone new.

"don't worry, your secret is safe with me tuxedo mask." grabbing the handle from the dresser, christopher unscrewed the cap and dropped it onto the floor at his feet as he took a healthy swig of the tequila.

"that almost sounds poetic. i was hoping walking out of here was enough for people because if they asked i was just going to tell them to mind their own business... but something tells me people don't really do that around here." stepping forward, the man seemed to hesitate for a moment before finally stepping out of his own shoes as well and joining the other on the bed. "i'd say i don't usually get into bed with someone on the first date but that, uh... that isn't exactly true." he teased with a soft laugh and an easy smile as he settled onto the bed; making sure to leave plenty of space between them so it wouldn't feel as if he was trying to crowd the other. "to exploring each other and still being able to walk out of here," christopher teased as he took another sip from the bottle of tequila before holding it out for the other to take.

"it seems like the night is never going to end, so i don't think there's a time limit of how long you can spend in the rooms." for katriel, this did seem never ending. sadly, there was no light at the end of the tunnel until he was back home or at the cemetery in his solace. maybe that was why the joke seemed to have went over his head.

the idea wasn't a bad one. in fact, the banshee thought that it would keep people off of both of their backs and he decided to just go for it. "don't tell anyone i said this, but i like the way that you think." maybe the masks were helping him open up. katriel turned around to closed the door, locking it in the process so they wouldn't be bothered. then he walked over to the bed and set the tray down on the nightstand.

"and if anyone asks what we're doing alone, we can just say we've already used up so much of our energy exploring each other that we needed a break for food and drinks." who said he wasn't crafty? katriel smiled softly as he kicked his shoes off and climbed up on the bed, grabbing the tray again. "and i don't think i should eat all of this by myself if i actually want to have enough energy to walk out of here when all of this is over."

there was a confident, borderline arrogant sharpness to the smirk nestled in the right corner of holden's mouth as he kept his eyes on the approaching man. he was attractive, every bit a good visual representation of the heretic's type (despite the mask) but holden wasn't the type to make things easy.

he wanted to try and play with his food before he gave in and devoured.

"how do i know that your opinion of yourself isn't unfairly biased?" he challenged, he teased, as he cocked his head to the side. his posturing carried hints of feigned disinterest as he glanced around the room, letting other strangers borrow his attention for seconds just to annoy the man with him; to make him want holden to pay attention to him and him alone.

"you look good, i'll give you that," reaching out, holden breached the other's personal space to adjust and smooth out his tie, patting it against his chest with an almost mocking glint in his eyes as he leaned forward to whisper in his ear; his head angled to keep the horns on his mask from knocking against the man with him. "but like i said, i don't know you. i don't know if you actually are... how did you put it? quite good? why don't you give me a demonstration... get me hard without using your hands. right here, right now..."

"should be easy for you unless you aren't as good as you think you are."

masquerade balls had never been in lysander's life before now, he vaguely remembered his family going to a few when he was a child but he wasn't allowed to go. instead, the siphoner was locked away in the attic where he'd wait until they returned home and secretly try to master his unique gifts.

it took a bit of an adjustment for him at first, it wasn't like other parties that lysander had attended— normally people just drank beer or whatever liqour was provided and danced to whatever music was popular at the time. this was a lot more formal and he couldn't recognize anyone behind the decadent and elaborate masks that everyone seemed to be adorned in.

he'd been sitting alone at a table when he caught the eye of a blonde, his bare torso was visible and lysander had to appreciate the muscles that were on display for everyone. however, he didn't intend to be caught and could have sworn his cheeks were burning a bright crimson right now.

"i, well i was just appreciating the view." he got up, his hand around the rim of his drink as he approached the stranger. "and i don't know you." he retorted, resting his arm against the side of the wall. "i need to prove myself now?" he cocked a brow, though the grin didn't fade. "well for one, i know i'm quite good." he took a step forward. "and you'll see how good i look without a mask on."