His smile widened as she wobbled and curtsied and he laughed a bit with her- a genuine, youthful sound. "A pleasure then, College Student Rosellen." he said before kissing her knuckles lightly, mirth still in his voice. "There, now we know each other. No more reason to fret and more time to enjoy the night." He said as he released her hand and righted himself with a slight hop up.

A blush swept across her cheeks at his actions. If bowing was unusual for her, this was entirely out of the ordinary. "It's nice to meet you too ... Though I don't think I can even begin to try and pronounce your name. My tongue would end up tied in knots." Sad to say, but true enough. Rosellen simply wasn't that adept when it came to foreign languages and names. She realized that she was still caught in that awkward bow of hers, and righted herself hastily.

Her eyes traveled to the other guests for a brief moment before returning to her companion. "So what brings you here? I was hoping to see a friend." But that hadn't happened. Rosellen dismissed her disappointment with the thought that she could make new friends as well.

The tanned half-blood laughed again and flicked his hair back over his shoulder as Rosellen stood again. "No worries, I usually just go by Sil." He responded, glancing to a passing waiter. Perhaps they had something interesting to drink... When his new companion spoke again he gave a slight smirk that turned into a casual smile and shrugged. "Oh, nothing really, mostly just wondering what these big bashes are all about. I've never been to one before, though I bet you could tell that by my lovely attire." he joked, giving a foppish gesture towards his clothing then flipping his hair again and striking a bit of a pose. After holding it for a moment he broke out in laughter and shook his head. "Anyway, who is this friend of yours? Maybe I could help you find them." He offered, carefully hiding the pang of cynical irony that rang through his head with a smile.

He had thought the lost-looking human would be a perfect catch to accompany though the masses of supernaturals, but of course the petite blond wasn't just lost, but expecting someone, looking for them. Isn't that always how is goes? Ah well, it's not as if he was here for smooches and romance, he was looking for a ticket to mingle and perhaps exercise his sticky fingers- though having a good time with a charming companion definitely wasn't low on his list.

Every action had Rosellen wanting to burst out into a it of more giggling and laughter. He was being so extravagant! "I actually like it a lot better then what a lot of the other people are wearing. It's more ... individualistic." The last word stumbled from her lips in a tangle, making the young woman frown slightly. That right there was one of the reasons why she'd not even attempted to speak his name.

At the mention of having company, Rosellen brightened visibly. "Oh whether you're helping me find my friend or not, I think I'd enjoy your company very much Sil." Wearing a mask seemed to help her be much bolder then usual. Normally Rose would never have dreamed of speaking in such a way. It wasn't everyday she got to meet such a unique individual, and missing the chance to at least befriend him just didn't seem right.

Malfay rolled her eyes at the male and female brushing her words aside, she was just being honest, when the female mentioned her last name she shot her a quick look before she adjusted the mask that was upon her face. "Just call me Sin." she said to them, refusing to give her real name, after all if they need even a little bit about her they could figure her out well at least what her job was and that was the last thing that she needed to happen. "I am in the funeral business so i doubt i know how to enjoy myself. What do you two do for a living?" she said to them as her eyes looked around the room spotting more people filing in and going to see the Queen.

The small raven girl smiled, it was a dark secret smile she understood what 'the funeral business' meant. "Hmm. Sin, huh. You might already know what I do, or rather what my family does. I'm just a princess, my father's daughter." Like the other woman she wouldn't outright say what her family did, and she certainly wasn't going to say what her part in the family affairs was. It would only implicate her family and endanger her father, and she was a daddy's girl. "I go to events, mostly. Get to know people and have fun. A fast, fun, short life." Lief was kind of cute looking at him, but there was still something about him that ruffled her feathers. Sin was just a shadow lurker, something she knew how to deal with; still very dangerous but something she was familiar with.

~~

The cups this year were more manageable to use with his toothy face and fleshy tentacles. He finished the second cup of tea before allowing the attendant to lead him up to Queen Phyrne. Bowing deeply before her, the merrow stood back up. "Och. Stuart O'Cairne present. Queen, thenk ye fur invitin' me a secoond time. Ye dae mah clan a great honur." His accent was thick and the large fishy jaws and face tentacles didn't help. He showed nothing but respect for the Queen of the Land Fae, there was a shaky truce between the two realms, but here there would be no issues.

The pale haired man looked from one to the other with confusion. Some layer of conversation passed over his head, above his understanding, leaving him with a puzzled expression. Leif took people at face advantage, and trusted without thought.

Not so for Arkerril who sighed. This was beginning to become dangerous in a way. There was no telling what these two women might bring along with them. Already he could tell they were far more dangerous then they seemed. "I travel." A simple enough answer spoken in the same kind of uncertain voice Leif might have used, though Arkerril's posture had changed to one of confidence.

Queen Phryne bowed her head slightly in acknowledgement of the merrow's greeting. Their people had always relied upon each other for safety in a way, and now things were changing. "Welcome. It's a pleasure to see you again. Try and enjoy yourself today, and give my best wishes to your sisters." She made it a matter of course to know all about her guests, and any political connections their presence could bring.

Malfay just raised her eyebrow at the girl, yea she knew the female, yea she knew the family but that didn't mean she had any respect for them and what they did after all they left their mark all over the scene, unlike her. "Well Princess, like i said i am in the funeral business. In other wards i arrange flowers and help make the bodies look presentable for viewing." she said to the female, doing rather good at acting as if she had no clue what the female was talking about. "I would like to travel but in my line of business it isn't possible." she said to him as she gave him a sweet smile, truly not letting his actions slip by on her, after all what type of assassin would she be if she gave away what she did to anyone and did not note every little detail.

"Travel! I love flying around and seeing everything from above, to spread my wings and just go. And... What?" Jacky stared at the others, "It's a metaphor dummies. I just like travel." She ruffled up again, she wasn't used to letting slip secrets. But being surrounded by so many other supernaturals reminded her of being home with the Family where they knew the secret to the business. She was getting comfortable with the crowds. Usually it was only if she trusted the person she was with that she let know of her race and family business, both secrets were usually danced around. Being a raven-shifter made her family's line of work much easier as it was harder for them to be caught and easier to move what needed to move quietly.

~~

Stuart bowed again to the Queen before remembering the gift his sisters had prepared for the Fae Queen. "Och, 'Afore Ah forgit, mah sisters got thes fur ye. It's a pure sool." He took out a beautiful glowing trinket and offered it to Phyrne. His sisters had trapped the soul and worked it to a stunning jewel-like bauble. It was expert craftsmanship. Bowing a final time, he stepped back and made his way down into the ball dance floor. He was finally getting a hang of his land legs and held a poise of almost grace.

The fae queen tilted her head to examine the jewel critically. I was truly a piece of art to rival the treasures already held within the coffers of her court. Dark locks flowed from her moon pale shoulders as the regal woman stood to accept the gift herself.

"This is a wonderful gift," stated Phryne with a smile which failed to reach her eyes. It had always been so since the once king had been banished from the courts by his queen.

The grey skinned man peered at the two very different women with clear amusement in his eyes. Arkerril shifted and motioned gracefully at two nearby velvet covered chairs. "Sit with me please, there's plenty of room." He couldn't dance with the two of them, and certainly had no intention of doing so in the first place.

Even so, now might be the chance to ask about his killer. "Flight would be a wonderful thing..." Turning to the dark elf, he felt a slight smirk shivering at the very edges of his lips. Arkerril wanted so to give in to the urge to let that expression fly free, but it would shatter the mask Leif had so easily created for him. "Hopefully someday that will change."

Sil laughed with her and looked back down at his appearance. "Individualistic? Quite a nice way to say it." He said, not even blinking at her apparent trouble with the word. She certainly was right, though he was sure she was still just being polite. His rag-tag appearance really did make him stick out. He just hoped it didn't make him stick out too much...

Shaking his head, he smiled again. "I thank you, but surely if you are looking for this friend, they are looking for you, right? I would hate for you to keep them waiting on my account. Let's see if we can find them, shall we?" He said, offering a crooked arm to her.

((I just realized I need to change Arkerril's font color ... Looks exactly like Sil's))

It was so easy to feel comfortable around Sil. Rosellen found herself wondering why the queen didn't invite more people like him to the masquerade, and at the thought had to stifle a loud guffaw. A masquerade full of people like Sil would be entirely too interesting, like a fair and not the dignified event she was sure the queen wanted this to be.

"Alright, but only if you give me a dance once we've found Stuart. It shouldn't be too difficult; not many merrows come o the masquerade from what I gather." He had been the only one at the last ball. Gently the blonde place her hand upon the offered elbow, and smiled. All this gallantry was going to spoil her.

Malfay grew a bored look on her face as she watched the two talk, knowing fully well that Jacky was hiding something from the both of them, but not like she really cared, she is a dark elf after all, able to blend in the shadows and use them, manipulating them to her advantage. She just nodded towards them, not taking the chair that was offered towards her as she continued to stand there, she had to admit that everyone was rather colorful leaving her to stand out in her plain white clothes, not that she mind. "I doubt that would change." she said to them as she turned her head to the side, looking over the guests with a well trained eye.

Jacky fluffed her dress out before taking the offered seat. There was no sense in letting her new dress get frumpled for no reason. "So Lief, why did you accept you invitation to the ball? I'm here by Daddy's request, he didn't want to go but we can't not have a presence. So he lets me go to them instead." She was already ignoring the other woman. She liked dark-elves, flirted with one last year for a long time, but this one didn't hold her interest very long. The mysterious man she was sitting with however had something different about him, and she sought out secrets like a kid did sweets.

~~

The dance had many new faces. Stuart didn't even see the royal court judges that were present last year. He wasn't expecting to see anyone he knew, and wasn't looking forward to starting new relations. The carriage ride had put him in a sick mood and being so far away from water made him homesick. But he had a duty to fulfill tonight and he wasn't going to disappoint his sisters a second time.
The merrow made his way onto the dance floor, his fishy appearance and white suit made him stick out from the other revelers. Hopefully the crowd wouldn't part for him out of fear. He started to mingle his way into a partner dance. With dancers switching so frequently he wasn't able to get to know any of them, and for some not even their names.

The half-elf balked at Rosellen's request, giving a light, almost nervous laugh as they started of into the silk and velvet crowds. "Er... A dance? Sorry, I'm a fool when it comes to fancy dances. Well, more of a fool anyway. I grow two left feet when I step into a formal place like this." He said, shaking his head a bit. "Anyway, a Merrow, huh? And judging by the name, a male one at that. Certainly an easy find." He smiled and scanned the faces around him. "Where do you think he would be in a place like this?"

((Sorry for the short blah post, this cold is getting the better of me. Oh, and I could always change Sil's color to something else instead, if you want.))

Rosellen stared a little incredulously at the man's reaction to her simple request. Though she supposed it had been wrong of her to assume that everyone attending the masquerade would want to dance. "Oh, I'm sure you're not that bad." She let the subject drop easily enough then moved on to other matters. "He does kind of stick out ... Even so I'm not quite sure where to look." She'd left rather abruptly because of her discomfort at the last masquerade.

Abanya took the stone steps carefully, the low heels still unfamiliar to her. She'd even practiced for the week beforehand, wanting to at least not look like she couldn't walk. She paused at the bottom, looking at the massive cavern room before her, and seriously rethinking her acceptance of the invitation. Didn't she have to greet the Fae queen? She thought back to the last ball she had been at, and how she had been introduced as a queen. Sighing and giving a tiny shake of her head, she stepped forward, hoping someone would lead her to the introduction she needed to make.

Once more one of the male attendants moved forward with a smile and a bow. "Welcome, the queen will see you now." With that, the fae guided the newest arrival trough the caverns and all their occupants. He glanced not from side to side as a human newcomer might have done, though he did pause now and then to give the woman with him time to take in the sight of other guests dancing. Then they stood before the queen, seated with calm assurance upon her thrown.

The attendant left with a bow once Phryn had waved him away. She looked expectantly to her guest once she had inclined her head just enough to show respect to another monarch.

Abanya followed the man, letting her gaze wander the rooms he lead her through. So many people already, and so many bright colors. It made her own cream and gold gown seem a little dull in comparison, though it fit her perfectly. And suddenly she was standing before the fae queen, and the man leading her was leaving. Now she had to greet her, and still had no real idea of how royalty treated each other.

"Greetings, Queen Phryne, and I am grateful for the invitation to this wondrous ball," she said, giving a copy of the nod the other queen had given her. They were on equal standing, right?

A speculative look crossed the woman's pale features as she regarded the other monarch. "I hope you enjoy your time at my court, Queen Abanya." Such delicate matters as simple greeting each other were handled skillfully by the fae queen. Phryne lifted a hand to shift her long locks of black hair casually, then waved a hand dismissively. She had never been one for being overly polite.

Arkerril allowed himself a smile at the question. He let himself be pushed aside by Leif's will, finding it much safer for his goals to allow the other man to be his mask during his search. "I was invited to represent my people, like quite a few others here. And I accepted because I've heard so many wonderful things about Queen Phryne's balls." He addressed himself politely to both ladies with a genuine smile, wanting to see them both enjoy themselves as much as he was so far.

((I'm sorry for it being so short everyone, but hopefully this will get things moving.))

Malfay was not offended that they had been ignoring her, she just smiled her white painted lips at the two of them as she slowly started to slip away from the couple, letting them talk to each other, just nodding and smiling in reply to what they were saying to her before she was able to turn on a black heel and walk off. She looked at the couple that had been slowly walking around, the male was rather colorful and slightly out of place in his mismatched clothes, though it was not the most interesting things that she had seen so far considering the merrow that was dancing away with people. What she did not expect was to be pulled into a dance with the merrow, she blinked her red eyes in slight surprise. "You know it is custom to ask a lady for a dance instead of whisking her into one." she said to him in a monotone voice, but the smile on her face said that she was teasing him, though it was hard to tell what she meant when she spoke to him.

Abanya took the wave of the hand for what it was, and left the Queen's chamber. Outside was a swirl of movement, It seemed that the dances were underway already. Carefully walking around the dancers, she made her way to a chair, hoping to rest her feet for a little and just watch everyone else. Blinking her ruby eyes and playing with a strand of her dark hair, she leaned back, knowing she'd have to join them soon, and hoping she wouldn't mess up too much.

((I really don't know where all the characters are... And Abanya can't dance...))

She tilted her head as he spoke, it was one of her bird-like habits that crept into her human form. She barely noticed the other woman leave the two of them behind, but the lack of another body was still something to take note of. Her father had taught her to be wary of everything, learn every exit before entering, and never take flight at the first shot fired. Smiling she agreed with him, "Well yeah I suppose we are all here representing a group, huh? Who exactly are your people, if you don't mind my asking. I just like hearing stories and meeting new people. It's a hobby of mine." Her smile was sweet and a bit contrived, true she made it a habit to learn as much about a person as she could but it was less of a hobby and more of her job. "Besides who wouldn't want to talk with a cutie like yourself."

~~~

Stuart faltered in his dance, losing the confidence he had gained in his land legs. The customs of the land were still new and very difficult for him to understand, dancing was something done to keep one's enemy in sight and just out of distance in the waters, here it was done for fun and pleasure. But he had messed something up, again, and the dark elf he had whisked into the next dance as his last partner swapped off, was quick to tell him so.
"Och. Aam sae sorry Ah didne meen tae. Ah was jist caught up in th' dance an' Ah thooght ye waur part ay it an' uh, woods ye caur tae dance wit mea?" he asked after stumbling over an apology, figuring it was his only way out of this faux pas. He could feel the dark green blush creep up his face tentacles into his cheeks.

"Oh i am not offended by it. I was just informing you for next time, never know what someone would do in such a situation." Malfay said to him as she chuckled, she adjusting how she was holding on to him, being careful of the tentacles hanging from his face as she smiled at him, though it was hard to tell if it was a real smile or a fake one.
"I would love to dance. So who would you be?" she asked him in just as kind of a voice, she wasn't offended, his looks weren't bad for a merrow, in fact he was rather good looking for a guy of his kind. "Since we are in masks and this is suppose to be a masquerade ball. Why not use fake names?" she said to him as she let him lead her into a spin, having replied before he could tell her his real name.

A tall white haired male lingered outside the doors of the Palace. He knew he was a bit late. Did he care? Not in the least, Parties were his best friends thing The little pixie girl always loved going to parties. She recalled the queen barely held any so when the oppotunity had presented itself she'd whisked Ivan from his house so fast he barely knew what had been going on at the time. He shuffled to his left uncomfortably. She's also made him wear a stupid Masquerade outfit. He looked down, toying with the black mask in his hands. "Xenith, I can't wear this." he said softly. "Yes you can!" she buzzed around his head. "Now put it on, it makes you look like some mysterious demon prince." she winked and put it on his face. "ugh, the things I do for you." he rolled his eyes and fixed one of his many golden buttons that held his black tailcoat together. His red eyes peered out curiously underneath the mask. "I can't go in." he shook his head stepping back. "Why not."
"You know what happened last time I went to one of these, all I did was . .." he sighed not wanting to remember it. Rovna paused, his hand hovering over the door. "Oh for petes sake!" Xenith let out a mighty huff and pushed him in. He flew through the swinging doors landing on his stomach at the entrance. "Xenith!" he whispered harshly through his teeth. She just giggled and disappeared. "HEY!" he shouted turning to look, but she was gone. She'd tricked him into coming. He picked up his mask quickly putting is back on as to hide his shame. "Great." he grumbled hoisting himself into an upright position.
He ran a hand through his white hair before looking around. "Interesting crowd." he noted, walking further into the room.