Candy and Costumes

Mercury was extremely excited about tonight. It had been some time since she’d been able to enjoy a festival in the open without having to disguise herself as someone else or cover her tracks. With New Rhaegar being unknown to the world, it was plenty safe and hidden for the time being. Plus, it would be the first major holiday that her and Vandrad’s people would celebrate on Earthland, and it was one of the more exciting ones. All around, everyone seemed to be really getting into the spirit, with Rhaegarians and Xocili alike dressing up in fun costumes and partaking in the many activities that had been set up all around the island.

Not one to be left out of the fun, Mercury had donned a rather risque outfit that she had modified from a Rune Knight uniform. A bit bold and risky on her part, given the company she’d be keeping tonight, but altogether nothing that would ultimately surprise Serilda or Mythal. Besides, as long as she wasn’t using it to actually impersonate an officer, they probably wouldn’t grumble too much. Enjoying the beautiful, crisp autumn evening, Mercury wandered around the streets with Vandrad as they waited for the other couple to arrive, the two of them simply being a presence and making sure everyone else was having a good time, though there was little doubt they were. When Themmy threw a party, everyone was sure to enjoy themselves.

Before long, a message popped up in her head. “Oh hey, Mythal and Seri are here.” Following the noblewoman’s directions, Mercury led them to the spot where the other two were waiting, very eagerly taking in the sight of Serilda in a cheerleading outfit. She grinned as little Alexia smiled and reached out to her. “Well, look at this little cutie!” Mercury obeyed the toddler’s non-verbal request, stealing her from Serilda. Holding a small child was still a bit of an odd feeling for Mercury, who really didn’t have much experience with kids, but the more time she spent around Alexia and Naomi, the easier it became to adjust. Settling the child on her hip, she gave Serilda and Mythal each a hug, even as they gave somewhat different commentaries on her costume.

“Whaaat? I would never,” was her faux innocent response to Serilda’s observation of how closely it resembled a Rune Knight uniform, the grin on her face all too telling. Mythal was having a more difficult time. For the first time that she’d ever observed he was doing quite a bit of ogling. “Glad you like it, handsome. I’d be more than happy to lend it to you guys. Wouldn’t mind seeing Seri in it myself. I am all over your look, by the way. Are you wearing black nail polish?” Frankly, Mythal looked pretty good dressed up as a pop culture styled warlock.

Returning their hugs, and giving Naomi a kiss on the forehead, she nodded to the station where the drinks were being handed out. “I’ve been eager to try that one out tonight. Get any fun effects?” Presuming Mythal would confirm his had been a dud, Mercury would frown. “Well that’s no fun.” Heading over to the station with Alexia in tow, she got a drink for herself, keeping it out of reach of the curiously grabby toddler hands as she turned her head to the side to take a nice big gulp. It took a few seconds for the effect to settle in, but soon she was seeing ethereal figures floating about. There weren’t a particularly large group of them, only a handful, but she could still see them. “Huh. I think I’m seeing spirits.”

It did not take long at all for Mercury’s attention to fall upon a rather curious spectral figure sitting closely behind Mythal. An extremely attractive man, the spirit was surrounded by a number of floating tomes, one of which was opened before him for some casual reading. Every once in a while he’d look up to give a brief glance at his surroundings, until he caught her stare and realized she was looking directly at him. He seemed perplexed by this, which was understandable as most spirits likely weren’t used to anyone perceiving them, before he chuckled and commented his pleasure at the acknowledgement.

Tilting her head curiously, Mercury watched as he stood – or at least, whatever passed for standing when one was spectral in form – and introduced himself, already knowing her identity. As he explained, he was guardian of the soul stone that Mythal had acquired, which meant that he was more or less bound to the Director as well. She grinned. “Well, nice to meet you then, Quentin! I’d say it must be your lucky day, getting another person to chat with for a bit, but honestly I’m thinking it’s mine.” She gave him a rather obvious glance over before shooting Mythal a teasing grin. “You know, when you told us about all the shit with the Soul Stone you conveniently glossed over the part about how attractive Quentin is. Shame on you.”

It seemed Serilda had also gained the ability to see spirits, the woman greeting Quentin as well. They exchanged a pleasant back and forth before a game master coaxed Serilda into trying one of the carnival games. Mercury watched with interest as the noblewoman failed to find the candy amidst the shuffle, and then Mythal took a try. Equally as perplexed as to where it could be, he elected instead to give Naomi a chance to pick one, the young toddler grabbing at a coffin more out of curiosity than any cognizant understanding of what she was doing. Still, she somehow guessed miraculously right.

“Alright, let me give it a whirl,” Mercury said, always down to try little contests. She was almost certain that she’d win, given her genetic abilities, and as the candy was hidden and the coffins began to jump around, the Xocili found that she was, indeed, able to keep up with the movements rather easily. That was, up until her concentration was broken by Alexia, the little girl practically shrieking with delight and bouncing in Mercury’s arms as she watched the coffins shuffle, grabbing a fistful of Mercury’s hair and giving it a yank. Mercury gasped, more out of surprise than pain, her attention turn away to carefully pry her lavender locks from the little girl’s hold with a chuckle, only to find upon returning her gaze to the game that she had completely lost track of the coffin that had the candy.

She gave Alexia a playfully accusing look. “Now there, you see what you made me do? And here I thought I was your favorite aunt.” Picking a coffin at random, she was unsurprised when it came up empty. “Welp, no candy for you, I guess!” Giving the girl a smooch on the cheek, she stepped out of the way of the booth. “You wanna go see Uncle Vandrad?.” Alexia practically vibrated with excitement at the idea, already leaning over to close the gap toward the former prince as Mercury unceremoniously deposited the toddler into Vandrad’s arms.

Then, she turned to the spirit. “Alright then, Quentin! Since you almost never get much company, let’s make the most of tonight for you. I hope you like dancing, cause we’re gonna.” And with that, she led the way over to the area where a small band had been set up, where various members of the Rhaegarian and Xocili people were enjoying themselves to the beat of the music. Since he didn’t really have a corporeal form it was next to useless to try and get him involved in most of the activities, but dancing was something that he didn’t really need a tangible body to do, making it the perfect way to give him some semblance of involvement in the festival. Presuming he joined her, Mercury would find a spot where there was room enough for the two of them and started happily dancing along to the music, fully making eye contact and engaging with him and clearly not giving one wit if anyone thought she was crazy for it.