The Black Rose Festival (Open)

[Zelos Shinigami-Mezmillion]

Zelos' eyes fringed in annoyance as his servants went over his royal outfit one last time, they were admit to remove any creases and make the King presentable. He adjusted his scarf and walked out onto the balcony above the gathered crowd. The Black Rose festival was a special time of the year and there was a certain reason why only Guasto could host it.

During a certain time each year a special rose blooms, this rose is filled with a spirit energy which turns the pigmentation black. But that was not all this rose was able to do. If a certain person holds this rose, as long as the rose is alive the person will be able to talk to their dearly loved ones who had crossed over. Only a few roses bloom each year, because of the small amount of roses and many people wanting to claim this treasure. A series of contests are held, the winners would be able to pick one black rose and communicate with their loved ones.

"My subjects!" Zelos announced, "I am pleased to announce the beginning of the Black Rose Festival. The contests will be held of course to determine the winners, but there are also other forms of entertainment as well. I hope you enjoy our festival and remember it's purpose, to not mourn the dead but to remember their life."

Zelos was not a wordsmith he admitted, so he decided to cut things short. "I now declare the Black Rose Festival has now...begun!"

[Trucido Damnedblood]

Trucido stood as Zelos made the announcement with some dark chocolate ice cream. He couldn't get any ice cream darker than his current bowl. He smiled as Zelos started the festival and looked around, "Man, oh Man. I wonder if they have any new games to play?" He said as he started to walk around, eating his Ice cream.

[alexanderthegreat]

Having left his kingdom in the hands of someone he knew was more than capable of looking after it, Alexander took a secure coach to the land of Guasto just for the festival. In actuality, while everyone was having fun and trying to keep their minds off of the impending war at hand Alexander was hoping to take part in the contests.

...No, he didn't want to just play games. He was secretly hoping his skills would earn him one of the sought after black roses for the sake of communicating with none other than his father...if he could, he wanted answers...
If he couldn't...well, he was assured by a few trusted people (despite a few disloyal subjects of his own) that the kingdom of Santo-Luce was finally being run in a way that would have made his father proud. Those few comments from those people alone gave Alexander the courage and motivation to push on in the plans.

...Though coming to the festival was definitely something Alexander shouldn't have done, should he had followed those plans accordingly. But as aforementioned, he was here in hopes of furthering his own eventual plans...

He stood at the moment alone, staring up at Zelos extravagantly dressed and watched as people excitedly darted off to get the festival started.

[Zeke Omoihake]

Zeke whirled around, unable to focus on just one place or person as the sights and sounds filled his senses. "This really is something. I was kind of curious why anyone would actually live in this city." Zeke dodged out of the way as a troop of jugglers passed by, all to busy hurling balls, blades and everything in between in the air. "These guys know how to party!"

Skipping around to where Alex was busy looking over the game booths he snuck in his line of sight. Too busy being dazzled by events all around him Zeke hadn't bothered keeping up his false arms. Though the first time he'd dropped his concentration and sent them vanishing in front of the King had been a little hard to explain, Alex didn't seem bothered by it. At the very least, he didn't let it show and that was good enough for Zeke.

As he distracted Alex, Zeke's expression filled with both worry and excitement. "Hey, it's not going to cause problems if I hang with you at the festival right? I mean, this whole thing is kind of a 'no fighting zone' after all isn't it?" Secretly he hoped that they wouldn't run into any of the other Sumata. After all, in a place this big, what were the odds?

[Seigmand Dezmar]

Putting down a few small coins Seigmand took a mug of ale and wandered down the grounds, slowly nursing his drink. Deciding he could let himself relax for one day, he had separated from Onyx and went about his day playing a few games of chance and deciding to try the local food. However a particularly strange booth offering what could only be described as boiled meat on a stick had left him deciding to keep to drinks for the day.

As Seigmand watched children fire arrows at a wicker target, a task of one of the many game booths he ruminated on if he wanted to try for the black rose. He had no one who he'd call "loved" that he wished to talk to, but he couldn't help but wonder if he might speak to any soul. The sheer amount of knowledge he could gain was enticing. It was something he'd have to learn more of. So he moved about, watching and wandering in hopes something would draw his attention.

[A.B.A.]

A.B.A. approached Phasmatis as she traversed the dark planes of Guasto. She had been on her pilgrimage to find the remaining Saints, and having run short on supplies needed to stop here. As much as the sight of the old city filled her with nostalgia, she could not help but glare down at the far off castle where her hated brother now sat perched on the throne. As she moved near the guards she shifted her appearance, making herself out to be the young brunette healer she had met in Santo Luce.

She found herself admiring the softness of her hands whenever she took the form. Hands untouched by war. Skin and hair that shone in the light. Whether it was the girl's personality seeping through or her own unrealized desires, she found herself enjoying the attention she gained in her lovely form.

As she moved closer to the inner city the dazzling lights drew her nearer to the festival, and like a fog clearing from her mind she suddenly realized what day it was. The Black Rose Festival! Oh my, I'd nearly forgot about it after so long. Wait, if the festival still exists, that means... A.B.A. took off in a sprint, rushing to the booths and contests to see if the flowers did indeed still blossom after a thousand years.

[Mark Angelus Fri]

*As Mark arrived he did his best to hide his appearance, his wings were gone, his Archangel War clothes had been replaced with a semi-fancy outfit. The only thing he didn't change was his cat-like eyes that scanned the crowed. He had told himself he wouldn't attack Trucido if he saw him, so what was his plan of attention? Sit back in a corner and do his best to act like he's having fun.*

*... and then he caught eye of that flower, could it's story really be true? This actually raised his hope by a little if he could get that flower then maybe he could talk to her again. Sitting up he slowly walked over to where the flower was.*

[Maliciferum]

Malice gracefully strolled into the large hall, fashionably late as always. He wore his usual eccentric and sexually ambiguous attire, but had made a few minor changes. He had removed his talons, exposing his long, slender fingers with nails expertly painted a deep black. A rose was slowly blooming in his hair, and his clothing had taken on a rose motif. Although, not much had changed, Malice seemed to be exceptionally beautiful this evening.

Looking around for Aya, Malice spotted Trucido across the hall eating what appeared to be ice cream. Malice rolled his eyes. Trucido was one of the last people Malice wanted to see right now.
Malice was intrigued by the host of this event. Zelos appeared quite powerful, and Malice walked over to introduce himself.

Malice made a sweeping bow and said, "Lord Zelos, I am Herba Malicferum. Bearer of the Sorceress Power. It is an honor to be in your presence."

Malice took note of Alexander. He had never been privy to blonde boys.

[glitters]

"D-do I really have to be here!?"

It was quite uncommon for Jasmine to openly complain about travelling to...well, anywhere. Guasto was an exception. The last time she was here she'd been attacked by zombies...

Lots of the people showing up to the festival were interested in obtaining one of the black roses from the contests. Jasmine thought to maybe ease her mind a little joining in the fun wouldn't be so bad. Heck, it could be used as some extra training on her part if they proved to be difficult, afterall. For that, she looked forward to the challenge but...

"Winning a flower that'll allow me to talk to the dead will be useless to me anyway," Jasmine crossed her arms, keeping a paranoid watch out for...well, anything that wasn't human and most definitely WASN'T living but moving.

[annabelle]

A hand behind Jasmine gave the young girl a rough push forward towards the festivities. Annabelle was there with an oddly content look on her face, hearing the girl complain made her move to urge the girl to move forward.

"Regardless of the black rose being 'useless' to us, this is a very good experience for you, Granddaughter," Annabelle spoke softly, "you can't tell me you can't feel it in the air. You can see people alive and happily playing their games, but the land itself is vibrant and high in spiritual energy--bask in it! And for the love of everything holy, girl, quit glancing around like something's going to attack you!"

Annabelle's soft-spoken words took a complete 180 as she now started harshly grumbling, recalling trying to train Jasmine in her spirit channelling.

"Zombies and ghouls--PAHHH! What kind of a spirit medium is terrified of things like that, anyway!? That's a sign of weakness, get over it! They're dead, for crying out..."

Three minutes later and Annabelle was still ranting and raving about how if Jasmine can't overcome this fear of the undead she'll be forever incompetent.

[Aya Dauzi Invargas]

Ayalan looked around, and sighed, shaking his head.
"I hate this time of year..but I must get at least one of those roses.." He vowed himself this point, making sure that he would watch the events go on.

At first, he heard Zelos speak, and absently clapped after his point, looking across, he too, saw Trucido, and bit his own lip.

"Another time Aya..Another time," He knew that attacking a Sumata here would undoubtedly summon the others, as he sighed. Then he looked around at more newcomers, seeing amongst them, Jasmine, Malice, and a young healer. He approached first, Jasmine and her overly eccentric overlord grandmother, and bowed, moving on by without a word. Aya still felt in debt to her from the healing job she had done back in the tower of salvation.

He then went up to a booth near Malice, and found one of those bow and arrow games.

He tapped Malice's shoulder, and shot an arrow right through the target, grinning, "Want a prize?"

[Yeligar Maelstrom]

Yeligar stood there and smiled as he saw a small group of kids win at a game. He lit up a cigar and just watch the festival, as people won games, ate food, and talked. He wondered at the prizes and tried to find one he could win. "I just need to ask her one thing..." He thought as he wondered around.

[alexanderthegreat]

Alexander's eyebrow raised as Zeke appeared in front of him. It was almost kind of cute how this guy seemed to want to spend as much time with him as he did, but Alexander didn't in the least mind it. It was good to have the few friends he did at a time like this, at least. He smiled warmly as Zeke approached him, noting the missing arm again but having it not bother him at all.

"It shan't be a problem to have you in my company for the festival, Zeke," he responded. He carried with him his staff in one hand ((lol which Jess forgot to mention earlier)) and kept the other close to his side. He'd have naturally out of friendly gesture reached out to at least pat Zeke on the shoulder but felt it unnecessary in a place like this.

"Please don't take it personally if I withdraw from you or say a few things that could come out hurtful; despite this being a friendly festival I still have to play up my public persona to the Sumata here. I fear they'll get suspicious even if the festival is to be peaceful," Alexander dropped his voice so only Zeke could hear, hoping the other man would understand.

[Maliciferum]

"Aya!" Malice was quite excited to see his friend. "How wonderful to see you here! Did you bring Nia with you?" Malice looked around but didnt see the reformed Saint. "I certainly dont need a prize this evening, why dont you pick something for your beloved?" Malice smiled.

[genericvillain]

There was a giggling behind Malice before the young purple-haired Saint herself leaped forth, tackling Malice from behind in a tight hug. Nia squealed happily, triumphant in being able to sneak up on the man.

"B-b-b-b-BOTHERING!" she cried, releasing him to adjust her hat with the extravagant feather on it.