The Black Rose Festival (Open)

[King Celtik B. Donnerlupo]

Celtik scoffed Mark off, "Oh I have, but the difference is that they are still alive. HAH!" He said as he then stumbled away, laughing.

[Mark Angelus Fri]

*Mark clenched his fist, he was second from punching that man and he also made a note never to respect any Sumata that spoke to him.*

Mark: You fool... *Mark growled.* You shouldn't make an enemy of me... *He doubted he could hear Mark's words so he just went back to finding a way to win that flower.*

[Van]

"A.B.A.," Van appeared suddenly beside her, "seeing if the roses are the same?" He appeared to be wearing a black cloak that covered every inch of his body, with a hood to do the same with his face. This was the first time seeing her since he found her at the tower. He pulled his hood off and turned to the left, another Saint was here. Nia... his telepathic voice named the Saint. "See you later A.B.A., I'm going to visit someone." With that, he started walking toward Nia.

[Kaku Rokkakyu]

Caramel bit her lip and trembled a little, the smirk on her face getting wider and wider until she threw back her head and burst out laughing, her sharp cat like fangs becoming clearly visable to everyone in site.

"AHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! WOOO!!! HAHAHA!!! OH!! I'm Sorry Jasmine." Caramel wiped a tear from her eye, and patted Jasmine's unconsious body. She grinned, having heard Anabelle adress Jasmine as her granddaughter. "So you're the one I've heard about~" She said slyly, taking a step closer. She smirked and titled her head to the side curiously. She seemed much different than her granddaughter.

Goujile's eyes widened. "Is she okay?" He asked. He looked at Caramel. "That wasn't very nice at ALL you know!"

Caramel turned back at her little cousin and grinned. "I know dear boy... But really, when am I /EVER/ that nice? :3" Gouji rolled his eyes. Caramel was so contradictory. She honestly COULD be the sweetest girl anyone knew, but then again, she could also be...like this. There were times where he swore she was bi-polar.

[Onyx, Son of Sun]

It was a strange sight for one such as myself, this Black Rose Festival. We had our own festivals within Ignis, but I never saw it fit to attend beyond the opening ceremonies, after which I would commonly leave to resume my work or training. Dezmar, with his abundant diplomacy, convinced me coming would be a good idea, but I find myself wandering the streets unsure of why exactly I'm here.

Wandering past the areas filled with food and drink, I come across the games section of the fair, where armies of carnival worker pander to me, attempting to tempt me into trying their games of chance or trivial skill. Unwavering in my disinterest, I continue down the fairgrounds until a small man jumps in front of me, delivering his own attempts at persuasion.

"My, my, don't you look like a strong fella," he begins. "Tell you what, toss some coin my way and I'll give ya a chance to test your strength. See if that muscle ain't just for show."

I assure him of my disinterest and begin to walk away before I hear his voice chime out again. "Hmm, so I guess you Ignisians are just all talk then. Guess I'll try a customer with some real balls instead of a wimp like you," he mocks with a cunning grin. With a sharp turn, I make my way back to sharp-tounged imp and hoist him up by the scruff of his outfit. "Take me to this "game" of your you pestilent little man," I mumble in a menacing tone as I brandish some gold coins, causing the man's expression to waver between fear and delight.

Approaching the man standee, I find a tall tower with a small circular pedestal and a large mallet. Intrigued, I inquire as to it purpose. The man snickers, his tone ringing with delight at my ignorance. "It's a simple game, it is. All ya need to do is, using this here hammer, hit that circle hard enough to get that bit to fly up and ring this here bell," he explains quickly along with a few points of his finger. "Must I use the hammer?" I question, as I gawk at the awkward armament . "Well, no, I suppose ya don't, but..." was all the man could mutter out before I tossed the hammer to the side, approached the tower and with a mighty punch downwards, struck the circular target.

With a resounding crack and a high-pitched ring, I pull my fist out of the shattered remains of the circular target, glance upward and then turn my attention to the small man, who now stands pressed against the side of his standee with wide eyes and a hanging jaw. "I suppose that means I've won, correct?" I reply with a snide tone in my voice. Not realizing that a prize was due to the victor, I simply walk away taking with me the knowledge of my victory over the impish man as my reward. "Maybe Dezmar was right, I might just have some fun here," I think myself as I smirk and decide to wander the fairgrounds in search of more challenges that I might complete.

[Seigmand Dezmar]

Seigmand strolled past the various streets of vendors and demonstrators, coming at last to the viewing place of the black roses was. Gazing at the bizarre flowers he couldn't help but think the whole affair morbid, and a total waste. After all, when one could talk to royalty of generations past and the greatest minds in the world, what good did Guasto gain by this festival?

Glancing over to his right he noticed a man dressed in what he would have claimed the strangest wardrobe he'd ever seen a man wear in his life. At least, Seigmand thought he was a man. Seeing that he too was mesmerized by the flowers he approached him with curiosity. "So, who would you speak to if you had the chance?" He asked Malice.

[The Gravelord Requiem]

Tired of the resounding sounds of amusement and joy that lingered in the air, I decide that it's time to instil my own brand of "fun" into this rather drab celebration.

Finding my way to a rather clustered mass of civilians, I press my way through the lot, allowing me to get close to each person and prevent me from being seen by onlookers. I purposefully bump into several patrons on my way through, apologizing each time with a smiling face and a tip of my hat, and eventually make my way through. Upon exiting the crowd, I hear a sudden cry of pain followed by a similar yelp of terror and proceed down the street with a smile on my face. "Hmm, maybe some bad food perhaps," I comment to myself and chuckle maliciously as the green hue of magic dissipates from my hand.

"Well that was amusing, but this is a fair I'm at here. I cannot simply end with that now, can I? After all, this is all about having fun isn't it?" I remark rhetorically as I check the time on my pocket watch. "Hmm, guess I should walk around a bit and see what other kinds of "mischief" I can get up," I say as I turn my attention to another part of the fair whilst brandishing a sadistic grin.

[A.B.A.]

"Van?" She turned sharply to the familiar voice. Eager to see a familiar face she went towards him only to see him disappear into the crowd. Rubbing her hand nervously against her arm she moved through the crowd slowly, trying to pursue him. He knows its me? Can he see through this form? A.B.A.'s thoughts on the flowers and the festival had fallen to the back of her mind. Would he like me better this way I wonder?

At last breaking from the torrent of bodies she saw him. Yet her eyes followed just off of him to see Nia and Aya. She didn't know whether to feel elated or worried. To have found one of the Saints made her happy, even if it was Nia. Yet as she watched she saw the way Aya fawned over her. He was far too friendly to be just acting nice in the festival. Breaking her attention on him she moved over to Aya and sucking in a deep breath prepared for the some of the best acting she'd ever done.

"Ohhh, my! Such a strong man you are. So skilled, and so handsome too." She chirped as she stepped forward daintily. "I don't suppose you'd be able to win me a prize too?" She bit down ever so softly on her one finger, playing up the cutest pose she'd ever seen a girl do. Her body seemed to move with it perfectly. In her mind A.B.A. gagged in disgust. Guess this girl wasn't any stranger to playing men.

[Aya Dauzi Invargas]

Aya looked across first to hear Jasmine scream, seeing Caramel close by, he facepalmed quite literally, shaking his head.

Ever since finding her in Unda, she had been...well...different. A handful of different.

However, he sighed and laughed, kissing Nia's forehead as Van came, and he bowed to him, "Van, how're you doing? Certainly you're here for one of those ro-"

A girl seemingly infatuated came up to him as he looked with a bit of a grimace, and put his hand on his own hip. He looked to Nia and Van, a bit taken aback and worried at this sudden need to have to be so odd. He looked back to the girl, and spoke, "I..Thank you for your compliments, but I'm afraid that I don't even know your NAME let alone your intentions.."

He then sighed out of the kindness of his heart though, "However, if it'll make you leave me alone happy." He absent mindedly aimed the bow again, and shot the target, the gamerunner was NOT amused a bit, and Aya placed it down.

"Have fun I suppose?" He looked to Nia, just avoiding the problem of this infatuated girl quickly, and hugged her with a smile. "Sorry about that, love."

[Zeke Omoihake]

"Hey don't worry one bit Alex. Heck I'll even throw back a few nasty comments back at you, just to make it convincing." Zeke then hopped back a step, and waved his brush at Alex dramatically. "Enjoy your ice cream and games while today lasts vile Sumata, because when the day ends I'll see that the last thing you enjoy is the fine velvet lining of your coffin!" Zeke barked out dramatically, the way a Saturday cartoon superhero would mock his archvillain. The next second though he had his trademark goofy grin back on his face and laughed. "That work for you?"

Yet suddenly a vibrant glint of colors coming from one of the gaming booths caught his eye. Completely missing what Alex replied with he stared over at a booth where a single framed piece of art hung beautifully over a collection of nick-nacks and cheaply made trinkets. A portly man watching over the booth spied Zeke staring over at it and waved him down. "Hey there sir. Like that painting do you?" He jutted a stubby thump upwards, his hearty smile covered by the thickness of his moustache.

Zeke looked around curiously before realizing the man was talking to him. Moving for a closer look he saw the painting was of an almost impossible angle of Phasmatis, overseeing the city from what looked like a hundred feet in the air. "It's beautiful. The city from the outside looks so cold and unwelcoming, but the artist managed to capture it so perfectly."

"Hmm, well kid. Put down some coin and if you win my game it's yours. All you have to do is take these three balls and toss them into those urns. Get one in each urn and it's yours." The man chuckled as he held his hand out. Zeke pondered for only a moment before deciding he wanted that painting, and for only a few gold pieces how could he pass it up. However no sooner did his brush bring a single arm out from his brushstrokes did the man wave his arms wildly and cry out. "Hey! What do you think this is huh? This here's a public fair. No magic, period."

Zeke scowled a little and let his arm poof into thin air. Grumbling a bit he muttered, "Shouldn't have got me all excited you big jerk." He would have asked Don for help, but he wasn't sure where he'd gone since they got to the big crowds. Turning back to Alex he was at a loss for words. He didn't want to ask him for help for fear the Sumata would see, but he didn't want to wait for fear someone else would get it first. The conundrum left him standing near the booth looking around randomly as he thought.

[A.B.A.]

As Aya turned to take his shot A.B.A. was left speechless. Her jaw hung open as she saw Aya kiss and hug Nia, and only her hands tightening like a vice on her staff(Paracelsus' current disguise) were any indication of her fury. It took all she had to not leap to the worst conclusion possible and bring her weapon down on the traitor and Aya.

She strained her face to make a smile, and hugged one of the prizes that the booth man handed her. "My name is Velestia Normire and it's a pleasure to meet you. Forgive me if I come off a little strong, I wouldn't want you to think I'm trying to be a home wrecker or anything. It's just...when I meet someone as battle-worn as you I want nothing more than to hear of all their tales of battle. My mom used to tell me such grand stories. At least, that was before she died." A.B.A. tried to force some crocodile tears out, but failing that she buried her head into the stuffed toy and sobbed as best she could.

Taking her head from the toy for only a moment she said, "In a way, stories like that make me feel like she's still alive." She whimpered to herself, hoping Aya was as much a sap for sob stories as he was for would-be destroyers of planets.

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

The red-garbed gunman - one of the few in Crepusculum, not that many knew he was - stood a little way apart from where the contestants were looking at the roses. He wouldn't be competing today - he didn't need to. He looked uncharacteristically serious, looking across at the roses on the ground. The Wisps gathered around him like they had the last time he'd come here... like they did every time he came here.

[Lady Elexa B'Shera]

Elexa stood among the crowd, her black cloak covering the finery she wore as it so often did when she mingled with commoners and mortals. They were ugly words, she mused, too often used with sneering tones, but that didn't make them any less true. She didn't mind using those words, as they had never passed her lips with a sneer, unless she'd been insulted.

Then, she was free to be insulting right back.

"What a lovely day it is," she commented to no one in particular.

[Tempest]

Tempest walked through the crowd of people, having fun. This was the first time he had been to any festival, even his people's. He heard a startled scream and started walking in that direction. What he saw made his eyebrows furrow up in a somewhat worried look. He then spotted Caramel with some people that had the same ears as her. He waved. "What happened to her," he asked curiously.

[Zee]

Zee, who had just happened to be standing next to Elexa, nodded. "It sure is," he agreed. In the time he had to heal and rest, his wisp arm had come back fully. He turned toward the cloaked figure and held out his hand, "and may I know your name miss?"