Welcome to Gaia! ::

The colorful vampire was pleased by the array of company that had already arrived, and was certain more would be on their way in due time. Who would want to miss such a delightful evening? Surely, their parties were nothing short of legendary, and Kitrye's mansion, decked out in all its splendor, was no exception.

Mortals and vampires alike mingled together, and that in itself was a novelty Caius thoroughly enjoyed. That the unknowing individuals walked among legends, and even a god, was amusing to the Disciple. May those who gave no thought to mortality be blessed to remember--for no vampire could truly thrive without the unwitting mortal fae beside them. Perhaps Caius was overly fond of mortals, but what Toreador wasn't? They were beautiful in their own way, forever changing in a way a vampire did not. A true delight.

The kiss to his hand did cause him to turn his gaze away from Grendel, and he smiled at the vampire next to him. No, he had other things to focus on, such as a dance with the vampire with the most handsome vampire in the mansion. "A dance then -- I'm well overdue a turn on the floor," he mused, drawing Asana over to the the ballroom dance floor. He'd check out the faster paced music of the club scene later that evening, but for now, he wanted to show Asana off -- and what better place to do so than that of the decorative ballroom? "Shall we, bien-aimé?"

There would be plenty of time to socialize and rub elbows later. The night was young and theirs to thoroughly enjoy.

Cheri

Ignatius Giovanni had cleaned up well for the Toreador party, and while he was usually inclined towards such festivities, he had brought Aureliano with him for a reason. They were here to hopefully rub elbows with a few vampires who might help their cause. It was a long shot, given the proclivities of the vampires they were hoping to meet, but there was rarely better an opportunity to bump into certain figures than that of a high-end party. Perhaps this party wouldn't draw the vampires they were looking for, but there was a chance they could get lucky.

So it was, Iggy had cleaned up and dressed well for the affair. He had tied his long hair back into intricate loops, keeping it well out of his face. He wore a fine suit, cut of the finest cloth, with a dark purple and black waistcoat, a fine white shirt, and a dark purple silk tie. He wouldn't shame his family or his lineage by looking anything but grand, and he adorned his look with his usual silver and black accessories. Perhaps, more surprising than the young Giovanni showing up for the party, was the fact he'd shown up with his husband, Aureliano, on his arm.

Gods knew the last time they'd been seen together at a party was their wedding and reception -- something they'd spent more time apart at than actually together. Of course, Iggy knew they weren't here to enjoy the night or one another's company the way other couples might...

But they were trying to mend their marriage, or at least start over, and this would be a testament of their agreement. Gods, he wanted a smoke, and he'd only just stepped into the main foyer of the mansion. This was his first time at such a party, much less with so many high ranking guests and vampires. His Beast was already on edge, but it was nothing a bit of vitae-laced alcohol wouldn't dull. That mortals were also here was....a choice and not one Iggy would have ever made.

But different Clans and different rules.

"Did you want a drink?" Iggy asked Aurey, not sure he was feeling the bubbly passed on silver trays. He wanted something harder.

Yayoi

What an incredible night.

To say that Atelier was excited to attend the party was to greatly understate the matter. It was everything he could possibly dream of, really; an opportunity to meet new people and mingle with the great and the glorious of the vampire establishment.

There were so many interesting faces here. So many to watch and consider. So many to meet, to make connections for himself beyond his family--he loved them, of course, but Issey had Rapture and his parents had each other, and so, decked out in an elegant black velvet dress from his father's latest womenswear line, embroidered with elegant silver roses, he knew that he made a graceful picture, and if he was lucky, someone might decide to admire it.

He just had to find the right person.

The only reason Aureliano was attended by this party thrown by the Toreadors was the slim hope that they might run into someone who would be able to help in Ignatius and his predicament. He wasn’t here to socialize, wasn’t there to have fun. No. The Giovanni Neonate was there simply to take care of business. They still had other avenues to explore but right now a large gathering of vampires seemed like a good as place as any to find someone with the information they needed.

He had dressed to the next new this evening. Though perhaps not quite as buttoned up as his husband. A good pair of slacks, shoes and an elegant enough looking shirt. All his stones that he wore had been polished. The one at his throat especially catching the light of the party as they made their way into the mansion.

Any other person would be there to show off their companion if they had come with one. And while Ignatius did look extravagant and elegant in his attire with his hair swept away from his beautiful face showing off was the last thing in Aureliano’s mind. No, he’d much prefer to keep a low profile even if his husband did not. He did, however, glance at the younger male beside him every now and again. Admiring for the briefest of moments how nice he looked in the dim glow of party lights.

As if he had read his mind Ignatius’s question was rewarded with a nod and a light sound of approval at the thought. “Yea, a drink would be a good idea.” Nothing that the servers were carrying about seemed strong enough and so with Iggy on his arm Aureliano made his way over to the bar to order them a couple of drinks. “Order what you want. It seems to be an open bar afterall.” He motioned to one of the bartenders, ordering himself a glass of whiskey, top shelf. As he waited for his drink he turned from Ignatius to scan the room. Eyeing all those currently in attendance. None seemed like they might be of the caliber they were looking for but them again looks could be deceiving. He leaned over so that only Iggy could hear him. “Any ideas where we should start?”

The time between Grendel's last public appearance and this one somehow seemed to drag by in a blissful eternity yet pass in the mere blink of an eye. So much had happened since then. So many curious yet wonderful events that completely altered the course of the Deity's existence. Unlikely alliances, a boost in power, an impromptu trip across realities to find the one he lost...He could take on the challenges he faced now with new verve, knowing that he had not only established himself as the one and true God of All Vampires but that he had also been gifted with something incredibly precious.

A fragile thing at first. Feelings wrapped in a single word that he could barely fathom, or understand, and even now he still sometimes struggled to unravel all of its intricacies. But that was okay. He had someone there to show him what it all meant. Someone with the ultimate of patience and an incredible ability to remain nonplussed even in the face of extreme adversity.

And it was mostly because of him that he decided to make this appearance tonight at the Toreador mansion. Ravnos was a constant reminder of who Grendel wanted to be as a Deity. Someone present, involved, and who wanted to see his followers flourish in this world...or perhaps even in another. He wanted to be available to them, and that meant being there, among them, where they gathered, instead of holed up inside some temple while sitting upon an ominous throne.

The air of the mansion would feel briefly heavy and as if charged with an electricity that would make the fine hairs on one's arms stand on end. It was raw power that spread out from place like the fine silken threads of a web, tingling and clinging to the skin. The lights dimmed briefly, and darkness coalesced before there, in the middle of the main hall, the Deity stood with his companion on his arm.

He was an imposing figure, large, and the raw power that had spread out before now gathered and thrummed through the air surrounding him. His eyes swam in darkness, red gems that shone with a light deep within. He wore, for this occasion, a suit of the finest quality, its threads ebony black and, his charcoal grey shirt beneath was unbuttoned at the collar, with no tie to be seen. His deep red hair with its strikingly bold black strands was woven into a thick and heavy braid that trailed nearly to the floor, while some loose pieces hung down to frame those hauntingly dark eyes. His feet were bare, and shadows gathered and writhed on the floor beneath him, spreading out in some obscure pattern that was forever changing.

Tonight he did not hide who he was. Tonight he allowed them all to see him. Not just his Disciples or those old enough to be sensitive to his power, but every vampire present would know him. He was the God of Vampires, the son of the first vampire, Caine, and he was here.

"Yes." His voice rumbled, deep and dark as an oncoming storm, his eyes flashing with brief warmth as he glanced at the Disciple beside him before he turned that gaze to the guests who had already arrived. Many of the world's oldest vampires had already gathered, a few of which were his own Disciples. Good. Let them all be in one place together. Despite past grievances between the clans, it was nice to see that they could, on occasion, put those differences aside and gather amicably under a single roof.

Lifting a hand, an intricate gold goblet appeared within his grasp, and he raised it to his lips for a drink before holding it toward his companion as an offering.