ephisto wasn’t usually one for revelry… but Novus and its festivals were starting to grow on her.  With each changing season came a time for the courts to open their doors to others, and the spy in her had been curious at first in what she could learn.  As it turned out, there wasn’t much to gather from these parties more than small talk and pleasantries, but the warg had found herself pleasantly surprised by the delicacies of each court and their customs.  How else would she have learned of the vineyards in her own kingdom, or the night markets in Denocte?  How would she have tasted Delumine’s autumnal cakes?  

So she found herself at yet another celebration, standing in the firelight and sipping at a refreshing blend of berries and bubbles which tickled at her tongue.  Around her there are children, and music, and dancers.  And the fires burn long into the night.

She sees so many faces as they come and go, some familiar, some not.  With each passing shadow, Mephisto’s cerulean gaze is shrewd and sharp, taking in their faces and catching bits of conversation, even managing a smile from time to time as she murmurs a hello or greeting.  While she doesn’t join their singing or their dancing, her ears flick this way and that, scrying her surroundings as her gaze feasts on the decorations and the bright colors which surround them.  For even in the darkness, the paint of the children begins to glow all manners of colors.  It was a place where Mephisto found a strange sort of peace which washed over her, free from the duties of court and the vexings of her magic, free to simply take in the world around her.

As she stands between two bonfires, a spritely song takes flight, joined by the next round of dancers.  They leapt with joy, laughing gaily and singing along, waving flags of gold and green to signify the spring.  She watches their graceful movements, longing for the briefest of moments to have been born a creature more feminine… more graceful.  But wishing to be something other than herself was fruitless, Mephisto knew… so she simply waits until the song changes again, her gaze falling on the mare as pale as ice.

“Good evening.”  Mephisto’s voice is warm as she turns to the stranger.  “I haven’t seen your face before… I never forget a face.  Are you new to Novus?”  And she waits to see what secrets the dancer held, yearning to know more.

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erhaps I am.  She nods at the stranger’s words without admitting that she too was an outsider to Delumine.  Though she had been to the Dawn Court before, it had only been for events such as these.  While it wasn’t in her nature to be so open with strangers, Mephisto knew the value of diplomacy, and in the spirit of diplomacy, she stood ready to meet their neighbors (whether it was in her nature or not).  She offers a smile, relaxing slightly at the mare’s question.  For she did enjoy the music, even if she was hesitant to admit it.

"I’ve always had an appreciation for art,” she explains, "Though I myself am hardly the artistic type.  Still, there is much to appreciate in the music.”  She might not be dancing, but there is a certain lightness about Mephisto, one which she seldomly indulged, generally too on-guard to relax in the presence of strangers, much less take part in jovial festivities.  Still, her hoof tapped in time with the song, the drink in her grasp growing lighter with each small sip that passed her lips.

"It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she offers, "I am Mephisto.”  She dips her head slightly in a greeting bow before continuing.  "I’m sure you will find a place in Novus, it is a land of opportunity, with many different lands and cultures.  I come from the Dusk Court... Terrestella.  We take great pride in the beauty of our land, and are known for our healers, and even host a training hospital where other courts can come to learn the craft.

Tell me, where is it you’ve come from?  I was new here once too…”  In truth, some days she still felt like an outsider, never quite buying into the magic and the gods of this world.  But she found it a place of beauty and wonder too, a place where she had been left to the freedom of her own choices.  And as she stands with curiosity edging in her small talk, the festival continues its lively celebration around them.

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