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[hr][hr][center][hider=The Phantom of the Opera - Matt Copley][youtube]https://youtu.be/m7NgNuKVGWc?si=FtDlsLMQP4l-iSmz[/youtube][/hider][/center][hr][hr]

[color=gray][i]Halloween Festival, Aislin's Booth[/i][/color]
[sub][b]Mentions:[/b] [@Punished GN], [@AtomicEmperor], Everyone still in the toga line[/sub]

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Painted black lips. 

Black eyeliner. Temporarily dyed back hair.

And the largest pair of black feathered wings gracing her form, gothic dress falling down in waves. 

It was part of her theme. This night being Halloween, Aislin went with dark colors in her costume and paintings that surrounded her booth. Her painted eyes passed over the large portraits - a rose garden on a stormy night, a wolf howling at the moon, a rose dripping in water on a dark cement road. Each crafted in fine detail with oil paints. 

She had many admirers who stood for a few minutes to stare at the paintings. Due to their steep price, however, only a handful had sold. 

That was fine. 

Aislin dragged a palm over her painted lips. She had a lot on her mind. The death of Kali Mahendra weighed heavily. She glanced at the wings she wore, and they obediently came to life, curling around her for comfort.

These murders. They were actually happening. To [i]them.[/i]

[i]Why?[/i] 

What had Kali done wrong? What had any of them done wrong, besides defending themselves from pure annihilation?

Aislin wanted badly to reach out, but for whatever reason, she couldn't find the courage. Her life was busy. She was writing poetry nearly full time for her publisher, and she had deep ties to the 317. That's where she belonged now, wasn't it? She was even here passing out business cards with her name and the 317 stamped on them together. That was family enough, right?

Yet, at the thought of seeing her old covenmates again, the ones she fought side by side with against such a menacing foe - it filled her with undeniable anticipation. 

It was just timing now. She would have to clear her schedule and [i]actually[/i] reach out, and see if her old phone numbers still worked.

Timing, timing. 

Aislin stared at the blur of the crowd, before she heard… chanting?

She stuck her head out of her booth. What she saw in the distance was enough to drop her jaw.

[b]“No way…”[/b]

A customer approached the booth, pointing to one of the paintings and asking for its price. Aislin side-stepped her, hastily blurring out, [b]“Sorry, we're closed.”[/b] Before she dove into the crowd.

Her wings curling past bodies as she moved on light feet, picking up pace as she got closer, until she was practically running - and ran right into Adora, giving her a big hug. She was momentarily choked up. [i]This[/i] is what she had been missing, what she had been ruminating - obsessing over the past few days.

The fates were kind.

She pulled back, giving Adora a big smile and a wink. [b]“Well, well. If it isn't the star of the Sycamore. How ya doing?”[/b]

Her eyes glanced over the remains of the toga line, landing on Leon.

[b]“No way, you're here too? Been a looooong time.”[/b]

Aislin’s smile grew wider, her heart racing. What were the chances she’d see the exact people she’d want to see, just from her heart wanting it?

See? This was why it paid to meditate. Aislin nodded to herself, chalking it up to harmonizing with the Universe.

Her brows waggled playfully.[b] “Did I just see none other than [i]Vashti[/i] getting personal with you?”[/b]

She laughed warmly, no malice in her tone. Her eyes fell back to Adora, and she squeezed her hand.[b] “Hey, were you headed back to the drink line? It's ridiculously long, buuuut-” [/b]her eyes shimmered, [b]“-I just so happen to have two bottle of wine unopened at my booth. Ya'll can pop ‘em with me and we can catch up!”[/b]