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It was party time.

Azariah didn’t go to a lot of parties, normally. But he simply could [i]not[/i] turn down the possibility of meeting many people and seeing who was amusing and who was boring. This was an opportunity to see where other godly children stood amongst each other, and who to watch out for.

It was a more interesting prospect than anything back home.

In the form of a tall man, Azariah stepped into the field where the party was going on. And sure enough, there were quite a few people in here already. He showed up in blatantly androgynous clothes. A dark blue shirt with a rather low collar and no sleeves, and wool pants. Several small charms hung from a bracelet on his left wrist, and he held a curious stick in his other hand. It was much too long to be a cane or a walking stick. In fact, it was big enough to be a spear but very much wasn’t. The tip forked into a Y shape, with stones stung in the gap.

[color=0d0e20]”I didn’t know people still played this,”[/color] He mused, approaching the ground surrounding a cornhole game. [color=0d0e20]”I always imagined other demigod children threw spears for fun.”[/color]

Chariselle was a little bit distracted by the handsome man she had attempted to monopolize the attention of but a few new voices joined the fray. She turned to face the one closest to her. They appeared lackadaisical in their fashion choice. But they had an air about them and Chariselle remembered seeing them when she first arrived. Or did she? It was hard to tell.

[color=#de9b8f]”And I sort of expected more at a New Year’s party than throwing bean bags, but it’s this or a snowball fight and I am not getting this dress wet.”[/color] She turned to face them now. [color=de9b8f]”We haven’t met. I’m Chariselle, a pleasure.”[/color] She smiled warmly, turning her eyes over their frame and taking it all in.

[color=0d0e20]”Azariah Willow.”[/color] He’d passed up the cute blonde girl when he walked in with a different shape and face. If he recalled, and he did, she was struggling with luggage while Azariah didn’t even have to carry his. 

[color=0d0e20]”I think I saw you at the front door, a few hours ago. You must have missed me,”[/color] He lied.

[color=de9b8f]”A shame then. Let me make it up to you.”[/color] The insinuation was clear. Azariah could choose what reward they wanted. [color=de9b8f]”I am sure we can think of something to do together.”[/color]

A deep and hearty laugh was Chariselle’s reward for her forwardness. Azariah elected to play with his food, and twiddled his fingers around the Staff of Command.

[color=0d0e20]”Well, aren’t you just a little [i]firecracker?[/i] You must be one of hers.”[/color]

One of the bean bags lifted up into the air, suspended by telekinetic force. It instantly dove across the game area and straight into the hole.

Chariselle watched the little bag fly into its desired target. [color=de9b8f]”Impressive. By one of ‘hers’ I assume you mean who our parents are. I’ll admit I don’t have the slightest inkling who your’s might be. Some of us are more obvious than others, but if there’s one thing I learned from mother dearest is that it’s fun to chase what you want.”[/color]

He smirked. [color=0d0e20]”Then chase me, pretty thing. Who am I to stop you? But since you’re being nice about it, I’ll just tell you. I’m one of Hecate’s.”[/color] The tone in his voice almost sounded like he was warning Chariselle to be careful what she wished for.

Chariselle, admittedly, was not the most knowledgeable about the Greek gods. She knew of the common ones, the ones that almost everyone addresses: Zeus. Poseidon, Hades, etc. Admittedly, Hecate was not one she knew well. [color=de9b8f]”Well then, since you are being so nice as well, you should know never to challenge me. I always get my prize.”[/color]

She turned towards the game, grabbing one of the bags and throwing it. She knew it wouldn’t go in but there was a small bit of satisfaction when it hit and landed on the board. [color=de9b8f]”So what does a child of Hecate do?”[/color]

[color=0d0e20]”We do things that are interesting. We scheme, we peer into [i]magic[/i] that most would never see.”[/color]

That was [i]not[/i] the same voice Azariah just had. The moment Chariselle turned away from him, she changed into a different form just to mess with her. Suddenly, she was the same height as the other woman, with longer hair. The low-neck shirt was suddenly filled out, and her voice turned feminine along with everything else.

[color=0d0e20]”And we love a good illusion.”[/color]

Chariselle turned back around upon hearing the new voice. It shouldn’t have surprised her given that she was surrounded by people like her with a range of abilities, but Chariselle was taken aback a bit.

She recovered quickly. Never let them see you stumble. [color=de9b8f]”Aww, this is merely an illusion? I happen to like this form better.”[/color] Chariselle was not against any gender identity or expression. They were all beautiful under her eyes. There were many broken hearts of women she left in the dust too.

[color=0d0e20]”It’s as real as I decide it is,”[/color] She said, cryptically. [color=0d0e20]”What people perceive and what they think is [i]real[/i] can be different, or they can be the same thing. And I [i]love[/i] playing with those definitions.”[/color]

She leaned in a little, a conspiratorial smirk on her face.

[color=de9b8f]”You are full of surprises. And I do love unwrapping surprises.”[/color] Azariah was going to have her use. Their use? Either way, it was best to have them as an ally. [color=de9b8f]”What else can you do? I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.”[/color]

[color=0d0e20]”Oh, but I already [i]have[/i] shown you mine, haven’t I?”[/color] She teased. [color=0d0e20]”What can [i]you[/i] do?”[/color]

They wanted a show, she would give them one. Chariselle dropped the other bag she was holding and moved closer to Azariah. What they would notice is that the people around them? Didn’t matter. The scene? Could be anywhere. It was similar to the feeling of getting high. Charielle’s appearance didn’t change but yet, she looked….better? As if all of the beautiful points on her face had emphasized themselves. Heartbeat quickening, goosepimples forming, and a strong desire to be anywhere else doing something that the other partygoers would maybe frown upon if they all weren’t horny themselves.

Chariselle reached for Azariah’s hand, holding it and allowing the warmth of the skin-to-skin- contact do it’s thing. [color=de9b8f]”This is only a hint of what I can do.”[/color] Then Chariselle dropped the hand and moved back. The symptoms dropping as well though one could still feel the lingering sensation. [color=de9b8f]”A taste. I promise it gets better.”[/color]

It was [i]otherworldly,[/i] in Azariah’s mind. Of course a demigod of love would have such a trick. Blood was circulating faster under her skin, and she was amused.

[color=0d0e20]”I believe you,”[/color] She said, sounding hooked. [color=0d0e20]”You want to chase me? That’s step one, girl.”[/color]

[color=de9b8f]”Why chase when what I have is on offer? I’m new to this camp and I assume you are as well. Perhaps we can help each other and benefit from one another's efforts. From what I have heard so far, there’s lots to enjoy here and plenty of drama to feed any rumor mill for years.”[/color]

[color=0d0e20]”Rumors… That’ll be fun.”[/color] Whatever Chariselle was doing, it was taking up most of Azariah’s attention.

[color=0d0e20]”This party is awfully boring, don’t you think?”[/color]

[color=de9b8f]”Oh honey, it was dreadful until you walked in. The weather out there is frightful but what say you and I make things oh so delightful?”[/color]

[color=0d0e20]”That sounds like a terrible idea, beautiful… [i]Lets.”[/i][/color]

Azariah took hold of Chariselle’s hand. Her palms were unusually warm.

[color=0d0e20]”Why don’t we get out of here?”[/color]

Chariselle took Azariah’s hand, feeling the tingle throughout her body. This [i]was[/i] probably going to be a terrible idea, but that’s what the new year was for, wasn’t it?

[color=de9b8f]”Lead the way.”[/color]

The events that followed have been left as an exercise to the reader.