Page 55 of Langiappe & Lost Legends

I heard Lia choke on her drink. "I'm sorry, a what now?"

"A Midnight Masquerade," Keryth repeated with that special brand of elven serenity that made everything sound perfectly reasonable. "It’s a wonderful tradition where guests participate in an elaborate theatrical mystery. Think of it as supernatural dinner theater, but with better costumes and significantly more dramatic entrances."

"And significantly more gossip potential," Dre added with a smirk.

"Give us a moment," I told him, then dragged my sisters into a quick huddle. "Thoughts? It sounds like fun. It would be something we’ve never done before."

"Are we really considering this?" Phi asked. "After everything we just dealt with? I'm ready for a normal event with mundane people."

"It could be fun," Kota mused.

"It would be good for business," I pointed out. "And our property damage fund could use the boost after what we just went through."

"Plus," Dea added. She was still a bit pale from her dimensional adventure but grinning nonetheless. "It's just dancing. There’s no actual danger, no reality-bending cultists, no need to save the world. Just fancy dresses and fake mysteries."

"And excellent networking opportunities," Keryth added helpfully from where he was definitely not eavesdropping. "The Midnight Masquerade is quite the social event in elvish circles. Even the Fae Court considers it prestigious."

I turned back to him. I was already seeing the possibilities. "We'll need details. Lots of details. And some assurance that our garden won't try to method act its way into the performance."

"Of course," he agreed smoothly. "Shall we discuss terms over drinks? I believe your enchanted glasses are keepingthe champagne at the perfect temperature. Though perhaps we should move away from the roses. They appear to be workshopping dramatic monologues."

As we followed him toward the bar, carefully avoiding the increasingly theatrical plant life, I caught Lia grinning. "What?"

"Nothing," she said innocently. "Just thinking about how this is exactly what we need. Some normal supernatural fun. Like Dea said. No world-ending threats or dimensional disasters. Just a fancy party with staged mysteries and overenthusiastic flora."

"Plus," Kota added, "it'll give us an excuse to redecorate the ballroom. Those curtains have been bugging me for months."

"And I can finally use that vintage mask collection I've been hoarding," Dre admitted.

"You've been hoarding vintage masks?" Phi asked. "When did this happen?"

"Everyone needs a hobby," Dre defended. "Some of us collect Monster cans. Others collect historically significant facial accessories."

I looked around at my sisters and felt something settle in my heart. Maybe this was exactly what we needed. A chance to just be us and have some normal supernatural fun without reality trying to unravel. Though knowing our luck, we should probably stock up on emergency supplies anyway. Just in case.

But that could wait. Right now, we had a masquerade to plan, roses to discourage from amateur theatrics, and champagne that wasn't going to drink itself. "To new adventures," I proposed as I lifted my glass to Keryth’s. "Preferably ones that don't involve saving reality."

"Or dimensional travel," Dea added quickly.

"Or homicidal plants," Phi muttered, eyeing the roses.

"Or running out of caffeine," Lia finished, making us all groan. Some things never changed. And honestly? I wouldn't have it any other way.