\Kaspar\

\Oriole and I walk up to the door and find it unlocked, so we open it and slip inside. Oriole is looking around with interest, but I feel a little awkward. Hanging out with AEs at a picnic is one thing. But being at an actual party? Where I might be expected to dance? It's not what I'm used to.\

\But as I look around and let the relaxed atmosphere of the party sink in, I realize that maybe I'll enjoy it - after all, I was reluctant to go to the picnic, but once I was there I had fun. And maybe Arum will be there and I'll get to talk some more with her. That thought makes me definitely happy to be here.\

Name:Crawaline (Craw)

Age:16

Pronouns:Xe/Xyr/Xem

Personality (so the other Æs know how to talk to you):Quiet, shy, silent, smart.

Attire:(Outfit modeled off of vampire squid) Long black sleeved shirt, long black pants, glow in the dark blue strip down sleeves and pants, collar modeled off of the squids webbed tentacles. (Xe has pale [ almost translucent] skin, purple silver eyes and spikey, short black hair.) 

Allergies:To cats.

Food:Nigiri (Salmmon, squid, tuna, shrimp.)

Shipping (if so, what gender, and if already shipped, with who?):Unshipped currently, open to all genders.

Other: Talks like this

Xx Kamryn xX

"Yeah. Real nice" I mumble as he walks away. "If he and Lore ever meet each toher. Idon't even wanna kno-!" I jumpped at the tap on my shoulder. Turning around I sighed at Crawaline, who was standing behind me. "Craw....don't sneak up on people like that...." Xe nodded quickly. "Sorry Kam. Ah.....my question for you is....why do you look so sad?". I shook my head violently "I-I'm not sad! Wh-why ever would you think that o dearest buddy of mine....heh heh..." I said, beads of sweat rolling down my face. "Yeah...ok. No. Your are sad...tell me why." Xe crossed Xyr arms. I fidgeted with my coat "Well....on of Cass's brothers said that Cass thinks I'm annoying....". Crawaline patted my head "Oh Kam. Your anything but annoying. Your far from it, plus..you live with Rin. You should know that she is the queen of annoying. And, to those you love you are the sweetest. Trust me, I've seen you with Caspain. You look like an elated puppy or a a child who's just gotten sweets. Your smile lights up the room, and I'm sure it lights up his heart. Trust me...he doesn't think your annoying". I nodded, looking down. Still wondering if that's what Caspain thought. Xe turned and walked away, Xe stopped and turned back "By the by, Lore's dropping Rin off in a few minutes....hide the sugar.....warn everyone" I laughed, smiling.

Arden

I stare out the window of the car, watching the trees and shrubs and flowers fly by. I'd say I'm not nervous, except that would be a total lie. I wonder if Dawn will be there. I hope aer is. I glance over at Cyrus in the back seat. His knee bobs up and down and his face looks tense. Poor guy. I heard something about an AE named Mirage a while ago. Maybe that's it. 

I wonder if I overdressed. I love this suit, but it would be humiliating if everyone else was in sweats or something. And I definitely would prefer sweats. 

We finally arrive at the house. So late. Of course. It's Am's specialty. I knock on the door and a tall guy with blue hair opens the door, ushering us in. He checks Shyla out as she walks in behind me and I feel the sudden urge to slap him in the face. His constant smirk reminds me of Jonathan's, which stings. 

I look around for a while, but to my distress, I don't see Dawn. Events like this don't seem like her style, but maybe...maybe she's just late. 

|Arum|

|I walk up to the door, Mirage walking nervously behind me. She keeps fidgeting with her pearl bracelet. I tell her to stop it. Yeah, it's her first party as well as mine, and I know she's nervous, but at this rate, she's probably going to break that thing.|

|We're kind of late, which I blame on Mirage's nervous stalling on the way here. Now she's worried that we're late, and we're going to make a scene, or something. "It's called being fashionably late," I say, trying to console her, which only makes it worse, to be honest.|

|Once we're inside, I look around at the crowds of AEs in all sorts of ocean-themed attire. He said he'd be here... And then I spot Kaspar's familiar face. "Here, Mirage, bring these over to the snack table, alright?" I say, handing her my platter of seaweed rolls in an attempt to keep her occupied. I'm not just going to abandon her with nothing to do but fiddle with and eventually snap her pearl bracelet. She protests at being left alone, but then sighs and walks over to the snack table.|

|I make my way over to Kaspar, who's dressed in a blue shirt, and beach shorts. "Hey!" I say, smiling brightly. "Um, you look good."|

~Mirage~

~I don't know why I let Arum drag me to this party. I'm not big on parties. They're too...loud. And you have to socialize. At least I have something to do, I figure, walking over to the snack table. I set the platters of seaweed rolls and my cupcakes down, and then use the cupcake wrapper to gently adjust the placement of one of the ones that had gotten jostled around when we walked here. I'd arranged them in a spiral, kind of remniscent of a seashell.~

~I look around nervously, but Arum's talking to some guy. The same AE she was chatting with at the picnic. This feels like something I shouldn't interrupt.~

~At the other end of the snack table, an AE is setting down what looks like coconut tiramisu. It looks delicious. I'll try some later. It'd be weird to just walk over right now and take some, right? I wonder if it's homemade. That'd be awesome. I mean...he looks nice enough, I guess? But I can't just go and talk over and ask him if he made it himself. He looks up and catches me looking at him, so I quickly adjust the arrangement of the cupcakes again so I seem like I'm occupied with something.~

@Amarillis, do you want to have Cyrus come over and talk to Mirage?

^Cyrus^

^As I expected, the party is loud and music blasts from unknown speakers--kind of what I always try to avoid. But I think I'll still have fun...as long as I get past my social anxiety.^

^I spot Mirage standing around uncomfortably, setting down a tray of cupcakes. Catching her staring at me, my feet instinctively take a couple steps forward. Ugh. Well, I can't turn around now. Unless I want to look like a complete idiot.^

^"^H-hi...^" I say awkwardly. "^I'm Cyrus.^" She flushes.

^"~Oh! I'm Mirage.~" She grabs a cupcake and hands it to me. "~Want one? They're pina colada coconut.~" 

_Aries_

_I'm not totally sure what I should expect from this party, but I heard that it was ocean-themed, so maybe there will be some water-related activities. But since I've entered, making a grand late-entrance, of course, all I basically see is a party. Oh well, that's fine too._

_I set down my cooler of popsicles at the end of the table, before looking around to see if there's anyone worth talking to. I spot Lyra talking to another AE I don't recognize, but then again, I don't really recognize anyone besides Lyra. But this is my chance to start recognizing!_

---

Does anyone want to talk to Aries? 

~Mirage~

~Oh, dear. He's caught me looking at him, and now he's walking over to me. Oh no. Oh nooooo.~

~^H-hi. I'm Cyrus,^  he says. Cyrus? Oh, he must be one of Amarillis's AEs. I kind of remember that name.~

~"~Oh! I'm Mirage,~" I say, talking quickly like I tend to do when I'm nervous. I resist the urge to fiddle with my bracelet, instead picking up a cupcake and offering it to Cyrus. "~Want one? They're pina colada coconut.~" I smile, and hope I'm not making a total fool of myself. "~Um, they're homemade,~" I add shyly. "~Did - um, did you make that tiramisu? It looks really good...~" I trail off awkwardly.~

aaaand I am three days late to reply, so sorryyy :/

\Kaspar\

\I've decided to go investigate the snack table when I see two AEs come through the door. One of them I don't really recognize, but the other one is Arum. She's wearing a jumpsuit with sequins that make it look sort of like the ocean, and her hair is pulled back in a messy bun. She looks even prettier than I remembered.\

\I'm about to go greet her when she comes over. |"Hey!"| she says. |"Um, you look good."| She smiles warmly, and I find myself smiling back. It's nice to be with her again.\

\"Thanks!" I answer. "So do you. Really." I hope I manage to say it casually. "So, um, how's your summer been going so far?"\

~Mirage~

~"^Actually, uh, yeah! I really like baking and cooking and things like that,^" Cyrus responds. "^I added coconut into some of the elements as an experiment...so I hope it tastes okay.^" He takes a bite of the cupcake and adds, "^This is delicious, by the way. What'd you put in it?^"~

~"~Oh, thank you!~" I say, flushing slightly. Why does this always happen whenever I receive a compliment? "~The batter has crushed pineapple and coconut, and, uh, the frosting is coconut buttercream with shredded coconut.~" I'm not really sure what else to say, so I fidget with my bracelet and add quietly, "~Sorry, I've never really liked parties.~"

|Arum|

|"Thanks!" Kaspar responds, smiling. "So do you. Really." My face begins to heat up, so I occupy myself with tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "So, um, how's your summer been going so far?" Kaspar asks.|

|"|It’s been pretty fun,|” I respond. “|I’ve done some hiking, archery, and kayaking, and I recently visited an art museum - I really loved the arms and armor exhibit - it was cool seeing how different the styles were between time periods and locations. How’s your summer been?|”