Beist made his way along the edge of the party, not wanting to have to move his gigantic frame through the dense crowd. He could see quite a few guests were here and almost all of them looked extraordinarily wealthy or important. They all had a very refined, classy atmosphere about them. Something Beist felt he sorely lacked. Why had he been invited to this event? Well, he had thought it would be quite rude not to show after receiving a personal invitation, so he had come, but now he just seemed so out of place. And not just because of his size, like usual.

He just wished he could spot a familiar face among the crowd. It would be easy for him, since he looked down on the crowd from above, but he didn't see anyone he knew immediately. There were some interesting figures in the crowd that stood out, like a large Minotaur that also had a pumpkin themed costume and a tall man dressed as a demon, but no one he recognized. He just sighed as he continued farther into the party. Maybe he would see someone inside.

While he moved along the edge, he spotted a magnificent spread of pastries and finger foods on a long table. It seemed like this table hadn't been very picked over yet, since a majority of the food on it still remained. There wasn't a single empty platter yet. Well, at least he could eat something other than his conjured fruits and vegetables while he was here and he could grab some for Dora as well. He felt bad that she couldn't join him, so it was the least he could do for her.

He went up to the table and picked up a small plate and began filling it with the various oeuvres and snacks. He occasionally just popped one straight into his mouth. The cheese cubes were quite good, and the little pieces of fried shrimp on toothpicks were delicious. He held on of the toothpicks up to the little green-painted winged snake on his shoulder.

"It's good, I think you'd quite like it, Pretzels."

"I am not Pretzels! I am Quetzalcoatl, the ancient winged snake, powerful and majes-mmph!" the snake hissed out before having its mouth stuffed with shrimp and golden breadcrumbs. After a moment, it broke off the chunk in its mouth and swallowed with a slightly surprised look on its face.

"It is quite good..." they whispered under their breath.

Beist also offered one to Bull, the little bat hanging from his horn, but he silently refused, turning his head away.

While making sure no one was looking, Beist also reached one of his hidden hands out from the mouth of his pumpkin costume and snatched some of the finger foods, pulling them into the pumpkin and dropping them into a basket inside that he'd brought just for this. He'd make sure Dora got to try just about everything he could get. He'd make sure she was happy and not feel like she was forgotten when he returned from the party.

Leni-Aura stands awkwardly in the corner of the ballroom, her hazel eyes gazing uncertainly into the swaying crowd of nobles mingling, laughing amongst themselves… and the people dancing and… and she really doesn’t belong here! She doesn’t even know where to start, or how to act! She’s never been to a party like this! It’s uncharacteristic for the rabbit to shy away from stressful situations, but she feels vulnerable out here without her weaponry, or without a single familiar face; and dolled up in a way she’s not used to, it’s… it’s all weird.

Everything just feels weird.

A tiny chirp on her shoulder, and a nuzzle brings Leni-Aura around. She looks off to her side, tail flicking beneath her feathered gown; she leans her head against Nimbus’ with a soft sigh. His clicking purr brings her some semblance of comfort to know she’s not actually alone here, at the very least. She draws her eyes back to the crowd, but… something catches her attention. Someone, actually.

Someone big and tall, on the other side of the room; furry and antlered; and her heart skips a beat in her chest.

It couldn’t be, right?

But who else could it be?

Leni-Aura takes a glance around the room; no one’s really paying attention to her, so she slowly pulls Nimbus off her shoulders, and cradles the drake in her arms as she bounds across the room towards the familiar figure. She tries not to look up, or pay attention to the taller people in the room; their masks and make-up and perfume are overwhelming to her senses; and she doesn’t like how strange they seem when they eye her.

She breaks out from the crowd after speeding through the dancefloor, stepping on some toes and losing feathers from her costume while she’s at it, and shakes her head to clear her nerves. She lifts her body, gazing around for the giant man she thought she— aha! Relief washes over the anxious rabbit, when she spots a massive pumpkin hovering at the snack table. It is him! He looks ridiculous, but she’s only ever seen one person with Beist’s appearance, and so she’s quite confident that the fluffy head sticking out of the costume must be his.

“Beist! Beist!” she calls, bounding to him at the table; Leni-Aura skids to a stop at his side, and Nimbus almost immediately starts to wriggle the second he either smells the food, or realizes that it’s the beastman. She’s not sure which. She holds the wiggling drake, readjusting her hands as needed while he tries to squirm and climb out of her grasp; she’s gotten quite used to his shenanigans by now, so he’s unable to escape despite his squeaking and flapping around. “You’re here? I am glad to see you; it is so crowded, here.”

She looks at him, her hazel eyes relieved; she's almost forgotten how ridiculously she's dressed, trailing feathers lining her body like a griffon's— the fake wings— her 'talons' clicking on the floor.

Beist heard a very familiar voice calling out to him and looked around for the source, but couldn't see anyone. That sounded like his friend Leni-Aura, but where was she? And then he hears her voice again, from right in front of him. Ah, of course. The pumpkin. He takes a few steps back and leans forward slightly, looking down over the dome of orange blocking him from seeing anything too close to him, like a giant gut keeping him from being able to see his toes.

"Ah, Leni-Aura! I didn't know you'd be here as well! It's so nice to see a familiar face here." he says happily, his tail swaying behind him before realizing he may have been a little loud for a party. He covers his mouth and looks around before continuing in a quieter voice.

"I'm sorry, I'm not so used to parties. Was I too loud? AH, it is quite crowded here, and with such high class people. I really feel out of place. But, I feel much better with you and Nimbus here. It's nice that he could join you. Sadly, Dora wasn't allowed in. They said she was too big." he says, his ears drooping a little and his smile looking a little sad.

He looked at Leni and took in her costume. Wait, those feathers, those talons, those wings... Was Leni dressed as a griffon!? That's so adorable! Ah, she must really love Dora too! Beist was glad he had a pumpkin hiding his lower arms so Leni couldn't see them clutching his heart, but she could see his face that was tearing up slightly.

"Oh my, I really like your costume! It's just so c- clawed! Yes, the claws are a nice touch. And the wings. A griffon, right? Ah, it reminds me of Dora." he said, a bit flustered. He barely stopped himself from saying it was cute. He didn't think the proud warrior would be happy about being called cute and he wanted to be respectful.

Leni-Aura’s hazel eyes brighten when the huge pumpkin man looks down, and it is who she thought it was; honestly, she had no doubt about it, but… she’s glad to see him, nonetheless. Leni-Aura shuffles her paws, false talons clinking against the floor as she shifts her weight between them. “It is good to see you, too.” she answers, ears perking when Beist covers his mouth, then continues at a lower volume. Leni-Aura looks a bit troubled, and shakes her head. “Honestly, I do not know; I have never been to… a party like this…I’m also feeling a bit out of place… I really do not know what to do here...”

She looks out at the dancefloor with a mild concern; her ears would be tilting back, if they weren’t weighed to the sides of her head, giving her a lop-eared look. She looks back up at Beist, smiling weakly when he speaks of her and the drake— although she frowns when he mentions Dora not being allowed in. “Why not? Dora is very well-behaved; I do not see why they could not allow her in. She would probably like the food.”

Nimbus finally tires himself out in her arms, his tongue lolling out of his jaws while he pants and catches his breath; his wings drape lazily over Leni-Aura’s hands. She looks down at him briefly, then reaches out to grab him a treat; the tired drake perks up immediately, eagerly devouring the cocktail sausage she offers. She pulls her fingers away before the eager little beast tries to snap them, as well. She looks towards Beist again when he speaks.

He… looks like he is about to cry…?

He must really be upset about Dora, huh?

She looks over her shoulder at her costume, mild embarrassment crossing her face. “Er… Thank you.” she remarks, stamping her forepaws a bit as she turns her body to show the side better; despite her distaste for dressing up, it is well-made. “Alora suggested I go as a princess, and then Bernadette said I should go as a vampire, and Orym said it would be funny if I went as a bush? But I didn’t like any of those. So I asked for this; Dora is very pretty, but… it still feels a little silly to me, though.”

Without her spear, the rabbit is awfully docile; she still moves her hands as though she’s holding it though, perhaps out of habit.

She looks back up at Beist, about to speak again, when she notices…

“Beist, one of your vines is moving…?”

"Yes, she is very well behaved. Such a smart and gentle girl, but they didn't believe me. They said she was too much of a liability and she had to stay in the stables or elsewhere, so I just let her stay with the wagon. They didn't even let me bring in my walking stick either. They said it was a weapon. But, rest assured, I'll be sure to bring Dora back plenty of party food. Look, see?" he said, showing a little peek of the basket of finger foods from within the pumpkin's mouth. With a wink, he pulled the basket back inside, hiding it from view. He'd grabbed the basket from his wagon after bringing Dora back to it and laying out a blanket for her to lie on. He intended to fill the basket before the night was out and let Dora try everything he could bring her.

"Well, I like your costume. A griffon is a fine choice, and I'm sure Dora would be flattered if she saw it. It looks quite nice on you. I just wish my own costume looked as nice on me. It just makes me look really fat, doesn't it?" he joked, lifting the front of the pumpkin a few timesin his hands before dropping it like a huge belly. He let out a laugh muffled by his hand.

Beist tilts his head in confusion at Leni's words. His vine is moving? What does that mean? But out of the corner of his eye, he sees Pretzels moving forward to look down at the Rabbitaur.

"Oh! Allow me to introduce you to a new friend of mine. This is Pretzels. Isn't he just such a sweet little thing?" Beist says happily to Leni-Aura as he picks up the winged snake off his shoulder and holds him in his palm toward her.

"Stop calling me Pretzels! I am the ancient, powerful, beautiful Quetzalcoatl! I shall not be named after a snack food!" the snake complains to Beist, but Leni and anyone else nearby can only hear a small hissing noise and the see the snake looking a bit annoyed.

"He's dressed up as a vine to go along with my Great Pumpkin costume. Bull is also here, dressed as a leaf, see?" the beast man happily pointed out the little bat on his horn. "They were small enough to be let in. Or maybe the guards just didn't see them... well, either way, they're here with me."

After going through the gates, Gladio yet again tightened his arm around his bucket, while not as soft or cuddly as a plushie, it still managed to give some comfort, quite a bit in fact, might it be magical? no surely it isn't... it is just a bucket after all! Although as the he ventured a bit farther in he decided to do the only thing worth doing at a party like this, which means eating and drinking, he usually feels sort of self conscious about it not really indulging much in fear of being judged. But the judging boat had already set sail as soon as people saw him, besides knowing himself a little it was either do that or go back defeated, he wouldn't be able to stay here if he didn't at least enjoy something a little.

So he made a bee-line for the food tables, Hoping nobody would mind the guy dressed as a sword devouring a lot of the food, either that or they'd be scared to interfere... He grabbed a cup of wine and sat on a table to start eating, he enjoyed most of it, but the pastries where the best part, he has a bit of a sweet-tooth so anything that could be considered sweet had him delighted. So he began to search for more pastries of the sugary kind, that's when he first noticed quite a bit away at the other side of the table, a very big guy dressed as an awkward pumpkin... at least he wasn't alone on his awkwardness, but he seemed familiar so Gladio approached a little That's when he heard him, it was Beist! he was... taller than what Gladio remembered quite a bit so in fact, but it was clearly him. As swordboy got closer he called out to him "Hey Beist! How are you doing? It's been a while." that's when he noticed he was talking to someone, a small rabbitaur? Gladio had never met one of those before, she was dressed as a small griffon which was admittedly a fun costume, It was pretty well made too, not like Gladio's abominable attempt at one...

"Oh! Uhm... Sorry! I didn't notice you were talking to someone, Sorry to barge in like that" he laughed nervously, hoping they wouldn't mind him interrupting them "I'll just sit over there and eat some pastries..."

Leni-Aura frowns, shuffling her paws as she pats Nimbus on the snout; the drake makes an idle, purring sound as he continues chewing on the fingerfoods he’d been given. She moves to scritch under his chin, still looking at Beist while he talks; he even lifts a little basket full of party food from his costume. A small puff of laughter escapes the rabbit’s lips at the sight of Beist sneaking out party food for Dora. “She’ll love it.” she nods approvingly, seeing nothing particularly wrong with it— after all, they didn’t allow Dora in. Nimbus chirps, head perking as he sees the food; Leni-Aura reaches for another snack for him to divert his attention.

The drake’s tail wags as she offers him a little quiche.

“Thank you, I suppose…” she remarks, watching Nimbus happily chomp; she looks back up at Beist, a bemused smile curling her lips upwards as he plays with his pumpkin costume. She chuckles, “Pumpkins are round,” she remarks with a nod. “It’s accurate.”

She looks quizzical as Beist removes the vine from his costume, and holds it out to her; it’s a snake with wings— not a very friendly one, by the looks of it. Leni-Aura takes a slight step back, tilting her head at Pretzels as it hisses about, looking mildly irritated. “He’s cute.” she remarks with a nod; it reminds her a bit of— “No,” She pushes Nimbus’ curious, sniffing snout back by the nose when he tries to get closer to Pretzels, brows furrowing slightly.

Just in case he annoys Pretzels further, and the snake tries to bite him.

She looks up to Beist’s ear, smiling when she sees Bull. “Maybe. They let Nimbus in, but he was surprisingly still; they could’ve thought he wasn’t real… they’re cute, though..” She really is relieved to have Beist’s good-natured jokes in the middle of all this chaos; but then, someone else approaches the table. She looks to the side as a… sword…? A man in a sword costume approaches them.

She steps aside, looking towards him quizzically as he addresses Beist. “...It’s okay,” she answers, looking sheepishly towards Beist. She takes a slow breath, steeling herself for… social conversation. “Who are you?” She asks, looking back to the sword-man.

Beist is surprised to see the giant sword with the face of Gladio approaching and lets out a chuckle at the silly costume. He feels a bit better knowing he's not the only one dressed a little less elegantly than most and is happy to see another familiar face here. He almost even forgets that the last time he had seen Gladio was quite some time ago, before he had his growth thanks to that failed potion. But, they don't seem to be bothered by his changes at all since they came right up to him happily. Or maybe they're just harder to notice thanks to his costume. He new arms are hidden inside the pumpkin, after all.

"Ah, Leni-Aura, this is Gladio. A friend of mine I met quite a while ago. I met him before I even found Dora, actually! It's good to see you again! It's been a while since then, hasn't it? This is my friend, Leni-Aura. And this little one is Nimbus. We've been on quite a few adventures together." Beist said, looking at and gesturing to each of his companions in turn, introducing them to each other. Well, really, they'd been on two adventures, but they'd both been quite enough for this old man.

He placed Pretzels back onto his shoulder where he huffed and calmed down. Bull seemed entirely disinterested in the entire conversation. Beist looks happily between the two of them as they're introduced and notices the little drake squirming in Leni's arms. She seems like she might be a little tired of holding the mischievous little guy.

"Would you like me to hold Nimbus for you for a little while? I know he's quite the handful, and I do have plenty of hands. You should enjoy the party." he said jokingly.

He'd be happy to hold the drake that he was very fond of and give Leni a chance to enjoy the food and conversation without having to wrangle them. Though, he also suspected exactly where the drake would want to go if he did hold them, and it wouldn't be a problem for him. He'd just have to make sure they didn't eat all the food he was gathering for Dora while they were in there.

Thankfully Beist remembered him and introduced them, as it would've been quite awkward were that not the case, "Yes I met Beist quite a while ago on a campsite I think he was a bit shorter when we met though..." either way he still wanted to formally present himself so he extended a hand towards Leni-Aura, "I'm Gladio! nice to meet you!" he presented himself in an overly friendly manner, mostly out of embarrassment and not wanting to ridicule himself farther than what his costume already did. "Oh... and I don't usually dress up like this... It was a costume party so I had to improvise" he chuckled nervously at the end of that remark trying to make sure she didn't think he actually was that weird.

He hoped she would shake his hand but then saw her hands were already busy with an excited little baby drake. Gladio couldn't help but be struck by the cuteness, That's when Beist asked if she wanted him to hold the little drake who's name was apparently Nimbus, quite a cute name or so Gladio thought. subconsciously busting out a bit of a baby-talking voice he talked to the drake "You're a cute little guy aren't you?" He then remembered himself and stepped back looking at her "Sorry I think cute things are sort of my weakness..." He tried to scratch the back of his head while smiling in embarrassment but ended up hitting the wood of his costume. Yep this was already pretty much a mess... At least he hopefully wouldn't make things more awkward this time right? He took a sip of wine from his cup trying to not feel as embarrassed, it doesn't quite work that way but he's gonna try anyways.

She looks at Beist as he introduces the sword man, then looks to Gladio with a blink. “Oh.” she remarks. She takes a breath, shoulders rising with it, and nods at him. “Nice to… meet you, Gladio.” He’s extremely enthusiastic while he’s introducing himself, which is almost funny while he’s in that sword costume…

Leni-Aura clears her throat, “No, I understand. So did I." she agrees; although, she had professional artisans help her with a last-minute costume. “Though, I’m not very fond of costumes in general, so…” she trails off, eyes lifting towards Beist when he suggests holding Nimbus. A slight look of relief crosses her face, and she nods. “If you don’t mind. I’d like to at least drink something; I just don’t want him to eat all of the snacks you’ve picked for Dora...” she answers, lifting Nimbus up towards the werebeast.

Nimbus wiggles in her arms, reaching out to Beist with his clawed wings; he squawks at him, looking almost like he wants to be picked up.

She looks to Gladio, smiling sheepishly as he baby-talks Nimbus; Nimbus tips his head upside down to look at Gladio— the way his mouth opens looks like a silly smile on his face. “He is.” she agrees, “But he is also a handful, given he’s so young.” Nimbus’ tail sways while she’s holding him, happily delighting in the attention between Beist and Gladio.

Beist leaned down, reaching down to take Nimbus from Leni's hands. He held him gently and lifted him up, placing him on top of the pumpkin in front of him and looking down at him.

"Okay, now you can go inside the pumpkin, but no eating the food in there, it's for Dora, you understand?" he said stenly, but with a smile to the little drake who nodded as if they completely understood. They chirped and Beist also nodded as if he'd completely understood what they just said in return.

He let go of the drake that was sitting on the top of the orange dome and they immediately crawled down through one of the eye holes carved in the front and into the pumpkin costume. After a short moment, Beist felt the familiar ticklish sensation of them climbing around on him before settling against his stomach, the drake's favorite spot, it seemed. He stifled his laughter with a hand, the giant pumpkin shaking slightly before he let out a sigh.

"Ah, of course, he's settled in exactly where you'd expect. He seems very comfortable there." Beist said, looking at Leni-Aura before looking at Gladio. "Yes, I understand completely, cute things are my weakness as well! You should meet Dora once the ball is over, she's just adorable, I'm sure you'd love her. And Bull here, isn't he just precious?"

The little bat in a pumpkin leaf costume hanging from the beast man's horn looked at Gladio with disinterest as Beist pointed them out. Beist looked very happy to be introducing his adorable little pet and oblivious to the bat's attitude. He raised his finger and tickled the bat's stomach, who promptly bit his finger and latched on to drink the drops of blood while Beist smiled, not noticing at all.

"Aw, he's holding my finger! Isn't he just the cutest?"