The shop has been set up for those that come through with drinks laid out on a table with various food. Most seems to be the kind you would find in Velenosa. Merek is greeting people at the entrance and in his black leathers with silver plating and tastted shift on the hips and behind them, as he nods to folk coming through.

Evaine glides into the room, confident and cool, surveying the array of foodstuffs and drink in a glance and then looking around curiously to see who else is present. She trails one finger along the edge of the table as she goes, snagging a drink in one perfectly manicured hand and sniffing at it experimentally as she judges the size of the party and the demeanor of the attendees.

Isabetta has arrived a little earlier but has kept to the back of the room. So far she hasn't tried anything nor spoken to anyone, opting instead for the careful approach.

"Welcome to Dream Creations," Merek offers to Evaine and Isabetta, while he nods a bit. He seems to be weary though trying his best to greet everyone. He doesn't have a drink, instead just keeping up with others. There are a few folk here and there but not too many. The shop has been closed for the event save for the goods already made still on sale. That said all looks like it's been made ready for a social.

Vladimir, Leola arrive, following Hana.

The shop has been set up for those that come through with drinks laid out on a table with various food. Most seems to be the kind you would find in Velenosa. Merek is greeting people at the entrance and in his black leathers with silver plating and tastted shift on the hips and behind them, as he nods to folk coming through.

Maylis steps inside, eyes bright and curious. The faint scent of fresh mint clings to her gathering-apron as she gently shuts the door behind her and takes in the food-laden tables. "Oh, my," she says, "this is quite lovely."

Enter one young smith, towing a Lycene knight. Hana Grayhope's usual chipper demeanor has been dampened by recent loss, but apparently she's hauling Dame Leola Allenatore along for drinks and a chance to put aside grief and loss -- at least for a few minutes. She offers Merek a somewhat subdued smile in greeting as she makes her way in, scooting aside to make room for the new arrival just behind her.

Merek offers a nod, "Good to see you two," he tells Mailys and Hana, while he looks to where Isabetta and Evaine seem to be, then moves to mill about a bit, "Feel free to avail yourself of whatever's here."

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Isabetta before departing.

Evaine looks around the shop idly, nodding as Merek speaks. "Well," she says, smirking slightly, "this is just charming, really. So droll, this party. And you're what - casting aside your sorrowsand grief? Leaving your cares for another day, yes?" She sips her drink slowly. "You know they always come back to you in the end."

Isabetta looks taken aback by Evaine's rather candid proclamation and stares openly at her for a spell. Then, as if to see how the response will come, turns her attention toward Merek in silent anticipation.

Maylis browses the alcehmical supplies, turning a discerning eye -- and slightly pointy nose -- to the perfumes on display.

Leola dips a deferential curtsy as she enters, trailing fingers across the doorframe, before she continues in Hana's wake. "Thank you" She murmurs to Merek with a polite, very quiet tone, glancing around in thought and her eyes distant

Merek looks over to Evaine at her words and just stares for a moment. He looks tired and weary however, and just decides to motion around a bit, "... Sure," he states. He then nods to Leola, "Welcome, hope you find the atmosphere relaxing," he tells her. "Good to see you again."

Maylis glances over her shoulder. She frowns, slightly. "I apologize for eavesdropping, but...sorrows and grief? Did something happen?"

"They do," Hana agrees to Evaine, her tone polite but subdued. "But they'll come back a little /less/ if we take the chance to remember the good things for a bit." Admittedly, the words would probably have more resonance if the smith sounded a bit more /confident/ as she said them; her intonation makes it sound almost more like a question than an actual statement of fact.

"I'm sure I will, in time" leola murmurs to Merek. She gives Maylis a wan smile, as she nods a touch "Close friends fallen in battle; and one closer than that for both of us" She squeezes hana's hand "Seperate folk, though"

Evaine takes another sip of her drink and murmurs, "My thoughts and prayers to the families of the unfortunate victims. How tragic. What were they battling?"

Maylis puts her fingertips to her mouth and shakes her head slowly at Leola. "I'm so sorry, dear. There are few things quite so painful as the loss of a loved one. And in battle, no less. Well...I'm sure they accomplished a great deed when they died, and their life was not spent in vain. You should cling to that, it may comfort you."

Merek looks around a bit and nods to Leola, before he moves to take a seat and relax in it for the time being, giving people room to socialize for the time being. "They were both wonderful people."

"There were people hunting Dame Zhayla," Hana says, and her tone turns from sadness and despair towards anger now, as she answers Evaine. It's a directionless anger -- there's no convenient target for it anywhere accessible, and so it just sort of simmers inside the young weaponsmith. "Because they figured she was important to their boss. That she had to die."

Leola squeezes Hana's hand - a gentle touch, holding the smith's hand close "And Paladin Killian fell attempting to avenge her, I think" She gives a sigh "I ... I don't know what to say of that. I don't know what to do about it, either" And she gives Maylis a quiet, faintly bitter smile "He lived well, and saved the lives of everyone he'd ever met. He couldn't ask for more"

Hana leans close against Leola again, lending the other woman what comfort she can.

Merek takes a drink from one of the drinks on the tables. He then listens to the folk speak while he lets out a thoughtful sigh, looking from Evaine to Hana in curiosity but doesn't interject for the moment.

Maylis takes that in, her eyes downcast in that strange grief-by-proxy one feels in the wake of a stranger's death. "Well, I never had the pleasure of meeting them, but it sounds like they gave it their all. This Killian fellow gave his life, and succeeded in avenging his friend. That's a sad ending but a more noble one than most, and they can both rest easy now."

"Did he? He saved the lives of everyone he ever met? That's a fairly tall order," Evaine says thoughtfully. "He must have been /such/ a force for good." She slides over to the small group mourning their friend, running delicate fingers through that bob of hair. "Though I imagine he hoped for more good to do, more life to have. Tragic, truly. You must be devastated."

Merek checked composure + etiquette at difficulty 15, rolling 7 higher.

1 Armed Confessors, Confessor Scribble arrive, following Delilah.

Isabetta is still content it seems, to mostly observe and listen to the conversation. She remains paying Evaine some attention as she speaks, but keeps her views to herself and doens't seem to be greeting anyone either.

Merek has a slight twitch to his lip but he does not speak nor let his emotions have the better of him. Instead he states, "If anyone needs anything, please just ask and I'll do all I can to provide."

"I don't think they're the sort to rest easy," Hana admits. But her expression falls slightly at Evaine's words. "Probably," she allows, as she slips her arm around Leola almost protectively. "But maybe there's something to learn from grief, too?" She offers Merek a somewhat distracted nod of thanks at his offer, though most of her attention remains on the conversation.

The door pressed open and Delilah very quietly made her way inside. There was a faint smile directed to those who met eyes with her as she stepped towards the grouping of people. "Master Merek," Delilah said in an incredibly quiet voice, "May I have a drink? I'm not too specific today, I'll have whatever."

Standing on the opposite side of the couch, Maylis looks across at Evaine. "Having felt that pain myself, when one of my sons passed," Maylis says, "the worst part was the anger. I would find myself laying awake at night, just thinking...how could he go and throw his life away like that? If he really loved me, wouldn't he have put that love over vengeance?" She pauses with a sigh. "Which I now realize is silly, of course he loved me, but...it was difficult, at the time. The painful questions always come in the small hours."

"I think learning from grief could help" Leola gives Hana a small agreement and a sigh. She looks to Evaine, thoughtful, and then nods "He did. Paladin Killian stood against brand, in the siege. And if not for him, we'd all be gone. So ... he did."

"Well," Evaine says quite seriously, those ice-blue eyes wide, "then I will double my thoughts and prayers for his family in this time of grief. He certainly deserves them."

Merek offers up, "I'll put my prayers in as well," then he nods a bit, while he takes another drink and settles in for the time being, as he lets out a thoughtful sigh.

Hana looks over at Maylis with obvious sympathy. "I'm so sorry." For a moment, she looks like she wants to run over and offer the woman a comforting hug of apology, but she remains where she is. Both because she has her arm around Leola, and because the young weaponsmith visibly reminds herself that Not Everyone Likes Hugs. Instead, she chooses to speak about her fallen friend. "Dame Zhayla wasn't a paladin like Lord Killian, but she was a great fighter, and a good friend. She tried to make a difference. And maybe that's enough? Someone told me that half of everything that's good turns to sorrow, but... maybe it matters that it was good at /all/?"

Maylis takes a deep breath, her fingertips idly drifting across a display of perfumes as she considers Hana's words. "Those are very wise words, young lady. Wise indeed. And there is a proper place for sorrow in every heart, and a proper place for hope." She smiles, lightly. "Your friend Zhalya sounds like she was quite the person to know. The sting of her loss will be with you for a long time, but...that's all right. As long as it hurts, you'll still remember her face, after all."

"You have a point" Leola tells Hana with a sigh, nodding slowly. She gives Delilah a wan, faintly wary smile, as she listens to the young smith talk. She gives Merek and Evaine quiet smiles "I think he'd settle for being an inspiration to those who came after him - if he had to"

With a deep breath and a careful glance around the room, Delilah considered the heavy atmosphere of the room as she perched up on the arm of a nearby couch. "After I had met Dame Zhayla in the Mengarie with you," the woman began, cobalt eyes settling on Hana, "I told Joslyn that she was so friendly, sweet, and approachable. That it felt like we were old friends even though we had just met. I am so sorry for your loss." Glancing around the room once more, she continued, "I have only met Lord Killian briefly as well, but... He left a wonderful impression on me." There was a small pause, and then she looked down to echo, "Half of everything that's good turns to sorrow..."

Merek nods a bit, "I think when it comes to it, the Queen knows better than all how wonderful of people they were." He then shakes his head, "I must be on my way, however you all are free to stay and talk a while, all the same," he adds, with a small incline to people.

"I'm sure it matters deeply," Evaine says to Hana, taking another small sip of her drink. "And as long as she stood and fought, and your Killian stood their ground and fought for what they believe in, then I'm sure their deaths have deep meanings. I mean, it's not like they just got slaughtered in the streets for no reason or anything. Completely purposeful and very brave."

The mention that grief keeps the memory of the lost alive seems to resonate with Hana; the young smith tips her head ever so slightly to one side, as if mulling over Maylis' words. But then Evaine speaks again, and Hana looks ever so slightly pained. "No, it isn't like that at all," she agrees, clearly deciding to take the woman's words at face value. "And I think Leola's right -- they're going to inspire others who'll come after them. If someone drops a sword, someone else picks it up and carries on."