Alarissa puts an a-line rich crimson seasilk gown pinned at the bodice to create a tumble of cascading skirts in a soft, blue garment bag embroidered with the letters MG.

Alarissa puts a simple velvet bag in a soft, blue garment bag embroidered with the letters MG.

People are descending upon the shrine to observe a different kind of art for the evening. The wearable kind. Everywhere, people glitter, gleam, shine or clank. Clank because some of the men have come out in thier more formal armor to show off a little. Plumes of feathers here and there. Aeterna, Umbra, Seasilk, silk, stygian, Iridescite, precious stones, rare stones. The shrine is a buzz and were there enterprizing catburglars, well, there would be ample opportunity to make a killing here.

Alarissa's in white, that verges on blush, looking every part the heavenly pregnant princess who was jus foudn -not guilty- of crimes against fashion. Seasilk flutters, in contrast to the dark of her coronet and she flits from group to group to coo over what everyone is wearing.

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

Octavian, a silken spaniel arrives, following Zoey.

While the heavily pregnant Princess Consort of Malestrom is a heavenly vision in white, the Dragon-Scorpion princess is a vision of dyadic fashions; chainmail accentuates Eurus-woven seasilks in the most beautiful of colors, presenting a unique culmination of worlds as she sweeps across the shrine, stopping every so often to speak animatedly about the choices of fashion advocates in their designs and outfits, genuinely intrigued. Slowly, but surely, she works her way toward Alarissa. "Don't you look beautiful, Your Highness!"

Elizabetta, a disapproving lady-in-waiting, Lily, an aloof lady-in-waiting, Clark, an exasperated guard, Valor, a small brown and white corgi puppy arrive, following Sabella.

Valor, a small brown and white corgi puppy have been dismissed.

Karadoc enters, humming on-key and taking a look around the shrine to take in the art being displayed on various figures and forms. The edge of his lip twists, and he hurriedly drops a bow on his way to a seat. Taking the time to flaunt his own design -- the overcoat he wears -- although the craftsmanship is what elevates the piece. "Royals and ladies, good evening. Mistress Thornburn took what I saw in my mind's eye and made a masterpiece of it. It wears exceptionally well which is a blessing because I am rather careless."

"I can say the same for you, dear sister." Alarissa turns at Katarina's approach, smiling at the armor adorned seasilk. "Ahh I miss my Valardin days. Pauldrons with gowns. I'll have to see to that revived, both of us. Especially for winter." Alarissa presses a kiss to Katarina's cheek. "Divine my darling dear. As always. I envy your skin." But karadoc's words rise above the crowd and she looks over. "Lord Saik. Is she not skilled? It's she who has convinced me that only seasilk is fit to be worn against my skin." There's a gesture for him to join them.

Karadoc has joined the worship benches.

Karadoc has left the worship benches.

Coral, a dour formal thrall leaves, following Karadoc.

Sabella smooths down her dress as she walks up the path to the Shrine of Jayus, handing her cloak to Elizabetta. The dress is a beautiful satin number with layers upon layers of more sheer fabric to make the entire skirt look like butterfly wings! There is also, perhaps inexplicably, a lavender silk fish in her hair. She oohs and ahh over some of the dresses and suits of others as she passes, making small talk with those she knows until she ends up by Alarissa, "This was such a fantastic idea!" She enthuses to the Thraxian Princess, "I adore seeing everyone all dressed up! And look at the two of you! Should you be in the same room? We need to get Princess Sorrel here and you can all just have the babies at the same time and send the healers into fits."

Octavian, a silken spaniel arrives, following Zoey.

Katarina smiles brightly at Alarissa, offering her cheek amenably before dusting a kiss to her sister's own in turn. "There is nothing saying you cannot still wear it, mingle the Valardin trends with your new Thraxian wardrobe," she vocalizes in a soft tease, drawing back with a swirl of silks to look upon Sabella as she arrives onto the scene. "Now, isn't that a rather lovely piece. I love the fish in your hair," she enthuses with infectious vigor toward the Grayson, lips splaying in a soft smile. "I do not know about having babies at the same time, just to see the healers in a fit. It's a /stressful/ moment enough as is, I certainly do not want to be birthing anymore of my nieces and nephews." A warning look is flashed to Alarissa. "No going into labor."

Zoey enters the shrine with her faithful puppers in tow and wearing a bear fur cloak over everything else. Presumably because it's getting steadily colder at night. Whatever the case, she takes off her satchel and hands it over to someone seeing to those sorts of things. "OH! Wait..." She dives back into the satchel (it's a stunning satchel, guys, no really) and pulls out a bottle of alcohol. Only then does she turn to face the shrine as a whole.

Zoey gets Exclusive Bottle of Raconteur's Implicit Connections from a monogrammed black calfskin satchel with silk lining.

"No goign into labour here for me, no. A few months still and then Astrid shall have a sibling and then I can get to work on another hopefully. I had planned to have a gaggle, but three is what I can hope for now." There is delight at Sabella's dress, reaching out to one of the layers of the skirt. "So light. Sabella, you also look divine. Truly. It's so nice to see everything on everyone. Sheer delight. I don't think we have enough excuses to wear some of our more decadent pieces." Speaking of decadent. Alarissa spots Zoey and there's a lift of her hand to beckon the woman over.

There's a curtsy when Alarissa beckons her closer, and Zoey begins untying her cloak as she heads in that direction. Eventually, she drapes it over the back of a pew and smiles a little shyly. "Good evening, your Highness. Princess Katarina. Sabby. You all look lovely."

"We really don't. We should definitely see to it that there are more balls, though I do believe there are a couple scheduled already. Still, can there ever be too many balls?" Sabella asks with a laugh, "You both look fantastic. And Zoey! Well, you always look like you're about to attend a fashion show, I think we can all agree on that! But I'm glad to see you for the second time today." Then she's looking back to Alarissa with a smile, "I've told Niklas I want a whole bunch of children and he turned a shade of white I don't think I've ever seen on a man that still breathed. So, I suppose starting out with just one and seeing how that goes is a good plan."

"Balls can become a touch tiresome unless there is something consistently unique and lively at each, else they'll all begin to blur together," Katarina opines in good humor toward Sabella, a contemplative glance arched over the divine display of opulence and decadent array of colors that is Zoey's outfit. A word of Eurusi comes free in exhalation, cheeks dimpling with the splay of her mouth into a truly appeased smile. "Mi'lady, you set out to turn heads and I most certainly think you accomplished it. You look positively radiant. Certainly enough to outshine the likes of us." Her gaze flits aside to Sabella again, laughing brightly, "I've some paint left over we can use to liven Lord Niklas' pallid complexion up, if he keeps turning that way every time babies are discussed. Maybe a little pink and golds?"

Pawn, the courtier's apprentice, Quiet, a Valardin champion leave, following Katarina.

Pawn, the courtier's apprentice, Quiet, a Valardin champion arrive, following Katarina.

"WEll, he'll enoy trying at least. And I am sure once the product of that trying arrives, when it's time, that he'll light up. His Grace is tied around the finger of Astrid." Alarissa devotes her attention to Zoey though, a look to the rings. "Oh now I am jealous. All I got was a stygian coronet, and here you are with not one but -two- dawnstones on your fingers?" There's a gimme gimme motion as alarissa takes up Zoey's hand. "Jealous."

"I'm not even sure Niklas knows where anything but that stationary store is. The one with the quills?" Sabella comments, also leaning in to look at Zoey's hands. "Tell Ian to hit him with sticks until he finds a jewelry store, would you? Just not on the hands." She grins at Katarina, "I think that might be fun! We did both greatly enjoy that painting night, by the way. You and Princess Denica ought to host more of those. I haven't been back to see if the Marquessa took down our foot art." And as if in explanation to Alarissa and Zoey she says, "You should have been there, it was very messy and very fun!"

Zoey laughs softly. "I purchased the one in the rose gold for myself before I got married. The second one is my wedding band and a gift from Ian." She doesn't stop Alarissa from inspecting more closely. "And you are all so very kind... I design a lot of my clothing myself, actually, but I gave about half my wardrobe away recently in an effort to downsize." She smiles at her gown. "I'm glad I kept this one, though."

"That is part of the worship of Jayus, constantly in a cycle of creation and destruction," Katarina chimes in soft-spoken reassurance to Zoey, a light gesture made to the perpetual worksite that is the never-finished shrine around them. "You truly are talented. Perhaps you'll design some pieces for myself and Alarissa when we start our fashion duels," she jokes in soft humor, squeezing her sister's arm before turning a smile of humble appreciation to Sabella's praise. "We'll be hosting another soon, I think. Just to have fun and see how much more creative I can get with such a wonderful muse as Princess Denica at my side. The Marquessa /did/, however, take down the paintings."

"I don't destroy mine. They are usually snatched up long before one could think of destroying them.better to seem them live on another and be enjoyed. This, is where we differ in opinion." As so recently seen by some. "Regardless, they are lovely and I am still jealous. His Grace will be buying me a wedding ring soon. It's being designed by Joseclin. I figure, after two years, he can get me one. I am hoping that it will be epiphante that she is working with, I have yet to see the design, I only know the budget." A clap of hands, alarissas excited. "And a showdown indeed. With the subsequent garments auctioned off to charity."

"Ah, I am too late with my clothing swap idea! Everyone seems to have already purged their armoire!" Sabella sighs dramatically, though she ruins it by keeping that smile up, "Well, I shall be giving away some things of mine that should hopefully find a good home. You're very talented, Zoey. Have you ever considered opening your own shop? Or do you secretly already offer your services to a select list of prestigious clients?" She tsks when Katarina answers her question, "A shame, I thought it was quite good! Though I don't have an eye for that sort of art, honestly, so I'm sure the Marquessa knows what she's doing." She grins between the two Princesses at their expected rivalry. "That should be a sight to see. I luck into most of my dresses, honestly. Mistress Petal and Mistress Thornburn have been very good to me and Niklas gave me this one for gift day!"

Zoey coughs quietly. "I traded mine for economic writs," she confesses after a while, "and put them towards rebuilding the trade of Stormwall." She beams for a moment. "Between that and hard work, I was able to amass eight hundred and five writs, which brought our all in total to a thousand."

Katarina is unfortunately called away to deal with a very important thing.

Pawn, the courtier's apprentice, Quiet, a Valardin champion leave, following Katarina.

"Lady Zoey, no apologies are needed. I know very well the sacrifices that one must make for projects that they support. I still do. Each spare silver I have gets squirreled away to procure the debts of more children. I am determined to see this dealt with in my lifetime, or even within a few years." Ambitious. "But there's no excuse to still not have new dresses. And we are in fall. What do you think that the colours will be on trend for winter?"

Zoey smiles brightly at that change in topic. "I'm personally fond of bold colours in winter. They stand out so nicely against the white and grey of the city. Reds, golds, blues..."

"I mostly just like purple," Sabella admits, though she looks to Alarissa curiously, "You've done such good there, Princess. I feel you don't get enough credit for working so hard to chip away at thralldom as you do. I know Lord Niklas is still planning on putting up his thrall play eventually and he's talked to Archlector Aleksei already about taking donations for the Liberators when it happens. People should do more to help your efforts."

Zoey falls silent when the subject turns to thralldom. Then, after a long and hesitant pause, she speaks. "It's a tricky thing, economically. It might be wise to institute reforms such as the High Lord has put forth rather than attempting to change the entire economy on a dime. Remember what happened when Kennex, which is a fairly small March, all things told, abruptly ended thralldom."

"They do help. Quietly. The goal is not to make a great fuss about it. They're children. Not things to be paraded about and used to further someone's agenda. They deserve the right to grow up quietly like every other child. To start learning their letters and slowly learn their trade, find thier place. It will happen, quietly. I have faith. And if people want to help, then they will help. It's not like there is a lack of avenues for them to do so." But colours. "Purple, and reds. I do like the sounds of that... I think I shall have ot have one of each made." Alarissa looks to Zoey and nods. "The number of children outnumber the whole of Kennex's thralls. and Thralls number in over a million. Overnight abolition is not feasible, without bringing the compact down. For the rest of the fealty's rely on Thrax in as much as Thrax relies on them. Because if Thrax falls, who will take the lumber from crown and oathlands? Or the metals from the northlands and the Lyceum? So much is interwoven. but, tell me, Do either of you have armor?"

Sabella looks surprised at the question there at the end, "Armor? Gods, no! I should hope to never need it. And if I did need it, it would be a terrible day for I'm more likely to fall on a sword than swing it. Reese tried to teach me how to dodge a hit once and I knocked myself out running into a tree."

Zoey, on the other hand, nods amiably. "Of course, I do," she tells Alarissa evenly. "Leathers and exotic leathers." Her head tilts. "Why?"

Sabella is overheard praising Alarissa for: A generous and fashionable hostess!

Sabella is overheard praising Zoey for: Her designs are always amazing!

"I'm curious. Did you aim for practicality over fashionable?" Sabella's lack of armor doesn't seem surprising to Alarissa. "I have a set, so that when I am on deck beside Victus and it is one of those times in which it is better that I am wearing it, that I look the part of the high lords wife. He even went forth and slaughtered some beast for it. When I'm not large as a whale, I can show it off. It is more fashion than practicality."

Zoey considers this. "I did aim for practicality," she admits. "In general. If I'm wearing it, I want it to cover as much as possible, be as unobtrusive as possible, and move as easily as possible. I -did- get a little more fashionable with the shark skin jacket."

"Zoey may have a better recommendation, but I very much adore Master Meadson's designs in just about everything! His designs are amazing and his work exquisite," Sabella opines, picking up one of the small little finger foods to try, "But I've only bought gifts for other people from him, not for myself."

Zoey grins faintly at Sabella. "Master Meadson made most of my armor," she agrees. "I designed the jacket and had it made elsewhere, however."

Zoey gets a supple fitted sharkskin jacket with a violet sailing ship from a monogrammed black calfskin satchel with silk lining.

Zoey puts a supple fitted sharkskin jacket with a violet sailing ship in a monogrammed black calfskin satchel with silk lining.

Zoey gets Dawn's Light, an alaricite bow from a monogrammed black calfskin satchel with silk lining.

"Master Meadson is one of the finest." Alarissa agree's. "Master Briar of spirit leathers as well. SO many choices in this city." She murmurs. "I should circle, then shamelessly slip out to see katarina's thing this night."

Zoey looks over as a messenger arrives and she takes a moment to read what's pressed into her hands. "Excuse me," she says. "It seems I'm needed elsewhere." She curtsies, and departs.

Octavian, a silken spaniel leaves, following Zoey.

Sabella laughs at Alarissa's stated plan, "I may follow you, though I have to attend to a few things first. This really was a wonderful idea!" She casts a look around at all the colors and fabrics and sometimes very strange ensembles people have put together. "I do hope these sorts of things happen more often. Goodnight, Zoey!" She calls after the other woman, then chomps down on something that looks like it has chocolate in it.

"I intend to see it happen. Between you and I, I think we could make this happen. Perhaps even a great gala with a theme. No a masque, I tire of those. But a gala with a theme. To see how it is interpreted." But she presses a cheek to Sabella's. "I shall see you there then."

Sabella is careful not to touch Alarissa's exquisite gown with her messy fingers, "Absolutely! Now go mingle so you can make your escape. I'll probably spill something on myself her momentarily to cause a distraction. At least, that will be a good excuse for it when it happens. I have a bad record with lovely dresses, lately."