5 Silvershields, Jeeves, a sophisticated valet arrive, following Rook.

Rook turns up some time shortly after the towncriers go a'callin', all so he seat himself somewhere far afield, looking down the way towards Yasmine and giving a little wave. Then Silvio gets wave. You too! It's slightly less enthusiastic, but equally encouraging.

"Auditioning?!" Mae gasps out, at Sebastian. "All the begging has finally paid off? Or-... more likely... it's exactly as you said and you're just bored," she concludes, with a sly grin. Then without ever acknowledging her, Mae is hopping off the stage and walking right to Yasmine. "We can surely speak later," she says, to Sebastian. And then, upon reaching Yasmine, Mae leans right in to greet the young woman with a kiss on the cheek, just past the corner of her mouth. "Congratulations, sweets," she says, affectionately. Then she's standing back upright. "Mister Rook! Welcome. The bar cart is stocked with some very good and very ridiculous spirits..." she gestures. "We'll be getting started in just a few minutes."

Yasmine grins brightly at Mae and laughs a little as she pokes her own exposed tummy, "Thank you. Hope there are roles for chubby dancers in the play." Upon hearing Rook's name, she turns in her seat, blows him a kiss, and then turns around. Time to be a very professional actress now. Yes, yes.

Silvio stares at Sebastian for a moment. Then he turns right around and heads for the cart to get something to fill his goblet with. "Did you hear that, he's going to /audition/! I need a drink. Ohhh, my darling, " He tilts his head towards Mae, "I am so utterly curious about becoming a patron..."A dark gaze lingers on the woman for a moment, then he smiles.

Quick to protest, Sebastian's grin widens: "Oh, no. It's /completely/ the begging. You can take credit for how amazing -- or how terrible -- my performance is tonight," he tells Mae, amusement obvious in his voice. He gives a nod to her parting words, and turns his attention to Silvio, the other man's words earning a genuine, if low-throated laugh. He remains lounging in his seat, though his gaze does track to examine the newer arrivals, as if determining whether they're potential rivals or simply curious.

Mae turns back to Yasmine, and gives a stage whisper, hand next to her mouth and everything. "There is a role for a bear. Someone wrapped up in a furry costume, entirely out of sight!" She then gives a grin, and a little giggle. "It's a children's play, sweets," she says, at normal volume. "We need fun and happy. Not that you are anything but shockingly gorgeous, all the time..." she says. Then a look to Silvio, and Mae offers a simple nod. "You could ask Mister Rook. Our longest running Patron. A ravenous devotee to the arts!" There's a smile flashed to Sebastian, then Mae is stepping back to the stage. She pushes hands to wood and thrusts herself up, effortlessly vaulting up and onto her butt, then in one graceful movement to her feet. "Good evening, everyone!"

"I'm just a theatrehpile," insists Rook with a handwave, smiling to himself, watching the stage and the performance preparation. As the man leans back, he sends poor Jeeves off to find champagne, whether or not it's available. The man won't come back unless he has it.

Maxene, Pellinor, 4 Thrax Guards, Honey Snuggle, a Velenosian Angora cat arrive, following Alarissa.

Yasmine grins as something Rook mouths to her and gives him a little wink before she directs her attention to Mae on the stage, curled up in the seat rather like a cat.

Silvio has joined the Noble Seating.

Jared, an overworked-looking, nervous Apprentice Whisper arrives, following Bliss.

Leaning forward for a moment, Sebastian's glance towards the drink cart suggests he's regretting his earlier (totally arbitrary) statement on pre-audition drinks. It's a good thing Mae's moving to the stage to pull his attention, given the restless flicker of his fingers.

Alarissa's moving in through the doors, for once attempting to be someone discreet, blue eyes looking to those present as if scouring them for someone specific. Whcih she finds soon enough and a flick of her hands and murmur to the retinue, they remain hanging back while she weaves through to make her way to Rook and Yasmine with a smile and flutter of pale seasilk.

e She's not late to her audition, is she? Stepping into the theater and taking a long moment to look around the venue, familiarizing herself with it with a slow turn in place, Bliss seems satisfied and begins to walk down the steps and toward Mae. "I hear there's some kind of show being put on? And I think I promised someone auditions last time and never followed through?" the blustering Whisper states warmly in the direction of Mae, her seasilk swishing around her as she approaches the stage.

"Princess Alarissa Thrax, why hello, you came!" Rook chirps as he rises, exits his row, and moves towards the retinue of the High Lord's Consort. As he engulfs her a clasps of hands, kisses to her cheeks, he then insists, "Come, sit. It's the paltry seating but you can belittle yourself a moment to watch Yasmine, yes?"

"Alright, lords, ladies, misses and misters, Rook," Mae says, as she stands up on center stage, dressed and a decidedly un-Mae-like black silk dress. "Tonight, we are holding open auditions for a children's play. Three short plays, actually," she holds up three fingers. "Allegories, all of them. Meant to be fun and whimsical, yet convey a message. The three are, at present... The Mean Old Bear, a story of a group of villagers that forget just how mean the mean old bear is... and everyone dies. Then, The Traveler and the Elf, a story of a lost wanderer encountering an elf deep in the woods. Finally, the man, the child, and the donkey, a short tale of a father and his daughter travelling to town, and getting a lot of guff from people who had no business giving it." She pauses. "So then! Who is here to audition?" she asks, giving a look over the room, and meets Bliss' gaze. "Bliss Whisper, to audition!" she says, cheerily.

"I'm the Elf," Bliss announces as if it's decided already, meeting Mae's look dead on and giving her a bright smile as she turns and heads toward the stairs on the side of the platform, climbing up them with a quick and sure step as she approaches the center of the stage, brimming with confidence. "What do I have to do to become the Elf?" Bliss asks Mae as she slides her hands behind her back, canting her head to the side and awaiting her instructions, her stance calm and poised. As soon as she's up there, she finally notices some of the others, and gives a warm smile of greeting to both Rook and Alarissa, clearly recognizing them both.

Bliss has joined the Stage.

A few more people have entered since Sebastian turned his attention to the stage, though he doesn't turn to look. Instead, seated up the front, he affects a picture of ease, half turning as a Whisper is called up, tracking her progress to the stage. He gives an encouraging clap, a low-throated laugh, and leans back to watch.

"Oh, sweet Bliss, to be an elf one must be tall and gorgeous," Mae says, with an adoring smile. "Which... we can get you some heels, should you make it past audition," she says, her smile turning to something far more teasing and sly. "And then you are to be very, very helpful, and wholly condescending, all at once." Beat. "Now! Who will play the part of the traveler?" she asks, looking out over the audience.

Rook wriggles his fingers for Bliss, a pleasant gesture, before he calls, "Mistress Bliss Whisper, a pleasure," is soon urged.

Yasmine wrinkles her nose a little and makes a very pretty pout as she says with a little giggle, "Aww. But I don't want to be the scary old bear!" Spotting Alarissa seated with Rook, she waves at her with a little waggle of her fingers.

Silvio comes to sit down near Sebastian and at once, "Perhaps traveller calls to you? what do you think? Or...would you rather be one of those who puts their nose in their business? Its always a little more fun to be the villain. Actors playing villains always seem to be having a good time."

Alarissa lifts fingers to wriggle - wriggling seems to be the thing right now - to Bliss at the sight of the woman and then to Yasmine, her smile serene and bright. "Whatever you will be, dearest Yasmine, you will be brilliant."

"Ah, so I just have to play myself on stilts," Bliss says to Mae without hesitation. "So I'm up here to make someone who can't act actually look good?" She looks through the crowd for a moment, before she walks toward Mae, crouching down and saying in a hushed whisper, "Mae, you remembered all the face pain for these roles, right? I don't know if these are the kinds of people you want to have up on the stage next to me without it, though it will really sell the whole beautiful elf above them thing if they have to be with me." On hearing Silvio suggest Sebastian go up, she gives the Pravus Lord a wink, motioning him up. "Come on, darling, be a dear and help me prove my point."

"/I/ was hoping to play the mean old bear," Sebastian answers Silvio wryly, "But -- if no one else is game...?" He pushes to his feet, squinting gaze as he looks back over his shoulder to see if anyone else is keen on claiming the role. "I'll try it on for size, Mae," he calls, lips twitching at Bliss' encouragement. He takes a moment to unbutton and divest himself of his jacket, leaving it on his seat -- in Silvio's care.

"Is there a witch she can play? I am getting a definite 'witch' feeling from the stage just now." Silvio drapes his arm over the chair with Sebastian's coat in it, protecting it at all costs from anyone that might have...fleas.

"If she's a scary old bear though, she might Method act, and then she won't shave her legs and I'll be livid," Rook says with clear jest.

"Bliss, we've not started. You can go back to being your usual self... breezy and pleasant?" Mae asks the Whisper, grinning still. She then whirls to find Sebastian rising up, and she gives a quick clap. "Right! So then-..." And she turns to a table that's on stage, and grabs papers. One is handed to Bliss. One is handed to Sebastians. "The story goes like such... The traveler is lost deep in the Gray Forest. The elf comes across him, and feels sympathy... for this poor, pathetic human. As they walk back to the elf's hovel, the man blows on his hands. The elf asks... why do you do that? The man says, 'to warm my hands up'. The elf finds this curious, but continues all the same. Back in the hovel, the man and elf sit for stew. The man blows on his soup. The elf asks... why do you do that? The man says, 'to cool my soup'. And then all the sudden, the elf is in a fury. She flips the table-" Mae pantomimes this, "and storms about. Out, out, out! she yells, as she stomps her feet." And Mae stomps her feet. Only, Mae's covered in bells, so she mostly just jingles. "I will not trust a man who blows both hot and cold!" Mae growls out. Then clears her throat. "And so is the story." Mae pauses to look back to the two, and then gestures to a table and two chairs. "We will start with the blowing on soup. We have no props but I trust you can pretend, Lord Sebastian?"

Sebastian stretches his legs as he makes his way up onto the stage -- taking the stairs, rather than following Mae's earlier shortcut -- though it doesn't take him long. "--pathetic!" he interrupts, halfway through Mae's explanation. "It's going to take /all/ of my skill to play /pathetic/, Mae," he asides, before he quiets to listen adroitly. Rolling his shoulders, he takes a few steps to one side of the table and crouches, setting his paper down on the floor, cupping his hands over it and hunching his shoulders as if he's cold. He lifts his cupped hands to near his lips, blowing, but not drinking the contents as yet, shooting little furtive glances towards Bliss that are intended to be subtle but are probably not at all.

"Have you met me?" the Softest Whisper asks Mae, her tone entirely flat as she takes the paper handed to her, standing as Sebastian comes up and giving him a nod of clear approval. Then Bliss listens to Mae's instructions, turning to wait for Sebastian to blow on the soup, her hands linking in front of her waist (the woman not having any problems knowing what to do with them), and smiling warmly as she waits. Before Sebastian starts, she says to him, her tone quippy, "Oh, dear, and here I thought you were just a natural, not putting on a show this whole time, Lord Pravus," to Sebastian. Method acting. Right? Then he is sitting down and blowing, and she is clearing her throat, walking toward him with an exaggerated frown on her face. "And now you are blowing on my soup!" she says, her voice sharp. "My soup which I just pulled off of the fire for you! Is it not warm enough? Shall I set it to boiling before I put it in your hands, are you perhaps a fan of blisters, or is this just your way of offering insult to my hospitality?!"

Mae steps back, when the two actors take their places. She gives them both win-some smiles, and a double thumbs-up to go with it. Surely, they'll be great! She settles her expression, though, as the show begins. For a moment, at least, until Bliss starts to speak, and she can't help but let her smirk free.

'Who needs to come to opening night when they just need to come watch auditions." Alarissa softly comments to Rook as Mae jingles across the stage and laying out the story. She murmurs with Rook softly, settled comfortbaly into those... cheap seats and watching Bliss's audtion.

There's a brief thinning of lips from Sebastian, though whether that's in response to Bliss' method acting or otherwise is difficult to determine. It's followed, either way, by a slight frown and a confused look down at the soup, then back upwards the 'elf'. "I don't--" he seems more than taken aback by the strange creature's tirade, a shiver racing through him that could be due to the 'cold' as any reaction to her words. He's still crouched near the ground, so he has to tilt his head to continue watching Bliss as she comes close. "You just pulled it off the fire -- it's /too/ hot. I'm trying to cool it so I can drink it," he explains, a distinct note of wariness in his voice, like he's not quite sure how his host might take this news.

Yasmine settles back to watch, toying with the ends of her blue-black hair as it's draped over one shoulder. Her pale green eyes are bright with anticipation and perhaps a touch of eagerness.

"It's an entirely different thing, I'm pretty sure Yasmine's approach is to be as outrageous as possible," Rook says with the resignation of a suffering husband.

Silvio looks over his shoulder at the rest of the audience, then back to the two on the stage. His look his supportive and encouraging, for the moment. Its a trap!

Having begun pacing in agitation as she is ranting, Bliss stops dead in her tracks, her entire body going stock still as she turns her head to look at the man, her mouth slowly falling open and her face twisting into something that is like a mix of utter horror and utter disgust, before her foot lifts up and kicks the underside of the 'table' that Sebastian is sitting at, presumably spilling imaginary silverware and soup everywhere, making quite the imaginary racket. Someone hears it, right? "Humans!" she shrieks in utter disgust. "You cannot trust something that breathes both hot and cold! I would end your life for that, but in my experience then all of you just start breathing blood instead!" Her hands both lift into the air, and she suddenly storms right at Sebastian, hopefully enough to make the man actually jump backward as she approaches. "Besides!" she continues to shriek. "Then you'd just come back and breathe ink, or jealousy, or maybe you'll just breathe aquamarines or time or whatever you might be! You can never tell with humans! Get out of here, get out of here now!" she says, before she starts switching into something that to the uninitiated might sound like she's speaking in tongues, but there is a rhythm and pattern to the words.

Bliss says in Nox'alfar, "Why don't you make sense?! Why don't any of you ever make sense?! Either you're all so boring, so infuriating, or both, and I have no idea how to deal with you! You're not even worth the time and effort it would take to use your blood for some good fun!"

Bliss checked wits + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 24 higher.

wahtever Bliss spoke in Nox'Alfar, gets a snort, so very unladylike, from Alarissa before she gets that back under control.

Rook says in Nox'alfar, "Death does not hear you, life only does, and life that only speaks the tongue of Death's favourites!"

Yasmine's generally cheerful expression shifts when Bliss begins to speak in that other language. That exotically pretty face goes blank, bright green eyes seem to dim as she stares ahead, mouth twisted in a frown. Almost... sad.

Mae flashes a bright smile at wary Sebastian, but it's Bliss' performance that really draws emotion out of her. Lips purse and her nose scrunches. It's not a particularly pretty face, worse than Mae's normal face, which is nor particularly pretty. She then gives a low shake of her head, and blows out a laugh. "And scene!" she calls, and then gives another laugh, putting her hands together. "Very good, both of you! Bliss, I particularly enjoy the silly made up elf-speak," she adds. "Sebastian, you are a wonderful pathetic traveler!"

In line with that kicking of the 'table', Sebastian stamps his foot to simulate the noise, stretching out as if reaching to catch the bowl before it falls and failing. Hastily -- he jumps to his feet, his gaze glued to Bliss the entire time, as if both frightened and utterly baffled at the same time. "What? I didn't--" his half protest comes out as he stumbles backwards a step at the shriek from the elf, going wide-eyed. His hands are lifted, reflexively defensive, as he stumbles back a couple of steps, before he abruptly turns tail and runs as she begins talking in tongues -- throwing open the door and racing away back into the depths of the forest (or in this case, to the edge of the stage). There, he pauses, smiles faintly at Mae, and takes a bow, though there's something drawn in his expression still.

Sebastian checked wits + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 15 higher.

With the statement of scenem Bliss immediately shifts out of her role, smiling brightly and turning to the audience to give a bow with a flourish, standing up after and speaking in Arvani again (not silly made-up Elf speak), "Thank you for letting me have the chance to live my dream!" The reactions of the audience to her words earn a bemused expression from her, particularly as her eyes linger on Yasmine's face for a moment, but she says nothing, instead turning to Sebastian. "And, of course, we would have been nowhere without our traveler. Come, my lord, let me escort you off the stage?" she asks as she approaches him, linking her arm around his unless stopped and leaning in to murmur something into his ear.

Silvio glances around at all the people suddenly talking a different language, sips his wine with elegant, languid grace, then purrs in molten tones, "Oh my...I thought this was a play for children. Soon they will be terrified of /elves/ hiding in dark wardrobes to attack them." He chuckles, rubbing the fingers of his free hand against his thumb in a lazy gesture.

Mae gives another small round of applause. "Thank you, thank you," she says. "Now then, who else would like to audition?" she asks, eyes on the crowd. She pauses what might come next, lofting brows as she finds Silvio. "Should we not be afraid of elves?" she asks, curiously. A moment of staring, then she's addressing the group as a whole. "I'd love to see who might make a good Mean Old Bear," she says, as she looks over the crowd. "And, of course, I will need an arrogant chief that gets mauled? ... Volunteers?"

"You should petition High Lord Victus to play the part." Alarissa calls out, volunteering her husband.

Yasmine takes a deep breath, draws herself together, and stands up, offering her typical beaming smile to Mae, even if it is a touched shadowed now. "I'd like to audition. Don't care for what. I can perform as just about anything."

Taking an easy step back to the middle of the stage, Sebastian's mostly focused on Mae, when Bliss approaches. He takes her forwardness with relative ease, letting her loop an arm around his, settling into an easy step with her as they move off the stage. There's a faint smile from him, a murmured response, before he nods to her and releases her arm after they've left the stage, moving back over towards Silvio to reclaim his coat. "Earned a drink I would say, don't you think?" is murmured to the other Lord, wry. "Yes -- not precisely a happy play for children," he muses, "Though perhaps an insightful one in other ways."

"Oh, it's a common misconception," Bliss says to Silvio. "The elves won't be attacking you from your wardrobes, but when you're off playing in the forests. That's when the fun and games really begin. Assuming you're interesting enough." She turns her head and murmurs something back to Sebastian, lofting her brows twice rapidly in quick amusement as she's released, and she walks over near Alarissa, asking her, "Did the High Lord get all the pie out of his pants yet, your grace?" as she settles down and takes a seat next to the princess.

"His pants were positively sticky," Mae says, offhandedly, her eyes going wide. "A real mess. It got everywhere," she adds. Then a smile. "Yasmine will be my mean old bear! Lord Silvio, come be an arrogant chieftain!"

'I wouldn't knwo whisper bliss. I'm not the one who does his laundry" Alarissa quips back.

Rook checked composure + etiquette at difficulty 30, rolling 10 higher.

Rook says something vehemently for Alarissa as if she's just accused him of something awful.

Yasmine nods her head and, while she doesn't -vault- on the stage, she does make a graceful entrance regardless. She turns to look toward Silvio and beckons him with that sly little grin on her face, "Come on. I won't bite. I promise. Not unless you really, really want me to."

Taking the time to carefully settle the coat back around his shoulders, Sebastian gives a low-throated chuckle when Mae volunteers Silvio. "Go on, my friend. I'll get you a refill while you're up there," he says, offering a hand out for the other Lord's goblet.

"You will be brilliant Mistress Yasmine! Bristle your fur!" Alarissa calls out.

"Just channel your inner Redrain!" Bliss calls up to the stage as she settles in, turning her head and smirking at Rook and Alarissa both, before she idly crosses her legs at the ankle, folding her hands onto her lap as she watches the show coming on.

Rook leans over to Bliss and says, "I'm not sure she has inner Redrain, or fur, of any sort. I'm severely complexed right now, dearest Whisper."

"Now, this story goes something like this... Long, long ago, there was a bear that was young and virile and angry. It would come to the village regularly and steal away children and kill off livestock and be mean and evil. But as time passed, the bear grew older and violence was less it's thing. Eventually, there's no real threat from the bear, and, in fact, the bear becomes... a joke!" Mae exclaims. "They even give it a nick name. Buttercup. How dumb our ancestors were! How foolish! And the villagers grow bolder and bolder. They start to provoke the bear. The mock it's name. They do things to draw it's attention. Because no one believes that evil things like the mean old bear really exist. Or, well, that it can really hurt them..." She pauses, then gestures to Yasmine. "Then... The mean old bear comes... and kills everyone." She smiles brightly. "So, Yasmine I will need you make sure you can growl loud enough to scare children. Or, at least, Rook. And Silvio - stop dragging your feet, my lord! - you will need to be decidedly arrogant. I trust you can manage...?"

"I might!" Silvio answers to Yasmine. "I will do the part but only for the purpose of audition. Please...take nothing into account." He hands his goblet off to Sebastian and then rises to go with Yasmine. "You wish to be the bear, my darling? Oh yes, Buttercup...quite right. What an adorable bear." He nods to Mae. "I know just who to imagine."

"That's the story, in a nutshell." Alariss offers up to rook, a gesture to Mae.

"It is better than being simple, Messere Grayward," Bliss replies to Rook, before she drops the act, her voice turning more gentle. "I of course mean only the best, and in the spirit of the fun evening we have tonight. Your wife has impressed me thoroughly every time I've met her - and I hear congratulations are in order? How is young Yelena?"

Smoothing down his jacket, Sebastian makes his way to the drinks cart. He takes his time, filling first Silvio's goblet, then finding a glass and splashing some amber liquid into it, before making his way back to his front-row seat. He's downed half the glass before he lifts it in salute to the pair of actors on stage, chuckling at Mae's description, leaning forward in anticipation.

Yasmine gives Mae a nod and hesitates a moment, breathing in and out, before her entire stance changes. Rather than standing upright, she's stood hunched over, her back back slightly arched so as to seem bigger than her actual size. Her lips are pulled back in a feral sneer. Eyes narrowed in slits of barely restrained bestial rage. She paces the stage in lumbering, swaying steps, suggesting the mass and size of a huge bear meandering through the forest. As she spots 'Chief' Silvio, her lungs fill with air and she bellows in rage, projecting her voice to fill the space as best she can.

Yasmine checked command + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 46 higher.

"Alright, now, Yasmine... or, well, whomever wishes to actually be the bear... You will be in costume. Furry and bear-like. And... mmm. I should have some shav clothes made up..." She murmurs, that part to herself. "Aurora's job," she decides. "Anyways! If you two can take places... Yasmine here, Silvio, here. Silvio you'll take us away. I want to hear you openly mocking a great evil, as if it can't hurt you. Buttercup. The great evil." Beat. "Then, Yasmine..." Mae turns to look, as Yasmine is already in her role. And already roaring. Mae jumps. "Oh! Goodness... uh... Action! Taunt her, Chief Silvio!" She then steps out of the way, like Yasmine might just attack.

There's an approving applause from Sebastian at Yasmine's 'feral' Buttercup.

"Ah, not my wife, my partner," Rook corrects of Bliss, "but Yelena grows well and profits from her existence," he says strangely. "Thank you for asking. I look forward to every moment." Then, as he watches the stage, Yasmine perform, he is scrutinous. "A bear costume," he repeats to himself, as if visualising. "We're going to need Aurora," he insists of Alarissa, "maybe a leatherworker too? It needs to be convincing." he agrees with Mae's words unheard.

"You're going to need Aurora." Alarissa agree's. "And some of the -finest- pelts available. Nothing less." Alarissa's eyes sparkle at the performances thus far happening in front of them. "She really does throw all of herself into it..." Alarissa looks to Bliss. "Would you agree?"

"Partner, my apologies," Bliss says as she flicks a hand up, offering her surrender immediately on that point. Then her eyes are up on stage, and she actually looks impressed as Yasmine begins to roar, sitting up a little and leaning forward, intrigued. Fully intrigued. It's a rare sight. "Oh, I absolutely agree," Bliss says to Alarissa with a glance. "Roaring like that can hurt you if you're not careful - she's dedicated, that's for certain."

Silvio arches his brows at Yasmine, reacting as an audience member would, first, before attempting to act his part of arrogant chieftan. "Oh by Pantheon...its Bear! Buttercup looks mad! You know...its been a while since a bear looked at me like that. Normally its just the otters." Silvio grinnnssssss and he seems to have forgotten that this is supposed to be a children's play? Over their heads, surely. "Oh, look at you, your fur is matted in four places, and trust me, you are not pulling off that snarl face," He lifts his hand, first finger pointed upwards, then he slashes it sideways, "at all. Its gross, darling. Also, you might want to lay off the berries or we are going to have to rename you to Butterball." He points downwards and gasps, "And is that dirt under your claws?! You...are a /tragedy/."

Rook scribbles away a note and sends it to Mae, then leans back and sighs. "I need more champagne," he tells Alarissa, leaning a head to her shoulder, and adding, "This week has been a long one."

Bear-Yasmine glares at Silvio, huffing and snorting as if irritated. As she is taunted, she paces in a more agitated manner, fully occupying the space as she uses her body to tell the story she can't with words, just like the dancer she is. Then, as if that last sentence was enough to unleash her temper, Yasmine, from her place on the other side of the stage, beging to lumber toward Silvio. Then run, still hunched and snarling. The way she moves and growls seems as though she might actually leap on Silvio and bite his throat out. Yet, she manages to pull herself just short of actually leaping on the man, gives him a wink, and leans in to kiss his cheek unless stopped just before she erupts into giggles.

"You will have all the champagne that a crown Crown Minister of Coin could desire, tomorrow. I promise." She slips an arm behind him, letting him rest his head on her shoulder and pat pats gently. As a good friend should. "You and Yasmine will be the darlings, and I will ensure I do not dress so much to outshine you. And, I will take Genaile back. BEcause gods I need her. All of mine are a mess without her."

Mae snorts, as Silvio gives his lines. Then realizes that noise just came out of her, and quickly fires hands up to cover her mouth. She looks left, right, did anyone hear that? Thankfully Yasmine is there to maul him. "Oh! Now you're surprised, Chief Silvio, that your obvious provoking of an evil monster has led to you getting hurt! It's got to sound silly enough that the children will understand. I've not got any white journals for you to read but... keep at it, you're doing great!"

Seeming rather entertained, Bliss listens to the banter, watching the show, though after a moment, she pulls out a parchment and begins to write something on it - though her eyes are ever on the show.

A brief cough from the audience. Possibly Sebastian is trying to be discreet in his low-throated laughter. The growling approach, and then the not-so-angry response of Yasmine to Silvio earns another approving applause from Pravus Lord, again lifting his glass in mute approval before he swallows a goodly portion.

Silvio crunches up his body to brace for impact, squints one eye, and lets out a relieved 'foo' sound between full lips when she, instead, kisses him on the cheek. "Oh no! How is this possible?! I can't die like this at the hands of a disgusting bear! I should have stayed away and played with deer instead! Or small...frogs...possibly...also, cats and dogs." He starts chuckling in the middle of his lines. "Acceptable pets that your parents all have to buy you now!" A beat. "While I die for the error of thinking this terrifying bear was anything other than unspeakably evil! If any of you survive, pass on my words of wisdom! Poke not the bear!"

"Bears bite, they don't giggle!" Rook critiques from the audience while looking simultaneously relieved.

From Rook, to Jeeves, to Cheryl, to Mae! How efficient the messenger system of Arx! Mae takes the note, eyes it, eyes Rook, then just laughs. "It will, promise," she mouths to the man. Then she looks back to Silvio, and again she can't help a laugh. She covers her mouth. "Oh my goodness," she says, voice muffled by that. "Though, Yasmine, I think until you're in costume, your chances of eating Lord Silvio are quite low," she decides. "Thank you both!"

Silvio checked wits + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 3 higher.

With the performance over, Mae steps back toward the center of the stage. "Well, thank you one and all for coming out! We've seen some great talent. We'll have follow-up auditions, of course," she says, with a sweep of one hand. "And the production itself is likely a month off, before it starts. Again, aimed at children, so don't expect anything overly big and flashy," Mae says, with a bright smile. "So then... thank you all! If anyone wishes to stay and drink and talk... please, help yourself!"

Mae is overheard praising Black rose mummers.

"I was only assisting the marvelous Yasmine with her terrifying bear impersonation. I could not be in the plays." Silvio insists as he walks down from the stage, effectively firing himself to save Mae the trouble of nicely turning him down!

Silvio is overheard praising Mae.

Silvio is overheard praising Black rose mummers.

Silvio is overheard praising Sebastian.

Silvio is overheard praising Yasmine.

Silvio is overheard praising Bliss.

Alarissa is overheard praising Black rose mummers: Such a lovely Audition

Rook praises, surely he does.

Sebastian is overheard praising Mae.