The Queensrest is as usual, the Queensrest. Though once again, the establishment has had it's main room procured by the Princess Consort of Thrax for a formal tea. The tables have been set with white linens and each table set with delicate china teacups resting on saucers. There is no theme for the individual tables save that each table's tea service will have no mismatched cups. Delicate violet patterns on one table. White on white bone china with scrollwork patterns on another. A glossy black with gold paint lid and matching cups with the feet of them painted gold as well. There's even a few tables with pots of glass. Simple glass pots with that hot water in it and then glass teacups on matching saucers. These tables seem to be popular at this event. Each table holds multi-tiered trays of fine white china, swapped out often with each new course of finger foods. One never takes from the same tray twice.

And oh the food that is offered. The tea goes for a few hours after all and so each time they are swapped out, something new awaits. All bite sized, all impressively arranged as if a feast for the eyes and not just the tongue. Blink and you'll miss out.

Niklas sweeps in with Sabella on his arm and offers smiles and oh no thank you I couldn't possiblies and goodness me but of courses to the staff as they move in to offer Sabella a glass of sparkling wine to get her through the trial of walking to a table that is ready for them by the time they get there, a cup of wretched coffee and a stack of sausages waiting for the pair. "I do like this place." He pauses to sign a copy of a The Playwrights playbill that a member of the waitstaff shyly puts in front of him, totally making that theater fan's day. Niklas is about to pull out the chair for Sabella when someone steps up and pulls it out for her, then spins to pull out one for Niklas as well. "So efficient!"

Blushing deeply at even being in a dress, Alarissa's greeting deepens that, "Thank you for letting me borrow it, it truly is lovely." She runs a hand along the leather and clears her throat, she is about to say more but Ford arrives and if anything she looks like she is looking for a place to hide, "Oh uh hello Marquis Ford, I uh you um look lovely as well." Rosalie gets a smile, rather more shy a one than usual, "Lady Rosalie, lovely to see you." A wave, small to suit the setting, though hardly dainty, is sent to Niklas and Sabella.

1 Grayson House Guards, Peaches, a lovely white war filly with a peach saddle, Deliverance, an albino falcon, Stormy, a silvery gray hunting hound, Rascal, a hyper terrier, Rosalie, a lady in waiting arrive, following Reese.

Palamon, a supercilious eagle owl have been dismissed.

Reese arrives while adorned in her pink tunic and ivory leggings. her golden curls are tangled up with lots of ribbons. She glances over the inn, having a smile of greeting for the many who she knows. Reese then continues further inside, walking with her cat-like grace.

Merek walks into the Queenrest and has on his cloak, hood down with a sigil on the back. He also has his fireweave scarf as he moves to settle into a seat, and decides on a nice mint tea, while he offers a smile to the waitstaff.

Lethe looks around with curiosity as she arrives. She looks around and smiles as she sees Coraline. "Princess Coraline, it is nice to see you again." She looks to Rosalie with a smile. "Hello Lady Rosalie."

"Oh, you haven't borrowed that. I could never wear that again. You put me to shame in that. No. That is now yours. It flatters you -so- much more than it does me." Alarissa states with full sincereity. "i'll have some slippers made to go with it." Ford is looked to but the staff move forward to let Alarissa know that everything is ready, the little extra's for Sabella. Even coffee it seems, is making it's appearance for those who don't go for such silly things as tea. Though at each table there's a small bottle of whiskey. "If you would excuse me Lord Constantine. I should attend to a hostesses duties. Good luck later. You might need it." There's a murmur and a kiss pressed to Coraline's cheek before Alarissa's off.

Ashe, the studious Stormward paralegal, 2 Kennex corsairs arrive, following Octavia.


Ryhalt enters the Queensrest, dressed in nobleman's leathers which are finely crafted if light on embelishments, much like the character of the man himself. His famed and ever sharming smile is upon his features as he approaches to where he is supposed to be sitting. "Ah alas here I am. I will warn you all before you ever play cards with my wife, she cheats. Thus it is me here instead of her." Ryhalt does turn to the hostess. "She does send her apologies your Highness. The future weapon of Ar is not feeling well this evening."

"This all looks so lovely!" Sabella exclaims as they have a seat, giving a big smile all around. Her bandages are gone, revealing a thin, pink healing line that goes from the corner of her right eye, down the front of her cheek to her jaw. She cuts into one of the sausages happily, "I love this place!"

Lethe is given a smile and a wave, "Lethe, a pleasure to see you." At Alarissa's words Cora's eyes widen, "Oh but I but," she flusters but eventually just nods still blushing, though she smiles at the cheek kiss and sighs fondly at something Alarissa says quietly also responding before the other woman runs off.

Octavian, a silken spaniel arrives, following Zoey.

Arriving in the wake of several other, much more noticeable, people is Kalani Seliki who, with a glance over her shoulder and a nod to her cousin Kaldur, moves through the room to find an empty table to claim. The various tea sets and glass sets are glanced at, considered, until she picks a table that has a pretty combination and slips into one of the chairs. Once settled, skirt smoothed in the process, she leans slightly back as more small dishes are arranged on the table with finger food that doubles as works of art are added to the array already on the table.

"Thank you, Princess." Ford says with a small smile as he dips his head to Coraline, "Kind of you to say." Then he's heading to a table to join his brother. Not the braggart one. The one that looks just like him.

Luna, the sweet, studious assistant arrives, following Carita.

Turning towards the new greeting, Rosalie offers a cheery smile towards Lethe, "Hello! Come sit, this all looks amazing already!" Then she promptly seats herself next to Coraline with a grin, "So I have this thing that I've been working on, right? And I sort of got stumped, and in a fit of desperation, I sent off a messenger to someone. I really didn't expect a reply, I mean, compared to them I'm literally nobody. But they replied! It wasn't -quite- what I was hoping for, but it opened a dialogue and now I'm trying to see what sort of deal I can cut with them to get what I need." She giggles and pulls her satchel onto her lap, "Its getting exciting!"

Constantine has joined the Orazio's Table Nearest the Fire.

Niklas has joined the Orazio's Table Nearest the Fire.

Constantine was totally sitting here the whole time. Over by the fire! Nods were given to familiar faces as they entered, but for the moment he remained where he was.

Sabella has joined the Orazio's Table Nearest the Fire.

Reese peeks over to Coraline, seemingly surprised for some reason or another. "Princess Coraline, you are are in a dress." She says in her direction, having a smile. She then looks over to Sabella and her attention is drawn by the scar. Reese looks concerned and somber for the moment.

Too bad, Ford. Niklas isn't settling for anything less than Orazio's table, because who the hell is that scrub anyway? He settles in opposite his brother, the kind and handsome and responsible one, not the divorced guy who will die alone. "Connie!" He turns and waves to everyone he recognizes. Which is pretty much everyone!

Ryhalt has joined the Banquet Table.

Okay. So Zoey is -late- for once. Not very late, but late nonetheless. Stubborn sloe black curls caught in a fillet of diamonds and seasilk, aeterna gleaming in the light, the woman comes to a stop a little past the door with her eyebrows arching at the number of people here for tea. She chuckles softly and shakes her head, moving over to Alarissa's side. She leans down and presses a feather light kiss to the woman's cheek. "Quite a turnout, your Highness. Congratulations." She straightens up, brow lofting again. "Will you be terribly scandalized if I wheedle the staff into providing me with an alternative refreshment?"

Zoey has joined the Orazio's Table Nearest the Fire.

Cora chukles at Ford's words, relaxing just a smidge perhaps then her attention goes to Rosalie and now she seems too distracted to be shy, "Oh! Tell me more this sounds fascinating, who was it? what project?" Reese's words have that blush back and Cora nods a bit shyly, "Ah yes, well my wardrobe is um bare of them and Princess Alarissa allowed me to er rather has just given me a lovely one. I um I hope to wear it well at least. Come join us Reese, if you like i mean."

Zephirine arrives, following Talwyn.

Lethe sits down near Rosalie and Coraline. She looks around. "It does look amazing. I'm glad I cam. Whatever you are working on sounds exciting."

Octavia is talking to one of her clerks as she comes through the door; probably something super boring about court business. After closing the notebook, she hands it back and motions him to head back out before forcing her face into a neutral expression. It's better than the "really don't want to be around people" she had earlier. The magistrate makes her way over towards the table where her unruly siblings have been banished - presumably to keep them from destroying the fine china - offering greetings and smiles that don't reach her eyes as she goes.

Octavia has joined the Orazio's Table Nearest the Fire.

"Princess Coraline! Reesey!" Sabella offers waves, but only after she's stuffed some sausages into her face. And some little tea cakes. "Princess Alarissa really went all out! Hello, Constantine. Sorry, if you don't eat these sausages right when they're hot they actually get hard enough to break your teeth." Priorities.

Ryhalt is overheard praising Thorley.

"There is wine and the like available, I promise you dearest Lady Zoey." Alarissa returns the kiss. "There's even whiskey at the tables, in case Lady Khanne showed and wanted to put some in a teacup and warm it up over the open lid of a pot of tea. Whisktea she calls it." There's a gesture for her to go to town before Alarissa's making her way to the center temporarily.

"Welcome to my series of afternoon tea's. Because -I- am nto allowed to throw -these- sorts of things in -Thrax-. Silly husbands. So, instead, I shall have tea every place -but- Thrax. So, brandish your spoons, lift them high and join me for an afternoon of tea, wine, whiskey, bite sized food and splendor and maybe a little fun. I hope everyone brought their big eyes and hollow legs!"

Constantine gave a wave of his hand to Sabella, "By all means, don't let my hello stop you." As Alarissa spoke up he gave a gracious incline of his head though something said at the table caught his attention.

"I would love to." Reese says, starting in Coraline's direction. "You look very lovely in the dress." She adds even while going to take a seat. She smiles over to Sabella, but still looks concerned, it is a warm smile none the less.

Alarissa has joined the Orazio's Table Nearest the Fire.

Ford has joined the Orazio's Table Nearest the Fire.

Reese has joined the Orazio's Table Nearest the Fire.

Kalani has joined the Banquet Table.

"Thank you! Its been extremely exciting for me, at least. I would probably bore most people to tears with it," Rosalie responds to Lethe with a giggle before giving a nod to Coraline and grinning. Leaning in, she whispers something to her quickly, then gives a pleased look, like a child barely able to restrain themselves at a party. Practically squirming in her seat!

Zoey is clearly quite relieved to hear that tea is not the only thing on offer. Or milk. Like a certain bath party. She touches Alarissa's arm as she scoots past, lowering herself gracefully into a chair beside Constantine. After settling in, she pours herself some whiskey to nurse.

Merek lifts up his tea in a toast, and drinks from it at Alarissa's words. He seems satisfied with this as he does so.

Merek is overheard praising Alarissa: 2

Fashionably late is a concept, a good one. The kind of concept that applies to ladies of society and well-regarded composers. Talwyn isn't the former, so the latter he must be, circulating through the entrance of the Queensrest with casual ease. Then he chooses to heads deeper into the masses, going in search of familiar faces. Of company or food, it matters not too much.


Reaching for the pot of tea that's on the table, Kalani pours out a cup for herself, hesitates for a moment then opts not to pour a cup for Kaldur until he arrives, and sets the pot aside as Alarissa speaks from the center of the room. The lively words make Kalani lift a spoon, brandish it briefly in the air with a faintly impish grin, then uses it to swirl the tea in her cup before setting it aside and glancing across the table with that same slightly impish grin to Ryhalt.

@inform 62

"Princess Sabella, I haven't tried these sausages yet, are they that good?" Cora asks in curiosity. Reese gets a blushing smile, "Oh um thank you, I well, it is more the dress than the one wearing it but thank you." she sighs, "I am trying to take compliments without doing that, I really need to practice that more." she mutters Lethe gets a bright welcoming smile then she leans in to listen to what Rosalie says, "Oh! yes that is a brilliant idea!" She nods and whispers back.

Carita's arrival is a quiet affair, her assistant Luna chirping in her ear about something or other, but whatever it is has the pair amused. "He said /what/?" She shakes her head, a hand lifted as she clears her throat past some humor and quietly parts from Luna's company. She's in time to hear Alarissa's words, her hands folded in front of herself as she takes stock of the room and just where to go next.

"Oh! Prince Talwyn, hello! Come sit with us! How did you enjoy that book on watercolors?" Rosalie pipes up from where she's seated next to Coraline, smiling brightly and waving him over. Grinning at Coraline's response, she leans in to better hear what comes next.

Zoey looks up, spots Carita, and immediately waves her over. Quick!

Merek has joined the Dark Corner Table.

Carita has joined the Orazio's Table Nearest the Fire.

Coraline has joined the Banquet Table.

And so it starts. The servers in the Queensrest don't put aside thier attitudes just because they're not really open for general service. Nope. They're still putting on airs - pretend or not - and the tiered serving trays are carried out and set out on tables with little bite sized frosted cakes, fresh fruits that should not even be ready this time of the year quite yet, and the glass pots are starting to be filled with piping hot water while the little golf ball sized thing in the middle of them starts to soak.

Talwyn has joined the Banquet Table.

Alarissa's words aren't lost on the Valardin prince. Talwyn utters a low chuckle tinted to slip beneath the general background din. He proceeds Rosalie-wards, a direction plucked out of the masses after some searching for the source. "Lady RedTyde, you do me a great honour. I found the book beautiful. In fact, I may be convinced to try my hand at a poor canvas," he says. No hint of pride there. A friendly nod for her and the other tablemates - Coraline, Kalani, Ryhalt - conveys his impending arrival.

"They bring them down from the Spirits!" Sabella tells Coraline brightly, before waving over to Talwyn.

Amari arrives a few minutes late, to no fanfare and absolutely no whispers of awe and amazement. She manages to at least catch most of what Alarissa says, but lingers at the door until she stops one of the staffers for a quiet word as service begins. There's a nod from him, and one from her, then she sallies forth to find a table and some company. She ends up Talwyn's wake, but is polite enough to not step on his heels. Despite the dress, she finds Coraline soon enough and settles in nearby with a pleasant smile of silent greeting to everyone else already sitting there.

Amari has joined the Banquet Table.

Rosalie has joined the Banquet Table.

Cora gets a little oh of surprise and calls over, "May I try one? Are they stil hot enough not to break teeth? I am very curious now." Her eyes now on the fabled sausages.

Reese has left the Orazio's Table Nearest the Fire.

Acilius, 2 House Mazetti Aspirants arrive, following Valerio.

Reese has joined the Banquet Table.

Lethe has joined the Banquet Table.

Reese actually took the offered seat by Coraline all along! She seems to be a pleasant and yet still sort of quiet mood.

Ford has left the Orazio's Table Nearest the Fire.

Barbara, the stalwart Stormward secretary, 4 Kennex corsairs leave, following Ford.

Before Sabella can even turn to ask, some server is placing a sample sausage in front of Coraline. And really 'sausage' is a loose term since its more grease than meat. "I highly recommend them, they have a real snap! And strangely they've been the only thing I can keep down for the past few months."

"I shall be sure to drag you out of the office, and go sit somewhere." Alarissa watches Ford take off and the others at the table before she calps her hands. "Save room!" Mysteriously spoken as she rises from the table, a wink for Octavia and then Coraline. "We have three examples, four in truth. But as Victus has pointed out to Princess Sorrel, all shining examples have been razed and rebuilt, or .. well. So time will tell if it is feasible or not. If you'll excuse me." And she's rising, for real yo.

Talwyn doesn't overlook Niklas or Sabella over there. He simply has a healthy amount of introducing he has to do. He raises his hand in a wave in their direction if they don't allow for a nod.

"Oh! Thank you!" Cora says to Sabella, and gives the server a bright smile, the server remaining stone faced gets a shrug, the Alarissa is saying about saving room and so, with a laughing nod, Cora takes a bite. There is much chewing and contemplation, "Oh it really is quite good. They are well lubricated as well." She means the grease.

To the center of the room goes the Princess Consort of Thrax and she turns in a circle to regard everyone. "Today, this little game is not for the faint of stomach, but for the hollow legged." There's more servers and plates of pettit fours being laid out. And chocolate covered fruits, and everything bite sized. And cups of... well, milk. "The first game. Who can eat forty little bites of food the fastest. WHo, pray tell, would like to partake?"

Merek looks around a bit, until he notices that Talwyn is about and offers a polite nod his way. He likes his personal private corner, but he is greeting folk as they go by, if they note it and want to offer any greeting back.

"I will give this a try I think," Cora calls out, having forgotten breakfast again.

Merek says, "I will try too, I can eat a whole horse."

Lethe looks to Alarissa. "I'll give it a try."

Alarissa has left the Orazio's Table Nearest the Fire.

Alarissa has joined the Bar.

Lethe has left the Banquet Table.

Lethe has joined the Bar.

Coraline has left the Banquet Table.

Coraline has joined the Bar.

Amari has left the Banquet Table.

Amari has joined the Bar.

Carita has left the Orazio's Table Nearest the Fire.

Carita has joined the Bar.

Merek has left the Dark Corner Table.

Merek has joined the Banquet Table.

Merek moves to the table for participation, as he finds a waiter to hold his cloak for the time being, while he adjusts his seat a bit and nods, waiting for thins to begin!

With Lethe and Coraline going for it, Amari just shrugs and goes with. Moral support, probably, since she looks the type to eat like a bird. "Well, just remember it's a monthly event, Cora." She teases lightly.

Reese smiles to Merek as he joins their table. "Oh, Merek, I'm glad you joined us." She says in his direction.

Amari's participation has Alarissa smiling. "My favourite keaton! Oh but Octavia, you need to come. I want to see the two lawyers go head to head!" Alarissa urges.

"Yes of course, wait are you teasing me?" Cora asks with a grin to Amari. "Well! How about um tomorrow? Later tonight after the tea thing? Once we are stuffed with cake and tea we should be sufficiently silly."

Carita rises from her table to follow Alarissa, her smile warm as she passes by Coraline, a hand to her shoulder and a quiet word before the Darkwater noble finds herself a seat.

Ryhalt checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 6 higher.

Octavia looks over at Niklas's proclamation of what being famous means, then replies, "I don't care how famous you are, little brother. I /will/ box your ears." Perhaps that was a bit louder than she meant it to be. The challenge makes her purse her lips before she replies, "I will pass. Eating contests have always been more Niklas's style than mine."

Acilius, 2 House Mazetti Aspirants leave, following Valerio.


Ryhalt looks up with no little indecsion in his features at the food eating contest is announced, truly conflicted before he shakes his head. "Nope, can't, wife has already said I am getting fat and told the staff at BOld Espressions to cut me off after one treat." The last part is said with perhaps a bit of bitness to his voice.

Amari holds her finger and thumb apart a hair, to indicate that she might be teasing Cora a little. A teensy bit. "Whenever you're free." She reassures before dipping her head to Alarissa, "You're still my favorite Thrax, but... oh good, I think she would have the advantage, given she's a proper Magistrate." She waves to her, "I'll do my best to represent the court, Lady Octavia."

"I've never participated in an eating contest!" Niklas sits back in his seat and points at Octavia. "Elara and Renatta once had a contest to see who could eat the most pie. Then Ceci and I went and told on them, so they got yelled at while we ate the rest of the pies. So I've managed to win an eating contest, but I've never actually participated." He reaches down and pats his stomach. "The public expects me to maintain my svelt figure, after all."

When everyone is ready and seated, all the ladies - really, men, come on! - Alarissa steps to teh side so that the servers can lay those three tiered platters of confections. True to word, they are bite sized. There will be no excessive gorging and depending on hwo they eat it, there shouldn't be a mess. "Hands in your lap, you must swallow it all to be considered finished and you must eat everything on the platters. Specifically, -your- platter. Not anothers. Unless you want to help them out." But there's the hourglass brought out, and on the count of three, Alarissa turns it over.

'BEGIN!"

Laughing Cora nods, "Not to worry, I can find spare hours somewhere no doubt, just don't try to get me drunk and we should be fine." She grins as she says this to amari then listens to Alarissa.

Talwyn might be heard to aside from the banquet table to his tablemates, "I never expected to see the day when the ladies of the land laid waste to every pastry in sight."

Niklas also waves to Talwyn and totally didn't ignore him earlier! One does not ignore the Sigh of Dragons!

Coraline checked luck at difficulty 15, rolling 11 lower.

Merek checked luck at difficulty 15, rolling 23 higher.

Carita checked luck at difficulty 15, rolling 10 lower.

Amari checked luck at difficulty 15, rolling 2 lower.

Reese checked luck at difficulty 15, rolling 16 higher.

Lethe checked luck at difficulty 15, rolling 5 lower.

Rosalie has left the Banquet Table.

Merek lifts up the food fom the banquet and begins to eat as he does. He starts biting into meat, pastries, anything in sight as he takes it in, chews, swallow, chew swallow, chew swallow. He then picks some more and begins to eat with fervence as he does, seeming to be satisfied with all the food he is devouring.

Rosalie has joined the Bar.

Rosalie checked luck at difficulty 15, rolling 22 higher.

Reese gets eating! She seems to be all about this contest. Nomnom!

Constantine has left the Orazio's Table Nearest the Fire.

Reaching for the cakes as the round begins, Cora somehow trips on the skirt, not being terribly used to wearing such things, hand outstretched to reach for the cake the trip causes her to tip the entire thing over, cakes flying everywhere at almost all of the contestants, including herself.

Merek reaches for the flying cake and also eats THAT.

Niklas has left the Orazio's Table Nearest the Fire.

Isabelle, who is just so tired of everyone's nonsense have been dismissed.

1 Grayson House Guards have been dismissed.

If there is one thing Rosalie has but rarely indulges in.. its a sweet tooth. Pastries, cookies, cake, pie, chocolate, anything sweet! So when the call goes out to who can eat fingerfoods the fastest, she's bellying up to the bar to try her hand! And she's surprisingly good at it!

Zoey has left the Orazio's Table Nearest the Fire.

Carita ties her hair up with her hair pins, and sits very demurely before Alarissa says 'begin'. She's about to eat when she watches Coraline tip her platter and dissovles in to laughter. Laughter so hard she bends forward, and in the prossess her own platter tips directly in to her lap. The mess doesn't seem to upset the young Darkwater noble, no, instead she lifts a hand to wipe tears from her eyes, effectively getting frosting on her cheek as she does.

Lethe is eager to get started, but she doesn't even get her first bite before she's hit by a cake.

Niklas has joined the Orazio's Table Nearest the Fire.

Amari looks at the three tiers of treats before her and looks to be immediately and thoroughly regretting all the decisions that brought her here. She takes a breath while Alarissa is describing the rules, clasps her hands in her lap as told and waits. When it's time to go, she looks to Cora, then to Lethe, smiles as confidently as she's able and starts with a chocolate covered strawberry. She takes entirely too long on that one, being dainty about it, so her pace is so, so slow. She's on her second while Merek, Rosalie and Reese are bogging down multiples of that. Noticing that, she goes for a third and noms on it at speed, only to have it go down entirely wrong. She presses her hand to her mouth and shakes through a coughing fit as she chokes on it. She's so out, and possibly dying, but dying as elegantly as she can manage.

No. No, things were not supposed to be flying everywhere. it was promised to the Queensrest staff that this was NOT what would happen, this was a lovely little polite sedate affair and there was now petit fours falling, and there's a dying lawyer. The staff are swift to assist Amari from choking on a strawberry but are unlikely so swift as Alarissa looks on in abject horror. 'Oh my gods! Coraline! What have you done!"

Managing to get herself out of the mess, and seeing Amari's distress, Cora goes to pat Amari's back with some good powerful pats to get that airway clear. "Not my fault!" Is Cora's first response, "The thingy was all tipsy, totally that!"

Merek swallows half a steak in two bites, somehow. At this point really who can be sure what he's doing, staring at Rosalie who is the closest up to him.

"Do you think we should have this as some sort of military operation to strike fear into our enemies?" Talwyn may be overheard to suggest to Ryhalt, Kalani, and Merek. The Sigh of Dragons - blame Niklas - truly seems to be contemplating the likelihood of this turn of events. "I could suggest it to my cousin. He might be intrigued." Then he pauses at Merek's display. A bit of consideration follows. "You should have participated. We lost a plum opportunity, sir."

Lethe is removing cake from her hair when she notices Amari. "Are you all right?"

Looking up at the fracas, Rosalie most resembles a chipmunk in that moment. Cheeks bulged with tiny fingerfoods, bitty cookies, small petit fours, dark eyes wide as she looks around before... quick! Another petit four disappears into her mouth.

Talwyn is overheard praising Rosalie: Bravely taking all the sweets she possibly can, without fear.

Alarissa is overheard praising Rosalie: GO CHIPMUNK CHEEKS

an elegant snowy owl, Lystra, Morigan arrive, following Isidora.

Merek finally takes a few more bites of his steak, and finishes it all, as he wipes his mouth with a cloth, "That was great, thank you," he offers.

And she's wearing some of Coraline's cake. Amari might be upset about that, had Coraline not saved her life. After some back patting, she's able to get a sharp intake of breath in. The relief in her expression is obvious. "Thank-" Wait, cough. "...you." She nods and tries to smile to Lethe. See? She's fine. She's just got tears down her cheeks and is all splotchy in the face from the supressed cough and the whole temporary lack of oxygen thing. It takes a bit to recover, clear her throat, still with hand pressed lightly to her mouth and blink the moisture from her eyes. "I'm alright. Thank you." Then she notices a bit of what's happened around her. Chaos! "Oh, my." She looks to Alarissa, as though expecting a look of horror from the Princess-Consort.

Rosalie checked dexterity + legerdemain at difficulty 15, rolling 28 higher.

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

Sabella keeps stuffing sausages in her face, watching the eating competition, "I don't know how they do it!" she exclaims before eating more.

Reese is overheard praising Merek: The best at cookies and pies, nom, nom, also awesome in black.

Since Amari can now breathe, Cora tries to get the cake off her, realizes she is making it worse, then stops and looks awkwardly mortified, "I am so sorry, the tray things need wider butts, I mean big butts make it harder to tip right?" No mention of being a total clutz in a dress, nope.

Swallowing big, Rosalie reaches for the napkin left beside the platter to daintily dab at her lips, looking around while her other hand grabs up not just the last of her own finger foods, but those on the tray next to hers as well, surreptitiously wrapping them into the napkin and tucked into her satchel while she looks around with a bright smile, "Oh! Well done! That was fun, shall we go again?"

"I'm up for another," Merek tells Rosalie.

Reese is overheard praising Alarissa: Great party, Yeah Princess Alarissa!

Merek is overheard praising Rosalie: REDTYDE REIGN.

Carita's laughter dwindles as Amari goes in to distress, and then gasps as Coraline rises to pat her back. Her lap is full of pastries, so she spends her time picking them up and placing them on the platter, mangled and horrifying to see. She's mounded her platter full of mangled, broken treats. She settles back in her chair to frown down at her lap. "There's more?"

Rosalie is overheard praising Merek: Who knew anyone could have a bigger mouth than me?

Ryhalt is overheard praising Merek.

Rosalie is overheard praising Reese: A good General has a big mouth!

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

Merek is overheard praising Reese.

Rosalie is overheard praising Alarissa: I haven't had this much fun in weeks!

Lethe looks to Amari and smiles. "I'm glad. That competition was a little messier than I thought it would be, but it was fun."

Ryhalt is overheard praising Rosalie.

Merek is overheard praising Alarissa.

Octavia is overheard praising Merek: Merek the devourer!

Coraline is overheard praising Alarissa: Provides many skinny butt treat towers for sweet missile launch!

That is horror on Alarissa's face. On par with that time Victus sliced her brithday cake in half with that alacrite axe that's been god knows where. But Amari's recovering and there won't be announcements going out about how she killed off a Tyde wedding before it's had a chance to start. Or you know, that Thrax killed a would be Tyde.

But Merek reigns supreme and Rosalie so close and Alarissa claps her hands, putting down the hourglass. "And we done. Gods above and behind us we're done. Lets take a moment to recover, and clean up the cake.... before the next. Can we have the next round of tea please?!"

Stojan, the assistant, 3 Thrax Guards arrive, following Denica.

Reese is adorned with more than a few cake crumbs. "Oh, tea, I really need tea." She says. "Too much sugar in throat." She adds.

Isidora watches quietly from the doorway wondering at the chaos. Her words kept to herself yet many thoughts playing through her mind.

Cora tries to pick up the mess, including off of some of her fellow competetors, "Terribly sorry, small butt trays, oh sorry sorry, little butts er on the trays I mean." She goes from person to person trying to clean them up.

Octavia is overheard praising Alarissa: I'm not sure what happened, but it was amusing.

"Excellent!" Rosalie slips from the stool and goes bounding back towards the banquet table as if she hadn't just shoved an inordinate amount of food into her mouth... and satchel. Taking her seat, she smiles brilliantly at those around her, "Well! That was fun! I can't -wait- to see what the next activity is!"

Rosalie has left the Bar.

Rosalie has joined the Banquet Table.

Lethe has left the Bar.

Lethe has joined the Banquet Table.

Coraline has left the Bar.

Coraline has joined the Banquet Table.

Carita has left the Bar.

Carita has joined the Banquet Table.

The would be Tyde, brushes some icing off her arm when she notices it there, but Amari isn't upset. "We're done." She repeats, as if she wasn't sure until Alarissa said so. She kinda missed what happened, exactly. Tea though, tea sounds lovely to her so she looks carefully around herself and steps over some chocolate fruit that have been scattered about her seat. "Sorry." She says, as if it were somehow all her fault and follows everyone back to the safety of the table. "What were you saying about butts?"

Amari has left the Bar.

Constantine has joined the Orazio's Table Nearest the Fire.

Amari has joined the Banquet Table.

Arriving rather fashionably late, Denica swirls in, that sketch pad tucked under her arm and a pleasant gaze scattered all around to the rest of the room, but there's a bit of shock as she notes the horrid mess that seemed to have happened before she managed to arrive. Of course, her reaction is instead to approach Coraline with a gaping smile. "Cora! What is that you're wearing? Oh gods, you look so good!" Denica beams, looking her over, possibly looking to see if there is any cake mess on the dress to clean up.

Denica has joined the Banquet Table.

Merek notices Denica and offers a smile her direction, then he sails that way while she greets Cora to offer a hug to the Princess, "Your Highness! It has been a while," whether accepted or not, he shifts from the hug stretch motion to shift back out of her way.

Octavia sips at her wine and quips to Amari as she passes, "Apparently butts are bigger when they're larger? I'm not quite sure. I was unaware that trays had butts." With a shrug, the magistrate adds, "Serving dishes are quite outside of my field of study, after all."

Sabella glances over at Isidora and waves her in, "Just don't go near the bar and you won't get slathered in frosting!" she says with a laugh, "Come have a seat!"

Remeber those glass pots of tea? With that brown ball of what looked like pressed tea leaves? While everyone has been focused on that mess of a cake eating game, slowly, as the heat seeps in, they's loosened and spread and in the bottom of every pot at every table is a flower made of tea leaves. Some tall, other round and squat, it's clear to see that they've been designed to represent the various blooms within Arvum, all underwater and serene.

Isidora has joined the Banquet Table.

Partway back to the banquet table, Cora blushes at Denica's words, "Oh um thank you, I uh well mess." she awkwardly indictes the cake shrapnel around. Blushing deeper at Octavia's words Cora says, "Well spears have butts, and pikes, I assumed the bottoms of all things were butts." She flails mildly flustered. Settling at the table she takes up the tea cup and admires the tea flower, no flailing with hot liquids, we don't need to add scalding to choking for the evening.

Isidora orders herself some coffee as she continues to watch the people around her.

Niklas eyes Octavia. "Sounds like someone is just asking for a visit from the Butt Master." He looks to Sabella. "I saw one of those paintings at the Shrine of the Queen of Endings. That shrine is, uh, kooky."

Constantine slipped his face to his palm.

Kaldur arrives, with the bright and damp look of one freshly scrubbed. His armor gleams and he ducks into the common room, with eyes blinking as his vision adjusts to the change in light. Kalani is supposed to be here... Kalani... Kalani... where is Kalani. Someone clears their throat behind Kaldur, he's rather stopped in the door and he, glances back and moves fully in. There she is! Kaldur beams and waves at his cousin, "Kalani, there you are." He makes his way to the banquet table and ... there are no seats. ALAS. Oh. That looks tasty. A look of calculation crosses his expression, judging of distances, spaces between the seated, remove from delicious things. Hmmm...

Octavia is nodded thoughtfully too, even if she's not quite sure about the butts. "Butts are bigger when they're larger. That's verifiable." Amari does have to concede, then with Cora's comment it all makes sense. "Oh, I see what you mean. Tray butts." As she goes by, she helpfully nudges a bit of icing off the top of Coraline's ear with a flick of her finger then finds a nearby chair. With the proper colors returning to her face and the stars receding from her vision, she notices Denica there and smiles fondly at the Thrax Princess. "Your Highness."

Before Denica settles down at the table, she does return the hug to Merek with a polite nod of her head. "It really has," Denica says. "Good to see you again, are you enjoying the banquet?"

Isidora has left the Banquet Table.

Isidora has joined the Orazio's Table Nearest the Fire.

Kaldur has joined the Banquet Table.

Isidora pours cream and sugar into her mug and stirs it nine times methodically before she picks up her mug and takes a deep draw of her coffee. "Thank you for the invitation to join you."

"I'm not quite sure that's correct, but I don't know enough about trays or butts to refute it," Octavia notes to Coraline, before motioning to the staff for a bit more wine. They actually pay attention to her now, which seems to at least content her.

:peeks over to Denica, having a warm smile for her. She then feels the nudge from Coraline and looks to her. "No, I didn't know that, but that is good to know!" She says toward her. She then turns to Kalani, nodding to her once again. Kaldur is given a smile.

Ryhalt is overheard praising Alarissa.

Cleaning is happening, swiftly and quickly and Alarissa having been communing with the staff and is now moving back to the center of the tea party even as small finger sanwiches, still bite sized, is being brought out. "Next up! This I am sure should be far less devestating to... garments. Something that princess Sabella can attest to having to do with me growing up. To walk from one end of the room, to the other, balancing a teacup upon your head. Because, clearly, that's the best way to practice a good posture. By ensuring you do not destroy precious china. So who shall be partaking and seeing if we can make the staff turn as pale as me!"

Merek stands up and then inclines to folk, then he hears that there is another thing to do and he lifts a hand, "I would like to try," he offers.

Ryhalt checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 0 higher.

Raising a hand ever so slowly, Cora closes her eyes and hopes she doesn't make a mess of this, "I uh will try?" damn her competative nature.

"It's loveky to meet you, Princess Isidora!" Sabella says brightly, before raising a hand, "Oh, I'm game! My mother used to make me practice that all the time. It's a wonder I don't see a tea cup and run screaming."


Ryhalt stands up as well. "This should be good exercise, or so I shall tell my wife and the staff so I can have more butterrum tarts this evening."

"Oh! I can do that!" Rosalie is quick to raise her hand with a bright grin.

Ryhalt has left the Banquet Table.

Rosalie has left the Banquet Table.

Lethe volunteers for the next game. "I suppose I'll give this a try."

Carita has left the Banquet Table.

Coraline has left the Banquet Table.

Reese hmms softly. "I will try that." She says.

Kaldur has left the Banquet Table.

Lethe has left the Banquet Table.

Denica rises from the table and grins. "OH! Oh! I'd love to try!" Denica says, also giving Reese a smile and a wave. "Hi Princess Reese!"

"I'm confident." Amari announces, again moving to follow Coraline and Lethe, ready to risk life and limb in the next bloodsport.

Amari has left the Banquet Table.

Denica has left the Banquet Table.

Ryhalt checked composure + etiquette at difficulty 15, rolling 27 higher.

Coraline checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 21 higher.

Kaldur checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 73 higher.

Amari checked composure + etiquette at difficulty 15, rolling 24 higher.

Lethe checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 7 higher.

Rosalie checked composure + etiquette at difficulty 15, rolling 20 higher.

Sabella checked composure + etiquette at difficulty 15, rolling 44 higher.

Denica checked composure + etiquette at difficulty 15, rolling 10 higher.

Titus, a young wolfhound, Joan arrive, following Gaston.

Merek checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 22 higher.

Here come the staff with the fine china. Teacups, on saucers. Are these expensive? Well this is the Queensrest. Nothing is done by halves here. Alarissa takes a set in hand and places it on the top of her head. "It rests, on the head like this. You cannot use your hands, fingers, nor any appendage to keep it there. After you have ti settled, you will walk from one end of the floor to the other. If you drop your teacup, you are disqualified and.... I shall have to pay for the broken cup. So, participants, to the floor, take your cups."

Talwyn has left the Banquet Table.

Zephirine leaves, following Talwyn.

Titus, a young wolfhound have been dismissed.

Carita checked composure + etiquette at difficulty 15, rolling 19 higher.

"Wonderful to meet you, Lethe," she replies with a nod to Lethe, eyeing her cousin then with a slightly arched eyebrow. Clearly amused, Kalani observes as Kaldur first sits, settles in, then gets right back up again to join the current contest. The amusement grows as more people rise to join the contest,

"Oh this is easy," Denica says perhaps a little too confidently. "Grandfather used to always make me do this," she says and places the teacup on her head and with a practiced gait she manages to move... well at least she hasn't broken anything. Yet.

Kaldur makes a fuss picking his cup, squinting, holding one after another up and weighing it speculatively. Blowing along its sides. "This one." This is the one. He holds it out to Kalani for her favor.

Merek picks up a teacup so he can balance it, and while he isn't a master at it like some folk, it seems that it remains where it should. So that's good.

Lethe gives a smile and nod to Kalani before standing to compete. She balances the cup on her head before she takes a step. She pauses while making sure her cup is balanced and continues. She's able to keep the cup on her head, but she's certainly slower than the others competing.

This at least doesn't end up an utter mess and Cora manages to walk with the teacup on her head from point a to point b, not as fast as others, but at least it never fell off. At the end she eyes the Graysons, "I just can't even imagine." She takes the teacup off and shakes her head.

A new entry makes his way into the Queensrest Inn in the form of Gaston Blackram. The man stalls inside the door and gazes around, looking for any who he might know before he moves toward the bar. Once there, he lifts a leg and settles himself upon one of the stools and then leans against the bar and orders himself an ale in what is meant to be a discreet fashion. Perhaps he isn't one for tea.


"That's the one," Kalani agrees with a laugh and a nod to Kaldur.


Ryhalt should not be good at this, not at all. He never done it once in his life. He is a merchant (or so he professes) and is not one to demand any form of pomp or ceremony for himself, yet there he is, putting the posh ladies with all of their posture and etiquette training in the dust...go him!

"Excuse me one moment," Sabella says as she rises from her table to go get her cup. It has a pretty red rose with gold embellishments and she places it daintily on her head. Then with all the regality of a princess she walks effortlessly across the floor as if there isn't a cup perched precariously on her head. She even does a little curtsey at the end before laughing and reaching up to take it down. "So long as I now don't have to stand in the great hall doing recitations so everyone in the back can hear me, that was quite fun!"

Amari lines up with everyone else and watches Alarissa demonstrate the proper technique before carefully placing her cup and saucer atop her head. She doesn't claim any prior experience or merciless teacup balancing training regime, but, when she takes her hands away it stays balanced. Her steps are smooth from there, and take her in cautious glide from one side of the room to the other with no tragedies. She looks well pleased, checking on everyone elses progress with sideways glances.

Reaching up, Rosalie takes down her hairpins, shaking her hair out and running her fingers through it to ensure it won't be getting in the way of her teacup. The oddly sharp hairpins and tucked between her lips while she settles the cup and saucer on her head before the ship-topped hairpins are set into her bag. Drawing in a deep breath, she lets it out smoothly.. and walks. Carefully, in measured steps. This is one where she isn't trying to get there fastest, only trying to get to the end with cup and saucer both intact.

The tea is taken in a most unusual way, Gaston Blackram, these tea-timers are balancing cups and moving back and forth across the floor. With Kalani's blessing and favor, he bows most gravely and with some concentration, sets it atop his head. Eying the field before him, he begins, setting out with steady tread, plates of his mail whispering as he moves.

Once everyone has their cups of choice, Alarissa's moving to the finish line. Two servants holding out ribbon in a pale blush and when everyone is lined up, she's calling out "Go!" The command given for everyone to start moving forward.

Once his ale is delivered, Gaston turns on his stool and places his back against the bar to watch the festivities. His eyes move toward Alarissa and he gives her a polite dip of his head before his eyes return toward those participating in the competition.

Fourth! Amari is disappointed, but doesn't throw her teacup to the floor in disgust and frustration. She merely reaches up and is entirely more careful about taking it from her head. "Well done!" She chimes to Ryhalt, Sabella and Kaldur. "You've clearly been practicing this."

Carita leans to speak quietly with Ryhalt before he scurries off, her smile impish as she settles her cup on her head and follows those leading. She's careful, but she's certainly not first across the finish line, but she's not last.

The second to last to cross the line is Denica, seemingly having had some balance issues at one point in the race, she sighs as she removes it from her head and looks to the others. "I'm out of practice!" she defends herself.

Maybe he cheated, anticipating the breath of command in Alarissa's intake of breath. He wends his way up and back, skidding a half-pace on a stray bit of icing. It's the difference between his victory and Sabella's - the cup miraculously and precariously perched as he draws up to the ribbon and pushes past. He turns and grins over at Kalani! Beaming. It's still balanced there, rattling faintly. He looks at Sabella. And Ryhalt. Beaming at both. "Oh!" The cup! He lifts hands to secure it and sets it on the tray from whence it came. "Oh. Well. I have been practicing my balance." His ears turn a bit pink, and his grin goes slantwise a bit, "After a fashion." He moves back to the table and resumes his napkin and perch. He still hasn't sampled pastries!

Kaldur has joined the Banquet Table.

Lethe keeps going until until she crosses the line. She looks to Kaldur, Sabella, and Ryhalt with a grin. "Great job to all of you. That was impressive."

Cora pats Amari and Denica, "You both did very well." she says grinning, clearly thrilled not to have screwed this one up.

Lethe is overheard praising Kaldur.

Lethe has joined the Banquet Table.

Ryhalt has joined the Banquet Table.

"Excellent job, Lord Kaldur!" Sabella congratulates him with a smile, then comments to Amari, "Every day, multiple times a day until I was...oh, fourteen or so?" She puts the teacup back on the table and starts heading back to her table when Elizabetta intercepts her, "Oh! Apologies, I need to run out on an errand," she leans down to kiss Niklas' cheek and then she's heading for the door. "I will hopefully return before all the festivities are over!"

Sabella has left the Orazio's Table Nearest the Fire.

Coraline has joined the Banquet Table.

2 Grayson House Guards, Elizabetta, a disapproving lady-in-waiting, Lily, an aloof lady-in-waiting, Clark, an exasperated guard leave, following Sabella.

"Kaldur passes that line and the ribbon flutters as he wins and then the finishers start making their way through. No crash of the china, no shattering, thankfully, the china is still intact. Alarissa looks relieved. "Lord Kaldur! I shall send prizes for Master Merek and Lord Kaldur to their residences after. They were waiting for winners to be made." But Alarissa looks delighted, a sympathetic pat on Denica's shoulder. "We can practice at home. But you still did so lovely. But, we have come to the end of the party games and we can enjoy the rest of the tea and it's spoons, without fear of more... caketastophe's!" Which is to say, everyone doesn't have to worry about getting up to perform.

Cora looks relieved that suggestions that she too might practice this teacup walking aren't made and scurries back to the table before she is seen and ideas are had. After the teacup is carefully placed back where it belongs of course.

"Everyone did." Amari decides with a smile to Coraline and Denica, the proof in the lack of shattered china on the floor, which she checks for despite not having heard any smashing. With her teacup safe, she smiles and moves to follow everyone back to the table. "Lord Kaldur, have you also been practicing multiple times a day since you were fourteen, like Princess Sabella?" She wonders, brow faintly arched as she reclaims her chair.

Isidora stands quietly and slips out the door hoping to not bother anyone as she leaves.

Isidora has left the Orazio's Table Nearest the Fire.

an elegant snowy owl, Lystra, Morigan leave, following Isidora.

Removing the cup from her head once she's finished the race, Rosalie sets it aside before applauding the winners! "That was great! I can't wait for the next tea party!!" She glances around, smiling and lifting a hand towards Gaston since he's appeared, then heads over to Coraline with a giggle. "Well! I didn't do quite so well there, but I think I'll just be happy that I didn't break anything."

Lethe looks to Amari with a smile. "You did very well Amari. I didn't know this was something people practiced. I'm beginning to feel my education was lacking."

"You did very well in both games. I admit this is the worst I have done in games since that giant painting thing where I slipped in paint and ended up covered in the stuff. I was more colorful that day then I could remember. Granted it appears my wardrobe is going to be getting more colorful still." she says wryly.

Alarissa is overheard praising Ryhalt: For resisting that petit four

Gaston lifts a hand in reply toward Rosalie, offering her a smile in return before he lifts his drink to take another draw from the contents. He turns around partially, moving to lean against the counter then, having a word with the barkeep.

Alarissa swings by the bar now that she's noticed Gaston. A smile on her face. "Welcome dear friend." A kiss brushed ot his cheek before she turns to survey the room. "You missed the cake eating. You would have excelled."

Reese is still here, but she has been very quiet for whatever reason.



Ryhalt looks on to a messenger and gives a small sigh. "Alas something has come up to put an end to this lovely late afternoon. I do hope all of you enjoy the coffee later." Ryhalt then stands and makes a exit.

"Sure thing," Denica smiles. "Well I think we all won at some level," Denica laughs. "No shattered china or cake!" Denica eyes Coraline and Amari, casting a smile to them both. Victory!

"I am sure that I would have," Gaston says, bringing a large hand around to pat at his stomach as he smiles toward Alarissa. "I have not met a cake yet that could stand against my fury," he says with a laugh and wink. "Who won?"

Prizes? Kaldur blinks and looks around at Alarissa. He rises again to his feet and bows, "My thanks, Highness." He is about to wave off any necessity and recalls an early lesson of being a gracious guest and accepting a host's hospitality. "I look forward to it." He settles and ... blinks. The pastry. It's gone. He gives a laugh and his ears a still a bit pink, "Aye, though my drawing room is a clifftop. And," he nods out to the City beyond, "Here in Arx, parapets and roofs." He squints up at the rafters, "I haven't walked the Queensrest." Hmm. Maybe next. He smils at Lethe and Amari. Sabella. "Indeed," to Denica's assertion, "I'd say no broken cups is quite a victory." He glances at Princess Reese, brow furrowing briefly, "Lady Lethe, when you're in Pearlspire next, I believe I owe you a cliffdive."

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

Luna, the sweet, studious assistant leaves, following Carita.

Grinning at Coralien, Rosalie murmurs, "I actually have a few new outfits being arranged for right now myself. But then, I love colors! Especially softer colors, I know pastels are a bit... childish? But I like the softness of them. The gentility." She smiles at her and shrugs, "But I've also been considering getting one of these umbra gowns done up, too. I saw the one in Works Obscura this morning... oh my GODS is it beautiful! I only wish I could afford something that lovely. Perhaps someday though!" She looks back to Gaston and calls out, "We could always order up a cake just for you, my lord!"

A wry look goes to Denica, "I think I broke plenty of cakes this evening. However I think I shall need to head off shortly to get cleaned up." The silent, and get some pants on is added. "This was a lot of fun though, and at some point maybe I won't enter every competition just because it is there." She says wtih a grin.

Reese looks over to Kaldur. "It is quite the victory, congrats Lord Kaldur." She warmly says.

There's a bit of a ruckus over by the fire. It's a low rumble at first, but Octavia is staring daggers at Niklas, saying something pointed, and finally rising to her feet and pointing her hand at the door to the street.

"Going already? But I just got here!" Denica practically pouts, but she embraces Coraline carefully before she can escape, kissing her cheek before she goes and steps back to join the banquet table once more. "I'll see you back home," she promises as she smoothes out her skirts.

Coraline has left the Banquet Table.

3 Thrax Guards, Freja the long suffering, Dame Cupcake, the most elegant leave, following Coraline.

Denica has joined the Banquet Table.

Amari has joined the Banquet Table.

Lethe grins as she looks to Kaldur. "You must really like heights Lord Kaldur. I always liked climbing trees." She looks to Kaldur with amusement. "I'm still looking forward to a cliffdive someday. Is this a future invitation to Pearlspire?"