The Atrium furniture has been neatly arranged to accommodate several tea services and seating. There is a dedicated liquor service and as well a buffet of fresh, warm patries. Each table is attended to be various servants and they wear aprons and have tongs (if serving food).

Cedric Primm is located in the foyer and he is greeting guests as they arrive.

2 Ashford House Guard, Bethany arrive, following Olivia.

Lisebet makes her way to the Ashford House, both curious and pleased to hear of such an event. She enters, pausing to dust off any snow, and then she smiles at the greeter, inclining her head in acknowledgement. "Master Cedric, lovely to see you again," she comments, with a smile.

"..weather like this you never really want to walk far anyway," Sabella is commenting to one of her ladies in waiting as she pulls off her gloves and hat and cloak and plies them on the poor woman. Cedric gets a big, beaming smile, "Master Cedric! This is such a lovely event and I look forward to when you send out invitations. Always such a pleasant surprise!"

Rhiannon comes out of the orangery and stands near a door. Once again, she's not dressed properly for such an event, but she is a Lady of the house. She's dressed like the Tree Scout that she is. She stands to the side, here for duty, but as always, utterly uncomfortable in social situations.

"Lady Lisebet," Cedric says with a few steps forward, and arms out to retrieve her coat. "We are happy you could come."

Cedric smiles faintly to Sabella - either because she's there, or he's happy she's brought along her own coat wranglers. "The refreshment and snacks have been set out in the atrium. Please wipe off any snow and leave coats in the foyer."

After a bit, a few servants begin to come down the stairs, bracketing and guiding the Duke, who is .... using a pair of wooden crutches to slowly make his way down the stairs. It's obviously an effort, given by the hint of sweat on his face and the paleness of his face. That said -- he's coming down! He's moving! He's...not in bed. He's dressed mostly casually, and a bit rumpled perhaps -- but with reason.

Anya, the cool as an ice cube Champion apprentice, Renn, the mousy, scholarly brunette arrive, following Caspian.

While Rhiannon may not want to be here, at least she's probably expected to. Fiora on the other hand, has a look very similar to the Ashford woman, a wary skepticism and inherent discomfort as the slender Malvici looks over the small gathering. Making her way in, she starts to pull off her coat and wipe off the snow as instructed, giving Cedric a bit of a side eye. Hanging her coat up, eventually she naturally drifts closer to where Rhiannon lurks and she also lurks, hugging her arms against her chest and not-quite-glaring at the event itself.

Lisebet removes her cloak, passing it over to Cedric, with a smile. "Thank you," she tells him. "I look forward to - " The movement over at the stairs catches her attention and her breath catches. "Harlan!" A brief moment, and then, "I was not expecting to see you this evening," she admits. There are others in the room, absolutely, but for a moment poor Lisebet appears to be not seeing any of them.

Olivia comes down behind Harlan, fussing a fair bit over him, because it's what she does. At the bottom of the stairs, she takes a moment to check on his condition and even straighten his rumpled clothes, and smooths her dress. "There you are, looking sharp as ever." And then, forward! "Hello, hello," she calls in a light greeting. "Cedric, it all looks delicious." She goes for a scone, always rather fond of them and his secret stash of winter berries. "Oh, Princess, so nice of you to come and visit. Lady Lisebet!" Here, she hurries over with a bit more... oomph to her step, going over to meet the other lady, offering her a hug on top of the more general greetings others have gotten. "Come, look how much better Harlan's doing."

a small twilit kingsnake, Talwyn, Terese arrive, following Macda.

Talwyn shrugs one shoulder easily. "I would venture that long furs, coaches, and warm fires might allow for formal dress, but there you are." he continues to Macda. "And that plate does naught to keep you warm sister. The horrid, thick, stuffy padding beneath, perhaps."

Cedric hangs up Lisebet's coat and turns his attention back to the door. He also side-eyes Fiora, but only to ensure she has followed the instructions precisely. Once satisfied he looks to see continued arrivals, and bows as they enter, telling each and their retinue to wipe off snow and leave coats in the foyer. It sounds as dry every new time he says it, without much variation.

Navigating through the Ashford estate, the trio seems amid conversation about platemail was they enter. Macda seems to nod along before cheering up with a wave to those gathered in the room. Her eyes spot Duke Harlan who seems out of bed finally. "Duke, good evening. You are looking more in one piece."

Terese grins to Talwyn, "I guess one gets used to it. And after it deters blade, claw, and so forth, one develops a fond appreciation for it."

Harlan gives a pained, but genuined smile towards Lisebet as she calls his name, and says with a b it less breath than normally, "Lis...." He makes a faint face at his sister, but it's not upset, more 'c'mon now, really'. He's up, he's about...but it's definitely apparant recovery is still...ongoing. He shifts, the servants starting to move him towards a seat -- near the fire, of course. He's then supplied with a blanket as well, tucked in. He says, after a long moment and time to catch his breath, "Princess..." He smiles faintly. "A creaky piece, to be sure."

Caspian is not late, he is fashionably late, rolling on into the AShford manor alone, looking around for those he might know know. Nope, no one, so he just heads over to the scones that Olivia is eating, taking a scone to nom on, letting out a soft "Mmm!"

Lisebet returns Olivia's hug, with a smile. "Lady Olivia, it's very good to see you," she says with a bit of obvious happiness. She turns then to smile at the others. "Princess Sabella, a pleasure. It seems it's been a little while." She then blinks at the comment from Macda, and chuckles softly. "Your highnesses." She watches as Harlan is settled on a seat, tucked in and taken care of, a slight smile crossing her face. That done, she nabs a scone as well. And then a second, though she's not eating either as yet. Of course this leads her to say, "Master Caspian."

"Oh, hey, I think we've met before, Lady Lisebet, right?" Caspian asks back to Lisebet with a friendly smile given her way, having the scone at her. "I know this is completely random, but lovely gown you have there."

"Creaky still counts as better fortune than in pieces," Macda reminds him and nods to the servants trying to settle the man into a warm spot. The princess turns to face Lisebet and offers after she eyes a scone herself, "Lady, good evening." Then to her cousin, Sabella, she smiles brightly. "And always good to see your radiance," as she comes closer to the princess she whispers, "What's good to eat? Oh, and you've met the Valardin siblings?"

He can make all the faces he likes, it's not going to get Olivia to stop! What else are sisters for? She just grins back at him. Still, now that he's down and about, she ceases the overt fussing, leaving him to his guests, even if there's one she's obviously encouraging above all others. "We'll talk more soon," she promises Lisebet. "But I have to go and say hello to everyone, I think." Something about being the hosts and whatnot! She gets one last none-too-subtle nudge toward her brother, and then off Liv goes, lalala. "Princess," she now greets Macda, second arrival to bear the title. And then she picks out Rhiannon and hustles over to her, beaming. "Oh, cousin, I barely caught you, hiding over there." Those Ashford scouts, so very sneaky.

Sabella gets herself a glass of something warm with a little something warmer thrown in and smiles around at those assembling, "Lady Lisebet! It has been some time. Motherhood keeps me so busy," says the woman who is certainly not holding a baby right now and looks pretty well rested. "Princess Macda! Everything here is so good. Cedric only puts out the best for guests and I'm sure the rest of the household. And yes! I am familiar with Princess Terese and Prince Talwyn. I've heard Princess Tikva has already set things in motion," she says conspiratorially, "So I am keeping my fingers crossed for you." When Harlan comes in she looks both concerned and happy, "Duke Harlan! I am so, so glad to see you up and about."

Talwyn rubs at his face and shakes his head at his sister over a rueful grin. "I do rather hope it is mere obstinate stubbornness that keeps you constantly weighing an extra five stone, and clanging about like that, and not such paranoia regarding danger within these city walls." he retorts, rolling up the sleeve of his right hand as he makes for the drinks. He decants into three measured glasses with some fine looking clear liquor. He then returns to his trio, offering the remaining pair of glasses in one outstretched hand. Inclining his head, he offers a flashy smile to Sabella in cheerful greeting, as following Macda brings him near her.

As the riveting action dies down in the foyer, Cedric passes off his coat hanging function to a lesser footman. The aged butler steps into the atrium and around behind the pastry station where he puts on an apron in a very delicate manner - suggesting that perhaps none of you knew there was /a way/ to don an apron. Secrets only Cedric knows. From beneath the table he then wields the shiniest pastry tongs that have ever been seen. No fingers shall fall upon your pastries this evening!

Rhiannon nods at Fiora as she ends up nearby. "Hello. Come for the tea? You should join the others," she does try to be hospitable. "I'm Rhiannon." She glances over at the others, especially her house head and his recovery, but surely he doesn't need more fussing ladies. That's not really her style in any case.

Harlan gives a smile towards his cousin and a slight nod of the head, and calls out towards SAbella, "Thank you for coming, also, Princess." Granted, he's a bit distracted at the moment, and not catching everyone. He does incline his head towards Caspian though, recognizing him, before adding to Caspian's comment, "She and her gown are absolutely beautiful, yes." To Sabella, "Sometimes up. Sometimes about. Better. A ways to go." There are pauses to breath in between all of this.

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

Lisebet has to laugh at Olivia's totally not subtle nudge. She gets those scones on a plate, and smiles at Caspian. "yes, that's right. We have indeed met previously, though it has been some time." Her cheeks go a tad bit pink at the compliments on her dress, and she offers a graceful curtsey by way of polite thanks. "You are both quite charming," she says. Though she does set the plate of scones in front of Harlan, with apparently some thought to making sure he has at least something there. Now then, drinks!

With a scone already in hand and a bite within her mouth, Macda nods to Sabella with a smile and gestures rather vaguely towards Talwyn with a nod. "Mmhmm, thanks," she finally gets out after swallowing. Luckily Cedric's scones aren't the horribly dry kind, so she manages to use her voice without choking or sounding completely garbled. To Terese she makes an 'ok' pinch of her index finger to thumb about the scone and then scans the table for a proper drink.

Caspian gives a confirming nod over to Harlan, saying to him, "It's true, isn't it? Quite ravishing." He turns a bright smile over to Lisebet, wondering to her, "Will you be leaving for the duel that will be happening soon? I recommend watching, our champions will put on a good show for everyone." He dusts off that scrone, and grabs some wine to wash it down, taking a good gulp of his glass.

As she grabs a cup of tea which she likely confuses for water anyhow, Macda makes eye contact with Olivia. "Oh. Evening Lady-" Her eyes make all the effort to place her and she knows it's right there but eluding her. "Apothecary- Apologies, truly, names are not my best use of memory. But I'm great with eyes and a voice. May I have your name again?"

Sabella looks at all the delicious offerings like a dying woman might a glass of water, "Mmm. Master Cedric, do you have any carrots or lettuce available? I've promised myself I wouldn't indulge my sweet tooth until after opening night." She looks like she deeply regrets such a thing now, though. And she promptly supplies, "Lady Olivia," for Macda, gesturing around the room, "Do you know everyone? It's rather a habit that I end up introducing the room at these events."

Still sort of wary of the whole thing, Fiora slowly glances sidelong at Rhiannon. She stays away from the main gathering, keeping her arms folded warily. "Fiora Malvici." The woman mutters quietly in return. She slowly looks over to Rhiannon, and her gear, giving a somewhat appreciative nod. "Nice to meet you." Before she's looking back out at those milling about.

Rhiannon nods back, her stance somewhat soldier-like. "A pleasure. You should try some of Cedric's scones. They are amazing, really." She gestures, still trying to remain and do her duty. Duty is the ultimate, after all. All for duty and family. That is how she is wired.

"Rhiannon, don't spend the whole party hiding! We're not out in the woods." It seems Olivia's harassment isn't strictly limited to her brother. She offers just that in passing, before turning back around toward Macda. "Lady-" She laughs as Sabella supplies it. "Yes, that's it. I am the Duke's younger sister," she offers. "Though you have my profession correct. Have you seen the orangery? It is not quite as impressive in this season, but I am quite proud of it." And since greeting one royal has brought her into the vicinity of two others, she beams first at Sabella, and then at Talwyn, who she missed on her first tour. "It is a pleasure to have you here as well, Prince."

Cedric steps on a little stool and knocks his shiney tongs against a metal bowl, which rings echo through the Atrium. He guves Sabella and little nod and someone quite other than Cedric trots off to bring her carrots.

Cedric's dry voice, "Thank you all for participating in this, House Ashford's 150th annual pastry toss. Please pair up and we will begin shortly."

Talwyn foists extra glasses off on a passing servant smoothly, then proceeds to blink in Cedric's direction. "Toss?" he mouths, looking down at his fine shirt with a grimace.

Cedric offers Talwyn a napkin and motions to his collar. "Just tuck it in and protect yourself from crumbs."

Wait, did Cedric just say pastry toss? Blink. Lisebet's eyes widen owl-like as she settles in a seat near the Duke. Caspian gets a slight shake of her head. "I may go, but I haven't quite decided yet." Which probably means it'll depend entirely on whether or not Harlan falls asleep in his seat by the fire over there.

Talwyn winks at Olivia, regaining his composure. "Of course it is, I fancy myself a pleasure wherever my feet fall." he agrees.

Macda's eyes light up when Olivia mentions the orangery and nearly speaks with a mouth full of scone. She does, thankfully, swallow before beginning. "Oh I have. It's lovely, I love oranges, I cannot wait til they start to bloom again." She quiets as Cedric addresses everyone and offers him, "And thank you for all this." The princess chuckles a bit at Cedric's offer of a napkin to Talwyn.

Harlan gives LIsebet another smile, and then looks amused at Cedric, but says nothing about this at all. However -- he doesn't look as though he will be particpating. After a moment, a hand slowly makes its way for the scones, fingers trembling a bit. His hand pauses against the plate, giving his arm a rest, before he gathers the scone and brings it slowly back towards him.

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

Macda is overheard praising Cedric: A wonderful host and scone provider!

Rhiannon starts as Olivia calls out to her and she blushes a little and clears her throat and glances to the side. Normally, she wanders off when no one notices her. "Oh yes. Out in the woods. That would be.. more comfortable." The last words muttered. "Scone toss? Are we tossing scones?"

Harlan responds towards Rhiannon in a dry voice, "You are. I am not." This is an amused tone.

Talwyn addresses Cedric, waving a hand in a casual dismissal. "No, no, no need to tuck. At worst, I should find it easy to replace the cloth. Were it that I had a stout breastplate, to guard against the dangers of stray crumbs and flecks of jam." he adds in a cheeky tone, winking at his sister.

Anya, the cool as an ice cube Champion apprentice, Renn, the mousy, scholarly brunette leave, following Caspian.

Macda leans towards Rhiannon, "Everyone but the Duke, it seems." Her grin looks impish, and then she eyes Terese. "I think your brother means to have you stand in front of him."

"Scones." Fiora states flatly. The woman starts wandering into the room a bit further, glancing warily at those around her. Her eyes eventually fall on Harlan where she gives a light nod. "Thank you for your service." Before moving on.

"Has everyone found a partner?" Cedric asks with a subtle uptick in his eyebrow. The kind that threatens involuntary match-making should partner-finding directions not be heeded... But of course all very appropriate.

He steps down from the stool and stage manages. "A row will stand here, at the pastry table..." he indicates. He takes 5 paces forward, "...and your partners here. You must toss a bite-sized bit of pastry into your partner's mouth. The most flourished and artful toss wins...regardless of success."

Niklas wanders into the atrium, looking around like someone who has never been here before. Probably because he hasn't. Eventually he looks to the crowd and offers waves to those he knows, or at least recognizes, "Princess Macda, Prince Talwyn, Princess Terese. So good to see you. Lady Rhiannon, I do hope you are settling in nicely after a couple of months? Duke Harlan." He squints a bit at the duke. "Maybe I should introduce you to my sister. The young and sociable one, not the gargoyle who makes her roost in the high magistrate's office." And then he's off to take Sabella's hand. "Ah, best of all to see you, my dear."

Lisebet is small, surely she will be missed sitting over here with Harlan, right? Well, she can try. She eyes the duke, and the pastry, and then she reaches for one, tearing a small piece and offering it to the duke somewhat cheekily.

Fiora does not have a partner and she is rapidly backpedaling at the implication that she may need to find one.

Lupin, a small wolf pup arrives, delivering a message to Niklas before departing.

Olivia blinks momentarily at Talwyn's reply, and then laughs when she catches up with the inherent bit of jest in it. "I am certain that is so, highness!" she doesn't hesitate to agree, beaming along. "I am looking forward for the spring," she then tells Macda. "This has been a very cold winter, but I think the greenhouse will still have kept the trees warm enough that I expect no trouble with the crop." Now, though, there's some suggestion of tossing scones and she blinks a little. "Wait, we're doing what? I, um, we have to throw them at someone?" She looks mildly concerned, and looks around, finally back at Rhiannon. "Cousin, do you want to pair up with me? I think we can be certain you will win, and not cause any diplomatic incidents by pelting me."

Terese grins to Talwyn, "See, it suits to be well ready for any situation. One never knows when battles might break out." She offers a friendly greeting to Niklas and Sabella. She pauses to greet Harlan as well, "Princess Terese Valardin, I don't think I've had the pleasure."

Talwyn pinches at Macda's shoulder, offering a hand toward the scone table in a wordless request for a partner in this revel.

Sabella smiles and lifts Niklas' hand to give the side of it a kiss, "Stand here, my love, and I'll throw things at you! I hope you wore aeterna," she teases. Or threatens. She is not known for her arm. "And the closest I want to get to those pastries is if I'm giving them away." She takes a bit of a carrot and tries to make it look like she enjoys it.

Harlan's lips quirk, and he smiles towards Lisebet, and leans to take the bite. After he's chewed it, he blinks, hearing something, and nods towards Niklas, "Your Highness..." And to Talwyn and Terese, "My apologies...highnesses....welcome to Ashford...House." He then leans back, working on catching his breath, and offering a faint smile, "A pleasure....of course."

To Olivia, Macda smiles, "Oh I do hope so." But a voice calls her name, distracting her. Turning to Niklas's voice (because who doesn't recognise it instantly), she greets him with a smile and wave of a half-eaten scone. "Good to see you Niklas, I thought maybe she'd left you chained up somewhere." She teases obviously, and then is distracted by being pinched on the shoulder by Talwyn. "Oh, oh right. Tossing."

Rhiannon gives a nod to Niklas as he greets her and then blinks at mention of a partner. She seems about to disappear when Olivia calls attention to her. "Oh, of course, cousin," she says after a moment. "I am delighted to serve." She steps over to join Olivia. "I do not know, your aim might be better than mine. Tossing scones is nothing like shooting arrows.

"Very good," rewards Cedric, appraising the participants. He uses the tongs to place a small piece of scone on a very special gilded plate, and presents it to Harlan. "As is custom, the Duke will toss the first scone to signify the beginning of games."

Lisebet smiles to Terese. "Princess Terese, it is good to see you again. My apologies, I hadn't realized you had not met, or I would have introduced you both." She offers a grin at Niklas, and then pauses at Cedric's now offering Harlan the first toss.

Cedric flutters his hand toward the floor, "Just throw it anywhere." he murmurs to Harlan.

Harlan eyes Cedric, with a visual response of 'Really?'. One of the servants moves to shift his blanket, and he slowly shifts his right arm and hand to take a scone from the plate. His lip quirks and says, "At my feet.....I wager." He takes a long pause....and flips the scone about eight to ten feet away with a faint grimace. No sign of actual pain, other than just annoyance at weakness.

Macda keeps her half-eaten scone for ammunition and stands across from Talwyn, looking at him as if deciding there to throw it; since success isn't a factor for winning. The jam, now covering the teeth marks of the scone appears thick enough to stick to where ever the piece may end up, provided she managed to hit him.

Cedric turns to face the rest of the guest and claps, giving them the 'you clap,too' nod! "Well done, Duke Harlan. Very good."

He primly returns to the space behind the pastry table, out of the line of fire. "Lady Lisebet will judge the event and reward Eternal Bragging Rights to the most flourished toss."

"Go."

Fiora checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 15, rolling 38 higher.

Lisebet's gaze goes to Rhiannon as she is called to help Olivia with the pastry throwing. She nods her head, smiling gently. There is a moment too as her gaze catches sight of Fiora, and she beckons this way. If there's an odd number of participants, surely sitting by the duke is a safe place? As Harlan manages that throw, she laughs softly. "You would have lost that wager, which is perhaps not a bad thing," she murmurs. And then her eyes widen, and she sits up a little straighter.

Olivia barely contains a bit of a giggle at the tremendous pomp and ceremony that Cedric manages to infuse into the act of tossing a pastry, as well as the instruction to Harlan. And, ever the familial cheerleader, she beams brightly at her brother's ceremonial opening throw, and even claps politely, although the latter may be more for the purpose of mildly embarassing him further. "Well done!" She glances aside at Rhiannon again. "It is probably very different, but I suspect I would be poor at eith- wait we're starting? Oh dear!"

Talwyn winces in sympathy at Harlan's weathered infirmity, clapping politely with the rest as he 'launches' the game. In the next moment, he notes the glint in Macda's eye, and his face becomes the very picture of regret in the hasty choosing of a partner, the entire display exaggerated and evidently playful. He opens his mouth slightly, managing to maintain a toothy smile, and widens his stance in a crouch, perhaps in an effort to protect his shirt.

Harlan leans back and exhales, sinking more into his seat, a servant moving to tuck the blanket around him, although leaving the hand nearest Lisebet bare and uncovered.

Fiora sliiiiips away, hoping to avoid some attention by tucking behind a person here and there. Of course she's not invisible, and to some she might be more visible for just trying to stay out of the way of attention. But Lisebet manages to get her just before she slips into a corner. The woman pauses with thin lips, glancing over to Lisebet. Then slowly starts moving over to Lisebet. Reluctantly.

Rhiannon claps in response to Harlan's throw and then turns toward Olivia. She picks up a scone from a servant and takes off a bit of a scone. A bite, really, "Would you like to catch or receive first?" she asks Olivia with a faint little smile. "I think this might turn into the sort of party I might enjoy."

Pulling off a piece of her gooey scone, Macda judges the weight in hand and looks to the ceiling to judge for distance. Talwyn's slight crouch actually works to her advantage, but she'd never give that away precisely. She's very mindful of her height when it's a factor of disadvantage. She nods then, perhaps indicating she's nearly ready, and mentions to Terese nearby, "I should have brought Thistleton along. We could all throw at him for a practice round."

Niklas watches the lunacy unfold, calling out to Macda. "A reasonable concern. It has happened before. I had to learn to dislocate my shoulders to escape the shackles." Then he looks to his wife, "What in the world have I walked in on?"

Macda checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 35 higher.

Terese chuckles, "I'm sure that he would make a valiant effort at evasion. But your marksmanship would decimate him, I'm sure." Terese quickly grabs some pastry munitions and eyes the 'terrain' of the party with a critical eye."

Sabella doesn't answer Niklas directly, skipping over to pick out a pastry to turn and execute a pirouette, arching her hand over her head to throw the pastry towards Niklas, "Catch it in your mouth!" She shouts gleefully as she does it, rainbow seasilk and aeterna swirling around her feet.

Talwyn checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 6 lower.

Sabella checked dexterity + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 17 higher.

Cedric is all too amused watching nobles pelt each other with pastries. 150th annual toss indeed....

Olivia looks... concerned, by the whole affair, but decides to get the worst over with right off, apparently. Except... which is worse, here?! "Um... Perhaps you ought throw first. You should at least be able to make up for my poor reaction, and perhaps put it close to near where it needs to go." She looks down, and then murmurs, "I wish I was wearing my physician's aeterna..." Then she stands a little straighter and opens wide, looking quite embarassed and very aware of how silly she must appear.

Rhiannon checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 11 higher.

Lisebet smiles at Fiora, gently. She gets three glasses of something to drink, setting one by the scones on the table, offering one to Fiora, and keeping one for herself. "Come sit with us, it's reasonably safe, here, m'Lady. I'm Lady Lisebet Farshaw. Have you met Duke Harlan Ashford?" Her free hand reaches to touch Harlan's, since the servants left it there so temptingly. She watches the throws now, thoughtfully. Most flourished toss, hmm?

Rhiannon steps to the side and thinks about this as she always does any military action. She then looks at Olivia, so ready to be pelted with pastry and clears her throat and does a simple throw. Up from below, an underhanded toss, hoping for the best chance at getting pastry in her cousin's mouth and not on her clothes.

Without further ado, Macda tosses the bit of scone into the air- nearly high enough to hit the ceiling. But she doesn't watch for it. Instead the princess clad in leather leggings (thankfully) leaps up with it and performs an effortless backflip, only to land on her hands. Clearly she she done this many times, for whatever reasons. A hand lifts from the floor to stretch outward to her left side for balance and her eyes look towards the ceiling and the red jam's telltale fall. Her foot ebbs back and then kicks forward in a strong motion, sending the gooey scone towards Prince Talwyn and it lands dead centre on his face, lodging itself between his eyes and falling down over his nose with a trail of red-stained crumbs. She recovers by returning her hand to the floor and pushing off enough to flip back upright and onto her feet. As she sees her target, she bursts into a fit of childish laughter.

Olivia checked luck at difficulty 15, rolling 9 lower.

Lisebet has rolled a critical success!
Lisebet checked charm + diplomacy at difficulty 15, rolling 100 higher.

Talwyn checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 35 higher.

Niklas checked mana + occult at difficulty 32, rolling 15 higher.

The arc and angle of Macda's buttery missile could not have been more sublime, like a graceful dolphin leaping from the water, it soars the five paces between her fingers and Talwyn's mouth. Unfortunately, the bulk of her target prince's co-ordination is housed in his musician's fingers, and Talwyn makes a wonderful mess of adjusting his head, snapping his teeth closed as the scone catches him directly between his eyes. He wipes a smear of jam from his face, smiling at the revel with a delighted sparkle to his eyes. As he does, he notes Macda's jester-like caper, clapping his hands with an appreciative and humble nod.

Well, Olivia's partner clearly knows what she is doing, but the opposite cannot be said for her partner. The throw is mostly on target, a nice easy lob in the vicinity of her face, and all Olivia has to do is... not flinch or terribly mess it up. Well, as the pastry sails toward her face, she closes her eyes in a natural reaction, flinching slightly. This means that it is merely a matter of pure luck if things shall find their way into her mouth. As it turns out? They make it close. Her cheek is close! The buttery mbiscuit bounces, leaving a berry smear at the corner of her mouth, and then her eyes flash open. "Oh no!" she scrambles to try and catch the falling pastry, but misses it too. "Oh dear, I've wasted it."

Niklas manages to catch the pastry that Sabella threw his way in a suitably spooOOoooOOOoooky manner. Which is to say he catches it in his mouth. After giving it some thought he takes a bite, letting the rest drop into his hand, then promptly finishes it off. "Not bad!" He turns to watch as Talwyn takes one between the eyes and clucks his tongue. "The sigh of dragons, folks."

Harlan's fingers brush against Lisebet's lightly and he offers a pleasant, if tired, smile towards Fiora, "A pleasure to....meet you, Lady....Malvici..."

Rhiannon did try! She was trying not to make a mess of Olivia. But sometimes it cannot be helped. She tries not to laugh, though. "Oh dear. Well, it is your turn." At least she's not wearing something expensive and easily ruined.

Terese checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 24 higher.

Terese, unable to resist the chance to engage in sibling rivalry and playfulness, tosses a scone at Talwyn. Not at full strength though, really, it seems like she's cheering on her brother's imitation of a dolphin, and if it happens to land on his face, instead of in his mouth, well. Siblings.

As the tossing completes, Cedric knocks the metal bowl with the impressive pastry tongs to gather attention once more. Once he has it, he looks to Lisebet. "And so, Ceremonial Judge of the Toss? Name your victor."

Talwyn checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 12 lower.

Macda covers her mouth to laugh again, though expecting Talwyn's unamused expression as his sister launches a second volley his way. Nodding to Terese with approval, she turns to the taller knight beside her and says quietly, "He's going to burn all our things." So as a preemptive measure she turns to the table and grabs a linen napkin and bows her head to the Prince, offering it to him, and trying not to grin, or laugh, or snicker. "Red, um, suits you, my Prince."

"The most flourishing toss, that was the criteria, yes? I do believe that this belongs to Princess Macda, this time." Because how do you top that handstand? "Though Princess Sabella was a close second." She tilts her head, before she says, "And everyone else was so close behind, it's impossible to tell!"

The lovely voice of Lisebet beckons the princess' attention, and she claps cheerfully. "A good game and lots of good tosses." Then like the clear showman she attempted to be, she bows to Lisebet, Harlan, and then host Cedric.

Talwyn tries a second time at Terese's urging, but flubs this catch even more horribly than the last, and with a far kinder throw, to boot. He flicks crumbs from his hair with a tightened jaw at Macda's jab, though the stiff expression does not seem too genuine, by his relaxed posture. He magnanimously takes a sip of liquor, then accepts the napkin and wipes his nose, then the top of his head. "I will keep that in mind, when wardrobe is called for." he responds, a grin breaking through.

"Princess Macda!" Cedric announces, echoing the judges rule - which is FINAL! He claps and gives the guests the 'you also clap' instructive eyeball again.

Cedric rounds the pastry table and approaches Macda, "Your Highness. Congratulations on winning the 150th Annual Ashford Pastry Toss. In addition to the prize of eternal bragging rights, you win this packet of Ashford premium baking yeast. Ever Rising!" He hands it over and steps back again, clapping.

Fiora eyes Harlan for a moment before just nodding. "Nice to meet you, Duke Harlan." She repeats a little mechanically before going to relax against the wall, glancing over to Macda and her victory. Her hands patter together in an applause that very nearly escapes the realm of 'half-assed' but not quite.

Macda takes her packet of yeast and bows again to Cedric. "And an anniversary year! I shall have it engraved on my door of accolades."

Sabella applauds for Macda and laughs, heading back over to Niklas' side, "You did wonderfully!" She tells him, giving him a kiss because she loves him and not at all so she can taste some of that leftover pastry sugar on his lips.

Harlan offers a smile towards Macda, and leans back in his chair, a servant moving to wipe the duke's forehead of sweat. He doesn't clap, but he's also buncled up, "Congratulations....Princess." A servant then approaches with watered whiskey.

Olivia still looks mildly embarassed for the whole thing, and turns a somewhat bleak look back toward Rhiannon. "Oh, I'm sorry I didn't do a better job catching it. Your throw was perfect!" Still, with Lisebet announcing the winners of the whole thing, she brightens back up again and claps once more for the victor. "Well done, Princess!" And then, with the prize announced, she gives another giggle. "Do not underestimate the power of Cedric's secret baking ingredients."

Macda looks down at the packet in hand, obviously suspicious as Olivia gives her advice.

"Do enjoy the rest of the food." Cedric says blandly. He removes his apron and, as a final duty, smoothly exchanges watered-down whiskey for the real thing on his way back to the kitchen. A muttered "clean this up" is passed off to Bart the Footman as he passes.

Lisebet sips her drink and then she claps her hands for all the participants, before she settles down again, primly. Except for that her hand brushes Harlan's again, sweetly. With Cedric's comments, Lisebet calls out, "I can definitely recommend the scones, and the whiskey is nice."

Sabella picks up A large liquor cabinet with mounted glasses.

Sabella drops A large liquor cabinet with mounted glasses.

At the sound of mentioned whiskey, Macda makes her way back to the table to find a glass. "Oh, Terese, did you want to see if they are still fighting? I almost forgot in all this pastry tossing."

Talwyn offers the napkin back to Macda, "I believe you wanted to see the blood of that duel?" he asks, motioning toward his own face in a silent petition to check for stray scone.

Rhiannon walks over to Olivia and offers her hand. "Oh no, cousin. Don't fuss about it. Do you want to throw one at me just so that we're even with it? I don't want you missing out." Because that's the best part, of course.

Macda nods to Talwyn, "Aye, I hope something is offered." She smiles in the direction of a figurine that catches her eye, fondness evident.