Joscelin checked luck + small wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 9 higher.


Joscelin rolls her eyes at Evaristo, but her heated warm eyes and hot cheeks just grow all the rosier, opening her mouth to comment and then Valenzo says the most ridiculous thing ever. 'Is it that obvious', she scoffs, looks for something through his shirt and pinches him, aiming for a manly nipple and snapping her teeth at him playfully. And -again-, she means to comment, to one or both of them, but then that gods damned song breaks out and the blood promptly drains from Josie's face, only to return in earnest, the plump jeweler the color of a tomato, covering her face with her hands as she groans, cursing at every sailor in Valenzo's crew, before groping for something to throw at Deitriche's happy, crowing head. She finds a bread roll. She scores a hit!

Peri is trailing soot into an inn and Eina is trailing Peri with a cloudy look of disapproval on her face. Peri sees Evaristo and greets him, "Hey Captain!" She walks up and looks down at the sprawled man. "Are you quie--" She notices people around him. She knows Josie and has a smile for her, "Josie! Hi!" She turns back to Evaristo, "Ev, I have an idea!"

Moxie, a high-spirited hunting terrier arrives, following Fiora.

Evaristo throws his head back and laughs. He can't breathe, watching his cousin and his friend together - and hearing that song. "Hey! HEY!" he says and stands up. "You got teach me that, where's my lute - this needs to be sung VERY LOUDLY!" he exclaims, and is wiping tears from his face. "That is bloody brilliant." He turns, distracted - smiling his most charming smile at Peri, a bit wider from the fact he's affected by both alcohol and, probably - haze. "Hiii," he tells her and his cousin and Val are for the moment saved from further embarassment. "You ever make a ship rock?" he asks her though, then remembers she's a lady and waves it off. "Uh, never mind. What's the idea?"

Valenzo has joined the Raven Table.

Princess Sally Acorn, an acorn toting red squirrel, Princess Muffin, the fluffiest white mountain dog arrive, following Kenna.

Evaristo has joined the Raven Table.

Soot, a frenetic ferret arrives, delivering a message to Evaristo before departing.

Joscelin has joined the Raven Table.

Princess Sally Acorn, an acorn toting red squirrel, Princess Muffin, the fluffiest white mountain dog arrive, following Kenna.

Carmen Harol strolls into the Unkindness with an eyebrow arched already, curving out of the way of some couple bursting out of the room at the moment she enters. Vibrant green eyes assess the bar. Music, dancing, something getting thrown - she squints, bread not a knife - and a glance over her shoulder again to where haze wafts in. She gives a slow nod, triangulating on the raucuous center of the chaos and unsurprised to find her patron in its vicinity. "Evening, Joscelin," she says on approach, something tensed in her lean shoulders as though more projectiles might be inbound. Her attention flicks back to the musicians. "Somebody get hitched?"

Evaristo sits with Joscelin and Valenzo. Most of the crew of the Tasty Terrapin and the Josie are here, the party is big and wild and joyful, the music is rhytmic and inviting to dance and fun.

The crews of the Josie and Tasty Terrapin are truly partying it up on this day of rest. Psssssshhhhh, rest! One group, lead by the enormously-bearded Dietrich, has just finished a particularly loud round of a bawdy song, and are near-collapsing on each other with laughter -- until a deadly breadroll hurled with preternatural accuracy smacks Dietrich just above the eyebrow and the big prodigal goes down, roaring with laughter and clearly drunk off his ass. Joscelin, Evaristo, Valenzo and Peri are at the Raven Table, currently decorated with an actual rather grumpy-looking raven, the furiously-blushing jeweler settled in Valenzo's lap and the Southport captain bloodless in the face, staring murder at his crew. From the floor, Dietrich stumbles back onto his feet and bows grandly in Josie's direction, before grinning at Evaristo and waving his hands to his co-conspirators; the group starts from the top, clearly game despite the threat of bread-based murder.

"The Captain and the Guildmaster,
Crept aboard at night..."

Things have been just!fine! in the boroughs lately, right? JUST FINE. So Kenna's here to party. Iron Guard stuff is left to one side, she's here to party. Dancing dress on with just enough covered to not be too too risque. Seeing a favorite in the form of Carmen she moves in that direction calling Carmen's name.


Joscelin's face is still tomato-colored, but Carmen walks in and Josie waves from her perch on Valenzo's lap, and then she spies Peri and waves to her as well. But then the music is picking up, the musicians in league with the crew of the Terrapin now, indeed belting out a bawdy song of their own making. Some of it gets washed up to the music, it's hard to hear, and Joscelin is flailing both arms at her damn cousin, going, 'NO NO NO DON'T-' oh but it's too late. The stakes are too high, and....

...Sometimes we've forgotten his name,
of our captain (we know it's a shame),
but then he brings aboard his Josie
she screams it 'til she's gone rosy.
We sing it out to let the docks know
That it's VEE-AL-EN-fuckin'-ZO!

Joscelin pinches the bridge of her nose, laughing, crying, oh god it's so hard to tell.

Evaristo finds his lute under the table and starts to pick out the tune on it, while still listening to Peri. It pays sometimes to be one that can't focus on one thing for too long - he can totally do both. He's also making some gestures at the band over there, inviting them to join in here - the music halts for a moment, but they pick it up and start to one after the other join in on the song, led by Dietrich. Soon? The whole tavern is joining in. Half might not understand what it's about, but those that do? They are looking at Valenzo and Joscelin, laughing and cheering.

About ten or so free drinks end up on their table too. Everyone loves a good racy song of 'romance'.

Pausing in his playing (not like he has to carry this song here!) - Evaristo beams a grin at Carmen, then nods and winks at Kenna, letting out a low whistle at that dress she's wearing.

Peri grabs a chair and pushes it next to Evaristo. She's about to say something until the song interrupts and on the 'VEE-AL-EN-Fucking'-ZO!' she changes midstream to, "At your party! I think I'll anchor the Pearl in the river and set up some tables on the deck." She grabs one of the drinks going around, glug. "We could tie a netting up from the diving platr--there's gonna be dancing on the platform, right?"

"Well then," Carmen says with a straight face as the song crescendos. Among other things. Then she blinks. "Lady Kenna!" She has a wave and an arm around the Acheron's waist with a quick squeeze. "Like the new uniform. Silas must be a beast in it." With her free hand, she digs a silver out of her pocket and flips it onto the table claimed by Joscelin, Valenzo, and Evaristo. Now she's definitely smirking. Then she's stealing a drink, leathers still dusty from a day's work.

Kenna sweeps the dress out for Evaristo to see at that whistle before curling an arm around Carmen. "Just Kenna right now - Poor Silas, he's a little too hippy for this one!" she objects to the addition of the title. Peri gets a very different greeting. There's a chatter of RED SQUIRREL that comes from Kenna's bust before Sally is darting outwards to go and attempt to crawl on Peri in excitement. The squirrel likes Peri and it has been wayyyyy too long. "Josie, you're looking a bit red sweets."

"There will be dancing /everywhere/, Lady Peri, and you and I will dance to show them how it's done," Evaristo says, still playing on his lute, standing up near the table rather than sitting down. That grin refuses to leave his face. "Lady Peri! Have you met Captain Valenzo Vincinatti? And La-, uh, Kenna Acheron, the most formidable officer of the Iron Guard?" he adds, making introductions around just in case, playing host. "Everyone know each other? Good!" He takes some of the drinks and hands them out randomly. "We're celebrating Valenzo's and Josie's skill at making a ship rock... without even being out at sea." Eyebrow-waggling.

Princess Muffin, the fluffiest white mountain dog have been dismissed.

Joscelin can't speak. She covers her blushing face with her hands and squawks from behind it at Evaristo, "THAT IS NOT WHAT WE ARE CELEBRATING!!"

"Well, we are NOW!" Evaristo retorts and near chokes on his drink in laughter.

Valenzo is still staring at Dietrich like he's ready to punch right through the man's head or something when Kenna and Carmen join them at the table, though the plinking ring of silver snaps his attention back and he blinks, glancing between them with eyes that are perhaps a little startled for a moment; then the second verse has kicked in Josie is laughing helplessly, and slowly his rueful grin returns and he shakes his head, caught up in it. "Welcome to just...the best day," He deadpans, and gives the pair of them and Peri a friendly bob of his head and a flash of that lop-sided smile. A beat, and desperate for a change in topic, he glances Peri's way. "What's this about netting?"

Carmen winks at Kenna before casting Evaristo a sober, professional look. "No shit? Small ship or did they get some help?" She taps her tankard collegially to Evaristo's. Then she's offering an easy hand to Peri. "Lieutenant Carmen Harol. Joscelin's my patron and I haven't seen her this red in the face since she popped out little miss Ianthe."

The red squirrel circles up Peri's torso and there is some rustling in her hair until a pointy face peeks out. Peri is laughing so hard she snorts and some drink comes out her nose. Her eyes water and she blearily makes out Carmen raeching for her hand. She grabs it for a friendly shake, "Pp-peri" She sputter laughs. She takes a drink to clear her pipes. "Captain of the Golden Pearl." She turns to Valenzo, "What do you think of this idea?" She mimes scrambling across ropes, "Yeah? yeah? and we tie it from the diving platform to the Pearl."

"What //I// hear is Carmen volunteering to help out if they needed to rock something bigger." Kenna ponders the seat there for a moment, and then her arm around Carmen. "If Josie and This Valenzo are the big thing, and Evaristo and Peri are going to dance that means that you and I need to do something." Carmen should be worried at Kenna's thinking eyes.

Eina, Peri's guard, unstiffens when she sees Kenna arrive. Surely with an Iron Guard around no one will murder or abscond with Peri.

Thankfully, the song shifts and changes, it's probably not because Joscelin is making threatening gestures as well as bribing ones with a large pouch of coins tossed in the musicians' direction. "ANYTHING else...!!!" She begs, laughing, because oh gods.

The music stalls and then, changes, and several clear voices start to sing:

The flicking of tensions
Like moths to a flame
Across molten delights
But only passion to blame.

To twist clever syllables
His lover's sweet name
Into something far potent
His tongue set to tame.

This language of flesh
Is known only to him
He speaks into caverns
Such treasures within.

The Silver Tongue beckons
Claims knowledge to treasure
He commands seeping secrets
His diction his pleasure.

Yes. Yes, much better.

Evaristo checked charm + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 46 higher.

"Oh, we're planning this party down near the river, end of autumn and beginning of winter thing - a Life is a Near Death Experience party. Lady Peri - you always have good ideas," Evaristo explains lazily, having settled down a - he's now halfsitting on the edge of the nearby table. Then THAT song starts and his eyes widen in delight. He joins in now, singing with his best voice. He stands up again, climbing up on a table and... well, Evaristo can be very convincing in his singing, violet eyes sweeping across the place, winking at some ladies because hey, maybe he too will rock a ship tonight if he's lucky.

Moxie, a high-spirited hunting terrier arrives, following Fiora.

Drinking her ale and eying Evaristo on a table and the singers while they sing, Carmen is slow to turn a look back down to Kenna. And, to be fair, she's always worried over Kenna's thinking eyes. "Seems to me you're right." She gulps down some ale and slowly sets the tankard down. With a shit-eating grin, she cracks the knuckles of one hand. "Haven't had a proper brawl in ages." She kicks Valenzo and Joscelin's chair lightly. "Might want to duck."

A slender woman in a long dark coat slips into the tavern, her frosty gaze immediately sliding over those present. Arms folded over her midsection, she looks upon the rest as if she was visiting a menagerie, curious about their nature but glad that there are bars in between them. Except for, there are no bars here unfortunately. With her frosty gaze levelling over the crowd her demeanor is temporarily disrupted when a peppy little dog trots in behind her. Fiora looks down at the dog with a small little... what can only be described as: a smile. Fiora motions with her head for the dog to follow along as Fiora steps into the menagerie.

Kenna throws back her head and LAUGHS when Carmen cracks her knuckles. She sweeps out her dress and then lets down her hair in PREPARATION. This dress is totally made for a brawl, right? "WAIT." Abruptly Kenna says, and turns to go find where the smell of Haze is coming from. "I need some of that." Sorry Carmen, brawl must be paused while Kenna gets an important ingredient.

The new song Josie's bribe summons is...well. Valenzo has dared to snatch up his mug of ale while listening to Peri's explanation with intense, stuborn interest, deliberately ignoring the jibes from Evaristo, and it's...not a great time to take such a dare. "SPFFFFFFFHHHSHHH." Most of it is contained to the mug at least, and his head rolls back with a cackle. Red-faced at last, he relaxes into his seat and gives Josie a squeeze before setting his mug back on the table. "A test of endurance and dexterity?" He asks of the netting, eyebrows quirking and that grin growing again as he nods. "Brilliant." Then Evaristo is standing like a loon again, and Carmen is kicking their chair. "Oh gods," He growls, and leans back as far as he can. "Listen, he's still got some bruises near his ribs, I think. They're an easy target."

When Fiora trots in, he waves a hand, clearly drunk. "M'LADY! Welcome to our solemn and most proper observance of a holy day!"

"The Silver Tongue beckons
Claims knowledge to treasure
He commands seeping secrets
His diction his pleasure.

-sings Evaristo, turning that charming smile around the place and right upon Fiora RIGHT as he sings that verse, accompanied by expert lute play and a whole band over near the 'dance floor.' His eyes widen seeing Fiora and a... puppy? He actually falters in his playing for a second, a discordant note that is quickly hidden by refocus of the music, but he stops singing. (He probably got his message across to some of the ladies in here anyway.) Right then, of course, someone very drunk stumbles and bundles into the table, tipping it - Evaristo goes flying off it. He looks momentarily surprised, soaring for the two seconds before he lands on top of the neighboring table, sending mugs of ale around all over the place. Somehow, he's still clinging to his lute.


Joscelin is trying very hard to cheer and applaud her cousin for singing a song about the better benefits of a silver tongue, but he's her -cousin- and he's -winking- at ladies and she's hard put to focus on the amazing skill of Evaristo and not the contents of his verbage. Still, she's laughing, the plump, pretty jeweler trying to maintain her seat in Valenzo's lap, grinning at his squeeze and reaching to steal Carmen's drink. Or one near it, whichever gets her success. She arches an eyebrow when Fiora is greeted, only because she missed her entrance. She gives a grin, then turns to applaud Evaristo -again- for his fantastic performance.

Evaristo wields Evaristo's Lute.

Carmen mutters something unintelligible when Kenna abandons her, a grin still pllaying at her lips. She shrugs out of a leather jacket and breastplate, shimmying down to a thin shift and tossing them onto a table with a sharp look to those nearest. Touch them, it seems to say, and you're joining the fight. She flicks her braid over her shoulder and nudges her tankard closer to Joscelin absent-mindedly. Fiora's arrival is noted, thanks to Evaristo, and she casts the woman a professional onceover - and the dog - before tilting a cordial, respectful nod her way. "Kenna!" the Lieutenant bellows, "you're supposed to smoke it, not swallow it!"

Peri checked dexterity + sailing at difficulty 15, rolling 11 lower.

"I HAVE SMOKED HAZE BEFORE CARMEN." Kenna calls back to Carmen when the woman shouts across the room. Because this is what respectable Iron Guards do when off duty. Nothing here that Peri's Eina should worry about. Nope. Flouncing back she has somehow acquired enough Haze to share out beaming. "OKAY. Now we can do this thing." Fiora gets a wink through KEnna doesn't introduce herself just yet.

The enormously-bearded Dietrich and a few of his fellows bellow with laughter when Evaristo goes sailing, but they're quick to gather around the man and help him to his feet with fond claps to his shoulder or the side of his head, all of them weaving and swaying with drink and good cheer. Dietrich lifts a mug and shouts, "TO THE BEST BARD IN ARX!" The cheer is heartily taken up by the mixed crews of the Josie and Terrapin, flowing around the Raven Table in a chaotic mass. Valenzo is cackling and slapping the table with one calloused hand, and when Josie steals a drink that is almost definitely not hers, he obliviously cranes his neck to grab a swig as well, fingers folding over hers.

There's more rustling in Peri's hair. Princess Sally is not happy to find no acorn there. not. at. all. She does not approve. Peri winces at the red squirrel's foraging efforts. Peri's headband flies off and her hairpin ejects in the opposite direction. Out pops a squirrel with a hard candy. That'll do. Princess Sally, the candy toting red squirrel, runs towards Kenn with her prize, and deftly avoids the stomps of any brawling people. Sally is an old hand at that?

Peri takes an icicle shaped stick of hard candy from her hair.

Fiora looks over to Valenzo and all that noise and words and drunkeness there is a light sigh that breaks from her lips. Then Evaristo goes tumbling on top of a table. Joscelin, Carmen, Kenna, they all get a rather blank stare. Then back to Evaristo and Valenzo. Fiora looks down at Moxie, her lips thinning. She looks over at Peri pulling out a weapon from her hair.

The Malvici turns and starts walking back to the door.

Peri drops a hairpin.

Peri drops a headband.

Kenna gets a hairpin.

Kenna gets a headband.

Kenna drops a hairpin.

Kenna drops a headband.

Peri takes a hairpin.

Peri takes a headband.


Joscelin shifts on her living chair until she's tucked more into Valenzo's chest, legs over his lap, giggling into his neck about something, letting him steal from her/Carmen's drink. She murmurs something, then raises her hands to the bar at large. "ROUNDS ON THE GUILDMASTER! I mean ME!" Josie cackles, then points at Dietriche, trying to be somber. "Except him." Then her arms go up and she's cheering with the bar and Dietriche is looking a little dejected. Joscelin rolls her eyes. "FIIIINNE." And then everyone cheers more. What a great party! But Joscelin does cease in her cheering to openly oggle Carmen, grinning at her protege. She elbows Valenzo, saying in a loud whisper, 'She won't marry me! But she lets me be her patron. Isn't that nice of her?'

CANDY IN HAND Sally the Red Squirrel realizes WAY QUICK that she doesn't want to be anywhere near Kenna right now! Squeekign she'll go dive for a different bit of shelter. Dogs like squirrel's right? She dives for Moxie as dubious shelter.

1 Templar Knight guards arrives, following Madeleine.

Evaristo crawls up from the table, helped by friendly hands and being lauded while doing so. He's laughing again and looks quite chuffed to be complimented - but he waves it off and shouts; "To Valenzo and Joscelin!" - he raises a glass that is thrust into his hands, toasting. There's more roaring and applauds and MORE drinking. The smell of haze is now quite strong and heady in the tavern. Evaristo stumbles away from the nearby crowd, winking at the friends at the table before turning his attention on Fiora again - who is about to leave. "Wait! Lady Fiora?" he calls and jogs after her. "Let me meet your new friend?" he asks, smiling that lazy charming smile at her, looking down at the puppy.

Dance space? Not anymore. With a brilliant grin, Carmen is joining Kenna in the midst of some open floor, bystanders encouraged to squeeze further by. "Up you go," she says on a laugh, lunging for Kenna with both hands. Carmen grapples with her with the intent to create a Kenna-projectile. Carmen has reach, too, but Kenna is a slippery thing, darting out of her less-than-sneaky attack. "Hey!" And then she's rearing back on her heels, grin borderline feral.

The expression of delight that encompassed the Archlector's face as she walked through the door was beaming. Madeleine glanced around quickly, shaking the chill off of Autumn though being sans shoes even this late in the season probably didn't help much. Before her guard could even make it through the door, off she went towards the dance floor.

Kenna's not at all going to even try to brawl clean with Carmen. Probably because she knows very well that there's no way she's going to be able to lay a finger on Carmen. Headless of her own safety she's going to just dive for Carmen and just... miss. Miss completely and dive straight for Peri.

Aurora comes out of her apartment, pausing in her movements as she is confronted by...people. She looks concerned and a bit put out at the whole thing. Still! She soldiers on! The woman hefts up her work and begins scooting around tables and people, muttering "excuse me" and "sorry" as she goes.

Evaristo is smarte. That is likely one of the only lines that could keep her from fleeing. Fiora slowly rotates on her heels, giving Evaristo a distinct side-eye. The smell of haze reaching her nostrils, Fiora gives a rather more sharp look up at Evaristo. Her lips thin once more, that frosty gaze thawing but not in a good way. The fire normally encapsulated in ice slowly showing. The Malvici gestures down to the terrier at her feet. "Moxie." She states flatly. "My drunken protege, Evaristo." Then she motions over to wherever Valenzo is strewn about. "And my other drunken protege." Fiora looks back down to the dog. "I am sorry you have to meet under these conditions."

Far from just letting Kenna miss, Carmen takes a smooth step to the side as the fiesty Iron Guardswoman attacks and cheerfully gets a hand on her back, speeding her collision with Peri. "Have a nice trip!" She waves, too. Of course. And then grimaces when she realizes where Kenna is heading.

There's a raven flying overhead, cawing raucously and occasionally diving for blood in the circle that's formed around Kenna and Carmen, but the crew of the Terrapin at least (and most of the Josie too!) seems so accustomed to this behavior that it's with practiced flair that they raise bits of bread or mugs of beer into the air, the old bird settling on wrists or shoulders and accepting these offers with proud little quarks and flaps of his raggedy wings, as is his right. Valenzo is watching the brawl with professional interest, grinning drunkenly -- but when he hears his patron making formal introductions, he scoots up straight in his seat and squeezes Josie again, duty calling. "Moxie!" He exclaims, and executes the best seated bow he can manage with the jeweler in his lap. "Truly an honor, an' a pleasure, and..." He stretches his arm down for head scritches. "Lady Fiora! Have you met the Guildmaster?"

Few people can get Evaristo to slow down like Fiora can, but to be fair - his eyes still dance with mirth, even if they also warm up considerably as he crouches down to greet the dog. "I got a dog too, you two can be best friends," he says, scritching the little terrier - if Moxie allows. He glances around - the party is getting a bit out of control, but it's still cheerful and joyous. Some people have fallen asleep under tables. "I'm not THAT drunk!" he says and straightens up again, swaying a little as to totally bely what he just said. He waves a hand, smiling wide. "Come join us for just a little bit?" he says enticingly. "We'll behave. Well, I will behave, I can't speak for Valenzo - you know how he is," he says, dead pan.

Peri's hair goes everywhere, but Soot (her ferret) helps by handing her the hairpin. "Thank's little one. Out of the corner his eye Soot sees a human barreling towards him. He runs off with the hairband. "Hey!" Peri's scold follows the ferret. She looks up to see why he ran and there is Kenna, inbound! She catches the woman successfully! but the chair does not hold. It skids and then falls apart. The two women are left on the dance floor. "This is not my usual dance invitation," Peri says.


Joscelin's hard put to not enjoy the holiday, squeaking as Valenzo shifts to straighten, gripping one of his shoulders as she smothers a laugh in his hair. But then she's sitting up a little straighter, shouting to Aurora in greeting but missing her by moments. Ah well. When Valenzo introduces her more officially to Fiora, the jeweler beams, golden eyes dropping in obvious appreciation of her wares adorning Fiora's wrists, ears, and eyes with interest the stunning dragon pendant. But the Guildmaster is polite, even with pink cheeks and the air of a party about her. "Well met, Lady Malvici, it's quite the honor."

Joscelin checked charm + empathy at difficulty 15, rolling 26 higher.

"CAARRRMMMEEENNNNNNNNNN~" TRIP. And then a FALL~ But the best catching happens as Kenna ends up all sprawled over Peri. Mischief dances in Kenna's eyes as she is pushes herself up over top of Peri. "MY HERO~

"CAARRRMMMEEENNNNNNNNNN~" TRIP. And then a FALL~ But the best catching happens as Kenna ends up all sprawled over Peri. Mischief dances in Kenna's eyes as she is pushes herself up over top of Peri. "MY HERO~" Kenna boops Peri's nose firmly and then scrambles herself up and overs a hand to Peri. "Now you must help me get Carmen!"

Madeleine was busting a move out over in the small dance area. She wasn't the best of dancers, but she at least had rhythm and the bonus of pretty clearly not caring what anyone thought about her skills so insecurity didn't play much of a role inhibiting her. Was she doing the barrel wheel? Yup. After a little while of laughing and enjoying the company of the other dancers the Archlector stumbled her way out of the group with a snicker, waving farewell to them before proceeding next toward another group! The one that seemed to be surrounding the Raven Table at the moment.

Fiora glances a somewhat irritated look up to Evaristo. "Yes I told her already." The Malvici states flatly to Evaristo. About him having a dog already. Moxie knows. So. Shut up, guy. Her arms fold a little tigheter around her midsection as she looks down at Evaristo crouching. "Where is Fancy?" Her tone almost demands, before her attention is going up to Valenzo. Then the woman in his lap. Then the.. Whatever that is. Brawl? Fiora slowly looks up to Evaristo. "I really don't think it's a good idea." Fiora assures him.

Looking to Joscelin and her greeting, even with thin lips the Malvici gives a stilted nod. "Fiora Malvici." Without any affectation.

Oswyn makes his way into the establishment, squinting as usual. He runs a hand through his hair. Carmen gets an extra squinting, and he raises his hand to wave in her direction.

There's a raucous but joyous party going on in the Unkindness tonight. There's a band of bards from the college playing, people are dancing, there's drinks flowing freely (and the unmistaken smell of haze in the air). There's a small but controlled bar brawl on going for fun, it's warm and cozy and noisy in all the best ways.

Stubby little legs carry the pot-bellied old fella on into the Unkindness. Gunter is whistlin' a diddy and he wears the brightest of smiles. His mangled mitts hang at his sides and the man's comb-over is a mess. Some hairs are straight upwards (what few there are) and the bags under his wrinkled eyes suggest the man hasn't slept in a fair piece. He seems in good spirits enough and calls out a slow drawn out, "Huuuuullllo!"


Joscelin can appreciate Fiora's demeanor. "Would you like a drink, my lady? I've bought the last round, I'm happy to include you." Her golden eyes flick to the newcomers, raising her hand to them she knows and nodding to those she doesn't, careful to replace her mug on the table and out of Valenzo's reach, because the sailor isn't very coordinated at the moment.

"Of course," Evaristo says and he looks down at Moxie again, raising an eyebrow at the dog in silent communication. "Ah, Fancy is back at the ship with some of the crew, he's fine," he reassures, smiling lopsidedly at Fiora. He plucks at his lute again but not falling fully into the bardic profession here - he's just doing it out of habit, while the band itself plays, accompaniment to their music. "You want to dance?" he asks his patron. Hey, you never know, his grin wide and hopeful. "Ah, or..." He glances at his cousin, then at Fiora, a bit excitedly awaiting the reply to the offer of a drink, eyes glittering.

The Southport captain is, indeed, very drunk; the scattered, defeated remains of several shot glasses and a mug or two is left across the tabletop, and he's red in the face and laughing as he listens to Fiora's icy response. "Awww, m'lady, grab a seat! Vellichor would be glad to know you did!" He extends a leg and scoots one of the spare chairs out from the table with a booted foot, turning that grin to the Archlector when she approaches the table as well, and waves an arm to Gunther when he bellows a greeting to the partygoers.. "Be welcome one and all, on thishhh most special...err...Vellichor...Day!" He bellows back.

Some kind soul presses a drink into Oswyn's hand, thumping the scholar soundly on the back. "Have a drink, bookworm!" Oswyn stumbles a half-step forward from the blow but offers a quick, close-lipped smile at the woman. "Thanks!" He raises the mug in a toast and then has a sip.

Peri takes Kenna's hand and launchs herself to her feet. "Fling me like we did at the festival!" Peri holds her arm out, ready to be flung towards Carmen. Soot, meanwhile, is dodging everyone and runs up to Madeleine. She looks a likely person to handle this hair thing. He drops the hairband. Humans know about clothes. That's sorted.

Peri drops a headband.

"Oh, shit," Carmen mutters, now realizing that she is two-on-one having (literally) brought Kenna and Peri together. Alert and aware always, she knows someone is waving at her... "Oswyn!" she shouts, "I need a shield!" Given that this is a bar fight, she most likely means of the human variety, and then she's beckoning Peri and Kenna with one hand, posture hunched forward and lightly balanced on her toes. "Stand you up end to end and you're almost as tall as me." And then she mouths: "Sorry." Because that really is disrespectful, but it's a bar brawl, right?

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

Fiora checked composure at difficulty 10, rolling 7 higher.

Madeleine lifted her hand in an exuberant wave to Gunther's greeting to the room as she neared the Raven Table. She looked as if she was about to speak, but then a wild ferret appeared! And bearing gifts at that. She leaned down to the wily little animal, plucking up the hairband. "Hello there. Why thank you!" She reached to give the animal a pat and held free arm out as a ramp in case Soot wished to skitter up to her shoulders for a better vantage point of the room. "What have you brought me, hm?"

"For Vellichor!" Kenna calls out as she flings Peri Right at Carmen. Once she sees the woman directed in the proper direction Kenna gathers up her skirts and follows to launch at Carmen's backside. It's a perfect threesome for a brawl in the middle of the dance floor.

"I make a very poor shield!" Oswyn calls to Carmen, veering in that direction with his mug. He nods politely to Kenna and Peri, offering a small smile.


Hey digga'din, hey digga'din, down at the Inn! Down at the INN, down at the INN!!

Hey digga'din, hey digga'din, down at the Inn! Everyone's down at the innnnn!


The music picks up and a song is chosen, bawdy and loose and punny, and it's promptly picked up by many of the tavern's occupants.


My lady's a hosteler, a hosteler, a hosteler, and such a fine hosteler is shhheeeee!

All day she mounts horses, mounts horses, mounts horses, and at night, she comes home....

...and drinks teeeeeaaaa!

Hey digga'din, hey digga'din, down at the Inn! Down at the INN, down at the INN!!

Hey digga'din, hey digga'din, down at the Inn! Everyone's down at the innnnn!


There's laughter at the appropriate pause, everyone's breath held like oh no, it's gonna get scandalous! But it doesn't, and the next verse is sung:


My man is a mason, a mason, a mason, and such a fine mason is heeeee!

All day he lays bricks, he lays bricks, he lays bricks, and at night, he comes home...

... and drinks teeeeea!!


More applause and laughter. And then... ANOTHER VERSE:


My wife is a blacksmith, a blacksmitch, a blacksmith, and such a fine blacksmith is sheeeee!

All day she bangs iron, bangs iron, bangs iron, and at night, she comes home ...

... and drinks teeeeeeeea!


There's more. A herald, blowing horns. A maid, wringing sheets. A guard, pumping spears. It's ridiculous. And then, -finally- ...


My love is an herbalist, an herbalist, and herbalist, and such a great herbalist is sheeee!

All day, she drinks tea, she drinks tea, she drinks tea, and when she comes home...

... she just peeeeeeeeees!

Hey digga'din, hey digga'din, down at the Inn! Down at the INN, down at the INN!!

Hey digga'din, hey digga'din, down at the Inn! Everyone's down at the innnnn!


Oh, the simple pleasures of the common folk. Right?

"No." Fiora lets out to Joscelin. There's a moment to consider before she follows up with, "Thank you." There. Polite. Fiora then looks back to Evaristo with a very impatient look. Fiora stares at Evaristo as if he just asked her to help him move a dead body. But. Miraculously, "One dance. One. Short. Dance." Her stacatto words are pointed and barbed, each one hopefully stinging and hurting him a wee little bit. She slowly raises her hands up to him to consent to: One. Short. Dance.


The change in music has Joscelin applauding the lady's choice of dancing with Evaristo, bowing as well as she can from her perch, graciously accepting Fiora's decline.

Peri flies across the dance floor and "oofs!" right into Carmen. She grabs on and yells, "LET'S DANCE" and attempts to spin Carmen around, ready for Kenna's approach. "Oh haaaiiiiiii Oswin! Dance with ussssss"

Humans have snacks in their hair! Soot knows this from first hand experience. Soot beanpoles up Madeleine's and on to her shoulders. His clever paws search through her hair.

Evaristo is actually fully expecting a resounding refusal to dance - so when Fiora agrees to one, he gapes and blinks at her. The 'no' to a drink? He is not surprised about that one, glancing back at Valenzo and Joscelin with a grin. He upnods at Oswyn, before offering his arm to Fiora to lead her out into a dance. The music, rapid and rhytmic and very commoner? This isn't a fancy ball, but he treats Fiora like the lady she is, elbowing some other dancers that come to close as he leads them out onto the dance floor. "One short dance," he promises.

Fat mitts land his palms on a stool. And ol' Gunter hefts himself up with a grunt and climbs up. His feet don't touch bottom but he leans against the bar. "Milk please." Say what, "Don't drink none, milk good for the meat-hammers an' all so I is told." He casts a grin down the way at everyone. Drunks and what not. And he grins and smiles at just about everyone in the friendliest possible way. Good guy Gunter.

Fiora checked dexterity + etiquette at difficulty 15, rolling 15 higher.

Evaristo checked dexterity + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 44 higher.

A squint and a wave for Joscelin and Gunther and Evaristo each. Dancing? Oswyn peers at Peri, who is demanding Carmen dance with her, so he looks between Kenna, Madeleine, and Joscelin. He takes a moment to have several gulps of beer.

The crews of the Terrapina and Josie have crowded closer around Peri and Kenna and Oswyn and Carmen on the other, one side of the circle chanting as is practically mandatory: "FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!"

But the other side of the circle takes umbrage, caught up in the music, and they chant right back: "DANCE! DANCE! DANCE!" A few of them pair up to emphasize the point, grizzled and scarred sailors going cheek-to-cheek as they spin and whirl and collide with everyone else in the chaotic, shifting mass.

When Fiora agrees to a dance with Evaristo, Valenzo gapes at the pair, goggle-eyed -- but it quickly melts into a delighted grin, and he reaches out to punch Ev's side gleefully, probs not very careful to avoid any new bruises the bard captain's managed to acquire.

Evaristo winces at the punch, gives Valenzo a rude gesture behind Fiora's back. Yes, he's still hurting there, damn it.

Madeleine simply tipped her head to the side as Soot began his rummaging through the mane of her hair, one eye pinched shut and giggling ensuing given the tugs and scritches she received. Finally she managed to say, "Room for another?" to those who lingered at the table. A wink went Oswyn's way as his gaze drifted by in that sorta 'g'luck bro!' kinda' way and twirling the hairband around her finger.

Carmen's eyes are a bit wider than usual, but somehow, she manages to scoop Peri out of the air - Peri-projectile! - and use the momentum to spin around without falling over. It's a gods-damned miracle. It's fighting. It's dancing. It's exactly right for this party. She grunts, latching arms around Peri before letting her flop free in Oswyn's direction. She dusts her hands off with a good-natured grumble to Oswyn. "You're not kidding." Flipping off Kenna good naturedly, Carmen eyes the guardswoman. "You threw a person at me." As though she hadn't been planning to do the exact same to Kenna minutes earlier. And then she's blinking, moving to scoop up her gear. "Shit. I have the key. Sorry folks." A quick gulp of someone's tankard is offered up to her thirst. "Mighty fine party." Joscelin gets a fond slap on a shoulder.

Despite the music, Fiora is going to dance like a proper lady. Well barely. She can barely dance the way she was trained, there's no chance she would be able to survive a commoner jig. Going hand in hand with Evaristo out to the dancing slash fighting area, when Evaristo makes his gesture at Valenzo behind her back there is a sudden stomping against Evaristo's foot.

And then a charming little smile as she turns to face him more with a fluttering of her long eyelashes. Her hand settles on his shoulder and they dance, Evaristo the far more skilled. However Fiora has enough from her background to dance as should be expected at a fancy ball, even if the music doesn't quite lend to the atmosphere.

"Fight?" Gunther looks back behind his shoulder as his glas of milk gets set before him. He grins and tosses back the milk like it was a beer. And he turns on the seat until he faces the confrontation, "Ain't been in no bar knuckle duster since two or three decades now. Onna 'count I quit drink'n to make my Sally happy an' all." He spits in his hand to weight down his comb-over. Because no self-respectin' brawler fights with his hairs stickin' out. That's for wimps.

Joscelin yelps at the firm clap from Carmen, staggering in Valenzo's lap, the jeweler laughing. And then Carmen runs off, and in her leaving she spies her cousin Evaristo sweeping along with Fiora. Josie looks proud, lost in the sight, smiling.

And then she hears Dietriche trying to get everyone started up on That Song Again, and she's looking for more bread to throw! "BASTARD!" she laughs.

Joscelin checked luck + small wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 11 higher.

there is SO MUCH giggling happening in this fight. Well, at least KEnna is giggling wildly as she is flipped off and bangs into the waiting hands of some of that crew. "You did it FIRST." Kenna says to Carmen as she keeps giggling. But then Carmen is LEAVING, "BOOOOOO!" That is the good-bye that Carmen gets as she leaves before Kenna stomps. "Ugh. FINE BE THAT WAY." Kenna flops herself down in a chair next to Gunter. "This is the best kind of bar fight to be in though! A nice duster between friends."

Peri checked strength + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 14 higher.

Gunther tests

"Ow," Evaristo says weakly, giving Fiora a sheepish smile. Despite the rowdy environment, and the bawdy song? He leads like they ARE at a ball, he protects his patron with subtly shoves of his hand against others if they stumble drunkedly too close and his feet move with practiced ease. He laughs, that charming smile and the fluttering of eyelashes so rare to see, a wink given at Fiora and his smile widening. But as he promised, and because the song ends - the dance is short but sweet, and ends with him bowing over her hand and kissing it. "Thank you, my lady," he tells her intently. "A memory I will cherish my whole life." He might be tipsy and a little high, but he's not lost all manners here. Besides - Fiora tends to draw that part out of him with one look.

"What? She's leaving?" Peri's face falls. And Kenna, the betrayer, taker of seats. Peri grabs for Oswyn in what she imagines is the opening to a dance. "There's just us now!"

Oswyn checked dexterity + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 0 higher.

Oswyn's eyes widen as a Peri is propelled toward him. He hastily puts his mug down, sloshing some over the side. He offers the woman a smile, however - close-lipped, because otherwise he looks twelve - and takes her hands. The scholar proceeds to dance in an acceptable manner, even if he looks a little timid. This here's a noblewoman! But he gives her a spin!

Gunther frowns a bit, "Oh, okay..." He rumbles, "Reckon I don't fight friends so much no more. Ain't got so many, just a couple. And they ain't the good natured fist-chuckin' sorts of fellas. Unless they is practicin'." He nods, "I ain't remember none last time I took a good ol' mug across the noggin'. But I sure miss it!"

The Malvici woman ends the dance. Evaristo kisses her hand and she looks at him blankly. She takes a step forward, pressing her lips against his cheek briefly. Fiora pulls back and murmurs somethign softly to him. Then she's reaching up to give his cheek a pair of pats. Pat-pat. Maybe a little hard, before she nods to Moxie and makes her way for the door, giving Valenzo a little nod as she goes.


Joscelin spots the Archlector of Mangata, throws her drunken arms wide. "Please!" she says, beaming. The Raven's table has a collection of drinks and people on it. "Please, blessed, do join us." She grins. Then leans over and bites Valenzo on the ear.

Peri has left the Raven Table.

Peri has joined the Raven Table.

"Sir - you are adorable~~" Kenna announces in Gunther's direction dramatically before bouncing herself to her feet again. "I think I need a.... something." She'll just stand there for a long moment with her head tilted. "Oh! I know! PERI I WILL SEE YOU LATER." And then Kenna'll be a spaz and take herself out of the party.

Evaristo looks innocently at Fiora, then nods and makes a vague conceding gesture - could be that he largely agrees. He bows again as she leaves, then he wanders back to the others to rejoin the table, smiling wide and happy. "This is a GOOD party," he says - he picks his lute up again and gestures at the band to join in as he starts up a song... and since the theme has been bawdy? He's not disappointing the crowd.

Madeleine has joined the Raven Table.


I've tried it once or twice and I found it rather nice
Roll me over, lay me down, and do it again!

Roll me over in the clover,
Roll me over, lay me down, and do it again!

Now this is number one and I'm buttering up her bun,
Roll me over, lay me down, and do it again!

Roll me over in the clover,
Roll me over, lay me down, and do it again!

Now this is number two, down in front, I'm coming through,
Roll me over, lay me down, and do it again!

Roll me over, in the clover,
Roll me over, lay me down, and do it again!

Now this is number three, fancy fuckin', fast and free,
Roll me over, lay me down, and do it again!

Roll me over in the clover,
Roll me over, lay me down, and do it again!

Now this is number four, cut the notch, I'm keepin' score!
Roll me over, lay me down, and do it again!

Roll me over, in the clover!
Roll me over, lay me down, and do me again!

Joscelin covers her face with her hands, laughing.

"Thank you I reckon!" Gunther responds to the compliment, "But I know my Sally is gone an' all but I'm taken. She's my heart forever and what not." He states with a nod. The fat ol' geezer grins a toothy smile and then when the song starts he starts clapping and his mangled mitts clap out in tune to the diddy. His milk 'stache lingers.

The bigly-bearded Dietrich is indeed, up to no good -- he grins his gap-toothed grin at Joscelin over his shoulder, staggering slightly and supported by several of his fellows. "Sorry, Guildmaster, it's my duty! The Captain's sun-baked head gets a little big from time to time, someone's gotta deflate it!" He shouts over the laughter and music, and Valenzo snorts and then flashes a rude gesture of his own. When Fiora makes to leave, he leans back in his chair to return her nod, lop-sided smile flashing again; "Farewell, m'lady...it was good to see you here!" And then Josie's biting his ear just as the Archlector joins them, and he YELPS, flushing red once more. "A-Archlector! Be welcome!!"

Evaristo's particular choice of song earns a wheezing, breathless laugh, and he slaps the table with both hands around Josie in his lap.

Madeleine flopped down to a seat, though was extra careful not to dislodge the ferret from its burrowing in her hair. Laughter spilled free from her lips as the music and revelry swirled about her, "Thank you, Guildmaster! My, I wish all feast days were like this. Would make the Faith a whole lot more fun, that's for sure." Her brows then lifted in unison. "Not to say it isn't /fun/... just not always /this/ kinda' fun." She leaned to snag one of the drinks on the table that didn't look spoken for.

Peri grasps Oswyn's arms and starts spinning with him. Did no one ever teach her to dance? "Catch!" She calls to the new person sitting at the table where she was only moments ago. She can't raelly make out Madeleine through all the spinning and the hair. She flings Owsyn to a new dance partner.

Alena Sparks has gotten quite tipsy by now and is sort of... trying to flirt a bit with Dietrich. At least if thrusting a drink his way and saying 'You're pretty good with that tongue of yours' - is any clue.

Oswyn barely managed not to step on Peri's feet and now he's the one being launched. The scholar stumbles forward, managing to slap a hand down on the raven table and narrowly missing crashing into Valenzo and Joscelin. "Sorry!" he says immediately.


Joscelin is laughing, grinning at Madeleine as she sits at their table. Oswyn does a near miss and the jeweler cackles. "Please! Have another drink!" she says without irony, gesturing for more drinks. The Guildmaster is being quite generous tonight. She resettles back into Valenzo's lap, looking over at Dietriche and Alena, knowing the latter better than the former, giggling softly and nudging Valenzo to get A Look At That.

Evaristo finishes his song to much laughter, bowing flourishly and promising another later, but leaving the band to continue the music for now - he flops down on a chair, quite winded after all the excitement. He finds an ale, drinks thirstily and watches everyone with that lazy happy contentment; the Joy here is exhilirating. His eyes do widen a tad seeing Alena and Dietrich and he rubs a temple for a moment then just shakes his head in bemusement. "Hello," he tells Madeleine and reaches a hand out to do a proper greeting. "Evaristo Arterius, at your service."

Madeleine leaned forward as Oswyn caught himself on the table. "Hello, Scholar! I love the moves!" And down the hatch went her stolen drink. Thankfully for everyone, the man had managed to not tumble into her and her drink remained in cup and gut rather than as a new perfume for the pair. She leaned back, crossing one leg over the other. "Oh, don't mind if I do." She replied to Joscelin, grabbing a large mug as the fresh drinks were delivered. "Hello, Evaristo Arterius." She chimed in reply to the table mate. "I'm Madeleine. Nice to meet you. I assume you're a relation?" She pointed back and forth between Evaristo and Joscelin.

"Where did he go?" Peri asks the room. She's ready to catch her dance partner. She rubs her head and looks around for Oswyn and the rest of the dancing group. She sees him at the table and stomps over and retakes a seat and a drink. "I see you've meet Soot," She tells the -holy shirtballs its the archlector- Her seat scoots back with a screak and she jumps up to bow, "I bet your pardon Blessed!" She makes clucking sounds to Soot. He stops combing through the Blessed's hair. What? his expression says.

Valenzo reaches up and steadies the Scholar as he comes dangerously close to bowling them over, a bright grin and a waved hand to dismiss the apology. "No sorries allowed on Vellichor's holy feast day, I believe them's...official dogmatic rules!" He declares. Yes, he's made that up near-blasphemously on the spot. He claps the man's shoulder, and then offers him and Madeleine the best seated bow he can manage, laughing helplessly when he notices the ferret nosing around in her hair. When Josie nudges him, he blinks and squints over in Dietrich's direction -- the big man is as red as his shirt, and mumbling into his beard as he takes the tankard from Alena with a bow that is stunningly shy, considering the shameless songs he's been leading. Valenzo grins in amazement, and reaches out to clap Evaristo's shoulder as well. "A mighty fine shindig, friends," He slurs, still v. drunk and beaming at Peri as she joins them again.

Oh there was the Templar again, looking a bit put out as he approached the raucous table and the Archlector he was charged with. He leaned to murmur something in Madeleine's ear and she nodded to him. "Oh, it's still an hour away. I can stay longer! Just remind me.... at quarter to the next hour." Then to Peri her eyes widened and she laughed. "Sit down, my dear! Let's save the bows for the ceremonials, yeah?" She grinned, "This little guy is yours then?" She lifted her arm out again to create a bridge toward Peri for the ferret to cross. "Sweet little thing."

Oswyn's eyes widen. "Oh! Hello, Blessed!" he greets Madeleine. Where is his beer? His mug is gone. A sailor is unapologetically drinking it. Look, the scholar put it down. It's fair game. A redhead comes over and grabs his hand, and the scholar is hauled off into the dance again. This time he kind of does trip over himself.

Joscelin beams at Madeleine. "Blessed, I haven't seen you in years," she exclaims, happy to see the woman. "There's somewhat I need to speak to you on in the future, as well. But not today! Drink and be merry!" She raises her arms and the place cheers, then she's back to chuckling at Evaristo. "Yes, Blessed. This is my cousin, Evaristo, our mothers are sisters," she explains, draping her arm over the back of Valenzo's shoulders, leaning into him with a happy smile. The booze is taking its effect and draining her a bit, she's relaxed and content.

Evaristo's eyes widen a notch realising who MAdeleine is - he touches one of the anchor buttons on his coat, nodding respectfully. As a sailor, he's of course especially keen on being on Mangata's good side, but that skull pendant around his neck? Well, that's suggesting of a close relationship to the Queen of Endings. "Very honored to meet you," he says and smiles that lazy charming smile, leaning back to kick his feet out with hands folded on his stomach. The party IS winding down a bit - people are tiring out here, and chose to sit down and talk and laugh more quietly with their friends.

Alena Sparks looks at Dietrich like she finds his shyness to be further proof of his probable skill at... stuff. She grabs him by the arm and leans in to whisper something. Something which likely will make Dietrich' face even more red. Then, unless he protests wildly, she'll tug on his arm to lead him out of there...

"Oh, I know, I know. After the Pirate War, I felt it best to go on a shrine tour and then a heavy dose of communing and prayer. Been out and about since, but happy to be back home in Arx and even happier this is my first reunion! It's good to see you, my dear thing. I'd love to catch up and of course! Just send me word when you want to discuss that matter." Madeleine replied to Joscelin, taking a heavy gulp from her mug after as they chatter -- her arm still held out just in case Soot was going to bolt for it!

Peri whew's and returns to her seat. "That's Soot. hey," she holds out her arm to Madeline's. Soot grabs her headband and scampers along their arms. Peri ties her hair back down properly. "I'm Peri. Josceline is my father's protege now! she, uh," Peri grabs her pendant with Mangata's image. "i got this in her shop!" Peri babbles with nervous energy. "Where did Kenna go? Where's Sally Acorn?" She looks around and sees Gunther in the direction where she last saw the pair. "Hi! Kenna's friend! Hi!"

Peri takes a headband.

Madeleine turned attention back to Peri with a bright smile, "It is so nice to meet you, Peri! Ah, Joscelin, that's just lovely. You always make the most beauteous things." She grinned, leaning forward to squint at the pendant. "Who is your father, Peri? I'm afraid I'm a bit behind the times on the who's-who these days."

Dietrich is helplessly enchanted by the other first mate, and he stumbles after her with hardly a protest -- though when Valenzo notices them leaving, he points an incredibly unsteady finger the big man's way. "YOUR SONG IS COMING!!" He crows, and the raven perched up on the rafters CAWS raucously as if in agreement, to the wild cheers of several Terrapin men and women. As Josie snuggles in against him, Valenzo eases back into his chair as well, lazy and content. He fingers his own pendant of Mangata and looks around the inn, where the crews have finally settled (or collapsed, as per their varying levels of drunkenness). "She does indeed," He murmurs in agreement with Madeleine, and beams again.

"You're not getting my first mate," Evaristo says to Valenzo, watching the unlikely couple leave. He laughs again, his whole body shaking as he can barely breathe hearing Valenzo's warning to his first mate, wiping tears from his eyes. "What a night," he notes to nobody and everybody.

Peri ruffles Soot's fur while she answers Madeleine's question. "He's Count Orrin Seliki. Pearlspire is our demesne." She turns to Evaristo, "Eina can go rescue him." Eina's eyes wrinkle in a smile.


Joscelin is still smiling, listening to the flow and the conversation, tucking her cheek against Valenzo's shoulder, the drink and the energy working its magic on her. She sighs and closes her eyes, listening, until she isn't, dozing, then sleeping, breathing even and peacefully, having fallen quite completely asleep on the Captain of the Terrapin.