6 House Velenosa Guards, Benvolio, a beleaguered valet in search of a better job leave, following Berenice.

6 House Velenosa Guards, Benvolio, a beleaguered valet in search of a better job arrive, following Berenice.

Berenice drops a refined black leather sofa with detailed nailhead trim.

Berenice drops a refined black leather sofa with detailed nailhead trim.

Berenice drops The Scandal Couch.

6 House Velenosa Guards, Benvolio, a beleaguered valet in search of a better job leave, following Berenice.

6 House Velenosa Guards, Benvolio, a beleaguered valet in search of a better job arrive, following Berenice.

Berenice drops an opulent sofa with sinfully plush cushions.

Berenice drops an opulent sofa with sinfully plush cushions.

Lysander has joined the an opulent sofa with sinfully plush cushions.

Berenice has joined the The Scandal Couch.

Harlex has joined the The Scandal Couch.

Oddmun has joined the an opulent sofa with sinfully plush cushions.

Alecstazi has joined the The Scandal Couch.

Lysander had made his way back into society these days with more to him. A keen hunger seemed to hit his eyes and gestures, making the man fixate all too easily. The well-appointed Lord Rubino he settled into his place on one of the sofas with sinfully plush cushions and seems all too ready for all this.

Merek makes his way into the place, looking about.

Oddmun looks distinctly uncomfortable to be in such a crowd, sticking close to the outskirts of the party. Not quite avoiding people, as he offers warm smiles and nods to any who catch his eye, but he quickly beelines for an area which is less densely populated. One of the sofas, in face. He settles down onto the cushions and exhales a soft sigh.

There are times to be fashionably late, and there are other times when you literally live in the building. And so Berenice has made her selection of the /most favored couch/ to settle in artful repose, layers of black tulle a gracefully disheveled nest about her. She has a glass of sparkling wine in hand, and her gaze is vividly curious to see who will show up to attend such an event. It's possible she notes Oddmun's discomfort with a distinct sense of amusement.

Arriving with the Lady Brianna Halfshav on his arm, Prince Alecstazi is looking particularly refined this evening. His hair is perfectly swept back, his dark clothing clinging just so, despite the Summer heat. There is a shadow of stubble that only emphasizes the sharpness of his cheekbones, though as if to reverse all the forbidding quality of his severe features, there is a warm smile on his wide mouth as he murmurs to the woman on his arm. There is a small purple blossom pinned to his chest, and as they move into the room, Alec moves them towards the scandal couch.

Brianna has joined the The Scandal Couch.

The Sword of Lenosia arrives, curling the sleeves back on his shirt beneath a handsome leather jerkin. As usual; all black everything. The fabled weapon of his station secured on his left hip above another, he likes his armaments. Lady Tyche is not far behind him and he nods ahead, where he begins to walk until he's moving to occupy that scandalous couch with the scandalous princess. "Darlin'." The way Harlex looks around the room, there's an impression he hasn't been to the Hall of Mirrors before. He doesn't look uncomfortable, despite the very bearing of him calling to mind the savage wilds. Clearly, by his attire, he's pilfered the right coffers in his time.

Alessandro enters the Hall of Mirrors with Helena on his arm, and they are conversing quietly, though the acoustics of the room make it such that they are more easily heard than they might be in some other places. "...brought Margret here when we were courting," he's saying, "but she did not find it to her liking." His smile is fond, even though his tone is a little bit amused. He catches sight of Berenice and lifts a hand to her, before starting them both toward one of the couches and nodding at those already there.

Alessandro has joined the an opulent sofa with sinfully plush cushions.

Nothing like walking straight in the lion's den, completely aware of the danger that awaits. Tyche is one of the many brave (or stupid) people who have been drawn by the call of truth to the Hall of Mirrors. "Oh good," she muses to herself as she catches her reflection grinning back at her. "I can watch myself act foolishly." She pulls her attention away from the sight to watch Harlex move on ahead, his goal noted. She does not follow, instead spying a couch that already holds two occupants nearby. To Oddmun and Lysander she asks, "Do you mind if I join? I have seen the results of this serum Princess Saoirse has worked on once before, and it will be much more entertaining to have an audience for the effects."

...and to Alessandro, too, who sat down at the same couch, Tyche smiles.

Tyche has joined the an opulent sofa with sinfully plush cushions.

Brianna has never been one to shy from Lycene-style gowns, and a Lycene party is the perfect excuse for one. Her dress is silk, painted to look like flames. It is a backless affair, with slits in the skirt offering glimpses of leg as she walks. She looks around in awe at the large mirrors before taking a seat.

Nallah, a buff-looking tortie cat with green eyes, 2 House Mazetti Aspirants, Sirra, a very quiet maid arrive, following Alessia.

Shazza has something of a small animal's wariness in her eyes and in the faint tension in her posture as she enters the unique setting for this party, a commoner. Many nobles here, and people like Harlex, the man adorned with skulls and looking every bit the killer. The mirrors don't help the nerves she's doing a good job of concealing, and neither does the promised theme of the party. As she nears the couches, choosing not to sit, she works to school her bearing into something that belongs here.

Helena's been here before, but she always looks around with a bit of wonder like it's new to her -- since she only sees it every so often for Lycene parties, it seems like new, perhaps. "I always feel a little at odds here, so I don't wonder at that," says Helena to her escort and friend. She smiles brightly when she sees the others assembled. She's still dressing for the Festival she's helping to promote, in a silvery-spidery gown of sorts, with some of those darling spider hairpins in her golden updo. "I'm wondering if I'm going to regret this," she stage whispers to Alessandro, though it's clear it's not meant to be too secretive. "Probably."

Shazza break

Helena has joined the an opulent sofa with sinfully plush cushions.

Where's Saoirse? You know, the ass who made this event? YOU KNOW. THAT ONE?

Well.

Resplendent in pale green silks and a long strand of pearls, the princess enters -fashionably- late, three servants in tow. Each has a tray cluttered with glasses that have a certain... liquid in them. A pale green liquid. Gosh. Look at that. What a theme.

"Good evening," Saoirse tells her assembled guests, assuming all the pleasantries are out of the way. "I take it you're all here to sample a little of House Velenosa's newest and boldest creation?"

12 House Velenosa Guards, Ibasia, the Velenosa Lady-in-Waiting, Ellani, the palm sized spider arrive, following Jaenelle.

Berenice's smile warms sunnily to see Alessandro there. "Ah, darling, always good to have you back at home." Her attention drifts to Harlex's approach, noting Tyche peeling off behind him, and she lifts her face in clear expectation of some sort of /offering/ to his cheek. Her lips move in a lower murmur when he draws close enough, and then her smile turns to Brianna and Alecstazi as they join her couch. "Lady Brianna, what a pleasure to see you again. Your gown is positively /resplendent/." Alecstazi she doesn't seem to recognize, but her smile is welcoming nevertheless. "Princess Berenice Velenosa." And then! The woman of the hour is arriving!

Shazza very dubiously regards the proffered liquids, their color suggestive of venom (and happening to match Saoirse's outfit, a fact she notes). A corner of her mouth curls up and her brow furrows. Drink that? She glances away from the tray, happening to look then upon a mirror, which proves no more comfort.

Not long after the host arrives, Alessia Mazetti enters the hall of mirrors, her amber eyes scanning the room for familiar faces. Naturally her first greetings go to the Velenosans. "Your highness." She offers to the host and the princess Berenice, accompanied by a curtsy. Noticing her cousin, she approaches, the Thraxian prince. "Alec--xander." She greets himself and his goose. "Lady Brianna." Her smile is warm.

Reflections refract all along the hall of mirrors. As the cream of Arx's society sip, it is all too clear that they are in QUITE the room -- quite the creepy room, what with the lore about mirrors and all.

Harlex leans in his cheek for that /offering/ and heeds the murmur of her lips before eases onto the couch fully. Very faintly his eyes narrow but ease with regard toward Brianna who he knows. "My lady," and that fellow in her company (Alecstazi). He gives him a steady nod. Attention moves on Saoirse's arrival, then Jaenelle's but he leans and turns his head as if to whisper to Berenice.

"Oh, look, I dressed in theme," says Helena with a glance down to her own gown with hints of pale green, then eyeing that strange liquid curiously. "I'm so curious what it's made of. Is there an antidote? In case any of us start spilling too terrible of secrets and we need to be quieted for the sake of all that is right and good in the world." Her eyes sparkle a bit and she looks back to her group.

Alecstazi's blue eyes take in Berenice's appearance, lingering on the black tulle and he nods, the quality of his smile shifting slightly. More affected, purposeful, one side pulled back in a sly sort of expression. "A pleasure, your highness. Prince Alecstazi Thrax," He glances around the room and adds, "The mystery of how Velenosans are always perfectly turned out has been solved, I think, by this room." When Alessia arrives and comes to say hello, Alec is turning to favor his cousin with an embrace, "Lady Alessia, it is good to see you." Saoirse's arrival has his attention turning to her, and then to the drink. "Looks quite... refreshing." He glances to Brianna with a look of absolute mischief.

Brianna returns Berenice's smile warmly. "My dear, you are always a vision," she says with great affection. "May I introduce you to my dear friend, Prince Alecstazi Thrax?" Alessia gets a friendly upnod. "Lady Alessia!" she greets her in turn. "Ah, Sword Harlex, it is a pleasure to see you again. We ought to have a proper drink some time." She bursts out laughing at Alec's mischievous glance. "I don't know if I like that look," she informs him, eyes sparkling with amusement. "What does it taste like?" she asks Saoirse.

"Who could resist a night of uncomfortable truths?" Alessandro replies over his shoulder to Berenice with a wider smile, though as he turns back to those at the couches where he's seated, his gaze falls on Shazza. There's a little amusement in expression, though he lifts a hand to wave her over, should she wish to come. "Please, join us," he calls. "It will be much less intimidating once the rest of us begin, I promise. I have some secrets to tell which I think are quite good."

Returning her cousin's embrace, Alessia beams, before her attention falls on the sword. "Harlex." She greets warmly. Alessandro's words pique her interest, her lips curling.

Saoirse plucks one of the pale green glasses for herself and takes a little sip. "Only fair," she assures her assorted guests. The princess slows to a pause in her gradual turn about the room in front of Alecstazi. "I think, if my little birds are right, this is Prince Alecstazi? And I'm not sure -what- truths we'll learn that he hasn't already written in his whites." She motions 'cheers' in his direction and then glances to Brianna. "Well. It's not very good." She doesn't sound the LEAST bit apologetic about it. Here it is, here is one single fact for you, Brianna!

Shazza has joined the an opulent sofa with sinfully plush cushions.

"I just came to watch," Tyche chimes in with the lifting of a hand. "Is that allowed? Can I just watch?" she looks to her companions at the couch with a grin. "I kid, of course. Count me among the willing." And as the trays are passed around, she plucks one up and lifts to examine the contents in the light. "Did you manage to curb the giddiness it causes, your highness?" she asks of Saoirse when the woman nears her in the turn about the room. "Or shall I expect all levels of joy from the intake?"

"I have come to make sure no one is poisoned completely to the point that I have to call someone to have a body removed" Jaenelle announces as she enters the familiar room, eyeing the offerings. "Mydas came up with an alcohol once that was very popular at parties, especially in the Redrain ward. Should this drink prove to be too meek, I am certain I still have a bottle or two of Foolsbane somewhere." Saoirse is offered a dip of her head in greeting as the host, then Berenice and Harlex are both drawn into that as well. "Alecstazi" she smiles at her cousin, and then Brianna, "Lady Brianna, breaker of my heart" she teases, "soon we shall have to hold that duel and see if I am correct or Darren."

Shazza doesn't leave her gaze long on the mirror, and then she seems only barely heartened by Alessandro's invitation to the couch. "Thank you," she says, her tone both troubled and game in a clash. She sits carefully and glances again to the glasses. After closing her eyes for a moment, she takes in a 'here goes, I guess' breath. Lysander earns the wry beginnings of a smile. "Right. Forgotten."

Saoirse spins on her heel and walks backwards. She holds up her hands in answer to Tyche and crosses of her fingers in the universal symbol for 'let's hope'. Then the princess spins again, finishing her wee drink, and announces to the room, "I started my current romance as a joke to see if we could annoy our families." Whoop. There we go!

Alecstazi grins back at Brianna and then as Saoirse approaches and addresses him, there is a smile of the other Velenosan Princess. "And you must be the lady of the hour, her highness Princess Saoirse?" Alec lifts a single thick brow, that half-smile deepening as he accepts his vial of pois -- potion. "Oh there is more to me than a political opinion, but my thanks." He lifts the vial in toast and knocks it back. There is a slight grimace at the taste, but he is still rather jovial looking. At Jaenelle's arrival, there is an uptick in his warmth, "Jaenelle, it has been too long." There is a pause in his jovial expression and he leans in to murmur something to her softly.

Alessia has joined the The Scandal Couch.

a massive cat with long black fur, Intrigue, a sleek, diminutive raven with blue-black plumage arrive, following Willow.

Brianna flutters her hand to her chest at Jaenelle's greeting. "My darling, yes. You say the word." She takes her glass and knocks it back quickly. She tries her best not to gag. "Oh, fuck me, this tastes like an abyssal's ass crack." She blinks, clearing her throat. She settles back against the couch. It's going to be that kind of night.

Smiling at the archduchess, Alessia, greets from her seat. "Your highness." Taking a glass, the glaivedancer drains the contents, following the Halfshav. "That may be putting it mildly." She manages after gathering her composure.

"Alright, my goodness," Saoirse says to everyone present. "I -tried- to mask the taste with all sorts of delicacies but they did like. Weird things, I promise this is a better alternative." A beat. "It is really bad though. Just ... you know. Do a chaser or something."

"Bottom's up," Tyche says, treating her words with the proper reverence deserving of 'famous last' ones. She takes a big gulp, coughing as she lowers the glass. "Hideous," she agrees with whoever is cursing up a storm about the liquid. Her response isn't immediately to confess any sort of romance the way the hostess does, instead settling back to press three fingers to her lips, as if to keep any confessions at bay for the moment. It is those at her couch who are rewarded with her first 'truth.'

Saoirse has joined the The Scandal Couch.

Two couches, two couches. Saoirse slides into a seat at one - though she looks poised to stand and make rounds again in a moment.

Willow shows up late and proceeds to curtsey to the various princes and princesses and the Archduchess before making her way off after the source of the 'poison' for a helping of it for herself with little ado, then looks for a seat on one of the couches, offering a wave to Brianna and Tyche both as she picks a seat.

Willow has joined the an opulent sofa with sinfully plush cushions.

Harlex makes a sound in his throat and takes one of the concoctions. He gives it a sniff and wrinkles his nose. Muttering something under his breath before he downs the poison with a grunt. "I've been in the jaws of an abyssal wolf and this smells worse. Shit." Shaking his head, oh is it working?

"Not even that juicy," Berenice says with a wistful sigh at Saoirse's admission, taking up one of the green concoctions and peering at it carefully. "The far more interesting part is that you were silly enough to go and develop /feelings/." Tsk tsk. She narrows her gaze on her little glass and then downs it all at once. Best not to linger on the unpleasant things in life, after all. "Lady Tyche, I never would have taken you for anything but an /enthusiastic/ participant in matters," she notes in the aftermath, voice just a touch raspier before she can chase down the taste with champagne.

Daro, a rough-looking man with a scarred visage arrives, following Beaumont.

Jaenelle says something equally as quiet to Alecstazi, her smile softening a bit before she reaches for the tray of drinks. Everyone sounds so excited as they drink theirs, and Jae just can't wait! Thankfully, someone also hands her a glass of wine, apparently the suggestion for a chaser was taken seriously. Alessia's smile is returned and another is offered to Willow at the curtsey, "My Ladies." Then the drink is shot back and then a mouthful of wine is taken immediately afterwards. "Right?" she tells Berenice regarding Saoirse's sharing.

"Was that supposed to be titillating?" Alec asks, flashing a grin and a nod to Berenice, though at the mention of catching feelings, there is an almost guilty look cast to Brianna. "What a silly thing, feelings." He seems to be concentrating exceptionally hard on his own words, as if trying to monitor how much of himself he is giving away.

(OOC)The scene set/room mood is now set to: Servants wander around with really terrible tasting pale green poison in vials to be shared. Everyone else /mills/. Or sits.

"Speak of the," ...not devil, but. Saoirse stands when Beaumont arrives and waves off any servants approaching him with some truly vile looking pale green poison. It's poison. Let's call a spade a spade. "Berenice, I don't hear YOUR admissions of your deepest, darkest." The princess stands before Beaumont in a dress matching the liquid in the glass and hands it to the Valardin prince before he can say a word.

Seeing two full couches and a handful of empty ones, Willow chooses one of the empty ones, pulling out a little flask of amber tinted glass before drinking on noting the disgust and distaste at the flavor of the liquid. She knocks the vial back and drimks a chaser of the liquid in the flask before she takes a breath even, trying to hide the green in the gills look and failing.

Brianna slides her gaze over to Alecstazi, a glass of wine somehow materializing in her hand. Attentive staff! "Feelings are quite inconvenient," she agrees. "Sometimes I wish I didn't have any at all."

Beaumont saunters in, because why wouldn't he? He looks like he owns the place, which is probably unusual for a Valardin prince. To be so comfortable in the halls of The Morally Decrepit Velenosan? Doesn't seem to bother THIS prince though, and so he just grins and knocks back whatever Saoirse hands him, leaning down to brush his lips against her cheek in thanks. "We're talking about feelings?" It's a polite inquiry, but the grin on his face says he's just looking to have fun. "Our deepest darkest feelings?" Eyes scan the room curiously, if a bit vaguely - whatever Saoirse handed him was fast-acting, at least.

"I don't think.... I've ever had anythat last." Alessia finds herself saying, her brows rising. "Not in that way." Her movements are slow as she settles into the seat to be more comfortable.

"We're -sharing- our deepest darkest secrets. Sort of," Saoirse hooks her arm into Beaumont's and turns to face the room at large again. "You drank my newest ...toy. It's a truth serum of sorts, I'm very sorry about the taste, if I had known YOU were coming I probably would've spent a little more time trying to hide the ...overtures of rot." Ew.

"You are so right, your highness," Tyche calls across to the other couch, her smile unwavering as she looks to Berenice. "I do take great joy in life. Can you blame me?" She's discarded her poison cup for one with a much more pleasing concoction - wine! It is lifted in salute to the other woman, and then something sad at the couch has her laughing loudly, her attention turned to Oddmun and Lysander, a few quickly murmured words shared, some of them loud enough to carry, "Lonely! Right? Hand!" The three are scattered between pauses, but together they tell quite the story.

"Feelings are as good a tool as any other if you can wield them properly," Willow estimates, shrugging and leaning aside to rest an elbow on the arm of the couch. She tells Alessia, "It's better not to, no one has ever compared to the one I was betrothed to eight years ago."

"We're currently talking about Saoirse's very soft and tender feelings for /you/, your highness," Berenice says with brightening humor to Beaumont. She gives Saoirse the most innocent of looks. "Me? I'm sure I have no deep, dark secrets at all." She takes another sip of wine, scanning the room, and then she notes, "I hate -- or at least dislike -- three women in this room for bedding my paramour. Including one who keeps insisting on doing it." She smiles sweetly and then finishes the rest of her champagne.

"I was fairly certain I had gotten rid of mine until, well." It's either Berenice's words or his own willpower (i.e. Berenice's words) that have Alecstazi cutting himself off to look around the room with obvious curiosity for tells as to who these three women might be. There is amusement there, rather than judgement. Well. Possibly some judgement as well, but it's very very minor.

"We could always play a game of questions. That could get interesting," Brianna suggests, threading her arm through Alecstazi's. "Berenice, my dear, who is this paramour?"

"There's nothing wrong with feelings," Harlex says because there's a second empty glass. A glutton for punishment. Must be a commoner thing, the love of rotgut. "You choke the life out of someone, last thing they think about is the person they loved most. Its your only comfort when Death comes for you, when you're drowning in your own blood. Life ain't got a gods damn point otherwise." He pauses and looks at something then he says out loud, "Oh I hate all those chicken shits she sleeps with too." He waves and scoffs.

A sharp glance is cast to Harlex by the Mazeti at Berenice's words.

"Oh, then there's still a chance you'll like me, because I haven't," says Helena with a grin for Berenice. Her eyes dart around for a moment, and then she nods once she's sure. "I haven't slept with anyone here. What a shame." She takes another sip of the green drink, followed by another sip of whiskey. Does that make it better or worse? From the look on her face, it might be worse, for her nose wrinkles.

All Willow can do is laugh. She tells Berenice, "It's fine, I've mot touched him since you burned the shittier copy of the painting and sent me the ashes, your Highness, though I do treasure his friendship." She takes another sip from her flask. "I treasure the urn though. It's beautiful work. Sometimes I even tell people I'm close to how I got it. I kept the ashes." There none left of the vial for her to sip, she slammed it and it was gone.

"As someone who is related to almost the entire city, it is difficult to find people to sleep with when you wish to, though I am perfectly content" Jaenelle says after another sip of wine is definitely needed to hide her amusement.

Shazza eyes a tray as it passes by her. There's time enough to consider. Then she reaches out to snag one of the remaining glasses, and drinks after all, steeling herself to withstand the taste so many complained of.

Harlex eyes Willow from across the room. Squinting. "That ain't true." He has a 'trying to remember face' presently.

"Well he said you wouldn't mind, your highness." Alessia takes another drink of the concoction, humour returning to her mien.

Willow nods at Harlex and says, "It is, too. We only sat on the swing together after that as far as I remember." She adds, "Unless there is a time I don't remember?" She looks back at him, brows knitting.

Berenice waves her empty glass gracefully at Harlex to answer Brianna's question. "Lady Willow, I'm so glad to hear that the naked portrait you randomly painted of someone without their knowledge or consent is keeping you warm in your home," she says with a brilliant smile as a server refills her champagne. She laughs rather wryly to Alessia. "I'm sure he did," she says with gleaming humor.

"Agreed. I have too many damn cousins," says Helena to Jaenelle with a laugh. "I'd say I need to carry a copy of the family tree around to be sure I'm safe, but it's not that often I would need to refer to it." When Harlex and Willow seem to disagree on the last time anything happened, she giggles a little. "I think she just said it wasn't very memorable, if it was true." Oh, no, that alcohol is working.

Saoirse wrinkles her nose when Berenice spills some romantic beans about Saoirse and somewhat subtly starts to unlace her arm from Beaumont's. And gosh, do her eyes dart to Tyche and Harlex just after Brianna asks who the paramour is?

Alecstazi reaches for a glass of liquor rather than wine as it passes nearby. There is a glance cast to Willow as she is one of those mentioned and he looks to Harlex at his counter. Whatever his response is drowned as he takes a deep drink and leans back into the couch, an arm around Brianna. "What kind of question game?"

Harlex scratches at his jawline for a minute but he seems distracted by Berenice. "What are you talking about, I posed for that painting."

Brianna slides her glance over to Jaenelle. "As long as you're using your Limerance, second-cousin-fucking is fine if done discreetly," she informs her. She leans in comfortably against Alecstazi's side. "Something simple. You ask someone a question and they either answer it or they have to finish their drink. Then the person who was asked gets to ask something of someone." The exchange about the painting gets a grin.

"One advantage of marrying into a Prodigal House," Alessandro says then, "is that one can be almost absolutely sure that one is not related to one's wife." He takes a sip of his wine then, though his eyes move toward the other couch as he does so, one eyebrow raising.

Tyche's attention is stolen from the couch as talk of hatred and ashes is had, and she parts her lips as if she might chime in. All that comes, however, is a laugh, bubbling up from her depths to escape. She allows it to carry on for a good ten seconds at least, her shoulders shaking at the joke of it all. And then, finally, she is able to add, "I imagine that Princess Berenice has a collection of urns on hand, ready to send off when needed. It is all very morbid."

"I am very close to dumping this wine on your head," Berenice tells Harlex very seriously. To Tyche, she looks aghast. "Good gods! Those were /custom made/. Didn't you notice it featured your houses's colors and sigil? I'm very particular about my gifts."

Alecstazi eyes Brianna, "Second-cousins are on the table, is that what you're saying? I always thought the line was drawn at third, or first once removed. Mmmm." Alec looks into his tumbler of amber liquid and says, "I suppose I should give my own family tree a new perusal, mmm?" There is a clear teasing quality to this speech. Berenice's statements have him choking midsip and he looks to her with obvious approval, "Your highness, I am fairly certain I want to be your friend."

"Oh, I didn't need to hear that. I know who her second cousins are," says Helena a little too loudly, covering her ears and closing her eyes, shaking her head as if to block all those words out. "We might need a forgetting potion next," she calls over to Saoirse.

Willow reaches into her cloak after some haze and nods a bit, looking relieved at Harlex speaking up, as she was about to. She looks to Tyche and says, "It's actually really beautiful, its gold and shows the mountains around Stonedeep. It's on display with the family banner in the Atrium of the estate." In short order she has the haze lit for a long drag. And her duskstone eyes drift back to Berenice, "Truly beautiful work. If you didn't dislike me so strongly, I might have sought out your friendship with how deftly done that was."

"Gods no, not until third." Alessia interjects, taking another drink. Helena's comment has her laughing. She turns to Berenice. "Do it, your highness." Her smile is mischievous.

"I just thought maybe you liked sharks," Tyche admits with a helpless shrug as Willow goes into deep detail about her own urn. "We will have to compare then someday," she says to the other, other woman.

Brianna rolls her eyes at Helena. "Oh, for the gods' sake, I was young and stupid, and Kieran was Kieran," she says, as if that somehow makes it better.

"Noted" Jaenelle tells Brianna, lifting her glass in a toast for the information, "though considering who my second cousins are...Redrains and Valardins..." her nose wrinkles playfully. Turning towards Berenice, "you are giving urns to people?"

Beaumont keeps watching the byplay, saying less than he speaks, listening as people all tell their secrets. "Third cousins or more," he decides as Brianna speaks. "Talk about young and stupid? I was in love once. Before now," he says, gazing studiously at NO ONE IN PARTICULAR. "A while back. When I was also young and stupid." Are his words slurring? Not really. "She said she'd wait for me but she didn't. Never saw her again. Broke my youthful heart."

Harlex nods with the sentiment on gifts. "She is very thoughtful. Made a knife for me once. Best damn knife I've ever owned. I've killed a lot with it, awful lot." He explains to Jaenelle, "When another woman gives me a gift, she burns it and sends it back to them in an urn. So they know. I think its romantic."

"Only when they leave /mementos/ with Harlex that need disposing of," Berenice says with a hint of a sniff to Jaenelle. She offers a brilliant smile to Alecstazi for his statement, just a hint of something gleaming sly and feline there, and then sips at her refreshed wine. She reaches over to set a sympathetic hand on Brianna's forearm, looking at her with a soft gaze. And then she tells her gently, "You should have her killed."

"It's all right, Beaumont. Many of us still suffer for the mistakes of our young, stupid selves. At least your stupidity didn't hurt anyone else." Brianna's expression darkens for a moment. She looks aghast at the urn story, and then Berenice is speaking to her. "Who should I have killed? There's a long list, my dear."

Saoirse may have slid her arm from Beaumont's before, but the princess takes a very. tiny. step. back. When he starts talking about loves lost. It's that kind of movement you make when you're not up in arms about something but it's weird for you to be around for This Particular Story. And so, like zillions of women in this position before her, Saoirse joins a completely different conversation. With absolutely zero regard for whatever they were talking about, for some reason, the princess latches onto the word SHARKS. "Did you know that shark embryos attack each other?!" ....Cool. REAL COOL.

"I have a sinking suspicion I will be on that list someday." Alec says in a briefly woebegone tone. "But in this case I think she meant to say that to Princess Saoirse's paramour about the woman that broke his heart." He's so helpful, this Thraxian.

"Harlex," Tyche calls out to the dour swordsman as he speaks of romance and the burning of gifts. "There is another at this couch who wouldn't mind becoming one of your conquests, if you have a free moment." Look at her! Such a helpful wingwoman.

Alessandro says something at the couches, though his attention is caught again by Helena's words, and Brianna's retort. He takes another sip of wine, before he says a little bit louder, "I have a story about my cousin Brianna." He turns so that he can look over that way, "She may not remember it, but it was when my mother took us to visit Whitehold. I was about thirteen. Our cousin Arik suggested we have a wrestling competition, and suggested that Brianna and I begin. Some of you may know that I have never had any sort of desire to do anything of the sort, but wanting to impress my cousin for some reason, I did so. Brianna knocked me on my ass so fast that I did not even get in one hit. It was a great blow to my ego."

Lysander opened his mouth to call out, "At least two, Harlex!"

Nodding appreciatively at Tyche, Willow says, "We should, I miss spending time at the Inverno estate, even though I always got the feeling Aisha didn't much care for me." She chuckles as she hears Harlex' words, merely shaking her head. "That speaks of a level of possessiveness that is entirely foreign to me. People are like cats, they-" and she trails off, eyes widening a touch at Soairse's words. "Do they really? That makes me want a shark."

Harlex calls back, "Don't call them conquests, that's demeaning."

Willow bursts out laughing.

Lysander calls back, "People who fuck your brains out then."

"If I did that to every gift that my other receives daily, I would be spending a small fortune on urns" Jaenelle tells Berenice, sighing. "Someone once gave him a pair of seasilk under breeches? I am not sure why. I have them though because even they were too odd for him to keep with his own belonings. Maybe I should put them in an urn..." she muses softly.

Tyche SIGHS. "Fine, fine. There are one.. two at this couch willing to become 'tools to be used so that you and your paramour can have a bit of romance.'" She corrects herself quite proudly.

"Says you," states Beau to Brianna. "But she's dead now so that hardly matters. And I've moved on rather decisively. Shark embryos notwithstanding." He looks suddenly puzzled and blurts to Willow, "wherever would you keep such a ridiculous thing?"

"On the conversation of young and stupid." Alessia's words seem to be slurring as she gazes about the room. "I cozied up to a man twice my age... and then seduced his son. And I -don't- know why." She turns to Brianna at Alessandro's tale. "She knocked my dear cousin on his ass too, in the training center." She laughs.

The Redrain princess looks over her shoulder at the calling out to Harlex. "It's still not me, Princess Berenice!"

"Well, she wouldn't. You couldn't," Saoirse continues to give SHARKFACTS, which was the real reason everyone came to this event. "They don't do well in captivity. I once read a book about it, actually..." And unless someone stops her, Saoirse is spinning on her heel on her way out to go find a book nobody wanted to read.

"Brianna is particularly skilled in knocking men on their asses. At least she has the decency to do all the work in --" Oh look Alec is suddenly coughing -- though he nods to Alessia's words, "That she has." He looks to Lysander and says, "Fucking someone's brains out sounds suspiciously like murder."

Brianna claps in delight at Alessandro's story. "You cried because you got dirt in your nose. We should have a rematch someday. Have that adorable little wife of yours on hand to patch you up." She flexes one arm, her sleeveless dress making this even more dramatic, then she kisses her own bicep. She turns to Alecstazi. "You have been on that list, my dear, though you are not on it at presence. Present." She laughs and punches him in the arm. "I spoke too soon, you brat."

Almost belatedly, Alessia chuckles. "If anything -he's- the conquest." She turns to Berenice. "No offence."

Lysander cackles at that, before having more to drink to wash out the taste of the truth serum.

"It was less crying and more eyes watering," Alessandro calls back, "and it was blood, not dirt, but thank you for that." There's amusement in his voice, however, and he shakes his head at the thought of a rematch. "It would be about as one-sided as when I was thirteen," he says. "Likely more so, in fact. That fight scarred me for life, and cured me of any desire to practice." Not that he'd had the desire before.

"Lady Tyche, I would /hate/ to have to have you thrown out of the Estate," Berenice calls over sweetly. Her gaze narrows on Lysander. "I won't hesitate with you, either, even if you are married to my very dear cousin, darling." She glances at Alessia, some hint of humor there, dry as it is. "That's an excellent way to get out of a betrothal you don't care for," she notes innocently.

Willow shrugs at Beaumont and says, "A salt water pond, probably. I mean, it's need to be lined and refilled but..." And then Soairse dashes her hopes into a million pieces and she sighs, "That makes sense. But I still aim to add a jellyfish habitat at my villa before too long."

"There's a lot of bitterness in this room." Harlex says as he moves to sit back on the couch. Turning his head though to look at Brianna. "I will fight you," he offers. "There's nothing quite like a fight. Even if its all that play fighting they do around here. Half of the folk I spar with, I feel like haven't ever killed another. Its a damn waste. Sport. Let me get another one of those," he waves his hand at a passing servant.

"Cousin, why have we not stolen away to find all the right books secreted away, Berenice? Soon, please? I'd /love/ to catch up," Lord Lysander calls before settling back into his seat, murmuring something to the Sanna.

Tyche makes a show of locking her lips, and throwing away the key at Berenice's threat. And she stays true to that, at least for the sake of the room at large. Those at the couch, however, still have her ear and her tongue, and she turns to Shazza to chat on some truth or the other.

"How many make you realise 'combat can be so beautiful'?" Alessia asks the sword teasingly, draining another glass. Berenice's comment has her smiling coyly. "I'm a tolerant woman." She turns to Soirse. "What was that about sharks fighting? Gods did you witness this?" Clearly the drink has drained her wits.

Willow takes another drag of the haze before offering it around, first to one packed couch, then the other, not neglecting those standing either. "Kiernan... man, that makes me wonder if it's your painting he mentioned," she says with a look at Brianna. All alone on a couch to herself, sh yawns and stretches, missing out on whatever gossip is happening on Berenice or Tyche's couches and sipping at the flask again.

Harlex looks at his hand and studies his scarred fingers. "At least four," he tells Alessia. Nodding after the fact.

Saoirse reappears at the door JUST as Alessia asks her question. Ho-HO! And in hand? A book. "I can't remember precisely which passage," Saoirse says, handing the tome off to the lady, "but it's in there somewhere." The book's title, complete with a little shark drawing, is TAKE A BITE OUT OF KNOWLEDGE: SHARKS AND YOU.

"I heard there was a huge shark in Setarco made of glass. Sounds like bullshit to me," Beau decides, because sharks are the topic. For now.

"Did I write about that shark thing in my book? I do recall writing far too much about whale vaginas," Brianna muses, trying to recall. She gives Willow a sly glance. "As if I would tell /you/ either way." She grins at Harlex. "Yes. Not now. When our heads are clear. But I'll take you up on that, and pound your ass into the dirt. It's my one talent." She turns her head to Alecstazi. "Ask me something. Anything."

"Whaaat? I didn't finish the statement. I could have been far more crass considering the addled state of my mind. You're just lucky I am a man of virtue and character." Alec replies archly to Brianna in the moment before he begins tickling her side. Alec glances over and decides to wade into the shark conversation, "They taste quite delicious when prepared correctly." There is a pause, "Flesh sharks, not imaginary glass ones."

"If only one of our Setarco-ian cousins had bothered to come to any of our house events," Saoirse says slyly to Beaumont. "Perhaps we'd find out. I can't remember the last time they made it to a party of ours." Hellooooo honesty juice.

Now interested in the subject about sharks, Alessia rises to take the book, settling back down to flick through the pages.

"We all knew the ending to the statement," Berenice tells Alecstazi. Helpfully. "Your lady wants a /question/."

Harlex is pointing at Shazza and saying something to Berenice.

Alecstazi turns back to Brianna and considers the request he completely ignored in the pursuit of tickling her. "Mmmm. Questions... questions... What is, in your opinion, the most sensual... flavor?" At Berenice's commentary he looks to her and says, "You are not helping, your highness." If not for the grin on his face, it could come across as serious, given the givens? Less so.

"I was not /trying/ to help," Berenice replies.

"Cherry." Alessia says with little thought, still flicking through the pages.

Shazza seems to have caught how she's pointed out by Harlex. "Too grim. No thank you," she says aloud, her tongue loosened by the green drink, answering an unasked question.

Merek, who was quiet for a while, comes in with, "Mint chocolates."

Brianna squeals in a most undignified manner at the tickling, swatting at Alec's hands. "The most sensual /flavor/? What kind of a question is that?" She considers it. "Cherry isn't bad. It's sweet, tart and dark. Chocolate and cherry together. That's it. Or the taste of warm skin."

Willow bursts out laughing, touching the side of her nose as she winks at Brianna. "Right?" She continues smoking, leaving others to the alcohol they are chasing Soairse's concoction with as she sips fruit juice. "Salt and leather," is her own response, given after Merek and Alessia's.

Berenice out in the most /delighted/ laughter at Shazza's comment. "Oh, /thank you/ for that," she says, positively giggling.

Berenice is overheard praising Shazza.

"I should have brought cherry brandy! We could have mixed with chocolate." Alessia glances up at Brianna, frustration in her tone, at not thinking of it earlier. She turns to the book again. The word salt and leather her glancing up thoughtfully.

Alecstazi ceases the tickling and when his question is scorned there is a glare from the Prince, "You asked for a question and I asked you one!" There is a grumble from the Thraxian, though there is still some good nature to it. "*You* ask a question then!"

"Who's someone you regret hurting?" Harlex asks the room. Because these questions are too /fun/ for his tastes.

Silvio glides into the Velenosan party with a subtle smile on display. Long curls bob about him as he makes his way through the merriment as if he were the host, just enjoying the thrum and throng of voices, moving bodies and the tang of alcohol in the air. He gives a light wiggle of his fingers towards Lysander, and then he says, "I obviously need a glass..." And holds out his hand expectantly.

"This is why people think you're too grim," Berenice tells Harlex. Helpfully.

Beaumont frowns at Harlex. "Why would you regret something like that?" He shrugs. "That's just living."

"Only, my sister, during practice." Alessia answers, again with little hesitation.

"Arcadia," Willow says, "Not one of the lovers we've shared was worth her hurting over."

"My mother," says Saoirse in response to Harlex from her place in the center of the room.

Brianna checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 13 higher.

Shazza reaches up to tip her cap at Berenice. "One less urn to worry about commissioning, or do you like to see the grimness punctured, just a little? Both?" Her tongue is loose. "Oh - I thought that was an excellent question," she says, of Harlex's wonder about the hurting. "Pain makes for good secrets."

"My..." Brianna looks like she's about to say something, then shakes her head. "No one I can think of." She turns to Alec when he asks for a question. "What are you thinking about right now?"

Lysander snaped his fingers, getting up to snag a glass to press the serum into Silvio's hand. "Mmmmm... Yes, yes you do. Now drink it and let's find a spot perhaps a little more quiet. I'd like you to meet /Oddmun/," he says with a gesture and a grin towards his husband before turning to move to another couch as if expecting others will simply follow.

Lysander has left the an opulent sofa with sinfully plush cushions.

Lysander has joined the a refined black leather sofa with detailed nailhead trim.

Willow has left the an opulent sofa with sinfully plush cushions.

Willow has joined the a refined black leather sofa with detailed nailhead trim.

"Well, I *was* thinking about something that if I said it, you'd likely punch me again, but with that question," Alec replies with a little frown, "I am thinking about my father. And then my mother. I briefly thought of my brother, but he was a complete prick at the time, so my guilt there is negligible."

Oddmun has left the an opulent sofa with sinfully plush cushions.

Oddmun has joined the a refined black leather sofa with detailed nailhead trim.

"Your mother?" Alessia glances up at Alex at mention of her aunt.

Beaumont grins suddenly at Saoirse, for no reason at all.

"Myself," Tyche says, her selfish answer either a cleverly composed lie in the face of the poison, or something deeper.

"The latter," Berenice tells Shazza, before her gaze slips idly across the various responses to Harlex's question. She purses her lips, and then says, "Harlex Valtyr."

"Huh?" Oddmun perks a brow over at Lysander, then shrugs. He pushes to his feet, wobbling a little. He takes the time to refill his mug with whiskey before following over to the more quiet sofa, looking relieved to be in a less chaotic corner. "Nice to meet you," he says to Silvio. "Lord Oddmun Sanna."

"I am certain that I have hurt at least someone at some point, but perhaps no one has shared this that I would feel regret for, and on the other hand those I know I have hurt might have deserved it" Jaenelle answers Harlex' question.

Silvio takes the serum from Lysander and cuts his eyes sideways, to look Oddmun over from toe to head, thoughtfully. He nods to the man. "I will be there shortly. I must speak to our wonderful hostess. He heads towards Saoirse to give her a bow and a flattering, "Lovely idea...its about time someone poisoned everyone." He winks, then drinks.

Saoirse has left the The Scandal Couch.

Saoirse has joined the an opulent sofa with sinfully plush cushions.

Brianna frowns, pulling Alec closer. "I'll even let you say the thing I would probably hit you for without hitting you if that would make you less sad. I would do anything to fix that right now."

Saoirse gives Beaumont a funny little look and wanders over to one of the less occupied couches. "Never hurt anyone then?" she asks him.

Harlex looks aside to Berenice. He probably isn't listening to anything else for a second. When it passes, he looks away and squeezes her leg gently.

Beaumont laughs. "Never regretted it," he states.

Saoirse takes another potion herself and 'cheers'es her cousin. "And to think, not one of the notables here stopped to wonder if, perhaps, something deadly was in their drink."

Alecstazi snorts and leans in to press a chaste kiss to Brianna's cheek. "I am fine. You did not ask the question." He spends a moment just drinking in the sight of Brianna, the expression on his face as he does speaking volumes more than his voice. After that pause he looks to Alessia and nods, "Aye. My mother was... well. For all that theirs was a political marriage I think she was fond of father. And I think... I do not know how she would have reacted to what happened to him. What *I* did. I am fairly certain she would have hated me for it, however. She was a Mazetti and her passions were Lycene through and through."

Brianna raises a finger to Alecstazi's lips. "Your mother would never have hated you. A mother could /never/ hate her child." She says this fiercely, baring her teeth. She takes a breath and turns to Saoirse. "Perhaps the risk was part of the allure, my lady."

"That's why I showed up late," Silvio jokes? Maybe? "Oooo, it does have some kick to it..." He lets her go with Beaumont without following, though he does seem intrigued by that. He seems interested in the whole party, really, wandering slowly so he catches bits and pieces of conversation.

"Mazettis could never." Alessia smiles faintly, closing the book and resting it on her lap.

"I am sure /plenty/ of mothers have hated their children," Berenice says with a delicate little snort. And then a giddy little giggle in /reaction/ to her snort.

Good ol', fashionably late Gaspar slipped in and did his best to simply blend in and enjoy the show.

Is that -- is that a tear that springs to Saoirse's eye at Brianna's words. A tear of sheer pride? "It seems a good number of us regret hurting our family members, so I wonder: what have you done to make amends for your most regrettable hurts?"

Beaumont has joined the an opulent sofa with sinfully plush cushions.

Beaumont flops down on a couch near Saoirse, sprawling comfortably as the others talk, taking the time to speak quietly, a sly grin on his lips.

Tyche, quite engrossed in her chatter at the couch, finds herself quite thoroughly distracted by the arrival of another, quite unfashionably late at this point. "Gaspar!" she calls to him, lifting a hand without a wave. "I tried the poison she made you drink. I don't feel a thing," she remarks with a snort, belying her words. Her hand turns then, and she beckons him over.

Harlex quirks into something of a boyish smile as Berenice /snorts/. Then he laughs, /laughs/ which sounds like a bark from his rough-edged voice. But he still answers the question, "I keep the memories of their loved ones. Sometimes, if I learn of the family of someone I've killed, I send them money discreetly. Not a lot at once. Over time. Its nothing, but its all you can do. Help them keep on living."

Gaspar has joined the an opulent sofa with sinfully plush cushions.

Silvio has joined the a refined black leather sofa with detailed nailhead trim.

Silvio waves to Gaspar as he sits down and crosses one leg over the other.

Among quieter chatter at her couch, Willow can be overheard saying, "I do love a rough man."

Brianna shoots Berenice a look that seems almost wounded. "No. Never." To Saoirse, she speaks simply. "I have dedicated the last eight years of my life to fixing the problems I made, and I expect I will be fixing them in some manner or other for the rest of my life." She turns to Alecstazi. "If you don't believe me, I'll find a shaman to go into the Shining Lands and ask her. I know I'm right."

Harlex' words seem to baffle Alessia for a few moments, as though unable to comprehend the -why- though Gaspar's entrance perhaps stops her from saying something regrettable. "Your highness. You're so so late." She chuckles.

"Offered a gift I had not given the privilege of to anyone else," Berenice says to Saoirse's question. She draws nearer to Harlex on the couch, leaning up against his shoulder as she adjusts her sprawl. When she catches sight of Gaspar, her smile widens brilliantly.

A glance then, to Alessia and an apologetic smile. "Yes, I know, I know. Cousin Berenice just keeps me incredibly busy these days, I sincerely apologize." He winked over at her, nestled up so cozily with her boyfrand.

There is something alarmed in Alecstazi's face at the offer Brianna makes and he blinks, shaking his head, "No.. no. Uh. It would be best if we left her to what rest she has." Still, there is an acknowledgement of her intent and Alec pulls the Halfshav closer to his side. Suddenly there is a grin and he asks, "How many lovers in a lifetime is too many, and how many are too few?"

Willow laughs as she looks over at Alecstazi's couch and then shakes her head.

"That answer is an empty set," says Saoirse, glancing up from her tete-a-tete with Beau.

"Does she? I have paperwork on my desk if you enjoy that" Jaenelle offers the Gaspar. "Alaric has said I shouldnt burn it anymore, so I need someone to file it away for me." Looking towards Brianna and Alecstazi, "I would love to speak to my parents one last time if I was able. As an adult and not that scared little girl. I do hope they are proud."

Helena smirks at Alecstazi's question to the group. "More than I have had and less than Tyrval has -- the answer is somewhere betwixt those twain," she says merrily. She is not giving numbers.

Harlex is a good, solid support to her sprawl. He leans just so against Berenice and at her words he leans to whisper something to her before turning his focus back on the room. A hand risen, greeting Gaspar. "I will only ever love one woman," he tells Alecstazi, "But I reckon as it goes, there's plenty to enjoy out there." He shrugs.

"There is no too many, no too few." Alessia shrugs, with a smile, taking a deep drink from her glass.

"I am not responsible for your tardiness!" Berenice calls over to Gaspar with a fierce frown. Settled in the wind of Harlex's arm, her lips tug into a pleased smile at whatever he whispers to her. "I don't believe there's an answer to the first," she opines. "To the second: zero, most certainly."

"Unquantifiable," Brianna says in response to Alecstazi's question, snuggling close against him. "It is all about what happens in the right moments. Some people have no desire to take lovers. I would be shocked if my cousin Mirk ever shares his bed with anyone."

"Oh, Archduchess, but of course. Anything for the family, you know that. I'll keep it in the special filing bin for things directly from the Crown." He gave a stern nod. He hooked his thumb over at Berenice in a comic, overly dramatic fashion complete with a vaudevillian eye roll. "Sure."

"/No/ one? At /all/?" Berenice looks to Brianna with a somewhat /aghast/ expression at the very idea.

"Makes sense. Some don't feel the need." Alessia adds to Brianna's point.

Shazza glibly chimes in on the empty-bed topic: "I can think of a hundred other ways to spend the time, to more guaranteed profit. A poor bet."

"Perfect, you're hired, if Berenice frees you from whatever it is that has kept you away" Jaenelle says with a grin in Gaspar's direction. "I dont feel the need to share my bed with anyone but one, and should that be the last man that shares such with me, I believe I would be quite content for the rest of my days."

"I don't believe," Harlex says with his arm secured around Berenice's lounging form. "Don't feel the need?" He looks /skeptical/ but then as it goes he asks, "You can have one thing. But it can be /anything/ in this whole damn world." He holds up a singular finger. "One thing. What is it?"

Alecstazi has left the The Scandal Couch.

3 Thrax Guards have been dismissed.

His Grace, a massive red roan Maelstrom destrier have been dismissed.

Sednaya, a female Maelstrom Osprey have been dismissed.

Xander, a complete asshole goose have been dismissed.

Silvio has left the a refined black leather sofa with detailed nailhead trim.

Willow checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 6 lower.

"You," Berenice says on pure instinct. (That is the idea, after all?) In her current position using Harlex as a quasi-pillow, she can't even really face him, but it's pretty obvious what she means.

Brianna checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 2 lower.

Gaspar gave that hand a little squeeze in return and smiled just a bit more. He wet his lips and stayed remarkably silent during this talk of reflections and ill omens. He was content to listen and watch, perhaps one of few left with his wits wholly about him.

Brianna bats her eyelashes at Berenice. "Consider it a challenge, if you must, but I think he is very happy just... doing his own thing." She shrugs. "I generally prefer to sleep with friends. No strangeness, no expectations, no awkwardness. She glances up at Alec, her eyes full of adoration. "Then I met this asshole." Harlex's question makes her eyebrows rise and she starts to say, "My s--" before she catches herself. "Sssssseagull?" Smooth.

Talk of deep desires might be a little too much for Tyche, as she stands from the couch, her fingers unlacing from Gaspar's (apparently they had been holding hands). "If you'll excuse me," she says to the those still at the couch, "I must find my way back to the Inverno estate. Hopefully I am not stopped in the street and asked anything too revealing, or I might spout out all of my truths for the world to hear." She turns to whisper something to the Velenosa prince, and then to the rest gathered about she gives a small wave.

Tyche has left the an opulent sofa with sinfully plush cushions.

A drink is taken at the question posed. "That's impossible." She chuckles.