Samira arrives, following Rorik.

Bedivere gets an Oakhaven foot-juggling sack from CRAFTERS' GUILD DISPLAY CASE.

Apollo Oakwood, co-Guildmaster of the Crafters' Guild of Arx, has not been spending -all- of his time at the guild hall lately - but you might not know it. He's not leading, though - not at all. No, there's a woman's voice in a room out of sight bellowing orders, a voice patrons of a certain bakery might be familiar with. Instead, Apollo is wandering, bussing plates, chatting with people, grinning at this or that comment, getting a fork when one's been dropped. Dazzling babies with magic fingers that are empty... then have a scrap of silk in them. Gasp.

"It's a glorious work of art, and I'm not just saying that because it's of me! I hung it up with all the other paintings, it puts the one of Porter to shame," Rorik can be heard talking jovially with Samira as he walks in with her to the Crafters' Guild. Today, the giant Kennex Lord has forgone his silks in favor of some hardy leathers and lighter fabrics, because he's ready to get to work! "So thank you, very much. And ah! Here we are. I don't think I've been in the Crafters Guild Hall yet."

Insaya ties a white kerchief over her hair, less for concealment than hygiene. "Excuse me," she says, "-sorry, do you have..." She requests of the assistants of the mess coordinators a handcloth or something clean to use as an apron tucked into her belt. Cleanliness is next to Oathlandiness, afterall, and her hands have been scrubbed pink to help out.


Felix has arrived fashionably early. That is, with five minutes or so to spare before the serving is due to start. Either a strategy for avoiding some of the work or, more likely, his own craft holding him over, given he arrives with the smell of coal and hot steel with him, and only an attempt made to clean his hands and face, so that he isn't sharing the taste of coal dust and soot with others. A smile and wave for everyone who is already there, as he tugs off the leather sleeves used to protect his arms, pushing the sleeves of his shirt back over his elbows. Taking a moment to catch Apollo just to see what needs doing, before he begins to circulate to add helping hands as needed.

Although Lord Bedivere might not be the best person to serve food, he does have a couple guards from House Whitehawk who he can never manage to shake, and so sends forth said guards to go help. Mewnwhile, Cabbit the cat perches on his right shoulder, balancing out the missing hand on that side, appurrantly.

With a simple but serviceable apron tied over her linen gown, and her dark hair bound up in a loose bun and secured with a cheerful blue ribbon, Nurie makes her rounds with a large tray comfortably balanced in her hands to collect used bowls and utensils from those who are all done with their meal. She doesn't seem too worse for wear, though she does have a few minor splatters of stew to decorate her apron already, and her cheeks are flushed. There's an irrepressible effervescence to her demeanor, however, as she smiles and looks each person who allows her to clear away from them in the eye to thank them for their visit, and chatting for longer periods with those families and invididuals who are starting to become more familiar. Serving, clearing, washing, and back to serving again--there's a rhythm to it, and she's doing her part for keeping it moving!

Svana has forgotten her apron at home. She dons a normal white one instead, furrowing her brow as she makes her way over to Apollo. "Someone has a fixation on spoons, we're out again. What in the Gods and Spirits' names are they doin' with them?" She asks her patron, her stomach rumbling /loudly/. "...Oh my. Are you sure that I should be here helping? I think I've eaten more than I've cooked or served. These little ones," Svana mutters, blushing before she picks up a spoon.

Atli, a Whitehold Mountain Dog puppy arrives, following Tanith.

Miss Sassypants leaves, following Anabelle.

"Yeah, you think so?" Samira meanders in alongside Rorik, a grin bringing more cheer than usually might be found in the Culler's expression. "I'm glad you like it. Let me know if Lord Porter puts up another portrait to try to best yours. I'll paint you another one an' you can have a silent war via a wall of paintings." She appears inordinately pleased with this idea, rubbing charcoal-smudged fingers together in a conspiratorial nature. Finally turning to survey the surroundings, she shrugs. "I haven't either. Not a bad set-up. Let's see... where do we snag an apron?"

Sabella has taken up a station helping to serve the food! Only it turned out that she was just really bad at giving out soup so she stands with a bright smile behind one of the bread baskets, handing out little rolls and pats of butter that she appears to have had brought over, beautifully pressed into the shape of tiny gryphons! "White or wheat?" she asks with a smile, handing over what was asked for. "Enjoy! White or wheat?" she asks again, for the millionth time in an hour, "White or wheat? Enjoy! White or wheat? Enjoy!"

"Here," Apollo says to Insaya, turning with the silk - oh, no, that's not what she needs. He stuffs that in his back pocket and pulls out a cloth instead. "There you are." And he claps her on the arm, grins, and winds his way around. "You're /fine/, Svana, you've got to eat as much as anyone. Who's going to begrudge someone with child an extra serve? There's plenty. Go /sit/, for the love of the gods." He gestures over toward a bench where there's another woman quite visibly pregnant. Maybe they can bond? Who knows where his head is.

Marie, chef of Keaton Hall, Sir Pupsalot, a polite, tri-color corgi, Oaken, an Oakhaven bloodhound, 2 Keaton Huntsmen, Gigi, an apprentice physician with attitude problems, 1 Healer Guardian arrive, following Reigna.

Vern, 2 Keaton Huntsmen, Reigna arrive, following Kael.

Nina loves a party. But she came dressed a bit casually... since this is not, after all, a grand ball; it's a crafters' guild event, and she might get her hands a little dirty! She also has her hair pulled back, so that it doesn't get in the way of what's happening here. Which turns out to be a sort of feed-yourself setup. For a second she looks... just a bit confused. Then she just starts helping herself to a plate.

"Sorry!" Nurie calls to Svana, her tray full of dishes and spoons as she starts to head back to the kitchens. "I've got some ready to be washed, we'll have more out in two shakes of a lamb's tail!" She winks at the Northern woman, with a grin to follow for Apollo. She just barely manages to avoid crashing into people lingering at the kitchen door in her haste to get her laden tray offloaded, but only just a few more drips of stew decorate the hall floor, this time.

Rorik chuckles at Samira, his eyes bright. "That would be fantastic, wouldn't it? I'd end up winning, of course. I bet you could paint all sorts of embarrassing things about Porter. I can tell you stories and you can paint them to life!" he looks about himself for aprons, gesturing that-a-way, but then he spies Sabella over there serving bread. "Ah, there's my cousin, Princess Sabella. Have you met her yet? I'll introduce you, she's Niklas' wife," he tells Samira as he snatches a pair of aprons, handing one over to Samira and tying another about himself while he walks them over to Sabella. "Sabella! You are a beauty serving bread. I wanted to introduce my protege, Samira!" he beams happily down at the Culler artist. "She's an artist!"


"-LOOK. Get this sorted and I'll sign all the books you want!" comes the loud, laughing voice of Tanith Grayhope, running the kitchen like a Queen, a country. Sort of. There's a little bit of chaos to manage, and these aren't her normal crew but they're getting the job done. "Oy, that oven is too hot! No, don't- ... hey! That's soured enough, get that-" And so on. Now and then there's laughter coming from the kitchens and Tanith is usually at the tail end of it, a smirk on her face as she ambles off, comments about 'horrible bread puns' in her wake.

Svana eyeballs Apollo when he gestures to the other pregnant woman. But she does, grab herself a bowl of stew, which she proceeds to eat with a fork. She waves over at Nurie. "'S fine! We'll make due." Whether she means the hungry people or herself is up to anyone's interpretation. Apollo gets another side-eye. She looks at all the people marching in who haven't been there before now, and starts to gravitate somewhere between Nurie and Tanith's voices.

Suitably anonymous, Insaya inclines her head to Apollo deeply, and trussed up for the role, Insaya mans a basket of plums. One by one the little fruits (some on their way to prunes) disappear into the pockets and onto the plates of those that come. The sound of Sabella's patter becomes rhythmic to her, and here and there she raps out a beat to accompany it, her thumb against the table. White or wheat, ba-dum-dum, Enjoy, bumb-bum.

Connal, a Northern Wolfhound, Honeymare arrive, following Rosalind.

"White or wheat? Enjoy! White or--Rorik!" Sabella pauses in her very well known lines to beam at the Kennex man, turning the smile on Samira, "Hello, I don't think we've met before. Culler, did you say?" Is there a cautious tone to her voice? Surely not! "I'm always glad to hear of more artists in the city--are you a sculptor or a painter or something else I'm just not thinking of right now--white or wheat? Enjoy!" she interrupts herself to hand out more bread, "Sorry, it's been very busy here, which is wonderful don't you think?"

Normally Kael might have his arm extended to Reigna and the Marquessa walking with him in such a manner. On this day? Oh no. His arm is wrapped around her, awfully snug, and while this might be considered an awfully affectionate embrace (spoiler: it is) there is also a purpose to it. Reigna happens to be very pregnant. (Yes, there might be something in the water.) Kael might just be supporting a great deal of her weight, or *trying* to, being the other party of this union. Still, the two Keatons arrive with Kael standing a bit taller and searching the crowd for a certain leatherworker.

Rukhnis slips quietly into the hall as part of the crowd streaming in, and follows along with the tide to somewhere further into the room. The Eurusi woman looks exhausted as she usually does, but her tired eyes still track about the hall with a look of both interest and approval, and she offers the occasional courteous nod to people she knows, both people helping and those being served. She doesn't seem to have come here as a helper, but more simply to stop in and see for herself what's being done -- and possibly go on to spread the word afterwards.

After the Whitehawk guards join up with the lunch service nearby those who are pregnant people (because who knows what kind of crazies might show up), the Whitehawk Lord Bedivere saunters over to the rocking chair and sits down in that fancy thing. Its previous owner does not really need it, even though Bedivere hardly knows who that is.

Bedivere has joined the Oliver's exquisitely painted rocking chair.

Of course, Cabbit seems happy to ride on Bedi's shoulder the whole time, until the rocking chair. At that point, he becomes the lap cat, instead.

Felix meanders around so he can greet people, make sure those who have things have /all/ the things they need, especially those trying to juggle more than one child. A hand lifted, "Rukhnis, glad to see you again." it is even accompanied by a smile from the smith, and another for Kael and Reigna. Then there's an attempt made to sneak into the kitchens for something fresh from said ovens. A not so sneaky attempt made to get one over on the Queen of the ovens tonight, as it likely involves something sweet not due out for an hour. But there is laughter when he is most likely chased out, and a return to making his own rounds.

Samira smirks at Rorik's response, the light of inspiration in her eyes. "We should. It'd be worth the look on his face," she remarks to her patron. A hand emerges from her pocket to tug on Rorik's arm to garner his attention. She leans in to murmur questioningly, although she trails alongside him as introductions are made. "White or wheat. You're gonna be saying it in your sleep tonight, I bet." She casts an appraising glance over Sabella and while there's certainly no curtsy - her Lowers manners don't provide for that sort of thing - she at least has the good sense to offer a relatively polite nod, followed by a proud jut of her chin. "Culler, that's right. I dabble in a bit of everything, but I mostly do sketches in charcoal, paintings too." She turns, a glance sent over her shoulder as she eyes the surroundings. "It's a good thing. People are needing this."

Rosalind hurries in as fast as her limping self legs could carry her,"Ohmygosh! I'm so sorry I'm late! Where do you want me,"smiling at the faces of everyone. "Hello, Hi!" There's a genuine warmth coming from her tone as she goes and makes her way somewhere to help. "Bread you say? Sure! I can get that!"

There's a long look from Svana at Reigna's stomach, her eyes widening, as if she's forgetting for a moment that she herself is fairly large with child. She drifts toward Bedivere instead. "May I get you anything?" Svana asks him. "Please let me know, I'll be glad to bring you something." She even sets her own bowl of stew down. In an instant, a small child snatches it up and starts eating from it - but all Svana does is grin briefly. "They're cute, I can't be upset."

The dirty dishes offloaded, tray wiped and then restocked with clean empty bowls and clean spoons, Nurie is once more on the move, this time towards the serving line, squeezing in behind those serving to restock their bowls, with a quietly murmured, "So sorry, I'll be out of your way in just a minute!" apologetically murmured each time, though by her narrowed eyes she's sizing up what might be running low here too, to see if she needs to make another run to the kitchens before she sets on her next task.

"White-or-Rorik? I don't think I'm on the menu!" Rorik's eyes widen before he chuckles over to Sabella, letting Samira answer the questions about her art. "You should see the painting she made of me, it's amazing! She's going to be the best artist in all of Arx, and then we'll make her the best artist in Arvum too!" Samira's tug to his arm has him bending down to hear her murmur, his grin widening abruptly at whatever is said. There's a gleam in his eye before he murmurs back, straightening as he chuckles. "We're going to help ladle out the soup, maybe we can make some kind of song with your white-or-wheat. Do you think they'll be mad if I start using the pots as drums?" he lifts his brows to both Sabella and Samira, as though one of them will surely have the answer.

Vitalis hustles out from the back, hair sweated or steamed into thin finger-raked waves. Leathers, it seems, were a poor choice for kitchen duty. Well, he's here and now carrying out a big washload of spoons, headed for - oh, hey, it's Nurie. "Here!" A cheerful handoff and then he's disappeared into the back again.

Apollo glances back toward the back, hearing the latest round of shouting, and he ducks his head and grins. As he turns, he catches the arrival Marquis Kael, the Marquessa, and... gosh. The entourage. He lifts a hand, waves brightly, and slips back so he's in shouting distance of the back: "Tanith! Marie's here, you can stop a bit. Come eat!" Then he weaves forward to greet the pair. "Gods, am I glad to see you," he says to Kael and Reigna. "Let me get those, Vern - oh - actually - let me clear a place." He heads over to the service area to make room for a veritable (though portable) mountain of pastries. "There's dessert! Pastries for everyone! Oh, ah - actually -" he glances around like he did not think this through; line collisions. Stew still being served. Pastries there. Such Guildmaster. So leadership. Wow.

Sabella laughs and shakes her head, "There was someone here earlier drumming out a beat to it so you'd be more than welcome I think! Dinner and a show, what could possibly be better? And it's nice to meet you, Mistress Samira. If Rorik here speaks highly of you, you must be very skilled indeed! I do hope you're better at the soup than I am--I kept giving people bowls of broth so they moved me over here--white or wheat? Enjoy! Oh, here," she slips a small girl about five or six a second roll, "We've got baskets of them so come back for more if you like!"

Rukhnis offers an especially courteous nod to Felix as he greets her on the way to raid the kitchens, and she tells him sincerely, "This all looks magnificent. I know you do not need me to tell you any such thing, but what you are doing here will make such a difference. And I am sure I must personally thank you as well, since the better people are fed, the less likely they are to wind up at the clinic for a host of different maladies." Then she continues to drift her way across the room, to no particular purpose except to look over everything and everyone and share the occasional few words with others in the crowd.

"Svana!" from Tanith, spotting the woman. Then- "Rukhnis!" she calls a moment later, beaming to see the Eurus woman. She waves at both of them before- ...back to the kitchens. "DON'T SPANK THE DOUGH-" is soon heard from kitchens, and then Tanith is emerging, flour on her cheek and chest, grumbling. "Marie. -Please- don't let them giggle too much-" As if on cue, a titter rose from the ovens. Tanith rolls her eyes and makes her way over to the food, looking weary but resigned and maybe even a little amused.

"Svana,"Rosa calls over to her, but also sees Felix and Rukhnis. She waves and starts head over to help with the food. "Is there a plan to this? Do you just make it interesting for people?"grinning.

After petting Cabbit behind the ears, Bedivere looks up to Svana as he rocks the chair in which he sits, doing so at a slow but steady pace. "Thank you, Goodwoman." Then, he notices the star iron, "Or, Lady?" He looks to her eyes before slightly shaking his head. "No thank you. I appreciate it, though. Lord Bedivere Whitehawk here."

"Oh!" Nurie turns just in time to manage to catch the Clement lord's hand off, but before she can quite finish the "Thank you, m--" he's off and disappeared again. She laughs and shakes her head, divvying up the spoons between the serving stations, and doing her best to stay out of the way so that nobody's interrupted. Once spoons are settled, she takes a moment to use the corner of her apron to blot at her forehead, flushed as it is. And then, after a moment to catch her breath, she's off to make the rounds of the tables again, a bounce to her step with her unladen tray.

"There you are," says Kael once Apollo is approaching, offering a smile to him. He shifts his balance somewhat and, freeing a hand is clasping his upper arm. "Well done!" he compliments, looking out across the crafter's hall there and the crowd amassed. "We would not have missed it." Reigna, also, would offer her well wishes (OOC: her player lost power) before Kael is helping her get seated somewhere more quiet and less stuffy. That done, he moves to assist with Vern and the Keaton Hall cook in bringing in a smorgasbord of buttery sweet goodness.

There's a pause from Svana and she calls out to Tanith, "Cousin...sister...in-law!" She still doesn't know how the Grayhope bunch /really/ works. She waves happily though and looks toward Rukhnis, waving at her too. To Rosa, she says, "Maybe try to corral the lines for Apollo a bit! Be intimidating as you can!" Svana turns back to Bedivere and offers a hand. "No Lady here, just Svana Grayhope, pleased to make your acquaintance." She bows her head in respect to him. "Would you care for a drink? Water or milk?"

The faintest hint of weariness departs from Rukhnis's eyes for just a moment as she hears Tanith call out to her and then go back and berate the kitchen staff. She offers a wave from the crowd and then, having noted the other name Tanith called out, looks around until she spots Svana. Adopting a somewhat more purposeful path, she ventures against the current of the crowd to make her way over in that woman's direction, and gives her a small bow. "Mistress Svana. I was sorry to hear about your troubles, but I hope you are doing well now. Have the twins given you any more cause for concern?" Rosalind gets a return wave too when Rukhnis spots her.

Tanith gets an Oakhaven foot-juggling sack from CRAFTERS' GUILD DISPLAY CASE.


Maybe more successful than he might have thought! Felix emerges and gives Rosalind a grin, breaking his pastry into fourths, giving a bite to her, one to Rukhnis on his way by, one for himself. And one for that boy there, the one who ate none of his veggies. Given when there is less parental oversight. Because bad influences are the Brother's specialty. Mander here, a help lifting there, and some hauling back and forth for fresh supplies where needed.

Tanith heads over to Svana and Rukhnis, a plate piled high with food. She offers some to both women and anyone else around them, the Grayhope woman spattered with flour from forehead to hips. Looking non-plussed, she munches on what looks like a meat dumpling.

Apollo looks so very scattered. No, there's no plan, except: gather people, together with food. "Thank you, my lord," he says, words rolling out of his mouth smoothly, though he's been short on pleasantries tonight. Perhaps not wanting to draw attention to the station of the various people helping. "Tanith, did the ah - where's the - didn't have a bowl of lemonade? There it is. Someone's run off with the spoon." He's talking to someone who's already wandered off, but he's figured it out. Across the hall, he shoots a look at Felix, like: what is life, even.

"TANITH GRAYHOPE," Samira bellows as she spots the familiar woman emerging from the kitchens. The Culler possesses a surprisingly loud voice for someone with such a tiny body. "You're doin' great!" That unsolicited encouragement offered, she returns attention to Rorik and Sabella. Whatever the Kennex lord murmurs in response earns a wide grin and a snort of amusement. She grins in a self-conscious manner at Rorik's praise. "The best in Arvum, huh? I better get to work thinking of a catchy name." To Sabella, she adds, "Nice to meet you. As for spooning soup, hopefully I can make myself useful. It's not like bread that you can throw at someone's head if you realize you missed serving them." She squeezes into place in the serving line, ready to help spoon onto plates.

It was the dish. The dish ran away with the spoon.


The good thing about being short is that it is easier to nudge one's way through a crowd.

Eventually, Piccola makes her way, brusquely if necessary, behind the serving stations. There, she calmly jabs Nurie a couple of times in the shoulder to get her attention. "Excuse me," she says in a mildly grumpy tone in the Gamemistress' direction. "Excuse me," she repeats. What's she doing here?

"Heard you were here and thought I could help."


2 Keaton Huntsmen have been dismissed.

Marie, chef of Keaton Hall have been dismissed.

Sir Pupsalot, a polite, tri-color corgi have been dismissed.

Oaken, an Oakhaven bloodhound have been dismissed.

1 Healer Guardian have been dismissed.

Gigi, an apprentice physician with attitude problems have been dismissed.

Lifting his left arm, Bedivere uses the associated hand in a practiced way, flipping it over the top of Svana's and clasping their palms together before simply shaking even if it looks odd. Cabbit looks up and silently meows, appurrantly missing the pets from before but petitioning Svana for those now. "Goodwoman Svana. Good to meet you. I appreciate your generosity, but I am doing alright. I ate before I came." After a grateful squeeze to her hand, Bedivere begins to let go.

Rodrigo, the Surprisingly Large Flautist leaves, following Nina.

"You're almost as loud as me!" Rorik says to Samira with some surprise, as though that's some kind of incredible feat. But then he's laughing again, moving to give Sabella a quick squeeze around the shoulders. "You're doing great," he says encouragingly as he wedges his way in line in front of the soup bowl. It's white-or-wheat and then, "One scoop or two?" as he fishes soup out of the pot. "This would be a great place for a food fight," he says to Samira about throwing bed. "But probably wouldn't send the right message, huh?"

Rukhnis can't help but look amused and a little grateful as Felix offers her a quarter of his pastry, and then simply amused when he offers the last quarter to the boy shirking his vegetable-eating duty. The bit of pastry doesn't remain long uneaten in her hands, such that when Tanith brings over a plate of food for her and Svana alike, she has both hands free again to receive it. She bows a little in thanks, but frowns somewhat dubiously at the quantity of food she's received. "You are too kind," she tells the barkeep-baker-kitchen queen. "I do not truly need it for myself, though." She shifts a guilty look around the hall at all the people who look somewhat more hungry and exhausted than she does.

"Of course, my darling, come with me right over--" but then the willowy tall Nurie actually /looks/ at who's jabbing her, and a little squeal of delight slips out before she can quite suppress it, and look extremely serious business and dignified again. "Lady Pierina!" she greets Piccola with delight. "Oh, thank you for coming. What would you /like/ to do? There's plenty of room to serve on the serving line if you'd like!" At least she doesn't /hug/ her in front of /everyone/.

Insaya comes back from moving a tray of this and that back to be scrubbed, and has a bread-rolled stuck in her mouth like an apple in the mouth of roast suckling pig. That's it for her patter, at least until she can free up her hands.

Tanith staggers at the sound of Samira -bellowing- her name. She lifts her dumpling wielding hand and smiles, mannered enough to keep her mouth closed. She swallows, then says, "ON BREAK. I'm eating. THANK YOU! TRY THESE THEY ARE GREAT!" And she's shifting her attention back to Rukhnis, taking another dumpling. "Share!" she suggests, pointing to Svana. "She's eating for twelve, I think."

Rosalind grins over at Felix, splitting her own piece of pastry. She goes off and shares her half of a quarter. That sounds---fun. Kneeling down, she gives it to a different child and murmurs,"Shhhh...I didn't do that and you didn't eat it.."Then she goes to pick up empty bowls and things...The tall redhead totally has this! It's a very careful balancing act.

Svana smiles warmly at Bedivere and gives a small bow to him. "Let me know if you change your mind, Lord Bedivere." She looks back to Rukhnis and gives her a bit of a sad smile, but she manages to keep it better. "Oh, I'm a little swollen in the hands and ankles. They do keep me up all hours kicking and moving about, but no. I think we're doing a good deal better now." She leans in close to whisper something to Rukhnis with a much more upbeat smile, looking over at Tanith when she joins them. There is so much noise - she does not miss Samira hollering Tanith's name, and blushes at Tanith's comment about her eating. "Hey! ...I mean, it does take a load off Asher. He runs the kitchen at the Black Axe Pub."

Vitalis sticks his head out from the back, quilted mitts on his hands, one conspicuously scorched. "Is there, uh. A Mercy? And some sand." Very calm. So calm.


Piccola, frankly, looks like she might bite if hugged.

"Wherever you'll have me," she tells Nurie in a bland tone. "If I am made to cook, however, I would advice calling mercies." Deadpan. The diminutive woman huffs out through her nose, and looks over the crowd. Judging from a couple of pauses, she recognizes some of the people here. "Quite a crowd here," she notes, running her tongue over her lips a moment.

"Anyone I ought to know?" she asks of Nurie, clearly fishing for gossip.


Ellani, the palm sized spider arrives, delivering a message to Rorik before departing.

Apollo turns, bonks an elbow into a basket of apples, which could send it careening; he catches it at the last moment, wobbles, rights it, does a quick and complicated sequence of rearrangement to put the basket further into the table; turns back to see a small gaggle of children eyeing him. Well. If the apples fell on the /floor/, see - then they'd be fair game for however many, and he seems to understand their purposes, eyes pinched and calculating. "/One/," he says. "Or you'll spoil your pastry. Look." And he points toward the Keaton-supplied sweets, to their delight - snagging one by the collar to hand off apples. One, two, three, four, for the four of them.

Bedivere rocks into a dip of his head before lifting it on the rock back of the rocking chair as he resumes petting cabbit. "Thank you, Goodwoman Svana." Meanwhile, the Whitehawk guards help out with the fooding services.

Rukhnis speaks a few words softly back to Svana, then, after a removing a single small roll of bread from her plate, turns around to face some of the commoners in the crowd. By the time she's turned around again three-quarters of the former contents of her plate have utterly vanished, and the rest she sets down in front of Svana. "If your twins are engaged in such energetic exercize, I am sure that only puts you in even greater need of this," she says wryly.


A few more 'innocent' trips to the kitchens while delivering things to clean has Felix bringing out a new pastry or three each time. Lines? We don't need no stinking lines. Those pastries are split up, turn and cut into quarters, slipped into hands and plates of the smaller ones who might be getting bored after their meal, while their parents talk or their siblings chat. For a smith, Felix does move rather easily despite the crowd, though some of that might just be his height and a natural inclination to not be in the way. A tap to Apollo's right shoulder, after he's moved by it, and a quarter pastry delivered from the left, and then Felix is moving on again, to make sure Svana has one as well.

"Gotta get people to notice you somehow, right?" Samira remarks to Rorik, amused by his surprise. She turns attention back to Tanith, squinting across the room at her and then giving a thumbs-up. "OKAY! I'LL TRY ONE AFTER I'M DONE SERVING!" Likely to the great relief of the other volunteers around her, she lowers her voice back to normal levels. "Hot soup!" She settles into a rhythm, spooning soup into bowls as people pass. "A food fight. That's like a Lowers tradition! We'd have a really good one here, too. Probably get kicked out though. And you're right, wasting food probably wouldn't be a good idea right now."

Perhaps a Mercy knows where she's needed. Adrienne, a clandestine attendee of the gathering, arrives in an off-white robe and hair thickly braided over her shoulder, with no sign of her rank. And the first thing she hears is her protege's so very calm request. With a twitch of her mouth and a lowered gaze, she moves with sure-footed ease around children and diners, servers and... apples, apparently... to find a clear path to the back, there to flash Vitalis a too-knowing look.

Insaya widens her eyes. She is NOT a mercy. However, Vitalis's query does grab the attention; as much the overcalm tone as the words. There is still a bread roll stuck in her speak-hole, so she sidles away to see what has happened, her eyes someone LESS calm.

A food fight? Apollo whirls at the sound of that. "If there aren't any food-fights -" he says, but - nobody is listening to /him/, he has all the command of a wet noodle, relying on charm and pastries to direct even children. He scans around, finds Tanith, and starts her way to lean close and murmur something.

"It's true. Yelling almost always works!" Rorik grins to Samira, settling into a rhythm himself. It's a little bit of a song: Sabella goes 'white-or-wheat?' and then Samira's in with the 'hot soup!' and Rorik follows up with: 'one scoop or two?' And then he starts drumming on the soup pot, the sound deep and reverberating as he adds a beat to the noise all around. "The last time I had a food fight, I got a Lady very mad at me. I think I told you that though."

Tanith checked charm + intimidation at difficulty 15, rolling 34 higher.

Poppy arrives with a small clad of small children with her. A fair bit of effort has been put into making these small ones presentable. Hairs brushed and faces washed until shiny and red. Poppy holds onto two of their hands and as they enter, she leans down to murmur to them. "Remember to use your manners and not get under foot. Go get some hot food into you. I'll just be over there helping if you need me." She warns them softly, "And remember. No one leaves without me. Understood?" She lets the orphans free to run and get food, while she goes to get an apron and move behind a table to help. Noticing Svana, she checks "Okay to help here?"

Nurie tucks her tray under her arm for a moment, to give Piccola the lay of the land. "Over there, is Guildmaster Apollo Oakheart, and over there is Brother Felix Meadson," she offers gently. The two Guildmasters of the Crafter's Guild. The lovely young woman resting over there," she says, indicating the very pregnant Svana, "Is Goodwoman Svana Greyhope, who is a crafter as well, and Guildmaster Apollo's apprentice." She pauses for a moment, takng in the room. "We've quite a few peers here to serve this evening, isn't that lovely? Princess Sabella Greyson is handing out bread, and I know I saw Marquis Kael and Marquessa Reigna Keaton about /somewhere/. I'm sure if we go to the line and you introduce yourself you'll make new--" but then the mention of a food fight has her on guard, valiantly flipping the tray around to act as a shield, for her and Piccola both.

Rosalind after helping with foods and collecting dirty bowls and things, Rosa unfortuntaly admits,"I'm afraid I have to leave! I'm needed at home. But, I'll be happy to do this again!" Seeing Poppy enter with kids, she grins and hands the other part of her pastry to one of the children with her.

Joy, the advisor of roses arrives, following Esme.


Tanith hears the words 'food fight' and all playful manner is gone. She draws herself up, eyes dark and angry. For all that banked, rage, though, the words that come out of her mouth are,

"WE ARE NOT WASTING FOOD. NO FOOD FIGHTS. IF THERE ARE NO FOOD FIGHTS THERE WILL BE GAMES." Her features soften and she's smiling, but she's still shouting to be heard above the din. "WE NEED THE LEFT OVERS FOR BREAKFAST. AND I KNOW YOU ALL LIKE GAMES. SO. NO FOOD FIGHTS. SAVVY?"

People seem to hear the baker, and she looks satisfied, tilting her head wordlessly at Apollo, one eyebrow arched. Pretty amusing given she's still spattered with flower.

Connal, a Northern Wolfhound, Honeymare leave, following Rosalind.

Svana laughs softly at Rukhnis' offer, but she doesn't turn it down. She instead takes it and smiles. "Thank you, Miss Rukhnis." She picks up the plate and finishes it off probably as quickly as the rest of the commoners in her room, her stomach only rumbling once afterward. She stops and watches Tanith shout, looking both scared and impressed. "I think I've just peed down my leg a little," she says rather matter-of-factly. As Poppy approaches, she smiles to her - and all the children following her. "Oh yes, the volunteering does me good. The walking does too. It'll probably help me later when these two make their appearance." She uses her free hand to pat her stomach, taking her pastry from Felix when he's come by.

Bedivere blinks, looking to Tanith with the fleeting of a smile which may or may not have been there. Cabbit audibly purrs in his lap as their chair rocks upon its dual skids.

Esme enters into the crafter's hall late. There is a flush to her cheeks that almost seems to imply that she ran here and stopped just to walk casually in the doors. "So what do we.." The words to her advisor Joy are cut off at Tanith yells. Esme freezes. Her hands go up in the air and she just stands there with a distinct, 'it wasn't me' look.


At the mention of a food fight, Piccola looks drily amused.

"The one who's egging along the food fight? Signora Culler." The dark-haired woman casts her gaze in Samira's direction. "Just a bit of fun," she adds, musing quietly to Nurie. "People having a good time suggesting other kinds of fun." She then looks back to her -- how do these two know each other? "Your peers, cousin," she corrects. "I've far more in common with food fighters than title-bearers."

The appearance of Poppy's entourage catches her eyes next.


Rukhnis startles noticeably at the sudden shouted admonition from Tanith and nearly drops her bread roll, then shifts a wary gaze over at the barkeep. The Eurusi woman is clearly not one who is going to be starting any food fights now. Not that she was going to be before either, but never mind that. Letting out a slow breath, she nods to Svana in perfect understanding, and then shifts her gaze to Poppy. "Oh. Lady Poppy. It is good to see you here, and with orphans no less. How do you fare?"

Samira begins dancing subtly to the beat that Rorik drums out, which causes soup to slosh out of her serving spoon every once in a while, but it's not nearly as wasteful as a food fight would be. She's still very intent upon getting most of the soup into bowls. Tanith's loud warning causes her head to snap up as she blinks at her. "We weren't ACTUALLY gonna. I wasn't gonna have a food fight. Were you, Lord Rorik? No. You weren't either." She tsks and frowns, full of self-righteous indignation as she glances to Rorik. "Can you believe that someone must've actually started throwing food. Some people got no class."

Finn the large Northern hunting dog with icy blue eyes arrives, following Thea.

It's a fire, you know. But just a small one! Smoke, yes, yes. Not too much. And little remains of the fire save a sodden for the work of folk more used to cooking at this scale.

Vitalis blinks at the Mercy who answers and opens his mouth. Someone stuffs a roll in it, and now he's a match for Insaya who has joined the little knot dealing with minor kitchen injuries. But he can't explain what happened. And everyone else is too busy not burning themeselves. But it's no great mystery. Kithchens are dangerous, particularly improvised kitchens. A lapse in attention pays bitter dividends. Chewing, trying to win free of the roll, and explain himself, Vitalis finds a place where they might see to the burn on his hand out of the steady stream of workers and hungry folk. His head comes up at the bellowing about not having food fights and studies those gathered, eyes sharp for any who might buck. Hopefully with better luck than he managed the oven. He squints at Samira, but blinks at the Mercy quietly addressing him.

All the sudden yelling has Rorik ceasing his drumming - though it's after one last solid BANG against the pot. Then he snaps up straight, looking around wildly for the suspect. "It certainly wasn't us, we were saying it would be a waste!" Rorik agrees whole-heartedly with Tanith. It definitely wasn't them! He just clucks his tongue to the roof of his mouth and shakes his head back and forth. "Definitely no class. We've got class though, oh! One scoop or two?" he says this to the next person in line, filling up their bowl. "Please don't throw your food, it would be a terrible waste," he smiles pleasantly.

Poppy looks startledly at Tanith as she shouts. Her eyes automatically go to the children she's brought. But hey! It's not them. Phew. She smiles at Svana before she starts to clear away empty dishes. "I saw your announcement. Congratulations." However, it's Rukhnis who gets her attention. "Miss Rukhnis. A pleasure to see you. I've been meaning to come by and see you, but I know how busy we've all been." I'm fine. Still a little battered and bruised, but fine. Yourself?" She looks over to the Orphans and worries a little over them. "I hope no one minds me bringing them along. They promised best behaviour and I thought maybe a hot meal would bring a little cheer." Now that she has a whole stack of plates in hand, she briefly excuses herself to take them to the kitchen.

Ellani, the palm sized spider arrives, delivering a message to Rorik before departing.

Adrienne, exchanging quiet words with Vitalis that are not meant to carry, squints over Vitalis's injured hand in the maybe-too-prevalent firelight from the kitchen. She reaches into the bag she carries to extract a small jar and bandages. Humor flashes across her pale eyes at whatever she says to him as she coats the wound in a clear salve then wraps it neatly, her hand practiced at this. The look she slants toward the kitchens is more wary. Maybe it's supposed to smoke that much. It's probably fine.

Oh. He can breathe. Apollo looks /very/ satisfied, at that, straightening and looking around at the response to that. He nods once, smiles readily. "Is anyone done?" he shouts, trying to... coast on the dregs of Tanith's attention-getting. "I'll teach you lot a game and you can have off with your juggling-sack, if you put your plate in the bins." Did anyone hear him? Maybe some stragglers. He lifts his head, sniffs once at the air - casts a worried eye back toward the makeshift kitchen.

"Of course no one minds you bringing them along," Rukhnis says warmly, this not exactly being her say-so but taking it perfectly for granted nevertheless. "I know the Tragedy has struggled along with everyone else to keep enough nourishing food on the tables, and regardless of where these particular children have their home, I am sure it is the same everywhere." As one of them looks up at her with solemn curiosity -- perhaps wondering at her foreign look -- she just as solemnly extends the offer of her bread roll to the child. Then, the last of her food safely dispensed with, Rukhnis looks back to Poppy and goes on, "I am glad you were not much harmed by the crowd. I know that you are doing good work and a great deal of it. As for me, I am mostly tired, as I am sure you are yourself."

"Oh, I think there'd be more than one person ready to box ears, if that happened!" Nurie says brightly to Piccola. "Problem settled before it got too far," she agrees. Though at the scent of smoke, she freezes, growing visibly pale rather than the flush that's darkened her skin in the warmth of the room. She grows very still for a long moment, her eyes searching the ground and walls first, almost frantically, before she manages to wrap an arm around herself and settle. "It looks like the meal is winding down," she murmurs, softly. "Perhaps I'd better help clear so that there's room for the game."

"Tons of class! Trust me, I know how hard things've been lately. We were saying it WOULD be fun, but NOT NOW when food is scarce," Samira reiterates with careful emphasis on certain words, nodding in agreement with Rorik. "They probably oughta kick out whoever did start one though." A sage nod is offered as she flashes a smile to a straggler in line. "Hot soup! Warm in the belly, and then it sounds like time for a game or something."

There's a smile from Svana when Poppy wishes her congratulations. "Thank you," she says softly. She gives Tanith a pat on the back and then begins to clean up more plates, putting her pastry in her apron pocket, where it will be forgotten and cried about later in the wee hours of the morn.

Esme glances across the room and lifts her chin for a few people she sees and knows. A vibrant smile upon her lips as she tries to figure out the best place to help out. There is a muted shake of her head about taking a plate for food. Her emeald green eyes slide from one person to the other as her hands slowly come down. At the mention of fire, that same 'it wasn't me' look crosses her features as well.


"Who's that?"

Piccola taps Nurie on the shoulder again, and gestures in Poppy's direction. Her half-cousin would notice a change in her demeanor. The short woman is usually all tough leather and cold steel, but her eyes now seem like water. She wraps her arms around her body, as if she were suddenly uncomfortable.

An almost-pained expression rests on her face.


Tanith grins at Svana and finds a place to settle off her feet a minute, sighing.

"Finn, don't go straying off please. Stay out of the kitchen." Thea says all of the this to the dog like he knows what she's saying. And it seems he might as he tilts his head at her. Thea for her part, makes her way inside and smiles at those inside. Her gold-flecked green eyes find Rukhnis and she heads off in that direction,"Messere Rukhnis. This looks like quite the turn out,"going to make her way to help.

"Yes, certainly not NOW. But maybe in the far distant future," Rorik agrees with Samira, bending to catch her ear for a quick murmur before he straightens back up. "Games that aren't food fights would be fun though! I like playing games that aren't flinging food around. Oh, Lady Esme!" He picks up his ladle to wave it at her, careful not to splatter anyone with soup. "Come meet my protege, Mistress Samira!" he waves his ladle proudly at Samira and then dumps it back into the soup.

Vitalis sits setting his hand seen to by a Mercy, mouth stuffed with a roll that he seems to be trying to eat without a hand, eventually biting enough through to drop it into his unscorched and still be-mitted hand. "Thank you," he offers to the Mercy finally. He can only smile at Esme who arrives, flushed and showing forestalling hands. He gestures at himself, "It was me." A nosewrinkle, "They salvaged it, thankfully." He clears his throat and thanks the Mercy again. "I do a bit of campfire cooking." He blinks down at his hand, "Safely, if you can imagine that."

"White or wheat? Enjoy!" Sabella cheerfully says over and over and over again, not deviating from the script unless there's a child, in which case she chatters at them about how adorable they are and did they see the butters are in the shape of little gryphons? That is also super adorable!

Poppy disposes of the plates in the kitchen and returns to collect some more. As she passes,she chuckles at Rukhnis, her tone naturally bright. "I must admit I am looking forward to it being calm enough to go sleep in my bed. I haven't been this bone wary in years." She notices Esme and greets her warmly. "Lady Esme! Hello. it's been so long since I've seen you. How are you. Here. Come help me clear the plates." She extends a few plates into Esme's hands as she moves across the room to the kitchen. A brief scold to one of the children about playing the see-food game as she crosses. Piccolo's glance at her doesn't go unnoticed either. The woman gets a warm smile too.

Esme moves towards Vitalis for a moment to offer a light comment and reach out her hand to touch his shoulder. Then she's moving to Rorik with a larger smile. "You /patron/ someone?" Disbelief colors her eyes as she moves through the people. She makes sure not to get in the way of the hungry or those that haven't eaten. "It is most wonderful to meet you, Samira."

"It does indeed," Rukhnis agrees with Thea, glancing with approval around the crowded hall. "The Crafters Guild and all their many helpers have done a wondrous job of it. I am very glad to see so many people here receiving a good meal. I am sure a great many of them will be back in the days to come, and I hope it does them much good."

Felix has ended up, after many delivered pastry quarters have been given out, near the pats of butter. What's he doing? Using the tip end of a small kitchen knife to draw little mustaches on the gryphons. That just makes them more adorable, right? But he'll also help serve them, for those who need help, to cut the bread and slip some butter inside and send them off with a smile. And if Sabella looks that way, she just gets a grin in return, as he gives the newly arrived Esme a wave with his free hand, then back to gryphon stache drawing.

Nurie seems grateful for the distraction, tearing away from her thoughts to gaze where Piccola indicates, some of her color returning slowly. "I don't think I've ever met her," she explains apologetically. "But perhaps we could go and and introduce ourselves, if you'd like." She offers the tray to Piccola. "You can help clear too!" she decides.

Adrienne, masquerading as the Mercy she sometimes is - and accidentally stumbling into a situation requiring her skills - makes an amused noise at Vitalis's suggestion that he might be a sure-handed cook. She dismisses him with a lift of a few fingers and a glance to the - really, the smoke is probably fine - kitchens, careful to turn away with Esme's passing. She replaces jar and bandages into her bag and, scanning the room, drifts off to pick up a broom. Sweep sweep sweep. Nothing to see here.

There's a load of dishes being dropped off to the back, and Svana looks tired suddenly. She moves over to Apollo and kisses his cheek, giving his arm a squeeze. "I think I might need a lie down soon. We should talk, you and I, soon. Have a few things to tell you." She smiles softly at him, then takes her apron off. There's a moment as if she looks like she's replaced something and then... she remembers her pastry! Snatching it up, she starts shuffling to the door.

Kael dusts his hands, having finished with sorting out some things in the back. Not, mind you, that he knew what he was doing or where he was doing. He was just attempting to assist, see, and Marie is having none of it. The Keaton chef shoos him away and he snorts, complying, rejoining the gathering as a whole though staying a little bit off from the group. Now Apollo's last decree, that of a juggling sack, that has his brows lifting in unison with no small amount of interest. Dare his expression be described as hopeful?

Vitalis blinks at his hand, which feels... he experimentally moves his fingers and whistles low, "I don't know what you did, mmh, Mercy, but this feels much better. Thank you." He smiles at the glancing touch from Esme and nods. With some effort he gets the other mitt off and actually eats the roll he's ended up with. It's a good chance the games later don't require hands. He's down one. Stepped from the flow of activity, he scans about, looking for a likely place to jump back in.


"Excellent idea," murmurs Piccola to Nurie.

The former than breaks formation and starts walking towards Poppy and her charges. The entire point of being here -- helping Nurie in serving the public -- is abandoned in favor of whatever it is she intends to do. And that, apparently, is to cut through the crowd to the woman with the orphans.

It's easy when you're short.

"Excuse me," the dark-haired woman says to Poppy, once within earshot. She gestures behind her to Nurie. "May we help?" Hers is a tight, short smile. "With the young ones, that is." Beat. "I can help them get something to eat and find a table to sit at?" she suggests.

She seems eager to assist, for whatever reason.


"Here's hoping,"Thea tells tells Rukhnis with a smile as she goes to gather trays of plates. Looking up, her gold-flecked green eyes spy Samira,"Messere Samira, good evening. How is your mouse?" Yes--you heard that right. Mouse! Thea ducks away from a small child, grinning for a moment at her,"Yes, you may pet Finn. Maybe you can watch him for me?"watching as the child agrees excitedly.

"Yeah, games sound fun," Samira agrees, though she's still clutching her serving spoon in case anyone else might arrive needing soup. Nodding emphatically, she rises on tiptoe to help even out the height difference between herself and Rorik, whispering a reply. She turns then to glance curiously at the woman Rorik calls to, chin jutting out in an up-nod of a greeting. "He does. He's a great patron, too! Nice to meet you, Lady Esme." Hearing a familir voice, she turns to nod to Thea as well, the mention of the mouse bringing a pleased look. "He's really good, thank to your skills. Almost gotten eaten by a hound in the training center the other day - who brings hounds to the training center?" The same could be asked of mice, of course. "But it's okay. Crisis averted."

Rukhnis likewise helps clear away some of the plates in her vicinity as Apollo announces the upcoming game, taking some off tables and accepting some straight from the people who have just finished with them. Though she looks a little dubious regarding actually playing games herself, she nevertheless seems curious to see just what this activity entails.

Poppy turns with Piccola addresses her and smiles happily at the woman. "Oh yes. That would be wonderful." She wipes her hands on the apron wrapped around her waist. "I'm Lady Poppy Stahlben, a pleasure to meet you." She gestures to the children. "I'm certain the children would love a new person to talk too. And help with the game." She quickly scoops up the last of the plates as tables start to get moved.

"Yes, I /patron/ someone!" Rorik puts an uplifting note to the stress of the word when he says it to Esme. "That someone being Samira. She's the most amazing artist, soon to be very famous in Arx and then Arvum as well. We'll go around and she'll paint and I'll play, and it's going to be a huge thing. Perhaps the /biggest/ thing in the world," he exaggerates. Clearly he's got high hopes. He beams down at Samira afterward, swirling the last of the soup in the pot so that the good stuff doesn't sink to the bottom. "Do you want to help ladle out soup, Lady Esme? I hear there are going to be games soon. That aren't food fights."

Tanith is helping the others round up dishes, leading with her own armful to the kitchens, barking orders to get some kind of organized washing production going. "You break a dish, I break your dreams of dessert!" is shouted more than once.

On the forward rock, Bedivere stands up from the rocking chair then sets the Cabbit down on the seat there as it is still rocking. Cabbit does his bast to get his sea legs about him as the chair deccelerates.

Bedivere has left the Oliver's exquisitely painted rocking chair.

Esme smiles that radiate smile towards Samira. "That is good to hear." Then she cants her head to listen to Rorik's plans and her smile curves. "I am quite certain that is exactly how it will be. I hope both of you won't forget to acknowledge me when you become famous. It shall be a legendary thing and I cannot wait to see a performance." At the mention of a food fight, her eyes widen. "I would never.." And then she looks away and towards the soup. "I can if you need help. It seems I have come towards the end of things wrapping up." Her eyes track Felix for a few moments to make sure he doesn't need help and then scan the area before coming back to the duo she's speaking with.

Apollo weaves his way over toward the case, which usually shows off items of prestige... but what the co-Guildmaster has decided would be more useful, today, is some /fun/. It's stuffed to the brim with green-and-black foot-juggling sacks, which look sort of like sad hand-balls, understuffed. He moves into the space Nurie's helped create, and starts tossing a few of the sacks to the kids, just so he can demonstrate: balancing a sack on the toe of their shoes (or just their toes, though he seems to be taking notes about how many he sees unshod); kicking it in a small arc up into the air; watching it fall, getting a foot under for an inside kick, an outside kick. He saves the flashy stuff for the adults - lobbing a sack at Marquis Kael, who obviously knows how to play, and one to Lord Vitalis, freshly trained.

Frosty, a friendly English sheepdog, Misty, a sweet-hearted, but bossy Mistward Labrador leave, following Svana.

To be used as a launching pad doesn't seem to offend Nurie at all, if anything, it makes her hide a smile and shake her head just a little. As they draw closer, she quitetly starts to clear away places that are vacated as more and more people take interest in the game soon to be offered--carefully stacking bowls and then putting spoons in top, now that she's trayless, and at least keeping an eye out for the many small bodies milling about as larger furniture is moved out of the way. "A pleasure to meet you, Lady Poppy," is her reply, softly spoken and accompanied by a bright smile that reaches her eyes. She laughs with delight as the case is opened. "Oh, how lovely!" she exclaims, pausing to watch for a few moments instead of going directly for the kitchens, especially as Apollo begins to demonstrate.

Sabella grins back at Felix, offering a little wave before looking to the next people in line, "White or wheat? Enjoy!" She finally notices Esme and offers her a wave as well, then says to Nurie as she passes, "Do you want to trade for a bit? I'm as terrible at carrying trays as I am at soup but if you'd like a break I'd be more than happy to give you one!"

Vitalis checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 55 higher. Vitalis rolled a critical!

Rukhnis gets an Oakhaven foot-juggling sack from CRAFTERS' GUILD DISPLAY CASE.

Stepping forth on patent leather, Bedivere apparently chooses shoes. Mewnwhile, the rocking chair slowed down just enough that Cabbit can curl up on it.

Rukhnis actually looks more than a little intrigued as Apollo and his volunteers conducts that exemplary display of agility using the odd little foot-sacks. She watches for a little while, her dark gaze following the various balls around keenly, then nods thoughtfully. Sidling unobtrusively over the display case, she reaches down into it for a sack of her own, after depositing some silver as a donation.

Vitalis was looking for something to jump into and here it is: Oakhaven foot-juggling, which has the decency to not be particularly innuendo laden. He catches Apollo's sack-- well, damn. He hops to, hands flared to balance, bandaging no barrier here, to catch the ball tossed him on the instep of his foot. Good student, apparently. Catch. Flip. Bounce, kick. Look alive, next target!


"Piccola of House Tessere."

And then, the little woman turns her attention to the little ones. She smiles at them, and, as promised, helps the young wards to find a table to sit at, where they can eat in peace. Meanwhile, she attempts to converse with Poppy and Nurie. "You run an orphanage, Lady Stahlben?" asks the Tessere woman curiously, at one point.

"How is it that you have come into the care of these children?"


Kael checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 25 higher.

Thea winks over at Samira,"Yes. Who would ever,"looking over at Finn. "Or people should just train their hounds better,"the Malvici decides. OBVIOUSLY it's the trainers fault. "I'm glad it's doing better though. You should name it at this point, the mouse I mean,"going to bring the swap empty trays for full ones. "Princess Sabella, good evening."

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

Adrienne checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 25 higher.

Sabella checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 11 lower.

Kael's hopeful look is evidently rewarded, for when that leather sack is lobbed his way, he skips back and then catches it on the foot of his boot, kicking it up (though let's face facts, it has been years and there is the slightest teeter-totter of him prior to graceful display) so that he can catch it on the instep. For a moment it seems he might sling it back to him and then he seems to take pity, instead surveying the crowd. Ah-hah, catching sight of Bedivere there, Kael tries to make contact with the man in the rocking chair and gives a little upchin, a tilt of his head. Shall he send it that way?

Kael gets an Oakhaven foot-juggling sack from CRAFTERS' GUILD DISPLAY CASE.

Samira follows Thea's glance to Finn and back-tracks. "Oh, right, well, y'know. He's probably really well-trained. Right now he's going by Mousey, but we'll see what name I settle on." Dark gaze flickers to the other noblewoman nearby. "We would never either," she assures Esme with a somber expression after a whispered exchange with Rorik. She's on the verge of saying more, but her attention is snagged by the demonstrations of the game. "Oh, it's like how we kick rocks down by the river." Except not really like that at all, Samira. Still, she watches the path of the ball curiously.

Cabbit keeps the chair purroccupied as Bedivere stands to grin a touch to Kael before nodding up to his fellow Academy-of-War member. He sure seems ready!

Tanith emerges from the kitchens just in time to get a ball and start the game. She's not so great at learning how. She tries though, but instead of a demure, balanced pop and bounce of leather sack-

-ball goes flying across the room. Tanith, panicked, shouts "DUCK!" who whomever finds themselves in its way.

Poppy laughs softly as people begin to juggle with their feet before her attention returns to Piccola. "Oh no Lady Piccola. Not yet anyway. I have been volunteering at the tragedy since I arrived in the city. These children are from there." Her entire face brightens with excitement as she talks however. 'But, Lady Brianna and I have been discussing building our own orphange and possibly linking the children with crafters or businesses so they can learn a trade and earn their own income rather than rely on just the charity of others." She smiles at the room full of people helping before sharing. "People often come together much easier in the face of tragedy, it needs to be something more long standing -" She pauses when she hears Tanith yell and ducks even though the ball may be nowhere near her.

"I think we're at the bottom of the pot. Soup was on, and now it's off," Rorik tells Esme with a grin at his joke, dropping the ladle in so that he can haul the pot over to whoever is handling the dishes. That done, he wipes his hands on his apron, bending to say something to Samira when the **DUCK!** is shouted through the air. Perhaps it's a good thing he bent when he did. His eyes go wide as the ball goes flying, and he makes sure to wedge himself in front of Samira just in case. No balls in the face for his protege!

Kael's either going to get fancy or silly, for his lips adopt a little crooked grin and he hops thrice in a circle with that sack balanced and then it is kicked yonder in the direction of Bedivere. "Up!" he calls forth in warning with no small amount of fine spirit.

Having made a donation and obtained some manner of peculiar fun in turn, Rukhnis turns her gaze to the doors and lets out a quiet sigh. Evidently she thinks it's getting late, and probably she's thinking of all the work that she's not doing. This almost certainly being the case, she merges back into the crowd and sidles her way softly towards the exit, disappearing off into the night (before she can become the next person to take foot-sack to the face).

"They have duck here?" Sabella asks, sounding genuinely impressed as she turns towards the sound of Tanith yelling that! Only instead of seeing someone carrying a platter full of delicious duck drippings, instead she gets beaned in the face with that little ball, stumbling back a step or two in shock and flinigng her hands up, "WHITE OR WHEAT!" she shrieks as she falls back on her ass, looking a little stunned.

Tanith checked composure at difficulty 90, rolling 56 lower.

As Kael sends the sack his way, Bedivere moves one of his feet up to try to potentially catch it on the leather over his right foot, but then there is Sabella's shriek, and he quickly glances her way and totally drops it. "Princess Sabella, are you okay?" The whitehawk guards who have been around immediately move to try to help her if need be and actually desired as much.

"Of course, your highness," Nurie replies gratefully to Sabella. "I can help finish up with the serving line, if you don't mind! It looks like everyone will soon be busy at the game!" And truth be told, she seems less nervous the further she is now from the makeshift kitchen. She tilts her head a little in confusion at the mention of duck. "I don't think so, it's just--" But then comes the flying ball, and Nurie gasps in dismay, moving to offer Sabella a hand up. "Are you all right, Princess Sabella? My stars and garters, let's get you up right away!"

There's a bleat of alarm from Tanith, the woman running across the hall to make amends to whomever it is she managed to murder with her leather sack. "Oh gods oh gods oh gods oh gods-" And she skids to Sabella's side. "Oh no I murdered a princess, the boys will kill me-" she laments, panicked. "My lady! My lady, I am so sorry, are you alright?"

Tanith checked wits + medicine at difficulty 15, rolling 18 higher.

Oh god. He... he thought he'd covered his bases by pre-training someone in the fine art of foot-juggling. Seeding the crowd with someone who knew how to play. This? This is why Apollo Oakwood is only /co/-Guildmaster; a leader would know better, and would not be skating by on charm and bad ideas. He looks stricken. He doesn't know what to do. Wait. She said white-or-wheat. He goes to get bread.

Adrienne is unobtrusive and definitely not eavesdropping on any of the nearby conversations as she fills a dustpan and empties it. Tanith's yell has her flinching, knuckles white around her broom, before recognizing that the target is Sabella, felled by foot ball. She gasps, covering her mouth against a choked sound and desperately looking away from where Nurie offers her assistance. Sweep, Adrienne. SWEEP.

Esme starts to say something and just drops her head low as she hears the word 'duck'. Her eyes try to figure out where and what is coming over towards them. Then she watches as it sails and into Sabella's face. "OH, by the thorns, are you quite alright?" Her smile moves between Rorik and Samira but she shifts away to leave them to their whispered conversation. There is a tip of her head. "You murdered her with balls to the face? Did she chok--oh." Yep, Esme is just going to step away for now. STEP.

Reason 1 you should have have a dog. Finn goes running to Sabella to lick the her face. Because you know--she's hurt! Reason 2 to not have a dog. She's licking the Princess' face AND now trying to retrieve the ball because FETCH! Thea meanwhile is sighing,"Damnit Finn, no!"rushing over to Sabella,"You're alright, Sabella,"discipling her dog meanwhile.


"Mm-hmm," mumbles Piccola in accord with what Poppy has to say.

"I'm new to the city, but if there is a way I can assist -- " The dark-haired woman gestures to the children. " -- I would like to." This is said in a way that suggests an earnest motive, and an important goal. "I've not much money or affluence, and I am not -- I would not be a good role model -- but however I can help you and Lady Brianna, who I have not met -- "

The Tessere lady leaves her thoughts there.



Felix, however, can't help but laugh once it's clear that Sabella isn't too hurt, but with everyone crowding around her, the smith stays out of the way and lets the others help her up even if it is instinct to try to help. It's more Tanith's panic and Esme's almost commentary that has the smith covering his mouth and trying to supress a fit of giggles.

"Soup's gone, bellies're full. I'd say that seemed to be a pretty big success." Samira nods matter-of-factly to Rorik - but then people are shouting warnings and Rorik is throwing himself in front of her as a shield. She instinctively lets out a yell of alarm and hunches low, peeking around Rorik. "Uh oh. I think it's Princess Sabella." She winces sympathetically, straightening up from her hunched position. "I should probably be getting back." Someone's worried about her coordination perhaps? "But this was a really nice event and I'm glad we came."

Sabella is on the ground trying to figure out what just hit her, then Thea's dog is licking her face and everyone is running over and she starts to laugh, "I'm fine, I'm fine! Thank you," she takes any offered hands up or at least two of them since she only has two herself, brushing down her dress and rubbing her cheek a bit, "Thank you--thank you," she says to those that came over, "It really could have been worse, it could've been a duck! Or a pelican. It's fine! I'm fine. Really. And now that the show has begun surely someone here can keep up with the music and have the laughs continue?"

"Oh no! Sabella!" Rorik's eyes widen as he looks over to his Grayson cousin, but there's relief when she starts to laugh. "Oh, she's fine. That's great, it would be terrible if she wasn't. But you're right, I think it's a good time to leave before MORE balls go flying into MORE faces," he says to Samira. "But this? This was SOUP-er fun, Samira," he beams at his joke, laughing as he hands off his apron to whoever is in charge of aprons. As he passes by Esme, he puts a hand to her shoulder to whisper something to her, and then he's out!

Poppy assures Piccola, her hand reaching to squeeze the other woman's arm. "I'm sure that's not true. I imagine you'd be a wonderful influence. And you'd be welcome at the orphanage anytime. Once Lady Brianna and I have something solid, I'll let you know. All the aid we can get would be wonderful." She releases Piccola's arm when Sabella is bowled over, "Oh dear."

Tanith frets over Sabella. "Oh don't stand so quickly- ...Oh, my lady, I am -so- sorry. Let me just-" But the very efficient Grayson princess is standing and brushing herself off, and Tanith and her visions of stocks and jail and exile starts to relax.

After one of the whitehawk Guards on one side and Nurie on the other help up the fallen Princess of Grayson, those guards head back to continue serving, after they made sure Sabella was okay. Bedivere picks up the foot ball.

When Sabella rises, just fine, Apollo looks down at the bread options in his head. "I'd never!" he says, and - you know what, probably nobody heard that. He's just going to stuff one of those pieces of bread in his mouth, and go fish an Oakhaven foot-juggling sack out of the display for her, which he goes to present by /HANDING IT TO HER/, face puppy-dog apologetic and bread-stuffed. She earned it.

"It was. I can't think of a uh... BREAD-er time." Samira removes her apron and depositing it in the appropriate spot, following Rorik's lead. A hand lifts to wave at those she passes, particularly familiar faces or those newly met, before she meanders out the door.

Kael grimaces at that shriek, going up to his toes for a moment to peer across the crowd and attempt to assess that everything is relatively fine and fair. Once he's assured that there is no serious issue at hand, his eyes flick back to track Apollo for a moment. You know, just in case. Whatever he sees has him nod his head to himself before he goes to find a member of his retinue, Vern. There is a brief exchange, a few words swiftly written, and then Vern is going off to the donation counter.

Samira leaves, following Rorik.

Merek makes a way into the Crafters Hall, looking about, his silver-black attire on, while he adjusts the scarf which he wears. The man finds a place to settle in and begin to assist.

Merek gets an Oakhaven foot-juggling sack from CRAFTERS' GUILD DISPLAY CASE.


Piccola's eyes only move briefly to where Sabella falls.

She turns her attention back to the children. She crouches by their table, and while the collected staff assist the fallen princess, the Tessere lady murmurs quietly to them. One of them raises a bowl, and she dutifully takes it and fills it again for the child, returning after.

When she gets back to the table, she tells Poppy, "I will provide whatever assistance I can."


Thea just sighs at Finn but she's laughing as Sabella is getting up,"Really Sabella. Balls to the face? What next..."pulling Finn away."Go keep the chidren happy,"looking over at Poppy, Thea asks"An orphanage?" Looking around for further balls.

The Crafter's Guild hall is in a bit if disarray; space was cleared as many people finished eating to play a game, but balls got lobbed and mis-directed, and someone got it in the face, that someone being Princess Sabella Grayson, who never lost her dignity. Lots of red faces in the room, though.

A foot sack goes wide where a gaggle of young children test their new game and Adrienne, with a surprising amount of skill in broom-wielding, manages to catch the ball on the head of her broom and deftly flip it back to them with a spin, robes fluttering. She winks discreetly to them and returns to cleaning the floors.

Sam, who is a boy and definitely not a princess in disguise arrives, following Niklas.

Esme gets a message from a person named Isabelle and jots one down. Her eyes widen a bit. "Niklas says you take it hard and fst to the face more than once. Oh Sabella! I didn't know. I'm so /sooooo/ sorry about that. I didn't know that was a /thing/. You know for you. I've made sure to let him know I wouldn't judge at all. You should know too. I still think you are great." She will move over a bit as she watches people come and go. Esme will attempt to angle towards Felix.

"Thank you," Sabella says graciously to Apollo when she's handed a ball, then she says brightly to Thea, "Oh, I've taken much worse to the face before! Do you remember Steve?" And without explaining that to anyone that might not know, she raises both hands in a calming motion to Tanith, "I'm fine! It's okay! Evaine used to put us through worse during stage combat practice and I'm not sure how since I was usually tree number two, but I'm fine, really! And the bread tonight is delicious, I've had a wonderful time handing it out tonight--" and then she hears someone mention the orphanage, "Oh! Are you talking about the Tragedy? I absolutely adore the children there! I was thinking about arranging another meet and greet at the Shrine of Jayus for them with some crafts! I'd love some help."

Merek blinks a bit at the situation, as well as the jokes, all that. The man nods a bit, maneuvering to find a ball of his own and play games with people!

"Well, now we know that it's relatively harmless!" Nurie finds the silver lining, once everyone's back up on their feet. At least her earlier worried expression is completely gone, replaced by humor and the easing of the guard that had risen. She watches some of the more adventurous moves of the children testing out the new balls, with no little delight, especially at Adrienne's fancy broomwork. But she too returns to work, being sure to ladle the last of the soup into waiting bowls, and then starting to gather up the extra utensils and bowls to stack neatly on waiting trays for the next meal.

Once Kael has attended to that little business with Vern he looks back out across the crowd in search of someone else. Ah-hah, he spies his wife and goes to offer a few words in exchange. It is a brief thing and he is assisting her with getting to her feet. Now, he makes certain to try to make eye contact with Apollo again, up-chin toward the young man, and then the pair are off.

Vern, 2 Keaton Huntsmen leave, following Kael.

"The guild would happily help with that," Apollo says, finding his voice after swallowing a lump of dry bread. Come on, Apollo. Maybe now is not the time to uh, show your generous spirit. He goes to find that lemonade, even if the dish did run away with the spoon. He'll just get a cup and scoop it straight into the bowl, wash down that stodgy mess.

Not knowing anything about Steve, Thea certainly pretends she does,"Of course. Steve to the face,"she nods to Sabella. "I'm so sorry. Your face still looks lovely all things considering. You should tell me your secret one day." Remembering there's a tray in her hand, Thea hands that off, wiping her hands on her pants,"I quite enjoyed myself here this evening.

Niklas comes running in, holding a carrot in one hand and a potato in the other. "Sabella! I came running as soon as I heard!" He looks around for someone taking donations or serving needy people or just whoever looks the poorest with the most dirt on their face and children with crutches. He stops in front of the aforementioned filthy-faced urchin and says, "I support eating!" and slams the carrot and potato down in front of them, then runs over to his wife. "How bad is it? Where did you get hit?" He leans in close and whispers, "Did someone attempt to rob you?"

Niklas mutters, "... it a poor ..."

Poppy beams at Piccola first and nods to Thea, and Sabella inclusive. 'Yes. I brought the children from the tragedy tonight. I hope no one minds. Food is a little scarce there too, and I'm sure they would love that Your Highness" She looks worried for a moment like she's overstepped. But moving on. She shares with Thea. "Lady Brianna and I were talking about opening a new orphange with a more long term program. One that sees them earning their own living rather than relying on charities. It's a lot more work and planning before we make it a reality."

Tanith blanches at Niklas' arrival and words, momentarily calmed by Sabella only to immediately ramp up at her spouse's arrival.

Felix meanders over to tap Tanith on the shoulder, leaning in to stage whisper. "The Guard are on their way, make sure you have your story right. That leather ball threw itself at the princess in a firm desire to become a Grayson, right?" but he's just gotten over his giggle fit, so it maybe doesn't come out as serious as he tries to make it sound.

Tanith looks at Felix like she might bake him in her next pie.

Tanith mutters, "You're a terrible person, that is NOT ..."

Thea considers Niklas with a lifted eyebrow but tells him,"She took the ball to the face like a champ. Followed by a proper licking,"assuring the Prince with a nod to the head, even straight faced. Looking to Poppy, the Malvici asks,"If you'd like, I can see about helping in some way..."

It's surely coincidence that Adrienne, masquerading as a Mercy tonight, directs her diligent broomwork closer to Tanith and Felix. Clearing her throat, she murmurs something to the pair, voice not meant to carry further than them.


Tanith blinks at Adrienne, looks at Felix. Then jerks!

"Did you hear that?" she gasps. "Someone broke a dish in the kitchens! Don't worry, Guildmaster, I've got it!" And Tanith rushes off to said kitchens.


"Looks like there's plenty of support."

Piccola inclines her head in Thea's direction. "Lady Malvici." She's assisting Poppy's wards with the food. Because, like many children, when presented with food their appetite is in sloppy-overdrive. After helping the first child, others start asking for help. And more: more bread, more soup. It keeps her moving.

Thankfully, the small woman seems up to the task.


Apollo, re-collecting his senses, pauses to get another cup, dunk it, so he can bring some to she-who-was-beaned-in-the-face. The apologies, none of them are words. Niklas will surely think it's for him, though, probably, and he won't argue. Has he gone mute? He's just going to weave around the room, looking like he's lost the thread until he finds some children playing again.

Felix is about to reply to both Tanith and Adrienne, when the former goes running off, and Felix has to cover another little cackle, before he straightens up and gives Adrienne a little nod, calling after Tanith, "There's also a lot of pastries missing, and I'm not sure where they got to." as he pulls one wrapped in cloth from his pocket, breaks it in half, and offers half to Adrienne, already moving to eat the other one himself.

Sabella looks surprised when Niklas rushes over to her and then laughs, taking his hands, "It's fine, it was just an accident! They're giving away these little balls and one just took a wrong turn into my face. And thank you, Lady Thea! Nik, if you would help me gather up some pla--" she pauses, as if realizing who she's speaking to, "Hand out these beautiful little pats of gryphon butter to anyone that's getting a roll! That would be wonderful."

As things settle, Nurie gets back into motion, directing the empty soup pot back towards the kitchen with the assistance of some people more brawny than herself, following along with a few spare dishes that have been missed. As she passes Apollo on the way back to help with the washing up as well, she says somthing softly to him, before joining the others taking on scrub up duty.

Watching Tanith go, Adrienne is slow to look up to Felix, eyes narrowing with faint amusement. She accepts the offering from him with a respectful tilt of her head before going back to her near-silent swish swish sweeping.

Esme shifts her weight a bit as she misses Felix in angling in that direction. So, she offers towards Sabella, "I'm glad you are all right." Then a bright smile at Niklas. "Be careful, I think they do that whirlypool thing. Where they turn in circles and rotate.. or maybe I'm thinking of something else. Just defend your mouth. I'd hate for you to get struck in it. Stray balls are nothing to shake a head at. You have to be prepared to bob, maybe hold your breath, but the outcome always seems to be messy." She grins towards the two. "Okay, I should be off. It was /most lovely/ to see you both."

While Piccola has been busy feeding all the tiny mouths, one small one has come and reached her arms up to Poppy. The young Stahlben lady picks the small child up and settles her into the crook of her hip, not an ounce of care for the dirt and soup that may be transfering from the child to her. She gives the small girl a cuddle and asks 'Are you ready to return home?" She looks over to the other children finishing their food and gratefully smiles at Piccola 'It was a real pleasure to meet you Lady Piccola. Please come to the orphanage whenever you'd like. They never turn down any aid."

Thea nods over to Piccola, a smile for her,"Lady Piccola. Good evening. How are you?" Hearing Esme, she smirks a little,"Takes practice, but it can be done right,"setting some full trays down.

Tanith is never heard from again.

...that night.


"And you as well, Lady Stahlben."

Piccola straightens back to her height once Poppy signals that she will be returning to the orphanage. A moment of hesitation follows, as if she wants to follow along for whatever reason. But she remains, turning her attention thereafter to Thea. "I came to assist as I can, Lady Malvici." She inclines her head briefly.

"I trust you are well tonight?"



Felix, however, is similarly on his way out, and slips an an arm through Esme's, his other offering her half a pastry that he gleaned from somewhere, the other half passed off to one of Piccola's charges on his way by. "Lady Esme, glad you could make it, and I hope you both enjoyed it and found a way to contribute. I hope you've been well in the last few days? Everyone vanishes when I need to attend to work, though I imagine waiting does grow boring."

Niklas pulls Sabella into a hug and kisses her cheek in the most chasteful way, then steps away from her and looks first to the plates, then to the butter, like what the fuck am I supposed to do with any of this? His expression betrays genuine confusion, though cogs are turning, but before he can do something amazing like propose an economic model where half the people in the lowers get work as maids for the other half of the people in the lowers on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays while the other half work as maids for the first half on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, thus assuring everyone has work AND is nice and clean, Niklas overhears Esme and says, "Gods, Lady Esme, so filthy. I'm disappointed." Then he turns back to his wife and squeezes her hands.