As the auction starts, Esme is moving around the area. "I don't know why we don't use the auction house more often." She grins as she moves through to put out the things that were displayed. "We should also figure out what charity to donate this to. I think I'll have others make suggestions." There are others walking around with drinks and finger foods.

With Sir Floppington beside her, Nova moves through the party people and then picks off a couple pieces of party food (if not sugary) from the passing trays before putting in a bid for the sexy book. "9 grand!"

Merek makes a way into the place, and looks about. He would place a bid for of course the Merchant Prince painting! While he finds a place to settle in and await the auction in full!

Esme drops Merchant Prince, a hopeful painting.

Esme drops A poem and Painting.

Esme drops a dusky purple coat-dress with tailored princess seams and a gossamer icefall skirt.

Esme drops a linen summer gown embroidered with a phoenix.

Esme drops A glitter mural that takes up the entire wall.

Esme drops The Bountiful Bee.

Bryn, a flustered lovelorn Prodigal assistant, Khadija, a most lovely voice of reason arrive, following Svana.

Strozza shouts from nearby, "ECHO!"

My it's a large hall - good acoustics... He's almost inclined to throw his head back and give a proper test after that initial hollering - but it's enough that the sheer number of mewing and trilling fuzzballs that walk with Strozza are enough cacophony apparently. Fourteen of them, though one remains perched on the Admiral's shoulder with his tail curled around his neck.

The rest are veritable carpet of gray fur that seems to shimmer blue or violet depending on the light, some 'herded' by Kuhlai who travels in the Mazetti's wake once they're through the door. But most odd, despite his surrounding of felines, he is stern faced and glowering. Mouth twisted in a carved frown that lines his features.

As the auction starts, Esme is moving around the area. "I don't know why we don't use the auction house more often." She grins as she moves through to put out the things that were displayed. "We should also figure out what charity to donate this to. I think I'll have others make suggestions." There are others walking around with drinks and finger foods.

Merek pets the cats while he walks around, a bit content to find each one of them to take care of, while he keeps up with the auction, mainly waiting for anything to do with the painting of the Merchant Prince.

Svana is beginning to properly waddle again, and she enters somewhere behind Strozza. The cats in front of her make her eyes widen but she looks now torn between petting them and going for finger foods. Hygiene! She instead circles over to Esme and smiles, leaning in to give her a soft hug. "Lady Esme, it is a pleasure to see you again! I am glad that you decided to have this event. I've been meaning to make it out, but... between this," she says, motioning to her belly, "and work, I keep busy."

Both Scout Rowenova and Sir Floppington certainly love kitty cats, and so they both happily visit the fancy felines, doing so with a smile forth to Merek, "Kitties!" says the wolfy scout then happily snacks on the party food between kitty pets. Sir Flop noses one very gently.

Esme brightens immediately to them as they come in. She wraps her arms around Svana. "Thank you so much for donating. You are looking fabulous." Her lips curve more as there is a blink at the cat explosion that enters. A tip of her auburn haired head. "I..." A sharp look of her emerald eyes before she smiles vibrantly at Strozza. "It is good to see you." She will attempt to hug him. She's moving towards the others. "Nova! Did you bring your boss with you to spend his money?"

Bapbapbap! Paws with claws sheathed tap at Flop's nose as he noses at the ball of fur. A mew and then a furious bunting of head to muzzle is the canine's reward from one of Strozza's veritable sea of furry companions.

Esme's hug is received, and warmly as well, "Most welcome sight to befall my eyes - like a silk scarf carried in the breeze, Lady Esme." there is even a squeeze before Esme moves on! The WONDER of it. And then he is moving towards the Glitter Painting.

Oh sweet crushed gems pressed into winding portraiture of dazzling colour.

He must have it. The Precious.

Svana hugs Esme back, and then lets her do her rounds, grinning. "You're not looking bad yourself!" She moves on to Rowenova, embracing the other woman when she's between bites and pets. "Nova! Come here, it's been ages since I saw you last! How are you?" She asks, her stomach growling loudly. Svana blushes and looks around at the donations, smiling. "There's quiet a variety here."

Nova lets out a little laugh, "No, but I did speak to my liege last night, and seems he is doing well enough." Of course, Esme gets a hug before she frees one wiry arm and snugs up Svana as well. A group hug here! "I am doing well, and extremely excited about the upcoming wedding. Bidding on the book, I am. You?"

Esme moves to the rainbow mural and lets her fingers run over it. There is a long look at it as if she sees something in it that others do not. There is a mutter about closed chapters. Then she brightens at Nova. "I think that is most wonderful. Do you have a date in mind?" She smiles at Merek and slides over towards him. "How are you doing?" Direct question. That must be it. Direct questioning. Then to Strozza. "You are married now too." She puts a hand to her heart. "I am shattered. I had so /desperately/ hoped you would choose me." Ignore that was never on the books. Then Svana. "How are the children doing? And you feeling?"

Merek looks then to Esme and blinks a bit, "Well enough, thank you," he offers, quiet as always.

Svana kisses Nova's cheek happily. "I'm so happy you and Tarik are finally going to get married. Then maybe you'll give me a niece or nephew for a chance," she says teasingly. She looks around and then nods over to Merek, smiling at him. Esme's question shifts her attention back to the conversation in front of her. "The children will be one in three days!" Svana says, like a parent who is totally not counting down. "They're talking a few words and trying to walk on their own, but they still need help. It's really quite cute if not for those who are impatient." Svana laughs and looks down at herself. "I am feeling fat. I want this baby - or these babies - to come. Soon."

There's a beat and Svana adds to Strozza, "Did you marry Lady Orelia?"

"Oh, dear Esme - you had seemed to much more enraptured with others, I am so dour and you're so bright. But yes I found my sunrise what would break the storm and I find there is a little more to things than what once were." Waxing into prose as ever, Strozza leans his head into Night's shift to bunt his face against his cheek. The man and his cat sharing their moment before both look back to Esme,

"And you, my dear - has romance remained just at fingertips?" further inquiry shifting to Svana and his head bows, a faint smile cracking the stern exterior. He even lifts a hand where a band of star iron shimmers over the heart finger.

@emit Nova pauses a bit to accept that cheek kiss from Svana before then shaking her wolf-framed noggin to Esme's inquiry. "No date yet, but I have our rings, and all our clothes are done, and we are ready to go! I think he wants to have fun for a few years before we have kids, which is fine with me. But one day!" Smiling softly, Nova awws softly. She glances down to Sv's belly before then looking back up. "Feel free to come rest on the couch if you need to." Then, letting out a little laugh, she lets go.

Eadwacer, the one-eared rat arrives, following Aslaug.

Esme laughs fully to that question. "Love is always around us, My Most Dearest. I have felt it, but I'm not signing any contracts at this point in my path. Perhaps I will not." Her lips curve up a bit more. "I am gloriously excited to be here and to witness all the contracts and praises to Limerance." She moves over and extends a hand. "Last bids should be given. There is a wonderful rainbow mural if anyone would like it."

Esme is overheard praising Devotions.

Svana looks at Strozza's ring, admiring the craftsmanship. "Well, congratulations to you both! That was a long time coming," she says, playfulness glinting in her eyes. She gently nudges Rowenova with her shoulder. "Oh you! Well, perhaps that will actually do the trick - but as it stands, I need the baby to stay in there a wee bit longer as of just yet." Svana moves on to gather up finger foods, beginning to eat hungrily.

Esme is overheard praising Lorenzo.

Esme is overheard praising Svana.

Esme is overheard praising Svana.

Esme is overheard praising Strozza.

Svana is overheard praising Esme: The most devoted Devotion.

Esme is overheard praising Rowenova.

Esme is overheard praising Orick.

Merek is overheard praising Esme.

Merek is overheard praising Svana.

Merek is overheard praising Rowenova.

Merek is overheard praising Strozza.

"Oh, sweet one, then I wish you well in your endeavors and shall still offer you a dance before, during, and likely many times after the reception, yes?" winking and smiling to Esme before Strozza's eyes turn back to Svana, "It was - but we didn't suffer for the time - she has seen so much of the sea and I the woodlands at behest of eachother." one of his many cats toddling over to Svana now and flopping on one of her feet. Demanding pets.

DEMANDING.

PETS.

Bryn, a flustered lovelorn Prodigal assistant, Khadija, a most lovely voice of reason leave, following Svana.

Bryn, a flustered lovelorn Prodigal assistant, Khadija, a most lovely voice of reason arrive, following Svana.

Merek claps a bit, not knowing what he's clapping for, all the same he keeps petting kitties.

Merek gets 10000 silver from a belt made with black leather, and small compartments.

Esme takes Merchant Prince, a hopeful painting.

Esme takes A glitter mural that takes up the entire wall.

Esme takes A poem and Painting.

Esme takes The Bountiful Bee.

Esme takes a linen summer gown embroidered with a phoenix.

Esme takes a dusky purple coat-dress with tailored princess seams and a gossamer icefall skirt.

Double checking that the book bid is still hers, Nova shells out the silver before turning back to Svana with a laugh. "Thank you. Getting all the ideas that I can for the future, you know." She takes the book and gives it a wave, cracking up about her own joke.