Henrik have been dismissed.

Crow - Thraxian Steward have been dismissed.

Lilybelle - Fluffy Maine Coon have been dismissed.

3 Fidante House Guards, Alejandro arrive, following Calista.

Prince Aiden Grayson arrives with Countess Nicia Pravus on his arm, the pair dressed nearly close enough to say they planned it, with the Countess in an autumn colored dress and the Prince in a crimson silken shirt. They arrive in casual conversation, something about honeycombs and water fountains that drifts off as they approach the Living Skein, the place of the evident maze event. Aiden glances over toward Nicia, a good natured grin on his face, "If we get too lost..." he pats his belt pouch, "I've something to keep us entertained until they send rescue parties."

Edain is fairly quiet when he approaches the Greenmarch Lodge, and makes his way towards the hedge maze. He cranes up on his toes as he looks over some of the people that have already gathered, trying to see if he can see the tops of the dangerous shrubbies that will be navigated tonight and trying to see if he can get a sense of the lay of the land.

It's a beautiful night, though a touch on the chilly side. Servants abound in the well-lit maze (oh, there are some dark corners to get lost in, don't worry) and raucous music comes from the center of the twisting, turning hedges where the gazebo has been set up to host the band. Tables are all around the center, laden with good food and drink. But one must get there, first. Servants wait to help people enter.

Orazio arrives in silks rather than robes, but that seems to the Legate's only consession to the idea that this might involve a carefully curated experience with nature. He studies the hedges with an air of benign resignation. "If there were deadly traps, someone would warn us, yes?"

Gaston has it perhaps easier than Edain, being a head taller than most of the fellow participants. He gives a bow to the High Lord as he sees the man, and other, smaller nods, to the others he recognizes. He stands off to the side a bit, one hand idly rubbing at the head of the young wolfhound beside his person.

1 Saik Guard arrives, following Estaban.

Walking towards the grounds, Caelis has her hands resting lightly on her skirts as she walks. She looks up to the hedge and smiles when she sees so many familiar faces and curtsies to the group. "Good evening. I wonder who will be the first to find the center?" She asks aloud and wanders up to Prince Edain's side. "Your tall, want to team up your Grace?"

High Lord Victus Thrax arrived with his own protege Sameera upon his arm. Not joined today by any retinues nor any extra entourage save for the pretty jeweler, his dark eyes sweep out across the Maze to take in the sight of those few whom he recognizes. Edain recieves a nod of respect of course, Nicia, Caelis and Calista all receiving none too subtle waves as well. He looks down at his protege, "Takin' bets or are we just sayin' fuck it?"

"Wonderful! Hopefully they do not take forever to send those rescue parties." Nicia replies with a laugh, then she begins to look over the gathering crowd, noting a few people she knows. Polite nods go for the two high lords, Edain and Victus, then a little bit more jubilant waves for Caelis and Reigna.

Charlaine moves into the area, her eyes move over the those gathered here and she looks over to Nicia, her eyes flicker and she smiles gently. Waving to him lightly before she looks over to Edain and Caelis, her eyes look about as she was not aware she needed a partner so she looks for someone who did not bring any.

Calista arrives alone to the maze soiree. The Duchess of Roses makes no claims she is good at finding her way through, but she is no stranger to mazes. The swish and sweep of crimson seasilk brushes along her legs as she passes Edain and turns to give the Prince a playful little wink before moving on. Victus is greeted with a slight incline of her head.

Lord Kaldur Seliki arrives with his boots off. The better to run a maze, of course. The young man's bare feet slap against the road as he hurries toward the maze, a light sheen of perspiration suggesting that he has been running like this for some time before reaching the maze's entrance. There, he pauses, panting lightly, and re-adjusts the boots that are hanging from straps on his broad shoulders. That entry seems to beckon to him, and he grins at it, one challenger to another. "Hello," he calls, seemingly to eveyone present. Then, in he goes!

THe little jeweler has her hamme on her back and she actually touches her patron. As in her arm is tucked into the rook of his. Sameera has a considerably level of comfort with her High Lord. With the whole touching him. Given she leans away from anyone that gets too close to her "I've no survivalist but I'm perceptive. You can bet with the Prince of Sanctum that you'll get us out before he gets out?" Helpful that Sameera is.

Kaldur checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 22 lower.

Aiden follows Nicia's gaze as he joins in a soft laugh with her, moving them toward the other Princes, "Prince Edain, Prince Victus, good to see you both. I would suggest a bet-" he notes with an impish grin toward them both. He looks to Caelis as well, "Hello Goldfinch!" Over the crowds and such.

Orazio bows to the high lords as he notices them, and Caelis receives a warm smile. The others, polite nod. He does not seem to have any partners, either, but seeing Kaldur head inside bravely, the priest squares his shoulders and marches in.

Orazio checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 20 lower.

Aiden checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 1 lower.

Nicia checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 2 lower.

Calista checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 19 lower.

Reigna arrives on Kael's arm, murmuring up to the much taller Count, "I think I might have chosen my outfit poorly. The wind was not this cold this afternoond." There's a smile on her face, soft, almost tentative, though as she catches sight of Nicia's jubilant wave, hers brightens as she returns the greeting. She glances curiously to Aiden, though before murmuring to Kael.

Gaston checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 30 higher.

Edain nods to Gaston and says, "Time to put those skills of mucking t hrough chest high scrub oak in the cold of winter to use, Lord Gaston." Edain says with a smile to the big man.. He turns then to Caelis and says, "We can certainly try Lady Caelis.. though I am not sure how teams work..." He looks to the passing Charlaine and says, "I do not think teams are required, but I assume it is a legitimate strategy to try and follow someone you think will have the right way to go. So if you want to follow along, I'll try not to stear us wrong." He bows then to Aiden, "Prince Aiden. Good lukc."

Charlaine checked perception + riddles at difficulty 30, rolling 31 higher.

Edain checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 16 higher.

Estaban walks into the area looking around he spots some that he knows and some that he does not know, his eyes fall on thoes he does know watching as people head into the maze he is not sure if he wants to go in or not.

Reigna checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 0 higher.

Reyna makes her way towards the maze, holding a little ball of grey fur, scritching behind it's ears. A smile on her face as she approaches the gathering group. "Good evening!" She greets the gathered group cheerfully as she steps up next to Gaston. Leaning over to pet Titus, his wolfhound. Standing back up she nods to Edain, politely. "Quite a lot of people." Said aside to Gaston as she smiles at him.

Charlaine nods her head and into the maze she goes, she seems certian she can riddle out which way to go .. she moves in and she tugs Edain "My prince!" she calls to him, "I am going this way." and off she dissapears

"Your Graces." Nicia greets the two other princes, then she smiles at Caelis, amusement evident as she tilts her head, "Goldfinch? I believe that requires a story later on."

Calista strolls around a bit and quickly discovers she's about as lost as Orazio and Kaldur. "Fancy meeting you both around here." She says with a touch of mirth upon her lips. "I take it you are both as savvy when it comes to directions as I am."

"No fuckin' idea." Victus replies bluntly back to Sameera as his eyes follow Aiden right back to the High Lord of Valardin. Puzzles were not his strong suit by a long shot, but he was at least tall. That much would work in his favor tonight. "I'll at least bet you we'll get out eventually. That's fuckin' safe, eh?" He chuckles toward Sameera as he nods to both Aiden and Edain. "Here we go I guess." He grumbles as he moves toward the maze. "Ride on my shoulders is cheatin' I guess too?"

Monique is in the center of the maze, lounging at a table in her warm silks, all by herself. Waiting. Smiling. Listening to the music and the float of voices coming into the maze. A glass of wine is at her elbow and she casually signals the servants to move off into the maze with their trays. Alcohol is a good idea for people trying to navigate, right?

Victus checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 16 lower.

Sameera checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 13 lower.

Estaban checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 12 lower.

Orazio strides boldly through the maze, taking turns confidently. And then he hits his first dead end. And another. And another. The priest is about to say something unpriestly when he turns a corner and sees Calista. "Ah, hello. I am exploring alternate theories of navigation." He pauses. "...they are not working."

"Your outfit is fine." This is spoken in a most level manner by Kael. It is simple and matter-of-fact, which is perhaps not the most complementary from the newly wed husband. Nonetheless, he is considering the maze, nodding toward those gathered and hesitating a moment to whatever it is that his wife is saying in his ear. "Shall we?" he asks, rather than replying and then proceeding into the maze.

Aiden looks to Nicia with a shrug of his shoulder when Prince Edain doesn't jump in on the bets, offering to those who might, "Maybe we will have to drink shots at the end? Or everytime we take a wrong corner, we take a shot?" He offers that idea to Nicia, then to Edain, "Good luck to you as well." The matter of a story to the nickname has Aiden's lip curl, "Oh there's a story, certainly..." He gestures toward the maze, "Ladies first." He flashes a quick grin to Victus.

"I suppose it is, Your Grace, though I fear I might have an advantage, having gone through it once before. Granted, I was blindfolded at the time," Gaston rumbles to Edain. Gaston gives a nod of greeting to a few others, such as Aiden and the Hostess Monique, and then he looks down at Reyna as the woman approaches. "Goodwoman Reyna... Aye, quite a few indeed. That's good though... It is supposed to be a party, after all," he remarks. A wide, bestial smile from the Blackram then, and into the maze he heads.

Kael checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 15 lower.

Edain bows to Nicia in greeting as well, and then looks to Caelis and says, "Alright... we are going to keep low, and move in a serpentine pattern. There may be tricky booby traps in there. And That said Edain skulks towards the entrance of the maze and with a quick dive and a roll, sommersaults past and open pathway and picks one to the left. "This way..."

As he creeps off though he sees Victus move into the maze out of his peripheral vision, heading towards a path he already thinks is a dead end, "High Lord Victus, pretend you are trying to navigate your way through a bunch of a drunken sailors in the dark below deck! That should help!"

"I wore a goldfinch mask to a party once." Caelis tells Nicia with a laugh and offers Aiden a curtsy before looking to Edain again. "My plan is to shamelessly follow you, Your Grace. I don't know vegetation near so well being from Southport." She claims and wiggles her fingers to Orazio. She offers a smile to Estaban as well before gathering her skirts again and following Edain.

Reyna checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 5 lower.

Estaban shrugs his shoulders and moves into the mave hearing his uncles voice he smirks, "Uncle (Orazio)." he calls in his direction trying to catch up to him in the direction he went oh this is going to be fun.

"If we took shots every time we turned wrong, I might die before we get very far." Nicia warns, but she does certainly seem to be open to the possibility of getting horribly drunk and never finding the center of the maze. She then curtseys to Aiden before turning to stride towards the maze, and promptly almost run into one of the bushes, "Whoops...don't turn that way."

Amusement touches Sameera's face at Victus' suggestion about shoulder rides, "Coud just bash through with my hammers?" asks Sameera. The less that social jeweler is definitely stickign with her patron among people she doesn't know well. Dutifully Sameera does bow to people that look in her general direction (more specifically Victus). The jeweler seems pretty content to follow the lead of her patron, though, occassionally she does nudge him in a different direction than he's going. Her directional senses aren't much better than his.

Reigna glances up at Kael and her smile remains in place, clearly not taking offense at the tepid approval. She nods to him and heads to the mouth of the maze, subtly correcting the route they take. She does pull them over towards Edain, offering the High Lord a curtsy as they come close, bracing herself on the brick-wall she calls a husband. "Good evening your highness!"

Charlaine had disappeared into the foilage and soon she comes to a crossroad and she smiles as she sees Gaston, "Hello My Lord, what a pleasent surprise to see you here... I feel we are doing well, at least to have found eachother.." she chuckles her eyes dancing.

There is a laugh from Kaldur as he disappears into the maze, but it does not last for long. As his feet carry him quickly between the hedges, he makes a couple of turns and finds himself abruptly at a dead end. He stares at the wall of the hedge, then lets out a laugh, turning and nearly running squarely into Orazio. "Oh! Hi. Sorry," he says ruefully. There is no recognition in his eyes and it would seem he does not know the legate.

"Gasp, the mystery is revealed!" Aiden notes after Caelis, his arm offered to Nicia as they might just stroll in, nodding to Gaston on the way by, "Best of luck, Lord Blackram." He also spots his friend, "Lord Saik! If I get out before you, you have to take a shot! If you get out before me, I'll take a shot!" It seems, he can be a normal young man after all! Then as Aiden proceeds into the maze behind Nicia, he then starts to snicker for Nicia's assessment, following her and basically bumping into her, "You might be right. We would probably have to find someone to carry us out. Maybe it's this way?"

Aiden checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 3 lower.

The beautiful thing about the maze is that Kael, with ease, can attempt to navigate in the wrong direction -- and miss the High Lord in the process! In fact, he appears quite steadfastly wrong until his wife is greeting someone. He turns back around, spies Edain, and then is inclining his head toward the other man. "Your highness," he says, turning back the way that Reigna is facing.

Following Orazio is a terrible idea, but it's pretty easy to do, especially as he's now paused to talk to Calista and Kaldur, all lost in the hedges with him. "Sorry? Whatever for? We seem to be all lost," he says, with a grin at Kaldur. "Shall we join forces, Duchess Calista, my lord?"

"You know, I do believe everything does happen for a reason, Father Orazio." Calista's smile begins to bloom across her face and the look is entirely coquettish. "While we attempt to find out way to the center of the maze, I could woo you with sweet nothings and convince you to be the one who marries Inigo and I. Yes, it's still happening." Kaldur's arrival to their little lost corner is met with a simple bow of her head. "Another who has wonderful sense of direction! A pleasure to make your acquaintance. Would you care to join us?" She gestures to Orazio.

Caelis has joined the Raised Gazebo in the center of the Maze.

Monique has joined the Raised Gazebo in the center of the Maze.

"Fuuuck..." Victus grumbles as he does indeed nearly walk straight into a hedge wall. The comments from Edain cause him to throw his head into that direction, the High Lord's height allowing him to bellow back while toeing the line of being a damn cheat. "Sterotypin' ain't polite, Dragonlord." Tugging on Sameera's arm he continues stumbling his way through the bramble and brushes, his desire for teamwork outweighed by his own frustration at the moment.

Victus checked perception + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 2 lower.

Ender, a Silver Gyrfalcon arrives, delivering a message to Monique before departing.

"It was a great mystery, too." Nicia agrees, turning to try and sort out the proper direction, then she shakes her head at Aiden's suggestion to go that way, "No, this way." Which is, in turn just more bushes. She may be trying to forge her own path through the shrubbery at this rate. "This might just take us forever."

Even a messenger finds his way to the maze to deliver a note to Monique as she waits to greet guests!

Aiden checked perception + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 26 higher.

Sameera checked perception + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 5 higher.

Edain has joined the Raised Gazebo in the center of the Maze.

Charlaine checked perception + riddles at difficulty 25, rolling 24 higher.

Nicia checked perception + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 4 lower.

Reigna has joined the Raised Gazebo in the center of the Maze.

Orazio gives Calista an amused look. "Should we be talking about wooing me with sweet nothings and your marriage at the same time, my lady? But I am happy to do so - no one ever woos me, anymore. Must be the grey," he says, with a touch to his silvering hair. He looks around at the tall green walls. "Shall we give it another shot?"

Gaston looks over as Charlaine comes around the corner. "Ah, My Lady... It seems so. I think we're close to the center, actually.... I can smell the rosebushes," he remarks. Following the path a few more feet, and one assumes, into the center indeed.

Aiden laughs at Nicia, "Come on. I see people going that way and they aren't back tracking!" Taking it somewhat seriously now, Aiden offers his hand to Nicia so that she can follow him, "Don't get lost back there." A few turns and he's managed to get them out, that is, if he didn't lose Nicia in the process.

Estaban checked perception + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 3 higher.

Aiden has joined the Raised Gazebo in the center of the Maze.

Sameera practically has to run to keep up with the longer stride of Victus. She entirely sees his plan to bellow for her free hand lifts to cover her ear a little so it isn't so loud. The little jeweler nudges Victus a little more, undoubtedly her investigative abilities are kicking in a bit for she is, somewhat, figuring out where to go. Or she just remembers where they have been. Either way, she seems to be starting to get less with the lost. "I still got my hamer if you get impatient." Sameera tells Victus.

1 Saik Guard have been dismissed.

Is it cheating to follow someone that seems to know not to crawl through bushes? Maybe! Nicia is unashamed of being lost in the bushes, so she hold onto the hand and follows, practically stepping on Aiden's heels until they are free! No dying in the maze for her today.

Nicia has joined the Raised Gazebo in the center of the Maze.

"Pleasure to meet you, my lady, Father." Kaldur says, with a dip of his head to Calista and Orazio. "Lord Kaldur Seliki, at your service," he offers. That is followed by a wide smile. "And congratulations on your impending nuptials. I can think of no better time for whispering sweet nothings than the heavenly conjunction of being lost in a maze and not yet wed," he finishes with a wink to the lady.

Charlaine has joined the Raised Gazebo in the center of the Maze.

Gaston has joined the Raised Gazebo in the center of the Maze.

Charlaine nods her head as the pair of them reach the center and then followed by a few others, "Congratulations!" she says to everyone as they join her. "I loved this, it was the best riddle of the month." she beams then she quiets

Laughter falls upon Calista's lips and she gives a little shake of her head to Orazio as they start to attempt navigating their way out of this dead end. "Did you not hear? Grey is the new Black. It makes you appear distinguished even though you already are quite so." She can absolutely 'woo' the clergy while discussing her wedding plans. That is how things get done! "A pleasure, Lord Kaldur. I am Duchess Calista Fidante. It is a pleasure to formally make your acquaintance. I do not believe I have met anyone from House Seliki before." She gives the young nobleman a curious little look and goes about to hook her arm with his and her other with Orazio. "Now, if one of you starts to skip, I will not follow. Skipping is -not- my thing."

Orazio laughs out loud at Kaldur's words. "Lord Kaldur, it is a pleasure to meet you. I can tell that you have it in you to be trouble." He the arm Calista offers with a tilt of his head. "Lady Calista, you excel in the virtues of flattery and generosity to your elders. I quite enjoy it," he allows, as he strolls along with them.

Orazio checked perception + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 13 lower.

Kaldur checked perception + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 19 lower.

Calista checked perception + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 1 lower.

Still utterly lost, Victus is just barely scrapping the precipice of actually finding his way around. He can tell his impressive frame probably was brushing shoulders with a noble here or there, but as he lumbered directionless he didn't spare so much as a nod their way. "Fine, fine, we'll go -your- way." The High Lord rolls his eyes, already having been infatuated and burned out on this puzzling idea. Though he still keeps his chin up like a good sport for what it's worth!

Victus checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 1 higher.

Kael has joined the Raised Gazebo in the center of the Maze.

Ezekiel the German Shepherd arrives, following Artorius.

"I was once told when I was younger that 'Flatter will get you everywhere." Calista comments proudly to Orazio. "The teachers in Tor are exceptionally intelligent." The young Duchess teasingly flutters her lashes a bit and since she is not quite paying attention to where they are going, discovers they've made a wrong turn yet again.

Kael is evidently led along to the raised gazebo in the center. When he has a bit of greenery plucked from his hair, his voice turns somewhat wry as he says, "I believe that you found the party." It is the Count's compliment though that has him offer, most humbly, "My wife, your grace, deserves the credit. I would have veered right when she went left." With that, he shrugs before offering a vague smile. Maybe it's a grimace.

Victus has joined the Raised Gazebo in the center of the Maze.

Faint amusement touches Sameera's face at Victus' grumbling and being the good protege she is the little jeweler starts attempting to make it look more like Victus is the one picking the directions. Sure, it might not be great attempts at faking leting him lead but she does try to mke it look like that."I think we found the center." she tells Victus.

Sameera has joined the Raised Gazebo in the center of the Maze.

Aiden catches the tongue poised stuck out at him, which makes him snort merrily, "You did! Does that mean I have to take a drink?" He looks back to Nicia, grinning, "Probably the worst stuff you could buy ... It's likely we'd find something better in the gazebo. I have this stuff they call Lower Boroughs... Gut-Rot Hooch? I admit, it wasn't the best choice to grab from the cabinet. I don't think I even meant to do that, but, it's what I grabbed regardless. I'm afraid it might be as potent as it sounds. Let's go for cider, unless you're adventurous?"


"I would only be trouble if I suggested flirting in front of the whole of Arx after the lady's wedding day," Kaldur returns with a look that he hopes is serious, but that, in truth, fails miserably. There is simply too much sparkle in his eyes. "Lady, I am the only member of my family in the capitol at present. But I assure you that they are all much better at mazes than I am." And here they are. At another dead end. He glances to Orazio. "Which is the best god to pray to for not dying in a maze, father?"


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

Ezekiel the German Shepherd have been dismissed.

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

"Not everywhere, my lady, but I believe it might allow me to re-examine my schedule and offer an enchanting lady the dubious favor of an aging priest to bless her union," Orazio says, with a chuckle. His smile widens once again as he looks to Kaldur. "Petrichor, to be certain. Possibly Mangata, but that might only get one of the servants lost in the maze with us, bearing a bottle of wine to slake our thirst." He peers down a path, and gestures. "I feel certain that it is this way," he says, projecting confidence. (Spoiler: It's not.)

Charlaine laughs a little as the Highlords join them and she nods her head to Aiden, her eyes flicker to Edain and she smiles softly to her own Highlord, before she chuckles happily "drinks for everyone!" she says as she sips on her own drink

Aiden drops Lower Boroughs Gut-Rot Hooch.

The music is lively, the dancing has started, and the inside of the maze is now packed with bodies, eating, drinking and making as much merry as they can. If there are some poking branches and thorny flowers? Well, one had best take care not to stumble into them.

Kaldur checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 8 lower.

Orazio checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 9 lower.

"Let us take a moment to see where the noise is coming from. It appears /everyone/ else is already enjoying the festivities but us and I would very much like a cup of hot cider." Calista pretends to shiver a little and she tilts her head this way and that way for the noise and dancing of the party goers.

Calista checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 0 higher.

"Dear Petrichor, please harvest all of the leaves from the hedge so that we may see our way to sustenance and booze. Many thanks. Kaldur." His prayer sent to the heavens, he starts to move with the pair once more, determined that this path to the left is the proper way to go. So certain is he that he actually gives Calista something of a huff when she goes another direction instead...and finds the center of the maze. Kaldur lets out a whoop of relief. "Prayer works!"

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

Aiden gives the messengers coming for Nicia a stern glare, but other than that, he cannot really give them shit for interrupting to do their duty! He merely offers to Nicia, "We could run around the maze and then your messengers would have a harder time finding us..." He suggests, watching her uncork the bottle with a dubious gaze. Watching Nicia take the first gulp, he waits for her assessment of it, though he does reach out for the Hooch. He side glances to Caelis, grinning, "I'm tall enough but I probably won't last long with this ... under our belts."

"The gods help those who rely on the wisdom of the Duchess Calista, I think," Orazio says, deadpan. He turns to offer said Duchess a flourishing bow. "My gratitude." As he straightens, and moves to join the festivities, he asks Kaldur, "What brings you to Arx, if you are not accompanied by your family, if I might ask?"

"It was the calling of the hot apple cider." Calista announces to both Orazio and Kaldur as they finally make their way to the middle. It could be said she looks worse for wear with a couple of leaves and branches in the styling of her hair but she wears it like a 'crown'; proud of herself for actually persevering through the damned maze. Huzzah! "This was great fun. I would love to get lost with either one of you again. Just not too soon."

Artorius mostly just stayed out of the maze, likely smiling at all the yelling and such that was going on. He looked tired though. "So happy to see everyone having fun." he leans against one of the hard surfaces to simply watch the chaos.

"I hope they will be joining me soon," Kaldur tells Orazio with a roll of his shoulders and a hopeful smile, moving quickly to take up a glass from one of the refreshment tables. "They are just wrapping up loose ends in Pearlspire. As I am neither my father's Voice nor heir, I had the luxury of doing the advance scouting, so to speak." He winks, then takes a sip, closing his eyes in pleasure at the taste of the liquid. "Marquessa Deepwood has been kind enough to put me up in her manor until the rest of the family arrives. She will be putting me to work soon in repayment, I have no doubt!" To Calista's comment, he laughs brightly. "I try to make a regular habit of getting lost. It makes the finding all the more pleasurable." There is a smile then, that he hides behind his glass and another sip.

Orazio has joined the Raised Gazebo in the center of the Maze.

Aiden glances toward the bright smile of Reigna, while he's handed the bottle and tries not to dump the thing all over the place in the place of introductions that are suddenly upon him. His grin is twisted with an awkward curl, holding the Hooch with a shifted glance toward it, as if embarrassed suddenly to be in possession of it. Unlikely though, offering to Nicia's coughs, "I did warn you, it's the worst stuff in Arx. Though it promises a fast... result?" His silver eyes turn to the Countess and Count, "A pleasure Countess Reigna, Count Kael."

Charlaine smiles a little as she has a few drinks but then she gives a little nod to the others here, turning her eyes to Monique, "Thank you for the great puzzle, I had a lot of fun.. I am going". Her eyes looks over to the Lord and then Monique as she smiles "Who is competing against him?"

Calista has joined the Raised Gazebo in the center of the Maze.

Kaldur has joined the Raised Gazebo in the center of the Maze.

The bottle of Hooch is lifted in his hand and so far Nicia has been the only brave one to sample it, Aiden tempted as Reigna questions the matter of the substance. "I purchased it... well, I confess, I believe I was loitering in the Lowers and purchased it at the new shop down there, run by Master Calaudrin. It... promises to be something to drink, though I'm certain it might just make your stomach heave on impact." His eyes turn to Nicia, "Her opinion was that it was absolutely horrible. Would you like to try?" He doesn't suspect she will and glances back to Kael, offering to the silent man as well. Aiden remarks to Nicia, "I grabbed the wrong stuff on the way out, promise." He grins, and will inevitably have to take a sip because, can't let Nicia be the only one! The sip, it makes him have to turn away as eyes BEAD with water and he chokes on it. "OH GODs...*chokechokecoughcoughsputter*" In a weak voice, "It's everything it promises it to be."

Orazio looks over towards Aiden as there's that horrible sound. "Prince Aiden...are you well?" It's concerned, but there's also amusement in the dark eyes.

Reigna eyes the bottle as it is offered to her and Aiden's reaction to his own sip should be warning enough. But there is something terribly curious in Reigna's eyes as she looks at the bottle offered her way. Against the better judgement of pretty much any observer, she reaches for the bottle, lifting it up to sniff at the open mouth. The face she makes has to be comical, as the fumes waft up. "I do this in the name of experience..." And Reigna begins to lift the bottle for a sip. Poor Kael.

Nicia reaches over to give Aiden's back a quick pat when it seems like he might just die from drinking that. "It helps if you breath through your nose...or maybe it was mouth." She offers in an attempt to be helpful, but then she pauses when Reigna does accept the bottle, her eyes widening just a little as she waits to see just how bad the next reaction'll be.

Kaldur has left the Raised Gazebo in the center of the Maze.

Monique's eyes dart towards Edain as Gaston singles him out. "I've challenged the Lord Blackram to complete the maze once more with a blindfold, but we're having a hard time finding terms! Thoughts, Your Highness?"

Aiden flags his hand over to Orazio, wheezing, "F-f-f-iiine..." And he's making a scrunch of his face, putting his hands on his knees as he stoops over and coughs some more, shaking his head. He did say it would make a stomach heave on impact. Seems he was close enough. Face red, eyes watering, he gets those quick back pats from Nicia and that has him sucking in wind as he WOOPS loudly enough, "Uuugh that is the worst.. My stomach is still burning!" A quick drunk, may happen.

Edain says, "If he can't do it he has to give you a piggy back ride to the palace and back.. If he success you have to give him a piggy back ride to the Palace and back."

Kael is lifting his free hand up to his wife's shoulder, setting it there before he squeezes lightly. That might be a warning gesture, and the part of his lips is likely going to be his vocal opposition. Nonetheless, when Reigna is accepting the bottle his brows knit together and there is a set of his jaw. It's a stubborn thing, that. He removes his hand from her shoulder, hovering it vaguely near the bottle so that he can intervene swiftly and support her due to the inevitable reaction that shall come.

Gaston, for his part, is studying Prince Aiden, with a raised brow. "Are you... Quite alright, Prince Aiden...?" A pause. "Perhaps some milk tea might help..." Looking back to Edain, his head tilts one way, then the other. "...I think this wager rather favors me, considering relative size," dryly.

Orazio stares, eyebrows rising. "Yes, you look in the peak of health, Your Highness." Orazio says, with a chuckle, before turning back to Kaldur. "Well, I can't help but admire the persistence. If we don't hear from you by dawn, I'll send a message to the Marquessa suggesting a rescue party."

Monique takes the size of Gaston and lifts a brow. "Er. I'm fairly certain that's not even possible, no offense, my lord," she offers to Gaston, lifting her glass. "Unless someone wishes to stand as my Champion here, and bear the burden for me, should Lord Blackram succeed?"

Chuckling softly at Edain's explanation, Caelis smiles. "Of course your Grace. I'll have to share some of the misadventures of my youth with you some time in exchange for that story." Sipping her cider, she looks to Aiden with a little concern and quirks a brow. "Perhaps cut the hooch with some cider Prince Aiden?"

Reigna checked composure + etiquette at difficulty 25, rolling 7 lower.

Charlaine looks over to Gaston "I think its rather unfair, I want to compete with you" she says her eyes twinkle before she looks over Edain. "I think I should get something for my win you know." she teases him.

Reigna scrunches up her face in anticipation of the grossness. The bottle is lifted and the second the liquid hits her tongue Reigna's eyes are watering. She gives it a good try, a solid slug taken in and swallowed as soon as humanly possible. The bottle it thrust away as if its presence offends. Her eyes are watering, her lips closed as she tries not to sputter and audibly gag. She tries, but it's too nasty and soon enough she is echoing Aiden's coughing. She starts to laugh halfway through, tears pouring down her cheeks. "That... that is *repulsive*!"

Looking to Charlaine there, "Is that so, now?" And then to Monique and Edain both, "It seems Lady Charlaine wishes to try and make it through the maze blindfolded as well, so I think the wager would need to be altered in any case."

"What? You goin' at it on your hands and knees, Caelis?" Victus mused as his eyes moved between the three of them gathered there. "I'll be happy to get here in half the fuckin' time with this good shit at the end." He didn't waste a second before he'd gnawed the cork off and taken a heavy swig of it. He was on his second bottle by now, shockingly. Eyes moving back to Sameera and Edain he speaks up again, "Ah, so you got shit to keep ya' busy other than bugging one High Lord? Extending the business to two?" He nudged her humorously. "Good shit. Glad to see you and Dragonlord get along."

Aiden's cheeks are very darkened by a flush that holds him, not necessarily caring where the Hooch is going after that, and turning a weak grimacing smile at Orazio, for the compliment. The additional advice from Gaston has the Prince nod his head, "Milk tea... Yes, Lord Gaston, that might do indeed..." A hand stays on his stomach, as if thinking it might yet reject the paint remover like substance, "Crows rum and now this Hooch off the list of acceptable drinks-" he notes with a certain twinkle in his eye, snickering at Caelis' suggestion, "Only if you carry me home. I think I'll need it." He turns to regard Reigna's reaction to the bottle of Hooch, "Ok ok, it wasn't just me. Uugh. I can't believe I spent silver on that!"

Sameera sounds a little humored at Edain's words about her inital message, "I think it was more of a bit of praise that could almost have been an insult." At the nudging from her patron and the gentle teasing she gives a pat of her hand, to his arm, "You'd be he only one I'd talk about.. how'd you put it?.. fuck-buddies with. So, you're still the most special." The words are said evening but it might be Sameera ribbing her high lord back.

"It is fairly bad." Nicia agrees with Reigna, giving her a very sympathetic look before she glances towards Gaston, nodding a bit at his suggestion. Tea fixes things, doesn't it?

Kael naturally takes the offending bottle, anticipating the thrust away. One hand is used to steady his wife, the other is just offering the bottle wordlessly back to Aiden. Or at least Aiden's general direction, expecting that someone will eventually take the offending item. "You are going to be ill again tonight," he remarks to Reigna, frowning.

Blinking up at Victus, Caelis smiles innocently. "Your Grace, I believe he'd need to take me to dinner first." She murmurs and sips her cider before looking at Aiden. "If you need an escort home your highness I will do my best of course."

Monique chortles, welcoming Charlaine into the bet. "Perhaps Charlaine will stand as my champion, and the contest will be who makes it out and back to the center first, blindfolded? I'll offer up a prize to the winner. Something... spectacular."

Aiden does take the bottle back, albeit with some reluctance. "I think I know who might drink this..." his eyes scan the crowd and he spots the man. He approaches with a out of place confidence, "High Lord Victus! Maybe you can stomach this better than the rest of us!" A challenge and an offering at the same time. Cause look, the bottle is being offered to him. He smiles over at Caelis, "Just throw me over the back of a horse and I'm sure I'll get home." He's teasing now but.. SLOSH SLOSH offer to Victus.

The taste is clearly stuck on her tongue and an increasingly humorous misery is spreading over Reigna's expression. She looks up at her husband, cheeks pink and expression sheepish. "Maybe?" Her hand lifts to press to her stomach as she says, "It tastes like burnt things." Her nose wrinkles and she says, "It's still on my tongue. I think I need to find something more palatable to drink."

A server with hard apple cider offers a glass on a passing tray to Reigna.

"Countess Pravus," offers Kael smoothly with a nod of his head, and perhaps another nod for the Princes, but he's already ventured off to find another victim. For his part, Count Keaton is starting to steer his wife back toward the refreshments, though they make it all of a half turn before the dedicated server has the matter under control. With his long reach, Kael is selecting his own from the tray and taking a deep drink. Parched, the boy is.

Charlaine smiles a bit then as she is brought into the fold, her eyes look over to Monique she laughs softly her eyes look back over to Edain, "well I would love to see which of us can maintain the Master of Puzzle title, or Mistress as the case might be." she smiles

And then Sameera brings up Fuck-Buddies and Edain coughs as some cider goes down the wrong pipe. "Ok.. yes... thank you for illucidating your relationship with the High Lord." He coughs again as he gets some of the last of cider out of his wind pipe, "Ok.. ok I am fine.. better yes." he just looks at Caelis then and tilts his head to one side, having no witty comment prepared for this at all.

Nicia glances momentarily at Edain when he starts to cough, looking a bit concerned before she ventures over towards Caelis, giving her a belated one armed hug, whispering to her.

Catching the tail end of /something/, Calista gives Orazio a look and a dark smirk. "I believe I am all tuckered out from testing out my maze techniques. Could I perhaps call upon you again soon and we could have drinks at the Villa with Inigo?"

"Thank you!" This directed to the server, offering her the cider, and Reigna lifts the glass to start drinking. Clearly she thinks this is regular apple cider, given the way she downs the first few gulps. The alcohol occurs to her a few seconds later and she lowers the glass eyeing it somewhat supiciously. She leans in to murmur something to her husband, her eyes still on the glass.

Orazio turns back to Calista with a smile and a bow. "I would be delighted, my lady." He gives the maze a dubious look. "Perhaps I should go with you. I confess I don't remember a single turn that we took to get here," he says, sheepishly.

Patting Edain's back to help him clear the cider he seems to be choking on. Caelis offers a crooked smile in return to his look. "Arms over your head your Grace, helps open the airways." She advises and turns to hug Nicia quickly. "Hello, properly. It's lovely to see you too." She beams and leans in to straighten a few locks displaced from the hasty hug.

Calista has left the Raised Gazebo in the center of the Maze.

3 Fidante House Guards, Alejandro leave, following Calista.

Orazio is overheard praising Monique for: A lovely event, and a lovely maze!

Victus snapped his view over to Aiden the instant the prospect of booze was offered up. He would take a drinking game challenge any day. "Fuck yeah I'll give it a try." The entire... thing going on about 'fuck-buddies' was more or less ignored as he swiped the bottle straight from Aiden's grasp. It took only a second more before he was knocking it back in one intense swig, a shudder running down his spine as it boiled through his throat. A moment later the High Lord let out a satisfied grunt. "Goddamn, that is fuckin' strong and fiery!" He snickered as he handed the bottle back. "I like it. Bring more!"

"Well, that seems... Mostly settled then," Gaston rumbles. "I suppose all we need now is the blindfolds."

Orazio has left the Raised Gazebo in the center of the Maze.

Kael's already got his own drink halfway drained when whatever is murmured by Reigna has him shaking his head. That'd be a negative, and his reply, it is a swift thing. He downs the rest of his drink before offering a hand over for her own drink, a silent invitation to take care of it for her.

Artorius looks to everyone with a light sigh, shaking his head just a little bit as everyone was having fun. With that, he would turn around, heading out to do some work.

Servants happen to have blindfolds. They've been giving them out to any intrepid enough to try their luck, and two are brought forth to Charlaine and Gaston in short order, black slips of silk ready to be tied. "We'll send you out the same exit, to make it fair. Are you ready?" The Minx of the Marches asks the two competitors, holding up a hand, grinning at this new game.

Nicia smiles at Caelis, "You as well...I think that I have an idea, if I can get the Duke to agree to it." She then leans in so that she might murmur whatever idea it is more quietly to Caelis, her hands gesturing in the air to accompany the whispers.

Aiden's eyes squinted at Victus as the man took up the offered bottle, laughing for the enthusiasm and completely MISSING the fact that there's a different topic making people CHOKE. Watching how the Thraxian handles the bottle, he moves to clap Victus on the shoulder, "Consider it yours. Master Calaudrin, can secure you more!" He grins, "Glad someone likes it!" See, he knew who would appreciate the hard stuff.

Victus picks up Lower Boroughs Gut-Rot Hooch.

Reigna hands the glass over to Kael with a hint of relief. When she spies Victus downing the rot-gut her eyes widen. They grow larger still when he seems to actually approve of the bevereage.

Tactless, thy name is Sameera. "Oh. I don't sleep with anyone." Sameera infors Edain, "I touch very few. I do, kind of, enjoy making my patron uncomfortable." Apparently Edain is now added to her circle of 'who can she make the most uncomfortable.' THe little jeweler still has not let up her grip on Victus' arm. She is not, after all, a people person.

Edain makes his way to Monique and bows, "Thank you for hosting a lovely event. I am afraid I have to get back and look into some other matters. Be well Lady Monique and thank you again."

Monique sketches a curtsey to Edain, mid-contest starting. "Thank you for coming, Your Highness. Grace be with you. Try not to get lost on the way out, but feel free to mess up the competitors here."

Charlaine laughs a little as she looks to the Lord as she takes the silk and lets them tie it to her eyes. "Ok.... I think so yes! All ready!" she says as she smiles then softly looking to Gaston.. ready?"

Aiden slips toward Nicia's side when he's certain that the bottle of Hooch won't go to waste - because he paid good silver for that! Somewhere he picks up a couple glasses of cider and offers one out to Nicia, even if she has one already. "Victus approves of it," he notes with a self-righteous look that fails utterly and falls into a playful smirk, "What'd I miss? Another contest? Who's being blindfolded?"

"Oh, navigator, that's my cue." Caelis starts and looks up at Edain. "So nice to see you Sunshine." She grins and curtsies before backing up to the entrance of the hedge and slipping around the corner.

Edain has left the Raised Gazebo in the center of the Maze.

Caelis has left the Raised Gazebo in the center of the Maze.

Nicia accepts the cider from Aiden, then she nods to Caelis, "Have a good evening!" She calls to her as she leaves before she shakes her head at Aiden, "I've no idea, I sort of stopped paying attention. Is there a game?"

Kael takes the apple cider that is offered to him, rolls his shoulders and squares up before deciding to demolish this one much the way that he did the last. It is either that he is pursuing the scant alcohol available with it, or that he is just trying to just get rid of it. As soon as he is finished, he takes the pair of empty glasses and thoughtfully offers them to a staff member running cleanup. "Shall we offer our gratitude to the host before you feel the alcohol?" he asks Reigna. His Voice probably needs to be sober to do his speaking for him, after all.

Charlaine checked intellect + riddles at difficulty 30, rolling 61 higher.

Gaston takes the blindfold, and ties it around his eyes, easily, before reaching down to feel for Titus, and giving his ears a rub. "Ready when you are, Lady Charlaine," the man's baritone booms. A pause, and "My brother would be calling me a fool right now," he admits, chuckling.

Monique turns to Nicia and Aiden, grinning fit to split her face. "They," she gestures to Charlaine and Gaston, "are about to navigate to the entrance and back again, blindfolded. For a prize! Want to play?"

Gaston checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 21 higher.

Reigna nods to Kael and has the grce to look a little chastened by Kael's words, though not too much. There's a lurking humor in her eyes. Or possibly it's that alcohol. Either way, she moves with him towards Monique and offers the lady a curtsy. "Thank you very much for the evening's festivities, my lady."

Charlaine starts the maze once more, keen to keep her title at Mistress of riddles, she has her hands out as she touches the maze and she turns and then turns again. She takes in a deep breath, as she begins to navigate.. "game is on.' she calls to him.

Aiden glances to Nicia, when she doesn't know what's going on, however, there's Monique to fill in the matter. Aiden notes who is competing and his hand lifts up, "Oooo no. I had enough trouble without blindfolds! I'll gladly watch! May the best person win!" He nudges Nicia though, "Maybe you should try it?" He glances toward Reigna and Kael, offering them a soft smirk, apologetic, his own eyes a little watery for the cider was going down nice, now that he's had a good shot of Hooch to soften the blow.

Charlaine checked intellect + riddles at difficulty 30, rolling 16 higher.

Gaston checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 16 higher.

Nicia smiles at Monique, then she laughs, "No. I'm almost certain I'd end up dead inside the maze somewhere." She waves off the suggestion of going through the maze, "I'll stay safely here until it's time to leave."

"My gratitude for your attendance," Monique replies to Reigna and Kael as they move to leave, dipping a curtsey in return. Then she turns back to Aiden. "Oh, come, Your Highness, Countess! It's great fun being blindfolded." There's a wicked smile to go with that. Absolutely wicked.

Gaston heads out as well, head tilted up, seeming to scent the air as he heads out, leaving his hound behind for the moment. Stalking deep into the maze, and who knows when to return.

Kael inclines his head to Monique in the wake of Reigna's words, the motion a deep and humble thing. "Thank you, my lady," he echoes, his voice still a solemn thing. Now, that being said, he draws back a half step before considering his wife sidelong. He snares one of those ribbons from her tunic, curls it around his hand, and offers forth wryly, "You lead." In turn to the look from Aiden, he's tipping his head. No foul, evidently.

Reigna's smile to Monique shifts to a grin and then when Kael is taking the ribbon from her tunic, she begins to laugh. It is a wholesome, utterly charmed laugh, changig her from somewhat reserved to outright girlish. She does in fact lead the way, walking towards the maze and pointing, "This way!"

Reigna has left the Raised Gazebo in the center of the Maze.

Charlaine laughs as she slowly turns a corner, then another corner, she listens for the chatter of the others as she tries to navigate with her blindfold, she moves a moment to the left and then right, before she takes a very little lead as her fingers try to guide her way.

Charlaine checked intellect + riddles at difficulty 30, rolling 55 higher.

Aiden looks over toward Nicia, brow lifted, as if he was convinced by that wicked smile of Monique's. "If you do it, I'll do it..." You jump I jump mentality! Wooo! Aiden watches Kael and Reigna say their departing words, nodding to Count Kael as he spots the gesture, "It was nice to formally meet you, Count Kael, Countess Reigna."

Gaston checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 2 lower.

"I have been blindfolded, and while it was very fun...." Nicia shakes her head, lifting her drink, "I believe that I am going to pass on it this time, and enjoy this. However, if you wish to, Your Highness...?"

Reigna pauses and turns to wave to Prince Aiden, "It was wonderful meeting you too! Goodnight, Countess Nicia!" And with that, she returns to leading her husband out of the maze.

Gaston seems to have a bit more difficulty this time, than the first time he did this blindfolded. Perhaps it was a matter of entrance. Or maybe the noise from the revelers was too distracting. In any case, he shan't be beating Charlaine out and back, certainly.

"I would have someone to compete against..." Aiden bemoans with a playful scowl, "Come one, I'm sure if we both just walk into walls it'll be a glorious moment in Arxian history." His cider, is done. Yep. He's feeling the booze, eyes merry and bright.

Kael lifts his free hand to Aiden, keeping the other quite ensnared in ribbon. "A pleasure. We shall have to send an invitation for dinner. There are a number of things that I would enjoy for you to try." That? Delivered totally straight-faced.

Kael has left the Raised Gazebo in the center of the Maze.

"We need someone to challenge Prince Aiden!" Monique says cajolingly. "If you won't, perhaps Pince Victus will?" She calls out, a copper eyebrow arching suggestively.

Charlaine moves round the corner as she once again comes into the center, stumbling slightly as she laughs and takes off her blindfold... "Gaston! This way!" she calls to help guide him back. She smiles as she looks over to Monique, "I am your champion!"

"My patron is distracted by his alcohol." says Sameera, tilting her head towards the drinking High Lord she has a death grip on the arm of. "The giving on... um.. rot gut? Probably should have waited."

Aiden extends his arms in a hapless gesture, noting to Monique, "They're scared of my eagle senses!" He teases, finding himself another glass of cider floating by on a tray of a server. YOINK. He plucks it from the tray and moves toward Monique, "Unless the Hostess wishes to challenge me herself?"

"Ah, then my apologies, Your Highness," Monique says to Aiden regretfully. "If you wish, when the party is over and I no longer host, I'd be happy to give you a challenge myself." Super unfair advantage, of course. But then Charlaine has returned, and the Minx is clapping her hands together. "Congratulations, my lady! My champion has returned victorious. Perhaps the next challenge ought to be finding Lord Blackram..."

Gaston does, eventually, find his way back, chuckling to himself, a bestial, too predatory grin on his face. He gives a slow clap, laughing still, after taking off the blindfold, and gives a bow to Charlaine. "My congratulations, Lady Charlaine. I am, I can 'see', no match it seems," still with that off putting smile. A look to Aiden then, "I think that is a FINE idea, Prince Aiden!"

Charlaine chuckles and winks to the Lord before she smiles to Monique, "Thanks for a great party." she says as she grabs a cider to go. The lady waves her hand at those remaining "that was fun."

Rebuffed by the hostess, Aiden lets his head sag but then he hears Gaston and his attentions alter. This is what happens to introverts when Hooch is added in. "You return! Lord Blackram from the blindfolded entanglement of the shrubbery!" He pauses and considers Charlaine, lifting his cider to toast her, "To the Maze Champion!" Gulp gulp gulp. It's going down easy now ... now that his tastebuds are burnt off by the Hooch. As the party winds down, Aiden searches out Nicia, "Countess... maybe a we ought to walk you hope-I mean home-before I can't walk?"

"Certainly." Nicia replies to Aiden, offering him a quick smile before she finishes her drink, setting the glass aside, moving to take Aiden's arm, "Tell me about what you need to finish with the Menagerie before the opening? I'm afraid I got distracted by the other conversation earlier and never asked."

Gaston sort of... Stares at Aiden a moment. Another bow to Charlaine, holding it a moment. "Well, perhaps we'll meet again soon, My Lady Champion." He rises then, and looks towards Nicia. "Is he going to be okay...? Perhaps we should get a carriage for him?"

"I need to talk to him at some point, but I think... Perhaps tonight is not the best time," Gaston murmurs to himself.

Nicia shakes her head at Gaston, assuring him, "I'll make certain that he gets home safely."

Charlaine laughs a little as she looks over to Nicia "Thank you for taking care of my adopted brother..." she smiles then turns to head out, "goodnight Lords and Ladies!"

"You need to talk to me?" Aiden states with an uplift of curiosity in his tone, and something a little more than that too, like awe. He turns to look at the Countess on his arm as she asks about the Menagerie, which distracts him as intended, "Hmmmmm... The predator park is ... there's so much trouble with it... Trying to fit the bears by the wolves was a bad idea... We're having trouble with the design of it. There's too many conflicting opinions..." He goes on, rambling about it, "And I cannot for the life of me, find a shop keep ... why is it so hard to find someone that will commit?"

Charlaine has left the Raised Gazebo in the center of the Maze.

"I've some ideas on that actually, Prince Aiden... The predator park. But later... Later. Have a good night, Your Highness," and then another nod from Gaston to Nicia, there. "And you as well, My Lady," though he didn't catch her name.

Aiden picks up a jug of crisp autumn hard apple cider.

Nicia glances back and forth between them, then she turns her attention to Gaston, "Perhaps you'd like to walk with us? I'm sure that we'd both love to hear the ideas."

Sameera just patiently waits for Victus to be ready to leave. The slight jeweler does properly bow to those departing. The grip of her hand on Victus' arm lightens each time people leave. It's the crowds that made her tense it seems.