Jan arrives from outside the grounds carrying a chest, "Let me drop this off and I'll join!"

Aconite blinks for a moment as she considers, looking towards the plums and then back towards Medeia and Pasquale. "All right, I'll stay for a little while." Aconite agrees and lifts a hand to greet Jan.

2 Saik Guard, Micana, an efficient assistant arrive, following Lucita.

Lucita steps into the grounds and sends a moment looking around. Once done she gives a smile to those who are already present though makes her way to a quiet area at the side.

Umbroise makes her way to Malespero tower, arriving with a casual step. She leaves her various attendants to their own devices as she hands her cloak off to her maid. Glancing around, she smiles at familiar faces. "Oh, how lovely! People I know!" She beams around. "What is this all about, then?" she asks, looking to Pasquale. "The invitation was so brief and mysterious."

Pasquale gets up from a chair on the deck that exists at the back of Malespero Tower and comes on over to the lawn where all the painting supplies have been set up. "Its good to see you all." he offers a polite half smile. "I thought it might be entertaining to see what people could make of an art project with an amusing goal and where better to gather than the garden in spring?" he gestures towards the paint supplies and the plums. "And because plums have been on my mind of late. The plum shall be the subject. The only rule is that I dont want to just see a bowl of plums on your canvas. Do something funny or meaningful. Something daring."

Harlen arrives, following Duarte.

When Aconite agrees to stay, Medeia pulls away from her lean against the deck railing and claps her hands together once with a bright smile. "Oh, good!" And then she's following Pasquale off the deck when he goes to the lawn to greet people. Her smile brightens at the sight of Umbroise. "Marquessa! Beautiful, as always, what a treat to see you here." She approaches and offers out her hands in greeting, giving Umbroise's a squeeze if allowed. Then the Saik lady passes close to Lucita and leans in to give her baroness a peck on the cheek. "Hello, you, glad you made it here." As she considers where to set herself for painting, she muses, "I... Do not think I have ever painted anything in my life."

Aconite smiles towards Pasquale and looks over the plums, "Interesting. I do not have a very creative hand but I can try to put something on the canvas. It feels a waste though." Aco says as she stands up and moves over towards the plums to give them a look over, Umbroise and Lucita are met with curtseys in greeting.

Jan returns wearing simple leggings and lace-front tunic. "I'm not late am I?"

You know what they say! "It's not a party without Duarte!"
(Don't ask me who 'they' is)

The Count of Bravura steps boldly onto the room with a toss of panel of his cloak, its irridescent lining catching the light and possibly blinding someone for the briefest of moments! "Hello, Malesperoians!"

The Setarcan slinks casually through the crowd, lifting a drink for a guest's hand, sipping at it, and then placing it in the hand of a different guest entirely as he makes his way over to Medeia and Lucita.

Umbroise smiling to Medeia, Umbroise takes the offered hands, returning the squeeze warmly. "Always good to see you, Lady Medeia," she says, before gently releasing the hands. She smiles to Aconite then, and dips her head. "Radiant. How wonderful to see you here." She smiles to Lucita then, inclining her head to the Baroness, and a nod is given to Jan in passing as well. She looks back to Pasquale then, and clasps her hands before her. "Neither have I ever painted before, but I am certain I could give it a try," she says with an amused smile. "I am sure the attempt itself will he humorous."

1 Culler Boatswain, 2 Culler Midshipman arrive, following Samira.

"That just makes it all the more daring." Pasquale tells Medeia and Aconite both. "But I can show you all the technique that Maren Lir showed me if you like. Although I must warn you all that I am uncertain it will lend itself well to plums." He smiles to Jan and shakes his head slightly before going to greet Duarte. "Duarte. Its so good to see you."

"Well, then we shall honor Jayus with our willingness to try, no?" Medeia grins at Umbroise and Aconite before her attention is caught by Duarte's flashy arrival and movement toward her. "The count has a history with spectacular paintings," she reminds the assembled group of would-be painters. "I do hope he does not judge us too harshly, mm?" The lady winks at him with a sly smile.

Jan flashes a smile to those gathered, "This will in some cases be a mess. I am thoroughly looking forward to it." she surveys the canvases and supplies curiously.

Lucita returns the curtsy with a respectful bowing of her head and a grin. Others are greeted with a warm, beguiling smile. "Oh, goodness, this will not be a pretty effort if I even manage to do anything other than blobs of paint. Still I will try something!" She pauses a moment then adds. "That is, if I can think of anything.. maybe. Ah, well, at least will try."

Aconite moves over to a canvas and nods to Pasquale, "I'd love to have some idea where to start, otherwise there'll just be a nice purple blob on a white background. Duarte is also met with a smile and curtsey.

Lucita checks dexterity and artwork at normal. Lucita is successful.

Jan checks dexterity and artwork at normal. Jan marginally fails.

Aconite checks dexterity and artwork at normal. Aconite fails.

Samira checks dexterity and artwork at normal. Samira is successful.

"Of course not Medeia." Pasquale says as he moves back towards one of the easels, picks up a brush, and waggles it at all the worried guests "I'm asking for daring paintings that provoke thought or laughter. Not masterworks. We're supposed to be having a bit of lighthearted fun to break up some of the stress of saving the world from you know who." He dabs his brush into a pot of purply paint. "And honoring Jayus in the process."

Pasquale checks dexterity and artwork at normal. Pasquale fails.

Umbroise checks dexterity and artwork at normal. Umbroise fails.

"Pasquale, my lore, what a charming soiree," Duarte coos with a smile. "Hello, dear," he says to Medeia with a kiss to her cheek. "I shan't critique works. They'd never hear of it in Bravura. I can only praise artistry.

Medeia checks dexterity and artwork at normal. Critical Success! Medeia is spectacularly successful.

Samira's entrance is an understated one, the artist silently moving to join the group. She attempts not to gape openly at the surroundings but her admiration for the beautiful space is evident in the slow sweep of her gaze. Eventually, though, her attention turns searchingly toward the other guests. Spotting a few familiar faces among the crowd instantly seems to set her a bit more at ease. She bows her head to Pasquale, a faint grin offered his way. "Humor and honoring Jayus, sounds like a fun combination. I'm glad I came."

Umbroise smiles at Medeia's comment, and then moves over to a canas. She peers over the various art supplies like someone who is wholly unfamiliar with such things. She starts mixing paints, but they definitely don't look like plum-colored paints. She selects a brush, but it's not the right kind, and she doesn't even sketch anything in first. She just starts randomly panting round blobs of a brownish-mauve color on top of an equally brownish-mauve colored bowl shape. There is no sense of depth, or style, or perspective. The Marquessa of Aviaron's Peak is definitely not an artist. Still, she seems to be enjoying herself, giving it her best effort, humming softly to herself.

"Alright then." Pasquale says to Aconite. "But Maren's technique doesn't actually work with oil and canvas. So i guess we're all just going to have to see what happens." He tilts the picture he's started towards them all. "See. Purple for plum." he frowns a bit as the round shape starts to drip down the parchment. "And.. Well. I guess I'm going to be painting a melting plum. Maybe less paint."

The Count of Bravura GASPS when Samira enters. Duarte motions grandly to the Culler. "My friends and compatriots, do you all know Samira Culler? She is a cherished celebrity in Bravura. Tales of her sketches (and what they sell for) have reached me all the way across the sea!"

Jan brushes? Jan don't need no stinkin brushes! she grabs some paint and pauses at the introduction "Hello Mistress culler, Welcome!"

Aconite smiles to Samira warmly and waves a purple paintbrush in greeting before she nods to what Pasquale is advising. She's not terribly skilled even with instruction. She dabs at the canvas crushing the bristles and making a weird purple bloblette on her canvas.

Medeia leans, just a little, into that cheek kiss from Duarte before he's drawing attention to Samira. The Saik lady squeals the other woman's name and dahsea off to wrap her friend in an excited hug. "Where /have/ you been?" Squeeeze. "Oh. You cannot judge my painting too harshly either," She says, leading Samira toward Duarte and the painting stations.

Jan hoists the waistline of her leggings until she's given herself a good and proper wedgie and then mixes the color on her hands and smears paint across her legging-clad backside and then leans her tall frame on tippy-toes and balances precariously forward as she bumps her paint-smeared backside against the canvas letting the leggings be her brush. Splat! bump, Splat! The host can breath knowing his intended is keeping her pants ON for her latest masterpeice.

Pasquale smiles just a little at Samira's welcome before realising what Jan is planning. "Jan. Please, please, tell me you are going to keep your clothes on."

Jan says, "Relax, my clothes are on, see!"

"What kind of party is this?" Duarte scoffs at the clothes-on-ness of it all and has another drink.

Umbroise turns from her painting to stare at Jan, blinking once or twice in scandalized astonishment.

Samira appears equal parts shocked and delighted by the warm greeting she receives. She waves to Aconite, a warm smile sent toward the familiar Whisper, before flinging her arms around Medeia in a big hug. "It's been /ages/, yeah? I actually just recently got back from visiting Bravura again." Her dark eyes slide toward Duarte, her grin widening. "That's so kind. And the feeling is mutual. I absolutely adore that incredible place and all it offers." She links an arm through Medeia's and moves to find her space to paint. "Hmm. Can't wait to see what sort of inspiration everyone finds for this."

Pasquale lifts his eyes up to the sky for a moment. "Yes. I see." he lets a soft little laugh escape besides himself. Hears Duarte and then laughs that same fragmented laugh again. "Its not the nudity that I'm worried about."

Lucita checked dexterity + alchemy at difficulty 9, rolling 20 higher.

Pasquale drops The Prank.

Lucita does not take too long to finish her meager effort. Most of the canvas is blank with just the outline of her concept showing. It lacks perspective and shading and is a simple cartoon type sketch. She sets it aside, passing it over to Pasquale for the paint to dry.

"You can throw a party more to your liking," Medeia murmurs toward Duarte, brows lifting before she finally picks up a brush and looks at the plums and offered paints. Aside to Samira, she smiles, noting, "I am so glad you are back. The city is less bright without you." There is a very pointed effort to avoid noticing Jan's antics, but if anyone looks closely, there's a quirk of amusement. Another glance around has her looking thoughtful before beginning to stroke paint onto the canvas.

Jan turns and frowns, "this'd be easier if this were pants optional. they are sad, confused plums." She pouts at pasquale and declares, "Lonely plums. No one's plums should be lonely." she waves to Samira "Lady Jan Kennex, pleased to meet you!"

Aconite checked dexterity + alchemy at difficulty 9, rolling 6 higher.

Aconite drops Plum Jam.

Aconite squints at her panting, lips pressing together as she concentrates and tries to figure out how to make this mass of purple look like something.. anything. Then inspiration strikes and she adds some thick white globs trying to make it look 'glossy'.

Duarte is pleased with Samira's words and touches his heart to let her know it. "Be sure to tell your friends," Duarte is after the tourism market.

He hmms with lofted brow at Medeia's suggestion he throw his own party to his own liking. He slides that way and scoops her up to cradle her in his arms - horribly disrupting her painting. "Why, love, if I did that, you'd be the only guest."

Pasquale laughs again at Jan's words. "You are going to make me blush." he's stopped bothering to pretend to paint though. Just watching Jan instead. Lucita handing him the painting almost catches him by surprise and he gives her an apologetic look before considering the painting. "This is great Lucita." He places it up on an easel where everyone will be able to see.

Lucita j's amusement at some of the amusing banter of others shows in the grin she gives them.

Pasquale checked dexterity + artwork at difficulty 19, rolling 8 higher.

Pasquale drops Bad Plum.

Paint, paint, pai- squeak! Medeia flails for a second before falling into laughter when she's scooped up by Duarte. "That sounds like an /excellent/ party, I do not see the problem. Now put me down so I can finish painting you as a plum." Is that what she's doing? It's hard to tell, yet.

The introduction from Jan earns a curious look from Samira as she hears the woman's name. "Good to meet you! House Kennex has always shown me kindness and it won't be forgotten." Strong words coming from the often silk-wary Lowers resident. To Duarte, she nods and offers earnest assurance: "Oh, I'll tell everyone who'll listen. Bravura's life-changing." Medeia's words earn a fond smile, the artist leaning in to nudge her friend gently with her shoulder. "I missed you. So much to catch up on." For now, though? There are plums to paint. She lifts her paintbrush, starting with purple paint naturally.

Umbroise checked dexterity + alchemy at difficulty 9, rolling 12 higher.

"No, just hold your arm straight," Duarte instructs Medeia as he concentrates hard, tongue protruding and eyes narrowed, and swings and sways her around in an attempt to paint - channeling his rocking motion of Medeia's whole body in to the brush strokes being made on the canvas.

Medeia checked dexterity + alchemy at difficulty 9, rolling 42 higher.

Umbroise checked dexterity + legerdemain at difficulty 15, rolling 5 lower.

Duarte checks dexterity and artwork at normal. Duarte is successful.

Pasquale watches Duarte and Medeia and Jan for a few more moments, a slight smile threatening to curve up his lips. Eventually breaking out of it as he turns his gaze back to his painting and hastily adds some new details.

Somehow, Medeia manages to finish her painting to her satisfaction - even with Duarte's questionable help. Amid laughter, there are moments of intense concentration as she tries to get a few details juuuust right. She drops the brush. "Alright, done."

Medeia drops Plum Luck - a surprisingly good amateur painting.

Finishes her painting rather quickly, after peering around at everyone else's work. She look at hers, and shakes her head, chuckling. "I suppose there is a reason I never learned to paint," she murmurs. She sets her brushes aside, giving up on it. Nailed it.


-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
This is a rather terrible painting. It looks maybe
like it was painted by a child. The colors sort of
have been blended into a brownish-mauve paste into
shapes that are vaguely circular, but drip down the
canvas. These are painted above a half-moon shape a
person might presume to be a bowl, but they are not
anywhere inside the bowl. They randomly just float
and drip above it. Nothing to see here. It's dumb.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-


Jan grins at pasquale, "I can't be the only one who's ever tried this I mean...what's more plum-shaped than an Ass?" she sighs "The pants ruin it but...eh, I'll paint some leaves and make it look like it's hanging from a tree. she wipes her hands clean and looks down at her breasts, "oh weait, cleavage would have worked too. Next time, my masterpiece makers." and with that she fetches a brush.

Medeia's painting: This plum has a fabulous mustache. Possibly the best mustache in the whole of the Compact. The plum sits on a barstool, positioned in such a way to suggest it would be leaning with assured confidence against the bar if it had arms. A glass - likely full of whiskey - is on the bar, and anyone with a keen eye can make out details that mimic the bar at the Crossroads Casino. It isn't the most skilled rendering, but the artist clearly had some divine inspiration.

Aconite is quiet behind her easel, her paintbrush poised in her hand. However, it's evident that she's more focused on observing the people around her rather than attempting to fix her globular creation.

"If that's supposed to be me, then this part should be much larger..." Duarte murmurs to Medeia as he attempts to perform what might be a totally inappropriate brush stroke.

Pasquale checked dexterity + artwork at difficulty 19, rolling 4 higher.

Pasquale drops Plum Levitation.

Medeia presses a quick kiss to the spot just below Duarte's ear before wriggling out of his hold and managing to land mostly upright on her feet. She straightens her gown and starts to walk around to look at the other paintings. Starting with Samira. Who gets a Medeia-chin briefly on her shoulder as the lady peeks from behind. "We will catch up soon. I do not even know where to begin, but we will." Then she's slipping off to visit with Umbroise. "Marquessa, have you ever met Samira Culler? She is one of my oldest and dearest friends. One of the most spectacular artists I have had the privilege of knowing."

Medeia takes Plum Luck - a surprisingly good amateur painting.

Pasquale finishes the last bit of his crude painting before starting to go and look at all the others. "So creative."

Samira checked dexterity + artwork at difficulty 19, rolling 38 higher.

Umbroise turns from her painting, and focuses on Medeia as the Lady comes to speak with her about Samira. She smiles and shakes her head. "Why no, I have not," she says. "But I do so enjoy meeting people who are far better in the arts than I," she says with a soft chuckle. "I can appreciate fine art, I just can't do it. Pray, introduce me?"

Samira drops Put A Plum In It, a painting.

Duarte drifts over toward Medeia and Samira and smiles exceptionally at the rendering. "Why, it's Lady Medeia and me!"

Jan wraps an old shirt around her waist to cover her paint-covered backside and carefully paints the las of the leaves and tries to blend the paint of the plumb before giving a shrug and deciding it's good enough. She smiles to Pasquale "this was fair turnout, a shame your sister couldn't join us."

Aconiteplum in it

"We will," Samira promises, echoing Medeia's words. She hears her friend's words to Umbroise just as she puts the finishing touches on her own painting: a man clearly about to speak, being silenced by a woman sticking a plum in his mouth. She waggles her fingers in greeting to the marquessa, awaiting Medeia's introduction. Duart's remark brings an amused grin, her head canted to the side as she considers the painting. "Is that where the inspiration came from? Must be."

Lucita looks at the paint smears on her hands and murmurs "I best go clean up and let my staff get some of the spatters out of my dress before it dries. Thank you for a lovely gathering.

2 Saik Guard, Micana, an efficient assistant leave, following Lucita.

Aconite looks over the paintings and grins towards Samira. "Very well done." She says softly before stepping back again. The Radiant manages to slip away towards the exit quietly.

Briar, the fleet and agile shrike, Alejandro, a gravely sober middle-aged Torean leave, following Aconite.

After studying the pictures for a bit Pasquale says "I love them all but Samira, Medeia and Lucita all absolutely beat all my expectation. But I think.." he squints at Medeia's picture for a few moments. "The plum with the mustache has to win." He nods to Jan. "It is a shame but you know how the life of a Duchess goes."

Jan smiles wryly "I don't and gods living I never will."

Jan is overheard praising Pasquale.

"It would be my pleasure," Medeia says to Umbroise and she drifts back over as Samira's painting is finished. She tilts her head, laughing at Duarte's commentary. "Goodness, it does seem to be. Lovely." Her gaze drifts to the count before turning back to the women. "Samira Culler, Marquessa Umbroise Acheron, it is my absolute delight to introduce the two of you." When she steps back so they can speak, she hears Pasquale say she's the winner? "What? No. Count Amadeo, look how divinely inspirational you are."

Jan is overheard praising Samira.

Duarte grasps the mustachioed plum to his bosom. "Why - I've never won anything before in my life!" He beams. "Truly a divine day."

Medeia is overheard praising Pasquale.

Medeia is overheard praising Samira.

Medeia is overheard praising Umbroise.

Medeia is overheard praising Jan.

Medeia is overheard praising Aconite.

Medeia is overheard praising Lucita.

Medeia is overheard praising Duarte.

Umbroise follows after Medeia and beams a smile at Samira. "A pleasure to meet you, Mistress Culler," she says formally, with an inclination of her head. "I hope you are well?" She eyes Samira's painting and smiles. "Ahh, that is quite clever! I appreciate the expressions on their faces particularly," she says with a soft laugh.