Joseph
Lady Anna Barrmount 
Maith mansion

Anna grew tired of reading, already halfway through the book. She put it down on the bed and stood up, looking around for something to do. 

She looked out the window. How much time had passed already? Maybe Kirk was back and could tell her about the joust; or about anything from outside for that matter. 

Anna went to the door and peeked behind it, waiting for a maid to pass by. 

"Pst." She discreetly called out "Pst!" 

The maid nearby stopped and looked around, confused, until she spotted Lady Anna. 

"Yes?" The maid approached the door. 

"Do you know if Lord Kirk Pinewood has arrived back from the joust?" 

"Oh! In fact, I could swear he came in just moments ago. He should be in his room by now."

"Thank you."

...

Anna put, once again, the maid clothes on, so she could walk around the place without suspicion. She approached Kirk's room and looked around, to make sure nobody was watching, before giving a soft knock to the door. 

"It's me, may I come in?" She announced to him after knocking. 

She awaited for a response before entering.
Edith
**Kirk Pinewood
Maith Mansion**

Kirk did not register that someone was speaking to him until a few seconds later. "Come in!" He called out from the washroom, still focused on getting something out from his teeth in front of a mirror.
Joseph
Lady Anna Barrmount 
Maith Mansion 

She opened the door and let herself in to the room. 

"How was the joust?" She asked as she closed the door. "I hope it was more entertaining than it was here... Don't get me wrong, the maids are really nice to me, but I wish I could go outside."

She patted down her dress to get some dust off, as she went to the bed and sat down on the edge, looking at Kirk. 

"Tell me, is it as beautiful around the town as the maids say?" She asked with a hint of excitement in her voice and a smile on her face. It was nice to speak to someone she knew, with whom she didn't have to pretend to be someone else. "I barely had a chance to see it when we arrived. You think we could go for a walk before we leave?"
Edith
**Kirk Pinewood
His room in Maith Mansion**

Kirk, focused on the task of picking something out of his teeth, had not realized it was Anna's voice until she opened the door. He tensed up and scrambled to the rack holding a towel in his washroom and threw it around his shoulders so that he looked decent before she came into view. "It was fun!" He said shakily at the sudden rush of adrenaline.

Anna's request made him think for a moment before answering. He thought back to his stroll through the streets earlier in the day. "Maybe." Kirk leaned against the washroom's door frame. "We need to be careful about what we do publicly together, but I think we could find a way to arrange a walk before we leave. It's certainly a sight to see."

Kirk looked at Anna as she sat on the edge of his bed. The warm smile with which she looked back at him felt like a gift he didn't deserve. "Did the maids say anything to you about the ball tonight? Were you... Were they thinking about going?"
Joseph
Lady Anna Barrmount 
Maith Mansion

Her face lit up as soon as he gave way into the possibility of going outside.

"Oh, the ball..." Her smile fell slightly at the mention of the event. "Indeed they have. It seems to be quite the talk. All of them want to go, but most can't even begin to afford a decent dress for the occasion." 

Balls had always been one of her favorite events. Elegant gowns twirling around, cheerful hearty laughs even from the most insufferable stiff people, and the boring and dreaded serious conversations could be avoided simply by heading into the bliss of people dancing. 

Even Sibyl seemed to relax just a tiny little bit during that kind of event. Oh, how long had it been since the last one Anna attended? 

"One of the maids couldn't stop talking about the most beautiful gown she has ever seen, at a shop down by the centre of the town." Anna sighed as she recalled "They can't wait for the ball. Are you attending?"
Edith
**Kirk Pinewood
Maith Mansion**

"Yes, I do plan to be there. Political appearances and all that. I think Dennon also needs the help. The man spent most of his life as a knight. He seems out of his element in these high society events. There were times today when it felt like I was talking to a child. At least I had some experience schmoozing the rich and powerful to get them to buy my antiques. You'd probably be the most valuable if you weren't in hiding. We're a long way from The Iron Plaines, but I'm sure some of the subtleties come a bit more naturally to you from your background." Kirk vented.

"You know, an event like this, the Ibbish could use a broader representation. Maybe you should go buy a dress... And then come to the ball."
Joseph
Lady Anna Barrmount
Maith mansion

A smile crossed her face as a brief little laugh scaped her lips. 

"Oh dear, the gods know I'm horrible at political small talk." She did a gesture with her hand to dismiss the idea as she shook her head no "Dancing, that's usually my task. People get too serious at the ball or bore you too much with politics? There I go and convince them to dance." She explained as she recalled the balls she had attended "Works like a charm. Everyone is far nicer after having a fun time dancing."

As he spoke again, hope started shining in her eyes. *Could use representation*, was he going to say what she thought he was going to say? 

"Me?" She got up from the bed with a jump. She couldn't contain her joy as she did little jumps, her hands flapping a bit as she squeaked. 

"Oh dear, we have to go get a dress!" She spoke way quicker, excitement rushing through her "And I don't know what to do with my hair..." She rambled on "Oh Kirk!" She ran to him and gave him a quick hug "This is going to be so fun! Thank you, thank you, thank you."
Edith
**Lord Kirk Pinewood
Maith Mansion**

"You're welcome." Kirk said, returning the hug.

...
Terence
Tiny Vik
The Mizzen Market, Tonate Proper

Vik didn't know the injuries were that severe.  He reached up an arm to assist the boy, but what could he do in this state besides get in the way?  Still he held out his hand, walking next to Arin, and scanned his limp with every step, praying for some improvement.

Yes, Vik prayed.

"Don't push yourself, son.  Don't be in such a rush to heal that you get injured even more."  Vik cooed out.  "If you need to rest, sit back down and I'll fetch a doctor, I'm sure there's one somewhere on this island."

He looked behind them at the refuse pile, and then before them at the break in the tents, maybe searching for a sign that bore a trio of leeches, or anything that advertised a doctor of some kind.

Captain Jax Brightwater
Aboard *His 16 Rings* Beneath the Maith Mansion, Tonate Proper

"Your Majesty, you wound me!  Just because I joined you on a whim, doesn't mean I have a habit of doing it."  He couldn't help but chuckle at her joke, though, and was relieved she didn't berate him for being absent.

"Everything is handled, Your Majesty, I simply had to take care of the horses and carriage, since we didn't take those back to the manse.  I just happened to get delayed by a gate guard who insisted I correct the money he lost during my bout."  He clasped his hands behind his back after adjusting his sword belt.  He preferred this festival to the Taemish Council at least; they let him keep his sword, and there seemed to be no mention of demonic carcasses being part of the ball.  At that last thought he became curious about how that would look.

"Do you think we'll see a spectacle like the one in Taemar, Your Grace?  I wonder what the Islanders would dangle in place of a hog.  A shark, or whale perhaps?"  He giggled to himself before she responded.