Terence
Tiny Vik
The Mizzen Market, Tonate Proper

Vik tried to balance the coin on his pinky and catch it with his thumb, but he was struggling.  He tilted his head in frustration as he abandoned the first part of the trick just to nail this second one.  The coin continued to clatter to the table after each attempt.

"So," Vik said, picking up the coin, "You want to show these men that they shouldn't have disrespected you?  Does that include the man they serve and the man who deseated you in the tourney?  How far up does the disrespect go?"

Vik finally caught the coin, and he grew elated before realizing he still had to master the third move.

*I'll help you, lad, but not if you're going after one of my pets, and not if you let the darkness take you over.*

"*Mraow*?"  Tiddlywinks rubbed along Vik's leg after leaping into his seat, sensing the thoughts that zipped behind his Void-like eyes.

"I'm fine, old friend, just a little nervous."  He said, scratching behind his striped ears.
Ora
Arin Cragton
Mizzen Market

Arin rubbed the coin before looking over at Vik. 

"Defeating someone is not disrespectful. Teaching someone a lesson is not disrespectful. But leaving someone in trash is. I wouldn't even leave my worst enemy like I was left. My enemy is only a person, same as me. Why would I want them to be treated any differently than I would want them to treat me?" Arin said, before watching Vik struggle.

"You are trying too hard. You are treating it as if you have to force the coin into your thumb, when in reality the coin is doing most of the work. Balance it on your pinky, and allow it to naturally drop where your thumb is waiting. Once you figure out placement it becomes easier." He said, showing him as he spoke. 

"Jax, the man I lost too, was one of the most honorable men I have ever met. Even offered me a chance to escape the life I have lived my entire life. But I can't accept his offer yet. There is still much for me to accomplish here. I've only dreamed of him, but my brother is out there, somewhere. He thinks I am dead. I want to find him." He said, before looking at Vik. 

"Do you have a family?" He asked softly, a hint of sadness trailing off of the last note uttered out of his mouth.
Terence
Tiny Vik
The Mizzer Market, Tonate Proper

Vik began sliding the coin across his palm, intently focused on accomplishing a full circuit of this trick without magic.  When he finally pinched the coin against his forefinger.  He straightened his head in relaxation, only to begin the trick again.

"So you wish to teach these *Recent* Men a lesson, and then find your brother you've only dreamed of?"  Vik paused the trick to sip his tea, not continuing until he had placed the cup back on its saucer.  "How do you know this brother of yours even exists?"

However, that was when Arin asked his final question.  Vik, stopping everything he was doing at the end of the sentence, standing picturesque like a statue.  It was some time before he responded.

"I did have a family, once.  I had a wife, and many children, a long, *Long*, time ago.  We were very happy for a time.  However she eventually lost her way, and later died."  He felt Tiddlywinks bump him again, and he reached down to pat him.  "I lost most of my family that day, but I know they're in a much better place now, much better than I could build."
Marguerite
Catarina Tanner
The Ball, Maith Mansion

"He certainly does," Catarina replied, then took another sip from her glass.

She set the glass down and stopped her indulgence for a moment, gesturing to the party around them. "Seems like everyone who is anyone is here. No expense spared! Personally, my favorite part of any party is the dancing and music. Spinning round and round, colors swirling, heart pounding..."

She sighed. Most weren't dancing yet.

"Though you," She finally continued, raising her glance once more, "Don't seem to be enjoying yourself much. Is there something wrong? A man? They are exhausting creatures, aren't they?"
Phyllis
Alva Ivanova
The Ball, Maith Mansion

Alva cracked a small smile and chuckled a little.

"Well, I can't disagree with you there. However, that's not the case. I'm just not very fond of parties." 

She set her glass down and the tension in her shoulders steadily relaxed. Alva rarely went out of her way to interact with others, but she wasn't entirely antisocial. It was actually quite nice to be having a pleasant conversation as opposed to sitting alone or worse - dancing.
Christina
Cecilia Lyanah 
Maith's Feast, Tonate Proper

She felt disappointed when he insisted it was neither the acts she mentioned, hoping some excitement from the man beside her. Instead, he began mentioning an illness regarding battle before cutting himself off which caused a raised brow. She didn't understand how the topic came to be, nor did she have any interest in it. Her lips parted as she began to speak but was interrupted when Alex stood himself up immediately after and requested her hand to dance. 

"I prefer not to dance just yet." It wasn't that she didn't want to, she simply couldn't risk drawing attention to herself with her horrific dancing. Cecilia preferred to wait until the mainlanders were stumbling over their own feet inebriated so she kept her hands above her lap with her fingers laced together. "I'm sure there are many others who would be more than happy to dance with you." 

Her eyes drifted towards the guests who continued to shower King Bradai with gifts before focusing back on the man beside her. "Have you given the King a gift yet?"
James
Lady Kelsafyr Skagerlly and her accompaniment,
The Ball, Maith Mansion.

Purposeful footwork crushed gravel beneath the soles of boots, the evening air humid and temperate, the din of crickets and the rolling of water from the gardens were a pleasant alternative to the biting cold of the north.

 They had arrived late to the celebrations, but Kelsafyr had convinced her brothers it would make for a fashionable entrance. She worried that the size of the Skagerlly party would put their target on guard or raise suspicion, and in such a case, she wasn't entirely sure how she should handle it. Her main concern was Mallsrek's behaviour. Her elder brother's temperament was as fickle as the weather, almost always unforgiving.

 She had discussed this with Shaydrin before they departed for the Isles, confessing her apprehension for the evening in Bradai Marth's court. She was afraid to be so far from her father's protection and in an unfamiliar kingdom. She was hesitant to be in the company of strangers, outnumbered and alone with only her brother's security to rely on.

"So I alone am not enough?" Had been his answer, with the sardonic half-smile that was his fashion. That playful look soon met its demise when he discerned the genuine concern in her eyes, and he brought a hand to her cheek. "If any of those ponces disturb you with so much as a wrong look, find me. Call out my name if you must." His tone had changed dramatically, withered down to something pure and iron-dark. "The Brass can rot, and his bride-to-be with him.. You know what I'll do ta anyone who wrongs you. You know what I'll do, sister."

Afterwards, her brother's words of encouragement had grown more urbane as the time had drawn closer. "You look beautiful," Murmured Shaydrin, readjusting his snow-white doublet. They had all made an exceptional effort, especially Kelsafyr. He laid a hand upon her forearm as the party paused outside of the mansion doors, quietly speaking amongst themselves before they made their entry. Shaydrin had a boyish charm to him, a certain way that his hair curled and shifted out of his eyes. He was very good looking, and it caused Kelsafyr to wonder why he wasn't married yet. He had brought somebody along with him, somebody that Kelsafyr didn't know. A child, and a rather strange one at that. Shaydrin had told her her name was Maren, called her his 'unbidden charm from the gods', but Kelsafyr had made little effort to speak with her. 

The girl stood to Shaydrin's side, avoiding the gaze of Mallsrek, who was currently discussing with his man-at-arms. She was a funny looking thing, thought Kelsafyr, scarred and pale. She very much looked like the typical child of the Witherlands. 

She caught her lingering gaze and turned her attention towards Shaydrin. She smiled. "Thank you," She began, trailing a hand down the detailing of her bodice. "I thought that I might as well try and make a lasting impression. I imagine this being our first and last time in the isles." She paused for a moment and looked at Maren. "She looks stunted. I commend you for her attire, however. She certainly looks the part." Quietly uttered Kelsafyr, scrunching her nose. She wasn't quite sure why her brother had taken such an interest in this child. Yet, to her, she seemed very plain. Unusual in her mannerisms, yes, but mediocre all the same. Shaydrin had opened his mouth to respond, when they were interrupted by a loud voice. It was the usual tell-tale sign that her older brother was about to lose his temper.

"Are you fucking mad? Do you know who the fuck I am? There's no chance in the frozen pits of fucking hell I'm disarming my men." Barked Mallsrek, who was clad in full northern battle armour consisting of leather plates and minimal chainmail, with a wolf's skin draped over one shoulder. He wasn't one for formal occasions and his wardrobe reflected it. He jabbed his thick finger into the chest of an attendant standing at the doors to the mansion. The doorman had told them to relinquish all of their weaponry, and Mallsrek was beginning to kick up a fuss. His bellowing voice echoed around the courtyard as his men at arms stood poised surrounding the three nobles with Mallsrek taking the lead. The doorman looked around with an air of unease as he was faced with a behemoth of a man and a group of battle hardened men at arms. 

Shaydrin frowned at their brother's commotion. "He makes me want ta jump inta the harbour, I swear," He sighed, then laid a hand on Maren's shoulder. "As for my charge here... Well, there's not much help about her look, but she'll keep. Our plan will keep." He snorted, ruffling her hair. "I think she'll pass for a daughter of mine. A gaunt little Skagerlly sprout. Even has Big Tit's eyes, I think." His nose crinkled at him having just made that comparison, but he quickly moved on. "Mummy—I don't know, Remina, let's call her—was barely able to survive the delivery, let alone the pestilence when it got to her. Poor, wretched girl." Mock grief darkened his face. "Hopefully Queen Anyanka can find a place in her heart for a young, handsome widower, a lone parent like herself. And maybe other places inside of her too."

He gave her a sidelong grin. "And you're the aunt that will take her off my hands when things get sultry. Are you agreeable to that, sister? You only have to tell me 'no'."

"Gods, Shaydrin. You aren't delicate in the slightest." Kelsafyr uttered, swiftly chuckling after concluding her sentence. She had said it specifically in response to his thought Anyanka might bed him, shaking his head. She looked to Maren, hoping that the girl wasn't so young where such a conversation in her presence would be inappropriate. She lowered her voice, eyeing the doorman. Luckily, Mallsrek's outburst was doing wonders for masking her and Shaydrin's conversation. "No, it sounds like the perfect plan. You need only beckon her in my direction, and I'll take care of her for the rest of the evening. Send word to me once you've subdued her, and it's time to leave." 


The Skagerlly twins nodded to one another in silent understanding and began the unsavoury necessity of reasoning with Mallsrek. After what felt like an eternity, he begrudgingly relinquished all visible weapons to the attendants, as even he could admit the orders given by their father were too important to disregard. For all of Mallsrek's anger, he was still a loyal soldier. The trio took comfort in the notion they weren't utterly unarmed, as they had each concealed a dagger on their person. They spoke for a moment longer on the plan for the evening, before nodding to the attendant, who opened the door to the estate.

The doors of the Maith Mansion swung open, and the sweet sound of music reached the Skagerlly's ears. The scent of freshly cooked food hit her nose, of sea salt and expensive wine flowing amongst good company and conversation. She turned her head and offered a firm nod to both of her brothers before she stepped into the hall and began to confidently walk down the aisle to meet the pirate king, Braidai Marth.

Her heels clicked against the marble floors, her red velvet gown sweeping behind her. She had dressed accordingly for the celebration, her coffee-coloured hair pulled from her profile and clasped with a bejewelled hairpiece, tendrils of her locks framing her countenance. She gently pinched at the edge of her velvet skirt, her frame adorned in a blood-red gown embroidered with golden flowers, tightly laced and corseted. Her shoulders were bare, and her neckline plunged low, collarbones highlighted with pearl dust that caught the light and caused her to sparkle. 

Her brothers walked on either side of her, with Maren just behind and two scantily clad women following the child. They had four guards in attendance, one of which held a large chest in his arms. Two guardsmen flanked the Skagerlly men on either side. 

Kelsafyr admired the ballroom, quietly making her way to the king's table. There were many people here she didn't recognise, and so her eyes began to wander. She was looking for the two men she and her party were supposed to meet, but she had never seen the self-proclaimed sea king before. She trusted Shaydrin might be able to pick him out of a crowd, but she would have very little luck. She inhaled a shaky breath and wore a feigned smile of confidence as she stepped up to the king.

"Your Majesty, it's a pleasure. Lady Kelsafyr Skagerrly, humbly at your service." She introduced, dipping into a low curtsy. She gracefully pinched either side of her skirt and bent her knees, lowering her head to peer down at her feet. Her brothers and their guards bowed in tandem.

Her chest rose and fell with anxious breaths, her pearl necklace irritating her neck as it shifted with the course of her breathing. She awaited his call to stand, and once given she, tilted her head upward to peer at him through thick black eyelashes, slowly straightening her back and clasping her hands at her stomach. "What a wonder it is, to finally meet you. I've heard very intriguing things." She cooed, her eyes wandering along the panel to admire his collection of wives.

"House Skagerlly presents to you three gifts. Girls!" She snapped, clicking her fingers. 

Two women stepped forward through the fray, adorned in very little clothing. They were both beautiful, but not exceptionally so. They bore a striking resemblance to Kelsafyr and her brothers. Their siblings, perhaps? There was a moment of silence before Lady Skagerlly began to speak once more. 

"This is, er.." She hesitated and was swiftly interrupted by her brother, Shaydrin. He could sense her unease.

"This is Big Tits and Muffy, your Grace." 

"Serving girls, or whatever you want them to be." Continued Kelsafyr, brushing a lock of hair from her face. "My sisters are very talented in the right areas. Muffy, why don't you bring the King his next gift?" Inquired Kelsafyr, to which the gifted woman nodded. 

Muffy grappled the chest from the guardsman trusted to carry it and hoisted it to the King's table, setting it before him. She delicately unlocked it and pulled back the lid to reveal a treasure chest filled with jewels, some of which seemed to be family heirlooms. But very clearly not of the Skagerrly family. If he were to later dig through the hoard, he'd find a few rings stained with blood, almost as if they were forcefully taken and ripped from the hands of women who wanted them to remain in their possession.

Kelsafyr very carefully studied the King as he looked over his various gifts, tilting her head towards Shaydrin to offer a smile. She awaited the Pirate King's response.