Steven
"For as long as she's held the title. We were friends in our youth, we've known each other since we were teenagers." Angelica answered and let her gaze wander from Anya and her newfound plaything to Eric. She gave a small smile to the man.

"I've been here since the very beginning."
Edith
"I'm from Ibethiel. I deal in antiques there for the government." Kirk said, repeating himself. "I have a shop named Pineworks in the capitol. Nice view of the castle. I came here on a boat with a cabin, but believe me when I say that it would be better to sleep in the dirt than on that boat. I actually do have an idea of how to solve our problem. Now, this isn't what it sounds like, but do you know of a brothel nearby?"
Ashley
"Oh," Eric said thoughtfully. He didn't realize how tightknit Anya's court was before he'd arrived. Ever since his arrival, Eric was almost intentionally different. Only speaking when it was needed, and executing every order received. "That must a journey. Duchess to a queen, I don't really know much about where she is from myself." Eric commented, the only thing Eric ever knew since he first read her name was that she was going to be his queen when Randall left. Anything before that was unkown, and Eric was never candid enough to ask or show curiosity. The conversation instinctively caused him to slow his pace slightly.
Rosanne
Yohan smirked. He had walked past a few brothels as he wandered through the streets, and may have taken a quick peek. "A brothel, eh? I think I might know of one nearby, but first I'd like to know your wonderful idea." He tried to think of what Kirk's plan might be, though he came up with no clue.
Rose
"Yes, Your Grace?" Dayveth asked, keeping in line with his queen. Now that he was off the infernal rocking beast, the doctor was able to enjoy the atmosphere and the weather. The only dislikable things were the inescapable seagulls and inevitable smell of fish.
Ashley
Must've been a journey*
Edith
"We will go inside and look for a girl who looks like she's having a rough night. Maybe the worst she's ever had on the job. Bruises might be a good indicator. Then I'll say 'Hey, let's go upstairs.' When we get up there, I'll ask how much for the night. She'll give me an answer. Then I'll ask how much if she doesn't have to touch us and just lets us sleep in that room for the night. Hopefully she'll be so relieved that she'll cut us a good deal. It might be a little more than an inn, but it's something. We get a place to sleep and we give some poor girl the rest of the night off. Does that sound like a good plan?" Kirk asked.
Rosanne
"Well that's awfully benevolent of you. It sounds like a good plan to me! Come with me, I'll show you the way if I can remember it." He began walking through the maze of cobblestone streets, leading Kirk. The two eventually made it to an establishment called *The Honest Harlot*, and Yohan stood in front of it. "After you."
Ronald
Audrey stiffened as his voice escalated. She thought about all the things she could say. She could tell him that she came in disguise, because if her own face was shown around his estate it was possible that he could be under suspicion, she could've said that he was a man with more choices than she'd had during the witch hunt, and she could've said that if she dared to lay a hand on him she would have been insane. Strangely enough, however, her voice seemed strangled. It wasn't the necklace, and it wasn't the hysteria. Perhaps it was the voice of a king, a man with more power than most of the known world, was speaking at the moment. Perhaps it was that his words were nearly true and that she couldn't open her mouth to make excuses in front of him anymore. All she knew was that she was forced into a corner, and she was making the best decisions she possibly could with her known information. As the Pirate King told his men to leave, she flinched. Had he had enough of her? Was this it? He'd end her life and have it cleaned up while he ran off to attend to other business? Her nerves felt numb, and her fingers trembled slightly in her lap. She supposed it only made sense, given that she'd crossed so many lines. Sure, she'd helped Bradai, but now she was dried up and no longer had any use. She was dead for all anyone else knew, save for Mason Carbonnel and Bradai Maith and a handful of his guards. Surely this was it. 

And the guards left. 

And the Pirate King wore a friendly smile that made Audrey's stomach drop. 

She blinked for a moment. He was acting as if he'd just stepped off stage of a grand production that they'd both been acting in. She stared at him blankly for a moment as he sat down heavily. His words seemed to echo, ricocheting off of the walls in her mind. What..? 
"I... I'm sorry?" She asked hesitantly, reaching out a hand slowly. Was it a trick? "You... Aren't angry?"
Edith
"I'm not benevolent, Yohan. I'm just good at striking a deal. I prefer more money in my pocket than spent. Good fortune to others is incidental. Actually, we could throw in you playing a song or two as payment. It could really brighten her day, but don't throw it in until I make a counter offer to her secondary. If you don't follow what I'm saying, don't worry, I can cue you in." Paying a few coins to a street performer may prove to be a helpful investment if he could really knock down the price his upcoming bargain with a prostitute. Whores were notoriously stubborn when it came to haggling in Kirk's experience. "Thank you." He said to Yohan before entering the establishment. An older woman sat behind a clerk's desk. She looked up at them when they walked through the door.

"You want a guy?" She asked after glancing at them for a second.

"Put the ocarina away." Kirk said quickly, assuming that was the reason for her question. The woman laughed.

"No, it's your pants." She said. Kirk looked down at his recently purchased pants and realized the man he had met at a tavern on the mainland the other night was not asking him about riding horses.

"Well, I guess I'm never wearing these again, but no. We want a girl." Kirk said, trying to mask his pain.

"Fine, just sign in first." The woman said, flipping around a ledger to the other side of the counter top. Kirk approached the book and picked up a quill. He hesitated.

"I'm here on business, and my assistant here doesn't read or write. Is it alright if I sign in on behalf of the two of us?" Kirk turned around and winked at Yohan while giving a discreet thumbs up.

"He's going in with you?" The woman asked, confused.

"Yes... He holds certain things for me..." He held up his travel case and gave it a couple pats.

"Alright, I guess." The woman gestured toward the ledger.

"Wonderful." Kirk scribbled *Yohan Astorio + 1* Into the name space and flipped the ledger back around.

"Have fun..." The woman said, pulling a string that opened a pathway through a drapery of beads in the wall.

"Neat." Kirk said before gesturing Yohan to follow him.
Rhonda
"Fuckin' 'ell, Audrey." The Pirate King's smile faded as he inspected her figure. He gripped the extended hand, giving it a hearty shake. His eyes glanced to the other, glistening with the gin that pooled at her feet. It looked like she'd wet herself. "Vhey really did a fuckin' number on you, didn't vhey?" He motioned for her to stand and come around the desk. From another drawer, opposite to the files, he produced a small wooden box. "Pack tha pipe for us. You've got to chill tha fuck out." 

"Ezekiel was an ass'ole. I sent 'im to you wiff tha expectation 'e'd wind up dead. You don't owe 'im jack shit." He removed the top of the box and removed the pipe, firestone, and small pouch of sweet smelling tar. "You do owe me fough, make no mistake. 'e was an expensive piece uff equipment."
Ronald
The confusion on Audrey's face was easy to read. Normally, she masked her thoughts quite well, but now it was clear she was not following the chain of events. Nontheless, she did her best to return the handshake and stood shakily, although as her feet carried her behind the desk, she felt as if everything to this point had been a terrible nightmare. She took the box, along with a deep breath, and removed the contents. It was a beautiful pipe, although she was hardly accustomed to Bradai's trade. Her mind began to think once more, as it had before, as if it were slowly repairing itself given this new sense of... Safety, perhaps. 
"If I may pick my poison," She said softly, as if it were a child asking for permission, "I would much prefer another glass of what you shared with me earlier. Alcohol and I have a much sweeter relationship." 
Audrey was shaken and had been beaten this time around, but in that request, she was *Almost* Like her old self.
Rosanne
Yohan followed behind Kirk, but not before looking back at some of the lovely ladies. He walked with Kirk into a private room, where he said to the woman "Okay, so here's how this is gonna work. How much for the whole night?"

"50 gold" She replied, getting on the bed.

"Perfect. And how much for us to not touch you at all?"

"40 gold."

"Amazing." He lobs 20 gold at the woman, and laid down on the bed. "You've got the other ha;f, Kirk."
Rhonda
The Pirate King took the drawstring bag and shook it out into his palm. A smooth and tacky ball of black fell into his hand. It reflected off of the sun outside, finger prints dotting the tacky surface. He pinched the side and slowly it began to separate, like putty. He gave it few twists before it broke off, and be began to roll it into a size accommodating the bowl of the pipe. 

"Its very charming vhat you ask, actually. You _may_ 'ave anuvher glass uff gin." He handed the pipe over to her, packing the ball of opium and placing the firestone in her other hand. "Just run your stone across the top." He stood from the table, "And while I'm off picking up tha glass you dropped, you're going to start smoking."
Edith
Kirk stared with barely contained rage at Yohan as the musical street urchin commandeered the negotiations. If Yohan had actually been his assistant, Kirk would have fired him. Still, he wasn't. He was just the poor man Kirk had signed into the ledger in case things went south at the whorehouse. After all, you can't get the virgin to the volcano by telling her you're going to push her in. The sacrificial lamb needed special treatment.

It wasn't until Yohan laid down that Kirk found a moment to salvage the negotiation. He leaned his face closely in on the whore's. "Hey, my assistant here is a skilled musician. If he played you a song or two, would you be willing to take off a few more coins from the total?"

"What does he play?" The prostitute whispered back, no stranger to quiet side deals.

Kirk looked from side to side for dramatic effect before uttering it aloud. "The Ocarina."

"Ooh. I've always wanted to hear one of those." The whore said, smiling. "I'd take off 10."

"Deal." Kirk handed the woman 10 coins, halving the remaining balance Yohan had left him with. "Hey Yohan." Kirk said, raising his volume back to normal. "This lovely girl here says that she's always wanted to hear an ocarina. I told her you're the best I've ever heard. Could you give her a song as thanks for letting us stay here tonight?"
Rosanne
"But of course." He pulled out his ocarina, and began to play the same wistful, slow melodic tune that Kirk had heard on the streets. He stood up, and began slowly dancing, moving with grace and ease around his small audience. He never denied anyone a show, no matter how awful the venue. And by god, was this a shitty venue. The floorboards creaked as he danced, the sheets looked to not have been washed since the previous festival, and Yohan almost stepped on a mouse as he played. However, he kept his composure, playing for Kirk and the whore.
Ronald
Audrey frowned at the ball of black. She knew fairly well what Bradai was talking about and what sort of business he was in, but she had no interest in partaking. She drank wine leisurely, and as a result could handle her alcohol, but she'd seen what opium did. Kenna Vaughn had been quite the scene when she'd visited Ibethiel, and she knew that Kenna had ties to Bradai as well. She hardly had any interest in losing her sense like that, let alone becoming addicted to the substance. Audrey opened her mouth to protest, although Bradai's tone was hardly something she could argue with.
"I can clean up my own messes," She said hesitantly, glancing at the pipe and firestone. "If you're concerned for me, I'll recover with rest. This... Isn't necessary." 
She hadn't outright refused his offer, but she gave an attempt at convincing him. If he wanted to spoil her, she would gladly take a glass of gin, but he seemed set on the pipe. If she could avoid it, she would.
Edith
As Yohan played, Kirk looked at the whore's table of personal possessions, a regular habit as an antique collector. He saw a small bottle. Some hard alcohol perhaps? He opened it up, gave it a sniff, and took a swig. It tasted awful. Kirk set it back down in disgust and walked away toward a better position for the impromptu concert. When it was over, both he and the prostitute clapped. "Good job, pal."

"What a lovely show." The woman said, starting to pack up a few things before heading out. At the door, she stopped and went back to grab the bottle Kirk had drank from. "Almost forgot the cavity cleanser." She said under her breath.
Rosanne
Yohan smirked, and looked over at Kirk, saying "That's probably not something you'll want to be drinking." He placds his ocarina back in his bag, before falling onto the bed, exhausted. He had spent all day travelling, only to find a run down whorehouse as his only place to stay. He didn't have much time to be frustrated about his living conditions, as he fell asleep almost as soon as he hit the bed.
Edith
With Yohan taking the bed, Kirk was left with taking the chair in the corner of the room. He sat down in it and dozed off shortly after.

Kirk woke with his stomach gurgling in the night, he figured it must have been the bottle that he had drank from earlier. It was a bit late for sea sickness. Kirk opened his eyes and saw a light dancing around near the foot of the bed. Kirk looked over at Yohan, who seemed to be asleep. He quietly stood up and saw the whore rifling through his travel case under candle light. With little advance thought, Kirk ran at the woman and tackled her. "Thief!"

"Thirty gold coins for a whole night on a festival weekend, are you insane?!" She twisted around Kirk's grip. "I only said yes because I knew I could get more from you later!" Kirk was not an experienced fighter nor particularly large, and the whore was used to tangling with men in tough positions. Within seconds, she had him in a headlock.

"Yohan, I wanted one with a weak will!" He choked out, hoping the commotion had been enough to wake him up.

. . .

"Am I?!" He asked sarcastically. Kirk stood up sick, wobbly legs as chunks of vomit slid off him. "Madame, I am a *Royal* Antiquities dealer, and I will not be disrespected in this way."

"Look, I'm sorry for your trouble." The madame said kindly over the chaotic scene. "We'll refund you for your time, would that make everyone happy?"

"Me and my assistant would like to stay here the rest of the night. I'm in no condition to travel. Could we hold onto the room?" Kirk added.

"Fine." The madame said, just wanting to get this over with.

"Deal." Kirk held out a puke doused hand to the whore called Eloise. 

"For the night." She reluctantly handed back the money Yohan and Kirk had given her.

"Uh, I believe there is only 30 gold here. Your standard rate for a full night is 50 gold."

"But-" Eloise cut herself off, not wanting to reveal that she was cutting rates to steal from customers after the sale in front of the whorehouse boss. She reached into her pockets and pulled out 20 more gold pieces before depositing them into Kirk's hand. 

"Thank you." Kirk said with a bow. The madame forcefully led Eloise out of the room and shut the door on her way out. Kirk pocketed the coin as he walked over to the whore's closet. He pulled out a dress and started wiping off vomit with it. Then he tossed it into the muck on the floor. "Now that..." Kirk said without looking at Yohan. "Is how you make a deal."
Steven
Angelica nodded, letting her pace slow enough to be leisurely as they walked. "It was a bit of an uphill battle." She confirmed, and let her gaze settle on him once more. "I suppose it's a bit strange, to see the way we interact. And even stranger still to find yourself suddenly a part of it. It feels like you've been around for years, but it's only been what, maybe one of you _officially_ being part of the Astorian court?" 



Dadyveth moved to fall into step beside her, and she raised a shoulder casually. "Nothing, Doctor. I just wanted to give them a moment to themselves." She told him quietly, giving her chin a small jerk towards her shoulder to indicate Angelica and Eric behind them. "You said you've traveled, is this your first time in the Isles?"
Rose
"Oh," Was all Dayveth said, glancing over his shoulder towards the other pair. He turned his attention back to Anyanka as she asked her question. 

"Yes, out of all the places I have been, the Isles are completely new to me." As they strolled through the streets of Tonate Proper, Dayveth surprised himself. He didn't think he would have such a challenge resisting the urge to reach out and take the queen's hand. She was the first woman to ever challenge Dayveth, and he loved it.
Steven
Anya's lips parted in a soft 'ah', her step lingering a bit as a warm breeze greeted them from the shores. "They're lovely. I used to consider them a second home." She told him. "The Pirate King is an old friend of mine, my son is currently staying in his court, so if you stick close by you might find yourself introduced to both of them." She mused, though she didn't quite know how that would play out. 

"You'll find the people here are a lot like those in Astoria. Shitbloods making their way through the world and generally just doing a wonderful job about it. The Pirate King has a bit of a side for dramatics, so I don't doubt the festival will have some surprise tucked away."
Rose
Dayveth nodded at her words, and remained silent for several moments, thinking. "*So*, I am surprised to find any queen to be friends of a pirate king. It's very interesting, if not slightly worrying." 

Dayveth had worries about anyone who was dubbed "Pirate King," And he get that it was in good reason too. He had brushed into pirates before, on land and sea, and it was never a *Productive* Experience.
Charlene
Among the documents in the Queen's study, there was a reminder, a letter from her family that there was to be a festival in Tonate. 

Her discovering that letter was days ago, and Charity had just arrived at the capital of the Isles. She was a tad late for the festivities, but it was not yet over and that's all that really mattered. As she breathed in the air, she felt a bit nostalgic since the Isles was where she grew up.
Steven
"The moniker is more frightening than the man, in my opinion. He's not so much a pirate as he's the one who controls the waters." She explained, and when they arrived to the carriage, she thanked the coach who pulled the door open for her, climbing inside. 

"It's actually how we came to know each other." She continued, moving to the furthest seat so he, Eric, and Angelica would have room to join her. "Before Astoria, I was married to the Duke of Vincentien. They dealt pretty heavily in slave labor, and since I wasn't exactly the biggest fan-" 

"That's an understatement." Angelica quipped, sliding into the seat across from the Queen. 

"Alright since I actively rerouted and stole shipments to Vincentien to free those on the ships and welcome them to The Underground, I landed on King Maith's radar. He invited me to the Isles, and when he realized that the increased number of slavers ships heading to Vincentien wasn't to fuel our economy, we struck up a friendship."
Rose
It was Dayveth's turn to make "Ah," Shape as he climbed into the carriage after Anyanka. He sat next to her and was careful to not sit closer than what was appropriate. The doctor had figured that Angelica probably knew about the queen and the doctor, probably both because she was smart and of the queen's closest friends. Sir Stafford, however, was still in the dark about it, or at to Dayveth's beliefs. He preferred it stayed that way.

"I look forward to meeting such an interesting character," Dayveth replied to the queen with a pleasant smile. "Though perhaps he should be renamed to Sea King, or Sea Lord, has a nice ring to it."
Steven
"Maybe don't suggest name changes to the Pirate King?" She offered with a small smile, placing her hand on his knee. "At least not unless asked. I think he's quite fond of the connotation it brings. Same thing with myself prefering 'Duchess' to 'Queen'." With her words, the door closed behind Eric and Angelica, and the carriage set off towards the manor.
Rose
"I was merely jesting, Duchess," Dayveth explained, taking note. "Believe me, I plan to be on my best behavior around this Pirate King." He glanced out the window at the passing buildings and stalls as they rode through the market. He enjoyed the smell of the ocean, as much as he disliked being on it.
Rhonda
The Pirate King knelt down to pick up the glass and inspected the necklace. The diamond was quite large. It almost made him miss Ibethiel. "I'm smoking it wiff you, if vhats what you're nervous about. Just consider placating me right now as part uff your debt." He stuffed the thing into his coat pocket and returned behind the desk. Bradai gestured to the firestone, "Just run it along tha top." He brought his thumb down his forearm as an example. "Easy." 

He sat back down and refilled the glass of gin. "You'll need vhis as a chaser anyways."
Ronald
Audrey raised an eyebrow as he pocketed her charm. She hoped he knew it was only good for looking like Evelynn, and likely only had a few days left of magic enchanted. Perhaps he just appreciated the rock itself. She didn't particularly mind, in any case. Her hand held the firestone, and she released a soft breath through her nostrils. It couldn't be helped, it seemed. 
While Audrey was inexperienced with such things, she followed Bradai's example and ran the firestone over the pipe as instructed. She looked at the pipe hesitantly, and then offered it to Bradai first. Not only was it a sign of respect in a way, but she was also uncertain. While she'd smoked tobacco occasionally in the past, she'd never been exposed to a drug other than alcohol. 
"Would you mind teaching me?"
Rhonda
The Pirate King sighed, although it wasn't one of exhaustion or upset. "A good effort." His appraisal was genuine, and he took the pipe from her and ran the firestone over the top, inspiring sparks to build and set the bowl to a gentle blaze. A thick haze rose from the pipe, but was briefly stopped when Bradai inhaled deeply. His throat caught towards the end of his rather long draw, but it stayed there, not inspiring it cough. As he pulled away, his eyelids fell closed. A deep exhale briefly obscured his face. The smell was thick and warm, like a blanket. 

He passed the pipe over, opening his eyes just enough to get the blurry outline of his companion. "Smoke, pass it back, and go open tha window, will you?"
Ronald
Audrey's eyes settled on the Pirate King's expression as he inhaled. Her eyes took in everything - from how he held the pipe, to how long he inhaled, to the catch in his breath, and even to his exhale. Before she knew it, he'd already finished, and passed it to her. She took it with careful hands and brought it to her lips, her irises on the embers that burned away at the end. Her lungs took a breath, released it, and then she wrapped her lips around the pipe, breathing in again. 
It was fairly short-lived, however, when Audrey's eyes shut tightly and a cough bubbled up from her chest as she removed the pipe and passed it back. She managed to hold it for a moment before tendrils of smoke escaped from her lips in a quiet coughing fit that she stifled with her hand. When the pipe was safely in Bradai's hand, she took two staggered steps towards the window before she regained her posture and managed to unclasp the lock, opening the airway. The fresh air was welcomed into her lungs, although she didn't exactly gasp. She just... Enjoyed the fresh air. After the window was opened, she moved back towards the desk. She held back from sitting on it - a habit she'd had back in Ibethiel - and instead moved to take a seat in her original chair opposite of Bradai. 
"Thank you for that," She said. While she was honestly already feeling more relaxed, even from such a slight puff, she also couldn't seem to get this smokey taste out of her mouth. She reached forward and took a gulp of the gin, before setting the glass back down. "Your concern is appreciated."
David
David had found himself a sit at the festival, David had surrounded himself with his guards man, David grinned as he looked around the area. David turned to his Brother Damien and said to him, David: "You look uneasy Damien are you still not use to stone not being beneath your feet?" 

Damien remained silent as he looked around the area for himself, 
Damien had been shocked by the sight of grass, after he had not seen it for a long time, Damien had almost forgotten what grass had looked like. Much more things had shocked Damien though, as he continued to look around the festival. The outfits people where wearing and the colours of the decorations would have been very different from what was at The Horn Hills.

The Festival would have been growing getting more full of different faces. Faces that David had thought to himself could be useful to The Horn Hills and House Brass. Damien turned back to face David and said, Damien: "A show of power is one thing but, increasing that power is another". David had slightly nodded at his Brothers point and chuckled, David then had said David: "Your right Brother so you be the voice of our House then", David had chuckled much louder then before, his chuckle had almost became a harsh laugh, but David had stopped himself by clearing his throat before he had continued "Go out there and finds us someone willing to serve The King Of The Sea".

Damien had been shaken by this request, but Damien knew better then say no to David. Damien slowly nodded back to David and looked around for anyone who looked like a capable warrior to serve his house to serve the self proclaimed King Of The Sea.