Robert
Sir Heath Romanov
Grunewald Castle, Taemar

Heath's brows flicked up. "Oh, is that right? So what am I supposed to call you?" He asked, "Calm down, there's music playing and wine flowing. No one can hear." He noticed her gaze flicker over to the Islanders. "I wouldn't," He murmured, mind flashing back to Cecilia soaring through the sky as a bird many years ago, knife clutched in her talons. She would have been a much more deadly force, had her brain not been the size of a peanut.


Prince Nickles
Grunewald Castle, Taemar

Prince Nickles blinked up at Dennon. He raised a hand to clutch the brim of his hat, razor blades at the ready. "I do not do dead little pricks. I heard Lord Rodrick licked a rat and that's how he got the plague. Dirty northerners."

"*The dinner festivities will officially commence in half an hour. Until then, drink and be merry*," The woman musician announced after their song came to a stuttered halt. She struck a cigarette and puffed on it thrice before leaving it between her lips so that she could take the lead in the next piece. 

"I am a son. I can prove it to you, if you'd like," Nickles added, blood running down his wrist as the blades cut into the palm of his hand. "I can prove it real nice like."
John
**King Dennon Bigsby
An Increasingly More Uncomfortable Situation in Vallen, Taemar**

Dennon backed away uncomfortably as the child released his hands and began to slice through her own skin. "What the-" He eventually bumped into the people he had arrived with a few steps back as blood dripped from the child's hand.

Kirk turned around and was the first to notice in the group. "Hey kid, what are you doing to yourself there?" He asked loudly, seeing Nickles holding the blade to the bleeding area.
Heather
Cecilia Lyanah
Grunewald Castle, Vallen

"Bell? Bella? It is the only name of mine that isn't common knowledge." She answered, turning her attention back towards Heath with a smug smirk while ignoring his last comment. Bringing the wine to her lips, Cecilia sipped more of the darkened red liquid while withholding a gag from the acidic taste. She then extended the glass towards Heath, pressing it against his chest as she was no longer interested in finishing it. "You still like your liquor, yes?" 

The shifter was never a drinker as the taste always disgusted her. She understood why humans would drink alcoholic beverages as they loved the state of intoxication it pulled them into but unfortunately for Cecilia, she was never able to have that experience. Once again returning to her search for the pirate king, Cecilia rose onto the balls of her feet and did her best to peer over the heads of many other guests. She clicked her tongue in annoyance when she still had no visual of Bradai and focused back on Heath after hearing the announcement given by one of the musicians. "I have to say I'm surprised the plague hasn't touched you. Have you stopped throwing yourself in danger for the attention?"
Robert
Sir Heath Romanov
Grunewald Castle, Taemar

"You don't look much like a Bella. You're more of a... Daisy. Have you considered being a Daisy?" He asked, taking the glass from her with a quick thanks. "I don't know why you always taste it. You know you don't like alcohol, it makes you gag every damn time and you still taste it."

Heath was always a drinker and taste brought him immense happiness. "Can't you just sniff him out if you want to find him so bad?" He asked. Cecilia must have had the Pirate King's scent memorized at this point. "And I'm untouchable, baby. What can I say?" He replied without missing a beat. 


Prince Nickles Ramsalot IV
Castle of Cake, The Vined Lands

Nickles lowered his hand and and smeared his blood onto the front of Dennon's pants. "May your seed only reap blood and clots. May your offspring bleed in the womb, bleed out of the womb, bleed into the ground," He hissed. He took a step back and beamed up at Kirk.

"I don't believe I am doing much of anything at all," Nickles said to the man who loudly asked. "No, I don't believe I am doing much of anything at all. I am feeling a bit peakish, but I heard dinner will begin soon. If I should swoon, I am certain someone will come catch me."
Heather
Cecilia Lyanah 
Grunewald Castle, Taemar 

"Wishful thinking, I suppose. Plus I have tasted a lot worse." She replied, doing her best to not cringe at the recollection of some concoction she had been forced to drink in the past. If she dwelled on it further, sometimes the taste would appear on her tongue as the flavour burned into her subconscious. 

"There are too many people in a small space. I would have to have something that belongs to him if I wanted a stronger scent to follow, which I don't." It came as no surprise when Heath immediately knew she had been tracking someone considering how terrible she was at hiding it. Deciding not to strain herself, Cecilia thought it was best to wait until everyone had been seated for the feast. Only then would she locate him and keep track of every step he took and words he spoke. She had to be patient. Even if it was a trait she struggled with. "Heath. If you were untouchable, there wouldn't be a flower shaped scar carved into your body like some art piece."
Katherine
**Anyanka Durkhan and Co.
Grunewald Castle, Taemar**

Anyanka laid with her hands crossed over her stomach, eyes on the ceiling of the room, wondering how even the _ceiling_ looked damp. "This is foolish." She said finally, and the grunt of annoyance that came from the corner of the small room drew her eyes from the ceiling to the blonde. 

"It's politics." Angelica reminded her, turning sideways to inspect the silhouette of her dress in the spotted mirror. 

"It's foolish." Anya repeated, adjusting once more to nuzzle auburn waves into the pillow beneath her head. Everything in Taemar felt damp, and she was already tired of the _sweaty_ feeling everything had. Angelica gave a soft sigh before turning away from the mirror and moving to the bed Anya occupied. Her knee pressed into the bed, and Anya opened one eye to look at her friend. Angelica gave a look something between 'go on' and 'I'm listening', and Anya let out a soft breath. "Does no one else see this council for what it is? _No one_ has found a solution to the plague that's rampaging cities. And so we went 'Oh, let's put all our leaders in one place so they can travel _through_ those plague ridden territories and kill each other all in one fell swoop'?" 

Angelica raised a brow, "You're Queen, why did you accept the invitation if you think this is such a bad idea?" 

"I worried it would make a statement that the Astorian and South Feyshorian leadership wasn't willing to take any measures to assure the safety of our people." Anya muttered, eyes returning skyward. "But it doesn't mean I don't feel like this is all a _very_ bad idea and something terrible is going to happen to us."

Angelica rolled her eyes, and moved further into the bed, placing her arm on the other side of her Queen's shoulder to drape herself across her. "I think," She started, letting her hand brace her weight while the other moved to cup the redheads cheek, her thumb grazing her lips. "You're worried about putting yourself on a political stage with so many of your peers." She mused, her voice soft, the same one she'd used to coax hesitant new-girls out of their shells in the brothel back in Kath. "I think you're intimidated, and would rather use the convenient excuse of a plague to distance yourself from the other royalty so you don't have to worry about accidentally exposing a weakness." 

Anya pursed her lips together, looking up at Angelica and that 'I-know-you' half smile the woman gave. "I think you're a bitch." Anya countered, and Angelica laughed. 

"I also think you've got a fear of missing out," Angelica leaned forward, replacing her thumb on Anya's lips with her own. It was a graze of a kiss, lingering half there for a moment before pressing fully into a real one. Anya didn't protest, but pulled away first, turning her chin a bit to let their lips graze with the motion but blinking into a thousand yard stare. Angelica continued "And that's why you're actually here. Not that you think there will be a cure, but some kind of fruit might come from this and you're worried our people won't get a cut if you don't play nice." There was a beat, and Anya looked back to her. 

"Are you going to analyze me all night, or are you going to let me get dressed?" She questioned, and Angelica smiled, moving happily from her place to let Anya pull herself from bed and head to the dress that was hanging in the corner for her.

"Besides, Romanov will be there." As Angelica mentioned this she laughed, and Anya turned, her brow raised.

"Are you drunk? Is that what's happening here?" She asked, and Angelica giggled in a way that said she wasn't, but there was definitely something in her system. "Don't embarrass me, Ange." Anya sighed finally, slipping into the dress with a supportive cat call from her chancellor.

—

When they arrived at the feast, the turn out was already more than she had expected it to be. They had met up with Mikhail, Stafford, Brightwater, and Armin on their way down to the feast - as Anya wanted the two Eclipse soldiers at her and Mikhail's side at all times. She'd given them instructions to stay within a six foot radius of one of the Durkhan's at all times unless instructed otherwise, Jax being appointed to her personage and Elias to Mikhail's. Eric was tasked with keeping his wife's guard. It would be good for the two Stafford's to put on appearances in a place like this. 

Once she'd left their room and started towards the crowd, her nerves had lifted, as they always did. She hated the anticipation before an event, and that manifested in distain for it usually up until the moment _right_ before where it lifted. The Grunewald castle seemed less... Harsh with a party within it's walls, and Anya paused in the doorway as the Astorian and South Feyshore parties were announced. Eric and Angelica has dressed in more South Feyshorian manners than her and her guard. Captain Brightwater wore the updated eclipse uniform- grey and gold with the Durkhan emblem on his chest. Armin had been given a similar one, but had been given the opportunity to wear his pieces from the old guard uniform he maintained, should he have chosen to do so. She wore black, a dress Mikhail had picked out for her from his trip last week to Ostrava, which featured an open neck with lace delicately placed to create a moth over her chest. It hugged her hips and arms, the tight black fabric keeping the sigils on her arms from alerting anyone to their glow and how on edge she was. It's skirt split over her left thigh, and the leather garter that wrapped around her pale skin let the silver dagger reveal itself when she stepped into the room of Marin nobility.
John
**King Dennon Bigsby, Kirk Pinewood, Leah Pinewood
A Different Area of the Dining Hall in Vallen, Taemar**

Most of the group left the troubled child behind to deal with the pants situation while the rest went to get drinks. "Damn kids," Dennon muttered as he wiped his pant legs with a cloth.

"At least you wore your dark pants. It's hardly noticeable," Kirk lied.

"No, it isn't," Leah corrected. "You'll have to wrap your robe tighter."

"And you don't think that would be noticeable?!" Dennon asked, not wanting to do it. "It's already humid here. I will roast." Leah shook her head from having no other options, and Dennon sighed as he tossed each end of the robe around the front of his body. "I would have taken Kirk's, but I doubt I could even fit my arm through his pant leg."

James returned with drinks and looked Dennon over. "Are you feeling cold, your highness?"

"Chilled to the bone," Dennon said sarcastically with a thinly veiled rage.

Meanwhile, Lucrezia stayed on the lookout for other people they could talk to. She hadn't seen the face of the child Dennon had been talking to and was not aware of most of what had transpired between them.
Kari
Captain Jax Brightwater
I don't even know where this is supposed to take place anymore, so fuck off.

"Everyone here is as fat as a Buttered Priest." Jax muttered quietly, his wide eyes glazing over the entire crowd. 

"A Buttered...?" The meek voice of his squire perked up.

"A. Buttered. Priest." Jax finished for him, his hands breaking the clasp in front of him to poke a friendly jab into the boy's side. "Don't trust a man who gets fat during a crisis, lad."

The boy nodded and Jax turned away from him.

"Wouldn't you agree, Lady?" Jax leaned forward slightly so the queen could hear his whispers. He was nervous, the guards at the door had made him relinquish his sword belt, and as a guard that made him naked, especially without armor on as well.

*This is a social situation, Brightwater.* His inner drill instructor barked, and he shifted out of his tense state.

Of course Jax was still armed, he never wasn't, but admittedly he was getting rather uncomfortable clenching a dagger between his ass cheeks.
Katherine
**Anyanka Durkhan
Right here, Taemar**

Anya had been taking in the scene before her, taking note of the faces she recognized before landing on a fluff of pink. Was that decoration- _oh gods it moved_. Jax pulled her attention away from it though, and she gave a soft 'hm'? 

"Agree?" She asked, and pushed her hair behind her ear. "My apologies, I wasn't listening, what were you talking about?"
Sarah
Arin Cragton
Dinner Hall in a Fucking Castle, Taemar

Arin slowly let out the breath that had been poisoning his lungs ever since he had arrived. No one recognized or looked his way for long. He was just another face in the crowd of uninteresting people. His hair had been extensively cleaned and braided together, keeping it from forming locks. He smiled softly as he was offered a glass of wine, but refused politely, as he felt he needed his head clear for the events that would unfold this evening. He looked around at everyone as they went about their lives, and noticed that boy he had met... What was his name? He could not remember. He was slicing his hand open with a piece of glass, and Arin watched in complete bewilderment. 

He turned and made his way through the clusters of people, murmuring hellos and avoiding conversations before he accidentally stepped on the edge of a rather plump ladies train.

"Fuck you!" She said, attracting the attention of those around her. He sheepishly apologized and walked away quickly. Arin glanced around the party before noticing the man he had wanted to meet. 

He made his way around the groups, careful not to accidentally bump anyone. He approached the Pirate King slowly, before steeling his nerves. "This isn't the sort of place I would have ever hoped to meet you again, sir." Arin said, frowning. He cursed himself quietly for the introduction, but his face didn't betray him.
Kari
Captain Jax Brightwater
Not Taemar, apparently

"Nevermind, Lady, simply talking out of my own ass." A phantom itch crawled it's way into his mind and he feigned to grasp at a wedgie.

"But I do not trust these people. The world is doying, and these people do nothing, but sit on their own arse and throw a party." He reached up and scratched at his recently trimmed beard.

Jax was wary, and his paranoia was so great that he didn't even trust Anya's own guard, Elias. However the threat they faced here was far greater than a knife in the back.

"Please, Lady, I still think we should leave here now and return to Astoria. What good are a bunch of fat cunts going to do to help us?"
Katherine
Anyanka Durkhan
Taemar

"For the record, I agree with you, Jax. I don't want to be here either." Anya let the words come quietly, and she straightened, leading their quartet deeper into the room. 

"But there are a few benefits of being here." Her eyes landed on Heath across the room, and Mikhail spotted Bradai about the same time. 

"Do you mind if I break off with Armin to go see King Maith?" Mikhail asked, looking to his mother who nodded, watching him leave with the older Eclipse. 

"Can we just keep civil for two days, Jax?" She asked, her voice softening as she turned to look at him.
Kari
El Capitaine Jaques Brilliante-Eau
Une pathétique maison de pierre, Taemar

The knight followed her gaze as she scanned the room, finding the subject to be both his oldest friend and biggest pain in the ass.

"Roight. Benefits." He chuckled and rocked onto his feet slowly. "Shall I have the guard start prepping your tent, or do you plan to make it through Dinner before indulging yourself?"

He jested too liberally. He coughed briefly to reset the momentum.

"I'm sorry, Lady. I'll do my best, but my job is to be ready when things stop being civil." He reached out to a servant girl, grasping a pair of goblets in either hand, and offering one to the queen.
Katherine
Anyanka Durkhan
One comment away from whipping Jax's ass, Taemar

Her brow rose at his comment and she turned to him fully, giving him a look that had made Kings sweat before. 

"_Enough_, Captain." She said harshly, the words a hiss as she said his title to let him know she was speaking as his Queen not his friend. "Neither of us want to be here, that's clear to us. But we will be respectful and put on our best faces for the sake of presentation." He apologized but it had already ruffled her feathers. 

"If things turn for the worst, feel free to take your disgruntlement out on anyone here, but for now-" She accepted the drink "_Please_ play nice. If you're in a pissy mood I will be too, and I'm not going to make any progress with anyone if we're sulking."
Kari
Jax Brightwater
The most boring party in all of history, including April 11th, 1954.

"You should use moy title more often, Lady. It suits you." He took a long sip from his glass after toasting to an imagination, sighing as it left his lips.

"Perhaps if you're so keen things will go well, Should I excuse myself to remove this stick from up my ass?" His eyes listed, following the flow of the crowd until he held both the queen and her son in his gaze.

"Marin doesn't exactly have a history of these councils going well. I'm fully expecting a wolf to break in during dinner."
Katherine
Anyanka Durkhan
Sonofabitch, Taemar

She had fully expected some snarky remark, and her painted lips parted then closed quickly in surprise that he had said something nice. Her cheeks turned only an ounce more pink, and she lifted the glass to her lips. 

Until he made the comment about his ass, and she laughed once, her hand moving to her nose to hide the smile and the rest of the laugh. "If it's going to make it difficult to sit through dinner, then I would suggest it." She answered, lowering her hand and inspecting her palm for lipstick. 

"I wouldn't know, I wasn't in attendance for the last Council. Also another reason I should make an appearance. If we really are going to present as a united front, this is the place to do it."
Kari
I dunno I forgot
A building I think

"I understand that, Lady. I'm not arguing the politics, I'm simply against Astoria going down with the rest of the ship. And I must be honest," He pulled his cup away from his mouth and set it on a nearby decoration, "I miss southern wine." He spat into his hand and wiped the excess off on his lapel.

"Is this your first time in Taemar as well, Lady? I must say it's not changed much, but the north never seems to change does it." He coughed again.
Katherine
Anyanka Durkhan
Taemar

She was against it too, but here they were. 

He spoke of southern wine and she smiled, "A year ago you were in North Shore, I'm glad you've taken so we'll to Astoria and all its Glory. " The wine wasn't as bad as it could have been, so she finished her glass, opting to let the empty chalice dangle from her fingers at her hip. 

"Yes, first time in Taemar. Can't say I love the climate, but it certainly explains Lord Stafford's ability to be comfortable anywhere. I don't know how someone like him came from here, it's so culturally different that the South." It was something she had never thought about until Angelica mentioned it, and now she couldn't stop comparing every Taemar citizen to her Lord to spot the differences.
Kari
"You forget, Lady, before that I was a travelled man. And I've always known the obvious, Southerners make better wine, Northerners make better warriors." He laughed.

He folded his arms, and leaned against a pillar nearby to give his muscles some relaxation.

"I disagree, however, it makes perfect sense that Stafford is from here. He knows how to use his hands." Another giggle.

The room was getting loud, and the distractions were numerous.

"Aleks, find me something to eat, and make sure it's not bathed in salt." The boy meekly nodded and stepped into the crowd.

"Why do I get the feeling one of these days I'm going to lose that kid?"
Katherine
**Anyanka Durkhan
Grunewald Castle, Taemar**

He wasn't wrong. The south of Marin was less for fighting - if they were better at it maybe they wouldn't have destroyed so much of it. The North just breed harsher men, she thought, Southerners were more luxurious. Amorothians were heathens and whores, but that wasn't the topic at hand. Jax dismissed Aleks to find him something to eat, probably wanting to not have to sit through dinner himself.

"You'll spoil your appetite." She murmured, and returned her empty glass to a servant as they passed. Her eyes moved once more over the room as it grew louder. "Actually, that's probably for the best from what I've heard about the cuisine here." There was a beat. "What do you take of the turnout?"