Edward
Daemon Coriden
Victoria Coriden
Zahrada, Astoria

It felt like too long since Daemon and his sister had gotten into trouble together, Daemon thought as the two briskly walked down stairs with packs with wine, brandy, and one bottle of ale no one really wanted, but they took anyway. Victoria had distracted some of the kitchen staff by asking about some complicatedorder the queen wanted that Victoria had made up, while Daemon slipped in through a back door and took some bottles he found in the kitchen. When Daemon left, Victoria gave an annoyed sigh and said "Oh, fine, I'll go ask her to clarify." Then she left.

Now the two were quickly approaching the little parlor Mikhail told Daemon to meet at. 

Victoria looked at Daemon, 

"You better not be lying about being friends with the prince." She said pointedly, still not believing the two were actually friends. Dogs rarely liked Daemon, and her cat _hated_ him. 

"When have I ever lied to you?" He complained.

"I've compiled a list in my room."

"Uhg, listen, he'll be here."

"Okay, okay, _fine_." She grumbled at him, and considered pushing him, if he didn't have the glass bottles with him.
Joseph
Mikhail Durkhan-Maith
Zahrada, Astoria

Daemon was taking his sweet time, and what would have taken Mikhail all of five minutes to go down to the kitchens and retrieve their stash from the cellars had taken a full half hour. He was starting to think he'd gotten distracted- and as he laid on his back on the couch, fingers laced over his ribs and eyes on the flickering spots that danced from the candles below - he was growing more and more certain that a pretty girl had pulled his friend away. But still, he would wait. It wasn't as if he was one for sleep anymore, and if it wasn't for the schedule he was obligated to maintain for his mother, he would have disregarded the concept of time all together. It was late, but not late enough that anyone would be surprised to see him awake and wandering around as he had started to do. One leg bent at the knee, resting on the pristine rug beneath his boot while the other was hitched on the arm of the couch he laid on, and the soft tapping of his restless leg on the rug kept him from hearing the dual set of footsteps approach.

The door opened without ceremony, and the dark haired prince turned a curious face towards the door. He was still on his back, looking lazy and bored as Daemon entered, and he only briefly looked at him to confirm he carried their treasure before returning his attention to the ceiling. 

"I thought you'd been pulled away for a quickie, glad to see you're just slow." He commented.
Edward
Daemon Coriden
Victoria Coriden
Zahrada, Astoria

"Gross." A feminine voice said as Victoria entered the room behind Daemon. 

Daemon's eyes rolled, "Mik, this is my sister Victoria." 

The young silver-haired girl curtsied and smiled, "A pleasure to meet you. And surprising to see Daemon wasn't lying." She commented, then looked at her brother, "So how did you con him into pretending to like you?" 

Daemon shook his head and sat his pack down. "You're not impressing anyone." He said casually to her, "I'll get the fire started."
Joseph
Mikhail Durkhan-Maith
Zahrada Astoria

The Prince's foot hit the ground hard as he heard a woman's voice, and he sat up quickly enough to warrant a head rush. He blinked, taking in the blonde woman he had brought with him, and cleared his throat. "My apologies, I wasn't aware we had guests-" He shot a glance at Daemon, but he seemed busy starting the fire back up from where Mikhail had let it die. "Otherwise I wouldn't have been so blunt." He explained. 

In a sweeping motion he stood, throwing his other leg off the couch and to the rug to stand, and he offered his hand to Victoria. "Mikhail, a pleasure as well." He said imply, and chuckled when Daemon said she wasn't impressing anyone. "He hasn't conned me into anything. If I didn't like Daemon he wouldn't be here, simple as that." He answered, and then raised a brow in question. "Why are _you_ here, if I may ask."
Edward
Daemon Coriden
Victoria Coriden
Zahrada, Astoria

"Me? Oh, I'm Daemon's sister, Victoria. I'm sure he's talked all about me."

"I haven't."

She rolled her eyes, "Anyway, Daemon invited me sort of last minute. I also didn't believe her made any friends, especially friends with _you_." She said, moving to take a seat near the fire that Daemon had just lit, and was feeding a log.
Joseph
Mikhail Durkhan-Maith
Zahrada Astoria

He hadn't, and Mikhail wasn't even aware Daemon had siblings. Or family. Or other friends for that matter. He returned his hand to his side when Victoria ignored it, and watched as she moved to take the seat he had previously been occupying. He wasn't _expecting_ her to be starstruck, but a little more respect than _"You"_ had been expected. He pressed his lips together, and then looked to Daemon. 

"Maybe next time a warning would be appreciated before we added to the evening." He commented, stuffing his hands into his pockets before moving towards the pack he had dropped onto the rug. He crouched, twisting the bottles to inspect their contents, and finally selected a brandy he'd grown to like. It was one Bradai drank, and he'd be lying if he said he hadn't gotten a taste for it because it make him _feel_ a little more akin to the Pirate King. Not that he had heard from him in months anyway.

Good healthy start, Victoria.
Edward
Daemon Coriden
Victoria Coriden
Zahrada, Astoria

The fire was growing, but before long it gave some heat to the rest of the room, Daemon held his hands over it for a moment before getting off his knee. "Yeah, sorry, I try to bring the brat out to socialize occasionally. Though she's not very good at it." He said as Victoria's eyes narrowed at him. 

Victoria got out of her seat as soon as Mikhail poured himself a glass of brandy, getting a wine glass and digging through Daemon's pack before pulling out a bottle of wine for herself. "Did you want anything, Dae?"

"The ale." He responded walking over, she handed him the bottle "Thanks." He opened the bottle and drank straight from it, approaching Mikhail. "Again, sorry, it's my little sister. Kind of trying to keep an eye on her, I wasn't planning on bringing her, but she sort of ambushed me and wanted to know what I was doing."
Joseph
Mikhail Durkhan-Maith
Zahrada, Astoria

Mikhail gave a half shrug, a habit he'd picked up after the original injury he'd been given in Vincentien all those years ago. "It's fine, we didn't have anything planned that would need to be kept a secret." He mused, letting his silver gaze drift back over to Victoria as she passed out the bottle to Daemon. Mikhail moved to the seat by the fire, not wanting to return to the couch where she had been and not wanting to take the spot from Daemon either. He leaned on the back of it, the glass dangling between his fingers over the back of it before he finally spoke again. 

"Victoria, how well do you think you'll handle that wine?" He asked, and realized it could be taken in a way he didn't intend. "Because I have ever intention of finishing this bottle myself, and I need to know if I should offer before hand." It was a small politeness, but his way of warning her that they intended to be rowdy and to let Daemon know their plans weren't canceled because of his sister.
Edward
Daemon Coriden
Victoria Coriden
Zahrada, Astoria

Victoria looked at Mik with a mischevious smile, "Oh, your grace, I can handle my wine very well. Don't worry about me." She said in a very light and almost cocky voice, similar to how Daemon spoke, just more feminine. She brought the bottle and glass with her to the couch before sitting down next to her brother. 

"So is this what you two normally do? Go to some castle parlor and drink all night before attending your morning duties?" She asked, more curious than scolding, moving to take a drink.

"Pretty much. Usually, I prefer to still be a bit drunk before I spar in the morning. Makes it more fun." Daemon said, leaning into the couch and taking a deep drink from the ale.
Joseph
Mikhail Durkhan-Maith
Zahrada Astoria

"It also makes it a lot easier to take Cromwell's hits." Mikhail agreed, lifting and tipping his glass towards Daemon in acknowledgement. He circled around the chair, his arm grazing it as he did so before he dropped into it. The cushioning in the seat was old, and he could feel the wood beneath it fairly well as he sat back. He crossed his ankle over his knee, resting his glass on the bulk of his boots as he regarded the two. They were undeniably siblings, and he couldn't help but look between them both to note the similarities. 

"But no, we just do this when it's cold and we're too tired to go out. My body doesn't do particularly well in this heavy snow anymore." He muttered, then took a drink. "But that's a conversation for _not_ our first encounter with _Lady Victoria_." He flashed a charming smile, and transitioned the attention in the room towards her. 

"Tell me about yourself."
Edward
Daemon Coriden
Victoria Coriden
Zahrada, Astoria

Victoria took on a thoughtful look when asked to talk about herself, "Well," She started, "Essentially anything Daemon has said is likely what happened to me also. So I doubt you want the family history. I was sent here by my mother to be your mother's, ah, the _queen's_ handmaiden. Essentially do whatever the queen asks me to do, learn how to run a court in a large castle. Interact with other nobles so I can eventually be married off."

"And to keep an eye on me." Daemon said with a hint of annoyance. 

That made Victoria smile, "I was also sent by our parents to make sure Daemon isn't doing stupid things that'll hurt our standing in Feyshore." She added, "Mother and father are so worried about their little squire..." She said in a mocking tone, Daemon nudged her with his shoulder. 

"I have _wine_ you ass." She said, protecting it from being spilled, "Unless you had anything specific for me, that's me. How about yourself, _Prince Mikhail_, a lot of people outside the capital only know rumors about you. Not much else.
Joseph
Mikhail Durkhan-Maith
Zahrada, Astoria

Ah, so she was here to be a handmaiden until she caught the eye of someone in his court. Specifically his, as his mothers were too told to be looking to take anyone her age as a bride, and his mind started to wander through the very few members he had gained since actually starting his duties as a prince. He couldn't think of anyone who would want to marry a female version of Daemon, even on his best days, but he wasn't going to tell her that. 

"Well, he's not getting into any trouble that should cause them real worry." He said simply, bringing his glass back to his lip. She mentioned rumors, and his brow rose in interest, a sheer replication of his mother, and he looked to Daemon. 

"Is that so? What are the rumors you hear about me, maybe I can confirm them."