Harvey
Valkrin Farensun
The Mizzen, Tonate Proper 

Valkrin had sent a guardsman to find Catarina and escort her to him. If he had to rub shoulders with the nobility, he sure as hell wasn't doing it alone. 

By the time she arrived, he'd already given his men their orders, and the two started their way towards the barge. He told Catarina of his dream, sparing no detail, and extended his arm for her to take as they walked to the barge. 

"What do you make of it, Ms. Tanner? I haven't dreamt in years, but I haven't had a dream like that in my life."
Marguerite
Catarina Tanner
The Mizzen, Tonate Proper

Her meeting with Noma had put her in a good mood, though she was still left wondering about the other Farensun that he had spoken of. A relative of Valkrin's, perhaps? She was tempted to ask him, since he had never spoken of any family before, but brushed the thought aside. The less they knew about each other's personal lives, the better.

She listened quietly as he told her all about his dream, draping her hand on his arm as they walked along together. Her mind was buffeted like a ship in a stormy sea, each worry and thought yet another wave crashing against the hull, demanding to be heard over the others. 

Her brow furrowed slightly as he recounted the dream, finding the fact that he had dreamed of her rather disturbing. In her culture, dreams were a means of communication with the gods. Typically, a dream like this would be taken to the grand matriarch, who would interpret all the signs and symbols within. Cat herself did not have that level of experience to fully interpret a dream such as this, but what she saw in it set her on edge... 

"I think it means you're intimidated by my sheer strength," She replied lightly, the glib tone undermined by the worry etched across her face. "My thunderous bellowing and sharp tongue will soon have you at my beck and call." 

Yet, she knew there was more to the dream than that, and try as she might, she couldn't shake it.
Harvey
Valkrin Farensun 
The Mizzen, Tonate Proper 

A smile formed on his face as she spoke of her thunderous bellowing, and Valkrin let out a chuckle. "Aye, it's true. Men far and wide already sing your tale, of how you tamed The Branded Captain with naught but your incessant whining." 

His left hand held his breastplate, with her hand draped in his left elbow. As they walked, Valkrin found himself crossing his arms, so that his right hand rested on top of hers. "I've heard rumor there's to be some sort of ball at the mansion. Maíth never informed me of anything of the sort, but if it's true, I'd be honored for a dance Ms. Tanner." 

She'd lied to him about her interpretation of his dream, but he'd get the truth from her eventually.
Marguerite
Catarina Tanner
The Mizzen, Tonate Proper

She smiled slightly at his retort, a sharp reply forming on her lips but dying away as yet another wave of worry washed over her. She just couldn't quite shake it, though hopefully the festivities would soon distract her and she could forget all about his dream. 

The bangles in her ears shook slightly as she looked up at him and replied in an aloof tone, "I suppose I could indulge you." She smirked and added, "After all, I might be the only dance you get all night. You have this way about you that intimidates people, for some reason. Though, of course, you'll have to work to keep me, Captain, since I'm sure I'll get many more offers to dance."
Harvey
Valkrin Farensun 
The Mizzen, Tonate Proper 

"Who says I had hoped to dance with anyone else?" Valkrin turned his head so he could look into her eyes. "And there's no doubt that as the prettiest woman in the Isles right now, you're sure to have every man in the room at your feet tonight. Myself included, given you tap into that bellowing of yours." 

As they walked, guardsmen communicated with him using hand signals to identify any suspicious activity or personnel. He gave orders without ever opening his mouth, useful for dealing with crowds. 

"And besides Ms. Tanner, you've never danced with a man like myself, who says you'll ever want to stop?" He used his elbow to tap her arm at his joke.
Marguerite
Catarina Tanner
The Mizzen, Tonate Proper

She opened her mouth, closed it, opened it again, closed it... She looked a bit out of water for a moment, floundering at the random compliment and the intensity of his gaze. It was like she had suddenly turned into a rock and sank straight to the bottom of the sea. He wasn't supposed to give compliments! Their dynamic was purely one based on insults and ribbing, and rightfully so! What would Alofen think? A man like this didn't-

Her thoughts were interrupted by Valkrin's joke, and she relaxed slightly after that. Everything was normal and right again.

"Ha," She retorted, "An oaf like you is simply going to stomp all over my toes. I'll be eager to dance with someone more graceful and charming."

The words were a bit more cutting and harsh than she had really intended, but she needed to regain the normalcy of their dynamic. She needed to push him away.
Harvey
Valkrin Farensun
The Mizzen, Tonate Proper 

"I lost my eye in Carmine Bay, and my charm somewhere between here and Terresol." Valkrin paused for a moment to scan the crowd, before turning to face Catarina, taking her hands in his. 

"But I assure you, my dear, I've not lost any ability to dance. Your toes are in no danger." Valkrin was waiting to for all the other nobles to be onboard the barge before he'd board himself. 

Between watching the crowd as nobles passed, he found himself stealing glances at Catarina as the two spoke, and realized he'd never let go of her hands.
Marguerite
Catarina Tanner
The Mizzen, Tonate Proper

"I somehow find that hard to believe," She replied rather curtly, extricating her hands from his. Were her palms sweaty? Perhaps it was just the heat of the Isles getting to her. "A man such as yourself is not above lying, or anything else for that matter, so I'll believe it when I see it."

She turned from him then and continued on towards their destination, her mind reeling. That dream really must have gotten to him! All of a sudden he was all touchy-feely, and she had no idea how to deal with any of it. 

Alofen's face floated into her mind's eye, and with it, all the awful things Valkrin had said of her husband echoed through her mind again. How the two had hated each other... Was she really so far gone? To work for a man of such low integrity and morals? Alofen would have been furious with her. And what would Mireli think if she knew what her mother was doing now? 

Her lips pursed into a thin line whose color was only held by the heavy stain of makeup.
Harvey
Valkrin Farensun
The Mizzen, Tonate Proper 

"Then I suppose you'll have to see it." He walked behind her, catching up to her in a few strides. He lit a cigar and puffed on it as they walked. 

Valkrin remained silent, his only communication was with guardsmen as he passed them, informing them to keep their eyes open, and their hands out of the noble's pockets.