Dean
Fleur De Lysse
The Front Entrance of the Maith Mansion

Much like her amazement of the colorful houses outside, the mansion proved to be no difference to Fleur. Her eyes followed the vines across the arches, her head instead tilted up than looking to where she should have been walking. Though, soon enough the people gathering and the children running around drew her attention, and she let go of the stiffness that she similarly shared with her father to give them a small smile and a wave. The way the sun filtered into the building gave it a gentle glow, something not really noticed within the keep. Fleur found these weather to be delightful, though a tad bit too warm. She didn't complain much, however, as she got off a slightly bit luckier than older woman as she was still quite seen as a child- her fragile and dainty look sometimes portraying her as younger than she was. Because of this, the requirements for layers of dress were slightly less, providing a bit of a cooler temperature for her.

Her attention moved to the man who had approached the group to greet them, the soft smile that had been on her lips the majority of the trip remaining upon them. The girl curtsied gently at his bow in respect, tilting her head down slightly, trying to remember her manners. However, when she was addressed her smile grew.

"Thank you." Fleur acknowledged softly, a light tint of red finding its self to her cheeks. It was the first time she had to really interact with so many people at once, so she was extremely aware of her mannerisms and slightly fearing the thought of failure. The girl fell quiet once again as Calypso was addressed, folding her hands lightly together in front of her as her eyes continued to grace around the room, though her ears had stayed focused upon the conversation beside her.
Felicia
Cyprien de Lysse
The Maith Mansion

Lord De Lysse foud himself enjoying Asgarov's company far more than he could've expected The seneschal was everthing the 'other' islanders were not: austere, polite, refined... It reminded Cyprien of why he preferred to spend his days locked in the Keep Sempiternal instead of down in the fields, among the shitblood masses, like Bastien did.

"I assume the king is either expecting us, or awaiting to make a grand reveal at the party." He said to Silas. "If he is waiting for us, I would hate to keep him waiting any longer, but if he doesn't plan on meeting his guests immediately, then I'd like for us to be shown our rooms. My daugther in particular has frail health and requires special attention."
Rhonda
Silas Asgarov
The Front Entrance of the Maith Mansion

He nodded at that, and smiled softly. He removed a ringed hand from the folds of his flowing blue robes, reaching out to take her hand in his. It was a well-maintained hand, perfumed and powered, with porcelain skin as smooth and soft as silk. Although the grasp was delicate, there was a wiry vigor in it. He deftly turned her hands over in his fingers and ran his thumb over the mounts of her hands. 

"Hmph." His sigh was short and quick, running his fingers down her creases of her palm. Just as quickly as he took her hand, he let it go, his hand darting back into his sleeve like a snake back into it's den. "It seems to me that you will not have to wait long, Lady Kolgrim. You are an exquisite thing, and of so many..." A small smile crept across his lips, "So many _different_ talents, no?" 

He bowed deeply to her and when he rose, the smile was gone, replaced with the complacent grin that went with being the master of the house. "The pleasure is all mine, I can assure you of that." 

When the Lord began to speak, Silas nodded. "Although there _will_ be a grand entrance, it will not be a reveal. I am hoping that we can get you all situated in your quarters and off to the joust as quickly as possible. It is to begin at midday but..." Silas, "I suppose it will truly start when the King gets there. He is currently treating with the King of Ibethiel, and that they have invited you to their box in the Mizzen." 

Silas turned on a heel and waved them all into the Maith Mansion. "I trust you will not reject their invitation, my lord?"
Felicia
Cyprien de Lysse - Maith Manor

"We will be honoured to attend their... Box in the Mizzen," Replied Cyprien. 

He did so hesitantly. Silas could feel a hint of impatience in his voice. Or was it frustration? In any case, the lord didn't seem to be fully at ease, even amidst the jovial athmosphere of the festival.

"Though, I must admit. I'm having a hard time finding my way in the labyrinthite streets of this city. Just getting here in the first place was already it's own epic."
Tom
Calypso Kolgrim
The Front Entrance of the Maith Mansion

Despite the kind smile, there was something in the glimmer of Lord Silas' eyes that reminded Calypso of a viper about to strike his prey, and the smooth feeling of the skin of his hand user her fingers only contributed to that image in her mind. Wondering what he could see in her hand.

But if the seneschal thought of her as a helpless mouse, then he would found himself in the wrong.

At the double-sided comment on her " Talents" Calypso let a simple smile on her lips " Oh, you are too kind my lord." Said her softly, but there was something sharp behind her eyes.
Rhonda
Silas Asgarov
The Maith Mansion

"You will find," Silas began, "That our streets are colored. Red, blue and green streak the the entire city, so you'll always be able to find your way from north to south. I think you'll come to find that the Redwall District is the most easily navigable, and for the purposes of your family, I recommend you keep to there. Although our city is quite beautiful, you are right to say that the rest of it is quite..." He gave a sharp, silent laugh. "_hectic._" 

"I remember when I came from Azarya." As they moved into the shade of the Maith Mansion, the servant that had been holding the parasol closed it and promptly retreated from the party. In any other country, the Maith Mansion would have been a dark and damp place, but in the Southern Isles, where the sun grew so large and oppressive, the thick stone walls provided shade enough to stay cool even in the heat of the midday. A gentle sea-breeze came in over the carved stone bannisters, waving the fronds of the many potted palms strewn about their checkered marble walkway. Thick beams of light shown down from the tall sloping archways, and the Seneschal seemed to waltz around them as he spoke. "It was difficult, finding my way around a city like this. In time, though, you'll find it simple enough. But until that time arrives, I'll have some of my hands provide you with maps." 

When they stepped into the winter gardens, a large circular room that looked more like a greenhouse than a grand atrium, there were a series of servants ready to show them to their quarters. Great palm trees arched high into the air, and beneath them were rows of neatly planted poppy flowers of all colors and sizes. All of them were standing side by side, dressed neatly in the colors of House Maith. Light shown down from the great glass dome above them, and from out of the shadows, the boy reappeared, opening the paper parasol and holding it over the Seneschal.

"I do not mean to rush you all, but we should be getting to the Mizzen. I would be happy to give you all the grand tour afterwords. It is to be _quite_ the event." He smiled, bowed, and allowed them to be shown to their quarters.
Tom
Calypso Kolgrim 
The Maith Mansion

Once the door of her room was closed behind her and all the servants have left, Calypso let out a small sigh. But it wasn't time for her to relax yet.
Quickly, the Lady made a round down of her room, checking behind the mirror on the wall , the small tapestry, and the bottom of the wardrobe, making sure that there weren't holes or passages between the walls. Her room was right next to Fleur, she will have to find an excuse to examine the girl's room. Some may consider this paranoia, but Lady Kolgrim had heard too many stories of girls finding holes in their room during a visit to an unknown location. She had done the same exact thing when arrived at The Keep. It wasn't like she didn't trust King Bardai or Silas... No she definitely didn't trust Silas.

But she didn't have time to check the entire room, for now, so she decided to risk it and change anyway to something more suited to meet a king and also far less layered. 
Once she was done, Lady Kolgrim stepped out of her room, wearing an emerald green tunic with long bell sleeves, cinched at the waist by a golden chain wrapped around tree time. 
She quickly closed the door behind her and then went to knock at Lady Fleur's door. "Your Grace? May I enter?" Asked her, while glancing over the railing. The city in all its glory protracting in front of her eyes.
Edith
**Kirk Pinewood
Kirk's Quarters, Maith Mansion**

Upon returning from the bathhouse, Kirk went to his room at Maith Mansion to change in to a more festive, fresh set of clothes for the joust. "An-" He cut himself off, remembering Anna's alias. "Braylena?" He called out, seeing if the "Maid" Was around. "Anyone here?" A few steps in, he noticed a dress crumpled up on the floor in a puddle of water. He leaned down to pick it up and realized it was the same dress Anna had been wearing earlier that day. Kirk thought back to how hot Anna, a lady who had spent her whole life in The Witherlands, had said it felt when they arrived on the docks of Tonate. "No. No..." He fell on his rear and began to crawl backwards away from it. "Oh, gods no!"

"Hello, Kirk." Anna said, walking in from the balcony wearing a new dress. "I thought I'd do some laundry. I dropped this one on the way to hang everything up. Hey, what are you doing on the floor?" She looked at Kirk, who was still shaking, and down to her wet dress on the floor. "Did... Did you think I melted?"
** **

"No... That would be... Ridiculous." He stammered unconvincingly as he began to pull himself to his feet with thoughts of what Lucrezia would do to him for letting her meal ticket liquify still racing through his head.

"I'm from the North. I'm not literally *Made of ice!*"

"Just ignore me." He muttered, walking shamefully to his luggage. "I'm just going to get a new change of clothes for the joust."

"A joust?" Anna asked. "That sounds fun."

"I'd invite you, but we'll be sitting with Bradai. Most of the Islanders probably don't remember what you look like, but *He* Probably would."

"I suppose you're right. I guess I'll just wait here then, doing 'maid' things."

"Interesting." Kirk said, more focused on what he was doing than the conversation.

"Perhaps I'll entertain the men who keep looking up at our balcony."

Kirk looked at himself in the mirror, getting pretty for their host. "They're probably spies."

"What?!" Anna asked, looking at the balcony door nervously.

"Have fun!" Kirk said cheerfully before leaving the room.

**. . .**
John
Snæch with a Snake
Puck's Personal Quarters

Puck was about as ready as he could be. Leeches were dropped off efficiently to one of Silas' pretty helpers, and he and his new scaly friend went back to his room to change into something more fitting and wash up. The last thing he needed was for Silas to yell at or beat him for being unpresentable to any degree. 

He silently cursed himself as he slipped on an airy blue tunic, going to the washroom to wash his face and comb back his hair. He wasn't against grooming, he usually didn't because he just didn't feel the need to impress anyone. Everyone already hated him anyway. But now, he had to be nice and clean for someone else. 

That bastard. Why would Puck listen to him, after all this time of rebelling? What sway did Silas seem to hold? Why? How? Puck wasn't sure. Maybe he cursed Puck with magic to be his thrall. He ran his fingers through his hair, wetting it down a little so it could be combed back into a clean look, although when it dried, a few strands fell over his brow. He adjusted his laces and fixed his collar, grimacing as he rolled his shoulders back to make sure his scabbed back wasn't sticking to the shirt at all. 

He looked over at his bed where the snake had taken a liking, coiled up in the covers. He sat down on the bed carefully, picking up the coiled reptile and holding it up to look in its eyes.

"Alright, this is what will happen. I can't let you out in the gardens, because then one of those stupid princesses will scream and cry, and you'll be annoyed before death." He smirked at his own words, laying forward on his stomach as the snake flicked its tongue against Puck's nose. 

"We could keep you here, but his majesty keeps these grounds so clean, you couldn't find a mouse to eat." He sighed reaching up with his other hand to smoothly rub the top of the snake's head.

-
"And now I'm afraid if the Seneschal finds you he'll hurt you and me for not doing as I was told..." He grumbled. "But I like you, and I want to keep you, because you're pretty, and you're the only one that I can talk to without... Anger. Or feeling... Afraid. Don't tell the bastards I'm scared of them..." He scoffed a little. "They think I'd cry and go soft. But you already know what a snake does when it gets frightened."

Puck kissed the top of the snake's head. "It *Bites*."
Dean
Fleur De Lysse
The Maith Mansion

Fleur was happy to finally be within the cool walls of her room, the break from the heat quite refreshing, as well as from her hair pins. Pulling them from her silver hair, she let it cascade down in ringlets, though she knew there wasn't much time and soon enough she would have to fix it back up again. She could ask Calypso to help once again, although the older woman had set the pins within her hair originally and would probably not be quite happy that she let them out. Fleur left a few in, half of her hair staying up as she combed her fingers through the curly pieces- maybe this would be good enough to go out in anyhow. Taking in a deep breath, Fleur took a moment to admire the large living space. It was tidy and kept- much unlike her one at home. She wondered if the large mansion held it's own library. For once, she did not have to rely on Bastien bringing her a new book home.

"Oh, of course you may!" The girl called out towards the door, fiddling with her hair once again, before finding it no use. She never was one to keep her hair too neat.

Fleur's violet eyes turned to the door as it was opened, a soft smile returning to her lips.

"You look lovely, Lady Calypso. Though, now you are making me think I must change as well." Fleur complimented, moving towards her trunk to find a different dress.
Tom
Calypso Kolgrim 
The Maith Mansion

Calypso entered the room her eyes darting around for a moment, her room was much bigger as she had expected. 
She smiled back at the girl when Fleur complimented her. She was about to do the same when she noticed that the young lady had completely undone the hairstyle she had spent quite a while on when they were on the ship "Aw why did you undone it? We don't have the time to make it again!" Scolded Calypso shaking her head, but her tone lacked any real anger. "Some light decorations will do the trick, You are way too pretty for people to pay attention at how properly are styled your hair." Commented her .

She imitated Fleur searching for a dress in which to change her, but really Calypso started observing more clearly the surroundings... Gods there were way too many decorations to actually see anything "I suggest you wear something light and bring a fan too." Recommended her. Before she could realize it, she actually had a dress in her hands, the material feeling pretty light but still sufficiently thick to not need any additional undergarments to be worn. "What about this one?" Asked her holding it up so that the young lady could see.
Dean
Fleur De Lysse
The Maith Mansion

"I'm not very used to having my hair up- so it was hurting my head a little bit." Fleur admitted apologetically, though she did find the hairstyle lovely.

Fleur pulled through the dresses, careful as not to wrinkle them.

"What do you think Bastien is up to right now? I sure do hope we see him at the joust." Fleur sighed slightly. It was the first time she was ever able to go on an adventure with her brother, and he wasn't even around.

Fleur's eyes shifted to the dress Calypso had pulled out, her hand moving to brush over the silk. She seemed to think for a moment, before nodding in agreement, folding a few of the dresses they had pulled out neatly within the trunk before lightly taking the dress, moving toward the bed to place it gently, smoothing a few of the wrinkles.

"It's perfect." Fleur smiles at the other woman, her eyes shifting back to the dress.
Tom
Calypso Kolgrim 
The Maith Mansion

The change was quick. Calypso tried to stand in front of Fleur, but she didn't know from which of the walls she was supposed to actually protect her from. 

Calypso chuckled "Knowing him, Lord Bastien is probably doing his best to free himself as soon as possible to come back here for you my lady," Said her trying to comfort Lady Fleur. Calypso didn't have siblings, so she couldn't really understand their relationship, but it was clear that the two cared deeply for each other.

The dress fitted her perfectly, the color valorizing her features " One last touch!" Said Calypso and took a hair comb from the jewelry box and fixed it in her hand, making it so that it would hold a small section of her hair that Calypso had managed to shape like a small rose. "Perfect." 

"Come on, now your Grace, your father is probably waiting for us." Said her opening the door and letting the girl walk out before her. Before closing the door, Calypso gave a last cold glance at the room. She had a bad feeling running up her spine but she hides it behind a kind smile as she faced the young lady again, closing the door.