Harvey
Valkrin Farensun 
Barracks, Maíth Mansion 

Valkrin sat at his desk, just a table outside of his bedroom in the barracks, and looked over the postings and rotations he'd written during the joust. He'd already given assignments to the guards at the marina, and swept the mansion for any unexpected guests. 

Finding nothing out of the ordinary always troubled him, as it always meant he'd missed something. "Sweep the rooms again, and be discreet." The guardsman at his door nodded and walked out of the room, taking the two in the hallway with him. Valkrin sat on his own, hearing Catarina shuffle about behind the door to his bedroom. 

"If it isn't Asgarov's boy," He said as the young Melsi walked through his door, "What was it again? Fuckgordon?"
John
Puckgordon Snæch
Barracks, Maith Mansion

Puckgordon wasn't amused. Nothing irked him more than his name being made fun of. Sadly, he would be gutted if he tried to bite this one.

"Puckgordon. I'm summoning the King's welcoming party. Are you the whore going to jump out of the pie?" He retorted, keeping his shoulders hunched and his hands rested on his hips. "Or maybe she's behind that door?"

He showed utter nonchalance where most would be scared stiff. He brushed off his shoulder. "The King's arrived." He began turning on his heel without dismissal.
Harvey
Valkrin Farensun
Barracks, Maíth Mansion

*Or maybe she's behind that door.*

Valkrin threw the table out of his way, closing the distance between himself and Puck in an instant. With one hand on the boy's collar, and the other on the belt of his pants, Valkrin threw the Melsi through the doorframe and into the wall of the hallway. 

Valkrin stood over the boy, placing his heel on Puck's chest and applying enough pressure to make each breath burn. 

"I'll tell you two things, lad. You ever imply anything like that of her again, I'll take you down to the docks. There's many a man there that ain't felt a woman's touch in years, and I'm sure they'd see a young lad like yourself as a fine replacement." Valkrin dug his heel into Puck's chest a bit harder, "The other thing is, if you're going to hurl insults at men twice your size, don't turn around immediately afterwards. Always keep your eyes on your opponent, else you're just asking for your skull to be caved in." He took his boot off of the boy, and went back into his office to clean up the mess, hopefully Catarina hadn't heard the altercation.
John
Puck
Barracks, Maith Mansion

Puck felt it coming as soon as the words left his tongue, which is why he preferred to turn in case Valkrin wanted to just snap his neck. 

He shut his eyes as he felt the strong grip on his collar and belt, and was only a tad surprised as he was sent through the air, and was sent back through reality as he hit the corridor wall headfirst.

It was a nasty smack, and it forced Puck's jaw to snap shut over the tip of his tongue, a few of his fragile teeth cracking from the impact.

He didn't make so much of a sound as he laid there, rolling onto his marred back only get the Guard Captain's heavy boot pressed against his chest.

He laid on hand on Valkrin's shoe as he wheezed, blood pooling in his mouth and threatening to come from the corners of his loose lips.

He expected death, so this was surprisingly pleasant in the scheme of what Valkrin was capable of. 

He was hardly listening. He did smile, though, already missing teeth as he made it painfully obvious he cared very little of Valkrin's threats be they legitimate or empty.

He laid there, for a while, after Valkrin left, breathing through his nose slowly and trying to regain some semblance of focus to get off the floor. 

Guards passed him without thought. 

He slowly sat up, finally raking account anything broken. He then slowly wobbled to his feet. 

A shower sounded nice. He was exhausted, and this day kept getting better and better.
Marguerite
Catarina Tanner
Maith Mansion, Tonate Proper

She nodded, and a moment later she was off with the guard. Truth be told, it would take a lot for her to let him know if anyone gave her trouble. For one, she was too independent to go running to him the moment someone did something wrong. She had lived on the streets long enough to be able to take care of herself, most of the time. For another, Valkrin had a habit of overreacting...

She took her time getting ready, carefully selecting the dress that she thought was most appropriate and would look the most beautiful. Something gorgeous, yet flowy enough that she could dance largely unencumbered. Then it was all about the hair and makeup, but mostly she was just stalling for time. They had arrived early, and she really didn't want to be one of the first guests. She already felt out of place, and the fewer people there were, the more she felt it. Besides, what was the saying? Something about etiquette and it was good to arrive late. Something like that. All the nobles seemed to be inclined to it, anyway, since there really wasn't anyone around when they had arrived.

Little did she know that her stalling saved her from seeing the nasty side of Valkrin. Obviously she knew it existed, but she preferred to ignore it most of the time. It helped shield her conscience from the fact that she was working for a monster.

Finally, she rose from in front of the mirror and stepped outside, rejoining the guard and making her way back to Valkrin's office.
Cedric
Bastien de Lysse
Tonate Proper | The Shrouds

"Right. Under control," Bastien replied, not sounding convinced. It was rather odd, how natural Calypso's arm felt wrapped around his. Despite the heat of the day, it felt nice. He looked down at her, a hint of an amused smile on his lips. "You were holding your ear rather tightly. Were you trying to barter it in exchange for that lackluster cloth? If so, I apologize." He glanced back up, away from her, back at the foot traffic in front of them, a faint smirk on his lips. "I had no intention to interrupt you mid-trade."

It was good to have someone to talk to, someone whose company didn't irk him. Company to distract from the constant stares he was getting. As they walked past more booths, a few gulls crying as they glided over the sapphire waters. Bastien's eyes scanned the wares vendors displayed rapidly, hoping to find a pie of some kind. No such luck as of yet.

"What are you doing out here, with no one to accompany you?" He asked, his eyes traveling back to her once he knew there was no pie in sight. "Trying to tempt some poor fool into robbing you?" Though the words were teasing, his eyes were sharp as he looked back down at her. It was clear he was not pleased to find her alone.
Tom
Calypso Kolgrim 

Tonate Proper | The Shrouds

The terresolian lady bit down on the inside of her cheek, trying to ignore her wounded pride after being caught in a less than ideal situation, "You didn't interrupt anything." Lied her. " I was about to leave anyway, that woman looked anything but honest. And I'm sure I'll find something better soon." It irked her to feel the smirk in his voice, clearly pleased whit himself. But still, she didn't let go of the strong arm resting under her fingers, as it was quite nice to see people move away from their path, upon noticing the imposing figure standing by her side. 

Sharp black eyes lifted on him "Oh so you think I'm tempting, Your Grace? " Shoot back her with a knowing smirk. Maybe she shouldn't talk like this to a man of a social cast far higher than hers, but Bastien's reactions were always priceless. She shook her head with a chuckle while giving a gentle squeeze to the biceps she was holding to, giving him a further hit to her not being serious. It was hard to communicate with the nobleman, and sometimes it felt like he was unable to read social clues, but Calypso was starting to learn how to make herself clear. "You have nothing to worry about My Lord, I'm perfectly capable of fend for myself." 

Her eyes were scanning the nearby booths but she quickly glanced up again at the man beside her "But maybe I should stop calling you *' my lord '* And change it to *' My Raven '* After your recent little show." Chucked her teasing back while fixing her veil to protect her dark eyes from the brightness of the sun. "I'm surprised you didn't even attempt to conceal yourself to the public eye, do you maybe enjoy the attention more than you want to admit? " Pointed out, making her tongue click.
Cedric
Caderyn Vortigern
Leviathan Quay

The sea sparkled like a thousand sapphires underneath the sunlight. Caderyn sat with an arm resting on the wooden railing of the *Leviathan Quay*'s aftcastle, staring out into the crystalline waters lapping lazily against the hull as a faint, salty breeze blew back his long inky-black hair. Even after staring at this sea for so many years, its beauty never eluded him.

The joust had been quite the event. Fleur had watched the whole affair with wonder, never having seen such a spectacle before. And with so many eyes upon her. Caderyn had smiled and given her quiet, playful commentary during its duration, but was relieved to see that no one was killed. That would not have been good for numerous reasons, but most of all he didn't want Fleur to have been subjected to something like that. He wanted her to stay his little flower, bright and curious and sweet, forever.

*'It won't be long now,'* He thought, a faint sadness growing in his chest as he gazed down at the swaying water. *Soon, she is going to grow up, whether I like it or not.'* Time was often funny that way, in Caderyn's experience. Bad times seemed to stretch out, and yet the joyful ones were almost over in the blink of an eye.

"Uncle Cadey? What do you think?" A small hand touched his shoulder, and Caderyn pushed away such lachrymose thoughts to turn and give a warm smile to his niece. His eyes widened as he stared at her, and she did a small turnaround to let him see her outfit from every angle. Her long raven hair was down but styled with intricate small braids here and there, with the largest on the back of her head being in some sort of intricate, rose-esque design. She was donned in a soft colored buttercup dress, simple and elegant and airy. On her dainty feet were her yellow slippers.
** **

"I..." Caderyn was momentarily at a loss for words. A small sadness bloomed in his chest, but he smiled as he raised a hand to her tanned cheek, stroking it fondly. "You look beautiful, my flower."

And she did. She looked beautiful.

And grown-up.

A happy smile appeared on Fleur's face at his approval and then she turned and, raising the skirt of her dress, promptly frolicked over to Bradai. He was a bit away from everyone else, sitting on the other side of the aftcastle with a glass in hand. Staring out into the sea. Fleur skipped over to beside him, then dipped into a fancy curtsy, her blue eyes sparkling and a smile on her face.

"What do you think, Your Majesty?" Caderyn heard her ask. He turned to look out once more at the water, a large smile on his face at the adorable, albeit slightly forward, nature of his niece. 

*'Perhaps she isn't fully grown up,'* He thought fondly. *'At least, not yet.'*

Bastien de Lysse
Tonate Proper | The Shrouds

Bastien held his tongue while Calypso made quips about him finding her tempting or how she could fend for herself. Though he knew she had the will to, she was a woman. There was no changing that fact, and it made her a more probable target for possible robbery. That, combined with her austere clothing and the fact it was painfully obvious she, like him, was a Mainlander did not help. And it thoroughly irked him that she did something so stupid as to venture out alone.

His smile lessened slightly at the mention of his escapade under the ruse of the Raven Knight. He had his own reasons for doing such a thing, but attention was not one of them. Though it was an inevitable consequence.

"'Your Raven,'" He repeated slowly, after she had said it. An amused smile arose on his face for a few moments as he looked down at her. His violet eyes met onyx from beneath her veil. 

"That's rather bold of you, Calypso," He said smoothly, casually, purposefully using her first name without the formalities. Knowing its effect on her. "One might think you are saying I am 'yours.'"
Tom
Calypso Kolgrim 

Tonate Proper | The Shrouds

Calypso scoffed at the remark, doing her best to ignore the use of her first name "Oh I would never make such a bold statement!" Objected her playfully " But you know me, modesty had never been my main trademark." Remarked, batting her lashes as their eyes meet. This was nice. Comfortable. If someone some, months ago, had told Calypso that she would have a friendly relationship with the same man she had desperately desired to strike right in the face after their first meeting, the lady would have laughed in their faces. 


And yet there they were "Besides," Continued her with a small shrug " Exemption made for you lovely sister, I don't see you walking around arm in arm and *Smile* With many other women very often... Bastien." As the name slipped out of her lips, she looked up at him with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. A hint of challenge. But ultimately Calypso lowered her eyes again on the crowd surrounding them "Apologies my lord, I'm forgetting myself." But there was nothing apologetic in her expression as she maintained her smug smile.
Rhonda
The Pirate King, Bradai Maith
The Leviathan Quay, the Maith Mansion

The bloodstone walls that enclosed the royal harbor rose high and firm from the lazy waters of the Galon River. When the Quay crossed beneath the arched entryway, the Pirate King could hear the commands of the rowers beneath him, the war drums rattling the floorboards and the table beside him. He watched as his rowers sent ripples in his goblet of rum and with the tips of his fingers he pushed it away, but he remained transfixed. It was when the drumming stopped and the surface of his liquor had settled into a golden disk that he brought it again to his lips, tipping it back and feeling it burn his throat. He was glad to be inside the red walls again. He did not want to see any more of his subjects today. 

 He turned his gaze westward, where Byronstown had stood. He remembered his old family hall, he remembered the maze of ladders and ropes, he remembered the oystermen and the shadowy docks and the old auction hall. He had burnt them all to the ground, and in their place was a bloodstone wall that rose high and firm. But he still remembered, and there was something about that memory that made him feel like he was being poisoned. It would be nice to surround himself with nobility for a change, see how they distracted themselves in a time like this.

_ "—your Majesty?"_

Bradai turned to see little Fleur Vortigern, the seabreeze blowing bright yellow dress and tousling whatever hair was not braided down. He had not heard her coming but there she was, giving him a shaky unsure curtsy on a skinny pair of sealegs. 

"Ah." The Pirate King gave a gentle smile, watching until she looked up at him with her wide blue eyes. He nodded to return the courtesy. 

"You 'ave your favher's eyes and your muvher's face. You are tha very spitting image uff a Princess, your Grace. I'm sure vhey would be very proud you now." 

_On a boat with him._ he mused. Caspain would have lived and died again. He had never known Rhea, but she had never struck him as a great liberator of people. She did have a pretty face, he supposed. What else could a King want other than a pretty face and large dowry?

"And what do you fink uff tha joust, your Grace?" The Pirate King turned in his seat to spy at Caderyn, "And you too, knight." He let out a sharp, dry laugh. "You're welcome to join us at tha balcony."