Terence
Tiny Vik
The Mizzen Market, Tonate Proper

Vik felt a pang of sadness well up inside him at the lad's story, although there was slight relief that it wasn't Jax that put him there.  As Arin spoke he ordered a pot of warm water to be brought to the table.  He brought out his own porcelain cups, and set one in front of each of them, despite Arin's ale that he was drinking from.  Vik brought out his strainer and when the water arrived, he began straining his favorite tea into both cups, nodding at Arin's words.

"Why are these men's lives worth more than yours?  How can you tell?"  He began it like a question, but only waited a moment before continuing, signifying them as rhetorical questions.  "I could sit here and debate with you for hours on what gives a life value based on more than just gold and jewels, but you seem like a smart lad, so we'd just end up going around in circles."

Vik sat in silence for two minutes, counting in his head.  It may have seemed like a moment for Arin to reflect, given by the Tiny God, but in reality he just wanted to make sure he made his tea right.  As soon as his internal timer rang, he strained the tea into each of the cups, and pushed a saucer towards Arin.

"Of course, I could show you, if you'd like."  He ended his sentence with a giggle, but it wasn't a joke.  "Do you know who I am, Arin?"

If he tilted his head to the side, inquisitively, this being a question he did want answered.

Captain Jax Brightwater and the Astorian Party
The Maith Mansion, Tonate Proper

Jax was biting his cheek throughout the procession, his usual sass wanting to break out at the King's remarks to Astoria as an "Ally."  Yet he held his tongue, and saluted with the rest of his men as they moved away.

"He elects to forget that I willingly left the tournament, asking if I'm upset."  He whispered to his charge, and she smirked in return.  "All things considered, that went well."

"I suppose it did, but..."  Anya began.

"The slurping?"  Jax finished

"Yes, what was with that you saw it too?"

"Yeah like,at least wait to finish chewing before-"

"Exactly, gods I thought I was the only one who-"

"Trust me, My Queen, I saw it too."  The two shared a smile amidst the ball.  "We should join the Prince."

"Lead the way, Captain."

Valentine broke away from the group ahead of time to locate the Prince Mikhail, in a sense returning to her duties.  This made it rather easy for the rest of the party to reunite with the Young Royal.  As they all approached, he spoke up with a beam.

"Ah, mother, and Captain Jax, perfect timing.  It seems this gentleman has questions about the Eclipse."  To which Jax couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"Well let's not keep him waiting on any answers."  The captain chirped, resting his thumb into his sword belt.
Ora
Arin Cragton
Mizzen Market

"I was a great fighter once. Did you know that? Never lost a fight, always one step ahead of my opponent. It was almost as if I could watch an attack as it began and know how to react." He said, taking a sip of his ale as he watched Vik. Arin fell silent as the warm ale coursed it's way through his body, wishing the day would just end. He turned the cup in his hand, sloshing the dark liquid inside. He studied his murky reflection, grimacing as he saw his own pitiful face. He looked back up in fury, his fiery demeanor returning to his body. 

He calmed himself as he realized how futile his efforts would be. He was in no position to move, much less fight. He had several broken bones, bruised ribs, and cuts along his jaw and below his eye. In his current state, he was at his weakest. Arin looked over at Vik as he spoke, before growing silent himself. As Vik's words came to a close, Arin studied him. 

"Two minutes. You let your tea sit for two minutes. I've never met anyone that waits that long." He said, accepting the small saucer that Vik slid his way. As Vik asked his question, Arin's ears perked up and he swallowed. 

"I do not." He said, sitting the small cup down. The tea was amazing, strong, yet not bitter. Arin wanted to swallow all of it at once, but forced himself to sip slowly.
Terence
Tiny Vik
The Mizzen Market, Tonate Proper

Vik couldn't help but giggle at the remark.

"You *Have* To let it steep that long, this is a special tea, Arin."  He took a small sip and hummed gleefully as it coated his tongue.  He couldn't help but kick his feet in delight as he swallowed.  It was his favorite blend, a honeyed orange flavor with a savory aftertaste that beckoned you to take another sip.  It was his own special tea he grew back in Akno.  After swallowing his sip he continued.  "Actually you're supposed to let *Most* Teas steep for about two or three minutes, otherwise they come out bitter or..."

He paused as he searched for the word.

"Incomplete."  He said with a snap, before taking another sip.

"You can call me Vik, Arin.  I'm not like other people.  I wasn't born into this world wondering what my purpose was, I didn't have to spend my life wondering what I wanted to do.  I know why I'm here, and I'm here to help people.  Lots of people I help are just like you, down on their luck, hoping to regain something they've lost, or looking for something they need."  The tiny man sipped again, setting his cup on his saucer and picking up the teapot again.

"Right now I'd like to help you, if you're open to it."  He offered to refill Arin's cup.  "I'd like to help you, and right now it seems you need help with these men who threw you away like trash."

He giggled, again.
Ora
Arin Cragton
Mizzen Market

"Vik. What a peculiar name." He said, sounding it out for a moment. It had a nice ring to it. "I never knew that actually. I've never been much for tea. Rum, ale, or liquor of any kind flows freely on the ships I'm used to, and no one ever had the time for tea." He said, accepting another cup of it. The warm tea spread throughout his body, soaking his entire being in its soft embrace. 

"It's good, though I wouldn't think of it normally. I'd just get drunk, get a room, and go back on a ship before daybreak. I wouldn't stop to make tea." He said, placing the small cup back onto its little plate before glancing at Vik. 

"You say you enjoy helping people. Or that your purpose is to help people. I'm not saying no, I'm just asking why. It seems a waste, because most people don't appreciate help these days. Most want to profit off of you, not help you better yourself. Why are you any different?" He asked, taking another sip. 

"I'm not saying no, and I did not mean to be disrespectful. I am grateful for the help you've already given me, I just don't understand. You don't know me, yet you've devoted time to help, time you could have spent in bed with some whore, or anything else. Why choose to help a kid in a dumpster?" He asked, placing the cup back down.
Rhonda
The Pirate King, Bradai Maith
The Ball, the Maith Mansion

There were the makings of a great lord in Kirk Pinewood. The King was pleased.

"I should've known better then to invite tha Royal Antique Collector to my feast." Bradai Maith clapped and his court began to hoot, whistle and shout vile strings of slurs in approval. "_VHIS_ is a gift, aye!" 

When Ollie hoisted it up, Bradai took it in his hand eagerly, turning the back of the frame to his audience. He paused when he looked at the craftsmanship. At first, he had doubted the veracity of it's origin, but when he inspected the signature he saw that it was, truly, written in Silvertongue. That had made him angry.

"We will take back what is ours." The Pirate King announced, which all but sent his sister into a frenzy. Fingers dripping with garlic and octopus sauce, she gripped at her ornate dagger and thrust it into the air. 

The trestle table farthest from the royal audience, the only occupied by the crew of Wickedness, returned the war cry. Bradai felt a hand press on his forearm, and he turned to see the Seneschal, his face poking out from behind the back of Caderyn Vortigern. His expression was pleased and he was needlessly crouching. Bradai used the painting to cover their exchange.

"When exactly should we stop feeding your sister wine? When she begins cutting off ears?" 

" 'ave vhem stop filling 'er cup and she'll just start taking vhem. Water it down and add vinegar if she notices its gone soft. I don't need 'er voiding 'erself on my table, Silas." 

The Seneschal departed with a nod, taking the servant closest by the arm to whisper something into his ear. When he departed, he came back with entire ahi tuna on spits. The fish was cut before the audience and served on hot black stones with lemon. Mixed seaweed greens with olive oil sat beside, paired simply.

When the Pirate King lowered the painting to return to Kirk, all he could do was give his thanks, invite him to the meeting with Dennon, and call forward the next.
Harvey
Valkrin Farensun
Maith Mansion

Valkrin ignored Brightwater altogether, choosing instead to address the Astorian Queen. "Your Grace," He said with a rather sarcastic bow, "I'm Valkrin Farensun, honored to meet you. You're even more beautiful than in the stories I've heard of you." 

A rather large guard approached the Captain and whispered something into his ear, handing him a large leather satchel. "Ah, thank you. You'll have to excuse me, Queen Durkhan, I've a meeting with Maith." 

Upon reaching the front of the line, Valkrin set the satchel down on the table before the Pirate King. "My gift," He began loudly, "Is actually not for you, King Maith, but for Caderyn Vortigern." He opened the satchel and removed a human skull, lifting it into the air. "This is the skull of Sun King Vronti Kelwynd. I've had it since I separated it from his shoulders, and now I'm giving it to you, carry it into Terresol for me."