Characters Involved: Shadowed Fortune, Roaring Sonata, Azami, Scipeo, Shoyo Jessa, Zera, Blithe Lark Spirit, Quicksilver Dreamer, Clan Clan.

Logged & Editted By: Roaring Sonata

 

The party is already in full swing- shortly after dusk of the first night of the new year. Men and woman- many wearing masks or with the symbols of the Anathema painted in white or yellow on their foreheads. Musicians wander the streets, a square has been cleared for dancing- the center of the activity, sponsored by the Council of Entities for the merchants of Nexus. It's a carnival atmosphere, a place for traders, beggers, thieves, whores, merchants and monsters. It's a lot like Nexus is all the time, except that people are a bit more open about their masks tonight.

     Scipeo walks in from a side street and gives a brief laugh at seeing all the fun. He is wearing fairly common clothes, like one might see a farmer wear, a simple sleeveless brown shirt and simple pants. In his hand he carries a long staff wrapped at the end with cloth. He looks around and smile, pulling a golden mask from his satchel and putting it on, before going to talk to teh nearest lady...

Shoyo Jessa can be found leaning his bulk up against a lamp-post on the edge of the activity. His short-stemmed, broad-bowled pipe held clenched in the corner of his jaw, his gaze wandering about the crowd, arms crossed over his chest. Whenever a reveler bearing one of the Anathema's marks comes drifting by, he rolls his eyes and gives an exasperated grunt. Now and again, he can be heard muttering something derisive behind his mustache in Low Realm.

A quick fiddle melody drifts out over the party as Roaring Sonata takes to the streets to both earn pay as well as do what he was born to do. Entertain. The man's dressed up more in a flashy costume that adds some flowing sleeves, a lot of beaded strands to his hair, and a cloak to keep him warm as well as keep thieves guessing. The man's playing is exceptional for one so young and he's come for one thing. To party. The three stringed fiddle is played with a grace and a flare that seems to encourage dancing in it's wake as the man roams the party.

A small figure strides anonymous through the crowd so wild with life, a long braid of burnished copper woven through with strands of wild green stones, a mask concealing her face carven of smooth polished bone with an empty ring high upon the brow of black. Silver coin jewelry dances upon her form with a sound like crystalline rain, sussurative with every step. She goes through the masses without touching unneccessarily, masked face turning this way and that. Searching.

Shadowed Fortune wanders through the square, smiling pleasantly and occusionally pulling people aside to speak with them in hushed tones, a yellow circle-in-circle of the Deceivers painted on his forehead. Few of those he speaks with leave smiling. He stops however, at the excellent fiddling, pausing to clap in brief admiration as one song finishes, and before another begins. "Well played," he calls out. "But do you know any faster tunes?"

"Faster, huh?" Sonata asks as he looks towards Shadowed Fortune, grinning a bit. "Why, think you can keep up for some reason?" The man's smile is broaded by the intricate whirls he's placed on his face for the costume. For all intents and purposes, he might as well be a walking entertainment god for the moment. "I know quite a few fast songs, some only heard farther east and in the south."

"How about Brilliant Raptor's Flight?" Shadowed calls back- a hellishly complex pieces, and not something most street performers would know. He nods to Scipeo, giving the golden masked man a second look. "Say, have we met?" he asks loudly, over the crowd.

     Scipeo makes his way throught he crowd, laughing all the while, chatting to some locals, before seeing Shadowed. "Sir, what a pleasure to see you!!" he says with a big hug as he lifts a drink out of someone elses hand, lifting his golden mask he downs it in one go "How are things, better I hope?"

-= OOC =- Roaring Sonata spends some Essence even though it's not setup. -.- Down by 5.

 

(Judge) Roaring Sonata rolls Charisma + Charisma + Performance: [ -1- -1- 2 3 5 6 6 6 6 7 7 7 <10> ]

 

    Resulting in 5 successes.

Shoyo Jessa pushes off from the lamp-post, lumbering around the edges of the crowd. He pauses at one of the booths set up for refreshments, helping himself to a cup of something alcoholic. Taking his pipe in hand, he sniffs the beverage. "Phwaugh! Mela's _tits_, you call this sake?" he grunts. "I've smelled more appetizing sewage!" With a heavy sigh, he knocks the contents back in one go, blanching a bit. "Hrmph. Well. At least it goes down right. Give me two more." He plunks a quarter-yen bit down on the stall and takes two more cups. His gaze gets drawn to the nearby musician and those talking to him. His brows immediately knot as he sees the rather large blade strapped to Fortune's back. Derision vanishes, replaced with a keen, calculating observance, a thoughtful look on the old soldier's face as he studies the other man over the rim of his sake cup.

"I haven't heard a request for that in a long time." Sonata mentions as he steps up on an unoccupied bench. "Let's see if I still remember it, good sir." Stepping up on the bench, the fiddler begins to play with an abandon as he spins out the flying raptor's song. Eyes closed and feet braced, the fiddler's fast, complex movements are infectious as some other musicians join in while they pass. It's obvious that the hard piece is being played by a good musician, let alone if he's a mere street performer. Even the wind itself seems to agree as his cloak blows to one side admist the playing of the piece.

Drawn by the notes of the fiddle, Azami slips between two larger men who move to intercept her with drinks in their hands and easily seen in their faces and emerges not far away from where Roaring Sonata and the masked Fortune speak. The music has ceased however and she quickly steps behind a cluster of women to listen and avoid the two men's half-hearted pursuit.

Shadowed Fortune nods, grinning at Scipeo, then admiring the mask. "An impressive trinket," he remarks. "Did you find someone to support your ventures?" A calculating look briefly appaers. "I could offer you a fair price for that piece, if you'd care to consider it." He pauses, joining in the clapping as Sonata finishes the song. "Impressive!" he calls out. "I've heard better, of course," he adds.

A woman, dressed in white mourning outfit and her face concealed by a gauzy veil, walks down the street, leaving a trail of admirers in her wake. She stops near Shoyo's elbow. "Evening, stranger," she says. "You don't look to be enjoying the party."

Shoyo Jessa knocks back his other cup of sake, before he clamps his teeth back down on his pipe so he can also applaud the fiddler. Looking down at the woman approaching him, he clears his throat gruffly. "Hell of a party," he says. "But... I am an officer in the Scarlet Empress' legions, may she live forever. It would be uncouth of me to get too drunk to properly represent Her empire." He looks back out across the crowd. "Besides. I don't care to associate with demon-lovers," he grumbles. "Ignorant fools. I've _seen_ an Anathema."

     Scipeo grins "Oh no, as im to understand it, this belongs to me or part of me at least, and I have found a different way to serve the people" he says with a smile as he claps for the song, whisteling his approval loudly "So how are you doing lately" Scipeo lifts another drink off a nearby tray, without much motice and begins to sip. As he raise his mask, you can see that his smile perhaps seems brighter, his eyes twinkle a little more...

Azami smiles behind her mask as Sonata begins to play again. There he is. As he plays she comes to the circle of people listening, then nods appreciation as it ends and claps, the bright green garnets in her burnished coppery braid fairly glowing in the festival light.

"Really," drawls Shadowed, giving Scipeo a considering look. "And what do you mean by that? Got a vision that led you to a hadily opened tomb, decided to take in a bit of grave robbing with a bit of a cover story?" he asks. His tone's light, clearly not quite believing Scipeo.

The woman in white smiles, her face a vauge collection of shadows beneath the veil. "Have you? You must be terribly brave to have faced it and still be living," she says, wrapping an arm around one of Shoyo's. "Where did you see this fell creature?"

Chuckling a bit as he runs a hand through his wind-swept hair, Sonata bows a bit before something seems to catch his attention. Looking upwind of him, the man seems to be searching for something before he waves over someone who's serving drinks to sip on a glass of water while he rests for a moment on the back of the bench. His playing might be exceptional, but seems he's fairly mortal otherwise. "... hmm..."

     Scipeo looks at the women near the bar and then looks at Shadowed for a moment and heads that way, not before saying "Well it was my tomb, so its not really robbing is it?" he says, which is curious considering that he seems to have changed somehow, maybe its in the way he walks, you dont really know... He approaches the women in white and bows low "Madame, a pleasure to meet you, my name is Scipeo" he says as he takes her hand and gves it a light kiss.

Shoyo Jessa takes a long pull from his pipe, loosing a cloud of sweet mulberry tobacco smoke. "I was at the Battle of Futile Blood," he says. "I saw the Bull of the North. I saw his face. And the devil's mark, brighter than the sun on his brow." A haunted look crosses his face, and flexes the fingers of his jade hand, the clockworks click-clacking in mechanical harmony. "So many worthier souls were taken that day. And yet, the Dragons saw fit to spare my unworthy life." He shakes his head, sighing heavily. "They have no idea," he says, turning his gaze back to the crowd.

"Your playing is wonderful," the masked woman with beryls in her hair says to Sonata, her voice a pleasantly rough contralto. "You must be very much loved in the place you grew up." Her smile can be heard, even if its only glimpsed and she steps close enough to take what she believes is a glass of water from the passing tray, turning her masked face to admire the instrument as she speaks.

The woman in white, a slender arm still wrapped around Shoyo's, gives Scipeo a look- the details are hard to read behind the veil. "Oh, I'm sure it is a pleasure," she replies, her voice light and lightly teasing. Her gaze returns to Shoyo as he speaks, and she traces one of the scars on his cheek. "Some may have a better idea than you might realize," she says. "Did that monster give you these?" she asks.

"Hmm... I sadly have no such place." Sonata's gaze drifts over the masked woman as he smiles a bit. "If you think this is interesting, you should see my flute." He winks at the woman. Although, the man seems to be looking for something for a moment before he looks towards the woman and quirks an eyebrow at her. "... you know, you seem a bit familiar."

 

Shoyo Jessa takes his pipe in hand, watching Scipeo warily as he introduces himself to the lady on his arm. Looking down at her, he blushes a bit as her fingers trace the scars on his cheek. "No, madam," he says. "This came from the icewalker who took my arm." He manages a bit of a grin. "But it came at a fair trade. I put my fist through his rib-cage in payment."

     Scipeo looks back at her from behind his golden mask with a curious look and turns to leave "Of course..." he says making his way to someone else more talkative, maybe that musician. He heads over and gives a short bow "well played sir, well played indeed, allow me to introduce myself, my name is Scipeo" he says holding his hand out to Sonata.

The joke goes right over the masked woman's head. In fact it looks back over its shoulder as it sails overhead and wonders how it managed to overshoot so far. "I think I might have played with you once," she ventures thoughtfully. "If there was room mayhaps I could remind you better, but I think there is little enough place to sit so that I might play my Ruan. Maybe I am mistaken though." She starts to suggest something, but then something catches her ear. Despite herself she twitches a little and looks over her shoulder toward the sound of Shoyo's voice through the clamor of the party, hearing the word Icewalker. It garners a response in her that is hard to miss despite her mask... but she shakes her head to clear it and comes back to herself with a masked flush, embarrassed to have reacted like that. "Khh..." She looks curiously at Scipeo as he introduces himself.

"How bold," the woman in white ventures. "But still. The bull and the icewalkers are far to the north, where the cold winds never stop blowing. Nexus is balmy, and warm. What brings a man from so far north to the City of a Thousand Delights?"

Shoyo Jessa straightens his spine again. "I have the honor of serving as head of security for Lord Tepet Kiyoshi in Greyfalls," he says. "As for why I'm in Nexus... I came seeking a few supplies. There isn't a proper motonic phase prism within a hundred miles of the satrapy, and the garrison's only Essence needle couldn't melt butter." He looks over the lady on his arm. "You are in mourning? My condolances," he says.

The woman in white sighs quietly, before releasing Shoyo. "I am," she says sadly. "But perhaps I can find you again, later this evening."

Shoyo Jessa nods his head. "Perhaps. You can seek me at the River Dragon Inn, if you like." And with that, he offers her a curt bow before lumbering off into the crowd.

 

-= OOC =- Shoyo Jessa vanishes!

 

Shoyo Jessa heads out of character.

 

Shoyo Jessa has left.

Shadowed Fortune emerges from the press of the crowd, once again near Sonata. And, disconcertingly, near the copper haired woman that once approached Masq, about looking up some manner of pirate. And Scipeo, with his terribly intriguing mask of gold. "So, it seems I'm not the only music lover this evening," he remarks. Towards Sonata, he adds, "Can I buy you a drink?"

Stepping down off the bench, the musician approaches the masked woman, leaning in to whisper something to her. The words are obviously for their ears alone as he does. Although they do seem familiar to each other, it's still kept quiet while they talk briefly. He then looks to Fortune. "Hmm... certainly, sir. Wine, if you don't mind. Might I ask your name, though?"

Azami startles a little when Sonata jumps down and leans in--- then lifts up her chin, murmuring something into his ear, a pale hand briefly touching his chest before dropping again to hold her waterglass.

 

From afar, Azami would whisper: A party like this is the only time I can be here, and I need to speak to you." then Fortune talks and she'd say: "Later, o'course."

"Fortune," Shadowed replies. "And- just wine? Well, that's a broad criteria, but I shall endevor to try. Something sweet, perhaps?" Without waiting for a response, he walks off, a short distance to an unmarked building.

 

The musician gives a nod to Fortune. "Ah... certainly. Sweet would be interesting." He says before leaning back to whisper to the masked woman again, chuckling a bit. Sonata seems to be finding something amusing.

     Scipeo looks over at masked Azami and he seems to smile under his mask as he takes her hand and bows to lightly kiss it "Madame, a pleasure to meet you, it does the heart well to see a diamond amongst the these people" he says sincerly "But I talk too much perhaps, you sir, musician, could I ask your name, I am most inpressed indeed"

 

Long distance to Azami: Roaring Sonata whispers: And they call me risky... where and when?

"Ah, I am called Wong, good sir. Might I ask yours in return?" Sonata says, looking at the mask. The musician's eyes narrow a bit but otherwise stay calm. "Nice mask. Might I ask where you found it?"

     Scipeo lifts it up and takes a sip from his drink "It belonged to... my ancestors, a family heirloom of sorts" he says with a smile and a nod "Im glad you like it, but I am more impressed with your skill at the instrument" Scipeo gives a smile and takes another sip

Azami is rather glad for the mask now though it stifles her senses somewhat, for it serves quite nicely to conceal her blush. "Hardly that," she demurrs gently, easily embarrassed. "There is more beauty in a city at its ease, if such a thing can be said of Nexus at night." She looks at his mask and pales ever so slightly. A Solar?

Shadowed Fortune returns after a few minutes, bearing a bottle- unaccountably, it's steaming in the hot Nexus night- a thinner and smaller bottle than most winebottles. A quartet of glass flutes are held in his other hand "So. Have you ever had icewine?" he asks, to the trio at large. "Rare stuff, it's only imported from the north at great expense."

 

"Because of the troubles that way? I have heard of it, never tried it myself." Wong says as he looks at Scipeo, than glances to the masked woman briefly. He reaches a companionable arm around the woman, leaning in for a moment to whisper to her again in very low tones before he looks to the other two. "So I take it you two must be locals? I am not used to Nexus as of yet myself, I only just arrived a day or two ago. Is there many... events here such as this?"

"Oh, only every third night," Shadowed says with a smile. "The City of a Thousand Delights doesn't much delight in sleeping." He pours the faintly blue liquid into two of the four glasses, holding them both towards the other three. "Wonderfully sweet, icewine." The liquid, much like the bottle, is faintly steaming- a thin fog hanging in the top third of the glass and spilling slowly out.

Zera climbs the hill where it slopes east towards the gate.

 

Zera has arrived.

     Scipeo seems to brighten with a smile "Oh wow that sounds delightfull" he says as he takes a glass and then looks at Azami "Oh no miss, the beauty of the world is in living things, art for example is only a glimse of that beauty, " he says as he takes a drink of the wine...

Azami accepts the wine hesitantly. Instinctually holding the stem rather than the bowl of the flute as one does for Icewine, she nods meek thanks. Has she seen this man before? The fog trickes down over her hands and mingles in the silver coin jewelry that adorns the dark material of her sleeves. She glances up at Sonata at what he whispers, but it seems the Pattern Spiders have other ideas and before she can reply Scipeo speaks again. Azami is simply not any good at deflecting compliments and doesn't know what to do with them. "A night of masks then must be an excercise in temperance," she replies gently. There is simply no way she's going to remove her mask with as many enemies as she has in Nexus.

When revelers drink a bit too deeply, when they wander into alleyways to relieve themselves or stumble into abandoned buildings, whenever somebody of unique appearance or talents or something to lend to collective presents itself... the watcher is there. It watches from holes in the ceiling, pinpricks in the walls, unsteady rooftops. And when it reveals itself... bubbling along the ceiling, or oozing up from the sewer grates, are attacking from some shadowed corner... few escape. The Zera is always growing. Always expanding. Tonight has been a night for many valuable additions to the Great Concensus. One of these was an urchin; a small boy, perhaps nine. More of a pickpocket than a begger, who made the mistake of revealing his quick fingers and strong legs to unseen eyes. The sounds of a wounded dog drew him into an alleyway, his compassion drawing him into the shadows. His eyes went wide, his scream choked in his throat, he tried to run. The legs weren't strong enough. He will never be Alone again.

This child lingers near Azami and her companions. The boy-Zera recognises his fellow No-Moon. And now, as other fragments of the Zera stalk the herd, this particular aspect lingers nearby and watches with an eery stare, occasionally munching on a piece of stale bread. Very slowly. Om nom nom.

 

Shadowed Fortune mms, pouring the icewine into the two remaining glasses. "There's wisdom in a certain restraint," he says agreeably. "But surely you can agree that we all have to take off our masks, now and again." He leans a bit closer, looking Azami in the eye. "Unless you've ought to be afraid of. But surely not; Calibration is past, after all," he says, taking a sip while offering the final glass to Sonata.

"Ah, but if the lady wishes to remain masked, should you not allow her to? Mystery is sometimes the best offer to any." Sonata mentions as he smiles a bit at the two strangers. "After all, one of you remains masked mostly and neither has given their names." The musician is obviously friends with the masked Azami now as he keeps a peaceable air about him.

     Scipeo drinks the wine and smiles a little more "Oh wow, that is good" he then takes his mask off and puts it in his satchel "Meh, masks or no, I dont care, and yes sir, I am from these parts. I grew up in this city as it where" he responds to Sonata with a grin and a bit of a flushed look as the drinks hes had start to take control.

Azami stiffens. She looks up at Shadowed Fortune as the taller man looms... and recognize him. Something in the eyes. She takes a shallow breath and steps back a bit unconsciously into Sonata. Masq! The Guild representative! Well shit. Taking some solace from the solid presence of her friend behind her, Azami gathers her composure and offers a smile. "It is a masque, isn't it?" She says. "I am waiting to surprise someone, and if he sees me without my mask before I see him, it will ruin the... surprise." Azami glances down and to the side, hearing something. The little boy is given a curious look as she notices him watching them.

The child settles down, sitting on the concrete streets. Happy, with the bread.

 

Shadowed Fortune mms, bobbing his head. "Well, that's fair enough," he says agreeably. He sips at his own glass, then turns his attention to Sonata. "So. Have you been long in Nexus?"

"As I said, only a day or two. I am a musician by trade and travel where the fate takes me, good sir." Sonata mentions. "As I told your friend, my name is Wong. I am curious, though... this does not seem as bad as some rumors I have heard made it out to be. Although, I do hear a lot as a musician, that alone makes me a bit curious."

     Scipeo smiles a little, "Oh Nexus has the best and worst, believe me I know" he says looking down a little his smile fades some "But this can be a wonderfull city, so you just passing through Wong?" his smile returns as he puts an arm around Fortune and wispers "Cmon, be nicer to the lady"

"Well, as with all such reputations, the reality could hardly be as impressive as the rumors," Shadowed agrees. "But you can also hardly expect to unearth the truth in just a few days, to such a place as Nexus." He gives Wong a leer. "Looking to investigate the veracity of any rumor in particular?"

Blithe Lark Spirit climbs the hill where it slopes east towards the gate.

 

Blithe Lark Spirit has arrived.

"Do you think I'd be that stupid?" Wong chuckles. "I may be a musician, but even I am careful of where I trend in that area." The man gives a grin, then looks at the masked woman and reaches to take her hand. "But looking at rumors... hmm... you could say it is a past time of mine. Curiousity and all. Otherwise, I wouldn't have much to make a song or two about."

Azami listens quietly to the three men talk... then warmly squeezes 'Wong's' hand and slips gently away for a moment. Not far. Only to where the small boy is sitting on the street with stale bread in his mouth and hands. Her skirts murmur about her legs as she comes to stand just beside the urchin, retrieving something from her sleeve. "Here, little brother," she says soothingly and extends to him a mooncake wrapped in waxpaper, leaning down to offer it to the boy.

"Ah, well, perhaps you're in luck," Shadowed replies to Wong. "I happen to be an expert on the many truths and lies of Nexus."

A hand trembling from hunger extends to take the treat offered, and the child claims it to suck on it with wide eyes. Aww, so cute! And then, he says, "Thank you, lady." Zeranism is really big, in Nexus, with poor people, so he says - "Sages watch over you." as a blessing.

     Scipeo looks at Shadowed and keeps on smiling "I am willing to bet I know a few things even you dont" he says with a grin "One learns a lot as a boy running around the city"

"Maybe we should talk sometime. I don't intend to stay more than a week. I have some friends to check on here and there around the Scavenger Lands." Wong says simply, looking at the two before glancing towards Azami. He smiles a bit as he sees what she is up to, then looks back at the two.

"Thank you little brother," Azami smiles. She wears a mask of smoothly polished bone that conceals her features. Many in the celebration wears such things, but the materal of the white object reflects little light, marked upon the brow by an empty circle of stark black. It does little to conceal her beauty, but it serves as a blessed defense against the enemies she has in Nexus. Green beryls sparkle in the copper braid of her hair and dancing interlaced coin jewelry makes soft music of her every movement. "Do you know the way to the Bastion district from here?"

Shadowed Fortune's nose flares a bit at Scipeo's comment. "Boy," he remarks, in hushed, acid tones. "I've been through this city, under it, beside it. I've seen her, living and dying, in Cinnabar and Firewander and Bastion. I've bought slaves and seen the fae ravaged sold. I've broken the dreams of strong men for the pleasure it brought me, and raised high the weak so I could pull them down after they've tasted power. I've known the city's gutters and it's parlors and it's halls." He grins suddenly, a piercing white thing through his beard. "Trifle not with me here."

-= OOC =- Shadowed Fortune activates Hate-Sowing Bitterness. Cause damn if Scip didn't set me off. :)

"Bastian is that way." The boy points, munching the moon-cake. He cautions, in his innocent and child-like voice, "Don' try to work there, though, cuz the fucking ass-sucker Guards will beat you till you piss and dump you headface-first into the shitholes they crap in."

 

Ah, Nexus. Land of colorful language.

-= OOC =- Zera says, "Crap in, I meant."

 

(OOC) Shadowed Fortune just spent Essence from his Personal Essence pool

 

(OOC) Shadowed Fortune just spent Willpower from his Willpower pool

 

(Judge) Shadowed Fortune rolls Manipulation + Investigation + Manipulation + Investigation: [ -1- -1- -1- 2 2 3 4 5 5 5 5 7 7 9 9 <10> <10> <10> ]

 

    Resulting in 10 successes.

(OOC) Scipeo just spent Willpower from its Willpower pool

-= OOC =- Shadowed Fortune says, "Short form- turns any effort of Shadowed's towards destroying positive intimacies or creating negative ones into instant effects, that take root right away if successful, unless you spend a wp to resist."

Azami's green eyes sparkle and her lips twitch upward at the corners. "Yes they are pretty horrible. Try to keep to the southern alley if you have to pass through, Mrs Gao is much nicer than she pretends to be... just don't steal from her or let her see any of your mates do the same, yes?"

The boy nods and smiles. "Thanks lady! You're super nice! And really pretty. You could make money, in the city!" You know, spreading your legs? Yet the boy seems to mean this entirely as a serious, deadpan compliment. Hell, around here, prostitution is almost a respectable business. The urchin scurries off to eat the moon-cake where a Nighthammer worker can't see it, decide to pound him into unconciousness, and take it. Cuz, after all. That wouldn't be illegal. Around here? Gotta look out for yourself.

     Scipeo seems to grimace and gives Shadowed a stern look as he grips his "staff" tighter "I think you should leave, and perhaps you could learn something of manners, and how do you know what I have done?" he says with a grim tone, as his eyes seem to shine a bit brighter and his voice seems to resounds more so than usual.

(OOC) Scipeo just spent Essence from its Essence Personal pool

Tonight Lark is wearing the caste mark of a Dawn caste solar in phosphorescent yellow, because it was the most glowy one. And a domino mask that does little to hide her identity. Not that the wings are not revealing enough. It has been months since the last time she was in Nexus, so she had plenty of places to go and plenty of people to see. Buuuut... a party is a party, and she is not going to be able to show up in parties like this as herself when her identity as solar ruler becomes widely known. She is also wearing a rather skimpy dress, although given this is Nexus, she is hardly the least dressed female in the party.

(Judge) Scipeo rolls Presence + Charisma: [ 3 3 3 4 4 5 9 <10> <10> <10> ]

 

    Resulting in 7 successes.

Shadowed Fortune's eyes widen at Scipeo's comment- in anger, or perhaps fear. He seems on the verge of replying, and instead hisses at the man, stalking away with the tattered remains of his dignity as best he can, hurling the half-full bottle of icewine into a gutter, where it steams as it pours away.

Wong meanwhile lets the two argue and drifts away, walking back to Azami and smiling at the boy. "Made a new friend, I see?" He says to her before looking at the boy and extending a hand. "Hi. I'm Wong."

Azami blinks at the compliment, then looks up at 'Wong' through her mask, not having seen Shadowed Fortune leave. The glass of icewine in her hands still. She rises as he reaches down for the boy's hand and looks past him, seeing the aftermath and raising her chin slightly in curiosity.

"Hi! Mister Wong, my sister is a fuckin' whore, and she's only a few years older than me, and she's bleeding pretty bad... from a cut in a bad place... I don't have any money, I wanna buy her medicine? And pay her fuckin' cunt of a madame a salary cover so she can take some time off?" It's all complete bullshit. A typical line, really, from youths in the city... one of about a thousand stock stories, told to tourists. He tries to look as cute as possible while saying this, "... and, if I could have five silver pennies, I'd say a prayer to you and your ancestors for five weeks. No shit, for realz. Sir."

 

-= OOC =- Zera tries to pose Nexus natives as a bit 'crude', forgive the colorful language.

 

-= OOC =- Azami is amused.

 

-= OOC =- Roaring Sonata says, "It's okay. ;)"

 

-= OOC =- Shadowed Fortune frankly approves. :)

     Scipeo sighs and walks over to Sonata and Azami, and gives a short bow "I am sorry for his rudeness" he then smiles again leans on his staff and looks down at the boy "I used that very line myself boy" he says with a smile.

"Wish I had five silver pennies, kid." Wong sighs a bit, "It's why I'm out here playing instead of enjoying the festivities." The man shakes his head then looks at Scipeo, frowning a bit. "Sorry for his rudeness?" Wong asks as he looks at Scipeo evenly.

While the others talk, Lark dances and laughs with the other revellers, it is just random chance her eyes find Azami, which feels vaguely familiar to her. Although the mask hides her face so completely the winged girl can't be sure. But, just in the chance it is who she thinks it is, she drifts closer to the group, and if Azami looks in her direction, she smiles and waves.

     Scipeo gives Wong a curious look "Fortune, I mean, perhaps you treat others like that, but where im from it is very rude to be as intrusive and irrate as he was" he says with a frown as he stands up straighter

 

Azami chuckles. "Rudeness is harmless enough," she says to Scipeo, her smile warming her pleasantly rough voice. With her more relaxed tone now that Shadowed Fortune is gone, the far far northern accent is easily audible in her voice. She reaches up and pats absently at the strap of her mask beneath the wieght of her braid with slightly numb fingers, shaken a bit but recovering quickly. "Why was he upset? Did something happen?" She sees Lark and blinks, nodding in surprised greeting.

"Fuck you, ball sucker! I'm no fuckin' liar!" The kid says to Scipeo with a frown, before Wong reveals that he doesn't have any money, urging him to quiet himself so he doesn't blow the scam. But when Wong admits he has no money, the child instantly loses interest and seems to mature by about six years mentally. Having got everything he can from Azami, Scipeo and Wong, he snaps at them, "Get away from me, assholes, you're ruining my business." before moving to a new location. Once there, he works up a good sniffle, and begins murmuring to passers-by again.

Tilting his head a bit to the side, Wong glances at Azami. "Think you'll be okay for a bit?" He mentions to her. "I do need to play some more, unfortunately." He shrugs as he nods at his fiddle and the bow for it he has in one hand. "Although, perhaps we should find a place for you to sit down? You look a tad shaken."

     Scipeo laughs at the boy "Sure sure, from the looks of you, you havnt had to eat to much of the old Nexus rice, so your better off than I was" scip says as the boy leaves and he smiles softly as he remembers his own youth, much the same as the boys.

Lark grins and dances her way out of the crowd, then walks her way to the group, almost prances, as if unwilling to quit dancing. She grins again, her pale blue eyes brighter than usual, as if she was high on something. "I thought it was you," she say to Azami, "hello! I never figured you would be the kind of girl to show in one of these Nexus' parties, guess I was wrong."

"I'll be just fine, Wong," Azami smiles wrily, chuckling. "If we're seperated I promise nothing bad will happen." When Lark comes dancing out of the crowds she laughs, heartened by the winged woman's exuberance. "Oh you were right, don't worry! I feel more out of place than I can even begin to say." She reaches forward to take the other woman's hand companionably. "Are you well?"

"Hmm... I don't know. This charming fellow here might try something." Wong grins a bit, then blinks as Lark comes up and tilts his head a bit. "Wow. You sure seem to have a couple of friends out here. I see why Nexus is such a big party now."

     Scipeo looks at Lark and smiles, waiting for her to notice him. When she does he takes her hand and bows, lightly kissing her hand " A pleasure to meet you, my name is Scipeo, indeed I must be the luckiest man int he city to meet a Brilliant pearl such as yourself"

"I am great!" Declares Lark, "except I have been drinking all kinds of stuff, so maybe the glowing pink clouds and dancing polar bears are not supposed to be there," she admits. "Oh, hi. I am Lark!" That to Azami's companions, "don't worry about me, I am harmless, despite the wings, and other stuff. The secret stuff."

Wong just blinks, then leans over to whisper to Azami again.

Zera can be seen, now, emerging from one of the side streets... as herself, this lurching foot-tall creature. She carves a wide profile in the crowd. Beastmen are bad luck... not exactly, openly accepted, even in Nexus?... and rat beastmen in particular, well. They don't have a reputation for much except causing rabies. This rat beastwoman is particularly civilized, and unique, her attire hints at that. Nobody really knows Zera for what she is; even as she walks past her faithful, those who devote prayers to her with each day, they have no idea they are near the very thing the worship. According to the faith, the Zera is a demanifested energy pervading all things, not a horrible little beast woman. Zera, for her part, enjoys the way that people don't want to be close to her, the way she can part the crowd like moses in front of the red sea. Like an emo high-school kid, she sometimes can relish being the outsider. From the stumbling, weaving gait she claims, she may be moderately intoxicated. Traveling with her are two other Rat people, strangers in a strange land, though they have no idea of the true nature of the woman they speak with. They chitter and cackle amongst each other, ridiculing those taller than them, so they can feel better about being freaks. Zera is obviously best-dressed.

     Scipeo laughs and takes a drink from a nearby tray that floats past and sips at it, when he sees Zera aproach he gives a low bow 'Welcome to the party, ma'm" he says with a sincere smile "What brings yuo to this city?"

 

Long distance to Azami: Roaring Sonata whispers: /Zera/? Didn't kknow she was here... oh. There she is. So what is she and do I need to play distraction if she starts spouting odd things?

Azami murmurs something in reply to Wong, low in Old Realm heavy with that northern accent, then exhales a little and looks at Lark, glad to see that she is alright. "After that horrible temple I worried," she says earnestly. If anyone could see her face they would see her relief that Lark did not say her name, nervous in a crowd of so many people whatever she claims. "Here, would you like some water?"

Zera gives the child begger with a foul mouth an entire silver dinar, as she passes him. He sings her praises and is quite enthused. She, and her pack, become a little afraid of him... being fairly drunk, and, a full two or three feet shorter than the excited child... and so they quickly withdraw, cringing. Whoa. Didn't to get you -that- worked up, pinkie.

Upon reaching Scipeo and hearing his introduction, Zera answers, "Vintage. Fifty-seven years. Worth every penny." She taps a small glass flask, at her side, tethered by a rope. She looks him up and down, curiously.

Lark giggles, "oh dear, water, not yet, no. The night still young." But no, no names. And if a shadow goes through her eyes when Azami mentions the Temple in the Swamp, it is gone in a fraction of a second. "Nexus has the best parties in the East," adds the winged girl, I lived here for a few years, y'know?"

Chuckling a bit as he listens to the two, Wong nods and settles for standing a bit apart from them as he starts to play the fiddle again with his unatural skill. The man's bow glides effortlessly across the instrument while he seems to close his eyes for a moment to concentrate. Of course, he's playing a sonata at that so it's bound to have some effect on the crowd. The quicker intro serves as the invitation to the dance, then a slow melody for the warm-up. Although, the minuet isn't supposed to be as long as he keeps it going he does one thing that is obviously good. Improvise and keep the dance going.

     Scipeo smiles brightly as he drinks the last down, looking at all three women over the edge of his glass, a good day indeed "So you all know each other then?" he says with a smile and then looks at Lark "The night is young indeed" he then takes 2 drinks from a nearby tray and hands one to Lark.

"This one clever!" One of Zera's ratkin states to her.

The all chuckle, amused. As the music begins to rise, they find themselves as vulnerable to the infectuous quality as distant human relatives. They hop, they bounce, they dance in what fashion the odd physiology of rat folk allows.

 

Zera bounces up and down next to Scipeo and answers his question, looking up. "Brought them. They're... not so good with cities." She regards her two descendents ruefully, "Watching them to make sure they don't get fined."

Azami watches the people dancing with every sign of excitement, unable but to smile behind her mask and follow along with the lively tone with unconscious motions of her hands, knowing it by heart. The icewine she passes off to someone without another thought and laughs despite herself at an elderly couple, gladdened as they dance by. She's not much of a partier, but this sort of thing is hard to resist. It looks as though she's caught what Lark has, though she restrains herself by the thinnest of leashes from joining in the dancing, though whether out of shyness or caution is not clear.

     Scipeo looks down at Zera "My name is Scipeo" he says as he squates down and takes Zera' hand and lightly places a kiss on it. "What may I call a lovely women such as yourself?" He smiles at her before standing up again and looks around, tapping his foot to the music.

Lark takes the offered drink with a happy thank-you to Scipeo, then, as Wong starts playing, she begins dancing again, "we meet a few seasons back," she comments to Scipio, "we have a few common friends, too". She dances slowly at first, so her drink doesn't spill, but the blonde woman drinks quickly, and when it is finished she looks at Azami mischievously, "oh, you look as if you wanted to dance too, but something was restraining you," she takes the other woman's hand and pulls her, "c'mon, we are wearing a masks, nobody cares and you shouldn't either!"

Hey, looks like Lark needs help getting the Ice Queen to have fun. So, Wong is happy to oblige. He turns a bit, shifting the melody ever so slightly as he keeps his eyes on the two ladies and helps out just a bit through his music. The tune turns playful and challenging, daring others to dance even as the fiddler keeps an eye on the dancing rat men just in case as well as the two ladies. Oh yes, party and dance is a must.

-= OOC =- Roaring Sonata tosses in essence. That worthy of a stunt die to get more people dancing? ;)

Azami meeps in surprise as she's pulled, whatever her thoughts had been scattered in every direction. She laughs though when Lark chides her and says: "I don't know any of your dances," she says honestly, blushing behind her mask, then whispers: "If Dreamer is lurking somewhere and sees this I think his poor head would explode and we'd have to explan to some very testy people."

-= OOC =- Scipeo says, "sure sure, I would say so, why not?"

 

-= OOC =- Azami xD

 

(Judge) Roaring Sonata rolls Charisma + Charisma + Performance + 1: [ -1- -1- 2 4 5 7 7 9 9 9 9 9 9 <10> ]

 

    Resulting in 10 successes.

 

-= OOC =- Roaring Sonata says, "..."

 

-= OOC =- Azami wows.

 

-= OOC =- Roaring Sonata says, "How come I can't get these rolls when I have to social fu someone?"

 

(Judge) Blithe Lark Spirit rolls Charisma + Performance: [ 2 5 6 6 7 7 8 <10> ]

 

    Resulting in 5 successes.

 

-= OOC =- Blithe Lark Spirit says, "+4 = 9 :)"

Zera is actually totally startled by this, to the extent, where she doesn't pull her ratty little hand away immediately. She is stunned into silence, completely. She chitters back, "I don't have a name." Almost, reflexively. As though she didn't consider the reply. She then hops a step back, as if struck with sudden skepticism. Hey, wait. This is fucking /Nexus/. This guy probably wants my money. Still, he's so... interesting! Might as well play the game. It's fun! "... no silver, either. All of us, broke. Gave money to beggers and barkeeps. Still want to stay? Call me whatever you want."

"If that silly boy shows up I will force him to dance with you all night," promises Lark. "As for not knowing, stop worrying! Most of the people here has no idea of dancing either. It is not about looking good for others but about having some fun. Besides, your friend is really good with that fiddle!"

     Scipeo smiles, "I would not know what to call you, but if you permit me, Lily perhaps, the name of my dear mother." he says with a smile as looks at Zera, finding it really hard to resist the music, "Perhaps you have your own mask?" he says as he pulls out a solid orichalcum mask from his satchel and puts it on with a smile, and starts to tapp along to the beat with his spear.

There's really no arguing with that logic. Azami smiles and dances with Lark, following her motions and seeming to enjoy herself though there's a hesitancy to her motions that says she is using this to learn as much as to enjoy, absorbing everything quickly, eagerly. The young woman is unfamiliar, but like most Lunars she picks up on it and dexterously adapts, a natural inner grace and fluidity of motion working to match what Lark shows her. "He is!" She says as they dance, and chuckles. "I think its better if Dreamer doesn't show up though. I'm here looking for someone and he'd probably just worry himself to death."

"Eh. My face is bad enough." The tiny rat relates with a cackle of amusement, sticking her tongue into the flask of booze to lap up a few mouthfuls. Her conical straw hat falls on the ground and she doesn't seem to notice at first. She hrrrmms at the suggested name and mutters, her raspy voice cynical, "... besides, human masks, fit wrong. Not shaped right. Scary enough, anyway. Terrible name. Ugly. No offense to mother. If you like it though, fine."

The two ratlings whisper between themselves and point towards the Zera with an amused chitter passing between them. They are amused by her genial interaction with a human, and, it seems they are mocking her for it.

     Scipeo seems to frown for a moment "Im sorry for that, but suite yourself, perhaps I will just call you lady then, if you approve" he says as his smile returns and sips at his drink some more from under his mask.

As Azami catches up, Lark'd dance becomes more complex and elaborate, and wilder. Contrarily to Azami, Lark loves the spotlight, and she is a dancer of supernatural skill. Or perhaps Sonata's music is inspiring her.

"Lady. Lily. Who in Nexus wants to know names, eh stranger?" Zera cackles back, gesturing to some people making out a short distance away. She then broaches the obvious subject, chittering, "... why such kindness, human? Have beastman friends? Relatives? Pervert? Or maybe, just understand what it is, to be different."

Wandering closer to the ladies as he plays, Wong keeps the performance going for as long as he can. The musician is young, but he's obviously working on keeping the song playful, chuckling a bit as he watches Azami. The man's a musical genius practically by mortal and even some Dragonblooded. His eyes go to Lark, though, and he seems to grin a bit. Playfully, the man matches the tempo to Lark's elaborate dance, counterpointing her movements as he gives her enough room that he won't be hit by wings if those get involved.

     Scipeo grins some more "Please, im a.. people person you might say. I grew up in this city, poor as dirt, but I take it upon myself to help them when I can is all. You are the first beastman I have met, nor do I have any reason for more money, Im juts looking for a conversation, especially with a lovely lady" he says with a gentle smile, tapping along with the music

Azami keeps up with Lark, more serious now though she still truely seems to be enjoying the dance. Her full skirts whirl and the interlaced coin jewelry resting on her hips and wrists and hidden about her ankles accompanies them with an undertone of silver. Smiling, she glances over Lark's shoulder about to compliment her on her mastery of the art-- and sees the people watching, mortal eyes drawn to the display of dexterity and grace and masterful shape. Oh dear.

"Lovely." She chitters, again finding that amusing. Flattery! For a -ratkin-! It's an unusual situation, really. She exhales, "Oh, my my my." And then, "... you grew up here? My sympathy. Horrible place. I grew up far from here. Little town. Very... simple people. Complete opposite from this place. Whenever I come here, always leave broke. Learned lesson; this time, spent all my money on booze, first thing!" She cackles, offering her bottle to Scipeo. "Try, try, ratkin didn't make. Bought from Little Market. Promise. Safe. Top shelf!"

Of course Lark's wings are part of her dance. As much as they can be, at least, as she really doesn't have the room to unfurl them completely while she is dancing on the floor. They never quite touch anyone behind her, though, her movements always graceful. Sliding closer to the Wong, all part of the dance, she murmurs, "I think I remember you, now. Sonata, isn't it?"

A small chuckle comes from Wong as he plays the fiddle with abandon, letting Lark's own dance set the pace as he uses the music as a distraction and winks at Lark. "Yep. Remember, it's Wong out here." He says to the winged beauty. The music is a good cover as he grins at her, "Any requests?"

"If you'd like to dance," Azami says when Lark leads the dance toward Sonata. "I'll provide music for a song or two." She is a bit nervous of all the attention that is aimed at Lark, and by proxy, her. Not a good place for her to be noticed. No, not in Nexus.

     Scipeo smiles some more and takes a drink, his cheeks flush somehwhat as he drinks "That is good stuff, Nexus has some nice qualities, you just have to look a little deeper" he then watches the two dance for a little bit then looks back at Zera, "Do I need a reason to show kindness? The world would be a better place with more kindness, and you should not think so ill of yourself, and I only say what I truly think" he smiles some more, sipping his drink

Lark laughs, "oh no, play for her," she tells Wong, gesturing to Azami. "I could dance until my wings fall down, but I like it better if I have partners," this said winking an eye to Sonata.

"True, but I think she might want to get out of the spotlight for a bit." Wong says to Lark, smiling as he finally finishes the song as he switches to the end of the sonata. Something that Lark can play off of if she wants due to it's quick tempo. "'Sides... I have not heard her play myself, and I could use a dance or two as well. Especially with such a lovely beauty as yourself."

"Kindness, weakness. Same thing, seperate context, eh?" The cynical ratling replies. She's going to test Scipeo's boundries here; if he -really- thinks she isn't disgusting, he won't be adverse to her cuddling up to his arm, right? Getting her nasty, wirey rat fur all over him? She takes the bottle back and laps up a few more gulps, "Eh, I am lovely. You're right. Faces... meaningless. Transitory. Anybody can become anything they want, really. What's behind that? That's more important, eh? And /I/, my friend, am lovely." Yes, Zera is a little drunk as well.

     Scipeo finishes off his drink and takes another from a nearby tray and sist down, leaning back against a wall, not seeming to mind Zera one bit "So where do you live then, if your just passing through town?" he says with a smile "Also... kindness is as much a strength as a weakness"

Azami smiles gratefully, then bows to her dance partner in the northern style and takes a seat up on a wooden table where she wont be trodden on or bumped into. From the tooled leather case across her back she withdraws a beautifull ruan. The moonshaped face of the dark wooden instrument is inlaid with polished bronze and a beautiful design of falling stars and wild roses. Smiling to her two friends she tunes it quietly, then closes her green eyes and lets her hands dance over the amber strings, coaxing out a song that is slow at first then grows in pace as she warms to it, layer upon layer, more haunting perhaps than Sonata's lively tune but striking and almost frightful in places, sinister beneath the complex dance of rythym and lead.

"I live in a magical flying boat, filled with magical servents, that flies me around the Scavenger Lands!" The Zera intones, with a tone of drunken majesty. Obviously, this must be a joke. She chitters in amusement, while her two ratkin companions... observing the 'scandelous' behaviour by the standards of rat people... continue to whisper and point. A constant audiance. Zera seems not to care about the opinions of her 'kin'. "... and I have a palace made of silver! It's /huge/. I filled it with art. 'I like statues' I said, and they were like - 'Ok'. It was good." She nods. "Just passing through. Father told me, should relax. Have fun. Try to... be more, human. Here I am." She reclaims her bottle from Scipeo and holds it up, in salute, before downing another quarter of it.

 

 Lark smiles. Flattery! She loves flattery. "Then come to dance with me," she offers, stepping back and falling still, or almost, until Azami starts playing. "Oooh, seems she can play pretty good too," she comments with a smirk. How is showing mastery of music less attention-catching that some dancing, hmm?

     Scipeo smiles and sets his head back against the wall looking down at Zera and then up at the dark sky "That sounds... wonderfull" he mutters "all my belongings are in this bag" he pats his satchel. He then sighs "care to dance maybe?" he says as he hickups slightly

Zera contemplates this for a second or two and then answers, "Certainly." She looks her newfound 'date' up and down and says, "How to manage it?" She climbs on a barstool, to accomodate the attempt further. At this point, her ratkin friends are rolling. Zera doesn't have great rythm, but the music is good. It helps.

A smile is given by Wong as he smiles, offering a hand to Lark as he circles her, graceful in his own way. Almost like the lion that is his totem in dance. "Hey, she has a lot of hidden talents. Come, beautiful, shall we show them how to dance?" His eyes are full of mischief, daring, and possibly more than a little wine. Flatterer, yes, but hey... that's what the Changing Moons are.

     Scipeo hmms a little "what the hell" he mutters under his breath and lifts Zera off the stool and begins dancing with her. He is pretty good, maybe no Lark, but he definitly knows what hes doing. He smiles hoping he doesnt offend Zera. "This alright with you mam?" he asks

Zera doesn't seem offended, even though she's being carried around - heck, she seems to actually having something of a good time. That said, the people -around- them probably stare openly; such a 'couple' wrinkles noses with some social classes, here. The ratkin could care less. She capers with her new 'friend'. "Maam?" She scoffs as they dance, "Make me sound like old lady. Call me -miss- or, 'pretty lady'." At the statement 'pretty lady', her distant relatives dissolve into fresh fits of hysterics.

Lark rolls her eyes a bit, but also grins. She is hyper and her 'high' is not a much an act as the girl letting herself go. Teaching her to dance? Hah! Sounds like a challenge. "Just try to keep up with me," she chirps, following Azami's haunting melody with skill and grace rarely seen even in Nexus.

Azami is much happier where she is. If she plays well enough then people will enjoy themselves and watch the other dancers rather than her. So she keeps her eyes closed and plays, the copper braid of her hair caught aflame by the inconstant festival light and her heart caught up in the music. It moves through her as intimately as blood, as naturally as breathing. In this the little No Moon is herself. The mask does nothing to hide it. When the song is finished it comes to an end with a long vibrating note that slices through the air and shines almost visible on glass.

     Scipeo seems to be enjoying himself well enough, he has never cared what others think, heck hes at this party dressed like peasant "Of course, of course, you are a very lovely lady" he says with a smile, maybe just maybe, he should make these people forget he was here, nahh, whats the worst that could happen?

Wong gives a grin back, "Oh, I'm sure I could." He winks at the winged beauty, following her lead gracefully as he dances along to the melody. The man isn't exactly a "perfect" Solar, but he is close enough. An entertainer through and through, his steps and movements match Lark despite the lack of wings. She may be better looking and more eye catching, but he's still a good dancer.

"Let us spend night, drinking. Talking. And then, come to my magic boat with me, stranger. Come with me into the sky." Great, more drunken stories? The flushed little ratling swoons, blood pumping from the dance, panting. With quick, jerky movements she leans forward to whisper in Scipeo's ear, Zera's voice low as her hand trails over his chest, "I am a powerful sorcerer, I will show you things... make you feel things... that you won't forget, for a thousand years." Spoken like an offer for a faustian contract. Strange thing to say. Humans don't live that long... right?

 

Lark seems delighted Wong is good enough dancer to keep up with her. It is a rare happening, after all. What a pity the song ends so soon! Ah well, there will be other songs, and meanwhile she finds another cup of something alcoholic, and sits down on Azami's table. Tables are better than chairs for her: no back, plus they are higher.

     "I told you my name is Scipeo and I love new things, although I may know more than you think" he says with a mischevious grin "Ill leave you to lead the way to your ship" he smiles. He doesnt think these things through much, and as slow as he thinks, he has no time to consider it.

 

You have added a recommendation for Blithe Lark Spirit

Azami seems flushed after the song, a bit disconcerted but happy. She so rarely gets to perform that after the song is over she feels its absense sharply. Still, she brushes distractedly at her mask and nods with a hidden smile to Lark as she sits down. "You dance beautifully Lark. Its much better when I can watch you," she says earnestly, glowing a bit and thinking a little giddily of what to play next.

Considering a bit, Wong gives a small grin at Azami, "You play wonderfully as well, Azami, and you are a great dancer, Lark." Maybe the wine, but he does look a little bit red in the face. Embarassment? Who knows?

The Zera seems delighted. She begins to pull her newfound companion from the crowd, presumably towards whatever cardboard box is her 'magic ship that sails through the sky'. "Come, come. Let us go. Leave those two morons here." She is speaking of the ratkin mocking her. "... this will be fun."

 

Zera heads out of character.

 

Zera has left.

 

Scipeo heads out of character.

 

Scipeo has left.

Azami blushes, secretly quite delighted at this compliment, one that actually has some relavance to her. Appearances she could care less about. But music? Music is her one undubious passion, not that the Pact could care less if she had a healthy habit. "After Minus died... I haven't had anyone to teach me. So thank you. I try to listen to as many musicians as I can. It... is fascinating. Music. Y'know? So many more kinds here than where I grew up."

"I noticed... come on, we should go elsewhere and talk. I think I've made enough for the night." Wong says as he smiles at her, "'Sides... I'm sure we can figure out other songs for you to learn, maybe even talk to Rirasun about getting an instrument suited for you? Perhaps a fiddle of some sort?"

"Risarun is your master isn't he?" Azami slips down from the table that she'd been sitting on to play and lands lightly on sandaled toes. She puts the ruan lovingly back into its tooled case as she moves and reaches back to fasten the top of the fitted case. She goes where Sonata leads in any case, glancing over her shoulder.

"Yes, he is..." He picks up the case, leading her with a companionable arm around her. It's for show, honestly. As he leads her off out of the way. Spotting a suitable inn, he heads for there and even pays for the room. "Come on. And no, we're not staying in the same room." He winks at her. "It's for show. I planned on leaving tonight anyways."

Azami nods. When they are safely where no people are watching she steps away and looks around the room. She takes off her mask finally and her green eyes flash, searching for signs of essence. Ever cautious of the Zera's many ears. When she is satisfied that the other Lunar has no fragment of her consciousness here she exhales quietly and shakes her head to clear it, setting her soft tousled bangs to shift about her face. "Khh. Can't see properly in that. Now... the Zera. I don't know what Risarun intends in regaurd toward Zera the Many, but I think you should know that what they say of her ability to fragment her consciousness is true. She was the ratling, yes... and the boy that we spoke to. And others in the crowd."

"I should have known." Sonata gives a sigh as he leans against a wall, frowning a bit. "So, why are you telling me this?" The younger Lunar has obviously grown a bit. Maybe it was the whole meeting thing, but it's obvious he's not the same that went by 'Silver Thorns' before. He might be as happy go lucky, but now... he's looking at her as if he were a different person almost entirely. "You, the last I knew, were allied with Zera the Many."

Clan Clan climbs the hill where it slopes east towards the gate.

 

Clan Clan has arrived.

 

-= OOC =- Clan Clan arived to party!

 

-= OOC =- Azami waves :)

 

-= OOC =- Roaring Sonata says, "Bit late, I'm afraid. :( Sonata and Azami moved off to an inn room to discuss Lunar business."

 

-= OOC =- Roaring Sonata ponders. Unless you wanna change it to a quiet table somewhere, Aza?

 

-= OOC =- Azami says, "Sure!"

 

-= OOC =- Clan Clan bursts into the room1

 

-= OOC =- Clan Clan is nosy enough to just walk in

 

-= OOC =- Roaring Sonata says, "... she has a point. Table it is, though. ;)"

 

-= OOC =- Roaring Sonata says, "And Aza's pose, I think. ;)"

"You seem like a good sort of person." Azami says quietly, leaning closer to Sonata as she speaks. Her soft, rough voice is just the kind not to travel far, having so few sharp edges to be heard beyond the other Lunar's ears. "I want someone else to know the extent of what I do of the Zera... incase..." She pauses, and looks down into her drink that she still has yet to touch, not really recognizing it.

Sonata nods as he leans in as well, sighing a bit. "I understand... she is dangerous, but stopping her is going to be the hardest thing of all." He mentions simply. "I'm not sure if there is a way. Ruin her reputation and her power base? Yes. Destroy her? I don't know."

"That is the question. How do you stop someone, when they are more than just a person? More than just one being? Don't misunderstand, those people are part of her." Aza's green eyes fill with sadness and a low burning anger, slow and low burning as banked coals. "First it would be better to find a way to save these people that she has... has..." She swallows, pulse flickering in her throat. This is dangerous for her to speak of, extremely so. "Subsumed. Eaten and spat out again. Maybe possessed. I don't really know -how- she does it, but I am -so close- to finding out. If Magnificent Jaguar pushes me to obey his command we might never know. The closer I get, the more impatient the Elders seem to become."

"In other words, we need to get them to back off for a bit. I'll see what I can do and I'll keep checking on you every month or so. That's the best way to do it so far." Sonata says simply. "Otherwise, I'll see if Rirasun can calm down Jaguar."

"Thank you, Thorns," Azami says, settling her hand over his briefly in thanks then leaning back, looking relieved. Time is precious after all. "The Zera is playing some mind game with me. Wants me to believe I am part of her. So long as I pretend to believe she is more open with me. More willing to talk. And honestly... Jaguar overestimates my killer instinct." This part is said wryly with black humor. She sniffs her drink and rather out of the blue asks curiously "What is this?"

"I think some sort of wine." Sonata mentions, then sighs and shakes his head, "Actually... I dropped the Thorns name... it's Roaring Sonata now." The younger Lunar mentions as he smiles a bit. "Shoot, where'd you learn to play a ruan that good?" He asks finally, looking at her evenly. "I don't think any of the other Lunars I know of play that well."

"Roaring Sonata." Azami tries it out, commiting it to memory, then sips the wine in the cautious manner of someone who has no head for the stuff. Then looking at the ruan case where it rests on the table she smiles fondly. Since Sonata is a Lunar he can doubtless see the ink-tipped lynx ears and tail of her Tell. The ears flicker thoughtfully and she says "I lived for a few years on a ship. When I had time to myself I played a ruan that they had plundered from some other vessel. Sort of put my troubles away, y'know...?" She smiles at the compliment though. "Where did you learn the... fiddle? Was that what you called yours?"

     There is a loud roar from outside as the door flings open. In a bit of the spin as the party out in the streets Clan CLan is tossed into the in. "Ya! No matter were you go there is always a party some were." smiling wide as she stumbles into the inn. Wearing one of her more formal Kamonos. Looking up finaly to the room around her. Blinking as she sees the pair at the table "Sister!" calling out, she is a bit drunk, cheeks a bit rosy. Yet they seem to get a little redder as she sees Wong. Running forward she leaps into the air, wrapping her arms around him, provably knocking him out of his chair. "I thought you were dead, were you been!"

"In the southern deserts. The wind tends to mess up playing flutes there, so I learned the fiddle as an alternative. I know that, drums, and flute. That was another time, though... I rarely play my flute any more because it reminds me too much of my life before." Sonata says, sighing. He looks up just in time to be literally bowled over in the chair by a drunk Clan Clan. Laying there for a few moments, he finally says one word. "Ow."

Azami blinks... then with supreme dignity sips her wine. "Hello Clan." She says pleasantly.

     Clan Clan gives Wong a lick on the face hugging him tight. "Silly its too hard to find you!" scolding you but you can tell see is so happy to see you safe it doesn't much matter anymore. Her large fluffy tail wags back and forth. "And what do you mean you don't play the flute!" she frowns "Your flute music was so good!" looking up at Azami she smiles. "Thanks for finding him! He is so hard to track down!"

"If you need any help there feel free to wave your arms around and make noises like a wounded animal," Azami grins, enjoying this apparantly. "She likes that." When Clan looks up the little No-Moon beams at her sister, stubby tail even lazily waving from side to side.

"Yeah... I know... ow..." Wong has to blink a few times before looking at Clan Clan. Then he sniffs a bit. "Clan, have you been drinking?" That would explain so much at that moment. Especially why he's on his back and hasn't gotten up yet. "... well, the flute reminds me too much of the past, Clan... before... well... you know."

     Clan is enjoying having Wong pinned. Licking his face agains she smiles. "Of coarse! Party!" bouncing a bit she full of energy. "Like Zami said Wong wave your hands! Your prey." giggling she playfuly nips at his shoulds. "And since I have you you have to play me a song for old times sake!"

"Here now Clan, let the poor man up." Azami finally says, laughing quietly. "He could play better that way maybe."

 

 Clan smiles and looks up at Azami "Ya but he wouldn't be pinned then!" Tail wagging like mad.

 

"... sure, I just don't have my flute on me. I left it off at an inn room." Wong says from under the hyper Clan Clan. He quirks a brow, then resorts to the one way out of this peacefully. His hands go up to tickle the hyper fox-tailed one. "Who said I was pinned without a choice?"

     "Noes!" Clan sceams cringing "No f-f-f-faaiiiR!" she giggles. "Aaaahh ha ha ha!" rolling off of her prey onto the ground. Squiming under Wongs tickling finguers. "Why? the horrors! Fine go ... g-g-g-g stop!"

 

Well of course it's not fair. But so's pouncing him with no warning. Setting back up his chair with a foot, Wong gets back in it with a grin as he looks at Clan Clan, then looks to Azami. "See? Just have to know how to get out of the situation... what do I call you here, anyways? Any of your usual names would cause trouble."

Azami smiles. The mask she wore is on the table. If anyone inside the Inn recognizes her... well. It would be different than in the street where anyone from the docks might see her. "...Winter Rose works better than the others. They know that one too, but maybe not so well." Running her fingers around the glazed rim of her cup she looks down into the dark liquid for a moment then raises her eyes again. "Are you two old friends?" She asks curiously.

 

That earns a glance from Wong at the hyper Clan Clan. "... you could say that."

     Clan Clan manages to sit up, hair all disheveled. Shaking like a wet animal. Licking her lips ahe looks about her. "I need a drinks!" pulling her self up using their table seeing the drinks on it grabs on and sips it. "Its still not fair. I never get to pin anyone. You still need to play at least one song for me. Your fute music is beautiful!" looking up to Azami again ears filling up. "What'cha doing here sis?"

Azami's ink-tipped ears tip forward. "Oh!" Well that was a surprise! But then not an unpleasant one. She pushes her drink towards Clan Clan surrepticiously. "Being ridiculous," Azami answers. "Tempting everyone who's been on the docks in the past year."

Quicksilver Dreamer climbs the hill where it slopes east towards the gate.

 

Quicksilver Dreamer has arrived.

     "I'm coming back from the party at Dreamers ..." taking another long sip of Azami's drink. "And I find another party!" raising her glass to the pair "Then I find you! The spiders sure do lurve me!" pulling herself up more so she can stand then sits on Wongs lap, not liking th idea of not having him not pinned. "So your hear to cause trouble? Bought time Sis! Fight the power!"

Azami rests her chin in one hand and rolls her eyes, though her lips quirk into a wry grin. "Not exactly... see--" She looks at Clan. Sees the alcohol in her cheeks. "-- Yes. Yes I am. I am officially pissing off the scary Infernals, god-bloods, Abyssals, Nephwracks, Sorcerors, Lunars, Wood-aspects, Demons and Solars who have me on their shitlist in this city."

"And after I do that, I shall marry the first man I see and declare him ruler of Isus, where we will have many fat babies." She sips one of the cups on the table, assuming its hers and tossing back her hair.

A quirk of an eyebrow fron Wong and he looks at Azami. "Didn't know it was that varied." He looks at Clan Clan, then oofs a bit as she sits on his lap. Sighing, he puts an arm around the drunk one. Better to keep her out of trouble, after all. "Actually, we were talking..."

    Suddenly, the inn's doors burst open in a way what could only be described as epicly dramatic. Into the building walks a tall, dark haired youth clad in a striking red outfit, like that of a performer. A book of stories and epic poems is in one of his hands, and a small sword sits at his side that judging by the sheath, is likely more for show than combat. A large, wide brimmed hat is atop his head and delicate white silk gloves are on his hands. Everything about him, from his speech to the way he walks, is larger than life itself. He bears a large smile on his face, looking around curiously and seeming to look around for a place to sit... And spots a familiar face. "Wong! You are still alive after all! What a great boon! I had thought Lady Luck had flipped tails on your fate! Rolled the snake eyes, so to speak!" Telizan De'Calain is not easily forgotten.

Blinking a few times, Wong has to stare for a moment before he frowns, "Telizhan De'Calain... how'd you make it out of there in one piece?" That's the main question on his mind and the one he voices. Of course, he's probably wishing for his moonsilver flute now possibly. It's his only weapon. Clan Clan at least would notice he's a bit tense. So might Azami. "The last time I saw you..." The man frowns a bit.

Azami blinks at the arrival of the newcomer. "...My goodness," she says lamely "That is a lot of red isn't it?"

     Cocking her head at Azami, Clan seems exited about this prospect. "Get um Sis show them your not going to be pushed around by any Pirates or God kings or any of those living dead. Punch them right in the face!" Making a punching motion in the air, just as the door busts open. Forcing Clan to investigate her fist for door bursting powers. Then only to be disappointed some crazy guy decided to kick the door open. "So your going to make babies with that guy?" smiling she takes Azamis drink back sipping it again.

Azami flushes instantly and gives Clan a dirty look. "Khh! Claan~!"

 

Azami scoots a bit closer to Sonata and her sister. "How do you know he's even a man! That doesn't count." She whispers.

    Telizan winks at Azami a bit lecherously. "Why, I would love to have you be the mother of my children, lovely lady, but I am afraid I am a horrible father figure." He smirks, spinning a chair like a top and stopping it by sitting in it. "Wong, it was quite an interesting thing! You see, when we were being led away from our little performance, I took the opportunity to dash into an alley and escape! Oh, it was tough. Ghosts dogging my steps! Men hunting for me! I rode in a barrel down river for three days and a fishing boat picked me up and I travelled with them for awhile! They let me off here just this morning. How are you? I figured you for dead!"

 

It takes a moment but Wong finally leans over, behind Clan Clan and Azami, and whispers to the two of them, "He was there. In Thorns." He says to the two simply before moving back and looking at Telizan. "I... survived. I pretty much had to run for my life out of there. I had to wander for days, but that old guy that was supposed to be with us reappeared and got us both out of there." He says to the flashy performer. "So what brings you to Nexus? After going through that, I'm surprised you'd want to come some place like here."

     Clan smirks leaning closer to Azami. "But sis thats the manz you lurves, te he~" she giggles sots, slurring her words. "Sides he seems nice enough, all that red he muster be rich!" leaning forward now so she can pat Telizan on the shoulder. "Your the new King of Isus! You win!" laughing for no aparent reason, like she is privy to the answer to some grand joke.

Azami just puts her face in her hand, lynx-ears tilted back in annoyance and embarrassment. "<Oh dear. And I wanted to have good looking babies.>" She whispers in Skytongue to herself. Invisible to those without sorcerous sight, three servants hover incoporeal about her, green flickers of essence the same shade as her eyes. While two cling possessively to their mistress the third remains watchful and Mikhail looks curiously at the newcomer.

    "<I think I am quite good looking, really. Guess not everyone can think so, though.>" Telizan smirks at Azami, winking a little bit. "Oh, but Wong! Our tale was one of woe and sorrow! One that must be sung to all the world and what better place than here? Our fallen comrades shall be part of a ballad so grand as to shake the pillars of the world! No corner of the world shall be left that has not heard of the epic tale of The Soldier, The Thorn, and The Silver Musician!" He moves in such way as to give one the idea that he is either crazy or an actor. Or both.

 

"Rubbing his forehead a bit, Wong sighs, "Glad you feel it's exciting..." Wong frowns a bit. "So, you have this ballad written down someone, Telizan?" He looks at the man, "Speaking of which... how the hell did you end up in Nexus, anyways?"

Azami sits upright all of a sudden. "He speaks Skytongue! /My/ Skytongue!" She looks at Clan Clan as if this statement is something that's put a sudden and unexpected hedgehog in the seat of her chaps. Then stops. Looks at her cup.

 

(Judge) Azami rolls Stamina + Resistance: [ -1- 4 ]

 

    Resulting in a Botch!

"Oh... Oh." Aza mumbles, and sinks down a little back into her seat, ears drooping. Guiltily she pushes the strong drink back toward Sonata and tries to look at anything else other than the other Celestials. Oops.

"It's alright, Rose..." Wong mentions, then looks at Telizan and frowns. Gently, he prods Clan Clan to move her to her own chair before standing and looking at Telizan. "... I remember now, you stayed around afterwards... someone there mentioned a bit... so, care to join us for a drink?" He quirks an eyebrow at the man. "'Sides, I'm curious as to what happened afterwards."

Invisible Mikhail whispers in his mistress's ear, vitreous fingers brushing at her gently curling coppery locks. The other two glare unseen at the man in red and one shakes a finger dissaprovingly. None of any of this can be seen of course but Aza sees it of course, and feels rather silly now. Bad Dreamer! Tricksy Fae! Demons know better.

    "Oh, I escaped! Most horrible place to play for someone like me. They don't have any bright and FABULOUS colors! Black is so not my color." Telizan says as he runs his hands down his splendid red outfit. "I haven't wrote the ballad yet, and it might take me a long time. Such a work must not be rushed!" He winks at Azami again, moving the chair a bit closer to her. "Oh, what is your name, beautiful? I shall write you your own little poem, too! So fair and yet cold looking and-" He watches a bar maid walk by, waggling an eyebrow and stopping her. "Please, a drink for me and this beautiful woman." He looks at Clan. "Make that beautiful women. Your finest!"

     "Well at least show the pirates on the docks you mean business Sis. You can not fight pirates and make love babies, your whole plan would be ruined!" Clan Clan tries hard to protect the integrity of Azamis plan. Pouting as she is moved to her own chair, tugging lightly on Wongs sleave as he walks away. Letting him go trading his sleave for the drink on the table she downs the rest of Azami's drink she has been stealing. Looking up at her sister the moment that look is read in her eyes and she winks. "you can still make love babies"

Shaking his head, Wong sits back down and looks at Azami, rolling his eyes, then blinks at Clan Clan. He looks at Azami. "She always like this when she drinks too much?" He asks her innocently.

"Yes." Aza says a little rummily, and gives Telizan a dirty look out of the corner of her eye. The demons are telling her that it is Dreamer... but just at this very moment the jury is out on that. They have said tricksy things of a similar nature before and to disastrous (though not particularly dangerous) results. Then she realizes her tone was a little harsh and reaches over to pat her sister's back lovingly to take the edge off of her blunt answer. "But she is the one with a tolerance for it." Aside she rolls her eyes at Clan. "No love babies. Absolutely not in the schedule. I have better things to do, like reconstructing skeletons and tracking down illicit bookdealers."

    Telizan is handed three drinks, passing them one to each woman and smiling. "To Wong! The greatest musician I have ever heard! May his steps be ones of legend and may his music make the stars weep tears of joy!.. And to Rirasun! Not sure how that old coot managed to get you out of there, but he surely is a blessed ally to you for such aid! And to The Soldier! May he choke on his wine and get a good, righteous sword in his ghastly torso!"

 

(Judge) Clan Clan rolls Stamina + Resistance: [ -1- 2 3 4 8 9 ]

 

    Resulting in 2 successes.

Said musician head-scratches a bit as he sips at his own wine, blinking a few times as he notes the toast, then shakes his head. "I just know you're going to get us in trouble..." He glances about just in case said trouble is coming their way.

Azami accepts one of these drinks. As she cannot politely shun the toast she takes a sip, then sets it down, feeling her cheeks warm.

     Arching her back and leaning into her sisters back rubbing. Purring, she takes the drink that she is offered and toasts "And may he actually play his flute again!" harping on that subject a bit. Drinking down plenty of what ever it was in the first drink. "Kiiyyya!" the drink warms her cheeks even more. "Some trouble might be a little fun though! Some swash bucklings!" her arms swings about like it holds a sword

 

"

"Kahh, Clan!" Aza quickly scoots away from the epic Airswording, ears flattening down as she ducks. Still she gives Clan a soulful look and picks up her cup again. Toasts! She takes another swallow and sets it down, blinking at how strong whatever the drink is. Silent she prays to whatever gods might be bored and listening that these people might run out of them soon.

    Telizan smiles widely, not seeming to care too much. "Oh, but what is trouble except the first step into yet another grandoise adventure of extremes!" Of course, a few people have glanced his way, as he is definitely rather obvious. A performer in all red giving toasts, moving alot, and talking poeticly rather loudly is pretty obvious and gets many watchful eyes. Then, he raises for another toast. "To adventures! For which there are many! To vengeance, for which Wong shall someday get!" He drinks and then pauses a bit. "Almost forgot! To these fine women here! For without women such as these, there would be no need of poets! For we would have nothing to write about!"

"<Oh gods>" Aza whimpers, then gives Tienzan a look somewhere between disbelief and twitching. Then she finishes the cup and sets it down again, sending a meebly skytongue curse up as the room starts to seriously wobble. The last oath garners a bristling hrmph. "...g'du hll." She grouches, wondering if maybe she has done something recently to deserve this.

"You done yet, you crazy old geezer?" Wong shakes his head, "They already know what I am." He says to the man with a chuckle, sighing a bit. "So other than the party and lots of drinking, seems odd to find you here."

     Attacking Azami's mid rift with her sword of pure air. "Look Sis I'm swashing your buckles!" Giggling and leaning scotting her chair side to side with her sisters. "You look like you have the grumps!" glomping her, the only way to make someone less grumpy. "Cheer up!" wrapping her large fluffy tail about her sister, tip tickling her nose. "I think he is sweet! He knows good looks when he sees them!"

"Ffft!" Aza blinks distractedly. "M not Grou... grouch.. grouuu....akchu!" She sneezes suddenly and her chair nearly topples back.

    Telizan lowers his glass, downing the rest of it. "Well, I suppose I should be frank with you, Wong. I actually heard a little diddy about you and going back to Th-aye orns-aye and I was curious if you wanted a little bit of help on it... Oh! The lady's drink is gone! That will not do!" He grabs two more drinks, passing one to Azami. Then handing another to Clan! "You, dear, are a sweet heart! My words are but words. They only seem sweet in the same way that words describing the most delicious of chocolates may seem sweet! It would take me centuries to have my words even touch upon the overwhelming aura of delicacy that you and your lovely sister give off! Surely, I have never seen a pair so stunning in all my life as a poet!"

The musician fortunately doesn't drink a lot. Wong hmms, "Oh? So you are here to ask to join up?" The Changing Moon sighs. "You'll need to seek out others to ask... Zera the Many would be a good start." Wong says simply as he looks at the two ladies, eyeing to make sure they don't get taken advantage of or just fall over.

 

Sniffling and wiping at her eyes after the sudden sneeze caused by Clan's tickling tail on her nose, Azami gives Telizan a rummy glare that could melt glass, green and sharp as razors. "There is a special ring of hell for poets and flatterers." She growls in response. Charming, really charming.

     Helping Azami stand, feeling bad she made her fall down. "Come on sis I think he is cute. A little flattery never hurt no one." Clan at least seems to be enjoying all the complements. "Sides you shouldn't be so mad about it." sitting back down in her chair, "Wong where have you gone? You keep mentioning Zera." somethinig unpleasnet creeps into her drunken mind. "You didn't get mind crushed did you? I warned you not to."

Zera has arrived.

    "Oh, every ring of hell twould be worth it for the chance to compose melodies about you, dear woman for whom the stars and the moon in the sky swoon for!" Telizan says passionately, but with a wry grin as he raises a glass for a final toast. "To the special ring of hell! May all poets gladly except such a fate for the rewarding accomplishment of spreading the music of love and heroism! I know that I gladly accept it for my part and would never have it any other way!" He smiles, downing his glass and looking back at Wong. "Zera the Many, huh? I hear she resides in Lookshy of all places. I shall do as you say and seek out this enigmatic being!"

Zera comes in the form of a small gnat, buzzing through the air. She hovers over the crowd and occasionally lingers near illuminated lanterns or glowstones.

"Flattery hurts people all the time." Aza says this to Clan then pauses, and corrects herself. "Wait no, flattering gets people hurt all the time. 'S confusing and m' thoughts are all fulluv honey.... hrmph. Toasts. N'more rum for--" Then Telizan opens his silver mouth again and Aza freezes. The little No Moon twitches. Sitting right close as she is, Clan can most certainly hear that metaphorical snap. Suddenly she jumps to her feet, flushed and ready to reinforce her rummy statements, stuttering. "mrrrrrrOh that's IT! Why don't you stick it up your bottom you stuff-shirt flower-smelling butterfly-eyed red-breast worm-poking landlover! I've cleaned bigger fops out of my ruan strings in Lookshy! Come over /here/ and say that you scurvy panty-waisted girl's blouse!"

     Ears picking up Clan looks at Azami. "Sis?!" pulling on the side of her skirt "Why are you so mad? He is only playing you should know how he works by now." giving her a very confused look. Clan figured Azami would have figured it out by now. Shrugging "What ever just don't kill him kay?"

    Telizan blinks for a little bit at the string of cursing from Azami. "Wow... Beautiful AND passionate! You truly will make some man truly happy! Oh, to be that man! I would give up everything in a heart beat for such a thing, of this I promise to you! Alas, you seem to be one who does not like poets. Or flattery. Too bad, for I am full of both and thus ill suited to ever be with one so charming and stunningly passionate, such as yourself." He speaks sincerely, like a poet stricken with love. He does stand though, bowing low to Azami and Clan Clan. "Why, to even sit at the same table is far above my station, I fear. I think I should go to another table, lest I forget the place of a mortal is not amongst goddesses o' so fair."

"... Telizan, she's drunk." Wong deadpans. "And unfortunately, you try anything with either one and I'll have to stop you." He shakes his head as he watches from the side, sighing a bit.

Aza feels the tug on her skirt and starts to calm down, or at least get a handle on forward momentum. The lunar even makes to sit back down at her sister's insistance... but of course there are suicidal people everywhere, and Telizan pushes her buttons again. With a sledgehammer. Again. Her short tail lashes and her ears lean back and she positively bristles. "You don't know when to shut up!" She says, and leaps over the chair that's between her and him, vaulting herself into the air and turning in a whirl of skirts and a snap of her long braid to twist midair, poetry in motion for all that she is belligerant and pushed beyond her normally sound temper. As she sails toward the poet she brings her knees forward, meaning to land on his shoulders and probably do something very terrible and distinctly Tiger-style to his face.

"... then again, Winter Rose will get you first, I imagine." Wong adds as an afterthought while he watches. He glances at Clan Clan. "... guess I know not to make her mad now, huh?"

    "Attention, even if violent, is a compliment from one so lovely." Poor Telizan doesn't even have a chance. He puts his hands up to try to block feebly, but Aza's momentum knocks him to the floor with a loud crack. He manages to move his drink just right at the last second, spilling it on himself instead of letting it fall on Azami. About all he does to defend himself though is try to wiggle around and block his face with his arms.

     Shaking her head, Clan shrugs. Why is Azami so mad at Dreamer? Or is she just that dense. "Oh shes just playing" there is a loud pained noise coming from the smushed poet "Mostly" a loud smack of Azami inflicting more pain. "Well I think.... ya ... don't get big sis mad." wincing as it looks a bit painful. Sighing she stands and rests a hand on Azami. "Sis..." kneeling down to her ear she whispers

The No Moon lands on Telizan's shoulders and bears him to the ground with something of a surprised sound. She didn't expect to have that much momentum! However with her knees on either side of his face she glares down and surrepticiously checks to see that this did not crack his skull open. After what Clan said that would be bad. Or something. Anyway it would be rude. With a lashing tail she sees him block his face... and simply takes her wieght off of her knees and sits down on his chest, reaching down and tugging on his ears vindictively. "THESE ARE IMPORTANT!" She states in a slow careful voice. "USE THEM BETTER!" Then, more than a little dizzily for she is drunk, she looks up at Clan... then pales when she whispers in her ear. Aza lets go of Telizan's ear. "Oh! OH!" She looks down guiltily. "Your not dead are you if you are I am sorry that was rude."

 

Azami hiccups.

    Telizan blinks a little bit slowly. "I am... use to such things..." He says slowly. Very slowly. He manages a small smile though. "Your beauty is making me see stars! I feel light as a bird, from such attention... No, wait... That is the concussion... Suppose that dwindling vision would be fading consciousness, huh? Well, if you would be so kind as to not kill me while I am fading off, would be nice. Although... I suppose if the last thing I saw was your face, wouldn't... be so bad..." He passes out.

Azami looks at Clan Clan. Are you sure? Just one more smack?

"I think he learned his leason," Smiling and taking Azami's arm helping her stand and keep her balance. "Azami me thinks weave had too much to drink and be going to bed lest you kill the king of Isus." it comes out silly and sarcastic though her drunken voice. "Get up off him you can mate later!" snickering she scratches her sis behind the ear, hopefully to get her to calm do just a little. "No more acohol for you Miss". Tapping the corps of the poets she sigh "Poor Worick I knew ye well"

Azami stands up wobbily, and hrmphs at the last cuncussed words of the still alive poet. Later she will feel bad. Just now she is bitter for not getting the last word in. "Wasn't mating," she growls half-heartedly. "Was concussing. Is diff'rent. Related though."

     "Love for both your sakes I sure hope its different" Clan laughs and help you toward the stairs

    Telizan merely lies on the floor; unconscious and covered in spilled alcohol.

"... geez. I'm not getting on your badside." The musician comments, then shakes his head and walks over to check and see if Dreamer has a pulse. "I think he's alive... now sit, you two. At least drink 'til you pass out or I'll go get you inn rooms so you can do whatever." He mentions.

-= OOC =- Quicksilver Dreamer makes you all his witnesses to his paradox roll XD

 

(Judge) Quicksilver Dreamer rolls 4: [ -1- 4 4 5 ]

 

    Resulting in a Botch!

 

-= OOC =- Quicksilver Dreamer woots!

 

-= OOC =- Azami cheers!

 

-= OOC =- Azami says, "Well how many know?"

 

-= OOC =- Quicksilver Dreamer says, "Just you, I think."

 

-= OOC =- Quicksilver Dreamer says, "And Clan, but clan doesn't count for paradox"

 

-= OOC =- Clan Clan says, "It was't a confusing meating for meating"

 

-= OOC =- Clan Clan says, "er well you know what mean"

 

-= OOC =- Azami finishes reccs. Sooo many!

 

-= OOC =- Azami has mucho xp now and does not know how to spend it.

 

-= OOC =- Quicksilver Dreamer eats it.

 

-= OOC =- Azami says, "Ack!"

 

-= OOC =- Azami says, "49 is a lot. c.c"

 

-= OOC =- Quicksilver Dreamer O_O

 

-= OOC =- Quicksilver Dreamer om nom nom noms