The dusky warmth of the summer evening is lit by candles and lanterns, flickering light golden and soft across blankets stretched out across the soft lawn of the memorial park. Beneath the statuary, with the scent of faintly bruised green leaves in the air, baskets of food and drink are laid in for the guests while a breeze toys gently with the hair and clothes of the attendees. Fresh loaves of crusty bread, rounds of white and yellow cheese, boiled eggs, brined olives, halved apples, sliced peaches and giant but quartered strawberries, soft honey-almond cookies, dozens of fluffy white (vanilla cream) and purple (blueberry) cakes: the fare is simple but charming, matched with ales and wines.

Aureth sets an example for the guests by sitting cross-legged on a blanket with his legs folded beneath him, while several disciples go about with lanterns to ensure that the area is well-lit enough for all the attendees to be able to see what the heck is going on.

Daemon beams a cheery smile over Orelia's way as she gets right to kitty pettin'. His attention turns back to Sofia as she approaches and he gives the woman a deep, almost overly formal bow. "Your highness, a pleasure to make your acquaintance! Personally I've no qualm or preference to any animal, but this fair hound came into my charge by chance. She is quite... Proud." Said dog had her nose so high in the air she might as well be preparing for a triple back-flip. "But you are correct, I've yet to have the pleasure! I am Sir Daemon, Adjutant Officer to the Knights of Solace. It is more grandiose than I make it seem, I assure you." A playful grin stretches across his face, walking as he talked until he was beneath one of the trees for shade.

Atreke, a severe-looking scribe arrives, following Rinel.

Atreke, a severe-looking scribe have been dismissed.

Daemon has joined the a sturdy pine wooden bench.

Keso, a totally legit assistant, Peanut, an oversized mastiff arrive, following Aleksei.

Carissa has joined the a set of brown benches.

Jev grabs some food, piling it high on a plate. He goes to the blanket and stares at Aureth. Slowly, he sits cross legged and trying to match the example perfectly. "Are you the Harlequin?"

Lethe arrives to the event with a cheerful smile. She takes a look around at the others here.

Orelia has joined the a sturdy pine wooden bench.

Aureth has joined the a set of brown benches.

Dafne is seated by Aureth on a blanket; she is a discipline, not a duchess tonight. She is clad in dark silk and feathers, hairpins patterned in a harlequin pattern thrust through her dark curls. Nightshade is wearing a ribbon with a matching pattern, although the black diamonds blend into her fur and give the optical illusion of white silk diamonds about her neck. Dafne watches the arrivals, the lanterns casting flickering shadows across her face.

Dafne has joined the a set of brown benches.

Jeffeth has joined the a set of brown benches.

Jev has joined the a set of brown benches.

Carissa has left the a set of brown benches.

Sonnet, a silver tabby kitten arrives, following Tomwell.

"In a way, yes, and in another way, not really," Aureth says. He has gathered a glass of wine and some cheese and fruit for himself, and now sits with his legs folded and his shoes off (they're nearby, he's not like, a weirdo). "The Harlequins are the discipleship of the Queen of Endings, and they are sponsoring this meal for you all. This memorial park is hosted by the Faith, primarily between Lagoma and Death, but before all the gods. Please, everyone come and have a bite to eat ad if you have questions we'll be happy to answer them. We may have some silly party games once everyone's had a chance to get something to eat."

Waldemai doesn't need to be told twice! A handful of olives, a couple apples, and a mug of ale. Yum!

Orelia stands gracefully and turns away from the kitten, she stands on her tip-toes and scans the area for some wine

Sofia smiles to Daemon and inclines her head politely. "It is indeed a pleasure Sir Daemon. Would you mind terriblly if I kept you company for at least part of this event, admittedly I'm not sure what to expect." She peers up at him with that soft, sweet looking smile her eyes showing a hopeful gaze. "Perhaps you can tell me more about yourself and what exactly it is you do for the Knights of Solace. Even if it is not grandiose I have no doubt you can make it interesting all the same." She follows him at a sedate pace standing a few steps away under the shade of the tree.

Lisebet wanders to the party, having heard the near magical phrase free food and party. It's questionable which the young Farshaw lady likes most perhaps. She takes a look around upon arrival, curious to see if she knows anyone who is already here.

Agatha, Oswyn arrive, following Felicia.

Esoka comes stomping merrily into the picnic, flashing Aureth a toothy smile as she finds herself some food and drink. She attempts to assemble meats and breads and cheeses in a combination she can squash together and enjoy.

Tomwell has joined the a set of brown benches.

Daemon's fond smile carries on as Sofia follows him, the Knight eventually settling onto a blanket for the evening's picnic. He gives a short wave to Orelia, the squire set loose on her quest for wine! "But of course, your highness. Any company is good company in this fair city. I've had my fair share of enjoyable experiences with Velenosa's ilk, I expect this outing shall be no different!" He jovially pats a space beside him for her to sit. "I would just as well be happy to answer any queries you may have! It is not often I'm able to simply ramble about odd and ends of knightly business and droves of paperwork! So very exciting!"

Felicia's late to the picnic, and perhaps still a little flushed from a hike across the city in her armor, but with a glance towards Oswyn she gives a broad smile, heading out towards the gathering at a comfortable prowl.

"Cheers." Aureth lifts his glass towards Esoka and then takes a long swallow. He glances with slightly lifted eyebrows in Jev's direction for something that he pitches more quietly at this blanket, and he leans back, setting his plate beside him on the fabric. His smile lifts his mouth a little further at the corners as he listens to Daemon's enthusiasm, and he braces his hands on the surface of the fabric.

Peanut is here! Also, Aleksei is here, but the important one is Peanut. He's trotting along at Aleksei's side as his owner makes his way into the park towards the picnic setup. He makes his way over to flop at Aureth's blanket without much preamble. The PRESUMPTION.

Aleksei has joined the a set of brown benches.

Oswyn is used to hikes across the city. Mostly. He doesn't particularly love them, and by the time they reach the picnic, he's ready for a beverage. Also, he squints around at everyone. There's a large person that could very well be Jeffeth?

Nightshade eyes the dog warily. Her blanket.

Free food attracts professional scholars like honey attracts flies. Or bees. Bees, said professional scholars would tell you, in between stuffing their faces with aforementioned free food. Rinel enters the Park with a skip in her step, a smile on her face, and a rumbling in her stomach.

Tomwell arrives by himself, meandering in with a casual air. He draws to a stop toward the back as he catches Aureth's voice, smiling softly toward the Archlector. With explanations handled, he takes instruction and finds himself some wine and a plate of food, before wandering over to settle near Aureth. "Hello, pup," he greets Peanut with a fond pat.

Jeffeth has left the a set of brown benches.

Jeffeth has joined the a set of blue benches.

Esoka has joined the a sturdy pine wooden bench.

Lisebet takes the oppportunity to find some wine and something to eat, wandering about still. A bit aimlessly.

Noticing the wave from Daemon, Orelia wanders off towards the provisions provided and looks them all over. Her face scrunches up a little as she considers all her options, eventually she settles for a glass of red wine. After finding what she seeks she wanders back towards Daemon. Finally noting he is in conversation she gives a quick curtsey and turns away minding her own business

Balanced backwards on one hand, Aureth reaches up to ruffle Aleksei's hair -- or maybe Peanut's hair I mean either way -- and grins crookedly at Tomwell as he says, "Hey."

The big hulking form of Jeffeth Bayweather is indeed here, wandering from blanket to blanket. Until fnally he gets to the blue one. The large man is looking over in Esoka's direction, waving one meaty hand in her direction. "Dame Esoka, would you come join me?"

Rinel has joined the a set of brown benches.

Lethe has joined the a set of brown benches.

Esoka gets herself a glass of wine after she's assembled her squashing of meats and breads. That glass is raised to Aureth, and she drinks. She's about to plop down on a random bench, when Jeffeth catches her attention. "Sir Jeffeth! All right. I shall. The food looks good. And, also, it's free." Which makes it extra good. Aleksei - AND PEANUT - get a big, merry wave from her when she spots them.

Esoka has left the a sturdy pine wooden bench.

Esoka has joined the a set of blue benches.

Sofia settles gracefully onto the blanket near Daemon. Her graceful movements allow her to settle easily, the lavender colored skirts of her dress pooling around her. She smiles playfully at Daemon and lifts her hand to cover a soft laugh that escapes at his words. "Paperwork? I have never known that to be very exciting. I must insist you decide yourself on what you wish to speak of then, to prevent you from being trapped by your work even while you are not on duty." She smiles kindly her eyes glittering softly with mischief. She gestures for some wine to be brought over for her as well, one of her guards going to fetch it along with some snacks.

Felicia skips the alcohol, though she does formulate herself something akin to a sandwich as she prowls among the blankets, looking for somewhere to settle with a scan of the gathered.

"Do the puns have to be good?" Tomwell asks Aureth, his crooked grin disappearing behind a glass of wine. After he swallows, he lowers the glass to give Aleksei a friendly nod of greeting. "Hey back," he adds, to Aureth.

"Have you ever heard a /good/ pun?" Aureth asks Tomwell with eyebrows swept high. His eyes crinkle at the corners. "Gods, no. The worse the better."

"Groaning," adds Dafne, "is an act of worship." She nods sagely.

Peanut flops on the blanket with Aleksei away from Nightshade but starts streeeeeeeetching out his big nose towards the kitten. Hi. Hello.

Oswyn collects himself a little bit of food and, more importantly, some water. He drinks a good third of the bottle in one fell swoop, a series of gulps. Then he stands about awkwardly, nibbling on food.

"Puns are meant to inspire pain," Aleksei agrees sagely.

"So when do we pick Nick and what are we choosing him for?" Jev inquires between strawberries.

Rinel beams at a small pile of fur near her. "Wordplay is a source of treachery and wickedness," she says, nose wrinkling.

Tomwell raises a finger, holding it up as though he's about to offer up the Compact's greatest pun. "No," he says instead, lowering the finger. "I have never heard a good pun."

Daemon gestures to Orelia again, one to show she's still welcome to join them if they wish! "That's my squire, Lady Orelia Stonewood. Freshly returned to the city and getting acclimated to the social life again. If there were many interesting tales of our partnership in crime, I would be sure to tell, but they are still being written as we speak!" He beams back to the woman, giving a thumbs up to Orelia as well. "Hmm... Right, tales of Knighthood and Adjutant-ness. Ah, where to begin even? Perhaps you may like to hear about the times I patrol the roads with our dear pilgrims and travelers? Or how I occasionally am one to stamp missives with an official seal of the Silver Order? I do very much like using that seal. It makes a satisfying 'clunk' when you put it to the paper. Sometimes I write many in a line, then start stamping on a rampage. I go 'bam', and 'clunk', and 'clonk', and 'bazoom'." He mimes each of these whacks with an imaginary stamper as he goes along.

Jev points a strawberry at Rinel. "Hey. I remember you. You need to chiiiillllll." The last word accompanied by the slow horizontal motion of his hand.

"Puns?" Felicia enquires as she elects to crouch near Rinel while munching on her food, a nod offered for the others settled on the blanket with a sly kind of smile.

"What's a bazoom?" Aureth asks curiously.

Felicia has joined the a set of brown benches.

Rinel says, "I think it's a type of instrument, like a flute."

Nightshade finishes her dried fish and eyes Peanut. The kitten fluffs up pre-emptively. I'm not afraid of you, dog. Look at how big I am! (Not very.)

Jordan glances about as he joins this... picnic. He notices a few familiar faces, but for the most part, he keeps to himself. Well, other than the fact he walks up to Aleksei, or Peanut. It's hard to tell which. "Archlector, hello," he greets Aleksei, then kneels down to scratch behind Peanut's ears, grinning.

"Hi," Aureth says, because he's sitting next to Aleksei and they're both archlectors.

Esoka is in rather deep conversation with Jeffeth. And eating of her makeshift sandwich. All the talk of puns does get a snort from her, though. She can't help it.

Aleksei snorfles a laugh at Aureth. "You're not funny," he tells him. And then he tells Jordan very politely (except he's trying not to laugh): "Hello, Sir Jordan!"
Peanut is looking very appreciative of ear scritches. He is also trying to touch his nose gently to Nightshade. HELLO BE FRIENDS.

Orelia sips her wine and looks over to Sofia. She smiles and curtseys polietly, still obviously afraid of interrupting the conversation she takes a few more sips of wine, then pushes a her hair behind her ear. She turns back to Nightshade who is puffed up, her eyes twinkle at the cuteness.

Daemon looks out to Aureth. "When you're in a really steady rhythm, sometimes the sound it makes just changes. It's like a science, the speed and force overrules the usual 'bam' and turns into more of a 'zoom'. If you hit it really hard you can add a zippity onto the zoom, that's when things get really difficult though."

Lethe sits quietly and takes some time to enjoy the food.

Jordan looks decidedly embarrassed, maybe uneasy. "Perhaps I should have said Archlectors." He muses, somewhat cheekily. Then after a moment's awkward pause, in the very next beat, he inquires of both, "How are things? Nice gathering. I like it." The cat is eyed with suspicion, but he continues to scritch Peanut's ear while strategically stepping aside in case Nightshade decides to go for a bout of Overconfident Animal Brawling.

Aureth grins wide and crooked and breaks open one of the rolls so that he can fold a chunk of cheese into it. "That's good to know. Personally the only sounds I make when violence is around are like-- 'aaaaah!'" Saying this, he bites into his bread and cheese, and then asks with a slight muffling through his chewing, "Fo, dove amyome wam to pway a gabe?" and who even knows what that is supposed to mean. Didn't they make him get etiquette lessons when he joined the faith?

Tomwell stretches out, balancing his weight on his hands behind him and lean legs stretching out in front of him. "I want to play a game," he tells Aureth with an amused smile. "And then later we'll work on your table manners."

"So in offering the pun does it have to be done in a special room? Certain inflection? Accompanied by a blood sacrifice?" Jev queries. "Just trying to sort out how the honoring death thing works. Little help?"

Dafne glances at Aureth sideways, and translates: "He means 'Does anyone want to play a game?'" She manages not to sound exasperated at Aureth's lack of manners. In fact, her tone implies translation from food-garbled is a perfectly normal disciple task.

"I hardly think--" Rinel starts in response to Jev, stiffly, before clenching her jaw shut. "I'm sure the Blessed Archlector can apprise you of Lady Death's preferences," she says primly, after a deep breath.

Nightshade squawks and leaps back at the touch of Peanut's nose. She pauses to clean a paw, regaining her feline composure, and eyes Peanut. Sloooowly, very slooowly, the cat inches forward and sniffs at Peanut's nose.

"Generally speaking," Aureth says, chasing bread and cheese with wine and clearing his mouth, "the Faith of the Pantheon does not approve blood sacrifice. I would discourage you from doing anything bloody, as that's heretical and probably illegal. We aren't the Nox'Alfar, here."

"I just want to know HOW to offer the pun PROPERLY." Jev clarifies.

Sofia looks to be holding in laughter as she regards Daemon. Her hand lifts to cover the giggle that escapes her. Those dark eyes sparkle with amusement as she accepts some wine and a small plate of peach slices from her returned guard. "Sir Daemon, you almost sound like you have a rythem to your work." She smirks playfully at him. "You might have a fine future in performing should you ever decided to retire from wielding your stamp and fending off the monster that is paperwork."

"If you want to bleed someone as an offering, you're better off fighting in a Rite of Gloria; but I guess it's the fighting that's the sacrifice, there," Jordan is playing with religious fire here. Maybe he forgot to mind his drink before joining the picnic. "What kind of game, Archlector?"

"So with the understanding that this game involves no blood sacrifice," Tomwell says pleasantly, "as should no worship of the Faith of the Pantheon," he adds dutifully. "What is this game we're playing? And crucially: does it involve puns?"

Standing at his blanket, Jeffeth bows deeply to Esoka before giving a bright smile to any looking his way then makes his exit.

Waldemai groans. "Oh, dead gods, no more puns..."

"Right." Aureth scoots backwards off of the blanket for a moment, reaching for a bag that he opens. He pulls out what appear to be three squat black felted plushes. They're slightly ovoid but could otherwise resemble large balls. Holding up each, he then puts them down. "So, this game is called pin the leg on the spider. I'm sure it's an old, traditional game. The way it works is -- can you guess? Can someone guess?" He obviously thinks it's hilarious, though.

Jev raises his hand.

"Gods, is that man raising is hand? Yes--,sure, the kid with the shiny sword on his back." Aureth flaps a hand in Jev's vague general direction.

Felicia has left the a set of brown benches.

Jeffeth has left the a set of blue benches.

Peanut sits VERY STILL for Nightshade to sniff. Look what a good dog he is.

Jev says, "No."

Aureth looks reproachful.

Dafne laughs. Or maybe it's a laugh. She quickly covers her mouth with a handkerchief embroidered with spiders. Perhaps it was a cough.

continues sipping her wine, Orelia sits down near the kitten watching her interaction with the giant mastiff carefully, a smile. on her face

"It's probably pulling legs off of spiders, which sounds pretty mean," Aleksei says with a mostly straight face.

"This is merely a shot in the dark," Tomwell offers up from where he's still relaxed back, now onto his elbows. "But do we pin legs on the spider?" He heaves a heavy sigh. "I tried to come up with an answer involving 'web' but I'm afraid even bad puns are beyond me."

Nightshade continues to sniff at Peanut, coming a little closer. She still looks suspicious.

"Spiders," Rinel points out, "only have /two/ segments. They are different from other insects, which have three."

"I find it best to take pleasure in everything you do, no matter what it is. Life is simply too short to not enjoy it to the fullest." Daemon chirps in reply to Sofia, stopping his rampage of imaginary stamping for the time being. "Though a life of a performer is not one that calls to me! I am quite set in my ways as a man of steel suits and grossly incandescent cleaning of a house of healing! Which I do. Quite a lot. Sick and blood is too often find gesticulating across the surfaces of the House of Solace with all of the ailing and wounded. I have been called an excellent cleaner. I sweep in the morning and eve, and my dust pan is /huge/. HUGE." He stretches his arms out to accommodate the vision. "But, that is about all of the work I do that doesn't entail gratuitous battle. The exciting part, yes?"

Esoka murmurs something to Jeffethin parting to the man, sitting up straighter as the games seem about to begin. She has no guesses about spiders, but looks interested in the promise of pinning.

"How many segments do you have?" asks Jev of Rinel.

Oswyn eats a bun, chewing slowly and loitering. He hasn't even sat down.

Orelia's ears perk up, and she turns to Daemon her voice slightly nervous, Not a performer, that is why you chose me as a squire? So someone could bring some music in to your life?"

"All right. All right." Aureth raises his hands. "We don't murder spiders or torture them around here. We /like/ spiders," he says. "Try the cookies, by the way, we borrowed them from Blessed Ilvin's favorite baker. Okay, so, what we do is, we blindfold you, spin you around, and give you a felt leg to try to pin... to the spider. There are three spiders so we'll have three teams. Winning team doesn't get anything except to win, because it's just a game. Right?"

Jev raises his hand.

"I have one, because /I/ am human," Rinel responds tartly to Jev.

"No, no, I've learned my lesson, I'm not calling on you anymore," Aureth tells Jev.

Jev says, "Yes. It's just a game."

Lethe puts down her plate and looks to Aureth. "That sounds like a fun game. I'm sure that many here will enjoy it."

Lisebet sets her plate down and then says, "I'll try it. The game I mean." She's at least a hopefully good sport about it?

Esoka looks down at herself. Frowning thoughtfully. Muttering something under her breath. Maybe she's counting her segments. Both legs are poked. Are these segments? With a snort, she finally just shrugs and sits up attentively. For she wants to play!

Dafne adds, "Please try not to pin anything living. It would be uncomfortable."

"All right, we

Waldemai has another mug of ale. It dies easily. After that he can honestly say, "That sounds like fun. I'll try it."

"Wait!" Jev suddenly realizes something. He narrows his eyes and points at Rinel. "You can't have ONE segment. You either have at least two, or none."

A messenger pigeon flaps down at Oswyn's face, startling him. He takes the written note and eyes it, folds it up again, and sighs. The pigeon is given the last bits of his food and then he's heading back toward Arx proper.

Daemon shakes his head to Orelia, though the question does have him looking thoughtful a moment. "I chose you because helping out a soul that wishes to help is as good a cause as any! But... I must say, the singing and the performing has been a much welcome addition." His smile only grows. "I hope you enjoy my share of enthusiasm as well while we walk this path together."

"All right, we're going to have three teams. Team one will be over here with the cheese board, with CHEDDAR SPIDER," Aureth says. "And team two will be over here with the beer, with BEER SPIDER. And team three will be over here with the cakes, so this is SWEET SPIDER. If you're playing, pick a spider."

"I want beer spider!" Aleksei says IMMEDIATELY.

Rinel take a drink of cider and a nibble of 'borrowed' cookie as she meanders over to BEER SPIDER. She looks flatly at Jev. "Why?"

Lisebet blinks and then she says, "Sweet spider," she decides with a chuckle.

Esoka has left the a set of blue benches.

Jev says, "Because a segment is a division. Unless you were conjoined at birth, you aren't one segment. And even then you'd be one of two.""

Orelia Hops up and asks "I may try this game?"

Waldemai likes a good cheese. "Team cheddar," he calls, matching nosh to statement.

Esoka hastily pops the remainder of her sandwich into her mouth, swallows it, and then bowls over to join Team Beer.

"I don't think you can /borrow/ cookies," Tomwell remarks idly, just to whoever happens to be nearby. He pushes himself up to his feet. "I like the sound of Sweet Spider," he decides as he meanders towards it. He lifts his chin at Lisebet in a smile of greeting as he approaches.

Jev meanders over to team sweet. "Hi. I'm Jev."

Jordan looks at the Sweet Spider team, and joins it.

Orelia wanders over to the cheese team and smiles nervously

"M'lord Tomwell, good day," Lisebet says with a smile. "Hello, Jev. I am Lisebet Farshaw. Pleased to meet you."

Jev waves with a bright grin, "Hi Lisebet Farshaw and M. Lord Tomwell!"

Rinel takes a bite of biscuit and absentmindedly moves to wipe her hands on her surcoat, before she realises she's not wearing her surcoat. "Erm." The woman looks around and picks up a napkin, which she brushes her fingers on. "Hello!" she says cheerily to Aleksei and Esoka, bowing politely to both of them. "Isn't this nice? The food is delicious. Have you tried the cookies?"

"Love to see you again, Lady Lisebet," Tomwell greets with a smile. The smile turns to Jev, then Jordan as they approach. "Lord Tomwell Leary."

"Are you guys ready to kick some ass?" Jev asks his team as he hops foot to foot and shakes out limbs and stretches out neck.

Orelia turns to her teamates and smiles, "Hello. I am Orelia Stonewood" she curtseys gracefully.

Aleksei rolls up to his feet, grinning, and strides on over to the beer spider. "Hello, hello," he greets Rinel and Esoka with warm familiarity. "I hope you're all ready to win." He does look a bit more sure of Esoka's chances than Rinel's.

Lethe watches ready to cheer for the different teams. "Good luck to everyone."

And Peanut is continuing to sit very still with his head on the blanket as Nightshade carefully sniff-sniffs. Look, he's probably just a big, fluffy pillow.

"I am prepared to pin some leg," Tomwell agrees with a over-solemn nod, amusement betrayed by the crinkles around his eyes. "In the gentle and respectful manner due to one of Her creatures."

"Aureth Grayhope, pleased to meet you," Aureth says, clapping his hands in apparent glee that so many grown-ass adults are willing to play pin the leg on the spider. "--let's build some spiders, people! Duchess Dafne, Lady Lethe, if you two would do us the honor of blindfolding the competitors--" Aureth picks up and holds out a basket of long scarves. They are all red. All of them have merry skulls sewn onto them.

Esoka beams at Aleksei. The look she gives Rinel is less toothy, but there's recognition there, and her nod to the woman is friendly enough. "I was having meats and breads first. Cookies later. Sweets dull my edge." In party games. She flexes with a nod to Aleksei. Warming up her biceps. Who knows how much they'll have to do in this game, but it gets her in the zone.

Lisebet laughs, shrugging a bit to Jev. "I fully expect to make a fool of myself," she says, honestly. A grin to Tomwell, and then also to Jordan. "But I am quite sure you fine gentlemen will make up for my lack here."

"Sir Jordan Ober," the knight intones to Tomwell, with a smile. "Knight of Ashford. I sent you a note recently!" He chuckles at Jev's words and then pays attention to Aureth's introduction. "Related to Hana?"

"That's not the winning attitude I wanna hear, young lady!" Jev barks as he claps his hands together and starts scraping the ground beneath his feet. READY.TO.WIN!

Waldemai looks around at his teammates. "Waldemai Isenhu, master smith," he introduces himself. "Looks like this will be fun, after another ale or two." He quaffs.

"Of course, she's my daughter." Aureth grins crookedly and follows Waldemai's example by going for his glass of wine. "Good idea."

Dafne selects a number of scarves, scarlet billowing in the breeze--and then sighs. The little duchess selects a sturdy basket that formerly held cheese, turns it upside down, and climbs atop it. "All right," she declares. "I am ready to blindfold. Bring forth the first blindfoldee."

Jev jogs forth to Dafne. He's pumped. Ready. Let's do this.

"Oh!" Tomwell raises a finger to point at Jordan in recognition as he offers his name. "YEs, yes," he's nodding. "I did get your note. My apologies for not getting back to you sooner. I'll get right on it, but I'd be happy to speak to you."

Rinel blinks. "Lady Lisbeth is Blessed Grayhope's /daughter/?" she murmurs in confusion to Aleksei.

Orelia downs her wine and grabs another glass

"/Hana Grayhope/ is Aureth's daughter," Aleksei clarifies for Rinel.

Lisebeth hears her name and glances over, waving. Not quite sure what was said.

"Your daughter's a friend of mine. She's good people!" Jordan intones brightly to Aureth, with a smile. "I like her. Anyway," he clears his throat.

2 House Velenosa Guards have been dismissed.

"Well, obviously I agree with that," Aureth says with a wider grin. "She's the best. Obviously."

Lethe nods to Aureth and picks up one of the blindfolds and gets ready to blindfold the different players. "I'm ready. I do hope you'll all have a good time."

"Ooooooh," Rinel says. She blinks. "No, wait. I'm still confused."

Aureth claps his hands loudly and goes,

Aureth shouts from nearby, "Beer, go!"

"What are you--" Aleksei looks faintly baffled, glancing at the nearby Esoka as if for help. "You know how babies work, right?" he asks Rinel. Hopefully. OH IT'S THEIR TURN.

With the assistance of the basket, Dafne only needs to stretch up a little to blindfold Jev, and then to do the same to whichever players come over to her. The hazards of being short.

Esoka checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 14 higher.

Rinel checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 4 lower.

Aleksei checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 36 higher.

Waldemai checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 14 higher.

"Your fingers are very soft." Jev comments to Dafne. He turns away and jogs back to where he was, blindfolded. It's almost amazing how he gets back so easily. Still pumped. Let's do this!

Aleksei checked luck at difficulty 1, rolling 22 higher.

Rinel checked luck at difficulty 1, rolling 25 higher.

Esoka checked dexterity at difficulty 1, rolling 14 higher.

Esoka glances between Aleksei and Rinel, as he threatens to explain babies. "Well, he must have rolled with her mother at some point, and then she existed," is her explanation. "Hana Grayhope isn't a child, so it must've been long before he became a priest. I figure." She does look to Aleksei for confirmation. Then, it is GAME TIME. Her jaw sets and she gets her blindfold on.

BEER SPIDER is starting to take shape! Aleksei mysteriously gets his felt leg pinned at exactly the right spot like someone who gets regularly blindfolded and spun around for fun. Esoka's spider leg is at a slightly weird diagonal, and Rinel's ends up at a slightly derpy skew, but both successfully stick to BEER SPIDER.

Waldemai checked dexterity at difficulty 1, rolling 34 higher.

Aureth shouts from nearby, "CHEDDARS, GO!"

Orelia checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 15 higher.

Waldemai obviously is not yet drunk enough.

Aureth checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 18 higher.

"Hey guys! Huddle up." Jev waves his arms toward himself and is speaking to...well the air, but one might assume his team mates.

Orelia checked luck at difficulty 1, rolling 17 higher.

Aureth checked luck at difficulty 1, rolling 16 higher.

Lisebet amusedly moves closer to Jev as he requests a cud - erm, huddle up.

CHEDDAR SPIDER gets some legs! Waldemai's is definitely well positioned. Orelia manages a somewhat diagonal leg, and Aureth's is definitely too high on the spider for the spider to actually get much walking done in this life.

Aureth shouts from nearby, "SWEET, GO!"

Lisebet checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 3 lower.

Tomwell checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 5 higher.

Jev sticks his hand out. "Get in here guys. One the count of three: Sweet... Ready? ONETWOTHREE!" He sprints forth!

Jev checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 18 higher.

Jev checked dexterity at difficulty 1, rolling 25 higher.

Lisebet checked luck at difficulty 1, rolling 14 higher.

Tomwell checked dexterity at difficulty 1, rolling 18 higher.

Tomwell being blindfolded, Tomwell cannot see Jev's hand, but does wave it in the air and then swing it up with enthusiasm on THREE before he weaves (spider pun!) his way toward the spider with leg-pin outstretched.

Waldemai checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 6 higher.

Jordan checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 1 higher.

Jordan checked luck at difficulty 1, rolling 24 higher.

Lisebet does somewhere in there get a blindfold on. Honest. And then, with the countdown, it's time to wobble over to the sweet spider, hopefully hitting the right one, and sticking the leg webbily on somewhere. if she's lucky, it's on the spider.

Jev checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 8 higher.

Jev cartwheels away from the spider after sticking the thing on.

Jordan is blind, and he's stumbling every damned where, but apparently he's got it well enough to be able to pin the damned leg to the spider and duck away from it, miraculously back to where he started.

SWEET SPIDER starts to take shape. Lisebet ... does manage to get onto the spider, but it's kind of awkwardly at the front of the spider where legs don't go. Oh no! Tomwell's is also suspiciously high on the spider's back but he made it to the spider. Jordan's leg is more or less leg adjacent, and Jev's looks like he's played this dumb game before, that leg goes right where it belongs.

Jev rips the blindfold off and spins it on his finger before tossing it away with a snapping flick of the wrist. "Woo! We killed that shit!"

Waldemai checked dexterity at difficulty 1, rolling 35 higher.

Waldemai needs more ale, clearly.

Waldemai quaffs. Glug glug glug

After the first round of play, two of the spiders have three legs, and one has four! Well, that's what happens when the teams are slightly uneven. Still, Aureth seems undisturbed. He yells,

Aureth shouts from nearby, "Beer, go!"

Daemon pumps his fist in the air. "Go team Cheese! CHEESE IS DELIGHTFUL! IT IS A FINE DAIRY PRODUCT IN LINE WITH MILK!"

There's another round?! Shit! Jev scrambled back to get his blindfold back on. "LET'S DO THIS!!!!"

Waldemai quaffs again. Glug glug glug. It's almost Pavlovian, whatever that means.

Rinel says, "I /know/ how children are--I know about that. It's just that Mistress Grayhope looks rather lose in age to the Blessed Archlect--we're going again?!"

Esoka checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 27 higher.

"Spiders have more than three legs, guys! You can do it!" Aureth cheerleads obnoxiously without taking the blindfold off.

Waldemai checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 10 higher.

Orelia checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 35 higher.

Aleksei checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 13 higher.

"They have eight," clarifies Dafne, just in case some people haven't seen a spider before.

Rinel checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 2 higher.

Aleksei checked luck at difficulty 1, rolling 15 higher.

Esoka checked dexterity at difficulty 1, rolling 24 higher.

Esoka does not comment more on the subject of fertility and archlectors and grown children. She is IN THE GAME. She tries to check her first leg's placement, but she can't really do more than awkwardly paw it and try not to dislodge it. Then, she's spinning again, and grabbing another leg. With verve. She laughs and she turns about, big grin on her face, and bashes another leg vaguely toward the spider pin-up.

Narses, 6 King's Own Guardsmen arrive, following Leona.

"Generally," Tomwell tells Rinel helpfully - or someone else, hard to say when one is blindfolded and going on hearing alone, "It's probably best not to speculate on the finer points of peoples age or relationships. Hana is definitely his daughter." With that Helpful Hint, Tomwell weaves back the way he came. Probably to the starting point for Sweet Spider, but honestly who knows at this point.

"You guys ready to kill it?" Jev asks his teammates, with hands out to feel any low-fives coming his way, spinning in slow circles. Blindfolded.

Rinel checked luck at difficulty 1, rolling 7 higher.

Leona steps into the area, looking thoughtful and she pauses as someone she doesn't know at all (Jev) starts spinning around blindfolded. And so she takes another long look and then moves toward the one person she knows and loves. "PEANUT. WHO'S A GOOD BOY."

Nightshade, who has been still suspiciously sniffing at Peanut, leaps out, fur bristled, and hisses at Leona. No. HER DOG NOW.

Rinel totters awkwardly towards the spider-plush, attempting to send her leg vaguely plush-wards. "I'm just saying that it is confusing!" she protests, groping blindly as she stumbles about.

BEER SPIDER gains some more legs! Esoka's leg is pinned perfectly this time, and it is Aleksei's turn to put a leg on at a slightly derpy skew. Poor Rinel is so disoriented from all the spinning that unfortunately when the blindfold comes off it appears that she has accidentally pinned the leg to-- not the spider, but the blanket adjacent. Alas.

Lethe watches the game for a while before heading away, but she gives one last cheer for the three teams.

Lethe has left the a set of brown benches.

Jordan freezes suddenly when he hears Leona's voice. "See, that dog /is/ a great dog!" And now he's doing his best impersonation of a drunk zombie, since he's got his hands stretched out in front of himself in an attempt to get a better feel of which way he's turning. No low-fives here, my bad.

There, are in fact, a whole bunch of people blindfolded. Like most of the party. It's weird.

"Don't leave me hangin' guys...." Jev says, still spinning with hands stretched out to receive fives.

Just to make things more weird, the blindfolded Aureth now shouts, "CHEDDAR, GO!"

Peanut is trying SO HARD to be a good boy, which right now means laying very still no his blanket so as not to scare Nightshade, but then he hears Leona and his tail is THUMPING. WAGGING SO HARD. Against the blanket. HE IS A GOOD BOY. IT'S HIM.

Aureth checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 0 higher.

"HA HA HA I WIL BEST YOU SPIDER!" Esoka yells as she stabs her leg into it. Maybe the yelling is what helps her.

Lisebet is also blindfolded, so while she hears Jev, whether or not she can reach his hand is another question. She laughs though, short enough that even her high five would be a low five for him.

"Hana is Aureth's daughter! It's not difficult," Aleksei insists. While blindfolded. Before stabbing another leg onto a spider.

Dafne is mostly involved in shepherding blindfolded people about and checking their blindfolds. She pauses in the middle of the lurching blind zombies. "Nightshade," she hisses at her kitten. "Behave."

Aureth checked luck at difficulty 1, rolling 15 higher.

Orelia checked dexterity at difficulty 1, rolling 15 higher.

Jev and Lisebet are apparently blindfolded, looking for each other's fiving hand.

"Regardless," Tomwell says - half shouts, honestly, since he doesn't know where she is - toward Rinel. "It's still best to just take people at their word on that sort of thing and keep invasive prying questions for private time. Honestly, Master Jev," he adds at the end, "I haven't a clue where you are so just assume the next person to successfully find your hand was me."

"Children can't make more children! That's not how it works! Maybe he is older than he looks?" She stabs the leg into... something. "Oh no. Did I stab someone?" She pats the blanket. "I don't think this is a person. You aren't a person, are you?"

The blanket fails to respond.

Waldemai checked dexterity at difficulty 10, rolling 26 higher.

CHEDDAR SPIDER gets some more legs too! Except that Aureth's leg ends up pinned-- on the front of the spider where legs definitely don't go. Orelia and Waldemai both manage AWESOME leg placement, though! Cheddar spider is really kicking it on down the road now.

Jev changes course toward Tomwell's voice. "I'm coming for you buddy. Not gunna leave you hanging!" He moves arms up and down in a searching fashion.

Aureth shouts from nearby, "Team sweet, your turn!"

Orelia peeks ater her placement and squeals and claps rapidly, she goes to run back to her team and trips falling flat on her face

Peanut is the best boy, of course he is, but Leona pauses as the kitten hisses. "If that kitten turns into another Lilybelle she and I are going to have words," she says, but she doesn't sound upset. She sounds - quiet. Very quiet as she simultaneously inches toward Peanut and tries to figure out what the actual fuck is going on.

Lisebet checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 4 higher.

"SHIT THAT'S US!" Jev redirects course and sprints to wherever he thinks he remembers the spider was.

Jev checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 24 higher.

Waldemai lifts up his blindfold to peek at the spider. "Bit the cheddar, spider," he advises.

Orelia scrambles back to her feet and runs back to her team reblindfolding herself

The gathering is saved from further shouted etiquette lessons from Tomwell as his team is called and he starts of gamely in the direction he's pretty sure is the spider.

Jordan checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 14 higher.

Aureth claps his hands in delight as round two goes off, pushing his blindfold back up off his pale eyes and laughing like an idiot. Then he goes, "Oh, hey! Leona!"

Tomwell checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 8 higher.

Jordan checked luck at difficulty 1, rolling 31 higher.

Tomwell checked dexterity at difficulty 1, rolling 18 higher.

Jev checked dexterity at difficulty 1, rolling 20 higher.

Lisebet checked dexterity at difficulty 1, rolling 14 higher.

SWEET SPIDER actually gets-- holy shit, you guys -- a COMPLETE SET of EIGHT LEGS. Tomwell's second leg is at a weird diagonal and poor Lisebet sort of gets her leg stuck on its back, while Jev and Jordan both manage beautifully placed spider legs that might actually be able to be used to maneuver somehow if it were alive and not a ball of ridiculous felt.

LIsebet, whether or not she managed to low five Jev, is now hunting for spider the sweet. Course, thanks to a bit of shepherding from Dafne, she at least makes it in more or less the right direction. By now though, she is laughing helplessly. And once she sticks that spider leg ... on whatever she finds, she then steps back quickly, hopefully out of the way, sits down and pulls off her blindfold, looking at the spider. Which only has her laugh more.

Jev peeks. "Oh yeah! Look at those beautiful legs! C'mere!" Jev chestbumps Jordan in glory!

Jordan once again he stumbles around, nearly tripping over what might be a table, until he finds his destination. Then he just aces it with the spider! He gets surprised chestbumped and it takes a moment to register it but he returns the bump just fine. "We did it! Sweet Spider!"

"No words, Aureth. There are no words for this. I wish Tyrval were here to see it." She laughs as she finally achieves Peanut-contact, and collapses into a happy mess of scritching and cuddles with the big dog. She is distinctly out of armor today, just wearing regular clothes like a regular person and apparently ready to enjoy the picnic, even if she is still kind of confused about the activity in general. "Is it... pin the legs on the... spider?"

Jev grins at Jordan and clenches fist of victory into the air! He starts toward Lisebet and Tomwell with puffed out chest. "Get in here for a chestbump!"

Rinel takes off her blindfold and blinks. She's standing... quite far away from the spiders. "Oh." She winces. "Sorry, Blessed Morgan, Dame Greenblood. I'm... not very good with these things."

Teeth flashing wide in a ridiculous grin, Aureth assures Leona, "It is," as he watches Leona scritch and scruff all over Peanut because WHO WOULDN'T be doing that. "Okay, okay guys, okay, but beer spider and cheddar spider still need two more tries to have all their legs! We need a runoff! A beery, cheesy runoff."

Tomwell pulls his blindfold down so it's hanging loose and still-tied around his neck so he can examine their handiwork. "You're a very handsome spider," he tells the spider fondly. "Just the way you are." He turns at Jev's call, eyebrows climbing as one corner of his mouth turns up. "A -- chest bump?" he asks, adding space between the two words.

"Pin the legs on the spider," confirms Dafne, almost proudly. She scoops up her kitten before Nightshade causes any interspecies incident, and shifts to guard the swing set before someone blindfolded trips into it.

Jev chestbumps Tomwell!

"You pinned with honor, Mistress Rinel!" Esoka yells heartily...facing the opposite direction in which Rinel is standing. Her blindfold's still on. She does it loud, though, and seems to mean well.

"We're competing for the honor of winning," Aleksei tells Leona with a wry, crooked grin, lifting his blindfold a bit to peek out at her. "You did great!" he adds to Rinel.

Lisebt finally manages to get to her feet, inspecting the three spiders and not looking for any chest bumps from her team.

Jev looms ever closer for chestbump.....

"Oh dear," Rinel says, putting her blindfold back on and stumbling awkwardly back towards Aleksei and Esoka. "I'll attempt to acquit myself nobly on the field of honour," she says.

"Beery, cheesy runoff?" Jordan asks, pensively. "I am not sure if that sounds gross or appetizing, or neither."

Jev duck walks with knees bent outward for chestbump from shorty.

Tomwell has been -- chestbumped? The Leary Lord looks vaguely dazed at this. "Oh," he offers up. "Thank you?" He makes his escape toward the two other spiders, standing aside to watch the other teams. "Well this looks ridiculous," he says brightly, seemingly quite pleased. "If she likes puns, one can hope she also likes adults absurdly running blindfolded in circles."

Waldemai has his blindfold back in place. He holds out a hand. "Could someone put an ale in that?"

Jordan removes his blindfold, then moves to stand next to Tomwell, commenting something in a low tone to the Lord.

That is the funniest thing, it is. Lisebet just laughs more, amused and hoping Jev's idea of a congratulatory chest bump doesn't end up with her petite slight form settled on the ground on her derriere. But she does indeed get chest bumped, all things being equal.

Tomwell glances aside at Jordan. He gives a vague nod and says something quietly in return.

"Have you ever melted cheese with beer in it?" Aureth asks. He leaves his own blindfold off -- clearly, he is not going to participate in the runoff -- and ambles over to join Tomwell's other side with a wide grin. "If you don't think Death has a keen sense of the ridiculous I feel like you haven't been paying attention in life," he says, and winks. Like a dork. Because he is one. "Do you think we should have invited Tyrval? Damn. It didn't occur to me."

Jev dainty-bumps to not knock Lisebet over, then bounds up and runs with fist clenched in the air. "We fucking won!" He is...still running...away. Leaving....going....gone.

"He's very chipper," Jordan declares after watching Jev do his victory race.

With the daintybump complete, Lisebet at least is on her feet, red blindfold now hanging around her neck. She moves over to Tomwell, Jordan and Aureth, hanging out there for the moment, and watching the spider legging. Jordan's comment gets a slight chuckle from Lisebet. "So he is, that's a good way to put it, thank you."

Jev has left the a set of brown benches.

Leona smiles. "He would have enjoyed it, I think. But he has also had a very long day, so it's probably for the best. He's busy rearranging the Embassy I think. Like he does sometimes. It's kind of hit or miss in there for obvious reasons." Now that she has achieved Peanut supremacy, which is to say now that she's petting the adorable puppy, she doesn't seem inclined to move. "And hey Aleksei! Glad to see you too. It's been surprisingly long."

"Cheese with beer /in/ it?" Tomwell asks Aureth, turning from Jordan to the Archlector. His smile goes fond, but also crookedly amused. "Is it somehow created with beer, or a ball of chees," he shapes a ball with his hands, "with beer somehow inside of it?"

Esoka raises her blindfold, blinking in momentary disorientation, and then tracking down Aleksei and Rinel so she can try to /clap/ them on the shoulders. TEAM! "If it doesn't look quite right, it's a beer spider and it's a little drunk, so that's still fine play."

Orelia pulls her blindfold off and lets out a slight sigh. She narrows her eyes at the spider clearly frustrated at the results of the game, she wanders back over to Daemon and grumpily states "I lost"

"It has, hasn't it?" Aleksei replies to Leona with a curling smile, now that he's free of his blindfold. He laughs aloud at the hearty clap to his shoulder Esoka offers. "Yeah, it's just a spider that had a really good time at a party!" he agrees with her enthusiastically. "/Our/ spider had a way better time than that /other/ spider."

"You melt the cheese, and you pour beer in the melted cheese, and you mix it up, and then you dunk bread in it," Aureth says, marking each step with the gesture of his hand. Then he moves, heading toward the array of cakes. "There's still plenty of food left! -- If we'd had a few more people playing we could have evened out the cheese and beer teams a little more, but honestly, it was still pretty close even as is."

Lisebt shakes her head. "I am amazed I even managed to find the spider," she admits. "and on that note, I think a glass of wine sounds wonderful."

"My pleasure to find the right words, my Lady," Jordan grins at Lisebet, his attention back to Aureth, then Aleksei. "Our spider is /sweet/ Archlector. It's a /sweet/ spider. It probably fell in a candied apple's vat and forgot it could climb back out."

"That you did." Daemon replies somberly to Orelia, raising up to greet her with open arms. "But you put on the finest spider-booping spectacle I've ever seen from a member of our order! For that, you have my praise. Well done, Squire Orelia. Well done indeed!" He claps his gauntlets together. Clang, clang, clang.

Rinel removes her blindfold and looks glumly at the leg in the blanket. "I don't think I'm cut out for athletics," she says. Then she giggles as she sees the spider. "Oh, no. What a horrible thing."

"Interesting," Tomwell says thoughtfully. "We'll have to try this beer-cheese." He watches Aureth walk away, calling after him, "Bring me something sweet to eat. In honor of the Great Sweet Spider, who is beautiful just as she is." Turning back to those gathered, he finds an unfamiliar face an introduces himself to Leona with a broad smile. "Hello. I hope you enjoyed the spectacle as much as Death was sure to have." His fingers press lightly to his chest. "Lord Tomwell Leary."

"I think you get more points the better time your spider appears to have had," declares Dafne, taking another glass of wine. Her expression is restrained, but there's a touch of amusement lingering in her eyes. "And you were all very dignified when blindfolded. Yes."

Orelia brushes some of the dirt off the front of her outfit, she smirks a little and says "Also I fell... not very graceful of me" She smiles and finishes another glass of wine "It was fun though"

Dignified? That's very kind of Dafne, isn't it? "it was fun, I agree," Lisebet says, with a nod. She too glances over to Leona when Tomwell introduces himself. "I'm Lady Lisebet Farshaw," she says, just in case. There are a few others she doesn't recognize so an introduction sans blindfold is probably not a bad thing.

Aureth scoops up a blueberry cake and a vanilla cake, puts them on one of the plates, and then gathers up several sliced strawberries to bring the piled sweets back to Tomwell. "They're not horrible, just a little messed up! And, yeah, maybe drunk."

Leona nods once at Tomwell. "Perhaps not as much as She will enjoy it, but yes. It was fun, and funny! Dame Leona Thrax," she introduces in turn. "Nice to meet you both! Don't mind me, I'm late to the party and really just here to see Peanut. And maybe Aureth and Aleksei, FINE. But mostly Peanut."

"I was?" Aleksei looks disappointed at Dafne's pronouncement. "I was going for ridiculous." Who wants to be /dignified/ while blindfolded?! Not him, apparently. "That's Dame Leona Thrax, /LORD COMMANDER OF THE KING'S OWN/," he adds dramatically for Tomwell's benefit before giving Leona a surreptitious nod as if she totally wanted him to do that. He's got your back, Leona. Peanut licks her hand.

Esoka beams at Aleksei and Rinel. "Horrible? Phah! As Aleksei said, it's having fun! And I had fun as well! This was a fine blind stabbing game, Blessed Aureth!"

"Hasn't it been? Free drink, free food. Truly, Gild blesses this glorious day." Daemon raises both hands to the sky with a broad smile. "... But also the Queen of Endings. After all, we did just boop spiders to celebrate life and death! ... I think that's how we celebrate life and death. To be honest, this is my first foray into deathly business! But it has been a fun one!"

Aureth is overheard praising Daemon for: Celebrating life properly! Boops and all!

"Fair enough," Tomwell answers Leona, smile going crooked. "Going somewhere to see a dog seems like a perfectly valid reason to go anywhere." HE turns as Aureth returns, eyes crinkling at him. "Which one of those is for me?" he asks, gesturing at the collection. "I -- Oh." It would be difficult to miss THAT introduction, so Tomwell turns back to Leona with a passing grin for Aleksei. "I see. Well, it's an honor to meet you, Lord Commander, but as a general rule I defer to a person's own introduction. So Dame Leona it will be, until you tell me otherwise."

Aleksei is overheard praising Aureth for: A party full of spiders!

Aleksei is overheard praising Dafne for: A party full of spiders!

Rinel is overheard praising Aureth for: A spiderful of parties!

Dafne settles onto a bench and considers Aleksei's disappointment. Nightshade plops down in her lap and stares at Peanut. And staaaaares. "Then you looked appropriately ridiculous, Archlector Aleksei," she decides. "Although you possibly could have looked a little more ridiculous."

Tomwell is overheard praising Aureth for: A WEBerful time was had by all. Nope, these puns still need work.

Aureth is overheard praising Tomwell for: No, no, that was adorable.

"I mean, whichever you want," Aureth says, looking down at the cake plate. He proffers it to Tomwell more insistently. "The purple one is the gooiest?"

"Do not forget the cutest kitten ever. Where does one aquire one of these?" She walks and stands next to Daemon, making sure to keep her good ear towards him, she all of a sudden looks more focused and serious than she has been since taking her place ar Daemons side.

Lisebet listens, and inclines her head. "A pleasure to meet you, Dame Leona," she says. She glances at the food and drink, and then she sighs briefly. "On that note, and thank you so much for the fun games, in honour of the Queen of Endings." She pauses and then adds, "It was fun but I do believe I should head home now."

"Not helping, Aleksei," Leona says with a grin. "Dame Leona's fine. I'm not here in my official capacity in any case, I'm here to pet dog and spend time with people I like, and honor the Queen of Endings and Mother of Beginnings." There's a certain fondness in her voice when she refers to Death.

"I found her in our gardens," Dafne offers helpfully re: kittens. "Er, I think her mother had been startled by something and left her behind by accident. I didn't mean to imply our gardeners grow kittens, although it would be nice if they did."

"I was helping me," Aleksei tells Leona. "Helping me annoy you. Which is all sorts of rewarding." He settles back down onto the blanket, although he doesn't try to get in the way of Leona and Peanut's bonding. "I'll try to look more ridiculous next time," he promises Dafne.

Rinel says, "Oh, no. I hope the poor mother doesn't miss her kitten."

Tomwell accepts the plate, given Aureth's insistance. "Is gooey positive or a negative?" he asks, one finger poking at the purple one. A bit of blueberry clings to his finger as he draws it away, to be promptly sucked into his mouth. "No bad," he decides, licking his lips. "It's going to turn my tongue purple, though, isn't it?" He picks up a strawberry slice and offers it out to Aureth.

"I look forward to it," Dafne tells Aleksei solemnly.

Lisebet is overheard praising Aureth for: for fun spider pinning

Lisebet is overheard praising Dafne for: for blindfold help and directions!

"Well, I'm glad you managed to escape for long enough to join us for the picnic," Aureth says with a crooked grin for Leona, balancing backwards on his heels in an attitude far more at ease than he has been in public in awhile. "I really have nothing to say about your tongue," he tells Tomwell with a laugh clear in his voice. "At the moment. In front of people." He takes the strawberry and ruins the possibility of flirting with it by putting the whole thing in his mouth. Omnom strawberry.

Ramona - A Farshaw House Guard leaves, following Lisebet.

Esoka partakes in a little more of the free food and drinks before, eventually, winding her way out of the picnic

Waldemai has time for One More Ale. Washing down some cheese...no, not cheddar. Anything but cheddar!

Rinel blushes. She scoots near Waldemai, to get away from Arxian licentiousness. "Erm. Hello. This is nice. Right?"

"I suppose at a place which sells cats! Or breeds them! I'm certain that there are many centers where one might find a cute companion of their own. A shame on me, for I know little of them." Daemon replies in earnest, still seated on the blanket beneath the shade. "But we shall find you the cutest creature ever."

Waldemai has a mug in one hand and a rind in the other. "Waldemai Isenhu, master smith," he introduces himself. He holds out the cheese, then the mug, then shrugs. "I guess we'll have to shake hands next time."

"I do get occasional time off for good behavior," Leona says mildly to Aureth. And then she sticks out her tongue at Aleksei. "I wanted some time /away/ from trouble, but I apparently keep finding it wherever I go." She doesn't seem too perturbed. "In any case, help yourself," comments to Aleksei. "Make all the trouble you want, as long as you don't take Peanut home just yet. Dame Eleanor has turtles, but they're just not as cuddly."

Rinel raises her own mug of cider and bumps the smith's mug with it. "Cheers."

Rinel says, "Oh. Rinel Tern. Scholar. Master of... nothing."

Turning to Daemon, Orelia gives a sharp nod. She scrunches up her mouth and hmms for a moment, apparently lost in thought. Finally she perks back up and says, "Thank you for bringing me to this, we can leave when ever you wish. My mission of wine getting was accomplished" She straightens her head back out, once again keeping her good ear towards her Knight.

Waldemai looks surprised at the introduction. "Scholar? You mean, books and reading and stuff?"

"She does have a fancy turtle castle for them," Jordan points out for Leona, ever so helpfully. "I saw it myself! Very nicely made. I think it was..." He squints at Aureth. "Your cousin who made it, Archlector. Fairly sure."

"Oh," Tomwell says to Aureth, waving a strawberry slice at him. "I see. /Now/ you have manners, but opening an event by speaking with you mouth full was just fine." He pops the strawberry into his mouth, chews fully, swallows, and then says, "See?" Now that the mature portion of the evening has begun, he bumps his elbow against Aureth's arm and gestures to the blanket. "Let's sit." He sits. "A turtle... castle?" he asks, re-entering the adult conversaion.

Rinel says, "Erm. Yes. And writing, too. When I have time. A little bit of tinkering. Mostly those."

"Magpie, yeah, he mentioned he was making an enormous turtle house, and I didn't ask questions because I don't, usually, ask Magpie questions," Aureth says, running his hand back through the long fall of his hair and squinting a little. "I mean, I always /have/ manners," he tells Tomwell blithely. "But sometimes they're not funny."

Waldemai shakes his head, has a gulp of ale and a big bite of cheese. "Got no use for reading or writing, neither of them. But tinkering, that can be fun." The heavy hammer he wears in his belt suggests the size and weight of objects he tinkers with.

"I'm not taking Peanut /anywhere/," Aleksei promises Leona soberly, "for the next five minutes at least." He blinks, peering between Aureth and Tomwell and Leona. "Magpie made a -- what?"

"Turtle castle." Jordan answers Aleksei. "A castle for turtles. With little rooms and everything."

Leona nods. "Yes. Goodness. Never ever ask Magpie questions. That way lies madness and a swift descent into absurdity. Love him. But there are some things you just don't do. He made a Turtle Palace for Dame Eleanor. She keeps Turtles. She named one of her turtles for Magpie and calls it... oh, shit. I forget what she calls it. Something appropriately ridiculous. It's hilarious. Irritates Mags to no end."

Rinel smiles politely, then blinks. "Oh. That actually reminds me. Erm... so I had an idea. About, well. Tinkering. And it might make things easier for people who don't want to deal with ink and paper." She digs in a pouch and presents the man with a folded sketch. "Wax tablets? It's, erm, you see--it's these two bits held together like a book, and they've got wax in the frame, and you write in the wax with the stylus there... and then you can heat the wax and reuse it. So it's useful for ledgers, or hanging in the rain... since it's waterproof. Right, I forgot to say that it's waterproof. But you could, erm, you could make it out of metal. Since you're a smith. It doesn't have to be out of wood."

Waldemai still has no hands free, so he finishes the ale. "Can I look at that?" he asks in re the tablet, putting the mug aside.

"Of course. It was a treat for both of us." Daemon replies levelly to Orelia, hands clasped behind his back as he takes a look about the grounds again. "Hehe. I think I would like to stay awhile. The only other business I have this evening is another round patrolling the House of Solace until it's time to turn in. You however, you've got quite a world to see don't you?" He beams to Orelia. "Don't let me hold you down to any of it. If you'd like to explore and meet new faces, be my guest!"

"Poor manners are no laughing matter," Tomwell informs Aureth. Though from the fact that he's laughing, albeit quietly, this is demonstrably untrue. "I should make a kitten house for Sonnet," he muses, chin tilting up to consider the summer sky. "Have one made, rather, given my complete lack of useful life skills. She'd love to have something to climb about, and Fairen would probably hate it so honestly it would be a win-win."

Rinel nods excitedly and hands the man the paper.

"I mean, I call him a little shit, but that probably wouldn't be a very good name for a turtle," Aureth says in a musing tone, Dropping to the blanket because I forgot to pose this before, he folds his knee beneath him and rests his arm on Tomwell's shoulder, leaning against him in a drape of bodily warmth that leaves little doubt, at least, as to his coziness in this position. "I don't buy Binky /anything/. Because he's a bird. And he just takes whatever he wants anyway."

"She loves those turtles," Leona says. "I can't imagine her naming them something like that. No. They're her required skill that doesn't involve fighting. All the Knights of the King's Own have to do something that doesn't involve war or training for war or doing something to prepare to lead forces on the field or being extra paranoid about potential threats to the King." She smiles. "Lord Commander Dayne used to say that we had to know why we fought, and to remember the beauty of the world around us if we're going to dedicate our lives to taking up arms. I followed his teaching too - and have found it beneficial. So Dame Eleanor keeps turtles." She shrugs. "Dayne, on the other hand, was an accomplished chef and baker. I miss his pastries, I do."

"You call people other than me little shits?" Aleksei looks HEARTBROKEN at Aureth.

"You think Magpie isn't a little shit?" Aureth returns skepticism for this deep sadness.

Rinel says, "Yes, well, I'm trying to spread the idea and ramp up production. It's difficult. But if you ever have supplies and are interested, I'd love for you to take the idea and improve on it."

"You could probably get away with it if you knew how to say 'little shit' in another language," Tomwell tells Aureth, glancing over to give him a happy smile. His own weight shifts a bit to lean into Aureth. "It would probably sound lovely to everyone else." When he looks back to Leona, his expression is thoughtful. "That a rather lovely way to think of duty," says the Devotion of Limerance. "Of any kind, but particularly martial." He raises his brows at her questioningly, ignoring the debate occurring around him. "And what do you do, if it isn't too personal to ask?"

"Well, sure, but I thought you only called /me/ that," Aleksei says mournfully. He considers Tomwell's suggestion a moment, and then:

Aleksei says in Nox'alfar, "Little shit."

"I only call you Lucky," Aureth tells Aleksei and then he scowls. "I have no idea what you just said."

"Little shit," Tomwell tells Aureth, helpfully. "I'm guessing. And see? Sounded lovely."

"It was, indeed, 'little shit,' confirms Dafne, offering a piece of cheese to Nightshade.

Leona shrugs. "I sew," she comments. "Badly. Dayne taught me to bake and cook too, but he said that didn't count for my own personal art. It had to be something I learned on my own."

"Why do /you/ speak Nox and I don't?" Aureth demands of Aleksei like it's all his fault.

"Perhaps you should ask him for a lesson, Archlector!" Daemon calls helpfully over to Aureth.

Orelia walks over to Dafne and curtseys polietly, she smiles and looks at the tiny kitten, she inquires polietly "Ma'am may I hold your kitten? It is the cutest thing I have ever seen"

Aleksei shrugs unhelpfully at Aureth. "I dunno," he says. "I picked it up."

"Ugh!" Aureth says. "I'm going to get some more cake." He pushes off from the blanket to put words to action, throwing his hands in the air.

Waldemai looks carefully at the constriction of the pad. Any writing on it is just so much gobbledy gook to him, of course. "Yes," he said. "I can think a couple ways I could make one...I could rivet an outline to a flat plate, or I could use a chisel to bang an indentation into a plate. But you wouldn't want to make it of metal." He hands the pad back. "The metal would heat up outside, in the sun, in the summer, and that would melt the wax. Same if you left it near a fire. You're better with wood. It would keep the heat from the wax better."

"Interesting," Tomwell tells Leona. "I wonder if I could make the whole House have to learn a hobby. It lacks the same poetry, given that we aren't putting our bodies on the line, but it's a house full of scholars who could occasionally do with removing their noses from their books." He, obviously, is not included in this 'house full' being much more interesting and well-rounded. He glances over with a faint frown as Aureth leaves. "Cake to go?" he suggests.

Rinel taps her chin thoughtfully. "Interesting," she says. "I hadn't thought of that. Thank you, Master Isenhu. That's most useful. But /horn/, perhaps... carved horn for the nobility..." She beams at the man. "You've given me a lot to think about!"

Dafne smiles at Orelia. "You may," she says, "if Nightshade will let you pick her up. She very much has a mind of her own; it's very common with cats." Nightshade cleans her toes, because proper toe maintenance is very important, and looks up at Orelia.

Leona grins. "Make them all do morning calisthenics," she suggests. "I've found that's the easiest way to make people who tend to be bookish regret ever thinking that the soldiers have it so easy because they don't have to 'study and learn things.'" There is a look of almost unholy glee in her eyes as she adds, "The Master of Questions did that to the Inquisition once. It was pretty amazing. He sent them all to train with us for a week." She's not laughing /at/ them, she's laughing /at the situation/.

Leona is totally laughing at them.

Aureth scoops up a couple of the cakes, and an apple. He considers for a moment, and then tosses the apple underhanded at Aleksei, and says, "Sure, yeah, we can do that. Anybody who still has Harlequin questions can ask Dafne."

Waldemai nods at the thought of horn. "That too, especially if you can write around a curved surface. "But not steel or iron or copper...Nor gold, either." He thinks about it for a bit. "If you made them of two pieces of wood, a frame on a flat base, you'd want to use a glue or brads to hold it together. If you need a bucket full of brads, let me know."

Orelia kneels down in front of the little kitten and smiles, she out stretches one hand, being wary to keep a little distance tonkeepnthe kitten comfortable. She looks up to Dafne briefly, and adds "I am Lady Orelia Stonewood, and Sir Daemons Squire."

Rinel smiles broadly at Waldemai. "I will. Thank you so very much." She looks up. "Oh dear. It's quite late now, isn't it? I should be going. It was such a pleasure to meet you."

The look of pure, devious delight in Tomwell's eyes nearly matches Leona's. "Oh, I'm doing that," he decides with a nod. "We'll all have to run around the -- wait." He cuts off, frowning. "No, /I/ can't do any of these things, either. I'll have to stick to making them do hobbies, rather than train myself well enough to make them do it." He looks up toward Aureth and pushes himself to his feet to follow him out. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Dame Leona. Duchess," he nods to Leona and Dafne in turn. "Good to see you again Archlector," to Aleksei. "Bye, Peanut!" to Peanut.

Mongoose arrives, following Joscelin.

Mongoose leaves, following Joscelin.

"Don't be lazy," Leona advises Tomwell. "Sandbag. Work up to the point where you can do it already. /Then/ make them do it too. They'll all be in awe and you'll be laughing. Nice to meet you, Lord Tomwell."

Waldemai finishes his cheese, so this time he can offer to shake hands. "You, too," he tells Rinel. "That looks pretty clever...much easier to melt wax to get rid of writing than to scrape it from a parchment. Let me know about the brads."

Nightshade sniffs Orelia's hand, as yet undecided whether she approves or not. She is a very regal little kitten, waiting to pass judgement. "A pleasure," Dafne says. "I am Dafne Zaffria, Duchess of Gemecitta and Harlequin of Death. This is Nightshade, First Cat of Gemecitta." That's probably not a real title.

"Good night!" Aureth carols, with an easy wink, and then he heads off back towards the walls. He isn't QUITE skipping, but he does seem quite cheery.

Aureth has left the a set of brown benches.

Binky, an asshole crow have been dismissed.

Gregory, an unassuming disciple have been dismissed.

Rinel has left the a set of brown benches.

Tomwell brushes himself off as he moves to Aureth's side. "Hmm," he tells Leona. "I'll take it under advisement," he decides, before following aureth away.

Aleksei watches Aureth and Tomwell exit together with a bit of a smirkish expression before looking back to those remaining. "I want some cake," he decides, hauling up from his seat to go retrieve some. "That was a pretty cruel suggestion, Leona," he adds over his shoulder. "I know what your morning exercises are like."

Tomwell has left the a set of brown benches.

Waldemai waves to the others. "Thanks for the ale. Mighty good," he calls, and heads back to the city.

Turning her hand over and offers the back of it to the kitten now, still keeping her space and keeping the hand still so as to not startle the kitten, she looks back down at Nightshade and smiles once more "Perhaps Next time I will have a gift for you Queen Kitten"

Leona chuckles at Aleksei. "I'm helping," she says as she echoes his earlier words. "Helping myself. The Knights grumble less when they're showing off for other people." She winks. "Besides, I'm a cruel taskmaster. You know this. And probably a bad person to boot." Shaking her head, she adds, "get me a piece of cake too?"

Nightshade eyes that hand, and eventually decides to lean forward and rub her hand against that hand, as if petting herself. There. She's claimed Orelia. Her person now. "She likes fish," Dafne says helpfully. "And little toys that crinkle."

"Are you sure you can handle cake with the morning workout the Lord Commander's likely to put you through?" Aleksei wonders back at Leona with wide, worried eyes. So worried. (While he gets too slices of cake.) He wanders back, offering one of the plates to Leona before settling back down on the blanket. "I hope Peanut hasn't been bothering her," he says to Dafne of the little kitten currently conquering the Kingdom of Orelia.

Orelia nods her head once as if taking a mental note. "Fish and toys that crinkle. Is there a shop that specializes in pet related things?" tilts her head so her good ear is pointed towards Dafne. Her fingers gently scratch at the back of Nightshades neck, she wrinkles her nose in happiness at the friendship she has started with the kitten.

Leona shrugs. "She can like it or lump it. I've had a long day, and I'm on night shift tonight, so let's not pretend like I'm not going to spend plenty of calories by the time morning workout is over." She shrugs again, but she takes the cake and takes a bite. "This is delicious. Almost as good as Dayne's, but then perhaps my memory is also colored by fondness. Did you have a good time tonight?"

"Oh, and balls of wool," adds Dafne. "I don't think so. Although maybe someone should start a shop for pet accessories. Certainly there are enough pets of all sorts in Arx to justify it." She glances over her shoulder. "Oh, no. I think she's just decided Peanut is hers. She does that with most thinsg."

As Orelia scratches at Nightshade's neck, a low rumble arises from the kitten's throat. The First Cat of Gemecitta is purring.

"We've got a cat and a smaller dog at home, and he's pretty gentle, so I wasn't /too/ worried," Aleksei assures Dafne. "Actually, the cat tolerates Peanut way more than he does me." Grumble grumble. "I did!" he adds to Leona. "I mean, it's free food and we played a dumb game, so. It's a good way to spend a few hours."

"Understood. Perhaps I will locate something of interest regardless. I will add it to my list of things I need to do. One, be a good squire. Two find some members of my mothers family. Three find goodies for Nightshade" She uses her finger to rub the kittens tiny little chin, she looks up to Dafne with a smile.

Leona nods. "I just came for the company," she admits. "I figured Aureth would be here, and chances were high you would be too, and that meant Peanut, so it's three for one and a good time. Plus other people I haven't met yet," she adds with an apologetic smile to the others. "Which is not to say you aren't important, just that I didn't figure you for being here on account of not having met you at all."

"I'm sure Nightshade is pleased to make it into your list," Dafne says with a laugh. "She is busy conquering the world, one person at the time."

Orelia stands gracefully. "Well she has conqured this one." She grins slightly. "Have you ever met anyone related to or with the surname Arterius?"

Elegance have been dismissed.

Daemon has a fond smile on his face as he views the goings-on. Eventually though he does take a stand, dusting himself off and moving to grab some extra cookies for the road home. As he does, he comes along Orelia's side briefly. "If you need anything of me, I will be at the House of Solace. In the meantime though, please, enjoy yourself. This has been a wonderful evening to share with you, my lady." He bows and with a quick wave to those still gathered, sets off!

Jordan may have gotten distracted at some point eating the various pastries and drinking. Sparsely, but drinking. Eventually, he does offer a bow towards Leona, Dafne and Aleksei as they converse, and he drifts away.

Orelia smiles at Daemon and perks up "I will try to find my way back there shortly. Thank you again sir."

"Arterius?" repeats Dafne. She tilts her head to one side, thinking. "It sounds familiar, but I'm afraid I can't place it."

"It's usually a pretty safe call to find Peanut with me," Aleksei replies to Leona with a crooked smile. To Orelia, his brows lift. "Oh! You mean -- well, there's Joscelin, obviously. The Guildmaster of the Crafter's Guild."

Daemon has left the a sturdy pine wooden bench.

Elegance leaves, following Daemon.

Orelia turns her head to put her good ear towards Aleksei "Would you mind repeating that sir? I have some issues with my hearing, I do apologize" She ows her head slightly.

"Ah," says Dafne at Aleksei's statement. "That would be likely whom I was thinking of, yes. I'm afraid I haven't many dealings with her," she says a touch apologetically. "But she has dealt with us in the past, if I remember correctly, for Gemecitta quartz."

Leona smiles. "Likely," she comments to Dafne. "Guildmaster Joscelin is quite diligent about all matters craft-related." She stands, giving Peanut one final scritch. "It's been nice to see you," she says to Aleksei. "And to meet the rest of you. I'd better get back - my shift starts soon. Good night all, and thank you for the entertainment and the company."

Narses, 6 King's Own Guardsmen leave, following Leona.

"Guildmaster Joscelin," Aleksei repeats for Orelia, this time a bit louder. "She's got a shop -- the Atelier? She's nice!"