Gia the peregrine falcon, 3 Rubino and Zaffria guards, 2 Armed Confessors, Rary the Lycene beauty arrive, following Grazia.

Mirari walks into the dining room, feathers swishing as she makes her way to the dinner table. She carefully leans her sheathed sword against the table next to her seat and settles in, crossing her legs. She gives Waldemai a brief upnod and a smile before she settles back to wait for drinks to be served.

Rodrigo arrives, following Alessandro.

Waldemai has left the Dining Table.

The tables have been set for the family - it's kind of the polar opposite of a normal Grayson dinner. Where Sabella might boast light, the Velenosa embrace shadow. Saoirse sweeps into the room, with perfunctory 'sit sit's and hellos to familiar faces. "Oh, Mirari," Saoirse says to the Sword. "I don't think I've seen you since your appointment."

Berenice strides into the dining room, her hair a mass of dark waves tumbling down her back, her features enhanced with a darkening of her eyes and a reddening of her lips, her figure swathed in crimson seasilk. She makes her way to the dining room table and gasps dramatically upon seeing Mirari. "I want that gown," she announces.

Acilius, 2 House Mazetti Aspirants arrive, following Valerio.

"Been around, I've rooms here now." Mirari says, smiling toward Saoirse. When Berenice arrives and makes her announcement it elicits a laugh from Mirari. "Hopefully not during dinner, your Highness." She gently teases, winking toward the woman. "Come sit by me?"

2 House Velenosa Guards have been dismissed.

Renault, the mustachioed Lycene have been dismissed.

A minute or so after Berenice -- long enough that they probably didn't meet in the hall outside -- Alessandro enters as well, letting the door swing shut behind him as he starts into the hall. He looks around, spotting various familiar faces, and a smile settles onto his face as he continues forward, inclining his head to Saoirse. "Cousin," he says, "thank you for organizing this." He moves toward the table to sit, nodding to Mirari as well, and then Berenice. "Mistress Corsetina," he says, "I hope you're well. Berenice, always a pleasure."

"I'm sure these halls have felt your absence," Saoirse says to Alessandro. "I'm glad you're back to grace us with y our presence." The princess sits in some alcove or other, takes a glass of wine, and reclines back. "It's nice to have just family around," Saoirse confides in Berenice. "I find that in Arx, so much of our social lives are dominated by things outside our own tree."

Grazia meanders in regally, a vassal of the Archduchess and one of the important ones. She heads in the direction of the gathering crowd, a faint smile on her face. "Your Highness," she says to Saoirse with a little bow of her head. "Your family gathering is very pleasant. I was under the impression that vassals were invited, so I thought I'd come offer my well-wishes to you and the other Velenosas."

"I make absolutely no promises," Berenice tells Mirari cheerfully as she makes her way over to a seat next to her at the table. "Alessandro! You're looking particularly not as huggable as your brother this evening." She grins wide and playful as she settles in and procures a glass of wine. Priorities, after all. "Well, there /are/ certain pastimes one can't do /within/ the tree," she points out to Saoirse. She offers a warm, familiar smile to Grazia when she enters.

Mirari winks at Berenice. "Well, your Highness, if you tear it off of me - you're going to ruin the drape of the feathers." Casting her eyes around the room she nods to Saoirse. "How are you doing, Saoirse. Usually you make entrances into the whites, and I don't think I've even seen many of those lately." She grins towards Grazia. "I hope Vassals are welcome, I'd hate to be kicked out because I'm common." She cheerfully accepts a glass of wine and takes a sip before she leans in to whisper to Berenice.

Harlen arrives, following Duarte.

Dreya, an older woman in Velenosan livery have been dismissed.

2 House Velenosa Guards have been dismissed.

Ailfryd, a tall, thin man with a haugty air have been dismissed.

Duarte walks in and throws a fistful of confetti everywhere. "Hello!"

Acilius, 2 House Mazetti Aspirants leave, following Valerio.

"Oh, very likely," Alessandro confirms with a widening smile as he settles into his seat, resting his hands on the table. "It is good to be back." He cuts a glance to Berenice with slightly narrowed eyes, though the amusement does not fade. "One day I shall give you the hug to end all hugs," he says, "and you will be sorry you ever doubted me." That day is not to be today, it seems, because he doesn't get up, just turns as Grazia enters, and inclines his head to her in greeting, as he does to Duarte when he enters as well.

"I'm going to start to get a reputation: I was also threatening to steal Lady Lys de Lire's gown right off of her this week, too," Berenice says with the sort of delighted laugh that suggests she'd absolutely cultivate a reputation of stealing gowns. "It's a compliment, really." She narrows her gaze on Alessandro with an expression of deep skepticism. "I'll believe it when I see it," she says. And then pauses. "Or feel it, I suppose." She tips her head to catch Mirari's whisper, laughing a moment before replying.

Mirari glances between Berenice and Alessandro, tsking softly. "Woman, look out, you're going to have a reputation. I'm going to start spreading rumors about you. Horrible rumors." Her eyes twinkle with amusement and she takes another drink of her wine. "Oh yes, I already know who I'm going to tell."

Duarte shrugs. He looks down at the mess of confetti. Shrugs again. Leaves.

Harlen leaves, following Duarte.

"Oh, you will see," Alessandro says with a laugh, and he reaches to take a glass of wine, though he doesn't drink from it yet. He looks between Berenice and Mirari as he leans back, "I am glad you at least give a warning before you snatch a dress right off someone," he says, "rather than just doing it without notice."

"I'd be interested in horrible rumors," Grazia admits to Mirari between sips of her wine. She studies Alessandro a moment. "Are you worried about having your dress snatched, sir?"

Mirari glances down at her dress and then up at Alessandro. "If she rips this dress off of me, we're gonna fight." She shifts her eyes towards Berenice and grins. "I may just make her something pretty so she doesn't accost me and rip my pretty dress off." She gazes at Grazia, an innocent look on her face. "Well then, I'll have to send you some tidbits, hmmm?"

"Oooh!" Berenice brightens at the promise of Mirari spreading rumors. "Who are you going to tell? I want to practice my affronted-but-also-secretly-guilty look." She grins over at Alessandro. "Well, it's only polite to warn them! I'll be in terrible trouble if Mirari puts up a fight, though. I'm totally useless at defending myself."

Mirari's eyes drop down to the weapon leaned up against the table. "I can't bloody that for just a slight or a torn dress. So you'd probably be safe for now. Usually I'm awash with weapons." She huffs out a sigh. "I'm going to tell.." She considers for a moment and a smile lights up her face. "I'm going to tell Karadoc, and we'll see if he spreads the rumors for me."

Alessandro nods easily at Grazia's question, replying, "I certainly am. My dresses are special to me, and I would be quite put out to have one ripped from my person." Mirari's comment elicits a laugh, as well, and he adds, "Ah, well, then by all means." His gaze moves to meet Berenice's and he lifts the cup of wine to her in a mock toast.

Isabetta has been patient, she waited until it was likely over, or everyone was dead. Now is that time. She creeps into the dining room like a party crasher, she knows not all the food will be eaten, maybe the poisoned stuff is left, but any Lycene worth their salt wouldn't waste perfectly good poison. She is following her nose. Sniff sniff sniff. The room is almost empty and surely no one will notice her creeping toward the table and licking her lips.

2 House Velenosa Guards arrives, following Lorenzo.

"I'll make sure to write him and tell him that anything you tell him about me is true," Berenice tells Mirari with wide eyes. "We're good friends now, you know. I decided, and then I wrote to him about it, and he agreed." She takes another swallow of wine. It looks to be a small gathering at this point: just her, Mirari, Alessandro, and Grazia sitting around the dining room table and chatting.

Mirari gives Berenice a considering look and then she nods. "Well if you tell him that it's true, he'll certainly spread it around then." She picks up her drink and takes another sip, looking innocent. "Perhaps Grazia will help me out as well."

"If you bat your lashes at Lord Karadoc, he'll definitely believe anything you tell him," Grazia mutters dryly, drinking her wine and shaking her head slightly. "He was extremely friendly before I was married. Might also be a factor."

Lorenzo makes his way into the dining room, simply arriving fashionably late. He's always cheerful and smiling, though today he seems especially so. "Alessandro! Are you ready for the most amazing news? I hope everyone has a drink, because I want us all to lift a glass in a moment, here." He smiles around to other friends. "Berenice, Duchess Grazia, Mistress Mirari... other friends." He doesn't know Isabetta, or at least not more than in passing, but she gets a smile too.

Isabetta's arrival is noticed by Alessandro -- as the meta says, the room is mostly empty, so a new arrival attracts notice. He turns that way, but just inclines his head to her in greeting, before turning back to those at the table. "Make sure to embellish," he suggests. "I am quite sure I saw Berenice take the dress right off someone in the middle of the proving grounds." And he might have embellished more, too, but there's his brother! "Lorenzo!" His smile widens with genuine fondness. "Please, any good news is welcome."

Mirari turns to smile at Lorenzo, nodding along with Alessandro. "Yes, please. Give us some good news. Amazing news." She leans in to fill her wineglass up, lifting it to take a drink before it overflows.

Berenice wiggles her fingers at a servant to call for writing materials, because apparently she's just going to write him /now/. Because why not? Life is short. While the servants go about fetching that, her smile brightens to a beam at Lorenzo's entrance. "Lorenzo! I hope your news comes with hugs!"

Isabetta is just wolfing down food. CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP. That is the benefit of coming after the boring talking and stuffy parts are over with. So far so good on the poison front, that is to say she hasn't been poisoned yet. She does return nods that come her way, but she is mostly keeping to herself for the moment.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Isabetta before departing.

"Isabetta.." Mirari murmurs, gazing at the Gilden woman. "Nobody is going to take the food away from you. You can sit down and eat slower - perhaps talk to some people. Use a napkin, that sort of thing?" She furrows her brow and turns away, drinking her wine as she subtly shakes her head.

The room may be mostly empty, but there are surely servants around. And one of those household servants passes Lorenzo a glass of wine. Grinning over at Berenice, he says, "Hugs are free, as always." He lifts the glass in toast, and with his other hand, pulls out a very official looking document with very official looking signatures. "My courtship with Princess Gwenna is official. In three months, I'll be joining House Redrain."

Alessandro is waiting with baited breath for the good news -- and when it comes, it does not seem a surprise, but it does widen his smile until he fairly beams, and he //does// get up then, to go hug not Berenice, but Lorenzo. Sorry, Berenice. "Congratulations!" he exclaims with uncharacteristic excitement as he embraces his brother. Wine be damned. Just don't spill it on him. "I am so happy for you both!"

"Muff muff muff," Isabetta tells Mirari, before finishing with the eating to say something a little more meaningful. "I mean, no one eats napkins, I am not going to fall for such a simple rouse." She sticks her nose in the air, certain it seems that she got a one up on Mirari. Naturally the question is probably is she really that stupid or just taking a bad joke farther than it deserves. The answer? Nobody knows, she's already returned to the wine.

"Congratulations," purrs Grazia with her husky voice, utterly free of most inflection that would make her sound sensuous or less monotonous. "You will find the Redrain lands cold, but it is always good to have alliances with the north."

Mirari gets a message, and her brow furrows as she pushes to her feet. "Mmm yes, don't eat a napkin." She says distractedly as she crumples up the piece of paper. "Excuse me, I need to go see to a family member."

a lithe, dark-cloaked Lycene woman, Loden, a hulking Mirrorguard Adjutant leave, following Mirari.

Instead of looking excited, Berenice just /pouts/. "What, now I have to celebrate you /leaving the family/?" she says, looking put out. "And to move /north/? Yes, yes, alliances and everything, but /still/."

Lorenzo returns a his brother's hug, spilling not more than a small splash of wine, though he holds the glass far enough away that it doesn't splash on either of them. "Thank you, brother. Your support means the world." He gives a little shiver just thinking about the cold in the north. "I'm sure we won't be leaving Arx. And Gwenna has assured me that she won't try to travel during the winter months. She does seem to be looking forward to returning north for a visit, though." And he slides up next to Berenice to give her a hug as well. "Come on, don't be disappointed. I'm sure I'll still be around, just like Alessandro is."

Isabetta finishes what she felt like eating and then decides to comment on the discussion at hand, "You know that the bears are some of the best houses, better then marrying into the non-existent Valardin, the oathlands are make believe. Princess Echo and Agatha and Elgana are all so much fun." She looks at Lorenzo, "So who are they wedding you to?"

Berenice looks like maybe she's going to try to pout her way out of being happy for Lorenzo, but then he sidles up to hug her, and she sighs melodramatically before leaning into it. Still, she sniffs and says, "I'll be disappointed if I want to be! You're most certainly not allowed to leave Arx. I'll sneak it into the contract."

Alessandro has to laugh at Lorenzo's assertions as he pulls back, shaking his head a little bit. "Hopefully not," he says. "But it cannot be worse than that trip to Whitehold we took with Mother." He moves to get his wine again and lifts it in a real toast. "To Prince Lorenzo Redrain, who is definitely not going to leave Arx." This for Berenice with a wink, before he takes a sip from the glass. And hopefully doesn't keel over. Haha.

"Princess Echo is an Igniseri, a widowed one," Grazia points out with a little shake of her head. "Not a Redrain at all. She is Lycene by birth."

"Yes I know that," Isabetta grumbles aloud, "But she is married into Redrain so anyone else married into Redrain can have the joy of being in her proximity. It is a perk," she explains, still looking grumbly and suddenly busying herself on a glass of wine. That is draining it of contents.

"Princess Gwenna," Lorenzo answers Isabetta. "She is kind and lovely and wonderfully creative, as well as a Voice for House Redrain. If you haven't met her, you should, because she is incredibly charming. I have met the princesses Elgana and Agatha, and I think I'm looking forward to adding them as family." He grins at Isabetta. "I haven't met her, but I'll look forward to it."

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Isabetta before departing.

Berenice finally releases Lorenzo with another heaving sigh. "Don't make fun of me!" she declares to Alessandro. "I'm distraught. Or -- something like that." She flops back down at her seat, where a servant is now delivering her quill, ink, and parchment, and she immediately brightens again as she recalls why she sent for it. "Oh right!" She starts off on her note.

Stojan, the assistant, 3 Thrax Guards arrive, following Denica.

"Poor Berenice," Alessandro says sympathetically. "Take heart -- at least it isn't Valardin." A wide smile at this as he goes to sit back down where he was, starting to eat now, since one assumes that's what one does at a dinner. "Princess Gwenna is a delight," he agrees with his brother after a bite is swallowed. "I will look forward to spending more time in the Redrain ward after I invite myself to family dinners."

"I suppose you're ready to marry out, hmm? Or are you the type who shall never wed, and devote yourself to house and home?" Grazia inquires of Berenice, sipping her wine curiously.

Isabetta raises her glass, empty, to agree with Alessandro, "Hear hear, better than Valardin, whom are make believe anyway," She looks in her glass and frowns. Sets it down. Reaches for another that isn't already empty. She has a missive come and go and remarks, "Oh I guess I invited Denica Thrax, princess painter and bare foot table walker to say hi, I do hope no one minds, she is a delightful company."

Kyan, a long-legged silver tabby-cat arrives, delivering a message to Berenice before departing.

"Last time I was here, I was given the most peculiar drink, I've hoped to secure an invitation to repeat the experience," Denica grins to Isabetta and to the rest. "I hope it's quite all right, I've been a friend to Velenosa for some time now. Very nearly became one."

"At least," Berenice declares with emphatic agreement with Alessandro. She laughs a bit at Grazia's question. "Oh gods no," she says of the former possibility. "I'm /quite/ comfortable here with my family for the time being. I don't see any reason to leave." She looks over to Denica with an airy smile. "I don't know if any of the wines tonight could be called /peculiar/. They're very good, though."

Lorenzo relaxes into his chair, for the moment focusing more on enjoying his wine rather than eating dinner. "My dear cousin Berenice, I'm sure we'll still have the chance to share a dirnk together and enjoy one another's company. You can join Alessandro in crashing the Redrain family dinners." He grins at the idea of filling the table up with Velenosa interlopers. "Oh, I'm sure I've seen a Valardin... or maybe even met one. They're all very stiff and serious, aren't they? The Greenmarches don't count, because they're actually fun," he quickly assures his brother.

Alessandro just grins at Isabetta, and he takes another bite, washing it down with a sip of wine. "Certainly," he says once he's swallowed, before his gaze turns to Berenice. "You have years of fun ahead of you before you need to get into that, cousin, I'm sure." Lorenzo's assurances, though, get a nod of gratitude. "That they are," he confirms, "and so I fit in quite well, seeing as I am extremely fun myself." Another glance cut to Berenice then. Right, Berenice? Right?

"You know," Denica says. "I only ran barefoot over a table once, and I'm wearing shoes today! No danger of a barefoot Thrax Princess outside of The Maw, I assure you," Denica chuckles and helps herself to some of the wine. "Well, not peculiar but I'll accept good," she nods. "Marriage is such a messy business, not sure I'll ever do it myself, but I wouldn't mind terribly."

"They just want you to think they exist," Isabetta muses, "But I assure you, the entire oathlands are just a big myth,. How could a place so serious possibly actually exist? And if they were real then why do they threaten me with duels whenever I tell them this? Clearly it would be absurd to claim a real land is not real." She taps the side of her head, "See now that I know what is behind the curtain they seek to shut me up, but now you'll see it's true. No such thing as Valardin."

Lorenzo gives the Thrax princess a surprised look. "Barefoot over a table? Were you taken by surprise, or did you just forget your shoes?" Those are the two most likely possibilities, as far as he is concerned. He gives a little frown to Isabetta, perhaps an expression of concern. "But... I'm certain that cannot be true. I've been to their Ward. And I've met Countess... now Marquessa Reigna Keaton. Also, I believe she would have drank wine with me in the afternoon, if I had asked her." So clearly she just be more fun than people say.

Berenice finishes scribbling out a note and hands it off to a servant to send off, returning her attention to the rest of the group. "No, /I'm/ fun," she corrects Alessandro mildly. "You're Alessandro."

Kyan, a long-legged silver tabby-cat arrives, delivering a message to Berenice before departing.

Denica's words bring Alessandro's eyes to her -- for the first time, because his player is basically the worst -- and he says, "Just once? Well, I hope it was at least exciting." He sets down his glass then with an amused snort at Berenice's words, and then stands up. "As entertaining as this was," he says, "I have some very unfun things I should attend to. Lorenzo, congratulations again. Berenice, do not get married any time soon." He inclines his head to Gracia, then Isabetta, and Denica, saying, "Good night," before he starts toward the exit.

Valencia is very late, apparently, but the little vixen tries to make an appears, arriving just as the dinner ends. The blushes. and waves, the quietly backs out.

"I rarely wear shoes around the house," Denica says. "And I REALLY wanted to show Princess Alarissa that picture I drew," she says with a nod as if that is the most perfectly reasonable explanation ever.

"I won't!" Berenice replies sunnily to Alessandro. "But I should probably be going, too. I have fun to have. Unlike /some/ people." Who will remain nameless. (Alessandro.) She finishes off her wine and rises to her feet. "Goodnight, my darlings!" she calls before heading for the door.

Alessandro is super fun. And also gone.

Rodrigo leaves, following Alessandro.

2 House Velenosa Guards leaves, following Lorenzo.

Valencia give a little smile and wave and slips off back to her Hart.

Isabetta turns her attention to regard Denica, "Is it weird that I do not know hardly of the Velenosa when I live in their home?" \she looks around toward the pretty much now empty room. "I didn't think so either."

Denica eyes Isabetta as the room clears out. "Well, maybe next time I can secure an earlier invitation," she nods, moving a bit closer to join Isabetta.

Isabetta gives Denica a little squeeze about the shoulders and says, "Well I actually arrived pretty late myself, lets go someplace else, shall we? I'm sure there is another event we're technically not invited to we can crash."

Gia the peregrine falcon, 3 Rubino and Zaffria guards, 2 Armed Confessors, Rary the Lycene beauty leave, following Grazia.

Stojan, the assistant, 3 Thrax Guards, Isabetta leave, following Denica.

a lithe, dark-cloaked Lycene woman, Loden, a hulking Mirrorguard Adjutant arrive, following Mirari.

a lithe, dark-cloaked Lycene woman, Loden, a hulking Mirrorguard Adjutant leave, following Mirari.