1 Laurent trained guards arrives, following Colette.

Stood on the dance floor beside the shorter Lady Kaia, her husband Lord Martino Malvici is placed in a raspberry coloured summer's shirt that matches the colours of her. A faint crease of his eyes follows, those sharp greens, as he greets guests as the enter. Defering his hand to the dance floor, to the benches up by the firepit, "Ah good day, thank you for coming... thank you. For those picking up the dance, today, we truly do welcome you to join us on the dance floor. We shall be covering the basics of the waltz."

Maxene, the steadfast ladies maid arrives, following Alarissa.

Carissa, a Malvici bodyguard, Planchet the Lycene maggiordome arrive, following Eirene.

Colette slips in to the Gardens, kind of staying near the door as she watches and listens. She wants to learn, but is a tad why and seems to be planning to learn without getting noticed. Or at least that is her hope.

One supposes it takes guts, at least, for Qadira Thorne to turn up at such an event. The barmaid from the Lowers is dressed as best she can be, which is to say a dress that isn't entirely hideous and a pair of practical, soft leather boots. Her dark hair has been washed and brushed, for once, falling in flattering curls about high cheekbones, tickling at the supple lines of her neck and the firm set of her jaw. This ugly duckling has done her level best to appear acceptable.

Her entrance is humble in the extreme, though anyone happening to notice the common girl might note a sort of sinuous grace to her motions. More inclined to other kinds of dance, she at least doesn't openly blunder her way into refined company; though there's something of the habitual sneak that can't be suppressed. Her lips are pursed, verdant eyes wary as they flit about the dance floor, and little beyond it. Her purpose here is fairly clear.

Kaia's sundry greeting gets a few small nods, and a smile that's awkward because she doubts - even as she delivers it - that it's going to be noticed.

Altogether awkward, if maintaining her composure through will alone.

Zoey decided to come early and practice at the archery range while awaiting the other dancers to arrive.

By one of the ends of the dancefloor Kaia would be found conversing with the harpist. Likely offering some instructions before the first guests began to arrive. Her attention, once done, shifting to join her husband in the greetings. "Ah, yes welcome!~" she would say in a mellow tone. "We shall indeed begin shortly."

Beatrice is dressed, almost business-like, in sharp slacks and does not look too elegant for the waltz, but she does have things to do otherwise later that may warrant a more dramatic appearance.

And since those things are... a party, it seemed beneficial to perhaps stop by and see if she could increase her party-readiness. Dance is a matter of poise and grace. She is not lacking in those aspects, but there is always room for improvement.

Where Colette is a bit of a wallflower, Beatrice is bold, walking to the center stage eager to learn.

Look, it's another Lycene woman. Crimson, gold, black onyx adornments to her slinky form-hugging gown... but the smirk in place over the blue eyes reveals it's Lady Eirene Malvici, dressed for the occasion like a normal person for once. Only she still wears a low-slung sword belt with a healer's pouch, where opposite a rubicund dagger glitters.

Alarissa's easing into the ballroom, something more Lycene on and airy, easy to dance about in. There's a smile for Martino as the woman sans most of her entourage is making her way across to greet the man. "Perhaps just the slightest bit late, but none the less, I am here to help." The Thraxian Princess Consort offers. "Your wife knows." There's a wink from the Princess.

Domonico is standing off to one side, attired not for dance but rather for battle...as always. One hand resting on the pommel of Warspite, the stern Malvici Admiral looks unimpressed by the set up it seems, eyes flicking from person to person.

"Oh my wife knows everything before I even get a chance to sit down for dinner." There, Martino laughs for a moment across to Alarissa before bowing his torso low to the Consort. "Now, those joining us to step and dance, please do look to partner. There is not a requirement to have a male and female partner in this dance. Another breathing life will suffice."

Thea steps into the gardens looking like the lycene woman she is. Black slinky gown, tan skin, her long brown hair loose. However, if you know her at all, you know she has a dagger on her person. As well as something medical. Gold-flecked green eyes look about, already searching out the alcohol. No, I think it's obvious the youngest Malvici wont be partaking the dancing session.

Zoey puts up her bow and crosses the dance floor to whisper something to Kaia.

Martino has joined the the dance floor.

Zoey has joined the the dance floor.

Eirene has joined the a luxurious hot spring and lounging area.

Qadira has joined the the dance floor.

Beatrice has joined the the dance floor.

Eirene's not dancing. She's hanging out by the hot springs and drinking. So while the dress is atypical, the behavior is not. She gives her Malvici kin a toast with her glass.

There it is, the dread all too familiar to anyone who's turned up alone and friendless to a dancing lesson. Qadira's eyes widen in a faint panic, the autumn flecks of her eyes dancing in the reflected light of silk and mirrorsilver. She moves onto the dance floor anyway, her chin lifting proudly as she steels her resolve and tries to look inviting. This has rather the opposite effect, of course, and that gaze turns almost predatory, looking for any other sign of social inadequacy on which to pounce.

There's a sweet laugh being let out at Alarissa's comment to Martino. "Your highness, thank you for honoring us with your lovely presence.~" she chimes, as she makes a proper courtsey. "Your help, of course, will be most appreciated." she adds. A small swat given at Martino's arm before he begins to adress those here for dancing. Her eyes then moving about to take in the various faces, known and unknown; her head tilting to the side to listen to something her sister had come to tell her.

Dariel does his finest to be fashionably late. Late enough so he's noticed by everyone when he enters but to only cause minor annoyance by just how late he is. He greets those he's familiar with. "Ahh, cousins! Plenty of Malvici too. To be expected I suppose. Has the pairing up begun?"

Beatrice sees that Qadira is perhaps humble but eager to learn. She recognizes the slight predatory gaze and her somewhat awkwardness among the nobles.

She approaches her, and holds out a hand. "You seem eager, as am I. Do you think we should partner up?"


Qadira's panic is noted but Beatrice to the rescue and Alarissa nods approvingly at that rescue before she's off to circle and see who wants assistance.

After a brief, hushed exchange with her sister, Zoey departs the dance floor for the hot springs.

Zoey has left the the dance floor.

Zoey has joined the a luxurious hot spring and lounging area.

Thea has joined the a luxurious hot spring and lounging area.

Colette remains as hidden as she can in this situation Just observing, soaking up info, assuming she won't have a partner

Already finding a glass of whiskey, Thea makes her way to the hot springs. She bows her head to those gathered on the dance floor, a slight smile on her lips. Polite after all.

Despite her display of nerves, there's a clear wash of relief in the dark-haired wench as Beatrice makes her approach. The exotic woman is greeted with a crooked smile, the extended hard regarded for just a moment before she reaches out and takes it, her own fingers dextrous and bearing working gal's callouses. There's an easy gentility though, accompanied by a grateful outbreath and an inclination of the head in what amounts to a bow of sorts.

"As eager as a callow urchin sampling his first unwatered ale," murmurs Qadira in response, raising her voice a little to deliver, with more grace and courtesy, "I'd be delighted."

With a glance down at their respective feet, and footwear, she adds with a self-effacing smirk, "Suppose this makes me the man. I can live with that."

Too late Colette! Spotted! The Thrax, nee Vlaardin, nee Grayson comes to a stop beside collette. "A student of theory or of practice?" Alarissa asks Colette.

Conall, a large, friendly sable Wolfhound pup with bright platinum eyes, Ylva, a large, gangly, silvery Wolfhound pup with bright gold eyes, 3 Armed Confessors, Atanas Pandev, a wry, stalwart escort, Colm Teague, the stolid adjunct of ice-blue eyes arrive, following Sunaia.

Colette shuffles a bit, "I am needing to practice ... What about you? I am no good but I can be trying to 'elp you so you may practice." She says with a bit of nerves in her voice

Domonico sweeps his Oh so serious gaze across the gathered folk, giving both Dariel and Colette a friendly nod but otherwise? He remains off to one side, observing his brother and sister in law's project in action.

Kaia smiles to those joining the dance floor. "Alright, everyone has a partner?" she asks, looking about to make sure everyone is ready to get the first instructions.

Stepping slightly forward, Martino lifted his chin up to call to those gathered. "Okay... we are going to take up the box steps today that make the building blocks of the waltz. For those who haven't met met, Lord Martino Malvici." Fingertips of his touch his chest before hand indicates his wife beside, Kaia - "And Lady Kaia Malvici. Now, for the waltz your hands need to be in the following position."

Turning, Martino faces Kaia, "Leader, usually the man, put your left arm outwards. Ladies, or lead, place your fingertips of your hand hand in. Then, Leader. Your right arm upon just beneath their shoulder. About the mid-back point..." Demonstrating where, conservative position for a change, Martino settles his right hand upon Kaia's mid-side.

"And, for the Follow. Put your left hand on your partner's shoulder." Martino adds aside, after Kaia settles hers on him in demonstration.


Beatrice is in the softer shoes, but she smiles a little, thinly, at Qadira's bold assertion. "Well I do like to lead. But all right. That's an agreeable arrangement. By all means."

She settles into what she believes is the lady's posture here. Then she looks to the instructors. As Qadira has offered to be the man, Beatrice slides her hip slightly so that Qadira can grab it as instructed, and then follows with the appropriate touch.


Finn sees all the people and his big bushy tail starts wagging. He's so excited to see his family, but instead he stays near Thea like a good dog. For once not running to Martino. Thank the Gods

"You cannot be worse than my husband and I have had to re-learn some since-" There's a gesture from Alarissa to the false left arm, all that carved wood depicting Maelstrom and the bay. "So, shall we stumble our way through it together?" She offers. "You decide whether you wish to lead or follow?"

Having gone home to change into a skirt and boots - at Colm's advice - Sunaia and her pack arrive at Malvici Hall and make their way to the gardens. She's late. Someone probably had to convince her to actually leave and make herself present - as this pale Ashford has almost no desire to learn how to dance - or to do anything remotely close to dancing. She sneaks in....

Let's be realistic: There's no 'sneaking in' with two large dogs, an Inquisitor's aide in a crimson vest and four masked men - while wearing a blood-red snakeskin coat bearing the emblem of the Inquisition //all over it//. So, let's revise this:

Sunaia //skulks// in, apparently not actually wishing to be here. It's written all over her face and demeanor. At his murmured advice, she slips off her obscenely-red coat and hands it to Colm and promptly shifts to the wall, her 'partners' (two scruffy dogs) moving there with her, as well. From this perfect place, Sunaia observes the dancing lessons already in process.

Colette gently takes the offered atm from Alarissa, "I am thinking ig is better if you are doing the leading..."

When the instruction abruptly begins, Qadira regards the handsome Lord with a light, focused frown, flicking her glance to her own limbs and then to Beatrice. "Alright," she grunts beneath her breath, the distance of a personal 'pep talk' happening in tandem with a careful student's ministrations. She can at least follow along, extending one whipcord arm and giving her partner a chance to catch up before sliding the other behind her. Her fingers alight with some care on the silk, before easing into a grip that may be a little too firm.

"You and me both," she flashes a grin in tardy response to the other woman. "Feel free to switch when I louse it up. I have a feeling neither of us are exactly conventional..."

It's an assumption, sure, but how many noble ladies would leap at the opportunity to shepherd a surly barmaid across the dance floor?

Her hands and body moving to position themselves where appropiate, Kaia adds. "Everyone position yourselves like so..." she would say, a glance and a smile given to Dariel. "Cousin! You made it!" she says, and then her eyes catch a glimpse of Sunaia's arrival. "Well, I do believe cousin (Dariel), the lady Sunaia Ashford whom has just arrived is presently in need of a partner!" she notes.

Eirene calls out, "Anyone not gotten a partner gets me to step on their damn toes, so go find someone already!" She has a throaty voice, aged by weather, whiskey, and years of barking commands.

Curling his lips at Kaia's direction of Dariel and Sunaia, the Lord Martino leaned to murmur for a moment to her. "Matchmaking, dear?" Martino straightned and begun to carry his voice once more, "So, as Leader - take a note and copy these steps. As follow, perform the opposite." Dragging his left foot forward, Martino paused and then stepped the right foot diagonal right. "So move your left foot forward. Pause it, then move your right foot diagonal right."

"Oh, I'm //fine//, Kaia," Sunaia assures the hostess with a faint smile. "I'm just going to watch from here. The pups... they'll just likely get in our way." She flicks her gaze to Kaia's cousin, Dariel, and lifts a wan smile before she drops abruptly to a neat-and-quick curtsy. "I'm sure there's someone much better... somewhere else." She backpedals and promptly helps the brick wall stay upright.

Dariel looks towards the entrance to see who Kaia is talking about before making his way over. He dips his head. "Good day! Lady Sunaia I believe cousin Kaia said your name was? Not wanting to dance? I am the best dancer here." Modesty as always. "The boots might not be the best thing to try to dance in. Perhaps the dogs would sit and watch. Besides, it seems that they all paired up already."

Sunaia checked charm + animal ken at difficulty 20, rolling 12 higher.

"I shall do so then." Alarissa murmurs something to Colette and as Kaia's starting the overtures to the learning session, she's offering her arm to the Laurent and leads them out in a swirl of airy skirts, a reassuring smile on her face and helps Colette to get into the right position.

Beatrice raises one brow at the comment of being conventional. But mostly in amusement. "You'll do fine," she says. "I don't know much about dance, yet. But I do know that it takes boldness to do well at it--"

The one who isn't leading has a bit of a challenge, as Beatrice has to step backward, but she does it with as much grace as she can manage. The soft shoes do help. A bit more quietly, she adds, "Better than a wallflower is someone who takes the initiative. That's the way to success if you want to stun."


"Nonsense! Dariel, you best pull her over here to the dance floor or I will." she warns.

Then, she resumes on with aiding her husband in the dancing example. "So, us following would do as so..." she exclaims loud enough for those meant to mimic her. "We will move our right foot backwards, and pause." She would move accordingly with Martino to demonstrate. "Then, we move it to the left in a diagonal manner, like so..."

With a heaved sigh, the pale Ashford flickers her chin at Dariel, having glanced aside at Colm and the lads (aka, Armed and Very Dangerous Confessors) who are all making gestures that she accept. "Very well; that's why I'm here, anyway," she replies to Dariel, then sits with sudden grace upon the ground and begins to unlaces her boots. She hesitates, looking up to Dariel, "But, I always wear boots. Are you suggesting I go barefoot? Even at the balls? ...That is. I could //do// that." The alabaster woman considers for a moment and continues unlacing those boots. "Alright. I'll just go barefoot. At least, Lissy will be happy that I'm dancing."

After a few moments, Sunaia stands with the abrupt grace of a wolf pouncing, hands her boots to Colm and returns to Dariel. "What do we do now?" she asks. The pups, it seems, having not received any command to stay, follow Sunaia at her heels.

"Not the first time I've had that lesson imparted to me," Qadira responds with an easy sort of humor, drawing and releasing a breath as she steps forward. Finding the rhythm is the hard part, and she tries to match her breathing to her motions - and those of her partner - rather than imagining herself gliding to the music. She approaches this rather like martial training, which has the unfortune side effect of putting too much vigor into the motions themselves. If she makes a mistake, it could be unpleasant.

Her first sequence is performed with admirable lack of crushed toes, for a complete amateur, though it would be nigh impossible to call what she does 'pretty'. She pauses then, nodding, a smile of some warmth shot to her partner, unconsciously easing up her grip a little now she's found her angle of approach.

"Well, we're both alive, eh?"

Domonico quietly and with no fuss, Domonico withdraws from the gardens, leaving the dancers to enjoy themselves.

Domonico quietly and with no fuss, withdraws from the gardens, leaving the dancers to enjoy themselves.

Martino stepped slow, effortless, with his wife Kaia's instruction as lead in their waltz. Insert the emotes where they are on the waltz, "Now, as the lead, you follow your partner's steps by moving your left foot beside your right." Slow, over-the-top but in an effort to make it clear, "Your right foot then moves backwards. The final step in this basic box?" Martino turns his chin to face those learning, to smile slightly as he dragged his left foot back, diagonal. "Move your left food diagonal where it started. Your right following after to stand beside it. Since, well, a box has four sizes you have to put the last side on."

Thea watches and listens, eyebrow lifted. What the hells is this?


**********************************************************************
House Pravus dominates conversations for the most of the peerage. Their meteoric rise under the stewardship of their current leadership is a source of envy mixed with no little resentment, and opinions vary all throughout the Peers of the Realm. A large number, particularly in the Lyceum, have admired House Pravus' ambitions, and feel the creation of a new great house can only serve to strengthen the Compact (and the South, of course). Peers in the Oathlands fear a stronger Lyceum, some hoping that a fealty-split could weaken their southern foes, and a minority hoping for a new era of warmer relations with a divided (but significantly larger) South. Most of the peers of the Crownland saw that anything that makes for a stronger Compact ultimately is a net gain, while some worried about any instability that could potentially weaken the Crown. The peers of the Northlands, never ones much to worry excessively about formality in tradition, largely were indifferent to the rise of a new great house. Hey, if they earned it, why not? The Saffron, after all, is rather far away from the Northlands. And many peers of the Mourning Isles, devout to tradition and frequent raiders of the Saffron Chain for thralls despite all attempts at reforms, were quietly seething at the thought of any house shattering tradition of the five great houses to begin with, and doing it at the expense of one of their chief supplies of cheap labor.

Opinions shift dramatically as word of the Battle of Pieros arrives in Arx.

It had been common knowledge that House Pravus had been at their expansion in the Saffron Chain for some time, fighting Abandoned all throughout the Chain and particularly ones that engaged in the contemptible practice of slavery. The true scale of those operations becomes more widely known now. A massive fleet had been spending the past few months patrolling the Saffron Chain, and many Mourning Islander ships loudly complain to their lieges they had been turned back from raiding the isles in attempts to attack Abandoned villages for war thralls. Those sort of diplomatic incidents happen, and can be worrisome, but can pass with relatively little notice to most of the Compact. Similarly the Pravus attacks on Abandoned slavers, such as the so called Sons of the Centipede, and their freeing hundreds of slaves- commendable, and a matter of great interest to the Discipleship of Skald and other progressive minded peers, but it does not normally penetrate the consciousness of the peerage as a whole. The battle that was just fought in the Saffron Chain by Pravosi forces is different. After destroying several slaver camps in the Saffron, it seems that House Pravus uncovered a truly massive ongoing Eurusi slavery operation by the Dune Kingdom of Skal'daja, known as the City of Chains. Over twenty thousand slaves were freed in an attack by House Pravus forces, which prompted a retaliation attack by forces flying the banner of Skal'daja- a black flag with golden fetters. A legion of seven thousand Eurusi soldiers and a fleet of over a hundred Eurusi ships attempted to attack and utterly destroy the new city-state of House Pravus in the Saffron Chain, the outpost of Pieros.

What followed was the largest naval engagement fought by a single Arvani house against a foreign adversary since at least the Crownbreaker Wars, with a decisive victory at sea and on land, though at the cost of thousands of Pravus dead. Tens of thousands of freed slaves are now arriving in Arvum, survivors of a lifetime of victimization that had been happening in the Saffron for what seems to be generations. Word spreads that a Dune Kingdom had been transporting slaves from Arvum for at least generations back to their slave city, and House Pravus had put a stop to it. Support among Peers of the Realm and commoners alike for Pravus' elevation increases rather dramatically.

In the Oathlands, many suddenly are now talking about supporting Pravus as a moral mandate, with much of the irritation that Pravus had done this first without their help. In the Mourning Isles, most of the traditionalist houses are revolted at having thralldom associated with actual slavery and grow much more quiet, hoping they can weather out the reformist storms. The Northland peers are glad to see someone hammering slavers, and only hope Pravus keeps at it and gets the support they need. The Crownlands feel more strongly about slavery than anyone, and twenty thousand slaves is some of the most freed from bondage since the time of Queen Triscali the Blackrose. Most of the Lyceum is just hoping to take advantage of the current fervor and be associated with how fashionable it is to be anti-slaver, and the peers with strong concerns are being rather quiet to not have criticism of Pravus' ambitions to come off as pro-slavery. In political terms, it really couldn't have had better timing for Pravus, since most peers would insist upon House Pravus' elevation at the next Assembly of Peers at this point, and would be aghast if it doesn't happen. What better way to give a gigantic show of Arvani condemnation to a Eurusi slaver-kingdom that dared to enslave people of Arvum? The commoners are furious at the idea that foreign slavers were stealing away people from the Saffron Chain, and if rewarding Pravus is a way to show how much they hate Skal'daja right now, then that's what it should be.
**********************************************************************


Dariel wasn't expecting quite such eagerness in taking the boots off. "Well I was thinking something lighter would be easier for dancing. Though barefooted would be just as good. Though... perhaps not at the balls." He grins a little. "Depending on if you're skilled or not it might also save my feet some wear and tear." He waits until Sunaia is standing, takes her hand in his own and pulls her onto the dance floor with him. "Well follow me as best you can and listen to Kaia. She's very good at barking orders.. I mean instructing people."

Martino stepped slow, effortless, with his wife Kaia's instruction as lead in their waltz. Stepping slightly forward, closer to Kaia's presence and across her foot, Martino spoke with clarity in his voice, "Now, as the lead, you follow your partner's steps by moving your left foot beside your right." Slow, over-the-top but in an effort to make it clear, "Your right foot then moves backwards. The final step in this basic box?" Martino turns his chin to face those learning, to smile slightly as he dragged his left foot back, diagonal. "Move your left food diagonal where it started. Your right following after to stand beside it. Since, well, a box has four sizes you have to put the last side on."

Perhaps Qadira's motion lacks the delicate touch but Beatrice tries to work with it anyway. She is also a forceful woman, so it matches up a bit better than otherwise expected. At least the waltz is a dance that favors precision.

As instructed, she moves her foot into the box. "It's not so bad." This is either about the dance, or, about being still alive. Ambiguous.


Startled by the sudden grasp and tug of her hand, Sunaia's ghostly-grey eyes go wide. "Oh. Um. Alright?" she replies to Dariel as he pulls her to the dance floor. Luckily, her stride is wide and she doesn't lose her footing - and she usually prefers going barefoot, anyway. "Follow you as best as I can. Right," Sunaia agrees, her silvery gaze dropping to peer at Dariel's feet.

Eirene's drinking is interrupted by a Malvici runner coming from the city proper. She bows to Lady Eirene and then whispers a message. "Well." Eirene's face is blank as she decides how to interpret the news. "Less slavers are good. Fuck them." She refills her glass and goes back to just watching the pretty flowers about the dance floor try to learn the motions.

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

Kaia would then continue to follow Martino's lead, her foot going back, then stepping forward closer to her husband. Fingertips of hers tightening against his shoulder blades while following the direction of his hand.

Thea stands, finishing her drink,"I will be back. I need to deliver something,"eyes on the puppy rolling around near Finn. Bowing her head, Thea excuses herself. Appearing relieved.

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

Martino's fingertips curled into Kaia's hand, as he stepped once more across the dancefloor with his wife. His right foot turning diagonal as he kept the pace of the box-step, "The reason it is so basic is that the rhythm of those steps varies, which is where different dances come from. For this let us go easy." There follow the pause in Martino's movements as he states, "One? two-three." Then the drag of his foot back, "Four?.. Five. six." Back to the starting position.

Thea has left the a luxurious hot spring and lounging area.

Finn the large Northern hunting dog with icy blue eyes, Champion, the tiny yappy puppy leave, following Thea.

Qadira checked dexterity + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 9 higher.

Kaia checked charm + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 26 higher.

Sunaia checked dexterity + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 8 lower.

Dariel might be a great dancer but he's not as good a teacher. He watches Sunaia watching his feet and follows Kaia and Martino's instructions and does what he can to relay them on to his dancing partner. "There we go. Like this." He does what he can to tepeat it for Sunaia to hopefully grasp "See. Same over and over. It's a good starting move. If you've got it, try looking at me as you do."

Dariel checked charm + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 30 higher.

Martino checked charm + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 46 higher.

There's a slightly indelicate snort from Qadira, catching what she thinks is a subtle barb to that comment. She's all about subtle barbs. "Some days are better than others," she murmurs by response, a grin tugging at full lips, "If you're the one left standing, and not being stepped on." To whit, she finishes the motions with rather a hefty stomp to her step, the misplaced confidence and gracelessness of one who thinks they've understood - and are ready for something harder. There's more than one kind of precision, though.

"Is that the whole thing?" She wonders quietly, curling a bit of a scoff. "Four sides to a box. Think I can manage that."

Glancing at the instructor for more, she happens to catch a glimpse of someone waltzing past without their shoes on, and with a couple of dogs in tow.

Her chin flicks toward the sight, verdant gaze roaming back to Beatrice with a curve of dark brows. "Pardon the expression, but Silks are weird."

Beatrice checked charm + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 17 higher.

Captain Curls, an attentive, ebony guard poodle arrives, following Quenia.

Laugher erupts from the wall as four masked Confessors (aka, the Lads) watch as Sunaia stumbles in a avoidance of her pair of pups - who are keeping step VERY well with Kaia and Martino's footsteps. Dancing. Dogs.

The pale Ashford yelps suddenly as she shifts her foot almost too close to Dariel's and JUST manages not to fall. "Ohmygods," she exhales, stopping her movement entirely to watch as her pair of dogs move in a perfect box. "That's settled. Dancing is for the dogs."

Sunaia does //not// seem inclined to do more, now, than stand and watch her incredibly-trained scruffy pups play at follow-the-leader.

Captain Curls, an attentive, ebony guard poodle leaves, following Quenia.


"You think so?" Beatrice asks. She's been called a Silk now and then, and she doesn't find the slight slur a particular shock. In a way it's flattering. Unless Qadira catches the slight whiff of commoner caramraderie about her.

She's picking up the dance quite quickly, it seems, since it is simple enough. "So what brought you all the way out here to be among we weird noble few?"

She's suddenly distracted by the variety of dogs that are joining in the waltz... and looks over and tries not to laugh. But she also doesn't miss a step.


Alarissa checked charm + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 40 higher.

Zoey receives a messenger, frowns, gets up, and purposefully departs.

Zoey has left the a luxurious hot spring and lounging area.

Kaia's body would move with Martino's quite gracefully, following every one of the steps. Her eyes at certain points set upon his face, while at others watching the rest of them dance...or at the very least trying to

Ever teaching, the Lord Martino stepped once more with Kaia as they started their box steps. His sharp green eyes, this time, away from the dance floor and instead upon his wife's face, "Left foot. Pause. Right foot? left." Martino's right hand shifts down slightly, so Lycene! He rests this hand upon Kaia's hip, tighting it slightly, a faint bite of lower lip before lifting his chin to attention, "Then. Right. Pause?. Left. Right." Back to the start with wife close before him, Martino paused anew and a lean to his wife's ear to murmur.

"Now, then. You are doing well... Ladies Sunaia and Beatrice, well done." Martino turned on his toes to stand now beside Kaia, less dancing and more examiner over the group, "Messere. You pick it up well, truly a fine show. Just four sided to a box. Four steps to every basic waltz." Voice directed to Qadira as he spoke, head bowing slight in her direction with a wry smirk at the use of /silk/ by her.

Dariel says nothing about Sunaia's stumbling. She's not stepped on his feet which is better than some people he's ever danced with before now. When she stops Dariel pauses too, turning his head to watch the dogs dance. There's a chuckle too. "They're quite talented it seems. But, Lady Sunaia, are you quitting so soon?" He still has her hand in hers as if to continue dancing. "Am I merely a dog?" he asks with a teasing smile.

Eirene tosses off a nod to Martino and Kaia before she heads back inside. Probably to get back into armor or something similar.

Eirene has left the a luxurious hot spring and lounging area.

Carissa, a Malvici bodyguard, Planchet the Lycene maggiordome leave, following Eirene.

"Thank you. I'm rather impressed with them, myself," Sunaia replies to both Martino and Dariel with a flickering smile to both, her bare feet still not moving. "Oh, not... not //you//, my lord, though you dance very well. And I mean it in the best of ways: I love dogs more than people, mainly. Except family and friends, of course," she finishes, glancing then to Kaia and giving a wan smile tinged with guilt. "I. Um, no. I'm not yet giving up. So soon. Soon, but not //so// soon," the pale-moon Ashford replies and turns back to Dariel. "Okay, again? What am I supposed to do?"

Alarissa offers a smile to Colette as their waltzing comes to an end and the teaching for these two finishes and she moves off to find something to drink.

Trust the fickle hand of fate to knock Sunaia stumbling just as Qadira looks away. There's no missing her yelp, and the wench's eyes *flash* across the floor once more, not hiding her own abrupt, coarse bark of laughter. It's kept short, not so much mocking as an instinctive expression of mirth. She's not used to having to hide it. She keeps her mouth open around the grin this incites, and is ready to offer some dubious words of encouragement when she, too, notices the dancing canines.

"Shards," she hisses instead, slipping the hand momentarily from Beatrice's back to grip at her left breast. "I could watch that all day."

A nod of acknowledgement to gracious Martino, returning his smirk with one of her own, some respect in the incline of her head in spite of her blunt words to Beatrice. "Thanks, thought I'd make more of an idiot of myself. Still time, I suppose." She shrugs, and puts her hand back on the other woman, nodding at her to go again, if she pleases to follow.

"Looking to impress someone," she responds at last to the enquiry, the oh-so-faint whiff of a flush in her cheeks. "Or not embarrass them, if it comes to it. It's been a strange few weeks, honestly; never thought I'd make it this deep into the uppers, let alone find myself... well, here. Life's full of surprises."

There's a reassuring smile from Dariel to Sunaia. "I tell you what.. Ignore Kaia and Lord Martino for a moment. Just listen to me. We'll take it slower than them. No rush here at all. Look at our feet." Then he instructs her how to move around the sides of the box. Slowly and giving Sunaia time to place her feet. Each time instructing her where to put her feet. Then after a more times he speeds it up a little bit.

"Ah... you got there, though, by the end Lady Sunaia. At least, next time at the Ball, I might be able to convince you so step out into the floor with me." Martino's hands rest and clasp over his chest as he creases his eyes slightly as he adds, "But, good guests, we should pause there for this lesson. Kaia and I can help pick up private lessons for you again in the future as well, do stay if you would like to for a drink or something more." Voice carrying, Martino stepped from beside Kaia to lower his voice for a moment with Qadira in a hushed laugh, "Well... there is time yet for that. This, person you do not want to embarrass. Oh dear, it isn't a love of yours already, is it?!"

Colette curtsies to Alarissa with a hint of a smile curling her lips.

Beatrice is still trying not to laugh. But she is particularly holding back when she is called out for doing well and Sunaia... also is there.

At 'looking to impress someone' she gives an unsurprised nod. "Yes, that it is. You might say you don't know where life will take you. But actually... you can control SOME aspects of your destiny."

She's keeping up with the steps, and stops and bows when the time is right. "A splendid lesson I think."


With her focus now set on ONE leader (rather than three), Sunaia's bare feet move more easily. "Oh, this is //easy//," she appraises, flicking her platinum gaze to Dariel's eyes. "Don't you get rather bored with it, though?"

Sunaia checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 14 higher.

Dariel checked charm + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 77 higher. Dariel rolled a critical!

Kaia is overheard praising Martino: A wonderful dancer and instructor!

Kaia is overheard praising Malvici.

Sunaia glances suddenly to Martino, her feet still moving in a simple-box-pattern with Dariel. "Me? With you??" Sunaia's confusion and bewilderment at Martino's suggestion is apparent in the wide-eyed look she gives to him. "Oh, but. But, you have your wife. Who's far better than I am at dancing."

Sunaia is overheard praising Dariel: Kind to show me how to dance.

Kaia is overheard praising Qadira: She looked so lovely while dancing!

Dariel hasn't quite realised others seem to have stopped as he's quite focused on Sunaia. "Well this is just the one step. There are others, and you don't just stay in the one area. There's a knack to moving around the dance floor and dancing. Also not taking out people unintentionally as you do so." Finally he ends the dancing when he realises it seems to be coming to an end.

Kaia is overheard praising Sunaia: Even when stumbling she was a star!

"In my experience," Qadira replies to Beatrice with a grin, "You control precisely as much of it as you choose to. You said it well enough yourself; it takes boldness." She's shuffling more adroitly through the box step already, her hips shiftly sinuously in a way the leader's probably aren't supposed to - but she can see the fun in it, and her body responds in kind. There's a rapid blink of the eyes as Martino eases himself beside her, and to her credit she maintains the step regardless. His words, though, they draw a snorted laugh, and another curved brow. "Oh dear?" She echoes enquiringly, a tease on full lips, "Am I that hideous? Will I lose them, do you think?"

She's grinning by the time she stops her dance, wider still, autumnal flecks glinting, as she mirrors the bow with a quite wretched curtsy. She DID say they'd switch.

"Thank you, m'lady. An unexpected pleasure; both the dance, and my failure to send you home limping."

Dariel is overheard praising Sunaia: One willing to dance should not be put off by the hardest part.

Dariel is overheard praising Malvici.

Qadira is overheard praising Beatrice: Took pity on a poor girl, wonder if there's a reason for that past boldness and a good nature?

Sunaia is overheard praising Kaia: Always beautiful.

Kaia is overheard praising Dariel: He looked so gallant while helping the lovely Sunaia learn the dance!

Beatrice is overheard praising Qadira: This common girl may go far in life.

Beatrice is overheard praising Martino: Wonderful to instruct us in the dance.

Beatrice is overheard praising Kaia: An elegant co-instructor!

Kaia is overheard praising Beatrice: She made a most wonderful dancing partner to Qadira!

Her feet stop belatedly and Sunaia looks down at the pups. Beaming with pride, the pale Ashford kneels abruptly, ruffling the fur of both dogs' scruffy heads. "You're incredible. The best dancers ever," she praises them, pulls out a treat for each from her belt and kisses their noses. Rising with immediateness, Sunaia smiles and dips into a quick curtsy for Dariel. "Thank you for showing me how to dance. Or how to start. I'll.... Mmn. I'll try to practice. With Lisebet," she promises, her alabaster cheeks tinging rosy with embarrassment.

Laughing slight, Martino's eyes creased to Sunaia as he commented easy to her, "Why, certainly. A ball is several hours long and, well, there are several partners to dance with. No?" A slight grin once more, before an amused twist as he replies to Qadira, "Certainly not, but, do not think you need to change to impress them. They aught to be delighted, even in embarrased I mean..." Martino glances over his shoulder to Kaia before murmuring hushed with Qadira.

Kaia would then move about through the dance floor with a charming beaming expression. "Alright, very good everyone!" she would say, while clapping in approval. "This shall be all for today! Thank you for joining us. Do feel free to stay for a chat and refreshments." she tells them, gesturing to the respective area. "Class is dismissed.~"

Maxene, the steadfast ladies maid leaves, following Alarissa.


Beatrice is also smiling, but she's also taking a moment to step back. She gives Martino a gracious nod. "This was well-timed. But now I must be off, as I have other things to prepare."

She nods to Qadira as well. No more words, but maybe a knowing look.