Eustace, the cowardly peachick arrives, following Michael.

Dionne, a Mercy Novitiate arrives, following Rafael.

Octavian, a silken spaniel, an aid in Kennex livery, 2 Kennex corsairs arrive, following Zoey.

Michael is late, this time with a worthwhile excuse! He forgot about it. Sort of. He got busy doing other things and eventually remembered why he was wearing fancy clothing. Its fine, really. Nobody in Arx gets to parties on time anyways! Michael sweeps into the tea gardens and sets forth demanding tea from a servant.

Rafael isn't late, like Michael, but he also isn't entirely convinced that one of his daughters is actually in Arx. "I care about all of my children equally," he protests prematurely to a servant without bothering to look at them, glass in hand as it's held out with perfect stillness to be refilled with wine. Beverage refreshed, the Mercy steps away in a *swish* of androgyne fabric.

Michael mmhhhmmms from across the room. Overhearing Rafael's wine-drunk-mother routine with only a modicum of interest. A servant is rolling in a cage, twine mesh keeping the occupant in place for now.

Zoey heard one off her cousins is in town, so of course she is coming to say hello! She still has those bells in her hair from the bardic fire, and the sound of their ring is as bright as her smile.

Lady Kalani Seliki may be committing the unforgivable social sin of being on time. Now, to be fair, Seliki Manor does share a rather neighborly position with Bisland Manor, so it wasn't entirely a terribly slog from one house to the other. But she IS on time and she slips in, light of step, and hears voice ahead along with the oddest sound of rattling. Helping herself to a glass of wine, the Seliki physician sips from the wine while casting a wondering glance toward the cage.

How many gardens does one house need? "What makes something a /tea/ garden anyway?" Lady Selah Bisland has addressed this question to the back of a Bisland House servant stoically escorting the guest of honor to the proper location. Has she been standing in the East Garden this whole time? Maybe! "Oh," she says, as the servant steps aside and allows Selah to see the Tea Garden in question. She raises a slender finger to press upon her lips and surveys the gathering with critical eyes. "Hello?"

Eustace, the cowardly peachick have been dismissed.

Michael seems to issue a large sigh fo relief as more people show up. Sure they're all family or forced to be here. But people are here! And that cage gets the top of it patted, accompanied by feathers fluttering. "Helllllloooo, Lady Selah Bisland. Welcome to Arx. Welcome to the Manor. And welcome to parenthood."

When Rafael sees the cage roll out, he lets out a wearied gasp of indignation, followed in short succession by another when it is accompanied by the sound of one of his children's voices. But when Selah reveals herself from behind a servant, and not from inside the cage, he sighs with relief and takes sip, "The tea gardens? I believe they take their names from all the gossips that frequented them during your uncle's Crown regency."

"Lady Selah at last!" Zoey makes her way to her cousin. "It's so good to see you! How are you settling in?"

Vicente enters into the tea gardens with a rather stiff step to his stride. His hands are folded behind his back and his expression rather flat and his eyes slowly shifting about the area. The man doesn't look as though he would naturally be one to attend a welcome party and yet here he is in spite of that little detail.

Selah checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 6 lower.

Kalani exhales a quiet laugh, overhearing Michael's words, and eyes the cage with even more curiosity. The glass of wine she's holding is sipped from again as she glances around the gathering and, as the opportunity will arise, she offers a respectful nod paired with a curtsy of greeting to the hosts of the party.

"Cousin Mic --" Selah's eyes narrow ever further as Michael's welcome continues, and then finally snap wide as a fluffy live creature of some sort is thrust upon her. There is a very long, semi-uncomfortable pause, during which she stares blankly at the cage. "... Thank you?" she ventures, reaching up to pat her undisturbed hair carefully back into place. Then she's abruptly turning toward Rafael with a brittle smile. "Hello, father."

Michael looks more relieved than Selah looks put-off by the passing of the creature. Like, wooo. Finally. don't have this thing on my hands anymore. "Watch out. He'll nip. I promise you." Before Michael continues on, to regain his cup of tea and wink off towards Kalani.

Zoey gets closer to Selah, gracefully avoiding the cage. "Cousin! I know it has been a few years, but I really am glad to see you. How was the trip?"

Rafael regards Selah's smile as one might a chessboard after the opposing player moved one of their pawns. Absolute stillness. "Selah. You've changed your.." ... "Hair." Sure. His voice retains its characteristic gentle baritone. "If the little beast becomes too unmanagable, one of your other cousins is some sort of bird savant." Then he's distracted by one of the servants coming TOO CLOSE to him with a tray of small bites, which he refuses with a frown.

Sam, who is a boy and definitely not a princess in disguise, Isabelle, who is just so tired of everyone's nonsense, Roland, the worst bard in Arvum arrive, following Niklas.

Elizabetta, a disapproving lady-in-waiting, Lily, an aloof lady-in-waiting, 2 Grayson House Guards, Clark, an exasperated guard, Niklas arrive, following Sabella.

Vicente makes his way along towards where the group has gathered and gives a general passing bow to them. His words are spoken quite flatly and says, "Good day to you all." He takes a momentary appraisal of the group and adds onto that, "Lady Zoey." With a second nod to her.

Elizabetta, a disapproving lady-in-waiting have been dismissed.

Lily, an aloof lady-in-waiting have been dismissed.

2 Grayson House Guards have been dismissed.

Clark, an exasperated guard have been dismissed.

"Why did you give me a creature that bites?" Selah asks Michael with utter bemusement. "Is this some sort of familial affection?" On that note, she turns to regard her father from beneath half-lowered lids. "No," she tells him levelly. "Same hair. Cousin Zoey!" Much more brightly she turns with a warm curve of her lips. "The trip was uneventful, thank you for asking. Have you been well? Congratulations on your wedding." Up on current events, Selah is.

Sam, who is a boy and definitely not a princess in disguise, Isabelle, who is just so tired of everyone's nonsense, Roland, the worst bard in Arvum leave, following Niklas.

"Ohhhhhhh......so I won't have to deal with it. Mostly." Michael's chin dipping to nod towards the cage held in hand. "I think the handlers named him Eustace. The Cowardly. Which I don't quite understand, considering the thing charged Struttington. Besides, you should blame the emissary from....oh. Gosh. I don't remember. Three hundred years ago or something, brought the Bislands these creatures. They carry messages well enough. If you don't mind everyone knowing that a Bisland sent a message."

"Thank you! We have two children now as well. I named our first after Grandpapa Uriel," Zoey replies to Selah before bouncing a quick curtsy to Vicente. "Good evening, Lord Fidante."

Rafael's lips fractionally part along with a cluck of his tongue at Selah's response. "Well, I tried," he mutters quietly, pivoting to someone more interesting. "Hello there," he greets Vicente, his blue eyes moving to incorporate Kalani in the greeting as well, "Lady Kalani, am I understand you're going forward with any of those /refugee/ efforts?"

Kalani curtsies to Rafael even as she's nodding, "I am, my lord," she confirms as she straightens, holding her glass of wine with her fingertips as she does so. "My uncle has asked me to do a survey of the refugees that have been recently settled and bring back a detailed status report of their health and living conditions. There is so much that we can learn by sharing cultural knowledge," she explains with a solemn expression on her face. "I plan to bring as much in the way of medical supplies as I can carry," there's a quick glimpse fo a smile, wry though it may be, "no such thing as to prepared, after all."

Eustace, the cowardly peachick arrives, following Selah.

Selah flickers her attention sidelong to Rafael at his muttered response. "Oh, congratulations," she says with a medium level of enthusiasm to Zoey as she looks back. "I'm sure I'll meet them all very soon." When Zoey turns toward Vicente, Selah takes a few tentative steps closer to the cage with Eustace with in. "What does it... do?" she asks Michael. "I'm not supposed to ...take care of it, am I?" Surely there are servants for that sort of thing, yes?

Vicente seems to momentarily catch thought of something and says, "Forgive me, Lord Vicente Fidante, at your service." He glances towards the cage in a half interested way but says nothing regarding it. He looks to Kalani and asks, "Your uncle is Count Orrin, correct?" He grows silent again, his expression and tone ever flat.

The party has barely started when a messenger in Kennex livery arrives, out of breath, with a message for Zoey. She frowns and sighs. "I should see to this," she tells Selah. "Welcome, and let's meet soon."

Kalani sets the wine glass, mostly empty, aside before she curtsies to Vicente, "Yes, my lord. That would be the uncle in question. Which is to say, of course, that I have others," she clarifies with a smile as she straightens again.

"Well. We've got a pen in the East Gardens for the animals. They'll feed it and the like. You should certainly think about getting to know him well enough for him to trust you. Struttington nipped a little in his youth." The man's teacup gets set aside for a glass of wine as it is brought over. "My peacock delivers my messages. And occasionally gets bells attached to him for some reason. I actually nee dot ask..." Michael turns to look for Zoey but shes gone already. "Her husband is how mine got bells on it. I don't know the story of yet."

"If you'll...keep it to yourself. I am fond of mine. No matter how I complain of him. Lady Kalani enjoys seeing him strut about the city on occasion."

"Welcome to one of our many tea gardens, my lord," Rafael gestures around them with his glass. "Well, perhaps I can be of use. Our chapterhouse is as good a staging ground as any for the gathering of aid packages, and I can't imagine anything ingratiating you to those poor folk more."

"Struttington?" Selah repeats the name, plainly adrift in this entire conversation. Perhaps this entire party. She seizes upon this last bit of information as a life rope. "Lady Kalani?" She turns to scan the others present. "Perhaps you'll introduce me. Is she here this evening? I'm afraid everyone I know in all of Arx is in this room. Sparing the Master of Questions," she amends with a faint tilt of her head."

"Sir Struttington is my Peacock....I don't know what the name of your father's peafowl is....Lady Kalani?" Michael turns and snags Lani's elbow to tug her the few steps over to present her. "Lady Kalani Seliki. Count Orrin's niece. Peri and Kaldur's cousin."

Vicente gives a nod to Rafael's greeting and then asks, "You have many tea gardens?" The man has little inflection but does seem mildly surprised by this. He turns back to Kalani and adds, "I've met the count on an occasion, he seems the type interested in the welfare of others but that does seem the family business." He glances towards Michael and gives a nod of his head, "I've not had the pleasure to meet as many in the city as I should have but I am glad to make those connections even slowly."

"That would be wonderful, thank you," Kalani is saying to Lord Rafael, a smile forming on her face as she gives a slight head shake. "My initial training was as a midwife, I can't imagine that the cultural differences are so extreme that having a helping hand won't be the best way to smooth things along, diplomatically speaking, at least," she adds before she is tugged the few steps over to meet the guest of honor. Another of those fluid curtsies is offered, "Hello and welcome," she says as she straightens, "it's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Selah." She is not so far away that Vicente's words are not heard and a solemn nod is shared in his direction, "He is most interested, yes. It's, well, you could say it's the calling if our house." To Michael she wonders, "The name of Uncle Orrin's messenger bird? I'm not entirely sure. I do know that Wit does chase him around the manor every chance he gets, though."

"Two, which we were all thankful for the afternoon Michael filled the one of them with a whole herd of bovines," Rafael rolls his eyes hard. "Lady Kalani, this is my daughter, Lady Selah. She's recently accepted a position from the Master of Questions. I don't care what anybody says, it isn't nepotism." And said pointedly for Selah's benefit: "Lady Kalani here is a physician."

"Theres only two. This one used to be a sparring field...but we have Lady Kaia to blame for its subversion. Now I'm forced to practice by the pond." Michael is near taciturn now. Green eyes side-eyeing Selah something fierce. Before he turns on her fully. "For the Inquisition? To....I see." He tries to gather himself up to cmoment on her fine appointment. "They're a fine....I see." He lapses again, once more before he just bulls through it. "I am sure the work with them will be engaging. I wish you luck, cousin."

Michael checked composure + etiquette at difficulty 20, rolling 3 lower.

"Of course," Selah murmurs politely. "I should have guessed." She offers Kalani a warm smile. "The pleasure is mine, Lady Kalani. I have much admiration for the Selikis, of course. Delighted to learn that they follow in the Bisland tradition of fuzzy birds." She turns to Rafael, "Father. I can't imagine why you never wrote, to tell me about your peafowl. Or that you were in good health." After a beat she turns back to Michael with a tilt of her head. "For the Inquisition, yes," she confirms. "That's what brings me to Arx."

Vicente listens rather silently the entire time but he is clearly listening. A messenger comes up to him and hands him a paper. The man rather unpassionately opens it up, reads over it, nods his head to himself. Looking up he says, "I hope you will excuse me, I fear I have need to take care of some business rather urgently." He then bows and prepares to make his departure.

"Herd is.. perhaps a strong word?" Kalani suggests this to Lord Rafael with a bit of a smile that is amused and just a little wry before she glances back to Selah and makes a quiet, "Ah" of sound. "What will that entail? It sounds like you'd get to spend quite a bit of time doing all sorts of investigation and research. Which doesn't, also, sound like you'd spend the entire day in some mouldy dungeon pouring over dusty manuscripts," she adds with a mild grimace of distaste. She then exhales a laugh, "Well, my uncle, yes, birds, I mean. I have a raccoon, myself. He's a clever little fellow, awful fond of bright and sparkly objects, and appears to have a rather flexible grasp of property ownership." Again, that slight smile, maybe a trifle bit of a grimace, but she responds to Vicente's bow with another of those subtle curtsies, "A pleasure to meet you, good sir."

"Had I known an obsession with BIRDS had become an epidemic amongst our kin, I'd surely have written to house stewards.. on the subject of immediate quarantines," Rafael answers his daughter with a slow blink. "Or perhaps this is a matter with which to white Prince Laric's hair. I hear they've been associated with certain disappearances." Vicente is offered a polite nod as acknowledgment for the man taking his leave.

Vicente's departure is very helpful to Michael, lets him gather his thoughts as he turns to dip a bow towards the man. "Fare well, my lord." His empty wine glass is set aside rather than being allowed to be refilled. "I'll remember that the Inquisition has eyes within my home now. Something to certainly keep in mind in case I intend to strike up any abyssal relations of some sort." Hmpfh, Michael is nearly in a tizzy.

"Largely investigation and research, I believe," Selah answers Kalani with a smile. "Preferably not in moldy dungeons, but a researcher goes where the research leads. And I've never turned down a dusty manuscript. That's where you find the best information." She gives her father a puzzled frown, unfamiliar with whatever his reference is regarding. She blinks it away as she instead raises her eyebrows at Michael delicately. "One would hope that someone in the household would be disturbed by your abyssal relations, regardless of Inquisition affiliation."

"Are you suggesting that bird poo would work as a good shellac for Prince Laric's hair, or perhaps his impending or prospective lack of same?" Kalani wonders of Rafael with one eyebrow slightly arched, amusement in her expression. "It does give a new spin on the notion of abysmal relatives, does it not?" she asks of Selah then and sighs out a laugh. "YOu're right. Dusty manuscripts do have useful information. Reference points, steady reference points, are always wonderful. I prefer hands on education over tons of page turning."

"I've always found curiosity in unnecessary matters a bit tiresome," Rafael remarks innocently, turning to life his eyebrows at the bird beauty product jest, "I was suggesting nothing of the sort, and if avian excrement IS marketable, I leave that discovery to our dear Michael, here." A pause. "May he come by it without resorting to abyssal means."

Selah checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 14 lower.

"Moldy dungeons tend not to have the best information. Vellichor and it's archives and academy in Arx are better worth for investigating. Whether it be contemporary needs or otherwise." Michael clasps his hands behind his back instead of drinking more. "My relations have minimal abyssal taint, as best as I am aware. I did not worry much for it as of yet. The Lion's Overlook has a set of shelves that I tuck notes of that manner away, if you'd like a key. The sprawling tower that is sure not to have escaped your notice."

BIRDS?! Why are we still talking about /birds/? "I am sure someone of more ken to animals and their worth would be able to facilitate such a thing. The lineage of fowl under Bisland's control is minor enough to not worry about commercializing it. Are you becoming obsessive, uncle?"

The corners of Selah's smile tighten and her nostrils flare. "I find myself /curious/ about what you might find 'unnecessary', /father/," she bites out sharply. Her sparking eyes close for a moment as she inhales and when she opens them again it's to give Kalani another smile. "I believe in the equal importance of those of us who research," she presses her fingertips to her chest, "and those of us who go out and put it into practice," she gestures to Kalani. "The partnership of progress." Something about shelves and notes, and Selah's head swivels to focus on Michael. "Is it a library?" she asks with undisguised interest. I will easily confess to wanting a key, if so. I also wanted to talk to you about the study I noticed upstairs - perhaps I might make use of it, on occasion?"

A measured glance is sent around the standing group of family members as the conversation makes it rather stilted turn around and about. One pale eyebrow seems permanently arched upward, curiosity still quite plain upon her face. "You're quite right. About the important of research and then application of same. One of the things my uncle wants us to try to gather information on is the different methods of agricultural techniques, for example, from the refugees that have been resettled. What they could teach us, what our farmers might be able to teach them, it could make a huge impact in the coming years. Not all study is in dusty libraries or dungeons. In fact," she starts to tuck her hands .. into pockets she doesn't have, looks a bit sheepish after the gesture comes out looking a little silly, "if you aren't terribly busy after you get settled, maybe you can help with sorting the data once we have it compiled?"

Rafael looks first to the sky before rolling his blue eyes back down. "This," he mutters theatrically to a passing servant as he places his empty glass upon their tray, "Is my wilderness." Chest heaving in a beleaguered sigh, "All of you but Lady Kalani have exhausted me and it is because of you, I now retire." Clucking his tongue at his nephew and daughter, Rafael offers the Seliki a dip of his chin before sweeping off back toward the manner.

Kalani is overheard praising Rafael.

Kalani is overheard praising Selah.

Kalani is overheard praising Michael.

Kalani is overheard praising Vicente.