Fiddle faddle piddle paddle. Norwood's puttering about his garden twitching this brazier here, and poking at a bit of moss used to winterize his garden there. His is failing completely to look like the Baron in charge and instead looks like the gardener in charge. A poke of his toe at a cushion. This is fine.

Nadine, an adorable bearded puppy arrive, following Jael.

"Buzz on by" says the sign. Of course it does. Beatrice, bundled into a cloak, studies the Clement grounds with the same, deatched fascination that she might a play. How different this is from home. It takes her little time to find the correct spot to both observe the wares for auction and stand near a brazier for warmth.

Merek makes his way into the place, and looks around while he pulls his scarf to him, then he nods a bit.

Arcelia sneaks in and offers a wave over to Merek before she tucks herself over to the side and waits for the auction to begin.

Adalyn strolls into the garden arm in arm with Vitalis, carrying on a murmured conversation. Her gaze falls upon Norwood as he moves about the garden, a fond smile warming her features as she watches him. She casts her Mazetti companion a faint smile and moves to close the distance between them and Norwood. "Papa, you've made it look lovely. Anything you need help with?"

Iroh has arrived at this auction, though he doesn't seem to greet people or make easy conversation. Instead, he simply moves to get himself into a chair, and he smiles a little bit as he waits.

Not dissimilar to earlier in the day, Cristoph comes walking in with Rupert. He does the smile and wave thing to a few people and then finds himself a place to hunker down for the auction. He seems to be a bit more with it than earlier. Now and again he sends Rupert off to do bid on something and get him the numbers of how the auction is going. He looks increasingly amused as the night goes on.

Cristoph has joined the a lush beet garden.

As Cristoph finds a spot to sit by the beet garden he comments to Rupert, "I hear the beets grew so well this season because of Baron Norwood's devotion to Petrichor." He gestures at the mysterious 3' tall stick and twine figure.

Jael makes her way onto the Clement grounds, a path she has tread many times before. And she actually stops by the beehive and murmurs something to the sleeping residents before tracking down the host. "Uncle Norwood, it looks wonderful!"

Merek nods a bit to Arcelia, while he speaks with someone to place quiet bids for him. He then settles back while he nods thoughtfully.

Norwood looks up chagrined when Adalyn catches him puttering about. "Oh, yes. Ah, could you please make sure that the servants have the proper forms to circulate about the auction? And make sure a sword isn't bidding please?" Because that's something that's normal to say.

"Jael," Norwood replies, "IT is good to see you, and Cristoph. Rupert looks a little put upon at the moment."

2 Whitehawk Guards, Cabbit, a nub-tailed tabby cat arrive, following Bedivere.

Showing up fashionably late is the Lord Bedivere Whitehawk with Cabbit the Cat upon his Knights-of-Solace-tabard-clad shoulder. With his left/only hand, he waves around to all those who might know him or that he might know, too.

"Oh, I just seem to be in a little bidding war with Prince Laric and Lord Kedehern. You know how these things go," Cristoph seems to be entirely enjoying himself over the situation at least as he sends Rupert off again.

2 Keaton Huntsmen leaves, following Iroh.

"Rupert, Rupert, Rupert." Jael doesn't care about Rupert, but she heads towards her brother next to the big strong Petrichorean beets. "Ooh, I do love a good bidding war."

"Lord Bedivere!" Norwood probably relieved that someone over 40 is here in the room. Norwood strides in that direction with a hand outstretched to the other lord. Please be middle-aged with him.

Salvadore, a fire salamander arrives, delivering a message to Cristoph before departing.

Beatricept

Bedivere strides forth to meet in the middle as middle aged with Norwood, taking note that the correct hand (the left one) was offered out his way. And, thus, the old men shake hands. Firmly so yet not too hard on Bedivere's part. "Good to see you, Baron Norwood! It has been quite some time!"

Another paper is handed to Cristoph and he GASPS. He shows it to Jael.

Jael looks at the paper her brother hands her and busts out laughing. "You mean to tell me that your current coat is bidding on the new coat?"

Vitalis is a ready scaffold to Lady Adalyn, "Forms?" He blinks at Adalyn. Oh, right, it's -there's a thing happening. Brows furrow, "Why shouldn't a Sword bid, their silver is as good as any?" The question is directed at Adalyn, though not quiet. The three-foot twine and stick ...creature is given a studied look. Brows loft and he glances at Cristoph, "The Duke beet me to it. Such a harvest should be celebrated."

Standing by Bedivere's side Norwood ushers him about. "Have you met my daughter Adalyn?" Adalyn gets waved at to come over, "And Lord Vitalis Mazetti?" But then Vitalis is dropping that PUN and Norwood gives him a look. "Don't beet around the bush with your opinions. They're too delicate at this time of year."

Before Laric's salamander can rush off, Cristoph asks him to take a piece of paper to one of the servants. "I can't believe Laric is insulting my coat. The nerve."

Bedivere easily moves alongside Norwood to meet his daughter, "Lady Adalyn, a pleasure to meet you." He looks to Vitalis, doing so with a quick laugh but that does not last long, "Good to meet you as well, My Lord."

"Certainly!" Adalyn answers cheerily, moving to confer with the servants to ensure that all will run smoothly. Vitalis's query draws a wry smile. "Not just any sword. A particular one," she answers vaguely. The pun draws something between a groan and a laugh. She flashes a grin to Cristoph and Jael before she's turning attention to introductions being made. A warm smile is offered to Bedivere along with a bow of her head. "I don't believe we've met, no. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Calculating, pricing: silent auctions are a study in careful valuation and... "Beets?" The voice and the terrible pun utterly distract Beatrice away from her work. Her smile beams as she lifts a hand in a wave to Vitalis - and then promptly returns it to the warmth of her cloak. To the sleeping bees she murmurs, "We have, I believe, found the root of the terrible punnery."

"The name of my GOAT?" Cristoph is quickly scribbling on another paper.

Jael has joined the a lush beet garden.

"We do try to grow upwards from such base humor," Norwood says, deadpan in his response to the princess' pun. This is going to be that kind of party. It's too bad Death isn't more worshiped in this household. She'd like it.

"Someone really wants that coat," Jael says as messengers scamper back and forth. "Then again, it is lovely." She digs for a purse hanging at her hip and looks into it thoughtfully.

Salvadore, a fire salamander arrives, delivering a message to Jael before departing.

Salvadore, a fire salamander arrives, delivering a message to Jael before departing.

Vitalis offers a bow, abbreviated by arm linked with Adalyn, to Bedivere, "Likewise, my Lord." He grins at Adalyn's groan, straightening from the introduction. OFf there, by the hives, Beatrice, a smile skirling and a hand lifted in a wave. "Are you bidding, Lady Malespero?"

Receiving a new piece of paper from one of the servants, Cristoph turns a look full of faux outrage on his sister. "Betrayer," he hisses at Jael. This kind of exchange seems well practiced however, a well oiled exchange of sibling rivalry.

Bedivere gives a bow to Adalyn, and Cabbit the cat on his shoulder catpensates before the gent rises to his full height once more. A repeat for Vitalis, too, before telling Adalyn, "Thank you." To Vitalis, "And you." Then, he looks back Norwood's way, smirking faintly about the reprimand on base humor.

12 Grayson House Guards arrives, following Liara.

Jael gets briefly swarmed by Laric's salamander, which has her standing very still and looking distinctly uncomfortable until the creature scampers off again, at which point she whirls on her brother. "I didn't DO anything! I've been standing right here the whole time!"

Beatrice casts the auction wares a lingering glance before joining Vitalis and the Clement hosts. "My Lords, my Ladies," Beatrice greets genially and generally, pausing to allow Salvadore, a fire salamander, to cross her path. Twice. "Perhaps," she offers in answer to Vitalis's question. "The selection is bee-utiful but the competition has bite. Ironwool's potential is to be admired."

"Lady Jael, Duke Cristoph," Norwood calls out, turning to his former wards and eyeing them. He's about to say MORE but then Beatrice is giving the perfect pun. He turns back to her and reaches out his hand. "My lady, please, come to my household any time. I will have a honey jar ready for you."

"How do you and my father know each other?" Adalyn inquires of Bedivere conversationally. Her gaze strays momentarily toward the squabbling Laurent siblings, amusement clear in her expression, but then it's Beatrice greeting that captures her attention. She offers an amused smile and a nod in agreement. "My Lady," she greets. "It's creating quite a buzz, isn't it?"

Charmed, Beatrice takes Norwood's hand and places to it a gallant kiss. "Beatrice Malespero," she supplies, Lycene accent tumbling over the odd pronunciation of be-ah-tri-shay. "You must be Lord Norwood, as sweet as reported. Thank you for indulging my company and humor, such as it is."

Liara shows up, and manages to discard most of her entourage near the garden's entrance, although a couple of guards persist in following her farther in anyway, as she heads towards the ironwool on display, with smiles all around to people she passes.

Adalyn's pun draws a laugh from Beatrice. "A buzz, indeed, and no less than it deserves. Fit for a queen." Or a queen bee, her eyes tease. "Has one of the wares captured your eye?"

To Adalyn, Bedivere says, "Both of us are instructors at the Academy of War. Goodwoman Natalia is my protege." He, too, looks to the squabble before then drawing his gaze to Beatrice. "Well met." Cabbit is a pro at shoulder riding, and so he stays perched without much problem, plus Bedivere is slow when not fighting, so that works well for him.

"Of course princess," Norwood replies. "IF you will excuse me for a moment, I must go check in on the Duke. His face is making interesting shapes."

Norwood has joined the a lush beet garden.

Bedivere has joined the a lush beet garden.

Vitalis took a turn along the goods some while ago, "I rather like the tea cozy." He watches with something akin to alarm and admiration, the deft negotiation of Cabbit on Bedivere's shoulder.

"You're cooperating with Laric," Cristoph mutters to Jael. As if he's very ganged up on! Though a second later, he's getting another paper from Rupert and is starting laugh again. All in all, he seems to be having a grand time doing whatever it is he's doing over there. When Norwood comes his way, he gives him a very innocent look. "Bidding?"

"I am NOT," Jael retorts, and then as Norwood walks up immediately punches Cristoph in the upper arm. "He started it."

While purrched upawn Bedivere's shoulder, as soon as it seems to be stable, Cabbit lifts a paw and licks it, his eyes gazing back to Vitalis.

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

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

Recognition instantly dawns on Adalyn's face as she hears Bedivere's response. "Whisper Natalia is wonderful, isn't she? I'm ever so fond of her. I'm a student at the Academy of War myself." Her gaze strays torward the items on auction, a pause given as she considers Beatrice's question. "They're all lovely, but I've been admiring the tabard."

Norwood looks between Cristoph and Jael. His hands go upon his hips. "Do I need to write to Lorraine?" IT's an exaggerated Dad-Zone.

While Cristoph doesn't punch his sibling (probably because his mother has yelled at him about this as a child), he does smack her arm with the back of his hand. "No, don't write my mother!"

Louder, Norwood claps his hands. "All bids as placed now are final!"

a wildflower chained bookcase is now unlocked.

Norwood gets a wildflower chained bookcase.

Bedivere drifts toward the beet garden, but Norwood beats him there. Though, that does not stop him from angling his conversation to Adalyn. "She is. Should you need assistance in regards to the academy, feel free to ask or to write me if you wish to."

Beatrice seems oddly unphased by Bedivere's shoulder-riding cat, her smile cordial to both Vitalis and Adalyn. "Then I wish you both fortune - and that you need not spend one. Your taste is faultless." Her gaze drifts to the beet garden antics. "One can't not be caught by the enthusiasm found in this home."

Are they late? Oh, last bids, that definitely means they're late. But when you look this good, who cares? Prince Niklas Grayson steps into the beehive garden with his wife, Princess Sabella, on his arm. And he is dressed head to toe in beautiful, glimmery ironwool. Is that an ironwool top hat? You know it is. Ironwool shirt? Ironwool jacket? Indeed! And those ironwool pants? So chic! He escorts his wife through the garden, nodding thisaway and thataway to people he recognizes, and offering a big smile and wave to Princess Liara, but no hugs because of itchy, until he sets down near all them beets.

Merek smiles a bit with a nod along to the person he speaks with, his attendant Meeka taking the time to bring him a drink.

Salvadore, a fire salamander arrives, delivering a message to Norwood before departing.

"Did he say last call?" Sabella asks Niklas, looking around with a bright smile, "I think I might've lost out on the one thing I bid on, but that's quite all right," She gives a wave to Merek and Liara before calling out, "Michael! Did you bid on anything?"

Niklas has joined the a lush beet garden.

Liara, over looking at the ironwool items already on display, spots the fresh new set walk into the garden out of the corner of her eye, and offers a flutter of a wave back to Niklas and Sabella, asking Niklas then, "Have you seen all these before? Some really rather splendid ideas."

Merek notices the wave to him, and nods to Sabella and Niklas, while he takes a drink from the wine he is delivered, swirling his tongue to capture it all with a little purr. He seems content while he rolls along the balls of his feet.

Marigold, a cheeky pygmy goat arrives, delivering a message to Cristoph before departing.

The good-looking Graysons are here! Bedivere looks their way, "Looking good!" says he toward Niklas and Sabella. Of course, Cabbit is on his shoulder.

"Thank you, My Lord, I will be sure to remember that," Adalyn answers Bedivere with a grateful bow of her head. Her gaze follows Beatrice's toward the beet garden, a fond smile settling into place. "It certainly keeps things enjoyable," she agrees.

Apparently while Cristoph was speaking with Norwood and Jael, he lost out on his little bidding war with Laric. Once he discovers that, he sighs and looks over to his sister. "I suppose I'll just have commission a new outfit to feel better. Ah, well." Life is terrible.

"Would you like som Ironwool for that outfit," Norwood says, looking like he's about to go and get a whole bunch of cloth to shove at Cristoph RIGHT NOW.

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

"If you will pardon me," Beatrice apologizes to Vitalis, Adalyn, and those nearest, "I must attend to some business. It is my turn to... what is the phrase?" A faint pout. "Make like a tree and leaf." She bows, eminently courteous and utterly irrepressible.

1 Malespero guard leaves, following Beatrice.

Salvadore, a fire salamander arrives, delivering a message to Cristoph before departing.

"Ironwool is stylish and protective. And more comfortable than rumors suggest," says Niklas, not scratching his arms. He looks to Cristoph, "Duke Cristoph, I wish you luck in trying to put a bunch of cats bag into a bag." Then to Jael, who gets a, "Lady Jael," which might be just the littlest bit frosty. To Norwood, "If you're truly looking to outfit your army in ironwool send me a messenger and I think we can work something out. I lead the project," he came up with the name and had smarter people with less of an attention deficit do the work, "so I am quite keen to see it spread far and wide."

"What cats?" Cristoph asks, sending a rather perplexed look in Niklas' direction.

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.

Norwood has stepped away from everything for a moment to respond to messengers and send things along now that the bidding is finished. "Thank you prince Niklas, I would be in your debt if you would be willing to assist."

Vitalis is overheard praising Norwood: An auction not to be beet

When Niklas says what he does about putting cats in a bag, Bedi reaches up and makes sure to pet Cabbit a few times on his triangular ears. "Don't listen."

Vitalis puts a hand over Adalyn's on his arm, at Beatrice's comment, "A charming lot, to be sure." He studies the Lycene woman, head tipped - they're a pair, these two - among the Oath- and Crownlanders. "I thought cats were only let out of bags? No?" He shrugs, "I suppose they have to get in there somehow." He smiles at Adalyn, with regrets, "Pardon, I'm going to have to break the news to my attache that I didn't win the tea cozy."

Bedivere points his nub of a wrist at Vitalis, "Right?!"

Adalyn offers a murmured farewell to Beatrice as she moves to depart, thent turns with a smile for Vitalis. "Try to break the news gently." Just as she turns back toward the gathering, her assistant Alphonse approaches with a murmured word to the younger Clement. She eyes him a moment then shrugs her shoulders. "Alright then. My apologies, I need to step out for a bit." And with a wave, she disappears into the Clement house to tend to whatever small issue appears to have arisen.

"Who is that?" Jael asides to her brother before catching the introduction to Norwood. "Ah." Her eyes narrow a little, then, "I'll see you back at the Manse, Cris. I am sure you can find someone to make you a nice coat."

Jael has left the a lush beet garden.

Nadine, an adorable bearded puppy leave, following Jael.

"Cats. Bags. I was referring to your out-of-control book situation." Niklas gives a shrug. Norwood is given a nod, "Absolutely. I'll see what I can do."

"Ah. The book." Norwood says with a small tap of his toe. "Unfortunately I believe there are additional copies floating about now. It is unfortunate." Unfortunate to say unfortunate twice. "However, I hold no ill will towards the writer, nor those who wish to read it. I believe it was my fault that it ended up in the Laurent Manse."

Bedivere jokingly relaxes after Niklas's clarifiCATion. Though, he soon looks Norwood's way, "How was it your fault?"

Norwood checked dexterity + sewing at difficulty 9, rolling 26 higher.

"Oh, the books! I'd already forgotten them. I ransomed a bunch from some scoundrel in the Thrax ward," Cristoph looks thoughtful. "Ah, well. I'm glad I didn't agree to get ALL of the books. Just as many as possible!" He stands up from his seat and pats Norwood on the shoulder. "Sure, I'm going to need an ironwool cloak, especially since Laric just bought this one out from under me." A helpless fist to the sky gesture before he gathers his things. "I should be off. Excellent auction!"

Bedivere says, "Farewell, Duke Cristoph!"

"Farewell, man I haven't met before!" Cristoph calls to Bedivere.

Cristoph has left the a lush beet garden.

"I have heard all about the existence of these books but little indeed about the content," remarks Liara, then, with a light lift of her eyebrows, she wonders, "Worth reading? Compelling adventures or cast of characters, perhaps?"

Niklas eyes Liara. "Oh, all of that and more, I'm certain." He looks back to Norwood with a half bow and says, "I apologize for my lateness, but it looks like it will have been a profitable and fortuitous evening either way! I believe we will head out. Good evening to all. Liara, we'll see you later."

Niklas has left the a lush beet garden.

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

"Not at all." Norwood replies to Liara. "It is... smutty." That's a weird word. "Thank you, all for coming. You are welcome to stay as long as you wish." Norwood raises his voice to call that out over the garden.

When Norwood explains the book is smutty, Bedivere's face creases in frown.

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

"Oh, I see. I wondered as to the excitement they seemed to be causing." Liara upturns her hands in an unknowing little gesture, then flashes Norwood a smile. "Anyway, it was splendid to see all that ironwool."

"I believe it was the allure of the... naughty," so much pain in Norwood's tone at that word. "Here, let me get you all some tea..." Norwood tootles off. There will be much tea and honey and milk. It's a Clement thing.