The deal had been made and the party worked its way back down the stairs, none of them interested in the other more personal offers the Scavenger God had made. Once on the first floor, Cion realized he had come to the bottom of his second glass of the strong liquor they had been served and it just didn’t seem like it was enough.
”Why do we not stay out awhile yet? The night is early and I would venture to say none of us has ever experienced anything quite like this place before,” he said looking over the group. ”I am not saying any of you have to partake in the darker aspects of this place, just stay and enjoy the change of scenery for a bit. We are masked, no one knows who we are and so we may relax and be ourselves, unscrutinized. I am curious to see if those stories about you holding your liquor are true, Donovan. Even you, Princess could be anyone you want here,” he gave her a charming smile that most would interpret as his regular flirting, even though his thought was perhaps she would let her guard down a bit and Eida could take advantage of them being away from court.
”Why do we not stay out awhile yet? The night is early and I would venture to say none of us has ever experienced anything quite like this place before,” he said looking over the group. ”I am not saying any of you have to partake in the darker aspects of this place, just stay and enjoy the change of scenery for a bit. We are masked, no one knows who we are and so we may relax and be ourselves, unscrutinized. I am curious to see if those stories about you holding your liquor are true, Donovan. Even you, Princess could be anyone you want here,” he gave her a charming smile that most would interpret as his regular flirting, even though his thought was perhaps she would let her guard down a bit and Eida could take advantage of them being away from court.
Tsubaki was the last out, having something private to discuss with Mlungisi. He follwed after Cion and his companions quickly, catching the red haired Dawn as he was trying to convince his friends to stay and party.
"Cion has the right of it my friends. That is Fu Tein's biggest draw. People come from as far as Nexus and Thorns to be someone other than themselves, if for a short time." he gave his best smile as he slipped up beside his mate.
"Cion has the right of it my friends. That is Fu Tein's biggest draw. People come from as far as Nexus and Thorns to be someone other than themselves, if for a short time." he gave his best smile as he slipped up beside his mate.
Sanjuro noticed Tsubaki hadn't followed immediately and his brow furrowed with suspicion. It had been awfully convenient that he'd arrived when he had, and just so happened to be an associate of the rogue God they'd been sent to deal with.
Still, in a town such as this, he didn't have time to take his eyes of the Solars for long. Trouble lurked behind every mask, so far as he'd learned in his time here. Bad enough they'd attracted the attentions of the scheming Lunar.
He frowned beneath his mask as Cion and Tsubaki began to entice the young Exalted.
"It will not take long for rumor of your... display... to spread, Princess. We should leave, swiftly." he insisted.
Still, in a town such as this, he didn't have time to take his eyes of the Solars for long. Trouble lurked behind every mask, so far as he'd learned in his time here. Bad enough they'd attracted the attentions of the scheming Lunar.
He frowned beneath his mask as Cion and Tsubaki began to entice the young Exalted.
"It will not take long for rumor of your... display... to spread, Princess. We should leave, swiftly." he insisted.
Eida stepped up to Chanekeh and Callista through the crown "He is right, Princess, staying here would risk drawing the attention of who knows what, especially now that I am sure that his guests have begun to leave." He was not particularly happy that the new Lunar said something in front of everyone else, and wanted to know more about him. The fact that he was already acquainted with their current target made this entire situation feel...off.
"Apologies Cion, I have no desire to stay in a place where my welcome is fleeting, perhaps your time here can be better spent getting to know others."
"Apologies Cion, I have no desire to stay in a place where my welcome is fleeting, perhaps your time here can be better spent getting to know others."
"Well, since they stole the spotlight there, why not use that for us now? I'm sure noone would notice us, at least until we wanted to be. Ruby was curious about the goings on here. Maybe the drink, maybe the gambling tables, something simple, something distracting. "Where do we start?"
Jill noticed the way that Cion looked slightly uncomfortable for a moment when it seemed like the only one who was going to accept his offer was his proclaimed Lunar. She wondered if all Solars felt uneasy about finding their past mates and if it was that off-putting to think that someone could have a supernatural devotion to them. The problem was, it didn’t seem like an impulse or magical pull, it was as natural as breathing to want to be around their Solar which is why resisting was so hard. Luckily, Ruby spoke up before she did, making Cion look very relieved.
”I’m in. I don’t think anyone will notice or care about our presence. A few drinks never hurt anyone, and you know Sanjuro of all places this is one you could actually fit in,” she smiled and shrugged. The guy really needed to relax a bit.
”I’m in. I don’t think anyone will notice or care about our presence. A few drinks never hurt anyone, and you know Sanjuro of all places this is one you could actually fit in,” she smiled and shrugged. The guy really needed to relax a bit.
”Thank you for the offer, but I think this place is a bit too much for me and Sanjuro is right, people might begin to talk about the display up there. You all feel free to enjoy yourselves and we will meet back up in the morning.” Callista said. The place was enticing, and there were things that even she knew she’d enjoy, like dancing and live performances. Even though she was curious and wearing a mask did seem to make a person bolder, a place like this was nowhere a princess belonged, even a disguised one. ”Eida, you do not have to feel like you need to leave for my sake. Those who are not staying, I would appreciate an escort back though.”
"There is no concern to be had. I am not welcome here. The escorts around already know that. It is only time before they become bold. I will accompany you back." He motioned for the Princess to lead them out and fell in step behind, eager to leave the beady little eyes behind them.
Cion was a little dissapointed part of their group was leaving, but he figured it would work out for the best. ”We will try our best not to misbehave too much,” he smirked and bowed a little as the others left. Turning back to the remaining people he held his hands out. ”Where to first… ah.. Let us see just what kind of spirits they have here.”
"As long as it isn't that bitterroot that he tried to get us to drink. And make sure some snacks are involved, don't need you getting drunk before us." Ruby slipped an arm in Cion's and grabbed Silver by the hand as they swung about, no sense in getting all lost before they even started having fun. She looked over her shoulder at the unsure Azuma and nodded in their direction, "May, you coming?"
”Is that a challenge then?” Cion laughed and steered them towards a table near a stage where a group of djala musicians were playing a lively song. It wasn’t long until they all had beverages in their hands and laughing loudly. During an interlude where Jill was engaging the others in a story of how she stole a wedding ring from a mayor’s mansion, in a moment of lack of better judgement Cion leaned over to Ruby. ”How well do you know the Princess?” He asked, thinking more of his new friend’s situation than his assumed pursuit of her.
"Do I know the princess? about as well as I know you. Less well than I know Silver, and better, I guess, than Eida and Sanjuro." She was halfway through her mug and bouncing lightly to the music as twirling dancers made their way between tables. "Why? Something I can ask her for you? Didn't take you for the type who had others follow up for them." She smiled to let him know she was just kidding.
Cion was rather feeling the effects of the alcohol but not minding that he might be losing their not-bet bet. ”You? No, I do not need anything asked,” he chuckled waving his hand. ”I was just curious what you know of her betrothal and what she thinks of it.”
May turned to follow Callista as Ruby called her name. She stopped in her tracks, shocked that the woman had treated her as anything but a servant.
She looked to her brother, who shrugged, before remembering he was no longer her master.
Callista seemed to give an encouraging nod, but May wasn't exactly comfortable with the situation.
"No, the Princess asked to be escort-" a friendly hand touched her shoulder and Pyrrha's green eyes came into view.
"Callista is being escorted by plenty of people. Come have fun with us, you may never get the chance again." she smiled warmly. May spared Callista another glance before taking the Platean's hand and being drug along after the others.
She looked to her brother, who shrugged, before remembering he was no longer her master.
Callista seemed to give an encouraging nod, but May wasn't exactly comfortable with the situation.
"No, the Princess asked to be escort-" a friendly hand touched her shoulder and Pyrrha's green eyes came into view.
"Callista is being escorted by plenty of people. Come have fun with us, you may never get the chance again." she smiled warmly. May spared Callista another glance before taking the Platean's hand and being drug along after the others.
Well, there went that chance for the night. The man was chasing an impossible goal. Too many people with too many expectations. "Her betrothal? haven't heard a thing about it. Weird, if you think about it. Who's it to? The Khal doesn't need another wife. Which son is she gonna marry?" He head was a little fuzzy from that first drink whatshisname gave them, but it was all fine right now. She leaned in for her next question: "Think you can convince her bodyguards to let you near her? Find something to teach her like the other two did, our little secret."
Cion stared for a moment, what Ruby was implying working its way through his foggy head. ”Oh.. No.. it is not like that. Not anymore. I have decided to give up pursuing the princess,” he laughed, perhaps too loudly. ”I only learned of her engagement recently, and do not know exactly to whom it is just one of the Khal’s sons. I was curious in case she had interest in someone else.” He was kind of fishing but not doing much of a good job at it.
Sanjuro regarded Jill curiously.
"The idea is to use the mask to hide one's identity. This mask is my identity. The man who had time for drinking and dancing died when the Khal and his horde came." he said, in an even tone. It was a statement of fact, nothing he was angry with her for asking.
"The idea is to use the mask to hide one's identity. This mask is my identity. The man who had time for drinking and dancing died when the Khal and his horde came." he said, in an even tone. It was a statement of fact, nothing he was angry with her for asking.
And now she was completely lost. What was he after? "If not her, than who? Besides, is she even interested in finding someone to settle with? She seems driven to handle her country before anything else." The dance was coming to a close as the dancers separated and came to individual tables, a dark haired beauty in billowing silks approaching theirs in particular, seeing if anyone was interested.
"Yes, but he died a happier man than the one who did not enrich himself with those things." She shrugged. Jill watched as Ruby leaned in close to Cion and whispered to him. For the most part it didn't bother her but she did wonder what they could be conspiring about. The whole arrival of another lunar had completely thrown her off, and she was worried the other Solars might start asking questions.
”Ah, no one. I suppose she is very ingrained into her duties. It is a pity she cannot relax more like the rest of us,” he said, his intoxication keeping him leaning in close to her instead of moving away. The dark hair woman moved around the table, spotting the matching attractive redheards.
”Would you or your sister care for a dance or perhaps a massage? Discount for two.”
”Would you or your sister care for a dance or perhaps a massage? Discount for two.”
Moderators: cyranax Callista (played anonymously) Eida (played anonymously) Kellian Roux (played anonymously)