High Tea for the Flowers of Cear

SnorriHT · Post by **SnorriHT** » Sun May 27, 2007 12:28 am

The burst of the white holy haze around Maeve's form momentarily blinded Latishe. "My eyes...it hurts!" she exclaimed. Distracted, Latishe took her eyes off Chia, and stepped back further away from the door. One hand moved to cover her slitted eyes, while the other remained firmly gripped on the sword. The eerie forge fire licking from the runesword spluttered and died, to be replaced with a thin whisp of intertwined oily black smoke, curling up to the roof.

Chia · Post by **Chia** » Sun May 27, 2007 1:50 am

Reeling under the effect of Maeve's voice, Chia took the advantage of Latishe's predicament, bolting toward the door. Quite instinctively, judging from the expression of stunned confusion on her face.

Without a glance behind, she ran through the treshold, whirling in a sidestep bypassing the wide frame of Roggins just beyond the door. A tray of delectably smelling pastry flew upward, as the dwarf's hands flew up in an instinctive reaction to the tiefling's sudden appearance. With a choice of either trying to pass by the reddening owner of the inn, or a hallway passage blocked by a pair of the inn's regulars, their curiosity arisen by the sounds from within the room, she put a leg on the wall to her side and launched herself over the dwarf’s short body. The angle of her flight sent past Roggins, and directly at the opposite wall. With a tap of both hands used to steer the force of her leap further, she landed out of the smoldering dwarf’s reach. A deftly executed roll extended the distance, and a moment later she was running at full speed through the corridor, followed by loud and expletive comments of the portly dwarf, his head decorated by a blueberry jam tartlet sliding to join the crushed delicacies on the floor.

“… and stay out of my inn!”

Rheia Althia · Post by **Rheia Althia** » Sun May 27, 2007 2:01 am

Maeve turned and watched Chia bolt. Thank Marduk...I wish it didn't have to come to that, but things were getting out of hand...She looked to Latishe and studied the sword, seeing that the runes had been dispelled. Her gaze turned towards the door and shut it behind her with a pale hand. A deep sigh expelled from her lips as the white haze dissipated and her skin and eyes returned to their normal unique hue.

She placed both her hands in front of her and regarded both the women, her face calm and serene. Her figure moved towards Pylia as she leaned over to help with picking up the remaining broken china and pieces of food.

SnorriHT · Post by **SnorriHT** » Sun May 27, 2007 2:48 am

As Maeve's glamour faded, Latishe recovered her senses. She walked over to the door and retrieved the scabbard. She turned around and looked at the extinguished runes on the ancient sword, and then gave a quizzical look at Maeve, who was helping Pylia clean up the mess. There is more to Maeve than what meets the eye. Was her thought. This is not the time though. This is Pylia's day and I shall not sully it with probing questions at Maeve. Latishe then respectfully slid the sword into the scabbard and put it against her chair. That done, she helped the others clean up the mess as well.

The cleaning allowed Latishe to cool down, and by the time they all sat down again she was calm, and her heart was again free from the Talon of Hate.

"Ladies, if agreeable, could I suggest that we forget this ever happened and perhaps start again please? I'd still really like to hear from Pylia about the the proposal and the ring." She smiled with demure confidence while she waited for Maeve and Pylia to respond.

*edited for clarity*

Rheia Althia · Post by **Rheia Althia** » Sun May 27, 2007 3:01 am

She watched Latishe, a neutral expression on her face. She would not forget the incident, and the cold, ruthless and calculating woman Latish became or even the summoning of the strange runes on the sword. For diplomatic purposes she would remain. It seemed Latishe was trying to make amends. And besides, perhaps she could learn more about this 'Priestess of Brintha' that would resort to violence so quickly. She would speak to Chia about her disrespectful eavesdropping later. Maeve honestly liked that tiefling, but sometimes the positions she put Maeve in...made it difficult.

Maeve pointed to three cups of tea that remained on the table untouched, a gentle smile played upon her lips.

"Look at this ladies. Some tea did survive. Please Pylia, let us hear some more about your wonderful news..."

Pylia Ju'ein · Post by **Pylia Ju'ein** » Sun May 27, 2007 3:26 am

Pylia artfully arranged the cups and plate that were left and took a seat. She flashed a small smile at the two females, her cheeks turning a pretty shade of pink. She looks down at the ring and the smile gets brighter. "You two are making me blush. But it was a most...romantic proposal. Draco managed to surprise me quite nicely and quite proud he was of himself." Pylia kept on with a merry chatter, trying to place both of them at ease once more.

SnorriHT · Post by **SnorriHT** » Sun May 27, 2007 3:32 am

Latishe followed Maeve's gentle smile to the three cups of tea on the table and she began to chuckle. "It is a sign. After all the chaos, after all the hate, the three cups of tea survive. We three are meant to be here. Now." Then she touched the holy symbol of Brintha, and a sense of joy made her face glow with earthy femininity.

Latishe then smiled at Pylia. "That is wonderful! It is very rare indeed for nobles to marry for love these days. So did he get on his knees? Did he surprise you with flowers, or did it pop out between the sheets, Pylia?

Latishe look at Pylia with an impish, playful look on her face, and was surprised at her own forward humour. But then she had second thoughts. "Of course I mean no offense, Pylia. But a noble who is skilled, willing and caring enough to give his consort pleasure would be a rare catch indeed".

*edited for naughtiness*

Rheia Althia · Post by **Rheia Althia** » Sun May 27, 2007 5:15 am

Maeve sipped her tea silently, again falling into the persona she held before the incident. Nodding when she agreed with something and chuckling when the others laughed. Her thoughts drifted to Chia, wondering how she made out and then to Latishe, wondering what kind of battles this woman was fighting within herself to change into a completely different person at whim. I hope Chia realizes that what I did was to protect her, for Latishe would could have easily ended her life one way or another...

She chuckled lightly at Latishe's words, waiting for Pylia's unavoidable blush.

SnorriHT · Post by **SnorriHT** » Sun May 27, 2007 5:35 am

While being playful with Pylia, Latishe noticed Maeve's neutrality, and her by-the-numbers polite chuckles and smiles when Pylia and Latishe chuckled and smiled. A plan developed in her head. Give a little. Be honest and perhaps Maeve will forgive you for your hate, and you can forgive her for protecting a filthy Halfbreed. What have I got to lose? Was the thought in Latishe's head as she flicked with her necklace with her well-manicured nails.

"Maeve, you seem distracted. Is there something wrong?"

Chia · Post by **Chia** » Sun May 27, 2007 5:41 am

Judging from the tone of Roggins' voice, this was not one of the frequent admonitions that could have been resolved with a meek nod and an extra to the payment for the room. Then again, she knew she was in trouble at the time the dwarf saw the water damage to her room. Of course, the furious cursing of the dwarf at that time helped to bring the issue to her attention.

She paused behind the Mistyvale, looking up at the building. With the creepers, that seemed such great idea at the time, out of the question, she would have to get on top of the roof and most likely rappel down to her window. After all, she was not going to lose her equipment again.

Disarming the numerous overlapping traps securing the door against unknown bath assailants and possible thieves probably was a good idea, too, before Roggins tried to enter her “secured” room.

Rope it was, then. Given the accident with vines, she was not going to risk another trap accident, and in retrospect, a triple redundancy trap on the window might had been an overkill.

She turned away from the building, lengthening her stride as she headed toward Cobb's farmhouse. The expression of unconcerned disengagement settled on her face, masking the tiefling's thoughts on the recent events with ease born out of years of experience.

Rheia Althia · Post by **Rheia Althia** » Sun May 27, 2007 5:42 am

Maeve looked to Latishe, a warm smile played upon her lips. She brushed a strand of her silver hair behind an oddly shaped ear and spoke.

"I am just new to this whole tea thing...I apologize if my actions seem a bit strange. I never attended any events like this during my studies in Dasar. The incident also caught me a bit off guard, that's all."

She kept her words simple, not wanting to provoke any further complications.

Pylia Ju'ein · Post by **Pylia Ju'ein** » Sun May 27, 2007 5:57 am

At Latishe's jesting Pylia being Pylia typically turned a deep shade of red. 'Oh...yes he had the room filled with flowers." Pylia stammered as she blinked, not quite knowing how to go on. "But He...I ...I mean we....errrrrr" The pretty bard stammered at a loss for words. "Draco treats me with all honor and is quite ...understanding of my *coughs* innocence of....ummm certain matters."

Py's face was by now flaming and she took a quick sip of tea. She decided on somewhat a change of subject. "What was I saying?...oH yes, he had the room filled with candles and my favorite flowers. And he left the ring for me to find, and when I did, he asked me to be his bride."

At the question to Maeve, Py's gush of words ceased as she listened to the two, her cheeks still red.

Rheia Althia · Post by **Rheia Althia** » Sun May 27, 2007 6:03 am

Maeve smiles to Pylia as she stammers along. Bringing the warm tea to her lips again. She speaks in response, a icy strand of hair falling in front of her strange eyes.

"I can assure you my dear, that I am far more innocent than you," She chuckles lightly, the dimples in her cheeks making themselves apparent, "But I am so glad you have found someone who suits you as wonderfully as he does."

SnorriHT · Post by **SnorriHT** » Sun May 27, 2007 6:24 am

Latishe smiled respectfully at Pylia and then reached out and gently touched her arm with tenderness. "You are so lucky to have a noble interested in treating you with honor and willing to take the time in matters of the intimate. To be honest one of the reasons I love being a Priestess of Brintha is to escape the political marriage. A marriage where my only hope would be an incubator for a husbands future brats, while he dilly-dallies with his mistress."

Latishe sighed sadly and then looked into Pylia's eyes, with renewed happiness "You have something special, Pylia. If there is anything I can do, let me know. I have never offered my services freely to anyone Pylia, but you have shown me how to give a little. And I thank you."

Lastishe then thought on how close she had came to destroying Draco, to arrange for his eye to be plucked out. That was the turning point for me. Thought Latishe. It will be my shame forever, and I shall keep it to remind me of the Talon that wants to encircle and grip my heart with hatred.

Latishe then looked at Maeve. "So Maeve, is their someone special in your life?"

Rheia Althia · Post by **Rheia Althia** » Sun May 27, 2007 6:38 am

Maeve's gaze turned from Pylia to Latishe, and a slight grin played upon her lips.

"Oh me? Oh no...I am completely devout in my service to Tharon. I was enrolled in his service at a very young age and I have taken personal vows of my own choice. Even after I left the order I kept those vows. One less distraction...But please, enough about me, tell us something about yourself. Do you have a suitor of sorts? Or do you have vows as a Priestess?"

Maeve then took another sip of her tea, a genuine expression on her face. She was trying to make an effort here, but still felt quite out of place. Her thoughts once more drifted the incident as she looked to the two with an earnest expression.