Standing there the woman slowly turned and looked. Watching Dr. Swamp as he seemed to place himself between her and the other men who had yet to enter the room as this point. Yet it wasn't long until they did. She took a step back or two, putting herself a tad closer to where Justice Cobalt was. She had to step to one side of the doctor to be able to see the men as he was far taller than she was even in her heels. It was just how things were, those who were as short as she was had to make due but it was obvious by the expression on her face that she was not happy to have to expose herself more to be able to see right then and once she had seen them she stepped back fully behind the doctor once again.

Turning her head she looked back over her shoulder towards Justice Cobalt, a slight shiver going over her body as the colder air swept over her. It was like being outside but sitting by an open fire. Part of you was warm while the rest was cold. Her eyes went to the door that was now open, one she had not noticed was there before. It was dark beyond the door way and she couldn't see into it. Her eyes seemed to ponder as she looked passed the man who had discovered the secondary exit to the room and then her head turned again as she looked towards the door on the other side of Dr. Swamp. Two exits but she didn't move. Neither were apparently to her liking right then.

There was a long silence from her before she finally spoke and even when she did, it was only a single word but in it, carried a heavy weight. "No." The word was simple, the tone was firm, the delivery was short and curt. It was simply accompanied by a single shake of the head. Whatever their request had been or would be, they had her answer. No.

Titian looked down at Professor Walnut and there was a smirk playing on his lips as he nodded. "Hell yeah, something in crimson," he added with a chuckle. What in the hell he meant by that was anyone's guess but he seemed rather amused with himself when he said it. Though after a few heartbeats he looked a little confused. Standing there and looking around as Professor Walnut made her way from the room and through the next door. He still hadn't moved, even though he had been the one to suggest they keep moving. Another few moments and he blinked before coming back to his senses and moving to catch up with the woman.

Long legs made long strides simple and he was able to catch up with her in the Joyous Corridor. Looking to his left and then to his right he shrugged a bit. The door was open to their right and across from them. Down to the left the corridor kept going. Look like it went back down towards the front of the house. He didn't see anyone else in the hallway with them right then. "Which way?" he asked. He could see some chairs and a table through the open door to his right. Across from them he could see someone dressed as the other men in the house were it seemed or at least similar. They did seem to have a lot of staff in the building. How many had they not run across yet?

"That is true, why would someone want all of us in one place is not exactly an easy thing to figure out. Since to my knowledge we aren't only strangers, but we don't seem to have much of anything in common with one another aside from the invitation. It is quite strange," she said simply, slowing down when it came to zipping at her second drink. This whole situation, everything about it, was bugging her, but she wasn't sure how everything connected, with all of them being in this specific place at this specific time.

They were all together in the manor though, in the home of someone else who didn't care if anything happened to them, so that was the current problem anyway. It wasn't like they could exactly leave, so they might as well try to make the most of things and potentially figure out what was going on. "Well, we at least have quite a while in order to start trying to figure some of these things out, should definitely make for an interesting evening."

Of all things she expected to see, what transpired wasn't quite one of them. The woman's actions seemed vicious and the man attempted to pull a dagger on her! He failed though, a small temporary relief for Rave who didn't want to see people gut each other here. If they started killing each other right now, who knew how their host might react... Though given his speech he might approve of it. She didn't want to know for sure though.

Then Madam Envy also appeared and nearly tripped over her. Rave was happy that the woman ducked out of the way of the bird though. What fallowed was rather unsettling for Rave in a few ways. Mauve seemed like she was almost enjoying the blood. She made sure to have that dagger hurt as much as it could before she pulled it out of the man's leg. She subconsciously clenched a fist as she felt nervous and then moved a few steps away, almost as if hiding behind Envy.

She now didn't really want to be near Madam Mauve anymore. Even if she hadn't felt like trusting Envy at all earlier, she chose to hold her as a metaphorical barrier.” What... should we do?” She asked Madam Envy quietly as she looked at Plum, studying his condition, feeling the desire to help him since he was hurt now.

Looking around for something to help Plum with, she noted that the best possible idea would be to stop the bleeding... but how?! She looked around in haste and panic until she spotted a handkerchief on the ground. She then grabbed it and hurried to stop the bleeding with it as she dashed to the man.” We've got to stop the bleeding! Here! This will help!” She stated as she started pushing the handkerchief into the wound as much as she could. She couldn't understand why Mauve would do something as evil as make the wound even greater!

"That's definitely true," Master Tack said, nodding thoughtfully. "I've never experienced, seen, or even heard of something similar happening. Interesting perhaps falls a little short, in terms of describing this party. As for the time we have, well, we aren't figuring out much standing here talking about how much we don't know, now, are we? I recommend we continue looking around, perhaps we'll find something worthwhile."

With that, Tack set his glass down - still mostly untouched - and had been about to head out into the courtyard when he heard raised voices coming from the music room. Instead, he walked quickly over to that door, a concerned expression on his face, before looking back briefly to see whether or not Sister Penance had followed. He then opened that door to a bewildering sight: a woman in men's clothing trying to stopper the injury of the bird-masked poet who had accompanied Tack at the back of the vehicle earlier, while the inflicter of that injury seemed to be Madame Mauve, the woman whose self-importance had disgusted him once before. Tack understood that the poet was strange, but he could see little reason to hurt him - though of course, he didn't have all the information, this did little to improve his opinion of her. Either way, he'd only had a moment to take this scene in, and so he did little but stand there in shock for next moment or so.

Creme watched in a bit of surprise as Envy walked away without even addressing her. She'd understand if she were to decline her offer, but to leave without a word was almost absurd to her. She almost thought she might've offended her somehow, but she couldn't but a finger on what she possibly could've said that would provoke that kind of reaction. She stood there, visibly confused for a moment, processing, this course of events, only for her to be rocked out of her stupor as she saw Envy get smacked in the face by a large bird. This was especially unexpected, given that they were, of course, indoors.

She weighed her options for a moment, not wanting to subject herself to the people in that room, but at the same time, she didn't want to leave Madam Envy on her own after what just happened. Siding wither her better self, and worse judgement, she followed after Envy, and a scream escaped her lips at the sight of Mauve with a bloody dagger in hand, and Rave on the ground, trying to clean up a bloody wound with a handkerchief. She stood there, her hands over her mouth, and tears starting to well up in her eyes. She could feel her body shaking at the horror that was this sight. She couldn't bring herself to words, and could only stand in abject terror as fear for what was in front of her took her over.

So Chanteuse Amaranthine was not one to be easily persuaded then. Something to remember undoubtedly. Cobalt noticed her slight shift towards him, and her glance towards the still open door behind him, but she made no further action. Her refusal was clear, and Cobalt found himself instinctively raising an eyebrow beneath his mask again, still leaning on the fireplace mantle. The night had already been filled with surprises, and it appeared that the trend was not ending anytime soon.

From somewhere, a moment of madness seemed to seize Cobalt. Maybe he was standing too close to the fire, maybe there had been something wrong with food he had nibbled on earlier, or maybe the stress of the evening so far had gotten to him far more than he realized. His eyes looked around, wild for an instant. Amaranthine was in danger, these four strange men were here to drag her away to who knows where. Jane's warnings had not fallen on deaf ears, and Cobalt was going to make sure that Amaranthine didn't succumb to whatever horrors stalked this house. The door behind him, they wouldn't have thought of that! An escape, for both of them.

Taking a step forward, Cobalt reached out to grab Amaranthine's hand, intending to pull her back with him towards the opened wall panel. As he did, he spoke, his eyes darting between the four men.

"You heard the lady! Now back off"

The musicians appeared undaunted by Dr. Swamp's assertions. It was not entirely expected that they would be, the good Doctor was less of an intimidating sort than he was merely fatigued and irritated by the vast majority of humanity at large. Still, the brazen gall with which the quartet of musicians assumed to enter the room and continue viewing the Chanteuse as a commodity was moderately infuriating. He regarded the men with a sense of irritation. Selfish men who spoke in a manner that was irrepressibly histrionic. Putting credit to them, he reasoned that men who completed each others' sentences in four parts like that were very likely good at their craft. Harmonizing their thoughts into words seemed a more difficult thing to do than harmonizing performed music.

Then a brief flicker of thought occurred to Swamp: Perhaps he was speaking for the lady without knowing her mind on the matter. She did look more vibrant, invigorated even, when playing. Had he made the wrong assumption and attempted to deny her an opportunity to catch a portion of joy for herself, in what was fast becoming a very dark evening? His question was fast answered by the Chanteuse, as she boldly spoke her single word refusal of anything the men wished of her. Dr. Swamp could only assume that she might know of the musicians with greater familiarity than himself, owing to her calling. And her flat, outright verbal bulwark was all he needed to hear.

First however, it was his turn to suppress a giggle. Not because of the quartet, but by the sudden, solid "NO" that Amaranthine threw at them like a rock. It reminded him very much of his own initial conversation with Justice Cobalt, which was amusing to say the least. He turned to the man to see if he gave any indication of having a similar frame of reference, showing just a hint of white behind a small, derisive smile. Instead, Dr. Swamp was greeted to the vision of Justice Cobalt attempting a daring escape into the frigid cold of the courtyard behind him, and prompting Amaranthine to do the same.

"Pull yourself together, man!" he bellowed in utter disbelief of what he was seeing. "These are musicians, not murderers, if only for the sake of this conversation!" They might be, they were creepy enough to give the proverbial "willies", as it were. "Their danger lies in possible previous association," he continued, nodding toward the Chantause, "and ignorance of why we remain anonymous." Turning to the four unmasked performers with even tone, "I am sure you can agree that this may make an interesting story at later date. I call upon your sense of professional courtesy for safety's sake, both yours and hers: Reserve communicating your suspicions. If nothing else, you are giving the Justice here unnatural fits and palpitations that are most unseemly." He did not need this situation to escalate further.

Quite a conniption. And Mauve merely added salt to the wound by a pressure of her palm to gritting teeth and sucking of air of Plum, before unceremoniously assisting him with the removal of the bloody thorn. And how she held the dagger as bitterly as Plum's eyes glared daggers at her behind his mask. She taunted him, threw the ball back into his court. Curse his ill fated fortune, but let the villain gloat and tout her victory. Gives a man time to think, and the hundreds of possibilities quickly calculated and narrowed out to one. Someone else had entered the room, Bram was somewhere near, and there was Rave as witness to the act. The Lord of the Manor cared not for them, and would be of no help to alert the guards. It was time to swallow his pride and admit def-

And then came Rave, armed with a silken cloth, an interloping angel or something much worse? Plum thanked Rave for putting another body into harm's way, surely Mauve would not dare strike now. Then again she did attempt to strike an innocent bird, so why would she pause for Rave? But to stuff the handkerchief into the wound, without removing his split shoe at first? There was a step missing, and Plum's eyes were split between placing his trust in Rave to not mangle up his foot, or Mauve and her bloodlusting dagger. Someone screamed, neither Rave, nor Mauve, nor Himself, all very distracting to his thoughts. He needed a cobbler, a patch to mend the shoe would be needed, if it could even be salvaged. Alternatively he would need new shoes for his feet.


"Oh betrayal is the greatest of all pains,
Summon the doctor please for my pleasure,
All bleeding stops eventually from dry veins,
But for now please apply direct pressure."

Gathered the plan of action, as his mind muddled the maze hobbled on one foot. Surely the message was clear despite his unusual mannerisms? There was a man who by the jist of things was some sort of doctor among their lot. The man who wore a vulture's face, a bird skull much to Bran's distaste. But perhaps it is fortunate that one such came to this place, for he could be Plum's saving grace. Yes, prove him to be of such a type and class, surely a wound as simple as this he could treat.

As Blush said, she was making her way to the trophy room, with or without her new "escort". She walked into the starry saloon, much better than she had previously been, the link of the cocoa still on her tongue. She paid little mind to the room for there was surely more to offer in other rooms.

Her companion turned quiet and that was kind of enjoyable. Still, it made for boring banter. "So what do you make of this house and our...host? And what is it you do exactly? If you don't mind a curious mind." Blush was eager to learn more about the others that parlayed with her. Information was a currency in and of itself, after all.

As she entered the trophy room, she noticed Jasper again (the man seemed to be everywhere!) and she subtly nodded at him, thankful for his previous help. She almost felt bad about whatever nasty comments she made about him in her head. Almost.

Jasper looked over to the woman he had helped earlier and it seemed a thought passed through his mind. Looking over to other woman in the trophy room he went and introduced the two. "Madam, this is Margarete. The Housekeeper of the Manor. Margarete, this lovely young woman is Debutante Blush." Turning his attention more towards Blush he continued but it was clear he was addressing Margarete as he spoke. "Would you be so kind as to show this beauty to the State Room north of the White Room?" he said in a clear and firm voice.

Margarete seemed look a bit confused for a moment before nodding to the man. "Yes, of course," she said curtly before Jasper excused himself from the room and turned back towards the Starry Salon and then north into the Central Hall where he stopped to speak to Oliver. Margarete waited until he left before going over to the woman and finally giving her the once over. "Seems you are in favor in this house, do nothing to break that," she said in a confidant voice. The words were firm and full of warning but there was a bit of ease setting into the woman as she motioned for Blush to follow her.

Over in the Music Room, Envy was having none of "this shit". She moved quickly and with purpose as she made her way across the room and into the Joyous corridor. Her head turning as she spotted two others at the other end of the hallway. Her head tilted to the side slightly as if she was studying them. Perhaps she was wondering just how they had gotten there as she had not seen them go through the music room. There was no need to try to stop any expression coming to her features as her face was nearly fully covered, save her eyes, behind her thick white mask.

The four men were watching and chuckled to themselves. "We do need an accompanist though, no matter whom she is," the blonde said as he came forward just a hairs breath from the others. Looking at Amaranthine and then the two men who seemed bent on keeping her from them. "Should she chose not to, that would be her choice. Though choices are not without consequences," he seemed to warn. A hand came up and wrapped over his shoulder. The light eyes dark hair mans hand on his shoulder. "We only ask you play, not sing," he followed up. "Surely that is fair enough for you have already released that talent to these walls."

Mauve watched Master Plum intently for his next move, whether that be to attack again or to admit defeat she was intrigued to know. However, their little dance of wits and brawn came to a halt as Prima Rave rushed over to stop the bleeding. She wasn't sure if she should consider the woman brave or stupid. She was leaning towards the latter at the moment, as with a quick glance downwards she saw that the woman was haphazardly shoving a handkerchief into the hole of the shoe. She rolled her eyes, moments before a scream ripped through the air. She turned her head slightly to the side in order to get a glimpse of the source while still keeping Plum in her peripheral vision. Surprise, surprise. It was Miss Crème. It seemed an audience was forming.

She tilted her head a bit as she returned her full attention to Master Plum. "Dare I say, red suits you quite well," she mused, ignoring his words as she unceremoniously wiped the blood off the dagger onto the man's pants. Once the blade was at least somewhat clean, she then stashed it on her person. Her gaze flitted downwards to Prima Rave, who was still hard at work attempting to stifle the bleeding, before coming back up to meet Master Plum's icy gaze head on. "Don't mind him, Rave. He's a dead man walking," she declared, giving the man a wink. With that, she then stood up, her hands smoothing out the fabric of her skirts. Her blue eyes gave the room and its inhabitants a onceover before she strode across the room with a sense of ease. She soon disappeared through the door that lead out to the corridor.

Captain Moss stared at Debutante Blush, he wasn't sure why she called him Petal but he didn't think to much of it at the moment and nodded, although seeing the strange rocket chair from earlier was a little to much excitement for him for one day. "Oh I am sure that there will be a lot more excitement later in the evening." Captain Moss answered her and gave a slight smile towards her, he then shrugged a bit when she asked what he did. He wasn't sure what to exactly say, he didn't know her that much and he didn't want to reveal to much of himself either, as Captain Moss started to get lost in thought.

Moss continued to think about other things that he had seen in this place, and wondered what their host actually did have in mind as well, before shaking his head out of his daze and saw that Debutante Blush had already walked off. He decided to head into the next room, and stared around it for a little bit, he rubbed the back of his neck trying to figure out where to go next before making his way over towards Quinton. "Hi, I was wondering if you saw the woman Debutante Blush and where she had gone?" Captain Moss asked.

"Perhaps you are right, you never can learn or figure out much of anything without doing a bit of exploring can you? I myself haven't really been in too many of the rooms here, so perhaps looking around and exploring would do us some good," she mused, not really talking too loudly. It didn't make sense for them to just stand around all day, well, more of all night. The best way to learn was to do something, like exploring the building that they were currently in.

She set her own drink down, following Tack's lead of sorts. Penance was a bit curious as to what exactly lay beyond the room that they were currently in, and she felt like she might as well find out since she was closer to there than exploring the rooms past the first one she had entered. Walking slowly behind him, she glanced around the room that she entered, and found it to be an interesting room of sorts. The commotion going on inside was a bit strange, someone seemed to have gotten themselves injured, what exactly had happened was anyone's guess.

This was just so damn crazy! Mauve's way of behaving was making Rave consider the woman extremely dangerous. She couldn't imagine even doing what the madam did with such a smile on her face. To act so ruthless and cause so much pain, was beyond Rave. She just wanted to help people and be friendly. She looked at Mauve with a eyes filled with a little tiny bit of fear and more nervousness. Especially when she heard the woman call Plum a deadman.

There was also a scream of someone who had arrived which startled her, but it turned that some had frozen up at the sight. Well that had happened and she wasn't sure whom to pay attention first. Thus she was trying her best to help with the bleeding. Though the way Plum spoke, she couldn't get over the feeling that he was trying to manipulate her or something like that... She didn't really like it, but he was a man in need of help so she complied and put her all into the pressuring of the wound, pressing as strongly as she could with the cloth still inside the wound since she had pushed it in there earlier.

She then threw a look back to the person who had screamed earlier. It was Creme... She wondered if someone could help her here..." Ahmmm... some help?" Rave called, still pressuring onto the wound that had a handkerchief stuffed inside. She felt like her plea was adequate enough to persuade people... probably.

This was a situation she wished she was not in and it was clear on the exposed features from beneath her face this was how she felt if one were to look at her. The woman did not seem to hide her want to be away from the situation from widening of her eyes or the thinning of her lips. She caught from the corner of her eye that someone was reaching for her and she could only assume that it was Justice Cobalt for at last glance he was the only one behind her but there was the fact of an unknown door was now open as well and anyone could have come through there with her back turned.

While she noticed the grab, she was unable to get out of the way. Justice Cobalt was easily able to grab her and pull her back towards the door. It didn't matter right then what Dr. Swamp was saying or the four other men, her feet worked quickly to try to retain her balance and she nearly failed but managed to stay on her heels and keep from toppling over. Making a quick glance back to Cobalt she tried to yank her arm free. She did and eyed him before looking back at the four men. Taking in their words and their tone before letting out a huff of frustration.

"Very well," she acquiesced in a tense tone as she stood there.

There was not much to do for the large man as he waited an answer from his touring companion. She seemed to be struck silent currently but he waited patiently. Looking about and making a suggestion or two on which way they could go. "Oh look, chairs," he said with a bit of a chuckle as he pointed to the room to the north of them. Chairs had certainly been an interesting item since they had arrived on the grounds of the manor. "I wonder if any of those can fly," he added with a laugh, finding himself very funny right then.

Hearing a bit of a noise his attention turned and he noticed one and then another enter the far end of the corridor. A brow quirking beneath his mask and he gave a bit of a wave towards them though he didn't say anything in their direction. The man was boisterous to say the least but even he wasn't about to scream down the hallway at a couple of women. At least not while he had a lovely one on his arm. "Care to say hello or wish to go another direction?" he asked Professor Walnut as he motioned towards the women at the opposite end of the hallway but kept his voice down as he leaned in to say his words.

Miss Creme looked on in to the events in front of her with a look of terror across her face. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. She flinched back as Mauve looked back at her, and averted her eyes. Whatever caused this turn of events, she wanted to stay as far off of the woman's radar as possible. As the woman made her remarks, and walked away, she started frantically thinking, needing to come to a decision about what to do. Taking direct action would doubtlessly put Creme on Mauve's bad side, and she couldn't in good conscious do nothing. "Oh dear oh dear oh dear..." She muttered under her breath. She backed slowly out of the room, ping ponging back to the Breakfast room, her hands on the sides of her head.

She pulled out a seat at the table, and sat herself down. Part of her wanted to try to go find Blush, and get her opinion on what she should do, but who knew how long that would take? Trying to find the Lord was an option, but she knew better than to try to get the attention of a man so superior to her. There had to be somebody still down here for them, and surely they'd care about an assault in their own home, even if only out of concern for the stains left behind. That seemed like the safest path of action to her, so she stood up, and shakily walked to the end of the room, ready to search for somebody that might be of some help.

Cobalt caught hold of Amaranthine's hand before she could pull it away, pulling her backwards and almost off her feet. He made it a few paces backwards before she managed to yank her hand free, and the withering look she gave him shook him out of whatever moment of madness had seized him. Frowning slightly, more at himself than anything, Cobalt watched as Amaranthine turned back to the four men and seemed to agree, to something at least, but there was still a distinct tension in the room, a chill that wasn't simply from the night air still blowing through the open doorway.

Now that he had at least somewhat come to his senses, Cobalt did what he could to repair the damage his lapse may have caused. His mouth firmly set into the friendliest smile he could manage, he nodded his head towards first Amaranthine, then the four men, and then the doctor.

"Please forgive me, Chanteuse, for that indiscretion. And I hope I haven't made too much of a fool out of myself before you gentleman. I can only blame the stress of the evening for that momentary lapse in judgement."

Justice kept holding his easy smile. Luck had certainly seemed to turn against him in the last few moments, but if he couldn't rely on his charm, what could he rely on?

To keep a man's dagger, and to wipe his blood upon his very clothes. A stain that will not remove itself so easily as you think. For the blood shall bleed through the fabric, and ingrain itself upon the very fibers. Despite it all a quaint smile came to Plum's lips. She had harmed him, injured him, and thought she could cleanly escape. But alas, a sinister sparkle came to his eyes as his mind brooded over his options. She chose to make an enemy out of him, while he extended a hand of allegiance. Then an enemy she shall find, as he pondered how he should vex her out of pure spite. A few coins paid to the serving staff? A poison slipped into the food and drink? Or should he wait and fetch the dagger while she slept with one eye open?

More over so Rave did her part. Pressing down upon the wound as the crimson wine flowed incarnadine, what a sight by visitors to be seen. Two to be precisely as he intently the treacherous Mauve leave the scene, and the trio of Rave, Plum and Creme. One was the man to meet, the visitor in the penultimate seat, the one he paused to greet and bade wait until they felt the heat. But now of all times what circumstance, that he should join this awkward dance, all of it ill-fated or left to chance. Well here's to hoping.


"Fetch the Doctor I implore,
Please hurry spare my chatter,
Find him down the corridor,
But beware of Mauve and dagger!"

Ever rhyming in stanza and scheme, in all the chaos he remained composed, speaking his poetry rather than prose. In contrast Creme fled flitting back from room to room, a panicked girl all a fume. Rave helped as best they could as Plum instructed, closing vessels as clots constructed. And Bran recovered from the fright, and took wing to take flight. Until back upon a familiar perch the bird sat, the left shoulder of the master and diplomat. Now all that remain to see was if Tack was taken by the notion, and if he too could be roped in.