Old age and treachery. Wickness armed with cunning, surely under seven veils she danced, that Matilda of a woman intent on giving the doctor quite the haircut. But perhaps in a twisted sense, she did do her part as a nurse assistant, as to give the doctor his shots. All the more reason for people to fear them in these debauched times, administered through the barrel of a pistol perhaps, what rightful parent would care to subject their child to such dangerous metals? And it would seem, that the device held by the devilish assailant was aimed at Swamp rather than Plum. What good fortune for the downed bird that he stared not at the invisible barrel aimmed to shoot, and even better fortune for him as the gunslinger became his vengeance for now. And what divine fortune that in the loud bang: the hammer dropped.

A flash in the pan. That was all it ever was, perhaps the gun jammed, perhaps the ghost of the last charge cursed its successors, or it could very well be an invisible man's finger plugging up the barrel. Either way the discharge became a searing blast, splintering shrapnel near the cracked Walnut. Whether or not twas the shot or not this attracted the attention of the doorman from earlier, Jasper was it? The majordomo voice came in clearly demanding to know the situation, and it was Swamp's voice that cut in first. Spinning his yarn and side of the story, to which surely Walnut would tell her tale, which left Plum without a story to tell. Perhaps further away from this place, from these two mad and murderous lot, the hands of the Lord's men fared no better, but maybe the gambit would pay off just as well. Or be it that, turn into merely misfortunes swapped?

Blush took a quick scan of the room, satisfied she found all she could and stepped out of the bedroom and back into the hallway. The hallway itself showed no sign of anything interesting so she knew she had to continue her search in the rooms. The decor in the rooms she had seen thus far was impressive. She wondered if the owner of this mansion oversaw it or if it were a family deal. No two rooms seemed the same and she wondered if that played a part.

She stepped up to the next room and entered. She immediately fell in love with the decorations that adorned the wall. The color was right up her alley too. If she had a choice, she would gladly sleep in this room. What struck her was the window. It seemed black, like it was being blocked. However, she examined it closer and saw a courtyard and accessibility to the roof. Was that on purpose? What other secrets did the room hold?

Apparently not much as far as the window. It didn't appear to open and there were no noticeable fingerprints on it. That satisfied her as she made her way to the desk. Apart from blank papers and inks and quills, there wasn't anything of note. The bookcases held various knickknacks and was, oddly enough, free of dust.

She picked up various odds and ends until she came to a bell. Or rather, it looked like a bell. It didn't ring when she picked it up. She examined it further and found what appeared to be a coin. She took it in her hand and examined it closer and recognized the symbol. She had seen it before. So a key and a coin. This floor was proving to be most useful in information.

Walnut hesitated for a moment. She still had the key that Titian had handed her - that was going to prove a problem. Master Plum was unconscious and Doctor Swamp was, quite understandably, likely feeling betrayed. However, it wasn't as if they had made an agreement towards a murder pact. Walnut had quite genuinely volunteered to help with the medical treatment of the annoying bird man, out of the kindness of her heart, and found herself witnessing a potential murder. It was annoying - and further proof that nothing good ever came out of trying to help someone, ever. She wouldn't make that mistake again.

Jasper then asked where the key was - great. It didn't give her much time to deal with it. And this certainly did not look good for her, Walnut knew that much. "I have the key, sir," Walnut said, revealing the item Titian had given her. "I had been asked by these gentlemen - Doctor Swamp and Mr. Titian - to hold it while I assisted with the medical treatment of this man," she nodded at Plum.

She had decided to ignore what Swamp was going on about - it was all lies, anyways. She took another calming breath. "I have been educated and was happy to assist the good doctor. The poor patient fell unconscious, he then began to scream at nothing and feigned an attack on his person, and then Doctor Swamp bashed the man's head. I feared for the patient's life and my own. My father requires that I keep a pistol on my person for protection, so I shot the doctor so that he would not be able to attack me next."

Walnut took another breath, this one a bit more shaky. "I was so terrified another shot went off - and as you can see, my hands... I-I-I would very much like to lie down and have some water, if that is possible. I'm quite shaken from all of this violence."

It helped that her hands really did hurt from the gun - genuine tears were falling from her eyes.

Penance was more concerned with finding out what it is that the owner of the manor wished to speak with them about, and was still not too concerned with the sounds and screams that were coming from behind them. "Besides, as stated before, we'd likely more of be a hindrance than any sort of aid," she replied to Moss as she followed him and Rave into the Starry Salon. She gave a smile slightly to Chanteuse Amaranthine, "Hello," was the only thing she said in greeting to the woman.

"Yes, that scream was quite loud, sounded like a little girl crying or something more than anything if you ask me... I have no idea what happened, but going back that direction did not seem like the best idea," she said to Amaranthine, before looking back over at Moss. "Especially considering that there seemed to be another loud sound behind us it seems. I am a bit curious as to what has happened, but nothing can be done about it now."

There would be no moment alone, not here not in this place. More were coming into the Starry Salon and a man approached from the other room. She returned the nod. Evening," she said. Then a gun fired and echoed to the room. The chanteuse didn't flinch. Her eyes fixed in the direction of the of the bang. It seemed the man that had been standing his post this entire time had finally decided to move, granted a gun shot was a damn compelling reason. The woman she had asked a moment before gave her a bit of an explanation and reason not to go before she left the room and headed to the Ballroom. Amaranthine however was far from moved. As another came in, Amaranthine did not respond but she gave a courteous bow of her head before the woman in the sage hued gown who stood far taller than she gave her own two §era as it were.

"Perhaps but they're concern seems far more lax that should be accounted for, do excuse me," she said to them before moving quickly on her short legs. Even a longer stride for her had to be quick as she moved to catch up with the staff man who had left his post. His longer legs meant she had to nearly run. It was by grace of fate alone she did not have a long and thick flurry of skirt and petticoats to deal with. Catching up to him she bumped into him and her arm came up, nearly sending them both toppling.

"Watch yourself woman." His voice was dry, short, and vexed as he eyed her with irritation before he kept going.

"My humblest apologies," She lowered her head, her shoulders dropping as she placed her hand to her chest and curled her fingers along the top of her corset. Bowing slightly in the process. Her eyes came up as he kept going and she was quick to follow, this time keeping her distance from him but still following.

Captain Moss took a moment and stopped when he heard a gunshot going off, which made him jump ever so slightly looking between both Penance and Rave. Moss certainly did not want to wait around and go see what had caused the sound to go off, he did not want to walk head first into any kind of danger right now either. He looked over towards Amaranthine and gave the woman a slight nod, he wasn't sure why she wanted to stay out of the ball room when they were told to go there. "I'd rather not go and find out where that gunshot went off." Captain Moss said calmly.

Captain Moss followed the two women into the Lunar Ballroom, he stopped to take in the sight which was really amazing to see as well for the first time. His attention turned towards the piano in the middle of the room, and noticed the group of men from earlier as well for a moment and gave a slight nod. "I am going to go and take a seat." Captain Moss looked around the room for a moment seeing several chairs and couches in the room, and proceeded to go and sit down on one of the chairs.

In the Music Room, where the vast amount of fuckery that was afoot seemed to be occurring right then stood Jasper. He had received one version of this story from Mr. Titian. And while he had been given a different story from Dr. Swamp, it wasn't completely different. It seemed to just be abridged. Then came the third tale and this one was far different. Yet it was clear that Jasper wasn't exactly buying at least one of these tall tales. Which was though was yet to be revealed. "If it were not for the mess I would have to clean up I would as soon as run you all through than listen to anymore," he stated flatly. There was a pause before he continued. "Yet that is not up to me, that is up to my master." Holding his hand out towards Walnut. "Give me the key before I change my mind." There was still shaking at the other side of the door which lead into the Joyous corridor and then a knock, followed by a feminine voice. "Just a moment Jane," Jasper called out and the fidgeting with the knob ceased.

Over in the Lunar Ballroom, there was less fuckery, at least so it seemed. Three of the unmasked men were converged towards the northernmost area of the room conversing quietly among themselves. The male attendant up on the small balcony above watched the scene as more came in but he said not a word. The only one speaking was the one addressing Miss Creme. Leaning against the edge of the piano. "Unexpected surprises so far but pleasant ones, more than I say for others from the sounds of it," he said in passing. Granted he hadn't heard the gun shot. No one that had been in the ballroom had, that noise hadn't quite traveled far enough. "Though I would like to get to our performance so I can do." There was a pause. "Other things."

There was the sound of footsteps on the stairs that lead down from the floors above out in the Central Hall. It was Lord Bardolf. Oliver's head swung on a pivot to look at the man who came over to him. "Alert the kitchen staff of the changes and then inform Margarete of attentions that must be made," he said to Oliver before catching a glance of Amaranthine rushing to keep up with Quinton. The boy nodded and rushed off through the door to his east, to the area of the manor the uninvited guests were not privy to at this time. The door closed behind him as he watched Quinton move into the Grand Vestibule. Quinton didn't see the Lord of the Manor as he did and Bardolf's lips thinned.

(Cobalt and Blush will be receiving PM's shortly.)

The behemoth of a man was quite happy right then. Munching on his bunch of grapes and humming to himself. What he was so happy about was anyone's guess. Maybe it took a lot more than a shooting and a busted rear end to get him down. Maybe he was used to so much fuckery being afoot. Maybe he was just down right crazy and he was thinking back to a time where he swore that a certain meat smelt of cheese while it roasted on an open fire. It really was anyone's guess what was going through that mans mind, it could be even a bigger mystery to himself. The only constant in his actions as of late was that he stayed upbeat. One might think screaming like a little girl could have stopped that but it didn't seem to and no one in the direction of where he was moving knew it had been him.

Could anything stop the joyous mood that seemed to be a constant on the mans face? Maybe as he stopped when he saw another large man enter the room. The man was nearly as tall and as broad as Titian was, but not fully. So maybe not. The smile remained and turned into a bit of a smirk as he took two steps and caught the mans attention.

Quinton did not look happy to be stopped but he did and stood there with a look on his face that clearly stated this better be good and it better be fast. Leaning in, Mr. Titian whispered something against Quinton's ear. Quiton's brow rose. "Really?" Titian just grinned and nodded before popping another grape into his mouth and waltzing into the Central Hall from the Grand Vestibule. Spotting Amaranthine trying to keep up with Quinton.

"Oh little lady, that is a mess of trouble you don't want to get tainted with," he said in a sly voice.

People weren't really paying her any attention, at least from the people already inside here. They seemed to be chatting up by the piano. Still the four men and the woman seemed like they were minding their own business, so she wasn't going to be butting in with them. She thought nodded as Moss also came after her, guess he had the same opinion of not heading for the sound of guns." Alright." She replied to him as he went for a seat.

As Rave was wondering what to do now that she was in the ballroom, she thought of something and walked over to the eastern side of the ballroom, or at least what she thought was probably the east side. There at the first window and she looked outside. She then looked out the window, trying to see what was going on in the darkness outside and trying to spot the other windows she could from her position.

The outside was dark... Felt like a darkness beyond the darkest pitch. She couldn't really see anything outside and even to the windows of the building. It felt really weighting on her, a kind of opressive atmosphere that crushed you. There was loneliness in everything at this place. No one to trust and even the world felt somehow closed off and limited to the imterior of this Manor by the dark night. Alone and locked in with uncertainties and danger.

Creme nodded up at him, before standing ,"Does your group need the piano?" She asked, taking a small step back from it. She didn't want to keep anybody from using it, and she could always find somewhere else to step away to. She then asked, "Do you play at many events like this?" She asked curiously. She didn't think she'd ever met a professional musician before, so she was curious what that was like, if he was one. She assumed it involved a bit of travel, and that was certainly something she wanted to learn more about. She smiled eagerly up at him, looking forward to how he would respond.

She then remembered, "Oh dear, I forgot to introduce myself." She said, her face going red for a moment. "I'm to be called Miss Creme." She said, a part of her wondering how he would react to that. Were they all expected to have names like this? Or only the "Fake guests." She lacked a good name for the mish-mash of people who arrived early, so she settled on that for an internal title at least. "And you are?" she finished. If she got an actual name, that might clear some of her confusion, she thought. If she did get some title from the man, she figured that, in the best case, the lord might just be eccentric, and wanted all of his guests to keep up an air of mystery.

The words flowing from the lips of Professor Walnut were impressively crafted, all things considered. Swamp regarded her as she spoke, using the moment to inhale and exhale to the extent of his ability. Quiet eyes looked to the people in the room with him; Plum upon the floor, Walnut with her now injured hand and spent pistol, and of course the wildly irritated Jasper, servant to the household. This was not how he envisioned this evening progressing. Not that he had the faintest idea how it might have gone, but this was not it. Swamp carefully reached into his vest pocket and, with lightly shaking hand, withdrew a pocket handkerchief.

Addressing Walnut through half clenched teeth, "I would stick to something that sounds like logic, Professor." he advised dryly. "I doubt that summoned tears will move these people. We are unwelcome guests who are making a lot of noise." It looked like an item of certainty that only one person wanted them there, and this person was attached to blackmail. "I am curious as to why you and Plum were conspiring, and now if he wasn't just an unwitting puppet." The Doctor moved his kerchiefed hand to the site of his injury, holding pressure even as he was ruining a perfectly good square of cloth for the sake of self-preservation. "Oh, let me know if you want me to take a look at that hand." The offer was without emotion nor nuance.

The girl nodded, and for the first time, stepped out from behind the pillar fully. At the very least, she seemed just as keen to escape as Cobalt was, so he was hardly going to get in her way. As she crossed the room towards the corner, Cobalt frowned slightly. He'd half-opened his mouth to suggest that they might try and leave the room by a route that didn't involve walking through a seemingly solid wall when his doubt was abruptly cut short. The words died on his lips as he watched the girl push open the door that seemed to appear from nowhere. Another hidden door? Cobalt made a mental note, managing a smile of thanks towards the girl before he stepped through the doorway after her.

The corridor that led away before him seemed to be carved from the rock, just as the chapel had been, but the scent of earth seemed to be slightly less overpowering. He found himself instinctively staying close to the girl as she walked. She seemed to know where she was going, and considering Cobalt didn't have the slightest idea of where he was, he didn't want to risk losing her in the half-light. As he walked, he began routinely checking himself over. Everything seemed to be intact, but that only made Cobalt more curious. Why was he presumably drugged and then dragged to god knows where and simply left there? Hopefully wherever the girl was leading him held some clues at least. At this point, he'd settle for some fresh air.

If the skin were parchment and the blows you gave were ink, your own handwriting would tell you what I think. A comedy of errors indeed, two stories told, opposing in view. Who was the liar here? Who knew. The truth often lay unspeaking in the middle, between the two stories, Jasper had a choice. To believe the lady who, certainly played her part of fainting damsel well by the sounds of it for one so willing to fire a gun, not once but twice. Would Jasper be inclined to come to aid played by her wiles? Or would he listen to the logic and reason of the treacherous doctor? Played not to the emotional cries of a woman but the recounting accounting of a professional opinion? In truth Plum would have backed Walnut's claim, given that the doctor assaulted him outright, but her story gave no hint at how. Thus one had to put it all alone all together.

Yet time keeps on slipping into the future, and the matters of fuckery here was beyond Jasper's reach, the lord of the manor still sat as judge and jury. Would it be best to leave under the purvey of such a man? Or slip away now in the dark. So far the only one left armed in the room was Swamp and perhaps Jasper, lest the lady brought herself a second pistol. But here in the actor still acted, still played his part, waiting and biding his time to strike. Walnut would not yet earn the ire of his rage, but for the villainous doctor he'll set the stage. And where was that blasted bird who flew off without its master? Letting such malpractice come to harm? No cry nor crow of warning did ever it alarm. It had not yet come back, neither beak, nor claw, nor feather.

Satisfied she found all she wanted to in this room, she figured she had precious little time left up here. After all, she was invited to the event and it was happening downstairs and she just hated missing parties. She decided on one more room. After all, her search had yielded results. Stepping out into the hallway she was so familiar with now, she proceeded down to the next door and opened it, stepping inside.

The design was less intense than she had seen previously and she noted the dagger detail along the wall with swords. Quite the harmful room and it was interesting having a room dedicated to the weaponry. If anything, it propelled her forward. This room may be of some significance, after all.

Nothing stood out though. Apart from the weapons themselves though. Still, she made note of this room. It wasn't an armory, but it was the closest thing to one she has seen in this mansion. She was a bit upset, she hoped to find further evidence up here. It wasn't all for nothing though, but now she had to go back downstairs, lest she is missed.

She didn't know what to really make of Amaranthine, especially since the woman seemed to be interested in going to see what was going on with the gunshot. Penance personally wanted to stay as far away from that noise as possible. Despite her own curiosity, she didn't follow after Amaranthine, instead heading into the Lunar Ballroom, and she looked around the room. It was a bit larger than she had expected, but it didn't really matter. In her mind, seeing what the master of the manor wanted to discuss was a bit more of a pressing thing.

When she heard Moss make a comment about going to sit down, she thought for a moment about potentially joining him over there. The others in the room didn't seem to be very good company, but she supposed that perhaps he wanted to be left alone for the time being. "Of course, that is understandable, it was lovely conversing with you Moss," she said with a slight smile towards him, before she made her way to the side of the room, standing there to wait and see if any more interesting characters decided to join the party, or if perhaps someone would enter with information as to what the gunshot was about.

Walnut offered no verbal or nonverbal reply to either Dr. Swamp or Jasper. Instead, her eyes had widened with horror and she let out a bit of a started shriek. Walnut's heartbeat had accelerated tremendously and she was transfixed, staring at Master Plum as if he was the most loathsome and fear inducing creature she had ever seen. She couldn't move her eyes away from Plum if she tried, it was such a horrible vision before her. And while the moment passed and she managed to catch her breath, her hands were trembling but she had learned something crucial.

This pathetic man and seemingly part time monster was playing dead!

"Plum, I know that you are awake," Walnut finally said, though her hands still shook. She hesitated, before placing the key in Jasper's hand. "Why would you pretend to be asleep and allow your defender's tale to be misconstrued by this doctor?" Walnut asked, attempting to give a comforting tone but it quite honestly was more like scolding. "Perhaps I should not have attempted to help you at all," she then muttered. Taking another breath, Walnut attempted to calm her nerves as they were still incredibly shaken - and this time, it was genuine.

She forced her gaze towards Jasper, attempting to see who he believed. She had no doubt that he didn't really believe either of them at the moment. That was fine. She could work with that.

The Lord of the Manor had come down the stairs and Oliver had left the room. The thing was, the tiny woman didn't take notice of them. Her hand pressed to her chest as she continued on her short legs to try to keep up with the tall servant had her attention focused in front of her instead of behind her. Especially when a second tall man came into view, this one even taller than the servant but she had seen him with the group earlier. As far as she knew the biggest things were in front of her and she still hadn't taken note of any child or woman. Who had made that loud scream that had echoed through to where she had been moments before? No woman and no gun in sight as of yet.

A slow of the step occurred as she saw that the man was speaking now with the servant. One masked, one unmasked. Her brow perked but she couldn't hear what they were saying. Damn short legs making it hard to keep up. When the masked man made his way towards her, eating grapes of all things right then and spoke to her she cocked a brow beneath her lace like mask. He had to know something right? If he was making a comment like that. "So you say but I swore I heard a child in danger and a gun fire," she said before she hurried passed him to keep going. Moving into the Grand Vestibule and trying to catch up with the servant. The case and satchel were not an issue, just those damn short legs of hers. Worry was worn clearly on her features. One could say this was not what she signed up for but in truth, what had she signed up for when she showed up?

Captain Moss looked over to those in the room, and then over towards Sister Penance, feeling a little bit bad feeling like he had probably brushed her off. "You are certainly welcome to join me." Captain Moss said as he watched Penance making her way over towards the other end of the room. Rave seemed to be looking out of one of the windows nearby, he didn't really want to look out of them right now, as Moss shifted a little bit in his chair.

Captain Moss got up and moved a bit closer over towards Rave and looked at her for a moment again. "Finding anything outside?" Captain Moss asked as he watched Miss Crème as she spoke with the guy over by the piano, he wasn't sure what they were talking about just yet either. Captain Moss couldn't really imagine going back outside either, remembering getting to the mansion just barely freezing practically and was glad that they were inside and warm. But Captain Moss wasn't sure what to think of all of these people within the mansion either.

There was a bit of a grin on the mans lip as the girl spoke, he didn't answer her right away and it was a good thing. She asked question after question, he would have had to interrupt her to get a word in and that would just break the flow of conversation. "You may call me Maestro," he said, introducing himself but it wasn't much of an introduction. Granted neither was her name all thigns considered. The man looked at Miss Creme and shook his head, finally addressing the other questions. "Oh no, we don't play, that would be left to the little lady who exited, stage right," he said as he pointed back towards the doors which Amaranthine had exited through a bit ago. "We perform yes, but why type of event do you mean? How would you classify this event?" he asked as he tilted his head to the side as he watched her.

In the meantime Quinton had kept a slight eye on Titian as he left the room. He muttered something under his breath before turning his attention back towards the direction the woman's scream and the gun shot had come from. Thing was, when he got into the Breakfast Room he could see Jaspers back, through a large hole in the door. Tilting his head to the side he called out. "What the hell happened here?" he asked as he moved through the Breakfast Room. Jasper let out a bit of a huff as he stood there and took the key before taking a step back and to the side, away from the three.

"Fuckery. Fuckery is what happened and is happening," Jasper said as he moved around the far side of the piano, keeping his distance from the others. Reaching the door to the Joyous corridor he unlocked it and it wasn't Jane standing there. It was a very tall man, taller than Titian. He was the speechless man whom had been in the Gun Room earlier. It seemed that Jasper had all the muscle he needed right then. Jasper looked a bit surprised but he shook it off. There was fuckery afoot. "These three need to be detained and checked of any more weapons, if they have any, strip them of such... hindrances," Jasper said flatly as Jonas stepped silently into the room. "Any resistance, just end them. It would make things much simpler." It was obvious Jasper wasn't having it.

(Blush and Cobalt will receive PM's in a bit.)

Titan looked rather confused when Amaranthine spoke of a child screaming. He hadn't heard a thing and it didn't even cross his mind to think she could have been referring to the scream he made. Maybe she was talking about the yelp and scream that had recently come from the room. Oh he had heard it alright but he wasn't going back that way. Nope, he might be dumb, but he wasn't stupid. Or something like that. So he let Amaranthine head off. "Yes, run run run to the danger. I am sure those short legs and that case will protect you well!" he called out with a bit of a laugh before popping another grape into his mouth. It popped between his teeth and his grin grew. The man did love a good grape.

Turning on his heels he looked back to where the Lord of the Manor was standing. He could have said something but he didn't. Just giving the man a bit of a wink and a grin as he stood there. Taking a few long strides and Titian was back in the Starry Salon. Granted, it wasn't the first time he had been in there. He had seen the room earlier but then he was accompanied by quite the woman. Lovely, quick witted, and apparently balls to the nuts bat shit crazy? Who knew! "Dodged a bullet with that one," he said to himself before he caught the joke he had just made to himself and started laughing. "Oh oh, dodged a bullet? I say, I sometimes surprise myself by how funny I am. Dodged a bullet! HA!"