A light flush crept up Sjan-dehk’s cheeks when the pale girl complimented his appearance. It wasn’t out of embarrassment so much as it was out of surprise. That was the last thing he had been expecting after he so rudely interrupted her conversation. Though if he had to be honest, he still wasn’t quite used to hearing good things about him outside of his martial and sailing skills. Even if just the previous day, Kalliope gave him enough such compliments to last him a year. Perhaps two or three, if his memory retained them well.

For a moment, he wondered what she was up to. And for a moment after that, he found himself strangely looking forward to the ball – or whatever the locals called it – later. Formal events rarely sat well with him, but this particular one? He felt as if evening couldn’t come soon enough.

In the space of a blink that took a touch longer than the rest, he pushed those thoughts aside. Wondering about the evening’s events while it was still morning was just silly. All he had to do later was just meet with Kalliope and attend the ball. Nothing that needed much forethought or planning. And if by then he was still curious about her day, he could just ask her and find out. Not that her affairs were any of his business. Not in the least.

“Thank you,” he said with a bow of his head to the girl. “You look…” He trailed off as he cast his mind back to yesterday, specifically a lesson he had learned early on. “You look pri-pretty.” The words tumbled from his mouth and likely didn’t sound as good as he would have liked, but he meant them. Looking at the girl’s dainty face, pale complexion, and flowing hair, Sjan-dehk couldn’t help but be reminded of his youngest sister, to whom he was closest to out of everyone in his family. He even had to tell himself that she wasn’t, in fact, his sister, and thus he had to act accordingly.

Right then, a familiar face appeared. It was the blacksmith from two days ago. Sjan-dehk took a moment to recall his name before nodding towards him and saying, “Good morning, Roman.” It was a shame that Sjan-dehk didn’t have the things he wanted to give to the man with him, but he supposed that there was always next time. Roman’s favour with the coin had not been forgotten.

Everyone else seemed to know each other, and being the outsider, Sjan-dehk almost quietly backed away to disappear into the crowd. But he didn’t. Instead, he simply stood and watched as the pale girl rushed off towards her friends to ask them what they wanted in their drinks.

A gentle smile came over Sjan-dehk’s face. His sister was similar in that regard, always thinking about the needs and wants of others. According to his brothers, she took it upon herself to keep his rooms neat and tidy even when he was expected to be at sea for months at a time, and she was usually the one to remind their father – and everyone else at court, for that matter – of the plight and troubles of their peoples during discussions of war and whatnot. If every one of his siblings represented an aspect of the Wasun clan, then Sjan-dehk was more than certain that their youngest sister was its heart.

So caught up in the moment and in his mind was he that he merely nodded and followed the group to get their drinks when the girl returned. Before he knew it, he was walking with them back to a blanket laid out on the sand, a thick juice – the locals called it a smoothie, as he found out – of fruits that looked the most familiar to him at the stall. The proprietor had told him their names, but he had either failed to catch them, or he just failed to understand them. It didn’t matter; fruits were fruits, and unless he had the misfortune of choosing something akin to a bitter gourd, then he was confident that this smoothie would be, at the very least, refreshing, and that was all that he wanted.

The girl invited him to sit, but Sjan-dehk chose to remain standing. His weapons made sitting down a noisy affair, and he still had some strength left in his legs. Only when she introduced her companions, and asked for his name, did he finally realise that he had failed to properly introduce himself. With a crimson flush on his cheeks, he pressed a hand to his chest and bowed his head to each person in turn. “My apologies,” he said upon straightening himself. “I am Wasun Sjan-dehk. Captain of–” he pointed to his Sada Kurau, her hull and sails plainly visible from the beach “Sada Kurau. Also Fourth Lesser Marquis of Jafi, of Viserjanta”

He looked at the unfamiliar faces. “I ah…Roman, I saw the other day.” He nodded to the man. “But the rest of you, I do not know. Can…No, that is not right, yes? May I know who you are?”

Time: Morning. Idiot.
Location: Guest House > Beach
Attire:
☼Swimsuit
☼ Coverup
☼ Shoes
☼ Hair
☼ Sunglasses
Interactions: @Lava Alckon Farim ☼ @princess Charlotte ☼ ☼ @Conscripts John ☼ @ReusableSword Roman ☼ @Apex Sunburn Sjan-dehk

The next morning arrived swiftly. Layla had read the worthless newspaper and laughed as she read the columns. The tidbit regarding the Duke had her in near tears. What a bumbling idiot oaf. Then the bit about Charlotte whoring around at night with a count made her giggle. Whoever some of these people were in the paper sounded pathetic. The wanted girl looked uglier than sin; why were they wasting time on her? She guessed it was a peasant by the looks of it. Someone as ugly as her could kill someone with her look. Maybe she had been jealous. Layla pitied her and moved on as she continued reading.

The morning events piqued her interest only slightly. Why would anyone want to go to a tea party? What were they, children? Was this kingdom so boring they resorted to tea parties? She rolled her eyes and stroked Zilal’s head. The beach event at least granted her access to an ocean. Why had it taken this pathetic king this long to allow people to wear open skin? Wasn’t he a pig or something? She sighed and thanked the Gods she did not permanently live here.

A knock on her door alerted her to the presence of her servants. She crumpled the newspaper up and tossed it in a trashcan. Ali entered and watched as the paper fell in the garbage can. He bowed respectfully without comment. He’d been forbidden to speak with her since her father left with Mayet. Silently, he set a tray of food on her bed and left. Layla pretended not to notice and focused on Zilal. Once he was gone, she began inspecting her food. There was plenty of chocolate, and also dozens of her favorites. A grin danced across her face as she began to dig in.

When finished, she readied herself for the beach. She snapped her fingers and Zilal immediately followed. She rounded up her servants and soon was taken to the beach in a palanquin. The loud music assaulted her ears and she winced. What the fuck were they playing? Was this a joke? Layla scowled in pain and pulled back the curtain of her palanquin. No, it was not a joke. As if the kingdom could not become any more dumb, they were playing music. Why ruin the vibe of the ocean? Layla scowled and waved off Ali as she stepped out of her palanquin. One glance of the beach told her it was filled with rodents. Layla sighed with disappointment.

Her entourage behind her, she began exploring the beach. Heads turned to face them with wonder and surprise. Most of these people had likely not seen anyone as beautiful as her and her entourage. Not surprising. They were pale as ghosts. Maybe the beach was to entice them to tan so they didn’t look so sick. She sighed in pity without glancing towards anyone. Soon she heard familiar voices, and noticed the group of people.

There sat Farim with some auburn chick in the ugliest clothing she’d ever seen; why was Farim wasting his time? She shook her head with disappointment at his choices. Was that Dr. John all dressed up? Her eyebrows rose behind her sunglasses. Did this man have an allergy to the sun? Then there was some man in strange clothing with dark hair. He was actually nice looking; tall and handsome. Beside him was a bear of a man that Layla couldn’t help but wonder if it remained that way below. Then… The grin spread across her face. Charlotte, in a dress and lace hair bow? They all had smoothies too. Without a word, she strode over to the group.

”What a pleasant surprise,” Layla quipped. Her voice dripped with venom. ”I would expect you to find better company, Cousin Farim. This looks like a group of misfits. Are they all even noble? Why waste your time with them?” She glanced at the Doctor. ”Are you trying to win an award for the fastest time to get heat stroke? Shouldn’t you be smarter?” She wrinkled her nose and stepped away, in case she caught any sweat from him. Gross! Layla glanced at the auburn girl, and sighed at her with mock sympathy. ”Sweetie, you should stop shopping at Peasants R Us. That outfit looks like you sewed it together last minute.”

Then, saving the best for last, locked eyes with Charlotte. Layla snatched the ribbon from her hair and examined it. ”Aren’t you too old to be playing with lace, Charlotte? When are you going to grow up?” She paused, and noticed the doll hadn’t drank from her smoothie yet. Without waiting, Layla snatched it from her and sipped from it loudly. She wrinkled her nose in disgust and spat it out on the sand near Charlotte. ”Gods, even your smoothies taste bad. This can't hurt your looks anymore.” She pulled off the lid and dumped it all over Charlotte and cackled. Then, she took the cup and wrapped her lace around it and dropped it. ”Maybe you can attract flies because you’re nasty and will never have a lover.”

Layla laughed and watched the auburn girl stand up in fury. However, her guards were quicker, and soon surrounded her. ”Down, Auburn.” Layla commanded as she watched the lady’s face flush with fury. The girl froze and looked ready to say something, but she wasn’t sure what nor did she care. ”Touch me and you’re in trouble, no?” She grinned and addressed Charlotte next with a malicious grin. ”Guess you’ll have to undress, Charlotte! Maybe you can be Farim’s whore! We know you were asking for it at the ball”!

Layla sauntered away and left. the quad, while her laughter echoed down the beach.

Time: late morning
Location: Sorian Beach
Interactions:@samreaper Kazumin @princess Charlotte


Standing with both feet in water, the small blonde took notice as the countless granules brushed against her legs with each wave. She glared at Kazumin in anticipation of his response regarding the fish party he had acquired. There was still a big smile implanted on her face as she recalled Kazu’s compliment, whether or not it involved comparing her to an octopus.

He really thinks that I’M pretty? she blushed in her stance.

If hearts could have appeared in Ruby’s eyes, they would have. She cupped her cheeks as her mind ran wild with possibilities. For a moment, she imagined her and Kazu each holding a tentacle as they skipped through a field together, just the three of them. She laughed loudly for no apparent reason, only returning her attention to the present when she heard Kazumin speak of the fish.

As Kazumin began to crawl, she echoed him and got down in the sand, crawling behind him. As he laughed, she scooted closer to gaze upon the net with feral interest. “Ohohoh…”

“Oh Kazumin, I am so glad you asked. So the other day I went to the park to eat waffles at the pancake event. I took all of the flavors. I love the chew and I gnawed on my waffles with vigor, Kazumin. I really did. But then Duke Lorenzo started fighting with the people in the line and I ran away. What a man he is! I keep running into him.. Later that day, I got slapped by a doctor at a play… Then I went home and slept a lot. I spent most of yesterday asleep because the other day was too CRAZY!” She shouted the last word. Then she smiled and softly asked, “And what about you Kazumin? How was your day?”

It was then she noticed just a bit down the beach a woman with long curly hair dumping the contents of a cup on… Charlotte?! Ruby screamed as if a murder had occurred before her. “Kazumin! My friend is being assaulted. “ she pointed toward the group as she sat up in the water. ”Quick! Grab Otto, we may need his tentacles if things go south.” Ruby warned Kazu, preparing to assist her friend in action. She couldn’t just up and leave her long lost best friend after all this time, so she was hoping that he’d soon follow her.

Time: Late Morning
Location: Royal Gardens Tea Party
Attire: Outfit
Interaction: @FunnyGuy Alexander
Mentions:


Mina couldn't help but be amused by Alexander's smooth words and confident demeanor. She was drawn to his charm and wit, and she couldn't deny the flutter of excitement he stirred in her. However, in the back of her mind, she couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for being a bit flirtatious with him after the intimate night she had just spent with Munir. She pushed past it, however, as she knew she needed to do this until she found another way.

"Ah, so the pesky cherry is to blame, is it?" she replied, feigning innocence, but there was a mischievous glint in her eye. "I suppose I'll let it off with a warning this time, but only because you seem to be quite charming. Blissfully memorable? That’s certainly one I haven’t heard before."

She leaned in slightly, her voice lowering to a sultry tone. "As for fate, well, I'm not one to believe in destiny and all that romantic nonsense," she said, teasingly brushing her fingers against his arm. "But I have to admit, I'm usually the one in control of my destiny. Though I must say, fate seems to have thrown us together in a rather intriguing manner."

Mina tilted her head slightly, her gaze locked with his. "So, Mr. Deacon, tell me more about yourself. I'd love to know what lies beyond that charming smile and those mesmerizing eyes." She leaned in a little closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "I have a feeling there's more to you than meets the eye."

She winked playfully at him, her lips curling into a mischievous grin. Mina was enjoying the banter, reveling in the thrill of the unknown, and she had no intention of backing down from this intriguing encounter. "What brings you to this grand garden tea party, aside from stepping on pesky cherries, of course?"

Location: Tea Party
Time: Sola 23
Mentions: Charlotte@princess, Wulfric@silverpaw, Roman@sword
Shoes
Hair
Neckless
Gown
Parasol

Violet finished writing her letter to Roman just as Wulfric arrived. Sealing the envelope she handed it to the attendant. Scurrying off once again, the attendant left knowing exactly where to deliver the letter.

Wulfric’s voice alerted her to his return as she offered him a slight nod of understanding. “Yes, Of course. I know all about family disruptions,” she said referencing the fight she just had with her parents.

“You know, I did notice some guests giving you strange looks. Do you have a sixth sense for such things now?”

Letting out a short sigh, Violet replied with a sense of frustration. “ Although I cannot see Prince Wulfric, I am not stupid. I can hear the whisperings and feel the discomfort of my presence. It has nothing to do with a sixth sense but rather when you become the jester in a crowd of people you start to pick up on it.” Reaching for her cup and tea she found it with ease as she took a small sip. “Yes, I suppose you are correct. However, it is interesting how I am the injured one, and yet no one besides Lord Ravenwood has been interested in checking into my welfare. People would rather mock and whisper about what may or may not have happened.” Taking another sip of her tea, Violet leaned forward and placed it on the saucer.

Turning her attention towards Wulfric, her crimson eyes fixating on him.” So far Charlotte and yourself have been brave enough to try and pull information out of me. For what I have yet to understand; However, I am certain you have your motives as does she. Those motives not being my well-being but your morbid curiosity I assume.” She leaned back in her chair once again. “ But please, correct me if I am wrong. “ she offered a rather fake smile being sure to not reveal the secrets that lay behind it.

While Sjan-dehk did his best to take in all of Farim’s introduction – and much to his surprise, he managed to grasp more than just the gist of things – it was the Alidashti’s mention of a trading company that piqued his interest. A trading company that was owned by Farim himself, no less. A tinge of excitement bubbled in Sjan-dehk’s heart. Assuming all went smoothly, and that Lady Adiyan would be well enough to conduct negotiations within the next two weeks, he might not even have to bother sailing for Alidasht or Varian. Not that he minded the journey; were it just his Sada Kurau and himself, he wouldn’t mind making the trip as many times as it was necessary. Unfortunately, he had the Sudah and her obstinate passengers to escort, and he would prefer to spend as little time as possible doing just that.

He willed himself to remain calm, and stifled his anticipation. There were far too many variables, too many things that could go wrong for him to put too much hope into that possible future. Besides, he wasn’t sure if Farim was being serious. He looked trustworthy enough – even if his resting eyelids made his gaze one that discomforted Sjan-dehk slightly. The clothes he wore were new to Sjan-dehk; they hugged his body tightly like a second skin, and for a moment the Viserjantan wondered just how comfortable it was.

“You are…Too nice? Kind.” Sjan-dehk bowed his head once more to Farim. A minute smile played across his lips as the Alidashti gave his Sada Kurau a compliment. It took all of sjan-dehk’s restraint not to go on at length about her strengths and virtues. “She is a very…Fine ship. Thirty-four guns. Sails good even into the wind. And fast. Good crew. We fought, we won many fights.”

Well, he tried.

He cleared his throat, and went on to answer Farim’s question. “We, my ship and Sudah, we came here to trade. Many things in–” half-turning, he pointed to the huge, imposing vessel in the distance, her battened sails swaying gently in the morning breeze “–the Sudah’s hold. Woods, metals, carved…Art? Decorations, yes, and spices, and more things.” He paused, then shook his head slightly. “Ah, apologies. Sada Kurau and me, we have…Not a lot to trade. We…Mostly protect the Sudah. Keep her safe from pirates. My ship, she is a warship. Very good at fighting, but not good at trading.”

Whether by intention or by accident, Farim helpfully introduced at least one of the others to Sjan-dehk by way of greeting them. Though the man’s name proved too long for Sjan-dehk to remember, he understood that he was a physician of some sort. He turned towards the well-dressed man. Sjan-dehk wasn’t a man of medicine by any stretch of the imagination, but he was curious about how injuries and diseases were treated by other peoples. Perhaps he could learn something that might be of use to Dai-sehk, things that might help the surgeon better treat the crew. Or at least improve his bedside manner.

Just as Sjan-dehk was about to speak, however, someone new arrived.

Dark and pretty, she reminded him of those who hailed from the Commonwealth’s northern territories. He dipped his head slightly towards her and started to offer a greeting, but she spoke first. And as the first of her sharp words flew from her tongue, whatever prettiness she had in his eyes instantly vanished.

To Sjan-dehk, she seemed determined to either offend or wound as many people as possible with scalding words, and even though she never turned her ire towards him, he found himself chewing both his tongue and cheeks to a pulp. Especially when she started insulting and deriding the pale girl. But still, Sjan-dehk kept his mouth shut; Farim seemed to be family with her, and he wasn’t about to jump head-first into what could very well be a familial affair. It wasn’t polite, and it surely wasn’t the Way. That, however, didn’t stop him from eyeing her guards. This newcomer had to be some noblewoman – he couldn’t imagine anyone else who could be afforded such protection, and who could speak with such venom. Sjan-dehk drew in a deep breath and kept his calm. So long as words were all she threw, he could swallow his rising anger.

The newcomer snatched the pale girl’s ribbon from her hair. Sjan-dehk ground his teeth, but kept calm. He didn’t want to make a bad situation worse.

She snatched the girl’s drink from her hands. Sjan-dehk still kept his calm.

Then, she emptied it over the girl’s head, and Sjan-dehk could keep calm no longer.

An auburn-haired lady reacted first, but the newcomer’s guards surrounded her as soon as she rose to her feet, giving her no chance to do anything. Farim dispatched three of them with impressive skill and speed, but left one who stood far enough away to avoid the scuffle. “This, please hold,” he said in a quiet voice to the pale girl, handing her his drink. Then, he stepped forward to place himself in front of her, at the same time drawing one of his pistols. He didn’t point it at the guard, but instead held it out just enough for it to be clearly seen. Despite the indignation burning within him, a grin pulled hard on his lips. With his other hand, he pointed at the guard.

“Suyahksa ujantah, dai’ihksankan. Sjukihku ika, tusuh-sehka lehksikasoh!”

‘Come if you dare. Only one of us will remain’. So caught up was Sjan-dehk in the moment that he barely realised that he had shouted at the guard in his native Viserjantan. Neither did he realise the weight of his actions, nor did he consider the consequences. All he knew was that he saw an injustice happening right before his very eyes, and it had reached the point where he could no longer let it go. And so he had to act.

As Farim accosted his cousin, Sjan-dehk kept watchful eyes on the guard – and as the other three got to their feet, them as well. Only when he was done, and the guards returned to the newcomer’s side, and he felt certain that there would be no more fighting, did he slide his pistol into its holster. He turned towards the newcomer. “Your words, why do you say them? Why do you think it is right?” His voice was light, and his grin still remained on his face. “Because you have guards? Good that a pretty…Noblewi–Noblewoman like you got them. But you are not the only one.” He flicked his eyes up towards his Sada Kurau. “I have two hundred. I look at them in the right way, one hundred will come. Please, do not make me do that. It is…A lot of trouble.”

He shook his head as the newcomer turned to leave. “Please think about what you do. You called her ugly, yes? I disagree. You make her dirty, but that is only outside. Can be cleaned. You are ugly inside. Even if you are pretty outside, you are still…Most ugly here. That is a shame.”

With hands folded across his chest, he watched them leave. One-by-one, they disappeared into the dense crowd. And as they did, Sjan-dehk’s mind slowly caught up with all that just happened. Once he lost sight of the last of them, he let out a long, heavy breath. His hands went to his hips, and he ground his toes into the sand, all the while chewing on his lip until he was sure he would soon draw blood.

“What the fuck did I just do?” He couldn't have done nothing, but at the same time, he wondered if he had done too much. Not that he could have helped it; everything he did had largely been on instinct, and those were still very much tuned for times of open warfare.

Well, it was too late. He did what he did.

He took a moment to steady himself before returning to the group, taking care to pluck the discarded cup with the pale girl’s ribbon off the ground as he did. With a hand, he loosened his belts and pulled them off of his body, dropping them onto the sand beside the chairs. “Apologies,” he murmured. A flush crept up his cheeks. The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed that his interference might have made a bad situation worse. But when he saw what that newcomer had done to the pale girl, something within him urged him to do something. He couldn’t just stand by and watch her be abused like that.

Sighing, he untied the ribbon from the cup and threw the latter away. Then, he took off his outer tunic and shook it free of sand, leaving him wearing only his white and sweat-stained undertunic. He offered both to the pale girl. “Your ribbon,” he said. “And my tunic, until you get new things to wear, you can use it.”

Time: Mid-late morning
Location: Sorian Beach
Interactions: Ruby @SausagePat
Mentions:

---

Ruby's blush storm went unnoticed by Kazu who had found himself wrestling with trying to get Otto off face, the slimy bugger proving stickier than that damn starfish. His face really could not catch a break and swear to god if he starts getting crotch shot as well there would be hell to pay!

With a somewhat nasty wet phlop Otto popped off his face leaving large sucker marks over his bruised face." Enough with the clinginess aleady!" He scowled out at the cute tentacled creature only to have Ruby suddenly laughing making the two of them jump from the unexpectedness, not that it bothered Kazu in the lightest who was very well used to Ruby's unexpected spurts of emotions to which he just grinned and laughed along with her.

With the issue settled, the cowlicked blonde shifted to lean against the squirming net making himself comfortable as he listened to Ruby's retelling of her past few days." Oh! You got to partake of that breakfast festival?! Though last I recalled it was a pancake party, but waffles are pretty great too." Kazu kept his gaze fixed on Ruby who looked impossibly cute with childlike wonder the way she spoke so excitedly, the bubbly feeling infectious and with each word the frustration and aches afforded him were quickly melting away.

His smile did, however, falter at the mention of Duke Lorenzo starting a fight. One that quickly escalated and worsened until the whole thing was ruined." That is just...horrid. I love fighting as much as the next guy but...never when food involved." Turning his head to the side to allow himself a moment to shed a tear for all the poor, unfortunate waffles and pancakes that went uneaten or soiled by the ground. Merely one in countless abhorrent atrocities these nobles have concocted. He still had good opinions of the duke, though the same wasn't shared after their abysmal first meeting of which he intended to amend or else being friends with Charlotte would forever be tainted.

Afterwards he turned his head to let Ruby continue or finish with spending all of yesterday sleeping." Nobody hibernates better than you, Ruby. A skill I'm still wholeheartedly jealous of and had dire need of." Nodding his head laughing as he moved to rest his head against his right hand propped up by the elbow. Before planning to speak he made sure to take a mental note of this doctor who slapped her. " For the tale I have to tell you will blow all my previous stories out of the water." Giving Ruby a playful splash through his left hand as he stated so while a flashback recap of the past couple days flashed through his head. which the writer is not going to bother typing up as everyone knows them too well.

A story that would go untold for now. And unknown to Kazu could very well be the story he has been searching for, but that is a tale for the future.

Yet again, his friend let out a scream, but this time was anything but jovial or happy and its mere utterance had Kazu turning his gaze over the beach until he saw the large gathering hard to miss. For the first time, Kazu's face had turned completely blank as he saw the state Charlotte had been left in.

Ruby's reaction was understandable and one this farmer might have shared normally, in fact would already have sprung into action. But, for the first time in days he was very much sober and his mind cleared and as such, his reaction was, instead placing a hand on Ruby's shoulder giving it a soft comforting squeeze.

This act was two-fold. To calm the agitated blonde and secondly to tell her to wait. She would see Kazu gently placing a finger to his lips before turning his gaze back to the group. Even from where they were, he could practically see the myriad of emotions and tension.

Something was going to happen regardless; a situation that would only become far worse had the two of them decided to shoving their noses into it. Such that only serves to humilate and worsen the situation for Charlotte all the more. Even without a good view of Olive's face, Kazu could guess how she must be feeling too and the fact none of them could do a damn thing is what infuriated him to no end.

Just as expected, things went into motion as one of the men who looked to be an Alidasht native as well stepped forward to confront the guards blocking the cowardly snake bitch from any attempt at fitting punishment. Witnessing the fight break out and if that wasn't bad enough, some second guy decided to step forward and...

Images of Calbert's cold face flashed into view with empty, calculating eyes. Gun in hand, the cool, cold metal all to fresh against his forehead. A man who held no qualms or hesitation in killing others.

In a blink it was gone, the beach and gentle waters bubbling against him reformed. By this point the situation was over. Only one thought went through Kazu's head, his bouncing cowlick almost seeming to twitch.* Pointless.* And when it came down to it, their actions really did nothing but ease their own personal frustrations. Taking it out on the guards who were merely doing their job and even for Kazu, firing a gun so casually in a public place was simply idiotic and as someone who did stupid shit on a daily basis...

No, not this time. He has caused enough strife for Charlotte and Olive especially. This woman, Layla, while not dangerous like Calbert, was another toxin infecting the kingdom. One of many; who all seemed determined to prevent anyone from just being able to enjoy their fucking day. The warm and soft touch of Ruby's skin brought comfort, enough so to keep his own anger in check. There was a time and a place.

* Go ahead and laugh Layla. Enjoy yourself while you can for just like Calbert. I'll tear you down root and all.* Kazumin thought darkly, his eyes burning holes in Layla's direction. The viper who thought herself untouchable; nothing more than the shredded remains of trash. The alidasht siblings, each of them were nothing more than a problem and danger to Caesonia whom already had plenty of issues due to our disgusting joke of a king. The image of Edin being rubbed and hugged by women made his stomach churn with disgust.

Closing his eyes; shutting it all out to let himself take in a slow, deep inhale followed by a slow exhale. Once finished, his hand on Ruby's shoulder pulled away after giving a comforting pat." Whew. Talk about a hectic scene. Looks like things have settled down." Kazu said followed by laughing while rubbing the back of the head." So you know Charlotte too, huh? Guess we got a lot more to share than we thought." Nodding as he looked back over at Charlotte wondering how she of all people felt about this. The men and their attempts to help, while nice was not something a woman as sweet as her would like.

Tilting his head pondering something while scratching at his head before letting loose a sigh." Go on ahead, Ruby. I'm sure seeing friendly faces will cheer her up. I'll be along shortly." Patting the net as he finished." Got to get this stored away for later tonight. A bonfire fish roast should save the day." Giving her a thumbs up to show everything was good before moving to pick up the net which as expected proved tad difficult." Oof...hope its enough. Oh, and Ruby. Tell them not to worry about treats."

With a wink, Kazu began dragging off the net with Otto chilling on his shoulder waving to Ruby.

A momentary halt as Kazumen peered over at the group. Farim and Wasun, two more he need to learn about and keep his eyes on starting with their names.

Location: Kalliope’s room —> The Beach
Time: Late Morning
Interactions: Charlotte @princess, Sjan-dehk @Apex Sunburn, Layla @Potter, Farim @Lava Alckon, John @Conscripts, Roman @ReusableSword, Lorenzo @FunnyGuy, Ariella @Tpartywithzombi, and Olivia
Attire: Kalliope, Cassius

---

The grand castle halls echoed with the sound of Kalliope's determined footsteps as she stormed through the corridors, her frustration barely contained. The meeting with the oblivious King Edin had been just as infuriating as she had anticipated, and dealing with his pompous demeanor and mispronunciation of her name had worn her patience thin.

Finally reaching her door, she flung it open with a huff, not caring about any potential onlookers. As she stepped inside, she slammed the door shut behind her, the noise reverberating through the room.

"That pig-headed fool!" she muttered under her breath, her voice filled with disdain as she began to pace back and forth.

"I've had quite enough of King Edin's antics for one day. He truly is insufferable, an absolute pig in a crown!" She hadn’t even looked to see if Cassius was even still there and frankly she didn’t care. She would vent to the air around her if need be. ”It would have been so easy to impale a dagger into that oversized gut today, but no. I’m a good little girl, obedient and loyal as ever…” Her eyes fell on Cassius, lounging comfortably in her room. A soft smile formed on her lips at the sight of him, a welcome sight amidst the turmoil of her thoughts.

Without wasting any time, she started to unbutton her shirt, her movements both determined and slightly distracted. "I need a distraction," she said, her voice tinged with frustration as she pulled off her shirt, revealing a lacy bra underneath.

She tossed the shirt aside and turned to face Cassius fully, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "And who better to provide that than you?" she added, her voice low and sultry.

Cassius had stayed undressed from the night before. Even after Kalliope had left the room to go meet with the king himself, Cas had remained comfortable in his most natural state. It had been some time since he had the luxury of staying in a castle, and he enjoyed lounging about and meandering around Kali’s room as he awaited her inevitable return.

He thought of the night before, and how wonderful it had all been. She had proven herself to be his equal in every way, and the two of them truly had an enjoyable time exploring each other’s company and letting the lust that had built throughout the night take over. Though, there was one moment that overshadowed it all.

Cas was not usually the type of man to feel shame, nor did he find himself easily embarrassed. He was confident, brash, charming, and some may say egotistical…perhaps even dickish. He was bold and allowed the waves of the world to wash over him as they saw fit; malleable and unbothered by it all as he pursued his desires and explored the beauty of the world. So, to say that he was embarrassed by the climax of last night was an understatement.

Never once, in all his years of dealing in the arts of pleasure, had he ever muttered the wrong name in bed. It was so unlike him that it left him confused and irritated with himself. He had not let it ruin an otherwise blissful night with Kalliope, but still it festered as his mind wandered to that name once more. Lady Charlotte Vikena. The neighbor girl that he had only just met…why was it her name on his tongue, why could he not get her out of his head?

His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden flinging open of the door and Kali’s abrupt, albeit enticing entrance. Cassius listened to her words with an endearing smirk as he laid sprawled out on her bed, the only thing covering him was the corner of a sheet barely draped over his manhood. As she began to undress and faced him fully, he patted the bed playfully as an invitation for her to come to him as he took in the absolute beauty of her form.

“Oh darling…I have been known to be quite the distraction. Come here and let me help you work through some of that frustration.”

Kalliope's frustration slowly melted away as she gazed at Cassius, his playful invitation beckoning her closer. She could feel the intensity of his eyes on her, a magnetic pull that drew her to him. With a playful glint in her eye, she sauntered over to the bed, each step exuding confidence and allure as her hips swayed.

The weight of the morning’s frustrations began to fade into the background as she climbed onto the bed, joining Cassius in an intimate embrace. The tension that had gripped her slowly gave way to a different kind of tension, one of desire and longing.

Their lips met in a heated kiss, fueled by the electricity that surged between them. Kalliope's hands explored his sculpted body with a gentle touch, savoring the feel of his skin beneath her fingertips.

---

As their passion reached its crescendo, the world around them faded to black, leaving only the warmth of their bodies pressed against each other. In that moment of intimacy, they found respite from the turmoil of their lives, basking in the afterglow of their shared connection.

In the quiet stillness that followed, Kalliope smirked at Cassius as she glanced up at him through her lashes. ”Good job at not saying the wrong name this time.”

Cassius reveled in the pleasure of the moment as he laid next to Kalliope, his breath still heavy from their rather lovely distraction. It all replayed in his mind as he lounged in ecstasy. The way that their bodies intertwined, the intoxication of the passion they both shared…it had been wonderful to spend this time with Kali. He had needed this after such a whirlwind of recent events, and he was glad to have stumbled upon her glory in the training grounds.

She was truly a beautiful woman, just as fierce and skilled as himself. The absolute grace and the control over her body and technique displayed in every stage of their evening had impressed him, as did the fact that she knew exactly when to surrender that control in order to take full advantage of the thrills of the moment. Truly, it felt blissful to be in the company of a kindred spirit such as her. They both knew exactly what this was, and there was always something beautiful to be found in that.

He admired her allure as she glanced up at him, and even as his own smirk formed in response to her cheeky little jest, he could not help but appreciate her natural beauty. He turned away from her briefly, obviously feigning shock and awe at her insult. He brought his hand up to his uncovered chest and pressed it over his heart dramatically.

“My, my…You truly cut me deep, love. Will I never live down the one and only mistake Cassius Vael has ever made?” He laughed in jest as he rolled suddenly on top of her once more. ”At least you were not so insulted by my error that you would deny yourself from using me a little longer. That would have been a true shame, because it’s clear just…how…much you enjoyed using me to make all your frustrations melt away.”

Cassius looked down at her with a seductive smile as he moved to kiss her, stopping himself just before their lips could meet. ”And oh how I have enjoyed being used by you Kalliope Arden. A warrior with a name fit for a goddess…one worthy of being remembered.” Finally, he allowed his lips to press against hers sweetly. “Truly, I apologize for my error. I am a prideful man, but I am never beyond an earned apology. It was unlike me, and I do not take it for granted. It is a mystery to me why this woman pierces her way into my mind when I least expect it, but I was with you and you deserved my full attention. I’m glad I got the opportunity to make it up to you this morning.”

Kalliope chuckled at Cassius' playful response, appreciating his ability to take her jests in stride. As he rolled on top of her, she met his gaze with a sly grin.

"Oh, I couldn't resist using you a little longer," she replied, her tone teasing. "After all, you are quite the enjoyable distraction, Cassius Vael."

His words of apology and admiration washed over her, but she couldn't help but feel a sense of detachment. In Kalliope's mind, he was a good friend and a pleasurable companion, nothing more. She had no intention of letting any romantic feelings entangle their dynamic. She valued their connection for what it was—fun, liberating, and entirely physical.

"No need to fret, Cassius," she said, offering him a reassuring smile. "I’m sure I can forgive you…after a day of teasing. That reassuring smile quickly turned into a mischievous smirk. Besides, it's in the past now, and we've got a beautiful day ahead. How about we get a move on to the beach? I'm sure there's more fun to be had, and we wouldn't want to miss out on the waves and sunshine."

With that, she playfully pushed him off of her and got up from the bed, starting towards her closet to gather her swimsuit. Her mind was already shifting to the prospect of spending the day at the beach, the carefree moments and laughter that awaited them. For Kalliope, that was all that mattered—the present, the enjoyment, and the camaraderie she shared with her new adventurous friend.

There it was. That familiar look; the one that normally found itself deployed in his own gaze, but this time it was looking back at him for a change…a look of detachment. For a moment, he wondered if she had misinterpreted his gesture, but thought better of it. He was not usually one that felt the need to apologize, but it had been important to him that she knew he hadn’t meant to be disrespectful to her in that way. Still, the detachment that glazed over her eyes just enough for him to notice made him laugh to himself and wonder if he had been as good at hiding his own version of it the many times it had crossed his expression.

They both knew what they were getting themselves into. Cassius was used to this kind of casual arrangement, and honestly Kalliope had proven to be the perfect partner for such a dance. He admired her and cherished the night…and morning they had shared, but it was clear to him the very moment they started their evening that it was all just for fun. Exactly how he preferred it. He answered her comment about just how great a distraction he had been with his usual, cocky smile and agreed that it would be fun to hit the beach.

It made Cassius chuckle a bit as Kali pushed him off her playfully and rose to get ready to leave. He admired her alluring form a little longer as she made her way to the closet before he rolled to the opposite side of the bed, turning his back to Kalliope as she dressed. Draping his legs down to the ground, he lifted to a seated position and brushed his fingers through his hair.

Cassius once again let his memories transport him to the doorway of the Damien estate where he first laid eyes upon Lady Charlotte. Everything about him that evening had irritated her. Normally, all that would matter to him was that he made an impression, but it was obvious that she had been having a difficult night and for some reason he found himself feeling bad about how things had gone down. Yet, everything about her had left a very different impact. It was baffling the way that tempest in his mind eased the moment he saw her…and how it raged once more as soon as she walked away. The imprint of her face lingered in his vision when he closed his eyes the way the light of the sun does if you stare directly into it. He didn’t know what it was about her that plagued him so…but he knew that he would have to see her again in order to find out.

Standing and spreading his arms into a wide stretch, Cas let the sheet fall from his body leaving him fully uncovered once again. He meandered his way to Kali’s washroom and freshened up a bit before returning and pulling on his pants and boots. As he worked his shirt over his head he addressed Kalliope with a smile.

“Truly, this has been fun Kali. If ever you feel the need for a diversion coming on, you can always call on me to earn that forgiveness of yours a bit more.” He stated with a cheeky wink and a grin, appreciating her choice of swimwear. “But alas, all those poor souls at the beach are being deprived of our beauty and charm…and we simply cannot allow them to suffer such a fate any longer.”

With their playful banter exchanged, Kalliope gathered her things, slipping into a sleek blue-black bikini that perfectly complemented her figure and was perhaps a bit more revealing than necessary. As she moved around the room, pulling on a loose white button up shirt that may have been a mans and leaving it open, she couldn't help but notice Cassius going about his own preparations. His playful remarks brought a smirk to Kalliope's lips as she adjusted the straps of her bikini. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind," she replied with a wink, appreciating his unabashed confidence and the way he seemed to fully understand the nature of their arrangement. With a final look in the mirror to make sure her hair was in place, Kalliope shot Cassius a grin before leading the way out of the room.

---

Soon the vibrant scenery of the beach came into view and the scene was accompanied by the sounds of laughter, waves crashing against the shore, and…a scream? Well that certainly wasn’t unusual at the beach, but it also wasn’t something one came to expect to hear right away. Kali just pushed it aside as she stepped onto the sand.

Her eyes immediately zeroed in on a certain figure by a blanket and chairs—Sjan-dehk. Her heart gave an almost imperceptible flutter, a sensation she hadn’t realized had been happening almost every time she saw the man. But she quickly shifted her attention, her keen senses picking up on a tense scene unfolding nearby. Layla's confrontation with Charlotte was impossible to miss. The years she’d spent practically living with the Alidasht royalty and spying on them for a certain uncle of theirs, had her knowing the extremes Layla could go to.

Kalliope's lips curved into a knowing smile as she strolled over, her presence commanding attention despite her casual demeanor. "Layla, dear, do try to remember that we're in public," she remarked with a mockingly sweet tone, her eyes gleaming with mischief as she knew the woman would likely be shocked to see her there. "It's quite entertaining, though, watching you add drama to the beach scenery. You always were quite good at causing all sorts of drama to hide all of your own flaws. Bravo, really." Her words were delivered with a sardonic edge, her confidence unwavering as she stood her ground.

Cassius took in the various sights and sounds of the beach, letting his eyes wander and peruse the beauty of his surroundings. Such an enticing place, full of laughter and joy…a true melting pot of people doing what they could to unwind and simply enjoy themselves and one another. He could feel the eyes of others land on Kalliope and himself as they made their way onto the sand. Nothing about that surprised him, given how very few people here probably knew who they were at all and the fact that they both absolutely radiated such magnetism.

His own eyes did not linger on anyone long, as subconsciously they were already searching for a specific individual. The subject of their interest soon came into his view. There she was…that neighbor girl with the melancholy eyes, Lady Charlotte. The very woman whose presence had crept into his mind and persisted despite the company of even someone as beautiful and seductive as Kalliope Arden.

He took in the sight of her, admiring her figure in that simple but elegant floral dress that was just sheer enough to hint at the blue bathing suit beneath it, and appreciating the way her hair looked tied back in the pretty little lace bow that only enhanced her natural beauty. She looked happy, surrounded by a group of friends. It was a very different mood from how she looked the other night, and that part of him that felt bad for adding to whatever it was she had been going through reared its head. He watched as she helped hand out smoothies to a few of the people around her, and his eyes started to take in the sight of them all as she interacted with each.

First he noticed the man dressed to the nines. He appreciated the commitment of a gentleman who would choose to suffer such heat in a dress vest.

Next, his attention was pulled by the large man with tan skin. Cassius was rather tall himself, but this man was at least a couple inches taller. Given the tan and build of the man, he wondered if the behemoth had grown up working a forge.

With them, there was the gentleman with the straw hat. Something about the man emitted a warmth and gentle nature even though Cassius could tell he was a competent warrior just from the way he carried himself. Looking over momentarily, Cassius noticed that Kali’s eyes were firmly planted on this man. Interesting. He smiled at the thought of why that might be.

As Charlotte moved to a couple more people, Cassius took in the site of a rather princely looking man with features that drew his mind to the Alidasht. He was wearing a form fitting swimsuit that accentuated his nice physique. The girl near him was wearing a pretty green dress, and her reddish hair was held up by a pearl accented clip. Both of these individuals seemed rather familiar with Charlotte, as did the next two on her journey to hand out smoothies. First, there was an older man with a neatly groomed mustache and then there was another read-headed beauty with a simple but fashionable white beach dress.

As his eyes found Charlotte once more, Cassius wondered about all of these people and the roles they played in her life. Perhaps they were friends, perhaps some were family, and most curiously he wondered if any of them were her lovers. His thoughts, however, were interrupted as what had seemed like an otherwise peaceful situation quickly got out of hand. A sun-kissed woman with a sheer black dress covering a stunning swimsuit approached Charlotte with obvious tension.

As he and Kalliope continued their natural approach, he began to hear a bit of what the woman was saying, but he was shocked at the way the woman removed Charlotte’s lace ribbon and subsequently dumped her own smoothie on her. Cassius felt his blood begin to boil. He wasn’t sure why such an anger began to grow inside him, but it didn’t matter as immediately Kalliope quickened her advance and began tearing into the spiteful woman with reckless abandon. All the while, the beginnings of a skirmish threatened to break out amongst the group as the man in the form fitting swimsuit had his own words for the woman whilst he dispatched a few of her guards. Then there was the matter of the man with the straw hat drawing a firearm. There was a rage in him Cassius had not quite expected. Very interesting indeed.

However, the altercation thankfully seemed as though it was going to end almost as quickly as it had begun…and Cassius let his view return to Charlotte, who was now covered in smoothie as the man in the straw hat retrieved her ribbon and offered his tunic to her in kind. The way he reacted and his clear desire to take care of her made him wonder about the nature of their relationship. Then again, he remembered the way Kali was looking in the man’s direction just a moment ago. He could not help but be intrigued.

Cassius focused his attention on Charlotte’s eyes, and the way that her expression was so different from how it was when she was handing out smoothies. He didn’t know the woman who assaulted her so, nor did he know the nature of their disagreement…but Cassius could not help but feel vitriol in his heart for the woman who did this. He was almost angry at himself for not being able to get there in time to stop it from happening at all, even though he never could have made it in time.

As he looked towards Charlotte he wanted to approach her and ensure that she was okay, but it was clear that she was being taken care of. Multiple people were acting in her defense, and the truth was that she probably wouldn’t have wanted him to insert himself in her business…especially after the events of the other night. Speaking of that night, he remembered the fire she displayed. That spark of anger and passion that she pointed in his direction. None of that was present in this moment. Just confusion, disappointment, and obvious sorrow. Cas could not help but hurt for her. It almost didn’t matter what she might have done to elicit such a reaction from the spiteful woman, he would feel for her all the same.

Cassius found himself hanging back a bit as the whole situation played out, moving a little closer to Kalliope to make sure that she wasn’t in any danger. He knew she could handle herself, but that recklessness reminded him a little too much of himself…and that did not bring him any comfort. Even so, his eyes continued to find themselves to Charlotte as he scanned the area in hopes that the worst of the situation was past them, his hands never far from his axes just in case.

Time: Morning
Location: Beach Event
Mention:
Interactions: Lorenzo @FunnyGuy
Appearance:Outfit, Hair style

“Gardening?” Ariella raised a brow. The Duke certainly held many surprising attributes, but she still had a hard time seeing why her mother loathed him as much as she does. “ I’d love to hear more about your interests there, Mother never allowed me to garden because a lady should never have dirt under her nails” Ariella mocked.

As they arrived at the blanket Ariella offered everyone a nervous smile not wanting to interrupt their current conversations. She also grabbed a sandwich and some other refreshments that were laid out before heading back toward the water.

As Lorenzo and Ariella walked she unwrapped her sandwich and took a bite, she didn't realize just how hungry she was. It was refreshing. Taking in a breath she looked over at Lorenzo “ Like I said, it won't taste great but you’ll be feeling a lot better at least until tomorrow. Hopefully by then your stomach has had some time to settle.” Taking another bite she tried to change the topic from his stomach problems. “ So the dinner certainly was interesting, how are you after that entire show?”

---

---

The warm greeting from charlotte made his smile even brighter and was happy to help her carry a few shakes from the vendor and back to the others. it was always nice to see her and it seemed that his first suspicions were right as to the colorful nature of the others she kept in her presence. Even Sjan-dehk showed up and joined them. “good morning to you as well Sjan-dehk, I do hope one of our missives was able to reach your diplomat yesterday?” he wasn’t sure if Erik was able to return the message to the lady that he had escorted here but he hoped he did.

Another nod a Farim, “I am glad that we were able to run into one another on such a day and without the restrictiveness of the high courts and paperwork to get in the way. It seems you are enjoying yourself friend.” He was glad he was on good terms with both Farim and Munir they had their faults but he found that the two of them where actually good company compared to most of their family. “ill continue to stand thank you, I’m still dripping.” Motioning to the water dripping off his loincloth, “but it is a pleasure to meet you all.”

One of the others that he wasn’t too particular about did slither her way right into their nice day. The tension that grew with her words was striking to say the least. The confidence in her arrogant speech was palpable, more so with the presence of her guards that seemed to eye him incredulously as they approached. This in turn made him take a single step closer to John, not out of fear but he was the only one there he absolutely had to protect if everything went south. The way he looked at the girl was more of disproving then rage even if it did make him upset. Seeing her take charlotte’s ribbon and pour out her drink on her almost made him lose his cool.

The quick thoughts of how he could quickly disable her before her guards reacted flashed through his mind. A broken knee, dislocated shoulder, a few broken ribs for good measure. Not deadly but a statement on how to treat others. he shot a glance to John that said he was angry but wouldn’t respond, they both had to play their part and continue the charade of non-violence or at the very least poor fighters in public.

Roman had half a mind to pick a fight but soon found that he would not have too yet. Keeping up his guard and defensively stepping closer to Charlotte as the others threw insults and Farim disabled a few of her guards. Even Sjan-dehk had a few choice words in his native tongue pulling his pistol free. A few new comers he could see approach, one that shouted at the Alidasht princess and another he recognized as Cassius Damien from the archery competition. It seemed Cassius also approached in a defensive manner.

In a few moments it seemed that the princess wasn’t going to retaliate, if she did he would definitely intervein before letting the others. out of those he could see here he believed that he likely held the most political sway out of the others followed close behind by Farim. He was well aware that his name carried weight in the royal echelons as he has personally made and hand delivered items to several of them. As well as being in very lucrative trade deals with them through the Ravenwood Artisans guild and their subsidiaries. In total his family held a significant portion of trade throughout the kingdoms in almost every type of importation and exportation.

Roman turned back to Charlotte with a warm smile just as he had before, “Well now you really don’t have a reason not to go swimming.” Trying to make light of the situation and cheer her up, “you can’t control the actions of others but you can decide how you let it affect you. So how about a swim? and tonight if you like, I would like to invite you and the others here.” He motioned to the others with a quick look and hand gesture. “To my people’s celebration and ritual of the summer solstice out by lover’s lake tonight. Clothing is optional.” He smiled again clearly trying his best to pull her mind off the topic at hand and onto the future.

Time: Late Morning
Location: Sorian Beach
Interactions: Charlotte @princess, Sjan-dehk @Apex Sunburn, Roman @ReusableSword Layla/Olivia @Potter Farim @Lava Alckon
Mentions: Lorenzo @FunnyGuy, Ruby @SausagePat, Kazumin @samreaper, Ariella @Tpartywithzombi, Cassius @PapaOso, and others

---

The friendly face was genuine as John was introduced to Charlotte's group after fetching the smoothies with the rest of the group, putting his hand on his chest as he gave a light bow. His gaze towards Olivia was a curious one, having not seen nor heard of the woman before. "Dr. John Harling Williamson of Varian Institute of Science. It's a pleasure to meet you both. Farim, it's great to finally see eye-to-eye with the man himself. Your company helps connect our cultures together. Always enjoyed a good book from Alidasht." John looked over to the Alidasht noble first, giving a brief and frankly a little bit corporate greeting, but soon his tone of voice suddenly grew more excited as the topic of science were on the table, even just for a little bit. "Oh, it's going on fantastic! I work for the royal-affiliated institute, so we get to play with cool things as it came out of the lab, things like seeing how your bones look like, without doing anything to you. Not my work of course, but we're already so excited to play around with that. I can always talk about it more later if you all want." He controlled the urge to digress on the thing that made him excited to turn to Olivia. "And Miss Olivia, I don't believe we have met."

The foreign gentleman gave his introduction as well. Not a blacksmith, a company owner nor a doctor, but a warship captain from Jafi, or Viserjanta? It was a bit confusing with the wording, but John could always ask later. But being a pirate hunter is genuinely a pretty cool job. You get to sail the large intimidating warships while fighting for justice. It is dangerous, but that's what makes the job more noble. "I used to imagine sailing those cool warships with those cannons firing when I was a kid. It must be so nice doing that for real, huh?" He gave Sjan-dehk a smile. "Anyway, if you're here for diplomatic, trading or just here for a good time...well, hope you're enjoying yourself, Sjan-dehk. Caesonia always look great around these times."

He'd say, this group seemed a lot more chilled out and friendly compared to the nobles of the first day. John was enjoying the company when alas, fun was cancelled. Layla, whom he left the first night after the dance having more positive impressions than what she gave off now, arrived to simply spit on everyone's mood. While it had that effect on everyone else, most specially poor Charlotte, it was...more humorous to John than anything. It was so over the top show-off, John questioned the actual motivation behind this whole thing. As she insulted his intelligence when it comes to an overly warm attire, John simply returned her gaze with a sneer colder than the northern tips. He was not taking up any of her taunts, not to him or his friends, but instead his raised eyebrow, crossed arm was firm and shrewd.

Roman signalled to him not to fight, and that was the only time John peeled his gaze away from her. He was not going to intervene out of respect and understanding of the roles they play, but continued to watch the ordeal explode in front of him. Farim disabling the guards, Sjan-dehk getting his weapons ready. It was a mess, but it eventually resolved itself at least somewhat peacefully and Layla began to leave. The Varian doctor only responded to her once before she disappeared.

"You can drop the arrogant act. It doesn't hide anything."

With a roll of an eye, he turned back to Charlotte and the group. "Again, I'm sorry to see that." He offered her his smoothie to compensate for the one being dumped on her. He heard of Roman's invitation, but his mind blanked a bit at the clothing is optional part. What? "I'll try to be there, if nothing comes up." With clothes though. His classy style aside, he wasn't going to go naked anywhere.