[center][h3][color=D0B4EC]Charlotte[/color], [color=lightpink]Olivia[/color], [color=F26522]Kazumin[/color], [color=9AF781]Leo[/color], [color=9354FF]Fritz[/color], [color=ab274f]& Wulfric[/color] Part 1[/h3][/center] Time: Evening - [color=red] 5pm - 2 hours before timeskip at 7[/color] Location: Vikena Estate [color=lightgray]In the cozy glow of the drawing room, Charlotte and Olivia sat comfortably on a red leather couch. The dark wood-paneled room, with its grand fireplace flickering softly, had always been one of Charlotte’s favorite places to seek refuge in. On the mahogany coffee table before them was an array of delicacies, prepared by Gilbert. Warm meat pies and flaky pigs in a blanket were available, finger sandwiches filled with cucumber and smoked salmon, slices of sponge cake, and scones with raspberry preserves. Still in the elegant lace dress she had worn to the party, Charlotte sat comfortably, holding one of the pigs in a blanket. She took a bite and suddenly giggled, [color=D0B4EC]"You know, I think I could eat these little things all day. “[/color] Olivia sat beside Charlotte in a white blouse and tan pants. Her boots laid idly on the floor near her. Any food provided to her was immediately eaten. She struggled to slow down eating still– usually, if she didn’t finish it, a stray animal or nearby homeless people would. Besides the food being the best thing she’d ever tasted, Liv had to keep pausing so she didn’t make herself sick. She nodded in agreement to Charlie offhandedly and smiled widely. [color=7ea7d8]“My girls,”[/color] Delilah’s affectionate voice broke through as she came up behind the couch, wrapping her arms around both Charlotte and Olivia with a warm smile. [color=7ea7d8]“I am going to make some more tea before the guests arrive.”[/color] She placed a gentle kiss on Charlotte’s head before letting go and heading toward the kitchen. [color=D0B4EC]“Thank you, Delilah!”[/color] Charlotte called after her, then turned to Olivia with a reassuring smile. [color=D0B4EC]“I hope you’re not too nervous. I know it can be a bit daunting that Prince Wulfric is coming, but truly, he’s not as intimidating as he seems. “[/color] She then leaned in closer, her eyes wide with mock seriousness, [color=D0B4EC]“And if he is, well, I shall distract him with one of these. ”[/color] Olivia smiled at Delilah and moved her hands up to hug the woman’s arm back. [color=lightpink]”Thank you so much! You’re the f… fricken best!”[/color] She giggled and turned back to Charlie. Upon Wulfrics name being mentioned, she averted her gaze. She swung her legs a bit more rapidly now and glanced at her. [color=lightpink]”....I’ll take your word for it. I’ve never really spoken to him so I’m going to be quiet if possible….”[/color] She quickly began eating as the idea of meeting the future crowned king consumed her thoughts. The spell came to mind and in her haste, was unable to speak due to food in her mouth. She glanced at Charlie and unexpectedly voiced the thoughts telepathically. Her nose became red at the tip and she brought a napkin to her face to hide it. [color=lightpink][i]What if I embarrass myself? Or Charlie and the Vikena estate? What if he thinks I’m a pig?[/i][/color] Charlotte gave her a warm, comforting smile, then gently took the napkin in her hand. She then dabbed at the corners of Olivia’s mouth, giving her nose a friendly boop at the end. Olivia smiled warmly back at Charlotte and giggled. She managed to clean up the remaining dribbles, tossed it out, and then busied herself with food rapidly. A knock suddenly filled the air cutting through their moment like a knife through butter. Hastily, Charlotte got to her feet and made her way over to the door. Said knock would come in a thunderous, yet rhythmetic and energetic pattern of tat-tat-tat…tat-tat-tat-tatatata-..tap! A knock too sharp for knuckles, but of harder material. Drawing closer to the door, Charlotte could hear a muffled jolly hum. A foreboding sign almost telling her turn back. For, upon the door’s opening, the poor unassuming lady would receive a smackful of some kind of fluffy cloth and for a brief moment, one might have mistaken the smiling figure as a grinning orange with the overwhelming bright orange exhuming off the man’s rather..interesting suit. And what a gloriously dazzling suit it was at that! With such impeccable design and intricacies of the large flashy bow which only further illuminated the mustachioed individual’s wide toothy grin. Appearing manic almost for a second beneath the betraying tricks of the shadows on those familiar bright chocolate almond eyes twinkling with knowing cheeky delight. [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/FslFoTn.png[/img][/center] He merely stood posing, looking to the right as if noticing something on his shoulder, in that sea of fluff. Loud visible rustling from a quick dusting flick of the shoulder from his left hand, right gingerly clutching the hawk shaped cane. A gentle craning of the neck, turning his attention to the lady at the door; doing so causing the huge crown of feathery fronds to bounce atop the towering hat somehow staying put, nearly slapping any who dared ventured too close.[color=F26522]” Gr-r-r-r-r-eetings and salutations…”[/color] A twirling pause of the mustache. [color=F26522]“This may perchance be the detective meeting, yes?”[/color] He asked with boisterous enthusiasm matching the suit. Charlotte was flabbergasted,eyes widening as she took in the sight before her. Kazumin's outfit was beyond anything she had ever seen. Her hand instinctively flew to her mouth to stifle a laugh, but the mirth in her eyes was unmistakable. [color=D0B4EC]“Oh wow...” [/color] she managed to breathe out, her tone full of awe. Her gaze lingered on the extravagant hat, the feathers practically begging for attention. Without thinking, she took a small step forward, her curiosity getting the better of her. [color=D0B4EC]“May I... may I touch the feather?”[/color] she asked, her tone almost childlike in its wonder. Her fingers hovered just above the flamboyant plume, the urge to feel its softness too strong to resist. Charlotte’s childlike reaction widened his grin, who, nary a response bowed his head forward [color=F26522]“They would be delighted to tickle our sweet hostess's hands!”[/color] Chuckled Kazu, holding the pose while his friend had her fill. Once finished, he stood back up, where he would take a big whiff, drinking in the aroma of delicious treats just within. [color=F26522]“Ah, with such fetching delight, one can already feel the mind whirring. Mystery and murder afoul!”[/color] Spinning in place shoving the cane skyward in dramatic flair. Lo, to such dismay, his stomach rumbled in a volume pushing comfort. [color=F26522]”ahem *cough* apologies. Much is to be discussed, but on an empty stomach, I’m afraid not (foregoing the need to mention having had pudding prior). If I may, miss?”[/color] Motioning towards the doorway, requestion permission; faints sounds of snickering just beneath the mustache or perhaps just the hair tickling his nose. [color=D0B4EC]“Please make yourself at home…”[/color] She stepped to the side to allow him entry and added with a giggle, [color=D0B4EC]“There’s some snacks in the drawing room. Liv is standing guard as our snack protector!”[/color] Charlotte had been about to follow suit inside, however, it seemed someone else was approaching the Vikena estate as well. Leo and Fritz stumbled up to the door next. Or rather Leo was stumbling and he kept such a tight grip on Fritz’s shoulder that he kept dragging the Count around with him. The several cups of coffee he’d been given during his short stint in a holding cell had done little to sober him up. Leo was in an unusual state of disarray; his suit was wrinkled, his shirt half-buttoned with a light splatter of blood, his jacket torn at the sleeve, and a black eye. The scent of the smokey Gambling and Games Hall clung to him, but the scent of alcohol was overpowering. [color=9AF781]“Defec-detect-DETECTIVE VIKENA!”[/color] He half mumbled, half shouted once he spotted Lottie. [color=9AF781]“Reportingferinvestigatshuns.”[/color] Leo added, offering no explanation for his sloppy stupor. He let go of Fritz and threw himself, stumbling, into the doorway. Leo clung to the doorway for a moment, waiting for things to stop spinning, before making it inside. Charlotte had initially beamed when she saw Fritz and Leo approaching. Her arms opened wide, ready to greet them with a warm embrace, but her joy quickly gave way to concern as Leo’s disheveled state became clear. Her heart leaped into her throat as her eyes caught sight of the blood splattered across his shirt. Her steps quickened, and she rushed to his side just as he stumbled forward, wrapping an arm securely under his to catch him. [color=D0B4EC]“Leo!”[/color] she gasped, her voice filled with both shock and worry. [color=D0B4EC]“Is that [i]blood[/i]?”[/color] Her eyes widened in alarm as she shot a bewildered glance toward Fritz, silently asking for some kind of explanation. Without waiting for an answer, Charlotte’s focus shifted back to Leo, her voice softening but her actions still urgent. [color=D0B4EC]“What happened? You’re scaring me.”[/color] She gently but firmly tried to guide him toward the drawing room toward the couches. She then called out, [color=D0B4EC]“Olivia, can you please fetch some cold water from the kitchen?”[/color] [color=9AF781]“I think…maybe…I’m drunk.”[/color] Leo said, like it was a shocking revelation, as he was corralled into the drawing room. A room that contained the most extravagant hat he’d ever seen. [color=9AF781]“Whoa!”[/color] Was all he could muster as his eyes widened at Kazu’s outfit. His hand reached out to swat at the feathers and he nearly toppled over at the sudden movement. He looked at Charlotte again, [color=9AF781]“I didn’teven drink today. Pranked! I like this-un.”[/color] The mustached Kazumin had been comfortably partaking of the delightful snacks with cookies dipped in cocoa when all the commotion began. The sudden noise nearly made him jump in shock as he unknowingly dipped faster, the panicked excitement hitting him as he witnessed Charlotte help another drag what seemed to an injured gentleman. A ruffling upper tilt of the body as all the frills and feathers did partially obscured his view; surprised to find the two familiar faces. As Olive had been tasked to fetch water, he had downed his drink and gobbled the cookie before attempting to get to his feet to aid. Only to feel hands fluffing with his feathers and heard the drunken Leo’s comment towards them. A quick wiggle of the nose to hide a covered snort, wishing he could laugh, but even this chaos-loving imp wasn’t that inconsiderate, certainly not with blood evidently involved. With the quiet efficiency of someone accustomed to managing drunks, Ryn gently took Lord Smithwoods’s elbow and steered him towards the plush couch. [color=9354FF]“Easy there, my friend,”[/color] he murmured. [color=9354FF]“Let’s get you settled, shall we?”[/color] The lord mumbled something incomprehensible but allowed himself to be steered. Ryn eased him down onto the cushions, carefully arranging Lord Smithwood’s limbs so he wouldn’t slide off. Once the man was safely horizontal, Ryn straightened up and met Lady Charlotte’s worried gaze, questions clearly dancing on the tip of her tongue. He stepped closer. [color=9354FF]“When I went to collect Lord Smithwood, he wasn’t at the guest house,”[/color] he began. [color=9354FF]“So I asked around and traced him to the Gambling and Games Hall, where I discovered our friend had taken up temporary residence in their holding cell.”[/color] Lady Charlotte had cast Ryn a bewildered glance at that. What Ryn left unsaid was the utter chaos Lord Smithwood had caused at the hall and that he had to bail the inebriated lord out because the nobleman had gambled away every last coin on his person. It was at that moment the prince made his entrance. Having caught Count Hendrix’s briefing, he took one look at Leo, and declared: [color=ab274f]“Concerning.”[/color] He approached Lady Vikena, and offered the hostess a courteous bow, as he greeted with a, [color=ab274f]“Good evening.”[/color] Ignoring issues of lesser concern, he relayed several instructions. [color=ab274f]“If you have not yet, I recommend procuring for Lord Leo cold water, to be applied to the head with a towel, an ice pack for the eye, and a bucket just in case,”[/color] he recited, familiar with the general procedure from his younger siblings’ drunken stints. [color=ab274f]“Do you employ a physician or shall I call on one?”[/color] he inquired. [color=9AF781]“Fizzishun?”[/color] Leo barely repeated the word but his expression made it clear he found the suggestion ridiculous. [color=9AF781]“Nah.”[/color] He added, shaking his head. [/color]