The Anduin Cruise - Revisited

[Romeran]

Rohan! Romeran had heard of the place before, of course, even those people who hadn't heard of the famous horse-lords before knew of them now after the battle of the pelennor fields. Romearn himself had never been to Rohan, having in fact never been further north than Minas Tirith, he had always imagined the place, the horses, and the people who lived there. He hadn't expected to meet someone from Rohan let alone a young girl at a 'fancy' dinner party on a boat down the Anduin. Before he could ask any questions about Rohan the girl mentioned she lived in Dol Amroth. Romeran was much more familiar with the southern fiefs and principalities of Gondor, being from Lossarnach himself, but he had never been to Dol Amroth, he had heard as great deal about its beauty, however. Much to Romeran's dismay he did not get to ask any questions at all.

The announcer had called for dinner. This was Romeran's queue to move to his next duties. "I'll be bringing the drinks table and setting it up below deck, there's not much use for it up here during dinner" he said, in reply to Arnyn's question.

When all of the other guests had gone down, Romearn hastily packed the mugs, cups, and glasses onto trays as he had been instructed. When the table items had been gathered and placed in such a way so to make them fairly manageable to carry, Romeran started to pick them up in loads. He was able to carry more items than might have been expected due to his strength, but his size, combined with the additional size of the items he was carrying made it awkward for him to navigate through the back passages towards the dining area -- he was instructed not to use the route the guests were taking. He decided on the next trip not to try to take more than the normal amount as he had spent more time twisting and pausing and cautiously picking his route down on the first run and had decided it had not really saved any time.

It took him three more trips before he had taken all of the drinks and cups and accoutrement downstairs below deck to where the guests where setting up. Luckily for him most of them were occupied with the food and other novelties offered below deck rather than the same table of refreshments as above deck. This allowed Romeran some time to tidy up the table. He wasn't going to get in any trouble for failing to follow orders exactly besides, he there were rangers aboard, off duty or not, and they would certainly take note if Romeran had been scolded for failure to follow directions.

[Lail]

Ljúfa

Gelion’s reaction was like a town cryer shouting: ‘attention! this person is worthy of your interest!’ He was someone worth protecting. Or he had something worth protecting and it confirmed her assumptions. She could have skipped with glee. Instead, she supplied her name smoothly, “Ljúfa.” Her Dalish accent was on full display, though she tried to round her vowels out and soften the lilt as much as she could. “And what do I call a fine lord such as yourself?”

She let her land linger in his for just a touch, perhaps a bit longer than was strictly polite, before she slid it from his grasp. The velvet fabric between his lips and her skin helped keep her intentions from blurring. Even so, up close, his elfin features and long pale lashes swept over his eyes and drew her in like a secret, just for her, waiting to be told.

The view? Ah yes, the view! She forced her gaze toward it, leaning her hand delicately on the railing and giving herself a brief moment to recollect. It was breathtaking; rosy light bathed the city, purple clouds clung to the mountain peaks and an amber sheen rippled on the current. But Ljúfa shrugged, nonchalant, appearing thoroughly unimpressed.

“It’s alright.” She tipped her head back, eyes trailing up the mast and rigging into the pastel sky. “I think it would be much better from up there…don’t you?” A mischievous glint sparkled in her blue eyes as she grinned at him. “If the clouds don’t ruin it, I bet the view of the stars up there will be to die for!” She gave the last words a dramatic flair with ease, blissfully ignorant of the danger lurking behind a beautiful face.

“But I suppose we’ll have to find out later…” A pout tugged at her lips, her prospect of fun and adventure momentarily spoiled by the call for supper.

[Pele Alarion]

Pele

It appeared that Dinaglossiel might be able to tell quite a story, but it seemed that any stories would have to wait as the girl was eager to follow the announcer's recommendations to go for dinner, and so Pele only offered her a smile. Then she had a passing thought to help out Rome, but such an action would probably cause quite a few noble frowns and way too many glances her way, and more than likely she would mess up his duties and earn him unnecessary scolding.

"Yeah, suppose food it is then," she agreed with Arnyn, though she was that hungry.

While it was much warmer in the set up hall, Pele did not necessarily feel more comfortable. Being stuck among countless noble folk and making boring small talk was not exactly her idea of fun, and she wondered whether it would be possible to find a nice corner and gather a couple of people for some sort of a game or other. At any rate, sitting around stiffly for who knew seemed a waste of time. Avoiding most of the crowd, Pele quickly collected a plate full of fruit and pastries and then aimed for the table with the games wondering if there was something she could find that would perhaps interest at least Arnyn.

~~~~
Lady Ciconia
@Ercassie

"Who is to say what other reasons people might have to join the cruise," Ciconia shrugged lightly in response to Isys and diverted her gaze to look at the dark westward mountain shapes. "Some might come to talk business in a more leisurely setting, others might have other reasons." However, she did not mention her own cause for attending the event, leaving open the most likely probability that she was simply looking for fun.

When she had spoken to Isys, she had not thought that the other lady would face off to her squarely like this, and she shifted uncomfortably under the gaze when it seemed that Isys had no intention to respond to the call for dinner. And yet, Ciconia felt that rushing off would feel suspicious, like admitting defeat, and so she too remained standing just where she was.

"We have no cruises nearby," she spoke somewhat randomly, and still neither providing her own name or asking for the other to introduce herself. "So perhaps this one would provide a good first experience for me. I would guess that you are much more familiar with ships and cruises."

[Arnyn]

She supposed Romeran was right; the drinks would no longer be of much use here. And on the off chance someone still wanted to wander the deck, they could always find refreshments inside. "Then I am sure we will see you again later," she nodded at him. Part of her was relieved that no one had come to chide Romeran yet. You never knew with these functions, though - perhaps the crew master would come and berate him later, for daring to have what seemed like a conversation with the guests. Then again, perhaps Romeran would escape such a fate, since he had mostly been talking to Pele and Arnyn - and they were just Rangers, not wealthy nobility.

Once they left the cold, outside air in exchange for the hall, and they had ventured in a ways, only then did she take off her cloak. She hadn't understood why many of those present had forgone decent outerwear on the deck. Arnyn had not been about to risk catching a cold - or worse - just so she could show off her blue and silver dress in the dusk already. The ranger left her cloak on a peg off to the side. She wasn't worried about it being stolen, especially given the mostly wealthy guests. Flipping her long blonde waves back over her shoulder, she surveyed the hall once more. Food, and lots of it. Games, it looked like. Music.

All in all, everything most people would ask for when it came to this kind of event.

Pele was already off gathering food, and was going about it quite quickly. Arnyn decided to take her time, rather than rush through. It wasn't every day she got to pick a meal from a spread like this one.

[Ercassie]

Lady Ilisys Azrubêl, of Lond Côl
with Lady Ciconia of Lamedon @Pele Alarion

“People might, some might,” Ilisys summarised the other woman’s musings. Then leant in, quite conspiratorially close to the veiled stranger’s face and added, “Others might,” with an agreeably knowing nod. As the bulk of the guests began to descend from the deck to seek out warmer climes and what treats might there await them, the Belfalasian considered the other woman’s height, her stance, her evident interest for all the vaguest of efforts that were employed. She might have expected for another in this guest’s position to excuse herself, citing the herd’s direction as some fitting cause to follow suit. But no, they two remained, as though the ancient figures of the Argonath, slowly abandoned to decorate their lonely stage.

Isys did not tend toward introductions within social circles, assuming that either folks would have made their own enquiries or else have been capably engrossed by her eccentric reputation. She could not quite say which was the case here, but her unexpected company certainly seemed to think that she knew exactly who she was talking to.

The Lady of Lond Côl was unabashed by the unflinching attention, nor their growing intimacy as the count of witnesses diminished. She smiled. “You might hope then to make much of this night, if it likely be so rare an opportunity ?” she assumed now for her own sake. The breeze rifled through the tall woman’s dark hair, liberating some fine strands of that shadow to sail suddenly untethered; a wild display of dark reaches thrown out in risen peaks; a trembling crown. Unfazed, the noblewoman did not raise a hand to subdue the rebelling mane; but a slight incline and an angled tilt of her head, the most subtle of alteration, called the direction of the breeze under her seeming command. The subtle show of knowledge how to best present at an advantage. The coiffure quelled to a calm. Unblinking eyes reigned on, once more unrivalled, unblinkered.

Then, Isys reached abruptly for the stranger’s arm, hooking it with confidence of an unspoken sisterhood about the elbow, so that the steeled bracelet pressed cold and close against the stranger's elaborate glove.

“You might dine with me,” she decided as much as she apparently only suggested. Isys’s unfaltering move toward the gathered feast though did more than suggest that her new acquaintance comply. For surely they ought come to know each other better, regardless of whether the stranger was willing, or not so much any more.

[Isolde Alarion]

Nelladel Alarion w/ Addhor Raxelilta
@Ercassie

His compliment caused her to smile. She could just see the reactions of them ending up as a pile on the deck. It actually caused her to chuckle to herself. “Well, that would be a sight I’m sure should we both end up on the deck.” She grinned at him as she took his offered hand in hers.

He suggested something to stave off the chill and she nodded in agreement. “I think that’s a fine idea, I’m sure I could find some tea to my liking.” She was sure they would have a fine assortment to chose from. He asked is she’d ever sailed before and she shook her head lightly. “No, I’ve always had my feet planted on firm ground. No opportunity to do so I suppose.” She shrugged slightly but her gaze turned to their master of ceremonies as he again appeared.
When he offered they delve a little further undercover she nodded in agreement. “I think that’s a fine idea.” She was actually very curious what activities they had in store for them. As they took their turn she held his hand one so she wouldn’t be separated from him in the crowd and two, she still didn’t have her sea legs under her and felt at moments a little unsteady still.

Once undercover she looked around her and couldn’t help but stare at all the finery around her. They seemed to spare no expense in both decor and food stuffs for their guest. Of course her eye was caught when she noticed all the different baked goods they offered. “Oh Addhor!” She pointed out. “I’ve never seen such a variety of baked goods. I wonder if their baker would share some secrets with me?” She joked and laughed a bit.

It seemed her eyes couldn’t take everything in and she couldn’t stop herself from staring, momentarily, at all the different people. Most she didn’t know but one she did. She patted his arm gently. “Oh look! It’s Pele!” She looked up at him and grinned. “I wonder who talked her into coming..and how they kept her from jumping overboard.” She chuckled knowing how uncomfortable she was with crowds. “If you don’t mind I’d like to say hello at sometime.” She wasn’t sure where to start their evening so left it up to him. “So where would you like to start, something to drink perhaps?”

[Pele Alarion]

Pele

Setting the collected assortment of edible goods next to her on the table, Pele proceeded to browse through the games - there were some that she did not know how to play, with bright marbles of many colours, or some figures that looked like tiny soldiers. She did find a deck of cards, and dice, and grinned to herself wondering whether such options were not considered too simple by most folk on this cruise. Though it was likely that many would prefer eating, dancing and singing to playing table games.

Eventually she did not choose anything and picking up her food chose a table nearer to the corner and out of the way. Sitting down, she took a good look around, waiting for company and good conversation, and perhaps someone to lure into playing a game or two.

~~~~
Lady Ciconia

Ciconia found it rather intriguing and quite unsettling as well that the other woman did not seem concerned at all by the attention shown to her, instead there was rather a matching or perhaps even more intense return for it.

"I do not get out this far too often," she responded light-heartedly though. "Though under pressure of finding a suitable prospective husband I might do so more often. Perhaps might use this cruise to see if anyone is available." she chuckled at this, though her actions this far had not indicated that she was actively searching for a suitor.

To make up for what might have shown off her reluctance to join crowds and speaking contrary to what she had just said, Ciconia did not oppose the firm grasp of Isys to lead her towards the hall below deck. "Sure, some dinner and warmth, and your company would not be amiss," she hastened to agree, glancing up at Isys who stood almost a head taller than she was. "The sunset is long gone either way, and it is not exactly pleasantly warm out here."

[Ercassie]

Lady Ilisys Azrubêl, of Lond Côl
with Lady Ciconia of Lamedon @Pele Alarion

“You are on the prowl,” Ilisys concluded of the other woman’s apparent jest, with an expression which suggested glee but private understanding both. Together they forsook the cold traces of evening for all the warmth of bodies who were gathering below. “Come. You must have no fear I shall share your secret,” she confided, glancing at her free hand and the barest rise of swathed skirts she had managed, in apparent idleness. “To have come so far to seek a suitable arrangement, .. People might, some might, … ” Isys resorted to a whisper as she leaned in, “‘others’ might think .. there be some ungoodly cause you are unable to make a match closer to your home.”

Steel white fingers tightened closer about the beautifully gloved arm, in a rally of support, or something else. The shift in subject if not tone was subtle, but not so subtle as Ciconia ought miss it’s meaning. That a lady of good standing was likely to have some number of suitors at hand, possibly already assuming of that fate for many years beforehand, and probably arranged by those amongst her household that ‘knew best’ how to further their influence within the community. Unless there were some scandal or the like which might put off contenders .. The Ranger understood. All too well.

“Did the war rob all of Lamedon of it’s eligible batchelors ?” Isys asked those gathered at a table that they passed, betraying her own knowledge of where the other guest had declared she was from, even as she offered Ciconia a respective clause to justify her romantic ‘quest’. That was only courteous after all.

“There is certainly a crowd of company tonight to ponder over a warm meal,” she decided, with a halfway evasive inspection of the room’s inhabitants. “You shall be fain surrounded by folk in no time, and I am sure many will take note of so fine a vision,” she smiled. “All eyes will likely be upon you,” she promised, cordially. With what seemed a reassuring pat upon the other’s arm, Isys idled determinedly across the readied room, depositing her new friend from an extremely slowed down stride, before the elaborate table of sumptuous food and drink.

The Belfalasian removed her arm then of it’s link, abandoning Ciconia to stand without support before the table of refreshments. She said no more, but awaited, for the other noblewoman to showcase her doubtless polished manners as all must in such circumstances. “After you,” Isys sang in a brief but musical prompt, and would wait her turn, accordingly. Attentively, as her recently liberated hand curled the soft tail of her tethered dark hair in beringed fingers.

[Ercassie]

Addhor Raxëlilta with Nelladel Alarion
@Isolde Alarion

All at sea with such excessively lavish surroundings, the woman with her hand in his was a reassuring anchor. While the glamour and the gown leant a new glow about her, it was the same beautiful soul at the heart of Nell which drew him out of himself. Their clandestine exchanges of amusement proved how inexperienced they both were at this sort of environment, but it at least felt that neither one of them cared. As though they were in on it together, like tourists together surveying an elaborate safari. And the part of him which wanted to regret throwing them into such a strange scene, was repeatedly stifled by how well they seemed to be acclimatising so far. They might just as easily be coated in a muddy camouflage to merrily infiltrate some wilder ecosystem than the Cruise provided.

“You are of course quite a sight, regardless,” the man leaned in to confide what was meant of course to be a compliment. The subtle squeeze of fingers better indicated what support his grasp could provide as they descended unto the dining ‘hall’. And the gentle contact .. she did not look to escape. “I can not claim an extensive experience with sailing, but I’m fairly sure that balance will prove a little better down here on a lower deck,” he sought to convince Nell with the sincerity of a smile.

Tea, Addhor agreed, would be, as well as warming, an opportunity to give more thought to the feast. “Well first you would have to try some to see if they taste as good as they look,” the baker’s opinion of the feast’s variety did not completely win him over from his own favourite supplier. “It seems almost a shame though to take anything from such a display. I am hard pressed to guess what is dessert and what is decoration,” he admitted, a little overwhelmed.

“Why don’t you go provide Pele (@Pele Alarion) with some reason not to leap overboard, and I shall bring over the tea ?” The intention, a means to make them all feel a little less out of place; and he would certainly not deny the two women to find what enjoyment they would in company. “Perhaps she can offer some further opinion on the food.”

The Master Healer had managed to seat herself close to the gaming table also, which opened an entire new range of opportunity to come. But first, refreshment had been called for. Addhor turned to the drinks table and a bearded young man. “Good evening,” he addressed @Romeran politely, as he reached for the labelled kettle. “May I ?” he asked, not wanting to assume that the attentive fellow was manning the table, rather than that he himself had just cut in line.

[Pele Alarion]

@Ercassie
Lady Ciconia of Lamedon

"Ah, there are some things in the history..." Ciconia murmured evasively at suspicions Isys had expressed, as she let herself be guided down and into the roomful of various people. "Though most of it is my own doing - or undoing. Too picky and all that."

When her new acquaintance made a show of drawing people's attention to the matter as they went towards the food table, Ciconia frowned behind her veil as she realised that she might just have put herself in an awkward situation and that Isys most likely saw right through her disguise. She could not be expected to behave all lady-like in a jiffy, could she?

"Who knows if I will find here what I've been looking for," she grumbled softly and turned her attention to food, looking over the available options. She was sorely tempted to pile a plate high with a bit of everything, but that would be absolutely unacceptable, so she proceeded to pick two choice pieces of roasted meat and a small collection of various vegetables to start with. She had taken extra care not to get her white gloves stained, as she carefully handled the utensils in choosing the said food. Even though Ciconia had suspicions that gloves should have been removed before handling food.

"Where would you like to sit?" she questioned Ilisys, offering her a somewhat silly grin, as she expected the woman to get her into public trouble sooner or later.

~~~~
@Arnyn , @Isolde Alarion , @Romeran
Pele

Munching on a delicious morsel, Pele had turned her attention to the games yet again, rising briefly to pick up a set of dice. Returning to her seat, she could not help but wonder whether this was really something noble folks played - somehow she had imagined that dice was a game for simple people. Placing another bit of meat in her mouth, she savoured it while she explored each separate die.

"Arnyn!" she called out, when her friend was a bit closer than all the way across the hall, and then shook the dice together loudly. "Care for a game after a meal?" Then she glanced at Romeran with intentions of inviting him too, but then she reconsidered, since he had a job to do, and would probably get yelled at if he gave in to distractions.

Spotting Nell and Addhor thereabouts as well, Pele smiled and waited to make an eye contact, before nodding to the free chairs around the table she had chosen. Since she was here and had not escaped, might as well enjoy the company instead of sitting in the corner all by herself.

[Isolde Alarion]

Nell w/ Addhor
Below Deck
@Pele Alarion @Ercassie

Nell nodded lightly at Addhors words. It was true, she wasn't sure what was decoration and what was to eat. Best not to eat the fancier looking things she concluded in her mind. Her thoughts interrupted as he suggest she go visit Pele. Looking up at him with a smile she nodded lightly. " Thank you, I'll see if I can distract her from her misery." She chuckled and gave his arm a light squeeze before she moved away to meet up with Pele.

Approaching the table where Pele sat she smiled. "Hello Pele!" She greeted her and took one of the empty chairs she offered. "I must say I'm surprised yet happy to see you here." She noticed the dice in her hand. "Looking for a game are you?" There was a gleam in her green eyes.

[Rillewen]

Lord Ademar 'Ansellidus', with Lady Alyssa 'Ansellidus'

Watching some of the others line up to get the food, Mar frowned. "You'd think they would have servants to wait on the tables, and bring the food to us," he complained in a quiet tone only meant for his wife to hear.
"The ship can only hold so many people, would you have it sink because they had to employ waiters for all the guests? The sailors are busy making sure the ship goes where it's meant to." Alyssa replied, keeping her tone carefully mild and soft. "I suspect it won't do us any harm to get our own food, this one time." She kept her gaze down, nervous that he would be angered by her response, but he said nothing. Waiting for several seconds, she finally dared raise her hazel eyes tentatively, and saw that his attention had been drawn elsewhere. Before she could find whatever had captured his attention, he turned to her.

"Alyssa, I'll return shortly. I've just seen someone I'd like to... have a word with," He started to leave, then turned back. "I'll be back soon," He paused for a moment, long enough to see a warning in his eyes, then he set off across the room toward a man dressed in servant's garb. Alyssa held in a sigh, assuming he was going to complain or make a scene. Clasping her hands together in her lap, she stared down at the flower resting on the table. A strong desire came over her to fling it across the room, or rip it up. She didn't dare do such a thing, of course, for he would be upset with her if she did. Sighing, she glanced toward the table where others were getting plates of food, and debated going to get some for herself. But she didn't know if he would expect her to wait for him to return. It was always tricky, trying to guess what he would want, and she finally decided against it, with a soft sigh of resignation.

Mar, meanwhile, made his way toward where he saw a familiar face. A servant on the ship, ha. He was curious what the man was up to. A man like that didn't simply get a job working on a cruise ship for the sake of earning honest pay, and Mar knew it. And that's if he was even legitimately on the payroll, which Mar doubted. So what was his goal here? Mar was curious, and of course, always on the lookout for anything that might benefit himself in some way. So not to make it terribly obvious that he was heading that direction, Mar stopped to compliment a few people along the way. Ladies, in particular. This one's dress was stunning, that one's hair was lovely, this other one had a gorgeous necklace, and so on, until he veered away from the guests and crossed to the servant. "I have a complaint to make," He stated, as a cover. "Perhaps you might show me to your boss?" Mar suggested, meaning, of course, he'd like to step out somewhere that no one was likely to overhear what he really wanted to ask.

@Ercassie

[Ercassie]

Lady Ilisys Azrubêl with ‘Lady Ciconia’
@Pele Alarion

Experience would have seen Ilisys pause before refreshments, and some ‘educated’ gentleman could typically be counted on to make their way over, and practically pick food onto a plate for her, recommending such fancies with diction designed to have a double meaning. And they all meant for the same conclusion, as reward for their efforts. At the very least, some member of staff was likely looking out for folk unused to serving themselves.

The Lady Ciconia of Lamedon evidently did not hold with such courtesies. Either she threw her nose up at tradition, or else she was simply too hungry to stand on proper ceremony. Isys might have guessed the latter, particularly given the amount of trouble that the other woman had apparently gone to, to fit in with the crowd upon the cruise. Who knew though when this oddity had last eaten ? And, sadly for ‘Ciconia’, her hunger at all had now compromised her disguise. For gloves should certainly have been removed before committing to food. Any fastidious young woman who wore gloves to a prestigious event, was hankering to dance with men she was not yet attached to, hence the gloves to avoid ‘familiarity of flesh beyond bounds’. She would not ordinarily be eating anything of any much at all, for to do so, aside from presenting before potential future husbands as a glutton, suggested that there was not multitudes of food to feast upon back in her home. And nobody would look twice at a lady from a home that was deceptively destitute. Isys set her head at a slight angle to observe her entertainment further.


“It is not impossible to find what one is not looking for, and yet be satisfied,” she smiled, disarmingly demure, and, being bereft of gloves herself, gathered up a glass of wine without concern. Not that she was intending to hold onto it for very long. “Perhaps here, in the centre of all things,” Isys suggested, when ‘Ciconia’ asked where they ought sit. And walking something of a merry go around the table, the Belfalasian deliberately sat so that her ‘companion’ here would have to take the chair that looked away from where Pele had found her own seat.

Having lowered gracefully into her seat, Isys toyed with her glass of red wine, laid out before her in both hands upon the table. She wondered whether ‘Ciconia would now be forced to stare at and not devour a single morsel of the food she had gathered. That or remove the elaborate veil with which she was concealing her face ..

The Ranger felt certain that she would recognise Shamara for sure, if she could only see her face. And it was definitely best to be certain that it really was ‘her’. ‘He’ had said so of course, but then, he did not always tell the truth and detracting her attention onto this woman might have simply been a way to evade her notice himself … for whatever reason.

[Ercassie]

Arkadhur Halsad with ’Lord Ansellidus’
@Rillewen

He saw the 'nobleman' approaching. He'd had eyes about him for a time in fact. But there were so many he should be forced to attend to here, that he'd lost track until Ademar boldly approached. This could mean nothing good, for him. Nor for the other, if he were not careful ..

“Oh, I could not in all conscience recommend that,” Arkadhur admitted, foregoing the expected appellations owed to nobility. This particular Gondorian who’d accosted him, he knew, was as much a real 'Lord' as Arkadhur was really here to serve tea and biscuits. “My employer does not respond particularly well to complaints,” he added, more quietly, more pronounced about the point. And if any threat were recognised amongst the phrase then it would not be entirely an accident. But neither was it blatant enough to properly alarm others close by.

“In fact, were I you, I should rather not forsake your fetching young lady friend to the absence of your attentions overlong,” he leant in and whispered at Ademar’s ear. "There are few men in this world who might be taken by complaints when they are blessed by such a one in your stead."

Today his eyes were grey, and they motioned for the ‘noble’ man to turn, as though his young wife were truly in danger of attention from another man. Anything to subvert the fellow's focus. Regardless, aware of the fellow’s tenacity, the Umbarian readied to excuse himself from the refreshment table, believing he might still make with his departure, and without a scene.

The best laid plans, however, do not always guarantee success that equals the ambition. And the Umbarian was soon aware that his attention was craved by another. The downside of posing as a servant. He had 'served' far longer than he was comfortable with. At least this second gentleman did not know who he was dealing with though.

"You look to be in need of assistance," Arkadhur judged, of Addhor who had approached now to the point where he might overhear any persisting 'complaint' from Ademar.

[Pele Alarion]

Lady Ciconia with Isys @Ercassie

She had not been careful - or had not even cared - to carefully maintain her chosen persona and observe all the appropriate manners, and now people's eyes were surely on her as she surely must seem some sort of uncouth lady. With a small glance around, as her gaze followed the Belfalasian's circling, she eventually set her food down on the table and sat without much delay. For a few moments she tapped her gloved fingers next to the plate, as if deep in thought.

"Ah, lightning strike it!" she exclaimed joyfully and rather unladylike, took off her gloves - and her hat with the veil - and all but tossed them in the heap on the table next to her plate. Her dark eyes looked as Ilisys, laughter sparkling in them, and she flashed a grin. "Well, who cares that I am not a proper lady, anyway?" She leaned back against her chair and pointedly took a grape, playing with it before popping it in her mouth.

She did not care much for what other people would think of her pretend games; her focus was all on Isys, as she wondered how the woman would react to her discarding the props altogether since the Gondorian had already clearly guessed who she was - or at least that she was not who she said she was. Her whole behaviour seemed to throw a challenge along the lines of "Here I am! So whatcha gonna do about it?", except for saying it out loud in clear words.