#earthrunes

She flicks her wings, a small frown.

He stops in his tracks, and turns back - the glass he was in the process of pouring, with a flick of his wrist, suddenly splashed upon the pooka! A burst of red, dripping starkly against black and white, marring his jester's voile. "And this, for such an insult to the drink I have crafted, SirRAH."

"Shalimar..."

"Vince!" Coradel is clearly shocked.

"What are you....stop it immediately." Just a touch of Sovereign.

Shalimar says "I think I'll donate to some dentist's vacation..." Then he stops

Just a small splash, hardly a mouthful, blossoming upon the Jester's chest like a flower blooming - or a wound sprung forth. And he turns smoothly away immediately a the touch, sinking to one knee, his head lowered with a tinkle of silver.

The count seems intrigued rather than offended

But yes, his focusis now on the pooka

His tail, swishing agitatedly, smacks against Shalimar as the other pooka attends, and Vince moves a touch away, head still down.

Coradel is embarrassed...and irritated. "By the Dreaming, what was that all about?"

Shalimar loads his toy crossbow...

"Excellency, I apologize. This is....unacceptable." She frowns at the two pooka. "Who is at fault here?"

then hides itbehind his back

"Put it down Shalimar."

Clunk thump.

A rubber tip launches into the air as it goes off

He fidgets a moment, then speaks, his voice a low rumble, eyes down. "My Lady, it is your Jester. He obviously feels that I am attempting to usurp his place by your side. And yet - if I shall be quicker on the wit, perhaps he might be right - I seek not to steal, but he jumps to conclusions... Alas, perhaps it is in his nature, to... make a stink."

His tone, though, more petulant than penitent.

A flicker of something as she watches the two of them, and then her expression smooths to careful neutrality.

"Shalimar? Have you anything to say here?"

Shalimar ponders, "No, lady. there may come a day when I will bother defending myself against the delusions of grandeur by a mange ridden mane wig wearing parasite, but it is not this day. The day may come when I shall insult his effeminate musk and watered down offerings, but it is not this day. I will not speak of his manners, for how can one describe the absent with accuracy, nor his charms which are as lost as airline luggage, maybe one day, but not This day"

"By the Dreaming this is almost epic" The Count says fascinated in a whisper

"My lady, I swear I just heard the squeaking of a rodent. Nay, because even a mouse might befriend a lion, this must be some lower form of louse, attempting to defame character when one spake only truth, as best as one might." An injured tone.

"Stop, both of you." Coradel sighs and puts a hand to her forehead for a moment, apparently appalled, then turns to the Count. "I apologize, your Excellency. This is not the impression I wished to give you."

And truly, his tail does droop, pulled in to wrap around and he twists the tuft in his hands, distraught.

"They are merely acting on their passions, lady, so I am not offended. It's always interesting to see us both at our best, and if you will forgive the pun, our beast as well"

A tilt of her head, eyes narrowed.

"Mmm...." She considers the Count's words, and looks to the two pooka. "I'm tempted to send them off, but that would leave us without both a jester and a sommalier."

"Perhaps you needn't both." Scarely heard, in a sluagh's breath.

But, he lowers his head again, as if wilting under just her LOOK that he is surely to receive.

The LOOK is delivered on schedule.

Shalimar notices the lion get the look 'ha ha' under his breath then an look to the baroness "I'm a jester, Mirth is expected"

The Count whispers something to Coradel

Coradel tilts her head to attend, standing close.

...and her breath catches just slightly as she listens.

She looks at the pooka once again, and nods for Vince to rise. "The two of you...may stay...if the attacks cease. Verbal and otherwise. I trust I am understood."

"Baroness! I say, we have had libations - is it not time, perhaps, for dancing and merriment?"

The Jester bows

"Oh, Deryn...that is a splendid idea." She sets aside her empty glass, and smiles to the Count. "If that suits you, your Excellency?"

Delores is having a bit of trouble focusing, but makes sure cakes and things are ready if one likes them. She tries not to steal looks at the Count, then sighs at herself

He bows as well, rising to his feet.

Stevi doesn't bother not to admire

Gideon playsby her side,and starts to play the tune BadBad LeRoy Brown

August enters, with an air of hurry to his step, as if slightly out of breath.

"I would love to,"He offers his hand , "MayI have this dance?"

That from the Count

She catches her housemate as he enters, and gives him a gentle push. "August, dance with Cora...."

August appears to quite a sight! Two chastised pooka, one holding an empty wine glass, the other splashed with red upon his chest, backing away as the party turns from somber scolding to merriment once more! Vince turned and leans in to bow to Shalimar, then backs away back towards his drinks again.

"I.. what, yes? Dance?" He looks around the room; he knows where Coradel is, but is trying to assess what else is going on.