#earthrunes

Puzzled.

Shalimar nods "with water pistols"

"Oh, my Baroness, your Excellency - I beg a boon. May I dance with our guest?"

It would appear a new noble, one with disturbingly intriguing androgynous beauty is near Coradel

She has just taken the Count's hand as August rushes in. "Oh...." An awkward pause for a moment, then, "Your Excellency...a moment...." She leads him to August. "August, I would like you to meet His Excellency, Gallayne Honeysword ap Fiona. Your Excllency, this is my husband, Sir August Truthbranch ap Liam."

((Sorry, Slack lagged on that send))

August's jaw drops for just a moment, then he recovers and bows. "Excellency."

"Oh, how delightful" Gallyayne says, "you are to be congratulated for your good fortune, Sir August. Your wife is sparkling as a hostess even when things shift quickly."

Vince is at hand to offer a glass of either the effervescent silvery sparkling water or the deeply glimmering wine, should August choose after his greetings concluded.

Coradel nods to Delores, then says to the Count, "Your Excellency, if you would not mind...I have not seen August for much of the day...might I have this dance with him? And I believe my Chancellor craves a turn around the dance floor with you...."

Her wings curve high and she shyly ducks her head.

The Count also is not blind to Deryn's request, his admiring gaze falling upon her "And this is most gratifying to the ego. Yes, of course, You should delight in Sir August and tempt him to join us in revels, Baroness Coradel. And Baroness Deryn, what man or woman could deny such a request to a beauty like yourself. I would be delighted" he takes sparrow's arm

A faint frown.

Coradel curtsies and smoothly continues the motion by taking August's hand as she rises and sweeping away from the Count and onto the dance floor, husband in tow.

Gideon has gotten further along the song, perhaps not the best for Dancing "Well he cast his eyes upon her
And the trouble soon began
And Leroy Brown had learned a lesson
'Bout a-messin' with the wife of a jealous man"

"I fear I may be a touch jealous of the baroness, for all my well-meant request."

She extends her hands to Honeyblade, offering a smile.

He catches up to escort Coradel to dance.

The Count smiles and takes her hands "She is as beautiful as you say, but I assure you, the presence of a ruby does not dim the luster of a saphire. You are an exceptional and pleasant focus of any one's attention"

As they go, he glances at Derynwydd, and then a nod to Vince as he goes.

"Flatterer. But still - you are well named." She squeezes his hand, and sweeps into the dance.

Vince's eyes, for once, are not on Coradel - but on the Fiona Count. Tracing the man as he cuts a rug with Deryn, and his tail swishes. An admiring rumble as he backs away to the sidelines once more.

She turns to August with a smile, and begins to dance with him. "Have you enjoyed your day?"

"Yes, thank you. Quite a bit of time out of the Freehold. How was your day?"

they move along, "Flattery is easy when the truth of it is clear" He says to Sparrow, "You cannot tell me you are unworthy of it. No amount of discourse would make me believe that. Beauty, talent, and I have heard of your own courage. "

As he speaks, he tries to track the other couple as well.

"Quite calm up until now." She dances closer to murmur to him. "This is the last contender for the County. Deryn is observing him."

"And he's bad, bad Leroy Brown
The baddest man in the whole damn town
Badder than a-old King Kong
And meaner than a junkyard dogWell the two men took to fighting
And when they pulled them from the floor
Leroy looked like a jigsaw puzzle
With a couple of pieces gone" Gideon sings on, even as Stevi glares at him as this is not really romantic dance music

And, after a moments thought, he slips over to Stevie and murmurs in the Satyr's ear a suggestion.

"Heard of me? No..."

It works well for a swing step, though.

.... which, perhaps oddly, August slips easily into.

Coradel smiles, a bit surprised, at August's ease, but certainly doesn't mind.

"Oh, yes, " the Count says "You came to the rescue with others to help lift the siege. You and Coradel both, beautiful warrior women, but only one of you, from what I hear, has earned the title Ogrebane. Well done. Amazingly so. I move with a dangerous beauty in my arms. "

"Only two ogres..." She preens a little. "I do like a good fight, I'll admit..."

"Only two, two more than most dare ever face" he says "But yes, you are a warrioress, and yes, your name is exalted. "

"And it's bad, bad Leroy Brown
The baddest man in the whole damn town
Badder than old King Kong
And meaner than a junkyard dogAnd he's bad, bad Leroy Brown
The baddest man in the whole damn town
Badder than old King Kong
And meaner than a junkyard dogYeah he was badder than old King Kong
And meaner than a junkyard dog." Gideon finishes up.

A wicked grin. "Well then. Dance with an Amazon."

August bows to Coradel at the finish, making it work with the swing dancing, and applauds the musicians.

"Requests? " Stevi says before Gideon can play another selection that she findsa bit too rouh

She, too, applauds, and glances over at Deryn.

"A true wonder woman indeed" The COunt says

Then Stevi hears a request, and rolls her eyes, but begins to sing "Can you feel, the love tonight"

A surprised look....then she smiles and looks at Vince with a bit of an eye roll.

"Our Baroness and her consort are newlyweds.... "

He grins unabashedly at Coradel, then slips over on the sidelines towards the Jester. Reaching Shalimar, he bows, a hand on his heart in contrition, then offered to him to shake in good will.

The Count seems happy to have a second dance with Sparrow if she allows and if Coradel isn't insulted. "Are they?Oh, that's grand. They'll have fun expanding their experiences. Like a ripple in the water that greedly seeks out the whole pond. And you? You must have a fewdozen suitors or Ifear I'm in a fief of the blind"

Shalimar musses Vince's hair durin the bow, takes the hand "I'll lead" And danceswith Vincee to the Disney song

"Not so many... I... my preferences are... there is the lady Jennette..."

A disgrunted "mrow!" as his hair is mussed, sounding more feline than leonine! And he takes the hand, spinning around the floor with Shalimar in apparent delight.