Alabaster Hollow on Beltaine! The gardens are in bloom, a riotous and colorful display that spills out into the manor house, shops, forges, and work spaces. Everyone is dressed in their best.
Master Hirim the Upholsterer is dressed. Boy is he dressed. There is no mistaking the fact that he is wearing clothes. The fabric looks like someone Easter egged a flower garden in full bloom; if he stands still next to the decorations, he'll vanish. If part of the clothing can be ruffled, it is. His head looks like the cherry on top of whipped cream, his neckline is so fluffed. His pants are designed not unlike jodhpurs that are four sizes too big; it looks like he's got piglets tucked down each flowered, pastel leg. He's wearing not a vest, but a waistcoat, and frock coat over the top of that with eight-inch, turned back, button-festooned, braid-encrusted cuffs. The rest of the coat suffers the same embarrassment of riches. His usual fiddler's cap has been replaced by a fez, of all things; his hair sticks out from underneath it as if caught in mid-explosion.
Before Court is officially convened, there is time for mingling; after all, that's part of what Beltaine is all about!