An Assembly of Lictors [Xarxos, Valanthia]

[Xarxos Fineas]

2nd Melora, Winter Era XIII pf, Regency of Milo L'Evienne

To His Excellency, Xarxos Fineas, Imperial Lictor on the staff of the High Sage

Welcome to the exalted position of Imperial Lictor. As the new High Sage does not yet have a vast staff to welcome you, we who work under the Imperial Chronicler invite you to attend an Assembly for the Imperial Lictors on the 2nd Melora. We are all eager to meet this youngster who has so swiftly risen to assist a Counciller to the Crown directly. The party begins at Dusk, in the Emerald Club, if you have trouble finding the Emerald Club, wait by the Fountain in the Senator's Circle and someone will come and collect you

A Brother Imperial Lictor

The letter was read and re-read by Xarxos while he waited by the Fountain in the Senator's Circle. Unaware of where the Emerald Club was, or why an assembly of lictors was being held there. Either way, he had no idea where the Emerald Club was and decided that it was best to wait by the fountain to be collected.

Being unsure of the dress code, He had put on a clean braie and doublet, as well as his usual leather gloves for the assembly.

[Caerydd]

((I'll sort out the FT later, suffice to say this is early spring!))

Xarxos waited perhaps a little too patiently, for it was nearly a candlemark later when a group of young people arrived. A halfling, an elf of uncertain age, and two humans. All of them had ink stained hands, but that was the only similarity that they shared. The halfling was richly dressed, as might befit a merchant prince, and had an air of good living about him. He was pudgy and his hair was an unruly mop of chestnut curls. The elf was wearing elegant finery, which looked somewhat threadbare, and was typically willowy and had dark chocolate hair shot through with silver. One human was of typical medonian stock, broad shouldered and black haired, a square jaw and bundles of muscles, and he accompanied a girl who looked like his diminuative twin. Fair white skin, thick dark hair, and a strong jaw line. Not particularly feminine.

"Serale, you must be Mr. Fineas!" Started the halfling with a smile. "I am Tim Toddlebury, I work in the archives. Sorry about the delay, but I couldn't get Miss Juliara here to finish her book!" Tim was obviously the one sent to escort Xarxos to the Emerald club, and Miss Juliara was the elf. "The cousins used to work in the ministry that used to be overseen by the Imperial Chamberlain. They, uh, transferred to the Ministry of Justice recently, but have seen slow work under the current Imperial Lord Judicator. He seems more interested in catching criminals than overseeing the justice system. Miss Vivien Waytrose and her cousin Mr Tylar de Baans, Miss Juliara, I would like you to meet Mr. Xarxos Fineas, a new Lictor working under the High Sage. Mathematics, I believe it was?" He paused, glancing at Xarxos for confirmation.

[Valanthia L'Evienne]

Valanthia had little idea what this meeting would be about, and she approached it with some reluctance. She was uninterested in socializing, even if it was vaguely work-related. Her office was the one place in the world where she felt even slightly comfortable, and she rarely left it these brightenings.

She was dressed in a royal blue dress, with short white gloves that were her one concession to fashion. Val's skin was gray, and though her eyes were gray too, her pale hair marked her as unquestionably what she was: half-vysstichi. The aforementioned hair was worn very short, in a pixie-style bob, and her face looked a little tired.

Val greeted her escort with a formal, "Serale." She was polite -- deeply, deeply polite -- but there was a formality, a distance, that was marked in the way that she spoke with people. She wasn't unpleasant, and she wasn't cold, really -- but it was almost as if she were putting a great deal of effort into appearing as calm and unemotional as possible.

She didn't know where the Emerald Club was either -- or even what it was -- and so she simply waited to be shown to the proper place. Inwardly, she rather hoped that it would all be done quickly. She had work to do.

[Xarxos Fineas]

At being addressed by the halfling Tim Toddleburry, Xarxos squeaked and turned towards the source. He took in the group of 4 and was startled by the formality of their dress. The halfling introduced him to the party and he nodded as each person's name was mentioned.

"... I would like you to meet Mr. Xarxos Fineas, a new Lictor working under the High Sage. Mathematics, I believe it was?"

"Y-y-yes. That's correct, Mr. Toddleburry. A most interesting line of work. It's a pleasure to meet you all. How long have you all been working as Lictors?"

Xarxos motioned for the other Lictors to walk, while they were answering his question.

"S-S-Shall we get going to the Emerald Club? I-I fear we shall all be late for this assembly."

Turning to the halfling who seemed to be the leader of the group, Xarxos asked, "W-w-would you happen to know who else will be attending? I'm not too great with social situations and I would appreciate a helping hand."

[Caerydd]

Tim turned towards Valanthia, and waved her over with one hand. "Serale there, you must be...uh, Miss Valanthia?" He stumbled a little over what to call her in front of the others, his Lord had instructed him that discretion was absolutely necessary. So this is that dark-skinned woman the Palace Servants talked of. Interesting that she is the same individual as the the rumoured relative of the Regent.

"Did you hear me introduce the others?" Without waiting for an answer, he cycled quickly through the introductions again, including Xarxos. "Miss Valanthia here works in the Imperial Palace, as a personal research assistant of some kind for His Imperial Highness. Yes, of course Mr. Fineas, we shall be off immediately! It is but a short walk from here."

The stout fellow set off at a sharp pace despite his diminuative stature. The two humans grouped together with Xarxos, matching their pace with his and answering his question to Tim as if the question had been directed at them. "All sorts of people!" Filled in Vivien, her voice soft, floaty and feminine. "It is a big gathering, the first of the spring season. Of course, Lord Whurfick paid for your entry this time, the Emerald club is very exclusive; not just for any Lictor." Her eyes were glass bright, and the scent of red wine upon her breath.

Juliara dropped behind, keeping pace with the newest addition to the group. "There is no need to be afraid, Miss Valanthia. Do not think of this as a formal reception, such as would be thrown at the Palace. This is not a time for protocols, or so the organisers say." Her voice was soft, but not in the breathless manner of the human girl. It was the quiet surity of one who had seen much, and understood more than she said.

It was not long before they had left the tranquility of the senators circle. They turned off the circular highway that ringed the Imperial Palace, down a narrower street. Of course, this being the Imperial Forum, even the side alleys were grand in stature. One particularly tall building was their destination. At that time of darkening, most of the city was abed, except for those who could afford to party the night away. The faint notes of joyful music floated on the air, along with the dim murmur of many voices. The building immitated the Senators Circle somewhat, arranged in a curve that encircled the carriageway and central fountain.

Some carriages pulled away now, and the little group ascended the steps without bumping into any of those who had alighted from their conveyances. Some were elegantly dressed, but nothing particularly glamorous. The tall columns bordered a pair of double height doors that were propped open to reveal the glorious atrium within. The biggest surprise was a pair of minotaurs standing guard at the entrance, one on either side, clearly under the supervision of a weedy little dwarf dressed in a hideous aqua robe.

[Valanthia L'Evienne]

Valanthia noticed the halfling's awkwardness in introducing her, and was somewhat surprised. She thought her last name was common knowledge by now -- she signed all her official documents with it, after all -- and though she wasn't comfortable at all with the way people had started calling her "Lady" L'Evienne after Milo's promotion to the Regency, she had grown used to it, and noted its absence.

"A pleasure to meet you all," she said in a neutral voice, dropping an automatic curtsey as a formality. An exclusive club, eh? She looked at the prospect somewhat unhappily. As a L'Evienne, she was fairly certain that no club was too exclusive for her, but at the same time, the more exclusive the establishment, the more likely they were to look askance at a half-vyssie mongrel like herself. Again, she wished herself fervently back to her office, but inwardly she knew that she was just going to have to suffer through this event.

Val nodded to Juliara as she spoke and tried to smile, though she was only partially successful. What the elf didn't know was that Val's formality wasn't based on the type of event she thought this was. From her birth to the moment her brother had unexpectedly assumed the throne, the half-vysstichi girl had been confronted with a world that hated her, and so she had precious few ways of dealing with people that were appropriate in polite society. The aloofness, the formality, was the one she used now that she lived and worked in the palace. She hid behind protocols and rules, behind her official position and the Office of Imperial Letters, because she didn't have any idea how to do otherwise. People might hate her -- she couldn't stop them -- but she wasn't going to give them anything to find fault with in her behavior. Hence, as useful as the elf's advice was, it was likely to be lost on the adolescent Research Assistant.

Val watched as they moved forward. This building was like the others: grand, spectacular, heartless. The minotaurs caught her by surprise, however. She'd never seen one, was unsure they really existed. She followed her companions closely, waiting to see what happened next.

[Xarxos Fineas]

At being introduced to Valanthia, Xarxos nodded towards her just as he did to the others when they were announced to him. She didn't appear to be very chatty but it might just have been his imagination. He decided to put off any attempts at trying to break the ice with her till later, if a change opened up. She was a researcher and it would be interesting to find out what she studying.

Upon arriving at what he assumed to be the Emerald Room, he noticed the coming and going of carriages at the carriageway. Why wasn't one sent to pick them up, as opposed to their having to walk? It wasn't that he minded walking, Xarxos felt awkward at arriving in a dissimilar fashion as all the other guests were.

Upon seeing the entrance to the building, Xarxos gawked at the pair of minotaurs. Having never seen or heard of one, he turned to whomever was closest to him, and asked, "W-W-What are those?" in a tone of awe and fear.

[Caerydd]

"Those? Uh" Vivien was confused. Was the young man referring to something odd on the building? Tylar answered for her "The minotaurs? Highly paid bouncers, keep the riff raff out!" The young man seemed amused by this, though Vivien gave him a sly elbow in the ribs for his trouble.

The pair, a magnificent 'matched set' with deep glossy brown coats, and piggy black eyes, watched the little group that arrived on foot, and upon their ascent of the stairs stepped forward to block their path. Their horns were tipped with steel, and they bore matching scimitars on their belts. Twins, it could be nothing else. They said nothing, but stared down at little Tim the Cether, their brows furrowed and every thing about them looking aggressive.

"Leave them alone boys, they're invited." They were saved! A horrible nasal voice jerked the minotaurs back to their place behind the dwarf, who was beaming happily. "Welcome back Tim! I hope Miss Waytrose will dance with me this time!" Yet there was barely a moment to retort, but they were through the door, a valet offering to take any coats or items which might impede their pleasure. Another server was pressing mulled wine into their chilled fingers.

The Emerald Club was as grand inside as out. Wonderful music could be heard off to the left, and it was down the left hand hall way that Tim guided his party, pointing out rooms as they passed, such as the billards room, the library, and a room he referred to jokingly as the Saunatorium. "Well, it is a wing, actually. They'll open it up later in the evening, once everyone is tired of dancing."

There were a great many people, most of them human, and they were clumped in groups all over the place. In some rooms there was music to listen to, in another there was a great amount of dancing. There were a fair amount of dwarfs and cethers, but comparatively few elves - Valanthia was in a minority more ways than one.

"I must introduce you to Lord Aethlbury! You'd get on with him well, he is a little shy." Juliara seemed unaware of the stares that Valanthia was beginning to garner, though the incessant chatter of party talk never stopped. The young L'Evienne was steered away from Xarxos, and towards a group of men standing in a corner opposite the door. Aethlbury himself turned out to be a tall, dark haired human. He sneered at Juliara as much as he did Valanthia and, after the polite introductions, made a comment that caused many within earshot to fall silent.

"So, Justicar Juliara, you're even banding together with vyssitchi now? The elfkin make such alliances, and us mortals had best be searching for our swords."

Juliara's grip on Valanthia's arm grew tight, a reassuring squeeze.

"Lord Aethlbury, it seems your manners have deserted you, along with your political acumen. I would find out who the vyssitchi is, before insulting her."

[Valanthia L'Evienne]

Valanthia looked around at the opulent surroundings, trying to hide her mounting discomfort. She had nothing to leave with the valet, and so she followed the group. She looked with some interest at the room that Tim had indicated as the library, and would have stopped had the group not swept her onward.

Val didn't miss the stares -- she was so sensitized to them that she would likely have imagined them had they not been present -- and her demeanor grew a trifle more stiff. But at least Juliara had something for her to do, someone for her to meet. She wasn't overly optimistic about the possibility of meeting someone she would like here, but it didn't hurt to try, she thought, as she approached the tall human...

...who proceeded to slap her with a racial slur the instant she was within earshot. It was just like being back in Herrozzal, only there she was the half-human, the surface scum. Here, she was the half-vyssie, the darkie, but the more things changed, the more they stayed the same, it appeared.

But she wasn't just going to take it. A certain fire appeared in her eyes, one that rarely resurfaced, but that Aethlbury's open rebuke had summoned. "Serale, your lordship," she said, her voice a river of ice. "I'm Valanthia...Valanthia L'Evienne." She let that statement hang in the air, as menacingly as she could muster. Turning slightly to Juliara, she said, "I'm afraid that I've remembered something I've left undone at the office, and so I fear I'm going to have to leave this party earlier than I'd anticipated. I thank you for your hospitality though, and," she added, turning back to Aethlbury, her eyes narrowing slightly, "I'll be sure to give my brother the Regent your lordship's best regards."

With that, she turned and began walking away, very deliberately. She did not look back, and she did not turn her head. Inside, she wanted to cry, but she choked the tears down. She wasn't going to give Aethlbury that satisfaction.

[Xarxos Fineas]

Inside the Emerald Club, soft lights lit the hall that the group was guided through by Tim. Xarxos kept close to the group, nervously trying to avoid eye contact with people not with the group he arrived with. Social situations were not exactly his forte and he wanted to avoid conversation where he could.

On passing the billiards room and the library, Xarxos noted these two rooms especially as they seemed to be quiet, although he didn't see if there were people in them. He took a sip of the mulled wine, decided to have another and shuffled after the others.

As Tim was going on about a room, Xarxos overheard Juliara wanting to introduce Valanthia to Lord something or other. Not that his name was important, Xarxos felt slightly miffed at not being introduced as well. Not that he actually meant to talk with the Lord, but he just felt left out of the little group that Valanthia and Juliara had formed together.

Xarxos waited in the hall till Tim finished speaking and asked, "S-s-so now that we're here, what usually happens at these parties? Will there be dinner?" One of Xarxos' few passions in life besides mathematics was food, although it tended not to show as he had inherited a rather high metabolic rate, making him slim despite his voracious appetite.