Why Can't the City Learn to Speak?

From FiranMUX

Ladonna, tired of being called "Mes Horror" hosts a course on pronunciation and enunciation at the Villa Harror for free. Mmmm. Arpee.

East of Anarinuell: Villa Harror -- Dining Room

Kelarik gets pointed the right direction by someone or another, then strolls into the dining room, an inquisitive - if a bit doubtful - expression on his face.

Kalina is holding a very bouncy, very handsome, very LOUD baby. But he's cute, so that makes up for everything.

Caralyn says to Ladonna, ""hank you for allwing me to come to your get together. Perhaps I will know you a bit better before the wedding comes.""

• Firan*

Caralyn grins at the baby and muses to herself, ""ay Eesha bless me with a babe after my wedding."" *Firan*

The Villa Harror is a pretty notoriously /cold/ place to be -- it's big, it's marble, and it's just not a loveydovey sort of villa. In fact, this is probably the most people that the villa has seen in a very, very long time. A long table, black foreboding, lies in the middle of the large room, the fire crackles ominously, and there are several sheets over assorted Things -- and it even looks like there is construction going on. Wonderful! Fortunately, the workers are all gone for now and the people in the dining room vary in appearance -- from the neat house servants to the ... slightly dirtier field hands (they stand in the doorway of the kitchen). Ladonna herself appears from... oh. Wherever, it doesn't really matter. Suffice it to say, her entrance is dramatic.

Kelarik is neat and clean and uniformed, although his priest's robe is thrown on overtop. No field hand here. He maintains a position by a wall, just halfheartedly smiling as he waits for Ladonna to appear... or flounce, or whatever it is that Ladonnas do to make a grand and glorious entry.

Caralyn looks a bit shy and stands in a minute corner, waiting for things to just become active so she can settle in.

While it is perhaps in Shade's nature to go skipping through flower fields, she blends just as well into a dark, moody dining room. At least, the place does not seem to perturb her, and with her thugs as an escort, she moves to perch at the edge of a chair, hands folded in her lap, posture straight. She doesn't quite make eye contact with anyone, although there's the distinct impression she's looking at them all just the same.

Karish enters far less dramatically. He makes his way over to the table and takes a seat, marring the symmetrical creepiness by displacing and occupying one chair. He smiles socially and waves to people in the room that are in his sight-line. Otherwise, he looks content and... well... just a touch confused.

Kalina blends rather well in the Horror- er, Harror, Villa. She's already got baby Saelus, lookitie! Kelarik gets a slight wave, even as she watches the fluncy pouncy fun fun fun fun fun Ladonna wander in.

PH emit: The people of Anarinuell say you can take the trek out to the Villa Harror to learn how to speak with more eloquence and enunciation, whatever that means. Word is there are a handful of people already there learning. @calendar 7446.

Ladonna glances around the room at the assorted people gathered. Her gaze lands on Kelarik for an extra moment and though there is a lifted eye, she says nothing. "Sit, please," she tells everyone. "And welcome to the Villa Harror. To a lesson. My name is Mes Harror, I am an actress." As she speaks, Ladonna sweeps around the room, dark black skirts fluttering around her hips in a movement that cannot quite be described as sensual -- but nor can it be described as anything else. "I have discovered through my time in the city that the Firan people all have a rather difficult time pronouncing certain names. Before I was married," she points to the large portrait of Solan (visible by typing 'view') on the wall, "I was a Rabiashik. Now --" Ladonna stops her sweeping and stares pointedly at the assembly. "Hearing the name is probably..." A pause. Is that? Ladonna stares at Kalina. "Is that my son?" she asks of her. No matter. The woman carries on. "Hearing the name likely does little good for you to repronounce it. That is why we /write/ the names. But I have also discovered that people cannot read aloud! This will not do. Our lesson is twofold today, to learn a little reading and to learn proper enunciation. So, say it after me slowly. Rah - BEE - ash - ick." She waits for everyone to try. *Firan*

Shade watches Ladonna in what can only be descrbed as an 'are you kidding me?' sort of way and says nothing. She looks up at the ceiling instead. What a fetching ceiling.

Caralyn sits down at a marble-topped long black dining table with subtle etchings on the legs.

Karish sits down at a marble-topped long black dining table with subtle etchings on the legs.

Caralyn sits down immediately, a bit creeped out by the drearyness but doesn't say anything.

Ladonna hones in on poor Caralyn. "Well, go on, give it a try. Don't be shy!"

• Firan*

Kalina is stared at. She grins and holds Saelus up a bit, and says solemly, cuddling the babe, "Rah - BEE - ash - ick." It's as bad as Teranzik.

Kelarik moves over to a chair and settles into it. Well, settle might not be the appropriate word for it. Slump, perhaps. This is, perhaps, a little different than he'd expected an enunciation class to be. "Rabiashik," he responds perfectly, trying not to look as though it's silly. But hey, he's an Eagle, he already knows that name. *Firan*

Kelarik sits down at a marble-topped long black dining table with subtle etchings on the legs.

Caralyn says "Um.. what's that?" *Firan*

Karish glances in Kalina's direction, noticing that she's holding Saelus. He frowns darkly... for a while. He remains silent, as well.

"Good!" cries the actress, leaping toward Kalina and the baby. She points to the young woman. "That was good. But say it with more confidence, yes, he has it." Ladonna gestures to Kelarik and nods. Those not participating are ignored in favor of grabbing a scroll off the shelf. "R. A. B. I. A. S. H. I. K," she says aloud as she writes the letters in decent, if not a little hurried, script. "Rabiashik. Now, we all know what that name sounds like now -- but if you were to /read/ it... um. Who can read? show of hands?" Ladonna holds up her own hand and watches her pupils expectantly.

Aervani enters the dining room from the main room.

Karish starts and looks around edgily. He then raises his hand.

Ladonna also manages to completely forget and ignore that Kalina has her son. Huh.

Kalina half raises a hand. Saelus doesn't, but that's okay. He's just a baby.

Caralyn raises her hand, still confused on what the heck everyone's trying to pronounce.

Kelarik holds up his hand, trying desperately not to roll his eyes. He succeeds, even if he's suddenly looking over towards one wall.

Aervani comes in, late, and is greeted with people sounding out...something. Since everyone is apparently at the table, the Bear finds a seat to join them all.

Shade, frozen where she sits, looks almost a touch too embarrassed to raise her hand. What results is a half-raise of her hand -- more a flick of her wrist, a tiny gesture -- and then she's back to looking at the ceiling. She couldn't possibly look anymore awkward. Well ... maybe it's possible.

"Very good, then," Ladonna says of all the hands in the air. The servants that hug the wall, the field hands and house maids, do not raise their hands. They certainly do /glare/, though. Ladonna manages a quick incline of her head to Aervani and continues to explain. "Now. That you can all read and that you know the proper saying, can we all say this name aloud?" She waits for others to begin the fun.

Endeera enters the dining room from the main room.

Caralyn hmms and then finally bursts out, ""ob-ee-ah-shik.""She seems unsure and even fidgets in her seat as she reconsiders her stay. *Firan*

Shade says, "Rabiashik." She says it correctly, perfectly even, perhaps with a storyteller's flair. Afterwarsd, though, she folds her arms and, sparing a brief glance at the newcomer (well, Aervani), looks back up to the ceiling.

Kelarik shrugs, repeating, "Rabiashik," completely unphased. Okay, that name's easy. Now, if it were something that had a g in it, he might be in really, really big trouble. *Firan*

Ladonna glances sidelong at Shade and lifts a brow. "Perfection, Mes." Her attention turns to Caralyn as the name is perfectly butchered and she wrinkles her nose. "No. Rah-BEE-ash-ick. Emphasis is on the long 'ee' in the middle, you see. Now, when I say," Ladonna raises her voice and addresses the entire room, "long e or short a or what not, this indicates the difference between an 'ah', short a, and 'aeeeee', long a. So, Rah(short a), bee(long e), ash(short a), ick(short i)." *Firan*

Endeera enters slowly and quietly, the soft shuffle of her feet with the tapping of her cane the only indicator of her presence. Followed closely by the booted feet of two guards. She simply inclines her head in greeting in order not to disrupt the class.

The Heralds run though the city announcing that the 'Chimeran District Blessing' will be starting in 5 minutes at 'East PD gates CM'. For details check out event #7434.

"Rab-ee-ah-shik." This comes from Aervani, said more slowly than normal people tend to speak, but that's likely from the whole sounding-it-out thing. Her voice doesn't raise or lower and she manages to offer it without any real change in her tone at all. As Ladonna corrects someone at the same, the young Bear woman runs a hand through her hair and tries again. "Rah. Bee. Ash. Ick." There.

Ladonna curtsies immediately upon seeing the noble Shadina enter the room. She gestures to a seat and a maid in the back, who had been thoroughly ignoring the lesson, darts forward to help Endeera to a seat. Ladonna nods to Aervani, "Good, mes. Good. Are there any questions thus far?" *Firan*

Caralyn hmphs and says once, ""ah-bee-ash-ick."" *Firan*

Shade does not react visibly, although perhaps her gaze wanders as something moves along the ceiling. A shadow? A spider? Maybe she's just bored with staring at one specific swatch of ceiling?

Kelarik lets out a little grown. "You gotta say the arr," he points out to Caralyn. "Rrrrr. Rabiashik." See? Being helpful, here. *Firan*

Karish is still looking around the room, quite content to give everyone a onceover and then sit silently to listen.

Ladonna's cheeks pinken a little. Heat? Perhaps. She turns to watch the interaction between Kelarik and Caralyn -- but puts no stop to it. Apparently there are no questions. And that suits Ladonna just fine. "Alright, let's move to a crux of issues I have seen since marrying the Mer," another gesture to the portrait. Oh, portrait. Ladonna turns and scribbles out something on the papyrus scroll then holds it up. It says, in BIG GIANT CAPITAL LETTERS: HARROR. "Now, mers. Messes. Ladies," a polite nod to Endeera, "what is the second letter of this word?" *Firan*

Endeera folds her hands atop her cane, lips pressed together as she simply listens for now, eye twitching just a little every now and then.

Kelarik really didn't try to growl. Honest! He looks a little surprised at Caralyn's upset state, but turns his attention back to Ladonna. "It's a Ay," he says dryly, obviously now convinced that this is not the right class for him. *Firan*

"An /A/!" Ladonna says with no small amount of delight. "And an /a/, ladies and gentlemen, is an 'a' an 'o'?" She waits for the 'no'.

Caralyn shakes her head, ""No."" *Firan*

Karish frowns. "How could an A be an O?" *Firan*

Ladonna gives Caralyn a very pleased glance and asks another insufferably leading question, "So, then, what /is/ this word?" *Firan*

Kelarik doesn't bother offering the 'no', instead just smirking. He answered the A question, after all. Folding his arms across his chest, he sits and watches with amusement.

Caralyn tries to act educated, ""an A and an R together take the second long sound of ar so it's Har-or *Firan*

Ladonna lifts a brow at Caralyn and continues to walk the scroll around so everyone can see and read it. Her skirts sweep around her ankles as she walks, pausing at this person and that. "Correct. It is Har-roar, not Horrar. Not Harrire. Not Horror. /Especially/ not Horror. Because an a is not an o." *Firan*

Shade rises, curtseys politely to Ladonna, and then takes her leave. Maybe it is some kind of crazy pregnant woman thing. Can't sit for longer than 26 minutes? Can't pronounce the letter H? One never knows!

With /that/ interesting tidbit firmly established, Ladonna does turn to other, more interesting things. Or at least... more /useful/ things. "Very well. Now, I know it is quite the fashion to drop the letter 'h' in the Old City and among vagrant children. That is not actually proper either. What if, say, someone had a name that began with 'H'? A Mes Hannah would be come Mes 'anna', and what is that? Not her name! She would not know whether to come or go or what! A Mes Harror, say, would become," Ladonna cringes, shudders, and shuts her eyes, "Mes 'arror." It's like nails on a chalkboard.

Kelarik lets out a little sigh as the lesson continues, although he still looks faintly amused. Just barely. His eyes track Shade's departure from the room with interest, then return to Ladonna patiently.

"Why don't we all try an exercise," Ladonna says, realizing that people are slooooooooowly losing interest. "Let us try to stand and speak firmly, clearly, and with our consonants, those are 'not-vowel' letters, punched and our vowels correct. Who would like to go first?" she takes out another scroll and reads it. "You will say a few sentences: "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog. I thought I saw a person go behind a grate and disappear into the alley! I certainly would like some cake, thank you. No, I could not possibly partake of more tea this evening -- it grows late."

<Aervani and Endeera have interactions>

Aervani stands from the table, the creak of the chair sliding back on the floor making only a faint sound. "Thank you for the marvelous lesson, Mes Harror," she offers with a polite nod. "I've training I'm required to attend to, however, and sadly must depart. I hadn't realized how quickly the time passed." The pilot gives another general nod to the room and then makes her way out. *Firan*

Ladonna barely has time to issue Aervani a farewell before resuming her examination of the people still there, pronouncing stuff.

Kelarik waits for a moment for Caralyn to start, then surrenders and just does his own quickly. It's obvious that half his problem is trying to speak too fast, clipping little chunks off of words in an effort to get them out of his head and spoken before they're lost. "Th' quick brown fox jumped over th' lazy dog. I thought I saw a person go behind a grate an' disappear into th' alley. I certainly would like some cake, thank you. No, I couldn't possibly partake of more tea this evenin', it's growin' late." The last sentence is modified very slightly, if only because he doesn't have Ladonna's scroll to read from. *Firan*

Karish glances around the room, interested mostly in seeing how /other/ people than himself pronounce things. He remains entirely silent, with his hands laced together on the table in front of him.

Ladonna turns to Kelarik since his was the more overtly problematic -- or so it seems at the moment. "Interesting interpretation," she says ...uh, diplomatically. "Alright, you seem to be dropping your 'e's... and 'd's. And 'g's. I would have to hear it again, but I /think/ you have issue with the constants, especially ending ones. Would you concentrate and try again, please?" *Firan*

Kalina says softly, "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog. I thought I saw a person go behind a grate and disappear into the alley! I certainly whould like some cake, thank you. No, I couln't possibly partake of more thea this evening- it is getting late." Her accent gets thicker when she speaks too much, or too quickly. *Firan*

Caralyn says without any accent, ""The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog. I thought I saw a person go behind a grate and disappear into the alley! I certainly would like some cake, thank you. No, I could not possibly partake of more tea this evening -- it grows late."" *Firan*

...and to Kalina, Ladonna says, "T-ea. Not the-a. Would, not wh-ou-d. You seem to have the opposite issue; additional h's. Try again, both of you?" The actress repeats the phrases, concentrating on their errors.

Now this, this is more what Kelarik was expecting. Taking a deep breath, he repeats, a little slower, "The quick brown fox jumped over th' lazy dog. I thought I saw a person go behind a grate and disappear into the alley. I certainly would like some cake, thank you. No, I couldn't possibly partake of more tea this evenin', it's growing late." Only two errors, and those again only because he sped up his speech, but he looks vaguely pleased with himself.

Ladonna isn't a terribly nice person sometimes. Without any congratulations at all, Ladonna promptly stomps on Kelarik's errors. "Th-E, not th'lazy. Do not slur, please. The. Eeeeee. And you dropped your end 'g' on 'evening'. I do not know what an 'evenin' might be, but I surely want nothing to do with it. Try again." *Firan*

Kalina says it louder, and slower. "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog. I thought I saw a person go behind a grate and disappear into the alley! I certainly would like some cake, thank you. No, I couldn't possibly partake of more tea this evening- it is getting late." Her accent is still terrible, but there's no H's. *Firan*

Endeera clears her throat softly, musing, "Mer locksmith, perhaps you would indulge my little foibles and join me for tea once a week, that we might hold conversation and work further on our knowledge of the firan language?"

• Firan*

Ladonna stares at Kalina in silence for a while. "I.. no. I mean, you've done better-- you have eradicated the 'h', but no. Your mouth is lazy," what? what the hell? Ladonna stands very straight and tilts her chin up and gestures that Kalina should watch her lips as she speaks. La lala, more repeating. *Firan*

Caralyn looks a little shocked at the forcefulness Ladonna has on her pupils who, voltunteered for this.. humiliation?

Kelarik has seen far worse than that. Lifting an eyebrow, he calmly repeats, "The lazy. Evening." He then nods very slightly, then very carefully enunciates his words. "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog. I thought I saw a person go behind a grate and disappear into the alley. I certainly would like some cake, thank you. No, I couldn't possibly partake of more tea this /evening/," he pronounces the word very deliberately, "it's growing late." There, repetition completed again. Then, with a rather smug-looking smile at Ladonna, he turns his focus towards Endeera. "M'Lady, I would be more than happy to oblige, if you'd be kind enough to be assisting." *Firan*

That's all it takes. Ladonna returns Kelarik's smile with a fairly genuine one of her own and then falls quiet to permit Endeera to speak with the man.

Endeera inclines her head, offering Kelarik a light smile. "You are most kind, mer. I am certain we can both learn much from one another." *Firan*

Kalina tries it again. Louder. Slower, even more. Accent? Gone. "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog. I thought I saw a person go behind a grate and disappear into the alley! I certainly would like some cake, thank you. No, I couldn't possibly partake of more tea this evening- it is getting late. *Firan*

"Beautiful," Ladonna tells both Kelarik and Kalina. "You have definitely made at least a smidgeon of progress -- but I must caution you. If you don't continue to cultivate it, you will forget and you will revert back to your accents."

"Might I ask, Mes Ladonna," Endeera inquires lightly, "For I must apologise for my late arrival, but did you explain the purpose of good diction?"

Kelarik's smile is anything but smug when speaking to Endeera - it's an actual, legitimate smile, easygoing and genuine. "Of course, m'Lady. I'll look forward to it." He nods towards Ladonna then, adding a little ruefully, "Don't I know it. Been trying to get beyond my talkin' habits for a while.." A pause, "Talking habits, I mean." *Firan*

Caralyn says "I think I will be going, it's rather late.." *Firan*

Ladonna inclines her head to Caralyn and then turns to Endeera. "I did, particularly in regards to /names/. If you are speaking to someone and mispronounce their name, it can be quite a terrible offense. Additionally, if you cannot make yourself heard -- or make yourself understood, who will listen to you? And why?" She glances at Kelarik, "Well, if ever you need more help, send me a message," she offers stiffly. *Firan*

Caralyn curtsies graciously before exitting.

Kalina is testing some names. "Ter AHN zik? Ter AN zik? Hrm..." *Firan*

"The Ter-ann-zick," Ladonna says. Phonetics!

"How very true," Endeera agrees, fingers flexing lightly on the handle of her cane. "Diction and appearance are the very first indicators from which one might form an opinion of another, after all. It should be simply horrifying to be assumed to be of lower intelligence, slovenly or dim witted, simply because one has not been schooled to speak the same as another."

Kelarik offers a little grin towards Ladonna now. "Well, I'd be glad for all the help I can be getting, to be honest with you. Anythin'... anythin/g/ is good right now. Were thinking about takin' lessons on oratory, just to be learning how better to talk, but this's more focused, like." A pause, and he amends again, "Taking." There. Correction made. "Although if you'd have some time after th' class, Mes," he continues, "I'd like to buy you dinner and a drink at the Diplomat, if only because I owe you a apology for something else. But that can be waiting." He listens to Endeera's words, then nods. "Communicating's real important. It's why I learned Ticanee from someone what spoke it perfectly, so's that I wouldn't be learnin' bad habits." Another pause. "Learning." Okay, this is going to take time. *Firan*

Kalina grits her teeth. "Ter-ann-zick." She says, finally getting over it properly. *Firan*

Ladonna smiles lopsidedly at the Bear woman. "I entirely agree, Lady Shadina," the Mes Harror replies. "And I cannot tell you how many people mispronounce so... many things." She steals another little glance at the portrait of Solan on the mantle and then her attentions are captured by Kelarik. She pauses, stunned, to stare at the guard with slightly wide eyes. So much for communication. She flashes Kelarik a slight smile, mostly to assure him that she's not going to faint, and then decides to speak to Endeera. Saaaaaaafer. "Proper speaking is something I had to learn myself. I thank every person who guided me toward it." Kalina gets a quick, encouraging glance. "Teranzik," she says, putting it all together. "I would learn all the great names as quickly as possible. Ista Aldrik. Teranzik. Elianik. Firgalik. Elikista," there's a little flair to that name that Ladonna rather relishes in, "Oshta. Corinala. IstaNydiam. Istabelik. The royal houses -- the leaders of the Republic." *Firan*

Kalina says them quickly. And firmly. "Teranzik, Elianik, Firgalik, Elikista, Oshta, Corinala, Istabelik, IstaNydiam, Ista Aldrik, Sennet, Iberik, Dawn..." She knows a lot of royal and noble last names. *Firan*

Karish drums his fingers on the table and balances his chin on his palm. He looks to be growing bored.

Kelarik doesn't look stunned. He does, however, look very slightly amused by Ladonna's response. Just very slightly, and it's mostly lingering around his eyes. He doesn't look all too scary, really. The litany of noble houses is nodded to, but pronouncing names has never been his bane - it's just everything around those names that tends to be his problem. Silent now, his attention darts quickly back and forth between Ladonna and Endeera, his eyes flicking back and forth as though he were watching a particularly fascinating tennis match.

Kalina adds on, "Didoron, Junik, Manosik, N'Gadanik, N'gato, Shadina, Tanelish, Vasen-Darkas, Corinala, Cyrani, Istabannos, Keniwik, Manosik, and the formally Rissik family that I'm not sure even is in being anymore." She takes a deep breath. "I know lots of commoner last names too." *Firan*

"I must admit to fine tutors on the subject in my youth," Endeera agrees with a faintly wistful smile. "Her honour, Clan Leader Aldrik, allowed me to attend many of Princess Sabine's lectures."

Ladonna listens absently to Kalina's names, commenting only to say, "Well done. The Keniwiks are no longer noble, the Rissiks do exist." She smiles lopsidedly at Endeera, "And I. Well -- less esteemed, surely, but the Master Teacher Orsatos was also my tutor, raised as ... we were. At the Iberik estate. Of course, all that was years ago." An apologetic glance goes to Kelarik and Karish; she knows they're there! no really! *Firan*

A knock sounds on the door leading to East of Anarinuell: Villa Harror -- Atrium.

Emee enters the dining room from the main room.

Kelarik doesn't look at all bothered by the slowness right now, intrigued by the ongoing conversation. He remains seated at the table, smiling amiably at the people in the room. Obviously, unlike the other people here, he /hasn't/ had the benefit of great and grand speech lessons in the past. Hopefully that'll be fixed.

Ladonna gestures for Emee to enter after a knock sounds at the door. Somewhere in the recesses of her mind, it occurs to her that the nanny might be looking for the baby. Who is... where? where oh w... oh! Realizing, remembering, where Saelus is, Ladonna points at Kalina.

Emee shuffles into the dining room, brow knit and hands fluttering to smooth out her stola, straighten her palla, check her hairpins...flutteryness and worry as she bites her bottom lip and then freezes, eyes going wide. People...right, she's dipping in a deep curtsey, lashes fluttering in a series of blinks and she just sorta stands there, mission to find her charge complete as her eyes fall on Kalina and she lets out a sigh of relief.

Karish glances in Emee's direction and frowns.

Endeera bows her head a little, catching the eye of her guard briefly before turning back to Ladonna. "My dear, I should like to thank you kindly for allowing me to attend your instructional gathering this evening. It has been, as ever, most enlightening. Perhaps you will accept a small token of my gratitude for your hospitality." *Firan*

Endeera gave you Swan Shaped Fancy Strawberry Cake with Whipped Cream.

Ladonna has... cake! Oh my! She stares at the fancy, well made swan-shaped cake with wide eyes and blinks a few times. "Oh, goodness, Lady Shadina. It was my pleasure entirely. I.. a cake! How lovely, thank you very much." Ladonna passes to the pantry, opens it, and carefully slides the fancypants pastry inside. "I'm sure it will be well enjoyed, but it's almost too pretty to eat! -Almost-." Ha. A quip! So funny. Ladonna curtsies, figuring Endeera is on her way out. Or maybe that's just the proper thing to do. *Firan*

Kalina is holding the baby. The cute baby. Hehe. Glancing at Emee, she raises an eyebrow. "Are you his nanny?" She says calmly, standing up and walking towards her. *Firan*

Endeera inclines her head graciously. "Thank you once again, mes. If you will excuse me, good day." *Firan*

Kelarik looks obviously impressed by the cake, his eyes admiring it hungrily from afar until he realizes he might be staring a little bit. But... whipped cream, ooh. Taking a little breath, he drags his eyes away from the cake and rises so that he might bow towards Endeera. "Good day, m'Lady." *Firan*

Emee's lips twitch as she straightens up a bit and takes a deep breath. She bows her head to Kalina in the affirmative and starts to hold out her hands and then lowers them to curtsey once more as Endeera is leaving, getting out of the way.

<OOC: ROLL> You roll your Perception(3) at difficulty 8 and get 1 success.

Ladonna notices Kelarik eying the cake and politely asks, "A piece? or did you want to have dinner with me?" A glance goes to Karish and she smiles at the quiet bodyguard. "So silent, Mer Karish. I hope the lesson was not too dull for you? Your friend, Mer Vinetti, should have been here. He seems to be a recurrent offender of the Horror/Harror debacle." *Firan*

Endeera enters the main room.

Endeera has left.

Karish shrugs absently and smiles. "I'm pondering some mysteries, actually. Your lesson was quiet scintillating, Mes Harror." *Firan*

Kalina drops the Baby Saelus.

Kalina curtsies, and moves towards Emee, finally giving the baby over. "he's such a sweetheart." She says softly. Certianly not a Horror or Harror at all. *Firan*

"Mysteries?" Ladonna asks, quite intrigued. "How fascinating, what sort of mysteries?" She crosses toward him, standing somewhat nearby. The baby exchange? Totally unnoticed.

Karish becks a thumb back in the direction of the baby. "Many mysteries, but the foremost one is that, there." *Firan*

Ladonna stares blankly at Karish and, in true Ladonna fashion, replies... stupidly. "Why. Whatever is mysterious about that? Mer Harror married me, bedded me, and nine months later, I had it." Nice. *Firan*

Karish arches a brow. "You have explained the only part of that scenario that's not a mystery, I'd say." *Firan*

Emee blinks at Kalina for a few moments and just nods slowly as she takes Saelus and shifts him to rest on her hip with a soft smile to the baby. "Hey there precious...Alael was looking for you, oh yes we were." Then to Kalina she bows her head again in quiet agreement. There is a pause as she blinks and glances towards Ladonna and then looks back to Saelus. *Firan*

Kelarik shakes his head towards Ladonna goodnaturedly. "No thank you, Mes Harror, although it's kind of you to be offerin'. But I would like to be offering that dinner, anyhow." He tries, very carefully, to stay out of the middle of the child discussion, although his eyes do casually slide over to look at the cute little kid, a very slight smile resurfacing. *Firan*

Kalina peers at Karish. Then Ladonna. Then Kelarik. Then Saelus. Then herself. Then Emee. She doesn't get it.

Ladonna stares at Karish a little longer, tilting her head evermore to the left. Her eyes twinkle and she lifts a brow. "I'm not entirely certain that such a conversation is wholly proper, Mer Karish, especially for the Harror bodyguard, but if you need a lesson on how children come into the world, let me pay for a day at the White Dove. I'm fairly certain that what they do is what Mer Harror did to me." Off the cuff, almost as if she has the ability to be in two places (conversations) at once, Ladonna says to Kelarik, "Offerin/g/. Yes, thank you." *Firan*

Kelarik quickly repeats, "Offering," actually grinning a bit. Must remember lesson! *Firan*

Karish arches his brow up a little further. "Of course, Mes Harror. But I wouldn't ask for you to pay for such a thing, I can afford it myself. In fact, perhaps I'll go directly there when the guests have departed and my shift is over." *Firan*

Kalina giggles a bit. "I'm afraid I must go, mes Ladonna. Thank you for the meeting." She says solemly. "It is nice to finally be able to pronounce our Viceroys last name." *Firan*

"Oh, very good," Ladonna straightens entirely. "Do enjoy yourself." She turns to Kelarik and laces her arm through his. "Dinner, then, Centurion?" she asks, leaning into the man. Kalina gets a nod and a smile. "Mes Emee, will you lock up?"

You are now following Kelarik.

Emee just blinks many times and just nods slowly and adjusts her hold on Saelus. "Oh...of course Mes Harror." *Firan*

Kelarik looks a little startled at that, his eyes flicking briefly over towards Karish as if trying to figure out what in the heck is going on here, but he remains formal, nonetheless. "Certainly, Mes Harror. If you'd be ready, then...?" *Firan*

Kalina enters the main room.

Kalina has left.

Karish clears his throat. "Will you be requiring me to follow you to dinner Mes Harror, or will your other bodyguards suffice?" *Firan*

Ladonna bites her bottom lip and wrinkles her nose, "You may do as you like, Mer Karish. Come or don't." Double. En.Ten.Dre! "I would not refute your presence, naturally, if you wished to ensure the protection of your charge." She smiles prettily at Kelarik, nods once, and declares, "I am, Centurion Kelarik, thank you, though you may wish to check with Mer Karish. Enjoy your day with the baby, Mes Emee." *Firan*

Emee looks to Saelus and then just nods to Ladonna and closes her eyes. "I will Mes Harror!" Easy answers, she likes easy answers as she has a quiet conversation with Saelus. *Firan*

Kelarik shrugs towards Karish, looking faintly perplexed. There's definitely something going on under the surface that he doesn't quite follow, but he's not getting in the middle of it. "I'm not about to be doing anything that's wrong," he says to Karish mildly. "Just going t'buy Mes Harror a dinner and talk to her a bit. Owe her a apology about something, like I said. So I don't think it's really needed, if you've got other things you need t'do, but it's your call. You're her bodyguard." *Firan*

Ladonna mouths 'other things' after Kelarik says it. She widens her eyes and -- oh man, no seriously -- swings her hips around in a circle. Just one. It's enough.

Karish rises from his chair. "Oh, I'm sure that between Centurion Kelarik and your other bodyguards, you should be just fine, Mes Horror." He smiles, toothily. "Enjoy your dinner, please." *Firan*

Kelarik gets just a tiny, tiny creeping of color up the side of his neck. He did /not/ just see that. More importantly, he didn't just see it right beside him while the woman who's undulating her hips is holding onto his arm. He casually looks towards the door, waiting for the apparent little squabble to end.

"I will," Ladonna replies, pleased with herself. "And you enjoy your whores." As she permits Kelarik to lead her out, Ladonna offhandedly asks, "You're not planning to arrest me for breathing in the wrong place again, are you? By coaxing me into the walls and then throwing me into a cell?"

Karish waves. "Bye, Mes Horror!" *Firan*

Kelarik snorts. "And why would I be arrestin' you for anything?" he asks. "You haven't done nothing wrong, have you?" He leads the way goodnaturedly... and quickly. Before Ladonna notices the horrors. Oh, the horrors. *Firan*

Ladonna calls over her shoulder, "Goodbye! Tell Evia hello while you bang her." *Firan*