<@Dreol> [The Court of Love, Paris, July 10th 1261, 1:00 AM] <@Dreol> [After what seems like an eternity of Rolf, Moriel, and Cosimo and Victoria watching the court entertainment, Eliana enters the room followed by Anstace, who is in a gorgeous dress, which will soon be described. The belly dancers and jugglers are still belly dancing and juggling and Matriarch Salianna turns to spot Anstace and whispers to some of the other Toreador at the table, pointing to <@Dreol> Anstace.] <@Dreol> [Begin.] 06* Rolf has been forced to watch so much belly. It'd be more awkward if he and Victoria weren't also sharing moments of significant disdain for the high-clan squishies. 06* Anstace enters slowly, still quite uncertain about her footing in the rather dainty and unfamiliar shoes. She squirms uncomfortably for a moment, trying to manage the various layers of the dress. The maroon dress, however, is amazing in its detail and design. It's soft velvet hugs her in ways the only further emphasize her appearance. The Toreador eye has clearly picked well. Even the delicate 06* Anstace beadwork and stitching seem to draw attention to her natural beauty. 06* Eliana is still basically wearing peasant clothes, and she folds her arms and looks around at all of the Toreador. The Court of Love is the same as ever, which is somewhat annoying given all of the changes happening in London. She comments to Anstace in Greek, "" 06* Moriel also feels rather awkward about all the dancing bellies, which he mostly manifests in seeming increasingly...absent. He looks up as everyone seems to be paying attention to something else, however, and his eyes re-focus. 06* Anstace squirms slightly again. "," she sighs slightly to Eliana, in Greek 06* Eliana smirks a little. "" She nods to the others. "" 06* Rolf comments, idly, to Victoria, "I barely remember when I thought jugglin' was anything interestin'. Guess that's why the Toreador keep reachin' back to remember it." 06* Anstace nods slightly to Eliana. "" 01 06* Eliana puts action to words and heads over there. Oh no! 06* Moriel tilts his head to look up at Eliana and Anstace as they come over. He greets them in Latin, as he doesn't speak Greek. "" He doesn't comment on Anstace's dress, since she seems decidedly uncomfortable in it. 06* Anstace follows Eliana closely, obviously being as careful as she can not to step on the hem of the dress or falter in her shoes. She nods to Moriel as he greets them. <@Dreol> [Matriarch Salianna stands from her table and walks over to Anstace, saying, in Latin, ""] 06* Anstace turns to look at Matriarch Salianna. She nods. "" she replies in Latin. "" 06* Anstace curtseys to Matriarch Salianna, suddenly remembering that is what is apparently appropriate. <@Dreol> [Salianna nods. ""] a drink would be nice (doh! in latin, please) <@Dreol> [Salianna nods and motions for a drink. One of the servants disappears for a few moments and returns with a silver goblet full of blood. Just as he hands it to Anstace the dancers stop and bow and everyone applaudes respectfully.] 06* Eliana has since nabbed a seat near the others, because why the hell not. 06* Anstace takes the goblet and then looks to Matriarch Saliana and nods, lifting the cup in her direction slightly. 06* Anstace takes a sip, and then, noticing that Salianna is still watching, adds. "" <@Dreol> [Salianna laughs. ""] 06* Rolf looks over at Eliana and says lowly, "Ya two had to lady her up." 06* Eliana shrugs at Rolf. "I told her that the dresses were gifts from Matriarch Salianna, and it would be rude of her to refuse." 06* Anstace curtseys to Salianna again, and then walks over to take a seat near Eliana and the rest of the group, trying not to make eye contact with all of the eyes which are still watching her so closely. 06* Moriel glances between them and shrugs. "She can always wear other clothing once she has it, if she wishes. It's not difficult to acquire, after all." 06* Anstace selects a seat next to Eliana. "" she asks softly in Greek. "" <@Dreol> [Salianna walks out of the room, followed by her entourage, leaving you all in an empty room.] 06* Anstace watches the procession leave, and the moment they exit, she begins to squirm a lot -- like perhaps she was holding it all in and now she's able to get some of it out 06* Eliana blinks at Anstace, but she doesn't say anything; she seems more curious than anything. 06* Cosimo watches Anstace with some amusement for a bit, and then rises to his feet, still holding his goblet. "my friends... i have something to speak with you about." 06* Moriel looks up at Cosimo, eyebrows raised. 06* Rolf looks over at Cosimo. "Yeah, what's on your mind?" 01 Hm? 06* Cosimo frowns slightly. "i have received word that the sands once more grow restless as the armies of the cross gather to move once again." he looks a bit saddened as he says this. "my brothers have called me back to aid them." 06* Eliana brow furrows. "You're joining forces against the crusades?" Way to translate, Eliana. 06* Moriel 's face goes blank for a moment as he processes that, and then a sad expression flits across it. "...how soon will you leave?" 06* Rolf looks slightly surprised, then says, "I, uh... guess I didn't quite get that one'd mean the other. Guess I was thinkin' too much 'bout Carthage." 06* Cosimo looks to Eliana and nods. "i fear i must." he turns to Moriel. "I leave tomorrow. goodbyes are painful enough without letting them drag on." 06* Moriel sits back a little. "Ah. Yes." And then he looks back up at Cosimo. "Safe travels, Master Castelletti." 06* Cosimo nods. he looks to Rolf. "Carthage is a war that means more than what it is that we do. but i am certain that the fight i leave to join will call my brothers from both sides to abandon the one you fight on in my absence." 06* Rolf nods slightly. "Makes sense to me." He stands up to clap Cosmio on the shoulder. "You've done good fightin' by my side. God... uh..." he pauses and scratches his head, then manages, "Your god protect ya." 06* Cosimo returns Rolf's embrace. "my Brother, it has been an honor to fight at your side." 06* Eliana has since stood, and she not-quite-glares at Cosimo, arms folded. After Cosimo's done with Rolf, she asks, "Are you inclined to return to London after your summons are over?" 06* Rolf smiles a little. Hey, he didn't completely screw it up! The big man hugs back tightly. 06* Cosimo turns to Eliana and smiles. "indeed, i shall. so long as i am able to do so." 01 I'll see you then. 06* Moriel 's expression lightens at that. 06* Anstace fidgets uncomfortably but does not intrude into the discussion she does not understand. she seems a bit relieved to not have so many people staring at her. indeed, Sister 06* Eliana snorts. "Sister," she mutters, but she doesn't seem displeased. 06* Cosimo looks to Moriel. "i have learned much from you, Moriel. your god and mine are not so different. perhaps i can help others to see that which you have taught me, Brother." 06* Cosimo looks to Victoria. "though we do not know each other well, it has been an honor to fight with you. keep them safe." 06* Moriel freezes for long a moment, staring at Cosimo. Then he relaxes again and says quietly, "Perhaps. One can hope so." 06* Anstace watches the emotional exchange impassionedly and sips from her goblet. its like an evening at the amphitheater 06* Cosimo turns to Anstace. he smiles. "" he says in Greek. "" 06* Anstace blinks. 06* Anstace nods. "" she says, flatly, despite being a bit surprised. "" <@Dreol> [Victoria bows. "Be safe, Cosimo."] 06* Cosimo nods. "" he raises his goblet to the group. "here's to us. there are none finer." 06* Eliana rolls her eyes. "A blatant lie," she says, but she raises the goblet she'd acquired at some point earlier all the same. 06* Rolf chuckles and raises his goblet. "Ah, give a fighter the chance to boast, Eliana." 06* Moriel raises his goblet as well. After a wry glance at Eliana, his gaze returns to Cosimo, solemn again. 06* Eliana smirks at Rolf. "It's against my nature." 06* Cosimo grins. "the jackals bay jealously before the honor of lions. do not let them rob you of what is yours by honor." he drains his goblet and sets it down on the table. 06* Cosimo looks at each person one by one and smiles. "till our paths again cross," he adds and then turns to leave. 06* Eliana snorts, again, and sets her goblet down. She signs: 06* Moriel drinks, then sets his goblet down again with a wry smile. "Goodbye for now, Master Castelletti." 06* Cosimo nods to Eliana and smiles again. he signs in reply. 06* Cosimo calmly walks into the shadows and out of the room. <@Dreol> [The next night you all awaken, and Cosimo is gone. One of Matriarch Salianna's servants comes to each of your rooms and bows before you, informing you all that Pierre wants to see you.] 06* Eliana glowers at the servant and shuts her door. She needs to brush her hair. 06* Moriel looks up with interest. He re-binds his scarf around his head, pulls on his boots, and heads out to see what Pierre has turned up. 06* Rolf slouches his way out of bed, growling as he rubs sleep from his eyes and tromps off to find a guy that makes words. 06* Eliana goes to meet with in after she gets her hair in order. She stops to check on Anstace on the way. 06* Anstace is being dressed by a servant and appears to have completely zoned out aside from squirming uncomfortably at every opportunity. she is clearly bound far tighter than the previous night, and though it is hard to see in her face, she is not pleased at this. 06* Eliana rolls her eyes and grabs the servant by the back of her bodice, pulling her back. "Let me do this," she tells her, and there really isn't any room for argument. 06* Anstace looks at Eliana, mostly dressed. "" <@Dreol> [The servant shrugs and bows and then walks away. "As you wish, Mademoiselle."] 06* Eliana goes about loosening Anstace's bindings. "" "" 06* Eliana nods. "" <@Dreol> [As you all enter the library, Pierre looks up from the book he is reading. He says, in Latin, "" He looks towards Anstace. ""] 06* Eliana says, dryly, "" 06* Moriel snorts. <@Dreol> [Pierre looks at Anstace. ""] 06* Anstace looks at Pierre. "" <@Dreol> [He shakes his head. ""] 06* Rolf groans slightly and runs his hand back through his hair. "At least we know how the foolish part works." 06* Moriel flicks a glance at Pierre, then Anstace. He murmurs, "" 06* Anstace looks at Pierre blankly. good thing it is hard to read what she's thinking right now. she squirms uncomfortably instead. or is she limbering up. hard to tell <@Dreol> [Session End.]