2023.03.08 Grand Opening, Rêves Errants

2023.03.08 Grand Opening, Rêves Errants
The Lost in Time Market’s newest business opens!
IC Date	03.08.23
Players	Clementine, Dasia, Deirdre, Erin, Janneke, Kieran, Oswald, Persy, Sark, Sebastian, Stella, Trevor
Location	Rêves Errants
Spheres	Changeling

FOOD and DRINK - GRAND OPENING(#3081)

------------------------------- < MENU > --------------------------------

Tonight there is a buffet, offering the following options:

* Sandwiches: A selection of fresh meats and gourmet cheeses on bakery rye, country miche (white), and sourdough bread.

• Sliders to order with a topping bar
• Fresh-cut potato chips and roasted potato wedges
• Green salad with a seven-vegetable medley and oil-and-vinaigrette dressing
• Fresh seafood chowder, with mackerel, clam, and shrimp
• Homemade chili con carne, complete with a redcap mix-in bar including cheese, onions, crackers, cornbread chunks, nuts, bolts, nails, screws, and steel filings.
• A Viennese table of small finger-sized desserts including cupcakes, brownies, cookies, and mini-scones.
• Beverages: Coffee, tea, cocoa, soft drinks in the bottle, ice water, a selection of Dreaming-brewed bottled beers

All pastry, baked goods, and teas provided by A Spoonful of Sugar! Bon appetit!

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Set. READ ME - GRAND OPENING!(#2594)

------------------------------ < Read Me > ------------------------------- Pose order for the night will be 3PR, just for ease and everyone's sanity. Given that, please try to be considerate of slower posers and let them get a pose in edgewise! Let's all enjoy the free food and drink, and have a great time!

Don't forget to +vote/here if you want to reward your fellow guests for RP!

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Lost in Time Market - Rêves Errant(#5990RM)

When one opens the stained-glass-inlaid front door, or peers in through the partly-curtained display windows, this large space seems cozy despite its broad expanse. A hearth on one wall, a bar on the other, and seating in between invite the weary traveler or the curious onlooker alike to come, sit a spell, and enjoy some warm and cheerful hospitality. The Glamour floating through the air is of many colors and flavors, with a little something for just about everyone.

The hearth is to the left as one enters, and it covers most of that side. A mantle made of some warm brownish-purple wood, huge enough to require multiple trolls to lift, dominates the brickwork. The open hearth offers a cozy fire that burns cheerfully, without making the room too hot. In front of it is an open space used as a stage or dancefloor, and on any given night, you might find a singer, a rhymer, a fiddler, or any other sort of entertainer plying their trade for the patrons. A sign near the hearth reads, "Entertain us if you wish!"

The bar is to the right. It is small, with only four stools, but it's clearly meant more for people awaiting friends than for long-term occupancy. The wood of the bar matches the mantle, polished and beautiful, its surface sleek as silk. It is the place where food is delivered to the wait staff, as well, because the door leading to the immaculate kitchen is visible behind it.

There is a selection of wooden tables that also match bar and mantle, each with its own quiltwork cushions in cheery colors and patterns that seem to flow and move as you watch. Mixed in are a few conversation groupings of couch and chairs around low coffee tables. Some of the chairs of each sort are larger-sized, some smaller-sized, just to accommodate all of the Kithain and other visitors.

<<< +views are set here >>>

Janneke has a white apron tied over her clothes, which contrasts interestingly with the iridescent top hat she's wearing. "Oh, hello! Welcome!" Staffers bring out trays, and then begin to set up the cold items -- sandwiches, salad, drinks. Their next trip is the hot items -- chowder, sliders, potatoes, and chili -- and the dessert bar. The staff has it down to a science, the tables filled and neat almost before one can blink, and JJ goes through getting the last bits into place. The place is decorated with chimerical streamers and delicate flowers, and all of the staff have black top hats on for the occasion. Each table has its own flickering candle arrangement, and JJ herself looks somewhere between happy and nervous. The room looks cozy, despite it being large -- all of the tables and the buffet area make it seem more crowded than it actually is.

Kieran enters from the Autumn through the door to Detonation Boulevard... backwards... pulling both Sark and Stella along by the hand, laughing a bit. She's dressed in a flapper dress, and has her guitar in its bag on her back.

Not quite 5'4", Kieran is a little slender for her size, but something in the way she carries herself keeps her from being quite 'waifish'. Hazel eyes take in the world behind strong, but rounded features, and she wears her dark-copper, almost auburn hair in a somewhat boyish pixie-cut. She is currently wearing a black, biker-styled leather jacket over a loose-fitting dark gray tee, with faded blue jeans and dark work boots. To all appearances, they seem relaxed and at ease with their surroundings.

To Chimerical eyes, Kieran is a brightly-redheaded Clurichaun lass with strong, sharp features who carries herself in a way that makes it easy to overlook the solidness of her build. On this side of the Mists, she has an old, but still visible scar on the left side of her face. It runs from her hairline to the corner of her jaw, just missing her left eye.

Tonight she's decked out in voile like a 1920's flapper. She's barefoot, and wearing a bright, shining golden mini-dress that would barely reach mid-thigh... except TASSELS. Seriously, this thing is /covered/ in them. It's like the whole dress is made of them. Then again, this is all chimerical! It might be! There might be no fabric beneath the tassels! It might just be tassels, all the way down! Better not try running your fingers through them, or she might slap someone.

Sark looks rather amused as he sorta follows in after Kee and Stella, one hand on Stella's back as if making sure the young woman is handling things okay. Dressed in a simple polo shirt and slacks, but barefoot, his hair has been braided into a more respectable tail rather than just allowed to hang down. Hey, that's classing up for him.

Persy enters the shop. Dasia enters the shop. Oswald enters the shop.

Stella is easily drawn through, her green eyes wide. She's beaming and generally looking like someone who is utterly enchanted with being enchanted. Anyone present gets a lingering look and a bright smile if eye contact is made.

Sebastian is dressed in his usual style, aside from a battered purple top hat (In This Style 10/6) that he managed to find... somewhere or other. And hopefully scrubbed clean first. "Oh hey, even more people than usual," he points out, looking around and recognizing only maybe half of the early crowd.

A lutist steps up to the stage, a pretty Eshu girl of maybe twelve. Expectations are met and surpassed, as she performs a flawless, wordless madrigal with flying fingers and soaring notes. The buffet tables are opened now with a sharp whistle from Evelyn, the troll barkeep, who calls out, "Dinner is served!" (look food for menu)

Oswald ambles in with an empty kebab skewer he's using as a toothpick, he's got Dasia with him and he steps out of the way, pausing near the door for his own part to take a slow look around. Writing reality out to disk. Please wait... Reality saved. Thank you for your patience.

JJ seems to be going absolutely insane trying to keep up with everyone; she's handing out plates and napkins, greeting people, waving them in, and generally just being a Boggan. She smiles and waves a warm hello to new arrivals as they enter, taking a moment to wink approvingly at Sebastian's hat that matches her own.

Clementine visited earlier to drop off some of the desserts, and is back with another basket - just in case things got gobbled up. She'll drop them off at the dessert table as she looks around. "Oh my, this place looks wonderful!" She is her happy self tonight, minus any mischief following her just yet...

Sark grins as he looks around the room, lifting one hand to wave a welcome at JJ and Clem and Dasia, the other for the moment staying loosely planted on Stella's hip, like an anchor so he doesnt lose her, or more likely so SHE has an anchor to something familiar, "Hi JJ. Clem is right, this looks lovely...and smells wonderful, too!" Erin enters the shop.

Polly, the Boggan server, moves to help Clem with the baked goods, and smiles, "I can take care of that for you, Miz Dunbar."

Dasia and Oswald are near the entrance, and thus near the bar, where Evelyn, the barkeep, asks, "What can I get you both?" The selections are among several different sorts of Dreaming-made beers, soft drinks, coffee, tea, and cocoa, and she quickly provides them with their choices.

JJ grins as the Sark-Stella-Kieran party arrives, and she says, "I'm so glad! Don't miss the chowder, it's all made with fish from Deirdre's company!"

Dasia does indeed enter with Oswald, and though she's not got her arm hooked through his, it's for good reason... in her hands is a box with a fancy little bow and everything. Her silver eyes take in the scenery, and eventually come to land on the hostess. "JJ!" She would wave, but... arms full. So the Elegbara with the Heartspun Voile fashioned after designer fashion (today we are in Gucci) weaves her way through the crowd over to the Boggan, and hands her the box. "Grand opening gift," she says... but pause. "Rather... the prototype. I hope it helps make the place feel homey while the others get made."

Stella wanders in a very circuitous route over to the buffet and picks up a small cupcake, sniffs at it, then pops it into her mouth before catching sight of Sebastian and announcing, "Mehooslah!" She turns to Sark and then points to Sebastian, finishes her cupcake and even swallows it. "That's Methuselah! I met him. He likes the monkey bars." She stretches up on the balls of her feet to plant a frosting-free kiss on Sark's... jaw. "Where'd Butterfly go?" Hopefully she'll slow down a bit or her hamster wheel might spin off its frame. "You said there was someone who was in charge here, right? I want to tell them how obscenely perfect it is." She -did- say earlier she needed different words.

Kieran breaks away from her companions for just a moment to set her guitar down, leaning against the side of the massive hearth. When she does, she exchanges a few quiet words with a young... chicken(?) pooka sitting at nearby table with a redcap and a piskey, then gives them all a wink before heading back over to the others, "Ok, sooooo..." She looks around a bit, and starts pointing people out in turn, for Stella. "The overworked hostess is JJ, the twins are Persy and Clem... the guy in the hat is Sebastian, like the singing crab, the big guy is Oz and the chick with him that looks like she escaped from some incredibly upscale runway show is Dasia..." She looks around a bit more, "I don't... /see/... Dee here yet, but her buddy Trevor... yeah, that's him over there."

Oswald grins broadly at Evelyn "A tankard of Mead to start little cousin." as he escorts Dasia to make her secured delivery. That done he grins and nods to JJ "It all looks quite splendid."

The morganed enters bare-chested and just wearing a pair of comfortable green denim jeans that match his long hair. Around his neck hangs a necklace of various shells which clattered as they shift across his chest. The colors contrast well against his gem-stone blue-skin.

As the lutist begins her madrigal, Trevor can't help but hum along in the haunting tones infamous of his kith. He's quick to avail himself of the buffet and snatch a stein of one of the dreaming-made beers.

His sapphire gaze then scans the room recognizing Dasia and Kieran, soon his gaze settles on those he doesn't know. He hums and then hears his name from across the room. He waves to Kieran, even if his name was just mentioned in passing regarding the location Deirdre.

"I like this hat!" Sebastian declares, lifting it for a moment as he's introduced. Then, blinking once, he peers more closely at Stella. "Wait, are you calling me old? I'm not a day over eighty, I'll have you know."

Sark grins and dips his chin a bit for Stella's kiss, laughing at her question about Kee, "She'll flutter in and out. Its a party. People are going to bounce around all evening, I think." When she asks who is in charge, he nods towards the woman talking about the chowder (JJ) and murmurs, "The one going about a million miles an hour to make sure everything is okay. Our goal is to get her to relax and enjoy her own party." Finishing that with a wink, He straightens up a bit to look around the growing sea of faces.

Evelyn is, indeed, little compared to Oswald. There are buildings that are small compared to the might that is Oz. She finds him a tankard of mead and hands it over with aplomb and a cheeky, "War heroes always drink free at my bar."

JJ doesn't contradict that, and beams at Oz's comment. "Thank you! I wanted it to be welcoming, so I guess I did okay!" She blinks in surprise as Dasia presses a gift upon her and blinks in surprise and delight, somehow not having expected this. "Thank you! Ummm..."

Evelyn says, "We got it covered, JJ, go open your gift."

JJ doesn't need more urging; she opens the present eagerly.

Erin comes in a little bit late. She takes a moment to look around and wows at all the people and things. She stays a little by the door as people come in just kinda waiting as she looks for familier faces.

Stella leans in so her ear is right beside Kieran's lips as she points out those who are present. If any look their way when their names are quietly mentioned, she waves a little wave of greeting as if she'd been introduced from across the space. "JJ," she echoes. "Thats the one. She looks so busy but it's really improper not to tell a host how far off the charts their party is. And I didn't even bring a gift." She follows Kieran's finger and echoes the names, "Persy and Clem." Sebastian? "Methuselah is Sebastian?" The Little Mermaid reference is not lost on her. "If he sings 'Kiss the Girl' I'll do something ..." new words? "-- grandiose!" Then in Sebastian's direction, "That depends. Do you -want- to be called old?" She looks faintly crestfallen, but it doesn't last long. "Anyone who likes the monkey bars that much isn't old." More names. Echoing them, "Oz and supermodel Dasia. Got it. Just don't ask me to remember." Ah. One more. "Trevor." She glances to the bottled beers. "Is he the one with the kiddie pool?" She's apparently giving out kisses because Kieran receives one somewhere behind her ear before she heads for a drink of the beerish/meady variety. "Easy do you want one of these really nifty bottles of something that might be alcoholic? Butterfly?" But Sark's advice to let JJ relax is taken seriously.

So, in the US Navy, if you're not fifteen minutes early, you're late. If you're 45 minutes late, it had better have been because of a suddenly-missing limb, or presidential order! For this reason, Deirdre feels horrible as she comes in, looking around, praying to God that she's not going to cause a scene entering.

Kieran laughs, and turns to mutter something into Stella's ear when she says she'll do 'something grandiose'. When Stella starts heading for the bar, Kee laughs, "Just be careful with that stuff!" Then she starts back over toward the table she'd been talking to a few moments before. As she goes, she gives the newly-arriving Deirdre a wave.

A monkey Pooka comes to the stage after the Eshu girl, holding a double handful of brightly-colored balls, and performs a five-limb (including his prehensile tail) juggling routine, with a Nocker friend playing a hurdy-gurdy to accompany the rollicking action.

Doesn't seem like Deirdre's making a scene at all -- if anything, the selkie's just in time for the party to get into full swing, with the smells of delicious food and the sounds of performers and conversation, and lots of merry faces making the place inviting.

Sark reaches up across the crowd to wave a hello at Erin while she's still looking around. When Stella heads for the bar, Sark SORTA wanders that direction, pausing on the way to bow a hello at Oswald and Sebastian, and grin at Persy and Clementine. Clasping his hands behind his back he finally calls out, "Hi Sunny D!"

Erin makes her way a little to the side to make sure not to be in the way of people coming in from the door. She moves along the wall stayin gout of the way. She does catch Sark's wave so she waves back to him with a smile.

Trevor makes his way over to the fashionable late captain Deirdre and stuffs a beer into her hand. "Welcome to the party!"

He'll clack tankards with her before tilting back his own for a big drink.

Oswald nods in response to Sark's bow, not bowing himself because he tends to keep his movements minimal when around this many smaller people. Speaking of he takes a sip of his tankard and finds himself a place to sit, hopefully out of the way a bit.

Dasia makes it back to the bar to order some cookie-flavoured booze concoction, and while it is being prepared, she makes a detour over to the Eshu Mintrel... Lutist... um. Performer, yeah. that's the ticket. She waits until there is a break between songs before enacting the ancient eshu greeting ritual. After a quick grimace (that isn't part of the ritual, actually) she gives a big ol' spit right into her hand, before holding it out for a classic spit-shake. "Damawiy Nasrin, niece of Talitha, and heir to Al-Ahlam Alealiqa... the Oasis of Lingering Dreams," she introduces herself. "But please, call me Dasia." Formalities concluded, she heads back to get the booze cookie beverage.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Kieran rolls Charisma + Performance vs 6 for 3 successes.
2 4 4 4 5 +7 +7 +10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Evelyn, the barkeep, helps Polly, one of the servers, get a tray of drinks out to the table, refilling the buckets of chimerical ice and bottles of Dream-beers and soft drinks. One of the servers studiously ignores a teenaged satyr who sneaks a couple of beers for himself and his date. Didn't see it, didn't happen.

Off to one side of the hearth, the seating is a bit larger and more spacious, sized for the taller folk among the Kithain. The twelve-foot-ceilings help on that front, too.

... Dasia does, of course, wait to hear the other Eshu's name before departing, of course.

Off to one side of the hearth sits a table with just enough room for four people, as long as none of them are trolls. Conveniently enough, none of the people seated there tonight are! Instead, it’s a trio of fae consisting of a feathered pooka (chicken?), a /remarkably/ nondescript pisky (but then, aren’t they all?) and a laughing, amiable redcap with what look like stone-shod boots. (Hey, at least you know he’s not sneaking up on anyone, right?)

Kieran makes her way over to the trio, retrieving her guitar and taking it out of the gig bag as she does. She exchanges quiet words with the three for a few moments, before stepping up onto the table and beginning a light, quick strumming on her guitar.

“Evening, all… I just wanted to thank our hostess for getting this place fixed up and turned into such a cool little gin joint” She winks over at the boggan, “and encourage everyone to join me in a drink to honor her, and all of you… and everyone out there that the world’s just too damned wrapped up in its own superficial ideas of… everything… to ever really get.”

The strumming settles into a rhythm as she finishes. On the second go-round, the redcap at the table begins using his boots to provide a beat, as Kee begins to sing in an easy, mellow sing-song.

“Right, right, turn off the lights / We gonna lose our minds tonight / What's the dealio?
“I love when it's all too much / 5 AM turn the radio up / Where's the rock and roll?

“Party crasher / Panty snatcher / Call me up if you a gangsta
“Don't be fancy, just get dancy…
“Why so serious?”

There’s a momentary pause. Then, as Kee’s next words come in /much/ more high-energy… all three of the seated fae join in behind her… on /kazoos/.

“So raise your glass if you are wrong
“In all the right ways
“All my underdogs
“We will never be never be, anything but loud
“And nitty gritty dirty little freaks
“Won't you come on and come on and raise your glass
“Just come on and come on and raise your glass!”

Trevor is not the first person to shove a beer in Deirdre's hands and he won't be the last. She toasts her shipmate warmly. "Yeah, shit, I'm glad it wasn't over by the time I got here." Then she waves to Sark. "Heya, Sark!" She's still a little embarrassed by being late, but if the party is still going, then it's not a hanging offense. "Are you singing tonight, Trevor?" Though when Kee takes the mic, Deirdre gives her complete attention to the stage.

The beers start coming fast and furious with the song.

Trevor glances toward Kieran and gasps, "Going right for Pink, love it." He can't help but sing along to the chorus and emote the raising of his tankard. When the chorus ends, he gazes over to Deirdre. "Uhhh.. Not well acquainted enough with the proprietor or the staff to have made that happen. I mean.. I'm ~always~ singing, but I think it’s a patron tonight."

Persy sneaks in. She's shorter than most of the others here, so it's easy enough for her to do, even with her brightly colored skirts and impossibly vivid, crazy hair. Singing? Oh good. And p!nk too! One of her favorites!

Kieran's muttering receives a dimpled smile from Stella. The enchanted hamster (not really) in the long blue skirt and the playful white top then turns to find Sark quite nearby and she offers him a bottle of mead. She holds one for herself and one to offer Kieran when she does her next fly by, likely post-performance. Sark's exchange with Oswald draws Stella's green gaze and she offers him a curious smile, also before clinking her bottle (the one she's actually drinking from) to Sark's. "No golden secrets." It's a toast. Or at least meant to be one. Then she takes her first drink. "That's tickly. And warm honey melty delicious."

About then, Kieran offers up props to the hostess, to whom Stella raises her bottle, likely unnoticed. "JJ," she toasts. "Like a party boss."

Kieran's performance draws the larger part of Stella's attention, though little chimerical notes and other shinies keep stealing her gaze. Still she listens, wiggles a little, then raises her bottle again when 'raise your glass' is sung. Kazoos! There's a little giggle from the brunette with the extra bottle.

Ooo, Sark knows this song! Sorta. Well, okay, he knows the chorus, because even he knows who P!nk is. He happily takes the bottle Stella offers and grins at her for the toast, murmuring, "No golden secrets," then gets distracted by Kee's singing to lift the bottle overhead and bounces a little to her chorus.

As the musical portion of the evening gets going, Sebastian takes the opportunity to wander over and start filling up a plate of food for himself. Also he fishes a bottlecap out of one pocket and sets it down near where Kieran is performing. He's got next!

The KAZOOS.

Karl the Short, a troll who's only 6 foot 9, one of the security staffers, raises both fists and cheers along, and then promptly presses a beer into JJ's hand. "I can't toast MYSELF!" She giggles, though, and takes a swallow anyway, then dances a bit with the music, such that it is. Guitar and kazoo? Why the hell not?

Erin bobs her head at the singing and smiles softly as she gets into the music. She waves to people when she notices them and smiles softly.

Clementine has been waiting and watching by the food tables - she cannot help but want to help out! When Persy arrives she goes over to her sister and takes her arm. "Isn't this place grand! I'm so glad you could make it here with me tonight."

Dasia lifts the boozy cookie beverage in a 'cheers' motion, before using the oh-so-conveniently provided straw to siiiip up some of the drink. But the straw is smaller than some of the chunks of cookie, I hear you say, to which I reply... mind your business. Drinks don't need to make sense, they just need to be tasty! Which means whipped cream. Which is is a problem when the kazoo choir breaks out, because the Elegbara snorts out a quick laugh which sends some of that whipped cream sloshing out of the cup and over onto "Deirdre!" She smiles one of her anti-wrinkle resting-bitch-face-preserving smiles and offers the Selkie a side-hug.

Kieran’s still going, still on top of the table, and helping to provide her own percussion as well now by hopping in place to the beat, even as the kazoos drop off and she resumes the earlier sing-song style… albeit a little less mellow.

“Slam slam, oh hot damn / What part of party don't you understand? / Wish you'd just freak out.
“Can't stop, comin' in hot / I should be locked up right on the spot / It's so on right now..

“Party crasher / Panty snatcher / Call me up if you a gangsta
“Don't be fancy, just get dancy
“Why so serious?

And just like that, the kazoos are back—Oh god, the KAZOOS—as Kee reaches down to snag a mug from the table and tilt it back, then lifts it, sloshing, high into the air.

“So raise your glass if you are wrong
“In all the right ways
“All my underdogs
“We will never be never be, anything but loud
“And nitty gritty dirty little freaks
“Won't you come on and come on and raise your glass

And now she’s punctuating each line by punching the air with that mug, visibly spilling just a little bit each time (Sorry, JJ!)

“Just come on and come on and raise your glass
“Won't you come on and come on and raise your glass
“Just come on and come on and raise your glass!”

Steeltooth, the female Redcap security guard, picks up a few empty beer bottles with a menacing grin... and then begins to juggle them deftly, 'raising' a whole bunch of 'glasses' all at once in time with Kee's singing!

Stella is just fully dancing now, but she does dance over to replace the bottle she had grabbed for Kieran for others to have access to if they so choose. Shimmy. Sliiiiide. Hands (with bottle) in the air. A hip kick into Sark's ... upper thigh. She dances a little circle around him and then casts a sidelong gaze at Sebastian, curious but not pushing her luck. Want to know what's a bad idea? Another drink. Hence Stella tips up her bottle for a healthy swallow of the dreaming-created beverage. JJ receives another glance. Maybe Stella could find a host gift just ... lying around somewhere. That becomes the quest of the hour. While dancing to Kieran's performance AND THE KAZOOS.

Persy is snatched and stolen by her sister and dragged along, at least somewhat willingly. "I wouldn't miss it, Clementine," she says, moving wherever her sister leads her!

Deirdre nods to Trevor. "Ah, you've done all your performing for the week at the strip club, huh?" She teases the Siren. "Next strip club we go to, you should get the lap dance before Dasia starts a fight." she smirks. "If you'll excuse me, I need to go and greet our hostess." Deirdre makes her way over to JJ. "Juniper Jupiter! A million apologies for being late. I'll have to tell you about it later."

More plates of sandwiches and a fresh round of sliders come out of the kitchen, the tall, dark form of Grigori bringing out the trays on his surprisingly-strong long spindly arms and taking them to the buffet to replenish the food.

JJ smiles as Deirdre approaches, and tips her top hat -- top hat? Yes, she's wearing a whole ensemble tonight, it seems -- and grins. "This is insane, my brain is melting, and you're fine! I'm glad you're here -- and try the chowder, it came out exquisite!"

Sark pauses long enough to upend the bottle he's been handed and take a very generous drink out of it, and while he would NORMALLY continue trying to sing and dance...the array of lovely munchies being laid out draws him over to one of the tables to snag a little plat of Things. With his booty acquired, he weaves around people to offer the plate to the dancing Stella...maybe having more fun watching her, than participating in the dance!

Oswald has gotten a sandwhich and a bowl of chowder from somewhere, probably brought to him by one of the considerate staff. If the Giant had moved to get it himself then surely it would have been noticed.

Trevor grins sheepishly at Deirdre and then shrugs. "Who knows... Maybe the opportunity will arise."

He follows along behind the Selkie and waves over her shoulder to JJ in greeting, but not stealing away from her attention with a full introduction.

Attention turning to the food, he partakes of a bowl of the proclaimed 'exquisite' chowder and offers a low masculine purr of bliss. "Oooh... that is good."

Next comes the world-famous 'good food' dance which involves side-stepping and shaking his hips while not moving enough to actually spill the good food.

Clementine sees all the dancing and food partaking, and ... that hat. "We have quite the motley here tonight!" She brings Persy over toward Sark, "I see you brought a friend tonight?"

Deirdre takes off her imaginary three-corner hat in a flourished greeting to JJ. Being late has really put her off her game! "Oh, I will have to. I hope your chef got everything he needs. Quit a lot of people here, fantastic turnout. And have you met Trevor? He's one of my shipmates."

Erin sees people she doesn't know and does go and make introduce herself where she needs too because otherwise that would be rude. She does look for JJ though she seems to be busy right now she'll just wait to greet her later.

The alcohol is definitely having an effect on Stella. It at least slows the rapid intake of everyone and everything. So. Many. Things. She also looks from time to time at different interactions. She finishes her bottle and places it wherever used bottles go, especially if that is on the ground under the table she is closest to. Sark returns with a plate of food. Stella looks it over as if she might win the lottery if she chooses the correct item and settles on an orange-cranberry mini-scone. But instead of taking one of two bites of the small thing, she offers it up to Sark with an I-dare-you look in her green eyes. Wiggle. Twirl. After he takes a bite, she finishes it off by popping it into her mouth, grinning up at him. "Different kind of dancing, hmm?" She repeatedly returns her attention to performers. The most recent 'raise your glass' is sung brightly with the syllables 'but-ter-FLY' with swinging hips to emphasize each one.

Janneke dips a bow back to Deirdre, laughing softly. "I have not! A pleasure to meet you, Trevor, and welcome to Reves Errants! And the party!" She extends a hand, making the effort even in the middle of chaos to be friendly.

Trays with a sampling of the buffet dishes make their way around the room in the hands of the wait staff, so people don't have to go back for seconds in the busy room. Bowls of chili and chowder, sandwiches, salads, sliders... and one tray full of the desserts from that table as well, proffered freely to the guests.

Up on her table, Kieran grins, and goes to take another drink as the music collapses down again, then peers annoyedly into the mug.

“Ah shit, my glass is empty… that /sucks/” Yes, she totally set that up on purpose. Sighing, she drops the mug, but picks up the melody again, this time with the pooka and piskey joining in the bridge as the redcap resumes the beat.

“So if you're too school for cool
“And you're treated like a fool
Piskey: “Treated like a fool” “You can choose to let it go
“We can always, we can always
“Party on our own...

Kee starts to raise her hand again, only to realize she dropped the mug, even as she sings, “So raise your…” but then the redcap slaps a shiny metal flask into her hand (which they totally hadn’t practiced for this or anything), prompting a delighted, “YES!” as the flask is thrust toward the ceiling in triumph, her voice taking on renewed lustre.

“So raise your glass if you are wrong
“In all the right ways
“All my underdogs
“We will never be never be, anything but loud
“Maybe nitty gritty dirty little freaks

“So raise your glass if you are wrong
“In all the right ways
“All my underdogs
“We will never be never be, anything but loud
“And nitty gritty dirty little freaks
“Won't you come on and come on and raise your glass
“Just come on and come on and raise your glass
“Won't you come on and come on and raise your glass
“Just come on and come on and raise your glass…” She grins, and turns the ending of the song into a toast, “to JJ! And the Rêves Errant! Thanks for throwing a bitchin' party, J!”

With that, she takes a long pull off the flask before handing it back to the redcap and hopping down off the table, laughing. Her guitar gets returned to its place by the hearth, and she’s off again, in search of her party-within-the-party.

Sark laughs and takes a bite out of the morsel Stella is offering, rumbling his approval at her choice. He smiles brightly at Clementine when she approaches and bends over to plant a kiss on her cheek, then makes sure he gets Stella's attention away from her dancing long enough for an introduction, "I did! Clementine and Persy, this is Stella. Stella, Clem and Persy. Clementine and Persy make lovely, lovely things, and they were both friends of the woman who owned the ranch before me. They run the Spoonful of Sugar, if you are ever in need of lovely baked goods."

Deirdre pats Trevor on the back "I need to go hit the head. Try not to cause a riot." she smirks and heads for the privy.

Dasia's path takes her to the food, of course, where she gets a bowl of the chili... which feels like an odd choice. Then, she's wandering over towards JJ and the pair of aquatic Kith. "So in all the chaos, I'm sure you haven't had a chance to open up your grand opening gift," Dasia says. "And there is no rush. just let me know before you do, I want to see your reaction!" She gives a quick glance to Deirdre and Trevor. "Hey, did you know that while Chili doesn't qualify as a soup, the ocean does?" she asks. "Water, meat, vegetables... even salt? Aaaand there she goes. Looks like that was a little too spooky to think about."

Evelyn sends a beer Kee-ward by way of Karl the Short; there are cheers and applause through the crowded room. Steeltooth lands a pair of tankards in front of Oswald and Erin neatly, smiling (without teeth) and saying, "Enjoy!" Looks like the plan of the day, or night, is to roll everyone home at the end, or perhaps stick them upstairs in the lodging area.

JJ says, "Oh, I can do that now," and beams as she recovers the package from behind the buffet, and opens the gift, musing aloud, "I like my soup a little less salty than that, personally." And then she sees...

Stella whirls around with a flush to her cheeks and a tousel to her chestnut hair and a ready, bright (a little starry-eyed) smile as she hears Sark making greetings. "Hi Clem and Persy. Which of you is which one? I can't forget until you tell me." They make lovely things. Friends of .... oh! "I will visit the next time I'm on the mainland. What would you say is your specialist of specialties?" Then she adds her name again, even though Sark said it twice. "I'm Stella, But 'Fred' works too." No explanation. Then she adds to the two sisters, "You look like happy smiles and the best pillows ... all inviting and rosy."

Trevor puts his food down and takes Janneke's hand. "Thank you, the pleasure is mine, this party is an absolute delight."

He then turns his attention to Kee and seems a little bit in 'aww'. Shaking his head, he seems a little dumb-founded. "They seemed a little muted last night, but clearly it was just all being held in reserve for tonight! Wow!"

Finally he turns to Dasia and her provocation of 'The sea is a soup'. "I think it needs to be palatable, you put the right bath bomb in a bath, and suddenly it's a soup... You are abusing soup. If creatures regularly shit in it, its not food unless you are a bug."

Persy holds up her hand in greeting to Stella. "I'm Persy. I'm the mean one and the one with fashion sense," she declares, nudging Clementine playfully.

Erin receives a tanker and smiles "Thanks" she holds it up in a salute before taking a sip. She turns to look as JJ is opening up her present.

And isn't /that/ a lovely mental image? Sebastian doesn't bat an eye, though, just continuing to work his way through a helping of chowder. "Who's up for a round of a cappella?" he asks the crowd, though he glances after Deirdre in particular as she steps away for a moment.

Oswald is paying attention to the gift opening, he's curious about what he helped deliver after all. And the best part about being so tall is he doesn't even have to crowd JJ to get a decentish view.

Clementine giggles a bit and nudges Persy back. "And I'm Clem." She offers to Stella. "The hostess, tea server, and one that chases balls of yarn around before they cause trouble. It is lovely to meet you. Do you like tea? Our shop has many kinds of tea as well." They are British, VERY British.

Sark grins at the introductions and murmurs to Persy, "I have to say that Im sorry I didnt get to meet both of you before Laoise left. Regardless, Im happy it did finally work out." With that said, he takes another long drink from his bottle, judging Stella's interaction with Clem.

Dasia loses one Willpower <---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Dasia rolls Summer + Prop vs 6 for 2 successes.
+6 +9
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Trevor takes the bait when Sebastian mentions a capella, even if his Selkie shipmate needed to go quickly relieve herself.

"I'm down for it. What's the genre? Pub songs? Sea Shanties? I'll sing anything." Of course, the Siren would say that.

"I just don't want to interrupt any other planned performers or performances. That's the height of rude." His words are chased with a swig of beer and then a mouthful of chowder which he drinks absent of a free spoon hand.

THE GIFT/prototype is a simple wall lantern. OR IS IT?!? With a little bit of coaxing, some of the flicker-flies that have gathered up in the corners of the room fly into the lanterns. And much like their name suggests, begin to flicker not unlike a candle might. the windows of the lanterns help to make those little lights shine a bit more steadily, and a home-y, happy vibe can be felt by anyone caught in the glow. "So I'm still working on making more of these that will work on their own, but this is the gist of what I'm going for." She hands over one of the peaceful, happy lanterns so JJ can inspect it.

"Oh!" Stella just stills entirely, possibly because she just tilts her body to lean her temple and shoulder into Sark, looking back and forth between the sisters. "Do you serve -high- tea? I don't mean 'high' I mean -high-." It makes sense to Stella. "With clotted cream and fresh preserves and little tiny savory pastries and petit-fours and all of those marvelous things?" Persy. Fashion Sense. Clem. Hostess. Balls of yarn. "Do the balls of yarn involve catnip or just knitting needles. Knitting needles. Knit-ting Nee-dles. That's fun to say." Then she (finally!) goes silent though she points to Persy and mouths <<Persy>> and then to Clem: <<Clem>> as she waits for the answer.

Kieran crouches down a bit as she moves through the crowd, snagging a couple of bites of hors d'ouvres on the way. Then she's popping up /right/ by Stella, wrapping her arms around the enchanted in a warm hug, laughing. "Heeeeeeey.... you having fun? Meeting everyone?" She gives a wave to the twins, "PerClemsytine! Hey..." But her attention is /right/ back to Stella, and given the way she's smiling, it's not hard to guess why... or who did the enchanting. "You like the song?"

"We do," Persy states, perhaps even in time with Clem. "Also, I am the one with the knitting needles and the balls of yarn don't like mine because they make them behave." Of course. Totally.

Janneke takes the lantern out, holding it aloft as the flicker-flies zoom inside, and she smiles brightly, the glow reflecting her own warm mood, and she says, "Oh, I love it!" She actually half-hugs Dasia with the arm not holding the lantern, and she climbs up to the mantle, placing the lantern up there to flicker its happy, homey light over the room.

Sark leans in closer to Stella as he pops another of the treats into his mouth, "We can go by this weekend for tea and scones if you would like. Some of these other folks might happen by, you never know. Their shop is pretty close by." With that said, Sark smiles a little more and eases back into the crowd a bit, to lean on a table. He told Stella he'd stay close, but well, arm's length is still close, and gives him a chance to just watch the show a bit. And munch. Nom nom nom.

Deirdre comes back from the head, much more composed. She grabs another beer before joining the crowd. So many people here. Who hasn't she met? Who needs more sea doggo in their life?

Clementine nodnods to Stella, "Absolutely, High Tea. I would delight in serving that and sharing it with you, and Sark." She knows JUST the tea cozy as well. "My yarn balls just tease me. They fear her." She bumps her head toward Persy. "Kieran! I knew you would be here. You should come for tea as well!" Dasia has partially disconnected.

"Yeah, you'll probably know this one," Sebastian replies to Trevor. "Anyone else who knows the chorus, just jump right in." And with that nondescript preamble, he just jumps right into it. His voice doesn't carry as far as most, of course - being who and what he is - but the shop has good acoustics, so there's that, at least.

Oh, the year was 1778
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
A letter of marque came from the king
To the scummiest vessel I've ever seen
Goddamn them all! I was told
We'd cruise the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns, shed no tears
But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers

Oh, Elcid Barrett cried the town
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
For twenty brave men, all fishermen who
Would make for him the Antelope's crew
Goddamn them all! I was told
We'd cruise the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns, shed no tears
But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers

Right in the midst of meeting the two marvelous 'high' tea sisters, Stella is attacked by a Kee monster. She startles, then laughs, then stage-whispers to Kieran, "Wait wait wait. There might be high tea. I'll explain the kind of 'high' later." But she simply tips from her lean against Sark into the pleasantly-grabby arms of the guitarist and performer. Persy's (and Clem's?) response delights the hell out of Stella (which just leaves St-a). "Every day or just certain days? And do you have frequent flyer prizes? Or ... oh! ... tea leaf fortune telling sessions? I'd pay extra for that." Then it's alllll about the misbehaving balls of yarn. "Are the stern yarn talking-tos spec-tate-able? Like a chef's table at a restaurant?" All this while delightedly squeezed by Kieran. Sark's offer earns him a bright, dimpled smile. "You'd like it. It has little TINY everythings. And most of them are sweet." To Kieran, "Have you had it before, Butterfly?" Dasia has reconnected.

"We can figure out where to hang them when things are less hectic, yeah?" Dasia asks, before quickly excuses herself to to the restroom, herself.

Janneke agrees with Dasia, and as the Eshu excuses herself, comes toward the stage area, intending to say hello to people -- but Sebastian comes up, singing a capella, and that reminds her of *another* occasion, so she smiles, sidling up to where Erin sits with a silent wave hello, intending to chat when he's done, but for now, enjoying his performance.

A pair of shopcats are trying to avoid being underfoot as people move throughout the room, and one of them jumps up to the mantle over the fireplace, knocking over a bouquet of flowers used for ornamentation. Ooops! One of the guests picks up the flowers and quickly weaves them into a crown shape, then flings it up in the air to turn into chimerical butterflies as the petals fly free. Stella pages: So later on I'm going to PURCHASE all your ambiance emits and just soak in them. :)

Trevor inhales deeply and clacks his tankard on a nearby table. He channels the full force of his voice in a Capella rendition of the second verse of Barrett's Privateers. His voice pierces the noise of the party resonating clear and true. (Commanding Voice).

"The Antelope sloop was a sickening sight
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
She'd a list to the port and her sails in rags
And the cook in the scuppers with the staggers and jags

God damn them all! I was told
We'd cruise the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns-shed no tears
Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers."

He takes a breath and continues to belt out the song, arm wrapping over Deirdre's shoulder.

"On the King's birthday we put to sea,
We were 91 days to Montego Bay
Pumping like madmen all the way"

His other hand with his tankard mimics the pumping of a bilge pump and true to tradition of the evening, he spills a healthy amount of beer in the process. Long distance to Stella: Janneke blushes

Erin gives JJ a smile and ohs and nodsnods giving her the thumbs up that she will see her later. She manages to get food, the little sneaky Nocker. she has some of that awesome chowder and sandwiches.

On the ninety-sixth day we sailed again
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
When a bloody great Yankee hove in sight
With our cracked four-pounders we made to fight
Goddamn them all! I was told
We'd cruise the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns, shed no tears
But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers

Now the Yankee lay low down with gold
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
She was broad and fat and loose in the sails But to catch her took the Antelope two whole days
Goddamn them all! I was told
We'd cruise the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns, shed no tears
But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers

"I've had tea!" Kieran laughs as she stays comfortably wrapped around Stella, "And Clem and Persy have the /best/ teas..." then even more laughing, "and the /worst/ behaved balls of yarn. But no, never 'high tea'. That's the full English stuff with the scones, crumpets, and little tea-cups full of Corgi, right?"

Let's hope she's kidding there.

As other performers take the stage, she grins, and gives a low whistle of approval... but, you know, makes sure she's /not/ doing that in Stella's ear. Cuz that'd be rude.

But then once again, it's back to focusing on Stella. "You doing ok? Not drinking too much? Have you had anything to eat?"

Sark noting Kieran is taking over Stella monitoring, Sark takes his little tray of half-destroyed munchies and his bottle of mead and wanders a little further, dancing across the crowd to the music, aiming for JJ and Erin with a smile on his face.

Deirdre notices one woman that she doesn't know, but she's currently entangled with Kee . . . Then there's another Boggan. . . . Deirdre makes her way to Persy, though her attention is focused on Trevor singing. She does her best not to run into anyone. This place is a mad house.

Then at length we stood two cables away
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
Our cracked four-pounders made an awful din
But with one fat ball, the Yank stove us in
Goddamn them all! I was told
We'd cruise the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns, shed no tears
But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers

The Antelope shook and pitched on her side
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
Barrett was smashed like a bowl of eggs
And the main truck carried off both me legs
Goddamn them all! I was told
We'd cruise the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns, shed no tears
But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Trevor rolls Charisma + Singing + 2 vs 5 for 7 successes.
1 2 4 +6 +6 +7 +8 +9 +9 +9 10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Janneke has actually joined in by now, since she got the basic hang of the refrain, and giggles brightly between lines. Someone's either in a very good mood or has hit the giggling portion of sensory overload. Or maybe both.

In the midst of a conversation/s with four different people all at once, Stella -twists- around in Kieran's hold to watch Sebastian perform for a bit in his own inimitable way, fascinated by the quiet performance. Once one of her conversation partners speaks to her again, she's distracted back to the topic of tea and spectating and uppity yarn and possible fortune telling. WITH clotted cream.

To Kieran, Stella tsks with a very serious expression that lasts all of three seconds. "Not -just- tea. HIGH TEA." She speaks the two last words with her voice at least an octave higher as if that would elaborate for her. But then Kieran seems to be getting it. "We have to dress up like Corgis and do that. And Easy has to come, too. But maybe... maybe we could be punk princesses instead. Make bad things happen -- but not to Persy and Clem. They're on the safe-list. Sark can be a princess, too, if he wants. But we'd have to do his hair."

To Kieran, Stella smiles from extremely close. (There's a book with a title that would fit. A movie, too.) "I just hand one... one... one bottle .... ah ah ah," she tells Kieran. "I saved you one for a while and then you *poof* magically had a drink so I put it back." Has she had anything to eat? "Tiiiiiny cupcake and tiiiiiny scone. You should try them. But..." Sebastian's performance drags her attention again. "It's a whole story," she tells Kieran quietly as if that weren't clear. /Someone/ is not used to dreaming-brewed alcohol. And then, Scattered-Stella is looking back at the Christmas-sisters. She might even love high tea when she's neither drunk nor enchanted.

Erin smiles and waves to Kee and claps for the preformance now that she's found somewhere to be comfortable as Sark comes over she smiles up at him "Well hello" she tells him

Trevor will wait for the final verse from Sebastian, adding his voice in regards to the last privateer's 23rd year. Lost in the moment, he pours his talent and Siren proclivity into the last iteration of the chorus. Ever the entertainer, he positions his voice to compliment not overpower the song led by Sebastian.

So here I lay in my twenty-third year
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
It's been six years since we sailed away
And I just made Halifax yesterday
Goddamn them all! I was told
We'd cruise the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns, shed no tears
But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers

Clementine feels like she needs a mug or something to sway back and forth with this shanty? Or whatever you would call it. "I feel like we should be at a Ren Faire or something."

Deirdre gets to Persy, and whomsoever she might be with in this mess of a crowd and waits to get her attention at an opportune moment. Interrupting someone does not make for a good first impression.

Kieran grins as Deirdre draws closer to where Stella (and her Clurichaun snuggee) is talking with Clem and Persy about tea. "Hey, Deirdre! C'mere and meet Stella. Starshine, this is Deirdre, one of the finest ship captains I know." And possibly one of the only ones. Then she peers back at Stella again, "You.. should probably go slow on the drink. You're already gonna be seeing flying lizards and stuff for a few days... the longer you stay like this, the more time'll be hazy later. Not saying you can't, just... be careful, ok?"

Janneke smiles at both Sark and Erin, and says, "I wanted to thank you both for coming tonight... it means a lot to me. Thank you!" She hugs Erin quickly, then Sark as well, clearly just bubbling over with good feelings. Of course, Sebastian's song might've had something to do with that, sea Shanty or no.

Sark flashes a grin at JJ and Erin when he gets close enough, despite the singing, and rather than trying to interrupt Trevor's lovely singing voice, he points to the tray of munchies and gives JJ an enthusiastic thumbs up, then reaches out to give Erin a bit of a backscritch, "Good to see you here as well!"

Erin smiles at JJ "Thanks for inviting. I wouldn't miss it" she hugs her tightly then smiles at Sark and takes some of the offered Munchies from the tray "Thanks" she mmms "Everything is soooo good" she nodsnods. Erin hugs Sark too because it's just that kinda mood thing.

A couple of pre-teen Kithain girls are present with their indulgent Troll chaperone, with food and sodas and a good spot to perch and trade gossip about their home freehold, which is apparently somewhere in Oregon.

Trevor grins in high spirits, glad he got the opportunity to participate in a shanty. He offers Sebastian a nod of camaraderie and then steps away to get his tankard refilled. The vocal chords need proper hydration after all. He then occupy the corner of buffet picking treats off it while he people watches.

With a flourish, Deirdre takes off her tri-corner hat (that to be clear, do not exist in any seeming or plane of reality or dreaming) and bows to Kee's apparent chickadee. They already have pet names! "Madam, I am pleased to meet you. Captain Deirdre O'Brien, skipper of Siren's Song, at your service." She bows to Persy, as well. "And you, ma'am."

Sark laughs and returns the JJ and Erin hugs with a grin, before telling JJ, "Of course! We had to come out and show our support, right? Especially after you've been so helpful to me." He glances back over at Kieran and Stella, just doing a quick Welfare Check on the Enchanted one, before more goodies disappear into his mouth.

Janneke just seems overwhelmed, but in a good way. "If tonight is any indication, I think we're going to do well for ourselves." She grins and adds, "Well, I can't take credit for all the food, I also have a cook, and the pastry and desserts all come from A Spoonful of Sugar, they agreed to supply us, which was like... the best business decision I've ever made." She smiles at Sark's remarks (see what I did there?) and says, "It's my pleasure, as always. I'm lucky to have such good friends."

Once his voice has had some time to recover, Sebastian heads over again, this time approaching Janneke and reaching a hand out to rest it on her shoulder. "So, you're keeping busy. Any of the kids manage to get lost yet?" The ones still in sight get a brief little wave.

Stella's attention flickers to Dierdre as Kieran greets her. "Nice to meet you, Dierdre. What kind of ship do you captain?" She asks this without really wondering whether she'd be able to tell one ship from another, formal name wise. Or maybe she simply means with or without sails.

Kieran's advice turns Stella's attention back to the bright-redhead so close and she smiles. "-Only- one. But where are the flying lizards... wait! I -know- one of those. But he said he wouldn't do that until ..." There's another play of quiet laughter from Stella as she taptaps a very light fingertip on Kieran's nose and just ... gazes at it for a long span of moments. Then someone presses Stella's play button and she replies, "No more. Promise. But do we get to dance?"

Finally, Stella's green gaze sliiiiides back to Dierdre with perhaps even more interest than before. "Have you traveled the world? Did you sail to the edge of the earth where the water falls off and there are dragons? I've always wanted to go there."

Dasia slips backout of the restroom with a little tube of lip gloss in one hand a compact in the other, which she totally used for touch-ups while in the restroom. They get slipped into pockets (because of course her Voile has pockets. They're dreamy!), and she wanders back into the chaos. The bowl of chili she grabbed to make a pointed joke about the sea having long been set aside and forgotten (and probably grabbed by another guest), she heads back to the buffet to maybe find something real to eat. Finger foods preffered. Anything bite-sized she can just slip into her mouth without messing up the freshly-applied lip gloss would be fantastic. Also, there's surely new people around for her to meet... right?

Looking over to all the pastries and then back to JJ, Erin smiles "That is actually a super awesome idea.. Maybe " she looks thoughtful and smiles "You have done and awesome job" she winks.

Janneke blushes and thanks Erin, warmly. She raises her hand and rests it over Sebastian's on her shoulder lightly, smiling. A new thing, it seems? "Busy? Oh, just a *little* bit," she laughs, "And I don't think anyone's lost yet, thankfully, and you did great! The fellow who joined in is named Trevor, by the by, I don't know if you've met him."

A pooka that looks to be part dolphin sidles up to the stage and begins to sing, a capella, "In the town where I was born...
Lived a man who sailed to sea...
And he told us of his life
In the la-a-and of submarines...
So we sailed up to the sun
Till we found the sea of green
And we lived beneath the waves
In our yellow submarine..."

Clementine has not met everyone here yet herself. She's about to see where Trevor is perhaps, and then her attention turns to the dolphin Pooka, and she laughs a bit. "We need bubble makers, whey did I not think to bring them?"

Erin smiles at Sark and JJ and even to Trevor as she turns to the stage as the next song comes on.

Sebastian shakes his head. "No, not officially. Where's he visiting from?" He heard someone mention Oregon earlier. Meanwhile, he taps along with one foot as the next song starts in on its chorus.

Trevor notices a few sets of eyes looking his way. He blinks as he's caught with a mouthful of scone. He chases it with a long drink from his tankard and offers a few friendly waves and head nods to Erin, Clementine, and Sebastian as Janneke volunteers his name.

When Sebastian mentions Oregon, he shakes his head and points in the general direction of the ocean.

The ship captain nods to Stella. "I have traveled the world." She adjusts her seal skin so that Stella can see the shellback turtle with an emerald next to it, the golden lion around Deirdre's left arm, then the swallows on her calves. Then she taps the crossed canons. "And the record of my journey is plain to see. As for Siren's Song, Miss Stella, she is a ship unlike any other. Part bastard, maybe, but a longliner and a yacht together. I wouldn't have her any other way. And I would be happy to host you and Mister Sark on a cruise sometime." Deirdre sighs wistfully. "As far as the dragons, I have yet to see one on my voyages. Nor the edge of the earth. But I can assure it was not for lack of searching!"

Janneke notes, "No, I think he's recently moved here, like me. Well, like a lot of us, it seems..." She smiles at the poor pantomiming merman as he tries to indicate his place of origin, and then bites back a laugh at Deirdre's declaration, overheard.

The dolphin pooka continues, and eventually gets to the refrain, motioning people to join in: Weeeee all live in a Yellow Submarine!
A Yellow Submarine!
A Yellow Submarine!"

Oswald will for sure sing along about the yellow submarine, he knows that song well and has a very deep bass voice with an enthusiastic rumble as he joins in.

Kieran listens attentively along with Stella as Deirdre answers the question about the 'Here Be Dragons' portions of the map. Then she adds quietly, "By 'longliner', she means it's a fishing ship, too... not like 'go out for a day's fishing', either. Deirdre here runs herself a business supplying fresh delicacies, don't you?" But then she's smiling in a way that's a bit more... intent-laden, "And yes, dear... we will /definitely/ dance." She glances over toward the porpoise, who's doing yeoman's work up there, then back to Stella, "But I'm not sure this is really a danceable song."

Clementine steps away from the group, to go over and meet Trevor. "I do hope you like the scones. We take great pride at Spoonful of Sugar to make them. Also, I'm Clementine! You must be Trevor?" The Boggan woman - with her twin somewhere behind her - seems pretty friendly. "Do you like tea?"

Dasia spends some time wandering and mingling with the NPCs, doing the mingling and the casual introductions. It's a lot less formal than the one she did with the other Eshu whomst was playing the lute, to be sure. No spit-shakes or anything. Her mingling eventually brings her over to Deirdre and Stella, the only person she hasn't mingled with yet! "She also hasn't sailed on the Seas of Sand, out in my homeland of Al-Hilal Al-Khaseeb, but one day, I just might be able to convince her to visit," she says with a grin. It's not the most mirthful of grins. Her cheeks are barely dimpled, and the smile doesn't quite reach her eyes. But the corners of her lips ARE curled up, so there's that. Pesky Resting Bitch Face.

Sark is distracted for a few moments by the singing pooka, clearly not recognizing the song, but glancing around at some of the faces that are singing along with it. He reaches into a pocket to fish out a small square of something silver and pop it into his mouth, along with another bite of one of the remaining goodies on his plate. Erin is given a longer light scritch before he starts wandering through the crowd again, checking faces.

Trevor calls out across the way, "It's because she didn't have me onboard. A ship called the 'Siren's Song' needs a proper siren on board. Now it's fated for even more greatness!"

When Clementine approaches, he nods enthusiastically at her question. "Delicious... And yes, I enjoy a cup of tea every now and then. Well, herbal tisanes. A hot cup of hibiscus is one of my favorites after a cold water swim.

Janneke @emit JJ joins in as well on the refrain, jumping up and tugging Sebastian and Erin with her as she heads toward Oswald's table and accompanies the much deeper voice with her own. Hey, if she needs to get everyone together to make more noise and fun, why not?

"If you cause her to dash it on the rocks," Sebastian calls over to Trevor, "can I have the hood ornament?" Wait, do boats have hood ornaments? They have /something/, he remembers that much.

Erin smiles softly as she watches people mingling. She eeeps when JJ takes a hold of her and tugs her over towards Oswald's table. She smiles and gives a little giggle and ohs as she gets what they are doing and joins in the singing as she holds onto JJ's arm.

Deirdre nods. "Yes, now I do have a Siren in residence." She glares at Sebastian. "In the past, the 'hood ornament' as you called it, a Figurehead, actually, was a reflection of the sacrifices sailors made to the gods for safe passage. Gradually, instead of sacrificing a virgin and trying her to the bow, they went to carving figureheads out of wood." She pauses a second to let that sink in. "And if you put that kind of unluck on my ship, Sebastian, dearest, I will happily tie /you/ to the bow to get it changed!" she's joking. At least, it sounds like Deirdre is joking. Right?

Clementine smiles to Trevor, "Oh, I have not tried hibiscus. I have has a mix of rose and chamomile. This one time, we tried mint and raspberry. You certainly are welcome to come by our shop anytime, and I'm sure we could offer you some selections you would enjoy. I have been watching this family on youtube from Azerbijan that makes herbal tisanes on every post, and it has got me thinking about trying to offer that as well - and tie it in with perhaps are specialty flavors of the month in our pastries as well. Hibiscus, that sounds like a summer treat perhaps?"

Traveled the world! Dierdre has Stella's full attention. The shellback turtle and the emerald! The golden lion! The crossed canons! "Are you a pirate?" Stella whispers with some very clear-to-see excitement painting her face and her entire demeanor, body language, all of it. "Siren's Song ... such a perfect name," She murmurs, almost as though she were saying those words to herself. She would be happy to host... a cruise sometime? Stella is fortunate to have a Kieran keeping her from breaking apart into happy pieces that float around with all the fascinating chimerical beasties. Kieran very helpfully explains 'longliner. Stella asks Dierdre, "I - We would adore a voyage. What is your favorite sea delicacy? What's the strangest thing you've ever seen while on your travels? What's something that's surprised you unexpectedly?" Poor redundant Stella. But she's so curious. "I'm certain there are edges. They're there somewhere!" Stella is emphatic about this topic. She's given it thought multiple times in the past. "You are ... just splendid, Captain. I'm sorry that I don't have good enough words for ... everything. But it's just so much the type of story I would read. But then to taste it myself? You would spare that time?"

To Kieran, "We don't have to dance to THIS. We can dance outside because I'm sure there is music out there."

Her attention turns to Dierdre and Sebastian. "Keel-hauling is interesting too, I've read." Disturbing at the least. Stella scrunches her shoulders up and tips her head toward Kieran's red-red hair.

Oswald chuckles as other singers join his table and he continues drinking and making merry, at one point between verses he comments to JJ "This is a very fun party."

Sark slowly approaches on Stella and Kieran right about the time Stella is responding and talking about outside. He chuckles at that and murmurs to Kee and Stella, "If you two decide to go out to the Market, nudge me please. I very much want to witness this. And maybe stretch my wings a little while I have a chance." With that said, he lifts a hand to wiggle his fingers in a greeting to Dierdre, but doesnt try to interrupt the conversation flow.

And the pooka goes on: "And our friends are all aboard
Many more of them live next door
And the band begins to play
We all live in a yellow submarine
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
We all live in a yellow submarine
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine..."
The song continues in a series of repetitions that especially seems to appeal to the people who've been hitting the free beer hardest, but even the sober folk join in to have fun with it. I mean, who doesn't love 'Yellow Submarine'? Really?

Janneke beams and says, "I'm so glad you came, Oz, and that you're having fun. I always like to make sure our most dutiful Kith gets in some fun times."

Trevor gasps and tosses his sea foam colored hair. "I'm the absolute best of luck when I'm on the ship... I only dash ships to rocks when I'm singing from a boulder, and It's been awhile since I tried that trick."

His attention turning back to Clementine, "Late spring or summer, I'd guess. I can't pretend to be very good at pairing my drinks with food or season. I just gravitate to whatever draws me in."

"And right now, that sounds like your shop. I'm getting really excited by all these new spots I'm learning about." Trevor counts on his hand, "A strip club, this fantastic place, and now a shop that serves the best scones I've ever had... Plus I'm now living on very decked out long-liner. My head is going to swim with the all the change."

Erin sagely nodsnods in agreement with Oswald "This is a lot of fun yes.. one of the best" she agrees as she smiles singing along.

"Keel-hauling is much more interesting when you can gift the person the ability to breath underwater," Dasia points out. "Keeps them from drowning, so they last a lot longer." Okay, party-pooper, that kind of got dark fast.

Deirdre laughs at Stella's reaction. "No, I am not a pirate, but I might take a Letter of Marque if Congress were to give me one. But all these questions, how am I supposed to retain my air of mystery if I answer them all at once? My heart belongs to the ocean, and like the ocean I must keep some of my secrets! Come aboard my ship one day, and then we can talk. Besides, I want to sing next." she leans in conspiratorially, "And keel-hauling is for mutineers."

Sebastian shakes his head. "No keel-hauling and no tying up for me, please. I'll just be below decks, tapping the Admiral."

Kieran hmmms. "Outside?" She glances toward the front door. "Tell you what..." and this seems to be directed toward Sark, as well, since he'd spoken up, "I want to hear Dierdre sing... after that, we'll take a look outside." She heaves a dramatic sigh, "But I have to warn you... it's /very/ dull out there. Nothing much at all to see. Just a blank, featureless plain that extends in all directions forever..."

Sure, Kee. Sure.

Stella's attention snaps over (even starry-eyed as it is) to Dasia. Then a dimpled smile breaks forth across her face. "Hi. I like you." She says this to Dasia. "You're a not-model-model. Kind of -better- than the boring ones, I think. Like by orders of magnitude."

Dierdre's laughter is too engaging to ignore. Not a pirate? There's a look from Stella that suggests she's not quite sure she believes that. But perhaps that's what a REAL pirate would say if asked. She needs to think about it more. "Secrets. I love secrets." She says it a bit like Indiana Jones says he hates snakes, but with delight instead of resignation. Stella claps her hands together in very small claps of excitement. Maybe just five or six of them. "Have you had any mutineers? How long did they last?" Seriously? The cute but very very enchanted brunette wants to now about slow, horrible deaths?

There's a glance to Sebastian as if Stella is trying to figure out if 'tapping the admiral' is a good euphemism or a bad one. But what is good and what is bad for a fan of keel-hauling?

Kieran and Sark are talking. About outside. OUTSIDE. Stella practically quivers with anticipation. "Yes. Yesyes. After Dierdre sings. And then flying and outside-dancing and all the vapid, blank, tiresome, dreadful nothingness that I'm sure is just past those doors."

Janneke asks Sebastian, curiously, "The Admiral?" She looks... puzzled, to say the least.

Sark opens his mouth to Kieran when she talks about outside being dull, then stops and closes his mouth and just kinda LOOKS at her, a little confused, and a little amused. But then Stella is piping up and her enthusiasm brings that grin back to his face, chuckling under his breath. Only then does he recall he's still holding that bottle of mead, pausing to finish it off while he's still holding it.

It's good thing that Erin is singing she might have something to say about Pirates. She sways making JJ sway with her and she giggles softly.

Deirdre downs her beer. "Well, if I am going to go sing, I bet I should do it now, before I get too sober. But before I go, I haven't had any mutineers, Stella. No one dares to cross me. And I like you too, come visit my boat some time." With that, Deirdre heads up to the stage. She's either gonna be really good, or so bad she's good.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Deirdre rolls Performance + Charisma vs 6 for 3 successes.
3 4 +7 +9 +10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Sebastian looks back to Janneke and explains, since Deirdre is busy getting ready for her musical number. "There was this old legend about a British admiral dying during a voyage, and being shipped back home with his body stored in a vat of booze to preserve it. Only, by the time he got there... well, the booze was at a lower level than when it started."

Janneke bursts out laughing at that revelation from Sebastian, and sways with Erin as the other woman moves. Why not? It's a party! "Admiral Booze," she giggles helplessly, then falls silent as Deirdre steps up, wanting to hear.

The Selkie hums for a moment to get her note, making sure that anyone playing anything knows this is acapella. She rolls her head around to loosen her neck. "It was Admiral Nelson." she tells Sebastian. Then she starts to sing.

Oh you hear a lot of stories 'bout the sailors and their sport
About how every sailor has a girl in every port
But if you added 2 and 2 you'd figure out right quick
It's just because the girls all have a lad on every ship

And it's Twiddle ee ai dee ai dee ai
Twiddle ee ai dee ei
It's often times a man will leave you broken with dismay
And it's Twiddle ee ai dee ai dee ai
Twiddle ee ai dee ei
There's other things to twiddle when the men have sailed away

Sebastian nods. "So yeah, 'tapping the Admiral' became a euphemism for drinking on the job, especially while on watch duty. I think." He's heard stories, he's never actually crewed a boat or anything.

Clementine laughs as well with that story from Sebastian. "You know... some people would assume that might mean something else these days." She says no more than that.

Deirdre grins while singing. It's a fun song for her. Lucky Annie was a lady who'd been pleased by many men
They all would sail away but then they'd come right back again
But if they never sailed her way she really didn't care

• Here Deirdre drops into a spoken voice a little lower than her own*
  

Cause I know that you don't need a man to twiddle under there

And it's Twiddle ee ai dee ai dee ai
Twiddle ee ai dee ei
It's often times a man will leave you broken with dismay
And it's Twiddle ee ai dee ai dee ai
Twiddle ee ai dee ei
There's other things to twiddle when the men have sailed away

Sark finds a spot to park his butt so he can listen to Deirdre's singing, finishing off the last of his snacks so he can lean back on his hands and watch the selkie belt her pipes out, while bobbing his head along with her words. He doesn’t know it, but clearly doesn’t care and is just enjoying it.

Dasia arches a thin, microbladed brow at Stella, smirks another of her RBF smirks, and replies, "Of course you do." When she elaborates, Dasia laughs. There's a sparkle in her eye that somehow gets there without the smile reaching them. Her face is ever vigilant to fight off wrinkles and the like. "Well, I have a secret that most normal models don't know about, that I would be happy to show you," she offers.

Kieran starts laughing at the lyrics of Deirdre's song, "Ohhhhhh, jeez... of /course/..." Yeah, cuz /she's/ such a pure soul, right? Still laughing, she joins in on the second chorus, singing along enthusiastically as she sways a bit, still wrapped around Stella.

Janneke bursts into helpless giggles at the song, singing along as well once the second chorus comes around.

Saber had her lovers, they came in at every door
you could even say that she was really quite a whore
But when she needs some pleasing, she knows just where to go

• Like before, Deirdre delivers this line spoken*
  

I grab my good friend Madam Rouge and we go down below

And it's Twiddle ee ai dee ai dee ai
Twiddle ee ai dee ei
It's often times a man will leave you broken with dismay
And it's Twiddle ee ai dee ai dee ai
Twiddle ee ai dee ei
There's other things to twiddle when the men have sailed away

Erin smiles as she listens to Dee sing. She smiles at JJ "Good song" she nodsnods.

There was a time when Rouge she found the sailor men a bore
Each new one was more tiresome than the one she had before
Now she finds more joy in breeches than she ever did of old

• Deirdre delivers this line in a very sultry voice*
  

I'm more fond of their bulges when they're pouches full of gold

And it's Twiddle ee ai dee ai dee ai
Twiddle ee ai dee ei
It's often times a man will leave you broken with dismay
And it's Twiddle ee ai dee ai dee ai
Twiddle ee ai dee ei
There's other things to twiddle when the men have sailed away

Why the boys would look at her, it puzzled poor Flint Locke
She would sit and smile and nod and let them brag and talk
But if they tried to touch her well she'd put them on the run
Cause why would I need a lover when I've got myself a gun?

• Deirdre mimes holding a gun and shooting it in the air with the biggest grin on her face ever*
  

And it's Twiddle ee ai dee ai dee ai
Twiddle ee ai dee ei
It's often times a man will leave you broken with dismay
And it's Twiddle ee ai dee ai dee ai
Twiddle ee ai dee ei
There's other things to twiddle when the men have sailed away

Stella -- presumably this is before Dierdra starts singing -- regards Dasia with no little amount of curiosity. "Secrets are one of my favorite things." Invitation offered.

Certainly there will be more of that with Dasia, but in this timeline that's curling around itself she listens to Dierdre's song and is laughing halfway through, clapping along with the rhythm (get your mind out of the gutter).

So next time you're with a lady and she takes you to her bed
be sure to please her well, and remember what I've said
For if you do not treat her right then know that this is true
Us ladies all can have our fun without involving you!

And it's Twiddle ee ai dee ai dee ai
Twiddle ee ai dee ei
It's often times a man will leave you broken with dismay
And it's Twiddle ee ai dee ai dee ai
Twiddle ee ai dee ei
There's other things to twiddle when the men have sailed away

*Deirdre starts to clap, leaving her mic away, letting her voice carry without any sound system. She's doing spins and twirls as she embraces the music*

And it's Twiddle ee ai dee ai dee ai
Twiddle ee ai dee ei
It's often times a man will leave you broken with dismay
And it's Twiddle ee ai dee ai dee ai
Twiddle ee ai dee ei
There's other things to twiddle when the men have sailed away . . .

Deirdre bows when the song is over.

Oswald has left.

Janneke claps brightly, laughing helplessly once Deirdre is done, doffing her top hat to the other woman in a show of being impressed. "I really need to get a PA and a means to power it," she murmurs to herself absently, "for future gatherings."

Dasia grins her RBF grin and rubs her hands together. Pesky perfectly mannicured hands, with their french-tipped, nearly claw-like nails! She makes a show of... not really close-up magic, but it's more the theatre of it all. "Well you see, they all have to deal with getting their clothes tailored so they fit just right," she explains, as whe makes a show with 'hey look at my hands, nothing to see here!' "Whereas I," she continues, the hands held up above her head now, kind of forming an 'A', "can just do this."

As people begin to depart for the night and the party winds down, a TOTALLY NONDESCRIPT piskey and their guitar give the guests a song to take home with them: "Slow down, you move too fast
You got to make the morning last
Just kicking down the cobblestones
Looking for fun and feeling groovy
Ba da-da da-da da-da, feeling groovy
Hello lamppost, what'cha knowing
I've come to watch your flowers growin'
Ain't you got no rhymes for me?
Doo-ait-n-doo-doo, feeling groovy
Ba da-da da-da da-da, feeling groovy
I got no deeds to do, no promises to keep
I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep
Let the morning time drop all its petals on me
Life, I love you, all is groovy..

Deirdre returns JJ's gesture with her own imaginary hat.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Dasia rolls Metamorphosis + Prop vs 5 for 1 successes.
3 4 +10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Dasia's hands both cut out to the sides, almost like she's posing in a magical girl transformation pose. But what happens is too sudden for that. As her arms fall, the Heartspun Voile that she wears is re-woven from Gucci into Prada. Or at least, reminiscent of such designs. "Relying on someone else to keep everything perfectly tailored for you is a bore. So I just... make sure everything fits perfectly, myself."

Kieran manages to applaud Deirdre without letting go of Stella, "Oh, /brava/, brava..." Then she looks over to JJ, "I'm gonna leave the guitar in here for a bit... make sure it doesn't walk off, yeah?" She watches as Dasia demonstrates her secret to proper tailoring... and makes a mental note to talk about Art sometime. "That's a trick I'm gonna have to remember, Sailor Dasia... hey, does that mean you should work for Deirdre?" She grins, then gives Stella a squeeze, "Right now, though... unless she objects, I'm gonna go and spirit my date away to wander a bit, with only here Fiery Godzillamother breathing down my neck..."