07.06c: Underwater Ball (Refreshments Table)

[Rasanam]

((This space reserved for a description of the actual refreshments table. Lots of fish meats, seaweed, assorted things that can be grown underwater... it's probably not exclusively aquatic fare - things like rice or some of the wines are probably grown outside Rebma.))

Fjolnir watches as Jiga plays with the illusory bubbles, and replies, "Quite impressive, yes. Asai's work, I believe."

He cocks his head sideways, and adds, "Though the selection of food is impressive, too; I didn't know there were this many varieties of edible fish..."

[Joshua]

After Rogbar sneaks in...

"Yes, the fishermen go far and wide to get the best of all fish." Rogbar heads around the table. "Squid, salmon, flounder, ..." He will purr, the cat well versed in the ways of fish, and actually good at a balance of offering interesting options and not being boring.

[ShadowOfPreservation]

The Tengu eyes the feline warily, one clawed hand reflexively reaching for a concealed blade, disconcerted that she hadn't noticed the arrival of someone so flamboyant. Forcibly calming herself, she replies, "Then my compliments to them. It all looks excellent." Taking some food herself, she masks her effort to move to a safe distance away before continuing. "Do you have a recommendation..." with a pause to consider Rogbar's attire, she guesses "Sir...?"

[Rasanam]

Fjolnir just blinks at the cat, seemingly unimpressed.

"Jiga, this is Rogbar. He's... well, 'harmless' isn't quite right. 'Not a threat', perhaps? Or maybe 'more dangerous to himself than to anyone around him'," the raven muses.

To Rogbar, he adds, "I do hope you're planning on topping last night's fireworks; that was quite interesting to watch."

[Joshua]

"No, Fjolnir, there is no topping that rose. And the lady who broke my heart... and left scars... and blood loss..." He will regain his composure... and wink at the tengu. "Of course, if the lady was right, perhaps my broken heart could be mended. For one of your tastes... perhaps..." He will select an offering based on a raven's palette. He does have decent taste, good stuff and warfare... so, it's a good one, if not amazing.

[Veyska]

"I considered providing you with a rose made of water - I ran across a desert where they grow some while ago - but I ultimately decided that would end in disaster of one sort or another, possibly even before Alys got involved..." The voice seems to come from the table, but then Asai saunters out from underneath. Apparently she was taking a nap there? Or possibly just lurking and eating her appetizers in peace (she is a cat, after all). More likely both, at different points in time. Regardless, she is out from under the table now. Her attire is remarkably similar to what she wore at the gathering in Castle Amber, but the theme is different and appropriate to Rebma. The decorative harness still matches the blue-green-gold of her collar, but looks as if it were made from iridescent fish scales - in fact it's still 'just' embossed leather*. In place of the faint dusting of gold from the previous night her fur is instead somehow faintly shimmering (in the iridescent sense, but only just enough to be barely noticeable) - precisely how she accomplished this (besides the obvious and oversimplified answer of "magic" is unclear).

In response to Fjolnir's description of Rogbar, Asai will comment, "I would also add 'distracting, including to himself." Voice and demeanor both are cheerful, and it's quite clear** that Asai isn't trying to zing Rogbar either, at least not beyond the entirely acceptable friendly sort of level. "And yes, the illusory effects are my contribution. The bubbles were supposed to pop when touched, but the fish were being... recalcitrant, and so I ended up spending most of my time ironing out personality quirks and decided to leave the bubbles in their unfinished state. Annoying, but ah well. Perhaps next year."

(*Asai found a very skilled leatherworker down in the city, and patronizes him regularly.)
(**Technically she could be pulling a fast one on most everyone here but Benabik, if he's paying attention, but she's not. Rogbar may frequently annoy her, but so do a lot of people and she generally doesn't bother holding 'merely annoying' against anyone beyond the immediate moment.)

[ShadowOfPreservation]

Rather than surprise at Asai's appearance, Jiga appears frustrated for a moment (at least to anyone able to read such an expression on an avian creature) before sighing with a defeated slump of her shoulders. The resignation lasts for only a moment though before she noticeably brightens and addresses the two. "My greetings to you both." She gives a nod of her head in recognition and thanks to Rogbar as she finishes adding the food items he'd pointed out to her plate. Taking the dish in one hand, she extends the other to first Rogbar then Asai. "I'm Jiga, a friend of Lyra and Rasanam...from their homeland. I assume you both know my escort." Jiga smiles slightly with a tilting of her head in Fjolnir's direction.

[The Raven]

The Raven meanders by, picking through the various dishes. "I liked the first outfit better, Rogbar. So why exactly must you sneak into Remba now?"

[Joshua]

"My friend," Rogbar says to Raven. "It's a torrid tale of love, pain, exile and crabs..." He will begin, before hesitating, looking at Jiga... "Perhaps it is best a tale for another time. Or Aibne could explain. The exile still stands for now, but the guards know better than to take me themselves."

He will produce a deep blue rose for Jiga. (Current consensus is this is a power word.) "Perhaps I could show the lady some of the byways I am familiar with..."

[Rasanam]

While the conversation is going, Fjolnir hops off of Jiga's shoulder and samples a few types of fish.