Unmend Your Modest Ways

[rassafraggin]

Aio says, "Merri!"


Vayel's eyes are on the green flaming sword, but he makes no comment on it. "To first blood?" he suggests. "And of course, no lethal blows," he adds helpfully. The two are standing facing one another, not far from the Grotto. Both have weapons drawn.

Aio regards Vayel as he suggests first blood, then nods her agreement. "Very well, to first blood it is." And then just like that she looks into a guard that is far too relaxed. Far too open.

Vayel smiles and nods, dropping into his own guard. It might just echo Benedict's fighting style. If pushed backwards through a hedge. "I would hate to injure you too much before you visit your cousin," he says, cocky himself now.

Aio arches an eyebrow at this declaration. "Would you now? I wish you luck in that endeavour. You will need it." Ooooh! A blade absently swings, as if she were warming up. But she makes no attempt to test Vayel.

Oh dear, flatlanders about the feed the fishies. That must be why the patrols stay back from this honourable event, while other Rebman city miscellany wriggle out of the stonework and gather along the perceived sidelines.

"Ha!" grins Vayel, stepping forwards to bring his rapier against that lazy swing, gently testing against the strength. "A Chantris always finishes what he starts."

"Then this Chantris should be careful what he does start then." Aio replies as she bats the rapier away with a flick of her wrist. She's not looking in the least bit threatened.

Merrisol comes in for a landing of sorts, breaking away from a team of Selkies in a holding pattern far above. He drifts to the edge of the ring, confirming with a warbly 'huh' that his eyes did not deceive him. Aio! Glancing between the two, assessing the situation, he settles back against a wall like a softly glowing sconce to spectate.

Vayel is starting to look perhaps -slightly- concerned that he might have bitten off more than he can chew. "Win or lose, I will not shy away from it," he says, whipping the rapier under and around Aio's blade, now aiming a blow at her other side.

Aio is stood in the centre of the area, a glass blade in one hand, a green flaming blade in the other, despite the water here. She watches as Vayel brings in his next attack, spins with it and parries. But there's an arc of bubbles sent out with it, as her sword slices through the fabric of Vayel's clothing on his shoulder, but not into flesh.

Rebman citizenry gather in a loose ring about what appear to be two topsiders squaring off with their blades. Triton patrols ain't touching this one, perhaps they recognize Amber royalty/nobility/crazy when they sees it. A team of Selkies circle high above, though, monitoring.. like vultures.

Merrisol props up a wall nearby, just watching, although he just miiight be rooting for one over the other.

Vayel spares a glance to the tear in his clothing and in an altogether-too-flashy move flings his robe off to the side, leaving him in shirt and trousers. The shirt is also torn, however. He merely grins, stepping towards Aio, aiming to bring himself closer into her personal space, flicking his rapier up and to the side with a slice aimed for her leg.

A duel is always going to attract attention and as such, Salin comes swimming in from the Palace Courtyard. It's not hard to find the source of things, with citizenry having gathered around. But rather then take up a post amongst them, he's moving off to one side, to simply watch from outside the circle.

"You should go back to reading books, Your Grace." Aio can't quite bring herself not to use the man's title. That would be rude. Clang! The glass blade parries the cut, with not a hint that it is going to shatter about it. And as Vayel commits himself to the blow she swoops in, slicing the fabric up the front of his calf and leaving it flapping in the water.

The murmur on the street is that the terms are 'first blood', but so far the audience is being treated to the slow disrobing of the Chantris Duke. Also known as Rebmanning Up.

"I think I may go back to -throwing- books," Vayel says dryly. "Though I would ask that you leave me -some- modesty," he remarks, that one only for her ears. As he fights it's clear from his posture that he's expecting to lose, but fights on regardless, dancing away from her most recent blow, ducking low to bring up a slash towards her arm.

"Can you even manage to lift the heavy tomes?" Aio cat calls. Given the two came out of the Grotto there may well be alcohol involved in the formation of this particular fight. Vayel's blow strikes and suddenly she's just not there any more, the dexterity shown enough to take away several people's breaths. Bubbles. One or the other. Then she's closing quickly, rushing the man. Rushing past the man. A blow up towards his back? Maybe more fabric is her aim.

Vayel hisses to himself as the back of his shirt is torn. He spins, managing to parry the blow before it does any more damage. Pushing off the ground he uses the environment to his advantage, kicking through the water as he swipes at Aio from above.

Aio actually laughs at Vayel's attempt. Oh dear, someone is tipsy at the very least, possibly more. But as the man uses the water to his advantage it appears that the woman take offence. Suddenly she's a whirl, using both blades, the terrain, everything. Apparently her aim really is for Vayel to 'Rebman up'.
Merrisol reaches up to rub a tickle away from his brow, and notices Salin hanging about, back from the gathered ring. He pushes from the wall to glide on over, keeping a sidelong look directed at the 'action'.

Keeping his attention on the duel, it's only as Merrisol begins to draw closer that Salin catches him out of the corner of his eye. There's a lift of his hand in a quick wave before it's lowering back down to his side as he continues to watch.

A Rebman matron unshields her child's eyes, now that most of that obscene amount of clothing is being stripped away.

Vayel blinks as his feet find the floor and his clothes (now in shreds) float away from him, leaving him in naught but a pair of dark boxers. At least it's nothing embarrassing, though under his clothes he is surprisingly lean and athletic. He seems ready to continue the duel nonetheless, but a small stream of blood floating up past his face causes him to pause. "You truly are your father's daughter," he says, bowing stiffly, rapier lowered.

Aio comes to a halt finally, watching her handy work as both clothing and blood floats with more than a hint of satisfaction about her. She nods. "My real Father. Yes. One day I may even tell you of him."

Some of the audience disperses, while a custodian releases some special plankton to soak up the blood cloud. Keeps the sharks away, see.

"If you wish to," Vayel says simply. He pays no heed to the crowd as he moves to retrieve his robe. "I -do- hope that you see me as more than just a bookworm, however."

Merrisol smiles at Salin briefly, kicking a slight spin to his forward motion to slow his drift. "Who knows," he answers preemptively, covering pretty much any question or remark Salin might have about the proceedings.

Aio sheathes her flaming sword, wiing the end of the glass blade free of polluting blood before she sheaths that too. "You have a basic skill about you, I will give you that."

Vayel smiles slightly as he covers the majority of himself up with the Chantris Robe of Modesty +1 (?). "Thank you," he says cheerfully. "And you are astounding."

Aio dips briefly into an Alhambran style bow. "Thank you, but I have many improvements to make." She glances about now that Vayel is covering himself, regarding the assembled crowd.

Vayel bows to Aio as well. "Well. I suppose I should be getting home to get some new clothes," he says mildly. "It was...interesting to meet you, Aio."

Aio nods. "And you, Your Grace." She steps back simply, still looking at odds with the world due to her ranger armour.

A very faint chuckle escapes Salin's lips at Merrisol's pre-emptive answer, to which Salin gives a nod of his head, "Fair enough." When the duel comes to an end and the parties seem about ready to go their seperate way, there's another soft chuckle and a shake of his head.

Once the blood is absorbed, the fat plankton are gobbled by an eager school of miniature catfish.

Vayel nods and moves away with some dignity still intact.

Aio spots a face she recognises in the crowd and then moves towards Merrisol, dipping into a polite bow again. "It has been a while."

Merrisol raises a hand in a hazy salute as Aio starts in their direction, then nods with casual respect to the swordswoman. "Aio," he says, dispensing with titles as requested, months ago, although when he gestures to Salin, up they come again. "This is my cousin, Baron Salin of Morfilod. He is also Ambassador to Amber. That is a very fine sword you were wielding."

AS introductions come to pass, Salin is offering a respectful incline of his head in the direction of Aio, a smile dancing to his lips as he offers, "A pleasure." A pause and then he's continuing with, "I must agree with my cousin. A very fine sword. And skills to go with it."

Aio preses her palms together and bows to Salin, introducing herself quietly. "Aio al'Njum, bint-il-Benedict." She glances to her waist as the compliments on her blades roll in. "Which one? Meijanri made the glass one, Dame Cyndre the fire-blade."

Merri smiles. "The one more suited to underwater combat. Meijanri.. a glass-smith, I assume? I saw such a sword in the hands of Dame Taleyn once," he adds.

Another respectful nod of Salin's head comes to be offered to Aio and it's followed with, "Actually, both of them are elegantly done." Shifting a bit, he settles his arms over his chest, crossed together as he looks to Merri and then back to Aio.

Aio nods to Merrisol. "I believe Taleyn also has one, yes. I upset Meijanri by asking for something relatively plain to start with. If you consult with her do not make the same mistake. She loves ornamentation. But I will also warn you: She's an undine."

Merrisol twitches.. once. "Oh? Huh. Well then."

Maggie swims a bit lazily over from the direction of the palace. Rather than her usual Rebman garb, she wears a deeply blue bikini with paler blue gauze skirting to flip and sway about her hips and upper thighs. While in Rebma, she does still insist on keeping her hair loose and flowing, letting the cross currents and tiny, jewel-bright sea horses play through it. On spotting the others, she pulls herself upright and waves, "Morning. Or whatever."

There's a wrinkle of Salin's nose at something Aio said and it's whisked away a moment later with a slight shake of his head, "A rather .. interesting choice of profession for one of those." A flit of his eyes in the direction of Merrisol and then he's noting Maggie's arrival, to whom he offers a smile and a quick, "Morning."

Aio notes the twitches and looks from the pair and merely nods. "She is a skilled craftsperson and a friend of my Father's." So there. She turns in order to bow to Maggie as she approaches. "Cousin," is greeted cordially.

Merrisol turns at the greeting, smiling a warm welcome. "Good morning, Maggie. You just missed a fine demonstration," he says. Looking back at Aio, he picks up on the description of Meijanri and gives it some thought. "Well, I ought to look into some sort of personalized sidearm.. I had something going with Dame Cyndre once upon a time." As the phrase suggests, it's more of a myth or faerie story nowadays.

Maggie lifts a brow at the twitch and nose wrinkle, though each is only there for a moment. Rather than ask, for once, she lets it go and bows to Aio, "Morning." Rising again, she lowers her gaze to the blades and then lifts again. Her smile is quick and easy, "They really are something, Aio." At Merri's comment, she nods, "Ugh. Yes. I meant to talk to Cyndre about that, Kerf. But, maybe going to Lady Meijani would be a better bet." Slipping closer, she returns Salin's smile though there is a hint of embarassment to her as she speaks, "Salin. Morning. Would you have a minute soonish?" Then her attention broadens again to include everyone there. "So, Aio...? What brings you to Rebma? Just here to prove that flatlanders can fight?"

Looking back to Aio, Salin gives a nod of his head and a quick, "I have no doubt in her skill." Then, he's falling quiet, looking to Merrisol to offer a quick chuckle in the man's direction, "You mean you don't already have one, Merri?" As he's addressed by Maggie, he's looking towards her, his brow lifting a touch before he's giving her a nod of his head, "Yes, I can spare a moment when you need it, Maggie."

Aio dips her head once more in recognition of Maggie. "Thank you. I have had the glass blade the longest, that was a gift. Though I believe Meijanri will trade for trumps if you can draw them? Cyndre is of course skilled in many things, I have armour made by her as well." There's a low chuckle at the last words. "I just disrobed a Duke here, but that is by the by. The Regent sent for me, apparently he wishes to speak with me. So here I am."

Merri nods faintly to Maggie's suggestion, definitely considering the *twitch* Undine route.. although he doesn't draw trumps. Cards in general though..? Maybe she would like to win a few honest games of poker. He looks at Salin then, not seeing the humour at first, however he does smirk. "Other than some killer moves on the dance floor, you mean? I use whatever's on hand. Seems to have suited well enough thus far."

Maggie lifts a brow slightly at Aio, "A Duke? Really? I... really wish that I had seen that. It would have been fun to watch." Her gaze slips around the area then, "He did not stick around? I... hope that he was a good sport about it, Aio." Then she flips back to the group, having drifted slightly with the prevailing currents, "Oops. Sorry. Um... Martin? Wonder what he wants." Curiosity grows in her gaze, though she does not ask directly.

A flash of a grin comes to be offered in the direction of Merri before Salin is offering, "Killer moves on the dance floor?" He considers a moment and then gives a quick laugh, "Suppose that's enough to stop most people dead in their tracks. Too awe struck to continue." After that, he's simply going quiet for the moment.

Aio smiles at Maggie and shakes her head. "We had been drinking in the Grotto. I'm still not sure how it came about. Chantris, I believe. As for a good sport? Beyond me stripping him of his clothes he seemed to take it well." Says the woman still in her Arden armour.

Merri nods casually to Salin. "Comes in handy." It really has. "Less bloody that way too." He quietly offers the crook of his arm as an anchor point if Maggie is in a bad spot for street motion dynamics, but keeps out of the women's discussion. Still to Salin, he says, "Lady Marilla has extended me an invitation to the family holdings." As though he hadn't quite been allowed to go there before now, one supposes? "Lady Petra resides at her villa."

"I can't argue with that, Merri," is what Salin offers initially, but at the mention of an invitation to the family holdings, there's a loft of his brow and his gaze turns to settle on the other man, "An invitation? Why would you need an invitation to visit the family holdings?"

Aio falls silent at the talk of Houses, having had little to do with Rebma or it's denizens before. She looks back to Maggie and notes carefully. "I believe the Regent wishes to speak to me about my Father. Or so I have surmised at least." She's a little pensive at that, as if the subject were not one of her liking.

Maggie nods, though a smirk touches her lips, "Good for you, Aio..." One hand moves to rest within the crook of Merri's arm. He is offered a warm smile of thanks. Merri's news, however, wins him a different sort of smile and a nod, "I'll go with you, if I am allowed, Kerf." As Salin speaks to Merri, she squeezes his arm and releases it. With a flutter kick and a whirl of red hair, she moves closer to Aio's side. "Ah. Is... everything okay with him? I mean... All things considered?"

Merrisol shuffles in place, which down here essentially boils down to trading one sandal for the other, touching the cobbled roadway. Every else being in a constant state of shuffle regardless. He nods to Maggie at her declaration, but uncertainly, with a deferential questioning glance back to Salin, while he responds, "Complicated. Recall that I have only just been accepted as one of your House. I could not just traipse over there like I had a place to go, or people to see. And they would not have recognized me even if I did."
Everything else, too.

There's just a flit of his gaze in the direction of Maggie and Aio, though Salin's attention is quickly settled back upon Merrisol, "Regardless. I would loathe to hear that they are keeping one that bares the Morfilod name from visiting the family holdings." There's a pause, a cant of his head to the side and then there's a lift of his shoulders into a shrug, "Don't let them treat you like a stranger. If they do, just ... remind them of the name that you bare."

Aio frowns at the question, then gives a light shrug of her shoulders. "With Father? He and I are not speaking at the moment. Purely because he is busy with his works. Works which I have tried to stay firmly out of. Family politics being something I avoid." At all possible costs from the expression on her face and which probably also explains her reticence about being here to talk about it.

Maggie flickers a glance toward the menfolk for an instant, then returns her attention to her cousin, "Okay. I know how you feel about that particular subject, Aio. I happen to agree with you." Even though the Dancer is tied now to Rebma. Firmly. Still, she studies the other woman while trying to avoid too much drift. "When was the last time you spoke to Martin? It might be about your dad, but it might not. Things have been sort of uneasy here. He might want something entirely else."

Merrisol blinks slowly, giving Salin an appreciative look for his advice and support. In his brief silence he cannot help overhearing some of Aio's remarks and there's a brief dart of his gaze sidewards. Back to Salin, he then says grimly, "It won't come to that. There's a distinct opportunity to add to the estate properties with this mission. Some of the younger set have already offered to partake on behalf of their families. Baquemare will want to acknowledge their stake." During Court, he had already outlined a finder's fee on Liyandra's behalf.

"Well, if it does, let me know." Enough said and Salin is giving another nod of his head, "I won't deny the prospect of expanding things is appealing." A smirk, though, comes at the mention of Bauquemare, "Of course they will. They always do." He does look over in the direction of Maggie and Aio, catching enough for him to add, "If it's something you don't want to talk about, just offer Martin alcohol. He'll be thoroughly distracted and forget what he was talking about."

Aio frowns and shakes her head. "I have never really spoken to him, our paths have not really crossed at all except to do with your ship." Which is no doubt why politics is in the frame. Son of Random. Daughter of Benedict. What else could it be? "I sent a bird to the Prince Marshal and he suggested if it was the Regent enquiring of me then it was probably about him." She pauses at the advice given and frowns. "Thank you, but that is not my style. I'm more likely to end up duelling him."

Merrisol gives Salin a pointed nod as he speaks for Baquemare's actions.. as Merri hoped he would, probably! He glances over at Aio and Maggie again as Salin offers advice there too. "That... would. I want to see that," he says, sincerely. But didn't Aio just come out of a bar.. er, rather, a Lounge?

There's a slide of Salin's gaze over in the direction of Aio, a quick grin dancing to his lips as he gives a nod of his head, "I want to see that as well." Then, he's looking to Merrisol, "Ply Martin full of enough alcohol to make him agree to a duel?" Teasing? Perhaps. Good thing Martin isn't here.

Aio frowns and looks back to the two men as her cousin has to go. She shakes her head at the pair of them. "I will leave getting people drunk to others. So there will probably be no show. My apologies." Is she serious? She looks it.

Merri's brows go up. "Martin's wits sharpen in direct proportion to the booze he imbibes," he claims, but is it true? With a glance to Aio, noticing her displeasure with the way the topic is heading, he ahems. "Apologies.. I know your art is deadly serious, Aio. It might not seem that way much, but I do value fighting prowess. The art of War, not so much. But your skill was a treat to watch."

A quick flash of a grin and Salin is giving a shake of his head, "Poor Martin." Then, he's looking towards Aio and then to Merrisol and then to Aio, only to add, "My apologies, as well. It was not my intention to make the conversation uncomfortable for you."

Aio glances between the two men as if weighing options, and the look to be tentative too. She risks a look around and then asks the pair. "Tritons. I have heard much of their abilities. My God has set me a series of tasks I must perform to prove myself, battling one is listed among these. Is that likely to be allowed?"

If there was ever a question for a flatlander to take to the Ambassador of Rebma... that would be it. Merrisol accordingly stays out of that with a slight shrug and a glance to Salin, after which his gaze wanders to look to the direction in which Maggie betook herself. He's still interested in the answer to Aio's question, of course.

Aio's question draws a slight lift of Salin's brow and there's a flicker of his eyes in the direction of Merrisol before they shift back to the woman, "That is not something that is typically done." A silent but fills the .. water for a moment before he's continuing with, "I can see the value, though, of a Triton pitting their mettle against someone not of Rebma. Perhaps their might be something learned." A shift of his attention to Merrisol, "Would you not agree, Merri?"

Aio merely waits, hands resting on her swords as she watches Salin debate about this. Her chin lifts just a fraction at one stage, then lowers again with a small nod. "I have no doubt that it is a difficult thing to be allowed to attempt, let alone to achieve. But I wish to prove my worth at least in one regard." There's a bitter hint in her next statement. "Arden gives me little to do, I am wasted there."

Merrisol seems surprised for a moment as Salin weebles on the topic. His head swivels back that way when Salin asks. "Uh. Well I might provoke them into swim chases at times, but that doesn't mean I care to know what happens if they catch me." Tritons are, of course, huge, super strong and fast, and crazy-ass berserk in combat, so it's really some luck and a lot of assistance from friendlies that has kept Merri out of a losing brawl. He looks at Aio. "It does not have to be politically sanctioned, if you ask me." Well, they did! "Aside from the occasional sea monster blundering past the city boundaries or predating a nearby village, the royal garrison can get quiet. So long as you aren't looking for a head on your trophy wall, I don't see the harm in a private match between consenting fighters."

"Preciously," is what Salin offers to Merrisol's assesment, his gaze shifting back to Aio, "I have no problem with it and I will see that no one else takes exception with such a match taking place; if it does take place." The mention of Arden being quiet and that bitter statement has the Ambassador lifting his brow, "If you decide that you need a change of pace or scenery, I'm sure that something could be arranged."

Aio regards Merrisol at this statement, clearly weighing him up in a different light. "I have not had a chance to read up on their capabilities, as Duke Chantris and I ended up distracted." And fighting. But that at least means she's looking to know what she's getting into. "So any advice would be appreciated. Thank you, I had hoped to mention it to my cousin, but it appears that this will not be necessary now. I have twelve tasks in all, the less bureaucracy the better." She pauses as the Ambassador speaks again, listening with a faint frown. "I am not sure Arden knows what to do with me, though battling the Black Road is of course one use. The Warden seems to prefer to leave me to my own devices though and I am used to a more purposeful existence."

Merrisol's gaze slides from one to the other. "Read up..?" He's all for reading, of course, but. "Well yes.. there might be something in the tablets.. fragments of accounts from the Triton War, physiology notes for medical use, too. But you probably should meet some face to face and see them in action." And he really doesn't mean to be implying that he'll be provoking them again for her benefit. "As for purpose.. how does the Black Road not keep you constantly busy, in that sense?" he wonders.

Salin gives a ndo of his head in the direction of Aio and then another to Merrisol, when he speaks, "Indeed. You should see them in action. But if you intend to train with one, then you will certainly get to experience that aspect, first hand." He falls quiet then, as Merrisol asks a question similiar to that in which he was going to ask.

Maggie lifts a wave to Aio, "See you, cousin. I'll be glad to tell him." Looking over her shoulder after Merri, she nods, "Ah, okay." Turning back, she smiles up at Salin, "I'd love to. Thank you." Her attention and direction turn toward the grotto then and she slips inside.