Vesper cracked the smallest of smiles when Keelan Morrigan warned her that people might get the wrong impression about him. "Well, we certainly wouldn't want that, would we?" She had definitely remembered how hard he had tried to get her to come and work for him. It had been tempting, though he wouldn't know just how close he'd gotten to convincing her. Ultimately, it had been too close to her injury and too sore of a topic for her to consider. She might regret it now if she hadn't ended up with the role she now did. Who was to say she'd ever be in this appointment if she had accepted Keelan's offer.

"Things are going well enough, it's a job that certainly keeps me on my toes...real and false alike," she replied. Was that a joke? How rare for her. "And how has life been treating you, Lord Morrigan?"

Something blue. Alinore turned dark eyes toward the flower stands just as a handful of particular blooms seemed to catch Meiying’s eye. Obligingly, she followed the other witch to the side of the road, lingering beside her friend with her hands folded neatly in front of her as both women considered their options. She made a noise of agreement before reaching over to pluck one flower, whose vibrant petals had hidden a fraying stem that hardly looked capable of properly supporting the weight of the blossom, from her friend’s hand and replacing it with a different one. “I think perhaps this one instead,” Alinore suggested, holding up the inferior flower as a wordless explanation before returning it to the stand with a polite smile to the vendor. “But that blue complements the purple and white very nicely.”

As they moved away from the flower stand, she once more let her gaze travel across the sea of people while Meiying busied herself with her wreath. Shortly ahead of them, the crowd among which they drifted parted in a mildly intriguing way around a man (@thom ) and woman (@temperance ) whose antics would have remained as remarkable as that of their lowborn peers but for the veritable mongrel at their feet. Dark-furred and massive, the creature nearly licked the woman’s face as she bent to greet it, though the commoner hardly seemed perturbed by such a prospect. Utterly unsurprised, Alinore raised a silent eyebrow and turned away to glance toward Meiying as her friend voiced her perspective on their current marital status. Truly, the plebeians became more beastly with each passing minute.

“I fear you are correct in that assessment,” She agreed, examining the flower crown as her lips curved upward in a small but genuine smile at the bitter truth to the noblewoman’s words. Though their conversations involved as much consideration as those Alinore had with any other, discussions with Meiying provided a respite from the tedium that typically accompanied any interactions with members of the court – especially the men.

Nothing could quite compare to the exhausting exercise of catering to a nobleman’s fragile ego.

Idly, she straightened a few of the flowers and held it up before her, turning it to either side before handing it back to Meiying with a noise of approval. “If court whispers are to be believed,” Alinore began, folding her hands neatly in front of her once more as they continued walking, “Prince Sylas Llewellyn has become involved with one of the Dresmondi refugees representing her people in the Arynnite government.” Though she kept her tone one of polite disinterest, her gaze slid toward Meiying to see how her friend received the quiet words. “Perhaps their previous monarch would disrupt such a union for an arranged marriage, but I think it unlikely that their current one would have the heart to do so.”

After a moment, she turned her attention back to the crowd, stepping delicately around some lowly man who evidently saw fit to make an utter fool of himself while attempting to impress a woman altogether too distinguished for him. Alinore’s gaze lingered on the ignorant boar a moment longer before music caught her attention. As she turned toward the sound, dark eyes caught the motion of dresses swirling through the air as men twirled their partners around, and her attention lingered on them for a moment before settling upon a pair whose steps were a heartbeat behind the rest, as though they based their movements off those of the others around them.

For a moment, the corner of Alinore’s lip curled upward once more before she corrected herself into her usual polite neutrality. “My dear Meiying,” She began, tone light, and rested a gentle hand on her friend’s arm as she slowed their pace. “I do believe someone has caught my eye after all.” With a knowing look toward the noblewoman, she would tilt her head ever so slightly in the direction of the man in question.

When she had last seen Aldrich Abbott , he’d had a sheep beside him. As her gaze traveled over his female companion, Alinore could see that nothing had changed.

Ben smiled as Evanthe Curran was just as surprised that his adopted daughter was getting old enough to be getting so close to her mandatory training. Evanthe had been around when the little girl, at age 5, had first been adopted by him and Ellison. They had been the children of a couple of paired soldiers who had died during the Eldouir attack on Lorendale while Ellison had been stationed there. Or at least that was the story that they told everyone.

At the suggestion of making Hollie a wreath Ben had a sudden surge of affection for his long time friend. They had a very playful and even mildly competitive relationship but deep down they were true friends and he was immensely grateful for her. "That-" he said, clearing his throat, "That is a very kind thought and I think she'd absolutely love it. You better be careful or she'll attach herself to you," he added as a tease. Hollie had a way of clinging to witches she admired like a shadow.

Fred was only too delighted to be asked his opinion and he couldn't help but blush a little as he smiled at her. "Most definitely. Here, let me help," Frederick said and stepped up closer to her as he gently took the flower from her, his fingers accidentally brushing against hers only made him blush more. He grabbed a thin piece of wire made to keep the flowers in the place in the wreathes and he oh so gently took the step of the tulip and a strand of Evanthe's hair, using the wire to secure the two together and then adjusted pieces of her hair so that it hung prettily. "Does that feel okay? Nothing pulling?" he asked, his finger tips lingering on the ends of her hair before letting his hands fall to his sides once more.

Keelan cracked a smirk and gave an approving grunt at lady Delvaux humor, as dark as he liked the dark hair of a woman. He adjusted the collection of flowers different bright colors of perfectly manicured existence, "I'm glad you turned down my offer than lady Delvaux and this one fell upon you, couldn't think of a more suitable woman for such a whispered position..care to walk with me?"

His flowers were picked from a private and very delicate florist from Skia, lord Morrigan wanted to stand out.

If the lady followed him Keelan would pass through the crowd eyes rolling over in progress bouquets, he knew about most of the available women commoner and noble woman alike, "Working on my project with our royal Majesty, cutting the throats of any little fish trying to swim to far...you know the usual," the first woman he came across was Evanthe Curran and, make no mistake Keelan knew immediately who she was in conversation with Benedict Delaney and his cousin Ellison, "Lord and lady Delaney, hope the day treats you both fair," in more of a manner stiff the Keelan way and it was friendly but who could tell?

Electric blue eyes cut over to Lady Evanthe, "Pardon," he scanned her crown and collection of flowers it wasn't really a theme he supposed but he picked for her a flower from his that was brightly in contrast to most of hers, "Happy festival and longer days lady Curran," he offered a smile and low bow of his head with a smile that softened the edges of his usual harrowing facial structure. And he tossed one to his cousin and husband, waking away.

Back into conversation with Vesper, "I'm about to close a big deal, perhaps you'd like to join me for a drink in celebration for it?"