Fair Pixie

The Festival Grounds, for once, have a festival going. A quick and brief weekend affair, it's a harvest festival to ring in the harvest and start to say goodbye to the summer. There's a number of stalls, games, and more, in addition to, of course, archery contests and other things.

"A real Alexandrian festival!" Cor'ethil exclaims with amazement as he's walking around on the arm of his fiance. As per usual, the Warden of Gilead is all smiles and bright eyes to look at the spectacle of color, sights, food, and fun. "There's so many things to do! I'm so happy you agreed to come with me, Karasu."

Meanwhile, a certain pixie is bickering with a vendor nearby--a woman who is selling stuffed buns. "What do you _mean_ I don't look like I can lift up a bun!?" the pixie screeches. "I don't care that it's bigger than my head! I am a loving and devout follower of the mighty god, Angoron! I am _so_ buff! LOOK AT ME!"

Lily-of-the-Valley flexes her muscles and growls. "LOOK AT PHYSICAL PERFECTION." Which... there's not much to look at.

Not too far away, there's an Explorer's Guild-sponsored tent, with experienced adventurers chatting with curious townsfolk and wide-eyed children. An unlikely pair are talking there -- one being the well-known half-elven sorcerer Telamon Lupecyll-Atlon, the other an old man with a halo of white hair, wrapped in robes of white as well giving him a saintly look, though his deep-set, intelligent eyes make it clear any naivete is long in the past.

"Now that is a tall tale, Master Barna," Telamon laughs softly. "You did not witness that personally. Destroying a powerful fiend, single handedly, while wearing only a pot helm?"

The old man chuckles. "No, but it does come with exceptionally good references. I'll send you the book if you like."

Tel snickers. "Please do so. I'm curious as to the provenance of this story. I grant the two-swords style isn't unheard of, but taking on a fiend while only wearing smallclothes?"

Karasu for his part hardly looks excited to be here. He has arm wrapped around the arm of Cor'ethil however, and this at least seems comfortable even if the man's eyes flickering from person to person gives way the fact that he is on the lookout for any sign of danger. "I am glad that you are enjoying yourself." He has a soft smile on his lips as he says this. Cor'ethil coming alone to this event had not even crossed his mind. "It seems quite popular."

He notices Telamon at a distance talking to an unfamiliar man and motions to Cor'ethil that the other man is there. "It seems that the Archmage is here. Perhaps we should say hello and inquire about what he has learned thus far?"

"Oh!" Corey looks over at Telamon, and he nods gently. "That sounds like a good idea to me. It's been a little while. I'm just glad Mother relented a little bit on doing _all_ of the classic wedding traditions." Some lyranesi families take months (or years) to have a wedding between two people, on account of the sheer number of traditional ceremonies that have to happen. Faphinae had been putting them through a gauntlet of them before Corey finally put his foot down on the matter, stating he'd like to marry Karasu before the year is out, at the very least. "Let's go!"

The two men make their way over to the archmage, and a certain pixie catches sight of the two men. Her dark eyes practically bulge out of her head as she looks at them. "Two... Two hot men. TWO OF THEM. TOGETHER." Lily-of-the-Valley is now flatly ignoring the stuffed bun woman as she looks at them almost certainly with thoughts that are surely not in Angoron's texts (but might be in Tarien's). "I must know their names!"

The pixie flutters right in front of Cor'ethil's face just as the couple reaches Telamon, and Lily-of-the-Valley begins with... her usual Lily-like fashion. "HELLO BOYS. Room on your shoulder for one more?" She doesn't even register that the lord of her house is right behind her.

The two men, one young, one old, are still chuckling as Corey and Karasu approach. As Tel catches sight of the couple, his eyebrows rise, and he gestures for the old man to remain seated while he stands up. "Cor'ethil, Karasu. A fine day to you." He offers a short bow, before he pauses as Lily appears almost out of nowhere to intercept the duo.

"...Lily too. Why am I unsurprised?" Telamon's expression is wry. "I presume you're not here to listen to Guild tales or express interest in working for it?"

Karasu's eyes narrow at the small woman who comes to a stop just in front of Cor'ethil's face. For a moment his fingers are upon a secreted dagger on his person, but when she seems to be of no danger he decides that drawing the dagger might be premature. Though given her words... perhaps not. "I would not grant you leave to land on me small one." He says the words sternly and frowns a little bit. "Nor would it please me if you were to land on my kokoro."

Here he firmly turns his attention to Telamon. "We are not here for either of these purposes. Cor'ethil wished to enjoy the festival, and we noted your presence." He nods politely to the other man, offering the respect that he feels that the Archmage deserves. "I would like to ask how your research is going, but not in detail here."

Cor'ethil boggles at the little pixie woman in front of him for a moment before glaring at Lily-of-the-Valley. "You're not here to send a message from anyone, are you? If so, I have no interest," he replies.

Lily-of-the-Valley looks put-out at Karasu's words, but then she looks at Cor'ethil and she has a woozy smile on her face. "The only message I have to give is that you both are super-duper cuuuuuuwwhaaaaaa--" It _finally_ dawns on her that that's Telamon talking behind her. She's late to the party on every account today.

She flaps over to land on Telamon's shoulder and starts bowing down frantically. "Oh Lord Lupecyll-Atlon! I am doing my penance! I am going about and appreciating all of the HUNKS--I mean very good specimens of Angoron's teachings--who are here!"

Cor'ethil clears his throat. "Well... I have a great respect for Angoron, of course, but my fiance and I are here for simple fun and entertainment. Festivals in the Greatwood tend to be a much longer affair than one weekend? So I wanted to seize the moment when I learned this one would only be a weekend." He laughs a little. "I have to unlearn the llyranesi tendency to be slow and leisurely when the windows are so much shorter and smaller."

Closer now, it's clear the old man in the robes is some sort of wizard, though with his warm demeanour it's unlikely he was spending time in the Arcanists' dungeon. A chuckle comes from him. "Never a boring moment for you, lad?"

Telamon smirks. "Cor'ethil, Karasu, this is Archmage Amritt Barna, of Chandor's Crossing. He was visiting Alexandria for the weekend." He pauses at Karasu's inquiry, pursing his lips. "I've learned a few things. But let's not discuss it here at the fair. Perhaps a meeting at the Chalice later on. In the meantime..."

Tel turns his gaze to the frantically bowing Lily. "Lily," he says in a patient tone. "I had heard you'd had a bit of a tussle. Frankly I'm surprised you didn't flee back to the house. You know you could have returned there, right?"

Karasu smiles just a little more broadly at his fiancée, seemingly pleased with his words if a bit bemused and also more than a little satisfied that Lily-of-the-Valley has been dismissed. Though he notes that she doesn't go far - only to Telamon's shoulder. Her words make his eyes narrow at her, but she seems somewhat contrite and it's really none of his concern. "I am learning that weddings are quite long affairs in Llyranesi."

He doesn't seem to mind overly much the statement that the weddings are such long affairs. Karasu offers a short bow to the unfamiliar Archmage, and nods to Telamon. "Greetings to you Archmage Barna." Karasu notably doesn't ask the sort of questions that someone might ask upon being introduced to someone unfamiliar.

Cor'ethil beams at being introduced to yet another archmage, holding out his free hand to the (other) archmage for a polite handshake in the Alexandrian fashion. "I am pleased to meet you, Archmage. I am called Cor'ethil Cari'thana, Warden of Gilead. You can call me Corey for short." He leans in a little affectionately into Karasu as he adds, "You may call Karasu... Well, Karasu. I don't think we've settled exactly on if he's taking my name or not once we're married." That puts a blush on his face.

"Speaking of which, Archmage Lupecyll-Atlon... I heard you took your wife's name and combined it with your own when you married?" Cor'ethil asks of Telamon. "I've been wondering if maybe we should do that? I don't want to ask Karasu to abandon his family name."

Lily-of-the-Valley flails a little on Telamon's shoulder. "I couldn't! I had to do my penance! And the Wee Queen kicked me out of her Court." She blinks before hastily adding, "Okay, she didn't like, _kick_ me out, but you know how you go to a party and then everyone kind of glares at you and after a while you figure out it's not because they didn't like the food you brought, but because they don't like _you_? Yeah."

There's a beat before she adds, "Also I don't think that she liked me looking at Silas too long."

Amritt Barna shakes Corey's hand cheerfully. "Forgive me for not standing up. Age is catching up to me, and my days of chasing dragons are thankfully past." He raises shaggy brows at Corey and Karasu, but instead says, "A pleasure, of course. Just remember to face everything together. It's easier that way."

Telamon nods. "We did. I didn't want her to abandon her past... although I wouldn't have blamed her for doing so." His eyes turn cool for a moment, before he continues, "And it seemed appropriate, as we were crafting something new and wonderful. Father thought it was a good idea, as did mother. So... 'Lupecyll-Atlon' is what we became. A new house, with perhaps a new outlook on things."

Which brings Tel's attention back to Lily, and a raised eyebrow. "I don't recall you needing to do penance from -me-, Lily. You'd done nothing wrong." He sighs at the tale that she was kicked out of the Wee Queen's court. "Great. Perhaps you -should- come home. You really are starting to worry me."

The words that Cor'ethil says draw a long blink from Karasu who looks at him like he's done something curious. "I do not think that you had asked." He says, which might be true, at least from Karasu's perspective. Karasu does think of things differently than some other people do. Either way, he seems to be considering it now. "I do not know."

He frowns a little, distracted now by the words that Cor'ethil had said about a change of last name, and Telamon's words seem to clarify something. "Yes, I would not ask Cor'ethil to abandon his past, and in Xian there are many implications in the leaving of a familial name behind. I would not think twice of doing so but... I am the last of my line now." It's clear that he's still struggling a little with reconciling this. "Perhaps a combining would work for us as well."

Cor'ethil frowns gently in response to his intended's frown, his hand going to pat at the arm of Karasu's that he's holding. "I think that settles that," he adds with a nod. "If we combine our names... Then you are not alone anymore--not that you ever were, but... You know what I mean."

That notion puts a wide and bright smile on Corey's face, and he leans in to peck Karasu on the cheek. "I'm not good with poetry. I've heard the Archmage's wife is quite good with it, though." He blinks before adding, bashfully, "Archmage Lupecyll-Atlon, that is. Sorry, Archmage Amritt." He's still getting used to there being multiple archmagi in one space.

"Oh-my-fucking-gods-they're-so-cute," Lily-of-the-Valley squeals. "This! This is why I _love_ being an Angorite! Praise to the Iron Mountain!" Although she looks up at Telamon and just reaches up to pet Telamon's cheek. "It's okay! I just can't go back to the Court for a while. So... Maybe I _should_ go back home..."

And then Lily-of-the-Valley sighs dreamily. "Anyone ever tell you that you have really nice skin, milord?" Yup. That's Lily all right.

Archmage Amritt chuckles softly. "No offense taken." Just then a couple of children come up to ask the aged wizard something, and Telamon steps away to give some space.

"If you're building something new, you -should- combine your names. Either joined like Lana and mine are, or a portmanteau of them." Telamon considers, then shrugs. "I did think about the latter option, but I couldn't come up with anything I liked. So 'Lupecyll-Atlon' it is. I also altered my family's crest to create a new one -- it was originally a crescent moon with a mockingbird in it, but I exchanged the mockingbird for a raven." His lips curl up. "It seemed fitting."

At Lily's dreamy expressions of admiration, Telamon can't help but grin. "Yes. My wife does, regularly. She especially likes it when I work in the garden." He takes a deep breath. "Look, Lily, you've not done me any wrong. So come home. If nothing else, the food is good, the walls and roof are sound, and soon fall will be upon us and we'll need your help to keep the indoor plants in bloom."

For a moment the love that Karasu feels for Cor'ethil is there in his eyes, a certain softness, a certain amount of care. Carefully hidden, but impossible to miss for those that know him and those that can read other people well enough. Then it fades to a simple smile as Cor'ethil kisses him. "Your words are like poetry to me my kokoro. I have no need for more. I like this idea of combining names."

Dark eyes land on Lily and Karasu doesn't draw a weapon or otherwise threaten the pixy but there's something dangerous in him all of the sudden that wasn't there before. It's clearly a response to something she has said. "Yes, perhaps you should go home *now*." The words are laced with a dark lining. One might almost think that she'd insulted him somehow or something.

Lily-of-the-Valley blink-blinks at Karasu, dark eyes wide at his intent. And then... She sighs dreamily. "Wow. I woke up today and I was like. 'Damn, I hope some hot guy paints my brains all over the festival grounds today.' And here we are. I mean, really, just absolutely destroy me. I'm talking full-on fruit-between-the-thighs levels of carnage. Just destroy me--"

"LILY-OF-THE-VALLEY." The other high-pitched voice belongs to... Mirabilis. "There you are! Stop begging handsome men to destroy you and come home. I've been working my little fingers down to the bone to try and help the Lord tend to his gardens all on my own. And the yard's been too quiet without you around."

Cor'ethil seems greatly, greatly relieved for another pixie to appear and to interrupt Lily-of-the-Valley's... whatever that is. "I think you ought to do as your pixie-sister says," he remarks to Lily-of-the-Valley. "And your lord, of course." He offers Telamon a horrible wink. He's never winked before in his life, has he?

Telamon just looks at the sky, perhaps hoping for a dragon attack. Or a meteor strike. Anything, really. A long, heartfelt sigh. This is his life, of course. When Mirabilis comes streaking in, he actually looks -relieved-. "Yes. Thank you, Mirabilis. Please take Lily back to the house. Lana and I will discuss things in more detail when I return home."

He reaches up to rub the bridge of his nose. "Please forgive Lily her... indiscretions. She is perpetually distracted by the prospect of 'cute boys'. I've actually advised my apprentice to -not- accept any drinks she offers."

Karasu nods to Telamon's words. "Wise." At this however he turns to his fiancee and looks at the other man. "Perhaps we should return to viewing the rest of the fair. It *is* only here for the one day after all. It would be a shame to miss the things that you wanted to see." He nods politely to Telamon then. "If we could meet with you again soon however, I would be most appreciative. Perhaps where the pixie is not."

Lily-of-the-Valley wails as Mirabilis comes over to her and scrunches up the collar of her dress, like a mother cat trying to drag away its misbehaving kitten. "What do you meannnnnnnnn without meeeeee!? You're welcome to come over anytime and STEP ON ME--"

Mirabilis whacks Lily-of-the-Valley upside the head, sighing. "That's how Marsward Seraquoix almost killed you, you know, Lily. You wouldn't be alive today if I _didn't_ pull you out of his warpath. I will see you back at the house, milord." She bows to Telamon before she begins to fly, dragging Lily-of-the-Valley with her.

The addled pixie wails, "I'D STILL PLAY FETCH FOR THAT CREEP'S BONE ANY DAAAAAAYYYYY," before blessedly, her voice no longer reaches the ears.

Cor'ethil finally lets out the laugh he's been holding in for a long moment. "It's okay," he informs Telamon. "I think we'll go enjoy the rest of the festival. Be well, Archmage and Archmage!"

With that, the Warden goes with his beloved to elsewhere in the fair: where there will be no more pixies engaged in dude-watching.

-End