[center][color=c2b280][h3]Fleo Plector[/h3][/color]
[@Roseletta][@Joshua Tamashii][/center]

Pleased to be remembered and held in high regard, Fleo felt her anxiety slipping away.  When Amaya pointed Joshua out, he suddenly seemed obvious.  Of course, Fleo had seen her guildmate before, most often in the guild hall in Magnolia.  Seldom had they spoken, though.  Having recognized him, Fleo executed a polite nod of acknowledgment.  Amaya's ensuing point about Nolan struck her; until now, she hadn't given much thought to the reason why Nolan seldom spent time with any of them anymore, but her counterpart hit the nail on the head.  Ever since the Ash God Slayer put his face into the public sphere, he'd been surrounded by more attention than he could possibly want.  Plus, Fleo remembered seeing the younger wizard with Ariel.  A twinge of sourness came to her face.  [color=c2b280]”Heh.  So much for being scared of women.  Guess he was just saving himself for 'the one'.”[/color]  Well, no matter.  Since her early years, Fleo had never been the trendiest of girls, so now that Nolan was a fad, she could put him behind her.

From the sky, the epitome of charming came soaring in.  A purple cat in a tiny tuxedo made for an uncommonly, irrestisably adorable sight, and Fleo couldn't help but crack a wide smile at him.  [color=c2b280]”Hi, Dalton!  I'm doing much better now that you're here.  You're the cutest thing alive!”[/color]  She reached out her arms as an invitation to hold him, so that she might give the little creature a big hug.

[center][color=CCCCFF][h3]Joakim Fortinbras[/h3][/color]
[@The Wild West][@Raijinslayer][/center]

A good story was one that the listeners could get lost in, and as Flint began his tale, the ballroom seemed to fall away for Joakim.  His appreciation for stories could be seen in his face and his bearing.  For a while, in fact, he didn't realize that his legs were growing stuff.  Instead, he absorbed every detail of the story, thinking to himself more than once that it would make for a classic novella, or one of his family's old folk tales.  He paid rapt attention to the exploits of the bounty hunter, all throughout the rising action and the introduction of Bill Carson.  Hints of exaggeration could be found in Flint's recollection, but as it did for any good yarn, they improved the experience.  Perhaps, Joakim mused, they were even true.  Who was he, an emissary of the frozen north, to make judgments about how things went down in Fiore's western wilderness?  The account of Carson's cruelty and Flint's near-death experience gripped him.  All too soon, the story ended, but with its cliffhanger came a request that Joakim was only too happy to oblige.  [color=CCCCFF]”Yes, of course.  I'll go and find something, or we can go together.  I believe there's a little cocktail bar on the other side of the room.”[/color]  He glanced at Argus, who until now had remained silent.  [color=CCCCFF]”Can I get you anything?”[/color]

[center][color=CD5C5C][h3]Jane Putcher[/h3][/color]
[@Caits][@Burthstone][@Silver Fox][/center]

The observation that Gabriel was standing up for himself ignited some pride in Jane's heart.  So long as he recognized danger and refused to allow himself to be played for the fool, she felt, he would be alright.  All the same, she didn't doubt that her intervention had been necessary.  This conclusion only grew stronger when the repugnant shapeshifter, after confirming Jane's suspicions, changed his countenance and manner entirely to talk to Mayt.  In an instant, it was as if Karn had become a completely different person.  Lecherous, manipulative, and obnoxious one moment, cheery and innocent the next—Jane suspected that it was Karn's guildmates who had been the most deceived of all.  Indeed, Mayt barely reacted to the cannoneer's hostility at all, instead blindly putting his faith in Karn.  [i]What a joke.[/i]  

The two continued to talk, and Jane was only to happy to claim victory and turn her back on them, motioning for Gabriel to listen.  A few parting words from Mayt before he left with Karn had laid to rest her last suspicions.  [color=CD5C5C]”D'ye spy that?  The instant that fellow appeared, on goes the mask o' innocence.  Thar be a two-face if I've ever seen one!  And did ye 'ear 'im?  The lass that almost picked ye up was a 'he' all along.  Mark me, lad.  The world's full o' pathetic scalleywags.  Some don't 'ave talent, discipline, wealth, fame, friends, or dreams—just their bodies and their tongues.  Some get along by sellin' themselves, others pull the wool o'er the eyes of good folks and hornswagglin' 'em.  Idiots 'n bullies is all they be.”[/color]

She straightened up, adjusting her hair.  [color=CD5C5C]”But it sounded like ye know what yer doin'.  I bet ye knew all this already.  Until we sail again, me bucko.”[/color]  With that, Jane left him, sure that he could take care of himself for the rest of the night.  Her bitterness vaporized the moment that ordeal was behind her, and she made to rejoin the festivities with a smile on her face.