[Hider=Makeover Montage][color=gray]The women were respectful enough to leave A Mantel Scharlachroter on an armor stand to await cleaning my by hands...through my insistence bolstered by their understanding snipeish attitudes about a responsibility I was loathe to imagine they understood...[/color]
"I's'not [i]my[/i] armor! Do I look loike a squoir to ye?"

Kaitra blew bubbles from her nose by how she was submerged in the tub, eyes locked on the still grimy aspect of her nobility...thankfully unmarred by the tragedy by how proudly it glinted, however dully, in the light from the window.

[color=gray]Resolute...indeed, it was as much my responsibility to carry the mantle home as it was the armor to keep me safe along the way.
That man in the lobby, though. I am certain I know him almost as much as he appeared to know me. A perceptive mind can notice attention by else than eyes, alone. We know this; something other than words to peel the venom out of the air. [/color]

Kaitra closed her eyes and sank into the warm suds of the bath.

[color=gray]Certainly an interesting one. Likely here for business. Likely here for similar business.
I have questions, too, kinsman...we should both be ready to provide answers.
Noblesse oblige~[/color]
___________________________________________________________

"S'oll knots n'tangles!"
[color=a187be]"Eit still hurts if you brush like that..."[/color]
"Tah'd hurt less if - ye - stopped - flinchin'!"

"Ye'have lohvleh hands. Shame y'nails all chewed, so much work undone..."
[color=a187be]"I am...an understandably nervous person..."[/color]
"Hm hm~♫ Understandable how to understand such an understanding, hm?"
[color=a187be]"Please not this again..."[/color]

[color=a187be]"[i]NO[/i] and that is my final word!"[/color]
"Come now, lass. Naught every day ye'git ta meet with tha king!"
[color=a187be]"..."[/color]
"Well, I think these colors would look lovely on you. A proper lady would appreciate a dress of such make!"
[color=a187be]"I do not believe you are aware of exactly vhy I am here."[/color]
"Ta break an ol' seamstress's heart~?"
[color=a187be]"I...apologize, sincerely, but the answer, I insist, will remain 'no'...although thank you"[/color]
"Theres ya manners, tha road hadn't beat it out'ya yet!"
[color=a187be]"Heh, not quite yet, ma'am"[/color]
__________________________________________________________

[color=gray]Thankfully, I was left to have a moment of contemplation while cleaning the mantle, a wipe of a cloth reveling my reflection under the grime. Shadows under my sharp eyes, standing stark on my pale complexion, betrayed the uneasy sleep I'd had on the road here. There was unfortunately much more to do, and a proper night's sleep may unfortunately be a luxury I would not be able to afford for some time to come. I could have covered it with some ease, given the makeup that was provided and packed, though it seemed impractical with my resolution to the confines of the helmet. The nail polish, however, was something I admired for its sheen and durability, giving me a reason to attempt to kick the habit of biting off my nails.[/color]

Completing their work, Aark, in an impressive display of flexibility, finished donning their armor just as a knock on their door came. The servants from before looked them over, informing them of the current attendance in the council chamber as they strapped their visor into place, once again obscuring their face. With a silent nod, they exited the room and made their way.

[hider=partially related][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzvoHslX6Vo[/youtube][/hider][/hider]

Sometime later, though conveniently around the time when others were beginning to file into the council chamber, the door opened for the refurbished Aarkenhan to stride in. Dingy intricacies of their armor were renewed with a polish that still lingered and mingled with a faint aroma of potpourri and lavander. Light glinted from the rare metal with a mirror-like sheen as they passed by a window in the process of selecting a seat. The presence of eyes from the darkness behind the visor peered out of, looking over the present attendance.

Blame it on the refreshed state, but their previous venom was stifled enough to relax in the presence of questions that would have otherwise gnawed at them. For the moment, this was business, and surely there was a story to every character's detail.
A soft inhale reverberated from behind the visor before the prompt for the congregation to introduce themselves was suggested by Rhayven. Pleased by the likeminded initiative, Aark elected to reply in the doctor's stead as a gesture intended to break the ice.
With a nod of their head, one hand on the back of a chair and the other hovering over their heart for a moment, they spoke with an effort to come off more masculine, [color=a187be]"Fair days to come, eit iz a pleasure to be makink an acquaintance vith all of you. Such iz...unfortunate...zeht I am not zee most familiar with some names, but you may know me as Aarkenhan of Ispar...Aark vill suffice, as I should not so boldly inflict a mouthful vith simple addresses, ah?"[/color]
Their tone, rich with an Isparian accent, was angled to come off warm and welcoming, concluding with a mild chuckle at the attempt at implying humility. They then continued, [color=a187be]"I vould hope to learn your names, as vell, given zeht I expe-"[/color] before pausing, shaking their head briefly and concluding, [color=a187be]"...[i]anticipate[/i]...zeht we may come to refer to each other, often."
[/color]