Eh?! He'd invited [i]her[/i]—no, moreover, he'd planned to from the start? Score! And of all the people he cared for, she was the smartest?! 

[color=#ff39d6][i]Yes, yes and yes! It's a date![/i][/color] Ashley wanted to scream, but now that she was on guard, she restrained herself.

[color=#ff39d6]"Hoho... You're too kind,"[/color] Ashley answers, turning the smile she couldn't hold back into a weirdly improvised smirk. [color=#ff39d6]"but I'm not lying, you know? Of course, I can't be [i]completely[/i] honest, or I'll lose my edge... and I can't drop the 'milord' just yet, either,"[/color] she says with a dour tone, looking around. [color=#ff39d6]"This isn't exactly a private setting—but if we [i]do[/i] end up alone somewhere, I'll call you whatever you want. Heh."[/color]

"Caught in my subordinate's web, my friend?" Clive interrupts with a false smile as he approaches the pair of sulky nobles.

[i]Behave yourself, won't you, my dear?[/i] his eyes seemed to suggest as he loomed over their table, looking at Ashley.

[color=#ff39d6][i]Oh, screw you,[/i][/color] she returned with a narrow-eyed glare.

[color=#ff39d6]"If it isn't Lord Clive—the fly in my ointment. Too bad I can't catch [i]you[/i] in my web,"[/color] she says sarcastically.

"That's very true, and also, not the slightest bit unfortunate," Clive replies, rubbing it in a bit.

Mikhail wasn't privy to all of the details, but the two seemed to have a longer history together than they would let on. They bickered like siblings—for all the importance she seemed to place upon her conduct as a knight, she didn't seem too concerned about holding back against [i]him[/i]. Ashley's face softens, though, when she remembers something important.

[color=#ff39d6]"We have a situation. There are some... very dangerous criminals planning to stow away aboard the Santa Lyrica,"[/color] she says in a low voice.

Clive looks skeptical, and a bit confused. "Huh? Where does this news come from?"

[color=#ff39d6]"Sources,"[/color] Ashley replies flippantly. [color=#ff39d6]"Wind's foul—thirty knots from the southeast—so please, take your time looking for them."[/color]

No one would have paid Ashley's comment about the weather any mind, especially not on a day like this with such grave news overtaking everyone's mind. Unless, of course, they were eager to sail to their death as quickly as possible. However... that wind report was [i]wrong.[/i]

Strangely, Clive's face seemed to indicate that Ashley's odd remark explained everything. "Right. I'll inform the knights," he says as he turns, leaving quickly.

Ashley smiles wickedly. [color=#ff39d6][i]My sincerest apologies, Lady Madeline. Your ship is about to be delayed.[/i][/color] She turns to Mikhail.

[color=#ff39d6]"As you say, I'm the smartest woman in your life,"[/color] she boasts, her words full of biased intent. [color=#ff39d6]"so I already have a plan in motion. Shall we?"[/color]

[hr]

Between the nods of beckoning sleep, Margot might have caught a glimpse of two fetching young gentlemen as they walked up to the bar together, the dark-haired one looking rather pleased with himself compared to his sulky blonde friend—and, in the warlock's over-tailored uniform, complete with a family crest and three bright red stripes on the armband signifying his rank, probably over-dressed, too.

Retrieving a fully loaded coin pouch, he counts out the fee for his and his companion's drinks—plus a little extra—and slides the coins across the bar to the barkeep. This was unusual behavior for a noble. Many of them did not fully appreciate the value of money, and would simply lay down a pile of coins, in a showy fashion. If you made a particular face of mixed confusion and displeasure, you might even be able to trick them into increasing the size of the pile. Indeed, the barkeep was making just such a face. "Something amiss with your order, sir?" he grunts, glancing down at the giddy young lad.

[color=#ff39d6]"Not at all. Please, send my regards to the staff—they have the best coffee and cakes in the capital,"[/color] came the smooth, silky voice.

With a line like that, the barkeep would have to take his loss like a champ. "It's our pleasure, sir. Good day to you."

[color=#ff39d6]"Good day."[/color]

Ashley honestly felt bad for her manners. [color=#ff39d6][i]They were good cakes. Didn't do the staff any favors, eating them like that.[/i][/color]