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[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/250424/9445274aea837d74bab18689a9fa72c8.png[/img]
[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/250424/9b1c58bf4c02c9b06d978e5c95767c24.png[/img]

[color=228B22][b]Time[/b]:[/color] Evening
[color=228B22][b]Location[/b]:[/color] Banquet Hall
[color=228B22][b]Interactions[/b]:[/color] Kalliope [@Tae]; Stratya [@CitrusArms]
[color=228B22][b]Mentions[/b]:[/color] 
[color=228B22][b]Appearance:[/b][/color] [url=https://i.postimg.cc/kg2qwHH4/alkalinestingray-A-Malay-woman-sitting-on-a-tree-branch-adult-l-7ef98d90-03c7-4ee4-a849-9b32e06b7271.png]Iyen[/url]
[color=228B22][b]Attire[/b]:[/color] [url=https://i.postimg.cc/bJfFDK9C/alkalinestingray-Watercolour-painting-of-an-outfit-for-a-female-4e7d7b50-e077-439d-b35a-05297e271a19.png]Iyen[/url]
[color=228B22][b]Equipment:[/b][/color] 
[hider]
Iyen:
[color=228B22]A short blade sheathed on her lower back
A coil of rope across her body[/color]
[/hider]
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Iyen snatched the drumstick out of the air with the same ease and carefree indifference she would’ve had, had it been a knife. She even twirled it about her fingers like one—partially out of playfulness, partially out of habit—before dropping it onto her plate. At first, a mischievous smirk curled her lips as she thought over her response, but then it gradually, slowly softened. It turned gentle, into a satisfied smile coloured by faint hues of genuine geniality. 

Kali’s response had revealed a few things about her to Iyen. One, that she was a rather intense lady with a poetic way with words. Two, that she dabbled in cloak-and-dagger affairs; affairs that involved a little more daggers and a little less cloaks, by the wound of things.

And three, and this was the most important of all, that she was serious about Sjan-dehk.

Well, it was either that, or she was a really, really good actress, but that didn’t seem to be the case to Iyen, and she’d crossed paths, and arms, with many excellent liars throughout her service to Lady Adiyan. Most of the words that had left Kali’s mouth had carried far too many raw emotions, and had been laced with too much vitriol directed towards Iyen—which she deserved, to be honest—for them to be simple lies. Iyen still wasn’t certain what it was exactly that Kali felt for Sjan-dehk, but whatever it was, it evidently pressed hard on her heart. Or mind. Or both.

Regardless, it was enough for Iyen to decide that she’d play nice with her. For now, at least.

Besides, Sjan-dehk likely wouldn’t like it if she went ahead and started a fight—however unintentionally or accidentally—with Kali. 

[color=228B22][i]“Oh, it’s not a peace offering, silly,”[/i][/color] Iyen said with a giggle. [color=228B22][i]“This is a feast! You should eat…”[/i][/color]

Her words trailed off as she noticed Kali’s attention fixed on something across the hall. Following her gaze with her own, Iyen turned towards one of the hall’s entrances just in time to see the well-decorated hem of an elegant, flowing outfit disappear around a door. Was that one of the ‘dangerous ghosts’ Kali had talked about earlier? The look on her face, and the air of tension about her, certainly suggested so. 

Iyen knitted her brows. She swept her gaze around the hall to search for any suspicious individuals, for all the good that did—she didn’t know enough of local ways and customs to even know what was considered suspicious by Caesonian standards. And she felt quite certain that any clandestine agent of even middling skill would know to hide the more easily recognisable, universal tells. 

[color=228B22][i]“Hm.”[/i][/color] That hummed, barely uttered syllable was all the sound she made as she looked at the long table at the head of the hall. The same altercation that had been taking place there when she’d taken her seat was still on-going. Only now it involved the man with whom Kali had been mingling. 

The very same man whom Iyen had seen receive a hug—not a fleeting one, but a lingering one that spoke of deeper feelings of some sort—from the pale girl who had earlier stolen Sjan-dehk’s attention. What was it about this man, attracting all the women Sjan-dehk spoke to? Was there some hidden feud between the two of them? If so, the Captain certainly deserved some praise for managing to build a rivalry with another person within weeks of coming to Caesonia. 

[color=228B22][i]“Well, you’re right,”[/i][/color] Iyen said as she turned back to Kali, a grin on her face. [color=228B22][i]“I can’t say I’ve got any ghosts coming after me. I’m not important enough for them to.”[/i][/color] She giggled and leaned in a little closer. [color=228B22][i]“But that means I’m good at getting rid of them. I’ve done that many, many times before. So don’t worry, Kali! You’re important to Sjan-dehk, which means you’re important to me too, you know? Nobody’s going to, according to you, ‘slit your throat’ without me doing something about it.”[/i][/color]

Her voice lowered as she continued, and took on a more earnest tone. [color=228B22][i]“And I guess I should apologise as well, Kali. I was wrong about you.”[/i][/color] A sheepish smile crept across her face, but even that had the look of a mischievous grin. [color=228B22][i]“Well, I [/i]think[i] I’m wrong about you, so please don’t prove me wrong, okay? It’d be really, really troublesome, otherwise!”[/i][/color] She gave Kali a look that told her that she was just being funny. [color=228B22][i]“Sjan-dehk and I have looked out for each other for years, that’s all. Oh! And speaking of him…”[/i][/color]

She nodded to the Captain, behind Kali. [color=228B22][i]“Maybe you could tell him what you told me? About you shielding him from your ghosts? Because if I know him well, and I really do know him well, he’s sitting there thinking that he did something to piss you off.”[/i][/color] She lowered her voice even more, until it was just a whisper meant only for Kali’s ears. [color=228B22][i]“And really, don’t worry about him. He’s got a knack for facing shite odds and finding a way to come out on top. And to be honest, if he’s really set on protecting you, you’re not going to keep him away from your ghosts for long.”[/i][/color] She smirked. [color=228B22][i]“You’d have an easier time making that crazy bastard swim back to Jafi!”[/i][/color]

Iyen leaned back just as another servant arrived. 

“Compliments of Captain Durmand. Behind you and to the left, with the mantle of a boar.” He set a mug on the table, something which immediately caught Iyen’s attention. She’d been receiving glasses all night, so far. This was clearly something different. "I believe she thought you were dissatisfied with the wine. Please, enjoy.”

She nodded, then looked over her shoulder at the indicated woman. [color=228B22]“Thank you,”[/color] she mouthed, and gave her an appreciative smile. 

Then, she turned back to Kali. [color=228B22][i]“Anyway, where was I?”[/i][/color] She picked up the mug and sniffed its contents. A pleasantly sweet aroma—not cloying, but a gentle sweetness—wafted up her nose. [color=228B22][i]“Oh right! If you want my advice with the Captain, just talk to him. He's not that scary. And I’ve got a feeling that you’ll discover something surprising.”[/i][/color] Her voice took on a melodic, sing-song quality towards the end, and she grinned. Then, she took a tentative sip from the mug. Like its smell, the drink’s taste had a smooth, lightly honeyed flavour that flowed easily down her throat. 

[color=228B22][i]“Oh my, this is good!”[/i][/color] She giggled, then held the mug out towards Kali. [color=228B22][i]“You should try it, Kali! And maybe[/i] this [i]can be my actual peace offering?”[/i][/color]