[b]TEAM RELAXATION[/b]

It is past midnight in the most luxurious resort this side of Aestival, the evening after a grand ball which had the greats and worthies of Thellamie all in attendance in their fineries and their resplendences. What this means, in practical terms, is that if you sneak down the corridor and descend two flights of the new backup stairways, you can get [i]leftovers[/i].

Steamed Aestivali crab simmered in goblin-butter. Rich tomato soup from Vespergift, with Crevasi chickpeas and a loaf of bread from the tops of the Kel mountains. Those little sandwiches cut into squares. On top of all that, there's still champagne, violet shots straight from Crevas, and bubbly-water-with-fruit-in.

Most of the folk in attendance in this particular after-hours cafe are the employees of the Chrysanthemum, and they're coming off duty. Ties are being loosened, jackets are being shucked, high heels are being stacked on an unused table. Technically, there's a night shift, but they're cleaning up the absolute mess left downstairs, which means that the mood is eat-as-you-please, grab a seat and ask if anyone minds you stealing a piece of the sausage-and-mushroom flatbread.

And you know whose presence means that you're welcome as part of the crowd as part of the [i]crowd[/i], rather than as guests to be skirted around? One Mayzie, right here, who seems to know [i]everybody's[/i] name. She used to work here, after all - and that still means something to the hosts, even if she's moving into different fields at the moment (which is to say, construction brokering).

[hr]
[b]TEAM QUEST[/b]

The wry smile playing on Alcideo's lips is a knife, [i]Cutie[/i]. He's not going to bail you out of this one: handmaidens of the Hero of Ages are outside his paygrade, unless you mean to make it very much worth his while (which is to say, got him a crown or the like). But he's not going to combo with Cair, either, to absolutely dunk on you.

The noise that comes out of Keli and Seli is not a bweh. It's much more of a "HOEH?!" And a lot of offended jingling (and, admittedly, now that you might be paying attention to it, Hazelkins, some offended bouncing).

"Are you going to--"
"--let your handmaiden say such things--"
"--to two pure and innocent maidens, Heron-senpai?" (You may blame Yuki for this.)
"I'll ground [i]her[/i] if she doesn't--"
"--watch her step, yah?"
"Hazel~ don't drink that nasty potion~"
"Come over here and let's get that starlight out--"
"--and then you'll get to be a hero with--"
"--Heron, the greatest of heroes ever--"
"--instead of fussing with [i]washboards~[/i]"

Either way, Cair or the Twins, it's time for you to get a move on! Time's a-wasting, my heroes! The longer you linger, the easier it will be to someone to catch up to you. And I think you all know who might notice you sneaking out of Vespergift into the hateful briar-choked woods beyond...