[color=dodgerblue][center][h2]Intelligence Officer
[img]https://i.imgur.com/1v4GEuh.png[/img]
Lieutenant James Clearwell[/h2][/center]
Time:[/color] 10th Ignis, Evening
[color=dodgerblue]Location:[/color] Castle Ballroom - Starry Night Ball
[color=dodgerblue]Attire:[/color] [url=https://i.imgur.com/oVfIzdm.png]Formal Attire[/url]
[color=dodgerblue]Accent:[/color] Sorian Merchant Quarter
[color=dodgerblue]Interactions:[/color] Marina [@princess]
[color=dodgerblue]Mentions:[/color] Victoria, Nolan [@Remram], Count Calbert, Duke Vikena, Stratya [@me]

That was about all he could sensibly do, to attempt to counteract Victoria’s rumor mill, at least without drawing attention to himself. James made off to get more food, finding himself conveniently famished for more of the royal buffet.

He scanned the ballroom casually as he moved, spotting the important figures.

Duke Vikena and Count Damien. Duke Vikena looked about as ready to make a scene as ever. A lady fled the ballroom, followed by a lord.

Captain Durmand looked concerned. He followed her gaze and found the woman with the hood again. Did the hood mean something to her he was not aware of? Duchess Victoria had moved to the space near the hooded woman and the very tall Alidasht man - was he related to Shehzadi Ranya? Why else would Duchess Edwards move to speak to him, in the middle of her rumor game?

As he approached one of the tables, he saw a familiar figure minus a more familiar figure; Princess Marina, sans Nolan.

James slid up next to the Princess, casual but close.[color=dodgerblue] “Princess Marina. You’ve been getting along with my friend, I see. Good. I’m happy to see him making more friends.”[/color] He didn’t look up from picking his food, speaking with a tone that might have been him speaking to himself. Soft, difficult to hear for someone further away.

[color=dodgerblue]“I come to you in the interest of our good Captain. Yes?”[/color] He gave her a moment to understand what he meant, his tone plain and sincere.[color=dodgerblue] “Distasteful rumors regarding your brother and his new acquaintance have been spreading. I’ve done what I can to control the damage before it spreads or twists.”[/color] He examined a morsel from the buffet and popped it into his mouth. He tasted it, approved, and grabbed more.

No names. That could lay tinder.

He should not implicate Victoria without proof of what she was doing. [color=dodgerblue]“Her Excellence seemed particularly concerned with the,”[/color] his head turned just slightly, to give direction to the woman the Captain had been concerned with,[color=dodgerblue] “hooded woman, just over there, near what I assume to be the rumor mill.”[/color]

[color=dodgerblue]“Aah, but a squire can only do so much.”[/color]