~After waking up with a cotton mouth from too much champagne, and too much strawberries with whipped cream, Devlin looked around the room and gathered his settings, then looked down seeing himself alone in the inn room he had rented upon his return to Rhydin. A grumbling to his stomach reminded him he had very little to eat the previous night' "The previous night' he thought and remembered. He had just made it into Rhydin upon hearing of a Masquerade Ball; he went to work seeing a tailor about fitting a Tuxedo, and black leather mask for the festivities. His hair well groomed, and pulled back into a tight ponytail, held with a silver dragon clasp behind his head, the mask form fitted so as for no need to use ties. His cane in hand he strolled from the inn, to the Great Hall, where the gala was to be.

Immediately upon entry a woman greeted him warmly, he assumed she was of course their host for the night, after exchanging polite pleasantries, a woman dressed in a very tight, and very little black leather bustier and garter set approached him. " I am without escort this night' she whispered to him after displaying herself, grinning, the flirt that he was, Devlin replied " Perhaps a roguish, but noble hearted man might be able to remedy that. It seems I am without a partner as well". The woman smiled, and took his arm as they entered fully into the room, ever the polite flirt Devlin offered something to drink for the lady, as he introduced himself to her, bowing to press a salacious kiss to the knuckle of her hand " I am Devlin Majere".

The woman played coy, at first not giving her name, she responded that perhaps a glass of champagne would do her well. Devlin nodded and extended his hand returning immediately with two such flutes, one being presented to the madam.

The woman's eyes perused Devlin's form, never removing from them from his deep blue eyes, taut muscled chest, as she asked if he'd eaten yet. As he had not, Devlin replied, the woman took his arm and escorted him over to the Hor D Oeuvres table. As they walked he flirtatiously placed his hand on the swell of her backside, she laughingly repositioned it to her hip, score one for Devlin. She took a single plate as Devlin took her champagne flute for her, she put on several finger foods, berries, meats rolled delicately, smiling at the woman's choice in food he spooned a helping of freshly whipped cream onto the plate, and then followed her over to the couch, he took the plate and flutes, holding them for her. While sitting upon the couch, the woman leaned forward with a strawberry and moved it towards Devlin's lips, awaiting him to open his mouth so she could feed him. Devlin responded by suckling the berry and just a bit of her fingers as well, past his lips, then running his tongue over his teeth softly to clear the juices. Devlin then took up a strawberry, and dipped it in the cream, slowly bringing it to the woman's face, her lips opened in anticipation, before Devlin teasingly 'dotted" the tip of her nose with the whip cream, and delivered the strawberry to her. His finger delicately cleaned off the whipped cream, before he suckled it into mouth. The woman huffed and turned her head, but he could read her body language as she fully enjoyed the flirtation, smiling coyly to herself while her back was turned. She then rolled a slice of meat and offered it to him, while he offered her a bite-sized piece of fudge.

The king had ordered "Dancing" but Devlin was not one for a highland fling, and the woman's short if non-existent dress and boots were by no means fit for such a fast romp. He suggested once the band began some slower ballads, and she acquiesced. They finally exchanged names, in which he learned she was Lady Lasherette of some sort. The tempo began to change, of course the money he'd tipped the band didn't hurt either. They got up to dance and Devlin serenaded her first with a short song his adoptive mother sang to him back on Krynn, granted his adoptive mother wasn't from Krynn, but truthfully, neither was he. "There for the grace of God go I" he sang softly, feeling her form melt in his arms, she pulled herself closer against him as he sand into her ear, he could feel the emotions swelling within her.

Somewhere during the second song while his eyes and attention was given completely to Lasherette, a pint sized thief tried to bump and go, with him. Devlin was fully aware of the pick pocketing, and not too worried, as things have a way of working themselves out with him. Lasherette however, was furious, and he could tell she was having a fight with the would be thief, he tried to return her attention to him. He felt the continued battle between the two of them in telepathy, so he interrupted both of them and of course sarcastically offered them a threesome, if he could just continue his evening.

That did seem to do the trick for them, the band struck another song, he had jokingly mind spoke to the leader to play "Black Velvet Band" a song about a whore-thief, and the young man she tricks into helping her, and both their misfortunes in a prison colony. Lasherette at first was not amused, but later she smiled, evening leaning tighter and closer to him, pressing her lips against his neck as she whispered 'very nice." Taking the press of lips to his neck as an intention and permission to move forward, but realizing the time, As the song finished Devlin pressed a chaste kiss to her lips, no fanfare, no bells or trumps resounding, and thanked her for the dance. The woman seemed shocked, she stepped back

Then the woman's, escort' Brother/husband seemed to appear to take her away. Escort. She had never once mentioned to Devlin that she was involved, or taken, in fact her dress, her behavior that evening was one of the wanton women, enthralled and enticed by the handsome rogue. Upset at being played the fool, Devlin and the man traded barbs, though the most vicious was indeed aimed at the harlot, whom Devlin had been enjoying the evening with. Then the would be thief entered, perhaps afraid of blood being spilt between Devlin and Brian, he would learn the mans name later, Brian and the thief began a interesting flirtation, the thief seemed intent upon pretending she was Devlin's sister. He had never seen the woman before in his life, but he knew her kind, one could not be a traveling man, a gypsy of sorts, and not be familiar with that type of rogue behavior. Then at the height of the argument, a loud blast from outside resounding, Brian screaming 'sniper" and Lasherette feinting like a seasoned professional.

Devlin looked to the window, his mind searching for a would be assassin, finding only a woman with far less knowledge about the use of rifles than needed, alive but uninjured, and Brian handling the situation, he returned to find someone trying to revive Lasherette. Yes the woman played the harlot, and had mislead him, even to the point lying about her actions with him, his sister Phantia would have him staked if he didn't try to help one of the Goddesses vessels. So he knelt with a cup of water and napkin, and wiped her brow trying to revive her, almost instantly she awoke, crying out about the safety of the baby. Devlin scanned her form, and tried to sooth her saying "The baby is fine, though he says he doesn't want you to eat nacho's anymore"

The woman half rose declaring "Liar and thief" as she struck him across the face. A growl came to the man, "I may jest now and then, but I never lie" and truthfully where the woman decided to call him a thief he didn't understand either. But he continued" But if you strike me again, I will more than curse you."

Brian attempted to intercede, as did the thief saying the woman wasn't in her right mind, Brian returning a threat of harm should he do something. "The woman I right, your mother, sister, wife, is not in her right state, so I will excuse her actions this time.? The woman was escorted to a private room to rest, as Devlin strode out.