(adapted from live play)

November 27th


A Lunatic and an Elf Explore Adenna--Pt I


Having drank a little (read: a lot) too much the night prior, as was the norm these days, Raye had been intercepted (luckily) by Corlanthis as she was attempting to break into Jono's house to rescue her shoes from their neglectful treatment. She was rather fortunate she had a friend in the vigilante justice business, wasn't she? Especially since the targeted house had a state-of-the-art alarm system and the owner was an expert marksman.

This was how she found herself clothed in boxers inside out and backwards and some weird sort of nightshirt that was apparently (hopefully) not Cor's; he wouldn't look so good in the pink ruffles, of course.

Lashes fluttered slightly to indicate she was awake and the groan of pain indicated the sorry state of her condition; there was apparently a marching band composed entirely of drummers pounding out a horrid cacophony inside her skull.

The marching band was Cor coming down the stairs from the upper level of the townhouse. And as his boot hit the lower level and he strode forward with the air of grim determination, he peered over at Raye, blinking. "Raaaaaye! C'mon! I can't believe you're still sleeping! You need to get up! Get dressed. . . " Cor's expression turned to one of puzzlement. as he blinked at Raye's outfit. "Where did you get my Ceremonial RUDE Chairman's shirt, from?" Which meant it, of course, was Cor's. (Of Cor's?). Then he was shaking his head and putting his business face back on. "C'mon, c'mon lazy bones. Adenna's not gonna wait and I've got a lot of people to yell at before the day is through!" He paused there, clenching a fist and averting his eyes to glare at it. Adenna would pay. Everyone would pay. . .

Annnnd...this is the moment that the almost break in from the night prior would come roaring back into her mind. "Oh gods, Cor...do you need to scream at me? Really?" A hand was lifted and waved dismissively at him as she attempted to cover her head with a pillow. "Ssshhhhh" Oh yes, she just shushed him, alright.

Of course, Raye wasn't entirely sure where she found the clothes as she didn't remember changing or even arriving here last night. The last she remembered was Operation: Shoe Rescue being derailed by...."Corlanthis! You caused my mission to fail! MY POOR SHOES! They will suffer more because of your interference." At this point Raye was so upset that she forgot her sorry state of being and dragged herself up into a sitting position rather rapidly (or so she imagined...think slow motion).
"Oh gods, my head. What did you do to me?" Because, as usual, it was all Cor's fault.

Cor blinked out of his dark reverie and stared at her for a span of moments before shaking his head. "You drank too much." Said with the consideration and lack of empathy that only the non-drinker can muster in the face of those more alcholically inclined. In fact, it was a wonder he wasn't grinning openly at her condition. But then, he was more than a little distracted by the goal of the day: to personally yell at every single person in Adenna.

He found himself begining to entertain more thoughts as to what he'd do upon arriving before shaking his head to clear it. Another glance back to Raye and he was urging her into motion with flippy hand gestures. "Besides, I didn't stop anything! All I did was catch you and ask you if you wanted to go along with me to Adenna! They have insulted my honor and I am going to make them suffer for it! You were all excited about it last night! Don't you remember?" Cor thought she was excited about helping him enact his revenge upon the whole city. . . .

"No, what I remember is almost gaining entrance into the prison where my shoes are being held and then..." Raye's brow furrowed as she tried to recall what happened next. "You were there and then everything went black. You obviously did something." She was just about to launch into a tirade about him doing evil things and obviously working with Jono to keep her shoes hostage when the rest of what he said caught up to her mind. Forgive her for the less than speedy mental processing...the loss of her children (shoes) was enough to cause this; nothing at all to do with the mass quantities of booze she had consumed.

"We are going to Adenna? Gods, Cor...why didn't you say so? Dyarhk lives there. I will demand a personal tour and then he can direct me to all of the greatest stores. I will rebuild!" Rebuild her army of footwear. Apparently, for the first time in a very long time, the elfess was actually focused upon a solitary goal.

Jumping from the couch, Rayvinn groaned audibly as the top of her head attempted to fly away. "I need coffee before I travel anywhere. Please tell me you have coffee." She was already flitting around the living room looking for her own clothing as she had no intention of arriving in Adenna dressed in such a manner. Obviously Merci had picked out this outfit for her to sleep in, she would need to help the girl learn to be more fashionable. "Alright, Cor...coffee and my gold. That is what I need, I will be ready as soon as you get me these things." He had been upgraded from Destroyer of Missions to personal assistant, apparently.

Cor was just happy he wasn't being blamed for something. But! The day was still young! Unfortunately for Cor, he mistook her enthusiasm for shoe shopping as enthusiasm for helping him plan out the most efficient course of chastisement. He scratched at his chin, eyes distant. "Yes. Yes, going about to all of the shops would probably be best. We'd be in public locations with more people. They'd be out working, and shopping, not at home. Good thinking, Raye!"

And then, at her request he nodded decisively, still somewhat lost in his own thoughts, however. He went into the kitchen and looked around for coffee. But, finding none magically awaiting his arrival, he just poured Raye a glass of iced tea instead. It was kind of like coffee, right? Then went and carried that back over to her. Once it was set on the end table next to the couch, Cor moved to that front closet in which he'd stashed her gems so long ago. He rapped his knuckles on it, then spoke, "Hey. It's me. I need one of the bags of gold in there. A small one, belt-pouch sized." Then he waited for a few moments before opening the closet door. A small bag tumbled out through the opening and Cor picked it up before closing the door. "Thanks!" and maybe it was just everyone's imagination, but a very faint, even to super-human senses, "No problem. . ." might have been heard. Cor added that next to the tea on end table, then looked expectantly at Raye. Why hadn't she changed yet?!

Rayvinn had been changing. In fact, she was out of the boxers and into her jeans and had just pulled off the weird ruffled ceremonial Rude shirt only to find that she had on her own t-shirt beneath. She looked at the iced tea and then the small bag of gold then looked back at Cor; her face devoid of expression. When he failed to go back to the kitchen to get her coffee or to get her a reasonable amount of gold she simply blinked for nearly a minute as this was processed.

Something was broken here. She had requested coffee and her gold and Cor was just standing there with his tea and a small bag of gold. Confusion was the first expression to grace Raye's face as she furrowed her brows. "What...is...this? That is not coffee or my gold." Sitting down once more, she began pulling on her boots as she awaited an explanation.

Cor was back to shoo'ing at her with his hand, having been fluttering around the townhouse, gathering last-minute items. One of which was the designer handbag that had accompanied Cor's invitation to take part in the Adennan Swim-suit Competition. Cor stared at it. And it stared back at him. Metaphorically. If a tumbleweed had been diverted in it's ramblings, and rolled between Cor and the bag, it wouldn't have fazed him one tiny bit. There was even a slight snarl in the back of Cor's throat before he finally took the rest of the gifts and dumped them all into the handbag. He picked it up by it's straps and turned to rejoin Raye in the living room. He paused as she simply stared at him, his brow furrowed. "What? What are you going on about? Look, we can get coffee in Adenna. And yes, that is some of your gold. I'm not lugging around half a ton of money for you!"

Oblivious to his shooing, Raye finished pulling on her boots and then stood up as her gaze honed in on the handbag he was carrying. Refocusing upon Cor?s face, her gaze narrowed before returning to the bag once more. "If you are now carrying handbags, fine...but is that a DeCausey?" She apparently didn't believe he should be carrying around such a bag. And so...Raye did what she always did, she decided to inspect, moving towards him to take the bag.

"Fine...coffee in Adenna. You are buying and it will be gourmet to make up for your lack of hospitality. I also have no idea what you think will happen with such a small amount of gold. I might get two pairs of shoes with that IF they are on sale." Definitely not enough gold to rebuild the army! Her hand was held out expectantly even as she spoke. "I require far more. Just get me a bag this size of the gems and I will find someone to help me." Help her do something illegal...in a city she had never been to before. No problem! Impatiently, she wiggled her fingers as she awaited.

"Yeah. It might be. I dunno." He looked down at the label of the handbag, then shrugged because something else occured to him. Cor looked thoughtful for a moment, eyes squinting before he nodded slowly. "Right. Right. Good thinking. We want to keep up appearances as best as possible so no one suspects our real reason for being there." He went back to that closet door and knocked three times in a quick stacatto beat. Then two longer thumps. A kick. Two more taps, another kick. And then some frantic pounding with his fist. Some more waiting, then and Cor once again opened the closet door.

This time a bag about half the size of the designer handbag came out, replete with padded shoulder straps. There were multiple pockets. One pocket held some of the unchanged gemstones, the others held a much more expansive supply of gold. And the whole bag was enchanted to be light-weight and manageable. He hefted it up and held that out to Raye. "This should be better. I think. NOW, can we go? Or is there anything else you think we should get first?"

Raye decided to take both bags and sat them upon the couch as she dug through the one full of gold and gems. A slight shrug of too-thin shoulders was given as she pushed that bag aside and started on the designer one. "That might be enough. If we run out of money then you can perform or something. Or we could take a government official hostage for a ransom." The entire thought was spoken with the same softly musical voice, no difference in tone as she spoke of committing a felony.

A slight squeal was given as she finally found the stitching on the inside of the bag that marked it as a De Causey. "You will carry the other bag and this one is mine." Even though it did have some dark red accent work on the shoulder strap. He would just have to deal with it...he wasn't the only person that loved that color. Hmph. Of course, in order to find that stitching, Raye had dumped everything out of the bag.

"Mints! Yumm." Tossed aside so that she could pull the ceremonial cinquedea from its sheath. "Pretty...worthless for efficiently gutting someone, however." Apparently Raye didn't realize it was just decorative. The bottles of shampoo were next, each uncapped and sniffed followed by a quick nod. Moving on to the men's watch, she barely gave it a glance before tossing it towards Cor as her sights were set upon the toy dog. "Cute. Okay...I don't understand what all of this is about but you get a watch and a useless dagger. That was nice." Rayvinn nodded a few times before putting the mints and toy dog into the bag along with two of the small bottles of shampoo. The last bottle was tossed in Cor's direction. "You need that bottle more than I do." Nose wrinkled slightly as she looked at his hair.

On the whole, Cor was probably getting the better end of the deal. He didn't mind her claiming the foofy bag, while leaving him with the money. If anything his would be the lighter of the two in the end. The watch and bottle of shampoo hit his chest and bounced to the floor below, the dagger was casually sidestepped if she tossed it to him as well. And as she rambled on, Cor continued to nod thoughtfully. "We'll want to be careful about upsetting local politics though. For all we know, that may be how Adenna elects new officials." Note that Cor did not bat any eyes at kidnapping either. And was actually suggestion caution so that there'd be less danger if they did attempt it. He casually scooped up the mints and popped one in his mouth.

Then while she was busy he reached up and ruffled his hair about before pulling his hand down and smelling it. It didn't smell bad to him. . . Then, just for good measure, he sniffed gingerly at his armpits. Nope, everything was in order! Luckily for Cor, he'd kept the transportation card separate from the gift bag. "Okay. Anything else? Yes? No? Too bad! Because we're leaving NOW." And with that, regardless of any further protests Raye might have had, Cor pulled the object from his pocket and pressed his thumb against it hard. He didn't know what a calculator was, but he stayed that way until whatever was going to happen happened. And then, it did happen. There was light. Magic. Action! Annnnnnnnnd then they were off and away!

Cor received a glare as he took a mint. "It couldn't hurt to ask if you want something, Corlanthis. I mean, is it really so impossible for you to be polite?" A melodramatic sigh was huffed and she was entirely oblivious to the irony of her statement.

"Oh gods...so gross. You will not be behaving that way in Adenna, Cor. We can buy better clothes but I cannot purchase proper manners for you," she chastised.

"Yes I am ready to go." Raye picked up the bag and stood patiently as she awaited transport.

The two of them frequently went back and forth this way but she might be just a wee bit harsher today than normal. Why? Because he had interrupted her mission to rescue her shoes. Also, she was horrendously hungover. Coffee...Raye needed coffee if Cor was to survive this.

Taken from the folder: Frisson with permission of Dyarhk. Thank you.

Feel Free to Abuse the Catering-Pt. I

It was not long after their lunch of soba noodles was completed that the pair of Dyarhk and Christopher Andan were becoming creative and inventing new ways to recline in a desk space. Neither chair they were in were suitable for such performing functions as reclination, but that was where the creativity came in, and especially with the kicking of the feet up. Again, the second desk, not a lot of traffic.

But that would all change, and no sooner than either man had gotten their eyes closed for a brief resting moment of absorption, and time to reflect on the delicious meal they had just had and exorbitantly priced c*cktails. An entourage of sword-lance toting Lily of the Valley (special ops) guards had come bringing another pair along with them over. The pair bore a striking resemblance to Dyarhk the closer they got.

At the head of them had been Mage, a swordsman who toted around an enormous sword known as the All-killer, a sword that put his 250 kg. axe The Gods' Edge to shame. Never a man to look like he was having fun with anything, the situation was no different here. Chris approached problems and issues a bit differently than Mage (known also as the All-killer), though. He sighed and prepared for their eventual meet with optimism. Neither of the two of them got up from their chairs.

?What can I do for you, Mage? Would you like one of our deluxe prisoner suites?? Chris suggested, regarding the company he had been bringing with him. Mage did not look interested.

?I still think opening this competition to the outside was a bad idea. I caught these two outside a coffee shop making a bit of a scene. And this one made physical threats toward a young boy putting up contest advertisements.? Mage said, thumb-jerking to Cor.

?He said he was going to wring his neck if he put anymore of his posters up.? Mage said, incriminating Cor.

?That's right!? the boy said, the witness, the victim.

?Hahaha haha!? Dyarhk laughed back into his chair.

Mage regarded him with disinterest while Chris turned to face him. ?Is there something I missed?? He asked.

Dyarhk merely waved his hand for them to wait until he had gotten the funny out of his system. First, he rose and placed his hands on the counter in this romantic and intimate lighting to make eye-contact with the boy. ?Ahh, Cody. Little Cody. How reputable your word is. Mage, I'm sure you remember how he accused Charles the carpenter of trying to kill him with his fruit cart when it was he who broke then wheel off it? Or perhaps when he said Eizou of all people kidnapped him and took him to the mud demon's isle to coverup his own adventuring of the dangerous terrain? And who can forget the time he said Little Mishelle hit him, first.? sealing the deal with debonair grin.

?Um,? Cody began. He was in hot water now. He looked up to Mage to discern if he was still on his side. It did not seem to favor him so well anymore. ?Whatever! He's still weird!? and he would be gone, much more easy to navigate the crowd with his tinier frame. Watching Cody depart, Mage acknowledged Dyarhk had a point. Chris had already dismissed the charges and was smiling on the verge of laughter at the young boy caught by none other than his reputation.

?Now this one?? Dyarhk pointed at Raye. ?She did everything you accused her of.? Incriminating her himself, but understand, he could not do this without rounding that desk to stand on their side and present open arms to Rayvinn while wearing a big, smiling face. ?I can't believe you two made it!? said over her shoulder. He would bounce happy eyes over to Cor. ?Raye, you are looking so good. I hope you're here to compete, eh? Put these girls in their places??? He'd return from this embrace to absorb all that energy from her face. After all, what else had the elf been made of but energy (and shoe craze)?

?Cor! I can't imagine what brings you here!? Taking the man's hand with some brute strength and applying it furthermore in a vigorous shake. You only gave this to the best of your male companions, for the record.

Mage rolled his eyes but did not sigh. ?Just keep your friends out of trouble. I have other things I'd rather be doing than breaking up riots.? And he would depart, presenting that sworded back to them and starting on his way back through Acier Hall. He had admirers of that All-killer weapon All-the-way out the door.

No doubt, Cor could not be won over with pleasantries and loving greetings. And upon filling Chris in on the true story, Chris would nod in understanding. ?Ah, so you're the mysterious recipient of the Pink Achievement. I see now,? He turned back to his desk and collected his due payment from Dyarhk and other affects before regarding the cartwheeler once more. ?Here's your right here.? thumbing to Dyarhk who stood stiff and then put on a very guilt-conscious smile and brow-hang.

Of course the Palliator had scooped up Rayvinn randomly to sit her on-top of the desk and hand her up his drink while whispering simple little things. It was too bad Cor was not a female, not only could he have competed, but he could have most assuredly been getting this sort of attention as well. ?Taste this, you'll love it. It's made with a fruit indigenous to this area... and some very expensive liqueur.? Among other things he whispered to her, ?Have you been to De Causey's store yet?? ?I'll show you all the best places to eat,? ?Do you two plan on staying? Come on. You've got to stay,? a knee touch from the handsy man. ?Come on. I insist. One night at the very least. You and Cor both. You gotta experience it for yourselves. There's nothing like a night here at the Slipkey.? He could go on for hours, and they probably had at one point or another. He had to tear attention off the opposite sex and regard his long-time friend once more, Cor.

?Ahh, Cor, my friend. I sure am sorry about this.? unrolling one of the posters with his name on it and pressing it against his chest seemingly like he were wearing it, but that had not been the case! ?I promise you, we're in the process of rounding up all these. And if you wanna hit me, let's do it in private! I've got a bad enough rep as it is.? He snickered, placing the poster back onto the desk where it rolled back as it had been trained.

?No, by all means, hit him in public,? Chris murmured to Corlanthis as he began to pass this group. ?I'm going to take care of a few things. It was nice meeting you both. Just... stay away from Cody, and you should be fine. As for him, rough him up as you see fit.? One more regard to Dyarhk. A tip of the imaginary hat and he was on his way down the hall but not out the door.

Dyarhk clapped his hands and rubbed them together. ?At long last, we are alone and out of the watchful eye of the management.? He went behind the desk again and ran fingers over all the keys on the hooks. ?I can tell you two've already been through a lot by running into that little troublemaker. But more than that, Cor, you've been mentally and physically exhausted by this little prank of mine, which I apologize for. Let me make it up to you both. I'll get you a room... or, two rooms?? He had thought he was good on with his first suggestion. He knew Raye had stayed with Cor at his place, but wasn't sure on the sleeping arrangements. He made noticeably vague his unsureness. Better to live and have not been slapped than to have ever lived at all (slap: n. archaic. Primitive word for the much more modern punch administered by the insulted party. Popular among elves.).

He summoned one key and rounded the desk once more. ?You know what, there's enough room in a single room. Three bedrooms, you guys should be fine. I'm not being stingy or cheap, or anything.? He reassured, coming to stand between the two and play with the key idly to busy his hands. ?Hey, had to get you here one way or another, didn't I.? He'd smile to Cor.

?Come on. I'll show you to your suite. To the elevator...? He led the way.

Ever the Optimist

Rayvinn struggled against the hand at her elbow, guiding her towards who knew what. ?I am not sure just who you think you are, Sir, but you will regret this...this...accosting me in such a way! You may take your hands off of me right this instant before I snap your finger bones like twigs.? Another jerk of her arm and half a step to the side had Rayvinn free of the guard. As he looked to approach her once again, her spine stiffened into her most regal posture and she regarded him haughtily with a cool jade gaze; lashes at half mast as she stared him down. ?I am quite capable of walking without your assistance, thank you very much.?

And that was that. She disregarded the man as if his existence had never occurred to her and the party proceeded towards where the two men were lounging. Was that...?Dyarhk!? Raye?s hand was lifted in a princess wave, a sweet smile lit up her features even as she hissed at the guard. ?Oh you are in so much trouble now. You just wait. He is a friend of mine.?

As their crimes were listed for Dyarhk and his companion to judge, Rayvinn was the poster child for the wrongly accused prisoner. She had affected a little pout upon her glossed voluptuous lips and blinked several times; quite the pretty picture of innocence. Until Dyarhk incriminated her!

A little snicker escaped past the pout and soon enough a smile split her features as she launched herself into his open arms. ?I am so happy to see you. You just wouldn?t believe the trouble Cor is trying to get me into!? Oh yes, let?s blame it all on Cor. Though this time...it really wasn?t entirely all Raye?s fault. Cor was a madman!

Rayvinn allowed Dyarhk to sit her upon the desk and without a moment?s pause she was sipping the offered drink. Let?s face it...Raye wouldn?t likely turn away from alcohol and the elf in her wouldn?t turn away from fruit so this was the perfect concoction. Dyarhk?s whisperings had her laughing as she sipped the expensive drink; a hand was placed upon his arm as she replied to his inquiries. ?I have not been to De Causey?s yet but I thank you for the bag. It is simply gorgeous.? No matter that it had been Cor?s present. What did he need a designer bag for anyway?!

Dyarhk was one of less than a handful of people that were allowed unrestricted access to Rayvinn?s personal space without receiving either a dangerous look or worse, so when Mr. Handsy placed a hand upon her knee, she didn?t acknowledge that anything was wrong with him doing so. ?Of course I plan to stay. You have invited me before and now I am here, so I see no reason not to. I am not so sure Cor will wish to stay. He is quite angry and has been tearing down posters and yelling at people since we arrived.? A casual dismissive wave of her delicate hand was given before Raye took another sip of the drink and tipped it towards Dyarhk so he could do the same.

For those (and this would be most people) that had not experienced a giggly, girly Rayvinn; this would be an eye-opening moment. She turned into this completely different woman around Dyarhk, feminine and sweet, and would feel no shame for becoming what she usually detested. This was different, after all. This was not behaving like a floozy, it was just behaving the way one was inspired to behave and Dyarhk had always inspired lovely sweetness from the otherwise tough elf. Rayvinn was just completely comfortable with Dyarhk and felt her defenses crumble around the man anytime the two were within proximity to one another. She had dubbed him ?Comfort? for a reason, after all.

She would, of course, blame it on their early morning walk so very long ago when they were eating cotton candy and watching the sunrise. Dyarhk had taught Rayvinn a very important lesson that morning and he would forever reap the benefit from imparting that wisdom to the confused and self conscious elf. The benefit he reaped at this moment was that special-only-for-him ?sunrise and cotton candy? smile. The one that lit up the elf?s features as if she were infused with rays of sunshine that radiated outward.

Rayvinn watched Dyarhk unroll the poster of Cor and coughed delicately behind her fingertips, also stifling a snicker that was threatening to expose her as the immensely mischievous trouble maker that she was trying so very hard not to be. ?He looks resplendent in those posters. I am sure someone has altered the image or perhaps took the picture of his left side...that is his best side, after all.? Was it odd that she knew which side was Cor?s best side?

As soon as Dyarhk and Chris began discussing Cor beating Dyarhk up, Rayvinn finally allowed that lightly impish giggle to be heard, followed by several more before Chris was bestowing niceties that required Rayvinn to direct a smile his way before grinning back up at Dyarhk. ?He says I can rough you up. What do you say? Wanna go a few rounds? I can pretty you up with some bruises so you look good for the contest!? From any other source, that sentence could be taken as sarcasm but from the elf, it was sincere. Bruises were beauty marks, after all...badges of honor to be worn with pride.

As Dyarhk lifted the room key, Raye snorted. ?I brought plenty of money to pay for my room.? It never occurred to her just what Dyarhk was asking when he asked if she and Cor needed one room or two. The idea he had was so far removed from her thoughts that she just didn?t notice any issue. ?Cor can sleep wherever he wants to. I can share my room or you can share a room with him or I can get him his own room? A slight shrug was given to show it was a non-issue. Then Dyarhk decided and everything was settled.

?What exceptional service we are receiving. I am going to have to speak with management to give you a raise.? Raye walked behind Dyarhk and Cor on the way to the elevator, finally looking around the place with more than a cursory glance. Elegance and luxury...the elf was suddenly very glad she made the decision to vacation here for a few days. Nevermind that it was supposed to be a mission of vengeance that was all Cor?s idea. She decided it was a vacation and that was a happier occasion, therefore it was the new reality.

However awkward Dyarhk might have been in that elevator, Rayvinn was definitely not experiencing any discomfort at all. Palms were pressed to the metal railing against the elevator walls and pressure applied so that she was holding herself off of the ground and swaying her legs. That was what she was doing...until...the music came on!
The elf immediately began to rock her upper body, fingers silently snapping to the beat. The real action was happening below the waist however. Stepping to the right with her leading leg giving a little bent knee twist followed by her left doing the same, she repeated the right-left leg shuffling to the right for a total of four moves. As she began the movements again to the left side, upper body gaining a deeper grooving momentum in beat with the music, she noticed Dyarhk in perfect harmonious step with her. He was given a wink and an appreciative grin even as she worked the four steps to the left. Both of their right feet kicked up with the heel remaining upon the floor rapidly followed by the left then right then left once more before Raye was shaking all the booty the Gods had graced her with as she took those four shuffling steps that turned her to the right.

Looking over she noticed, with amused surprise, that Dyarhk was still shuffling -- and shaking his rear end for all it was worth. Raye teasingly whistled at him before she began the process all over again and led them through one more round of what the more modern world would know as the Cupid Shuffle.

She would have continued, despite the lack of space within the elevator and the fact that Cor did not appear to be even slightly amused but the elevator dinged and the doors opened. Rayvinn shuffled herself right on out the open elevator doors and onto that plush burgundy carpet in the hallway of the fifth floor. She continued to groove along as she followed Dyarhk, sure to shake her rump and hipcheck Cor twice on the way. Poor Cor!

As soon as Dyarhk opened the door to the room and stepped aside Raye zipped past, took one look around and out the window to the view of Adenna and nodded. ?This will be my room. Cor can have whatever others...both if he wants. But..yeah.? Running leap onto the bed before she rolled around a half dozen times and then stood and jumped a few times before one final hard jump to bring her higher into the air so that she could do a midair front flip. Landing perfectly upon her feet, there wasn?t even a pause before the elf was running from the room and over to the baby grand piano.

Long elegant fingers tinkled lovingly over the keys, coaxing a wistful and romantic melody forth. (Chopin: Nocturne) Rayvinn only played a portion of the song before standing and moving around the room, looking at various items before moving into the other two bedrooms; all the while she listened to Dyarhk and called responses back to him.

?I don?t need a food massage therapist, Dyarhk...I have you for that since you love my feet.? Raye called from one of the other bedrooms as she rolled all over that bed as well.

Finally she rejoined the two, offering a bright smile for them both. ?I think I can stay here tonight.? It wasn?t the Red Dragon but she would make do with the quiet and lack of every murderous creature known to man creeping around the floor below her room.

As Dyarhk suggested they meet up for dinner, Raye nodded several times. ?I will need to go shopping for suitable clothing. What time are we meeting you in the lobby?? Even as she asked, she was opening the small icebox and pushing bottles aside until she found a bottle of grape juice and two chilled glasses. Both were poured partially full and one was held out to Cor. She would have offered Dyarhk a drink as well but he was already zipping out the door.

Grabbing the various menus, Rayvinn perused them half-heartedly until she saw just the thing she needed. ?They have a personal shopper for hire. I can have her take my measurements and go shopping for my dress for dinner and we can go swimming! Or I can nap. Or a bubble bath. Or a foot massage.? Headcant as all of the possibilities presented themselves and there was suddenly a danger of her head exploding.

?Cor, I do wish you would stop being so angry and just enjoy some time away from RhyDin and the stress of life there. There is a lot of fun to be had here. We have a ton of money to spend and they have a ton of things for us to spend it on. It is a win-win situation for everyone.? So bright and cheery. Adenna?s air apparently brought out the optimist in Raye and a good natured kiss was pressed to Cor?s cheek before Raye plopped down on the couch and promptly fell asleep...sitting up. It was like someone had flipped the switch to the ?off? position.

"Aw man. Already." Dyarhk removed his scarf to the inviting warmth of the place and continued down the tallest place in the restaurant which was the central walk that led down both sides of the stairs to the two dining spaces. Much easier to spot customers waiting to be seated this way, and even more so with this colorfully cast trio led by that yellow scarf and those silver and black pants. A mongoose by any other name. Just who had been eating this evening? A wide taste of personalities. Adenna's strong warrior women had been dining and laughing and conversing, and families with children had been doing much of the same. There was no wine-clinking going on here. Only mug-clashing and bountiful laughter.

A waitress caught sight of this party like was demanding of her position and moved to them.

"Hey! Three in your party?"

"Sure are!" Dyarhk replied enthusiastically to her, and she probably didn't need to hear that they were his good, good friends, which he felt the need to tell her.

"Is a booth okay?"

"It is more than okay." He replied to her, and she began leading them there. It was a treacherous walk, the less-skinnier of the group having to suck it in and squeeze by some seated customers to make it to the depths of the restaurant. Noisy, noisy, and then somewhat outside it when they reached their table. And Dyarhk, like the guest he was, offered Cor and Raye inside ahead of him.

Curious gaze flitted about the place as Raye took in every detail before stating very simply. "I like it here. People look happy." She craved that sort of happy, ate it up like it was a decadent treat. Slipping into the booth before Dyarhk, she smiled up at both of her companions. If Cor had wanted to share the seat with the man, he would have to fight a skinny elf for it. He might think he would win...

As they wandered the establishment, Cor let his emerald gaze start roaming the people present. He picked out a few routes that would make for convenient escape if the need arose. He even eyed a few of the safer looking windows with a thoughtful wrinkle of his brow, in case he needed to dive through one. And then Cor was shaken out of his reverie by the arrival of their hostess. As Dyarhk proclaimed their boundless friendship, Cor ever so slightly tempered it with a minute shaking of his head from left to right before they were whisked away.

While Cor continued to observe the patrons, he nodded in agreement with Raye's observation, adding in, "Yeah. It's a bit of a different sight than in Rhy'din isn't it? Not that people aren't happy there, but it feels different here." And as Cor mused, they reached their table and Cor watched the elf dart in ahead of him. The squint to his eyes could have been just a trick of the imagination, but Raye was sure to see it if she'd been looking at his face just then. It was immaterial regardless, they hadn't come for the seating arrangement, they had come for the food which promised to be something amazing, and Cor huffed out a sight as he carefully slipped in behind Raye, seating himself next to her, almost to the point of their shoulders touching.
He took this moment to lean over, letting his mouth near Raye's ear before he spoke, just loud enough to be heard over the din. "By the way, you really look quite nice in red. You should wear it more often."

A smile then. Grand words from Cor given his taste in clothing.

Gray green hues were narrowed upon Cor, thick lashes lowering to a dangerous level. There were many reasons he received this reaction: the first was because he had altered her seating plan. Never. Change. Princess Rayvinn's. Plans. Ever. The second reason was because she was now fairy certain that this was not Cor, but an alien-inhabited Corlanthis. He was -never- this nice to her. Why was he sitting so close and whispering compliments into her ear? And what would be Raye's reply to Cor's sweet words? "Weirdo!" But at least she hadn't stabbed him, which had been her first reaction. Everyone knew if you stabbed someone that was potentially inhabited by other life forms, their blood would be green slime and there would be proof. She was on her best behavior, however.

Ah yes, there had been the food. Something Dyarhk would touch on as he slipped in beside Cor. This made the curved booth seating arrangements Raye - Cor ? Dyarhk, with Cor in the middle of all places. Somehow Raye had lost out on sitting next to her esteemed host for the duration of her vacation, but the night was still young, and there were many more plans capable of concocting to change this if she so desired.

"You guys are going to love this food. I've got two Rhy'dinian opinions carefully weighing on this, so I chose out eatery especially carefully. Particularly in your case, Cor, I think you'll be able to appreciate the food here, and why I chose to make Adenna, and its cuisine, where I call home. I hope you'll enjoy it." He finished folding his scarf many times over and working it into his coat he had now removed to keep the two together, and then handing it to the waitress who then asked if she could take anyone else's.

Dyarhk now showed his burly masculinity in a forest green short sleeve shirt with some white text emblazonment on the chest, and a long sleeve gray undershirt in wonderful contrast beneath that. His hand helped make always comfortable crow's nest out of his short head of raven hair. "Thank you very much, Miss." Leaving the menus alone and getting comfortable with a stretch and laced fingers behind his head, and a sneaky smile upon his company.

Scooting around the booth, Raye retrieved her coat and purse and then moved to the entrance of the booth and hipchecked the burly Dyarhk in order to get him to scoot over, which would force Cor to scoot as well. A stage whisper, not impossible for Cor to hear, was whispered in Dyarhk's direction. "Cor is acting weird and I don't think it is him if you catch my meaning." Eyes narrowed a bit as she cast her glance back towards him.

?Maybe he is a robot.? Dyarhk whispered back to Rayvinn not impossibly to Cor's hearing while he administered friendly back rubs to make note of the new seating arrangements.

"Can I start you off with something to drink?" She would ask this friendly party, and Dyarhk would move to answer for himself.

"I think I will have a beer boot of Silver Mark, thank you. And for my friends...?" He passed the drink ordering torch. The waitress would hear each their orders with what coats and winter gear she had been entrusted. All this of course after electronic-coding with plastic clamps each of their items. Very fancy! And then with their orders, she would head on to place their drink orders and send them their official waitress.

Rayvinn was happy to hand over her coat, mittens and earmuffs to the waitress, smiling warmly as she did so. "I will just have what he is having...Silver Mark." A little nod before she turned back to study Cor, then Dyarhk with a thoughtful expression upon her face.

A brief amount of time passed while they exchanged pleasantries and a few stories. Dyarhk just couldn't help but tell them about the time he first traveled to Huyglen, the world of the fairies, and was able to join in on the final days of Prince Rauland Dearing's ten year long crusade to rescue his betrothed Lia d'Ivri, a water pixy. How he wore a helmet no larger than a large acorn as part of his custom crafted armor specifically for the campaign was only apart of such a colorful and unique tale. Raye had already heard the story, but Cor, and a few listening ears from neighboring booths sure hadn't. It brightened his cheeks to pass the story on.


Cor settled back against the booth and began to quietly sip his tea and await the meal he had ordered. But once it appeared that Dyarhk was edging into story mode, Cor blinked back into full alertness and gave thanks for the fact that Raye had inadvertently freed his avenue of escape. He held up a hand, offering a quick smile as apology.

"Ah, if you'll both excuse me. I need to borrow the facilities of this fine establishment for a moment. . .sorry. Sorry to interrupt!" Cor was fighting to keep the smirk off of his face, Raye was flicked another wink before Cor darted away from the table before either of them could stop his escape. He probably went off in the wrong direction for the bathrooms, but that was fine. Cor simply hadn't wanted to get caught in the unavoidable mire of that tale. He ducked behind some tables, moved behind a counter, and slinked below a railing. A number of restaurant goers had started watching him and Cor just waved cheerily and offered them all smile.

"Hi there, how are you? Service here is great, isn't it? Enjoying your meal? You are! Fantastic! Is there anything we can do for you? No, I'm sorry, I can't stand up. Back problems you understand. Oh, yes, thank you for your well wishes! Have a good evening! Oh yes, and you too!" Then he was off. Slink slink slink. Occasionally he popped his head up and peered covertly at his table And when it seemed that story time was over, Cor reseated himself, giving another apologetic flash of his smile.

"Sorry. Was having some trouble. It all worked out in the end though." Cor settled back in to await the meal.

?Oh, Cor! I was just telling Raye about the time ? ? Dyarhk began, but was interrupted!

"I don't believe it. It's one of the swimsuit contestants!"

"It is?!"

"Yeah, look!"

"Oh, wow. I think you're right."

"No one would be eating here that beautiful unless they were apart of the swimsuit contest."

"Now, now, friends. Yes, Raye is a very beautiful woman, and yes, I told her to enter the swimsuit competition. But she refused. I'm sorry. But I am sure she appreciates the compliment." Dyarhk spoke in, proudly, for the elf. Even he was flattered that she had received such high praise. She was deserving of it as far as he was concerned.

"Nah, not her! Him!" The man said, pointing to Cor. "I wouldn't forget that face even if I only saw the poster once!" The man exclaimed, and a bit of a rowdy show began to assemble itself outside their booth. People turning around in their chairs just to see who the men were talking about, and of course one of them had been a woman who thought Cor was just to "die" for.

"C-Cor...?" Dyarhk said when a dizzying, wobbling of the head befell him, and the long-lasting damage of his prank was still seeping its venom in. But then... the overly loud chatter was abruptly silenced.

"QUIET!" A warrior man said with a very imposing black mustache. Make no mistake, he was thin. But he looked meaner and more combat capable than almost every person here.

"Crap! It's Isaias!" Random Diner Thug #5 said off-screen as everyone shuffled back to their seats.

In silence now, save for the bootsteps of the chef-dressed Isaias, the head chef himself walked over to and before Dyarhk, Raye, and Cor's table, staring at each of them before pointing very slowly at Cor. "You must be the one that placed that specific order. More things to not get wrong than things ordered..." He held out the meal ticket that Keldon had filled out for Cor, and the damn thing was almost full. "But I think more important than that..." He reached back behind him where a clean cleaver was always kept with its ringed hilt ever-protruding and swung down forward suddenly something that surprised all three at the booth and the entire restaurant that had been watching on with nail-biting interest!
It had been a poster of Cor! Damn, another one! Dyarhk was going to have to apologize something fierce for this one. But hold on a second? It was indeed a poster of Cor, but it was not the one he had put into circulation. No. This was an "old" poster of Cor, and by no means an official one. Cor would not have recognized its publication, but he would have recognized the style in which he was dressed in it as being more than a few years old. And it had been taken in/outside of Oh-Oh.

"I took an over-realms cooking course a few years back..." Isaias began. "A lot of what I had was nothing out of the ordinary. Leave it to the basic breakfast concoction, something I'm still very passionate about, to change my views on omelettes altogether! I had the best omelette I've ever had in my life at your establishment! If only I could cook an omelette like this one day, I told myself! And now the cook is in MY restaurant!! Corlanthis Wystansayr!!"

Isaias turned suddenly with arms up and rose the crowd into a cheer of high energy. He would turn again. "Well, this is a special occasion, indeed. Corlanthis, please consider your meal on the house tonight... But if you would please give me the great honor. You must cook a dish for a lucky customer in our diner tonight!!" More cheering followed, and like one of those birthday groups that approached your table, one would approach and further still increase Dyarhk and Raye's laughter/clapping at Cor's expense. Working Cor out of that booth in only the friendliest demeanor (but with the vicious power a mob commands), not even the windows would be obtainable in their clutches. Cor was worked into an apron and fastened and then guided back toward the kitchen with even more clapping. Dyarhk just could not stop laughing.

"Don't let him make my dinner!" Dyarhk snickered.

Cor cut a bemused glance Dyarhk's way as he tried to play the attention off onto Raye. His "fans" for the most part were completely ignored. That was how you made bad things go away, right? He looked over to Dyarhk, actually turning towards him now, and for a moment there was a hint of the fire and anger that had spurred Cor and Raye to Adenna in the first place. "You know. Your muscled thug was lucky he took us to you instead of doing something more drastic. I really didn't want to have to hurt anyone trying to get those posters down." This was offered in the off-hand tone of one who believed every word that had just been spoken. Not just with the surety of one trying to convince another person, but with the casual disregard that suggested Cor didn't really care if anyone believed him or not. It was just a simple statement of fact.
In the meantime, the adulation of Cor's fans (regardless of whether they were fans of the swimsuit poster or not) was music to Cor's ears as it grew in volume. He let off a few lofty waves now, a smile here or there. But as Isaias arrived and began to criticize Cor's order, Cor lifted a hand up, sputtering in protest. "It's just a pudding! Chocolate pudding! I wanted some caramel sauce on the side, and the skin nice and firm! If that's beyond your establishment's capability, clearly I was in error in allowing this place to be recommended to me." Cor's brows arched upwards and his tone was starting to get belligerent as it did when he was pushed on something. But then Isaias surprised him further by revealing that other, older poster.

Cor's mouth dropped.

"How..di..where. What?! How?" His brows furrowed. "I think I would have remembered if you'd eaten at Oh-Oh. .. maybe. . ." Cor did serve a lot of people. But then the crowd had taken the bit in its teeth and Cor was getting surfed on over to the kitchen. Raye and Dyarhk might hear a enthusiastic "WOOO!" as Cor rode (literally) the wave of adulation. Somehow, he even gained an apron. Sweet. He could use that at the shop. And then. The moment came. The kitchen. Cor approached the workspace, eying the racks and racks of implements. The stoves, the ovens. The cookwear. All of it with the trained eye of the omelet chef. Which to say was that he had only the slightest idea what most of it did. Omelets did not traditionally require much in the way of intricacy. But not knowing much about something had never stopped Cor before.

"Alright, my peoples! Let us do this!"

Dyarhk did wipe his mouth with a cloth napkin and place it on the table now instead of his lap to signify he was done. "Hot. Very hot," He fanned his mouth a few times. "I hope yours were good?" Asking them both.

Rayvinn had dug into her meal with the gusto of a starving individual that hadn't seen food in a week. This fervor ended within moments because she had honestly filled up on ale. She did, at least, taste everything on her plate once.

"That was so so good!" She answered in reply to Dyarhk's inquiry. Cor was looked upon, a long scrutinizing gaze that gave nothing away as to what the elf was thinking. Just be certain she had not forgotten that a certain someone was likely not whom he was pretending to be. She would be watching him closely. As for Dyarhk, Raye smiled sweetly up at him. "Thank you for bringing us here. But I insist on paying." She lifted a hand to forestall the argument she knew was coming. "I insist. And if you refuse, I will be forced to be less nice." Yeah right. She was always nice to him.

"Pay, then! Help me and my stomach up first though, Raye." Dyarhk asked of her when they began getting out of the booth to make a joke of his fullness and with all the appropriate grunts. Checking back to make sure Cor hadn't left anything behind because he would have hated for that to happen, he didn't see anything. Thank goodness. Then he made sure Raye had her purse and everything checked out. It was just down to collecting his and her coats now, and that was a simple scan of a process nearer the front entrance. A genuine thanks for coming was hollered out by Isaias, and then they would be on their way.

Coated and scarf-equipped, they were blown upon by the freezing winds outside once more, and reminded just how different it was from the heater that was hundreds of eating persons around you.

"Everybody got their doggy bags, I hope." Dyarhk Muttley-chuckled with a handsome smile. "I'll walk you lovely ladies home." He gestured with a cant of his head. Starting across the street of pink cobblestone (faintly noticeable at the late hour), and taking a much simpler route to back to the Slipkey. Probably surprising enough to make travelers of a more complicated way, go 'wow!' But it was only so amazing. Dyarhk looked at Raye as they soon stood before the front entrance.

"Goodnight, Raye. You two feel free to carry on the party up in your room. There's a bottomless pit of liquor in there, and it is called the telephone to the front desk. In-fact, treat it like a genie with infinite wishes. That's much more appropriate." He grinned brightly before enveloping her up in his arms once more for the night's farewell, then he was facing Cor. He held out his hand.
"Put her there, Iron Chef." He winked, taking his hand. "Mission accomplished. I don't think anyone around here is going to want to bother you again for a long time. Oh-Oh should even be peaceful. Just how you like it." He'd pocket his hands then and take a step back. "I'll see you guys around." He winked, and then headed off down the road enthusiastic as always.

End.