---

A hand lifted with dismissal as a servant walked by with drinks in hand and she merely dismissed the gesture once more. Thirst did not come to her and Ekosha had little intentions on indulging in the alcoholic spirits as she remained attentive in the event she could be needed. Not that she had expected to be directly summoned: but in the off chance somone at least called for a physician she could be around just in case. In her defense also: she never did care for the taste or aftermath of a horrid hangover that came after. She’d hope though, to spend a little more time with the lady of the hour but such splendiferous events could never last long.

“I wonder if I could get a tour of this place,” she mumbled under her breath, small fractals of ice danced along her fingers then with idly entertainment. Perhaps she could stumble across a room of books - a library. Oh that sounded far more entertaining than mingling among strangers. She had no interest in business or financial affairs, or guesses of the next grand event and where it should take place. Politics and of the like. Maybe she could find a new book of arcane history, or – something in regards to herbology – something she didn’t already know.

---

When he’d accepted the invitation from Juliet he hadn’t quite expected something like this. Some grand affair for royals to flaunt their wealth and show off with the glimmer of fanciful adornments. Whatever, none of that mattered. He wasn’t here for them but now came the matter of actually finding the girl he sought within an unfamiliar sea. Attentions dancing over the crown in hopes of pinpointing her… without much luck. There were far too many people here for the deer’s liking, too many unknowns yet with them came glimpses of those he’d rather avoid.

Creatures he recognized. Enough known of them that they may attempt to swipe away the very glass cradled in his grasps. Already strangers had offered curious glances, others starting to speak before they were pointedly ignored. While Fineás didn’t know exactly what he had, and it did smell kinda funny, it still wasn’t something he was willing to relinquish so easily. This particular drink apparently tasted the best and he intended to find out if that was true for himself. An impartial jury of him and Juliet! Though if that rotten man was lying he’d just have to find him later and give that loser a piece of his mind.

All focus placed upon his own tasks that he almost didn’t notice the woman who seemed lost in herself. Nearly bumping into her as he caught the quiet phrases leaving her lips yet it is a snap of his tongue which greets her, “Watch it lady!” And just who the hell did she think she was talking to? Sure there were a number of people around yet she seemingly spoke to none. Focus seemingly held upon the fading crystallizations of ice upon her fingers, “Ice can’t hear you.” It couldn’t talk back. Neither could the majority of fire he’d encountered, the sprite which occasionally showed itself at the forge was another case entirely.

Yet this was not that. This was some lady apparently wanted to explore a home not her own and thinking her frozen fingers would grant her such opportunities. Tongue clicked, unable to resist the budding urge to speak, “Pretty sure this a party.” Not some showcase for all too see, “What're you gonna do? Try enticing a tour out of them with your tits hangin' out like that?” Gesture made toward the dip of her dress before a hand carefully returned to the goblet yet an eye hung upon her, “Why you wanna see their house so damn bad anyways?”

---

yes he has wine, no u can't take it from him he hasta share it with jukie
glass is not poisoned, obtained from stinky bruder

---

Watch it lady!

She wasn’t paying attention to where she was going or who could have been around her. So, it was no surprise to her startlement as she quickly side-stepped following the abrupt shout. Icy blue eyes blinked, as the crystals of ice slowly dissolved after her third side-step where she was met with the disgruntled teen. Ice can’t hear you. he’d add, agitation laced his tongue. Ekosha’s shoulders tensed slightly unable to piece her words together fast enough as the young boy continued to ramble on. She couldn’t help but gather given the snarky tone was some sort of sense of entitlement.

Pretty sure this is a party. Ekosha lifted her arms to where they would cross over each other and rest across her bosom. What're you gonna do? Try enticing a tour out of them with your tits hangin' out like that? Absently she would bring her hand to the upper curve of her chest with slight offense. Why you wanna see their house so damn bad anyways?

Ekosha felt her jaw tighten as she bit the inside of her cheek in a manner to refrain any volatile reaction that could potentially cause attention to pull towards them. “Aren’t you a little young?” she clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. “Not to mention kind of a brat too. What, got mommy issues?”

---

Mismatched gaze rolled the moment her lips parted, gloved fingers pressing a touch tighter to the glass in hand, “Maybe you’re just too old to know what fun is. Ever think of that?” Or was she too busy musing over snooping about? Though he held little understanding of what all this had to do with age. Julie had said all were able to attend, she had been sure to personally extend an invitation to him. The sole reason steps had been guided back into the grips of the wolven city so soon after they’d left with gathered supplies.

Everything along the way home only further souring his mood and this woman’s calling of brat would do nothing to shift his demeanor for the better. It was hardly the worst name that had befallen his crown. Besides what did that draconic woman have to do with this? She wasn’t here. Alexandria wouldn’t have cared to attend, it was nothing more than a gaudy waste of time… that was one reason he hadn’t told her he was leaving. The package left upon the table of a shared home before making a swift retreat before a dragon could return from the depths of the forge.

Fineás didn’t want to face her questions, the queries of what exactly had taken so long. He better not have been slacking off, she’d given him a map after all. Directions that were ‘perfectly clear’ in granting the path he needed to take. It shouldn’t have taken him nearly twice the amount of time she’d granted away from tending to the forge’s flames. Merely thinking of it brought his jaw to tighten as a frown more visibly tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“My mom has nothin’ to do with you not paying attention,” but everything to do with the attitude that sprung up when not facing the promised strike of her hand. “And you didn’t answer my question. Why the hell do you wanna poke around some stranger’s house?” One crawling with guards that seemed positioned at the more ‘off limits’ halls. While he could not deny his curiosities over the place there was certainty Juliet would be able to show him the really shit… once he found her. Individual faces hard to pick out from the crowd though there was refusal to approach those stationed sentinels for help. Surely he could discover her location alone.

---

Maybe you’re just too old to know what fun is. Ever think of that? Came the strangers retaliation. A sly grin tugged the corners of her lips as a mirthful laugh managed to escape her vocals. “Yeah, okay.” she mused waving her hand around in theoretics. “If you call any of this fun.” In truth, she wasn’t comfortable in the slightest. She would much rather be tucked away back into the library where she and Arabella had managed to lose themselves even if it were for a little while. She knew the way back, it would make no difference whether she stayed among the crowd or disappeared again.

My mom has nothin’ to do with you not paying attention. But his attitude could have something to do with it, she digressed. And you didn’t answer my question. Why the hell do you wanna poke around some strangers house? A pale brow rose; “And you don’t?” Came the aim of redirection. Why wouldn’t anyone want to? She motioned towards a painting hanging on the wall nearby. “Do you know how much that painting is?” She cast him a glance, though doubtful she’d pique his interest. “More than you’d probably see in a lifetime I’m sure.” She pointed to the chandelier overhead. “That is irreplaceable. One of a kind. Hand crafted to fit to their taste.”

---

Icy gaze would roll despite the agreement held. Okay, fine, maybe wandering around in a sea of faceless strangers wasn’t his idea of a good time though neither was apparently admiring the finery of another’s home. He cared little for the prospect of merely looking at all which was unobtainable to someone like him or to hear the drone of a tour’s practiced voice. And with it lingered doubt that stationed guard would allow for anything more than beholding another’s ‘prized’ possessions. No touching and certainly no stealing it away, no matter how they’d already robbed him of a blade before granting entrance.

These were the types of people he hated being around yet the dullness of this evening would surely fade once he had an accomplice at his side! And he had just the girl in mind for it all, however, she was hardly the woman who stood before him now. Julie didn’t quite have the curves this unknown (and so many others) flaunted in their chosen attire. Something he steadily felt an eye drift toward before curious query snapped attentions back up. Expression shameless even if he had been caught glancing to more than just housing fixtures.

“Never said that lady, I wanna know why you apparently just hafta see it,” would she stoop to snooping around? Of sneaking past those armored sentinels just to satisfy her curiosity? Yet these were questions never asked as attentions flickered toward the careful stroke of paint and the shimmering brillance of a chandelier. “And I should care about some stupid painting and light fixture why? Doesn’t matter how much that shit costs if it ends up being shoddy work or a forgery. Gotta make sure its real artistry if you’re willin' to waste big money on something.”

While his mother hardly dabbled in the finer arts of craftsmanship there were still those who had come by with hopeful designs only to be met with snapping phrase. Reminders that this forge dealt primarily in the art of weaponry not that of home décor. The most offered being an inlay against a blade, no matter how Fineás had taken to smaller crafts of jewelry whenever adornments were not requested. A waste of materials to one, at least until such items were sold.

---

“Because I want to.” she shrugged in nonchalance. Though she would shortly be making the effort to detatch herself from the snarky teen sooner rather than later if all she was going to be given was the sass that she certainly did not come to this pompous party for. She wanted to learn the history of this manor – more so out of her own thirst for knowledge and what sort of tales that came with it. Ekosha could never explain the reasons as to why but history itself always filled her with a certain sense of excitement. Being away from Vufrien for so long, there was much to uncover.

…Gotta make sure its real artistry if you’re willin' to waste big money on something. He wasn’t wrong, but that entirely wasn’t the whole point. She did not expect him to have the same sense of adventure as she did. Then again, not many did for that matter. Ekosha chuffed as she retrieved her shoes that she had stolen from her feet to ease the swelling in her ankles. “You’re boring me now, so” she cleared her throat. “I’m just gonna wander around unless someone needs a physician or we’re told to leave.”

Thankfully, thus far to her knowledge, her aid was not yet needed and only hoped that the night remained relatively calm. Eko did contemplate returning to the library to see if she could dabble in a little bit of personal research for the time being.