New Year's Promises

[rassafraggin]

The great avenue leading up to the Palace Courtyard is lit up with phosphorous glowing coral at strategic intervals. Temporary stalls have been set up where merchants can sell exclusive decorative pieces by the Sea's craftsfolk; practical wares geared for undersea living; and wondrous and sometimes baffling Rebman cuisine. Other services offer first-aid, elaborate underwater hairstyling, and currency exchange: Amber minted coin for Rebma trade pearls, mainly. The great and minor Houses are all represented within various mercantile display pavilions, in not-so-subtle competition with one another to draw the admiration of the gathering:
* Shrewd, studious House Dilwen gives historical lectures but also amusing alchemy demonstrations with nervous volunteers (effects temporary!).
* Arcane and powerful House Ygrayne shows off stunning glassworks and mirrors while denying any are magically imbued.
* Enigmatic, exacting House Bauquemare deals in curiosities and unsolved mysteries of this realm and others.
* The youngest House Dafydd playfully invites the public to pet their tame eels and octopi, then buy from their 'sushi' butchers.
* Artsy House Mairwen controls a great stage in the middle of the Promenade, directing fellow nobles and general citizenry in live music, choral singing, poetic readings, cultural plays, and nightly folk-dancing.
* Populous, ambitious House Morfilod has diverse kiosks throughout, sampling and taking orders for highly-prized whale milk products, oil, meat, ambergris, raw and carved bone; and then there are the pearls and exotic fish, but that's not all: the annual Morfilod Rodeo on the outskirts promises action and violence to satisfy the more rowdy appetites.

Maggie is apparently back at the Rebman festival grounds. The area is a-bustle with Rebmanity and visitors enjoying the festivities, "Hello?" Maggie's tone is bright, happy and warm.

Maggie's smile warms a bit more, "Hello, Raphaela. Yes, we are. Would you like to come down? The festival is a lot of fun."

Maggie lifts one hand to welcome Raphaela through if she wishes.

Raphaela is in silvergrey skinalike diving suit and a silk silvery toga wrapped artistically around. "Yay, festival!!"

Maggie grins into the trump contact, "Excellent." She nods, then turns to look around when the first call ends. "Raphaela's changing. She'll be joining us." When the second call comes, that is when Maggie offers to pull her friend through. Nodding, once Raphaela is with them, she lifts a seaweed netted bag filled with small, roasted pop-corn sized morsels, "Try one? They are really good."

Raphaela looks in and plucks one. Seriously. The girl started eating. Blame it on Benedict.

Maggie smiles at Raphaela as she claims one of the morsels from the bag. Taking one for herself, Maggie turns to survey the scene, "Let's see... There are some merchants over there, some entertainment type things that way and... Oh, gosh. What would you like to see first, Raph?" Popping the bit into her mouth, Maggie hushes to chew.

Raphaela swirls around and hmmms as her hair twists into silver spiral around her. "Everything. WHat's the most efficient starting point?"

Merrisol is further north, at the top of the Promenade, easily noticeable amongst Rebmans. The soft mantle of red-orange kelp fronds over his shoulders and tapering down his back, and the silvery green diver leggings with built-in, web-clawed boots, are an added touch. He is either on his way to the Palace, or just coming back from it, but waylaid by something or other along the way. At first it's some military matter that needs settling with some Tritons, but then a few paces later, a mossy-haired maiden barrels into him, shopping bags first. Ploof, they are lost in a miasma of Ygrayne silks.

Raphaela ahs "Snacks so we can nibble while we watch entertainment and then shopping! If we buy stuff first we'll end up a lot to carry."

Maggie turns around as Raphaela does, her flame hair spinning into a tail that matches Raphaela's silvery one. Noting Merrisol up north, she gestures that way, "Let's join Kerf. He is better at efficiency than I am." Then comes the Ygraine collision and Maggie winces, "Oops. They might need help gathering her purchases."

Miriam has been in and out around the festival, obviously having a good time. With so many people around, her guards have been nearby but not hovering too much. She's dressed in two parts rather than one, the cropped top close-fitting and long-sleeved so she can have a decorative fringe.

"Rillaaa.." Merrisol sounds more resigned than annoyed with his country-Cousin, while silk veils unfurl and flap in the higher currents, some escaping and whisking away overhead along the promenade. They are occupied winding and tucking the saltwater textiles into her split parcels, except her skirt is also fashioned from dozens of silk scarves as well, so half of that gets stuffed into the nets as well by the time they're through.

Rilla pulls the last ones away from her face, watching the escapees flying off like kites broken off from their spools. "Boo! Who wove these bags? Oh yeah, the ~Ygraynes~." She puffs out her cheeks, stopping herself from griping further. "It really is difficult not to blame 'em for anythin' gone wrong, ain't it?"

Raphaela looks at Merri and company "Who's that?" she asks Maggie. Also spots Miriam and waves with a smile.

Maggie follows Raphaela's gaze and waves to Miriam as well. As Rilla is untangled from her veils and purchases, Maggie's smile warms, "Ah, that is Kerf's cousin, Rilla Morfilod. She's amazing." The sparkle in Maggie's gaze grows and she starts north. As she moves, she motions for Miriam to join them, then calls, "Kerf? Rilla? Hello! Are you having fun?" Lifting her gaze, she notes the escaping veils and frowns in concentration. She can move air. She can even pull air from water. Is it enough to counter the currents and bring the wayward fabric back? Maybe...

Raphaela is surrounded with magical people. Mabye she can make a barrier so cool that she stays dry in Rebma?

Miriam waves to the familiar faces, and then heads their way to join them as they in turn join Merrisol and Rilla. "Hello!" she says with a smile. "I hope everyone is well?"

Merrisol considers the net-woven parcels bleeding silk scarf ends, now attached to Rilla's hips like saddlebags. Appropriate for the seacowgirl? Perhaps it will spur a new fashion trend with the Morfilods. He smiles at her, "It was a kind gesture on your part.. but now what are you going to do with them all?" He too gazes up and off to see the loose ones whirling away, then checks out the milling promenade, perhaps having heard his K-name, or maybe just the familiar sound of Maggie's voice. "Heyyy!" He makes his way closer, with a touch to his cousin's shoulder, but he needn't have bothered.

Rilla has spotted one of the scarves plucked down from the upper reaches and retrieved by the redhead. "Mmmaag-yee!" That was almost right. She tried real hard! She launches forward, excitedly holding her hands out to the woman. Wanting scarf?

Merrisol catches up but also hangs back, glancing from Maggie to Raphaela, and then to Miriam. "Good evening, Raph.. Princess." His gaze holds on Miriam just a second longer, bright with.. - no wait, he shakes out of it! He goes back to watching Rilla warily.

Raphaela waits for introductions.

Maggie catches the errant scarf as it approaches. Turning as she hears Merrisol and Rilla, Maggie kicks closer. Rilla's forward swoop, arms extended interrupts Maggie's flickering glance between Merrisol and Miriam. Flashing her attention back to Rilla, her smile flares with quiet delight. Extending the scarf first, she tilts her head, grins, and moves in to give the sea cowgirl a hug, "Rilla. Hello." It is a warm greeting, and one she hopes is not unwelcome. Turning, she releases the girl and motions for Raphaela and Miriam to move closer, "This is Baroness Raphaela de Sorgo." As she speaks, she gestures to Raphaela. Then she motions to Miriam, "And this is Princess Miriam of Tir na' Nog'th." Easing back a hair to give Rilla room, she smiles, "And this is Kerf's cousin, Rilla Morfilod." Introductions completed, she focuses on Merrisol

Miriam's expression brightens towards Merrisol for a moment, then she's looking back to the others. She smiles, then says "I've met the Baroness, yes. It's good t'see you again. And you, Lady Rilla." She starts to say more, then sort of phases out as though she's watching something else. It's not unusual for seers. Probably no need to panic. Her guards notice, and just sort of hover to make sure she's safe until the vision passes.

Raphaela flashes a smile "Raphaela. Lovely to meet you."

Rilla crushes the Ygrayne silk between herself and Maggie and it's ruined, ruuiiiined! But the embrace is long and eager. "Oooooh, welcome to the family!" she thrills warmly to Maggie. "I heard Great Auntie Drys called you a Childe of Morfilod! I wish I had been there! Did she touch you?" She pries herself away when introductions are made, barely, nodding proud agreement that she had met the Princess at the reception. Looking at Raphaela directly, she gasps a little at the visual effect of the suit and toga. "That's so darin'..!" Double-coverup! Something wrong with this woman, it's so clearly advertised! "Baroness.. I mean, Raphaela.. the pleasure's mine," she smiles back at first, then grows somewhat nervous and subdued.

Merrisol watches her reaction to Raph in his periphery, but keeps his focus turned to Maggie, smiling warmly at her. He offers her his hand, and leans down a little to re-greet her with a kiss. "Haven't located Martin yet. Then again, I've found plenty of sidetracks."

Raphaela says to Rilla, since her eyes register the reaction spot on "Silly lander, I know."

Maggie blushes just a little, "Thank you. It is wonderful to be one of you all." A flicker of a grin is added, "She did. And, yes, she did touch me." Though if there is significance to that, it is lost on Maggie. She's a touchy sort of person. "It would have been good to have you there, Rilla. But, it was sort of impromptu." Sort of. "I did not know what to expect." Gliding back a little as Rilla gushes over Raphaela's smart double-coverup outfit, she takes Merrisol's hand in hers and leans against him as he speaks softly, "Oh, that's okay. Martin will turn up. Or we can go hunt him down later." Noting her new cousin's nervousness, she arches a brow just a little. "Everything okay, Rilla?"

Rilla stares searchingly at Raphaela a few seconds more, then blinks at Maggie. "Errrrmmmm yeah, all good," she lies, since she's trying her durnedest to be polite. She tells Raphaela "I've met more drippers these past two weeks than I have in all the rest of my life. It's been a real eye-opener," she nods solemnly. "Ain't silly. Ain't silly at all."

Raphaela hmms "You should come to my party, it would be a proper cultural experience. And a masque. So flexible with outfits." she smiles sweetly.

Merrisol nods a touch disconsolately, yes, they'll find Martin later. But... how much later? He gnaws his inner lower lip in distracted thought, letting his gaze rove slowly back and forth between Rilla and Raphaela. He seems to understand what's going on, but there's no call to intercede on anyone's behalf. Yet. He looks questioningly at Rilla when the Morfilod Lady is invited to Raph's party, and confirms helpfully. "In Amber, Rilla."

Ruby wanders into the promenade, as much as a landlubber can drift and kick that is. As her variety of wardrobe is capable of fitting into a single shopping bag, she has repurposed a rather chancey number involving strategic scales. She rubbernecks like a champ. She moves closer to a globe, like an innocent little fish approaching the hideous appendage of an Angler fish.

Rilla cranes her head in an inadvertent demonstration of the slack-jawed yokel, peering at Raphaela. She flashes her gaze over to Merri, yes, she got that part about it being a topside party, obviously, durr. "Masque.. so like, with masks?" she muses. "Is there no end to the /hidin'/?" Then, blinkblink, she draws up. "Begpardon if that's outta line, Raphaela. It's all so mysterious, topside, ain't it."

Maggie's eyebrow remains lifted but she does not press Rilla for details. Yet. Instead, she nods slowly and lets the conversation continue unmolested and unprodded until Raphaela invites Rilla to the masquerade. Nodding, she offers, "I can help you with a costume, if you wish." Leaning back a bit, she narrows the already minor distance between her and Merrisol, turning to look up at him in the process. Noting the gnawing, she places a discrete kiss against his shoulder. They'll find Martin. Have no fear. Squeezing his hand lightly, she returns her attention to Raphaela and Rilla. In the process, she notes Ruby's approach and lifts the hand holding a bag of popcorn sized munchies in a semi-wave that could be interpreted as an offer to share. "Hey, Ruby." Can it be? Are the Ms and Rs equal now?

Raphaela says "Masque is best Amber can offer." especially if it is one planned by me, duuuh. "Although maybe the last years..." she arches brows and looks to Merri "We should bring Night Circus to tour stop in Rebma! I am sure they can modify the act! I have to talk to Martin..."

Raphaela floats off in search for Martin! Bobbobb. She actually moves quite well throug

Merrisol spaces out momentarily, presumably from envisioning a party in which people are wearing nothing but face masks. He looks around after, but Raph is... gone.

Ruby was almost close enough to poke the globe or take a bite out of it, or be snapped up by some deep dweller. She turns her head towards Maggie's voice and roves her peepers around. She meanders over, head tipping forward as her internal ballast tries to make things less graceful. "Maggah!" she exclaims happily. "Soight fer eyes. Eyes tha be scratchy'n red rimmy. I gots worried yer bloke gots you 'idden away someplace loike sum sort'ah whatsits...treasure trove. Secret cache. Neeeesh." She eyes those assembled, giving a wink here, a suspicious glance there.

Miriam eventually blinks away the haze, and shakes her head a bit to clear it before looking around to remember where she was. "What?" she asks no one in particular.

Rilla did see Raphaela traipse off, and seagull-eyes the back of her until the crowd swallows the Baroness from view. "I do not reckon I should go to this woman's shindig, although... she /did/ invite me particular-like," she frets, torn. "An' I would so love to see what costumes you have for topsidin' it, Mag-yeee. They're almost matchin', our figures," she gauges, somewhat erroneously. Maggie's clothes would be tight on her. "Ruby, Ma'am," she turns a grin on the other lady arriving in their midst, another mysterious, often incomprehensible topsider. This time, she understands the reference made, and looks from Ruby to Maggie, to Miriam saying 'what?' with probably unintentional comedic timing, then finally to Merrisol. Then tips back in a gale of laughter.

Maggie lowers the bag of goodies and offers them around. They seem to be puff pastries kept crisp and dry with some Rebman cooking secret. Filled with nice, cheesey centers, even. "Ruby! Good to see you, too." A blush touches her cheeks, though she does grin, "No... no. Kerf wouldn't do that." She looks up at her husband and the grin softens. Looking back, she adds, "Nor would I hide him away. It wouldn't be fair." Though to whom is left open for debate. Following Rilla's gaze more than anything else, Maggie catches sight of Raphaela's silvery hair wafting up above her in the water like a banner before it also vanishes behind some taller Rebmans. Shaking her head once, she shrugs and looks at Rilla, "Up to you. If you would rather not go, that's okay. She'll understand. But, please let me know either way?" Miriam's query tugs at her attention and she clears her throat, "Uh..." The comment dies, however, killed by Rilla's laughter.

Ruby eyes Rilla and her unleashing of laughter has the larger woman widen her eyes and finding her mouth splitting wider in defensive mimickry. The jubilant manner has her doing a weaker facsimilie. "Haaaw!" Seagull eyes meet Seagull cry! Clearly she's a bit nervous in her execution, looking unnerved and desperate to echo and thereby fit in. She nods a few times, and then shakes her head, almost to clear it of the temporary demeanor. People are talking darn it and she's far too distractable. "Aye? Whut...Aye!" she licks her lips as if they were slathered in choco sauce. "You still married then? Tha's good. Good ass'ah Groupah. An you both seem tah be 'hole'n 'appy. No new bandages'r splints. Tha's bloody good. Remembah tha nine fingahs...Baaaah!" Seagulls again. "You don't need'm, roight? Not sum teen femme. Cap-tain. Truth."

It wouldn't be much of a party without the Regent in his official party hat, so there is Martin getting things prepared for the parade, directing here and there. Eventually he finds the group. "Hi!" he waves cheerfully. Hayden is probably somewhere nearby since he won the children's swimming race event the other day and gets to ride with the Regent! "Getting to be about that time." He beams around at the assembled group and reaches over to grab one of Maggie's pastries. "I don't think we've all had enough to drink yet for what comes next." He winks.

Merrisol looks pleased to see Ruby back in the brine, and straightens to greet her as she approaches.. only to discover her harbouring concern for Maggie's innocent absences. He stares, mystified and caught by the emphatic statements before he can speak, and sparking off a new thought, for which he is only too happy to spend another minute pondering. Rilla's peals of knowing amusement put an end to that, though, and Ruby's corresponding guffaw provokes a startle. He reaches out to support Rilla before she tips over on her head. "Is that what you were talking to Raphaela about, on the estate?" he hazards to Ruby, pained. He maybe shouldn't be asking questions about whatever Secret Girl Chat/Project Thing is going on, but...! Damn. "Uh. Nevermind. Yes, we're fine, Ruby," he manages stoically, after nodding along with Maggie's assertions. "It's just - what with the suddenness of things, we both have tasks to see to before we can really.. ah.. settle down." Merri looks about to drag poor Rilla away and ship her back off to the border territory, when Martin swoops to the rescue. He takes a deeper breath and lets it out, relieved, casting a hopeful glance towards the Regent. "Oh..? I'll order up a round," he offers. There's drinks vendors every third kiosk, it seems.

There's obviously something going on among those around her, and it leaves Miriam looking confused. Then Martin joins them, and she smiles again. Grins, really. "I've had very little t'drink." Merrisol seeing to that earns him a look of gratitude. She looks towards her guards, and says "I'm fine. Honest. Go enjoy yourselves. You know when I want you back." With the arrival of the Regent, the two men of Tir, now known as Gabriel and Jonah, are obviously more willing to give Miriam more space. They both salute Martin, then fade back to enjoy the party for a while.

Ruby smacks her lips, obviously salivating in anticipation of some free drinks are at least a helpful rigid finger to direct her to the good stuff to quaff. Which is hard under the sea. She spares Merrisol a nod, her face all up in one of those guarded looks that wants to knee-jerk, eye-twitch to suspicion that everything is fine and dandy. With the loss of Gabriel and Jonah, but the addition of the enigmatic Martin, Ruby can't decide who to set her attention on. She leans in to Miriam, "You should 'ave more tah drink. Af'tah all tha othah funnah busy-ness. You deserve a noight oof, roight? Dead roight. Nuthin...'orrible?" Pregnant pause. "...'appen to 'oos? All t'gethah?" She stops and blinks rapidly. A cold goose-bumpy feeling takes up a swath of the back of her arms and neck. "Oots...Bloody well self-jinx. Now we gots tah find'ah nest with three eggs'n one blue."

Maggie grins at Martin as her cousin swiped a pastry. She does keep the bag available after taking one for herself. In case. "Hey, Martin. About what time?" Glancing around, she tilts her head a bit, then nods, "Ah, the parade? Excellent." Turning a smile to Merrisol, she does let the look linger as he and Rilla head off to order drinks and talk. Her sigh is a private thing, though the quietly delighted glow about her might be more evident. It takes a moment, but she does look back to Martin, then the others in time to see Jonah and Gabriel wander off. A smirk starts, then dies as she figures that the addition of Martin and Merri heading in the other direction may have contributed to the guards lowering of their... uh... guard. Right. Back to the conversation, "Soooo... Drinks. Yes. Uh. What is it that comes after, Martin?"

A servant comes to collect the party hat and put it somewhere safe for the Parade while Martin converses with his friends. Its rather difficult to maneuver around in that thing all the time after all. "Uh, yep The Parade!" Martin grins impishly at Maggie. "A new year, that sort of thing." He gives the group a cheeky wink. "Might have a hard time winding the party down, now that Rebmans are getting used to long ones, eh?" Someone has given him something with drink in it. There is no question that he's had a drink... or several but he's also well known for holding his liquor and not being a falling down drunk.
Miriam chuckles to Ruby. "A night off? I can't stop being what I am. Especially'n Rebma." She represents her people here, after all. She watches Martin, and can't help chuckling. "I'm getting t'like the long parties. Especially all th'dancing!"

Ruby offers Miriam a wink all the same. "Mebbe with enough drinks though? Seen Nobles turn tah nobs'n Ladies turn to letches. Course. Tha's what I 'ear. I ain't fer tha parties tha serve with more'n one fork. Mostlah. Topside." Finding something urged into her hand she offers a ramshackle thankyou and casts it to the remnants of a passing current. She might have partaken of a few saucy sippycups previously. She has a few miss-starts of getting the straw to her mouth, teasing against her lips and rebounding as she goes after it like a lazy bass.

Maggie accepts the drink she is offered, "Thanks." The server smiles and moves on to the next person in the group. Maggie lifts the bulb and, taking a cue from Ruby's difficulty, watches where she puts the straw. This does give her a bit of a cross-eyed concentration, but it works. Drawing in a longish swallow, she lifts her gaze to the others. "Mmm. This is good. Sort of a... tangy fruity thing." Though it clearly has a bit of a kick to it. "So, Martin? Will you be on a float? For the parade?" Judging by her expression, either this is a joke question or she is serious. Sort of hard to tell. "Do they have floats in Rebman parades? I don't think I've ever been to one." So... serious.

"That's because there's never been one until this year." Martin explains. "Not in the traditional sense you may have seen before, I mean the floats. It'll be a lot show and pomp. You know, army units and that kind of thing." He waves a hand with a smirk. "Are you sure they weren't already nobs letches Ruby?" He winks at Ruby. He throws an appreciative look around at all assembled. "Right. Where the heck is Merrisol?" He peers through the crowd.

When Ruby speaks of drinks turning ladies into letches, Miriam's cheeks darken considerably. "That doesn't seem like a reason t'do it, if y'know that might happen." She takes one of the drinks then, and gives it a taste. She seems pleased, and has a larger drink from the container. When Martin asks about Merrisol, she looks around to try to spot him.

Merrisol has escorted Rilla off somewhere to get her purchases sorted out from her actual clothing, and returns alone, toting a drink cup. He eases in beside Maggie and it's like he never left! He toasts the group and finishes off the bubbly contents. Hic.

Martin wasn't kidding about floats. A large tarp is pulled off of the main one that is being positioned at the head of the parade and it is a giant... yet somehow floating shell. One of those types of shells you would find pearls in. It is completely and utterly ridiculous and fabulous at the same time. Readying themselves around the shell is a squad of dolphins and Hayden is the one who pulled off the tarp. Somewhere around is Llyrad, skulking about and avoiding talking to everyone. Other paraders are getting themselves ready. Clearly something is about to Start. "Merrisol!" Martin breathes a sigh of relief. "Good!" He looks around at everyone and flashes them all a devilish smile. "You're all here."

Maggie does not appear to be too overly concerned by the idea of drink turning her into a nob or a letch. Who knows? Could be fun. Lifting her drink she claims another long swallow. As Merrisol returns, she lifts a silent 'welcome back' smile his way. When Rilla does not come with him, she tilts a peek around him to see where The Cousin got herself off to. Not spotting her, she shrugs and looks back to their group. The shell catches her attention and she smiles over at Hayden though he might not notice. He's busy! Awww. Cute. Finishing her drink, Maggie is about to take another when Martin's devilish smile and comment catches her attention, "Wait. What?" Looking from him to Merrisol, since she suspects collusion, Maggie begins to back up. Into Merrisol. Poor guy. "What have you been plotting, Martin?"

Amy is just flitting around, checking out everything, as she has the time.

Miriam smiles when Merrisol returns to the group, and toasts him back before drinking more. Martin's words get a look of great interest from her, and she again glances to the others.

Martin gets up somewhere a little higher so that his friends can hear him. Behind him the crazy huge shell thing floats ominously, like it holds lots of secrets of the sea or more... or ... maybe it's just a place where Martin has stashed more liquor. Evidently, being up where people can see him means that also other Rebmans can hear. "My good friends and family." He smiles around. "This year we have been through many trials and everyone here has done so much for Rebma and for each other. I could not ask for better friends of Rebma and with all my heart I thank you for everything that you have done. Rebma cannot stand alone against the tide and for that reason we must establish relationships and firm alliances all across the golden circle, with Amber and yes even with King Corwin's Banyan the last line of defense against Chaos." That is probably not the end of this speech but he pauses for a moment.

Merrisol buffers Maggie's backin' up and his arm slips around her from behind. Poor gal. He tips a salute to Hayden in passing, then settles a bit to give more attention to Martin as he attains some altitude or less depth, as it were. As it so happens, he can see Amy traipsing about through the crowd, and waves his bubbly drink at her. There's a trolley of BEvERages where he stands with Miriam and Maggie, at the north end of the festive promenade. A parade is setting up to start there, and a young Rebman lad, Haydon, has just unveiled the Regent's float, a huge ridiculous clam shell.

Amy spies someone waving, and heads over that way. Because she might as well. Hayden gets a big grin and a thumb's up, in passing.

Maggie relaxes a bit as Merrisol's arm goes about her. Claiming that drink she almost missed, Maggie lifts it and takes a long drink. Martin's speachifying is taken in and Maggie leans her head against Merrisol as she looks up, "He's going to make us go on the shell, isn't he?" Though she does seem mollified by Martin's words. Even pleased. She does send a smile Martin's way... Spotting Amy head their way, Maggie turns her smile that way and beckons the Amber Princess on over. The party is over here. See? There's booze, snackage and excellent company.

"I will not make this a long and drawn out thing since we've all had a lot to drink." Martin winks around, "And most of us are probably no longer sober. But that's ok, because the year is done and the new year is upon us! Lir's blessing has pulled us through it. But that is not the only reason I do this now." He turns and smiles down to the Princess Miriam. With one swift motion he pushes himself up off of the small place where he had been resting against and flutters down onto one knee. He pulls a ring off his finger, a blue opal carved with a trident in the center of a circle. "I am Martin, grandson of Moire, son of Random, Regent of Rebma and the Deep Peoples, monarch beneath the waves. I offer to you the blood of Lir within my veins, the blood of Amber and my heart. My beautiful Princess of the Tir-Na Nog'th, I offer you this not so that Sea and Sky can be together but because you have shown yourself these last few years. You have shown me your heart and now I offer you mine. Will you marry me?"

Marlene is back! With some adjustments to her 'self-shimmying crinolines,' she's even managed to squid along wihout seeming much-impaired by trying to effect proper Begman dress, or something like it, in Rebma. Still, when it comes to this party, there's some slow settling downward to come to rest, or neutral bouyancy, near her sister. Martin's proposal... Earns a searching and quizzical glance around.

Miriam watches Martin rise to better make his address, and smiles as she listens to him. She nods agreement with his words, both about Rebma's trials and about how much others have helped. When Amy joins them, she smiles to the woman before looking again to Martin. By now, her guards have returned and are watching. She chuckles at his comment about them all not being sober, and though she's not exactly drunk she've obviously had some drinks this evening. Then Martin moves to one knee, and her cheeks darken again. She's still smiling, though. It becomes a grin as he offers his proposal, and she's obviously aware of the staring though her eyes are only on Martin. She doesn't leave them all hanging, though. She says as she offers him her hand "I am Miriam, daughter of Tiresias. Princess of Tir-Na Nog'th and the lands beyond. I accept your offer, and in turn offer to you the blood of Seers within my veins, my handsome Prince. I accept, not to bring Sky and Sea together, but because you have shown yourself as well, and have touched me deeply with the strength of your heart."

Merrisol swaps his empty bubbly for a full bubbly, just in time for the grand proposal. If his jaw does not drop from the incredible revelation, that is a good thing, since it would dent Maggie's head. Instead, he grins, beams, and holds Maggie a tad tighter like she might be a confetti effigy about to go off, bweeee! Well, maybe not his wife. But someone needs to explode in confetti right now.

Amy stares. Literally. That was not something she was expecting at all - okay, only because she never figured Martin would go for marriage. She looks to Martin, over to Miriam, and then she smiles. Then again, she's not so sure about the sea and sky bit, exactly. Still, they seem to be in agreement, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. "Oh, Unicorn, that's - Wow."

Meijanri has found a nice spot in the throngs of people where she's celebrated in an unusually quiet, reserved manner, for once not doing her part to finish off the reserves of free wine. She smiles more to herself than to anyone else, a faint gesture hard to notice in the crowd. Then she seems to nod to herself thoughtfully, and turns to slip off into the evening. It's been a long week, and the new year is off to one hell of a start.

As Martin continues, Maggie's smile warms. It is a good speach, as they go. She blinks twice when Martin leaves his impromptu podium and goes down on one knee before Miriam. Her gaze flickers between Martin and Miriam and back again as her smile grows. Merrisol's tightened embrace might have been necessary, as it seems Maggie might just go off into a bwee of excited confetti right then and there. Unwilling to interrupt, she waits for Miriam's reply and then? She can't help it. She cheers, "Huzzah!" It might not be entirely appropriate so she does not continue the cheering. More softly, she offers, "Oh, well done."

"You make me happier than you know, my dear Princess." Martin takes Miriam's hand and delicately slips his ring on her finger. It's a little large but one will now be needed especially for the Princess. Though the proposal was not for Sea and Sky, it certainly brought them together on this day. Martin rises and smiles at his intended bride. He pulls her against him very gently and lays upon her lips a gentle but not-quite-chaste kiss. He's allowed now, guard or no guards, after all. And it's ... a kiss. It is not one of those random-hey-mary kisses but a kiss that legends are made of. This was the kiss that Rebma had been waiting more than five years for and those lucky few who were able to turn their heads and witness that moment... will pass the legend down for generations. This was the moment that Sea and Sky met again and bridged that great divide. This moment here and now.

Well, this is a moment to arrive, dramatic or not. Slipping in through rainbow sparkles and gliding gently to the floor in time to witness a kiss that seals an engagemnt, Sullivan looks surprised but pleased and a little confused. Missed everything but the kiss after all, which is still whistle-worthy. She looks up to the rainbow aftersparkles, a babe in her arms with swaddling that floats around him in a halo. The blanket has little chibi cinco del mayo kinds of skulls all over it, in bright colours.

Marlene seems quite surprised at thi state of affairs, but after a pause, claps her hands together as rapidly as water allows, which is to say not very.
Gabriel and Jonah, Miriam's personal guard, can't help smiling brightly at the proposal, though they are appropriately self-controlled about it. They obviously approve. Very much approve.

Miriam looks at the ring for a moment, and there's that brief shift in her expression that says she's seeing something else entirely. It's a very brief vision though, and she then looks again at Martin and smiles at him again. "And you me, my Prince." Then she's tugged to him and their lips meet. There might be just a little surprise at first at that shared spark, but she quickly melts and it's obvious the Sky has welcomed the return of the Sea with all its being.

Appropriate? Not appropriate? What makes things either way? Brand isn't always certain, but what he is certain of, is he missed the reason for Maggie's 'huzzah', but he did catch that 'huzzah' as he arrives with Sullivan. "Huh. Wonder what that was about," he murmurs to Sullivan, floating in the water next to her.

Merrisol has Maggie caught up from behind so both may witness the dramatic speech and proposal, at the northern end of the festive promenade, where even now a parade of 'floats' have been set up and wait to get underway. The Regent's conveyance is a magnificent cheeseriffic open shell carried by a team of dolphins, though he and Princess Miriam are currently sharing their engagement smooch while standing on the sea floor. Marlene and Amy are also in attendance, and Ruby is bound to be sighted as she lurks the spectacle.

Merrisol laughs as Maggie exclaims, and loosens his hold when she reels in her own reaction, only keeping his left hand snugly around hers. He looks upwards from the momentous kiss, and all the bioluminescent fish in the area draw nearer to pulse and ripple in strobing patterns directed towards the tableau, so that more festival goers might turn and bear witness.

And Martin turns to smile at his friends and family and introduces Princess Miriam. "I present to you, my people, friends and family..." He does note the arrival of Brand and Sullivan and smiles towards them. "My future bride." For indeed, Rebmans have started to gather in force as news is quickly spreading. /Is it true? Is it real? It is? It is. Now thats the way to bring in a new year!/

Privately, to Maggie, Merrisol's wedding band grazes over her knuckles and settles in close to her own ring when he weaves his fingers slowly with hers.

And they do gather as rumor spreads and all of Rebmanity wishes to see for themselves. They are lit from above by bioluminescent fish, the colors flickering like living rainbows above the newly announced couple. Maggie rests one hand on Merrisol's arm, then lets her hand drift to his when he releases her. Joy for her cousin and his new fiance flashes in her eyes and she looks up at Merrisol to share that with him alone first. Catching a familiar voice, she lowers her gaze to spot Brand and Sullivan still surrounded by rainbow sparkles. And a new brother! Awww. Waving enthusiastically, she motions for them to come join the throng. Looking back as Martin announces Miriam as his future bride, Maggie stifles the impulse to try and whistle underwater and contents herself with a warm grin and a softer, "Huzzah!"

Privately, to Merrisol, Maggie's fingers tremble just a little, though when her hand tightens over his, there is only warmth and firm support. Her ring clicks against his just a bit, the bright sound felt more than heard.

Sullivan curtseys low, babe in arms, to the newly engaged couple, bits of her hair catching up with her after she straightens and grins, first to her husband with a wink, then to the happy couple, "I was right. Should've taken a bet," she chuckles softly to Brand and shuffles grip, handing the babe in arms to Brand and slipping behind him to take a hold of his underarms. Although he's not quite a stone these days, it's still much quicker to get anywhere in Rebma if she does the swimming! Over toward Maggie and Merrisol she hauls her precious cargo with strong legstrokes, touching down nearby. "Just in time for the landing strips, neon pointers and floats, it seems! At least I'm not going to forget that kiss in a rush!" She grins, nodding at the bundle at Brand and at the newly minted married couple themselves also. "Connor Arsalan, this is your sister, Margaret and your brother-in-law Merrisol. Both of you, Connor-Arsalan Barimen." Small, wriggly, with eyes that are turning a vivid hazel now and a thatch of curly hair that's naturally frosted of tip: Black at the top, red at the ends!

Miriam turns as well to smile to the others all around them. She keeps hold of Martin's hand though, and squeezes it gently. As more and more look towards them, as the news spreads, her cheeks darken again. Though, she doesn't draw away from all that attention. Instead, a glow of moonlight surrounds them that draws more.

The parade down the promenade towards the palace is about to begin. All showy with Rebman house colors, various military units and so on and so forth it is simply all kinds of pomp and circumstance with the children of each house trying to outdo the other. It's the first of its kind introduced by the Regent and led by him in that crazy clamshell. He takes a moment to pause and give his uncle and 'aunt' a thumbs-up "Awesome" on the new spawn, checks him out and grins down at the kid. But duty calls and there will be more time to be spent later with new relations. Poor Miriam, she doesn't get time to play with baby either. He reaches for her hand and jerks his head towards their ride. "Your chariot awaits..." he smiles broadly. It's one of those face-palm moments. Yes he really expects her to ride up there with him. The orphan Hayden is waiting for them both and the Rebman people have a real reason to party now.

Brand missed the kiss entirely, as it so happens, and he turns to look at Sullivan, blinking once before looking around, eyes settling on Martin and Miriam at the announcement. "Ooooooh. Congratulations," he calls out to them. He glances to Sullivan and chuckles to her words. "You should have, yes," he replies to her. He grins after. "I don't think anybody is likely to forget that kiss anytime soon." He moves with Sullivan over to Maggie and Merrisol, nodding to the both of them.

Merrisol follows the trajectory of Maggie's waving adne notes Brand and Sullivan's arrival, with wee bairn, with an acknowledging incline of his head. He glances down and grins when she cheers, but it seems now is the time for Moar Roar, and he accordingly lifts his voice to shout out, "To the Regent of Rebma and his future Princess Bride, hurrah!!" Future Future Princess Bride, mebbe, even? "Let the wine flow and all rejoice on this day of days!" In the cheering that breaks out, he steps back with Maggie, as Martin and Miriam hop aboard the clam of honour, and the parade floats into action.

Merrisol steps to Maggie's side in order to greet Brand and Sullivan formally, a low respectful nod. "Prince Brand, Lady Sullivan, very good to see you here on this auspicious occasion." He looks down at Connor when the babe is named, bending a bit at the waist to convey a smile and a hullo.

Brand, Sullivan and their child are given smiles by Miriam, but she's needed elsewhere. On the clamshell, apparently. She blinks a few times as it registers, then laughs. Apparently, she finds it adorable. One can almost feel the Doom Counter edging upwards. There's a nods, then she kicks off to accompany him. The glow, conveniently, makes her kind of pearly.

Maggie grins up at Merrisol as he starts a real cheer. She does not try to add to it, but does lift a warmer, louder, "Huzzah!" to get things really going. THe cry is picked up and passed along with renditions of Merrisol's that will no doubt grow in the telling. Watching the couple climb aboard the clamshell of honor, she waves them off, including Haydon in the wave. Then she turns again to her father and step-mom. And her new brother. Looking down at the babe, she speaks quietly, "Hello, Connor. Welcome to the world. And to Rebma." Stepping forward, she offers a kiss to her father's cheek, then another to Sullivan's. "It is so good to see you. All of you. How are you? Is everything going well?"

Sullivan reaches to one little chubby fist in daddy's arms and waggles the digits in the water toward Miriam and Martin as they pass on by, because it's just what you /do/, watching the Regent and Princess moving off onto the clam, happy as the aforementioned. They'll be swamped! Practically mired with wellwishing and there's not a naysayer from her! And because it's funny as hell, she takes Connor from Brand's arms with a kiss to his cheek, holding the chubby one to dad, then INTO Maggie's arms. Big sister can cuddle. "It's good to see you, too, Maggie. Congratulations, salutations, commiserations and felicitations to you -both- also. It's about bloody time, you know..." is noted with a tease and an elbow. "Things are going about as well as is to be expected, you know how it is. Projects and stuff, swords, magic, all that kind of funky stuff."

"Hello to the both of you, too," says Brand, words aimed at Maggie and Merrisol. He turns to watch the happy couple climbing aboard their clamshell, and then looks back to the people immediately around him; wife, son, daughter, son-in-law... Isn't that scary, Brand as the father-in-law. He turns his head to accept the kiss to his cheek. "I'm well enough, everything is going well enough." He puts up no fuss as Sullivan takes the baby, slipping one arm around her instead. "Congratulations to the two of you on your marriage. It really is about time."

Merrisol straightens up and watches the parade drift forward with its creatively themed barges in tow, directed to make its way around and back to the slope of Mount Rivlok. He glances to the side as the little one is put in Maggie's arms, and smiles in a subdued manner, although the sight is undeniably endearing. "Thank you," he responds to the congrats. "As far as ceremonies go, I would say it was 'just in time'," he also remarks, amused and without intent to start a quibble over timing.

Sullivan turns her eyes toward the gigantic clam and Martin and Miriam's departure, chuckling softly as a familiar touch makes her go briefly squinty until who it is manifests in her brain. It's tricky knowing who that kind of touch belongs to, without such things as trump knowledge. "Timing. It's everything, so I'm told... uh... what the heck happened to you? You look like you fell face first into a Begman workshop and ran terrified into a fancy costumery. Kincaid?!"

Maggie has about turned to watch the parade when she is provided with a small bundle of wriggling joy to hold. "Oh!" Looking over at Sullivan and Brand, she does take a moment to adjust her brother so that his head is supported just there and the bulk of his little body is held that way and... Looking down, she smiles into his big, bright hazel eyes, "Hello, Connor." A bounce is added, gentle and rhythmic, "Aren't you a cutie? You look like dad. And Sullivan. How cute..." Babbling to babies... At least she does not resort to high pitched cooing or baby talk. Her expression softens toward a faintly whistful something for a moment. It does not last, though. Looking up, she lifts a brow as her other brother checks in. Refocusing on her dad while Sullivan takes the call, she motions toward the vendors, "There's food and drink available if you want anything...?"

As though sensing the incoming trumpery, Brand gently disengages his arm from around his wife and withdraws a step. He grins at Merrisol and nods. "Still." Another grin. The grin fades a touch at Sullivan's word/question of a name, and then the smile is back. He looks back to Maggie and smiles. At least they're in water, and it's bouyant, and there's not as much need to support the baby because of it. He glances over to Sullivan, his lips twitching upward a hair more.

Merrisol overhears the bit of trumpversation and frowns in concern at Maggie. "Did he get into our cabin..?" he wonders quietly to her. Given a bit of time to think on the likelihood of that, he half-shrugs and shakes his head. "Maggie, I had better go assist wih the rodeo.. the parade will probably stir up the critters when it gets there." He squeezes her shoulder gently, adding in a light poke at a swaddled baby foot, then makes brief farewells to the inlaws before departing. Cutting swiftly across the parade line, he swims down a sidestreet and out of view.

Miriam and Martin are off leading the parade, seated on a very cheesy clamshell float that's being pulled by dolphins. The Tir princess' moonlight gives the pair a pearly glow, and word is traveling fast that apparently, the Regent just proposed to her! Miriam looks a little overwhelmed by all the staring, but she still smiles warmly to the people as they move past.

HAH. Merrisol, escaping that dire and terrible thing that is a wistful look on a new bride, even if it's entirely not what it looks like. Connor doesn't seem to care though, he simply kicks Merri on the palm, with the mighty wiggle of a three month old leg. It's not really very hard at all, but FEAR the kick! When it was on the inside, that was probably fairly fearsome on mom's bladder. "I'd love something suitably holidayish, Maggie..." Sullivan looks at Brand, the disengagement, the grin shot at her and holds her hand out to the water after a bit more murmuring and a flash of a wink to the other end of the trump. Thereafter, she snags Brand back, tucking her arm into his elbow and watching Maggie with the hazel-eyed and growing-like-a-weed kidlet in his cinco del mayo skull onesie. "Has it hit you yet, Maggie? I sometimes -still- wake up and wonder what the heck happened."

Maggie tilts her head a bit, then shakes it in answer to Merri's question, "Don't see how. Mr. Anderson said that he would keep anyone out. And... the doors are locked." Looking up, she nods, "Okay, love. Luck with the critters." She watches him go, she does and the smile that touches her lips is warm. When he is out of sight, she looks back, "Hmmm? Oh, sure. One sec." Signaling a passing server, she indicates the group and adds a plus one for when her brother shows up. The server smiles and darts off to find something suitably festive to pass around. Her attention turns to Sullivan and Brand again, "Hit me?" Laughter begins, "Oh... No, I don't think so. Though... maybe? I feel as though I won. The jackpot. It's wonderful and dizzying..." Connor still rests in her arms, though he has begun wriggling baby legs and hands, counting toes and fingers no doubt.