Welcome to Gaia! ::

((Well, I would actually rather go with tekteks and post styles for the spy part, but if you think a mule is the only practical way to go, I'm more than willing to do that. I just want to do what's best for both rooms, either way.))

Giselle's pointy ears perked up ever so slightly at the mention of Caliban's name, even as she tried to control her reaction. He couldn't know that she loved him from afar. He would only joke about it. So, to keep anyone from suspecting, Giselle made it a point to roll her eyes as she replied, "Now that certainly does sound like something Caliban would do! Always up to something...And I'm just sorry I couldn't find the answer to our troubles last night. That way we can all get our beauty rest!"

rushing down the stairs, mayura hurries to her queen's side. ever faithful, but shy, mayura was usually on time! a few people looked at her strangely, surprised from mayura's tardiness "my apologies for my tardiness, my queen..." she said quietly "my health has been... less then acceptable lately."

"We all have," Giselle said softly, wishing there were something she could do to comfort poor Mayura. The shy, sweet girl tried so hard to please everyone and seemed so unsure of herself. Maybe she could get Mayura to relax a little bit.

"Mayura, would you like something to eat or drink? That might help you get a little bit of strength back," Giselle offered, hoping nobody noticed that her own stomach was rumbling at that very moment.

Brom looked up just as his brother walked in the room. To be honest the first thing he noticed was the food so he quickly followed him into the garden. Snatching a pastry and grinning at this brother, he said "Lunae is getting into mischief again and did you torture me with the chicken last night?" He mock glared at his brother and took a bite of his pastry....strawberry....again.

"Mmm... Strawberry! My favorite!" Lunae said happily as she plucked a pastry from the tray her hubby had brought. She certainly had trained Sammanus well, though she knew he'd never admit it. If he wanted to pretend to be wild and in charge, that was fine with her, as long as he still answered her ever beck and call.

"Now, where to begin," she mutter between delicious bites of the scrumptious, decadent morsel. "I was thinking that we might should get out of this castle and start searching the land for something that might help. I mean, what could we possibly find here that we haven't found before, at least, without a dreamer to make new things appear. Maybe we could pick up some pink crystals for ball decorations while we're at it."

Tugging at the turban wrapped securely throughout his protruding horns and cap, the culprit of the latest prank of the palace made his way to the ballroom. Despite his best effort to remain unseen until the last moment in order to assess the situation before him; it was all for naught. His hooves clicked noisly against the floors and seemed to announce his arrival far before the centaur actually emerged upon the scene.

"Greetings!", he called out perhaps a bit too cheerfully given the dire circumstances at hand. Stealing a glance to Brom and then back to the general populace stiffling a chuckle. "And how do we fare, my leiges?"

Caliban flicked his wrist a small bright red apple seemed to appear from thin air in his palm, when in truth he had merely tucked it in his sleeve passing through the kitchen mere moments ago. He took a bite, chewing almost as if in thought before crossing his arms.
"I must say you all look a fright, sleep deprivation does not suit any of you well. I mean you know what they say after all? About how a weary eye-"

He nearly tripped over his own feet as he spotted Giselle near and all at once his tongue felt heavy and awkward. "A weary eye...Uh. A weary eye..."

Caliban couldn't remember the rest. He set a hand to his brow as he frowned, not a usually common exspression for one of his position. Lifting his head he turned to look dirrectly upon Brom with a mischievious smirk, "Well I forget the rest but I do recall hearing the oddest of noises late in the night from a certain fellows chambers anyhow. Pray tell Brom, just what poor girl ended up in your clutches this time? She sounded quite out of sorts. One might even say...fowl-ley ill."

As he finished he snickered into his clenched hand looking aside his eyes once more landing upon Giselle.
Even though it was true as he sad everyone looked rather haggard due to the poor amount of sleep and stress, she still seemed to look radiant. Her green skin and painted lips...
Shaking his he lifted his fingers to brush the edge of his mask against his cheekbones and his darkened skin, feeling the light flush come to his face.
Perhaps they will think I stole into the brandy barrel or wine. But oh why is it everytime I am near her I can't seem to even think on track. Speaking of...

"Or perhaps she just wasn't all she was quacked up to be, eh Brom?" Throwing a wink to the Queen's handmaiden as he continued to pester Brom and not even subtly hinting that he may have caused him distress last night with his latest fun.

(i'm interested to see what you have for mayura. lol)
after finishing preparations for the ball, mayura quietly slipped back in. she sighed when she saw caliban for brom arguing "oh... please dont argue..." she said in barely a whisper "at least not on the weekend of the ball.... it... it... wouldn't look good in front of the guests....!" she said, finishing with a shy squeak as she quickly finished her sentence

Brom glared at Mayura and then the Queen. In a rather serious voice he replied "I would never take an unwilling woman to my bed, if she doesn't want me to rock her world than that is her problem." He smiled a thin smile at the queen and silently counted to ten in his head. It was not smart to lose your temper with the queen, especially in public. Brom decided to err on the side of caution and not say the choice words that popped into his head.

He turned back to his brother and asked "So brother, do you have any thoughts on our current situation or are we going to leave all the planning to the women? And since we are on the subject, you know how I feel about having all these guests about. How am I supposed to protect you...and her," Brom rolled his eyes, "If there are hundreds of strangers wandering about unchecked!? At least let me bring in extra guards so we can keep them out of the private chambers...and from making off with the silverware."