505-05-16 Family Dinner

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It's Saturday, May 16, 505 A.G. It's 06:15 PM (night). A cool breeze blows from the west, driving dark clouds before it which blot out the stars in patches overhead. Elsewhere they glitter brightly in the dark sapphire sky.

Living Room - Melody's Apartment - Wellington Arms - Citizen's Square

Upon coming into the room, one might be overwhelmed by the whimsy of the room. Primary colors dominate, with one bright red wall accenting the room. The other three walls are an off-white, but are covered with murals of faeries, brightly blooming flowers, and on one wall, a huge blossoming cherry tree. One huge bay window looks out onto the square, with a window seat cushioned with bright yellow cushions. The window coverings are light and gauzy.

There is a freestanding fireplace in the middle of the room, and around it is a circular bench, covered with plush white cushions, and accented with blue, red, and yellow pillows. There are small tables at intervals between the bench and fireplace. There is no other furniture in the room, but large carved wooden candle stands are set around the room, casting a soft glow when lit.

There are three arched doorways in the room, two in the red wall, and one in the wall with the tree. It looks as if the archway is part of the trunk of the huge tree, and one is actually stepping inside the tree.

There are several mobiles hanging from the ceiling, of intricately blown colored glass in the shapes of faeries, dragonflies, and butterflies. The mobiles are hung at varying heights, and seem to move even without a breeze.

Melody has gone to a lot of trouble for tonight's dinner. For one thing, she's borrowed one of the large round tables from the tea and coffee shop, and chairs, and placed them in the living room. The table itself is done up with a beautiful silk tablecloth, sparkling china, crystal and silverware. Melody is just lighting the candles in the middle of the table, which are ringed by small vases of flowers.

Saturated in black fabrics save for the splash of ivory given by his cloak (currently draped over the back of his chair), Malachi rests at that improvised dining table in the living room with Melody. Slumped over to one side some, he supports a pale chin by equally wan fingers, bony ebon-garbed elbow propped up against the tabletop. "I feel so naked without my retainers. And my cosmetics. But sacrifices must be made, yes, my moonbeam?" He gives a lopsided smirk of lush reddish lips, giggling quietly as he watches the young lass lighting the candles. Providence -- and Melody, likely -- only knows if he's jesting or not.

Melody giggles at Malachi's comments, especially when he calls her 'my moonbeam'. "Yes, I suppose so, darling!" she says, "I am so nervous! What if you don't like them? What if they don't like you? What if no one says anything? What if they don't like my dinner?" She starts to pace around the table, her red hair flying about as she shakes her head repeatedly.

Knocking lightly at the door with one hand, Garett doesn't know if he got here ahead of his parents this evening. It's likely for his half-sister that he's even here in the first place. And the lad that his mother has decided to take care of, should he be present. Standing in the hallway in a blend of red, black and gold, the chance that they're already in attendance is high as he waits for the door to open.

"I love /everyone/, darling. Have you ever known me to hur .. erh ..nevermind," Malachi trails off, that lingering smirk intensifying for a moment there. "And I won't be surprised if they dislike me. I'm used to it. But that's alright." Furrowing his brow, he'll drum his fingertips against a cheek before going on. "And if no one says anything .. I'll set something on fire, I don't know. And they'll /have/ to love your dinner .. you made it, afterall!" He'll watch Melody as she paces, frowning and looking about to speak before the knock comes on the door .. at which point he promptly glances that way and continues lounging.

Arriving at Melody's apartment with Avery, it's soon obvious that Garett was there before his parents. "Garett." she says cooly, a nod given to her son, pausing a short distance away to wait for Melody to answer the door. She's not going to stand next to him, but at least she's not throwing things at him.

Coming up the hallway, the old man is leading and talking. "You do not have to adopt every orphan that shows up at our door in Gateway, Delita." Avery is saying, simple displeasure on his face.

Melody squeals as she hears the knock on the door, and jumps up and down briefly. "They're here!" she says, as she rushes to the door and throws it open. "Garett! Oh Providence, look at you! You look so handsome in those clothes!" she says. And just then, Avery and Delita arrive too! Melody looks like she's about to have a heart attack from joy and happiness. "Daddy! Delita! Oh, come in!" she says, ushering the trio into her apartment. "Malachi is already here!"

One of Malachi's slender midnight-stained brows rise as he considers the looming threshold of that indulgent little apartment, head canted off to one side as he cradles his face in one dainty little hand. That smirk seems rather plastered on his mouth, contorting redundantly smooth and immaculately pale flesh with subtle lines as he watches the (assumed) arrival of People. And if they do indeed arrive, he'll give a grandiose greeting, managing to raise his free hand from his lap and wiggle ring-adorned digits in greeting. Mutely.

"Mother. Father." Spoken in greeting to both parents, Garett offers a nod of his head in greeting with a fair amount of restraint. Matters between them are already firmly in place, even with the latest request from Avery to act like a family. Whether or not it works is another matter as the door opens to reveal a nicely dressed Melody. "Good evening, Melody." Spoken to his sister, he doesn't delay in stepping inside the apartment with enough time to see Malachi seated at the table. Lounging, really. "You must be Malachi."

The scents of some kind of food is coming from the kitchen, but it's not immediately identifiable. The table is set for six, and looks beautiful. The little mobiles of faeries, butterflies and dragonflies twirl around slowly, as if on some type of mechanism, but none is present.

"I hardly think that one young boy counts as 'every' orphan, darling." Delita says with just a faint sigh to her husband, "Besides, he's sweet..." She shrugs a bit before turning towards Melody as the door is opened and smiling as she waits slightly to follow after Garett into the apartment, "Good evening, Melody. We're not late, are we?"

Melody smiles brightly as her new family comes into the room. "Everyone, this is Malachi," she says, going over to her beloved, draping her arms around his shoulders from behind him where he sits. "Malachi, this is my father, Avery, stepmother, Delita, and brother, Garett." Just then, there is a knocking at the door. "Oh! She came! She came!" she says, racing to the door and throwing it open.

Melody swings open the door, her skirts in motion as if she rushed to get to the door. "Oh! Your Excellency!" she says, giving Phoebe a deep curtsey. "Please, come in!" She sounds very excited to meet the Baroness.

After her initial bow to Phoebe, Solphin turns back around and begins looking over the doors again. "Eenie...meenie...minie... ..."

Maldis steps from his door and turns to close it behind him.

Phoebe gives a glance to Maldis as he arrives, then to Solphin, then back to Melody. The faintest twitch of her lips, "Mistress Wainswright," and without further ado, Phoebe enters through the dooor.

Phoebe goes into Melody's apartment. You go into Melody's apartment.

Melody lets Phoebe enter the apartment first, holding the door open for her. She gives Malachi a warm smile, and looks to Garett to gauge his reaction at this surprise of hers!

Phoebe enters the room gracefully, drawing a long black cloak around her form as her frosted visage sweeps across the room without a vocal acknowledgement.

She? That's enough for Garett to pause with a glance over his shoulder as Melody slips past all of them towards the door. Turning his attention back to the hastily introduced, there's a dip of his head in greeting with a glance briefly towards his parents. Hearing mention of Kaos elicits a neutral expression of his features before turning back to the door with a glance. He's not certain who it might be until taking a longer look at the pin adoring the cloak. Surprise? Understatement. "..Phoebe?" He thought she was still handling business. Apparently.

Jaw set into a flat line, Avery suddenly decides that he's no longer in the mood for a family night. If he ever was in the first place. Or perhaps some part of him knows Delita's reaction to the change in the situation.

Melody makes her way into the room, and starts to make introductions. "Your Excellency," she says to Phoebe. "I don't know if you know everyone, but this is my beloved, Baron Malachi Winderemere, Lord and Lady Lytton, and of course, you know your own betrothed." She is trying to be very ladylike, but she can't help but have a very girlish exuberence. She giggles as she sees Garett's expression. "Won't you all sit down? Dinner is almost ready!"

Malachi just beams at the Introduced, even going so far as to allow a flash of gleaming white teeth .. gleaming white teeth that are filed down to rather sharp points that just might be reminiscent of weresharks. The arrival of the Baroness has him giving an obeiscent bow of the head and holding it a moment, shifting in his chair and promptly slouching over to the other side of it.

"Excellency." Delita nods politely to Malachi, only to turn when there's yet another knock on the door. "No. Absolutely not. Good night." she says stiffly, if still somewhat politely, turning to head right back out the door again.

"Our pardon, Excellencies." Avery says, turning to follow Delita out.

Almost contrary to Avery's jaw setting, Phoebe's lips form a rare, but still faint, smile. "Lady and Lord Knife's Edge." Phoebe offers with a smooth, whisper-like voice though she does not move from the door. "Now now, how unhospitible, Lady. Do. Please. Have a seat. /I/ insist." Phoebe says, not moving from the doorway.

Phoebe does also incline her head to Malachi, and give a faint smile to Garett though no vocal acknowledgements are given to either quite yet.

Melody looks shocked and upset when her father and stepmom start to leave. She rushes over to him, tears threatening to spill from behind her long lashes. "Daddy! Delita, please, don't leave!" she says. "I went to so much trouble for dinner, and I really wanted you to meet Malachi!"

Garett may be pleased that his intended has made the trip back but the fact that his parents are about to leave and why are one of those things he's learning to live with. Pressing his lips into a firm line, he offers neutrally, "If you wish to have dinner with our parents instead, Melody. It would be alright." Even though Phoebe looks ready to veto him at any moment. "After all, isn't it more important to have them meet Baron Malachi?"

"I do not feel well." Delita states firmly and seems to be telling at least the partial truth. She doesn't budge either, but she at least doesn't seem to be about to push past Phoebe.

"I'm sure the good Baroness here could alleviate your pain, Lady Knife's Edge. I'm afraid my Illusion skills aren't up to snuff, really," Malachi lilts, cheerily, a calm little center in the growing tempest. He looks positively elated, really, and his brow furrows and those dark red lips twist downwards in a frown as he notes Melody's rather displeased state.

Phoebe wiggles her fingers a little towards Delita, passively. "I could indeed help you feel better if you like, Mother." Phoebe says with a smooth smile. "Good evening, Mistress Wainswright. I came, I saw. Now I'll leave you to your dinner. It seems certain individuals have difficulty maintaining proper etiquette in the face of challenges. I do wish you a pleasant evening, and Providence be with you." Phoebe offers smoothly towards the youngest in the room. "Baron Windermere, you and I shall have to speak soon. Garett." The words said to the Consort are offered as a choice of parting or staying as Phoebe turns on her

Melody looks to Garett, and it does look like the young girl might cry. "But I wanted to meet the Baroness, too! She's going to be my sister-in-law, after all!" she says, "And I so wanted to have a nice dinner with everyone." When Delita says she doesn't feel well, she says, "Maybe you just need something to eat, Delita. Dinner is ready, please, can we sit down?" When Phoebe says she's going to leave, Melody looks positively distraught. "Oh please, Excellency! Please, don't go!"

Malachi inclines his head to Phoebe once more, lips curving upwards in a more neutral expression as opposed to the former look of concern. "Always a pleasure, Baroness. I'll be looking forward to it," he veritably chirps, at least sounding sincere, if a bit too excitable given the situation. Seems he's still rather content to let things take their own course rather than interfer.

There shouldn't be doubt as to where Garett will be going when lines are drawn like they are now. Exhaling slowly as he regards Delita, there's a brief glance towards Malachi after meeting Phoebe's eyes. "It's alright, Melody," he states with a subtle amount of firmness to his voice. "Please, have dinner with my mother and your beau. There should be other times for Phoebe and I to stay for dinner," he says, moving unhesitatingly towards the baroness with a hand and arm extended for her to take. Though, he does note to his sister, "We should have arranged a better time, that's all."

"Why don't you stay and... explain things, Garett?" Delita says, her relatively good mood broken. She shakes her head, "I have herbs back at the castle. Good night." And with that, she heads for the door.

Phoebe does, this time, step aside for Delita and Avery. However, as she does, Phoebe casually waves her fingers towards Delita. "Do have a good evening, Mother. I hope you feel better." Phoebe says with a smile that barely registers upon her frosted lips. Infact, those frosted lips actually continue moving after the words stop coming....

Melody sees Delita (and most likely Avery too), heading for the door, and the tears do finally spill over onto Melody's pale cheeks. "I... I have to go check on dinner," she says. Not that there will be anyone left to eat it, from the looks of it. She hurries into the kitchen, not quite hiding the sob that escape her.

Kitchen - Melody's Apartment - Wellington Arms(#3801Rn)

Unlike the living room, the kitchen is rather modest. Plant boxes line one wall, with fresh blooming plants providing the color in the room. The walls are painted the palest of yellows. A large wooden table with benches is located in the center of the free floor space. In one corner, there is a wood stove, a sink, a prep table, and a cupboard to hold dry goods and dishes. There is a small ice box under the prep table. It looks like this room doesn't get a lot of use.

Obvious exits: Out <O>

Malachi comes into the kitchen.

Melody is over at the stove, trying to take the roast out of the oven. She's wearing oven mitts, but her hands are shaking and she's crying as she tries to get it out. By the look of things, it's about to fall on the floor.

Malachi shuffles into the room, looking patently displeased, rather an unusual expression for the cheerful Baron. "Melody! Darling! Be careful .. let me get that for you!" He'll try to head on over and take the roast off your hands, literally, sans oven mitts or other protection.

Malachi isn't QUITE fast enough. The roast slips and falls to the floor, splattering juice all over the hem of Melody's gown. Melody throws the mitts down in disgust, and starts to sob in earnest. "This is the worst... worst dinner ever," she says, her body shaking as the tears stream down her face.

Malachi's grasping fingers clench together as he misses his mark and the roast goes tumbling to the floor, the little Baron coming to a halt mere feet from his companion. Frowning, simply staring down at the spilled juice and meat, he'll give a little shake of the head. "Melody .. it's alright. It's not your fault, m'love! People are just .. silly and petty," he says, quietly, moving closer and peering at you with furrowed brows. He'll try to wrap those slender arms about you and draw you against his form for a tight hug, meaning to plant little kisses on the top of your head if allowed, stroking your hair .. really, anything to attempt to sooth you, it would seem.

Melody does slide into Malachi's arms easily, and she hides her face against his shoulder. Wetting his awesome jacket with her tears, most likely. She wraps her arms around him, hugging him tightly. She stays that way for quite a while, until her sobbing lets up. Pulling back a bit, she wipes at her eyes with the back of her hands. "I guess no one is left to eat dinner anyway," she says. Lucky for them, probably.

Malachi simply continues to try and console you, the pressure from those slender limbs easing up to let you draw away from him some, peering down at you with another small shake of the head. "I'm .. not sure. They were still around when I came in to check on you. Do you want me to go check, my moonbeam?"

Melody seems to have a little spark of hope in her expression when Malachi says they haven't left yet. "Oh! Let's get this cleaned off then," she says, leaning down to pick up the roast and throw it back in the pan. She gets gravy all over her hands when she does so. "Ow! That's hot!" she says. She rushes over to the sink, and rinses off her hands, then comes back to the roast, picking it up with the mitts this time. "Can you take out the salad and bread? It's right there on the table!"

Again Malachi reaches out to try and spare Melody the possibility of scalding herself .. and again he's too slow. Frowning, lips curling back from sharpened teeth as he watches the juice burn her, he'll futilely clench and then unclench his fists. A few quick bobs of the head are executed before he heads on over to extract the requested items, cradling them against his chest, really looking rather unused to lugging anything around (that isn't an adolescent girl, of course). "Ready, then, m'dear? Shall we see if they've waited?"

Melody quickly slices the roast and puts it on a platter, that already has some potatoes artfully arranged on it. "Yes, I'm ready, Malachi!" she says, giving him one of her brilliant, megawatt smiles. She walks with him back out to the living room... to see who is still there.

Phoebe listens for the laughter, and gives a faint twitch of her lips, turning away from the door. "Very well then. I surmise that your mother's evening will progress quite differently. I trust yo are well though, Garett?" Phoebe inquires to the man, patting the hand encircling her arm lightly.

Melody comes out of the kitchen, carrying a serving platter with sliced roast beef and chive potatoes artfully arranged on it. "Oh! You're still here! I'm so glad," she says to Phoebe and Garett, in a sincere tone. "Please, would you have a seat? Dinner is served." The young girl's eyes look a little red and puffy, but she's obviously wiped away any tears that were shed.

"Well enough, my dear baroness." Noted quietly between the two, Garett hears the laugh with a curious expression as he leans closer to Phoebe with the intent of planting a brief kiss into her hair. Until Melody returns with dinner. Poised carefully, a slight twitch of his lips betrays his amusement as he straightens to look over one shoulder at his sister. "I believe we decided to stay?"

Malachi tags along after Melody hauling a duet of bowls, one filled with bread and the other filled with salad. He gives those remaining guests a light smile as he notes their continued presence, quirking a brow and casting a look toward the door. "So they did leave. How unfortunate. It's really such a shame how people can't at least /pretend/ to be civil," he comments, mildly, moving over in a bid to set down his offerings on the tabletop.

Phoebe arches a brow ever so slowly, giving a faint smirk to Malachi. "You've learned so well, Baron. I wonder why they cannot. Perhaps it is because they are only Lord and Lady." Phoebe says with an idle shrug on her shoulders, reaching to draw Garett towards a table. Phoebe doesn't turn from Garett as she gives a faint nod. "So it seems we have, Mistress Wainswright, I suppose you don't terribly mind my presence as it seems some do?"

There seems to be gravy staining the hem of Melody's gown in the front, and some on her sleeves as well, if anyone would be looking at such things, when Melody sets the roast and potatoes on the table. When Phoebe addresses her, she gives her a warm smile. "Oh, of course not, Excellency!" she says, "After all, I did invite you. I want us to get to know each other, since we are going to be family and all." At Malachi's comments, she sighs and nods. "I thought we could all at least be civil for the length of a dinner. I'm sorry, Excellency, Garett, for any distress this might have caused." Well, at least the girl has manners.

"To be fair, I should have warned you how difficult it would have been to have all of us in the same room for any length of time." Noted as he moves to pull out a chair for Phoebe, Garett takes note of the stains with no long amount of observation with a shake of his head. "For all intents and purposes, mother certainly as decided on one course of action unofficially." Which, he doesn't state. "Baron Malachi, you may learn that my parents are more relaxed when around family. Or impending." To include those not married into said family. Yet. "That also includes letting their dislike seep through without censure."

Malachi laughs softly, offering Phoebe a mild shrug, shoving pallid little hands into starless pockets. "They don't have as much at stake as we do, afterall, Excellency. What a shame." The Baron, for his part, moves to pull out a chair for Melody near his, holding it a moment before simply slumping back into his own. "I'm so glad, Baron Consort," he comments, cheerily, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the table. "False civility can get draining now and again. And if your mother detest the good Baroness here so vehemently, why, I can't imagine her fancying myself, either."

"To be fair, Mother acts like Mother." Phoebe gives the faintest smile on her face as she says that, oh yes she does. She takes a graceful seat into the chair before continuing, "Baron, how is Foxfire Cradle? Much has been happening of late, I've not had much time to be sociable, I'm afraid." Phoebe offers before glancing at Melody. "You have gravy on your clothing." It's difficult to tell if that's a rheotorical statement or not.

Melody *was* about to sit down, but then Phoebe points out she has gravy on her gown. "Oh! My, how did that happen. I'm sorry, I'll be right back. Please, start dinner, before it gets cold. Malachi, would you mind pouring the wine, darling?" With that, the young girl races into her bedroom (does she ever NOT run at full tilt?).

Garett must not have heard that correctly. Keeping both hands placed on the back of Phoebe's chair, he leans to one side to peer more at the Baroness. Amusedly. "Then is that why they dislike each other so much," he asks, looking to Malachi with the beginnings of a wry twitch of his lips. "My mother has a strong dislike for some things Mistian as of late, Excellency. It may be nothing personal against you, but she can be quite stubborn."

"Well enough, I suppose. You know the drill. People getting killed whilst searching for components, all that rot," Malachi says, and indeed, he'll rise and proceed to pour the wine for everyone like a dutiful little host. "I'm so busy lately I haven't been able to see my Melody very much, truth be told. What of Crescent Coast, Excellency? I trust everything is well with your holdings too?" Blue-green eyes widen at Phoebe for a moment as the Baron settles back down, one corner of his own lips twitching, the sentiment almost seeming to be echoed by a silver flash from his fang-necklace. "I'm sorry to hear that, Baron Consort. We're really quite harmless. I think we just have poor reputations is all."

Melody comes rushing out of her bedroom, her hands clutching at the sides of her gown, lifting it so she doesn't trip over it at this speed. "Sorry! I changed as fast as I could!" she says, as she goes over to take a seat. She then starts serving the salad. It looks... interesting. Lettuce, tomatoes, onions and... blueberries? And the dressing looks a very distressing shade of pink.

Phoebe wrinkles her nose ever so faintly at the display of the food while speaking to Malachi. "Your Melody?" Phoebe says, casting a glance over towards the hostess and back again. "This is the one who will bring your heir to Foxfire?" Phoebe asks, assessing Melody for a few moments before back to Malachi. Once. Twice. Then its to Melody. "Interesting.." Phoebe says as she smoothes out a wrinkle in her gown before leaning back ever so faintly. "Your mother will be enjoying an evening, courtesy of Mistian tendencies, Garett. Even if she doesn't realize it." A smirk on her face before Phoebe says to Melody. "Your attire is improved. Well done."

"You can call me Garett if you wish, Baron Malachi. At least informally like this." Offered as he settles into the chair next to Phoebe, he reaches for one of the glasses of wine with one hand. It looks appealing. The food may be another story, blue-grey eyes flickering down at it in a fleeting observation and a briefly dubious expression. "And, you may not want to tell her that so soon, Phoebe. Even though, it might do well for her to know."

"Quite possibly. Melody and I have been together for rather a long time now, but I haven't received the opportunity to speak to our Duke in some time regarding a possible betrothal proper. We shall see, I suppose," Malachi replies, easing forward to take up his own wine glass and sample a bit of the drink, promptly setting the glass back down. Without any obvious hesitation he'll spring right back up and proceed to scoop out some of that odd salad onto his plate, nodding to Garett. "Very well. You can feel free to call me Spook if you'd like, or Malachi, if you have an aversion to nicknames. I do hate standing on formality either way," he adds, setting the salad spoons back into the bowl and nibbling on a bit of the greens arrayed on his plate.

Melody smiles brightly at Phoebe's compliment to her dress. "Oh, thank you, Excellency!" she says, as she starts to pass around the bread. At least THAT looks OK. She probably bought it from the bakery down the street. When Phoebe asks about her bringing heirs to Foxfire Cradle, she seems to beam with happiness, but lets Malachi answer, since the question was directed to him. She does seem a tiny bit disappointed in his answer, which wasn't an enthusiastic "Of COURSE she's going to be my wife!" She does nod at his response, and says, "Yes, we've been together almost two years now." She looks at Malachi with an adoring, loving gaze, giving him a warm smile for a moment. She then starts to serve the roast beef and potatoes on the dinner plates. The potatoes look OK (how do you ruin potatoes, after all?). The roast, however, looks a little dry, even though it is coated in a mushroom gravy. She serves, then she takes a bite of her own salad and bread.

Phoebe looks at the display of food before reaching for the bread with a gloved hand. Drawing it back, she murmurs, "I see. Interesting indeed.." Phoebe's lips twitch faintly before she pulls out a packet from her cloak and opens it. A sprinkle of white powder is poured into the drink without comment. Swirling the glass, then she takes a drink of the wine that Malachi poured. The woman scrutinizes both items for a moment before continuing as if she did nothing unusual, "Have you considered the implications of such a future, Mistress Wainswright? Upon Mists?" A brow arches ever so faintly before she glances around the rooom. Almost as if realizing, "You prepared this yourself? You didn't have a chef make it for you?"

Garett may have to pass on the salad, for the sheer fact that there are blueberries and onions in there. A combination that doesn't usually bode well. Reaching for a piece of bread after Phoebe, he takes note of the power with only a passing glance. Either not concerned or not thinking to ask what it is at the moment. "I'll tell you now, Melody. When you tell mother your intention to marry Malachi here, I'd be ready for a huge ranting on her part. She wouldn't be as difficult as she was with me," he notes, words of wisdom from him as he looks to the Baron with a hint of a grin. "You really do prefer Spook? Then again, I guess that's better than what nickname I've earned."

Malachi hardly seems frightened by Melody's cooking as he digs into his portion of salad, going so far as he slice off a bit of roast for himself and go to town on that, as well. "I do! It's been my nickname for ages! Cliched, of course, but I like it." Quirking a brow, he'll set down his knife and fork and take up his wine glass in its stead. "Your nickname ..? Indeed?"

Melody giggles at Garett's comments to her. "Oh, she already knows, Garett. She's been trying to fix me up with any eligible Guardian boy she can find. But I told her, I love Malachi, and that's that." Seems the girl has some spirit and self-confidence about her. Turning to Phoebe, she says, "Oh, I love Mists! I've been several times with Malachi already. And I was there during the demon uprisings, with Duke Raziel and that elf, Coroliss. And Malachi, of course." She looks over to Garett again and says, "Well, what's your nickname, Garett? It can't be worse than 'Spook'." Glancing to Malachi, she says, "No offense, darling, but I just have never liked it. It's ... creepy."

Phoebe puts down her glass for a moment and brushes off her gown. "Baron Windermere, may I see you in the other room for a moment?" Phoebe asks, tilting her head to the side as she smoothes out the wrinkles in her gown immmaculately. A rise of her gaze to Garett and then Melody, "It won't be but a few moments, I just recalled something from my trip that I must discuss with the Baron. If you'll both excuse us?" Apparently, Phoebe isn't the type to take no for an answer - as she doesn't seem to be waiiting for it. She is already pushing out her seat and preparing to head for the kitchen.

Melody takes a bite of her salad after she speaks, then a bite of bread. She doesn't seem to mind the funny-looking salad.

"Trust me, you'll find out soon enough." Noted to Malachi, Garett looks to Melody with a mere grin knowingly and teasing. He's not saying. Instead, he's reaching for a fork and knife to sample the roast as he cuts one slice before looking to Phoebe. "Alright. We won't be going anywhere, though I may be here asking Melody some questions." About food.

Amicable and generous as ever, Malachi seemingly obliges Phoebe without question, pushing up out of his chair and following along .. but not before trying to give a peck to Melody's cheek.

Phoebe goes into the kitchen. Malachi goes into the kitchen.

Melody smiles as Malachi kisses her cheek before leaving. Eating some of the potatoes, she takes a drink of wine, swallowing before talking to Garett again. "Questions? What kind of questions, Garett?" she asks curiously.

"Blueberries?" Pointing towards the salad with his fork, Garett's gaze absently follows Phoebe as she leaves to speak quietly to Malachi in the kitchen. Looking back to his sister, however, there's a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Since when did you decide to put those on a salad?"

Melody ohs at the question from Garett. "Oh! Well, they looked so pretty with the salad dressing, don't you think?" she asks. She gives her big brother a smile. "I put them on when I made the salad. And the salad dressing has pureed strawberries in it."

"I... suppose so." In other words: He's not sure. Taking a sampling bite of the roast, he still makes all intentions of staying away from the salad in all it's oddness. "Though, about earlier." While they're still alone, he can at least try to broach the subject. "How much.. do you know about everything with Phoebe and I? I mean, is there anything said back in Guardian about why I abdicated and my parents reaction on the matter?"

Phoebe comes out of the kitchen.

The roast isn't much better. It's dry. And gritty. Like some dirt was quickly brushed off it, but not completely. The gravy is has a funny taste to it, too. Some unknown herb or spice that shouldn't be in there. Melody gives Garett a smile, and says, "Oh, I just thought it was because you are getting married to a noble from another Isle. I mean, don't you usually have to abdicate from your own Isle in that case?"

Malachi comes out of the kitchen.

Phoebe emerges from the kitchen, drawing her cloak around herself. "I apologize for the abrupt departure, Mistres Wainswright. Unfortunately, I must be off. I am certain Garett will stay for the rest of the meal, but I cannot." Phoebe offers an apologetic tip of her head. "Perhaps another time when pressing matters do not rear their ugly heads," comes the whisper soft voice of the woman before she heads for the door.

Melody gets up from her seat when Phoebe says she must leave. Giving her a graceful curtsey, she says, "Of course, Excellency. Thank you ever so much for coming to visit!" She walks over to the door, trying to open the door before Phoebe gets there, if she can. She is a well-mannered girl. Especially for a Guardian!

Garett had such high hopes for the roast. Really. Managing the only piece that he intends to chew, one hand reaches for the wine glass to wash it down. With a good portion of the contents by the time Phoebe emerges from the kitchen. Rising slowly, he regards Melody with a near unseen shake of his head. "It's detailed. But, excuse me." While intending to follow Phoebe to the door, he's out beat by his own sister. "A moment, Phoebe."

Malachi strides back in mere moments after Phoebe, lingering near the outskirts of the group.

Phoebe pauses as Garett chases her down and she turns her head as Melody opens the door. Now, Phoebe is standing there and gives Garett a look as Melody is left holding open the door for a currently held-up Baroness. "Yes, Garett?" Phoebe queries idly, reaching up to brush back her hair from her face.

Phoebe gives a faint nod of her head, a brow arched upon her features before she turns and heads out the door.

Melody steps back as Garett comes over to the Baroness, leaving the two to have some privacy. She looks over as Malachi comes back in, and makes her way over to him, trying to lean up to give him a kiss. "Want some more dinner, Malachi?" she asks.

Garett quietly whispers to Phoebe, tilting his head so that the words are kept between them before a faint smile crosses his lips. Nodding in kind, he may not be the most demonstrative but it's the small things that matter. Closing the door after the Baroness is well into the hallway, he turns back with a brief tug at the edge of his sleeve. "I shouldn't be staying much longer either. But it has been an eventful dinner. I'll have to explain more about the tensions with my parents later, Melody. I'm surprised that you haven't heard of the rumors, Malachi."

The dinner winds down, and Melody is left with quite a bit of leftovers, not even counting the fact that two people left before the dinner even began. She will plan better next time, certainly. For now, she cleans up, and then takes the food down to the community center, donating it to their soup kitchen.

A few days later, several people fall ill who have eaten at the soup kitchen. Baroness Bella Forester traces the source back to the salad and roast beef that Melody donated. The Baroness asks the young girl that next time, perhaps she can just donate a few copper instead...