"I think she's just hoping for more attention. She can be really needy." Goldy told her. She thought about eating, and although she would love to try more of the food she felt like it wouldn't be a good idea. "Sadly, I think I'm too full to try any more foods at the moment." she added regretfully. "I'll go up to the bar with you if you want though for company." she offered, glad she finally made a friend.

((sorry super busy for me))

"Ah yes, well we drow are very long lived. For every one adult year of humans, I am a hundred years. So I am more like 40 years in comparison. Though I am actually a sorcerer. We are all taught weaponry yet my magic is my main skill set." He nodded at the scars. "Magic healing is wondrous thing."

Sorn sparred with Ven and afterward slipped off. He found Orion and gave the man a long passionate kiss.

A drink in hand settled Orion's slight annoyance at Quercus' nature though none of it was her fault. Not at all. He squashed those feelings as quickly as possible so the poor lady wouldn't feel uncomfortable again. He really needed to get a handle on his emotions. Upon returning to the others and after passing off his empty glass, Orion made a surprised noise as he was suddenly kissed by a gorgeous dark-skinned drow. Well he certainly wasn't complaining, not by a long shot. It had been a long time since he'd been ambushed like this. After a moment of surprise, he tilted his head and returned the kiss just as passionately. "Mm. Well if that is the greeting I get, perhaps I should leave and return more often," he teased, his voice a low purr as he eyed Sorn hungrily.

Quercus nodded thoughtfully. "I would not say no to having some help with the plates. But I think there might be another way." She turned to one of the staff tidying up a nearby table. "Excuse me, would it be possible to order something for our table?" She pointed out Liana. The waiter nodded, keen to see some food and water before they became another trouble maker due to one too many. Once the order had been made and tokens exchanged Quercus sat down next to Goldy and lent back. "I could use a break. I'm used to faster dances but the number of rules here make them feel more tiring. Do you travel much in circles like these?" She waved a hand at the glittering ballroom.

Quercus nodded at the explanation. "Makes sense. There's something I often regret. Magic would have come in handy more than once." She admitted. "Did you learn magic in your homeland? Or have you expanded your skills in the lands beyond?"

"Wonderful! I shall have to practice and maybe I can match you next time." Quercus willingly got them a drink each. She was careful to avoid the ones that were too cold. They tended to make her very sleepy and now wasn't the time to let herself loose focus. She did get one she knew would dull her plants a little. They were still reacting but she wasn't going to investigate. Really she wanted some peace from them. (Could it be the idea they run beneath my skin that upsets him?) She wondered. She took a mouthful of her drink and refused to let the thought intrude. She was going to enjoy herself. Such worries could wait.

Quercus smiled a little at the exchange. She found contact comforting and her people were hardly shy about holding each other. There were echos here of another time and place. She left them to their discussion, pleased for them and curious to see where the others were.

((trying to find a good place to hop back in. I really lost track of things.))

Uncharacteristically Liana wasn’t all that embarrassed she failed to recognise Quercus from earlier, instead she seemed to roll with the punches. “That’s right, I’m Liana.” She shook the offered hand and realized Quercus was much stronger than she appeared. Probably had something to do with why Ven already knew her. “Food would be divine.” She agreed and followed as they re-entered the lounge. “Hello again.” Liana smiled at Goldy and took a seat making no mention of how she had departed earlier, hoping no one would bring it up.

Ven stood close by stoic and expressionless as ever, while his hand rested on the hilt of his concealed weapon. Looking around, the crowds seemed to have thinned considerably making it feel like he had more room to breathe. Once he determined everything was in order, he waved over the bar man and ordered a double shot of their strongest beverage. Of course it would probably have no effect on the warrior, but it was still worth a try. and anyone else still lingering around c:

Jean pulled a barstool close to Venom and settled on it, hooking her feet behind the bar connecting the legs. "We didn't really get a chance to talk much earlier," she said, adding an order of mulled cider to her friend's double shot. "I saw you got to spend some time with Sorn. Looks like you two were having fun. Seems there's enough handsome people around to hold his interest." She grinned, settling her hands on the counter as the bartender returned with their drinks. "So are you working for Miss Liana again? Or still?" she asked.

Goldy shook her head, "I do not get out much. This is one of the few events I enjoy dressing up and coming too. It's draining to come and socialize so much that I need to go hoome and recharge before going to another large event like this." she explained, petting Tanwen on the head. At Ven's order her eyebrows rose slightly, that sounded like it would taste terrible, although the strongest think she ever drank was a daiquiri. A double shot of alcohol sounded like death just from taste alone she imagined.

"Good to meet you Liana. I hope you don't mind my saying so, but you don't strike me as the type to enjoy events like this. Are you here to meet someone or...?" Quercus tried as a conversation opener. Mostly she wanted to try and keep Liana's focus until the food arrived. She didn't know why Liana had drunk so much so early but maybe some small talk would help.

Quercus laughed kindly. "Tell me about it! This is a lot of fun but I will be so glad to get back to the trees. I have no idea how to act at events like this." As if to demonstrate Quercus was lent back comfortably in her chair, her arms hanging over the arm rests in a pose no lady would be caught dead in. She wasn't worried though. She'd already shown herself up to the scorn of the elite and the evening had moved on to where fewer dancers would care. "I'm a sort of adventurer for hire while I'm on my quest so I do a bit of everything but events like this are rare for me. If you don't mind my asking, what do you do day to day?"

Goldy shrugged, "A bit of this and that, nothing specific." She replied, she thought about all the odd jobs she'd done over the years. Years ago she'd fancied herself a thief but she didn't have the heart for more than pick pocketing and general mischief and she'd moved on from there to whatever she could find with whoever was willing to hire her. "What quest are you on?"

Ven threw back the double shot and set the glass upside down on the bar. It gave him a slight tingle but it quickly dissipated and he took the seat beside Jean. “Sorn is an interesting creature, and powerful. Not surprising so many people are drawn to him.” He lifted a finger signaling the barman he wanted one more, for science of course. The man gave Ven a look, but ultimately found no reason not to serve him. “I am.” He glanced over toward Liana, Quercus, and Goldy having a civil conversation, and took the second shot setting the glass down the same way. “Although I’ll admit, I’m not sure why.” He shrugged. “Pay is good though. I can take time to myself after this.” He had been working odd jobs for the past year living pretty much hand to mouth. This would be a welcome change of pace.

Quercus’s question caused Liana to snort a bit of laughter. “No nothing like that. You’re right I’m not a people person… But this place is sort of… nostalgic in a way.” She wasn’t entirely lying, but the full truth wasn’t coming out either. After all she didn’t really know these people, and even if one or two of them knew Ven, hell even he didn’t know her full reasoning. Picking at some of the small food bits on her plate she listened to Gold and Quercus discuss their hobbies contentedly.

"'Pay is good' -- the answer to many questions of why we end up doing things." Jean grinned. "There was this one fellow, hired me on for a spelunking mission in the Underground. Claimed there were ruins -- and there were, but nothing like he'd implied. I felt like a glorified tour guide. But he paid me well, so there you go." She paused. "I probably wouldn't let him hire me again, unless I was really hurting for offers. But believe me, I know how it is."

Quercus' expression fell a little "I'm trying to find a home. My people have what are called Wind Seedlings. Those are members of the tribe who are chosen by the Elders to leave and find new homes. I... didn't want to leave. But the Elders said I had to and now I'm looking." She pulled a face forgetting about the mask. "It's hard when you're part plant. The plants really don't like being without a place they can call home. So I keep looking. I might have found a place I can call my own but I don't know if it will be the place I stay." She nodded as the waiter arrived with the food and drinks.

She pushed a few of the plates nearer Liana and made sure there was a glass of water nearby. It was up to her if she drank or not but Quercus had no wish to make it harder for her to get the help she needed to recover.

Goldy nodded, "I think I understand, finding a new place is difficult, especially when the place you live is a good one." She took a nibble from the food brought to her. "It's not fair that they made you leave." she added once she'd gotten a bite down.

Quercus nodded. "Maybe it was. At the time it certainly felt like it. I've not idea why they chose me out of everyone. Everything I knew was there. I'd hardly ever left the forest before the Elders told me I was a Wind Seedling. But, looking back now, I don't think I regret it. I've seen a lot of amazing things and met more people than I thought possible. It was nice to find out how much we have in common with those beyond the woods. I do miss everyone but I can still visit. Just not stay." She couldn't keep the note of sorrow out of her voice. She pulled a drink and some food over to her before smiling again. "So, until I find the place for me, I'm a ranger for hire enjoying the road with her two best friends. Tipper and Star Eye. We grew up together and I'll always be grateful to them for choosing to stay with me when I was made a Wind Seedling. How did you and Tanwen meet?"

Goldy nodded, somewhat understanding the story. "Oh, uh... well she kind of found me. I was taking a walk in the forest and heard yipping, it was baby kitsune, completely alone from what I could tell. I offered it some trail mix and she ate it like she hadn't eaten in awhile. I gave her more and made her a shelter hoping her family would appear. When I tried to leave she just followed me." Her eyes welled up a little, "I took her home, well she followed me home would be more accurate, and I tried going back with her the next day looking for any family but I didn't find any other kitsunes in the area and she didn't show any sign of knowing where they were. After that I just kind of accepted that she'd chosen me. She's stuck by me since." She pet Tanwen on the head, "Who are Tipper and Star Eye?" she added, trying to remember if Quercus had said anything about them before or just hinted.