---

For Amaris!

---

Oh, how she loved a party. This one was pretty good; there was dancing and singing and food and drink, and so many faces familiar and completely foreign to her alike. The noise was comforting to her, something she had always associated with family and warmth. A loud home was a good home, she thought affirmingly.

But there was something very important she needed to discuss.

Trotting through the crowds, Valeska was almost a half a head shorter than most of the other women; still, her nose was unparalleled in its accuracy and she knew precisely what scent she was following now. She didn't need eyes to find him.

Although he did kind of stand out.

Tall, willowy, and awkward, Amaris stood hunched in the middle of the feasting and for some reason seemed to look a little bit afraid of her approach. Why? Whatever for? She was his mother! His doting, wonderful, lovely mother with nothing but good intentions and gentle tutelage for him.

Stand up straight, she admonished immediately. Remember, you will represent Elysium one day!

Soon. Very soon. Sweet retirement.

So have you made any friends? she asked brightly. Come, maybe some fermented berries will help you. I know they make me loose, as they say!

Valeska crowed with laughter and slapped a paw against his back as she steered him very firmly toward the alcohol. She slurped up a mouthful with practiced ease, grinning with purple-stained lips as she motioned for him to do the same.

I am so glad we invited ourselves. It is a lovely party.

---

Skill: brewmaster

---

Although Amaris often felt at ease amid a celebration, pleased by the company he kept, this party was different. Not one, but two of the women he found himself at odds with orbited the crowd like sharks amid a meal. He saw them both, their eyes coasting through the crowd—perhaps looking for him or, as he hoped, seeking to avoid him at all costs. Though, as much as he hoped for the latter, he knew his luck would be more inclined to the former.

And there was only so much avoiding he could inevitably do.

Ultimately, he turned his attention toward the crowd, searching for another distraction he could use to distract his mind from the affairs of the heart.

But perhaps, he should’ve been more specific in his requests.

Like, wanting to find a nice solid man to have a conversation with—about hunting and other dude things—or a disinterested party that was content to yap about the weather as they stuffed fermented berries in their mouth.

His mother, however, was not on his desired list of distractions.

In fact, he would make that THREE women whom he was hoping to avoid.

She careened toward him, her legs moving quite fast for how short she was, as she manuevered through the crowd. Even if Amaris had the wherewithal to run, he knew he ultimately would not get far before Valeska found him again.

Better to get it over with, he surmised quietly to himself. Perhaps it would be a blessing in disguise, he thought after a beat. Maybe his mother would keep him distracted from the necessity to interact with both Elli and Lylith—even if it meant boring lessons on leadership and the like.

Valeska’s reprimand came swiftly, and with a lick of his lips—wetting the dryness of his mouth from his incessant, swirling thoughts—he stood up straighter. Привет, мама. (Hello, Mother)

His ears seemed to wilt alongside his greeting, even if the words had been said with warm familiarity. But his expression remained awkwardly sour, especially as his mother asked about any friends.

Was he supposed to make friends?

Every time he had done so, he recalled from every past party he participated in that something bad had always happened.

No, no friend— He started to say before his mother slapped a paw on his back, steering his voluntary body toward the heaps of fermented berries that awaited greedy tongues. Please don’t say loose, he groaned quietly. Nobody says that.

He didn’t think drinking would do him any good, but Amaris also knew better than to deny his boisterous, free-spirited mother.

And so, only half-reluctantly (as a part of him did wish to feel “loose” as his mother had described, even if he knew it was a terrible idea), Amaris slurped up a pawful of his own and blinked slowly as the slimy, tart berries slipped down his gullet.

Now to wait for their effects.

Do you think the Emperor was displeased that we showed up to his wedding uninvited? He whispered beneath his breath, Is this…something we often do?

Show up, unannounced?