Castle Exploration, [9/10], 8pm

[Arthur Kinsington]

The blond Captain gave the other man's words some thought before answering, or at least he tried to. But thinking felt like a cat was licking his brain. "With this group I'd wager you'd be better off tasting your own heel than stepping out on them. Create a limerick to highlight a person's discomfort." Giving the lord a wink Arthur continued on with his drunk sage advice. "How about we meet up tomorrow to play cards if you create poetry tonight? It might not have been in your initial plans, but nothing ever goes as planned. Improvisation is key. The Lord may have had an idea when He set about creating the world, but He decided when each phase was done as He needed to. Why not just whip one out and slap it into the middle of the room for all to hear? I pulled one out, and I'm definitely not a poet." The Captain's tipsy words not quiet feeling slurred, but were likely almost there as he took another sip.

[Blackguard]

Arthur and John

"Perhaps you are right," John mummered, hoping the man would suggest the alternative and help cover his escape. "Help me think of a first sentence that can rhyme with lots of words. I'm thinking it best not to sport with anyone in the room, but someone not present."

After further deliberation and a fortifying drink of brandy, John offered an idea. "Maybe the Duke of York ... which rhymes with cork ... and pork. But, it is supposed to be baudy." John was sympathetic to the Country Party and did not mind ridiculing the royal heir. The challenge was to find a rhythm to the lines, and he needed to insert two separate short lines that rhymed separately.

"Are you going to offer us a limerick Burgoyne?" Middlesex asked. "I need a few minutes to think of something," came the reply. "But, feel free to pass me by. I'm really not very good at this." Perhaps Sackville would let him go.

"We'll wait," came the host's reply. Bloody Hell. There went John's hope. The silence was deafening as he continued to struggle.

"Everyone that participates will get a free fashionable plume for their hat. It is the latest fashion trend from the Continent. The Countess Lismore can speak of it when she returns. The key is to wear very long plumage. I've taken the liberty of acquiring some very long plumes from London and you shall all be the avant garde." Middlesex signaled a servant in the hallway to come in with an armful of coiled white plumes.

[Alexandra Neuville]

As John left her side to get a snifter of brandy, Alexandra studied the men at present except for Merriweather who was vile and of no further concern to her. The problem with most of the Merry Gang and any sort of inclination of sleeping with them is that they gossip worse than a sewing group and she would much rather have her life as private as it could be. Of course, at the present moment she was in no state to consider taking on a lover.

Although, she did wonder where that rascal Roos has hidden himself away. She had not have the opportunity to see him around too much since their race through the Labyrinth with Middlesex and Marion. He had also mentioned helping her find a suitable mate and even seemed rather polite towards her unlike Rochester who constantly made attempts to see just how jaded she was. The man had also fallen into the sulks on a few occasions as well especially when she knew that he would not be without companionship whether it was an actress, or another flavour of his choosing.

During the lull, Alexandra had rose and moved closer towards Frances Stuart. "May I?" Indicating the seat, it was an attempts to get to know the other woman a bit more while ensuring that she was not left alone while John meandered to the booze.

Her aquamarine gaze fell upon Burgoyne and then Arthur as they conversed. There was a sort of smile that played across her lips as she heard the Captain helping if not encouraging John with advice. Giggles were suppressed as Middlesex asked when John was going to offer up his own entry stating that they could wait until he had one ready to share.

In the meantime, Middlesex mentioned that everyone was to have a free plume for their hat, much like the ones that she had seen about Windsor.

[Arthur Kinsington]

"That's the spirit!" Arthur exclaimed with a hearty slap on the back for the Baron's decision to try his hand in the contest. Thoughtfully starring off into space with another sip of his brandy, the blond man started to run through the things that rhymed with York. At the mention of the word pork the captain tucked it away, taking several seconds for the word to make it through the haze of brandy. Once it cleared the haze Arthur felt as if a lamp had been lit over his head as the word clicked with some of the slang his crew used to describe their conquests on shore leave. "My crew often brag about 'porking' the whores when we make port, so there's a piece of slang for fucking you could use." The Captain was drunkenly beaming with his suggestion, finding himself very clever indeed. "And fork. Fork rhymes with pork."

If the bearded blond wasn't getting to drunk he might have caught the almost smile play upon Alexandra's lips. However his drunken attention was focused on the plumes that had been brought in. "So we receive feathers?" Arthur had seen the feather's, he just had no clue why so many people called it fashion. "Is the name of the game the same as peacocks? The person with the most feathers tucked away wins?"

[Blackguard]

Frances Stuart patted the seat beside her. "Of course," she replied to Alexandra's query. "How is it that you are so known to the Merry Gang?"

Meanwhile, across the room, John was trying to piece a limerick together. "Fork, yes. That could be good." Arthur revealed it as a psuedonym for swiving. "Really?"

"Come come Burgoyne," Rochester called out. "Empires have risen and fallen in the time it has taken you to construct five lines."

"Be kind," Merriweather retorted.

"That's a fine word coming from a person like you," Rochester observed drolly.

John cleared his throat, looking at Arthur for support. "I must preface this by saying I have never composed a limerick before." There were few sympathetic looks from the audience.

"There is a Duke of York ... " he began, hoping to get a nod.

"They say he's talented with a fork." John looked to Arthur to see if he was using the pseudonym properly.

"Um, they say he's dull as a wooden bowl ... " He paused as he thought of a finale.

"And, he's as dangerous as uncooked pork." He almost ended it as a question as he looked for any sign of support.

There was a silence.

"You can tell it was your first limerick," Rochester offered uncharitably.

"I think it a valiant first effort," Sedley proclaimed. "Not as bawdy as we might like, but he touched upon a good theme and was close to delivering a good laugh. Had he another ten minutes, it would have been especially good."

"Yes, I think it both brave and inspired," Frances joined.

[Alexandra Neuville]

Alexandra shook her head, "I would not imagine that I am that 'known'." She amended and then chuckled, "I recall Rochester giving a rather spirited bout of poetry to several bottles of spirits upon my first exploration of Whitehall. Then, a race through the Labyrinth was given as a challenge after having met Lords Middlesex and Roos."

Then a dimpled smile appeared, "Since then I have not been able to shake them loose and some had even arrived at my wedding last Season." She giggled as she added in her attempt to be polite and kind not having had too much trouble from them, "They do manage to be quite amusing and have a knack to brighten a party."

Rochester called out to John and she looked at Frances in a 'see what I am talking about' expression. Then pressed her lips together as Merriweather spoke. The back and forth just as amusing giving Burgoyne further opportunity to put his limerick together.

"I agree." She joined in after Frances glad that Arthur helped instill some confidence in the man to prevent him from running from the room. He would never hear the end of it from the Merry Gang. The man also looked rather tipsy which was funny because she was supposed to be in a worse state. Was he a light weight? This was just her first glass and she did not even feel the dizzying warmth even though it was almost finished.

It was nice of Arthur to take John under his wing. The thought made her wonder if he tend to have a soft spot for those awkward under dog types as she always found herself in this situations as well.

[Blackguard]

OOC~ Now that Arthur is gone, we can start wrapping things up. Sorry for the delay.

"Once the Merry Gang takes an interest in you, you have an easier time escaping your shadow than them," Frances offered in an amused tone. They clearly had an interest in Alexandra. Whether they would have a continuing interest in John Burgoyne was less certain.

The Earl of Middlesex sent a servant from the room to find Isabeau while each contestant was given a very, very long plume to wear in one's hat. "I had hoped the Countess would select the winner; but, she seems indisposed at the moment. Should we vote amongst ourselves then, or will each loimerick receive one vote?" he laughed.