Kiarash gave a slight shrug as he fiddled with the hose in his hand. "Only if you're superstitious.." He said before taking a hit, releasing the thick smoke in rings before clearing his throat. "Peri, is a person who descends from the ranks of a fallen angel, a forsaken holy figure sent to this earth for a chance at redemption." The harpy kept his voice soft as he spoke, washing the words down with a swig from the bottle. "However, if you are to pass before your penance has been paid, you are denied paradise." Grinning slightly as he said that, following her sight to Aubrey with a questioning look before returning his focus to her. "Just tall tales to some."

She smiled slightly, her feathers ruffling. "I shall do my best to redeem myself, sir." Her voice indicated easily that she jested with him, whether or not the story had had any effect on her at all was hard to tell. "Are your people very superstitious?" she inquired a moment later, eyes drifting to the curtain as if she could see past it. "They certainly dont like anyone not human.. And vice-versa, from your folk." she smirked faintly, remembering the just-past incident with Aubrey and the other gaurd.

"Well, we know the reality to the legends." He said with a faint smile as he eyes become distant as the idly scanned the label of the bottle. "Myself, well you can look however you do and do whatever you wish. If it's not harming any, why be bothered?" He said as he lifted his heterochromatic eyes to the red hot coal sitting at the top of the stem of the hookah. "As for the natives here, they simply seem spooked by us. We can easily out run their soldiers, dodge any arrow they can fire at us in the air.. So I can understand their uneasiness when they don't know us personally." Taking a sip from the bottle he pushed the cork into the top and set it in the bucket of ice. "As for those feather heads, they just become too wrapped up in their privileges to remember what it was like to be the odd man out." Chuckling softly as he returned his focus to Peri, he gave a playful shrug. "But that's why I am here, I keep them in line for when they are needed and make sure they are well cared for when not on duty. Though I can assure you, what happened out there is as rare as someone like you coming to our empire."

She seemed almost perplexed at this, but soon smiled slightly, the faint crease between her brows disappearing. To some degree it was a bit odd; she hadnt come down to the lower webbed games in quite some time. But still, one didnt always need to court dragons to have a bit of fun. And who said he wasnt? "I can understand the friction." she said, thoughtfully it seemed. "But you seem to have made the best of the situation," she added, fixing him with her eyes in a laughing manner. "All the court seems to know your name."

The harpy's cheeks colored faintly as he rubbed the back of his head with a soft laugh. "Well.. I am rather, important." He said softly as his blush only brightened. He had never had someone address his fame around the empire, nor had he ever had the experience of defining what exactly it was he did. "In times of war, if the royal family is to fall, gods forbid, I would assume control, actually." He spoke rather quickly as he hadn't ever told anyone what he would inherit in such a situation. Both of his hands held the hose to the hookah as he suddenly forgot what he should do with them and took a hit to silence himself. "There is much more to it than that.. but I feel such sensitive information shouldn't be disclosed to commoners.. no offense."

The woman's eyes followed Kiar's expressions as he spoke, smiling slightly. Commoner? Indeed. It was comments like that when she wished to just obliterate the smaller races.. But that would not be playing by the rules of this game. She shook her head slightly, adding, "No, I understand. Outsiders cannot be trusted with information; though I am curious as how you ascended to that position."

Aubrey, for his part, seemed to be determinedly staring a hole through the curtain, pretending he didnt exist. He was rather good at it.

Kiar chuckled as he tilted his head at her question, running a finger along the ribs of the hose in his hand. "Well, unfortunately, you've already seen one of my many secrets." He said as he raised his right hand, rocking it side to side as he motioned to the bulky gauntlet strapped to his forearm. "I've got quite a few tricks up my sleeves and in thirty years I have yet to be killed while on duty. As well as during the few wars we have had." He said as he took a hit from the hookah, eyeing Aubrey for a moment. "I've done more than anyone else in this empire over my life, survived four wars and I'm the fastest of my battalion.. but now I sound like I am just bragging." He said with a slight smile as he looked back to the woman. "But we've veered off from what's important, I want to hear stories of where you're from, where you've been and what's beyond the sands."

"I dont believe its bragging if its the truth," she told him, her eyes laughing. The crooked smile that was her most oft-used expression appeared again, violet eyes laughing. It was odd, wasnt it? The lady he'd met months had had also amethyst eyes.. Not that shed noticed or cared, herself. "Where im from? Life is much different; but I wanted to travel.. Always have, to learn as much asI could."

Aubrey's eyes flicked briefly to the Queen. For once, shes spoken truth.

Kiarash chuckled softly as he shook his head, grinning slightly. "I just dislike talking one's self up too much, it's a dark path to being swallowed by the ego." Taking a hit from the hookah, he listened to the woman as he let the smoke out in rings. Leaning back after stretching his wings and resting his head against a fist. "Where did you start from?" He asked as his curiosity was peeked, wondering why his guest spoke so vaguely about herself.

Aubrey's brows lifted slightly as he took another drink, content to bury his nose in his drink and listen.. She'd already spoken truthfully, and he wondered how much she would reveal to this mortal - and just how she would change the stories. It was curious, who she circled with.. Never boring, at least, he mused to himself.

Peri nabbed the extra hose Aubrey had abandoned, drawing a long breath as Kiar questioned her. Her eyes flickered, dropping aside. It had been a long time since she had thought about her own beginnings. And they weren't entirely pleasant memories for her, for that matter. "Far to the northeast from here, past the great seas, and many kingdoms between." She lifted memory-dark eyes to his with a charming smile. "I sincerely doubt you've heard of my original home."

He laughed giving the woman a slight nod. "As I have never left the empire nor heard from any other lands, I think you would be right with that assumption." He said as he took another hit from the hookah, blowing the smoke at the bucket of ice watching it settle into a thick fog. "I've flown high, until the sky is no longer blue.. but black. I've seen most of everything on this side of the planet up there, but I've never actually been beyond the deserts surrounding my home." He smiled as he spoke, enjoying his mid-day flights up to where the air is freezing, even when the empire is in a serious heatwave and leaving the castle is protested to to heat exhaustion.

Aubrey snorted unobtrusively into his drink as he listened. With such a short explanation, she had skipped over anything that told a person any true information. Master of roundabout words, that one. Still, he kept his face neutral, green-gold eyes bemused.

"The skies are deceptive up there." she said quietly, smiling crookedly. "Its a wonder you havent come down far from home." She shrugged slightly, feathers briefly fluffing. "I couldnt, myself, imagine staying in one place my whole life."

Kiar chuckled at her words, shaking his head slightly as he raised an index finger pointing to his eye. "With these, I can pick out a face from the clouds." He said as he took a sip from his bottle. "Besides, if I start to wander too far from this area I can feel something of a tugging sensation bringing me back." Taking another drink he set the bottle down before replacing it with the hose in his hand. "I'd like to go off on adventures, but if I were to leave this place I am almost certain it would fall in months."

She laughed lightly, lifting an eyebrow. "You dont have much faith in the kingdom you live in." her eyes danced in merriment, imagining her own. Kit had worked long and sacrificed much for her own kingdom- and she now enjoyed the knowledge that they could get along without her constant supervision.. If only for the reason that her people's enemies now lay in decimated ruin. Perhaps that was not the case here? "Are you often at war with your neighboring lands?"

"Well, they seem to think they should have that which is ours, simply because they are 'entitled' to it." He said with a shrug, watching her body language. "As for my faith in the empire, the reason we've been victorious is because of my strategies and skill. I'm quite the natural fighter, not to mention I seem to have the gift of moving faster then the grounded kin can see." Smiling to himself as he spoke, as his agility often assisted him in his secondary line of work. Pausing after he spoke, his ears suddenly picked up the blaring silence coming from the main hall of the harpy sanctuary. Kiarash's right wing snaked under the table and pulled the curtain aside as his eyes scanned over the room for a moment. The lot of his subordinates had retired to their barracks, possibly quite a while ago. "Though, it seems the night has ended." He looked to the small carved arch that was high on the wall behind him, eyeing the stars for a moment before returning his focus to his guests. "Quite a bit later than I expected though I certainly have no complaints." Smiling to the other two as he slid his chair back, allowing himself a short moment to stretch his back.

Peri chuckled softly and stood, as did Aubrey. She returned her cloak about her shoulders, hiding her wings once again. "It is easy to lose track of time," she commented dryly, stepping out into the open area. "But at least I dont need to rise early for my job here." her eyes laughed, knowing the other two would be awake long before she would.

Aubrey followed them out, concentrating on keeping his feet coordinated. By now he'd polished off much more than one bottle - and though there was no outward sign unless you knew him well, the incognito Lord was well on his way to being as drunk as the harpies had been.

Kiarash kept an eye on Aubrey as he had himself prepared to catch the man if he were to trip over himself. Leading his guests to the door, he knocked on it twice. The sound of two large bolts unlocking was heard before the guards stationed outside the door pulled the doors open. "It was quite a pleasure to have your company, as I can see you have clearly enjoyed yourself." He laughed softly as he pat Aub's shoulder, stepping through the doorway with the two. "Will you be alright finding your way back to your respective rooms?" He asked with a smile as he looked to Peri.

Peri nodded and seemed about to say yes, when she was cut off by Aubrey, his head lifting from the view of his toes. He pointed a finger at Kiarash, "No. Unless I'm going back to mucking out stables I dont have anywhere to sleep anymore, m'lord." His expression was doleful, a strange mix of accusation, teasing, and over-done sadness. "Nice as haystacks are."

The harpy blinked as he leaned back slightly, staring at the other's finger. Arching a brow he gave the man a questioning look as he stepped forward brushing Aub's hand aside. "I think you should stay away from the elixirs made here from now on.." Slipping under Aubrey's arm he wrapped his free arm around the mans waist. "I showed you to your room before dinner, but I suppose I could give you a lift back." Speaking with a grin as he returned his focus to Peri once more, nodding his head toward the edge of the stairway.

"I'm fine. You just have a big house." Aubrey grinned, the expression, as always, making him look the fool. He stuck his tongue out at Peri behind Kiar's back, a wildly childish gesture, but it suited him somehow. As he did though, his eyes hardened, watching her for a split second.. She wasnt the only one who could trick people. As it turned out, though, it was a split second too long, because Kiar had started moving.

Peri seemed amused by the whole situation, following them both to the edge of the stairway, and she nearly laughed aloud at Aubrey's indication of his thoughts. At least he was more fun than some of the other consorts who couldve followed her here.

"Okay big guy, easy does it." Kiarash lead Aubrey down a few steps, his grin growing with every step. After several steps, he tilted his head to the side and tightened his grip on Aub's wrist as his arm squeezed the man lightly. Tugging softly, his wings unfolded and he rocked over the edge of the stairs pulling his friend with him. Angling his wings behind him as they fell, he kept the two of them in the center of the tower as to avoid clipping a limb on the solid rock stairway. Kiar's ankles locked together behind him as he closed his eyes for a moment as he enjoyed the air rushing past his face. "Throw up on me and you'll lose what makes you useful in bed." He laughed out as he watched the ground preparing himself to stop their fall.

Aubrey did not throw up on Kiarash.
He did, however, let out a singular yelp as his feet left the platform that probably deafened the sensitive ears next to him. And then he promptly shut his mouth, closed his eyes, and pretended that they were not falling a million miles in a tiny cornered stairway with a rushing stone floor beneath them.

About halfway down, there was a laughing behind them, and then suddenly, in front. Peri had dived after them, and she was not content to fall. A falcon's wings, already designed for speed, pulled her relentlessly faster. She raced the falling men for her own delight, folding her wings completely to zip in front of them, whipping them open again to flutter safely down before she smashed through the stone.

Tilting his head to the side and wincing an eye shut from the other's yelp, he grit his teeth as he had to fight the urge to get as far from the loud noise as fast as he could. Gripping the other tighter instead, his ear flicked as he heard Peri behind them. Watching her pass them, he laughed softly as he watched her small wings. Seeing her hit the floor, his face went slightly pale as he now had to fight the urge of throwing his friend at the woman. Kiar's wings flattened together in a line behind his back, waiting until he was several feet above the floor before clapping his wings together sending a single burst of wind with enough force to allow the harpy to land on his toes and ease himself down onto his heels. Scowling slightly at Peri, he released Aubrey as his wings ticked themselves behind him. "Thank your elders I am above grounding you." He said as he kicked a few of the stone chunks around. "I don't even know how to explain this.." He rubbed his chin as he eyed the slabs of stone that had been shattered. "Though I can say you are dreadfully slow with those finch wings of yours, perhaps we should test how functional they are outside of the castle sometime."

Aubrey, let go, could well be described as scrambling away from Kiar and Peri, avoiding the both of them and kicking a chunk of stone down the hall without a word. Kit knew he didnt like to fly- Kiar would figure it out. In fact, now might be a great time. Turning sharply on his heel, Aubrey left them to their flirtations, following his chunk of rock.

Kit glimmered a bit, a tiny smirk at the edge of her lips. "I'd welcome a challenge." she glanced at the floor, lifting a slippered foot to survey the damage. The clattering stone caught her attention and her eyes followed Aubrey as he left their side, a strange look of amusement on her face. Without knowing, Kiar had done of the few things that irritated the man now striding away, and this caused her no end of pleasure.

Kiarash laughed as Aub stormed off, assuming his reaction to be from the sudden drop and nothing more. His smile held his face as he looked to Peri, giving her a slight nod. "I could use a warm up before duty one day, so we will definitely have to do that sometime." He eyed the floor before looking back up to the other. Thinking for a moment, he decided that this woman had already seen a few of his secrets, so what would he have to lose if she knew one more? Moving closer to her, he pushed at her shoulders playfully shooing her off the broken floor and into the entrance of the corridor leading away from the tower. "Stay." He said shortly with a smile as he studied the shattered stone floor once more.

Moving to the center of the tower's base, he knelt down and placed his hands on the largest stone slab he could find. Pressing into the ground lightly his wings formed a crescent around his form. Small green embers began to appear in the stone as they slithered and gliding along the slab, more and more appearing as they slowly formed a circle encasing hundreds of sigils and smaller circles. The cracks of the stone began to emit a soft emerald glow as they pulled together, being formed into the original state of the stone floor. After a few moments, Kiarash lifted his hands and the circle dispersed, the light trailing into the cracks towards the wall removing any seam that would be left. The harpy stood as he dusted his hand off and winked to the woman. "Our secret?" He asked with a chuckle as he walked toward her.