→ → A A ↓ ↓ (Session Summary)

**→ → A A ↓ ↓** details the events of the September 5, 2021 session where the party helps Simon take advantage of the temporary gift given to him by Bailey, and Sorni and Anastasios have an awkward dinner with Talia.

## Session Notes

**The Evening Following the Events of the Previous Session**

*Note: there was downtime RP between this session and the last. The start of that RP can be found here, and continues through 9/5.*

* Aedryan asked Simon what led to the confrontation in the first place and he acknowledges that he and the bishop disagreed on Simon’s decision to marry.
* The group decided to have Chae and Theo publicly spar and invite Simon so that Chae can accidentally stab him to allow the public to see his wounds heal.

**Present Day**

* Simon sends Chae to discuss the public stabbing plan with Theo and she finds the prince in the audience chamber receiving a lecture by sentient dust.
* Theo, eager to get away from the lecture, turns his attention to Chae and she dutifully informs him that Simon has requested Theo teach her how to use a sword — loudly enough for anyone nearby to hear.
* Theo readily agrees and he leads Chae back toward Simon’s wing while explaining that the elderly man was petitioning the prince on behalf of House Finch, whose Lord passed away and wishes to confirm passing the title to his eldest son. As the late Lord was something of a mentor to Theo, his feelings are conflicted particularly due to the fact that he has an extensive history with Victor’s daughter, Emily.
* The couple arrives at Simon’s chambers and explains the situation with the Finch family, and Simon arranges for them to attend the public sparring match and an invitation for dinner after to discuss the family’s title.
* Chae asks Sorni and Aedryan if they have any advice for her, as her experience with a sword is limited. Sorni says her experience isn’t much better but Aedryan reluctantly offers Chae advice on swinging a sword.
* Cecily arrives and asks Talos and Sorni for assistance with keeping Anastasios’s frustrations in check when she reveals that she has hired Talia to teach him how to manage his affairs.
* Simon asks Theo and Chae to set the plans for the day in motion, and the couple takes their leave, leaving Cecily to explain to the group the history between Emily and Theo: Emily is an avid social climber who, despite her friendship with the prince, saw Theo as a worthy climb and pushed romance between them. Theo shut her down and Emily threw a fit during Simon’s coronation ball.
* Meanwhile, Chae and Theo have a conversation about the state of his relationship with Emily and its impact on their relationship. Theo admits that he is used to being seen as “the B-team” and doesn’t want a relationship where he is being used as anyone’s back-up or stepping stone. He tells Chae that he is serious enough to hopefully convince Chae to marry him one day. The two have a healthy conversation about their relationship, exchange hugs and “I love you”s, and set off to continue preparing for the sparring match.
* At the venue, which isn’t so much a proper training ground but a lovely garden in which the king and his fiancée are being served lemonade and fruit, Chae and Theo begin their sparring lesson.
* Theo is all too eager to demonstrate proper body positioning and sword handling and, once he has riled her up enough, tells the woman to take a swing at him. Though Theo easily blocks it and tries to offer guidance on how to improve, the man is interrupted by Emily Finch foolishly throwing herself at him in the middle of a sword fight.
* Theo, making a very clear show of keeping himself socially distant from Lady Finch, formally apologizes to the woman for her loss, and asks Simon to continue teaching Chae while he escorts the lady to her brother.
* Simon obliges and offers Chae the opportunity to train with real swords rather than practice ones and she agrees. After some banter, Chae takes a swing and immediately stabs Simon in the arm, drawing blood and swear words.
* Simon shows off that his wound has healed, thanks Chae for her time and, as he starts to ask everyone to move on with their days, is interrupted by Dominic Finch entering the scene.
* Though Simon tells Dominic that Theo was escoring Emily back to him, Dominic makes a dishonest claim that Theo and Emily have actually gone back to the Prince’s room.
* Aedryan and Chae are too smart to buy what Dominic is selling and give him a proper dressing down.
* Simon offers up Chae’s guest room to Dominic, suggesting that Chae can stay with Theo instead.
* Back at the Raven estate, Sorni is trying to prepare Anastasios for their guests and the impending tension that will accompany their arrival.
* Anastasios suggests that the two elope so that Sorni can properly play hostess while leaving the spectacle of a grand wedding to Cecily and Talos (so that Talos can be as uncomfortable as possible).
* Cecily and Talos arrive, announcing that Hendry, Miri, and Talia are waiting downstairs.
* Despite pleasantries and introductions, Anastasios makes things a little awkward by telling Cecily not to bother with introducing servants like Talos — which Talos takes with more grace than most would have.
* Dinner is served and the conversation immediately becomes awkward: Cecily wonders about the number of weddings that will occur before the year ends, and Anastasios believes there could be two if Talos were to ever “make something of himself.”
* Talos presses Anastasios about that thought, asking about his wedding to Sorni, but Anastasios says he refuses to rush her as he’s willing to wait a few more years.
* Talia asks if Anastasios worries about doing both ladies a disservice, and the conversation shifts to Anastasios wanting to make sure that Cecily’s future husband has money and won’t leave her in poverty — using any opportunity he can to dig at Talos.
* Talos finishes his meal and graciously informs the table that he wishes to get to know Cecily while he works on climbing up the ranks in the military so that he can meet Anastasios’s lofty expectations. He then excuses himself and takes his leave.
* Ignoring Talos, Anastasios tells Cecily that Dominic Finch invited Cecily for tea and that he has accepted the invitation on her behalf. Cecily says it will be great for telling Dominic that Emily might find a good suitor in Anastasios.
* Talia redirects the tension by noting why she is needed, and it clicks for Anastasios that Talia hasn’t been hired for Sorni — she’s been hired for him.

**Later That Evening**

*Note: Downtime RP occurred between this session and the next session. The start of that RP can be found here and continues through 9/8.*

* Anastasios asserts that House Raven has never made a problem for the king and that hiring Talia is unnecessary.
* Sorni asks Talia for information about why she was hired, and Talia explains the situation in Obervayne — charitably suggesting that while blossoming love is an understandable distraction, it should not distract from one’s responsibilities.
* Anastasios balks, suggesting that Cecily handles affairs well enough but Talia reminds him that Cecily cannot manage his affairs forever and notes that it would be unfair to put Sorni in such a precarious position. She argues that if Anastasios is going to leave the House in Cecily’s care, then he should allow the woman to broker her own marriage.
* Sorni attempts to diffuse the situation by suggesting Talia’s presence could help with how busy everyone has been and Anastasios relents, permitting Talia’s employment on a trial basis.
* Cecily gives Talia a small list of tasks to assist Sorni’s preparations for Simon’s wedding and suggests that the group of them can go visit tailors the following day.

## Additional Information

The title is a reference to the Majora's Mask song, *The Song of Double Time,* which is played by tapping C-Right, C-Right, A, A, C-down, C-down.