Ghostly hands pour samples of wine into new glasses and escort trays of tasted ones out. EARL GREY the butler Sinistea has been working happily this evening at the behest of his master, Remiel Calcifet , and his lovely guest, Lady Summer Atreides . Though the possessed teacup wonders whether they realize how late it's gotten or not.

Time flies in the face of good company and liquor, it seems.

Slightly flushed and inebriated himself, the Galarian prince finds himself far more sociable than he usually is. Typically, during business deals such as these, he employs an amicable but distant demeanor that he's practiced well in political dealings and royal banquets and balls. Tonight, however, he finds himself speaking to Summer as if she were an old friend... or an old, unrequited flame.

"Well, we have all night and the next day," Remiel assures his guest. "If you care to—"

CRASH!!

There's a ruckus in the reading room down the hallway and out of the lounge they reside in. At first, Remiel imagines it to be Earl Grey, then turns to see the teacup floating nearby. The butler appears just as alarmed as he, setting down a tray upon a small circular table before floating off to investigate.

Even still, Remiel gets up from his leather chair and sets his glass of wine down on the table between them. Something felt... off.

"Stay here," He says, walking around to follow his Sinistea into the hallway. "I'll go see what that was."

---

— sorry for the holdup!
⚠ mission: hush [x]

MISSION + Summer Atreides

☉

Walking down the hallway, out of the lounge they reside in and into a reading room, Remiel regroups with Earl Grey to find the cause of the ruckus earlier: a fallen bookshelf. Somehow, it had tipped over and spilled many of its books over the coffee table, furniture, and floor.

Furthermore, high above, higher than anyone could reach without a step ladder, the half-circle shaped window had been opened and left ajar. A cold, snowy breeze blew in from outside, as Remiel came to wonder how exactly it had been unlocked. The bookshelf had been too far away... the window only opened from the inside...

As Earl Grey floats upward to close it shut, the royal turns over his shoulder to regard Summer Atreides as she follows. "My apologies, Miss Prescott. It appears I might have an unwanted pest in the estate."

---

⚠ mission: hush [x]

MISSION + Summer Atreides

☉

"I don't know yet," The royal responds, reaching up to grasp her hand and offer it a reassuring squeeze. Seeing the worry in her eyes was not something he enjoyed, even if he didn't know the full picture. "But I assure you everything will be okay. It's likely just a Sneasel. We've seen plenty of those around the estate before." He assures her.

Turning towards his Sinistea butler, Remiel nods. "Perform a security sweep of the estate, Earl Grey. Wake Adal from his kennel and have him join you."

With a swift bow, the floating teacup glides off to do just that, leaving the lady and the gentleman behind. The silence that follows doesn't linger for long, however, before the host speaks once more. "Come, we can wait in the parlor." He suggests with a gentle smile, offering her his arm so that he can escort her there.

"I'm a little inebriated, I must admit... but I can still play you a tune on the piano."

---

⚠ mission: hush [x]

MISSION + Summer Atreides

☉

It was quite funny, really, how several glasses of wine had the ability to bring certain things to the surface of his perception. The way Summer pressed close against him, for example, would have hardly stood out to Remiel otherwise. As things were, however, it reminded him of how long he'd been without physical intimacy— not since he'd parted ways with illeana reyes, in fact. And it made him blush.

The prince does little more than relish the act for a moment before blinking out of his stupor and responding. "I'm your host, Summer," He begins, naturally shifting onto a first name basis. "I wouldn't trouble you with a simple security sweep. It's likely to result in nothing anyway."

Moments later, they enter the parlor and make a beeline for the piano. Parting from each other, if only to sit shoulder-to-shoulder at the piano bench, Remiel lifts the felt key cover before threading his fingers together and flexing them. "Any requests?"

---

⚠ mission: hush [x]

MISSION + Summer Atreides

☉

Remiel nods, hovering his fingers over the keys in preparation as the notes slowly began to emerge out from the recesses of his memory. "Why, of course," He answers, striking the first note gently before continuing the melody into "Minuet in G Major". He plays it so effortlessly that he even dares to look her way as he does so, sharing his tipsy debonair smile.

"This is one of the first pieces they teach boys at the Finlay Boarding School... it's quite elementary really." He suggests, admittedly missing a few keys when she leans her head on his shoulder and cuddles close. Though slightly flustered, he does his best to regain composure as he continues to fill the parlor with music.

But, before long, he drives the melody into a dead-end of repeating notes. He plays these lightly as he looks down at her with a smile. "I can teach you, if you'd like."

---

🎶 Minuet in G Major — Bach (Petzold)
⚠ mission: hush [x]

MISSION + Summer Atreides

☉

The royal feels downright penitent for having accidentally pulled Summer from her daydream. The least he could do, he figures, is grant her an enjoyable experience as he teaches her piano. Though momentarily entranced by those sleepy eyes of hers and that charming smile, he eventually nods and pauses from his playing to grasp her hand and guide forward with the lesson.

Tenderly, he maneuvers her hand over the appropriate keys on her end, his fingers carefully lining up with her own as he vocally announces each note they have her press. There's no rush as Remiel teaches her, allowing her all the time she needs to memorize this measure as their intimate closeness simmers beneath it all.

"See? Just like that."

He smiles, shifting his eyes towards her countenance to find her within the reach of a kiss.

---

🎶 Minuet in G Major — Bach (Petzold)
⚠ mission: hush [x]

MISSION + Summer Atreides

☉

Inches away from bliss, and another loud noise serves to interrupt the pleasantry of their moment. With a sigh, Remiel releases the breath that had been locked up in that anticipation. He pulls back, looking over his shoulder to look expectantly down at the hallway as well. "I trust Earl Grey with our safety... but perhaps we should che—"

The piano suddenly starts playing on its own.

Remiel sharply turns back to watch it play, eyes narrowed in thought and dread. In the discordance of the haunting music, he faintly recognized a lullaby.

One he hadn't heard since...

"Goetia..."

Cobalt hues widen with shock before he gets up, seizing Summer's hand and urging her to follow him. "You need to go. I'll escort you out, then I want you summon the fastest Pokémon you currently have and get as far away from here as possible... understood?" He says, pushing a door open as they enter the labyrinthian hallways of his large estate once more. Behind them, the music swells.

---

⚠ mission: hush [x]

MISSION + Summer Atreides

☉