Editing Interlude – Acceptable Romance

{{Infobox episode
|title= Interlude – Acceptable Romance
|published=October 12, 2025
|wordcount= 
|link=[https://wanderinginn.com/2025/10/12/interlude-acceptable-romance/ Interlude – Acceptable Romance]
|previousChapter=[[Interlude – Halfseekers (Pt. 9)]]
|nextChapter= ???
}}
'''Interlude – Acceptable Romance''' is the 104th chapter of [[Volume 10]].

==tl;dr==
*[[Melika Blackwing|Melika]] and [[Werdin Blackwing|Werdin]] discuss the mood of the citizens of [[Pallass]] after [[Grimalkin Duveig|Grimalkin's]] confession on television making their way to a historical museum.
*Werdin leaves to discuss things with another Wall Lord leaving Melika to talk to [[Sharke]], another [Socialite], as they make their way to the private area for those ''in'' with the High Society of Pallass.
*Reconvening with her husband Melika joins in the conversation on what they should do surrounding Grimalkin's relationship with [Lady] [[Pryde Ulta|Pryde]] with ideas becoming more crazy as time passes on.
*Feeling that something is wrong Melika leaves to get some fresh air knowing that the incense has been laced with something, returning back she and Sharke grab their partners leaving the venue.
*After arrive back at their estate Melika calls [[Gunpi]] to hear how the others are doing arranging a gathering at her place.
*Gunpi dispenses that the young woman 'Lilac' she helped at the party was [[Rose Cinevoy|Rose]] under an illusion spell.
*Gunpi shares that she heard [[Relz Hauscale|Relz]] call for a runner to send a letter to Grimalkin about a 'plan of action', Melika tries to tell Werdin of what's happening but are too late.
*After Grimalkin and Pryde read the letters sent to them, the Sinew Magus communicates and reaffirms to his partner his feelings for her.

==Synopsis==
After the [[Archmages|Archmages']] Battle that was shown to the world it began to uplift the spirits of the people of [[Izril]] with many considering [[Liscor]] to being the place to be with rumors of a new magical school being made, [[Pallass]] benefits from this as it's a gateway further north but an incident cause by one of their own is making the [[Walled Cities|Walled City]] of Inventions shake. [[Werdin Blackwing|Werdin]] asks [[Melika Blackwing|Melika]] about the mood in Pallass after [[Grimalkin Duveig|Grimalkin's]] relationship with [[Pryde Ulta|Pryde]] was revealed to everyone on air as the two enter a museum—with floors only meant for those truly ''<nowiki/>'in''' with the High Society of Pallass—with her sharing that most are confused with the young more scandalized and the nobility dismayed. Meeting another noble Werdin leaves off with the man to talk about the Sinew Magus problem leaving Melika to talk [[Sharke]], the other noble's date and a fellow [Socialite], about how things have been going for the both of them with Melika complaining about [[Jelaqua Ivirith|Jelaqua]] as they make their way to the private venue of the museum. Arriving at the eight floor of the museum the two [Socialites] meet with many of Pallass' High Society witnessing some of them consuming very illicit drugs.

The two [Socialites] enter the conservation Werdin is having with the others about Grimalkin and his relationship with a prominent [Lady] of the North and what's to be done to deal with the issue, they discuss a number of things but it all ties back to Pallass not losing someone like Grimalkin like they have with other notable figures. As more time passes on and the air gets heavier and they become less in control with Werdin finding the root cause of their issue of the relationship in being the status difference between Grimalkin and Pryde, unwilling to make Grimalkin a Wall Lord they instead decide to take the [Lady] down a peg discussing a number of ways to humiliate her. 

Feeling that something is wrong Melika goes out onto a balcony to get some fresh air knowing that the incense was laced with something, Sharke comes to her pointing out that a young girl nearly collapsed with a [[Gnoll]] nearby sharing that the drugs came from the [[Chandrar]]. After helping the girl, Melika and Sharke grab their dates and leave from the party at once making the two men realize the mess that they were in, after a bit of talking they figure out it was [Senator] [[Ciltrel]] that organized the event with backing from a Wall Lady [[Shaullile Rubyscale|Shaullile]] and her Alliance of Free Thinkers.

After the two [[Blackwing Family|Blackwings]] return to their estate Melika calls on a fellow [Socialite] [[Gunpi]] to checkup on the others that were at the museum with Melika offering to host a gathering at her place, the group of [Socialites] arrive with the [[Garuda]] asking about the young woman that collapsed earlier. It's revealed that Lilac was in fact [[Rose Cinevoy|Rose]] under an illusion [[spell]] with Melika recognizing her from the time at that bar, Gunpi asks Melika what up with noise surrounding Grimalkin with the Garuda sharing that it was about the Magus' relationship to the [Lady] and the crazy ideas they were spouting out. Gunpi then informs them that as she was leaving she heard [[Relz Hauscale|Relz]] call for a city runner to send Grimalkin a 'plan of action', Melika takes off to tell Werdin of what's happening but they were too late.

[Lady] Pryde knew the sort of reaction Grimalkin's speech on television would produce as she reads through the many letters sent her way bearing black roses. she asks Grimalkin if everything's alright as he reads the letter that was just given to him by a runner sent by 'concerned members of Pallass'. Holding himself together he shreds the letter apart making his way to Pryde only to find that she was sent the same letter as well, Pryde bluntly tells him that things would only become more difficult for them. Pulling his thoughts together and from talks he had with those he considers to have superiority over him in the realm of romance; Grimalkin communicates with Pryde that he admires and loves her regretting to knowing so few words and languages to express his feelings to her.

==Characters==
( * = First Appearance)
*[[Amerys Retoiber]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Chaldion Oliwing]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Chorlic]]*
*[[Ciltrel]]*
*[[Duln]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Duskal]]*
*[[Edellein Blackwing]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Errif Jealwind]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Ferkr Shallenside]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Flos Reimarch]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Glasiaad]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Grimalkin Duveig]]
*[[Gunpi]]*
*[[Inmal]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Ishkr Silverfang]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Jelaqua Ivirith]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Magnolia Reinhart]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Maughin Dulamet]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Melika Blackwing]]
*[[Mireden Raithland]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Nanette Weishart]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Noass]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Palt Fenrisol]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Pelt Dooristone]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Pryde Ulta]]
*[[Relz Hauscale]]
*[[Rolt]]* ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Rose Cinevoy]]
*[[Saliss Oliwing]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Salkis Blackwing]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Sharke]]*
*[[Shaullile Rubyscale]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Tyrion Veltras]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Valeterisa Imarris]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Werdin Blackwing]]
*[[Wuvren Sitil]] ''(Missive)''
*? - Drake [Merchant]*
*? - Gnoll Smoking on a white stick*

==Groups/Organizations==
*[[Seven]] ''(Mentioned)''
*Pallass' High Society
*[[Ulta Lands|House Ulta]]
*Assembly of Crafts ''(Mentioned)''
*Alliance of Free Thinkers ''(Mentioned)''

==Locations==
*[[Izril]]
**[[Pallass]]
***5th Floor
****Blackwing Estate
***6th Floor
****The Dragonfire Museum
***Grimalkin's Mansion

== Items ==
*Raoma's Fancy
*Elf's Tears
*Cleansing Cigarette 

==Statistics==
===Statistics Revealed===
====[[Sharke]]====
* '''Skills:'''
** [Rumors on the Wind]

====[[Melika Blackwing]]====
* '''Skills:'''
** [Special Contacts List]

[[Category:Chapters]]
[[Category:Volume 10]]
[[Category:Interludes]]