[u]Chanda & Baklava Collab Pt. 1[/u]

Although the knight’s threatening commands were more than a little unsettling, Lynnette breathed a sigh of relief as the crowd began to disperse. A bunch of confused and angry people trying to bust the mayor’s door down certainly wasn't going to make the Ikana Knights open their gates any faster. Just as she started to turn away, the knight’s voice shot through her like a bolt of lightning.

“Uhm…,” she blinked, her eyes wide-- silently panicking under the knight’s imposing stare. The question confused her. “I… I don’t know what you mean, sir,” she admitted, “He’s... he’s not a knight.”

Oliver was doing his own fair share of panicking too, but he did little to hide his frown when the knight indirectly insulted him. Oliver could totally be a knight... right? So what, he wasn't a 200 pound hulking hambeast with a coarse voice and a headdress made from but that probably wasn't a requirement, at least as far as Oliver knew. He was still the fastest thing alive, after all, as well as the best swordsman in all of Termina; that coupled with his noble birth and dashing good looks should make him a shoe in.

"Makes sense. This string bean wouldn't last a day in Ikana," scoffed the knight. "Although, that surname, Pike. That's familiar. I can't put my finger on it," wondered the very imposing man, stroking his chin pensively. Oliver seethed internally after yet another cheap shot, but if this guy had any information about his dad he wanted to hear it.

"My fa-"

"I don't believe I ever addressed you, boy," spat the man, raising his voice as he rudely interrupted Oliver. "So I'm curious as to why you thought it would be appropriate to say something. I don't think it will be necessary for you to speak again while I'm here," he sighed. Oliver was about to ready to reel off and hit this guy, but even his vivid imagination couldn't conceive of any universe where that would be a good idea.

"Might I ask why you're wearing that hood? It seems a bit strange to want to hide your face when you're shouting along with a crowd of rioters. Isn't subtlety a bit out of the picture at that point? Pardon my curiosity, it's my job to be suspicious," asked the swordsman, with a strange amount of politeness considering how crudely he'd just put down Oliver.

Lynnette found herself holding her breath as he responded, shooting glances between the knight and Oliver. She felt a pang of sympathy as the knight brusquely shot down Oliver’s attempt to speak. She would have attempted to speak on his behalf were it not for the knight's question. She shot him a wincing look that seemed to say 'Sorry.'

“Oh,” she pulled down her hood. Most of the crowd had dispersed, so she saw no reason to keep it up. She wanted very much for the knights to get a good look at her face anyway. Perhaps this was her chance to get some publicity with the Ikana Knights? She even opted to use her real name— something she had future plans to eventually do if she ever managed to break free of the Black Marsh Circus. Not to mention, she hoped that using her last name would perhaps incite something about her family members as Oliver’s surname had.

“My name is Lynnette Delacour and I’m a performer. I have many fans here at the festival and some are a bit on the… unpleasant side. When I’m not accompanied by my bodyguard, I try to keep a low profile so as not to draw unnecessary attention to myself.” She pulled the fabric of her cloak together, lowering her eyes, “I apologize for the shouting. I became impassioned over the well being of my grandparents and uncles. I’m very worried about them.” Lynnette looked back up at the knight with a troubled frown and an ever so slight (but very intentional) pout.