[b][color=steelblue]Dal[/color] and [color=#cccc00]Mel[/color][/b]


Dalious paused his fist and he huffed when he heard the loud guard announcing the arrival of an old friend, the prince of Luthra.  Everyone stopped fighting, though Dalious still held up a nearly unconscious gambler by his collar.  Wincing at the guards voice, he looked at Mel and smirked.  He hadn't thought the prince would show to the festival, but then he remembered there was free booze.  

Turning away from the grand entrance, he bawled his fist and went to punch the guy he was holding up when Melchior grabbed his arm and pulled him aside to other matters.  The gambler he released fell limp to the floor as Dalious turned and nodded with everything the prince had to say.  He gave him a wink to the patch and then picked up a nearly full bottle of whiskey from one of the tables.  

[color=steelblue] "Aye, that's right you meesley vagrants, I'm with him,"[/color] Dalious informed, kicking a downed man for good measure as he tossed his earning pouch to the bartender.  [color=steelblue]"In the name of Luthra, drinks on me."[/color]  He then tapped his cheek to feel the wounds he suffered, and after spitting out some blood he made his way back out of the tavern.  [color=steelblue] "Come dear prince, you heard your man servant, best not to keep them waiting.  Or, best to be drunk while you keep them waiting."[/color] He discretely pointed to the bottle of whiskey.  

Mel couldn't help but laugh as he realised the man was, in fact, his good friend. [color=#cccc00]"Indeed. Let us meet Exodus's esteemed King and Queen, and celebrate their beautiful daughter's coming of age."[/color] He bowed and made a motion as if tipping an invisible hat. [color=#cccc00]"It has been a pleasure meeting all of you fine people."[/color] Then, quickly straightening himself, he strolled out of the tavern with his head held high.

[color=steelblue]"The father's not around is he?"[/color] Dalious wondered as he gave a few glances this way and that.  The man was a mood kill and he felt in no state to be around such.  After realizing they were free from any family members, Dalious was able to relax and soak in the festival.  The colors and designs were all around them, and it was hard enough not to get sidetracked by something. 

[color=#cccc00]"No, I think Father is with Mother. You really think I'd be with them if I could help it?"[/color] Mel laughed as he grabbed the bottle and swigged generously. [color=#cccc00]"By the gods, I needed that."[/color]

The guard, still lagging slightly behind, cleared his throat. "With all due respect, Your Highness, I can--"

[color=#cccc00]"Holy shit, [i]please[/i] stop calling me that."[/color]

"I can assure you that adequate protection will be provided. I don't believe that bringing... with all due respect, your less-than-refined bodyguard into the palace is--"

Mel stopped and scowled at the guard. The man stopped speaking, and they continued walking as Mel swigged again.

[color=steelblue]"They started it!"[/color]  Dalious spoke toward the guard, then turned back to his friend.  [color=steelblue]"Anyway, how are things?  Havn't seen you in forever!  Last I saw you, I was sailing away on my pirate ship with my very best in crew."[/color]  He paused for a moment and sighed.  [color=steelblue]"They were all brutally murdered and my ship sank to the bottom of the Black Water.  I was stranded at sea in a rowboat for days!  Best not talk about the details I'm not quite over it.  More interested to hear why you're here, and don't tell me it's because you were invited.  That's boring."[/color]  Dalious rolled up some dragongrass while they walked and talked, taking a few hits of the weed before he continued.  [color=steelblue]"If we're robbing this fancy lot, I'm with you until the end.  However, if we're just hear to drink and have a good time, you have some catching up to do mate." [/color]

[color=#cccc00]"Holy shit, man."[/color] He handed off the bottle to Dalious and gave a sympathetic look as he talked about his ship. [color=#cccc00]"I wish I was here to rob them. No, trust me, I ain't here because I want to be. Mother thinks this thing will be... good for me. Whatever the fuck that means."[/color] He took the bottle, and swigged a couple times as he glanced around the street. Everything here was so... different than what he was used to. All the colours and extravagance... it was a little overwhelming.

[color=#cccc00]"She keeps talking about a 'marriage of convenience,' like it's gonna solve all our problems. Pretty sure the only problem that'll solve is getting me out of her hair."[/color] Swigged once more, then handed the bottle off. [color=#cccc00]"Not that I'd mind that. Bitch threw my lute off the gods-damn ship. How does she expect me impress foreign princesses without my lute?"[/color]

[color=steelblue]"Your lute playing was quite lovely,"[/color]  Dalious said and took another swig, smiling as he remembered a few of his old melodic songs.  [color=steelblue]"Anyway, I suppose I'd have to see this princess in person before I could give off any trustworthy advice.  Perhaps I might also find some work out here in the meanwhile, rich folk always need people dead."[/color]  

Dalious had to pause for a moment when he saw the palace up close, as he had never seen it before.  Once they reached the entrance he looked around and admired the structures built around them, but his attention shifted as people were now seemingly everywhere.  He felt slightly underdressed. 

[color=steelblue]"Whatever happens tonight, I want you to know that as your personal bodyguard, I will stay by your side this entire evening,"[/color] he informed him.  [color=steelblue]"I'll be your second eye.  I'll protect your life with your life as if it were my own, savvi?"[/color]  

Grabbing some wine from a passing server, Dalious followed as they moved closer toward the people.  All of them fancy-like and ripe for the pickings, however tonight he would have to force aside his pickpocketing urges and pretend to be a bodyguard.  The last time he was a bodyguard it was for some noble and another assassin murdered that noble while Dalious was passed out piss drunk in some barn.  Needless to say he didn't receive many bodyguard jobs thereafter.

Being a bit lost in his own thoughts, as well as drunk, Dalious found himself walking amongst groups of people he didn't know toward the palace.  The ground seemed to sway this way and that, all around him people from different parts of the world enjoying the festivities.  There were so many passing people that Dalious took a wrong direction and found himself alone again.  Melchior was nowhere in sight, he had lost him already.

[color=steelblue]"Mel?"[/color] he asked and turned to look.  Not wanting to draw too much attention toward himself, he paused from searching and just continued walking.  Ashing out his dragongrass and tossing the empty bottle of whiskey away, he kept toward the palace.  [color=steelblue]"Well shit.  I've got to be the worst bodyguard ever..."[/color]