[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/nFq9mJx.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/uGddlzt.png[/img] [color=BBC7E1]Time:[/color] Evening [color=BBC7E1]Location:[/color] The Tough Tavern [color=BBC7E1]Interactions:[/color] [@JJ Doe] Fritz/Ryn [@Potter] Persephone [color=BBC7E1]Music:[/color][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHS1gOQtJjw&ab_channel=AntheaLawrence-Topic]Violin[/url] [color=BBC7E1]Attire:[/color] [url=i.imgur.com/kzux34s.jpg]Click here[/url] [hr][/center] The laughter continued to uproar through the tavern. The violinist had attempted to pick back up his tune yet now struggled to be heard over the noise. Charlotte had walked over to Maxwell's side, trying to ignore the stares she received during her journey. She offered her hand to the drunkard, [color=BBC7E1] "Let me help you." [/color] Choosing to first speak with the most wasted fellow in the bar was perhaps not the best detective work, but she had felt sorry for him. The bearded, disheveled man immediately took her hand with delight as she helped him up. Then he stumbled and almost fell over again. Another round of chuckling filled the air. Charlotte quickly put her hands on his shoulders to stabilize him. She looked over her shoulder to glare at the nearby patrons. [color=BBC7E1]”Seriously, gentlemen?”[/color] Charlotte did not know if she had managed to motivate herself or if she was so drained at this point that she simply could not bother to have a filter. [color=BBC7E1] "I didn't realize children were permitted entry into taverns now." [/color] [center]A collective [i][color=mistyrose]“ooooo”[/color][/i] filled the room that answered her question.[/center] They were much too inebriated to think of anything to come back with, so they instead laughed like imbeciles. Charlotte watched one man laugh so hard that he had to lay down on the floor and clutch his stomach. She raised a brow and let her gaze move back to Maxwell. He was simply just staring at her with a goofy smile. [color=BBC7E1] "Okay, honey, let's just..." [/color]Charlotte gently pushed his shoulders to help seat him on his stool and waved over the bartender. [url=https://cdnb.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/005/520/963/large/natalia-egunova-3-13-03-16.jpg?1491645625]A girl with short red hair[/url] and a face littered with freckles made her way over and leaned on the wooden bar, looking Charlotte up and down with a curious smile. She wore dark lipstick that did little to hide her youth. Finally, a brief giggle escaped her lips as she coolly introduced herself. [color=lightgreen] "Marcy's the name, and serving you is my game." [/color] [color=BBC7E1] "Pleased to meet you, Marcy." [/color] She took a moment to curtsy to her, perhaps out of habit. The red-head got on her tippy toes to watch her movement, rubbing her eyes in disbelief. [color=BBC7E1] "Could you please bring a glass of water over?" [/color] Marceline nodded, biting her lip. She picked up a nearby pitcher of water and then turned around to face the wall. [color=lightgreen][i] "What the hell was that?" [/i][/color] She mumbled to herself. Noble girls were something else; everything Persephone had told her over the years was spot-on. She set the glass of water in front of them. That was when the dark-haired girl before her began helping the drunkard. Marceline's brows lifted as Charlotte picked up the glass and brought it to his lips. Charlotte gently placed her free hand against the back of Maxwell's head. Then, she proceeded to aid the man drink a few sips of water. [color=lightgreen][i]Why bother?[/i][/color] Marcy thought. Nobles rarely came in here, and certainly not Lady Charlotte Vikena with her hair tied back in a pretty ribbon as she was always portrayed. The nobles she had the misfortune of interacting with had seemed to look down on the impoverished. It was as if they were rats that scuttered out of the sewers. Even the impoverished looked down on Maxwell Adams. The man sat at the bar every night, giving every woman that passed him a creepy smile. After losing his family years ago, the man had not been right in the head and could be a real wildcard. Maxwell soon laid his head on the table. [color=BBC7E1] "Do you feel sick?" [/color] He nodded, and Charlotte looked back at Marceline. [color=BBC7E1] "Can you put some cold water on a cloth and give it to me, please? If you have any crackers, that will help too." [/color] The bartender stared at her with tension, not happy about being given demands. However, she moved to get Charlotte what she requested, handing her the cloth and tossing a few crackers onto the bar. Delicately, Charlotte put it on his forehead and pushed the crackers closer to him. She rubbed the man's back as he raised his head slightly. Then, he took a cracker with a trembling hand and nibbled on it. [color=lightgreen][i]Why is she so nice? She should know not to trust strangers.[/i][/color] [color=lightgreen] "You seem like you know what you're doing." [/color] Marceline commented finally. Charlotte replied without looking her way, [color=BBC7E1] "I suppose… I've been taking care of drunk people my whole life so." [/color] Marceline wondered if she had picked up on her tension with her. There was an awkward silence before Charlotte did meet her eyes again. [color=BBC7E1] "Have you seen a man with short dark brown hair with scars on his face? He has a mustache, and he’s maybe…" [/color] Charlotte got on her tippy toes and held her hand above her head. She squinted as she tried to decide how much taller Lorenzo, [color=BBC7E1] "...two inches taller than me? "[/color] Marceline first shrugged before replying, [color=lightgreen] "Honestly, I don't think I've seen a Duke here… People would talk…" [/color] She sighed as she used a towel to dry a glass, [color=lightgreen]" Is there the possibility that he was in here and I didn't notice? …Absolutely. He sounds like he looks like every other bastard in here already." [/color] Charlotte sat down and leaned her head back to stare at the ceiling. [color=BBC7E1][i]I just want to go to sleep.[/i][/color] A large hand fell on her shoulder, causing her to readjust her head position. Maxwell was sitting up more now, holding the cloth to his forehead. [color=#9FE2BF] "From far away…" [/color] Charlotte and Marcy both looked at him as he had finally spoken up. [color=#9FE2BF] "You reminded me of my late wife... It made me smile. I thought maybe… God was letting me see her again. My eyes are not as good as they used to be… "[/color] A tear slid down his cheek despite his smile, [color=#9FE2BF] "But now up close, you look like my daughter Winnie… Maybe not in appearance but in here." [/color] He patted his own chest where his heart was.[color=#9FE2BF] "Thank you for reuniting me with my girls." [/color] Charlotte's expression broke along with her heart. [color=BBC7E1][i]Oh poor thing. [/i][/color] She bit her lip. She knew very well that nothing could be said in this situation. [color=#9FE2BF] "I hope you can be reunited too… with the mustache man with the scars." [/color] She managed a smile and took Maxwell's hand in hers to squeeze it. However, the moment was brief as a stray thought crossed her mind suddenly. Charlotte lowly asked as her attention returned to the young girl, [color=BBC7E1] “Marcy… How did you know I was looking for a Duke?" [/color] Somehow, Marceline managed to pale. [color=lightgreen] “ Uhhh…”[/color] [color=BBC7E1] “Marcy… Please.”[/color] Marcy huffed and folded her arms as she leaned in, whispering, [color=lightgreen] "You know that big lady over there with the bandana? This is her bar. She came over before and told me who you were… I know you only live with the Duke, so kinda figured." [/color] Charlotte could tell there was more to this story, so she raised a brow. She could see the guilt written all over Marcy's face. [color=lightgreen] “Okay okay… So she also told me that we kindaaa aren't supposed to let you and that guy over there leave." [/color] [i][color=BBC7E1]”What?”[/color][/i] [color=lightgreen]" Didn't you see? You were right there when she shut the window. There was somebody out there, and he said something to her." [/color] Charlotte tried to replay the memory in her mind, but it became difficult to focus. A blonde woman had suddenly come running into the tavern. She frowned, seeing the distress on her face as she practically charged toward the stairs. [color=lightgreen] "Seph, you're back! Do you-"[/color] A door slam filled the bar's silence as the violinist had halted his song once again. He looked pretty frustrated. Charlotte froze as her gaze locked on the steps. The music started again. She slowly stood up off her stool and moved to look closer at the wooden boards on the floor. The marks of red footprints were ever so faint but still visible. Charlotte did not have to kneel down to know she was looking at blood. Clenching her fists, she glanced at Fritz. He was currently engaged in a drinking contest of some sort. The girl's distressed face as she had moved passed her replayed in her mind. It was unlikely there was a connection, but her mind was already made up. [color=BBC7E1] “Count Fritz! I'll be right back!" [/color] Charlotte called to him suddenly. Hastily, she ascended the stairs and slowly opened the door. She moved into the room, purposely not being too quiet to startle the girl. The blonde in dark clothing was curled up against the wall with her head buried. Charlotte took a moment to glance around. They were in a storage room seemingly. She hesitantly moved forward,[color=BBC7E1] "Um, hi…" [/color] She chewed her lip as she considered her options. Then, finally, she was at her side. Charlotte leaned against the wall and slid down it until she was seated beside her. She pulled her knees against herself. [color=BBC7E1] “I’ve… I’ve had a pretty bad night too.”[/color]