Bittersweet Candy Bowl

(Damn Wheel of Fortune! I took the following decision by throwing a coin.)
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, stepping back. Step by step, the Lord was back to the crowd, trying to find Lady Lieselotte.
Please forgive me, Princess… when I find Lieselotte, I will be riight back!
He tought he saw her being followed by an ankward man in the middle of those persons and tried to reach her, altough the party’s maze couldn’t help at the time. He made it and stood between her and Carter.
Lady Lieselotte! Are you okay? Who is that a friend of yours?

After a swift slap to the face, a fistfight won, and a few weapons drawn, Hannibal decided that leaving the tavern would be an exceptional idea.

Unbelievable. I got thrown out of the bar before I could even get a good buzz going. That fella that’s lying on the floor in there had it coming, though. Thought that he had exclusive rights to that girl just because she was his daughter.

Might as well go over to the main attraction. That knight guy seems like the real deal, and guys like us don’t come a dime a dozen. Plus I might be able to catch some tail over there… (Ar har it’s funny cuz there’s 20 of us. And ar har it’s funny cuz the people are animals with tails.)

Their stage positioned between the festival and the castle entrance, the Princess notices a man approaching the castle gates, and wonders aloud what his intentions are.

“Good sir. Might you be looking for an Audience with my father?”

She knows that she speaks out of turn, but since it is a festival, she knows that her leash would be looser than usual. It is the least that she might be afforded on such a day to keep her from total boredom.

@Makar: I’m Carter, I love Lucy.

He smiles as he speaks

*Arriving at the party, the knight takes a seat in a corner.*

I’m fine, no thanks to you Lord Makar. I’ve been looking for you, and this odd little fellow insists he knows me and will not leave. *She crosses her arms and furrows her eyebrows at Lord Makar then to Carter* Will you have him refrain from following the rest of the night please?

After mingling in the crowd for a bit, Dave decides he should go find his friends. He suspects that they are at or near the castle so he begins to walk through the crowds toward the castle.

I wonder how Lord Makar is handling all this attention?

*Realizes he is being spoken to from someone on stage, looks up to see that two thrones are stationned there, and a girl is speaking to him from one of them. It doesn’t take him long to realize the princess has spoken to him. He gives a quick bow before speaking*

No your highness, I am simply a traveller, and was hoping to get a glimpse of the Lord Makar I have heard about. I figured he would end up near the king at some point, so I was going to the castle to be there preeptively. I see that is not required however.

Absolute shield!

Reinhild casts a spell, floating above the kingdom, far enough for anyone to see or hear. Passes completely unnoticed.

(Autoplay, multitasking too much)

Another hero. Another celebration. No different then any other the cynics among The Rose Lotus’s Merchant fleet would say. It didn’t matter who he was, or what he did, all that mattered is the king had made a celebration out of the young knight, and that celebration meant much gold was to be made. That’s all this was:A profit. But Lily had her doubts.

She sat in the middle of the festivities, not quite where the other high-class guests sat, but close. Her seat was tilted away from the table to let those analyzing eyes glide across the crowd. Legs half crossed, only one foot touching the ground, as an old wooden pipe was brought to her lips and away again.

As the smoke steamed out of her nose she thought.

Yes.. a hero.. a hero like any other… save he’s the one who’s caught the princesses eye heh. A new King? Now that would be an interesting change…

She watched this ‘hero of light’ walk about. She’d met him once or twice before… a nice boy over all….not the glory hound she had feared he’d be. But still…

He’s distracted….heh… and not by the fair princess. Whatever could be on our Dear Sir Makars mind? She said aloud with a faint smirk, the words quickly lost in the crowd around her eyes on the white feline he spoke too. Dangerous waters this knight was sailing towards…

She watched the festivities for a few moments more… before finally putting out her pipe and standing after some effort, both hands reaching back to straighten out her spine, a notable cracking noise coming with, cursing herself for sitting too long

“thirty nine and holding..”

Sunday’s smiles internally at the man’s words

“Then perhaps you would be best served to wait here by this stage?”

Though she would never say it, she had concocted a plan to bring together as many people that Lord Makar had business with to her, increasing the chance that she would see him. Even if only for a glimpse… The very sight of him would make her happy at this point.

(sorry I’m late I was watching a movie)

Susanna looks around, hardly able to identify anybody, except for Amy. She notices many new-comers and wants meet them. But she decides it’s best not at the moment

The king should announce everyone to the castle soon

Susanna starts towards the castle

He raised an eyebrown due to Lieselotte’s word and seemed confused when he looked back to the ankward expression in Carter’s face.
Well… Sir Carter… you should look for that Lucy and tell her that, instead of following Lady Lieselotte, don’t you think? She surely will enjoy your company and your … kind words.

I don’t follow that Lieselotte girl, I only follow Lucy.

Arriving at the platform, Hannibal spots Cheifsson.

Hail, prince of the South! Enjoying the festivities, I see?

Icarus asks for a drink, and upon recieving it, he notices Lord Makar pass by him. Unlike most people, he doesn’t approach the knight. He sighs.

*I can’t approach him yet… I have to bide my time.*

Unfortunately, he is subconsciously lying to himself.

*Realizes he has been recognized*
Oh God… *facepalms at his own carelessness and tries to hide himself a little in the crowd, while still staying within sight of the stage*

Then go find her! *She makes a shooing motion with her hand* Stop bothering me, and find this Lucy girl instead.

Makar frowned for Lieselotte’s usual atitude and tried to understand what was the sense in Carter’s words.
Well, you were just following Lieselotte… wouldn’t Lucy be mad at you?

Deliliah starts clapping, encouraging a few bystanders to begin doing so. As they pick up on the clapping, she starts a new dance, dancing in time with their claps, the crowd parting around her, the grin on the dancer’s face mirroring that of many in the crowd as she twirls and moves rapidly, tossing her loose clothes and her beads out further and further, faster and faster as she goes as the clapping gets increasingly loud around her. After making the ring of people widen a good bit around her, she twirls out towards the edge of the ring and tries to grab Dave’s hand as he passes by, smiling happily up at the big barbarian as she tugs on his hand, trying to drag him out into the center of the ring with her, still moving her feet, beads clicking as they fall back towards her dress.

Come on! Dance with me!

The friendly dancer picks up her pace once more, moving around the tall canine, hoping he’ll play along.

It’s about time I call Lord Makar.

The king stands and claps twice. Trumpet’s can be heard from the King’s platform, requesting everyone’s attention. A wizard stands beside the king, casting a spell to make the King’s words be hearable by everyone.

I request the presence of Lord Makar, the hero of light!

The Princess immediately sits up and looks proper, almost on pure reflex to her father’s words booming across the court.

Hannibal casts his gaze away from the dancer to try and find Lord Makar among the crowd.

Thankful that the king’s proclamation likely stopped anybody else from noticing him, Herald looks around to see if he can identify this Lord Makar.

Lord Makar gulped, nervous, but took a deep breath and stared at Carter.
Look… just stay away from Lady Lieselotte, okay?
He looked at her and walked to the throne room, kneeling before the king after his arrival.
S-sorry for keeping you waiting, King…

Hmm… This ‘Lord Makar’ sounds like someone I’ll need, and I should speak with the king… Now… Where to fi-
His thoughts are interrupted as the king makes his announcement
…That’s rather convenient…

After Hannibal’s escapades in the bar, Sean decided to quickly vacate for fear of another brawl. He turns his gaze towards the King upon hearing his voice.

*She follows closely behind Lord Makar, looking over her shoulder to see if the man was still following her. She looks back to Lord Makar, and watches him kneel, realizing she is in the presence of the king, she kneels as well*

Right then. The hedgehog Woman starts making her rounds through the crowd. Not in a big hurry or anything. Smiling as she watches the young Ragamuffin girl dance and the crowd that was starting to do the same. As tempting as it was though… he back objections kept her from joining for now, maybe after a drink or two?

Her right sleeve empty as she lets the arm just rest within the robe. It’s a good thing she left her left arm free too I might add:As other wise she wouldn’t have had a hand free to face Palm as she spotted the Disgraced Royal knight standing so close to the king, no doubt with countless knights glaring right at the fool. Half of which likely thought the man should still be hanged!

But as the king made his announcement every single knight came to attention, thankfully ignoring the fallen knight, and leaving Lily sighing in relief. Last thing she wanted was a fight -this- early in the festivities.

Icarus hears the king, and kneels where he is. He’s still too shy to talk to any of the other guests, but he won’t admit it.

*Maybe I’ll talk later.*

Delilah is a bit disappointed as just as she draws Dave out into the center of the circle, the trumpets blare, drowning out everything else and forcing everyone’s attention away from her to the king. She’s still a good ways away from the king, though, so she has a hard time seeing. She keeps jumping up and down, trying to peer around the taller people in front of her, using Dave’s shoulder to steady herself as she does so, pouting a little.

Stand, Lord Makar, and face the multitude.

The king smiles at him.

Makar stands and turns around.

I see many foreign faces around here, so I feel the need to explain the purpose of this celebration. Two years ago, a hero appeared on caignwell, and claimed the sword of light, becoming that one hero mentioned on the prophecies… the hero of light. This hero now stands between us… I present to you… Lord Makar!

He makes a gesture, indicating that everyone should clap now, and the whole kingdom does so.

Dave notices Delilah’s problem and lifts her up onto his shoulders with his great strength

Here you go Delilah, a much better view!

The wizard stops casting his spell, allowing the king to talk privately again. He says to Makar.

My daughter wishes to gaze at your sword of light, please show it to her.

((That’s what she said))

She claps dully, clearly not impressed by the feats of Lord Makar.

A sword of Light. How exciting, I’ve seen better in my all-to-long lifespan.

((That’s what she said))

Almost on instinct his hands join that of the multitude, clapping while caught up in the exultation. Catching himself, he lowers his hands and supresses his feeling.

Herald looks at and sizes up the “hero of light” in his mind the man doesn’t look like a particularly impressive knight. But Herald knows that a man’s frame tells very little about thier skills. He tries to get to the front of the crowd so that he may see the Lord as soon as possible.

(Oh nice, two well executes “she said” jokes in a row)

The dancer giggles as the big barbarian lifts her up, swaying a little before steadying herself.

Thanks!

She rubs the top of the dog’s head, then looks up as the king gives his speech, squeezing her legs a little against the big barbarian’s shoulders. At the sound of Lord Makar’s name, the dancer uses two fingers to whistle loudly as the applause reverberates around the festival, waving a little too eagerly at the knight, her whole body swaying from the motion.

Sunday’s heart flutters a little at the sight of Makar. It has been so long since last they spoke, and though she knew him to yet live, she felt uneasy having not seen the proof herself. But now, she felt a sense of calm wash over her, clearing her mind of any negative emotions or thoughts

Though I may not speak it, I am so very glad to see you well…

Her silent words fall to def ears obviously. But she didn’t care. The likelihood of her actually having a chance to speak with the esteemed Knight were slim. And so for now, this was enough. For the moment, she pretends to be interested in seeing the sword.

Lord Makar. Seems a bit scrawny to be the hero of the kingdom, but he seems alright. Heh, I’d like to show the princess MY sword of light…

((BCB Confederacy IMHO))

And so… the party continues, with Makar still standing on the platform.

Makar ended up placing a hand behind his head, embarassed for all that atetion.
I… I didn’t did that all by myself. serious! I had a good friend to support me…
Said him as he glanced at Lieselotte, smiling.
So… should I show the sword, right?
The Lord placed his hand behind his striped cape and took out the shiny sword, raising it high enough for everyone be able to see it.
(Sorry for my slow-typing.)

(Nevermind post, got interrupted mid-creation.)

She stands and looks back at the large crowd around them now

Now I’m stuck here, there is no way I will be able to get through that crowd now. I will stay by Lord Makar, I think as long as I am with him, people will notice him instead of me. If they knew a vampire was so near to the king…

Well that was anti-climactic. Now where’d the Southerner go?

Hannibal goes in search of Cheifsson.

Soon after Lord Makar rises his sword, Reinhild quickly launches downwards, landing in front of the King, showing out an evil grin.

Hello… King… long time no see.

The dark figure speaks.