Cashing In|Aegestrom | Maelstrom

[Devon]

Darin smirks, "I wouldn't say I had good fashion sense in jewelry. I just know what looks good on my lady." He took a step back and made sure he had all his things ready for when they left. "As for my other secrets, you'll just have to find out. Same as me for yours."

[Kender Bard]

"So suspicious, you think I have secrets yet," Pandora teased, flashing her fangs in a wide smile. "Ven will stay here. I don't think I'll be needing his tender protection out on the streets. If I do, I'm a sorry assassin." She held out her hand to him.

[Devon]

Darin smiled and took her hand. "There is nothing sorry about you Pandora, but I am happy to know I won't run the risk of getting bitten today." Darin glanced to where Ven was resting, "I hope he won't pout too much about this."

[Kender Bard]

"Just go." Ven muttered and slithered to catch up with the sunshine that had moved in the room.

"I don't think he minds," Pandora said and led Darin outside, towards Brightmore Mansion. "You know, I'm not quite sure how to do this. Do we just linger outside or try to get in?"

[Devon]

Darin shrugged and handled this with his usually bravado and manners. Of course this meant a few loud knocks at the door. "Let's just see who comes to the door Pandora."

[Northen Light36]

A guard comes to the gate and looks at the pair with a raised eyebrow. "Can I help you?"

[Kender Bard]

Pandora spoke carefully, so as not to spook the man with a sudden glimpse of fang. "We've come hoping to find entrance to an audience hall." She struggled not to grin, amused at her lie. "We're interested in hearing the gossip of the upper class. We've been out of the loop quite a while."

[Northen Light36]

The guard eyes them, but nods. "Go down the main hall. It's the gold doors to the left, you can't miss them."

[Kender Bard]

Pandora snapped and fished out a copper, trying to palm it off to the guard. "Thanks, hon." Taking Darin's hand she sauntered her way into the mansion, looking around avidly as she did so. Once she didn't think the guard could overhear them she decided to converse.

"If you'd have asked me a few years ago, I'd have sworn up and down that I'd never be caught walking in here openly. It'd be in the shadows."

[Devon]

Darin chuckles as the two of them head down the halls. "A few years ago, I'd have been the guy at the door Pandora." Darin lets out a low whistle as he glances up and down the hall. "Gold doors, these guys sure know how to waste money."

[Kender Bard]

Pandora brushed the front of her dress, speaking with a sudden upper-class accent. Very posh, very snobbish, she spoke with a nasal tone, "Why Darin! Are you not well informed on the fiiiine history of the mighty Storms? Of course they had gold to waste! The streets were paved with it. It rained silver! Now a-days with this Force damned alliance with the.. WINDS.. of course everything has gone down hill!"

Ending her act, she winked.

[Northen Light36]

"A pleasure to hear that people are so aware of the history of my people," a voice comments dryly, coming from behind the two mercs. "Perhaps you might want to inform my wife of your... unique... image of our past and your... fasinating view of the alliance. I'm sure Lya would be just as entralled."

Shadow stands there, dressed in his royal best as he always does for audiences, and looks at the pair with an expression even Damien would be proud of.

[Kender Bard]

Pandora turned around, heart stopping for an instant. She stared at Shadow with impassiveness that concealed her momentary terror and, consequently, thrill.

And then recovered. In her normal voice, she spoke smoothly as she could, "Your Majesty, I do hope you recognize a jest when you overhear one. I do pride myself on the intelligence to know that your streets were not indeed paved with gold in the past, nor did it rain silver. Were that the case, your roads would be short all their cobblestones if I had any hand in it."

[Devon]

Darin turned around as well and stared at the king in front of him. He couldn't help the grin on his face, the situation was just too funny not to smile a bit at it. He'd have to try and be polite though, Darin was never one to treat a leader differently than a common beggar on the street. To him a person was a person regardless of their role in life. Since they were there on business and he didn't want to risk losing any money they could possibly gain from schmoozing with the nobles he would keep his sarcastic comments to himself.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, your Majesty. I'm Darin Hayes and this is my wife Pandora. Are you heading to the hall? We were just on our way there as well."

[Northen Light36]

Shadow chuckles at Pandora and nods to Darin. "Good morning to you both," he greets them. "And yes I am." As he starts to walk past the pair he adds, just loud enough for them to hear, "And between us only, I think the doors are a bit over the top as well. Blame my grandfather." With a soft chuckle and a wink to the mercs, Shadow strides into the audience hall.