Princely Mischief (Open thread)

[Northen Light36]

Dami was on a mission as he crept out of the palace. Unusually, the little boy wasn't with Lillian Sanderson but he was certainly thinking about her as he scrambled over the palace wall and then made a dash for the markets. He thought he probably had about a candlemark before anyone realised he was missing and he needed to find a present for Lillian before anyone came to drag him home.

It was exciting, being in the crowded markets entirely alone - and a little frightening if he was honest. He wasn't entirely sure where he should go, or exactly what he was looking for, but he knew his friend was sad and lonely so he wanted to get her something pretty that would make her smile. Maybe a pretty necklace.

Standing on tip toe to get a better look, the young Prince tried to work out where he should go to find jewellery. Then, frustrated, he walked up to a person nearby. "Um... Excuse me? Can you help me?"

[Deleted]

Wes turned to the child's voice drawing his attention.
"Ah! What can I do for you, young man?"

[Northen Light36]

Dami smiled politely up at the man. "I'm looking for a special gift for one of my best friends. She's been really, really sad and lonely and I want to make her smile. Do you know where I could find her some pretty jewelry or something else that girls like?"

[Deleted]

"Ah!" Wes said with a grin. "Yes, I am a merchant myself. My name is Clarence. I run the Jewelry Stall over there." He pointed to a stall proclaiming in gaudy violet-on-gold "Clarence Sayle's Exotic Jewelry." "Come, we will find your friend something amazing."

[Northen Light36]

Dami grinned happily. What luck, finding a jewel merchant right there. "Thank you sir. I'm Dami." He trotted alongside Wes to the stall, his Brightmore family ring glittering like gold in the sunlight. "I really want to find the perfect gift for Lilly, so it's got to be something really special."

[Deleted]

"Ah, I know just the thing. Most of what I have up here is peasant quality, but for someone of your stature..." Wes pulled out a small box containing a gold pendant with a bright violet stone, "I can offer you this. This is a very special item that I obtained in Naurorod. Legend tells that if you rub the stone and make a wish, it will come true, but only once. Your friend would certainly be pleased to have this."

[Northen Light36]

"In Naurorod?" Dami stared at the necklace with bright eyed fascination. He didn't really believe the story about wishes, though he'd tell it to Lillian because pretending was fun even if wishes didn't really come true without a Force to help, and sometimes not even then or he'd have his daddy and Lilly would have her muma.

But a necklace from Naurorod would be special. It would almost be like it came from him and Aly. That had to be enough to make Lily smile. "How much is it, sir?" he asked, already reaching for his coin purse.

[Deleted]

"20 coins," Wes said. "I notice you're alone, by the way. Does your mother usually let you run about unsupervised?"

[Northen Light36]

Dami hesitated. That was a question that could get him in trouble. "Maybe... Or maybe I've got guards all around me."

[Deleted]

Wes shrugged nonchalantly, though his grin never wavered. "Well, as long as you aren't sneaking out. I would hate to think that your mother would be worried about you, or that you would get in trouble for your friend's sake. But if you are, you might want to think of a way to placate your mother should she find out."

[Northen Light36]

Dami frowned slightly, uneasy as he counted out his coins. "Like what?" he asked, wary but curious. "Not that I'm saying I did sneak out. Just curious..."

[Deleted]

"Oh, I wouldn't know. Perhaps some calming words, perhaps a pretty necklace? Of course, I don't mean to up-sell or anything. Perhaps you still have other stalls you'd like to visit and I wouldn't want to take money out of their pockets." A passing man sneezed, though it sounded suspiciously like a particularly vulgar refutation. Wes began to violently cough.

[Northen Light36]

Dami handed over the money for the necklace and looked up at Wes in concern. "Are you all right? Would you like me to get you some water?"

[Deleted]

Wes sighed. "No, thank you, but I'll be fine. I'm just recovering from a cold."

[Northen Light36]

"Okay," Dami murmured as he stood on tiptoe to look over Wes' stall. "Do you think you have something my mother would like? Just as a gift, I mean. Not because I've done anything wrong."