forum I won't go quietly, I'm bringin' my crown // oxo // closed

Started June 06, 2019 by @croccin-champagne

tune

Dorian took the knife gently from here. He took a moment to admire the small blade and the engravings before he placed it out of sight where hopefully, know one would see it unless they were really looking.

Ally took in a breath through her nose, one knife lighter and unsure how to feel about that. Gradually, the noises of the city grew louder, and before they knew it, they were slipping out of an alley and into a crowded and busy street. The Assassin motioned for Dorian to keep close, her eyes flickering along every face, stall everything. "Ya need new clothes, dontcha. Somethin' unassumin'."

Dorian looked down at his clothes, slightly torn and blood stained and made a face before looking back up, "I don't have any money on me. And I doubt if you do, you'll want to spend it on clothes for myself."

"Greater good." Was all Ally said, changing direction slightly. It was notable, how she carefully avoided even bumping into any passerby, and how she tensed up if she did. After a few minutes of that careful weaving through, they stopped in front of a small clothing shop.

Dorian studied the outside of the shop for a moment before he looked to Ally, then back to the shop. He pushed open the door, the small bell tinkling to alert whoever was inside that someone had arrived and stepped in.

A woman in a well-fitting turtle neck waved from where she was altering a dress on a mannequin. Her eyes lit up as she spotted Ally, and she quickly set aside the pin-cushion in her hands to make her way over. "Ally! Where have you been? How have you been? What have you been up to that's kept you from stopping by?"

"Gettin' wrapped up in more trouble, but otherwise a'ight." Ally said, motioning to Dorian. "Eloise, this is Dorian. Think we can grab a change o' clothes or two for cheap? And a bag?"

Dorian gave the woman a two fingered salute and a half, tight lipped smile, "Do you make all these yourself?" He asked, looking over a dark, navy blue shirt, running his fingers over the fabric and impressed by the quality.

"Yes, yes, of course. Help yourself, you two." The woman said, turning her bright smile on Dorian as he spoke. "With some help from my daughter and employees, of course, but they mainly run all the complicated store things."

Dorian nodded, the smile growing a little, "Well, I'm impressed, I don't think I've worn anything that feels as good as this, honestly."

"Quite the charm you've got there, young man." She said with a laugh, waving to the clothes. "Well, you'll get to now. Family discount and all, because you're with our little Ghost."

"I thought I told ya not t' call me that." Ally called from somewhere out of view, having disappeared behind displays and mannequins to search of a bag.

Dorian raised a brow with an amused smile, looking towards where Ally's voice came from then back to her, "Ghost? Why'd you call her that, Ma'am?

"Please, call me Eloise." Eloise shook her head, her hand coming up to adjust the neck of her shirt. As she did, a glimpse of scars much like the ones on Ally's neck could be seen. "Ghost is the name most people know her by. In and out of places without a trace, that's what they say. Perfect for her line of work."

Dorian nodded. He guessed that was to be expected from an assassin. The scars caught his attention but he didn't ask, not wanting to be rude and press something that was likely a touchy subject, "Right, that's understandable."

"We've turned it into something softer, though, if that wasn't obvious." Eloise let out a soft laugh, the shadows that had clung to her expression washing away easily. "So how exactly did you two meet?" She asked, raising an eyebrow as she gestured to his disheveled state. "I'm betting it wasn't a bakery or something, you know, not tied to trouble."

Dorian swallowed and chuckled nervously, “Ah well, see…” He supposed if Ally trusted Eloise he should be able to tell her who he was, “Ally found me by the docks. My family and I were attacked but… I have no idea if they’re alive or not and I’m sure the group that attacked think I’m dead. I can’t exactly remember how I got out here, so far from the castle but if it wasn’t for her I’d actually be dead.”

"She does have a soft spot for people who are in trouble." Eloise mused, seemingly unsurprised by his mention of the castle. She had, in fact, recognized him as soon as he had come in. "I hope your family are alright. Let me guess, she's convinced you to take matters into your own hands?"

Dorian let out a soft chuckle and nodded, "Yes, yes she did. I was going to do something, anyway but I guess a little extra help would be great."

"You're lucky to have it from Ally, that's for sure." Eloise moved to pick through a section of clothes, pulling out a few shirts and handing them over to Dorian. "Try and keep safe, alright? We need our Prince."

Dorian smiles softly, gently taking the shorts from the older woman, “I’ll try, don’t worry. But I can’t make any promises.”

"I guess that's the best I'll get. Ally, dear, you finding everything alright?" Eloise called, raising an eyebrow slightly at Dorian, with a sort of knowing-amusement.

"Yeah, I am." Ally said, coming back into view with two rucksacks in her arms, and a small grey cat on her shoulders. "Somebody decided he needed a ride though. You tried those on yet?"

Dorian looked at the clothes in his hand, then back up to Ally and shook his head, “Not yet. Too busy chatting. But I will now.”

"Always in such a hurry." Eloise said, shaking her head as she made a 'tsk tsk' sound.

"When the world's at your heels, it's second nature." Ally shot back, rolling her eyes. She motioned to a door with a sign that read 'fitting room' in multiple languages on it, the cat on her shoulders batting at her hair and downplaying her stony and frightening demeanor.

Dorian sighed softly, heading to the change room. He made sure to be quick, trying on the different shirts and pants before setting on a a navy and black shirt. He was glad to be out of his ripped and bloodied one.

Ally didn't get a chance to speak, before Eloise was taking one of the bags from her and neatly tucking a few changes of clothes into it with a 'just in case'. The assassin shook her head, but gave her friend a small smile as she accepted the bag back.

Dorian left the clothes that didn't fit in the change room and walked back out, his old clothes in hand, "Um… do you have a bin I could throw these in?"