As Bon and Rweser entered Lady Dandi's tent, they were met with a sight that seemed almost surreal.
Lady Dandi sat on a plush couch, surrounded by candles and incense, her emerald eyes sparkling in the dim light.
But what caught their attention was the packet of sweets in her hand, labeled "Larin". She was popping the colorful sweets into her mouth, one by one, her expression serene.
The air was thick with the scent of incense and sugar, and the soft glow of the candles cast a warm glow on Lady Dandi's face.
"Ah, gentlemen," she said, her voice husky and confident. "Please, come in. I was just enjoying a little snack."
Rweser's expression was stern, his eyes narrowing slightly as he gazed at Lady Dandi. "You are up tonight, Lady Dandi," he said, his voice low and even.
Lady Dandi's smile never wavered. "But I can't, the stars say I can't," she replied, her voice laced with a hint of resignation.
Rweser's face darkened, his eyebrows furrowing in annoyance. "What you're saying is you can't perform, but what I'm hearing is you don't want to," he said, his voice low and even, but a hint of irritation creeping into his tone.
The tension between them was palpable, and Bon watched with a mixture of curiosity and concern, his eyes fixed on Rweser's hands as he noticed the subtle change in his grip on the cane.
Lady Dandi's chuckle grew louder, and she raised an eyebrow, her emerald eyes glinting with challenge.
"My stars say that I shouldn't perform today, as I said, what's so hard to understand, should I write it down to be clearer?" she said, her voice laced with sarcasm.
Rweser's face reddened, his jaw clenched in frustration. "So you say the stars told you to sit your ass down, eat my hard-earned money, and that I was just going to let you?" His voice rose, his tone incredulous.
Lady Dandi's smile never wavered. "If that's how you view it, I'm pretty sure even if I tried to explain, I would not change your mind," she said, her voice dripping with a hint of resignation.
The air seemed to vibrate with tension as Lady Dandi stood up from her couch, her movements fluid and deliberate. A pressure, a presence, was felt as she moved, her tall, slender frame commanding attention.
She began to walk towards Rweser, her eyes blazing with indignation.
"I think you have been forgetting our places as of late, you may own this madhouse but you don't own me. A mere mortal dares insult me, I should snap your neck right here, right now."
Surprisingly, Rweser stood his ground, his face reddening with anger, but his eyes flashing with a hint of defiance. The tension between them thickened, the air seeming to vibrate with unspoken threats.
Just as it seemed like Lady Dandi's anger was about to boil over, Bon intervened, his voice calm and measured.
"Please, keep murder on the stage, so that we can entertain the masses, am I right? And Sir, you should not think lightly of her and her beliefs in horoscopes."
Lady Dandi's gaze flickered to Bon, her expression still intense, but her anger seeming to wane slightly in the face of his words.
Rweser's face still reddened with anger, but he seemed to be struggling to maintain his composure.
"Murder on the stage, indeed,"
Lady Dandi said, her voice still low, but with a hint of amusement.
"You always were one for the dramatic, Bon. But perhaps, Rweser, you should take his words to heart. After all, I am a star of this show, and my...abilities, shall we say, are what bring in the crowds."
Rweser's eyes narrowed, but he seemed to be biting back a retort, his jaw clenched in frustration.
The tension between them remained palpable, but Bon's intervention had prevented things from escalating further.
"But fair lady, you should understand you really tied the big man's hand here," Bon said, his voice calm and measured. "We already set the stage for your performance, it would be a hassle to change it all."
Lady Dandi's gaze turned to Bon, her expression calculating. "A simple problem, find somebody, like maybe you and your brothers."
Bon's face fell, his eyes wide with alarm. "We are just mere stagehands, we don't perform, and not anyone better suited for the task?"
Lady Dandi's gaze lingered on Bon, her expression unyielding. "Like I always say, the show must go on, even if it's without me," she said, her voice firm. "If there's no one suited, make someone suited. I'm sure Rweser here would be more than happy to foot the bill for any...adjustments that need to be made."
Lady Dandi's gaze lingered on Bon, her expression calculating. "What about that little joker you and your brothers picked up from this very town?" she said, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Makes sense, no?"
Bon's eyes widened in alarm as he turned to Lady Dandi. "Are you crazy?" he whispered, his voice urgent. "He's young, inexperienced, a tad bit gullible...he's perfect," he added, a sly smile spreading across his face as he glanced at Rweser.
Rweser's expression remained unreadable, his eyes fixed on Bon and Lady Dandi.
"How about it, Big Man?" Bon asked, his voice smooth. "Do I have your approval?"
Rweser looked at both of them with an unreadable expression, his eyes lingering on Bon and Lady Dandi before he said, "Do what you must," and turned to walk away, leaving Bon and Lady Dandi to make the necessary arrangements.
When Bon arrived at Marl's quarters and pushed aside the curtain, he was met with a sight that made him smile. Marl was dressed in a brightly colored jester outfit, consisting of red, blue, and yellow hues that seemed to clash beautifully together. The outfit was adorned with bells and tassels, giving Marl a delightfully absurd appearance.
Marl's hair was messy, and his eyes sparkled with mischief as he looked up from the book he was holding. "Hey, Marl, are you busy?" Bon asked, his voice friendly.
Marl looked up, his eyes squinting slightly as he took in Bon's serious expression. "Yeah, I'm reading," Marl replied, his voice laced with a hint of distraction.
Bon's gaze fell on the book in Marl's hand, and he couldn't help but chuckle. "You're holding the book upside down," he said, his voice amused.
Marl looked down at the book in his hand, his face turning bright red as he realized his mistake. He quickly flipped the book over, trying to play it cool despite his embarrassment. The bells on his jester hat jingled softly as he moved, adding to the comical atmosphere.
"Oh, yeah, I was just, uh, trying to read it from a different angle," Marl said, his voice sheepish. Bon chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Well, I think you might need to try a different approach," he said, his voice teasing.
Marl grinned, his embarrassment fading as he laughed.
"Yeah, maybe you're right," he said, setting the book aside. "So, what brings you here?"
He already knew how he was going to ensnare the boy he discussed it with Lady Dandi
Bon's expression turned serious, and he leaned forward slightly. "I need to talk to you about something, Marl. It's about Lady Dandi..."