Another round, another set of less-than-diabolical dares and questions. Vikram's story was entertaining enough, but not particularly damning. Astrid brought in a new player - another person Veliky doesn't even faintly recognize, whom she can't imagine a use for. Is he dressed as a sword? At least he's to-the-point (Veliky is incapable of grasping this pun).

Shaa became involved at one point. That wasn't much of a surprise; much like Beist, such a big target was bound to become the target of unwelcome attention. As for Cantio's... attempt at seduction, Veliky feels a pang of bitterness. If she were in this Gladio's shoes, she'd've had Cantio hit on Ulrich, instead... Wait, no she wouldn't. This is a high-stakes game of political intrigue, not some adolescent drama dispenser.

...Though, if she were honest - which she isn't - she'd display some delight at Cyran's answer to Vakker. It clearly isn't the answer the satyr was expecting... but was it the answer he was hoping for? It's difficult to tell; in truth, though, that isn't the prevalent question in her mind. Her immediate curiosity is which one of them would be bott-

Oh. Well, there's no time for that. It's Veliky's turn again, and her new dare is even more underwhelming than the last. Well, maybe 'underwhelming' isn't the right word. It's more like... Isn't there a Common saying about threats and good times? Regardless, Veliky definitely won't be drinking yet, and so her vodka is consigned to its invisible holder again.

"You and I have different definitions of 'challenge.'" She stands to her feet and pats some grass off the back of her skirt. "This won't take long."

Veliky's quickly lost in the crowd as she makes her way to her targets. Despite her braggadocio, she does know that this may be a difficult task. She might look the part of a child, but she definitely doesn't sound it. As well, this might be made more perilous by the fact that she, only minutes ago, made a public confession to... Wait, what's she thinking? These people are idiots.

The couple is dressed in matching outfits: angels, or at least common depictions of them. Raguel would retch at the sight - not involuntarily; he'd be making a point. They're being *very* flirtatious with one-another. The sight makes Veliky wrinkle her nose, but she quickly hides the disgust with another emotion: shock. Pure, innocent shock.

It takes some time before the wife notices the little witch looking up at them.

"Mom...? Dad...?" Her voice is uncannily pitiful, tearbound, as if she'd just donned innocence like a new hat.

The husband turns immediately. His black unibrow furrows curiously, but it's the disdainful wife that answers.

"Um..." She laughs slightly. "No, dear. But I think I saw your parents over by the front gate."

It's a lie, and an obvious one. She's just trying to get Veliky to leave. That won't be happening.

"No, no, it's me!" She steps forward, eyes pleading, hands clasped to her chest. "You... You remember me... right^[1]?"

The woman groans and shifts into a less casual position. Her mood is ruined, and she clearly blames it on the tiny stray that just waltzed up to her.

"Child, we're in the middle of something. Could you just... go do whatever it is you were doing? I've never met you before."

The husband's face tells a very different tale. It's subtle, but his eyes have widened and his jaw has slacked. He hasn't blinked for several seconds.

His wife notices, too. She puts a hand to his chest and eyes him with concern.

"James? Are you alright?"

It seems to snap him out of something. His posture tightens, as if startled, then relaxes. He looks around, touching his face nervously.

"Oh, uh- Yes, sorry." He regains his composure. Beneath his curled stache, he gives Veliky a fake smile. "Sorry, I'm afraid we can't help you. We do hope you find who you're looking for."

Without a shred of further acknowledgement, they return to their idle courtship. Veliky frowns. These people may be stupid, but she underestimated their stubbornness. But there's definitely something there, something she can use. She just needs to find a point of weakness... and push really hard.

The little girl's gaze becomes downcast. She stands, motionless in a sea of mirth, like a rock in an unyielding river. Her face is obscured by the wide brim of her hat. By all appearance, she's a lost child, yet not a soul seems to care.

Drip... Drip... Drip... 

Like the first droplets of falling rain, tiny tears stain the ground in front of her. Her trembling arms have balled into fists, and her head is hung low. She sniffs, just before her shoulders twitch in a singular sob.

"Why'd you leave me...?"

The couple immediately turn their heads. The wife's irritation fades to confusion, while the husband's is filled with horror.

"A-Are you crying?"

The girl's chest gradually fills with shallow breaths until she lets them all go, weeping through clenched teeth.

"It was so hard... I looked for you for so long, but I - I was all alone... I... I didn't know what to do..."

She wipes the tears away with her forearm, but they only continue to stream down her cheeks.

"And I waited - I waited every day, and I waited for you to come home, but..." She covers her eyes. "Why...? Why didn't you come home...?"

The wife's face is painted with honest worry. She doesn't know this girl, but her story speaks to an awful, abhorrent neglect that no child should experience. But the tears welling in the husband's eyes are of a far more familiar sympathy.

"Lily? Is that you?"

The girl doesn't answer. She only continues to cry.

The wife looks to her other in shock as he kneels in front of the little girl and holds her by the shoulders.

"Lily, I can't believe it! I'm so sorry... I never meant to hurt you. I just - I needed to escape from that life. I couldn't let you become wrapped up in that... that world."

"So you just left me?" The girl finally looks up. Tears and snot have left three transparent trails on her face.

"I..." His face twists in a pain that only a father can know. He joins his daughter in the mourning of ages lost. "I'm so sorry... I was such a selfish fool!"

By now, most everyone nearby has heard the shedding of tears, and some of them have chosen to join. The same little girl that had warmed their hearts now wrenches them; their sympathy is unending.

The father looks upon his daughter with an earnest smile.

"It's alright. None of that matters. Come, live with me at my estate! We can be together again, just like all those years ago."

"NO!" She pushes his hands away, to his shock and dismay. "You think you can just say 'sorry' and things'll be okay?! No! No, you can't just be a dad all of a sudden!"

"Lily, please..." Tears soak his groomed beard.

"I'm my own family!" she screams. "And you know why?! Because I'm a big girl, now! I learned how to live without you! I got a job, and I started my own business, and I got a big and fuzzy boyfriend and I didn't need you for any of it!"

The father can say nothing. He only holds his hands forward, pleading and sobbing.

The girl sniffles through congestion, her breaths ragged and furious.

"And now, I don't ever wanna see you again! I hope you die, you selfish pig! Goodbye, forever!"

"Please... I love you..."

The girl's skirt swishes as she turns and storms away, leaving a broken man behind. Not long after, his wife does the same.

The deed is done. Veliky returns to the circle, wiping away crocodile tears as easily as a butcher wipes away blood.

"I think I may have bent the rules a bit, but I'd say I was close enough." She plops herself down, cross-legged, on the grass.

And, now, it's her turn, and it'll likely be her last opportunity to get anything out of anyone. Her eyes sweep across the circle one last time. Really, other than Cantio, there's only one person here that she actually knows... and she does have something rather important to ask.

"Astrid. Truth or Dare?" she asks wearily.

Astrid, having experienced both, had realized that she's quite a fan of either option.

"I saw yer face before, so what would ya prefer?"

What does that mean? Which face is she referring to? Maybe it's better to not ask.

"Alright. Truth, then."

She leans back on her arms and looks to the sky, thinking. She knows her question, but how exactly should she ask it?

"...Do you still want to work for me?"

---

1. Smooth Talking

This game has been a riot, and Astrid would want it to continue forever, but it seems to be winding down. She honestly can't believe everything that's happened, but nonetheless she's having a great time. Though, Veliky seems almost... disappointed by some of the results? Regardless, she's done a great job fulfilling her dares. When the half-halfling turns to her and asks, Astrid eyes her a bit. 

"I saw yer face before, so what would ya prefer?" She puts the ball in Veliky's playing field. 

Astrid sees her contemplating before she says, "Alright. Truth, then." This seems to be Veliky's favorite of the two options. The question, however, surprises Astrid. "...Do you still want to work for me?"

What kind of question is that? Astrid wonders. That's something she can ask anytime! "Yeah, why wouldn't I? Ya only hire the best of the best, right? I figured I'd hafta keep workin' hard ta impress ya first." She means that in the most genuine sense. Veliky tested her hardiness in the Lightning Fields, and Astrid supposes she also tested her ability to follow directions and complete a task (especially considering the story Veliky told Astrid during their first meeting). If Veliky is asking this, does it mean she wants her to work there someday??

Veliky looks Astrid in the eyes with an inscrutable expression. Judgement? Confusion? Hope? She checks her nails and answers calmly.

"You're absolutely right. This job involves the most advanced technology ever constructed, so I only consider those who are capable of the most advanced crafts..." She turns her hand around to examine her nails from the other side. "That said, I've made a couple inquiries, and the grounds for employment should, theoretically, be met. Only one problem: we'd need the permission of a legal guardian, which you obviously don't have."

Well, that's a problem, Astrid thinks.

Suddenly, startlingly, Veliky's eyes meet with Astrid's. There's a seriousness that hints at the weight of her offer.

"But, should we find a way to solve that problem.... bring me a helmet. A really good helmet, doesn't matter what size or who it's fitted to. Make it your masterpiece; it'll be the main thing that I consider before making my decision."

Astrid considers, for a moment, presenting Veliky the specially made helmet imitating Avasha's form. It's something she's proud of and put many hours into, especially figuring out a way to get the eyes to glow and spark with lightning just right. But then she considers that Veliky's already seen it (whether up close or not doesn't matter). This is only the prototype, therefore not a masterpiece. Not fit for presenting to Veliky as her prize. So she nods sharply. "You got it. Only the best fer Miss Veliky." There's a pause. "Though... later, I would like ta get yer opinion on all the mechanical bits I made fer this," she continues, motioning to her costume. "If ya have time, I mean..."

Anyway, it's someone else's turn. She looks around at the group then her eyes land on the weepy tiefling who she's been somewhat awkwardly but more than happy to snuggle into. The feeling is unfamiliar, but she likes it a lot. "Cantio, truth or dare?" She has something for either response. She feels giddy, anxious. It doesn't matter. 

"Dare," he says.

She considers the conversation she had with Cantio before this game of truth or dare and how much she'd like to spend more time with him. And Veliky's right, she doesn't have a "legal" guardian. Without much further thought, Astrid blurts, "I dare you to be me da."

So those are his legs!

He probably could’ve just asked that, instead of asking him where his pants are, but Cantio makes a tiny, “Ah,” of acknowledgement with Vakker’s answer. He sniffs, finally winding down from the whirlwind of drunk emotion, while the truths and dares become progressively more tame— Cyran answers a question about who he finds most attractive— and Cantio just nods in agreement.

Kind of obvious, that one. Wouldn’t anyone in the circle answer the same?

Veliky comes next, and she delivers a performance that almost makes him envious of her acting talent— also, where does all that emotion go when she comes back to the circle?— and then Veliky is firing off a truth to Astrid. Cantio looks at the young girl, his tail coiling drowsily around the skirts of his dress while she answers a weird question from Veliky— Do you still want to work with me?

An exchange between the two takes place, and Cantio looks curiously at Veliky as the woman across the way gives Astrid what sounds like a challenge… something about a helmet, if she can find a legal guardian, which… Honestly, he finds a little mean given Veliky was there when they first met Astrid in the Dragon’s Cradle… She knows the girl doesn’t have a legal guardian, and she even clarifies it!

He rubs at his eyes beneath his mask as Astrid nods firmly over Veliky’s challenge; he listens to her agree, hoping for Veliky’s opinion on her costume at some point later in the party… She really does admire Veliky, doesn’t she? He supposes he does too… about as much as he fears her, which is… well, it’s quite a bit. Veliky might not even come up to his knee, but her presence is intimidating to him.

She’s very commanding and strict, sometimes; it kind of reminds him of his own mother.

"Cantio, truth or dare?"

“Hm?” He cuts back into reality with a blink, and looks at Astrid as she regards him. He ponders for a moment— last time, his dare went really poorly and was very embarrassing, so he could always… pick truth, but… maybe he'll dare another go at it? Astrid seems to have some fun ideas! “Dare,” he says.

"I dare you to be me da."

He opens his mouth, as if about to speak, then chokes up instead. “Huh?”

Wait, wait— to be her dad? Is that what she said!?

But, but, but— he’s not dad-material! He doesn’t even have a house! Or a wagon! Or money, honestly! His parents were terrible role models! He literally ran away from home, he thought they were so bad at their job! And… and he doesn’t know the first thing about parenting! He can’t be a dad! Right?

He looks at Astrid, golden eyes wide; she looks antsy, but excited; and…

He is far too drunk to be worrying, actually: so he doesn’t think about any of that.

Instead, he tears up almost immediately: he recalls Miss Astrid the first time he’d seen her. She looked lost and alone then on the streets of Dragon’s Cradle; but she was chatty, talkative, and kind even after he, Zarius, and Veliky had approached her. He recalls her hopping excitedly out of the changing room in her new, mismatched clothes; and asking if he thought she was brave enough to go adventuring with a big grin. He sees her now, all fitted up, like he had earlier that evening when he first caught a glimpse of her waving at him from the bench; he recalls all of the pride in her voice as she recounted her stories and adventures, and then he recalls her answer from one of the earlier questions.

She had a wish for a family.

Maybe someone to lean on, or to support her— something he’s not sure how long she’s lacked— and Cantio truly doesn’t think much of himself, but if Astrid’s asking him this question… maybe she does? He could most certainly be a support! He could be a dad! He could totally be a dad!

Astrid deserves a family, dammit!

“Dare accepted!” the definitely crying (again) tiefling answers, pulling Astrid into a hug; his tail thwaps against the ground, sweeping across the grass in a way that resembles a wagging dog. “I’ll definitely be your dad!” He sees absolutely nothing wrong with this at the moment; and ironically, even when he sobers up, he’ll still hold onto these words.

The tiefling sniffles as he releases Astrid from what is admittedly a vice grip of a hug, and in an absolute stupendous moment of drunken ignorance, he lowers his head and flips off his mask.

He lifts his head, bangs falling over his face as he dabs carefully beneath his gold-highlighted eyes something proper, before looking around at the little gathering. It feels to him like half his face is wet, even if it may not look it, from free-falling tears getting caught beneath the mask— and it's extremely uncomfortable— and risks ruining his subtle eye make-up.

“Sorry, I just... um… Who hasn’t…” Cyran is the first person he sees while his golden eyes scan the gathering. He sniffs, pointing at him, but doesn’t even recite the ‘truth or dare’ part of the game.

Still, Cyran seems to get the point that he’s been chosen. “Truth?”

Or maybe he doesn’t, because his answer sounds more like a question; Cantio doesn’t notice. He rubs at his cheeks, blinking away the tears from his lashes. “Um…” He considers his question as he looks at the interior of his mask.

Not a single wire connects in his head.

“Have you ever been caught doing something you shouldn’t have, and what was it…?”

With his question delivered, and content, Cantio quietly slips his mask back over his head, and drops his folded hands into his lap.

It was either a testament to how much alcohol he’d consumed, or the emotion of the scene in front of him, that Cyran was openly crying in his drink at the sight of the two embracing, so overwhelmed by the moment. Out of everything he expected to see today, a new family being formed wasn’t one of them, though the surprise was a welcome one.



He was so overwhelmed that he almost missed Cantio pointing at him. He furiously wiped at his eyes with the sleeve of his costume in an attempt to compose himself before anyone noticed his tears. “Truth.”



“Have you ever been caught doing something you shouldn’t have, and what was it…?”



A story immediately came to mind, one Cyran hadn’t thought of in a long time. He would have to choose his words carefully- there were certain aspects of his childhood that he didn’t want to slip up and reveal.



“It was a long time ago… the memories are a bit fuzzy, so bear with me.” He warned as he recollected his thoughts. “I didn’t cause a lot of trouble as a child, and despised attention even more than I do now. My mother, on the other hand, adored it. She was a beautiful woman, and she was fully aware of it. Nearly every evening, she would… be off attending some party or the other.”



He swallowed, like he’d just had a shot of a particularly nasty drink.



“When I was born, she refused to give up her social life to take care of me. So as soon as I was old enough, I was brought along with her. She would parade me around and show me to her friends, dressed in outfits that matched her own. She thought they were adorable. I despised them with a passion.”



“One night, she had the idea to put me in a dress matching hers.” He could still remember the feel of the material now- scratchy and stiff, and the corset was so tight he felt like he was suffocating. “Her friends thought it was adorable that I loved her so much I wanted to look just like her. At that point, I was sick of it all, so I snuck away while she was buttering up to the party’s host.”



Even back then, he had a natural inclination for stealth. He managed to get all the way to the garden outside before his mother realized he was missing.



“I started ripping the skirt’s dress up, and threw the shoes in a puddle of mud. I wasn’t really thinking of the consequences. I just wanted to get out of that costume. I wish I could say it was my mother that found me.”



Instead, it had been one of his mother’s acquaintances who found him making a fool of himself, rolling around in the dirt in a tattered dress, face and hair a mess. Perhaps if it had been his mother, the outcome would have been different. She would have taken him home immediately before anyone else could see her shame. Word spread in a matter of minutes that Cyrilla Fenestra’s son had made a damn fool of himself, destroying his clothes and the host’s garden in the process.



He’d lost his place. Where was he, again?



“The punishment? I won’t bore you with the details of what happened after. My mother was beside herself, to say the least. And I wish I could say she never took me to another party again, but there were many more after that.” Ones with tighter corsets and more restricting outfits, as a constant reminder of the mockery he'd made of their name that night. That party was one of the last times he’d ever caused trouble so openly, though not because he learned better of it. Cyran just learned the importance of not getting caught.



“Ah, but I’ve been rambling for too long.” Cyran said, finally taking a sip of his wine while he surveyed the circle, before landing on his next target. “How about you? Truth or dare?”



The elf smirked. “Truth, and don’t go easy with it.”



Her boldness was commendable, so Cyran had to come up with something worthy of her challenge. Fortunately, he had just the question in mind. “Tell me about the biggest secret you’ve ever kept for someone you cared about.”

The game had only gotten livelier. 

The dance battle between the newcomer and Mister Marrowvine was rather shocking. Vi'ira didn't know the noble Marrowvine had it in him. Cantio tried his best to flirt with a pixie, but that was miserable to watch. The Moon Elf confessed his attraction towards the satyr, and she swore she saw the satyr's cheek redden. Veliky had convinced an innocent couple that she was their long lost child, and somehow managed to genuinely convince them. Vi'ira learned of Veliky's smithing business, and that Astrid was a part of it. And then directly following that, Cantio became Astrid's dad? This was certainly an interesting turnout. 

The Moon Elf had just finished his tale about the parties he used to attend as a child, and how much he hated wearing the same corsets and skirts as all the snobby uppers around him. He locked eyes with her, and asked the age-old question. Vi'ira had had her fun with the dares at the moment, and wanted to see what the elf could come up with.

"Truth, and don't go easy with it."

The elf's eyes narrowed, “Tell me about the biggest secret you’ve ever kept for someone you cared about.”

That was certainly an interesting question. The biggest secret? In her line of work, she was used to keeping secrets for those close to her. Then again, she wasn't going to out a secret that should still not be shared with others. Perhaps a story from her childhood, similarly to Cyran's. She tried to remember a time that might come with a story worth sharing. There was that time she lied for one of her father's crew mates about stealing alcohol, but that was too tame. Or that time she lied about who she was to get an upper hand in a smuggling job with Torkum, but that wasn't really the question.

She sat with her hands behind her back as they propped her up on the grass. "Ye didn't go easy with it that's fer sure," she teased. 

"Ah...there was this a time when I was a bit younger, around age 13, I was quite close with a human who lived in on the border of the Crescent Isles by the name of Aonani. She was a part of a family of mages, all esteemed and articulated in their ways. They were very keen on integrating themselves with Noble families, and had made quite a name for themselves." As she said this, Vi'ira's tone was flat. To be quite honest, mingling with only nobles sounded like the bore of a lifetime. This party was grand, but that's because the guests were fellow adventurers just like her.

"We would often find each other in our free time in between education and family. Whenever we could, we would go off to the woods and practice our magic on one another, attempting to strengthen our skills in combat. Plus, learning with a friend was much more fun than learning with a parent. She was highly skilled in light arcana fer 'er age, and was constantly striving fer better spells and quicker moves. That kind of determination was admirable fer such a young mage, but her craving fer power was quite frightening at times." As Vi'ira recalled the story, it felt like turning the pages of a dusty old book she hadn't picked up in years. When she found herself thinking back to her childhood, she felt stuck in between a dream state and reality. Such memories sometimes don't even seem like her own. That time feels so far away, and yet it was less than a decade ago. She has become a stark contrast to who she once was.

"As ye might've guessed, Aonani's powers began to exceed her capabilities, and it started to infect 'er like a rot. I could tell she was less and less like 'erself anytime we met up in the forests for another training session. She was only a year younger than I, and yet aged in her ways. There was one time in the woods, when Aonani was physically there, but mentally she could not have been further away. It was as if the magic was taking over 'er soul. I 'ad never seen her so vacant-looking before. So, deep in my suspicions and worry, I followed 'er home." 

Vi'ira shivered a bit at the next thought. She wasn't sure why such a gruesome story had come to mind, but in respect of the child in the circle, she planned to skip the worst parts. 

"It was late, and I was outside when light erupted from every window and crack in the house, like Solaria himself was in the home. For a brief second, ye heard screams from the inside, but they were gone just as soon as they had started. Like their ability to keep screaming was taken away from them, and from what specifically, I may never know. I'll pass on the specifics," she glanced at Astrid, "but when I 'ad seen what 'ad 'appened, I 'ad never been so scared in my life. Not fer myself, but fer Bastielle. If the town 'ad found out what she 'ad done, she would've been captured and used as a pawn for the court, or worse, 'anged. As soon as 'er family was discovered, the guards would begin a hunt. Collapsed on the floor, weeping, was the first time I had seen the real Aonani in a long time, but she couldn't stay there."

Even as a child, Vi'ira was well versed in how to smuggle someone and place them under the radar. Hell, that's how Vi'ira came about in the first place, born on a ship whilst her mother was escaping Frost Gale illegally. She knew how to get herself out of sticky situations, and helped those around her in any way she possibly could. 

"It took some convincing, but I was able to get 'er to the Night Galley. I pleaded with my father to 'elp 'er, but didn't realize he would need to know the reason. I lied, and I said 'er family was evil to 'er, and that we 'ad been planning this escape fer weeks. As if convincing Aonani was 'ard, getting my father to side with me was even 'arder. I told 'im that the only way to keep 'er safe was by getting 'er out of the Isles. Looking back at it, 'e knew I was lying, but I 'ad learned from 'im. My father agreed to take Aonani to an old friend skilled in keeping others hidden and changing identities, but I was told I could not come along. 'e was being stern with me, and I 'ated it. The next day, guards paraded the city asking if anybody had seen the missing girl with a reward painted above 'er 'ead. I said I 'ad never seen 'er in my life."

A saddened smile formed on Vi'ira's face, "I'm not sure where she is now, but I 'ope she is 'ealthy and 'appy. An unfortunate event at the 'ands of a kind person, it's a shame. But that's the secret I've kept." She outstretched her arms to her sides to conclude her story, as if she had just finished a performance. To her, storytelling was just as much a performance as putting on a play or serenading a crowd with music. It's an art form.

Who to pick next? She placed her hand over her eyes and started pointing back and forth at those in the circle. She picked a place to stop, and when she opened her eyes, she was looking at the handsome Satyr. "Ye...Truth or Dare?"

"Truth, I suppose."

Vi'ira thought to herself for a moment. "Who do ye despise the most, and why?"

Vakker wasn't expecting Cyran's response to be the Satyr himself. He was a bit conflicted. It was nice to be considered handsome, but he'd wanted to ship him with someone else. He can't write smut about himself, that'd just be ridiculous! He never inserts himself into his writing out of principle. But, Cyran was pretty handsome himself. Maybe this wasn't the worst possible answer he could have received.

Vakker's thoughts were a bit occupied while the other dares and truths were asked for and given. If he had blushed when he'd been asked to sing a love ballad, now his whole face was red beneath the makeup. He was glad again that he had the face paint on. He watched Veliky's latest performance to get his mind off of things. He was surprisingly touched by the drama unfolding between Veliky, Cantio, and Astrid. What an odd contrast between humiliation and wholesomeness.

Finally, his turn came again. He wasn't sure if he wanted to risk another dare. The first one had been enough for him and this Vi'ra person seemed very good at giving humiliating dares. It might actually be safer to just go with truth.

"Truth, I suppose." he answered a little hesitantly.

"Who do ye despise the most, and why?"

Now that was a loaded question. He had to think for a moment on the best way to answer such a question without being carted off for treason. He hated the royal family! He gave a slight sigh and looked around at the group. He eyed the alcohol in the middle, but really didn't want to face the embarrassment of refusing to answer what should be such a simple question. Surely, hating the Golden Family didn't count as treason unless he actually tried to harm them, right? Many people must be unhappy with them. He should be fine.

"I truly despise the Golden Family. They ruined my business some time ago and have kept it less successful than before ever since. Now, don't go reporting me for treason or anything like that." he answered quietly, so only the people in the circle could hear him, his smile gone.

After a moment, his smile returned and he looked at Gladio.

"Truth or Dare, swords man."

"Truth, cause I haven't done that."

"What's wrong with you?"

"What exactly do you mean?" Gladio responded nervously.

Vakker gave a slight chuckle.

"Sorry, that was a joke. My real question is this. When was the last time you cried and why?"

As the game continued Gladio kept drinking a bit, he watched as Cantio embarrassed himself trying to flirt with the pixie, it was actually not that fun... sort of painful even, he felt bad for having made that challenge although the one he had to do was sort of worse he still thinks it went sort of better... maybe... Either way the game kept going, and after the satyr revealed the unimpressive truth of why he didn't wear pants, and the elf that he'd want to kiss said pant-less being. Then he figured out that love confession from earlier was definitely part of this game, which made it a bit more fun but a bit less moving, as the same girl was dared to convince a couple that she was their child something that she impressively and heartlessly managed to do... he definitely didn't want to be on her bad-side as she seemed to be quite adept at making others believe her and ruining other's reputations. As the heartbroken man was abandoned by both his couple and what he thought was his child Gladio couldn't help but think Damn she's evil...

Then followed a moment even more heartwarming than the love confession and while more discreet it was way more genuine as little Astrid asked Cantio to be her dad, even with the limited context Gladio was touched and his eyes got a bit watery. Still the game continued as it was yet again the elf's turn, he revealed how he sort of made a fool of himself although Gladio nodded as he would probably do the same if he would've been in such a situation. then the turn came for the Conga moon elf who told a sort of horrifying story of how she helped her childhood friend hopefully the girl or woman by now hopefully was alright.

Finally it was the Satyr's turn again and his question while slightly loaded had a pretty common or default answer. Some people hated someone specific more but a lot of people harbored hatred towards royalty mostly the poor and unfortunate that were sometimes spit on the face by nobles of all kinds not to mention the royalty that keeps all those things prevalent. As far as Gladio knew that wasn't grounds to be judged for treason, and he wouldn't report him anyways considering he had known people like that, who harbored resentment towards the royals he didn't mind them much but he understood the reason of why someone would hate them.

Then as Vakker asked him to declare what he'd prefer Gladio went with truth as he had already done a dare and it didn't end very well for anyone other than some observers...

That's when the Satyr asked something that made Gladio's alcohol induced relaxation to suddenly be replaced by anxiety and an intense fight or flight sensation... this was what he feared the most when he came to he ball, being judged, made fun off, belittled... Suddenly the conviction he had of not reporting him for treason began to waver... Holding his judgment and arming himself he answered nervously "H-how exactly do you mean..?"

then most of his fears were sort of calmed as he announced it being a joke, it was a relief for sure, but it still kinda stung although he wasn't thinking of framing Vakker anymore...

So Gladio thought of the actual question he had to answer, "Honestly I'm not sure... I don't cry that often, sometimes I do but I don't think I could tell you what the last time was..." this was the truth, he wasn't very sure as he didn't pay that much attention to those moments as to take a mental note of them and their reason, it wasn't too often but neither was it particularly hard for him to do so, so it didn't feel right to just answer the latest time it came to mind... "If I'm to be honest it was probably something silly like reading as sad story or something... I've come close to crying today what with the love confessions, the second hand embarrassment, and the birth of a family... but I didn't quite cry and I don't think that's a good enough answer for this game..." he thought a bit with a hum, he wasn't afraid of showing weakness, as he believed that being able to show weakness was a sign of strength. After all if you're not afraid of someone exploiting your weakness it's because you're strong enough to overcome it, that's how he thought at least. "I could tell you about the time I cried the most though... my worst moment so to say... if that's ok with you I mean"

He took a bit to collect himself and remember the story, putting his hands on his lap and intertwining his fingers "Alright so... This happened when I was a child even younger than you" He looked at Astrid as he recalled his childhood "I must've been around seven years old, One day I was practicing what I guess I thought was swordsmanship in my town's square, and a bunch of kids most around my age some a bit older, began sort of picking on me... they knew me as the kid that was usually lost in the clouds dreaming of being an adventurer and doing great things... they thought it dumb and in honesty it kinda was... they insulted me, telling me I was a lost cause and that I would die before even setting foot outside the town, I ignored them as my parents told me, it was the grown up thing to do after all. so since I wasn't paying them much attention one of the bigger kids, he was around double my age or at least my size... so around 14, he pushed me. I was having a particularly bad day already that's why I wanted to not think and be left alone, so some tears fell as I thought of the futility of it all" Gladio began digging his nails into his hands, even though this was years ago, part of that kid was still in him, his insecurities still around even now. "So they laughed... called me a crybaby, and that I'd be the worst adventurer of all time among other things... some kid threw a rock at me and soon the rest followed, until the big kid from earlier... he threw a bigger one thankfully he missed since it was around the size of my head it could've killed me really..." he paused a bit.

"So I snapped... I ran at him and punched him, he didn't expect such a square hit on the nose, so he fell back, I grabbed a stick and began beating him with it the other kids where shocked so they didn't quite react, instead they called for help, and of course the closest adult turns out to be the dad of the kid whose nose I had just bloodied, he grabbed me, and slapped me around a little making sure not to hurt me more than I hurt his son. He took me to my parents who were horrified that I almost killed that kid, so obviously since the others didn't see what the kids had been doing, and of course they would deny it, I was stuck with the blame, the anger problems, and the guilt of being an 'almost murderer' that night I cried till I fell asleep, for what was, and what could've been..." He relaxed a little looking down at his feet before continuing.

"They kept bothering me once I was allowed outside again, and of course I was too afraid of what I could do and the consequences of that to even try and defend myself... it sort of died down once we became teenagers, but I still didn't have many friends my age." As he told this story his eyes got watery yet again, a tear trickled down... I guess you could say now was the last time he cried, well sort of.

"Anyways, Who's next? Uhmm I guess you!" He said looking at the girl who a few dares before had traumatized a man and ruined his relationship with a single strike. "Truth or dare?"

"I'll go truth; doesn't matter if I get drunk anymore." She said nonchalantly. "Alright then," Gladio thought for a second "I don't know you but something tells me you're not a typical adventurer... or a noble that would be invited to this sort of event... so I guess my question would be, about your history I guess, How was your family?"

...That... was unexpected.

"Cantio...?" she muses subconsciously.

He's drunk. He's obviously drunk. For some reason, he partook in the twice-distilled orcish vodka despite not having refused a single one of his dares/truths. He isn't in any state to be making decisions such as these. Besides, he's also prone to irresponsible and unwise decisions on the regular - he's accepted jobs from Veliky twice in the past. He just isn't father material. He can't be.

...But, then, there are worse. There are people who would manipulate Astrid for personal gain. There are people who would abuse her. There are people who would leave her, mewling, on someone else's doorstep. Veliky can trust - if nothing else - that Cantio is none of these people. And Astrid looks so happy...

This is a terrible decision on everyone's part. In fact, depending on interpretation, just allowing this to happen could be considered an act of child endangerment. If this is going to work, it will require direct intervention - and money. This, of course, means that it will require Veliky's direct intervention - and money. She wouldn't trust another soul with that responsibility; both Astrid and Cantio are too easily manipulated.

Veliky barely even notices the rest of the dares. She's lost in thought: financial calculations, reasonable timeframes and contractors - always contractors. It's a good thing she had the gnome program C.H.A.R.L.E.S with a babysitting protocol; it should take some of the stress off of Cantio's shoulders. Granted, neither she nor The Gnome knew the first thing about parenting, so most of the data for the protocol came from a parenting manual that they both barely understood. She still isn't sure what a 'one night stand' is. Maybe Kamille knows something about it; she seems like a motherly type.

In the blink of an eye, it's her turn again. Did someone leave? That round felt shorter than the others. No matter; this is her last round. She's tired, and she doesn't particularly care about being inebriated anymore, so 'truth' is a safe option either way.

...Her family. What little emotion could be detected in Veliky's face immediately drains. It's an innocent-sounding question, and she's willing to believe that this Gladio meant nothing by it. It's just unfortunate... or maybe not. He asked 'how *was* your family' rather than 'how *is*.' So she can leave some of the more present details out of it.

She leans back on her arms, eyes tracing along the grass. She pores over memories like pages in a textbook, looking for only the facts she needs to cheat the assignment.

"Father was a goblin. Treasure Hunter. Mom was already married when she met him. You can imagine how that was, being the daughter of a... categorical monster and a perceived harlot. So I'll leave out the details for you," she says, knowing that she's only omitting for her own benefit. "But they were good to me. Supportive, even when others weren't, or when they shouldn't have been. They were poor, though; I made my money on my own. They weren't around by the time I had any to share."

Is there anything else...? No, she thinks she just about satisfied the question.

Well, it seems like that's the end of the game. At this point, everyone's done three dares. That is, except...

"Well, that's me done." She looks back at the one who just dared her, with tired eyes. "Gladio, was it? You came in in round 2, so you've only done the two. So you get one more. Truth or Dare?"

"Hmmm... I guess dare?" he says.

"...Hm." This one will take some thinking. Is it cheating to give four dares when you've only done three? Maybe... problem is, she truly can't think of any way to benefit from this unfamiliar man's woes. Maybe she could ask him on a job? No, that'd be an easy drink, especially if she lowballed on payment. As well, it'd just be poor show as a businesswoman...

Well, it isn't to say that she doesn't have ideas. Maybe, just once, it's fine to give a stupid one.

"Grab a platter and go to the top of the stairs. Strip down to your underwear and use the platter to surf down the stairs while shouting your own name." She stands and pats the grass off the back of her skirt. "Alright, I'm done. Cantio." She looks at the inebriated prince-ess and aspirant father. "We need to talk. Now."

---

Veliky sits at a barren, cloth-draped table. There had been people there when she showed up; they kindly allowed Veliky and Cantio to take their seats^[1]. They even took their coasters with them.

She stares coldly at the lulling tiefling across from her, watching his every movement. He's masked, but that doesn't hide much from her. His body language tells all that must be told: mostly drunk and giddy from the high of his deal with Astrid, but stifling two anxieties, one of which is focused on the aforementioned deal while the other is focused on Veliky. It isn't difficult to tell that he's afraid of her. That's good. Makes him more malleable.

Her speech comes like a flash in the dark.

"Do you even have a house?"

He tries to maintain eye contact. Veliky's gaze is far stronger, and far less trepidatious.

"Well... no, but-"

"One week."

It's as simple as a statement can be. She says it as if someone just asked how long it'll take to reach Darkveil: utterly matter-of-fact. And then, without another word, she hops off the chair and vanishes into the party, leaving an air of doubt and looming uncertainty.

---

1. Banner Lord II

As Veliky told her story Gladio began to understand why and how she became so... Cutthroat, she had to, otherwise she probably wouldn't have ended well. Still Gladio was surprised to hear her challenge him right after, it made sense after all if the game was coming to an end, and he was the only one who didn't have three turns... still he decided to choose dare just to not repeat truth twice in a row... It was definitely a bad idea as Veliky dared him to do something so embarrassing he immediately blushed, almost anything else would've been better... sharing his deepest secrets was fine, a dance duel while embarrassing he didn't mind losing, even a love confession or trying to flirt with someone would've been more repairable as he could just say it was a dare and be forgiven. But an act of indecency which borders on public nudity and without hiding who he is even claiming it was a dare would leave him with an even lower reputation that the one to which he upholds himself.

"Ok I regret choosing dare this time actually..." he said looking down in Shame, "What's the I guess 'punishment' for not doing your dare?" The other's told him he had to chug some drink, a twice-distilled Orcish vodka, oh boy... Well he'd rather puke all over the place than doing such a mortifying dare, so he grabbed the shot glass. "Well, bottoms up!" and he took the shot.

It was strong, way too strong in fact, it burned and ached and he worried for what would happen afterwards and whether or not he'd have any brainpower left so as to not do something stupid. Meanwhile the thoughts of the hangover scared him a little, but he couldn't back down so he downed it all... Didn't manage to keep it down though, the burn was so strong and the mix of other alcohol's in his belly gave him a brutal stomach ache, so right after putting the glass down, he lifted his hand and stood up, "Excuse me!" he said as he ran to the nearest bush were he ended up puking for a while... Not his proudest moment but at least the game was fun and he got a few laughs out of it, as well as hopefully new acquaintances.

While sort of embarrassing, it was a good choice to join them for the game for him at least, he wouldn't have known how to pass the time at the ball otherwise. So as the rest of the table dispersed he decided to go on his way yet again.