Escort Services (Legacy)

Job Information + Marick's Outfit:

Era - a massive city although incomparable to Crocus. This was the setting for Marick in this evening's job as an escort for a young noblewoman as requested by her father. While Marick wasn't exactly fond of the idea of rubbing up with nobles, the money was certainly a great incentive. One night of babysitting a nobleman's daughter for a quick 750 jewels, and potentially more little jobs in the future for more money. Granted he wouldn't get rich from the job, but he may be able to make a living in the future if he played his cards right.

Marick stepped up to a carriage and opened the door, allowing for a sleek young figure to step out onto the cobblestone floor below. With her stunning lavender hair coiffed beautifully into what could only have been a painstakingly difficult style and her flowing black dress, there was no doubt about it. This young woman was the noblewoman he was to escort; Lady Kara. If only I were younger... he thought to himself. He bowed his head to the young woman and smiled as he came back up. "Milady, a pleasure to ma-" he began, but was silenced by a black gloved hand pushed to his lips. "You're the mage my father hired I assume? You're hired to work, not to speak. You speak when spoken to, and only when spoken to. Understood?" Kara removed her hand from Marick's lips. He kept his composure on this occasion and simply smiled in response. "Understood milady."

Behind Kara was her father who simply sighed in response to his daughter as she walked a few steps ahead. "Apologies Mr..." "Lowell. Marick Lowell." "Ah. Well then, apologies Mr. Lowell. I did warn that my daughter could be a little...abrasive...at times." His employer said calmly, a twinge of sadness in his voice. "She wasn't always this way...I'm hoping you can help her. Although..." The older man looked Marick over quizzically. "You're older than I expected you to be."

Marick merely raised an eyebrow before he responded. "Would you rather I was a younger man who might actually take more of an interest in your daughter than you would like?" His response seemed to surprise the nobleman, but he simply nodded. "I see...well...I wish you the best and...thank you for taking this job." With that the nobleman left and Marick was left alone with his charge. He turned to face Kara who was now glaring at him. This is gonna be one helluva long night...

So the night - and the job - were set to begin. Kara walked over to Marick and grabbed his arm, forced the elbow to bend(although little force was needed as Marick simply moved it the way she'd nudged it) and placed her hand onto his forearm. "Now you place your hand on mine. If you're going to escort me then you will do it properly as a true escort should." Marick nodded his head before looking at the path ahead. "Yes Milady." Once Kara was satisfied she tugged on Marick's arm, stepping forward as she did so. He reluctantly followed, although showed no signs of any reluctance. This is only for a few hours...thank the gods...

The two walked up the steps and entered the hall through the massive double doors - Marick noted that noblemen clearly needed them to be this size to fit their large egos through them - coming to a brief halt as a man took their names. "Lady Matheson and Mister..." Kara froze. She didn't know her escorts name. Marick simply watched, and received a swift stamp on the foot with her heel for doing so. "Lowell." he winced through the sharp stabbing pain. "Lady Matheson accompanied by Mister Lowell." the man called out. A few of the nobles glanced at the door upon the announcement, some staring for a little longer at the sight of the groomed Solitaire. Kara seemed to notice this and glared up at Marick. "You are not to leave my side. If I so much as see you glance at another woman I will have YOU escorted off the premises as a pervert." she whispered threateningly. Marick closed his eyes. This girl was unbelievable. What kind of a restriction was that to put on a man? That was like putting a beer in front of a recovering alcoholic and telling them not to drink it! Nonetheless he cleared his throat and nodded. "Understood Milady." "Good. Now...I require a drink. Walk with me."

The duo walked across to a long table that was filled almost to the point of collapse with various wines, champagnes and a mass of food. Marick's stomach gave a growl of excitement at the sight of all of the alcoholic beverages, and he had to fight his hardest to ensure it wasn't too loud. Sadly he couldn't drink on this job either. He'd get into considerably more trouble than it was worth if he did. "...Hmmmmm...get me a glass of Cava. Make it quick too, or it will all be gone." Marick nodded and began to walk further down the table to pour the requested drink, only to be pulled back. "And remember my warning. I'm watching you." Marick was beginning to get a little pissed off already. This girl was gonna be the death of him. If he didn't kill her first of course. "Yes...'Milady'." he replied half mockingly, before continuing on with her request. Believe me, the only thing I'm looking at now is that wine so I can forget tonight already...

Were it not for the feeling of being watched by Kara's seemingly unblockable eyes, Marick would almost certainly have grabbed a whole bottle of wine for himself. Of course, that would have meant he'd most likely fail the job, rendering the entire night and his drunken state completely useless. Thus he had to suck it up and keep doing what he needed to do. He poured out a small glass of Cava and returned to his charge, bowing his head as he handed her the glass. Of course, it would've been too easy for her to just take the glass and sip it. No. She attempted to take the glass and instead ended up knocking it out of the wizard's hand, watching as it fell to the floor and smashed. Thankfully only a few people took any notice, and within seconds a cleaner had swooped over and swept the mess up. Unfortunately for Marick it appeared Kara was less than happy. "You great oaf! What did you do that for?" she hissed. Marick simply stared dumbly. Abrasive? This girl is a complete whack job!

Kara huffed and crossed her arms. "Well don't just stand their gawping! Fetch me another NOW!" Marick blinked, then turned around and walked away. This was unbelievable. A 32 year-old man being bossed around by a young woman no older than 21. He stopped at the same point of the table as before and started to pour another glass. As he went to tip the bottle however he felt the presence of a certain young woman hovering directly behind him. "Is there a problem Milady?" His voice held a hint of sarcasm, although it appeared to go over the girl's head. "I'm just ensuring you don't smash anything else." she replied coldly. Stand any closer and I'll be smashing this bottle over your head... he thought to himself as he poured the Cava into the glass. This time he left the glass on the table. Kara stared at it for a moment, before glaring at Marick. "Aren't you going to give me it?"

And there it was. The snap in the back of Marick's head. "Would you like me to drink it for you as well, or can you manage that without a babysitter?" he replied coldly, this time his voice almost dripping with sarcasm. Kara growled as she gripped the glass and threw its contents over Marick's face. "How DARE you speak to me like that!" she hissed, before walking out of the hall. Marick grabbed a napkin and wiped his face dry before sighing. Well that went well...

He certainly couldn't leave things like this of course, particularly if he wanted to get paid. With a quick mental slapping he followed Kara, with plans to fix things.

Kara was stood by a pillar outside of the hall, staring up at the stars above her. There were a couple of tears trickling down her face, but she wiped them away long before her escort arrived and stood beside her, his hands stuffed into his pockets. His eyes glanced at her before looking up at the stars with her. "...do you believe in the afterlife...?" he asked her. Kara scoffed and glared up at Marick. "I thought I said not to speak unless you were spoken to?!" Marick looked down at the girl and replied to her question coolly. "That was before you threw a glass of champagne at my face." "Well you deserved it! You were incredibly rude to me!" she retorted, but Marick was once again relaxed and prepared. "Well I suppose that makes two of us then doesn't it?" Kara stood in place, staring at Marick completely dumbstruck. This man, who was hired by her father, dared to answer her back? This wasn't something she was used to at all.

"So you never answered my question...do you believe in the afterlife?" Marick repeated, looking up at the stars once again. Kara watched Marick closely for a couple of seconds before her eyes also returned to the night sky again. "...yes...to some degree. Although, I've no idea what's there..." she replied calmly, her eyes not looking away. Marick smiled. "That also makes two of us. One thing I am almost certain of is that those who pass are watching those they left behind..." There was a short silence before Kara spoke again. "...do you think my mother is watching over me?" she asked the older man softly. Marick looked down at Kara. She was still focused on the stars, but something had visually changed about her. She seemed more...natural? Marick looked back up at the stars again. "...yes...yes I do. My master probably is too...most likely telling me to get my ass into gear and settle down already." "...do you think...do you think she likes what she see's?"

Marick close his eyes. At first he was unsure on how to answer. He hadn't ever had to think like this before. So instead of thinking, he simply let himself talk freely. "I believe that if someone loves you then they see through your actions regardless of what they are...your mother would love what she see's. But I don't think she'd like how you act." Kara looked to the ground, shaking lightly as a few tears trickled down her face. "But y'know...everyone can change. Bad things happen but people move on and adapt. It takes some people longer than others. Sometimes people just need something to wake them up to reality..." he continued. His lowered his own head and turned to Kara, who was now wiping her eyes dry. "You're not a bad person Kara. A pain in the arse perhaps, but not bad. While you may not like to hear it, you're still young and still only really a child. I cannot relate to your situation and the grief you have been through...but I can say that you need to move on with your life."

As Kara composed herself Marick was approached by another woman She was around his age with beautiful blonde hair tied into a bun, and a shocking red dress. In his eyes, she was clearly on the pull and, were he not in the middle of a job, he may well have entertained her. When she spoke it was with a voice that clearly befitted her high-class status. "Would you care to buy me a drink? Then perhaps we could dance and see where the night takes us?"

So very forward...too risky even when he wasn't working.

"I apologise, but I already have a date to this event, and thus have to decline your offer." he replied with a smile, bowing his head. The woman sneered at Kara for a moment. "Well when you have finished playing games with children and want a real lady, you know where I am." With that she walked back into the hall. Marick turned to Kara who was now staring up at him in surprise. "Don't look so surprised...she's not my type." he joked. For the first time that night Kara giggled. "Besides, you said at the start of the night that I wasn't to leave your side, and I wasn't to look at other women. I'm merely following your orders." he added. Kara tilted her head to the side with a mischievous smile on her face. "So you ARE taking my orders seriously? Well then...I order you to escort me back into the hall, and to dance with me for the remainder of the night." Marick's face dropped comically. "...D-dance?"

He had no choice. Kara had looped her arm around his and was leading him back into the hall. She's still heartless...

The pair re-entered the hall with Kara quietly poking fun at Marick for his reaction to being told he would have to dance. "Can you not dance? Are you afraid?" Marick looked down at his charge and shook his head. "I can dance. This was just an unexpected turn of events." As they reached the dance floor Marick placed his left hand on Kara's waist and took her left hand in his right, with her right hand placed upon his left bicep. "You stink of alcohol." she giggled. Marick couldn't help but chuckle. "Oh, how many times I've heard that."

For the remainder of the night the two danced, joked with one another and enjoyed themselves, more than Marick would probably admit to anyone outside of the venue afterwards. As they danced he couldn't help but think of how Kara would do in the future. What if this was only a temporary change, and she turned back to her reclusive, abrasive self once he had gone? On the other hand, what would she do with her life now if she stayed this way? He kept pushing these thoughts to the back of his mind, but they would continue to creep back from time to time during the night.

Finally the night came to a close. Marick - still completely sober, but now properly cleaned up - walked towards a familiar carriage with Kara on his arm. Lord Matheson was stood beside it with a nervous expression. "Dare I ask...?" Marick smiled broadly. "Tonight was a pleasure. Admittedly we had a rocky start but...I feel it was an enjoyable night." Kara nodded in agreement. "It has been a wonderful evening." Her expression fell as she looked at Marick again. "But I suppose this is goodbye now..." Marick looked down at Kara, then across at her father. "Your father knows where I reside. You can send letters as and when you please and perhaps, in time, we could meet again. But you need to start building your life up, and that is something I should not be involved in."

Admittedly this was true. Marick was a mercenary, hanging around with violent and boisterous crowds. Kara was a young noble lady who had come across a turning point in her life. For him to be too involved in her life would be beyond the call of his position as temporary escort, and would probably lead her down a path that could be more of a detriment than an assistance. Nonetheless it seemed his words were enough to convince her, and she grinned up at her father. "May I? Please?" she pleaded. Her father had tears in his eyes as he hugged her. "Of course, any time you wish. Now come on, into the carriage. I need to speak to Mister Lowell regarding business matters." Kara nodded and turned to Marick. She curtsied before entering the carriage and awaiting her father.

Lord Matheson then turned his attention to Marick. "You've done a fine job Mr. Lowell, better than I had expected. You've earned this." he said with a warm smile, handing over the payment for the job. Marick placed the Jewel into his pocket and smiled back. "It was no issue. I wish you and Lady Matheson the very best." he replied, bowing respectfully as the Lord entered the carriage himself.

All the best Kara Matheson.