WEEK 0 | TUESDAY EVENING | ROOM 106

[lienhearts]

Today was far more of an ordeal than expected. Really, he's learning to be grateful for the rules surrounding night time - it means Conchita actually has to let him go at some point in the day. He hadn't thought it possible, but under the effects of whatever they spiked that cupcake with, the woman was even clingier than Efi.

"Long day, huh?"

He settles down on his futon in a loose sitting posture, obviously relaxed. He's decided to stick to his dark shirt and pants, the set that's normally hidden under that long red coat of his. Those, and his gloves, which he never seems to remove. "Gotta say, I wasn't expecting you to get a fiancé out of that deal."

Ever since the end of the first day, when the profiles became common knowledge among everyone, he's ditched the wimpy personality for something far more laid back and subdued. Never too nasty, but it's probably no surprise that he's not above this kind of teasing, either.

Comments

[royalpretender]

Honesty time? Might as well.

"It's been two years since Alexia was assassinated. I'd been her body double for six months before that."

He looks Leo directly in the eyes, his expression one of conviction, betraying just a hint of fear.

"You can't tell anyone about this. Now more than ever, the Queendom needs her." Nevermind that impersonating royalty is punishable by beheading. What happens to everyone else - to Alexia's wishes - is more important.

[lienhearts]

Bingo.

"Two and a half years... That'd explain why you're so used to it." Pity Leo's been at the game longer. "You really would be in a bind if anyone found out the princess they were all following so loyally was just a fake after all..."

He lets those words sit for a moment before he continues.

"You get how this works, right? I can keep your secret for you, if that's what you want." Lies are his trade, and Al already makes it easy enough. "But if I'm going through the trouble, I'd like a little something in return."

[royalpretender]

Ah, blackmail. The great equalizing force. However, Al doesn't even flinch.

"You don't really suppose anyone willing to shoot a twelve year old child would stop at one attempt, do you? There was a coup d'etat. I had to flee the country on a pirate ship. Whatever it is you want, I don't have it to give. Not unless I live to regain the throne."

He's not so naive, of course, to think all Leo could want is material, but frankly, all the alternatives he can think of are too unsavory to mention.

[lienhearts]

"I disagree."

There's quite a bit Al could do, actually, and he has no qualms with pointing them out.

"Money's important, but it's only good if you live to enjoy it." And, let's be real here; things may be alright for now, but he's still not holding his breath on people banding together enough to avoid murder entirely.

"I'll help you keep your secret. But in return, I want you to help me." It's a dirty, underhanded way of going about it, but in the end, he's a conman; what other way is there?

"If I ask for a favor, do it. And if you overhear anything, tell me." During a scenario like this, staying informed is going to be vital. But doing so when there's forty people to keep track of, to say nothing of the staff...

"Terms like that should benefit both of us, don't you think?"

[royalpretender]

Of course it would be what he was afraid of.

"What sort of favors are we talking about...?"

Considering he was almost sold into slavery once, and that there's only so much someone would buy an eleven year old for, he instinctively shudders to think of what Leo might mean by "favors."

"You'll have to clarify before I agree to anything."

[lienhearts]

He knows exactly what Al's worried about, and makes a face at the thought.

"I'm not interested in kids or guys."

Let's just get that out there.

"Think more along the lines of..." Gopher. "...An assistant. Help me check out places I can't get into, things like that. I can't be everywhere at once."

[royalpretender]

That's... actually a more than reasonable deal, but Al isn't going to simply roll over. He'll accept, but he has to make it abundantly clear that he isn't going to just get pushed around.

"...Fine. I'll do it for now. Just remember that you have secrets of your own."

With that last word, he'll lie back down, tucking himself into whatever this place calls a sheet.

[lienhearts]

And that just gets a smirk out of Leo.

"Yes. But I'm also a better liar than you."

And he'll go ahead and settle down for some actual sleep now, content with a job well done.