Abnegation

Mercenaries

-Everybody in the bar stares in shock, at hearing Whitebeard's answer...-

Gawain yelled "How dare you refuse a member of the royal family?!!!", the bartender yells too "How drunk ARE you?! This is the princess, you crazy old fart!". Whitebeard continued laughing at the names thrown at him as the paladin readies his sword.. Lora quickly got his attention "Wait, we can't use force!" she reminds him, Gawain replied "But he just refused and laughed in your face!". The princess takes a breath and explained her beliefs "Yes, but we must do this calmly. If we force anyone to go: they'll act out during this mission, despite the importance: If the people of Neptune sees this, they won't take us seriously, and we'll lose our chance to get them to assist with this.", Whitebeard stops laughing as he hears the princess's answer... "That's why I like the royals: they all insist on being treated like a normal-joe!". He tried to salute as he says "Princess, I will get the strongest men I can find in Castiel and send them with you: about 3 of them should match a quarter of my power, so I'll be with your party in spirit!", she giggles "Thanks..". Gawain rolled his eyes "Princess, this seems too suspicious..." he warns, Lora looks up at him "Remember, for this to work: we must practice always being at peace. Something we should have already within our kingdom and with our neighbors." he awes into her innocent-eyes, until Whitebeard gains their attention. They both turn to see the mercenary turn off his beaten up, cracked cell "They'll meet you at the town square in a few minutes, now... I'll be off!" he drunkenly waves as he finished and staggers outside... The paladin grimaced, then followed the princess out..

They reach castletown-square in less than a minute, and wait under a food-stand's umbrella... "I still can't believe how casually he treated you, Princess..." Gawain repeats his concerns with her decision.. Lora re-explains her idea "We need people who're similar with the people we are asking help from, if you and other more.. strict paladins go, then wot do you think will happen?". The paladin looked away "You're right... If there's more of us, we'd probably attack: Yeah, even if we know how important this is: me and the guys would've arrested that jerk on that spot...", Lora sighs... until he turns back towards her and smile "Well, it's a hot day, do you want anything while we wait?".. She gives him a small-smile "A snow-cone?", Gawain smiles too "Alright!". He buys two and gives her one...Lora then asks before she licks hers... "It IS hot, can you see them in the distance?", Gawain puffs his chest out some "I'll see if they're even coming..." he assures her as he steps a little ways away.. Lora looks around, everybody else was working or playing, not paying attention to her or even noticing she was there... Wit suddenly crawls up beside's her!