[ Alex is at a loss for words, stunned into flustered silence as the man starts to slip the shoes on for her, something no one has ever done before. It was all the more worrying considering he might possibly be of a higher class. Even for an apology, this felt far too generous. ]
I’m fine, really…! This is too much…
[ How could she not repay him? ]
Are you sure there’s nothing you want? It…doesn’t feel right to just take them…
[ There was always a price, why should this be any different? Why was he being so different? ]
I'm not a "good deeds means rewards" kinda guy, so I mean it when I said you don't have to worry.
[ He gestures back towards the road, offering to even escort her to wherever she was going, ignoring the looks and whispering that's starting to gather around them as some civilians managed to recognize Troy. And he's with this neighborhood's better known individuals. ]
But if it will make you feel better I guess I could ask for your name.
[ In this moment, in this place, that made no sense to her. All the more that he seems to be offering to escort her. ]
I can go by myself.
[ Her words come out quick, though she means no offense to him. ]
I’ll…get in trouble if you come with me and not a customer.
[ An excuse, really. He just shouldn’t be in a place like that. Not when he’s been so nice thus far…It wasn’t a place he belonged.
She starts to walk off before he speaks again, but she does stop for just a moment. ]
A…lex. My name is Alex.
[ even if she may never see him again or hear the chance for him to say her name, a little part of her felt warm knowing someone cared enough to ask. ]
[ Troy has an idea of what her occupation is, but he didn't expect her employers to be so strict with this. Maybe he's become out of touch, but that thought didn't linger in his mind for long ]
I'm Troy. Here...
[ He at least hands her a card with his name and number. A relic of his pre-king days, but his number still works and it's been useful with connecting with his own people. In there, the name Troy Dantes - same name as the ruling monarch of Sanduguan - is printed. ]
[ It confuses her at first to be handed a card, and she hesitates before eventually accepting it. Even without looking over the card she commits his name to memory. Troy. The first person in a long, long while to show her kind of kindness... and someone she might never meet again. Give him a call, he says. But whether she'd be able to seemed impossible.
Still, she can enjoy this moment for now, offering a small smile that seemed to carry so much weight after not having done so in ages. ]
Thank you.
[ It's all she says before bowing and running off, not wanting to get into any more trouble. It's not till later that night that she finally reads the card. His name was...no, it surely couldn't be the king. Maybe it was a fake name even. Fake name or not, she still cherished it, looking to the card during her hardest days when Barry would unleash his anger on her or whenever she had difficult clients. The card would become crumpled and bet, worn out from her fingers, but she'd looked at it so often that she'd memorized his number. Like a mantra that made her feel a little safer, a little more hopeful... Until she eventually did break free.
She still never called, wanting to get back on her own feet before properly thanking him again. Somehow she managed to snag a job as a maid for the palace, a kind woman had helped her to get it since she didn't have prior experience. Even as a servant, there was a certain level of pride she took in her job. A proper job.
That she almost fucks up when she crashes into someone as she turns the corner of the hallway, dropping the tea set she had been carrying. ]
Oh gosh--I'm so sorry!
[ Immediately she drops onto her knees, holding her hand out to keep them from stepping on the glass in case it penetrates their shoes. ]
Please step back, it's dangerous. I'll clean this up right away...!
[ Despite her plea to step back, Troy joins her with one knee dropping to the floor, picking up the sharpest pieces of pottery he can reach. ]
That's funny. I'm usually the one to give orders around here.
[ He laughs, picking up more pieces into his hand even with the lack of proper protection for his skin. More helpers down the hallway are coming, giving Troy only a brief window of time to look at this clumsy helper and feel his memories swim back to him. A tug of the corner of his lips flashes at her, right before another maid interrupts their moment with the proper tools for the job.
Troy's attention was distracted by them briefly, insisting on helping despite the obvious signs on his attire that he is the king of this palace. Of this country. A barong in the form of a jacket, with golden ornaments all made to fit his muscular frame, and the words of his maids that call him "majesty". He laughs with them, and lets them treat him more like a son than a king while he dusts off his hands over a box where the shattered tea set pieces went.
But he glanced to his side, seeing Alex. Finding a polite excuse to turn his attention to her, he takes the chance to do so as soon as he was able, opening up with yet another lighthearted comment ]
The maid outfit suits you. Never thought I'd see the day you're wearing one.
[ The other palace helpers have a more practical attire as per his request. But his palace manager hired some new hands from private companies with their own rules. Probably why Alex is wearing a different uniform ]
[ ooc: I knew we had something somewhere lol. If youre still down to continue! ]
[ Her initial horror was the him helping her out despite her mistake, the feeling doubling when she realizes just who she bumped into. Even without a proper look at his face, the clothes were telling enough.
She lowers her head immediately in apology, praying to whatever gods out there that she wouldn’t lose her job. But before she can even apologize, he speaks her to her in such a familiar way that it makes her pause. How would he know her of all people…?
Cautiously, she looks up at him, needing a moment before the voice and face connect in her mind. ]
No way…Are…you really the same Troy from back then…?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
I’m fine, really…! This is too much…
[ How could she not repay him? ]
Are you sure there’s nothing you want? It…doesn’t feel right to just take them…
[ There was always a price, why should this be any different? Why was he being so different? ]
no subject
[ He gestures back towards the road, offering to even escort her to wherever she was going, ignoring the looks and whispering that's starting to gather around them as some civilians managed to recognize Troy. And he's with this neighborhood's better known individuals. ]
But if it will make you feel better I guess I could ask for your name.
no subject
I can go by myself.
[ Her words come out quick, though she means no offense to him. ]
I’ll…get in trouble if you come with me and not a customer.
[ An excuse, really. He just shouldn’t be in a place like that. Not when he’s been so nice thus far…It wasn’t a place he belonged.
She starts to walk off before he speaks again, but she does stop for just a moment. ]
A…lex. My name is Alex.
[ even if she may never see him again or hear the chance for him to say her name, a little part of her felt warm knowing someone cared enough to ask. ]
no subject
[ Troy has an idea of what her occupation is, but he didn't expect her employers to be so strict with this. Maybe he's become out of touch, but that thought didn't linger in his mind for long ]
I'm Troy. Here...
[ He at least hands her a card with his name and number. A relic of his pre-king days, but his number still works and it's been useful with connecting with his own people. In there, the name Troy Dantes - same name as the ruling monarch of Sanduguan - is printed. ]
If you ever need anything, just give me a call.
no subject
Still, she can enjoy this moment for now, offering a small smile that seemed to carry so much weight after not having done so in ages. ]
Thank you.
[ It's all she says before bowing and running off, not wanting to get into any more trouble. It's not till later that night that she finally reads the card. His name was...no, it surely couldn't be the king. Maybe it was a fake name even. Fake name or not, she still cherished it, looking to the card during her hardest days when Barry would unleash his anger on her or whenever she had difficult clients. The card would become crumpled and bet, worn out from her fingers, but she'd looked at it so often that she'd memorized his number. Like a mantra that made her feel a little safer, a little more hopeful... Until she eventually did break free.
She still never called, wanting to get back on her own feet before properly thanking him again. Somehow she managed to snag a job as a maid for the palace, a kind woman had helped her to get it since she didn't have prior experience. Even as a servant, there was a certain level of pride she took in her job. A proper job.
That she almost fucks up when she crashes into someone as she turns the corner of the hallway, dropping the tea set she had been carrying. ]
Oh gosh--I'm so sorry!
[ Immediately she drops onto her knees, holding her hand out to keep them from stepping on the glass in case it penetrates their shoes. ]
Please step back, it's dangerous. I'll clean this up right away...!
no subject
That's funny. I'm usually the one to give orders around here.
[ He laughs, picking up more pieces into his hand even with the lack of proper protection for his skin. More helpers down the hallway are coming, giving Troy only a brief window of time to look at this clumsy helper and feel his memories swim back to him. A tug of the corner of his lips flashes at her, right before another maid interrupts their moment with the proper tools for the job.
Troy's attention was distracted by them briefly, insisting on helping despite the obvious signs on his attire that he is the king of this palace. Of this country. A barong in the form of a jacket, with golden ornaments all made to fit his muscular frame, and the words of his maids that call him "majesty". He laughs with them, and lets them treat him more like a son than a king while he dusts off his hands over a box where the shattered tea set pieces went.
But he glanced to his side, seeing Alex. Finding a polite excuse to turn his attention to her, he takes the chance to do so as soon as he was able, opening up with yet another lighthearted comment ]
The maid outfit suits you. Never thought I'd see the day you're wearing one.
[ The other palace helpers have a more practical attire as per his request. But his palace manager hired some new hands from private companies with their own rules. Probably why Alex is wearing a different uniform ]
How have you been, Alex?
no subject
[ Her initial horror was the him helping her out despite her mistake, the feeling doubling when she realizes just who she bumped into. Even without a proper look at his face, the clothes were telling enough.
She lowers her head immediately in apology, praying to whatever gods out there that she wouldn’t lose her job. But before she can even apologize, he speaks her to her in such a familiar way that it makes her pause. How would he know her of all people…?
Cautiously, she looks up at him, needing a moment before the voice and face connect in her mind. ]
No way…Are…you really the same Troy from back then…?