Chapter Text
The information Evan and his entourage gathered told them this: The giant scrying eye that watched over Hydropolis can see through walls, the four pillars of law - while bizarre and has been somewhat accepted by the people - appear to be keeping the population stagnate, and it is very hard to gain audience with Queen Nerea or with the Archon.
"I have an idea!" squeaked Lofty.
"Ye do?" said Batu.
"Yeah! And it's a flippin' good one! I'm going to need the kiddies for this, so…bye!" With a surprising show of strength, the tiny Kingmaker grabbed Evan and Tani and dragged them off further into the city. Batu and Roland were left standing in the harbor, wondering what is being planned.
They got their answer an hour later when several citizens started to crowd together and point to a platform normally blocked off.
"What's going on?" They overheard a teen asking to another.
"Somebody got past a guard and entered a forbidden high place," the other teen said, "finally some rebellion around here."
Roland and Batu looked at the walkway and saw someone wearing pink, their features indistinct at their current distance. The two men edged their way to the front of the crowd.
"Is that…?" gasped Batu as he recognized the figure.
It was Tani, wearing a fancy pink dress.
Stiffly approaching her was a boy in a white tux. His grimalkin ears pressed downward and his tail swished in nervous apprehension.
"Evan?" What in the world is going on?
Evan knelt before Tani and presented a box, "I-I can not wait any longer."
Roland froze as he realized what is going on. This is Lofty's plan?
Everyone else in the crowd gasped and began shouting encouragements.
Batu turned to look at Roland, his mustache seemed to bristle with rage.
"Roland," he got no answer and so he shook the dazed man's shoulder, "we need to do something, Roland!"
The increasingly less distant sound of armor being jostled as its owner ran to apprehend rule breakers reminded Batu of two things:
1. They were discussing how to gain an audience with the Archon
2. Romance is banned around here.
Well now, let's spice it up.
"Roland," his voice getting louder as he glared at Roland, "what is yeR BOY DOIN' WITH MY LITTLE GIRL?"
There was gasps around them as they sensed a plot twist happening.
"I-I-" Roland stuttered, brain still rebooting from not seeing this coming.
"Our people have been feudin' for years until the time out last month," Batu improvised, gaining more muttering from the crowd, "But I don't remember agreeing to this!"
Roland seemed to get on the uptake and said while glaring back at Batu, "I didn't agree either."
"Those brave kids," said a nearby woman, "they want their families to get along!"
"YOU CAN DO IT!" shouted a little boy, "MAKE THE ADULTS BE LESS DUMB!"
"Then what should we do Roland?" prompted Batu.
"We need to stop them before its too late!" Roland pushed his way out of the crowd as Batu followed. The spectators didn't intervene but instead kept giving out encouragements to the kids on the balcony who are determined to unite their families through their love.
But alas, the two fathers were too late. The strongman's daughter accepted the rich man's son's proposal.
"Tani! Why?" cried out Batu as he dramatically fell to his knees.
"You should've told me you didn't like the girl I picked out for you," called Roland, disappointed.
"STOP THIS AT ONCE!" shouted a panting guard as he emerged from the stairs.
"YOU ARE UNDER ARREST FOR DISOBEYING THE LAW!" The crowd jeered as they heard this but dispersed anyway.
"Aaaand cut!" grinned Lofty as guards swarmed the balcony.