the great corruption system

"Im glad your opinion of me is so high that you would seek me out. We’ll get this done in no time on my watch."

"Well, I needed someone else to make sure I looked like a had a head on my shoulders. Couldn’t find Andrew so—"

"I’ll take it as a compliment." This conversation would not continue.

Donovan was walking with Damian. They roamed the busy roades of mintstone, trying to plan a date in mere hours.

Damian was just a bit behind Donny.

"So, have you already thought about flowers, something to give her the moment you meet her?"

Donny nodded. "A flower shop is where we’re headed right now."

—

Once they were inside, they immidiately scanned the area, looking for the best of the best. They were interrupted by the lady at the register.

They looked at the standing bouquets lined up in the counters. "I like this one." Damian pointed to one that had a nice contrast of roses and violets.

Donny thought about for a moment before shaking his head, pointing to another. It had a mix of roses and yellow roses. "It reminds me of her hair."

Damian rubbed his chin a bit before nodding.

"Let’s grab it."

at the Register, Donnie walked up to a woman with a cheery expression on her face. "So, whose the lucky girl?"

"This wonderful woman who works with adventurers. Believe it or not she made the first move."

The woman smirked and grabbed a photo next to her, turning it around so he could see it. It was a painting herself and presumably a man when they were younger. They were holding each other, yet they had the most serious of expressions.

"This was me and my husband when we were young. He took me on a date and got a portrait made. We were originally smiling, but couldn’t hold it long enough and had to make plain expressions. Though it may not look like it here, that was one of the happiest times of my life."

"It looks wonderful Ma’am"

She looked Donovan in the eye.

"Whatever you plan on doing with this woman, try to make it memorable. Have a great day sir."

He already saw the cost of the flowers. Pulling out a few coppers, he began walking off but turned around a moment. "I will."

As they left, Damian was already onto the next topic. "Now clothes?" Donny nodded.

Class was divided into three groups of people.

The Rich, the middle class and the poor. One could usually differentiate between the three groups just based off of what one was wearing.

peasants wore basic things. Shirts and trousers, shoes that sufficed.

Rich people had gorgeous suits, with singles or brands on them showing the affluence of either their own families or the people who made the outfits.

Right now Damian was thinking about going to a store just like that. A beautiful clothing store was in a more affluent area. As Donny looked around, he saw guards on every corner, waiting outside of every store. The roads were more polished. This didn’t seem like a place he belonged in.

Donny saw a woman in a marvelous dress stepping out of a luxurious carriage. Her dress and gloves indicated that she was someone almost removed from financial burden. As she stepped out, guards open the door to the place, and let her enter.

Damian grabbed his shoulder. "I get it, you wanna go all out for this woman, But If this is what she requires you to wear on a date, she doesn’t like you man."

Donny sighed. "Your right. Now let’s go. If anyone else looks at me like I’m gonna steal something I don’t know what I’ll do."

Going to another shop in a more homey area that didn’t feel like he’d be watched 24/7,

Donny saw something that interested him.

He did a beckoning motion with his hands, and Damian came over.

What they were looking at was a suit with a tie,

Nice black gloves that was half off. Damian smiled. "Steal."

——

Looking at himself in the mirror and straightening his tie, he smiled. Turning around to Damian who agreed with this sentiment. He was holding the roses at the moment.

"Looking like a...." Damian was struggling to give him a compliment that didn’t sound like he was attracted to him. "You look damn good."

Walking out of the store after dropping a few silvers, Donovan walked out and couldn’t help but notice that a few gazes lingered on him longer than they should.

Someone else seemed to notice too.

"Don’t let it get to your head and stay on track. Now, where is the place you’re going to take her?"

Donny was actually stumped this time.

"You got anything in mind?"

"Yes actually"

——

Walking into the place, they saw a bunch of men drinking, people playing cards, and more importantly, people had weapons in their sheaths that could be pulled out at any moment.

Donny slowly turned towards Damian while squinting his eyes. "...Are you fucking with me?"

"No? What’s wrong with this ?"

A few people turned around and noticed him.

"Sup Donnie boy?"

That same person walked over to him before stepping on the shoe of another in a rather casual manner during his drunken stupor.

Before he could even make it another step, a bottle flew in his direction, slamming into his head. But he had a friend who stood up for him. This began causing a chain reaction.

A fight erupted, and as Donny took his eyes off it and looked to Damian, he said the obvious. "This."

——

After having argued back and forth about the costs and the safety concerns of the dining area, they eventually settled on a restaurant in a more middle class area.

this place was rather nice. From the moment they walked in, they were greeted with a smile and asked what their order will be.

However, Donny stopped the lady. "Is their any way I can ask to schedule and reserve seats? I have a special person I’d like to dine with."

"Absolutely. And what time will you be here?"

Damian: "A little over an hour."

"That’ll be four silvers." Damian tried not to jump. It was noting he couldn’t handle. He was losing money left and right.

’I guess even in non rich areas, that feeling of luxury comes at a cost.’

Four silvers were put on the table. The person who put them down, was Damian. Donny picked up the conversation. "We’ll see you soon ma’am."

Leaving the restaurant, Donny put his hands on Damian’s shoulder. "I couldve paid it."

"But it takes a cheapskate to know a cheapskate. I saw the amount of pain you were in. your welcome."

He continued. "Is their anything else you got planned?"

"Yeah."

They walked over to a bridge with water going under it. Men with canoes were rowing in these places, either selling things on water or playing songs.

Donny spoke to them. "Excuse me. Do you think you could play this in an hour? For a few coppers?"

A man with a nice mustache nodded. "Two silvers."

Donovan was shocked, But Damian was decent at haggling. Pushing Donny aside, he took over. "One silver."

The man retorted. "Silver and a few coppers."

Damian: "Deal."

Getting up from the railing, Damian look at Donny. "Looks like your date is ready."

Donny didn’t even think Damian would be A thought in his mind after his service, yet here he was. "Thanks man. Really."

A smile was plastered onto Damian’s face as he lightly jabbed Donny’s shoulder. "Don’t get sentimental with me until after you’ve rocked this lady’s world you hear me?"

Donny pulled him in for a hug. "Oh shut up"

It would be time soon.

—

It was nearly the end of Daphnes shift. Everyone was drinking and having a good time. She was happy too. "For once, I have something planned as well."

Vivian was appalled. "So all our girls night outs have meant nothing to you?"

"You know what I meant."

After switching out early, she went to a closet that held the outfits she employees were supposed to put on as well as cleaning equipment. Vivian helped her with her makeup, things to say, Ect.

Taking a look in the mirror, she saw someone she liked. "Please Daphne, don’t fuck this up."

Vivian was right next to her. "Please stop doubting yourself."

Once she walks back out, She sees a man, nervously holding flowers. She walks up and grabs his hand, looking back to see Vivian crossing her fingers. Her lips read "you got this girl."

"Maybe I do."