Demoness' party

The party was in full swing, the music filled the space, louder than it should be, having been magically enhanced so that the whole crowd could hear it. A stoic paladin stood, arms crossed, a slightly disgruntled look on his face. Watching his party mingle with the ‘sinning’ riff raff. Drinks flowing, and substances abound. He watched the cavalcade of people from all walks of life intermingled, all races, even lowly demonkind. All enjoying the festivities. Save for himself, these types of events were something he struggled to understand or find fun in. As a child his time was spent learning the word and the blade, no time was spent making merriment.

As the man stood there wanting nothing more than to leave a yawn caught him. Mouth stretched open, and eyes shut he heard a woman’s voice. “Boop.” and felt something sweet melt across his tongue. Standing there like she’d just thrown something was a woman with lime green cat like eyes, pale white skin and large black opal horn, and hair that seemed to shift between acid green and a bright teal.

“What did you just put in my mouth!” the paladin flashed with anger.

“A treat?” the demon woman responded, a confused look on her face.

“A treat?!” he said back, “One of your drugs, succubus? Are you trying to taint a paladin?” he said, placing his hand on the pommel of his sword.

“What?” Nemornore put her hands up, and took a step back. “It was just, dragon’s beard.”

“So you are admitting you drugged me.” he shot back, starting to draw his sword, but the demon woman slack the pommel and resheathed the blade.

“Firstly, You.” she pointed to him. “Are the one that said that not me. Secondly it was candy.”

The paladin relaxed his hand, “You didn’t spike the candy?”

“Nine Hells no, why would I do that?” she said, putting her fists on her hips.

“Because…you’re…” he gestured at her.

“Wow…rude.” Nemornore said, “I’ll have you know I’m a follower of the ‘New Ways’ not the old.” She said, A tall blue tiefling man holding a tray of drinks came out of the crowd and Nemornore snagged herself a beverage as he passed. “We don’t ‘force’ anyone to do anything they don’t want to.” she said.

The man started to speak again but she cut him off. “In my domain we do not pressure, we might suggest but ‘no means no’ we do not drug, sex is voluntary not coerced, some says no, that’s the end of it. I will say Regs is a bit heavy handed with the drinks, that man could get a dwarf drunk.” she said finishing her drink and placing it on another passing drinks man. “But to answer your question, from before. It was simply sugar. You just looked uptight and grumpy.”

“I suppose it was your turn to be rude.” the paladin said.

“Let me finish.” she said, “You are your party's leader, correct?” she asked.

“We don’t really have a leader in the normal way.” he responded.

Nemornore put up two hands, “Okay, but is it fair to say you are at the front taking hits so your party can deal them out?” she asked.

“That is fair to say.” he replied.

“Well, you need to relax then.” she said, “You’re too uptight and you are going to become the weak link.”

“Someone in the group needs to take something seriously.” he said, eyes drifting to his comrades dancing.

“I’m not asking you not to.” she said, “I’m just thinking of it like this, like a chain.” she conjured a little illusion, “If you are pulling all this weight, and you snap.” she broke a link and the rest of the chain went into free fall. “What will happen to the people you care about?”

“What is the point you are trying to make?” he asked.

“I think you should bond with them. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, just try dancing with your friends, if you hate it you can come back and sulk by the wall.” she said, putting another wad of the dragon’s beard candy in his hand and popping on in her own mouth. “Just try it.”

His eyes flicked over to the group and then to his hand. He put the candy on his tongue. “You are alright for a demon.”

“And you are alright for a Paladin.” she said, “And if you want some water tell Regs I said you can have water.” as the paladin walked away she gave him a pat on the back. “I’ll be around if you need anything.”

As he moved towards his group Nemornore nodded to herself. “You did good…” her eyes got wide, “Oh…no…” she said, “The wizard kids…” Nemornore vanished for a moment, popping up next to Regs. “Five waters, please.”

Getting the waters she stopped the blue tiefling man. “Take these to the kids in the pillow pit, thank you.”