Spring, 122PW
Continued from here.
The yapping between the sap and the rough-neckers was boring, cept that Rue was the prize between 'em. That little brat Sagath had taught them well enough that knowing was worth muscle, worth even Rue's toughness. And now Rue was the one with the knowing, and it made her smirk to be the one with the head worth a bishani and the prowess to match it. Yoger, the dolt, had all but slobbered over the boots of the men in the dirty hole, but Rue was the one with the knowing. Rue was the one with the control.
In the end, she'd dickered for food, shelter and protection. She'da made them wait, but they wanted the information before them at Justice Hall got it, and who was she to argue? Things changed. No matter the cunt's shining eyes and babbling about loyalty and friends; Rue worked for the men because they could keep her alive. Anther had nothing to do with it.
Rue was tall. She topped most men, or was near as high, and where curves might suit a more graceful woman muscles suited her. She could, in a pinch, imitate a man good enough for intimidation, and when she couldn't she still was capable of looming with malice. She was a thug. It didn't bother her none. Survival was what mattered, and she didn't see none in being a simpering sweet with fluff between the ears. Men weren't worth the effort no how.
It was a sunny day as she walked to The Split Tumbler, a tavern that walked a line between the gross reputability of taverns she favored and the above the level places those with money patronized. It was a place brawling weren't accepted, and so she didn't go there. 'Cept now. She fluffed her coat up around her neck, feeling brief spurts of wind through its threadbare weave. She needed a new one, which was annoying because she didn't have the money for it. The sun and its withheld warmth fair mocked her.
Rue was looking for a gnome who went by the stupid name of Egg. She was also looking for anyone useful, with orders to convince them to make their usefulness available. Though she had a feeling they meant for her to use her secret hidden powers of vocal persuasion, they hadn't specified. A fist was convincing. It worked for Rue, so it would have to work for them.
The crowd in The Split Tumbler was middling at best, consisting of low-key craftsmen and a few bored drunks. The buzz of conversation was subdued to Rue's ears, used as she was to the roaring of less reputable establishments. She was out of place, she could see easily enough; her clothes boasted her lack of coin better than any amount of gutter accent could, not that she'd let her attitude show it. She rolled in on a brawler's cocky sureness, ignoring the looks she received from staff and scanning the room for that cursed gnome.
Tough Luck
-
Anther's Crew
- Outsider
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2012 7:40 pm
- Name: Rue Yoger and Sagath
Re: Tough Luck
Egg thanked the wagon driver for his assistance with a couple bishani. It was a little more than warranted the short ride and haul, but every little bit helped with some people. Judging by the mans eyes and his clothes, he could use just a little bit. The bar help unloaded the two large barrels and Egg received his payment from the owner. Brown Egg Ale had been selling quite well in Marn lately, and a lot of people seemed to like it. Egg felt like he had to keep making it now, and was even planning a new recipe for something called Pale Eggshell Lager. Hopefully it went over as well as the Brown.
Walking into the tavern, he smiled and waved at the bartender. He was becoming more known about town because of his ale, and the bartenders loved his beer and his prices. He didn't see any reason to be expensive, he brewed for fun. As long as he could pay for the ingredients cost, he was content. The people who drank his ale probably paid more to buy it than he sold it for. Sadly, he could not control what a tavern owner felt was fair price for his wares.
Climbing up a stool, he sat down at the bar and smiled in delight as the large dwarven style stein of his own brew was set in front of him. Picking the double handled stein and drinking deeply, he sat it down and sighed with content. The batch was delicious. He wiped the foam from his face and continue to drink. This would be a good night.
Walking into the tavern, he smiled and waved at the bartender. He was becoming more known about town because of his ale, and the bartenders loved his beer and his prices. He didn't see any reason to be expensive, he brewed for fun. As long as he could pay for the ingredients cost, he was content. The people who drank his ale probably paid more to buy it than he sold it for. Sadly, he could not control what a tavern owner felt was fair price for his wares.
Climbing up a stool, he sat down at the bar and smiled in delight as the large dwarven style stein of his own brew was set in front of him. Picking the double handled stein and drinking deeply, he sat it down and sighed with content. The batch was delicious. He wiped the foam from his face and continue to drink. This would be a good night.
-
Anther's Crew
- Outsider
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2012 7:40 pm
- Name: Rue Yoger and Sagath
Re: Tough Luck
A gnome walked in, passing Rue in blithe ignorance as he gave the bartender his due. Rue cut sideways behind him, cutting off his access to the exit and smiling cruelly as she swaggered a swerving path behind him to the bar, where she sat next to him. He was a happy little tech-sucker, all stupid burbling smiles as the equally headdead bartender fawned over him, like a precious merch child swathed up in stinking rich clothes. Rue'd never had that. Kids had to be wanted to have anything like that, and -- it didn't matter. Smiling, smug people reminded Rue of all the nasty in the world, and that made her want to hurt things.
She was not supposed to hurt Egg. She turned down the hostility and dropped her smile. Yoger'd never appreciated the finer skill it took to mug someone proper. Normal people weren't aware they were victims ripe for the picking, but they had instincts. Them instincts said stuff when predators were about, and in the places guards didn't frequent it was instincts them people listened to. Y'had to keep them unawares they was about to get dropped, and with her size it was play stupid or slow. People thought down on slow, big idiots. Rue could manipulate them that way, she hadda with her size.
"You Egg?" Rue asked, the inflection in her voice barely there at all. She didn't look at Egg, staring down at her hands on the bartop. Her shoulders were rounded, her attitude bored indifference.
She was not supposed to hurt Egg. She turned down the hostility and dropped her smile. Yoger'd never appreciated the finer skill it took to mug someone proper. Normal people weren't aware they were victims ripe for the picking, but they had instincts. Them instincts said stuff when predators were about, and in the places guards didn't frequent it was instincts them people listened to. Y'had to keep them unawares they was about to get dropped, and with her size it was play stupid or slow. People thought down on slow, big idiots. Rue could manipulate them that way, she hadda with her size.
"You Egg?" Rue asked, the inflection in her voice barely there at all. She didn't look at Egg, staring down at her hands on the bartop. Her shoulders were rounded, her attitude bored indifference.
Re: Tough Luck
Egg looked to his side. It had been a womans voice, hadn't it? There was the bartender, who was definitely a male, and a.... wait, what was that? Egg knew what human women looked like, but they were all soft curves and middle height. Taller than him surely, but not as tall as this person was, even sitting down. Most men were this tall. The muscles pointed to a certain manliness, but there was no one else who could have said it. And once you saw past the gutter thick accent, it was still a voice that belonged to a woman. Or maybe a Eunuch. Yes! That might be it. He had heard about Eunuchs, men who had had their genitalia removed for whatever reason, and had high voices and couldn't grow facial hair, but still grew to a good height and could put on some muscle.
Egg then realized something. He had been sitting here staring at the potential Eunuch and hadn't answered. Shrugging, he took a drink and was distracted by his own brew. Light, but with a certain blend of bitter hops taste to ground you, and some other flavors. He savored the nutmeg that he had added on a whim, that apparently made everyone like his beer so much. I wonder what would happen if I added vanilla and nutmeg to the next batch? Vanilla could take away too much of the hops taste, but then it would sell to the people who don't like the bitter taste of hops. This could be fun!
Egg almost cursed as he realized he had started ignoring the Eunuch. (Potentially Eunuch.) Looking around the bar, he sighed inwardly. It was now painfully obvious to him that he was the only one sitting at the bar except for the Eunuch, so it had to be him he was talking to. Is a Eunuch a he? Or are they a they? Would they call themselves a she if they wanted to? Do they make their own pronouns? They don't really fit into the current ones, and I'm sure they don't like to be called they or it. If I'm so sure, why do I keep calling it they? I just called him it! But what if he doesn't call herself anything but it?"
"EGG SHUT UP."
The little gnome looked around slightly embarrassed that he had spoken the thought aloud to himself. He did that sometimes. He also mumbled along to his thoughts. Changers, please don't let the Eunuch have heard everything I just said in my head.
Taking a deep breath, he turned on the stool.
"Uhm... let's see... if you're looking for Egg, I suppose that could be me. In the common area of this municipality, they have been known to call me Egg. If you were on the other side of the city, I've been known as and called Short Egg, on the Northern Side of the county I'm called Fatty Egg, which I do not like, so if you're looking for me there, please don't call me that, and I've also been commonly known throughout the people as the mad gnome Egg. My name however, is Egglebert Gearshaftcranker Tinkerton, and how may-"
The bartender cut in, "You told me your middle name was Gearrocket!"
Egg looked at him, wounded. "Did not. I told you my middle name was Gearsprocket. I don't have a real middle name, I wasn't given one. So I just give myself a new one whenever I feel like it. I can't believe you didn't remember my middle name."
The bartender threw his hands up in the air and walked down the bar. Turning, Egg spoke to the Eunuch.
"Now Sir Lady Eunuch, how may I assist you in whatever endeavors you desire to procure my services and talents for?"
Egg then realized something. He had been sitting here staring at the potential Eunuch and hadn't answered. Shrugging, he took a drink and was distracted by his own brew. Light, but with a certain blend of bitter hops taste to ground you, and some other flavors. He savored the nutmeg that he had added on a whim, that apparently made everyone like his beer so much. I wonder what would happen if I added vanilla and nutmeg to the next batch? Vanilla could take away too much of the hops taste, but then it would sell to the people who don't like the bitter taste of hops. This could be fun!
Egg almost cursed as he realized he had started ignoring the Eunuch. (Potentially Eunuch.) Looking around the bar, he sighed inwardly. It was now painfully obvious to him that he was the only one sitting at the bar except for the Eunuch, so it had to be him he was talking to. Is a Eunuch a he? Or are they a they? Would they call themselves a she if they wanted to? Do they make their own pronouns? They don't really fit into the current ones, and I'm sure they don't like to be called they or it. If I'm so sure, why do I keep calling it they? I just called him it! But what if he doesn't call herself anything but it?"
"EGG SHUT UP."
The little gnome looked around slightly embarrassed that he had spoken the thought aloud to himself. He did that sometimes. He also mumbled along to his thoughts. Changers, please don't let the Eunuch have heard everything I just said in my head.
Taking a deep breath, he turned on the stool.
"Uhm... let's see... if you're looking for Egg, I suppose that could be me. In the common area of this municipality, they have been known to call me Egg. If you were on the other side of the city, I've been known as and called Short Egg, on the Northern Side of the county I'm called Fatty Egg, which I do not like, so if you're looking for me there, please don't call me that, and I've also been commonly known throughout the people as the mad gnome Egg. My name however, is Egglebert Gearshaftcranker Tinkerton, and how may-"
The bartender cut in, "You told me your middle name was Gearrocket!"
Egg looked at him, wounded. "Did not. I told you my middle name was Gearsprocket. I don't have a real middle name, I wasn't given one. So I just give myself a new one whenever I feel like it. I can't believe you didn't remember my middle name."
The bartender threw his hands up in the air and walked down the bar. Turning, Egg spoke to the Eunuch.
"Now Sir Lady Eunuch, how may I assist you in whatever endeavors you desire to procure my services and talents for?"
-
Anther's Crew
- Outsider
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2012 7:40 pm
- Name: Rue Yoger and Sagath
Re: Tough Luck
A gnome with a really stupid name, who was probably crazy, was who Rue'd been sent to fetch. Crazy, and spoke too many words at once. He reminded her of a happier, more eccentric Sagath. This made her like him even less. She rubbed her nose with the back of her hand, not because she had a snotty nose, but out of a need to do something with her hand that was not punch the gnome in the face and drag him out of the bar by his hair. It worked fairly well, and so she returned her hands to the bar in front of her, moving them aside from a rogue sticky spot that was the exception, not the rule. The place was far too clean for her liking.
"Name's Rue, not. . .whatever you said," she said, having had no previous encounter with the word 'eunuch.' "Boss wants you. Said to get you."
She stared at him, blandly, wondering if he'd go with her nicely or if she'd have to lure him outside so she could club him over the head with great satisfaction and drag him off. In her experience people didn't just follow you on your say so. There had to be some sort of reason, and who knew what reason a crazy gnome with a stupid name and a habit of giving out stupid names would need.
"Name's Rue, not. . .whatever you said," she said, having had no previous encounter with the word 'eunuch.' "Boss wants you. Said to get you."
She stared at him, blandly, wondering if he'd go with her nicely or if she'd have to lure him outside so she could club him over the head with great satisfaction and drag him off. In her experience people didn't just follow you on your say so. There had to be some sort of reason, and who knew what reason a crazy gnome with a stupid name and a habit of giving out stupid names would need.
Re: Tough Luck
Egg snorted into his beer. Wiping the foam away from his mouth, goatee, and eyebrows, he quickly discovered some had went up his nose. Looking cross-eyed at the eunuch, he tsked at it.
"Under normal circumstances I would not doubt be inclined to accept the request to meet your obviously wonderful employer, unfortunately, I must decline said request. I regretfully inform you for your employers sake that I am on a self imposed sabbatical. For at least a month and a half."
Sliding down to the floor, the gnome looked up at the human and pointed to the bartender.
"Just tell Al what you want and that it's my tab, he'll be more than happy to supply you with refreshment. I'd ask for the Brown Egg."
Waddling to a booth, Egg climbed onto the bench seat and continued to drink. Pulling a nubbin of pencil from his tool belt and a scrap of paper, he began to draw and write and mutter to himself. The process of creation was upon him!
Let's see, if I make it where you cock the hammer and then a little pin moves and the next barrel clicks over, you can fire from the barrel. That would stop the problems on Steamcalipers rotating thunder gun. But, if I put a... No wait that won'tr work.... Or maybe if I.... Then it'll blow up in their hand, and I'll lose customers again. I can't let that happen, especially after that fiasco with the automatic fire starter clothes washer and toast maker..... Hmmmmmmm....
The gnome sat at the booth oblivious to the world around him, drawing and making calculations. Al the bartender would change his mug out when he or one of the bar maids wandered by and seen it was empty, it wasn't the first time they had to deal with this.
"Under normal circumstances I would not doubt be inclined to accept the request to meet your obviously wonderful employer, unfortunately, I must decline said request. I regretfully inform you for your employers sake that I am on a self imposed sabbatical. For at least a month and a half."
Sliding down to the floor, the gnome looked up at the human and pointed to the bartender.
"Just tell Al what you want and that it's my tab, he'll be more than happy to supply you with refreshment. I'd ask for the Brown Egg."
Waddling to a booth, Egg climbed onto the bench seat and continued to drink. Pulling a nubbin of pencil from his tool belt and a scrap of paper, he began to draw and write and mutter to himself. The process of creation was upon him!
Let's see, if I make it where you cock the hammer and then a little pin moves and the next barrel clicks over, you can fire from the barrel. That would stop the problems on Steamcalipers rotating thunder gun. But, if I put a... No wait that won'tr work.... Or maybe if I.... Then it'll blow up in their hand, and I'll lose customers again. I can't let that happen, especially after that fiasco with the automatic fire starter clothes washer and toast maker..... Hmmmmmmm....
The gnome sat at the booth oblivious to the world around him, drawing and making calculations. Al the bartender would change his mug out when he or one of the bar maids wandered by and seen it was empty, it wasn't the first time they had to deal with this.
-
Anther's Crew
- Outsider
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2012 7:40 pm
- Name: Rue Yoger and Sagath
Re: Tough Luck
Rue went slightly out of focus as the stupidly named gnome spoke. She had a strong gut feeling the little twerp was posturing in a way that pointed towards looking down on her, despite their comical height differences. The job itself didn't really matter to Rue. She didn't care who Egg was, why the dodgy group of men insisted it had to be Egg for getting Anther out. Even that didn't matter much to Rue; wasn't her fault Anther'd gotten rolled up in something he couldn't handle. Planes, he'd even told her to stay out of it! If he'd been smart about it, he wouldn't've locked himself up in the clinker.
Egg had wandered away. Rue was losing her stoic calm, but she'd faced down worse things than a stubborn gnome. She kept her mask of boredom on, and ignored the bartender to follow Egg to his booth. She stood there for a few moments, studying the gnome who in turn completely ignored her.
Rue reached out and grabbed the pencil nubbin, effectively stilling it. "I don't care 'bout your whatsits, see. Boss tells me to do somethin', I does it. You meet 'em today. I take you there."
Egg had wandered away. Rue was losing her stoic calm, but she'd faced down worse things than a stubborn gnome. She kept her mask of boredom on, and ignored the bartender to follow Egg to his booth. She stood there for a few moments, studying the gnome who in turn completely ignored her.
Rue reached out and grabbed the pencil nubbin, effectively stilling it. "I don't care 'bout your whatsits, see. Boss tells me to do somethin', I does it. You meet 'em today. I take you there."
Re: Tough Luck
Egg continued trying to write for several seconds before he realized that his pencil was no longer moving with his hand. He was losing valuable ideas to the empty spaces between his ears! Focusing his eyes, he saw that overbearing gutter trash Eunuch from the bar. He had been polite, he had told it that he was not going to be working, and still she persisted!
"Sir! I must request that you cease to grip my writing utensil in such a manner! It is highly detrimental to my work!" Tugging on the pencil to remove it from its grasp, or was it their grasp?, all the little gnome managed to do was draw a thick and dark line through his careful and precise calculations.
He looked at the paper in shock. He would never get those calculations back! His shock quickly turned to anger.
"YOU! Y-y-y-y-y-y-ou.... bastard! Do you realize how long it took me to create those calculations? I will never get that back! You frog mouthed, insipid, borderline moronic, ass faced idiot!"
Angrily Egg jumped down from the booth seat and realized he really wasn't as short coming up to this person as he thought. It definitely had more muscle than he did. But he would not back down! This was an atrocity! An outrage of the highest degree! You did not touch his pencil!
"Sir! I must request that you cease to grip my writing utensil in such a manner! It is highly detrimental to my work!" Tugging on the pencil to remove it from its grasp, or was it their grasp?, all the little gnome managed to do was draw a thick and dark line through his careful and precise calculations.
He looked at the paper in shock. He would never get those calculations back! His shock quickly turned to anger.
"YOU! Y-y-y-y-y-y-ou.... bastard! Do you realize how long it took me to create those calculations? I will never get that back! You frog mouthed, insipid, borderline moronic, ass faced idiot!"
Angrily Egg jumped down from the booth seat and realized he really wasn't as short coming up to this person as he thought. It definitely had more muscle than he did. But he would not back down! This was an atrocity! An outrage of the highest degree! You did not touch his pencil!
-
Anther's Crew
- Outsider
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2012 7:40 pm
- Name: Rue Yoger and Sagath
Re: Tough Luck
Rue was fair used to being treated like a man. It suited her purpose most days. Men got respect for physical size, for every ounce of potential violence that rested within their muscle. She would never be as bulky as some men got, but her six feet of height, the muscle she did have --as well as shoulders that were wide for a woman and hips that could be hidden under clothes -- and her unadorned features meant that she typically received the basic berth and habitual politeness given to dangerous men.
Rue felt, at that precise moment, some strange blend of amusement and irritation. She liked to see the gnome angry and sputtering. She liked the way his skin tone changed color, and the wrinkled outrage that folded up his face. She did not like the insults. Those she understood, but she'd heard them often enough to overlook them. It was the hoity-toity pencil pushing way he talked at her that really pushed her limits of patience.
She yanked the pencil from his hand as he moved. Fueller would not tolerate brawling in his bar. That was why Rue didn't go there.
"Ya wanna go outside t'settle this, little man?" She bared her teeth down at him, making a broad gesture towards the door.
Rue felt, at that precise moment, some strange blend of amusement and irritation. She liked to see the gnome angry and sputtering. She liked the way his skin tone changed color, and the wrinkled outrage that folded up his face. She did not like the insults. Those she understood, but she'd heard them often enough to overlook them. It was the hoity-toity pencil pushing way he talked at her that really pushed her limits of patience.
She yanked the pencil from his hand as he moved. Fueller would not tolerate brawling in his bar. That was why Rue didn't go there.
"Ya wanna go outside t'settle this, little man?" She bared her teeth down at him, making a broad gesture towards the door.
Re: Tough Luck
"I will not resort to acts of violence you pugilistic ruffian! I will leave this fine establishment in hopes that a vagrant such as yourself will realize that you cannot bother my clientele or myself in such a way!"
Egg grabbed his calculations from the table and was almost halfway to the door before he realized he still clutched his drinking vessel in hand. Stomping back to the bar, he handed it to the bartender and then stomped back to the door again, throwing it open and stepping out. To look at him, you would think he was armored head to toe and the best warrior in all of the world. He projected more anger and confidence at that moment than he had since that little human from down the street had set his hair on fire as a child.
Mumbling angrily to himself, he realized that he had started walking down the wrong way to get back home, and would have to turn around and walk back past the tavern to get home. Sighing, he turned and began to cover the very ground he had just walked over.
Egg grabbed his calculations from the table and was almost halfway to the door before he realized he still clutched his drinking vessel in hand. Stomping back to the bar, he handed it to the bartender and then stomped back to the door again, throwing it open and stepping out. To look at him, you would think he was armored head to toe and the best warrior in all of the world. He projected more anger and confidence at that moment than he had since that little human from down the street had set his hair on fire as a child.
Mumbling angrily to himself, he realized that he had started walking down the wrong way to get back home, and would have to turn around and walk back past the tavern to get home. Sighing, he turned and began to cover the very ground he had just walked over.
-
Anther's Crew
- Outsider
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2012 7:40 pm
- Name: Rue Yoger and Sagath
Re: Tough Luck
Half the words the stupid gnome spoke were either gibberish or too quick for good understanding. Didn't matter. The way he spoke was more than telling enough, and as he stormed first one way then back the other, Rue couldn't help but be reminded of a too energetic puppy. Rue hated puppies. She felt like kicking that particular gnome-esque puppy. He was the perfect height, after all.
"Forgot somethin'?" She stepped into his path, waving the pencil before she tossed it to his feet. "Now then, lovely, either you come nice-like or I'll be forced t' start over."
"Forgot somethin'?" She stepped into his path, waving the pencil before she tossed it to his feet. "Now then, lovely, either you come nice-like or I'll be forced t' start over."
Re: Tough Luck
Egg harrumphed. "Start over? There's nothing to start! I am refusing this offer, and am not going anywhere with you! It is as simple as that."
Reaching down, Egg picked up his pencil and moved to step around the person who was shattering his calm and good demeanor. They were beginning to make him very angry. His inventing process would be ruined for weeks after this encounter! People like this didn't understand. When he said no, he meant no damn it, not 'continue to pester me until I say yes'.
Egg started to walk down the street away from the person. It was getting darker out, soon he wouldn't be able to see anything if he wasn't careful. His night vision was getting a lot worse lately, and torch light hadn't seemed to help it at all.
Reaching down, Egg picked up his pencil and moved to step around the person who was shattering his calm and good demeanor. They were beginning to make him very angry. His inventing process would be ruined for weeks after this encounter! People like this didn't understand. When he said no, he meant no damn it, not 'continue to pester me until I say yes'.
Egg started to walk down the street away from the person. It was getting darker out, soon he wouldn't be able to see anything if he wasn't careful. His night vision was getting a lot worse lately, and torch light hadn't seemed to help it at all.
-
Anther's Crew
- Outsider
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2012 7:40 pm
- Name: Rue Yoger and Sagath
Re: Tough Luck
There was no point to being nice. Rue's expression shifted subtly, the curves and lines of her face taking on a harsh cast that was too hard for indifferent stupidity. She discarded the affable fool, instead taking on the role that was much more comfortable and understandable. Years of being cat-quiet aided her as she slunk up behind Egg, one of her hands shooting out to hit him in the shoulder, her knees bent to get him at the right angle.
"Whoops. Clumsy, aren't ya?" Rue said without inflection. "Let me help ya up." She reached down before the gnome could rise, pulling him by the collar up past his legs' length. She twisted, her hips leading the movement, and slung him back down towards the alley wall. From a dead lift she did not have much leverage, so the throw itself was not impressive as such things were reckoned, but it would be jarring for the gnome.
"I slipped. Whoops."
Rue moved to stand over him, quick in the way of any person who'd grown up used to backhands and sucker punches. "Yer clothes got dirty. You should see Boss so he can make sure y'don't fall down any more."
"Whoops. Clumsy, aren't ya?" Rue said without inflection. "Let me help ya up." She reached down before the gnome could rise, pulling him by the collar up past his legs' length. She twisted, her hips leading the movement, and slung him back down towards the alley wall. From a dead lift she did not have much leverage, so the throw itself was not impressive as such things were reckoned, but it would be jarring for the gnome.
"I slipped. Whoops."
Rue moved to stand over him, quick in the way of any person who'd grown up used to backhands and sucker punches. "Yer clothes got dirty. You should see Boss so he can make sure y'don't fall down any more."
Re: Tough Luck
Egg sat against the wall, momentarily stunned. The behemoth had struck him! Then flung him like a sack of potatoes! Well, that would just not stand.
He caught the last bit of her words, and his brain made some very interesting connections and jumps in his thought process of what he should do. Egg was more in his inventing zone than earlier, except this time was the invention of a way to save his life. Shaking his head to keep up the dazed look, he slwoly wobbled to a kneeling position.
"Yes, maybe that is a good-HELP!" He said, the call for help coming out as a scream. His instinct made him do the next thing. He shot head first into the stomach of the person assaulting him. The plan was to knock them back, knock the breath out of them, something, just long enough to run or call for help again.
He caught the last bit of her words, and his brain made some very interesting connections and jumps in his thought process of what he should do. Egg was more in his inventing zone than earlier, except this time was the invention of a way to save his life. Shaking his head to keep up the dazed look, he slwoly wobbled to a kneeling position.
"Yes, maybe that is a good-HELP!" He said, the call for help coming out as a scream. His instinct made him do the next thing. He shot head first into the stomach of the person assaulting him. The plan was to knock them back, knock the breath out of them, something, just long enough to run or call for help again.
-
Anther's Crew
- Outsider
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2012 7:40 pm
- Name: Rue Yoger and Sagath
Re: Tough Luck
"You little -- "
It was too late, of course, for Rue to do much. The distraction of having her guts knocked against her spine was enough for the gnome to totter up like a crippled cat and dash off. What was it with the running lately? Not that Rue was a bad runner, but to be dashing about in that part of town wasn't the best if you expected to keep breathing. Which she did. In the split second she turned to chase the little shit she considered just how much the job with the rough-neckers was worth for her.
Food. A decent place to sleep. Enough, for now, to hold her to loyalty. A chase was touching on the dangerous side of things. It had to be rutting daylight outside, didn't it?
Rue chased the gnome. She was built for endurance. She'd wear the shit out of a horse's sores before he could get to any important thoroughfares and the sureness of the beats. Stupid thought, to count her knives before she had 'em belted on. Any dumb bastard knew that, 'specially on the streets. She shoulda realized the direction Egg was running. Shoulda kept up with the mutating gang territories after Anther'd got caught.
One of Leeger's bits stepped out from a narrow alley between buildings as Egg toddled on past, just as Rue had got her legs under her and pumping. She angled herself away, and ran full tilt into a second one that popped out. As they went down, she saw a third one. Shit. The one she hit was too surprised to react aggressively, and before he could make to grab her she shoved him down hard with her knee on his stones, and rolled away.
They'd just started shouting when she regained her feet and pushed herself forward despite the pain of her scraped skin. "You better fucking run if y'don't want no nobbing, gnome!"
It was too late, of course, for Rue to do much. The distraction of having her guts knocked against her spine was enough for the gnome to totter up like a crippled cat and dash off. What was it with the running lately? Not that Rue was a bad runner, but to be dashing about in that part of town wasn't the best if you expected to keep breathing. Which she did. In the split second she turned to chase the little shit she considered just how much the job with the rough-neckers was worth for her.
Food. A decent place to sleep. Enough, for now, to hold her to loyalty. A chase was touching on the dangerous side of things. It had to be rutting daylight outside, didn't it?
Rue chased the gnome. She was built for endurance. She'd wear the shit out of a horse's sores before he could get to any important thoroughfares and the sureness of the beats. Stupid thought, to count her knives before she had 'em belted on. Any dumb bastard knew that, 'specially on the streets. She shoulda realized the direction Egg was running. Shoulda kept up with the mutating gang territories after Anther'd got caught.
One of Leeger's bits stepped out from a narrow alley between buildings as Egg toddled on past, just as Rue had got her legs under her and pumping. She angled herself away, and ran full tilt into a second one that popped out. As they went down, she saw a third one. Shit. The one she hit was too surprised to react aggressively, and before he could make to grab her she shoved him down hard with her knee on his stones, and rolled away.
They'd just started shouting when she regained her feet and pushed herself forward despite the pain of her scraped skin. "You better fucking run if y'don't want no nobbing, gnome!"