Jacel mulled over the new information, rubbing at his mouth while breathing in slowly through his nose. It was a story as strange as they came, and not one he was altogether inclined to believe. The elf had stopped at quite the cliffhanger too- the failure of their mission due to magic in the library, which was very surprising in itself.
Jacel started putting together the facts. He thought it now safe to assume that Talion was addicted to something or other. He knew already, from the papers and his own sources, a good amount of people had been arrested during that failed heist. His eyes narrowed at the small elf. He spun to his many cabinets and opened one up, flipping through papers. He was lucky Adam was so organized; he found the gossip from the approximate day of the break in very quickly. What he got surprised him.
He had found that one of the guards who frequented the establishment had mentioned a battlemage arresting somebody vaguely matching the description of their mysterious lady in gold. Jacel didn’t have much to go on, since the guardsman had neither gotten a good look nor been particularly specific. But the man had pointed out to his fellows around the table, and coincidentally Jacel’s dear little Mioco scooting around the bar, that his duty had been in the justice hall.
Jacel hadn’t made any connections between that Justice Hall break in and the Library break in, but it seemed now to be spelled out clear as day that the two were one and the same. How the boys were related remained a mystery to him, unfortunately. They claimed to be helping the woman with her break in, so how had they gotten away? Had the guards really scared them so much that they thought their only escape was to throw in with the Paragon? He briefly entertained the notion that they had been captured, and then released as part of a deal. It was a ridiculous thought. As much as it might explain the fear, surely Marn’s government had better resources than this.
It all led Jacel to a conclusion that either the kids were lying their asses off or only bending the truth. And yet their stories were fairly well collaborated, at least from what little overlap he had heard.
Letting his voice slip into an easy, cool manner, as if nothing had changed at all, he said, “So, do you think you might be able to map out for me where in the Hall this library was?”
He wondered if the kids would catch it before they slipped up. If they did, he had a mind to demand the information. If they didn’t like the deal, they could take their chances finding the rebels on their own. The elf was getting tired of this haggling.
Questionable Business
-
Jacel Varti
- Citizen
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2013 6:17 am
- Name: Jacel Varti
- Race: Elven
Re: Questionable Business
His bad leg began to spasm and enter into one of its fits of ceaseless tapping against the floor when he tried to pick up his chair and scoot it closer to the desk without having stood up from the chair first. He tried his best to tuck the leg under the table, so as not to be seen by the other, but the rhythmic sounds of sole on wood could still be heard. Then, he leaned over the desk so that he could map out the layout using his hands and what few objects on the desk that could serve as place markers.
With one hand began to rearrange pens, a paperweight, a book and a rock that he picked out of the bottom of his boot. "It was dark so we didn't get a very good look at the place but it was large, made of some kind of white stone and unlike anything I've seen before." Using his index finger he slid the rock around the table. "The door was over here." He looked up at the old elf, then back at his rock. "There was a large room that opened up into a hallway with lots of doors, through the pens. At the end was a staircase," he moved his little rock through the maze with his finger.
"We went down the stairs," he stopped for a minute to rearrange the objects. "At the bottom we found holding cells and a child, that was not a child, there was something...wrong with it. The witch became some kind of large cat-thing and attacked it and that was when everyone split up." He looked at Anther for a second, who looked none too pleased with him at the moment.
"Anther stayed downstairs and the rest of us headed back upstairs."
He rearranged the objects on the desk once more. This time there was a shorter hallway, with a round-ish room in the middle and the book served as a center piece. "We went up the stairs to find it...different. There was this thing there that spoke to us and threatened us as we tried to leave." He grabbed the paperweight, which had been laying off to the side this entire time, and began to raise it above the scene on the desk. He began to speak quicker, in an anxious tone, with his words nearly mashing themselves together. "I broke off from the others as they went to confront some people in uniform, but not before I had a chance to see a piece of the stone ceiling break off and come crashing to the floor." As he spoke the last part of his tale he brought the paperweight down with great force, stopping just short of slamming it into the desk.
With one hand began to rearrange pens, a paperweight, a book and a rock that he picked out of the bottom of his boot. "It was dark so we didn't get a very good look at the place but it was large, made of some kind of white stone and unlike anything I've seen before." Using his index finger he slid the rock around the table. "The door was over here." He looked up at the old elf, then back at his rock. "There was a large room that opened up into a hallway with lots of doors, through the pens. At the end was a staircase," he moved his little rock through the maze with his finger.
"We went down the stairs," he stopped for a minute to rearrange the objects. "At the bottom we found holding cells and a child, that was not a child, there was something...wrong with it. The witch became some kind of large cat-thing and attacked it and that was when everyone split up." He looked at Anther for a second, who looked none too pleased with him at the moment.
"Anther stayed downstairs and the rest of us headed back upstairs."
He rearranged the objects on the desk once more. This time there was a shorter hallway, with a round-ish room in the middle and the book served as a center piece. "We went up the stairs to find it...different. There was this thing there that spoke to us and threatened us as we tried to leave." He grabbed the paperweight, which had been laying off to the side this entire time, and began to raise it above the scene on the desk. He began to speak quicker, in an anxious tone, with his words nearly mashing themselves together. "I broke off from the others as they went to confront some people in uniform, but not before I had a chance to see a piece of the stone ceiling break off and come crashing to the floor." As he spoke the last part of his tale he brought the paperweight down with great force, stopping just short of slamming it into the desk.
Re: Questionable Business
Anther was so focused on not sayin nothin about anythin that for a moment all he could do was focus on Talion and his ruttin' runnin mouth. It was obvious the other boy was a babbler. Right then it was worse than the fat elf's foul tongue and rotting mood towards Theogios -- more reasons, yeah, more to not trust the git and get out of there, figure out something along the way -- when he heard his name. He opened his mouth to protest and took a step forward, flailing to uncross his arms and do something, something anything to get the addict kid to shut up, because they shouldn't be talkin like they'd done anything that important, or at least not like they'd been close to the witch and her schemin'. But what else was there to say? What else could they do to keep the teeth of the fat elf with his desk and his bundle of fur and teeth and meanness he had sittin so sleek and cool off to the side like he didn't mean t'kill with it?
Anther's hand smacked into the back of a chair he'd refused without thought, but before he could gather himself to go around it Talion jes kept talkin and talkin until --
wham
Anther's knee connected with the side of it and he sprawled forward, one hand grabbing onto the empty chair and the other slamming forward to hit the back of Talion's. It took him a moment to collect himself, embarrassment scorching up his skin, but he did. The chair made an ugly sound as he righted himself and settled it. He shot glares towards Talion all the while. The looks didn't help lessen his heart's pounding none, but they did help his mood. A little. Finally then, finally he looked back at Jacel, an uncertain sneer curving his upper lip. He'd used it on the bully boys who'd come 'round on his den, though the different level of situations wasn't lost on him not a bit. He knew. He knew down deep, but it wasn't like he could help it.
Talion didn't know when to keep his rutting mouth shut. Anther wouldn't have said none of those details, just woulda said 'yes' or 'mebbe I'll have a mind to remember if we can make a deal' or -- or something. Not all those details though. Not none of 'em. Still though, still he glowered with that sense of timidity hanging round his ears towards the fat elf, stymied out from sayin nothin with some niggling sense that something was off.
He had missed the most important thing of all.
Anther's hand smacked into the back of a chair he'd refused without thought, but before he could gather himself to go around it Talion jes kept talkin and talkin until --
wham
Anther's knee connected with the side of it and he sprawled forward, one hand grabbing onto the empty chair and the other slamming forward to hit the back of Talion's. It took him a moment to collect himself, embarrassment scorching up his skin, but he did. The chair made an ugly sound as he righted himself and settled it. He shot glares towards Talion all the while. The looks didn't help lessen his heart's pounding none, but they did help his mood. A little. Finally then, finally he looked back at Jacel, an uncertain sneer curving his upper lip. He'd used it on the bully boys who'd come 'round on his den, though the different level of situations wasn't lost on him not a bit. He knew. He knew down deep, but it wasn't like he could help it.
Talion didn't know when to keep his rutting mouth shut. Anther wouldn't have said none of those details, just woulda said 'yes' or 'mebbe I'll have a mind to remember if we can make a deal' or -- or something. Not all those details though. Not none of 'em. Still though, still he glowered with that sense of timidity hanging round his ears towards the fat elf, stymied out from sayin nothin with some niggling sense that something was off.
He had missed the most important thing of all.
-
Jacel Varti
- Citizen
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2013 6:17 am
- Name: Jacel Varti
- Race: Elven
Re: Questionable Business
Jacel had just been starting to enjoy himself. It seemed that whatever this Talion’s failings were they at least did not include Anther’s ludicrous little phobias. The conversation was proceeding much more smoothly than his last, that was for certain.
Unfortunately for them all, Anther remained in the room. He had some sort of a fit, flailed about and caused all manner of noise. The din of his incompetence interrupted Jacel before the elf could ask for more. Turning to match the boy’s half-confident stare, Jacel tightened his lips and flattened his eyebrows in an unmistaken expression of frustration and impatience.
Yet before he some much as completed his turn to face the annoying street rat, he heard a sudden, low growl. It took his mind half a second to comprehend its meaning, but by then it was too late; Bitch burst from the corner of the room and tore Anther right out of his chair.
Jacel started out of his seat and yelled “Bitch! Heel, damnit! Down!” but it was far too late. The hound had scented blood and was beyond her master’s command. Jacel lurched around the table and moved to pull Bitch from Anther, kneeling beside the pair, only to find the situation complicated further as the door swung open and Cerranel charged into the already crowded room. Seeing the sights he sat there gaping like a fish, a dagger in his hand.
“Help me, idiots!” Jacel yelled, trying to maneuver his gauntleted hand into Bitch’s iron maw. The thrashing fury of the animal rendered such difficult, so Jacel used his other hand to try and hold her still. He was soon proved unable to accomplish such, and resumed his initial effort.
Unfortunately for them all, Anther remained in the room. He had some sort of a fit, flailed about and caused all manner of noise. The din of his incompetence interrupted Jacel before the elf could ask for more. Turning to match the boy’s half-confident stare, Jacel tightened his lips and flattened his eyebrows in an unmistaken expression of frustration and impatience.
Yet before he some much as completed his turn to face the annoying street rat, he heard a sudden, low growl. It took his mind half a second to comprehend its meaning, but by then it was too late; Bitch burst from the corner of the room and tore Anther right out of his chair.
Jacel started out of his seat and yelled “Bitch! Heel, damnit! Down!” but it was far too late. The hound had scented blood and was beyond her master’s command. Jacel lurched around the table and moved to pull Bitch from Anther, kneeling beside the pair, only to find the situation complicated further as the door swung open and Cerranel charged into the already crowded room. Seeing the sights he sat there gaping like a fish, a dagger in his hand.
“Help me, idiots!” Jacel yelled, trying to maneuver his gauntleted hand into Bitch’s iron maw. The thrashing fury of the animal rendered such difficult, so Jacel used his other hand to try and hold her still. He was soon proved unable to accomplish such, and resumed his initial effort.
Re: Questionable Business
Anther had slammed into the back of his chair, causing Talion to be knocked forward by the momentum, nearly slamming into the desk. He had turned his head to give the other boy a dirty look and cursed at him in a couple of elven dialects that the ignorant human didn't understand.
Clumsy Idiot.
He couldn't understand why he had to work with this paranoid religious freak. Sure, he knew his way around the city far better than Talion did. And sure, he may have some connections, but he couldn't possibly be the only homeless street kid to know his way around tavern or know someone who knew something about this group they were supposed to look into.
His picked at the arm seam of the chair he sat in. He chewed on his lower lip and thought about how dry his mouth was. He thought about that all too familiar tinge of magic in the back of his throat and how it felt similar to the shock one got when touching a metal doorknob after walking across a thick rug in wool socks. It had been too long since he felt that. Those damn guards had taken his stash and left him too weak to seek out a new high.
His thoughts took him to another time and place, but only long enough so as to not realize what was going on around him.
The next thing he knew, the fat elf was standing in-between himself and Anther, trying to pull a massive dog off of the other boy. Talion nearly fell out of his chair trying to back into the corner. He wanted to be as far away from this as he could be. He closed his eyes and covered his face with his hands.
He didn't know what was worse; the sounds of what was going on around him or the memories of the one other time he has witnessed a dog attack.
His mother had told him to stay in the house, but the sounds of familiar voices shouting outside had drawn him to the door. He had been far too young to understand what was going on, but the sight of the furry family dog, the creature that slept each night on the floor of his room, barring his teeth and lunging at his uncle in such a way as to tear flesh and draw blood was enough to haunt him to this day. He could still hear the crunch of bone.
Only this time, his mother wasn't there to carry him to bed.
Clumsy Idiot.
He couldn't understand why he had to work with this paranoid religious freak. Sure, he knew his way around the city far better than Talion did. And sure, he may have some connections, but he couldn't possibly be the only homeless street kid to know his way around tavern or know someone who knew something about this group they were supposed to look into.
His picked at the arm seam of the chair he sat in. He chewed on his lower lip and thought about how dry his mouth was. He thought about that all too familiar tinge of magic in the back of his throat and how it felt similar to the shock one got when touching a metal doorknob after walking across a thick rug in wool socks. It had been too long since he felt that. Those damn guards had taken his stash and left him too weak to seek out a new high.
His thoughts took him to another time and place, but only long enough so as to not realize what was going on around him.
The next thing he knew, the fat elf was standing in-between himself and Anther, trying to pull a massive dog off of the other boy. Talion nearly fell out of his chair trying to back into the corner. He wanted to be as far away from this as he could be. He closed his eyes and covered his face with his hands.
He didn't know what was worse; the sounds of what was going on around him or the memories of the one other time he has witnessed a dog attack.
His mother had told him to stay in the house, but the sounds of familiar voices shouting outside had drawn him to the door. He had been far too young to understand what was going on, but the sight of the furry family dog, the creature that slept each night on the floor of his room, barring his teeth and lunging at his uncle in such a way as to tear flesh and draw blood was enough to haunt him to this day. He could still hear the crunch of bone.
Only this time, his mother wasn't there to carry him to bed.
Re: Questionable Business
Pain was not immediate. The dog took Anther down in a confusing clatter of noise. He didn't even know what was going on, catching sight of the room spinning away before the impact with the floor took all the breath straight out of him. He was stunned then for a few short seconds before he felt the pressure, the heat of another thing's mouth, and then suddenly he was alive with adrenaline. There wasn't real pain. Not then. Not yet. He knew the dog was biting him, there was some amount of dull pain entirely different from the knife cuts and punches he was used to. He had eight seconds to recognize something bad was happening. Two more seconds passed before he realized what.
At first he yelped. Then, he screamed. He was loud. Not just loud, but loud in the way some first time mothers were, in the way joyful children were, but worse. He screamed like a little boy who thought he was being taken out by the monsters, and who knew, maybe he was. He scrambled against the thing mauling him, pushing and kicking and scratching without any real sense or semblance of proper self defense. He got in the way of Jacel and his man as he panicked, lost to the sound of his own fear and the growls of the beast.
He was gonna die. He was gonna die.
One of his own hands found its way into the gnashing teeth of the bitch, and he could feel the skin of his fingers split open as the teeth had their way. He was sobbing. He didn't cry like that. Not no more. But he was, between his screams and the wet feel of his own blood.
At first he yelped. Then, he screamed. He was loud. Not just loud, but loud in the way some first time mothers were, in the way joyful children were, but worse. He screamed like a little boy who thought he was being taken out by the monsters, and who knew, maybe he was. He scrambled against the thing mauling him, pushing and kicking and scratching without any real sense or semblance of proper self defense. He got in the way of Jacel and his man as he panicked, lost to the sound of his own fear and the growls of the beast.
He was gonna die. He was gonna die.
One of his own hands found its way into the gnashing teeth of the bitch, and he could feel the skin of his fingers split open as the teeth had their way. He was sobbing. He didn't cry like that. Not no more. But he was, between his screams and the wet feel of his own blood.
-
Jacel Varti
- Citizen
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2013 6:17 am
- Name: Jacel Varti
- Race: Elven
Re: Questionable Business
After a few seconds of fruitless thrashing, Jacel recognized that Anther’s struggling was making this even more difficult than it already was. The idiot boy was practically feeding his other hand to her jaw. He turned to Cerranel and yelled “Grab his arm!” To the sellsword’s credit he complied quickly and held it still.
The pain must have been excruciating, and Jacel’s ploy didn’t quite work until Cerranel made the choice to rap his knuckles on Bitch’s nose. Bitch opened her mouth to turn and address the new threat, and in that instant Jacel flung his armored fingers in between her bloodstained jaws. Jacel yanked her head backwards before pulling her very slowly to the other side of the room. While she snarled with enough ferocity to put a demon to shame, she at least refrained from thrashing her master’s arm out of its socket.
Uttering soothing words to Bitch, Jacel turned to Cerranel. “Go get some bandages. And don’t let the guard in here, I’ll explain things to them in a moment.”
Cerranel nodded “Got it boss.” He hustled out the door. Jacel moved to follow more slowly, leading Bitch out with him. The most important thing to do now was get her away from all the blood. He considered telling Talion to drag Anther to the far side of the room so he could safely see Bitch out, but the kid looked so out of it Jacel decided not to bother. Making certain Bitch’s grasp on his gauntlet was firm and his grip on her was equally solid, he moved her over to the door and addressed the guards.
Turned out Cerranel had thought to ask the guards if they had any medical training, which came as a pleasant surprise to Jacel. One of them preformed crude first aid on Anther as Jacel explained what had happened to another, taking obvious liberties with certain parts of the information. The guards eventually accepted his story; it was a dog ring and these things happened. As Cerranel returned, and Anther’s arm was well bandaged, they gradually returned to the bar.
It turned out Anther had gotten very lucky. His arm was intact, and would not require so much as a splint, merely bandages plenty of time. He returned to his office, and after wiping the sweat from his brow he sighed. “You can find what you’re looking for at an inn called the Drunken Rat.” He told Talion. “That’s where they do most of their recruiting from, near as I can tell. The catch will be convincing them you’re worth it.” At a discontented glance to Anther, Jacel privately acknowledged that he hadn’t helped much in that regard. He absentmindedly fingered at his desks until he pulled out a map of Marn. After pointing out an area, he placed both hands on the table. “Shit. Look, I didn’t mean for this to happen. So if either of you need a fix go to this building and ask for anything short of copi... astral dust.” He switched to the street term, figuring neither would recognize it otherwise, as he pointed to a second building nearby. He quickly marked off both buildings for the pair and shoved the map in their direction. “Otherwise you could try going to one of their drug houses here and here...” he circled two more locations. “They might try to blackmail you into service, that’s normal. Just demonstrate some useful skill in front of someone who looks important, that’s probably about the best bet you’re gonna get.”
He genuinely hoped the two could pull together something to turn the Paragon’s eye.
The pain must have been excruciating, and Jacel’s ploy didn’t quite work until Cerranel made the choice to rap his knuckles on Bitch’s nose. Bitch opened her mouth to turn and address the new threat, and in that instant Jacel flung his armored fingers in between her bloodstained jaws. Jacel yanked her head backwards before pulling her very slowly to the other side of the room. While she snarled with enough ferocity to put a demon to shame, she at least refrained from thrashing her master’s arm out of its socket.
Uttering soothing words to Bitch, Jacel turned to Cerranel. “Go get some bandages. And don’t let the guard in here, I’ll explain things to them in a moment.”
Cerranel nodded “Got it boss.” He hustled out the door. Jacel moved to follow more slowly, leading Bitch out with him. The most important thing to do now was get her away from all the blood. He considered telling Talion to drag Anther to the far side of the room so he could safely see Bitch out, but the kid looked so out of it Jacel decided not to bother. Making certain Bitch’s grasp on his gauntlet was firm and his grip on her was equally solid, he moved her over to the door and addressed the guards.
Turned out Cerranel had thought to ask the guards if they had any medical training, which came as a pleasant surprise to Jacel. One of them preformed crude first aid on Anther as Jacel explained what had happened to another, taking obvious liberties with certain parts of the information. The guards eventually accepted his story; it was a dog ring and these things happened. As Cerranel returned, and Anther’s arm was well bandaged, they gradually returned to the bar.
It turned out Anther had gotten very lucky. His arm was intact, and would not require so much as a splint, merely bandages plenty of time. He returned to his office, and after wiping the sweat from his brow he sighed. “You can find what you’re looking for at an inn called the Drunken Rat.” He told Talion. “That’s where they do most of their recruiting from, near as I can tell. The catch will be convincing them you’re worth it.” At a discontented glance to Anther, Jacel privately acknowledged that he hadn’t helped much in that regard. He absentmindedly fingered at his desks until he pulled out a map of Marn. After pointing out an area, he placed both hands on the table. “Shit. Look, I didn’t mean for this to happen. So if either of you need a fix go to this building and ask for anything short of copi... astral dust.” He switched to the street term, figuring neither would recognize it otherwise, as he pointed to a second building nearby. He quickly marked off both buildings for the pair and shoved the map in their direction. “Otherwise you could try going to one of their drug houses here and here...” he circled two more locations. “They might try to blackmail you into service, that’s normal. Just demonstrate some useful skill in front of someone who looks important, that’s probably about the best bet you’re gonna get.”
He genuinely hoped the two could pull together something to turn the Paragon’s eye.
Re: Questionable Business
Talion's attention was pulled back into the room by the calming, steady voice of Jacel. He pulled out a map of the city and spread it across the desk. He pointed to several locations and Talion took note of each one.
The Drunken Rat was one he knew about. That was the place where he had met the witch. He was pretty sure that he could find his way back there on his own. Anther would know the area better, but in his condition he might not be able to go gallivanting all over the city, or at least not without drawing unwanted attention to himself.
The mention of drugs peaked his interest. It was a thought that hadn't drifted far from his mind since the moment he found himself behind bars and had his personal supply stripped away. As much as Anther would surely protest, they both could benefit from a little pick-me-up. It would take the edge off. He could feel strong enough to protect himself and Anther, well he might just forget all that pained him, both physically and emotionally.
He took the map from Jacel, rolled it up and swore to himself that this was one document that he intended not to lose.
"Is Anther in any condition to leave?" The entire time his attention had been on the elf, he hadn't dared to look at the other boy and all the blood he was sure he would covered in.
The Drunken Rat was one he knew about. That was the place where he had met the witch. He was pretty sure that he could find his way back there on his own. Anther would know the area better, but in his condition he might not be able to go gallivanting all over the city, or at least not without drawing unwanted attention to himself.
The mention of drugs peaked his interest. It was a thought that hadn't drifted far from his mind since the moment he found himself behind bars and had his personal supply stripped away. As much as Anther would surely protest, they both could benefit from a little pick-me-up. It would take the edge off. He could feel strong enough to protect himself and Anther, well he might just forget all that pained him, both physically and emotionally.
He took the map from Jacel, rolled it up and swore to himself that this was one document that he intended not to lose.
"Is Anther in any condition to leave?" The entire time his attention had been on the elf, he hadn't dared to look at the other boy and all the blood he was sure he would covered in.
Re: Questionable Business
It rutting hurt. Anther was sure it was his arm bit clean off, no matter the red flesh under the bandage or the tingling gone all the way to his fingers. Surely it would fall off. Surely, for all that pain.
He didn't give a shit anymore about the job, about Paragon or that fancy man with his fancy clothes and home and uptight prissy way of gabbing. So what about Jacel or Talion? So what about any of it?
He sniffed hard, scrubbed his face with the back of his free arm, and scowled down at the floor. He wanted out. He wanted to go home. He wanted to see Yoger. Hell, he wouldn't even mind Rue's ugly ass face. He shoulda just left then, but he couldn't seem to make his feet move. He sat where they'd put him, huddled up and miserable, staring at everything and nothing as they just went back to the table. He sat like that until he heard his name.
Anther looked at Talion, focusing sudden and sharp, and muttered something. Realizing nobody could hear him, he spoke up louder. "Yeah. Let's go."
He choked back the 'I wanna go home,' but it was a close thing. Too close by far. Suck it up, suck it down. He forced himself up out of the chair, hating how his legs wobbled and how his insides clenched up at the thought of seeing another dog just then, like he knew they hadda be, right outside the office. He adopted a sneer, though changers knew it looked too sickly to approach that level of arrogance, and started towards the door on weak legs.
He didn't give a shit anymore about the job, about Paragon or that fancy man with his fancy clothes and home and uptight prissy way of gabbing. So what about Jacel or Talion? So what about any of it?
He sniffed hard, scrubbed his face with the back of his free arm, and scowled down at the floor. He wanted out. He wanted to go home. He wanted to see Yoger. Hell, he wouldn't even mind Rue's ugly ass face. He shoulda just left then, but he couldn't seem to make his feet move. He sat where they'd put him, huddled up and miserable, staring at everything and nothing as they just went back to the table. He sat like that until he heard his name.
Anther looked at Talion, focusing sudden and sharp, and muttered something. Realizing nobody could hear him, he spoke up louder. "Yeah. Let's go."
He choked back the 'I wanna go home,' but it was a close thing. Too close by far. Suck it up, suck it down. He forced himself up out of the chair, hating how his legs wobbled and how his insides clenched up at the thought of seeing another dog just then, like he knew they hadda be, right outside the office. He adopted a sneer, though changers knew it looked too sickly to approach that level of arrogance, and started towards the door on weak legs.
-
Jacel Varti
- Citizen
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2013 6:17 am
- Name: Jacel Varti
- Race: Elven
Re: Questionable Business
Jacel raised an eyebrow at Anther’s hobbling display. It was like watching a dog who had lost a fight in the ring but been mercifully spared death: the poor thing understood the loss in status which came with physical weakness. Even if not consciously aware of it, Anther’s pride had been shattered. Jacel didn’t like knowing he was responsible for quenching whatever meager fire Anther had possessed, however temporary it might prove to be.
Jacel shrugged, rolling his eyes. There was something about seeing weakness in another that did wonders for calming the nerves and assuage guilt. Assuming whoever had sent them was not too greatly invested in their safety he supposed that once they walked out the doors it wasn’t his problem anymore. Certainly the pair themselves were not capable of seeking revenge, especially after Jacel appeased the younger elf with a fix. He was the modest brains of their meager operation, Jacel was sure of that much.
It was a notion further reinforced by the elf’s inquiry as to Anther’s health, a worry soon proven needless by Anther’s enthusiastic retreat. “There, you see?” Jacel said, waving his open palm in Anther’s direction “The idiot will be fine. Just give his wound some time and try to make sure it doesn’t get infected. Rudimentary shit.” He snickered as he considered making a joke about amputation, but decided not to chance Anther taking it literally.
Jacel now held Bitch by the back of her neck. She took a step forward, he mangy paw settling on the floorboards, but Jacel yanked her backwards. “Stay.” He commanded. She looked up at him almost resentfully. “Lie down. Go on. Down.” He drew out the last word in a coddling manner. Bitch snuffled and folded her paws together, resting her big head on the ground. She began eyeing the trash bin beneath his desk. Jacel figured that meant she was placated enough to leave her unattended safely.
Jacel hobbled over to the doorway and held it open for the pair. “Alright then. Good luck out there, whatever that’s worth.”
((Talion and Anther continued at Time to Rest and Regroup))
Jacel shrugged, rolling his eyes. There was something about seeing weakness in another that did wonders for calming the nerves and assuage guilt. Assuming whoever had sent them was not too greatly invested in their safety he supposed that once they walked out the doors it wasn’t his problem anymore. Certainly the pair themselves were not capable of seeking revenge, especially after Jacel appeased the younger elf with a fix. He was the modest brains of their meager operation, Jacel was sure of that much.
It was a notion further reinforced by the elf’s inquiry as to Anther’s health, a worry soon proven needless by Anther’s enthusiastic retreat. “There, you see?” Jacel said, waving his open palm in Anther’s direction “The idiot will be fine. Just give his wound some time and try to make sure it doesn’t get infected. Rudimentary shit.” He snickered as he considered making a joke about amputation, but decided not to chance Anther taking it literally.
Jacel now held Bitch by the back of her neck. She took a step forward, he mangy paw settling on the floorboards, but Jacel yanked her backwards. “Stay.” He commanded. She looked up at him almost resentfully. “Lie down. Go on. Down.” He drew out the last word in a coddling manner. Bitch snuffled and folded her paws together, resting her big head on the ground. She began eyeing the trash bin beneath his desk. Jacel figured that meant she was placated enough to leave her unattended safely.
Jacel hobbled over to the doorway and held it open for the pair. “Alright then. Good luck out there, whatever that’s worth.”
((Talion and Anther continued at Time to Rest and Regroup))