"Thank you kindly," Jazbel called out to a passing gentlemen.
The man sat on the edge of the fountain, looking down at the collections in his hat. There wasn't much; just a few copper coins. Still, it would buy him lodgings at a decent inn. Not that it mattered much. He wasn't here to play flirty ditties to any pretty face that came waltzing by, though the man had to admit that it was fun.
No, he was out here on the busy streets of Selevea because the Moonspear city official had hired him to deck out information on the crime gangs of the city. A sort of secret police. It really wasn't the sort of of task Jazbel was usually used to doing, but they were in need of spies, regardless of how they got the job done. He was donned in his most simple and ragged shirt, pants, and boots, his pathetic look complete with a cloak to hide the dagger he was wearing by his side. His dark purple hair he had left alone. He had thought about dying it, but his looks weren't exactly unique in this part of the kingdom, which was rather nice. Hair dye made him itch for days.
The man smiled to each passerby, but his keen eyes were on their pockets and where people's hands went. He switched to a more feisty tune, and began to dance. People's eyes were starting to become drawn towards him, which made his grin broader. Thieves loved distractions like these. No doubt he'd get what he want soon enough....
Selevea had to be one of her least favourite places, purely for the fact that it was where everything had gone south, so many years ago. But at least it meant she was closer to her sister. Not that she got to see her. Tabita was locked up somewhere where the bosses wouldn't tell her. She'd only just got back from being in Adela, getting whatever intel she could raise about the movements of a particular slave trader who owed money to the gang. Once that had been delivered, she'd been given another task.
Sighing as she slipped into the crowds in the town center, she followed along with the throngs of people, making sure to keep her hood pulled low over her head. Nothing in particular caught her attention, aside from a musician who was getting a few coins tossed in front of him. He was a nondescript fellow, much older than most of the musicians that frequented the streets, but that didn't bother her so much. What did, was the way his eyes were trained on people's pockets.
Thinking to herself that it might be a theory worth testing, the slight young woman took her deft fingers, and as she walked past the dancing man, slipped her hand into the pocket of a passer-by, and carried on her way, as if nothing had ever happened.
Taking the bait, Jazbel watched as the hooded woman slipped her hands in an observer's pocket. The man took the opportunity to stash his earnings as he watched her casually leave her victim unaware. His eyes followed her for a moment or two, etching her image in his mind. At least, he thought she was a female; men didn't usually have such delicate hands. The man chuckled at her hooded face, seeing it as a challenge.
Slim, tall, tan of skin.
He made quick mental notes of what he could observe.
Target in mind, Jazbel smoothly slung his guitar over his shoulder and began to quietly stalk her from a couple paces away. Though he kept his pace brisk, his posture was slack and carefree as his eyes seemingly looked everywhere but in her direction.
He was following her, she knew it. She had sensed it almost instantly after she'd made her move. Her fingers stroked along the coin she'd lifted, letting it roll about between them in an almost lazy way. Her feet were light on the cobblestones, almost cat-like in stealth. Looking ahead, she found an alleyway to pull herself int;l a small little crevice between two shops that had both seen better days. As she veered off, she chanced a glance behind her, and took note of the man following behind.
He looked far too calm to simply have packed up his things. She knew that he knew what he was doing. The question was why. Army? She thought, a frown briefly darkening over her big brown eyes. She turned into the little alley, and without a thought drew the knife that was at her hip, while depositing the coin into the sheath as a replacement. She kept herself pressed tightly up against the wall, her hands still and steady beneath her cloak.
She knew it wouldn't be long until he walked past, and then, given that he hadn't noticed her slipping away, it'd be his turn to be followed.
But he did notice her slip away.
Jazbel chuckled.
He really wasn't well suited for this street work business; she had noticed him following her right away. The man had to admire how quick she was.
I wonder if she's scared of me, he wondered, finding the thought of him being an old beast amusing.
The man casually walked past her ally way without so much giving it a glance.
He didn't much like those small and cramped areas, anyway. He much preferred somewhere a bit more civilized. Besides, in his arrogance, Jazbel doubted that alley lead to anywhere much. He had no interest in fighting her, either. So, he strolled across the street as he began to scan the signs of buildings, while still keeping close attention to the nook.
Where's an inn... or a bar, he thought as he scratched the back of his head.
"Are you coming or not?" he muttered in a low voice, partly to himself.
Ehren watched with guarded eyes as he simply went past the opening. Her fingers open and closed around the knife hilt, as she made her decisions quickly. She could follow him, see what he wanted, or she could stay hidden a little longer, make use of the shadows she knew so well, and come out in front of him again. With a quick decision she made the move to come out of the shadows, sheathing the dagger for now.
With a few fleet steps, she brought herself to walk just a half step behind, but to the man's side. She said nothing, but flickered her eyes to his face, and then smirked a little. There was no way, she thought, that he would be able to catch up with her if things went south. He was, for lack of a better word, old.
A hand came out from the cloak, and a slim finger pointed up ahead, to a sign signalling that there was a bar up ahead.
Jazbel gave a welcoming smile as the young woman approached him.
"Glad you could join me," he cheerfully stated, returning her smirk.
You better not plan anything, he thought as he escorted her to the near by bar.
Up close, the man observed her solemn features out of the corner of his eye.
She wasn't really the type he'd normally go after, but there was something alluring about her all the same. Jazbel mused it was because of the chase.
As they reached the bar, Jazbel made a show of opening the door for her.
"After you, lass," he said, "Don't worry about drinks; they're on me."
A flatterer. She could tell by the way he spoke, the way he led on, the way he opened the door for her. She barely refrained from rolling her eyes, as she went passed him. She didn't know what it was he wanted from her, but she was alert to the fact that he had only begun to follow her when she'd put her nimble fingers to good use in lifting coin. It meant one of two things. He was either working for someone, or he wanted something. Either way, she was wary.
She still refused to say anything as she walked straight past him, and leaned herself against the bar, crossing her right leg behind her left, and stretching it out behind her. Ehren ordered a drink quietly, a simple house ale, and once in her hands, she turned to face the man. She gave him a long, cold stare, before heading over to a corner booth and setting herself in.
She still hadn't lifted the hood from her head, but while she watched him make his way over and sit, it slipped back just enough to show wisps of dark brown hair framing her face, and a pointed little chin. She lifted her mug to her mouth, taking a slow pull on the drink, and then finally set it down and spoke.
"What do you want?"
Jazbel chuckled as he followed Ehren to the bar. He sat right next to her and ordered house ale, as well. He would have preferred a stronger drink, but now wasn't the time for that. He returned her cold stare with a relaxed expression, only breaking eye contact to thank the bar tender and pay for their drinks.
When he got his mug, Jazbel chugged down half of his before setting the wooden cup on the bar. He smiled at Ehren's blunt question.
"Information," he replied, "That's it."
The man looked around the bar to make sure no one was too close to listen. Ever so slightly, he leaned in closer to the young woman's ear.
"What do you know about the gangs of this city?" he asked in a low voice.
Ehren stiffened as he moved closer, her entire body tense with his action. If it was at all possible, what he had to say made her sit even more rigid. Instantly, her hand slipped to her hip, and rested against the security of her knife. Still, she turned her head to return the movement, and spoke in low tones.
"I know enough to know that if any hear you asking questions, and you'll be dead before morning." She pulled back, and gave him a threatening stare, before turning her attention to her drink, other hand still resting on the dagger. "What makes you think I know anything specific?"
Jazbel arched an eyebrow at her hostel answer to his question.
She's probably right, he mused. They would try to kill him.
"Are you suggesting we take this to a more private setting?" he asked.
He watched as one of her hands slipped for her dagger. He made no such movements, but he prepared himself to defend.
I rather not hurt her, he thought; he liked fighting woman just as much as he liked the bland ale.
The man shrugged at her second question and took another gulp from his cup.
"If you don't, then this is just a waste of time and ale," he replied.
Jazbel paused.
"In any case, I could turn you in for that little trick of yours," he said softly.
The girl was jumpy; he didn't want to scare her off or cause her to poke him with that blade of hers.
"But I won't. That'll be our secret, aye?"
The man raised his mug a little before drinking the rest of it. He made a face as he peered at it's emptiness. It was poor stuff, but he was almost sad to see it all gone.
It would be a waste of time and ale in any case, the young woman decided. He was't going to get any information out of her that easily. Even if his threat did make her stomach tighten momentarily. If he did turn her in, it wouldn't have been the first night she'd spent in prison. Ehren looked behind her, briefly, before returning her attention back to the man beside her. "I knew you were watching for it," she said simply, before draining her own mug.
With a sigh, she shifted her weight, and then uncovered her head. She knew that she was good at her job, so good that no one in the bar would look twice at the almost pixie-like woman. She tousled her hair absently, and then titled her head to look at the man full on. She knew better than to take men like this at face value, and she narrowed her eyes at him. "What I want to know, is why. There are rooms upstairs. Follow me." With this, she motioned to the man tending the bar that they were headed upstairs, and without a care to check that this stranger was even following, took herself up to the closest empty room. She left the door open for him, but went straight in, and pressed herself up against a wall, one leg bent with the foot resting against the thin paneling, and with her arms crossed loosely across her chest.
"What do you want to know?"
"Smart girl," Jazbel replied dryly as he watched Ehren drain her drink. He stared in interest as she removed her hood to reveal her face.
That's better, he thought, wondering where she was from. Couldn't be from Connloath, most likely a southern bred girl... Ravensway? Maybe even Adela? His guessing game was cut short when she ordered him to follow her. He nodded and rose from his seat. He followed her, cautiously surveying the bar as he quickly made his way up the stairs.
Once they were in the room, he quietly shut the door behind him and locked it.
The man sighed and leaned against the wall closest to the door. He didn't want the girl trying to escape. The window was always an option, but even if she was a stick of a thing, it was way too small for her liking. He nodded at her question, pleased with the way things were going.
Good, he thought, She's listening.
"As much as you can tell me," he simply replied, "Who you work for would be a good place to start."
The man shrugged.
"Or if you prefer, a rival, someone you've a grudge against. It's all the same to me."
"All you have against me, is a single coin lifted from some rich bastard's pocket, and you expect me to dish out information?" Ehren scoffed, shaking her head. Her eyes didn't move from his face for a second. Her gaze was calculating, and far too hard for a woman of her age, but she'd learned that to trust someone with questionable motives was stupid. And he'd said it himself - she was a smart girl.
"I actually value my life, so I'm not about to tell you who I'm working for," she said snidely, bouncing her foot against the wall in an almost irritated fashion. "Why don't you tell me who you're working for?" She knew better than to ask for a name. If he knew what he was doing, and it appeared that he did, he'd only give her a false one, she was sure.
Jazbel smirkd at her snarky answer.
"Is that so?" he muttered, waving his hand, dismissively.
"At least you admit it. Tell me about a rival, then. Any will do."
He had figured she wouldn't have been so open to talk; it would have been too easy otherwise. No fun at all.
"I value my life too, you know," he replied teasingly when asked about his employer.
Jazbel frowned. He knew he was going to have to give her something if she ever was going to cooperate with him, at the very least. Right now, they were going nowhere. He needed to find something he could use to get her to speak to him.
Slowly, he told himself. Be patient.
"How long have you been out in the streets, lass?" he asked, his arms folded across his chest. This time, it was his turn to scoff.
"Your whole life, by the looks of it; I know that look. Think I don't? The road wears any body down. I was lucky; I have my music. But you? What do you have? I bet you don't even have one soul to call family, either. Poor thing."
Ehren almost sprung right off the wall at the mention of family. Who was he to begin thinking he knew anything about her in the slightest. The whole reason she'd been roped into the whole spying deal was because of Tabita. Instead of moving, she just gave a low growl in the back of her throat. But maybe he could be of some use. She could bargain with him. Information for his help in freeing her younger sister. Heavens knew she couldn't do it all by herself. She'd been trying for years.
"Long enough to know people like you can't be trusted," she hissed, narrowing her eyes at him. "I might not look like I have much, and granted that is probably true, but I do know what it is like to have to look after someone much more important than yourself, and that is the only reason I do what I do."
She came off the wall then, and took a few steps closer to the older man. "I'll tell you what - you help me with something, and I'll give you all the information you want. A deal?"
Jazbel tried to suppress a grin as Ehren growled, though his triumph blazed in his eyes.
So the young lady was part of a gang for personal reasons. He shrugged off her scornful words as she glared at him with the eyes of a wild cat, a predictor ready to pounce. He had her cornered; that was all he needed.
Jazbel arched his brows as she approached him. He hadn't been expecting this.
"Tell me what it is that needs helping, first," he cautiously replied.
Damn it. She had given him what he wanted. Still, if she was going to get anything out of this little tryst, something had to give. She could be careful, not give away too much more, she thought. The guarded way in which he replied almost made her laugh. He was good.
"It requires infiltration, and kidnapping," she said lightly, tossing the right corner of her cloak over her shoulder, revealing the knife at her hip. It wasn't done with the intention of intimidation; she didn't think this one would be easily intimidated by her. She brought a hand up to rake through her short hair, and then dropped it down to rest on her hip, fingers only just brushing against her weapon.
"If you could help me with that, then you'll get an inside view into just one of the gangs here."
Jazbel nodded at the young lady's words.
Kidnapping, eh? he thought.
If this was just an ordinary kidnapping job, there was no way she would have asked him for help. No, this was something very, very personal. It wasn't something he would have liked to get involved in, but if this involved 'infiltration', as she so eloquently put it, then no doubt he'd get the information he desired and more. Jazbel smiled. It was risky, but he could always bail out when he saw fit. He was offering to help, after all; nobody said anything about succeeding.
He held out his hand to shake.
"Deal," he said, "Call me Eli."
It had been his uncle's name, a name he sometimes used as an alias.
Ehren looked down to his hand with wary eyes, then back up to his face. Very slowly, she reached out, and placed her smaller hand in his, and shook once with a firm grasp. "Cora," she gave as a name. She guessed that his was a fake, and while it was just them, he didn't need to know her true identity. She gave him her mother's.
Dropping his hand abruptly, she turned and walked over to the window, and leaned on the sill quietly. Her eyes flickered through the grimy glass of the window, watching the the passers by. "What skills do you have, Eli? Besides your music? How are we going to get you in?"
OOC: Just wanted to say... my roomie is blasting music, and your avatar is dancing to the beat.
IC:
"Enchanted, Cora," Jazbel replied as she gave him an alias of her own.
He didn't doubt for a minute that the name she had given him was fake, but no matter. The man didn't really care what sort of name she gave him to go by; if it had to be 'girl' or 'lass' all night, then so be it. He watched quietly as she walked over towards the window, idly watching the sea of people below. Jazbel rubbed his chin hair, thinking.
I left my kit in my inn room, he thought.
The man supposed they could go back to it, but it was quite a way from here; it would stall their mission by an hour or so.
He let out a sigh of frustration when Ehren addressed him again.
"Hm?" he replied, startled by the sudden break of his thoughts.
The initial confusion on his face turned into a sly expression when his mind comprehended her question.
"I'm not a mage," he said, "But I have my ways of changing my appearance. Though..."
The man gave a sheepish cough.
"I left my kit in my inn room," he admitted, embarrassed for not being prepared for this.
"The one on Nimora Road."
OOC: I love my dancing man. He brings me so much joy. XD
IC:
Ehren let her head thunk forward with a heavy sigh. "Nimora..." Turning on her heel, the expression that looked to Jazbel was one of complete and utter frustration. "We have to go all the way to..." She sighed again and shook her head, not even bothering to finish her sentence. Where they had to go, she told herself, didn't matter. What did matter was that she was playing a very dangerous game, with a stranger, and someone who could very well turn her in - at best.
"Fine," she hissed out through a breath, folding her arms across her chest. "You go and collect your things. Meet me back here. I'll wait at the bar."
OOC: I think in this society Jazbel would have been a make up artist. And ze dancing man is awesome. Where is he from?
IC:
Jazbel grinned apologetically and nodded.
"It'll take less than an hour, my dear," he said as he slipped out of the room and out of the bar. He didn't have any worries of the woman leaving him and deciding to go on her quest by herself. If she did, then that just meant he would have to search for another pick pocket. It would be a pitiful loss, but he would find one way or another to achieve his goals; one more set back didn't phase him in the slightest.
Wishing to make haste, Jazbel ordered a carriage to take him to a shop a street away from his inn. He paid the driver a copper before quickly walking towards the establishment. Once the man was safe behind the doors of his room, he began to undress and got to work.
Twenty minutes later, Jazbel admired himself in the mirror provided for him. He was dressed in a ragged dark tunic, breeches, and quiet boots. Around his waist was a belt with a small coin purse. He kept a knife hidden by his sleeves. The man had put on make up to take the last ten years off of his face.
Jazbel now appeared to be in his late twenties. He wore cheap metal earrings in his ears, and his shaggy dark purple hair looked as if it hadn't been washed for a while. His eyes looked more sullen and the man had artfully applied make up to make his keen gold eyes appear darker and his cheeks rounder.
He had also used a magical lotion to make his skin tanner with a tint of yellow.
Being friends with the finest potion masters of Arca sure helps in a pinch, he gleefully thought.
In addition, had made it appear as if he had bruised his nose and his teeth were yellow. To finish the effect, he went to the fire place and rubbed some soot on his face and rubbed some onto his fingertips. He would have added disease markings, but that would have taken too much extra time. Pleased with the effect, he pulled on his dark, poor material cloak and pulled the hood over his head before walking out of the door.
True to his word, the man had only been gone for forty minutes. He re entered the Golden Brew and made his way towards the lass who called herself Cora.
"Miss me long?" he asked.
OOC: I have no idea. It was just an avatar I found, and fell in love with. lol
IC:
Less than an hour? Ehren rose her eyebrow to that notion, but simply waved him away without another word. In the time it took for him to go and reappear, she did consider more than once just getting up and leaving. She knew the area well enough to stay hidden if he decided to come after her, and even the group of criminals she belonged to would act as a form of protection. She thought.
They were a notorious bunch, and hardly any of them trusted another. They were bandits, and thieves and murderers the lot of them - the only reason most of them stayed in the gang was for the fact that if someone was ever in need, the gang would come to their aid in full force - or the members to whom a rescue mission had any form of benefit.
Sitting alone for the majority of the time, Ehren ignored any advances from the leering men who passed her at the bar. She wasn't a classic beauty like Tabita, and she had too much of a harshness in the angles in her face to be considered pretty, but it appeared she had enough of a look to intrigue. For the men that did approach her, she just glowered, until she'd had enough of the looks, and pulled the hood up over her head again.
When an almost familiar voice broke through at her side, she'd almost had enough of company at all, and she was ready to pull her knife and stab the next guy in the guts, when she actually looked at Jazbel. Actually, she didn't even recognise him, and the hand went to the dagger as she hissed.
"You know what happened to the last man who asked me if I missed him?"
Jazbel smirked at the girl's threat, considering the disguise a success.
You are brilliant.
His eyes scanned the room. Several men were giving the both of them queer glances. Jazbel coldly supposed they were interested in the girl but were discouraged to see someone being so familiar with her. Or they could be members of gangs; he had already taken the liberty of coming up with this cleverness. There was no need for them to delay any longer.
He leaned in close, taking great pains to not touch her, as she didn't seem too keen on that.
"Relax, love," he said smoothly, glaring at the men.
"It's just me, Eli. Let's get a move on, yeah?"
The man made a gesture towards the door.
Ehren's eyes only narrowed further as the man seemed to want to risk his life for the chance to whisper in her ear, and even went so far as to call her love. Her fingers twitched round the knife, and didn't relax even as he assured her that he was none other than her acquaintance of earlier in the day. She spent a moment painting an image of his new face in her mind, and then let the set of her shoulders drop just marginally.
But was he - he was! He was glaring at the men surrounding her, as if to warn them off. Ehren could have giggled for the display of what she interpreted as male bravado, and stood from her stool. Right about then would have been a good time to announce that while he'd been away, she'd delighted in a few more mugs of ale. Her excuse? If she was going to see Tabita tonight, she needed to be happy.
Ehren wobbled slightly, and leaned into "Eli's" arm and gave her own little nod towards the door. "You look incredible," she whispered back, "how the hell did you pull that one off? I thought you said you weren't a mage?"
Jazbel gave a loose and easy grin as he saw the light of recognition shine on Cora's face. Yes, she knew who he was now. Oh, how he was loving her awe. In turn, she had apparently been loving her ale... The man sighed as he pulled out the coins from his purse and slapped them onto the bar table.
"You're going to run me dry one day, I swear," he lamented as firmly grabbed her around the shoulders as they walked towards the door.
The man's smile turned into a a smirk at her compliment.
"Don't I always?," he teased, "And I'm not, honest. I just got a few good tricks, is all. Damned good ones."
After he shut the door behind them, the man surveyed their surroundings. The mischief still glittered in his eyes, but there was something else, too. He was serious to get to this business that would lead him to his prize, his information. After all, he had a business to run and a reputation to hold.
"All right," he said, "Where to, my dear?"
Oh, so he was even going to pay for her drinks? Well, that suited her just fine. The less coin she had to spend the better. She certainly hadn't been expecting his generosity. As he took her by the shoulders, she tensed up. He was very, very familiar with her, and regardless of the fact that he was about to help her rescue her sister, or so she hoped, she wasn't entirely comfortable with the grip on her.
As soon as they were outside, she wriggled away from him, and fell into a slightly weavy step beside him. She didn't miss the look in his eye, and couldn't help the feeling that he had a serious ulterior motive. She would have to be careful. But not before she set him straight on something.
"Would you stop with the pet names," Ehren scowled, "My name is Cora - not love, not dear, not sweety or baby or anything else you come up with, got it?" She looked around her to get her bearings. Best way to get him to the headquarters would be through the back alleys - if she was lucky he wouldn't remember where he was going. With a nod towards the left, she headed over and into the shadows, ensuring that he was following her. "Is there anything in particular you're good at, besides changing your appearance? It'd make things easier if I knew what skills you have, and who I should introduce you to first."
Jazbel chuckled as the young woman squirmed out of his arms once they exited the bar.
"Careful," he muttered, "Best keep up with appearances..."
Regardless, he solemnly nodded at her request. The man was rather fond on using his pet names, but he supposed plain old boring Cora would just have to do for the remainder of the night. He got it; she didn't want to become too familiar. It was rather business like and smart of her. Jazbel held up his hands, defensively.
"All right, all right. I won't," he promised.
Jazbel shrugged at her questioning. He doubted she meant 'introduce' as in pleasantries. Despite her common sense, he was a bit reluctant to let her know too much about himself, though if she had half a brain she'd have figured most of it out all ready.
Might as well, he thought as he rolled his eyes. Would get it out of the way.
"I'm sure you've noticed my good eyes," he started, "I grew up on the streets, myself. I know how to hold my own in a fight and sneak around, unseen. Among other talents."
The man said the last bit with a teasing grin.
"Really, Cora, I won't be accompanying you if I thought I wasn't capable of doing so."
Appearances? Keep up with appearances? Pah! You're just as slimy as the rest of them, and you expect me to play along. He wasn't helping the frown that was ever growing on her brow. She very nearly scoffed at the way in which he alluded to his strengths, and only just bit back a groan when she realised that with what he was saying, the only person she really had to introduce him to, was herself. There was only one other spy in the gang more senior, and that was the gang leader himself, and since he kept himself particularly busy, she doubted that he'd even be around.
"Well, in that case, Eli, nice to meet you. You'll be working alongside me for the first few days, until I can gather that you can be trusted." I know you can't already, but you've sworn to help me, and so help me, I will be keeping tabs on you. The tone in her head was dry, even as she looked across with defiance. "The gang leader's name is Vaaron. You might come across him, you might not. Best thing to do when we get there though, is to keep your head down, and your mouth shut. The guys are wary of newcomers, and rightly so. Do as I say, and I swear, if you cross me even once, I will slit your throat."
Jazbel did not ignore the scoff on the girl's face when he described his attributes.
"What's that look for?" he protested, his pride a little wounded.
"You did ask me what I was good at, so I told you."
The man gave a haughty nod when she continued. He lightly smiled when she had said she would be judging his trustworthiness. What a cheeky little minx. How could she say something like that when her own character was certaintly questionable, as well?
Actually, he was a bit surprised at her demands. A couple of days working as a gang member? Well, he supposed he could manage that. After all, he had wanted to blend in, and blend in he shall. The man mused he should inform his employer of his antics.
Then again, he thought, that might only set the men Cora wanted him to become 'aquanted' with be even more suspicious of him as a new comer.
He was also going to need a new hotel room to tip them off while somehow transporting the goods from his old one to the new one. What a pain.
Jazbel paid close attention to the information the young lady was giving him. Vaaron. So that was the gang leader's name. It was a start, for sure. He chuckled at her threat, doubting such a feat would ever come to pass.
"Of course," he replied, rubbing his hands together.
"Yes, I suppose you did," Ehren replied, rolling her eyes. He seemed so sure of himself, so blase about their mission, so ... cocky. She, on the other hand, or the way she saw it in any case, didn't like to boast her prowess as a spy. And to boot, with violence she was more bark than actual bite. She liked to think that she was loyal - to herself and Tabita first, and then to anyone who could prove themselves trustworthy. None of the other gang members had done such, and to be honest, she had no qualms about betraying them.
She didn't try to make conversation as she led Eli through the winding back alleys. She moved easily with the shadows, as if she was one of them, her feet close to silent on the cobbles. If he wanted information, he would have to gather it himself by observing, just to cover her own hide if things went awry. It wasn't until approached one final little alley way that she knew would be guarded that she spoke again.
"Listen, you're going to have to trust me in here, okay? I've known these men most of my life. If any of them approaches me, you stand back and do nothing, no matter what." She was thinking specifically of Tobias. Tobias was a long standing frenemy. He thought he owned her. She played along, as abhorrent as his advances were, and as violent as he was. Her main concern was her sister. It had been too long since she'd checked in.
Jazbel chuckled at Cora's obvious irrated state. He knew he had annoyed her with his arrogance, though he found it amusing how the best part was she didn't even know half of the story.
Ah, to be young.
He had almost forgotten how rash people where at her age, though he mused that he wasn't that much of an improvement. The man, eager to please and show off, quickly and silently followed Cora through the alleyways. He tried to memorize the routes they took and the turns they made. It was a pity that she didn't bother saying a word to him this whole time. Not having a conversation was boring, and he didn't think they were spying on anyone or anything just yet.
When they reached a small alleyway, Cora turned to face him. It wasn't as dark as some of the others. The sun managed to peak in through, illuminating the place with a a dim, dusky light. Jazbel nodded solemnly at Cora's orders, his jaw locking. He didn't much like the sound of this, his mind already assuming the possibilities. He wasn't the most noble or heroic of men, but he did have his own sense of pride and honor. Still, she had made a grim point, and he had little choice but to accept it. He was this close!
"Fine," he replied.
Ehren nodded, and finally flipped back the hood of her cloak. She brushed a hand through her hair, combing her choppy fringe back, then set her shoulders and led on forwards to the doors. As she predicted, there were two men standing guard to the building. The one to the left raised a hand in recognition to her, while the one to the right brought out a knife, pointing towards Eli. "Who is this?" He asked gruffly. Ehren gave him a stern look, and replied in a cold tone. "A new trainee. He is with me." The man spent another moment looking between Ehren and Eli, and finally dropped his blade, stepping aside so that they could enter the building.
Inside was dimly lit, and they came straight away to a set of stairs which led down to an entire building, series of corridors and rooms all underground. Ehren took Eli down into the main room, where there were several men milling around, playing cards, drinking, engaged in swordplay. It was one of the men who looked up from a game of cards, whom Ehren had been hoping wouldn't be there. He stood, and made his way over to her, and grabbed her roughly by the waist, pulling her in. She stiffened in his hold, and turned her head away from him, saying nothing.
The man growled. "That's no way to greet me." Ehren refused to look at him and stood her ground. Tobias, for that was who he was, grabbed her chin, and forced her to look at him. She did so only then with eyes that burned with clear hatred. Tobias scoffed at her look, and pressed a cruel, bruising kiss to her mouth. When he finally let go, Ehren rubbed the back of her hand across her lips, and then gently rubbed against her jaw, sore and red from the force of his fingers.
Tobias looked to Eli. "Who's this?" he asked Ehren, eyes never once leaving Eli's face. "A new spy. You can call him Eli." the girl replied, crossing her arms over her chest as if to put distance between her and him. Tobias gave a low chuckle, and raised an eyebrow.
"Do you play cards, Eli?" The other man asked, motioning over to the table he'd just left. "Best way to get into the fold. Care for a game?"
Jazbel observed the door of the building silently and took a deep breath. So this was where one of the lairs were. The man's eyes glanced over to Cora. She needed nervous and tense, as if she was an actress about to perform one of her most difficult roles. He blankly stared at the guards, his hands placed in his pockets. He nodded in acknowledgement when Cora introduced him as a 'trainee'.
And so I enter the lions' den.
Jazbel's eyes wandered around the scene. It was incredible; they appeared to be underground inside a building. The place was practically in plain sight. They were just underneath it- Jazbel was amazed this operation had managed to last as long as it did. Then again, it also didn't; lots passed by the government's uninterested eyes. Some were gambling, others drinking their sorrows away. Others seemed to be honing their fighting skills. Jazbel made a note to avoid these men at all costs as he watched a man howl in pain as his gut got jabbed with a blunt knife. It didn't break skin, but the man was sure that poor kid was going to suffer for a week.
The man stiffened his posture when a gruff looking man approached them. It only took one glance at Cora to understand whom she was talking about before when she had told him to not interfere.
Damn the girl.
Jazbel watched coldly as the brute kissed her and tilted his chin high when Tobias address him. He offered a smirk as Cora introduced him.
"A pleasure," he said.
As Tobias invited him to the card game, Jazbel looked over towards Cora before replying.
"Aye, that I do," he said as he stunted over towards the table and sat down.
OOC: Feel free to control Tobias - npc, and all that jazz. XD
IC:
Ehren began to shake her head to the card game, her face hard and unmoving, and yet as Eli moved away, it was all she could do to refrain from rolling her eyes at him. Tobias raised an eyebrow to her, as if to question her choice in recruit, before following Eli over and taking a seat directly opposite.
Ehren sighed, and gripped onto the bridge of her nose in exasperation. Sure, this was one way of getting into the fold, being accepted as part of the group, but did it really have to be with Tobias, of all people? The arms dealer was ruthless and liked nothing more than to inflict pain on others, be it physical, or loosing his opponent of as much coin as possible. Ehren decided it was unwise to leave Tobias alone with Eli right now, and so with another sigh she went and stood at the table, arms crossed against her chest.
"Really, Tobias, give the man a chance to get settled, would you?" He narrowed his eyes up at her, and proceeded to ignore her by shuffling the cards.
"What game do you fancy?"
OOC: aka rich man, poor man/ presidents.
IC:
Jazbel noticed that Cora seemed a bit antsy. He could tell she didn't think to highly of his decision, though what really concerned him was why.
She's worried, he realized, though for who? Herself? For him? Either way, if he was caught, they were both dead, unless he could convince the others that he had tricked her. Still, he had to play his hand safe. The man gave her one last quick glance as she sat down next to him, though he quickly turned his attention to the man.
Tobias, he thought, committing the name to memory.
"Well, there's three of us," Jazbel replied, "How about some King and Slave?"
Tobias smirked at the decision. though obliged and started to split the deck among the three.
"How about we make things more interesting and bet on it," he said, "Five coppers."
"Agreed," Jazbel quickly replied.
His eyes never left Tobias as he placed his coins on the table. The thug did the same before mockingly gesturing for Jazbel to begin the game.
"Shouldn't the la-" Jazbel began to say before Tobias interrupted.
"You go first," he instructed in a quiet voice, glaring at the man as he sorted his cards.
Jazbel nodded and quietly laid down a five.
OOC: I admit, I had to look up how to play that. I've never played it before!
IC:
Tobias lifted an eyebrow to the single card laid on the table, while Ehren looked uncomfortable. Beneath the table, a warning foot was laid over hers - she was not to win. And neither was Eli. Tobias laid down a pair of eights, and Ehren followed by putting down nine. The foot went down a little harder. Tobias did not approve of her playing, this much was clear, and he didn't like the fact that she had bested him.
She stayed obediently silent, not even making a grimace to the pressure crushing her toes. "Have you been around Selevea long, Eli?" Tobias asked in a sneering mockery of light conversation. "I'd not heard of any new trouble makers, and I'm rather well informed."
OOC: lol its pretty easy and fun. bTW, you don't follow doubles after singles; you only do one sort for each round. Also, feel free to timeskip and determine whose in the lead and whose losing, etc
IC:
Jazbel watched the process of the game quietly, concentrating on his hand and on the game. He possessed a four- a wild card-, an ace, a two, and a pair of kings among his hand. It wasn't the best one he had ever had, but it was decent, and he could defiantly work with it. Though he was primarly playing the game as part of his act to become part of the gang and gain information, the gambling man in him was getting excited by such a challenge. He shrugged off Tobias' question. "Rather well informed"... of course he would be.
"I've been around," Jazbel vaguely replied, "I'm of the travelin' sort."
Tobias arched an eye brow at this.
"A high way robber?" he inquired.
"Of sorts," Jazbel said as he leaned back into his chair, "Pass."
He probably could have just placed down a king and a four, but he'd save it for later.
He glanced over at Cora, who had grown awfully silent and almost submissive. The man's eyes turned back towards Tobias, who seemed to be unsatisfied with Jazbel's answer and all the more annoyed at him throwing looks at the girl.
"How quaint," he said in a voice that made it clear he didn't find it charming at all. He cleared up the table and placed down a single five.
The man reached out to draw an arm around Cora's shoulder.
"Tell me how'd you snag this gentleman, this... Eli," Tobias said with a mocking smirk as he petted her hair a bit roughly, "It couldn't have been your looks."
He gave Jazbel a challenging look, as if daring him to refute his statement.
The man wanted to make a face at his rudeness, but simply gave a rueful grin as he shook his head.
OOC: My bad! I know for next time now.
IC:
Gods how she hated this. This game of pretend that had become her life. She was tired of it, and yet could see no way out. She swallowed back the growl in the back of her throat as Tobias put his arm around her, and only just avoided jerking out from under the hair-tousling. She put down a single six, even though in her hand she held a trio of them. She knew the consequences of defiance with Tobias.
She kept her face perfectly blank at the not so subtle derogatory comments towards her looks. As if she didn't know herself. She didn't think she was much to look at, but being reminded of it? That stung; she was still a girl after all. "He was pocket watching," she answered, raising an eyebrow to Eli. "I had a theory, pinched a coin, and he followed after. Said he was looking for somewhere to belong, earn a little more than what he was getting on his own." She lied easily, and then went silent again. Tobias gave a grunt, accepting her story and then settled in to play.
A few rounds later, and Ehren still held five cards in her hand, having passed most of the time, while Tobias held two. The card face up on the table held the disapproving face of a queen. Tobias scowled at his cards. A pair of eights. He had not played his hand well. He looked across the table in a cold challenge to Eli to beat him, while one hand slipped under the table, reaching across Ehren's legs and going for the knife at her waist.
Jazbel glared right back at Tobias, though inside he was dancing, gleefully. In his hand were the two cards that were guaranteed to make him win; an ace and a two. He gloated in the rogue's stern glare, challenging him to to win.
Sore loser if I ever saw one, the man thought as he slapped down his ace.
"Can you best that?" he said to the man. By now he had figured out the rules when it came to Cora; don't look at her, don't talk to her, and defiantly don't ask her such dangerous questions. Only time he did throughout the game was when he nodded at her half-truth.Still, the spy watched her out of the corner of her eye, watching as she restrained herself. It was amazing, Jazbel mused, how much one could make others detest them so.
Tobias glowered at the ace as his hand lingered at the girl's side.
"Pass," he said between gritted teeth as his knuckles grew white.
Without bothering to wait for Cora to make a move, Jazbel slapped down his two.
"Then I win," he exclaimed holding his hands up in defeat.
Jazbel found himself holding his breath as he watched Tobias react to being beaten. The older man wasn't that intimidated by the younger's glowering expression. Still, Jazbel knew it to be best to be weary of the viper of a man, for Tobias, would perhaps literally strike at him at the first opportunity he could.
However, Tobias suddenly broke out into a wide smile as he put down his hand. Still, there was a cold and hard glint in his eyes that was hard to ignore.
As Jazbel reached out to claim his prize money, Tobias quickly brought out the knife and slammed it a mere inch away from his fingertips.
"Shuffle the cards," he quietly commanded as he slouched back into his chair as he coolly wrapped his arm around the young woman, again.
Jazbel slowly nodded, as he took the cards from Cora and did as he was told.
As if unfazed by the ordeal of the match, he looked around the room, observing the thugs and bandits. Gambling was fine and all, but he needed information, even the tiniest slip of it.
"Hey, Tobias," he said as he began to slice up the deck, "When your girl brought me down here, she forgot to run me by the 'rules' your lot live by. I don't want to go stirring unnecessary trouble; you got any tips? Maybe you could even give me a tour. No one better to do it than you, right?"
Jazbel said this last piece of flattery as he handed over a third of the deck to Tobias before shoving another towards Cora. He motioned for Tobias to go first.
Ehren flinched as the knife came slamming down, seething inside for the breach of her personal space, and the threatening way Tobias conducted himself. She should have been used to it, in all honesty, but it never failed to irk her that hostility should surround her every waking moment.
She only just bit back a hiss at Eli's question, but Tobias merely gave her shoulder a squeeze. "The rules are simple, Eli. Don't get caught, and if you do, we don't exist. Don't bring anyone in unless you know for certain they can be trusted - honour among thieves and all that. Keep to yourself, don't ask questions, and don't touch my girl." Now, the last wasn't entirely true, but Tobias wasn't about to let Eli forget just where his place was as a newcomer. "As for a tour - there's not much to see. Just - " Ehren silently chorused his next words, "-stay out of the armoury, and don't go down the east wing, unless you have a death wish."
Tobias took up his cards, and grinned at the hand given to him, before peering circumspectly at Ehren's hand. Her's was good - good enough to win. Ehren closed her eyes with a sigh. "Last hand for me, boys. I'm not much for games." Not games where she was used as a pawn, in any case. Tobias laid down his first card, leading with a pair of tens. Ehren followed with a pass, and looked pleadingly across to Eli. Tobias could lose once - but twice? Eli could find his stay with the gang shorter than expected.
OOC: Sorry it took me so long. Also, I haven't forgotten about that character who knows how to sign; i'll get to it next week, when finals are over :P
IC:
Jazbel nodded politely as Tobias promptly answered his questions.
Anyone you trust? Rules are kind of lax, he thought as he smiled at the last piece of advice about Cora.
"Of course," he said with an apprehensive grin.
I have to be more careful about asking questions, he solemnly mused, though his mode was lifted as Tobias gave him specific instruction to stay out of the armory or the east wing. Of course, that just meant he had to go there. Jazbel made a note to ask Cora about it, later.
"Yes, sir," he muttered.
His attention was drawn to the girl as she declared she was dropping out afterwards. The man didn't say anything as he followed with a pair of jacks as his jaw ever so slightly hardened. The man wasn't a prideful one, but that was changed while he was gambling. Still, Jazbel knew this game might cost him his life. The man quietly slapped down a king and a four as he glared at Tobias.
I'll let you win, but I still want a fight, he stubbornly thought as his opponent clicked his tongue in protest.
The match lasted for fifteen minutes. Though Jazbel convinced himself that he wasn't terribly intimidated by Tobias, that the man was half his age and acted half of that, the older man found that his body had tensed up some as he slumped his shoulders at the end of the game.
"You win," he declared as Tobias slapped down the last of his cards.
It was hard to say whether or not the thief had been aware of Jazbel's and Cora's antics. Either way, his pleasure at his victory was not forged, and he gave an approving smirk as he rose from his seat, shoving the money into his pocket. At that moment, another thief approached them. He was stout man of Adelan decent with his black hair done in many braids. He grunted as his green eyes peered at Jazbel as he would a bug before giving Cora a knowing glance. He handed over a card to Tobias, who scanned its context with a scowl.
Jazbel tried to take a peek without making himself look too obvious, but it was to no good. He sighed as he slumped in the back of his chair, watching with a rather bored expression as Tobias snapped at the man to "Get going" before turning towards Cora.
"You," he barked, "Give him that 'tour', but make it quick."
"It's been a pleasure," Jazbel cheerfully said as he held out his hand to shake. Tobias merely arched a brow at this, clearly not used to his behavior.
"Quite," he slowly said before taking quick strides away towards the entrance.
Jazbel chuckled as he watched him go before he turned around to face his companion.
"What's in the east wing?" he curiously hissed.