It's All In The Wrists - Tock (FlashBack)

[Kyra]

"Tick...."She said tilting her head again and blinking her eyes. "Tock...I am Kyra." It was a simple misunderstanding, just as the woman seemed to think her name was Shelia. Kyra smiled bringing her hands up and pointing her fingers towards her cap n bells. "You're hair looks likes fire, I like that." The woman's hair was very bright, and would always appear striking among those with darker hair, or in Kyra's case much paler. She wiggled her nose when Tock spoke of there being men like their reluctant volunteer in every crowd. She would hope as much since it made for a much better evening. Sadly, although the city had a wicked reputation, most of the people living there were quite civil. Her ears perked up and she twisted her lips a bit as she stared at the woman who mentioned something of a Bossman. Kyra wasn't sure what that meant exactly, but she understood going to get a drink. She didn't liked alcohol much, but they had only been in the city for a short time and she had yet to look around. She was even more excited about the idea, once Tock added the possibility of coin snatching. "I like the way you think Tock." She stood up from the chest and lightly jumped over it before she slipped over to Marcelo. She wrapped her arms around his neck, allowing her lips to brush against his ear as she spoke. The conversation only lasted a few ticks before Marcelo began to laugh loudly and gently kissing her. He turned away and continued to pack up along with the men whom he had hired to play for them, and were now caring his equipment. Kyra turned on her heels, bringing both hands to grip the cap n bells on her head and pulled it off. Her long, blondish-silver hair rested in two oval-like balls at both sides of her head. She had arranged it so earlier to make the cap fit better. She dropped her arm, allowing the cap to slip from her fingers and onto the chest. Reaching up again, she removed the leather strips that held her hair up, allowing it to fall down her shoulders and her back. If not for the excitement of the moment, she would have remembered to remove the makeup she wore, but her mind was else where. "Let's go."

[Minerva Agatha Zipporah]

Tock smirked at the girl and replied, "Nice ta meetcha, Sook." The compliment the girl had given her had raised her status in Tock's eyes, and thus earned her the new monicker. Kyra was a bit... simple minded, it seemed. But she was sweet, had some sass in her, and Tock was taking a liking to her. She watched as the girl sauntered over to her boss, presumably asking permission to go out for a drink. She arched an eyebrow curiously at the... interaction between the two, wondering at the nature of their relationship. But she dismissed it a moment later, shrugging it off as none of her business. "Awright, les'go!" she said when the girl returned, waving her along with her good arm. She didn't give second thought to the girl's performing make-up still being on. Appearances just weren't important to her, as evidenced by her own disheveled, grease stained clothes and the smudges of ink dotting her nose and cheeks. She led the girl into the first bar she came across, looking around to figure out what man would be easiest to flirt some free drinks out of. She usually went after either rich folk who looked like they could use to throw some money around, or lonely looking men who would be easy to manipulate. "Whatcha think, Sook?" she asked, planting a fist on her hip and scanning the possible targets. "See anybody whatcha think needs ta lose a few coins?"

[Kyra]

Kyra followed Tock as she led her through the streets. She could only giggle in amusement as the woman continued to call her everything except her actual name. Her odd and quirky nature was refreshing to the young kelvic and she saw it all in good fun. As they moved along, Kyra looked around her, taking in the sights. Although she was raised in the city, she had been taken away so long ago, and now that she was back it seemed different in some ways. Even when she was very young, she spent most of her time inside, but now with her renewed freedom, she could explore all on her own. She continued to look around, seeing places and remembering smells from her childhood. Kyra stopped several times, trying to recall if she'd been inside of a particular building, or if she'd even ventured onto the street at all. Whether Tock noticed this, Kyra wasn't sure, as she was focused on the task at hand while on-lookers offered her stares of all kinds. Once they entered the bar, Kyra suddenly paused in the doorway. The smell of ale, human odor, among other things wafted into her nose and took her aback. Not since her days in Sunberth had she smelled something so fowl, which brought back memories she'd rather forget. Kyra turned to face Tock as she planted a fist to her hip and scanned the room. Bringing a fist to her own hip, she began to scan the room as well. "Awright Sheila!" She wiggled her nose again, the different smells in the room seemed to all mixed together and irritated her even more. Still she stayed focused, her golden eyes searching the room person by person. Finally she found an interesting target. A man sat at the bar alone save for the expensive looking drink he had. His clothing also looked pricey, and the silver color in his vest caught her attention as well as the tall hat resting on the seat next to him. She smiled, lightly tapping her cheek with a single finger, before she pointed it directly at him. "There, the guy in the silver vest."

[Minerva Agatha Zipporah]

Tock looked around, eyes focusing on the man her companion pointed out. She gave a firm nod and said, "Awright, follow my lead..." She sashayed up to the man and slid onto the stool next to him, nodding Kyra to join on the man's other side. 'Boxing in' a man helped keep him off balance and distracted, as he had to keep looking back and forth between the two girls. He looked them over with disdain in his eyes, which made Tock immediately take a disliking to him. She hated being looked at like that. It made her instantly decide that she would try to take this man for whatever she could get, or else humiliate him just to teach him he wasn't better than everyone else. "Wotcher, Guv?" she asked him, eying him with a neutral expression. "Some day, eh? 'Owzaboutchoo buy a couple o' pretty girls a drink...?" He looked down at her, taking in her crude clothing, disheveled hair, and the arm in the sling. He then glanced at Kyra, still dressed in her jester's costume and makeup. He then rolled his eyes and said, "I don't think so. Surely there's a more... common place you could be...?" That pissed Tock off. She glanced at Kyra, giving her a conspiratorial look. Pinning this man to a wall and throwing knives at him might not be a viable option, but Tock wasn't about to let him talk down at her like this without being taught a lesson. Plus, she still wanted a drink, and wondered what it would take to get one out of him (even if it meant robbing him... Tock was no thief, but she'd consider this to be a justified lesson to the posh fool).

[Kyra]

Kyra nodded and followed Tock through the arrangement of tables, as they made their way to the bar. Most of the people in the room who saw them enter looked upon them with mixed emotions displayed about their faces. Kyra was used to being stared at, though not as up close, which allowed her a better look at their features. "Some of these people have really odd faces..."She thought to herself as she moved to the bar and hopped onto the seat Tock motioned to. She crossed her legs and leaned forward, getting a good look at him and the places he could possibly had a coin pouch. She continued to look him over as she searched his clothing with her eyes before looking back to his face. There was an oddness to his face as well, as if he had just sipped a lemon or something more sour. When he finally decided to glance at her, she leaned back into her chair and smiled innocently, only to turn her angelic features into a pout after his quick dismissal of them both. He spoke of a common place, and she instantly recognized it as an insult. Kyra was used to being talked down too, and that surly wasn't the worst she'd ever heard. She quickly exchanged glances with Tock and her mischievous nature began to take over yet again. Kyra jumped up on the table and slid a bit closer to him, making sure that he couldn't ignore her further. She crossed her legs again and slyly pushed his mug behind her and out of his reach. "Wotcher, Guv. Buy us a drink, yea?" The man stared harder at the strangely dressed girl in makeup, and back to the other oddly stressed her with her own form of make up. A devilish smirk stretched across his thin lips as he eyed both and gave them a once over. "Is that what this is about?" He said almost laughing as he looked closer at Kyra's body and turned to look just as much at Tock's. "I'll have to past. I prefer working girls with more..class."

[Minerva Agatha Zipporah]

Tock's eyes narrowed as the man continued to be rude. Though Kyra's antics were amusing her. Usually when someone mimicked Tock's style of speech, it was done as an insult. But this felt more like... flattery, which she liked. Though she'd have to teach her a bit of how to talk properly at some point. An idea occurred to her, and she gave Kyra a wink. "Tell ya what, Guv," she said to the poshy man, "I's buy the first round, aye?" She pulled out her money pouch, which had a fair bit of coin in it since she was saving for her trip to Zeltiva. Flashing all that gold at the man made him aware that she wasn't as poor as her clothing indicated (though of course, this was weeks of hard saving, whereas to this guy it was probably pocket change). "Ya looks like ya got good taste... 'ow 'bout I buys ya a nice bottle o' brandy..." He eyed her with doubt and snorted. "Sure," he said with a doubtful chuckle. "If you're buying..." Tock smirked and said, "Aye, Guv. No problem! C'mon, Sook," she nodded to Kyra, indicating the girl should follow. Tock headed towards the far end of the bar, where a bar maid was polishing glasses. She scanned the shelf behind the bar and spotted a bottle with a fancy looking label. "Aye, Sook," she said to the bar maid, keeping her voice low enough that Poshy wouldn't hear at the far end of the bar. "Bloke down 'ere says 'e likes us so much, what fer 'e's gonna buy us a bottle o' 'at..." she pointed at the bottle. "Ta go..." The bar maid pulled the bottle off the shelf, wearing an expression of doubt. "This?" she asked. "He said he'd buy it for you?" Tock grinned and took the bottle. "Aye," she said, "jus' ask 'im!" She held the bottle up so the man could see it, and pointed at it while mouthing the words, this one? He nodded, and made a beckoning gesture with his hand. Tock looked back at the bar maid and said, "See? 'E says yes..." The bar maid shrugged and said, "Hmm... well, okay then. Here you go..." Tock then grabbed Kyra's hand and led her out the door. On the way past Poshy she held the bottle up and said, "Thanks, Guv! Mighty generous of ya!" As they were exiting the building, the bar maid was telling Poshy how much the bottle cost, expecting him to pay as Tock indicated. While he was still confused and unaware that he'd just been conned, Tock yanked on Kyra's hand and said, "Les'go!" She broke into a run once they were out of sight of the doorway, taking a few quick twists and turns along the walkways until they reached a nearby canal. She hopped into a Ravasola and said, "Take us down 'ere!" giggling and grinning as she gestured vaguely to the far side of town. Laughing, she held the bottle of brandy up to Kyra and said, "An' 'at is 'ow ya git a Poshy Bloke fer ta buy ya a drink!"

[Kyra]

Kyra sat quietly on the table looking down at the snobbish man. She lightly wiggled her hips, and her legs dangled a bit close to his lap. She tilted her head to the side, her long blondish white hair draped over her shoulder and covered her arm. She searched him more with her eyes, looking for his coin pouch. A bell or so later, she noticed s slight bulge in his otherwise perfectly fitting vest. A smile grew upon her full lips and just as she was about to reach for it, Tock caught her attention by pulling out her own coin pouch. Kyra's eyes dazzled at the amount she had and , in the moment , she started to reach out for it. Suddenly, as Tock started to make a deal with the man, she pulled her glove-covered hand back and gently bit her finger tip. She wasn't sure of what the witty redhead was up too, but she always enjoyed a good show. She moved her head slightly, her golden eyes drifting back and forth between them as they continued their unfriendly negotiation. The young kelvic, kicked her leg more, and as she looked at the two, she noticed a well dressed woman walk past them all, with a look of disbelief drawn upon her face. Whether her look of distaste was because the girls had the nerve to come into their bar, or because she sitting on the table, Kyra would never know. Not a moment later Tock called for Kyra, and she quickly wiggled her narrow rump off the table, being sure to bump into the man on her way down. She followed Tock to the end of the bar, looking around as she had done the first time she walked by. The people continued to stare at them and Kyra was far too curious not to stare back. Turning around, she looked at the barmaid, who didn't seem impressed with either of them. She stood silently, wiggling her nose again, as the smell of the ale mixed unpleasantly with whatever perfume the woman was wearing. She listened closely to what Tock told the woman and smiled, only to hold back a giggle. She knew what a lie was, and although she didn't do it much with her mother, she had plenty of practice with Marcelo. Kyra looked down to the other end of the bar, as the others did and winked at the man who unknowingly helped their lie. Kyra smiled, baring her feline fangs in front of the barmaid just as Tock grabbed her arm and pulled her off. She looked back to the man in the silver vest as Tock addressed him, and thanked him for the brandy. "Thanks, Guv!" She managed to say as they left the building. Once they were outside, Kyra smiled and brought a fist to her hip. "Aye Sook.." She started to say before Tock burst into a sprint and pulled her along. She followed swiftly as they maneuvered through the walkways and made it to a canal. Kyra hopped aboard after Tock, and looked toward the direction she pointed for their quick getaway. Kyra giggled as she did and took the bottle of brandy and looked it over. Opening the bottle, she took one sniff and quickly handed it back to Tock.

[Minerva Agatha Zipporah]

OOCOMG! Kyra is SO adorable! I want to take her home with me... Once they were far enough away for pursuit to be unlikely, Tock directed the boat driver to let them off, and led Kyra to sit on a stack of crates near a random building. She had doubts about whether the young, innocent thing had much experience drinking (though Tock had started drinking at an even younger age than she guessed Kyra to be). She held the bottle between her knees to get the cap off again, and then raised it to her lips and took a small swig. She winced as it burned, but it was a nice, smooth burn. This was clearly good stuff. She wondered how much the bottle had cost, and whether the Poshy had ended up paying for it. She took another swig and handed it to Kyra. "Lil sips, Sook," she instructed her, assuming the girl had never had brandy before. "She burns a bit, so don't try fer ta drink 'er too fast, aye?" She leaned back against the wall, propping one foot on the crate before her and resting her good arm on her knee. This was nice... relaxing with stolen brandy, enjoying a quiet moment with a new friend. It was too bad Tock was leaving soon. Though maybe it would turn out Kyra was heading towards Nyka... who knew? "So 'ow long ya in town, Sook?" Tock asked. Something told her this girl hadn't spent her whole life in floaty-town...

[Kyra]

Kyra sat quietly on the boat and looked around at the never ending blue. She was somewhat used to taking boats, between the few times she left with her mother, and now with Marcelo. She smiled cheerfully as the boat ripped across the waves, causing the air to rush over them, and blowing her hair about. Once Tock directed the driver where to let them off, she followed along having no clue where she was. Kyra nodded, and after lifted herself up onto her toes, she pun lightly plopping down on the stack of crates. She looked around, still wondering where they were, and if they were too far for her to find her way back to Marcelo before night fell. The air was much the same as it was before, only a subtle difference that she barely noticed it. She turned back to her new friend and watched curiously as she reopened the bottle and drank from it. The mere smell alone had turned her away, and she had no idea why people seemed to like so much. Kyra took the bottle again and looked it over and brought it closer to her nose for another sniff. Over the few years that she had lived, she had come to know alcohol in various styles and none smelled nicely. She always found it curious to see the looks on people when they drank such liquids. Some even appearing as if they were in pain. Coughing and slapping their chest, as if they were choking or about to take their last breath. The young kelvic shrugged her shoulders and brought the bottle closer to her mouth, She stared closely at the liquid inside, and slowly slipped her tongue inside the mouth of the bottle and wagged it around. The bits of liquid she could feel against her tongue didn't taste all that bad, although she could only reach the droplets on the inside of the mouth. Finally she lifted the bottle up and wrapped her lips around it. A tick later, her eyes suddenly widen, and she quickly pulled the bottle from her lips and spat the liquid out. "Aye.." She said, a rosy glow burning into her pale cheeks. "Choo finish it Sook." She looked at Tock, her tongue slipping from inside her mouth to lick at the moister on her lips. She wrinkled her nose and huffed as she took in the taste again. "Maybe awhile, maybe not. 'E takes me everywhere." It was hard for anyone to understand Marcelo's bizarre scheduling. One moment they could enter to the city, and leave at the next light, while other times they could stay for days. "You staying long aye?" OOCI can imagine Marcelo's expression when she comes back home talking like that.

[Minerva Agatha Zipporah]

Tock snorted and laughed when the girl spat the drink out, taking the bottle from her so no more would be wasted. "Yer loss, Sook," she said, shaking her head and taking another swig. It burned so good going down, she couldn't help but grin. She shook her head at the girl's question and said, "Nah, I's outta 'ere what soon as I figgers 'ow fer ta git passage ta Nyka. 'En from 'ere, I's catchin' a boat fer Zeltiva. Gonna done gits me some schoolin', I is!" She was excited at the idea. She'd never had any schooling before. She didn't know what to expect, but it HAD to be better than being apprentices to stodgy Isur, or that crotchety old wizard in Syliras. "Gonna done learns me some more magic!" she said, taking another drink. "Makes me up some magic assistants, what so's as I can starts on my city..." She'd never forgotten the city from her dreams. Everything she'd done for the last four years, from leaving home, to her apprenticeships, to her new journey to Zeltiva, was done with that goal in mind. "'Ow's 'boutchoo, Sook?" she asked the girl. "Ya jus' gonna fer play jester, o' ya gots sommat else in mind, aye? Gots fer ta 'as a goal fer yerself, aye? Else what fer ye'll never git nowheres in life, aye? Aye."