Hai Wagon Blues (closed)

[Colombina]

"When I was just a baby my mama told me. Son, Always be a good boy, don't ever play with guns. But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die" At third bell, a linen wrapped object was delivered to the Courtyard of Jackals on a cheap litter. A Red Jackal and Fox were posted to the gates and left with the task of opening the crude construct. Beneath the swaddling was a purple face beaten to malformation and a body unnaturally folded in half. "Syna's tits, what is that?" said the Fox covering his nose against the smell. "That's a Wagoneer," the Red Jackal pointed to the brand on his forearm, "Guard from the Hai wagon." "Petch me," the Fox sucked a breath. "So what are we going to do, Sir?" "We're going to pass this petching miza right up the ladder, boy and pretend we never saw it." The Red Jackal waved the litter onward and into the heart of the Courtyard. Let the Hawks worry about this one. ~~~ Day 15, Summer 512 "I don't underssstand. What'sss the color matter if the brew worksss?" Rasken was sulking again, irritated that Hajirah was tossing out perfectly good tinctures because they were as she phrased it: "a shade more puce than vomit". "If it looks bad," the girl explained patiently, "People will think it does bad. We can't sell it." When she argued with him, it made patrons nervous. The Dhani always seemed on the border of finally morphing and biting Hajirah to death. "I could ssssell it." "Rasken, the last time you told me that we ended up getting a Fox visit." "That man didn't know the differenssse between his assss and a hole in the sssand." The girl blushed, still moved by forceful language. "Please?" she asked. Rasken sat on his stool behind the lectern turned bar and didn't say anything else. Hajirah had learned it was his version of permission. If she turned out to be wrong, he still wanted the ability to be able to say it was all her decision. The girl turned away from Rasken to deal with the recently arrived gilded. That made five customers in the room. Not bad considering the hour. "Sorry for making you wait, Thalia," she said anxiously, "I asked him to make a new one, the color was all wrong. Custom tonics are better in the second batch anyway. Not that the first batch is bad, but you know what I mean. I hope." Despite being able to deal with Rasken in a temper, any Eypharian above her own class plucked at Hajirah's nerves. It was a relief when she was able to flit away to the Faroul's table. His sort never made her tense. Most of the Benshira were really quite nice. She liked them, but she dare not admit it to her parents. They already thought her affected for adopting a Dhani. "Here we are, Abi." A dose of Jackal Legs was carefully set on the low table before him. She mistook his contemplative stare at the table's surface for admiration of her art. "I did the snakes myself. I think I've gotten better since then. I might try repainting them if Rasken lets me." A new customer entered the tent, making her bob in a quick goodbye and hurry to take care of him. "Please take a s---" Her invitation was silenced as the man grabbed one of her wrists and slammed it to a table. Just as fast, he withdrew a knife and severed two of her fingers. Rasken's stool had been flung to the ground. "Hold it," he commanded. Grabbing Hajirah by the hair, the same knife was raised to the weeping girl's throat. "I did that for attention. I'll do more for control." He scanned the room, "Don't move. Especially you, snake. You can get me in a rush, but not before I detach her head." Rasken gave a hiss that could curdle blood. "I'm here for one thing," the man explained, "Justice. My brother was on that Hai wagon and now he ain't. He ain't nowhere. And all the Jackals shrug at me when I ask where he is. They don't take me serious, so you two," he eyed Thalia and Faroul. "Have half a bell to go and make them care or I'm going to open this Khur-va up like a pig on Swan parade." He grinned, "And maybe she doesn't matter to you, but something tells me this Dhani likes her. And he'll get you moving."

[Thalia]

OOCI can't apologize enough for Thalia's absence this summer. She'll be up and running in Sept. if you're still willing to continue this thread. I'd like to, but I completely understand if you don't want to because of her absence. Zero hard feelings will be had! [Placeholder]

[Faroul]

OOCHey Thalia, my apologies, I've been busy too. I'd also like to continue this quest In September and am excited to write with you!