[Azure Market] The Ins and Outs [Arden]

by **Arysana** on November 16th, 2013, 12:29 am

81 Autumn 513 AVLet me know if this date is ok, please! (:

The market was as it always was at such a bell, the skies were dark and stars clear, air filled with sweet teas and the rhythms that came form those that busked. Sana didn't quite have an aim in terms of things to buy and restock, but she still kept quite some coin fasted around the loop of her trousers, in case she were to find something of interest as the evening progressed.

She'd forwent her usual cloak and backpack, having found the air cool but not so much as cold when she left, but slowly regretting her choice. It was already a bell and a half past dusk rest, and the crowds of the market were well and truly at their fullest. She brushed the bulk of her hair over her shoulder, before ensuring her fringe covered the scar that bore down her left cheek, and straightened her clothing as she moved towards a stall still some while away. From what she could see there was a collection of colourful stones and gems, and although she surely had no intention of any purpose, her eyes was still drawn to the place.

She moved from a small crowd of people to a few mere stragglers, and felt the slightest tug to her side. She swore in Nari before acting without a second, coherent thought. She turned and grabbed the forearm of the first person she saw, immediately jumping to conclusions, "You." She went for a punch.

OOC: Stuff that Probably Needs Clearing Up :

by **Ardan** on November 16th, 2013, 1:30 am

Ardan was out, prowling. He had a lot to think about, and not much to take his frustrations out on. All he could do was ponder the problems that had been plaguing him since the last season.

Suddenly, he was at the market. Even at this bell, it was full of people. He was hoping to get something, perhaps a second dagger or some throwing knives. Something to help him with the only thing he knew how to do.

And, as if the gods themselves were listening to his thoughts, a man ran past him, a coin pouch disappearing along with him. Smaller, lightweight, left side. Only five Mizas. Nothing too bad. However, after that, a human woman grabbed his arm.

"You," she growled as her fist sailed toward him. Even with no real training in unarmed combat, his instincts kicked in and he caught the fist just before connection.

"Now, now," he grinned. "Let's not jump to conclusions. I haven't stolen anything from you."

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by **Arysana** on November 16th, 2013, 5:02 am

Her punch was caught before it connected, and she about to go for another when her green eyed target claimed his innocence. "Now, now," he said, grinning down at her, "Let's not jump to conclusions. I haven't stolen anything from you."

She gaped at him for a moment, eyes narrowing as she processed her words and the lightness of her loop. "Oh, right?" She questioned, her fist still caught."How would I know that? If you were innocent, then how do know I was pick-pocketed? And if it wasn't you, than would you care to point me in the right direction?" Her gaze was hard and fierce, though she did her best to remind herself of how recent it was that she last sprained her wrist.

She swallowed hard, then. It wasn't as though a great sum was taken from her, but it was money that she'd earned from having to put up with Professor Amitican. If it wasn't for such coin in the first place, she'd have quit half a season ago.

by **Ardan** on November 18th, 2013, 6:15 pm

"Oh, right?" She questioned, her fist still caught." How would I know that? If you were innocent, then how do you know I was pick-pocketed? And if it wasn't you, than would you care to point me in the right direction?"

"That is a good question," he grinned. "But, you see, I've been stolen from as well. Relatively small amount, but made through a lot of difficult work. Same as you, I suspect." He released her hand and gave her a slight bow.

"And the thief went that way," he said, pointing behind. "You won't catch him."
Speech

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by **Arysana** on November 24th, 2013, 3:39 am

The man to which she spoke kept her fist for a moment, and she felt her brazen and her bold falter. "That is a good question," He gave her a grin, and she had to swallow hard and narrow her eyes and blatantly ignore the startling colour of his to keep her composure. Who in Gods' names did he think he was?

"But, you see, I've been stolen from as well. Relatively small amount, but made through a lot of difficult work. Same as you, I suspect." He released her hand and gave a cursory bow, to which she absently reciprocated, and nursed the slight burn to wrist. His grip was no stronger than she'd have thought at first glance, but she still thought that perhaps she would have been able to escape the slight ache. She was wrong.

She was ready and raring to give an apology, only to find her words smothered in annoyance upon hearing his final little say."And the thief went that way. You won't catch him." A bitter sigh escaped her lungs, and she through a sour look in the direction that she was pointed in. "Gods, damn it."

She glanced back at her fellow victim, running a hand through her tangled copper hair as the other fell to her empty belt hole. Without even her small amount of coin, she felt rather poor. "So, what?" She continued, feeling bittersweet about the information. "You seem to have a firm grasp on the situation, was there something stopping your yourself from hunting down the damned pick pocket?" She made care to ensure she did not come off too rude, knowing her own brash and brazen tendencies. To this affect, she gave a light, however humourless, giggle, though unable to quell the sigh that followed. "Or was what was taken form you simply not worth the effort?"

She felt washed up and cheated, lingering to chat and rant to the stranger lest she wander in petulance the long route home.

by **Ardan** on November 25th, 2013, 2:04 am

The panther chucked lightly at her frustration, earning him a glare. He held up one hand in mock surrender while moving the other to his belt. He removed something, grinning.

"Well, you see, why catch him when all he is holding is to bags of rocks?" He held up the stolen pouches, tossing the larger to her.

"Poor fellow must have been in quite a hurry. Didn't even notice me take his dirty coin right from his hands." He laughed at the woman's expression.

"I am called Ardan," he stated, holding out a hand. "And you?"

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by **Arysana** on November 25th, 2013, 3:54 am

He gave a playful, proud looking grin, retrieving something from his own belt loop. "Well, you see, why catch him when all he is holding is to bags of rocks?" She flinched at what ever it was he carried was tossed to her, managing to catch it with a thud. It took her a moment to understand what she held, and gave a wide eyed glance to the man. 'How in Gods' names did he-' "Poor fellow must have been in quite a hurry. Didn't even notice me take his dirty coin right from his hands."

Sana gaped at him for a moment further, not quite sure what had the man so cool and comfortable with the feat he'd just performed. He gave a laugh at her, and she snapped her jaw tightly shut. "I am called Ardan," he - Arden - continued, extending a hand in greeting. "And you?"
Sana bit her lip, not quite trusting the man - whether he stole from her, or stole from the one that did, she wasn't convinced in the slightest that he had had any intention of returning the coin. She let out a light sigh, giving him a firm hand shake. "Call me Sana." Her words were as stern as shake, and the look she sent him harder.

It was an odd situation, she'll say that in the least, and she wasn't all too sure were to go from there on out. It didn't take her too long a pause before she posed a question, deciding that suspicious or not - if she could gain some knowledge from him, then that was what she was going to try and do. "If you don't mind me asking, just how did you do that? Picking a pocket is one thing, but a switch is something else entirely, I would imagine."

by **Ardan** on November 26th, 2013, 12:20 am

"Actually, it was much simpler than one would think. I won't reveal the entire trick, but the hardest part is speed. I, however, have been known for speed."

Heh, heh. That sounds dirty!

Shut up.

Ardan ignored the voices' increasingly annoying argument. He had always had a love-hate relationship with them. Love, because they could help him at times. Hate, because of everything else. Especially the fact that he couldn't remove them.

However, he got along swimmingly with Iso. The quiet voice seemed to guide him in the best possible direction, without even speaking.

"And, I can see that you don't trust me, even though I got you your money back. In fact, you probably think I just stole it from you. Check your pockets, and find that nothing is missing."

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by **Arysana** on November 26th, 2013, 1:58 am

"Actually, it was much simpler than one would think. I won't reveal the entire trick, but the hardest part is speed. I, however, have been known for speed." Sana bit back her wicked, vulgar remark, raising and eyebrow as he continued onwards with his words. "And, I can see that you don't trust me, even though I got you your money back. In fact, you probably think I just stole it from you. Check your pockets, and find that nothing is missing."

She opened her mouth in protest, before shutting it tightly and searching her pockets as Arden had suggested, careful not to let her gaze leave him for quite too long. "Ok," she conceded, unwilling to trust him yet, ensuring that she kept hold of her coin. "You're right. I did think that it was you that stole my coin - giving it back to me in an effort to gain my trust and get out with little to no punishment." She rocked on the balls of her feet, then, shortly glancing about the market place. "Even still, it should be noted that the Shinya are almost always watching, so I doubt that the thief, be it yourself or another, will not last too long."

She tilted her head slightly, her copper curls falling and tumbling about as she did so. She was almost challenging in the way she spoke, "That's quite enough otherwise, I suppose." Her words had other question be brought straight to mind, and she straightened her back and crossed her arms, tucking her coin away and guarding her beloved charm bracelet, before leaning in and up. "Just to sate my own curiousity, if you will so indulge me, what line of work do you find yourself in? You mentioned that you yourself had to go to much trouble to earn your keep, and I can't help but wonder your own toils? Especially since mine are little more than keeping up with a vain professor."

by **Ardan** on November 26th, 2013, 4:22 pm

"That, milady, is a secret that I do not give away lightly. I made that mistake once. Never again." He looked around the market, observing some of the goods for sale. Perhaps it was a good time to purchase some supplied, namely food. He was running out. Perhaps a small bedroll as well, sleeping on the ground, even as a cat, was growing rather uncomfortable.

"What is your work? I can see the weariness in your eyes. To many oaths to too many people, perhaps?" Truth be told, he had no great skill in observation. However, there were telltale signs for someone who was working too hard.
Speech

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Closed [Azure Market] The Ins and Outs [Arden]