Completed Diving in headfirst.

[Russell Wood]

Timestamp: 2nd day of Spring, 514.

Russell found himself sitting in a gondola, the breeze blew through his hair, it was a particularly cold breeze. He wasn't sitting in the ravosala alone at the moment, in fact there are a few other people in the boat with him. Russell had been trying to ignore the noise that a pair of kids have been making for a while, he was also sure he was not the only one doing so.

Why did he not get off you wonder? Russell was actually taking a trip around most of the city, he needed to find his way around, and this kind ravosalamen was giving him a tour. Of course Russell was nowhere as naive as to believe him, nor did he trust this at the moment. He was ready to run at the first sign of trouble, but if the man was telling the truth, there was no real reason as to doubt him.

The first place that Russell was intending on getting to was some place to eat, he had his own food back at his apartment, but even then he would prefer to save that for a point in time. He had his future plans to think off too, but the current atmosphere of the city wouldn't let him relax for some reason. Perhaps it was something he'd get used to in the future.

The ravosalaman had stopped right in front of a tavern, or a bar, Russell couldn't quite tell the difference. But he was never one for small details. Well there was always a good chance there was food inside, plus he didn't quite trust the ravosalaman at this moment, so he took his ticket then and there. He made sure to pay the guy too, before making his way off the small boat. A tip was always a good thing to pay, especially with a city like this. Russell had to make sure no-one noticed he was new to the city.

[Russell Wood]

Russell made his way toward the bar, he had left his cloak at home today, so the cold lake breeze was something that he found a little hard to ignore. While it was certainly a lot better than he had expected, so he couldn't find a good enough reason to complain. The tavern looked simple, and Russell couldn't have too much of that at the moment. He opened the doors, and stepped inside, the first place he made his way to was a table, he wanted one near the middle. No-one tended to question anyone that was sitting alone within a group, he had to make sure to not stand out as much as he could.

Russell took a glance around the bar, and it was right at that moment that he found himself approached by a woman. She looked like a barmaid, so that's the first thought that popped into his head. "Would you like something to eat or drink sir?" She seemed to be polite, although Russell could sort of tell she was new at the job, or somewhat uncomfortable for one reason or another.

The fact she was avoiding his line of sight was the first thing that he noticed, the next thing was that her knee was shaking a little bit. She wasn't particularly tall, standing at about 5 feet, Russell couldn't tell an exact measurement. Her hair was a dark brown, almost black, her eyes were the same color.

Russell sighed, maybe it was time to end the girls misery? "I'd like a mug of ale, and some food, anything is fine." He has never been a picky eater. "That'll be four copper Miza's and 5 silver Miza's sir. The girl said in a rather quiet tone. Russell handed her 1 gold Miza. "I'll be right back with your change."

Russell simply nodded as the girl came back with both his mug of ale, and his change. Russell took both, "Thank you very much, please do take care." He said with a bright smile. The girl's face flushed a little bit, and Russell finally figured out why she seemed to be so uncomfortable. Unlike your everyday protagonist, Russell wasn't a thick person, not even close. He watched the girl walk away, maybe she could be off some use to him. Russell took a sip of his drink and decided to think on this topic.

[Russell Wood]

As he watched the woman walk away, he could almost feel something at the side of his mouth. Once he realized that there were crumbs there, he could somehow tell that whatever she was blushing about, it was probably about this. Well, maybe he was your everyday protagonist. Or as thick as them anyway.

He took a sip from the ale as he looked around the tavern. It was a rather homely place. The people were talking amongst each other, Russell himself would rather not join in. But even then the expression on his face showed that he was rather relaxed. Maybe he could get used to this place. He looked up and saw the girl coming back with his food. "Here's your food sir." She said with a small smile as she placed the plate on the table. "Ah, thank you." Russell said to her as she walked away. The blush had mostly faded by now, so it was the crumbs on his face. Where the hell did he pick that up anyway?

"I guess I'll find out some other time..." He shrugged, before he started to eat. It was a rather plain meal consisting of bread, and soup. There were little pieces of meat floating within the soup. Russell ripped off a piece of his bread and begun to eat.

[Russell Wood]

Russell had been sitting in the bar for a while now; he had finished up with his drink, and food. He had also come to the conclusion that this girl was of no use to him as she was at the moment. He left the tavern and was now walking around the dock. He didn’t have an idea of what to do just yet, but maybe soon enough he’d think of something that’d keep him occupied. Something that’d further his skills to a point in which he can be truly satisfied with himself and what he’s doing.

He looked up into the night sky, the stars were out and the sky was almost completely clear. Russell found his mind drifting off, thinking about why he had come to this city, it was a good place for someone like him to get started in the bigger world. And to make a name for him; whether it was a small start or a great start, it was a start nonetheless which was something he was sure he wouldn’t be able to get in Syliras, not for a person like himself, and not in the way that he’d wanted.

Russell turned the corner and to his surprise he had seen a homeless person, a thought crossed his mind. It was dark, twisted even, but he approached the homeless man with a smile on his face. ”Would you like to get something to eat.” Russell said as he talked to the man, he made sure to keep eye contact. The rather old man looked up at Russell; the man was shaking a little from the cold. Yet the look in his eyes showed that he didn’t trust Russell. For good reasons too, had Russell been another person this man might have been a slave by this point. ”You can learn to trust me.” Russell had this simple suggestion in mind, he had practiced it a number of times. He didn’t close his eyes, but rather had his Djed carry the meaning to the man.

Russell of course had to follow this up, this was practice and nothing more, nothing less either. He could feel the heat building in the back of his head, slowly. If he wasn’t careful it’d move toward his eyes and then he’d be in trouble. Russell once more allowed his Djed to convey a message, one of an emotional response this time. A minor feeling of comfort seeped through the homeless man’s mind, before it was slowly crushed. Russell didn’t expect much, it’d take time to accomplish something. ”Are you sure you’re alright, you’re awfully quiet.” Russell’s tone was soft. Only a few more precise moves would be needed and then he might be able to get his desired outcome.

[Russell Wood]

Russell felt the heat in the back of his head intensify, but he couldn’t give in quiet just yet. Russell was surprised to hear the man’s voice. ”How do I kno’ I can trus’ ya.” The man looked up with eyes that showed a hint of fear, the shaking had grown larger, yet it hadn’t gotten any colder, the breeze from earlier had in fact died down a little. Russell could tell whatever he was doing was having some effect. Russell once more allowed an emotional response of comfort to seep into the air, it was subtler than before.

Russell was starting to get a feel for how much effort he needed to put in, the man’s shaking had slowly weakened. ”Relax, you don’t have to follow me at all if you don’t want to, in fact I could bring you, your food right here.” Russell said with a small smile planted on his face. He was preparing another suggestion, a little stronger than the last one, the heat was growing, and Russell could feel beads of sweat slowly dripping the back of his neck. His vision was starting to blur. ”Don’t let him go, he might not come back” Russell decided this was the perfect time to go act as if he was going to pick up the food.

But a rather dark smile appeared on his face once his back was turned to the man, ”Wait! Come back” The old man raised is voice for the first time, Russell turned back toward him. ”Hm? Is there something wrong?” Russell said with a small smile. ”There’s nothing, I don’t need any food...” The old man was rather prideful. Russell hadn’t expected this, but his vision was already beginning to blur, pushing past this might be a little dangerous, ”Are you sure? There’s a tavern with a great menu up for grabs. Take this money, and buy yourself some.” Russell handed the man a few silver Mizas. One more suggestion should do the trick Russell thought to himself, this was all he could afford to give to this man, anything more would cause more damage than he’d care to use. But the whispers were beginning to seep into his mind, the call to use more, more than Russell could possibly handle. He did his best to squash these, but alas it didn’t happen, they plagued every wizard. ”Take it, the man might leave and you’ll go hungry again for the night” The man’s preservation instincts won over, he’d taken the money. Russell smiled a smile that was a little too big, but hid it just as quick. ”Thank you so much!”

Russell merely nodded toward the man and began to walk off, his place of residence wasn’t too far off, maybe he’d come back again tomorrow. Practice on a few other homeless people, voiding was certainly something he could improve on. As he started to near Tarsin’s boarding house Russell found himself laughing, this was just way too fun. ”It really does feel like I’m finally at home!”

THE END

[Nemesis]

Russell Wood

Knowledge :

Skills

Skill	XP
Hypnotism	+2
Observation	+2
Socialisation	+1

Lores

*Ravok: Distrustful

Micellaneous :

Injuries

*None

Loot/Expenses

* -4cm, 5sm for food.

____________________________________________

Notes

*A nice thread, Russell. As to Hypnotism, you made it clear that your character wasn't blinking, but you don't say that he was making eye contact with the man...

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