Situational Benefits. (Brandon)

by **Cyq** on November 4th, 2014, 9:01 pm

My Words | Your Words | My Thoughts

What had once been a test of each-others wit was soon reduced to sharing short, sharp quips, it seemed. Maybe he just wasn't looking in the right places? Surely the man was just trying to goad some kind of reaction now, see how far he could push the boundaries before he really had to try anything. Goodness, if only this could all be swept under the rug. Funny, how he'd been enjoying such a thing mere moments ago. Now it was growing annoying. "If I wasn't looking in the right places, I wouldn't have found you, would I?" he struck back with not even a smile. "Besides.. if you really were involved in that incident just back there, the woman 'apparently' stealing money from a sailor of all people.. then you might just have the skills I need after all." There. He didn't know how he could make it any more blatant that he really was looking for someone to skim above and beyond the reaches of the law.

Then, of all things, he demanded information. You've got to be kidding me. It was quite obvious that the Pycon had absolutely no intention of giving out any information at all, for privacy and anonymity. He needed this though. He couldn't afford to have the man turn his back and disappear out of his mind and sight, never to return again. This was a risky position indeed, and one that the Pycon knew could either end him in a large pile of trouble, or with some powerful friends. He needed to take a jump and simply throw everything out there, one way or another. The way he rose back to his feet, smirked at the hedgehog. He knew exactly what he was doing. Looks like I really have no choice then.

He hated how desperate he sounded as he turned away from the exit from the courtyard and halted himself in place. "Alright. Wait there." His grip tightened on the little walking stick he held, to the point that he was almost worried it would break in his grasp. "I'm looking for a thief. Someone willing to steal a few items of value for me, in return for a few extra coin. Special items, actually; I don't think you'll find any value in them yourself, but I can tell you now that I most certainly do." He shifted in his place, uneasy. This was damnably crushing, to have to explains such things. The man could easily turn his head and walk away, and that would be it - a man would know of his secrets, could share it with whomever he wished. "Of course I'll pay for every item you recover.. but I'll need complete secrecy, you understand."

The narrow little courtyard seemed quiet enough for the Pycon to finally be able to speak freely. This man was a thief, there was no doubt in his mind. "I need you to steal me some bones from wherever you can find them. I don't care how you get them. Whether you have to find a hunter out in the Unforgiving, whether you have to raid a cemetery or from those that didn't make it in the Catholicon." Goodness knew if the man was ever truly interested in finding any of these things. That didn't really matter, as long as he did get them. "You find them, bring them to me, and I'll pay you. Handsomely. Understand?"

All he could really do afterwards was stand in place and let the awkward silence roll into place. This was a big job and they both probably knew it. If the man denied it, no problem, the hedgehog had a different job to throw at him. In fact, why didn't he start with that? Stupid, stupid! He could have just asked about a few small jobs, stealing here and there from people that he needed certain pieces of advice from. He could have sent the man after that animator to find and steal some notes from him - maybe one of the golems that he cherished so dearly, so that the hedgehog could pore over them and discover the secrets behind their sentient movement. He could have asked for a few small pieces here and there that eventually could have developed into something much bigger and more adventurous.

There were so many things the Pycon could have done. But he'd gone ahead and just asked the man to go graverobbing - this man, that he'd never even talked with before in his life. So stupid. "I understand if you're not interested. There are other small things that need to be done in the meantime.." He'd not even received an answer, and yet he felt foolish for even attempting.

by **Brandon Blackwing** on November 5th, 2014, 8:09 pm

x

Just as planned the Pycon revealed everything it had been vague about earlier. It wasn't much different from what he had expected honestly; the thing needed a thief to steal some items. What items it didn't say just yet, but it claimed said objects wouldn't be valuable to the bat, but were to the clay puppet. He didn't really get it. What was he supposed to retrieve then? Clay? Rocks? In any case, the figurine promised to pay him more than well for his efforts, given that he'd accept and keep things secret of course.

And then the nature of the items was revealed and the bat's smug grin faded from his features. This clay mouse wanted him to steal [i$bones?[/i] Bones of all things, skeletal remains of dead creatures one could find without much trouble if one only cared to upturn the earth a bit. Seriously? Bones? That was it? And this creature had been looking all over Lhavit to find a thief just for that? What was this for shyke? Was this a damn joke? Was it mocking him? Was it playing games with him, trying to pick a fight? No petching way! Brandon was not to be looked down on, he would not tolerate that! Steal some bones! Honestly?

“I understand if you're not interested,” it continued, probably not having seen the Kelvic's angry expression, the mouth that had become nothing more than a thin line, the eyes that fired lightening at it and the brows that scowled furiously. Well, they were pretty far apart, it was to be expected. “Not interested? NOT INTERESTED!? You have to be petching kidding me! I thought you were going to give me an exciting job proposal and you want me to find you some bones?! BONES? ” The words were hissed between his teeth, filled with anger and flung at the clay creature with the speed of sound.

“All you need to do is find someone with no qualms for digging up your corpses! Like you need skills for that! Don't go asking people like myself for such tedious tasks!” It was plainly obvious that the bat felt insulted, but really, really insulted. It had been a while since he'd been this angry, his pride had been wounded, stabbed, pierced through. Pride could very well be one of the things that hurt most of all if it was successfully attacked. Usually, the bat had a pretty thick skin, letting insults and other anger-inducing things bounce off and ignore them. But this, this was of a whole different caliber. This was not something he could let slide.

“As for your 'small things', ” the bat raged on, his voice having recovered, having stopped displaying his fury but now instead of spitting fire it was now cold as ice. “You have ten ticks to explain. Perhaps you are lucky and it interests me, but if that is not the case...” He didn't even bother to finish his sentence, the Pycon would know what that unspoken threat meant, what would happen if he failed to pique the thief's interest. One of the few people who might have been able to help him out would leave, disappearing in the crystal city, never to be bumped into again. Well, the odds were pretty low of seeing Brandon again once he did not want such thing to happen. Besides, in the darkness of the night -which, so he had decided, would be the time frame he'd be awake and about- it would be rather hard to recognize a man you'd only seen when he had been sitting on a roof. Not to mention that Brandon didn't stand out as much as the clay mouse.

x

credit goes to Euthisa

by **Cyq** on November 5th, 2014, 8:28 pm

My Words | Your Words | My Thoughts

At first, he thought that the man knew. He'd dreaded the thought - if he knew about Malediction, and was vehemently against it in all forms, then goodness knew what could happen now. He could go anywhere, tell anyone. A Pycon was trying to hire someone to steal the bones of humans and other creatures in order to create his Legacies. Everything would be finished for him. He'd have to leave the city and travel back across the Unforgiving to find Pyconia again and remain there until further notice. Perhaps he'd never leave again, struggling to live alongside his parents by maledicting what little he could find. It wouldn't be a good living, but it'd be better than the penalties he'd be faced with if he ever remained in Lhavit.. or returned to it thereafter.

But then, he continued, and what had once been a rather depressed expression turned to one of surprise, then confusion. Does he even know what I need the bones for.. does he even care? That shouldn't matter. As long as he'll do it. Not that he seemed like he really wanted to at all. "You think if it was that easy, I'd be standing here and trying my best to find an accomplished thief to do it, huh?" He kept his tone down, unlike the thief - they were still close to the streets, worse still that he was sitting on a roof and shouting about digging up bones. This wasn't Sunberth, for petch's sake! "If digging up the bones of any old sod was that easy, I would be doing it myself!" Well, maybe not. He needed a go-between to get that stuff out of the way, unless he wanted to be caught in the act. "I need the bones of heroes, pilfered from beneath monuments.." He knew he was just contradicting himself now, running in little circles in an attempt to please the man so that he'd just do the job, but he didn't care any more.

"Small jobs, I need magical materials. I need the research materials in the Divine's Gateway, and I need some of the devices that Maeki Cho houses in her studio." He needed everything and anything he could get his hands on. "Ha, if you think you could get into the Bhanari Library, I'd ask for a few books from there!" He was just listing off his wildest dreams now. Little pieces and big pieces from whoever he could point the man at. Things that he could ponder over, potentially use or learn from. "You think you can get any of those, or do I have to tell you that some alchemy books in that infamous Alchemy Lab owned by Sakana look particularly interesting..." He'd never seen any of them, never even gone inside.. he didn't know where they might be, if there were any at all. He was just curious to see how far he could push this.

If this didn't work, then he was done trying to negotiate with the man - he'd just have to try and find those bones himself, find another thief to collect these objects. Maybe strike bargains with the owners, if that was even possible. He didn't say these things though. He'd wasted enough time trying to play the game. He'd obviously lost, since he was almost playing right into the thief and offering him whatever jobs he pleased as long as the hedgehog got something out of it at the end. It'd be a shame, since he was always looking for someone willing to fetch him an extra few magical trinkets.

by **Brandon Blackwing** on November 10th, 2014, 7:56 pm

x

Of course, after Brandon’s outburst, the rat-like clay creature went on the defensive, doing its utmost best to make it seem like an attractive task worth performing, but the bat was not one to let himself be swayed when his mind had settled on a different opinion. Digging up bones was not something he was willing to spend time on, whether they were those of one or other hero or not. Besides, there were no heroes in Lhavit, much less grave monuments erected on their place of passing. Freaking mouse did not seem to have been in Lhavit for a long while yet, otherwise it would have known the Lhavitian heroes of legend were still alive and well, in the form of the Night Lord and the Day Lady, as well as the protector and patron goddess of the crystal city; Zintila.

Not to mention that actually grabbing a pickaxe and starting to dig at the foot of a statue would be that easy. No one could pull that off, no one. Thief or no, even a simpleton knew that chopping away the stones around a monument was both too obvious and too loud, attracting the attention of everyone who lived nearby. Stupid shyke didn’t need a thief to do its bidding but a fool, sadly for the Pycon, but a combination of the two terms were not considered ‘accomplished’ in their profession.

Strangely enough, the Kelvic did not have any qualms with the nature of the task itself, whatever purpose the clay creature had in mind with the peg used to attach muscle and flesh to. Being one who worshipped Dira –and was quite devote in some regards- that was rather peculiar, no? Still, while the bat did have respect for the Queen of Death and her domain of influence, he did have his own opinions and thoughts on the matter. To Brandon, no death was supposed to be in vein, anyone who took a life should take responsibility, whether it was by eating the one they’d killed or using their bones to make cutlery from, he couldn’t care less. As long as their life hadn’t been wasted, Kihala’s gift was not to be spilled, nor was it to be imitated by the likes of Animators and their absurd studies.

Whoever had managed to steal the secret to life from the Goddess of Life was to be punished severely, they were to be tortured by both Ssena and Krysus for all eternity! However, as a fellow thief, he could not help but respect the person and their successful heist, but that was beside the point.

Anyway, in Brandon’s opinion it was better to use corpses to create something, to help sustain a life in order to redeem for taking the life of said corpse –before it had been but a dead body, of course. Be it –as aforementioned- by eating the dead person, letting it rot and using it to fertilize the earth to grow larger crops or just feeding It to whatever scavenger wanted it. Just like he had done. Just like everyone should do, that too was a way of honoring the dead. Though it deviated strongly from what people usually understood the meaning of that phrase to be. No matter though, Brandon did not expect people to understand him or his actions, but he did believe that his determination and devotion in that matter needed to be respected.

While he’d given the Pycon ten ticks to explain what the ‘small jobs’ included, he indeed had meant ten ticks, having planned on leaving if he would have heard nothing particularly interesting. That was however not quite necessary, for the tiny creature fashion out of clay seemed to have a whole different view on ‘small jobs’ than most other … er… individuals? To Brandon, small jobs meant easy jobs, things he was able to complete without thinking, in no time. Simple tasks, like putting on a boot or buckling a belt or so, though that did not apply to the Pycon. Instead, it started listing a whole lot of rather difficult objectives, starting with the easiest, but ending with what might be the most protected building in the whole of Lhavit. The alchemist Sakana’s place, some sort of palace with its own private army of guards. Along with the Library, which was also rather well defended, though why exactly one would even bother to steal books from there was a mystery to the Kelvic thief.

If one really wanted to obtain one of the books of the Library, the only thing one had to do was write a book themselves, offer it to the Library and then one could just borrow any tome and storybook one wished to take a look at. Not worth his time. Sakana’s place though… Or Maeki Cho’s..! Especially that one made him want to accept, if only to get inside to wreck the whole place. Why? Because Maeki Cho was one of those despicable Animators, mages who tinkered with Life itself, deeming themselves worthy of donning Kihala’s robes and create living creatures on a whim. They should be taught a lesson, be delivered a message. And who was a better courier than Incognito? Yes, that was something he’d spend some time on, though he didn’t need the Pycon for that.

In fact, while the jobs themselves interested the bat quite a bit –well, some of them anyway- Brandon had no intention of lending the mouse his aid. It was obvious what said critter wanted with the ‘devices’ from Maeki’s business; it wanted to search for the secret of bestowing life on the inanimate as well and that was enough reason not to help. Not a chance. Not to mention that the thieving Kelvic really did not feel like helping out anyone who had just insulted his skills. Digging up bones, nonsense. Just bribe an undertaker for that. Also, the tone with which the mouse had spoken; as if it challenged the thief, not quite trusting in his abilities, almost mocking him. Again.

Still, the ideas were more than welcome though. Being paid a lot for any item he recovered was tempting though, maybe if he managed to breach Sakana’s laboratory he might bring something back. Maybe. Lips were pursed in thought and a goatee was stroked ponderingly. “I’d say thanks, but no thanks…” Brandon started, voice trailing off, “Though I have to admit that one of your business proposals does seem exciting enough to me. Whether I will bring something back is a different matter, but in any case, suppose I manage to get into Sakana’s alchemy lab and suppose I wanted to get a bit of coin for my efforts and brought something back for you, I’ll deliver here. Got that?”

He didn’t actually expect an answer, more protest or just hope-filled silence. “The price for each item will be negotiated upon delivery,” the bat added as an afterthought, “Whether it will cost you a fortune or not depends on how much fun I’ve had and the amount of trouble encountered.” Before the tiny creature had time to complain or say even a word, the thief grinned smugly and raised a hand in a parting greeting, stepping forwards, retreating from sight entirely now before starting to dash. A jump launched him to the other side of the alley, stringing a roll to his landing to disperse the force of impact, losing only a tiny bit of momentum as he half-crawled back to his feet, half ran towards the other edge already. From there he dropped onto a small balcony, vaulted over the railing without letting go of it until he swung downwards, landing lightly on the balls of his feet, street level.

A grin crept up his face, a mischievous one some would describe as one that promised not much good. Those people would be correct, as the bat indeed did not have much good in store for a certain animator’s workplace. However, that was something for the future, for now he just walked through the small alley and into the busy crowd of the Azure, mingling with it and blending in effortlessly, disappearing in the sea of bodies.

OOCRight, I believe this will be my last post for this thread. It has been fun, thank you.

x

credit goes to Euthisa

by **Cyq** on November 10th, 2014, 8:20 pm

My Words | Your Words | My Thoughts

He had nothing else to say. He was completely out of breath, out of ideas. If none of these things even remotely interested the man, then there was no use to be had from him at all, and the mouse was simply wasting his time even bothering in trying to convince him that there could be good found in it. He'd have to find another thief, if that was possible.. one that would be more malleable. He knew full-well that some of the jobs were quite easy, and that others would be nigh-impossible - there couldn't be any harm in giving a bit of variety though, and seeing which ones the man would take. As long as he took something, anything. As long as the mouse got something out of their deal, whether it was a useless little scrap or thousands of Miza's worth of magical materials and tools. He was desperate for something!

Then, he got a break. He's interested... not that he really made it obvious. The mouse had given up trying to tell whether the man was purposefully hiding his emotions or whether he really was completely disinterested in their entire conversation. Perhaps he should have put his Auristics to use, in the hopes of actually being able to read the man and understand a little more about his history and current intent. That could have changed the entire conversation. I could have found out so much... He'd wasted the chance. Next time he wouldn't throw away such a golden opportunity in the middle of a conversation, that much was certain. Perhaps he'd be able to get away with a certain piece of Sakana's alchemy lab if he did, and at a fraction of the intended price as well.

Although he'd not been robbed, per say, he certainly felt like it. The thief disappeared without another word, as if the deal was already made - indeed it was, but it wasn't Cyq that had really struck it at all. Now he was going to end up paying through his snout for just fragments, if they were even fragments. The man might end up not appearing at all, and that would be the end of it. Cyq had no clue what Sakana may hold behind those doors, either way. He'd never made it inside the Alchemy Lab, and in all honesty, had no intent to get behind their either. He knew that Alchemy and its practices were the domain of Harameus. That didn't mean that he couldn't grab a few pieces here and there and keep them away until he needed to sell them again. He wouldn't be dabbling in the forbidden arts - just making a little extra money.

Thoughts ran through his head so fast that his little feet remained glued to the ground for several chimes after the smug thief had ridden away and disappeared. The rush eventually settled though, and left behind it bitter anger that had the little creature stomping its foot and nearly slamming the wood of his walking stick against the nearest wall. He didn't, of course.. he only stomped his clay foot a few more times in rage and utter exasperation at his own foolishness. Then he began a slow walk back to the Towers Respite. It'd be a long walk, and he'd have plenty to think about along the way, after all. He'd willingly let himself become an utter puppet for a complete stranger, to get them to sell him the smallest tidbit of information from a place that might not even have anything useful to the Pycon at all, and for a potentially exorbitant amount of money! Foolish, foolish, foolish.

by **Nivel** on December 22nd, 2014, 11:08 pm

Cyq :

Brandon :

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Closed Situational Benefits. (Brandon)