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Post by Alexandryne nó Shahrizai on Jun 25, 2010 23:54:59 GMT -5
I couldn't believe it. Handel, a youth with whom I had shared my fortune with once or twice, had betrayed me. I had let him sleep in the soft hay of a barn that I'd broken into and he had stolen my purse while I slept! Admittedly, I had stolen the money myself, but it was different stealing from the rich, they could spare it. Stealing from another person who lived on the streets was the basest treachery in my mind.
I sighed, pulling my threadbare cloak more tightly around me - now it was raining on top of everything else. I always tried to save some coin so that I could find shelter in the rain or snow, and now I was completely out of luck. Estella had been right; I was too trusting.
Now I had to find a mark, or shiver the rest of the day away in the cold and rain. It was harder to rob people in the rain, for they kept everything close for warmth, but I had done it before and would probably have to do it again. I lurked along the stalls of the marketplace, looking for a likely target, when I spotted a man whom I decided would do very well.
He looked well off, not ostentatious, but his clothes were well made and you could see the quality in the detail, right down to the stitching on the tops of his boots. Yes, he would do very well indeed.
Stealthily, I began to shadow him from stall to stall, watching as he looked at the various goods, and paying special attention to where he pulled his purse from when he bought something. Once I thought I had him well and truly marked, I moved through the crowd and "bumped" him, dislodging his purse and palming it as I muttered, "Excuse me, sir," with my head down and just kept walking. Success!
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jun 28, 2010 19:10:00 GMT -5
I made a point to wander from my home at least once a day, I felt as though if I were to sit at my house for too long I would go mad. I spent too much time thinking and muttering to myself over this and that, and I found I was loosing all ability to interact with others.
This day was like most days, I rose in the morning, broke my fast, delt with what ever paper worked needed to be handled, and then departed to spend the afternoon within the city walls. Without friends I seemed to come to bordem quite easily, going to the little shops and galleries quickly lost their charm. I had thought about the Night Court, but something about going there made my skin crawl, and not in a good way.
Instead I walked, here and there, hoping to find some form or solace. Today I was wandering through the market stalls, hoping to find something interesting to purchase for Lilli. I was walking down one of the lanes when a dark haired girl bumped into me. She quickly excused herself and wandered past me, not looking up or making much notice of me. I'd had it happen to me before, living in Marsilikos all those years had taught me a thing or two about watching your surroundings. Something about her was odd and for some reason I felt as though I was missing something. Had that been...? Did I feel fingers...? My hand reached for my purse and noticed immediately that it was gone.
I turned and heading after the girl, watching her from behind as I did my best to catch up. I'm not sure why I didn't just yell for the guards, or why I didn't just run to catch up and snatch away my coin. She didn't look like a courtier, her clothes were too tattered and I couldn't figure out what a girl like her was doing out here. Never the less I simply followed, wondering where she was headed, and why she needed my coin.
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Post by Alexandryne nó Shahrizai on Jun 28, 2010 22:56:12 GMT -5
I was so excited by my success that I did not bother to take note of whether or not the mark had made me and was following, or worse, calling the guard. A rookie mistake, but in the rain and gloom, I felt secure. And I was freezing and just wanted to get out of the cold. But, food first - I hadn't eaten in days. I was starting to grow accustomed to the gnawing in my belly, which was not a good sign.
I stopped at a vendor who was selling hot broth and dug some coin out of my newfound purse, which was nice and full and would feed me for several days, and let me sleep out of the rain besides. I eagerly took the soup and moved aside, drinking it down and savoring the warmth in my belly ... I almost wanted to cry, it was so good. Now to find a place to sleep...
I trailed along, trying to decide where to stay, somewhere that wouldn't take too much coin, nor be too rough. On the way, I saw the al Tyre brothers, two boys that were seven and nine and whose parents had died in the plague, begging in the rain. I cursed under my breath, counting the coin with a sigh. I couldn't let children sleep in the rain, could I? I bought them a loaf of bread to share, and then gave them the lion's share of my coin so they could find a good place to sleep. Lavonia at the Mendecant would let them stay there so long as they had the coin, she was softhearted enough not to turn them out - provided they had the coin.
Well, now where would I sleep? I had about enough left to talk an inkeep into letting me sleep in the stable, not ideal, but better than nothing. Still, the lightness had left my step, and I began trudging along to find a place to stay before it got any colder.
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jun 29, 2010 1:15:07 GMT -5
I watched the girl, skirting through the streets and using her stolen coin to purchase soup. I watched as she wandered through the cold, seeing two young boys that she shared her new purse with. I watched and I wondered what in the Gods names she was doing out here and where her parents were. It wasn't even the money that bothered me, though I hated to be stolen from, it was more then that. I felt bad for her.
I followed her much more, watching as she seemed to be headed in a particular direction. I wondered where she was going or what she was doing, obviously with out home or family for what ever reason. My mind went over how sad it was and how I would have felt if that was Lilli on the streets. The girl was attractive to say the least and I couldn't help but stare a little and wonder how old she was.
"Excuse me?" I called out to her from a few paces behind, though I wasn't sure why. My mouth had just sort of opened before I knew what I was going to say. What was I going to say... I think you just spent my coin?
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Post by Alexandryne nó Shahrizai on Jun 29, 2010 21:06:49 GMT -5
I sighed, having been turned down at two inns ... sometimes the innkeeps didn't want homeless urchins hanging about in their stables, and who could blame them? But on a night like this, it was a cruelty that I could not understand. I was already soaked to the skin, the hood of my cloak having falling back and plastering my dark hair to my forehead.
Trudging along, I suddenly heard a voice nearby, addressing me? I turned, recognizing immediately the man whose purse I had stolen. Caught, I was about to run, when it occurred to me that a night in jail might be better than a night in the rain. I wasn't thinking too far ahead about the penalty for stealing, so intent was I on a warm bed to sleep in.
"Here," I said, handing him back his purse, now considerably lighter. "Sorry about that..." I trailed off, what an awkward situation this was!
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jun 29, 2010 21:26:59 GMT -5
I hadn't expected her to stop, in fact I had expected her to run. The fact that she simply gave into me, handing over what was left of my coin only made me ponder at her more. Holding the bag in my hands I weighed it, more then half was gone. I thought about how long the money would have lasted her, or if she even knew what do with that sort of gold for I was carrying quite a few pieces of it. For a moment I looked at it for a moment before looking up at her again. "What are you doing out here?" I asked with furrowed brows.
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Post by Alexandryne nó Shahrizai on Jun 29, 2010 22:35:00 GMT -5
I wasn't sure how to respond to him. What was I doing out here? Right now? In general? And why wasn't he calling the guard? Was he one of those men? I bristled at that idea - I didn't care how much money I stole, I wasn't going to bed him for it! I decided to head that off before he got any ideas.
"I'm a poxy orphan," I said, crossing my arms under my breasts. "My parents didn't want me to get everyone else sick so they threw me out on the street." I coughed a few times to keep him at bay, though I wasn't sure I sounded too convincing. "Be careful, if you get too close, you'll catch it."
I took a few steps back, then added, "You should probably call the guard now, you know, for the stealing and all..." I eyed him through the rain and wondered why he was even talking to me - I was nothing, no one, and he was obviously a nobleman of some sort. I should have been as far beneath his notice as an ant or a starving cur slinking down alleys and begging for scraps.
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jun 29, 2010 23:47:21 GMT -5
I looked at the girl and chuckled. "Very convincing." I said and shook my head a little as I attached my purse to my belt once more. "But you're right, you need to be turned into the authorities." I turned about and looked only to see a guard trudging down the street toward us. "Looks like we're in luck, there one now." I said pointing in that direction before looking to the girl.
"You're probably used to it by now aren't you, spending the night in jail. Tell me do they know you by name yet?" My words were careful and purposeful, I had a plan to use them to get the information I wanted from her and understand what she was going out here on her own.
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Post by Alexandryne nó Shahrizai on Jul 1, 2010 20:59:43 GMT -5
I bristled again when he laughed - how rude! I might be a thief, but I still had my pride! Before I could toss back an indignant retort, however, he decided that he was going to call the guard. My instinct was to flee, but I reminded myself that the jail would likely be dry and warm and how bad could it be, really?
"Actually, no," I said, giving him a flat look. "I've never been arrested before." I'd never actually been caught before, for that matter. With my arms still crossed, I looked in the direction he had pointed apprehensively. Did I really want to do this, if I ran now, I could probably hide, lay low for awhile, but the cold and the wet were not very good companions. I felt torn, a feeling I was unused to, as I was usually so sure of myself.
"In fact, maybe I won't start now, maybe I'll run off before you can call them..." I don't know why I said it aloud, like a warning, but how foolish was it to warn him of my intentions? Maybe this cold was going to my brain...
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jul 3, 2010 21:08:20 GMT -5
I couldn't stop the quirked smile that began to spread over my face. "Then run." I said as I looked at her. "Though I think you will not, since the weather is well..." I looked around the snow and rain coming down at a slant. "I have a feeling you'd be happy to be locked up for the night since you're likely to get a warm meal that a girl in your position would envy, and a roof over your head no matter how bleak that roof may be." I watched the guard as he eyed me and the girl, slowly making his way past us. I watched him with a smile before looking back at the girl. "How long have you been on the streets like this?"
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Post by Alexandryne nó Shahrizai on Jul 3, 2010 21:25:15 GMT -5
"Oh, the weather's bad?" I said under my breath, sarcasm tinging my words and a sullenness that irritated me. What did I care what he said or did? He was just a mark, a rich one who could have easily afforded to feed half the starving souls in Night's Doorstep. It was also annoying that he was right on the money about why I was considering a night in jail, I bet he had a big, soft bed, with thick, warm blankets, the kind I'd had in Valerian...
My thoughts were scattered and so I answered him honestly, before I had time to think of a lie. "Two years or so," I said, tossing my wet hair back out of my face. "But I don't have a choice, what's your excuse for being out in this weather?"
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jul 3, 2010 23:46:39 GMT -5
I shrugged. "I don't have a choice." I said with a flicker of a smile. I'm not sure why I was teasing her, its not like it was a nice thing to do or that she was just some peer I met on the street. The girl was homeless. It made me think long and hard about my position in life. I looked around then, the snow getting worse. "Listen, I've got a place in the East Borough, I'm sure its not as nice as the dungeon you're about to get yourself thrown into. But its warm and I have food." I shrugged a little.
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Post by Alexandryne nó Shahrizai on Jul 3, 2010 23:59:57 GMT -5
I was wary, why on earth would he invite me to his home after I had just stolen from him? I was suspicious, but I was also cold, and hungry. I wavered for a few moments, but his home had to be better than jail, right? If he got too familiar, I could always leave, right?
I had to know, though, before I just accepted such an offer. "Why are you offering?" I asked, frowning slightly and shivering. "Just out of the kindness of your heart?" After intimately experiencing the unkindness of my fellow man, I could scarce credit that that could possibly be the reason.
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jul 4, 2010 0:24:03 GMT -5
I shrugged again. "I suppose." I said looking off to see how far we were from my carriage, knowing I needed to get home myself, the streets were slowly becoming deserted by people trying to avoid the cold. I looked back to her after a moment, contemplating what to say to her. "I have a niece your age, or about there, she's ten and seven years. All I can say is that if she was in your position, I'd hope that some one would take her in and feed her so that she didn't have to suffer." I shrugged a third time. "I'm a man with little in the way of friends and family, but with much in the way of financial security. Even if all you do is spend the night and steal what you can pocket, I'll be happy knowing I gave you something. You're young, your vulnerable, and you'll likely die if you don't rely on the help of people like myself."
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Post by Alexandryne nó Shahrizai on Jul 4, 2010 0:33:56 GMT -5
He really did seem sincere. I prided myself on being able to read people fairly well, it was a skill that was highly pushed on us at Valerian, because it enabled one to better please their patron. On the streets, it helped you to survive. Of course, I had surely misjudged the boy who had stolen from me, but then again, I understood him too.
I decided that I would take this man at his word, the promise of a warm bed and a hot meal too tempting to give up.
"All right, then. But, just to be clear, I can take care of myself." It seemed important to me that he know that I wasn't just some helpless child. I'd been taking care of myself for the last two years hadn't I? Nevermind that I was painfully thin and spent too much of my time scrambling to sleep in stables and doorways.
"So, where to?" I said, hoping against hope that it wasn't far, because the snow was beginning to fall more thickly and I found that I had to concentrate so as not to shiver uncontrollably with the cold.
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Post by Azriel Shahrizai on Jul 4, 2010 0:42:30 GMT -5
I smiled gently and nodded. "Clear." I said softly and then turned from where we came from. "Its just that way, my carriage is over there." I gestured for her to follow and headed in that direction, it wouldn't be too far.
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Post by Alexandryne nó Shahrizai on Jul 4, 2010 0:48:49 GMT -5
His carriage? My heart leapt at the idea of riding in a carriage again, out of the weather ... suddenly I was throwing all caution to the wind, following after him like a puppy after table scraps.
When we got there, I scrambled inside and huddled in one corner of the carriage, closing my eyes in relief at the warmth. I could have cried at this seeming reversal of my fortunes, except that I knew it was temporary, so there was no point in getting too excited, but I could surely enjoy it while it lasted.
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