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Champion
HUMAN
37 years old
HOLY KNIGHT
played by DIZZY
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Post by KENELM AYERS on Jan 4, 2015 21:09:46 GMT
Knights had a lot on their plates. In charge of troops of men and women, it was important to keep them in check and make sure that everything done with them was fitting. For that matter, the task of leading a troop of any notable size in and out of battle was a stressful job. And when one wasn't tending to the battlefield they were at the home front, watching after the royal family or making sure the nobles were happy. It was for this reason that Kenelm hated being sent into Upper Town for busy work.
A noble had recently set up a merchant stall in Upper Town, and in his infinite wisdom had judged the people there as "too base" to control themselves. He'd asked for someone to watch his stall for the first couple of days, and Kenelm had been volunteered. As much as he would have loved to tell the man to go away. As much as he knew that this was a job far below a common soldier -- much more so a knight -- an order from someone of royal heritage was law. It was situations like this that made him wish he really did only answer to the woman upstairs. Then maybe he wouldn't be stewing in his frustration and occasionally trading talk with the shopkeeper of the stall (for the man who'd ordered him to act as a simple bodyguard was not willing to even tend to his own stall).
On the upside this was to be his last day protecting the stall. There had yet to be an incident, and despite himself Kenelm was somewhat sure it was due to his own presence. Wearing simple armor -- light plate to cover his chest, shoulders, and legs -- adorned with the royal insignia, it was impossible to misjudge his allegiance and occupation. And even if that didn't tell one enough, Kenelm's exposed face was not unknown to the populace, and the blade at his side looked just as dangerous as one might expect. Very few hagglers and troublemakers wanted to tangle with a royal soldier.
The day was winding down, and Kenelm was sure that this day would end like the rest. The shopkeeper seemed to have a similar idea as even he had let down his guard and taken to "reading". Really just a guise to hide the sleep he was getting -- sadly his snoring gave him away. Maybe that was why Kenelm caught the sight of a reaching hand out of the corner of his eye. Or more specifically, maybe that was why Kenelm watched that same hand tuck a couple twinkling necklaces in a pocket and start to sneak off.
Sighing, Kenelm rose casually and began a quick, but not hurried, pursuit. The man -- for at a second glance it was certainly a man -- wasn't moving very quickly. Probably trying to seem nonchalant. Regardless Kenelm drew up closer and closer to the other man before reaching out for his collar. Whether or not he actually grabbed it he intended on leaning in to whisper in the man's ear.
"Right now you're breaking imperial law. If you return the necklaces right now there won't be a problem, but if you refuse I cannot guarantee your safety or future freedom. Please come with me back to the stall and we'll work this out."
LAIKA OF GS!
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Salt Witch
HUMAN
29 years old
TRAVELLER
played by MURK
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Post by DALLAS on Jan 5, 2015 0:15:12 GMT
One of the downsides of being a traveler (fancy word for unemployed bum) was that Dallas was completely out of cash. Completely, utterly, hilariously broke. Of course, he was used to being in the position, seeing as how it wasn't the first time he didn't have a cent to his name, and thankfully that meant that he also knew how to get out of it. This was the only way he knew how to get a meal for the night, really. After he'd located the proper place - a stall that wasn't too popular, and happened to be a very close distance to an alleyway that he could easily dart down to escape - he'd prepared himself. No, he hadn't surveyed the place too well, because in all honesty he expected the place to be one of the easier hit and run situations. No, he hadn't prepared himself for an in case you get caught option, because he wasn't supposed to get caught. Dallas never got caught (correction: Dallas got caught when he got cocky, and he was absolutely cocky). He hadn't even pretended the browse the wares, just waited for the shopkeeper to divert his attention, or fall asleep while reading a book because that would always work, and pocketed a few necklaces in passing. Better off paying for his dinner than being sat on some pretty woman's neck, he figured. What he didn't expect was for the hand to clamp around the collar of his shirt, effectively stopping him in his tracks. He stiffened, tilting his head slightly away from the person talking in his ear. "I 'preciate your concern, sir." Dallas made to yank his shirt away, because he needed that thank you. "I don't need you to guarantee me nothing."KENELM AYERS, these speech patterns will probably be the death of me tbh.
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Champion
HUMAN
37 years old
HOLY KNIGHT
played by DIZZY
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Post by KENELM AYERS on Jan 5, 2015 20:36:13 GMT
For as long as Kenelm could remember he'd been taught to show mercy. To give second chances. To give moral charity. That is why he offered the younger man a way out of his predicament. This is why he was so willing to overlook the obvious theft. It was the Goddess's will, and despite his own feelings on the strictness of the law and what should and should not be permissible it was what he would carry out. The task was made hard when he met people like the one in front of him.
Almost instantly the man had responded negatively. Kenelm had lowered his voice and leaned in close to assure that there would be no problem of someone overhearing their conversation and arresting the man regardless of Kenelm's wishes. Instead of making this easy the criminal in question had leaned away almost petulantly. It managed to earn a slight sigh, and an accompanying frown when it was followed up by an attempt to pull away. The attempt was of course met with resistance, and while the culprit got a little of his collar back it was quickly reclaimed in a tighter grip. Kenelm even twisted the collar a bit, giving him leverage on top of the simple hold.
Frankly, Kenelm did not believe letting him go would be smart. It seemed a simple observation, but given Kenelm's code he would have preferred to allow the man to walk and follow of his own accord. The way the man spoke -- however -- made him think twice. Now, Kenelm did not have an issue with those of lesser privilege. As a man of the church it was part of Kenelm's duty to go to those places where luck and opportunity were in short supply and offer his aid. His time with people who had less had taught him long ago that not everyone with empty pockets hoped to fill them. But what he had learned was that when one did fill their pockets, they often wanted to keep them that way. In this situation that meant running if Kenelm let go. So he did not.
"You actually really do," Kenelm began speaking again, an answer to the man's statement about guarantees, but did so at a more natural distance, "You're breaking the law, and right now I'm the only person with enough authority to give you a second chance. As soon as that shopkeeper wakes up and notices necklaces missing he's going to want to know who took them to save his own head. I'll be oath bound to tell him, just as I'm oath bound to keep you close right now, and you'll spend a fair number of evenings in a cell."
If Kenelm had one problem it was rambling. Especially when trying to help someone. He wanted them to understand the offer he was making so that maybe they'd take it instead of spit in his face. It really was all in good will that he offered this out.
"You're stealing from a member of the royal family directly by taking those necklaces, and that carries a heavier fine than stealing from most stalls. So I would really recommend you come with me and return those necklaces," but Kenelm wasn't done, "and if the idea of jail time is not enough to sway you how about this. You return those necklaces and I'll treat you to a meal of your choosing and foot the bill for you to stay at an inn. Goddess knows my savings can take the hit."
LAIKA OF GS!
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Salt Witch
HUMAN
29 years old
TRAVELLER
played by MURK
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Post by DALLAS on Jan 5, 2015 22:04:36 GMT
Dallas learned very, very, quickly that he was not stronger than the man behind him, who held a firm grip on his collar. Though, despite knowing he wasn't going to be wiggling out any time soon (and, brute force was also out of the question), he instead moved around so he could face the knight, look him dead in the eyes with a deep frown. The grip could stay for all he cared, though his shirt would be twisted around more-so than it already was, and he did his best to look as intimidating and pissed off as he could. Unfortunately, it wasn't much. "First, you don't know me. Maybe a half ass description, but for all you know I could be gone by nightfall." His threat meant nothing to Dallas, though the pressing matter of how the collar of his shirt was still in a vice grip was enough to make him at least stop and think. "Second, the law is bullshit and easily manipulated by those who can afford it. Third, you'd have to catch me."The words stealing from the royal family made him stop cold in his tracks, however. If these necklaces were worth that much, then there wasn't going to be a way for him to sell them anyway. People would be on the lookout, and it'd be suspicious if a boy as poor as he was just conveniently had some family heirlooms that looked far too good to be true. The frown on his face must have been evident of his conclusion. "How do I know you're not going to back stab me, then? Leave me in an inn, call someone who looks more fitted for a job as this, and then leave me to rot in jail?" He narrowed his eyes, holding his tongue from saying something in vain against the goddess because, at the same time, what if the deal was real? It seemed like offending the hand that offered him food was about the same chance as being completely back stabbed. "I also don't need charity."KENELM AYERS.
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Champion
HUMAN
37 years old
HOLY KNIGHT
played by DIZZY
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Post by KENELM AYERS on Jan 5, 2015 22:23:42 GMT
The man was sure good at offering a laundry list of redundant points. If Kenelm wasn't so patient he'd have given up at this point. But really all the man was doing was wasting his own time. The shopkeeper would only remain sleeping for so long, and the longer the other man argued the closer he came to jail time. And once the shopkeeper wanted his head Kenelm could do no more. Bending the law was fine, breaking it was not.
"To address one and two, I do not intend on letting you go. You will stay in my grasp for as long as you have those necklaces, and your chance of escaping is very low as long as I do. No offense to you, but you do not seem capable of so much as breaking my grasp," Kenelm spoke plainly, but not without some sensitivity, "And as we've already established, the man you're stealing from is perfectly capable of paying the law to work how he wants it to. It's a sad fact that greedy people hold the reigns in a society that should be run by morals and values, but it's a fact neither you nor I can change."
Honestly, Kenelm had always been disappointed in the way humans used and gauged power. While they were supposed to be the Goddess's favored race -- kind, merciful, and more benevolent than the monsters to the north -- the race had done little but show just how disgusting they were. Money ran the world instead of good values, and the Goddess had disappeared from the hearts of many. But he'd learned at a young age there was nothing to be done about it. Instead it was just important that he do his part whenever possible. Like right now. Well, like he was trying to right now.
"As for betraying you, you really have no need to worry there," For the first time in the conversation Kenelm offered the boy a genuine smile. A warm expression that seemed to remove the wrinkles that had developed along stress lines while emphasizing those at the corners of his mouth. There was no way he could ever stab someone in such a dire position in the back.
"I do not work for the law of men, I work for the glory of the Goddess. I stopped you and offered you a second chance on Her behalf, as it is her words that insist the downtrodden deserve another chance. I offer you my charity thanks to Her suggestions, as I have many times before. If I were to do either of these things with the intent of 'back stabbing' you I would not only be hurting my rapport with Her, but also hurting Her rapport with the people," Kenelm's voice had warmed to match his face, his comments on the holy Goddess coming out with the usual ease and sureness they always did.
"I am a man of faith, and a man of faith should never hurt the people. Especially in a time when this same populace questions the Goddess's presence."
LAIKA OF GS!
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Salt Witch
HUMAN
29 years old
TRAVELLER
played by MURK
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Post by DALLAS on Jan 5, 2015 22:59:51 GMT
"I could break your grasp if I really wanted to." No he couldn't, but he wasn't about to admit that openly to the man who had his hand as close to his neck as it was. Dallas felt himself swallow, nervously, straightening up slightly to give himself more height. "Still bullshit."He narrowed his eyes more, if that was even possible, and his frown deepened into something more of a scowl. He hated how the man was smiling, hated how he was taking it as greatly as he was. He couldn't stop himself from rolling his eyes, though he managed to keep back a scoff. Because, why should he put his faith in something he's long, long since given up on? Why should he believe in someone who believes so deeply in the same goddess that he once did, the same goddess who turned her back? But he didn't scoff, didn't comment. He held his tongue, because that was what he learned to do when raised by the nuns. That was what he learned was easiest, rather than have to explain why his views were so skewed. He bit his cheek, let Kenelm go on ranting. It seemed to make the other rather happy anyway. "If this is just an excuse to buy me dinner, then it's a shitty excuse." Shrugging, Dallas let his hands hide in his pockets. "Don't make me regret it, holy man."KENELM AYERS.
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Champion
HUMAN
37 years old
HOLY KNIGHT
played by DIZZY
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Post by KENELM AYERS on Jan 5, 2015 23:41:38 GMT
It seemed the man in Kenelm's grasp had gone from almost petulant to entirely petulant. The way he adamantly refused to admit his vulnerability was childish, and would have been endearing in a child, but came off as posturing when said by an adult. As for the comment about bullshit, it wouldn't have been charming coming from anyone. The scowl the man sported wasn't especially charming either. Not that it had stopped Kenelm from beaming with his smile.
Finally Kenelm had gotten through to the man. For awhile there he really did worry the man would brush him off entirely and wind up in jail. It had always rubbed Kenelm the wrong way when one so hurting for money was stuck behind bars for years -- sometimes a whole lifetime -- because of their need. Thankfully that wouldn't be the end result in this particular case as Kenelm wasted no time in beginning to escort the man back to the stall where he stole the necklaces. Weaving through people on his own had been fairly easy, but he found dragging the petulant man along with him to be a challenge. Still, people had a habit of stepping aside for a man in shining armor so it worked out in the end.
"Oh believe me, I would not normally ask you out to dinner," Kenelm again spoke plainly, and despite the statement offered another smile over his shoulder, "I like dinner to be a time for unwinding and good will. You seem like someone more likely to stab me with the steak knife than join me in prayer." He managed to finish his sentence as they neared the stall, at which point he slowed down and quieted his voice. The shop keeper was still sleeping, but he seemed to have begun stirring.
"Well then, give me the necklaces and then we can discuss where to eat and where you'd like to sleep for the night," Still grinning Kenelm extended a hand to the other man, palm up and fingers pulling in towards his body. A subtle motion to get the thief to hurry up before the man woke up.
"Oh yes, and what's your name? I figure if I'm going to treat you to so many luxuries I might as well know who they are for."
LAIKA OF GS!
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Salt Witch
HUMAN
29 years old
TRAVELLER
played by MURK
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Post by DALLAS on Jan 7, 2015 1:48:23 GMT
There's no stopping the pout that quickly spreads across his face as he's being pulled through the crowd like a dog scorned. He can't help the bitter feeling rising up in his chest, the anger that's making his mouth curve down more and more. While he can't be sure if Kenelm did it on purpose, he can't help the feeling that Kenelm would revel in the fact that he made Dallas feel like a scolded toddler. He chose not to mention it. "Sure know how to make someone feel special." It's grumbled and damn near silent, but that doesn't mean Kenelm is incapable of picking it up. His next statement is considerably louder. "I'm thinking about it, for sure." They were closer to the stall, and Dallas gives up any last ditch effort at shaking free and being on his merry way. He found that he wasn't too fond of the necklaces anymore anyway. No one would want them, they'd be a pain to sell, and he'd have to go damn near out of the empire to find anyone who wouldn't recognize them. So, he's screwed either way. He made sure to fix Kenelm with a glare and a scowl as he fished them out of his pocket, and shoved the necklaces into his hand. "Dallas." No last name offered, because he doesn't have one. Silently, he pleads that Kenelm doesn't go fishing for one, but he knows how the dodge the question if it really does come up. "And what's your name, kind stranger?" He doesn't want to know, really, but it felt like polite conversation is the least thing he can offer to the other. After all, this man was willingly buying him dinner and a bed, and as much as Dallas would love to refuse his charity, he's in no position to. KENELM AYERS
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Champion
HUMAN
37 years old
HOLY KNIGHT
played by DIZZY
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Post by KENELM AYERS on Jan 8, 2015 19:33:13 GMT
While Kenelm had started out trying to avoid a scene, he had stopped caring by the time he was dragging the thief through the crowd. The younger man had made it tough to be discreet, and so Kenelm stopped trying; and while Kenelm didn't necessarily disregard the younger man's feelings he did find that he was capable of a bit more apathy in the face of the troubles the man had caused. So dragging him through the crowd was something he did not feel bad for. In fact, knowing that it was likely the only punishment he'd receive for his theft Kenelm felt almost merciful.
Like everything else he'd done, Kenelm waited patiently as the young man dug through his pockets. And just like the pout and frowns he'd been given earlier, Kenelm paid the scowl no mind. Instead he simply offered another smile. Out of the corner of his eye he also kept track of the shopkeeper. It seemed he'd begun to stir, and so Kenelm -- in a rare show of impatience -- quickly pulled his hand from the young man's and started placing them back on their displays. All the while he let his eyes dart from the young man to the shopkeeper and back again.
It all turned out to be pointless as the Shopkeeper just readjusted himself and returned to snoring. Kenelm made a not to himself that they'd need to wake him up before he left.
"Dallas. A nice name," The comment was genuine, and Kenelm beamed yet another smile at him, "My name is Kenelm, Kenelm Ayers. I work as knight for the clergy, though most of my work seems to be for those of royal blood. I hope to see a shift in that soon. Although I guess I've been hoping for that over the last ten or so years." Unlike Dallas, Kenelm worked like an open book. Something about the younger man interested him, but he couldn't figure out exactly what. It made it easy to just talk. Surely there would be more of that at dinner.
"So, what are you thinking for dinner? We can talk inns afterwards," Kenelm spoke with that same old grin, and while he awaited an answer leaned over to tap on the shopkeeper. After he'd started the older man awake he explained that he was going out for dinner, and made it clear that he wouldn't be back to guard the stall. Waking him up turned out to be pointless as the shopkeeper waved him off, wished him a good night, and went back to sleep. Sighing, he turned back to Dallas.
"Well?"
LAIKA OF GS!
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Salt Witch
HUMAN
29 years old
TRAVELLER
played by MURK
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Post by DALLAS on Jan 9, 2015 0:34:15 GMT
The shopkeeper really did deserve to have his things stolen from him, being as careless as he was with his wares. They were too easy to steal, and the man should have known better than to simply let himself sleep at post. If he hadn't have been caught, he wouldn't have felt guilty - less so, now knowing that he was lazy. He bit back a retort, settling for actually biting his lower lip instead. Better to be between his teeth and held steady than let loose to throw strings of who-knows-what at the man who was buying him dinner. And a bed. Dallas had to keep reminding himself, because otherwise he'd waste it. "I doubt you will, what with you being as good at your job as you are." He did catch a thief in his tracks. "He doesn't deserve the necklaces anyway."Oops, it came out. The question of dinner came up, and Dallas found himself dead in his tracks. He didn't know of the inns in this side of town, not really. He didn't know the good ones from the bad, which ones had the better food and which ones had something that wasn't appetizing (then again, he wasn't about to be picky, either). He simply shrugged. "Not too familiar with what's around town." Short and curt, it kept him from being snappy at least. "Can I trust you with picking something at least decent?"KENELM AYERS
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