Hell's Gates

[Nikki Jekyll]

In Ímyndun, there is a country called Senotel. Senotel is a country thrown into a dangerous and bloody civil war. Senotel's richest city is Zápas, and Zápas' lowest, seediest, bloodiest, most violent precinct is Hell's Gates.

Adjacent to the docks, Hell's Gates is crawling with rival gangs, prostitutes, immigrants, thieves, murderers, rapists, and illegal street fighters.

The people there are ruthless, cruel and willing to do anything for a hot meal (or any meal at all), money, or to survive.

This is the story of the people of Hell's Gates.


Do not Post.

[Nikki Jekyll]

The Rings:
No, they're not from Lord of the Rings, the rings are the four levels of Zápas, based on economic levels; The more money you have, the higher ring you're in.
First Ring: This the poorest ring. The scum of the city live here, including the people of Hell's Gates.
Second Ring: The Second Ring is where the poor to lower middle class live. Here in ware-houses are where slaves are traded.
Third Ring: Upper-middle class. These are the people who venture in the Second Ring to buy and sell slaves. The richer Third Ring inhabitants some times finance gangs in the lower rings to get richer.
Fourth Ring: The richest, most elite, and often most insensitive. Fourth Ring people don't worry their pampered heads about the troubles of the poor and starving, unless said poor and starving can somehow make them money. And to drive home how rich and self-absorbed the Fourth Ringers are; they send people to go buy their slaves for them; and then they don't even care which slave they get (unless it's for personal 'pleasures'). People of the 2nd and 3rd Rings beg to become personal servants of the lords and ladies of the Fourth Ring.
Senotellian Honorifics:
Co-workers:
-wey (way): a suffix used for a superior, usually a boss. This is attached to the boss' surname.
-uey (oo-ay): suffix used for subordinate, normally at work. Either used after the first name or surname, depending on how close the speaker is to the person he/she is speaking to.
-illey (ill-ay): suffix for an equal, can be added to first name or last name, again depending on how close one is to the person you're talking to.
Friends/Acquaintances:
-hapla: used for a friend.
-tagra: used for someone you just met
-labra: used for your closest friends.
Slave/Masters:
-reku: a master to slave term, often used without a name. If you aren't a slave and someone refers to you as Reku, it's one of the most insulting things someone can possibly say to you.
-kasam: literally means 'master' or 'lord'. This is one of the most complementing things a non-slave or servant person can say to you. This can also be used without a name.
Formalities (used for people in the Fourth Ring, usually):
-la: used as a term added on to the first name of a young girl (5-13) who either lives in the Fourth Ring or is just of a higher rank than you.
-el: the masculine form of 'la'
-kel: term used for a person who is older than you.
-amah: term used for someone who is of nobility, but is of equal status and age as you are.
-ya: used for children under five. Can also be used as an insult for someone who is being very immature.
Types of People:
-ekcho: insulting term for a half-breed
-latha: term for full-blooded elves
-opas: term for a witch/wizard
-jobas: term for a mage
-kekram: term for a priest or priestess
Gangs:
In Hell's Gates and precincts near it, if you're male, single, and are between the ages of 15 and 35, chances are you're in a gang.
There are many, many gangs in Zápas, so you can make up your own (but I'd prefer you'd use the ones below).
The Hunters: A gang of Bounty Hunters. They don't just hunt criminals, but anyone in Zápas who has a bounty on their head.
God's Warriors: The unofficial protectors of sacred ground and temples.
The Ekchon: A half-breed gang, mostly formed for the protection of half-breeds.
The Dock Dogs: A gang who has control over the docks and surrounding areas.
The Varyen: The biggest in Zápas. They don't control specific land, but they do control specific businesses, like the slave-trading business in the 2nd Ring.
The Cross-men: Control the Cross, a cross-shaped shop district. The Cross-men are the most flamboyant of the gangs, often dressing in bright colors with crosses embroidered somewhere on their clothes.
The Midnighters: A noble funded gang with the best weapons, clothes, and tools. If the Varyen are the biggest gang in Zápas, then the Midnighters are the most dangerous.
The Tetron: If the Varyen are the biggest gang, and the Midnighters are the most dangerous, then the Tetron are the smartest and most influential.
The Blue Belts: Not a particularly dangerous or big gang, but they fight like dragons when they're cornered, and most Blue Belts are gifted with magic.
Races:
Elves: Don't live in Senotel. Period. AT ALL.
Half-Elves: Generally hated by both humans and Elves, because they're often illegitimate children. Can either show the features of an Elf, or only the features of a human.
Humans: Basic every day humans, without guns, cars, trains or most modern technology.
Those with Magic: Most humans that have magic are priests or priestesses, but some are 'chosen' by their patron gods or goddesses.

Character Template:
Name:
Gender:
Age: (not too young, but not too old, either.)
Occupation: (what's your job?)
Place of Residency: (1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Ring? What precinct does your character live in? etc.)
Gang?: (Are you somehow involved with a gang?)
Strengths: (what are your strong points?)
Weaknesses: (what are your weak points?)
Personality:
History: (What's your background?)
Appearance:
Other:

((You May Post.))

[Scrappy]

Name:Jael Cantroneko.
Gender:Female
Age: 20
Occupation: Still searching.
Place of Residency: 2nd ring.
Gang?: She is involved with a gang, to get in the gang she dresses up like a guy. She is in the Midnighters.
Strengths: Fighting, and Killing, and Singing.
Weaknesses: Talking about her family and how they were killed.
Personality:She has a short temper, shes very kind when she gets to know you. She's tomboyish, and she is very, very vengeful. She is also very BiPolar.
History: She grew up in the fourth ring, but then her parents were killed by the Vareyns when she was only 13. She was put out on the streets because no one would take her in. But when she was with her parents she was sort of into fighting and playing like a boy. When she was 15 she was raped by a Fourth Ring pervert, she was a slave because she was in the First Ring. She then got pregnant and had her baby on her 16th birthday. She then ran away and made a better life, making her way up as a Second Ring. She left her baby with the man knowing that he would take wonderful care of her. At age 16 and a half she dressed herself up as a guy and joined the Midnighters gang. She's been in that gang every since.
Appearance:http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b303/JumiGirl/Anime%20RP/9c0cc3e4.jpg
Other: She has a soft spot when people talk about there families and asks her about hers and she cant express how much it hurts her because they will find out she's a female.

[Nikki Jekyll]

Name: Ariana Raziah (but she rarely uses the name her mother gave her.)
Gender: Female
Age: 21
Occupation: She 's a thief, but she also works as a maid in 3rd and 4th Ring houses.
Place of Residency: 1st Ring for the most part.
Gang?: Nope.
Strengths: Ariana is a thief, and a good one too. She can lie so well that if she told someone the sky was purple and the moon was made of cheese, they'd believe her. Ariana also knows how to wield knives and fight hand to hand (most people in the first ring do).
Weaknesses: Ariana has no morals. At all. She will do whatever it takes to get what she wants.
Personality: A typical Hell's Gates resident, Ariana has no morals or conscience, only caring about survival and getting out of the 1st Ring. But unlike all the poor Hell's Gates people, Ariana isn't uneducated. She can read and write, and she saves her money; instead of spending it all on beer, drugs and food.
History: Ariana's mother was a prostitute, who forgot to take her contraseptive potion one day before work and got impregnated by one of her 'clients'. After having a child, Ariana's mother cleaned up. She did everything to ensure that Ariana wouldn't become like her, bribing a tutor to teach her to read, sleeping with a street fighter so he'd teach Ariana how to protect herself, and saving her money so Ariana might get out of Hell's Gates one day.
When Ariana was ten, a plague swept through the First and Second Rings, and Ariana and her mother fell ill. Priestesses from the Temple of Liana (the goddess of healing) came to take any women and girls that had fallen ill, the Priestesses came to Ariana's home and took Ariana away, but not her mother, because her mother was a prostitute. Ariana survived, her mother didn't.
After that, Ariana returned home, gathered all her mother's saved earnings, and all the possesions she could carry. Ariana went to the Temple of Araceli (the mother goddess) and lived there until she was 16.
Ariana returned to Hell's Gates and became a petty thief. Once, a gang leader caught her stealing from him, and threated to kill her if she didn't give herself to him. Ariana refused, and the gang leader stabbed her in the gut, something she still has a scar from. The healers said that she could not have children because of the location of the wound.
Ariana is still a thief, and often frequents the streets of the second and third rings dressed as a upper-middle class woman to pick-pocket men by pretending to trip and fall on them, or run into them by 'accident'.
She also works as a maid for two families one in the 3rd ring, the other in the 4th. She steals things from their houses and sells them in the lower rings.
Appearance:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b245/sopranophantomista/Anime/31158d8b.jpg
Other: Has a long vertical scar that stretches from her lower gut to her rib cage.

[bronny334]

Name: Roran Caskt.
Gender: Male.
Age: 18
Occupation:
Place of Residency: 1st Ring
Gang?: Once tried to kill himself using a gang, but otherwise keeps far from them
Strengths: Goes full-out in a fight, not caring for anything fancy. Is quite strong.
Weaknesses: Prone to drink, will almost do anything for whiskey. Isn't very fast.
Personality: Sarcastic, brutal, somewhat arrogant and independent.
History: Living all his life in the first ring, he never really got a taste of the lavishness that life can give. At the age of 15, he tried to kill himself by egging on the Dock Dogs, but to no avail. A woman stopped them from beating him to death. They took her life instead of his own and never again tried suicide as his way out of the dumps. Has ever since been a kitchen slave for the fourth ring.
Appearance: Short cropped ebony hair. Almond-shaped brown eyes and pale skin. Usually wears a coloured straw bracelet on his left wrist. Firm, muscular build.
Other: May or may not be bipolar.

[Multi-Facets]

Do you need more players?

[Nikki Jekyll]

Yes. I need more players.

[Multi-Facets]

Name: Alexian K. Black, aka "Alexi" to associates, and "Claymore", for his favored weapon.
Gender: Male.
Age: Thirty.
Occupation: Bounty hunter/mercenary. For the right price, Alexi will kill, find people or objects, or act as a bodyguard.
Place of Residency: Third Ring, on the outskirts of the business district.
Gang?: As a youth, Alexi ran with the Blue Belts, but he was kicked out when it was discovered he only had enough magical aptitude for three spells, and he had no interest in joining the priesthood.

Strengths: Alexi has cunning, endurance, enough strength to swing his claymore one-handed and cut through human limbs, and he's surprisingly fast and agile. He is an experienced fist-fighter, unafraid to fight at his dirtiest; he has skill as a horseback rider, and his talent with sword and bow has kept him alive long enough to reach his thirtieth birthday. Alexi is also good at figuring out if someone is lying, and knows how to watch one's body language to gain and keep the upper hand in a fight.

Weaknesses: Alexi is vain, capricious and prideful, sticking with informants he knows he can trust, or at least intimidate or bribe. If he takes a new alliance or partnership, it is only because it will benefit HIM. He does not care about making the world a better place: He just wants to get paid and have fun doing it.
If his targets are particularly disgusting, such as those who traffic in children, he has a tendency to mock, toy with and torture them before finishing them off. This has earned him several injuries and even a few brushes with death, but he persists in letting his targets taste fear before ending them.

Personality: A solitary, businesslike type with a sadistic and hedonistic edge in his personality, who is best described as a part time bas---d. Alexi does not trust easily and his sense of honor is hard for even his family and associates to understand; not even his master fully comprehends how his student's mind works.
Alexi can ruthless and brutal, seemingly caring only for himself, his parents and his horse, but should any harm come to his associates or his maid, vengeance is swift and painful.
He is capable of flattery and charm, or of being a fine actor, but only if he chooses. Everything must be on his terms for what he feels is satisfactory business or his personal comfort, and should he make an oath, he will not break it no matter what; thus he does not often take oaths.
Gentle manners are for women only, and Alexi treats the prostitutes he visits with respect. He also refuses to consider a woman as a target, unless they're mixed up in particularly nasty business.

History: Alexi was born to the humans Vincent J. Black, an innkeeper between the Fourth and Third Rings, and his wife, the bouncer Amelia Maore-Black, a former bounty hunter who lost her dominant arm and was forced to retire in her thirties. They taught him how to defend himself, and tried to instill good manners and honor in their son, but his rambunctiousness and headstrong ways made it difficult. Amelia and Vincent could not keep Alexi from joining the Blue Belts, though they admitted it made him streetwise and somewhat more compassionate for the downtrodden. Nor could they prevent him from running away at fourteen to become an apprentice to the master bounty hunter who had taught Amelia.

Alexi worked hard and long with a drive that surprised his master, Ansrax: The boy truly loved fighting, killing and blood. Ansrax supposed it came from Amelia's side of the family; she had said Maores were known for strong wills, hot tempers and an adoration of adrenaline. Under Ansrax's tutelage, Alexi's bloodlust and headstrong personality were somewhat tempered, and he made the rank of Master at nineteen.

From there, Alexi began making a name for himself in the underworld, bringing down whoever he liked for the right price. It earned him enough money to buy a blood-bay gelding he calls Laazu, purchase a small two-level home, and hire a maid named Suzsana from the First Ring. Of course he had his share of narrow escapes, grave injuries and near-death experiences, which served to sharpen his sense of self-preservation and teach him he was not invincible. Alexi is not a complete idiot, despite how he acts, and he learned it well. He has made it this far, and he feels his arrogance in his skill is justified.

Now under the disguise as a professional contractor -one who helps businesses work out mergers, alliances and trades, and writes the contracts for them-, Alexi spends his days asleep and his nights either reading at home, riding Laazu, carrying out a job or finding women to woo for an evening.

Appearance: Alexi is six-foot-three, sturdily built and lean with muscle; he has long legs, strong shoulders and hands, and a healthy caramel-colored complexion. There are faded scars of varying length on his arms, torso, hips and right thigh, and there's a thin slash on his left cheekbone; Alexi calls that his "lucky scar", since the blow that inflicted it missed his eye. His face is aristocratically handsome, with a winning smile and deep brown eyes, arched eyebrows, and thick black hair that gets in his face and falls in waves to his waist; he braids it when on duty and simply ties it at the nape of his neck when at his leisure.
Alexi has a ruby drop dangling on a thin gold chain attached to a hoop in his left ear, and usually wears casual clothing of red, black, shades of gray or blue. As Claymore the bounty hunter, he dons a bronze medallion that marks him as a professional bounty hunter, black slacks, a voluminous black cloak, a black sword-belt, and mid-thigh, heeled black boots that employ straps and buckles above his knees, below his knees, at his ankles and across the top of his feet.

Other: Alexi's spells are as follows.
Hellbound: Air is compressed and superheated between Alexi's palms, then released for explosive measures that can level a warehouse, or simply blow a door off its hinges.
Volt: Alexi grabs a target to electrocute them, or channels the voltage through water or metal to achieve his ends. It only lasts a minute, but that's enough to paralyze a target. Alexi does not often use this, as it has a tendency to inflict burns on his hands.
Anesthetic: A simple spell that kills any and all sensations of pain for half an hour; that's usually all Alexi needs to get home and tend his injuries.

[sad_girl101]

((hope you don't mind)
Character Template:
Name: Alice Valentine
Gender: female
Age: 20
Occupation: She usually doesnt work, unless its gang related, though sometimes she is a theif when payed the correct amount of money.
Place of Residency: 4th ring
Gang?: Yes, the midnighters
Strengths: She has been trained since she was very young, by her mother a patron midnighter, and loves to fight, she has almost no weakness to magic and has extreme strength, except for her left arm. She can do some magic, and loves to train and practice.
Weaknesses: She tends to trust people easily, though she is quick to end that trust. She also has an extremly light muscle problem in her left arm, and finally she can get scared of the darkest dark, unless she made it that way.
Personality: She pretends to be mean and cold, but truth is she is just a lonly and depressed girl, who needs someone to understand her. She is normally calm to the point of scaring some people. She hates it when people call her weak because she is a girl
History: She was born into a wealth family of elfs, though her mother was also a sorcress and she inherited that. She was pampered and treated like a pet until she turned 5. Then they beat her and made her do all sorts of tests, training her none stop, teaching her never to show weakness, and to never give up. She became cold and mean though secretly it was the mask that hide her depression, and anger.
She was later taken to be trained by a professional mage, he was rather nice, but she hated him though she learned quite a lot from him. She has almost no freinds, and has always wanted a true freind. She joined the mid-nighter, becuase her mother wanted her to when she was 9. She has been with them ever since.
She is also extermly skinny and is a short child in the family, she weighs 92LBs and is five foot six. Her mother regrets her not being stronger, though her father is extremly proud of her, though he never shows it.
Appearance: http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f312/Acidpaperdollz_x3/Anime/11662024374911.jpg
Other: none

[AnotherSkip]

Name:mizu
Gender:f
Age: 25
Occupation:
Place of Residency: She lives in the first ring and normally she will be bossed around.
Gang?: Nope,she dosen't seem to care much for that.
Strengths: She's a great fighter, and can stand up for other people.
Weaknesses: Mizu's weak points are that she can't handel being hit and this angers her greatly, to the point of injuring her and her oppunet,she's almost gotten killed for this.
Personality:Mizu is cold and looks mad alot of the time.She has no friend or family and hates it when people think that she is attracted to them.
History: Mizu had a rough family life when she was 10 and for that she got thrown out on the street.
Appearance:Mizu has short hair and it's a dark black.Her eyes are Hazel and she has piercing on the left side of her lip,Navel peircing,and her right eyebrow.She wears a pair of short and a tee shirt thats black and not very loose.
Other:when mizu was little she was normally bullied because she was quite bright and often made items for other people.

[sprints42]

Name: Aenaya Fekkindre (called Aena by close aquaintances)
Gender:F
Age: 16
Occupation: Thief, sometimes medic
Place of Residency: 1st ring, near the Cross.
Gang?: Was nearly recruited for both the Varyen and Tetron, but wiggled out of both offers.
Strengths: Healing, hiding, some forms of thievery and knife fighting
Weaknesses: hates killing, has a fear of warrior men, though she'll treat them if well paid. She also tends to be judgmental and stick with her first impression.
Personality: Seems distant to most people, but really she's hiding a broken heart. She rarely gets mad, but when she does it's icy, and can even be deadly.
History: Mother died from a disease, was infected while working for a 3rd ringer; father died in gang violence, he was an Ekchon. Before she died her mother taught her healing ways passed down for generations, people come to her because she's good, and she doesn't ask for much. The only thing her father left her was her name and her skills at thievery and knife fighting. After her parents died, her mother when she was 12, her father at 15 (not that it mattered, he never was home or provided for her), she went into major thievery and started to be wary of other people, especially if they found out about her half-breed father.
Appearance:http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p133/sprints42/fav114.jpg
Other:She really dislikes it when people comment about her size (she's only about five foot). The scar on her hand is a "gift" from her father; when she was nine he came home drunk and angry and took it out on her,using a branding iron fresh from the fire that he was supposed to deliver that day.

[Nikki Jekyll]

Name:mizu
Gender:f
Age: 25
Occupation:
Place of Residency: she lives in the first ring and normally she will be bossed around.
Gang?: nope,she dosen't seem to care much for that.
Strengths: she's a great fighter, can stand up for other people.
Weaknesses: Mizu's weak points are that she can't handel being hit and this angers her greatly, to the point of injuring her and her oppunet,she's almost gotten killed for this.
Personality:Mizu is cold and looks mad alot of the time.She has no friend or family and hates it when people think that she is attracted to them.
History: Mizu had a rough family life when she was 10 and for that she got thrown out on the street.
Appearance:
Other:
((finish rest later.))
I don't mind that you haven't finished it yet, but could you capitalize properly? This is an Advanced RP.

[Multi-Facets]

Ms. Nikki, can you give us an idea of when we'll be able to play?
Also, are we restricted to one character per player?

[Nikki Jekyll]

Ms. Nikki, can you give us an idea of when we'll be able to play?
Also, are we restricted to one character per player?
Not really. I'd prefer to start with more characters, just to make it more interesting. And no, you're not restricted to one character.

[Multi-Facets]

All right, I should have another guy soon. Thank ye.

[Multi-Facets]

Name: Aluka Bex.
Gender: Male.
Age: Eighteen.
Occupation: Prostitute.
Place of Residency: First Ring, in a small room of As You Like It, in the Red Lamp District.
Gang?: N/A

Strengths: Aluka is extremely good at his profession, both in technique and acting, and knows quite a few dirty tricks that have saved his life on more than one occasion. Being one of the "unseen" of the First Ring, sometimes he is privy to gang information other gang members can't get, and Aluka can sell that information to supplement whatever income he gets.
Weaknesses: He is weaker than he appears, and has been mugged and overpowered several times by gang members or men larger and stronger than he in the past, which means he has been deprived of food and sleep as punishment from his boss. He has no allies, no friends, and certainly no mercy from anyone but his mother. There is no future for him.

Personality: Quiet, sometimes philosophical, without hope and depressed, having compassion only for his mother; he does not practice mercy for others. If Aluka found a dying beggar unable to put up a fight, he would more than likely rob whatever that beggar had, if he had the time. When working, he appears cheerful, charming, pleasant and slightly witless, altogether delighted to submit to whatever demands a paying customer might have. Very few suspect Aluka actually is intelligent and literate thanks to his mother's efforts.

History: Shasta Bex was a Fourth Ring resident, the only daughter in a family of six, one of the heirs to their weaving and textiles factory. When she was seventeen, Shasta and her siblings were taken on a business trip outside Senotel to propose a business alliance with another company. It was not Shasta's first business trip, but it was the first time she had been outside Senotel, and her excitement did somewhat blur her judgment.

The owners her parents were contracting with had an elf for a servant; Ellis was a quiet, thoughtful-looking, beautiful young man who seemed to have a special smile just for her. During non-business hours, when Ellis could find time, they would enjoy each other's company, discussing works of art, business issues, philosophy and government workings. By the end of the two-week trip, Shasta and Ellis had taken each other's virginities, and promised to stay in touch.

Unfortunately, Shasta's indiscretion was discovered when she began experiencing nausea in the afternoons, and she was thrown out after an examination revealed she was pregnant. Word got out, and Shasta could not find work in any other weaving company, since none of the employers wished to anger her family. A letter to Ellis was apparently never received; it is possible his employers had fired and thrown him out as well. Broken-hearted, Shasta was forced to turn to prostitution to support herself and her coming baby. Despite everything, she did very much want to have Ellis's child.

Fifteen years later, she contracted a severe case of bronchitis that had lingering effects, rendering her unable to do her job. The owner of As You Like It would have thrown her and her son out, but Aluka bravely volunteered to take his mother's place, as long as the owner would keep her as a janitor and cook. The owner realized Aluka's half-blood heritage would be considered exotic in his profession, and agreed.

Now eighteen, Aluka has no prospects, barely any other skills, and has resigned himself to what he feels is his ultimate fate, as Shasta's letters to Ellis continue to go unanswered.

Appearance: Aluka is fair-skinned and about five-nine, slim and sleek as a dancer. His hair brushes his thighs in loose, coppery red curls, with the bangs hanging into dark gray, long-lashed eyes that seem empty. He has an uncommon beauty and grace about him; he could probably pass as a woman if needed. That and his pointed ears mark him as a half-blood. Said ears are pierced, and he often wears matching necklaces and bracelets. Naturally the jewelery is only glass and brass, but it's still a nice effect.
Aluka usually has dark blue and deep purple clothing, keeping his chest and arms bared in good weather, and employing a dark red cloak in bad.

Other: Aluka carries a lovely silk folding fan of crimson with gray embroidery; it serves the purpose it was made for and as a sheath for a thin, poisoned blade. The poison is a potent neurotoxin; even a scratch can render someone paralyzed for up to seven minutes, which is more than enough time for Aluka to make a getaway.

[7000dominos]

((I'd like to play. I'll create my profiles tonight.))

[Guendolen_Sama]

(I hope this is acceptable; if anything needs altered, please let me know. Any character who chooses can bid on and/or purchase her; I felt that playing that out was too interesting a roleplaying opportunity to pass up on.)

Name: Risa Bellafio
Gender: female
Age: 22
Occupation: Formerly socialite; now, a slave awaiting purchase
Place of Residency: A warehouse in the Second Ring.
Gang?: Risa is not herself in a gang, but her family’s doings tied them to the Varyen, the Tetron, and the Cross-Men, in some fashion.
Strengths: She is capable of holding on to great serenity even under trials, and is more intelligent and better educated than one might think of someone who is basically a society miss. She is also a skilled musician, and is capable of entertaining with it when so required, as well as being a good conversationalist (when not sunk in depression at the death of her family, that is). She is inherently a good person, but… rather mixed-up right now.
Weaknesses: Needless to say, what happened to her has given her a good bit of hang-ups. Risa hates any sort of violence, even arguing. Once a sweet, cheerful girl, she is now quiet and restrained, barely speaking, and when she does it is hardly over a whisper. She is at least temporarily cowed, living in fear of death (or worse, the proverbial “fate worse than death”), and will do what she is asked so long as no harm is done to her. But simmering underneath that is resentment of her situation, born of the pride she was raised to have. It’s only a matter of time before that pride resurfaces and takes over….
Personality:
Likes: Music, stories, animals (especially horses, cats, and dogs), sleeping late, breezy spring days
Dislikes: Death, destruction, pain, blood, rap, loud shrill or screeching noises, humiliation, being disrespected or put down
Fears: Never seeing her sister again, spending her entire life as someone else’s property, being purchased by someone who will force unwanted attentions on her because she’s considered an object and not a person.
Hobbies: Before what happened, Risa enjoyed playing the harp and piano, singing, reading novels, working with watercolors, riding horseback, shopping for fine clothes, and going places with dancing and music. Now, she is focused more simply on going through the motions of existence, simple survival and nothing more.

History: Risa was not born to the “lower orders” she has now suddenly found herself a part of. Rather, she started life as the child of the wealthy, prominent Bellafio family- a family which gained its wealth and prominence in large part through bribery, scheming, plotting, and sometimes outright treachery. Risa didn’t realize this through much of her life; she grew up in a bit of a social bubble, serene and unruffled, accepting that they were independently wealthy and well-known through vague yet inherited means. The Bellafios were careful to keep both their daughters- her and her younger sister Abriana- sheltered from what their family was truly involved in. Specifically, the crime rings and dirty business dealings, in the thick of social and business corruption…. She had heard whispers, gossip, regarding some families, families they weren’t to associate with, particularly the Macafay family. Risa never quite understood why- until one fateful night a month ago. Her peaceful world was shattered when that family mounted a full-blown assault on a small familial party, in the name of an insult that Risa’s father had done them in one of his schemes, the culmination of a long-standing feud between the families. He, her mother, and both her older brothers, as well as an assortment of cousins, were slaughtered. Only she and her sister were left alive. This was because the Macafays decided on the ultimate revenge- not death, but humiliation. After all, they saw that both Risa and Adriana were young, healthy, and attractive. Therefore, they were instead sold to slave traders. Suddenly, they were now reduced to a status of individual they had had waiting on them not so very long ago…. They were separated at the time of the initial sale. Risa hasn’t seen or heard of her sister since, doesn’t know if she’s been sold or even if she’s still alive. But she hopes to find out, just as she still hopes for some form of escape as she awaits that fateful day when she is put up on the block to be purchased by her new “master.”
Appearance: http://photobucket.com/mediadetail/?media=http%3A%2F%2Fi121.photobucket.com%2Falbums% 2Fo204%2Fprincesspixie13%2FSorasotherweddingdress. jpg&searchTerm=white%20anime%20girl&pageOffset=14
Other: Risa has a small scar on her right side from an injury gained as she struggled with her captors the night her family was killed and she and her sister were abducted. A small, red, ragged mark, left behind because it got the bare rudimentary care, just enough to keep a potentially valuable “product” from being a victim of gangrene or some other sort of injury-related demise. She also has a small gold and pearl brooch given to her by her mother; she somehow managed to cling to it when dragged from her home, and improvised a cord from a strip torn off her clothes to hang it around her neck, hiding it away. This far it’s escaped notice, and she keeps it tucked under what’s left of her dress, just to make sure it stays hidden.

[scorpio grl]

{I'd like to join, if you don't mind. Just give me the word..}

[7000dominos]

Name: Daiya Kendrix
Gender: Female pretending to be male.
Age: 18
Occupation: During the day, she works in a performing arts studio for young girls. She teaches dance, singing, and piano.
Place of Residency: Fourth ring
Gang?: She is a member of the Tetron.
Strengths: Being a 'closet' member of the fourth ring, Daiya is a walking ATM, so to speak. She has friends in high places, and is hugely influential. She is also very intelligent.
Weaknesses: She fears the dark, and is overly sensitive about what happened between her and Locke (see below).

Personality: Because of her double lifestyle, Daiya has a bit of a split personality. During the day, with her rich-and-famous lifestyle, she is the obedient, smart, beautiful girl on the surface. She is under the thumb of her super-rich, oil-owning father, and her spoiled rich mother. Or at least, that's what they think. Secretly, she is witty, sarcastic and cynical. She hates bullies; she loves helping 'lesser' people. She tends to be cold, though she is also fiercely loyal to those she loves and respects.

History: Daiya lived within the narrow lifestyle of her rich, arrogant parents for seventeen years before she rebelled. She grew tired of attending lavish parties, of living the lives her parents wanted for her, of laughing when she should, of speaking only when spoken to. She did not like that man they picked for her, nor did she like the clothing, the school, the so-called friends. And she absolutely abhorred the way her parents treated their slaves and subordinates. On the day of her seventeenth birthday, she decided to run away from home. That night, she met Locke. Three nights later, she was Dai: a rich, powerful member of the Tetron gang. Only a few members of the gang know how rich she is. Only Locke knows she is a girl. To the others, she is a small, young male member who has nothing much to offer, except her intelligence and her biting wit. She is still learning to fight well.

Appearance: http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u153/fantasydreamer19/nikkiislookasaguy.gif
Other: The night she met Locke, they two got to 'know' each other better than either of them let on.

((I'll post Locke's profile in a minute.))

[Guendolen_Sama]

(No one has been turned away, as yet. So why not work on creating someone? Oh, and good character, Dom! Interesting concept. I wonder if yours ever met mine, before her disaster?...)

{I'd like to join, if you don't mind. Just give me the word..}

[scorpio grl]

{I'm coming up with a mental profile~}

[7000dominos]

((Oooh, we may have to mess with that later, Guenny. PLAY Scorpio! She says on page one not to ask until four pages into the RP.))

[Guendolen_Sama]

(I know! That's why I brought it up. :) Though it all depends on who "buys" my character. I hope someone joins of a class who would.... Are there any, yet?)

[scorpio grl]

((Oooh, we may have to mess with that later, Guenny. PLAY Scorpio! She says on page one not to ask until four pages into the RP.))
{Oh..>> I knew that.. *Scurries off to make profile* ><;}

[7000dominos]

Name: Locke
Gender: Male
Age: 22; Says he's 25.
Occupation: See below.
Place of Residency: He currently resides under the cover of a slave in the Kendrix house.

Gang?: He is second in command of the Tetron gang. ((Is this okay, Nikki?))
Strengths: Locke is ruthless and strong. He is very agile and good with a knife. He has a knack for picking locks, which is how he got his name.
Weaknesses: Though he would never admit it, his weakness is Daiya.

Personality: Locke is very businesslike, though he can be cruel. His apparent primary concern is the well-being and forward progression of the Tetrons. He is a very 'whatever-it-takes' kind of guy. He doesn't laugh much, unless it sarcastic humor. He tends to be somewhat protective of Daiya.

History: Locke got into the Tetron gang much by accident. He worked with his mother and sister in a factory in one of the poorer parts of town for many years. It was a difficult life, but he earned his keep, and he loved and was well loved. One day, there was a fire in the factory. Many were killed, including his mother and sister. Twelve year old Locke (then named David Thrasher), stumbled into Tetron headquarters. Through a series of swift and terrifying events, Locke became the youngest ever member of the Tetron gang. Over the years, he has worked his way up through the ranks to second in command.

Appearance: http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p292/xalwaysxtomorrowx/Anime/guy-blackgreen2.jpg
Other: He loves Daiya and would literally die for her. The majority of the gang do not know how old he really is, otherwise they might be a tad upset. Daiya is one of the few who do know. The two operate within a double jeopardy, each protecting the other's secret.

[7000dominos]

(I know! That's why I brought it up. :) Though it all depends on who "buys" my character. I hope someone joins of a class who would.... Are there any, yet?)

((....mine could...))

[sad_girl101]

(I know! That's why I brought it up. :) Though it all depends on who "buys" my character. I hope someone joins of a class who would.... Are there any, yet?)

((or mabye mine could, but 7000dominos asked first))

[Guendolen_Sama]

(Whoever wants to! Heck, have a bidding war. I don't want to be the one to determine this. Her fate is out of her hands, and therefore should be out of mine. It'll make playing it out more realistic. Though either of you would be fine by me. :))

[7000dominos]

((or mabye mine could, but 7000dominos asked first))

((Yup, we'll just have to see. I'm not asking for her, per se, I'm just saying it's a possibility.))

[sad_girl101]

((Yup, we'll just have to see. I'm not asking for her, per se, I'm just saying it's a possibility.))

((lol same here))

[Nikki Jekyll]

Thank you all for joining! Domy, your character is ok (both of them), and whoever asked to join may post their profiles now (sorry, I'm too lazy to go back and find you).

[Guendolen_Sama]

(You're welcome! I guess everything was acceptable, then? Do let us know when you have enough people. :))

[Nikki Jekyll]

((I think we can start now.))

Ariana stared at the sky, her eyes slightly unfocused. She'd just woken up half an hour ago, and gotten dressed for work. A plain wool dress adorned her small frame, the typical dress of a maid.
Her former employers, the Bellafio's, had been brutally murdered for their involvement in gangs, something that was regrettable (as the family was wealthy enough that they wouldn't miss the things that Adriana stole), but not something that Adriana was tearing up about.
Now, Adriana had found work at the Kendrix household. Adriana's new employers were almost as wealthy as the Bellafio's.
Adriana began to walk through the dirty streets of the First Ring into the Second Ring, where after a quick glance at the darkening sky, she sped her pace so that she wouldn't be caught by the rain.
Ariana just reached the Kendrix house when the celestial floodgates opened and poured down upon Zápas.

[Guendolen_Sama]

A small, pale shape huddled in the corner of a cell. It was tiny, only a few feet square. A rude pallet with a single threadbare blanket was all there was for a bed. The figure was not chained or bound; it wasn't necessary, not when this stone walls and a sturdy oaken door, locked from the outside, kept her inside.
That, and her own apathy. Risa drew her knees up a little tighter under her chin, forcing her eyes to stay open. When she closed them, images flashed behind them. When she slept, sounds accompanied. The voices, screams of her family as they died....
Her fingers tightened over the brooch danging around her neck, bound to a strip of ribbon torn off the tattered, stained white dress she wore. The same one she'd had on for- she'd lost track of the time, now. She had been in a daze, a stasis, for so long. For so long she'd been numb, just drifting.
A lock rattled in the door. The sound meant a guard was bringing her rations. It was only recently she had been able to eat; her already naturally slim frame was now even more like a rail. She hardly noticed the taste of it, anymore. At first, it had been foul. Now, that didn't matter. Nothing mattered, anymore. Except for one thing- the visions behind her eyes showed her sister had survived, been taken, too. That fate was the only thing that meant anything to Risa, now. And she was too numb to do anything about it, even if she wasn't trapped in this slave warehouse.... As it was, she barely noticed the rain that started pounding down on the warehouse roof, echoing drum against the industrial material like the pounding fists of wrathful gods.

[sad_girl101]

Alice was getting dressed, with the help of maids, she hated them all. She often thought about killing them, but then she would have to buy a new one, she was already heading to the slave market today to buy a new maid. Though she also liked them all, she had good days, and bad one, and this was a bad one. She had just finished a mission that had lasted a week, she had less then 6 hours of sleep during the whole week and was utterly exushted.

Though her rich snotty parents could care-less, after she vought the slave, she was to report to another meeting, in which she was to bring the slave. She had to wear full uniform, which was a royal pain in the a**. Though she didnt argue, she never did, because she felt she would get nothing out of doing so.

[7000dominos]

"No, no," Daiya corrected gently. "Sela, you want to be in second position for this part, see? Turn out now...good, good!" Daiya put on a sugar sweet smile and appluaded the young girl.

She rather liked the class, really, she did. The arts were her passion. But that was because she wanted it that way. Her parents could care less, so long as she remained beautiful, rich, and marriable.

She hated them for it. Did she appear so stupid that she needed to be told what to do? How to live? What to say? Where to go? No. She could make her own life, and she was proving. She didn't care that her parents didn't know, nor that they wouldn't approve if they did.

Outside, rain tapped against the window, insistent fingers, tapping out a subtle message: leave, leave, leave.

Oh, how she wanted to. It wouldn't be so long now. Soon, she would secure her place in the Tetron gang. She would prove her worth, and once they accepted her--really accepted her--she could leave her family. She would fake her own death if she had to.

She laughed at the thought. Locke would certainly help.

"What's so funny, Miss Daiya?" asked six-year-old Sela.

Daiya stared down at the girl, the smile frozen on her lips. She knelt and fixed the girls cotton-candy pink tights. "Nothing, Sela, dear. Now go get it line."

[sprints42]

Aena walked quickly, carrying her basket full of precious food carefully. It would have to last a while, because very few people had come to her for treatment the last couple of weeks, and she'd used the last of her earnings to buy what she now carried.
Cursed sun. It always makes the crowds bigger...She probably would've been cutting purses on a day like this if it were any other day, but it was the anniversary of her mother's death. Those days were always horrible. The last one had been even worse, though. Even now, the memories of the Ekchon's leader's face gave her nightmares. They had come seeking healing and expected not to have to pay because her father was one of them. They disliked being told no.
Thunder rumbled, scaring most people inside. Aena just laughed, and stopped to feel the cleansing rain come down.

[Multi-Facets]

Zuuna Lorde. If it wasn't one thing, it was another. He had only found three customers today, and now the sky had decided to unload itself. Rain tended to dampen ardor.

Aluka Bex sighed gustily, and hung his fan on his belt, next to his coin purse, which was mostly empty, of course. The mugginess of the day was dispelled now by the downpour; no need to use the accessory unless he was threatened.

The rain flattened his curls, plastering his hair against his slim, pale body, making him look altogether as miserable as he felt. Maybe he should just call it a day, at least until the rain ended. It wasn't as though there were many places in the Red Lamp District where the half-blood could take shelter and wait the storm out. Every crate, barrel and awning would be claimed by now.

Yes, that would be best. Even Aluka's boss, Em'met Mimishaa, knew when to cut his losses. He was not a nice man, but he wouldn't hold the rain against his employee.

Hands in his pockets, head bowed, Aluka stepped off the sidewalk and started for As You Like It; it was two blocks past the marketplace, which was mostly empty by now but for a petite, plain slip of a girl who was standing with her face turned to the sky.

"Crazy opas," Aluka muttered as he passed her.

[sad_girl101]

ALice was now to step out in the rain, she smiled, she loved the rain, and had no problems walking eight blocks in the rain, in fact she thought it would be very fun.

So she walked at a brisk pace, that was almost a jog, but not really. Her servants had lost her thankfully and she was on her own again, she hide the three very full coin bags she had, in her shirt and in her boots.

She past a young man walking another way, he was rather pale, but she thought nothing of him, though they might meet again one day.

She then walked past an alley, were a young girl had her head to the sky, smiling, she to must have been enjoying the rain, how delightful. She was now almost to the market, though she knew the slave markets were more then likey closed for the day, she could care less, she was going to enjoy herself.

She stopped by a small candy store and bought herself, some candy, to take home with her, then asked the owner,"Are the slave markets still open?"

[Nikki Jekyll]

Aiden tripped over the hem of her dress, stumbling down onto the polished floors of the Kendrix's home. Ugh, what a pain! Now she'd have to con someone into hemming the dress for her!
Aiden hurriedly got up and brushed herself off, quickly looking around to see if anyone noticed her fall. Only a few slaves in the large dining room, and no one spoke to them. Good, hopefully she would still go unnoticed.

[7000dominos]

Daiya walked home slowly in the rain, letting in fall over her shoulders, turning her strange, silvery hair dark gray. In the dark mugginess of the street, her eyes were the brightest thing around, though they reflected none of her inner most thoughts.

Mostly, she wished for night. So she could escape, even if only for a few hours. She could be her own person, work for herself, earn her way through a life that wasn't dictated to her twenty-four/seven. It was part of the reason she liked dance. She could express herself, even under the careful eye of her parents.

Another part of her, a part she kept hidden, at least until she understood it, wanted to see Locke. Her worked around the house, but as he was male, he remained mostly in the gardens, and she couldn't see him much. She wasn't sure how she felt about him. Their first encounter had been unwanted, and unpleasant. But...now she was confused. He made her feel...free. Different. Dangerous. But did she love him?

She couldn't say.

[Guendolen_Sama]

More time passed. Risa was still numb. She never could tell how long she huddled on that corner mattress, not moving. Not caring. Eventually she did eat the rations she had been given, a dish of stew full of lumpy, nameless meat and soggy flavorless vegetables. Well, nothing had any flavor to her right now, in any case. Eating was just something to do; a mechanical reflex, more than anything else. That, and that they might beat her if she didn't eat it. She was apparently "valuable," after all. Between her lineage and her looks, those in charge had indicated that she could likely expect to have men- possibly many men- interested in owning her. So she had to be kept healthy, not allowed to be reduced to a rail, a skeleton that would deter interested buyers.
That was a fate that made Risa's stomach twist with dread. She knew the implications likely to that sort of ownership. And it was a fate that made her sick to her very soul. Instinctively, her hand dipped into the neck of her dress, drew out the concealed brooch dangling around her neck. Her finger lightly stroked the golden surface. This tiny treasure, one lone bit of her legacy. Draw strength from it. Obviously there was no force up above to pray to that would protect her, but... she could still hold this, and remember.... Those who were gone, and the one still left. Whose fate she was unaware of. Where are you, Ariana?

[Multi-Facets]

The sound of the rain nearly drowned out the hesitant knocking at his bedroom door. Alexi blearily pulled a pillow over his head and tried to ignore it, but the tentative knocking continued. "All right, come in," he moaned, rolling over and staring up at the fabric over his bed.

His maid, Suzsana, opened the door and peeked in, but did not enter. Alexi did not blame her: The first time she had entered without knocking to wake him, he had pulled a knife on her. At the time, Suzsana was newly hired, and Alexi was not used to having a housemate yet. He had apologized profusely, horrified at how close he had come to harming her, and she had forgiven him, but since then, Suzsana did not come into his room unless she was certain he was out of bed.

"I'm sorry, Alexi-wey," the pretty blonde maid said quietly, "but there are people here to see you. I told them you came in early this morning, but they're very insistent."

The bounty hunter groaned quietly, forearm coming to rest on his forehead. "They probably want me to kill someone. You put them in the parlor?"

"Yes, sir."

"I'll be out in a minute. Make some lunch, would ya?" Alexi pushed his blankets aside and Suz hurriedly closed the door. Her employer slept nude, and while he had very little modesty, Suzsana still felt it was impolite to look unless invited into his bed.

She went back to the parlor where two men waited, looking impatient. "Ale- Master Black will be with you shortly," she said with a curtsy. "W-Would you like some tea while you wait?"

One of the men scowled, but the other, a swarthy brunette, looked pleased by the idea. "Yes, I would like some tea," he answered. "Do you have the Perigon blend?"

Suzana nodded. "I'll be out soon," she promised, and rushed to the kitchen. Ten minutes later, she brought out a tray as Alexi came into the parlor, hair still wet, wearing a simple gray shirt, red pants and black boots. Suzsana poured tea for the brunette man, then served Alexi: Vegetable soup, triangles of toasted bread with melted cheese, and sausage slices. The tall man took a slice and dunked it in the soup, then popped it into his mouth.

"So, who do you want me to kill?" he asked without preamble.

[Multi-Facets]

The first man sniffed. "Do you have to put it so bluntly? This is a business venture."

The brunette nudged his partner. "But it is what we're here for. Why not be blunt?" he questioned, and nodded to Alexi. "We want you to make a strike at a Varyen warehouse, to kill all the Varyen members there, tonight. You don't have to free the slaves, just make a statement with the Varyen bodies. Simple merchants like us are suffocating with their presence nearby, and it's gone on long enough. They'll probably think it was a rival gang, and while they go to war, we'll be able to have more freedom in business."

Alexi leaned back in his chair, plucking sausage slices from their plate and putting them on another slice of toast without looking. "Do you know how many members will be in there tonight, or what the security is like?" he asked, eating with relish.

"No," the brunette man admitted.

"So how do I know this isn't a setup?"

"We're paying up front."

The bounty hunter smiled humorlessly. "How much?"

The brunette named a sum.

"Don't let the door hit ya on the way out," Alexi said casually, and resumed eating.

"What?" the first businessman asked incredulously.

"Life is cheap, man, but death is costly, especially since I don't know what I'm going up against," the taller man retorted.

"But your reputation-"

"Is meaningless when I'm spilling blood," Alexi interrupted. "And I still don't trust your intentions. If you can afford to come to me, you can afford to pay twice that up front."

The first man sputtered, but the brunette held up a hand to silence him. "All right, Mr. Black," he said, somewhat reluctantly. "You'll make beggars out of us, but all right. Twice that, up front."

Alexi grinned. "Once I'm done, you'll be sure to recoup your losses," he said a little too sweetly, and lifted the soup bowl to his lips. "Go on and get the money. I'll be here when you get back."

[AnotherSkip]

Mizu was standing in the second ring,she had managed to weasle her way here.She decided it would be a day where she would test a few purses,then see what she could come up with.she noticed someone not looking at her.she walked by,bumping into them and grabbing a small amount of gold before bumping into a few others,just here and there.

[sprints42]

Aena sighed as the rain slowly stopped. She'd been here too long already, but it was just so nice to stay still for a moment that she couldn't help the impulse. Her food was probably wet too, but that couldn't be helped. It wasn't like there was much there anyway.
Glancing around to make sure that people were still hiding from the rain, she made a dash for home, giving in to the temptation of dancing in puddles every once in a while. Just because she wasn't yet twenty and lived on her own didn't mean she couldn't have fun. And who was that man who had called her a witch? She didn't know any spells, she just.... Well, she wasn't sure what. Besides, it wasn't like she'd ever see him again.

[Scrappy]

(Hello everyone. I'm grounded for alittle so I wasn't on. I still am but I might be on tomorrow.)

[sad_girl101]

ALice smiled and walked towards the slave market, she had to buy two slaves now, two, lovely. She smiled and funally reached it, she needed two slaves, both girls. She sat down in the VIP seats infront of the rest of them, a direct veiw of the slave market booth.

[7000dominos]

Locke was outside, kneeling in the dirt, churning the brown loam into mud. Rain poured over his shoulders, though it was lightening, he noticed, and dripped onto the ground in fat, cold drops. Most of the other garden workers had been called in, but he liked the rain. He always felt better after standing in the rain. Cleaner. Newer. More worthy.

His bare shoulders glistened in the cool air; he ignored the giggles of the maids behind him. Not so long ago, he would have entertained them, even if only in jest, but things were different now.

He sat back, raking a muddy hand through his dark, wet hair, and turning his face toward the one of the windows of the Kendrix mansion. She wasn't there. He hadn't expected her to be. But even the hope made him feel giddy. She was, effectively, a drug.

[Multi-Facets]

"Are you going back out, Aluka?" Shasta Bex asked of her son.

"Mm-hm," the half-blood answered, brushing out his curls one more time before selecting some jewelry to adorn himself with. "You know Mimishaa."

"I do," Shasta sighed, looking down at her hands.

Aluka finished dressing; a purple glass teardrop hung on a brass chain around his neck, with matching bracelets and earrings. Another chain rested over his bangs by use of pins, dangling a drop of purple between his eyebrows. He got up from the crude vanity, and leaned over to kiss his mother goodbye. "Dinner was wonderful tonight, Mom."

It had only been broth and toast. But Aluka always told his mother her cooking was wonderful.

"Be careful out there, dear," Shasta requested, hugging her son.

"I will," the redheaded half-blood promised, patting the fan at his belt, and left the room, going down the hall to enter the world again.

The city seemed to be washed clean by the rain, but Aluka ignored how everything shimmered under the sun now. Instead, he took out his fan, turned his walk into a saunter, and headed back to his block, crossing through the marketplace.


(OOC: If anyone wants to bump into Aluka, either for conversation or more (in PM or just implied), now's the time. We need more interaction.)

[sprints42]

Shoot, shoot, shoot! She thought, running through streets and alleys. The Ekchons had surprised her on her way home once again. Would they never leave her alone. Even after moving several times they still managed to find her. This time they were really angry, and she was afraid she wouldn't be able to find her hiding place in time. It was a good thing she was small, it was easier to dodge between people. Just a couple more feet...
BAM! Aena slammed into a wall that shouldn't have been there, then fell to the ground. Looking up, she saw that it wasn't a wall after all. It was a man. He was wearing a necklace and bracelets, strangely enough...
Her head whipped about at the sound of shouting.

[Multi-Facets]

Aluka was actually staggered when the runner slammed into him; he was thrown against a wall as she went down on the cobblestones. "Watch it, you little-" Wait, this was the same crazy girl who hadn't had enough sense to get out of the rain.

Then he heard the shouting, saw the girl's frightened expression, and got the gist of what was happening. It gave him an idea.

"If you stole something from those people, I'll hide you for a third of the haul," Aluka bargained as the angry voices started coming closer. "If you didn't, I'll still hide you for a small fee."

[sprints42]

Aena was so frightened she could do no more than shake her head as she quickly stood and started moving away as quickly as possible. "If they find me this time, they'll kill me." The shouts were coming closer. "Fine, I'll pay your fee, if I can, but on my terms." She was still trying to edge out of sight of the marketplace.

[Multi-Facets]

"Fantastic!" Aluka cheered with a not-so-friendly grin. It wasn't the best bargain, but more money now meant fewer customers he would have to bear with later. He grabbed the girl's wrist, dragging her down a by-street and towards his block. He estimated they would only make it about halfway before they were caught, but that was okay. All they needed was an alley or a place behind a shop with lots of empty crates-

Ah, yes! It had been delivery day at the bakery, and its back alley was full of empty crates that had held flour sacks. The redhead grinned, pulling Aena behind him, and released her to pick up a crate that was probably big enough to hold the girl, provided she was able to scrunch into a small enough ball. But that shouldn't be a problem.

"Get under this," Aluka instructed, "or pretend to be my customer. Your choice." And not much of one at that; if Aena chose the latter, he would have to get creative with whatever shadows he could find.

[7000dominos]

Daiya had to pass the gardens on the way back to the house. She caught his eyes on accident, and stumbled, uncertain whether she wanted to run, or stay.

He caught up with her either way.

"Why are you out in the rain?" Locke whispered. He grabbed her hand and pulled her under and awning. "You'll get sick, and tonight--"

"I know, I know," griped Daiya. "I'm not stupid." The words came harsher than she intended, and Locke stopped, taken aback. "Sorry," she muttered finally. "I don't like being told what to do."

Locke smirked. "So you joined a gang on the bottom rungs?"

"They don't tell me what to do," Daiya countered. "They tell me what needs to be done."

"What's the difference."

"I wouldn't expect you to understand. Besides, it's not like I had a choice."

"There's always a choice, Dai."

Daiya turned to him, blue eyes fiery, and they both knew what she thought of. "Did I?" she whispered. Locke looked away first. Daiya turned toward the house, disappointed for some reason she couldn't name. "I'll see you tonight," she said, without looking back.

[Scrappy]

Jael sat on the street corner. She looked around taking a bite of the sandwich she had just scraped up with a bit of change she had found in her old jean pockets. She was disguised with a hat and baggy jeans and a baggy shirt. She looked like a guy with these things on. But when she took it off she looked very much like a female, especially when she let her hair down. She took another bite, wondering why she had left her daughter with that pervert. She was lonely, but she was glad at the same time because she didnt want her daughter living like this. She smiled as she thought about the day she had her, and got to hold her. Her eyes began glisten with tears, from the memories a few years prior. She blinked and a tear fell from her eye. She stood and walked down the street as she heard footsteps behind her, and she bit into her sandwich looking around, she saw nothing. She heard them again and someone pounced on her back. She hit the ground hard and pulled out a pocket knife cutting the mans arm and he fell back. He punched her in her temple and everything went black.

-----------------------------

When she woke up she was with out a wallet, with out her half of a sandwich. She was really angry, she stood up and stormed off, she was determined to find out who had beat her up and stole her things. She looked around, she had recognized the mans face, but he was no where to be seen on the streets. She walked back to her dirty apartment infested with roaches and other things. She layed on her bed and closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep.

[AnotherSkip]

Mizu sighed.she had gotten not alot,and the guards had already noticed her,she watched as one walked right past her.
Mizu then looked around,and quickly got back to the first ring,she had gotten atleast a good 20 to 30 gold pieces,so it turned out pretty nicely.

[Guendolen_Sama]

More time passed. More haze, in which Risa's mind replay events of her childhood; images of her family, brothers and parents, all happy and together. All gone, now.... Her hand tightened around the brooch on the strip of torn fabric.
A key turned in the lock on the outside. Risa's head came up. It wasn't time for rations again, was it?... She watched, feeling an unusual glimmer of curiosity as the door opened. Stranger still- two guards staggered in with a tub in between them. A couple of others, with the look of common laborers about them, followed, emptying steaming buckets of water into the tub. She was... being allowed to bathe?...
As the work went on, the man Risa knew simply as her jailer came striding in. He threw a bundle of cloth in her direction. "Get cleaned up and change," he told her. "You're going up on the block in a day or two. I can get a big price for you, and to do that, I want to show you off to best advantage." A rapacious, wolfish grin showed plainly what sort of customer he expected to purchase her- a man, seeking a "pleasure" slave.
Risa's stomach felt as though a lump of solid ice had been dropped into it. Her hands clenched. And through it all, a tiny vestige of spirit rose up from the depths of depression. When she spoke, her voice was rough with disuse. "No."
"No?" The jailer looked at her. "You think you have a choice in the matter?"
"Yes," Risa rasped. They could leave the tub there, but they couldn't make her use it. Yes, she longed to bathe, now her mind was surfacing from the morass of depression, if only temporarily. But if the purpose was to display her before ravening men, she would go dirty. Maybe it would dissuade them. She'd overheard whispers of that sort of buyer. The words had made her skin crawl. She just couldn't go to someone like that....
"Still think you're high lady of the manor? Well, you don't do it yourself, I have the right to do it for you. You're a mite skinny, but I still wouldn't mind a look." His grin got wider; anticipatory.
Risa shifted further into the corner. "You cannot," she whispered, blue eyes wide and afraid. "To damage-" He wouldn't damage his own "property," would he?
The man guffawed. "I can sample without taking the whole feast," he crowed. "So you going to do it yourself, or do I get the pleasure of dunking and scrubbing you myself?"
He would do it, too. Risa knew that, deep in her bones. It was one thing to go to a vaguely known humiliation; another to submit to a specific one willingly. "All right," she murmured. Get him out of there, make some splashing noises in the water... trick him, maybe? For once, her mind was working, not numb.
"Let me just make sure of that." Before Risa got to protest, the jailer bodily picked her up and tossed her in the tub, clothes and all. Water splashed over the sides in a wave, and she frantically pushed her sodden hair out of her eyes. A bar of rough soap was dropped in her lap. "Make yourself pretty for your new owner," he laughed. Then he cuffed her across the cheek and left, locking the door behind him.

[Scrappy]

When Jael had finally awoken, she sat up on her bed. She had a massive headache, she shouldnt haven went to sleep she could have possibly have had a concussion and died in her slumber. She had gotten up. Put her hat on, and walked out, with out identification, so she right now could be anyone she wanted to be, but instead she decided to meet up with her gang. "Hey guys." she said as she opened a door to a shabby little shack. She looked arond the place that she had known for years, it had cobwebs, blood, and writing on the wall. "Hey J." said one of the gang members, thats what she told them her name was. "Uhm guys, I just got beat up for my sandwich and wallet, what are we going to do about this because I'm a little mad about it." she said as you could see the fury entering her eyes.
"We kill 'em." said another member of the gang and all of the members except Jael yelled "Horrah!"

[sprints42]

Aena shot him a disgruntled look at the last remark, then hurriedly curled up in the crate. Surprising, really, what people will do for money,she thought. I wonder if the Ekchons would leave me alone if I payed them off, though where I'd get the money I have no idea.

[Multi-Facets]

Smart girl. He'd feel like a child molester if he had to feign being paid by her for sex. Aluka dropped the crate over Aena and sat on it, adopting a very sensual pose. All the Eckchons would see was a prostitute taking a break.

Hopefully they wouldn't try to rough him up. They would find out rather quickly the knife hidden in his fan was poisoned. Sure, they would be able to disarm him, but still.

[sprints42]

The sound of running feet alerted her to the arrival of the Ekchons. Aena held her breath, wondering what would happen. She could hear their leader shouting at the man sitting on her crate, but she couldn't distinguish the words, nor could she hear his responses.

[Multi-Facets]

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

[Scrappy]

(OutofCookies: Whats going on, can I help? I'm a good helper. :) )

[Nikki Jekyll]

Ariana leaned over the table a little more as she scrubbed at the stubborn speck on the dining room table. Frowning as her latest attack didn't even make the speck less noticable. She let out a frustrated, "Ugh!" before straightening up to stretch and crack her aching back loudly.
She looked over at a trophy case in the corner, eyeing a lovely emerald necklace. Ariana doubted that the case was locked, and if it was, the locks were probably to flimsy to pose any real threat to her picks.
No...she couldn't raise suspicion to herself. It was a lovely necklace though.
Just then, the French doors that led out to the gardens banged open, letting in a gust of cold, wet air. Ariana had to force herself not to go on the defensive, instead gasping like a young maid would at the dripping, sopping, positively drenched man not ten feet in front of her.

[7000dominos]

((Nikki, is the severely dampened young man one of my characters? And if so, which one?))

[Nikki Jekyll]

((Nikki, is the severely dampened young man one of my characters? And if so, which one?))
((It really doesn't matter. I just want someone to talk to!))

[7000dominos]

((Ah. Okay.))

Locke raked his fingers through his wet hair, dripping mud onto the floor. He was so lost in his thoughts, it took him a moment to notice the girl in front of him.

He froze, a half smile on his face. "You gonna steal that?" he asked her, jerking his head at the necklace on display in the shining glass case.

[Nikki Jekyll]

Ariana masked her surprise by donning the demure and innocent face of a humble maid. She calmly clasped her hands in front of her and looked at Locke questioningly.
"Why sir," She said, her tone polite and subdued. "I'm not sure I know what you mean." She picked up her rag from the table and said, "Would you like a towel, sir?"

[Guendolen_Sama]

(I hear you on wanting to interact with other characters. Methinks I shall set up the sale scenario. Thenceforth, it's out of my hands; after all, it's out of hers. Settle this amongst potential candidates via roleplaying.)

The next morning. Risa had cleaned herself as best she could, now that she'd been forced to; this was more crude than she was accustomed to, but hygiene took over from depression and pride. The pride, however, still led her to hurry; there was no cover over the little barred window on the door, after all. There was a chance someone might decide to watch.... The thought made her feel creepy all over.
The bundle of cloth had proven to be not just a rough towel and wash rag, but a new garment as well. Though "garment" was being generous; it consisted of a short, shapeless tunic made of a drab oatmeal-colored fabric not unlike burlap. Given the crude sleeve holes and rough edges, she might have thought it might have been cut from a sack, in fact. After all, what did it matter what she wore? Whoever purchased her would choose how she was dressed, in the end.
Enough of Risa's spirit lingered that she might have rebelled and refused to wear the crude, abrasive garment. But first off, if she didn't don it willingly, the jailer would insist on having someone "dress" her, no doubt- or do it himself. Then there was the simple fact that her only existing alternative was tattered, filthy, and rank. As obnoxious as the alternative was, she rebelled at putting something so dirty on freshly washed skin. As it was, she had to hurriedly wash out her undergarments as best she could in the used bathing water. They hadn't given her clean ones, and that was one thing she would not do without. She did have her dignity in there somewhere....
For once, time passed quickly instead of in a dull, heavy haze. It seemed like far too soon that Risa was awakened by the thud of her door being slammed open. A hand jerked her to her feet before she was even fully conscious. "Come on. Move. It's your turn today."
"What? I- you mean-" Risa tried to get her mouth working, to protest, but she was still too sleep-muddled to be coherent. Then the guard cuffed her across the face. "Shut up or I'll gag you," he threatened. Risa hadn't gotten back enough spirit yet to defy the order, so she did as he asked.
The guard manhandled her through a series of twisting, dark corridors; every now and then there would be another voice, a small cry. More slaves, awaiting sale? Might Adriana be one of them?... Risa's breath hitched, and she clenched her eyes shut.
When they at last opened, her stomach dropped into her feet. It was like a warped, twisted nightmare of a farmer's auction. A raised dais- an auctioneer with a hammer, talking fast and gesturing faster- sawdust on the floor, shuffling, moving, cries and voices, merchandise being brought up to stand on the dais, made to turn, move, bend, be put on display- others lashed to the wall, awaiting their turn.... But instead of cows, or sheep, or pigs, it was humans. Individuals, with names and pasts and stories, all lost, all forgotten, washed away in this place that rendered them totally devoid of any human identity....
Risa went rigid, numb. She was dragged to the wall, wrists lashed to an iron loop embedded in it. A young boy, hardly more than fourteen, was bound beside her. Red welts across his arms, bare chest and shoulders and torso, marked how he had been beaten, probably for insubordination. Well, he was cowed now- head down, eyes blank, all but unseeing. Risa's stomach clenched in ice-cold fear. The haze was dropping down again, numbing the horror of it all.
She didn't know how much time passed. Some did, but she was in such a state that it didn't register. It seemed like both seconds and forever that she was yanked from the wall, hands still bound, dragged to the stage and prodded up onto the raised dais.
The auctioneer's voice called out. "Lot number 665. A young woman, age in her early twenties, healthy and attractive. Formerly of high-class parentage. Clean, free of blemish, injury, or deformity." No name given or anything; after all, an owner would have the right to re-name her, if he or she so chose. "Unless anyone requires a closer inspection of this lot's features, might I have the first bid?" Risa stared out across the crowd, blue eyes wide. It was like an animal trapped by a hunter's lantern, terrified yet frozen in place, like one petrified into stone by a spell. A voice was still insisting this couldn't be happening....

[Scrappy]

(Hey I need an interaction too. Im a bit alone here in the world. Heheh.)

Jael had left from the little shack she was in, she began to walk the streets again. She wanted money and a little food since the men stole her sandwhich. She had felt a little violated after she had awaken too, but she shrugged it off and thought nothing of it, but it was still a little sore and her upper thighs hurt and were tired. If she was possibly raped, how would she tell the guys?? She was a little tired from what had happened. Her back hurt too. "Shoot. What am I going to do." she had a bad feeling in her gut.

Jael wanted to go relax so she walked into the first ring, she couldnt go higher than that, and the most peacful place she could find was a dirty water fountain, she loved the tranquil sound. Maybe she should move back to the first ring, without her wallet she definatley was on her way back there. It wasnt so bad, maybe she could work as a prostitute, good money, lots of fun, and she definatly had the body for it under her baggy clothes. She saw the water fountain and sat next to it and took of the hat, letting her long hair out.

[sprints42]

((I would guess that they would loudly ask if you'd seen a girl run by, check with each other, ask again, yell at each other.... You don't really have to be all that descriptive, I don't mind.))

[Multi-Facets]

"Hellooooo, all you handsome fellows," Aluka cooed as the gang bolted into the alley. He smiled charmingly, crossing his legs coquettishly.

The gang member in the lead whirled on a man to his left. "I thought you said you saw her come this way!" he snarled, lifting a fist.

"I did!" the second man yelled, and rounded on Aluka. "You! Boy! Tell me if you saw a whey-faced, skinny blonde girl with a tattoo on her hand come back here, and you had better tell the truth!"

"Oh my me, I don't know," the redhead fluttered, ever so witless and polite. "I see so many blondes in my job, I can't possibly keep track of them all. Maybe you're thinking of- AAGH!"

The leader had strode up to Aluka and backhanded him across the face, knocking him to the ground. Leaning down, he grabbed a fistful of the half-blood's curls, pulling him upright. "I'm gonna ask you one more time," he growled. "Did you see a pale, big-eyed, platinum blonde girl with a tattoo on the back of-"

He broke off, staring at the prostitute in surprise; Aluka had unsheathed his dagger, grabbed the wrist over his head, and placed the tip of his weapon at the inside of his aggressor's thigh. The thin knife didn't bother the gang leader, but the dead fury in Aluka's eyes gave him momentary pause.

"I didn't see anyone with a tattoo, so unless you're planning on paying up front," the redhead hissed, "you had better unhand me now before I sever an artery."

"Chuh." The bigger man threw Aluka down, kicked him in the ribs, and moved away. "The sl-t's not gonna be any help," he told his underlings. "C'mon, she probably hid in one of the shops around here."

The Ekchons groaned and complained, but they did leave.

Aluka sat up, cringing, and rapped the crate hiding Aena with a booted toe. "They're gone," he rasped breathlessly.

[7000dominos]

Locke sneered and snatched the towel from the girl. "You don't know what 'stealing' is? Considering the way you were staring at that case, I sincerely doubt that notion. And the name's 'Locke', not 'sir'. I'm no fourth ring bigot. But thanks for the towel." He nodded to the muddy puddle he'd left behind. "And sorry for the mess."

[Nikki Jekyll]

After the words 'No fourth ring bigot' Ariana almost dropped the facade.
"I was merely admiring Lady Kendrix's lovely jewels." Ariana said, just as polite as before. "And you're welcome. Now, if you excuse me, I need to go fetch a mop." Ariana walked away with all the calm demeanor a proper maid should have, and grabbed a mop from the closet in the kitchen adjacent to the dining hall.

[7000dominos]

Locke snorted. "Of course, ma'am, go on. Ever so sorry for the distuerbance."

He pretended to proceed down the hall, toward the back door, where the garden shed was located, but he paused by the door to watch the girl. He was curious as to whether she really would steal the necklace. He was also curious as to what she was hiding beneath that 'innocent-as-a-newborn-lamb' facade...

[Scrappy]

(I need interaction.)

[Nikki Jekyll]

Ariana wiped the mop across the muddy footprints, stealing looks over to the doors to see if more intruders were going interrupt her. She couldn't see anyone through the sheets of heavy rain.
Ariana propped the wet mop up against the table, and walked slowly to the case in the corner. She walked around it once, examining from all sides.
She reached out with one hand and gently jiggled the handle, only to find it locked. Ariana bent down to examine the lock, she had been right, it was flimsy and wouldn't stand up to her picks. Ariana deftly removed her lockpicks from their hiding place inside her bodice, and pulled out two suitable picks. She worked the lock until she heard the magic click that she was looking for.
Ariana gazed upon the emerald necklace in envy.
"Well now, aren't you lovely?" She crooned to the necklace.

[7000dominos]

Locke raised an eyebrow. "Well, it looks like Little Miss Lamb is a bit more than what she appears. Don't look at me like that, I already told you, we're on the same team. I won't tell if you won't. 'Course is I get blamed, things may change. Unless you're willing to even things up a bit..." Locke shrugged. It wasn't unreasonable. It was the way of the first and second rings inhabitants. Every man--or woman--for himself.

[Nikki Jekyll]

Ariana jumped as she heard Locke's voice in the doorway. Idiot! She scolded herself. How could she have forgotten about him?
Ariana turned to face Locke, scowling at him darkly and saying, "Now, what interest might you be havin' in me?" This time, she allowed her First Ring accent through into her speech.
Her right hand strayed to the small of her back, where she kept a throwing knife hidden in the waistband of her skirt. If Locke came at her, she'd be ready.

[7000dominos]

Locke sized her up. "In you? Not much. No offense meant of course, but you can sell jewels like those under a much cleaner, easier price. I'm sayin' split the earnings with me, and you won't have no trouble with the owners." He paused. "We're close."

((I g2g for a bit.))

[Nikki Jekyll]

"Please." Ariana said lightly. "I don't plan on sellin' these jewels. I'll be keepin' 'em for my personal collection." Ariana frowned again, keeping her hand at the small of her back and her fingers closed lightly around the handle of the knife. "And what do you mean by 'We're close'? You be knowin' the Kendrix's personally? You be just a slave and I don' know of any slave that be close to their masters..." Ariana tilted her head slightly to the left. "Unless you aren't a slave that is. But what I canno' understan' is why anyone would be so desperate as to pose as a slave..."

[7000dominos]

Locke's eyes glinted, but he only shrugged. "I prefer 'slave' to 'servent'. I get paid, afterall. And me and the Kendrix's have an interesting relationship." Not that they all know about it... "In any case, I won't rat you out unless someone points the finger at me. As far as posin' as a slave, don't count it off. It ain't so uncommon as you might think," he added cryptically.

[Guendolen_Sama]

(Same here. I'd come offer some, but well, I'm currently on the auction block, awaiting bids.... Anyone interested? Or do I need to fabricate an NPC owner?)

(I need interaction.)

[Nikki Jekyll]

(Same here. I'd come offer some, but well, I'm currently on the auction block, awaiting bids.... Anyone interested? Or do I need to fabricate an NPC owner?)
(I could make a character to by her if you'd like...)

"A man o' mystery, eh?" Ariana asked, "That's all nice and fine, but I don't trust no men o' mysteries." She answered truthfully. Locke...seemed off to Ariana. Like he was hiding something bigger than the emeralds on the necklace behind her. That made her anxious and nervous around him. How could she trust him not to say something, he did mention that he was close to the Kendrix's. Perhaps he wasn't a slave at all, but some sort of investigator hired to root out theives like Ariana.

[7000dominos]

((Or I could do sumfin, Guen.))

Locke nodded. "Nor do I, little miss, nor do I. You're a smart girl. Don't lose that. I suppose it won't make a difference, then, that I'm telling you I won't tell anyone." He shrugged again. "Makes no difference to me, though I know I won't be turning my back on you anytime soon."

[Guendolen_Sama]

(If you wish to. There are a couple other high-class characters here, after all; I'm not sure whether their players plan to have them bid or not. It's just that I didn't want to choose her buyer. After all, she wouldn't get to choose. It wrecks verisimilitude for me to do so, at least to my mind. But if you want to do that, I won't complain. I would like some character interaction, after all. So whichever of you ladies wants to jump in, please do go ahead. They're your people, after all; you decide what they would do.)

[sprints42]

Aena pushed the lid off, peeking out to make sure the coast was clear, then got out of the box.
"Thank you. I'm very glad they didn't find me..." She trailed off as she saw his face. "They hit you?" She reached up, unconsciously taking away a little of the sting.
"I'm sorry, I should've thought of that. I'll understand if you want a larger fee because of it." She turned to put the box back in its place, saying, "I have to warn you, though, I don't have much."

[7000dominos]

((I was gonna let someone else have your characters (that sounds awful), but if no one else is here, I can do it, and we can adjust later. Hold on...))

[Guendolen_Sama]

(Hey, it may sound awful, but it's the world they're in. I chose to set her in that situation, no? And if you don't want to, that's fine. I can hold out.)

[Nikki Jekyll]

((Or I could do sumfin, Guen.))

Locke nodded. "Nor do I, little miss, nor do I. You're a smart girl. Don't lose that. I suppose it won't make a difference, then, that I'm telling you I won't tell anyone." He shrugged again. "Makes no difference to me, though I know I won't be turning my back on you anytime soon."

Ariana laughed suddenly. "I'm not smart, and I'm definately not a girl. I just grew up here, that's all." She was telling the truth. Men of mystery were something her mother constantly warned her against, and Ariana didn't take her mother's advice lightly.
"However, sir, you may watch me all you like, I don't ever make the same mistake twice." Ariana said, dropping her 1st Ring accent for one of a well educated 2nd or 3rd ring girl. She smiled politely, "Now if you'll be so kind as to excuse me, I have more chores to do." Ariana released the handle of her knife, and pushed the blade farther down so that she was sure it was hidden. She closed the case doors, and locked them with a deft twist of her picks. Ariana returned her picks to their proper spots in her case and again stowed the case in her bodice.
"Have a nice day...sir." She said as she retrieved the mop and walked out of the room.

[7000dominos]

Daiya paced about her overlarge sleeping chamber anxiously. The longer she spent with the Tetron gang, the more uncomfortable she felt at home. Like someone might discover her, unconver her secret, force her to quit. She felt...happy at night. Liberated! The adrenaline that pulsed through her body was unlike anything she'd known before. She found only fractions of the feeling in dancing and piano. When she wasn't with them, she felt anxious and irritated.

"I have to get out," she muttered finally, grabbing a travel cloak and escaping through one of the side doors of the large mansion.

~*~*~*~

She passed about on the street, ignoring the strange looks of the people. She shouldn't be here, she knew. People like her, fourth ring nobility, especially girls of her age and size, were vulnerable here. People thought girls like her to be snotty, naive, innocent, gullible, and weak. They would rob her. Or worse.

Daiya sneered. Let them come. She would show them she was no ordinary noble.

She was thinking this when she passed by a slave auction. She glanced only breifly to the shells of people on the stands, before looking away. If you couldn't fix the problem, you ignored it. Guilt settled in her stomach. She walked faster. It wasn't her fault. There was nothing to be done. In a short amount of time, she would be free of all this, and she could rescue people like these.

But....no. There was something dragging her eyes back to the stands against her will. She looked and met the eyes of a young woman with blonde hair, not so much older than herself. She was very pretty, and there was not a mark on her.

Daiya's stomach fell. She knew this girl would not be an ordinary servant. She thought back to the night she met Locke, and her hands clenched into hard fists.

She pushed through the assembled crowd, and looked the auctioneer in the eye.

"I'll have her," she said simply, pointing to the young woman.

[7000dominos]

Ariana laughed suddenly. "I'm not smart, and I'm definately not a girl. I just grew up here, that's all." She was telling the truth. Men of mystery were something her mother constantly warned her against, and Ariana didn't take her mother's advice lightly.
"However, sir, you may watch me all you like, I don't ever make the same mistake twice." Ariana said, dropping her 1st Ring accent for one of a well educated 2nd or 3rd ring girl. She smiled politely, "Now if you'll be so kind as to excuse me, I have more chores to do." Ariana released the handle of her knife, and pushed the blade farther down so that she was sure it was hidden. She closed the case doors, and locked them with a deft twist of her picks. Ariana returned her picks to their proper spots in her case and again stowed the case in her bodice.
"Have a nice day...sir." She said as she retrieved the mop and walked out of the room.


Locke grinned and gave her a small bow. "Of course, madam," he said after her.

Well. It was good to know not all the servants around here were as unassuming as they seemed. It was something to remember. He'd have to watch his back. And Daiya's....Speaking of which, where was she?

[Guendolen_Sama]

Bids had been falling around like echoes, voices distant, like called through a tin pipe. None high enough to suit the auctioneer. Risa had been staring blankly, trying not to look at those calling them out; men, all of them, with leering faces and grasping hands, and thoughts she didn't want to explore....
Another voice broke through the crowd. A feminine one. Risa looked down. A girl, not much younger than herself. Plainly nobility, of a class even higher than Risa's own origins were. But her face lacked the cold self-absorption so many of that class showed. And it was a face that Risa knew she had seen somewhere before.
"I'll have her."
Paradoxical feelings tore through Risa. On the one side, relief she was not being purchased by a lascivious man. On the other side, dread and cold finality at being purchased at all, by anyone.... The auctioneer awaited a formal bid from the mysterious girl. And Risa waited, holding her breath at what was to come.

[7000dominos]

The auctioneer leared down his nose at the same girl. Daiya stared back coolly, blue eyes alert.

"Will ye now, Miss?" he said, his breath tinged with the scent of alcohol. "Can ye beat out all these others, then?" He waved an arm out the crowd of men, some servants of fourth ring men, some upper class third ring men, some not even bidding, just standing to whistle at the poor girl on the stands. Daiya was getting a few looks herself. She shot them back with an air of cruel superiority, sending the raucous men into cackles.

"I can," was all she said to the auctioneer. "What's the highest bid?"

The man told her, and Daiya struggled not to slap him in the face. Men were disgusting creatures, betting such high prices on living, breathing human beings. Then again, she supposed she wasn't so much better. But she wasn't buying the girl, she was buying her freedom. That was laudable, right?

"I will give you twice that," Daiya said calmly, quieting her conscious for now.

The auctioneer blinked; the men around her cursed and leered.

"Yer not from around here, Miss. I'd advise you get yourself home and send a servant in these parts. I can't protect you from these wantin' men."

"I do not need your protection, sir. I've given my price for the girl. Will I have her?"

"Aye, ye be wantin' her for yerself, then?" asked a man from behind her, hand sliding across her bottom.

In the blink of an eye, Daiya had the man on the ground. She loomed above him, holding her arm behind his back. He stammered his confusion and rage. The other men stood back.

"What I want her for is no concern of yours, sir. You will walk away when I release you and not come near me again. Do you understand?"

"Let go of me, ye little b*tch. You d@mn noble are all alike! You think--"

Daiya twisted. The man cried out. "Do you understand," she repeated, voice gone dead with cold.

A long pause. Then, reluctantly, "Aye."

"Good." She let go. The man stood, took a step, pivoted, spat at her, then ran off.

Daiya calmly removed a hankerchief from her bodice (attracting a few wavering whoops from the drunken men) and wiped her face, though inside she was raging. It was no matter. He would pay later.

Finished, she turned back to the auctioneer, who eyed her with a mixture of awe and disgust. "I trust there have been no other bids in my brief...abscence?" she said. It was not a question, despite her tone.

The man shook his head.

"Good. Then she is mine?" A nod. "Thank you. You may unbind her. I will not need an escort."

[Guendolen_Sama]

Risa watched this exchange in stunned silence. This girl was... formidable. There was no other word for it. To have downed a man like that so handily.... A tiny voice whispered that she would like to learn how to do that.... One of the first glimmers of true spirit she had felt since this nightmare had begun.
But next thing she knew, the deal was closed. "Sold!" cried the auctioneer, gavel slamming like a crack of doom. He seemed a little dazed; apparently, the price had been uncommonly high.... Either way, though, two assistances manhandled Risa off the stage, being none too gentle in their treatment. They didn't unbind her hands until they got to her mysterious new owner. Then one of them went and even patted her on the bottom before walking back on their way.... The touch made Risa, jump, starting, her face coloring up. Then she colored more as she looked at the girl who now owned her; stylish, poised, dressed in the sort of garb Risa herself had worn not so very long ago. She adjusted the hem of her short burlap tunic self-consciously, not sure what to say in a situation like this.

[7000dominos]

Daiya glared coldly at the more handy of the two assistants. "I'd thank you to leave us now, sir. And you'd do well to keep your hands to yourself." She eyed him up and down, then, hiding a smirk, she straightened and said in a louder voice, "They may well be your only company in the future."

She gripped the elbow of her new companion and walked briskly away, ignoring the comments and curses on either side of her. Well. Next time they wouldn't speak to her such, would they?

When they were a good distance from the auction stands, and there were fewer crowds, Daiya slowed her pace.

"Have you anything aside from what you are wearing?" she asked the girl. No pretense. No time.

[Guendolen_Sama]

Risa followed not blindly, but numbly. What else would she do, now? This formidable girl... owned her. Would likely not be pleased if she dawdled or resisted. So Risa followed, unshod feet stumbling a little on the rough, unforgiving pavement.
She blinked, shaking her hair out of her eyes as the girl spoke to her. Risa's hand went to the front of her rude tunic, under which lay her treasured brooch. No one must know of it; what if her new owner took it away? That would be natural, right? But it was her only connection to her family, now lost and gone.... Her eyes lowered a little, both in nervousness- well, fear- and to conceal any hint of duplicity. "No," she said softly, trying not to squirm. It took a good bit of control to keep from doing so. After all, beside the hidden brooch, that was the complete truth.

[7000dominos]

Daiya nodded briskly. "You will come to my home then, under the guise of a servant, and you will take some of my clothes. I can offer you money and food, and a place to stay for the night, if you like. Then you may go where you wish, though I cannot promise a good life on the street. You may stay with me, though you...will have to work for you living."

Daiya's tone softened. Had she led this girl from the frying pan and into the fire? She'd only meant to help...

"I'm sorry," she said finally. "I...was trying to save you from...those men," her voice hardened briefly here, "I don't know if I've made things much better. My name is Dai...ya. Daiya." She blinked, uncertain of how to greet the girl. She decided on a handshake finally. It was uncouth and inproper, but Daiya didn't much care for rules or boundaries anymore.

[Guendolen_Sama]

Risa just looked at her. "You... you plan to... to set me free?" she whispered. "Truly? It's not- a joke? A cruel prank of some kind? Why- why would you do this?" Her face, voice- both were bewildered by this idea. Someone of the highest class would buy a slave and then just set it free?... She took the girl's hand slowly, shook it just as slowly, visage showing all the signs of one whose shell-shock has finally and truly hit home. But enough of her good manners lingered for her to add, in that same strange, distant voice of shock, trauma, and exhaustion, "I am Risa."

(Sorry, I'm going to bed. I'm tired, and it's late for me....)

[7000dominos]

Daiya shrugged. "It is better than what they would have done to you," she answered truthfully. "Money and power is very unbecoming of most people. Particularly when they have the added stigma of spirits. No woman--no human--deserves that. I will not conform to what people expect me to be," she added, a bit firmer than she needed to.

((You should I had planned to be in bed and hour ago...))

[Guendolen_Sama]

Risa shuddered. "Very true," she said, still soft and faintly vague. "I thank you, then." Her head bowed as she attempted to make a bow of appreciation; it was awkward from long weeks of poor conditions, but some semblance of her educated grace still lingered about the edges. This girl got stranger by the moment. But... Risa found herself... liking her? Though given circumstances, it might be hard not to. If not for her intervention, she would likely have ended up a pleasure slave for some disgusting pervert.... Even now, with that threat removed, the thought made her feel tainted, unclean. "If... um... could I maybe have a... a proper bath?" she ventured slowly. "I so hate to impose, but..." Her voice trailed off. She didn't want to voice the notion of feeling unclean from the inside out. It was too personal, rescuer or not.

(Okay, I shall help you do so. Good night!)

[7000dominos]

Daiya smiled. "Of course," she said. "You may have whatever you need." Granted, this apparent kindness was only bitterness toward her parents. But the girl did not need to know that. "May I ask your name?" she said, and began walking back toward her house. Already people were eyeing her strangely for talking to the girl as an equal, for even keeping pace with her, but again, Daiya was not one to concern herself with the thoughts of others.

It was then the oddness of the other girl's bow hit her. That was not normal behavior for girl's fresh off the block...was it? And even then, it held a strange sort of regal grace. Very practiced. Almost natural. Daiya gave the girl a surreptious sideways glance. Perhaps there was more to her new friend then was immediately apparent.

Then again, Daiya knew very well that appearances could be deceiving.

[Multi-Facets]

Aena pushed the lid off, peeking out to make sure the coast was clear, then got out of the box.
"Thank you. I'm very glad they didn't find me..." She trailed off as she saw his face. "They hit you?" She reached up, unconsciously taking away a little of the sting.
"I'm sorry, I should've thought of that. I'll understand if you want a larger fee because of it." She turned to put the box back in its place, saying, "I have to warn you, though, I don't have much."

Aluka shrugged, rubbing his ribs. "It's not the worst that's happened." He thought he was lucky to just get away with some pulled hair and a bruised side, really. It was feeling better already, oddly enough. "I wasn't expecting much, honestly," he confessed. "Just enough so I'd have to sleep with one less person tonight. Half of whatever's in your belt purse should do."

He wasn't in much of a mood to negotiate, but if the girl only offered to give him enough money to buy a meal, he wouldn't argue overmuch. He did have to get back to work, after all.

[Guendolen_Sama]

She had already given her name, but perhaps it had been so soft the girl hadn't heard it. "My name is Risa," she replied; why was it such an effort to speak at any sort of volume, still? It was like something inside was still trying to hide. "Thank you for your kindness," she added again, just in case she hadn't said it before. This girl was seeking to help her. As they walked, every step went further away from that horrible yard, where the deals were still taking place. Risa glanced behind her, having a hard time believing she was out of there. Filled with a sudden urge to help those who still were.

Daiya smiled. "Of course," she said. "You may have whatever you need." Granted, this apparent kindness was only bitterness toward her parents. But the girl did not need to know that. "May I ask your name?" she said, and began walking back toward her house. Already people were eyeing her strangely for talking to the girl as an equal, for even keeping pace with her, but again, Daiya was not one to concern herself with the thoughts of others.

It was then the oddness of the other girl's bow hit her. That was not normal behavior for girl's fresh off the block...was it? And even then, it held a strange sort of regal grace. Very practiced. Almost natural. Daiya gave the girl a surreptious sideways glance. Perhaps there was more to her new friend then was immediately apparent.

Then again, Daiya knew very well that appearances could be deceiving.

[sprints42]

She checked her belt purse, then sighed. "I'm sorry, I used almost all fo my money this morning, but I have a few coppers...." She fished them out. "Of course, I know you need more than that. If you'll give me a few weeks, I can pay you back fully." She pressed the coppers into his hand. "And then my conscience will be clear."

[Multi-Facets]

Aluka clutched the coppers as if they were as precious as gold coins. "Thank you," he said, trying not to show too much emotion. "This.... Even this helps." He dredged up a charming, witless smile, and bowed his head to Aena. "You should send the rest to As You Like It; my boss will take it all anyway, so just address it to Em'met Mimishaa."

There was no guarantee the girl would actually send more money, but at this point, Aluka was willing to grasp at the thinnest of straws.

The redhead got up, squirreled the money into his belt purse, and dusted off his pants. "I should go," he said quietly, sheathing his dagger.

[Scrappy]

Jael walked around, she had nothing to do and no one to talk to. Her life at this moment was very hard. She had no money, no Identity and no friends. Every one was her enemy. She had just been beaten and possibly even raped. Her child doesnt know her, her gang doesn't know she a girl and she cant understand why everthing is happenening to her. She dicided to leave the gang, and become a prostitute. She just had no idea of who to work for. She stood on a corner and leaned on a stop sign. She put her hand over her face and cried for the first time in ages. She rarely does this. She slid down the pole and sobbed quietly into her hands.

[sprints42]

"Wait," she said. "I didn't get your name."

[Multi-Facets]

"Wait," she said. "I didn't get your name."

The redhead had to look away for a moment, lest his surprise show. The girl actually acknowledged him as a person. No one ever wanted to know his name. Even his fellow prostitutes barely knew him- didn't care to know him, really. One of the reasons why he had no friends, no allies, and did not particularly want any.

This girl was too kind to live in Hell's Gates.

"Aluka Bex," he answered, looking back at Aena. "That's me."

[Akatsuki7291]

Name: Dante Arkham
Gender: Male
Age: 18
Occupation: Mercenaries
Place of Residency: 3rd Ring
Gang?: Midnighters Dante Specializes in Silent Assasinations
Strengths: Excellent hearing Sight and Speed
Weaknesses: Not Exactly Physically Strong
Personality: Quiet will speak in an emotionless voice
History: Dante is Half Elf he was Abandoned by his Father and his mother was left to care for him when he was 12 he came home and found his mother dead he lived on the streets nobody would take him because he was a Half Breed
Appearance:http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f59/NERV_UNIT00/Anime/punk-1.jpg
Other: He Uses a Silenced M21 Sniper Rifle and a Silenced USP Handgun

[Nikki Jekyll]

Name: Dante Arkham
Gender: Male
Age: 18
Occupation: Mercenaries
Place of Residency: 3rd Ring
Gang?: Midnighters Dante Specializes in Silent Assasinations
Strengths: Excellent hearing Sight and Speed
Weaknesses: Not Exactly Physically Strong
Personality: Quiet will speak in an emotionless voice
History: Dante is Half Elf he was Abandoned by his Father and his mother was left to care for him when he was 12 he came home and found his mother dead he lived on the streets nobody would take him because he was a Half Breed
Appearance:http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f59/NERV_UNIT00/Anime/punk-1.jpg
Other: He Uses a Silenced M21 Sniper Rifle and a Silenced USP Handgun
((There aren't any guns in this RP.))

[sprints42]

She smiled. "I'm Aena.I would tell you my full name, but... It's quite a mouthful." She looked around. "I should go before I get you in more trouble. I'll send the money as soon as I can." She turned around and scampered off.

[Multi-Facets]

She smiled. "I'm Aena.I would tell you my full name, but... It's quite a mouthful." She looked around. "I should go before I get you in more trouble. I'll send the money as soon as I can." She turned around and scampered off.

"'Bye," Aluka murmured; Aena had run off too quickly for him to actually say it to her.

He vaguely wished she had stuck around long enough to thank her again.

Ah well. The redhead sighed, shrugged, and left the back alley to find his block.


(OOC: Can someone let me know when we hit nighttime in-game?)

[Multi-Facets]

The warehouse where Risa had been kept was mostly empty now; only about five slaves had been unsellable, and they were locked away as the gang of slavers, twenty-one in number, counted their profits and argued over their shares. The remnants of a fine dinner was on a table diagonally placed from where they sat, the need for cleanup ignored for now. All of them knew it was a bad idea to discuss business on empty stomachs, but cleanup could still wait. One of the slaves would be made to do it, anyway.

Perhaps the only thing in their favor was the fact none of them had consumed any wine.

The far door was suddenly thrown open, and someone dressed entirely in black, a cloak shrouding their features, came barreling in and drew a sword.

"It's Claymore!" one of the men shouted, and there was a frantic scramble for weapons; the slavers were barely armed before the bounty hunter was on them.

It was like witnessing a viper attack a pack of cougars: Alexi had his claymore in his left hand and was swinging it with ease, inflicting wounds and protecting his person with each motion. There were no wasted movements, but plenty of brutality: One man dove for his supposedly unguarded ribs on the right, only to have the hunter high-kick the thug in the jaw, actually lifting him off the floor and breaking his neck.

Another man with a length of chain hurled an end at Alexi's right wrist, but the hunter spun fast, letting the flare of his cloak tangle the chain and yank the wielder close enough to be stabbed in the throat. A redhead with another claymore charged, but he was at a disadvantage: He needed two hands to wield his weapon. Claymore only needed one. The redhead swung at Alexi's head, only to have the bigger man duck, toss the sword to his right hand and slice upwards; the criminal screamed as his hands and sword went sailing towards the ceiling in sprays of blood. While he was still screaming, Alexi reversed his momentum and brought his blade down, cutting the man's left shoulder and going through his torso to his right hip.

Through the gushing blood, Claymore could be seen grinning like a fiend. "Who's next?" he gleefully growled, and charged.

By the time the hour was over, not a single slaver had been left alive.

“Ah ha,” Alexi breathed, leaning against the wall as he glanced his prey over to make sure they were dead. “Ah ha ha ha,” the hunter chuckled. “Gah ha ha ha ha ha ha. Gya ha ha ha haaaa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha haaaa!” he howled, eyes bright with merriment and his grin becoming nearly demonic.

[7000dominos]

((I suppose I'll have to post now...That was....intense....))

[Guendolen_Sama]

(Yes, it was. But you don't have to if you don't want to.... I don't want someone doing something that doesn't hold their interest.)

[7000dominos]

((I dunno if I'll do it tonight...But eventually.))

[Guendolen_Sama]

(Okay. I was hoping you weren't bored....)

[7000dominos]

She had already given her name, but perhaps it had been so soft the girl hadn't heard it. "My name is Risa," she replied; why was it such an effort to speak at any sort of volume, still? It was like something inside was still trying to hide. "Thank you for your kindness," she added again, just in case she hadn't said it before. This girl was seeking to help her. As they walked, every step went further away from that horrible yard, where the deals were still taking place. Risa glanced behind her, having a hard time believing she was out of there. Filled with a sudden urge to help those who still were.

((Sorry!! I thought I'd posted here! But I forgot my computer crashed before I could finish. Oops.))

Daiya shrugged. "Don't thank me. I'm not kind. I am only stubborn. At any rate, your welcome at my house for the time being. We should hurry. It's getting dark." To the casual listener, it would sound like she was a young noble girl, a clueless fish out of water, eager to get home before night fell and danger on the streets increased tenfold.

Well; casual listeners didn't know that she wanted to hurry home so she could become part of that danger. Once the sun set, once darkness cast a drab pall over the city, once all of Hell's Gates was in the clutches of various gangs, Daiya was no longer a little noble girl, petted and cossetted.

She was Dai, rich and dangerous as a poisoned chocolate.

[Guendolen_Sama]

Risa hurried after her, trying to keep up even as she half-stumbled over the uneven cobbles; weeks of being trapped in one small room do nothing for the state of one's muscles. Given what the slavers had had in mind for her, it wasn't like she'd been expected to be strong for labor, after all.... "You have offered me my freedom," she said softly, one hand hanging on to the hem of her brief tunic garment to keep it from riding up as she moved. "You kept me from the fate worse than death. That is kindness. I am in your debt...." And Risa had been raised to be proud. To repay her debts. Thus, she would repay this one.

(Ah, I'd wondered. Quite understandable, that.)

[7000dominos]

Daiya turned on the girl quite suddenly. "No. It is selfishness. I purchased you, pardon my saying so, but it is true. I did at an extravagant price, to anger my parents. To refuse their will for me. As an act of 'kindness' I will not force you into labor, but that is the only kind thing I have done. Your freedom was gained by pride, not kindness. Do not give me praise I do not deserve. It only serves to make one soft." Daiya paused, then offered a small smile. "You may sleep in the guest room tonight. I will tell my parents you are a friend for the time being. After that, we cand decide what you will do."

[Guendolen_Sama]

Risa stumbled on the cobbles as the girl spun so abruptly, startling her. She wasn't sure what to make of this, at first.... "No matter what your motivation, I am still indebted to you. Selfish you may have been, but even now, if you had not... purchased me..." Speaking those words left a sour taste in her mouth, but she soldiered on. "...I dread to think of where I would have ended up. What my 'master' would have demanded of me. No matter what we may decide, nothing could be so terrible as that." Even now, in relative safety, the thought made her stomach clench with cold dread. "Your decision, even if it was in spite and defiance, kept me free of that."

[7000dominos]

Daiya stared at the other girl for some time, then shrugged, turning back towards her house. "Think what you will," she said. "But know that appearances can be deceiving."

~*~*~*

"Here, you may take this bag of clothing. It is only enough for a week or so, but we will cross that bridge when it comes 'round." Daiya handed her new guest a large sack full of clotching: loose skirts and shifts, some linen breehes, a few shirts and warm vests. "There is money inside, some jewelry of mine to sell. You may have food before you leave, whenever that is. The washroom is down the hall; this is your room for the time being. Are you satisfied?" Daiya was anxious and eager to leave.

[Guendolen_Sama]

Risa knew full well how appearances could deceive. But, she kept her counsel. It often did one well not to give too much away in a place like this, high status or no. Perhaps her family was inordinately proud....
At the house, Risa accepted the goods offered with her usual quietude. "No, this is more than acceptable," she said. "Thank you." Truly, she would prefer a good bath and something to eat, but she would not ask for anything. This girl had given her far too much already. No, by standards of where she had just been, this was luxury already. It reminded her so much of home.... Risa bit her lip to keep her eyes from welling up. I cannot show weakness either. I will keep silent. She had grown altogether too good at that....

[7000dominos]

Daiya nodded briefly. "I'm sorry I cannot stay. I have...other responsibilities. I have ordered dinner to your room; the maid should be here shortly. I ask that you stay here, aside from using the wash room. Just until....Well, I shall see you again in the morning, and then we can work something out. Goodnight, Risa-tagra."

[Guendolen_Sama]

Risa nodded back. "Good night, Daiya-tagra. And thank you again." She did wonder about these evasive responsibilities; but she would not ask. No, definitely not. Now she had other things to think over. First off, lose this disgusting excuse for a garment and put some real clothes on.... After that, the issue- what to do now? Now out of the hole that was the slave house, with her head clearing from the muddled fog of depression, she realized she was completely and utterly at a loose end, in her life....

[Scrappy]

(CAn anyone update me? Ive been really busy with my play lately. Had no time to get on.)

[bronny334]

( ZOMG I totally forgottededed. ;O Hold on, I have to read back to see my character. Nothing uberly important happened right? ;0 )

[7000dominos]

((It rained, then it was nighttime. Still is nighttime.))

Daiya--Dai--saw Locke's lanky figure silhouetted in the moonlight spilling through the large floor to ceiling windows to one side of the house. He turned, seeing her, her wide, turquoise blue eyes catching the silvery light.

"Took you long enough. You know better than to keep the Tetrons waiting," he hissed under his breath, taking her small bag, packed with money, food, a dagger, and a few things for trading.

"I had other matters to attend to," she hissed back.

"You cannot keep living this double life Daiya...Dai. You must choose one or the other, or both will chew you up and spit you out." He saw Daiya's eyes flash, and put his finger to her lips. "I only mean to protect you. Do not be angry. Come. We are late."

[Guendolen_Sama]

Risa was still standing in the middle of the room, lost in thought, when a knock on the door sounded, a voice called. "Enter," Risa said, an instinctive response. A maid came in, bearing a tray. She looked at Risa somewhat askance; the girl was trying to hide it, but it was plain she wasn't sure what to make of Risa. After all, she was introduced as a guest, implied to be a friend. Yet she was thin and bedraggled and dressed worse than a beggar. No wonder the girl was confused.
Either way, though, she set the tray down on a small table in the room. "Here you go, miss. The lady instructed me to help you out this evening. Will there be anything else?"
Risa shook her head, a small movement. "No. No, that is acceptable. Thank you."
The maid bobbed a curtsy. "Just ring if you need anything, miss." Then she backed out the door, shutting it behind her.
Risa inspected the contents of the tray. A bowl of soup... some bread... some sort of meat and vegetable dish. A small pot of what proved to be tea. Simple fare, but filling. Not fancy, but the sort of thing you might give someone who needed building up after a long sickness. Perhaps that was fitting, given her incarceration in the slave warehouse....
Well, if it was one thing Risa had learned there, it was not to take anything offered for granted. She may be proud, but she had also not eaten anything even as good as this since before the disaster. Settling herself down, she took up a spoon and started to eat. Sorting out what to do next would have to come after.

[Nikki Jekyll]

Ariana's pale skin shone in the moonlight, making her an obvious target to any one who had the strenght and desire to overpower and harm her.
She hurried along in the dark streets of the second ring. Despite the moon's light, Ariana felt unsettled by the quiet of the second ring, so different from the loud, rowdy streets that she was used to.
Ariana scuttled along, looking for all the world like just another scared little maid trying to make it home.

[7000dominos]

"Wait here," instructed Locke, motioning to a place outside the ramshackle hut.

"I always have to wait," Daiya grumbled. But she sat on an empty crate and waited with crossed legs.

"Don't sit like that," Locke reminded. She obeyed. "And yes, you do have to wait. If you haven't forgotten, you're very new, and very young, and here because of me."

"Lucky me," Daiya grumbled. "How lucky I am to have been raped than admitted into a gang!"

Locke bristled. "You would have preferred death?"

Daiya's eyes went cold and hard. "You didn't give me much of a choice in the matter. Go. Do what you must."

Locke turned away from her, obviously hurt that she didn't return his feelings. Regardless, Daiya couldn't help but feel a little guilty. Perhaps she did love him.

[Scrappy]

(Thats not really a update but okay, is there anything I can reply to.)

[7000dominos]

((Unless there was someone you were RPing with earlier, no. There hasn't been much actual interation--more exposition than anything--thus the lack of 'update.'))

[Multi-Facets]

"Hey, say, you know,
The summer makes my heart pound,
With all these women walking 'round
With bare backs and shoulders," Alexi sang as he rode through the Red Light District, his horse Laazu calm in the quiet surroundings. "Now's the time to strut my stuff,
Display all my virility,
So maybe soon I will find
The girl for me!"

The song was a lure, calling to any streetwalkers or women out late who might find him attractive. Fighting and killing had the same effect as foreplay on him; bloodlust could easily translate to lust and then back, so enjoyable. Finding a woman to share his bed would be the perfect "dessert" after a kill like the one he had completed. This late at night, though, Alexi was well aware there weren't many females about. There was always a chance, but Alexi was not adverse to inviting Suzsana between the sheets should he have no luck.

Laazu turned to the right, unerringly carrying his partner towards the business district. There, leaning against a wall, was a pretty redhead playing with a fan and yawning. Alexi gave a feral grin. "Good evening, miss-"

"Miss?" the prostitute said sharply, looking up at him.

The bounty hunter was taken aback by how low the girl's voice was before he realized his mistake and cracked up. "I'm sorry," he apologized, still grinning. "With the lamplight on your face like that, I couldn't see your Adam's apple."

The redhead gave him a wan smile. "It's not the first time it's happened, sir, especially in the dark." He pushed off the wall and began to saunter forward. "But I'm not adverse to lying with men-"

Alexi held up a hand, stopping him. "I am," he said with surprising gentleness. "But since you had the guts to approach an armed man, I think I'll be nice." He loosened the strings of his belt purse, which only had about three gold coins in it. A small sum, but it was better than carrying too much money on the job, and he never knew when he might have to buy a splint, rope, or whatever. He tossed the coins to Aluka, who caught them out of midair and stared at the glint of gold in astonishment.

"Be careful. There are still gangs out here," the bounty hunter advised, and moved on before he could be thanked.


(OOC: Alexi has to cross through the market before he gets home, so there're lots of chances to run into him.)

[7000dominos]

((WTH, I'm bored. H/O, Multi-Facets.))

[7000dominos]

Locke emerged ten minutes later to find Daiya asleep.

"Dai!" he hissed, shaking her awake. "Are you mad? You know better than to fall asleep on the street." He lowered his vice. "This isn't the fourth ring you're used to, you know."

Daiya blinked her eyes a few times. "Sorry," she mummbled, standing, stretching. "Long day."

"I saw that girl you brought home. Is she--"

"Sh! Later. What for tonight?"

"The usual," Locke said, suddenly seeming evasive. "But, uh, I have something to do....If you want to get started, I can meet you in the market with--"

"Clearer instructions, I hope?" Daiya interupted, intruiged.

"Don't push your luck, Dai. You should know better than to dig."

Daiya scowled, grabbed her bag, and started toward the market in her loose clothes, borrowed from Locke. "Perhaps you assume I know to much about this life," she said, stalking away.

Locke sighed. "Dai," he called after her. "Be safe. You look--"

"Like a girl?" Daiya hissed, voice low.

"Vulnerable," Locke replied.

"You of all people should know I am not what I appear," Daiya said, sliding her dagger out of her bag to let the silver hilt catch the moonlight.

And with that, she left for the market.

[Nikki Jekyll]

Ariana, eager to get home, cut across the market place. Soon she would be in the first ring, where there were people who would make noise and holler and yell and not be so damned creepy.
Plus, there would be people who were drunk and easy to pick pocket--and then there were people who were just easy to pick pocket. If Ariana could get enough money, she could pay for a nice dinner. Her stomach growled at her.

[Multi-Facets]

Alexi had finished one song as he entered the market, and was moving onto another racy ditty when Laazu stiffened, stopping and looking around with his ears pricked forward. Alexi shut up and urged Lars forward, taking off his sword belt and draping it over his left arm, then stealthily unsheathed his claymore and held it pointing downward, covering it all with his cloak.

Now to expand on the disguise. Alexi slouched, letting Laazu's reins lie loose over the saddle's pommel, and swayed slightly as the horse walked.

"Drink, fer th' wind blows cold 'n'
Drink fer Th' Wuff runsh free. (hic!)
Drink to th' shipsh wiffeh sailsh like wingsh and
Drink to th' storm-tossed seash," the bounty hunter sang, off-key and sounding plastered out of his gourd. "Drink to th' lashtin' nightsh
and thoshe who warm our bedsh.
Drink to th' mead that warms our (hic!) heartsh
and th' col' that clearsh our heeeaaaaad."

Whoever had gotten Laazu's attention, they would think he was just a drunk nobody going home after a night of drowning his sorrows, as long as they didn't get close enough to realize he did not reek of alcohol. If they did, it would probably mean they would either try killing or robbing him, and then they would get a very unpleasant surprise.

[sprints42]

Aena froze in the shadows when she heard singing. Creeping about in the dark was not her idea of fun, but money was money and she had a debt to pay. Not that there was great pickings anyway. She had just started heading for home when she heard a drnken man start singing, and so had decided to stay safely in the shadows. Drunks were not known for their kindness towards women they met on the street, especially when they were armed. Not that many people would believe she was sixteen. Sometimes being small was an advantage.

[Multi-Facets]

So far, Alexi wasn't seeing anyone who could have alarmed Laazu. He thought he saw someone trying to hide, but that was no cause for panic. He kept singing as he passed the person by, giving no threat. Not even Laazu looked the person's way, now that there seemed to be no threat.

[sprints42]

She sighed in relief and crept out of hiding, moving slowly so as not to attract attention. Best to try to get home fast. NO telling who else stalked the night in the market. Most of them were unpleasant at best.

[Guendolen_Sama]

It took Risa longer than she had expected to make any sort of dent in the food presented to her; as it was, she had difficulty finishing it. She filled up faster than anticipated. Then again, she hadn't this much to eat in a while, now. Her stomach was probably unused to any significant contents. Force any more, and it might just rebel....
So she laid down her spoon and got into the bundle of clothes, dressing herself. She chose a simple white blouse and black skirt; not the fine attire she was used to wearing, to be sure. But it was clean, and the fabric not the rough burlap like the cheap tunic she'd been made to wear. She tossed the thing in the dustbin in disgust. Risa longed to see it burned....
She washed her face and hands in the basin of water found against the table. It felt like far too much to ask for a bath, after all that had been done for her. But now she had seen to all these needs, and was far more comfortable than she had been in ages, she faced a quandary. Specifically- what was she to do with herself now?... Risa had never had to work for her living; she hadn't been trained in any viable skills. After all, when you got right down to it, she had been raised to be a society girl. Sure, she could play, and sing, and paint watercolors, and ride. But could those things support you, unless you were extremely talented at them? What could a born lady do, once she lost her family, was sunk to the lowest depths, only to be brought up out of them to find herself completely on her own?...
Risa's pride balked at anything like charity. She may not have had to stand on her own before, but she would have to now. The thing was, finding a solution. Maybe she could hire out as a governess or something....

[Multi-Facets]

(OOC: Quick, how can we save this game?)

[Guendolen_Sama]

(Get people to remember to post? There needs to be some poking going on....)

[sprints42]

((Well, I would post more if my character had something to do. She CAN steal, but she prefers her job as a healer. Maybe if there was a gang war involving a lot of the characters...?))

[Guendolen_Sama]

(I'm in the same boat. My character is at a loose end and just doesn't know what to do next. I want to get her into a situation where she can regularly interact with others, but I'm not sure how to manage that.... As she's expected to move on from where she is tomorrow.)

[Multi-Facets]

(OOC: If Risa doesn't mind maid work, Alexi could probably hire her. And if Aena wouldn't mind working in the Red Lamp District, As You Like It could use an affordable healer.)

For the first time in years, Aluka felt optimistic when he woke up. Today was going to be a good day: He and Shasta could do whatever they wanted for the next three days, thanks to the gold coins that had been thrown to him. Em'met Mimishaa, the owner of the whorehouse, had been so surprised, he just stared at the money for a full five minutes before he could say anything. "I don't know how you did it, boy," the portly man had said.

It felt so, so good to have a break. Aluka stretched luxuriously, smiled at his still-sleeping mother, and rolled over to doze off again. No waking up early for three days if they could help it!


===============

It was daytime, probably midmorning. Suzsana gently slid herself out of Alexi's bed, though she need not have bothering being so subtle; her boss was sleeping so deeply, it would probably take an explosion to wake him. He'd roused her once he had gotten back from his latest job, and Suz had not complained: Alexi was a highly experienced lover, and she normally got more sleep than he did, anyway.

Still, best not to dally in bed. There was cleaning to be done, and Laazu had to be taken care of. She had to do some shopping, too, for the minor but needed things that kept the small household going.

Humming to herself, Suzsana went to get a shower and start her day.

[Guendolen_Sama]

(Risa was born upper-class and went down in the world abruptly. She probably would mind it, to be completely honest. Though she's also intelligent enough to know she doesn't have much choice in the matter....)

[7000dominos]

Daiya awoke sore the next morning. Splotches of black and blue littered her left side, hidden by her loose fitting shift.

She grinned. She'd been sorely tested last night. But she'd moved up a ranking in the gang for it. She'd proven she was tough, if small.

It was then she remembered her new guest. She supposed she ought to check on her friend sooner than later.

[Guendolen_Sama]

Risa had gone to bed early the previous night; after all, she had been tired, after having had such a tumultuous day. That, coupled with an unexpected and rare meal of solidity, had made her distinctly drowsy. She had meant to lie in bed and contemplate what move to make next. Instead, she had drifted off into sleep. After all, this had been the most comfortable place she had slept since the disaster.
For a while, all was fine. But then, dream state crept in.... And Risa had much on her mind. The dreams were strange, cloudy, disjointed, jumping from one area to another. Visions of her family, both before and after... in one dream, they arose from their graves and berated her for surviving, and for not finding her sister.... Then Adriana herself, chained to a cold stone wall, clothes in tatters, eyes blank and empty as evil masculine laughter echoed unseen around her.... Then being back on the block, but it was even worse, the men were invited up to "inspect" the property for sale, and when she struggled the auctioneer hit her, and there was no small, feisty individual to intervene and save her from the dreaded fate.... Over and over, worse and worse, stronger and more vivid....
Risa thrashed, unknown, shielding herself from blows only sent through dreams. "No... please... stop... no... no...."

[sprints42]

((I don't think the job would be a problem, but how would she get it?))
Aena woke early that morning. Today was the day to sell potions and salves. She didn't get much business, but it helped. Every little bit helped.

[7000dominos]

It took Daiya longer than usual to get getting ready. She'd stopped by Risa's room on her way to the washroom; she was still sleeping. Now she was attempting to soak away her stiffness. She'd been lucky enough to avoid too much visibly bruising (Locke had saved her that trouble), but what she did have was worse than she'd thought. Her torse was entire black and blue. Significant swelling on her right side warned of a fractured rib. She wasn't worried. She'd broken bones before. Her parents weren't around enough to notice.

But if she didn't get it fixed now, she wouldn't be go out tonight, and she couldn't afford to lose her new position now.

[Guendolen_Sama]

Risa eventually woke. Not the startled, abrupt "sit up and pant" reaction so stereotypically seen in fiction. This was a weird, muzzy rise back to reality, where for a few moments reality and dream meshed. But then, Risa realized that she was in the real world, no one was going to carry her off to work in a brothel, as she'd been dreaming....
The girl sat up, sweeping her pale hair off her face. How could one feel well-rested but still tired?... So strange. No sign of anyone, yet. Was she allowed to ring for a bath, or for food? Or should she seek them on her own? She had no idea. Risa didn't like not knowing where she stood.

[7000dominos]

Locke waited nervously outside the Kendrix household. Daiya should have been out, off to her dance lessons, already. If he had known his 'boss' was planning on breaking her in last night, he would've....Well, he couldn't have known, really. The Tetron leaders didn't trust anybody but themselves. And yet, here he was, playing with fire, bringing a girl into the gang.

Then again, they only had to keep it a secret a little longer. Daiya had done very well last night. Better than even he'd expected. But was she paying for it now? Perhaps he ought to go see her....

[sprints42]

Aena quietly slid from shadow to shadow, her bag of goods over her shoulder. She didn't trust those around her, not in this part of the city. She'd feel a lot better once she got to the marketplace and found a spot to set up shop.

[7000dominos]

Daiya passed Risa's room again on her return trip to her sleeping chambers and peeked her head in.

"Good morning," she said by means of introduction. "I hope you slept well? I am getting ready to go into the market for breakfast. Are you interested in accompanying me? Or would you rather acquaint yourself with the house?"

[Guendolen_Sama]

"Oh, good morning!" Risa started a bit. "Yes, I would like to accompany you. Just allow me to a moment to dress- I do beg pardon for still lying about like this, I- I'm afraid I overslept...." That, and she wasn't sure what she was supposed to be doing with herself. Even now, she wasn't sure. Was she coming as a friend or as a servant?... I suppose as a servant, now. Risa had to suppress the urge to sigh. She hadn't been raised to manual labor, after all.

[7000dominos]

Daiya shrugged--and winced. She'd have to find a healer or something ((ahah!)) in the market as well.

"No matter," she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "I did, too. You'll find clothes in the bureau ((sp?)) you can use, and the washroom is down the hall."

[Guendolen_Sama]

(Never fear, you spelled bureau right. ;))

"Oh, thank you very much," Risa murmured. "You're most hospitable." A proper bath! Without someone breathing down her neck and leering! How wonderful.... That, of nothing else, made getting up worth it. She rose from bed, going over to open the drawers and see what the contents were. No doubt something solidly plain and sensible, as befit a servant. Hm, maybe she could be Daiya's lady's maid?... That might not be so bad. It was an upper position, not so focused on the hard labor, and Risa did know about fashion and hair styles and so forth....

[7000dominos]

Daiya was about to leave to give her new guest some privacy, until she saw what she was choosing to wear. All very simple clothing, which, strangely enough, contrasted the girl's already queer behavior. She acted like a noble, but dressed like a--

"You needn't wear those clothes, you know," Daiya said as politely as she could. "Unless, of course, you'd like to. You may choose whatever you like."

She had no idea what this Risa's past might be like, but Daiya proposed to make her comfortable in whatever way she could. Risa was, after all, a guest.

[Guendolen_Sama]

Risa looked up, startled. "I don't?" she asked, voice soft but questioning. "But what am I to do, then?" She had assumed she was brought here to work for a living- or at least to work off the money paid to save her from the fate worse than death. Her hands slowly settled the garments back into the drawer. She'd seen something rather stylish in blue.... Was this too good to be true? A sudden spear of cold shot through her stomach. She wasn't to be sold again, was she?... Maybe she ought to dress plainly after all....

[7000dominos]

Daiya paused. She hadn't really concerned what Risa would do when she'd bought her in the market. And now she was here, alone, and probably confused.

"Whatever you like, for the time being," Daiya answered evasively. "You may find work or housing at the market. Or you can stay on as a guest. We still have ample time for you to figure out what it is you want."

[Guendolen_Sama]

A guest?... A burden, more like it. "What would I do if I stayed here?" Risa replied. "I may be a guest, but I still owe you a great debt. If I stay here, is there some way I might repay said debt?" It was not in her nature, proud as it was, to leave something so large unpaid. "I do not like leaving such things unfinished. Though what work might be found in the market place? Where might I go to seek a position as, for instance, a governess? Or perhaps a hired companion for an older woman... or maybe even a lady's maid?" The trouble with being raised high-class was that your skill set was a very select one indeed.

[7000dominos]

Daiya shrugged. "I'm not sure. I'm sorry. If you like, you can pose as my lady-in-waiting, just around the house, or after people begin to get suspicious." Her voice took on a bitter tone here. "Nobles are so prone to gossip," she added. "For now, you and I will go as friends."

[Guendolen_Sama]

"Friends?" Risa said softly. A tiny ghost of a smile briefly passed across her face. She'd lost all her friends.... "I... I would like that." Her hand reached for the more stylish blue garment again. Now she could wear it.... "Though I could be your lady in waiting, if you wish. I'm not unskilled in those matters- I am aware of what is stylish and flattering for a young lady." She had been one herself, after all....

[7000dominos]

Daiya shrugged dismissively once more. "We'll see when the time comes. I've no problem with you posing as one, but if we're to be friends, then we're going to be equals, even if it's secretly. Besides, money doesn't make me any different from anyone else. I'm perfectly capable of helping myself." Daiya was a bit proud in this ideal. "I'll be in my bedchambers. Let me know if you need anything, or you may ring for a maid."

[sprints42]

A shadow blocked the light and broke Aena's concentration. She looked up. "Can I help you?" The man, at least a foot taller than she was, grinned slowly. Great, she thought, recoiling slightly. He looked over her slaves and potions, then looked her over as well. "Yes, I think you can." He started reaching for a bottle near his hand when a dagger pressed the skin under his chin. He peered down at her, looking into two of the coldest eyes he'd ever seen. "You might want to keep your hands to yourself," she said, moving his arm back to his side and backing up slowly. "I suggest you look somewhere else for your healing supplies. I would like to keep my knife clean today."

[Guendolen_Sama]

Daiya was a strange creature.... Risa hadn't seen servants as lesser beings, but she had been raised where their presence and assistance was taken as a matter of course. Besides, sometimes a maid truly was invaluable, in preparing for a formal event. A lot of ladies' fanciest attire was not intended to be donned without aid, when you got right down to it. "As you wish. We'll see...." No sense arguing right now. The other girl had the upper hand, when it came right down to it. "I will assist you if you ever do need it, though," Risa said softly. "And thank you. I will come locate you when I am dressed, if that is acceptable."

Daiya shrugged dismissively once more. "We'll see when the time comes. I've no problem with you posing as one, but if we're to be friends, then we're going to be equals, even if it's secretly. Besides, money doesn't make me any different from anyone else. I'm perfectly capable of helping myself." Daiya was a bit proud in this ideal. "I'll be in my bedchambers. Let me know if you need anything, or you may ring for a maid."

[7000dominos]

Daiya blushed slightly, quickly ducking her head at the minor display of....affection? Indeed something she was unused to.

"That will be fine," she said quickly, rushing off to her room.

[Guendolen_Sama]

"All right," Risa replied as the girl fled. What had she said wrong? Was there something about her that was so repugnant?... Maybe she views me as incompetent. Or incapable. Risa had certainly felt both, for so long. But yesterday's events.... It was like something inside shifted and changed. Started to find strength again.
Risa was loathe to leave her debt unpaid. So she would do all she could to pay it- and that started by proving just how capable a ladies' maid she would be. She'd just have to use herself as her model.... She inspected the drawers, selecting the most stylish and flattering attire she could find in them, and set off down the hall to seek the washroom.

[7000dominos]

Daiya was trying to examine her bruised side in the mirror. She pressed her finger tips gently to the most prominent of the bruises and hissed in pain, cursing under her breath.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Daiya let her shirt fall and stood quickly. "Yes?"

"Are you alright?" It was Locke.

"I'm fine," Daiya replied. "What are you doing up here? You're supposed to be a garden hand..."

"I...I was worried about you. You haven't come out yet, and usually--"

"I'm alright," she lied. "Just a bit sore. I'm on my way out now. I was just waiting for.....for my cousin. She's visiting. You should go now. Hurry. I'll stop by later."

Locke looked at her dubiously, but fled the room nonetheless.

[Guendolen_Sama]

Risa had honestly meant to hurry. But... being able to wash like she had at home felt so very good.... Even if it did awaken memories, recollections from childhood long thought forgotten. She would never admit it to anyone later, but she did succumb to tears for a bit, at the memories. All those there... brutally taken away. I'll never forget. And I'll try to find Adriana....
But the only way to do that was to move along. Risa washed her face- again- to erase the tear marks, carefully putting away the lovely rose-scented soap she'd found and generally seeking to leave the area as it had been when she had arrived. It was only courtesy, after all; she was a guest, as had been made clear.
Then she dressed with care, movements slow- as much from lingering vestiges of her ordeal as caution. Made sure all the pieces were in order, properly fastened, lying just right. Luckily the cut helped draw the attention away from how very thin she had gotten. Strange, how she'd never noticed before now. Or maybe not so strange. After all, there had been many far greater concerns.
Risa dressed her hair simply; most of it was left down, as befitted a young unmarried woman, but a small portion was pulled up, fastened in the back with a small ornament, the sides braided. Now she was armored against the world, feeling more like herself again. The girl went down to where she had been told Daiya's room was, softly tapping on the chamber door. "I'm ready...."

[7000dominos]

Daiya started and jumped, biting down on her lip to swallow a gasp of pain. She straightened her tunic, grabbed her drawstring purse, then opened the door to greet Risa.

"Alright, then. Would you prefer to ride or walk?" Daiya asked, shutting the door behind them both.

[sprints42]

Looking around, Aena knew no one would come to her for healing. She was too small, they didn't trust her to know what she was doing. She sighed. Am I ever going to find a place where I actually fit?

[Guendolen_Sama]

"Ride?" Risa's eyes widened. "Oh, I used to love to ride...." She wondered where her favorite horse was now. Probably long since sold.... Another sad loss. Not so powerful as her family, of course, but the two had still had a bond.... "But would it be easier to walk?" she asked. "You know your route better than I." Besides, riding might potentially damage her borrowed clothes, something Risa did not wish to risk happening.

[Nikki Jekyll]

Ariana had been at work all day. She'd been kind, polite, a good little maid. She avoided suspicion by working where there were witnesses, people that could vouch for her clean acts. Mostly, she avoided the man from before, Locke.
He'd said that he'd be keeping a close eye on her. Locke was certainly smarter than he looked. How intriguing. Ariana wanted to avoid Locke, and knew she should stay away from him, but yet she needed to know more about him.
"Well," Ariana said to the broom in her hands, "Mama always said I was too curious for my own good."
Maybe tonight, after work, she'd ask around. Ariana doubted she'd find anything, but she just might, one could never tell in the first ring. Smiling softly to herself, Ariana began to plan out the evening ahead of her, as she softly hummed an old lullaby her mother used to sing.

[7000dominos]

Daiya raised an eyebrow. "Used to? You've ridden before then?" She shrugged again. "No matter. It would be quicker to walk, I suppose. No horse to saddle. We can go out the side entrance." And avoid prying eyes....

~*~*~

Speaking of prying eyes, Locke chuckled as he happened upon his serving friend from the previous day.

"I think I know that song," he said matter-of-factly.

[Guendolen_Sama]

Risa nodded. "Oh, yes. I learned how to when I was a little girl, and continued to do so all my life. It was one of my favorite things, until...." She shook her head, eyes going downward. "Never mind," she murmured, now studiously looking at the carpet. "Let's- just walk, like you said, we can ride another time, do lead the way, please...."

[Nikki Jekyll]

Ariana jerked and tightened her grip on the broom handle to keep her from drawing one of her knives out of reflex. She snapped her head around and glared at Locke.
"Do you always sneak up on innocent girls?" Ariana asked, trying to save face. "That's pretty suspicious."
Dammit! Wasn't she supposed to be avoiding him? Well, her mother also used to say that Ariana was a magnet for trouble as well.

[7000dominos]

Locke tapped his chin, pretending to think. "On innocent girls? No....hardly ever. On girls such as yourself....quite often. It's rather within my job description, if you'll pardon my saying so."

~*~*~

Daiya's eyes lingered on her new friend for a moment before she turned away purposefully, feeling as if she had invaded on the Risa's private, emotional time.

"Through here," she whispered.

[Guendolen_Sama]

Risa suddenly felt like she had done something wrong. She had said too much, too soon. A scrap of confidence, and I almost speak out of turn.... Luckily she had caught herself- as much from not wanting to speak it out loud as wanting to keep it to herself, for now. She did not want to burden this girl anymore than she had already.
Instead, she merely nodded, a tiny movement of the head. "All right," she responded, just as quietly, as she followed. I wonder why we're whispering?

[7000dominos]

Daiya had gotten quiet used to sneaking past the many maids (and effective spies) or her parents. Her "governess" had long since given up chasing after her. Daiya was simply to bullheaded. It seemed the only people who still needed to learn the lesson was her parents.

Outside in the courtyard, Daiya's expression and stance changed visibly. She turned to smile at Risa.

"Any place in particular you'd like to visit?"

[Nikki Jekyll]

Ariana blinked at Locke. What was that supposed to mean? He watches girls such as herself? In his job description? What exactly did this man do for a living?
Ariana eyed him suspiciously. "And what might you mean by that?" She asked, her right hand straying to the small of her back again.

[Guendolen_Sama]

Even turned inward mentally as she was, Risa could see the change. It was like every bit of Daiya took a breath of fresh air. Her relief at exciting the house was all but palpable. So very strange. If I lived in a house like that.... It was more opulent than even her own had been.
Don't dwell, don't.... Risa took a deep breath, dragged a smile out from some unknown reserve. "Oh, I don't know," she replied. "You said you wanted to go to the market?..."

[7000dominos]

Ariana blinked at Locke. What was that supposed to mean? He watches girls such as herself? In his job description? What exactly did this man do for a living?
Ariana eyed him suspiciously. "And what might you mean by that?" She asked, her right hand straying to the small of her back again.

Even turned inward mentally as she was, Risa could see the change. It was like every bit of Daiya took a breath of fresh air. Her relief at exciting the house was all but palpable. So very strange. If I lived in a house like that.... It was more opulent than even her own had been.
Don't dwell, don't.... Risa took a deep breath, dragged a smile out from some unknown reserve. "Oh, I don't know," she replied. "You said you wanted to go to the market?..."

Locke shrugged dismissively. "Well, now, seems like we've all got our secrets, then?" He grinned at her. "You should know, dear, facts like those don't come cheap. Now, I'm running late, but I imagine I'll see you later."

~*~*~*~

Daiya smiled. "Of course, for breakfast and.....and other things, but is there any particular stall you liked? I've only been to the market for a hot breakfast once or twice in my life." Usually, her parents forced her to stay indoors. "You've opened up quite a few doors for me."

[Guendolen_Sama]

Risa looked at her, wide-eyed. "I have?" she breathed. "Truly?..." Not nearly as much as the one gigantic door opened for her, to be sure.... But perhaps this was some small step towards repaying that debt. "Well, I didn't go there too often, at least not to eat, but there was this one stall that sold the most wonderful hot cross buns...." It had been so long, Risa almost forgot what they tasted like. "Might we go there? There are plenty of options, if you would rather not."

[7000dominos]

"No, no, that sounds marvelous," Daiya said enthusiastically. "Lead the way. And yes, of course," she added as they walked. "I can, and pardon me for saying so, use you as an excuse to get out and show you the market. For a short time, at least. No odd looks from the maids and servants at home, you know? Thank you."

[Nikki Jekyll]

"Uh huh." Ariana murmured. If she wanted to know more about Locke before, she definately had to know more about him now. Plus, it could be constructive. Locke could pose a threat to Ariana. She needed to know more about him so she could be better prepared.
Of course, she was really just asking for trouble, but what fun would life be if you always played it safe?

[Guendolen_Sama]

It took a moment for Risa to get her bearings; after all, she had not lived in this precise area of town. Though she had been there often enough.... Yes, there was still that lingering notion that on some level or another, Daiya was familiar. Maybe in an indirect way, maybe? Either way, though, she was able to lead said way after a moment of directional consideration. "Anything to help," she murmured quietly. "If you wish me to be your excuse, I will be pleased to do so."

"No, no, that sounds marvelous," Daiya said enthusiastically. "Lead the way. And yes, of course," she added as they walked. "I can, and pardon me for saying so, use you as an excuse to get out and show you the market. For a short time, at least. No odd looks from the maids and servants at home, you know? Thank you."

[7000dominos]

The air in the market was filled with the scent of spices, wildflowers, potting soil, clay, animals, and sweat. It was still relatively early in the morning, but the market was already bustling with people thrusting their wares at each other. Children ran under foot, giddy with excitement; men shouted out prices; others begged lower fees. Daiya felt her hair stand up on end. Oh, to be part of the action here in the market! She'd never been able to understand why other nobles sent their servants out. It was rather like a theme park to her.

"Isn't in marvelous?" Daiya said, a rare laugh escaping her lips. "Where was that stand you were talking about?"

[sprints42]

Aena looked up form rearranging her jars, wondering what had caught her attention. There, the bright colors and fancy dress of Fourth Ring ladies. Hmmm, she thought. I wonder what brought them here.

[Guendolen_Sama]

It took a moment for the fact that Daiya had addressed her to register. Risa had been far too busy drinking it all in. The sights- smells- sounds- after her lengthy incarceration in the slave warehouse, this was like... not heaven, no, not exactly. But it felt more like a carnival than a simple market, to Risa. Her senses soaked it all in; simple it may have been, but she was here, out in the sun, and at least nominally free. It was a heady experience....
But she had to bring her head out of the clouds to answer the other girl. "The booth? Oh- yes- I do believe it's this way...." Risa started trying to make her way into the crowd. "Excuse me...."

The air in the market was filled with the scent of spices, wildflowers, potting soil, clay, animals, and sweat. It was still relatively early in the morning, but the market was already bustling with people thrusting their wares at each other. Children ran under foot, giddy with excitement; men shouted out prices; others begged lower fees. Daiya felt her hair stand up on end. Oh, to be part of the action here in the market! She'd never been able to understand why other nobles sent their servants out. It was rather like a theme park to her.

"Isn't in marvelous?" Daiya said, a rare laugh escaping her lips. "Where was that stand you were talking about?"

[7000dominos]

Daiya followed Risa's lead, only vaguely aware she was being watched. She was used to it--she knew how unusual it was to see Fourth Ring ladies like herself out and about in the marker. But she didn't much care. She picked up her skirts and hurried after Risa, eagerly.

[sprints42]

Aena couldn't understand why she was watching the Fourth Ringer, not until she moved a certain way. There, she thought. That girl needs a healer, if I'm not mistaken. Why hasn't she seen one?

[Guendolen_Sama]

Risa looked back to ensure Daiya was behind her. Strange, as she was probably more capable on her own than Risa was.... Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw a girl watching them both thoughtfully. The girl felt a bit of a shiver. Why was she wondering? Was it mere curiosity regarding two well-dressed and unescorted young ladies? Or was she a spy or something?...
Stop being paranoid.... Still, though, the worry lingered. A latent sense of not wanting to be caught. Lowering her head a bit, Risa quickened her pace. "It should be right over here."

[7000dominos]

"Sure," said Daiya, only slightly distracted by the feeling she was being watched....intently. She quickened her pace to match Risa's and only just swallowed a gasp of pain. It reminded her of her other task here in the market: to find a healer.

Daiya shut her eyes briefly. "Right, then," she said pointedly. "I've one other task to complete while we're here. If you like, you can....look for a job while I do so..."

[Guendolen_Sama]

Risa lowered her eyes all right. "Yes, I suppose I ought to," she said quietly. But what could she do? She had no realistic marketable job skills, really. She'd never cleaned a house- not seriously, anyway; she could make her own bed and wipe up after herself and so forth, but she knew there was a lot more to it than that- or anything of that nature. Really, what was out there for someone like her?...

[sprints42]

Aena's attention snapped back to her booth as a small hand reached up to the table.... And promptly got smacked. "Watch your fingers," she said sweetly. "You don't want someone to get the wrong idea and think you're a thief."

[7000dominos]

Daiya finished her impromptu breakfast with some difficulty--she was growing sorer by the minute and sauntered over to the nearest healer's booth ((Aena)).

"Good morning," she said evasively, trying to decide how to segue into the fact that she'd been beaten under the guise of a man to enter an underground gang. "How go your sales?"

[Guendolen_Sama]

Those buns were like a taste of heaven.... Risa ate them slowly, savoring every bite. Who knew when she would get them again, after all? Seeing as she seemed destined for a life among the servant class, now.... That still rankled her pride, on some fundamental level. But as her companion had wandered off, perhaps she ought to look for some sign of an employment agency or similar location.

[sprints42]

Aena grimaced. "I have none. People don't trust a healer who looks like a child. I noticed earlier that your ribs are paining you. Would you like me to take a look?"

[Multi-Facets]

"Well, I don't see why WE had to put these up. We're kitchen staff, not common servants," an older man complained as he nailed a flier to one of the lamp posts in the market area.

"We don' 'xactly have common servants," the slightly younger man with him grunted. "You got yer janitors or cooks, an' tha's it."

"Isn't that always how it goes? Everyone's short-handed at the worst time," the first man growled as he moved away. "Come on."

The flier fluttered a little in the wind before lying flat. Help wanted: Healers. Inquire at As You Like It.

[7000dominos]

Daiya smirked. "Few understand that appearances can be deceiving," she said. "I won't bother asking how you knew," she added, loosening her shift in preperation. "It's clear enough you know your wares. Though I'd thank you to return the favor in minding your own business. My name is Daiya, by the way."

Perhaps it wasn't the orthodox means of introduction. But then, nothing was orthodox about Daiya.

[sprints42]

((Hey, for money is it 1 gold=10 silver, 1 silver=10 coppers?))
Aena grinned, washing her hands to make sure no sickness got in any wounds. "Don't worry, I try to know as little as possible about the wounds I'm treating. I won't pressure you. I'm Aena." She gently probed Daiya's ribs, feeling the bruises around the bones and unconsciously healing a few cracks in the bones. She grabbed a salve off the shelf nearby and rubbed a bit on her palms, smoothing it onto the bruises. She stood up and wiped her hands on a cloth, then re-corked the jar of salve. "I would recommend you use this salve every day for a week, and then come see me again, but I really doubt you would come back. So it's up to you. I can sell you the salve for five coppers and give you a follow-up consultation for three with this first time free. Or I can just sell you the salve and send you on your way." She looked up at the other girl's face.

[Nikki Jekyll]

((Hey, for money is it 1 gold=10 silver, 1 silver=10 coppers?))
Aena grinned, washing her hands to make sure no sickness got in any wounds. "Don't worry, I try to know as little as possible about the wounds I'm treating. I won't pressure you. I'm Aena." She gently probed Daiya's ribs, feeling the bruises around the bones and unconsciously healing a few cracks in the bones. She grabbed a salve off the shelf nearby and rubbed a bit on her palms, smoothing it onto the bruises. She stood up and wiped her hands on a cloth, then re-corked the jar of salve. "I would recommend you use this salve every day for a week, and then come see me again, but I really doubt you would come back. So it's up to you. I can sell you the salve for five coppers and give you a follow-up consultation for three with this first time free. Or I can just sell you the salve and send you on your way." She looked up at the other girl's face.
((Sure, let's go with that.))

[sprints42]

((Sounds good, thanks.))

[7000dominos]

"Good," said Daiya through gritted teeth. She bit down firmly on the inside of her cheek to keep from yelling. Still, within minutes, she was considerably less stiff.

She took a deep breath, experimentally. "Thanks," she said, surprised. "Here." She held out a purse of money. "More than enough. I can't guarentee I'll be back, but I'm not completely opposed to it." She stood slowly. "Thanks again," she said, and headed off into the crowd to find Risa.

[sprints42]

Aena stared at the purse in her hands. It was definitely more than enough. In fact, it was nearly too much, but Mama had always told her to accept gifts freely given and kindly meant. Hey, I can pay my debt now, she thought. She looked over her wares. It was very unlikely anyone else would stop by the small stall. She started to clear up when she saw a sign advertising for healers. Hmmm, isn't that the same place Aluka said he worked? She decided to visit the place and see what there was.

[Guendolen_Sama]

Risa looked over to see Daiya approaching. "Did you find what you needed?" she asked quietly. The other girl was moving less gingerly now, she now realized. "Or are there still other things you seek?" She was still savoring one last sweet bun.

[7000dominos]

Daiya smiled and nodded. "No, I am done in the market for today. Though I wouldn't mind remaining for a while, if you have other business..."

[Guendolen_Sama]

Risa sighed. Her eyes scanned the market. "More business? I... yes, that I do. But I know not where to begin...." She was thinking mainly of her sister. How did you seek someone else, in a place so large and bustling as this city? It was the proverbial needle and haystack.

[7000dominos]

"Well, I don't know my way around here particularly well," Daiya started slowly. "But perhaps if you tell me what you're looking for....?"

[Guendolen_Sama]

Risa fidgeted with the corner of her tunic. "My sister," she said quietly. "She is... missing. Has been since I was..." The girl shuddered, and her voice lowered. "Taken to the... warehouse...."

[7000dominos]

"Ah," was all Daiya said. She sensed a deeper backstory, but the recollection was obviously uncomfortable for Risa, and Daiya was not one to pry. "I see. Well...if you like, I can help you look for her. I have some time before my first lessons..."

[Guendolen_Sama]

Risa still didn't glance up. "Thank you," she murmured quietly. "That is so very kind of you. But as I said, I hardly know where to begin making inquiries...." The only place she could think of was at the warehouse, and Risa was loathe to go anywhere near there. Perhaps it was irrational, but she couldn't shake the notion that if she went back there, they would drag her back in and put her up for sale again.

[sprints42]

Aena slowly approached the...house. It didn't look too bad. On the outside. One thing's for sure, the only job she would take was that of a healer.

[7000dominos]

Daiya thought for a moment. "Well...where did you last see her?"

((short post...lo ciento))

[Guendolen_Sama]

Risa went very still and very quiet. She tugged the ends of her sleeves. Finally, her words emerged in a barely audible mumble. "In our house...." Oh God, the memories were coming back. The screams- crashing- the sickening sound of people being struck, broken- and strangely, the sound of shattering glass- She swayed a bit on her feet, hand reaching out to catch at some sort of support.

[7000dominos]

Daiya kicked herself internally. Hadn't she just noticed how uncomfortable Risa had becoming talking about her sister? And yet she had pried further, deeper into the backstory that was apparently so loathed. For all Daiya's forced ettiquete, she still wasn't a lady.

It was almost ironic.

She reached out to catch Risa's elbow, steady her a bit.

"I....I'm sorry. Nevermind. We'll....we'll ask around. It's alright."

[Guendolen_Sama]

"Thank you." Risa almost flinched away, instinctively. But... the girl meant well. And she could hardly know about Risa's past, now could she? They might have been part of the same social class, but they hadn't moved in the same circles, so it was likely Daiya would not have known what transpired that night. Or even if she had heard something, it wouldn't have been enough to make the connection.
She was able to keep back the flinch, but couldn't prevent a slight stiffening of her limbs. "It is kind of you to offer to help," was all she could think to say, voice somewhat strained. She hated anyone seeing her so utterly vulnerable like this; even if it wasn't as bad as it had been when she was just out of the warehouse.

[7000dominos]

Daiya attempted a smile, though the light, jovial air of a few moments ago was no longer present. "It isn't as if I have anything better to do," she said with an awkward laugh.

[Guendolen_Sama]

Risa nodded stiffly. "Yes, yes, of course." So she was simply a means of killing time?... Some deeper part of her realized she was perhaps being inordinately sensitive, but... she couldn't help it. Everything made her nervous, jittery, it seemed. Part of her still half-expected to be imprisoned again, perhaps....

[sprints42]

((Ummm, where do I go from here? Talk to the head person at As You Like It?))

[Multi-Facets]

((Ummm, where do I go from here? Talk to the head person at As You Like It?))

(OOC: Yeah, go for it. I'll play him once you get Aena there.)

[sprints42]

Hmm, interesting place, this, she thought, slowly opening the door and stepping through. The interior was dark after the bright afternoon sun, and Aena had to stop a second and let her eyes adjust. Well, working here wouldn't be boring, that's for sure. She looked around, trying to see who she should talk to.

[Multi-Facets]

Hmm, interesting place, this, she thought, slowly opening the door and stepping through. The interior was dark after the bright afternoon sun, and Aena had to stop a second and let her eyes adjust. Well, working here wouldn't be boring, that's for sure. She looked around, trying to see who she should talk to.

It was a janitor carrying out rugs to be beaten who noticed her. "Hey, you lost or something?" he inquired, sizing her up. "You're a bit young to be in a place like this."

[sprints42]

Great, she thought. No one's going to believe I'm sixteen. She looked around again. "I've come to inquire about the healer position. Can you tell me who I should talk to?"

[Multi-Facets]

Great, she thought. No one's going to believe I'm sixteen. She looked around again. "I've come to inquire about the healer position. Can you tell me who I should talk to?"

"Oh, you an apprentice or something?" That thought seemed to satisfy the janitor. "That'll work. Go up the three flights of stairs you find back there," he said, nodding towards the rear of the building, "and knock on the door with the purple knob. Mimishaa will be there. 'Cuse me now."

He moved past Aena to take the rugs out.

[sprints42]

"Thanks," she called. Apprentice, indeed. She trudged up the stairs. Well at least I'll have a reliable job, if I can get it. Yep, there was the door. What kind of person paints their doorknob purple, anyway? She knocked on the door.

[Multi-Facets]

[Aena] knocked on the door.

"Enter!" a man's rich baritone called, and when Aena did, she was assaulted by the rich scent of incense, and the shades of purple from the silks hanging on the walls. The boss, apparently Em'met Mimishaa, was poring over papers full of writing.

"What is it?" he asked shortly. "If that's you, Janice, then you know what my answer is going to be."

[sprints42]

Well, he's certainly what I expected, she thought. "I've come about the healer's post. And before you ask, I'm sixteen." Better just to get that part over with before he started in on her size.

[Multi-Facets]

"You're punctual. The fliers were only put out today." Mimishaa put the papers aside and examined Aena. "What is your name, what are your credentials, what do you expect your pay to be, and how often can you work?"

[sprints42]

"My name is Aena. I work as a healer where I can, but most don't trust someone who looks like a child. I learned healing from my mother. As for pay, enough for regular meals and housing is fine; I don't need fancy things. I can be on-call as much as I'm needed as well, though time for sleep would be appreciated."
He really means business. I might have a chance after all.

[Multi-Facets]

Em'met laughed. "You make this very easy, little one." He riffled through another stack of papers, muttering to himself. "Now where did I- ah, yes." He pulled out what looked like a contract and signed one line with a quill that was dipped in purple ink.

"Sign here," the wh-rehouse owner said, pointing to a second line. "This is the contract agreeing you will serve a probation period of three months before we agree on a yearly contract, or a contract of five more years. The provisions for meals and board is covered in this second paragraph here," he added, motioning to the paragraph in question. "I do hope you can read."

[sprints42]

Aena nodded. "Yes, sir, I can." She read through the contract, noting important features. Borrowing the quill, she signed the contract. ((Duhn duhn duhn! Heh. I just thought I'd put that in for effect.))

[Multi-Facets]

Mimishaa took the contract back and slipped it into a folder. "I'll ring someone to take you to an empty room," he said, and reached for a row of colored strings poked into the wall next to him. Grabbing one that was red and gold, he gave it three quick tugs and sat back, folding his hands. "He should be along shortly."

Five minutes later, the owner's prediction came true. A young redheaded man pushed the door open, poking his head into the room. "I thought I was entitled to three days' rest, Mi- you!" he said in surprise, spying Aena. "What are you doing here?"

[sprints42]

Aena stood, shocked. "I-I knew you worked here, but... I thought I wouldn't really run into you..." She shook her head to untie her tongue. "I've taken the healer's job. I...guess we'll be seeing each other..."

[Multi-Facets]

Aluka stepped into the room, shutting the door behind him. "Why would you want to come here? This guy-" motioning to Em'met "-doesn't pay any of us, even though he's rich enough to buy half the block and feed everyone in that area."

"You are in danger of losing a day of rest, Bex," Em'met said coolly.

The redhead flipped him an insulting gesture. "Whatever he promised, you are being ripped off, Aena." He stopped and bit his tongue; why would he care if the girl was treated badly? The only person he should be concerned about was his mother. If Aena wanted to work for Mimishaa, he couldn't stop her.

Part of him hoped she hadn't been hired as another wh-re, though.

[sprints42]

Aena shook her head. "Here I'll at least have a place where the Ekchons can't find me. I'll be able to do what I love, healing, without people looking down on me because I don't 'measure up'. I appreciate your concern, but just because I'm uncommonly short doesn't mean I'm a child."

[Multi-Facets]

Aluka jerked a thumb at his boss. "Even if you were a kid, he would hire you and still not pay you because you're easy labor. I'm just telling you he's a-"

"Finish that sentence and your mother loses a day of rest," Mimishaa interrupted.

The redhead bit his tongue again and gave his boss an extremely poisonous look. It actually made Mimishaa flinch. "Fine," Aluka bit out. "Why'd you call me, anyway?"

"Uh.... show her an empty room."

"Fine," Aluka said again, grabbed Aena's wrist and pulled her towards the door.

[sprints42]

"Uff!" Great. Well this was a great start. She got told off for trying to get a real job by someone who wasn't even related to her! And now he was rushing her along corridors, practically dragging her because of the size difference, and if she was right, it wasn't even her he was mad at. She jerked him to a halt and pulled her arm away. "What the heck is your problem? Do you think that just because you helped me once you have a say in my life? Why the heck are you so mad?" She was practically shouting by now.

[Multi-Facets]

Aluka spun to face her. "Well pardon me for trying to do you a damn favor!" he yelled, eyes darkening as he scowled. "Who would be crazy enough to WANT to work in a wh-rehouse? You, apparently! Even I don't want to be here! Only the crazy sl-ts like this place. You're just lucky Mimishaa doesn't traffic with people who like them young or young-looking, else he would have tried to hire you as a wh-re too," he snarled.

"You're too decent for this place. If you were smart, you'd find a job in a place of healing. But it's too late now, isn't it? You signed the contract. Zuuna Lorde, why do I even care?" Aluka threw up his hands. "Your room's here," he said, waving at a door to the left. "There's a bed and clothes chest, and that's about it."

[sprints42]

She nearly growled at him. "For your information," she said softly through gritted teeth, "most decent places wouldn't take me, simply because of where I come from." She whirled, went into the room, and turned back with a hand on the door. "Thank you for all your help!" In a small show of anger, Aena slammed the door in his face.
A shot in the dark, and I missed, she thought, sliding down the door with her face buried in her hands.

[7000dominos]

((....Uh...Guen? Where were we?))

[Multi-Facets]

She nearly growled at him. "For your information," she said softly through gritted teeth, "most decent places wouldn't take me, simply because of where I come from." She whirled, went into the room, and turned back with a hand on the door. "Thank you for all your help!" In a small show of anger, Aena slammed the door in his face.
A shot in the dark, and I missed, she thought, sliding down the door with her face buried in her hands.

Aluka stared at the door in disbelief. Having one slammed in his face was a new experience for him, since no one had actually done it to him. Not even the other wh-res thought it was worth the effort to do that to each other, petty rivalries and small jealousies aside.

It was both maddening and humbling. Aluka spun on his heel and stormed off.

It was perhaps half an hour later that a woman with graying red hair knocked on the door, balancing a small tray on one hand.

[Guendolen_Sama]

(We were still in the market, discussing hovering around Risa's sister and her possibilities of employment.)

((....Uh...Guen? Where were we?))

[7000dominos]

((Ah. Thanks.))

Daiya swallowed and shrugged. "Well, I am more than willing to help you search for a job, if you like. Though I suppose, considering....everything, you wouldn't have much trouble finding work at the house, either..."