Lonely Mornings at the Marketplace (OPEN :3)

[sarahandichigo]

Rukia sighed, lowering the hood over her eyes further, not wanting to attract any more attention than she already was. It was a rather cold day in the port town of Teirm so the petite noblewoman had worn a fur-trimmed coat-robe, the simplest she could find in her luxurious wardrobe of rich fabrics. Rukia had never given much thought to clothing before and after she had been adopted in a noble and wealthy family. Even now, with countless rich dresses and jewels she possessed, she dressed for practicality. The purpose was to not be recognized. Thid dress would suffice.

She glanced around suspiciously, the familiar paranoia setting in. Her brother should never know she had been here, in the marketplace among the common people he abhorred. Peasants, he called them. Rukia knew there were far worse things than being a peasant in this city...

As she looked around the marketplace, a strange ornament caught her eye. She neared the market stall cautiously, not daring to make any eye contact with anybody. From a few feet away, she could make out a shining golden amulet with a large violet stone glinting in the middle of it. There was something about it that seemed unnaturally mysterious...

[Brenton]

People walked around the figure, small and wiry, as they hurried to and fro in the hustle and bustle of life. The figure was garbed in a rather drab and boring grey cloak that was adorned with a simple oak leaf design. His face was covered as the young figure strolled purposefully through the crowd searching ever so slightly for any sign of his last foray into this God forsaken city. His face may have been covered but when an older boy walked by he was identified quickly. "Street Rat! You still owe us money." The boy stepped toward the cloaked person with clenched fists and suddenly he was immobilized.

You will tell the gang that Street Rat died in the fight so long ago. If I catch wind of you following me or conspiring against me then I will kill you. Now go boy and do not return. With a sudden jerk, the older boy fell and Street Rat continued along toward the market. Maybe he would see that merchant who attacked him when he was hungry.

[sarahandichigo]

Rukia hesitated, her eyes lingering on the amulet a while longer before she reluctantly looked away. No, there was something ominous about that object, something dark she could just vaguely sense. She turned away, walking quickly in the opposite direction, resisting the urge to turn around and purchase the strange thing that was calling to her. She shook her head, walking even faster, finding herself in a rather large crowd around an unconscious body.

Rukia stared at the young man lying in the middle of the marketplace, as clueless as everyone else. She looked around, lowering her hood further. No, too many people here. She briskly walked forward, looking behind her anxiously every once in a while, not realizing she had bumped into a boy who was also in a hurry. Her hood fell and she hastily pulled it up again, lowering her gaze immediately.

"I-I apologise for bumping into you..."

[Quetzal]

Ri'Shei wondered through the marketplace of Teirm, making not effort to hide herself. She was here on Empire business, but that didn't mean she had to sneak around like the Varden. You generally got noticed when you were an exotic-looking woman who was over seven foot tall anyway. The spartans of the Hadarac desert, of which Ri'Shei was one, were not so well known as they rarely ventured out the desert. Most people who saw her simply assumed she was some strange tall foreigner. She liked keeping herself mysterious. Those within the Empire largely knew what she was, but the common folk spread rumours that served to make her more feared among them.

People stared and parted as she strode through their midst, flowing dress-like toga hiding her twin swords. Teirm was shielded from the larger part of the Empire by the Spine and was under heavy Varden influence, so she was here to persuade them to be friendlier to the Empire and to check up on things. Of the street rats running around, squabbling and stealing, she took little notice. Orphans were no concern of hers.

Spying Rukia, Ri'Shei recognised her by her clothing as wealthy. The wealthy usually had the power, so if they supported the Empire, the rest would too. After all, most people didn't care who ruled them so long as they were fed. If the Empire-supporters fed other Empire-supporters, they would support the Empire for a share in that food. Walking up to Rukia, Ri'Shei noticed her looking at a child that had fallen. "You need to watch your step more, rich kid. Learn to be aware of everything around you, to not be distracted. I can teach you a thing or two if you want," she offered, sounding a little harsh but meaning it kindly. The rich teenager would probably know little about any sort of defence and might appreciate being taught a thing or two about self-defence. It annoyed Ri'Shei that girls were often denied lessons in fighting or being as aware as a warrior. Perhaps if she changed that for this kid, she would earn her trust and support for the Empire, too.

[sarahandichigo]

Rukia was snapped out of her thoughts when she heard a voice addressing her. The petite girl looked up, her eyes widening as she stared at the tallest woman she had ever seen in her life. Rukia looked down again, lowering her hood anxiously, "I-I apologise..." The stuttering girl stopped speaking when she realized exactly what the woman had said to her. Had she really called her 'rich kid'? How could she possibly have known? Was her disguise really that useless? Or did this woman know her from somewhere?

Rukia squinted at a pebble at her feet, dread settling in her stomach. "Y-You must be mistaken. I am merely a little peasant, dear Lady..."

The cover-up was absolutely hopeless, even Rukia knew that. But maybe she could convince the woman and hurry away as if nothing ever happened. It was worth a try, Rukia thought, staring hard at the ground.

[Brenton]

As he walked on, a girl bumped into Shaelren and his hood slipped. To an untrained eye, it would've looked like the wind moved it but to a trained eye they would see things. First would be the pointed ears and exotic features quickly followed by the hair and skin unblemished by the signs of facial hair. Of course they would also see the rapid movement to catch his hood. Just then the boy heard what he had been dreading. The Empire had scouts there and Shaelren was alone.

(Sorry for the short post)

[Quetzal]

Ri'Shei was a stubborn woman who didn't like to be messed around with. She frowned at the 'peasant'. "No peasant I ever met was so well-spoken," she replied gruffly. 'Dear Lady' was not the way she was normally addressed. "If you're going to disguise yourself, trying to cover yourself with a hood won't work. It's a nice day, so wearing a cloak that hides your face makes is obvious you don't want anyone to recognise you. You're well dressed as well, so I'd hazard a guess that you have money," she pointed out. "People who try to hard to hide attract attention. I can help with that too if you want," she herself rarely bothered disguising herself since there wasn't much she could do about her height, and there were hardly any Kull-sized woman around.

Looking down, she noticed that the boy Rukia had knocked over had made the same mistake. His hood slipped, just for a second, and she caught sight of his face. He looked familiar, yet different to how she remembered. "How about you, child, what are you hiding?" she asked. Thinking about it more, something clicked in her mind. "Didn't I see you before? In Ellesmera, before Nelfarion and Ashendale arrived? You seem different." she couldn't remember his name, just that he'd been good with a bow and had also annoyingly spoken too highly of himself as inexperienced fighters often did.

[Brenton]

As the Spartan caught him, Shaelren stood up and brushed his cloak off. The entire time he kept his hood up and his eyes cast forward to monitor everyone. It had been taught to him that one should always know their surroundings and never give away their identity. Ma'am you have the wrong person. My name is Street Rat and I've never been to Ellesmera in my entire life. Shaelren snapped his fingers and in a minute he lowered his hood to reveal a freckled face, red hair, white skin, and rounded ears. Magic was a strange thing to be able to change appearance so easily.

[sarahandichigo]

Rukia struggled to hide her surprise at being recognized as being from a wealthy family. The clothes she had chosen were supposed to be simple! She wasn't supposed to be stopped in the marketplace and questioned by anyone. Rukia remained quiet for a few moments then she slowly pulled down her hood with trembling fingers, revealing short raven hair and violet eyes. She glanced downwards again, a little intimidated by the tall woman with the rough voice.

"I know that. I can hide better than this, I've done it for years. And I haven't always been this well-sp--" The girl immediately fell silent. What was she doing blurting her past out to anyone she met on the street? For all she could have known, this woman might even know her brother, the nobleman who had adopted her.

When the woman turned to speak to the boy next to her, Rukia squinted at his face. She could have sworn he looked different when she had caught a glimpse of him when they bumped into each other. Just who were these people? Rukia looked around her warily, retreating a little. The less time she spent with them, the safer she would be.

[Quetzal]

Ri'Shei was surprised at the magical prowess the boy must have to change his appearance, but wasn't fooled. Her eyes had seen him when his hood slipped. She had recognised him from before, a chance encounter in Du Weldenvarden. The boy had been sent away by Kialandi, and it was a lucky thing he was since not long afterwards Ashendale and Nelfarion had shown up.

She raised an eyebrow at Shaelren. "Too late to change your appearance now. I saw you when your hood slipped, and I remember you. I know what I saw and I'm not that easily fooled." if she hadn't learned to expect surprises from everyone, even children barely into their teens, she might not have believed Shaelren could change his appearance. That was some advanced magic.

"No need to worry though, I won't hurt you. You neither," she looked at Rukia, the girl looking scared of her. "I just don't like being messed around with. I'm also curious to know why you wouldn't just send servants out to the markets," she turned back to Shaelren, "and why you've left Du Weldenvarden. I remember you seemed to have a lot of respect for that man, Kialandi. I fought alongside him not long after you left, so I don't mean him any harm, either." she failed to mention the fact that Kialandi had turned into a dragon. It was a detail she didn't think he would appreciate being tossed around lightly.

[Brenton]

Shaelren grinned as he recognized the Spartan from their brief encounter. He ended the draining spell and his features were once again normal. You never did believe in my skills, Spartan. Still I am Street Rat and this is where I was raised. Suddenly he saw the merchant standing across the market and he grinned. As for why I'm here, I need to speak to a merchant quickly. With a bored yawn, Shaelren took his bow and fired an arrow into the merchant's heart. Conversation over.

[sarahandichigo]

Rukia watched the exchange between the boy and the tall woman, grateful to be ignored. Maybe she could sneak away quickly if they kept on talking. She was just about to slip away quietly when she heard the woman address her again. Rukia blinked, staring at her intently. She had said she wouldn't hurt her. Rukia wasn't naive; she had spent the better portion of her life as an orphan on these very streets long before Fortune had shone down upon her in the form of a blessed adoption into a wealthy family. She knew she shouldn't trust people, especially not exotic foreigners like the woman and the boy, who were obviously well-practiced in magic. But there was something about them that made her want to linger a little longer. Maybe it was because they were talking about exotic lands and ever more exotic people she knew she would never visit or meet. So Rukia listened to them talk, simply happy to be in the background.

Her eyes widened when the boy's face suddenly morphed into someone else. Was this magic he had just demonstrated? She had never in all her years experienced magic and she was struck in awe, a little fear creeping up her spine. He looked so young...

"W-What are you doing?!"Had the boy just shot that poor merchant across the marketplace? He moved so fast, she didn't even see him firing the arrow until she heard the merchant scream!

[Quetzal]

Ri'Shei was on Rukia's side on the matter of the merchant's death. People around them panicked, screaming. The merchant's wide ran out and shooed people away from his body, crying. Amidst all the chaos, the only suspect was the boy standing directly in the line the arrow had been shot from, carrying a bow. Some members of the crowd fled, others tried to comfort the merchant's wife, and most stood around unsure of what to do. Some had more sense, found a guard and started talking to him, pointing at Shaelren. "You idiot" Ri'Shei hissed at the child, grabbing him and Rukia and shoving them both down an alley when no-one was looking.

Shaelren had grown no less obnoxious or desperate to show off than the last time they had met. Ri'Shei swore angrily. "For someone who boasts so much skill and cleverness, you really are quite moronic, child," she scolded Shaelren. "First of all, how could you think killing someone in a crowded marketplace out in the open in broad daylight is a good idea?" she took a deep breath to calm herself. A few guards were nearing the alleyway, so she muttered a few words of the Ancient Language and they walked on by unable to notice the alleyway. "Secondly, how can you kill so casually? Even in the Empire we show more mercy than you. Have some heart! Whatever the merchant did to you, he was an individual with hopes and dreams and you tore that all from him looking bored all the while! I've been in battles and I can tell you death is not something to be taken so lightly. I remember everyone I ever killed. You should at least do the respect of looking them in the eyes and letting them know their fate. Never kill unless necessary, not for some petty squabble! There are consequences, maybe nothing serious for you but think of the guy you murder! Everything he is is taken from him and sent into oblivion!" she was beginning to loath this insolent boy now. How could be so inhumane as to take lives as though they were nothing? She was standing over Shaelren close to him and defensively in front of Rukia.

[Brenton]

Shaelren put the bow over his shoulder contemptuously as everyone started freaking out. He was suddenly pulled into the alley by the Empire Spartan as his hands gripped the daggers. The elf lord swept aside the cloak to show his fine clothing and the Naelrathe crest. As one of noble lineage I have the right to execute anyone publicly if they threaten my life. That merchant showed no mercy to me when I was starving on these streets and so he deserved no mercy. Trust me, you would receive the same fate if you did what he has.

[sarahandichigo]

(( Really really sorry for my late reply, guys! ><))

Rukia was completely done with these two strangers and had made up her mind to slip away, unnoticed. The crowd that had gathered around the dead merchant was proving to her advantage and just as she was about to turn around and flee, she was dragged into an alleyway. Looking up, she glared at the tall woman whose face was even more severe as she reprimanded the boy with the bow. "W-What are you doing?! The guards will find us here for sure!"

To Rukia's utmost shock, the guards she had spotted simply walked past them as if the alley they were hiding in didn't even exist. She glanced up at the woman fearfully, "H-How did you..."

Of course it was magic. It couldn't be anything else. The woman had control over magic. So did the boy; he was a killer without mercy. Were they even human? The fear Rukia felt intensified and twisted painfully in her stomach. She had never felt so lost before...

Her violet eyes widened even further when the boy cast aside his cloak, revealing refined clothing and a crest of some sort she could not recognize. It was clear he was of powerful nobility of another more dangerous and mysterious race from some faraway land she could not fathom with her limited imagination and ignorance of Aleagasia's lands.

"You are a noble, are you not? Which land do you hail from?"

[Quetzal]

Ri'Shei looked at Rukia less sternly than she had Shaelren. "Magic. I'm a spartan, we use magic as the elves do," she explained when the girl asked how she made the guards ignore them.

Turning back to Shaelren, she was surprised to learn the boy was of noble lineage. She hadn't remembered that being a detail when she'd last seen him. She relaxed a little as she began calming herself, though that had nothing to do with his nobility. She just wanted to think with a clearer head than one clouded by rage. The Empire tended not to forgive, so she didn't have much right to tell Shaelren he was wrong for not forgiving the merchant. "What did the merchant do to deserve death? Just ignoring a kid on the street isn't bad; there are loads of them and one merchant can't hope to save them," she couldn't see why someone so young would be driven to murder.

There was something else bugging her. "Why were you on the streets in the first place if you're from a noble background?" that just didn't make any sense. Even if a noble person loathed being at home for whatever reason, they'd find no shortage of people willing to take in a lordling. Ri'Shei was calmer now, less stern and furious with Shaelren. She in no way agreed with what he'd just done - especially how bored he'd looked - but she was prepared to listen to him now she'd told him how heartless killing like that was and how stupid it was to do it out in a crowded place where anyone would see his face and force him to go in disguise around here for fear of recognition.