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Jager · **05-21-2014, 11:33 PM**

"Three.. Two.." Loque.. "One.. Now!" He let the length of rope slide through his fingers so that his lantern hung off the edge of the cliff. Only now he'd swing his back and forth just like hers, matching in speed and most of all, keeping them from bumping into each other. They swung together, side by side like a pair of fireflies off in the distance. "Perfect- hold it just like that." His grin was back, he was fighting back laughter.

Back.Â

Forth.Â

Back.Â

Forth.Â

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BA-BOOM! B-B-B-BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! B-BOOM!

All that could be seen in the distance was a row of explosive fire, materializing out of thin air; obviously they were cannons, but from a ship unseen in the harbor. Like a ghost ship, wherever it was- if even it was, unloaded a volley of shots. The sounds of the city ceased, the air went still. Time stood still, it almost felt. At least.. until that volley hit.Â

"Drop the lantern." He'd let his go first so that the rope could run through his fingers and grow to the size of a spec before hitting the water with a hissing splash. Seconds before she dropped hers, he'd flash the most dangerous of smiles, it was lit up by her light in the most eerie of manners. The sounds of wood splintering was heard, screams for help, and most of all, the crackling of flames. Orange flames. Pure. Not blue.Â
The harbor was alive with activity now, from people running away, to people rushing to douse the flames- an impossible task at this point. The ship that had fired was no where in sight, no- not in the dark of this night. The naval fleet surrounding this island wouldn't haven't the faintest trail or clue as to who fired upon this barge on this night. Fortune's dagger was quick. Like a blade, it cut deep and vanished without a trace.

He'd revel in his work for a few more seconds before standing with his arms crossed. "Kink, I think it's about time we discuss business."

Zhavi · **05-21-2014, 11:42 PM**

Picture this:

Arrogant, cocky little chit, playing at having stones larger than the world.

That would be Zhi.

A companion, standing alongside, with enough stubbornness and attitude to match her own.

That would be Jager.

One laughing, the other with ears back, tail tucked -- tucked -- and mouth open wide enough to catch a dodo. One got the trophy for biggest stones. The other, well. . .

Zhi had just lost the contest.

There are no words for the reluctance with which Zhi turned to face Loque. She couldn't even fake one of her brassy grins, that was how much he'd taken out of her sails. He knew it, she knew it, he knew she knew it -- so on and so forth. Point being, her paranoia had just gotten its fair share of "I tole ye so!" and then some. She closed her eyes in a long blink. Pride was damn hard to swallow. Really damn hard. She was choking on it, a little bit.

"A'right. Well. I ain't hirin' ye." Her voice was just a titch on the strangled side. "Partners?"

Jager · **05-21-2014, 11:48 PM**

It was simple, really. The notes he'd scribble were plans, times and instructions. Instructions given to the street beggar with a code spoken. Don't spend it all in once placeÂ he said as the young lad ran off to his ship.Â
He chuckles, his own tail swishing casually behind him. His ship, Fortune's Dagger, which he watched get ready from behind the spyglass high atop his perch. A perch which he used the glass from the spyglass to mark the ship. The ship to be sunk by canon fire at the sight of two swinging lanterns. Simple indeed. He chuckled, tail swishing back and forth behind him merrily.

Back.Â

Forth.Â

Back.

Forth.

"Not quite yet. C'mon, let's head back to my room while the streets are empty. I'll even buy you another bottle." Broken glass, spyglass tubing, rope and sack were all tossed down into the water below, the contents put inside so it would sink faster. The ocean could provide and deliver so much: trade goods, food, people and even in some cases, help. Here on this side of the world, it was turning into a bottomless void in which he could dump evidence, bodies and even secrets.

Zhavi · **05-21-2014, 11:54 PM**

Once, that string of words would have earned him innuendo. Now, well, Zhi was still trying to get the rest of her pride down her godsdamned throat. She grunted at him. Energy? Had there been such a thing? The whole way to the inn he was staying at, she was dragging her feet. Who had the upper hand? Not her.

Worst. Day. Ever.

Jager · **05-21-2014, 11:59 PM**

Navigating the streets was easier than he thought. In fact, too easy. Both had to be careful to show concern and look panicked when both citizens and Yellow Jacket's were running past them. "A ship is on fire!" He'd shout and cry as they passed him by, no one cared to question but simple aimed to confirm. That they could by themselves, one just had to look to the skies and see the orange glow.Â

Once inside the inn, he'd swing by the bar and purchase two bottles of something not-so-cheap for once, and headed for his room. He'd jerk his head in the direction of the stairs so she could follow. For someone with the upper hand, he didn't seem too intent on rubbing it on her face, not yet at least. His concern was with getting inside, safe and secure, and most of all, his pay; answers. "Lock it behind you, coast should be more than clear." He'd snicker as he looked out the window facing the docks. "It's about to go under.."

Zhavi · **05-22-2014, 12:04 AM**

He was doing it on purpose. He was enjoying it. They could have taken the back routes, avoided running into anyone. But noooo.

She barred the door and stood there, arms folded, expression ugly. It was almost as if she was awaiting a blow. Her normal inquisitiveness was gone; but for a quick look 'round the room, her sole focus was the stubborn git in front of her, with his alcohol (ever-so-generously purchased). Smugness? It was there. She knew how to look for it.

But what was rutting worse -- the worst, actually -- was that she knew he deserved that smugness. He'd outstripped her. She'd brought a knife, and he'd brought sodding cannons. Cannons! Of all the blary things, cannons. So, yeah, she showed him how galled she was. She showed him her ugliest expression.

Jealousy.

Jager · **05-22-2014, 12:13 AM**

Jager knew what he had. Moves. He didn't need to see a barge on fire, or the life bleed from a guard in a yellow suit of armor. He didn't need the approval of others and most of all, he didn't need to prove anything to this street runner. But he did. He didn't just bring his cannon's to a knife fight, he shot them. If ever there was a warning shot sent to the skies, this was it. So when he turned to face her and that ugly expression, he'd simply shrug. He had no reason to drag it out or rub it in her face.Â

But what came next would surly take her by surprise. "Good job back there, the hiding spot, the perch, made things easier." Sip. Compliment. Continue. "I'm not here for fame, fortune or even power. You saw firsthand just how much I already possess. What I need is information, and you have it." He paused to make his way towards the table so he could take a seat. She was welcome to help herself to the other.Â

"You know this city, you know its streets. You know its every nook and cranny, and most of all you know its employers." Sip. "You said back there on top that rock, partners?" Sip. Stare. "You scratch my ear and well, I can scratch yours; I can get behind this if you're interested." He'd wait to see what she had to say before any hand was held out to be shook.

Zhavi · **05-22-2014, 12:21 AM**

There went the ol' paranoia alarm again.

Zhi's eyes narrowed as he spoke. She didn't like the compliments. Base manipulation.

She sat, because standing would look silly after a minute or two, and by then taking a seat would look even worse. She traded in the jealousy for boredom as her thoughts went for a spin into the territory of why this and why that, all the while she stared at him. For once in her life, she was struck silent, without any clever retorts, without any goading. The sass had been burned from her along with the four bodies and the secrets they'd held. She didn't owe him, not precisely, but. . .

She uncorked her bottle, and gulped. One, two. Breathe. Three, four. Breathe.

"Partners." The word was spat out on a breath that was almost entirely alcohol fumes. It was also raspy: thank you, booze.

It was a gamble. But, on the tail end of the smokes, and fueled once more on alcohol and the queasy airiness that came on the tail end of not enough sleep and too much stimulant, she didn't care. He'd rutting played her one solid, and if there was any type of person she wanted at her side (not at her back, never there. That was what walls were for. Walls were usually trustworthy), it was someone who could outplay her. At least, until it came time to get to stabbing backs. But Zhi was relatively certain she'd be faster on the draw than him. Maybe. Probably? Bah.

She smiled.

Somehow, it was worse than the jealousy.

Jager · **05-22-2014, 12:29 AM**

Partners. That's all he needed to hear in order to raise himself a toast. He'd tip his bottle back and let its savory contents fill his gullet. Tonight was a night worth drinking to. "So, have I earned the privilege of learning your name? Your real name." He'd hold the bottle around the neck by three fingers before rocking back in his chair. "What do you say, a trade?"

Zhavi · **05-22-2014, 12:32 AM**

The bottle was upended once more, her gulps loud in the otherwise quiet room. "Zhi's good enough," she said. Yeah, why not. It wasn't as if he'd just -- cannons. Rutting. Cannons. "Yers?"

She looked away, the smile dropping away again. She was left with apathy. Aie, gods, what was Nald'thal even doing to her any more?

Jager · **05-22-2014, 12:35 AM**

He'd raise an eyebrow while his lips pressed against the rim of his bottle. He could feel his limbs growing heavier and his thoughts pulling with them. "Jager. I'd appreciate it if you keep that one to yourself." He'd watch her with those taxi-cab yellow eyes of his, studying from afar. "So. You got anything else for me to sink?"

Zhavi · **05-22-2014, 04:42 PM**

The lamplight reflected like tiny sparks in Zhavi's eyes. They looked black in the dim light; dark mirrors reflecting Jager as she watched him. One arm draped over the back of her chair, she was suddenly contemplative while she sat rocking back and forth. One of the legs of her chair was shorter than the other three, and the thock thock, thock thock of it was her only reply to his immediate question.

"Ye want information," she said, slow and considering. She was settling down; gravity had remembered her existence and was pulling her back. It was inexorable. "Then I'll take ye on one o' me jobs. Th'brothels are fightin'. Looks t'be right nasty, it does."

She pulled up her knees, put a foot on the table, and pushed her chair back onto its rear two legs. "That'll get ye started."

Jager · **05-22-2014, 08:30 PM**

Jager tried hard not to sit up too fast, to show his eagerness was bad form. "Brothels eh? Heh. Sounds like a plan." He too would tip back in his chair, but only to make drinking from his bottle easier. It was late, he was feeling the weight of his drink and over all, it was turning out to be quite the lazy evening, considering.Â

"If that's all, I think we can conclude the night here. I'm going down for another bottle soon, if you feel like joining. Otherwise, help yourself to the facility." He'd pause as his attitude changed, "Just keep out of my bed." He didn't need to explain why.

Zhavi · **05-22-2014, 08:55 PM**

How long would it take for him to discover fleas in his bed? A night? Two? Something to look forward to, but not that night.

Zhi gave one last push off the table, and when the chair thumped back down to the ground she came up out of the chair. "I'm out. I'll come t'morrow mornin' t'show ye th'rounds. I've got some o'me hirelin's t'meet, so I'll bring ye along fer that. Fair winds."

Bottle in hand, she walked for the door.

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Worlds on Fire (closed)

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