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+--- Thread: But strong in will.... (Open - OOC Welcomed) (/showthread.php?tid=7812)
RE: But strong in will.... (Open - OOC Welcomed) - Erik Mynhier - 08-16-2014
The Elezen skipped down the docks from the Captain, coming to a halt as a thought crossed his mind. Turning back toward the ship he waited for Cathal to go out of sight. He then straightened, wiping the crazed look from his eyes, hardening his voice. He looked on for a moment until he spotted the youngest crew member, one who would not know to be silent and walked to him. "Excuse me young man. Would I be able to offer you business proposition?"
RE: But strong in will.... (Open - OOC Welcomed) - Rynn - 08-16-2014
The red haired lad looked up, blinking softly. His face was covered in freckles, and his bright green eyes stared up with a youthful charm. He didn't look any older than sixteen! "Eh? A business proposition? What do ya' mean mister?" he asked, leaning in curiously.
RE: But strong in will.... (Open - OOC Welcomed) - Erik Mynhier - 08-16-2014
As serious, quiet, and wise as a doctor would sound, he asked, "How long have you been part of this crew? I would seek information from you. You see... and do not repeat this, the Captain is a proud man, he is not well. I could help but I would need a blood sample from a close relative. Would you know where I might find such a person?"
RE: But strong in will.... (Open - OOC Welcomed) - Rynn - 08-16-2014
The lad's eyes widened with worry as the older man spoke. He believed every word of it, with an expression that showed his gullibility, the boy spoke. "W...what!? really! Er, I've worked for the crew since I was a little kid... a blood sample? Well, he does have a daughter! But... er... she's not here anymore"
RE: But strong in will.... (Open - OOC Welcomed) - Erik Mynhier - 08-17-2014
It was all he could do not to burst forth laughing, "Well... that would be just what I need. Do you know where I might find her?"
------------
Skit lead Erik through the winding alleyways until they reach a commerce hub. The sounds of the sea mixed with men and women loading and unloading filled the salt kissed air. As they wandered from ship to ship, asking their questions they were met with the full spectrum of reactions, from friendly to hateful. Soon they came upon a ship that was to be their target. For a moment, Erik thought he had heard a familiar voice, then dismissed the feeling as he waited for the deckhand to fetch the ship's Captain.
RE: But strong in will.... (Open - OOC Welcomed) - Rynn - 08-17-2014
The boy tilted his head to the side in thought, his brows taking on a worried crease. Slowly, he spoke. "Well, last I heard she had ran off to the Shroud... Captain Cathal can't enter the forest! So the crew avoids that area. We know she goes to the big city there to buy supplies for something every week.... we've managed to get some messages to her, but she never responds..."
_______________________________
"If it isn't one thing, it's another fuckin' one." Cathal sighed grumpily as he turned to go follow the deckhand. When he found himself standing in front of Erik, the short man narrowed his eyes as his hand rested on the sword tied to his belt. "Why the fuck 'ave you shown your face here Mynheir?"
RE: But strong in will.... (Open - OOC Welcomed) - Erik Mynhier - 08-17-2014
Erik raise his hand in a gesture of peace. "I have not come to fight you Cathal. I have come to ask you about.... Holly." he stiffened as he said the name. "I came because of this." he said as he pulled out the book, opening the pages to the notes about his offspring. "It says she had a child by me. The man this book belonged to knows enough to know there was a child, and he seeks it. That or this was a trap to lead me out of Ul'dah. He and the people he is associated with are dangerous. So I ask you, was there a child?"
RE: But strong in will.... (Open - OOC Welcomed) - Rynn - 08-17-2014
When his sister's name was mentioned, Cathal tensed. Why was this man here about that girl? When the book was opened, his eyes widened. That must have been the book the Elezen was searching for. Eyeing the book, both eyes narrowed as his face scrunched with worry. "Whether this child exists or not, I don't think you have any right to her. YOU'RE the one who didn't chase after Holly," he snarled. Turning to face his crew and ship, he spoke once more. "I doubt these men are as dangerous as you would be to her"
RE: But strong in will.... (Open - OOC Welcomed) - Melkire - 08-17-2014
This was bad.
Osric snarled as he stormed his way across the lower decks of Fisherman's Bottom, and the crowd parted before him, for him. He hadn't planned on doffing his robe this early on; he'd been wearing that outfit underneath, trusting the old look to serve as enough of a surprise to give him an edge. Now, as women and children scrambled out of his way, old men left and right muttered under their breaths.Â
"...Dirk..."
"...back in town..."
"...that's Dirk, that is..."
"...he's back...?"
"...Dirk Problemsolver...?"
His cover was blown.Â
Setbacks. Nothing but setbacks. Despite the precautions he'd taken, he'd been made within a bell of landing. The timetable had been accelerated: Erik would have to fend for himself far sooner than Osric had anticipated. Oh, he'd still be keepin' an eye on his captain... when he had an eye to spare. He'd be too busy from here on out, watchin' for the knives and daggers angling for his back, to do much more for the highlander. Sweet talkin' Raz by way of linkpearl? Of course. Conversing with Erik over the company shell? Sure. Peek in from time to time, in person? Mayhap. But direct contact?Â
His cover was blown.Â
Gods damn you, Faller. Why were you even there?
If he hadn't backpedaled as soon as he hit the water, if he hadn't fanned out his arms and legs in old spread-eagle fashion, if he hadn't pushed forward, turned over, and kicked off back towards the docks, Faller would have caught him in the water and torn him to pieces.Â
There came the massive surge of displaced water as the old man broke the surface; Osric pedaled faster, swam up right alongside one of the wooden pillars. He broke for air just long enough to hear a cacophony above him - had a fight broken out? - before submerging again. He braced his feet against the pillar and pushed off towards another, moving underneath the pier... he felt the rush of large, coarse fingers along his ankle and panicked, drew back his leg and kicked out, struck something that might've been a hand. He stroked the rest of the way to the next pillar, rolled over in the water, tucking his legs under him as he went. Feet met wood again, and he pushed off once more.Â
He'd known better than to try his stamina against Faller. Geezer though he was, the toned man was a highlander, and that meant that, in short bursts, the bastard would run him down. Faller was built for such.
Melkire - lithe as he was - was built for endurance and agility.
Gutter games. Osric had spent much of his childhood racing through the crowds, causing chaos, creating distractions left, right, and center. He'd been a terror long before he'd gone to the gangs looking for a patron, long before he'd been taken in and set to task to make way for various small-time heists. What time he hadn't spent above decks, he'd spent in the water. He had loved to swim, had spent every moment he could wrest away from the crew in the water. These days, his greatest regret was that living in Thanalan more often than not denied him the joy that was the ocean.Â
One of his favorite pastimes had been moving underwater from pillar to pillar, in just this fashion.
He couldn't outrace Faller in the open water, but he could do it here, where his smaller, more compact form meant less resistance to abrupt turns, and the sudden bursts in speed from shoving off from fixed points meant he'd easily outpace his competition.Â
It made little difference. He zigzagged down the length of the pier, surfacing every now and again for air, and every backward glance he stole only served to show him that Faller was still hot on his tail. He shook off the dread and focused again on the gamble he'd taken, on the sight he'd seen right off in the distance right before he'd chosen to hit the water. One more push-off brought him to left pillar at the end of the pier. A quick inspection showed him it wouldn't serve. Cursing his luck, he moved over to its opposite. Close, now: Faller was close. He glanced up and down the structure: this would do.Â
He drew two knives and, as quickly as he could, worked them into the wood, shoved them in deep until they bit in. He turned, seized his makeshift handles with both hands, and planted his feet again. He could hear Faller coming up behind him, could hear the water shifting....
He looked up and out towards the trawler that was even now making its way to port. He stared at the fishnets that some poor sod had left hanging off the side. If the heading was any indication of its course... and given the nets... Fisherman's Bottom. Surely.Â
If he could make it there, he could lose Faller. Lose everyone. He'd grown up there, after all.Â
He thought back to the lesson that Endemerrin Rosethorne had given him, to the technique that he'd practiced long and hard over the course of a single night, to the skill that he hadn't had to use after all... until now. It worked with land beneath his feet. Surely, it would work with wood... especially if he braced himself properly. Gods, if only he'd had some knives to serve as handles, and some rotten wood in which to plant them.Â
He fought down the smirk, closed his eyes, pushed aside the panic that was building up inside as that gods-damned man drew closer, left it all behind until there was nothing but his heartbeat. One hearbeat. Singular.Â
He remembered when there'd been two, that first day on the plains of Thanalan beneath the Sultantree. His... and the land's.Â
A burst. It's a burst. From everywhere, all at once.
He opened his eyes, and pushed. Wood cracked, splintered. He surged, shot out.
Setbacks, aye... but he'd lost the ruttin' ass, and wouldn't you know it, here came Sisipu with a bucket full of... she tripped, spilled fish everywhere, started piling it back in, and scrambled off. Osric stooped for a moment, scooped up a single herring that she'd forgotten, and went on his way.Â
A score of fulms later, he ducked into a side alley, drew another knife, and sliced the disgusting thing open. Inside was a soaked parchment... with Thomys' handwriting on it. He threw the fish away.
He'd have to double back for his rucksack, of course; he'd tossed the bloody thing aside into a stall full of its like. Cresting Wave was an old fixture of Cripple's Walk, and his wares hadn't changed much over the cycles. Either the Roe would have it, or Faller's crew would. Either way, he'd need his uniform back. The way he figured, he'd just entrusted the damned thing to someone else's keeping for a while.Â
He unfolded the parchment and started skimming its contents, trying to make something legible out of the smeared and blotted ink. One hand went to his ear, tapped the Red Wings company linkpearl tucked away there as he continued to read.Â
"Boss? Did you find- FUCK."
He dropped his hand to the note and ripped the piece of flimsy to shreds, then tapped the pearl again.Â
"Boss, Xydane's been in town. Watch your ass; my cover's been blown. Yours should still be intact... but it won't be if he gives you away."
He stepped back out of the alley again and hurried along the docks.Â
This was bad.
RE: But strong in will.... (Open - OOC Welcomed) - Erik Mynhier - 08-18-2014
Erik's eyes widened, "She? The child was a girl?" He felf his heart race, then he calmed himself, this was not about him. "Whether you trust me or not, even if you will not let me see.... her. At least believe me when I say there are dangerous men after her. Be aware of the danger to her." He heard his ear ring, Osric's voice calling. Raising his finger to the pearl, "Roger that Shadow."
RE: But strong in will.... (Open - OOC Welcomed) - Rynn - 08-18-2014
Cathal let out a deep breath through his nose, obviously hesitant to trust the man. If there was danger for her, that wasn't good. "I can't be aware of anything for her. That damn girl takes after her mother. She ran off three weeks ago, last we've hard of her she's in the Shroud."
RE: But strong in will.... (Open - OOC Welcomed) - Erik Mynhier - 08-18-2014
Erik nodded, then his emotions slowed and his thoughts cleared, "Thank you.... Cathal, has anyone else come looking for.... what is her name?"
RE: But strong in will.... (Open - OOC Welcomed) - Rynn - 08-18-2014
Cathal frowned deeply as Erik spoke. "Don't think this means we're friends Mynheir. Her name is Ross. There was a man here looking for that book you're holding, but I sent him off without much information. Now scat before I have my men chase you out of this city."
RE: But strong in will.... (Open - OOC Welcomed) - Erik Mynhier - 08-18-2014
Erik nodded, "Thank you. If she returns keep her here. These people are not to be taken lightly. I will send word when the threat has passed." As he turned, nearly outpacing his guide, he held a finger to his ear. She was already in danger. They had beaten him to Cathal. Even if he told them nothing, he knew things, so his crew would too. They were a step ahead, and that made his blood boil, "Osric. See to the Falcon when you are done here. Report back to HQ when you finish and find Siha. Have her call me. I am chartering a flight to the Shroud now. You know how to reach me."
RE: But strong in will.... (Open - OOC Welcomed) - Melkire - 08-18-2014
"Understood," he murmured, loud enough for the pearl to pick up yet low enough such that even Keeper ears would have trouble picking words out. "I've a few loose ends to wrap up here; one's new 'n' doggin' m'footsteps. Soon as the scum's off m'boots, I'll get movin'. Be best if y'ditch that associate o' Cenric's as soon as possible, it'll make things easier for me. Shadow, out."
He dug around in a belt pouch for a few moments as he walked, then came up with two more linkpearls. One was a bright, solid green; the other was half blue, the two hemispheres divided by a solid band of purple. With his other hand, he plucked the company linkpearl from his ear and popped the green one in, instead.
He'd cast this line suns ago. Time to see if he'd get a bite today.
"Bolvi. Whenever your business is concluded, make your way to Mealvaan's Gate and clear on out. I'll see to payin' the runner and downin' the mark. Silence on this shell from here on out, please."
He replaced that pearl too, as soon as that last request passed his lips, without waiting for an answer. In went the banded pearl.
"I need the Keepers now. I need them out of sight but ready to pounce."
Out came the third pearl, and those three went back into the pouch. His free hand went to his other ear, to the pearl that their runner had given him.
"M-m-master Raz... our client tells me that he's seen to his business, courtesy of your associate, and that he is most... most pleased. Unfortunately, I have been held up by some h-h-hooligans and missed the rendezvous. Shall I meet you... mmm... say, where we first discussed business? To discuss payment? I do believe I owe you a favor, ser, and connections besides!"
Bite. Bite, damn you.