"Honestly, is this necessary just yet?" Ser Crofte protested, clearly alarmed by what the corporal held in her hands.
Broken Nose gave no objection as he unlocked the cell and swung the door open for the Lalafell. He was not about to get in the middle in between a Flame and a Sworn.
Kokojo took two small steps inside and threw the contents of the bucket over the poor malnourished Elezen. With excrement covering both the prisoner and the wall and floor around him, she stepped back outside, slamming the bars closed again. She smiled proudly up at the Sultansworn. "There. Now he's fed, I pissed off, and you can live up to your name, Shite-licker Crofte of the Brass Blades." Almost instantly the levity was dropped for a stern expression. "He's a criminal, not some misguided sod."
The Roegadyn held up a hand subtly toward the door to keep Deneith there, just as Ser Crofte gave him a glance as if to question the apparent title. She was speechless, as he was. Broken Nose merely shrugged.
The Elezen retched and coughed, the sound not unlike a whetstone being ground against a block of granite. Even through his gagging, a weak laugh could be heard occasionally interjected through the spasm of dry heaves. "Yeah…see…she's…that little bitch ain't lying to herself…hah. Just like Pearl Lane…see, she knows she's just an animal. She knows that she ain't any better than just throwing shite around. Take a page from her book, why don't you..." The prisoner looked as if he was about to retch again.
Kokojo smirked over her shoulder at the bandit. "I have a pedigree."
"Yeah, I'm covered in your pedigree," came the spiteful response amidst heavy coughing.
The Sworn shook her head in stunned silence before turning to the corporal. "Twelve forfend we should act civilized. Do this your way then." She put her hand to her mouth as if to fight off a wave of nausea and backed away from the cell.
The Immortal Flame nodded briefly before turning back to the bars and slipping inside the cell. She stood only a fulm away from the man. "I learned this from a Lominsan. Last chance."
"I've been...given a dozen 'last chances' in the past three suns..." the Elezen mustered up what spittle he could as he spat on the ground. "Do…do your worst."
The little corporal shrugged, then drew her blade and, in the blink of an eye, set the point against the man's groin and shoved it in against the bulge.
The agonized cry that came out of the Elezen's weak frame was truly pitiful, and more animalistic of an expression of pain than anyone knew he was capable of. His teeth sunk into his bottom lip hard enough to draw blood, and his chest heaved with heavy, pained pants in lieu of screaming.
"CORPORAL! For Menphina's sa...sake...!" The Sworn made one move toward the cell, then staggered backwards once again from the smell with her hand over her mouth.
"Picking the part you like the most, huh?" he gasped out in between loud, pained groans. He writhed against the manacles, the iron chains jingling in a symphony of protest.
The Lalafell played just barely with the hilt and pommel, raising her left gauntlet to her face as if to inspect her nails. "Now, I can either pull this back out, or I can twist it as I push it further in. Your call."
Broken Nose only watched, his thoughts dark but his form unflinching. It seemed the little Flame had some bite to her after all. He only pushed off the wall when he saw Deneith darting forward, quick to place a hand on the woman’s shoulder to stop her protest. The Roe shook his head at her in stern warning. He could see her shocked expression even behind the mask.
The Elezen did not respond, merely biting his lip as his spindly body twisted and turned, as if trying to crawl away from the pain.
"A name. Make me believe it. Then mayhap I'll stop,†the corporal slowly and painstakingly moved her sword-arm closer to the man, gradually rotating her wrist as she did so.
The writhing and crying out continued until the Elezen finally gasped. "A…a woman…came by…to this cell. She'll know. She…urgh…was there...in the alley." Even with his face twisting in an agonized expression, the prisoner managed the ghost of a grin. "You…you want answers? Maybe try looking at your precious paladins first."
Deneith wrenched her shoulder away from Broken Nose’s hold, stepping toward the cell and swinging the door open. "Corporal. Stop. Stop this now. Please."
The Elezen barked out a laugh that was more akin to a gasp than an expression of amusement. "Nah…let her…let her do her thing! You never cared before…when…when someone did this to us…if they were Blades or Flames or bandits..."
"Corporal, that is enough!" The Sultansworn’s voice echoed off the stones, this time holding firm in its indignation.
"Hmph." A wrenching motion drew the sword out, along with some blood, before the corporal reversed her grip on the hilt and slammed the pommel forward into the Elezen's face. She didn't pause to inspect her work as the prisoner slumped forward; she strolled past Crofte, sheathing her blade as she went. "Fetch a medic," she told Broken Nose. Only then did she turn to Crofte. "I was told the criminal was to be left alive. I was specifically not instructed as to the rest of his treatment."
Crofte merely shook her head at the Flame. "Who else was at the scene? I was not aware of any Sultansworn present in the streets."
Both Kokojo and Broken Nose exchanged a look before both of their eyes went to the second Blade that was with them. Deneith had already entered the cell past Kokojo, kneeling in front of the man as if to see if he was conscious. The Roegadyn shook his head in disapproval. She was too soft for this.
"You're outed. Talk." The Lalafell’s voice was calm and cold, and it cut through the tension like a knife.
It was not until then that the Sworn paid the second Blade any mind, but now Ser Crofte turned her attention to the woman in the cell with the prisoner.
Deneith seemed to pause for a moment, keeping her back to them all as if hesitating. But slowly she rose and pulled the turban and the mask off her head as she turned. "I was there,†she said quietly, the Hyur looking straight at the Sultansworn. "I was the one in the alley."
Broken Nose heard the long exhale that was released through the Sworn’s nose. "Of course it was you."
The corporal glanced between the two women. "The sergeant and I have a prisoner to see to. Perhaps you could take this outside."
Take the chance given, Broken Nose wanted to say out loud. The less he knew about the details of this, better off he was. It would be easier to keep things legitimate, with less things to hide. But the two women seemed not to hear it.
"No need,†Crofte answered curtly. “Based on what he said and the current revelation, I know what I wanted to."
Kokojo gave Crofte a narrowed eyed look. "If this is a foreign matter--and I suspect that's the case, given the manufacture--then you're obligated to share what you know with the Flames. If not through myself, then through Swift."
The Sworn crossed her arms and turned her back to Deneith, looking only to the Immortal Flame. "Indeed. I will speak with my Captain and then to your commander. This issue may be far bigger than we suspected."
The confusion in Deneith’s face was clear as she exited the cell to approach the Sworn. "Can we speak?" she asked quietly.
It was obvious that Ser Crofte was looking anywhere but at the paladin. "No,†she said flatly. "I have a report to file now. If you would excuse me." Clearing her throat, she walked swiftly past them, only calling back to Kokojo when she was nearing the door. “See that he lives, Corporal. We may still have need of him." With that she she exited, the heavy door closing behind her.
"...Twice. I told her twice." The dunesfolk woman sighed.
Broken Nose stared at Deneith, who stood there with a look of confusion before she too took her leave without another word. The Roegadyn shook his head as he began to lumber out of the gaol to fetch a medic.
If Deneith knew who had brought guns to the streets of Ul’dah--and was now on the outs with her one ally in the Sultansworns--this whole thing was headed down a path he did not want to imagine. And now both the Sultansworns and the Immortal Flames had an inkling of it, even if neither Kokojo nor Crofte were ready to act upon it just yet. And he couldn’t discount the Brass Blades getting involved, since he himself had been made privy to the knowledge.
Broken Nose did not like this. He did not like this at all.
Broken Nose gave no objection as he unlocked the cell and swung the door open for the Lalafell. He was not about to get in the middle in between a Flame and a Sworn.
Kokojo took two small steps inside and threw the contents of the bucket over the poor malnourished Elezen. With excrement covering both the prisoner and the wall and floor around him, she stepped back outside, slamming the bars closed again. She smiled proudly up at the Sultansworn. "There. Now he's fed, I pissed off, and you can live up to your name, Shite-licker Crofte of the Brass Blades." Almost instantly the levity was dropped for a stern expression. "He's a criminal, not some misguided sod."
The Roegadyn held up a hand subtly toward the door to keep Deneith there, just as Ser Crofte gave him a glance as if to question the apparent title. She was speechless, as he was. Broken Nose merely shrugged.
The Elezen retched and coughed, the sound not unlike a whetstone being ground against a block of granite. Even through his gagging, a weak laugh could be heard occasionally interjected through the spasm of dry heaves. "Yeah…see…she's…that little bitch ain't lying to herself…hah. Just like Pearl Lane…see, she knows she's just an animal. She knows that she ain't any better than just throwing shite around. Take a page from her book, why don't you..." The prisoner looked as if he was about to retch again.
Kokojo smirked over her shoulder at the bandit. "I have a pedigree."
"Yeah, I'm covered in your pedigree," came the spiteful response amidst heavy coughing.
The Sworn shook her head in stunned silence before turning to the corporal. "Twelve forfend we should act civilized. Do this your way then." She put her hand to her mouth as if to fight off a wave of nausea and backed away from the cell.
The Immortal Flame nodded briefly before turning back to the bars and slipping inside the cell. She stood only a fulm away from the man. "I learned this from a Lominsan. Last chance."
"I've been...given a dozen 'last chances' in the past three suns..." the Elezen mustered up what spittle he could as he spat on the ground. "Do…do your worst."
The little corporal shrugged, then drew her blade and, in the blink of an eye, set the point against the man's groin and shoved it in against the bulge.
The agonized cry that came out of the Elezen's weak frame was truly pitiful, and more animalistic of an expression of pain than anyone knew he was capable of. His teeth sunk into his bottom lip hard enough to draw blood, and his chest heaved with heavy, pained pants in lieu of screaming.
"CORPORAL! For Menphina's sa...sake...!" The Sworn made one move toward the cell, then staggered backwards once again from the smell with her hand over her mouth.
"Picking the part you like the most, huh?" he gasped out in between loud, pained groans. He writhed against the manacles, the iron chains jingling in a symphony of protest.
The Lalafell played just barely with the hilt and pommel, raising her left gauntlet to her face as if to inspect her nails. "Now, I can either pull this back out, or I can twist it as I push it further in. Your call."
Broken Nose only watched, his thoughts dark but his form unflinching. It seemed the little Flame had some bite to her after all. He only pushed off the wall when he saw Deneith darting forward, quick to place a hand on the woman’s shoulder to stop her protest. The Roe shook his head at her in stern warning. He could see her shocked expression even behind the mask.
The Elezen did not respond, merely biting his lip as his spindly body twisted and turned, as if trying to crawl away from the pain.
"A name. Make me believe it. Then mayhap I'll stop,†the corporal slowly and painstakingly moved her sword-arm closer to the man, gradually rotating her wrist as she did so.
The writhing and crying out continued until the Elezen finally gasped. "A…a woman…came by…to this cell. She'll know. She…urgh…was there...in the alley." Even with his face twisting in an agonized expression, the prisoner managed the ghost of a grin. "You…you want answers? Maybe try looking at your precious paladins first."
Deneith wrenched her shoulder away from Broken Nose’s hold, stepping toward the cell and swinging the door open. "Corporal. Stop. Stop this now. Please."
The Elezen barked out a laugh that was more akin to a gasp than an expression of amusement. "Nah…let her…let her do her thing! You never cared before…when…when someone did this to us…if they were Blades or Flames or bandits..."
"Corporal, that is enough!" The Sultansworn’s voice echoed off the stones, this time holding firm in its indignation.
"Hmph." A wrenching motion drew the sword out, along with some blood, before the corporal reversed her grip on the hilt and slammed the pommel forward into the Elezen's face. She didn't pause to inspect her work as the prisoner slumped forward; she strolled past Crofte, sheathing her blade as she went. "Fetch a medic," she told Broken Nose. Only then did she turn to Crofte. "I was told the criminal was to be left alive. I was specifically not instructed as to the rest of his treatment."
Crofte merely shook her head at the Flame. "Who else was at the scene? I was not aware of any Sultansworn present in the streets."
Both Kokojo and Broken Nose exchanged a look before both of their eyes went to the second Blade that was with them. Deneith had already entered the cell past Kokojo, kneeling in front of the man as if to see if he was conscious. The Roegadyn shook his head in disapproval. She was too soft for this.
"You're outed. Talk." The Lalafell’s voice was calm and cold, and it cut through the tension like a knife.
It was not until then that the Sworn paid the second Blade any mind, but now Ser Crofte turned her attention to the woman in the cell with the prisoner.
Deneith seemed to pause for a moment, keeping her back to them all as if hesitating. But slowly she rose and pulled the turban and the mask off her head as she turned. "I was there,†she said quietly, the Hyur looking straight at the Sultansworn. "I was the one in the alley."
Broken Nose heard the long exhale that was released through the Sworn’s nose. "Of course it was you."
The corporal glanced between the two women. "The sergeant and I have a prisoner to see to. Perhaps you could take this outside."
Take the chance given, Broken Nose wanted to say out loud. The less he knew about the details of this, better off he was. It would be easier to keep things legitimate, with less things to hide. But the two women seemed not to hear it.
"No need,†Crofte answered curtly. “Based on what he said and the current revelation, I know what I wanted to."
Kokojo gave Crofte a narrowed eyed look. "If this is a foreign matter--and I suspect that's the case, given the manufacture--then you're obligated to share what you know with the Flames. If not through myself, then through Swift."
The Sworn crossed her arms and turned her back to Deneith, looking only to the Immortal Flame. "Indeed. I will speak with my Captain and then to your commander. This issue may be far bigger than we suspected."
The confusion in Deneith’s face was clear as she exited the cell to approach the Sworn. "Can we speak?" she asked quietly.
It was obvious that Ser Crofte was looking anywhere but at the paladin. "No,†she said flatly. "I have a report to file now. If you would excuse me." Clearing her throat, she walked swiftly past them, only calling back to Kokojo when she was nearing the door. “See that he lives, Corporal. We may still have need of him." With that she she exited, the heavy door closing behind her.
"...Twice. I told her twice." The dunesfolk woman sighed.
Broken Nose stared at Deneith, who stood there with a look of confusion before she too took her leave without another word. The Roegadyn shook his head as he began to lumber out of the gaol to fetch a medic.
If Deneith knew who had brought guns to the streets of Ul’dah--and was now on the outs with her one ally in the Sultansworns--this whole thing was headed down a path he did not want to imagine. And now both the Sultansworns and the Immortal Flames had an inkling of it, even if neither Kokojo nor Crofte were ready to act upon it just yet. And he couldn’t discount the Brass Blades getting involved, since he himself had been made privy to the knowledge.
Broken Nose did not like this. He did not like this at all.
