RP:Birds in the Belfry

Part of the The Dust Up In Cenril Arc

Part of the Larketian Fault Lines Arc

This is a Rogue's Guild RP.

Summary: Leoxander and Eleanor meet with Blut to assign him a new task.

Belfry Tower, Cenril

Leoxander had just enough reputation and sinister appearance that the priests would not be the ones to argue when he motioned for them to steer clear of the belfry. Sure, the church was a place intended to repel sin and crime, but those who worshipped there were by no means capable or willing to contest the pirate for the borrowed space. So it was that the clergy vacated the altar and tower to pray for Leo's soul in another part of the cathedral, leaving the rogue to watch the view while he waited for Eleanor to arrive. He had mentioned the meeting in a note left in the loft, taking one or two cigarettes from her supply with him, which he carelessly smoked now as he perched haphazardly on the railing facing outward, a map of roofing and Cenril buildings spread out from that vantage point, a decent lookout to see who was walking along at least a few of those streets. In complete coincidence, but perhaps a meaningful sign of approval for the spot, it so happened that a crow would land on the cathedral structure not too far away from where Leoxander sat, and he studied the bird quietly as those ideas started to form in his mind about how he would organize a growing crew of criminals.

Eleanor might stand out when illuminated, but the woman knew how to blend in when necessary. Swaddled in that midnight-blue hooded cloak with sleeves and a black belt, her black leather knee-highs poked out from under its hem with each languid, sure-footed step. The hood was pulled low over that wave of blonde that swept across her brow, hiding the iron circlet that housed the as-of-yet dull turquoise gem. It didn’t take long for her make her way to the church, but there was a moment’s hesitation upon its stoop. El’s relationship with the gods was not one she cared to speak of, and so it was only a brief beat before she pushed her way into the place of worship. The clergy seemed to have scattered in Leo’s wake, leaving no one in her path as she too ascended the bell tower. “Hey,” the woman drawled, her guard lowering subtly when there were no others present -- save the nearby bird who earned itself a curious glass-green stare. Stepping over toward where the lupine pirate sat, she plucked the herbal cigarette from Leo and leaned her shoulder against him as she took a drag. She side-eyed the map as she let that herbal smoke fill her lungs, icy green eyes returning to him on her exhale as she passed the stick back. “Nae a bad view, eh?” came her husky tones, full lips twisting into a vague smirk. “Everythin' looks guid frae th' top.”

(That communication device Blut had given Leo once again pulses with light, the rogue's low voice coming through with the message.)

"Time to go to church, kid. The bell tolls."

Leoxander was willing to forfeit the cigarette to her steal, just as he was willing to support her lean against him. His balance was adequate enough that he didn't risk toppling from the rail, even with the buzz of herb swimming in his vision. A sidelong look given toward the cloaked woman, and then he looked back out across the city with a nod. "If only they knew what goes on underneath..." Said with a bit of amusement to his tone, though no smile was evident on his expression. Finally, he planted his hands on the wood and turned his position around to face the bell before he moved to his booted feet. "Kid should be here any minute. I figure he's the type that likes to stay busy." A caw from the black bird near the belfry, and then the crow leaned into a dive with open wings to fly away.

Blut entered the church in a black trench coat and a black fedora hat. He looked like a detective with a new face that he stole but Leo should recognise him from their latest encounter in Larket. He took off his hat in a sign of respect for the church his face expressed no emotion. He looked around to find the lycan within the church. He continued to walk in as he continued his path to Leo. "Pleasent day for church, care to make a prayer for someone." Blut asked his his monotone voice he scaned the woman from the corner of his eyes.

Eleanor shifted her weight away once Leo turned to stand, letting her back press against the railing beside him. Keeping a sidelong stare fixed on the wolf, she snickered. "Ah woods personally prefer 'at they didne," she muttered wryly. Her expression shifted subtly, however, when that 'kid' was showed up, full lips twisting into an ambiguous frown. "Ah jist hiner 'at Ah am wrang abit heem," the woman grumbled under her breath to Leoxander as she folded her arms over her chest. Leaning into a hip, it seemed to poke out sharper than it should, hinting at her steel, runed weapons hidden under the cloak. She eyed Blut briefly, then arced a brow expectantly toward Leo, smirking then with amusement as she kept any additional thoughts to herself.

Leo lifted his jaw to acknowledge Blut as he climbed the stairs into view. Cenril surrounded them, spread out below the belfry tower, just enough wind pouring through the openings to tousle the rogue's blond hair a bit. "Someone's gonna need a prayer by the end of the day, kid." He wasn't really sure how old he was, and when not wearing someone else's face, it was clear he was no child. But the nickname suited, for now. It was a little unsettling to see Blut in that disguise again, but it also gave Leo a bit more insight on what kind of work to trust the assassin with. Eleanor's comment earned her a look that spoke a silent agreement, but he turned his attention back to the new recruit. "Might have a chore or two for you, but I wanna figger you out s'more. What's with the get-up?" The outfit and the borrowed appearance, he meant.

Blut crossed his arms as he looked at Leoxander and breifly chuckled "not many people ask about me actually out of everyone I've worked with you have to be the 58th person to ask that. This get up is my current identity I'm currently on vacation to greif over the loss of my family due to some thug breaking into my home. This face gives me access to alot of larkets secrets so I think I might hang onto it for a while. Anything else you would like to know." Blut asked in almost a amused manner as he kept his voice steady and completly ignoring the woman almost as if she wasn't there. "Also I'm a bit old to be called a kid I fancy I may even be a little older than you but then again I know how old lycans can grow to so thats just a might." Blut explained a faint smile appeared on his face.

Eleanor just stood there, taking the cigarette from Leo again and hoarding it for a few drags as she stared evenly at Blut. Her smirk remained in place, celadon-green eyes subtly narrowed.

Leoxander took a moment to rub a hand over his head as though he had a headache. "Yeah, okay." In a 'whatever' dull tone. Blut definitely made the pirate exercise what patience he had. The fact that he did not even acknowledge Eleanor didn't get passed Leo, but on that same note the spell rogue hadn't given him the warmest welcome, either. "Yeah, I guess you gotta point. But Larket ain't exactly good for keepin' many secrets, lately. An' it ain't yer bloody age that I'm concerned about, or what I call you. What I wanna know..." He paused for a moment, fixing his stare on Blut again. "Why are -you- so interested in what's goin' on in that city, anyhow? You know somethin' that I don't? Workin' for somebody else? I'm still tryin' to figure out if you're gonna be worth my time, or if you can answer a g'damn question without that dung eatin' look on yer face." With this said, he took a flask from the back waistline of belted leather and opened it for a drink.

Blut chuckled once again "you would be surprised at the ongoings of that city. Lets just say a earlier job caught my intrest a while back so I like to keep tabs on that city every now and again. It keeps me entertained when I'm not on a job." Blut explained with his regular calm and maintaing the elequetly put dung eatin face. "Also lets be honest if you didn't think I had some potential you wouldn't have called me much less along with a companion. Guessing by the fact that you aren't being upset by the thieft of you cig you two are more than accantances how close however I'm not going to ask. Now its my turn to ask a question why did you call me here or did you just miss me." Blut asked as he yawned and streached his arms it was a long night and he didn't get too much sleep but his work was not something that could be put off for something as trivial as sleep.

Eleanor had continued to study Blut, that gaze growing icier, her smirk more wolfish. "Ah hink aiblins those bitts ur tae big fur yer feit, bairn." The woman pushed off the wall, standing at only 5'6" or so with those leather boots, and lowered her arms to her hips as she canted her head, giving Blut a sweeping head-to-toe. "An'," the spell-rogue continued, tossing the hood from her head and letting it pool around her shoulders. El circled around the belfry, rounding Blut as she gave him that shrewd examination from the different angles her roundabout path gave. "Ah hink ye gab an awfy lot fur someain fa likes tae hide behin' someain else's coopon." She made her way back toward Leo, giving her head a shake before sending a sidelong stare in Blut's direction once more. "We wark together," she clarified for Blut, a smugness to her tone as she leveled that disaffected stare of celadons on the illusion-assassin. "An' if we loch -yer- wark, thaur micht be mair ay it fur ye."

Leoxander looked ready to reply, when Eleanor's accent cut in first. Leo's arms folded over his chest once he replaced his flask against his back and he squared his stance to observe the way she circled Blut like a fox would a rabbit trapped in a pit. Jaw tight, it wasn't until she was back at his side that he added to her statements, whether the assassin understood them or not. "I am gettin' a little sick of the attitude. I've been pretty damn patient with a man that once had me tied up by his sad troop o'scouts, an' you have Hudson to thank for that. But offerin' you this opportunity, an' havin' to deal with every smart-ass word you bother to spit..." He actually turned his head to spit on the ground, as though to emphasize the bad taste he had in his mouth. "I called you here to give you another chance to be a part of somethin' worth it, but maybe he's jus' bloody wrong about you. Maybe yer jus' better off figgerin' out things on yer own."

Blut sighed as his eyes straightened as his stoic face returned. "Very well then what is it you would like to talk to me about. I don't belive you've said anything about your intentions of our meeting. If you want someone to discuss something then perhaps clue me in on what to talk about. I'll change my attitude to be something more savory in your eyes then. And I've never asked for your paitence I've asked for the job." His head turned to Eleanor even as she circled him "and what would it take to get in your good books then. A sack of gold, a few jobs. You've asked me alot of questions but you've never told me what you want me to do. You owe me that much if you want a fruitful partnership." In truth the pair annoyed him acting hostile towards him and enquireing so much towards him and acting as if he was the rude one. But none of that was expressed his his speach his face stayed devoid of emotion and his tone straight a big change from he was before.

Leo had been anything but hostile. Hostile would have resulted in a sucker punch on the belfry tower a good while ago. Leo was just running out of patience, even if Blut had never asked him for it. And once the man's expression sobered up from that smug smirk he had been wearing, Leo's jaw seemed to relax a little. "Fine. We'll get down to brass. We got some suspicions that one of our accomplices is havin' some... problems with unwanted company. Hudson's chum 'Valrae' might be dealin' with somebody followin' her around. You seem to be good at gettin' around without bein' noticed, so we want to know who's trailin' her without them knowin' you're trailin' them, savy? You do this right, you bring an answer back, an' you'll be the one makin' profit. An'... we'll stop askin' so many questions an' we'll make sure you don' run outta work. But on -our- terms. We have an accord?" Arms unfolded from his chest, but he wasn't doing so with any intentions of shaking hands on a deal.

Blut sighed takeing a notebook out of his pocket "that depends whats the price. How much you willing to give me once the job is done and do you want the culprit dead or alive." Blut asked takeing note of this new job he already knew who Valrae is and what she looked like but he had many jobs and it could be quite hard to remember them all. "I'll do everything on your terms these are jobs your makeing." Blut explained.

Eleanor couldn't help but snicker at Blut's questions. "Ah doobt yoo'll ever make it intae mah guid book, bairn," the spell-rogue countered. "But if ye bide it ay mah bad a body, yoo'll dae jist braw." Where Leo uncrossed his arms, hers crossed her own chest once more as she leaned heavily into a hip near Leo's side. She cast the wolf a side glance before settling her guarded celadon stare on Blut once more. "Ye follaw th'lassie, fin' out who's followin' 'er, it'll open a lot ay doors fur ye aroond these parts." But that did not make him a partner; at best, one taken into their fold, but to be in their inner circle would take more than just a few jobs.

Eleanor said to Blut, "An' try nae tae kill anyain ur gie caught."

Leoxander nodded to agree to Eleanor's words. "I ain't sure the profit'll have much too do with gold, yet. You'll get yer place in the ranks, somethin' for the road to help you with yer work. I'll prolly be feelin' generous enough to throw you a bone or purse if you follow through quick like. But this ain't exactly hard work. We don't want you interactin' with whoever you find. We jus' want some confirmation, a description, maybe a name if you can manage without them knowin' you're around. Then when we need the job finished we'll know who to send for some good pay. That sound decent to you?" That stone was taken from pocket to remind Blut he knew how to get ahold of Leo, but just in case. "If you can't reach my ears, you know where to find Hudson or the lady, here."

Blut sighed as he closed his book and placeing it within his pocket. "Very well then I supposed it will have to do." Blut explained as he started to leave before turning to the pair "I suppose this is the start of a very fruitful partnership for the both of us. But just a reminder I'm working with you do not assume I'm working for you take that as you will." Blut explained as he left for the exit it wasn't a threat but it wasn't exactly nice its up to the pair of what to make of it. Eleanor snickered again, sending Leo a knowing glance before fixing that icy stare on Blut. "Loch Ah said, Leo. Bitts tay big." But she left it at that, lifting a hand to position the cigarette between smirking lips, snapping her fingers to summon a small blue spark to light its end.

Leoxander was going to let Blut think what he would. He wasn't the type to claim any title beside Captain of his ship, anyhow. "Well, better get to pickin' that fruit then, kid." The nickname was a bit more intentional, this time around. And right after Eleanor had that cigarette lit and took a toke of it, he was the one stealing it from her lips, pinched between thumb and forefinger for a slow drag of his own. Eyes on Blut, his stare would serve as a 'dismissed and farewell'.