RP:Dissention
Part of the Tales from the Row Arc
Synopsis: An argument between Vaduuk and Fredlark gets interrupted, and Leoxander further stakes his claim on Cenril's underbelly.
Characters: Leoxander, Vaduuk, npc gang
Location: Cenril; Cenril Town Square
Leoxander caught that scent; they weren't a difficult bunch to track down. So he expected what he saw when he'd calmly walk his way up the abandon streets with hands in his pockets. Trailing after, his ferocious companion, which was an old, shaggy black mutt that went right ahead crossing the road to see what was going on and who might be too busy to see him grab an abandon lunch or vendor meat. The rogue's eyes were fixed on the square, and slowly, he'd reach down to draw the black fabric of his high collared jacket around his lower face, like a scarf.
Vaduuk is leaning against the Whaler's, arms crossed over his chest as he eyes a man across from him. In fact, many eyes are on the other man, or on Duke, or switching between the two. Men on rooftops, men sitting on crates, men standing here or there. All are hanging on the other man's words, words being yelled at Duke, something to do with the half-orc's recent trip to Rynvale. 'Half-blooded bastard', he's called, 'son of a whore', other typical insults people would hurl at orc-spawn. But Duke's just leaning there. "I ain't Kingsley," he says when the yelling man finally stops for a breather. "I ain't gonna run over there an' fall fer a woman an' get myself killed fer whatever reason. But I also ain't gonna jus' sit around in Cenril all day, no matter that the Crow's still out there, Fredlark. I ain't the sort, an' you know it. I got my own stuff to do, an' my own clients to find. You know full well I ain't gonna sell my sword against yerself or the city." True enough, as the previous night proved. Maybe that's what Fredlark's pissed about, that he even had himself in that situation. Something to do with knowing better about going around the Rynnie lot. So far, Duke isn't yet aware of Leoxander, but that's not to say some in the crowd aren't. A few eyes are on the lycan, frowns on their faces. He's a stranger to most of 'em, likely. One man signals Duke, two run up to Fredlark. Both are being informed, it seems, but it isn't Duke who shifts his eyes the pirate's way. "We'll talk later, Fred." They may not see eye-to-eye, but this is one time they agree, at least. Not a single man situated around the pair after the two that ran to Fredlark move. All their eyes are waiting and watching for...whatever may happen.
Leoxander saw every man that Duke had in troubling times that was to be seen, and perhaps he scented the rest. Hands moved out of his pockets slowly, carefully, and he raised them to show orc and man alike that he was supposedly unarmed, closing those steps across the street while the man spoke. "Take it easy, boys." Just a kind and friendly remarkmade while he slowed and moved around the Duke, allowing space he'd need to feel less than threatened. "You all look a little stressed.." A touch of concern hit his mismatched eyes under his mane as he stepped right into the middle of the conversation to interrupt. "Is it the wolf thing? Listen, there's a lotta rumors about me, but I guarantee you the smell comes from the dog." Jack offered Leo a grin, then went back to sniffing at the Duke's leg, standing in the doorway. He gave a peek toward the direction Vaduuk had been speaking and knit his brow. "Ain't gonna introduce me?"
The tension in the air is thick enough to cut with a butterknife. And a dull one, at that. Breaths are held, murmured conversations hushed. Now all eyes are on Duke, even Fredlark's. There's a warning in Fred's glare, one that Duke just simply returns with a dull stare. "Ain't no need. He was just leaving. Ain't that right, mate?" Oh, how Fred fumes. To be shooed away like that in front of all these men, and by a half-orc! It's a clear undermining of the lanky man's authority with the gang. "We'll talk later," Duke promises again, "with fewer eyes around. Ain't gonna discuss business with ye with the Rynnie here." That, at least, Fredlark can live with. A tactful move for Duke, giving Fred that political display, acting as though they're equals, even if he's not giving Fred the power seat. The dog, though, is given an eye. Duke might have leaned down and patted the dog's head, had it not been Leo's. So while Fredlark and those loyal to him head their way, those loyal to Duke take closer spots, dropping from roofs or moving to closer ones. Most, though, just remain standing on the street or sitting on their crates. Strangely, Mack and Dom, the two loudmouths of Duke's crew, seem to be absent. "Wolf, eh?" The half-orc grins, despite himself. "That explains a few things."
Leoxander called after, "See you later, Fred." Just to be polite, and make a promise. He was left with several of Duke's bodyguards to potentially handle but this didn't seem to be any cause for worry. Cutting the man off right at the end of his very rude statement. "Now there you go, Duke. Assumin' snuff about me again. You an' I are gonna have to work on that." His eyes moved across the tense collection of gang members that would probably watch him all the more closely as he walked by their boss. "I have a problem. You seem to be doing a lot of business in my streets. I thought we went over this, already..." His tone lowered just a hint, there, as he turned his back to a few thugs to look back to 'The Duke'. "And that was quite a display of disrespect there, in front of you friend. I'm not quite sure what to do... but I'm startin' to think you don't like me much, mate." A lean on a front post pillar that held a would be balcony above the bar, arms crossing over the middle of his upper torso, around his ribs.
Vaduuk pushes off the tavern wall, moving with slow steps out into the street, his hands resting on his belt...right by his daggers. "Ain't yer streets, mate. This here? This is neutral ground in this city." Another flash of a grin. "No one likes ta die while they're drinkin', ya know." A shrug, and a look passes to each of the men still assembled. The half orc is the most armed, sure, what with all those knives, those daggers, and that sword of his, but every man there has something. Visible weapons? Some. Others like to hide things. It's an asset in a city rife with gang wars. "An' I already told ye. S'long as ye don't step on toes this side of the pond, I ain't yer enemy. If ye had work outside of this city, I might even work fer ye, fer a fee." A shrug, and then he's standing by one of the men sitting on a crate, a man leaning forward with an arm resting on a knee and his other hand wrapped around his torso, into a coat he's wearing. It's winter, after all. People wear coats, right? Surely he's not hiding something in there. "So by all means, have a drink, have a whore. But don't ye think once that ye ain't bein' watched. My eyes and ears go anywhere I tell 'em to."
Leoxander followed right after Duke, without making and draw for weapons. He wasn't going to retreat that easy. "You're still becoming a pain in my ass, and if you're really looking to stay alive, I'm going to suggest you stay the hell out of my way. I've had it with your inbred class of idiots walking the alleys like you run order and chaos. Chaos answers to me, and I'll have your tusks in the market for jewelry if you don't learn that real g'damn fast, kid." Now he would finally slow down to let Vaduuk keep walking, that last warning issued. "Better find another place to play. Your ears and eyes won't be stickin' to their bodies if they come anywhere near me."
It's a simple scuff that sounds one man moving off on a rooftop, running off to the gods alone know where. Duke's eyes flick up towards that roof for a moment at his departure. He has an idea of what's up with that, but he doesn't comment on it. "Ain't never said they'll be near ye. Ain't never said ye'd be followed. Jumpy guy, ain'tcha?" That has a few of the men snickering. "Ye can have chaos answer t'ye all ye want." A pointed stare. "Back in Rynvale. It ain't just me walkin' these streets, ain't just me who has a claim here. Ye're walkin' a fine line between bein' a visitor an' bein' a corpse. We ain't all just thugs what picked up a weapon an' started swingin' 'em around." Calm lot, too, the way the men just sit, watch, and listen. But that's when the noise starts. From down the street come the lewd jokes, the drunken slurs. A body collides with one man standing in the street, earning him a glare even as he slurs, "Shorreh." Mack. Duke doesn't groan, not this time, though he does shoot a disapproving look the drunk's way. "Oi Duke!" his usual companion shouts. Dom, too. Ruttin' hell. And they're too drunk to even recognize Leo, roaming right up to him and throwing drunken arms around his neck, one on either side of him. "Oi, who'sh yer frien', Duke? He gon' drink with ush?" They laugh like morons, that pair, jovial as can be, ignorant of what has been transpiring. "Ish he gon' treat ush?" Another round of laughter. Fools.
Leoxander turned, as Jack joined his walk, back down the street where he'd come from. Leoxander said to Vaduuk, "You better shut the hell up, Duke. Gonna get yourself in trouble the more you talk."