RP:Finn Goes to Ground

Summary: Having been made aware of his status as a wanted man, the smuggler goes to ground, changing his appearance and temporarily relocating to Chartsend where he intends to continue his work as a runner by joining a crew already established there.

Characters: Finn, Kirien

Location: Chartsend, Chartsend Imports and Real Estate

As you enter a packed office you are greeted by a large sign which states, “If the office is closed please contact Alicia e Tenebris*. To your left, merchants from overseas and some nefarious looking characters are discussing their cargoes with two clerks. To your right, strangers to Chartsend are reading descriptions of properties for rent in the town and deciding whether they should contact Alicia for more information. A staircase marked Strictly Private goes up and it is noticeable that several dubious people are carrying crates and packages up, perhaps a source of the town's wealth. Another, wider, staircase leads to the docks.

Finn had made it to Vailkrin by sunrise, though the hide of the Black had been worked into a lather in the effort to make it back to Mahri’s den before the light of day might make his travels through territory known to be her haunt too risky to attempt. The woman had spoken of having something to show him..something she seemed to feel quite strongly about, and he was burning now, to know what it was, and if it was somehow related to her imprisonment. He was destined for disappointment. The den lay empty, the wolf departed and no indicator of where she had gone..or even if she had gone willingly. Might she have been retaken while he was taking care of business on the island? His whisky gaze had swept the confines of the cave carefully, seeking in vain for some sign that would tell the tale of the lycanness’ fate to no avail, and he had sat then, finally, to delve into his satchel to retrieve the unread correspondence that he had grabbed from his desk in the office over the shop before hitting the road again. The first letter had made him frown thoughtfully, another prospect for an artifact sale- hard to do if he was stashed away in a Vailkrin wolf den- and the second had made his body go still. A letter from Jumper, warning that the Larket authorities had made him a wanted man, a bounty placed upon his head. It would not be the first time he’d faced such conditions , and a soft dry huff of laughter escaped the auburn haired thief. The things he endured for women. There would be nothing for it but deep cover until the dust settled. He was by and far -too- findable, it was how he made his living. Red would have to disappear for a while. Decision made, the runner was quick enough to act. A return trip to the shopping districts of the Dark Lands would provide the necessary resources for transformation, and now, as night fell upon the lands, the man standing in doorway of the trading heart of Chartsend would be hardly recognizable as the red headed scoundrel wanted by the law in Larket. Raven locks of hair fell unbound to brush the broad shoulders that were clad now, not in the merchant class browns of a store keep, but the black leather duster that bespoke a man of entirely more nefarious means. The thief was dark on dark; black leather hugging booted, powerful legs that supported a torso clad in a shirt of equally dark material. With skin permanently tanned and roughened by life on the road, the now dark haired, rugged male echoed of the gypsy trouble makers who oft wandered the lands lending themselves as labor for hire-and that was the reason he was here. Running was what he knew, and if he could not smuggle for his own profit, he had no problem working for another until it was safe to surface again. Thus would the lazy stride of the runner carry him across the room toward that particularly nefarious looking group of men, his distinctive gold flecked gaze and what might be a familiar softly drawled “Evenin lads..” the only betrayal of his true identity and his introduction into the world of the black market in Chartsend.

Kirien was not exactly sure why he had come here at first, before he'd caught on to the whispers of nefarious characters seated nearby. A grin had split the wandering Elf's lips; information abounded here, and there was lots of it. Rumours, pirate tales, warnings and the like were murmured between the mouths of one man to another, and Kirien fed from it all, memorising each little tidbit for later use. He'd been here a good while now; an hour or so at least, simply sitting, and listening, and watching. Feeling. The wooden floor beneath spiked boots was not earthen but it still carried vibrations through it, allowing the rogue to be quite aware of his surroundings even with his eyes closed. Currently, he appeared to be sleeping, and had been doing so for the past half hour - it was suspicious to stand around for long periods of time without ever speaking to someone, after all. Leant back in a rickety chair off to one side, not far from a large group of merchants and shady men, the Elf's head rested back against the wall, his hands stuffed in his pockets and his legs crossed and stretched out before him. His appearance was an innocuous one, lending him a disguise the men present here lacked; it was obvious what they were, but Kirien? One could look at the little Elf, a youth, it seemed, and judge from both his clothing and his fine, pretty features and assume him to be a simple civilian who'd been waiting for another for so long he'd fallen asleep. The lack of visible armour and weapons only served to make him appear ever more harmless - and likely, a target for pickpockets and manipulative men should there be any around. For now he stayed where he was, relaxed in his chair with eyes closed and ears open, picking up his information and keeping quiet. For now.

Finn had, for the moment, little enough interest in the affairs of those who might have nothing to offer him on his current quest, and so the elf was afforded an idle look in passing as the dark male crossed his path in the room. Almost immediately was attention refixed on his prize. Whisky gaze swept over the gathering. Boss of his own world, he knew well enough who the ringleader would -not- be. Eyes skimmed past the big talker who had gathered a small crowd around him laughing, and past any number of rough and tumble sorts whose attire suggested that they were uncomfortably wearing the costume of smuggler baron in attempt at playing the part. Eyes darted from man to man until they came to settle on a thoughtfully assessing cerulean stare that was itself watching him. Finn almost grinned. The face to those gleaming eyes was almost lost in the cloud of smoke that suddenly escaped from the lips wrapped around the stem of the pipe. “Evening yourself stranger..” came the smoke rasped tones, idle with apparent disinterest. The man lowered the pipe to tap ash from the bowl onto the wooden floor, the activity consuming his attention until he lifted eyes that rested under a dirty blonde shag to meet those of the runner again. “New in town..aren’t you?” The pipe clicked gently against his teeth as it was re inserted. Finn did not break eye contact with the male once it was offered again. “Reckon you could say that..” he drawled softly, his own fingers reaching into the interior pocket of his duster to draw out his own rolled cigarette to lift in silent request for a light from the man. A bad habit, and one he had dropped..useful to reacquire now as another distinguishing trait of his new self, from that of the well known Red. “Lookin’ for work..Know where there’s any to be had?..” Twas the game, after all, to play ignorant.

Kirien 's feet picked up the rough vibrations of a passing man, and one amber eye cracked open to peer at the other for a moment or two. Their gazes might just have connected for the briefest of seconds before, with a small grin, he went back to feigning sleep. There was little reason for him to break his disguise other than to memorise the face; everything else had been noted down via the simple sound of him walking by. He was heavy set, a large, tall man wearing thick boots. The slightest scent of tobacco wafted from him - he carried some on him, but due to the lack of cigarette smoke smell, he had either not smoked himself for a while, or was trying to quit. /Had/ been trying to quit, rather, as Kirien observed him holding out a cigarette for his new conversational partner to light. Closing his eyes once more, the rogue listened in to the exchanged words, a little smirk playing across his features. He was quite content to sit there and listen, ready to 'wake up' and join in any conversation that interested him enough. A bit more work sounded fun…maybe if that man had anything suitable to offer he'd snap himself a job too.

Finn would remain either unaware, or uninterested in the activity of the male behind him, attention entirely fixed on the one before. It was a curt nod of welcome from the blonde toward the raven haired interloper that would find the runner idly strolling forward to lower his head, cigarette hanging from his lips to suck with almost forgotten expertise upon the smoldering embers supported in the bowl of the offered pipe until the end of his own twist of tobacco glowed to life. The thief would take a deep and oddly satisfying drag on the thing, his eyes remaining on the Baron with what would surely be curious and assessing stare, satisfied to let the silence stretch between them until the man felt comfortable enough to respond. It would be more than obvious that Finn was no inexperienced hired hand to anyone with a brain in his head-and this one was no fool. The runner knew that the male was processing the implications of his presence in the town. Was he here to challenge the Baron for his crew? To hide from the law? A genuine relocation? Finn would offer him no help in the blank and placid features that idly awaited the reaction to his question. Finally, the blonde baron spoke. “Suppose that would depend on if you were lookin’ for work permanent like..” he began casually, popping the pipe back into his mouth again. “Or if you’re just passin’ through..” the grin the man offered was a wolfish baring of teeth. “There’s those as could use a helping hand or two around the place I’m figurin... But this here is a small town, an there’s hardly enough work to be had for the locals to be catering to stangers if you ken,” he muttered, with cerulean gaze pinning the runner. Finn restrained the twitch that attempted at a tug on his lips, dropping the half smoked cigarette to grind under a dark boot. Even for his cover he could fall only so far off the wagon. “Reckon I’m passin through mate..just lookin’ to make enough gold to pay for room an board..an maybe a lass or two to keep me warm at night,” he replied huskily. “An’ I’m well worth the investment..if you’ll pardon the directness.” He’d not go so far as to add the proverbial It’s not my first road show..but some things needn’t be spelled out. The Baron leaned back in his seat. “Figured as much..” he grunted. “Suppose I could use an extra hand or two getting some goods across the wastelands to Venturil proper. No easy task mind you..there’s some critters out in those parts that’ll tear a man’s head off his shoulders. But it pays well enough.”

Kirien happened to be wondering the same thing as the blond baron, although how much that mattered to anyone else within this establishment was questionable. As of yet none had paid the Elf much attention, save a couple of men who'd been here just as long as he himself had been seated in this chair, and were beginning to eye him with obvious suspicion by now. Whispers were exchanged between the group and the rogue picked up on them with those sensitive ears; "You think someone sent 'im to watch us? To steal our goods?" "Maybe he's a lackey of that Roldan fellow; I've heard he's pretty paranoid and with all these murders goin' on he could've paid someone to come and pick up some information." At the mention of the Larket Sheriff, Kirien grinned a little despite himself. He'd had enough run-ins with the man himself, so their notions weren't all that surprising. "Ha! Suspectin' every man that dabbles in a bit of the shady stuff, huh? Sounds like him, all right." said another, as the Elf tilted his head in the direction of the Baron and yawned, as if pretending to be awakening from his slumber at last. Stretching in his chair, the old wood creaking forlornly, he stood and made his way idly to the two men, pointedly ignoring those who had been murmuring amongst themselves. Each footstep was near silent save the gentle clink of metal against boot sole, the sharp sound suggesting that there was a little more to this harmless 'civilian' than first glance revealed. "Transporting stuff, are you? What sorta things? I've got a, er, friend of mine that might be able to help you carry some of that," he said, the words directed to the Baron as an elbow rested upon the shoulder of Finn; rude? Yes. Did Kirien care? Not particularly. "Hi there," he offered to his leaning post with a tilt of the head and a sweet, innocent smile, tone decidedly syrupy.

The Baron turned a blonde head toward the elf who approached, an eyebrow creeping up his tanned brow as cerulean gaze registered the stance adopted against the dark haired stranger. It was almost humorous, save for the fact that he was yet -another- stranger who happened to be poking his nose into affairs that were not particularly his own. The pipe clicked against his teeth as it was slid from one side of his mouth to another. “The sorta things a man won’t talk about to those he don’t ken, elf. An’ if your ‘friend’ is lookin’ for work, he can do what my mate here did an’ come ask himself..” he growled. The ‘mate’ in question was by this time more than unpleasantly aware of the weight of the elf on his shoulder, the arm of his opposing hand lifting with fluid motion to guide the blade of his serrated dagger to rest lightly upon the exposed ribs of the Tree Born- though not so strong as to imply at a desire to fight. Finn was just interested in securing employment, finding a bed for a few days and slipping below the radar-public brawls would accomplish none of the three. “Reckon you’ll be needin’ to find yourself a tree to lean on elf. Not part of the job description..” he drawled idly, waiting for the burden to be removed voluntarily before making any move to withdraw his weapon.

Kirien couldn't withhold a laugh at the blond's words, a raucous giggle bursting forth from grinning lips even as he raised a hand to cover his mouth and stifle the sound; the limb in question was obviously metal and glinted softly in the flickering lights of the establishment. This rogue was a lot more than he appeared, apparently. "So much suspicion! And here I am offering my services to you just like this guy is. I don't think my friend would even fit through the door of this place though, sir. He's a pterosaur, see, and he doesn't speak our tongue." Apparently it was the idea of his 'friend' trying to make business deals with the Baron that the Elf found so amusing, and he's still grinning even as he continues. "What I meant was I'd be able to help you move some of that 'stuff' you're transporting with him. He can carry big loads, after all, and it'd save you the trouble of haulin' it across a wasteland!" A glance was cast then to the other male, the first acknowledgement of the weapon pressed against his thick coat a simple smile, as sweet as before. That beautiful little façade of innocence would be pretty much destroyed if Finn took note of the razor-sharp tip of a shadowy blade brushing against his neck, the rogue having slid it out of its hidden position in the vambrace on his inner arm without anyone having even noticed. "Ah, you're a friendly one, ain'tcha? All knives and curt words. Don't let your dagger slip now, though, or mine might just end up doing the same." And the wicked grin present on Kirien's lips made it quite obvious he wasn't joking. Making no move to find another leaning post, his gaze, all amber and sharpness and curiosity, turns back to the Baron. "Besides, I know this place pretty good. And if worst comes to worst, I'm a fast runner! So you could always use me as bait for those nasty monsters while your cargo goes by safely, if the idea of carrying it by pterosaur isn't your thing. As long as there's some money in it somewhere I'd be happy to do some work~."

The baron grunted softly, the first shimmer of curiosity present in cerulean gaze. He was not particularly familiar with the given names for all of the beasties out there, but he figured that one that was big, and further, one that could fly could only be more help than hurt. He sucked on the pipe, eyes narrowing slightly on the elf, and more pointedly on the metallic limb. A brawler then, unless his damned critter bit the thing off. Another plus, though the annoying inflection of voice was about more than he’d be able to bear about him for any length of time. He grunted again. “Right.. Suppose we might have some use for a critter like that..or for the services you’d be providin’ rather..” he bit out. “Should be movin’ a load soon enough. You keep an eye out on the message boards at the Eel, an we’ll be in touch..” His eyes slid to the form of the runner who had gone suddenly still upon the words of the elf. “Same goes for you.. Who should I be addressing if I need to get in touch?” he asked almost too casually. Finn was as aware of the question as he was of the blade at his neck. In perhaps quite the opposite of reaction expected, the runner’s frame seemed to relax beneath the promise of assault, as soft laugh rumbling in the depth of his chest. A single word left his lips, directed first to the baron. “Gabe..” it had been the name of his younger brother- the one never seen again once he had been sold to the keeping of the Boss, and an oft used alia, if never in the same place twice. This was followed by a cold drawl directed Kirien’s way over his shoulder. “If I’d intended you harm mate..you’d already be breathin’ blood-reckon you need to be a little less friendly aye? When it leaves you wide open.” The dagger would be removed however, and a casual shrug of his shoulders accompanied by a step forward should be enough to disabuse his body of the encumbrance of the tree born, even if the action came perilously close to endangering his own flesh. Only when he was clear of Kirien’s interference would the runner turn to allow hazel gaze to take in and record the elf’s appearance for his own personal mental files. “An’ if you gentlemen will be pardonin’ me, reckon I’d best be about findin’ somewhere to spend the night..” he added huskily. Turning to eye the baron again, Finn allowed the grin that had threatened all evening to finally surface, a wicked, knowing appreciation for the other’s ways and world. “I’ll be seein’ you around mate. You can count on it..” he promised. Tossing another speculative look Kirien’s way, the dark head would deign to nod, once, before the male turned on booted heel and exited the way he had come.

Kirien caught the slight inquisitiveness in the Baron's eyes, tilting his head while he leaned over a little. "It's a flying dinosaur," he pointed out helpfully, though the words would likely be taken as rude by the man. The way it was spoken caused the Elf to appear somewhat smug, and that grin wasn't exactly helping anyone think the opposite. In all honesty, however, he wasn't intending to seem superior at all. "Ch'yeah, of course you do. Can't pass up a chance to move stuff easily now, can you?" He stuck his tongue out, grin widening oh-so-slightly as he spoke. "Mm. If you need to contact me, it's the Wraith you'll be looking for~. Though I should really get a different name, ah…that one doesn't fit the current me all that well. It does and it doesn't." Descending briefly into soft mutterings meant only for himself but spoken loudly enough to be overheard by others, the rogue became distracted from the other two present for a short while, before he paused when his leaning post gave his name. Cue Kirien memorising the word and tucking it away with the description, scent and feel of the man already locked in his mind. "Hee. You're funny," he said to 'Gabe', smiling up at him and retracting his blade at the moment the other made the same movement. "If I ended up breathing blood, you would be too. And there's nothing wrong with being friendly! In my line of work it's better than glowering and glaring from afar; the best information is the stuff you gather by getting people to trust you, after all~. Well, that's just one of my lines of work." Raising his left hand -- this one flesh and bone and blood, just as it should be -- to place a single digit against his chin, the Elf paused in a posture of mock pensiveness as Gabe made his way toward the exit. "Bye-bye, Gabe~!" he called loudly after him in a childish tone, and if the man turned around he'd find Kirien waving at him before looking to the Baron. "I think I'ma do the same as him, though I don't think I'll be sharing any beds with 'm. Bit cranky, ain't he? G'night!" With that, and thinking little of his words, the Elf made his exit shortly after Finn.