RP:Jelko Extends an Offer to the Rat

Vailkrin Road

Splag scurries down the street, sticking to the corners, as shadowed as possible.

Satoshi, or rather Jelko, idly sifts through the abandoned wares of the now empty slave market. Her tail, splotched with black dye like her hair to accompany the disguise of black leathers, twitches in lazy vexation as her searching bears no fruit. It isn't gold or valuables she seeks, however, but the stealthy beings known as Fermin who frequent the area. The feline is in desperate need of one possessing stellar sneaking skills, which ultimately means she's having a hell of a time finding one like that. The mage-turned-assassin growls to herself, and the little red dog at her feet. "Never to be found when wanted." It's when the words, muffled by the imp mask, are spoken that the dog suddenly barks and leaps to his feet. Tail wagging, Sawyer points his sharp nose at the skittering Splag earnestly. Somewhere behind that mask are eyes lighting up with recognition, but such an expression is hidden away carefully as she calls in a clipped voice, "You. Fermin. Are you seeking a job, by chance?"

Splag freezes in place when the dog starts barking in his direction, but it's too late. He's been spotted. By whom, he can't tell. He casts his gaze around for a few moments, making sure he has an escape route. Turning back to face the masked person, he stares at her with his beady red eyes. "It depends. What iss da job? I can always uses more moneys."

Satoshi grins at the question almost in a fashion like the imp's face of her mask, wide and wicked in nature. But, fanged expression hidden, she can give a casual air to her movements as she leans against an old cage, arms folding over her chest. "I require information. Your kind are very well suited for such a task, cunning and stealthy as you naturally are." In an almost absent fashion the feline waves a gauntleted hand in the direction of Kelay, Sawyer's muzzle following the motion. "The tavern in that little town... do you read its boards? I came across a recent post, one that has caught my interest. Concerning the Time Lord, and a victory he has had over someone. Seen it?"

Splag listens closes to the question, then shakes his head. "Noes, sorry. I doesn't read the board too much. Which victory is you talking about? The Emporer has had many of them. What is you wanting me to do?"

Satoshi gives a slight shrug. "The Lord has many victories it seems. But, this one is of particular interest to me. The one he defeated governs... used to govern, this city. My career is tied to this city, I am curious what this defeat could mean in the way of advantages and disadvantages to myself and my own. So," and here she pauses a moment to give the fermin a once over and a satisfied nod, "I require someone who can get simple information on the happening. What took place, stakes set by each side, such details as that. A fairly harmless job. The one who could bring me that..." And once more there's a pause, this one deliberate and meant to add suspense before continuing, "would earn himself a fine amount of gold pieces, brass items, and a certain security from the blade of assassins. Maybe even the claws of cats."

Splag tilts his head to one side, considering her words. Something about her was making his tail itch, which was always a sign of something going on. After a quick glance around to make sure there is no danger creeping up on him and that his prospective employer and the dog were no closer than before, he setts up on his haunches. He reaches up with one paw and scratches at the matted fur under his chin, thinking it over. Finall;y he says "I doesn'tt see any immediate problem wit it. How much gold and brass is you talking? And how is you promising no assassins?"

Satoshi retains her casual lounging, tail lazily waving between herself and the sitting Sawyer. "I can promise at least 5,000 gold, and a sack of brass. More, if you work fast and well. As for assassins," the tone of her voice makes it quite obvious the feline is smirking, "if there was such a place that hired killers could gather as a group... let's just say I'd be the one in charge of such a place." Not an admittal to the guild's existence, as per sworn oath, but it should be easy enough to understand nonetheless. "Thos who aid me are those who can avoid paid-for death."

Splag freezes as he understands what she's saying. It's hard to detect, as his head and face remain immobile, but his deepset eyes are franticly jumping back and forth, considering exits and escape routes and where assassins might be lurking in wait for him to bolt. After a silent minute, the fermin opens his mouth to answer, but at first nothing comes out. He clears his thraot with a high pitched squeak. "Ahem... Err... ok, I understands. What if I doesn't take the job, or isn't able to get the information you is wanting?"

Satoshi's predatory nature has no difficulty noticing the fermin's unease, yet nothing more than a sharp flick of her ears betrays an underlying desire to follow through with natural tendencies. "Nothing would happen. If you don't accept the job, another Fermin will. And he'll be the one with the gold and brass, and the protection." The last words are subtly emphasized. "Fail at the job, and I'm not out any gold or brass. If I paid you upfront, I'd expect something in return after failure, of course. But we can avoid that by simply agreeing to give payment in exchange for information, upon delivery."

A Scared Workman runs in from the south, waving his hands about and yelling, "Giant rats I saw giant rats!".

Satoshi glares at the workman. "Shut up."

Splag bares his sharp needle-like teeth and stares balefully at the workman, but doesn't otherwise move.

A Scared Workman runs to the south, "Giant rats!".

Splag twitches his nose a few times, the bright colors on his face shifting with the motion. Fimally, after a long moment of silence, "How does I reach you if I can gets what you wants?"

Satoshi, feeling this discussion was beginning to draw to a close, shifts from her lounge into a proper stand, arms dropping to her sides. "Messages can be left for me at the Hanging Corpse or Rat Hole Inn. Ask for Jelko. Or The Director. I will come to you once I'm contacted."

Splag nods, still torn inside as to if this is really a good idea or not. "Okay. I will see what I can does for you. I hopes I can find something out." He pauses to think for aminute. "Kazeer it was, right?"

Satoshi can't help, despite her best efforts, to hide a twitch at the name. Still, she masks it with a shuffle of her feet as if she's preparing to depart. "Yes. Kasyr. Ashen. He goes by many names. Any information you can get. Your reward will be in direct relation to it. No information, no reward. Vast information... you get the idea."

Splag drops to all fours and starts to take a few steps backwards. It may not be obvious to an observer, but all of the cogs and gears in his brain are in motion now, working with a low cunning towards two goals - getting the information and surviving delivering it. "Then you will hears from me later, if I finds anything out or not." He is carefully watching and listening all around him, out of a strong sense of paranoia and a desire to survive.

Satoshi nods sharply. "Until then. I will be certain to keep my assassins from taking contracts that fit your description until then. And, of course, if you do well, such contracts will cease to exist from then on." Feed the paranoia, feed it and make her offer than much more appetizing a meal. Who said she was a dimwitted cat?

A Scared Workman runs in from the south, waving his hands about and yelling, "Giant rats I saw giant rats!".

Splag freezes again as the workman runs into sight yelling, an idea coming to mind...

A Scared Workman runs to the south, "Giant rats!".

Satoshi said to Splag, "Excuse me a moment." The feline promptly turns her attention to the fleeing workman, "I've an incessant squawker to kill...."

Splag nods. "Good." With that he turns and leaps a startling distance and disappears into a very narrow gap between two buildings, where it would be very difficult for a larger person to follow. The last part of him visible is the stubby tip of his naked pink tail as it disappears into the darkness.

Satoshi goes workman hunting, once she pauses to glance at the rat's departure. "Hmph."