RP:Red Meets Ged
Part of the Tales from the Row Arc
Synopsis: The runner meets Ged, a homeless teenaged street urchin in the gardens of Chartsend. The street kid is hired to help assist Finn in his pending commission in Venturil proper, and will likely head back to Rynvale with him when the job is done.
Characters: Finn, Kohl, Hanan, Ruana
Location: Venturil; Chartsend Public Gardens.
Kohl seemed quite rushed, his light brown hair spun about his head as footstep after pounding, bare footstep rushed him forward. Breathing was becoming heavy, as he was now quite a ways from Venturil, his hasty fleeing having worked well so far. He hadn't stolen much, really. Just a few thousand gold coins. They would get over it, right? Besides, he needed the coin. He was a hungry boy, after all--and stealing the money was far easier than stealing the food time and time again. He felt he had lost the damn guards and annoying townsfolk, so he came to a halt as he entered the gardens. Chest heaving, smile cracked upon his facade, he plopped his hands on his knees and fell backwards onto his arse in a tumble of laughs. The youth was ecstatic to have gotten away, and the feelings were mirrored in his lips, eyes, stomach, and toes. Pure joy that only a thirteen year old boy could feel. He stopped a moment and sat up from his fit of laughter, his dirty fingers whisking away the stray tears of joy from his young face. Light blue eyes began to peer about, noticing a few faces pointed his way, their deep pools generally reflecting dislike at the boy.
One of the pair of eyes that had landed on the boy narrowed slightly, dry humor lurking in the whisky depths of the auburn haired male who was seated on a bench alongside flowered pathway. Arms were outstretched across the back of the seat, legs extended and crossed at the ankles, the scuffs on the leather surface of boots betraying their usefulness for work rather than fashion. The imp’s joy was contagious, and reminded him of a time long forgotten..a time before he had been forced for survival, to become what he had become. For that alone he would be rewarded. The sparkle of silver span through the air, landing in the turf just in front of the boy, and a husky drawl would be heard voiced just over the quiet bustle of the evening promenade. “Reckon’ you lost your tail then lad..” an assumption, perhaps faulty, that the youth had merely sprung his handler. A mother, sister, nurse? “Go buy yourself somethin’ at the market.”
Kohl instantly had his attention caught as the flick and sparkle of silver made its way through the air. Alarm was his first instinct, a fear flashing in his eyes until he realized that it was not but a silver coin. Even with his newly acquired gold, he was hasty to snatch it up. His pale blue eyes darted to the man, the visage to match his voice. "I ain't lost no tail. 'Adn't have one to begin with!" He stood, spinning his arse about and sticking it out to show the man. In a matter-of-fact manner, he came about again lips parting to show his own arse in a different sense. "'sides, I have my OWN coin ta be spendin', thank ya very much!" The sack of gold coins was then produced from a pocket in his rags and tossed a time or two. Grin plastered to his face, his achievement still paramount in his mind. "See?'
Finn lifted a single auburn brow, eyes sharpening to newer focus. “Oh aye?..” came the murmured drawl, and still the lean frame did not move from its apparent rest against the seat back. “Reckon that’s enough gold to leave a man wonderin’ what you’d been about to get it yeah..” The sprat had clearly lifted the load..but was still green enough about the ears to show it off. “An’ what if I’d been the law kid?. Or somebody, with a few other somebodies lurkin’ in the shadows aye… You’d be in a proper spot of trouble wouldn’t you?” The warning was easily given, no threat lucking behind..but it might spare the boy an unpleasant moment or two on some future date. “Never show your hand Sprat. Ever. Even if you’ve got the goods to back it up..” And here eyes were drifiting over his young frame, looking for signs of weapons carried.
Kohl had all the blood drain from his face. Or, at least, so it seemed. He pulled the bag back and stuffed it in his pocket, his face now turning beet red with embarrassment. "What says 'ats what I done? Maybe I have some rich folks, Ma and Da." He was obviously lying, but he wasn't about to stop--not if he thought he could still get out of it. He knew there was no danger of being caught with this man--the air about him promised of that. "Even if I had, I'd just get away--like I done last time!--I mean, if I had, ocourse!" This man was certainly interesting.
Finn moved then, leaning forward so that strong, sun browned arms were draped loosely across his knees. His face remained by and large an expressionless mask, though that ghost of amusement was still present in gold flecked gaze, if you knew where to look for it. “Well then..reckon if you had a rich Ma and Da..that’d make you an even sight more interesting to my friends in the shadows..wouldn’t it? Think of all the gold..Da..might give up to have his darlin’ back.” The man grinned, and it was a flash of white as wolfish as it was jest. “Fact.. I might find myself interested in testing that proposition..” and yet, he’d not move beyond that slight incline. “You from around here Sprat?..” The runner was in town on business..business in Venturil actually. Needed to find his way to a certain Inn there, and a certain mark who was going to be relieved of a certain locket. Somebody had paid him well for the service..but the job would become that much harder if he had to head into the city with more questions than answers.
Kohl wasn't going to be fooled by the man's jest, nor was he amused. Instead, he was depressed, and it flicked into his visage a moment quicker than it took him to repress it. Angry with himself, he sat silent a moment, his tanned frame standing as it were, hands shoved into pockets. "I ain't got no home...."he would admit after a short time. He could not bring himself to meet Finn's gaze, so his blue pools drifted earthward in a feign attempt to look at a faux-interesting thing. He hated to admit that. Hated it.
Finn sat back on the bench again, eyes leveled on the youth and to those in the know his restless thoughts would be betrayed by the winking of the solid gold chess pawn over and through his fingers. “Aye..” he said huskily. It was oddly, a statement of affirmation, not question. The runner had all but made the urchin out for what he was once that pouch of gold had been revealed. A thought teased..an impulse. He hated impulses, they bit one in the ass inevitably. He’d come to this port city on any number of tasks; to resupply his own lessening store of contraband for running on the Shores, to do this job for Squeak, mainly..but also to recruit new labor. Kingsley’s rampage at the docks had cost him good muscle, and reliable sources. Beheaded. Savage feckin’ bastard. The Sprat was well..a sprat. The shores could be hard on a kid..even one with fingers as light as this one evidently had. He’d stall. “What’s your name kid?..’”
Kohl finally managed to look the man in the eye, confusion laced in his own as he tried to figure the man out. Nothing, though. He pushed it aside as he rocked on his heels a moment, coming to terms with the fact that he’d admit to a stranger that he had no home, and he wasn't sure why he had done that. "Kohl." came his reply, the young spratlings voice holding a slight crack. "But, I go by Ged. Es my middle name." Holding the man's gaze, the question sprang to his mind. "Why you wanna know, mister no name?"
Ged. Finn almost chuckled. As it was, a grin broke the planes of rugged features again. “My business to know things lad..” And it’d brought him enough time to make a decision one way or another. “ Like to know what the hell to call a sprat that might be workin’ for me..” the drawl came out, laced with that ever present hint of amusement. Everything about the boy was refreshingly blunt, and as yet unjaded..it seemed. Shores would likely pound it out of him. He almost felt regret. Almost. “ Could use a lad like you..get places, hear things, see things a grown man might not. Run messages an’ the like. Steady pay, room an’ board. Interested?” He leaned forward again. “Have to leave town though..head south. Work out of Rynvale,” he added. “An’ the name’s Red..Ged..” And therein’ the reason for the grin.
Hanan had her hands shoved into the pockets of her old peacoat as she strolled into the garden, red knit cap pulled low over her ears. She'd forgone the braid; her hair was dark and unruly beneath the edge of the hat, as if she hadn't bothered to run a comb through it after a gust of wind. A thick boot kicked idly at a rock. "Godsdamn, Il'Anad," she muttered to the woman beside her, lifting her head to peer sidelong. "I've got no idea why you'd want to go to a--hey, Red." She'd sighted the bastard, waved her arm over her head in greeting. He was talking to some kind of kid... rough kid too, by the looks of it. Still, the good captain walked over. "How goes the vacation? Picked a damn shytey place for it, I'll tell you that."
Ruana is also in a jacket. Just, not that new one she obtained the day prior. No, she's in Hanan's jacket. You know, that naval one. The one Ru's been trying to snag for a bit now. Yup, that one. And she's grinning. Yeah, so it was her idea to leave the ship. She's strange like that. At least she remembered to put on boots this time. "It's pretty, is why," answering the cut off question even as she gives a wave of her own to the smuggler. She gives Hanan a light jab in the ribs as she calls the place crappy, giving her a little smirk. "Oh, don't act like you don't like the place. At least be happy it's a change of scenery for a little bit, hm?" Well, of course Ruana would be happy to be away from the Barrel for a while.
Kohl nearly fell backwards onto the ground, surprise jumping at and out of him with a sharp intake. He couldn't let the man know such, though. So, quickly, his hand came up into a fist to beat his chest as though he were choking on something. He threw in a choke to make it more believable. He pretended to mull the matter over for a moment as his attention was caught by the woman coming closer. He was tickled by the joke made, and had a grin himself. Red and Ged. Heh. "I s'ppose I can be of help....if ya need me, that is." A smile was very clear upon his face. Joy. Again.
Finn glanced up and toward that incoming hail and his lips twitched slightly for the greeting. “Evenin’ Cat..An’ I’d have figured you realized by now darlin’..We’re not on bloody vacation.” In was a good natured observation, “Even is Terra reckon’s I should take a day off before we head inland.” Eyes swept over the captain’s ever present company. “Still on guard duty?..” this last murmured dryly, before chin was nudged toward to youth where he awkwardly stood. “This here’s Ged..tryin’ at persuadin’ him to haul anchor with us when we go.” He’d turn then, to register the boys response. “Always somethin’ needs doin’ Sprat..reckon I’ll be needin’ you sooner than later,” he said easily. “We’re anchored at the docks..probably haul anchor in a couple days. Got business inland first.. might have use for you there too.. job audition,if you wanna look at it that way. Ever been to the city proper?” Red was not to know that the boy had just fled the same.
Hanan was annoyed enough to roll her eyes. Because it's pretty? This place had nothing on the beach. First she comandeers her lucky jacket, now she's punching her in the ribs. Taking liberties. Bitches be crazy. But at least the jacket would attract less attention from those potential assassins than all that silk, right? "I don't... mind the place. I guess that's somethin'." As for Red--she gave him and the kid a peer, the latter getting a particularly thorough once-over. "You're hirin' em young, aren't you?" She met Red's eyes then, a stern look. But she was frowning only a moment before forcing the usual smirk on her face and moving on. He'd get a talking-to. Later. "And yes, I'm on guard duty. That's why she's here, remember? So she doesn't have a reason to burn things?" She shook her head. "Take my advice: do what Terra wants. She'll be a terror if you don't take a day off."
Kohl wasn't exactly sure what to do with himself anymore. He was going to be paid to be an adventurer!! It was every boys dream, really, and he was going to live it! His lips seemed frozen in their position, a smile as broad as his ego was big. "A' course I been ta the city! Wheren ya think I found my pay?" Another mention to the coins. Damn. He would have to work on that one, he would. All the same, Ged could care less at the moment.
Ruana rolls her eyes right back. "Well fine then. No more surprises." She just leaves that at that. She examines the new boy, just as Hanan does, but she doesn't say anything. No, she's watching the lad while the Hellcat speaks with Red, though her eyes don't linger long. No, she starts looking at just what she came here to see; the flowers of the garden. She even steps away from Hanan to browse the various species present, bending down to sniff this or that flower, smiling to herself. Whatever business is being spoken of, it's not meant for her ears. She's only the cook, after all.
Finn nodded slightly at the boy, his mind already on the lad’s potential usefulness in the upcoming job. Who paid attentions to urchins loitering on sidewalks or panhandling the taproom floor? Nobody. He’d be perfect for getting a positive id on their mark. “Good..let the captain here show you to your berth on board..an’ make sure to stay visble the next few days. Be arsed tracking you down when we’re ready to move out,” he growled slightly. “I’ll tell you what you’ll be doin’ when you need to know..” Eyes flickered then to Hanan, the hint of a challenge in her gaze. Let her reprimand come..later..he’d have answer for it. “Reckon if it keeps em off the street with food in their belly and a roof over their heads, can’t be all that bad.” And he’d never ask the kid to do somethin’ he’d not ask of his own. On principle.
Hanan didn't know that. All she knew was that Grot Ruttin' Kingsley had managed to behead and hack several of Red's men right before her eyes, and here he was hirin' a kid to do that kind of work. It didn't sit well with her. " "Reckon' it gets their throats slit, and what good's the food if you can't swallow? Alright kid---he called you Ged, right? I'll see you've got a hammock with my crew when I get back there. See you don't cross my boys; they get punchy, especially with babyfaces. You might end up with a couple black eyes before we reach Rynvale." Maybe that'd scare him off? She thanked the sea gods, if they even existed, for sending Ruana off toward the flowers. If there were anything that'd attract a thirteen year old kid onto her ship, it was that damn half-elf. She found herself looking. Damn her.
Kohl turned to the woman, her speech directed at him. "I can look after meself, ya know. 'Asides, ain't nobody that can scare me--so it ain't gunna happen'!" he was still happy, but there was now a slight damper on his happiness.
Ruana is quite oblivious to that look from Hanan. Or even any of the words she's giving the boy, despite the slight point to her ears. She's pointedly ignoring the whole conversation, in fact. The most that can be said about her is that she starts humming, and swaying to her own tune. No, there's no flickering flames, no dancing winds, no people strangely jumping into the water...nothing. Just a mundane song.
Hanan snickered. "It's not a matter of scarin', kid, it's a matter of punchin' your face. Courage doesn't deflect fists."
Kohl stared grim faced at the woman, "Aye, but it let's em know I ain't about ta be pushed es way an that." There was a cold truth in the child's eyes.
Finn snorted slightly. “Leave him be Cat..” he drawled. “Off you go then Sprat..Be seein’ you around sooner or later..” And with that the boy was granted his leave to the docks.
Hanan liked the kid's moxie, but... "Fine. You bravely tell 'em you can't be pushed around while a guy about three or four heads over you proceeds to do just that."
Kohl kept his hands shoved in his pockets, a stubborn look resting upon his face. Waiting to be leaving, he looked from person to person.
Ruana wanders off towards the ship, leaving both Hanan and Red behind. She's still humming the whole way, and bundling up in that jacket of Hanan's.
Finn noticed the look, the hesitant gait and grinned. For all his talk the kid had no idea where he was going, or what to do when he got there. The runner pushed himself to his feet. “Should be headed back anyways..Terra’ll be waitin.’” Hanan’s interjection was almost surprising, and his eyes narrowed slightly. Did she really think him so poor in judgment? “I worked the streets when I was younger than him Hanan..” He used her name. “He’ll not be put directly in harms way..He’s useful precisely because no one will know he’s one of mine. That’s the way it’ll be. Don’t reckon’ I’ve ever made so bold as to tell you how to crew aye?..” A slight chill lay in the tones. In the ensuing thick silence however, gaze warmed and tones softened. “Kingsley won’t harm a kid lass..And there’s no greater danger than an brawl waitin for him on the shores otherwise. He’ll be all right…” And the gold flecked gaze lifted to fall on the undersized retreating back. “I should go..”
Hanan growled; that's the best word for it. The rough woman was furious. "Yeah, you were on the street younger. Are you happy you worked younger? Sure, you'll keep him out of danger, but what happens when it does come out that he's one of yours? And it will come out, Red, you're no idiot, you know it." She stepped forward, aimed a finger at him. "Kingsley won't harm him. Kingsley can't keep so ruttin' tight a reign on his men, can he? And Kingsley's the only rutter who'll ever go against you? I get to order all my men to leave an annoying whelp unbruised." She hadn't quite been lying about how her crew might treat a new kid. Hazing rather than cruelty... but still. "And we'll get to all wear black at the funeral. I've been lookin' for an excuse to wear my black shirt. Fine, go."
Finn offered the hellcat a last, almost thoughtful nod before he finally turned back on her and headed for the boy. There was more to that story, he was almost certain. But as was his way, he’d not be the one to ask..for what he could not give. Trust. The man and boy disappeared into the shadows, headed for the docks.