Honor Among Thieves (Ryuzaki/Rogus)

[Rogus]

After waking from their much needed rest, the two thieves met for a final time before going their separate ways. Rogus was impressed by the man's skill, and even more so by their escape from Caelin. He thought if they had the opportunity to work again, he'd take it, but he had to at least know a bit more about Ryuzaki than just his name. There was no doubt the other thief was at least considering a similar thought, in Rogus's mind at least.

"Say pal, you mentioned you were half Lycian. Where from?" He'd ask as he gathered his belongings. Of course it was slightly unfair to the other man that he hadn't given him his true name, but surely Ryuzaki knew it was likely he had given a false name. He'd grin, knowing that he'd be most likely unwilling to answer.

"in fact, you tell me, and i'll tell you where i'm from."

[Ryuzaki]

"My father hailed from Lycia. He grew up around here, actually, but once he met my mother they lived on the plains, and then I came along. It was a nice life, actually. I would still be there... But then my mother died."

Ryu's face darkened, and he seemed to subconsciously close like a clam.

"That's me. Sorry. I don't want pity or anything. Your turn," he said hurriedly, trying to change the subject.

[Rogus]

"Not much to tell really." He'd sigh, he could see the man was done speaking for now, "I grew up a noble, an only son to my father to his dread." Rogus smirked, imagining his father's reaction to his actions the night before.

"I was trained as a knight for awhile, didn't suit me, but i continued to train by my father's wish." He'd pause, horus bringing him a drink for the road, "As for my mother... that's a story for another time perhaps."

"In any case, I became rather bored with the duties of my birthright." His face would darken only slightly, though he continued to speak with a certain cheeriness; regret was obvious on his face, "On one occasion, I ventured into town and met a girl... " He'd stop as his accomplice had, perhaps his habit to give more information than was needed had re-surfaced again. The abrupt end to his response would be signaled by a sizable gulp from a glass of whiskey.

[Ryuzaki]

"Can't say I know the feeling... I never met the 'right girl.' Maybe I'm a foolish idealist. Maybe that's why I'm a thief, instead of earning an honest living. Damned if I know. Guess it's true; I'm a good-for-nothing drifter."

Obviously upset, Ryu slammed his fist onto the table.

"Sorry. Usually I'm not this sentimental and weird. Guess I can't deal with the past. Never could, really, ever since Mom died. Ahh, crap. Sorry," Ryu said, trying to hold a steady face and not become wistful or regretful.

[Rogus]

"Sentimentality isn't something to be ashamed of." He'd say simply, "Some say its what makes us human, take that how you want it." Rogus sighed, the man needed to get his mind off of his mother, Rogus could help with that.

"As for the girl, can't say she was the right one." He'd take a sip from his glass, "First time i met her, she picked my pocket. Dunno' how i noticed but i did, gave chase until i cornered her in an alley." He'd pause for another sip, "She played me like a harp, giving a sob story about how the nobles had all the wealth and the people had none. Too bad I never saw it before, but she was right."

[Ryuzaki]

"That's the way the world works... Guys like us can't even get a living by honest means. Ridiculous."

Ryu stalked up and down, pacing in irritation and insecurity.

"I never thought I'd be doing this, ever. Never. I just... Why couldn't anything else work out? That girl, the disgust on her face... Is that how everyone sees us? Just vermin? A byproduct of their wealth and happiness?"

[Rogus]

Well, we were robbing a church... Can't blame her for the expression.

He'd sigh, remembering the spite the girl had in her eyes when she saw them.

Not because we're evil my friend. That place has enough wealth to buy Nabata, sell it for its sand, and buy it again. And yet they dont spread that wealth. I don't know if you were looking to get rich, but I had the notion to knock their operation down a peg. He'd pause. He had a greedy reason for it, but his idea to send the place a message was still true.

A byproduct is exactly what we are. Cogs that fell from the machine, and started motions of our own. The other cogs don't like that. Take the girl for example. She has no relation to the church, but because it is commonplace, a place commonly accepted as "just", we are the villains because we took a bit of coin from it.

By such a rule, are they not the villains for taking the common peoples' gold every day of worship as donation? We are thieves to be sure, but we will never compare in skill to our good bishops and priests that make more coin than us in a day than we can make in a month.

[Ryuzaki]

"But that's exactly the point!!!" Ryu exploded, unsheathing his sword and slamming it into the table so it quivered as he left it and began gesticulating wildly.

"It's not like we're stealing so that we can see the pain and suffering on peoples' faces. We steal because that's how we have to get by! See, if one noble dedicated their time to helping educate and inform the less fortunate, instead of throwing lavish parties and buying 40 horses and shiny trinkets, they could help people like us find a way out of this mess. I hate having to steal everything to survive. But there's no honest trade I can do; as a Sacaean and a mixed-breed one at that, I'm looked down upon with scorn by EVERYONE. I am the object of derision. It's as if nothing matters but my skin.

And I hate that. We need to be valued for what lies within. The girl didn't understand. She couldn't have. We're not bad people. We do bad things because we have to.

Damned nobles."

[Rogus]

You may have begun this trade out of need... Me... Perhaps i'll tell you later. He'd grab his left sleeve and roll it up. Revealing the brand of a out-casted noble.

Let's just say I'm not a Lycian Lord anymore. He'd put a finger to his mouth and stand up, he was ready to leave. He had heard enough philosophy and stories to make him feel selfish and naive for one day. He'd finish his drink and leave the glass on the table and walk toward the door without another word or sound, a coin was left under his empty glass. This sudden desire to leave came from shame, not only for being a noble who had been born to one that matched the description Ryuzaki gave to nobles. Not only his father, but Rogus as well fit the bill for a greedy lord, in more ways than just one. He had everything he could ever want, money, three warm meals a day, all the best clothes, a promising arranged marriage with a beautiful young princess in a neighboring territory, but he threw it all away because he was BORED of it all.

Did that make him an even worse noble than those that Ryuzaki described? probably, but at least he felt guilty about it. Not only that, the girl that taught him, he had left behind in the middle of a bandit infested forest... She probably was killed for the coin he left for her while she slept. For some reason, his chord of disgust was struck by Ryuzaki's words, and his disgust was directed toward himself.

His expression made his thoughts plainly clear; he was guilty. His shoulders were low, too low, and his gaze was directed toward the floor as he walked away. Ryuzaki could see this sudden change, as obvious as the sun in the sky or the leaves on a tree.

[Ryuzaki]

"Stop. Stop, now," Ryuzaki said abruptly, a strange tone in his voice. It was unlike him, especially sober Ryu, to care so much. But this man... He didn't seem like a noble. He seemed like he understood.

"I don't understand. Why would you give up everything you had? Why abandon what must have been a life of perfect bliss for this earthly hell? Whatever motivated you to do that?

My mother used to tell me that before I could judge a man, I should wear his skins for a week. I didn't mean to pass judgement on you personally... I just want to understand. I never had wealth. My happiness came from my family. My bonds. The time we shared, the love we had. Did you feel those same things? That sense of happy, carefree contentment? Back when Mom was alive, I knew that all she expected was my best... Dad, too. He wanted me to be a shaman, but I never could... And he accepted that. We cared for each other.

But nobles are people, too. They share the same feelings, I think... So what makes us different? Why are there these barriers between us?"

Ryu wearily pulled his sword out of the table and sheathed it, sighing and kneeling on the ground, suddenly exhausted.

"I just don't understand."

[Rogus]

I got bored. He'd reply dryly, and he'd quickly leave the tavern. He wanted out of there, and he got it. If the other thief decided to follow, he'd try to lose him in the forest. If he didn't, hopefully they'd meet again, forgetting their prior conversation.

[Ryuzaki]

Ryu sighed, watching the man leave. This is why he never could decide what to think... Who to be... Who to believe. One thing was certain though, Gus wasn't getting away without Ryu learning more. Setting his jaw firmly in resolve, Ryu called upon his Sacaean tracking skills and left the tavern, following the fresh trails in the dusty road and wondering when he could approach Gus again.

---Support Level C---