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Post by Charlotte on Jul 2, 2014 11:57:24 GMT -6
The air had become a bit chillier after the four thieves’ initial meeting, and now that they were walking their way back into town, the frigid silence in the air hung over their heads. They walked in pairs, with Rogus and Burgid taking point and Charlotte bringing up the rear with Ryuzaki. There wasn't any chatter going on between any of them, though, which made the blonde merchant uncomfortable. There were a myriad of questions she had about what their next steps were, hell, who the people she had just agreed to join in business with!
It was pretty clear that there were still logistics to be worked out between the four of them for the activities and structure of the guild itself, so Charlotte decided to take it upon herself to find out as much about her new partners as possible. She knew she’d get time alone with all three of them in due time, but for now, there was the blue cloaked man walking next to her who she could at least initially poke and prod. After all, what kind of “private consultant” would Charlotte be if she didn't want to learn about her colleagues inside and out?
Of course, being thieves Charlotte’s questions would have to be posed differently than usual. Normally she’d be comfortable posing direct questions, but with everyone she’d have to try and make her inquiries just a bit more open ended than that. No matter what approach, though, Charlotte would be playful as she always was, as was her nature. So after letting a few more moments of silence pass, only being broken by the crunch and crack of leaves and twigs under foot, Charlotte looked over to Ryu.
“So what gave it away?” She let the question sit for a moment as they walked before clarifying the question. “You know, besides me lifting your wineskin from you?” Charlotte had a feeling the man had known she was a thief even before she had cut the wineskin from his belt; she was curious as to what had tipped him off. Of course, it could have just been obvious to another thief, but she had to say something to get him talking.
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Post by Ryuzaki on Jul 3, 2014 22:03:00 GMT -6
"How did I know?" The blue-clad thief looked at her quizzically. "Well, I suppose it would be your posture." Ryu turned away, walking a few steps before shaking his head and turning back, a small and rare smile tugging at his lips. "I'm sorry. I don't intend to be terse. It's just... I don't often work with other people. At least, not other allied people. And... Especially not pretty people."
Ryu turned away, slightly embarrassed at his outburst. "Sorry. Back to the question at hand, I would most attribute it to how you stand. I see that you're always ready to move. You have a nice facade of ease and relaxation, but you're coiled. Ready to spring at a moment's notice. And there's also your hand position. That cemented it. Your hands move like they've brains of their own. They deftly explore and wiggle their way into every nook and crevice. And they're soft. Unless you really are paying attention, the grab is so smooth and soft that most people wouldn't notice until much too late. I salute you on that. Kudos."
Ryu had drawn his Killing Edge while he walked, and was now using it to delicately accentuate his points. The tip bobbed gently as his voice inflected, and he often idly rubbed the blade fondly. It was clear that he felt much more comfortable with the sword in hand, and clear that he had strong feelings for his sword. It was as if it was a small pet or a trinket for a loved one.
"That's how I knew."
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Post by Charlotte on Jul 5, 2014 0:47:05 GMT -6
Charlotte had to admit, it was pretty endearing when the man was slightly embarrassed with his initial reaction to her question. She definitely couldn’t blame him; in their business, the only people they tended to work with were their targets or victims – having someone who actually knew their true motives had to be unusual, so Charlotte simply smiled, and a light flush warmed her cheeks.
That warmth would slowly intensify as Ryu continued to describe how he had been able to tell where her true talents lay all whilst holding his blade and speaking with his hands. Charlotte listened carefully and cataloged away every word of importance, knowing that even if these came across as compliments (and he certainly spoke as if he meant them as such), Charlotte knew that anything she could do differently to make her even harder to detect would help her become better. Though for the moment, the blonde didn’t mind basking in his description of her abilities.
“Well it’s certainly good to know I’ll be working alongside someone with extremely acute senses,” Charlotte observed, her voice a sultry purr as one of her hands planted itself on her hip as she walked. Flicking a bit of hair over her shoulder, the young woman mulled over her next thought before verbalizing it. “I’m surprised you’re usually a lone wolf, though, considering how well you seem to get on with your brother… Rogus, was it?” She knew quote well the two of them weren’t related, but she was curious as to how long both of them had known each other if Ryu still wasn’t used to working with others.
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Post by Ryuzaki on Jul 5, 2014 9:23:42 GMT -6
"Ffft." Ryu gave a chuckle and a snort as he reflected over his history with Rogus. "We weren't always very close. The first time I ever saw him, he was using a girl as a prop to rob a church. So naturally, I used my leverage to get in on the heist. The girl betrayed us, of course... I still hate her for it. But we escaped, and made off with a good chunk of gold for each of us. It was wonderful. We started to trust each other more when we ran into each other for an 'expedition' and that SAME GIRL was there. I was about ready to kill her, that much was clear. But the expedition fell apart, and Rogus and I left again. Then there was an incident where we worked with bandits to raise supplies to sack the City of Heroes... I guess Rogus got a little careless, since there was a cute girl, and somehow some fires started and we all ran like hell.
And that's how we get here."
Ryu spun his sword lazily. His relationship with Rogus was certainly unusual, but... it wasn't too preposterous. Thieves usually were like that. Always bouncing back and forth, taking many near-death scrapes to trust one another...
"So tell me. What do you think of me?" Sure, the question was blunt and abrupt, but... It was a good way for him to gauge this woman's perceptions, her mental agility, and, most importantly, her level of trust. It would be a metric that would give him a lot of necessary information about one of the two new unknowns.
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Post by Charlotte on Jul 5, 2014 19:15:12 GMT -6
“Seems like women are your Achilles’ heel, and you’ve just recruited two of us,” Charlotte chuckled, unable to contain her amusement at the irony of the two men’s history together. Sure, women in this profession tended to be more untrustworthy, more slippery than the men, but could you really the strength of one’s loyalties when comparing thieves and criminals?
Ryuzaki’s question to Charlotte was certainly an interesting one, and it was something she had already begun to consider. While she hadn’t known the man long, Charlotte interacted with him enough to get an initial read on him. After all, she wouldn’t have been very good at her own self-titled job if she hadn’t learned something about him from the past few hours.
So Charlotte took a moment, looking the man head to toe before giving her read on him. “You certainly don’t dress like a thief, that’s for sure... Then again,” she paused, motioning to her slinky dress, “I wouldn’t be the best judge of that, would I?” Moving her hands back to rest on her hips, Charlotte continued. “Hmmm. You exude a very stoic manner, but I think that’s just a way for you to keep others from getting close to you. You don’t want to be hurt personally, just like you and Rogus don’t want to be screwed professionally, which is the reason for all this,” Charlotte motioned around in reference to the entire recruitment. “And I think you’re closer to Rogus than you put out. Someone like you doesn’t just use the “brother” cover for any old person... You’d have to really be able to believe they were like a brother to you. You’d have to really trust them.”
A lot of what Charlotte said was based off of observation, but some of it was a shot in the dark based on those observations. Sometimes she wondered if she should go into the psychic business, giving people palm readings and making generalizations to make people believe she could truly see into their future. Actually, that could be fun for a while, Charlotte thought, but she could never make that her entire job. It would just make her sad to realize how many idiots there were who didn’t use their eyes and ears, or weren’t willing to figure out their problems on their own.
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Post by Ryuzaki on Jul 6, 2014 11:55:52 GMT -6
Ryu listened closely as the woman unveiled a few of Ryu's personal qualms and tactfully brought up his weak spot. She was exactly right. He didn't like being hurt. He couldn't stand betrayal, or any sort of backstabbing. Ironic, because he did it for a living. Well, no. It was different when he was the one doing the backstabbing.
"Exactly right," he said quietly. "Well perceived." The thief walked quietly for a while, musing, then suddenly and abruptly turned back to the woman. His eyes flashed quickly with wistfulness, then anger, then back to a forced and icy calm in a matter of milliseconds. "You remind me of my mother, Charlotte. She was very good at seeing the insides of people. What they weren't showing, or what they were hiding. That bothers me. If you have the capability to see what I'm thinking, to know what my qualms and misgivings are... That is either a great blessing or a horrendous curse. Which one? That is your decision."
The thief abruptly changed the subject. Nothing more needed to be said on that subject, at least for now. He was Near again, cold, calculating, icily businesslike. "Tell me, Charlotte. What is your experience with combat? Are you competent? Skilled? Weak? How do you fight? Do you rely on others? Are you defensive? Offensive? Straightforward? Complex?
Most importantly, how do you kill?"
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Post by Charlotte on Jul 7, 2014 11:50:48 GMT -6
(OOC: Just FYI, she’s still going by Myscha with everyone, =P. Just assuming that’s what Ryu called her until I introduce her as such).
Charlotte was taken aback when Ryu quickly turned to her and described her similarities to his mother. But she completely agreed with the man. Sometimes she didn’t want to analyze everything she saw, but it had become a part of her over the years. Her habit had destroyed her relationship with the smugglers she used to work with, even after it had elevated her to a full member of their crew. While her acute senses were oft useful, they definitely caused others to separate themselves from her, uncomfortable or scared of what she might be able to perceive about them. She was right a decent amount of the time, but she also had been completely wrong too.
But like that, the subject of their conversation changed, Ryu now asking how she preferred to kill. She wasn’t afraid to be honest. “To be honest with you, Ryu, I never have. I have no opposition to it, but I try to keep my hands as clean as possible, considering the day-to-day work I do.” Her reasoning would likely sound contrived to her walking partner, but she truly had never killed another person. She was trained with the sword and dagger, but in the past few years she had been working, she’d never had to resort to full-on violence. She was appreciative of that fact, as it was just one less bullet point on her list of criminal charges, but she wondered if it would devalue her.
“But I’ve been trained, though I’m probably a bit rusty,” Charlotte decided to add. “If it’s truly important that I take part in combat for the lot of you, I won’t dissent.”
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Post by Ryuzaki on Jul 7, 2014 19:02:21 GMT -6
"Never once killed? Well..."
Ryu was worried. Deeply concerned. Absolutely terrified. This woman, with whom he'd have to work, on whom he'd need to depend, in whose hands he might need to put his life, had never taken another's. If push came to shove, if words came to blows... Could she be counted on to hold up? Or would she crack under the strain? Ryu was shaken. This wasn't good at all.
"Charlotte... This worries me. Your ability to fight with Rogus and me when we need it is essential. But even more essential is your ability to take a life. You need to be able to eliminate guards, neutralize threats... I just need to know you have my back, that's all. And right now, to be quite honest... I feel a little skeptical."
The blue thief certainly felt his color. He didn't want to offend the woman, but he was deeply concerned about her stability in a crisis. It was fine and good to be flashy and seductive, but... She needed to be rock-solid.
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Post by Charlotte on Jul 8, 2014 11:24:53 GMT -6
Ryu seemed surprised at Charlotte’s admission, and considering the gusto he had attacked the men who had been following them into the woods, she wasn’t surprised. She rubbed her left arm with her right hand as the man seemed to scold her for her avoidance of killing. It wasn’t that she wouldn’t kill if she had to. She was sure she could, but she’d never found the need to do so.
“There are plenty of ways to resolve a situation,” Charlotte stated as in a matter-of-fact way. “Violence is one resolution, but it should be the last resort.” Her walk slowed slightly as she wondered the implications of the man’s skepticism of her.
“I’d much rather knock someone out and leave them with their life as long as they haven’t seen too much.” Charlotte lifted the strap of her dress, which had fallen from her shoulder as they walked.
After running her hand through her hair, Charlotte looked back to Ryu. “If you worry about my ability to handle myself under duress, don’t. I sell my services for that very reason, including the fact that I minimize violence while, ah,” she chuckled as her vocabulary defaulted to her speech she gave many of her clients, “maximizing my results. If we do have to resort to violence, so be it, but it will never be my first approach.” The woman was not lacking in confidence as she spoke; the blonde was sure of her abilities, as they had brought her from the gutters of the Western Isles to where she was standing today.
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Post by Ryuzaki on Jul 8, 2014 12:05:18 GMT -6
Hmm. Quite an interesting strategy. So she enjoyed simply avoiding the confrontation, whereas Ryu... Hmm.
"I see. So I guess there's a bit of a divide even within the crew as a whole... From what I've gathered, you and Rogus, and I believe that other Juniper as well... You all like to avoid the conflicts. I like to win them."
The thief continued walking, nodding as the woman reassured him of her steadfastness and ability to handle pressure. Well, they'd see soon enough. Empirical data didn't lie.
"That's where I have my fun. How can I eliminate all opposition while ensuring I'm not detected? Or, if detection is unavoidable, how do I kill them all?"
Ryu turned to the woman, illustrating his feelings through a metaphor.
"See, every situation is a chessboard. The goal is the checkmate. And right now? At this point, I'm the black Knight. I find the moves you wouldn't see. The approaches you wouldn't anticipate. I find the holes, the gaps, the chinks in the fortress. And then I exploit them. I strike, I escape. I'm hard to pin down."
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Post by Charlotte on Jul 9, 2014 11:57:41 GMT -6
Charlotte smiled, shaking her head as the man described how they “avoided” conflict while Ryu relished in it. She honestly wasn’t all that surprised by the man’s reaction, considering most men felt the same way about conflict and its son, violence. Charlotte could not claim to be a very moral person, considering her lifestyle paired with the less than legal things she did on a day-to-day basis as a means of income. But she always, always left a person with their life if she was able. The young woman wasn’t sure what pushed her to do so, but it had become habit now.
“I guess that’s where our views split,” Charlotte shrugged, looking her nails over for a moment before focusing her attention back on the dark haired thief. “I see you as a rook. Can’t look at a situation from all of the angles; it’s either one way or the other, and you couldn’t stray from that path even if you tried.” Her head cocked to one side as she avoided stepping on a questionable spot in their path.
“Maybe I’m wrong, though.” The blonde pursed her lips, clearly thinking over whatever she wanted to say next. “Our job doesn’t have to end in death if we don’t want it to. You just have to be good enough to make sure we succeed.” She had a feeling the other thieves might see this as a weak opinion, but to her it was an entirely riveting challenge. Killing as they had done back in the field showed no finesse, no delicate hand. Going in and out of a place without being seen, or escaping without a trace – now that was where true thrills lie.
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Post by Ryuzaki on Jul 9, 2014 13:05:06 GMT -6
"Indeed. It doesn't have to... It's just much more fun that way. It makes people fear you. And in this world of crooks, it is always much better to be feared than loved. If your enemies know that you are feared... They will be less likely to want to be your enemy. They too will fear you. They will fear your wrath."
Ryu looked at the woman, his head cocked to the side as she spoke.
"I have to be good enough to make sure we succeed? If I didn't know that you didn't mean to insult me, I might feel very slighted and unhappy... Charlotte, let me make this very plain to you.
We will succeed.
Nobody will fail or falter. To falter is to show weakness. When you show weakness, your enemies will exploit it. And to fail in this game we play... Means death. If we are caught, if we are found, we will be hanged, or hunted down mercilessly. Either way, we will die.
Thus, we must not fail."
Ryu's eyes glowed, his tone sharp and definitive. The other woman would certainly appreciate the sheer dedication in his voice as he spoke. Insane or not, Ryu would get the job done. And there would almost certainly be a trail of blood in his wake.
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Post by Charlotte on Jul 11, 2014 15:20:09 GMT -6
“Well good thing I don’t intend to fail, then,” Charlotte cheekily rebutted. It seemed Ryuzaki was the type who found violence to be fun. Charlotte had crossed paths with a few men like that, and even at her young age she knew how things ended for people like that. “Maybe it’s different for the lot of you, but resulting to violence is failure to me.”
She didn’t give him time to respond. Charlotte was a bit perturbed by the man’s point, so she continued. “My very business is making people like me, trust me, love me even. When they do, they show me the kinds of things only lovers see, things you don’t see when you resort to killing.” She raised her arm as she spoke, and she slowly began grasping at an invisible something. “Because of that, I can slip my fingers in the cracks, and squeeze and twist and exploit those weaknesses to get what I want.” Her eyes having moved to focus on her own hand as she spoke, Charlotte allowed them to rest on Ryuzaki for a brief moment before looking forward.
Maybe Ryuzaki was dedicated, but Charlotte was just as determined as he when it came to sticking to her guns. She had no intention to burn bridges that could be used to gain much more in the long run. She had been used like that before, so she knew too well how to make sure she could work such a situation in her favor.
Around them the trees were thinning, and the city wall was not far ahead, so she raised her voice just a bit to ensure she’d be heard by all three of them. “We’re close; I can lead all of us back in the way I came, which isn’t watched by the guard, but we’ll have to be quiet.” She then looked back to Ryu. She was still curious as to why he erred towards violence, but there would be another time to discuss that. Considering how close to the wall they were, they would have to continue their conversation another time.
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Post by Ryuzaki on Jul 11, 2014 19:27:35 GMT -6
"To kill is my greatest joy right now. Nothing shall deprive me of it."
Ryu nodded as the woman explained her methods.
"You remind me of the seductress, Charlotte. You exploit weaknesses in the heart and cloud judgement. I exploit weaknesses of the will and the body. For the will may be strong... While the body is weak."
Tossing his beloved Killing Edge high in an arc, the thief leapt forward and up, grabbing it as it fell and landing perfectly in a crouch, blade ready.
"I wish to become the Midnight Specter. Silent. Deadly. Feared. And then, with my reputation... I will cause consternation. Nobles will cower. The common man will rise. And the world will clean itself of its filth... One way or another."
Seeing the city wall, Ryu sheathed his sword and stood up, his head turning and his eyes boring into the woman walking nearby.
"Soon. Soon, you shall see my power."
[Thread End]
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