Logistics (Ryu/Rogus A)

[Ryuzaki]

Ryu and Rogus were back from their thief-gathering attempt. It had worked splendidly, in Ryu's opinion. There were two new thieves sitting in a separate room, while Ryu and Rogus worked on the logistics of it all. That part wan't going so well. There was a lot to hash over in little time. There were many variables to be worked with, hammered out, twisted and reshaped.

"So what do you think of them? Do you think this'll fly?"

Ryu tossed his Killing Edge up, catching it gingerly and then repeating the process as he paced nervously. "We have to have a way of testing them. How they work with us, you know, and how we work as a unit. Whether they're dependable or not. We need to plan a heist that will only work if everyone works together. If we can pull it off, our guild will flourish. So, what do you think, Rogus? What do you have in mind? I can see you thinking. C'mon, let's brainstorm."

Ryu was quite nervous. There was a lot on the line. A lot at stake. It would be interesting to see what Rogus had to say... Hopefully there would be solutions.

[Rogus]

Don't you start doubting yourself now. I do enough of it for you! Rogus laughed as he watched his counterpart pace nervously. It was easy to figure the man out after all this time. He was worried they'd fail, especially after they struggled with the logistics of the guild. Rogus however, was worried more about their new members than he was with logisitics.

My friend. Its simple. You and I trust each other, why? Rogus snarled and caught ryu's blade as he tossed it up once again. Holding the blade up to the blue thief's neck, he smiled. Because when i take your weapon and hold it against you, you trust I won't spill your blood. Rogus flipped the blade back around and held it out to his friend.

We have to work with them to trust them. Logistics can wait, cohesion is the key.

[Ryuzaki]

Taking his sword from Rogus, Ryu pointed it at the red thief, using it to accentuate his points. "See, but Rogus, I don't like putting my neck on the line for people who might just up and leave on me. I don't want to be the one to take the fall. I don't know if I can depend on these new girls to have my back." Continuing to pace, Ryu began slashing at the air, until he stopped dead in his tracks and smiled wickedly. "I got it. What if we test the waters with a difficult heist right here in town? What if we... Well, we could...

...There's always that same church we did. We could hit it again, huh?"

Ryu was smiling now. "Hehehe, they'd think us crazy to try again, much less so soon. C'mon, Rogus! Let's clean out that church!"

[Rogus]

Are you kidding? Rogus scoffed, We barely made it away from the last time with our lives, and you want to try it again? He looked away from the thief with a bit of disapointment. You should know to never hit the same mark twice in the same place. Rogus reminded the other thief of a general rule of survival: If you get away with it once, don't get cocky and try again, it might not end so well a second time. He almost laughed at the thought. Doing the same thing twice would be impossible, especially since all the churches were intricately connected with one another. Caelin's church no doubt told the other chapels across lycia that they were robbed. Even if Ryuzaki meant a different church, Rogus's point remained valid.

Come now near... You've got an imaginative thinker, thats all you can come up with? How unoriginal... Rogus teased while messing with a stain on his cloak. Instead of robbing the city's church, why not rob the city itself? Im talking the vaults in the castle. Rogus let Ryu reply before anything else, if he didn't he'd likely waste his breath trying to justify such an ambitious goal.

[Ryuzaki]

"The vaults... In the castle."

Ryu's first thought was that he needed to leave the guild, since his partner had gone completely bonkers. Off the wall. Bat-feces crazy. But when he thought about it more...it made sense. "The security would be in name only... So... If we stayed quiet, and hid our kills, or disguised ourselves, we could likely make it in without a problem. And on the way out, we could just cut our way to freedom with impunity. Black traveling cloaks, of course, and blacking for the hair and skin... But... It's feasible. Bags to carry the loot on our person... Making sure everyone has a role, so that we move quickly and effectively... This might work, if we set our minds to it."

The thief stopped abruptly, suddenly aware that he was thinking out loud.

[Rogus]

Got any more ideas Mr. Near? Rogus teased his friend. He quite enjoyed the moment of inspiration Ryuzaki just had, and planned on seeing another. I'm glad you don't think I'm crazy, at least that makes one of us. Rogus grinned and punched the other thief on the shoulder in a brotherly manner.

I'm not thinking of taking the gold however... Gold in the castle's vault is no doubt marked, if we were found using this for our agendas we'd be found out eventually. We need to steal something more... marketable. Rogus thought aloud in his normal cheery upbeat voice that tended to gather the attention of those around. Rogus cast a sideways glance back at his partner.

If we're to play the role of merchants, we must have quality merchandise. Got any more moments of inspiration in you my friend? Rogus tapped a finger on his head. He enjoyed the process that took place when he began to weave a plan together. Every string had to be sown in exactly the right manner, and just like how he loved to figure out puzzles he loved to create them to. If they were intricate enough, Rogus and his band of rogues would be able to grab what they want and leave without so much as a trace of their being there.

What do all nobles have in droves I wonder...? What item is a woman's best friend? Jewels. Jewelry to be exact, but like the gold, noble jewelry is marked. We could sell it to a trusted fence, or extract the gems and melt the metals down and still profit from it. It was a shame to suggest melting down the heirlooms of his fellow nobles, but he had to give his partner every option so he could form his own opinion on what would be best.

Then again... We could also ransom the jewels back to the Marquess.

[Ryuzaki]

"Okay, mate. Here goes nothing."

Ryu turned to his partner, a huge smile on his face. He'd hit upon a great idea, one that would mark their heist as the biggest thing since the eruption of Ostia!

"Nightfall.
We scale the outside of the castle fence, get inside the perimeter. Kill four guards. Wearing their garb, we then can get inside using the changing of a shift or something along those lines. We would need a map, but we could get all the way to their vaults without being detected.

This is where the fun starts.

I'll either take that Juniper woman or Myscha. We'll run and raise everliving HELL, maybe slice and dice some guards... Possibly even the Marquess himself. You raid the vaults with the other. Then we meet up and get out in one piece. Or four, more accurately.

Hmm?"

[Rogus]

Rogus's lips twisted into a frown. He always was unnerved by Ryu's senseless blood lust, but he never spoke up about it. Despite the situation they were in, Rogus felt compelled to change the topic of the conversation.

We're very different, you and I. You know that don't you? Despite this, we're... friends, aren't we? I've never asked you this, but I see it more and more nowadays... Why do you enjoy killing? Forgive me if I'm wrong, but every time we get into a hairy situation I always catch a smile on your face... I mean, I don't refuse to kill, but I don't particularly enjoy it... What made you love it? Rogus looked at his partner with curiosity. In truth, he knew every nuance of the man's personality, and how he'd react to most situations, but this was one he wasn't sure how the blue clad man would respond. Rogus never asked much of Ryu's personal life, and Ryuzaki kept a similar respectful distance from Rogus's.

The red thief always enjoyed the secrecy the two shared, it was why he hadn't disapeared on Ryuzaki yet. He hadn't figured everything out. He trusted the man with his life, yet neither of them knew each other's true story. Rogus frequently dwelled on telling his friend who he really was, but every time he was too afraid of the man's likely reaction to spill the truth. He wasn't afraid the two would quit working together; if that happened it would have made little difference for Rogus. No, he was afraid of the man outright attacking him.

Ryuzaki was from Sacae, and frequently announced his distaste for the rich and priveleged. If he knew the man he'd been working with all this time was once a noble, Rogus feared he'd not only lose a friend, he feared the man would kill him simply for being of higher standing. He knew what hatred the man harbored for those who didn't struggle to survive because someone at one time or another let Ryuzaki know what most people on the continent thought of thieves. They were trash. Human refuse. But Ryuzaki held different beliefs. Rogus figured Ryu to have been abandoned, or orphaned, and had to fend for himself for most of his life. What other way could a youth with no honest working skill survive alone? Thievery of course. So he knew that Ryuzaki would hate him for abandoning his luxurious and easy life style for that of a thief's. He knew Ryuzaki wouldn't understand why he'd given up a dream like that for the difficult, and much hated life of a thief.

But Rogus didn't know why the man loved to kill and fight. Perhaps he just had the taste for it, as some do. Rogus simply didn't know, and was willing to halt their scheming to find out the answer.

[Ryuzaki]

Why he liked to kill? Rogus was certainly bothered... Ryu felt he owed the man a proper response. So he took a deep breath and divulged his past, present, and his deepest fears and misgivings.

"Why do I like to kill? Simply put, it satisfies my cravings. Let me tell you a little story.

I was born on the plains. My father was a tribeless nomad. My mother was a Lycian. Does that surprise you? Let me surprise you more, my friend.

I grew up without a lot. No friends, not a lot of belongings. Certainly no wonderful playthings or pampered bliss. I relied on and loved my family. Then my mother died of illness. Had we had money, we would have been able to save her.

I couldn't stay. So I left.

And as I traveled those first months, I learned a lot. I especially learned that I couldn't fit in with the regulars. I was always an outcast, always derided and scorned. It made me unhappy.

And so I killed my first man. I showed him what it was like to be in my place, and then I stripped him of the one thing he had left. I equalized our situations somewhat. And now? Why do I like to kill? Because the world isn't fair, Rogus. There's always gonna be a man on top and the rest on the floor. I hate that. And it makes me angry. So a long time ago, I made myself a vow.

I was gonna get to the top, so that then I could destroy the top. Everyone should be equal, Rogus. Everyone should have a fair shot at this game. And I want that dream to come true... So I'll slay all who stand in my path.

I am Ryuzaki. I'm going to change the world."

[Rogus]

I am Ryuzaki. I'm going to change the world. Rogus echoed after a period of silence. He wore a surprised look on his face. He hadn't expected his friend to go nuts on him. If he wasn't sure before, he could definitely confirm now that Ryuzaki could never learn of Rogus's lineage lest he kill him in a rage of equality for all. Liberal ideals never made much sense to Rogus, but that was probably due to his upbringing. Anything other than a caste system in place to ensure order was out of his realm. Rogus certainly didn't like how nobles behaved, or how easy it was for peasants to be overlooked and left to starve and fend for themselves, but even he had to admit it would work better than equality for all. There would always be a bottom feeder, even in an equal society, so what was the point? Of course, Rogus would never question the logic Ryuzaki displayed in his rather enthralling story. He respected him too much as a partner and a companion, but Rogus quickly saw that their friendship would likely end with blood at some point. Ryuzaki would either find out about Rogus's heritage, or become influential enough to try and put his plan for world equality into action; a plan which Rogus wouldn't allow to come to fruition.

Rogus loved to steal, equally as much as Ryuzaki loved to kill. What was the point of being a thief if everyone was of the same status? It didn't carry the same thrill in his mind. As much as Ryuzaki's idealism sounded nice, it also scared the hell out of Rogus. A society where you could not rise, nor compete on the social ladder? Utterly perposterous. Life would have no point if everyone were equal, he thought. Thats what makes us diverse and interesting.

Even if it happened it wouldn't work. There would always be someone with ambition, someone with a higher goal than simply being equal to every other man woman and child in the world. Rogus was an example of this. He left behind his home for many reasons, one being an attempt at true independence. In an equal society would one really have that?

Are you... sure that is for the best Ryu? Rogus questioned. Wouldn't you rather rise and show them all how wrong they were to treat you poorly? If everyone was completely equal, we'd all be punished for what the few did to you, right?

If we were all truly equal, we'd never advance our culture, or our civilizations, or even be able to truly live. What you say sounds more of a dictatorship than a movement for the little guy. Everyone wins, and everyone loses, right? Do you really think thats how it should be?

[Ryuzaki]

"Heh, heh. You're right, of course. That is the one tragic flaw.


Humans aren't perfect.


We can't get along with each other. We steal. We kill. We rape. We loot. We destroy. We are truly the most despicable vermin on the face of this world. Aye, we even exterminated a whole race because we were afraid of them. Look what's happening, Rogus. This world is full of filth. And somebody's got to clean it.

I don't care that my goal may never be realized. I don't care that it may be irrational or impossible.

I DON'T CARE, ROGUS!"

Ryu was spitting, his sword slicing through the air like a guillotine blade.

"I am Ryuzaki. I WILL do my part to fix this world. I will be the GOD of this new world. I WILL RULE as a SAVIOR. A PROTECTOR. I WILL CUT DOWN all who are evil. I WILL DESTROY the roots of evil."

Ryuzaki was pacing, swinging, screaming as he uttered his new mantra, his calling, his purpose.

"I WILL CHANGE THE WORLD!"



Calming down, Ryu sheathed his blade and calmly sat down, looking at his partner with tears pouring from his eyes.

"Why, Rogus? Why is the world so rotten?"

[Rogus]

Rogus was a man who didn't judge others often, but this outburst might be stretching the envelope.

When you put it like that I'm sure anyone would agree with you. He rubbed his forehead and pointed at the swinging sword.

To Rogus, this was not very surprising. While he was initially shocked by the man's loud voice, Rogus saw the sword swinging coming, as well as the tears. Ryuzaki could hide behind his veil of stoiscism all he liked but Rogus had been around him enough to know the blue thief was just as emotionally unstable as every other person. It almost made him chuckle, everyone was equal to that extent. There was always a breaking point. He didn't laugh, nor did he let even a trace of a smile touch his lips. Ryuzaki's last question managed to stop any of Rogus's normal means of self-gratification for solving the puzzle.

I can't tell if you need a drink or a hug... Probably both. Rogus walked forward and did the un-thinkable. He tried to hug the man who could snap and kill him at any second. The world isn't rotten my tormented companion. He whispered loud enough for the other thief to hear. He spoke from experience. He used to blame the world for his problems, until he realized that he caused them all.

You are.

Change your thoughts, and you change your world. Wise words passed down by wise men, don't you think? Rogus stepped back, and looked at the one man he considered a friend. He didn't feel any pity for the man, he'd chosen his view of the world, it wasn't the other way around.

Try it sometime.

[Ryuzaki]

The blue thief sat, exhausted, listening to Rogus. His mind was in shambles at the moment, and his rope was fraying. He was hanging by a thread, and any minute, any wrong move, and he would be swinging from the rope... So he focused on the one thing that he could use to escape. The one thing he could use to get a rush. The plan, the plot, whatever you wanted to call it. He was done for now, done with idealism and wishful thinking. Here now was the dependable Ryuzaki. The icy cold thief. The killer.

"So, Rogus... What's the plan?"

[Rogus]

We get caught. Rogus replied. At least he was beng his usual self, and not spouting idealistic fantasies like a mad man anymore. Whether or not the hug helped remained to be seen. The least he could do was indulge Ryuzaki's curiosity, and Rogus loved to formulate a plan. All they needed was a person on the inside, and the job would be too simple. Luckily, they had an actor with the perfect character for the role.

The hard part of breaking into a castle is the process of getting in. The guards will make it so much easier for us by walking us through the front door, and down to the dungeon. Following so far?

[Ryuzaki]

"What?!"

The blue thief's jaw dropped as he stared in utter astonishment at Rogus started his plan. This was lunacy. Getting captured? They'd be disarmed and locked up. This was no plan, this was suicide. They had grappling hooks and ropes, surely they could vault the walls or something a little more... Stealthy?

"Go on, although I'm going to be the first to say that I have grave doubts about a plan that involves voluntary incarceration. There'd better be a 100% chance of us getting out, otherwise, I might as well find my own way in. Go on, though. Let's hear the rest."