A Friend for the Ages

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A large forest in Central Anaxas, the once-thriving mostly human town of Dorhaven is recovering from a bombing in 2719 at its edge.

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Caina Rose
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Sat Jun 08, 2019 2:36 am

Kingsway Market • Anaxas/Vienda
on the 8th of Loshis, 2719 • Early Afternoon
It was a beautiful afternoon in the city. The sun was shining, and children were laughing. The streets of Kingsway Market were bustling with customers and vendors, wick performers and the Seventen officers on the lookout for them. Caina curled her lip at the sight of those green uniforms, giving herself only a moment to feel the anger that constantly flowed through her veins. But then the moment was over, and she straightened her skirt, quick to leap into the flow of people moving from one stall to another. Right now, Caina was hidden from the sun by the ceiling, but she was moving towards the open-air part of the market, barely glancing at the stalls.

Kingsway Market might’ve been one of the safest spots in Vienda, but it was also the perfect place to look for marks. Hollow Street was the best place for the underground of Vienna to do their shopping, but trying to rob someone there was a death sentence. Most everyone carried a knife these days, but few civvies knew how to properly use them. Caina could take any of these goneys with her hand behind her back. She actually had won a couple fights that way too- although its usually because she breaks out of halfway through the fight. Once you beat someone up bad enough, they can’t complain about technicalities. It was one of Caina’s favorite loopholes.

Robbing someone in one of the safest place in the city, during broad daylight, was very, very complicated. But Caina had the good luck of having done it multiple times. Really, the only problems were the Seventens, constantly patrolling the streets. The largest concentration of them were focused on slinking between the stalls, keeping an eye out for simple pickpockets. Any mark needed to be quietly lured as far away from the market as possible.

There was one surefire way to draw someone willingly away from the crowd, and it was the one thing that Caina detested about this gambit. She’d done some terrible, awful things, but the girl absolutely refused to seduce a mark, be it man or woman. Luckily, there was a way around that: get someone else to do it. There were many young goneys willing to lure someone into one of the darker parts of the neighborhood and enjoy some piece and quiet for money. And if Caina managed to disappear before passing her acquaintance there cut, that would just be too bad.


She finally got to the other end of the market, and began walking around the outside, keeping an eye out for anyone looking desperate or needy.
Last edited by Caina Rose on Sat Jun 08, 2019 4:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Nymeria Fyrechild
Posts: 23
Joined: Mon Jun 03, 2019 3:30 pm
Topics: 6
Race: Human
Location: Vienda, Anaxas
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Writer: Vaelarys
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Sat Jun 08, 2019 4:36 pm

Kingsway Market ~Vienda
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08/03/2719 ~ Early Afternoon
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Wanting to breathe in some clean air on her long-awaited day off, she had decided to venture up to a less smog-stained part of Vienda and had found herself wandering along with the stalls of Kingsway market. All kinds of goods would reflect in her eyes, making them seem almost like they shifted between grey and blue depending on what was laid out before her.
She had shed her usual black cloak, given the fact that the sun was shining, and she wasn’t aiming for making herself into a cooked meal. Instead, she was simply wearing the black dress, that she saved only for when she wasn’t working. And that was certainly enough to keep her warm.

But she wasn’t looking for things laid out meant to be seen. She didn’t have to money for them anyway. She was looking for the shadows daring enough to risking their adventure ending in tragedy. Not the unintelligent ones, the one going for the small pockets that wouldn’t even buy them a piece of bread. No, she needed someone who would go for the proper ones. The ones that were brave and good enough that Serro would let them be a part of the resistance.

A fight had broken out between two stall-owners ahead of her, she realized as she had to push through people of all races, slowly gathering to get some entertainment out of the poor bastards. ” We’re not your entertainment” she snarled under her breath as she had to push through a gathering of young galdori boys cheering. At that moment she had considered just sliding their heavy wallets off them, but she knew that getting money by stealing them wasn’t what she was good at. One day you’ll get what’s coming to you. She pushed one last time and found herself free.

Peering over her shoulder just one last time, almost missing a punch that seemed to be the settling one, she made her way towards a stall, selling small metal trinkets. As she stopped and let her eyes run over the small the various carved pieces of metal, a figurine caught her eyes. A tiny fox carved in golden metal that she couldn’t quite place was sneaking over the red tablecloth. Not being able to help herself she let her fingers run over it, absentmindedly, before lifting her head to look at the merchant on the other side of the table. She’d never be able to afford it. Not even a tiny useless piece of sh- She turned around at her heel. She was wasting time.


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Last edited by Nymeria Fyrechild on Sun Jun 09, 2019 7:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Caina Rose
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Sun Jun 09, 2019 4:07 pm

Kingsway Market • Anaxas/Vienda
on the 8th of Loshis, 2719 • during the afternoon
There were many potential… business partners. But none of them were right for the job. Sure, they’d steal- but Caina didn’t want some gutter rat to bite and run. No, she needed finesse. She needed someone beautiful. Or handsome, if the situation called for it. She became distracted by a fight nearby, two vendors brawling over some conceived slight, their anger likely fueled by having to stand in the hot sun for so long. She eyed the participants for a moment, gauging their strengths and weaknesses as if she was planning to jump in herself. Over the years, sizing up potential opponents had become a first instinct, one that kept the girl on her toes and prepared for the eventuality of a fight. One man went down, and someone screamed.

Most folks were gathering around the pair, hoping to enjoy the free show before the Seventen broke it up. Caina could already see officers crossing the market, needlessly pushing people out of the way. The crowd only grew, which drew Caina’s attention to the one person who seemed intent to avoid the fight. The girl stuck out like a sore thumb- Caina was surprised that she hadn’t noticed her before. Most likely a galdor, she wore a fancy black dress- way fancier than anything Caina owned, (though that wasn’t saying much). The hair was also noticeable, the color similar to the burning embers of a fire.

The galdor was the perfect mark, and Caina kept an eye on her even as she turned most of her attention back to the fight. The Seventen had just reached the crowd, and were yelling orders and pointing rather dramatically. Her fingers twitched towards her hip, where a small blade was concealed. She wouldn’t use it, of course, but the wish was there.

The galdor stopped at a stall full of little trinkets, pointless things that only someone as wealthy as she could want. Her pale hand reached out, brushing gently against one of the pieces. Caina smiled to herself; the stall-owner looked like he wanted to cut the girl’s fingers off. But there was something off about this galdor, something that she couldn’t put her finger on. After a moment of observation, Caina spotted what it was- the girl’s hand, now retreating from the table, had dark calluses around the base of the fingers and palm. That was the hand of a laborer, not a galdor socialite like this girl had seemed to be. Caina took a step forward, curious, as the girl suddenly jerked back from the table and stomped away.

Right towards Caina.


And as she drew close, Caina became even more curious- this girl had no field, no connection to the Mona. She was human, but had managed to disguise her appearance enough to fool the young assassin. As she moved past, Caina took a few steps forward, and grabbed the girl by the forearm. She pulled her in close and whispered in her ear.
“Play along.”
Then she laughed, and attempted to drag the girl towards the market entrance, where they could talk freely.
If the girl used this time to examine Caina, she would see a young woman in plain clothes, just a dress and a shawl. The dress hid her feet, so it was impossible to see what she might be wearing, but the girl would likely be more interested in her face. Caina’s eyes were bright and wide, leading the way to a soul that hungered for knowledge, for information. Even though she was smiling, the hard grip on the girl’s arm told of strength, a surprising amount for the short thing that stood before her, just about the same height as the girl. There was a confidence in her walk, but also a wariness, like Caina was weighing each footfall before enacting the motion.
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Nymeria Fyrechild
Posts: 23
Joined: Mon Jun 03, 2019 3:30 pm
Topics: 6
Race: Human
Location: Vienda, Anaxas
Character Sheet: Character sheet
Plot Notes: [url=http:/fullurl/]Plot Notes[/url]
Writer: Vaelarys
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Sun Jun 09, 2019 7:44 pm

Kingsway Market ~Vienda
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08/03/2719 ~ Early Afternoon
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She was starting to will with rage. At herself, wasting time. At the vendor looking at her like she had been dirt. She wasn’t looking where she was heading, and she certainly hadn’t noticed the raven-haired girl she was passing before a pair of strong fingers had grabbed her arm. She was immediately pulled to a hard stop, and her eyes slightly widened, her breathing caught in her throat. She didn’t even have a second to exactly figure out who had grabbed her before the girl whispered an order with enough authority that Nymeria threw her head back in a burst of surprised laughter as if the girl had said something funny. As if they knew each other and Nymeria almost had missed her before the girl stopped her.

And then she was pulled along, not even getting to properly pull herself together. The strength in the girl’s grip could possibly leave bruises, and Nymeria wanted to yank her arm away, but she felt like that wouldn’t be the brightest idea. Why? She didn’t really know. Maybe because it would look suspicious. Maybe because it could possibly cause them both troubles. Maybe because this behavior was intriguing to her.

Still smiling like the two of them were talking about something nice and warm, and ladylike, she lifted her hand and put it on the top of the other girl’s hand. ” Loosen your grip, no toffin would grab her friend that tightly- or let herself be grabbed like that.” she hissed through her teeth, bared in a smile. She slowed her own pace to a slow stroll, forcing the girl to do the same, as she turned her head to properly look at her. ” Innocent people are never in a hurry to get away from a crowd. People doing something they shouldn’t be doing are” .’
She studied the girl’s dark hair falling around her shoulders like the sea at night, reflecting the light of the sun rays as she moved, now forced to a slower pace. In stark contrast stood her pale skin, and light blue, maybe grey hues complimented the two as a pop of color. They were around the same height, which Nymeria found curious considering that the were both clearly human. But unlike her the girl wore plain clothes, making her way more likely to blend into the background than Nymeria was.

But what caught Nymeria’s attention were the way she moved. Effortlessly like she was barely touching the ground, but at the same time so fully controlled that she was sure the girl wouldn’t move an inch if a chrove ran straight into her. She was beautiful, yes, but as they covered more ground, Nymeria became almost certain that she was just as deadly. Maybe this afternoon wouldn’t be wasted after all. Or maybe she would end up with the feathers of her dress glistening red like a lamb meant for dinner.



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Caina Rose
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Tue Jun 11, 2019 1:46 am

Kingsway Market • Anaxas/Vienda
on the 8th of Loshis, 2719 • during the afternoon
Damn it.
"It’s a good thing we’re not toffin,”
Caina retorted, though the girl was right. Damn, those Seventen officers had shaken Caina up a litte- it didn’t usually happen. This was likely attributed to recent events, but she pushed those thoughts away. That wasn’t what was happening right now. They reached the exit out of Kingsway Market, and Caina finally let go, taking one step back to look the girl up and down. Her initial assessment was correct, this girl was beautiful. She was certainly alluring; they’d be hardpressed to find a mark that wasn’t willing to at least make out a little.

Caina took a few more moments to arrange her thoughts before nodding.
“What’s your name?”
She asked, trying not to sound as harsh as she usually would with a civvie. She needed this girl, at least for the moment. Caina smiled, relaxed her shoulders, and moved a hand down to fiddle with her skirt, looking for all the world like a young girl talking with her friend.

Caina had made sure to arrange it so that the girl was standing with her back to the market, giving Caina the perfect vantage point of the crowd. Her eyes continued to move, searching for the right target. There were so many choices, and Caina had to make the right one. She didn’t want this girl to get hurt, but she wouldn’t sweat it if something happened.

“How are your parents?”
She asked suddenly, pitching her voice up as a Seventen officer walked past. Caina didn’t look at him, focusing her eyes on the girl before her. Her hand didn’t move to the hidden blade, but it was a close call. After a moment, the galdor turned away and continued his path around the Market.

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Nymeria Fyrechild
Posts: 23
Joined: Mon Jun 03, 2019 3:30 pm
Topics: 6
Race: Human
Location: Vienda, Anaxas
Character Sheet: Character sheet
Plot Notes: [url=http:/fullurl/]Plot Notes[/url]
Writer: Vaelarys
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Wed Jun 12, 2019 5:38 pm

Kingsway Market ~Vienda
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08/03/2719 ~ Early Afternoon
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"We might not be toffin, but we sure as hell would look a lot less suspicious if we looked like some” she hissed lowly at the other girl, still smiling like nothing were amiss.
As they reached the exit, the girl stopped and finally let go of her, of what Nymeria assumed to be, already bruising arm. As the girl stared her up and down, Nymeria did the same. Tiny built, but the way she moved didn’t give Nymeria the impression that she was weak. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but she had the feeling that if she let the girl slip through her grasp, she would be missing an opportunity. For what? She didn’t know. But something.

”What’s your name?”.

Nymeria was slightly taken aback by the question, and she stood in silence with a slights squint of her eyes and a purse of her lips. ”I’m not dumb. I have absolutely-“ she was interrupted by the girl, asking about her family in a high pitched voice. She answered with a laugh and a ”They’re good thank you, how about yours?”, not expecting an answer as the girls body slowly loosened up.

”I have absolutely no idea who you are, so in what world would I give you my name before you gave me yours?”. It wasn’t meant as an insult, though depending on the density of this girl’s skin it might be taken like that. But from the looks of it, this girl wasn’t the kind to go home and cry in her pillow.

She looked at her, chin slightly raised, and cold calculating eyes. What did this girl want with her? Why had she grabbed her of all people, on a market filled with so many others. And she had taken a great risk grabbing a random stranger. Had she grabbed the wrong one, she might not have been standing up, but rather lying on the ground under the Seventen’s feet on the cobblestones.
”What do you want from me?” she asked, curiosity sparkling in her eyes along with wariness. It didn’t strike her as a scheme to rob her, which would also have been an extremely dumb idea. Not because she was dangerous. But because they would get absolutely nothing out of it. Aside from that she would probably also have brought her further away.

She looked at her. The same blue eyes almost seeming grey, like her own. Light skin, and dark hair, a small built. She looked like someone who could get in anywhere she wanted. If she had passed Nymeria, she wouldn’t even have noticed her. Not because she wasn’t beautiful, but she just seemed like the shadows would befriend her. Like she could disappear from one’s sight if she wished to do so. So Nymeria kept a steady eye on her, watching her every move for a hint of her intentions. And to make sure she wouldn’t glide into the shadows and disappear from Nymeria before she gave her the answers.




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Caina Rose
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Joined: Fri May 31, 2019 6:10 pm
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Fri Jun 14, 2019 6:09 pm

Kingsway Market • Anaxas/Vienda
on the 8th of Loshis, 2719 • during the afternon
Caina growled under her breath at the girl’s words, beginning to regret this, just a little. She was as stuck up as she looked, it seemed. But Caina could learn to respect a girl who stood up for herself- even if it was annoying as Hell. There was a shout from behind them, as the Seventen officers finally broke up the fight. Each one took a man by the scruff, yanking him up and dragging him off toward wherever the Seventen liked to torture people. Likely the Vienda headquarters, but Caina was willing to bet that they had tons of places hidden around the city.

Caina resisted the urge to roll her eyes. It was a good question, even more proof that she could trust this girl. So what was the problem? Why was she so upset? She took a deep breath.
“Fine. My name is Marianna.”
It was the usual fake name that Caina gave- anyone who wasn’t a part of her cell likely knew her by that name. And any civvies who required her services used it as well. The name, and its identity, was like a second skin to the young assassin. She had a few others, but this was her favorite.
“So. What’s yours?”
Caina asked, meeting this girl’s gaze eye for eye. The Seventen officers were already back across the Market, leaving the two vendor’s booths open and abandoned.
“I have a proposition for you.”
She stepped closer, eyes bouncing from side to side.
“A job, if you want one.”
Caina was loathe to admit the details until the girl agreed, or at least gave Caina her name.
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Nymeria Fyrechild
Posts: 23
Joined: Mon Jun 03, 2019 3:30 pm
Topics: 6
Race: Human
Location: Vienda, Anaxas
Character Sheet: Character sheet
Plot Notes: [url=http:/fullurl/]Plot Notes[/url]
Writer: Vaelarys
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Mon Jun 17, 2019 3:04 pm

Kingsway Market ~Vienda
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08/03/2719 ~ Early Afternoon
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The girl was clearly displeased with Nymeria not being a naïve doe, but it still didn’t make her back down. The fight between the two shopkeepers had been broken up, but another fight seemed to be unfolding. Not that the two of them would get an audience. No, their fight wasn’t over goods, it wasn’t fought out with fists. It was about authority, about the trust in each other’s skills. Testing each other out for weaknesses, claiming this small space as their own. It was an assessment from both sides, figuring out who the person in front of them were. If they were trustworthy.

The name was clearly a fake one but Nymeria didn’t mind. There was no need for the two of them to know each other’s real names, so she merely parted her lips in a content smile, baring her teeth. ” You can call me Noah”. The name that she had uttered had no special meaning, but she had always liked the soft letters of the name. It felt like a warm summer not chained to either gender. A name that she might use again, if she had another encounter with one who asked for her name offering a fake one themselves. She wouldn’t mind being called Noah.

She looked into the girl’s pools of greyish blue, never faltering or backing down. As she spoke, only letting go of her gaze when she looked from side to side, she moved closer and so did Nymeria. This was clearly sensitive information, and not for every man’s ears. Cocking her head slightly to the side in an intrigued manner as she spoke. ”A job?”. Let the word hang in the tense air between them. ”What kind of job?,” she spoke, now slightly pursing her lips once again, ”A dangerous one, I’m guessing”. She looked at her with a calculating look in her eyes, waiting for more information before agreeing. She wasn’t going to risk her life for a simple coin, but she had the feeling that it wasn’t a job that she wanted to turn down. So while not agreeing blindly, she made sure not to come of as disinterested. She was very interested in whatever the girl had to say.

”I get that the information is sensitive, but I’m not going to blindly agree to a stranger’s proposition. And I’m guessing you wouldn’t either, so don’t try to act like I’m committing a crime for wanting more information” . Her voice was a gentle whisper, only heard by the girl’s ears and the cobblestones under their feet. As another seventen patrolling made his way past them, she grabbed the girl and pulled her into a tight hug, squealing over her shoulder ”Congratulations, I’m so happy for you!”. She had made sure to turn her head as far away from the girl’s ear as she could, and as much in the direction of the passing Seventen as she could, making sure he would hear it.

He passed and she let go, moving only inches away from the other girl, a smile still painted on her face, but the danger luring in her eyes as the undercurrent under the still waters.



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Caina Rose
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Tue Jun 18, 2019 10:32 pm

Kingsway Market • Anaxas/Vienda
on the 8th of Loshis, 2719 • during the afternoon
Hmm. Alright. Caina could handle this. She took a deep breath, and smiled. It looked for all the world like a genuine smile. Caina wasn’t someone that let their guard down, but she could pretend that she had.
“You’re right. In times like these, we make do with what we can. This is a dangerous job, Noah.”
Caina made sure that her voice didn’t trip over the obviously fake name. At least the girl was smart enough to give one. Caina’s thoughts trailed to ten years ago, when she’d met that Brother in Old Rose. She couldn’t bring herself to think his name, but let her mind wander to the night they’d met. He’d asked her name, and she hadn’t even thought about lying. She’d just… trusted him. A mung choice it had been, she knew now. It was after their falling out that she’d thought of Marianna.

To some, she was a poor farm girl who’d always dreamed of the big city. And to others, she was a ruthless bitch who’d do whatever she needed in order to get some coin.

The fact that this girl was so willing to deceive the Seventen officers was a step in the right direction. She had moxie, and Caina studied her face as ‘Noah’ pulled away.
“You’re beautiful, there’s no denying. But I can tell that you’re physically weak.”
Caina paused, letting her statement sink in before continuing.
“We can help each other. I’m sure that a girl like you wouldn’t mind a little extra coin, despite your… attire. I can help you make some.”
Caina still wasn’t sure what to make of the fancy outfit.

Caina took a step closer, bridging the gap between them even more as she looked at the girl, still shocked at how similar they were in height. She was used to having to tilt her head up at most humans, which was frustrating. Even if it did help with the whole ‘I’m weak and incapable’ thing.

“Listen. I need you to lure a mark into one of the alleys here.”
Was all she said. Hopefully Noah would get the drift.
“I’ll choose the mark, and I’ll deal with the job. Just get them to follow you.”
She smiled warmly, shoulders lowering slightly as she looked at the other girl, trying to instill a feeling of trust in her. Caina reached out and squeezed Noah’s forearm gently, nothing like the grip that had dragged her to this corner of the Market in the first place.
“Do you think that you can do that?”


A group of galdori boys, all of which looked to be fresh out of Brunnhold, walked past. Several wolf-whistled at the pair of girls, while the others laughed. Acting on instinct, Caina felt her face heat up- though internally, she was boiling with rage. She ducked her head, not only to appear modest, but also to keep her face hidden. It wouldn’t do good to let any of them remember her, especially since they had oh so kindly volunteered to ‘lend a hand’ with the job. How kind of them.
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