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* Dawn watches Jewel and Angel leave, then gives Isa a quick, tight grin. "Keep an eye on our guest while I see what I can learn from his friends." He crouches on the floor to examine the fallen attackers. The thug's pockets reveal five bits of worked metal-- slightly worn crescents of platinum, inset with electrum, with a hole in the center of the curve. Dawn bites gingerly on one to verify its purity, then tosses one to Isa. "Harbor moons from Waterdeep. Worth about twenty gold each, here, more than double that in Waterdeep territory." He gives the thug a contemptuous look. "He doesn't look to be worth a hundred gold altogether, much less have it in his pockets as casual change." He pokes through the sleeping captive's pockets as well, and comes up with the same count of coins. "Pretty good pay, hmm? 'Specially if Waterdeep is where they started out." He gives Isa another tight smile, then puts the coins in his own pocket before moving on to the black-clad body. * The guy in black is revealed to be a teenaged boy-- maybe 14 or so? Hard to tell, because he's also very obviously not from around here. He looks like he's from Kara-Tur way. He has nothing on him at all except for a small collection of very nasty weaponry, a small vial of something, and what looks like a charm around his neck, with some sort of chicken-scratch writing on it. * Dawn opens the vial and sniffs delicately. He wrinkles his nose at the harsh scent of corrosive, and stoppers it again hastily. "I'll run a test or two on that, later. Why would he be carrying something that-" He eyes the boy's gear suspiciously, then beckons to Isa. "Come here. I'm no fighter, but the draw for that knife really seems a bit off... Does something seem not quite to you?" * Isa saunters over, handing Dawn back his crescent-coin absently and flexing her malformed hand again before bending over to study the would-be kidnapper. She frowns slightly, moves around behind the boy's head, and carefully reaches under his arm to half-draw a spike of dull black metal from a hidden sheath, sliding it back in again with an even deeper frown. With a grunt, she rolls him over, eyeing the set of his two back-sheaths. Finally, she shakes her head. "Looks like his mommy dressed him. Leastways, someone who didn't know what the hell to do with the stuff." She shrugs and looks up at Dawn after putting the boy on his back again. "Wearing 'em to look dangerous, maybe?" She stares down at the still face, frowning again. "Or maybe for courage...." * Dawn nods, and casts a spell, then peers at the young attacker and his gear through barely-spread fingers. "Residue of magic, there... And the charm. Probably protective, but... Well, I'll have the marks translated, and then I'll see about untangling its purpose." He thoughtfully pockets the vial and the charm, then turns to Isa. "My thanks. You can go, now. I can handle *this* one. You know how to find me, when you think you're ready to come back." <Isa> ::nodding:: Aye. ::she turns and heads for the door, flexing her hand again, and turns:: ...sorry, Dawn. ::she looks down at her hand, clenches it into a fist, and leaves, shutting the door behind her firmly but quietly:: * Dawn waits until Isa has disappeared from view, then draws the curtains on the shop windows. He casts another spell, slowly, as if not very familiar with it. As it settles around him, his eyes taking on the fascinating horror of a snake mesmerizing its victim. His face set grimly, he slaps lightly at the captive thug's face. "Come on, darling. Time to wake up and face the music..." He watches impassively as the thug wakes, looks around and sees the other bodies, and realizes he's tied to a sturdy chair. In the moment that full realization shows on the thug's face, Dawn smiles, slow and nasty. "Just you and me now. Let's have a little chat, shall we? I have questions for you." * Thug's face pales quite a bit at seeing Dawn's smile. He hisses in pain as a quick test of the ropes reminds him of his burns, and for a moment he seems on the edge of panic. Somehow, he manages to get himself mostly in hand again and thrusts out a mostly-not-quivering chin, staying stubbornly silent. <Dawn> You're in no position for that attitude. ::With one boot, Dawn tips the thug's chair back on two legs until it's on the verge of falling over and smacking the thug's head soundly against the hard floor. At the very last instant, Dawn re-balances the chair and lets it slam down onto all four legs.:: Questions and answers. Who hired you, and for how much? To do what, *exactly*? Did you know either of these guys- ::he gestures at the bodies on the floor:: -or the fellow with the sword? Oh, fuck it. Let's just make things easy - did you know *any*one who was in that alley? <Thug> ::screams hoarsely as the chair starts to go over, and loses it entirely again as the chair thumps down again, jerking him forward to put his face mere inches from Dawn's cold blue eyes:: Alrigh', alrigh', I'll talk! Jes'... I'll talk. ::he shivers, averting his eyes from Dawn's, and frowns as he tries to remember Dawn's list. He answers the last questions first, as they're easiest for him to remember:: Jes' knew me mate... he an' I, we been buddies fer awhile. Done jobs together before, small stuff, heavy work. An' that bastard ran 'im clean through like he were butter! This were s'posed t'be clean an' easy! No mess, jus' the one tough! Th' mage... he hired me mate an' me. We didn't even get a good look at 'is face, honest! Just a quick in-and-out, he said... we were s'posed t' wait for 'em t' come out, an' put the fighter down after 'e stopped 'er. We didn't ask no questions... for that kind o' money, didn't think we were s'posed to. As t' knowin' th' others, well, th' mage... ::swallows:: I'm jes' a small fish, boss, no mistake. Don't really know the big faces. But I think I seen 'im around town before. Don't know 'is name, I swear, I'd tell ye if'n I did! <Dawn> ::eyebrows:: If you didn't catch his face, how would you know you'd seen him around? How'd you recognize him? <Thug> ::shrugs, and looks puzzled. If his hands were free, he'd probably scratch his head:: Jes'... ::thinks, an activity he's obviously not terribly used to:: He's got this... attitude, like? Way he strides about everywheres, y'know? Ah! An' the clothes. I seen 'em afore. Like, a really bright blue 'e seems fond 'o wearin', aye? <Dawn> Well, *that's* interesting. And who hired *him*, I wonder? <Thug> ::shakes his head:: Can't help yer there, boss. <Dawn> Mm. How much did he offer you? <Thug> It was a dot, split between me mate an' me, half before, half after the job was done. Jes' a quick snatch-an'-grab fer some customer, we wuz told. Thought th' mage'd be doin' the grabbin', too. Figgered for the money, we do what we're told, no questions, as I said. He brought us... Didn' even know 'til we got here that th' job weren't even in the blamed *city*! <Dawn> ::scowl:: WHAT city? Where'd you come from? <Thug> ::blinks a little stupidly:: City o' Splendor, boss. ::eyes widening a bit as a thought occurs, and then narrowing:: Where-- where *is* this? I ain't been much out the gates, honestly. <Dawn> ::grins tightly:: Questions are mine to ask, yours to answer. Don't get confused. But behold! I am feeling generous. Tell me why it matters - aside from the obvious problem of your being stranded - and I'll tell you where you are. <Thug> I-- ::he closes his mouth after a bit of trying to figure out what to say in answer to that, and slumps down in his chair with a bit of a wince:: Waterdeep, where'er... 'm in big trouble with the higher-ups either way, ain't I? Good an' caught, I am. Idjit. ::he sighs:: <Dawn> ::snorts:: At the very least. ::scratches at his face, examining the thug:: Now, what do I do with you? You've been abandoned on my doorstep, but that doesn't mean I can trust you to stay out of my hair. ::he crosses his arms and glares at the man:: Maybe I should drop you on Waterdeep's doorstep and let *him* take care of you. * Thug's eyes go wide, and he starts to tremble even harder. "Please, boss, mercy, I pray ye! Don't turn me o'er t' *him!*" His chattering teeth make him nearly unintelligible for a few moments. He squeezes his eyes shut and draws in a few hoarse, painful breaths, trying to get control of himself again enough to speak. "Sir... ain't nothin' what goes on in that town without Himself knowin' it, and he ain't none too fond o' screw-ups, iggerant 'r no. I'm beggin' ye, sir, if'n ye mean t' kill me, jes' get on with it!" * Dawn shrugs and draws his dagger. He lays the point across the thug's jugular, then seems to reconsider. "No. Too easy. I've got work that needs doing. You value your life enough to work for me?" <Thug> ::licks his lips:: I-- I be right fond o' breathin', boss, I don't mind admittin'. Ain't never been much fer brains, but if it's a strong back ye need.... ::he takes a deep breath, glancing at his friend's body and nodding shortly, with the air of a man making a deal with the devil:: I'll do it. * Dawn eyes the thug for another moment, as if weighing his options. Finally, he nods once, sharply. As he cuts through the thug's ropes, he silently drops the intimidation spell. "Call me Dawn. You are?" <Thug> 'M called Jolly, boss. <Dawn> ::leans against a table and folds his arms, eyeing Jolly consideringly:: All right. Here's what we'll do. I've got a place, downtown. Big earner. If we're about to get hit - and I assume that's what's about to happen, given the job that brought you here - it's going to be a target. So I'm going to up protection, and you'll join that crew. On top of which, there's someone there I'd like you to keep an extra eye on, because she could be a particular target. I'll introduce you when I take you down. She'll be keeping an extra eye on you, too, because I'm not stupid enough to trust you. The house'll provide a spot for you to sleep, plus one meal a day, and standard bouncer's pay. Half of that - and anything else you earn, if you take any jobs to the side - comes to me. You stay true 'til this is all over, prove yourself a little, maybe we'll re-negotiate that. ::he pauses, then catches Jolly's eye:: And no, the girls are NOT a perk. You want 'em, you pay, just like everyone else. <Jolly> ::eyes bugging out a little:: *Girls,* boss? Yes, boss! ::he suddenly looks *much* more enthusiastic about the prospect of this job, but looks worried again as another thought chugs its way into his head:: Er... that is... boss? If it please yer... can I be knowin' what city I'm in, now? Seein' as how I'll be workin' here an' all?" <Dawn> City of Spices, Jolly. Marsember. You're a very fucking long way from home. * Jolly pales and nods slowly. <Dawn> ::grins, faintly predatory, and claps Jolly on the shoulder:: Come on, get up, and let's go make some introductions. ::he sniffs, faintly:: And maybe see about some salve and bandages for that nasty burn you picked up somewhere. |
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