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<Silver> ::Somewhen early afternoon two days after the fire, there's a knock on Dawn's hotel room door at the Velvet Pillow:: * Dawn pulls his dagger and positions himself by the door. "Who's there?" <Silver> S-s-s-silver. * Dawn opens the door a crack, confirming the visitor, then lets him in. "What's happening?" * Silver looks around the room, eyes wide. He's probably never been in so posh a place in his life, and keeps shifting from foot to foot as if he's afraid to stand on the carpet too heavily for fear of messing it. "R-r-rumors. N-new ones, on the st-streets." <Dawn> Tell me. * Snowman lounges on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. After a day or so of being stared at like he's gong to bite Violet's head off, Snowman has started ignoring Dawn's stray puppies as much as possible. * Silver takes a deep breath. "T-t-t-t..." He scowls, and looks a little crestfallen. "*L-Lyegen*'s guys are putting out the r-rumor that Mace wasn't d-dead. B-b-but is *now*, 'cause Lyegen killed 'im. They s-say he's got the G-guild ring." <Silver> ::sighs:: That's the b-b-bad news. <Dawn> ::snorts, then raises his eyebrows:: There's good news? Well, break out the champagne. Let's have it. <Silver> M-m-m-maybe? ::looks nervous:: S-skip said, you w-wanted to find a m-man who wears b-blue? <Dawn> You found him? * Silver starts to open his mouth, closes it again, and nods vigorously. <Dawn> Where is he? <Silver> J-Jacob's watching him, if it's the right g-guy. D-dunno, he wasn't... d-d-doing any m-magic. * Snowman rolls onto one side to listen more closely. <Dawn> ::grins, slow and predatory, and turns to Snowman:: Feel like going for a walk, Snowman? <Silver> S-s-spotted him s-shopping, at K-K-K... ::pauses for a breath, trying to settle down:: K-*Kezia's* Carpets. <Snowman> ::snorts:: Ain't got anything more pressing, me. <Dawn> Carpets, hmm? All right. ::pulls a silver coin from his pocket and spins it over his knuckles:: Anything else? * Silver watches the coin, fascinated. "He's got a bunch of toughs with him." Silver blinks a moment, mentally reviewing what he just said, and looks surprised. <Dawn> ::grins and tosses the coin to the boy:: Good. I'm in a mood to be mean. Ah, counter-rumor. You hear anyone talk about Lyegen killing Mace, you tell 'em *you* heard it was more like Lyegen had to dig the old brick up just to get an even fight. Have the Children start spreading that one around. * Silver grins and catches the coin. "Y-yessir! D-d-d'ya need me to s-show you where?" * Snowman shakes his head, looking faintly disgusted. "Only fuckin' incompetent thieves need t'resort t' fuckin' corpse robbing." <Dawn> I know where Kezia's is. You get back to the others. <Silver> ::nods:: Y-yessir. * Dawn turns to Snowman. "Shall we?" He gives Bienca a quick kiss. "We'll be back in an hour or so." <Bienca> Oyeha. Be careful. <Dawn> ::nods:: You, too. * Snowman reaches under the bed and pulls out the katana that Dawn recovered for him. <Snowman> ::nods:: Aye... fuckin' lead the way. * Dawn nods and ducks out of the room, taking a service stair that leads down to the laundry, and out the back door. * Dawn settles various arcane protections over himself and Snowman as they walk - especially protection from fire and (remembering Isa) from cold. Kezia's Carpets is only a few blocks away, just as the rich part of town is beginning to dwindle into middle-class. * Snowman settles his katana in his belt, his thumb just under the pommel guard. * Blue does, indeed, appear to be shopping. He's bargaining with Kezia, the owner, for what looks like a pile of about twelve large carpets. Six toughs are loitering, garnering nervous looks from passers-by as they pick their teeth and look bored. * Dawn looks around at the street traffic, and points toward an alley a little bit further down the street. * Snowman follows Dawn's lead, ducking into the alley to involve himself in the criminal activity of "loitering". * Blue concludes his business with the owner, handing over a small purse of coin and looking around alertly before directing his crew to load up a small donkey-cart with the carpets. * Dawn begins whispering to himself almost as soon as they are hidden behind some crates and garbage. A small swarm of shadowy snakes begins to collect at his feet, writhing like cats waiting to go out a door. <Snowman> ::scowls absently at Dawn's pet magic spell and moves to one side of the mass of... whatever.:: <Blue> ::eyes the cart, which, with twelve more carpets added to a load of a half-dozen, is full:: Alright. That's enough. Back to the warehouse with this lot. * Blue heads off down the street, not even looking behind him for the cart as if he couldn't be bothered to make sure they obeyed him. <Dawn> ::As Blue and his thugs pass the alley, Dawn throws a spell at Blue. A half-dozen purplish bolts spray from his fingers and splash into the mage's back:: * Snowman snaps his sword out, the light glinting along the fine Kara-Tur steel, sunlight shimmering along the edge. * Blue jerks as the arrows of light slam into him and looks around with a glare, cupping a hand to one side to call a shifting, steaming ball of blue energy into being with a whisper. * Dawn steps out of his hiding place, his shadow-swarm giving him the appearance of standing in a stationary cloud of dark smoke. He grins evilly. "Come and get me, Blue." * Snowman neglects to be show-offy, lingering in the shadows, almost one with the bricks, save for the glimmering edge of his sword. <Blue> ::hisses:: Firehand. Tired of mourning your dead already? ::turning his head halfway to direct orders over his shoulder:: You two, on the cart-- take it back to the warehouse. The rest of you, to me. We'll catch up... shortly. ::he sneers at Dawn:: <Dawn> My dead are the least of your problems. ::With a gesture, the shadow-snakes abandon Dawn to swarm toward the thugs. Dawn summons a miniature fireball and throws it at Blue:: * Blue juggles his glowing ball once, and then pitches it into the alley towards Dawn's feet. It splashes onto the ground, spreading a sheet of ice from point of impact. * Dawn jumps up as the ball impacts, landing on a nearby crate. * Snowman slides away from the ice patch, his eyes never leaving the group of thugs. * Blue raises a hand, cancelling out Dawn's mini-fireball with a protective shield of ice. A line of water splashes to the ground where the two meet. <Blue> ::The thugs begin to close in on the alley but hesitate as a roil of black snakes boils out towards them. One of them-- ironically called Viper-- pales, and takes off after the cart.:: <Dawn> ::The shadow-snakes let the coward run, but then circle around the thugs and begin herding them deeper into the alley, toward Snowman.:: * Snowman swears and dips a hand into his shirt, pulling out a trio of tiny throwing knives. With a quick flick, he sends them spinning after the coward. * Dawn throws a handful of dust outward. From the water puddled at Blue's feet spring a half-dozen oily black tentacles. They immediately begin to reach for him, seeking to rip him to pieces. <Blue> ::the thugs seem reluctant to close with the snakes, but one or two of the braver ones draw blades and try taking a swipe at them. The fleeing Viper takes two blades in the back and one in the arm, and falls in the street.:: * Snowman steals up behind one of the thugs, a ready battle grin painting his features. "Bye bye, asshole." He draws back the katana and drives it forward, his goal to spit the man on his blade. * Blue skips back quickly from the reaching tentacles, gesturing again. A small gem sparkles briefly between his fingers, and breaks into dust with the force of the spell focused through it. The tentacles writhe and reach, and then begin to crackle and fall apart in jagged pieces. <Blue> ::The thug, backing away from a shadow-snake trying to slither up his pants leg, doesn't even see the real danger. He dies on Snowman's blade with barely a sound.:: <Dawn> ::As Blue is destroying his tentacles, Dawn casts another spell. This one fills the alley mouth with thick, grey, ropy goo, sealing Blue and his thugs in the alley.:: How much did he pay you, Blue? Is it worth your life? <Blue> ::one of the two remaining thugs yelps in surprise as he reaches back to throw a knife at Snowman, and finds his knife hand stuck. He tries to cut at the sticky, rubbery mass with another blade in his free hand, and gets that stuck, too.:: * Snowman looks around. He sighs. "Fuckin' hate fightin' alongside mages... take all the beshitted fun out of it." <Blue> Suppose I'm of a mind to settle down somewhere... a lieutenancy's an awfully good way to start, don't you think? As soon as I rid him of *you*. ::gesturing towards Dawn with a throwing motion, sending crackling lightnings down the alley with apparent disregard for any of his minions that might be in the way of it:: <Blue> ::the remaining thug hits the dirt as the back of his neck prickles, just barely avoiding a lightning bolt over his head. He looks around hurriedly, and bleats as he realizes there's no backup:: * Snowman yells as the lightning crackles around him and he rolls to one side, slightly toasted. * Dawn grunts and twitches violently as one of the bolts slams into his chest. He nods once and spits on the palm of his scarred hand, then turns his hand over. From the end of his finger shoots a crackling green bolt. <Snowman> ::not really expecting an answer, Snowman looks at the remaining thug:: Ain't this some fuckin' shit here? What say to going and getting a drink and lettin' them fuckin' settle it, us? * Blue has enough time to widen his eyes and begin to hastily chant a counterspell before it nails him in the chest. He screams horribly as, first, his clothes turn to ash and flake off, and then, bits of the rest of him. He collapses into a pile of fine grit. <Blue> ::The remaining thug wisely remains on the ground, knife clattering free of his hand as he folds his hands over his head:: * Dawn grins, and jumps down off his crate. "That felt good." * Snowman sits up slowly. "Believe I've fuckin' reconsidered that drink, me." He looks over at the remains of Blue. "Yuck." <Dawn> Mm. ::he prods at the grit with his toe, looking for remains:: I was saving that in case I ran into Lyegen, but I figured this one would do. Needed to wrap up quick, before the Lizards showed. This isn't the docks. ::nods to the thug:: Want to drag him along for questions? <Snowman> ::nods, then grins wickedly at their captive:: Be right as rain, that. ::to the thug:: Hope you fuckin' know something, cause I ain't in th' mood to be fuckin' charitable. * Dawn summons a miniature fireball and uses it to burn through the web blocking the alley mouth. "Let's go, before someone thinks to investigate." * Choirboy shivers, looking up at his captors with wide-eyed, undisguised fear. <Snowman> ::nudges the thug with the tip of his katana:: Get up, fuckhead. I ain't carryin' ya. * Choirboy climbs slowly to his feet, wincing at the prod of Snowman's sword and sucking in his gut a little. * Choirboy eyes the burned hole in the web as if he's considering making a run for it. * Dawn gives the thug an evil glare, the fireball still burning in his hand. "Don't even think about it." <Snowman> ::whispers:: Go ahead, think about it, ye beshitted ass. Ain't hardly warmed up, me. * Choirboy looks down the street, his gaze stopping on Viper's sprawled and bleeding body. He freezes, and nods slowly. * Dawn nods, burning out the rest of the web, and then drops the fireball. He walks out of the alley and down the street, heading back toward the hotel. * Snowman sheathes his katana and follows along behind. Whenever Choirboy looks behind, he sees Snowman grinning evilly. * Choirboy shudders and stops looking behind him, following Dawn like a sheep. * Dawn heads back to the hotel, entering through the service entrance, and back to his room. <Snowman> ::softly, near Choirboy's ear:: Tell ya what, asshole. Every fuckin' thing you can tell us, won't be cuttin' a bit off ya, me. After we're all done, trim ya down to fuckin' size and set you out, me. Sound fair? <Choirboy> ::shudders, and moves a little faster to catch up to Dawn:: Please, I'll tell you everything, just... keep him away from me, will you? * Choirboy 's voice is unexpectedly light and sweet, and, between that and his soulful blue eyes, gives you an idea of where he got his nickname. <Snowman> ::looks hurt:: Ah, what? Be nice, me, and let ya keep your beshitted head and dick, firsties. Then ya just gotta come up with twenty or so things ta still be worth lookin' at. <Snowman> Won't miss a few fuckin' fingers and toes, you. ::he 'attempts' a more reassuring smile:: <Dawn> ::gives Choirboy a faint smile, but doesn't answer him:: * Snowman looks around briefly to make sure the rest of the wagon isn't tailing them, either for ambush or for report-backs. * Dawn opens the service door to the hotel and gestures them in. <Choirboy> ::shudders:: Please, no... I'm just a face, a little muscle sometimes. ::goes where he's told:: <Choirboy> I've only even seen a little bit of the operation, I swear. ::swallows hard and starts to look around, before realizing that's probably an unhealthy idea.:: <Snowman> ::sighs:: Can I just fuckin' kill him now, then, boss? <Dawn> No. He's got at least one piece of information I want. ::he opens the door to his room and precedes Choirboy and Snowman into the room, looking around sharply to make sure the occupant list matches his expectations:: <Choirboy> NO! No, I'll tell you what I know... ::licks his lips nervously, his innocent eyes looking not-so-innocent, for a moment:: You'll want to know about the girls, won't you? * Choirboy starts to follow Dawn in, and lets out a girlish shriek as Gar lazily lifts his head and looks around. "What in the holy pissing *fuck* is that?" <Snowman> ::grins:: Well, that's fuckin' one. <Bienca> ::looks up cheerfully:: Oh, Dawn, did you bring Gar some lunch? That was sweet of you. * Choirboy looks on the verge of fainting dead away. <Dawn> ::grins:: The housecat. I wouldn't make any sudden moves, if I were you. ::he leans down to scratch Gar's ears:: Hello, love. Sadly, Gar's lunch will have to wait. <Dawn> Violet. Take Calis to the other room for a while so we don't disturb his studying. Bie, love, please ask Gar to go with Calis. * Choirboy stands stock-still... or as stock-still as one can stand when one is trembling in fear. * Choirboy turns briefly to watch Violet go out, getting a briefly crafty look again. <Bienca> ::gestures at Gar:: Hasinthi, Gar. ::the cat yawns lazily, revealing every large tooth in his mouth before getting up to follow Calis:: * Choirboy freezes again, not daring to breathe. * Calis looks like he's about to protest, then closes his mouth and follows Violet, his book clutched tightly to his chest. * Dawn greets Bienca with a grin. "No more Blue." * Choirboy shudders violently again. <Bienca> ::smiles tightly:: Well, that's good. <Choirboy> ::hoarsely:: What do you want to know? <Choirboy> ::glancing at the door again:: Do you know you've got a traitor in your little family? * Snowman leans up against the door and draws his katana again, studying it under the lamp light. "Know that once these fuckin' things are drawn, have to taste blood, that? And so fuckin' sharp, they go right through bone without a squeal." * Dawn ignores Choirboy. He sheds his ratty cloak and opens his shirt to check the burn on his chest from the lightning bolt. He hisses softly as he prods at it. "Fuck, that smarts. Do we have any burn paste left, love?" <Choirboy> ::licks his lips, edging away from Snowman:: You... you know if you kill me, I can't tell you anything. Can't bloody well talk when I'm screaming either, can I? * Bienca nods and begins poking around in the few bundles of their things that remain. "If you didn't use it all, I think..." She rummages for a while, then finally locates the small jar. * Dawn sits on the edge of the bed and looks up at Choirboy. "Tell me about the girls." <Snowman> ::grins:: Boss here, he can silence the room, him. And I don't mind some fuckin' screaming. <Dawn> ::shoots Snowman a look, then looks back at Choirboy:: The girls? <Choirboy> You saw all the rugs? ::licks his lips nervously again, glancing at Snowman.:: Couple dozen carpets, for a couple dozen girls. ::he giggles nervously:: It's a sweet setup... brings in a hell of a lot more for them than they make now, that's for sure. <Dawn> Keep going. <Choirboy> Blue makes-- *made* sure they could breathe okay... they won't pay for dead merchandise. And then we dope them up good, and roll them up... carry them around plain as day, then, no questions asked. <Dawn> Mm. That much, I'd already figured out. Where's the warehouse? <Choirboy> ::licks his lips:: Over towards the Island. I could show you. <Snowman> ::eagerly, leaning forward a bit:: That don't count as one, boss, that? <Dawn> ::gives Snowman another look:: Put a sock in it, Snowman. He's talking. * Choirboy eyes Snowman warily, and edges closer to Dawn again. * Snowman mutters something under his breath that doesn't sound particularly friendly, but stops baiting the thug. <Dawn> You can show me later. Who else do you know in the racket? <Choirboy> ::thinks:: Snake and Bugeyes were driving the cart... the Fish brothers're muscle... Handsome Jack's like me, mostly workin' on the girls. ::grins briefly:: <Dawn> ::narrows his eyes:: Meaning what? <Choirboy> Haven't see the Big Man... but there's some foreign chickie that comes around with the deliveries, sometimes.... <Choirboy> ::pales at Dawn's tone:: Meaning... well, the girls go for us, often as not. Easy enough, chatting 'em up, to slip it in their drink, or a bit of food... <Dawn> ::nods shortly:: You done any special jobs lately? Little bit older than the usual girls, little better shape, maybe? <Snowman> ::his eyes narrow into ice-blue slits:: <Choirboy> ::mutters:: And well... some of 'em are used already... no one's minded us having a bit of fun, time to time. <Choirboy> Older, better shape? ::frowns, thinking:: Couple of the prettier girls have been sent on up to the Farm... Blue always ta-took those special. <Dawn> Where's the Farm? <Choirboy> ::frowns in thought:: Nothing I've been on lately, but Weasel, he went with Blue on a job recently. Didn't come back, either. ::shrugs:: <Dawn> ::teeth grinding:: HOW recently? <Choirboy> ::glances nervously at Snowman again:: I don't... don't know where it is, exactly. Up north somewheres. Arabel, I think... heard Himself has a place up there somewhere. <Dawn> What do they do there? <Choirboy> ::thinks:: This was... two-- no, maybe three days ago, Weasel left? <Dawn> ::sighs:: Make a note of it, Snowman. Weasel shows his face again, he's dead. <Snowman> ::his voice very, very tense:: So noted. <Dawn> ::to Choirboy:: Go on. You were saying, about the Farm...? <Choirboy> ::grinning a little:: Well... I said no one minded us having a bit of fun. Who's going to say "no" to the bossman, if he wants his fun, too? Goes up there to relax sometimes, I hear. <Choirboy> ::shrugs:: Sometimes, some of the boys get to go up there, he treats them. ::grins a little wider:: Heard tell he takes girls up there that've pissed him off, too. <Dawn> The girls. Who deals with the buyers? Where do you take the... carpets? * Snowman growls, sounding remarkably like Gar, tensing up on the balls of his feet restlessly. <Choirboy> ::shrugs:: South End. There's some sort of arrangement already, that's all I know, I swear. We take 'em halfway, bunch of foreigners offload them and take them somewheres else. <Dawn> Names? Passcodes? <Choirboy> ::shakes his head:: With the gibberish they talk, I dunno if they even speak Common. The mule that makes his deliveries to the warehouse, she's generally there. Sometimes a big guy, but generally her. <Choirboy> ::shrugs a shoulder:: She's one of them, I think. She speaks their lingo, anyway. <Dawn> ::nods:: All right. Not bad. You're going to take Snowman, now, and show him where the warehouse is, and where you take your deliveries. * Choirboy swallows hard. "*Him*? B-but... he wants to carve me up!" * Snowman isn't even grinning evilly anymore, his face deadly furious. * Choirboy pales. <Snowman> ::his voice silk smooth:: Oh, why not me? Sure you'll be as fuckin' safe as any of your girls, you. Look like the sort that wants to have a 'bit of fun', you. <Dawn> Consider it incentive not to try anything stupid, then. ::eyes Snowman:: You. Shut it, and keep it fucking shut. He's told us what he's got. Go look, and then come back. You can leave him to his friends. ::he catches Snowman's eye, his hand twitching at his side, where Choirboy can't see it well:: {Info first. Then he's yours.} * Snowman looks, if possible, even angrier, his jaw working. "Right. Fuckin' *right*. Move, fuckhead." He steps aside to allow Choirboy to leave the room. <Choirboy> L-look, I never hurt 'em. Didn't have to, with the stuff... and half of 'em used to be whores, anyway. ::jerks his head towards the door:: Bet you don't even know about that little sweet piece you're keeping here! <Dawn> ::half smiles:: I know more than you might suspect. ::he pulls a gold coin from his pocket and tosses it to Choirboy:: Go. * Choirboy looks surprised at the coin, but catches it with a grin. "Right. Pleasure doing business with you. C'mon, then." He heads out the door. * Snowman follows, his katana still out. |
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