Opportunity

[Obalym Poe]

Ioannes 18, in era 1 of the Celestine mandate. Era XIII Post Fractum.

Opportunity, it could come after eras of careful planning and hard work to come in fruition. Sometimes opportunity could come in a cycle or even a single brightening; this is one of those times when opportunity came crashing down in waves of blood and would vanish like smoke in the open air. It had been few brightenings of miserable sorrow, of lament and ultimate grief. Obalym had been to her lover’s impromptu gravesite during both night and day.

Obalym had spread her lovers ashes the day before, he had always wanted to be buired with his family, and all she could do is lay to rest what she belived to be his ashes, though she couldn't really tell if they belonged to him or the rest of his burnt down house. Now all that remained of him is a few of his possesions, a large wide brimmed black leather hat. A long black leather trenchcoat that is far to large for her she wore both of them regardless. With the last physical reminder of him she departs off into the night . She moved down through the alleyways and corners that only a seasoned native would know, even know with so many dead she went back to the routine of 'sensing' her surroudings, keeping out of sight, and making sure light steps kept her quiet when she moved.

Now it is survival that drove her, no longer could she let grief and strife cloud her judgment. Even now primal insticts took over once more, it's the pain in her stomach with the sooty grease in her hair that made her steal from this particular house, Obalym is certain this family all perished during the attack. It's a two story house, likely with an attict and a cellar. Large windows are the predominate feature, her eyes able to penitrate the darkness inside, no movement and blood covering the walls; at least it is how it seemed to her from the little vantage point it's not even an alley merely a space between hedge-walls just large enough for her to crawl through slowly. Certainly noone is inside, unless of course you are another thief like herself.

Larceny it comes with it's risks, say for instance if you cut through the back garden to the rear entrance. It had to be taken slow and measured each movement must be carefull. And the 'sensing' of ones surroundings the utmost importance, sight, smell, hearing, tactile and the all important instictual sense it helped keep all those wonderfull pieces attached in the right places.

Obalym crawled through the bushes until she came to something worse than a wall, those are scaleable, however having an open patio that gives an excellent view to the houses on either side and directly behind is bad, very bad. It means if anyone is in there even at this late hour someone could see her and alert the authorities who wouldn't mind sticking a bit of steel between her ribs. Which of course is very bad for buisness the half vysstichi wouldn't stand for such barbarism it's bad for buisness afterall. Now what to do, take the risk and possibly save herself some time or find a differant entrance and waste time to her so called opportunity. In fact she hasn't been here at all first time Obalym has seen the place, and normally she wouldn't have a foolish undertaking, however the whole not eating for three days and wallowing in grief has clouded her better judgment to even the possibility of a clean bed, clean clothes, and some food to eat.

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

At the beginning of the bushes where Obalym had started her little mission a small squad appeared. It was a strange little trio, a man dressed far too well for this part of town in a large overcoat and with him two plainly attired and masked guards who scanned the area nervously. "You know we should stick to downstairs boss." One said, "yeah it can be dangerous up here." The other said quietly. The voices were tinted with an elvish accent.

The silent man was of course Dimitri, it was simple why he was up here, he could not go into the center for fear of arrest so he stayed in the lowercity most of the time but on occasion he desired to look at the sun and the moon such was the case now. With his guards he merely picked a spot in the slums and watched the sky which was such a treat after being down in the world below for some time.

Of course Obalym from her little hideout would hear all this, they could not see the backgarden so perhaps it would affect her plan very little, it was in her hands what to do next.

[Obalym Poe]

There is a pause in her thought akin to a deep breath slow, measured and full of an easing calm that could sooth rage and soften tears. Oh so carefully does the small grey hand find her lockpick set nestled within her trenchcoat. She unrolled it in front of her placing several of the oddly shaped tools between her lips. Larceny isn't exactly a technical skill, knowelege of course is important but only if it is aplicable knowlege. Really she doesn't know what the tools are called but she does know how they work; when to use them and when not to use them.

It's not like someone sat down with her as a child to read the halfbreed Criminal Intent: childrens version. Of course if she had been taught from that particular book would have told her a solution to three people treading ever closer to the saftey of her blanket of stealth. From somewhere behind her the disembodied voices of male elves came from her entrance. At that moment a spike of andrenaline thundered through her viens, fear, anger, and grief roiling to a near rampage.

She wouldn't; no couldn't allow herself to be caught, by whomever it may be, the city gaurd? Perhaps it is the owner of these well to do houses, or even worse a big bad wolf. With all his sharp teeth and large eyes a more experianced well equiped criminal in most cases is far worse her blood to flesh ratio expecially when they would not hesitate to give her a big bowl of vitamin bleed your ass to death with a knife in the back.

Still her insticts would not allow her to die belly up begging for mercy, no she would wait and listen then when the time is right attempt to move away and into the house via the large back doors.

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

They had no idea she was there, even the hearing of the elves could not detect her or if it did they were not telling. The voices continued mostly the elves asking to go back down below. Dimitri would finally speak, his voice was of Arium, brash and bold, harsh and deep like a bell lost in a great mine tolling for inevitable virtue. There was no virtue here, his voice was great to match his ambition but not his virtue, his words were simple as ever.

"I tire of your complaints, fear is a worthy mistress but for others not for us. The guard would never arrest me, they are too corrupt and loyal to their Duke, and the Thane is quiet in her mansion, she needed me to be her face, but it was too dangerous, the guard will remain loyal under Dorvold and allow our activities to continue." A pause and then more, "The Slavers guild must be set up before the Winter, it will bring great profits to our pockets and propel your mistress to power and that is your wish is it not? To help her gain power, we all want the same thing for different reasons around here."

There was a pause and the sound of amatch being struck, then the heady smell of tobacco as Dimitri began sucking upon his pipe, "Plus most of the people round here died in the attacks, there are no witnesses to this discussionorto hand us in, we must strike soon and gain footholds in the world above, I am working on a spy in Aeyleria Prime, and our criminal activities in this city are to be increased, especially if the bood alley gang are to be gone, we can move in instead. After all whoelse has the guard on their side in this damned city?"

A laugh and then silence for a moment, "Go patrol the block." Came Dimitri's voice and the sound of two steps of footsteps vanishing away, then just the smell of tobacco and the faint sound of suckling. He was alone but safe.

[Obalym Poe]

Of course the people that have taken up station so close to her would of course be criminals. The boss even bieng the benevolent sort that creates an entire guild dedicated to the vile enslavement of formely free souls. However to top it all off it seems from this little conversation that this isn't just any ordinary criminal it is THE criminal himself. Mr. Wladisyaw former captain of the gaurd and imperial criminal, not that she is a big fan of imperial loyalists save for her brother. Then again the creed of a heartless slaver came to an impass for sanctity or sanctuary within Obalym's ethics. Whichever ethics those may be are of course questionable.

A thought struck her, staring at the doors that lead to an easy target, certainly she could take whatever the corpses have left for her. Or she could engage this fellow in a nice conversation, ideas swirled in the chaotic myraid of emotions that have plagued her more than the empty gnawing of a hungry stomach. Now here is another basic lesson for larceny the projection of your strength even if it is an intagible. For instance she could walk up behind the big bad wolf and tell him if he turns around she will put a crossbow bolt between his eyes. So unless he is a mind reader Mr. Big bad wolf wont know if Obalym is even holding a crossbow or not, let alone take the rist of actually finding that there is a bolt just waiting to become best friends with his own brains.

For him she got the feeling that coming at him with a totally differant angle would be the best for Mr. Wolf. Just as she entered the brush she slowly crawled out rolling methodically out on the grass till she is free of the greedy grabbing branches of annoying prickly shrubbery. She eases herself up palming the set of lock picks up into her right sleeve while settling herself into a comfortable position upon a willow tree just a couple feet taller than herself.

"So Mr. Big Bad Wolf himself" She spoke aloud, snapping sharp with a conjured confidence. "You know i thought you would be taller in person, bieng the former captain of the gaurd and all. I thought all you captain types were all tall and dashing. I guess your not much of the tall dashing type, well Mr Wolf my name is Fooly Cooly" There is a slight pause almost as if she would be waiting for him to speak her voice slices the air again soft and reasuring "And please restrain from doing something foolish, your bieng watched" Bye only one person "Neither you or your gaurds found me and well..honestly i'm not exactly the most stealthy."

Even know her adrenaline thrundered through her head pounding out sounds and making the world feel as if time it's self was slowing down. Though with the fear, with the anger, with the sorrow came the instinct to survive and all her raging emotions did is narrow her passion into a fine razor point stabbing into the heart of her survivalist nature and fueling it with newfound energy. "So Mr. Wolf please step into my office."

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

The big bad wolf was big if nothing else, well over six feet and broad as well, the ideal Arium man, made to combat the elements. He turned round and for the first time she could see him properly. He was dressed how he normally dressed in the upper city, his trollhide leather armour with an overcoat over it, a small cravat clung to his neck and with its brilliant scarlet colour lent some colour to the scene. He wore harsh military boots and black silk gloves, and on his face a silken bandage across his left eye, his hair was gone but a wide brimmed hat was over his bald head. Gold rimmed spectacles were balanced precariously on the tip of his nose.

"Well well, it seems you have me Miss Fooly Cooly in a predicament, what is more I am unarmed." He smiled gently showing a row of sharpened teeth, "What is a pretty young thing like you doing out in such a nasty place as the slums, it is dangerous you know, men like me are around." That smile again as he stared without fear at the girl, his one good eye blinking occasionally and the brilliant blue drawing her in, "My men will be back soon, speak while you have my attention, otherwise I might get nasty." He looked up at the sky for a moment before keeping his eyes upon her awaiting her words.

[Obalym Poe]

Her having him in a prediciment odd yes for the young waif like figure with her curly unkept and greasy hair; beneth a wide brimmed hat. Her grey skin mottled in smudges of dirt and spots of bruises. Here and there is a cut or nick and with her inky leather trenchcoat to top it all off she didn't look like much more than a street urchin; which of course she isn't much more than that. A smile comes to her bright upturned lips gives her a deceptivly welcoming appearance. Its a sort of satisfied grin that comes with an unlikely rogueish victory "Pppfftt i grew up here that's what i am doing here. Better question what is Mr. Big bad Wolf doing out here" Her pale elegent brow raises "Just out to see the stars?"

Bright eyes lock unto his one blue eye, she had a pretty good guess as to what caused his little loss of vision mishap. Probably the same reason everyone else in this hellish city is dead "So your going to fill the void when the blood alley gang falls...Well i want in, whatever your doing it's going to be big. Maybe sometimes there are things that need to be 'accuired' or sometimes there are places you can't get to. I can get you your things and get you into places you wouldn't normally be able to get into. And all i ask in return is a little buisness"

She shrugs gesturing with her left hand "Think of me something akin to a mason building a house for you. You just pay me and i'll take care of the rest. I'm assuming if you are at all interested you would prefer me to handle simple tasks at first to prove i'm worth my salt" That confident voice ringing sharp with her own very urban accent that lives in the slums of Vortex. Biting, strong, and a bit of something akin to an overconfident winter.

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

He grinned, she was greedy, easy prey for one who could twist words around. But he admired her in a way, she was like Arium, cold and biting, brave and true, foolish admittedly but brave. Bravery meant a lot in a world of politics, bravery was claimed by a bygone age Dimitri led with his very soul. "I deal with the owercity not the slums, money is better in slaving a drugs, simple robbery is not elegant enough for me." He looked at her and smiled, "I always could use more people however, people of the slums have their uses, they know others of the slums and carry a network with them in their back-pockets, that is their great advantage."

He looked her up and down, she was a tasty morsel that much was true, a bit rough maybe but he decided he wanted her, she could work for him but he wanted to taste her first. "If you want to work for me we are going to have to conduct an interview on my terms precious, I wont employ someone who sits in a tree telling me how life is." He smiled, "Come down here and give me as cuddle, if you do that I will give you some coin to buy your next meal with and then we can talk business." He meant business, even now it must be clear to her that those elves would be coming back, elves from the darkness below with their cruel ways and endless pleasure at the art of torture.

[Obalym Poe]

Slavery and drugs, elegent? It's not something the half-vyssi ever expected to hear in the same sentance. Besies that Mr wolf talked about the people in the slums as if they are akin to an old rotten sandwich so overgrown with fungi that it becomes an entirely new race of sentiant sandwich men. Even the way he spoke of her home Them and Their uses he spoke the way carpenter would about one of his hammers or nails. Obalym from the slums just a pawn under his thumb. She snarled inwardly wishing she had the power roam free without the need of less unsavory characters than even herself.

She took herself off of the tree tilting her wide brimmed hat back just a bit while she considers his offer that has the choking feeling of a demand to it. And in all honesty she didn't want to be touched or touching anyone. It made the raw wound of her love sprout into mind, that beautiful Esh, even now she still loved him. Even now the power of her bond wormed through with guilt, the guilt of an unfaithfull lover. Nothing save the fact she hadn't eaten in three days could compell her to even shake his hand in a friendly greeting. Not exactly the affectionate type.

How long had it been since his gaurds were asked to patrol the block, and seeing as she is alone perhaps it would be a good point in time to yield and give him his little cuddle. A primal sound escaped her lips just as her tonge came to shift the position of her lip ring, that family heirloom made of silver with vyssi words socketed with a dark amythest. "Fine, a cuddle, and only that"

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

Everything had a price and Dimitri enjoyed this sort of encounter, gently he waited and smiled, everything did have a price, he had bought himself supremacy in this encounter and now his mind rolled onwards to how he could fit this little darling in his overall schemes. The slums were an oft undervalued part of the city and perhaps he could use her as an informant. However humanity was never designed to be the perfect race of planners, his ambition was at this time to explore her countours as much as to explore her skills in other departments.

"A cuddle and only that." He repeated as he waited for her to come to him and embrace him.

[Obalym Poe]

She slinked off of her position touching down to the grass with soft leather boots and ever so slowly she keeps her eyes down staring at his feet while she comforted herself with the scent of her dead lover. She closed her eyes and wrapped her slender arms around Dimitri, then it happened when she finally did it. A shamefull constricting feeling of dread and guilt set into her core squeazing until the very tips of her extremities tingled with the horrible sensation.

Her head tilted back looking up at the very Big very Bad wolf, at that moment something sparked her synapses a brow raised and she wondered if the man treated every female with a casual gluttony. Are all women to him just fleshy toys. She barely held back a snarling glare opting instead to push her face into the bottom of his chest. Damn he is tall, and big much larger than she originally thought.

"So what did you have in mind?" and as letters in her mind formed to accented sounds upon her tongue that drifted into consious and understanding of sentient minds did that halfbreed wish those words were not spoken. "Shouldn't we move somewhere more acoomidating to speaking of buisness?"

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

Like two great snakes his arms wrapped around her and held her to him. He did not speak for a time just allowing her to react how she wished, she amused him and he enjoyed having her frail body pushed against him. His hands moved over her limited curves, running through her hair and eventually one hand rested on the small of her back holding her to him, the other softly rested upon her bottom and he looked down at her a slight half smile upon his face.

"I have a little control over crime in this city, and I have a strong link with the armed forces here so I can arrange my smuggling and slaving ventures far better than any other crime group." He winked at her gently, "You want a slice of my action then you are going to have to dance to my tune for a little while, as for somewhere more accomodating, shall we move down into the world below? I promise I shall take good care of you as long as you keep my attention."

[Obalym Poe]

Eyes closed shut her mind frantically trying to close out the sensations of unfamiliar hands run along her body and through her hair, it sent tingling chills all throughout her body causing a momentary shiver to follow rapidly. Dimitri may be enjoying the affectionate moment however the petite halfbreed is another story altogeather. The paranoia of predation, prostitution and drugs ran deep scars through her soul, her body langauge the tense jerks of her muscles. The reflexive twitches that move her body away, ever try petting a hungry dog while offering the beast food. Yeah it is something like that.

"Down below into Har'oloth?" she grimaced, because Har'oloth is favorite place, her father is a Vysstichi. And that lip ring of hers that once again finds a certain master playing with it out of nervous habit. Considering the number of houses that are constantly trying to destroy each other with subterfuge she wouldn't want to be accidentaly get caught in the crossfire just cause some black skinned elf put some secrect sause in her mothers oven.

Dancing to the tune of a wolf. A wolfs tune of choice, howling to the moon. "Well i suppose it couldn't hurt. You know to dance to your tune at least a little" Lies all lies, survival always hurt, expecially when the burning desire to live scorched away your heart to a black throbbing sore.

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

"I have a small place on the first level, my main estate is deep on the third plane but only a few are allowed there and you need to earn my trust first." He smiled gently and wrapped his arms around her middle as he bega to walk with her towards one of the Vertexes to lead back down the lowercity. The guards were back now also and walked a comofrtable distance behind them. She was held close to him, clearly he was taken with her at this moment and unwilling to let her go.

"Tell me a little of yourself and of your family if you would be so kind? Consider this an interview to your new life as one of my employees."

[Obalym Poe]

She is quite familiar with this territory even knowing the name of the particular vertex that they were moving toward. A new life as one of his employees huh? Couldn't be worse than living off the streets as a crusty urchin who can only steal just enough to scrape by a meager living. So the offer of doing something more than just surviving, but living, and thriving in comfort that unattainable dream seemed to be just within reach now she would even be able to see the whole empire. See both of her brothers and if any hope at all remained find her sister.

"Well Former captain of the guard Dimitri Wladisyaw it seems i already know more about you than you of me. However your reputation precedes you, especially having been in such a notable position in accordance with my uh; chosen profession" Her cold biting accent laid on thick and strong, to an outsider it would sound nearly a snarling demand. Though to her ears and probably Dimitri's; only passing conversation came to existence "My real name Is Obalym, I was born and raised in vortex. My father whom I never met only left me with a worthless heirloom which I now wear on my lip." she shrugs speaking as if her life is completely normal.

"My mother worked as a prostitute to feed her drug addictions and died of a drug overdose about four patterns ago. At the same time my brother barely two patterns old was taken by priest of Camelyn as an orphan. I don't know where he is at" She continues without flinching, not a change in her monotone, or even moisture in her eyes, and her expression unmoved. “And last I saw of my younger sister she was abducted and taken into Har’oloth” A pause separated the half-breeds thoughts “I have an older brother, he joined the imperial legions.” She shrugs “So there really isn’t much to say about my family. Considering I havn’t seen any living members in about four patterns”

“Myself well, I’m not the touchy feely type” a smirk forms while she eyes the arms around her though she makes no move to push away from him “And of course I only wish to become better at my chosen profession like any normal person with a sense of pride. That would require some training however.”