roleplay

[Natomi]

Mid afternoon, the whistle blew sounding it was lunch time.
Algard removed his thick leather gloves and strolled out into the fresh air, or at least as fresh as it got, the coal which heated the blast furnaces gave this side of the docks a murky, unhealthy dinge.
the steel mill turned molten steel into blooms, ingots, slabs and sheets which were used to construct bridges, engines and all kinds of auto motives.
Algard had never had an interest in such things before but after working a few weeks at the mill he discovered a new found love for steam engines.

The boats on the dock side bobbed as a larger steam barge slowed ready to dock. He took a sip of water from a flask and closed his eyes, he actually loved the sound here, it was so loud. The hissing of steam, the clanking of metal hitting metal.
He looked down to the brown paper bag in his other hand, sandwiches, why did he continue to make himself sandwiches? he never ate them.
He broken off tiny chunks of bread and threw it into the dock where a pair of swans had made it their home.

[chicken]

A mix of good- and bad-natured jeers followed the path of one skinny little urchin boy as he skittered through the crowds of the docks and steelyard. He really was a tiny little thing, all skin and bones and so smeared with soot and ash that it was almost impossible to tell just how pale that skin really was, all pale and soft and smoother than a street urchin's ought to be. Which, all things considered, was probably on purpose. When you didn't have anyone to claim you, being pretty was rarely a good thing. And, with those big blue eyes and delicate, feminine features, Flek was certainly that.

Pulling down his "newsboy" cap, he ducked hastily past a pair of what he was fairly certain were slave traders, a spike of adrenaline hurrying him along. As usual, they ignored him, and he made it safely to the docks. More importantly, to the swans--and to the one man who never ate his lunch like he ought. Although his stomach growled, Flek took a moment to smile at the swans, waving at them. They acknowledged him with an absent sort of fondness, having developed an unusual amount of love for this little child when he had run into their nest to hide from those who meant him ill. After protecting him that time, they had fairly persisted in it. People that noticed made jokes about it, and then, sometimes, they thought of how he was with other animals, and his his ears had just a little bit of a point, and they wondered.

Usually they just ignored him, though, which was just as well for the little Karo refugee, who had come an awfully long way just to live on another street corner and work in another shipyard. Better than Karo, he'd say when people asked, which they rarely did. Better than Karo.

He turned away from the swans and crept carefully towards Algard, watching the man with wide, nervous eyes. He got to within a meter and a half, then sat down, gaze dropping to stare at the ground in silence.


Mao stared with more than a few misgivings at the steelyard, clenching her hand around the wanted poster. At the inn, she had asked around and had the steel- and shipyards suggested for a place to find both info about Karo, and a means to get there. And, they'd said, possibly a traveling companion or two. She wasn't sure what she thought of the idea of a traveling companion, but hopefully she could get some advice on Karo and its king. She had been there once, but that was so long ago she doubted any of what she knew pertained to present day.

Absently, she reached up to rub the heavy hoop--more like a ring for the finger than the ear, and big even for that--of etched ancient gold, bearing her own king's symbol. Even now that she found herself an estranged champion, she took comfort in knowing her old friend lived. And, so long as that hoop bore her king's symbol, he was both alive and, more-or-less, healthy. Working the magic had left both herself and her king drained for a week, but the security had been worth it. When she was closer, the ring could even tell her when he was in trouble, or what his emotions were like if she was closer still. This far out, though, it mostly just told her if her was alive and, she was fairly certain it would tell her if he was dying. Only three others had a ring such as this, and only the king's adviser was nearly as powerful as hers.

But she was letting herself get distracted, and she dropped her hand with a faint grimace. Right; info about Karo. Now then--how to go about that? Well, she could just start questioning people...And that sounded like her only course of action, so she strolled casually off to find someone who seemed promising.

{{ Flek's a girl. But I think I'll keep referring to her as a boy so I don't forget she's supposed to look like a boy. I'll get a reference pic of her soon. >3< }}


[edit]
{{ Here she is: tada~ She looks too girly but..whatever. Also, I hate that sideview. =| >3< }}

[Natomi]

Algard didn't know why he loved the swans so much, perhaps it was because they gave off such a pure, elegant image until the last second then would attack. He chuckled, which was more like a grunt, remembering the poor couple in their rowing boat, the man sung love songs to his bride to be until the swans attacked and knocked the poor man out of the boat into the river.
He'd never catch himself singing love songs to a woman! that's for damn certain!
Algard had noticed the boy sitting there, he tore half his sandwich in half and threw it in front of the boys feet without a glance in his direction. Algard had been asked by a group of sailors not to feed the swans anymore, they were beginning to make things difficult, but he did anyway, no one could stop him from doing something he enjoyed...and if he encouraged this little side kick to feed them too it will cause more problems for those arrogant morons.

A large group of men were sat inside the entrance to the huge open warehouse, they watched Mao mid chew.
"is everything all right little miss?" a man affectionately know as Crazy Phil, he was a stocky man and was all muscle. His face was smeared with the usual steel mongers soot apart from two clean circles around his eyes where his goggles had been.

[chicken]

Flek rubbed at his chin absently, expressing with a faint grimace his distaste for just how thick the soot was getting in some places. Pretty soon he'd be peeling it off like some sort of overly thick paint. Ugh. Then the half a sandwich landed in front of him, and he perked up visibly. Smiling at this little gleeful venture, he picked up the sandwich and began to tear careful pieces from it, tossing them to the swans. He missed a few times, at first, but got the hang of it quickly enough. Flek liked the swans, same as they liked him. Not just because they'd protected him either; no, he loved how temperamental such beautiful things could be, and how much damage they did when they got it into their heads to do some.

Swans were just great. Flek wanted to be like a swan--not the beautiful part; he would be just as happy looking plain as a sparrow. But being able to protect himself would be nice.



Mao paused in her stroll, tilting her head to look at the man, careful to exercise the caution she had practiced for quite a long time; she couldn't very well hide all of her features, but her hood kept at least the ears hidden, and her eyes shadowed. That wanted poster didn't look nearly enough like her to worry her much, particularly since she doubted many people around her gave a lick about what Karo's notorious king wanted, but it was better safe than sorry. Besides; not everyone liked the high elves much, or elves at all for that matter.

After a moment, she let her mouth curve in a leisurely smile. "That depends," she murmured, determined not to let the 'little miss' effect her. She wasn't angry. She wasn't angry...I'm not fucking little! "What can you tell me about Karo?" Always to the point, our little elf--er, not little. Right. Oh shush, Mao; you're a short little thing and you know it. Average enough for a human, but you're just a whee little--ohowowokayI'msorry.

[Natomi]

"So" Algard grumbled " i have no bread left..so you'd better have something interesting to tell me or i'm going to ask you real nicely to get lost ..." He brushed the crumbs from his lap and stood up.

"Karo?" Crazy Phil looked back to the group of men he had been sat with as the mumbled to each other "well miss... it's a bad place, not a place for a beautiful little flower like you to be goin adventurin in, full of murders and theives, that's what i heard anyways" the men behind him nodded in agreement "why do you want to know sweetheart? not plannin a trip their on your own now are ya?"
Crazy Phil had never actually been too Karo, but the information had been given to him from a trustworthy source so much be true!

[chicken]

Flek started when Algard stood, then scrambled to his feet, flushing. For a moment, he just felt downright silly. All sorts of silly, in fact. Like he'd been doing something incredibly stupid and girly and been caught by this man, even though he was the one who'd been doing it in the first place. Which just made him feel all the sillier. Then he got his head under control, untied his tongue, and ducked his head. "N'sir, jus'that I, uh, that is...I thank'ee for lettin me feed them with ya, sir. And, thank'ee fors feedin 'em." He shifted in embarrassment, then lifted his head a bit to look at Algard curiously. Then he coughed and ducked his head again, pulling the brim of his hat down a bit more. A nervous habit, as it happened.



Mao had had a lot of people comment on her appearance over the years. Most of it wasn't flattering, and most of the flattery had been false. Humans, however, she had found to have...unusual taste. Although, considering how widely varying they way, she supposed it wasn't so unusual. Still, using the term 'flower' seemed to be pushing it. Her mother was a flower, with her doe-like eyes and milky skin and a curtain of honey for hair. Mao was more like...like a tree. Very sturdy, and pleasant enough to look at, graceful and powerful and old. Not a flower. She imagined it was probably the best compliment the poor man could think of though, and her suspicions were nearabout confirmed when he called her 'sweetheart'. Bleh.

"Not an adventure, but yes; I am intending to visit," she told him with another polite smile. After so many years in the elven Courts, being convincing in her politeness came nearly as easy as breathing for her. Being openly rude in the Courts was...inadvisable. "Would you happen to know of anyone with more...first-person information, by any chance? I was hoping to find out about their king."

[Natomi]

"they remind me of myself" Algard muttered "nice to look at but likely to break your arm if you get too close" Algard thought he had better make an effort to talk to the lad "..you work in the mill? it's hard work for a pip squeak, are they treating you well?"

"Algard" a few men spoke at once "he used to live there, ran away 10 years back and started working here, maybe he'll be able to give you more information"

[chicken]

Flek smiled a bit, amused by Algard's comparing himself to swans. Not an ounce of humble this man had, at least not of the false variety. Not a bad thing, he thought. He shrugged at the man's question. "Well enough," he said. "Better'n back home. The boss'll keep the baddies off'a me, s'long as I don't go slackin' about, and if he ain't here, them two feathered-friends look af'a me. Not so much kickin' about here. S'hard work, but not bad." Flek seemed to think each thing he said through quite carefully, with an intelligence his 'accent' hid. The boss was, of course, the man who ran the steelyard, although not the one who owned it. More than Flek realized, the man had taken a liking to Flek, having a child at Flek's age waiting for him back home. He was the one that kept Flek fed and made sure he always got his proper pay. He was a tough older man, strict and blunt, but his heart was good and warm at least. He'd probably have taken Flek home with him to let his wife coddle him, except he was fairly confident the boy would bolt and never return the moment he tried. Not a trusting sort, Flek, although he seemed quite fond of Algard. Probably the swans' fault.



Mao felt instantly guilty, being a woman of mood swings apparently; well, once you got to a certain age, things started to get a bit blurry, she supposed. Perhaps this 'venture' would settle her opinions of people. It seemed she had become more of an elf over the years than anticipated. Or maybe these guys really were idiots...well, they'd helped her, so she made herself think more kindly of them and smiled.

"Thank you," she said. "Do you know where I could find him?"

{{ At some point, I'm going to get really tired of trying to type out Flek's accent/bad English. =| }}

[Natomi]

Algard nodded "if you get any bother, find me." He began to wander back to the mill "now be off with you boy"

The men began to snicker "swan bothering" one man laughed. "By the docks miss" Crazy Phil answered trying to keep a straight face "has an obsession with the swans you see, always feeding those swans he is, if he'd treat people like he treats em then well, he might have a few more friends. Not the most social sort isn't Algard, likes to keep himself to himself." "And the swans" a man laughed from behind them
Crazy Phil shhed him and continued "don't expect too much help offa him, odd sort of bloke.."

[chicken]

Flek ducked his head. "Yessir," he said. "Thank'ee sir." He was smiling, but though his words were honest enough, the truth was that he'd do no such thing; he was too used to being "bullied"--to put it lightly--to ever get it through his head to go to someone else for help. At least he went to the swans.


Mao hid a grimace. Swans? Swans. Great. Of course there's swans. This adventure was already off to a bad start, and it hadn't even begun yet!

Tilting her head enough that her eyes could be seen better, although her ears still remained mostly hidden, she smiled gratefully at them. "Thank you," she said. "I'll go and find him. Hopefully he'll at least give me a bit of help." With that, she turned and strode off, setting a brisk pace through the steelyard and to the docks. Not so swift however that she collided with Algard. She stopped several long strides away from him, taking a moment to take in the swans, the boy, and the man before she spoke.

"Are you Algard?" she asked, looking at him patiently. And pointedly not looking at the swans, who were, she noticed, absolutely glaring at her. She was, much to her chagrin and dismay, closer to the damn birds than Algard. And they very distinctly did not think well of her. Of course not. Fucking birds. Mao hated birds. Especially big birds like swans that could, and would, do damage. And damn if she wasn't too much her mother's daughter to ever hurt the stupid things, although after all the grief feathered folks had put her through, she was just about ready to go to the god of birds and kill him a few times for spite. It was absolutely ridiculous how much she and birds hated each other. It was an on-sight thing too; another genetic-retardation from her stupid parents. Among her numerous siblings, she was undoubtedly the unfortunate one when it came to genetics. Although, at least she was doing better than them in most everything else. Except marriage and such...But still. Birds loved her mother. Loved her like she was their shining deity of everything good and holy and wonderful and shiny--and they loathed her without rhyme or reason. Dogs and horses liked her; and that was it. Cats were moderately tolerant of her, deer tended to have a neutral relationship with her, goats had a great fondness for eating her clothing(even, or perhaps, especially when she was wearing them), badgers were unusually tolerant of her presence(to the point of fondness, for a badger at least), snakes ignored her, and bird hated her. Most animals were fairly neutral to her though, no love, hate or fear spared for her presence, unless she was out hunting. But while sometimes animals randomly developed and intense hatred for her, only dogs, horses and badgers(and a few other unpleasant animals) ever liked her, let alone devoted themselves to her. It had puzzled her mother to no end.

[Natomi]

Algard's eyes shifted to the woman "...yes, what do you want?" with his usual harsh tone "i dont have much time to be standing around talking, i have to get back to work" he paused "so make it quick.." he put his hands in his pockets looking awkward. Algard was not a talker, he didn't like too or perhaps didn't know how to communicate with people, he did however make sure the boy was stood behind him in a protective way. He was only a boy after all,he could tolerate children a lot more than he could grown ups but still he'd rather be on his own

[chicken]

One of the swans, feeling just as protective of the boy as Algard, though the boy himself looked mostly confused, started coming towards them, calling a threat. Mao flung her hood back in an unintentionally dramatic gesture, bringing into light her features. In truth, despite what her own people thought, some would consider Mao to be a truly stunning creature. Not beautiful by any means, but stunning in her own right. With that exotic skin and those eyes, breathtaking even if they were small, and those long, artistically shaped and heavily decorated ears only added to that exotic attraction, as did the graceful way she moved, like a dancer(or a very skilled fighter), and the slightly arrogant tilt of her chin as she glowered at the swan. But the twist of her lips, exasperated and irritable, was completely mundane.

"Oh hush, you great big feathered fiend," she snapped. "Or I'll sic my mother on you." Surprisingly, the swan took pause. Then, still making angry little huffing noises, it retreated to its mate's side once more and Mao let out a little huff of her own. Then she looked at Algard, meeting his gaze directly, and the gleam in those eyes was why no man--or woman, for that matter--had ever thought to disobey her orders; despite her own dislike of humans and, in particular, being a warrior, there was just something commanding about those eyes, eyes that you could trust to not mislead or lie to you. Those under her command had not only been obedient, they had been loyal. The expression ebbed after just a moment, leaving her, not lacking, but.. normal enough, at least. Her irritation over the swans ebbed quickly, after all, so keeping those eyes was nearabout impossible. Especially since she didn't even know about those eyes; she'd never had a chance to see herself in commander mode.

"My name is Mao," she said. "And I require information pertaining to Karo. If you could assist, I could pay you for your time." The boy, she noticed half-absently, flinched when she said 'Karo.' She filed that away for future reference.