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Post by Zeeland "Blackeye" Ray on Mar 22, 2024 17:29:06 GMT -5
How long has it been since Zeeland last visted Zeinav City? Years? Months? He couldn't recall, but it mattered not, he had a job to do. He stepped into the nearest alleyway, acting as if he was confident in where he was going. He may have been here before, but he was always lost in the streets of the city.
Where would his target be? He wondered to himself, as he scuttled towards the nearest tavern, this city was easy to get lost in, and Zeeland didn't have the money or connections to make things easier for himself. He would have to make do with what he had on hand, a crossbow, a journal, and some orders. He recalled the conversation he had with Lord Voulsen.
"Who is it this time?" He had asked, as he sat down across from the lord.
"I have two targets for you, names are on the paper. I should warn you, second one is a fighter. First one should easy however, unless you end getting your horse stolen again."
"Please, that only happened once, maybe twice, I've gotten better at securing my horse."
"Well don't blame me if it happens again. Anyways, don't come back here when your done, I want you to lay low for a while."
"These names will raise questions?"
"Undoubtedly, I am only human after all."
Zeeland's mind raced back to the present as he noticed that he had gotten lost. The alleyways all looked so familiar, and it made traversing them difficult. He stopped and took a look around, paying attention to the gang signs painted around him.
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The Tinkertons
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Post by Fish the Tinkerer on Mar 23, 2024 23:29:15 GMT -5
It had also been a minute or two since Fish the now Tinkerer had arrived in Zeinav City proper. Even as they started to reconsider a life of crime, they still had a lot of work to do. Helping found the Tinkertons, chasing down enemies of the Consortium, hassling sea dragons. For a small bird, it was a lot of work to be doing.
Fish still had plenty of contacts in the city. They were fortunate to catch wind Zeeland moving through the city, any new face is noted among the criminals. It's either a tourist to fleece or a potential threat. Normally, Fish would assume the latter but recent life events had them considering a third option. A potential fried.
As he makes his way through the alleyways, it is hard to tell if the small aviankin creature sitting on top of the crates had appeared from thin air or if they'd been there the whole time. Fish's skills as a shadow dancer made it a bit of both, but that was for a later discussion.
They look over to the man in the alley, "You seem lost. Do you know where you are?" The crow communicates exclusively in sign language.
Fish gives the man a moment to collect himself and see whether or not Zeeland understands sign language. If not, Fish would write it down on a chalk and slate removed from their bag. They could only hope he knew how to read, last time they had to resort to this it ended poorly.
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Post by Zeeland "Blackeye" Ray on Mar 23, 2024 23:50:44 GMT -5
Zeeland stared at the Tinkerer for a few seconds, before realizing that the man was asking if he was lost. Zeeland didn't understand sign language, but he had learned how to read people faces, and this was a face of nervous charity. Zeeland knew better than attack someone he didn't know, after all, one wrong move could cost him the opportunities needed to do his work.
He decided to have a little chat with the Tinkerer, after all, Tinkerers managed to find themselves in strange situations. Situations that could prove to be beneficial.
"You must be a Tinkerer, I'm glad that the hostilities of Zeinav City do not push your kind away. Say, I don't speak sign but you weren't offering directions were you? I have a old friend in the city, his name is Cooper Hudson, I can't recall him. My memory you see has gotten worse over the years on account of my head trauma caused by a horse attack. I'm Nicholas Kelley, by the way."
"Nicholas Kelley" offered a handshake to the Tinkerer hoping to at least win the support of a alley. He wouldn't remain a alley of course, but "Nicholas" didn't see the Tinkerer being all that offended over a little bit of deception.
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Post by Fish the Tinkerer on Mar 25, 2024 16:13:07 GMT -5
Fish was not entirely sold by the horse attack story. The man seemed to be in far too good of mental faculties and there was no apparent injury, though magical healing can cover for a lot. Fish couldn't definitively say whether or not it was a lie.
Zeeland was smart to err on the side of caution when it came to this small bird. The cloak that enveloped their lower half was dark which meant it was impossible to tell what might be hiding underneath there. Weapons, handcuffs, religious pamphlets, anything is possible.
"Fish perhaps has heard of this name..." They pull out a chalk and slate to write down their words rather than speak them. This also meant that the offered hand went unshaked, but that was more a result of the bird's poor social skills than anything else.
"Fish is better with faces and clothing than names, names can be lies." They lack the ability to smirk thanks to their beak, but they have been learning more about how to tell so called "jokes."
It was also a test to see if Nicholas would panic about being found out. The cat and mouse game of two criminals sizing each other up to make sure this won't come back to bite them in the tail feathers later. Fish was more trusting these days, but still cautious.
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Post by Zeeland "Blackeye" Ray on Mar 25, 2024 16:34:55 GMT -5
Zeeland smirked. "My friend, what is and what is not a lie shouldn't concern you. After all, as far as you're concerned, you are talking to the respected Nicholas Kelley, who asked you for directions to his friend, Cooper Hudson. And if any law started asking around, you wouldn't need to worry about the truth,a now would you? Here's a little tip, don't trust everyone you meet, but don't go looking into every detail either, I may only be a single man, and you could kill me easily but if im telling lies then im surely more dangerous than I'm letting on. Now, if you don't feel like telling me anything, how about we walk away from each other. Or if you would like to share, I give you some money and you can go about your way. Either way, you can walk out of here without knowing anything that can hurt you."
Zeeland stealthy and quite impressively proceed to bump into a traveler that was walking right besides him. The traveler looked at Zeeland annoyingly before walking away. What the traveler didn't see, was the bag of coins that Zeeland now had in his hand. He offered the bad to the Tinkerer, and gave a smile.
"So, do you know where Cooper Hudson is?"
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Post by Fish the Tinkerer on Mar 25, 2024 23:31:43 GMT -5
The smile would be much more amused now if they had the capability. It was nice to see people still underestimated the bird, thinking they would be at risk. Still, the man seemed....well trustworthy is not the right word in this line of business. Agreeable was the word Fish would decide on. They stand up and motion for Zeeland to keep the money, they just wanted to see how important this was to him.
"Fish knows, follow Fish."
The aviankin ambles back towards the street and into the mix of the business district. It was nearing the middle of the day which meant the Bazaar was starting to get busy. At only two and a half feet tall they could be easy to lose in a crowd, especially with the confidence with which they moved. They were intentional in making sure Zeeland never lost eye sight of them for too long.
For once they resist the urge to pick pockets along the way, but the desire is there. They were creeping closer and closer to being reformed. Though this job showed they would likely never be 100 percent clean.
Fish passes under an arch and into an open air sitting area. They hop over to a table and hop up into a seat. Fish waits for Zeeland to sit across from them.
"If he is not here now, he will be within the hour. If Fish's information is correct, this is an establishment he frequents. Of course, because of the short nature of the request Fish cannot be certain...there are any number of variables that could delay or alter his course. Fish has knowledge of other locations as well, but this is the best start given the time of day."
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Post by Zeeland "Blackeye" Ray on Mar 25, 2024 23:54:39 GMT -5
Zeeland followed Fish with haste, happy to have made such reasonable progress. He did wonder if this was all too easy however, and thought it best to remain cautious of Fish, even with the agreement. Once Fish brought him to the table, he relaxed and began smiling in his head knowing that he had already gotten close to one of his targets.
Zeeland handed Fish the money. "Glad you could help, I can handle it from here. You want to hang out here or leave? Either way is fine with me but I'd rather not force you into anything."
Zeeland Ray didn't know if he would ever see the Tinkerer again, but he at least hoped that the Tinkerer left with a little faith in a liar.
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