Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on May 23, 2021 23:29:02 GMT -5
Wylan wasn’t very good at being a street kid, but in his defense, he hadn’t been very good at being a nobleman, either. He had tried his best, but he thought he was probably a little bit too sensitive for both worlds. At least here he could be mediocre in piece without having his flaws shoved in his face every day… he shook the thought away, surprised by the strength of the bitterness that was attached to it. He just… he just wanted to help people. He wanted to be powerful enough to do that, but he also knew that being that powerful usually meant that you didn’t want to help. And he’d rather be on the streets than grow up to be cruel enough that he didn’t care that there were people starving and dying every day, overlooked and mistreated by the nobility. He knew how vile and widespread that mistreatment was, now. It was as though a blindfold had been ripped off his eyes… he was grateful for it, though he thought he might hate himself just a little bit for how long he had lived without knowing. For how long he had believed that the skaa were treated fairly, but they weren’t meritorious of the things the nobility had. That was a lie. It was a lie that Wylan didn’t ever want to fall victim to again. “Maybe you could try,” he said after a moment, offering Spook a genuine smile. He didn’t want to tell him what he should or shouldn’t do. He hadn’t known him long enough for that, and he didn’t want to offend someone who was actually friendly to him. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t suggest an option for what Spook could do, should he choose to. Wylan believed that everyone had something important to say, if they had a chance to say it. At least… he wanted to believe that, because that meant that he had something important to give to the world even if he couldn’t read. Even if he couldn’t become what his father wanted him to. “You’re welcome,” he replied, meeting Spook’s eyes for a long moment. He knew he was revealing himself to be different from some of the street kids, he knew that his behavior indicated that he was from somewhere different, that he didn’t belong, but… he was enjoying this conversation. It almost felt like he could allow a little bit of his actual self to slip through. As long as Spook didn’t know who he was, he wasn’t in danger, right? “Maybe I could… what?” Wylan asked after a long moment, head tilting. “You don’t have to apologize for anything… or cut yourself off… if you want to share I’d… be interested in hearing what you were going to say. And I guess… you can probably tell I’m a bit of an outsider. I could always use some advice.”
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jun 3, 2021 15:11:45 GMT -5
Spook had never had the sort of life Wylan had. He didn’t know that there were people who were afraid to grow up cruel. He just knew that there were cruel people, and there were kind people, and the second group was almost entirely Skaa. The first group was a neat mix of both. There were plenty of cruel Skaa, too. Though he didn’t like to say it around Kelsier...he had a feeling it wouldn’t go over very well, even if it was true. Even if Spook had almost died at the hand of his father, who was Skaa, even if he had been abandoned by the Skaa, even if the kids on the street would stab you in the back as soon as they’d help you up. The nobility were awful, of course they were. He didn’t know if there were any kind ones at all. But he didn’t think it was accurate to say the Skaa were perfect as a whole. Even if that was what Kelsier seemed to believe, sometimes. He never voiced this opinion, obviously. “Maybe...maybe I could try,” he agreed softly, watching Wylan. The other boy was right. He could try, it was just...hard. He didn’t know if he could do it, really. He could try. But that was the best he could promise, because it was always possible he’d lose his nerve and hold his tongue or run off. He could tell Wylan wasn’t like the other street kids. Or course she wasn’t...look at him. He was polite, for one thing. He was kind, he seemed to care what Spook thought, he’d asked personal questions...no, he hadn’t been on the streets long. He certainly hadn’t grown up there. He hesitated. “I…” he breathed, unsure. “I don’t...I mean...you don’t have to….” He looked down, rubbing the back of his neck. “But...you seem...nice. So...I just wondered if you could maybe join my crew.” He looked up, half expecting Wylan to laugh at him for such an idea. Which would be fair, he decided, blushing hard. He didn’t know Wylan at all. “I mean, we’re kind of all outsiders there,” he confessed softly. “I know I am. And the Survivor...he’s nice. Real nice. And the others all come from different places, but they’re actually nice to each other, and they trust each other. For real.”
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jun 3, 2021 23:57:33 GMT -5
Wylan was well aware that there was cruelty on both sides. The nobility were cruel because they had power, and power tended to make one believe that they could look down on people that didn’t and treat them badly. The Skaa were cruel out of desperation, or for the same reason as the nobility. If you had any power at all, you wanted to use it against others, especially if the people who had power over you were in the habit of using it as a weapon. Cruelty begot cruelty. The street kids were cruel for an entirely different reason, and one that was a lot more understandable to Wylan. If you didn’t have much, you didn’t have the time or energy to exert being kind. You might screw someone over for the chance to get an extra piece of bread, but only because that bread would keep you alive. The cruelty of the street kids was the closest to kindness, because they rarely, if ever, went too far. They did what they had to in order to survive. Nobody had the energy to push someone else around unless they were directly in the way of something they needed. Wylan shook the thought off, waiting patiently as Spook tried to say something. He didn’t know what he expected. Maybe an offer to try to find food together for the day, maybe a job, but… but what he heard was so out of Wylan’s realm of expectation that he didn’t have the words to respond for several long seconds. After a few moments his mouth closed, his eyes moving towards the ground. “I’m not so sure the Survivor would have me,” he admitted after softly, poking at something on the ground with his toe. He had heard stories of the Survivor coming in the middle of the night to take naughty noble children to the Pits. He knew that wasn’t true, but he also knew the Survivor’s hatred of the nobility wasn’t exaggerated. He would tear them all apart if he had to, and Wylan didn’t blame him. Except, in the Survivor’s eyes, Wylan was nobility, too. “But… it sounds really nice,” he added after a long moment, biting his lip. “I could run a few errands for the Survivor, maybe. Just so I could help your crew and maybe get enough coin to not have to go back to mine…” that sounded like an ideal compromise. “That way the Survivor doesn’t need to trust me.” And, he thought, hopefully he wouldn’t have to spend too much time face to face with him, in case he was recognized. He hadn’t been recognized so far, though… maybe the coating of dirt on his face and the new thinness to his form was really enough to erase the trace of nobility on him.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jun 7, 2021 17:12:32 GMT -5
It wasn’t as clear cut as Orpheus believed, Watari knew. They were noble, which afforded them quite a few privileges, which he’d never have pretended weren’t real. But it wasn’t all or nothing. Watari wasn’t as high a nobleman as some, so he had less perks. He wasn’t nearly as rich as the Skaa probably assumed. He was, mostly, trying to keep L alive in a world he didn’t seem made for, without necessarily making him made for it. It was a delicate balance and not one he’d really figured out, he knew. The person at the door - around the same age as L was, how Watari hated the fear in his eyes - was clearly not sure what to expect here. He was watching Watari like a rabbit watched a snake: with caution and the absentminded preparation for death. “I am,” he agreed mildly, stepping back to let the kid in. “Please, come in.” He was hoping L didn’t take Orpheus entering the House as a threat. The boy really wasn’t very predictable, but he was on edge. It was his own fault too for not doing his homework and learning what things were dangerous and what were not.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jun 8, 2021 1:34:26 GMT -5
Orpheus blinked, struggling to keep his mouth closed as the kindly man who had opened the door revealed himself to be the lord of the house. That didn’t make much sense… didn’t most of them have the funds to afford servants to open their doors and announce guests to them? Wasn’t that safer than answering your own door? If you were noble, you were the target of both skaa and other nobility. Most skaa would be too afraid to take matters into their own hands, but there were a few who wouldn’t hesitate to try to take down a noble family. Answering your own door… well, that put you right in the line of fire if someone did decide to attack. Orpheus decided not to mention this, though he would offer to take door duty if he had time after he finished everything assigned to him by Watari. Orpheus stepped through the door, feeling incredibly small as he stepped into the house. He hadn’t been in noble homes before, and it was… well, even if it wasn’t very extravagant for the nobility, it was extravagant in Orpheus’ eyes. There was more than one room. They had knickknacks lying around that must have been important to someone. It looked like a place that was lived in, not one that was just there to be slept in until the next work day. “Excuse me, sir, for asking, but… what will my duties be… sir?”
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jun 11, 2021 18:47:16 GMT -5
Cruelty begot cruelty indeed. The thing was...there was cruelty, and then there was the street kids. Spook didn’t think he believed they were cruel, even if they were cutthroat. They’d kill you and take what little you had left, but they wouldn’t hurt you more than they had to. It wasn’t like they wanted you to feel pain, they just understood that kindness didn’t fill an empty stomach. Spook coild respect that. He’d lived that. And he was still skittish and half convinced someone might sneak up on him, but he didn’t feel any ill will towards anyone on the streets. It was the world they lived in that had made it that way, not the kids forced to live it. There was no pretending it was a gentle world. And Spook couldn’t understand how Wylan seemed to feel like it was...or maybe he didn’t, maybe he didn’t think that at all, maybe Wylan just wanted to be kind in a world that wasn’t. Still, who has the energy for that? He hadn’t meant to overstep. He didn’t know if it was okay to offer that, didn’t know if Wylan even wanted to take him up on it, but truthfully...he just didn’t like seeing someone in a worse situation than he was in. Wylan’s crew wasn’t good, and Spook knew the things bad crews sometimes did. Wylan was alive for now, but for how long? How long until someone decided that he’d done a poor job of something, or someone blamed something on him, or...the possibilities were endless, and Spook didn’t like it at all. “He’s not as bad as the stories say,” he said softly after a moment. “Well...not to people like us. He protects people like us. He gave me my name, and let me stay with the crew, even though I can’t do much...he’s not cruel. Not to Skaa kids, anyway.” He hoped Wylan was okay with that. It had to be a better deal than he would get anywhere else, right? Spook couldn’t imagine how he’d be any better off on the streets with cruel adults and desperate children. Even if a part of him did miss if, a little. “You don’t have to,” he added softly, in case he’d overstepped after all. “But the offer’s open. I think he’d let you stay...he wants to help more than he can, I think. And you could probably be helpful for him, right?” Maybe they could even learn how to be helpful together. He didn’t say that part, though.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jun 12, 2021 2:21:32 GMT -5
Wylan didn’t think the street kids were bad people. They weren’t cruel in the same way others were, they were just… trying to survive. It was harder for them than it was for anyone Wylan had ever seen, though his experience was extraordinarily limited. He knew that the world was hard. He had known it before, but it took on a deeper meaning when he had to live it. He wouldn’t change it, of course. He wouldn’t make his life any easier just because he had noble blood and everyone else here didn’t. In his eyes, he didn’t deserve to return to his station as nobility until every kid here was allowed to do the same. They had all worked a million times harder than Wylan would ever work. If Wylan had power, he would hire every single one of them in his house, he would make sure that they were all well fed and given jobs they enjoyed, and he would make sure they were well paid at the end of the day. He knew there would eventually be more street kids that took their place, but maybe he could help them, too. He didn’t have power. All he had was half a crust of bread and not even enough coin to buy a full piece. He was hungry, he was tired, and he just wanted to feel safe when he slept. He yearned for more, of course. He yearned to be useful, to be cared about as himself, not as a figure, to not be overlooked at every moment, to be able to thrive… all of his wishes were practically impossible. He would be lucky if he survived to the end of the week. Not cruel to Skaa kids. Wylan frowned, rubbing at some of the dirt coating his arms. Could he pass as Skaa? Would anyone recognize him? He wanted to be able to escape the confines of the role that had been laid out for him, but part of him felt like he would be stuck in it forever. If he were able to fool the Survivor into letting him join his crew… he didn’t want to lie to Spook, so he didn’t say anything at all about his heritage. How different was he really from the children who had grandparents or even parents who were noble? They had all been cast aside eventually, abandoned and betrayed. Wylan had just been allowed a little bit more of his life in luxury. “I’d like to be helpful,” Wylan managed softly, shifting uncomfortably. “And I’d like not to constantly worry about my life… are you sure it would be alright if I met your crew?”
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jun 12, 2021 22:37:36 GMT -5
Kelsier had been doing the very out of character and somewhat sensible thing that was staying out of trouble. He hadn’t picked fights with the guards. He hadn’t tried to escape. Really, he’d been a perfect prisoner, doing all he could to stay under the radar. This wasn’t because he had shattered, though he hoped they all assumed Mare’s betrayal had taken the fire from his heart. This was because he was aware that he needed to tread very, very carefully. He wasn’t alone here. Mare - Mare, Mare, my life, why? - was in danger, too. If he were caught trying to escape, she would be punished. He’d barely spoken with her, barely acknowledged her presence aside from making sure she was as warm and fed as it was possible to be here, but he couldn’t bear the thought of something happening to her. So he kept his head down. For the present. He paused, looking up, eyes narrowed as he noticed a crowd of prisoners nearby. Prisoners did not crowd. It called too much attention to them, which was the last thing anyone wanted. He frowned a little, hesitating only a moment before his feet carried him forward, towards the clump of bodies.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jun 12, 2021 23:23:00 GMT -5
Nico had finally found a geode. They weren’t easy to find, though he hadn’t expected them to be. He had just expected them to be somewhat easier. His forearms hurt from reaching through the sharp rock. The taller prisoners, the ones who were able to reach farther… the scars only went to their elbows. The cuts on Nico’s arms extended well into his upper arms. It was no wonder that he had been easily picked from the bunch as a target. He wasn’t Skaa. He was the face of the enemy that had put them all here… he knew he resembled Hades a little bit too much. He knew his clothes, though worn and tattered now, were the clothes of a nobleman. So he wasn’t at all surprised to find himself cornered. He clutched at the geode, trying to hide it from view, but somehow the others knew about it. Somehow they could tell he had one, and some of them were running out of time. They needed a geode, and they were more than okay letting a nobleman die so they could live another week. Nico couldn’t blame them. But he wanted to live, too, and he was too small to fight all of them away. He could try. He could fight them back, could try to break free, but… but he had a feeling that would just make them angry, and when they eventually caught up to him it would hurt much worse.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jun 12, 2021 23:38:01 GMT -5
Desperation was a poisonous gas in this air they breathed. It was emitted from the Pits themselves, it was impossible to escape it. Desperation was a disease and they were all going to die of it one day unless they got out of there and fled to a place such things could be cured. It hadn’t overtaken Kelsier yet, though he could smell the beginning of it on Mare. He held his head high, he promised himself he was unbroken and unbreakable, and every day he proved it to himself one more time. Every body he crawled over, ever deep cut he ignored, every infection he refused to get, he proved it. He would not go mad. He would not succumb. But he was well aware that he might be the only one. The group was agitated. It was abundantly clear they were trying to do whatever they were trying to do as quickly as possible, so as not to be caught. He slipped closer, hazel eyes fixed on their desperate faces. The air had already destroyed them. His gaze caught on the boy they’d cornered. Small, frightened...he had a geode, Kelsier couldn’t see it, but he didn’t have any doubt about it. Disgust filled him, so strong and unexpected he could barely breathe for a moment. “What’s this?” He asked pleasantly, stopping as he reached the crowd. He wasn’t armed with anything but his tongue, but he’d robbed men blind with only that many times before.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jun 12, 2021 23:49:38 GMT -5
Nico didn’t know desperation. He had spent a few years on the street, sure, but he’d had Bianca the whole time. She had made sure he was fed, had made sure they had somewhere safe to sleep together… she had grown up much too fast so Nico would get to be a kid for just a little bit longer. And then she’d died… then she’d been killed, and Nico had been sent here. Well… not exactly because of it, but… Nico was never meant to survive. And he was certainly never meant to sympathize with the Skaa. He could sense the desperation here, though. The others were drawing closer, expressions hungry as they pushed him further back. He should stand his ground. He should lie, tell them he didn’t have a geode, to stop wasting their time. He was noble, they were Skaa. They were technically supposed to listen to him, though Nico had always thought that was stupid. He’d lived a significant portion of his life believing he was Skaa… he didn’t think he deserved any more respect than the people he’d grown up with just because of the blood that poured through his veins. “Butt out,” one of the prisoners spat, and Nico blinked in surprise before he realized they were talking to someone he couldn’t see. Which meant… had someone come to interfere? Nico hugged his arms across his chest, shrinking back even further. “I don’t have anything,” he whispered, though it was a lie. “Leave… Leave me alone.”
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jun 13, 2021 0:02:09 GMT -5
Kelsier didn’t know the kid. He was dressed in tattered nobleman’s clothes, an odd combination, like a Skaa boy playing dress up with what he could find...his expression was small and frightened, though Kelsier thought he probably didn’t intend for it to be. No one wanted to look vulnerable here. It was a deadly disposition to have, an easy way to be killed without a second thought. He hated them. He didn’t want to, but he did. So they were desperate. Well, so was he, and he wasn’t trying to hurt a child. They were Skaa, he didn’t want to be an enemy to them, but he couldn’t allow this...this cruelty, this injustice, this abuse of what little power they had left. “I’m not sure what you think you’re doing,” he replied, stepping a little bit closer. He wanted to get between them and the kid, but he had to do it carefully. “But I’m quite certain you don’t want to do it. I think it’s in everyone’s best interest to leave, now. You don’t want to waste valuable time, do you?” He didn’t look at the kid. This was a delicate operation, much like the thefts he’d pulled off...he needed to play the part, he needed to make them do what he wanted, and he needed to do it quickly. If they were all caught, they’d all be punished, whether they’d been at fault or not. He couldn’t let a kid get hurt. He wouldn’t.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jun 13, 2021 0:12:28 GMT -5
Nico wasn’t sure why the man from before was interfering, but he was almost positive he didn’t like it. If you were powerful down here, you were going to survive longer, so long as you didn’t attract the attention of the guards. That was how it seemed to Nico, at least. He was weak. He didn’t have any power at all. He couldn’t defend himself against so many, so his one chance was to hide and make himself seem like he wouldn’t be a good target. He would learn to fight, soon enough. He would make sure that they all thought twice before messing with him. But he hadn’t gotten there yet. He would never get there if he had people stepping in, people who would want him to repay them later with favors… he wasn’t going to be this guy’s lackey. “You’re wasting our time, pal,” the prisoner responded, eyes dark and dangerous. If Nico ran now, could he hide the geode where they wouldn’t find it? Could he escape? Sure, there was a small crowd, but he was good at running and he had probably eaten more recently than most of them had… but they were stronger from their time in Hathsin. They knew this place much better. Nico’s eyes narrowed, focusing on an escape plan now that his attackers were distracted. He had a feeling that Kelsier would come after him as soon as he dealt with the others, but Nico couldn’t let that happen. He was at a disadvantage here, but there had to be places he could hide where others couldn’t get to him…
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jun 13, 2021 17:43:09 GMT -5
Kelsier had power, but not the way he had before. He’d had power before because he was a nuisance. A thief, pretending to be a nobleman to pull off a heist, a fraud, a liar. He was still all those things, he thought. But they didn’t serve him well here. He had to adapt. He didn’t know the kid well. He barely had even seen him before...he wasn’t going to pretend they were friends. But he would not stand by as a child was killed for the crime of surviving. He met the prisoner's eyes, his own hazel gaze unflinching. They were angry, they were desperate, and Kelsier felt for them in a way, because this was wrong and they weren’t to blame for that. He didn’t want to fight one of his own. He wanted to fight the guards, the Inquisitors, the ones who were truly to blame for this. But he would do what he must. “I’m going to give you a chance to walk away, friend,” he replied steadily. “Because you’re not my enemy. Cut your losses. You won’t find it any easier to wander the Pits if you force my hand.” He didn’t look at the kid. He didn’t want to draw any more attention to him than he already had.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jun 14, 2021 2:18:19 GMT -5
Nico didn’t trust the other prisoners that had cornered him, but at least they were more or less upfront about what they wanted. They were either here because word had gotten out that he had a geode, or because they wanted to take their anger at the nobility out on him. He couldn’t blame either group… if he were in their position, he may have done exactly the same. They wanted something he could understand, and they weren’t afraid to outright say what they wanted. Kelsier… the man from earlier… he seemed to have different motives. Nico trusted him even less. He was presenting himself as a savior, and for what? There was no honor in this battle, just the death of others who didn’t deserve to be here. Nico didn’t care what crimes they had committed. Nobody deserved Hathsin. It wasn’t so much a prison as it was a place you sent people to die. Nobody had ever escaped. Nobody had ever survived. Nico wondered how long it would be before everyone in front of him had moved on. That wasn’t the point. The point was that Kelsier probably had an ulterior motive, and he had learned that manipulating people was much more effective than threatening them. He felt more than saw the others mutter something under their breath before moving away. Nobody wanted a fight to break out down here… if it did, Nico didn’t want to think about how much worse it could make all of their wounds. His own were new and raw, and he was just trying to ignore them. It wasn’t working. “What do you want?” he asked, eyes narrowing as the last of the prisoners left them behind. Nico had no doubt they would be back, but as long as Kelsier was here, he was safe from outside sources. Well… as long as Kelsier still thought that Nico could give him what he wanted.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jun 14, 2021 22:08:42 GMT -5
Kelsier was aware that this was probably not the best way to go about making friend with the kid. Who could blame him for being suspicious, for being careful? This was a harsher world even than the one outside it. It was, quite literally, kill or be killed in here. Only Kelsier refused to believe that. He probably should have believed it. He had every reason to. He might have had a better shot at survival if he kept his head down and his nose out of other people’s business, but when had he ever done that before? How was it their business to hurt a kid? No...he wouldn’t let this go. He wouldn’t allow these prisoners to do as they pleased, not here, not now. Desperation may have been what drove them, but Kelsier was desperate, too. So was the kid. He wasn’t a savior. He didn’t think of himself that way...not yet, at least. He was a criminal, really. He wasn’t even particularly dangerous. He’d never killed anyone, even on a job, he’d always gotten in and out with no particular fuss, dressing up as nobility to do what he needed to do. No, he wasn’t a hero. That was Marsh’s job. He stood, proud and unyielding as the others dispersed. They didn’t want a fight anymore than he did. They knew it wasn’t in their best interest to stay any longer, so they left. That was the thing about desperate people. They didn’t go any further than they were pushed. He turned his attention to Nico as the last of them slunk away. The kid was thin, small, young...too young. Kelsier couldn’t tell his exact age, but he didn’t belong here. No, no one belonged here, except perhaps the Lord Ruler himself, but especially not this child. What was his crime? What terrible thing had he managed to pull off, or attempt? Kelsier knew all too well that all it took was a try. Yo7 didn’t need to succeed. “Me? Oh, I want quite a few things,” he admitted, smiling a little. It was a light smile, and it came easily to him. “From you specifically? I’d like you to stay alive, mostly.”
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jun 15, 2021 15:39:52 GMT -5
Nico glanced at Kelsier, eyes narrowed. He didn’t believe that for a second. You didn’t interfere on someone’s behalf unless you wanted something from them. That was how it was on the surface, and that was how he was certain it was here, too. People in Hathsin were desperate, they weren’t likely to be kind to each other for no reason. This was a place of desperation and death, not of allies or kindness. You could pretend to be kind – or, in rare cases, actually be kind – when you had enough to keep yourself alive. When you were living day to day… no, Nico expected no kindness here. Kelsier had to want something. “Why does it matter to you?” Nico asked after a long moment, eyes narrowing. He didn’t understand how you could smile in a world like the one they inhabited. He especially didn’t understand how you could smile when faced with the worst place in that world. A place that nobody was expected to survive… he couldn’t help but wonder what Kelsier had done to send him here. Only the worst criminals (provided they weren’t Mistborn or dangerous Mistings) were sent to Hathsin. It was the worst possible punishment to suit the worst possible crimes. “You don’t get anything out of saving me,” he added, dark gaze serious and unyielding as it met Kelsier’s. “I won’t do anything to repay you. I refuse to owe any debts, here.” He tried to sound noble, tried to put force in his voice like his father always managed to. The voice that said that he was in charge, and that you better listen to him. He wasn’t very good at it, but he needed to make his position known. He knew he owed Kelsier a life debt now, whether he wanted to or not. If he found an extra geode… he might give it to him. But it wouldn’t happen again. It would never happen again – Nico didn’t want to live what was left of his life relying on anyone else.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jun 20, 2021 0:18:08 GMT -5
Watari could tell Orpheus was nervous, and for good reason. He had plenty to be nervous about. The nobility were rarely kind. Rarely even civil, to those they considered beneath them. Watari knew all too well how cruel the nobility could be, under the right circumstances, which was anytime there were Skaa involved. Orpheus wasn’t safe, and he knew it. Not that he had anything to fear from Watari, of course. Or L, for that matter. Watari was perfectly willing to treat people as people, though he understood that that was not a widely accepted view. He wasn’t very vocal about it. He knew how badly it could come crashing down on him, and more importantly, on L. L was his first priority. He wouldn’t do anything that would get him hurt, even if a part of him was loathe to sit around and do nothing while anyone was in pain. He did what he could on the side, made small things to make their jobs easier, and even that didn’t come without risk. But this...this he could do. This was hiring someone. No one had to know he would be treated well. No one had to know he wouldn’t be punished for innocent mistakes. It wasn’t like L had anyone he might tell, and he could be trusted to keep a secret, anyway. No, there was no real risk here. He waved Orpheus into the living room, glancing back to give him a courteous smile. “I’ve written down your duties, over here. You can check the list as needed, it’s yours to do with as you please.”
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jun 20, 2021 19:32:57 GMT -5
Orpheus didn’t know what to expect… he knew that all nobility were different, but he knew that in general, they were cruel. They would rather kill a servant than tell them what they had done wrong. Most of the nobility had certain reputations surrounding them, but nobody Orpheus had spoken with had heard anything from Lord Wammy’s staff. That was either a good sign – they were pleased enough with how they were treated that they saw no need to complain about it – or a very, very bad sign – his staff never lived long enough to tell how he treated them. Orpheus sincerely hoped it was the former. Another possibility, however, was beginning to present itself: Lord Wammy simply didn’t have a staff. Orpheus was the first. It didn’t make sense, but… Orpheus didn’t see anyone else. “Thank you, sir,” he managed softly, moving towards the list that Watari had mentioned. He hesitated after a moment, a blush coloring his cheeks as he looked back. “I… I can’t read, my lord.” Was that a serious enough offense to get him killed? He had wanted to learn, he had tried to get Mr. Hermes to teach him, but there had never been a good opportunity. It wasn’t as though books were easy to come by, and Orpheus had been kept busy by a large number of other duties. He hadn’t assumed being a servant would mean he’d need to be able to read… he very delicately picked up the list, gaze skimming over the fancy, curved handwriting. “I’m sorry, sir,” he added in a tiny voice, not quite managing to meet Watari’s eyes.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jun 26, 2021 19:15:24 GMT -5
Maybe the kid was right. Maybe Kelsier wasn’t doing this without wanting something from him. But the problem was that he wouldn’t believe what Kelsier wanted. The kid wouldn’t believe that what Kelsier wanted was for him to stay alive. To prove that it was possible. To humiliate the nobility, beat them at their own game, of course, but also just to stay alive because that was what any child deserved. The kid was no different. Nobleman’s clothes...well. Kelsier had worn them often enough, too. They didn’t mean much. He didn’t move forwards. He suspected that would be more than unwelcome. He didn’t want to scare the boy any more than he already was, he just wanted...well, to see him get out of here, mostly. But barring that, to survive the day. “Maybe I don’t need anything,” he replied steadily, his voice calm. He didn’t want to push, but he could tell the kid wasn’t going to believe him, not that easily. “Can’t I help someone just because I want to? Maybe I’m tired of death.” He dipped his head, acknowledging the words. “I don’t want anything in return,” he promised. “You don’t have to believe it. You don’t need to trust me. But you’re not dead, and I’m not going for ask for anything. Maybe, eventually, you’ll believe it.” That was the best he could offer. He didn’t know how to tell him that this wasn’t safe, but Kelsier...he wouldn’t let him die if he could see anything to stop it. He didn’t want an extra geode. He didn’t want to take anything that valuable from someone else. He just wanted the kid to live.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jun 27, 2021 1:19:00 GMT -5
“Everyone needs something,” Nico replied, the words out before he could stop them. Talking back to someone who clearly had more power in the hierarchy of Hathsin was undoubtedly a bad idea. Power here seemed to be distributed based on how strong you were and how long you survived. Generally, there seemed to be a correlation between the two. The people who could spent longer looking for geodes were more likely to find one. The people who knew where to look survived even longer than anyone else. That was what Nico had come to be able to tell based on snippets of overheard conversation and the level of desperation obvious in the eyes of everyone here. There was a certain type of person who seemed to survive the longest. It was difficult to tell if any of them had ever had hope, but they were the ones who could reach further, could climb higher, and were small enough to reach into crevices that nobody else could. They were the ones with the largest number of scars and scabs criss crossing their arms. It was clear that Kelsier hadn’t been there for very long, yet. A decent time, yes, but… not too long. It was obvious from the wounds on his arms and the way he was speaking to Nico, like there might actually be some kind of hope. Like he might actually be capable of caring about someone for selfless reasons. “We’re all tired of death,” he added quietly, hugging his arms to his chest. “But my surviving here means there will be fewer geodes when you go looking for them, because more people are looking. Helping me directly impacts you negatively.” Nico fell silent after a moment, still clinging to his geode like it was a lifeline. It literally was. It was his ticket to surviving the next week. “I’ll believe it when I see it,” he added after a moment, biting his lips. “If you’re offering to help someone without either compensation or reason, you’re a fool.”
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jul 2, 2021 22:58:09 GMT -5
Watari didn’t see the need for a staff. He wasn’t looking for people to clean up his messes, generally speaking, and it wasn’t like there was that much to begin with...aside from the fact that it was a large building and there was actually plenty to do. Still, Watari didn’t mind doing it himself. He didn’t have a lot of other duties. But it had occurred to him that he was getting older. Things weren’t quite as easily done as they once were. He was still in very good shape, and he could still win a fight most of the time, but cleaning had its own challenges, apparently. Hence, Orpheus. The poor kid looked terrified, no doubt having head of the cruelty some nobleman preferred. Watari couldn’t hold that against him, especially when he was braving it anyway. He blinked, caught off guard as Orpheus looked back. “Oh, I see. My apologies,” he replied, smoothing over any awkwardness, hopefully before it arose. “No matter. Your main duties will be to clean the main areas: the entryway, drawing room, kitchen. I admit, I’ve never really delegated these tasks, so please feel free to ask if you have any questions.” He tried for think of anything else Orpheus might need to know. He didn’t think… “Ah, and please don’t go in the second bedroom upstairs.”
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 2, 2021 23:28:10 GMT -5
Orpheus eyed Watari nervously, clearly waiting for the other shoe to drop. Noblemen were not kind. They did not accommodate any failings you had – if anything, they were harder on you because you weren’t at their level. Orpheus had no doubt that other skaa had been beaten to death in other households merely by mentioning reading in the presence of the Lords of the house. Watari seemed… different. The Keep was smaller than Orpheus had expected, as well. So small, in fact, that he wasn’t sure it could properly be called a Keep. It was more of… well, it was about the size of a merchant’s house. Which was to say, larger than any building Orpheus had ever been in before, but still quite small comparatively. It wasn’t a palace all to itself. Noblemen most certainly didn’t apologize to their staff for misunderstandings. There was something off about the situation, in Orpheus’ eyes. He would have to explain it to Mr. Hermes when he went home for the evening… he would have to see if the man would be able to explain any of it to him. “I’ll make sure to do so, sir,” Orpheus murmured, dipping his head. The tasks didn’t seem terribly difficult. Orpheus knew how to clean, even if he had only ever really done it in his small apartment. Surely there were supplies he would need to learn how to use, here, but… he was confident he would be able to do the job to the best of his abilities. And then there it was. The other shoe. Orpheus had heard stories once, as a child, of a very nice man who had married a very nice woman. He had told her never to go into a certain room in their house once they had married. When her curiosity got the better of her, she went in the room, only to find the corpses of her husband’s previous three wives. Perhaps that was what had happened to Lord Wammy’s previous servants. “I’ll avoid that bedroom, sir,” he added softly, trying not to let his fear trickle into his voice.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jul 9, 2021 19:41:52 GMT -5
Kelsier inclined his head, acknowledging the words. Nico was right, of course. Everyone needed something, and Kelsier was no exception to that rule. The difference was that he needed something he couldn’t have, and killing Nico wouldn’t help him get it. He needed for Mare to not have betrayed him. He needed to know why she had. The geodes, well. He needed those too, he supposed, but they weren’t as pressing. He could find them himself, he wasn’t so desperate as to take them from a child, or any other prisoner. If the guards had had any, then he would have stolen from them, but they didn’t carry them for obvious reasons. So Kelsier was left with finding his own, and begging chance not to let him or Mare come up short. He hadn’t died yet. Neither had she. He was willing to take that as a good sign, even if it wasn’t really enough. It was enough for now. But hurting Nico, even if he would have been willing, was completely pointless. He knew that the boy was more meaning why he had stepped in in the first place, but even that...he was trying not to lose himself. He was trying not to become like one of the hollow faces he passed every day, the ones who barely even cared if they lived another week. “Not a fool, though I do understand where the misconception came from,” he replied, dipping his head a little. “I don’t think helping someone should be something so rare as to need to be questioned. No one in the world never needs anyone else. I’m not going to let this place turn me into something I’m not. They can take away everything else, but they can’t take away who I am. I won’t allow that.”
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 9, 2021 20:00:57 GMT -5
Of all the things Nico expected to find in Hathsin, Kelsier wasn’t one of them. He had expected the targeting. He had expected the older prisoners to look at him and notice him as an easy mark, he expected the guards to do little to nothing to stop it. Even if they stopped it with normal prisoners, they no doubt would resent Nico. All of them likely knew who he was, and they had likely been warned not to coddle him. They wouldn’t have, even if they hadn’t been expressly told not to. He was a reminder of privilege. A reminder that there were kids in Luthadel living posh, pampered lives while they were stuck in the Pits dealing with the worst criminals imaginable. The sort of people who might be capable of killing the Lord Ruler, if anyone could. It was a wonder there weren’t more casualties in Hathsin, at least when it came to the guards. The prisoners were well behaved, beaten into submission by the bleakness of the place. By the fact that nobody had ever gotten out. But Nico had never expected someone like Kelsier. Who might try to help, just because he could. Who would waste precious energy defending a kid. “You’re a cocky bastard, aren’t you?” The words were hard, more of a defense mechanism than anything. They were true to Nico’s impression, though. He wasn’t expecting to make any friends down here, so he didn’t seem to mind the fact that he may have just insulted Kelsier. “Do you think you’re better than everyone else just because you’re trying to be nice?” From others, it may have come across as an accusation, but there was a genuine tone to the question that Nico couldn’t quite strip away from it. He was curious what Kelsier’s goal was, here. “I think they can take away whatever they want. We’re all going to die anyway.” Deep down, Nico couldn’t believe that. Deep down, he wanted to be the one who survived. And he was never going to stop fighting.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jul 9, 2021 21:26:14 GMT -5
Kelsier had no idea who Nico was. He didn’t know he was noble, he didn’t know he was, supposedly, the enemy. All he knew was that this was a kid, and they could easily have killed him for no crime but surviving, same as everyone else. If he’d known, would he have looked the other way? If he’d known who he was, would he have given his help? No one had ever escaped Hathsin. No one had ever survived Hathsin. Was it any wonder that hope was rarer even than atium? There were probably more casualties than anyone knew. Down in the pits, no one was watching to see if anyone was murdered for their find. Half the skeletons down there could be victims of that, and no one would have any idea. But Kelsier wouldn’t allow it, not when he could do something to stop it. He didn’t have to let Nico be hurt. So he hadn’t. The words drew a surprised chuckle from the man. Nico had guts, that was undeniable. He wasn’t going to let Kelsier off the hook, either. Kelsier could respect that, even if it was being aimed at him at the moment. “Better?” He repeated, raising an eyebrow. “Interesting question. I believe it’s better not to give up hope. I believe it’s better not to be cruel. I believe it’s better not to abandon who you are, simply because you’ve been ordered to. Does that mean I believe I’m better, if I’ve done those things, and others haven’t?” He smiled. He had no intention of answering that question himself. Let Nico give it some thought and come to his own conclusion. “I have no intention of dying here,” he added after a moment, the smile fading into something more serious. “But that’s beside the point. They can’t take you away from yourself unless you let them. They have no power to strip your humanity away. They have words. And they have weapons. But they have nothing that can take you away by force. They make you believe you don’t have a choice, they get in your head and tell you you’re nothing, you’re already gone, but that’s only how they destroy you. If you refuse to let them break you, you will remain unbroken.”
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 10, 2021 0:03:45 GMT -5
Nico’s brow raised at the soft sound of Kelsier’s chuckle. What he’d said hadn’t been funny, it had been insulting. Besides, he doubted anyone else had ever laughed within these caverns, especially not a prisoner. Maybe the guards, once in a while, when they hurt someone particularly badly, but never anyone who was trapped here. Never anyone who knew that there life was going to end here, that they might as well give up hope, because all hope did was make it hurt more when you realized there was no way out. Nico may not have been alive for very long, but he knew enough about Hathsin to know that it was a death trap. Nobody had ever survived it. Nobody had ever escaped. Nico might grow up here, if he were lucky enough to survive. He didn’t know yet, whether it was luck that made you survive, or whether luck would be dying early, in the least painful way possible. There was nothing here that didn’t seem painful, though. You could either be killed trying to get a geode, be killed for not getting a geode, or be killed by your fellow prisoners because they hadn’t found a geode and you had. In a way, geodes were like life, down here. Nico hadn’t been here for long, but he could tell that already. “You can’t answer a question with another question,” Nico criticized, brows raising a little bit as he looked at Kelsier. “What if this is who some of these people are?” Nico added after a long moment, arms crossing. “I mean… I know a lot of people are here because of crimes that didn’t really hurt anyone, but there are also people who are here because they hurt people. Attacking the weakest person here isn’t really that much beyond who they were on the surface, right? So it’s not like you can criticize them for losing who they are.” That was semantics and Nico knew it, but he was curious to see what Kelsier’s reaction would be. It would be interesting to see what he thought. Assuming, of course, that he would answer the question. He hadn’t answered the last one. Perhaps that was his subtle way of trying to ask Nico to stop asking questions, but Nico wasn’t exactly the best at picking up on subtlety. He would keep asking until he was either told expressly to stop or beaten into silence. Something told him it would take a lot to get Kelsier to that second point, though. “They’ve perfected their system,” Nico added softly, giving a small shake of his head. “I’ve seen how many people here are walking around with dead eyes. I’m not so naïve that I believe any of us will escape that fate if we survive long enough. But I’d rather be alive and broken than dead.”
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jul 14, 2021 18:23:51 GMT -5
Watari knew why Orpheus was so afraid. How could he not? He knew how Skaa were treated, the way they were punished for every the smallest of errs. So he understood why he was so tense, even if he knew it was unfounded. He didn’t take pleasure in hurting others. He wouldn’t hurt Orpheus, unless it was self defense or in defense of others, which he sincerely doubted would be relevant. He also knew this wasn’t as impressive a house as many other noblemen had. He was alright with that. It kept the eyes of the others off them, made them less of a target. He hoped Orpheus would soon learn that he was probably safer there than he was in most places. Here, he wasn’t in danger of being harmed in a random attack. The most dangerous thing he had to deal with was probably the dust. He didn’t know any of Orpheus’ fears. It didn’t even occur to him that it might be frightening to be told not to enter a room. He was just doing his best to protect L’s privacy without actually saying where L slept. He personally wasn’t too concerned about Orpheus, but he knew L wouldn’t sleep for days if he believed a stranger knew where his room was, and L was undoubtedly eavesdropping. “Excellent,” he said, dipping his head. “Well, if that’s all, I welcome you to my home. Please don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything.”
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 15, 2021 19:01:37 GMT -5
Orpheus searched Watari’s expression, suspicion darting across his face. It couldn’t be that easy. The job seemed… well, simple wasn’t quite the right word, but not particularly intimidating. Perhaps there were specific instructions that could only be read on the sheet Watari had written out. Perhaps Orpheus would mess up and be punish because he couldn’t read it… but somehow, he found he doubted Watari would do that. Watari seemed… well, he seemed nice. And ‘nice’ wasn’t a noble trait. It wasn’t a skaa trait either, but Orpheus found skaa were a lot more likely to have it than the nobility. “Thank you, Lord Wammy,” Orpheus returned, lowering himself into a bow before taking a quick step back and looking around to gauge the work he needed to do. He didn’t think it would take a terribly long time… still, he would do it as carefully as he possibly could. No use disappointing a nobleman on his first day working for him. With a quick dip of his head, Orpheus grabbed a rag and a feather duster and began to make his way through the room, being extraordinarily careful around everything that might be considered breakable. He wanted to make a good impression. Mainly, he just wanted to work this job for as long as he could without dying. He nd Mr. Hermes needed the money, especially with Mr. Hermes getting on in years. Besides, Orpheus didn’t have money for the upkeep of his lute. He would need to replace its strings, soon.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jul 15, 2021 19:11:10 GMT -5
L had indeed been listening into their conversation. The problem with being hidden, of course, was that he would struggle to actually defend Watari if it came to it, but thankfully, it hadn’t. He wasn’t going to let Orpheus out of his sight, though. He knew better than to trust someone he didn’t know. Orpheus could be an assassin, of the Survivor. Then where would they be? So he stalked Orpheus, as quietly as he could while he moved through his work. The work itself seemed relatively simple…was Watari giving him an easy first day, or did he not trust him with the harder tasks? Probably the former. Watari was much kinder than L, or so the younger man often thought. He tried to stay out of the way. But it was a difficult thing, not being seen in your own home. He slipped into a room, then peered out, trying to see where Orpheus had disappeared to…he narrowed his eyes a little. He didn’t see him. Maybe he had turned the corner? He stepped out, trying to slip into the next room before Orpheus re-emerged from wherever he had gone.
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