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strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 27, 2021 13:22:55 GMT -5
It was an admirable attempt, though Zuko would never have said so aloud. He doubted it was easy to climb that wall, but Sal was very clearly giving it his best effort. They were closer to the proper Keeps now, in the part of the city where buildings had been constructed with more care. There was none of the shoddy workmanship on display in some of the areas of town that were inhabited primarily by Skaa. Zuko had never quite understood why there was no solid infrastructure there, but his father had explained that there was one way the Skaa were superior to the nobility: they required less. They could live on the bare minimum and still be happy. If they were given any more than that, they got greedy. They started believing they were entitled to everything the nobility had earned. Zuko didn’t know if that was true, but he wasn’t going to argue. Zuko looked at Sal, tilting his head just a little bit as he took him in. He was just… well, he was just a person. A normal boy. That was what struck Zuko every time he met any of the Skaa. They were just people. There was little visible difference between them, except the dirt streaking their faces. Zuko knew that that wasn’t even different this time. He had been chasing Sal for long enough that there was dust in his eyes, that his cheeks were just as dirt-caked as any Skaa boy. He would have to wipe it off eventually. He would have to make himself presentable, but there was no time now. “What do you want?” Zuko said after a moment, eyes narrowing as he looked at Sal. “I can promise you money. I just… I just need to know where the Survivor is. I know you know. You wouldn’t have run if you didn’t.”
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jul 27, 2021 13:41:35 GMT -5
L hadn’t intended to speak, but he couldn’t very well take it back now. Watched Orpheus quietly as he looked at him, meeting his eyes and searching then for a long moment, his head tilting a little to one side. He didn’t really fully understood Orpheus…he knew Skaa were supposed to be lesser. Everyone said so. But he also thought a good portion of people probably weren’t geniuses, and he was, so he did feel the need to double check most of their work. He also just didn’t like believing people. He could never decide whether that was childish or sensible of him. He moved forwards, forgetting the concept of personal space in favor of peering at the bruise forming on Orpheus’ face. He narrowed his eyes at it, then shifted his eyes to Orpheus’, his gaze all the more intense thanks to the fact that he was inches away. “Does it hurt?” He asked, not moving back. “It looks like it would hurt, but I have never been punched in the face before.”
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strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 27, 2021 13:46:53 GMT -5
Orpheus hesitated for a long moment, searching L’s gaze, blushing a little bit as the young man moved closer to him. It was the closest he had ever been to anyone other than Mr. Hermes… it wasn’t uncomfortable, it was just that Orpheus wasn’t used to it. He breathed out, trying not to breathe directly in L’s face. It didn’t work as well as it had hoped. He didn’t dare look away, uncertain what, exactly, would be considered appropriate in this situation. L’s eyes were pretty up close. Which was a completely unwelcome thought, given who he was and what he was doing here. He was just a servant. He had no right to be close enough to see L’s eyes in detail, let alone make any aesthetic judgments about them. “Yes,” Orpheus managed, his voice tiny and almost inaudible. “It hurts.” He felt almost as though he shouldn’t have admitted that. He didn’t want to lie (that seemed like it was likely to get him into trouble), but he didn’t want L to think he was incapable of doing his job just because he had been punched. “I’ve… never been punched in the face before either,” he admitted with a small shrug of his shoulders. “If I ignore it, I’ll probably forget that it hurts.” That wasn’t how it worked, but Orpheus tried to sound optimistic about it.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jul 27, 2021 13:53:40 GMT -5
Sal stood still, his back to the wall. Trying to climb it would just be stupid at this point. He wasn’t getting out, not unless Zuko either let him go or messed up. The chances of the first one were…not very high. Sal watched him intently, quickly scanning the space he wasn’t quite blocking. It wasn’t enough. Zuko could take his head off in a moment if he tried it. He didn’t step back though he had a little bit of room behind him still. If Zuko wanted to pin him, he’d have to do better than that. Sal wasn’t giving an inch he didn’t have to give. He didn’t speak. He just stared, his blue eyes focused. He didn’t want to antogonize Zuko anymore then necessary. But he wasn’t going to let himself get talked into knots, either. It was…probably smartest to stay quiet for the moment. Not that he wasn’t tempted to try sassing Zuko. He was. But he also liked to breathe.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 27, 2021 14:00:52 GMT -5
“What, are you mute?” Zuko asked, a little bit of annoyance seeping into his tone. He didn’t want to do this for very long. He was tired of Skaa being stubborn. Didn’t they realize that the Survivor was dangerous? Didn’t they know he would merely cause unrest, that it would be better to give him up? No, they didn’t. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Zuko remembered Azula reminding him that the Skaa weren’t very smart. They were more than happy with instant gratification when they could be planning for the long run. Zuko didn’t know if he believed that was a mark of intelligence. He, too, preferred instant gratification. He wasn’t getting that now, though. He had to play the long game to go home. “It’s a simple yes or no question. Do you know where the Survivor is? Because if you don’t, and this is all a misunderstanding… I’m going to need the name of someone who might know.” Of course, Zuko didn’t think he was going to believe anything that Sal said right off the bat. He would have to verify them. But if Sal would just answer he could actually make progress on this. He didn’t have the time to waste sitting and letting Sal just be silent.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jul 27, 2021 14:08:50 GMT -5
“Yep,” Sal replied instantly, his decision not to let his tongue get the better of him vanishing in the blink of an eye. He probably shouldn’t make the boy with the sharp weapons angry, but…it was too late now. And it wasn’t like he was getting out of this without making him angry one way or another, anyway. There was no other witness to his sarcasm, but that didn’t matter to him. He stared at Zuko, jaw tensed, eyes mutinous. He could lie and say he didn’t know, but…if Zuko stopped chasing him, he’d have failed. His job was to keep Zuko busy. Well, he was busy right now. So he stood still and waited. He wasn’t calling Zuko’s bluff so much as he was just trying to make him make a mistake. If he could just manage to slip past him…
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 27, 2021 14:14:41 GMT -5
Zuko blinked. He hadn’t actually expected the other boy to reply. Or… he hadn’t expected that reply. He wasn’t entirely certain what Sal meant by it. Yes, he was mute, or yes, he knew where the Survivor was? The way it had been said implied the former, but he couldn’t have answered if he was… oh. Zuko’s brows raised in understanding. Sarcasm. That wasn’t entirely welcome, but Zuko didn’t say anything about it. He didn’t want to show the boy he was getting a reaction. It boiled under Zuko’s blood, flashing in his eyes, but he tried to keep a level head the way Azula did. She was terrifying because she never seemed to lose her cool. If Zuko could emulate that, even for a minute or two… “Why are you protecting him?” Zuko asked after a moment, deciding that might be the better route of attack. He wanted to know, genuinely. He didn’t know how the Skaa saw the Survivor. Or maybe… “How much have you been paid to keep quiet? I can probably pay more.”
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jul 27, 2021 14:23:52 GMT -5
Sal could see the reaction just a little, though had to admit Zuko did a god job of hiding it. So he was trying to seem in control…well, maybe he needed someone to push him off that particular hill. He didn’t move as Zuko moved on, immediately jumping to…ah. Bribery. It could have angered Sal, to be seen as someone who was loyal to the highest bidder, but…really, he wasn’t all that bothered by what Zuko thought of him. He was just a poor, stupid Skaa boy, after all. He had been called worse names by better people. “How much?” He asked, finally, allowing cautious interest to seep into his tone. It was still a game. Still a game of wits. Zuko wasn’t in control, not completely…Sal still had his brain, and that was all he’d ever needed before to stay alive.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 27, 2021 14:31:07 GMT -5
Zuko didn’t want to get his hopes up, but it seemed a good sign that Sal had responded to the mention of money. It seemed… unwise… to broadcast how much he had… how much would seem like a lot to a Skaa boy? Zuko knew what seemed like a lot to himself… it had changed a lot over the past several years. He had once thought that a feast was merely a trifle, that atium wasn’t difficult at all to come by. Since he had been banished, though… a lot was enough to cover the full cost of living for more than a month or two. Zuko didn’t have a lot to spare, but he had enough, hopefully. He still had funds from his uncle, though they were running low. It took a moment, but Zuko eventually named his price. It was high enough to cover food and shelter for a month, in some places. More money than most Skaa ever saw at one time. Hopefully, it would be more than what Sal had been offered by whoever was paying him to defend the Survivor.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jul 27, 2021 14:53:38 GMT -5
Sal watched Zuko carefully, narrowing his eyes at the other boy. He wasn’t interested in getting tricked, he was interested in getting as much as he possibly could out of this and then disappearing without a trace until he wanted to be found again. He could do this. He could play Zuko. The boy didn’t seem interested in hurting him for now…that was good. As long as he could keep this civil, he had a chance of coming out on top. He considered the price, as though deciding whether it was enough. He was tempted to try and haggle for more, but…he didn’t want risk it. He didn’t know how fast Zuko’s temper might snap, if it came to it. “Fine,” he agreed shortly, holding out a hand. Not too close. Zuko would have to approach to actually grab it. “Hand it over, and I’ll talk.”
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 27, 2021 14:59:54 GMT -5
Zuko’s eyes narrowed. He had been on the streets looking for information long enough that he knew most of the more basic tricks. He had been robbed before. He needed to make sure that Sal had reliable information. He was running low enough on funds that he couldn’t afford to lose that amount. Nonetheless, he produced it from his purse, securing the purse back in place, where it would be very difficult for a pickpocket to get it. He held up the money, keeping all five fingers on it so it couldn’t be easily taken from him. He counted the coins out loud, then closed his fist around them before looking back up at Sal. “I have the money.” As though counting it hadn’t been proof enough. “Unfortunately, it’s information before money. You’re not really in a bargaining position here, either. Just tell me where the Survivor is, and it’s all yours.”
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jul 27, 2021 15:09:06 GMT -5
Sal hadn’t really fully expected it to work, but he had hoped. Zuko was shrewder than he looked, it seemed. He narrowed his eyes, watching as the money was counted out, eyes scanning for any sort of trick. He kind of needed it, if he was being honest. He would live without it, probably, but…he wasn’t actually part of the crew. Food, shelter, he had to figure it out on his own. Money would help, a lot. Not enough to actually give the Survivor up, of course, but he could pretend. “Oh, no,” he replied immediately, giving a small, harsh laugh. “No way. You think I’m dumb enough to let you pull that? You’re the one who needs the information so bad. Money first.”
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jul 27, 2021 15:33:44 GMT -5
Sal didn’t move, his jaw set as he stared at the other boy. He didn’t want to give up the chance at money. He wasn’t going to give it up, not just yet. Zuko seemed…inexperienced. He may have known not to give the money first, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t still be tricked. He was getting mad. Good. As long as he didn’t actually snap, that could be a good thing. “Don’t be an idiot. I’m not telling you anything for a quartet of it. What’s to stop you from running off with the rest?” He retorted, crossing his arms. “No deal.” He let a tense moment pass before he continued. “You’re the one blocking the exit, genius. You just have to stand there until I tell you, whether I’m holding the money or not. What do you think I’m gonna do, eat it?”
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 27, 2021 15:48:40 GMT -5
Zuko frowned, eyes narrowing as he looked at Sal. “I’m not giving you the money just for telling me something,” he said after a moment, voice sharp. “I’m giving you the money when I can verify that you’re telling me the truth. I’ll give you a quarter now to prove that I’m good for it – besides, it’s enough to get you by for at least a week. That’s plenty of time for me to verify that your information is accurate. You really think I’m going to set myself up just so you can lie to me and get my money that way?” Zuko didn’t think he liked the Fisher boy very much. He was the only lead he had at the moment, but he sure was annoying. Zuko could, however, see the concern he had. There was another option, if it came to it. If Sal really wasn’t going to say anything until he had the money in hand, then Zuko would just have to take him with him to investigate when he eventually did get an answer.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jul 27, 2021 16:08:12 GMT -5
Sal stared back, mutinous as he considered how best to proceed, here. He knew he was in a bad position to bargain, but so was Zuko. He had the information here. As long as he was careful, he had the upper hand. As long as he made Zuko believe he’s was worth something, at least until he could escape, he was safe. Zuko wouldn’t kill him without getting the location first, and Sal planned to be safely out of reach by the time he offered his decoy. He didn’t want to get murdered the moment he gave it up, after all. Zuko didn’t seem all that smart. He might kill Sal right away, without checking first. He pursed his lips. The chance of Zuko taking him with him hadn’t even crossed his mind…if it had, he would have tried very hard to make sure it didn’t occur to Zuko. “Give me half,” he said finally. “I’m not getting scammed for nothing.”
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 27, 2021 16:21:16 GMT -5
Zuko’s eyes narrowed. They both had something the other wanted. Zuko had an advantage because he was holding Sal in place, because Sal couldn’t leave without Zuko’s go ahead. Sal had an advantage because Zuko was desperate for the information he had. They were at an impasse, and Zuko was pretty sure he hated it. He took in a deep breath, trying to keep his cool. If he could be friendly and diplomatic like Iroh, he could get the edge here. He could get the information without being scammed. It was interesting, he thought, how they were both fairly certain that the other was going to scam them. The only difference was Zuko had no intention of scamming Sal. If Sal told him the truth, he was going to pay him the full amount as soon as he was able to verify the information. “Half?” Zuko asked, brow quirking up. It was better than giving him the full amount, but it was more than he could afford to spare on a lie. “If you want a half now, you’re coming with me to verify whatever information you give me. If you don’t lie, then you have nothing to worry about.”
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jul 27, 2021 16:33:10 GMT -5
Sal went still, staring at Zuko, his gaze startled. He had to admit…he hadn’t seen that one coming. Zuko wasn’t going to let him pull this off smoothly, was he? He narrowed his eyes, trying to think fast. It would look very, very suspicious if he backed down and told Zuko without getting paid now. It would be very easy to wonder why Sal was so opposed to coming with Zuko. But at the same time… He wouldn’t be cornered anymore. And he would have the money. What was to stop him from taking off the moment there was an opening? He could refuse, on the grounds that he didn’t want to be beheaded the moment Zuko verified the Survivor’s location. Or he could agree and try to run as soon as Zuko let him out. He waited another moment, trying to make up his mind. “Fine,” he said at last, his tone thoroughly annoyed. “Give me half, and I’ll go with you.”
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 27, 2021 16:43:56 GMT -5
Zuko couldn’t help but feel at least a little bit proud that he had tripped Sal up. For the first time, the boy didn’t look like he thought he had the upper hand in this conversation. Not that Zuko could really tell, of course – he only had his eyes and his body language to go on, and he’d never been the best at reading those, but he seemed to be wavering. Which meant that Zuko was closer to getting what he wanted out of him. It would have been so simple if Sal had just told him the truth right off the bat… he shook the thought away. The Skaa didn’t know that their subjugation was for the best. They didn’t know the sort of bloodshed and war that would happen if they were allowed to rule themselves. Looking at Sal… Zuko couldn’t tell if he was more inclined to believe his father about that, or less. Sal was smarter than he seemed, but he was also incredibly antagonistic. Perhaps Zuko’s father was wrong. Perhaps it wasn’t just the Skaa who would create war if left to their own devices. Perhaps it was the nobility as well. Hesitantly, Zuko reached into his pocket for the rope he had started to find useful the year before. You couldn’t really scale buildings in certain areas well without it, and you needed to be able to do that to try to find an Allomancer. He came close enough to put the money in Sal’s hand, but before he could retract it, Zuko grabbed it with his free hand and swiftly tied the rope around it with as firm a knot as he knew how to do. It wouldn’t be easy to untie, but it wouldn’t be tight enough to cut off Sal’s circulation. He swiftly tied the other end to himself, then looked up at Sal with narrowed, determined eyes. “Where’s the Survivor?”
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jul 27, 2021 17:10:24 GMT -5
Sal wasn’t sure this was the right decision. Pretending to go with Zuko…it was risky. If he wasn’t quick enough, Zuko could stab him before he could escape. If he didn’t take it right, he could be hurt, badly. Zuko hadn’t threatened him yet, not explicitly, but the moment Sal showed his cards and tried for double cross him? He didn’t doubt those swords would come out. He didn’t doubt that he would hurt, badly, if he didn’t pull this off. He just had to time it right. He had to wait until he had the money. Then, he had to look cooperative, until he managed to drift far enough from Zuko to give him a head start. He didn’t doubt Zuko would try not to let it happen, but he could do it. All he had to do was catch him off guard. He didn’t trust Zuko for a second. As soon as he was useless, he was dead. That was why he had to appear possible to persuade. If Zuko decided he wasn’t going to crack no matter what… No. He had a plan. He just had to make it happen, and he’d be free again, and richer for his troubles. He let Zuko approach, his eyes narrowed as he held out a hand, palm flat. He watched the coins carefully - he wasn’t about to be tricked into less than promised - and was about to snatch his hand back when Zuko moved. He yanked backwards with a yell, but it was too late. The coins dropped from his fingers as he fought, trying to slip his hand free of the knot, but Zuko knew what he was doing, and the knot held fast. He looked up, blue fire meeting gold, rage and fear warring across his expression, though fear was winning. “Go to hell,” he hissed, yanking back again, though more to make a point than to escape this time. “I’m not telling you a thing until you let me go.”
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 27, 2021 17:22:52 GMT -5
Zuko realized the flaw in his plan almost immediately, as Sal started thrashing to get away from him. He was attached to him, so he had no choice but to be yanked along with him. Fortunately, he was stronger than he looked on the outside. His eyes narrowed as he stood his ground, carefully reaching down to pick up the coins Sal had dropped. “I’m feeling nice,” he said after a moment, rolling the coins around in his palm before holding them out to Sal. “I’m happy to pay you the full amount right now if you lead me to the Survivor. This was the deal. You get the money, you come with me so I’m certain you’re not lying. Neither of us get scammed. Unless, of course, you were planning on lying to me and giving me the slip…?” His eyes narrowed as he looked at Sal, trying to read him. Trying to figure out exactly what his plan had been. Zuko had to figure out what his own plan was from here. Sal was angry. Sal was angrier than Zuko had expected, but… he could do something about that. Slowly, Zuko began to burn brass and very, very gently pressed down on Sal’s anger, doing his best to subdue it. He wasn’t as skilled a Soother as many were, but he had practiced for a long time to get as good as he was. Sometimes he was certain that the only reason he had survived this long was because he’d learned how to Soothe properly. He was half certain that the only reason his father had only exiled him instead of killing him was because he’d managed to Soothe him, if only a little bit. It hadn’t been easy. “I don’t like this any more than you do,” Zuko said after a moment, glancing pointedly at their wrists, “but I need to know where the Survivor is. And I’m close enough that I can’t risk you telling me a lie.” He reached back into his purse with his free hand, pulling out a little bit more than the rest of the amount he had promised Sal. He held it out, not quite giving it to him. “Are you going to talk now?”
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jul 27, 2021 17:39:43 GMT -5
Sal was angry, and scared, and pretty sure he’d just made a deadly mistake. If he couldn’t run, a lie was useless to him. It would just make Zuko angry when they finally arrived wherever Sal decided to send them. It would make him less trusting, and more willing to use force to get what he wanted. And Sal wouldn’t be able to run when he eventually got tired of him and decided to find another source. He was dead the moment Zuko decided he was useless. And that moment now seemed to be completely unavoidable. He glared at Zuko, breathing hard as he tried to think, as he felt his options dwindle to almost nothing at all. So much for a game…or maybe this was just how it felt to lose. He was going to die, slowly and painfully, if he didn’t come up with something very quickly. Slowly, as the seconds turned to minutes, he felt his fury subside a little, slipping easy and leaving him a little clearer headed. And still terrified, of course, but he was calming down a little, no longer panicking. He had no idea it was Zuko’s touch on his emotions that was making it fade, of course, he thought he was just managing to calm himself, but the end result was the same. He glared at Zuko, then reluctantly glanced at the coins. He didn’t have a plan. He was just going to have to improvise. “Fine,” he said through gritted teeth, narrowing his eyes. “Fine. But you have to release me before we arrive. I’m not going to let you kill me the second you don’t need me anymore.” He licked his lips. Then, quietly, he gave one of the locations he’d had on mind. It was hard to get to - across the city, practically - which would give him plenty of time to come up with a new plan.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 27, 2021 17:51:00 GMT -5
Zuko relaxed a little bit as Sal’s anger seemed to subside. He didn’t stop his gentle influence, but he didn’t feel the need to increase it either. Sal wasn’t going to snap at him, and they were going to get to wherever the Survivor was just fine – hopefully no casualties. Zuko forced himself to breathe in, trying to calm himself as well. He had always thought it unfortunate that he was never able to Soothe himself. He wished Allomancy worked that way, but it just… didn’t. He had never been able to Soothe Azula, either. Ever since she had learned to burn copper, she had kept up a constant coppercloud, fully protecting herself from any influence Zuko may have had. He glanced at Sal, grateful, at least, for the proof he wasn’t Mistborn. Then again, if he was Mistborn he would have proven it long ago. Zuko didn’t know for sure that he wasn’t an Allomancer, but if he was… he wasn’t a Coinshot or a Lurcher. And he most certainly wasn’t a Seeker or a Coppercloud. Which left… well, a lot of possibilities that Zuko wasn’t going to think about after a moment. He was about to start on his way when Sal’s words hit him full force and he let his hand drop to his side, eyes wide. “Kill you?” Zuko asked, eyes narrowed as he searched the other boy’s gaze. “Let’s be perfectly clear. I don’t like you. I think you’re annoying and unhelpful. I don’t entirely trust that you’re leading me where I want to go. But I’m not going to kill you!” There was a sharpness to his tone that seemed to undermine the meaning of his words. He was serious about it, though. He saw no reason to kill Sal, even if he lied to him. Zuko had never taken a life before, and it wasn’t like he was going to start now. The only life he was interested in was the Survivor’s, but he had a feeling that saying that out loud would just make Sal more likely to lie to him. Besides, Zuko was hoping to get around having to kill the Survivor. Maybe he was a coward. Maybe he wasn’t as powerful as his father wanted him to be. He was doing what he was told to do, even though his uncle had told him it would be an impossible task. Even though Iroh had told him that his father was sending him on a death mission. He hadn’t died yet, had he? “I’ll release you before we get there,” Zuko confirmed after a long moment, tone softening just a little bit. The difference was nearly inaudible, but it was there. “As long as we’re close enough that I can tell you aren’t leading me straight into a trap.”
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jul 27, 2021 18:08:39 GMT -5
Sal wasn’t panicking yet. That was…probably as good as he was going to get for the time being. This was bad. This was very, very bad, and he had noi idea how he was going to talk his way out of it. What he needed was a way to slip free of the rope without alerting Zuko until it was too late to stop him. Which meant he ether needed to do it very quickly, or very slowly. He could have Rioted Zuko’s emotions, but he didn’t see how it would help him here. He wasn’t a Soother, he couldn’t try to make Zuko trusting and compliant. No…Allomancy wasn’t the answer here. Not just yet, anyway. He was forced to stop Zuko did, and he turned, eyes narrowed as he listened. Right…not going to kill him. That was totally believable. No lies there. “Sure. Whatever you say,” he muttered, turning away again. “White we’re at it, I think you’re annoying and unhelpful, too. Just so we’re clear.” He was still a little angry, maybe. Just not angry enough to do something incredibly stupid. He didn’t believe for a second that he wasn’t in danger. Zuko had every reason to kill him if he proved useless to him. He was Skaa, for one. Instant reason. He was also irritating, and he’d wasted Zuko’s time and tried his best to scam him. He was probably just a lot more trouble than he was worth, overall. He moved, beginning to walk. He just needed a plan. He needed… A knife. Maybe Zuko carried a knife. If he did…where would it be? Sal narrowed his eyes, trying to think. If he could manage to snatch it and cut the rope…he could run, and he wouldn’t be caught again. He just had no idea where Zuko might keep a knife on his person. Maybe if he managed to knock him down it would slip free. Or maybe if could break a window and use the pieces… This was going to be a long walk.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 27, 2021 23:39:44 GMT -5
Right. Zuko pressed forward, trying not to be annoyed or upset that Sal hadn’t believed him. He had no reason to believe him, after all, though Zuko hadn’t yet done anything to hurt him. Yet. That was the key word, he supposed. There was always the possibility that Zuko was going to hurt him, because Sal was Skaa and Zuko was noble. It was just.. how things were. The nobility hurt the Skaa and they didn’t face any consequences. They were told that the Skaa were genetically inferior, so what was the harm in striking one? It wasn’t as though they would fight back. It wasn’t as though there was any possible downside to hurting them. Unless, of course, you learned that they were people, too. Unless, of course, you had been banished and had spent the better part of three years relying on Skaa as much as you did on the nobility. Unless, of course, it became clear that everything that was supposed to be “superior” about the nobility was just an excuse to hurt the Skaa. Not that Zuko would voice any of those thoughts out loud. He tried to convince himself that it really wasn’t all that bad, and though things were a little bit rocky, his father still had the best interests of the Skaa at heart. He did his best to believe that, truly, but… he didn’t. Perhaps part of wanting to go home was to ensure that the throne didn’t ever end up in Azula’s hands. He couldn’t keep thinking like that. It was treachery. “Glad we’re on the same page,” Zuko growled, but he found he didn’t actually care at all about Sal’s opinion of him. It didn’t matter what one boy thought. He was going to go home, and then he was never going to see this part of Luthadel ever again. He wouldn’t have to search these streets for a legend. Soon, the blood pumping through his veins seemed to say. Soon, echoed his heart. Zuko didn’t know what Sal was planning, but he was on edge. He could tell that Sal didn’t like this, and he could tell he didn’t trust Zuko to let him free. Slowly, Zuko began to Soothe away a little bit of that distrust as well. Not enough to be noticeable, just enough that he didn’t think Sal was likely to plunge a knife through his back at the next available opportunity.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jul 27, 2021 23:40:23 GMT -5
L’s wide eyes flicked down at the bruise again. It looked painful…he could tell the person who had attacked Orpheus had been taller than him, and probably significantly stronger, too. He narrowed his eyes at it, trying to see how severe the damage was. “Were you ever unconscious after you were hit?” He asked, his eyes flicking back up to meet Orpheus’ again, searching them closely for any sign of being crossed or unfocused. “Are you nauseous, or confused? Do you have a headache?” He narrowed his eyes. Black eyes in themselves were not dangerous, but if Orpheus had symptoms of a concussion…he wanted to rule it out as a possibility before Orpheus went back to work. He didn’t like death, even when it was theoretical. “Possibly,” he added distractedly, allowing a smal percentage of his brain to work through Orpheus’ logic. “Sometimes being distracted does help you forget pain…but that’s unwise with serious injuries.” He didn’t mean that Orpheus was seriously injured. He hadn’t decided how likely that was, yet. He didn’t see any obvious signs of trauma so far, though, so most likely he was okay.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 27, 2021 23:53:14 GMT -5
Orpheus frowned a little bit, thinking back to the moment he had been hit. He had fell, his head had hit the floor… there was a brief lapse of memory, but when he opened his eyes again his attacker was gone. He had been left for dead in the street, like so many of the other Skaa. He was lucky that he even opened his eyes at all. He knew that. The noble who had punched him knew that. “I… no,” Orpheus squeaked, almost wincing as his voice came out much higher than he meant it. He wasn’t exactly lying – he didn’t know if he had lost consciousness or not, and the headache was something he could work through. He wasn’t nauseated or confused (except, perhaps, about why L even cared enough to be asking questions). He was fine to get back to work. He had to get back to work, and L was standing close… Orpheus downcast his eyes, trying to preserve as much respect as he could manage. He needed L to see that he was being respectful. He needed L to see the distinction between them, because nobles could afford treatment for injuries. Skaa couldn’t. If you couldn’t work through an injury, you died. “All due respect, Master L,” Orpheus began, trying to make his voice sound as cordial and disconnected as possible, “Even if it were serious, I would have no choice but to keep working.”
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jul 28, 2021 0:00:06 GMT -5
Sal was very, very aware of how the nobility saw the Skaa. He knew how deeply their belief that they were superior went, how deep their belief that the Skaa were nothing in comparison ran. What was a dead Skaa to a nobleman? An inconvenience at best, a decision at worst. So no, Sal didn’t really buy that he had nothing to fear from the obviously very annoyed, very determined noble boy he was currently both deceiving and tied to. He didn’t see why Zuko would be any different from the rest of his kind. To them? It wasn’t even murder. They didn’t count as people. Any crimes against them weren’t crimes at all. They didn’t even have a way to begin to fix the problem, it went so deep. That was why he was protecting the Survivor, he thought fiercely as he walked, answering Zuko’s first question at last, even if it was silently. Because no one, not even them, could ignore and forget him. No one, not even them, could pretend it didn’t matter. The Survivor was impossible to dismiss. He was exactly what they all needed, and he wasn’t about to let some child ruin it. Even if he died for his trouble. It wouldn’t matter. The Survivor didn’t know he existed. That way, he couldn’t even be tempted to come for him. It was a perfect system, for everyone but Sal Fisher. He didn’t reply to the words. He knew perfectly well how little Zuko liked him, and it was mutual. As long as he could keep himself alive long enough to grab something sharp… He let his eyes sweep the sides of the streets, the houses they passed. He wasn’t stupid enough to expect help, but if he could break a window… He didn’t intend to kill Zuko, but he did feel the way his distrust weakened, just a little bit. Maybe he would do what he promised after all, maybe… He pushed it aside. He was lying about the location. Zuko had made no promises about that scenario.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 28, 2021 0:13:58 GMT -5
Zuko had to consider the fact that Sal might be lying. This might not end up being the breakthrough he had hoped for. This might… well, it might be another failure. Another setback as he fought to make his father proud, as he fought to regain his honor, as he fought for the right to have a place in the world. Was that how the Skaa felt all the time? That they could never quite belong? It was an awful feeling, one Zuko wasn’t entirely certain how to stomach. He had been staving it off for nearly three years. He wanted to go home. He wasn’t allowed anywhere near his father’s Keep. He wasn’t allowed to com close at all. Technically, he wasn’t even allowed in Luthadel, but this was where the Survivor was. He just had to make sure that he wasn’t caught out by an Inquisitor. It seemed they were as much a threat to him as they were to the Survivor, though they were on much higher alert for him. Zuko was just a kid everyone thought was dead. He was going to prove them wrong. He was going to do everything in his power to earn his way back to his status. He didn’t consider himself Skaa now, but he couldn’t consider himself noble. He had been exiled. He must have been some terrible in between. The point was, this might not be a breakthrough. What would Zuko do then? He would demand the money back, that was for certain. He might even threaten Sal. He needed that money back to sustain his own life. He didn’t live luxuriously anymore. He didn’t live as poorly as the Skaa did, of course, but he couldn’t always afford to eat. He only had a few changes of clothes. He wasn’t going to kill him, though. It was Zuko’s perception that most Skaa children were liars and thieves. Zuko himself had resorted to thievery once, when he was caught without any resources at all. It was impossible to live on the streets without becoming dishonest. Maybe Zuko would have a chance to change that, when he took over as the next Lord Ruler. He had to convince himself that was possible, too. That his father would give up his throne for someone who wasn’t even capable of living beyond a human lifespan. He thought of the metalmind attached to his upper arm, wishing he could fill it with years like his father could. Like Azula could. All he could manage was heat. “Are you certain the Survivor is all the way out here?” Zuko asked, trying not to let his uncertainty slip into his voice.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jul 28, 2021 0:14:03 GMT -5
L narrowed his eyes a little at the reply, fixing Orpheus with an intense stare. “Are you sure?” He replied, not blinking as he eyed him. “Are you sure you were never unconscious? You may have perceived it as a small gap in your memories. This is important, Orpheus.” He couldn’t actually tell a good portion of the symptoms without Orpheus’ input. He frowned a little, trying to think. As Orpheus looked down, he did too, half expecting there to be something to see. But…nothing. He didn’t mind. But it did make it hard to see Orpheus’ eyes properly when he wasn’t looking up. “I’m worried you may have a concussion,” he told him, still not stepping back as he stared at him. “Which needs to be looked at, by an actual doctor. I’m not a doctor, I just read things.” He narrowed his eyes, “I’ll tell Watari to have someone look at you. Until then, please lay down without sleeping.”
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