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Post by Cutebabys on Aug 31, 2009 10:05:41 GMT -5
[OOC: *Picno*]
Beat, beat, beat. He could feel his feet walking towards wherever he was walking towards. He had no control. A sudden impulse was forcing him to move in that direction. Why? What did Gapone have to do there? He didn't usually come here. He tended to be inconspicuous. Or at least he tried to be. And he succeeded most of the times too. He, after all, used to be a Ranger's Apprentice. Not that he was proud of it, he preferred the evil life.
He reached somewhere he never knew existed. His feet made him stop. It seemed like he was waiting for somebody...or something. He wasn't sure he wanted to find out what. But he wasn't one to cower in fear whenever he did something. He usually hid, on its orders. But when he wasn't working for it, he wouldn't hide.
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Post by Tandar on Aug 31, 2009 12:08:04 GMT -5
Picno Rann walked softly down the street. His leather boots barely made a sound on the cobblestones. He mostly stared at his feet and the ground, although he should have been looking for the signs hanging over the doors of nearby inns. The sun had set nearly four hours ago, as near as Picno could estimate, and he had just now arrived in the capital.
At first glance, Picno decided he was the only one in the street at this ungodly hour. After all, it was quite dark out since most of the lamps had gone out, and the hood on Picno's robes blocked part of his vision. The friar sighed out of exasperation. He had traveled quite far that day and was in great need of food and rest. His order was not rich; Rann had slept on the ground before, and would not hesitate if he had to do it again.
Rann glanced up to find another soul standing in the street. Perhaps he could ask the way to the nearest inn.
"Hello, friend," Picno said, almost timidly. "Could you by chance tell me where I could find a bed for the night?"
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Post by Cutebabys on Aug 31, 2009 21:02:27 GMT -5
He looked up in surprise. So he was waiting for somebody. A man was standing there. Hello, friend,"the man said. "Could you by chance tell me where I could find a bed for the night?" At this question, Gapone shook his head. On a normal day, he would have shouted,"I AM NOT YOUR FRIEND!" But he didn't. "I'm new here, friend,"he said with a tinge of sarcasm in the last word.
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Post by Tandar on Sept 1, 2009 9:30:01 GMT -5
If Picno caught the sarcasm in the voice, he didn't show it. Although, he was a little taken aback. It wasn't often that someone returned his courtesy. The friar's nerves jittered with mild excitement.
"Well, I'm new here too! Perhaps we could find a place to stay together. Yes, that sounds like a good idea, doesn't it? Let's go."
Picno gently touched the man on the shoulder, turned him in the direction of the street and moved him along.
"By the way, the name's Picno. What's yours?"
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Post by Cutebabys on Sept 1, 2009 9:46:47 GMT -5
Unseen to the man, Gapone rolled his eyes. Great. Just his luck to be stuck with an overexcited man. He followed the man. He should have run away, he couldn't stand being around someone overexcited. Who knows, he might even lose his temper and kill the guy. He should have left, but he didn't.
"Name's Gapone,"he muttered.
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Post by Tandar on Sept 2, 2009 7:36:56 GMT -5
"Nice to meet you, Gapone." Picno took his hand off Gapone's shoulder long enough to offer it for a handshake.
"I'm on a mission trip to these parts. I think I'll look for the Temple tomorrow, when it's light out and I can see. So what brings you here? Ooh! Is that an inn up ahead?" The friar pointed to a wooden building up the street with light shining out the large windows. There seemed to be quite a few people inside. The light was blocked for a moment as someone passed between the light source and the glass.
It was highly unusual for Rann to chat so animatedly, but when he found friends, he stuck to them.
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Post by Cutebabys on Sept 7, 2009 3:37:11 GMT -5
Again Gapone rolled his eyes. Yep. He should have left the poor man to himself. Thinking of the word 'poor', he shook his head mentally. He mustn't pity anyone, even Picno. The man might betray him and Gapone made an effort to not endear himself to anyone. Even this man who appeared do innocent and harmless.
A mission? Well...Gapone didn't really care for them. He nodded. "Let's go check it out then,"he muttered. Hardly anyone approached Gapone, he looked terrorizing. Moreover, he had a reputation.
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Post by Tandar on Sept 7, 2009 14:36:07 GMT -5
Picno smiled, although it may not have been visible in the dark. He led the way to the battered oak door that looked like it needed to be replaced. Slivers of light could be seen through the cracks in the wood and the rusty hinges creaked raucously as the door was flung open from inside. A drunken patron staggered out and turned his clouded gaze on the pair in the street. "Cood yoo fin gentlmen tell meh where teh outhouse iz?" The drunk nearly fell over twice, if Picno hadn't steadied him with a firm hand. * * * * * As the friar entered the inn, he was hit with an overwhelming wave of sights, smell, and noise. The entire room stank of greasy food and sweaty bodies. The right side held ancient tables and chairs and a massive fireplace with crackling tongues of flame. A bulky giant in the corner was taking on arm wrestling challenges. He beat a smaller guy within seconds, and the man walked away nursing a broken arm. On the left side of the room, a barman stood, wiping down the grimy counter with a filthy rag. "Why don't we have a seat over there," Picno suggested, pointing to an empty table with two chairs. Once again, he led the way, passing a group of vagabonds who looked like they were trying to see how much they could deface the furniture. An exhausted barmaid hurried over. "What kin I git ya?" "I'll just have water, please," Picno replied, politely. "Well, this is pleasant," he told Gapone after the barmaid left. Behind him, someone beat another customer over the head with a chair leg amid boisterous laughter. "So, what do you do for a living?"
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Post by Cutebabys on Sept 8, 2009 0:01:33 GMT -5
"I'll have water too,"Gapone said. "Well, this is pleasant,"Picno said. Gapone was a little confused. Why did he say that? Then the next question. Gapone wasn't sure how to answer it. In his mind he formed a lie. Then he couldn't bring himself to say it. "Oh, a bit of this and that,"he said, not going into detail. The truth was he worked for the Master. He asked Picno before the man asked him to elaborate,"You?" Then he waited for the reply, hoping that the spotlight wouldn't fall on him again.
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Post by Tandar on Oct 14, 2009 15:16:05 GMT -5
"Well," Picno said, slightly taken aback. "I have dedicated my life to worship and ministry. I thought you would have recognized my robes . . ." Picno raised a sleeve to brush off a speck of dirt. "But I suppose this area is in need of some reform. You don't see many men of the clergy anymore."
The barmaid returned with their orders and left the pair to themselves. The friar sipped the surprisingly clear water from a greasy cup.
"Perhaps you'd like to tell me more about yourself," Picno said.
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Post by Cutebabys on Oct 15, 2009 10:06:59 GMT -5
Gapone sighed. Should have found something else to talk about. Forgot that he wears a robe, he thought. Now he would have to talk again. He didn't like talking about himself, he was a reserved person, making little friends. In fact, it was surprising he hadn't scared this...friar off just yet with his multiple scars and broken nose.
"Nothing much to say about me," he said, giving a shrug, making it obvious he didn't want to talk about it. "Why don't you tell me about yourself? I'm sure a friar like you has a great story, right? Why did you want to lead such a life?" A feeble attempt at pushing the conversation away.
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Post by Tandar on Oct 19, 2009 13:18:47 GMT -5
It was a very poor attempt at changing the topic. Nevertheless, Picno took the bait.
"Ah, my story." The friar paused to take another sip of water. "I wasn't always a devout man of faith. During my childhood, especially, it was tough to keep me under control. I used to pick on other kids and get in fights all the time. My father would beat me for it. Thinking back on it now, I think he liked beating me a little too much." Picno frowned slightly and his hand moved to rub a spot on his chest where he had a particularly nasty scar.
"Anyway, as I grew older, I realized that my behavior was not helping anyone. I was hurting people for no reason. I changed my ways and devoted my life to study and prayer. I hope to make the world a better place. That's why I'm on this mission trip. Araluen seems to be quite the place, but I'm afraid the people need work. You know what I'm saying?"
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Post by Cutebabys on Nov 18, 2009 1:56:20 GMT -5
Hmph. Sounded like his own story. Gap picked on little kids in secluded areas where no one could see him. That was how he got away with it. No one had known...except for the little kids, of course. He took note of the movement the friar made but didn't comment on it. He'd rather be more quiet than to reveal a lot of himself to this man. Gap wasn't used to long conversations. His conversations tended to be the "give-me-information-or-I'll-kill-you" kind.
"Oh..." he said, feeling that he should give the man some response, but unsure if it was the right one. "...yeah..." he said, feeling awkward. He was one of those that made the world a bad place to be in but yet here he was, making friends with someone determined to make the world a better place. Just like me... he sighed.
Yet there was something about the man that he liked. He half-smiled, then asked, "Where do you stay? Can I drop over once in a while?" It was the first friend this man had ever made. Sure, when he was younger, there had been "friends". Friends he had disliked. He didn't think that they could ever become friends, but he could try. He might not even drop by, it depended on where the Master would send him next.
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Post by Tandar on Dec 11, 2009 9:52:31 GMT -5
"Where do you stay? Can I drop over once in a while?"
Picno brightened. "I'd like that. I travel a lot though, so I'm not always in town, and I don't have my own place. If you ever want to find me, check with the innkeeper at the Waterfowl Inn. He'll direct you to my room. I should be there most of this week, if you want to stop by. I'll make tea too."
Tilting the cup toward his mouth, the friar finished the last few drops of water. He smiled apologetically at Gapone.
"If you'll excuse me, I should get some rest."
Picno stood to leave.
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Post by Cutebabys on Jun 22, 2010 10:26:25 GMT -5
Gap nodded curtly. "Goodnight then. I think I'll stay, get another drink or two, ya know?" He waited until Picno walked a distance, out of earshot.
He walked over to the waitress. He glanced around, lowered his eyes and said, "If anyone by the name of Axel comes along, let me know." He slipped a coin to her. "Don't tell anyone about it. If you do..." He gestured to her neck. "You're dead. On a slightly more pleasant note, if you don't tell anyone..." Indicating the coin, he continued. "There'll be more from where that came from."
He raised his voice. "I'll have another drink please!" He said, smiling casually. He was an interesting customer, provided you listen to him.
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