How Thieves Use Boxes [Open]

[Penelope]

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stand down

words: 385 | tags: Hunter | notes: sinker.

"Careful, friend. Glance at a girls bits too often and she'll start thinkin' yeah want something from her." The comment came with a grin, flashed towards the merchant when he yet again looked back her way. Sitting as she was the archer's knees were spread apart to help balance her bow. The trousers she was wearing were skin tight and while nothing was necessarily revealed her crotch was on full display for anyone that looked hard enough. And the way the man was glancing towards the crate she was sitting on, well, it was obvious where her own joke spawned from. She would wait for him to reply, if he had one, before acting. The humor of thieves hadn't escaped her but at the time her smile had been born of another reason. Now she stood, leaning forward and taking to her feet while the cart was in motion. There seemed to be no trouble with her keeping her balance as they trundled along. Her bow was still in her hands,

"Well," she started, likely grabbing his attention if the movement hadn't. She spoke as she picked her way towards the front of the cart, having no trouble if he kept it in motion. She moved well, even with the transport jolting around beneath her feet. "I've got my ma's eyes, or at least that's what she used to tell me. Wasn't easy to be a sneak around her."

She hopped down, catching the pace right away if they were still moving. Her strides lengthened or shortened as they were needed to keep pace with the old man and his horse. The whole ordeal wouldn't take more than moments. She got up, jumped down, then fell in alongside of the merchant without a second glance in his direction unless they stopped. The arrow was removed from her bowstring and returned to the bristling quiver at her hip. She kept the bow handy but now turned her eyes on the old man. The smile had faded towards a smirk, pulling one corner of her mouth up further than the other.

"I ain't tryin' to make anyone nervous, then. So if your thief-friend wants some fresh air I figure now's a good chance. Might be weird if someone in town sees 'im crawling out of a box."

made by Wolf of GS

[Hunter]

The old man couldn't help but laugh at the girl's rebuttal to his own joke, a light tinge of red gracing his cheeks at her implication. "Ha! You're at least twenty years to old for me to look at that way, lass! Besides, I'm a married codger, been that way for a long time, so I know where to keep my eyes to avoid the missus's fury." He had to admit though, he was amazed that the girl was wearing so little in the chilly climate of Regna Ferox, he himself wearing a pair of merchant garb that was a bit thicker than usual and had better insulation. He realized that Hunter hadn't dressed any different than normal, which puzzled him, but he just chock it up to it being a young person thing. He focused back on the path for a moment before he heard movement behind him, and watched as the young woman had decided to vacate her spot on the lid of the crate and had no difficulty standing and walking in the moving cart. He began to nudge the horse to go a little slower to make it easier for the girl to move. He listened as she moved towards the front of the wagon, chuckling lightly at her remark. "Well, my friend's a pretty good sneak, so you'll have to see if he's up to snuff for your ma's eyes."

Hunter had heard right away when the woman stood up from her perch, having to stop himself from sitting up instantly in response. Had to see what she would do now that she knew that he was there. He slowly began to move, feeling that he was more than likely going to have to stand up shortly. He began to move the spice bags around as silently as he could and maneuvered himself to a near sitting position. "Oh, it feels so good to sit up again! I felt like I was about to become one with the box. Although, I suppose that wouldn't be a bad thing, it'd make for a nifty disguise. But then again, what guard is going to look at a moving box and say, 'Nah, that's normal'?" Having to hold in a yawn, he went back to waiting for any more discussion.

The merchant watched as she hopped out of the wagon, and began to slow down more to give her more time to match the cart's pace. He watched as she placed the arrow she had drawn earlier back into it's quiver and don a smirk that screamed haughtiness. When she began to speak, he realized why she had vacated the back of the cart and her place on the box. Rolling his eyes a little, he raised his voice to ensure Hunter had heard what she said. "Hunter ma boy, it's pretty safe to say you can come out now. I don't think she's gonna bite. Well, at least not too hard." His answer was the lid to the box of spices coming off and the white-haired young man slowly began to rise out of the box, using the sides of the crate to help himself up.

"I heard her, old man. Well, most of it anyways." He slowly began to stretch the get the kinks out of his bones as his eyes fell on the mystery woman he had been hearing the entire time. If he were a bit more bashful, he would've averted his eyes from her attire, but he simply stared her down with a light tinge of rouge on his cheeks that was only somewhat visible. "Hunter, thief. At your service." He began to adjust the sword belt he had slung and tightened over his back, positioning his father's sword back into it's sheath fully. "I hear you and me may hit it off rather splendidly. I also heard that you're looking for some help putting the Risen on the chopping block. I won't ask for any pay for doing this if you decide to accept working with me. But if I come across anything valuable in the midst of assisting you, I can't completely promise I won't be predisposed to getting my hands on it." His words were sincere, and his tone was somewhat detached and business-like, but he didn't mean to come across uncaring. This was just the best tone to keep with people before he knew them like the back of his hand.

Penelope

[Penelope]

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heads up

words: 320 | tags: Hunter | notes: sorry, had a busy weekend!

"My, my. He's got manners." Penelope had turned her head without breaking pace so that she was able to watch the thief unmask his hiding place from the corner of her eyes. The comment itself was offhand and directed towards the merchant, judged by the volume of her voice. Amusement conveyed through her tone would have made up for the smile that was more or less hidden from the thief by the fur of her coat. There was no shyness there, either, if she cared about his looking Piper certainly didn't call him down on it now. If anything Hunter himself got a good eye-over from the Feroxi lass. Before she replied further her gaze dragged itself forward once again. She raised her voice and adopted a tone similar to his own. It made her request seem more like an order.

"Come, walk with me." What happened next wouldn't change much regardless of his choice. If Hunter hopped down to walk alongside her he would earn another look over first and a friendlier tone when she spoke again. The comments and questions and responses would come accompanied by glances and smiles, each slight and hardly suggestive. Friendly. Should the thief decide to decline and stay his perch atop the wagon she would pause. What smile had existed before would disappear. When she spoke again the words would come in that same, no-nonsense tone of voice they were using-- as though conducting a business meeting. The long lasting impact of his decision wouldn't be as obvious, of course. Either way she would speak again, replying to him should he have some witty reply before launching into her own spiel about his reasoning and purpose for being there.

"Is that what brings you to Regna Ferox Hunter, thief? Are you here for our valuables, baubles n' trinkets?" a moment of hesitation, "Or is there singularly one bauble, valuable or trinket yer after?"

made by Wolf of GS

[Hunter]

The merchant got a good laugh at the girl's comment. The laugh was the sound of someone who no longer had to worry about keeping something hidden, and it was somewhat heartwarming to hear a man as old as him laughing so hard. Calming himself down, the peddler gave the woman a smile. "For a boy that had no mother growing up, I'm amazed he's as polite as he is." At that comment, the merchant received a glare from Hunter momentarily, the thief having directed his attention at the older man. Clucking his tongue, the old man apologized. "Woops. I stepped out of line there, m'boy. Shouldn't go blabbin' your life story without permission."

Hunter sighed at the old man's apology. He had told the old man whatever bits of his life that the old man was interested in knowing as a sort of payment for instantly agreeing to take time away from his business and home to assist him, even if the merchant did feel like he owed him for goods that the thief had given away out of charity and his father's will. He had told the peddler not to go spreading his life out all over the countryside, but he had said that he could tell those that Hunter had given the ok to, like the old man's wife for example. While he didn't necessarily blame the old man for his slip, it did still annoy him for a moment. "No harm done. But try not to go giving everyone we meet a biography on me the second we start talking to them." Turning his attention back to the mysterious woman down below, he saw that she had turned her eyes back to the road ahead. When she half-commanded, half-asked him to walk beside her, the thief turned his head to the  side, looking at her curiously. He began to weigh the pros and cons of doing so, and decided that it was probably better to indulge the woman's request. "If that is what you wish." Stretching his legs for the first time in a while, Hunter stepped off the back of the cart, matching the pace of the woman and the cart fairly easily.

As Hunter came up beside the woman, he began to look around for the first time. The landscape was just as he had remembered it, covered in evergreens and shrubbery, with hills and roads that seemingly lead on forever. The air was chilly, and he could only imagine how hellish the snowstorms in winter must be. He listened as she began to question his motives in Ferox. A small, friendly chuckle reverberated in his throat at her use of the terms baubles and trinkets, and decided to clue her in just a little. "As hard as it is for some people to believe that thieves aren't always on the prowl for valuable loot, it's true. For me, at least.  At this time in my life, I'd rather be doing something more productive than just securing treasures for myself or spreading my gains across Plegia. I had a small epiphany after a major recent failure that's no doubt gotten me some bad publicity back home. I felt that maybe, just maybe, if I traveled around a bit, avoiding anyone after my head of course, I could find people to help and accomplish some worthwhile things in my life other than being a good thief. However, I do have a fault for things that are paraphrased with the word 'valuable' in them, so my words before were merely a warning in case I get the notion to go on a midnight raid if I hear about something a bit on the expensive side." Yawning, he gave her a look that said that this information wasn't just meant for anyone. "I only tell you this because you were kind to my friend, the merchant over there. He's willing to trust you and give you the benefit of the doubt, and while he may be a kindly old man, I'm going to trust his judgment, albeit with a grain of salt. Please try not to make me regret giving you as much starting trust as I am."

Penelope

[Penelope]

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word games

words: 199 | tags: Hunter | notes: short >.<

There was a lot on the table and she was up to bet. Penelope watched the road ahead for a long time, not daring to turn her eyes on this boy that told her of his hopes and dreams for the fear that if she didn't watch where they were going she'd fall and end everything. Born not of looks or inspiration the sensation that gripped her chest and accelerated her heart came from the sole realization that she was out in the world. Like a kid who'd found herself in open water the archer wanted to hold something close. To have something help her keep her head above water. To be supported. But that wasn't what she wanted for herself and Piper was stubborn in this regard. She needed to learn how to swim. She /would/ learn how to swim.

"Admirable," she fed the thief credit where credit was due, "Though if yeah ask me you're just takin' some silver yeah stole and coatin' yer tongue. Yeah ain't gotta mince words, I ain't here t'stop you or turn yeah over. I'd like the help with the Risen on my farm. Yeah do that for me, I'll owe you."

made by Wolf of GS

[Hunter]

Hunter shrugged at the silver tongued comment. He had to be somewhat charming and fluent in his mannerisms to make himself seem like much less of a threat when out in public, so her comment wasn't to far off from it's mark. "I can't help it if I happen to be a bit on the charming side when I talk. Force of habit." He was a little relieved when she said that she wasn't planning on stopping him or turning him over to the authorities, but he knew that even if she had any thoughts of betrayal, he could easily book it away from her as far and fast as he legs would carry and hide out until he could get back into contact with the merchant. Otherwise, he'd have no way out of the country and be forced to either get situated in the popsicle that was Regna Ferox, or until he worked out another plan of exit.

Keeping his eyes on the surrounding area, the thief had no problem with the scope of being in a new country or just going out into the world in general. He had been travelling the lands since he could walk, so he had long since lost the amazement and worry that he had overheard many speak of. As the woman continued on, he also made sure to keep an eye on her. While she certainly wasn't giving off much threat levels, he could never be too cautious. That was what his nagging paranoia told him consistently though, so there many times was no basis for him to be overly-cautious. "I'd be more than happy to lend you a hand." Tugging on one of the leather belt straps wrapped around his neck that held his cloak in place, he gave her a thumbs up with his other hand. "You seem like the kinda person who doesn't go looking for help unless they just want the company or they actually need some form of help or another. Plus, I've got a reputation to uphold, one I don't think I deserve cause it's a bit too much of a nice gesture to me, of a kind thief. And, as a bonus, you interest me." And with that, Hunter turned his attention back to their surroundings, heeding the little voice in the back of his head to keep his eyes peeled.

The merchant, although not looking at the two young people, was listening intently to their conversation. It seems he had been right to some degree when he said they would hit it off well, as they were civil with one another, with some degree of intrigue about the other piquing the other's interest. Making sure to keep the horse and wagon going at a pace the two travelers next to him could match, the old man was enjoying simply listening to their conversation than speaking.

Penelope