Recovery [PUBLIC]

[Griffin]

"Well...here goes the last of our bread..."

Melonni slowly chews and savors the rough and crunchy final hunk of bread from their provisions. Well, her provisions. Husk never ate. He didn't need to. Melonni's last scam went bad her alias was well and burned. For weeks she and Husk have been on the run, hoping that with time and distance, they'll cross the envelope of gossip into territory where her reputation and MO and the appearance of Husk will be unfamiliar.

She swallowed the rough piece of bread harshly and sighed, leaning back on her arms. Husk sat cross-legged, straight-backed, as always. "We'll look for a town tomorrow, m'kay?"

Husk didn't reply. He didn't even gesture. Melonni knew he could speak though. The rare times in battle where they were in deep trouble, he would utter a word alerting her to an attacker or to designate a target. She swore the voice was different from one instance to another, but it was always in the heat of battle, so she can't be sure.

Melonni stretched out onto her back, groaning in the process. "You don't mind taking watch again tonight, do you?" she said with a slight chuckle. Husk didn't sleep. He didn't need to. Calling a small piece of the fire to her, Melonni spun the little spark around her fingers while staring up to the sky. Tomorrow, the game would begin again.

__________________________

Step One: Get noticed; stand out.

With her shining armor, bright blue robe, and Husk's inherent mysteriousness, that was usually the easy part. Melonni scouted the town of Henry's Ford ahead of time so she could take the longest route to the nearby inn. More time for people to spot the pair walking through the streets. Rumors would start right there.

Step Two: Establish a reputation.

Usually through a handful of good deeds. Caring for the stables by the inn. Helping an old lady carry her groceries. Killing a pesky crow or five for the farmhands. The people will see her as a blessing.

Step Three: Share the story.

Deliver a story about her own magic and Husk's latent abilities. They don't need to believe it, only think about it and listen.

Step Four: Find the local bandits.

Every town has them. You just have to know where to find them . Over-exaggerate the amount of loot and under-exaggerate the defenses and they'll go and attack without a bribe.

Step Five: Reap the profits.

Tell the people that spirits posses Husk. The spirits of Wealth, Nourishment, and Combat. Through offerings of money, food, and weapons respectively to his latent powers come to life. While this was a bald-faced lie, it's generally enough for distressed peasants to believe. Defeat the bandits, take the offerings, steal out in the night.


The Dancing Badger. The local pub.

"Can I order a drink? Oh, and some water for my friend here?" Melonni said firmly with her signature smile.

The game was on.

[Golden Emblem]

Helen Balfour preferred to keep her name unknown, along with her identity as a mercenary. It wasn't even just being a mercenary that was the issue, it was her type of work: going after members of the policing forces in various countries who strayed too far off the line of justice and became corrupt. It was dangerous work, as it often angered people with guns and short tempers.

But she didn't have to worry about that here. She was travelling far from home, and she wasn't even in her normal uniform. She wore simple black pants and a red shirt with white, blocky letters on the back spelling SSDC (Simple Skies Defence Corp, the mercenary group she worked for), and when she got to the bar, she set down what seemed to be part of a riot armour uniform... except it was only the helmet.

"One beer, please," she asked simply, no emotion to her voice. She was tired, and it showed. If someone wanted to steal from her, it appeared she would be an easy target.

[Griffin]

The innkeeper was a rough and ready looking older man. His face was pockmarked and leathery underneath a fraying salt and pepper beard. The scar on his neck and the wear and tear on his arms and hands suggests we has once a soldier and whether he was content or annoyed with where life had now placed him, running an inn, was unclear. He addressed the other woman first, taking a mug from under the counter and filling it to the brim with frothy beer. He placed the mug in front of her, getting a good look at her weary face.

"It's on the house," he said gruffly with a hint of a smile. "Ya look like you could use it." He made his way down to Melonni and Husk. "And fer you? Beer? Cider? We just got a shipment of wine if thas' yer fancy."

"A mug of warm cider sounds delightful. And water for my companion," she reminded him.

The innkeeper grunted, "Better off with beer. Water's no good 'round here."

"He can't drink beer. S'gainst his religion," Melonni chimed back, dipping a bit into the dialect of the area.

The innkeeper shrugged. "Water it is. Eight coppers."

But Melonni didn't have any money. This is where careful timing and charisma paid off. "Ya mind starting a tab for us? We'll be needing a room."

"Sure, sure," he said, placing Melonni's mug over the fire. "Angie!" he bellowed across the room. A young brunette girl scurried over. His daughter, Melonni presumed. "Go make sure room four is clear for two. How long ya plan on stayin'?" he turned back to Melonni.

"Three days? Maybe four?"

"Tha' long, eh? You in town for somethin' important?" he asked, retrieving Melonni's mug and sliding the mugs of cider and water in front of the two.

"Actually, I'm looking to get away from someone. It's a long story."

"Well, feel free ta share. Stories tend ta not last long enough 'round here."

"Maybe in the morning? What's on your menu?"

A rough chuckle ripped from the innkeeper's throat. "Whatever my boys happen to kill tonight! Could be fowl. Could be fox. Hell, they hauled three goats in one night!" he chuckled again, Melonni joining it. He reached into a pocket on his apron, pulling out a ledger, laying it open on a blank page with a pencil between the pages. "Sign yer names if ya please. The name's Jackson, by the way."

Melonni took the pencil and jotted down "Faye Macindaw" for herself, and "Michael" for Husk. She rarely addressed him by name, but when she did, and publicly, it was Michael. The lack of a last name didn't seem to bother Jackson as he snatched up the ledger. Melonni took her mug in hand and sipped happily. Husk sat quietly and still.

"So, tell me Jackson. What's the news 'round these parts? Got any short stories to match my long one?"

"Aside from the lackluster harvest and the Percy boy trying to fly by jumping off his daddy's roof, nothing much to say."

Melonni sighed, taking another sip. She turned in her seat, "Anyone have a good story for tonight?"

_______________________

OOC: Can you tell I've missed writing?

[Golden Emblem]

OOC: Yes, and I've missed RP'ing.

"If you're so interested in stories, I guess I could tell you one," Helen replied to Melonni's request, putting a few coins on the bar as a tip for the innkeeper's hospitality. It was rare she got a free beer back home, so any kindness was something she wished to reward. Jackson seemed like a good man, and she was impressed.

"You see this helmet here?"

She held up the riot helmet for Melonni to see. It was definitely an old one, with a design that was at least thirty years old. There were a lot of marks on it, some looking as if they were from blunt items, and a few even appearing to be bullet holes. However, it was spotless, and the visor seemed to be of a new make.

"This belonged to my mother," Helen began to explain, a small smile on her face. "She was a member of the riot police in a country far from here, many a year ago. They were a great group, as far as assisting the country went. Then, a new leader came in, and they were told to hunt a group of people known as the 'arsen'. My mother's group was told they were a group of murderers."

Helen sighed. "No such luck. My mom did the research, where others wouldn't or just didn't care. They were political prisoners that had escaped and took on a name in order to differentiate themselves from the people of the country. She went with her partner to find them. He wanted to kill them, she wanted to talk to them."

"Well, mom ended up finding a group of eight or so of the arsen. Her partner shot and killed one, even though they had no weapons. She knew they were innocent, so... she killed her own partner. Shot him right in the neck."

Helen turned to Melonni. "I know it's a violent story, but it's not a lie. She escaped her home country with people she didn't even know, just because she knew it was the right thing to do. Sadly, it's not always like that. People steal, lie, murder... all because they can. It's a horrible world out there."

[Griffin]

OOC: Buh. Bad night. Never mind. Sorry.

[Golden Emblem]

Jun 12, 2011 21:14:23 GMT -5 Griffin said:

OOC: Buh. Bad night. Never mind. Sorry.

OOC: No problem. Take your time.

[Griffin]

"Ya see what I mean? Yea, interestin' and all, but short!" Jackson said, cleaning mugs while listening to Helen's words.

But Melonni zoned him out. She rested her cheek against her fist, leaning on the bar, snickering inside at Helen's story while being totally enraptured on the outside.

Steal, lie, and murder indeed...

"Wow. Your mother sounds like a brave woman. Many people believe Michael is some sort of freak because of his behavior or appearance or even his religion. But with the gifts we have, we try to better the world we pass by."

[Golden Emblem]

"Really?" Helen pondered, taking a sip as she looked at "Michael", who seemed, while slightly odd, to be not too bad overall. "He doesn't seem too odd, to be quite honest with you, but what do I know? I'm not even from here, so I can't judge what's odd and what isn't in your culture, I'm afraid."

Something seems odd with these two. I should stick around a bit.

She took a swig and finished off her ale, which would have seemed impressive for a woman, but for Helen it was sluggish. She put a few more coins down and gave Jackson a smile.

"Another, please?"

[Griffin]

Jackson graciously scooped the coins into a pocket in his apron and refilled the mug. "Rough trip, eh?" he said, only half expecting a response.

Angie came back to the bar from upstairs. Jackson caught her eye and she nodded before returning to serving tables.

"Well, your room's ready, whenever you feel like going up. Here's the key." Jackson reached under the bar and handed a brass key to Melonni. She pocked the key and returned to her conversation with Helen.

A good chance to spread myth about Husk, especially with Jackson in earshot. He'll be sure to spread the story.

"Michael's a unique soul. He hardly ever speaks, eats, or sleeps while he's dormant like this. I had never heard of his religion when I first met him. Even then, it took months of traveling before I even knew the first bit about him. But he's interesting enough and useful in a pinch, so I keep him around."

Melonni slowly drained the last of her cider. "Well, that was lovely. Thank you Jackson." She rose from seat. Husk followed suit. "It was nice meeting you. You too...umm..."

[Golden Emblem]

"Yeah, well, it's always going to be a rough trip when you're going after people who the masses blindly follow as being their protectors," Helen chuckled to Jackson when he passed her a second round. When Melonni spoke up again, it appeared she wasn't paying attention, but she definitely was.

It's a very one sided relationship, it appears. I wish I coul get some information out of that man.

"Helen. Charmed, I'm sure."

[Griffin]

"Faye," she replied with a smile. "Well, we'll go settle into our room. Nice meeting you, Helen."

She picked up her bag and Husk's and ascended the stairs and made way to their room. It was simple. Two small beds. A table and chair. Rickety ceiling. Drafty. At least there was a hook on the door for Melonni to hang her armor. Husk sat down on one of the beds and stared at the wall. The behavior was pretty normal for him.

Melonni removed her breastplate and hung it on the peg. She removed the leather vest under her armor, leaving only her blue mage's robe. Her bags she tossed by her bed and flopped down on it to relax for a while. Husk proceeded to remove his robe, leaving him naked except for brief underpants. Melonni was used to it, but she still made a habit to not look at the pale, dead man's bare flesh.

Helen kept in her thoughts. She seemed to suspect something, but maybe it was just Melonni being paranoid. It was getting late. Maybe she'll walk around town, ask questions, talk to the alley dwellers and street rats.

"Actually that sounds like a great idea. Husk, wake me in an hour, will you?"

[Golden Emblem]

Helen finished off her second drink, shaking off the tipsy feeling. She had a feeling something was going to go down tonight, and she didn't want to be drunk if there was going to be a job for her to handle tonight. Instead of ordering a third drink, she pulled a small round glass from her pocket and stared into it.

A man's face appeared in the glass. He seemed bored, and his ebony hair was unkempt at best.

"Yeah Helen?"

"Are you in the area?"

"About half an hour away from you, why?"

"Keep on standby. I might need your help later."

The man looked frustrated, and he began to curse. "What the fuck, Helen? Just because I'm younger than you doesn't mean you can boss me the hell-"

"Calm down, idiot, and keep on standby."

She put the glass in her pocket again, and ended that conversation with ease. She then smiled at Jackson, trying her best to act friendly again.

"Has there been anything odd going around here recently?"

[Griffin]

"Nope. Like I told them two, the Percy's kid believed he could fly and jumped off the roof, he's fine by the way, and the harvest is poor of late. Other than that, nuttin' to report ma'am."

"Well I got some news for you, Jacko!" hollered a lightly armored man, bow slung over his shoulders, from a nearby table. "I came in through the woods this evening and saw a big trail. Like a lot of people have been walking it. And I imagine from the half picked bird bones lining the trail, you've got a bad case of bandits on your doorstep." He rose from his seat and approached the bar, wiping his bangs from his eyes. "I hope the thirty militia men you have here have been running drills and polishing their gear." He took a final swig from his drink and slammed it on the bar. "Otherwise, this little town will be in a lot of trouble." And he walked out the door.

"Hey!" Jackson hollered after him. "You've gotta pay for this!" picking up the mug. When he did, it clinked. Four coins were sitting in the bottom of it. He dumped the coins into his hand. "Some people, eh?"

[Golden Emblem]

"Yes, well... some people can certainly be interesting."

Bandits normally weren't Helen's choice of target, but she didn't want to leave a small town alone against a group that could potentially set the town aflame. She was normally a skilled fighter on her own, and with her partner in crime, as it were, only a half hour away, she could at least help out.

"Listen. I know mercenaries don't always get the best reputation behind them, but if there are going to be bandits attacking the town, I'd like to help," Helen explained, watching Jackson for his reaction. "I have my weapons and armour in my room, and I can be ready in five minutes. I also have a partner waiting nearby. He can be here shortly, if the need arises."

[Griffin]

Jackson stopped and looked at Helen. "Thas' quite all right, little lady. Can't go takin' the words uh strangers up front. He's prolly some brigand himself, looking to catch lil' vigilanties like yerself on his turf. With that story 'n all, he probably was setting a trap fer ye or summat." He chuckled curiously. "Silly bugger doesn't know anything about our militia. While we only 'ave thirty men in the racks, nearly everyone here in Henry's Ford knows how to fight. Ye see that big 'ol sword hanging over the fireplace?" he asked, gesturing with a mug, "thas' my old beauty. Every nick and scratch on that fine 'ol blade was a result of me smacking it against some massive brute with a poleaxe or summat. S'what you get fer being a shock trooper. Grab the biggest beatin' stick you can find and rush the boys covered in the really thick armor who like to stand still. WHAM! Aaahaahaahaa!" Jackson shared, pounding his fist on the bar.

In the middle of his story, Jackson had refilled Helen's mug and placed in it front of her again, practically unaware that she hadn't paid again.

"Anyway, even if there are bandits about, between you, me, yer friend, yer other friend, that strange fellah, and damn near everyone else in this town, I think we'll be juuuust fine."

[Golden Emblem]

Helen chuckled, and at the sight of a new beer on the table, she paid the coins, but passed the ale towards Jackson instead. He looked as if he could use something to drink, and if it paid for another story, she was more than interested. She enjoyed hearing about these sorts of things, as Daniel, her partner, was never really one for telling stories. However, each tale had an element of instruction to it, which could help her in the future. It's why she normally went for drinks when others would just go to their rooms.

It was more interesting that way.

"These brigands sound like the criminals I went after, back when I was an officer of the law," she told Jackson, a small frown on her face. "It makes you wonder about people. Why do they go around raping and pillaging, when there are other ways?"

[Griffin]

Jackson smiled and shook his head with a chuckle when Helen slid the beer back to him. He liked this girl. He took the mug and pushed the coins back toward here with it before taking a mouthful of the brew.

"Maybe fer them, there aint other ways, you know? While I sure as hell aint condoning what they do, they're people and people gotta make a living somehow. While sure, the actual raiders may be criminals, some may be down on their luck. But their wives? Their children? They aint bad people. The stable boys and cooks aint bad people. Just out uh options, methinks. Heh, but what weight do a mere barkeep's thoughts carry anymore?"

[Golden Emblem]

"If your words have little weight, then I doubt anyone's words have any weight," Helen sighed, picking up her coins. "At least you can be honest. How many people do you run into who tell you lies? I'm going to guess it's a high amount. I try my best to not talk to others, and I hear lies every day. You must hear them by the minute."

Helen enjoying speaking to this barkeep. He was friendly and honest, which combined was rare. Even her partner, while quite honest (to the point of occasionally... well, always being blunt), was a bit of a jerk. She hoped that it wasn't an act.

"Are there any jobs for a mercenary to do here?" she wondered aloud. "I would prefer to spend a few days here instead of leaving right away."

[Griffin]

"Heh...you're a kind one, you are. I hear lies out among the tables every damn hour o' the day. But here at the bar, face ta face, yeh actually get more honestly then yeh'd think."

Jackson downed the rest of his beer, exhaling happily with a slamming of the mug on the bar. He wiped stray foam from his beard and tried his hardest to suppress the inevitable belch in front of a lady.

"As fer work, I can only suggest ya speak of the captain o' te guard, 'nd see what he's got fer yeh. Could be a bounty, could be patrol. Can't say fer sure, luv," feeling friendly enough to offer the sobriquet.

Meanwhile, upstairs in Melonni's room, she lay half-awake on the inn bed. She was planning out contingencies in her scheme, because nothing goes exactly according to plan. Helen may very well prove to be a thorn in her side and may be worth getting rid of. Husk would be pivotal, in any case. She shuddered suddenly and forced herself into full sleep. Husk was meditating. Mostly nude, sitting cross-legged on the floor.

Mumbling strange words.

Hollow eyes glowing dark cobalt.

[Golden Emblem]

OOC: Sorry for not replying earlier like I said I would. It's been a strange week.

---

Helen's face seemed to darken significantly when Jackson called her "love". She knew he hadn't meant it to insult or to be condescending, but that was a word that, for her, was tough to swallow. But, she couldn't act rudely to Jackson just because of a slip-up. She swallowed her pride and gave Jackson a smile that was just a tad forced.

"Well, thank you Jackson," Helen told him, tossing him a few coins as a tip. "I'll be retiring to my room now. By the way, if a man with black hair and a sword with a green tassel on the handle comes in and asks for a drink, just tell him no. He's a bit of an angry drunk at times, and I'm not sure if you want that in your bar."

With that, she went up to her room, walking past the room before she reached her own and went inside. It was tempting to sleep, but she couldn't right now. If brigands were to come at night, she needed to be wide awake in wait.

[Griffin]

OOC: I can't think of what happens next...

[Golden Emblem]

OOC: Uh... the magic of a time skip?

[Griffin]

OOC: Maybe I'll dream an advancement.

[Griffin]

"Hmm? Yeah. I'm awake..." Melonni stirred from the faint touch of Husk's hand bumping her shoulder. His skin was so chilled, she could feel it through the cloth of her robe. It still surprised her how she's become so accustomed to his eery qualities. Melonni rose from bed and stretched her back and arms. Peering out the window, she saw the tail-end of the setting sun and smiled. She enjoyed the shift in the quality of people you meet during the day and during the night. The day was her disguise. The night was her friend.

In her small amount of belongings, she kept a less conspicuous set of clothing. She stripped from her robe and pulled on dark brown trousers and a drab gray tunic. She tied her hair back into a ponytail and replaced her scimitar with a long dagger. Now she looked like a smuggler more than a magical knight. It was time to stir up some rumors. "C'mon Husk, put your clothes on. Time to go."

Husk slowly drug his robe on over his shoulders. Before she opened the door, she remembered the moderate necessity for stealth. She held a finger up to her mouth, indicating Husk to make as little noise as possible. Also, she pointed to her head. Husk flipped up the hood to his robe. Melonni nodded and opened the door. Checking left and right, she walked as softly as possible over the creaky wooden floorboards. They reached the stairs, quickly descended them, and made best speed for the door, avoiding all eye contact. Jackson hardly looked up from the bar.

"Alright, all clear. Let's go take a look around, shall we?" Husk lumbered behind without question.

[Golden Emblem]

Helen had kept her eyes closed, focusing on the sounds around her, when she heard a door open. She wasn't sure who would be leaving their room at this time, so she decided to inch towards her door and peek out of the keyhole. She thought she saw that woman from the bar and her companion, but she wasn't sure. When she didn't hear them anymore, she opened her door.

She was going to follow them. She actually stepped out of her door, but then realized she needed a weapon. Her normal one was too large to carry around normally, and she didn't want to be seen as a threat. Besides, it was a heavy weapon, and if she needed to save her strength, it wasn't a good idea to be carrying it around.

She went over to her bed, reached under the pillow, and pulled out a gun-like device. It certainly appeared to be a gun, but there was no chamber to load bullets, and there was a glowing blue line on each side of the silver object. Few knew that it was designed to absorb energy out of the air and shoot bullets, but Helen didn't mind.

It was excellent for intimidation, since she didn't have a real gun anymore. She attached her holster to her side, and went downstairs, back to the bar. She had taken enough time that they were gone, so she decided to go see Jackson.

"Did you see where that woman went?"

[Griffin]

Jackson looked up from cleaning cutlery to see the woman from earlier today. He smiled briefly at her, assuming she was just passing through. His brow furrowed a bit when she approached him and asked him a question.

"Eh? Woman? Ma wife jus stepped out back ta feed the horses..."

~~~

The back alleys were rather bare tonight. Melonni was disappointed. No one to tell stories to. No one to trade with. No gambling. No muggings. Nothing. Husk suddenly stopped walking. Melonni turned to see his eyes peering off to the east. "Hear something?"

He nodded ever so slightly. Melonni shrugged and began maneuvering the alleyways east. As they walked, she could her faint cheering. It was far too faint to just be muffled by buildings. "Interesting..." she mused to herself. "Let's keep looking, eh?"

[Golden Emblem]

"Well, thank you kindly anyways," Helen noted with a smile. She nodded to him, and went outside to see if she could find any sign of that woman or her companion. Something was telling her to be careful, and she didn't want to involve her mercenary partner in something that could be way over her head.

She looked around to see if anyone else was around to speak to, but the town seemed bare. She got frustrated enough to kick a wall, which didn't help any. She just decided to continue looking, thinking that the yelling was from a bunch of drunks. If they continued, she'd have to check it out, but it wasn't bothering anyone now.

---

Meanwhile, a man walked into the bar, looking as if he had just gone for a lovely swim... in his clothing, that was. He was dressed differently than Helen was. While he had similar black pants, he also wore combat boots, a black shirt, and a jacket, not to mention gloves that completely covered his hands. However, if he was attentive, Jackson would notice a small badge on his jacket that contained the letters SSDC, the same letters on the back of Helen's shirt.

The man sat at the bar and parted his soaked black hair. He didn't seem too happy, and with a jian at his side, he was probably one to keep more on the happy side. The jian in particular had a well-made green tassel at the end.

"The strongest drink you have."

[Griffin]

"One moment." Jackson got a good look at the man soaking his bar. He noted the green tassel on the man's sword and now, looking at his demeanor, understood why Helen suggested not to give him a drink. However, the man looked ready to kill someone who so much as looks at him funny. Never to be called inhospitable, Jackson prepared his teenage sons' favorite concoction. He heated a mug of cider over the fire in the kitchen. After a few minutes, he withdrew the mug from the fire and added in a generous helping of whiskey and a dash of cinnamon. Jackson slid the mug in front of his new guest. "On the house." Maybe the appeal of a free drink will take away from the lack of alcohol, Jackson thought. That sword looked mighty sharp though...

"Oi! Percy!" Jackson shouted to the man sitting in front of the fireplace out in the dining part of the inn. "Let this man 'ave your seat! E's soaked!" He turned back to the swordsman. "Anything else for yeh?"

~~~

"I...I guess this is the right place." Melonni looked around. The screaming and hollering was hardly any louder and she was certain they were standing right on top of it. It was in the middle of a junction between two alleys. Nothing looked conspicuous though. "Maybe there's a tunnel in one of these houses or something..." she sighed heavily.

"OOF!"

Husk's head snapped in the direction of the grunt. Melonni's did as well. "Don't worry, I heard it too. Let's go."

[Golden Emblem]

"I'll sit here. There's no need for a fire, but I'll be back in a moment."

Daniel disappeared for a moment, walking upstairs. Helen had mentioned to him earlier, when she had first gotten the room, where it would be. It was locked, but he didn't bother to ask for a spare key when it was so much easier just to pick the lock. It wasn't too hard, so he went in, found a spare change of clothing, got changed, and, locking the door behind him, left via the window, leaving his sword behind.

Jackson would probably be confused as to why he came in the front door again, but he sat down and took a hearty sip of his drink, almost downing half the glass.

A shame that, moments later, his eyes began to water. Maybe he should have mentioned his hatred for cinnamon beforehand?

"Jesus Christ, what the hell is this?" Daniel managed to choke out. "It's... ah, fuck."

One of the bad things about being a half-demon was that every sense was heightened. Even the sense of taste. Mind, it didn't matter, since he finished it off anyway. He didn't seem happy, though, but at least he didn't have his sword now. If Jackson paid attention, though, he'd notice Daniel had a knife in his pocket.

---

Helen decided that, since no one was around, that following the noise seemed to be the only option at the moment. However, as she got closer, she noticed the man and woman standing together. She hid behind a building, making sure she wasn't noticed.

I wonder what they're doing...

[Griffin]

Melonni and Husk weaved carefully through the alleyways to find the source of the grunts and dull thuds they were hearing. Peaking carefully around a third corner, they found a young man being beaten by two men wearing cloth sacks over their heads with eye holes cut out.

Poor soul. Hopefully he won't die in the crossfire.

"Husk...do your thing, but don't kill 'em"

Husk barely nodded. His eyes lit up a dark cobalt. He moved with very small movements of his legs. With his long cloak, he appeared to levitate above the ground. Melonni helped the process. She cupped her hands and conjured a ball of steam, which she blew on to cover the ground with fog. The two masked men stopped as they saw Husk "float" into view. They froze in terror. Husk held his hands out to the side, palms up. A small vortex appeared in each palm. The air felt lighter.

BZZZZZHHH.

Husk thrust his hand forward and a cobalt ball of energy shot from it. The first masked man took it in the chest. His shirt had a swirl-like cut in it. His chest was burned. The other man began to run.

BZZZZZHHHHH.

The second shot caught the running man in the upper thigh. He fell to the ground in pain. Husk moved closer as the other man was pulled to his feet. The victim of the muggers cowered against the wall as Husk moved in front of him. The muggers were still locked in place. Husk slowly opened his mouth with a dull groan, the same dark cobalt light emitting from it. They screamed and ran.

The young victim looked up at Husk with mixed terror and thankfulness. "Wuh...who are y-you?" he stammered out.

Husk, lowering his hood and removing the glow from his eyes, quietly groaned, "Miiiichaaael."

Then he turned the cleared out of sight back with Melonni.

"Great job Husk. That's enough for one night. I'll find that underground room tomorrow. This is enough. Let's get back without being seen."