In this world, Magic is Everything. All people, all races, are granted with the power to perform mystical and magical feats via grimories, mystical tomes granted to each and every child on their 15th birthday. Those blessed by the mana can have their names written down in legend.
Shattered Grimoires is the work of the mind(s) of Ardere & Shattered Grimoire's staff. All characters and content are copyright their creators, and may not be replicated without their creators' permission. Black Clover is owned by Yuki Tabata and published by Viz Shonen Jump. All images belong to their original owners. The theme you are currently viewing was made by Eliza of ElizaCodes exclusively for Shattered Grimoires.
Post by Arwin Wagner on Sept 29, 2021 20:10:31 GMT -5
Arwin Wagner
“FUCK!” Arwin swore as he attempted to leap clear over a pair of men as they wrestled on the floor, both of them so desperate to win the struggle that they abandoned magic for more...direct means. His foot caught on a bent elbow and he stumbled on the landing, nearly falling on his face before pushing himself back into an unstable run and kept on moving. He had to shove to move in the right direction and only just managed to duck out of the way as a stray spell veered a little too close, but cleared the way for him ahead.
The room had been tightly packed, gamblers of every stripe all pressed into one large dance hall, from high rollers to the lowliest of bottom feeders. Unfortunately, stuffing a place like this, in a town like Aries Garse with anyone with two Yuls to rub together tended to attract a certain type of people. Much like the gamblers, criminals of every type congregated and, in turn, attracted the Magic Knights. Who had seemed especially interested in a small contingent of the gambling hall’s patrons. Some people Arwin had been VERY interested in getting to know. A group of drug smugglers who had been making a name for themselves all over the Clover Kingdom as of late. Unfortunately, the drug smugglers hadn’t been particularly interested in being arrested, and things had devolved almost instantly.
Now the room was filled with bellowing men, screaming women, magic spells being slung every which way, and the general pandemonium that tended to follow the Magic Knights.
By the King’s flabby ass, Arwin hated Magic Knights!
He burst from the dance hall in a stumble, huffing and looking rather panicked. He took no time to gather his wits or his breath; now was the time for running, not thinking. So Arwin pushed someone ahead of him aside and rushed down the stairs near the front of the building, taking his place as one of the first among the throng making a mad dash for the doors.
-------------------------------
The cool early autumn air felt almost too cold to be tolerated after he’d spent the last few hours breathing in the sweat saturated air of the gambling hall. Someone pushed past him into the streets and Arwin only barely recognized what happened as a fist of stone rose out of the earth, latched itself to the man’s ankle, tripping him up.
Magic Knights.
Arwin didn’t bother trying to figure out where the caster was and simply began running down the street. He wasn’t the only one, the caster had some luck with some of the other escapees, but more than a handful joined Arwin on his trip away from the gambling hall. The hall had been illegal, which meant that simply being there had been a crime and Arwin had no interested in being arrested tonight. He leaped. He wasn’t sure why, but he trusted his instincts and felt a pang of pride as he heard someone behind him curse. He sprinted past people taking part in the Aries Garse past time of choice, “Not witnessing a crime" and nodded in acknowledgement as a man threw him a thumbs up. Everybody in this town of gamblers and crooks could appreciate an impressive escape.
But Arwin wasn't too sure it was an escape just yet, as he rounded a corner and found himself on a residential street. He looked around desperately for a hiding place, eyes wild and breathing hard. His thoughts raced as he slowed to a jog, lungs not quite up to the task he was demanding of them “Come on, come on, com-”
THERE!
He saw his salvation, hidden as it was, as he passed a fruit vendor’s cart. An open storm cellar. More than half the damn things had been destroyed when a pair of earth mages had fought during the war, so only those who had lived in Aries Garse most of their lives knew about them. Arwin wasted no time, not even bothering with the half rotted stairs, he simply hopped down into the cellar, grinning from ear to ear as he did.
"Easily done, fri-" he half-gasped the words but froze, the words dying on his tongue as the doors to the cellar closed.
Mania sidestepped a stray magic spell that hurled itself into a nearby man, before he was thrown off balance by the place evacuating in a frenzied panic. Just when the young rogue thought he'd maybe find some promising work, the Magic Knights had to come and bring the place down.
Literally.
The gambling hall had turned into a all out free for all and it was every man for himself.
"Outta my way!"
Mania would shove down a few people unlucky enough to be baring his path, throwing them aside as he dashed for the exit. It was time to blow the proverbial popsicle stand and make himself scarce. He didn't want to end up in the hands of the law and though he was technically a nobody he had his worries about being taken into their custody. The chaos was a tad more stimuli than Mania could stomach at the moment. The loud howling of fearful men, the sound of magic destroying the interior and of course the authorities here to arrest Mania's unsavory ilk. Emerging from the packed crowd scrambling through the main hall Mania would clear the stairs in a single bound. Stumbling forward he would push through the door right after a few lucky people who were ahead of him.
A single breath of the fall air was enough to calm Mania's frantic mind; however there wasn't time to lose as one of the men beside him was grasped from beneath by a giant stone hand.
"Damn their outside too?!"
Mania would state whilst his legs, with a mind of their own begin carrying him away without a second thought. There were a handful that escaped and joined Mania down the street as they rushed past the passerby and street merchants that littered the spacious cobble roads. Whoever was guarding the entrance was still hot on their tails, more and more of the small group had been thinned by the stone fist the Magic Knight used. The ground felt as if it had became malleable or compromised, but something told Mania it was something different entirely. Mimicking the man closest to the front, Mania dove quickly as he could, leaping through a merchants stall and rolling onto his feet. Mania's gait had only slightly faltered as he recovered his footing. All of this because of some illegal gambling? Mania mused over the thought sparingly and the conclusion he arrived at lead himself to believe they had come for more than simply met the eye.
Mania could ponder errant thoughts later.
He turned into a residential street after rounding past some onlookers and glanced back. There was no one behind him and Mania knew he had to find a place to lie low. He was far from a athlete evident from his heavy, bated breaths. Mania watched one of his fellow escapees come to a slow jog and descend into a cellar near a stall. Looking behind to see if he was still being tailed, Mania would confirm for the moment the Magic Knight wasn't in view and right behind the guy he would jump into the cellar closing the door to the cellar. Mania would stumble clumsily down the rotting stairs as the cellar went sable black.
"Calm your nerves kid, just needed a spot to lie real low like. "
A click from the lighter Mania fetched from his pocket would produce a amber, ember that lit the dark as Mania lit one of his cigs. The tip of the tobacco emanated a tiny source of light.
"I was at the gambling hall like you. I don't think he saw us come down here should be safe as long as we stay put awhile yeah? "
Hopefully he didn't just lock himself in a dark cellar with a psycho? The thought lingered in his mind, like the thick scent of Mania's cigarette wafting in the air. Once his mind started racing, there was no telling when it would stop. Already, Mania was starting to become more wary as the reality of his situation dawned upon him.
Post by Arwin Wagner on Sept 30, 2021 1:12:38 GMT -5
Arwin Wagner
Arwin had frozen as he heard the door close behind him. Instinctively his hands rose so they were held fingers splayed at around chin level. It hadn't even occurred to him to put up a fight. "Got no interest in getting my face smashed in by some noble with a grimoire in his hands and his head up his ass" he thought, a sour taste in his mouth and a rotten feeling in his guts. His thoughts were spiraling towards the negative as he surrendered to his captor.
"Better to get arrested and keep my teeth where they ar- "
"Calm your nerves kid, just needed a spot to lie real low like. "
Immediately, Arwin's hands fell to his sides and he turned, his face screwed up into an expression equal parts incredulity and annoyance. He opened his mouth to speak but instead allowed the other individual to speak, since he could see he was about to continue. He was annoyed, not rude.
"I was at the gambling hall like you. I don't think he saw us come down here should be safe as long as we stay put awhile yeah? "
Arwin nodded at that and made his way over to the far wall, arms out ahead of him, searching in the darkness as the man had finished lighting up his rather fragrant cigarette and the dark had returned. The man's story made sense, and it wasn't like Arwin had any interest in delving any deeper into it. Working to prove this wasn't the worst case scenario would have forced him to take some unfortunate actions he wasn't sure he could justify to himself. "Fair enough buddy." Arwin said it with far less interest than he would normally due to his focus on the task at hand.
"Arwin's the name, by the way"
Arwin's fingers brushed the wall and he turned so he could slide his back down and take a seat on the cellar's packed dirt floor. "Welcome to our shared hideout for the evening." Arwin swept his hand out, not even considering that the darkness might stop the fellow cellar dweller from seeing the gesture. "Don't know where that manner of speech of yours is from, but I'm sure it's not here, so you should know Magic Knights around here are rather persistent, so we're going to have to enjoy one another's company for the next few hours."Arwin snorted up some snot after that and hawked a loogie to try and clear his sinuses. This part of the cellar stank to high heaven of fruit that had long past its best before date. Unfortunately, Arwin couldn't tell at all where it was coming from exactly and his night vision hadn't quite adapted to the darkness enough for him to go searching.
So, stuck with a stranger he had decided to trust in a cellar that smelled of sickly sweet rot, Arwin closed his eyes, leaned his head back against the wall and tried to remember if his mother was having one of her good days. He'd left for the gambling hall in the early afternoon and now, after all that commotion he just couldn't remember.
STATISTICS
POW: 003
DUR: 020
SEN: 011
STA: 005
CON: 015
SPEED: 5m/s
HEALTH: senior x2
MANA SKIN: senior
MANA POOL: 030 / 030
MANA REGEN: 05 IC / 10 OOC
SPELLS
N/A
NOTES
Made sure not to include any quotes from your post in my word count.
The kids name was Arwin, he was more trustful than others it appeared. If it was his real name obviously, but Mania didn't sense hostility and he had a good idea when he was being lied to. Taking a deep drag of his cigarette, he would provide his own name, whilst exhaling smoke in the opposite direction of Arwin.
"Mania, the pleasure's mine."
Mania wouldn't say anything else for a moment, instead he would listen as Arwin spoke and take slow, deep, long pulls of his cigarette. He was awfully chatty for a boy that was just spooked not even a moment ago, but maybe Mania's story had truly put Arwin at ease. It was hard to read people when you couldn't observe their actions. The subtle tells one could gleam from a shifting posture, to darting eyes. Instead, Mania would have to rely on tone and pitch, feeling out the boy to be certain he wasn't going to go mad from a episode. Mania had done some horrific things when he would freak out. Just a few months ago, he had recently left a town where he almost killed a guy he thought was following him. Poor bloke didn't have the foggiest idea of what was happening.
Putting the cigarette out, the only faint source of light would be snuffed, leaving both Arwin and Mania in the tenebrous dark.
"Great minds do think a like, yeah!?"
There would be a small pause before Mania would continue with his reply. He would lean back against the wall closest to the stairs, shifting into a squatting position closer to the ground.
"Understood... No worries... Yeah no worries. I ain't got nothing but time. You could tell Im not from round here huh?"
Mania would ask in a curious tone as he stared down at the floor. The stench wasn't the best and with their being no light, the young rogue couldn't help but focus on the smell. In protest he almost lit another cigarette, but decided against it in respect to Arwin. After all that running and what happened earlier, Mania couldn't help but smoke that first one. If only to calm his own nerves in the moment. With the gambling hall being raided, he was now all without ideas for how he would make enough Yul to pay for a room. Not only that, but he was down and out when it concerned his luck. It appeared lady luck wasn't smiling for him; however, things never stayed the same for too long. That was assured, but whether or not he be worse for wear? Mania would just have to wait.
"You were at the Gambling Hall. So how's a man to make some easy coin in this town? I was planning to pickpocket the lot of those fools, but wasn't meant to be I s'pose?"
If Arwin was connected in this town or at the very least has some useful info this wouldn't all turn out to be for naught.
Post by Arwin Wagner on Oct 4, 2021 21:41:09 GMT -5
Arwin Wagner
Arwin did a a double take when he heard the man's name. "Mania" he thought, eyebrows raised and mouth quirked in an expression that was equal parts amusement and confusion. "Who the hell name's their kid Mania?" Arwin was grateful for the darkness, as without it, there was no way he would've been able to traverse that bit of social interaction smoothly. "By the king's oversized ears, of course I decide that I'm going to be optimistic about all this BEFORE I find out anything troubling about the guy. Classic move." Arwin almost chuckled at the thought; it really did sum up how he thought about most social situations.
Mania was making small-talk and Arwin was sure to offer up some non-essential active listening. "Yeah, I guess they do" he muttered as the man brought up that they'd had the same idea. Truth be told, Arwin wasn't sure of his age since he couldn't quite see him, but most people around his age didn't sound quite like that. Mania's voice had that particular note of approaching finality that characterized an adult's voice in Arwin's head. As the conversation moved onto what Arwin had said earlier, he smiled, his mood lifting immediately as the topic moved onto Mania's speech.
"Well yeah! It isn't completely out there, mind you, but the way you say certain things and your choice of words" Arwin was getting animated as he spoke, shaking his head a bit "Just, not quite right for this area. You sound like someone from further within the Clover Kingdom, if I had to guess. Commoner, probably, since you do this kind of work, but you don't have that odd style of speech some smarter commoners do, where they've worked for or under a noble long enough to pick up some of their style." Arwin had a real interest in how people communicated, but he didn't get very many chances to talk about it, so this conversation had him rambling a bit. He shut up as Mania spoke about the gambling hall, expression hardening as he remembered that he'd failed at his task for the day.
"Fuck man, don't remind me" he whined a bit, much to his chagrin. Sometimes he couldn't help but act his age. "Aries Garse is a gamblers town. Basically, if the job relates to something an asshole addicted to taking risks would want, you can find it somewhere in this town." An idea suddenly dawned "Actually, I know a guy whose looking to move some...stuff; if you're interested in something quick, I could use the back up" Arwin made the offer with that note of enthusiasm from earlier, when the conversation had been about how people spoke. It occurred to Arwin that depending on how Mania answered and how a future job went, he might actually be able to capitalize on a potential partnership into some other jobs he had considered too dangerous to do alone.
The sable darkness concealed Arwin's expression, but by intently listening, Mania could discern the still child-like fascination Arwin possessed. He genuinely seemed earnest in his tone and that put Mania more at ease. Though he would never trust a person so easily, Mania couldn't help but smile and lower the tension in his body a bit. With his eyes shut Mania could imagine how animated Arwin was. There was a word for people like him, but before he could remember, they were pickpocketed from the young rogue's lips. The kid had a good head on his shoulders, Mania could tell just that much from their small exchanges so far. Fetching another cigarette from the pack in his pocket Mania would light it and exhale just as Arwin's incessant rambling would come to a close.
"Actually I'm not from round' these parts."
Pausing to take a puff Mania would open his eyes. They held a buried sorrow that often rose like the rising tide when he thought of home.
"I came from far to the west, where Spade Kingom lies. Nothing there for many anymore, ... nope nothing but the cold.
Mania could tell he was diving deeper into his sadness at this point. He didn't want to sour the mood so early on and he thought it best to leave things at that for the time being.
"Yer right about one thing though, I come from the low of the low. Though I prefer not to call myself a commoner. Just another joe like yerself, looking to survive in this big ole world. "
Enough of the small talk Mania mused, the kid had some info about a job and Mania was more than interested. The young rogue had seen all types of dealings back in the Spade Kingdom - most he played a hand himself in doing. How much of hell had Arwin truly seen? Mania pondered it as he replied. "Sure, I can lend a pal a hand. It's a little too early for me to be revealing my deep dark secrets now ain't it? Tell me more." Mania would produce a half-hearted chuckle jokingly before continuing.
"Whatever needs to be done, you can be sure I'm yer man."
Mania's calm voice would shift into a more serious, deeper tone. He didn't need to burden Arwin with the sins of his past, but at the same time, he wanted Arwin to be sure he was a capable person and that a mutual partnership could better serve to be of benefit to them both. They were after all both scoundrels, that much was evident by them being present at the Gambling hall. So at the very least, Arwin had to have done some things to be down the turbulent path of a rogue. "Yeah.. I'm sure the kids got his own reason. God knows we all do..."
"We can say I have my talents, though I am curious. You don't seem cut out for this line of work, something just click?" Mania couldn't help but probe and he knew that when you knew a person's motives it made things much more black and white in the end. Of course, he didn't expect to glean much, honestly, it was just a shot in the dark. Exhaling his cigarette opposite from Arwin, he waited for a response.
Post by Arwin Wagner on Oct 9, 2021 0:55:13 GMT -5
Arwin whistled appreciatively when Mania revealed his homeland. Well damn, that's one hell of a road trip. Glad you decided to cross where the grass is greener, I guess" he muttered softly, letting Mania continue his explanation. "Do I even know any other...expats? Is that the word?" Arwin wasn't sure he had met anyone directly from the Spade Kingdom before. He was pretty sure he knew one or two people who had at least one parent or grandparent from the Spade Kingdom, but even then. "Leaving the country you're from, huh?" Arwin had never even considered that as a possibility, despite his less than complimentary feelings about the Clover Kingdom.
When Mania spoke about his circumstances in the Spade Kingdom, Arwin hastily waved his hands. "No need to explain man; I got that right away. This is Aries Garse, after all." Arwin loved his hometown, truth be told. There had always been something about this place that just clicked with Arwin. The invasion, which did bring about some tragic nuance and events, had actually only helped cement for Arwin that what he wanted most was to make a life worth living in Aries Garse. "No place like Aries Garse, far as I'm concerned...for better and for worse."
Arwin smiled as Mania accepted the opportunity for the more immediate job. "Well that's music to my ears" He chuckled a bit himself, catching onto Mania's mild attempt at humor and choosing to indulge him. When the shift in tone hit, both in Mania's voice and in the topic, Arwin felt his own expression drop and he found himself suddenly in a foul mood. His fingers curled into a fist squeezed so tight it hurt. "You're not entirely wrong, I suppose" Arwin felt oddly comforted admitting it out loud. "I don't get the thrill most people in this line of work seem to get. But when it comes to doing what's gotta get done, I just...get it. he stood as he spoke and began walking about the cellar, his fist only now unclenching, but an oddly satisfied smile blooming on his face. His trip around the cellar stopped when he got to the staircase and took a seat on the bottom most step.
"I dunno, Mania. There's just something about all this that works for me. Not to mention, I don't mind making my own hours, instead of being worked to the bone for some Noble to make ten times what I do, doing nothing at all" He spat the word Noble, so much vehemence baked into the word that spittle actually flew from his mouth.
"Tell me, what's the noble situation like in the Spade Kingdom? Way you spoke of it, sounds like it's even worse"
Word Count: 454 OOC: It's Thanksgiving here in Canada, so I'm using my old laptop while I visit family and won't be able to reply again until Tuesday at the earliest.
Last Edit: Oct 9, 2021 0:57:48 GMT -5 by Arwin Wagner
The rogue would chime in, offering a laugh in response to Arwin.
The jovial mood in the dark, dank cellar was snatched by thieving hands. Mania could sense the shift in tension from Arwin's tone, he seem fixated from the moment Mania had shifted the topic. Arwin would break into dialogue, extrapolating those feelings for Mania. He could feel the disgust in Arwin's pitch when he said the word noble. It rolled off his tongue like foul food spat out.
"Dunno kid, in Spade it didn't really matter if you were noble or peasant. There were some yeah, but as long as you had power life was decent. And... if you didn't? You'd be food for those gluttons. Nobles, love magic, for instance, it helps separate them from the common folk, but to them, it is just an instrument meant to enslave the meek and force em to dance to their tune. Men who fall victim to their ego are greedy, indulging in avarice and self-imposed importance... Ya see, doesn't matter really, narcissistic people will always find another instrument to step on others. Being of high birth, possessing powerful magic, or being a skilled warrior. They'll cling to that fallacy not knowing the tune of their little song has enslaved them too..."
Mania's voice was low and deep, a somber undertone is hidden behind his words. The rogue spoke while playing with the shadows in his hand using minor magic. They had spent quite some time in the dark now, so Mania's eyes finally had adjusted. The barely visible silhouette of everything in the cellar had come into focus now, so Mania could see the wisping shadows whimsically dancing in his palm. Perhaps he laid in on a little too thick, these were heavy topics so it'd be hard to avoid the thought. Mentally sighing, Mania couldn't help but think of his time in his home country. The faded image of his parent's faces he couldn't recall, the cold nights in the orphanage, and all the violence and thievery that plagued the common areas of Spade. That kinda environment made one mature fast and Mania was no exception, so he was aware of what the young sometimes are forced to do to survive.
"The whole world's topsy-turvy."
Mania stated not knowing what else to say. Being inside the black cellar was like being inside a deprivation tank. The outside world seemed walled off, blocked by an invisible barrier. Though if the young rogue focused, he could faintly hear the bustle outside. Mania couldn't make out details, but he could discern it was still a bit of activity happening upstairs. The two would probably be trapped in the cellar for a little longer Mania mused, tossing the dance shadows to his opposite hand. The momentary break would trigger Mania to pick back up the small talk, he was becoming distracted. The rogue focused on the word as it tried to slip away in the dark of his mind. He was feeling something trying to claw to the surface of his mind - a familiar feeling.
"I wouldn't recommend sightseeing in the Spade Kingdom. Unless you fancy the cold I s'pose."
Post by Arwin Wagner on Oct 16, 2021 4:27:21 GMT -5
Arwin Wagner
Arwin could feel himself getting worked up as Mania spoke. There was so much of what he was saying that rang true for life in the Clover Kingdom as well. Hearing someone else speak about all of this. Hearing someone else echo some of his own thoughts, though spoken with far less blame placed where Arwin considered it should be. It suddenly felt like the cellar was too small a place for a discussion this large. "It's the hierarchies" the realization rocked him, even if it was so simple. "That's what they cling to" his thoughts were racing and he couldn't help but mutter as he approached ...something.
His foot began to bounce as he turned to look at the silhouette of Mania, trusting that he was standing where Arwin thought his voice was coming from. He whispered something absently in response to his comment on the state of the world. "The World needs to be turned right again". It wasn't a new thought for Arwin. But here in the darkness when he could think only on the words of this foreigner with his Northern drawl, he could see how the thoughts connected to reality. Where one might cut to sever the ties that bind and forge something new. He gave no thought to Mania's comment on sight-seeing in the Spade Kingdom, but gave him a polite scoff, as if it had been funny. It sounded more tragic than comedic, but he figured that was the appropriate response.
Outside, the sound of people going about their business had changed ever so slightly. Not enough that someone unfamiliar with Aries Garse might clock it, but more than enough to let Arwin know it was safe to go out again. Most citizens gave the Magic Knights their due, but tried to avoid dealing with them. So, when they were out and about, the sound of Aries Garse was muted in a way, more polite, for sure. Arwin chose not to inform Mania of that just yet. There were far more important matters to be focused on at the moment.
"You're onto something there Mania" Arwin licked his lips nervously, a giddy sort of energy was coursing through him and he stopped bouncing his leg by choosing to stand. He began pacing once more. "It's all a mess. The desperate scramble to either get to the top or to stay there. The answer has been right in my face this whole time" Arwin turned to face Mania with a manic grin on his face. "I finally know what I have to do; I have to break it all." He pointed at the cellar door "The Knights should be gone, by the way." he said it almost absently as his imagination was running rampant. "You can go if you want. I'll find you after letting my guy know we'll be taking the delivery job"
Mania's words were poignant enough to instill Arwin with newfound resolve, spurring him into action. And could he blame him? The world truly was topsy-turvy and even somewhere deep inside Mania wanted to turn it right side up. So he knew very well how Arwin felt, even empathizing with the young boy to some degree. Whatever drove Arwin, Mania knew it was festering like a lingering blaze. Slowly doused by a ever growing disdain for the vermin adding gasoline to the proverbial flames. The boy would agree with Mania before verbally adding more of his own thoughts on the heavy subject. It was easy to tell how the seriousness of the subject matter choked the dark atmosphere.
"I take it something ... just ... clicked?"
Mania would coolly proclaimed jokingly, a brow raising as the rogue smirked. He liked the kid for what is was worth and actually looked forward to having someone on his side. At least he would hope for. It seemed the coast was clear, Mania would trust Arwin's words. Hometown kid like him had to know a thing or two? For now the two would part, but soon they would be reunited all in the glorious pursuit of Yul. "Thanks Arwin. You can find me at the local tavern, the joint right in the middle of town. I'm sure you know the place." Mania would make for the steps, carefully guiding himself with his hands and feet. Feeling for the surface of the cellar door before him Mania would slowly crack it open.
The outside light would prove to sting Mania's eyes after adjusting to the dark for a long time. The oblique light would slowly creep through. With the coast clear Mania would get a good look at Arwin as he turned and nodded before slipping back into the outside world. Mania felt odd in the sunlight, everything was especially brighter, but within a few minutes of clean air he would adjust back to normal. Arwin was an interesting kid even if he had an all too familiar story. Time would tell though if the two could truly be friends. Mania had a tendency for ducking and dodging folk. Especially when he felt like everything was crumbling around him. Slowly Mania ambled through the town freely, heading back towards the tavern in the middle of town.
Boy what he'd give for a cold brew, all those cigarettes' he smoked earlier really had dried the rogues mouth. He would ponder that delicious booze and other choice thoughts. Namely the events that unfolded today and his chance meeting with fellow rogue Arwin. Mania had replayed the encounter and subsequent interactions with the boy. Noting anything he found pertinent to understanding what type of person he was dealing with. Mania often screened potential contacts, he had to be sure to filter out the useless, the useful, the cunning, and the deceptive. People wore many faces and many masks to hide their intent - to disguise their true nature. The more one walked through life, the much more clearer the stark, reality became. Burying his hands within his pockets, Mania would bound the corner and head up the street.
"Wonder If I should grab some grub too. Haven't eaten all day and will probably be busy with this job tonight. Maybe I can splurge on the lunch special? Been awhile since I put out a little extra for some nice food."
As the young rogue thought this he would fetch the coin purse from the inside of this right-side breast pocket. Mania would toss the small, modest sack in the air a few times catching it dexterously while judging the amount from its heft. A slight grimace would sneak onto his face as he put it back. "Feeling a tad light, but hopefully after this job Arwin was telling me about i'll be in the clear for expenses." Mania was barely floating the poverty line. Dangling precariously on the precipice of being broke. Somehow he was barely staying a float. Mania would perish the thought, the rogue would eat good and it was decided for sure as he entered the tavern and took a seat at the bar area. He would order the lunch special and a nice booze before lingering around awaiting young Arwin to seek him out.
It could be tonight or it could be tomorrow, but one thing was assured. Mania would be ready.
Post by Arwin Wagner on Oct 23, 2021 21:10:51 GMT -5
Arwin Wagner
"I'm going to need supplies, time...I need to build" Arwin could see the way forward and it was treacherous. His ambitions were too large to be accomplished by a single man, no matter how competent or how driven. Arwin would need to create something. A team. But to even begin to do that he would need resources. "This is going to take a while..." Arwin whispered the words so softly that only someone who was standing within arms reach of him would've been able to hear clearly. Which is why Arwin chose to wait until Mania was making his way out to respond. He needed time alone in the dark to formulate his plans and make certain of his own stance.
"More than clicked Mania. I think I know what I want to do with myself for the foreseeable future. But, yeah, I'll make sure to leave word at the tavern when things are ready for us to move forward"
Arwin followed Mania's ascent primarily by sound, though he was regretting getting caught up in this political epiphany, he knew that he would make for lousy company over the next few minutes as he went over some rather important things. Arwin stood at the base of the staircase leading into the cellar, waiting to see if his calculations had been off and Mania ran into any trouble. When he heard no sounds of a struggle, he gave it a minute or two before beginning to follow Mania into the light of the evening. He stopped for a moment to take a huff of fresh air. "Aries Garse ain't the easiest place to live, but it always seems better when you avoid the Magic Knights" Arwin got a sour taste to his mouth at the thought of the Magic Knights. They were a tangle in the fabric of his plans. He pondered the question of the Magic Knights as he walked the streets of Aries Garse, taking a winding route home.
"Can't really fault the ones who become knights after being commoners all their lives. Solid pay and social clout is hard to come by if you're not a noble." the philosophical snag was starting to grate on him and he spat disdainfully into a gutter. "Fuck! Whatever. I'll decide when it becomes a problem or whatever" Arwin muttered to himself, hands finding their place in his coat pocket and a thoughtful frown settling on his face.
