Supply Run

[Zaros]

Zaros

---

☪ Time Stamp ☪
Company: ???| Thoughts: ???| Mood: ???

☪ I couldnt say I blamed the poor guy for resisting, he must have been through a lot before ending up here. But was this really necessary? All I was trying to do was give him something to fill his belly and some money to keep him from stealing again, especially from someone not as nice as me. Damn this guy was mouthy, and I soon found myself regretting not snapping his neck up on that roof.

Though when I thought about it, it made sense. The man's trust was shattered in others, he couldnt trust me even though all I was trying to do was help him escape being a thief if only for a day or two. I could feel his anger and hatred as if it was heat on my bare skin, and the sooner I could feed him and give him the coin, the better I could be done with it. I honestly couldnt believe he was given me so much hate given he was still breathing. Bringing the horse to a stop, I turned to face him for a bit.

I could see a bit of himself in the slave, the rebellion against the circumstances handed to them. I couldn't help but shake my head at him. "Listen, I understand your anger & your frustration. I too was in a circumstance I couldn't control at one point but found my way with the help of others. I'm not a citizen of the city, so I won't turn you in. You should honestly be grateful, as someone else would have removed your head instead of punching it."

With that, I continued our way back to the merchant. "Besides if your face was as pretty as you make it out to be, you wouldn't have to steal a horse just to eat." I sniped at him, chuckling a bit. As we neared the merchant he was standing there with a man in armor. "Fucking hell, the bastard went and called the Halamire." I grumbled, having the horse trotting over to where they were.

The shopkeep was delighted to see my return, and then when he saw the thief his face soured. "There he is the miscreant who stole the horse." the merchant pointed, the armored knight walking up to the horse as I dismounted, my hand still resting on the reigns of it. "I'll take it from here sir." the Halamire spoke, moving to take the other off the horse, though I stood in his way. "It's not that serious, he has learned his lesson, and nothing is lost. besides he has already promised to replay for any damages."

That was an obvious lie, but I hoped the Halamire would buy it. Luckily for me, something petty like this was obviously beneath the knight's time and looking back to the merchant, he nodded to me and went about his business. With a sigh of relief, I knelt down and used the last bit of ether I had to form a small orb of Umbralplasm and used it to secure the horse so that it couldn't be taken again. Reaching into my vest pocket, I pulled out a pouch, it had all the coins I had on me.

Looking back at the male I held the coin pouch in my hand. "You're hungry right? well come on, I promised you a meal." I grumbled, motioning for him to follow me into the shop. Stopping by the cart I checked to make sure all the parts were there, and at a quick glance, everything seemed to be all the way there. ☪

---

"Common Speech"
"Gentevarese"
"Raillen"
"Self-Thoughts"

[Vivian]

Vivian focused his energy on getting clear headed. That punch had hurt, but the pain was slowly going away. If he hadn’t armored his face he’d be sure as shit dealing with a broken nose much worse than the bruises he’d gotten. He was smart enough to settle his face into an indifferent mask when the other man turned to face him.

Oh gods, was he actually trying to empathize with him?

He met the badlander’s eyes. “You really think I’d have let you kill me?” He asked coldly. Vivian’s strategy in that regard had always been simple; he’d have just run until the other man had overextended himself, making sure to carefully ration his ether, then given him a pair of sore testicles to match Vivian’s face. Vivian didn’t like the idea of actually killing anyone. Since he had gotten his mark he felt far too attuned to animals, including the sentient kind, to want to end lives.

Of course, survival didn’t count. But killing out of spite or hare was out of the question. The most Vivian would do was annoyance.

The insult to his face made him bristle all over again. “Look who’s talking; you’re as ugly as the fucking ruins you lot haunt.” He snapped back.

His face drained of color when they approached the shop and he saw the guard. Worse still, it wasn’t one of the Halamire that Vivian knew. Some of them he could weasel out of trouble with a freebie. He tensed, ready to bolt. He wasn’t being taken to prison, not here. Evil things happened there, especially to his fellow sisters of the night. He wasn’t sure why the stranger inserted himself between the guard and Vivian, but he had the brains to keep his eyes downcast and his ears open.

He got off the horse, eyeing the coin purse. Oh, that was fat. If he could get it off him, he would. He followed him into the shop with a baleful look at the shopkeeper. Call the fucking knights on him would he? He’d put a rock through his window tomorrow.

Though Vivian looked impulsive, his shop choices were wise. A bag of rice and beans, tinned meat and vegetables. Things that would last, were cheap, and could be hidden easily. Not dissimilar to Zaros’ own supplies, really. They were both survivors, both had very little access to natural resources, and guarded what little supplies they had jealously. The only indulgence he grabbed was a bag of horse oats; Bara was getting something out of this too.

He couldn’t help but judge Zaros’ mount choice. A mare? A mule like his own would last longer in the wastes. They didn’t need to drink as often, were sure footed and not given to bolting, and would defend a good owner. Horses were avowed cowards, as his mare had demonstrated.

He grabbed an apple too.

[Zaros]

Zaros

---

☪ Time Stamp ☪
Company: ???| Thoughts: ???| Mood: ???

☪ I didnt notice it till now but the guy somewhat reminded me of myself, without the whole theft thing. At least in the badlands, what was taken was earned through blood, sweat, and tears. I couldnt help but pity the poor guy. Searching the shelves I looked for anything that could be given to him for food, as the expense of such could easily be worked off as the merchant coveted my strength and magical talents.

Looking back I could see him pocketing small items, and couldn't help but shake my head as he still didn't seem to learn. Rule number one is to never get caught when stealing. If he had been more careful, I would have never caught him in the first place. It was unfortunate that he was put in this life, having to sell his body in order to eat or take the chance of stealing and possibly get caught or even killed.

Finding some good loaves of bread and some meat, I put together a couple of sandwiches for the guy. Turning to the thin male I offered them to him. "You should be careful next time, make sure the person you steal from won't be able to catch you........and isn't a mage." I chuckled, backing away from the plate. "Otherwise you may not end up as lucky as you were with me. Granted I know the struggle of having to steal to survive, as it's much harsher out in the badlands. Getting caught means certain death." I couldn't help but sympathize with him, but I knew my words fell on closed ears.

He seemed the hardheaded type that didn't listen to those who were more experienced, but hey you cant help those who don't want it. ☪

---

"Common Speech"
"Gentevarese"
"Raillen"
"Self-Thoughts"

[Vivian]

Vivian plunked his supplies on the counter and waited impatiently for Zaros to pay for them, raising an eyebrow as the man brought…sandwich supplies. Sandwiches. What a fucking odd thing to purchase for a wastelander. Vivian hadn’t stolen anything from the shop; he didn’t steal from actual stores if he could help it. Stores had long memories for people with sticky fingers. Stalls and carts had a river of people passing by them daily and would forget a face that wronged them. Shop owners? Not so much.

So, while they were in the shop Vivian kept his hands to himself. It wasn’t like he could have snuck anything bigger than the apple either. The rice and beans were at least five pounds, as well as the oats. Three cans of vegetables and one of tinned beef couldn’t really be hidden easily on a skimpy outfit like his either. He’d have to take his chances storing it at the stables. “Take this to the stable on Bristol, supplies for Stall 5.” He told the grocer, patting the sacks. “He’s paying.” He jerked his head at Zaros.

The man was making sandwiches. In the shop. Vivian stared. “You can’t make a mess here…” he growled, feeling a bit like he’d drug in a dog. There were crumbs everywhere. The merchant didn’t look amused, and he’d absolutely caught the word ‘thief’.

Vivian grabbed Zaros by the hand and tugged him out of the shop…though he did grab a sandwich and wolf it down on the way out of the door. Food could disappear shockingly fast down his gullet. “Are you absolutely insane? Ten to one he’s never going to let me in that shop again. Do you bloody think before you open your trap? Is it sheer luck you’ve survived? You don’t use the t word around a merchant!” He growled at Zaros.

Vivian let him go and sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose with his fingers. “Look, thank you for the groceries and the sandwich. It’ll carry me for a few weeks.”