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| − | Noontime, and the air smells of grilled sharkmeat and herbs, making for an aroma that makes it all the more difficult to avoid eating. Most of the fish shops already have their shark cooked, priced and ready to go. One particular stand is swamped with customers, as apparently the cook's specialty is shark and he knows how to bring out the best from the beast...
| + | #REDIRECT [[DarkheartOne/IdeaDump]] |
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| − | ... even if it's from a behemoth that wasn't fully shark.
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| − | Either way, Tianyu may or may not be in line for fish; it's hard to tell, as there are people milling about all over, bumping and jostling for position in the crowded street. One man in particular bumps into him seemingly accidentally, profusely apologizes, and then states, "... are you with the Guild?"
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| − | Tian is currently sampling his recently purchased shark-on-a-stick, and glances up with suspicious eyes. "Depending on the time of day. Can I help you?" He seems unbothered by the collision.
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| − | "Naw, just wondering..." The guy bows s'more, then starts off into the crowd. "I'd give my every jade bit to join 'em..."
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| − | Tian blinks, shrugs, and pats down his visible pockets once before turning away... and there's a slip of paper in the pocket where his purse is located. Tian slides the paper out of his pocket, keeping it tucked into his palm as he glances down occasionally, making his way away from the huge crowd.
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| − | The majority of them seem to not be paying Tian much mind, although one or two people do look his way for a moment.
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| − | The entirety of what's inside the paper reads, "Warehouse west of slave block. -Barata"
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| − | Tian blinks again, promptly turning down a nearby alley. Those walking past might notice the air -- and everything else -- ripple subtly as though a heat mirage appeared and vanished in a split second. Tian leaps mightily, and makes his way unseen to the warehouse in a minute or two.
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| − | While that gets a few looks, people seem to attribute that to the press of flesh. As for Tian, he quickly finds himself at the warehouse; it's a sturdy affair, bearing the classic symbols of a pawnbroker's shop, complete with a couple of destitute-looking young men arguing over what looks to be a small bag of coin.
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| − | Tian glances over at the young men briefly before starting towards the warehouse door at a brisk clip.
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| − | No one stops him, and inside... man, it's busy. It's a well-kept shop, and apparently must pay some protection premium, as there's a handful of Guild wanders stationed at the door and behind the counters. The loudest 'customers' seem to be haggling up the pawn amount with some skill, the shopworker yelling just as heatedly.
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| − | Tian steps to the side of the door and waits, patiently enough.
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| − | "You! You there!" The haggler seems to have looked Tian's way, and begins to wave him over. "I need you to help me convince this dense bastard that this here blade's worth more than a few bits!"
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| − | Tian seems faintly amused. He nods and makes his way over, adjusting the dark spectacles over his eyes. "May I see the item?"
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| − | The shopkeeper sniffs and backs up, while the haggler slides the sheathed blade down towards Tian. It does look like it's been kept well, but it's otherwise not a terribly showy design.
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| − | Tian unsheathes the sword and swipes it through the air a few times before embedding the tip in the table and leaving it there. "It's not very spectacular in and of itself, but appears to have been forged between RY 1 and 50, during the Realm's 'Establishment Period'. The history alone makes it worth more than a few bits. You can tell by the ratio of tapered blade to straight blade and the hilt size."
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| − | Both of them go "... hmmmmmm...", although the haggler snaps out of it faster and gesticulates wildly. "See?! SEE?! Now give me the---" "FINE!" Without too much of a struggle, the man counts out a hefty number of obols and drops them into the haggler's cupped hands.
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| − | Tian inclines his head and takes a half-step backwards before turning and heading back into the crowd.
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| − | "Hey! Wait up, man!" The haggler skitters to catch up to Tian. "Y'could at least accept a bit or two, man. I really needed that cash." He starts to dig into the coinbag, watching Tian closely.
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| − | Tian glances over at the man, sizing him up. He's's a ratty-looking fellow, complete with a few scars and a stooped gait. "Look, here." He pulls out a few obols and holds his hand out. "Just go and getcherself something nice. Like a hooker!"
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| − | <Tian> I have a counter-offer. You keep the money, and I'll give you steady employment. That'll be your initial salary. Consider it this year's advance.
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| − | The guy blinks, whistling. "... r-really? Well, shit! Still, y'could at least take something... uh... fuck... where'd it go.... OH!" He produces... a small tied-off leather pouch, large enough to hold a small book. "Here... I bet you'd have use for this."
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| − | Tian takes the pouch without comment, undoes the knot, and looks inside. The contents are, indeed, just a book.
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| − | Tian slides the top inch out, just enough to reveal the title... but the front is blank, although a tiny bookmark with a bit of writing on it peeks out from the top. Tian frowns, pulling the bookmark out halfway and reading it.
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| − | <i>'I'll have you know I'm taking a major paycut for you. Don't let <b>anyone</b> else read this.'</i> It's signed by none other than Henpin.Tian can't help but grin, returning the bookmark and book to the pouch and tying it back off again.
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| − | * back to [[/RisingForce|Rising Force]]
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