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[ First2Go-Last2Know and Secular Wishes RPing ] [ Start date: 12/29/06 ] [ End date: ??/??/?? ]
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Riff stood with his back pressed against a tall building, his breath was short and he gasped repeatedly. He ran his tonge over his dried lips, as his eyes shifted about him following the many people who passed by. Under his right arm was a small red purse, his fingers shook while he fumbled to unzip the bag.

With a slight whimper, Filia tugged at the sliver of wood embedded in the fleshy pad of her scarred thumb. The remains of an old milk crate had ravaged her poor hand and drawn a bit of her blood in the process. Undeterred, the tattily clothed young woman leaned into the dumpster and thrust her already damaged hand back into the mess. "C'mon," she sighed, a puff of her breath blowing her dull brown hair out of her watery eyes. "There's gotta be something of value in here!"

Gunting Riff threw the bag aside, sliding down to his knees he burried his face between his hands. "Damn it," he whispered, "God-damn it. " A moment passed before Riff let out a deep sigh, letting his arms drop down to his sides. He sat there staring up passed the smog covered sky, into what he thought to be his future. What he saw dipressed him even more, he saw himself only older. Doing what he did best, theiving. His eyes began to water, and startled he wiped at the tears quickly. He stood quickly now, shoving his hands into his torn pockets. Riff turned away from the churning streets, deeper into the ally.

A bristled back and whip like tail brushed beneath Filia's hand and she drew back, repulsed. Another rat in the garbage. It wasn't a shock, but she was in no hurry to be bitten. The young woman gave pause, staring down at her feet which were sheltered only by a threadbare piece of sacking knotted over a reused pair of leather soles from two different sized shoes. Behind the ill-fitting rags one could laughably call "clothing" was the fragile frame of a malnourished sixteen year old girl. And, being too afraid to take a little nick from a rat's tooth wasn't helping to make her anymore nourished. She heard a slight scrape, like unexpected footsteps at the opposite end of the alley, and she scurried (much like a rat herself) into hiding in the shadow of the bin.

Riff kicked his way through the alley, his eyes checking boxes and in bottles. He occasionally stopped to peer in a shattered window, or to carefully step over broken glass. Stopping he licked his lips again, eyeing the metalic dumpster ahead of him. His eyes twitched, doing their usual habbit of checking if everything was safe and in place. Riff needed to eat, he was already less then half of what he thought his normal weight was. He hoped there was something less then decent in that garbage hole, something that would keep him going for atleast another hour.

With her hands tightly gripping about her knees, Filia held her breath and closed her eyes in hopes that such childish tactics would make her safe again. Slowly she counted to ten in her mind and crawled onto her knees to peek out around the dumpster. She saw something, which was enough to force her swiftly back into her less than discreet hiding spot in the offal. It wasn't just a "something," it was a male something which made her wedge her already lithe body into the crevice between the brick and back of the dumpster. Something wet and furry scraped against her knee, but she held her tongue. She was less afraid of what made its home beneath the dumpster, than what was approaching said dumpster.

Riff jumped when a screaming rat emerged from beneath the dumpster, taking off across the alley away from him. He let out a trembling breath and tried to steady himself enough to take another step. His eyes once again distracted him, as they forced him to take just one more look around. His feet pushed past the dirty glass and rotting wood, and he positioned himself infront of the stench filled box ready to dig into the muck. Riff peeked over the the rim into the disgusting thing, holding his breath from the smell. He was about to reach in when his ears picked up a faint noise. Riff turned stiff, and tried with all his might to figure where the sound was coming from. It sounded to him, almost like rapid breathing....

Why don't I hear him moving? Filia panicked. She crouched down as small as she could make herself and crawled to the corner of the dumpster once more. With fight or flight kicking in, and neither one feasible, Filia spoke softly. "Go away," she urged, as if anyone had listened to her before. Weakly she placed her dirty palms on the ground and, shaking, put the soles of her laughable sandals into a position for her to run. "There's nothing for you here!" She cried, her voice a little louder and breaking from the strain.

Was that a child's voice? Riff wondered. He pressed his lips together roughly, biting them down. Everything in his gut told him to run, but a child? He couldnt leave it. Riff had no idea how he was going to get close enough to explain he wasnt there to hurt the kid. Riff knelt down slowly, letting one hand slide down the side of the dumpster. The other was placed flat on the floor, Riff tapped his fingers gently against the ground. "Hey," he half whispered half choked, "Are you okay?"

Filia drew back, eyeing the tapping fingers suspiciously. "I haven't got anything for you. Not a cent. So you can just go back to Scarlet and tell her I'm not earning for her anymore, okay?" She whispered, still unsure of herself. Of course, the only reason anyone would have approached her would be to get Scarlet's money back, so she assumed. But that old windbag could rely on the rest of the waifs to pick up the slack. Slowly, she stood up and walked out of hiding with her hands folded in front of herself and her head down. "I didn't mean to bite him, okay?"

Biting deeper into his lips Riff tried to think. Scarlet? That name sounded familiar, Riff worked for a man named Koigah. Maybe they talked? Maybe. But now he knew where this girl was coming from, she was a vassel. An underling like him. She was of course bounded more than he, maybe perhaps beaten when she couldnt produce enough. "Iv got nothing too," Riff said aloud.

Filia looked up, and seemed to think if only for the concentration in her eyes. "Oh. I-I'm Filia. Sorry for assuming you were in league with Scarlet," She said, wincing. From the way she spoke, it seemed as if the name Scarlet were a sort of foul insult. "There's not much in the dumpster. It's more rats than anything else. I've already looked through the stuff on top but there's nothin' worth sellin'."

Standing Riff couldnt believe how fast the girl had warmed up to him. He wasnt much of a talker, and could actually never strike up a conversation with anyone. He was still in awe at the load of words that have just rang into his ears, that he couldnt manage out a sound.

"Sorry," Filia apologized, again. "Eh, that's part of the reason I can't work for Scarlet anymore." She added as she brushed her knees. The blotchy spots of white and pink on her flesh were proof enough she'd made herself nervous enough to drain the blood out of her limbs, and it was slowly returning. Her eyes darted ahead as a shadow seemed to close off the nearest end of the alley to which she nervously returned to the shadows. As the passing figure and its shadow had left she stepped into the light again like a cautious fugitive avoiding the proper authorities.

Riff felt uneasy being in the dead end alley, he prefered the crowded streets to lonely places. Still he wasnt quite sure if he could trust the girl, after all he wasnt sure if he could trust anyone right now. "Um, Filia." He said, turning a hand to the open street. "How 'bout we find a s-safer place?" Riff almost cursed when he heard himself studder that word, "I mean, some place i know." He nodded, trying to convince himself that there in fact was a safe place anywhere in this city.

It took only the sound of a pebble being kicked down the street for Filia to back away into her shadow again until she sensed the threat had passed. While she didn't look like one for close encounters, it was apparent enough she'd done her share of hiding in her life. "Safer?" She finally asked, quirking a brow. The new expression aged her face as she contemplated his words. "Give me a moment." She was quiet before stepping away to the opposite end of the alley and stepping away into the brick niche formed by two building being built much too close together, but off the main track of the alley. The sound of man-handled cardboard flopping over onto itself continued for a few moments before Filia emerged again.

Looking like a new person, Filia had costumed herself in an outfit that once again made her look older than she really was. She wore a sleek black wig beneath a cowl and a wool blanket modified to the shape of a cloak. The clasp at her throat bore an ornate M and the occasional glimpse beneath the fabric exposed sharp angles of a hi-cut leotard. The clothing, fit to her body, suggested that she had been wearing the leotard beneath the rags she had worn while looking through the dumpster. "Lead the way."

Riffs mouth dropped only a moment, before he turned away. "Its not much of a place, but usually no one goes there..." He said while was making his way back out of the alley. Trying not to trip over any boxes, he again had his hands shoved into his pockets. "You might want," His walking stopped and he turned to face Filia, "You might want to take that neckless off. Its might not be worth much, but people are still going to want to take it from you." Shrugging he added, "I know, I would." A small smile crossed his face as he tried to look her in the eye.

With just a slight, deferential nod, Filia followed after him. She sidestepped the obstacles in her way and kept her head up. "This?" She gestured, framing the clasp of her cloak with her fingers. "I doubt anyone would try it. This officially belongs to Ma'shur." She said, a slight smirk making her look the part of an imp beneath the wig. "The brothel owner," she added, as if he might not know just who she had referenced

Arching a brow, Riff nodded kicking a peice of rotten wood away. "Well, if it means protection, all the more reason." Riff's eyes darted to the right, remembering Koigah and his echoing words. You will be safe with me in this place, but thats only if you do for me. And riff was obviousely doing nothing for Koigah by bringing a girl to his hideout, biting his bottom lip Riff again turned to the girl. "W-we'r going to need colaterol, something of small value." He pulled a hand from his pocket, rubbing the back of his neck. "I havent brought anything back for the boss in about two days, he's going to be pissed." Riff turned pleading eyes to Filia, "With your help, I think I can manage something this time."

Filia bore herself in the way she had been taught to, years ago. She looked straight ahead, kept a looseness to her stride stemming from her waist and trickled down into her toes, and kept her left shoulder down at the small angle that accentuated the visibility of Ma'shur's branded clasp. It was hard to tell just who Filia really was out here on the streets.

In her rags she was a pitiful beggar girl with nothing to eat; but beneath her hooded cloak she was a lithe, and moderately attractive, streetwalker. "Oh, what did you have in mind?" Filia asked, her voice quiet and reserved with the hint of syrupy confidence she'd been lacking when cowering beside the dumpster. Which face bore the mask?

Riff's eyes darted around before meeting her gaze, he gulped down the lump in his throat. The one that had formed when she had spoken in such confidence, her strengthful words made him feel sick and scared. He held his eyes for only a moment, before turning his blushing face away. " I know a women, seen her. She has this pendent in her hair." His voice cracked, "She keeps it tucked under her curls, but I saw it once. Just once, I know she still has it."

Riff caught his breath, as he reached the end of the alley. Sun light poured onto him, warming his cold face and bringing sparkel into his grey eyes. He squinted looking up into the sky, and deep into the sun. Mid-day, he thought, We have to hurry or we wont get there in time. His bottom lip curled into his mouth, and his teeth snared the soft flesh. Biting down he faced Filia questionitly, wondering if he could really trust her.

Ma'shur isn't going to be happy about this outside association while I'm wearing this, Filia thought bitterly while her face remained stoic as she walked a single step behind Riff at all times, but I haven't got a choice right now. "Just tell me what I need to do," she responded, her voice softer now that she'd bit back what looked to be a tear. The slick tresses of the wig she wore came about her shoulders as the cowl drooped back in such a way that she looked to be wearing pauldrons of ravens' feathers. "And I will follow your lead in procuring this pendant." The change in her speech pattern seemed to correlate to her choice of clothing.

A hesitant moment caused Filia to lose her stride as her hand slipped inside her cloak. The movement was not the smartest one she'd ever made and she brushed it aside as though she was suffering slight stomach cramps from a lack of food. Already on pins and needles about this exposure in the street, she need not raise any suspicion. Nor could she reveal her exact relationship with Ma'shur. So long as Riff thought she was simply employed by him, it meant less danger for her during their time together.

Riff pushed past the many people who seemed to be lost or just in dull misery. Every one walked as if they had to be somewhere, had something special to do. They all ignored each other and none so much as second glaced at him or Filia. Occasionally though Riff would turn his head slightly, checking to make sure Filia was still close behind him. And each time he would eye another person on the street, measuring the size of their pockets and purses. He led the girl down deeper into the city, the further they walked the dirtier the streets become. The bigger the houses and buildings grew, with taller more protecting steel gates.

After ten minutes of walking Riff began to knock people with his shoulders, no longer bothering to try and dodge them. The fancier the person was dressed the harder he hit them, muttering a curse under his breath. Pretending that now, Filia was no longer behind him.

This near to her goal, Filia brushed past others. Occasionally she would drift to the side, and her hand would find a loose article, a small denomination of change just a small shove away from falling from safety in a pocket. Or, better yet, loose baubles relinquishing their hold on their owners' hands. Old habits died hard, it seemed, and Filia didn't take long before she had acquired a few pieces of change for her own pocket. In all fairness, with most of it she had simply the foresight to rescue it from the cobble.

But now, as Riff seemed to be growing a bit rowdier, she had kept her eyes peeled, and kept a few steps off to the side. She meandered with no visible connection to Riff and slipped the newly aqcuired purse into the keyhole at the throat of her leotard. The movement, caused some undue attention she had not anticipated. She hurried ahead, a slight quickening to her footsteps. This close to her goal, in these clothes, she feared someone might mistake her for Selene, her late Selene. And if they did, she was going to have to make a break for it.

Each time Riff shoved a person, his hands would quickly sneak their way into several pockets. He sometimes managed to grab coins or papers. Not even bothering to check his catch, Riff would simply place the item into his own pocket. He continued this for a while untill finally his pockets were so packed nothing else would fit. He then placed his hands over the objects, so that it seemed he was just walking. By now he had calmed down, dodging people and no longer looking as angery as he was.

Riff noticed that they were very close to Roget's, only about 2 houses away from his front door. Thats when he glanced back at Filia, he made sure she was behind him as he snaked his way between two houses. The space he went into was about one in a half feet wide, the floor was damp and dirty. He waited to see if Filia would follow.

Filia knotted her hands into fists to keep her fingers from going numb. An acrid taste creapt up her throat and she struggled to keep it down. She'd stopped the small pilferings long enough to spot Riff's movements ahead of her. As he threaded between the two houses she followed him, closing the gap she'd left, while scampering out of the crowd as if she had been frightened. Again.

She wanted to ask him to stop, to allow her a moment to catch her breath. But it wouldn't have done any good. It wasn't a mystery to her why she felt sick to her stomach. She tightened her jaw. No weakness on the streets, Filia chastised herself, it'll make you into a target. Despite her attempts to remain strong, or at least look the part, she hedged closer and closer to anything she could hold onto as she grew less aware of the movements of her legs.

Letting his hand trace the red bricks after him, Riff pulled his way threw the darkened tunnel. His chest lightly brushed the wall each time he inhaled. Riff was bearly able to turn his head with out scraping the tip of his nose. Where is she? he asked, looking for Filia. Damn it. He sucked on his bottom lip, holding it between his teeth.

Her footing had long ago been lost, and instinct was all that kept her going. She had, at the same time, lost sight of Riff and found herself stumbling blindly in hopes her luck would pull through for her. Her left hand flitted at her stomach. On a subconscious level she could feel the flutter of wings beneath her hand. It was not wings, nor was it anything that she could feel. Her heart beat rippled through her fingers until she could stand it no longer and dropped her arms to her sides.

When faced with another turn, she skimmed her fingers along the brick wall at her side. Her palm ached to plant itself there, but she forced herself onward despite it. She wasn't going to make it long this way, and she wanted to hurt herself for agreeing to follow someone whom she knew nothing about. In all fairness, she was so close to where she needed to be. In what seemed little effort, she had traveled more than she would risk in the cover of several nights. She tripped forward and found herself now only a few paces away from Riff, it seemed. Ignoring the veil of fine grit on her lips, she asked softly, "How much farther?"

"We'r making a pit stop." Riff said, "But it'll be worth it, I promise." A smile spread itself slowly on his lips, and he continued to push his way threw the gap. His feet crunched over loose rocks that had chipped from the buildings. Riff rounded the corner, holding a hand out behind him to stop Filia. His head twisted from side to side, his eyes moving around the backyard dump. "Okay, I think its safe." He whispered, "I dont see that dog. But stay here." Riff huffed taking off across the yard, circling into a downward casting stairwell. He stopped at a heavy metal door, looking it over before pounding a tune on the lion knocker.

Silently, Filia fell to her knees on the ground as Riff left her behind. Her eyes swam in her head as she leaned back against the wall. This wasn't the cake walk she had been hoping for. She thought she could hear footsteps off to the side, an unfamiliar tempo--sliding in loose gravel--drove her to pull her hood tightly over her head and placed her hands on her knees. Poised in hunched position of a waif holding out for limited shelter in a cloak, the tenuous knot of her limbs spoke a different story.

"Psst," a voice hissed from overhead. Filia ignored the sound. "It's Fins." Finally the voice had captured her attention. "He wants you to come back," the voice whispered before a gaunt, dirty face appeared around a drainpipe on which equally dirty and bony fingers were clutching tightly. The bone thin boy didn't have enough weight to pull down the aluminum fittings which secured the drainpipe to the brick. "And he's gettin' impatient with ya."

Removing her hood, Filia glared. "I know that. But I'm not travelling alone." Her hands retracted into her cloak as she slowly stood.

"You're not bringin' that other guy with you, are you?" Fins cursed beneath his breath. He lowered himself down the drainpipe and scampered forward on all fours.

"No. Now go," Filia shooed the boy away.

As he sucked in his breath she could see the outline of his ribs. "Don't get yourself kidnapped." He called as he returned to his drainpipe, shimmied up, and disappeared in the rooftops.

Riff once again pounded the tune, this time changing its sound to an additional knock. The metal plate above the knocker shifted, sliding quickly across reveiling a pair of dark brown eyes. Those familiar eyes rounded Riffs face, which now was in a small grin. "Roget!!" Riff half screamed in delight, raising his hand up in the air. He was answered with a grunt, then the metallic plate quickly slid back into place. A couple of locks clicked, and rasping metal echoed out and up into the stairs. The heavy door creeked open slowly, and a well fed man peeked his head from the darkness. His cheeks were a blush pink, and he had a toothy smile.

"Richy!" The man giggled shoving the door open, "Long time no see, m'boy." He threw his hands around Riff, giving him a big bear hug. "Oh geeze," Roget said lifting Riff from the floor. "Your as thin as a whistle."

"Yeah, I know." Riff squeezed the man back, "Th's why I came to see ya'."

"Oh?" Roget grunted, "Only you? No little girls around the corner? Hum?" He raised an eyebrow, laughing deeply. Riff seemed to shrink now, turning into a small red faced boy.

"Aw," he rubbed the back of his head, "You saw? I mean-cant she come eat? She's really hungry." Riff pleaded, shrugging toward where Filia was.

"Hum." Roget said, biting his bottom lip. "Well, okay. But Ill only share a little, and only because you seem to trust her." Riff bearly caught the sound of his words, but understood completely. Roget didnt trust the girl, and probably had good reason. Riff nodded, turning away from Roget.

"Thanks, ill go get her. Oh, and what ever happened to that old dog you had?" Riff stopped long enough to see Roget rub a hand over his stomach with a grin.