If one were to ask Thelonius Gant to extol the virtues of Xyon of Calhoun it is likely that the first thing he would mention is that he is quite easy to spot. Of course he probably had some other good traits that others would value more but since guardsmen were basically targets for a vast majority of Marn's population Gant placed immense value on the traits which made other people more of a target than he was. However such a trait did have other less cynical advantages, namely the fact that even in the winding treacherous back alleys of Marn Xyon was very easy to find.
When Gant spotted Xyon he didn't rush, if the mugger hadn't been subdued than he'd just be interrupting and if he had then it wasn't as if he was going anywhere. Instead he started off at the leisurely and relaxed pace he was so accustomed to. Unfortunatly as he grew closer to Xyon he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong and despite himself he realised he was speeding up.
There was no such thing as Guardsman brutality, only criminal stupidity. Gant knew this, he could remember a dozen or so times when a suspect had ran repeatedly into his fist, knee or whatever was he'd been holding at the time, but even so when Xyon hefted the mugger onto his shoulder and he caught of brief glimpse of the man's face he winced. Excessive wasn't the word for it, Gant reserved that word for occasions where suspects seemed to be short a few limbs, but it was definitely... well... something.
For a few moments Gant was on edge, if Xyon was capable of doing that then maybe he could have attacked that old man. After all, what did Gant really know about Xyon beyond the fact he was big and had funny ideas about when it was okay to hit people? It was just a nagging doubt of course, easily dismissed, but none the less by the time Gant arrived beside Xyon he really wished he hadn't just arrived beside Xyon.
But then Xyon turned around and Gant saw the blood on his face. He almost cheered.
Well of course if they started it then it was your duty to finish it. Oddly, the idea that the mugger had hurt Xyon hadn't occurred to him. Why would anyone bother? Sure, the criminal class of Marn weren't the brightest of people but even they had to know when they were beaten. For instance if you just failed to mug a woman and suddenly an armour clad giant was bearing down on you didn’t try to fight back, you curled into a ball and begged. Trying to fight back was nothing short of ridiculous and quite frankly the man was lucky to have a face left.
Gant was about to say something to this effect when Xyon turned on his heel and strode past him. It was odd, perhaps even a little insulting, but the sound of breaking glass as the other man turned and walked off distracted him enough as to not be mortally wounded by it. Thelonius stared at a small pile of shattered glass glinting in the dim light of the alley and then suddenly realised there was an odd acrid smell in the air.
"Theo, I think I've been drugged"
It was about then that Gant figured it out.
That woman... she must have been carrying more than one vial. The mugger must have taken one of them and then decided that that Xyon needed it more than he did. Obviously it hadn't worked out quite as he'd hoped it would but that did little to the change the fact that Gant now had a drugged and potentially violent giant guardsman on his hands.
Gant had several thoughts in the matter. Firstly, what was he supposed to do? Xyon may have been drugged but he was still striding towards the guardhouse wearing the mugger like a scarf. Secondly, how was Xyon still walking? Admittedly Gant wasn't an expert on drugs but if this was all the effect they had on someone then surely they wouldn't be nearly as popular as they were. Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, what the hell was he going to do if Xyon keeled over? It wasn't as if he could lift him...
Unfortunately Thelonius didn't know the answers to any of these things. All he did know was that Xyon was striding off and in a matter of moments he was going to be alone in an alley in the middle of the night. So Gant decided to follow Xyon, deciding that if anyone ever asked about it he could chalk it up to loyalty or something else like that.
"Yeah, yeah you have..." said Gant haltingly as he tried to fall into step with Xyon only to find it surprisingly difficult. Gone was the familiar universal pace of Guardsman and it's place a bizzare almost mechanical march.
He briefly considered assuring Xyon that he'd been drugged with something of the highest quality that had cost more than he'd make this week but in a rare show of restraint Gant decided now was perhaps not the best time for glib observations.
"Right, back to the guardhouse." said Gant authoritatively as he could manage "We'll lock up that idiot and then we'll get you some...some.... coffee."
Gant frowned. How was coffee going to help someone who'd been drugged? Sure, it was pretty good stuff but if coffee managed to bring him back down to earth than that would be nothing short of a miracle.
"... or maybe whiskey." Gant added a few moments later.
Yeah, that sounded more like it.
Justice in a blade
-
Thelonius Gant
- Guardsman
- Posts: 62
- Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2008 5:47 pm
- Name: Thelonius Gant
- Race: Human
Re: Justice in a blade
You can't kill me, I'm immoral.
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Xyon_of_Calhoun
- Guardsman
- Posts: 549
- Joined: Wed Sep 20, 2006 11:17 am
- Name: Xyon
- Race: Xenetian
Re: Justice in a blade
Coffee...
Yeat another word to echo around the vast emptiness currently residing in Xyon's head. He didn't hear much else of what Theo said, completely incapable of focussing on his colleague by this point. Indeed, it was doubtful that Xyon was consciously aware of Theo's presence, much less the fact that he was talking.
Even in his current state, Xyon felt relief course through him when he saw the lights of the guardhouse spring into view as they rounded a corner. Plodding on in the universal policeman's walk as they had been, it had taken at least half an hour of silent, trudging pavement-pounding to get there, and as it came into view Xyon's drug-addled mind registered it as a place of safety, and perhaps somewhere he could sober up.
Coffee...
Yes, there was coffee in there. He could smell it, even from the 200 yards of open air that still separated them from the building. Normally Xyon held a tiny reservation about wandering into the sweaty, dank and dark hovel of a building, where everyone knew his name and most people still stared at him for being a 7-foot-tall freak, but right at this point he didn't give a flying mokey's.
Slamming a hand into the door, it shuddered violently as it opened, failing to cope with being shoved quite so voraciously, and light spilled out onto the street. The sound of cheering, shouting, chatter, gambling and general merrymaking tumbled out with it, as Xyon ducked his head out of habit before entering. Striding up to the cell block door, which was opened with an equal amount of contempt, he swung open the first empty cell he found and, quite literally, threw his prisoner inside.
The unconscious mugger smacked into the far wall with an altogether unhealthy wet splat, which Xyon didn't hear as he locked the cell up and turned the key over to the cell block guard, who was trying his best not to attract Xyon's attention, and failing miserably as most people who are told to "act natural" tend to do. Still, the prisoner was in the cell, although the guard reasoned he might need to call a healer out for this one. Scum looked like he'd been on the severe losing end of a fight with a broken glass bottle.
Xyon left the cells, slamming the heavy wooden door behind him, and causing the younger guard's sphincter to tighten another several notches, and strode over to the kitchen to make some more coffee, still assuming Theo was doing something worthwhile, like following. Full automatic pilot ensured that the coffee was brewed at exactly the same moment as the cigarette was rolled, and Xyon downed the entire cup of boiling, slightly viscous black liquid.
The effect was instantaneous, as the caffiene flooded through his bloodstream. Twin hearts pumped the blood at incredible speed, as they had done with the drugs which had taken him to a totally different level of existence. Nevertheless, as Xyon brewed his second cup, and downed it, and then a third, he began to steadily sober up.
Coffee...
Remembering Theo, Xyon looked around for him, now mostly sober and in charge of his actions once again. What was he doing? Vague memories of beating someone up and flinging - yes, actually flinging - them into the cells began to wave over him, upsetting him somewhat, until he remembered that it had been Inohen who had beaten the bastard up, not him. Well, that was alright then.
Justice in a blade, he thought, and laughed.
Yeat another word to echo around the vast emptiness currently residing in Xyon's head. He didn't hear much else of what Theo said, completely incapable of focussing on his colleague by this point. Indeed, it was doubtful that Xyon was consciously aware of Theo's presence, much less the fact that he was talking.
Even in his current state, Xyon felt relief course through him when he saw the lights of the guardhouse spring into view as they rounded a corner. Plodding on in the universal policeman's walk as they had been, it had taken at least half an hour of silent, trudging pavement-pounding to get there, and as it came into view Xyon's drug-addled mind registered it as a place of safety, and perhaps somewhere he could sober up.
Coffee...
Yes, there was coffee in there. He could smell it, even from the 200 yards of open air that still separated them from the building. Normally Xyon held a tiny reservation about wandering into the sweaty, dank and dark hovel of a building, where everyone knew his name and most people still stared at him for being a 7-foot-tall freak, but right at this point he didn't give a flying mokey's.
Slamming a hand into the door, it shuddered violently as it opened, failing to cope with being shoved quite so voraciously, and light spilled out onto the street. The sound of cheering, shouting, chatter, gambling and general merrymaking tumbled out with it, as Xyon ducked his head out of habit before entering. Striding up to the cell block door, which was opened with an equal amount of contempt, he swung open the first empty cell he found and, quite literally, threw his prisoner inside.
The unconscious mugger smacked into the far wall with an altogether unhealthy wet splat, which Xyon didn't hear as he locked the cell up and turned the key over to the cell block guard, who was trying his best not to attract Xyon's attention, and failing miserably as most people who are told to "act natural" tend to do. Still, the prisoner was in the cell, although the guard reasoned he might need to call a healer out for this one. Scum looked like he'd been on the severe losing end of a fight with a broken glass bottle.
Xyon left the cells, slamming the heavy wooden door behind him, and causing the younger guard's sphincter to tighten another several notches, and strode over to the kitchen to make some more coffee, still assuming Theo was doing something worthwhile, like following. Full automatic pilot ensured that the coffee was brewed at exactly the same moment as the cigarette was rolled, and Xyon downed the entire cup of boiling, slightly viscous black liquid.
The effect was instantaneous, as the caffiene flooded through his bloodstream. Twin hearts pumped the blood at incredible speed, as they had done with the drugs which had taken him to a totally different level of existence. Nevertheless, as Xyon brewed his second cup, and downed it, and then a third, he began to steadily sober up.
Coffee...
Remembering Theo, Xyon looked around for him, now mostly sober and in charge of his actions once again. What was he doing? Vague memories of beating someone up and flinging - yes, actually flinging - them into the cells began to wave over him, upsetting him somewhat, until he remembered that it had been Inohen who had beaten the bastard up, not him. Well, that was alright then.
Justice in a blade, he thought, and laughed.
I have to jump.
For even if I fall, for a moment, I will fly.
For even if I fall, for a moment, I will fly.
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Thelonius Gant
- Guardsman
- Posts: 62
- Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2008 5:47 pm
- Name: Thelonius Gant
- Race: Human
Re: Justice in a blade
"...you just don't do that. I mean well done to you for having a shiny sword and good pair of lungs on ya' but what if there had been two of them? Hell, even if there had been two of them you'd have been lucky. Fact is that was reckless and..."
Gant had been talking now for about a half an hour and gradually it was beginning to dawn on him that he had in fact been talking for a half an hour. Sure, Gant liked to talk and given the chance he'd natter on all day but normally whoever he was talking to tended to go out of their way to ensure he didn't have that chance. Simply put Gant was not easy listening and the more he was allowed speak the more barbed his comments became. The way it was going it was likely that in another ten minutes Xyon would be a damn fool who risked everyone’s life for a few seconds of glory and this fact left Gant to wonder why he was still talking
"...Xyon, are you listening to me?" said Thelonius suspiciously
Nothing, the other guardsman didn't even blink.
"Hello...?" Gant continued as he snapped his fingers in the air trying to get his attention "Any of this getting though, Brighteyes?"
Xyon blinked this time; however that appeared to be a coincidence. Right, if that was the case Gant was going to have to bring out the big guns.
"Xyon, I love you entirely and unashamedly." said Gant levelly "Say nothing if you feel the same way."
Nothing.
So much nothing that Gant was beginning to regret the way he phrased his sentiments...
But no, Xyon was dead to the world and yet still he was still marching, a fact which was nothing short of amazing. Gant had studied under the masters, both Guardsman Girolt and Dennison, but even they would occasionally wake up on the tavern floor, in an alley or ditch somewhere outside Shim after a night of heavy drinking. And yet here he was, Xyon of Calhoun, completely off his head on heavens knows what and walking in a straight line towards a destination which actually existed. This was a skill coveted by every man who ever woke up wondering who's vomit was in their hair and to witness it now was as close to a religious experience as Thelonius Gant could get. Unfortunately the novelty of that didn't last very long.
Gant didn't say anything else, he'd didn't want to get into the habit of talking to himself, and instead he decided to roll himself a cigarette. He struck a match off Xyon absentmindedly and adopted the vacant stare off into the middle distance which was the trademark of his patrols. Eventually, mercifully, the Guardhouse appeared on the horizon. Finally Gant would be able to get off his feet and perhaps even stay off them for the rest of his shift. His earlier enthusiasm of his work was a memory by now, but then again chances where it was a memory five minutes after he'd left the Guardhouse.
Thelonius winced for the second time this night, although this time he felt significantly more sympathy for the door Xyon had just ploughed through than he had felt for the mugger and his new face. Even by the time Gant himself entered the door was still shuddering, half buried in the wall as it was, but he didn't notice that. All he really noticed was the unhappy glares of the assembled Guardsmen.
They say that if needed the Guardsmen of Marn could be the cities army and that was almost certainly true. Each man was capable, each dangerous in their own way and every one of them was quite capable of hurting a man severely in a myriad of interesting ways. This was true, but then again it was equally true that if an army marched on its stomach then the army of Marn could march to the ends of Pal Tahrenor and back. They were big men, men you didn't have to out run so much as out stroll, but even so there was certain unavoidability about them. Gant would have been more than willing to stand there until people lost interest and he could slink off but then something quite unfortunate happened.
"You and your friend try to make us look bad, Gant?"
With accent as thick and impenetrable as the beard it appeared to come from Guardsman Brodus asked a question. Brodus was considered to be the commander of the Night Shift and though he lacked any form of official authority he did have the kind of authority that comes with being six foot tall and built like house. He was a bear of a man, or possibly a man of a bear, and when Brodus asked a question you gave the right answer.
"Course not, Brodus" said Gant lazily as flicked the end of his cigarette off the helmet of an unlucky Guardsman "I let the mirror do that for you."
Apart from the crackling of the fire, various unidentifiable creaks and the kind of heavy breathing which either means someone is dying or is having a fantastic night the room was silent. Gant counted to five in his head and then, as he predicted, Brodus exploded with boisterous laughter. Immediately the rest of the guardhouse joined in and Gant, so proud of his ability to reenact a situation he'd seen half a dozen times with other guardsmen, even did a little bow.
"Come, sit with us and tell us of your night!" Brodus bellowed as he shoved the guardsman next to him off his chair and beckoned to Gant.
It was not wise to say no to Brodus, it wasn't really wise to say anything to Brodus, so Gant just nodded and headed over to the table. Like so many of the other Guardsmen Brodus was a big man but, in what was a thoroughly inconsiderate defiance of stereotypes, he wasn't an idiot. He was cunning, albeit in his own blunt way, and along with Brodus' surprisingly sharp mind came a tendency to use his surprisingly sharp sword when he thought he was being insulted. In almost every sense he was a thoroughly despicable man, at best a thug and at worst a words beyond the vernacular of even the most seasoned of sailors.
But in his defense he was pouring Gant a drink...
"Well that guy we just brought in had balls, I'll give him that much." Gant shrugged as he took his seat "Yeah... I bet he's going to miss those..."
And then once again laughter, lead by Brodus of course. So Gant recounted the story, or at least a story very loosely based on the events of that night. An observer may have noticed that Gants story was not only implausible but at most times logically impossible but that didn't matter because it was entertaining. Eventually Gant came to the end of the story, when he handed the mugger over to Xyon to carry back to the Guardhouse, and after he finished there was a round of raucous cheers.
"You are good man Gant, you stay with us. You do not work with the outsider." Brodus declared to the group and the Guardhouse in general before he took another swig of his drink
In his time a Gant had received more than his fair share of insults but none of them could compare to the experience of having Brodus call him a "good man". Brodus' definition of a good man was a man who didn't just break someone’s arm but took the thing off altogether. It was an insult, it was a slander and for the most part it was ignored.
"..The outsider?" said Gant uncertainly
"Yes, yes..." sad Brodus as he gestured to someone in the corner of the room "The Demon Eyes."
Gant turned around slowly and looked to see whom Brodus was talking about. He hadn't noticed him come back from the cells, he must have been in the middle of his dramatic retelling, but there was Xyon sitting down at a table at the other side of the room, drinking coffee like it was... well... whatever Gant was drinking.
The Demon Eyes... that was it, Brodus was afraid of Xyon. The other Guardsman was probably bigger, stronger and smarter and while Brodus' always had his beard to fall back on the fact was that Xyon was a real threat to Brodus. And that changed things.
"Oh I appreciate the offer, Brody." said Gant with a grin as he pushed back his chair "But I'm afraid me and Demon Eyes are kinda in the middle of some work right now and it's pretty important. So if you'll excuse me..."
If one were to ignore the fact that Gant returned to the table seconds later to take his drink with him it would have been quite the dramatic rejection and judging from the look on Brodus' face he had indeed ignored it. He was livid and quite literally frothing at the mouth, although this was more likely to be because of his drink. Gant had always tried to stay out of Brodus' way but with this one move he had just jumped out in front of the other guardsman and slapped him in the face. This was not a good thing; it was a satisfying thing but definitely not a good one. On the bright side Gant was sure that Brodus was afraid of Xyon and as long as he didn't realize that Xyon was high enough to be in orbit then he wasn't going to try anything. And so with this in mind Gant took a seat beside Xyon.
"Hello Xyon, how many fingers am I holding up?" said Gant, as he held his hand in front of the other Guardsman face "Here's a clue, it's not just the one I normally hold up..."
Gant had been talking now for about a half an hour and gradually it was beginning to dawn on him that he had in fact been talking for a half an hour. Sure, Gant liked to talk and given the chance he'd natter on all day but normally whoever he was talking to tended to go out of their way to ensure he didn't have that chance. Simply put Gant was not easy listening and the more he was allowed speak the more barbed his comments became. The way it was going it was likely that in another ten minutes Xyon would be a damn fool who risked everyone’s life for a few seconds of glory and this fact left Gant to wonder why he was still talking
"...Xyon, are you listening to me?" said Thelonius suspiciously
Nothing, the other guardsman didn't even blink.
"Hello...?" Gant continued as he snapped his fingers in the air trying to get his attention "Any of this getting though, Brighteyes?"
Xyon blinked this time; however that appeared to be a coincidence. Right, if that was the case Gant was going to have to bring out the big guns.
"Xyon, I love you entirely and unashamedly." said Gant levelly "Say nothing if you feel the same way."
Nothing.
So much nothing that Gant was beginning to regret the way he phrased his sentiments...
But no, Xyon was dead to the world and yet still he was still marching, a fact which was nothing short of amazing. Gant had studied under the masters, both Guardsman Girolt and Dennison, but even they would occasionally wake up on the tavern floor, in an alley or ditch somewhere outside Shim after a night of heavy drinking. And yet here he was, Xyon of Calhoun, completely off his head on heavens knows what and walking in a straight line towards a destination which actually existed. This was a skill coveted by every man who ever woke up wondering who's vomit was in their hair and to witness it now was as close to a religious experience as Thelonius Gant could get. Unfortunately the novelty of that didn't last very long.
Gant didn't say anything else, he'd didn't want to get into the habit of talking to himself, and instead he decided to roll himself a cigarette. He struck a match off Xyon absentmindedly and adopted the vacant stare off into the middle distance which was the trademark of his patrols. Eventually, mercifully, the Guardhouse appeared on the horizon. Finally Gant would be able to get off his feet and perhaps even stay off them for the rest of his shift. His earlier enthusiasm of his work was a memory by now, but then again chances where it was a memory five minutes after he'd left the Guardhouse.
Thelonius winced for the second time this night, although this time he felt significantly more sympathy for the door Xyon had just ploughed through than he had felt for the mugger and his new face. Even by the time Gant himself entered the door was still shuddering, half buried in the wall as it was, but he didn't notice that. All he really noticed was the unhappy glares of the assembled Guardsmen.
They say that if needed the Guardsmen of Marn could be the cities army and that was almost certainly true. Each man was capable, each dangerous in their own way and every one of them was quite capable of hurting a man severely in a myriad of interesting ways. This was true, but then again it was equally true that if an army marched on its stomach then the army of Marn could march to the ends of Pal Tahrenor and back. They were big men, men you didn't have to out run so much as out stroll, but even so there was certain unavoidability about them. Gant would have been more than willing to stand there until people lost interest and he could slink off but then something quite unfortunate happened.
"You and your friend try to make us look bad, Gant?"
With accent as thick and impenetrable as the beard it appeared to come from Guardsman Brodus asked a question. Brodus was considered to be the commander of the Night Shift and though he lacked any form of official authority he did have the kind of authority that comes with being six foot tall and built like house. He was a bear of a man, or possibly a man of a bear, and when Brodus asked a question you gave the right answer.
"Course not, Brodus" said Gant lazily as flicked the end of his cigarette off the helmet of an unlucky Guardsman "I let the mirror do that for you."
Apart from the crackling of the fire, various unidentifiable creaks and the kind of heavy breathing which either means someone is dying or is having a fantastic night the room was silent. Gant counted to five in his head and then, as he predicted, Brodus exploded with boisterous laughter. Immediately the rest of the guardhouse joined in and Gant, so proud of his ability to reenact a situation he'd seen half a dozen times with other guardsmen, even did a little bow.
"Come, sit with us and tell us of your night!" Brodus bellowed as he shoved the guardsman next to him off his chair and beckoned to Gant.
It was not wise to say no to Brodus, it wasn't really wise to say anything to Brodus, so Gant just nodded and headed over to the table. Like so many of the other Guardsmen Brodus was a big man but, in what was a thoroughly inconsiderate defiance of stereotypes, he wasn't an idiot. He was cunning, albeit in his own blunt way, and along with Brodus' surprisingly sharp mind came a tendency to use his surprisingly sharp sword when he thought he was being insulted. In almost every sense he was a thoroughly despicable man, at best a thug and at worst a words beyond the vernacular of even the most seasoned of sailors.
But in his defense he was pouring Gant a drink...
"Well that guy we just brought in had balls, I'll give him that much." Gant shrugged as he took his seat "Yeah... I bet he's going to miss those..."
And then once again laughter, lead by Brodus of course. So Gant recounted the story, or at least a story very loosely based on the events of that night. An observer may have noticed that Gants story was not only implausible but at most times logically impossible but that didn't matter because it was entertaining. Eventually Gant came to the end of the story, when he handed the mugger over to Xyon to carry back to the Guardhouse, and after he finished there was a round of raucous cheers.
"You are good man Gant, you stay with us. You do not work with the outsider." Brodus declared to the group and the Guardhouse in general before he took another swig of his drink
In his time a Gant had received more than his fair share of insults but none of them could compare to the experience of having Brodus call him a "good man". Brodus' definition of a good man was a man who didn't just break someone’s arm but took the thing off altogether. It was an insult, it was a slander and for the most part it was ignored.
"..The outsider?" said Gant uncertainly
"Yes, yes..." sad Brodus as he gestured to someone in the corner of the room "The Demon Eyes."
Gant turned around slowly and looked to see whom Brodus was talking about. He hadn't noticed him come back from the cells, he must have been in the middle of his dramatic retelling, but there was Xyon sitting down at a table at the other side of the room, drinking coffee like it was... well... whatever Gant was drinking.
The Demon Eyes... that was it, Brodus was afraid of Xyon. The other Guardsman was probably bigger, stronger and smarter and while Brodus' always had his beard to fall back on the fact was that Xyon was a real threat to Brodus. And that changed things.
"Oh I appreciate the offer, Brody." said Gant with a grin as he pushed back his chair "But I'm afraid me and Demon Eyes are kinda in the middle of some work right now and it's pretty important. So if you'll excuse me..."
If one were to ignore the fact that Gant returned to the table seconds later to take his drink with him it would have been quite the dramatic rejection and judging from the look on Brodus' face he had indeed ignored it. He was livid and quite literally frothing at the mouth, although this was more likely to be because of his drink. Gant had always tried to stay out of Brodus' way but with this one move he had just jumped out in front of the other guardsman and slapped him in the face. This was not a good thing; it was a satisfying thing but definitely not a good one. On the bright side Gant was sure that Brodus was afraid of Xyon and as long as he didn't realize that Xyon was high enough to be in orbit then he wasn't going to try anything. And so with this in mind Gant took a seat beside Xyon.
"Hello Xyon, how many fingers am I holding up?" said Gant, as he held his hand in front of the other Guardsman face "Here's a clue, it's not just the one I normally hold up..."
You can't kill me, I'm immoral.
-
Xyon_of_Calhoun
- Guardsman
- Posts: 549
- Joined: Wed Sep 20, 2006 11:17 am
- Name: Xyon
- Race: Xenetian
Re: Justice in a blade
"Seven", he answered, with a subtle smile on his face. Coffee was a wonder drug to him, no wonder that this was the case given it's obvious sobering power on his quaint physiology. Twin hearts had pumped the toxins away from his brain, where they were doing so much damage, and shoved them all into an area where they could be nicely evacuated at a later date.
"Daemon eyes, huh. I'll have to remember that one." He said, loudly enough for Brodus to hear. He grinned unashamedly when the smaller man jumped noticeably, clearly unaware Xyon had heard his comments. "And Theo, I love you too. You weirdo."
He downed another cup of coffee and pondered a little, revelling in his usual mental grace and it's restoration, and made a mental note to always carry coffee with him in future. A light cough, a shrug, and a flourish into his pocket saw him begin to roll another cigarette.
The room seemed awfully quiet, now. Possibly it was Brodus' little speech that had quietened it, possibly not. Everyone seemed to be looking elsewhere - indeed everybody seemed quite intent on not looking at Xyon. Whyever could that be, I wonder... hummed the cynic in his mind, as he lit up and blew smoke smoothly into Theo's face.
"Right, then, oh hero of the streets... We're heading out again, I guess."
"Daemon eyes, huh. I'll have to remember that one." He said, loudly enough for Brodus to hear. He grinned unashamedly when the smaller man jumped noticeably, clearly unaware Xyon had heard his comments. "And Theo, I love you too. You weirdo."
He downed another cup of coffee and pondered a little, revelling in his usual mental grace and it's restoration, and made a mental note to always carry coffee with him in future. A light cough, a shrug, and a flourish into his pocket saw him begin to roll another cigarette.
The room seemed awfully quiet, now. Possibly it was Brodus' little speech that had quietened it, possibly not. Everyone seemed to be looking elsewhere - indeed everybody seemed quite intent on not looking at Xyon. Whyever could that be, I wonder... hummed the cynic in his mind, as he lit up and blew smoke smoothly into Theo's face.
"Right, then, oh hero of the streets... We're heading out again, I guess."
I have to jump.
For even if I fall, for a moment, I will fly.
For even if I fall, for a moment, I will fly.
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Thelonius Gant
- Guardsman
- Posts: 62
- Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2008 5:47 pm
- Name: Thelonius Gant
- Race: Human
Re: Justice in a blade
Gant dropped his fingers from in front of Xyon's face and reflected on what had been just said.
"... I liked you more when you didn't talk." said Gant tersely.
Gant took another swig of his drink and summed up his current situation. He had around about an hour left in his shift, which in real terms meant he'd already done around an hour of overtime, and if one were to discount the atmosphere, smell and look of the Guardhouse it was a relatively comfortable place to wait out the clock. Unfortunately he could particularly feel Brodus' glare on the back of his head and he couldn't shake the feeling that if he hung around much longer he'd be experiencing a lot more than a surly gaze.
It wasn't surprising that Xyon had heard Brodus, when Brodus spoke you could feel it in your bones, but what was surprising is that Xyon had the audacity to repeat what had been said. Avrum Brodus was wary of Xyon but none the less he was a proud man and though Thelonius could never figure out what he had to be proud of he knew well enough what happened when Brodus was slighted, he'd seen the results scattered around the city more than once. Tonight there would be blood, perhaps not Xyon's but certainly that of the first man to smile after Xyon's little remark. And as much as Gant valued a good drink and sit down he was a lot more fond of his blood.
"Oh yeah, I'm heading out. You couldn't pay me to stay here, oh face of glass." Gant muttered as he finished off his drink
Thelonius Gant got to his feet quickly and unsteadily, quickly recognising the fact that finishing off drinks before he left a room was a habit he was going to have to curtail.
"Also Xyon, I know we're buds and all but ifI get outside and you're not behind me I won't be coming back in here, even if I hear a sounds of distudence back in here." said Thelonius with a voice which left the listener with the distinct impression that the only thing sober about Gant at the moment was his tone "Especially if I hear sounds of a disturdence, just so you know."
Gant avoided making eye contact with Brodus as he reeled around, not an easy task considering Brodus took up a significant portion of the room, and headed to the door with a level of measured care and grace that can only be attained by the mildly intoxicated. He pulled the door open, a surprisingly difficult task considering how the entire thing had been thrown out of shape by Xyon's dramatic entrance, and half walked, half stumbled out on the street.
It was still the same cold and dark night somehow the brief stop in the Guardhouse had done the impossible, it had made the streets of Marn seem almost welcoming. The feeling didn't last long, gradually fading as his vision adjusted enough to let him troublesome things like detail, and soon he was once again smoking a cigarette with an expression that suggested that it was made almost entirely of vinegar. Gant didn't look back, afraid he'd see something he didn't wish to see, and set off walking.
He wasn't sure where he was going, the idea of heading to the Cacerone boarding house fighting a losing battle against the idea of just going to bed, but none the less Thelnonius was heading there.
Albeit not very quickly.
"... I liked you more when you didn't talk." said Gant tersely.
Gant took another swig of his drink and summed up his current situation. He had around about an hour left in his shift, which in real terms meant he'd already done around an hour of overtime, and if one were to discount the atmosphere, smell and look of the Guardhouse it was a relatively comfortable place to wait out the clock. Unfortunately he could particularly feel Brodus' glare on the back of his head and he couldn't shake the feeling that if he hung around much longer he'd be experiencing a lot more than a surly gaze.
It wasn't surprising that Xyon had heard Brodus, when Brodus spoke you could feel it in your bones, but what was surprising is that Xyon had the audacity to repeat what had been said. Avrum Brodus was wary of Xyon but none the less he was a proud man and though Thelonius could never figure out what he had to be proud of he knew well enough what happened when Brodus was slighted, he'd seen the results scattered around the city more than once. Tonight there would be blood, perhaps not Xyon's but certainly that of the first man to smile after Xyon's little remark. And as much as Gant valued a good drink and sit down he was a lot more fond of his blood.
"Oh yeah, I'm heading out. You couldn't pay me to stay here, oh face of glass." Gant muttered as he finished off his drink
Thelonius Gant got to his feet quickly and unsteadily, quickly recognising the fact that finishing off drinks before he left a room was a habit he was going to have to curtail.
"Also Xyon, I know we're buds and all but ifI get outside and you're not behind me I won't be coming back in here, even if I hear a sounds of distudence back in here." said Thelonius with a voice which left the listener with the distinct impression that the only thing sober about Gant at the moment was his tone "Especially if I hear sounds of a disturdence, just so you know."
Gant avoided making eye contact with Brodus as he reeled around, not an easy task considering Brodus took up a significant portion of the room, and headed to the door with a level of measured care and grace that can only be attained by the mildly intoxicated. He pulled the door open, a surprisingly difficult task considering how the entire thing had been thrown out of shape by Xyon's dramatic entrance, and half walked, half stumbled out on the street.
It was still the same cold and dark night somehow the brief stop in the Guardhouse had done the impossible, it had made the streets of Marn seem almost welcoming. The feeling didn't last long, gradually fading as his vision adjusted enough to let him troublesome things like detail, and soon he was once again smoking a cigarette with an expression that suggested that it was made almost entirely of vinegar. Gant didn't look back, afraid he'd see something he didn't wish to see, and set off walking.
He wasn't sure where he was going, the idea of heading to the Cacerone boarding house fighting a losing battle against the idea of just going to bed, but none the less Thelnonius was heading there.
Albeit not very quickly.
You can't kill me, I'm immoral.
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Xyon_of_Calhoun
- Guardsman
- Posts: 549
- Joined: Wed Sep 20, 2006 11:17 am
- Name: Xyon
- Race: Xenetian
Re: Justice in a blade
Xyon smiled.
For some reason the room had fallen silent. Wonder why... he thought, as he deftly rolled a cigarette whilst slowly picking his way towards the door, to follow Theo.
For some reason, nobody tried to stop him. It could have been that he was ever-so-slightly much bigger and stronger than Brodus, or maybe not. Still, before he knew it, he was out of the door with a lit cigarette in his hand. He blinked, since this had happened very quickly, and he hadn't realised it yet. Eventually, he saw Theo, still only four feet away from the door, patrolling very, very slowly.
"Come on, slowpoke. We have a 'mystery' to investigate."
Something about Theo's behaviour made him think he should probably have thrown speechmarks around the word investigate as well.
For some reason the room had fallen silent. Wonder why... he thought, as he deftly rolled a cigarette whilst slowly picking his way towards the door, to follow Theo.
For some reason, nobody tried to stop him. It could have been that he was ever-so-slightly much bigger and stronger than Brodus, or maybe not. Still, before he knew it, he was out of the door with a lit cigarette in his hand. He blinked, since this had happened very quickly, and he hadn't realised it yet. Eventually, he saw Theo, still only four feet away from the door, patrolling very, very slowly.
"Come on, slowpoke. We have a 'mystery' to investigate."
Something about Theo's behaviour made him think he should probably have thrown speechmarks around the word investigate as well.
I have to jump.
For even if I fall, for a moment, I will fly.
For even if I fall, for a moment, I will fly.
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Thelonius Gant
- Guardsman
- Posts: 62
- Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2008 5:47 pm
- Name: Thelonius Gant
- Race: Human
Re: Justice in a blade
The wind had picked up while they'd been in the Guardhouse and now the late night was slowly transforming itself into a brisk morning. One could have called the breeze "invigorating" or "bracing" but as far as Thelonius was concerned such words were little more than fancy synonyms for bloody cold. It was on occasions such as this that Thelonius Gant often found himself envious of the Battlemages. Admittedly they were all pompous, egotistical bastards who'd flay your alive sooner than they'd look at you but they did get gloves, which at the moment seemed a perfectly fair trade for being a sadistic so and so. But alas Thelonius barely qualified as a regular bastard never mind a magical one and so until the day came where he could break a man's nose and then pull a coin out from behind his ear it seemed he was doomed to slight digit chill.
Gant sighed at the injustice of it all and began rolling a cigarette, more for something to do rather than any real desire to smoke.
"Come on, slowpoke. We have a 'mystery' to investigate."
In a rare break in tradition the moment Thelonius heard something he spun around quickly to see who it was. Normally he would have just relied on the big looming shadow to determine if it was Xyon but since he'd just emerged from a room with enough looming shadows to make a very dark tapestry he wasn't going to let his dislike to turning his head be the main reason he lost his head.
But no, it was Xyon. Gant had half expected the other guardsman to be locked in mortal combat with half the guardhouse by now but it apparently Xyon's code of honour wasn't simply "Do something which appears brave but is essentially stupid" , either that or it had some proviso about really stupid stuff.
"You know for a few glorious minutes I'd forgotten we were looking for an alchemist who might know the whereabouts of a giant whom we suspect maybe killed a man." said Gant wistfully "Those were good minutes..."
Gant finally lit the cigarette he'd been rolling in for the last couple of minutes and inhaled deeply as he turned arounf to look down the street.
"Right so, while you were off making a jigsaw puzzle for the doctors out of that blokes face I was investigating a mystery of my own. Regrettably that investigation never became in-depth due to extenuating circumstances... " said Gant before he exhaled the smoke from his nostrils in what could have been a sigh "However I did discover that there's an alchemist called Bekkar working out of one Cacerone boarding house on the edge of the Business district."
Gant didn't feel it necessary to point out that beyond "edge of the Business district" he didn't have a clue where said boarding house was. In retrospect asking for directions would have been a good idea but Thelonius was already quite dissapointed with himself without stooping to asking a woman for directions. Regardless, there would be plenty of time to find out where it was as long as Gant got his way.
"But now here's the real problem..." said Thelonius as he stroked the stubble on his chin thoughtfully "Should we go now and disturb a potentially innocent citizen in the middle of the night and cause them undue distress for what will essentially be little more than a question should we just go to the tavern until a more socialable hour?"
For any other guardsman this would have been a rhetorical question but Gant had always had the sneaking suspicion that Xyon hadn't joined the City Guard for the unofficial Guardsman discount that applied in most taverns if you could glare menacingly enough.
Gant sighed at the injustice of it all and began rolling a cigarette, more for something to do rather than any real desire to smoke.
"Come on, slowpoke. We have a 'mystery' to investigate."
In a rare break in tradition the moment Thelonius heard something he spun around quickly to see who it was. Normally he would have just relied on the big looming shadow to determine if it was Xyon but since he'd just emerged from a room with enough looming shadows to make a very dark tapestry he wasn't going to let his dislike to turning his head be the main reason he lost his head.
But no, it was Xyon. Gant had half expected the other guardsman to be locked in mortal combat with half the guardhouse by now but it apparently Xyon's code of honour wasn't simply "Do something which appears brave but is essentially stupid" , either that or it had some proviso about really stupid stuff.
"You know for a few glorious minutes I'd forgotten we were looking for an alchemist who might know the whereabouts of a giant whom we suspect maybe killed a man." said Gant wistfully "Those were good minutes..."
Gant finally lit the cigarette he'd been rolling in for the last couple of minutes and inhaled deeply as he turned arounf to look down the street.
"Right so, while you were off making a jigsaw puzzle for the doctors out of that blokes face I was investigating a mystery of my own. Regrettably that investigation never became in-depth due to extenuating circumstances... " said Gant before he exhaled the smoke from his nostrils in what could have been a sigh "However I did discover that there's an alchemist called Bekkar working out of one Cacerone boarding house on the edge of the Business district."
Gant didn't feel it necessary to point out that beyond "edge of the Business district" he didn't have a clue where said boarding house was. In retrospect asking for directions would have been a good idea but Thelonius was already quite dissapointed with himself without stooping to asking a woman for directions. Regardless, there would be plenty of time to find out where it was as long as Gant got his way.
"But now here's the real problem..." said Thelonius as he stroked the stubble on his chin thoughtfully "Should we go now and disturb a potentially innocent citizen in the middle of the night and cause them undue distress for what will essentially be little more than a question should we just go to the tavern until a more socialable hour?"
For any other guardsman this would have been a rhetorical question but Gant had always had the sneaking suspicion that Xyon hadn't joined the City Guard for the unofficial Guardsman discount that applied in most taverns if you could glare menacingly enough.
You can't kill me, I'm immoral.
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Xyon_of_Calhoun
- Guardsman
- Posts: 549
- Joined: Wed Sep 20, 2006 11:17 am
- Name: Xyon
- Race: Xenetian
Re: Justice in a blade
Xyon did not answer straightaway, but merely set off walking in the direction, drawing Inohen as he passed Theo. Her silver glow reflected off the armour even in the dim half-light of another miserable day befalling the stricken city. After a while, he turned to Theo, and gestured to Inohen, having been scrutinising her blade for fully ten minutes as if he had never seen her before.Thelonius Gant wrote: "Should we go now and disturb a potentially innocent citizen in the middle of the night and cause them undue distress for what will essentially be little more than a question should we just go to the tavern until a more socialable hour?"
"See this, Theo? This is what I call a 24 hour key to the city. Well, that and the armour. But anyway... she needs a little maintenance, look - " here he pointed to a solitary scratch on the blade, from a fairly recent fight in which he had botched a parry and fumbled a little. "She bitched about that for days," he added, a little quieter.
"So.. the 'edge' of the business district, huh? Wanna be juat the slightest bit more specific? I don't mind patrol, but there's a fine line between that and a wild goose chase that I won't cross.
"And," he added, with a mischevious grin on his face, a far hoaser, deeper tone of voice, and a swift red flash in his eyes, "If you make me cross it, I will wrap both hands around your neck and squeeze until you go blue and fall over."
I have to jump.
For even if I fall, for a moment, I will fly.
For even if I fall, for a moment, I will fly.
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Thelonius Gant
- Guardsman
- Posts: 62
- Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2008 5:47 pm
- Name: Thelonius Gant
- Race: Human
Re: Justice in a blade
For Thelonius swords were little more than tools, something left to resolve conflicts that a swift knee could not, and though he did carry one tonight he hadn't yet found a reason to unsheathe it. It was there if it was needed but Thelonius wasn't going to go out of his way to need it. However, not all people used tools the same way.
Xyon's for instance had the alarming tendency to whip out his sword at any opportunity and when he wasn't doing this he was either doing tricks with it or, if the swords unsettling glow was any indication, spending too much time polishing it. This worried Gant a great deal, to the point where it could only be worse if he was doing any of this in euphemistic sense. But then again considering how Xyon constantly referred to his sword as a "she" Gant was beginning to wonder if that point was really that far off...
"… a fine line between that and a wild goose chase that I won't cross."
Gant had only been half listening to Xyon, due to the fact he found it difficult to make colorful assumptions and keep track of a conversation at the same time, but these words grabbed his attention. He was vaguely annoyed that Xyon wasn't simply praising him for his wonderful detective work, after all in their brief sojourn in humdrum world of regular crime Gant had managed come up with a solid lead whilst all Xyon had managed was some blood splatters and teeth, but it was what was to follow that turned Gant sense of slight annoyance to full blown indignation.
"If you make me cross it, I will wrap both hands around your neck and squeeze until you go blue and fall over."
"Well then Xyon I suggest that you piss off home." said Gant animatedly as he removed the cigarette from his mouth "Because with no evidence, no witnesses and the only the testimony of a career criminal I got to say that there ain't no wilder goose than this. Hell, it's worse than wild it's more like a demonic barbarian goose form the depth of the abyss chase right now. But hey, I do hope you'll forgive me! Because even though I brought this entire debacle within sight of your precious line I failed to have a map drawn up! Oh if only you'd reminded me at the time, but then again I suppose you were probably too busy stoving some guy's face in with your 24 hour day pass there…"
Gant may have said this for many reasons, perhaps because he'd just been drinking a liquid which was more suited to unblocking drains than to human consumption or possibly dude to some manly desire to assert some kind of dominance, but the simple fact was Gant did not like criticism. Insults, threats and insinuation were all part of the job but on those rare occasions when Thelonius believed he had done well, those rare moments when the man's long forgotten pride floated to the surface, he had little tolerance for anything other than gushing praise. In such a state facts such as Xyon's capability of snapping him like twig were dismissed instantly because at a time such as this Gant was likely to continue even if he were broken in two. However, for the first time he could recall Gant's anger faded as he retorted and almost as soon as he as the anger had appeared it dissapeared. True, the fog of war had descended on Gant but this had been superseded by the sight of a very different fog ascending in the distance.
A very... orange fog.
He'd noticed the smoke mid rant and as dedicated as he had been to his rebuttal all the steam had gone out of it as soon as he realized two things. Firstly, it seemed to be coming from the edge of the business district and secondly it was orange. In those brief moments the machinery of Gant's mind sprung to life once more time and made one final juddering motion.
"But you know what? If I had to guess where Cacerone House, and by extension a laboratory where all kinds of unnatural and bizarre stuff goes on, I'd have to say it's probably someplace around the pillar of orange smoke." said Gant almost airily before his previous irration made one final reappearence "Now I don't know if that's good enough for you since I can't describe the chimney said smoke is coming from but me? Well I'm going to check that out. So if you'll excuse me..."
Gant breezed past Xyon, although at the speed he was moving it would be more accurate to say he gusted past. Whether this was due to a desire to get to the smoke or get away was debatable but one thing was certain.
That smoke was orange.
Xyon's for instance had the alarming tendency to whip out his sword at any opportunity and when he wasn't doing this he was either doing tricks with it or, if the swords unsettling glow was any indication, spending too much time polishing it. This worried Gant a great deal, to the point where it could only be worse if he was doing any of this in euphemistic sense. But then again considering how Xyon constantly referred to his sword as a "she" Gant was beginning to wonder if that point was really that far off...
"… a fine line between that and a wild goose chase that I won't cross."
Gant had only been half listening to Xyon, due to the fact he found it difficult to make colorful assumptions and keep track of a conversation at the same time, but these words grabbed his attention. He was vaguely annoyed that Xyon wasn't simply praising him for his wonderful detective work, after all in their brief sojourn in humdrum world of regular crime Gant had managed come up with a solid lead whilst all Xyon had managed was some blood splatters and teeth, but it was what was to follow that turned Gant sense of slight annoyance to full blown indignation.
"If you make me cross it, I will wrap both hands around your neck and squeeze until you go blue and fall over."
"Well then Xyon I suggest that you piss off home." said Gant animatedly as he removed the cigarette from his mouth "Because with no evidence, no witnesses and the only the testimony of a career criminal I got to say that there ain't no wilder goose than this. Hell, it's worse than wild it's more like a demonic barbarian goose form the depth of the abyss chase right now. But hey, I do hope you'll forgive me! Because even though I brought this entire debacle within sight of your precious line I failed to have a map drawn up! Oh if only you'd reminded me at the time, but then again I suppose you were probably too busy stoving some guy's face in with your 24 hour day pass there…"
Gant may have said this for many reasons, perhaps because he'd just been drinking a liquid which was more suited to unblocking drains than to human consumption or possibly dude to some manly desire to assert some kind of dominance, but the simple fact was Gant did not like criticism. Insults, threats and insinuation were all part of the job but on those rare occasions when Thelonius believed he had done well, those rare moments when the man's long forgotten pride floated to the surface, he had little tolerance for anything other than gushing praise. In such a state facts such as Xyon's capability of snapping him like twig were dismissed instantly because at a time such as this Gant was likely to continue even if he were broken in two. However, for the first time he could recall Gant's anger faded as he retorted and almost as soon as he as the anger had appeared it dissapeared. True, the fog of war had descended on Gant but this had been superseded by the sight of a very different fog ascending in the distance.
A very... orange fog.
He'd noticed the smoke mid rant and as dedicated as he had been to his rebuttal all the steam had gone out of it as soon as he realized two things. Firstly, it seemed to be coming from the edge of the business district and secondly it was orange. In those brief moments the machinery of Gant's mind sprung to life once more time and made one final juddering motion.
"But you know what? If I had to guess where Cacerone House, and by extension a laboratory where all kinds of unnatural and bizarre stuff goes on, I'd have to say it's probably someplace around the pillar of orange smoke." said Gant almost airily before his previous irration made one final reappearence "Now I don't know if that's good enough for you since I can't describe the chimney said smoke is coming from but me? Well I'm going to check that out. So if you'll excuse me..."
Gant breezed past Xyon, although at the speed he was moving it would be more accurate to say he gusted past. Whether this was due to a desire to get to the smoke or get away was debatable but one thing was certain.
That smoke was orange.
You can't kill me, I'm immoral.
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Xyon_of_Calhoun
- Guardsman
- Posts: 549
- Joined: Wed Sep 20, 2006 11:17 am
- Name: Xyon
- Race: Xenetian
Re: Justice in a blade
Orange smoke bilowed over the rooftops as Xyon chased it down, following the gusting figure of Theo ahead of him. That smoke... he shouted ahead to Theo, their previous conversation forgotten in the exhilaration of real police work.
"Where's it coming from, Theo?"
Although by this point, with the Residential District behind them, and the Business District opening up, Xyon found himself getting one of those gut-feelings he'd often heard the other guardsmen talking about in the guardhouse. Inohen's thoughts matched his own, as the Xenetian equivalent of adrenaline flowed through them both, raising the collective alertness and tension tenfold in the blink of an eye.
Xyon caught up with Theo easily, and then slacked off a little so that they ran slongside each other down the street, those citizens that had decided to brave the hour of the night scattering in their wake, given plenty of advance warning by the ominous purple glow announcing their advance several feet ahead.
"Where's it coming from, Theo?"
Although by this point, with the Residential District behind them, and the Business District opening up, Xyon found himself getting one of those gut-feelings he'd often heard the other guardsmen talking about in the guardhouse. Inohen's thoughts matched his own, as the Xenetian equivalent of adrenaline flowed through them both, raising the collective alertness and tension tenfold in the blink of an eye.
Xyon caught up with Theo easily, and then slacked off a little so that they ran slongside each other down the street, those citizens that had decided to brave the hour of the night scattering in their wake, given plenty of advance warning by the ominous purple glow announcing their advance several feet ahead.
I have to jump.
For even if I fall, for a moment, I will fly.
For even if I fall, for a moment, I will fly.
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Thelonius Gant
- Guardsman
- Posts: 62
- Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2008 5:47 pm
- Name: Thelonius Gant
- Race: Human
Re: Justice in a blade
The fact that Gant could run often surprised people, perhaps due to the fact he normally moved at roughly the speed of continental drift, but despite his outward appearance, personality and almost every aspect of his character Thelonius Gant could actually run quite well.
It was stopping that was the problem
"Out of the way!" Gant bellowed as he ploughed through some of the very early morning traffic
When people saw a Guardsman running they ran, that was how it was supposed to be. Unfortunately either due to being half asleep or something ridiculous, like being completely innocent of any crime, the majority of people seemed to be happy to freeze and give Gant a wide eyed stare. Gant tried his best to avoid them but by now a large number of them had been sent sprawling to the ground. This was troubling, not because he had some moral qualm about hurting but stupid people but rather because it was slowing him down considerably.
However, eventually people started to get the idea and began to scatter and for a moment Gant wondered why they’d all suddenly decided to get out of the way.
"Where's it coming from, Theo?"
Ah Xyon, he mightn’t be the most appreciative of people but by god could he thin a crowd.
"I'll tell you once we get there." Said Gant as he finally managed to get back to his stride after clipping a rather large man he would have struggled to avoid even if he’d been walking.
He looked up for a brief moment to look up at the sky. The smoke didn’t seem to be getting any thicker but it wasn’t thinning either. What the hell was it? Where was it coming from? He couldn’t shake the idea that it was Bekkar's lab, after all alchemists did weird things all the time and it looked to be in the right place, but in the end that didn’t matter. Because smoke meant fire, orange smoke probably meant something a whole lot worse.
So Gant sped up as even with all his cynicism and apathy Gant didn’t want the city to burn down.
Mainly because it’s where all his stuff was.
It was stopping that was the problem
"Out of the way!" Gant bellowed as he ploughed through some of the very early morning traffic
When people saw a Guardsman running they ran, that was how it was supposed to be. Unfortunately either due to being half asleep or something ridiculous, like being completely innocent of any crime, the majority of people seemed to be happy to freeze and give Gant a wide eyed stare. Gant tried his best to avoid them but by now a large number of them had been sent sprawling to the ground. This was troubling, not because he had some moral qualm about hurting but stupid people but rather because it was slowing him down considerably.
However, eventually people started to get the idea and began to scatter and for a moment Gant wondered why they’d all suddenly decided to get out of the way.
"Where's it coming from, Theo?"
Ah Xyon, he mightn’t be the most appreciative of people but by god could he thin a crowd.
"I'll tell you once we get there." Said Gant as he finally managed to get back to his stride after clipping a rather large man he would have struggled to avoid even if he’d been walking.
He looked up for a brief moment to look up at the sky. The smoke didn’t seem to be getting any thicker but it wasn’t thinning either. What the hell was it? Where was it coming from? He couldn’t shake the idea that it was Bekkar's lab, after all alchemists did weird things all the time and it looked to be in the right place, but in the end that didn’t matter. Because smoke meant fire, orange smoke probably meant something a whole lot worse.
So Gant sped up as even with all his cynicism and apathy Gant didn’t want the city to burn down.
Mainly because it’s where all his stuff was.
You can't kill me, I'm immoral.
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Xyon_of_Calhoun
- Guardsman
- Posts: 549
- Joined: Wed Sep 20, 2006 11:17 am
- Name: Xyon
- Race: Xenetian
Re: Justice in a blade
Finally, after what seemed like ages, they reached the residential district. The smoke still rose, seemingly still being emitted from whatever it was that was emitting it. This brought further evidence to the alchemy theory, since it was odd that orange smoke was billowing out over the city anyway, but also strange that it should continue to do so, even after several minutes.
Looking back, he was surprised that Theo seemed to be keeping pace with him, as did about four other guardsmen who had also seen the smoke and decided that investigating would be better than being sat around doing nothing. He turned back to look ahead, just in time to bodyswerve the cart that appeared from a side alley a little way in front of him. Such is the natural laws surrounding police chases of any description. At any time, a cart will miraculously appear in the way, or someone will be attempting to carry a large piece of plate glass across the road for some undetermined reason.
Sucessfully avoiding it, and pushing thoughts of plate glass from his mind, Xyon finally saw the building that the smoke was coming from, a small boarding house not far from the outer edge of the district. It wasn't far away, so it didn't take long to reach the front door. What was difficult was actually finding the handle, since the door was closed and the smoke encompassed everything around. After several long seconds, Xyon gave up trying and, letting Inohen draw herself, using her light and the light from his eyes to guide him, he booted it open.
Or, to be more specific, down. It fell off it's hinges in a marvellous, splintery kind of way that this building had already seen a little example of. It was for that reason that as Xyon pounded down the corridor, it was fairly obvious to identify what room needed entering. There was a Danteri shaped hole in the doorway.
He gripped Inohen tighter, and looked behind. Through the haze of the smoke, he could make out Theo and the other guardsmen entering the building, marvelling at his handiwork as they passed it, and sighed.
"Swords, lads." he boomed, letting his voice carry into the room beyond. Whoever was in there was Danteri, for certain. It had something to do with the red light glinting off the orange smoke that gave that information away. Taking a deep breath, then coughing and wishing he hadn't, Xyon stepped into the room, and came face-to-face with his past.
OOC: Continued here
Looking back, he was surprised that Theo seemed to be keeping pace with him, as did about four other guardsmen who had also seen the smoke and decided that investigating would be better than being sat around doing nothing. He turned back to look ahead, just in time to bodyswerve the cart that appeared from a side alley a little way in front of him. Such is the natural laws surrounding police chases of any description. At any time, a cart will miraculously appear in the way, or someone will be attempting to carry a large piece of plate glass across the road for some undetermined reason.
Sucessfully avoiding it, and pushing thoughts of plate glass from his mind, Xyon finally saw the building that the smoke was coming from, a small boarding house not far from the outer edge of the district. It wasn't far away, so it didn't take long to reach the front door. What was difficult was actually finding the handle, since the door was closed and the smoke encompassed everything around. After several long seconds, Xyon gave up trying and, letting Inohen draw herself, using her light and the light from his eyes to guide him, he booted it open.
Or, to be more specific, down. It fell off it's hinges in a marvellous, splintery kind of way that this building had already seen a little example of. It was for that reason that as Xyon pounded down the corridor, it was fairly obvious to identify what room needed entering. There was a Danteri shaped hole in the doorway.
He gripped Inohen tighter, and looked behind. Through the haze of the smoke, he could make out Theo and the other guardsmen entering the building, marvelling at his handiwork as they passed it, and sighed.
"Swords, lads." he boomed, letting his voice carry into the room beyond. Whoever was in there was Danteri, for certain. It had something to do with the red light glinting off the orange smoke that gave that information away. Taking a deep breath, then coughing and wishing he hadn't, Xyon stepped into the room, and came face-to-face with his past.
OOC: Continued here
I have to jump.
For even if I fall, for a moment, I will fly.
For even if I fall, for a moment, I will fly.