A Game of Thieves

[Brisk Balvayne VI]

The tavern was full, as it always was on a dark stormy night such as this. Beasts from all over were stuffed inside, waiters and waitresses, bartenders, and even performers desperately scrambled about to keep customers happy.

Amongst this craziness was Brisk Balvayne, the VI. He was clothed as normal, with his hood up, the lynx leopard mix's eyes shifting back and forth keeping his gaze on as many as possible.

His weapons were all concealed in his two bags, as well as his mask and other attire. Any who touched his bags could expect to lose their hand in a flash, due in part to a spiked dart that he held loosely concealed in his right hand, which was shoved in his pocket. His left hand however, grasped his ale and brought it to his lips.

A gorgeous vixen walked by and they made eye contact, Brisk giving her a wink, and the vixen in response blushed and kept walking. Smiling wickedly to himself, Brisk thought, I think I'll like it here.

His eyes occasionally wandered on other figures who were just as suspicious as him, and snickered making mental notes of their faces. He watched as other drenched beasts began to fill in, all of them different. Some looked like corsairs, other like wanderers, some looked like locals, and in the pit of Brisk's stomach, he knew something would happen. When a problem did emerge, it'd be the perfect chance to loot up and go, as well as find that thief that had been trailing him.

Brisk was no fool; the thief assumed that Brisk had no idea he was being stalked, but Brisk, being a master of the similar art knew all too well...

[Yasmine]

Yasmine really hated crowded taverns. It was one of her peeves, mostly because everyone wanted to crowded around each other until there was no room to even yawn. She held her glass of ale in front of her, staring at it as if it would provide some magical means to have everyone here disappear and leave her alone. Yasmine sighed and took a swig of the drink. Somebeasts might wonder how another could stand being alone so often in their life but Yasmine, she could care less. In fact, she prefered it. No one bothered you when you were alone. No one insulted or blew your ears out when they are too loud, and you don't have to bother acting reasonable with someone who was crazily drunk. Still...loneliness isn't the best feeling.

That thought immediately evaporated as Yasmine felt a pain on her collarbone as somebeast elbowed her aside. Yasmine whipped her saphirre gaze up and faced the beast who was responsible. It was hard to read his face at first, since his hood was up, but she saw the shifty look of a weasel as he manouvered himself past her through the crowd. Yasmine narrowed her eyes and sat her self down on her chair again. Taking another swig of ale, she couldn't help but think that it was nights like these that called for trouble.

[Brisk Balvayne VI]

Brisk too knew the feeling of loneliness. He was a master of hiding and being alone due in part because that is what his job called for. Furthermore, his training made him hard and cold, something that wasn't going to change unless something or someone drastic did so. Unfortunately, most beasts don't like helping a beast who if you tick off will kill you in the middle of the night now do they?

In mid-thought though, the assassin was interrupted. He saw a weasel brush into a female mouse and gave a scowl. As wrong as it is, it was the offense toward the mouse that got him angry, it was who it was: Ladvick Dreadeye. Perhaps he sent the thief after Brisk? What was Ladvick doing all the way down here though? Then it immediately hit him. Ladvick wasn't sending one of his lackey thieves after him, he was going to kill him!

Snarling, the lynx/leopard mix locked his cold gaze on the weasel. It was then Brisk realized who the weasel was heading for: him. Waiting for a good amount of beasts to pass between them, the cat got himself ready to move, and as soon as a group did pass, he disappeared with them.

Ladvick narrowed his green eyes, gazing about the tavern in a hurry. The weasel immediately responded in aggression shoving a random couple down, and once again looking around, back turned to the bar.

Brisk examined the tavern realizing Ladvick had some allies spread about. Shaking his head, he had to come up with a plan.

The feline looked around for someone alone. It was the only way his plan would work. Ladvick knew Brisk for a loner, and now, if he could quickly grab someone to act as a companion and walk out, if Ladvick of course judged to quick and assumed they were random beasts from a back view. Most importantly though, Ladvick was the only smart one in his entire organization.

Thus, Brisk slowly crept up behind Yasmine, and put an arm around her forcefully.
" I need you to 'elp me out quick. Do so, and I will pay you greatly, all I need you to do, is walk out with me, following my lead." Brisk whispered softly, the lynx desperate.

[Yasmine]

Yasmine almost jumped sky high when she felt some furry arm around her before she could realize anyone was behind her. She almost whipped around and punched whoever had the nerve to do so smack in the face before he spoke.

"I need you to 'elp me out quick. Do so, and I will pay you greatly, all I need you to do, is walk out with me, following my lead."

Yasmine raised an eyebrow questionably. She could tell this guy was desperate. At least desperate enough to provide payment to some random beast in the crowd. She shrugged his arm off and got up, leaving him at her seat and walking towards the bartender. Dropping a few coins in his hand, Yasmine pushed through the crowd back towards her "escort" and grabbed his paw, pulling him hurriedly towards the exit and shoving through another incoming crowd. She was glad to have some reason to leave earlier than normal. This tavern was more full than the Great Hall at feasting time at her hometown.

Once outside, Yasmine turned towards the stranger and folded her arms. "Come on now, lead. That's what you said you would do, right?"

[Brisk Balvayne VI]

The lynx leopard mix had to contain himself from removing her paw with a slice of a knife, due to the lack of warning he had at which she grabbed his paw. Technically though, he'd be a hypocrite seeing as he forcefully reacted out of the blue, just the same as she did.

The following actions the feline didn't even attempt to speak a word, even though he soon did realize that one of the lackey's did recognize him. None the less, when they made it outside and she responded the way she did Brisk gave a sneer.
"Well 'onestly I didn't think you'd react like that and drag me, out, all I wanted was to trick a couple enemies into thinking I wasn't me, by acting as if I 'ad some'un with me since- well, that doesn't matter..." He gave a brief pause looking back at the tavern. Ladvick and his lackeys made it outside and pointed at not only Brisk, but Yasmine as well.

Brisk snarled.
" Crap, well, I got some good news for ya', yer life is on the line too now, so I 'ope, and strongly suggest yew run." Brisk ordered coldly, grabbing Yasmine by her paw now and sprinting down the streets. As normal, Brisk would lure his enemies into an area in which he was in the advantage, especially since knowing Lad', he probably had more of his men dispersed through the stormy drenched town.

The last thing he wanted was to give Ladvick the advantage, so at this rate, he might as well bring Yasmine with him for when the time arises, instead of using her as a distraction as he normally would've done.

[Yasmine]

'Oh great, now I get mixed up with some loon.' Yasmine thought as she glanced back to see the weasel and whoever chasing after them. 'Today is just not my day.'

'Now that wasn't nice. He's running for his life and all you can do is insult him?' Yasmine silently groaned. Her conscience had kicked in. instead of replying, Yasmine completely ignored the voice. She supposed her conscience was right, and that was what bothered her the most. She hated when her conscience was right. Shaking her head, Yasmine pulled her paw out of the lynx's and grabbed her bow from her back. 'It's a good thing I carry my weapons everywhere.'

It wasn't easy to string a bow while running at almost top speed, but nevertheless it was done. Yasmine grinned and increased her speed, moving past the lynx until she was about ten feet away. Then grabbing an arrow from her quiver, Yasmine turned and skidded to a stop, pulling back her bowstring with the arrow. When she came to a complete stop, she let it go with a snap, aiming directly for the weasel in front. unfortunately, he managed to just in the nick of time, the arrow streaming past and piercing the vermin behind him in between the eyes. The rest continued the chase, only the weasel trailed on behind the rest. Yasmine spat.

"Coward." Waiting for the lynx to catch up, Yasmine took off when he was right beside her, glancing back now and then to see how far of a lead they had.

[Brisk Balvayne VI]

"Nice shot," Brisk had murmured at the events that transpired. None the less, despite their success, he knew they had to continue onward. Brisk wasn't surprised when he saw that Ladvick had dropped back, and he wasn't surprised to see him cut off into a different alleyway.

Looks like he prolly does 'ave some help here... he thought angrily. Sighing when he saw Yasmine look behind herself, he immediately turned up his pace catching up to her once more, and grabbing her arm.

Forcefully, again, he pulled her toward and alleyway to their left, and once inside he nodded to her.
" I hope yew kin keep them busy, I need my supplies, 'cause I got an idea. Jus' shoot 'em as they come into the alleyway, I'll be right back, I promise." Brisk said, his emotion still that of a blank stare.

The thing was, despite Brisk's attitude problem, there was one certain thing about him: he always kept his promises. Immediately, he pulled a trip wire out and quickly set that out for Yasmine, to buy her more time, and ignoring anything she would've said to him.

Following, he yelled, " She's in 'ere!" Pointed down the alleyway, and quickly sprinted into another, slowly cutting in and out of them to run back to the tavern and grab his bags, then, from there he'd go back and help Yasmine... if she was still safe by that time.

[Yasmine]

"She's in 'ere!"

"Well," Yasmine said as he disappeared. "He's an interesting character." Backing up, she spotted a pile of crates against the right side wall and jumped behind them, on top of two other crates, to give her a vantage point from above. Yasmine breathed deeply, grabbing her quiver of arrows and placing them against the crate she herself was leaning on.

'10 arrows. If I remember correctly, there is six, not including the cowardly weasel. I might have to switch to close combat so I don't run out. If worst comes to worst I'll use them all to pick as much as I can off. Approaching footsteps caused Yasmine to swiftly grab an arrow to nock her bow, glancing through a crack in the crate.

The vermin paused before slowly entering the alley. Then, in the suspense of it all, three raced ahead of the group silently...and fell into the lynx's trap. Yasmine smiled and reacted quickly. Leaning to the left and leaving her shield (the crate), she shot two shots after another into the confusion, striking her targets and killing them almost instantly. Yasmine picked out another arrow and placed it on her bow, shooting once more. Yasmine frowned as the arrow only struck the targets arm, and returned to her cover, peering through the crack once more.

The vermin just stood there at first, as if registering what just happened in their heads. They shrugged and glanced at each other, simply watching the injured beast pull the arrow from his flesh. The vermin whispered to one another and backed up against the wall, vanishing, blending into the night until Yasmine could only spot them if she strained her eyes.

'The only thing left to do is wait. I don't know if those beasts are idiots, but they are still trained in the art of assasins. Who knows where the weasel went. Lynx, if you don't hurry I'll knock your lights out when I get out of this situation.'

[Brisk Balvayne VI]

"Get out of my way!" Brisk snarled shoving innocent people forcefully out of his way through the tavern. In response, a bar fight started to break out, since beasts randomly were falling onto one another.

One drunk attempted to hit Brisk over the head with a mug, to which his response was dodging, elbowing the beast in the kidney, and then sending a chop at its throat. The rat bellowed in a choking voice, and fell backwards.

Not caring if the blow would make the beast suffocate from a collapsed throat, he headed to his bags, which a beast was starting to head for. Brisk walked up behind it and spun the fox around looking it in the eyes for a brief second before headbutting it, then grabbing it by the scruff and slamming its face into the edge of the round table. Finally, grabbing his belongings, and slipping on his wooden white wolf mask, he left the tavern....

A minute or so passed by with no action from any of the vermin... until...

Two of the vermin popped out of the shadows relatively close to Yasmine, but they were not the problem((add in any slaying to them if you want in your next post ; ) . Figure it'll make up for this next part, if you don't mind)).

Ladvick had crept his way up behind her in some way, and pulled a dagger to his throat, and a sneer on his lips.
" Why, 'ello prettah' mousey, whatcha doin' all 'lone in 'ere, where's mah friend Brisk at eh?" He asked.

Foolishly the rest of whatever remaining vermin there were combined from the original group and others who were dispersed, there were now six left, not including Ladvick.

Silently, Brisk had managed to find a way up to the top of the building that was on the right of Yasmine. He gave a sinister smile to himself, reaching into his bags and pulling out a lot of poisons and herbs.
Well, seein' as the rain'll dissolve most o' it, might as well mix 'em all... He thought quickly, mixing them all together, his mask only briefly protecting him, thus symbolizing his haste in which he was working.

Giving a silent almost twisted chuckle, the masked assassin dumped the mixed powders of poisons over the edge into the group. Mouse, you're gonna owe me after this. I expect you to resupply me.... or well, you'll see. He thought watching the mixed white powder drop.

The vermin looked up in awe after the first drops hit them, and then large clumps fell on them.
" Its snowin'?..." The one asked, sniffing. Suddenly, they all realized at once from the clumps, and at that point it was too late, they all slowly began to die from inhaling the dangerous fumes....

Ladvick's eyes widened, and just as he was about to slit Yasmine's throat, a blade entered him. He gasped, his blade falling from his hand, the life fading from his eyes. Immediately, he was tossed into the wall, and fell to the ground, dead.

Brisk removed his mask, wiping the blood of Lad' on the rough wall, trying to clean his knife slightly, and nodded to Yasmine.
" Yew alright? Surprised yew killed that many of 'em when cornered." He said, looking at the amount of vermin dead by her hands.

[Yasmine]

Ooc: I'VE BEEN HOSTAGIZED!!!! (Yeah, that ain't a word, but it should be.

BIC:

It was true. These "villians" were extremely stupid, even if they could conceal themselves. Yasmine had killed the injured vermin and killed two others, leaving only one to deal with. Yasmine sighed, slightly relieved that things were easing up. She did not want to stay here all night. Laying her bow on the ground, Yasmine unsheathed her two blades from her belt, considering ending this fight, if she could call it a fight, with close combat. That was before reinforcements arrived.

Two vermin flew from the shadows out of nowhere directly, taking Yasmine by surprise. Just before one of them were about to slash out at her, Yasmine quickly stab his throat and shielded her eyes as blood spurted out. The vermin gurgled and fell, dead. Yasmine's attention drew to the other as he yelled out a challenge from a few feet away. The mouse grunted, raising her arm with the already bloodied dagger and threw, striking the vermin's stomach, dropping him like a stone.

Yasmine breathed deeply and took a step back, right into the paws of the weasel. He pressed a blade against her throat and grabbed her left wrist (the one still with the blade).

"Why, 'ello prettah' mousey, whatcha doin' all 'lone in 'ere, where's mah friend Brisk at eh?"

'Crap. This can't be good.' "You have no right to call me a pretty mousey, you slime. And Brisk...why would I know any fr..." Yasmine paused, thinking a little. "Oh, your friend the lynx. I believe he left on other business at the moment." The weasel chuckled and leaned forward until his mouse was by her ear.

"Ya mean 'es gone an' deserted ya, prettah' mousey! That's Brisk fer ya, harhar!" Yasmine almost cringed at the weasel foul breath, but she was consciously aware of the blade at her throat. She wouldn't be surprised if he deserted; he looked as shifty as the rest of them, but even so...

White dust fell from the sky. Yasmine's eyes narrowed as she watched them fall. "Its snowin'?..." Yasmine bit her lip. She would know whether or not there would be any kind of snowstorm. She was fond of storms, especially ones with lightning. This wasn't snow, and if it wasn’t, then it could only mean the same thing everything else this evening meant: trouble. Quickly, but as innocently as she could manage, Yasmine took a small breath and held it. It didn’t take long for the poison to take effect. She could tell the weasel was obviously frightened as his subordinates died around him. And in his state of fright the weasel tightened his grip on the blade and added pressure to Yasmine’s throat. Yasmine grimaced and closed her eyes, preparing to meet hell.

She felt the blade fall from her throat and the paw of the weasel release his tight grip on her wrist. Yasmine's eyes snapped opened and she turned around, surprised. In front of her the lynx Brisk stood wiping his blade against the wall. Yasmine rolled her eyes as he attempted to clean his blade in vain.

"Yew alright? Surprised yew killed that many of 'em when cornered." Yasmine glanced behind her at the seven that laid dead by her paw. Yasmine shrugged and answered, ignoring the compliment.

"Clever little trick there with the poison." She said, reaching into her quiver. 'Could of killed me then as well, genius.' From the quiver she pulled out a red cloth and tossed it to the lynx. "Here. You'll have more success cleaning the blood with this."

Yasmine sat down, chin on her paw, watching Brisk cleaning his blade. As much as she would hate to admit it, he saved her life, and she wasn't one of those that let those kind of debts go hanging. Even so, she wasn't going to admit it. She would wait until he mentioned something about it. They always do.

[Brisk Balvayne VI]

OOC: Heck ya it should be lol. Oh noez = p

BIC:

It probably wasn't the greatest idea for Brisk to clean it against the wall for multiple reasons, nor was it good to let is sit in rainwater, so he took the lesser of the two wrongs: rub it against the wall gently. In the end though, Brisk quirked a brow when she tossed him the cloth. Catching it, the hybrid looked from her to the cloth. Normally, he wasn't really used to having help for anything unless he forced the help upon those around him.

Sighing, he started to clean the blade with the cloth.
" Thank you," he murmured, and upon getting an admirable result, tossed the cloth back to her. He glanced up to the stormy sky and looked back to Yasmine, the rain drenching them both. " The poison wasn't really anything great, they're just idiots." He said looking at her up and down, studying her long and hard.

Eventually his silver blue eyes glanced away and he leaned up against the wall. "We should prolly get outta 'ere, don't you think?" He said with a smirk. As he turned to walk out the alley, he glanced back at her.
" We'll buy a drink at one of the less crowded taverns." He called back almost as an order.

[Yasmine]

Yasmine narrowed her eyes suspiciously. Was he being nice? She wasn't use to this. All they did was beat up a few beasts that deserved it, and now a drink. No, she definitely wasn't used to this. He was acting like a friend, doing stuff a "buddy" would do. She hadn't had a "buddy" since a while ago, for reasons...

Yasmine rose to her feet and retrieved her other blade from one of the idiots she killed, cleaning it off and sheathing both blades, unstringing her bow and strapping both it and her quiver to its place on her back. Quietly, looking down at the floor she followed him.

'Idiot lynx. Don't act friendly. I'll pay off my debt and be on my way. Making me think such things...stupid whats-your-face.'

In front of a tavern in a small part of town, Yasmine paused before entering, thinking deeply. When both of them stood inside, Yasmine sat down at the bar, keeping her saphirre eyes averted. "My treat. Order what you want."

[Brisk Balvayne VI]

It wasn't like the hybrid feline was used to getting help in general either. His entire life was that of a lone wolf: live alone, die alone. He never needed help, never wanted it, if he did get it, then he usually went on his way without thanking them in any way.

When she told him it was her treat, and to order whatever, he gave a scowl.
"No," he began," I can pay for myself." Brisk responded coldly.

He then sat down next to her, and order himself a drink, and instead of allowing her to pay for him he very quickly told the bartender anything she wanted was on him.
You helped me, and stuck with me, even when I left. I could've easily left you to die... Brisk thought. Noticing her averted glare he shook his head. 'n I thought I was a jerk.

"So, what exactly are yew doin' in these parts? Most of yer kind doesn't bring themselves to these parts that often. Furthermore, never got yer name, unless o' course yew want me to refer to ya' as whatever name I deem fit." He finished with a snicker. The collision of two personalities was a thing of beauty.

[Yasmine]

Yasmine wasn't stupid. She noticed when he told the bartender he would treat her, so when the bartender gave her the drink she told him to forget everything the idiot over there said, and that she would pay for herself, thank you very much.

OOC: Aren't pointless arguments fun?

BIC:

"So, what exactly are yew doin' in these parts? Most of yer kind doesn't bring themselves to these parts that often. Furthermore, never got yer name, unless o' course yew want me to refer to ya' as whatever name I deem fit."

Yasmine rolled her eyes. "My name is Yasmine, lynx." 'Geez, why isn't he leaving? He found it simple to leave me cornered but he can't do that at a tavern. I meet a ton of strange characters traveling.' Yasmine leaned back, taking a huge swig of her drink and looking up at the ceiling, remembering the words the weasel whispered in her ear.

"Ya mean 'es gone an' deserted ya, prettah' mousey! That's Brisk fer ya, harhar!"

Yasmine sighed. 'Why did he return? Could of easily done it, but yet...ah, I don't know, and I'm not going to think to hard about it. When I leave here I'll forget about it.' Yasmine tapped the glass. Life certainly is strange.

[Brisk Balvayne VI]

OOC: lol, loads of fun

BIC:

Brisk rolled his eyes and scowled to himself. She didn't really answer both of his questions, and she referred to him as lynx. It seemed as if she was going to call him what she deemed fit, and that was something Brisk wasn't going to allow. He glanced at his drenched bags impatiently.

Fortunately, in vermin towns such as this, death was a normal thing, and law wasn't always top priority, but in the end it probably wouldn't matter any way. They had no actual proof of anything due in part there were no survivors. Thus, tossing any worry aside, he glanced back at Yasmine returning to his original train of thought.

"For starters, I have a name, Brisk, 'n secondly, ya didn't answer all my questions. What are yew doin' in these parts?" He asked impatiently. The feline had his own reasons to be here, and mainly that was word of a place that'd hire him to do what he knew so well; kill. As to her reasoning, he was curious. She helped him out, so maybe he could give her the info... but then again, that meant competition, and Brisk doesn't do well in competitions. Normally, his path to victory is stained with the blood of his unexpected competitors.

A'ight let's see what ya gotta say to all this mouse...