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Post by Dusty Dawson on Jul 19, 2010 9:38:18 GMT -5
Not that there was going to be much to eavesdrop on. Dusty had slipped into a seat behind Rathbone. Calla's arrival was perfect. Now she had time to sneak up and dip a hand into one of the shopkeeper's jacket pockets. Nothing.
'Damn...figured it wouldn't be that easy...' Dusty thought to herself. She moved quickly to take a seat directly behind her quarry. Still out of sight, she was able to keep an eye on things.
The man was still sitting by himself. He looked around the tavern, but his eyes kept returning to Calla and her wolf. It was clear that the two were making him uneasy. But then again, he had looked rather uneasy when Dusty first entered. Rathbone made no move to place an order. He just sat at his table and waited...
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Post by Sablerose on Jul 19, 2010 12:29:30 GMT -5
So how do we keep attention this way? Calla asked Grey. I mean, eventually, they'll realize that we're not an immediate threat and go back to looking out for themselves.
Greystreak radiated a certain humor that seemed odd to Calla. We're in a tavern full of individuals who would rather not attract attention to themselves. What is the last thing that they are likely to want?
Attention, Calla responded cautiously.
Correct. And now you have a stranger who enters, draws attention to herself. And...her dog.
The Druid took only a moment to grasp at the Familiar's meaning. Then with only a hint of a smile on her lips, she said, just loud enough for those around her to hear her "Seek."
Immediately, Grey began sniffing the air, head raised up high so that everyone now knew that she was there for someone. But since no one knew who, none made a move for the exit to expose their secret. But now, she -or rather Greystreak- had everyone's undivided attention. Who was the person she sought?
To be honest, neither of them sought anyone, but it was a good enough ruse to keep everyone looking their way and not Dusty's.
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Post by Dusty Dawson on Jul 19, 2010 13:35:42 GMT -5
Dusty smirked as she caught sight of Calla's tactic. The wolf was now on the prowl. Appearing as if there was a purpose to their little visit other than the planned distraction. And right now they were performing their duties quite well.
The tension thickened as the lowlifes that had populated the bar did their best to not appear interested the unusual pair, while at the same time keeping an eye on the wolf. After all, any one of them could have attracted the attention of some bounty hunter.
Rival criminals, City Watch, wealthy victims...the woman in the hat could have been sent by anyone. Of particular interest in the two was Mr. Rathbone. His face paled as the wolf began sniffing the air.
"Damn..." he muttered under his breath. Rising to his feet, he attempted to move towards the back. Hopefully to slip out, unnoticed. But that was when he spied a familiar mop of red hair.
Dusty caught the look of recognition as he dropped back into the open seat in front of her.
"Miss Dawson..." he whispered, "I may need you're help again..."
Dusty blinked and slowly nodded her head. This wasn't exactly what she had expected. But, it was a lucky break that she still had some trust with nervous shopkeep.
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Post by Sablerose on Jul 19, 2010 14:18:26 GMT -5
Calla spotted Dusty's target actually be bold -or stupid- enough to actually make a run for it. Grey turned his head in that direction, as much out of curiosity as to continue their ruse. His eyes narrowed, and he let a low rumble emanate from his chest.
Suddenly, everyone wanted nothing to do with the man, especially with the wolf's attention turned firmly on him.
Oh, you're enjoying this too much! Calla said, barely restraining her laughter as she looked up to follow her 'dog's' gaze. You, who usually hates even being compared to a common dog!
Ahh, but you see, that's why I'm so beyond common, Grey said. still looking intensely at the man. How many 'dogs' could put forward such a performance? Still the question is what will Dusty want us to do?
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Post by Dusty Dawson on Jul 19, 2010 15:03:19 GMT -5
"OK, pal...what ya need?" Dusty leaned forward, a serious look drawn upon her features. She focused on the former client as his eyes darted over to the wolf.
"Those two...they're after me, I'm sure of it." he said, in a low and shakey voice.
"Really...now why'd that be?" Dusty glanced over at Greystreak and Calla.
"It's because of her, I'm sure of it..." he said, "I can pay you. Double you're fee. Just get me out of here. I was supposed to meet one of her agents. But then...they showed up. Damn them, she must have hired them."
He was really starting to sweat now. Dusty wouldn't have marked him as an attractive looking man before. But now, he was an absolute wreck. Beyond appearances, the detective now knew she was getting to the bottom of things. So there was someone at the top. Still not a lot to go on, but if she could secure Mr. Rathbone's trust, then she could get some real answers.
"OK." Dusty nodded her head, "They ain't gonna make move right out in the open. They're probably gonna wanna wait until they can get ya out in the alley." Rathbone gulped at that thought, "We get outside, we block the door and we get up to the roof. That mutt o' her's won't be gettin' to us easily up top. After that, we'll lose 'em an' find a safe place to shack up. Then, you fill me in on the details."
Rathbone shook his head, "No! I leave the city, tonight. The sooner I'm out of here, the safer I'll be. This is really her city, after all..."
Dusty quirked an eyebrow, "Who're you talkin' about, anyways..."
"No time to explain to a foreigner..." he muttered, then quickly apologized, "N-no offense, Miss Dawson! It's just...it's complicated. Anyways, I have a carriage. I'll get out of the city, tonight and out of the country tomorrow..."
"Whatever, let's just get out of here first..." Dusty said. Getting up, she grabbed him by the arm and headed for the door. But, not before looking back to Calla and subtly waving her forward with a free hand.
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Post by Sablerose on Jul 19, 2010 15:47:19 GMT -5
The Druid caught the wave, but gave no sign of having recognizing it or Dusty. Greystreak gave a couple of good sneezes, loud enough for everyone one in the room to hear. He shook his head and gave a bit of a whine.
"Lost the scent, huh?" she asked. Her voice was surprisingly loud in the relative quiet of the room. She had lowered the pitch it a bit as she spoke, just in case some might know it, as unlikely as it was. Chances were if they knew her voice, they would have recognized Greystreak. Still, there was no need to take chances.
"Damned allergies," she said. "All right, let's try again outside." She stood up and lowered hat. "Sorry to disturb you folks. Might want to clean the place up a bit. Plays havoc on someone with allergies." She began walking and patted her leg casually. "Come on, boy. Gonna have to get your nose looked at."
She held the door open for Grey to exit out first and didn't bother with turning around. She could almost feel the palpable relief from the other patrons.
They weren't the only ones who felt relief. Her heart was hammering in her chest as she closed the door. She made her way to the back of the place, breathing heavily as she did. She stayed out of sight, just in case Dusty and her 'client' came around the corner. However, Grey would still be in range to hear the conversation.
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Post by Dusty Dawson on Jul 19, 2010 16:08:33 GMT -5
Dusty had made it to the door and took her "client" outside. The two were out of ear-shot as Calla made her exit and put the rest of the tavern at ease. If it was dark in the streets, it was even darker in the alleys. Light was scarce enough in Night's Doorstep. But, this worked for Dusty.
Rathbone had been spooked. Not her original goal. She just wanted his eyes drawn away from her as she spied on whatever it was he was doing. But, now that he was wound up in a paranoid state, with made-up pursuer, she could gain some valuable intel on the shadier dealings of Venus. And more importantly, who Mr. Rathbone was really working for.
"A-are they following us?" he asked. Dusty was busy moving crates in front of the door. Effectively blocking it off. Sure, the owner of the bar was going to be very confused once he attempted to leave through that particular passage.
"Dunno...but, they ain't comin' this way." Dusty assured him, "Now c'mon. We lose 'em on the roofs and get ya back to you're place. Stick with the plan an' I'll get ya out, no problem."
Calla, she wagered, would be near by. But, conveniently for them, she wouldn't be rushing out to nab the shopkeep/dealer. The red-head looked for a scalable surface. Something they could use to get up top. Soon, a ladder a popped into view.
"Up there, get on!" she urged Mr. Rathbone. He started up, but was not a very fast man. "Move it! Ya want that angry mutt chewin' on your ass!"
After providing the necessary motivation, Dusty was up the ladder, behind him and soon they had a nice rooftop view of Night's Doorstep.
--
Meanwhile, in the tavern, a man had entered. He took one look around and saw that one particular individual was not among the patrons. An annoyed look crossed his bland features.
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Post by Sablerose on Jul 19, 2010 19:21:33 GMT -5
Greystreak relayed the conversation between Dusty and the man. Whoever this female was, he was deathly afraid of her and what she could do to him. Unfortunately, this was out of Calla's depth now. She knew next to nothing about the city, much less the criminal element.
Now that the pair were going to take the rooftops, though, they would soon get out of Greystreak's range of hearing. At least, verbally. Still, she was reluctant to tip Grey's hand...or paw, as it were. His telepathic skills were excellent, but he still had limits, especially when it came to focusing on doing it at a distance while moving.
I should at least be able to follow their scent and voice, though, so long as they don't get too far ahead of us, he said. So we best move quickly.
With a nod, she followed him into the streets.
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Post by Dusty Dawson on Jul 19, 2010 19:49:30 GMT -5
"Alright...hope you're more athletic than ya've been lettin' on." Dusty said. Rathbone looked barely up to the task, but did nod an affirmative. Dusty sighed and shook her head. They moved carefully along the roof, jumping over to the next building.
After a few more leaps, though, they stopped. Mr. Rathbone was out of breath and had collapsed to a seated position, while Dusty stood with her hands on her hips.
"I-I'm...sorry.....just not used to this." panted the businessman.
"Yeah, well, good for you. Ya'd think a guy with a price on his head'd have a little more git-up-an'-go." Dusty rolled her eyes. She was a little less annoyed than she had let on. At least the pace they were traveling at would allow Calla and Greystreak to keep up from the streets below. So far, it had been a bee-line direction towards Rosae Crucis.
--
Below, at street-level, a rather unassuming looking fellow had exited the tavern. He spied the two that had spooked his appointment as they traveled down the alley. So...he followed.
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Post by Sablerose on Jul 20, 2010 6:29:07 GMT -5
Though Dusty and the gentleman were taking more or less direct routes across the roofs, Calla and Grey were forced to take more roundabout methods on the ground. Thankfully, the pair's pace was slow enough that Grey managed to keep their scent, but even then it was by fairly slim margins.
Now, with the break above, the two below also caught their breaths. However, that did not mean that they weren't aware of their surroundings.
I think we're being followed, Calla, Grey stated bluntly. Whoever he is, though, is good. He's staying just at the very edge of what I can smell, unless the wind shifts, as it has a few times. But the fact that I'm picking him up is still worrisome.
Think he might have been sent by whoever this woman that he's so worried about?
It'd be a good guess, though he seems willing to follow. He might not know where Dusty is, but he might know that we were with her. Or, possibly, he doesn't know why we're following Dusty and the gentleman, and wants to know more before he acts.
Ideas?
None that don't involve potentially exposing your identity as a Druid to this man. If we could get to the rooftops, though, if this man follows, we'll know that he's definitely on our trail for the moment.
But if Dusty's client sees us, he's going to panic. No telling what he's going to do then. She thought about it a moment. There's an alternative, though: we split up. I keep a bird's eye view on Dusty, and you follow me through our link. Our tail might make some assumptions about my disappearing from your side, but by then, it'll be too late to do much about it. And even if approaches you, he might be in for a rude shock or two.
Agreed. Just be careful. For the moment, though, let's give him a bit of a false trail to follow.
Greystreak took off, though not in the direction that their rooftop prey had been heading. This time, they ran hard, trying to put as much distance between themselves and their own pursuer. As soon as they found an dark alley, they darted toward it.
Moments later, a solitary furred figure leaped over a fence at the end of alley, angling in one direction.
An owl soared off into the night, flying silently in another, climbing above the rooftops.
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Post by Dusty Dawson on Jul 20, 2010 15:50:07 GMT -5
"Alright, 'nough relaxin'." Dusty helped the man back to his feet and started back in the direction she had been heading. It was time to move, so they could evade their "pursers".
Although she couldn't quite tell what Calla and Greystreak were up to, she had enough confidence in their skill to know they would not be far behind. Calla seemed, to her, like a person who was good at adapting to situations. She would have excelled in the service.
--
The man took the bait and switch. After all, he was pursuing the pair in order to locate his appointment, as Greystreak and Calla surmised. Now, he was on the tail of the wolf. He had caught sight of the animal as it led him in the opposite direction.
Were he to know what was going on, he would have been very annoyed. And perhaps even a little worried that his employer would be more annoyed.
--
Back with Dusty and Mr. Rathbone, the two managed to edge their way towards edge of Night's Doorstep. Rathbone was in rough shape. He had slowed to another step, for another breather.
"We're almost outta here." Dusty assessed, "How far away is your place?"
Rathbone moped his brow with a handkerchief, before pointing off in the direction of his residence, "Just a little farther..." he heaved, "We're almost there..."
(OOC: You want to stick in this thread, or move things to Rosae Crusis)
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Post by Sablerose on Jul 20, 2010 18:23:45 GMT -5
Druid shapechanging had its advantages, not the least of which is the army of new abilities and enhanced senses that were available through the various animals a Druid could turn into. The night vision and hearing of an owl was what Calla made use of currently, as well as the capacity for flight.
However, it did have its problems as well. First, communication with anyone that could not speak with animals was, to put it mildly, difficult. Even for still retaining her intelligence, she could only hoot as an owl, no matter what her human knowledge. She was also limited by whatever forms of locomotion or need to exist in a specific medium, such as a fish in water.
Nevertheless, she was easily capable of watching and listening to Dusty and her client. However, Dusty would have no way to know that her temporary partner was now circling overhead on silent wings, while the wolf she did know was leading someone on a chase as an distraction.
Well, our tail is now firmly attached to me it would seem, Grey said. Thankfully for Druids, their Familiars could always speak to them telepathically regardless of their forms, so long as they were conscious. I'll lead him around a bit. He'll either tire out or quit. How goes it for you?
I can see them moving on, though I'm not sure where they're heading. Wherever it is, her client is obvious desperate to get there. He's exhausted but wants to push on. I'll keep you informed.
((I'll leave it to you. I'm good either way.))
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Post by Dusty Dawson on Jul 20, 2010 19:06:56 GMT -5
(OOC: Eh, I'm lazy...we'll just kick it here XP)
Off on the move they went. Dusty yanking along the businessman whenever he began to slow her down. Which was happening with increasing frequency. It was a bit of a rough act, she was pulling, but it was necessary. Dusty needed to sell the situation. Whenever they stopped it had to seem like their pursuers were right behind them. And every minute they didn't pop up was another chance that her cover would be blown.
Being cruel was not in Dusty's nature. But, in the larger picture, she knew she could get a little rough when the situation called for it. And right now, she could sell the tale of betrayal.
It worked even better that it came from Rathbone's own paranoid mind to begin with. Now in Rosae Crucis, they paused on top of a shop. The scenery had vastly improved, over the shady alleys of Night's Doorstep. Dusty took a seat, this time and wiped her own brow with a bandanna.
"Think we lost 'em..." she said, looking back at the trail they had blazed.
"Good...I can rest..."
"Ah, now hold on, chief." she interrupted, "That only means they're gonna move to block your escape. We ain't stayin' still for long."
Mr. Rathbone nodded, glumly.
"What's got your boss so bent outta shape, anyways. Takin' a little off the top?" Dusty guessed. It didn't take much imagination to figure that angle out. Mr. Rathbone was not a well to do man, but he desperately wanted to be. Hence his foray into smuggling. With expensive tastes, he probably wound up cooking the already cooked books back at the shop. But, whether or not this actually got back to whoever his boss was? Well, that was up in the air.
The pale man nodded in confirmation. Dusty shook her head, with a quiet chuckle.
"So what's 'er name, anways?"
"Later, Miss Dawson....we have to move..." this time he got up on his own. Whoever his boss was, she had the fellow rather spooked. Dusty got up as they continued their rooftop trek.
--
The bland man followed Greystreak. Eventually, however, he grew weary of the pursuit. It was leading him nowhere. He stopped and frowned. "Clever mutt." he muttered, "To hell with it."
With that, he began to walk. Away from the wolf and away from the chase.
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Post by Sablerose on Jul 20, 2010 20:25:28 GMT -5
I think he's ditched me, Greystreak said. It took him a couple of minutes to realize that his shadow had left him. He was good, the Familiar had to grant him. He knew to stay just downwind of him as much as possible, stayed to the shadows just as as he and Calla had done before.
All right, I'll wait for you to get close on the ground, she replied. Dusty has him moving pretty constantly, with short breaks. We're in a different area of the city now. Nicer looking, and with a heck of a lot of magic stores around.
Keep the link open. I'll home in on you. Keep an eye out for my former pursuer. He might try to pick up the trail again.
Right. I'll see you shortly.
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Post by Dusty Dawson on Jul 20, 2010 20:55:44 GMT -5
It was not far. Mr. Rathbone was actually starting to look relieved. With only a few more blocks to go, Dusty had directed him to scale down a ladder and return to street level. She soon followed suit and the two did their best to look casual as the crossed the street. They were almost home free.
"Ah...there it is. I'll get my carriage ready, you make sure that the coast is clear..." Rathbone instructed.
And as was the model of any good business, the customer was always right. Dusty looked around the block. Her boots clicked along the cobble-stoned roads. At this hour, Rosae Crucis was pretty much dead. Not a soul was to be found. She was hoping to catch sight of Calla or Greystreak before Rathbone did. At least she would be able to wave them out of view.
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