Collecting the Toll (Open)

[Daring Jo Lockwood]

Oh ho ho ho ho!

That laugh could carry a long way way...and on the roads of Terre de Conte, it often did. The Daring Lady stood tall above the fallen guards, who were tied up in a series of uncomfortable looking positions. Twirling her bejeweled cane, Jo Lockwood made her way to the carriage and flung the door open.

Only to frown at it's passengers.

"Hmph! You'd think I'd run into more of the good princess' suitors..." she complained, "But alas, just more of you old guys...bah, just hand over anything valuable and get on your way..."

The haughty voice was filled with disappointment and boredom. She was hoping for something more pleasing to her red eyes. The bag she had thrust into the carriage grew heavier, as expensive goods were dropped in, accompanied by grumblings and at least one or two "Harumph!"s.

"OK, OK...that should do...move along..." flinging the bag over her shoulder and flipping her hair, dismissively, Daring Jo strolled away at a very casual pace. Perhaps her next score would prove more prosperous...

[Toph Bei Fong]

Easiest. Job. Ever.

Anactoria had continued to elude The Blind Bandit, and leads had run dry. Though she was living rent free in the castle now, Toph still need coin. So she still chased bounties.

And this bounty was going to be the easiest ever.

She smiled to herself as the carriage she rode in made it way along the road. It was an ornate number, screaming opplulance from its jewel laden seems to its gold hubcaps. She couldn't see in its wooden confines, and for once she considered this a blessing. She did not have to see the ridiculous outfit she had on. It was all veils and silks and assorted translucent fabrics and strappy shoes (with their soles cut out). She looked like a harem girl, which was the whole point. She was the bait. At least she had convinced them to make the outfit green. At least he hopped it was green. Its not like she could verify it. Her bo staff had been bent into a ridiculously ornate bracelet that trialed up her arms to her shoulder.

This Highwayman --woman-- whatever -- would make short work the guards escorting the carriage. The 'rich man' in the carriage with her was an actual a palace guard, the chest of valuables between them was actually her payment upon successful completion of the mission. The robber-woman's past comments indicated that she favored her own gender, and though Toph was really starting to wonder how anyone in Terra de Conte reproduced with all the lesbians running around, in this case, she could use the unnatural urge to her advantage.

Provided, of course this highway-perosn like leggy athletic brunettes.

[Daring Jo Lockwood]

This looked promising. A highly decorated carriage, accompanied by a manageable amount of guards. It probably could be taken, without her usual array of traps. But, that would be extremely careless. And Jo didn't have the track record she had, by being careless. Still, it was an interesting challenge.

Jo took a quick look around at the section of road she was on, taking into account what the landscape looked like. She still had time to make some arrangements. With a few left-over materials from her last heist, Daring Jo set down some traps.

This time, however, they wouldn't be on the road. In the nearby woods, she could make better use of them. Even if the odds were low that the guards would fall for them, if she timed everything right, those odds should rise a bit.

In her expensive garb, Jo made a few tears and dirtied herself up a bit. Then, by the road, she hid her cane under some fallen leaves. Everything was set, now she awaited the carriage. As it closed the distance, she ran out from the tree line, a look of distress on her dirty face.

"Help! Help!" she called out in the direction of the guards. "Bandits! They're in the woods! They dragged me and my sister from our carriage!"

The panic and urgency was evident as she pointed desperately in the general direction of the "bandits".

"Th-they may have caught her, again! We tried t-to escape!" By this time the carriage had halted and the guards were by Jo's side as she sunk to her knees. Right by her hidden cane. A few of the more valorous guards dashed off into the woods. One stuck by to make sure the "victim" was alright.

In one swift motion, she grabbed her cane and swung for the remaining guard's legs. Taking him clean off his feet, she rose back up and gave a parting shot to the head. After all, she didn't want him getting up anytime soon. She continued to move very quickly, as she climbed the side of the carriage and took a seat next to the driver.

"Sorry, my good man...but this is where you get off." with a rough kick, the driver landed on the road. Taking up the reins, Jo got the horses into a full gallop. She may have lost a hat in the events, but it seemed to be well worth the exchange. She snapped the reins again, making sure that there would be no slowing down. There was some distance she had to create, after all.

(OOC: Whew, a bit long-winded...hope ya don't mind XP)

[Toph Bei Fong]

Toph felt a hand on her bare knee.

"I'd take that back if I were you, while you still have use of all your fingers," she said coldly.

The guard-posing-as-a-man-of-means-instead slid closer to the Blind Bandit. "Now, we really ought to make this look real I mean you are supposed to be my slave girl and all."

The carriage slowed to a halt. Toph, who had been working on increasing her auditory sense when her earthsight wasn't available, heard some of the conversation outside. Ah, the old play men's valor against them trick. Toph had used it a few times herself, and she got double points on account of being blind. Of course there was no guarantee it was the person they were looking for, but how many female highwaymen could there be?

Her 'partner' had taken her silence as permission, and now the hand was working its way up her barely clad thigh. About this time Toph heard some one scrabling up the side of the carriage, toward the driver. A muffled sentence, then the sound of body hitting the dirt.

"You might want to sit back," Toph said.

She couldn't see his puzzled expression, but she could imagine it pretty well when the reins snapped and the horse broke into a full gallop. She was jostled only a little bit, her partner fell out of his seat.

"Warned you," she said, smirking. She then lamed her foot down on his midsection, and smiled in earnest when she heard the wind rush out of him. "I'm not here for your entertainment, Rodrick." she said in low whisper that wouldn't he heard outside in all the nosie of the escape. "I need you too look outside and tell me in what general direction we're headed. Sooner or later she's going to stop this thing to rob us blind. You may then place your hands on me so I can play my part. Not before. Understand? And don't bother nodding, I'm blind remember?"

"Yes!" Rodrick manged to sigh, trying to regain his breath and his footing. He poked his head out the window to get the lay of the land and to bark out: "Driver slow down! What is the meaning of this? You left our guards behind!"

Toph nodded in approval. "Good work," she whispered. "We'll have this one in the bag by dinner. And if you don't piss me off too much between now and then... well, I could certainly do a lot worse than you."

Encouraged by this, Rodrick continued to bellow out the window "Hey now! I order you to stop this carriage at once and wait for the guard!" His pompous rich-mans voice was quite convincing, all told.

[Daring Jo Lockwood]

The alleged owner of the carriage was barking at her. That was just perfect, because Jo just loved when the men she robbed started issuing demands. But, it seemed this one was still under the impression that the original driver was the responsible party.

"No!" she replied, "Your guards are dreadfully busy, at the moment...and a jaunty little ride, may do you well! Now, if you would please remain within the confines of the carriage, as I cannot guarantee you're safety, if you keep poking your head!"

The horses continued to bolt, bringing the three along the road. Quite roughly. The finely decorated carriage was certainly not designed to travel this face. After a particularly nasty bump in the road, it went airborne for a few moments.

"You should build you're carriages better!" she hollered back. She grinned, casting a glance over her shoulder.

[Toph Bei Fong]

Rodrick actually had the good sense to look aghast by the turn of events before he ducked his head back in the carriage. "Were still on the road," he said in a short quite whisper to Toph. "Looks like we're more or less heading southward away from Venus like we were before. If her hideout is in this direction it'll make the follow-up search much more difficult."

Toph smiled. "What, afraid of a few trees? Don't worry about finding the hideout, that's my job," She brushed the at what little clothes she was wearing. "Time to close the trap."

But Rodrick, perhaps a little over-eager at the reward Toph had hinted at, once again thrust his head out the window. "Hooligan!" he braked at the highwayman. "You will stop this carriage this --"

The carriage hit a rock and wet airborne. Off balance from hanging out the widow, and weightless in those two seconds of free fall, Rodrick pressed too hard on the door, and went tumbling out somersaulting in the air to land on his back in the dirt, leaving Toph and the chest of valuables behind in the cart, which left him far behind in short order.

She didn't need working eyes to be able to peace together what had happened from the sounds and the sudden absence of Rodrick's voice.

"Men," she sighed. Fine, she'd improvise. Raising her voice bit higher that normal, she cried out. "Oh no! Master Rodrick!"

Loud, panicked, and decidedly subservient female voice. That should the other woman's attention.

[Daring Jo Lockwood]

'What a lousy, annoying...' Jo had time think during Rodrick's final piece of acting before he was promptly flung from the carriage during the brief airtime they experienced. She looked over her shoulder again, just in time to see him bounce off the ground.

"Oh, ho ho ho! Should have been more careful!" she laughed, at the misfortune of the "wealthy man". Then another voice reached her ears. This one far more pleasing in it's tone. If the body matched the voice, then she was pretty sure she had just hit a major jackpot.

'And it's about time!' she thought to herself. The raucous journey continued as she jerked the carriage around a corner. A shift in direction needed to be taken and she headed westward. The last thing she wanted was to finish off a heist too close. That and polishing this job off where some of the more dangerous creatures lurk, would also cause a nice little bit of trouble for anyone on her tail.

"Oh, don't worry about him," she (loudly) assured the female passenger, "he just won't be joining us! I'll make sure nothing happens, my dear! You're in the kind and caring hands of Daring Jo Lockwood!"

[Toph Bei Fong]

A sharp turn to the right. That would mean they were west-bound now. Back toward the mountains. Toph's lips tightened into a thin line. She hopped this was misdirection; she was not keen on going back the place where she nearly died, and with no Iphie to save her skin.

Setting thoughts of Iphie and the confusion they brought aside as she bounced around in the rocking carriage, Toph heard the so called 'Daring Jo' call out to her.

Decision time, she thought. Commit to the doe eyed slave girl, bereaved and needy over the loss of her master role, or up the ante and go for the repressed slave girl, eager to jump at her one chance of being free... even if that mean jumping on her savior.

Toph felt that damn warmth fill her face. The things she'd do to complete a mission. Stupid professional discipline, she cursed silently.

"But, but..." Toph replied loudly, as though an the brink of tears. "Where are you taking me? How do I know you wont hurt me?"

When are you gonna stop this thing and/or take poor lili ol' me to you hideout. I'm not wearing this come-and-get-it get up for my benefit, you know. I cant even see it!

[Daring Jo Lockwood]

The horses galloped and Jo kept a tight grip on the reins. The seat and the ride were far from comfortable and she was dying for a look at her "passenger", but Jo had a plan she needed to stick to. After all, it was hard to enjoy the the wealth and the woman in the back when you were pasted on the side of the road.

"Surely you've heard of Daring Jo?" she tossed the question back to the "worried" woman behind her, "Then, I must not be doing my job well....Ah, what can you do? Well, my dear girl, I have always treated the fine women I come across with nothing but the highest regards and most delicate care. I am, after all, a lover of all fine things...and you, sound like the finest thing I've found all day!"

She grinned as the Sanguine mountains came into view. It shouldn't be long now...

[Toph Bei Fong]

Actually, the name of the highwayman was never in any the reports Toph had read to her when she decided to take the job. She sounded awfully confident about herself, and Toph rolled her sightless eyes. No wonder she doesn't care for men, Toph thought. She's got the ego of one already!

Toph thought hard about the slightly awkward feeling she had with Iphie in the cave not that long ago, and when the self-conscious feeling of embarrassment filled her up, she called back. "I... have been called many things, but fine had never been one of them." It was technically true: Toph was usually called uncouth or rash or unrefined or arrogant.... but not 'fine'. The truth of her words only made it easier to add a tinge of embarrassment to it as she spoke. Hopefully that would either tease Jo, or lower her expectations. Either way would work to her advantage once she finally laid eyes on The Blind Bandit.

Toph smiled to her self. Okay, maybe I'm a little sure of myself too.

[Daring Jo Lockwood]

"Ho ho ho...I wouldn't sell yourself short, my dear!" Jo hollered back, "Such a modest one, you are...well, I'll be able to judge for myself, soon enough. Oh! Not to say that I'm a particularly harsh critic. Far from it! Now then! I'll just need a good spot to stash this carriage then, we can have a look at you and see where things go from there, yes?"

The path was taking to them to the mountains in a hurry. And once she felt an adequate amount of distance was crossed, she slowed down a bit...at least to a speed that was better suited for narrow passageways. Once again, her desire not to be paste had led to this decision.

"So tell me, my dear, do you have a name? I can call you 'Dear', 'Sweetheart' or 'Gorgeous' all day long, but a proper name would be nice." she inquired, "After all, I've gone through all this trouble to secure us some pleasant alone time, permit to get to know the charming young lady who's day I have interrupted."

[Toph Bei Fong]

The carriage was slowing... but not enough for Toph's liking. She would have to use Earth Wave to get back to Venus in a reasonable length of time, and that was hard thing to hide. Then again, misdirection on Jo's part was still a possibility...

Toph was lost in her own thoughts, so when Jo asked for her name she nearly ruined the whole operation. "T --" she began before she caught herself. When the plan had been outlined, Toph had directed everyone to call her by her mother's name, Poppy. Rookie mistake, Bei Fong!

"Tabitha!" she said hurriedly having already commuted to her the "t" sound. "Everyone just calls me 'Tabby' though, she added shyly. No one calls me sweetheart or dear or gorgeous," she went on for good measure.

[Daring Jo Lockwood]

"Tabby? My what a lovely name." she said, "And I'll be sure to call you everything else, that applies. Regardless of how often you've been called it."

Jo was all smiles as she continued to move the horses along. It had gone from a hectic escape to a pleasant ride towards the mountain. Yes, today was looking to be one of the better days for robbery.

"Tell me a little about yourself, Tabby...how does such a humble young lady, as yourself, wind up in the company of such a wealthy fellow as the gentleman who left us prematurely." She might as well keep up with the small talk. They still had just a little bit further to go, before Jo felt comfortable enough to come to a complete halt.

[Toph Bei Fong]

Tricky, tricky... Toph thought. A lot of the plan was ridding on Jo being taken in by a combination of her physical appearance and fabricated backstory. It would not do to give too much of the latter away before she as was able to properly employ the former.

"I was..." she hesitated, and that much was real in any event. "T-That is, I am..." She nibbled her lower lip. This whole thig was getting to be a bit convoluted for her taste. Thing were so much easier when you threw rocks at people until they stopped moving, then hauled their unconscious body back for the bounty. All this subterfuge was starting to make her stomach turn.

"He is...was... my -ah- employer, Lady Lockwood " Toph said finally. "You might say that I is...was... his personal assistant?"

[Daring Jo Lockwood]

"Aaahhh...." Jo nodded her head, "I see, I see...well, I would say that I hope you were treated fairly. But, seeing as how the fine fellow already took a bit of a spill, I'd say that I've addressed that concern. But please...just call me Jo. No need to be so formal!"

The road carried them along, as signs started to pop warning of the dangers of continuing down this path. Which caused a smirk to light up her face. After all, she was counting on just such a danger to help her out.

"And what location holds the distinct pleasure of being your point of origin?" she asked, still very curious about her passenger.