An Unfortunate Start (Table/Flame)

[theshorttableleg]

It hasn't been a day and his map, his one and only way of figuring out where he is, and he lost it to the wind. This is Liam Blackthorne, a shy guy who had set off to become a pirate on childish hopes and dreams. His destination was to head to West Winchester to properly start his adventures as captain or as part of a crew. His sail boat was average but was not good for pirate activity, that was an issue for a later time.

He had a rough idea of where to go, and it soon brought him in sight of the Winchester Island. "Ah, At last! West Winchester!" Unfortunately, that was the wrong side of the isle. He had arrived at East Winchester. Once at the port and tied down, he had asked for where the nearest pub was.

Once he began walking, making sure his trench coat was on properly, he had noticed the marine presence. It was odd, but he paid no mind. He enters and, like a complete idiot, he kicked the doors open and yelled: "Alright! Who Want's to join my cre-" He stopped once he realized the additional Marine presence in the building, giving him a nasty look. Liam was frozen in shock as one called out. "Join what, boy?" Liam looked over, scared to high heaven. "N-Nothing! I have to go!" One nearest stood up. "You ain't goin nowhere. You have a lot of guts commin in here, scum." This only made Liam more so frozen in fear as they approached. As a reaction, he backed away slowly out of the door to get ready to run.

But before he starts running, he bumps into another marine who grabs his left arm. Out of a flight or fight reaction he used his Electro abilities to electrocute the Marine. After that, he started to run off as fast as he could! There were a few marines to gave chase. "AAAAHHHHHH! IM SORRY!" He yelled as he ran. He was far to fearful to fight on his own as is.

[Flame]

Tap ... Tap ... Tap

Tap .. Tap .. Tap

TAP TAP TAP

"Will you stop that?" Said the man across from her. She glanced down looking at her middle three fingers as they drummed against the table. Looking back at the man she leaned forward placing her elbow on the table and resting her head in her hand. With the hand that had just been rapping against the table she lazily flopped it palm up at her associate. "Would you prefer I be doing what I want to be doing?" She asked a question with an obvious answer. The man leaned back in his chair slouching slightly as if less sure of himself. "Come now you know very well why we have to-"

A loud slam rang through the outdoor seating area as Hien's fist slammed into the table, a thin line cracking down the center of it just barely managed to not leave them with a large bill to pay. A nearby waiter glanced over before turning and looking another way. "Come now, the commander said." "I don't give a rat's ass about what the commander said. We're just sitting here doing nothing!" The man across from her sighed looking down awfully resigned to his fate. Hien shook her head in disgust her braided hair flinging itself casually from side to side.

She leaned back glancing up at the boring sky of Winchester Island. They could be doing so much more here, the revolution, they could take this island with ease. Wipe the marines, the current world government away. Hien frowned, the others just didn't see it. Shaking her head she placed both hands on the table, kicked back her chair and stood up from her seat. "Pick up the bill." She said with a steeled voice. "Oi! Where are you going?" The man's eyes widened as she started to turn and walk off. "Don't worry just taking a look around making sure nothing'll interfere." She said flippantly flaunting a careless hand at him.

"That's definitely not what she means to do ..." The man muttered to himself as he was left alone at the table. Hien was out, she stepped into the peaceful streets of East Winchester glancing to the left and to the right. Then momentarily backwards to see if her companion was following her. Seems not ... Good! Now where to go ... For all her talk she really wasn't sure what she wanted to do. She knew vaguely what it was but, how to get it done. She tilted her head sideways. Then shrugging she decided that she'd know what to do when she saw it. Then turning to the right she headed off on her way.

As she walked cracking her knuckles she looked around at those citizens of East Winchester living peacefully, she frowned. They didn't know it but what she did was for them, for everyone.

[theshorttableleg]

There was no escape! They were as adamant as they should. Without a second thought, he looked behind himself to look at the group of marines. They were hot on his tail and there were now five chasing him. "AAAH-" Now, due to his lack of attention to his running, he tripped on his own feet and tumbled slid, and skid across the ground not too far from an outdoor seating area.

Liam was then tackled by the five Marines. They were yelling and cheering as though they caught some game animal. "Ha ha! Got the pirate! Run while he could, but he can't out run us!" One called out with joy. "He was a coward! I doubt he's even in a real one with a bounty." Another one said. "They're all the same! Real or not. Let's lock em up!" A third said. "H-How bout you just let me go? I-I learned my lesson!" Liam exclaimed. "SHUT IT!" They all said as they started to drag him off. "Hey! I don't want to hurt you! But... I guess I have no choice!" He used electro to shock the Marines holding him.

They let go and Liam got away from them to be at a good distance away to fight. They drew their weapons as one said. "Alright you runt! Come with us or prepare to get locked up as a bruised mess!" Liam shook his head to help shake the fear off. "N-No! T-Try me! I'm a pirate and pirates don't go out with out a fight!" He was shaking. They laughed. "HAHA! That's funny kid! HAHA!" While they were laughing, Liam got a bit angered and ran up to one. "SHOCK-PALM!" He yelled as he moved to slap a marine with a zap. They flew back a small bit and fell over, they had a nice dark spit on their face. They wont get up for a while... or not? Hard to tell when they're like that. "Oh god! He took out Dave!" Liam looked at his hand. "O-Oh gosh! I-I didn't mean to do that!" Liam pleaded.

"That's it, kid! You're through!" One said as they engaged Liam in combat as the others ran to help their fellow marine. 

[Flame]

Hien's feet dragged as they trudged their way through this no good marine town. Her eyes slid from side to side taking in the sights and the sounds of it. About her the tramp of normal workmen and woman was painful to listen to. She scratched the back of her head glancing about the town. "Man this town is terrible ..." She muttered to herself glancing about. The sight of downtrodden people was never pleasant for her.

Turning a corner she sidled her way down a narrow alleyway. She needed to head farther to the east to get a good vantage point over the long wall which sectioned off East Winchester from the rest of Winchester island. Sighing she took a moment to stop in the alleyway and lay herself against the side of the wall. Her eyes turned upwards, "Just three more days ..." she whispered to herself a reminder. Taking in a deep breath she closed her eyes, fists formed from both of her hands. As she exhaled both of her fists crashed into each other. She gritted her teeth and then relaxed once more. Tension dissipated from her form and she turned back to the task at hand.

Heading down the alley she stopped momentarily to hear the sound of a ruckus coming from up ahead. Blinking twice she listened in though didn't the words were still a jumble at the distance she was away. Picking up the pace she jogged to the end of alleyway slowing down slightly as she peaked her head out to look up and down this next street she had arrived at. Far to her right was visible the gray stone wall of separation but she could tell now the voices were coming from the left.

Casually she stepped out into the street, sticking her hands into her pockets she ground her teeth as if she had a piece of gristle between them. Glancing right, then left, then right again she started to step right. Then paused, her foot pressed itself firmly into the ground as she turned left and headed off.

She soon found the source of the sound, a group of marines engaged with an odd looking boy with some fuzzy looking hands. He seemed terrified to say the least rambling on like some fool. Hien was fairly certain she even saw tears appearing in the corners of his eyes. Sighing she placed a hand from her pocket upon her side. Sizing up the group she spoke. "So what's going on here?"

[theshorttableleg]

Liam was indeed crying a small bit as the marines were about to attack. But when a third party came in asking their question the one attacking first with a sword stopped to look as well as answer. "We're arresting this little runt for killing a marine solider!" They said. One of the others by the said solider stood strait and spoke up. "Indeed he did, Miss. An electrical shock to the head and he was no more. We've got a murderer here." Another added their voice. "They even barged into a bar talking about hiring a pirate crew!."

Liam looked over to the third party. "I-I didn't mean it! But if I had to I'll do it again!" He threatened the pirates. "Heck! Once I come out of this I'll be sure to find ways to become more powerful!" He claimed. The marines laughed. "Sure you will kid! But that's for another time. Now get over here so I can beat you up ya freak!" The marine that was previously attacking now resumed to do so. Liam didn't really appreciate that 'freak' bit that was said, so no he wanted to beat the guy to a pulp!

Liam drew his own sword to block the marine's attack. "I-I'm not a freak!" Liam said before slashing at the marine, using the serrated edge to disarm them. The marine fell onto their butt. "Hey! That's enough of that!" The others said as they drew their weapons. "See what we mean lady? Back off and continue your day! This is gonna get messy." One marine said with a chuckle of confidence. Liam was ready for a fight, but not quite against four marines in his current status or mindset. "This adventure sure started off with a bang." He muttered to himself, knees still a bit shaky.

[Flame]

The red-headed revolutionary looked on at the scene with an amused look. Taking her other arm she casually brushed aside some hair that was blowing across her eyes. The situation was interesting that was certain, a quick glance at the fallen marine limp against the wall was definitely not helping the young boy's cause. "Killed him huh?" She could definitely make out a black spot with purpleing going on upon the marine's face.

Hien frowned, revolutionary or marine, killing was definitely a problem. That she was fairly certain both sides could agree on, at the very least as it had to do with aimless killing as this seems to have been. Well assuming it was killing, she took another look at the marine. He made no movements. Whether he was unconscious or dead she needed to be closer to actually check that. But from what she heard she was fairly certain the guy was alive.

The youngster threatened them and Hien echoed his words."If you had to you'd do it again huh?" She rubbed her chin glancing between the youth and the squad of marines surrounding him. Vaguely interested in the outcome as she was Hien took a step back. It was what, four against one? Unlikely odds, but perhaps he could prove otherwise.

"Messy huh?" Hien smiled, messy wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Cracking her knuckles together she made no move that might indicate she was leaving the scene. "Sounds interesting, you may proceed." She lazily gestured with her hand for them to continue on. Rolling her head along her neck she got some comforting cracking sound of it as she waited for them to continue on. As of yet she saw no real reason to interfere in what was going on.

[theshorttableleg]

The marines shrugged as two charged for Liam as he put away his sword and dodged to the left as they came. Liam punched the closest one in the back of the head and used the sheathed sword to reach the other to take them out in a spinning motion. The third marine had a gun on hand and shot at Liam. It nicked his arm badly. Liam winced and held his arm in pain. He looked to the gun wielding marine.

"Hah! Now we've got you! Right Stan?" The marine looked for the forth marine only to see that they are retreating. "HEY! YOU COWARD!" He looks back to Liam who had decided to take a risk to to disarm the marine by clawing at their hand. It left a hefty scratch and a marine screaming in pain. "I-I'm sorry! But I had no choice." He apologized. Liam looked to Hien. "Y-You're still here? Are you some sort of marine too? Look I don't want to fight anymore! I just want out of here." He explained.

Liam was clearly shaken as he held his arm and part of his torn up coat. "P-Plus I'm not a pirate! I don't even have a crew let alone a part of one!" He spoke in an attempt to get out of a mess he started.

[Flame]

Hien scratched her head watching as the youth spun about punching and kicking his way around the quartet of marines. It was strange for her to stand off at the sidelines of a fight. Combat was her zone, even among her revolutionary comrades she was more aggressive and fighting prone than most. But here she felt odd to cut in.

Not least of all because this was supposedly a pirate, while both groups disliked the marines, that didn't mean the revolutionaries didn't also dislike pirates. Pirates were a scourge on society all the same for them. At least for the majority of them that was true.

But really she didn't want to cut in because she wasn't sure about this youngster. Her eyebrow rose as the group of marines was sent running for the hills. "Marine?!" She guffawed incredulous at the question. Taking a moment to catch her breath. "Do I look like a marine to you?" Her arm waved at herself, she was clearly not in marine garb instead wearing casual clothes beneath a dark gray cloak. Not waiting for the response to her rhetorical question she continued.

"Not a pirate huh?" She asked the the kid with claws. "But you were looking to recruit people to join one?" She made reference to the statement made earlier by the marines. "A wannabee pirate? To anyone but a pirate that distinction is probably worthless. But never mind that ..." She cut herself away from that train of thought as something else came to her head.

"If you're looking for recruits ... why are you in East Winchester ..." Her voice trailed off, and her neck tilted down slightly with a shake. Obviously this kid either knew nothing of Winchester Island, or worse he didn't know which way west was. Pulling her hand across her face slowly she slid it over the hood of her cloak and slid it behind her neck to rub it. Concern and vague amusement mixed within her as she pieced together the situation.

[theshorttableleg]

East Winchester? Then that means... Liam's face slowly shifted from scared to plain and relaxed as to process this news, then to shock and fear. "WHAT? THIS IS EAST? I'M DOOMED!" He exlaimed "I thought trying to become a pirate was going to be easy! But no, I had to lose the map and almost get lost and find my way into a mess I never prepared prepared for."

Liam looked to Hien. "W-Well, if your not a marine then can you help me out?" He requested. "I don't want to get locked up before I do anything I wanted to do! Please, I'll do anything!" Liam begged. He's in a panic again, not thinking things through. This is a currently a common theme with Liam, unwilling to fight or too scared to fight until he has no choice or when it's the only choice. But at the moment he's just scared and wants out of the mess he made.

Liam had put so much childhood hope into this and didn't want it to go to waste and wanted nothing to do with being locked up behind bars because of an unfortunate start that happened due to the lack of navigating skills or ability to simply hold onto a map.

[Flame]

His sudden realization of his own mistake was if anything hilarious. Hien chuckled heartily from her stomach, as she stood there watching the young man crumble under the realization he had messed up the first leg of his journey. An amused smile grinned upon her face, white teeth showing as she did her best not to openly laugh before him and make him feel any worse than he already did. She wanted to say 'you know it happens' but she couldn't get it in on time as he immediately put to her his plea for help.

Her sense of guilty over her previous considerations of him, save for his stupidity, swamped her. Perhaps she could've helped sooner though in the end it didn't seem as if he needed her. She considered inviting him to join the revolutionary army, but he seemed so set on being a pirate she slipped that thought away.

"Yes ... but, it's not really up to me ..." she responded with a frown. Given that the revolutionaries had work coming up soon, she hesitated for a moment. "Well come with-" Hien started to turn before stopping half into a step. Did she really want to bring this back to them? Didn't she know what they would do, besides this kid was willing to do anything. Anything could mean a lot of things, Hien's mind raced.

Turning back to him she started "Anything you say? If that's the case I might be able to help." She said with a twinkle in her eye and a pat upon his back.

"You see that wall over there." She gestured down the street. Far to the end of it rose that gray construction. Towering sandstone and wood melded together to keep those of West Winchester out. "Getting over that'll be your key to exit." She stated, "But getting out isn't so simple. There's a twenty four hour guard on it provided by the marines." She recanted some of the basic information she knew from the mission brief she'd gotten a few days ago. "They patrol fairly commonly, but less so at night, which is the perfect chance to escape." She tapped his head on the side, "If you can keep your head down until nightfall, I should be able to help you get out of here."

Hien smiled, this felt right, the right thing to do. She disliked the inaction and indecision she had displayed earlier. This would definitely help to amend that.

[theshorttableleg]

Well, that was a wave of regret that splashed over Liam when Hien took him up on that offer. But what was done remains as such. But when they told him about the wall in the far off distance, he nods and looks to Hien. The tapping she did to Liam's head made sure that he took mental notes about the marine patrols and the timing.

"Th-Thank you, miss!" Liam finished taking mental notes of the information given. "Oh! I forgot to mention! My name is Liam Blackthorne. I owe you one!" He then proceeds to look about in worry and paranoia. "Should get going before that marine gets back with reinforcements. Thanks for helping me get out of here by the way."

The thoughts of what could be in store for him ran through Liam's mind. What could Hien be thinking of and what was she planning. The thought of such was scary and worrisome, but there was no going back from this! He had to commit to this plan! Before he took a single step to run and find a hiding spot, he realized he'll more than likely be caught with his luck. "Hey, um, do you know any places I can hide out or if not just help me hide in some way?" He asked.

[Flame]

"No problem." Hien accepted the thanks with a shrug. She had come here mostly out of boredom. Apart from this simple offer of help she'd done nothing to help the youth out so there was no feeling of deserving that which she had been given.

His next question gave her pause, ... places to hide here? Her head tilted slightly. "Ahh well, places to hide aren't really my forte ..." She said offhandedly, "Besides if you can't lay low, then you stand no chance in the first place." She paused following that line of logic in her head for a moment. A stray finger scratched behind her ear.

What she was doing was already bound to get her in trouble with her higher-ups. She sighed to herself, that meant she had to figure out what to do on her own. Inwardly she pumped herself up, she preferred singular action anyway. This mission just happened to be one she really didn't want to miss. Well if he couldn't last till sundown, and there was definitely no way she was taking him to the revolutionary safe house, then she just had to get him out now. Broad daylight, red eyes twinkled with excitement at the prospect of such a daring move.

"If you can't last that long, we'll have to get you out now." She repeated her decision to him. This would require daring, ingenuity, creativity, and perhaps some smacking of marine heads. All of this she was down for. "If you've got any stuff to gather, get it now. We're in for some fun." Hien laughed heartily, her red braid bouncing behind her with her chuckles.