Looking for Work (Open)

[Riley]

Riley looked around, having made his third visit and not liking the job offered their either. He wasn't normally picky, when when all of the jobs offered made even the darkest men he knew cringe, he thought it was best to leave it behind him. He wondered if he was going to find a job here, it wasn't that he needed the work right away, but he would within the next couple of weeks. Especially if something happened to one of his weapons. Or, if he suddenly decided to replace the smoke bombs and throwing knives he'd used on his last job. Either one. Though he knew he should replace his weapons. They had saved his life on a number of occasions, he should at least make sure he had them when he needed them.

Riley turned down a side street, passing over several inns this time. He didn't care at this point, he would take a needed break and then try to find work later. Maybe come across something worthwhile after an hour or so. He continued down the street until he came to another inn, this one he entered and got food and something to drink. Sitting down, he looked out over the patrons, wondering if any of them were like him. He ate silently and slowly, keeping his eye on the people, glad the hood from his tunic was up for once, leaving his face obscured. Though the longsword at his hip didn't help he was sure.

Riley looked up as several people entered, leaning back in his chair and seemingly relaxed. Though he was still ready to react easily and quickly if he needed to. He was calm, not foolish. He knew better than to relax even in the best of city's, let alone here. That would be a mistake, probably the last he would make. That was something he actively tried to avoid, he still had a few things he needed to do. A few too many things he needed to do. He looked up at a disturbance across the room, his hand instantly flying to the hilt of his sword, his mind opening slightly, ready to launch out at anyone.

[Mali]

Ana had travelled quite a distance from her home along the silent plains. She had left her mother behind at the forge knowing that she was quite capable of running it by herself. When her father would be out on trades her mother was always able to keep track of and run the forge, so there was nothing to worry about. That was, she was able to run it by herself until she had Ana. Stupid legs; Ana then cursed her now stupid wings.

Walking along the streets of Teirm, Ana looked for the forge she was looking for. Her father had been good friends with one of the forges in the city and she knew that she would be able to take refuge there for a while. She could rest up and replenish her supplies while staying at the forge before taking off on her search for her ‘miracle worker’.

Looking up at the sign to an inn, Ana entered. When she entered Teirm, she had originally hidden her wings under her cloak but hadn’t been able to go far without becoming uncomfortable. Stopping in an alley, she had taken the cloak off and just left her wings folded inward, as a ladybug did under their shell. Her wings were only noticeable if someone were facing her back or turned around for whatever reason as the flow of the traffic in the street seemed to only go one way.

It was when she entered the inn that she received sneers from the men hanging around the doorway. Great, she didn’t have blades on her, just her bow. Upon entering the establishment, said men from outside decided to surround her.

“ ’Ey there missy. Now, what’s a pretty lass like ye doing outside at this hour, alone?” Ana stared straight ahead, taking in a deep breath before letting it out. Her wings fluttered into their outward position and she had to curse her luck today. She could use her bow to strangle them, but that was about it. They were to close to her for her to use her arrows. She could always put them out, split the sticks and use the head of the arrows as shurikans. They would have to make do if that was what she needed them for. “Please, let me pass,” She made to move but one of the men put his arm out to stop her. That was when he spun her around, her wings now being flashed past everyone in the inn. Grinding her teeth, she was about to act when someone spoke from behind her.

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[Riley]

Riley stood as he saw the woman enter and the men surround her. Six men, against one girl? That was overkill, especially when she was only armed with a bow. One of the men spun her and he caught a glimpse of something... Where those wings? He wasn't sure at the moment, but that didn't matter. The woman obviously didn't want the men to be around her, and Riley wasn't the type to leave it be. He just hoped they didn't get kicked out of the inn, he was still hungry. "I believe the lady wants to be left alone." He spoke quietly but firmly, a threat thinly laced throughout his voice. His hand gripped the hilt of his longsword, ready to draw if he needed to.

Riley almost hated to do it, but this was the best way to make sure no one was hurt. At least not anything other than pride. He opened his mind, stretching it out to the men in the group, he attempted to implant a single thought in all of their heads. That there was a highly beautiful woman located in the guard barracks. All they had to do, was go get arrested to pay the woman a visit. He attempted to implant it subtly, make it seem like a memory that came out of nowhere and hit them like a brick. Riley was about to find out if he was successful he guessed, though he wondered if it would be enough for them. He doubted it, and so let his mind race to other ideas.

Riley almost smiled as another thought hit him, threat and a false memory might not work, but he knew something that probably would regardless. "How about I buy you men a round of drinks?" He offered, keeping his hand on the hilt of his sword, this was one of the times he wished he was able to hide his dagger up his sleeve, as it was however... His free hand reached up and touched the larger than normal wolf's fang hanging from his neck. Then his hand slid his hood down, finally uncovering his face. "What do you say?"

[Mali]

Turning her head to see a hooded figure—she assumed to be a man—speaking on her behalf, she had to wonder if the men would listen to him. His voice had a threat laced in the kind hearted words, but she didn’t think that that alone would get these men to leave her alone.

Not sure what was happening immediately after the hood figure spoke, but it seemed as if the men started to think about something, all at once. Some of the men even looked as if they were day dreaming about something. Using the distraction to her benefit, she spun out from under the one man’s arm, her wings brushing against the limb awkwardly. Standing off to the side of them it was then that the main guy shook his head and set his sights back on Ana. Great, this was the best day ever, wasn’t it?

This man was really going to buy them drinks? Even if it solved the situation, was he really going to stick around and reward these men for harassing a woman? She doubted that he would stick around, but that didn’t matter right now. The main guys had turned toward the hooded figure who, now, lowered his hood, thinking about drinks. The main guy grinned before replying. “Aye like ye idea mate, however, that doesn’t get the lass off the hook. he sneered, pulling her closer. Upon closer findings, it turns out that this man stunk of something fowl.

Rolling her eyes, she pulled out of his grasp and he turned to face her, looking a little angry. He then smiled again and moved toward her, motioning her toward the bar. “Aye know, why don’t ye dance for us while we drink?” Scowling now, still trying to remain calm, Ana reached behind her, snapping the heads off her arrows and throwing them at the man. It was a good thing he was close to the wall or else it wouldn’t have had much of an effect. He was now pinned by his shirt to the wall and the other five men didn’t look happy. Did they really think that she wouldn’t defend herself?

Looking over to the man, she wondered if he would help her or return to his food. Either way, it wasn’t her concern right now, she had to think of a battle plan.

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[Riley]

Riley started to hope that his mind trick had worked, especially after the woman was able to get out of the man's grasp. Those were wings, how had she gotten them? He'd ask later, maybe. That was rather personal. He scowled as the men broke free from his trick, he'd have to be less subtle next time. Tear through his mind like it was butter, he should be able to do that. These men were normal humans as far as he knew, and his mind was stronger than the average man's. Riley closed his mind off again for the moment, he pulled his sword out of the sheath slightly, making sure it was clear.

Riley blinked as the main man grabbed the girl again, then she snaked out of his grip again. As he went to grab her again, she threw something at him, pinning him to the wall. Arrowheads? That was creative thinking, but he didn't think it was particularly smart. He hoped she didn't need those arrows. Well, now was the time to take these men out, it shouldn't take him long. Especially if he was careful and smart. Though how to do it?

Riley moved at once, his hand shot out, catching one man in the throat. He spun, bringing his knee into the stomach of a second man, his elbow coming down on the man's back as he doubled over. Riley took a few steps back, stopping near the girl. His mind shot out for a third man, not being overly gentle this time. He attempted to take control of the man, and attack the fourth man. He hoped to end this quickly and brutally, making sure it didn't happen again. At least not from these men.

[Mali]

The arrows weren’t necessary at the moment. She would find her forge eventually and then could compensate for the missing arrowheads. Right now, however, she had an infestation to deal with. Stopping to laugh mentally at that, Anaria noticed how the other men started to move in on her as the other man tried to unpin himself from the wall. He wasn’t receiving any help from the others right now as they were too focused on the man and Ana.

As the man moved into action, Ana stepped back to give him some room. He was quite good at this. Ana wasn’t able to defend herself all that well; it was a good thing that this man had decided to help her after all. Being born paralysed from the waist down and then getting working legs and wings when she was eighteen wasn’t the best way to train in self-defence. Especially since her father had already passed away and couldn’t teach her after she’d received working legs. He’d know how to fight while keeping her wings protected too. She was only good at thinking and building crazy mechanisms and devices. Like her flamethrower at home. That would be really handy right now.

The third man seemed to move awkwardly toward the fourth man but Ana was too preoccupied trying to think up her strategy. As the fifth man started to move toward her, she picked up her bow, still having arrows with no need for them, she swung the bow, hitting the man upside the head. As he fell forward she grabbed him around the neck, slinging her bowstring around his neck to choke him. The string was strong enough that this wouldn’t come close to straining it. The bow was handmade of the best to be found, Ana made sure of that.

As soon as the man was unconscious, the first man freed himself to see all his colleagues lying about, defeated and took off through the door. Breathing heavily, Ana pulled the arrowheads out of the wall and slipped them into a pouch along her belt. Looking over to the man, she smiled. He shouldn’t be a bad person, right?

Holding her hand out for a shake, she felt it alright to offer her name and gratitude. “Thank you for the help there, I’m Anaria.” she looked behind the man to see an angry inn keeper. “sorry about your meal,” she assumed they would be asked to leave relatively soon.

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[Riley]

Riley kept his eyes on the man as he ran, smiling and relaxing, though only slightly. "Riley, though I'm called Wolfsbane by some."He said, gently taking her hand and shaking it. He caught stray thoughts from the inn keeper, and thought he felt something about a crossbow. "It's fine. How about we leave?" He offered, not feeling the desire to have to fight half the inn today, not that he couldn't. He just thought it best not to press his luck, he started this by closing his mind off to everyone again, throwing his mental shield back up.

Riley tossed a single gold coin to the inn keeper, then backed out of the inn. He wasn't about to press his luck, he sighed, glancing at the woman as they left. Taking in her appearance in full. Her arms were thinly muscled, he could bet that she was stronger than he thought. Especially if she was able to use that bow effectively. His eyes moved back to her face, taking in her pale skin. His mind raced trying to piece it all together, considering it all. "Do you have a place to stay? If not I can suggest a few places, ones nicer than this one." He offered, motioning with his head that they should start walking.

Riley turned, and started walking toward the center of town. Their were houses and business there, if the remaining man wanted revenge, he would be foolish to try it there. If he did try though, Riley would have to kill him. He wouldn't give the man a third try, that would be foolish to the limits. He didn't even like giving the man a second chance, but he knew it was stupid to go around killing everyone. Regardless of how stupid the person was.

[Mali]

Her father always told her that you could judge someone by their handshake. He was rather gentle; however, she gave a firm shake. Riley, now she wouldn’t have to refer to him as the man anymore. Nodding her head, Ana placed her bow back along her hips. She had originally walked in to ask for directions and possibly get something to eat but now that was out of the question. Maybe Riley would know how to get to the local forge.

Smiling, she followed his motion and exited the establishment. Fixing the arrows wouldn’t be hard, however, she had intended to do other things tonight instead. Oh well, it was needed. She had no other way of protecting herself. Looking him up and down from the corner of her eye, she smirked a bit. She wondered if he was curious about her wings yet. People seemed to be staring at her as she walked down the street but she didn’t let it bother her. People always stared; it was something to get used to. It was also the reason she was looking for her ‘miracle worker’.

Shaking her head, she replied. “Ah no, I have friends I can stay with, I just can’t find their forge . . .” she trailed off, thinking absentmindedly to herself. Maybe she should ask someone, like who was walking beside her? “You wouldn’t happen to know the directions to the local blacksmith?” letting him know of where she was headed couldn’t be a bad thing. He had been polite and a decent person so far. Ana doubted that he would turn out to be a bad person. Hopefully he would be able to help her get there. “And if there’s anything I could do to thank you once we get there, let me know. I’m an amazing blacksmith,” she grinned over to him.

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[Riley]

Riley nodded, "Of course I can take you." He didn't alter his path, staying on the road. This time of night, it was better to stay on the main paths. "There is a certain item I've been trying to have custom made. I have yet to find a blacksmith with the ability to craft it however." He brought the design of it up in his mind, wondering if Ana would be able to make it for him. Riley thought about it some more, turning down another street, glancing at the shadows as they passed them. No need to let his guard down here, they weren't quite safe and sound yet.

"Two items actually." Riley began, holding up one of his arms. "I intend for them to be built into bracers, and have a pressure button to be pressed by a muscle in the arm. Right here." He indicated the muscle, rolling his sleeve up as he did. "The button will extend a blade from the casing, having it be about... Seven inches I would think. Maybe eight." He considered it for a second, measuring his arm slightly. "In any case, I would be more than happy to compensate you for your work. Help you in any way I can."

Riley looked up, getting an idea of where they were, then turned down another street. "There is one other thing you could do for me." He said, stopping in front of a bakery he knew to be far above the others in the city. "Allow me to treat you to the best pie you will ever eat." He was still hungry, and he wouldn't feel right if he got something to eat without making sure Ana ate as well. Besides, he had never met anyone who had turned down free pie before.

[Mali]

Ana smiled to Riley as he said that he could take her to the forge. It was getting rather dark out and close to dinnertime. She felt bad for taking him away from his meal back at the inn. She was thankful for the help with the men, but she still felt bad. He even paid for a meal he didn’t get to finish.

At the mention of a custom item he’d been meaning to be made, Ana perked up. Listening to his description of the weapon like bracer he wanted to have made, Ana’s mind began buzzing. She had always been very good at designing custom-made items. Her father built rails on the stairs so she could get downstairs by herself. Ana built what she called an elevator. Her mother hadn’t been too happy about it, but her father was proud of her.

She was quiet, following him as he took a few turns. Her wings fluttered a bit while she was deep in thought. She could make a pressured release mechanism no problem, she had done it with the elevator, since she didn’t have the strength to pull herself and the chair upward. The button sounded like a nice concept although she couldn’t see the realistic side to it. His muscles had better be significantly bigger to be able to press a button like that. The button would also have to pressurized and that wasn’t simple to have pressing out. Usually her pressurized buttons were laid into the metal a bit. This would pose a problem.

She saw Riley stop and was brought out of her thoughts when she heard him mention sharing a pie together. Looking over to the bakery, she smiled over to Riley. So he was still hungry, she shouldn’t feel bad though, since he chose to help her. “Best pie I’ll ever eat, eh? I’ll have to take you up on that offer.” Ana moved into the bakery, holding the door open for Riley, grinning as she did so.

She was back into her thoughts before she thought that she should probably be paying attention. Maybe she should voice her opinions. “About this bracer. I love the idea, and the design will be amazing,” she giggled, sounding excited, her wings fluttering to show her excitement. “Although I may have a different method of releasing the blade, if you don’t mind?”

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[Riley]

Riley quickly bought two pies, holding one out for her to take, and taking a large bite out of his. He exited the bakery, his mind racing over what she was saying. She could do it? And she was willing to do it? "Whatever you think is best. I'll leave it up to the master on this." He smiled at her, glad he had finally found someone willing to build his blades for him. He had not anticipated this when he saved her, not that he was complaining. He would have gladly done it for free. His eyes darted to the shadows, making sure they were clear. Then he slowly started walking with Ana again.

Riley couldn't help but smile again, more at the company than finally getting his weapons. Though that did help. He was glad to have met someone not trying to kill him for once. Someone that he might be able to help, and who was willing to help him. Distracting himself, he thought over how he could use his new weapons in other ways. Hoping that they would be more than just weapons, hopefully tools. He took another bite from his pie, his mind wondering over Ana, what was she doing here? He knew he could find out without asking, but that would be rude. Aside from that, she gave him no reason to intrude like that.

"So what brought you to Teirm?" Riley asked, wondering what could have had that kind of power over her. Though it truly wasn't any of his business, he was still curious. He wouldn't blame her if she didn't answer, they had just met, and she couldn't trust him yet, even if he had helped her. "I'm looking for work myself." He offered, hoping that would put her at ease, at least a little. Though if she asked what kind of work, that answer he would dodge as best he could. Though if she was smart, he was sure she could easily figure it out.

[Mali]

She took the pie from him and looked at him a little dubiously. She was supposed to eat the entire pie by herself? She used to be able to do these things back when she was in her wheeled chair, back when it didn’t matter what she ate since she couldn’t use her legs. In addition, now that she could, she had to watch what she ate; she couldn’t build too much fat on her legs since she needed to keep her muscles toned. However, since Riley had bought her the pie, she would eat as much as she could so most of it wouldn’t go to waste. That would be a shame, to have wasted his money.

Ana giggled when he said to leave it to the master. She wasn’t the master, she just had a creative and over imaginative mind. Her father could be considered a master though, since she had learned everything she knew from him. “Not a master, just pretty amazing. I could never be as good as my father,” She started to eat the pie as they continued to walk to the forge. How far was it away from where they were?

Looking over to him and then down to her pie, she got a little angry, thinking about why she was here. That stupid, good for nothing, lying cheat. “I’m looking for someone. I’m sure you’ve noticed my wings already, well that’s why I’m looking for him,” she left the sentence hanging and open for discussion. Even though she shouldn’t trust him so quickly, she felt that he was a kindred spirit with her and even though that wasn’t a good enough reason to validate her trust, she would hope that he wouldn’t mislead her trust. It was nice to have someone to talk to sometimes. She didn’t have many that she could talk about her problems with. However, that didn’t mean that she would share all her problems with him. He probably didn’t want to hear them. If he did though, she wouldn’t mind talking about her wings. They were quite noticeable even in the moonlight.

At the mention of work, Ana nodded her head, taking another bite of the pie. It was really good pie, he wasn’t wrong about that. Swallowing, she felt it right to make conversation with him, pushing thoughts of her ‘miracle worker’ and the bracers from her mind. “What kind of work? You’re not an assassin, are you?” At this she laughed, she was joking of course. There wasn’t a job that would require retractable bladed bracers other than an assassin that Anaria could think of. However, the bracers may just be for self-defence. That was why she was joking, of course.

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[Riley]

Riley nodded as she spoke, taking what she said in and considering it from every angle he could. He had noticed her wings, though he chose not to ask. It wasn't his place, at least not unless she chose to make it his place. As she seems to have done. "Do you have any leads? I have a few contacts in the city we could ask if you'd like." He wasn't sure how much use they could be, but maybe he could do something for her. Even if it was just something small, he was a mercenary, not a complete and total jerk. Besides, he did feel like he owed Ana for her help in making his bracers, he knew it couldn't be an easy task.

Riley looked at her for a second, tempted to attempt and study the magic that had been used on her. He knew he shouldn't however, that would be wrong, and aside from that, he barely knew enough about magic to make the attempt. "Have you tried visiting the Dragon Riders? They are healers." He asked, remembering his days of training in Ilirea. Long arduous days, long nights pouring over books. Those were good days, he wished he'd been able to stay and learn more. Though he understood that his limited skill wasn't enough to warrant his staying with the Riders. Maybe one day he would be able to extend his ability to use magic, if he could, he'd try and heal Ana if she wanted.

Riley considered her next question for a few seconds, he knew she was joking, but he still thought he should answer. "I'm not an assassin per-say..." He began, hoping she wouldn't hate him for telling her this. "I'm a jack of all trades, a thief, a mercenary, body guard, courier, tracker, mindbreaker.... assassin. Whatever is needed by my employer." He sighed, looking at his pie for a moment, then taking another bite of it. He didn't like the thought of being considered heartless, though he knew many people thought of him as such. "I do have morals, I've turned down many jobs. That's why it's hard to get work right now, everything I've found has been..."

[Mali]

Looking over to him, she wondered why he didn’t ask what had happened to her. Most people did. They would comment on her wings, ask how it happened, that is, when she spoke to someone about them. Considering her search range, she responded with a laugh. “I don’t even know his name. Patrons of my forge were talking about some miracle worker so I went to go see him about my problem and the next day I woke up with wings on my back and he’d already left town.” she felt bitter toward the memory. It wasn’t her favourite memory.

“Although, he did say that there may be side effects, I didn’t think he meant this.” Ana was half way through her pie when she started to focus on the memory of what the man looked like. She would never forget what it was that he looked like, but how could it be so hard to find such an eccentric man? She even remembered how eccentric he was thanks to his clothing style and personality.

She shook her head, “No, I went to see someone, skilled in magic, and he said it was impossible. That the ‘miracle worker’ combined a few spells and unless he knew what they were, only my miracle worker could fix it.” She sighed. It was disappointing. Even if she went to the dragon riders, they would probably say the exact same thing as the other person. He was as skilled at magic as most of them, if he couldn’t even attempt it, already knowing that it was mutated magic, then there was no way a dragon rider could figure it out without the help of the miracle worker.

At the mention and awkward reaction to her joke, she looked at Riley more seriously. A jack of all trades. “That’s why you’re so good at fighting. I can barely defend myself unless I use some clever mechanism to do it for me.” She looked over to him, her eyebrow quirked as he mentioned his morals. Did people think him heartless or something? Why would they do that just because he was a jack of all trades? It didn’t make sense to Ana. Maybe it was because work was work to him, with morals about what jobs he took, but still, they didn’t care about his morals. “Demoralising? I understand. My father was the same way. He was a tradesman as well as a blacksmith. He was asked to do smuggling many times and he turned it down even though it was good money,” there shouldn’t be a problem telling him that. Wow, he was learning quite a bit about her so far.

She smiled over to him, almost finished her pie, thinking of an idea. “How much for self-defence lessons?” she giggled, that counted as work, right?

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[Riley]

Riley nodded, memorizing the details she told him. "It should be easy to find him if we ask the right people then." He let his mind wander over the problem, finding a man like this was difficult, especially if he used magic to cover his tracks. Too bad for them, though he was sure he could still track the man down given enough time. Though he wondered if she would even ask, why should she burden him with her problems? They hardly knew each other, besides that she probably didn't want to see him again after this anyway. He sighed, pulling his mind back to the present.

Riley nodded again, "I was trained by a group of mercenaries on how to fight. And by the Riders, on how to use my mind as a weapon." She was sharing with him, so he would share with her. At least a little bit, "I've done some smuggling, difficult work. Almost not worth the risk." He considered it a few more moments, "I get treated with fear when most people learn of my profession. Despite avoiding truly gruesome and horrid jobs, it still effects my life. Or lack there of." He slid his hands in his pockets, looking up as the forge came into sight.

"You want me to teach you?" Riley asked, looking her up and down. His mind raced over what he could teach her in a short time. "My price?" He looked down, considering it as they walked, taking everything into consideration. "I'm not going to be able to teach you much in one sitting..." He muttered, looking back up at her and smiling. "So my price is this, let's travel together for a time. I can teach you, and we both have some company." Riley looked at the forge, slightly embarrassed suddenly. "I-If you want to of course.."

[Mali]

Ana knew what he looked like, but she didn’t see how just that brief little description would help them find this man. She didn’t want to think about him any more though. She hated that man and whenever she thought about him too much, she became angry. “Yea, as long as you know the right people, because I don’t,” she laughed.

She shook her head, listening to everything that he said. Why be scared of him just because of that? Many people killed things, animals, and people just to survive. So he’d killed people as part of a job, that didn’t scare her. If you wanted, you could consider it the same as killing for survival. He needed the job to survive and it just so happened to have been to kill someone. Ana watched him, curious about him. It seemed to bother him more than he appeared to let on. “Well, I’m not scared of you . . .”

She looked like a deer caught in the headlights, her wings fluttering briefly before drooping a bit in response to travelling with him. She didn’t look like this because she opposed the idea, She looked like this because it surprised her, she’d never thought that he would offer to accompany her on her journey as well as his. Blushing at the way he’d said ,’if she wanted to of course’, it sounded like he was really thinking of her feelings and opinion about the matter. Nevertheless, of course he would. He couldn’t and wouldn’t force her to come with him.

Ana moved around to face him, having finished her pie, her wings fluttered again as she smiled up to him, now face to face with Riley. “I’d like that. You don’t know how much trouble these things get me into,” she giggled, referring to her wings.

“I’ll start on the bracers tonight, it’ll take me tonight and until the end of tomorrow to finish them though. And I will need to measure your hand,” Ana rustled through her belt until she found her ribbon-like measuring tape. Taking his hand, she measured from the cuff of his sleeve to the tips of his fingers, and then the length of his fingers. Jotting down the measurements real quick, she smiled up at him. Realising something, she felt it right to ask Riley. “Where will you be staying tonight? I can always ask my friends if they could set up another cot for you too?”

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[Riley]

Riley smiled, "Good, I'm glad I don't scare you." That was something that he hadn't heard often, well not after people learned of his profession. He had one friend now, this was one he intended to keep. He barely paid attention to her measuring his arm, letting her work. "I hadn't considered it.. I can just sleep in the stables with Claudia, my horse." Speaking of Claudia, he wondered if Ana had a horse, if not Riley thought he could get her one at a decent price. Or he could just sell his, he did need the money after all.

A thought struck Riley at that moment, "Well, I will teach you how to defend yourself, but my fighting style revolves around my mind. It may take me a while to remember some old lessons." He thought about it, if he taught her how he fought, that would leave her open to counter attack easily. However, if he found a different way, then maybe he could teach her enough to defend herself without exposing her back. Her wings might be a weak point, not something either of them would want exposed. His mind worked quickly, then came back to the present, focusing on what was needed at the moment.

Riley smiled at his new traveling companion, "Don't worry about attracting attention, I attract enough of it myself. I've made a few influential people very angry." He felt it only right to warn her now, while she still had the choice to back away. He did get attacked on occasion, not that he had ever received a scratch from anyone. He kept his mind open while he slept, letting it alert him if someone got too close. He'd familiarize himself with Ana, so he could stay out of her mind with ease.

[Mali]

Anaria smiled back to him. She assumed by how he treated the situation of telling her his profession, that many people were scared of him after they learned what he did for a living. She had to wonder if everyone treated him like that. If that was the case, how many friends did Riley have?

She looked at him, imagining his sleeping in the stables with his horse, which was probably at the inn, which was so far away from the forge. She felt a little awkward; as if she should offer again, but as if it might be rude to her friends to do so. She was caught in a little pickle now. “Are you sure? I’m sure it wouldn’t be a problem,” There, that was alright. It left it open for discussion as well as gave the impression that there might be a small chance that he wouldn’t be able to stay over at the forge.

Ana thought about how he said he learned to fight. He’d said that he learned to fight from mercenaries and that the dragon riders taught him to use his mind as a weapon as well. That meant that he had learned basic fighting styles from the mercenaries and that Ana would be able to do that style easily; seeing as she couldn’t use her mind like that. However, it may have been a long time since Riley used that technique on its own without his mind. Maybe that was what he meant then? “As long as I can defend myself from creeps like at the inn, then I’ll be fine.

She laughed lightly at his comment. Why would he make such influential people angry? She hoped that it wasn’t on purpose. “Not purposely I hope. But if you’re a jack of all trades, it’s predictable that someone would be pissed off with you.” she laughed again, this time they were finally at the forge where Ana would be staying for the night. She could ask for Riley, if he said so, but that was up to him.

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[Riley]

Riley shrugged, "I wouldn't object to a warm bed, but I've slept in worse places than stables before." He remembered some of the places he had slept, in trees, under bridges, on roofs. He sighed lightly, then there was the dungeons, those were really uncomfortable. "Besides, I wouldn't feel quite right putting your friends out. I've been here as a customer a few times, but never as a friend." He didn't like to ask for handouts, hence him looking for work. His hand moved to a pouch on his belt, gaging the number of coins in it. They would be alright for a few more weeks, but that was if they were careful.

Riley nodded, attempting to remember old lessons, "I'm sure I can teach you a few things. Weapons training will be involved, daggers most likely. Though I could see a few other weapons being thrown in." His mind raced over a few more subjects, wondering what he could teach her. Maybe there was a few other things he could teach her. "I can also teach you how to defend your mind, that's a useful skill for anyone to have." Riley smiled, wondering where the sudden teaching instincts came from. Maybe he had been taught better than he thought, especially if he was ready to pass on what he knew.

Riley shrugged again, smiling. "Some yes, some no. Some part of work, others because I was in the wrong place at the wrong time." He laughed finally, shaking his head. "In my line of work, if no one is pissed at you, you're not doing it right." It was a true enough statement, even if no one could confirm it was him, rumors always flew. He had a reputation for doing several jobs that he had no part in what so ever. One job he had been on the other side of the country for.

[Mali]

Ana gave him a look as if to say that there was no way he’d be sleeping in the stables tonight. They would only be here for one more night but that was beside the point. She probably wouldn’t get to sleep until tomorrow afternoon anyways. She had something to work on tonight. She wanted something and had no idea whether she had one. If she didn’t, then she would be screwed for how she planend to build his bracers. “At least take my bed, I probably won’t be sleeping too much tonight. I should get started on those bracers. Ana glanced back over to the forge.

So he’d been a customer here before but never as a friend. Instead of sleeping in the stables, she would make him a deal. She knew the people here quite well, well enough to know that neither of them could cook. “Since I won’t be using my bed tonight, and it shouldn’t go unused, how about this. The condition for my stay is that I make the meals. If you do the cooking, then there shouldn’t be a problem. Trust me, neither of them can cook,” she stuck her tongue out to show her distaste. She had been to Teirm once with her father, back when she was still in her chair. They couldn’t cook to save their behinds.

She nodded her head. That would be useful. She knew that many were able to intrude on another’s mind easily and without effort. She didn’t know when or whether someone was touching her mind that she sometimes worried about encountering elves especially since she had no idea what kind of information they could see by looking into her mind. “That should be fun, maybe I can touch your mind,” she said this, poking his forehead and giggling.

She laughed again. She hadn’t laughed this much since her father died. He was always able to make her laugh. “I guess. So, what do you say? We have a deal?” she held her hand out for a shake. She meant what she said though, she wouldn’t be sleeping tonight anyways, not until she was certain that the mechanisms would work.

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