A Walk on the Other Side of the Tracks [GV]

Cassius · 1 A Walk on the Other Side of the Tracks [GV] Mon Jul 09, 2018 9:49 pm

Cassius

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Cassius Sinclair
The Kraken
A Walk on the Other Side of the Tracks [GV] D5da255ae42b2fbe08f85ac5f848e11c

Cassius calmly strode from the sea, naked as the day he was born. The noon day sun made the dripping salt water glisten on his deep green skin. He had made landfall by the docks of Baltigo, though it seemed no one paid him much mind. Those who weren't busy unloading goods or simply tying up their vessels would have to actually make an effort to look for the fishman as he arose from the sea beneath the old wooden docks. Above him light filtered down, often shadowed by the passing of feet across the slits of wood. Completely removing himself from the sea, Cassius sighed as he listened to the ever present hum of human movement and voices. This was no home for him, nor was he excited about this newest island. Landfall always brought with it a certain sense of dread in the fishman's stomach. He was quite literally out of his element any time he set foot on an island and although years of the same ridicule and sideways glances from humans above the sea had created a tough skin for the young fishman, he still rarely looked forward to his visits to the surface.

On Cassius's back was the waterproof pack where he kept his belongings when traveling the ocean. It held the clothes he deemed suitable enough to cover himself with so as not to garner even more angry, disgusted looks from the ape-like creatures who ruled the world. Unzipping the bag he produced his trousers and large, ex-Marine jacket he had robbed from the corpse of a Captain before adapting to suit his own tastes. Last came the hat, an old swashbuckler's buccaneer hat which he wore to protect his bald head from the ever burning sun. Yet one more reason Cassius loathed the surface world. In his hand he held his beloved's crimson silk scarf, the last thing he had of her since that fateful day. He rubbed the fine material between his fishy fingers, a piece of true beauty unlucky enough to be handled by a monster. Cassius closed his eyes as he rubbed the silk, remembering a better time, attempting to drown out the noises above him.

For her, this is for Cecile. This is nothing compared to what you'd go through for her. To hell and back if necessary, do this for her. Cassius grumbled to himself, trying to give himself the pep talk he so desperately needed, far more than he'd ever admit aloud. Opening his eyes, he tied the silk scarf around his bald head before placing the formerly mentioned buccaneer's hat on top of it. Stepping out of the shadows of the pier he stood beneath, Cassius shouldered his now empty bag before grabbing hold of the rickety rusted ladder that lead above from the polluted sands upon which he stood. Above, he could already feel the disgusted and even fearful gazes of several passerbies. He did his best to ignore them, pulling his pipe and a packet of matches from his inner coat pocket. Holding the pipe up to his mouth with one of the tendrils which composed his "beard", he struck the match with a flick of his fingers before igniting the pipe. A few long puffs from the old thing was all he needed to calm his nerves and he was pleasantly surprised to find most of the people around him were too caught up in the hustle and bustle of the docks and their own work to bother with him. Instead they settled for simply making a wide berth for Cassius as he began his walk towards the mainland which was perfectly fine by him. The more humans who stayed out of his way and ignored him, the better.

As Cassius walked deeper and deeper into Baltigo, he found people clustered together even closer than they had been at the docks. It seemed humans naturally retreated inland, even if they weren't consciously aware of what they were doing. The streets became packed with people, some acting as vendors, selling various goods ranging from food and groceries to weapons and what Cassius suspected at one stall was a vast array of poisons each with different uses. He had heard Baltigo was the place to go for anything under the sun, but he had no idea the true scope of things being sold here. It was unlike anything he had ever seen before on any other island. The markets of Fishman Island were nothing like this, far more open and less chaotic. Families strolled about leisurely for weekly grocery trips or simple, quaint afternoon time. Instead, Cassius could feel eyes upon him after crossing each alley. These eyes weren't meant just for him because of what he was, no, these eyes gazed upon all who packed the market streets with the same indifference, yet predatory gaze that only a master thief and pickpocket could attain. He had little of value and was confident in he could deal with any problems should they arise but instinctively he still held on tightly to the strap of his pack with one hand.

WORDS: 856 TAGS: --- NOTES: ---

Last edited by Faust on Fri Jul 13, 2018 9:02 am; edited 3 times in total

Cassius · 2 Re: A Walk on the Other Side of the Tracks [GV] Mon Jul 09, 2018 10:12 pm

Cassius

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Posts : 491
Location : Water 7
Join date : 2017-12-09

Cassius Sinclair
The Kraken
A Walk on the Other Side of the Tracks [GV] D5da255ae42b2fbe08f85ac5f848e11c

While he wasn't proud of it, Cassius had spent the better part of three hours walking through the markets of Baltigo's Ninth District. He told himself it was reconnaissance, taking in his surroundings and the people which inhabited it to find the best course of action for seeking out his target. In truth he simply had no idea what to do. The man who had told him about "The People's Prince", the only name Cassius had to go by, had said this man carried quite a deal of clout in Baltigo and he wouldn't be easy to find. Even if he Cassius did find him, or at least uncover his real name, the man had said that getting an audience with a Kingpin was nearly impossible without the bankroll to establish oneself as a serious buyer. At that Cassius had subconsciously slipped his hand into the jacket pocket where his small bundle of Beli was, frowning without even realizing it. No, there was no way he'd be able to pass himself off as a serious buyer, not only because of his lack of funds but because the idea of even pretending to be a part of that despicable trade made him sick to his stomach. He'd have to find another way, surely a man going by the alias The People's Prince wouldn't be too hard to find or at least dig up some dirt on.

Eventually, after three long hours of wandering the streets of Baltigo, Cassius had made his way into a tavern without even realizing it. He pulled up a stool at the end of the bar, far away from the patrons who eyed him momentarily before going back to their drinks. The bartender stared at him as well and it wasn't until Cassius pulled out a wad of bills from his pocket that the man approached. Rubbing his scaled face tiredly, Cassius simply ordered, Rum, strong, none of that watered down swill you serve to the idiots too drunk to know the difference.
The bartender stared at him for a long moment, clearly trying to get a read on the large fishman and debating whether or not he appreciated the tone in Cassius's voice. Deciding it wasn't worth the trouble, moments later the bartender slid a serving of rum down the bar top, fast enough to spill at least a quarter of the drink across Cassius's forearm. Cassius stared at the bartender who watched him carefully, a hand beneath the bar top which Cassius could only suspect was around the trigger end of a shotgun. Bah. Cassius said with disgust, angling his body away from the bartender before downing his drink.

Placing the empty glass down on the table, Cassius eyed a forgotten paper on the bar top. It was saturated with spilled booze in some spots but on the whole it appeared legible. It seemed to be a smaller edition of the Worldly News Coo, this entire paper focusing solely on the happenings of Baltigo. The first few pages were simply ads, most likely taken out by the same vendors Cass had passed earlier that morning on the streets. They advertised their wares and "special deals and discounts" left and right in large, red print, each with tiny asterisks scattered throughout. Flipping through the trash, Cassius desperately looked for anything that could point him in the right direction. Nothing specific about The People's Prince, but one particular article did catch his eye, Ursa's Mercs, Baltigo's Police Force or Public Hit Squad? Quickly scanning the article, Cass tried to decipher what it all meant. Whoever this Ursa was, he or she apparently ran a business of renting muscle for hire. As Cassius considered the difference between a mercenary renter and a slaver, and attempted to find a connection between the two, a firm hand clamped down on his shoulder. Cassius tensed, ready for a fight when a voice behind him spoke.
Oi, Squidly, what brings your ugly mug to Baltigo?

WORDS: 663 TAGS: --- NOTES: ---

Last edited by Faust on Mon Jul 09, 2018 10:56 pm; edited 1 time in total

Cassius · 3 Re: A Walk on the Other Side of the Tracks [GV] Mon Jul 09, 2018 10:53 pm

Cassius

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Posts : 491
Location : Water 7
Join date : 2017-12-09

Cassius Sinclair
The Kraken
A Walk on the Other Side of the Tracks [GV] D5da255ae42b2fbe08f85ac5f848e11c

Whoa there, relax buddy. Don't need to get a hard on. The voice said, Cassius now detecting the liquor on his breath as two other voices joined in on the laughing behind him. The man had released his grip after detecting Cassius tense up and ready for a fight. It wouldn't be the first time he taught a lesson to a group of racist humans empowered by a little liquid courage. Turning slowly in his stool but still on guard, Cass stared at the man who had disturbed his reading. He was tall for a human, though still shorter than Cass by a bit. He appeared well built, muscles bulging from beneath the metal chest piece he wore over his blue collared shirt. The two friends who had joined him looked equally dressed for battle and while the lead man carried a powerful looking war axe on his back, the one to his left, an older gentleman with an eyepatch was armed to the teeth in guns and ammunition. A large rifle strapped across his shoulder along with three pistols on the front of his vest and two more at his hip. To the right of the battleaxe warrior stood another man, this one's limbs looked strange and if Cassius could be sure, even a bit painful as they twisted at awkward angles. Similar to the gunman, this darker skinned warrior hosted around nine short swords sheathed across his front, back and hips, though there could certainly be more Cassius simply lost count. Whoever these three were, they didn't look like Cass's usual drunken idiots. This could turn into an issue very quickly.

However, the lead man quickly lost interest in Cass when he saw the paper in the fishman's hands. Ripping it from him the man stared at the page for a long moment, clearly trying to make out the words in large, bold font before throwing his head back in a laugh loud enough to make some patrons seated around them stop eating and drinking.
Get a load of this horse shit Pogo, look what the ole papers are saying now about The Big Bear. He said, handing the paper back to the double-jointed man behind him. Cass watched intently, keeping a closer eye on the gunman who didn't speak at all but instead seemed to survey the room every second, at least one hand on the butt of a pistol. He seemed trigger happy, yet calm and collected. Of all of them, this one worried Cass the most. Luckily if a fight did break out he'd at the very least have the element of range on his side, being in such close proximity the guns would be nearly ineffective when matched against Cassius's Fishman Karate. The man, Pogo, grabbed the paper from his apparent leader and quickly scanned the paper's pages before similarly giggling out loud,
Maaaan, they just don't quit with this garbage. You don't actually believe this bullsh do you Squids?
Pogo asked, turning his attention towards Cassius while holding up the paper in one hand and pointing to the heading of the article on Ursa with the other. Cassius simply stared back at Pogo in silence who, after a long moment looked at the leader and said,
Oi Jack I think he might be...like...you know... Pogo tried to search for the right word, shifting from foot to foot before whispering in Jack's ear.
You idiot, he ain't retarded. Jack said and for a moment Cassius thought he sounded offended, as if Pogo had just insulted a close friend of Jack's. Jack then paused and looked Cass over, as if seeing him for the first time,
You ain't retarded, right? I mean we're cool with it if you are, Pogo here ain't exactly a genius anyway. Maybe you's two can finger paints or eat glue some time together.
Ayyy asswipe. Pogo said, smacking Jack upside the head.
Who you callin asswipe, ya shit for brains?

Realizing they were of no immediate threat, Cass simply turned his body to angle away from them, hoping they'd simply get bored and leave him alone. Of course, they didn't.
Oi, ba-tenda, round of four of whateva our Squidly here just had. Jack's voice suddenly broke free of the bickering as they had probably realized Cass's sudden disinterest in them. Suddenly Cass felt Jack's presence on his right and Pogo's on his left as the two took the stools on either side of him. Cass looked over his shoulder back at the gunman who had turned his back to them and was surveying the crowd of drinkers and sailors. More surprising to Cass was the sudden appearance of four glasses of rum from a now humble bartender who said to Jack if they needed anything else it was on the house. Whoever these guys were, they carried some of the clout that old man in the other island had talked about The People's Prince having. Pogo caught Cass's couple of glances back at the gunman and smiled, slapping Cass on the back,
Ah don't mind Gil, he don't talk to much on account of not having a tongue. Dude's always on edge, but it's whatever, saved our asses enough times that it wouldn't be right to question his methods any more.
Cass accepted this explanation for the time being, though keeping his back to an armed stranger while two more sat beside him made his scales itch. He looked down at the glass of rum before seizing it in his hand and raising it to his lips. Before taking a sip he grumbled,
Thanks for the drink. and then downed the rum.
Oi Squidly! So you do talk, see Pogo, told you he wasn't retarded.
Alright alright, so Squids, what's a pretty young thang like yourself doing over here in Baltigo? Pogo asked and although Cassius hadn't had a ton of experience conversing with humans, the sarcasm in Pogo's voice was almost palpable.

Realizing that simply staying quiet wasn't going to work on these two and he'd have to answer some of their questions if he wanted to get out of the situation, Cass replied,
I'm looking for someone, a slaver.
Pogo and Jack both leaned towards the bar so as to make eye contact with one another over Cass before exploding in a fit of simultaneous laughter. When they finally calmed down and collected themselves, Jack wiped an actual tear from his eyes,
Oh man Squidly, that's a good one. Looking for a slaver, well you damn well came to the right place but uh...well...erm you see... The mercenary said between fits of giggling, losing control with each passing word before erupting into another bout of laughter, this time pounding his fist on the bartop and making glasses at the other end shiver and shake. It was Pogo's turn now to explain as he attempted to calm himself,
It's just, you see Squids, a fishman like yourself looking for a slaver is...well it's just about the dumbest thing we've ever heard. Fine specimen like yourself, Pogo said as he jokingly pinched Cass's biceps,
You'd sell for a pretty penny as a laborer because with a face like that there's no way you'd be lucky enough to be a surface slave.
This brought another eruption of laughter from Jack who had just gotten over his last one.
Yessir, they'll scoop you up faster than a fat kid eating a cone off the sidewalk.
Cassius raised an eyebrow, clearly not understanding the joke but at this point Jack was practically soiling himself in his fit of laughter and Pogo seemed to be enjoying his own joke as well.
You said "they'll", "they'll scoop you up" so I assume you three aren't slavers then? Cassius asked, ready to bolt at a moment's notice as he tensed his legs and arms against the table and side of the bar.
Pfft, hell nah, screw that shit. That's a dark frickin world my man, even if Ursa wouldn't have our heads for getting involved with The Prince, we wouldn't touch that shit.
Ursa? The Prince? The People's Prince? Cassius's thoughts seemed to zoom by, flickering in and out of existence as he tried to make sense of what these drunken baffoons were telling him.
Ursa? You work for Ursa? So then you're part of the Police Force of Baltigo? Cassius asked, surely if any organization or group knew about the Prince and where to find his underworld dealings it'd be the local law enforcement.
Police Force, can't you read Squidly? We're Baltigo's Public Hit Squad. This brought yet another round of guttural laughter and fist banging on the table.

WORDS: 1451 TAGS: --- NOTES: ---

Last edited by Faust on Wed Jul 11, 2018 9:49 pm; edited 2 times in total

Cassius · 4 Re: A Walk on the Other Side of the Tracks [GV] Wed Jul 11, 2018 2:07 pm

Cassius

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Posts : 491
Location : Water 7
Join date : 2017-12-09

Cassius Sinclair
The Kraken
A Walk on the Other Side of the Tracks [GV] D5da255ae42b2fbe08f85ac5f848e11c

Truth is we're mercenaries for hire, that's how the Big Bear makes his money, how he became a Kingpin in this beautiful city.
Pogo said, downing his rum and before Cassius knew it the barkeep was back, filling up both Pogo's glass and his own.
Ay, he gets jobs from various organizations and individuals around the world. Different jobs ranging from escort this rich heiress here to murder this individual there to even assisting in war efforts. Although those are the big missions, you get assigned a handful of those and you're sitting pretty. Enough to house your missus and your mistress or two.
Jack said with a deep belly laugh before he too downed his rum.
Anywho, the papers and the people tend to paint us in a bad light, you know? We got a few critics out there cuz of the fact we often get hired to protect other Kingpins' goods around the city. Things tend to get...messy from time to time and a group of old rich blowhearts like to sound off on that. This city was built on sin, in sin, they really shouldn't be surprised.

So then you're beholden to him? This Ursa man, forced to go on these dangerous, violent missions or else...what? He kills you? You're punished?
Or else what? Or else we don't get paid mate. Pogo laughed again, the liquor clearly setting in with both of the mercenaries, We ain't beholden to anyone. Ursa doesn't force us to stay around, he does kick us out though if we slack. Only time we'd be punished is for failure and only time the Big Bear might really rip us a new one is if we abandoned a mission in the middle of it. Only cowards pull that shit though and we ain't no cowards are we gents?
Pogo asked his two friends, raising his empty glass and trying to take a sip of it before realizing it was infact empty. He stared down at the glass as if his brain knew something was wrong but couldn't quite figure it out.

We work on contract, taking the jobs we want to take and getting paid when they're done. That look you're giving me tells me you thought Ursa was some kind of slaver. Honestly the Bear hates slavers, nothing of the sort, it's simply a business.
Cass stared down at the of rum in his glass, it seemed the bartender was always on hand now that these two mercenaries had joined him. Far cry from his initial experience when he was just sitting alone. These three, no matter how ridiculous they seemed certainly knew the inner workings of Baltigo and more importantly the people of Baltigo knew them. It may not have been the direct in Cassius was looking for when it came to finding his target and information on Cecile, but it was a start.

It sounds like I need to talk to Ursa, where can I find him?
The two men looked at each other across Cassius for a long minute before bursting out in a cascade of laughter. It seemed everything was funny to these hired killers with just a little liquor in them. Although to Cassius's surprise even the stoic Gil seemed to chuckle at Cassius's question. The fishman watched out of the corner of his eye as the gunman's shoulders heaved up and down ever so slightly. Clearly his question wasn't going to get him anywhere.
It seems I may have better luck going about this alone, thank you gentlemen. Cass said, rising from the bar top and reaching into his pocket for a few crumpled bills to cover his part of the bill. Before he could however, Pogo's long, misshapen arm darted out and grabbed him by the cuff. On instinct Cass nearly punched the drunken mercenary right then and there, but calmed himself before causing a scene as Pogo spoke,
Whoa whoa there, no need to rush outta here Squids. Look, that wasn't nice, we're sorry eh? We're sorry, right Jack?
Yeah, yeah, we're sorry mate, sit down, come on.
Cass eyed the two but sat silently.

Look, fact of the matter is you can't just sit down with Ursa for a chat unless you got some serious coin for a job. Even then he rarely meets with his customers himself, generally sending a rep to sort out all the details. Some of the biggest jobs he might show up for in person but uh...and no offense because we're drinking here too, but if you're drinking in this shit hole you ain't got the coin for a big job.
Down the bar Cass could see the bar man scowl in displeasure at Pogo's comment. Apparently Jack had seen this as well and called out,
Ay fack ya Ernie, ya know this place is a fackin shit hole. Yeah that's right, turn around baldy, look away. Fackin coward. Jack mumbled the last bit before turning back to Pogo and Cassius. The bar man Ernie moved farther down the bar, turning his back to the trio.

What? Jack asked with clear irritation as he noticed Pogo looking at him.
Ya done? Feel better?
Aw fack ya mate. Yah I'm done. Pfft. Jack said, crossing his arms and rolling his eyes with a scowl of his own reminiscent of a child.
Anyway, here's the deal, the best way you've got of sitting down with the Big Bear, though it'd probably be at most five minutes, is to fight in the Blood Bowl.

That sounds...ominous. Cass said with a grunt which Pogo smiled at.
Yeah it's definitely properly named. Anyway, it's more or less what it sounds like. You go in, you either beat the shit out of your opponents or you get your shit kicked in. You do enough shit kicking and Ursa calls you up to vet you before offering you a contract to work under him. You want your face time, that's your best bet. Not exactly easy though. Purposeful killing is banned, Ursa doesn't believe in wasted talent that can be trained and practiced later, but let's just say it's called the Blood Bowl for a reason. Anyway, he's got a recruiting event tomorrow at uh, Pogo paused, patting himself down before finding a pen in his jacket pocket.

He snagged a napkin off the bar top and wrote down an address in scraggly hand writing,
364 Bane Street, 10:00 AM. We'll meet ya out front, if you're late though we'll know you're a coward so don't botha showing ya face around Baltigo no more. Pogo said, sliding the napkin to Cass with a wink, leaving Cassius unsure if the Longarm was serious or not.
Alright, I'm done here, let's go boys. Remember, 10:00AM sharp Squids, that street is in the Ninth District, don't be late. I don't need to lose anymore money to Gil. Pogo said, slapping Cass on the back before rising with Jack and the three mercenaries exited the bar but not before Jack flipped Ernie the bird on his way out.

Cassius watched them go in silence. He wasn't sure if what had just happened was some sort of blessing or curse, but regardless it was the best chance lead he had so he might as well follow it. With a heavy sigh, Cass reached down to finish his rum only to find his glass empty. It seemed the mercenaries had departed with more than just themselves.

WORDS: 1248 TAGS: --- NOTES: ---

Last edited by Faust on Mon Jul 16, 2018 7:44 pm; edited 2 times in total

Cassius · 5 Re: A Walk on the Other Side of the Tracks [GV] Wed Jul 11, 2018 3:17 pm

Cassius

Pirate

Posts : 491
Location : Water 7
Join date : 2017-12-09

Cassius Sinclair
The Kraken
A Walk on the Other Side of the Tracks [GV] D5da255ae42b2fbe08f85ac5f848e11c

Cassius had slept by the water, well, not so much by the water as in it. He could rarely sleep on land and certainly not in a place so bustling with people. The noises of humanity made his scales itch, whereas the ocean depths offered a silence so rarely found in other parts of the world. It was soothing in calm. In truth the upper world could be entirely on fire yet Cassius would find his sleep undisturbed. Usually that's how it felt, however, this night he found his thoughts restless. A mixture of fear, anxiety and determination fought in his mind as he float on his back by the docks, staring up at the midnight sky. He had floated far enough away from Baltigo that the light pollution was made minimal and the stars above shined like diamonds. The moon, a thin crescent bathed the water below in an abyssal blackness. Below the tides and currents churned with the same restlessness and turmoil he felt in his stomach. This was a turning point, he knew it. No matter what happened tomorrow he would walk out no longer the reclusive fishman he had once been, the one who only marveled at what could be found in the upper world but maintained a quiet, peaceful existence as a butcher's assistance in the same town he had been born. He had been traveling for some months now, to various small, unmapped and unremarkable islands scattered across the globe yet this somehow felt different. Inexplicable but logical all the same, eventually Cassius found peace enough to sleep before the warmth of the sun managed to heat the cocoon of water around him and roused him from his slumber.

A few hours later Cassius was back on land near the bar he had met Pogo, Jack and Gil at only a day earlier. He had asked around the docks and streets for directions to Bane Street. At first he had been met with the expected responses of either simple silence or criticisms to go back where he came from and "fuck off to the ocean you Squidbilly". The Squidbilly one he actually found mildly amusing, at least it was creative. Finally however, he had managed to corner a store clerk sweeping his front stoop who, begrudgingly drew a crude map on the back of the napkin Pogo had written the directions on. Thanking him, Cassius did his best to follow the map but found himself in front of a noticeably abandoned building. The brick front was missing several of its key features which made it a brick front. Windows were boarded over and old pages from the Newscoo had been taped together to cover the broken windows, of which there were many. Cassius looked down at the map again before staring up at the old, decrepit building. Sighing he grumbled, Figures. Before crumpling the map and address in his hand.

Oi Squidly you showed up! A familiar voice called from down the street to Cassius's right. Cass turned to see Jack, Pogo and Gil walking down the block towards him, Jack waving a hand above the crowd with a surprising amount of enthusiasm. Cass frowned as he watched Gil hand Pogo a Beli note but raised his hand in a short wave back to the group.
Early too, haha, sonuvabitch, knew you'd show up. Ya pumped? Ya ready fishboy? Got those webbed mits up and ready for some punchin? Jack asked, grabbing Cass's wrists before dropping them and going into a very poor example of a boxer's pose, dancing around Cass and swinging his fists violently.
Gonna hurt yaself Jackie-boy. Pogo said with a grin before sticking his hand out to Cassius. Cass looked down in surprise and mild confusion. He had observed humans greeting each other with respect in a similar manner but the same courtesy had never been extended to him before.
What's the matta? Stick your hand in shit or something? Shake my hand Squids. Ya think ya too good for me to shake mah hand, cause I know ya ain't too good for me. Pogo joked before Cass grabbed his hand with a firm shook. Pogo placed his other hand on Cass's shoulder, Relax, we're all outsiders here. You're among friends, or at least not among jackasses who'll steal your milk money.
Depends how much your mom gave ya.
Pogo smiled, Right, that's true. Alright now let's see if we can find someone to punch that ugly mug of yours until it's pretty.
The Longarm then stepped towards the front of the building before removing a brick towards the base foundation. Inside was a simple silver button which he pressed before securing the brick back in its place and hiding the button. Gears groaned and churned as the large staircase leading up to the abandoned building's front retracted into the building itself, revealing a well-lit staircase leading down into the depths of Baltigo's underground. Jack jumped forward, the first one down the stairs while Pogo and Cassius followed, Gil brought up the rear as the false staircase began to descend from above once more and cover the entrance.

Jack and Pogo lead Cassius down a long hallway where the stairs deposited them from below. Bright bulbs hung above on the walls beside them in a rather tight and narrow hallway.
Ya see Squidly, this is the true marketplace of Baltigo. Well not this hallway exactly, but it's the entrance...or at least one of the entrances. The real Baltigo is the underground or Underworld. This is just one of the many entrances to one of Ursa's spots. Jack explained, noticing the look of surprise and confusion on Cass's face.
The entrance to the Blood Bowl I assume? Cass asked from behind.
Exactly. Jack responded before the group found themselves standing in front of a bank of four elevators, two on either side. Above them, where the indicators for floor levels would be was simply a single light bulb. Jack pressed one of the call buttons and the light above the back left elevator lit green as it hummed to life. Seconds later the doors opened to reveal a simple metal elevator. Cass stepped inside along with the other three as the doors shut, his stomach rumbled and churned like the ocean current but he stood tall so as not to show weakness. As the elevator lurched down, Cass came to realize that what he thought was a simple metal elevator with mildly reflective walls was actually a glass elevator which had simply displayed the inside tubing of the elevator shaft. As the shaft disappeared he found himself and the others suspeneded on cables in a massive subterranean cavern. Beneath them sprawled what Cass could only think of as an arena. Mixtures of sheet metal, plywood, cables, and piping built the walls of the arena. Surrounding the oval shaped ring were rows upon rows of bleachers packed with a myriad of individuals cheering on the sport below. Tall, bright lights lined the outside, illuminating the fight in all its glory while a network of pipes and tubes provided a caging over the top of the arena floor perhaps to keep the crowd from getting hurt, or even to prevent the participants from escaping. Behind him, Cass felt Jack clasp him on the shoulder before saying, Welcome to Blood Bowl Squidly.

A Walk on the Other Side of the Tracks [GV] Latest?cb=20130611203004

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WORDS: 1231 TAGS: --- NOTES: ---

Last edited by Faust on Wed Jul 11, 2018 9:51 pm; edited 2 times in total

Cassius · 6 Re: A Walk on the Other Side of the Tracks [GV] Wed Jul 11, 2018 9:42 pm

Cassius

Pirate

Posts : 491
Location : Water 7
Join date : 2017-12-09

Cassius Sinclair
The Kraken
A Walk on the Other Side of the Tracks [GV] D5da255ae42b2fbe08f85ac5f848e11c

Name of the participant?
The reception woman asked and as Cass opened his mouth to answer, Jack spoke up,
Squids Squidly.
Cassius closed his mouth in a mixture of irritation and utter surprise. Somewhere along the line these three had actually switched over from just calling Cassius a pretty bland and mildly racist nickname to actually believing that was his name even though Cass had never even introduced himself. Luckily the woman just stared at Jack and then Cass in almost the same level of disbelief as Cassius was experiencing.
Surely he's joking.
Erm, yes, he is, sorry about that. Cassius, Cassius Sinclair.
The reception desk girl nodded, clearly accepting this far more normal name as she jotted down the name. Behind him Jack said,
Cassius...Sin...clair. You sure? I could'a sworn ya said it was Squids something yesterday at the bar. He scratched his head in thought but Cass only smiled briefly and Pogo broke down laughing before throwing an arm around Cass's shoulder.
Ahh sorry bout that, so it's Cassius, huh? Bit of a different name but I reckon I'm one to talk, goin around bein called Pogo and what not. I think I'll stick with callin you Squids though if it's all the same.
Cassius said nothing in response as the two walked through the reception area of the arena and into the holding center for all participants. Pogo clearly took Cass's silence as acceptance of his nickname, but Cass was lost in his own world as he stared at the competition warming up for the fights.

Competitors of all shapes, sizes, races and fighting styles filled the holding area, milling about one another. Many of them spoke amongst each other commonly, some even joking and laughing together. It was an odd scene as, just beyond the electrified gates one could see a fight going on with a particular individual working his opponent with what appeared to be a hammer and chisel. It was gruesome and the two competitors had probably just been in this same room only minutes earlier.

So how does this work? Two go in, fight and the winner is recruited? Cassius asked, turning back to his new compatriots. Pogo scratched under his chin in thought for a second,
Ehhh sortof, but also not exactly. Come here. He said, pulling Cassius towards the electrified fencing which lead to the arena. He pointed through the fencing, careful not to touch the live wires,
That up there is Ursa's box, the Big Bear himself is somewhere behind that curtain. So how it works is yeah...usually two people enter and one exits. If you win that doesn't necessarily mean Ursa is gonna offer you a contract or a meetin. Ya gotta impress the mink, really show off. If he takes an interest in you he might...uhh...tweak your fight somehow, really throw you to the dogs and see what you're made of, sometimes literally. Pogo said with a smirk.
So it's all arbitrary then?
I guess, at the end of the day Ursa has the final say. So go out there and win, don't die and most importantly, make it look good.
Pogo said with a slap of encouragement against Cass's back.

Yeah...great. Cass said, staring up at the curtained box. There was nothing lavish about it, it fit in perfectly with the surrounding scenery of the arena and yet something drew the eye to it unnaturally. It spoke volumes of power and confidence, impenetrable yet only protected by a thin, dark blue curtain. Cassius narrowed his eyes, studying the large box for any sign of movement, just a glimpse of this shadowy figure known as Ursa. Eventually he gave up, turning his back on the box and the two contenders beating each other bloody.

Nearly an hour later Cassius had found a seat on an old wooden bench in the back of the holding area. The fighters had thinned, the crowd now down to maybe a dozen or so compared to the well over fifty who had been in the room when he first entered. Pogo, Jack and Gil had wished him luck awhile back before leaving to take their seats and watch the fight. Initially Cassius had stood by the fence, watching fighters enter and leave, many not of their own volition but in stretchers or even a medivac cart. After awhile however, he grew restless and bored, tired of watching the same bloody images play out over and over again, tired of waiting for his name to be called, waiting for the ball to be set in motion to determine the fate of the rest of his life. If he didn't get an audience with Ursa he'd be back to square one, having to restart and find a new way. While it wasn't the end of the world, Cassius had realized that Ursa and his business of hired mercenaries weren't only the stepping stone towards finding out about Cecile, but also represented steady income to keep his head above water and most importantly, someone to watch his back even if it was only because the other guy was getting paid to do it. Ursa offered the much needed stability that Cassius subconsciously had been seeking since arriving in the above world. Stirring him from his thoughts a loud voice echoed over the speakers in the holding area,

Cassius Sinclair and Reaver Taikanawa report to the main gate.
Lifting his head to look around for his opponent, Cassius found a broad, strong man covered in what appeared to be hand made armor. The armor was decorated with bones and upon closer inspection, Cassius realized they were fish bones. Across his back was a net and long, three pointed trident. The man rose as Cassius did and locked eyes with the fishman before smirking and looking down at his armor which Cassius was staring at,

Reaver:

Looking for a spot I can fit you in on? Don't worry, I'll make room for ya fishboy.
Cassius narrowed his eyes but said nothing as he stepped towards the opening fence. The two walked out together side by side and for a moment Cassius forgot all about the man decorated with what could have quite possibly been his neighbor's bones and simply stared agape at the massive crowd around him. In the holding area he had been able to see parts of the crowd and even listen to their roars throughout the fights but actually standing there at ground level, in the center of it all with the bright, searing lights on his skin and the thunderous yells and screams of the frenzied crowd...it was surreal. He felt as if he had been transported to a different dimension, something not of this world as he walked towards the center starting area of the well over 200 foot arena.

It wasn't until the crowd reached 2 in the countdown that Cassius realized he was about to fight for his life and his future. Tuning in as they dropped to 1, Cassius focused on his opponent only for the man to suddenly stab forward with his trident towards Cassius's left shoulder. However, the jab was high and leaning away from it was simple. It wasn't until he felt the netting wrap around his right ankle that he realized the jab had missed purposefully, forcing him to lean towards the right and making an easy trip a possible deciding blow already so early in this fight.

With a tug of the net, Cassius found himself staring up at the ceiling of the massive cavern, the cage made of piping above him taunting him as his back exploded in pain. His opponent was far smarter than he looked, clearly not collecting all those fishbones with just a pole and long afternoon. Cass felt a pressure on his right palm and looked over to see the hilt of the trident pressed painfully into his hand to keep it pinned. He turned again as the man's left foot stood on the inside of his elbow, threatening to crack it with one quick movement. Cassius looked up to stare his opponent in the face only to receive a swift kick to the face, his head reverberating on the sand. Blood spittle flew backwards, painting the sand behind Cass's head. His world spun, exploding in colors and splotches of black and purple. An audible groan escaped Cassius's lips, matched only by the cracking of his jaw.

Pfft, I knew this was going to be easy but honestly, the Bear won't even give me a look with something like you. The man said with pitiful disdain in his voice. As he spoke, Cassius's hearing and vision began to clear. He focused on the man, ignoring his words but instead focusing on his position, the slits in his armor exposing bear skin and smiled before a tentacles on his face flicked a small water bullet towards the man's exposed thigh. It grazed it briefly, drawing a small amount of blood and resulting in Reaver recoiling instinctively. This in turn lessened the force on Cass's elbow enough for him to force it off and grab his ankle, yanking it out from under him and bringing the fight to the ground. Immediately Cassius rolled to his left, separating himself from Reaver and jumping to his feet. Reaver followed, or attempted to as he put pressure on his left leg only to collapse, his trident dug into the ground to support him.
What the hell? You barely even grazed me.
Though he didn't show it, Cassius smiled inwardly as his plan had worked and the neurotoxin was already setting into the man's thigh. Unfortunately that was a ticking clock so he'd need to move fast to take advantage of this momentary window. Cassius moved forward, striking forward with his fist into the center mass of Reaver's chest with a powerful punch. The man flew backwards, tumbling through the sand and blood soaked arena floor.

It's unbecoming for a man to speak so boldly before the the fight has really begun. Cassius said as he stalked towards the downed Reaver, wiping blood from the side of his mouth. He stood over the man now, ready to deliver a swift kick to the face as Reaver crouched down on all fours, attempting to catch is breath and stand up. His trident had fallen by the wayside and the net lay uselessly in front of him.
You're one to talk fishfuck. Reaver said through gritted teeth before pressing a hidden button on the handle of his net. Suddenly electricity coursed through Cassius's entire body, painfully constricting his muscles and causing him to scream out in agony as he fell to the ground. Jumping to his feet, the neurotoxin beginning to break down in his blood stream, Reaver seized his fallen trident and stood over the paralyzed Cassius who twitched and contorted painfully due to the residual shocks from the net. He began to slowly press one of the tips of the trident into Cass's shoulder, just above where it met his abdomen. He was careful not to hit any vital areas, but also smart enough to cause as much pain as possible. Cassius screamed and writhed in anguish, his muscles still constricting unwillingly.

That little water trick was cute, I'll give you that, but I've been at this game a lot longer than you pal. Now give up so I can be rid of you and move onto the next one. Reaver said with clear disdain, forcing the tip of the trident deeper into Cass's flesh. Blood pooled around the wound, soaking into his coat and spreading across his chest. The lights in the arena began to flicker, fading in and out until Cassius realized that wasn't the lights but his own consciousness. He was losing consciousness, which meant he was losing, fast. He had to do something immediately or they'd call the fight and that would be that, he'd be back to square one, alone and helpless. The sand stung his hand as he gripped it, crushing it within his palm to abate the waves of pain wracking his body. The materials of the earth had never been his friend, the deep waters of the sea his closest ally, but so far from home he had to make new friends, new bonds and relationships. Acting on instinct and adrenaline alone, Cassius hurled a clod of sand, sweat and blood at Reaver's face, momentarily blinding the gladiator and causing him to reel back brushing his eyes. The tip of the trident popped out of Cassius's chest with a wet sucking noise and Cassius moved to his feet.

He closed his eyes for a moment, leaving Reaver preoccupied with the sand in his eyes. Around him he could hear the roar of the crowd, his body ached in pain as his muscles attempted to rid themselves fully of the momentary paralysis. His shoulder throbbed with shooting pain from the gaping wound inflicted on him. His arm hung limp at his side, but he cleared his mind. He blocked out the noise of the crowd, picturing rolling waves crashing against the shore. Cassius imagined floating peacefully along the surface of an ocean nearly so placid it shined like new glass. He took several deep breaths before opening his eyes, adrenaline and a clear mind focusing him in on the task at hand. He said nothing as he approached Reaver who feverishly tore at his own eyes. No biting words of taunt or war cries could be heard from the tall fishman. Instead he calmly removed his coat as he stalked forward and as Reaver stood upright, now staring at Cassius and readying his trident. Cass however punched the air forward and Reaver doubled over, the trident clattering to the ground as he gripped his stomach. Cassius stepped forward and grabbed the back of Reaver's head before bringing his knee up into the fish hunter's face. Blood splattered across Cass's knee as Reaver stumbled backwards, trying to stay upright.

Cassius followed him, delivering a stiff uppercut to the under jaw. To Reaver's credit, he managed to stay on his feet, though stumbled more on wobbly knees. Cassius stepped up to him, very close now and the tentacles on his face reached forward, seizing Reaver's face by the back of the head and ears. For a moment the air was still between them and even the crowd fell hushed, waiting for what would happen next before Cassius let out a bellowing cry, screaming so loud into Reaver's face that spittle flew from his lips and splattered across Reaver's features. He then reeled back before delivering a devastating headbutt to his opponent, causing Reaver to drop like a sack of rocks, unconscious to the arena floor. Cassius stared down at his opponent as he felt the warm trickle of blood make its way down his forehead and across his brow. He gazed around at the cheering crowd but stopped as his eyes fell on Ursa's box, the curtain was slightly ajar but from this distance Cassius still couldn't see in. Regardless he simply stared, blocking out the world around him and waiting to see if that had been enough to garner the Big Bear's attention.

WORDS: 2550 TAGS: --- NOTES: ---

Last edited by Faust on Mon Jul 16, 2018 7:42 pm; edited 1 time in total

Cassius · 7 Re: A Walk on the Other Side of the Tracks [GV] Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:31 pm

Cassius

Pirate

Posts : 491
Location : Water 7
Join date : 2017-12-09

Cassius Sinclair
The Kraken
A Walk on the Other Side of the Tracks [GV] D5da255ae42b2fbe08f85ac5f848e11c

For a long while, nothing happened. Reaver lay unconscious behind Cassius, Cass was announced audibly as the winner across the speaker system, the crowd cheered but then...nothing. The electric fencing didn't raise to allow Cassius to leave, no medics came to retrieve Reaver's body. Instead, Cassius just continued staring up at Ursa's special box seats, waiting for some indication of either passing or failing the Mink's unspoken, undefined test. Finally, the fence began to raise and Cassius released a sigh of relief. Regardless of the outcome, at least it was over. He had bested a man who had clearly been a more seasoned fighter and had proven himself not only to the audience, but to himself as well, performing above and beyond what he thought capable. Now he got to rest and recuperate, let the medical team tend to his wounds. However, as Cassius began to walk towards the holding area four more armor clad, weapons drawn gladiators marched out. That was odd, the other fights he had observed usually had a brief intermission between. Previous contenders were always allowed off before the next fight was allowed on. It gave the medical team time to gather the loser, and in some cases even the winner, and cart them off before the next blood bath. So, why now was a new batch of fighters already entering?
For the next fight, Cassius Sinclair will face off against-
Cassius's blood ran cold, he stopped hearing altogether. The announcers words were instead replaced by a dull ringing as blood pumped to his ears and head. He felt light headed, his heart threatened to pound through is chest and out into his hand. He wanted to throw up, to vomit and curl up in a tiny ball and simply cease to exist. However, beneath all of these feelings he was also angry. Angry that he had most likely been singled out, as he always had been. Hated upon first sight, not recognized for his merits or personal self but simply hated immediately for his appearance. A monster they most likely thought of him as, well if they wanted a monster, they'd get a monster. In front of him the next four opponents stalked forward silently. Three Minks and a Winged human from the looks of it, all armed and armored.

A Walk on the Other Side of the Tracks [GV] 2227e93c02972672e551fe2361d3f7c8

He had heard stories of the Winged people but never actually seen one in person before. In any other setting he might actually find her beautiful, but not here, not now. Instead he only saw red. Gone was the calmness of the ocean, the lulling of the crashing waves against the shore. Inside him was only anger and rip currents, massive waves crashing against the cliffs, threatening to strip away the earth as Cassius's pace towards the four gladiators increased. Before he knew it he was practically sprinting, blatantly ignoring the rules set within the arena before a match. He could see the confusion in the gladiators' eyes, wondering if this fighter had simply gone mad and in a way they may have been right. This was Cassius's anger unleashed, a maelstrom of hate and adrenaline unmatched by anything on land. He may go down here, but he'd go down fighting. By the time he was upon them, the other four gladiators had realized what was going on and readied themselves, fanning out to surround Cassius. However, he was having none of that as he stepped forward and punched, releasing a shockwave towards the four through the water vapor in the air. The Winged and a an elephant looking Mink were pushed back, grunting in pain while the two on the sides managed to escape the shockwave and continue their circling around Cassius.

Following the lion mink, Cassius let loose another violent shockwave in his direction, knocking him off his feet and to the ground of the arena with an audible, bone cracking thud. Unfortunately Cassius had made a grave error in his rage and turned his back to the rhinoceros Mink, the largest of the gladiators by far. He felt strong, powerful arms wrap around his torso and lift him up off the ground, leaving him squirming and helpless in the rhino's grip. The lion, back on his feet, pounced forward and began hammering into Cassius's torso with blow after blow. Meanwhile the elephant Mink and Winged were making their own approach. Cassius wheezed and gasped with each blow from the Lion, but turned to look at the Elephant with its massive war hammer. There was a pause in blows and Cassius's head hung low on his shoulders, staving off the darkness and trying to stay awake. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the elephant winding up to deliver a rib breaking blow with his hammer. Acting fast, Cassius flung his head back to face the rhino's above him, using the tentacles on his beard to unleash three water bullets directly at the rhinoceros's lower jaw. The creature cried out in pain, loosening his hold on Cassius enough for the fishman to drop to the ground in a crouch just as the war hammer swung through the air, striking instead the rhinoceros in the chest and sending him tumbling backwards across the floor.

Come on! Cassius yelled at the Lion as it pounced and knocked Cass to the floor. However, Cassius used the momentum to roll backwards, getting his knees under the Lion's chest so that as they rolled he was able to push him off and onto the rhinoceros behind them, standing tall from the roll. It was then the Winged's turn, having seen where her companions had failed, she swooped in, a chain for her weapon of choice as she swung it around, lashing Cassius across the face with a teeth chattering blow. He grabbed his already bruised and swollen face in pain as the Winged circled around him, bringing the chain over his neck and using his back as leverage to choke him out and end the fight. Cassius however brought his hands up to loosen the choking, allowing him to breathe but placing him in a gridlocked situation. The Elephant than approached, noticing Cass's previous shoulder wound from the trident, it began to force the point of its tusk deeper into the wound, causing Cassius to scream and writhe in pain. It felt as if receptors in his brain were exploding, his own personal fireworks display behind his eyes. His left arm dropped, useless, allowing the chain to tighten around his neck. The world spun, darkness blossomed across his vision and he felt the rest of his body go limp before...nothing.

Rise and shine sunshine, it's a new day. A familiar voice roused Cassius from a world of darkness. That, coupled with several hits to the face, however they felt like nothing compared to the pain that wracked his body. It was the first thing to truly greet him, to let him know he was still alive and this wasn't some sort of dream or afterlife. Pogo's face was the next thing to greet him, staring at him before his eyes flickered with surprise,
Ayyy he's alive, Squids is alive!
Immediately Jack was by Pogo's side and to Cass's surprise even Gil wandered over to inspect the bruised and bloodied fishman.
Had us goin for a second ther Squidly.
Wh-who...w-won? Cassius rasped, unaware of just how parched he was, his throat felt like sandpaper, the walls rubbing against one another to make sound.
Well, technically Gil thinks he won since he bet that you'd win your fight. I know, we were just as surprised as you are, apparently the guy's got a soft spot for ya. Anywho, I say that's bullshit because you lost, but he said it's not because you won the fight we bet on and the second one wasn't supposed to happen so it doesn't cou-
Pogo slapped Jack upside the head, shutting him up,
You idiot, he doesn't care who won the bet.
Well of course you're not pissed, you made out like a bandit. Jack grumbled but said nothing more.
Here, med-team told me to give you these. Some of the finest pills found on Baltigo I been told; made by the Good Doctor himself. They'll help with the pain I guess and jumpstart your natural healing factor...or something...I think that's what the doctor said. Just take them, free drugs. Pogo said, handing Cass a glass of water and two red pills.
Cassius didn't so much as look at them before popping them in his mouth and chugging down the glass of water. The effect was almost immediate as the pain he had been woken up to began to fade away, not completely, but it was certainly far more manageable. He looked down at his shoulder and noticed fresh white bandages wrapped around, his wounds had been dressed while he was out.
Anyway, to answer your question ya lost...clearly. People don't usually get choked out and wake up to find out they won, ya know? Good news is...Ursa requested a meeting with you as soon as you woke up and well...not to rush you but you probably shouldn't keep a bear the size of a small house waiting, ya know?

WORDS: 1550 TAGS: --- NOTES: ---

Cassius · 8 Re: A Walk on the Other Side of the Tracks [GV] Mon Jul 16, 2018 7:15 pm

Cassius

Pirate

Posts : 491
Location : Water 7
Join date : 2017-12-09

Cassius Sinclair
The Kraken
A Walk on the Other Side of the Tracks [GV] D5da255ae42b2fbe08f85ac5f848e11c

Cassius was directed to Ursa's tent by Pogo, Jack and Gil, but the three stayed outside, not daring to go in as this was Cassius's meeting and to intrude would be to disgrace both Cass and more importantly, the Big Bear himself. Cassius stared at the flaps of the tent with apprehension and excitement. This was what he needed, he was about to step across a precipice he wasn't sure there was any coming back from but it was something he needed to do. It was a stepping stone into the world of these Kingpins and towards the information he desired. However, as he thought this he also realized that he was getting ahead of himself. There was no guarantee Ursa would receive him openly or offer him a position within his mercenaries. He had no idea what to expect but found that simply standing outside the lavish box seat would do him absolutely no good. So, taking a deep breath and massaging the wound on his shoulder, Cassius stepped inside, parting the curtain.

A Walk on the Other Side of the Tracks [GV] Goat-Warrior--43551

Inside he found the room to be quite spacious, which he realized made sense considering the stories of Ursa's fabled size. However, where he expected to find Ursa he instead found an armored goat mink sitting cross legged on a lavish pillow, his arms folded in front of him and his head looking down, eyes closed. For a moment Cassius wondered if he might have the wrong box seat, which was impossible considering there was nothing else like this in the entire Blood Bowl arena. Regardless, his nerves got the better of him and he meekly mumbled,
Right then, sorry, must have mixed up the tents. I'll just be-
Ah yes, the fishman. The goat mink said, opening one eye to look Cassius up and down.
Sit. He said simply, with a tone that said he was used to being listened to, so Cassius did exactly that.
A second, comfortable cushion sat across from the goat and Cassius immediately dropped into it. For a long moment the goat was silent, simply looking Cassius up and down before he said,

Ursa wishes to extend his apologies for not being able to greet you here himself. You were out for longer than he expected and he has important business to attend to.
Oh yes well, please um, extend to him my deepest condolences- Cassius began muttering through formal phrases he had picked up during his travels. They sounded strange and foreign on his tongue, but the goat simply smiled,
I believe his exact words were, 'I don't have all day to wait for that fucking fish to nap off. Gruff, you handle this.'
Cassius fell silent, causing the goat to chuckle,
Hmm yes, not the most formal of the Kingpins but he excels in far more important categories. Let's cut the bullshit though, neither of us are clearly comfortable with this formal language. Fact is Ursa took a liking to you, he saw potential and all that so he wants to reward the show you put on with a request of any kind that he is capable of, within reason of course. Most people usually ask for free mercenary rental or an assassination. Gruff said bored.

Cassius stared at the ground for a long while, his legs uncomfortably crossed. Although the temperature was perfectly fine within the tent, he found himself sweating as he thought in silence.
Tell Ursa, my request is to be given a contract...to work with him. I wish to work as a mercenary for him.
The goat fell silent, letting Cassius's request hang in the air for longer than the fishman was comfortable for. His scales itched, he wanted to crawl out of his skin and slither away, through the tent doors and into the deepest darkest pit. The longer the silence held, Gruff simply staring at him with a raised eyebrow, the more Cassius wanted to turn and run. He clearly had offended Gruff, or worse, Ursa in some way with his request. He thought too highly of himself and as a result would surely be punished. Then however, the goat simply smiled before throwing his head back in a deep belly laugh intermingled with the bleetings of a goat.

That big fool owes me ten million Beli, I told him.
Um...I'm sorry? Cassius asked, clearly confused, but Gruff merely waved his hand.
Don't worry about it, but the answer is yes. I have been given orders to allow you a trial period as a mercenary under Ursa if you should request it. Keep in mind during the trial period you'll be given shit work, the jobs that squeak through the cracks and end up at the bottom. The commission of your first three jobs will be completely paid to Ursa directly to prove your loyalty. After that, 25% of your commission will be handed over with each mission. Do you understand?
Yes, yes of course, that makes sense, that's fair. Cassius rattled off, still in utter disbelief with the words Gruff had just said. He had done it, he had proven his worth and found his way in.
Fair? HA Gruff bleated, The bear is everything but fair, but you'll learn quite a lot working under him, with us. Now then, if that will be all, I wasted enough of my life waiting for your sleeping beauty ass to wake up.
Cassius stood up quickly and awkwardly bowed towards Gruff,
Right, yes, of course. My apologies once again sir Gruff. Cassius said nervously, unable to drop the awkward pleasantries in his voice that sounded all too forced.
Get out of here before you stroke out fishman. Expect your first job within the next few days and make sure those jackasses outside give you the meds we had them hold onto. Last thing we need his them getting high and wandering around the Blood Bowl.
Ah, yes sir, of course. Thank you.

With that Cassius stumbled out of the tent where Pogo and the rest greeted him with questions and after he answered, congratulations. There were talks of getting drinks and celebrations, but Cassius heard only white noise. Internally he was celebrating by himself. This was the first true victory he had had since leaving Fishman Island and Doc's cottage. This was the first time he felt like he was truly taking steps in the right direction towards finding Cecile and deciphering the mysterious symbol that was the lead clue in his investigation. As the four made their way towards the exit, Cassius taking up the rear while the three, or two rather considering Gil's lack of tongue, chatted in front of him, a beard tendril rose up to his eye and quickly wiped away a salt water drop that had formed. Things were finally beginning to turn around.

[/end]

WORDS: 1139
NOTES: ###
DORIKI: ###
GEAR: ###
SKILLS: ###

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