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 Posted: Thu Feb 29, 2024 5:23 pm
As the afternoon sun rose in the sky, Nabil skirted around the back streets of Sulburi. It was another day where Nabil had managed to leave the estate to do some errands while others were caught up in more formal affairs. Most of his errands were doing odd jobs for various merchants, Nabil still working diligently to save whatever coin he could for the day that he finally left the estate with his twin. Now though he had finished up for the morning and was considering returning home before evening took over the city and the streets got more dangerous. It was one thing to sneak out for errands and hide some coin or whatever he purchased at the market in his room, but another thing entirely to come back with bruises or worse from an encounter in the back streets. He had barely managed to hide the last incident, Nabil getting into a fight with a thief after a busy morning of errands a few weeks back and returning home with several bruises and cuts along his arms that he had to hide under long sleeves for the following week. Ever since he had taken to carrying a pair of throwing knives on him, the most discreet weapons that he could think of that easily tucked into his sash. It was better to chase someone off, especially pettier thieves, by simply brandishing the weapons in return and watching as they scurried away instead of actually fighting. Not that it always worked out that way, but so far Nabil hadn’t had any issues since the last encounter and he prayed to On’os that it would remain that way. And so he continued on, the teen navigating the back streets that had somehow become more familiar to him over the past year so that he could easily slip back towards home.
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Posted: Thu Feb 29, 2024 6:07 pm
This was not where Hanaeko was supposed to be, not even close and in so many different ways. First off, she wasn't supposed to be in the city proper right now...without the proper guards with her. Secondly, there was no way she was supposed to be in this location....considering she didn't even know where she was. She had left home in an effort to try and go back to a place she had gone to with Zuribali. They had such amazing food and Hana had been sure that she would be able to navigate back there by herself....apparently she had not been paying enough attention when they were there the first time. Although she had dressed as casually as she could, Hana felt out of place. Her clothes a little too brightly colored. A little too clean. Her hair a little too fancy. She hadn't carried much money with her when she left the house as she was normally a very obvious target. Her most trusted guard generally had the purse with her allowances in it. Hanaeko stood in the middle of a crossroads, a throng of people swerving around her. Some blatantly ignored her and others looked at her weirdly but wouldn't meet her gaze when she tried to ask them for directions. She wasn't quite sure what she was going to have to do to find her way back to a familiar area so she can get some lunch.
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Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2024 8:55 am
Of course things never could go exactly as planned, right? Nabil winced when he passed by a group of thugs and noticed the girl who stood out quite a bit too well wandering up ahead. He knew that his plain outfit, the tattered scarf around his neck helping to add to the beggar appearance, kept him from standing out but everything about this girl was just too obvious. Even if she was standing in the middle of a crowd it could still catch the attention of those he had just walked past. He could just continue along, the temptation prompting him to take a few more steps in the opposite direction, but then again it would be a shame if the thugs took money for themselves and injured her in the process.
At least that was the logic that he used to propel himself back in the other direction, Nabil reaching out to gently grab at the girl's wrist so that he could guide her from the crowd where a cart was starting to come through. "Are you lost? I'm more familiar with the area if you need a guide...it takes a coin for my time though." He offered thinking of his own pockets once more despite having put himself out there to direct the stranger away from potential threats.
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Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2024 4:27 pm
Hana cursed herself internally for being so self absorbed that she did not notice someone approaching her who took her by her wrist and while they lead her out of the middle of the crowd her heartbeat increased as she remembered a not that long ago experience of being kidnapped. In a panic she wrenched her wrist out of their grip and whirled when she heard the voice, a very male voice. She wiped the emotion from her face as she faced the stranger. It was at this time, with his statement, that she realized what a fool she actually was. That she thought she could come out into the city without a guard being who she was....was a little delusional of her. When in doubt, she drew upon the knowledge and schooling she had been taught since birth. Hanaeko would not admit that she was lost, if he already caught on that she was which she was pretty sure that he did, then it was what it was. "And how much are you worth?" She raised an eyebrow at him, knowing her question could have multiple suggestions.
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Posted: Sun May 12, 2024 11:14 am
Well, at least he had to give it to her. She was more on edge than expected based upon everything he had observed from afar. Still, it was better for him to have been the one to approach and have gotten her upset than others lingering around the street. Nabil already saw a few shadows, the quick flash of metal in the Oban sunlight showing him that there were a few knives about with today's crowd. "At least a coin, depending on what type of services you require. If you take my whole afternoon, a couple of coins might suffice as long as it's not too dangerous a task." Replied Nabil, not bothering to even be upset by any suggestion he could take from the question. There was simply not enough time to get heated, not now and he had taken plenty of beatings to his pride over the last few years stuck in that hell of a manor. The most important thing was earning money and keeping his twin safe while he figured out an escape from their family ties.
Though after another moment his voice lowered, Nabil taking a few steps closer as if greeting a close friend or more with how little space was between them. It was enough to allow him to whisper against her neck, the familiar greeting a way to try to ease any suspicion in case others tried to wedge their way in between to offer services of their own. "As it is you'll be risking more than a coin if you keep lingering here. I'm just trying to help before someone else forces their services on you." Services was a word but truly any threats, kidnapping and worse could take place in these busy back streets if one wasn't careful. She could at least allow him to guide her back towards the main markets, the guards patrolling there making things slightly safer for those who weren't prepared to deal with the various troubles lurking in the corners of the city.
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Posted: Wed May 15, 2024 2:30 pm
Hanaeko's eyebrow rose slightly in a manner she thought would have made her mother proud when he stated his 'worth'. She had sort of meant to rattle him a little and see if he was really 'helping' her for the right reasons. Her suspicions were confirmed when he closed the distance between them to whisper in her ear. It took everything Hanaeko had to not attempt to use a couple of the self defense techniques she had been learning. Hana HAD learned her lesson from the last time, she really had...except not enough to avoid a situation such as this. The young woman sighed slightly, no more than a slightly louder exhale. Hanaeko looked up...and up....and realized the height difference between herself and this man who was offering her his 'services.' "I suppose I could use a couple of extra hands for the day." She was able to keep her own confidence and not step away from his presence as a more meek woman would. "Lunch is on the agenda first. Do you know of the stand that makes delicious cheese dishes? Help me find that and we can discuss your payment."
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Posted: Wed May 29, 2024 2:14 pm
"I think I'll have to help you out of this area first, then we can look for your lunch." Mused Nabil, realizing that they were pressed for time as others started sauntering in their direction. How obvious. Even Nabil couldn't help the disdain that crossed his features at the sight, the man more rattled by the gangsters and less by the earlier question from the girl. "I'm not much of a fighter, but I am quick. Are you? Hope so since I'll need you to keep up." He flashed her a warm smile, the expression an attempt to look a bit intimate as he suddenly laced his fingers through her own and tugged her forward after him.
Nabil didn't want to wait or try to casually stroll out of the crowd, not when others were already looking towards a chance to get some money from the girl. So much for trying to just slip through today without any issues. Still, the thought didn't stop him as he started walking faster and faster into a near sprint as they neared the edge of the street towards the next.
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