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 Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 11:33 pm
Paige pushed her way through the crowded market, and let out a huff. Her breath curled in the air in front of her face, hinting at the arrival of winter's grip around Sunderland, and she scrunched up her nose against the cold. But she was on a mission, and it wasn't like she could really get away from the cold anyway, so she might as well get used to it. So she simply pulled her scarf tighter around her face and neck, and stuck closer to the dark doe at her side for warmth. Alcyone appeared to have fluffed herself up a bit by this point, so that helped a bit as well.
A few days ago, she'd seen a notice on the wall outside a little shop, advertising lost items that they would appreciate being returned. She'd decided that she was going to return an item, and maybe they would give her something in return. She really hoped so; the winter was rough, but she could tell that this one was going to be particularly cruel. She was looking, specifically, for a little golden ring with a single emerald set in it. Surely that would bring quite a hefty reward! Maybe, if she got lucky, she could see someone wearing one or see it at a merchant's shop? Oh, please..!
But today seemed to be her lucky day. She'd told Alcyone to keep a lookout as well (although she wasn't entirely sure if the doe had understood, despite how intelligent she seemed to be), and soon enough the doe was sending an urgent nudge through their connection and nosing at her ward's ear. She let out a soft bleat when she noticed that Paige was eyeing some delicious-looking bread across the way, which finally made the young blond look at her. Alcyone carefully moved over toward another cart, and sure enough, there was a golden ring with a single emerald. She realized that the chances of it being the same ring were slim, but it was exactly like the description! Perhaps it was even more valuable than the one he'd lost!?
She waited until the merchant was busy, haggling with a particularly surly and determined customer, before making her move. She walked by very quickly, swiping her hand out in a flash to push the ring off the end of the cart and scooped it up in silence. She moved hastily but smoothly through the crowd after that, not looking back and pretending to be window-shopping. Alcyone was at her heels, catching a few looks but effectively drawing attention away from Paige. Normally the doe would be against her charge stealing, but she probably understood the necessity. Besides; if it was already stolen, that meant that Paige was returning it!
Paige eventually made her way back to that pawn shop, pushing the door open and peeking inside. "Er, hello?" She called, carefully stepping into the shop with Alcyone right behind her. She hoped that the owner was actually here right now; what would she do if they weren't? Crap.
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Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 5:39 pm
Earnest John's shop was small, cramped, and cluttered: ancient furniture and worn clothing propped up against the walls, locked displays set haphazard [but secured!] on tabletops, the lamps high and dim. At the back was the gate, a solid iron construction that blocked the far wall off entirely, locked down with the heaviest padlock that Paige had likely seen.
All the expensive goods were beyond this wall -- the rings, the jewelry, the fine linens and silks. Handkerchiefs, most of them supplied by children around Paige's age, with the monograms carefully removed by small fingers. Weaponry, both ancient and new, both active and decorative. Everything worth money, and everything Earnest John would really miss, were it taken.
The man himself, of course, was also behind the gate, muttering to himself and taking inventory, his head tipped down. Her timid voice would not be enough to draw his attention up from the small pile of coins he was sorting...
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Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 12:05 am
Paige let out a small huff of irritation when she was only greeted by silence, and moved further into the shop, Alcyone at her heels. The doe dipped her head to nudge at her Chosen's hand, ears folding back as she sent an insistent urge through their bond. She seemed to understand that Paige needed this reward. The little orphan paused long enough to place a soothing hand on Alcyon's nose, looking into those golden eyes for a moment before looking around. The various things on the shelves and the walls were intriguing; she felt an immediate urge to steal something of value. But what use would that be? She would have to find a place to sell it, and this was a pawn shop! Besides, she was here to return something and get a reward; she didn't need to steal something.
As she moved closer to the gate, Paige glanced at all the beautiful things on the other side. Rings, fabrics, furs; all would have been very useful to her, if only for monetary gain. She rapped her knuckles on the metal bars and cleared her throat, frowning slightly. "Hey, Mister. I found something for you," she said, reaching into her pocket and holding up the ring she'd stolen back. She did not, however, reach through the gate to hand it to him. She was going to make sure she would get her reward, and would not let him take the ring and not repay her.
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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 2:21 pm
It was the deer, mostly, which made him look up: the distinctive sound of hooves on the wooden floor, his eyes narrowed to fierce slits. Earnest John was, naturally, expecting a different colored coat: red and tan, pale-antlers, his own young Guardian now fully grown and prone to making trouble just inside the doorway, to get his Chosen to give chase. He had a couple nasty names on the tip of his tongue, which melted away at the young girl now standing nearer to his gate.
His eyes flashed over the deer: female, unexpected, slighter than his own Horus and hopefully better-natured, less prone to troublemaking. He strummed fingertips against the desk and considered the merits of throwing the Guardian out onto the front stoop before giving up and letting it be.
"Oh, aye?" She could try to keep it to herself, but Earnest John's hand thrust through the gate, palm-up, meaningfully. "And where'd ye find this, then?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 10:49 pm
Paige frowned slightly at the man's open palm, before finally relenting and handing over the ring. At least maybe it would seem like an expression of trust, that he would hopefully return? She really hoped so. She wasn't out a lot of work, but she really needed that reward he was offering. Paige moved her hand to rest on Alcyone's neck as the doe looked around the shop, sniffing as she picked up the faint, older scent of a strange buck. But her golden gaze soon returned to the man behind the gate, watching him carefully.
"I saw it on a merchant's cart," she said, eyeing the other valuables behind the gate. If this wasn't the right ring, perhaps she could still sell it to him? It was pretty, and it looked as valuable as most of the other rings she'd seen in the shop, so he would probably be interested, right? But she really hoped it was the right ring; maybe then the reward would be even better?
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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2013 1:49 pm
If it wasn't the right ring, it was a very close match: same setting and size, the stone a similarly vibrant shade. The tiny gems on either side of the main setting aligned with his memory. It was, at the very least, off the same cart, made by the same hand. In the same batch, perhaps.
And it will serve, for Earnest John, to match the one lost from his shop.
He made a sound, setting it down at last to peer over his desk and down at Paige. His eyes it on the deer again, lingering, considering, before he spoke. "Do you know which merchant? I would appreciate one piece of information about him, to go along with this prize."
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