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 Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 6:04 pm
"Make way! Move aside! Be gone all of ye!"
The common folk were sure to move aside. It was kind of an instinct bred into people really - you move when you see horses. When you see a carriage drawn by horses you get out of the way as quick as you can. In the end though the biggest factor came down to the driver and escorts. The occupants level of class was solid with a coat - fully uniformed - driving the carriage along. To the sides and back walked regulars that lacked the mask and goggles. Chances were that these were mere hired guards.
There was certainly no absence of gossip though. Sometimes it could almost be taken as a game amongst commoners. See an unmarked carriage come by without a royal crest? Start guessing about what figure could be sitting inside. Especially when it was under Imperial guard - though only one coat was pretty light - and requiring more still.
Numerous names went through the assembled. Everything from the lowest level of noble - known as Nicholai Conrad V - to even the great Abel DeLuall. The truth followed the carriage down the way as someone managed to guess and the word spread like wildfire.
"Did you hear Victoria? Word has it that there be the heir to the Tepesch family!" The tiny plump women all but squealed with excitement to gossip. Wash duties had long been forgotten in the wake of regular excitement.
"Really Emmy?" Her crane-like friend seemed just as excited if not more. "I heard a'whiles back that the Tepesche heir was coming to learn all that court nonsense here!" Emmy let out a loud squeal to tell her to continue.
"They say he's a fine young lad."
"I heard it was a girl?"
"Good heavens no! I'm certain rumor has it a boy!"
The two were completely oblivious to the people staring at them as their voiced continued to rise up into arguement. Though as they continued talking more people got into the discussion. Apparently it was of high question what the heir was.
"What does it matter women." A voice from the crowd. "I done heard tell that this is part of some peace negot...negotia...talkins' with Durem!" The crowd seemed to explode at that part. Any mention of workings with Durem caught their intereast a'fire with gossip and word.
It would be awhile before the blazing information fire burned down and a new topic rose up.
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Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 7:13 pm
Life for Galen couldn't get any better.
Well, that would be if he wasn't walking the incredibly dismal streets of Holdine. Everywhere he looked there were people in rags, scrounging out a living for themselves on nothing more than a few copper coins a week.
And they smelled horrible.
No wonder the army stationed here chose to wear gas masks. It wasn't for striking fear into people's hearts, it was for breathing without gagging on the stench of it all.
How anyone could voluntarily live under such conditions was beyond him.
"Outta the way!"
Galen's spear was held directly in front of him, barring a few peasants from drawing near the carriage. The spear was strictly ceremonial. If anyone actually posed a threat to the carriage or himself personally, he'd probably be better off using his bare hands. Luckily for him, the crowd didn't know any better. And so they proceeded through the streets, unobstructed for the most part.
Only two things occupied his time. Keeping wayward strangers from approaching the carriage, and discovering a method of breathing that limited his intake of the all-encompassing stench of poverty.
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Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 7:50 pm
It happened when the carriage was soon to turn a corner on Fifth and Green. Just a soft shutter as the indigo curtain covering the front window slide aside. Not far enough for much to be seen other then the gas mask and goggles of a coat.
"Master Tepesche wishes for us to stop and find a cafe." The voice was obviously feminine by the sound of things. When it came down to hearing Coat's talk some could barely be understood beyond the mask. Took a very clear voice to still have crystal clear quality even sometimes.
"Are you certain Captain?" He sounded almost suprized as gloved hands lightly pulled on the reins to start to slow the carriage. The only response was a clipped nod before he spoke again, "Of course Captain." The curtain quickly fell back into the fold.
The coat threw his left hand into the air - index finger straightened with the rest fisted - a signal for attention from the guards. His right was used to guide the carriage to a stop. They were after all in a buisness district of the city. The hustle of trade all around as people moved quickly past along the walk. Many made sure to keep a distance from the black carriage though.
"Guards! Form up!" Military shouting was kind of like an art too. Even as he barked out the usual orders - "Look Alive! Back those people up! Close on the door!" - the man dropped down and started for the carriage side. He did not open the door just yet as a hand lingered on the handle in half-turn. Instead he awaited the people to be pushed far enough back for safety and a path cleared the few feet into the cafe.
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Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:33 pm
And now they were taking a detour through the business district. Corners were cramped, and keeping people out of the way of the carriage became more of an insurmountable task than anything. His eye twitched slightly as he pushed people back, only to have them bounce off the wall of a nearby building and come right back at him.
His co-workers were having the same problems, it seemed, as they attempted to clear a path through the mass of people. When they stopped at the cafe, a new task was set before them.
Galen took up a position near the cafe's entrance, his back turned to the carriage, he held his spear out in front of him.
His sword clattered against his side as he pushed forward, using the spear in coordination with the other guards, creating a makeshift barrier. From there it was a matter of pushing forward and keeping the more curious citizens at bay.
Galen spotted a small kid making his way through the crowd and darting his way underneath the barrier. By the time he moved his foot to stop him, it was too late.
The kid tripped, and faceplanted in the middle of the pathway that his client was going to be passing through.
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Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:20 pm
One hand on inside hoist of the door and the other held by the coat helping the Tepesche heir out of the carriage. This was not really a task to require two people; formality was a must though.
A bit on the short side and kind of thin - nothing of intereast there. Short white hair and exceptional pale skin were not that shocking either. Even a few feet away there was a noticable red to the eyes that seemed to nervously scan the crowd. End result of the appearance study? Albino - a nervous one at that who kind of resembled a rat in carriage, appearance, and base personality.
Clothing was not much of a sight either. Something between a robe and a longcoat in dark green, a ridiciously high collar that stood inchs from the skin and basically hid the mouth and chin depending on how high/low it slid as he moved. The front bore a long zipper down it that was pulled all the way up. Barest hint of black dress style pants and boots completed the dress sense that totally did not scream of his position proper.
The jittery nervousness about him became even more obvious when he almost tripped over the kid. He had been too intent on the crowd, the coats on him, and the other guards on the people surrounding them. Chances were that Galen was the only one of the group to notice the new arrival.
It all happened pretty fast. He moved quickly for the door - obviously wanting to be out of this storm of attention. A foot fall near the kid caused him to jerk back and scream. This caused the Tepesche to yelp in suprize and jerk back.
Before anyone could really do much about it the male coat had grabbed his employer and all but tossed him back to the female coat following behind them. Just as fast - with the kid still yelping - he swung around and delivered a viscious kick to the side of the kids head with his military issue boot.
This sent the kid flying not only into the crowd but probably straight into a vegitative state too. Knocking down about six people and then bouncing off the ground was not a good sign.
With this done they quickly started forward, guards falling back into a sort of half circle around them as they started for the cafe door. There was a noticable quickening of pace too. Assault on a crowd might not be all that uncommon in Holdine - but that did not mean they took it lightly. Best to get out of sight while they could.
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Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 12:56 pm
Whether or not it was intended of the coat, a riot was soon to follow. The kid sailed over Galen's shoulder, impacted in the crowd about three or four rows back.
His eye twitched slightly as he took a step back, falling in line with the circular position the other guards were beginning to take up. Muscles strained as the crowd pushed forward once, twice, three times.
"Get his a** inside already!"
Galen was getting a little upset. Here he was, just doing his job in keeping some weirdo noble safe, and some loser just up and punts a kid into a crowd of already unstable peasants.
Yeah, real good idea.
As the crowd broke against the line of spears one more time, in preparation for another surge, Galen took a single step back, the others all doing the same. When the mob began to move forward once more, the guards stepped forward, throwing their weight behind their spears.
Galen caught some dirty guy in the jaw with his spear's pole, probably shattering the bone there while sending him flailing backwards into those behind him.
It appeared the armed guards had the situation under control. Hopefully the Tepesche wouldn't take his sweet time inside the cafe.
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Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 6:22 pm
He was not quite sure what had just happened. For that matter he was not even positive about what was going on right now. He was too busy getting pushed and dragged around.
First to be tossed between the two guards assigned to him by the state. Both of which honestly scared the hell out of him. Those masks were just creepy with the goggle eyes and long nose-like extension. Honestly they reminded him far too much of insects.
Secondly the women coat was dragging him along by his wrist. Not gently mind you - she had a grip like a vice. Counting that he was not all that strong anyway it was painful. Even worse was the door step that he completely missed - she stepped over it without even looking - that sent him tumbling into the door. He barely managed to catch his step with a little help from her.
A quick march across the room had people torn between staring and pointedly looking away. Coat dragging someone along? Sent mixed signals probably.
As they approached a corner seat - apparently what she had been shooting for - the women all but shoved him into the far seat. There was a tense moment as he stared at her in complete shock. She was content to snap off a quick, "Do not leave this spot.", before going to help crowd control.
He merely stared after her before letting out a deep sigh that blew some of the white hair off his eyes. Left elbow on the table and chin held up with the back of his hand. Posture slanted forward in a comfortable slouch.
...Totally not cutting the noble figure much dignity.
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Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 10:00 am
Galen's patience was beginning to wear thin. What was the point of the state assigning its military to guard duty if all they were going to do was incite riots and then run away?
The female coat burst onto the scene moments later. She was shouting commands or something, he didn't know, didn't care really until she actually took it upon herself to get involved in active crowd control.
Although Galen would have preferred it if she would have helped sooner. As of that point, the crowd's rage was beginning to dull slightly. The people in the back rows that had never witnessed the kid being punted were beginning to peel off. They weren't able to identify the source of disturbance, and so they showed no more interest in the activity.
That wasn't to say that their job wasn't easier by any means. The guards were still forced to fend off numbers of people that were quite possibly four to five times their own, but starving peasants weren't necessarily the hardest people to keep from crossing a line of crossed spears.
Galen cast a sidelong glance towards the female coat during a brief lull in the crowd's activity.
"So if you're out here...who's in there watching -him-?"
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Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 11:21 am
Women took a moment to realize his question. Obviously she was not paying much attention. When she finally did it was just to stare at him for a moment. You could almost feel the 'Who the hell is this guy?' expression on her face - even tough the gas mask hid all of that.
"Hes fine; they saw me walk him in." And apparently that was everything that needed to be said. Because it was painfully clear the people feared the coats. Even though she had been standing there shouting orders while the guy had ran off to take the carriage somewhere. He had not seemed concern with this turn of events much to begin with.
The crowd did not seemed bother much by her. If anything the spears kept them back. Coats were one thing: people knew that a coat would kill you just as much as look at you sometimes, if they could get away with it. Hired guards were different though. New breed working by different rules and all.
She was frustrated. Her hand was cradling the gun. Seemed like she wanted to draw it. With the free right hand on her hip and the left cradling the pistol her attention turned back onto Galen. "Go keep an eye on him or something. Only need two or three of you fools - should have kept them from hiring any at all..." Rant start!
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Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 11:56 am
"Gr..."
He shook his head and pushed away from the crowd, the two guards beside him moving inwards to fill the gap that was opened.
"Freakin' stuck up state..."
He muttered beneath his breath as he threw open the door to the cafe and headed into the building. The people inside had their attention focused upon the windows, where all the action was taking place just outside, so they weren't all too surprised when Galen came trumping through the cafe, muttering something about how stubborn and egotistical the coats were.
He was almost preparing himself to hear gunshots go off the moment the door fell shut behind him. Judging by how well they handled the situation with the runaway child, by the time he left the cafe there was probably going to be a large amount of dead people outside the door.
He stopped beside his client's table and looked to the slumped over figure.
Not exactly the type of dignitary he figured he had been guarding this entire time.
"Everything alright?"
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Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:10 pm
Certain things do not mix that well. Having your eyes for the most part shut, in the process of yawning, and not looking in the direction someone speaks from were part of these.
Should have come as no suprize when he literally fell out of his chair to the side. His hand did manage to catch the table. Did not keep him from losing his comfortable spot - but at least he was not laid prostate out on the ground. Thankfully as that would have made him want to crawl under the table.
"M'hmm..." Mouth not even open as he glanced the guy over. Oh - one of his guards. Name, Name, Name...obviously he did not know it! He had not been able to interact with them any. The State guards were crazy with that.
Quick wave of the hand towards the door. "Things outside?" A really quiet voice when he spoke. Sounded kind of neutral - easily mistaken for sleepy or bored. He did not really look either though.
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Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:21 pm
His eyebrow arched slightly as he watched the strange man fall off his chair. He had initially moved to catch him, but he did a good enough job of catching himself so no awkward moments would follow.
He stepped back and propped his spear against the wall, then took off his helmet. He hated the gear that they had issued him. Made him look more like an actor than a guard. A gloved hand ran through the length of brown hair, a futile attempt to get rid of the helmet hair look.
"Meh, according to the soldier out there."
He gave a jerk of his thumb over his shoulder. No doubt he was speaking of the female coat.
"Everything's fine enough to be handled by two or three people."
Galen lowered his hand and tapped against an armored thigh, looking around the cafe for a brief moment.
"Not to sound skeptical or anything but uhh...why did you want to stop here anyway, sir?"
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Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:29 pm
"Oh." This response was pretty much mumbled. He seemed oh so intereasted in the events going on outside. If you counted that he seemed as if he were swallowing another yawn down. Maybe he did have some noble stance to him after all?
It lasted all the way until the next question. A quick glance across the table proved the obvious - there was nothing there. Nor had he seen any particular waitress heading this way. Key question then - why were they here? He looked more like someone who just sat down rather then someone who had been there. Apparently the lack of refreashment was new to him too.
Shrug. "Wanted out of the carriage." Another wave of his hand towards the door. "Riding with that creature," Coats kind of resembled roachs now that he thought about it! ", is quite harsh." Tone going up and down between proper and basic.
There was just a bit more shouting then before outside. But that was pretty much all there. The people in the cafe seemed perfectly happy and content to ignore it all save the occasional suspicious glance.
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