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 Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2023 6:09 pm
Valek lingered around the corners of the marketplace. He was admittedly supposed to be enjoying a little vacation of sorts after catching so many smugglers as of late, but the hybrid was restless and had decided a walk around the market would suffice to cure his boredom. He so hated staying still, after all, and it was nice to get some refreshing…sandy air. Valek made a face, picking up a piece of jewelry to study as he casually peeked in another shop. So far there wasn’t even a thief in sight today which was really disappointing. If he could just somehow stumble into a situation while out and about shopping then it was pure coincidence, not him going out of his way to look for work when he was supposed to be relaxing. A soft sigh left his lips, the hybrid placing down the pendant with the moon on it that he had picked up first out of all things. It would even be more interesting if that annoying vigilante was around for him to bother. He so did enjoy ruffling her feathers, especially whenever she was so heated that she broke that cool hero facade and turned into a ruffian who would chase him down. Then things became fun since he did so enjoy a good fight, as long as someone didn’t hit his face.
As it was the day seemed hopelessly boring, the markets crowded with people who were shopping whatever wares they could find on one of the busier hours of the day where the sun wasn’t as high and scorching in the sky. Early morning and mid to late afternoon were the best times in Valek’s opinion and right now the early morning sun was perfect for simply lazing around, if only it weren’t so boring!
[Valek 1]
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Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2023 6:09 pm
Xylia had been scouting the markets, not for thieves but because of a suspicious looking group that seemingly went towards nobles who had come to the market for errands. While most sent out servants there were the occasional couple that came to browse the market for private affairs that they didn’t even want their personal guards to know about. Xylia normally didn’t give a porscuta’s a** if someone was a noble or not, but the thugs that were targeting people did not care if the noble was elderly or young which was worrisome. It would be ideal if she could just mark the thugs and take them out now, but the woman who had warned her about them did not have exact descriptions because of how dark it had been the day she was approached. Thankfully she had escaped, the only real damage to the woman some scraped knees as she managed to pull away and threw herself into a crowded street to avoid them pursuing her. Xylia had met her that day and helped her home before getting concerned. If a group had approached this one girl then who else would they bother? The stories of hostage taking and ransoms instead of simple theft had definitely gotten her attention and so now she lingered in the market. She just hoped that the pest wouldn’t spot her, she had somehow spotted him for a moment before he slipped into the shadows again and a sigh left her own lips. Please not today, Shadow. Now where were those thugs?
[Xylia 1]
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Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2023 6:50 pm
Hanaeko 1
Being here in the market today would not have been her first choice. Baby sitting wouldn't have been a choice at all if it had been up to her. But, Mom said she and Miss V had to do some things today and Gavril's dad wasn't able to watch the kid so apparently the next choice was...her. So the two had decided to go shopping. Unfortunately that meant they had to take what felt like a whole unit of guards. At least it wasn't any of the guards Nicias usually had with him, granted at least he learned to like his guards. Her guards were so formal, rarely speaking to her and normally only to correct her or tell her she couldnt' do something. Well, that wasn't going to be the case today! If she was stuck with a kid then at least she was going to have fun. She knew this one place...Yes....that sounded like a plan. She waited until they got to the part where the shops were really close together and connected by some covered walkways. Quickly, and pulling Gavril behind her, she darted into one of the alleys and in and out of shops.
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Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2023 6:52 pm
Gavril 1 Gavril had been pretty excited to be with the Princess Hanaeko. She had heard a little bit about her but hadn't really ever met her. So when it was suggested that they go shopping Gav thought that would be a pretty neat thing. There were so many guards! They had a pretty important job so he could understand it. What he didn't understand was when they started running through the shops pretty rapidly, Hanaeko almost pulling him behind her at some points, he ran as fast as his little legs could take him. "Miss Hana, are we in trouble? Are there bad guys?" He asked, surely that would be the only reason to run like this in the market.
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Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2023 7:06 pm
Ah, was there something interested in the markets today after all? Valek's gaze gleamed as he spotted movement that stood out within the crowd. It seemed a group of guards were suddenly on high alert, their royal crest way too noticeable within the crowd. Would be a shame if they lost someone important. So far no bells were ringing, but that one guy definitely looked annoyed while another looked like his life could end at any moment. "You would think that they would realize being more discreet helps to reduce risk." Mused Valek as he plopped a candy into his mouth, dropped a coin to the baffled vendor who hadn't even seen the man approach and then headed off into the streets to try and see whatever important noble had slipped away from their guards.
[Valek 2]
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Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2023 7:09 pm
Ugh, what was happening now? Xylia still hadn't seen any sight of the thugs, but there was definitely a frenzy in the crowds now. The guards that she nearly bumped into looked like they were ready to strangle someone, the hybrid deciding it was best to keep her distance while also trying to keep an eye out to see whatever was happening. Pulling her cloak over her head, her white hair hidden from sight, Xylia slipped along the edges of the crowd to try and investigate. Immediately she had already thought of someone else and when she saw his dark form shift through the edges of the market place it didn't take long for her to grab for his arm before he disappeared again. "What did you do this time?" She hissed, already assuming Valek was up to some sort of mischief. If there was trouble then of course he would be involved! Yet, she didn't see anyone with him just the shadow man and a candy stick that he was eating? So what was causing such a commotion?
Of course, while she was distracted with her friendly enemy the hybrid nearly missed the group of men who were sneaking around in the crowds behind them, their more than obvious targets somewhere nearby.
[Xylia 2]
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Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2023 7:52 pm
Hanaeko 2
"Shhh." She hushed Gavril quickly while still zooming through the crowd. "Marv might find us if I have to keep talking. Just run ok? We'll have more fun this way." Was this the smartest thing to do? No. Would she probably get in trouble when she got back home? More than likely. Would it be worth it? Heck yeah. "We'll stop and get some cande-" Her words were cut off as she suddenly tripped over something. Some instinct pulled Gavril in close to her as they fell to try and keep them from getting more hurt. But they never made impact with the ground. Hana felt hands on her arms and another hand over her mouth preventing her from calling out. Panicking, she clung to Gavril. If they got separated her mom would kill her, if they made it home. Inwardly, she hoped this was just some prank from some of the noble girls she had snubbed last week but she knew not even they would do something like this, right?
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Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2023 7:56 pm
Gavril 2 He had barely said anything and Miss Hana had shushed him. He knew she could be a bit...difficult. Or so his Mom had said. He'd never heard of her being rude though. Finally, she explained herself and he perked up at the thought of getting candy but then they were suddenly plummeting and Hana was squeezing him close. Gav felt arms around him trying to wrench him away from his babysitter. His arms hurt from how hard he was trying to hold onto Hana and his sides hurt where she was gripping him tightly. He screamed but he held tight. "Help!" He managed to get out before a hand was shoved over his mouth as they were wrestled through the streets. Gavril could barely see anything, he had no sense of direction or where he was going. He remembered his Mom and Dad always telling him to never panic if there was any danger since that would only make his decision making worse but this was scary. He was scared. So, he panicked.
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Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2023 8:05 pm
Oh for On'os... Valek decided to let the swear linger as he stopped moving and shot Xylia a glare. "I see you're out and about shopping today, Moon. He managed with a small smile, the expression cold and his gaze piercing despite the friendly gesture. "As for me? I was actually out enjoying a day to myself, no mischief this time." Valek added with a glare towards her. Seriously, why would she think that he was always up to someth-
"Help!"
The young voice was swallowed by the crowd but Valek was attentive enough to have heard it for a split second or at least he thought he heard something. "What was that?" He managed, looking away from Xylia without caring about how she would react this time. It wasn't as if he were trying to escape or actually up to anything...at least not until he heard a scream. Now maybe his boring day truly was turning into something!
[Valek 3]
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Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2023 8:17 pm
"You always say that you're not up to something and then something happens." Xylia hissed back sharply, suddenly aware of how close they were to the crowd. Why was Valek out here? Had he been attracted by the guards as well? She opened her mouth to shoot back another retort, her hand moving to smack at Valek before realizing that someone had yelled. Shoot! Xylia let Valek go and took a step back, glancing around with a narrowed gaze as she tried to scan the crowd.
"Alright, well if you aren't up to anything then I am. I'm looking for a group that kidnaps nobles and the like for ransoms. They're usually scouring the market." Admitted Xyila as she processed the scream and pinpointed a direction. "If you're bored then just come after me this way." She didn't wait for an answer, darting forward trying to find the source of the distress.
[Xylia 3]
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Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2023 8:41 pm
Hanaeko 3
For once, Hana was glad for the loud mouth of kids as Gavril was able to shout out for help before he was silenced though they were still fighting whoever it was that was hustling them through the alleys. She was in biiiig trouble this time. Who knows, maybe Marv would finally quit! She knew that was hoping for too much though, Marv was still pretty young and still had a lot of time in the guard service left in him.
Hana couldn't help but gag as she started to feel suffocated by the hand over her mouth so she did the only logical thing: she bit the person's hand. "Arrghh!" She heard him grunt. "Stupid noble, no more Mr. Nice Boz." Boz? Who the hell named their kid Boz? Hana couldn't help but think but it gave her a moment of freedom. She used that moment to try and figure out where the heck they were. Her nose was overwhelmed by a lot of different scents. "INCENSE!" She shouted as loud as she was able before a gloved hand was placed over her mouth this time.
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Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2023 8:45 pm
Gavril 3 Gavril almost started to cry. Almost. He'd never tell his brother that though. All he felt like he could do in this situation was cling to Hanaeko and hope that the guards caught up to them before whoever was taking them got to their destination. When he heard a guard grunt and then Hana's shout, it took him a few minutes to understand what she had done. They were near incense when she shouted, he had smelled it. She was trying to help the guards! What could he say that would help? See something, Gavril, anything! He looked up and glimpsed the sky through the canopy of silks and tarps, he couldn't see the sun. That meant they were heading away from it....and it was still morning so...the sun rose in the east...so they were going "West!!" He shouted through the hand that had loosened it's grip on him since he had stopped wiggling as much.
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 6:17 am
Valek just glared after Xylia. "Who do you think..." He began before she started darting away through the crowds, trying to piece together the pleas for help. Most continued on with their business, not minding things and hoping it was just a game between children since they hadn't seen the actual kidnapping, but Xylia was already in hot pursuit. Valek let out a curse before darting after her, "Of course I'm bored!" He called out as he started racing, twisting and turning to avoid other earthlings as he moved after Xylia. Maybe it was the hunter blood or something in the other hybrid, but she definitely looked like she was able to keep up with some sort of trail!
[Valek 4]
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 6:23 am
The crowds were just so hard to move through! Xylia let out a curse as she tried to pinpoint the direction of the yelling. It was so crowded, the hybrid was nearly doubting that she had heard an actual cry for help whenever something else caught her attention. Incense? She paused, twisted around and took a deep breath. There! She could smell the familiar scent of sandalwood before it was overwhelmed with several other spices, that was definitely an incense stall over there. Knocking past a group of men, Xylia barely nodded an apology before continuing forward.
"Keep yellin! Whatever you see!" She called out loudly, pushing forward towards a western direction. The voices seemed so faint and young, she just had to hope that they weren't a distraction.
[Xylia 4]
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 5:17 pm
Hanaeko was on the verge of panicking especially now that her mouth was covered again. It would have been easier to try and fight them if she didn't have to hold tightly to Gavril. The situation wasn't going to change though, and she felt her hope begin to drop even though she knew she had to keep fighting for herself and for the little boy who's life was in her hands. How was she going to get them out of this? How was she going to help her guards find them? She felt her eyes tear up and she closed her eyes quickly to keep the tears from falling. That's when she heard the voice. A female voice, none of the guards that came with her today were women. So who could be trying to find them? Hana willed herself to slow her breathing and try to take a look around from this half carried position she was in. If they kept saying such specific things then it would give their kidnappers time to adjust their course. What could she say that would help their guards and not their captors? It was clear that they knew the area from how they were darting in and out of shops just as they had been. Would keeping them on their trail be enough to save them? "LENOXE." She decided to go with. Hana didn't know if her captors were oban or knew of oban religion. But she thought they were heading towards the fish/meat markets so perhaps saying the goddess of fish and feasts' name would help!
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