A single pair of eyes fell upon the old manner once more, now sillouetted in the light of the phasing moon. Only a sliver to see by, but it was more than enough. The point was not to be seen- the more light to see by, the more light to -be- seen by. The young wild had been waiting for hours for the right time. For all the lights to shut off, for quiet to sweep over the landscape -save for the humm of the summer bugs and the creaking of the branches around him. It had been nearly an hour since all the lights had shut up, reasonable enough time for everyone to be lost in dreamland.
Jim slowly moved himself away from the underbrush, slowly talking his way forward, hugging the treeline for as long as he could. Once he was out in the open, he was on his belloy stalking forward against the shadows.
He had heard rumors about this place...
There were a lot of folks here, and a few jivvins to boot. Not that any of that mattered. The thing that had drawn his attention to the old mannor was the fifth floor. They said it was horrible, terrible, dangerous, evil, and all that. Of course, no one said such things without reason. It could very well be as terrible as they said it was, but it could also be the only thing guarding something very valuable indeed. Such rumors would guard treasure better than any sword... it just took someone with a backbone to test the rumors. He was no coward... and no idiot. These rumors were just that.
If he was caught- then that would give him reason to be afraid. Jim paused, looking up at the lay of the whole thing. The windows would be locked... and who wouldn't hear the scrambling of claws or feet on this old wood? How annoying...
The jivvin shifted into fourth, tossing aside his shoes. They were loud- and if he was right then he could buy a whole shoe store.
Just wait Axel, we'll be living like kings after tonight. No more diggin' around in the scrap heaps. He smiled inwardly, slowly making his way up the porch, tapping very fainly on the handle to test it. Perhaps they were as crazy as he had heard- and left the front door wide open. If not- he had quite a hand at picking locks.
The door, indeed, was unlocked. There was no need for them. The threat of thievery was very slight with the protection of the forest all around, and, on a more personal note, the door was always left open should any of the matron's family choose to visit despite the time of night.
The House slept. All of its many habitants were long since in bed. All, that is, save one. Settled comfortably on a large sofa towards the center of the Third floor, the TV droning quietly in the background, Kama poured over a short stack of manuscripts. Papers, files, plans for the future--the Olplyn was no idiot. After the ordeal following his last money source's escape, he need be much more careful. Not to mention he was running low on cash. Here, in these papers, was a life that very well might prove more profitable than the last.
Sighing, the Olplyn shifted in his seat, stretching out his legs on the sofa. He lazily discarded a few papers on the coffee table, eyeing the following with mild distaste. There was much work to be done. It would be difficult alone, especially with the intentions in mind. And his only chances to plan, until such time as he convinced Jaxom of his good intentions, were these late night hours. He was tired, but sleep woudl come with the dawn.
Jim smirked as the door opened under his hand. He slowly peeked around, inching his way into the house and returning the door to the way it had been upon entering. It was silent.. just perfect.
The young jivvin slinked forward, slowly and carefully making his way up the stairs and through the rooms. Upon climbing the stais to the third level his ears caught the faint hum of a television and the creaking of furnature under someone's weight. Someone was awake. It was only one more obsticle...
Jim sank back into second, slowly making his way up onto the floor, taking a slow look about. If he was quiet, and moved behind furnature...
Someone was around. The hair on the back of his neck prickled uncmfortable, gold eyes flashing with irritation as the glanced up from the manuscript. This was his home, his domain...and, especially at this hour of night, no one in their right mind would cross him. It could be Jaxom. Or, more likely, that damned cat of his. But there was always the possibility a shadow had braved the descent from the fourth floor. Again, it was unlikely, but with everyone asleep and the promise of fresh meat, they may go to the effort to sneak down...
Silently rising to his feet, Kama set the papers aside and, with a quiet step that would have honored even Jatin, moved around the sofa to a closet placed on the far wall. As noiselessly as possible he opened the door and retrieved from inside a long, light spear, blade and shaft marked with intricate runes of some manner. The lovely thing about these weapons, he mused, was that they could kill shadows or living. The pistol at his hip was added reassurance against either threat.
Jim froze, narrowing his eyes as he sank down to his hands The man seemed to know something was around... best keep him guessing then. Carefully, Jim reached into his pocket and pulled out a few small pebbles. Too few thieves knew the value in a stone's throw away from them. A few pebbles was all it took to make a sound. He waited until the man's back was turned before tossing three of the stones back down the stais he had emerged from. The pebbles rattled as they bounced downward, a faint nose, but in the silence of night everything seemed that much louder.
The Olplyn's ears twitched towards the sounds in the stairwell, be he seemed hesitant to investigate. Jaxom would make himself known at this point, the cat would have never made such a sound. That left...well, anyone else in the House, if they were already on the stairs. Sighing, he relaxed, letting his guard down and starting at a walk for the stairwell.
It was probably no one of importance, now that he thought about it. Some curious child exploring where they shouldn't be. Shouldering the spear, he started downstairs, saying nothing for the time, but watching for any further sights or sounds of the intruder.
Jim moved as soon as Kama's form disappeared into the stairs, darting accross the room though still with some caution. He was quiet, quick, and hung to the shadows and walls, eventually managing his way to the stairs further up into the mansion. Child's play...
Jim slowed once again once he reached the next level, pausing to glance around before continuing up to the final level... the fifth floor. His lips curled into a smirk as he neared the doorway. This was it... finally he'd be paid his due in life.
About midway down the stairs Kama paused, keen eyes picking out one, two, three objects resting on the step beneath him. Crouching, he picked up one between two fingers, eyeing the pebble curiously. And everything fell into place.
Snarling, he let the pebble fall and hurried back up the stairs, spear discarded the moment he was clear of the doorway in favor of the gun at his hip. With the readied pistol in one hand, he started a quick search of his floor, but again took notice and paused: The door to the fouth floor's stairwell was open. The Olplyn paled slightly at the prospect, hurrying over and up. The top door was unlocked and, cursing his luck, he continued onto the floor itself, straight for the wide stairwell that lead to the door to the Fifth.
Jim's ears flicked at the sounds of the person downstairs. It would have to be a grab and run, just like always. He reached out for the handle and pulled at it, sending a foot into the door to open it faster. Grab and go, that was the plan.
The lock, enforced by magic, was brittle and rusted by age. Only the strength of the Daewl's magic restrained the monsters within; physical force meant nothing. The door gave, slowly veering inward. And from inside, something took hold: A thin hand, much larger than a human's, but longer, slender, with fingers ending in gleaming claws. With deft ease, it shoved the doors open and out of Jim's grasp, the rest of the disturbing form coming into sight--briefly.
A shot rang out and, with a whining screech, the creature recoiled, clutching a space near it's neck. Kama continued for the door at a breakneck run, sending the creature further back with another shot or two. A final bullet and the shadow simply ceased to exist, fading as if nothing but smoke. Before another could take it's place, Kama wrenched the doors closed, flipping the lock closed.
Whirling on the boy, he snarled, brandishing his pistol more out of habit than any real threat. To be honest, he wasn't sure he had any more bullets. "What the ******** were you thinking, boy?! Do you have a goddamn clue what you just did?!"
Jim's eyes widened in fear, stepping back but after that he locked up, immobilzed by terrior. He had been told to avoid the door, told that opening it was a sin but he had thought...
He jarred slightly at the sound of gunshots, throwing himself against the wall on instinct. When Kama spoke to him he could do little more than stare, afraid of something more powerful in his mind than what was beyond that door-
Busted...
"You stupid little ********," he snapped when there was no response. Without another word, he grabbed hold of Jim's shoulder and forcibly steered the boy back down the stairs, through the fourth--pausing just long enough at the next stairwell to relock that door--and down to his own flat. Once there, scowling, he veritably tossed the boy away from himself, glaring down at him as if utterly unsure what to make of him. "...Explain yourself."
Jim staggared as he was hauled back down to the third level, stumbling as he was tossed away but caught himself a few feet off. He glared sharply over to the man as his only response, slowly tucking his hands into his pockets.
"Goddamit boy, if you don't speak up..." He snarled, flipping the pistol in his hand. He wouldn't be blamed for this. He'd stopped the shadows from escaping. If that didn't warrant good merit, he didn't know what would. Maybe this could work to his advantage? Maybe that would be enough for Jaxom? But maybe.. He gestured to the gun, eyes narrowed. "Tell you what, kid, you have five seconds to start talking or you can kiss your knees goodbye. I doubt anyone would fault me after what you pulled. Five. Four..."
"Alright alright!" He put his hands out defensively, "Put the gun down, man, I didn't do anything a'ight!" The jivvin was obviously a street punk. He looked like he hadn't had a good bath in weeks and his cloths must have gone months without seeing soap, "I was just checkin' the place out, that's all!"
"You knew the door was there," he snapped accusingly, making no move to lower the gun. "You do not sneak into a building in the middle of the night, nearly set a flock of murderers on its owners, and then claim to be 'checking the place out', ********. The truth, boy."
He ground his teeth, his eyes still burning with defiance but another glance to the gun was enough to crack even the shell of teenage angst. "...I was...trying to get something. I thought the door led to something valuable..." There he said it. Kind of.
"Thief." He wrinkled his nose in disgust, but lowered the gun somewhat. After a beat, noting for the first time that the boy was a Jivvin, he gestured with the gun towards a chair, bidding him sit. "Olplyn. Might as well make yourself comfortable. You're not going anywhere until I mention this to Jack. He and that Council of his are bound to have some interest in it."
"Man you don't gotta do that! I'm just a kid I don't wanna be put away!" His smooth cool had dropped completely, leaving only the frightened kid behind, "They'll lock me up for good, I'm too young to get all old and ripe in jail- you know what they do to kids there right?! They'll pass me around like a cheap porno mag."
"I know, by means of personal experiance," he drawled, eyes narrowing in disgust, "that there are perhaps two other Jivvins in that jail at present--if that many. Your fault for dumping yourself there, kid, but it's probably better than whenever you're living now, judging by the smell of things." He grimaced, eyeing the boy's clothes, then decided the floor was a better spot for him and once more bid him sit. "Stay there. I don't want my chair dirtied."
He scowled, remaining on his feet dispite the gesture once again, "...I'll run you know. Cops havn't caught me yet. Ain't gonna change- I won't go to jail."
"I'll shoot your legs from under you before you take three steps," he drawled, rolling his eyes. After a moment, however, he shook his head, stepping back to return to the sofa and taking a seat. Only then did he relax the arm holding the gun, letting it settle on the arm of the sofa. "But maybe we can come to an agreement."
Jim watched him sharply, tucking his hands into his pockets as he slumped forward once more. "Doesn't look like I have much of a choice, huh?" He ground his teeth, looking off to the side, "...fighting like a woman using a gun...cheap. What do you got in mind?"
"Nope, it doesn't." He grinned, ignoring the comment and relaxing back in his seat. "I need an extra set of hands to keep up around here for the next few weeks until I can...hire someone. Keep the place clean, run a few odd jobs here and there. In exchange, you can have your choice of the free rooms and I'll provide meals--and I won't tell the Council of your little escapade."
"...all that?" He frowned, "Alright what's the angle? That's a bit much for running to the grocery store now and then and picking up eggs..." He shook his head. There had to be a catch, had to be. The offer was almost...generious. To either effect, he woudln't go without Axel. They were partners- that and he'd rap him good if he tried.
He shrugged, waving the gun idly. "No angle. I'd add in 'obey without question', but a little sewer rat like you is bound to get some bad ideas from that and refuse. The most I'll ask may be some assitance with my new business. Otherwise, keep the place clean and stay out of my way, and we're gold."
"Your business....", he raised a brow slowly, "Again... I smell a rat." There was always an angle, he lived by such thinking, "Anyway, I already have a home thank you. I won't leave it without a palce for my friend."
"Look at it this way, kid," he replied, growing serious as he sat up in his seat. "You can either work for me for a few weeks, living here comfortably and free, or you can spend the next twenty years sitting around the Council's prison. It's your choice."
"So pick my prision you're sayin'...." He sighed, slowly running a hand through his matted hair. "Good job, Jim... genious... Axe is gonna have my a**...." He dropped his hand to the side, almost as if he had just lost all feeling in it, his eyes rolling, "..Fine... you got a manservant... yay for you."
"Precisely." Smirking, he folded his arms, waiting patiently until the boy made it decision. Pleased, he rose to his feet and let his hands fall, offering one and giving Jim a pointed look. "Shake on it."
Jim looked to the hand, quirking a brow as his dark eyes slowly lifted up to those of Kama, still hunched over defiantly, still trying to look as casual and collected as ever. He lazily shook the man's hand, "..whatever."
Kama lazily returned the shake, but as the boy drew away he snatched for Jim's wrist, catching it in the same hand he had just shaken with. After only a second he released the boy, looking smug, and watched the boy's wrist. The area would feel warm, then hotter, a near burning sensation assaulting the flesh as a thick golden band materialized around the boy's wrist. Almost immediately it was cool to the touch once more, and Kama nodded his approval, stepping back a pace. "Lovely. Go pick your room."
Jim pulled back sharply, watching the band in horror tighten around his wrist. Looking shortly between it and the man he began trying to pull it off, "What's this s**t?! What did you do to me?!"
"I sealed the deal," he replied dryly, snapping open the gun and peering at the empty barrel. "Have to remember to make more bullets..." Closing it, he replaced the weapon at his hip, then turned his back on the boy and returned to his couch, scooping up the papers once more. "It won't come off until I let it."
"What does it do? Don't ******** with me either!" He kept pulling at it, even trying to bite at it much to his regret a few seconds later.
"It ensures that you don't go back on your word." He glanced up briefly, chuckling softly at the boy's efforts, and returned his eyes to the stack of manuscripts. "And that you obey mine without question."
"Learn to open your ears, boy," he snapped, not bothering to look up. Instead, he shirted the first paper to the back of the stack, skimming over the next. "Nothing you can do about it at this point, anyway. Now go pick your room before I give you the closet."
He balled his fists up at his side, turning sharply as he stormed out of the room. Good.. he didn't want to talk anymore anyway... "...Axe-man..." He muttered under his breath, "Man what've I gotten myself into?"
Jim slowly moved himself away from the underbrush, slowly talking his way forward, hugging the treeline for as long as he could. Once he was out in the open, he was on his belloy stalking forward against the shadows.
He had heard rumors about this place...
There were a lot of folks here, and a few jivvins to boot. Not that any of that mattered. The thing that had drawn his attention to the old mannor was the fifth floor. They said it was horrible, terrible, dangerous, evil, and all that. Of course, no one said such things without reason. It could very well be as terrible as they said it was, but it could also be the only thing guarding something very valuable indeed. Such rumors would guard treasure better than any sword... it just took someone with a backbone to test the rumors. He was no coward... and no idiot. These rumors were just that.
If he was caught- then that would give him reason to be afraid. Jim paused, looking up at the lay of the whole thing. The windows would be locked... and who wouldn't hear the scrambling of claws or feet on this old wood? How annoying...
The jivvin shifted into fourth, tossing aside his shoes. They were loud- and if he was right then he could buy a whole shoe store.
Just wait Axel, we'll be living like kings after tonight. No more diggin' around in the scrap heaps. He smiled inwardly, slowly making his way up the porch, tapping very fainly on the handle to test it. Perhaps they were as crazy as he had heard- and left the front door wide open. If not- he had quite a hand at picking locks.
The door, indeed, was unlocked. There was no need for them. The threat of thievery was very slight with the protection of the forest all around, and, on a more personal note, the door was always left open should any of the matron's family choose to visit despite the time of night.
The House slept. All of its many habitants were long since in bed. All, that is, save one. Settled comfortably on a large sofa towards the center of the Third floor, the TV droning quietly in the background, Kama poured over a short stack of manuscripts. Papers, files, plans for the future--the Olplyn was no idiot. After the ordeal following his last money source's escape, he need be much more careful. Not to mention he was running low on cash. Here, in these papers, was a life that very well might prove more profitable than the last.
Sighing, the Olplyn shifted in his seat, stretching out his legs on the sofa. He lazily discarded a few papers on the coffee table, eyeing the following with mild distaste. There was much work to be done. It would be difficult alone, especially with the intentions in mind. And his only chances to plan, until such time as he convinced Jaxom of his good intentions, were these late night hours. He was tired, but sleep woudl come with the dawn.
Jim smirked as the door opened under his hand. He slowly peeked around, inching his way into the house and returning the door to the way it had been upon entering. It was silent.. just perfect.
The young jivvin slinked forward, slowly and carefully making his way up the stairs and through the rooms. Upon climbing the stais to the third level his ears caught the faint hum of a television and the creaking of furnature under someone's weight. Someone was awake. It was only one more obsticle...
Jim sank back into second, slowly making his way up onto the floor, taking a slow look about. If he was quiet, and moved behind furnature...
Someone was around. The hair on the back of his neck prickled uncmfortable, gold eyes flashing with irritation as the glanced up from the manuscript. This was his home, his domain...and, especially at this hour of night, no one in their right mind would cross him. It could be Jaxom. Or, more likely, that damned cat of his. But there was always the possibility a shadow had braved the descent from the fourth floor. Again, it was unlikely, but with everyone asleep and the promise of fresh meat, they may go to the effort to sneak down...
Silently rising to his feet, Kama set the papers aside and, with a quiet step that would have honored even Jatin, moved around the sofa to a closet placed on the far wall. As noiselessly as possible he opened the door and retrieved from inside a long, light spear, blade and shaft marked with intricate runes of some manner. The lovely thing about these weapons, he mused, was that they could kill shadows or living. The pistol at his hip was added reassurance against either threat.
Jim froze, narrowing his eyes as he sank down to his hands The man seemed to know something was around... best keep him guessing then. Carefully, Jim reached into his pocket and pulled out a few small pebbles. Too few thieves knew the value in a stone's throw away from them. A few pebbles was all it took to make a sound. He waited until the man's back was turned before tossing three of the stones back down the stais he had emerged from. The pebbles rattled as they bounced downward, a faint nose, but in the silence of night everything seemed that much louder.
The Olplyn's ears twitched towards the sounds in the stairwell, be he seemed hesitant to investigate. Jaxom would make himself known at this point, the cat would have never made such a sound. That left...well, anyone else in the House, if they were already on the stairs. Sighing, he relaxed, letting his guard down and starting at a walk for the stairwell.
It was probably no one of importance, now that he thought about it. Some curious child exploring where they shouldn't be. Shouldering the spear, he started downstairs, saying nothing for the time, but watching for any further sights or sounds of the intruder.
Jim moved as soon as Kama's form disappeared into the stairs, darting accross the room though still with some caution. He was quiet, quick, and hung to the shadows and walls, eventually managing his way to the stairs further up into the mansion. Child's play...
Jim slowed once again once he reached the next level, pausing to glance around before continuing up to the final level... the fifth floor. His lips curled into a smirk as he neared the doorway. This was it... finally he'd be paid his due in life.
About midway down the stairs Kama paused, keen eyes picking out one, two, three objects resting on the step beneath him. Crouching, he picked up one between two fingers, eyeing the pebble curiously. And everything fell into place.
Snarling, he let the pebble fall and hurried back up the stairs, spear discarded the moment he was clear of the doorway in favor of the gun at his hip. With the readied pistol in one hand, he started a quick search of his floor, but again took notice and paused: The door to the fouth floor's stairwell was open. The Olplyn paled slightly at the prospect, hurrying over and up. The top door was unlocked and, cursing his luck, he continued onto the floor itself, straight for the wide stairwell that lead to the door to the Fifth.
Jim's ears flicked at the sounds of the person downstairs. It would have to be a grab and run, just like always. He reached out for the handle and pulled at it, sending a foot into the door to open it faster. Grab and go, that was the plan.
The lock, enforced by magic, was brittle and rusted by age. Only the strength of the Daewl's magic restrained the monsters within; physical force meant nothing. The door gave, slowly veering inward. And from inside, something took hold: A thin hand, much larger than a human's, but longer, slender, with fingers ending in gleaming claws. With deft ease, it shoved the doors open and out of Jim's grasp, the rest of the disturbing form coming into sight--briefly.
A shot rang out and, with a whining screech, the creature recoiled, clutching a space near it's neck. Kama continued for the door at a breakneck run, sending the creature further back with another shot or two. A final bullet and the shadow simply ceased to exist, fading as if nothing but smoke. Before another could take it's place, Kama wrenched the doors closed, flipping the lock closed.
Whirling on the boy, he snarled, brandishing his pistol more out of habit than any real threat. To be honest, he wasn't sure he had any more bullets. "What the ******** were you thinking, boy?! Do you have a goddamn clue what you just did?!"
Jim's eyes widened in fear, stepping back but after that he locked up, immobilzed by terrior. He had been told to avoid the door, told that opening it was a sin but he had thought...
He jarred slightly at the sound of gunshots, throwing himself against the wall on instinct. When Kama spoke to him he could do little more than stare, afraid of something more powerful in his mind than what was beyond that door-
Busted...
"You stupid little ********," he snapped when there was no response. Without another word, he grabbed hold of Jim's shoulder and forcibly steered the boy back down the stairs, through the fourth--pausing just long enough at the next stairwell to relock that door--and down to his own flat. Once there, scowling, he veritably tossed the boy away from himself, glaring down at him as if utterly unsure what to make of him. "...Explain yourself."
Jim staggared as he was hauled back down to the third level, stumbling as he was tossed away but caught himself a few feet off. He glared sharply over to the man as his only response, slowly tucking his hands into his pockets.
"Goddamit boy, if you don't speak up..." He snarled, flipping the pistol in his hand. He wouldn't be blamed for this. He'd stopped the shadows from escaping. If that didn't warrant good merit, he didn't know what would. Maybe this could work to his advantage? Maybe that would be enough for Jaxom? But maybe.. He gestured to the gun, eyes narrowed. "Tell you what, kid, you have five seconds to start talking or you can kiss your knees goodbye. I doubt anyone would fault me after what you pulled. Five. Four..."
"Alright alright!" He put his hands out defensively, "Put the gun down, man, I didn't do anything a'ight!" The jivvin was obviously a street punk. He looked like he hadn't had a good bath in weeks and his cloths must have gone months without seeing soap, "I was just checkin' the place out, that's all!"
"You knew the door was there," he snapped accusingly, making no move to lower the gun. "You do not sneak into a building in the middle of the night, nearly set a flock of murderers on its owners, and then claim to be 'checking the place out', ********. The truth, boy."
He ground his teeth, his eyes still burning with defiance but another glance to the gun was enough to crack even the shell of teenage angst. "...I was...trying to get something. I thought the door led to something valuable..." There he said it. Kind of.
"Thief." He wrinkled his nose in disgust, but lowered the gun somewhat. After a beat, noting for the first time that the boy was a Jivvin, he gestured with the gun towards a chair, bidding him sit. "Olplyn. Might as well make yourself comfortable. You're not going anywhere until I mention this to Jack. He and that Council of his are bound to have some interest in it."
"Man you don't gotta do that! I'm just a kid I don't wanna be put away!" His smooth cool had dropped completely, leaving only the frightened kid behind, "They'll lock me up for good, I'm too young to get all old and ripe in jail- you know what they do to kids there right?! They'll pass me around like a cheap porno mag."
"I know, by means of personal experiance," he drawled, eyes narrowing in disgust, "that there are perhaps two other Jivvins in that jail at present--if that many. Your fault for dumping yourself there, kid, but it's probably better than whenever you're living now, judging by the smell of things." He grimaced, eyeing the boy's clothes, then decided the floor was a better spot for him and once more bid him sit. "Stay there. I don't want my chair dirtied."
He scowled, remaining on his feet dispite the gesture once again, "...I'll run you know. Cops havn't caught me yet. Ain't gonna change- I won't go to jail."
"I'll shoot your legs from under you before you take three steps," he drawled, rolling his eyes. After a moment, however, he shook his head, stepping back to return to the sofa and taking a seat. Only then did he relax the arm holding the gun, letting it settle on the arm of the sofa. "But maybe we can come to an agreement."
Jim watched him sharply, tucking his hands into his pockets as he slumped forward once more. "Doesn't look like I have much of a choice, huh?" He ground his teeth, looking off to the side, "...fighting like a woman using a gun...cheap. What do you got in mind?"
"Nope, it doesn't." He grinned, ignoring the comment and relaxing back in his seat. "I need an extra set of hands to keep up around here for the next few weeks until I can...hire someone. Keep the place clean, run a few odd jobs here and there. In exchange, you can have your choice of the free rooms and I'll provide meals--and I won't tell the Council of your little escapade."
"...all that?" He frowned, "Alright what's the angle? That's a bit much for running to the grocery store now and then and picking up eggs..." He shook his head. There had to be a catch, had to be. The offer was almost...generious. To either effect, he woudln't go without Axel. They were partners- that and he'd rap him good if he tried.
He shrugged, waving the gun idly. "No angle. I'd add in 'obey without question', but a little sewer rat like you is bound to get some bad ideas from that and refuse. The most I'll ask may be some assitance with my new business. Otherwise, keep the place clean and stay out of my way, and we're gold."
"Your business....", he raised a brow slowly, "Again... I smell a rat." There was always an angle, he lived by such thinking, "Anyway, I already have a home thank you. I won't leave it without a palce for my friend."
"Look at it this way, kid," he replied, growing serious as he sat up in his seat. "You can either work for me for a few weeks, living here comfortably and free, or you can spend the next twenty years sitting around the Council's prison. It's your choice."
"So pick my prision you're sayin'...." He sighed, slowly running a hand through his matted hair. "Good job, Jim... genious... Axe is gonna have my a**...." He dropped his hand to the side, almost as if he had just lost all feeling in it, his eyes rolling, "..Fine... you got a manservant... yay for you."
"Precisely." Smirking, he folded his arms, waiting patiently until the boy made it decision. Pleased, he rose to his feet and let his hands fall, offering one and giving Jim a pointed look. "Shake on it."
Jim looked to the hand, quirking a brow as his dark eyes slowly lifted up to those of Kama, still hunched over defiantly, still trying to look as casual and collected as ever. He lazily shook the man's hand, "..whatever."
Kama lazily returned the shake, but as the boy drew away he snatched for Jim's wrist, catching it in the same hand he had just shaken with. After only a second he released the boy, looking smug, and watched the boy's wrist. The area would feel warm, then hotter, a near burning sensation assaulting the flesh as a thick golden band materialized around the boy's wrist. Almost immediately it was cool to the touch once more, and Kama nodded his approval, stepping back a pace. "Lovely. Go pick your room."
Jim pulled back sharply, watching the band in horror tighten around his wrist. Looking shortly between it and the man he began trying to pull it off, "What's this s**t?! What did you do to me?!"
"I sealed the deal," he replied dryly, snapping open the gun and peering at the empty barrel. "Have to remember to make more bullets..." Closing it, he replaced the weapon at his hip, then turned his back on the boy and returned to his couch, scooping up the papers once more. "It won't come off until I let it."
"What does it do? Don't ******** with me either!" He kept pulling at it, even trying to bite at it much to his regret a few seconds later.
"It ensures that you don't go back on your word." He glanced up briefly, chuckling softly at the boy's efforts, and returned his eyes to the stack of manuscripts. "And that you obey mine without question."
"Learn to open your ears, boy," he snapped, not bothering to look up. Instead, he shirted the first paper to the back of the stack, skimming over the next. "Nothing you can do about it at this point, anyway. Now go pick your room before I give you the closet."
He balled his fists up at his side, turning sharply as he stormed out of the room. Good.. he didn't want to talk anymore anyway... "...Axe-man..." He muttered under his breath, "Man what've I gotten myself into?"
