(Untitled)

[diseasedvermin]

In Metropolis, mid-morning there's a rat in a sewer. A rat in a sewer cursing his own stupidity

Comments

[hopeless_son]

Clearly Tom is just associated with the wrong people. Clearly Tom must make an upgrade from them to new people! Thus the reason there is a red headed man standing across from the alleyway watching him with hands tucked inside the pockets of his black trenchcoat. He has a wry smile across his face and a wicked glint to his eyes.

"I don't advise walking 'bout a city without any shoes," the Prince calls out lightly with a note of amusement to his tone.

[diseasedvermin]

"Feck off!" Tom shouts, sending the red-headed man a glare.

[hopeless_son]

"Oh come now," Brand spoke again, pushing himself off the lightpost he had been leaning against, walking with an almost haunty sort of step toward the man, "that is no way to be toward someone who is about to offer assistance. Tell me. What size do you wear and the style."

Raising a brow slightly he stopping a respectable distance away from him. "You look as if you have made a few enemies too. I could help you with that as well.."

[diseasedvermin]

Tom stops, full attention going to Brand, immediately on-guard and suspicious.

"An' who the feck're you, mate?"

[hopeless_son]

"A man who simply wishes to help." Total liar here. "Help the people, teach those who wish to learn." Removing his hands fom his pockets the Prince holds his empty hands up showing he has no weapons on him though the flash of a sword shines from under his coat as his armos move up. "You have an air about you of a man who would wish to learn things...I could help with that."

Then, with a toothy grin, he clasps his hands together. "First. Shoes. Size and style, please?"

[diseasedvermin]

No one simply wishes to help. And he has a sword.

"Looks like you read me wrong," Tom says coldly. "You gonna...magic up these shoes? They gonna bite my feet off or what?"

Tom's time at the Cooper farm has given him a greater appreciation for the possibilities of magic.

[hopeless_son]

Then Brand will just have to guess at them. Reaching out with the Pattern he searches the reaches of his minds eye until the proper size of boot is found. Comfortable black boots perfect for anything that Tom may want to do. Once found he pulls them to him, reaching out and catching the laced boots in his right hand. "I would only do that to someone I didn't like."

Tossing the boots towards Tom he gives a smug grin. "Magic in a sense, yes, one I could teach you to use..maybe even help you against the people who hurt you? I dare say by the looks of things you could use an ally."

[diseasedvermin]

Tom stares at the boots. Then over at Brand. Then boots. Then Brand.

"Maybe so, maybe not," Tom replies, sounding utterly unconcerned - prodding a boot with his toe.

"Don't set much stock by magic."

[hopeless_son]

Very slightly Brand gives a shrug of his shoulders, watching the boot poking with a little amusement. "Not just magic..I can teach you to go anywhere you wish to in this world simply by thinking of it. Imagine being able to sneak up on your enimies with armies to over take them..no more people judging you. Saying you are something you may or may not be. An end to all rumors."

Then, looking down at his nails he chuckles. "All I ask is that you help me in turn."

[diseasedvermin]

Tom stares at Brand-- how does he know...?

He's guessing. Or he's heard something about Tom the rat-skin at the farm. No matter.

"An' that's where our chant ain't chimin'," Fremmanish slang for 'having a breakdown in communication'. "I ain't up for doin' anyone favours 'less I know what they are. 'Specially not for people that're so nice. For no reason."

[hopeless_son]

See Brand was good at reading people- it's how he got Willow to follow him and learn from him. No doubt there would be more amongst those once he started his plans..many more. "Simple, really. You no doubt seek vengence against those who have harmed you as I do. I also seek to unite the peoples in hopes to, what is the proper term, get things rolling again?"

The sly little smile upon his face is proof that Brand is good at what he's doing. "We can help each other in either situation. I could make you more powerful than you could ever dream. People would respect you and never dream of harming you again.."

[diseasedvermin]

You know, that would be a good way to kill himself a Godsworn....

But Tom is also leery of things that sound too good to be true. No sly smile is going to convince him that this is a good idea.

Still....

"An' what would a bloke do for a sort like you in return, eh?"

[hopeless_son]

"What skills do you have? Craftsman? Sword? Pistol or rifle?" A gold coin flipped through the air toward Tom, hovering in its slow turn toward him bearing the seal of Amber. "There will be more like that should you decide to come and work for me, allow me to teach you skills noone else in this world can provide you."

Then, pausing, Brand smiled. "You see this world is lacking in leadership and people to lead it. We, and my other associate, could easily step up and accept that position with open arms for the people. We can provide them with protection from their enemies and the beasts that walk this world.." Make the world theirs to shape and create. "You could be a noble of a new world."

[diseasedvermin]

Tom blinks a little at the coin, his face carefully blank as he tries not to look as impressed as he feels.

When Brand finishes, Tom laughs, the sound harsh and cold. "Fought 'gainst nobles all my life, I did. Those at the top always forget those at the bottom. I ain't about to be a noble for all the gold in the kingdom.

"As for what skills I got? Seems like I got nothin' to bring to your little scheme. Fought a bit, nicked a bit. Nothin' special. They're pretty words, stranger, so you should find some bloke who likes his words pretty - not some sod like me."

[hopeless_son]

Brand shruged his shoulders. "Armies then? For, you see, I know something you don't know. I know what it's like to scrape the bottom and I know you are hiding something quite interesting that you can do."

Finally his steps take him slowly closer to where here Tom is at, a lightly amused expression across his face. "Everyone has a place in this world and I am offering you a better one than what you have currently found yourself in."

[diseasedvermin]

Tom's face continues to be guarded and suspicious.

"If you're serious about this shit, you'll stop walkin' towards me. Now."

It won't take much to trigger Tom's flight or fight response - and Tom finds himself desperately needing to think.