[Closed] @eidxiety ††

[winterbolt]

u get the small baby bird icon this time

Comments

[lupusxylem]

[Once a month downtown in the city, an outdoor market is held. It's busy each and every time it pops up, with people coming from all over to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, assorted spices, choice cuts of meats and dairy products from farmers in the rural areas, the whole nine yards. It's not just a hub for food to buy, but is also an attraction for those seeking out stalls selling meals to be eaten on the go, or offering samples of their products from various small businesses dotted all along the streets. It's simple tradition, one that seems to bring in more people each time it occurs.

But with that, too, comes a hub for crime...petty theft and pick-pocketing is one of the more prime suspects with this many people jammed up against each other, bumping together and making it impossible to tell if you merely dropped your wallet in the commotion, or if you were robbed. It's equally a place for trade deals to happen among the less savory folk underneath the table, or in the alleys running adjacent to the stalls. It isn't exactly lawless so much as it is organized criminals functioning above the very law itself. After all, you can get away with a lot when you have the authorities bribed or blackmailed into your back pocket.

Such is life in the city. Such is what people have grown accustomed to, over the years. If you know the right people and run in the right circles, or keep your head down and kiss the feet of those who have the power to make you do so, you won't run into any trouble. Most of the time.

Wolfwood, as it turns out, is a part of one of those syndicates. One of the largest in the city in fact, and when you're heralded by a religious figurehead, well...it complicates matters. It wouldn't be so bad, perhaps, if this were the only one...but it isn't. And where their "turf" begins and ends seems to fluctuate each year as those others who have risen to power seek more and more power. As far as Chapel is concerned, though, this section of the city is his. This market is his. Any business that happens here is his.

And Wolfwood is here to buy groceries, essentially. And keep tabs on the deals happening, of course...but mostly groceries. Mafia men have to eat too, after all. Just sucks that he's the one who gets saddled with this job every damn time...

He just wants to slip away for a smoke, but he can't do that when one eye is being kept on two men chatting over a bag of "grain" they're haggling and the other is trying to pick out what cuts of meat are the best for bringing back for tonight's dinner. Chapel would only accept the most prime of the lot, and he's pretty sure the butchers here know that. It's less Wolfwood having to use a discerning eye, and more the people having to hope that they don't make a mistake and give him something that's a touch below his standards.

Not that the public would know this is a problem, of course. You see, while they're well aware of the gang activity in their fair city, Chapel and those like him also manage to keep up appearances to a tee. They are well respected figureheads, just as much as they are devout and give back to their community. Wolfwood knows that this is all a crock of shit of course, having been raised within it, but most would simply call him a black sheep. In fact, they do. He's managed to keep things mostly under wraps though, keeping Chapel's favor as the veritable prodigal son. He has, after all, already had his moments of rebellion when he was a teenager, and as far as Chapel knows he's "broken" out of them.

Wolfwood is snappy, rude, and brash. But he's firmly clipped onto Chapel's leash. If Chapel tells him to shoot somebody, he'll say how many times? It's that simple. Chapel just doesn't know that his reformed son has been balls deep in another man before, to which he probably...would be less approving.

Whatever. He just needs to get through today and then he can go get a drink. That's what he's thinking, at least, when a couple of people shoulder past and knock a stranger into him, no doubt causing said stranger to drop whatever he was carrying. Wolfwood, both on reflex and because he recognizes one of the men as another of the local riffraff who peddle drugs for his family, acts twofold.

One of his arms snaps out to catch the stranger around the waist before he can fall and crack his skull on the pavement, his bag upending its contents around their feet. His other manages to grab one of the guys by the back of his collar just as he's walking off, snatching him up nearly by the throat. His buddy whips his head around and reaches at his side, only to recognize who they bumped into and immediately cower, leaving his buddy to be pressed by Wolfwood as he holds him firm, looking right in his stupid face as he snarls:]

Watch where you're fucking going.

[Then lets him go, throwing him away from him just slightly. The two scramble to flee pretty much immediately, leaving Wolfwood to turn back to look at the person who nearly ate shit.]

Are you okay?

[eidxiety]

[This side of the city does not belong to the Ishmaels, and they do not come here unless there's a damn war brewing. Even then, the markets are not in their interest. The family firmly believes in peace for civilians — do not involve innocents in your war, as God declared — so why would they ever attack them? Their whole thing is that they're saving people. They're saving the people from the tyrant that is Chapel. They're saving the people from going to Hell. They're saving the people from this and that and whatever else they can make up on the spot to convert others to the cult.

On that side of town, direct descendents of Lady Ishmael's wear flowing robes in bright blues and whites, signalling that they're a member of the clergy (and also her children), alongside winged masks that cover their eyes. One wonders often if they can see out of them, and they can; the eyes of her and her children are trained, actually, to be able to see in sub-optimal conditions, solely by the fact these masks exist. They're there so that they don't have to see the sins staining the world... or whatever it is she preaches.

One of her sons, while not a turncoat, is a little too curious for his own good. When he goes outside and he's out of his family's territory, he takes off the mask, and he almost never leaves the house with the robes on. Ishmael, at this point in her life, doesn't care so long as Ain isn't doing anything that'll get him killed. After all, the man is a doctor, and can he wear ceremonial vestments when he's headed into the field to heal yet another sinner? No, he cannot. Him and his elder brother Almeric both, actually. This is the only thing keeping Ain from getting into trouble, as he gets curious and decides to poke his head into places he should not be going. After all, his world is so narrow... why should he not see what the other people in the city do?

...

So Ain is discovering very quickly why Ishmael told him not to go over to these parts. The women here wear short rockabilly dresses and no coats despite it being autumn. The men roam about with their shirts unbuttoned halfway down to their abdomens. None of you are free of sin. Absolutely no one here is of the Lord, and it really shows.

Ain is a bit shell-shocked by it all. They don't dress like this on his side of the city (because every single person there is part of a cult). What is happening why is it happening help—

He's here to shop, though, and despite the fact these people have him nervously pulling down the sleeves of his sweater like he's going to go to hell if they see a little bit of wrist from him, he would like to buy something. It's about supporting the people, and it'll make it much easier to take over this cute little market and spread the word of God here if he makes a good impression. At least, that's what he's telling himeslf, even if his real motivation for being here was "I want to see what's out there :)". This market really is cute, though. Everyone has been very nice, even if they're extremely sinful people. That's okay, though. Change comes from within, thanks to the Lord. He believes in you guys. :)

That said, he's not expecting people to push him around, nor is he expecting to get knocked into someone, and for that someone to catch him around the waist. At first, Ain thinks that this person has great reflexes, and then... then he's staring directly at a cross pendant hanging between a rather muscular man's pectorals and his entire thoughts go to oh no you Cannot be a man of the lord looking like that put those things away.

The guy is still holding Ain around the waist as the people who walked into him leave. He's too... weird-feeling to think about all the stuff that just hit the ground right now. Ain clears his throat and closes his eyes and tears them away from the stranger, quickly righting himself and squirming out of his grip. No problem, the guy was just being nice.]

I'm alright, haha... thank you. I thought I was going to hit the ground. That was quite the show of reflexes, mister.

[lupusxylem]

[See, what signals a member of Chapel's gang are the crosses each of them wear, somewhere on their person. Necklaces typically aren't enough since anyone could be wearing a necklace with a crucifix, which is why Wolfwood also has silver crosses as cufflinks. Ain is lucky that he's not the type to go out in uniform, otherwise he would be aggressing him right now, not helping him. It seems that Chapel and Lady Ishmael have vastly different ways of thinking, at least both in regards to how they run things and how they believe. Chapel sees her and her people as pompous and arrogant, all things that God wouldn't want someone to be. Flaunting one's wealth and influence, making a spectacle wherever you go, and holding yourself on a higher horse doesn't speak to those down home Christian values, now do they? Among other things, because rest assured cult shit and mafia shit typically go hand-in-hand. Ain, if nothing else, is a casualty more than he is a byproduct of this system.

Wolfwood, on the other hand...is a bit different. He goes against the grain in as much of a way as he can get away with, yet he still does his job like he's meant to. He's never known anything else, and the few times he's tried to directly rebel...he's paid the price for it, and isn't all too interested in trying his luck a second time. So, here he is, being the errand boy for the day.

But that doesn't mean he's heartless, letting Ain go as he manages to wiggle his way free from his grasp.]

Yeah yeah. You know you oughta be looking where you're going too.

[He says as he brushes some dirt off Ain's shoulder for him, then stoops down to start picking up the things he'd dropped.]

Check your pockets, by the way.

[eidxiety]

Haha, I was looking out, but I guess it's difficult to tell from outside looking in.

[The stranger crouches, and Ain does as instructed, sticking his hands in his pockets and double-checking and...

...

Ah. His shoulders slump in defeat, and he bends over to start picking stuff up and scooping it into the bag in more of a rush. The fresh produce is sort of messed up now, but it's not like he can buy more considering his fucking wallet is gone.]

This place has pickpockets, I take it...

[SIN!! SIN!!! NONE OF YOU ARE FREE OF SIN]

[lupusxylem]

Yeah. And I'm guessin' that's exactly why they "bumped" into you.

[Wolfwood sighs. That's honestly the oldest trick in the book, anyone native to the area would know better. Yet, despite his exasperation, he doesn't stop helping to scoop the fallen produce back into the bag, taking note of how bruised up it's gotten.]

You ain't from around here, are you?

[He asks, pushing the bag back into Ain's arms now that everything is back inside of it.]

[eidxiety]

[Ain doesn't think twice when he answers:]

I'm not, no. Haha, I'm from the north side.

[He... probably shouldn't be saying that, but Ain honestly has no reason to believe that his family has done anything wrong. Even if people down here probably talk shit about them, it's not like he's Obviously part of the Ishmaels. As far as the average person knows, the north side is full of a bunch of stuffy religious people, the site of a megachurch, and if he's not wearing his mask (solely so that the rival mafia doesn't think to kill him) there's no reason for him to be wary. After all, he clearly dresses like the overly-puritan north-siders do.]

There are less pickpockets there. [Because of how much of a tight ship Lady Ishmael runs, mostly. Anyway, Ain has no idea where that guy ran off to, and he didn't even see who bumped into him, so...] Oh, um, but I'll be okay. Thank you for your help, mister.

[lupusxylem]

The north side? You came a long way just for an outdoor market.

[He muses, though it's not anything particularly unusual, he guesses. Since Ain isn't giving him any reason to think he's at all involved with the Ishmaels, he just thinks he's a tourist who isn't used to the rougher parts of town. There's a reason this is Chapel's turf and not Ishmael's, after all.

Definitely obvious he's part of that sort of ilk, though. Considering.

With his weight leaned back on his heels, Wolfwood sighs.]

Nicholas. Nicholas D. Wolfwood. Wolfwood is fine.

[Please stop calling him mister you're giving him hives.

Ugh, though...he can't help but feel a little bad for the guy. He's obviously a fish out of water, and now he's been robbed blind. He could just say "well it's his fault for coming down here unaware and also being dumb about it", but...that's just it, isn't it? It's not like he could have known.

He looks off to the side, nudging up his glasses with the edge of his finger.]

...did you get everything you needed?

[eidxiety]

I like little markets like this, [he explains, casual as the breeze,] we don't have too many of them where I'm from, and I've heard this one is good. What I didn't hear was that you had a problem with pickpockets here, haha.

[They don't have many of them because everyone is more concerned with having bougie grocery stores and churches the size of an entire city block and those fancy Catholic private schools that in 10-15 years everyone is going to figure out were the breeding grounds for the gays.]

...I'm Ain. It's nice to meet you, mister. [Haha you thought he'd stop calling you mister just because he knows your name, that's cute.] I got everything, but I'm not sure how edible half of it is. I'm sure the bruised parts can be cut off, though.

[lupusxylem]

[...

Wolfwood sighs. Then, as he shifts his weight to his other foot, he reaches into his blazer pocket to pull out his wallet, pulling out a few bills.]

Here. Don't worry about paying me back, or how much it is. Just replace what got messed up, and get the rest of what you came here for.

[It's. Well.

Wolfwood definitely just handed him like double what he brought here, oops-]

[eidxiety]

Um.

[Um!!]

Mister, that's too much money. This is way more than what I came with — did you even count this? Here— [Ain unfurls some of the bills and tries to hand some back. Dude, a fucking orange is like fifty cents, please do not do this.] I don't want to steal half of your livelihood...

[lupusxylem]

It's Wolfwood. And look, it's fine, okay?

[Gently holding up his hand, palm forward, as Ain tries to hand the money back to him.]

You're not stealing. I'm giving it to you. You got robbed when you didn't know any better, and that ain't your fault. But let this be a lesson, I ain't gonna be here to bail you out a second time. Got it?

[The wording may sound stern, but it is actually coming from a place of concern. Ain WILL get robbed again if he isn't careful.]

A cute, lost guy like you is going to be a target no matter what. You gotta be more careful.

[eidxiety]

[C. Cute?!

Ain's face goes red. Cute? He's not cute! Like, he's not super buff or masculine like this guy and his chest hair is (Ain has never grown a body hair in his life), and he's got tons of freckles, but he's not cute! He's not! Where is the cute. What are you. Ain knows what you are.]

I know I have a babyface, but I can stand up for myself. [Huffs. He might be pouting. Does this lend to the cute?] ...thank you, though. It means a lot to me. I'll take your words into account...

[...............he's just gonna. Turn around. And he's gonna go, if Wolfwood lets him. He's not cute don't call him cute >:( ]

[lupusxylem]

Haah?

[Hooold up there. Wolfwood isn't going to like...grab at him again or anything, but he does sort of speedwalk so he can slide in front of him before he can manage to slip away into the crowd.]

Can you? Cause I gotta say, I'm a bit worried.

[eidxiety]

[And Ain stops dead, clutching his bruised-ass produce against his chest and pouting more, huffing again like a puppy who isn't getting what it wants. Hello, sir, why are you cutting him off at every turn?]

Why? I'm an adult! You're an adult. [Fiddles with his groceries.] I'll have you know I'm quite capable! I know self-defense and I'm a doctor.

[...Ain this has nothing to do with street smarts. Which, yeah, he has, but he's used to the safety of his own cloistered neck of the woods where no one touches him because he's usually dressed as a man of rank. People will stop him to ask for a prayer, or pull him into their houses to treat their sick family members, but they certainly don't try to rob him. Ain doesn't fight in any of the turf wars unless he has to; he knows how to use a gun, he knows not to walk down dark alleyways, he knows not to stick his neck into places he doesn't belong, but he is...

Well. Pampered northside rich boy. That's what he is. Ishmael would not have one of her sons directly participating in actual battles unless it's an emergency; that's what the little guys are for. Right now, Ain is almost definitely giving off the vibes of a spoiled, cloistered upbringing.]

[lupusxylem]

[Wolfwood, in contrast, is Ain's polar opposite. Born and raised by the Catholic church, yes, but there's...a distinct difference about him and, in turn, about the teachings he was brought up by. Granted, that does not mean the Eye is any less of a group of religious zealots, they just go about their business a different way, and Wolfwood was most certainly not spoiled growing up. Rich, perhaps, since being in the mafia you're simply going to be dealing with huge amounts of cash...but the thing is, most of that cash isn't his. It goes to "the family". You exist to serve the family and, by extension, your faith.

So when Ain tells him that he's capable, Wolfwood...does not believe him for a god damn second. Sure, he seems smart, and he's probably incredibly intelligent in a lot of areas, but this town is going to chew him up and spit him out if he stays here for much longer. Even the normal townsfolk are of a type that are likely unlike anything Ain is used to, if the way he keeps trying to cover his bare wrists is any indication.

Oi.

Wolfwood slips his hands into his pockets, shaking his head in mock defeat.]

Oh, I'm sure. And what are you gonna do if somebody pulls a gun on you and tries to take the money I just gave you? Can you defend yourself against that?

[eidxiety]

Yes! I can! That's part of the self-defense!

[Ain it's a GUN]

I know how to disarm someone. Everyone owns a gun these days. I also don't walk into dark alleyways at night, though, so I'll be fine. Maybe you should think before carrying this much cash around, haha.

[...yeah this side of town is about to bully this twink.]

[lupusxylem]

[......]

If you say so...

[Yeah, uh.

Wolfwood is going to tail him. He doesn't usually bother- let stupid be stupid, and all- but...Ain is like. Innocently incompetent. He genuinely doesn't seem to get how bad it can get in these parts, and he could seriously get hurt out here. He's already been robbed once, and there's little doubt in Wolfwood's mind that it will happen again. There's a 70% chance someone else saw it happen and will try for themselves.

But since Ain is pushing back against it, he's going to just let him think he's going along with it. In reality, he's going to be keeping a very close eye on him for the remainder of his time in the market. Part of Wolfwood's job here is to keep things in order, after all.]

Just don't say I didn't warn you if something happens. Maybe next time you oughta consider bringin' a friend along.

[eidxiety]

The joke's on you, mister! I don't have friends to bring with me!

[Ain, that is... so fucking sad. What the hell.

The reality is that one of his brothers would probably have been more than willing to come with him, but not this far out. This is not their turf. This is where the sinners are. This is why Ishmael wanted them to stay north, where it's safe, where everyone dresses properly and money flows and none of Chapel's dangerous, sinful civilians are roaming around with guns.

Like, seriously, where are the priests out here. You're all going to Hell.

So, Wolfwood has "let Ain go", and Ain is going back to the other market stalls to re-buy the same produce, which doubles what he's carrying but that's alright, he has extra of those tote bags on him because it's cheaper than paying for paper or plastic here and less wasteful in the end. It means he doesn't exactly have his hands free half the time, resulting in some clumsy fumbling with his cash at times... and this is what clues people into the fact Ain's got way too much money on him. Do you know how much $100 is going to pay for, for the average family? On this side of town, a rich boy is a target.

Ain makes it out of the market in one piece, at least, holding his tote bags of fruits and veggies and spices around his wrists, looking happier... and then he gets fucking accosted immediately, the second he leaves the sunny park and gets a bit down the street. His hands are full, and it makes defending himself against three much larger guys difficult. To be fair to him, when he said he knew self-defense, he wasn't lying — but it's old-school and not great, nothing against three guys who aren't going to play fair while they slam Ain into the brick wall and try to reach into his pockets.]

[lupusxylem]

[Okay yeah, it is a good thing he decided to follow Ain after all. Damn it.

He'd kept a close eye on him as he did his shopping, remaining in the fringes and easily keeping out of Ain's peripheral so he wouldn't notice he's being followed. That's...another red flag, that Ain never once realized Wolfwood was following him, because it means someone else could very easily be doing the exact same thing the moment they realize how much money Ain is flashing at these stalls. And...maybe he feels just a touch responsible now, since he was the one who gave him all that cash in the first place.

Here he is, inventing problems for himself because this guy made doe-eyes at him and he couldn't say no. Ugh.

Somehow, Wolfwood manages to keep the ruffians in line and watch Ain at the same time, at least until he briefly gets out of his line of sight as he exits the market proper. Wolfwood isn't going to be able to follow him too far outside of his own turf, but he will walk just long enough until he thinks Ain will be safe going back to the ritzy side of town. And, well...that ends up not happening as he manages to get himself jumped near immediately. Like, that's got to be a record.

To give Ain some credit...he does wait, watching as the men approach him. Waiting to see how he employs that "self-defense" he was touting, and...unsurprisingly, it does jack and shit to stop these thugs. They overpower him easily, and that's when Wolfwood has had enough.

Whether Ain sees it before it's too late or not, the mafiaoso slides in behind the man currently groping for the cash in Ain's pockets, swiftly slamming a knee up between his legs. That effectively puts him completely out of commission as he drops like a rock to the ground, which gets the attention of his buddies a second too late. The second man gets slugged in the jaw, and as the third comes at him with a knife, Wolfwood wheels around with his pistol in his other hand, the barrel jammed up underneath his chin.]

Unless you wanna see your brains on this wall before you die, you'll all get the fuck off my turf. Now.

[eidxiety]

[Ain maintains he did not make any doe eyes at anybody, it's definitely the fact that he's so soft in the face. He doesn't make doe-eyes! He's manly as hell!

...

Which is why he squeaks when Wolfwood comes around the corner with a gun, please don't rob him too he's trying his best to get these people off of him— oh. Oh, everyone in this neck of the woods is armed. Lovely. Why are you all like this? This is not good Jesus-loving behaviour! ...like Lady Ishmael had Ain take lives before too but still! That's what has to be done in the name of peace!

(No, he will not see the hypocrisy in this.)

The guy who Wolfwood pulled a gun on scampers off immediately, though, and his friends follow after, albeit slower because one of them just got his dick kicked off. Ain is still pressed against the wall, looking alarmed, and he readjusts his groceries...

...]

I had that under control.

[NO, YOU DIDN'T]

[lupusxylem]

[Wolfwood is breathing a little heavy by the time the men run away, lowering his gun with a slight rattle of the chamber before he reholsters it in the holster near his shoulder underneath his blazer.]

Yeah. Sure you did.

[He, at the very least, wouldn't have shot that guy in front of Ain. They just knew better than to call his bluff. The only smart thing they've done in their lives, he's sure.

After saying that, Wolfwood turns to face Ain as he readjusts his jacket.]

Did they touch you?

[He needs to know how many fingers to break once he finds them again.]

[eidxiety]

[...]

Well, yes, they had their hands in my back pockets, but I'm alright. It doesn't seem like they ran off with anything. [Who is this guy... this guy with his whole chest out, carrying a gun, being really over-protective. Who the fuck are you, for real.] Is it always like this here?

[Ain, you didn't notice that Wolfwood has been stalking you. You didn't fucking realise at all that people were watching your pampered rich boy ass for a solid half hour waiting to mug you. He literally told you it was like this. Are you good—]

[lupusxylem]

It's not. It's like this because you painted a target on your own back.

[This area can be dangerous, yes. People will mug you, take advantage of you if they sense that they can get away with it. But most self respecting con-artists know better than to go after "normal" people. They seek easy prey, easy pickings. And Ain...unfortunately had been just that. Too easy, in fact.

Wolfwood scowls, pointing a finger at Ain now that he can relax a little with those goons no longer breathing down Ain's neck.]

You can't just flash your money around like that. Those guys saw how much you had and thought they were gonna get away with mugging you.

[eidxiety]

You—

[Ain's cheeks turn red. Oh boy, he is pouting now.]

You gave me that! In public! In front of everybody! [This is a setup! You set him up! You wanted him to get mugged!] I already got my wallet stolen, why did you give me enough money to paint that target there in the first place?!

[lupusxylem]

Wh- hey, don't pin this on me! This ain't my fault!

[It kindof is lol

And Wolfwood realizes that a liiiiittle too late-]

And it wasn't just that anyway! You were acting like you didn't know where you were half the time. Obviously a tourist.