westwhere | Stepping into the dark

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Stepping into the dark

WHO: Eleven & Archeval
WHEN: April 12th + 13th
WHERE: Salt Mines
WHAT: An excursion at full strength
WARNINGS: violence

[It's afternoon by the time he's finished with his unexpected errands of the morning and he can't find Xingchen. Which makes sense, really. The man likely has plenty else to be doing, even assuming he hasn't already left.

Eleven mulls it over as he pulls on his armor. There's still time, and he's likely strong enough to go it alone, but.. it would be pretty reckless. Still, he's spent too much coin this morning that he needs to make up for it.

He pulls a cloak over himself to hide the metal shine of his armor, then secures his swords. Perhaps he could ask someone else. If he can't find anyone, then he'll resign himself to enduring a grueling day at the docks.

Eleven casts a thoughtful glance over the servant's quarters, mind trickling through various possibilities, then grins as he spots a likely target]

Archeval. Are you busy today?

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Probably nothing either of us could figure out without a few blueprints and some considerably more exciting equipment. But if you'd like to thank me, I suppose I would never say no to a nice knife. Something that could slip under clothing? [ raising a brow ] Is that within your repertoire?

[He grins] Yes, of course.

[A nice knife. He could certainly do that. ..Possibly even work in a runic inscription Archeval may not be able to read.

Caught up in the idea of having a full-size forge at his fingertips almost distracts him from their secondary goal as they move to leave a section of tunnel covered in white crystal-like structures]

Oh, salt. [He drops his bag and sets to work filling up with as much as he'll be able to carry]

We'll sell this when we get back, then I can see about suitable clothing..

[ Again, he's going to leave the manual labor to Eleven, dropping his bag alongside the other and turning to play lookout again with his unlit lightsaber in hand. It's honestly been quieter down here than he would have expected -- perhaps the beings coming and going have even managed to make a noticeable dent in the number of creatures down here by now, who knows, but he won't let down his guard just yet. Those moments in an infiltration when everything looks safe and it's tempting to relax are the most dangerous ones of all. ]

Just let me know when you want to make your trek out. I imagine I'll be around.

[Given his suspicion of Archeval's ease with burdens, Eleven packs his bag to weigh slightly more than he expects the man could reasonably carry otherwise, then shifts to pack his own to a more comfortable weight]

I will. I really am grateful. I'll treat us both to a meal at the tavern if we're successful. ..If it isn't being raided, anyway.

[He finishes up, then stands with a triumphant smile] I think we're done here.

All right then-- [ in that familiar drawl ] Let's be on our way before one of us gets particularly unlucky and has to reattach a limb.

I suppose we should more properly save all of it for operating funds really, but -- [ contemplating for a moment before he gives a grimace ] After the week or two we've had I could certainly use a drink. Why not.

[ He makes no commentary and, indeed, doesn't even seem to really notice any excessive weight as he shoulders the stuffed-full bag again. There are at least a few benefits to buttering up the Dark Lord. ]

[He shrugs as he shifts the weight of his own pack, quietly pleased that Archeval seems to be handling the weight of scrap metal and extra salt without issue]

Not that I'm not grateful for what we have, but.. I need more than millet to keep up my strength and energy for things like this. A drink does sound nice though.

[And it would be more enjoyable with someone it's beginning to feel like he may be able to rely on]

I appreciate you coming out here with me today, too.

[ Oh, right, law-abiding people probably use their money to actually purchase food around here instead of simply taking whatever there's a convenient opportunity to grab. Encouraging the local shopkeeps to forget they actually set out one extra loaf of bread or skewer of grilled fish or other such items has been really bringing back memories, actually. Shame he hadn't been better at it as a kid.

He has a feeling present company would frown on that, though, so simply gives a bland shrug in response. ]

The supplies help all of us, the walk's been good for a stretch. And you're not terrible company. [ sarcasm seems to be his default tone of voice, honestly ]
Wouldn't be volunteering to spend three or four hours hanging around the Lan, I can tell you that.

[Eleven laughs, then swiftly stifles himself, grinning sheepishly until it seems quiet enough to speak again]

..He means well. I think he must have just been raised into some sort of high nobility or even royalty. So not exactly high praise, but thanks.

That would certainly explain why he thinks he can delegate to the riffraff and talks like some Pureblood who can't interact with a filthy slave for more than two syllables at a go. [ lip curling in contempt. Don't mind the Dark Lord still adjusting to suddenly being in a world where he can't legally skewer anybody who annoys him. ]

But nevermind, the rest of us must simply keep on being more responsible than our frivolous aristocrats. Lead on.

[ He falls silent for a bit after that as he listens for trouble down the tunnel, hand still near his lightsaber as he follows behind watching El's back. ]

[He can certainly agree the man is difficult to get along with, but he thinks he's doing a decent job of it. It helps that he's grown into his own role a little over the past year, in that he isn't expected to bow to or serve kings despite his very modest upbringing. His title might mean nothing here, but it's the same for all of them in that regard. More food for thought as they head out of the mine. He hopes they can all learn to get along- at least for the most part.

As expected, as they emerge into fresh air again, the sky is beginning to darken]

..Hm. I hope our luck holds in getting back. We have to at least sell your salt tonight so we can give the bag back as promised.

Tonight, tomorrow. Can't be that terribly missed over one extra day. [ He waves a careless hand, still scanning the horizon for trouble as they crunch across frozen grass in the dimming light. ] I never said when I was bringing it back anyhow.

Shame this weather seems no nuisance to the creatures as it is to the rest of us, though. The opposite if anything...

[He hums agreement through a shiver. Despite their strength, they do feel inherently disadvantaged in this climate]

Probably.. helps them find warmth more easily. If this were the desert, it might be more difficult for them. ..During the day anyway.

[And it's for that reason he doesn't summon fire again to see better by. Even while the sky darkens overhead, the distant shapes of town aren't difficult to spot]

If this were a desert, would they even care to hunt or would they just sit around doing nothing instead?... [ giving a little snort and a frown. Perhaps Arche has hit on something without realizing it in his idle speculation, but he moves right along from that thought as he refocuses on the walk ahead, shifting to heft the bag a bit better on his shoulder once more.

He too resists the temptation to draw his lightsaber while they continue on across the dark tundra with only a watery moon overhead to see by; and perhaps it's just as well night has fallen for their return trip across the empty expanse, since they at least manage not to attract extra attention from the living. The sights and sounds of workers walking home through the streets, merchants shouting out last calls and packing their stalls up, greet the pair as they make it to the bleak outskirts of Sa-Hareth and hurry to conclude Eleven's business before day's end. ]

[Despite his expectations, they find a merchant willing to pay them for their full haul of salt for a decent price. He splits the coin with Archeval without thought and hums contentedly as they head back for the night. It isn't a lot of money, but it should be enough for a set of clothes- a task he elects to leave for morning.]

A decent day's work, I think. Perhaps we'll try your idea tomorrow, if you have time?

Fine by me, if nothing comes up -- I can't imagine why it would. Sounds like our day is planned. [ an indifferent shrug, Arche already busy squirrelling coins away in several places on his person. He doesn't need the money that much, but he's never had a habit of telling anyone not to give him credits. If nothing else it will be stored safely to go into the bribe pool later.

The pair of them duck back into the House of Dew to go their separate ways for the evening, and Archeval finds his partner-in-crime bright and early the next morning to go scope out the lay of the land at the forges; and as luck has it, with the local warlord's attention currently elsewhere, his undead pets largely aren't around to stink up the premises. Removing the inconvenient blanks in the Force who don't respond to Arche's tricks makes the whole affair significantly easier; Arche is able to 'remind' several different workers at one of the forges that they 'forgot' a different nearby blacksmith shop begged to borrow their facility, sending an apprentice to complete several last-minute rush orders that there simply wasn't space to assemble on top of regular business. Perhaps watching this is a bit more unnerving than simply encouraging one maid to feel a bit better about a borrowed bag, but Archeval smoothly proceeds past any of Eleven's possible objections -- in for one credit, in for a hundred, or however the saying goes.

He makes himself scarce for the next few hours lurking about a corner of the area, conveniently unnoticed by most, as he surveys the various goings-on and quietly keeps tabs on Eleven as well. ]

[As though it's meant to be, El takes swiftly to the forges, hardly believing their luck. With Archeval looking out for him, he's able to work without interruption and immediately sets to begin his projects, beginning with the most ambitious. He hones into his work, swiftly engrossed in it and keeping a steady beat on temperature, form, and strength. Everything needs done, and done with precision. It isn't until he begins to tire that he glances up for time, startled to find it dark and chased by the sinking realization that he'd almost entirely forgotten about Archeval past the first hour.

He reheats the shape of the sword he's forged to proper temperature, then places it into an insulator where he prays it will remain until morning. Eleven attempts to leave in an inconspicuous manner, searching for his companion, then once found and out of earshot, launches into apologies]

I'm so sorry. I lost track of time. There was so much work to do, I should have thought to ask- You must have been terribly bored. I truly didn't mean to impose for so long.

[ He doesn't have to go far. In fact, though Archeval wasn't within line of sight before, once El starts consciously looking for Arche he's suddenly right there, with an abruptness that suggests further unexplained shenanigans. Dressed in some nondescript clothes in deference to the occasion (still black, the Dark Lord has an #aesthetic to keep up okay), he's perched just out of the way atop a nearby barrel, nibbling an apple while apparently having been watching the tail end of Eleven's work.

When the other young man hurriedly approaches at last, he just gives a little shrug in response to those apologies, looking vaguely amused. ]

So polite, hero. If I wanted to leave, I would have. There's information enough to gather around here as much as anywhere in the city. [ He slips down off the barrel to take one last bite out of his little apple and carelessly toss the core ] You accomplished what you were after?

[Oh. Food. That's right. He got so caught up in his work that he'd forgotten entirely to eat. Eleven scrubs at his face, belatedly aware he must be covered in soot. Although he stops once spotting that his gloves, once light in color, are now black.]

..Ah, well, as much as can be expected in a day. Forging is a lot of work. But thank you for not leaving me there. I promise, if we can come back again, I will forge and finish the metalwork for your knife. The sword I was making just needs a lot more time to heat and cool, so if I have any hope of actually finishing it, I needed to start on it first.

[ He gives a bit of a grimace, but sighs and shrugs again. ] May as well finish what we've begun. Though I'm aware I make this all look fantastically easy -- [ spreading his hands in a casually immodest, 'what can you do' sort of shrug ] -- but you know, even the most scatterbrained of sentients does start to catch on to these little tricks once it's been hours and hours. I can't necessarily promise day three, not without some downtime in between.

At any rate, we should get out of here so you can divest yourself of those absolutely filthy clothes. [ he's definitely keeping a wider berth between them than usual ] ...Not to mention I imagine you're halfway to keeling over by now.

[He nods] I understand.

[Then glances down at himself. Although his clothes, face, and hair are probably filthy, he still grins tired satisfaction] I'm just really hungry. But okay, I'll clean up and change, then as promised, we'll meet at the tavern.

[And after a decent meal and a drink, he'll likely sleep like the dead. Eleven stifles the threat of a yawn at the thought] I hope you found some useful information today at least.

[ another noncommital shrug ] Mm, I wouldn't call it an entirely wasted day. After you then, if there's nothing else to be carried--...

[ He breaks off once they reach the House of Dew to go do whatever Dark Lords stranded in a zombie-infested city get up to after dark, but by the time Eleven makes it to their prearranged meeting place he's there faithfully on time, skulking about a nearby dark alley to be slightly less conspicuous. ]

So you've been here before? [ He offers no preamble whatsoever before sliding right in behind El where the latter is walking down the dark street. It seems like maybe the Dark Lord only gets more generally insufferable once you get to know him. ]

[El startles to Archeval's sudden presence, hand going swiftly for the sword on his back, then settles with a soft huff once his voice registers]

Yes. You haven't? It has decent food- both more filling and appetizing than millet. Haven't tried the drink yet, though. Hasn't seemed like a good idea on my own. But I've been fine otherwise, just keeping to myself with my head down at a corner table.

[ Don't think too poorly of him, they revoke your Sith license if you don't scare at least one person daily. ]

Haven't spent much time inside any local establishments as yet. I prefer a nice wide-open area with lots of visible exits when I'm not sure whether the local militia are going to show up to kill me. [ he muses on this sardonically as they head for the door, ducking around a couple of laborers who walk past giving them wary looks ]

[It helps that he kind of deserves it after today.]

In my defense, I was hungry. But in the words of my former companion: keep your head down, don't linger, and pay your tab. Saw us through alright.

[Eleven pulls his hood up over his head, then catches the door before it closes to allow them inside. A lit hearth flickers against the far wall and warms the interior. The mouth-watering scent of bread has his stomach growling as they settle at a table away from the bar.

He orders a hot meal for both of them when the barmaid approaches, then sighs]

I'm getting pretty tired of living like this though.

[ Before the maid can get away entirely, he makes sure to ask for a bottle of wine as well. He wasn't kidding about wanting that drink. ]

You and your companion, hm? Done some running from the authorities before, have you? [ he wonders with a wry stare, leaning back a bit in his seat with crossed arms. His eyes flick back and forth through the dimly-lit recesses of the tavern a bit, but he doesn't seem to detect anyone taking special notice of them yet, not with sight or with his other senses. So far, so good. ]

I miss my own damned bed, but I suppose if some idiot had to come along and perform a kidnapping, at least they had the courtesy to wait for me to wrap up. [ deeply dry once again ] I do hate being interrupted in the middle of a mission.

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