The Slums (Looking for trouble?)

[Deleted]

Layla, in her attempt to do more than sit around do paper work all day. Finished up her worked, and put on her winter cloak. She put her papers away at home and decided, she wanted go to and see what she could see.

She pulled up her hood and headed south to the more "slum" area's of the city. It was still the early afternoon when she arrived there. She walked around the public area's, wondering if anyone would know she was a Senator. She casually walked and check out various shops as she went.

[Northen Light36]

Skif, having slipped down to the Humontis thieves guild for a change of scene - and some better drink (the guild doesn't care how old a kid is after all), is sitting on a barrel, sipping cider from a waxed paper cone.

Seeing Layla, he frowns slightly. She doesn't belong in this part of the city, he can see that at once. Deciding he better see what's up, Skif gulps down his drink, stuffs the cone into his pocket and starts trailing the senator.

[Deleted]

Layla continues to venture in and out of shops, and looking at the different carts in the market place. She doesn't seem to be doing much.
Every once in a while, she'll talk to a vender, and then look around and take notes on a parchment.

She heads to some of the more remote area's of the city.

[Northen Light36]

Skif frowns and continues watching until he sees the parchment go into a bag. Using all his thief-y skills, Skif tries to creep up on Layla and grab her bag. Not being a pickpocket, however, Skif needs to resort to the far from subtle 'smash and snatch' method - charging into Layla in an attempt to knock her down and snatch up her bag.

[Deleted]

Layla, caught a little off guard by the sudden smash, stumbles back a bit, not as off balance as the thief might have hopped.

Her bag, being slug over one shoulder isn't as hard to grab.

She gets a good look at the boy. "What do you think you're doing?" She makes a grab for his arm.

[Northen Light36]

Skif swears and makes a run for it, ducking in and out of the twisting streets, trying to get away from Layla. However, this is not his home turf and he doesn't know the best places to run to catch the attention of the otherb thieves.

Turning into another street, the young thief realises he's run into a dead end and swears up a storm.

[Deleted]

Layla herself cursed and sprang to her feet to chase after the boy.

She did her best to keep in good shape, seeing as she sat and did paper work all day, and now she was glad for it.

As she run, ducked, bobbed and weaved, she keep repeating a firm voice. "Excuse me! Please move! Coming through. Please move!"

Finally she was pretty sure she saw him turn down an ally. She followed and took off the glove on her left hand.

Ah ha. A dead end. She stared him down hard. "Why did you try and take my bag? I thought it was pretty common knowledge, you are suppose to carry your money in your pocket."

She looks Skif up and down again. He was a young, but perhaps still able to be reasoned with. "I'd like to help the people here, but I don't know much about this area, would you be willing to help me? I could pay you a small penance." She coaxed.

[Northen Light36]

Skif drops the bag, scowling. His eyes are wary, dark and with just the barest hint of something dangerous. "What are ya doin' here? Snooping, asking questions... What ya lookin' for?" he demands.

The offer of money clearing caught Skif's interrest, but at the same time Skif looks well clothed (although his clothes are very patched and well worn) and well fed. It's clear he's not desperate and isn't likely to cooperate just for the promise of money.

[Deleted]

She smiled at him, "I'm not snooping, I'm surveying the land, I'm going to try and partition some changes around here. I need someone who can show me parts of town that I wouldn't know to look at otherwise. Parts of town that need some help. Would you be willing to help me?" She smiled at him, "What's your name?"

[Northen Light36]

Skif bites his lip, considering the option. He knows where the poorest areas of the city are, of course. He's been on a few guild runs to leave food and copper here. "Why would ya want ta help?" he asks. "Ya kind don't do nothing down here."

[Deleted]

Layla was a little taken back.

"And what kind do you think I am? And if my "kind" don't do anything down here, then by my being here, I'm obviously, not like the rest of them now am I?"

Layla took a step forward, reached out and picked up her bag.

"So, what's your name?"

[Northen Light36]

"The rich kind," Skif answers, looking pointedly at the woman's clothing. "Only give my name ta my mates," he adds, looking defiently up at Layla. "Ya arn't one of 'em." He eyes her warily and questions, "Why would ya wanna help down 'ere?"

[Deleted]

Layla takes in his looks and shows nothing.
"Because it's my job, and I take my job very seriously. Not to mention it's really going to annoy some Senators when I hand them my proposal." She said with a grin.

[Northen Light36]

Well, he can certainly enjoy the thought of annoying noble-types. "I'll show ya around," he agrees. Now that he's a little calmer and isn't angrily snapping out his words, the breathy Talen'sul accent is easy to hear.

[Deleted]

"Thank you," she replied kindly. "My name is Layla Willow by the way." She extends a hand to shake. "Nice to meet you." She pulls out a parchment and pen. "Where are we off to first?"