Earning Their Keep

[Kender Bard]

Teneth, cursed loudly and heartily in his mind, a long stream of filthy words, at his foiled luck.

Maybe I should get a job... I don't think I want to see Scarlet again in the wrong context so soon.

Instead he just sighed and backed off from Locke a little. "I'm not telling you anything," he grunted. "My... tricks are the only way I get by, and that's all I'm saying on the subject."

[Deleted]

"Aw, shame." Locke kept his face carefully neutral as he retrieved his staff. "It seems as though those skills would be a real crowd-pleaser. You could really do 'nothing up my sleeves' justice," he added, motioning to Teneth's sleeves. "It would probably be a joke, but still." He smiled at Teneth, as if letting bygones be bygones. "Did you like the show?" he asked with more false innocence, a teasing tone under the words.

[Kender Bard]

Teneth clenched his teeth and from his rigid posture it was clear he was fighting very, very hard not to strike out at Locke. "I think," he said through clenched teeth, "that even starving and in sore need of income, I wouldn't stoop to make an ass of myself for a few shards and chuckles like you. No, I didn't like your show. It just reminded me a half-talented hack with a freakish cat is better off than life than a man with dignity."

[Deleted]

Locke gave Erika a contemplative look. "Erika, have you lost any dignity?"

For the sake of the argument, Erika shook her head.

"I haven't either. In fact, I think we've been having a lot of fun, don't you?"

A nod from the cat.

Locke turned to Teneth again, still cheerful. "And there you have it." He pretended to look his staff over. "I'm sorry you didn't enjoy my efforts, though. I'll have to be more creative. But you know what they say: Do what you love, and you'll never have to work a day." Now his eyes narrowed, his face becoming harder. "I'll also thank you to stay away from me, Erika, the snack-seller, and the people who come to watch us and buy from him." He aimed the knob of the staff at Teneth, pressing the hidden catch, and the foot of sharpened steel shot towards the thief, almost touching his chest. "Get the 'point'?" Locke asked, voice low and steady.

A second later, he relaxed, drawing the staff close to his body and retracting the steel. He smiled again as Erika took to his shoulder one more time. "I hope you have a pleasant evening, young man," he said almost sweetly.

[Kender Bard]

Teneth fell back a step but his eyes were narrowed as well. "Threaten me," he growled.

And that cat. Nodding and shaking its head. What the hell? What was that thing? It wasn't normal.

"Fine!" he shouted, glaring at them both. "Take your freak-thing and your money you smug bastard!" With a snarl of frustration, he kicked up a gem-sized piece of rock at Erika.

[Deleted]

Erika, being a cat, saw the stone coming. She leaped out of the way, and unfortunately, Locke stepped sideways in the same direction, which would have taken her out of the line of fire even if she hadn't moved. The rock crashed into Locke's forehead and he cried out, seeing enough stars to decorate the night sky. He staggered back, dropping the basket and pressing his now free hand against the wound, which was already bleeding profusely. Erika howled, but he silenced her with a quick thought, and glared at Teneth.

"Do you feel better now?" Locke snarled in a way that indicated it would be an empty victory if Teneth did.

"Hey!" the snack-seller yelled. "Do I need to call a soldier?"

"No," Locke called back. "I have this covered."

Erika climbed onto the basket, snarling herself as only an angry cat could. ~He better back off or his face is filleted.~

<< He'd better back off if he doesn't want to embarrass himself some more. >>

[Kender Bard]

Teneth hadn't really intended for that to happen. He didn't feel bad but he didn't feel good either, so he settled for indifference. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he muttered, "Yeah. Maybe I knocked loose some of that arrogance, ya bastard." With a final sneer to make himself feel better, he turned and walked away.

[Deleted]

"Hmph." Locke straightened a bit.

~Pleeeeeease let me go shred his ankles. Pleeeeeease!~

"No." The Mind shook his head. "We have the high ground; to attack would mean losing it. It doesn't matter what he thinks, anyway. Would you mind pushing the basket to me?"

Erika put a paw on the basket and started walking on three legs while she pushed with the other. ~Think we'll see that arse around again?~

Locke knelt, putting the staff down to slide the basket over his wrist and then pick up the staff again, straightening as he kept his other hand firm on his forehead. "Not if he's smart, we won't."

~Hmph. His smarts are in definite question. You're assuming too much of him.~ Erika trotted by Locke's ankle while he turned and started walking back to the dorm to pay the rent and get medical attention.

Her person suddenly chuckled. "You know, I'm getting a nice collection of facial scars for someone supposedly so non-confrontational."

~At least your Sign's not up there any more.~

"There is that. And the point is, you're not hurt. I'm glad for that."

Erika brushed against his leg. ~You're still an idiot for letting yourself get hit.~

"Better my head than yours, dear. My skull is thicker."

~Boy is it.~