Boredom|Haven, Ilyamen

[Northen Light36]

Acqua leaned casually against a wall, watching people passing her as the thief looked for a good mark. Life had been quiet for too long since her trip to Humontis, but she knew better then to risk anything in Maelstrom. Nobility was a pain in the arse.

And since she had no desire yet to run into her brothers (she'd sent them an "I'm home. Sorry for being out of contact" note when she'd gotten home, but that was all), Talen'sul was out of the question too. That left Ilyamen. Which held an excitement all of it's own. She'd yet to test the effectiveness of the new guards and the city had changed a fair deal from how it had been when she'd first been brought to the Guild.

Both factors left her slightly on edge and made her careful about her target. An easy mark at first, just to be sure I haven't lost my edge, she thought, scanning the crowd for someone fitting that description. Young, well off and cocky. The kind who's never had to watch their copper and too arrogant to worry about thieves.

[Skittlebug]

Acqua is snapped out of her reverie by a slight difference in weight on her belt. A dirty young boy bolts away from her and ducks turns into an alley.

[Northen Light36]

Acqua's hand flew to where her coin bag had been. "Oh you have got to be fucking kidding me," she snarled and took off after the kid. Soahc's arse, I have got to catch the little shit. The guild will never let me hear the end of it if they hear I got my pocket picked by some flea bitten street rat.

Her irritation only increased as she realised she sounded exactly like Amaro.

[Skittlebug]

She gets to the end of the alley in time to see which way the kid darts onto the next street. He knows the streets well, but she is still much faster than him and if she can keep him in sight she should be able to catch up.

[Northen Light36]

The streets may have changed somewhat, but not so much that Acqua can't find her way around almost as well as the boy. Wishing she had Talon's speed, she gritted her teeth and pushed herself into a faster sprint.

"Come here," she hissed, snatching for the collar of the boy's shirt.

[Skittlebug]

The boy lets out a strangled yelp as he's pulled back by the collar and lands on his back, the wind knocked out of him. He stares up at Acqua with wide, frightened eyes as he wheezes and tries to get his breath back. "Ple-eaase...I'm sorry." He hold her coin purse up to her, looking very sorry indeed.

[Northen Light36]

"Sorry you got caught you mean," Acqua muttered, taking her coin purse back... and tucking it inside her shirt this time. "Oh wipe that look off your face, kid, I'm not going to hit you."

Now she had her purse, and a drop of her pride, back, she couldn't help but see the humor in the situation. "You've got guts kid. Not much talent, but plenty of guts. What's your name?"

[Skittlebug]

The boy watches her in confusion, why was she being so nice to him, he'd stolen from her. Not sure whether or not this is just a ruse until the guards can get here, he pushes himself up, still wheezing a little. "I'm Wilf...aren't ya gonna take me t' the guards?"

[Northen Light36]

Acqua snorted. "Did you hear me scream for them?" she asked with a slight sneer. "No, I'm not going to drag you to the guards."

She smirked and added, "Wasn't that long ago I was in your shoes. Though, I wasn't stupid enough to try snatching the purse of someone who's got nothing to do except notice the weight disappear."

[Skittlebug]

Still confused, Wilf fidgets, "ya seemed like ya were thinkin hard 'bout somethin," he says by way of explanation. "I just wanted to get somethin t' eat, an I figured gettin money might be easier than gettin food." He rubs and arm across his face and glances around, hoping no one else was watching them, "If...if ya arn't gonna take me t' the guards...what are ya gonna do?"

[Northen Light36]

Acqua sighed and looked at the boy. It had been a long time, but she did still remember what it felt like to go hungry. She too glanced around to be sure they were alone. "First, some advice. Next time, stick to going after food. Not all your fellow thieves are as easily amused as me."

She eyed him and sighed. "Or as fucking soft-hearted. Come on, I'll get you something to eat - as long as you keep your mouth shut about this little event."

[Skittlebug]

Wilf's eyes widen, not only was she not going to punish him, she was going to get him something to eat? It was too good to be true. He wonders at what she'd said about 'your fellow theives' and eyes her curiously. In the end his stomach wins though, and he nods, "I don' have anyone t' tell anyway."

[Northen Light36]

"Orphan then?" Acqua asks casually. "Guess we've got that in common too. Come on, follow me." She led the way back towards the market. "When'd you last eat, Wilf?" She eyed him. "Or bathe?"

[Skittlebug]

Wilf nods in response to her first question. "I had a apple yesterday, an' a piece of bread." The boy grins, "Sometimes, if I hang around the temple they'll give me sumthin t' eat. An'...I guess I bathe when it rains." He wrinkles his nose.

[Northen Light36]

Acqua shook her head as they entered the market again. "How old are you?" she asked as she headed over to a baker's shop to buy a couple of hot pies. She passed them to the child. "There, that should fill you up for a bit."