Patchwork Universe

Larkin Quickgrip · Good Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 34 Location: The Slums

Larkin took a deep breath and held it. His target was walking past the alley and he knew that soon he would be forced to act. He saw the bobbing head make its way past and that was when he struck.

He ran straight into the poor bloke forcing him off his feet, even as he did Larkin slipped his hand gently into and then out of his victims jacket. “Oh sorry bout that mate,” tumbled out of his mouth before he grinned and ran off into the crowd, leaving the target to discover his bad luck.

Barely five minutes later he had gone through the wallet and found very little. His good eye scanned over the contents, his other eye was completely blind. The only thing of interest was a very small mirror tucked back in the wallet, which Larkin was more than eager enough to take.

Larkin glared into the mirror and saw a very dirty bedraggled rat-like face staring back. The most obvious thing was his large scar, which ran from his jaw-line up to beneath his left eye and looked very deep. This was the blind eye and was pearly white. Larkin grinned at the sight of it, he had always hated wearing a patch and had recently taken to leaving it off just for the shock value. He knew he would never get any sympathy for it but his enemies underestimated him because of it which was a deadly thing to do around Larkin.

Even with the blind eye Larkin was a deadly thief and had no morals when it came to survival or money. He was easily the most talented pickpocket in the entire slums which was saying something, and could easily hold his own when it came to picking locks. Recently however Larkin had been wishing for more of a challenge then robbing clumsy old foreigners, or picking stupid old and rusty locks. He had to leave the city again, he knew it.

Larkin stood up and sniffed the air, before tucking the mirror into the pocket of his rotten jacket before sloping off into the slums.

Larkin Quickgrip · Good Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 34 Location: The Slums

Larkin clung to the roof of the church and stared. He gazed for what seemed like hours, his dark eye trying to penetrate the thick body of fog that had recently fallen around the Slums.

The visitors to the region had recently simply failed to turn up and it was causing a slight decline in the wealth of the place in general. Larkins old friend 'Davvo' was hanging next to him copying his actions. Having grown up with the bloke Larkin knew him quite well and therefore wasnt at all surprised when Davvo suddenly asked "So, dyer see anyfin yet?"

Larkin grinned and said "Your the one wid both eyes, you tell me." This caused a mild exclamation from the small mans partner in crime followed by a slight shake of the head as he said "Come off it Larks you've always bin betta' at seein stuff dan me, even wivout yer eye."

Larkin continued to glare at the thick fog before eventually shaking his head and saying "Nah, all I can see is that fick fog." The thief was starting to get annoyed over it. There was ALWAYS visitors, they came expecting to see the Heights, but always ended up in the Slums with all the scum, until eventually they became part of the overall scum. Sure, better speaking and slightly less tatty clothes, but scum all the same. And now even the Heights was covered with the stupid mist.

It was a little while before Davvo replied with "What fog? I dont see no fog all I see is de plains and that ova city, whatsitcalled, you know, were all de iron goods an stuff come from."

Larkin nodded, he couldnt remember the name either, but he was worried by the lack of fog which Davvo had mentioned. He touched the scar tracing its way up his face and shook his head. "Must be the scar" he said "Hope it aint gettin infected again" Davvo next to him also shook his head.

They both stared for a while. There was nothing else to do, without the visitors they had no-one to rob, pickpocket, mug or thieve from. All the locals knew the pair on sight. So all they had to do was stare and wait, it was that kinda day. Eventually he shifted a bit and said "Well Im alright arent I, Ive bin savin for ages." This made the big-man nod saddly as Larkin added "Im leavin' tomorrow mornin'. By the Gods them Guards charge alot just to get out the blummin' gate." Entrance to the city was cheap but leaving was very very expensive.

Larkin shrugged, by now his mere boredom with the city had become a quest to find out what was wrong with the stream of visitors. "Well de city'll still be ere when yer get bak aye." Davvo piped up. It was a statement with a hidden question.

Larkin nodded and grinned, which caused a severe loss of tension from his mate. "Dont worry Dav I'll be bak before yer know it." The pair of them gave a short nervous laugh and then continued to stare.

"So" Davvo said "dyer see anyfin?"