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Post by Street on Jun 2, 2013 17:42:40 GMT -5
It was late in the afternoon, but the shops would be open as long as there was sun in the sky. Street had come from an interesting conversation in the alley, where he had tentatively accepted a role called mercenary. He'd never thought before that he could someday be called on of those, but the man Denethor had made a convincing argument, and if twenty gold coins was a token of good faith, Street could hardly pass up the offer without looking further into it. Of course the thieves and assassins could have paid well too, but this Mercenary proposed just work – something those guilds couldn't offer.
Street had spoken to his group in the alleys before the conversation, and again after it about creating a guild of their own, but this new opportunity put that conversation on hold while he explored all the angles. For now, he had to look in to some armour, and maybe a knife more suited for combat. The armour he had seen worn by guards and noble men around the city always seemed too cumbersome for Street to be effective in any way, so he was hesitant but thought he should try to find some compromise. He'd surmised that any adventure with Denethor would face more weapons than he did in the alley. He'd been cut and stabbed many times before, but that was mostly with smaller knives and such that the poorer people he usually fought would afford. At this point, it would seem Street was walking into a situation that almost planned to get cut. A little protection to lessen the blow would be nice.
There were several stores in the square that sold armour, and most of them were in the same area. Street looked around at the pieces that were displayed, and had to explain on several occasions to the shop owners that he did in fact have gold to spend, despite his appearance. They would each speculate, but none of them really cared where he'd gotten the money. He didn't want to show too much, for fear that the merchants would swindle him, but he always had to prove he had some money so they would let him near their goods. For that reason, he had separated the coins into a second pouch he'd made from a piece of his pants so it would appear he had half as much as he did.
Through a few conversations with armour merchants in the square, Street had been able to gather a few pieces of information about some light armours and had surmised that a couple merchants had in fact been trying to hike the prices where they knew he wouldn't know any better. He had decided a few things in general, but would continue looking before deciding anything more specifically – he could hardly afford to throw gold blindly at a blunder.
He had determined that there was a variety of light leather gauntlets that could suit him without hindering his dexterity, and those seemed to be generally a lower priced item as far as the armours went. He found the weight of greaves could be bared, especially since they would be tight to his legs, but wasn't sure of the value to him for their price, as they all seemed to be of one metal or another. He had been asked about boots, since he himself was barefoot, and he was still undecided on that. He figured something to cover his feet would be nice on an adventure, but he needed to keep his control and grip with his feet and had not yet found a pair of boots that would allow him that dexterity. As far as body armour went, he was thinking about some smaller sets that were shaped much like the tank tops he usually wore. He had found that the pieces that had sleeves, and even most spaulders could be cumbersome to his shoulders. There were a lot of factors to consider, but chief among them he felt had to be his dexterity. Light armour would serve him little good if he continued to get struck.
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Post by Sarah on Jun 3, 2013 13:40:48 GMT -5
“Well are you looking to be hit or are you looking to do most of the hitting?” A voice came to him from behind a rack of leather armour. “I mean honestly if you ask me I think that you would do great with something simple enough to deflect a blade coming at you as you dodge...” the woman came around the corner of the rack and smiled at him. “I've seen you move and it would seem to me that you have little to worry about when it comes to being hit directly.” She told him as she looked him over seriously. “Perhaps something in a hunting boot for your feet...” She started and then considered for a few moments. “Yes, soft enough not to slip and as well allow for maximum use of the ankles and much less costly than leather armoured boots.”
The woman seemed to be thinking on his predicament hard enough. The shop keeper glared at her but didn’t' say anything; he knew he'd lost any hope of overselling this new flesh and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
“You might want gloves to though.” She then stated and turned toward another rack of items near the back. “Something with reinforced knuckles I would think....” She moved away and then looked back at Street and beckoned him to follow her. “Don't be shy, come look what he's got.” She stated and then turned back around as if he would follow her.
Sarah knew who Street was, any good assassin knew him. They would welcome him happily into their fold and a few have tired but in the end they all knew it wasn't what he lived for and so... they kept away from him now. Sarah still watched him from time to time, she admired his strength and agility and found him to be like a work of art in what he was able to do. The fact that he was in here looking to buy armour was intriguing to her to say the least and she wondered what it was he'd gotten himself into. She would make sure he got what he needed and didn't get swindled ether way; she truly did respect Street and was glad she was here when he finally decided it was time to gear up. She just hoped it wasn't anything too drastic. She'd have loved to allow him the opportunity to try some of the armour she wore but he'd never be able to afford such things at this point...”Perhaps another time” She smiled to herself.
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Post by Street on Jun 3, 2013 17:57:58 GMT -5
Street was a little startled when the woman first started to speak. Not many people ever addressed him; most steered away from interacting with street rats. When she walked around the corner he recognized her face, as he'd seen her several times before. He didn't know her and hadn't known her name but hadn't been fool enough not to associate her to her guild.
He swiftly followed the woman around the stall and looked where she pointed. She was clearly his best lead on figuring out what was best, as she clearly knew armour well enough herself and didn't look encumbered by it either. “I definitely rather not get hit.” He was sure of that. “I was looking at some of these.” He stopped and started turning his hands about a few pieces of sleeveless leather body armour, each of a different thickness, toughness, and style. There seemed to be different manners of fitting armour to begin with, ranging from a pure fit like thick clothing, to tying like shoestrings or buckling like belts. Along with all the different types, he understood there to be different prices, and he would have to sort priorities. He figured fit would be important, so the cheaper slip on pieces would unfortunately be out of the question.
“I wasn't shown any hunting boots.” He was responding to the woman's earlier comment, but glared directly at the shop keeper with an unsatisfied look; like he could stand to beat him for it. “Or reinforced knuckles. I could use those.” He'd held his stare and then paused, turned back to the woman and moved over to a rack nearby that held gauntlets. “I was looking at something like this.” He picked up a pair of leather gauntlets that tied with lace on the inside of the arm and had a glove attached with open fingertips. “Is it expensive to reinforce?”
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Post by Sarah on Jun 3, 2013 18:40:09 GMT -5
“Well with your style fighting I don't expect you to be hit all too often, though an occasional strike may come your way.” she said in all honesty. “Those gauntlets might work out fine for you and no, you will just need to take them to one of the blacksmiths in the area and they'd do it for you for a decent price.” She told him as he showed her the gauntlets he was thinking of. “Try them on, the fit and feel is important. Though they may feel alien to you that's expected, just lace it up and move about with it a moment to try it out.” She told him and walked over plucking the desired item from the rack and handing it to him.
The salesman looked sharply over their way but Sarah glared at him and he decided not to interfere. “If I thought I'd end up paying for it, I wouldn't tell him to try it.” She stated to the man and her gaze never once left the man, her eyes narrowing slightly at him. She never did much like people who judged for no reason.
“As for the breast piece, yes you want one that fits the body but not over the shoulders. Unless you have a lot more gold to spend on materials that wouldn't interfere with movement that is.” she explained. “For you I wouldn't use a heavy body piece but go for something a bit more in-between. You'll have to try one on as well, just to see.” She continued to educate. “Also it would be best if you got a heavier cotton tank to wear beneath it, it pads the blows and lessons the damage taken.” she went on to explain. “Now go on, try these gauntlets out.” she said with a friendly smile.
She still did not offer her name but that was only because she didn't feel it was necessary and for no other real reason. Most would have found this to be a bit rude but she wasn't one for caring much about those things.
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Post by Street on Jun 3, 2013 19:26:34 GMT -5
Street shot a smug look at the shop keeper and promptly took the gauntlets from the woman and fit each hand in to them. “Could you give me a hand?” He asked, looking hesitantly at the laces. That was where he'd rather a set with sturdier buckles, but those were all more expensive.
“Well,” he started with his arms out, hoping for help with the laces, “I know I don't want sleeves or spaulders. I'm thinking about the narrow shoulder straps with low cut neck so it doesn't cover much more than my tank. The fit looks to tighten with laces too, so it shouldn't hang too loose.” He turned his head a little to indicate more specifically the piece. It was a light brown and very similar in make to the gauntlets he was trying on. It also came with a sort of leather skirt that was attached, comprised of eight wide overlapping strips that lowered from the waist to provide some lower body protection that he found wouldn't likely hinder his legs.
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Post by Sarah on Jun 3, 2013 19:46:15 GMT -5
“Oh yes certainly.” She replied as her fingers deftly flew about the laces until they made a snug fit about his forearms. “How's that feel?” She asked. “Tight enough or tighter?”
She turned her head to look at the piece he was indicating and thought a moment. “Oh indeed that should do great for you.” She gave a sort of half laugh. “You're a natural at this.” She then added and turned her eyes on him again giving him an encouraging smile.
“The boots and grieves we will have to kook into after you give this stuff a good try. Make sure it doesn't slide too much.” She Told him and then looked around at the man's wears. “I think We're better off getting the boots over at the Huntsman though.” She said as she eyed the rack of boots this place had to offer. To the untrained eye they would look just the same as any boot but she saw their flaws and the fact that each pair had flat soles; not good for grip.
She walked over to the body armour he pointed out and took it from the rack as well and brought it to him. “Might as well put it all on at once.” She told him with a grin.
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Post by Street on Jun 3, 2013 20:17:21 GMT -5
“Natural?” He chuckled and shook his head. “I've been looking at these for hours now, and always just figured that too much armour would get in my way. That's why I got looking at a few of these kinds of things, 'cause they seem pretty minimal. What's that saying – Less is more?” He smirked at himself. He'd heard the line from someone at the library before, and had finally found a conversation where it would apply.
“Thanks.” He looked down at the laced gauntlets and gave his hands each a good squeeze to test the glove, then struck each forearm with the other hand. “Fits pretty good.” The woman clearly knew her stuff as he thought she would.
He then pulled his knife and throwing knife out off his back and put them down on the table, then took the body armour from her and put it on over his shoulders. He had to shuffle himself around a bit so it would get better in place. The laces were on either side and would seem to pull the front and back parts tighter together as they each overlapped the piece of leather on either side. He pulled the laces and tight and tied them at the end as best he could, then took a couple steps back and moved his shoulders around to test the feel. “I don't think I got the laces fit as well as you.” he twisted and turned, then squatted down and jumped as he rose up, flipping backwards and landing in the same place. “But even so, it seems alright.”
Street looked over at the merchant, showed the gauntlets and patted the armour. “How much?” he asked with a raised brow.
“Ten gold.” The merchant answered.
That was all of what Street had showed the man, and half what he really had. There would still be boots to buy, the gauntlets to enforce. He was leaving a lot of flesh exposed and shopping for some of the thinner, lower grade armours. Denethor had told him he could get a set of light armour and several good blades. Street wasn't interested in that many blades, but he had hoped to keep some coin outside of gear. He didn't know the prices though, and wouldn't rightly know what was fair, so he looked at the woman who'd better showed him around the stuff, figuring she'd know rather well what the stuff was worth.
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Post by Sarah on Jun 3, 2013 20:39:09 GMT -5
“Indeed... but you'll get the hang of it soon enough.” She replied to his comment of her getting the laces better than he.
She smiled as he hoped up and flipped backwards landing perfectly in the exact spot his feet had lifted from the space. Her smile showed great approval of his manoeuvring in the tight space. She shook her head with a smile and sighed to the fact that he'd not ever join her family but then if his heart wasn't in it he'd never have made a great assassin anyway.
She looked sharply at the salesman and rolled her eyes in disgust. “Six gold ten silver.” She countered, her price was too low but that was all in the game. The problem was that she knew the man was just trying to get Street for what he had on him.
“Nine” The man countered her offer.
“Seven and you throw in a cotton tunic for another 20 copper.” She replied. “And you know that's a solid price.” She levelled her gaze on him stating she didn't feel like arguing the price of this stuff.
The man acted as if he were offended by her offer and demand but then he shook his head. “You are going to run me out of business woman.” He grumbled in a noncommittal way. “Seven gold and twenty copper for the tunic then it is.” He stated and went to the back and grabbed up a tunic and tossed it to Street. “It's lucky that you have friends in high places kid.” He stated and then waited for Street to pay him.
Sarah was an important client in the city and this man knew better than to anger her and loose her business. It could be devastating to him as there was so much other competition; not to mention the fact that he enjoyed the fact that he continued to live. Her face was known to very few people in the city and this man happened to be one of them.
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Post by Street on Jun 3, 2013 21:13:01 GMT -5
“Too bad you don't” Street returned snidely to the merchant's comment about his friends. He reached between a couple leather flaps and into his pants to pull out one of the coin sacks, and handed the merchant eight gold pieces. He hung the tunic over his neck while he waited expectantly for his change.
“Thanks.” he glanced over at the woman before looking back to the merchant for his coins. He had gathered she had bargained him a better price than probably anyone else would get, and much better for sure than what he would have gotten.
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Post by Sarah on Jun 3, 2013 21:41:37 GMT -5
Sarah gave a half laugh at his snide comment to the salesman. She figured he deserved that comment. ”Ten gold indeed” She shook her head slightly at the thought as she rolled her eyes once more time.
“You are most welcome Street.” She replied and then turned towards their next destination. “Don't forget you blades...” She nodded where he had placed his knives. “Maybe you should just keep that stuff on, get used to it for a while. You want to go and find some boots and grieves now?” She asked. “Or maybe we should drop your gloves off at a smith first so he can get to them ASAP.” She suggested.
She hadn't figured on leaving him just yet. The other merchants would see him as this guy had. They were used to dealing with soldier types who didn't really care what they paid and they drove their prices up as high as they could and she knew them all. She'd dealt with them all at one point or another. Though she now had her things personalized to her own body.
“You want to be certain the weight of that armour stays as even as possible.” She told him as she waited for him to pick up his weapons. “Sometimes the slightest imbalance can cause you to preform less than naturally.” She finished and smiled at him.
She remembered the first time she had to get used to wearing armour and she nearly laughed. She hated it but in time she became accustomed to it and how to use it to enhance her movements instead of restrict them.
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Post by Street on Jun 3, 2013 22:00:53 GMT -5
He almost had forgotten his blades, and that would have been a shame, mostly for the throwing knife he'd been given by Kaye. The merchant had given Street his change and he'd closed the sac and tucked it into his pants again – a habit he wouldn't soon shake.
Street stopped to pick up his knives, but paused as he thought how to wear them. The belt he sheathed them on was now under the armour he bought, which was why he took them off in the first place. He soon put them back on the table, then reached under the leather flaps and undid his belt. He pulled it around himself again and buckled the belt over his armour, then picked up the knives and sheathed them again as his tattered baggy pants awkwardly slipped down his legs. He expected that to happen of course, and casually stepped out of them. He picked up the pants, looked over at the merchant, and threw the dirty tattered pants at him. “My treat.” He turned then, and walked away in pursuit of the assassin woman.
“Blacksmith first I guess.” He answered as he stepped in stride with her. “And where should I go for pants? Or shorts. Or Underpants. Or whatever. 'Cause now I've just got armour on.”
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Post by Sarah on Jun 3, 2013 22:27:24 GMT -5
She turned her head and looked down at his pant-less self and laughed lightly. “Oh my...” She said through a half laugh. “I do suppose we should fix that small problem. Perhaps a quick trip to the clothes shop for a pair of shorts. Your tunic comes just below your hips and could suffice but then that would leave you hanging freely for all to admire as you crawl amongst the rooftops.” She looked up and grinned at him. “But first we'll drop you gloves off at the smithy.” She finished and moved to their right.
It only took a couple moments to end up at their destination and when they did they were greeted by a huge hulk of a man with a large hammer in hand and a friendly smile. “What can I do fer ya?” The man asked in a great booming voice that matched his size.
“He needs you to attach some metal to those knuckles.” She nodded her head towards Streets hands.
“Well take em' off boy and lets see what we can do.” The man told Street. “What kind of metal are we looking for and do yer want come spikes?” He asked and then added, “I gots some iron, steel, Mithril.. some elven metal as well, but if you ask me for the price the steel is the best fer summthin like this... offers more room for bending into a comfortable place.” He finished and then waited for an answer.
Sarah didn't reply but looked to Street to decide for himself.
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Post by Street on Jun 3, 2013 23:04:59 GMT -5
Street had chuckled a little and winked at the assassin woman about his breezy state. The armour covered him well enough at the time, but she was sure right about climbing, or jumping for that matter. Part of the leather flaps allowing free movement meant they themselves moved rather freely.
At the smithy, Street immediately followed prompt and untied the gauntlets to hand them over. “Price is important,” He answered swiftly, “so steel I guess. Unless you think iron could do the trick?” He glanced between the smith and the assassin. “And no spikes, thanks.” That would seem excessive he thought, and potentially cumbersome in it's own way. “Just lookin' to hit a little harder.”
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Post by Sarah on Jun 3, 2013 23:19:06 GMT -5
“No, no steel is your best bet here son.” The man said and then thought a moment looking between the two of them. “I can do these up for you fer just a few couple silver.. I mean really it won't take much steel to make these babies into ouch givers.” he chuckled.
Sarah smiled at the man. He had offered a very fair price and without any grumbling. She had figured he might. He was a good sensible man and his work was great for what Street needed him for at any rate. She'd not come here for a blade but he was the 'go-to' for armour always.
“We'll pay you when we return, how long you think it will take?” She asked him.
“Not more than an hour at most miss.” He replied as he looked at the gloves.
“Ok, see you in about an hour then.” She smiled at him and then turned to Street. “Shorts it is then.” She stated and turned to their left towards the clothing store.
She would lead him to the cheaper of the shops for this kind of stuff; she figured he didn't need silk shorts. Of course he'd be able to find his own pair and these places never haggled their prices so he'd be fine paying whatever small amount the wanted for the simple item. Not that she thought he was stupid by any means just simply she knew that most places would take you for every copper they could strangle out of you if you didn't know what the going rate on those items were. It was almost as though a salesman could smell new blood in the air or something. It was quite disgusting really. Aside from all that, she was actually starting to have fun shopping for Street. She guessed it was a girl thing; to this thought she smiled.
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Post by Street on Jun 3, 2013 23:48:13 GMT -5
Street was pretty impressed with the price for steel on his gloves. Silver was still far more than anything he'd had before of course, but next to the gold he just spent a few silver seemed a relief. His shopping guide was proving to be a great help. In the end, he could see him self with some to spare after all, though he had yet to look at knives.
He was sure the shorts would be a matter of copper, far more familiar to him but still more than he'd have paid before. He was eager to see what he could get a hold of, and try some proper fitting clothes. He had gotten his pants years before from a dumpster and they were still too big for him.
“Thanks for showing me around.” He said sincerely as they walked. “I would have been out here for days trying to get all this stuff right.”
They arrived at a store full of clothes and he spotted a whole section full of shorts. He took a look through the variety and felt a few of them up. After a bit, he found a set that were thin and stretchy, like a short pair of tights. He quite liked the thought of those and imagined he could come out dressed more flexibly than before. He had gotten used to his pants flapping around, but they still could get in the way. Of course, now he'd have the leather flaps on his armour, but nothing would catch on his legs.
He took a pair in hand that was the medium size, and brought it to the counter.
“Sixteen copper.” The merchant told him.
Street's eyes bulged a little bit. It was mere copper still as he had predicted, but it seemed a lot to him for shorts. Of course, he had never bought any decent clothes before, so he opened the first coin sack again that was then hanging in front of his armour since his belt was over top of it then, and pulled a single silver out to give the merchant. He put his change in the sack and closed it up again, then took his new pair of shorts and pulled them over his feet and up into place, lifting the back of his armour inadvertently in the process.
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