Flashback Opposites Contract (Alexander)

Konrad has wind of a profit to be made, but needs a few extra hands to grasp it

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A lawless town of anarchists, built on the ruins of an ancient mining city. [Lore]

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Opposites Contract (Alexander)

Postby Konrad Venger on February 7th, 2016, 12:51 am

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It wasn't a matter of emotion. It never was. It was simple calculations. The unfolding of events according to others, and his own practical considerations. Nothing else factored in.

The son died because he got in the way of the first man he came to: the target. The target died next, because that's what he was, and out of the three left on the roof - man, woman, infant - he presented the biggest threat. He proved that a moment later by swinging at Konrad.

Didn't help, but he proved the point. So he died. Then there were the other two. Wailing and sobbing and Konrad didn't try or wait for or feel anything in his soul yanking him back from the path.

This was what he did, and he was being well-paid for it.

THUNK

Konrad's jaw nearly dropped as he saw the arrow smack into the brickwork a few feet from his head. Exactly like the one that wounded the guard. Same feathers, same grain of wood... same archer, across the way.

He felt rage before he even thought to be afraid. The woman cringed away from him, though his head snapped around to Alex's hidden post. The boy was notching another arrow. He didn't know, but he had to assume. Fucking stupid kid. Either they were trying to kill him or they were getting soft or fuck it, it didn't matter, they were the enemy, and he needed a-

Shield. One he won't risk shooting at.

“Konrad. You’ve done the job. Time to go.”

Randall stomped up the stairs, armor and weapons adding weight and iron to his steps, and found Konrad jerking up the sobbing woman by the wrist with his free hand. He was carful to come at her from the side, darting low, keeping her swirling dress and stout form in front of him and the direction the arrow had come from.

The scarred sellsword looked at the older man and smiled, but it was all teeth and no warmth. That was coming from the warm body pressed to his side now, held tight there with his arm, the hand of which was holding his kukri just under her throat.

The other was on the head of the baby.

"Was that an order, old man? Sounded like an order." He spat to the side and the gob sailed through the empty air before splatting down on the still, cooling corpse of one of the sellswords. "Don't reckon I like that. An' I don't think yer quite right, either."

“Mason’s dead…Unfortunately the son too. We’ve a small window before someone gets here.”

The kukri twitched in his hand. Enough to make the woman whimper.

"Time enough to finish the job, then. What did I tell you, old man? What were my words. Everyone. Everyone in our way, everyone inside. Those were the rules. You agreed to them. So you don't get t'grow a fuckin conscience now." He grinned. "Aint that right, Eyes?"

Randall felt the slight but definite dig of a blade in his back before the last word hit the breeze. The stink of a mouth that had never seen soap, speaking close to his ear.

"Youse were taking a while, Kon. Thought I'd have a look."

"Glad yeh did,"
Konrad said, smile only growing as he peered over the woman's head and nodded at his father. "Hope yer boy can see this, old man. Hope he knows what happens if he's stupid enough to let that arrow fly."

The baby wailed. The woman sobbed, and prayed, and the noise was so petching annoying Konrad wanted to pitch her off the roof on general principle. But no, better to back down the old man, then kill him and scarper off the roof before the kid got over his shock. More than enough time-

Or... something else.

"You want them?" He nodded down at the woman he was using as a shield, and the tiny life she held close. "Fine. New split. One hundred-" he pointed at himself, then at Randall "-zero. That sound good to you?"

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Note: As of Fall 517AV, Konrad is known only as "Hansel" in Endrykas
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Opposites Contract (Alexander)

Postby Alexander Faircroft on February 7th, 2016, 1:24 am

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Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

He caught the glare towards him from Konrad. That spoke of fury and not fear. Bad move. But before Alex could punish his movement towards the woman and the kid. The whole event twisted, three eyes had climbed the stairs behind his father. Alex watched the events unfold before he could even change the situation Dad…No…Before he could even begin to process the situation the large gelatinous man sidled up behind his father as Konrad pulled the blade to the woman’s throat. Alex watched things happen in a way so fast he didn’t even manage to change the events. Now he was forced between a rock and a hard place. Either he shot Konrad and three eyes shoved the blade inside of his father’s abdomen or he shot three eyes and the woman died.

“No orders, just suggestions.” Randall spoke an eerie calm in his voice. Time enough to finish the job. Alex caught the words now over the silence even through the screaming of the child and the wailing of the woman. Either he made a choice or it would be made for him. Alex held the shot. His arms shaking from the sheer strain on them now. The draw weight of the bow was something impressive. “Glad to see that chunky here can still sneak.” Randall rolled his jaw slightly feeling the tip of the steel press into his side slightly. “Well looks like we’ve a bit of a situation here.” Randall sighed out. The words about him Alex caught, he could see the whole thing.

“I’m pretty sure he can see this.” Randall paused. “I’m thinking you took exception to the warning shot that landed there?” A small smile on his face. Slowly carefully Randall’s left hand motioned towards three eyes own holding the dagger. As Konrad spoke again. The split, the deal.
Dad, don’t do it. Please don’t do it. Alex watched in horror was without even a flicker of emotion on his father’s face he reached his left hand down and shot the woman through the head with his hand crossbow. The bolt sailing past Konrad’s face. Alex’s arms dropped as he watched. The arrow didn’t go anywhere and his heart sank. What have you done…Alex stared over in wide eyes shock watching. Unable to do anything. “You do the infant I ain’t killin a kid. I want my pay for my share of the work. You get one free shot on the kid for him firing at you. And you pudge.” With a swift swirling motion Randal rolled around the larger man and brought his elbow cleanly into his nose. “Next time you bring a blade to my side you push or I take your damned head off.” A cool hardness to his voice yet still strangely calm. A slow roll of his shoulders and he thrummed down the stairs again.

Alex still reeled in shock watching the events unable to process what had happened. A chime went by and Alex couldn’t move paralyzed by what he’d just witnessed. Randall called out at him. “Alex, down here now.” Emphasis on the last word. He’d acted out of turn. He made a motion his father didn’t agree with. Reluctantly he slipped his bow back over his shoulder and made his way down the ladder like column of bricks. Before his feet even touched the ground his father shoved him into the opposite wall holding him up by the neck. “I hope you’re happy. You did nothing but piss him off. We almost missed out on being paid because of you. Now he gets to take one free shot at you or we lose out on even more money.” As Konrad would follow down Randall would flick his eyes back over to him. “One free shot. Face body, either or but one punch full force think of it as repayment for the “misplaced” arrow.” A hard look on Randall’s face, he was just as annoyed at what Alex had done as Konrad was but even then he was still his son.


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Opposites Contract (Alexander)

Postby Konrad Venger on February 7th, 2016, 1:56 am

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“Glad to see that chunky here can still sneak.”

Three Eyes ached to make good on the unspoken threat that was the knife in his crusty old cunt's side. Just a little pressure, a little shove, and that steel would be flying between his ribs and ripping his heart into stew meat. But he could tell Konrad wasn't playing that angle. So he let the old man talk, and Konrad stare, all of them frozen on that roof with the

“Well looks like we’ve a bit of a situation here.”

"Yeah, I'm thinkin'."

“I’m pretty sure he can see this.”

"'course he can. That's the point."

“I’m thinking you took exception to the warning shot that landed there?”

"Aren't youse a bright one."

Konrad smiled, but it never touched his eyes. There was no room for an ease of tension, a shred of humor, anything but taut muscles and ready hands. Once wrong move and everyone on that roof would die. He'd seen the old man end lives with that contraption strapped to his arm; even if the boy chose Three Eyes, the old man could put a bolt in him before Eyes could finish his threat.

Or the boy might choose him, and Three Eyes might-

Gods, stop it! You've given yer terms, just pay-

Twang

-attention.

The string wasn't as large or thick, but there was still that same thrum of tight, caprtive energy being released, the whoosh and whistle of a bolt flying and-

Blood splattered Konrad's face to join the rest of the clumps. The woman sighed, eyes frozen in shock, and she sunk... slid down with a litany of sighing tresses... bringing down the infant with her, her tight grip gone in a blink.

Konrad's lips parted in surprise. Just when he thought he couldn't up the stakes anymore, or when he thought he had Randall pegged, the game changed and the mask came off. Not just a sellsword, that one. A killer. Bent on his pay and willing to do what it took.

“You do the infant I ain’t killin a kid. I want my pay for my share of the work. You get one free shot on the kid for him firing at you.”

He let the woman fall and he felt a rumble in his belly start to grow. The embers of the Temper in his system seemed to jostle loose and shoot to his brain. The closeness of death, all the nervous tension with nowhere to go, it all drained into his mouth and pulled his lips up.

"And you, pudge-"

The old man whirled in a short, sharp tornado of leather and armor, spreading Three Eyes' tattooed nose across his face before that final pushg could come. The man yelped and reared back, dagger dropping, hands cupping his ruined, dripping nose.

Konrad started to laugh.

"Next time you bring a blade to my side you push or I take your damned head off.”

He stomped down the stairs and Konrad was left with his shoulders bobbing and his breath catching as he chuckled. The sheer inanity of it, unexpected and unforeseeable... something just cracked in him and a damn of amusement came shuddering forth. Mingling with the cries of the infant.

Still smiling, he looked down. Down at the tiny bundle of flesh and cloth, one hand waving out of it, looking for the mother lying dead at its side. Then Konrad looked beyond it... and saw the boy and his father having a... discussion.

He couldn't hear the words but knew enough about fathers and sons to know the old man was furious. Spitting words and disappointment as he held the boy by his throat, his face turning blue, red, purple, and Konrad could have watched for a long, long time. But the job was not over, and he wanted it to be.

Still, he thought to himself, picking up the infant by its legs like a man holding up a trout by the tail. He did try to kill you...

Konrad held the infant over the edge of the building and waited. He didn't hear the screams, nor feel the warmth of its soft skin, the sheer potential of life and dreams and events yet to happen. Konrad's eyes flickered to it and he saw a means. The ends would come when the boy looked up, after his father had put him down...

Now.

Alex looked up. No mistaking a man holding a baby upside down over the edge of a roof. Konrad's face contorted, twisted, and when he winked... he dropped it.

It didn't scream long. But it seemed longer to Alex, and Randall. Long enough for them to burn the sight of it into their minds forever. The way its swaddle trailed after it like a ribbon, white and stark against the pale blue sky. The way it clawed at the air and its cries became a confused gurgle, almost amazed, right before-

There was a small, pitiful crunch. The crying stopped. Silence. Broken only by two pairs of steps, then a muted cascade of cursing and spitting... and a man whistling while he worked.

Konrad Venger straightened his hat on his head and trilled out a medley he'd heard when he was but a boy, weapons sheathed, eyes dancing, gait chipper and unconcerned. He stepped over the cracked, spent vessel that used to be a baby and made a beeline for his "partners".

“One free shot. Face body, either or but one punch full force think of it as repayment for the “misplaced” arrow.”

He studied the boy as he cracked his knuckles. Saw defiance there. Anger. Fury. Rage. Disgust. Hatred. A plethora of emotions all but the dark gods reviled, warring and brawling for dominance across a face too young to feel any of them. Konrad beheld his work and he grinned.

He will never forget, he thought as he took his hat off, as if for a lady. And it will never heal. Unlike this-

Konrad slammed the crown of his skull into the boy's nose with the practiced brutality of a lifelong brawler. He felt warm, snotty bloody spray across him and drip down his forehead. The boy reeled back and Konrad studied his work as he set his hat back on. Not bad.

"Y'said 'free shot'," he said airily, almost jovially, as he turned his back on the Old Man and his foolish son. "Didn't say shit about a punch. C'mon. Les'get paid..."

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Note: As of Fall 517AV, Konrad is known only as "Hansel" in Endrykas
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Opposites Contract (Alexander)

Postby Alexander Faircroft on February 7th, 2016, 2:32 am

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Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

The cry of the baby echoed through the air as Alex looked up from the release of his father’s grasp. A small pause a clutch in his throat. Don’t! All he managed to think before the bundle came crashing to the ground. A fury welled up in Alex. Something deep, something primal. He was angry, no he was beyond angry he was furious. He could feel the anger stinging his throat and burning his soul. The roar of fire within he closed his fist at his side if he hadn’t been wearing leather gloves he would have drawn blood. His teeth grit and tightened. He wanted to do the one thing that he wouldn’t do.
He wanted to kill him.

He wanted to see the life drain from his face. Moment after moment. He wanted to be there right up close and personal when it happened. Right now he couldn’t he didn’t have the skill nor the power with a dagger up close. Still that sound. The whistle, the carefree sound of it. It just drove a deeper hatred into him. Still as Konrad and his now bloodied partner came closer Alex steeled himself. He hadn’t saved anyone but he’d done this to himself and he knew it. Looking up at him he saw a small glint in his eye. He expected a right or a left across the face but instead he…removed his hat? What was he planning to- Before he could even parse the thought Konrad’s head came slamming down on Alex’s face. The cartilage of his nose crushing under the weight. Breaking blood vessels bursting. The cartilage of his nose had given way and turned flat blood poured down the front of his face as his rocked back and brought his hands up to his nose.

He reared back the pain intense and a few tears rolled from the corners of his eyes. As Konrad walked away from Alex and Randall talking about payment Randall looked down at his son and before even saying anything or taking a single step he pushed the cartilage back into place re-aligning his nose. The pain just as bad if not worse than the initial hit as blood now flowed freely. Alex took to breathing through his moth as his nose was now blocked by flowing blood. “Long as there’s no issue between you and the kid. You’re fine.” Randall smirked following after him alongside three eyes. Alex hung back a moment holding his face and trying to stem the flow. The image of the falling infant burned into his mind. Alex waited till all three were out of sight. He’d catch up later…If at all. His father didn’t want him nearby when he talked business.

Alex walked over to the side of the building. His heart dropped, blood pouring from his face as he caught sight of the bundle of once white and now crimson rags. Knowing the others were a good distance away now Alex crumpled to his knees. “Kihala…I’m so sorry.” He spoke so softly, even with the pain and blockage. Looking down at the small pile he closed his eyes. I hoped…I prayed I could save them…Priskil…I’m sorry. Yahal I’m sorry. And Dira. You’ll be receiving someone…Possibly the only person I ever send you…Not soon, but someday. He’ll be gift wrapped…and that petching hat of his will be stuffed down his damned throat! All his anger and all his rage had been brought forth. Emotions that were in his mind at least for lesser men. For people who had no control over themselves. He clenched his fist, and slumped onto his heels.

The blood coagulating in his nose now. Even re-aligned it hurt it stung and it wasn’t going away. Every time he looked at his nose from that point on he’d feel the anger, the pain. And he’d relive those moments. The burning anger and that…WHISTLE…


FinishI think we can call it there :D
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Alexander Faircroft
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Opposites Contract (Alexander)

Postby Devi on May 2nd, 2016, 2:48 pm


Your Grades have arrived!


Konrad

Skills:
  • Negotiation: 3
  • Intimidation: 3
  • Persuasion: 1
  • Socialisation: 2
  • Observation: 5
  • Intelligence: 3
  • Tactics: 4
  • Weapon Skills - Kopis: 2
  • Weapon Skills - Kukri: 2
  • Brawling: 2
  • Subterfuge: 1
  • Rhetoric: 2
Lores:
  • Intimidation: Silence can say a lot
  • Alex: Archer kid from the Mason job
  • Randel: Alex’s father
  • Event: Sunberth Mason “Removals” job, Spring 512AV

Alex

Skills:
  • Weapon Skills - Longbow: 3
  • Persuasion: 2
  • Observation: 5
  • Tactics: 3
  • Stealth: 2
  • Climbing: 1
  • Endurance: 2
Lores:
  • Archery: Incapacitating shots
  • Observation: Taking frequent stock of your surroundings
  • Tactics: Eliminating ranged enemies
  • Konrad: The carefree killer from Sunberth
  • Three-Eyes: Konrad’s associate
  • Event: Sunberth Mason “Removals” job, Spring 512AV
  • Konrad: That Whistle
Injury: Alex would have had bruising and swelling around his nose for around 16 days, though resetting it would have ensured it's natural shape was mostly retained.


Comments: Wow guys - awesome thread! You were right - very dark, very draining in a lot of ways but that was some great writing. It was full of tension and you kept the pace running through the whole thing. I really got a sense for each of your characters and ended up getting so distracted by the story that I had to re-read a lot of it to make sure I got all of your skills out of it!

So uh... you'll let me know when the re-match is up right? ;)

Let me know if you have any questions or feedback. Don't forget to edit your post in the Grade Request Thread to say it's graded and leave a link in there for the Storytellers.

Happy Writing!

Devi
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