A Sunberther Never Forgets (Doc)

[Liminal]

77 Spring, 510 AV. Late Evening.

Murdoch's apartment wasn't a large one, but it was remarkably well-organized. Indeed, it was likely that he'd be able to notice any changes in it immediately, no matter how small.

The thing was, when he arrived at home this particular evening, there was only one change, but it certainly wasn't a small one. The chair had been pulled away from the table, and rather than being empty, it was most definitely occupied.

A girl, maybe sixteen years old, was leaning the seat back against the wall by the hearth. She had red hair messily tied back in a ponytail, a wide nose, and green eyes that regarded Murdoch with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. The girl was wearing a shapeless blue dress draped over her bony figure. There was a wicked-looking knife that she was idly resting in her lap. It had a slightly hooked blade, a design that none of the local shops in Syliras would carry. However, there were places where they were very easy to come by indeed.

Places like, say, Sunberth.

The door had been locked, and there was no indication as to how the girl had managed to get in. She did not rise when Murdoch entered, but she did nod at him with a cheerfulness that might have seemed out of place.

"Just a guess, but I ain't wrong in thinking you're Murdoch, am I? 'Cuz I'm gonna have to go find a different apartment if I'm wrong, and I'd just as soon not. Dupli-cation of effort, you know." She winked at him.

"Anyways, I'm Gemmy, and I don't expect that'll mean anything to you, though I'd thank you kindly if'n you'd remember it. But today, as it happens, I'm running errands, and Tall Johnny said he was fairly sure you'd remember his name. I told him he had a more memorable name than me and so it wasn't fair, but if'n he bought me a drink, I'd be gentlewomanly enough to let the matter drop."

The girl's chatter seemed more appropriate to a day at the market than to a confrontation with a man whose home she'd invaded, but if she recognized this fact, it didn't show at all on her face. "But I'm forgetting my manners, and I ain't making a good impression if'n I do that. How's things with you, Doc? Lovely weather? Business good?" Her eyes widened, and she looked at him sincerely.

[Murdoch]

Doc's hand froze on the doorknob when he saw the woman in his chair - oh, he'd never seen her before, but he knew the look. It was the way each person from Sunberth knew each other when they met on the outside, like tattoos on an ex-convict. Something wary, hungry, a level of muscular control that you could only gain from having your life endangered every second of every day. For all that she smiled and chattered, it was in the lay of her knife, the careful calm of her hands, the way she kept the entirety of the room within her periphery.

That knife. He had to force himself to close the door behind him, though he didn't throw the lock. A rib-catcher, that's what he'd called it as a child. Easy to slip in, hard to get out, it was meant for maximum pain. A torturer's weapon.

For all that fear turned his blood to ice, he was still Doc; his mouth twisted into a charming smile, and the laugh that followed was just as carefree as her tone. "Yep, you found me all right," he chuckled, rubbing at the harsh stubble that covered his cheeks. "Can't exactly say it's a pleasure to meet you, Gemmy, or an honor either, but all the same..."

He shrugged, and padded over to the hearth, though he hated getting any closer to her. "Tea?" he asked, turning over both of the mugs that rested on the mantle and sprinkling tea leaves in one of them. From the corners of his eyes he could see she had two more blades on her, hidden away, and he had to swallow another sharp thrust of terror. Gods, they found me, how soon can I get out of this petching town...

[Liminal]

Gemmy smiled good-naturedly. "Nah, though I thank you for your kind offer." Either because she thought she had the situation under control or because she was a natural optimist, she didn't make any moves that would be perceived as threatening.

"Anyway, I'm supposed to tell you that Johnny's got a par-ticular interest in talking to you, and if'n it's agreeable, he'd very much appreciate it if'n you came back with me." She tugged absent-mindedly at a strap that was connected to a small travel pack on the floor beside her.

She shrugged, and then winked again. "'Course, you ain't no stranger to Sunberth. But I promise to be the most pleasant travel partner possible, 'specially if'n you can cook. But either way, at least I won't have to tell you not to shout wild-eyed calls to repentance in the streets, or not to start a fight at the Slag Heap Fire. Seriously, you wouldn't believe some of the people that come to Sunberth lately. It's like they're in some kind of race to see who can get back to Lhex fastest."

"But like I was saying...you in?" She raised one eyebrow, an exaggerated gesture of curiosity.

[Murdoch]

He poured hot water into his mug from the pot on the hearth, turning the empty one back over and setting it back in place. Then he sighed, and shrugged, and crossed the room to take a seat on the bed.

"Well, we both know I'm going to do it," he said, rubbing a hand through the short spikes of his hair as he waited for his tea to cool a little, "but I have to admit I'm curious what you'd threaten me with if I refused." Muddy eyes tilted up to peruse her face, and the only thing he allowed himself to show was some tired sort of amusement. But he wondered what exactly they knew, how long they'd been watching, if they were just looking for his blood or if it only got worse from here. And he quietly prayed that the entire city of Sunberth would sink into the petching ocean.

[Liminal]

Gemmy shrugged lightly. "Threats ain't my department, Doc. Fact is, I don't work for Johnny on a regular basis at all. I'm what you might call Sunberth's unofficial ambassador, seeing if'n I can't keep folks alive longer than ten minutes after arrival, and sometimes, I like to run messages. Gives me a change of pace, you know? But if'n you didn't come, I imagine the next time, Johnny'd send someone else. Red-eyed Pete maybe; someone less likely than me to have your best interests at heart, if'n you take my meaning."

Red-eyed Pete. It was a name that Murdoch would not find unfamiliar.

The man's history was something of a mystery, but he was close friends with Tall Johnny, and often stayed with him during his visits to Sunberth. In most respects, he was normal-looking enough, but those eyes...

They were a deep, livid red, with no visible pupils or irises. Indeed, it was impossible to tell which direction the man was looking, although it was clear that, despite their appearance, his eyes were fully functional. It was difficult to look away from them, although staring would no doubt be frowned upon. And once he looked at someone the wrong way...it was rumored that he could kill at a distance simply with a glance. Either way, precious few crossed him, and fewer still lived to tell about it.

"But," Gemmy was saying, "you ain't got to worry about that now. I ain't in a par-ticular hurry, so finish your tea, pack up, whatever." She smiled cheerfully, and blew a stray strand of hair off her face. She seemed singularly unfazed by anything, as if even the darkness of Sunberth didn't quite stick to her. But appearances...Murdoch would know all too well what happened when one didn't question them, didn't he?

[Murdoch]

Doc stared at her another long moment, and a lesser man might have blanched at the mention of Red-Eyed Pete. He'd grown up in Sunberth, though, had long ago become immune to the worst aspects of it - and for all that he'd been in Syliras these last twelve years, it was amazing how immediately his mind shifted and fit itself back to that time. Emotions faded and his intellect sharpened, looking for every chanced tone of voice or flicker of movement. He didn't believe for a moment that this little girl was simply a messenger.

Thank all the gods that Nel was gone. No trace of her left, not even her cool scent on the sheets. Perhaps he'd managed to keep her safe from this after all.

"You got any clue what this is all about?" he asked, sipping at his tea again. He would take his time, thankyouverymuch. "And don't gimmie that shyke about just carryin' a message," he chuckled, giving her a mischievous grin, "'cause we both know you likely heard a bit of gossip before you set out on this little adventure."

[Liminal]

Gemmy clucked her tongue. "Now now, Doc, you gotta listen carefully. I said I don't work for Johnny regular, but that ain't done mean that I don't know nothing 'bout what he's doing -- or at least what he's got me doing."

She idly turned the knife over in her hands. "I ain't sure about all the details, but there's something about Johnny's niece." For a moment, her face grew somber, and she no longer spoke as if the whole matter were a joke. "Bad piece of business, from what I know, which ain't a lot, but still. Quite a few things have happened since you left, but one of them is that old man Djelini's dead. Ain't many folk as what shed a tear when it happened, either. But after that, Johnny seemed more eager to talk to you. Two seasons ago that was, maybe. 'Course, no one knew where you were, but I done took care of that." She shook her head, and a bit of the animation came back to her voice. "You coulda done a better job of changing your name and face and such if'n you didn't want 'em to find you."

She looked up again, crossing her ankles as she did so. "Lhex as my witness, I ain't got anything else to tell. Johnny don't talk about his business, and he sure ain't gonna tell me what it is he wants to talk to you about in specific, if'n you catch my drift." She winked again, seemingly back to her old self again. "I know about what goes on in the Casino, since that's useful for me, but ain't no use to me in knowing what Johnny and Pete and them keep in the backs of their heads. I ain't afraid of them, 'cuz I'm one of the most useful people in Sunberth, if'n I dare speak for myself, but sometimes knowledge ain't power after all, and if'n you know too much, it can suddenly become just as bad for you as if'n you ain't known nothing at all." A small, sardonic laugh. "They'll look out for me if'n I need it, and I ain't inclined to look much closer into their affairs than that."

Something in her face seemed to indicate that what she was inclined to do was keep chattering, but for once, she managed to stifle that urge -- at least until she had a chance to gauge Murdoch's reaction.

[Murdoch]

He stared at her while she spoke, the casual smile frozen in place while she told her tale, though his knuckles had gone white where they gripped the mug.

"Djelini's dead, huh?" he murmured, his gaze traveling from her to the banked coals of the fire. "Good."

That one word held half a lifetime's rage and hatred, a deep, sick satisfaction at that bastard's demise. "If there's any justice in the world, he went out screaming. So. The old man's dead, and Johnny wants to talk to me, huh? I'm fairly sure he knows I didn't petching do it."

Muddy eyes glanced over at her, and narrowed just a little as his voice turned soft and convincing. "Maybe they didn't tell you what they wanted," he chuckled, "but I'm willing to bet you've got some idea." Brows rose encouragingly, as if to say it's just us friends here, no reason not to share with me.

[Liminal]

Gemmy chuckled back, and then flipped her hair back over her shoulders. "Ain't no one as what thinks you did 'im in, Doc. Trust me -- at this point, I can pretty well tell you everywhere you've been for the past year, and if'n you'd made a trip back to Sunberth, I'd know, and I wouldn't be the only one."

She shrugged lightly, the bones of her shoulders clearly visible through the thin fabric of her dress. "But as for what Johnny wants, I really ain't got too much to tell. If'n it makes you feel better, I can tell you he doesn't want you dead, seeing as how that would have already been taken care of by now, if'n you take my meaning." She flipped the knife over in her hand, seemingly without thinking about it consciously. "But Johnny, he ain't a talker. You'd know that, I'd imagine. If'n he'd said anything to me, or to Tessie, or even to the cage match bet-takers or the back-room whores, I'd know about it. But he ain't said nothing, and less'n I had a much, much better reason to ask, I ain't inclined to look into it. We understand each other, Johnny and I, but that don't make us bosom buddies."

She laughed again. Her face seemed open enough, but it was hard to tell. Regardless, what was clear was that either she really didn't have any more information, or she wasn't going to talk about it -- and, given that she had the metaphorical drop on Murdoch, it would be hard even to discover if that were the case.

[Murdoch]

"Well, that's comforting," he sighed, finishing off the last of his tea. He slid to his feet, going over to the water pail to rinse it out before he set it back on its place by the fire. "Might as well get this over with."

He went around the room gathering his things, which were pitifully few - the pack under his bed had all his traveling supplies already waiting, and he was already wearing his clothes. The sleeping trousers, his box of tea leaves, the already dry mug. Luckily he hid the bulk of his money elsewhere, behind a loose brick a wall on the side of a building, requiring a good bit of climbing and hanging upside-down to reach, and he hadn't had enough money to squirrel away for saving since the beginning of the season. So the ten gold in his pocket was all he took. If Johnny wanted him there, he could bloody well pay his way.

The only personal thing he grabbed off the shelf was a small white seashell, palmed as he pretended to rifle through it, tucked into his pocket with all the stealth he could manage. No one needed to know he wanted a good luck charm for this particular trip. Or maybe just one petching good memory to see him home.

"Ready when you are," he said, straightening up and throwing his pack over his shoulder.