Flashback Stop Thief!!!! {Ronan}

[Corvos Mist-Hand]

34, Summer, 497 AV


"STOP THIEEEEF!!!"

The burly, deep voice of a shopkeeper echoed through the narrow alley. Corvos and his friend Ronan barreled down the thin street, dodging patrons and trying to avoid the knights at the same time.

"Let's go Ronan....You're going to have to keep up if you don't want us to get caught. My father wouldn't want to find out I've been stealing again."

In truth, his father would be proud of him for being so elusive to the guards and getting away from the law so often. He would know his training would not go to waste. Corvos and Ronan had been friends since their early childhood, spending days playing in the dirty streets. Corvos was always the one to start trouble, Ronan, the unlucky chap, was always having to run with him to not be counted as an accomplice in the jester like games of the young thief. Corvus would sooner turn himself in than see Ronan get into trouble, so he made sure Ronan was always on his toes. They learned the layouts of the poor parts of town together, finding quick and easy ways out of trouble when Corvus got too ambitious.

"Ronan...through here remember, gods!!"

Corvus waved the other young friend into the thinnest alley for them to buy some time before more guards were alerted.

[Ronan Dugal]

Ronan, eleven years old at this point in time, sighed and shook his head. You couldn't take Corvos anywhere. Mist-Hand they called him. More like sticky fingers. The boy couldn't enter a single shop without attempting to take something without paying. Which was not a problem on its own. The problem was that Ronan was always seen as an accomplice, even though he had never taken anything for himself. On the other hand, it was also true that Corvos had a scary good memory when it came to the back alleys and streets of Syliras. He often dove into nooks and crannies that Ronan didn't even see until he was in it himself. Ronan still remembered the first time they had met. Two little boys, both bruised and beaten, one by his brothers, the other by his father, sneaking out of their respective homes to avoid any more pain. Ronan had been five at the time. They had met on the streets, a casual bump into each other had sparked a friendship that would last the two for at least six years more and probably much longer after that. From day one Ronan had joined Corvos in many of his attempts to steal things, both successful and failed ones. Ronan's problem with this was that he often got beat up when his father saw him come home, whereas Corvos seemed to be praised for it. But Corvos' brothers on the other hand didn't like him at all. So they were both stuck in the same boat. His little feet and short legs carried Ronan after Corvos, who then suddenly disappeared as he seemed to turn into a solid wall. Panicked, Ronan ran past the little alley only to be called back by his friend. "You... Really?... Can't take you anywhere..." Little Ronan said to his friend, out of breath, constantly looking behind him, out of the alley to see if there were any guards coming in. They would only be safe for a short while here.

[Corvos Mist-Hand]

Corvus let out a soft chuckle as he looked to see his friend so out of breath. Corvus had a few years on Ronan, and had a one or two more brush ins with the guards and knew most of them weren't very good runners. To top things off, rags were always so much better to run in than scale or plate armor. While they waited for the coast to clear, he took out his prize to admire it. His green eyes focused on a bag containing no more than five golden pieces of currency, but to him, this was a huge haul for the young rogue. A few more moments and then they would be able to make their great escape, that was until he heard the one thing the boy could not resist, the jingle of more spoils.

"Just a chime my winded friend, I think I hear our bonus for the day."

He then took a small bag of sand that he always carried on him and curled his neck around the edge of the alley opposite from where they had first entered. Not one second later, one would see a man passing across the opening. With tempered, yet novice guile, Corvus reached for the man's waist swapping the purse of coin with the tiny bag of sand. The merchant was so busy exchanging harsh words with the man on his other side, he was unable to feel the switch the young and ambitious thief performed. Corvus smiled and then pocketed the additional bag of coin, not even counting it he was so proud of his haul.

"One day Ronan, one day, I will teach you how to be nifty like me and together we can take the wealth of the world and find our way out of this retched neighborhood."

A few seconds after sharing his dream with his friend, one could hear the clamor or armor closing in on the alley where they had posted up.

"Well Ronan my boy, looks like our break is over."

He made a dart back across the alley into another nigh hidden spot, taking Ronan's hand and dragging him behind.

"Keep up mate....just a bit further and we can divide our cut. Heh and you told me you were going to go hungry today."

Corvus was deceptive and he stole, yes, but he always made sure that he bled a good intention or two into his childish ambitions. He knew that Ronan's father often sent him away without supper so it was up to him to see that his friend always had food in his belly and a cheerful beat in his heart, that or giving him a heart attack each time they had to make these kind of getaways.

[Ronan Dugal]

Stupid Corvos. Always with his stealing. He would be the reason Ronan would get hung someday. Ronan was sure of it. But Ronan never stayed angry for very long with his friend. Every time he got Ronan in trouble he got Ronan out of it and afterwards they were best of friends again. Corvos was older and it showed in the difference in height between the two so Ronan was always looking with his head angled up when he spoke to Corvos. His breathing slowly gathered as he managed to catch his breath somewhat. The break did wonders for the young boy, who was quickly out of breath but just as quickly rested again. Perhaps a side effect of the constant trouble Corvos got him into. "What are you... Really? One purse isn't enough?" Ronan whispered loudly as he watched Corvos pick another pocket. He shook his head, determined. "I'd rather starve than turn into you." Ronan, even at this young age, already had a clear vision in life. No stealing. Anything outside the law was not done by Ronan. The only thing he did was, after lots of persuasion from his friend, accept some extra food that Corvos had bought with stolen money. And every time Ronan felt bad for eating it, even though it was always very filling and delicious. Although his opinion towards his friend's occupation was the complete opposite of Corvos' they both managed to get along well. The sound of the guards armor stomping closer pulled Ronan from his thinking. "I'm not your boy. And you're right." He followed after Corvos, happy to feel the other boy's hand in his as it meant safety, usually. He followed Corvos as best he could but the other boy was much nimbler and faster, taking sharper turns than Ronan, who had to run faster in order to keep up. Between his breathing and his attempt at keeping up, Ronan managed to speak. "Every time... I don't want any cuts of your stolen money." A brave front for now, it would soon crumble when Corvos had turned Ronan's cut into a plethora of delicious smelling foods. "You're going... to get us... both... in jail like... this. I'm... sure of it." Ronan's heavy breathing between his words cut the sentence into several short pieces.

[Corvos Mist-Hand]

Corvus drug Ronan around the final turn, which brought them at a far enough distance between them and the guards. The getaway was a success...this time. Corvus did his best to look around his friend's verbal scalding and then placed his hand on Ronan's shoulder.

"I was like you at first, that is until my father showed me what I am about to show you."

He led him through another series of alleys and narrow streets until they were brought around to the back side of the bazaar district. His emerald eyes searched for a moment before pointing out where he wanted Ronan to look. He would notice a patron haggling prices with the owner of a jewelry cart. While they both argued one could see another man sceptically moving up on the customer. He made several hand movements behind him and then walked off a short distance. Ronan would then recognize that these movements of the stranger were a more polished form of the same gestures Corvus made when picking someones pocket. After the customer had threw his hands up and walked off, the same stranger walked up to the cart owner and handed him the few gold he had swiped from the pocket of the patron.

"Since I started my training in these ways, I see this nearly every day and in more spots that you want to think about. The real thieves are the ones you try to buy from every day Ronan."

He sighed and then looked to his best friend with a sincere glance and sighed.

"If I cant convince you to walk this path with me, promise me that when you're rich to always be honest in your works and never become the ones that make the ones everyone calls thieves the heroes."

These words would sink in hard and follow Ronan for the rest of his days.

"I may be doing the wrong thing according to the law, but its for the right reasons. Now, lets get something to eat. Yes?"

Corvus offered his hand palm upward to Ronan for him to give it a strike, like those who make deals.

[Ronan Dugal]

Ronan stumbled after Corvos as he was pulled around to another stop. At least they weren't running anymore so Ronan could breathe properly. He knew Corvos could hear his words and he knew Corvos knew he was right, in a way, but the other boy ignored most of what he had said. He listened to the boy, his chest moving up and down as he attempted to regain his breath. They walked through more back alleys and passed through more invisible, to Ronan at least, streets. In the end Ronan found himself overlooking a small square, with people walking around, dressed like most lower city dwellers. Ronan's eyes followed his friend's finger and looked at the two people arguing. Nothing special about that, arguing happened all the time. At first he didn't see the third man, until he blocked Ronan's sight as he passed by the group. From here, with his attention pointed to it, Ronan could see the awkward movements of the man but he knew that if he hadn't been pointed out to it, he wouldn't have seen it. What Ronan saw next was strange. The thief, which the man obviously was, returned and gave the money he had stolen to the shopkeeper, instead of keeping it all to himself. It was a... curious thing to see in Syliras, especially down here. The real thieves are the ones you try to buy from every day. How very true. Especially because people thought he was just a lost and orphaned child with nobody to protect him if needed. "I don't want to be a thief. But while you're stealing their purses, I'll be right in front of them, stealing everything else they got, right from under their noses. You'll see." Ronan said to his friend, a childish conviction that would ring ever so true in the future. He hit his friend's hand with all the might he could gather, the slapping sound echoing in the small alley around them. "Food sounds good." Ronan turned around and orientated himself before starting to walk, not looking back to see if his friend was following. He knew a good place to go where the food was slightly fresher than down here. It was also more expensive than down here. He turned left in the next alley and right into a dead end. "Hmm... I swear it was this way." Ronan muttered as he turned back and headed in the opposite direction as he tried to find his way through the maze of alleys. "Which way is home again?" It wasn't really home but with a lack of a different word, Ronan called the place he lived with his parents home. At least from there he could find his way to the square he was looking for. The square and the food stalls that were located there.

ll be right in front of them, stealing everything else they got, right from under their noses. You

[Corvos Mist-Hand]

Corvos nodded in satisfaction with his friend's response. As they continued further into the streets, looking for food, he intentionally let Ronan lead the way to see if he was paying attention during their escape. One never knew when they would need to make a quick escape. The one benefit of living in a large fortress city was that there was always a way to go to lose the law. He chuckled and patted Ronan's back. "This way mate...." Corvos turned his head in the opposite direction. For someone going on fourteen, he really knew his way around the city. He remembered the day when his father led him around the many streets blindfolded and leaving him to find his way. Many times he got lost, but his father was always there to lead him back. But, not too long ago, Corvos finally was able to find his way home. As his short memory concluded, he had led Ronan to the section of the city where the food carts were located. "Im going for the stew today, what about you Ronan?" He asked as he made his way to the specified cart and placed his order, pridefully slamming a single Miza on the edge of the wooden kiosk like structure. The cook laughed, knowing little Mist-Hand was up to his old tricks. He was a kind old man and didnt really care. He knew that if Corvos didnt steal, he most likely would go hungry for the day. After preparing the bowl of stew and setting it in front of Corvos, he looked to Ronan, silently inquiring if he wanted something to eat as well.

[Ronan Dugal]

Ronan followed his friend, looking around the whole time, trying to see where exactly they were. As they got closer to the square, Ronan started to recognize corners and houses until they walked into the open square. "Its always good that you're around when I get lost." Ronan noted as the two boys walked into the square. Stew sounded really good to Ronan. He looked at the man behind the food stall torn between slightly better food and taking stolen money from a thief or not.Ronan's dilemma ended quickly when his stomach rumbled so loud they all could hear it. "I'll.. I'll have the same, please?" Ronan said, his cheeks tinged dark red with a blush. He'd rather not starve and take stolen money than the other way around. As he waited for his food, Ronan was quiet. With the bowl in hand, Ronan waited for Corvos and then walked to the side of the square, sitting himself on one of the benches there. He slowly ate his food, making sure to enjoy every last bit of it. "You still get beaten a lot?" A curious question, although considering their similar circumstances, perhaps not so much. Ronan could feel the bruises he had received two days ago, if he moved the wrong way, and he hoped his friend had been luckier. Ronan really wished he had been born somewhere better. Even the house across the street was already an improvement. Ronan couldn't remember exactly how he had met Corvos, probably as just another street kid in the neighborhood, but he was glad that he had met him. Although it their view on life was different and their morals were worlds apart, Ronan had to admit that had more fun with Corvos around, despite all the chases and running and hiding. With a childish optimism, he hoped that perhaps someday he could divert the older boy from his path.

[Emblem]

Congratulations! You Get Glorious Experience! Ronan Skill Points Earned Running 2 XP Lore Earned Syliras' Streets Corvan, Troublemaker Noble Aspirations Other Shenanigans: Comments : So sorry about the wait here, but good work! There wasn't too much to give in terms of XP, but if you feel I missed something, shoot me a PM!