| Logs |
2010 September 13
| Neverneverwhere |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Taps Logs |
The Shell Game
Chanticleer is helping to prepare the encampment for their approach to the town, as well as making ready what he'll need to do then. Del is helping Chanticleer with that. Occasionally she pauses to stop, trying to work out her irritation and nervousness. Were she fully a horse, she'd be tossing her head and rolling her eyes.
Suraksha considers the boy's predicament for a bit, then looks at Daniel, "How did you get on McNally's bad side, Daniel?" There are a lot of things she can overlook when offering a job to someone on the run... but there are also some things she will not. She continues to thoughtfully study the boy's chakras as she asks the question.
Daniel's eyes are still roaming the woods around them as he talks, the words coming in fits and starts. "I used to work for him. Lookout. Making drops. Small stuff, y'know?" Suraksha nods silently, waiting for the boy to continue. Daniel isn't quite wringing his hands, "This is gonna sound like a fib, but my ma got real sick. Real sick. The kinda sick that you don't come back from. So I started, y'know, nickin' a little of some of the products I was dropping off. Mostly opium. Just to ease her a little, y'know?"
Suraksha nods slowly, studying the boy's chakras and saying nothing at all. Letting him pour it out is, she thinks, the kindest thing she can do for him just now. Dominic gets a little edgy then, wondering how much pull this McNally has outside of San Fran. He certainly doesn't want to leave the Lady's side, though, so for the moment he trusts in his circuit of the camp that there's no one lying in immediate ambush.
Daniel picks at his fingernails as he goes on. "Toward the end, though, she needed more than just a little. So I started pinching more." Suraksha can tell the boy is scared, but he's not lying -- at least not so far. "And then I pinched out of the wrong drop. One of his big clients noticed and accused McNally of cheating him."
Suraksha winces a bit at that -- the drug lords are heartless, as far as she's seen. There's a reason her family won't touch the refined junk. She murmurs softly, "And...?"
Daniel's voice is pleading, "I'm not a thief normally. But she needed something." Tears are starting to well up in the boy's eyes and he's obviously desperate, "They tracked down the last time the drop weighed right and from there who was doing the running. And from there, they found my ma..."
Suraksha closes her eyes, her whisper soft, "Oh, no..." Dominic relaxes visibly. The boy is an unknown, but Suraksha: she knows people. And he knows her well enough to read her body language, after she practically supervised his training into a member of the caravan. If she's relaxing, then things are probably better than we were worried about.
The boy's voice is desperate, "So, you see, I had to get out. Just get me somewhere safe and I won't be any trouble. Please."
Suraksha sighs softly, studying the boy for a moment. Finally she says, "Daniel, this is Dominic. He and Joe both started out with me years ago as runners and other jobs, and graduated to more responsibility as they could handle it. I want you to go with Dominic and Joe and do what they tell you to do. Do you understand? You have a job, and we're leaving the City -- but you must impress Dominic and Joe with your obedience and honesty in order to keep the job."
Daniel looks like he might faint with the relief, "Oh god. Thank you. Thank you. I won't be any trouble."
Suraksha smiles quietly, "Good. Now run along and help Dominic, please." She raises her head, listening to a ringing, angry snort, then grins and shakes her head amusedly, "-since I have to see what's annoying Del so."
Dominic arches a brow at Suraksha, but doesn't argue. Being a part of the group means looking after new crew...and he's certainly done it before, like was done for him. It certainly might solve their initial problem of the boy wanting to get off in Roseville town, when they really need him not to. "Come along, then," he encourages Daniel. The boy heads off with Dominic and Joe to be shown the ropes. There's some good-natured joshing on Joe's part, but they soon set the kid to work doing the sorts of jobs that are perfect for stringy kids. Runners are needed when they're setting up a distraction like this one.
When Suraksha finds Del and Chanticleer, she manages to settle the horse-woman down enough so Del doesn't look like she's going to kick the next person to speak to her. Finally they've done all the planning they can that night, and people settle into their beds. Quietly, without drawing attention to it, the caravan-folk set guards patrolling. Suraksha stays awake late, receiving reports and keeping an eye out. Very late that night she intends to go for a run around the camp with the hunting dogs and Alg... just to be sure. Chanticleer gets as much private sleep as he can. Since he started working for Suraksha, he's taken to glamouring himself by habit, but he can only do it while conscious... or awake. So he finds the most hidden place he can when he sleeps, usually in the loft of one of the wagons. But he does participate in the guarding as well, either mounted or on foot as the particular duty may be,
Dominic keeps a close eye on Daniel... not exactly mistrustful. He tries to think of it like when he was first roped into the crew, and Suraksha didn't know him from Adam either. But he follows up, gives feedback and encouragement when it warrants, and careful criticism when that warrants too. The best way to encourage a young soul is a firm hand, but to never be stingy with the positive feedback, even when there's an element of concern of character. Especially when there's a concern. Those are the people that need to learn different ways.
In the morning the caravan gets underway with a little less joking and teasing than normal, and a little more nervous double-checking of plans. Those that are going to have to be holding glamours for later in the day are given the chance to ride out of sight if they wish, giving them an opportunity to just be themselves for a little longer. Suraksha quietly plans out with Sna'tha what she's going to wear and do, in order to be most charmingly authoritative to the distrustful Roseville leaders. She wants her people in and out as quickly as possible. Sna'tha points out that if the place is being as anti-vagrant as it sounds, it would be best to look conservative and demure. She seems both irritated and amused by having to make this suggestion, but she knows it's the right one.
In fact, most of the caravaneers have put on their most sober clothing. There is a lot of brown and black in evidence, and not nearly so much of the scarlets and yellows and blues. Suraksha nods thoughtfully to Sna'tha, selecting an elegant bottle-green business suit and very little makeup or jewelry. She smiles in rueful agreement with her old friend's dislike of such stodginess, but cheerfully points out that the sooner they're past this place, the sooner they can loosen up and have a party one night to celebrate!
Chanticleer remains himself within the wagon for a bit, not only to conserve his strength for their arrival but also to mentally prepare himself. This is not something he's entirely comfortable with; certainly he is not ashamed of his body or shy, but it's a far cry being a knight of the court to being a courtier. Then again, he acknowledges for the countless time, it's been a very long time since he was actually a knight. So no time to be melancholy now; he has a job to do, by Titania's Crown! No matter how little he wears doing it.
Dominic muses on how to look. He's not entirely sure on how to look 'trustworthy,' but at least he starts by bearing a cold bath, trimming his beard so it's not so scraggly, and cutting his hair back a bit. Clean clothes, too. Even if the journey makes him a little dirty with road dust, at least it will look like honestly earned dirt. He follows up with Joe, then. "You want I hang back with Dan, keep him busy, and you take point? Or should I be out front?"
Joe says to Dom, "Nah. I'll take the kid in hand. I've trained more of them than you have." He grins toothily, "I taught Her Nibs the ropes back in the day. Go on and look dour and responsible."
Dominic's brow knits. "I don't look dour!" he protests -- then blinks and looks in a reflective surface, suddenly curious. "Huh. I do look dour." Dom shrugs. "Okay, dour it is."
As they near the town they pass a couple of small caravans and single wagons that have been turned back or are passing back the other way. None of them seem happy and at least one of them calls to the caravan not to bother trying to get past the guards. Suraksha knows Joe has selected a place for them to settle while she negotiates with the town leaders. She lets Dominic and Chanticleer know she'd like them with her, and makes sure everyone else is ready and comfy. She waves in sympathy to the other caravan, calling back, "We've got to at least try!" She's on the lead wagon, which is one of the more decorous looking and heavily loaded ones. She's got Dominic driving, and she's letting her personal glamour practically sing respectability.
Dominic is happy to stay close at hand to Suraksha, and makes an approving noise at the outfit she chose. Not usually one for fancier clothes, he absently makes a note that he should consider flexibility of wardrobe, in case the Lady needs it of him. Sure, he's invested a lot in his persona, but it couldn't hurt to look nice. Chanticleer glamours himself to look more human even before he unlocks the loft, sliding into the main part of the wagon's cabin and pulling on his jerkin and leggings. Once glamoured and dressed, he hops down from the wagon, making his way to Suraksha's.
When they're within hailing distance of the checkpoint that's been set up, Sna'tha signals for the distraction to begin. People begin dropping discreetly back along the line of wagons and carts whilst others creep forward, being conspicuously pretty. Sna'tha isn't one of those putting herself forward; after all, it'll be hard to miss extra limbs in a pat-down. Instead, the dragonfly sidhe is helping to hold glamour over those that need to hide, but really can't. Alg especially needs assistance, since he can't hide himself to start with and having Suraksha in possible danger agitates the goblin. Sabrina, in her soothing and irreverent way, takes charge of those that will be drawing the guards' eyes. Chanticleer doffs his normal clothing, hiding a bit of a wince, and positions himself upon Suraksha's wagon, wearing... considerably less. It's enough to draw the eye, but not enough to get them run out of most of the conservative towns they've gone to. He knows; they've had to experiment a few times until they came up with virtually empirical evidence of how much skin is 'too much' to show.
Suraksha smiles with professional assurance down at the gate guard who waves them down and walks up to her wagon. Once Dominic has stopped the wagon, she speaks to the guard, her voice crisp and clear, "You are the gate guard for Roseville, yes? Excellent; we are expected. Do you have some identification, please?"
One of the guards at the checkpoint waves Suraksha's wagon off to the side as about a dozen others start to array themselves out along the line of vehicles. The one that waves them down looks like nothing so much as a mid-level public servant. He's got sort of hair colored hair and greyish, bored eyes. He snaps, "I'm the one to be asking for identification." He eyes Suraksha and her two companions: one prettyboy and one driver -- somewhat mistrustfully.
Dominic makes casual eye contact with the guards, clear eyed and bright, trying not to look scary -- dour, not scary. Suraksha is more likely to know when something's wrong, with her talents, but he can read the signs of hostility and battle tension okay. He just nods at the ugly looks... nothing but a smooth stone face. Nothing interesting to see here. Chanticleer remains languidly unthreatening and disinterested. No trace of the Black Rooster knight is in evidence; simply a pretty human man who seems not bored or impatient, but rather too flighty, to really be paying great amounts of attention. Suraksha raises an eyebrow at the man, her calm murmur unruffled, "How nice for you. Are you the one in charge here?" She notches up her glamour a bit, imitating Fearsome Grandmother's sternness mixed with disapproving librarian.
Back along the caravan, guards are asking drivers to step down from their wagons. Here and there people are being questioned about their plans. The lead guard sighs and says, "For the moment. Look, lady. You got a lot of wagons. We gotta look 'em over. The less bullshit you give me, the quicker this will be."
Suraksha raises an eyebrow again, "Such language. Do you speak to your mother with that mouth?" She holds out a hand to Dominic to help her down from the wagon.
The guard says, "My mother's been dead for a decade. Look, if it'll get this moving along..." He reaches into his tunic.
Dominic is reaching out and taking Suraksha's hand, happy to assist her like the Lady he has always considered her... but he stiffens as the guard's hand goes into his tunic. Suraksha also pauses and goes still, watching the guard with coldly alert eyes. Chanticleer manages to not stiffen, though he does mentally brace himself. He suspects, thought, that he knows what the guard is going to be pulling out: some sort of warrant or such.
Chanticleer is right. The guard pulls out a folded parchment written in convoluted legalese that essentially comes down to permission and power to search, hold, pass through, or turn back anyone planning to pass through the town of Roseville. Dominic is glad Suraksha taught him restraint. Not just because it prevented him from tackling the guard, but because he needs more than anything right now not to roll his eyes. Fortunately, he succeeds. Hard work, though.
Suraksha flicks through the paperwork, nodding thoughtfully once or twice, then neatly refolds it and returns it to the guard. Her voice is curious as she holds her hand out to Dominic again, "We have contracted cargo for merchants in Roseville. Did something happen that you have instituted this new search?" Once she's on the ground she straightens and neatens her garments, then adds firmly, "I will walk with you, in case you have any questions regarding cargo." To Dominic she adds, "Dominic, bring the folder, please?"
Dominic nods, knowing Suraksha was prepared for this... reaching into the wagon, he grabs the folder firmly and then takes a step down, tucking it under his arm and waiting on the step to see if she needs aught else. Chanticleer lets out a visible but silent sigh, as he positions himself to appear like he's trying to be more comfortable at his position. In actuality, though, he's estimating the positions and strength of the roadblock guard, and trying to gauge just how strong a showing they're trying to put on.
The guard says, "New mayor. Got some new laws." He goes on somewhat at length, but it comes down to "protect the innocent, blah blah blah, keep our town safe, blah blah blah." It's all rather tiresome, pedantic, and a little creepy. He questions them about what they're dropping off, how long they're going to be in town, and so forth. Much of what he asks could quite rightly be considered prying. Eventually the questions come around to what sorts of people are in the caravan. It's couched in terms of headcount, but it's pretty obvious what he's trying to find out is if they have any non-humans with them.
The guard's eyes keep coming back to Chanticleer distrustfully. The man just looks too relaxed, too pretty and too bored to be taking all of this seriously -- and it's obvious the official likes being taken seriously. Along the caravan, some of the people are actually being patted down by other guards. The passengers that are just along for the ride seem nervous but willing to be searched. The regular caravaneers are less laconic about it. This is where the shell game will come in.
Suraksha answers crisply: cargo contracted for the city of Roseville, cargo heading on to other cities past Roseville; headcount on crew, headcount on several wagon-loads of passengers being escorted for safety in numbers; estimated time spent in town: two, possibly three days maximum for purchases and dropping off cargo, blah blah blah. As the official presses slightly on headcount, Suraksha's eyes narrow a bit and she draws herself up in somewhat huffy pride, "Good sir, are you actually suggesting we would countenance those disreputable supernaturals -- amongst our respectable crew?!"
Suraksha notices the official's eyes turning once more to Chanticleer and understanding flashes across her face. She sighs, smiles faintly, then lowers her voice, "Ah, I understand. He is family, but he is... not right in the head." She crosses herself, adding in a quiet murmur, "Poor child. Terrible tragedy." Chanticleer inwardly giggles. 'Disreputable?' [Laying it on a little thick, my lady!]
The guard bridles slightly and says, "Lady, you'd be surprised what kinda scum you get traveling through this pass. And you'd be surprised how they try to hide it." When he says "scum," his eyes flick to Chanti and then back to Suraksha. "So, if you got nothing to hide, you got nothing to worry about." The guard lowers his voice, "Some caravan leaders didn't even know what they were harboring."
Dominic is quietly following along in Suraksha's wake, attentive but present. He offers no opinions, shows no intent of anything but being ready to jump when Suraksha says how high. Suraksha looks proud again, "We certainly do not!" She waves her hand to include the caravan, "We are a respectable shipping and transport organization. In fact, I insist you search! Come-" she takes the official's arm and heads determinedly towards the first wagon after hers, which she knows is completely 'clean,' and adds, "Absolutely clean!" Her glamour practically shimmers with sincerity. She mentally crosses her fingers that Bre'r Rabbit's 'briar patch' effect works here.
The head guard seems distrustful at Suraksha's insistence, but he starts his search of the wagon. He doesn't ransack it. He's not a brigand, after all, but he's not particularly careful of the contents. Suraksha makes sure everything is put back properly, tch'ing at the official and insisting he do it right! Back along the caravan, the shell game is in full-force. As people are searched and patted down, they slip stealthily out of sight, only to reappear a few minutes later. It would take sharp eyes indeed to notice that some of those who reappear don't look exactly the same as when they disappeared. It's not until one of the passenger's wagons is being searched that there's a problem. Dominic is internally rubbing his forehead. Suraksha did go over this with people. He heard her. Did they not pay attention? He waits on Suraksha for instruction.
The passenger in question is shouting at the guard that's searching their wagon, going on about invasion of privacy and about improper behavior with ladies. The man seems enraged that the guard actually touched his wife. The lead guard sighs and eyes Suraksha, "I have to go take care of that. They yours or passengers?" Chanticleer perks his ears, not quite glancing back at the commotion -- then he figures a show of surprise might go over better. He looks back along the wagon train from his vantage point atop the wagon to see what's going on, casting a covert eye on the guards observing the caravan to see if he can slip away if needed.
Suraksha leans out to look, then frowns and shakes her head with a slightly bemused expression, "That's a passenger. I think I would like to see also." She slides out of the wagon next to the official, nodding to Dominic to follow, and murmuring to Chanti, "Could you close this up, please, Chanti?" For a moment the sidhe can see her face, turned away from the official, and she mouths unhappily, "Forgive me?" Chanticleer nods softly to Suraksha, smiling covertly to her; this isn't the first time they've had to do this, and it's not the first time Suraksha has apologized like that. He closes up the wagon, then moves to catch up with Suraksha and Dominic.
Suraksha makes a mental note: she's going to have to apologize for this act to every supernatural in the caravan -- and Chanti in particular for that crack about brain damage. She sighs, then strides firmly along with the official towards the passenger wagon, murmuring quietly to the official, "Do you have a woman with you? It may be the man is simply offended at another man touching his wife. There are some religious sects who are quite insistent on that, after all." She adds a touch grimly, "And I do not want my caravan delayed by so simple a thing as a woman being needed to search the women here."
The uproar is starting to draw more of the guards; the passenger is shouting invective. The official shakes his head, lips pursed, "No. We find that women have more trouble keeping the peace on the roads." When they arrive they find the passenger's wife is also struggling with a guard, insisting he let her go.
At the official's comment, Chanticleer thinks amusedly, [Then you've not seen any female sidhe knights. One charge of a squadron of unicorn-mounted cavalry and your entire guard regiment will be tripping all over themselves running away.] He takes this opportunity to slip away, to take his own part in the shell game, coming back a bit burlier and swarthier -- and with less hair on his head -- and coming in between the line of sight of the woman and the guards.
Suraksha's eyebrows go up and she draws a breath as she strides over, then pulls command into her voice, "Enough!" A small part of her is amused at the man's ludicrous assertion: only women who have been weakened by insecure men have problems keeping the peace, in her experience! As the passenger keeps yelling, Suraksha snaps, "Silence!" at him. She points at the woman, then at the side of their wagon, "You, stand over there!" She folds her arms and glares at the guard, "Behave yourself!"
In the hubbub of sorting out what's happened, Sna'tha pulls the woman aside, whispering to her to come along quietly. A moment later the woman appears again, head down demurely as there's some angry conversation with her husband. Finally the guard captain rolls his eyes and orders the other guards to apologize and go on to the next wagon. Unspoken is the fact that this one is far too much trouble. Suraksha nods firmly, pausing to murmur a few stern words to the downcast looking woman. After that she marches after the guards... sort of casually positioning herself and Dominic so they block easy view of the man and his wife. Dominic is very good at being a wall. He had a growth spurt after he joined the wagon, and now he resembles the trunk of a tree -- a very hairy tree. Chanticleer hopes this was just a case of nerves and someone being rattled by the guards.
Suraksha is just as sternly proud once the entire caravan has been searched, her eyes nearly sparking as she faces the guards, "Was I not correct? This is a respectable caravan, thank you very much!" She adds a touch grimly, "Although I may seriously reconsider my stance on passengers. More trouble than they're worth!"
Once the search is over the lead guard says, "Certainly seems to be. Though you might want to be more aware of what kind of crazy passengers you take on, ma'am." He hands Suraksha a piece of parchment with a wax seal on it. "This is your pass for the city gates. It expires in three days. If you get delayed, you'll have to apply to the mayor to have it extended."
Chanticleer inwardly sighs in relief, though on the outside he looks like there was no other result that could have taken place. Dominic could be a golem for all the response he gives. Well, a grunt. Not even a grunt of approval or disapproval. "I get the wagons under way, ma'am?" he queries Suraksha.
Suraksha nods and scans the parchment, then hands it to Dominic to tuck into the official documents folder. She shakes hands firmly with the head official, "Good doing business with you." She nods to the other guards as she stalks back to her place, waiting for Dominic to hand her up. To Chanticleer she says, "Spread the word down the caravan, please, Chanti -- we move now!"
The lead guard snaps at his cadre and they go back to the checkpoint, opening the gate for the wagons to pass through. Dominic lifts the Lady back onto her throne, before climbing up after. Suraksha nods once to Dominic once they're both settled, "Lead them on in, Dominic!" She tucks the documents folder under her arm, sitting proudly erect at the head of the caravan. Dominic takes the reins. "Gee up!" he informs the horses, giving a light snap to assure them break time is over. Chanticleer, by the time he returns to the forward wagon, has changed back to his normal glamour, and perches himself upon Suraksha's wagon again.
The pass gets them through the city gates with no problem. The caravan gets to their normal parking spot and runners go off to contact the people whose cargo they're carrying. Ohkwari and Buddy go together to buy provisions, the two large men knowing they aren't likely to be accosted while together. Dominic asks Dan to keep lines of communication open within the caravan itself; best to not give the boy the temptation to run off, by keeping him busy here. Suraksha sighs once they're all safely parked, murmuring to Dominic and Chanticleer, "Make sure we have guards set at all times, and the unusual-looking among us stay out of sight." She takes another deep breath, then reaches out to take Chanti's hand, adding, "I apologize for the terrible fib, dear. I hope you can forgive me."
Dominic nods to Suraksha. "Was just giving that message to our boy," he assures.
Once everyone is parked, the man that made the fuss and his wife come forward to Suraksha's wagon. Suraksha stares down at them, frowning and waiting for an explanation. She's clearly not pleased. Sna'tha is with them and she's the one that says, "I'm sorry, Sura. That whole thing was my fault. We got a little backed up in our preparations. Our timing got off. George and Susan here agreed to kick up a fuss for us."
Suraksha sighs and relaxes a bit, swinging easily down from the high seat on the wagon, "Is that all it was? Thank goodness!" She smiles, offering a hand to each person of the couple, "Thank you so much for your help, then! I hope I wasn't too obnoxious." She looks rueful as she adds, "I'm going to have to apologize to everyone in the caravan, I suspect, for that performance.
George and Susan both shake her hands and George turns his head to spit on the ground. "I can't stand bigots." He seems unaware of the irony in his statement, adding, "It was our pleasure to help out."
Suraksha chuckles at that, then gives Sna'tha a hug. "Is everyone all right? Are we good, or should I go reassure Alg?" She beams at Dominic and Chanticleer, adding, "You both did marvelously!"
Sna'tha smiles slightly, "Alg wanted to bite them. But he's doing fine for now, taking care of his little pack."
Dominic bobs his head. "Just another day on the job, ma'am. Keep it simple, keep it tight," he rumbles, though his body language shows appreciation." He looks at Sna'tha. "Remind th' fella that bigots taste horrible," he suggests. Suraksha laughs softly, unsurprised at the report on Alg -- then laughs again in genuine delight at Dominic's suggestion!
Chanticleer looks around, making it seem casual. "We seem to be okay for now, lady," he says. "Now we just have to keep up appearances for three days."
Suraksha smiles up at Chanticleer on the wagon, "Oh, I expect we'll be out of here well before that. Could you pass the word that all repairs must be done ASAP, and we're planning on leaving in two days barring problems?"
Chanticleer nods. "I'll take care of it, yes."
Dominic hmms, and looks askance at Suraksha. "Getting Dan to work for the 'van was a good idea... you think passengers would mind helping some more? Even if there's no appropriate skilled folk, could just help to have extra hands get things done lickety split."
Suraksha thinks about that, then nods to Dominic, "Get a list of what needs repairing and purchasing first, Dom, please? We'll know then what needs doing. Better to have a few experts doing good work on repairs, after all, and keeping the unskilled but enthusiastic working on other things." Dominic bobs his head and goes off looking for Dan, to recruit him for assistance with the new task.
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