Quinn.

[Quinn]

Selune's Tears shone, reflecting off the harbor's quiet waters and the early morning mist made the darkness on the Waterdhavian docks seem even more choked and stifling, Through the fog strode a lone figure, a robe and hood obscuring his features from the docks ever-present eyes. He paused, occasionally, at a faint sound, footfalls in the distance, or a slight shuffle in a concealed alleyway.

Hunters were often the hunted here, the line between predator and prey wore thinner than the most savage wilds. The law had no hold, and the decent folk feared to tread the narrow streets of the district. Yet, alone, the man paced confidently, carrying himself with poise and a readiness becoming one used to such surroundings...

He halted abruptly in front of a dilapidated building, and after the briefest moment's pause, rapped sharply on the door. The hollow knocks roused the nearby hounds, whose baying broke the silence of the night, echoing off warehouses and tradeships. Stoically, the robed one stared ahead, awaiting the answer to his summons.

As the door cracked, the first thing visible was the slide of a well-crafted crossbow, and the bolt primed to fire. As he focused, the old man wielding the weapon became apparent, as their eyes met, and familiarity was established, they exchanged a slight nod, and chains were undone, and the door cracked wide enough for the hooded one to slide through. The elder kicked the door shut, with an audible crack reverberating down the walls of the quiet street.

"So, ye grew a pair at frigging last?", said the old man as the stranger pulled back his hood revealing a young man with stern, determined expression on his face.
"Make yerself comfortable, Quinn, we have a lot to discuss", the old man placed the crossbow down and motioned for the young one to enter the room.
"I see yer as humble as always, Cap'n", Quinn replied as he carefully sat on what once might have been a sofa.
The elder beamed as he flopped down in an armchair across from the younger man, "So, what brings ye back to Waterdeep, Quinn?", he asked, while offering a bottle of expensive Calimashan wine.
"Unfinished buiness, Cap'n", Quinn replied as he took the bottle and uncorked it with a small dagger, which he drew from his sleeve.
The Captain slowly nodded. "I've heard ye took care of yer old man..."

Quinn smirked and took a swig right from the bottle, then handed it back to the elder. "Twas way too easy. He was going to attend a meetin' with important partner from the East. I just snuck in, poisoned his favored wine, snuck out. Returned officially a week later.", he grinned broadly. "Only to find out that the old fool was feelin' fatherish when he wrote his last will."
The Captain took a greedy swig and nodded approvingly, "Ye didn't correct the will, did ye?", he said with a sly twinkle in his eyes as he tossed the bottle back.

Quinn shook his head and took a swig, he stared at the old man for a long moment before speaking in a low tone, "What's the price on yer head nowadays, Cap'n?", he tossed the bottle back.
With a grace unusual for his age, the Captain caught the bottle and took a swig before replying, "Few thousands. Give or take. Only a handful of nobles still believe I'm alive."

Quinn nodded as he took the bottle and finished it off in one swig.
"So, why are ye back, Quinn?", the elder asked as he carefully studied young man before him.
"Ye know the answer to that, Cap'n", the young man raised his head and stared unwavering, into his eyes.
"It wasn't me, who was makin' the assignments, ye know...", the Captain replied with a sigh as he stood up slowly and walked to a crate in the corner of a room.
"Why didn't ye shoot the moment ye recognized me? Why did ye let me inside?", Quinn asked as he stood up and started taking the robe off, revealing a finely crafted heavy armor underneath.
"Maybe it's because yer a fine opponent? Or maybe because I don't see ye as a threat?", the Captain replied as he was quickly putting his armor on.
Quinn placed his left hand on the belt, while slowly drawing his blade with the other.
"We'll find out soon enough", the Captain said when he finished with his equipment. He regarded Quinn with an appraising look, capturing every detail before saying with a slight frown, "What's that, boy? Why are ye usin' some elven crap?", he nodded at the blade.
"It is perfectly balanced, Cap'n. I'm used to it.", Quinn replied quickly keeping his gaze fixed on the opponent.
"Ye sure, boy? Remember who yer facin'. No room for mistake here.", the Captain let out a loud chuckle.

Stern nod was Quinn's reply. He charged silently the moment after. The Captain parried his devastating blow with ease and swiftly counter-attacked only to have all his attacks parried just as easily.

"Doin' good so far, Quinn... How does yer new life work out for ye?", elder was asking as they performed the deadly dance.
"Not as bad as I though. Got myself a pretty lass... She's here, by the way.", Quinn replied as he parried yet another blow and pushed the Captain.
"Really? Ye? Only one lass?", the Captain let out a chuckle before dodging Quinn's blade that was aimed for his throat, "Never would've thought..."
"Aye", Quinn kicked the armchair out of his way before charging again and delivering yet another devastating blow, which was parried yet again.
"How well does she know ye?", the Captain asked when he managed to wound his opponent slightly.
"Me? She doesn't know me. I'm dead the moment I was dismissed from the Army..", Quinn said as he jumped back, dodging the blow which almost took his head off.
"Who am I fighting, then? It certanly isn't a wuss who you'd like to be...", the Captain grinned as he noticed that Quinn is cornered.

They charged at each other, but young man was quicker and he drove his shoulder into the old man's gut, sending him recoiling backwards. The Captain tripped over the chair and fell down. Quinn quickly kicked the sword out of old man's hand and brought his blade close to his throat.

"See ye in Hells, Capt'n", Quinn whispered with his eyes narrowed.
"Will wait for ye there, Jero...", the Captain replied mockingly with a broad grin.

The young man scowled, and without a word, drew the blade quickly across the Captain's throat. As the body grew cold in a pool of coagulating blood, Quinn systematically searched the old seafarer's residence. Upon finding a stack of parchments, he calmly sat to review them, in no hurry. Satisfied with his finds, he strategically placed bottles of alchemists fire where they would be most effective.

He stepped over the corpse on the way to the door, giving it one last mocking kick in the ribs. He quickly glanced out the door to ensure his route was clear, and closed it again. From a case on his belt, he produced an arcane parchment, and spoke the command words to activate the magics contained within. The room lit up, a burning sphere floating in the center of the room, awaiting it's fiery climax. Quinn nonchalantly donned his robe and hood, and slipped unnoticed out the door, and disappeared into the morning fog still hanging over the harbor.

As he turned the corner, a satisfying "FWOOSH" met his ears, and the glass of the windows shattered out into the street. He smirked at yet another mission accomplished, and was lost in the gathering crowd...

[Ivan38Rus]

... Jero tossed the innkeep a few coins on the way back to his and Melisende's room. She lay on the bed, her eyes fixed on the ceiling, in reverie. The soldier quietly stripped off his armor, and leaned his falchion in the corner behind the armchair before taking a seat. As she lay in reverie, he gazed thoughtfully upon her, taking in her beauty.

The first gleam of sunlight shot through the window, and Jero looked up from his thoughts. He pondered a moment, and stood, walking to the window, and opening it quietly. He looked out over the harbor, having contemplated what those streets had meant to him, and his past, but as he looked back to Melisende, he couldn't help but muse to himself...
"And what of the coming day...?"


((A huge "thank you" to my good friend Ijon Tichy, who helped me out with the grammar and turned my clumsy words into something beautiful. You rock. Like seriously.))

[Kenshin]

Melisende was softly humming as Jero walked into the room. She felt the entry not bothering to completely break from her reverie, the sounds of his movements were now familiar and decidedly a comfort to her.

She was composing words to a little melody that Jero had whistled much of the previous two days. A small smile flitted across her face as she though about how he might react to the song... In truth she knew she need not worry, Jero was such a good sport, he did not mind gentle teasing and probably would even consent to sing it as a duet, if she asked.

She wondered then what it was that brought them to Waterdeep. She had been here before, this thriving, teeming mass of life: the greatest city of Faerun. Though she had boundless admiration for its cultural possibilities, to her sensibilities Waterdeep was a hopelessly flawed place. The idea of balance lost long ago as it grew to an unprecedented scale. Palaces of the arts and learning couldn't in the end redeem the crushing misery of the tenements and the cheapness of life in the crime-infested alleys and byways that criss-crossed less upscale districts.

She smiled at Jero as he stripped off his armor. He didn't know if his mind had wandered but she was now next to him, her warm breath caressing the nape of his neck... She chuckled softly as she brushed back a stray lock of his hair from his forehead.

"Jero...", she started.