Criminal Acts
Summary: A kidnapping, a mutiny, and terrible puns.
--
Once upon a time in a Tavern, Preston found himself in the company of an charming and easy on the eyes elven lady. She was dressed in a fine gown, with her hair falling in beautiful waves over her shoulders. They had great conversation over several alcoholic drinks, though the young wizard found himself feeling the sting of the alcohol more than the lady did. At some point, the night gets very fuzzy. The music and the murmer of the crowd gets confusing and distant, and with out warning Preston blacks out.
When he awakes several hours later, the world still feels like it's rocking. He awakes in the same clothing he entered the tavern in, and he notices that nothing has been stolen off of his person. He's in a small wooden paneled room, with a bed affixed to the floor. There is a tiny port hole letting in the bright morning sun and in the corner are a pile of his personal effects. The door is closed, and should he attempt to open it he'll find it locked, but there is a small barred window that leads out into a warmly lit hallway. There are sounds of people walking on the floor above him, and people shouting over the sound of rushing wind.
--
When Preston wakes up he puts a hand to his head and narrows his eyes a little bit.
There is much about this situation that is good news. He is in his clothes. Good news. He can move about freely. Good news. There are all of his things. Good news.
Portholes? Bars? Locked doors? Not good news.
He peers out the porthole to stare at the sky, then rears back from it with a grimace. He has got himself an incredible hangover.
He pauses to put himself in order. Brushing his hair, pulling a little plain water out of his alchemist's tools and using it to clean his teeth. There's such a thing as being dignified and ready to deal with whatever one has been thrown into. He washes his face and studies the effects. There now. Only a little bloodshot. He takes a syrup for his rolling stomach and then peers out the bars to see if he can see anyone who might, just might, give him some insight into what the devil is going on. He has a few little cantrips he could use to get out of the door, but then he might find himself in the unpleasant position of angering whomever has put him in this room while apparently miles above the earth and with nowhere to go beyond that. This is a scenario that calls, therefore, for patience and good sense. He's not getting away any time soon, and he hasn't been ill-treated, so....figuring out what is going on is the next item on his list.
--
Once Preston peeks out of the window, he'll notice a small group of people gathered at the other end of the hallway. Their body language is tense as they have a whispered conversation. A halfling peers over her shoulder and catches Preston's face in the window and waves at the small group and they disperse. "Oi! His royal highness is awake!" She calls out down the other end of the hallway.
Coming around the corner is a familiar face. The elven woman from the night before gives a nod to the halfling as she walks toward the door. It's definatly not the polished and bashful woman he met previously. Her hair is wild and windblown, her clothing is loose and functional and she has a few weapons with in easy reach on various parts of her body. The smile is the same, but it has an air of cockiness to it that wasn't there last night. "Well, good morning your Grace!" She says with a flourishing bow. "I do hope you found your accomindations to your liking? Did you sleep well?"
--
Preston, believe it or not, has spent more than his fair share of time being mocked. His fellow students at the Academy, for example, liked to take this tack as well. Being the son of two high-ranking politicians is not really all it's cracked up to be sometimes. He steps back and offers a bow of his own.
"My Lady, I find they rather exceed my expectations," he says smoothly, with a crack of a smile. "In more ways than one."
Both that he didn't expect to wake up in a cell and in that it is one of the nicer cells he's ever woken up in.
"I must admit I don't remember making reservations to partake of your hospitality, however. I don't suppose you'd care to tell me what the devil is going on?"
--
Desdemona smirk grows as he meets her cocky sarcasm with one of her own. "Please no need to bow, I gave up my title ages ago." It's hard to say if that's the truth or more bravdo but she leans against the opposite wall, seeming keen to keep him in the cell for the time being. After all, orders are orders and she wasn't instructed to let him roam yet. "You don't remember last night? Well I have to say you were very charming and I promise you heard I had an airship and gladly followed behind me like a little lost dog so you could see the inside of it. You were a little worse for the wear so I kept you in there for your safety, after all I hear you're a very important man."
Preston snorts at the notion of his own importance. "I do remember the drinks," he says ruefully, rubbing at his head just a little bit. He can't do the lean, if he does he'll have to shout through the little window, so he just stays where he is.
"What is this, some manner of ransom bid?" He supposes his parents might pay, though he's sure he'll hear all about how foolish he was when they do. "Where are we headed, Des--" he draws out the s, he can't remember the whole name. "-i?"
--
Desdemona's answer is nothing but a smirk as she tilts her head watching him piece the previous night together. "Desdemona, to people who are on the wrong side of the bars." She corrects before she pushes off of the wall. "Nah, no randsom bid, the money has already been paid actually. We have our orders, pick you up by any means possible, than drop you off once we get to the desired destination. Honestly it's weird for a kidnapping, it's not often that someone has your unmentionables and wizardy bits all packed and ready to go. You even got yourself a little allowance, it's charming really."
--
"Yes, charming," Preston says dryly. It also points to the author of this nonsense. His mother has been on him to get out of Rune for months now.
He conjures up some swirling lights, just a cantrip, an amusement, juggling them. "I cannot believe, madame, that you went pawing through my unmentionables. I hope you enjoyed them at any rate."
He swirls them in the opposite direction, thinking.
"Look, fantastic as the accomodations are. I don't really have anywhere to go but somewhere on this boat at 10,000 feet. Or however many feet. Is it 10,000? Or was that swallows? Nevermind. At any rate. I will gladly give my parole d'honeur that I shall be a good guest, if you will let this be a guestroom and not a cell. I've never been on an airship before, and I'd like to get some air."
--
Honestly Desdemona is following orders and she may be telling him more than he needs to know, but at the same time, she did enjoy the conversation they were having before the herbs she slipped in his drink took effect. Besides, parents are complicated, she can sympathize. "Of course I did. Though I didn't think that sky blue was your color, but than again, no one would be seeing those anyway right?"
When he starts in on asking to be let out of the cell, Desdemon gets distracted. Her eyes flick away from him and down a hallway he can't see. Her brows knit together and she tilts her head to try and listen to what's being said in hushed whispers.
Shaking her head she looks back to Preston and looks him over, watching as he plays with balls of light and frets her lip. "Yeah, sure. Why not." Reaching into a pocket, she unlocks the door and gestures to his things. "Might want to take all that with you. If you're attached to them that is."
The footsteps above grow louder and it sounds like a heard of elephants are dancing above.
--
Suddenly being told to gather his things gives Preston pause, but he does. The colored lights disappear, and he pulls the backpack on over his finely-tailored clothing after stuffing a few items back inside. The ones he used to clean up, in fact. He waits until she's unlocked the door to murmur, "I take it our journey is going fantastically well then? Smooth sailing? No sudden storms? I must say it's looking cloudy with a chance of violence, simply by your face alone..."
He has a feeling he is going to have to choose a side, and fast. Fortunately that's not a hard choice. There's an implicit bargain being offered here, as she lets him out of the cell.
--
"I simply don't want you to return to your room to find everything stolen." Desdemona says sweetly, but it's true, she is distracted. She watches the ceiling as the footsteps move over them, and the sound of shouting reaches to the deck below. "Say there was a chance of violence on the horizon, can you hold your own?" The question is genuine this time, lacking the bravado she had only moments before.
Once he has his things she unsheaths her sword and walks down the hallway a few doors and slips inside long enough to grab a satchel of her own. It seems she's noticed the bargain already, but doesn't wan to to agree until she knows what she's working with. She pauses at the base of the stairs and turns to him to wait for his answer.
--
By way of answer, Preston Bayweather loops his hands in an elaborate gesture, adopts a look of concentration, and mutters a series of flowing arcane syllables.
His hands turn to stone. But he flexes the fingers, forming fists. "I've been known," he says dryly, "to have umbrellas up my sleeves at the exact moments umbrellas are needful. Lead the way, Desdemona. I don't fancy finding myself at the mercy of less accomodating captors." If they'll mutany, they might doublecross his parents and demand a ransom in exchange for not selling him off to slavers or some such, and that sounds like a bad day to the wizard. Just a bad day all around.
The enemy of mine enemy, ecetera.
--
Desdemona quirks a brow as his fists get extra fiesty and nods her head. "That will do nicely." Adjusting her grip on the sword and reaching for a near by buckler she readies herself. "Look. I can't promise your safety, but this isn't your fight and it's not fair for you to be pulled into it. Once we get up these staris we need to head to the complete other end of the ship and I'll get you on one of the gliders. This will likely have to be your stop so hopefully that fulfills the bargain that was made with whomever wanted you kidnapped." With that, she dashes up the stairs, sword first.
The top deck of the airship is compelte chaos. It's obvious that not everyone's idea, and they're likely to get into a stalemate before anything would be decided. It's hard to tell who side is on whose, but Desi doesn't much seem to care. She doesn't attack anyone outright, but defends herself when she needs to. Right now she's facing off against a human man, quickly dodging his attacks but it's obvious that she's not trying to kill the man. The halfing spots Preston and runs forward, brandishing a pair of daggers.
Enough blood will be spilled today as it is.
--
Preston is on the same page. Attack nobody, defend self.
He side steps the halfling and lashes out with an extra feisty fist, trying to just clock the guy into unconsciousness. It's bedlam, and he supposes there will be so many people dead by the end of it all that there might not be much of a crew to take control of. Foolishness, sheer foolishness, but also a whole lot of not his business.
On the matter of fulfilling bargains? "I won't tell mother if you don't," he says dryly. But that really is all the banter either one of them has time for, isn't it?
--
There is something about those fiesty fists that that the halfling is weak against. He goes flying back a few feet and looks very dazed and drops his daggers. It seems he is no match for the fiest! A few other people give Preston pause before they try to engage him. Desdemona bashes the man with her shield, getting enough of an opening to hit him with the hilt of her sword dazing him as well.
"Come on!" She yells out to Preston, dashing to the other end of the ship where the life boats are. It seems they have choices and she frowns before she grabs something that looks like a hang glider. "So." She says, flicking the thing open and hopping up on the railing. "I really hope you're not afraid of hights."
The device has a place for two people to stand and just enough room to store their items.
--
"Less afraid than you might think, my lady, though if this thing fails know I've but one more spell I can cast to help before I am speant."
Still, he stows his stuff, gets into place, and nods to her to get them out of there. "I like my chances of surviving this more than I like my chances of surviving yon madness, at any rate. Besides. Can't fault the company." He tosses her a wink. If she observed him terribly long in the bar she might have noted he flirts as a matter of course with both men and women, and doesn't particularly seem to expect or even necessarily want anything back from them. He just enjoys making people smile, and there's something of that easygoing manner about him right now.
Even in the midst of a crisis, it seems.
--
"Well I have absolutely none, so if you have someone you pray to, now is probably the time." Desdemona says as she gets her things situated. She gives one last look over the deck, at the people she's been working with for years and how easily it all just falls apart. Turning toward him, she returns a sly smile before she gets herself situated on the glider. "No, you can't fault this company, it's the best company after all." She did note his general flirtatious nature, it made getting him on this ship easier.
"Let's worry about landing in one piece first. Ready?" She doesn't wait for an answer, she grips tightly to the device, and even wraps her free arm around Preston to secure him as welll and kicks off the side.
--
"As ready as I'll ever be," Preston says dryly, and he appreciates her help, because he has no clue how to ride one of these things.
Still, true to his word he doesn't scream or panic or anything like that. His hands return to just being hands, as he figures two stone weights can't help matters. And he peers down with some curiosity. He's never been this high before, and he's never seen anything like this. He chuckles softly to see the world below, then furrows his brow.
"I say, how are we going to find a safe place to land this thing?"
--
The wind rushes around them as they plunge down toward the ground. While Preston doesn't scream, Desdemona lets out a whoop of excitement. She may be an adreniline junky, if that wasn't obvoius by now. They quickly glide down, getting further and further away from the ship and the mutiny behind them. It's a little difficult to stear this the thing, but Des does her best, trying to aim away from a forest, a large body of water, but at is it, it looks like they're going to land in some marshland. Frowning she starts to aim for dry land.
"Remember when I said pray? I was hoping you had some favor with some god some where? I should probably stop banking on my assumptions." She says rapidly as she frowns. "Lean to the left, maybe we can avoid that huge wet land?"
--
Preston leans to the left, and shrugs with a slight smile. "I fear I am a man of letters, my lady, not a man of faith, in particular. Though I pay some homage to Eluna, tis mostly on the major holidays."
Despite his prissy clothing the fact that they might land in a bog doesn't seem to phase him in particular. It is what it is. He's taking this entire day in stride, honestly. What else can he do?
He smirks and says, "Perhaps next time you shall have the foresight to kidnap a cleric, hmmm?"
--
As they get closer to the ground, they snag a tree which sets them off course and is probably going to leave a few marks on their legs. The good news, they're headed toward dry land. The bad news? The glider tears and is making it harder to steer. "I'll keep that in mind the next time someone asks me to kidnap someone." She says through clenched teeth.
The landing doesn't go smoothly, Des loses her balance and falls when their close to the ground, knocking the wind out of her while stars dance over her eyes. Preston might be able to save the landing on his own, but with out Des' weight, the glider is getting a little wobbly.
--
Preston can do nothing of the sort, and finally his unruffled facade is utterly disturbed. He lands in a pained heap with a good bit of the glider on top of him. He groans, that hurt, and he just lays there for a moment. It's been quite an eventful day, and the fact that they've landed in wilderness doesn't seem primed to make it any less eventful. There's a reason he didn't waste his spell on Feather Fall. Not as close to the ground as they were.
Having one's teeth rattled hurts. Getting bruised all over hurts. But being unable to defend oneself at need? That hurts worse, and he's very conscious of that as he tries to disentangle himself from the lifeboat. "Or perhaps I should go to services more often," he says ruefully.
--
Once Desdemona finds air again, and takes a quick mental check over her body she groans. Nothing is broken, but everything is going to be sore later. Sitting up with a wince she checks on the pile that once was Preston and gets to her feet. "Yep, top of my list. Start gaining the favor of a god. Though the fact that we managed to live through that, maybe that is the favor." She says casually as she leans down to offer her hand to him.
"I don't think we're far from a city, I was trying to aim at Alexandria, but we were at the mercy of the wind. So, I know you're probably in pain, and still disoriented from the herbs I fed you but unless you want to be something's food, we should move."
--
He takes the hand and shakes off the rest of the glider, then retrieves his things. "Not really in my top ten list of things I'd like to accomplish, no," he replies. He rubs a hand over his face. He is a little disoriented from the herbs, and spellcasting and crashing did not help that. All the same, he is committed to maintaining a stiff upper lip. He brushes off his clothes as best as he can before he abandons this as a futile exercise. Then settles in to walk beside her.
"So," he says. "I take it you had no burning loyalty to anyone on board that vessel, then?"
--
Desdemona gathers her things as well and laments the death of a glider but they shouldn't linger here much longer. It's been a trying day, while this job with Preston was supposed to be an easy one, she never expected there to be an actual mutiny, she had herd whispers about it from the crew. Maybe she was too close to the captain, and that's why they didn't want to include her? She'll save that over thinking for later.
"Burning loyalty? Not really. Captain Stone was more than generous, but he was set in his ways. I didn't plan on staying on that ship for more than a decade anyway. After all, I want my own, it's just going to be harder because most of my stash was left behind." What she brought with her seems to be a go bag. Just the essencials that she needs to survive off of the ship. Thankfully a compass is in there and she pulls it out and directs them toward the city. "Still. He didn't deserve what's being done to him, so I intend of spreading the word of what they've done to the other Pira-- Legitimate Airship Merchants so they know what's been done. What about you? What are you going to do with your new found... freedom?"
--
"I'm bloody well going home," Preston says grimly. "Mother and Father are trying to keep me safe, and I'm glad they care, but if it's so bad they need to hire..."
Here he makes quotey fingers and drawls, "Legitimate Airship Merchants to slip mickies in my drink then they're going to need my help. I can't help from here. Don't worry, I'll be sure to let them know you performed your duties admirably and with all due diligence. I simply am not going to be put off so easily. I can't believe Mother thought I'd just sit in safety while they face whatever it is they're facing."
It's senseless. His parents are powerful enough to be high-ranking politicians in Rune. He isn't old enough to match the strength of anyone who might threaten them. But he thinks, somehow, he might make a difference. Either out of stubborn pride or loyalty, one or the other.
--
"Very Legitimate Airship Merchants." Desi adds as they continue to walk, with a smirk, but seeing that he's determined she tilts her head. "Honestly it's Stone's name on the contract, he just figured that I'd have an easier time getting you to agree to board the ship. I'm sure he has bigger concerns than if your parents are pleased with his services." She shrugs before they continue.
"Look, parents are complicated, I get that. They're sole purpose in life is to drive you absolultely insane but, sometimes, just sometimes, and I really mean sometimes, they get it right. Give it a few days huh? After all they've already paid for your ticket and there is no sense in wasting money on a good airship ride right?" Just... ignore that the landing was bad. "After a few days I'm sure they'll miss you and beg you to come home, and hopefully stop being so pig headed."
--
"Perhaps you are right. I am not even sure how much coin they left me with," Preston says ruefully. "I might not have enough to book passage, for example. Airship rides are expensive. What are you going to do yourself, then? Seek another ship? I suppose it might be a bit early for you to decide that, seeing as you've only known you needed to make a decision in this direction for all of ten minutes. If that."
He ambles along companionably enough, and when his foot hits a puddle that leaves his fine boots squelching he doens't complain. He grimaces a little, but he doesn't say anything about it.
-- "Exactly." Desdemona says, and while she was tempted, she didn't look into his coin purse, since it's rude to steal from someone you kidnapped. "I mean I'm sure you could go by foot, but that would likely take ages." She shrugs at his question and looks down at her sword. "Eventaully sure, but I need to get some coin first. I'll probably sell my services some where, I'm not bad with a sword after all. I'm sure there is a place for a Legitimate Airship Merchant some where in that giant town."
Des side-eyes him as he steps in the puddle and she commends him for not getting upset over it. "I'm sure you'd be able to find work as well. I saw some sort of wizardy kit in your stuff, so maybe you can make things and sell them off?" Is she suggesting he get a JOB?!
--
"Mmm, yes. Alchemy can be rather lucrative," Preston agrees thoughtfully. "To say nothing of other things that might be available. To be honest, I'm a little daunted all the same. I've lived, as I'm sure you can see, a rather sheltered existence. I've never been let loose on the whole of a city before. What if I cannot get back? What if I cannot make it?"
He shakes his head suddenly, and flashes her a quick smile. "Neither of which is your problem! I imagine someone will want some acid or some such, anyway. I can make quite a few little items that might be worthwhile. Someone will buy them I'm sure. Lots of customers in the city."
He rubs the back of his neck though, exhaling. This morning he had his life all figured out.
This afternoon?
Not so much.
--
They both had their lives planned out this morning, being shipless was definatly not on Desi's list of things to do.
"That was painfully obvious when we met. You just need to get into survival mode and before you know it you'll have it all figured out. Take care of your needs first. Shelter and Food are on the top of the list, then worry about how you're going to pay for all of it. Besides, you've got a nice face and you're quick with your tongue I am sure you'll have half the city charmed by the time you've had breakfast." She pauses for a second and looks at him again. "Or at least a barmaid."
"No, it's not my problem in the least bit, but I'm not going to leave you completely high and dry. After all, those fists might come in handy one day." She pauses before she looks at him. "See what I did there? Handy Fists?" She can't help but laugh at her own joke.
--
Preston smirks and waggles his eyebrows. "My dear Desdemona. Are you suggesting I go and find myself a sugar mother?"
His shoulders shake at the thought. He probably will not do that, but it's still amusing, anyway.
He smirks and says, "I'll have you know it is not okay to explain your puns. There are criminal acts, my dear Desdemona, and then there are flat out atrocities. Your pun managed to be one, and the explanation managed to cross the line right to the other. Still, I appreciate the sentiment."
He looks down ruefully at the places they're walking, and adds, "Even if 'low' and 'wet' are the more immediate concerns for the both of us at the moment."
--
"What you do with and whom behind closed doors is your business your Grace." Desdemona replies keeping her hands up in the air as she tilts her head. "It's definatly okay to explain my puns, I need to make sure that the full cringe felt down to your very core. Puns should always be held in the highest reverence. Besides, there are a lot of criminal things about me, but puns are not one of them." Though she has to say she is enjoying the banter as they walk.
The city starts to pop up on the horizon and despite their banter, and general noise making they appear to survive not getting eaten by large evil monsters. "You can dry wet, that's what fires are for. Would you feel better if I lit a torch to keep you warm?"
--
Preston shakes his head. "No, thank you, fires might draw nasties, and I've already done my dancing for the day."
He gazes at the unfamiliar city on the horizon, happy enough, for the moment, just to see some signs of civilization. Now he does poke at his purse, just to get a sense of where he stands. "Well, tonight, at least, I shan't starve nor sleep rough. I fully intend to book a room at the first inn that does not look either too filthy or too dangerous. Perhaps we should stay in touch, whilst we are both here. We are both strangers in a strange land, after all."
--
"Well let's find you an inn so you can dry off." Desi doesn't want to tease the man too much, he's had his world fliped over like a coin. "People are always looking for people to do things for them in a city. Honestly it shouldn't take long for you to find work." When he hears that he wants to keep in touch she raises a brow, but shrugs. "Why not. There is worse company I can keep after all. Who knows, you might need my sword one day, after you've settled in with your sugar momma that is."