Private Street Smarts

[Marseille Rommer]

Tags: | Zain Afir |

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The sound of laughter was always a beautiful sound, especially when the sound bubbled from the happy vocals of children. It was loud, and unapologetic, and contagious in the best possible way. The giggles and boisterous sounds carried on the air, filling the area and earning smiles from those around and those even passing through. It was just a simple little square near some market stalls, but it set the perfect stage for playful and outrageous stories that were clearly far more entertaining than the storyteller had dared to anticipate. Silly her, to assume it would not be well received.

"Apparently, the misfortunes of the poor little Jawa were the perfect story for today, hm?" Marseille's smiled reached straight into her tone. The amusement of this small group of children around her had soaked right through her skin, and she was not immune to the affects. Contagious, deadly so. Her expression was just as bright as her tone, and for just a short while longer she continued to spin this tale for these laughing and giggling little faces, but eventually the tale had to end. It was of course finished with a flourish that ended with applause and cheers before the little scamps dispersed away from Mar.

For a time she watched after them, allowing the amusement to linger for just a time longer before she got to her feet and casually dusted herself off. She then looked around the square, taking in those who were still mulling about before she too picked a direction to wander in. How long had it been since she had browsed wares in the stalls? Curiosity pulled her towards the venders, and while she was of course conscious of those moving around her, there was no need or feeling for her to protect herself. It had never felt that way for Marseille, in all of the years she had been coming here with and without permission. This time she hadn't brought treats for the kids, nothing more than the story she had told, but now that, that was all done and over with?

A soft noise sounded in her throat when she found something that caught her interest. A pair of what looked like handcrafted earrings drew her to a halt and caused her to turn in favor of the stall. She eyed first the earrings, then the rest of the pieces on display. It wasn't uncommon for her to curiously observe things she came across, but this? Well...the earrings were most certainly going to go home with her.

If she didn't find something else she wanted more - or distractions didn't pick up. Which seemed unlikely considering the little face she spotted peeking around the corner at her. Marseille glanced that way, grinned at the giggles that followed, and then she moved away from the stall to pursue the child. Clearly a game of hide and seek was now afoot.

 

[Zain Afir]

TAG: Marseille Rommer

Screaming followed Zain out the door as he fled from the tailor shop with some prize silks and took off in the direction of the marketplace to blend in with the crowd. These silks would fetch him a nice credit. As he ran, he stuffed them into his rag-tag pack on his shoulder. He'd find the right fence once the heat died down.

He ducked down behind a stall in the market to stay out of sight of the Aran'kha who would probably on the lookout by now. Hopefully they'll be heading in the opposite direction.

It didn't take too long for the proverbial coast to be clear. Zain slumped against the stall, letting out a sigh of relief. As he was leaning back against the wood, he heard some giggling. As he looked around the stall to find the source of laughter, a kid collided with him, their heads knocking against each other and landing the kid on his behind.
"Oof!" Zain groaned, holding his head before looking at the kid. "You all right there?" he asked him.

He moved to check on the kid, but as he did so, he looked up at the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. It was clear she wasn't from the lower town. She looked too classy for that.

 

[Marseille Rommer]

L U R K I N G​

Tags: | Zain Afir |


The chase was on, and Marseille was more than happy to oblige. There were giggles and more laughter from every which direction, which made picking one and giving chase to a particular child hard considering this. Once in a while she would catch sight of movement, small movement - she wasn't chasing everything that shifted or strolled by after all. No, but little bodies that bellowed with laughter when they would run from her, those were prime targets.

And one such small figure had spotted her, gasped, and then took off with more giggles just as the others had been doing. This child was smaller, so of course Mar didn't rush to catch him but instead kept him in her sights and followed suit. "I see you~" she called after the boy, her tone playful and sing-songish.

That is until the laughter died out with a startled and painful noise in its place. That caused Marseille to pick up her pace and close the distance between where she had been and this stall the boy had been trying to hide behind. "What happened?" she didn't really need a verbal answer to this question. One look and she could see; there had been a literal head on collision right here in the marketplace.

A soft, sympathetic sound escaped the woman and she knelt down so that she could help right the boy and assess his head injuries. "Well, you're going to have an impressive knot, but I don't think we'll have to take you in for surgery." she smiled and lift her hands to thumb the boy's cheeks free of tears. "And what of the assailant?" she was teasing of course, but her gaze shifted to the man the child had run into. "Are you in need of...medical..." the words died in her throat, though her lips were still parted just slightly.

This was easily the most attractive man she had ever seen, and yet here she was making a fool of herself. Loss of words, staring at him - though in her defense he was staring right back. The child remained between them, but not in a hindering the view sort of way. Mar knew she should have gotten up, should have smiled pleasantly and walked away. But she didn't, she stayed crouched right where she was, unmoving and tongue tied.

What had she been saying? She really couldn't remember now...

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[Zain Afir]

TAG: Marseille Rommer

Just wow.

It was like time was standing still, the kid almost forgotten between them.
"Uh...." he said brilliantly. Wow, Zain. How articulate.

He cleared his throat and opened his mouth to try again, but a commotion in the square caught his attention. The tailor had gotten hold of the Aran'kha and they were wading through the stalls, looking for him.
"Oh jeez!" He scrambled to his feet, ruffling the kid's hair as he did so. He quickly scanned the area for the quickest way out. The closest exit was the road to the Kemotat. That way would be crawling with guards as well.

Kark.

He looked down at the beauty that was still kneeling next to the kid. He'd have loved to actually hear her name, but duty called.
"See you 'round, gorgeous!" he said with a two-finger salute and a charming smirk before making a beeline in the direction of another exit.

His beeline was short lived however, as a Guard crossed his path and caught sight of him. Zain skidded to a stop and started backtracking straight into a Guard that had moved up behind him. Oh yeah, he was going to get it now. Great...just great.

 

[Marseille Rommer]

C U R I O U S​

Tag: | Zain Afir |


The most bizarre things always seemed to occur for Marseille without her even trying. Never anything dire or dangerous - thus far - but there was never a dull moment when she would slip from home and make the rounds along the streets. But this, this particular occurance caught her entirely off guard.

Never before had Mar come across another person who had taken the breath from her lungs or the words from her throat, much less both at the same time. But here she was, still stunned into silence all due to some face. A face that she didn't recognize, could not pull from memory at all, not even in passing! Not that she knew every face around of course, but...this was ridiculous. A noise finally vibrated up Mar's throat and she made herself turn her head to look away. It was a brief movement, but it was enough to jumpstart her brain again.

Though not a moment later this stare-worthy man was up on his feet and taking off. This caused Mar to at first stare after him, and then look to the child remaining with her. "Do you see what you just let happen?" she teased the child gently, then got to her feet due to the predicament at hand. While she had no idea what was going on, the fact that the Aran'kha were involved did not bode well for this stranger who had distracted her so very thoroughly. And so she followed, without hesitation, and even without dusting herself off.

It didn't take long for her to track this stranger and the guards down - pinned in an alley, classic. Unfortunate, but classic. "There you are." she huffed out, knowing it would draw the attention of the guards and recognition would be in her favor. "Did you find the things I had asked for?" Naturally she had no idea what it was he had, or even why he was being pursued, and she could only assume it was due to sticky hands. "While chasing children around the square to kill time is all well and good, I have to say that chasing you about to confirm simple tasks is rather frustrating."

Marseille didn't even know this stranger's name, but whatever was going on right now? She had every intention of getting him out of it one way or another.

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[Zain Afir]

TAG: Marseille Rommer

Yeahp. He was in for it now.

The Guard he had backed into, had grabbed him and was holding Zain's arms behind his back in a tourniquet-like hold. The other was all up in his face about thieving.
"Where are they?" he demanded. Only then did Zain realise he didn't have his pack with him.

This can work to his advantage!

He posed his most innocent face.
"Where is who?" he asked with big eyes. "I have no idea who you are talking about?"
The Aran'kha narrowed his eyes at Zain and leaned in menacingly.
"Woah! What I do?" he exclaimed. Keep playing, Zain.
In answer, he got a fist in the gut.

He was still coughing for air, when he heard her speak. How embarrassing. But it seemed she was coming to his rescue. He couldn't decide if that was good or bad, but oh well.
"My Lady! I was about to bring it, when these ruffians stopped me. I do apologise for the delay. Please forgive me." he pleaded to her, but his dark eyes held a mischievous sparkle.

Zain glanced at the Guard behind him.
"You gonna let go, big guy? I have a job to do for my Lady or my arse is going to get fired." he asked him.

 

[Marseille Rommer]

C U N N I N G​

Tag: | Zain Afir |


The had been clear confusion on the guards' faces when they had turned about and found the lady Marseille to be the one addressing them - or rather, this ruffian within their custody. There had been stammering, a confused exchange of looks, the works, and the entire time Mar had stood at the mouth of the alley, one brow lofted, posture teetering close to haughty as she waited for reaction. And sure enough, the guards released the man, grumbling as they did so.

"You're lucky, street rat." one of them growled out, just loud enough for Zain to hear, and certainly not with his face towards Marseille for her to pick up on the underlying threat. Despite this, they backed away, keeping an eye on the pair before disappearing around the other end of the alley.

Only then did Marseille sigh and make her approach towards this stranger. "Are you alright?" she questioned, frowning in concern now that there was no need to keep up airs. She didn't care what he had done to earn the ire of the guards, it was none of her business - though admittedly it should have been, and it should have of course ward her away from this man. But it didn't. If anything, it lured her in all the more.

"I apologize on their behalf, though I can't imagine that it means very much coming from me." She wasn't captain of the guard, or her older brother after all. She had never witnessed the guards roughing up a person in public - for obvious reasons - and while she was certain she wouldn't have liked to see it happen to anyone, for some reason it bothered her much more than expected with this stranger.

How very odd.

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[Zain Afir]

TAG: Marseille Rommer

It was quite funny.

Zain was still gasping for air from being hit in the gut, but he could almost hear the internal retorts of the Guards when they were told to let him go. But they dared not voice them allowed. Clearly, this lady was someone important and they were obliged to listen.

Zain did catch the threat the Guard gave him as he was released, however. He flashed both Guards a grin at this and gave a two finger salute as they reluctantly disappeared around a corner.

He was quite surprised, however, when she approached him full of concern. It was quite touching. Looking into her honey-coloured eyes he temporarily forgot the witty remark he was going to give. But he recovered quick enough.
"Weeds don't die that easy, Sweetheart." he quipped with a grin.

She went on to apologise, which made him frown.
"Why do you apologise? You weren't the one to rough me up. 'Sides, I deserved it." he then laughed. "Thank you, by the way." he added. "Uhm....I'm Zain. Nice to meet you." he said bashfully, his hand going to the back of his head.

He then remembered his pack full of expensive silks. "Jeez, I dropped my pack somewhere!" he exclaimed. He looked back at her. "You haven't seen it by any chance?" he asked.