+1

“I-is there….anything I can do for you? I apologize in a-advance though, I am only skilled in the medical field. P-problems regarding anything else are…not my f-forte.” 

@fate-of-the-doomed

“Yeah... I had thought I had heard somewhere... that you were a medical professional of some sort...” Cassim responds, smiling, his breathes even. Which is surprising... given why exactly he had sought her out. He’d had tried to find her, based on that fact that he couldn’t really go to a hospital right now, he had no insurance of any kind... And? Because he was actually injured fairly severely underneath his winter coat. “You know, though the grape vine?”

He was trying to be... well, mostly friendly. He needed her help, given the circumstances. One? He couldn’t go to a hospital. Two? He couldn’t go home. Three? This couldn’t get out that this happened... or it would look bad on him.

“Unfortunately... I do s-sorta need a favor. Willing to hear me out?”

⛥ fate-of-the-doomed ⛥

“You wish to know my name, mortal? Do you…Cassim, think yourself worthy of my name?” he asked, taking the opportunity to look at the name holder the man had pointed out. 

When the man asked him what the Heavenly Kings were, he laughed at this, Cassim’s stupidity. “The Heavenly Gods…or as you might know them, the four dark devas of Destruction…are my eyes and ears when I need them to be, my alleys of destiny when facing my greatest foes…they are the ones who will decide what date this Earth has…Fuhahaha!”

As he continued to laugh, the four dark devas of destruction moved out of his scarf and took their preferred places on his shoulder…except Jum-P who preferred to sleep on his arm. “Now then, Mortal! Address your heavenly kings in the way they deserve!” he ordered the stranger, before continuing to laugh in his dark manner.

“Yeah. I do. Or I wouldn’t have asked.” There was a simplicity to this response that almost had Cassim biting back a laugh. But? He left it to a slight smile, instead. It addressed his amusement, without an outward response that could provoke the already… strange individual that he was talking to. “Unless you prefer I just keep calling you “guy?” In which case, be my guest, and don’t give me something to call ya. I’ll make it work.”

Though, he did find it funny, how robust the other had been about saying his name. He had an enthusiasm about him that was almost… infectious? The dreadlocked youth had worked in retail for a little while now, not long, but? It had already left him feeling a little soulless and dead on the inside. He frequently found himself giving lack-luster responses, even when he was at home. This guy? He had a whole level of enthusiasm that was- well frankly? Out of this world.

It was amusing. And it was interesting.

But it definitely wasn’t how he thought he’d be spending his lunch break.

“Wow.” Cassim responses, raising an eyebrow as his taps his cigarette. Allowing the ashes to fall off the end, before slipping the stick back between his lips. That did sound impressive. Though, it didn’t matter which title the other used for them. The Heavenly Gods? The Four Dark Devas of Destruction? No. Cassim had most certainly never heard of ether of those two things before. Nor had he ever heard any real life human use a laugh like “fuhaha” but… apparently, today was the day for firsts. “They sound pretty impressive. I gotta admit.”

And the golden-eyed youth was impressed. Until he actually saw them.

The moment it took his brain to register what exactly was going on, and who exactly the small balls of fuzz where… was only a moment. His brain, in rapid thought, had gone from: Wait, what’s moving in his clothes? Hamsters? Wait, why is he carrying hamsters on him? W- And then it clicked. These little guys… where the “Heavenly Gods” he’d just been talking about?

Nope. This time he laughed. It was a “pfft” of a laugh, but? He couldn’t help it. It slipped between his lips, and? Actually caused him to lose his cigarette. It took but a second for him to stomp out the cigarette, before stooping down to pick it up, so that he could throw it away. But? Despite that? Cassim, instead of turning around and heading back into the store, to avoid this weirdo who he’d been talking to… Went right back to the scarf-wearing man. He was interesting. Weird. But interesting. Despite sounding like the crazy one, because he was laughing as though this was common knowledge… Laughing like a Disney villain, who just caught the hero in one of his traps. All about some hamsters he had on himself, that apparently, were supposed to be some sort of divinity.

“The Four Dark Devas of Destruction, neh?” Cassim says, finally, looking at them individually. Well, for hamsters, they certainly had a lot of personality. But? That didn’t mean that the dreadlocked youth knew exactly what the other meant by “address them the way they deserve.” Was he supposed to bow? Say it specifically? Eh, whatever. “Sup.”

⛥ fate-of-the-doomed ⛥

Guy…who called a god such a thing? Next he would demote him to the title of ‘dude’…He watched as the guy took out a cigarette while speaking to him. So he wished to know more of him? Hmph, he couldn’t say he was surprised by the fact. “I shall humor you for now…however, shall you fail to entertain me, I will end your earthly, and astral being” he warned the man as he crossed his arms, getting ready for a heap of stupidity.

The mortal didn’t miss a single moment to prove him right, as the very first questions dripped of imbecility, along with the tone jest he hated so much, that made him unsure whether they were serious or not when speaking to him. “You should know that while I may be patient, the heavenly kings I bare with me are not…and I can hear them whisper plans of your demise” he threatened the man with a smirk on his lips.

Seriously? What century was this guy from… He dressed in modern attire, but was quick to say thing like- Well, like that! It didn’t make any sense to Cassim, who, to be fair, had seen his fair share of weirdos since beginning his job. With that, he shifts his weight a little, learning against the building as he smokes. “Alright, sounds fair enough.” He says, agreeing as he removes the lit cigarette from his lips for a moment… “However, I feel this exchange might go a little smoother if I start with this, then: What can I call you? I’d give you my name… but it’s plastered on my nametag, and I feel like an introduction would be redundant.” It was true. His nametag was still within plain view, the word: “CASSIM” written in bold, flashy, annoying letters.

However, the conversation, as short as it had been so far, already had the dreadlocked boy lost. Wait, what? The Heavenly Kings? “Alright, alright… then how ‘bout I ask you who exactly these ‘heavenly kings,’ are? If they’re not the patient sort, I should know how to properly address then, right?” He asks, his golden eyes glinting with amusement as he leans against the building still. His eyes were amused, but they were serious…

Just… who the hell was this guy? It was interesting. He had never seen him in the store before, and he had never run into him like this before. Hell! He’d never even seen him passing this building before. It seriously was a strange act of fate- Or maybe divinity, with how this guy talked- that had the two strangers meet here today. It wasn’t bad. It was interesting.

… you know, despite the fact that he kept threatening his life.

“I’d hate to provoke them by not knowing how someone, such as myself, should refer to them or speak about them, y’know?” It was impossible to know whether his tone was sarcastic or true, but? That was because he was pretty used to using “service mode” voice right now… and was currently half-way between that and his average voice. It was something of a poker-face that he had right now, but? At the very least, he did seem sincere in his question: He did want to know what they were, and how to talk about them. And he wanted to know who exactly this guy was.

⛥ fate-of-the-doomed ⛥

“I do not appreciate the shadow of a stranger coming to see me…but I shall listen to your inquiry…Though let it be known though that I shall cast you into a watery grave once you do”

Was this guy for real? Cassim couldn’t help but think that, as he looked at the... well, obviously unique fellow whom was standing in front of him now. He’d happened across him entirely by chance. Simply having come out of his job for a smoke, when he most have crossed the scared fellows path... But?

Just who the hell was this guy, that he talked that way?

“Well, guy,” Cassim starts simply, pulling a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and tapping it lightly until one slid from the box into his waiting hand. “I can’t say I meant to approach you with an inquiry... but now I do, definitely, have a few. So, if you don’t mind waiting to “cast me into a watery grave,” do ya think you can spare a moment for a few questions?”

With that, he laughs a little, before sliding the box out of view again. Putting the unlit cigarette to his lips, and smiling at the other some. A crooked, amused, smile. His golden eyes shimmering in the half light, as he finally works to light it... Well: he certainly hadn’t expected to meet anyone this... interesting, today. But sure. He could spend his break talking with him. “Or is that question the only one you’ll allow me? Because I’d like to finish my cigarette before being drowned, if you wouldn’t mind.” Plus, a few weeks of working retail? And he already didn’t really mind the idea of being drowned or... “cast into a watery grave,” or whatever.

Golden eyes widened once her arms were held like that - she hated it. She hated it if anyone touched her like that and it was his luck that she trusted him and that she didn’t try to call for Amon. Fine, she probably did go too far, but weren’t they all like that? 

Weren’t they cheeky slum brats who took all fun a bit too far and played around with real knives instead of wooden ones? “Alright! I’m sorry… I didn’t know you’d react that harsh.” She mumbled before starting to move, trying to free herself from his grip. “Now let me go.”

Huffing a little that she was scolded like that, the young girl avoided his gaze before blushing herself. “N–No not really! I’m not interested in that sort of stuff.” She couldn’t be, right? While most girls from the slums were daring, worked as harlots or just knew how to handle men, she had to be a bit more careful. As a princess her reputation was somewhat build on how ‘pure’ she appeared to others.

           “I told you from the start that it was just a dare! So stop it… I’m              your friend not a streetgirl you can play with, you know?”

Cassim frowns at the other harshly, holding her up still, making sure she was uncomfortable. She was a dear friend of his, yes. She was like a sister to him, yes. She meant… the world to him. But that didn’t mean that he wasn’t willing to make her life hell, too.

They were family. They were friends. They were brats. And half the time? That meant that they acted like they hated one another. And? Right now? Was one of those moments were the golden-eyed slums-born was willing to be a hellion. An imp. A devil. Alibaba had poked him in just the wrong way, on just the wrong day, and now? He was not going to just let this slide. “… you’re sorry? Really? You certainly didn’t seem sorry a moment ago.” His voice was harsh, cold, and quiet. His golden eyes without shine.

The moment she begun struggling in his grip, he lifted her even higher. Just by a little bit. Just enough to make her strain to stand on the ground. He was strong. He wouldn’t be able to keep this up long, no. He was far too malnourished to actually maintain all the muscles that would require. But? He could do this long enough to make his point.

“So… a dare makes it all alright, then?” He asks, his eyes emotionless still. His grip tightening around her wrists again for a moment, before releasing them suddenly, bringing his arms back to his side. “What if the dare had been something else? Say, for instance, someone dared you to stab me? Or, what if, I had been dared to treat you like some streetgirl, as you put it? Would that make it alright? Because it was a dare?”

It was simply a kiss.

He knew he was making a big deal about it. But? He couldn’t help it. He was upset. He was emotional. And? More than anything, it simply made him bitter, because it was the first time he’d kissed someone that actually meant anything to him. And? It’d been on a dare… and she’d made fun of him because of it.

He’d kissed people. He’d done much more than that. But? Alibaba meant more to him than those people. She was a dear friend, a dear member of the family, and? Because of that, this all bothered him more than it should. Because he’d been genuinely flustered… and that made him uncomfortable. As it meant there was a part of him that he still didn’t have entirely under control. He was a leader, and he had done a lot of uncomfortable things in his time, but? What frustrated him more than anything else… was the fact that he still didn’t have his emotions under his complete control. And that Alibaba had that much sway over him still.

blurs the darkness

公主; He could have been leading her to a place where she could get jumped if that was indeed something he wished to see. She knew he could but she could always escape. Unless someone form that rough group reared their head. Let them, she decided. If someone was foolish enough to attack her she’d apprehend them.

    Or perhaps she’d further her investigation. 

    Báiyīng would be shed when she finally managed to show her true face in Balbaad. What she had seen even in her brief time in the slums she disliked. Not that it was their fault, rumors of the tyrannical inheritors of the throne ran rampant. They were easy enough to coerce and subdue. She disliked the idea of slavery. All the women of the Kouga tribe had almost been gathered up and sold like cattle if not for the intervention of Dorji and his friends. Hakuei was to be a brood mare some day and she understood the plight. 

    People weren’t things.

    As he began to turn away from her and she caught the sway of his dreadlocks she pondered if anyone knew. No of course they didn’t. Even if they did where would they go? Hakuei held her tongue and her plain shoes hit the ground noiselessly. As she caught up to his side she kept to his right just a pace or so behind even though he rightfully belonged there. 

    Her time on the plains altered her. She’d been pampered a great portion of her life save for when she finally joined the army. Which only occurred because she proved her worth. The people here were worth fighting for, even if they seemed broken. Hakuei’s clear eyes shifted to her side as she kept close to Cassim. 

    “If I wasn’t paying enough attention to follow you, I wouldn’t deserve a tour,” she countered and kept close. “Lady said that this place would be different from the plains,” the air there had been crisp. Even in the capital city it seemed impure. Her arms crossed. “Didn’t realize how different,” she fought to keep her speech from being impeccable. 

The tanned youth allowed his golden eyes to cast off to the side, looking towards to the woman following beside him. She still… made him curious. Porcelain skin, brilliant midnight hair, shiny and well taken care off… Her outfit didn’t suit her.

At this moment: Her outfit matched the lot of them here in the slums. It was general cloth, simple and scratchy, her shoes were simple and inexpensive. She looked like the strangest mix-match of belonging… and being an entire stranger. Wherever she and her lady came from? If they were truly interested in moving into this part of the town? They ether got kicked from whatever area they came from… or didn’t know the entirety of what they were going to become a part of.

The slums were no place for someone to move to. If you were brought there, if you were kicked out of Balbadd, you belonged here. If you moved from out of town? Then you were mistaken to think that this place was where you belonged.

But? That was alright.

She, Báiyīng, would learn fast enough about this place from their tour. He would make sure she wasn’t attacked: She was new blood after all, and? If this truly was where she was going to be moving into? Then perhaps she really did need to get the lay of the land. At the very least, she held the dreadlocked youths attention for now. She was interesting. Different. Foreign. Perhaps she had a point-of-view that would come in handy for him and the others of the “Fog Troupe.”

“You make a good point.” He snickers out, his golden eyes shining mischievously. If she hadn’t noticed him walking? He would have kept going, and then? Come what may. If she had been attacked in the slums, stolen from, or worse? Then whatever happened to her would happen, and Cassim really wouldn’t have cared less. He was a slums-born youth with no hopes of going anywhere in life, not by his blood… but by his ambition. If she got lost, and got hurt? He’d had already done more for her then he’d done for others, and? Well, he wasn’t about to feel guilty for something so foolish. He had other things he was working on. “… though, out of curiosity, do you know why your ‘lady’ chose the slums of Balbadd to move to? Or was she just hoping for something different?”

So far, his traveling companion only spoke little of this “lady” of hers. Maybe it was out of respect? Or maybe it was something else… however? He was curious to find out more about them, if they were brave or foolish enough to move into this part of town.

“Cold?” Cassim asks, as he continues to walk with her now. Leading her, first and foremost, to what worked as something of the tented area of the slums. This was where most of the residents of the slums lived. Near the main water cannel that worked its way through their territory. “Everything is a little closer over here, so the wind shouldn’t cut through as much. I’ll grab you a shawl from my tent when we make our way through…” Yeah, he had a tent. Yes, that made him look like he lived in this over-populated residential area of the slums. But? His main home was his base… this just made him look uninvolved with the Fog Troupe. A distraction tactic. If, you know, anyone in Balbadd actually could pinpoint who was involved in the first place. “This is where you’ll find most people live,” the golden eyed teen says, gesturing towards the tents, “though… at this part of the night, you’d probably find more of them in the taverns.”

At this time of the day? Most people were at the taverns. Spending what little money they had on alcohol to drink away their problems, the same way his father used to. Everyone else? Was resting, stealing, or looking for business. This was a busy time of the day, like he’d mentioned to her earlier... but? Most of the business of it all... would be hidden from most eyes.

imagine your icon as the protagonist of the last show you watched

If you need a laugh please look at the tags on this post

“Beeh!” Obviously showing her tongue was not the most mature answer she could give back to his words, but she didn’t mind. With a grin the blonde suddenly squeezed his cheeks and laughed.

           “Says the guy who acts oh so grown up but blushes like a girl               from a tiny kiss! And I always thought you had oh so much               experience!” 

When the other squeezes his cheeks, he responds quickly. His strong hands taking hold of her wrists now, uncomfortably tight, as he pulls them over the others head. Using his height to his advantage now, and making sure to pull her so that she would be standing on only the tips of her toes.

“Alibaba,” he starts coldly, as he stares her in the eyes. Taking his time to speak, to give her time to become uncomfortable with how her weight would have to be shifting to keep standing like that. “… I don’t take well to this sort of pestering.”

This was as simple a warning as he would give her. As simple of a “knock it off or face the consequences,” as he would ever state out loud.

Yes. It was true. He went easier on her then he normally would others. After all, the two of them grew up together. But? That was part of the reason he was so flustered. Alibaba was becoming more and more like her mother… and? Anise had always been someone he’d admired, trusted, and adored. (And maybe even had a crush on-) Regardless of the reason? Whether or not someone else had dared her to do this, or not? It was frustrating to be teased by someone he cared about… and who looked so much like someone else he cared about.

“And if you’re not careful,” he adds… his voice laced with frustration and almost an impish tone now… “I can make you blush far worse.” OH, on the list of who had more experience? He would definitely one-up the golden-haired princess. But? If she was going to tease him because of his earnest feelings? He was more than happy to play devil’s advocate… and show her the other end of the spectrum. “… want to see how?”

friend or foe ;; ( cas and ja’far )

☆→ Just what was this damn kid? Why was he still being so friendly? As if this damn country wasn’t weird enough, now this kid! Ja'far was just so off-put by it, even though he acted all nice and innocent. Really, it wasn’t that damn hard. Oh? You’re a kid? Kids are suppose to be ‘innocent’ and 'naive’. Kids are suppose to be 'angels’ to their parents. What. Utter. BULLSHIT!

Parents were nothing than good-for-nothing pieces of shit that only cared about themselves. Like, really? Really? Why on earth did you decide to have a child when you only— No. This wasn’t the sort of place for those kind of amalgamated  thoughts and impurities.

Staring down at his hand, a brow rose. None the less, he took it anyway, set to start his new 'life here’. Things might have to be delayed and such for the mission, but Ja'far was known to get it done and get it done fast. There was no time to really waste, but with an ever-changing landscape, who the fuck knew what were to happen for the course of the next few weeks. He knew she should of tried harder to get an extension. Oh, no, wait, he could. He was the leader! He could take all the fucking time he wanted! Still, what his previous leader embedded into his brain was speed. Speed was key in everything. How fast you managed to work out negotiations, to kills, to even simple chatter. It was a set palindrome of fate.

Ja'far nuzzled his face against the collar of his off covering. A small sigh left his lips, holding onto Cassim’s hand tighter. Green, bright hues scanned the area. There were so many tents up. With how he spoke of the area, he was certain that the rise of guards would be coming near. People looked too damn comfortable here. It was annoying, disgusting – he wanted to hurl. Looking back into hues that belonged to his 'host’, he merely flashed a small grin.

☆→ “Is that the case? I suppose I should stay near you for the time being. I rather not get even more lost and confused than I already am. How often to the raids happen?” He sounded upset at it. “From the looks of things, people are rather comfortable here…. It’s almost comforting.” Strange. However, he would keep this pathetic act up for as long as the gods fated it to be. Wait, there was no such thing as 'gods’. They were just merely things from stories.

When the other actually took his hand? Cassim gave it something of a reassuring squeeze.

He really was something of a leader here, amongst the kids. Why? Because he had the mindset of an adult and the smarts to pull off what most of them weren’t able to yet. He was a natural leader, he was clever, and? He was good at getting people to join their little “gang.” The golden eyed youth had the blood of a devil, but the heart of a lion, when it came to those within his own ranks. Those who were “like him,” or like any of them stuck here in this accursed, ever-changing, trash heap? They were the people he was willing to try for.

After all: This was where he belonged.

That much was obvious to him, based on who his father was, alone. A piece of crap man with an alcohol addiction and a short fuse. That man’s blood ran though his veins. So? He belonged here with the rest of the garbage. And? As long as you were one of them? Cassim would do his damnedest, even as small and as young as he is now, to protect even the tiniest member of their stupid little group.

“That’s fine. I don’t mind.” After all, he and Mariam had already decided they weren’t going to head back to their father tonight. So? If they didn’t see each other, that would be fine. He would probably be busy trying to help Ja’far set up something of a tent near Anise’s. “Us brats need to stick together, ya know?”

With that, he begins leading the other. Careful to hold onto the others hand, as he slips and slides through some of the tents, and leading him between some of the buildings. Some of the short cuts that he and the others of his little group tended to use- Especially if they had stolen something and needed to run away. Adults wouldn’t be able to fit through these areas, and that was exactly why it had become something of a path for Cassim and the others.

“The raids happen rarely. Mostly around festivals and big holidays… but you know they’re about to happen, when the city gets a lot of traffic.” It was around those times that such a large group of people living in the slums would give Balbadd a bad appearance. So? That was when they had to be scattered like rats, so that those visiting the city wouldn’t be forced to see them. Of course, around that time, they would also lock the main-gate. A “just-in-case” precaution to keep their dirt-poor away from those hoping to have a good time. “The patrol will probably be in about a week or so. They’re just starting to get ready for one of their bigger trade times, so… they’d definitely going to have a festival again.”

However, with that, he leads the other to the main channel of water. This was not too far from the giant pile of rubble the most of the kids played on… but? He figured this was an important stop.

“… neh.” With that, the dreadlocked youth releases the others hand, squeezing it once more first and foremost. Just trying to be friendly to the pale, freckled, newcomer. “That’s probably a good outlook to have, I guess.” With that, he turns to look at Ja’far again. “I wouldn’t call this place ‘comforting.’ It’s… rough. It’s painful. But? It’s home. And? If you have the right people? I guess it can be comfortable.”

The golden-eyed youth was different from most kids. He didn’t have big dreams, not yet, no. But? He, like most of the children in the slums, went through their fair deal of shit. And? It twisted around their innocence… He had no idea that the other had already noticed that he wasn’t very kid-like. In fact? Part of him didn’t even really notice it anymore. But? It was true that he and those he surrounded himself with… were very different from those innocent, naïve, children that most were used to.

“This is the main water channel.” He says, gesturing towards it now. “At least, the main one we can access. I figured… this was probably a good place to show you. After all: Most paths lead here… and you can usually find a way to disappear around here, if necessary.” He grins now. A trouble-maker, through and through. “You can pretty much spider-web to all the main areas in the slums from here. So? It’s where me and a lot of my friends try to meet up. In case we need to disappear quick, ya know?”

friend or foe ;; ( cas and ja’far )

ansatsukomon:

It wasn’t like the dreadlocked kid to respect age or really even acknowledge it. The other was a kid, like him. So? In his eyes, it mattered very little to him whether or not the kid was older then he was… As long as he was in the slums? Especially if he was alone here in the slums? It was better to at least, at the very least, have the backing of some of the other kids around here. The slums were dangerous. Especially to those who were alone.

“Ja’far, cool.” He says with a whistle, before laughing a little and offering out his hand. He didn’t care whether the other took it or not, but? He would at least offer it.

Ja’far was an interesting name. Not something he heard around these parts, before, at least. It sounded more like some of the travelers and caravans who came in here. “It’s good to find somewhere or someone to stick with, in these parts.” The tanned youth responds, a note of amusement in his tone. Why? Because of the others “whore” comment. After all: He spent about half of his life living with Anise, and she was a whore… and? That was probably the safest place here in the slums.

However? The others comment had him a little curious… did the other not know where he was?

“… this is the slums of the grand trading country of Balbadd. An ever-shifting piece of crap little part of the city that’s only purpose is keeping us,” Cassim points at himself, before gesturing towards the rest of cloth-built tents, “out of the pretty parts of the city. We’re on the edge of the city, just outside of the main-wall, so that they can lock us out whenever they need or want to. We’re were they send their trash, their money-less, and? Their bored when they’re looking for whores with any talent.” This wasn’t something he had to explain to others often. This wasn’t a place for people who didn’t understand it. But? He would lead the other around, and give him some tips to help him get by. “We’re always shifting, always changing, and you’ll rarely find people living in the same areas for long. Cloth tents make it easy to set-up wherever. Plus, every once and a while, they like to send guards through to try to shoo us away.” Which? Just scatters them to have them meet up somewhere else.

If Ja’far had anyone to blame for the fact that he couldn’t find his target? It was probably the fact that this place was always changing. An accurate map to anyone or anywhere in the slums? Would be nearly impossible.

friend or foe ;; ( cas and ja’far )

ansatsukomon:

When the small pale youth snips back at him a little, the dreadlocked child actually catches himself smiling a little. Well, that was interesting. In all of the slums, the small golden-eyed youth was known to be the fiercest. He was moody, temperamental, and generally speaking? The leader of all the children around here. Not one of the others would have talked to him like that… and somehow? That amused him.

“Guess you can say I like to check out the new blood around here.” Cassim answers, honestly, as he shifts his arms behind his head and looks at the other. Assessing him a little bit. He was small, yeah, but he was surprisingly pale… truly, he couldn’t have been in the slums for very long. He was small, pale, freckled… and had the most interesting eye-color he’d ever seen around here. Though, the others second comment earns him a ‘pfft’ of laughter, before he grins. “A little. ‘round here, people drop like flies. So? Interesting people can be hard to come by.”

People in the slums died all the time. It was an inevitability. Eventually? People starved. Or got sick. Or? Got killed. Eventually, one by one, people in the slums died. It was just as common among the kids as it was the adults… so?

You could say the street-rat was pretty used to people dying. Right now? He still had his tiny family. He still had his sister, his father… and his adoptive family in the form of Anise and Alibaba. But? Facts were facts. He’d probably lose them eventually as well… “The name’s Cassim. Interested in an insiders tour of the place?” If nothing else, he was bored. It was true that he had very few interesting friends, and? This stranger seemed interesting. So? He was willing to show the other the twists, turns, and hideaways that he and the rest of the kids relied on. Especially because, to his knowledge, this kid appeared to be on his own. No parents, or anyone else around… so he might need the pointers.

renownmagi:

“I’m but a humble traveler.”