forum Kingdom of Spirits (4/4) (CLOSED)

Started July 01, 2019 by @ShadeStar

tune

"I- you're not entertainment," Nathan protested immediately. He floundered for a moment before composing himself. "I know you - at least a little bit - and it's very rare I actually know more about someone than status and name."

Cicada had a smirk on and laughed a little, "So it's cause ya like me? But really, ya are sticking around cause I'm one of the few people you know? The thief that took your pocket watch?"

"Are you willing to admit you stole it, and just hand it back for free?" he tried, glancing between Aureole and Javier for help. A bashful smile slipped onto his face, knowing that the chances were slim.

"I told ya," Cicada rolled her eyes. She could tell the elf was trying his hardest, "The guards probably put it with my other shit. But, I might let ya off your eight gold, if ya agree to help me get out of the situation I'm in."

Nathaniel resisted the urge to slam his head into the prison bars. "Of course," he agreed tightly, biting back the retort that he was trying to accomplish that in the first place. "But what can I do to help?"

"I don't know," Cicada shrugged as she took a deep breath. Another wave of pain had rolled over her body, and she just needed to ignore it at the moment, "What do ya have to offer? I probably can't bribe myself out of this one, but someone speaking about reputation and credibility might help. Spirits, ya could even offer a fake testimony."

He dipped his chin, debating the risks and the advantages. Lost in the calculations, Nathan turned to Aureole and Javier with a helpless expression. Did they dare? Did they hope the king would have mercy? What could they offer as physical evidence?

Javier lightly chewed his bottom lip while he thought, “Do we know where the guards put her things? If not I have a pocket watch of my own, we could see how similar they are. I don’t know how helpful that might be, but if it’s an option, I’m willing to part with my watch.”

"I'm not in here for petty theft," Cicada spoke to the other male outside her cell, "I'm here because I 'attacked' a prince of a foreign kingdom and am being accused of stealing the Everflame. Which I didn't do."

"He wasn't suggesting that you were placed in prison for petty theft," Aureole argued carefully. "Only that it could be possible for him to replace the watch with one that looks similar enough. Which could be useful if someone needed to take back Nathaniel's watch. Whether or not you keep your head is a wildly different story."

"I'm well aware of that," Cicada half snapped back, "But there's no need to take back Nath's watch to my knowledge."

"It's his watch, you twit. Of course he wants it back," Aureole said annoyedly before turning to Nathan. "Why, exactly, are we helping her, again?" She whispered.

Nathan eyed the red form in the cell warily, sensing that she could overhear them. Barely daring to move his lips, the elf said, "I'm honestly not quite sure, after all this questioning. But we're down here, and I do need that pocket watch." A slight shudder rippled over him as he imagined his mother's reaction to the news.

Cicada sat in her cell silent. She felt her pain creeping back up on her and let out another breath. She understood their apprehension but she wanted to understand them, and she understood people by watching their reactions.

"Right, then. I'll take… him… sorry, I'm horrible with names," she said, pointing to Javier, "and we'll go and take your watch back. And you can stay here and do… whatever it is you need to do," she eyed the cell warily.

Panic flashed openly by in his brown eyes. After a few moments of gathering himself, a strained, “Alright,” made it’s way out of his mouth. Defeated and tired, he glared at the ground. “I’m sorry for bringing you guys into this,” he whispered.

Aureole frowned, waving him off. "Please shut up. It wasn't even your fault. I just happened to be an idiot and drew attention to myself. Anyway, we'd better go find your watch."