Hunting In the Market Is An Amazing Sport (open)

[Alexander Marquee]

Alexander felt the odd chill as the morning wind blew past him. There was a slight elegant as people went about their day and started to set up shop. It was an interesting dance of busyness as people started to trade and sale. His blue eyes stared from the small bench he had been sitting at, judging which shop if any would be a generous enough to notice something missing.

Taking a bite out of the apple he had acquired early this morning, Alexander's eyes peered out from under his hood. He couldn't help feeling like something was going on, but chalked it up to paranoia. It wasn't until he finished about half of the apple that he felt the eyes of one of the guards pass onto him. Very little would tip him off to the potential thief, but those were hidden by years of practice.

A sigh of of relief escaped him as the guard turned down another alleyway, and left him staring at the people of the ever growing market. It didn't take long for it to fully come to life, and Alexander watched for any person that might be an interesting target. Taking another bite from his apple, he pulled the hood further down over his eyes as he tried to focus on anyone who stood out.

[Cernunnos Wilde]

Cernunnos dipped his hand down and snapped up an apple from a passing cart. No one noticed. People rarely noticed and when they did notice, they had to catch him first...and that was the thing, no one could catch him, not with his wings.

Ah, yes, the wings: they didn't exactly come in handy when he was trying to blend into the crowd and steal his dinner, preferably without anyone seeing what he was up to. His long hooded cloak was usually the answer, even though he paid the price by looking completely ridiculous. Even when he pulled his wings in close to his back, he looked like a hunchback. Not right off the bat, of course. Without adding in the rest of what he needed to convincingly pull "hunchback" off, he had to bend his entire body over. If he didn't do that, then he just looked like someone who was hiding something under his cloak on his back and shoulders, so the theatrics were necessary, sometimes with a limp.

He was doing this now, his hood pulled over his eyes as he made his way toward a tinker's cart. A buckle on one of his boots had broken a few days before and he wanted to repair it. Even though he looked like an unkept commoner didn't mean he was one.

[Alexander Marquee]

Alexander took note of a hooded figure pass through the crowd. He tried to keep his eye on the person as he tried to see what the person looked like but he had trouble watching the one person in the throng of people. Bah, people move it. He tried to tilt his head as he avoided the people who were in his way.

He finally caught sight of the cloaked figure as he started making his way to one of the karts. His blue eyes watched as the cloaked figure looked over the cart. Okay serious who wears a hood these day? The thought passed through Alexander's mind as his eyes rolled up. Oh right.

Giving a mischievous smile as he stood up from the bench and took the last bite of his borrowed breakfast. His soft eyes follows from one head to another. Taking in the sight of the people and the way they looked. He started to pass through the crowd, when suddenly a man not shy about his wealth stood up in front of him. Walking around the man, Alex knew he would have make note of the man for later.

Coming up to the kart, he took note of the items that were laid out. His mind raced as he tried to think of anything he needed. It was then the man who stepped in front of him, started browsing a kart near by, leaving his back turn and his coin purse unguarded. "What today, what today?" Pulling down the hood as he openly talked to himself, and tried to focus on the items hoping to catch a glimpse of the other shopper next to him.

[Cernunnos Wilde]

Out of instinct, Cernunnos stepped away from the stranger who suddenly came to stand next to him and yanked his hood down. His own fingers subconsciously traveled to hold the edge of his hood in place over his face, least the stranger had a compulsion for yanking everyone's hood down as well. He appeared to be talking to himself and the banshee shied away even more. Fighting a genuine threat in the marketplace was quite all right with him, but slaying a mentally handicapped person was not.

Apparently the owner of the cart was bending over, collecting wares from underneath cart. Cernunnos cast a sideways glance at the potentially schizophrenic stranger and then grabbed at the buckle he had been eying, slipping into his pocket and stepping away from the cart in one smooth, practiced motion. He had done this so many times before and he had learned not to sprint away after making a successful snatch, but he needed to move away quickly none-the-less. He took another step back and started to move away at a brisk walk. He shot another glance over his shoulder at the buckle merchant when he smacked into solid flesh and tumbled to the ground, his hood falling down to his shoulders, revealing a face much too youthful to belong to a hunchbacked beggar as he landed squarely on his back.

[Alexander Marquee]

Taking note of the other shopper as he stepped away from the blond and pulled his hood down, it was interesting to see how far he was willing to go hide himself. The young adult smiled as he tried to catch what the other person looked like. Sighing mentally as the other customer held his hood by his hand obstructing his view. “Tsch.” He took a step back slightly, and tried to reassess the situation. As the other cloaked figure stepped away from him even more. Alex had a familiar filling from this.

Alexander couldn’t help but take notice on the other browsing customer grab a small object from the table, and was surprised by the sudden motion. Points for the sudden grab and run when the owner is distracted, but points off for the lack of style. Where is the distraction? Where is the art? Bah these new age thieves don’t realize what they’re missing. He turned back toward his target, as he made his way toward the other shop. His blue eyes gazed over the people taking note of people around him. It was then a thought hit him, picking up a small mouse he saw running through the street, and deftly passed through the crowd. A smile came across his face as he placed the small animal on the table away from prying eyes. Now to position myself. He stood behind the rich looking man as he turned a glance when he heard an unmistakable sound of a person getting knocked down.

Giving a smile as the guy he was curious about, now his face exposed his curiosity was sedated for now. So that’s what he looks like, I'll have to come back to that one. But before he could think anymore another familiar sound tore him out of thought. The scream as one of the shoppers saw the animal run across the table, and felt the richer man fall into him as he back from the table. “Hey watch it!” Taking the chance, his hand reached out and relieved the man of the coin pouch before dropping him to the floor. Not bothering to turn around as the man was helped up by other people who were still shaken by the event. He took a spot leaning against the wall, waiting to interfere if needed as he watched the event unfold with his other curiosity.

[Cernunnos Wilde]

Cernunnos sprang to his feet, but the damage was done and there was no way he could pull his hood back over his face without things looking suspicious. The best he could do was hope that no one had noticed him in his moment of theft...and the crazy man didn't have short-term memory. Chaos was already raining at the table by which he had fallen, as a small animal of some sort (was it a mouse?) had apparently gotten loose and was causing havoc as people either ran from it and scrambling to get away from it.

Cerunnos was a not only a hunter by circumstance, but he was a member of the fae, His senses, his reflexes, his instincts, were far sharper and faster than those belonging to mortals. He zeroed in on the mouse, focusing on it and it alone. Once it had paused in the safety of a sheltered area on the table, the banshee took his chance and pounced.

The mouse let out a screech of terror as Cernunnos' hand closed around it and he straightened up, his prize in hand. He shoved it in his pocket for later, drawing the strings tight, but still leaving a small opening so the creature could breathe. Either it would serve as bait for some larger form of prey or, if Cernunnos couldn't do any better, he'd be the main course itself that night.

This done, there was one more matter left for Cernunnos to attend to: the problem of the the crazy man who had seen him earlier. He was hoping the blonde wasn't one who would remember, but just in case someone caught him muttering a careful description of what had happened, Cernunnos needed to take care of the matter. He couldn't have himself become 'wanted by authorities' in a place that he already depended upon for food and wares.

He approached the man and tapped him on the shoulder. There was no use in trying to talk him out of what he had seen and he wasn't enough of a threat to 'take care of him', so to speak, but Cernunnos did have the option of planting a false story in his head.

"Good 'morrow, good stranger, I am called Edmund and I hail from the village of Urr."

[Alexander Marquee]

Alex loved to see people freak and over react to his handy work; if there was one thing the rich didn’t understand it was rodents. Grant it a few here and there weren’t bothered but it was still one of his favorite distractions, right below stealing the guards clothing when he was in the shower. He made sure to keep one eye on the other guy as he took in the feel of chaos, and the art that it spread. The shuffling and cries as the rodent ran confused was especially music to the blond’s ears.

He watched as the other hooded man moved in close to the table to grab something, and wondered what he had grabbed. He took a slight thought of it being the mouse, but was sure the mouse wouldn’t be as interesting. He watched as the now rehooded figure walked toward him, being welcomed with Alexander’s ever present smile. He wasn’t sure why the he was walking to him, but wasn’t going to complain after all to him, this could be fun.

"Good 'morrow, good stranger, I am called Edmund and I hail from the village of Urr."

Alexander nodded his head politely, still grinning deviously as the figure introduced himself as Edmund. He thought of the possibility of it being a fake name, but didn’t put much thought into it, if one wants to hide their identity, let them. “A pleasure to meet you Edmund of Urr, I’m Alexander Marquee of this wonderful city of bliss ignorance.” The smile shifted slightly as his left hand circled slight as he talked about the villagers. He never understood the idea behind fake names, the only good thing that came out of it was that if a person thought they were given a fake name the real one was just as good of a disguise. “So Edmund, what brings you to our fair city of noise and corruption?”

[Cernunnos Wilde]

Good, Skitzo Boy was taking the bait. Continue with the fabrication as planned...

"Actually, it's called Syphly City." Cernunnos pointed out, his condescending, know-it-all personality shining through before he would stop it. "And I live here." He added, lying smoothly. It was not an outrageous lie, after all. The city was home to many different kinds of people, many of them quite eccentric and in the past, no had questioned him when he said that Syphly was his home.

"I am an apprentice to a dairyman." He continued, and again, he knew the lie would not be questioned. Members of the fae usually looked young beyond their years and he was no exception and even he looked young for a banshee.

"And where do you come from?" He pressed, planning to keep his conversation with Skitzo Boy going long enough to throw him off his track.

[Alexander Marquee]

"Actually, it's called Syphly City. And I live here."

Alex smiled softly when he realized the condescending attitude. It was good thing to see someone who had confidence like that, and was surprised when he tried to tell Alex where he was. I kind of knew that already, but at least he was trying to explain. I don’t think I saw him before. “I believe that was the name of this town yes, as a performer names get bounced around a lot.”

"I am an apprentice to a dairyman."

A few blond strands fell in front of his eyes as he tried to keep an eye on this Edmund. His smiles softened as he listened to the young man tell him about his job. He thought about it for a little bit, and it could be a lie but then again who would lie about being a dairyman apprentice. “You don’t say.”

"And where do you come from?"

“Curious, no?” The smile shown on his face again, as his hand moved slightly in an egotistical movement. He could easily tell him that he was from this very village, but where would the fun be in that. “Let’s see where I came from? From my mother, where else would I come from?” His smiled widened and became even more devilish in the way he talked.

[Cernunnos Wilde]

"Really?" Cernunnos pushed, forgetting himself as the man descended into the realm of smartassness. "I was under the impression that your father had given birth to you. Pity, I was so looking for hearing all about that medical miracle." He was teetering on the edge, so that it was difficult to tell whether the banshee was being sarcastic or not.

He smirked, unsure just yet if he liked the blonde. He wasn't sure if he could be trusted and he was probably insane anyway, but Cernunnos felt drawn to him because of his wit and because he was so quick and unafraid to use it and Cernunnos liked that quality in people.

"But I am so rude to prattle on and on about myself without you the chance to do the same." He said, his tone still bordering on sarcasm and sincerity. "Where do you come from and what do they call you in these parts...and others?"

[Alexander Marquee]

"Really? I was under the impression that your father had given birth to you. Pity, I was so looking for hearing all about that medical miracle

Alexander couldn’t help but laugh at the other statement. It would be interesting indeed if it worked that way but would mean he would have to be a lot more careful then what he already was. There was something about this guy that Alex liked, he had a sarcastic bite to him but masked it well in his attitude. “I would have like to see that as well. But alas my father wasn’t willing to see me as a child, I would doubt he would be willing to bring me into this word.” The young blond slightly frowned at the thought of his father and tried to shake off his thought.

"But I am so rude to prattle on and on about myself without you the chance to do the same. Where do you come from and what do they call you in these parts...and others?"


“Not rude at all.” Alex smiled as his mind was snapped back to reality. He was surprised at the sarcasm as they conversed, not many openly showed that trait, or minded his sarcasm. “Let’s see I’m from here, but I traveled a lot with the other performers from time to time. As for what people call me, well that depends on the person, no?” Waving his arm slightly; he smiled slightly with the comment. “Sometimes is Alexander or Alex, other times it depends on my role; idiot, son of a whore, and dead man are quite often as well. I think the one most people call me is ass.” He smiled at the last joke as he gave a glance to the area as it started to return to its normality. “But what about you, surely there have been other names given to you?”

[Cernunnos Wilde]

The more the man talked, the more Cernunnos was certain that he was not hindered by a mental handicap...well, not a significant one, anyway. That still didn't mean he was any more comfortable with him or with revealing his true name or identity. He wasn't really comfortable with revealing his identity whatever the context. In fact, the banshee quite liked the golden-haired stranger, but he wasn't going to make a habit of hanging out around him.

"Well, it is a pleasure to meet you, Ass." He said, snarkily, sticking out his hand for the stranger to shake, ready to snatch it back at a moment's notice if the man showed even the subtlelest signs of attacking him. "May I make as so much to say that your parents, no matter what their opinion of you, had the most excellent taste in names?"

He smirked. It was not a question, it was a test. A test to see whether the stranger, who didn't seem to have the highest self-esteem anyway, would crack and jump on him in anger for insulting his parents.

"My master calls me Eddie, on occasion." Cernunnos lied, smoothly. "And you? No master? I assume you have graduated from your master and you are now skilled in your trade."

[Alexander Marquee]

Alex was starting to like the other man. Grant it he was trying to hide a lot of him, between the cloak and the stealing of the buckle but those were things that he could over look. He wasn’t ready to mention his true occupation to the other man, but maybe in the future, the far off future.

"Well, it is a pleasure to meet you, Ass. May I make as so much to say that your parents, no matter what their opinion of you, had the most excellent taste in names?"

Alex laughed as he shook his hand, his soft eyes focused for any sign of attack out of habit. “A pleasure to meet you as well.” Thinking back on when his mother mentioned how he got his name, and a slight frown emerged along with the painful memory. He thought back, and wondered what his father would have called him. His fist shook slightly as he thought, until he was able to pull himself from the memory. “Sorry about that, my mother mentioned she had named me after a friend of hers from her work, so the name was from her, but I’m sure there would be a lot of choice words my father would call me.” The soft smile was forced on his face again as he tried not to think about his past.

"My master calls me Eddie, on occasion. And you? No master? I assume you have graduated from your master and you are now skilled in your trade."

Alex nodded as he listened to the other ‘Eddie’ mention his nickname, remembering he might use that later on. He thought of the teachers and older actors when he was asked about a former master. “I was apprenticed to a few of the other actors when I was younger, and travelled with them a good portion of my life. But sadly that was a while ago, and now most of them have retired and headed back to their homelands. I still come across some of the other students but those often lead to conflicts.”

[Cernunnos Wilde]

"Your name? What? Ass?" Cernunnos shot back. He could be tactful if he wanted to, but right now, under the guise of "Eddie", he didn't need to. Indeed, he could be as rude as he pleased. In fact, he could be whoever he wanted and this blonde bimbo would never know the difference. Come to think of it, he could be completely uncouth and disgusting and it would be totally cool.

"Ahh, you're an actor?" The banshee quipped. "How wonderful. Do you work during the day or do you also frequent customers during the night?" He added, with something of an eyebrow wiggle. Suddenly, real curiosity was aroused within him. He had never had the time to stop and actually chat with a prostitute. What was it like to be a prostitute, especially a male prostitute? Was it all glory and glamour or was it the most degrading thing since the invention of being held in the stocks? Licking his lips, he decided to be bold and take his little lie further, just to see if "Ass", as the man had basically invited Cernunnos to call him, would fall for it.

"Because, you know, if you're that kind of actor, I do know...people. I could get you some extra work."

((OOC: I don't know much of a history nerd you are, but actors in the Byzantine empire usually doubled as prostitutes and I decided to base Cernunnos' thought process off of that. It's up to you whether you want to make him open to prostitution or not.))

[Alexander Marquee]

"Your name? What? Ass?"

Alex couldn’t help but laugh. It wasn’t odd he met someone like this stranger, but the more he got to know him the more he seemed to like him. “Oh no not that, well,…. My mom did call him that a lot from what I heard, but no his name was Alexander as is my own.” He nodded slightly pulling down his hood slightly to hide his eyes more as the past invaded his mind again. “Actually he was the one who taught me to act.” He wasn’t sure but had an odd feeling about the other man, but still wasn’t sure if it was the actual persona.

"Ahh, you're an actor? How wonderful. Do you work during the day or do you also frequent customers during the night?"

He tilted his head slightly as he was asked questions about his work. Well of course I work nights, but I doubt my disappearing acts is what he is thinking about. He smiled and nodded. “Why yes I do a lot of acting at night, nothing lights a stage like a few torches and a full moon.” He smiled as he remembered the last time he was on stage at night, and grant it, it wasn’t a performance but it was an amazing spectacle for him.

"Because, you know, if you're that kind of actor, I do know...people. I could get you some extra work."

So that’s what he meant. Can I not have one conversation without turning around these lines. He sighed as he looked back toward the other man. His smile softened slight almost, becoming more of understanding and less of sarcastic. “Well I don’t do that kind of acting unfortunately, money wasn’t a huge issue. But then again if the person is beautiful or handsome enough I might be willing to make an exception.”

((OOC:I remember hearing something around those line, but didn’t have it originally planned that way. But as far as it’s going I just let the words come to me the way Alexander would react.))