The slums are a rundown, old heap of a town tucked deep in the jungles, with townsfolk consisting mostly of poachers, black marketeers, thieves, and fugitives. While the ideal tourist spot, some travel to the Slums to make use of the black markets. (+2 Defense, +2 Speed)

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Displaced [Self][E]

Postby Kallile » 09/20/2017 1:59 PM

((OK kiddies, this topic will eventually come around to mention things along the lines of human trafficking and slavery. If that bothers you I strongly suggest you don't read. Nothing will be terribly graphic in nature, but you have been warned all the same.))

~*~4 Years Ago~*~

They had been here for the better part of a week.

Reverend usually didn't tolerate loiterers, but he found himself with little choice when he happened to have a toddler and an infant dropped at his doorstep. The toddler was a male, about four or five in age, and the infant was a baby girl no more than a year and a half judging by her clumsy walking skills. It baffled him why anyone would choose this particular street to drop off children in given the nature of patrons, but it baffled him just as much that the two seemed hell-bent on coming into his convenience store that served as a cover for his arms dealing.

Rev was determined not to let them in.

Image
Rev

To Rev the two penniless newcomers were like stray cats--if you didn't feed them they'd eventually go and find someone who would. But by the seventh day when they still lingered and hadn't lost any noticeable weight he turned his annoyance to the old man who watched the shop.

"Oh now, don't you get your britches all in a bunch with me, mister," the elder scolded when Rev approached him. "Them young'uns need looking after and these streets is no place for 'em. You know that better than any. Matter'a days before someone comes and scoops them up."

Image

Rev sighed as storm clouds brewed outside.
"I have been hidden, scorned, adored, worshiped, forsaken, coveted and banished more times than I care to count. But the one thing all those experiences cannot steal from me is the gentle soul I was born with, the kind heart I have molded, and the bright ideals for the future that have lit my way through the darkness of the past."




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Re: Displaced [Self][E]

Postby Kallile » 09/20/2017 2:53 PM

"That's not the point, Jacques," Rev growled angrily as he paced in front of the desk ignoring the children with their grubby faces pushed to the glass. "This stinks of disaster.
An arms dealer can't harbor orphans. There are people for that! They could blow this whole operation if they were let in, they could ruin me, they could..."


"Be some hell'a good deal runners." Jacques offered. Rev stopped mid-stride and glared at the old man.

"How you got started, wasn't it? I had you running everything everywhere when you came to me wanting work. Your daddies never did give a lick, you said, you needed to learn to survive you told me.
And this old man listened. Look what you've made of yourself since then."
The old man leaned forwards and gave Rev a teasing jab in the ribs with a gnarled finger. "'Sides, unless you're spending way too much time and money in the Red Light district, I don't see no heirs to the business. Those young'uns are just about the right age to start learning the ropes. Can't retire into all this luxury you've given me without someone younger and more full'a fire to take it over."

He chuckled to himself and Rev folded his arms. He wasn't entirely wrong...and it wasn't like his dating life had been stellar. Or existent. He rather preferred simplistic one-night stands were few questions were asked and any name cried out in passion was acceptable.
"I have been hidden, scorned, adored, worshiped, forsaken, coveted and banished more times than I care to count. But the one thing all those experiences cannot steal from me is the gentle soul I was born with, the kind heart I have molded, and the bright ideals for the future that have lit my way through the darkness of the past."




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Re: Displaced [Self][E]

Postby Kallile » 09/20/2017 2:58 PM

Outside a clap of thunder shook the run down looking structure and brought forth screams from both orphans outside. The young girl instantly began to cry despite her brother's best efforts to comfort her past his own shaking as they huddled closer to the door to try and escape the pounding rain that followed seconds later. In one minute flat both were soaked to the bone and shivering on the cool autumn night.

Jacques looked to his own younger charge expectantly. "I ain't goin' to live forever neither,
you know. You'd best start finding some company cause my golden years ain't all being spent in this dump. I'm off to sandy beaches and slim bikini bodies."
The old man chuckled with a boyish grin. Rev sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose to try and concentrate on his own thoughts. The children sobbing outside, the old man laughing crudely to himself in the background...it was all too much.

"Do what you want, we both know you will anyway. I'm going to my office."
"I have been hidden, scorned, adored, worshiped, forsaken, coveted and banished more times than I care to count. But the one thing all those experiences cannot steal from me is the gentle soul I was born with, the kind heart I have molded, and the bright ideals for the future that have lit my way through the darkness of the past."




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Re: Displaced [Self][E]

Postby Kallile » 09/21/2017 9:55 AM

It wasn't but a few minutes later that Rev could hear the chime to the front door and hushed voices. The littlest one wasn't that grand at the concept of 'hushed' however, and her nonsense babbling rang out like a gong.

"SHHH!". Jacques attempts to quiet her, however, were in vain.

Rev leaned forward against the heavy oak desk and sighed again. He didn't have time for this. There'd been whispers of a civil war breaking out deep within the jungle between tribes--that was a war machinery would win. Which meant that was a war he could greatly profit from. But tribes were entirely different to deal with than your typical warlord--no amount of fancy words and dress were going to win you their favor. You had to prove you yourself were a warrior of great skill.

He was no pushover as a gunslinger, not in this business, but the arms dealer worried if the display would be enough to win him a small fortune of raw gemstones and precious metals.
"I have been hidden, scorned, adored, worshiped, forsaken, coveted and banished more times than I care to count. But the one thing all those experiences cannot steal from me is the gentle soul I was born with, the kind heart I have molded, and the bright ideals for the future that have lit my way through the darkness of the past."




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Re: Displaced [Self][E]

Postby Kallile » 09/21/2017 10:03 AM

"Hey, wait, you can't go back in there!"

The hissing voice of the old man reached Rev just as the small girl did. At first she burst through the door, leaving a trail of rainwater in her wake, but as soon as her eyes landed on Rev she froze to the spot and continued to drip and form a clear puddle on the hardwood floors. Rev narrowed his eyes.

Image
Arche


"Hello, little lady, what can I do for you?" The words were friendly but his tone was rather venomous. The children couldn't be running around an arms warehouse and if that was going to be the case...

"C'mere, you whipper snapper," Jacques said with a grunt as he leaned into the room and scooped the toddling infant up into his arms. He was already as soaked through as they were, proof that he did not have the situation under control. The older boy peered in behind him.

Image
Vicar


"Mister, I'm hungryyyyyy..."
"I have been hidden, scorned, adored, worshiped, forsaken, coveted and banished more times than I care to count. But the one thing all those experiences cannot steal from me is the gentle soul I was born with, the kind heart I have molded, and the bright ideals for the future that have lit my way through the darkness of the past."




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Re: Displaced [Self][E]

Postby Kallile » 09/21/2017 10:07 AM

Obviously, ground rules needed set in place. Jacques had once been the ruthless one, but Rev could clearly see now that he was just a soft old man ready for the golden years of spoiling grandchildren he'd never get. Pressing his hands into the desk to push himself up, Rev leaned forward and fixed the two children in his gaze.

"There will be no food until we get one thing straight. This is my house, my rules, and if you want to partake of the things I've earned you will have to earn them. Am I clear?"

Two sets of eyes stared blankly back at him.

"They're just young'uns, Rev. Dumb it down some."

Licking his upper lip out of frustration, Rev inhaled and tried once more.

"If you want to eat, you have to work. I give you a job to do, you do the job, you get fed.
Understand now?"


The young boy nodded his head, the infant girl continued to stare as if Rev were the most wonderful piece of art she'd ever seen. Or the most terrifying monster--it was hard to tell at that age.
"I have been hidden, scorned, adored, worshiped, forsaken, coveted and banished more times than I care to count. But the one thing all those experiences cannot steal from me is the gentle soul I was born with, the kind heart I have molded, and the bright ideals for the future that have lit my way through the darkness of the past."




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Re: Displaced [Self][E]

Postby Kallile » 09/21/2017 10:18 AM

"You have names, boy?" Rev asked coldly, still not at all pleased with the turn this day had taken. The boy shook his head.

"Ain't got no names, Mister. Momma stopped coming home a long time ago...an' I found that girl he got, so we're just trying to find a mommy togever."

Rev winced at his speech, but also at the way he chose to describe his mother. She hadn't left him somewhere, no mention that she'd promised to come back, she'd just stopped coming home. In this town that could mean anything and the man's heart did felt a tinge of pity for the boy.

"Your first job, then, is to take lessons with Mr. Jacques there and learn to speak clearly.
You're a man of the streets--you need to sound like you know what you're talking about. And we can't just keep yelling for girl and boy or we'll have half the neighborhood in the store..."


Rev contemplated a moment and had a good internal sigh at himself. What was the second part to that old adage he'd just been thinking to himself? 'If you don't feed a cat it will go away, but name the cat and it's certain to stay'? It was something like that he was sure. But he did have an upcoming civil war to handle...and he could use an extra set of hands around the shop to keep things in order and take care of smaller scale runs.

"Alright, children. I'm Reverend but you may call me Rev. Since you're working for me now you" he pointed to the baby girl still in Jacques arms "will be Arche. And you....you my boy will be Vicar."
"I have been hidden, scorned, adored, worshiped, forsaken, coveted and banished more times than I care to count. But the one thing all those experiences cannot steal from me is the gentle soul I was born with, the kind heart I have molded, and the bright ideals for the future that have lit my way through the darkness of the past."




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Re: Displaced [Self][E]

Postby Kallile » 09/21/2017 10:29 AM

Jacques had a satisfied grin on his face as his own adopted son rather unceremoniously adopted his own children with names. Odd names, for sure, but they would grow into them he was certain. "Right, let's find you lot some dry rags before we all catch colds!"

The old name ushered the boy out, though the newly-named Vicar still stood and looked strangely at Rev as the man took a seat at his desk again. After he was once again alone he put his head in his hands and grabbed handfuls of auburn hair. What in the seven circles of hell had he just done? There was so much that could go wrong with this...so much that could ruin everything he'd been given and built upon.
"I have been hidden, scorned, adored, worshiped, forsaken, coveted and banished more times than I care to count. But the one thing all those experiences cannot steal from me is the gentle soul I was born with, the kind heart I have molded, and the bright ideals for the future that have lit my way through the darkness of the past."




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Re: Displaced [Self][E]

Postby Kallile » 09/21/2017 10:34 AM

A familiar scene played through his head then--one from childhood when he'd been a few years older than Vicar was now.

A towering man with black hair and ice blue eyes stared down at him, a gun pointed to his small temple. Rev was whimpering and frightened--dirty from the streets and starving from days without food. He'd chosen this--run away from home since neither of his parents would have noticed any different. They were always so absorbed in their own affairs that they sometimes seemed to forget that had a child at all.

"'Wa's your name, boy?" The blue eyed man had asked him as he cocked the gun and readied a shot. Tears rolled down Rev's face.

"M...my name is Thomas..."he barely croaked out, swearing then that he could hear the bullet rolling into the chamber like some cartoon roadrunner getting ready to take off. The man stared at him for a long moment, then he began to laugh.

"What a pathetic name for a pathetic boy," he said as he pulled the gun back and held in on his shoulder, pointing at the sky. "Listen, boy, here's wa's goin'ta happen. You're going to come with me, see, like a little servant boy a sorts right now. You be a good lad and learn fast...an I might jus' teach you how to survive in these streets, see? Bu' first we need to get rid'a that name a'yours."

The man scratched the side of his head with the gun he held, then fired a shot between Rev's feet. The boy yelped and jumped to the laughter of the man. "Good eye, son! Like ya saw it coming a mile away. You've got a spark to ya yet...you're gonna be my Reverend of Misery one'a these days. Ain't that right, little Rev?"

The tear streaked face, eyes wide with fear and confusion, could only nod back.
"I have been hidden, scorned, adored, worshiped, forsaken, coveted and banished more times than I care to count. But the one thing all those experiences cannot steal from me is the gentle soul I was born with, the kind heart I have molded, and the bright ideals for the future that have lit my way through the darkness of the past."




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Re: Displaced [Self][E]

Postby Kallile » 09/21/2017 10:38 AM

Jacques had seen something in him all those years ago, had trained him and made him a force of nature. The old man had never had children of his own--that was too risky in this line of work. An orphan, those were replaceable. Perhaps it was that fateful day that had made him cave, perhaps somewhere deep inside he longed to pay the same favor to some other unfortunate soul. Perhaps it was the unknown fate of the boy's mother--he had at least known exactly where his parents were at the time. This boy had been abandoned--be it by choice or by force on the mother's part.

He may be a cold-hearted arms dealer, but he wasn't totally heartless to such a plight at such a young age. And for the boy to even think of taking on another child into his care, who could provide him no help of survival at all? There was 'a spark yet' ,as Jacques had once told him, in Vicar and something in Rev had a desire to polish that little diamond until he shone brightly.
"I have been hidden, scorned, adored, worshiped, forsaken, coveted and banished more times than I care to count. But the one thing all those experiences cannot steal from me is the gentle soul I was born with, the kind heart I have molded, and the bright ideals for the future that have lit my way through the darkness of the past."




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Re: Displaced [Self][E]

Postby Kallile » 09/21/2017 10:48 AM

It was a good hour or so later when Rev emerged from his office. The streets outside were at a crawl--that shady time of day when the day's activities were coming to an end and the creatures that ruled the night were just starting to come alive. Jacques had locked the doors to the convenience store for the time being (no one came in at this hour anyway) and was seated on the floor behind the front desk with Vicar and Arche. He had made himself a heaping pot of stew and had portioned it out between four bowls--he and Vicar ate greedily while little Arche only splashed at the surface of the stew with her spoon every once and a while.

"Are we sure she doesn't still need to be one some kind of formula?" Rev asked casually as he picked up his bowl and leaned against the corner well away from Arche's stew splash-zone. Jacques shrugged then shook his head.

"She's got teeth, she'll eat when she'd good'n ready to."

Vicar nodded in agreement, his cheeks puffed out from the mouthful of warm stew he'd shoveled in just moments before. He chewed and swallowed it hastily.

"She been eat'in whatever I give her...never had a spoon before though."

"She's been eating," Rev corrected before continuing "then perhaps someone should help her with her newfound utensil before she assumes it's only a toy."

Both Jacques and Vicar looked to Rev expectantly and they both slowly took large mouthfuls of stew themselves. It seemed today, Rev was simply meant to sigh.
"I have been hidden, scorned, adored, worshiped, forsaken, coveted and banished more times than I care to count. But the one thing all those experiences cannot steal from me is the gentle soul I was born with, the kind heart I have molded, and the bright ideals for the future that have lit my way through the darkness of the past."




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Re: Displaced [Self][E]

Postby Kallile » 09/21/2017 3:15 PM

It took some coaxing, but Rev finally found himself on the floor opposite the young Arche with spoon in hand. His own stew sat beside him somewhat forgotten while Jacques and Vicar continued eating their own meals in peace. He dipped it slowly into the stew--just far enough to obtain a small amount of the rich broth--before holding it out towards the young girl's mouth. She, in return, looked first at the spoon and then at Rev with skepticism.

"You'll like it, just try it," he said rather dryly as he tried again to poke the spoon into her mouth. Still nothing. He looked over his shoulder to Jacques helplessly. "Any more brilliant ideas?"

"Yup, never take your eyes off'a the target." Rev tilted his head, confused by the answer, before feeling the knees of his slacks becoming wet and warm. When he turned back around the girl had the large bowl clasped between her two hands, trying to hold it up to her mouth to drink from it like a cup. The end result was, of course, stew covering the child, floor, and now Rev. The arms dealer glowered towards Jacques who was trying to hide a chuckle behind the guise of eating.

"You're taking care of this. You brought them in, you can clean up after them," he said as he stood and brushed off his slacks with as much dignity as he could muster.
"I have been hidden, scorned, adored, worshiped, forsaken, coveted and banished more times than I care to count. But the one thing all those experiences cannot steal from me is the gentle soul I was born with, the kind heart I have molded, and the bright ideals for the future that have lit my way through the darkness of the past."




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