Bandit's Nest

[Toneh]

“So.” The Jester said not looking up to Ari. The Jester was sitting on a massive mound of finely crafted pillows and sheets. He crossed his ankles and put his hands behind his head and let out a yawn. “I told you I would get you out of the city, now where is my payment.” He said shutting his eyes.

It had been turbulent retreat from Corinth. But Ari had a knack for speaking, and disguise, and The Jester could dispatch any minor threat that walked their way, so after nearly two weeks of travel, he and Ari ended up on the outskirts of a very large and expansive desert. Now The Jester knew Ari did not have any money, so when he mentioned payment, he was not referring to gold pieces, he was referring to skin pieces.

“I mean unless you feel like walking back all alone.” He said opening his eyes and locking them on to Ari’s rather attractive figure.”

“But” He said yawning. “But I wont push the issue my lady.”

[diabolicalxdamsel]

"Payment, sir?" She asked coyly taking her hair down and shaking it loose. Sure he did rescue her for a rather unfortunate death. That so called leader of the kingdom nearly stuck her with that blade. However, she didn't think he deserved her body in return. Then again....

"Of course...I mean, you did save my life and all..." she sauntered closer. "...and then you brought me to your humble abode, out of the kindness of your heart no less..." She sat down next to him and smoothed a strand of hair from his face.

"It would be the least I could do..." she leaned forward, eyes gazing intensely into his "...am I right?"


She hopped back up. "So! In return I will do all the cooking and cleaning here! I've had plenty of experience doing both after all." She turned to him grinning in amusement "Do we have a deal?"

[Toneh]

The Jester leaned in closer as she sat down next to him in the hopes of receiving a kiss. “It is true you do owe me..” He said softly more to himself then to her. Then she hopped up and went about cleaning the cave. The Jester looked at the pillow where she had sat down. “Yea sure…fair deal..” He muttered in disbelief.

He never had a hard time with women, and he usually always managed to get into their pants. But hey she was a noble at one point.


The Jester sat up resting his fore arms on his knees and looked around. One beautiful woman, carpets the size of a wheat field. Large amounts of pillows. But no riches…nor food.

“My lady…we may have a problem…on the subject of you cooking.”

As he made this statement, his stomach let out a bestial growl.

[diabolicalxdamsel]

She sighed and rolled her eyes lifting the corner of her gown, feeling about the skirt pausing to shoot him a quick glare. "Do you mind?" she asked before searching again. After a few moments, she pulled a satchel of dried venison and some dry bread she took from an inn they spent the night at.

"Honestly, are you never prepared for anything?" She handed him a piece of bread and meat. "It's not much, but it will hold us over until we can find some real food. What lives around here? Quails perhaps?" she sighed gazing out at the sand "I havent cooked snake in a while, but I could if I had to. What about water or plants?"

[Toneh]

The slid off of his pillows and planted his fleet on the stone floor of the dimly light cave. They had a few torches blazing and creating the warming effect. “Well we are on an island…a desert Island.” He said calmly. “So no water and plants, we have to go to the city which is a ways away from here.”

He said watching her prepare the bread. “Bleh!” he said wrinkling his nose and resting his hand on the held of his sword that scabbard that was fit for a king. “I think I’m going to go into the city, and try to find something decent to eat, you can stay hear and eat that bread, or come. Personally I hope you do come, it would give me something to stair at on the walk there.”

The Jester turned and began waling towards the main tunnel that branched off into a maze of tunnels leading to the exit of his lair.

[diabolicalxdamsel]

She in turn wrinkled her nose at his little comment, but began to follow. I tried my best.

"Surely by now, you know that I am much more than an ornament. That mistake has overthrown a city after all." However, she'd find him rather attractive as well if he wasn't such a dog.

She wanted to see the city and perhaps learn some of his craft. She figured it would be hard to find an honest living around here and she know she would soon grow bored of being stuck in a cave all day. It was almost to hot to even go outside. She tied her hair back up in preparation.

[Toneh]

Stepping out side one would see an empty desert with small shrubs and rocks as well as a fair amount of sand. The sun was high and the heat was blistering. But it was a clear day. He started walking through the wasteland and kept his pace for what seemed to be an hour. “Yea maybe” He utter in response to Ari’s statement. “Either way you are here now, no point in looking at the past, only time to think about the future, and for my future I want a drink.” He said not looking back.

He slowed his pace a bit to let Ari catch up. “Ok, stay at my side at all times, if anybody asks you are my slave. You are Coranian., the people here after the world…was unzipped are a little…off.”

“So stay close, unless you feel like being naked in a harem for the rest of your life.” He said stopping and looking at her.

She was a strong and intelligent woman. The Jester knew that, he knew she could help him in ways no other could. But he knew how the world could be.

The Xexorian Capital had seen better days, to call it a city would be a vast over-statement. It was in shambles and ruins, the people were mostly homeless dregs. The only real law was that of the various criminal groups who rose up and tried to take power.

“On the plus side we could probably earn some money by making you work the streets.” He said smiling brightly.

He then started walking. “Hmm…that’s not a bad idea…”

[diabolicalxdamsel]

She hated the thought of having to be considered anyone's slave, but it did indeed beat being in a harem. Perhaps she was better off being a hermit. She eyed her companion pondering if she bit off more than she could chew. She though about him carrying her out of the city, blue eyes blazing...

She shook her head and caught up to him, making long strides to match his. "Fine. I can be an actress once again, but don't you dare take advantage of the situation. I won't have everyone thinking I'm your sex tow even if they are strangers."

What do you mean unzipped? Was there an earthquake or something?

She landed a good, swift punch into his arm. I'm your partner, not your whore, understood?

[Toneh]

He let out a laugh. “Hey I know that but not everybody else needs to know, All I’m saying is you play the part of a whore.” He said casually. “When you get them to drop their pants, and I will wait near by and then BOOM we run like hell…with all of their money.”

“The more people know about you, the harder it is for us to survive. And some say the world ended, all I know is that it wasn’t always like this.”

“I mean unless you have a better idea on how to get some money, I say we just lay low for a while, until a big job comes up, and do a little penny pinching until then.”

He continued walking hoping that Ari could come up with a better idea, though for the time being The Jester’s plan was a rather sound one, in his own opinion of course.

[diabolicalxdamsel]

She quietly pondered the idea for sometime. She was used to a privilege of some respect. Men didn't stare at her like she was a piece of meat. She thought about playing the damsel in distress, however she doubted such a plan would work out in a cutthroat place like this.

She sighed a little unhappily and slowly nodded. "But I am not taking my dress off."

Intimacy was something she was bad at. Even back when she thought she was in love with a stable boy. She felt awkward and uncomfortable exposed. She was more shy and uncomfortable than prude.

"Surely pick pocketing would get us enough though, wont it? Or perhaps you could see if some , richlonely old widow would like your company."

[Toneh]

He let out a loud "HA!" in response to the rich old widow remark. “Maybe, but getting some desperate guy wanting to spend a few coins on you will be far faster, plus you wont have to do anything you don’t want to do, I’ll put my sword on him you grab his money and we run.” He said clearing his sinuses and launching a projectile out of his mouth and into the air.

“It’s either that or I go run my tab up at bar and you can go find an old widow.” He said calmly as they came upon beaten path that put them in clear view of a wall city. A ruined walled city with various plumes of black smoke spewing out of it.

As they moved closer to the city the stench of its decadence and lawlessness began filling up their air. “Wow. Its gotten worst…stay very close…my lady..” The Jester said his jovial tone now seemingly down graded to one of foreboding.

[diabolicalxdamsel]

She sighed her disgust with the male population rising. Honestly, couldn't they find something better spend their coins on? Besides, what desperate fool needs to actually pay for such things?

She wrinkled her nose at his nasty little action actually missing the classier form of society she left behind.

He throat went dry and her stomach churned at the smell of rot in the air. The sound of The Jester's voice made her uneasy and she took a hold of his sleeve. She heard a scream and gulped.

"Y-you know, we could always hunt snakes or rabbits for supper..."

[Toneh]

“I think we will find plenty of those in here, we are gonna be okay. I won’t let anything happen to you, just keep your self confidence as usual and you will be okay.” He said not missing a step. He regained his composure and went back to be light and casual. “Plus like I said we can find money here…hell judging by the chaos this place is in, it would be wise to assume somebody could easily take power.” He said dropping a little hint to Ari.

The Jester was no fool. He was no political genius but Ari was, she could play this rabble of thugs and scum against each other and come out on top. The problem he was seeming to find was she as of late had no goal. It was time to give her something to try for. Or at least give her a thought to keep her mind occupied and off of the fear that seemed to take control of her mind.

[diabolicalxdamsel]

She smiled a little. She could be very manipulative when she had to be, but the idea of taking over such a mess was nearly laughable. However, with a big enough team and a few more clever minds, it really wouldn't be entirely difficult. It sort of made her wonder why no one had tried to take over before.

She then saw a podgy old man murmur to himself while dragging a goat carcass and she realized why. She hooked her arm with Jester's, straightened her shoulders, and strode though the city. She was really, truly terrified, but it seemed she was the most civilized person there and wanted to come off as such. She noticed her appearance got the attention of several. Despite her long journey, her gown was still in decent shape and of a much higher quality than many of the people.

She stuck out like a sore thumb, even with dirt caked shoes and dusty cheeks. "So...where do we go to first?"

[Toneh]

The Jester’s wrapped head did not turn left or right, but his eyes were shifting to every person they passed. Beggars were seen wandering around outside of the city walls aimlessly. Herds of children scrambled about snatching food or attempting to pick pockets, and gangs of thugs prowled around the squalling crowds looking for an excuse.

Their was an instance where trouble might have started when a gang of three armed men began staring at Ari for too long. The Jester ended the issue by stopping and glaring at the men, and placing his right hand on the hilt of his sword. The group of thugs eventually averted their eyes, and The Jester kept walking. “We are heading into the city my lady, we are only at the gate way.”

The smell of smoke and human waste filled the air, the screams from inside of the city drew louder. “Pain, suffering, debauchery…home sweet home!” The Jester said sounding very cheerful about his long over due home coming.