тнє ℓαυяєℓ fℓσωєяѕ NEW THREAD delete this please.

[.:A r i c a R e e:.]

Yush. I would agree with Sara. Post more soon!

[*ajayred*]

Chapter 20
A week had past when things started getting better, but my reputation wasn’t what I hoped. Instead of fending for myself most of the time, if someone got to close to me Henry or Avery stepped up to the amateur fighters. I suppose it was a good thing in a way, but people would think without them around, they could get at me. I was waiting for that moment, I knew it would happen and I knew it wouldn’t be pretty.

“I really hate what you’re wearing.” Avery randomly stated as we sat near a wall outside the block.

I was still in my nearly off the shoulder dress and vest, it was high cut and I didn’t see the problem.

“Well I do too, but at least I’m not complaining. Why don’t you go and put one on?” I growled.

“Well, it attracts too much attention.” Henry added.

“Well unless you wanna trade clothes, which I am happy to do, there isn’t much else I can do.” I rolled my eyes. “Complaining to me about this won’t make it turn into a pair of pants.”

“Ya know that might actually work…” Avery considered.

“You want to trade clothes?” I furrowed my brows.

“No, I mean turning your dress into a pair of pants. “ Avery pulled himself up from where he was lying on the hard packed ground.

“How well can you work a needle?” Henry said sarcastically.

“The women who never leave the building, they probably know enough to do that. Try going in there now and asking them. “Avery suggested.

“I Guess I can, it shouldn’t hurt. Where will the both of you be?” I asked, having already gotten used to having them near.

“I’m going to find as many descent people I can find to trade with. “ Henry said kicking himself off the wall.

“While I’m going to get some rumors and stories about escaping this place, that way if need be we have a little something to go on.” Avery replied.

“Well then, I’ll go now.” I offered and since I wasn’t stopped I kept walking.

Out of everything I got to keep, it was my socks and male boots. My boots of black leather reached just below my knees, and laced all the way up with twos straps on the side, made for small dagger holders. Which right now, held two half pipes sharped at the tip and wrapped in cloth on the other end. It wasn’t perfect but it served its purpose.

I could feel a lot of eyes on my retreating back and was sure I was being sized up. I walked into the building, eyeing the guards as suspiciously as they looked at me. I had soon reached the cell the ladies normally stayed in, they used bed sheets as curtains over the bars to keep themselves hidden, I supposed.

I pushed the curtain aside and all their eyes fell upon me, out of the entire prison, only five women other than me where there, as far as I knew and four where in front of me. Before I could ask anything a cold metal was placed across my neck with such a smooth and soundless movement, if I didn’t feel it I wouldn’t have known about it. I swallowed the lump in my throat and slowly turned my head to look at the wielder of the weapon.

“So you finally made your way here, eh?” A somewhat tall woman said with a liquid smooth voice.

“Well, one way or another…”I answered slowly.

The weapon was moved away from my throat and my hand instinctually went to where the weapon was. “Your very skilled with that, aren’t you?” I asked calmly.

“Why of course, a pirate life requires more then knowing how to tie some knots. So, do you plan on joining our group?”

“Ah, no actually I was just going to ask if any of you could make my dress into some trousers…” I said now skeptically.

The cot was being used as a table, and on it they were crafting weapons. Upon hearing that though, the women shifted their eyes back onto the weapons uncaringly.

“Wait, Lacey, when you said if they ask us to sew their clothing to say no, does that only apply to the men?” One girl asked, mouse brown curls getting shoved out of her face.

The woman who had first pointed her weapon shrugged and closed her eyes. “I guess it would be alright to do it for another girl. The only reason I don’t let you for the men is sewing won’t get us as far a trading weapons.” Lacey shrugged.

The mousy haired girl stood up beaming, “alright tell me what you want done!” she bubbled.

“Uh, I just need some pants fashioned…” I blinked unsure what she would use.

“Oh, that’s all?” she said crestfallen. ”And I take it you don’t want to make the dress as short as you vest….” She rubbed her small chin.

“Uh yeah I want to avoid that.” I said curtly.

“Well then come over here, I’m the fastest seamstress, in the world!” she said loudly.

Pulling a needle out of her vest and lifting up my skirt and in one fluid movement cut my dress with a sharp knife I did even know she had.

“Hey, hey, what am I going to wear while you do this I can’t go out there like this! “I said taking hold of the front of my skirt and tugging it down while she continued cutting away.

She cut a short three inch slit on either side of the dress and started to work her needle over hem. I stood there in the middle of the room while she worked circles around me most literally.

“So this is all?” Lacey asked picking at her nails with a knife.

“Well…I don’t have much else. “ I admitted.

“Well why don’t you join us?”

“Excuse me?” I furrowed my brows.

“You hear that the biggest group is the Rats, but the best is our group. We make these weapons and we know how to use them.” Lacey purred with pride. “We are also more then brawns.”

Another girl has randomly taken to sewing up the cloth that was cut off from my dress. So while I had both girls working on my clothes I stood awkwardly while thinking of what to say.

“Well fine. Don’t answer us now.” Lacey said sitting down.

I bit the flesh on the inside of my cheek in thought. I wasn’t very sure how they could help; I didn’t know what they expected and especially not what kind of people they were.

The group of women seemed focused on their tasks, two sewing together my clothes and the other two sharping scraps of metal and pipes on a stone (I still wonder how they got it).
“So, what are your names?” I asked awkwardly.

“That auburn haired girl is Delah, That girl with the brown wavy hair is Maggie, the girl working on your dress is Jane.” Lacey introduced.

“Well, I’m Lara, nice to meet you all despite having cold metal placed on my throat.” I joked grinning.

Lacey crackled and smirked. “Good thing you didn’t sneeze, right?”

“Yeah, it is.” I chuckled and looked down at Jane.

The girl was right; she was the best seamstress I had ever seen. She expertly sewn the hem of the dress with excellent speed and precision, even when I dared shift my weight, she only looked up at me with a youth filled warning glance.
If it wasn’t for glancing down the last time, I would have never known my sharpened half pipes weren’t in my boots. I knew I walked in with them and I knew very well they couldn’t have fell out of the tight grip the leather had on them.

“Jane, what did you do with my weapons?” I asked looking around the floor.

She paused and looked up at me with a meek smile; slowly she reached down and lifted the short weapons from under her. She began to chew her bottom lip, making her honey eyes as innocent as possible. With that I knew she was a thief and she was good at it.

“Sorry, I couldn’t help myself…it was just… easy.” She gave an apologetic smile and continued sewing when I shown no sign of leaving or getting angry.

I reached down, taking them and crossing my arms with an arched my brow. “Was you gonna give them back?”

“Probably not if you hadn’t noticed, then you might get angry and think I was tricking you even worse.” She answered calmly eyes on the job.

“Aren’t you a sweet thing?” I scoffed.

“Why yes I am! I just can’t stop myself when I see these things so easily in reach…so close I can feel it in my hands and before I know it, it is.” Jane sighed.

“Is that what got you in here?” I asked, shifting my weight slowly to my other foot as numbness began setting in.

“Uh yes, I saw this cheap dagger on a knight…oh it shined so prettily on his loose leather belt and I walked by and snatched it but tripped over a stupid dog and got caught.” She pouted and tied off a string.

“What about you?” Maggie asked, glancing up at me.

“Uh, well I assaulted a few knights.” I said carefully. “You?” I asked Maggie.

“I tackled the knight who tried to take Jane in. I wasn’t going to let my little sister get stuck in here alone.” Maggie answered without a second thought.

“Well, how about you Lacey?” I asked smirking.

“I was charged with piracy, of course. “She proudly raised her chin.

“So what about you, Delah?” I asked, nearly forgetting the silent girl’s name.

“I was a spy for the Carpsainis king.” She answered blandly.

I couldn’t stop my eyes from going wide and when they did as if seeing it, she added. “Don’t worry the whole prison knows, they made it a public event. “

“Oh…well that’s terrible.” I said gracelessly.

“Meh, I was a bad spy anyway.” She shrugged.

“Alright I finished your shirt. Mag, how are those pants coming along?” Jane bubbled.

“Oh almost, she just needs to pull them on for a second...” Maggie said holding them up.

I took them from her hands and pulled them on after figuring which part was the front, the only reached mid-calve and that was because of some extra material.

“Well they fit a bit snuggly, but that material stretches. Later I can have some better stuff and maybe you get you a better pair, but it will cost you.” Maggie coolly added.

I finished tying the string and pulled the once-a-dress-shirt over the matching white pants. I had to say, it looked pretty sharp from what I could tell, and was a style I was beginning to grow fond of. I was thankful the material wasn’t so thin you could see through it.

“Come back with a real answer.” Lacey commented as looked to the exist.

“Alright, I will as long as you promise me if it’s a no you won’t kill me, and if it is a yes you won’t carve some brand into my skin.”

“We make no such promises.” Jane, waving her hand, grinning nonchalantly.

“Ignore her, we don’t do things like that, a yes is a yes, a no is a no.” Maggie rolled he eyes.

“Oh, well that’s a relief…”I smiled and tucked my sharpened pipes back in the straps over my boots.
“Hopefully we’ll see ya again.” Lacey called from behind me.

I gave a smirk over my shoulder as a response and walked out of the cell completely. I no longer had to work around the rules of a dress to maintain my modesty and attract less attention, despite thinking about how much attention walking around in trousers might attract. It was laundry day and the baskets where being handed out to the inmates, so men shoved passed me with baskets full of their nasty sweaty clothes.

“Watch it!” “Out of my way!” “Move it, brat!” where some of the nicer ways they tried to get me out of their way to the limited supply of soap.

This prison left hygiene up to their guest, people would be given a basket for their clothes and let into a laundry room where they could clean their clothing once a month or they would be handed brooms and forced to clean and mop the floors where they left a mess, be it vomit or blood. It was an interesting way to keep the place from being disgusting. Some inmates even enjoyed the jobs, but I think that was because they had prior deadly engagements.

“Henry, you better get over their before they use up all the soap.” I cringed covering my nose as I walked into his cell.

Henry was pulling off his shirt and stuffing it in his tiny basket. Most inmates had at least one change of clothes, be it from trading something with the guards, having it smuggled in or stealing them. Cymatilains really tried to stay hygienic.

“Hah, hah. “ Henry said dryly, reaching over and taking Avery’s shirt as it was held out.

“Why are you sharing a basket?” I furrowed my brows, given only their first layer of clothing each wouldn’t fill the basket, there was no other point in sharing.

“We’re going to save my basket for later.” Avery answered.

“What do you have in mind?”

“I don’t exactly know yet, but I am sure it will come in handy.”

“Well, I’m going to wait until everyone else works their way out of the laundry room.” I stated.

“Why is that?” Henry quizzed me.

“That is because I don’t want to be the only girl shoulder to shoulder with a bunch of half-clothed men.”

“What a detailed answer…” Avery mused. “Maybe one of us should stay back with you-“

“No. I don’t need to be watched like a child. I was able to walk safely to the other woman; I’m sure I can stay behind and be a perfect gentleman.” I frowned.

“You mean perfect Lady?” Henry corrected “That’s what where afraid of.” He added with a laugh.

“You know very well I can kick your tailbone with or without a skirt!” I growled and crossed my arms. “Now why don’t you get your sticky self to the laundry room?”


“Cranky, cranky.” Henry said lifting his hands, palms toward me.” I’m gone.”

Avery shot me a glance before walking out after him. I turned after them and walked into my own cell, moving the single blanket out of the way and sitting on down on the cot. I reached down pulling the pipes from my boots and flipping them over my fingers, gripping them when they came back to my palms and slicing through the air.
It was an odd thing to make a weapon out of, and was rather graceless but at least I had something. I waited and waited and when i got bored of playing with the pipes I tucked them back in my boots and lied back in my bed. I had actually expected someone to come, but it seemed no one would.. I figured I was too full of myself to think they would come after some small fry like me.

“So this girl controls those two?” Someone whispered from outside my cell.


“She doesn’t look like much, probably just another manipulative woman, as long as no one else follows her, things should be fine.” Another voice assumed.

“Boys, I’m trying to get a nap in, go and continue your conversion somewhere else!” I yelled, rolling over to look at them.

“Now!” one called and flew at me.

I went wide eyed and turned my back to the wall and kicked one man into the other, knocking them down. I reached down, swiped my pipes from my boots and stood on the cot.

“It didn’t work!” One of the fallen men growled, shoving the other off and standing up.

The other man stood up right after and ran forward at me, hunched over and arms out wide. I jumped up and as his head collided with the wall, I landed on his back and jumped at the other man. He froze and crossed his forearms over his head. Just as I was about to land an arm wrapped around my waist and jerked me out of the air, against a chest.
I spun a pipe in my hand and went to jam the dull side into the rib only to get shoved out of the cell to smack into Henrys chest. I pushed myself away and turned to look at Avery just in time to see him draw his fist back and the man fall to the ground.

“Where did you come from?” I snapped up at Henry.

“Is that anyway to thank us for saving your skin?” Henry scowled.

“I could have handled such people; you’ve watched me fight worse!” I yelled, getting more and more furious with the way they tried to watch over me.

They didn’t before so strongly, so why know? Do they think I’ve lost all my strength when I found out as girl?! I inwardly yelled.

“You’re really beginning to get on my nerves.” I growled and looked back to Avery. “I don’t need you to fight my battles anymore then I used to.” I barked.

Before Avery could open his mouth to respond a hand clapped over my shoulder and a face leaned down next to me.

“That’s right, let the girl fight her own battles.” The guard grinned. “If it makes you feel any better, we will give her, her weapon back, eh?”

I clenched my jaw and looked daggers at him; with my hand I picked up his hand like trash and threw it over my shoulder.

“Alright, so it is! Fight on the block!” The guard yelled, taking me by the elbow and pulling me toward the door.

My trusty bodyguards came after me, as well as my opponents and half the prison. The only thing better then laundry day, was a fight.
It didn’t take very long for them to get me outside in the center of the block, it took even less time for a guard to place a whip-my whip, in my hands and start yelling out bets. I looked down at my whip, rolling the metal material over my palms and trying to calm my hitching breath. I wanted to fight my own battles, yes, but not get thrown into an arena.

“Place your bets! I know you dishonest people are hording something!” A guard yelled holding out a basket that slowly filled with things the inmates found value in.

“I’m confused, who am I up against, those two men in their seemed out of it.” I pointed over my shoulder.

“You, girly, are up against his buddies!” Someone called happily.

With that being said, three men walked out of the crowd, hitting their fist and flexing their muscles. One was tall and lanky, another just looked average and then there was a more muscled man.

One has less strength, but more flexibility, another with more strength less flexibility and then one with unknown strengths and weakness . I thought studying them.

Avery stepped up behind me, crossing his arms and stoically looking at the crowd. “She isn’t fighting with such weaklings.”

No, Avery that is just gonna make it worse….

“Weaklings?!” Someone exclaimed from the crowd.

“Yes, she won’t waste her power on such idiocy. “ Avery arched his brow.

“You’re bluffing!”

“Do you wanna take that chance? Do you see what kind of whip she has, or wonder why she ignored everyone and stayed in the open? It’s because she knew she could take you all with the flick of her pretty little finger.”
Stop digging my hole for me!

“Come to think of it, that looks like what my grandfather called lost technology!” A man yelled.

“How did she come by it?!”

“Is she really that strong?”

These questions came out of thin air and thickened until it was a bog of quizzes. From the corner of my eye I saw henry shove one guy into the next, move through the crowd unseen and repeat until people got mad enough to start brawls. People where pushed shoved and worse, everyone busy with their own fights, didn’t see me and Avery slip away back to the cells.

“Are you trying to get me killed, Avery?!” I hissed once reaching the cells.

“It is risky, but we can keep it going long enough to get out. It is already pretty clear you’ve beaten worse, but you shouldn’t keep doing it.” Avery stoically told me.

“And why shouldn’t I, Avery?”

“Because you are a- “

“If you dare, finish that sentence with girl, woman, female, lady or anything of the sort…”I threated, looking up at him snarling.

“Aren’t…Supposed to.” Avery finished and walked out of the cell.

As he brushed past my shoulder I felt my face heat with anger. I knew I couldn’t just change his mind suddenly and getting so angry wouldn’t solve anything. Nothing could make me feel weaker then verbally told I couldn’t do something, simply because I wasn’t the same gender.
I took hold of my cell door as I walked in it and slammed it closed me behind me. I could cry I was so filled with rage, so the first thing I did was sit down on my bed, put my elbows on my knees and laid my head in my hands.
“It is just so much easier being a boy...” I muttered, breathing in deeply and letting it out slowly while glaring at the floor.

[katomorakwarrior]

What if I don't know who may favorite is?
And, thank you for writing.
You're a lifesaver, a cherry gummy one.
(Sorry, I'm in a weird mood.)

[*ajayred*]

then just pick at random out of your faves!

[TheSongOfTheStars]

GAAA!! Laurel really needs to started beating the tar out of some one again.... Maybe Avery?

[*ajayred*]

Im curiuos about the reasons for picking your fave charries, care to elaborate? as the author, most of the character I create and work on are my faves.

[.:A r i c a R e e:.]

Hmm, well ive already explained why Audrey is my favorite, and that Lara is on a level of her own. :3

[katomorakwarrior]

I like Bill. He reminds me of... lots of things. People I know. People I've made up. Contented things. Something like that. He's a background character; you don't see him much, but without him, the story wouldn't exist. At least, not as it does now.

[*ajayred*]

Hmm, well ive already explained why Audrey is my favorite, and that Lara is on a level of her own. :3

Well, to me, please explain to the class. XD

New chap outta be up soon, my updates are catching up to me o.o

[.:A r i c a R e e:.]

Hahahaha, okay. XD Like listed, his cleverness, he reminds me of some characters ive made, and his interactions with lara i find funny.