Sign and Sacrifice: He Started It!

[unfinishedtales]

Jack didn't get a significant lead on the youths. Instead, he ducked and weaved to stay just out of their grasp -- always within reach but not actually siezed. He gabbled apologies as he fled, but the Goi youths were only further inflamed by their inability to capture "one old lame beggar". He lead them two blocks over and one down, to a busier street with a vendor selling crushed ice drinks to a crowd of mostly Goi children and their mothers. Jack hobbled off the curb to dodge around the crowd, with his pursuers right behind him. The kids turned to watch while their mothers clutched them to keep them from the fray. None of the ones by the flavored ice vendor moved to intervene, but as Jack ran past a heavyset Goi matron herding a half-dozen children, the woman gave a bellow that made even Jack hesitate. "Oy! Just what do you young men think you're doing?" She stepped deliberately into the street between Jack and his pursuers, throwing out an arm to intervene.

One drew up short, and one ducked beneath her arm to lunge for Jack, and Roiwlo crashed into her. The matron grunted but did not yield ground as the other Goi glared at her. "Stay out of this, old woman! This isn't your business."

She drew herself erect and huffed at him, turning half a circle to follow as Jack darted out of reach of the Goi nearest him by putting the matron between them. "Old woman, am I? Well, young man, seems we old folks best stick together. What's your problem, sonny? Did your poor ol' grandpa not give you enought 'presents' and now you're going to beat your due out of his poor hide?"

"Hey!" The second Goi protested. "He attacked us!"

Jack cowered at the matron's side, gabbling another apology between panting breaths as he ducked a grab. "Din't do nothin', so sorry, please don' hurt me, sorry, sorry."

Most of the mothers were keeping their kids back, but some of the older ones who were without parental supervision drew close to get a better view. The kids from the matron's group watched wide-eyed, and giggled at the newcomer's assertion.

"Don't believe him!" Roiwlo pointed an accusatory finger at Jack, who cringed back in fear. "He did! Walked right up to me and knocked me down!"

The Goi Matron looked Roiwlo -- a tall, healthy Goi man -- up and down. She twisted to look at Jack, who appeared to be a ragged, hunched, limping, and exhausted old Goi. The giggles from the children grew louder. "You should be ashamed of yourselves!" she said, slapping back one of the other Goi's attempts to grab Jack. "All of you! 'Attacked you' indeed! A little old beggar! You leave him be, you hear?"

Roiwlo lifted a fist to menace the Goi woman. "And I'm telling you one more time, stay out of our business, old woman!"

The matron glared back at him, uncowed. Across the street, another Goi man emerged from one of the buildings. "Mother! Is there a problem out here?"

The matron swept the Goi around her with her gaze, her hands on her hips. "I don't know," she said to them. "Is there?"

Roiwlo looked ready to take a swing at someone, but one of his companions caught his arm. "Look, just leave it."

"But he -- "

"I know! It's not worth it, though. This isn't what we're here for. C'mon."

Roiwlo glowered at Jack, who cowered further. "I won't forget this, grandpa. Don't think I will!" With that, he and the others retreated to the snickering of children.

Comments

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

His disguise held up under close scrutiiny? Watch out, though -- the old woman might be the boss fight, if she finds out you were playing her.

[unfinishedtales.livejournal.com]

Possibly Jack did not think his plan all the way through. }:)

[jordangreywolf.livejournal.com]

Heh, yeah. Hiding behind an uninvolved civilian?

It worked out nicely enough so far, but it depends greatly upon the "youths" shrinking from confrontation in the face of witnesses. That can't always be counted upon - and I think there are many unknown factors here (especially if there's a business about extremists willing to sacrifice lives to satiate their deity). I'm glad it didn't turn sour for Jack or any of the bystanders, but I could see an alternate possibility where things turn out ugly.

I'll chalk it up to Jack having an extraordinary ability to "read" people for now, and gauge the likely outcome ... but I still felt a bit of a chill.

[rowyn]

I'm not sure how I'll work this into the narrative, but this wasn't actually part of Jack's plan. His idea was that he'd lead the toughs into more populous territory, get them turned around so they'd take a while getting back, and then either shake them or scrape them off on a Keeper or have them turn back because they didn't want to be seen beating up on an old man.

He actually 'hid' behind the matron because once she'd intervened he wanted to be on hand if she got in trouble.

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

Just what I would have done too, if I were playing a Jack-like character. };)

I'm sure it will work out, but I give it a 60% chance that she will turn around and ask him why one of the Fey is disguising himself as an old Goi beggar! 30% that she will take him home and dispense charity and tea and advice on how he should stay away from 'bad' neighborhoods.

[unfinishedtales.livejournal.com]

She actually tried to do both, but he ran away from her before she really got the chance. >:)

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

Silly Jack, you should have tried charming your way out of it. ^_^

[rowyn]

"... but I really need to check on Miss Weaver." D:

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

Such a thoughtful man. ^_^

[jordangreywolf.livejournal.com]

Ohhhhh. That gives me a whole new perspective. Right on, Jack! ;)