[LPF] Fury Steps In

[GlassEye]

"Indeed." Fury salutes Milo de Luca with his wineglass. He grins after taking a drink of his wine. "Not quite the reception I expected returning here.

"And, no, my timing has never been particularly good. Except tonight, it seems. But, to begin at the beginning... I am Orlando Furioso, called Fury by my friends. Raised on these very streets. I've managed to broker some small skill at swordplay into irregular work, which has paid me quite well."

He stares thoughtfully at the cold fireplace.

"Even though I made it out, Planks is home, and I thought to come back and live here. Maybe do what I could do to help those less fortunate than myself. Do you believe in fate, Milo de Luca? If half of what I hear about you is true then I believe it was fate that caused our paths to cross."



[sblock=Actions/OOC]
Move: --
Standard: --[/sblock][sblock=MiniStats][size=+1]Fury[/size] Human Rogue 3 / Bard 2
Initiative: +7 Perception: +8

AC: 20 (15 touch; 15 flat-footed)
HP: 40 Current: 19
CMB: +5 CMD: 20 Fort: +2 Ref: +11 Will: +4

In Hand:

Spells Remaining: 1st: 2/2[/sblock]

 

[Qik]

Fury is impressed by the wine: although simple, it's clear that Milo De Luca doesn't just buy whatever is at hand.

Milo smiles wanly as he swirls his own wine and takes a drink. "Ahh, fate...I find fate to be a funny thing, Orlando Furioso. Was it the same fate that crossed our paths that led to my wife's illness?" He gestures over his shoulder at Abelia, who seems to have fallen asleep. "Was it the same fate that led to so many lives falling into decay in this place we call home? If so, I have a hard time thanking it for bringing such a seemingly like-minded individual into my life." Milo snorts half-humorously, half-contemptuously. "If anything, I would say that it was about time fate moved to balance the scales in my favor."

Milo takes another drink of his wine; when he lowers his glass, Fury can see his good-natured smile has returned. "Now, don't confuse me: that's not to say I'm not grateful for it doing so. Your appearance today has been well met, Orlando, well met indeed."

Milo pauses for a moment, seemingly lost in thought, before eying Fury inquisitively. "Tell me, Fury, about this work you do. Just what precisely have you done?" His smile returns. "You strike me as a man who has a knack for finding his way into trouble."

 

[GlassEye]

Fury gazes into his wineglass watching the red liquid swirl round as he thinks over Milo's words.

"I'm no philosopher, priest or scholar to understand these things. Maybe I should have left fate out of it. I know I was looking for a chance to make a difference for the better when I stumbled across you being man-handled by those bravos."

He pauses, still thinking.

"But you asked about the work I've done. I did a bit of work for the Cultivator's Guild tracking down and eliminating an infestation of kobolds plaguing some nearby farms. I also worked some for the Planks Commander of the White Cloaks trying to track down that killer some months back and in the process busted up one of the Planks gangs. Can't say I've got too good of an opinion of that fellow. And not too long ago I helped clear goblins from one of Venza's southern lighthouses. None of this was done alone, of course; I had a team to work with. I prefer to think my knack is helping other people get out of trouble."



[sblock=Actions/OOC]
Move: --
Standard: --[/sblock][sblock=MiniStats][size=+1]Fury[/size] Human Rogue 3 / Bard 2
Initiative: +7 Perception: +8

AC: 20 (15 touch; 15 flat-footed)
HP: 40 Current: 19
CMB: +5 CMD: 20 Fort: +2 Ref: +11 Will: +4

In Hand:

Spells Remaining: 1st: 2/2[/sblock]

 

[Qik]

Milo waves his hand dismissively when Fury attempts to undervalue his philosophical credentials. "Don't be silly, friend: you or I are more equipped to answer such questions than most." Milo leans forward in his chair to emphasize his point. "We are livers of life, friend Fury. Only through truly living can one confront questions such as that of fate."

"And by confronting such questions, we put ourselves in position to discern our own answers."

Milo leans back in his chair and takes another sip from his wineglass, his intensity tempering just a little. "And from the sound of it, you've done more than your fair share of living, friend." After a pause, he adds, in a quieter tone, "And I have to agree with you that our meeting is not made of the stuff of everyday occurrences." The elderly man chuckles to himself. "And not only because I've never seen one move through the Planks as you do."

"Tell me, friend Fury, would you be interested in doing a little work for me? As you can see," he adds with a smile, "I'm in need of some help around here."

 

[GlassEye]

Fury nods feeling more at home by the moment with Milo.

"I would be more than pleased to work for you. It's quite a bit better than wandering through Planks hoping something to do falls in my lap." He laughs. "But that seems to have worked out for me so far. What sort of things do you need done?"



[sblock=Actions/OOC]
Move: --
Standard: --[/sblock][sblock=MiniStats][size=+1]Fury[/size] Human Rogue 3 / Bard 2
Initiative: +7 Perception: +8

AC: 20 (15 touch; 15 flat-footed)
HP: 40 Current: 19
CMB: +5 CMD: 20 Fort: +2 Ref: +11 Will: +4

In Hand:

Spells Remaining: 1st: 2/2[/sblock]

 

[Qik]

[sblock=OOC]Just FYI, I have company in town for the next few days, so I may be a bit slow in updating.[/sblock]

 

[Qik]

Milo's expression turns thoughtful. "Nothing too exciting - well, at least, hopefully not," adds the man with a chuckle. "I simply need an escort to a meeting I have tomorrow with some high ranking members of the White Cloaks. I hadn't really planned on taking such..." - he explains, searching for the right word - "melodramatic measures. But," he adds, pursing his lips, "after today's events, it seems the prudent choice." With this last sentence, Milo gazes at his sleeping wife, the message clear that it's not just his own safety that he's concerned about, but the welfare of his sickly wife, at the very least, as well.

After a moment, Milo rises from his chair silently and moves a few steps into the kitchen area. Crouching down to open one of the lower cabinets, he fiddles through a stack of pots before emerging with a small sack. Returning to his seat, he peeks at the bag's contents before sighing slightly, and then passing the bag along to Fury. "Your fee," he explains. "25 coins. I'm sure it's not on the level that you're used to, but..." Milo trails off, clearly too proud to single out the obvious economy of means which restricts his ability to offer a fairer price.

 

[GlassEye]

Fury is reluctant to take coin from Milo de Luca but is also very aware of the Planks pride that would make refusing the offered coin a mistake. He takes the coin without comment but is already turning his mind to ways he can somehow return the coin to the man. He thinks and while doing so hefts the bag feeling its weight in his palm. Finally he begins his considered response:

"I think your honesty and forthrightness and determination to make Ranocchio a better place to live has made you a few enemies; having an escort would be very wise." He purses his lips. "But I don't think I can, or should, take your coin." He sets the bag of coin down on a small side table and holds up one hand to forestall objection.

"Hear me out before you object, my friend. I'm not offering my services free of charge. I'm proposing an exchange of services: my talent at keeping people out of trouble for your political acumen. This evening's entertainments have shown me something about myself. Coming here with the intent to 'do some good' and 'make a change for the better' is well-meaning but naive. Though it worked this evening I think you can show me a better way to make a lasting change than to roam the back alleys looking to chastise those causing trouble. So I'm suggesting we work together for the short-term; either of us have objections to the arrangement and I'll move on." He stops speaking and raises a brow waiting for Milo's response.



[sblock=Actions/OOC]No problem here with slower posting. Enjoy your friends.
Move: --
Standard: --[/sblock][sblock=MiniStats][size=+1]Fury[/size] Human Rogue 3 / Bard 2
Initiative: +7 Perception: +8

AC: 20 (15 touch; 15 flat-footed)
HP: 40 Current: 19
CMB: +5 CMD: 20 Fort: +2 Ref: +11 Will: +4

In Hand:

Spells Remaining: 1st: 2/2[/sblock]

 

[Qik]

His objection forestalled, Milo listens with pursed lips as Fury makes his argument. When he finishes, Milo speaks once he's weighed Fury's words.

"I think it comes as no surprise that I'm not comfortable with the idea of not paying you coin for services rendered, friend, especially when I know that you've been paid as such for similar services in the past. Still, I also hear that this isn't just another job for you, which I'm glad for: true change isn't made by those focused on making a profit."

Milo thinks for a moment before continuing. "Truth is, Fury, I'm not sure how much I can offer you. I'm just like yourself: born and raised here in the Planks, and managed by the gods to somehow come out the other end of my youth wanting to improve this place, rather than simply flee it or become of it. I've had a hard time accomplishing much of anything politically - this meeting with the White Cloaks is a desperate one at best, as I've been trying for years to get them to invest more time and manpower into cleaning up the Planks. But I'm nearing the end of my rope, so I took what opportunity I could get."

Milo shakes his head slowly, thinking it through some more. "I agree with you that, ultimately, change is going to come through the use of words, not weapons. But people often need to be in a good enough position to listen first, and after all my years here, I'm convinced that that position won't be arrived at without first banging a few heads. The trick is to bang the right ones - just look at how that young feller turned tail today after you handled his elder. And we need help to find those right heads. And that's where people like yourself and the White Cloaks come in. Truth is, I need your help at least as much as you need mine, and not only for you to play escort tomorrow afternoon."

Milo looks Fury over, his expression mostly one of stern appraisal, although Fury can still see the good humor underneath it. "Do me a favor, son: take the money. Treat an old man like the adult he is. You want to resettle things once we reach the end of this, fine, but for right now," - Milo gestures to Fury's hand still holding the small pouch - "take it."

Fury can sense the solidity of Milo's position.

OOC: Nothing short of a successful diplomacy roll will change his mind.

 

[GlassEye]

Fury nods sensing the firmness of Milo's position and not wanting to risk injuring the man's pride further. He tucks the small bag away and lets the tension that he wasn't even aware that he was holding on to seep away as he leans back in his chair.

"Very well. My father told me to never argue if someone wanted to give you money. I'm not sure I agree that you have little to teach, though: you've survived a bit longer here than I have and there have been days when I wasn't sure I'd make to sun up of the next..." Fury grins a bit sheepishly and changes the subject.

"So, who are you meeting with tomorrow, and what do you hope to accomplish? And what do you expect from me? Forgive the questions, but I've learned it's best to head into any situation with as much foreknowledge as possible."



[sblock=Actions/OOC]
Move: --
Standard: --[/sblock][sblock=MiniStats][size=+1]Fury[/size] Human Rogue 3 / Bard 2
Initiative: +7 Perception: +8

AC: 20 (15 touch; 15 flat-footed)
HP: 40 Current: 19
CMB: +5 CMD: 20 Fort: +2 Ref: +11 Will: +4

In Hand:

Spells Remaining: 1st: 2/2[/sblock]