@Maxx @Leonerdo ------------------------------ "ACHOO!" [hider=I don't know why, but I can't help but think of this theme in scenes involving Bartleby and Shin][url][url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJVF7_tu1Io[/url][/url][/hider] Bartleby suddenly let out of violent sneeze as the noble proceeded down the clustered streets of Maceron, shivering, the man heavily began to rub his arms and look around him, noticing the gates behind him were now completely locked down, there was smoke and ash all around and it was colder than ever before, Bartleby couldn't help but let out another whiny groan, while at the same time, his hand as if possessed quickly and without thought swiped under a market stall, snatching what appeared to be a cold, slightly frozen apple from the stall, in the chaos nobody was able even to see the deft hands of the lordly coward, and despite his cowardly nature, his addiction to "acquiring" goods that were not his own acted purely on his own instinct, a trait of his kleptomania. Bartleby took a heavy bite out of the apple and slowly chewed on its distasteful flavor, grimacing with each bite he regretfully savored, speaking with his mouth full of the chewed up mush, looking to his right to speak to the boulder that loomed over his shoulder, as heavy as a large rock, years of treatment helping Bartleby persevere its weight, and luckily having not crushed him into a fine paste. "Yer' Know...! Shumtimsh, I carnt herp but wanner... Ish somefin off about thish shity?" He asked questionably to the fat boulder, the gelatinous mass of fur and cat simply replied with a droll and uninterested meow, and quickly snatched the apple with its fangs and engulfed the half the remaining apple with a single snatch, before the feline reared its head back and with a putrid gag, vomited the apple onto the stone cold streets of Maceron, hissing at it for its disgusting taste, Bartleby raising an eyebrow at his companion before swallowing the half of apple he had been chewing for an unreasonably long amount of time, speaking up to his cat with a hint of sarcasm, while continuing to casually head down the street, sliding odd trinkets and little odds and ends into his pockets, with the people around him none the wiser as his hands slithered and snatched snake like their odds and ends from their pockets, like a phantom. "Oh wow! Disgusting apple that has been lying in a market stall for god knows how long tastes bad? Golly gee, shin, I'm glad you solved the mystery of that one! What's the next on the agenda, shin? You going to tell me that licking your own ass tastes like it? B- because if you are, you might be in for a shocker, but I can already guess that would be the case!" The rotund ball of lard simply let out a couple of meows, which made Bartleby grimace, twirling a small necklace around his index finger casually, his other hand laid upon his hat, as he fixated it upon his head, making sure it wouldn't fall off. "Oh right, there was no honey. Of course, put anything on honey and its edible to you...! Gods forbid, I drenched you in honey, you'd eat yourself! Come right up, one and all to the the self devouring cat for only fifty Reon Look at his work, Ye mighty and DESPAIR!" He spoke in a ham like way, pointing to shin with annoyance, deciding to look at his cat for a reaction only to find it planting its tongue against his cheek, attempting to lick away the taste of the apple which caused Bartleby to give off an odd yelp of surprise, his hand pushing against the fat boulders face of blubber, pushing it away from him. "BANYEH?! Q-quit it you lardaceous little limp-dick louse!, I don't need to taste like possibly rotten apple, and fat cat at the same time! Uggh, I need a damn bath... Preferably a nice hot one, without the smoke and ash and, wait, why is everything smoking?" For the first time, Bartleby decided to actually look at the expressions of the people around him, as many were hurrying along and were afraid, and guards were in their heavy numbers leading them away, much more that would be needed for a street, it's not as if they were preparing for... "Oh god their preparing for an attack" Bartleby squeaked with a high pitched sissy like voice, his face losing some of its colouring, and his hands began to quiver, the man letting out a light, small chuckle, his voice quivering each time, speaking up again only with a whimpier, and almost mute tone of voice. "O- oh f- f- fu- fu- fucking c- c- c- come on...!" Bartleby expressed cowardly, looking to shin with anger and depression. "your fault" He bitterly spoke "Meow" Bluntly retorted the boulder of fat. "Shutup" Rebuked Bartleby. Bartleby then quickly proceeded to walk, hastily pushing past people as he walked on, muttering to himself while he tried to go forward as quickly as possible, saying something new every time he moved past an individual in the crowd in a panicked yet polite and nice tone, despite some of his words. "Excuse me, fuck off, pardon me, one sec', stop moving, stand aside, thank you, screw you...!" He then heard the voice of the screaming farmer and the centaur, hearing what each of them had to say, he opened his mouth in horror to what the centaur was claiming to want to do, and in a panic, he held his hands up to his chest and spoke. "Oh hell no...!" Bartleby heading on away from the crowd and when it soon died down, he decided approaching where Iro and Morag were a few minutes or so later, only to hear Iro speak up. “According to the guards, there is an army outside of the gate. They are called The Red Legion. I have heard of them before. They’re an army operating out of a kingdom known as Ignion in the Wilderness. They’ve been attacking colonies and burning them to the ground. No one knows what happens to the survivors. They apparently are using some strange magical weapons as well, like crossbow-like weapons which fire slugs of metal and machines that shoot burning boulders of iron.” What Iro said made his stomach twist and yet oddly sooth, when he heard of the weapons used, technology was always a profitable business and it peaked his curiousity, walking up to both Morag and Iro hesitantly, his presence easily spotted by his companions huge body atop of his back. "Y- you said there's an army approaching? The Red Legion? W- well that's uh... So... You guys are going to ... kill them all right? It'll be like a poem, you rush in, beat them all and, I won't have to actually have to fight or anything will I? It's just... because if i'm honest with you, I like the sound of that, well I don't but I these weapons your speaking of... Crossbow like? Slugs of metal? Well, if I could help in anyway, please, let me be of assistance...! I think I could really help you out...!" Bartleby coughed and stood proudly and decided to speak up and swallow his cowardess, he needed money and he needed to look past his cowardness, atleast for now, he wanted these weapons and thus, he spoke. "Bartleby Sterling, at your service! Ignore the boulder, if there's anything I can do to help with say, negotiations or such, think I could be of any help? I think you'll find my talents very appreciative, along with my many fighting and sneaking skills! How about it?" Bartleby then began to think to himself. - [i]"Oh god, please let them buy into this, I want those weapons... all I have to do is get close enough, snatch some of them and sell them... couldn't be any harder than that... r- right?" [/i]-