[Poggio]

He found the tavern he was looking for. It was surprisingly close to the harbor and exactly where the others said it would be. He pushed open the doors expecting to see his cohorts and hear their sarcastic remarks about his tardiness but none of them were present. He tossed the keep a coin for a sandwich, taking it and standing outside. Every second Ree's eyes drifted to his watch.

[littl3chocobo]

he headed in the direction he thought his home would be but only succeeded in getting lost, he didn't call out and he didn't sit down again but even so he couldn't help but feel as if he was going nowhere

[Poggio]

The sun was setting over the world. Ree blinked. His heavy heart held a small hope that his friends forgot. It pushed away the realistic dread that sent him into shivers. He tucked his hands into his pockets wandering the winding brick paths to his home. The cities night time districts were coming alive. He paused at the row that lead to many of the whore houses merchants frequented. A familiar crop of Auburn hair was listlessly wondering down the row. He chuckled and scampered up to the boy and pinched his butt. “For sale tonight?” He smirked wanting to forget. “if your worth your weight in silver I can pay the price.” There was a distinct sound of coins from his pocket as he laughed. "I suppose your not a whore during the day hours, what are you then... a lady?" He sneered at the royal.

[littl3chocobo]

he jerked away surprised when the man pinched him and spoke into his ear. falling down he stared up at the familiar face before his shock turned into anger. he had to bite his tongue and look away

[Poggio]

His laugh rang out into the night. He smiled at the young man. “You must be a good lay being that up tight.” He crouched down in front of the royal “Would you like to go back to my house?”

[littl3chocobo]

he forced himself to nod. he couldn't spend the night outside with the prostitutes and cut-purses and would rather go with the perverted thief. "don't keep leaving me"

[Poggio]

Surprise took his face. He wasn't sure if the boy was lying. His lips curved into a small grin. Behind his words he was serious. "of course your majesty." He said leaning over and picking the royal up and holding him on his feet, least he fall again "I wont keep leaving you, and I have one rule. You will not give my mother the same tongue as me."

[littl3chocobo]

he nodded. he was too tired to argue it and so accepted the restriction. "i will not speak"

[Poggio]

He watch the boy nod sheepishly, he pulled him into the cradle of his arms and started to walk home. After some time, Ree reached one of the more poorer ghettos of the city strictly reserved for mix breeds like him. For once, Ree was greeted with silence as he entered his humble abode. Some where deep with in the wooden bungalow a kettle whistled. His mother hobbled out of the darkness, using the wall as her guide. Glazed over silver eyes looked past Ree. She grinned. “Ree, there are already so many children here....” She reached out and touched Rees face, her eyes moved as if they were reading a book. The fully grey woman hobbled back towards the wall. “There is only room in your bed.” She could tell her son would not get rest. Before departing shuffling along the wall towards the sound of the whistle. He climbed up the dark stairs to the highest flat sauntering into the only small space not occupied by tiny bodies. He set the body on the bed, stealing one of his pillows and curling up on the hardwood.

[littl3chocobo]

he woke as he was laid out on a hard pallet and opening his eyes he saw the back of a shoulder pulling away and drop down to the floor. with no small surprise he noticed in the dim light several small bundles. children. he reached out and lightly touched the other. softly so as not to disturb them, "where are we? this is your home?"

[Poggio]

He slowly rose, resting his head on the edge of his bed. He nodded. “My home... their home, my mother collects children that do not have a place. The little ones learn trades and take up chores, the other ones try to find apprenticeships to bring in money.” He huffed blinked and countered with a question of his own. “have you ever worked in your life? Or Gone hungry?”

[littl3chocobo]

he opened his mouth to respond but stopped. he knew what work was and he had been hungry before but even he understood that the other meant laboring and starvation. shaking his head he rested on his chin in front of the other "not in the way you are asking"

[Poggio]

He was not sure which he was more, surprised at the honest answer, or that he expected the answer. "And if you are... the Yexiall, why haven't you gone out into the city before for yourself?" Ree felt like he was asking common sense things yet they seemed so foreign to nobles.

[littl3chocobo]

"because of people like you, and worse. if i stay inside i am relatively safe, you have seen the riots, if you can read the papers will tell you everything, my name is a target because of my fathers rule and his father before him. i am the son, i cannot die all that are left are sisters." he shook his head, "i am not like you, people outside of myself dictate my life, my body is not mine to do with as i please"

[Poggio]

He had one last question, before a yawn over took him. "Then are going to rule, like your father and his father before him?

[littl3chocobo]

he shook his head again. "if we can survive this then no, i may be my fathers son but i am no fool, the people are starving as our coffers swell. gold does not equal blood, peasants work long and hard then die, it is a peasant's lot but not in droves like this, we cannot support ourselves if we bury all of the able bodies we need to harvest the grain with"