[Rosekitten]

The road had been clear for most of the trip, aside from a small skirmish with a group of thugs who thought it was smart to take on the body guards of this merchant's wagon. The elder horse walked slowly and the wheels of the cart creaked with each rotation as it edged forward slowly. One person was walking along side the cart with a sword at his side, though his build hardly made it look like he knew how to use such a weapon. Aside from the merchant there was only one other person, they were sitting inside the cart holding a staff across their lap.

Rolling his eyes he let out a slight sight, it hadn't been that far of a walk. Just from the last town, at the least he could act like he was on duty. But Luden knew better then to question his brother's lack of effort... in anything. Though his complaints were pushed aside seeing as the town was within viewing distance. At the least they'd get some gold for the assistance and then be able to restock on supplies, plus if the pay was well enough they might be able to get a room for the night instead of sleeping in yet another stable.

The merchant finally spoke up the closer they got to town explaining that if the two helped him unload the crates and other supplies he'd throw in a bonus and they could use the back room for the night if they needed a place to stay. The idea sounded good to Luden, besides knowing that his brother wasn't going to lift any crates. they'd be lucky if he lifted a finger let alone a box of supplies.

[littl3chocobo]

luka perked up an ear but otherwise showed no sign of listening. he knew his brother would throw a fit if he tried to help so he feined disinterest


leaning into a stretch that was more painful than soothing he leaned over the side of the wagon

'this is boring, why are we going this way again?'

[Rosekitten]

He scowled at his brother for not remembering why they were doing this. "Well.. to put it bluntly Luka, it's because we're broke!" He hissed a little with his last words, it was Luka's fault he was poor at managing money. He could see in the future he'd be the one gambling it away or wasting the funds they needed to live off of on women and other pleasures.

"Be thankful.." He said slightly scolding Luka though he figured he was talking more to himself then anything as they entered into the town's gate. He kept following the wagon as it turned a corner and stopped just outside of a small shop like building and the merchant informed the two that this was it.

"well time to get to work" He looked towards his brother and didn't expect any help so he made a motion to shoo him out of the way instead and started assisting in carrying the crates inside or at least to the front step of the building.

[littl3chocobo]

luka rolled his eyes, so what if he was not the best manager of money, it was his brother's fault for not holding onto it himself. he looked up at the town as the wagon turned into the merchent's side court. his staring was rudly interupted by his brother waving hands and telling him to scram. he hopped down and wandered into the shop where he was hoping to find someone who could give him some news about this place and maybe tell him any news of his beau

[Rosekitten]

There was a young woman inside the shop, from her looks probably a daughter of the merchant. She greeted Luka as he entered the shop and thanked him for helping her father get his supplies here safely, explaining that they had trouble in recent weeks with bandits stealing most of the supplies. They had even lost a few of the horses during one of the trips back between the towns.

Luden went about helping carrying the crates inside the building once they were off of the cart, the merchant turned hi attention to the old steed as he walked it and the cart to the side of the building where a small stable was located.

After a few moments of this Luden sighed heavily setting the last crate down where he was told to. The young woman was still tending to Luka's questing about the quest they were just on and about the town. It was a simple town and only a handful of guards to protect it and they did the best they could.

"Sounds like they could use a few hired hands." He said listening to the conversation. The girl nodded a little knowing he was right. Luden saw this as a good place to stop in the travels get a little bit of pocket change and then they could leave all the while doing the town a favor, maybe if luck was with them they wouldn't be kicked out due to something Luka did....

[littl3chocobo]

luka waited until his brother was out of earshot to whisper to the girl 'have you heard of fenris' hunter?' he waited a moment to see if she recognised the phrase for what it was. she nodded worriedly as luden came back within earshot, luka wasted no time skipping back to the conversation from before hoping the girl had the brains to do the same '...so that is our prediciment' she nodded along to her words as his brother piped in 'sounds like they could use a few hired hands.' he took the moment to wandered over to the wares on sell.

he'd give an eye tooth before admitting that he needed his brother to survive outside of their village but he was tired of being babied too the constant mothering was enough to make him sulk, he just wanted to clear his name and go home

[Rosekitten]

The merchant quickly thanked both of them repeating that they could make use of the back room, though they'd have to supply their own bedding if they wanted any. A roof was good enough for Luden, it was better then a damned stable that was for sure. "We'll be back later then.." He sighed a little waving the merchant off taking notice that his brother was lollygagging around. He shrugged this off as he left the shop, he figured Luka couldn't get into but so much trouble.

But now he thought about it and he had nothing to do once again, aside from walking around the town and hoping to get some odd job to pass the time. He was easily labeled as a workaholic. 'For a town with troubles everyone's in high spirits at least..' or that's what he thought to himself as he walked along the shops and houses. It was almost too peaceful here at the moment as he made his way to the guard house. Though he quickly got a odd look from the man behind the desk at the front door.

Probably for good reason, his eyes were white almost unnatural looking and he carried a runed blade at his side. Aside from that he looked young to be a mage and didn't look like he was strong enough to properly wield the blade at his side. He frowned a little knowing it was the same look as always. "I'm here for work" He said aloud abruptly "I was told that the town has bandit problems.. and that the guard hires to help with the issue." He'd have to wait for his answer to such a request as the what seemed to be commander of the guards here looked him over.

[littl3chocobo]

after his brother left the girl came over to luka 'the one who can answer your questions is master anson the bandit lord, but sir, he takes no companey, you will be killed if you work for the queen and forced to join if you are not. the entire town is his personal park' she shuddered a bit 'you are best not knowing anyway' she quickly left his side and played at cleaning the other side of the room. luka figured he'd get no more out of her and my next morning the word on his asking would be out. he left the shop in hopes of finding his brother

[Rosekitten]

The man seemed to be done looking this 'kid' over "How old are you anyway" He finally piped up and asked as he stood, still seemingly unsure about why a boy of the age he was thinking was out and about let alone looking for work in a town he didn't live in.

"19 sir.. " He didn't skip a beat in answering the man about his age, he had nothing to hide though he knew the next question easily enough.

"Why are you not in a training camp then? At your age you should be at one of the many.." He was cut off by the from Luden. "Our town .. is a small one sir we don't ship off any for training." It was true enough, he had wanted to go but his parents had forbidden it at a early age and then later down the road he ended up with the task of caring for his brother. He had a will to be one of the white knights, the group that traveled solving problems as they went along. Though it wasn't going to happen not anymore anyway.

The man seemed to think it over a little before he spoke again "go home, we have enough troubles without watching over a brat as well"

Luden didn't like the answer at all but bowed either way to show his respect before walking out of the building. "tsk... damn it.." Sure they had funds from helping the merchant but it wasn't going to last no time. Upon walking out of the door he noticed that Luka was walking about as well as he approached him.

"decided to walk now huh?" He smiled though it was a forced one and it was easy enough to tell it too. He was merely picking at his brother and the fact he had road most of the way here.

[littl3chocobo]

'tch, only because you forgot to carry me' he replied with a light smile. he had overheard the conversation and was dissapointed to find the older man so unwilling, he didn't like to decieve the local populus but he knew they needed the money and figured since he had spent nearly all of it himself he should help get it back

hearing his brother's light laugh at the response he continued 'do you want me to convince him to hire you?'

[Rosekitten]

He seemed to consider the offer for a moment before declining it. "We'll make do, always have" It just meant that meals would be tight till the next town, or until trouble crossed into this one and he invoked his rights as a sword for hire if he took care of any problems that crossed his blade. Most of the time the latter happened it wasn't that uncommon for towns to turn his offer down, he just had to wait out till their birthday, what the hell another year meant to the human mind was beyond him.

"what to do..." he finally said aloud, it was easy to tell having nothing to do bothered him to no end. He'd give anything to always stay busy though it hardly seemed to happen. Nothing like when they were back home and father and mother both made sure they had their fair share of chores at all times. Though he needed to stop thinking about those days that were long past.

"oh here" He said pulling a small purse from his belt and forcing it into Luka's hand "try to hold onto it or we'll really be in for rough times eh?" Though he was just teasing.. even if it were true.

[littl3chocobo]

he took the pouch his brother handed over a bit reluctantly, he was sure he would have been taken up on his offer. now he was going to have to lie to two people today

[Rosekitten]

He noticed something seemed a bit off with Luka's mood though he never questioned it. Whatever was on his mind would come out sooner or later, though normally if it were later it was never anything good. "well.. I guess time to go bother some of the shop keepers..." With the guard's not willing to accept help probably out of pride and in spite of themselves he had no choice but to do some odds and end work. Every bit added up and could turn out to save their asses if it came down to it.

He reached a hand up and patted his brother's shoulder "stay out of trouble hrm? just a few hours. Or better yet help me, you can lift things even if you use your magic" though he was against that idea not everyone liked magic users. Or that was the experience so far through the travels.

[littl3chocobo]

he smiled softly at his brother, they both knew he couldn't help but meddle though luka knew not to be too dramatic, the memory of the last village was the only one where he could honestly say they left of their on violation 'nah, i don't want to get my clothes dirty, actually could you hold my staff? it's too bulky to carry around all of the time' he handed it over 'thanks'

luka wandered back around the corner to where luden was before, the men were all still there 'here goes nothing, lets see if this trinket was worth the toungue lashing' he softly said as he ran a finger over the runes in the bangle around his wrist, the warmth of magic filled his hand and arm. he walked up to the tallest and ugliest of the lot and bowed

'hello' m name is luka reily' he held out his hand. the man looked at it scornfully before taking it into his own. luka took a small breath in and sqweezed the proofferend hand, small pops and crunches ussued from the other as luka crushed his hand warningly 'sir,' he dropped his voice 'my brother and i are traveling through, we wish to help you with your....problem, i am not as strong as my brother but i think we can fix what ails this town if you give us a chance' he let go smoothly noting unflinchingly at the white marks left in the other man's hand, a mirror mark to his own soft unmarked digets

'thankyou for your time, please think it over' he walked away in a bored easygoing posture. he knew this way they'd get work even if they'd make no friends doing it, hopefully his brother would not find out too quickly how he got the gaurd master to change his tune or at the very least pretend he didn't notice until they were well on their way

[Rosekitten]

He sort of stood there as Luka forced him to hold the staff. "what the... " He couldn't even get his sentence out before his brother had walked around the corner. 'great now what is he up to..' he thought to himself knowing that it wasn't uncommon for his brother to get into trouble when he walked off on his own.

Once he saw his brother walk back around the corner he walked forward and handed the staff back giving him a sort of look as if asking what did he do now. He shrugged it off for now as he started to turn and walk towards the main road of the town to start his hunting process.

Though this was cut short as one of the guards walked around the corner as well and stopped them both. Though the canniness that they both looked almost identical threw him off for a moment. The guard explained that his commander had changed his mind and that they had gotten word of a planned raid on the town tonight.

This would work well enough seeing as they were staying in town anyway. Though the man left out that he was only asking for the help and paying them for it to prevent from making the mage angry... it was feared among many areas to have the gift of magic wasn't the most common thing in the world. Though if Luden went about flaunting that he had magic in his blood as well he might get more people to pay attention to his words, but his was a different type of magic compared to his brothers.

He listened to what the guard had to say before he parted ways with the brothers leaving them to their will. He didn't say a word that he knew Luka had done something, he wasn't going to complain not when they were in dire need of funds. Besides what did he care he needed to get off of his act of trying to stay on the path to becoming a knight, it wasn't happening not when they were both common bloods and orphans to boot. There was a stack of other complications to the matter as well but he didn't need to remind himself in his head that this world had something against him and his sibling.

[littl3chocobo]

luka looked as nonshaloant about it as he could when the fellah came up a few minutes behind him and stared, double unlucky twins were said to be and potentially magical ones worse. he did a passable job as well in standing there looking idle while the man talked about a raid but when he and his brother were left alone he let his eyes close 'luden...' he said in a bored voice hoping to hide the tiredness, he started to feel woozy 'i think i got too much sun, where were we staying again, i forgot, this aweful place looks just like the last one' he stablized himself the best he could but kept his eyes closed, the pain in his head from unfamilliar magic had started to let itself be noticed, but it was a safe pain compared to the frightful magic he himself, and maybe even his brother weilded