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 Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 9:53 pm
(Insert description here.)
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Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 10:04 pm
Amstel stood underneathe a fallen slab of concrete that was once the floor to a rather tall building, it was securely held up by other broken pieces of cement.
He held a small, plastic, battery powered lantern, a smudge of dirt on his cheek from the long day of wandering and prawling through the shattered city streets.
The knees of his pants were torn, the bottoms soaked and caked in dirt and grime.
There were a few others with him including two men, a woman and two children.
He sighed heavily, streaking a hand through his white-blonde hair as he watched the others huddled together for warmth. It was raining out, and it was night time, so the air was chilly and full of fog, one could see their breath in the air.
"Just take your time. If you don't have the energy, we can start walking again in the morning." He said to the others, setting the lantern down on the ground. He had a few batteries in his pocket that he'd swiped on his little adventures in the city, so if the batteries wore out, he'd be able to keep the light going for a while longer.
He was leading them to an abandoned building where they could call shelter, atleast for the time being, as it hadn't collapsed and had alright insulation.
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 6:55 pm
As fun as it is to blatantly steal something, show the owner you took it and then run off like a laughing wild dog...well, that didn't tend to get very stable results. After spending enough time crawling your way around a dark place hoping for some sort of food to simply drop in your lap...one does tend to simply learn how to be quiet. Keep your eyes down, and slide whatever you can manage to get your quick little fingers on into every available space on your person.
Michael hadn't liked the rather boring way of dealing with the world as it was...but it worked. Walk on by some hawker selling rather questionable food stuffs, let your hand shoot out to grab the most inconspicuous bit of food and tuck it somewhere that won't rustle your clothes enough. If you were lucky enough, you could bump into someone who would wobble; cause a small scene while you were doing your shopping.
No, going day to day wasn't the fun part. But on the off chance someone DID catch you...getting away could be a world of fun.
"Let's see ya jump all the way up 'ere, ya saggy-assed geezer!" He ran along a broken rooftop, sliding down a collapsed side before rounding the corner; headed for a dilapidated stand of broken stone and pipe that looked like it had once been a house. Or maybe a morgue. You could never tell.
It wasn't as though he had taken much. A handful of what the man was passing off as bread. For all his luck, it was probably going to be glazed fiber glass. The patrons couldn't complain if they were at home, dead from shredded intestines.
Mmm...fiber.
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 7:08 pm
Amstel saw the whole scene, the young man running off with stolen goods, sighed, rolling his eyes and shaking his head. He asked his group to wait before he chased after the young thief, being much faster than he appeared. "Hey, get back here!" He yelled at the thief, catching up behind him, grabbing the other's arm and yanking him to the ground before he hid for cover in the broken home.
"You better give that bread back, it's not nice to steal, you know." He said in an irritated tone, though a blank expression crossed his handsome, dirt smeared face.
He pryed the bread from the younger male's hand and released his arm,"Now if you don't go back and return this bread and apologize, I'll string you up at midnight so the Monsters can come and eat you." He threatened, a smirk playing on his lips. "Or I could kidnap you." He said in an even quieter tone.
He turned and looked at his group, the men, women and children that he'd been traveling with, and he motioned for them to come over.
They shuffled toward Amstel, dressed in nothing but dirty, torn rags, though they looked relieved because it was day time and they were safe, as long as they didn't travel around open sewer holes.
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 7:16 pm
Michael growled low in his throat, making a grab for the bread. "It is when y'aven't eaten in about three days. An what 'e's askin' for it ain't any better 'n robbery!" He made another reach for the bread; not terribly skilled at getting things that were actually moving around. It was one reason why he stuck to the stationary goods.
He gave the white haired man a good hard look of sullen anger, jutting his jaw to the side before he flung himself back against the dirty ground. But instead of trying to get back up, or maybe pitching an infantile fit..he simply put his hands behind his head and crossed his legs at the ankle. "Go ahead. Knock yerself out. Heck, use some fancy knots. Ain't like I ain't gonna get out." He closed his eyes, giving a tiny sniff that curled his lip on one side as he switched which of his ankles was on top.
"An mister, ya gotta have a place t'live, an people t'want ya if yer gonna get'cherself kidnapped. Don' think it's kidnappin' if ya don' got nobody t' call it that. Think it's just....forced movin." He shrugged, looking as though he didn't give two rat's asses what the man did. He didn't believe he was going to anyways. There were only really twisted people who would string you up for the monsters to play with. And chances were, those people wouldn't have given him options. Maybe would have cut his hand off and eaten the bread themselves.
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 7:40 pm
Amstel grumbled sligtly as he watched the smaller male flop back down on the ground, but he turned his cerulean eyes to his group members. "You guys can go ahead, the shelter isn't too far away from here. I'll catch up with you." He said with a smile as the others began to walk to their desginated locations.
He looked back down at the smaller male, reaching down and grabbing his arm, yanking him up to his feet. He obviously wasn't going to let him get away with it.
He started dragging the small thief to where he'd stolen the bread in the first place, the man who had a blanket laid out on a flat piece of concrete, his food goods set on top.
"Excuse me sir." Amstel said as he approached the blanket, tugging the other male along with him. He presented the hunk of bread to the man,"I believe this young man stole a piece of your bread." He said, looking from the man sitting by the blanket, to the other he grasped firmly in his hand. He found it odd who he somewhat admired the young male, maybe not for his looks, but for his attitude.
"Why don't you make it easier on yourself and just apologize?" He said slyly with a devious smirk.
He leaned over to the young thief,"And I know you haven't eaten, so if you just apologize, I'll get you some food that's better than stale bread." He whispered into his ear before standing up straight.
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:51 pm
Michael let out a small yelp as he was tugged up from the ground, his other hand automatically going to the opposite upper arm as he scrunched his eyes closed. "Hey hey HEY! That's attached, y'know!" He cried as he was drug forward, trying to dig his heels in and finding he simply didn't have the slower movement that was required. Drag a man slow, and he'll drag himself like a jackass. Go too fast, and he'll stumble all over himself trying not to fall on his face.
When they got to the man though, his face went as red as scarlet, his eyes a little wide. Steal from the same people over and over, sure...come back and talk to them afterward? Never. NEVER. He blinked, his ear burning after Amstel whispered in it as he stood himself straight out of pure stricken embarrassment. He wasn't guilty; No, that would have meant he was sorry. And he wasn't sorry at all. No, he was surprised. Shocked. Almost appalled at the idea of apologizing for trying to keep himself alive. And being drug into it like a child who didn't want to return a toy.
For a moment he stood there, like a deer caught at the river before he suddenly huffed; air blowing out and sending his silken (if not a touch messy) onyx locks flying about his face, then let himself plop down to the ground on his rear as his arm was wrenched up at an odd angle. He could have bent quite a bit more if he wanted, but the wincing on his face showed at least that it hurt to do it quickly. He crossed his arms; as best as he could being as he only had one arm to work with, and his legs as he set his jaw again.
"I ain' sorry, Pops, so it ain' gonna mean much if I say it." He said in a rather firm and sulky tone to the man sat across from him. He didn't see a reason why he had to say sorry. Empty words from an empty stomach. He wasn't sorry..no..
He was hungry. And irritated. Damnit..
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 9:12 pm
Amstel glared at the boy, sighing at his immaturity, releasing his arm. "Pathetic." He said quietly before he looked to the man sitting,"I'm sorry for all this trouble." He said to him in the nicest tone he could muster.
"If you swallow a bit of your selfish pride, there's a shelter only a little ways south of here, a 10 minute walk. It's one of the few buildings still standing." He said, resting his hands on his hips as he looked at the young man with sharp cerulean eyes.
"You're welcomed to join us. But if I catch you stealing around there, I wont be as easy on you." He said before he started walking again, then he began to jog to catch up to the group he asked to go on ahead of him.
Amstel knew very well how hard it was to obtain untainted food nowadays, and how hard it was to care for one's self, but he didn't think that any excuse from stealing from another person, depriving them of their hard work in this barren wasteland.
At the shelter, there was a small farm that was producing crops successfully, growing corn, potatoes and wheat.
The wheat was used to make loaves of bread that was sometimes given out to hungry travelers, aswell as soup made with spices and seasonings grown beside the building.
Amstel and his group were visiting the shelterfor a place to sleep and eat in return for manual labor, and helping in the fields.
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 10:56 pm
Michael bit on the corner of his lower lip, still sulking for all he was worth. He didn't like people swooping in and trying to tell him what to do. He didn't have a boss..didn't have parents..what were they thinking? That he was just craving some of that old time parenting? As though having his own set of rules made him what..? Some simpering fool crawling around on the floor..or..what? A child? Nawww..couldn't be that.
He did find himself following the white haired man though; looking as if he had been told to, and forced at some form of dangerous weapon's end to do so. Sullen. Sulky. Oh for ********; he was pouting.
His eyes snapped up though when the man started going faster, his feet picking up pace to keep in time with him. It felt odd..running when you weren't worried about what was behind you. He had no idea where he was going, or why, and he only hoped..hoped to high heaven that there was something to eat. Like a puppy who'd scented fresh meat on someone's hand. Smelled the smells of a home well into a family dinner and wanted but a scrap. Yeah..he could do with a scrap.
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 11:10 pm
Amstel noticed the other was following him, slowing to a walk as he caught up with the group, though they paid no mind as the other male followed. They'd had other visiters from time to time, some coming and going. Amstel was well known around the shelter, he stayed often, and helped people migrate there so they could get some food and rest before they traveled again.
He smirked, slowing down even more so it was just him and the young man hanging in the back of the group. "So what's your name, stranger?" He asked with interest in his voice, but always a blank expression on his face. He looked in desperate need of a bath, his body had spots of mud and dirt here and there, the bottom of his jeans were torn and his hair was a white-blonde mess atop his head. Though, he managed to pull off the dirty-grimey look, and still look as handsome as ever.
"Normally I don't converse with thieves, but on this case, I guess I can make an exception." He said, resting his hands behind his back as he walked.
"I just hope they'll have enough room at the shelter for all of us. Their beds seem to be pretty full nowadays. By the way, if you don't work, you don't eat. Thats the rules." He said, nodding.
The shelter came into view after a few moments of walking, it was quite a large one floor building, some of it seemed to be collapsed, but most of it looked in good condition. Behind it, there were a few small fields of vegetables growing, some people going over the fields with pails of water, inspecting the crops.
Amstel lead the way in, talking to the owners, a kind and hospitable married couple, and introduced the new comers, then showed them to where the beds were.
He lead the others into one of the larger backrooms filled with rows and rows of cots, though most of them looked occupied. One in the corner had alot of belongings surrounding it, that was obviously Amstel's bed as he often collected things from his adventures through the city and kept them near his bed.
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Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 9:09 pm
"I ain' some puppy, gone followin' ya..an t'be won with food. I'll stay a night, I'll eat, then I'll go somewhere far, far away. Where y'won' be able t' ******** me up." Michael said pointedly to the man. He had no reason to take anything from these people..he had nowhere to put items. And it wasn't very often you found someone with enough money to be buying off of you anyways. Mostly..it was just people trying to sell what they had for enough food for the next whatever.
He did look around though, hands up behind his head with his fingers laced through his hair. He had a look on his face that clearly said he wasn't impressed in the slightest; maybe even severely bored.
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Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 10:00 pm
Amstel huffed at Michael,"Well, you have to earn your food. So I suggest you get out in the field like everyone else, then." He said in a snippy tone as he moved over to his bed in the corner, sitting down on the top.
He reached under his bed and grabbed a large leather bound book, opening it and writing something down inside of it with a pen. He was writing down all the names of the travelers he brought to the safe haven today.
Then he laid back, crossing his arms behind his head and closing his eyes, a relaxed sigh escaping his lips.
He earned his rights to eat and sleep at the sanctuary because he helped guide people in need there.
And since he technically hadn't slept in atleast two days, he believed he deserved the right to take a little nap.
He slept contently in his bed, in the corner of the room with all sorts of trinkets and valuables, at least to him anyway, surrounding it.
The other travelers that were following him were treated to a glass of clean water, and a small loaf of bread before asked to head out to the field. The children did the easy work, helping to take care of the small livestock that loved near the fields, such as chickens and turkeys.
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Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:13 pm
"...Fine. I'll just go outside, an pretend I know what I'm doin'." Michael huffed to himself, actually irritated he'd been so disregarded. It'd serve the man right if he tried to pocket some of the smaller and shinier things surrounding the bed; the little glimmers that caught at his eyes as he moved around in his uncomfortable and nervous way. Yeah...that'd serve him damn right.
He turned on his heel and headed outside, wandering toward what he could only guess were the fields. He'd never seen real honest to god plants before. Well, maybe stink weed, or some wretched thing that dug it's roots deep, and spread itself as fast and as far as it possibly could. What other plant could live on it's own in this world, if not something predatory and stubborn? It made perfect sense. These certainly weren't the kinds of plants he was used to..he wasn't even sure what any of them were. He knew some people in the towns kept plants..but you never knew for sure who they were. Most people selling vegetables and fruit were people who bought it from someone else, so they could sell it at a higher price. The growers...they kept their babies a secret so people wouldn't wisk them away in the dead of night. Or the dead of the day. Really, it simply wasn't safe in the towns to have much anything of value on hand.
Finally Michael found his way somehow to some overly cheerful woman with a hat that looked like it was more fit to be a colander than a hat..so many holes in it. But he supposed so long as it kept the sun off, then it was plenty fine. She described what it was he was supposed to do, while he stood and looked unimpressed.
At first. Then he looked confused. Then worried, and lastly downright panicky. She patted him on the shoulder and told him he would get used to it, or pick it up quickly. He wasn't sure which. His head was trying to run circles around the idea that he was going to get down on his knees, and dig about for bugs..parasites..weeds..what irked him more was the fact that he had to ask her to describe the things she was talking about. He had no idea what he was looking for..no idea at all what needed to be thrown out and what hadn't. And when she offered to send him out to help the children with the animals; he'd felt like he was going to melt into a puddle of goo and go sloughing into the dirt to feed the...what where they...?
Potatoes.
Oh yes. He was taking himself a trinket or two from that white haired son of a bossy b***h.
And he was still telling himself that as he found his way back inside hours later; dirt and only God knew what caked under his fingernails. Long hair a mess around his stained and sweaty face. He was sticky, and hot, and smelly, and somehow he had both brown AND green under his nails. His knees felt like they weren't there, AND like they were on fire. If he learned how to run while he felt like this...well, he wasn't sure what he was going to do to the man, but it was going to be something worth running away after.
"That...food..had better...taste like...heaven.." he panted to himself, feeling more or less rather like he was going to sway himself into a wall and knock himself out. This was certainly harder work than his own chosen profession of simply walking around and sticking things from other people's carts or pockets into his own.
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