Incline 35: Ivahstar

Passing by another set of stands manned by gun runners, my daughter finally comes into sight. She looks up from her idle fiddling and gives a gentle wave. I return the gesture, getting but a nod from Hrurim as he lazes about. The human scratches his head as I approach, pulling out a stick and his lighter.

"All sorted, Bossman?" he asks me, lighting the end of his stick and dragging in a length of smoke. I give a quick nod, minding the fog he's now breathing out. Heiya hacks a fake cough, one of her hands waving away before her nose. The pair share a quick flick of rude gestures and I get between them.

"All is sorted in the main building. They'll be coming by to check some things. Make sure the package here is really what we say it is." I explain, heading towards Nin with a random pole that happened to be lying around. Whoever it belongs to clearly doesn't miss it. And Nin here *will* once I'm done jabbing and whacking him.

The magicless osibindah grits his teeth, withstanding the abuse and torment. I hold back from going at him too harshly, too mindful of his notable trait. The people coming over might be checking for proof of mortality, but they'll note wounds and all. Each bit will be used against us somehow. This might be a black market, but the suits and ties are always the same regardless of which side of the law they're on.

Still, one last chance to get some payback for that airship trip we had. I remember it quite clearly. I remember Nin here using my daughter as a means to threaten out my expertise. I've no sorrow or pity for the bug, even going beyond what he is.

"C'mon, Pops!" Heiya whines, tugging at my arm as a giggling smirk grows across her face. I raise a paw, nodding my head along as I fight back against her pulls. My eyes keep with Hrurim's half-lidded gaze and silent implication goes between us. He huffs, a smile coming to his lips.

"Go on, Ivahstar. Go and enjoy your father-daughter time." Hrurim chuckles and I nod, turning around to grab my daughter fully. I shake her about as revenge for her teasing and give her a playful shove ahead.

"Oh, wait." Heiya goes, rushing back Hrurim's way to grab something. She comes skipping back, a giggle to her lips and a jingling bag in hand. My eyes follow the handles and a hefty sigh bursts through my nose as I take in the full duffle. I nod down the makeshift market street and she gives Hrurim a quick wave. 

"Don't worry, Ivahstar! I'll sell this bug alright." Hrurim promises, though I think nothing of it as we won't be getting any buyers any time soon. It's certainly not a matter of if, though, only when. A calming detail that I can do nothing but appreciate. 

"So... See anything worth buying?" Heiya asks, catching my attention with her invasive, pouting expression. I give her a gentle shove away, pushing the Laugh Away button somewhere on her cheek. She simmers down into a giggle, one she even hides her mouth with. A snort leaves me and I shake my smirking head.

My precious Princess doing something like that? Why, I guess those girls from Agadton really did rub off on her.

"That depends. Certainly someone sees it as worth buying if so many sellers are here." I say, shrugging at my dry wit as my daughter scowls.

"Not like that!" she snaps, annoyed by the universal humour of dads.

"My answer is the same, regardless." I answer more seriously, though I'm still giving her a curving lip. She rolls her eyes and takes my hand, pulling me along.

"Rubbish. Rubbish. Rubbish." she repeats without pause, the shifting crowd being almost comically obstructive to me. I can't even see what she's talking about, what passes her for a clean view, then blocks me. Heading ahead isn't helping either. Other people get in the way. When I linger, too, people are in the way whereas the view is clear for her!

I look up with a quick scowl and roll my eyes at the cavern-blocked heavens. Whatever god is responsible, I'm certainly going to be having words with during my next prayer. Well, if I ever pray again. So I guess they'll never hear me and my complaints. What a suitable arrangement for both of us. 

"You sound and look excited at the selection." I say, reaching my daughter again. Her lips raspberry and she looks around aimlessly. She comes to a stop with a shrug and a jostle of her rifle.

"None of the stuff immediately here seems to be rifle focused." she explains, and I let out a lengthy 'hmm' of thought. Rather than walking physically, I do so in my head. Retracing all the shops I've been by to the point I eventually met back up with the pair. Rifles... Rifles... Rifles where?

I think maybe...?

"There were a fair few gun runners back that way." I point out, urging my daughter along so we don't run afoul of the impatience customer base of this place. Shady as everyone looks in the normal sense, this is a serious place for serious intentions. All the roads here lead to the same want and place: Crime.

"There better be something good." Heiya mutters as I match her pace, lingering at her side.

"It's not the end of the world if there's nothing good." I say, and she scoffs.

"It better not be. There's no other worlds to go to in order to buy things." my daughter lets out and I give her a little smile of appreciation. Nice to know she's got an understanding of theology and history. Little as it is.

I tap her arm, urging her to follow me down a shortcut between the back ends of some tents. My fingers warn her of the pegs and ropes down below. Though the duffel bag still catches on some of them. Disturbed sellers peek out at us and go off on one. Me and my daughter bond over the collective satisfaction of giving many birds as an apology.

We get back into the open and I direct us back onto the route, "Should be around here, Heiya."

"If we're lost, Pops..." Heiya warns, and I don't pay enough attention to know if it's mock or sincere. I look her way, not paying the slightest mind to her expression. I give her a shrug and she grumbles.

"If we're lost, it's your fault." I say, shifting the blame onto her, as there's no way it's my fault. I managed to get away from her and Hrurim, go through the central building and its hustle and bustle. Then, find my way back to those two while having no clue where they were! Obviously, it's my daughter's fault we're lost.

"Guess I best find us a way out of this, then." she says, coming close with a smile as she clings to my arm.

"Oh, how convenient? This shop sells navigation equipment." I point out, bringing us closer to the busy stall. I keep our money out of sight and the man manning the shop pays us no mind. Common courtesy of the black markets and all. Prove you got the cash when you want to buy. No words or promises here unless you know who they are. Properly know.

"So... What exactly is a map seller doing here?" Heiya whispers close to my ear and I lean towards hers.

"Smugglers routes, known law patrol routes. Warning areas with monsters. Gang territories. Things like that." I answer, explaining that distinction that might set a map here apart from others. Problem with these ones, though, is they're always done badly intentionally. Never to the truth and reality. Sting operations are a thing as are spies and turncoats.

Got to keep them guessing and out of their depth. Map Hoarders are certainly interesting ones to look out for. Known stereotype for a reason, after all. One of many reasons I learned to memorise what I can while using normal, legally sold maps.

A trick that's certainly come in handy as I shifted from being a hitman to a smuggler. Though, one of these maps in particular has me quite worried. It's quite the tell with how vast our greatest problem has got... Gamtambo's territory is quite the expanse now, even with my knowledge that this is likely a fake map. A lie is only as good as the truth it deviates from. 

Someone steps up, a small portion of cash in hand. The stall owner approaches, his silent demeanour not seeming as anything other than the ordinary. A map comes off the table, one of Gamtambo's territories. Cash leaves one paw, entering another and the pair share a silent shake.

I turn, following the buyer's motions as he looks the map over. He unveils it fully, glancing back and staring deep into my eyes. We break the stare and get back to our business. Heiya tugs at me, her eyes lowered.

"Should we go?" she asks quietly and I nod.

"Yes. Let's." I answer, this feeling of edge that I'm on feeling all too close to a scalpel than a smooth-corner table. We leave the stall behind, nothing seeming out of order in the crowd.

"Look, there's a gun stall!" Heiya points out with forced excitement. I shift my attention her way, following along to another opening in the crowd. We arrive at the stall and we repeat the prior courtesy. Heiya goes across the stall, its contents more to her taste.

The stall worker comes closer, my daughter's enthusiasm more than enough of an indicator. She leans to her side, eyeing my daughter's weapon and its make. Her eyes linger on the bit of decoration Heiya took from that ferry way back. The worker grows a little smile, huffing a bit.

"Quite the piece you got there," she remarks, catching my daughter's attention. Heiya glances up, her eyes not fully going up with her head.

"Thanks! It's a full custom job." Heiya says, pulling the weapon out, its well-placed safety in full view of anyone looking our way. I narrow my eyes at a particular pair as they mutter and point at Heiya's musket. Curiosity is clear, but what kind? Hm.

I look back at the joyous exchange and try to decipher their gibberish. Something about the specific parts, makes and manufacturers of it. Quality of material and the reality of it in use. Heiya's quite proud of the latter part with how much she looks after the thing.

"I might actually have something along those lines..." the stall worker says, practically diving under one of the tables and banging her head on the rise back up. She swears under her breath, slamming the crate down onto her other goods. It opens up, revealing even more smaller boxes. I cock a brow, watching one of these boxes come out.

"Trusting." I remark, watching the stall worker give Heiya the box without any money leaving our hands. Let alone the duffel bag actually rising into a clear view. The stall worker laughs, giving me a knowing smirk, and I look at Heiya. My daughter pouts, her eyes shining in a way that seems unnatural and becoming of someone like her. I roll my eyes and heave the duffel bag out of her hand.

"Wonderful." the stall worker says, tapping a metal plate marked with a number. I nod and sigh, pulling out the required amount. Her paw waits eagerly, fingers dancing to feel the weight of the cash. Light as it may be. 

"It's pickpocketed, no need to launder." I explain, giving the stall worker a free band to keep the money secured. She nods, swiftly pocketing it into her lockbox. A guard comes in, spooking the stall worker and the pair gets to bickering. I roll my eyes and take the duffel bag back.

"Thanks, Pops!" Heiya giggles and I nod and nod, not even sure what it is she bought.

"So, what is it? I wasn't paying attention." I ask, explaining my cluelessness regardless of her care or not. 

"Hold on, let's get out of the way. I want to show you properly." Heiya explains, her fingers fiddling about with the box and her musket. I nudge her along, more than understanding the situation given my own luggage. We hobble out of the way, going back behind some stalls, and I drop my stuff. Sitting down on the money for lack of a seat elsewhere.

"So, come on. Show it." I say, eager to get an idea of what it actually is. My ears shift, unable to properly gauge what is going on about us. It's not a good place to be aware of your surroundings, a black market. Let alone between shops and storage spaces.

At least we're out of sight, though.

"Dammit... Come on... Of all the boxes- Ah! Got it! POPS-" Heiya mutters, her tone and expression shifting too late. I barely feel my body slump, a blow echoing in my head as blurry figures swarm into my vision. I blink harshly as the concussion gets the better of me. A lone man comes to mind, though he hasn't the backbone to be here himself...

Gamtambo.