Year 25

"Look, I dunno anything about what that old bastard does in his spare time, I just pay my rent and mind my own business." You say.

The militiamen give you a look like they don't quite believe you.

"Just an innocent in all this eh? Bullshit. Trobart says you're a rogue through and through." One of them remarks.
"Yeah, and one of your neighbors, Randi I believe? She says you even have ties to the Crimson Talons." Another adds.

You nearly want to laugh, but you resist since you don't want to piss off the militia unnecessarily.

"Really? You're going to believe a whore and some guy that sells alcohol illegally in his basement? They're just trying to save their own asses by making false accusations! You turned my room upside down and didn't find ANY stolen goods. And if I was a Crimson Talon, do you really think I'd be living in the shithole that I'm currently living in?" you answer.
"Didn't say you were a Crimson Talon, just said you had ties to them. And if you think just because we didn't catch you with anything that you're off the hook. You deny that you're a criminal, but as I said, it's obvious that you have no visible means of support, so you have to be doing something illegal." A militia officer says.
"How do you know I don't have a proper job? You're just making baseless assumptions."
"Am I now? I don't think so. I think it's obvious that you're just some second rate pissant sneak thief that is so pathetic at your own lowly trade that you managed to avoid our eye for so long. In fact I can imagine you probably TRIED to join the Crimson Talons, but they just kept you on as an associate bitch because you weren't good enough to be a real member."
"Interesting theory. Is this going somewhere?"
"YOU'RE going to be going somewhere if you don't shut the fuck up and listen closely to my offer!" the militia officer exclaims, getting in your face.

You sit back in your chair and remain silent. The militia officer continues to stare at you assessing your every tell your face might be giving off.

"It's like this criminal scum. You're on our fucking list now. I've got your name, I've got your ass. Your best bet would be to just get the fuck out of this city, but I know you. You probably think you're smarter than me. Well you ain't and you're gonna get caught. Maybe not now. Maybe not even next year, but you WILL fuck up. And when you do, I'm going to make sure they put you in the smallest hanging cage we got. Believe that."

The militia officer then pulls back a bit and adopts a less combative stance along with a calmer voice.

"Now, all that being said…we do have bigger fish to catch and if you did… say have ties to the Crimson Talons then MAYBE you might know where their hideout is. If you helped us with something like that, then well maybe I might be inclined to not keep such a close eye on you."

Well it's times like these that make being a criminal not so much fun, though honestly as the years have been going on, you're starting to wonder why you ever thought it was fun in the first place.

You haven't really much contact with the Crimson Talons since Zalmora visited you that one day asking you to join. All you did hear is that Tom isn't in charge anymore and was killed by one of the more aggressive members who took over. Word says he's a real tyrannical asshole, which might explain why none of the Talon members that have gotten arrested haven't actually ratted on him themselves.

It also explains when you have bumped into a couple of their members randomly in the taverns, they've been less than friendly and warned you to stay out of their territory. (Which you most certainly have been doing for years now)

You do know that their headquarters is still in the same location. You don't know why the militia doesn't know where it is though given how they've increased their own activity as of late. The militia can be remarkably blind at times.

"Look, if I did have dealings with the Crimson Talons, I'd help you out, but I just don't associate with such people. Apologies." You say.

The militia officer doesn't look pleased by your answer, and you sort of wonder if he's going to end up throwing you in jail anyway, but he lets you go.

"Okay then, but remember I gave you an out today and you turned it down. Be seeing you soon criminal."

You get up from the chair you've been sitting on for who knows how long and walk out the door, though not before one of the militia shoves the back of your head. It's frustrating, but any dealing with the militia that you walk away from is a victory.

From the militia barracks you make your way back to the Welcome Mat, which is practically destroyed at this point. At least it is on the inside. The law-abiding inhabitants (Or at least the criminal ones that didn't get caught) are busily trying to gather and clean up the mess the militia made of their homes. You imagine Trobart, even with his ratting bullshit on you isn't going to be able to keep this place any longer.

You enter your own ruined room where upon Elana comes out from whatever hole in the wall she was hiding in and squeaks at you.

"Hey Elana, glad to see they didn't get you girl. Now let's hope they didn't get anything else either."

You find a chair that wasn't destroyed and check the hiding spot you have in the ceiling of your room. After checking and pulling out your small locked container you breathe a sigh of relief. Your small savings are still intact.

You'll be needing it too, because everything else was taken. Your weapons, your tools, everything that you use or need in your profession. Granted it wasn't a lot, but it's still a loss. You'll also be needing to find a new place to live.

As you're pondering your next move, your door with the broken lock opens up. It's Virgil and he appears to be sober for a change.

"Damn, they really did a number on yer room too I see." Virgil says.
"Yeah, but it's still my fucking room. What the hell do you want, I don't have any money so you can go get drunk." you say.
"And I wasn't askin'. Sheesh, I was just coming in here to see if you were around. I wanted to apologize for bothering you all the time for money actually."
"Oh?"
"Yeah…I mean I dunno if you noticed but I haven't been around as much lately."
"Hmm, I did notice a reduction in our usual encounters over the past month."
"I've been trying to get my life back together. Get myself right with Joachim again. Part of that is me apologizing and trying to make amends for all the times I bothered you."
"Oh yeah? You got a bag full of coins for all the times I gave you money for booze?"
"No. I wish I did. I know how you like money…I might even give you a lecture about that, but I'm not really in any position to do so. I first need to get myself right with Joachim and then I might be able to guide others into his light like I was supposed to be doing in the first place."
"Not sure if you preaching at me is any better than you hitting me up for booze money."
"I'm sure to you it isn't, but I'm here to apologize anyway and if there is something within my power to help you, just let me know."
"Well, thanks I suppose. Can't really think of anything I need from you though, unless you got an idea of a new cheap place to live at that isn't completely a shithole."
"Not really, unless you want to sleep in one of the poor rooms at the Church of Joachim. That's sort of where I've been staying lately. Would have been living there before, if I hadn't gotten asked to leave for my...weakness. Guess I might be living there for good now. Just as well. It was time to move on."
"Don't think that's going to work out for me, but thanks for the offer."

Virgil nods and then says something about Joachim's blessing be upon you.

You finish packing up and when you're only a few steps away from the Welcome Mat, it suddenly occurs to you. Your family's old inn. It's still abandoned. You could easily stay there and that would at least save you some of the costs.

"Should have thought about that in the first place." You say and make your way to the inn. Of course as you begin to do so, you realize you're being followed. That officer wasn't fucking around when he said he was going to have eyes on you all the time.

It takes some time, but you end up losing them, but now you're practically on the other side of the city! If this is how it's always going to be, it's not going to matter where you stay.

Maybe it is time to leave Klyton, which you suppose you don't mind since things haven't been the greatest here, but you just hate being chased off like this.

Of course there's always the option the officer suggested.

You don't really have any loyalty to the Talons, so if it did help you out in the long run, well it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. It might even help you with less competition around that is actually making it harder for everyone else. Ever since the change in leadership, the Talons have also been selling Yellow Devil which has been causing a bit of a minor crime wave, what with all the extra junkies running around causing problems. (Even at your stomping grounds, the University)

Of course being a rat is a pretty damn serious offense in the criminal world (Even if it goes on all the time) and if the Crimson Talons ever did find out, it probably wouldn't go well for you.

You rat on the Talons

Well, ratting on the Crimson Talons probably isn't the worst thing you've done…

You go back to the militia barracks where you're immediately stopped by some of its members who ask what you want. When you tell them that you want to speak to the officer in charge because you have information on the Crimson Talons, they tell you to wait while someone goes and gets Captain Branik, who apparently was the one interrogating you earlier.

Doesn't take long before you see this captain, who gives you a mildly smug look.

"Well, look who's back. Thought you didn't know anything." Branik says.
"I just remembered some details that slipped my mind." You retort.
"Hmm, well out with it then, and if your information is any good then we will have come to an understanding."

You give out what you know of the Crimson Talons, but specifically their headquarters location. He says something about how he can't believe they've been there the whole time. You also mention the secret sewer tunnel that leads from outside the city. Branik seems especially pleased by this information and mentions he'll send people through there as well when they move in to attack the place.

"This of course is all going to take a little time to put together and confirm, so in the meantime I'd like you to stay in the city. You know, just in case you're lying and this isn't some sort of set up." Branik says.
"What? What would I possibly gain by setting you up for anything? YOU told me to help you!" you say.
"Yes, but you didn't do it right away and even managed to disappear from the militia's watchful eye for awhile. I can't know if you haven't already tipped off your Crimson Talon buddies or something more sinister. So to put those concerns to rest, I just need you to stay within the city so that I may easily get a hold of you until this is all over. Be thankful I'm not just throwing you in a cell."

No good deed…

It's the best deal you're going to get at this point and really you have no idea now if the captain is even going to hold on to his end. Meanwhile you're probably still going to be having these militia assholes following you all over the city, which you can't even leave now!

You just leave shaking your head at the entire situation.

You honestly don't know what to do with yourself. You suppose you could live on your savings until all this shit blows over, but again you have no idea when that will be and if that asshole captain is even going to give you a break.

You still have to find a new place to live and you suppose squatting in your family's old inn is out now seeing as it's more trouble than it's worth.

Lacking any better ideas, you decide to go to the Church of Joachim that Virgil suggested. At least it will be free.

There are actually more than a few in the city, but you figure Virgil was talking about the one closest to the Welcome Mat so that's the one you seek out. It's probably the biggest one anyway due to more poor folks in the area sponging off the charity that the church provides.

When you get there you find that it's feeding the beggars day. Great now you have to put up with that smell along with whatever religious shit that's going to be preached at you.

You see Virgil serving up bowls of swill and approach him since you figure he knows where the flop room for the poor is.

"Hey Virgil." You say while trying not to get in the way of the hungry beggars who are eagerly taking their food and leaving.
"Hello. Surprised, but glad to see you. I'm a little busy at the moment, but what can I do for you?" Virgil responds.
"You said I could stay here awhile? Having sort of a problem finding a place to live at the moment."
"Oh sure. We have space so you can stay as long as you like, but erm…"
"But erm, what?"
"Well I know you're not exactly poor beggar or destitute mother with children and Brother Thadius is sort of a stickler for the rules."
"So what are you saying?"
"Well, maybe if you could donate to…"
"ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!" you exclaim at which point Virgil tells you to keep your voice down.

"Virgil, you TOLD me that you wanted to make amends to me or whatever and you also TOLD me that I could stay here for free!" you say.
"Actually I never said it was free…(Sigh) but I suppose it is true, I might have given you a false impression. For that I am sorry. However, you could still stay here for free, but it would still require something of you." Virgil says.

You at first think Virgil is going to tell you to get him a bottle of alcohol or maybe ask you to steal something. You're just counting on religious hypocrisy to rear its head, so it's a bit surprising when he asks you:

"If you could help me serve these bowls of soup, that I think would be enough to allow you to stay here for free."
"Wha…are you…(Sigh) fuck it. Fine."

You spend the next few hours serving swill to dirty, smelly beggars, bums, and the destitute. You can't believe it's come to this.

About the only think that breaks up the monotony is you have to throw out a Yellow Devil junkie who gets a little aggressive with the others. Normally you don't get excessively hostile to the point of violence unless its necessary, but you're in a foul mood due to current events. Just as you're about to really kick his ass until Virgil stops you.

"Hey, hey, easy! He's had enough; look he's going now. And I think you've had enough too. Thanks for your help; you can find a space on the floor in the sleeping area in the back of the church." Virgil says.

You don't say anything and just head to where Virgil said to go. When you enter the room, it isn't quite as bad as you thought it would be. Apparently most of the beggar types actually prefer sleeping in their own personal areas on the streets rather than a relatively clean church. Go figure.

What you do see more of is "regular poor folk." Families who have obviously suffered some hardship causing them to be homeless for whatever reason. You imagine their faith in Joachim keeps them going that things will get better. The fools.

You find a corner to be in, make a pillow with your bag and try to get some rest despite the sounds of children and people nearby. You can regroup tomorrow, you always do.

Next day…

You head to the university seeing as you don't have anything better planned at the moment.

Of course as soon as you start heading that way, militia is on your ass already. This is ridiculous. It's like they suddenly have some sixth sense of your whereabouts. You try to lose them a couple times and while you do succeed, it once again has taken you out of your way to your destination. Eventually you manage to get a carriage and ride to the university. From there you get to work.

All is going relatively well, though you do catch sight of more than a few wandering militia. You aren't sure if they're there specifically for you or just the usual.

On your way through one of the many student-gathering areas, you suddenly hear someone call out your name. You turn around and get a surprise.

"Yvette?" you answer.
"Glad to see you remembered me. How have you been?" Yvette asks.
"Um, I'm okay. And yourself? You probably graduated and are some sort of powerful wizard by now."
"On the graduation part yes, on the powerful wizard bit, well that's debatable. I'm sort of teaching and doing independent research on possible new spell components. It's a really good thing that the wizard college has such a generous benefactor on the Klyton Council. Otherwise, I'm not sure what I'd be doing with my life."
"You're a wizard, surely there's no limit to what you could do."
"I suppose in some ways, but I guess I just like what I get to do now…is something wrong? You seem a bit distracted."
"No, nothing's wrong. I'm just surprised to see you, let alone you even talking to me. Last time I remember you were pretty pissed at me."
"Oh. That. Yeah, I always meant to apologize to you about that, but I couldn't find you. I asked Dr. Gossey, but she said she didn't know much about you outside the times you helped her. I only knew your first name, but I didn't know what your area of study was. I must have went through a lot student lists, but never could track you down. I even tried some divination magic, but nothing turned up. Though I never was very good at that. Still, it almost seemed like you never even went here."
"Heh, yeah…wow didn't realize you looked for me. I'm really flattered."
"Well I gave up after about a year. I figured you probably graduated by then…so what are you doing here then? Are you teaching now too? What was your study anyway?"

Yvette is flooding you with questions that you weren't really prepared to answer with well thought out lies. She's being pretty friendly though and given how things have been going, it's nice a change. You sort of wonder about the fact that she looked for you for a year. Obviously, she had more in mind than just to apologize.

If you'd known that, you would have made more of an effort to seek her out too, rather than just fucking a whore that looked only vaguely like her a few times.

Well, hopefully better late than never…

"Okay, I'm just going to come out and ask. Were you interested in me back then?" you ask.
"Um…well…" Yvette stutters.
"I'll take that as a yes."
"Well wait no. I mean yeah, but…oh I'm not very good at this."
"Calm yourself then just speak your mind."
"Okay. Well, I didn't NOT like you. I mean I liked all of our time together up until Kelium died. Between that and worrying about my report, your kiss sort of caught me off guard. After my report was a success, I had time to think about your advance and while I would have preferred something less aggressive, I can't say that I entirely disliked it. Actually it might have even helped my report."
"How's that?"
"Yes, at the time I was so pissed at you that I ended up telling my superiors the story we agreed upon as well as adding that it was all your fault that things didn't go as planned. Since I was so mad at you, it came off as believable hence a successful report. I was actually going to thank you for that too."

You laugh a bit.

"Well glad it helped I guess. Though I suppose my question is and again this might be a long shot, but are you still interested in me?" you ask.
"I dunno. I mean it was years ago. We still don't know much about each other. I suppose the answer is the same as it was back then, I wouldn't be opposed to seeing you. I'm currently unattached. I have a bit of trouble meeting people that aren't also magic users and the few I do seem to get scared that I have magic powers." Yvette answers.
"What about other wizards?"
"Hah, yeah…well after going out with a few magic users in the past, that has not gone very well. I'll just leave it at that."

You're doing okay so far, but here's where the problem is going to come in, your real life.

If you pursue this relationship, you are going to have to change your life severely because you are entirely sure that Yvette is definitely not going to be good with your roguish ways.

Oddly, this isn't completely unappealing to you. Granted you've had an okay day here at the university, but how long before the militia gets more savvy and starts watching your movements here a lot more? You still can't walk to most places without them around and again you still don't know if they're going to hold up their end and leave you alone after they bust up the Crimson Talons.

When you really think back to what you've managed to accomplish as a rogue you aren't sure if it's worth it anymore. All you've been doing is going through the motions because you don't know any other way.

But if you really put your mind to it, you're a resourceful guy; you probably COULD do something different if you wanted to.

In any case, you still need to know how you're going to deal with Yvette. You could just tell her the truth about your life, which would prevent a possible shitstorm later, of course it could fuck up things now. Especially since you've basically been lying to her up until this point.

Of course if you've been lying to her all this time, you could just continue doing it and hope for the best. You could still try to change your life, but just not reveal your past.

You lie to Yvette

This relationship, if there is even going to be one is on shaky ground already. You can't imagine the truth really helping you out here.

"Yvette, I think before we go any further I should reveal something first because it's only fair that you know." You say.
"Uh oh." Yvette responds.

You explain that not long after your job with Dr. Gossey, you had to drop out of college because your parents suffered hardship back home and you had to help them out. After burying them both, you tell her there was nothing for you left in that one horse town, so with what money you had from selling the property you returned here. You tell her that you've actually only just recently returned hoping you could maybe find work here at the university and re-attend classes in the meantime on a work-study type program, but you haven't had much luck.

You go on to say, you're sort of giving up on the whole college thing and just trying to find ANY job since your savings are running low.

It's a bullshit tearjerker story that you threw together at the last minute.

Naturally Yvette still being the trusting soul you figured she would be, she swallows every line of it.

"Oh I had no idea! And I had treated you so terrible before all that happened!" Yvette exclaims.
"Don't worry about it. It's not like you could have known. Shit happens."
"I suppose, but still. I guess that's explains why I couldn't find you."
"Well I'm here now, if you're still interested of course. I mean I'd completely understand if you weren't."
"Gee, I mean it would look pretty shallow of me if I said I wasn't…not that I'm saying that. It's just it seems like you have a lot of other things you need to take care of before entertaining the idea of us going out together."
"Heh, trust me, you've been the single light during this dismal period, so you can bet I'm going to make the effort to spend time with you. I think I might have a lead on a job actually though, so if you could, maybe wait for me a little while longer? We could just meet up here and spend time until I get my shit together. Would that be acceptable?"
"I suppose that would be nice. Yes, okay. You can usually find me in the magic college dorms or the college itself. Probably best if you go to the college since the dorms have some security that could be problematic if you aren't a wizard type or with one."
"Okay, great. Gotta go now, but before I do, may I have your permission this time?"
"Permission for what?"
"To kiss you of course."
"Oh. Um, well okay, but just on the cheek this time!"

You move in and give Yvette a quick peck on the cheek causing her to smile a bit which you return before you take your leave.

You make your way back to the church as quick as you can, you don't even bother worrying about the squad of militia following you around. It's time to call in that big favor Virgil says he owes you, you just hope he can deliver without some stupid stipulation this time.

You find Virgil speaking with a couple of the poor folk about the light of Joachim or whatever.

"Virgil! I need your help let's talk."
"Huh? But I'm in the middle of spreading the word of Joachim."
"Yeah, well you got all the fucking time in the world to do that. These folks aren't going to get any less desperate within the hour so just talk to me now and be done with it."

Virgil sensing that you're going to be as obnoxious as you can be until he speaks with you excuses himself and goes to see you.

"You know, you're taking advantage of my kindness." Virgil says.
"Yeah, just like you took advantage of mine when you were begging me for coin during your drunk days. Look, I'm just going to ask for a simple favor, one that will actually get you out of your hair in the long run. Can you get me a job?" you say.
"A job? What do you mean?"
"A job man! A job! Like you go there, you do some shit and then you go back home and eventually they pay you for all the shit you did. You repeat until dead or fired."
"YOU want a REAL job? Are you sober?"
"Completely."
"Wow. You continue to surprise me. Maybe Joachim's light really has…"
"Oh no! Don't start with the religious shit. I just know you have people coming in and out of this church all the time and not ALL of them are the charity cases. Some of them are just here to pray or attend services or whatever it is you lot do."
"True, but what are you getting at?"
"Well I know you religious types have tend to have tight knit communities. Surely you know someone who might be able to give me a job."
"Hmm, maybe. But is there anything in particular you're looking for?"
"Obviously something befitting of my talents!"
"Sorry, but I think thievery is off the table."
"Hey I used to sell stolen items too."
"Hmm, wait a minute. You uh, used to pick locks right?"
"Sure did and if I may say so myself, I was pretty damn good at it."
"Okay, I do know someone. He's an older man by the name of Ned and is a locksmith by trade. I think he's looking for an assistant."
"Huh. Guess that would be a good fit."
"Yeah…too good in fact. You aren't going to use this as some way of breaking the law are you?"
"If I was, do you think I'd tell you? You're funny. But if it puts your mind at ease, then no I'm not. I can't leave the city, the militia watches me all the fucking time, and I'm living in a damn church. Obviously my life style has NOT been successful. Time to change it up, especially since I might have a second chance with this girl I like. Yes, I said it. I'm doing this for a girl."

Virgil smirks a bit.

"What's with the grin?" you ask.
"Joachim works in mysterious ways. Maybe you don't see it or choose not to, but his influence is there. Little steps to righteousness and perhaps in more time you…" Virgil says before you interrupt.
"Will you get out of here and just go get me that job! And don't tell him the truth just say I'm an engineer down on my luck or something."
"You want me to lie?!"
"I want you to fulfill your damn promise without a bunch of bullshit tacked on to it! Now you do what you gotta do, you can always ask Joachim for forgiveness afterwards."
"(Sigh) Very well. I just hope you're being truthful in all this."

With the plan set in motion things turn around fairly quickly. In a few days you get the job as an assistant to the locksmith. Turns out he's a good old guy. Tends to talk a lot about his dead wife and his runaway daughter who he hasn't seen in decades, but you suppose you understand he has a great sense of loss and wants to vent to someone. You're just glad he doesn't ask too much about your life or get too religious on you.

The pay is…adequate. It's at least enough to get yourself a new cheap place and keep you in the basics. In the meantime the militia is still following you around. They're probably wondering what the hell you're up to.

In the next month, you go see Yvette who is expecting you since you wrote a letter ahead of time. You meet and catch up on what the pair of you have been doing over the past few years, or rather in your case LYING about what you've been up to. You still try to keep the lying to a minimum but keeping the topics either light or focusing on her activity instead which is easy since she really likes talking about her spell stuff. (Which to be honest you don't completely grasp all of it)

Within the next few months big news in Klyton hits when its announced that the Crimson Talons have been officially taken down. Captain Branik gets an award from the council and exclaims how brave his people were as they stormed the Talon hideout. Apparently they didn't take any of them alive though you get the impression that if any did surrender the militia wouldn't have been the type to just accept it anyway.

You don't get any official word from anyone saying that you're off the hook let alone any thanks that you were the one that gave the information of their hideout. You do notice that the militia doesn't follow you around like it once did, so you take that as a sign that you must be off probation so to speak.

Still, though you've managed to "be good" for a few months now and things are going good with Yvette and your new job isn't even all that bad even if it's a little boring at times.

There really isn't any need for you to go back to your old ways. Maybe it's time to give this new life a longer try.

You time passes...

Year 27

"Is it too expensive?" Yvette asks.
"Well we could afford it, but I shudder to think what the ongoing property tax is going to be like." You say.
"I suppose…but it's so nice!"
"Maybe, but it's also a security hazard. I mean the locks on these doors are just pathetic. There are windows everywhere, which would allow for any thief to break into. There isn't even any fencing around this place. We'd have to spend more money just to secure this place better."
"You are really paranoid sometimes. You always think someone is going to break in someplace. This is a good neighborhood and ever since the Talons were eliminated the crime rate has gone down anyway."
"That's no reason to be off guard. I'm just saying that as a locksmith I have some experience in these matters."
"Or maybe you're a thief!" Yvette laughs and teasingly pokes you.
"Yeah you got me." You joke back, finding her comment humorous in a completely different way than she does.

You then embrace Yvette and kiss her during the bit of playfulness. She then places your hand on her stomach. It's not visibly noticeable yet, but your son or daughter is in there.

You never thought you'd be in this position, on the verge of marriage with a baby on the way. So much has changed that it's hard to believe, but everything is good or at least everything save for one thing.

You still have yet to meet Yvette's father. (Yvette's mother unfortunately died while giving birth to her) You've managed to avoid it for a long time. Part of that was because it wasn't like Yvette was in a hurry for you to meet him either. She'd mention him in passing at times, but she always gave the impression that he was a rather distant and cold man who only paid for Yvette's college out of the barest sense of parental duty.

Still, the man is her father and the fact you got her pregnant BEFORE you married her is something you're going to have to deal with because Yvette just couldn't bear to keep a grandchild from him a secret.

You know that while he isn't on the council, he does something important in the government, which is something you generally try to avoid. However, it's better to get this over with.

"I think I should go meet your father." You say.
"Oh. Now?" Yvette asks.
"The sooner the better."
"I suppose you're right. It's just; it was a nice day before you brought that up. Are you okay going alone? I just met with daddy again a few days ago and he was as unpleasant with me as ever."
"Does he yell and threaten you? I mean you're a powerful wizard, I would think that would be a deterrent."
"You always keep saying that and I'm not. But anyway, as I said he never does any of that and short of him hitting me which he would never do, it's not like I'm going to cast a lightning bolt at my father for being a jerk. He just was very disapproving. I mean I suppose I get it…but…"
"Yvette, look don't beat yourself over it. I want you to stay in positive spirits okay?"
"Okay. But anyway, he should be home right now. Takes most of his work home with him. I don't think he gets along with a lot of people there either."

Parting ways with your beloved, you head to Yvette's father's home which actually isn't too far away from where you were looking at potential houses.

When you arrive it isn't a mansion, but certainly nice place befitting of someone who works high up in the government.

You knock on the door and half expect a servant of some sort to answer, but instead an older man with dark circles under his eyes, thinning white hair and what is probably a permanent scowl answers the door. His eyes look you up and down and he even makes a little snort sound as if he's clearly unimpressed by you.

"Uh Mr. Franklins?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm…"
"I know who you are. You're the lowly sneak thief rat who somehow managed to fool my trusting daughter into going out with you. And not only that, but you got her pregnant with your criminal seed before you even had the decency to marry her."
"I…"

Before you can even answer this, the old man manages to catch you with a left to your jaw. You fall on your ass and hold the side of your face. The old man packs quite the punch.

"Okay. I probably deserved that." You say.
"Pfft. YOU deserve much more than that, however what's done is done. When you're done befouling my porch with your presence, you can come inside and befoul that too." Mr. Franklins remarks.

You pick yourself up off the floor and follow Yvette's father into his house. He sits down in a comfortable chair and just as you're about to do likewise, he tells you to stop.

"No. You don't get to fucking sit down. You stand there and listen to what I have to say, because I'm not going to repeat myself. Now, before I begin, don't bother trying to lie to me. As I said, I know who the hell you are. Who you REALLY are. Just because my daughter only recently told me about you, doesn't mean I wasn't keeping an eye on you before. I did my research. I'm a little foggy for a few things on your past, but that doesn't matter. I know that you are…or I suppose WERE a thief of little importance in this city, which you aren't even a citizen of. It seems the only reason why you stopped is due to pressure from the militia and meeting my daughter again. The first reason I'd dismiss as simple cowardice since you ratted on the Crimson Talons in order to catch a break in the first place. However, the second reason, well that one takes a little more examination."
"If you knew all this why not warn your daughter ahead of time?"
"Pfft. Like she'd listen to me. Besides, by the time I did find out about all this, you and her were together for at least a year, and I knew she was in love. It was in her eyes. Never seen her so happy when she was with you. I know it now more than ever just from how she spoke of you to me. Attempting to break you up at that point would have crushed her and now would be unthinkable. And all of that's on me for not paying attention sooner and having you removed from her life."
"I guess thanks for not having me killed?"
"Who said anything about killing you? I said removed. I could have just had the militia kick you out of the city and had you exiled. I'm not a fucking murderer."

Yvette's father grabs a bottle of wine near his table and pours himself a glass, taking a drink before he continues to lecture you.

"Now here it is. Contrary to popular belief, I love my daughter. It may not seem like I do, but it's true. I just want her to be happy and apparently you make her happy. My point is, I believe you love her too because despite your lies about your past, you haven't gone back to any criminal activity and I'm guessing now that you're trying to put down roots you probably won't be going back to your old life because YOU know that you struck gold when you met my daughter and you'll do ANYTHING not to fuck that up."
"True."
"Hm, which is about one of the few redeeming qualities about you that I can tell so far. (Sigh) Look, I'm not a complete hard ass, but even with your good intentions I still can't shake the feeling you're going to fail my daughter spectacularly in some way in the future. Human nature is flexible only to a point and at some point you are probably going to snap. Maybe you won't, I don't know. But I'm going to give you an out right now."

Mr. Franklins suddenly gets up and goes to a drawer, grabs a bag and tosses it to you. You open it up and find diamonds. Flawless diamonds. There has to be hundreds of them here. This is a fortune that you couldn't even begin to imagine. There is also an odd shaped key and a piece of paper.

"That is more riches than you need for your lifetime assuming you're not being a complete idiot with it. That key and deed are to a place in Jicol which is on an island not far from Hessla. You can probably take a ship to there. Granted I haven't been to the place in years, so I don't know what condition it's in, but with those diamonds I'd wager you could fix the place up. Take them both and never return to Klyton."
"But…"
"Yvette? She'll cry over you for a long time, but she'll carry on if only for the sake of your child. She'll probably blame me and I'll give her reason to. Better that I disappoint her than you. And your child? It will be taken care of, that you can be sure of. Even if my daughter refuses my help to support it, I can pull strings to still help her."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then I suppose I'll have to hope that you prove me wrong."

You take the loot

You love Yvette, but ultimately you guess you love yourself just a little bit more.

You think about the sort of life you would have if you did marry Yvette. You'd be an average working class slob with a family. While maybe there is some appeal to that over your old life, this offer is really making you rethink that maybe you were just settling for what seemed easier at the time when things were low.

If you married Yvette you'd also have to keep up your lies to her about your past along with worrying about whether or not you're going to piss off her father enough for him to expose you. Can you really live a satisfying life with something like that hanging over your head?

When it comes down to it you suppose you've always wanted the easy life and this about as easy as it's ever going to get for you.

"Fine, I'll take your offer." You say.
"I knew you would." Franklins says a bit smugly and hands you the key.

You look at your newly acquired pay off, before putting it away. You're already having mixed feelings about your decision.

You have mixed feelings about your decision all the way to Hessla where upon your main concern is finding safe passage to Jicol since you don't want to linger very long here with the fortune you have on your person.

Of course you think about going right back to Klyton several times, but by the time you do get a boat ride to Jicol you realize you're at the point of no return.

"Just do it." You say to yourself as you board the ship.

The ride to Jicol is uneventful even though you half expect to get attacked by pirates or something similar along the way. A small part of you even hopes you do because you sort of think you'd deserve it.

Eventually you disembark at Jicol and based on the directions that Yvette's father provided you take your next steps in finding your new home along with familiarizing yourself with the city, which seems a lot less "orderly" than Klyton though definitely more so than Hessla. Despite your rather dour mood, you still keep on your guard.

You soon find the place you were looking for and it's very average looking. Certainly better and bigger than any place you've ever lived (including your parents old home) but it's no mansion. Just as well, you probably wouldn't know what to do with a place that size.

You try your key in the door and enter.

You aren't sure how long Yvette's father has let this place go unused, but the first thing you notice is the severe dust everywhere. After checking everything it isn't too bad, except for maybe some fixes on the roof and the qweepa nest you notice in the basement. (And they aren't friendly like Elana was.)

Still even with those problems you'll have more than enough money to do whatever you want in the forseeable future and that really is the problem you suppose. What DO you do? You don't need to work and you don't even particularly want to go back to pursuing your criminal career again either. You've been out of practice for a couple years now and why potentially mess up what you have?

You can't just sit around moping and beating yourself up about your decision either. The whole point of making this decision was so you didn't HAVE to worry about Yvette and your unborn child anymore.

You decide the best way to do this is with whores.

After about a month you're slowly becoming more accustomed to living like a wealthy degenerate. You do nothing but eat, drink and fuck whores whenever you can, which is pretty much all the time.

Sometimes you still think about Yvette, but eventually those thoughts of her disappear altogether not wishing to dwell on how you most likely broke her heart and what "could have been" if you stayed. You justify your actions that it was better this way for her and you.

By the time you're thirty you've gotten fat. Not just average fat either, but like grossly fat. You're a big fat bastard.

You're also a pimp. Given how much time you spend with whores and how relatively fun you are, you eventually managed to convince a few to work for you, rather than one of the many brothels in the city. After all, your home is a lot nicer thanks to all the work you had done to it and you're well off enough to allow them to keep more of their money.

This works out for you since it provides a steady income (Negating your fears of going completely broke because you were spending so much) and finally gave you something to do with your free time. You still sometimes think of your parents and your sister and how they might be doing. You hope they're all doing well.

Despite being limited to just one sex position that won't result in a whore's death it's all in all a good life.

Probably won't be a very long one given your weight and indulgences, but then you probably beat the odds already.

Your days as a rogue are over.