Thread: Take the Money and Run (Madam Mim and CaptainPeriwinkle)

The truth was the truth. No matter how much one tried to deny it, or try to sweep things under the rug, the truth would always prevail. At least, that's what Leonard 's grandfather had told him for years and years. Often the best thing to do with the knowledge of the truth, was to embrace it. Embrace it, own it, live it. That was Leonard's mantra. It was the thing he lived by, and the thing that made up his whole identity. The truth in Leonard's case was simple. Leonard was a piece of shit. He was a scumbag in the worst way. He wanted nothing more in this world than a pussy to fuck and pockets bursting at the seems with large numbered dollar bills. Some say that his heart imploded on itself years ago, but Leonard was just looking out for the person that mattered most, himself . For some, it was often hard to track the man. His thought process was so deliberate, so careful, that in more ways than one, he was untouchable. Anytime he committed a heinous crime, there was no way to connect the dots to him, yet, somehow, Leonard was a lifetime criminal. From a very young age, Leonard was hustling people for petty dollars in pool and in card games. After making more than he should of at that age, he graduated to making moonshine that would literally blind a man, and murder. Leonard had done it all under the sun, but he still found himself giving back to the community. Maybe it was some sick and desperate effort to quell whatever higher power there was and tell them not to smite him where he stood. Leonard had an addictive personality, and it had gotten him into trouble more than once. Even as it stood today, Leonard was a dead man walking. He had been sentenced to be hung, which showed that everyone made mistakes, and even the simplest of mistakes could cost you. Leonard had his friends in high places pull whatever strings they could, but in the end, they couldn't get him off death row. They got him out for a day, which was nice, but he would still die in the morning. As he strolled his last stroll through the town that he had grown up in and loved, the sound of commotion drew his ear. Walking at a faster pace towards it, he found a drunk man harassing a poor young woman. He was touching her, putting his hands on her, saying crude things to her, likely with the assumpton that no one else was out and no one else was going to help her. It was an assumption that he would find was very, very wrong. Cmon babe, let ole Thomas see those creamy thighs of yers. The man said as he tugged at Lenora's clothes with his dirty hands. This was the town drunk, Thomas Whitney. He was a man that in many cases was a lower class citizen than Leonard even was. This was a man that Leonard had come into contact with a few times now, both in the best senses and in the worst. Leonard had spent some drunken nights with Thomas, sharing a bottle of cheap whiskey or wine, behind the jail or behind the brothel. He had also gotten into his fair share of drunken brawls with Thomas, and when no one else was there for the drunk son of a bitch, Leonard was. On the other hand, Leonard had almost died a few times at Thomas's hands, taken the fall for Thomas, and even taken a few punches for the guy. The two weren't friends by any means, but Leonard was a thrill seeker. Now, now, Thomas. Why don't you get on home. The man said making his presence known. Thomas turned to look at him. Fuck you Leonard. Why don't you just fu -hiccup- ck off. I asked you nicely, Thomas. No reason to be unreasonable. Clearly, Thomas wasn't in any mood tonight. He wanted some action and he was willing to do whatever it took to get it. Anyway, Thomas was all but through listening to Leonard try and put his morales on him. Pulling a tiny knife, he pointed it at Lenora and then at Leonard. And I said fuck you. With that Thomas lunged at him, but the man had clearly gotten piss drunk that night. Off of what, Leonard wasn't sure, but the action alone was something that Leonard didn't appreciate. In his drunken state, Thomas wasn't very coordinated, but his attack had fallen short nearly from the get go. Leonard reached out and grabbed the man's wrist, before throwing him face first into the side of the wall. Thomas flopped to his back with a loud grunt and thud. Leonard looked down at him, muttered something under his breath before he stepped on the drunk's wrist causing him to release the knife. Kicking it away, he looked back at Thomas. You better get. Thomas responded in kind. Scrambling to stand up and stumbling out of the alley. Leonard then turned his attention to Lenora, keeling down in front of her. The grabbing and pulling from Thomas had caused Lenora's clothes to rip in some places. Putting his hand gently on Lenora's cheeks, he gave her a once over before he spoke. You alright?