Thread: Fortune's Eyes, Fortune's Hands [Ariamella & grungeknuckle]

RE Fortune's Eyes, Fortune's Hands BlinkyWinky grungeknuckle Devlin stood, trying to shield his eyes from the light and water coming down from above. They had reached a junction, where all the city's waterways met, and to which the main aqueduct could be reached. He was standing in a small, circular room, a large pillar of stone and brick in the middle. Above them, three channels within the city met, their overflow splashing and dripping down into the sewers. And high above them, the endpoint of the main aqueduct, pouring down the pillar itself. Devlin hitched his britches, and started feeling around the pillar, looking for lose edges and handle-holds. It wasn't best of escape routes, but it would have to do. The running water made it trickier to climb, and he'd be in full view of the surrounding streets, once he made it to the surface. And then there was the problem with getting through the aqueduct itself, high above the city, with the water getting deeper and more turbulent the further you went. He'd found a few good crevices in the stonework, and had begun to climb when the girl caught up to him. When asked his name, Devlin jokingly replied, Yes, yes I do. He was perfectly aware that she wanted him to lead her out of the city, but at this point, Devlin simply didn't see it as his problem. After all, she hadn't mentioned any form of payment, reward, or reimbursement... And unless she was offering something, he wasn't taking her anywhere. He turned to say as much, then lost his grip, and fell roughly on his backside, with a loud grunt. It's slippery... he said defensively, before the woman could even comment on his fall. While that was partially true, he'd also been severely distracted by the woman, ah, state. When he'd last lain eyes on her, her dress hadn't been that clingy, transparent, or that high up on her legs. The cool air whistling down from the shaft above wasn't helping either, as her nipples were standing out as little bumps, from beneath the dress. Devlin sat there, in the water, staring very intently at everywhere on the girl but her face. Somewhere in the back of his brain, something primeval was getting ideas. It took some effort, but Devlin managed to focus his attention back on the pillar. Disregard breasts, acquire loot. And then later, use loot to acquire drink, food, and whores. Pushing himself back up to his feet, Devlin began the climb again. The woman asked another question, and though he had no interest in helping her, he answered anyways. Yeah, I know where I'm going, there's a smuggling route that comes down this way twice a year or so. Though it usually goes with the current, not against it. And yes, ghnn... Devlin nearly slipped again, after looking down at the girl. And yes, I know where Orianthe is. It's in the opposite direction, you want to head along the coastline, then west when the cliffs finally peter out. But I ain't heading that way, sister, so why don't you go toddle off. As he finished his sentence, a sound, metal and wood being rent asunder, echoed from somewhere up ahead. One of the streaming, coming from the channel above, was slowly becoming stronger. Devlin froze and bit his lip. Somewhere up the line, the Underfolk must be tearing down the water walls. For whatever reason, perhaps to simply purge the city's waterways, they were planning to flood the channels. Devlin was about ten feet above the floor, a mere fourth of the way up to the surface. Frantic now, Devlin began to climb faster. Two other explosions were heard above, along with a distant rushing sound, growing louder and stronger. He knew, if he didn't make it to the surface by the time the waterways flooded, he's be swept out down the cliff-side exit. The girl's fate was no concern of his.