Vrinn x Wheel

Somewhere between Magnimar and Sandpoint, the wagon full of heroes and refugees makes camp. While the rest of the group sits around the fire for warmth, Vrinn checks on his brother tied to the wagon itself. About to head back to rejoin the group, he spots Wheel, the half-drow teen sitting alone, bundled up in furs. "So" Vrinn, ever stealthy, startles the kid as the half-elf sits down next to him "Ye happy t' get out o' th' Underbridge?" he asks to break the ice. "T'ink ye'll do better in th' boondocks?"

Wheel shifts his gaze to Vrinn, tensing as his only indication of being startled. He looks back at the fire and shifts his weight to be comfortable and ready for combat.  "Yeh," He says simply. He doesn't volunteer much more. 

Sitting in silence for a moment, the half-elf beside the half-drow, Vrinn begins to roll a platinum coin across his knuckles, watching for Wheel's gaze from the corner of his eye "An' how do ye t'ink ye'll be doin' that?" he asks as a second coin follows the first, flipping back and forth over his knuckles. "Got some work lined up? Hard labor? Never had a knack fer gettin' dirty" Vrinn rambles "Asides, more coin t' be made an' more fun in other ways..." Seemingly from nowhere a third coin appears, a gold piece, which is flicked towards the boy without breaking the motion of the other two.

Wheel's good flits between Vrinn and the coins as the half-elf speaks. The distant firelight makes the coins gleam as they bounce across Vrinn's pale knuckles. The drowkin boy sinks into his furs like a cat gearing up for either flee or pounces. However when Vrinn toss the gold coin at the boy, his hand shoots out from the furs to grab it before disappearing again beneath the furs. Finally, his red eye settles on Vrinn. The left side of Wheel's face is badly scared and the eye is white instead of red, glazed from the old damage. He doesn't say anything for a while then, without breaking his gaze. "Dunno." He narrows his eyes. "Why?"

Smiling as Vrinn notices that he has the boy's attention, the only movement in the still night between them for a moment is Vriinn's hand rolling the coins. "I am, for lack o' a nicer word, a business man. Me fingers get busy, me coin purse always grows" he begins, slowly as if weighing each word "However, I'm also not always around fer too long, an' cannay always be in one place. T'at's where you come in..." pausing for effect, Vrinn also pauses the rolling of the coins in his fingers, wanting Wheel to focus on Vrinn instead "What I need is someone t' look after me affairs while I'm not in town. Make sure t'ings run smooth, an' basically jus' sit back an' let th' money come t' you..."

Wheel's eyes search Vrinn, from bangs and belly button, for ill will. Growing up in Underbridge left Wheel with a healthy dose of suspicion and careful trepidation. "Yeah? Why me?" The boy was ever frugal with words, using them sparingly and always clipping them short as if each moment cost him coin he did not have.

With  flick of his wrist, the coins disappear from Vrinn's hand as quickly as they appeared. He leans back and casts his gaze skyward, pondering the blunt yet complex question, trying to find the right words. "T'ink of it as an offer from one half t' another. I was given th' short end o' th' stick enough times, an' I'm only half an elf. I cannay imagine how much shit y've had t' put up with just because yer half a drow..." Vrinn pauses again, letting the silence between them fester for a moment "Besides. I t'ink ye've got potential t' have what I need. o' course I'd train ye up in some skills ye may be needin', but if ye t'ink ye can't handle it..."

Nothing changes in Wheel's expression. He shrugs his shoulders and tightens the furs around him. "What kinda skills? What kinda trainin'?" he says turning his gaze to the campfire- perhaps the longest sentence he's ever uttered in the presence of the Vrinn.

Grinning as he seems to have piqued the lad's interest, his eye glint in the firelight "A whole slew. Some I can see ye got good at already, like knowin' how t' hold ye tongue, some I might need t' help ye along. Like fer example, runnin' a business, or operation more like." Moving to stand, Vrinn kneels beside Wheel, looking him in the eye "But afore I go too much into it, I need t' know if yer on board, if this is somethin' that ye want t' commit to..." he says solemnly, extending his hand

The young half-draw eyes the hand as if it's a bear trap ready to spring - that taking it might result in the dire loss of something precious and integral to him, a reality that may not be far from truth. So he eyes it carefully, suspiciously, with great distrust, and yet the cold gold warming in his palm seemed promising.  Could he trust the promises? "Won't make deals," he whispers. "Until y' prove t'me you're the real deal." He glances at Vrinn from the hand and back again. "Prove that you're not just a false promise."

Eyes widening, and for a moment there's a hint of a brief smile. A figment of the imagination? Gone before it's fully formed, Vrinn leans in close to Wheel, his eyes narrowed, his lips forming a wry smirk "Good, distrust. Ye'll be needin' that. However, don't confuse me offer for kindness. I'm the one wit' all the cards, an' if ye dun wanna take me up on me offer, then that's yer choice. But know..." Vrinn starts as he stands to his full height "...that I dun take kindly t' bein' questioned. Yer th' one that needs t' prove yeself, not th' other way around." Tossing a platinum piece to the boy's feet, possibly more money than a kid from the Underbridge has ever seen. Vrinn turns, his back towards Wheel "That's a taste. If'n yer wantin' more t' join it, then come join me with th' others." he states matter-of-factly before casually striding back to regroup with the rest of the travelers around the fire.

The sky is cloudy and overcast as most winter days are along the coast. The flat dark grey obscures the light of the moon and hides its threat of snow or sleet in the monochrome. The Shoanti parents keep their children warm and occupied with stories from their homeland. Gildie snuggles into Moetrhaur and sings a little in his fur. A cold wind blows causing even the fire to shiver. Children squeal and dive into the blankets and furs with their parents. Doomwing casts Winter Feathers on herself and looks smugly at everyone else from her perch on Miro's shoulder before returning to her lesson with the wizard. The light sound of feet approaching from behind Vrinn are all the warning his gets before he hears Wheel's voice. "Ain't nobody in the world that's kind." The boy then quietly sits beside Vrinn, staring ahead.