Role Play 09: A Jealous Debt

The 9th RP in the Rookie Knights Arc.
A Jealous Debt Full text

Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/15/2021 Rowan picked up a job to protect a parcel.
She was told to meet the client she'd be protecting at their personal dwelling, and from their escorting them to a business to pay off a debt.
They were worried about being mugged or robbed while enroute, and gave themselves extra time to pay for protection.
Rowan has the name, Gessie, and the address, in the Rust Road area, as well as basic directions on how to get to it.
Sai — 11/15/2021 Rowan gets herself ready, and actually practices being hospitable in the mirror for a few minutes- she doesn't wanna be too herself(crass) and make the client uncomfortable.
She follows the directions, heading easily to her destination. Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/15/2021 She finds it to be a rundown, but likely once nice looking standalone home. There are signs of attempts at upkeep, but evidence that they're done piece meal when whoever is doing it can fund it.
The surrounding area looks much the same as this one, and from windows and behind corners, Rowan can see tired eyes watching with a weary interest at the stranger walking their streets alone. Sai — 11/15/2021 Hm. Kinda reminds her of her old house.
She casually walks up to the door and knocks. Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/15/2021 She can hear the booming bark of a large dog on the other side of the door, and someone trying to calm it down and get it under control.
She sees the curtain by a window near the door move, and part of a face visible for a moment.
It dissappears, then the sound of a heavy bolt turning is heard just before the door opens a little.
"W-who's there?" Sai — 11/15/2021 "I'm here for a job. A parcel protection. Are you the one who submited the request?" Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/15/2021 "Who sent you? If you're here for what you say, tell me who sent you!"
There was a nervousness in their voice. Sai — 11/15/2021 "Knights of the Wrequeners. The ones at the Guilded Marlin." Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/15/2021 There is a moment before Rowan can hear them speak again.
"...Gilded what...? Right. Uhh. 1 moment."
The door closes and she can hear chain lock being removed. Then the door open wide enough for Rowan to enter.
"Hurry on in! I can't let them see!" Sai — 11/15/2021 She slides into the doorway as quickly as she can.
"So, no offense, but are you naturally this paranoid, or is there something I should be worried about?" Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/15/2021 "They want the money I saved up, I know they do!"
She can see there is a large dog near by staring at her, growling in warning.
The client moves and shoos the dog aside as they move deeper into the house, and to a staircase down to a basement. Sai — 11/15/2021 "Uh... They who?"
She follows. Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/15/2021 "Everyone!"
She can see the basement is full of storage, but she can see them grab a bag which sounds full of coins.
"But I'm paying my debts off today! No one is stopping me!" Sai — 11/15/2021 Right. So he was just a paranoid crazy. Got it.
"I understand. I'll make sure your debts are paid." Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/15/2021 Carefully the bag is tucked into a shirt, a vest is tossed on over, and then a coat over that. Finally an overcoat is put on over that as well.
"I'm good. We can head out now." Sai — 11/15/2021 "Lead the way."
She follows him out, keeping an eye out around her. Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/15/2021 She can already see that people are staring more then they had been before she went in.
There are groups of people now, visible standing just out of the way near corners and alleyways. Watching the pair.
The client, Gessie, goes the opposite direction of the majority of them. Sai — 11/15/2021 Rowan keeps a descrete eye on the people around them.
Maybe they weren't a paranoid crazy after all. What the hell even went on here? Weird.
She kept a hand on her concealed daggers. Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/15/2021 She is led out from the Rust Road, and over to Merchant Row. She is aware that while most didn't follow them, there was a small group that was clearly tailing them. And decently, if a bit carelessly. Sai — 11/15/2021 She taps her client lightly.
"We're being tailed. They're not that good at it." Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 She can hear Gessie start to breath a bit more shallowly.
"I knew it! I knew it!"
They hiss the words as they suddenly look around and go down a side alley quickly, at a fast walk pace. Sai — 11/16/2021 She followed, glancing around for anything suspicious. Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 As they go down the side alleyway, Rowan can see those following get more bold, now blocking the way back off and not attempting to hide any.
Gessie picked up the pace and frantically looked for a turn out of the alleyway. Sai — 11/16/2021 Rowan, tired of feeling cornered, picked up Gessie and threw them over her shoulder, and began climbing up the alleyway wall.
Once at the top, she tosses her client off her, making sure they were okay, and pulls out her shortbow aiming it at the crowd down below.
"HEY ASSHOLES! LEAVE NOW OR I'LL START SHOOTIN'!" Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 All she sees below her by the time she aims her bow is a single member of the group, who puts their hands up with a look of surprise on their face, which quickly flashes a grin.
They visibly take a deep breath before shouting.
"HELP! HELP! SOMEONE'S ROBBED ME!"
They then turn and begin to dart out from the alleyway, shouting for help the entire way.
Sai — 11/16/2021 She doesn't hesitate.
She aims her shortbow at the one who screamed, and shot the arrow.
"ANYONE ELSE WHO TRIES TO START FUNNY BUSNIESS WITH US WILL BE DEALT WITH THE SAME WAY. LEAVE US ALONE. STOP STALKING US, TRYING TO CORNER US, TRYING TO SURROUND US, AND TRYING TO ROB US. GO HOME." Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 The man drops instantly as the arrow finds its self at the base of his skull.
As he lay still, some of the others glance down the alley, and see the body. They go pale, and rush off. Sai — 11/16/2021 Rowan double checks the surroundings, and once sure that it's clear, she puts her shortbow away.
"Hey. Get on my back. We're climbing down." Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 "Not this way, no! Other side of the building! They might be waiting for us"
Gessie indicates towards the entrance to the alleyway with a paranoid finger. Sai — 11/16/2021 "Fine, whatever. We'll head down that way."
She looks over the direction he indicates just to make sure the coast is clear. Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 She doesn't see anything, but she can hear what sounds like loud shouting from that direction.
Gessie walks over to the other side of they alleyway, and nods approvingly.
"This side is good. No one is over here at all!" Sai — 11/16/2021 "We better hurry. Get on my back now!"
She starts climing down the area they approved once they got on, and starts rushing it.
"Alright, where to next? Just point, and I'll carry you!" Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 "We just need to get to the building next door! That's where I can finally pay everything off!" Sai — 11/16/2021 "Alright!"
She hops off the wall and runs to the next building, not stopping to let Gessie off. Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 "Oh! Woah! Oh! This one! Here! You can let me down here!"
Gessie indicates the building. A nice looking place advertising itself as a money lending business with "affordable interest" and "low pressure repayment" processes. Sai — 11/16/2021 Looks like a shady ass place, but whatever.
She quickly lets them off, keeping herself prepared for any kind of attack as she follows them in. Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 She can hear the blow whistle of a city guard from an alley just behind the building next to them. You know. The alleyway she shot that man.
Gessie seems oblvious as they walk into the lender building. Sai — 11/16/2021 We'll just ignore that for now.
"C'mon c'mon c'mon...."
She speedwalks with Gessie as they go in further. Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 The inside is clean, and fresh smelling.
A well dressed woman behind a counter smiles as Gessie enters.
"Hello, Gessie! Are you here to make another payment on your account?"
"I'm here to pay off my account!"
Gessie moves to the counter walking confidently and proudly. Sai — 11/16/2021 She glances behind them to make sure things were clear. Or at least, they weren't in immediate trouble.
They might have to leave a different way out. Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 "You're account is currently...2,544 gold. But since it can't be processed before the end of the business day today, you'll have missed your payment date, so you'll have a late fee of 10% of the current balance. So your account is 254 more. So you're at 2798 gold. This also means the account is subject to the monthly interest of 25% of the current balance of 2798. So your current account is 3498 gold. And if you're paying it off. There will be another added fee for account pay-off. You're finally total today will be 4000 gold!"
The tone of voice was sickly sweet. And said knowing there was little chance anyone could have that much on them in the situations their customers lived in. Sai — 11/16/2021 Rowan slowly turned her head to give the woman a bewlidered, disbelieving stare.
Fuck, no wonder everyone around this neighborhood was fuckin' crazy. Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 "Oh... so that's how much it will cost me to pay off my debts today..."
"Yes! Will you be paying them off then, today? And remember! There is a penalty for partial payments if you can't pay it off today."
She sounded like a cat playing with a mouse. Sai — 11/16/2021 She taps them on the shoulder and whispers in their ear.
"Hey. Do you have anymore money at your house?" Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 Gessie shakes their head. And goes to pull the bag out of their pocket, buried as it was.
"So, it's 4000. I expect my change in the fewest coins possible, please."
They set the bag on the table with a counter smile, as the loan sharks face falters.
"C-change?"
"Yes! I have more then 4000 gold in there! And I have a third-party witness that heard that you said it was 4000 as the final total for a pay off today!" Sai — 11/16/2021 A frustrated, but impressed, grunt.
"How much money did you bring?" She asks them, softly. Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 "More then 4000 gold! Uhh...like, 7000? I figured they'd add more to what I owed! I've seen saving for a while! And getting loans from family, who won't keep me in debt!"
The loan shark is now staring daggers, but begins to count the money in the open, while a large burley figure watches from a back doorway. Sai — 11/16/2021 "No wonder those guys wanted your ass so bad."
She meets the loan shark's stare boldly, folding her arms over her chest. Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 As the money is being counted out, one of the fellows that was tailing them enters and, giving Rowan a wide berth, goes to the man by the back door, and goes to talk with him in a back room. Sai — 11/16/2021 She narrows her eyes.
More shady shit was happening. There was gonna be an ambush soon, she was sure of it.
"Be prepared to book it once we leave." She whispered.
Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 After a time, another figure enters. This one dressed as a member of the city guard. With two more outside visible.
She gives Rowan and Gessie a nod, and moves towards the back doorway, knocking on it and waiting.
The large man exits, and Rowan can hear their conversation.
"Officer. Is this about my employee you found?"
"Yes, is there somewhere private for us to discuss things?"
"Of course, my office back here."
And he leads the Officer back into the back room. Sai — 11/16/2021 Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck. How long will this bitch of a person gonna keep them here?
It was obvious the people working here were gonna stage a mugging and steal all this guy's coin, and then make 'em pay it all back, again. God, she hated people like these. Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 She is still counting it out. 4000 gold is a lot and she was making a show of being deliberat and exact.
The guardsmen and burly man come back out.
She can hear the man talking to the guard as he opens the door.
"You're welcome to ask questions to my clients, but I've only got the two. And they're in the middle of a Large pay off, they've been here for sometime of course. And will likely be here for sometime longer."
The officer gives him a glance as she makes her way towards Rowan and Gessie.
"Do the two of you have a moment? I'd like to ask you a few questions." Sai — 11/16/2021 She glances at the loanshark woman, then the officer.
"Sure. What's up?" Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 "How long have you two been inside the premise here?" Sai — 11/16/2021 "A few minutes. Why?" Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 "Before you entered, did you see any suspicious activity?" Sai — 11/16/2021 "Not really." Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 The officer looks at Rowan with suspicion.
"Well, if you do see anything, or happen to remember anything. Be sure to let the local guard outpost know. We have an open investigation that may benefit from it."
She looks back to the man, who can be assumed to be the owner of this establishment, and gives him anod as she turns to leave. Sai — 11/16/2021 "Got it, officer."
She gives a thumbs up, and once she leaves, turns her attention back to the others in the room.
They were still trapped. Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 The burly man saunters over to their table after the guard leaves, and causally takes a seat nearby, staying nonchalant in his tone.
"I think a small surcharge is in order, for the damages and circumstances, what do you two think?" Sai — 11/16/2021 Rowan looks at the man.
"You sure about that?" Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 "I could always suddenly remember my employees saw you in the alleyway they found the body."
He leans back, still very casual. Sai — 11/16/2021 "And I could easily call that officer back and tell them exactly why there's a dead body just outside your building."
She angles her head to her client.
"Certainly can't be because you planned to mug your 'client' before they could arrive here, to keep them in debt forever."
Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 "False report to the guard: 250 gold. Attempted robbery, if proven: 300 gold and up to 5 months. Murder: 10,000 gold and life, at best. Capital punishment at worst. And an arrow to the back of the head? Very hard to claim self defense on. Looks a lot like cold murder, to me." Sai — 11/16/2021 "Got those memorized, huh?"
She gives a dark smile at him. Something about her feels... unsettling. Unnatural.
"Buy my silence then. If you won't say anything, neither will I." Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 "Bold, trying to negotiate at such a disadvantageous position. I can respect this. I was thinking we could add the price of the potential fines I may face, 650 gold, to the bill. And beyond not turning you in for murder, I'll advise all of my collectors to avoid you, and anyone you may be escorting, in the future." Sai — 11/16/2021 "Sounds fair to me."
She looks at the woman behind the desk.
"Add another 650 to that total, there." Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 She nods as she counts out the extra charge. The final total was done.
Gessie still keeps over 2000 gold from the bag of it.
The man looks satisfied.
"Then this concludes our business! Now please. Exit my establishment with haste." Sai — 11/16/2021 "No need to tell us twice."
She drags Gessie out quickly, and starts heading in the direction their house was.
"You better move in with your family or somethin', because this neighborhood sucks. They'll probably try to get you again. Get out of here the second you get the chance." Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 "I do actually want to pay back some of family right now. Could I ask you to escort me to their neighborhood, at the least?" Sai — 11/16/2021 "Can do. I'll feel more comfortable with that, anyway, to personally make sure no shit happens to you. Just lead the way." Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 Gessie turns around and starts to head back the way they had just came, passing the loan shark's business, and towards a more affluent area of the city. Rowan can see the loan shark's thugs glaring at her, but not making any move to follow, as they pass the business.
Rowan follows Gessie to a nicer neighborhood, with well kept townhouses and regular guard patrols, both city and private.
Once where the guards are more common, Gessie relaxes.
"I think I'll be safe from here on. Can I give you a tip or something? For helping me out that little more? I have enough to pay!" Sai — 11/16/2021 She purses her lips.
"No, just... gimmie what you owe. You don't gotta pay anymore, especially after you had to pay an extra 650 on my account." Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 "I've already paid the knights up front? They should have what you're owe. Are you sure I can't give you at least one coin?"
Gessie has one gold coin out, with a questioning look on their face.
Sai — 11/16/2021 She has a reluctant look on her face, and it takes her a while to respond.
"... Fine. But only the one." She sighed, holding her hand out. "I'll feel too bad if you gave me any more." Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 Gessie puts the single coin in to her hand.
"Thank you. Now to go pay off my new debts!"
They then turn and walk away with a slight pep in their step. Sai — 11/16/2021 She really hoped they didn't get mugged again. Or get invoved with anymore loan sharks.
She pockets the coin and walks back to the Guilded Marlin, feeling somewhat conflicted with the day's events. At least Gessie was happy. Rapidly Approaching Bear — 11/16/2021 Upon returning, she was given 5 gold for completing the job.
And no one asked her any questions about the murder that occurred near by the area she was in. Sai — 11/16/2021 Small favors, really.
She appreciated it.
–END–

Plot points/Scenes

Rowan accepts the job, and meets Gessie at their home in Rust Road.
While escorting them to Alenson's Advanced Payment, they are followed by a trio of thugs, and Rowan confronts them, killing one.
They reach Alenson's, and begin the loan payoff. While there, the Guard arrive to find information on the nearby murder. Alenson shakes them down for a little extra and his silence and future cooperation.
Rowan escorts Gessie closer to their relative, and the job is finished successfully.

Completion Date
11/16/2021

Plot type

RP

Parent Plot

Rookie Knights Arc

Related Characters

• Alenson
• Gessie
• Lange
• Pange
• Rowan
• Tange
• Tessia

Related Organizations

• Blackpaw Guild
• Knights of the Wrequeners

Related Locations

• Alenson’s Advanced Payments