an archer's tale

who: Dodge and Lian
Where: the Village
When: late morning

He'd woken in a state of disarray, half undressed and tangled in a mess of sheets. Maddy hadn't been much better off, just as half dressed, but snuggled comfortably against him. Just feeling her there next to him was almost enough for him to linger in bed, ignoring the voice in his head that demanded he keep to his schedule.

Giving in to reason, he dislodged himself from her sleeping form, dressing haphazardly in his wrinkled clothes that were either slept in or discarded and slept upon. He paused at the bed, brushing his hand across Maddy's cheek before grabbing the fedora off the floor and making his way out of the attic, back towards his apartment.

There was no denying that Dodge was feeling good. Things had gone quite well with Maddy, though not that well. There was still ground between them that hadn't been covered, though Dodge doubted it would be in due time. Whistling happily to himself Dodge continued along his way, only after a moment he realized he wasn't on the path to his apartment, but a different road all together. Not that it bothered him much, this way seemed the right way to go despite his rumpled appearance.

Arriving in the village, he took the shortest route for the pub in town, pushing open the door as if he'd been in and out of the pub every day of his life, grinning at the barkeep. Heads turned at his entrance and people waved, greeting him as if he deserved nothing but respect. Sitting at the bar, the tender set a full glass in front of him with a knowing wink. "It's on the house, for all your good work."

Lian had woken up with the sunrise and waited for a few hours for Guan to show up. When he hadn't shown up, she decided that she'd leave for a while and clear her head. If he was back when she was there, she'd give him the information she had on a job for him. If not, she'd grill him about it the next time she saw him, but waiting around for Guan was not something Lian was going to do all day. It should be the other way around. He should be waiting for her.

So dressed in one of her finest casual dresses, Lian pulled the beige trenchcoat around her tight, locked her shop up, and headed outside. She hadn't really had a place in mind yet for where she was going, but when she ended up on a path that wasn't in Chinatown anymore, it didn't bother her either way. It just seemed right.

By the time she'd arrived at the pub, she was starving. She would have much rather gone home to her own estate and make the chefs there create a divine multiple-course meal for her, but peasant food would have to tide her over for now.

Lian didn't open the door to the pub. A local farmer with his head bowed low, always averting her eyes, did and she made it a point to step by him without brushing up against him. Dirt on her clothing? That was simply not an option. A beautiful smile was on her lips, but it lacked something genuine when she made her way to the nicest table in the pub. There was an elderly man and his wife, enjoying a lovely brunch, but not for much longer. "You are at my table," She said, giving the man there little to no attention as she glanced around for someone stronger, a guard perhaps. "Move, now, both of you. I will not say it again."

Dodge had been in the middle of a conversation with the barkeep, some story about his family, entertaining and it had them laughing at it. When Lian walked in, the barkeep's laugh faded to a nervous frown, eyes looking at the door over his shoulder then looking away. Dodge turned, spotting the pretty woman walking acting as she own the place. Something in him was bothered by her in general, but her attitude towards the couple at the table, had Dodge out of his seat and crossing the room. "Stay where you are," he told them, sounding reassuring and they looked both relieved and terrified at the same time. "They were here first. You can sit somewhere else." Her clothes screamed money, a poor contrast to his rumpled, patched clothing, but he wasn't worried. This was his place, his town, his people.

It was always a toss up for Lian on whether she was amused or annoyed by people's non-compliance to her. Today, she was amused. This couple would move, she'd make sure of it, but what she hadn't expected was to see him. And what was worse than him actually being here was that he had the audacity to stroll up and negate her orders. Who was he to have any sort of authority around here? No one, especially when she was around. With one eyebrow raised, Lian turned toward Dodge with that same sickly sweet smile in place. "They are sitting in my seat. They will move and you will go back to your seat and mind your own business."

"Your seat?" Dodge asked, raising an eyebrow at her. "I don't remember hearing anything about that. I would have remembered if they'd assigned a specific table to you. Those sort of things don't go on without my knowledge." His tone stayed carefree, relaxed with that cool confidence that had those around the room starting to hide smiles. He didn't care who she was, he didn't take orders from any figure of authority, they had no claim on him.

"Oh, do they, now? You see, that is something that I would have known about. Those sorts of things have to go through me first." Her tone was not carefree like his. Her tone suggested that she didn't see him as a threat and probably wouldn't see him as a threat. He was a boy at best. Simply a boy. "Now, run along. Or better yet, why don't you bring me back a mug of the best ale this place has." It wasn't a question, but more like an order. A way for this boy to make himself useful and stop bothering her.

Dodge laughed, a charming sounding noise, where he threw his head back just a little. "That's funny. Me running and getting ale. What have you done for mankind lately hmm? I imagine it's not much." He wasn't impressed, not at all. She obviously had so much and now she wanted to take from people who had so little. People who enjoyed their nice seat in the pub more than anyone else would.

Lian's smile quirked but beyond that she made no outward change of how annoyed this boy was making her. What had she done for mankind? What had mankind done for her was a better question. But there was a change in the demeanor of the pub that she was not liking. It had taken a while to trickle around, but the ease with which Dodge talked to her was lessening the fear in the public that she so liked to see. It didn't sit well with her. "Listen, dear boy. It would be very wise of you to turn on your heel and go about your business." While she wouldn't admit defeat by leaving first, it would be much easier to plan a punishment for this boy if she was at home with her poisons. A bushel of tainted apples given to the public was sounding rather interesting, actually. Since he was so intent on her 'helping mankind', a bushel of free apples would surely count.

"It'd be wise for you to just move on," Dodge reminded her, tone still relaxed, but there was something else glittering behind his eyes as he brought himself up to his full height, much taller than her. He wasn't worried about her threats and he wasn't worried about her. She was just looking to scare people into worshiping her and Dodge didn't scare easy.

Boy or man, it didn't matter, Lian was still unafraid of him. But he had the people behind him, supporting him, and she hated that. "You don't want me to leave." If she did leave, she'd have ample time on her hands to create poisoned apples, poisoned meats, poisoned anything and give it to the public he so loved. So instead, she relented on the fight with the elderly couple and their table and moved instead to the bar, snapping her finger at the barkeep. She was sure he remembered her order from before; the best ale this place had. Surely it would still taste disgusting, but she'd come in here for refreshment and she would get it.

The elderly couple looked relieved and Dodge flashed them a kind smile. When she snapped her fingers at the barkeep he turned to Dodge first and Dodge gave him a slight nod. There was no need to not serve the woman if she chose to do things as she should rather than demand from others. Moving back to his place at the bar, which wasn't far from where she chose to sat he settled in again with his glass.

She'd simply been entertaining thoughts of lacing the ale supply with a poison, but after the bartender asked for an ok from him, it wasn't just a thought anymore. It was a plan that she'd put into action after she finished her ale here and left. There was no reason why she should suffer through this peasant's food anyway. She was here to make a point and she'd do just that. "Tell me," She said, glancing back over at Dodge. "What have you done for mankind lately?"

Dodge smiled at her question, not turning to look at her while he took another sip of his ale. "What have I not done for the greater good?" Turning now he set his eyes on her. "I never take more than I need, always share with those who have less, and I take care of my own. And when I can take something from someone who has too much? I do that too." Spread the wealth around.

"Well, that sounds very generic." She said, taking another sip of her ale. She was right, it was disgusting. Placing the mug down, she turned her full attention to him. "Sounds like quite a bit of fluff to me. Can you pinpoint something you've done that is so marvelous for the greater good?" It also didn't hurt to do a little more research on this boy, figure out more of his weaknesses if she could.

Though he'd opened his mouth to answer he didn't have to. The barkeep had found his voice, jumping to Dodge's defense. "He stole a years worth of taxes right out from under the sheriff's nose and gave them back to the people who'd been taxed for no good reason!" Dodge had done that hadn't he? Nodding he just raised his glass to the man and smiled. No need to speak when the town was jumping up to do it for you.

"How very noble of him." Lian leveled her gaze back at the bartender. "But I believe you heard me wrong. I wasn't asking you anything. Why don't you keep your mouth closed until someone asks you a question, hm?" All the while, she said this with the same too-sweet sound to her voice. Turning to look back at Dodge, she added, "I'm sure the sheriff was very upset." Maybe she should find this sheriff and get him on her side, get him to do her bidding. It shouldn't be but so hard, the sheriff had to hate Dodge just as much as Lian did. "Did you ever stop and think about why the sheriff might have set those taxes in place? I'm sure you haven't, what could you possibly understand about taxes? It is a very complex process."

"I don't claim to know anything about it if that's what you're asking. But I've seen the taxes, they aren't pretty, and I've seen the sheriff and the nice things he has, I doubt he's taxing for the good of the city." Dodge flashed a wink at the barkeep who was looking afraid from her verbal attack. "Again, I'm not sure I was even in town at the time, but whoever did what he's saying, did a good job." Ever the thief, he flashed her a sly grin.

"Of course." Of course he wasn't in town at the time. Lian was a lot of things, but stupid wasn't one of them. And if this bartender was so keen to jump to Dodge's defense, then it just added to her already climbing suspicions that he was stealing things. Things from people with means and that was just as bad as stealing from someone else. Why should she be punished because she had nice things and worked to obtain them? That wasn't 'fair'. So leaning in, she locked eyes with him. "If I ever see you around my estate, you won't live to return from your heist. Do you understand me?"

"Haven't the slightest idea what you'd be speaking of, but I appreciate the concern." Dodge flashed her another smile then turned back to his glass. The challenge she'd presented him with was tempting, but he'd have to find out if it was worth it or not. No use robbing from the rich if you turn up with nothing to give to the poor.

He was infuriating, that was for sure. Lian wasn't sure how much longer she could sit here and play nice with him when she had other pressing matters, especially if he was going to play dumb too. "Of course, but know that this doesn't just apply to you. It applies to anyone, so you can pass the word along." She assumed he knew quite a few people who would be willing to help him raid the unsuspecting rich. He couldn't do this all on his own, she wasn't ready to give him that much credit.

Dodge chuckled a little, giving her a nod without looking at her. "I'll make sure the word gets passed along, no doubt about that." There were a few he trusted, but they wouldn't work without him, but he still give them warning about her, to stay clear.

"Good." Lian turned back in her seat, looking down at the mug of ale she had that she certainly wasn't going to finish. She thought her time around this low-class pub was about finished. There was nothing here left for her to do and she certainly didn't want to continue rubbing elbows with the likes of Dodge. So she stood and glanced back at him, smoothing out her coat. "Here's another little step for you to help mankind. This," She said, gesturing toward the nearly full mug, "is disgusting. You can spend your time figuring out what to do with it. My time is worth more." She took another step until she was on the other side of him. "And it would be wise if you stayed in here. I'd suggest a half an hour." Threats issued or not, she still had no problem reinforcing how serious she was that he not come to her estate, including that he not follow her there.

Dodge laughed again, but didn't make any move to stop her besides sliding her mug towards him. "I think you've left me with plenty to take care of for that time. He turned his head, catching her gaze on the other side of him. "You have a lovely day," he told her raising the original glass in mock toast. The tone was pleasant and confident without being arrogant. He wasn't worried about her at all.

Whereas she was simply annoyed with him. He was arrogant and she didn't like that. Lian headed to the door, opened it, and slammed it shut without another look back at Dodge. She'd have fun trying to knock him off his high horse, but first she had a bushel of apples to find.

He was still laughing when the door slammed behind her. The air in the pub instantly lightened and laughter could be heard around the room as people bit the evil queen farewell. Dodge finished his glass and started in on her ale, pulling out the change to pay for it, even though the barkeep protested. Smiling, Dodge leaned over the mug, watching the other man with a playful smirk. "Tell me that story about your kid again," he said, then settled in for a little longer.