after all that we've been through

you were forged in fire // and you rose from the ashes

murder and mercy rolled into one

It’s a late night, dark and seemingly quiet as Sunjata wanders the Port. He’s aimless, nothing in mind aside from the lingering warmth of the day despite the fresh scent of rain that bombarded the senses. It’s late, the moon shining behind those stormy clouds overhead, hands in his pocket as he focuses on the familiar pathway home. There’s not much else that he decides to stay around for, having already picked up a few things from the merchants earlier on in the day. Now? It’s just the usual rounds.

The usual rounds because he’s the Arbiter and is supposed to keep an eye on things, make sure things stay the same. So he keeps his daggers in his belt, keeps them close within drawing distance (almost like pistols if he had them here, still infinitely jealous of Adam and the guns that the man had managed to bring with him), a pair of pants, and a shirt. Nothing else was needed, sure that he could simply shift and leave, depart at a moments notice if he had to. He could shift into his bat shift and blend in with the night and nobody else would be none the wiser.

For now, however, he wanders. Aimlessly again, peeking into the shops as they begin to close up and the more shadier businesses arrive for their own sort of midnight dealings – ones he consciously keeps his focus away on.

which way is up?

SUNJATA

A scream, a shrill and sharp piercing sound comes from the shop nearby. Obviously given to grant attention, though perhaps it was not the smarted of decisions. And with it, a sound of muffled hisses, yells, frustration when it comes to being unable to continue the hollering and the attention gathering. No, not for today at least.

The woman within the shop, a shop geared more toward selling leathers and the like forged into clothing and items used for weaponry or bags, was used to the bit of thievery that went on. But today? Today it seemed her entire stock had been attempted to be cleared out. And the people within the shop were still there.

So it comes as no surprise as she tries to garner some sort of attention before the hoodlums pounce on her, attempting to quiet the mouth that alerts the surrounding area like sirens.

you were forged in fire // and you rose from the ashes

murder and mercy rolled into one

The peace to the midnight air is fine enough, a gentle sort of warmth that radiates and almost seems to vibrate against the feeling and quiet roar of the waves hitting the docks. That is, until there’s that shriek, that shrill sound that he does hear – whether it’s because the doors are open to alleviate the heat from earlier or the fact of the earring in his ear, it’s hard to tell. All he knows is that there’s a sound of someone screaming, and it’s his job to investigate.

And investigate he does.

He finds the source of the sound, a hand at his side and hovering over the daggers, unsure of what he’s about to find. Some sort of instinct comes over from his days in Korofi, focused too heavily on the fact that he has daggers instead of guns to peer into the buildings with, but the motions remain the same. He hovers on the outside of the window, peering in briefly to spy all that he’s dealing with.

All he can see so far is about four people within, holding one at knife point while the others continue to try and pilfer things. They’re not ones he recognizes, not ones he’s seen off and on hanging around Jack and the rest of them. It seems… Out of the blue, and on a night like this nonetheless? Quietly, at least as quietly as he can, he dips into the open door, lingering toward the shadows and trying his best to remain unseen.

which way is up?

SUNJATA

There’s a moment where the people robbing the merchant stop everything they’re doing to corral the woman that runs it, a knife to her throat and giving hushed commands to keep her quiet. And when that’s done? They go back to work, bags (some of which she’s got for product) are opened, and more and more product thrown into them and slung over a shoulder.

There’s four of them total, two keep near the woman to ensure she doesn’t try and pull anything or start shrieking again, and the other two work like ghosts along the shop as they begin to clear it out. It wasn’t an ordinary day for having little product after having everyone out and about, and with it this would surely be a strange occurrence for everyone else who knows the woman.

The thieves hope to be far gone before anyone realizes it.

you were forged in fire // and you rose from the ashes

murder and mercy rolled into one

Either they’re stupid or very clearly focused on their theft that they don’t notice him enter into the shadows – he can spy the two of them that work to try and take everything that they see. One of them comes near him, into the dark, but the sounds from the water outside and the commands that are given, drive out any other sound there might be. And so Sunjata lashes out, aiming to grab the man that approaches into the shadows searching for the row of jackets and the like.

It’s relatively easy to apprehend this one, a shove toward the wall in the corner has the rest of them pausing, but at least it’s enough to daze the one Sunjata’s targeted, dropping him to the ground. And with it, Sunjata makes quick work of tying up his wrists with the twine he keeps in a pocket just in case for this exact reason. He focuses on keeping his work light, trying to play it off on the fact maybe the man simply tripped.

Nobody else comes investigating though, at least not at first, and so Sunjata waits again – knowing he’s outnumbered and doing his best to try and keep those around from fleeing with the treasure before he has a chance to stop them. Another one comes near him in the shadows, perhaps having noticed that the other man had gone missing and Sunjata does the same to this one. It's caused enough of a distraction, a spill of the stolen items rolling across the floor into the lantern lit shop.

which way is up?

SUNJATA

One thief goes missing. It’s not that surprising. Perhaps investigating a back storage room, perhaps something else. But when the second one goes missing and the loud sound that occurs proves to be incredibly distracting – the spill of items rolling across the floor – that’s when it becomes something else. Something… Troubling. So the one thief that keeps the blade pressed to the merchant instructs the third to go and investigate as well.

At least to try and find out what the hell is going on.

So he does, while the main one continues to keep tabs on the merchant, pulling her away from the counter and the open door, away from the open window to try and get a bit more privacy. Perhaps the sound had attracted more attention than initially thought.

you were forged in fire // and you rose from the ashes

murder and mercy rolled into one

The second one takes a bit more work, having not quite gotten knocked out the first time. It’s a bit of a struggle this time, but with it he focuses on trying to remain as quiet as he can, tying up the wrists once more to keep from having them leave. It’s just in time as well, as he’s suddenly discovered – a sharp sound, a “Boss we got someone” uttered before a flying fist finds Sunjata as he begins to move. It lands, abruptly, right in his shoulder. A huff of breath leaves him, staggering back briefly, before the blades are out now.

He grabs both of them, swiping out at the third that approaches and had thrown the punch. He tears into clothes on the first one, the second one manages to catch an arm, dark ruby blood peppering to the surface. But the tussle isn’t close to being done yet, no, not as the man surges toward Sunjata and he shifts his weight to his other foot in a well-practiced motion like he had often done in Korofi, a half turn and a rogue leg swiped out to bring the other to his knees.

And now? Now that he’s been spotted, there’s really no use in knocking this one out. Not when his arrival is already noted. So for the shoulder that’s been punched, Sunjata can’t help but to use the hilt of one of the daggers, aiming it at the mans collarbone in quiet retribution, before using the moment while he has little to no breath to tie up his hands as well, pushing him to the ground.

This isn’t at all how he’d expected his evening to go.

which way is up?

SUNJATA

The third, aside from spitting and hissing at Sunjata, puts up little of a fight. Perhaps it’s because this one here is rather lanky in comparison to the muscle that writhes within Sunjata’s frame, perhaps it’s because he’s a bit younger than the rest of them. Regardless, the third that approaches is certainly not much of a match but does get a solid punch out into Sunjata’s shoulder as the arbiter attempts an evade.

Doesn’t really result in much for the young man, not as the blade that hits his collarbone knocks the wind out of him with the pressure of it. He shouts at Sunjata as he’s shoved to the ground, as his arms are tied back, still spitting curses to the man as he stands to head toward the one holding the merchant.

The one that still remains upright, keeps the blade pressed to the merchants throat, hidden in the back room within the shadows, trying to think up a way to get out of this predicament.

you were forged in fire // and you rose from the ashes

murder and mercy rolled into one

Really, Sunjata’s pretty good at tuning out the curses and shouts sent his way. He’s used to it, if nothing else, from the time he’d spent in the Korofi boxing ring before he’d ever ended up making a name for himself. At this point, it’s just him and the last person, and saving the merchant from having her items taken from her. There’s a bit of blood on the dagger that he wipes away with a pant leg, steel eyes scanning the main area and finding that the man has left – but there’s no sign of disturbance with the items that had spilled across the floor from the entrance.

He knows that the other man has to be here somewhere. And so he searches, ignoring the man yelling and shouting at him, to open one of the stock room doors to find it dark and empty – his eyes partially shifting to that of his panther form to better see in the dark. And now there’s only one room left. This one, a bit more delicate as he opens it, not placing himself in it in case he’s attacked for it. But when it seems relatively empty, he slides in, daggers at the ready just on the off chance he might need them.

A quick scan of the room spots the third in the shadowed corner with the woman still struggling in the grip against the blade to her throat. And Sunjata knows he has to be delicate. So he opens his hands, keeping the daggers in plain sight, taking one quiet approach toward the thief and merchant, something quite cliché and traditional as it often seemed to be leaving his lips. “Hey, look, we can talk about it. You just gotta let her go, okay?”

which way is up?

SUNJATA

The thief knows it’s not long before Sunjata finds him, but he doesn’t really expect it to be that short of a time frame. All he has is his back against the wall, in the corner to ensure that nothing can come up behind him, keeping the blade tight against the merchants throat as if to use for leverage of a sort. It’s an attempt to keep him in control, Sunjata knows it too, based off the way the Arbiter talks.

There’s a laugh that leaves the thief’s throat, something crackling and smokey, ruined teeth grinning at Sunjata from where he stands. “Talk about what?” He replies, amused by the turn of events but still somewhat worried about what this Arbiter would do. He doesn’t move, not as Sunjata approaches – where else would he go? Instead he keeps his focus on Sunjata’s approach, clenching his hand around the hilt of the dagger pressed to her throat. “I ain’t even sure what your kind does let alone try to make a deal with ya.”

you were forged in fire // and you rose from the ashes

murder and mercy rolled into one

There’s a raspy voice that reaches him that comes from the thief holding the blade, and while Sunjata does his best to try and seem less of a threat than he is, he knows deep down he is a threat. He’s probably the biggest threat in the room even if he doesn’t currently hold the blade to the merchant’s throat. He absolutely could be there in a second, using one of his shifts to get there before anything can happen. But, he aims for a slightly different approach, offering the man a crooked grin despite the bruise that forms along his shoulder that pulses with the sharpness of pain and his heartbeat as the blood rushes to it.

“We do this.” He replies easily, gesturing to himself, gesturing to the daggers in his hands, at the robbery he’s stopping. “Not sure why you’re stealing though. That’s what I’m confused about. Is it for… Trades for food? For housing?” He questions with a tilt of his head, remaining in place, biding his time as he tries to reach out to some bats nearby, trying to pull them in through the open windows within the room and trying to keep the distraction on himself while he does it.

“Or were you and the boys just bored? Looking for something to do and thought you might look good in that ramphire scarf over there?” There’s a light hum of a chuckle at that, before he sends the bat he’d compelled through the window to aim for the man’s face to try and get him to drop the merchant or the dagger. Perhaps both if he’s lucky.

which way is up?

SUNJATA

The answer isn’t really one the thief wants to hear, his jaw feathering as he readjusts the blade again beneath his sweaty palm, keeping it pressed to the merchants chest as he listens to the shit that spouts out of Sunjata’s mouth. “Not fer any of that.” He replies quite smugly, having a decent living quarters, plenty of food. Perhaps it was the boredom that got the best of him and his gang, choosing this place in particular because it was far less guarded than the rest of them.

It really doesn’t matter in the end, not when there’s a bat suddenly flying into his face and he does indeed drop the merchant, the dagger lifting to try and stab at the bat that swarms his face and trying to stay in control of the situation. The merchant, now free, immediately begins to run for the door, to the entrance of the shop to try and keep herself out of whatever else goes on. A lost attempt, a lost cause for the thief.

you were forged in fire // and you rose from the ashes

murder and mercy rolled into one

Ah, just as he’d thought. Either the man was lying and he had a decent reason to be committing this sort of crime, or he was as Sunjata suspected – bored, got the guys together, got a bit too drunk and began to decide what places they could rob and get away with it. After all, that was pretty status quo for Torchline in the past – but ever since the Apopo eruption, the new government, and him actually having to give a damn about what happened… Well, he’s here.

The bat is a success, and he ensures that the woman leaves without an issue, giving him all the time to focus on apprehending the man with the bat in his face. He’s not very good at trying to keep the creature from flying and squeaking in his face, but Sunjata approaches deftly anyway. He gets slightly out of reach, aiming to try and latch onto the thief’s flailing hand with the dagger, only to grab it and shove back the man. It doesn’t go quite so well, as the bat departs, and there isn’t a whole lot of space between the man’s back and the wall to get the wind out of him as much as Sunjata would like to.

It leaves him open, as well, for the man to reach into his belt and grab a second dagger – thrusting out with it and managing to dig the sharp blade into Sunjata’s abdomen. There’s a growl that leaves Sunjata as he has a decision to make, already feeling the blood begin to soak his shirt where the blade was. He could try to surge forward and try to get the man to drop the one blade, but it would drive the one that’s currently in his abdomen deeper.

Or, he could pull back and give the man a brief opening, to try and get the blade out of himself first. He hisses plenty of Korofian curses under his breath as he decides. And he probably decides the worst one. The hand around the wrist with the blade that had been placed to the merchant’s neck begins to twist to try and pull the mans arm across his chest in an uncomfortable, pained position. The other reaches for the blade that’s still in him, already pissed with how this has turned out, and so he uses the dagger he holds within his own hands to slice the back of the man’s hand, enough so that the man pulls away and Sunjata can pull the dagger out, tossing it into the other corner of the room. He clenches his jaw and growls against the pain of it, using the same dagger to try and keep the man pinned. There’s a look in his gaze that focuses on the thief, a deepening grimace along his face that seems to scream ‘you’ve fucked up’.

which way is up?

SUNJATA

Well, things really don’t go according to plan. Not as he attempts to try and get the bat out of his face. The thief can still hear the shouts from the other man in the other room, but right now all he can do is focus on the shit that’s happening in front of him. Sunjata moves swift, and the thief is taken a bit off guard by this, a huff of air leaving him as his back is pressed against the wall, as the hand is grabbed, but a bark of laughter that leaves him as the hand edges out to grab his other dagger and stabs the arbiter in the stomach with it.

Of course, this only makes things worse, having not quite hit him somewhere important or vital, and there’s a groan of pain that leaves him as his arm twists and the other is sliced, he pulls away from the hilt of the dagger still sticking out of Sunjata before the Arbiter pulls the blade out and tosses it to the side. He remains pinned, unable to do anything now that he’s mostly disarmed, the arm at his chest digging his own dagger into his shoulder a small amount. There isn’t much else he can do at this very moment, and he growls against the frustration of that and the pain to both arms.