Simply Awaiting

[B.D. Adams]

He stood casually against the bark of a willow in the Eastern Forest, his direction one that turned in the position of the Tel’Ranaemyn Inn. The sun fading in the west caused shadows of the environment to cast over him; and added more to the dark illusion already rendered by the tone of his skin and black leather of the open vest.

A pick up of wind swirled the few fallen leaves that were at his feet and thusly blew his scent towards the Inn. He didn't worry for he wasn't trying to mask his presence from the area, however, he had masked his aura enough for it not to send waves across the surrounding square miles. Not many cared to tread in places that seeped evil.

It has been many a day since his particular vibe was felt in this area - he wasn't known for social calls and that was not a habit he would adopt now. Something had happened last time he was here and, as a result, things went missing. Things went array. Things, did not go the way they were suppose to go. Things that he had claimed as his own. Patience and time were something that this man had vast amounts of however, when it came to his property, it was good that they remember their ownership sooner as opposed to later.

Such a case of 'property gone array' was the culprit of his being here now. A warning had been given and ignored. Now it was time to explore other methods.

A day or so ago he sent someone a message, no doubt it was much to their surprise the manner of which the message was received, especially as they had never met or spoken before. This spot and the covering it provided was more for their benefit, not his.

So there he was, waiting against the bark of a willow in the Eastern Forest. It was an open area; one never could know who would come along.

[Mael Feu]

'Who the hell are you and what the f*ck do you want.'

Those are the words that wanted to come out of the mouth of Mael Feu as he spotted the man waiting against the willow in the forest. The person was waiting, as as the text message had said, but he didn't know if it was going to be male or female.

The text had come during the middle of the night and, though there was nothing out of the ordinary about receiving calls at that hour, when he had looked to see who it was, the message lacked any of the known signature markings form the Syndicate or any employees thereof. Therefore, someone had gotten a-hold of his line and he wanted to know who.

It had been a simple message, one that he'd expect fro, anyone in the agency to send out: Eastern Forest. Out Tel. Willow. It only lacked the confirmation code. Even without it, he decided to check it out.

No rookie to the game, he knew it could be a possible set up, but he also knew that it could be something worth his attention if whoever it was had gone through the effort of sending a message. His personalized Calvary Militia Shell Jacket on he approached the man by the tree. Didn't have to be anyone special to know that, that person right there, wasn't what the outside showed. That dark feeling was enough, as though he entered the criminally insane sector of a prison ward.

Mael leaned on the other side of the willow and propped a foot up on the bark, stuck his hand in the pocket of his jeans and waited.

[B.D. Adams]

Silence stretched on for more than a moment; even longer than a couple minutes for he saw no reason to rush into anything, though he wasn't going to draw this out any longer than he needed. He wasn't one for idle conversation anyway. 

Average eye would mark the dark man to be leaning, still, on the tree. However, when the person he was waiting for arrived and went to lean, the first man pulled himself forward a fraction to avoid actual contact with the wood. Precautionary measures.  There was no need, yet, to take from this man. 

"You are required for a task," spoken as he pulled out a small folded sheet of paper from his pocket. Captured between index and middle finger on the left hand, the paper was offered. "See that it gets done."

He spoke in a manner that said he knew the deed would be accepted. No questions asked. That's how confident he was. 

The one he was waiting for may not know how this particular person got his information, but, what was on the paper made it all to clear that he knew what the other did. 

Not even bothering to look at the other, eyes were still looking towards the direction of the Inn. As soon as he felt fingers close around the paper he would let go. 

[Mael Feu]

Clearly this guy had done his homework.

At the first offer of the paper Mael's sharp eyes shot to it and there they stayed. He was required for a task? What kind of shit was that? He could guess.

This was something that the Syndicate use to do to him all the time: buzzing his phone and passing assignments to him. Treated him like some sort of lap dog to pet on the head and say 'good job' once it was done. Left them clean and clear out of whatever repercussions fell. It was that bull which caused him to drop away and make them trail and seek after him.

Maybe this guy hadn't done all his homework after all.

He took the paper and didn't even bother to open, or read it, instead it was folded again in between his fingers and deposited into his pocket.

"And why should I give a f-ck about this assignment of yours?" Came the question in an apathetic tone, the toe of his shoe tapped twice into the ground and kicked up a stone. "What's in it for me," he asked. There had to be some benefit for him to take up this strangers caused.

By the looks of the man on the other part of the tree, if he wanted something done he could do it himself. The question he should have asked was what was the other to gain.

[B.D. Adams]

"What's in it for me."

That was a wonderful question and one that he enjoyed hearing when it passed through the lips of others. It said that they would do what was asked of them, it was only a matter of giving them what they wanted. Don't push to hard. Don't say to much. Don't make them think they have no choice. Most importantly, don't underestimate them.

The answer to the question did not come right away, and it did not take overly long in the coming. This man took a casual step away from the willow and stretched his hands behind his back; fingers intertwined and knuckles cracking at the end of the action.

"Freedom can be a most coveted thing," came his answer, "Most coveted indeed."

Having already stepped away from the tree he continued towards the deeper part of the forest, uncaring for the dried leaves that cracked under the pressure of his stride for he wasn't in hiding. There wasn't going to be anything more to answer with that question. Though what he said could leave the other with questions in mind, the belief was in that what he gave was sufficient.

[Mael Feu]

He didn't like this man. 

He didn't like him because, to a point, it reminded him of himself. The confidence and borderline arrogance in thinking that things were going to be the way you said they were because you said it. Mael did expect things to go his way and that people should listen to the things that he said, but that applied to things in the areas he knew himself to be correct. That guy there was on a different level and, even just for a moment, it would have been good to take a look into the vacating man's eyes and see if they echoed what the rest of the body displayed. 

What the other had said couldn't have been more right. Freedom was a very coveted thing and it was something Mael made sure he had. Freedom to make his own decisions. Freedom to do what he wanted in relation to the Syndicate. Freedom to no longer need to worry if he'd be able to retain that right. Who the hell was this guy to even thread upon freedoms with him? 

Nothing was said to make the other delay in the exit; Mael watch until the dark man was enclosed in the forest's shadows and then leaned his head back against the willow. 

"Shit."

Hand stuffed into the pocket where he had put the paper earlier only now to pull it out. It wasn't large and took him only a moment to unfold and read the message - and just as quickly crumple it in his fist an shove it back into his pocket. 

He allowed himself a moment of utter stillness and quiet against the Willow before he rolled to the side and went off in the direction he had come. From his other pocket he pulled out his phone and flipped it open. There was work to be done. 

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