The Orphan

[Seheren]

He nears the town, a smile on his face, a smile still visible in the dim light of dusk. He is well groomed, dark hair tied behind his head, a close cropped beard. Next to him, holding his hand, is a small dirty child. Clothed in little more then tattered rags, the boy follows the man obediently. The man approaches a small cottage, on the outskirts of Sestra. Through the window, he can see the couple. Middle-aged, perhaps, they sit around the table with their young son, not so different looking then the one next to him, though better cared for. He smiles to himself and walks up to the door with the child, knocking firmly, donning a merchants smile.

"Hello, my name is Simon. This child here is an Orphan, he desperately needs a family to care for him, lest he starve on the streets." Simon begins, he bends down to the child with a smile and says "Can you tell these nice folk your name?"

[Chipmunk]

"My name is Pet" the boy responds, shyly, while the couple looks at Simon with a strange look.

The man is the first to put words to their confusion: "Who are you, and why are you even here, sir?" he asks, while his wife looks the boy over. She, in turn, adds: "And what kind of a name is Pet?!"

[Seheren]

He continues his smile, patting the boy on the head, tousling his hair.

"I told you, my name is Simon, and I could not stand to see this child starve, so I am trying to see if a family can take him in. I cannot take the boy myself, but I can offer you a small sum of gold to help care for the boy." Simon says, his voice somber, he looks to the boy, then to the couple. "He is a good child, he doesn't deserve to suffer, he deserves a family to care for him. Do something good, help me, help Pet."

[Chipmunk]

The man looks to the woman, doubtfully. "We don't take beggars" he responds, gruffly.

The woman looks at the boy sadly, biting her lip, deferring to her husband, until she finally caves and leans in, to whisper to her husband.

"Small sum? Trent, we could use the coin. Rent is upcoming...." she murmurs. The man looks annoyedly at his wife.

"We don't take beggars" he drives his bargain.

[Seheren]

Simon sighs, his face looking downcast.

"The boy is no beggar... His parents were killed. I'm sure you've heard the rumors about all the terrible business going on. He doesn't stand a chance alone, but I guess if you don't have the heart to help a poor child, I guess I will try another family.." He turns and stops for a moment to tousle the boys hair again, leaning down, telling him "Its ok, they are just too busy to help you. We will find another good family."

[Chipmunk]

The man is a bit too fast to respond: "Now now, let's not be too hasty" he says, as his wife gives his shoulder a little shove. A broad and distinctly fake smile appears on his lips as he looks to "Pet": "Aren't you a sweet little thing, eh boy?" he asks, before looking back to Simon.

"How much?" he reveals the crux of the matter.

[Seheren]

Simon brightens up a bit and pretends to fumble into his coin-purse. He pulls out a small dirty pouch and holds it open.

"I am not a man of means, myself, but I can offer you these Fifty stags. That's more then enough to care for Pet, and you will care for him." He says matter of factly, his face looking blank and cold

[Chipmunk]

The man shifts his weight, his hand moving to close the door as the tone gets so much sharper. He does it slowly, so as to be polite.

"No, no, not interested" he says.

[Seheren]

Simon steps forward, grudgingly, and pulls out a second pouch.

"Really, Sir. Please, he needs your help. This was supposed to feed me for the next ten-day, but you can have it. Thats one-hundred stags, just to do the right thing, and help this poor boy." He pleads to the man, giving the boy a sad look.

[Chipmunk]

The wife gives the man a hefty shove, and hisses at him: "Take it".

The door stops closing, and the man makes a show of considering the offer. "Very well. Come on in, Pet - you can wear the clothes of my eldest. Let's hope you are luckier than he" he remarks, holding the door open for the boy, who enters with a strange degree of obedience.

The husband smirks at Simon: "He was taken by the vampires" he clarifies, taking the gold.

[Seheren]

Simon shrugs, dons his smile, and leaves. As he considers his lighter coin-purse he frowns slightly, but perks up as a thought crosses his mind. His smile full, he walks into the night..

[Chipmunk]

That same night, another person appears at the door of the couple. She is dressed in an extremely well-fashioned chainmail, the decorations and trims leaving no mistake about her noble heritage.

Her lineage is instantly confirmed, as she greets the husband who opens: "Hello, love. I came to see my pet" she purrs, each word accented with the kind of haughty arrogance only a true noblewoman can produce.

The man blinks in surprise at the woman, then goes slack-jawed and steps back. "Please ... come in" he says, dazedly. The woman offers him a broad smile and crosses the threshold of the door.

"Oh Peee-eeeeet?" she coos, closing the door behind her.