Liberation, or Redemption?

You kept at least an arms distance from Benjamin as the three of you walked through the streets of the Matchsticks. A fully armored soldier, knight, or adventurer was a rare sight in this impoverished and crime-ridden area. You've seen muggers attack people in broad daylight to steal what valuables they could, and you've seen them do it for less value than what Benjamin is literally carrying on him with his armor. To Benjamin's credit, he seemed at least aware of the threat; his posture and gaze having lost it's casual nature once your crossed the bridge. Jiaghan was aware of the threat too, but seemed somehow excited for the threat of ****.

"So, what are you going to do Benjamin?" She asked "You going to barge into their lairs and start wreaking havoc?"

"What?" His humored tone carried the subtext of bewilderment "No. I'm not here for vengeance or anything like that. I'm here to help expose rot and fix problems."

"Killing those thugs will fix the problem" She responded, and Benjamin looked slightly taken aback by how easily someone so young, even an elf, could be so comfortable with it. He spoke slowly, his focus being less on safety and more on talking to his new friend.

"That's not been my experience at all. I could kill a gang boss, maybe even all of his goons too. Someone else will step up to fill his shoes before the body's gone cold."

"I don't understand" Jiaghan felt a little hurt in her response "than what are you going to do? pray for them?"

"No, well, not entirely. I can't fix the problem myself, but I can be the start of people fixing problems for themselves."

You finally piped up "You think we're dumb or something? That all we need is some learned and principled human to show us savages how to do things?"

"Nothing of the sort, I assure you" There was a hint of nervousness, as he tried to recalibrate his thoughts "You are all quite capable. Your survival depends on it. People need to see that the system that they are reliant upon for their survival is far more reliant upon them for it."

"I don't follow" You cross your arms as you stop outside your apartment build.

"It'll make sense, in time" His nervousness was gone, having regained his rhetoric position "Things don't change because everyone here thinks this is the only way things can be. That's not true, and I'm going to show them"

No sooner had Benjamin uttered these words, did a trio of familiar faces approach. More goons, including one of the lieutenants of the Dragon Scales, the gang that claimed ownership of your apartment. He resumed the seemingly friendly, neighborly disposition you had seen before, even as he interject himself between them and you.

"Good morning gentlemen. I hate to tell anyone how to do their job, but we really don't need to do this. Just hear me out"

"Fuck off" was the short and sweet response he received, and quite predictable. "We're in this mess by listening to that whore and her dealmaking, and brought that tiny race traitor friend of hers to swindle us. You can't possibly think we're so dumb as to trust you too." Heat rushed to your face in anger, not from what was said about you, but Jiaghan. A quick look at her face showed a great deal of hurt, and you instantly knew why.

"I get it, but they're not your enemy. Your bosses are telling you to hate each other and fight for spare coin so they get to stay in power."

The two low level thugs looked at each other for a split second, considering the reality, whereas the superior pulled them in line "Don't pretend that you know anything about what's going on here stranger. You're not one of us. You've never lived in Ten Forks, you're not from The Matchsticks."

"No, but this isn't the only ghetto in T'sara. I was just like you three. I stole for every measly thing I had just to survive, because I thought there was no other way. I was given a chance to do better, to be better, and now, I'm giving you all that same chance. Realize that the Matchsticks are only like this because you are actively supporting it, and help me put a stop to it. Please, because I really don't like the alternative."

"You're all talk, now get out of the way or get what's coming to you"

"Your funeral" Benjamin sighed as he drew his weapon, a bastard sword. The goons were hot on his heals, but their brutality failed to make up for their amateurism. Their blunt clubs did little against plated armor, when they even struck. Whether by strategy or ideology, Benjamin made a point to strike for the leader first, running his sword deep into the midsection and rising up. It was a familiar but ghastly noise, hearing someone's last breath, a sound that brought no pleasure to anyone, not even you. The other two continued to fight, despite the odds against them. Where Benjamin was fast to kill the leader, the goons were merely incapacitated, with wounds that could be survivable or fatal depending on the care received.

"Now is the time for the two of you to find out what your loyalty is really worth. Get lost" They sheepishly did as they were told, both struggling to move along. The threat dispatched, Benjamin turned to you and Jiaghan, with no amount of pride or satisfaction on his face. All the better than, because you weren't in the mood to lay praise on him.

"Oh for Fuck's sake!" You bellow out loudly. "It all makes sense now

"What?" Benjamin looked at genuinely confused, as did Jiaghan, still standing by your side.

"It's even worse than I thought. You don't just want to have sex with me, you want to fix me first. Stop the thieving and sleeping around, make a proper lady out of me." You slowly storm up the stairs to your battered apartment, hoping that there's anything still of use in it."

"Liz, wait!" He called "You have it all wrong!" He raced up and looked you squarely in the eyes that few men have done before "Well, mostly wrong. Yes, you should stop being a thief, but the rest of it is untrue."

"Are you sure?" You asked, crossing your shoulders "for someone who seems to have no interest in me, you're spending a lot of time and energy on me."

"Yes, I'm sure, for two simple reasons. One, you're a grown woman and far older than me. Unless you're hurting others, I have no business telling you what to do with your life."

"And second?" You asked, unconvinced

"Second, is her" He pointed at Jiaghan, patiently waiting outside and giving you two space "You're helping an Elvish kid do better for herself when you're barely making it by. That alone tells me you've got your heart in the right place, far better than most 'proper ladies' I've met."

"And fucking me?" You asked again, probing further.

"Like I said, that sounds like fun, but I'm here on business. Maybe when this is all done, if you'll have me. "