Perspective Shift: Flynn; The Fence

I followed Jenkins into the slums. Unlike the rest of the lower quarter, the buildings in the slum were in a marked state of disrepair. Grime and trash covered the streets, if you could even call the pothole laden dirt road a street. There were the occasional beggar and street tough along the corners of the slums.

“Isn’t too far now,” said Jenkins, keeping his eyes down. “Don’t make eye contact. The slums have very little guard influence. If we anger one of the gangs, we won’t be getting any backup.”

“Thanks for the warning, I guess,” I said, tearing my eyes away from the various gang members. Jenkins turned down a side road, heading for a building with a sign that read ‘Jace’s Pawn’ sitting inside an alley. Jenkins gingerly opened the door, a bell tied to the inner doorknob ringing as he did.

“Welcome. Lookin to buy or sell?” asked the gruff older man behind the counter, his fake smile fading as he saw the guard walking in. “What do you want?”

“Hey Jace,” said Jenkins, shuffling up to the counter. “Need a little help again.”

“Oh no, not after last time, Jenkins. Can’t be having my clients gettin booked, bad for business,” the man said, his scarred eye twitching.

“So is being arrested as an accessory to ****,” I said, leaning against the counter.

“Hey, easy, you aren’t the only customers here,” he said, hushing us. “Hey! We’re closing up for lunch, back in an hour!”

The few customers inside complained a bit before leaving the shop. Jace hurried over to the door and locked it after putting up a sign indicating the shop was closed.

“Alright, now what the hell are you on about? Accessory to ****!? Bah!” He scoffed, placing his hands on his hips.

“You’re the fence those muggers have been selling their goods to. They murdered someone last night, and since they sold their gains to you, that makes you an accessory, if not an outright accomplice,” I said, trying to intimidate the man.

“It’s true, Jace,” said Jenkins. “Best you lend us a hand with the investigation, then we can be lenient.”

“Fine,” he growled. “What do you wanna know?”

“First off, who are the muggers, and when did they last come here for your...services,” I asked. He sighed, his arms dropping limply to his sides.

“There’s three of em, two guys and a girl, usually cover their faces in here. They usually show up before we open after one of their...‘outings’...but I haven’t seen em in a few days,” said Jace.

“What do they usually bring you?” I asked.

“Jewelry, mostly, but there’s also the occasional weapon or article of clothing,” he said.

“There any sorta jewelry you don’t fence?” I asked.

“Nah. Jewelry’s easy to resell, makes good profit for me and my...uh clients,” he said.

“Thanks for the help. When they come in next, let the guard know,” I said, glaring at him.

“Yeah, yeah. I got it,” he sighed. “Now get out, gotta reopen.”

“Cmon Jenkins,” I said, leading the guardsman out the front of the store. I flipped the sign from closed to open once we got outside, before looking up to the argument in front of me.

“Hey! Stop pulling Niko! Agh! My ears!” Complained a lanky elf in dark clothes. He had a short sword hanging from his hip. A balaclava was being forcefully pulled over his head by a catgirl, presumably Niko.

“Stop complaining! You know the deal, so put it on yourself, or I have to!” she retorted, pulling the mask one last time. She herself wore a black hood and bandana, her silver ears poking out from holes in the top. She wore a black leather bikini that looked like it was straight out of a JRPG’s women’s armor section. Lastly, she had thigh high boots with built in scabbards for a knife on each boot.

“Oh shit! Guys look, a guard! It’s a stab operation!” exclaimed the third and final person outside. He was on the bulkier side, wearing all black like the other two, his face covering already worn. The crudely fashioned club was already drawn from his hip upon seeing Jenkins.

“Looks like we found our thieves,” said Jenkins, drawing his sword. “You’re all under arrest!”

I cringed inwardly as the Guard shuffled over to them, sword in one hand and clutching his helmet in place with the other. The catgirl jumped back behind the bulky thief, drawing her knives while the elf hastily pulled his balaclava into place. Jenkins lunged to swing at the bulky thief, but his helmet slid off his head, blocking his eyesight, so he missed horribly. The bulky thief chuckled, and hit Jenkins over the head with his club, sending the guard crumpling to the floor.

“Here we go...” I sighed, drawing my own sword. The elf drew his sword and lunged at me with a thrust, which I easily parried, performing the disarming technique Lucille tossed me to fling his sword down the alleyway. He scrambled away to retrieve his blade. The big one swung his club overhead, the slow attack missing as I sidestepped and jammed my hilt into his side, knocking his breath out.

“Wha?” exclaimed the catgirl, hissing as I pointed my blade at her.

“Just surrender and I won’t have to hurt any of you,” I said, my new armor and the slight glow of my enchanted sword adding to my intimidation attempt. The catgirl turned to her friends.

“Run! Get out of here while I stall him!” she shouted. The elf shouted a thanks, running out of the alley.

“Hey, stop!” I shouted, trying to give pursuit. The catgirl pounced on me, knocking me onto my stomach.

“Run, now!” she screamed at the bulky thief. He staggered to his feet and dragged himself down the alley.

“Thanks Niko,” he mumbled as he passed by. The voice was familiar, and while I couldn’t be sure with the face covering and all, I felt like I recognized his frame.

“Wait a minute, you guys robbed me too didn’t you!?” I shouted, struggling to push the catgirl off my back. “Gimme back my clothes!”

“Gah!” grunted the catgirl as she fell off onto her ass.

“Ah shit, the guy with the weird blue pants!” said the bulky thief.

“How are jeans weird!?” I exclaimed, running after the clothes snatcher. He turned and ran out of the alley.

“Get back here!” yelled the catgirl, jumping off the wall and swinging a knife at me. I stopped it with my sword. “I’m your opponent pants guy!”

“My name’s Flynn!” I complained, pushing her back.

“Whatever, pants guy,” she said, trying to anger me. I sighed, not willing to play her game. “What’s wrong, pants guy? Want em back?”

“That’s it,” I mumbled, raising my hand at the catgirl. “STEAL!”

“Kyaa!” she squealed, dropping to her knees and covering her modest chest as her bikini armor appeared in my hand. While she was distracted, I sprang into action, pinning her to the ground. I removed her hood and bandana, using them and her bikini to bind her arms.

“There we go, successful capture,” I said to no one in particular. I stood up and nudged the **** Jenkins with my foot.

“That’s not fair!” whined the catgirl, too embarrassed to try to flee topless despite no longer being pinned and having her legs free.

“Says the thief who steals pants. Besides, who ever said an adventurer has to fight fair?” I said, shaking the guard awake again.

“Huh? Who’s...what happened?” Jenkins mumbled, sitting up. I covered the half naked girl with my cape before pulling her to her feet.

“Caught one of the thieves. The other two got away,” I said.

“Oh, uh, good work,” he said, stumbling up to his feet and putting his helmet back on. “Let’s get the prisoner back to the barrack then. We’ll use her to bring out her murderous friends.”

“Just cooperate, all right. Unlike him, I’m not convinced you guys are murderers,” I whispered into the ear of the catgirl. Her ears perked up and she turned to stare at me, a slight tear in her emerald eyes. “Don’t say anything till we get there. Whatever you say can be used against you as evidence.”

She sulked and nodded, having given up on escaping. She knew her only choice was to trust me, and I hoped she’d help lead us to the real perpetrator. I refused to believe these three idiots could be responsible for such a gruesome crime scene. Getting back to the situation at hand, I lead the prisoner behind Jenkins back towards the guard barrack.