Competition

There was quite the commotion outside the next morning. Nobody had been aware of the threat on your lives, which meant the corpse hanging off the side of the building all the more shocking. He had been a familiar face to many of the area, and not a welcome one. That nobody had bothered to cut him down, even to get the coinpurse hanging in display, was telling. The corpse wasn't your concern though; he got what he deserved. Instead, you focused on the ground below. Benjamin was already out there, armed and ready, as if standing watch at a guard tower. What was peculiar and frustrating was that this time, he was not alone.

Leaving Jiaghan alone to sleep, you make your way down the stairs. With each step, you could feel your temper rising. He might think he's clever, he may have even convinced your first instinct was wrong for a moment, but he had made everything clear now. If he couldn't find an easy way with you, he'd get it easy with someone else. You were certain of this by the time you had exited the apartments, and came face to face with him and his new friend, Dhoga. She was an orc woman, a fellow miserable wretch trying to survive in the matchsticks, just like everyone else. She had been known, like you, to make ends meet by laying on her back. Unlike you, Dhoga was known for little else than that; a common street walking whore. You didn't normally hold her in any such contempt: she was, like all the others of her trade, beyond your notice or concern, but this was different. Either he was trying to woo her to get what you wouldn't give him, or she was trying to seduce him to get his coin. Either way, this all had to stop.

"Well, good morning there" Benjamin turned back as he heard you approach, smiling slightly.

"And how good has it been?" You asked suspiciously "Gotten up and at it with your new friend already?"

His eyes squinted in confusion, sensing that he was in trouble, but not sure how or why. He looked at Dhoga for a second, and seemingly tried to shift the conversation "Oh, yes, Dhoga here told me the two of you were acquainted with one another."

"We've crossed paths" as you stop for a second "enough to know her reputation and wonder if you two have crossed more than that."

"You know, you really should have a quiet moment as to why you're always accusing me of infidelity, especially when you've made it quite clear that you have no interest in me."

Sensing that was as close as an admission as you were going to receive, you redouble your speed, rushing in front of them both, eager to tear him apart. And yet, when you do, you find Dhoga holding a battleaxe of sturdy quality alongside Benjamin. You paused, and pulled back on your accusation.

"What's this? "You asked indistinctly.

Dhoga's answer wasn't helpful to your frame of mind "I can't let you have all of the fun." Benjamin saw your face distort in frustration and interjected.

"She's standing the watch alongside me. The gangs, the corrupt, the petty purse theives will all know that this place is safe. In time, more will stand alongside us."

"Oh, and now I'm supposed to believe that just like that, you've stopped being a street walker and are Ben's convert?"

The orc hoisted her weapon up at the hilt "I've had this with me since I first came to Ten Forks. Once I got caught up in the Matchsticks, I was never able to get out. I've never wanted to live like this, but there was never anything I could do about it. Seeing someone finally choose to fight for the right thing? I can get behind them. Surprised you weren't out here first Liz" There was an attitude in Dogha's voice, an undeserved smugness you saw fit to remove her of.

"My name is Tralizznt, and I fought those thugs on my own, without the help of you or some fairy tale knight. Just because some of us aren't in broad day light posturing as hero's doesn't mean we're passive."

"Alright you two," Ben tried to be the calm voice "Let's not make enemies out of each other. We all have our own reasons, our own stories, and our methods. We must focus on what's really important. These criminals and leeches are swiftly learning that, in day or night, their days are numbered. Little by little, the people of Matchsticks are saying they've had it. The more people we have on our side, the more eagerly others will come to join us. By default, we're the leaders of this fight, and we can't have infighting ruin this before we start."

"Don't worry about me. I'm flexible" Dogha's constant choice of innuendo was frustrating you to no end. You wanted to believe Benjamin that there was nothing going on between him and her, yet she seemed to be strongly implying that there was, or that she wanted there to be. "Tralizznt is right, in a way. We're not going to be doing these people any good by clumping together like this. As much as I'd love to see the poor sap that tries to get your decoration down from the roof, I should probably make myself available elsewhere."

"I have to say Liz, that I'm disappointed" Benjamin said once Dogha was out of earshot "What happened that you would have that low of an opinion of me, or anyone else, that I would move towards someone so in such a debased fashion just because I can't have you. What are you afraid of?"

"Excuse me!?" Your hands move to your hips in protest, as your voice rises up "How dare you accuse me of being afraid? I can't afford to be afraid. The scared ones fall just after the naive and the fools."

"I'm sure you have a long list of reasons why you say that, and clearly you've been through a lot. I wonder though, if you might be more afraid than you realize."

"Afraid of what? Of losing some dumb hunk like you?"

"No, I don't think that's it. I think you're afraid of the pain of losing someone."

"This coming from a guy insisting he doesn't want to fuck me."

"With your behavior lately? No way. What's interesting is that you keep saying you're not interested in me but seemed to get really territorial there for a second. What's that about?"

You snorted for a second "I just wanted to make sure you didn't catch anything from that street walker."

"If you say so." Benjamin was clearly unconvinced, which only seemed to drive you more "Listen Liz. Here's the bottom line. We don't find each other in the bedroom, that's fine with me. I'd still, at the very least, like to be your friend. With the storm of shit that's coming our way, we're going to need them, but even that's difficult with you, you know?"

You crossed your arms defiantly. Maybe there was something to what he was saying, but you didn't see an answer to it. This is who you've been, since before this charming young man was born.

"What do you propose to fix that?" You asked coldly

"Propose?" He laughed gently "I think we should at least have one date before I propose anything" The joke did calm things down for you, at least somewhat. He was a good man, even if his optimism and ideology were unbearable at times. "For real though, I think this might help. Let you know I've got your back" He reached into a pouch and removed something. Pulling your hand out towards him, he placed it firmly in the palm. You looked at it for a second and was more than a little surprised to see a Cygian Partner Stone, also known as Lover Stones.

"What are you doing?" You asked, incredulous "What was that about dates before proposing, and you're giving me this?"

"Don't read too much into it. Cygians use these for more than just marital vows. This is me saying I've got your back." He held up the other one in his hand "if anything happens, we'll know where the other person is, and have their back."

"Gods" You said with a faint smile "You really did just stumble right out of a children's tale, didn't you?"

"Well, you're definitely not a damsel in distress in need of rescuing. so I guess not."