Private Tales The Most Ridiculous Thief

A private roleplay only for those invited by the first writer
Ellory Ashford

Ellory Ashford

The Investigator
Member
Messages
97
Character Biography
Link
Lieutenant Ellory Ashford had been after this thief for months now. He...or she...was starting to drive her insane. They would hit minor houses, steal random shit, and disappear into the night. How did Ellory know the newest scene was connected to the others? The asshole rearranged the furniture in the room or a nearby room before he left.

Ellory sat at her desk studying her notes and getting more irritated with each passing second. Nothing made sense. This ridiculous thief left no clue besides the fucking furniture. She didn't even know what time it was besides the fact that the sun had gone down quite a while ago and everyone else had left the office. The Guard closed her folder and placed it in one of her desk drawers. She needed to stop looking at the notes for a little bit and get dinner.

It was only a few minutes before she was locking the door to her office and heading home to change out of her uniform. She pulled black boots over her black pants and dark blue shirt. She pulled her blonde hair into a long ponytail before checking herself out in the mirror. She always felt weird out of uniform but she also didn't feel like dealing with questions about her job tonight either. For some reason the men of Vel Anir thought it was cute to try and impress her with stories of their few years with the Guard. She was never impressed.

Once she felt suitably ready to face people, she left her house and headed to a nearby tavern that knew her order by heart.
 
Oh the City Watch. So easy to trick, so easy to play with. It was perhaps the worst crime that he committed. He watched from his perch as the light in the investigators office extinguished. He wasn't sure who had been tracking him all these months, but they were relentless. One of the few people to exit was, from what he could tell, a gorgeous blond.

He would wait several long moments before he paced father back on the roof. Then, he darted forward, leaping across the chasm below. Flight. Not everyone could do it. But he could. He would land on the balcony one floor below her office and recover in a roll. Quickly, he would find the nearest holds and begin to climb up.

The climb was quick. Reaching the balcony of the investigators office, he would pull himself up and sneak to the door. A simple pick and and he was in. Entering the office, he would begin to dig through the drawers silently until he found notes pertaining to his jobs. Jackpot.

Hearing a noise beyond the door, he would take the notes and squeeze into a shelf of her desk. By the gods did it hurt. Thankfully, the leg that was sticking out was hidden by darkness. The cleaner entered, whistling some very off-tune beat and seemed to spruce the place up quickly before departing. Once the footsteps retreated enough, Ryder would slip free of his cage with some effort and curse the gods. Every god.

Now, came the fun part. Everything on her desk was rearranged, then some of the furniture too. Even the desk itself was tucked into a corner as if she was on a timeout. He would pause as he came across the name: Lieutenant Ashford. Ellory Ashford. Now that, was good news. A woman he could seduce. Well, a man too, he just had his preferences. Besides, the last inspector was a man. Perhaps she was even the blond he had witnessed leaving. After all, the timing would add up.

Heading for the balcony, he would shut the door and re-lock it. Now to find her. He would jump from her balcony to a nearby roof. All cops loved to drink. So that's where he would start.

Ellory Ashford
 
As she entered The Dreaded Drink (which admittedly was a terrible name for a tavern), she waved at the raven haired woman behind the bar. The woman in turn smiled and set to pouring her a pint of dark ale.

"Your usual meal too?" The barkeep asked with a joking smile and Ellory threw her a look. Jillian knew full well that Ellory didn't change her order.

As Jillian disappeared to tell the kitchen, Ellory took a drink of her ale and looked around the tavern. It was surprisingly quiet tonight and she didn't recognize anyone as a fellow regular. Good, she thought. She could use some quiet.

Ryder
 
The bar would carry on slowly for some time until a large group poured through the doors. Some of them were regulars, some of the were not. Ryder would embed himself into the group and laughed and joked as if he were the cornerstone of the band of friends.

All around Ellory some of the girls at other booths would begin to gasp as they recognized the man that walked in. "By the gods.. thats Finnick!"

"Ohh... I wonder if he'll play a song for us.." another mused dreamily.

Finnick, the Bard that had begun to make quite the name for himself. Everywhere he went, actually. Ryder grinned as the fools began to buy and spread his misinformation. Better he gets spotted whilst associated with a different name. More heat on his rival, after all, was a much better situation.

Ellory Ashford
 
The quiet was soon interrupted by a gaggle of giggling, gasping girls (hehe alliteration). Ellory cursed and looked up in the direction of the man they were references. She didn't recognize him or his name but apparently he was loved by many.

She just rolled her eyes and went back to nursing her ale as she waited for her food.

Ryder
 
The gabbing would quickly quiet when the unfamiliar man stopped besides Ellory's table. "I've found my table, ladies. I need to eat in silence." Dropping down across from Ellory, he sighed. "So, what are we eating?" He asked with a grin. His forearms would rest on the table after he flagged down the waitress.

"I'll take a pint, love. And she'll get another of what she's having.. and ill take some of the chicken. Oh, and uh.. get yourself something to eat or drink too and put it on my tab." He fired a wink at the waitress who blushed and scurried off to fulfill the order. "Hope ya didn't mind. Needed the save."

Ellory Ashford
 
Ellory scowled as the man that the girls had been so excited over slid into her booth. She just stared at him like he was some kind of fucking idiot and her scowled just deepened as he ordered food and drink and winked at the waitress.

"I actually do mind. If I wanted company, I would have sat at the bar or come with friends. I am sure that table over there," she nodded her head towards the other booth, "would love your company."

She took a drink from her glass. "I do not." She said tersely once she swallowed her ale.

Ryder
 
"Rough day at the office?" He would ask, ignoring most of what she said. It was a gift of his. "I think if you hadn't, you would be in a much more joyous mood. After all, your face is so flawless that not a single mark has marred it. Which means, you are not always so dour. I love the aggression though, the quickest way for any woman to a man's heart." He said with a smirk.

His drink would arrive, followed by the food he had ordered after her. He slid his plate between them. "In case you're hungry."

Ellory Ashford
 
She was curious if this little routine of his actually worked on anyone. She thought about the girls at the other table and rolled her eyes. Of course it worked. That is why he kept doing it.

"Jillian, could you please wrap my food so I can take it home." Ellory called out to the woman behind the bar. "If you'll excuse me, I have somewhere else that I need to be." She said as she finished her ale and made to stand.
 
"So I'm correct. Take mine, I hear the kitchen is working slow tonight." He said with a smirk before he rotated the plate and rose from the booth. "I hope it sorts itself out. I should take my leave of you. Would hate to see you struggle to maintain that look. Do mind how long you hold it though, I would hate for you to get permanent lines from it."

He started to leave before pausing. "You should know, my band and I saw some scoundrel dashing amongst the rooftops. So if you leave, try not to be alone, dear lady."

He would shoot her a wink before heading for the door. She was one of the harder nuts to crack, a challenge. The game was afoot.

Ellory Ashford
 
Ellory continued to scowl at him until he paused and told her just enough to get her attention.

And he knew it. The asshole winked at her.

"Wait!" Ellory said as she slid out of the booth and right into his grasp. She had unknowingly done exactly what he wanted. She headed to the door to try and stop him.

Ryder
 
His back was to her, and so when she shouted for him, she couldn't see the grin on his face. It worked. Of course it did. It always worked.

The grin would be gone before he turned to face her. "Yes m'lady?" He would ask with surprise. "I thought you wished to be free of my company?"

Ellory Ashford
 
"If you have information about a shady character, it is my job to listen to all tips," Ellory said as she came to stop in front of him now.

She did narrow her eyes though remembering she was not in uniform. "Although I am curious how you knew I was with the Guard when I'm not in uniform?" She was a regular here but she never wore her uniform and she hadn't seen this man before.

Ryder
 
"You're with the guard? I never would have expected that. Though, I guess one could wager such a gamble based on your hands and dour mood." He offered with a shrug. "It was moreso me warning a lady about venturing alone." He nodded to the party he entered with. "They number many and are loud, they'll be fine. But you would be leaving alone."

He offered a gentlemanly bow. "You have now been warned and my conscience is clean. Now, if you wish for an escort, I would be happy to help, but if not, I did truly enjoy meeting you, m'lady."

Ellory Ashford
 
Ellory looked down at her hands and then back up at the stranger. "Why don't you come eat your meal and tell me more about what you saw...and how my hands give me away..."

She offered him a smile and a shrug. Ellory was not good at not being suspicious or prickly. This man seemed genuinely nice and concerned. She needed to stop being such a bitch all the time.

Ryder
 
When she looked back up, he ensured she saw a warm smile. "Very well, a veiled request. And truly a confusing woman." He teased. He would offer an arm, he was a gentleman, after all. If she took it or not, he would walk back to her table with her.

She would be helped into her seat and then he would slide into his. "If you're with the guard and this is a near official report, I would like to know the name of the protector of these streets." He offered with a smile.

Ellory Ashford
 
Ellory did take his arm and he led them back to the table they had previously occupied. It seemed the gaggle of girls had moved on with this life and, for that, she was grateful.

"I suppose it is," she said as Jillian brought her plate of food and a new ale. The bartender narrowed her eyes at Ryder. She didn't seem to like him either. "Ellory, Lieutenant Ashford," she answered with her name. "Now what did you see, Mr...?"

Ryder
 
She took his arm, he was definitely back in the running. When those eyes from Jillian narrowed, he winked, before smirking at Ellory. "Lieutenant Ellory Ashford.. such a lovely name."

The table had been cleared, so he waved down his favorite waitress, who loved him, and by the gods could he not remember the bimbos name. But she remembered his order and so he knew what he wanted would be brought to him. His attention returned to Ellory. "Tarmir.. Finnick Tarmir. Wandering Bard extraordinaire. Wielder of the magic blade and decimator of Gerra's forces with a single song."

Ellory Ashford
 
Her brow twitched slightly when he said he was a bard. He did not seem like a bard. A thief, a scoundrel, a crazy man...yes...bard...nope. The girls did know who he was though so he must be real.

Hmph.

"I find it hard to believe you decimated Gerra," she said as she took a bite of her food. "So come on, what did you see?" She found it quite annoying that he was determined to avoid answering.

Ryder
 
"Gerra's forces. Mass desertions and the like. Very important distinction." He would take a drink from his freshly arrived tankard and the then a bite from a freshly cooked bird.

Moreso, she seemed to think there was more to his grand sighting. He would look around cautiously and lean forward, across the table, his hand gesturing for her to come closer. Only when she mirrored his movements would he speak, and it was just above a whisper. "A dark form gliding across the rooftops. He seemed to be searching for something.. or someone."

Ellory Ashford
 
"Like furniture to rearrange," she mumbled into her ale. "Could you make any features out about him besides being a dark form?"

She took another bite of her rare steak and then stacked some mashed potatoes on her fork and brought it to her mouth.

Ryder
 
"What was that?" He would ask. He knew. But 'Finnick' didn't. He would then try to think on her question. "Uhhh... maybe a beard. Clothes.. maybe a purple coat, I'm not quite sure. It was quite hard to see."

Ellory Ashford
 
Unhelpful, Ellory thought as she took another bite of her dinner.

"I will make sure to keep an eye out for this shady fellow," she said with no small amount of sarcasm. She could tell this man was full of shit. He probably just made it up to get her attention and she had follow for it. This stupid thief was causing her to get sloppy and that pissed her off.

"So what are you doing in Vel Anir?" Ellory asked. She invited him to sit so she could try to be cordial.

Ryder
 
He wasn't sure how much detail she would expect someone on the street to see of someone gliding through the air, but he just shrugged at her remark. "You should do that. Rumor is there is a band of thieves and murderers either already here or on their way. I heard that at every pit stop between here and Elbion. I just didn't believe it."

He paused to take a few more bites of his chicken before washing it down with ale. "Well, I'm a bard. I perform. So I'm here for a few days to make some coin, then I'm gone. I may have to make my visit shorter, should the rumors be true."

Ellory Ashford
 
"Where are you performing?" Ellory asked like she actually gave a fuck. She didn't.

She took a drink of her ale and waited for the answer to her question.

Ryder
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom