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Post by Elliot Siva on Dec 31, 2010 21:06:25 GMT -5
The next gap was mercifully short, but that only served to lower Elliot’s guard when the next gap rolled around. Even Chota didn’t dare jump; he ran across a thick twine clothesline. Elliot watched, slightly amused, yet at the some time bemused. He wasn’t as swift and agile as Chota, and he wasn’t nearly as twiggy and scrawny; the twine might not hold. Running across was possible, but it was more of a risk than he wanted to lay on some stranger’s laundry line.
Chota tried a little teasing trick to coax him over the gap, but Elliot merely shrugged it off. Sure it was a slight hit to his pride, but he wanted to see if the bowyer actually would (and could) find a ‘better way.’ “Since you’ve offered, I would prefer a second route,” he said, the faint ghost of a smirk decorating his lips as he waved Chota off to find the promised alternate path.
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Post by Chota Vana on Dec 31, 2010 21:17:23 GMT -5
A challenge, eh? Chota let his grin leave his face, but slowly in the hopes that his surprise wouldn’t show. Oh, well... He looked one direction, then the next. Ah, that could work! He took a few paces down the edge of the roof and looked down. On Elliot’s side, there was a ladder. On Chota’s side in the same general area, there was a barred window that could serve as a climbing surface. Chota put his hands on his hips again and looked over at Elliot. “Here you go,” he called, keeping it simple with a minute hand motion toward the ladder and the window. And then he stood back to watch Elliot work with what he had left him. He didn’t want to play along, so he could take the hard way. Or, well, the easy way to the ‘common folk’. Chota knew neither of them were exactly common, and that knowledge let his grin return to his face. He sat, in a smugly impatient way, on the edge of the roof with the window below him to the left.
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Post by Elliot Siva on Dec 31, 2010 22:00:13 GMT -5
Elliot looked at the ladder, then the window, then Chota. Now he was almost certain he was following a looney. But he had found the second path, so he could still try to follow. Elliot nodded, shooting Chota a returning grin.
He strolled over to the ladder and slid down, keeping his expression cool and collected, as though he’d meant to be running across the rooftops. He crossed from one wall to the other, then, still controlling his demeanor, he started on the window. The metal lattice offered enough foot-room for even a novice roof-climber to make it up. Casting aside the stares of the crowd, Elliot took the window foot-hold by foot-hold until he pulled himself over to Chota’s vantage point. He held down a victorious smirk; he’d taken the so-called ‘easy’ way, after all. He nodded to Chota again, hoping to finish the roof-running as soon as possible.
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Post by Chota Vana on Dec 31, 2010 22:20:16 GMT -5
Chota watched Elliot’s progress as if bored, crossing his arms and kicking his legs against the wall. He waved toward anyone that was watching, rather amused by their shock. Oh, humans... They had no sense of adventure! He climbed to his feet as Elliot pulled himself over the edge to the rooftop beside him. Chota managed a pleasant smile. “Almost there,” he replied in a cool voice that was laced with mock-friendliness. He looked toward the familiar roof of the Boar, just a handful of houses away. “There’s still some alley-hopping to do, but I think you have the hang of it,” he added. And then, without waiting, he took off at a brisk pace. The first alley was fairly wide, but he managed to cross it more gracefully than the first gap he had leapt. He managed to glance over his shoulder to see Elliot’s progress before hopping another short gap. There was a REALLY wide gap next, with no clothesline to turn to, and so Chota was forced to pause and look for another way. Ah, crates! Mankind’s alternative to ladders! He sprang down and clambered to the ground again, walking silently with his hands in his pockets across the street. He had to pause again. There was nothing but a blank wall with a few windows ahead. Time for some improvising. He glanced back to see Elliot’s progress, then ducked down another thin, dark alley and made a mad dash for the light at the end. His reputation was on the line now. He swept out of the alley and immediately spotted a climbable doorframe, not pausing at all in his dash. He leapt and took hold half-way up the frame, scrambling the rest of the way up. Now, where was the tavern... Ah! It was just at the other side of this roof! With a smooth, twirling motion, he came to a halt at the edge of the roof with his back to the tavern. Now, how had Elliot fared? Waiting expectantly to see the werecat come over the edge of the roof, he stood with a rather smug expression, the street in front of the Stubborn Boar at his back. Hmmm.... Fitting name.
(( XD You can have Elliot 'win' the little race if you'd like. Just to rub Chota's nose in it... XD ))
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Post by Elliot Siva on Dec 31, 2010 22:59:02 GMT -5
Elliot followed Chota all the way up to the largest gap. Then, he finally decided he was done with the roof jumping. Besides, the Boar was only a street away. He jogged down the same dark alley Chota had used, but cheated a bit after that. Instead of wasting his time jumping back onto the roof, he continued down the side street, taking a quick turn to hit the open areas before rounding a corner to the tavern.
Just as he strolled in front of the bar, he noticed Chota appear on the roof. The other werecat almost immediately turned back to the other side of the roof, and Elliot could easily assume why. He sighed, stepping closer to the building so he wouldn’t have to yell to catch his temporary ‘mentor’s attention. “Chota,” he said. “They’re not going to bring you a drink if you’re up there.”
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Post by Chota Vana on Jan 1, 2011 7:51:12 GMT -5
Chota froze, avoiding the urge to whirl around in surprise. He contained the look on his face down to just an angrily furrowed brow before he turned to see that Elliot was, indeed, the voice that called from the street. He managed not to frown, maintaining a neutral expression as he crossed his arms to give Elliot a scrutinizing inspection. He had to have cheated, that was all there was to it. But, Chota would allow the fellow werecat that victory. Ignoring the stares of drunken townsfolk stumbling from the tavern (heck, they won’t remember anyway), he turned his back again and dropped, grasping the edge of the roof with both hands to slow his fall. Chota wasn’t exactly tall, unfortunately, so even with that, he had quite some way to go to reach the street. Oh, well. He let go and landed, the force of it bringing him to all-fours again, though not painfully. He turned, standing up as he did, and faced Elliot. “You learn well,” was all he said, managing a small smile. His arms partially crossed again, he motioned to the tavern. That was where Elliot requested, and they got there fast without wading through a crowd. That was Chota's little victory.
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Post by Elliot Siva on Jan 1, 2011 19:31:22 GMT -5
Chota, proving himself incapable of judging a smart decision from a reckless one, dropped down from the roof and very nearly shattered his ankles in the process. Elliot sighed, shaking his head. “Yes, well, your teaching leaves a bit to be desired, but thank you,” he said.
He glanced at the bar, then Chota. “Normally,” he mused, “the loser would buy the drinks, but I think I would be right assuming that a bedraggled bowyer from a dark, rat-infested alley wouldn’t be able to afford two ales.” He paused, then nodded. “I’ll cover the tab. After you.” He waved Chota towards the entrance.
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Post by Chota Vana on Jan 1, 2011 21:02:46 GMT -5
Chota wasn’t offended. The less truth Elliot knew about him, he figured, the better. So with a shrug, he managed a grin and he slipped by Elliot and crossed the street to the tavern. He eyed the doors at first, so familiar to him from many visits. Then, he glanced at Elliot, throwing in another shrug, and entered the building, allowing the door to swing shut behind him.
((End. =3 Will make the new board now.))
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