The Jewel in the Rough.

[Raevarin]

She made no notion of alarm, she just continued standing there, peering out into the open waters. She issued a slight chuckle, it was almost chilling in a sense. She turned to face the general direction of the voice she heard, those milky orbs darting back and forth as if she was trying to find the person.

She turned her head listening for the foot steps of Mirowslaw. Once she heard him she faced him directly.

"Very few decide to speak to me, they say i a witch of some kind. Just superstitious fools I say. What can I help you with sir?"

[Miroslaw]

Miroslaw's tension was eased substantially by the girl's words. She seemed to be nothing more than a blind girl. He jumped right to his inquiry, “I hate to bother you, but I was told to see you about finding a Mister Dark. Do you know him, by chance?” Saying the name made him wonder if she would just get angry. Perhaps he was chasing nothing more than superstitions.

[Raevarin]

That moment is when Miroslaw noticed the difference in mood. She did not turn hostile nor gave an indication she was going to be that way, however she became almost defensive. Her expression changed to something foul, her pretty face contorting into a look of utmost displeasure and discomfort. The look a mother would giver to a stranger asking about her children.

Her face reddened softly, no doubt to the fluster she had been given. She just peered in his direction, unblinking. She cleared her throat.

"Just go away, I tire of you sailors pestering me about this particular person. All you do is ridicule me on the subject."

She turned away from Miroslaw crossing her arms across her chest in a motion of defeat.

"I don't blame you, I blame the sailors who sent you here to tease me about it."

[Miroslaw]

Miroslaw immediately regretted asking the girl about Mister Dark. Her reaction was that which he feared. He had offender her by being too direct, a curse he was ill-fated to forever reap. His absolute lack of understanding what to say and when always got the best of him.

He spoke up to apologize, “Very well, forgive me for offending you, young lady. I will not bother you about it any longer.” He couldn’t help but wonder how she knew he was sent here by other sailors. He thought about just leaving her be, but he was simply too curious about what a blind girl would be doing roaming the docks. “If I may ask you one last question before I go, what are you doing around here?” It doesn’t seem safe for a young girl to be wandering this area. It truly was unusual. Something just did not feel right about this situation.

[Raevarin]

The girl simply nodded in reply to his apology. She seemed content by that but not fully for she had left her arms up by her chest as if she was recoiling. Then again one look at her face and one would see why she would be apprehensive and why she instantly resorted to a rebuttal upon the mention of...him.

She had done well to avoid most of the negative things people had to say about her.

She-Devil
Witch

There was more, but she chose not to remember them. However he face contorted to to confusion at Miroslaw's question regarding why she was here. To her it was obvious but she began to piece together this stranger may be new.

Maybe he did not hear all of the hateful things people have said to her. May he had a different opinion. No, that kind of thinking gets you in trouble. That kind of thinking leads to wounds. That kind of thinking is wishful and displays arrogance.

However she did decide to humor the stranger.

"What any orphan does around here. Work with fish mongers or be mules for the merchants, anything to scrape together some coin so we don't go hungry."

She turned her sightless gaze back to the sea, a sigh of contemplation escaping her lips.

"We just....live, or try to."

[Miroslaw]

Hearing her explanation made Miroslaw so sad for her misfortune. He knew full well that there was suffering in the world, even in Wistvale, but he still wished there wasn't. He tried to think of what to say next.

Perhaps there was something he could do to help the poor blind orphan. He could think of little that would help in the long run but, he felt obligated to do something for her.

He spoke up while still trying to gather his words, "I... Please, Is there something I can do to help you?" No girl deserved this kind of living. If nothing else he would offer a meal and perhaps a place to sleep. At this point he had given up on finding Mister Dark through this poor girl.

[Raevarin]

The girl just stood there, seemingly disarmed by his question. Very few people cared about the orphans that ran about the docks and market places. Then again, why does anyone need to care? People have their own worries to deal with, what is the importance of children with no parents?

That was the general attitude adopted by many. The girl turned her head, although she seemed to have lost her accuracy on gauging where Miroslaw was, and smiled a soft smile. It was genuine and innocent, which was rare even amongst children.

"If you wish to help, then try to tell those incompetent sailors that I am no witch. Although I may have no standing around here amongst the common rabble, I wish to not have a negative one."

She returned her gaze back towards the open sea, and breathed in the air deeply.

"Farewell mister, and do take caution when chasing shadows. Some of them do not like to be chased, and they will react appropriately."

She turned around and walked off.

[Miroslaw]

Seeing the girls reaction, Miroslaw was nearly overpowered with sorrow for the girl. She was clearly not use to kindness of any nature. His brain still ran through ideas to help the girl. Finally, the girl spoke up. He listened very closely to every word she uttered to him. Before she even spoke, he had already determined that, no matter what the task, he would do it without question.

He nodded to the girls request, but quickly remembered she could not see him. His usual silent conduct of gestures were useless to her. He spoke up, softly, but loud enough for her to hear, “I will do that for you, miss.” It was the least he could do to help the girl. She must have been having difficulty finding sailors to give her work with them all thinking she was a witch. It seemed an obvious way to assist her in a tremendous way after hearing it.

With her last words, they came to Miroslaw as a clear warning against the Mister Dark. It still confused him. He couldn’t help but wonder why the poster had have been put up in the first place. Perhaps it was some kind of a prank job. It did seem odd and too east at first.

After the girl left, Miroslaw let out a long sigh of defeat. The warning simply left a bad taste. It seemed he may not be getting paid this time around. However, he had a different job to do now. The payment of a good deed done was usually a good feeling. Unfortunately, a selfless deed often does not put food on the table. Regardless, he gave his word and rarely went back on that. He set out to go back to the tavern. It seemed like a good place to start dispelling the rumor about the poor girl.

[Raevarin]

Such noble action would indeed be a sound course of action. After a few minutes Miroslaw had managed to find the tavern once more, a great thing too because well night was beginning to fall over Wistvale.

It seemed though with the coming of night so near most of the bustle on the docks had died down. There was almost no one walking about save for those heading inside or cleaning up whatever refuse had piled up around their stalls.

The sea side hole in the wall he was in before seemed to pick up in volume, both sound and amount of people. Miroslaw could hear the chatter from the street as he approached. There were a few men outside, if Miroslaw had paid any mind they were rambling on about sea monsters and legends. All of it false since the one telling the stories said he had killed one himself.

Through the window Mirslaw could see the interior was packed, three bar keeps stood behind the counter. The sound of glasses clanking and shanties being sung filled the air.

[Miroslaw]

Panic began to appear on Miroslaw's face in the form of sweat and a fear ridden expression. The thought alone of what he would say to all the people in the packed tavern was almost enough to send him running. This time, he didnt have the desire for money pushing him forward. That boat has sailed as he no longer had any leads on the Mister Dark. The only thing pushing him forward now, was the desire to do the right thing.

He forced himself to continue forward and into the tavern. He hoped someone was in there from his earlier appearance that would remember him. It would make it easier to get attention. As soon as he entered he realized he had barely given thought to what it is he intended to say. He needed to convince people that the girl was no witch so she can make a living. That was his goal.

However, as soon as he saw all the people after entering the tavern, his mind went blank. He stood, gracelessly, in the entrance, frozen. He couldn't make his legs move. Social situations have always given Miroslaw a greater fear than even a battle that threatened his life. After a long, awkward delay at the door, Miroslaw regained movement of his legs and pushed himself to the nearest empty seat to sit down and think.

[Raevarin]

No one really paid Miro any mind. However he did get nods of greeting from some of the men that had been present earlier in the day. The same sassy bartender stood behind the counter issuing orders and threats to those who were being pushy about getting their fill of drink.

All seemed to be jovial and lively for the most part, like a normal evening in a tavern full of sailors...if you call that normal.

[Miroslaw]

Miroslaw took a couple slow and deep breaths, trying to calm himself down. He then made his way to a bar stool. As much as his brain told him not to, he needed to gather some attention if he was going to help that poor girl. His heart was pounding thinking about what he was about to do. When the rough lady bartender approached, he said loudly enough for others to hear, "I encountered Mister Dark." With a made up story in mind that ultimately led back to the poor girl, he figured the name would draw the most attention around the tavern.