It’s evening, and dark blue clouds streak against the light blue, undertone sky. Thick forestry swishes softly to the wind.

A single branch catches his cloak, which he softly pushes out of the way in a rustle. The branch moves to open a small gap of view between the maples- to reveal a bridge. A thin stream runs under the weathered stone arch, painted dust-grey. The crevices line filled with vines. Old, no doubt there. The structure itself lies heavily with all the pages of years written on its surface.

A pair of feet padding carefully can be heard, and stops walking to listen. The sound is followed by the soft crinkle and crackling of dead leaves being crushed, and dry swish. He looks under the bridge and from above, spots a small, anxious figure pacing under the bridge and kicking the strewn leaves into the shallow stream.

The Marauder is here.

The Marauder has become- a star of sorts. A thief with an unknown identity, unknown accomplice by the name of the Marrow, and unknown purpose. Even their existence itself was yet another unknown-

So naturally, such a mysterious persona got a high name with the public and their theories.

Elias slides down the side of the stone lightly afoot, and glides into shadow. Boots collide lightly on the stone and echoes dull. The stream ripples.

The figure turns abruptly in surprise.

He wears simple clothes alike to a commoner, and would easily blend in- if not for his golden hair daubed with hazel. He stands straight- by intention- and faces Elias, who sees his face more clearly to discover-

It’s a kid.

This is very literally-

A child.

16? 17? He eyes the child carefully. Blond, rather tall, one might say confident, but his posture is oddly awkward- he looks like someone. He looks like-

“Hi.” He says. He even sounds like her-

“Why, hello.” Elias strays from the darkness in response, eyeing the child. The marauder returns a hard look and draws out a wallet. “This is your wallet?”

Elias takes a step back, leaving the ‘marauder’ confused as to his disappearance, then reappears behind him, as to which he gently pries the wallet out of his hands. It feels lighter, probably empty, but that much was expected. The sudden act catches the marauder by surprise. The marau- child, Blue? Blue speaks to hide his surprise.

“Clearly so.”

“What possibly gave it away? You seem to have a good memory. So maybe you also remember-” Elias speaks softly, smiling. “-that I am threatening you.”

“You are no threat to me.” Blue interjects. He checks Elias’ reaction before continuing. “What makes you think you-” he pointedly eyes him up and down, despite the shadows making it difficult to see. Judgmental. “-of all those in the Cope are capable of stopping me? The sole reason that I came was my curiosity. Where are the riders? Clearly you have something different in mind.” So that's a catchphrase. Who of all those in the Cope shall do the utterly impossible task.

“A deal, marauder. But titles aside, it would be polite of you to give an introduction.”

Elias replies back with calm and a near genuine friendliness. He’s met back with suspicion.

“Blue.” -And that confirms the family drama. So ‘of all in the Cope’ is a sibling issue. And the murdering and stealing, that too.

“Charmed. Call me-”

“Elias.” Blue finishes for him, almost proudly. So much for courtesy.

Blue continues. “I might have picked up some things in becoming the best in my trade.” He seems to be so confident, it’s beginning to become annoying, and less anything else.

“I’m glad you pride yourself within your trade. And I assume you’ll be as glad to go down along with it, by your behaviour?” Elias asks. No really, he’s genuinely curious at this point.

“And how do you plan on executing such a magnificent feat?”

“Magnificent feats, you’re welcome.” Elias corrects. Friendliness excuses itself out. “I have my plans and resorts, those being the plausible victim knows none of them.”

Silence falls for a while, and it’s Blue who breaks the silence first, in a pointed attitude change. “So. A deal you say?” he much less demands, in sudden interest.

He looks over at Blue, prideful, orchestrated or not, and arrogant, performing or not.

“First, answer my question. Do you steal for an allot with a necromancer? Your life is in hand, and I would advise the great marauder to speak honestly.”

So he takes the performance stage.

“I’ve misjudged you. It seems like you do know something.” Blue says.

“All that you don’t perhaps? Apologies- isn’t that just everything?” Elias retorts.

No response.

“I’ll take that as my confirmation, then. Take me with you. Simple.” His tone is nonchalant, and carefree, but Blue is gaping at him. He shrugs at that.

The gaze shifts from ‘a random blackmailer wishing something to do with the notorious marauder’ to ‘ a possibly mad random blackmailer who wants to do with evil.’ Which is apparently a large difference.

As far as Elias thinks, that’s an improvement of accuracy.

“Do you have a death wish?” He exclaims, incredulous. “Or maybe you want to be one of them-” The marauder’s unease and suspicion are far from subtle.

On the other hand, Elias is unbothered and even picks at his nails to show it. “And am I not inclined to think the same for you? If I did know as much as you did, I’d say we have that in common.”

Blue doesn’t answer, so he looks away from his painted nails and for an instant, Elias catches a bitter expression to immediate regret. He could have just looked at his black nails the entire time. They’re neat. He doesn’t need to see this. Blue’s face is downcast, and he shifts his feet awkwardly and uncomfortably.

“Some of us have less selfish needs.” His voice is airy, slow as if thought out. Tinged with something like regret; the bandit clearly remembering something with lament.

Alright. This one has a reason. Not that he should care. He waves away the bitter look dismissively.

“I am thankful you worry for my safety, selfless thief. But I don’t believe it matters if I’m placing my own life risk- not to you.”

“I leave in a week.” Blue speaks, sighing. Open annoyance.

At least that’s mutual.

Elias takes off his hood and smirks at the finality, ever smiling. Blue contemplates him properly in the face for the first time, to remember his face, then blinks.

Elias raises an eyebrow. “I’ll be waiting for you here, then. ”

Blue blinks some more, then frowns. “You don’t look like-” Elias immediately dismisses the idea with a sharp hand gesture slicing the air.

“And you seem like someone who would feed off of others livelihoods.”

He leaves without seeing his reaction.

The sun hangs at an angle, and the dark has fallen asleep at her absence.