Adventures with Atton

[will_scarlett]

When Will opens the door, its hot in Sherwood and the air is heavy and humid. The other men aren't too far away and give a wave to Will and Atton as Will asks,

"Any more trouble?"

"Na yet, but Allan's goin' to the inn to see if 'e can 'ear more."

John answers and sighs, none of them like what's coming.

Comments

[will_scarlett]

"Aye, an I found ye 'urtin' on my way 'ere."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"Sounds good."

Atton adjusts himself so that he looks like he's limping. It's subtle enough to make it seem like he was always limping.

[will_scarlett]

Allan nods and enters the tavern with a flourish of music that makes everyone look up, some with hope and some with worry. Then he begins into a song and soon is moving easily through the crowd.

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

Atton slumps down in an empty seat with plenty of people around him, closing his eyes and breathing deeply, as if exhausted.

[will_scarlett]

During one of the louder songs, a young man next to him who looks like a farmer asks,

"What's wrong with ye?"

Allan spots the exchange and nods to Atton to let him know he should tell on as the music quiets down.

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

Atton knows he has to provide a balance - he has to make sure the outlaws seem scary, but he has to do so without making them unsympathetic.

"It ain't obvious? I went to Sherwood, didn't I? Seemed like a good idea. I mean, I'm a blacksmith. I've got good weapons, and I know how t'use them. I've got muscles. I didn't feel like paying the tax."

Leaning back: "Well, I found the outlaws, alright. They told me to go home, that they'd make sure the taxes didn't hit me too hard. I wasn't havin' any of that, so I leapt for them."

Atton rolls his shoulders in a pained looking shrug.

"Got a good cut on the big one. I'm speedy, you know? Really damn fast. But then the red one just came out of bloody nowhere, pinned me to the ground."

[will_scarlett]

The crowd leans closer and one of the men in the back says,

"Still 'ave a scar that I got from the big one."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

Atton reaches up, undoing his jerkin and shirt enough to slide them aside and show them his shoulder. There's an old wound there - the one that hasn't quite healed properly. It doesn't, really, look like it could be new, but it looks unpleasant.

Atton's been a conman before. He knows that people are ruled by their hearts, not their heads. An unpleasant looking scar is a lot more convincing than a technically accurate one.

"I got this from them. After I managed to push the red one off me. I should've ran, but I kept on after them, and got this. If the bard there hadn't convinced them t'back off, I don't know what would've happened."

[will_scarlett]

Allan nods gravely,

"They didna wish to 'urt ye, but ye just kept fightin' so made it 'ard."

The audience gasps when the scar is shown and someone presses a drink into Atton's hand.

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"Aye," Atton says, taking the drink and covering up his shoulder again. Best not to let them get too good a look. "They backed off pretty quickly, let me go. Good of them. But I won't be going back there - not for a while."

[will_scarlett]

Another man speaks up from the background,

"Could stay with me family till ye get yerself settled in Nottingham."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"No. I reckon I'll steer clear of Nottingham, too. I don't want to keep seeing people go off to throw themselves at them. Any other nearby cities that are any good?"

[will_scarlett]

"Canna get to anyplace without goin' back through Sherwood but Lincoln's close an doin' bit better."

The same man from before says.

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"Mayhaps I'll have to go through Sherwood, then. I don't think they'll hurt me if I don't attack them."

[will_scarlett]

"Shouldna go alone though, ne'er know what might 'appen, na just from 'em but ye know others."

He gestures to the guards who are watching Atton carefully, he looks vaguely familiar to one of them.

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

Atton ducks his head, slightly. Usually, he'd welcome trouble, but if he blows his cover then everything he said will just be disregarded.

"Allan'll make sure I get through the forest safely. Right, Allan?"

[will_scarlett]

"Aye, I'm always just passin' through so I'll keep ye safe."

The guard shakes his head and takes a drink, as the other man nods and the rest of the audience relax too.

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"I should go. But could anyone spare a little bit of food? Supplies for the journey."

[will_scarlett]

The innkeeper nods, "Was goin' to pay the bard with a meal, will give ye one too."

Soon they both have some simple plates of meat and bread and more ale in front of them.

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

Atton downs the ale, but puts the meat and bread into a clean satchel on his belt.

"Thank you kindly."

[will_scarlett]

Allan stands up after taking some time to enjoy the food and gives them all a bow,

"Thank ye for listenin' to my tales an 'opefully we'll talk 'gain."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

Atton stands up too, leaning against the wall.

"Thanks for the drinks and the food."

[will_scarlett]

"Keep yerself safe." A number of voices say and Allan nods as they move out into the dark of night,

"Ye did good, 'ope its o'some aid."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"I hope it does. I tried my best."

[will_scarlett]

"We'll see, all depends on 'ow long it takes 'fore folks come fightin' 'gain."