DISCLAIMER: I don't own this stuff. But if you, as a peer, want to use someone I created, you gotta ask first, mmkay?

And some information for the masses, because I've not released the information to the public just yet: The character I roughly base this story on is a Lv. 34 Assassin (Yes, I'm a n00b), named "TheDan" in Scania. Feel free to contact me, but I probably won't be able to be a buddy. My list has been full for ages.

Tonight's episode, featuring "Conlan" of Scania! Applaud him, dammit.

"So why'd you ask if I was a Hitman?" I quietly asked Allie at the end of Orbis Tower. "Need something done?"

"Sort of..." she answered quietly, saying no more.

We walked again in silence, until we reached the entrance to Orbis itself. "So anyway," I said, curious, "Why is it that you wear that outfit? Surely some of the higher-levelled stuff would help you."

This part confuses a lot of people, so I'll take it slow. The government who runs the Monster-Control System (of which I and just about everyone are a part of anyone who has a Personal ID Card ) has made it so that certain clothing will release their magic unto the weilder. A Theif's Ghetto Beanie will make anybody Experience Level Ten (or higher) much stronger. However, anyone under that level or anyone who is not a theif will find the hat useless. Every class has their own large set of equipment, and there's usually a different set of equipment for every five levels.

Allie was wearing the Bowlady's Level Fifteen equipment, but since she was in fact Level Twenty-Seven. I intended to lend her money into buying her some better Equipment, or at the very least show her where to get some. It seemed like she didn't know her way around very well.

Allie continually tripped on our little trek through Orbis. Twice she bumped into other people; One swore at her (a quick incident, nothing compared to what happened later). The other hit on her...

"Careful babe," the Spearman had said, as Allie apologized sincerely. "Or you may find me bumping back into you."

"I am so sorry, sir, it won't happen again..." she squeaked, frightened.

"It seems you've jostled me a bit," he said, as I watched from out of his line of vision. "I think you may have scratched my spear. This thing was costly, mind you."

"I'm so sorry... I don't have much money..."

"You know, you're not bad looking.You can pay me back in full if you let me take you to the back of the Inn for a little bit of-"

"Allie," I interjected, stepping in between them. "Allie, you need to follow me closer. Come on."

"Hey, man," the Warrior interrupted. "She put a nick on my spear, I need some repayment."

I stared at him for a few seconds. He may have been taller than me, and heavier-built, but an Assassin's glare isn't usually something that one could stand without quailing a bit. However, he didn't shrink back... It was no matter, though. Intimidation techniques never worked well with me. I turned to Allie and said, "Do you want this bastard to lay you in repayment for that little damage?"

She said something completely inaudible, eyes wide in fear. I guess I couldn't blame her... It was a big guy and he could have probably thrown her over his shoulder if he decided to. Maybe even me...

"I'll take that as a no?" And she nodded.

I turned back to the guy, irritated if not angry. "You'll have to live with that spear how it is, then."

The rest happened in... I'd wager a guess at less than four seconds but more than two.

He aimed to strike at the back of my head with the blunt end of his weapon. It would have knocked me out and he'd have probably taken advantage of Allie or whatever. But he missed and my left shoulder got the brunt of it. The strike added to the momentum of my turning back to him, so I was a bit overspun... Quickly I thrust out my clawed fist, aiming just next to his head. The momentum carried me through and I backfisted him just below the eye on the right side of his face. Still spinning a bit, I brought up my left foot and roundhouse kicked the same spot, knocking him over.

Dazed, he grabbed at my legs to try and take me down, but I was much faster than he. Quite accidentally, I actually stepped on both of his hands in attempt to evade him. I'm sure his broken fingers crushed his spirit, and I would have stayed to say something clever, but Allie was gone. Turning left and right, I saw a flash of raven hair and cast a quick Haste on myself.

Before a crowd could immerse themselves on the bloody Spearman, I was off the scene.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

My shoulder ached, but I didn't want to risk losing the trail of Allie. She wasn't a brave person as it was, and for all I knew that event could have very well traumatized her.

I wondered vaguely what she hoped to accomplish by running so far. Did she think the guy would come after her after I struck him in the face?

No matter the reason, she was running, and I had little choice but to follow. I was catching up at a good pace, but though I called out her name she seemed to be unable to hear it. Through the backstreets she ran, nearby the weaponry shop...

"Yo," said a familiar voice, standing in front of the door.

A dark-skinned archer in black stood there coolly, and Allie stopped to look.

"Allie, hold on!" I called out for the umpteenth time. "He's out cold, we're fine!"

"Well met, Dandan," the archer, my old friend Conlan of Henesys, said laughingly. "What'd ya do, get yourself in a Guild war?"

"We're... Thanks," Allie said quietly and breathily. "I didn't... He just-"

"It's no big deal," I lied to her, and answered Conlan. "We met a moron who decided he was going to bed with my friend," I replied with a grin, coming to a stop near the other two. "Allie, this is Conlan. And vice-versa."

"Pleasure," he said with a bow, which she hastily returned with a curtsey. "So, bud, what's new?"

Dan blindly pulled out his ID card. "Still level thirty-three," he said ruefully. "Er... Bought some steelies, met some people, made some money, lost some money. The works. You?"

"I met someoooooone," he sang. "Her name's Lyo, she's brilliant."

"Really?" I asked, suprised. "What line of work's she in?"

"Same as us, Monster Control. But she's a Mage, a Cleric."

"Lucky girl, a mage..." I sighed. "Oh, what I'd do for some magic spells. So much better than steel or iron or... Arrows," I finished, gesturing to Allie and Conlan's weapons of choice.

"It's not as easy as it looks, she always says," he muttered, suprising me. "You need to spend a lot of your childhood getting to know yourself, and your world. That's why Ellinia isn't such a huge town... All the Magicians who govern it recognize and respect the life force in the trees and wildlife. Which, in turn, is why it grows so much. All the up-and-coming magic weilders go there to be with those same trees."

"What, do they leech power from wildlife?"

"Nah," Conlan smirked. "It's complicated, forget it."

"You'll explain it to me later," I said grinning. "Anyway, we were gonna take a walk to the armour shop for Allie. She's actually Level Twenty-Seven."

"So why don't you wear the Twenty-five equipment?" Conlan asked increduously. "Or at least the Twenty stuff, the Shivermail. It's not too expensive, is it?"

"It's... Showy," she said quietly. And I rose an eyebrow, trying to figure out what she meant. Then I looked (And I'm proud of this: For the first time, mind you.) below her neckline and everything that didn't use to make sense fell into place.

"Why, you're just full-figured," I said honestly, half because I was noticing for the first time and half because it was good advice. "It's not a big deal to wear skimpy stuff, especially since it doesn't matter much... It's all about the magic infusion, right? Oh, and for the record, I had to deal with the Sneak armour for five levels. It was like walking around in a bondage uniform."

Conlan burst out laughing. "I have GOT to have a picture of that somewhere, Dan, I know it," he joked, but it worried me all the same. I mean, I wasn't exactly built and I knew it. Toned, perhaps. Strong, yes. But wimpy. Without a doubt. Wimpy and short, that was me.

I rolled my eyes, pretending not to care about his little threats. "Come on, Conman," I said, holding Allie's hand and leading her gently towards the Armour Shop. "We're gonna get some stuff here. I want your input."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Allie was taken to the back by two girls, about mine or Conlan's age, to be fitted for Bennis Chainmail. We both took seats in the lobby, exchanging conversation and helpful items.

"I swear, Conman, you should look into keeping these," I said as we traded my arrows for his collection of dropped Monster Cards.

"I still don't see why you bother carrying them around, Dandan," he replied, stuffing the arrows into his quiver. "But no matter. Who is this girl, anyway? It's not like you to pick up random girls."

I shrugged. "I got attacked by a huge mob of Sentinels, and she was there."

"She was down by the Sentinels? I'm suprised that she made it that far."

I winced. "Junior Sentinels," I clarified. He burst into laughter. "Anyway, we just got to talking. One thing led to the next, and now here we-"

"What, did you roll in the hay with her?" Conlan asked, never missing a chance.

"Not yet," I said with a wink, factually having no such plans. "But, you know, she does come onto you as a promiscuous one, no?"

"Doubtless!" he laughed. "We'll both have her carry our children!"

"I wanted twins, Conman!" By now, of course, we were merely talking to pass the time.

"Of course we can have twins, Dandan. They'll be two boys."

"A boy and a girl."

"Okay. We'll name the girl Arita. She'll be older by six minutes and have curly blonde hair."

"Yup, and the other will be named Santago. He'll be darker-skinned."

"Will he talk like a gangsta?"

"No, but Anita will. Santago will be a prodigy, and graduate from College with a degree in Thermophysics at age seven."

"Of course," Conlan answered with a wise nod. "And the two of them will team up with us and defeat the Pianus."

At the word we attracted more stares than normal. In fact, the shopkeeper told us to take our dirty language out. We left, of course, still chortling into our sleeves. Conlan settled onto a front step so I sat directly behind him, leaning back.

"I love this city," I said contently. "So peaceful in general. Always a different crowd, no two days are the same. You know?"

He nodded in front of me. "Lyo shares your sentiments, actually," he said. "though I still prefer the hustle and bustle of Henesys."

"Pah, hustle and bustle!" I crowed. "Try growing up in Kerning! Half the time in Grade School I couldn't sleep because of the PQ attempts going on out my window. I must say, I probably gained my more obscene half of my vocabulary from that."

Conlan snorted appreciatively. "You didn't have to walk half a mile just to get to the stores, though."

"Fair point."

We were interrupted at this point in our conversation by Allie stepping outside. She looked prettier, somehow. Must've been the shiny Chainmail, if not her changed pose. She was standing straighter now, a nervous smile pulling at her lips. She wasn't playing with her fingers, instead holding then clasped around her crossbow at hip level.

"I feel... Stronger," she said, her voice still quiet and shy. "But it's... It's still showy."

Again, for the first time, I took a quick glance down. Indeed, the chainmail was semi-formfitting.

"You don't suppose that it'll get in the way or anything?" I asked honestly.

"It has... Er... Support..." Allie blushed. Conman looked away, on the verge of laughter. I kicked him subtlely, to which he not-so-subtlely gawked and attempted to turn it into a conspicuous coughing fit.

"Well, nobody's gonna be looking," I said, ignoring him. "For one, we'll all be aiming at little floating 'bots. For two, it's pretty dark in the tower."

"And for three," Conlan said, sharing a brainwave. "We'll beat anyone's ass who comes to bug you." He and I nodded, and Allie couldn't help but snort and then laugh. We all laughed together.

"Witchu all rofflin' 'bout?" a theif dressed darkly asked.

I paused. "Waffling?"

"Rofflin'. Roffling. You know, Roffle? Are-Oh-Eff-El?"

"No, moron, go away!" Conlan said loudly and somehow kindly. He tossed the thief a golden coin and we were all on our way. Conlan met Lyo halfway there, though, and after a short conversation the two decided to go kill Junior Grupins instead. We bid him thank-you and goodbye, and he threw back a wave and a wink as he teleported off.

"So," I said, nearing the ladder to Orbis Tower. "You're all stocked up on Potions and Arrows, right?"

"Yup and yup, I think," Allie replied. I could tell she was excited to try out her new armour, and she was trying to use the excitement's momentum to keep her happy and hopeful. I nonverbally decided that it was a respectable attempt, and decided to help her with it.

"Well, then, Allie of Henesys," I said cheerily. "I got your back, you've got mine; Let's go kick some Sentinel ass."

She smiled and leapt down the ladder and as I followed her I realized two things: One, it made me glad to see her so confident about her abilities. And two, it's not a good idea to jump down a ledge when there's a ladder there. I mean, like, major pain on the ankles. And that's no good.