Being Different

[Zelda]

The sun was high, the sky was clear, yet the air was cool. And a figure walked through the crowd of humans as they went along their business. Such situations where great for business. As the figure in the cloak had already swiped three coin pouches.

The figure beneath the cowl was a dark skinned half elf woman named Zelda and she was a rogue going about business as usual. Some where in the crowd was a woman with her children. Why she had brought them to the crowded square was unknown. The children where playing a game of tag and won of them decided the cloaked elf would be a perfect person to try dodge around the kid slipped and grabbed onto her cloak to catch himself and the pulled down the hood.

Early every ones eyes turned toward her. and then the all checked their pouches those that had theirs missing instantly blamed the drow. And she Ended up having to run.

[Xannon]

So many people, thought Xannon as she dodged between the towering bulks of mass. She hated cities. She always felt like she was a drop in the tide that would be devoured at any minute. Thus, the consequences of being short. It really ticked her off.

She placed her small dark-skinned hands on a crate and heaved herself up, looking over the towering people. Was she lost again? She'd hardly even gotten here, dammit.

Alerted by some shrieking and a stampede, the little girl raised an arm to block the brilliant sunlight, her pale sleeve swinging in the wind.

Some drow was running like hell's hounds were about to bite her butt, and Xannon didn't blame her.

Was that villager holding a pitchfork?

Xannon winced, hopping off her platform Obviously, that chick was a meal with an extra serving of stupid on the side. Stealing in broad daylight in the middle of a city like this? Yeah, real bright.

The light-haired dame dove down the alley in front of Xannon, knocking her over.

"Oi!" she cried. "Watch it, ya freak!"

Scowling as people trampled by, she brushed off her garments. Her butt ached. Xannon's short fingers adjusted her pale hood, shading the top half of her already dark face as the mass of people stormed around her.

What a dumb blond.

[Zelda]

Once Zelda was in the ally she didn't hesitate to dodge off into the shadows. and then into the rear door of a tavern. and shut it. and listened as the people outside got confused and started. going off in different directions.

"Hey you get outta my pantry." Came the voice of the innkeeper. "Oh sorry i was just leaving." She said stepping back out and putting her hood back up. She walked back around the corner only to see that little girl that had called her a freak as she ran past. "You know young lady calling people names really isn't very nice. Does you mother know your out here calling people names?" She asked.

[Xannon]

"Young lady"? Did her mother know?

Oh, no, she didn't, thought the twenty-two-year-old, instantly irritated.

One might think she'd get used to being mistaken for a twelve-year-old after so much time. However, Xannon thought a little differently. It was more like time only allowed hatred to smolder even more fervently with every passing day.

Xannon, by the gods, was not going to be short forever. Oh, hell no, she wasn't.

There was a momentary silence as the young woman grit her teeth. Then again, just because she hated looking a decade too young didn't mean she didn't know how to play the part...

"Kyaa!" she screamed, jumping back, her hood falling to reveal her youthful face. Her lower lip trembled. A small black finger pointed at the drow, shaking in terror. "It's--It's that drow!" she yelled. "The drow who stole all of the purses before! Please, someone! Help!"

Jesus. Even her voice sounded like a twelve-year-old's.

[Zelda]

"Wait, NO, you little BRAT!" She had almost gotten away if not for the sniveling brat! But she had an Idea. Pretending to reun scared and trip she took the gold she had stollen and stuck it into the little girls pocket as she knocked her down. This time the people caught up with her. Acusing her of theft. "What your gonna call me a thief just cause I'm black i don't have your gold. Go ahead and search." And they did the searched every pocket and found nothing.

"Why don't you check LittleMiss taddle-tale." She said

[Xannon]

Haha. Served her right.

But then, the drow tackled her. Oh, thought Xannon as the busty femme fetale squished her. Thieves didn't do stuff like that for no reason. Xannon had common sense. And, of course, her pocket was now ridiculously heavy.

As the drow was searched--felt up? Those guys seemed awfully enthusiastic over there--Xannon swiftly moved the treasure to yet another random passerby. Oblivious, he returned to his stand.

Just because she didn't steal for a living didn't mean she wasn't slight of hand.

Xannon glanced at her own dark pigment. Xannon's skin was wondrously brown while that drow's, no matter how one viewed it, was clearly a sickly gray.

"That's fine," she sniffed, dark eyes watering as she gazed so sadly up at her assailant. "But, Lady," she said, beginning to speak loudly and clearly, "I don't remember anyone saying that it was gold that was missing. Am I wrong, or wouldn't only the pickpocket and the victims know stuff like that?"

[Zelda]

He glared at the little girl "It isn't exactly far-fetched to assume that it was gold so sorry to generalize but seriously what else would everyone be so up tight about. if it was rocks or buttons i doubt they'd be so angry." She explained After finding nothing on either of them they had nothing to blame on the drow and or the midget so they walked off. Once theyr where out of ear shot she bent down the little girl. You little brat Whats wrong with you cuz of you I'll probably be sleeping in the streets tonight.

She could try again, but now people would be keeping better track of their pockets.

[Xannon]

"Oh? Is that right, Mister?" Dammit. What kind of people carried gold around so easily? Was that a city thing or what? She only ever carried around silver, brass, bronze, or nickel depending on the area. Were city people wealthy or what? Would she be able to afford to live here to study after all? If everyone carried around gold, did that mean all the good food would be really expensive?

And who the hell would carry around rocks and buttons? Seriously? That geezer must've been making fun of her.

These city folk were weird.

"Little brat." Brat. And little. Xannon gritted her teeth. What an--

"Sleeping in the streets?" she asked crudely, her glimmering eyes still loaded with the fake tears. "Surely," she sneered, the corner of her lips curling, "a skilled thief like you could enter any home easily. Or, of course, you could just get a boyfriend."

She blinked away the tears and stood up, brushing dust off her clothing for the second time that day. Her dark eyes flickered over the drow's body. Supple breasts, curves in the right places, and wide child-bearing hips. Oh, and she was tall. If Xannon ever got pregnant, there was no way the baby could exit her immature loins so easily.

Just looking at that woman really irritated her.

The childlike woman gave a derisive snort. She turned around and began trotting away, trying to ignore the fact that she was (a little) lost.

[Zelda]

It was becoming obvious that this young looking girl only looked young. She really struck a cord when she suggested a boyfriend. She was part drow humans wouldn't trust her and the Drow would shun her like a disease. "Hate to break it to ya but I doubt some human would find woman with my blood anywhere near attractive. Seriously they see me and its like instant mistrust. And its because of my fucking skin not my trade."

She sighed heavily, "So, how old are you. Your too smart to be 12." She said sitting on the crate the girl had been standing on earlier.

[Xannon]

Xannon paused. Did that drow not want revenge?

Guys didn't want her? Xannon glanced back, eyes flickering over the drow's body once more. Guys didn't want to bang that? Well, men were only boys with a bit more muscle and height--stupid from the beginning to the end.

Hell, if she were male, she'd bang that.

"There are ways to change one's appearance, ya know," she replied, now turning to face the thief.

"How old am I?" she asked, suddenly somber. "You really want to know?" Her words ceased, and her lips spread out into a devil's grin. What an intriguing lady. Xannon's voice tightened dryly.

"I turn twenty-three next month."

[Zelda]

"Why should I have to change my appearance?" She asked. "Who would be worth changing for. There where men back in Aesir but the ones I knew are all dead." She heard the girl's no the woman's answer. "So, where you shrunk or is this what you are?" She asked "Guessing you don't have a man either."

[Xannon]

"Uh... because people are idiots?"

Of course, people were idiots. Always judging by appearance or this or that. Even the price on slaves varied depending on their looks alone.

"What's Aesir? And I just happen to be a little short for my age."

Any man aiming for Xannon would have to be a pedophile, which was a disturbing thought on various levels.

[Zelda]

"Aesir was a floating City of magic. There was this big war that resulted in Aesir plummeting the the earth as well as plenty of damage to this city. Its where I use to live , where my parents left me. Now its gone and I'm stuck being a lowly thief." It was obvious she wasn't happy about being a theif. oh she was proud of he skills but she's rather use them to a higher purpose, or a lower purpose which ever payed more.

[Xannon]

"So you don't wanna be a thief?" probed Xannon, now sitting on one of the crates and folding her legs.

Aesir was a magic island in the sky, huh? That sounded pretty cool. Well, whatever had happened, Avaren had the Academy of Magic now. Still, though, just thinking about it... That had to be some seriously strong magical whammy to make something so big float so high. It wasn't too surprising it crashed at some point.

"So if you weren't a thief, then what would you be?" she continued, resting her elbows on her knees.

She felt grateful it was one of the warmer winter days--if not, then they'd have to squeeze into some crowded restaurant or something to chat. It'd probably be troublesome because everyone around here used gold.

[Zelda]

"Well, probably a better sorceress. My magical skill has never really been all that great, but I can do the basics. Not like it would matter people would still think I'm bad just because I'm part drow." She looked at the short woman. "So, what do you do to earn you food?"