Ethan continued walking after watching the small band of misfits leave the alley in a hurry. He left the alley and moved along with his evening, checking various stalls selling meats, fabrics, spices, and something resembling apples. As any tourist in a place he had not seen before, he stopped at multiple locations, checking out the wares and buying little trinkets and meats for what he guessed was not the market rates.
I hope they are not ripping me off too much, Ethan thought as he stashed yet another meat of some weird two-headed bird in his storage space, not bothering to hide the fact anymore, given how little challenge the local crime scene posed. As he did so, he felt something brush against his belt, where one would expect to find a money pouch. He quickly grabbed the thing and was surprised to see a little hand in his grip.
Pulling on it, he soon held a boy no older than eight in front of him dangling from his grasp. The boy looked shocked to be caught and even more appalled at the height Ethan quickly pulled him up.
“What were you doing?” Ethan asked the small boy dressed in what barely could pass for rags. At one point, he expected people around him to start screaming and begging to let the little green-eyed devil go and stop the child abuse; alas, no one batted an eye. Must be a daily occurrence, Ethan thought, seeing that the people around him went on with their business as the boy dangled next to his face, his eyes darting to the sides.
The boy also did not seek comfort from the crowd and eyed Ethan warily, visibly running through his options. Finally, seeing as the man was big, more significant than any of the guards that chased him before, the boy decided to be truthful and said to Ethan, “Apologies, sir. I was stealing your purse. However, as you may know, you had nothing to steal, so let bygones be bygones?” The boy smiled and waited expectantly.
Ethan was shocked at the boy's stupid response and paused momentarily. “What?” he managed to say as he put the boy back on his two feet, not letting his arm go. “Why would you go on stealing from me? No, why would I let you go after you actually failed to get something from me?” Ethan asked, looking him up and down.
“Well,” the boy scratched his head with his other arm, “you looked like a noble carrying too much coin for your own good with the get-up you are wearing. Your lot does not come to these parts much, so I thought to use the opportunity. You see, this is Levy’s turf, and so he does his business.”
Too much coin for my own good? Is he serious, Ethan thought, running over his response again in his head. Come to think of it; those thugs had the same assumption. God dammit, that tailor in Willow! He understated what problem wearing these clothes will have!
“Who is Levy?” Ethan asked, shaking his head, baffled at his predicament but choosing to stay silent about why the boy assumed what he assumed.
“Me,” the boy pointed at himself with a grin, seeming proud of his deeds. “I am the local pickpocket - Levy. At your service,” the boy, Levy, told Ethan and tried to bow, Ethan’s arm stopping him halfway as he tried to free his other arm. However, Ethan’s grip did not budge, and he waited for the boy to continue.
Ethan stared at the boy for a moment and then asked, “All right, I am not a noble, so nothing to steal from me; that is a first. Second, as I see, you are what? Eight? I will not hand you over to the guard - as it would be more trouble than it is worth. Third, where are your parents?” Ethan tried his best not to use his scolding voice but failed, seeing it did not affect the little devil in his grasp.
Levy’s smile faltered momentarily as he responded, “No parents for me, sir; Levy is on his own. No reason, though, to hand Levy to the guard, sir. I promise not to steal again from the noble folk, sir.”
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The boy’s smile did nothing to give trust to his words as Ethan looked at the boy’s solemn grin, barely hiding his amusement. Ethan sighed at the whole situation, understanding that what he had on his hands was a homeless urchin stealing for food. From the rich even. Ethan could get behind that, as he was far from the rich. Or maybe he was not, given the tokens he had looted from that prick in the castle.
“As I said, I am not a noble. Tell you what,” Ethan started, as he pulled ten iron tokens seemingly out of thin air, “I will give you these if you promise to give me some directions and answer a few questions of mine. Truthfully, of course, no trying to cheat me and run away. Five now, five after - if you agree.”
The boy’s green eyes lit up when they landed on the money, and an even wider grin stretched on his face, him eagerly nodding. “Yes, yes, sir. Levy knows all there is you want to know. Where to buy the white snorting powder or where the houses of the pretty ladies are located - Levy knows them all. If you want, I can even get you some of that weird drink them nobles buy to give to the pretty ladies.”
Ethan blinked a couple of times, trying to catch up with what the boy meant, and then it dawned on him. “What? No! That is not what I meant! I am new to town and just need some directions to a tailor shop from a guy I know. That is it!” he said, flustered about how the little boy would know about powders, drinks, and pretty ladies. What the hell is up with children in big cities, he thought.
“Ah, all right, no worries - not many of those, sir,” the boy nodded, and Ethan decided to release him. As he did so, he half expected the urchin to run away. But, instead, the boy stayed where he was, his eyes fixated on the tokens in Ethan’s hand. So Ethan did as promised and handed five to the boy, promptly pocketing the rest.
“What would you like to know?” the boy asked, his demeanor changing. Finally, Ethan understood whom he was dealing with. It was not a simple street urchin looking for a quick coin but an experienced swindler, someone you would expect to meet in the financial industry ready to provide you with all the knowledge you desired if you were willing to put the money down. A goddamn consultant, Ethan thought, sniffling a laugh.
“Em, right. As I said, I am new to town and would need to get some things from a tailor referred to me by a guy from Willow. Gerard was his name, I guess. He said his brother owns a shop here in Veer. I know it is not much - but maybe you know the place?” Ethan asked, hoping the boy would help speed things up for him.
Even if the evening seemed to stretch out endlessly, Ethan did want to catch sleep at one point, as the day had already been too exciting. After spending so many weeks on Erde, he still had no idea how many hours the day had or how many days a week was. These and other questions he thought were too stupid to ask Claire, as she seemed to enjoy discussing more serious matters. The little urchin seemed the perfect person to provide this information, however.
The boy nodded and corrected his shirt, straightening, “Sure thing. I know the man’s brother. Jerald is the name. He runs his shop - the Cosmic Couture, not far from here. Follow me.” The boy turned on his heel and started walking in the opposite direction Ethan had come from, not waiting for Ethan to follow.
Ethan blinked in surprise and quickly followed after the boy. How could he be so serious? Ethan observed the boy, noting that his innocent face and intently chosen words once he caught him played all too well on adult sensibilities. Must have been dealing with such situations daily to learn such acting.
Walking silently for a few minutes, Ethan finally asked, “Say, Levy, why the spectacle before?”
The boy turned his head back to Ethan and smirked, “Why not? Everyone assumes I am just a little boy. A harmless child if I act like one. The city is not a kind place to those who do not bring value to the upper echelons or do not have the tokens to support themselves.”
I guess that makes sense, Ethan thought as he followed the boy through the narrow streets and corners, second-guessing his choice, as he was unsure if doing so would not lead him into another trap where someone would try to shake him down again.