Snippet #2042319

Erik stood at the door of the huge mansion, giving an impressed whistle. He put a hand through his matted black hair, his eyes examining the patched palace that had certainly seen better days. Although, he guessed it was a lot better than what most people in the village about ten miles out had. It was, compared to the modern mind, what could have only been a shantytown with old-Western layouts.

But, then again, this was not modern times.

Erik had traveled all this way to trade with "The Boss", the "Head Honcho of the South". The greatest bone collector in the nether regions of the country. Hopefully, he/she/it--he never figured out the graverobber's true gender--would find his offerings intriguing. He patted his side, assuring his treasure was still there. It was. Excellent.

He gave a knock, but, as usual, no one answered. At least, not fast enough. It only took a minute before he got bored, knocking one again before making his way to the side of the building, pushing away some vines to reveal a hole in a wall that no normal man could squeeze through. However, Erik was a professional rat--no ordinary man. He squeezed through without a problem, slinking his way into the kitchen, which was gratefully empty. He spied some apples sitting in a basket on the center table. He snatched one up, munching on the fresh delicacy with a smug grin.

He once again got bored, his silence bringing no people running to check the happenings. Pulling a beer out from the icebox--which was nothing but an over-stylized food chest, being anything but icy--he snuck behind the door, sticking the bottle into an unknown depth of his jacket, never to be seen again.

The person entering was one of the few maids the Boss hired, apparently tending to some need of the Head Honcho or his/her/its apprentice. The maid did not see nor hear Erik as he slunk behind her, waiting for her to set down the glass in her hand before touching her lightly, making her jump. "Mr. Skratch...!"

Erik laughed. "Aw, c'mon, Sue. You still haven't learned me by now?" It was true that Erik's antics and love of pranks would tend to annoy the villagers, especially that of his frequencies at the manor. He was just glad that no one had started putting two and two together as to why their stuff would disappear... "Where might I find Ol' Grumpus?"

The maid knew that the endearing nickname meant the Boss. "You'll have to talk to the Apprentice first. She's in the fifth door to the left." Erik gave thanks and left, leaving the maid to wonder where her seventh silver spoon went...

Erik entered the room of which the Apprentice was in, giving an almost comical bow. "Madam Devitt," he stood upright as he patted his side yet again. "I have an item that may be of some interest to your master. I have come to trade."