[IRP] When Strength is All You Have Left, Is That Strength All You Need?

[WyvernSlayer]

Ahh, so that’s why she had seemed so on edge when they passed through the gates. Even so, her behavior now continued to vex him. He looked around at the small pockets of Imperial guards that were patrolling the streets. His eyes briefly locked with one of the men as they approached. He paused and gave Satsume a flat stare, then continued on his way. No scorn, no malice, just a recognition of an armored man in front of him. That was it. Satsume finally turned and went to follow Orica into the alley. I’m almost sure she’s overreacting, he thought to himself. He pulled his pipe out of his belt pouch and stuck it in his mouth. I’ll be damned if I say anything about it, though.

He pressed some tobacco into the pipe. As he fumbled around for his matchbox, he looked past Orica, deep into the alleyway. There was another man propped against the wall, probably staying out of sight just like every other poor Tanian soul. “We made it past the gates without a hitch…You really think they’d deny you access to your own home?” As he spoke these words, Satsume stopped walking. His matchbox had gone missing. He sighed in frustration. Son of a…

“Hey!” Satsume called over to the other man in the alley, careful not to be too loud. “Could I trouble you for a match?”