Vivi stood as still as stone as the child came around the corner and ran right into her legs. She looked down as the boy, rubbing his sore face from hitting her in the knee, stood up again. He seemed surprised to see her walking the back streets of Oak, but she didn't need to come up with any excuses as to why she was there. She just was, and to her that was enough for Vivi and she'd happily explain as much with the appropriate candor if she needed to. But instead of being frightened by her physique as she loomed over the boy like a towering hunk of muscle, he seemed more than a little happy to see her. That wasn't something Vivi was used to. His eyes went to her hand, and Vivi could see the little gears spinning about in his head. The kid was a conniver. He was thinking up a plan for some reason.

"Hey, lady," The boy said. "You're a mage, right? You can do magic and beat people up and stuff? Like really bad?"

Vivi raises an eyebrow at the question, but then she nodded her head in a plain answer to his question. The boy brightened visibly at her response, and yet again she could see that the little schemer must have found a good reason to use her talents. She didn't have to accept, of course, she could just move on and deal with things as she pleased. She was actually decently hungry, a nice sandwich would do her good. But the boy was in her way, so she paused long enough to hear him out before she made a decision about whether to punt him into a trash can so she could get on with her day.

"Cool, then listen, I want to hire you." The boy seemed confident, too confident even. She was suspicious, but she wouldn't so easily turn down a payday. "I'm Jerr. I was running 'cause some thugs in the Martello family caught me listening in on their conversation. Guess they thought I was a spy or something, and maybe I am today. But I need a hand. This city is getting too stale, and I need to start pulling in a lot more jewels these days. Nothing gets business riled up more than a good turf war, and I know how to start one. See, Martin Martello, one of the big ones, he had a package coming to town. Something real valuable. He's got some guys escorting it through the city today, and I know the route. Look, I'll pay you real good, lady, if you steal the package for me and make a mess of the guards. It'll get blamed on the Tessio family if you do it right, and then we'll rake in the jewels on the gang war later."

Vivi seemed uncertain, but after some thought she again nodded her head in agreement. She could see the value in stirring up some trouble in town. Things were rather stale with the guild preparing for war and everyone on their own agendas. When things got quiet, people stopped focusing on growing from the struggles they faced. She could really see the benefit of kicking up a bit of violence around town.

"Great! Just head down the street and take two rights, you'll find the guys," Jerr said. "Kill 'em and make sure to make a mess that really sells that this was a gang hit."

Vivi waved her hand and walked past the boy. She'd get the job done, she always had before. Heading down the street and taking the first right, she started to prepare herself. She'd need to scout things out first. She took the second right soon after. The street ahead was narrow and full of small nooks and crannies. She could make an ambush easily. The target on a street this small was obvious. Up ahead she could see a cart surrounded by four guards escorting it down the road. They'd pass her by in just a few minutes. She decided to duck down behind some old pipes and abandoned crates, sticking to the shadows so she could have an advantage. Normally sneak attacks were not her forte, but after seeing how much weaker she was than she realized she knew she had to deal with things in a different way. As the cart rolled by with its guards, she waited until only two would see her at once. Springing into action, she jumped for the first one and tackled him by the waist so hard she flung him into the wall of the building on the other side of the street. Catching him off guard, though not quietly, she pounded her fists into his chest, smashing his ribs with every blow until he fell onto the ground. His partner at the rear of the cart took the chance and drew his weapon, firing a shot that grazed Vivi's side. She gritted her teeth in pain and wheeled around on the man, firing a Drive Blast off after yanking her fist back. It didn't deal too much damage to the man, but it caught him off guard, and again she dove for him. She aimed for his legs, sweeping him off his feet and throwing him to the ground. Pummeling his chest in with three blows, she smashed his chest cavity down into a pancake. Another gunshot rang out, missing her by an inch as the other guards, hearing the commotion, came from the front of the cart. Hooking her fingers down at her hip, Vivi swung her arm wildly upwards, sending a two bolts of arcane energy for the one who shot at her. They smashed into the man, throwing him into a window that he went sailing through. Turning to the last, Vivi dashed for him suddenly with a burst of magic, ducking under his aim and grabbing his arm as she got close. Twisting it with all her might, she heard the bone snap under the pressure. Turning him around by his broken arm, she smashed his skull into the carriage, creating a splotch of blood on the wood that she made even bigger with two more bloody smashes of his face until he stopped moving. Dropping the man, she took a breath and clutched her side. That bullet had dug through and through, but it hurt like a bitch. Smearing her free hand through the blood on the carriage, she wrote out the name 'Tessio' and surmised that would be enough to convince stupid gang members. Ripping the door off the cart, she rooted around for the package. It was easy to spot, a case full of jewels ready to be brought into black market circulation. With a groan, Vivi dragged it out of the carriage and started hobbling back to where she found the boy.

Jerr was waiting for her, and though he seemed worried about the wound, Vivi simply tossed him the case. Then she held out her hand, clearly demanding her cut. Jerr, not wanting to anger someone who'd just killed four men, tossed her jewels her way. Vivi gave him just another silent nod before walking away. She needed that sandwich...and a drink.

[1232/1000 Words]

450/550 Mana: