Poe hopped down from the tree. He smiled looking up at the metal targets hanging down. The thin plates had small markings on them and they twisted lightly in the wind. Poe smiled and took a few paces back. Poe closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He ran his fingers lightly over the sash at his side. He pulled the sash back and drew his pistol. He lifted the gun and held his hand over the top. As he opened his eyes he took sight of the wind. He lined up the shot in his mind. He had never hit more then 3 with one shot and he was trying for five. He had been practicing for almost two days in a row. He began to whisper the sing song spell. Casting gust slowly his fingers moved. He tried to shape the wind in the barrel. He needed a high back spin on the bullet inside. His bright yellow eyes became sharp slits. His mind putting the shot together in his head.

Hal had ridden uncomfortably to Vienda in a cart full of boxes and sharp objects as a stowaway. He had done it on impulse, wanting to stay with Calli. Although he had come along for her, it had been two days and he still hid from her. He didn't know what to say. So he just kept an eye on her.

And explored.

Vienda was nothing like Old Rose. His ears felt empty for lack of crashing waves. There was no soft sand. Only cobblestones. He felt cold most of the time, as there were no warm waters carrying warm winds over the city. He had wandered outside the town to see what the area was like, and had stopped when he saw some Mugrobi fiddling about up in a tree. He seemed to be hanging bits of metal from the branches. What the clock? he thought, crouching behind a low stone wall.

The man hopped down, looked at his handiwork, and paced out. Hal ducked for a moment, as the man was coming right toward him. When he peeked back up, he saw the man was facing the tree with a gun in his hands. He could hear him muttering something.

Hal jumped as he fired off a shot.

Poe lifted the gun as the gust made the bullet whirred inside. A soft hum sounded. He lifted the gun closed one eye and fired. The shot ripped from the gun the bullet spinning back. As the shot struck the first target Poe could hear the boy behind him jump. He whipped around as the disk spun on the tree. The bullet struck off the first target and flew to the second a loud clang was heard as Poe's arm lifted itself his body twisted to face Hal. The third target was hit and the bullet spun out and flew off missing the forth. A gun slid from a spring on Poe's wrist. He aimed the gun at the boy as the targets spun behind him. Seeing it was a boy he lifted his hand pointing the gun up and away.
"Hey there not a smart idea to sneak around like that."
He gave an unnerving smile.

((just posted result under jades instruciton))

Hal's wide eyes went wider as the bullet ricocheted from one metal target to another. His eyes flew even wider as he saw a gun trained on him- he looked liable to lose them if a good wind came along...



"I'm behind a rock wall, I think I'm safe," Hal snapped, brows knit together and frowning. He glanced at the still-spinning targets and the strange smiling man. He had to admit it... "That was amazing. How'd you do it?"

Poe's smile shifted into a smirk. He flicked his wrist and the spring in his sleeve shot out. He set the gun on it again and slid it back up inside his sleeve. Then he took his other gun and popped it open.
"Well I am a very, very good shot."
He started to reload the gun. It was not a breech loader like most guns people saw. It was a barrel loader. He packed in down with a bit of wrapped shot. Then dropping in the bullet he packed the cotton very lose inside.
"Unless you think i have a trick."
He flicked the gun up and the barrel snapped back in place.
"So what are you doing aside from hiding behind walls."
He put the pistol back on his hip and covered it with the sash.

Hal gave him a skeptical look, "uh-huh."



Hal watched Poe reload. The gun was different from most he had seen. He twitched. He had never fired a gun. Unfortunately. All he had was a small blade. And here this guy had two guns. Maybe before they parted he could lift one...



Hal twitched off his train of thought,"erm, I'm here with-- with the circus." It was the first thing that popped into his head. And it wasn't entirely untrue. Just partly. Something clicked in his head.

"Hey, you were at the Book an' Bell t'other night. You were there with some woman."

Poe lifted a brow.
"Well you are quite the little spy. Yes I was there with my wife. I was thinking of trying my hand at shooting for the circus."
He looked the boy over.
"You hungry i got lunch cooking you can join me if you like."
He Turned and walked over to the tree. On the other side of the Tree was a small fire with a pot over it.

Hal wasn't one to turn down free food anymore. Well, he hadn't really been to begin with, but after Calli, he really wasn't.

Hal followed him over. The smell of Mugrobi spices filled his nose, stinging. He scrunched up his face (ever the petulant child) as he looked in the pot and asked, "What is that?" Probably some weird Mugrobi food... it looks mushy.

Poe smirked it had been a while sense he had dealt with a child. He swirled the pot with a wooden spoon.
"How about you try it. It is meat and some grain it is made to go flat bread."
He took a bowl and filled it about half full. Then took a few hunks of bread and some dry meat. Handing the meal to the boy he smiled and the served himself.
"My name is Poe by the way."
He scooped with the bread and took a big bite. Growling happily as he munched.

Hal looked skeptically at him again, but took the food.



"Hal," he responded curtly, as he was looking at the substance in his bowl. He scooped some of it up with the bread and took a bite. His eyes went wide. It was good! There were some kinds of spices that he couldn't place, but they were tasty. He attacked the bowl with relish.

Poe smiled happily watching the boy eat. When the boy was done he refilled the bowl and gave the boy some more bread. He handed the boy a water skin after drinking deep.
"Do not eat to fast now there is more then enough. You want to keep it down don't ya."
He munched a bit more.
"So why sneak about. If you are thinking of lifting something then you should pick your marks better."
Poe smirked lightly. This boy made him think of himself a long time ago. Alone with Alia he stole a lot of the time so she would not have to.

Hal glared at him, but the effect was lost to his chipmunk-cheeked expression. He glanced down at the bowl and the piece of bread in his hand. He set them down carefully, swallowed, and took the water skin.



Hal flinched. "I wasn't lookin' at nothin'," he said defensively, taking another bite and speaking around it,"I was watchin' you shoot. I don' like people's'all."

Poe's smile did not change he took of his hat. He took another bite eating slowly. He looked over to the targets that have stopped spinning and where simply swaying.
"You know it will not allways be like this. You have the same look in your eye that I use to. I understand surviving."
He looked back over his shoulder. Thinking a moment.
"The meal is free. But tell me how would you like a job."

"You know it will not allways be like this. You have the same look in your eye that I use to. I understand surviving."

Tch, yeah, Hal thought. Those foppish clothes and guns cost somethin' bub.

"The meal is free. But tell me how would you like a job."

Hal took insult at first, and responded defensively,"What makes you think I don't have one? I make deliveries n'stuff."

Poe reached into his had and pulled out a old gun. The gun was very well taken care of but it looked to be made before Hal was born.
"When I was young I stole this. For a while it was all i had. It is how i got food. Never held any one up with it. I have killed my fare share of animals though. Sleeping where people can not see you hurts. It is even harder when you have to sleep sitting up."
He still smiled like he was talking about puppies or something.
"I am shore you have jobs. They keep you alive. I am just offering you another. Just to get a bit of info for me."
He put the gun down beside him.
"Then again if you do not want the job..."

Hal listened with his ears on edge, watching Poe for signs of deceit. There didn't seem to be any, but his smile was kind of creepy...



Hal hesitated for only a moment. It would be nice to get a bit more ging... "What job?"

Poe locked eyes with the boy.
"I want to join up with the circus. I and my wife... well... we need a new life. We make a good enough of a living but we are allways running. I want better for her. Find out about the circus what they are looking for who is trying to join up. You seem good at getting about and listening."
He holds up the gun he took from his hat.
"You do this for me and I will give you this gun. Do a good job and I will give you some cash as well."
Poe turned his head to the side closed his eyes a bit the smile not wavering.

Hal's eyes were wide again. The weapon was old, but it looked well cared-for, and impressive. It wasn't too big, so he could probably hide it... Then he realized he had to find out information from the circus. Which meant that he should probably show himself... Dangit, he thought. His thin lips pursed a moment in thought. It was worth the risk.

"Mister," he said, spitting in his hand and holding it out,"You got'ch'erself a deal."

Poe spit in his hand and shook the boys. He went back to eating.
"Now when I give you this gun I will want you to take good care of it. If you like you can find me and get other small jobs. I can teach you how to care for a gun and how to shoot it."
Poe did need some help so did his wife. The boy was not a bad kid just down on his luck.

((Haha- not a bad kid... You haven't read Hal's first posts have you?))

Hal liked the idea of learning how to shoot. And if this guy could fire like that, who knows what he could learn.

"Sure thing," Hal said. "So, are you gonna tell me how you did that fancy trick earlier?"

Poe looked over to the kid and thought for a sec. He looked up then back to Hal. He gave a wink and responded simply.
"Magic"
Poe stood up and started to clean the food.

Hal sank a little at the answer, an unspoken wistful oh written on his face. So he couldn't learn to do it. He had been hoping it would be something more natural.

"Right," he said glumly, handing over his empty bowl.

Poe chuckled and took the bowl.
"Do not fret it looks cool but it is worthless in a fight. The bullet moves so slow and it can not bounce of much aside from metal. Magic helps with a few trick shots. But what makes some one a truly good shot is all in a stead hand, good eye, and... a sharp mind."
He packed up the dirty dishes and wrapped some of the food. He handed some of the wrapped food to Hal.
"Hal this lesson is free. When it comes to gun all that matters is who shoots first. Stealth will serve you better then any magic."

Hal frowned a bit. It may be worthless in a fight but it does look cool...



Hal thought over what he said. It made sense. But what if he was too twitchy to shoot well?



"I usually have that one covered," he said. He was still a bit miffed about being seen. He took the package of food,"But thanks. Where can I find you when the job's done?"