Discovery ((outlaws))

[Much]

Much soaked up the girl's story like a sponge. It really was sad, and Much scratched his chin with the hand that was not holding any rope. He opened his mouth to speak, but Allan had got there first. Much listened again, and came to the conclusion Allan was right. "If you wanted help, you would have asked for it!" Much retorted defensively.

As everyone turned to look at him, Much's eyes widened. "Why are you all looking at me? I don't know what to do!" he said exasperatedly. "Where are Robin and Tuck anyway?" he mumbled, squeezing the rope around the girl a little tighter. It was true, the girl just couldn't be handed over to the Sheriff, that would just be plain unkind. But was there really any other solution? Much's eyebrows furrowed.

[Tuck]

"Well actually, Much, I don't know where Robin is right now, but I'm right here behind you. I would agree that she does present a particular problem. But I'm sure if we can have her try repeating her story a couple more times, and I'm sure we'll be able to figure out what's true and what's not. You see, even among those who lie, or as we might say stretch the truth liberally," he said casting a sideways glance toward Allan, there's a kernel of truth in there to fall back on."

"For example, in several different versions I've heard from a distance so far, the interesting thing that keeps on coming up is the town of York. I wonder why that is? Especially since her face or clothing type don't appear that familiar to any of us. And once we figure out her true story, with Robin's help I think we'll be able to figure out what to do with her, eh my child?," he smiled as he spoke somewhat sarcastically.

[Devon Creek]

Devon looked up at the new outlaw and sighed. How many of these people were there? As he spoke, she couldn't help but raise her eyebrows. This man was actually going to give her a chance. Well, well, Devon thought greedily. Taking a deep breath, she began, careful not to leave anything out of her tall tale.
The reason York keeps coming up is because that was where I was born. You could say I was raised there, but after my dad left my mom couldn't keep a place down for very long. We never had enough to pay the taxes and had to move often to cover that fact." Not a lie. Sure, I have two older brothers, but they're greedy and wouldn't help us." Surprisingly not fully a lie. Jon and Mark always kept their share of takes, no questions asked. "You see, my mom always told me that my dad was dead. I guess she didn't like to think about him. So I grew up thinking that. But I was in the market in York and I heard someone talking about my dad. I don't suppose any of you would know the feeling, but to know my dad was actually alive was amazing. I took my things and left. Mother would have gone absolutely mad if she knew why I was going, so I didn't tell her." She looked up at the most recent man.
"It's the truth. It's long and a bit complicated, but it's the truth." Devon sat back, never taking her eyes off the man. Eye contact was key in lying. But never too much, so she let her gaze slide over all the men, then back to her bound wrists. Mentally, Devon smiled. That had to be one of her best works yet.

[Allan A'Dale]

Allan was actually glad to see Tuck for once. He let the girl tell her sob story and then he interjected.

"Yeah, and let me tell you how she asked us for help. She put a knife to Much's throat to nick our stuff, and when we offered to point her in the direction of some more appropriate people to steal from, she went for me. We don't want to sling her over to the soldiers, but we can't trust her round here, Tuck. She won't be told."

[Devon Creek]

Devon shot the blond a look, but talked to the one who would actually listen to her.
"Like I told this lot before, I wasn't thinking straight. Is it that hard to see that I'm desperate? And as for attacking you," she faltered, having to stop and bite back the rage that bubbled in her stomach. "You remind me of my good-for-nothing brother who left me for dead. When you gave me that advice, I-I couldn't help it." The first wholly truthful thing she'd said all day. "Have you ever wanted revenge so much, that you couldn't see straight?" she asked no one in particular. "I guess that's what came over me." She tried to shrug, but found it impossible with the rope.

[Tuck]

This was new for Tuck. He was actually greeted by Allan like he was happy to see him, and not like he was his least-favorite uncle. Even though he had heard both sides from the shadows he patiently listened to both sides, and then prepared to give them his evaluation.

"Yes, Allan, my friend, I heard and saw most of that from just over there. I was ready to put an arrow in her, both when she had Much by the throat and was lunging at you. But I though that Little John had matters well in hand. Little girl, didn't you know that it was dangerous for little ones to play with sharp objects like swords and daggers! Tsk! Tsk!

Now the old Abbott that I trained under would have said she needed a good confession. And my dear, even though I am a friar I served in the Crusades and am more of a practical man. As a practical man it i not words that are important to me, but deeds. It seems that as long as you are being uncooperative you place us in a your dammed if you do and dammed if you don't position. Now Robin may have a different view, but I only see 2 realistic alternatives, other than blinding you or cutting out your tongue.

Since it seems that you are a thief who's not from around here, that suggests that you are running from hard times or the law. And since York figured so prominently in your stories I'm figuring that where you came from, and probably wouldn't be enthused about going home. You see thieves tend only to leave places where they are not welcome. So I think option one would be to send you there, or perhaps have someone from Nottingham inquire in York.

The other option would be to send you down to Southampton wih someone, and have you shipped off via ship. By the time you returned the camp would be somewhere else, and you wouldn't find us unless we wanted you to. And trust me little lady you wouldn't want us to ever have you find us again, since I'm pretty sure it would be a final meeting for you. So what's it to be ... before these fine children of God decide your fate, eh? I think that about sums it up .... Allan. Unless of course you decide to be a good little girl and do what you were told." Tuck added that last little jibe in to see if it would cause her to break, and he leaned back to see what the response would be.

[Devon Creek]

Devon snarled as the friar called her little girl. She'd show him little girl. Face flushed, she listened to him grudgingly.
"Now, now friar," she said, her voice absolutely dripping with sarcasm, "what if I am trying to co-operate? Since I've been out into these restraints I haven't done anything but co-operate and tell the truth, alright? So before you get your pretty little prayer robes in a bunch, don't go accusing me of things I didn't do." If looks could kill, she would have brought him down with one glance.
"You want to cut out my tongue? Fine, I'll help you. It's not like I could have anything else taken away from me. Hair, pride, house, home, family; all gone. Go ahead, add to the list," she stuck hers out as far as it would go and pointed to the forgotten dagger on the ground. Instinctively, she wanted to provoke the man, mock him, jibe him. Instead she sat in silence and looked at him.
Not quite the daring escape I'd planned, she thought sardonically. Smiling wryly, she watched him.

[Tuck]

Tuck fairly roared with laughter, probably the first time they had heard such an outburst from him since he had joined the outlaws. He found both what she said and how she look as being humorous, as well as the fact that he had successfully provoked her. It absolutely tickled him that she believed that she could possibly be trusted after what she had said and done earlier. However, in the end, he realized, that would be up to Robin and the rest of the outlaws.

"I don't know about the rest of the outlaws, but that bit about you losing your pride ..... that would be a difficult one for you to prove given the way you still are talking, my child. Cooperation? Continuing to tell tales, sad though they might be in the re-telling do not represent co-operation. In fact, I think for a thief, your acting skills need quite a bit of work. Don't you think so Allan?"

"Ah yes, child sticking that out so improves you looks and personality that I'm just about to give into your argument .... almost," he chuckled once more. "At least you are quite entertaining .... I'll give you that much. The good news is that you don't have to convince me, you have to convince them. If they find your words to indicate that you are a changed girl, well maybe they'll give you a taste of freedom. As far as I'm concerned the 2 options that I just indicated would seem to be the best that I can see."

[Allan A'Dale]

In fact, I think for a thief, your acting skills need quite a bit of work. Don't you think so Allan?

[/color] [/i]

He grinned. "Well, I was considering telling her that she was trying to fool one of the biggest liars in Nottingham, but you know me, I'm modest to a fault. She almost had me going for a while; she just didn't have the commitment to the story. Cracked as soon as the others got suspicious."

He turned to her. "Seriously, I've got no real quarrel with you, girl; like you said, I'm an outlaw myself. But if we can't trust you, we'll have to make sure that you're not gonna be biting us in the arse every five minutes."

[Much]

Much stood back and listened as Tuck came up with his various solutions. The girl didn't seem to be quite as co-operative. As the poor thing writhed in her binds, Much blinked and stepped backwards a few places, so that he was standing next to Tuck. His ideas were good ones, and both would probably work.

What Much still failed to understand was why the girl wanted to steal from them in the first place He had never really thought about things like that before. Surely it was a selfish act, to steal from people who only stived to help others. His attitudes changed as he thought about it fully. If she wanted to steal, she shouldn't steal from people that do only good.

Much frowned and folded his arms. He nodded vigerously at Allan's claims. "I don't care what we do," Much said shortly, "As long as we get her as far away from us as possible." he sniffed.

[Devon Creek]

Devon eyed the friar as he laughed. "Well, I'm so glad I'm entertaining you," she said sarcastically.
"And in my line of...business acting doesn't matter. Speed does, agility does. You don't need to lie if you can outrun your enemies. Though, I didn't do a great job at that this time around," she replied, looking at the rope again. "The biggest liar in Nottingham, eh? Sure," Devon rolled her eyes at him then addressed his last comment.
"As it so happens, I have an easy answer to your problems. I can't bite you in the arse if you just let me go. I'd be on my way, promise. You have my word-" she saw the look they gave her and backpedaled. "Okay, I swear on all my possessions and on the life of my smug little brother that I will not intentionally seek you lads out." She watched as one outlaw backed away from her and chuckled at his comment.
"See? It's easy, just untie me and I'll go. I can tell when I'm not wanted." She laughed. "Even your friend here agrees." Silence fell over the group and she could tell they were half considering it, though not much.
She hummed quietly to pass the time. It was a simple tune from when she was younger. Tell my ma when I go home, she hummed, her fingers drumming out a beat on her leg.
"You think you could decide quickly? Nature calls, you know. Unless one of you lot want to deal mith my trousers." She said, looking past them at a tree that seemed to be calling her name.
Devon looked around and nodded at the blond one.
"Hey, hey," she hissed, but he didn't turn. She whistled at him through her front teeth. "What's your name?" she asked. She didn't see any harm in the question.

[Allan A'Dale]

Allan snorted, trying his hardest not to laugh. "Keep that sort of talk up and we might just invite you to stay after all. We're a bunch of men living with one woman in the forest." It was stupid and immature of him, he knew, but he was relieved that she was starting to come round, and his natural light-hearted attitude was starting to creep back.

He looked round at the others. "Look, we ain't gonna kill her while she's tied up and we're sure as hell not giving her to the Sheriff. Shall we just untie her and let her make her own mind up? To be honest, I think she's had about enough of us as she can stomach. I doubt she'll be interested in trying to rob us twice."

[Devon Creek]

"I take back everything I said about you." Devon said when he suggested untying her. She raised her eyebrows at his comment about her trousers.
"Sorry, mate, but I'm not that easy," but then she looked at her bindings and groaned. "Suffice to say, it won't be willing," she muttered.
"So, what do you say? You let me go and we all go our merry ways, preferable before I get pulled into anything I don't want to do..." she joked light-heartedly, arching an eyebrow at the blond one.
((ooc: hey, sorry I changed the thread, but let's pretend it still happened. I'll try to write it back in.))

[Allan A'Dale]

He grinned. "I'm Allan, by the way." He walked closer, bent down and began untying her wrists. He didn't want to make matter worse again by delaying any longer, and the others seemed to be of a similar mind. He straightened again and handed to rope back to Much.

"There you go, mate," he said; "don't want your trousers falling down."

[Tuck]

Tuck was not at all sure that this was the right thing to do with this little thief, but without Robin there they were governed by consensus.

"I still think that my suggestions were at least as good as just setting her go. Allan, you will have to watch her careful. If she suddenly disappears we'll have to move the location of the camp to our alternate sight real quick. We won't able to take the chance that she'll go sell the information to some interested parties that we know. In short .... young lady .... you're on probation. But violate this one and it may be the last thing you ever do."