Fifth day in Nottingham Castle

[stuck_mynock]

Atton's not been having fun.

The guards aren't imaginative, but they do take a certain delight in their cruelty, and Atton's been given barely any chance to rest over the past almost-week. His arms are aching from being chained up, and his face and torso has a constant, burning ache from the abuse its been through over the past five days.

He's waiting, though, for an opportunity.

Comments

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

Atton closes the leather bag (it's full anyway), and attaches it to his belt, turning to beam at the bed.

"No, but it should be up momentarily." He wanders over to a nearby, light chair, setting one hand on it.

[will_scarlett]

"Oh, he left didn't he? This place is so boring compared to London."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"I know. Tell you what, get somebody to take you back to London, and don't tell Sherry that you're going. It'll drive him crazy."

[will_scarlett]

"Nay, I can't do that. I need to please him for my family's sake, but thank you for the kind thoughts and you should leave before my maid arrives."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"I have some business to finish up here first." Like theft. "Why do you need to please him?"

He takes up another leather bag. By way of explanation: "The Sheriff has asked me to gather some of his jewels. Evidently, he needs to pay somebody."

[will_scarlett]

"Just don't get caught, he's a bastard. He's got something to hold over my father and he's one of the Prince's right hand men and we don't have the coin to bribe him just me."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"Believe me, I know, he's been having me whipped for the past week. Hey." He holds up one bag. "Reckon there are enough jewels in here for your family to bribe him with?"

[will_scarlett]

"Perhaps, but he'd recognize them, he keeps careful track of all his pretty things."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"So, you take them to London, you sell them to somebody for some other pretty things, and you give him what you got for them. Heap the blame on me for stealing them - I'll be long gone by then."

[will_scarlett]

"Nay, its too dangerous, but thank you."

She sits up in the bed and gives Atton a small kiss,

"Now get out of here before you're caught."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

Atton smiles, a little.

"Nah, I'm all caught up in this altruism, now. Okay, how goes this - I leave with the jewels, I sell them on to somebody in Nottingham, I leave you the money somewhere, so that you can bribe the Sheriff and never see him again. C'mon, I can't just leave now, right?"

[will_scarlett]

"You would truly do that?"

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"Sure. I've apparently acquired morals sometime in the past three years ... Unfortunate, but I may as well put them to good use before they reach their sell by date."

[will_scarlett]

She laughs and gives him a hug,

"Well don't let your morals get you caught so get out of here. I'd rather you were safe and I'll figure something out."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"Nah, nah, nah." Atton shakes his head, laughing. "I appreciate the offer, I do, but I've got a better plan - I'll take these jewels, get the money, and hide it beneath the big, big oak in Sherwood - Do you know it?"

[will_scarlett]

"I do, yes, thank you."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"Good. If he asks any of the traders in Nottingham who sold them his jewels, he'll just hear that it was a big, dark, poor man, not a small, rich woman." Atton grins. "You are going to play the role of saviour of the Sheriff's day - People need to see me steal the jewels and escape. So, when I tell you, scream for the guards."

Beat. "Not yet, though. When I say."

[will_scarlett]

"Of course, I'd be glad to do that."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"I'll visit London, at some point. Check up on things, make sure the Sheriff's off your back, okay?"

[will_scarlett]

"Thank you, I'm Helen Fairchild."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"I'll keep that in mind." He finishes up filling up the second leather pouch, attaches it to his belt, and picks up another one, half filling it with jewels. "Now. Call for the guards. You've just woken up to find a strange man stealing the Sheriff's prized possessions, remember."

[will_scarlett]

She nods and gives a rather loud and shrill scream that starts the sound of boots running along the corridors.

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

Atton grins, and waits.

[will_scarlett]

The guards rush in with their swords drawn,

"Who's there?!"

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"'Tis I, Doran the Diabolical! Mine is an evil laugh."

He laughs, diabolically, to prove this point. One hand tightens around a chair.