Money is a fickle thing, Like water. Vital have, difficult to hold. Always slipping away. Likewise, a Debt is like a boulder, dragging behind or impeding the path of everything around it. Too soft to build with, and too hard to easily break down and remove, so you end up either dragging it out of the ground to dispose of, or blasting it to pieces.

  Evidently, today was a Blasting kind of day.

  The Loud little man, Officer Crow, had appeared on his doorstop and demanded to see him on some matter. He'd taken him into the upstairs study where they'd shared a few words together before getting to the accusations that he was no doubt holding back until finally even the steel of the man's noble restraint finally burst and he'd practically screamed at me for freeing dangerous criminals in a mad scheme of discord and destruction. All of which hinged on the bad news that had he'd just smugly delivered.

  A page of bank notices for the men he'd loosed from the debtors prison, demands and concerns about their money and debts. Written on fine paper with ironically cheap ink. He idly considered purposing selling them his permanent pens, but frowned at the notion. throwing the stack to the side table and taking a sip of his simple wine. when he'd considered the matter a moment, the devilish man spoke.

  "So, your telling me, that none of the ungrateful cretins I pulled from despair in that rotten jailhouse of a prison, sent to work as honest citizens, are paying their dues to me or the City?" the demon glared imperiously, at the Officer Crow in front of him. The smug greasy continence of the man smiled back. "That's Right Darwin, you little plan, whatever it was has failed, and this Time, I got you red handed. You can't Slip the noose this time, I've got you as surely as a fish on a hook!"

  There was a pained sigh as the demon cringed for a moment, remembering he was wearing someone else face. "Exactly, What have you caught me doing? aside from bad business acumen?" That seemed to stumble the man for a moment, so he pressed the advantage "In fact, in anything, I'm thankful you dropped by so promptly, as I have need your help in this matter. After all, I can't just let these men rob me through charity, Violate clearly written contracts and possibly commit other more dangerous crimes while strolling the merry streets. Think of the damages and danger such a thing would cause, why, they might even get some muddied inspiration and start a gang of some kind." He crooned, trying to play the part of both victim and reasonably concerned citizen. In reality, he was somewhat looking forward to this, he known this was likely to happen, hadn't sent out the Bailiffs and bounty hunters yet, He wanted to do this Personally, put some of Darwin's bad reputation to work for once, lest it be squandered.

  Ah, typical sad Darwin, all the makings of a powerful and respectable villainy, not a drop of whit to be found besides. Well, I suppose its high time to put an end to such wastefulness. After all it can't be called a holiday if one doesn't have any Fun while doing it.

  "Officer, I am surprised by your concern for my well being. I was under the impression we were to be bitter enemies or rivals of a kind, if only for rue comedy. " He spoke calmly, rising to his feet. "But in this case, I suppose you might help me in clarifying something, seems I'll need someone to remind them of the Laws perspective on dishonest citizens."

  "I'm not helping you clean up this mess of brigands You unleashed on this city!" Crow practically screamed, nails and hair curling at the sound. The flashy grin that met him was of a terrible eagerness." what of sparring men from harm then..."

  The pause between the venomous glares was like two blades hovering in place, just waiting for a lunge or jab to set the match. It only took the slightest tremble or prolonged hesitation to set the final exchange.

  "Would it please you to let them run amok and blame me later? I believe the current legal standing it to blame the contract holder for any crimes permitted while still paying the debt, But then again, here you are." His terrible smile seemed to widen all the more. "I never knew you cared so, had I known, we'd have been the best of friends I'd imagine."

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  "This is - it has to be a trick." Came the fast response and the reply was a barking laugh that was part mockery and mostly delicious irony.

  "Perhaps, but you won't turn away." He announce confidently. "you've invested in this crusade of yours and it will be a fine day in hell to see such a fervent believer of good justice like yourself to surrender that. Your the man who'd rather cut both his arms off then see criminals go free, Though I'd would be rather surprised by it if you did, Might actually cost me a very annoying bet I had going, but that's other matters. We're talking criminal matters now, which is your expertise."

  He ignored the scowling beat copper's glare as he rose and quietly paced past the stupefied Officer Crow towards the stairs, where he paused a moment before descending. "Will you join me, Otherwise I'll be forced to hunt the rouges myself, and considering I've been so recently assaulted, my injuries may place me in terrible danger if I'm not careful." There was a cruelty irony in that statement, and Crow looked as if he were to say something contradictory. Perhaps a witty retort about the greater danger being to let someone of Darwin's reputation and powers loose among the city denizens unwatched and recklessly blasting things with wrathful flames and cruel magics.

  "You wouldn't let me be murdered would you? though I suppose that if I happen to die, it'd save you a trip to the Judge." He added snidely "Wouldn't that make your life a touch easier, A little burden off your shoulders... Not even a shred of guilt either."

  Crow took the most offense to that, face twisted like a man about to burst with bile and vomit, springing towards the stairwell and running for the door, shouting something as he tore out of the house "I'll see you before all the Magistrates and Judges of the Duchy itself Before I let you get off So Easy! I'll see you hang, but it'll be a Proper Hanging by God and Thunder!"

  A cold smile graced his lips as he quietly walked to the door, rolling his hat off the rack and flicking it up on to his head with a snap, he flashed a cheeky smile to himself. He'd always wanted to do that, and it was just as fun as he thought it would be. A confused Ms. Kettlesworth poked her head out from a room she'd been cleaning. "What in blazes was that sound? and who was that shouting?"

  "Oh, fret not my good woman, Officer Crow is merely, impassioned, concerning due process. I'm calling a meeting of members, it seems we have some, fiscal matters to discuss. " He checked his pocket watch and sighed, noting the current hour. "I hope this will be short, but if I'm not, please lock up when you leave will you?" He spied a tremble of movement from the corner of his eyes, taking a breath he felt the nervous energy of her slick cold breath, cooling fast like sweat. The powers of the mind could be a times, far too revealing. As he fought to dispel to the intruding sentiments, her voice came soft and nearly weeping. " It's my Bill, isn't?" his answer was an uncertain shrug to her question.

  "I couldn't say, possibly." Was all he could think to say.

  " But you'll go easy on him? if it is him, My Bill's he's a good man, he's just lost is all..." she asked quietly "I've done good work Mr. Von Helmut, but I- I don't know what I'd do without my Bill, please..."

  "Oh hush now, it'll be fine. Just a small reminder is all, nothing terrible." he made a token gesture. "Oh, as I was about to say, my love to your children of course." A slight palming trick revealed a small gold coin between his fingers, pressed into her palm. Her small voice gasped in pleasant surprise at the gesture. "Thank you sir, I-" She started to politely say, a refusal forming in her words. He shook his head, pressing the gold harder into her hand.

  "You always wanted your children to grow, well, gold is the water that feeds success and schools are the fields." He said firmly walking towards the door, opening it onto the hot afternoon street. "Just remember that Miss, And an ounce of discretion and you'll do fine."

  "You'll go easy on him? My Bill's he's a good man, he's just lost is all..."

  He paused a moment. "All men were lost when they are born, Madame, but as for good... A good man would beg to spare you hardships, a better man would have steered clear of troubles in the first place. But fret not, I shall find him. Though the spirits he keeps may have other plans."

  But for some reason, she didn't believe him in the least. Though in hindsight, it might not have been intended to convince or reassure her.