On the Street, near sundown

Garrett rolled his eyes at the display of brotherly love. He might have been moved by it, if he didn't find such devotion both pointless and damning to one's survival. Weren't people in their profession supposed to try and minimize liability? "He's not going to die you nitwit. That'd be a waste of perfectly good blackmail material. And unless this Lord of yours is a complete screwball, I don't think anyone'd let that opportunity go to waste. So just relax, it'll play itself out."

"I don't know... Inbreeding can have that effect," Alistair replied, trying to make light of the situation. He straightened his posture. "No matter. We'll go to a hotel, I'll get a change of clothes, and then we can find a proper laundry."

"Maybe pick up a few shots on the way. I hear this place has a good selection," Garrett replied, offering a smile, leading Alistair into an upper-lower class in to get themselves cleaned up ans prepared.

"Sounds good," Alistair answered. "I could use a bit of whiskey right now."

As the two headed down the street, a small pack of thuggish looking men paused when they saw them heading by. The leader of the bunch, a bald man with an eyepatch, stopped to glower at Alistair. "Oi! You! You're the one 'oo got the boss jailed!" He hollered, offering a threatening point in Alistair's direction.

Alistair sighed. "What else can go wrong today?" With a glance at Garrett he added, "I believe it's time to make a break for it. I retrieved my luggage and got a little revenge on some fellows that tried to kill me... but a few seem to have slipped the noose."

A wickedly brilliant idea came to mind at that moment, though, and he paused in his run. It wouldn't take much effort to distract the men. With gusto he gathered up his magic and sent a growing wave of water toward the man who had shouted and the others nearby, hoping to knock them from their feet.

Garrett moved to run as soon as the ruffians had shouted their challenge, slinging his umbrella over his shoulder and moving a hand to prevent himself from losing his hat. He glanced back as Alistair stopped his retreat, only to see a gush of water knock the head man back, as well as the man standing behind him and a few to his side. A new knot of ruffians now struggled to untangle themselves from each other's limbs, their surprised grumbles showing a hint of fear at the sudden burst of magic.

Alistair caught Garrett's eye then turned down a side street, trying to find a crowd to duck into so he could lose the fellows. He did not quite run, since that would attract attention to himself, but walked at a quick pace away from the scene.

Garrett on the other hand spared no expense in the department of running, cutting his way through the streets as he got ahead of Alistair. Once he was closer to the next street he slowed down into a brisker walking back, glancing over his should to make sure he didn't lose his teacher as he tried to slip into the crowd.

The brutes behind remained where they were, refusing to give chase now that they knew they were dealing with a magic user.

Alistair caught up with Garrett soon enough, casually falling in line with him and looking not the least bit ruffled or out of breath. "I might almost like this city," he commented. "The weather is bloody awful, but it leaves quite a bit of water laying around for me."

"It's not a bad place once you get used to getting soaked," Garrett responded, trying to catch his own breath. Much more quietly, he added in, "Much nicer on people if you get caught here than in Coxland, Central or Audum."

As the two headed down the street, Garrett took a turn and headed into a smaller hotel. With a quick glance around the homely place, he said, "Looks like a good spot to me."

Alistair looked it over. "Well, it'll get us out of the weather at least. And I can change into my new suit."

"New suit can wait until tomorrow. Not much light left in the day to wear it in."

With that Garrett moved to the front desk to pay for a room with a casual ease, the sort of confident, comfortable walk that said he was a regular and let him more easily slip into the crowd. He was quick to order himself a room and get the keys, heading back for Alistair to hand him one of the keys. He was quick to remove a pack of cigarettes from his pocket with his lighter.

"I'm not wearing mud to dinner," Alistair insisted as he took the key. "It won't do at all."

((Since I've got my plate full for the next few days, I'm going to reply with text for now and offer an image as soon as I can.))

A smug smirk creeped onto Garrett's face at the comment, his lips springing the split second comeback that filled his head. "The man part's debatable as well."

With a less snarky expression, he began to head closer to the bed and the single table resting next to it. He tapped some of the ash from his cigarette into the ashtray. "But that's not important. What is important is shaking the lord you got on your trail."

Alistair sighed as he buttoned up the new waistcoat. "Yes... It is. I think hanging back for a time would be best."

Garrett puffed on his cigarette while he sat at the table, letting the nicotine fill his lungs and soothe his nerves like an adult's pacifier. With another blow of smoke from his lips, he added in, "If he's got a grudge against you, best we lose him then wait for him to disappear."

"Well, we can't exactly leave the city with the constant storm."