Karandros
06-01-08, 02:54 AM
Semi-closed. Approach me in my General Ramblings thread if you got any ideas. Also, all bunnying by all parties approved and stuff like that.
"My earliest memory was that orphanage. In those days, I held my truth close to my heart. The orphanage, among others, was funded by the church and so we each got our own bible. I couldn't read, but I could guess that God was a benevolent being who wanted me to live. I would sometimes hold the book open at night and just stare into it, thinking of all the magical things it could say. I interpreted that to mean that I'm allowed to do anything and everything in order to survive in this world. I was quite a miscreant, believing that God would forgive me and love me no matter what I did, using that as justification for my rampant thievery. All of that changed when I was just eight years old."
8 years ago...
It was just an average night in the city of Providence. Named by the founder of the local congregation, it was just a sample of the kind of influence the church held around here. Besides the various orphanages and social services the church set up, it also had a strong hand in the direction of the local government. It was generally believed that several generous donors allowed the church to have this power, but who or what was responsible was a mystery. It used to be a quaint little town, but its growth has run unchecked and now even the church doesn't have complete influence.
In this dark city of lost children, one of them was called Ledan Karandros. Wearing a thin crown of thorns made of dark wicker that lacked the thorns, he was different from the other street urchins: He didn't beg for money, he took it. His shirt and pants had holes and tears, his shoes were worn beyond repair, but he had sharp blue eyes and a strong spirit. He peeked around the corner of the alley, catching a glimpse the back of a lone man walking through the small street between two rows of apartments. Ledan couldn't care less about his appearance, it was the bulging treasure in his pocket that gained his attention. Was it a weapon? A box with valuables? Had he finally hit the jackpot? In all likelihood, it was a wallet, but then it would be a mighty fat wallet.
In front of his target was a turn, and that was when Ledan would make his move. The man turned the corner, and the boy broke out into a run. He pushed his legs as far as he could, turning the corner with such force and intensity that he crashed right into his target. The man, who was almost sent reeling forward from the impact, turned around and saw the boy on the ground, scratching his head.
"Watch where you're going, kid!"
Ledan got up and bowed deeply, "S, sorry sir! I wasn't watchin' where I was goin'! Sorry!"
With that, he ran off in front of the man and ducked into a long alleyway that lead to another street. Grinning, he reached into one of the holes in his shirt and pulled out a wallet. He was going to be living large for days, maybe even weeks! He would be the hero of all the kids back at the orphanage. Maybe even that damned Jericho, another orphan, would admit defeat.
Meanwhile, at said orphanage, the nun in charge of all the orphans was tapping her foot impatiently.
"Honestly, now!" she sighed. "How could he be gone on an important night like this?"
The other orphans looked uncomfortable around their fuming superior, all silently blaming Ledan for her behavior. Every year, people from the church would come and adopt certain orphans older than seven and give them their own rooms, education, and eventually jobs. The nun believed that they would definitely see the potential in Ledan and give him a home, but if he didn't get back soon, the opportunity would be lost. Despite how difficult the boy was, she honestly wanted all the children to have a future.
"My earliest memory was that orphanage. In those days, I held my truth close to my heart. The orphanage, among others, was funded by the church and so we each got our own bible. I couldn't read, but I could guess that God was a benevolent being who wanted me to live. I would sometimes hold the book open at night and just stare into it, thinking of all the magical things it could say. I interpreted that to mean that I'm allowed to do anything and everything in order to survive in this world. I was quite a miscreant, believing that God would forgive me and love me no matter what I did, using that as justification for my rampant thievery. All of that changed when I was just eight years old."
8 years ago...
It was just an average night in the city of Providence. Named by the founder of the local congregation, it was just a sample of the kind of influence the church held around here. Besides the various orphanages and social services the church set up, it also had a strong hand in the direction of the local government. It was generally believed that several generous donors allowed the church to have this power, but who or what was responsible was a mystery. It used to be a quaint little town, but its growth has run unchecked and now even the church doesn't have complete influence.
In this dark city of lost children, one of them was called Ledan Karandros. Wearing a thin crown of thorns made of dark wicker that lacked the thorns, he was different from the other street urchins: He didn't beg for money, he took it. His shirt and pants had holes and tears, his shoes were worn beyond repair, but he had sharp blue eyes and a strong spirit. He peeked around the corner of the alley, catching a glimpse the back of a lone man walking through the small street between two rows of apartments. Ledan couldn't care less about his appearance, it was the bulging treasure in his pocket that gained his attention. Was it a weapon? A box with valuables? Had he finally hit the jackpot? In all likelihood, it was a wallet, but then it would be a mighty fat wallet.
In front of his target was a turn, and that was when Ledan would make his move. The man turned the corner, and the boy broke out into a run. He pushed his legs as far as he could, turning the corner with such force and intensity that he crashed right into his target. The man, who was almost sent reeling forward from the impact, turned around and saw the boy on the ground, scratching his head.
"Watch where you're going, kid!"
Ledan got up and bowed deeply, "S, sorry sir! I wasn't watchin' where I was goin'! Sorry!"
With that, he ran off in front of the man and ducked into a long alleyway that lead to another street. Grinning, he reached into one of the holes in his shirt and pulled out a wallet. He was going to be living large for days, maybe even weeks! He would be the hero of all the kids back at the orphanage. Maybe even that damned Jericho, another orphan, would admit defeat.
Meanwhile, at said orphanage, the nun in charge of all the orphans was tapping her foot impatiently.
"Honestly, now!" she sighed. "How could he be gone on an important night like this?"
The other orphans looked uncomfortable around their fuming superior, all silently blaming Ledan for her behavior. Every year, people from the church would come and adopt certain orphans older than seven and give them their own rooms, education, and eventually jobs. The nun believed that they would definitely see the potential in Ledan and give him a home, but if he didn't get back soon, the opportunity would be lost. Despite how difficult the boy was, she honestly wanted all the children to have a future.