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[Gareth Jenkins]

With the coming of Spring, Gary found that hunting trips needed to be taken less often. He was bringing in more game in one hunt than he had the whole winter it seemed sometimes. So he was taking the time today to pay a visit to Gisbourne's men, when he would have been hunting. It had been a while since he'd pranked the guards - be it because of the winter or otherwise - and he'd missed the rush of doing something vigilante-esque. Though, he had to admit, the rush he got from just being near Eva was far more enjoyable. Everytime.

The young man crouched behind a conveniently placed cart. He silently wondered to himself why anyone left their belongings unattended in this day and age, what with everyone essentially out for themselves (through no fault of their own, just the Sheriff's). Gary, himself, resisted the temptation to see if there was anything worth nabbing from the cart - it would make him no better than the bandits who ransacked his home, and he'd never be able to look Eva in the eye. Pranks, however, he saw no wrong in those. For it only harmed those who caused harm in the first place. Robbing the poor was just unexcusable.

A few people loitered in the courtyard - guards, townsfolk, the odd noble even - and Gary could see them all from his little hiding place. He must have sat there for a fair while surveying the area for an oppotunity, but everytime he thought he saw something, a complication would occur. It was getting fair fustrating. But then something cropped up. A mischievous grin lit up his face as his eyes settled on his pray. Gary's pranks weren't the bucket over the door type pranks (though he was sure he'd do them much more if the forest had doors), his style was to bamboozle.

Getting up from behind the cart as inconspicuously as possibly (he was just getting out from behind a cart, so it was a hard feat), Gary made his way across over the courtyard. He was planning on making his victim belive that someone else in the courtyard was a criminal set out to kill the Sheriff. The "Killer" was one of the snotty nobles known for being unkind to peasants, so he felt no guilt about framing him. His story wasn't the top thing on his mind, at the moment though for he had a bank to pick from. His main concern was getting across the courtyard without being approached by someone trying to sell their wares - it had happened before.

[Jonathan Andrews]

“Buy your wife a shawl, sir,” came the voice of the woman beside him for the umpteenth time. Jon was trying not to lose his patience by this point. The woman was old, the oldest he’d ever seen. Her wrinkles had wrinkles and her hands were twisted in such a way Jon had trouble imagining they’d ever been straight at all. He’d seen the woman as she walked into the courtyard, looking completely lost but determined to sell the several pieces of cloth in her arms and he’d made a point to keep an eye on her lest some ill befall her. His own mother might become that old one day, God willing, and he himself. Her situation in life must have led her here alone today but Jon wished that some kindhearted relative would have come with her for support as she stumbled her way in a zig-zag across the open space.

It had been pity and a feeling of goodwill toward her that forbid Jon from turning the woman away when she reached him. He’d laid down a pretty coin for a piece of tattered cloth she was selling as a shawl an hour ago but the woman had never left his side in all that time. Her memory lapsed in fifteen minute intervals and by the time she finished trying to make her sell to Jon, she’d forgot she had done it in the first place. The fact that he held the shawl in his hand seemed to be a draw the woman who seemed to believe he’d want a better one from her, seeing as he must have bought that piece of rubbish from another vendor. His act of goodwill was now coming back to bite him. With a quick apology, Jon moved across the courtyard under the pretense of examining a fine horse in an sad effort to get away. It seemed to work for she did not follow this time but he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. Not only had he left his assigned post for a ridiculous reason but, even if she didn’t know it, he’d slighted the old woman.

Making a note to slip a coin to the woman at the end of his shift of courtyard duty, Jon took to looking about the courtyard. It was busy for a spring day as if somehow the food and other goods of the summer would have arrived already. For all the hustle and bussel, however, there wasn’t much to sell other than clothing and used household goods. The crops that grew in the summer had not yet arrived and there was a sense as if the entirety of Nottingham was undergoing a swift spring-cleaning. It was refreshing, the busy movement of people and the fresh air in his lungs, but not of much excitement. He should have been glad that things were calmer than they had been in France but hadn’t Jon always desired to be a knight for the action, glory, and knowledge that he was protecting his country. He knew that’s what the sheriff was doing here but Jon wished perhaps he could be a better part in protecting the people instead of watching them buy and sell wares.

[Gareth Jenkins]

Seeing the guard interact with the elderly woman gave Gary a new idea. This one was better for it didn't actually place the blame on anyone there - which he had felt slightly guiltly about. His original change in plan was to make her an acomplice, but he instantly changed his mind. That woman did not deserve such an acusation - she looked a little crazy and propbably didn't have enough money to feed herself, let alone the family she was bound to have. So instead, Gary had decided to completely fabricate a person.

Such person had taken advantage of the distracted guard and slipping his way into the castle, on his way to the Sheriff no doubt. Gary just had one more detail to decide. Did he want to cause mass hysteria, or taunt the guard. Mass hysteria was always fun, but slightly more risky seen as how it would get everyone involved. Innocent people could get hurt and he was more likely to get caught. Taunting was satisfying in a different way for he got to show off his vocabulary, but didn't quite have that same "pa-zazz" as mass hysteria. And there was nothing stopping the guard from having a quick stab either. Even so, Gary thought it would be safest to taunt. Mass hysteria was better when you had more than one person. Next time he'd bring Kathy.

The young man moved over to the guard once he knew the coast was clear of the old lady. Gary popped round from behind the horse, pretending to surveying the post the guard had been at just before. "Oh that was sneaky." He left it ambiguous for now, he wanted to see where the guard took this. His statement could be in reference to slighting the old lady, or an unknown thing happening behind the guard's head. "Really sneaky." He made his voice confident - it was a necessity, no confidence, no belief - and looked at the guard, somewhat expectantly.

[Jonathan Andrews]

Jon started at the sound of a man’s voice beside him. For an instant, he’d thought it was Gisbourne come to find him ‘shirking’ his duties, though shirking was far from the right word for it since he was still technically guarding. It wasn’t as if Jon had ever actually abandoned his duties, he just chose to do them from a different angle. He could have kicked himself for thinking it was his superior officer though. The voices sounded nothing alike; the tone of annoyance, anger, and underlying demand to be heard wasn’t there, replaced instead by a tone that suggested the man knew he’d done something he shouldn’t have. Maybe he was just paranoid; it could have been anything. Since Gisbourne had found him on the night of the Masqued Festival Jon had felt particularly wary of another run-in that would show the young knight at a disadvantage. Gisbourne was in a fairly good mood that night but he knew never to push something that could possibly explode in your face.

Turning to face what he saw to be a young man, Jon wondered what exactly had prompted this sudden appearance and subsequent comments. Apparently he was being watched. With the widespread discontent and growing hatred for Vaisey and the men under him, Jon had grown wary of anyone paying particular attention to his actions. It’s exactly what he would suspect from an outlaw or one hoping to reach that outlaw status. He’d keep an eye on this man, the disastrous events on the way to Rochdale forbad him from doing anything else.

”What was,” Jon asked casually, putting on an air as if he had no idea the man had been watching him. How could the man know he wasn’t technically supposed to be standing here at all anyway? He didn’t like to play games, political or psychological, but it was his duty to sniff out anything that could be a danger to the people of Nottingham and this situation seemed just a bit off. Perhaps Jon might not even have suspected anything amiss had the man’s statement not been so ambiguous but coupled with the tone of the statement, the soldier felt as if more than one set of eyes were on him.

[Gareth Jenkins]

The reaction of the guard almost made Gary smirk, but when in role Gary stayed in role. He wasn't allowed to slip, else the whole prank would go up in the air. And where was the fun in that? None was the answer. What had made the guy jump, though, Gary would never know - he could only guess. But his best guess was a lank haired, right hand man. Gisbourne did have that effect on his guards. Gary knew how skittish he'd be if he worked for Gisbourne. But they may be because he wouldn't be a particularly good guard, seen as how he couldn't handle a sword and jumped at the slightest sign of a squirrel. Plus, there was Eva, who he'd have fallen in love with no matter how he'd met her.

In those few seconds before the guard spoke, Gary knew he was being weighed up. So he obliged and did the same. The guard didn't look much older than himself - which just went to show that the Sheriff and Gisbourne would hire just anyone - probably pulled on the heartstrings of many village girls. It all meant very little to Gary though. This guy worked for Gisbourne, that made him almost as bad as the man himself. It was black and white for Gary. Simple as.

He let an amused smirk cross his face briefly - he didn't want to annoy this guy too much. "I really can't believe you didn't see that." He said, laughing slightly at the end. He looked around, pretending to make sure no one was listening or something like that. Really, he was just biding his time, trying to catch this guard's attention. Maybe get him to try and tease the information out of him. Though, the second pain was implied, Gary would be out of there quicker than a rabit in hunting season.

[Jonathan Andrews]

Jonathan didn’t care for the man’s smirk at all. It wasn’t that funny, in fact it wasn’t funny at all. The poor woman was old and confused. He could have been smirking at something else but the courtyard had been relatively quiet all day. It wasn’t as if there was much to miss, other than the current quarrel between merchant and buyer and it wasn’t the sort of thing guards usually got involved in. Not a big enough event to call for intervention, not a big enough stir created. Honestly, he was grateful for it. While it may have been dull to stand there keeping watch, the relative uneventfulness of the day meant another day ticked off until the outlaws were caught and the streets were that much safer. Jon had never understood how Robin’s mind worked. What made him think his acts of rebellion were for the best? The balance was so unsettled in Nottingham now, couldn’t he see that it was partially due to him? If he had simply let the sheriff do his work Nottingham might have been a calmer place, not one filled with ever growing disquiet and crime. It just encouraged others to act against the laws that were put in place for their protection.

A laugh. What was this boy playing at? What hadn’t he seen. “Pardon,” he said, looking at the interloper strangely. So apparently he hadn’t been referring to the old woman after all. Jon stole a glance at her across the way. She was still in much the same place talking to one of the passing servants as she stole her way through the people with a basket full of what appeared to be laundry. Looking back at the boy, for he was certainly a teenager and therefore not much older than a boy, he wondered what exactly he was referring to. No, a quick survey of the courtyard yielded no disturbance, nothing out of place. Who was he? Jon couldn’t remember ever seeing him in town before and he knew almost every face by now. But no, this person standing beside him was a complete mystery.

“Care to tell me what I so humorously missed,” Jon finally asked. He didn’t much like people holding things over him, much less a big question mark, nor people laughing at him. Perhaps his fellow guards had noticed something off but no, he saw them again practically asleep at their stations. How did they justify their lack of attention? This was exactly why the gangs were running so rampant and why the sheriff had seen fit to save him from his lord. It was hard to be out of sorts with that last bit. Jon was grateful but he didn’t much like dealing with things alone. He was blowing this out of portion. Since the attack outside of Rochdale he’d been skittish and just a tad distrustful when he shouldn’t have been. Other than that obnoxious smirk, laugh, and tone it wasn’t like he’d had something pulled on him.

[Gareth Jenkins]

The narked off expression on this guards face was as entertaining as it was worrying. Gary hoped that he hadn't picked a guard with a short temper, one that would run a sword through him - no questions asked. How could he keep the Maitlands safe from beyond the grave? Unless he came back as a ghost, then he could scare away trouble - but what were the chances of that? Many people had died at the hand of a guard and Nottingham wasn't over-run with ghosts. And if it was, they were keeping blooming quiet about it. Maybe even the dead feared what the Sheriff would do to them. What a horrifying thought.

Maybe the laugh had been pushing it, but Gary couldn't drop the act. He'd started with this persona, and he would have to finish with it. Toning it down was allowed, but completely losing it would be suspicious. If the guard had a brain, which Gary doubted in all honesty - he was a guard! - he would put two and two together and figure out this was all a ploy. Maybe even make the leap to the fact that he was a distraction, which Gary wasn't. This was a wordy prank. He didn't want a spell in the stocks for a crime he wasn't commiting - though it seemed everyone in Nottingham was guilty of that one.

"Well..." He started, shifting his weight a little and covering the grin that was on his face with a hand. It would be so bad to get this far, only to be cut down for grinning. He hid it best he could, but it was obvious he was grinning like a loon. It was funny! Gary couldn't help it. He had a mean poker face, but with this persona that had over taken, it was hard to remain passive. "While you were distracted by that lovely woman over there," He pointed, just in case the guard had forgotten. Gary really did doubt his intelligence, based on a stereotype of course. They didn't exactly have a track record for being geniuses. He chuckled, putting his head in his hands. "Oh man, you still don't know where I'm going with this do you?"

He was dragging it out best he could. Gary knew that the moment he said, "A guy slipped into the castle," the game would be over and the guard would go running off. That would be funny to watch, but it would be over so very soon. He could add the odd adjective, saying the guy looked rather dodgey - but that wouldn't make it last any longer. The only problem was, the longer he dragged this out - the more at risk he was.

((ooc: I had an idea!! Jon can arrest Gary, then Eva can come to the rescue (with or without Marian's help). But, if Marian does help, then Gary can start figuring out where Eva goes off to. It'll take him a while, he ainna the brightest spark XD, but then he can help or something ahaha XD - y/y? n/n?))

[Jonathan Andrews]

“Pardon,” Jon asked, his head and eyes instantly moving in the direction the man was pointing. He wasn’t sure what he expected to find. Well, not quite true. He was hoping to find his dark-eyed beauty but instead found his eyes meeting the haggard woman with the bits of cloth. Unconsciously he’d made a bit of a fool out of himself by turning so quickly. What was it about this woman that turned his thoughts to her on the slightest inclination, sometimes no inclination at all? Jon was many things; perhaps foolish sometimes but he hated knowing he’d done something so ridiculous. The grinning bird had undoubtedly picked it up and was sure to mock him for it. This was going to be great. Before long it would be circulating amongst the other guards, which meant weeks of verbal torture.

“I can only imagine where you’re going with this.” This boy was trying his patience. He was irked enough to think of him a boy now, not a man and not a young man but a boy. All attempts at hiding that, if possible, ever growing grin on his face was only adding to the already growing dislike Jonathan was experiencing for him. He hated to be laughed at and he knew behind that grin the lad was laughing his head off. The old ‘I know something you don’t know’ taunting young children used on each other didn’t exactly appeal to someone of Jon’s age who’s life rested on him knowing what [i]was[i]. Whatever was going on, however, he didn’t seem like he particularly wanted to spill it but rather hold it over Jon's head for a while.

“If you have no intention of telling me perhaps it would be best if we left it at that,” Jon said miffed. Guard duty was cruel and unusual punishment to begin with. Those tedious hours of standing watching not much of anything going on, maybe breaking up the occasional fight, was just bearable. Now he had to deal with a wit. If he was withholding something important he’d be sure to get his comeuppance but if he was just wasting his time, well, what could he do about that? It was a choice between a wit and a forgetful old woman.

((Jon would probably only take him in if he pulled the 'a man ran in there' stunt since people mistreat him all the time--like the guy who decked him when he was with Amelia. Eva though might not be aware he went to town. If any of the MG heard about him getting taken in, she might know. Marian's an old family friend so he might not see something amiss necessarily. Definitely ask Anne if she has any ideas. I'm in a bit of an Eva slump at the moment and could use backup ))

[Gareth Jenkins]

When the guard had looked away, Gary took this as an opportunity to smirk. This guard was very amusing. The way he looked round made Gary suspect he was hoping to find someone other than the crusty old lady. It sort of reminded him of how he, himself, turned to look whenever he thought he saw Eva from out of the corner of his eye. Somehow he doubted that the old lady was this guard's special someone. Just the mere thought of Eva had managed to throw Gary's concentration from his little game (which was so going to end with a spell in the stocks if he wasn't careful). He managed to regroup himself before the guard turned back to him.

"I can only imagine where you're going with this." Gary had to bite his tongue. He'd almost repied to that with, "Yeah, well you ain't got the brains for much more than imagining." That wouldn't go down too well. Gary scolded himself for letting his guard down. Now would not be the time to get arrested. "Not going to try any theories?" He questioned. "No?" Gary shrugged. "All right then. I'll spill." It suddenly struck him that he could make some money off this, but that would make him no better than the Sheriff. He couln't actually believe that such a thought had crossed his mind actually.

"Alright, alright!" Gary held his hands up in defense. "I'm getting there." He was and all - he wasn't sure how much taunting this guard would take before he snapped. "Well, as I was saying. Whilst you were distracted by that lovely lady," another point, just in case he'd forgotten in the short time, "someone snuck into the castle through that archway." He moved his pointing finger to the archway conviently placed behind the old lady. Once he was sure that the guard knew which archway he was on about, Gary put his hands on his hips - resuming his cocky persona. "How you missed that though, I'll never know. I was all the way over yonder," he waved a hand in the general direction he'd been in, "and I saw it." Now all he had to wait for was either for the guard to go running off or for the stock's bar to come slamming down on the back of his neck.

((ooc: okie dokle. S'up to you really. You write the next post then see if we should drag Anne in?))

[Jonathan Andrews]

Though his expression didn’t show the delight he must have been taking in Jon’s involuntary turn, the knight didn’t believe for a moment that he wasn’t laughing at him. It had been an embarrassing habit he’d developed of late and, while the boy hadn’t gained many points in his book, he at least appreciated the boy not directly mocking him on for it. Jon was beginning to see just how much of a hold this woman had on him and how often he looked the fool for it. It wasn’t hard to picture a similar situation occurring again with a woman causing his downfall. Granted, he didn’t anticipate a downfall here but it was putting him off his game in the worst of ways.

Jon eyed the lad. ’Not going to try any theories? No. Definitely not. Jon wasn’t about to play twenty questions with some obnoxious twit who thought he could pull the wool over his eyes. So instead, he tried to brush him off. He took in the lay of the land casually, not giving him satisfaction in seeing that he wanted very much to know where this was going. Of course, Jon had no idea where it was going from the first otherwise he would have paid much more attention. ”What? If someone snuck into the castle he’d be burned at the stake. Possibly hung, since the sheriff had a love of a good hanging, but maybe something special for a guard who messed up that badly. Things were happening like this all the time and always led to some kind of mischief making by Robin’s men.

”When,” Jon asked quickly before amending, ”No, it doesn’t matter. You’re coming with me.” If the lad saw someone entering the castle he was going to answer for it. Descriptions, mode of entrance, etc. Nodding to another guard, he snatched the man by the arm. In a few steps, his fellow guard had the other arm and they were on their way to the dungeons. ”Boy says he’s seen someone enter the castle right past you, Brian,” Jon said not without a twinge of anger in his voice as he hurried past the arch and into the castle. He stopped but a moment when he saw a guard outside the entrance to the dungeons. ”Lad’s said he’s seen someone enter the castle. Have the others keep an eye open for any unwelcome visitors.” There was no need for full alarm necessarily but they must be vigilant. They couldn’t afford a slip up.

No questions were asked when Jon and his fellow guard entered with their prisoner. A simple nod at an empty cell was enough and in a moment the lad was behind bars. With the door securely locked, Jon sent the guard back to his post and turned back to the lad. ”Alright, talk.” By this point Jon was little in the mood for foolishness. He wanted straight answers and if he didn't get one he'd leave him to ponder his fate for awhile. Jon didn't much like the idea of bringing the situation to the attention of his superior officers but he wasn't fool enough to risk the safety of the castle for his own pride. It was quite possible this was a farce but he had turned away for a moment, just the slightest of moments. This was the reason they had several guards on duty at one time but, as usual, he'd seen the other's slacking at their posts.

((Gary's in custody Now the question is how do we sneak him out...))