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Joel “Archimedes” is currently walking through the town square of Hels. Normally he doesn’t like to be out at this time when the streets are busy and crowded. He feels like it’s the times where he dies most often. But he really wanted to try this new recipe he saw, and he was just short some eggs. Which is why he is speedwalking rather than walking through the square. He knows exactly where the cart that sells them are and once he gets them he can hurry home just as quickly, no worse for wear and no death to mark off in his journal.
He reaches his hand into his coat pocket and grips the journal for some sort of comfort. Its leather bound and there’s faded brown where he usually rubs his thumb to soothe his anxieties, which he is currently doing. Joel speeds up as he sees market stalls come into view. He’s so close. Then he feels a knife against his side. Well, sort of his side. It’s a bit lower down and he can immediately gauge the height of his attacker. Being as extremely tall as he is, he figures it would be hard or even terrifying to try and kill or mug him. But he quickly learned he wasn’t so lucky. The attacker speaks loud enough for Joel to hear but quiet enough to still be a whisper.
“Take a right and head into that alley.”
Joel listens, wanting this over quickly. He takes the next right and into the alley. The attacker removes the knife and Joel takes a step back, turning around to see his attacker.
He looks downwards at them and tries his best to smile. But his lips quiver with nervous. “How can I help you?”
They scoff and hold the knife up at him. “I don’t need help. I’m mugging you.”
“Oh.” Joel sighs. He wouldn’t be able to get those eggs now.
The mugger scowls at the lackluster reaction. “Oh? That’s all you have to say.”
“Mmm, yes. I think so.” Joel nods.
The mugger rolls their eyes then sneers, taking a step closer. “Fine. What’s the name now, Beans?”
Joel puts his hands up defensively as he’s backed further into the alley. “It’s means, actually. But you can call me Archi—”
“Don’t care. Empty your pockets.”
Joel nods and slowly reaches into his pockets. He pulls out his coin—diamond?—purse and tosses it in the mugger’s direction. They grin, sharp teeth on show.
Joel suppresses a shiver and clears his throat. “Is that all? If so, I’ll just—”
The mugger aims their knife at him and Joel freezes. “What else do you have?”
“That’s all. Promise.” Joel smiles, soft and charming.
The mugger squints at him. They tilt their head and raise an eyebrow. “Look, Archie. I’d love to let ya go, truly. But there’s just one problem.”
“Which is…?” Joel’s smile turns more nervous, glancing at the knife then the mugger.
“Your clothes.”
“My clothes?” Joel repeats.
“You’re just askin’ to be shanked walkin’ around Hels like that.”
Joel looks down at himself with a critical gaze. He wears a long coat, maybe the proper term is a trench coat or tail coat? He’s not really sure, he just knows it looks good on him. It’s black with a dark red accent going down the edge. Underneath he wears a faded red vest with muted browns and golds swirling as accents and a white undershirt poking out from under the vest.
He looks back up at the mugger. “I don’t see the issue. If the outfit is that atrocious, I can just be out of your hair and you’ll never have to see it again.”
Joel once again tries to slip past the mugger and this time it gains him a quick nick of the knife. The blade catches on his coat sleeve and leaves a tear, just barely missing his skin. He raises his hands and backs up again.
The mugger sighs and twirls their knife between their fingers. “Listen, Archie. If you keep dressin’ like that you won’t survive another hour here. It’s no wonder ya stink of death.”
Joel clears his throat. “If we’re going to keep talking, I think you should know its Archimedes and not Archie.”
“Same difference, yeah?”
Joel opens his mouth the speak again but clothes it when the knife aims at him. He takes another step back and feels his back hit the wall behind him. “Now let’s be reasonable, here. I gave you all I have, there’s really no reason to kill me now is there?”
The mugger shrugs and steps closer. “Not really, but there’s a lesson to be taught.”
“That being?”
Joel winces as he feels the knife stab into his side. It digs in and he swears he can see stars as his vision starts to fade in and out.
The mugger removes the knife with a squelch. “Don’t go dressin’ like that in Hels. Someone’s goin’ to kill ya over it.”
Joel gasps awake in his bed. His side still stings from the harsh removal of the knife, a dull phantom pain. Another name to knock off the list he supposes. Joel closes his eyes and feels another name floating at the edges of his mind. Hypatia. Joel Hypatia. Surely this will go better than before. He still has to collect his belongings at any rate.