I'm really all over the place at the moment
Here's what I've thought of for their time in the teenage gang.
In this part of their lives, they're introduced to fighting, murder, thievery and betrayal.
They join the gang, under the leadership of a teenager named Hart, as it's beginning to turn into more of an organization.
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I won't go into too much detail, but after they run away from the Orphanage they're quickly inducted into a gang.
After a vicious induction, where the leader beats Vegard for showing the slightest bit of attitude, and terrifies Osmond, they're taken warmly under one teenagers wing.
This older teenager is called Andes. He acts as a mentor, and as a protector. He teaches them how to steal, and fight, and in their first brawl, he stabs and kills another boy to save Osmond.
Through this early period of gang life, a very young Osmond relies completely on Vegard for comfort. He has nightmares every night, and he feels deep regret for taking things that don't belong to him. He can only sleep in the same bed as Vegard to begin with, but he stops this shortly after he joins, to prove that he can be tough.
Vegard assimilation into this lifestyle is much easier. He gets excited by the prospect of stealing, and thinks nothing of it morally. Though he's embarrassed by Osmond's youth and weakness, and inability to act like a 'real gang member', he still cares for him. He comforts him as he sleeps, and tries to protect him from the other gang members and the opposing gang.
I think this is a fairly accurate portrayal of two impressionable kids, in a violent and exciting life.
Another key character in these years is the Soldier, I'll call him Jim for now.
Jim is a city guard, and patrols and watches over the central marketplace of the city.
The first day the brothers and Andes steal from a stall, he watches with interest. Andes distracts the shopkeeper with small talk, while they two boys walk up behind them, and try to inconspicuously to steal food. He's humorously impressed by their nerve and tact, but feels a little sorry for the hapless shopkeeper.
When they try the same trick, on a consecutive day, he makes his way to the alley they walked off into after their first thievery, and catches them as they run from the scene. He's impressed again as Andes tries to waylay him with a knife attack. After dispatching Andes with an unexpected display of Logi control, he takes the boys back to the shopkeeper where they're scolded and briefly smacked upside the head.
They meet up again with Andes, embarrassed by their failure and subsequent scolding. Andes tells them that they're lucky, and that he had his ass-kicked the first time he stole.
What I plan to do with the story, is go through the first week or so of acclimatizing, then skip forward to a point where they're so used to it that I can concentrate on their exploits.Moving on. The night after the brothers fail to steal.Hart and a group of older boys, quite drunk, venture out into the snowy night in search of excitement. In short, they taunt a couple of grown men into a fight, and get beaten and left bruised in the snow. This is terribly embarrassing for them, and Hart won't let it go until he gets back at them.
Not long after, a boy who takes pleasure in teasing Osmond tells Hart in passing conversation that Osmond was having a nightmare one night, and when he woke up, he screamed and there was a burst of fire.
Let's assume there's some sort of legend known by most people about those warriors chosen by Logi, and the fire powers they commanded.Hart's skeptical, but curious. He approaches Osmond one night, while Vegard is there, and holds a piece of paper in front of him. He promises to be nice to Osmond if he 'lights it up' for him. Vegard is immediately troubled by the change of heart, and shakes his head quietly from behind Hart, so that Osmond can see. Hart notices Osmond looking behind him, and pushes Vegard and tells him 'playfully' to shut up. He turns to Osmond and tries to reassure him. Slowly, Osmond put the tip of his finger to the paper and lights it on fire. With this, Hart stands back and smiles, says thank you, and walks out.
A few days later, the brothers go with a uncommonly large group of boys, including Hart and Andes, to the house of the men that beat Hart and his company up.
They stop near the house, and once again Hart kneels to Osmond nicely. He holds up a bottle of spirits with a rag in it, and asks him to light it. Vegard realizes immediately what he wants to do with it, and shakes his head behind Hart again. Osmond, uncertain, asks why. Vegard keeps shaking his head, and Hart gets sick of it. He turns around and strikes Vegard, reminding him savagely to shut up. He turns back to Osmond, a little frenzied, and tells the terrified Osmond to light it. Osmond stutters, looking at Vegard lying hurt in the snow. Hart grabs him by the collar and lifts him up, and screams in his face for him to light the 'invented curse word' fire. In his absolute terror, little flames start igniting from Osmond's fingertips.
Finally, Andes intervenes. He reminds Hart desperately that he's just a kid. Hart drops Osmond, and before the two older teenagers can start a heated argument, an unknown voice calls out from a nearby alleyway.
Oops, went into detail.
Comments/Criticism welcome and appreciated.
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