Whatever Life Stands For (Open)

[Tyler Van Helsing]

The sun was shining, it was mid afternoon while Tyler and a few other men were busy on the docks, carrying cargo shipment's and huge boxes from the end of the dock, to the land where they were packed into large wagons with four or more horses pulling them away. It was an all day, every day job for Tyler Van Helsing, but it was a job that put money into the home that he was currently renting from a old fat rich man who made a living by sucking poor people's money out of them.

That was one reason Tyler could not stand the rich, one they were rude, ignorant and unloving. They did not have a heart and paid no mind to the lower class, hell the lower class were the dirt the rich men stepped on. Just thinking about it made Tyler angry, maybe if the fool that his parents were renting from let up when his mother got sick, maybe his mother would still be alive. Tyler didn't even want to think about it, whenever he did, he wasted money on alcohol and gets so drunk he doesn't remember what happened the night before.

Tyler was grabbing a rather large wooden cargo box from the huge ship anchored by the dock. It was long walk from the boat to the shipping wagon, but it had to be since the boat that was docked had to be in deep water. Carrying the heavy box, Tyler grunted and puffed till he reached the wagon, shoving the box at the way to the back of the huge wagon before jumping down and going back for another box. His boss came by, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Take a half an hour break. Go get something to eat, you've been working hard all week." The man said to him, smiling slightly. Tyler smiled a little, going over to the horse post where he had Lucas, his black Percheron. Behind the horse post was the rode and then buildings. Tyler grabbed the saddle bag and flipped it open, pulling out a an apple and bit into it, leaning against his horse. Lucas turned his head, snorting lightly. Tyler rolled his eyes, took out a pocketknife and cut the apple in half and giving the other half to the horse. He did feel bad Lucas had to stand at a post all day, he did his best to tie the rope with alot of slack, but he didn't want to get fined for leaving his horse too loose. Tyler's green eyes lifted toward the road, watching the horse and buggy's go by and the people walking down the streets, the rich going into shops and the poor getting kicked out of them...

[Mercy Scarborough]

"She's my dog and I'll treat her the way I want!" "YOU'RE HURTING HER!" A dog's yelp echoed in the air, making the girl jump. "Stop it!" she said, going forward to help out the cowering dog. "Listen lady, I don't care who your fucking father is. This here is my bitch and if I want to take her out bag and shoot her, I will!" A look crossed the young woman's face, shocked at the man's inappropriate words. How dare he.

"Lets go Jotti, stupid bitch," (talking about the dog lol) the man said, yanking on the leash and pulling the poor creature helplessly along. This young girl though... boy, was she stubborn. Stepping in front of the man, she gave him a dark look. "I'll take the dog, there's no need to shoot her," she said, fire in her eyes. "Stupid girl, you're wasting my time." He shoved past her, very rudely, nearly knocking down. She was lucky though and managed to keep her balance, going after him.

Mercy Scarborough. She was more than a pretty face, this girl was drop dead gorgeous. And stubborn too. There weren't very many girls her age... or any age, who would try to stand up to such a large and intimidating man. The Scarboroughs were rich, there was no doubt about that. They were perhaps the wealthiest family in town, though Christopher Scarborough was known as a very decent man.

Mercy was a slender girl, her body absolutely perfect, silky smooth skin without a single imperfection. Her hair flowed down her back in brown curls and her eyes were like the ocean during a storm, dark and entrancing and... dangerous. Her dress was a dark blue, showing each and every gorgeous curve, accentuating her perfect... well, breasts. It was a wonder that none of these men had laid a hand on her yet, seeing as she came without an escort like young women were supposed to. Actually, she was supposed to be back up at St. Augustine's. But why would she want to be there? Learning to be a lady. PSH! Mercy was... a free spirit, a flower in full bloom.

She ran in front of the man again, holding up a hand to stop him. "Please, I'll give you whatever you want," she said to him, not willing to give up. This guy had had enough though and grabbed her wrist, yanking her forward. "Listen you little bitch, the only thing you could give me that I could possibly want out of you, you won't be willing to give, so think about this wisely. I don't care who your father is, I won't hesitate little girl." Mercy's face flushed and she shrank away from the man, trying to pull her wrist back, but he was too strong. "Get off," she said, finally a sign of worry and fear showing in her usually fierce eyes. "You want the dog?" he asked her, yanking her back forward, making her wince. He looked down at her and then back up, cocking an eyebrow.

[Tyler Van Helsing]

Tyler was leaning against Lucas, really not wanting to go back to work. It wasn't that he didn't like working, he just hated the job he was working at now. Finishing his apple, he gave the core to Lucas since horses ate the seeds and everything, patted his black draft horse and then walked to the front of him. He sighed and started to talk to his horse, just because he didn't have many others. "I don't know how much longer I can do this Lu." He said pushing the horses fetlock away from his eyes. He had to reach up a bit higher though since his horse was so massive.

As he continued to ramble to his horse, he heard what was going on not more than twenty feet from him, and he couldn't help but look over. Lucas ended up looking in that direction too. He watched from far away, the pretty girl insisting on getting the dog that the man obviously didn't want. Tyler didn't understand why the guy would waste a bullet and shoot the dog, when he could save time and just hand the dog to the young women. Once things got physical though, Tyler's heart rate picked up some too. He saw them struggling more and more, and he couldn't help but grow ancy.

After the man grabbed hold of the women, well.. that was the last Tyler was going to stand around and watch, moving forward, Lucas let out a nicker and just watched with ears pricked forward as Tyler moved toward the two. Coming up behind the girl, he was staring straight at the guy, "What's the problem here Sir? It really doesn't seem like you need to rough handle a women like that." he said, eyes dropping to him grabbing the young woman's wrist.

[Mercy Scarborough]

Mercy made a face, disgusted as the man looked down at her. The dog, obviously on Mercy's side, growled at the man, but he only ignored it. Mercy's rapid heart rate slowed at the sound of someone behind her, backing her up. The man only sneered at the new comer. "Why? You want the rich little snob? You can have her. She's in my way anyway." He actually pushed Mercy back, causing her to fall into Tyler with a surprised gasp. She'd only ever bee pushed by one person in her entire life and that was her brother when she was five. And he'd been hit for that. Mercy blushed, regaining herself and pulling away from the stranger and watching as the man yanked the dog away. The dog... well, she didn't plan on going anywhere and growled at the man, attacking his leg, only to be kicked off. The dog yelped and the man went to kick her again, harder. "NO!" Mercy screamed at him, going forward only to be backhanded, right across her pretty, innocent face. She gasped, head snapping to the side, her face stinging as she once again toppled back into Tyler.

[Tyler Van Helsing]

With a quick grunt, Tyler caught the young women, learning from the man she was rich, he could assume from the clothing, but as far as he was concerned... she didn't seem like a snob. Not yet at least. He didn't have the best respect for the rich, but he wouldn't judge right away, and he wouldn't help this women just because of her social status. He'd be a hypocrite that way, since the reason he didn't like the rich was because of their lack for helping the poor.

He didn't have to take action after the young women pulled away from him. She seemed fine since she went right back at the man, fiery and fierce. Tyler was impressed, she didn't seem like the normal, passive rich girls with no backbone. Tyler sneered at the man and before he had time to say a word, the young women was reeling back after being hit across the face. OK, that was not cool with Tyler. He caught the pretty women, set her still and then passed her, "You can hit a man, but when it comes to hitting a women, that's when your going to get yourself hit." He said, pulling back his hand and winging it at the man's face, getting a good punch in, right square in the nose....

[Mercy Scarborough]

Mercy was still seeing stars when she was set aside and watched as this man defended her. There was a red mark on her face from the hit and her blue eyes went wide when she saw this. The man with the dog reeled back, blood spurting from his nose. Mercy gasped and the man lost his grip on the dogs leash. Jotti, though hurt and whimpering, jumped back up, running to stand by Mercy and growling at the man that was supposed to be her master.

"Son of a bitch," the man said to Tyler, more pissed off now. He came forward, aiming a punch at Tyler in retaliation. "You need to learn to mind your own business jackass." Mercy took her chance and grabbed hold of the dog's leash. That man was going to have to go through her to get a hold of this poor, whimpering creature.

[Tyler Van Helsing]

Tyler was ready for that one. He moved to the side with lightening speed, reeling around again, tripping the guy and then kicking him down onto the cobblestone, as hard as gravity would allow him. Tyler's green eyes were on fire as he watched the man squirm on the ground. "I suggest you learn how to treat other beings, and then maybe you won't be put in your place... infact.. your not even in your place. Your lower than the dirt your sprawling on." he said with a snarl before leaving the man behind, stepping back toward the women, who had grabbed the leash of the dog.

"Is this your dog?" Tyler asked the women in a curious tone, hoping the animal wouldn't come at him like it went and attacked the guy. He wasn't afraid of dogs, but he knew the power behind them and wasn't going to mess around if this one was aggressive. He looked up at this girl, un affected by what had just happened. This was his life, if he didn't get bitched at by the rich, drunk people he drove around at night, then he was breaking up fights on the shipping docks...

[Mercy Scarborough]

Mercy watched this man defend her, grateful that he did this for her. She owed him big time. Her gorgeous blue eyes stayed on him as he came back to her and asked her if this was her dog. Looking to the man that had slapped her and then back to her rescuer, there was a fiery look in her eyes. "It is now," she said, the man behind Tyler, stumbling to his feet. "Bitch," he said, spitting by their feet and giving them back a look before slumping off with a limp.

As soon as the man was gone, the dog calmed and her tail wagged, though she was still kind of hurt from the man's kicks. The young girl watched the pig go, shuddering at the thought of what he could have done to her. "Thank you," she said to her savior, unable to express how grateful she was. Her expression softened and Jotti... Mercy supposed that was the dog's name since the man had called her that earlier, went up to Tyler, smelling his feet and then tried to lick him. She didn't seem at all like the fierce do she had just been moments ago. Well, she and her new owner certainly shared some personality traits.

Mercy's eyes took in the man before her and a blush crossed her face. Rich or not, this man was certainly very good looking. And so chivalrous considering he just kicked some guy's ass for her. Wealth didn't matter at all to Mercy anyway considering how she had been raised. "You have no idea what you just did for me... and the dog." Her face was still stinging from the hit and she lifted her hand, touching the spot and wincing. Hopefully it wouldn't bruise. Then she'd have to explain herself to her parents or the headmistress at her school.

Considering their predicament, she figured she might as well introduce herself. She was curious about this man. After all, it took a real man to stand up for someone in need. For a moment though, she had to debate herself on telling him who she was. Her father was perhaps the richest man in town and a lot of times people judged him unfairly because of his status. They did this without the proper education though, because Christopher Scarborough was more than decent. He was the man responsible for helping out those in need. And yet people assumed that because he was rich, these were either lies or he was doing it for appearance. These people didn't know where Christopher Scarborough and his wife had come from though.

"I'm Mercy," she said, her face heating up a little. "Mercy Scarborough." She gave him a small, pretty smile, looking down to the American Bulldog. "And I guess this here is Jotti." Mercy obviously wasn't supposed to be there, especially without a chaperon.

[Tyler Van Helsing]

Tyler watched her intently, seeing as the dog seemed to calm down and act like a normal dog after the man left. He let the dog approach, and smiled lightly as she tried to lick him. He had a soft spot for animals in general, but he didn't like to admit it most of the time. He had bought his own mutt for cheap from a dealer who was trying to get rid of unwanted puppies. He bought his black Percheron from a man who could not take care of him, when Tyler took the horse home, it was skinny, dirty and scared. Now he was a fat, shiny, friendly horse who pulls carts and won't shy away from anything.

He looked up when she said her name, he heard Mercy and thought it was pretty, and then he heard her last name and his eyes almost popped out of his skull. He backed up just a step. "Scarborough did you say?" he almost stuttered the words. He almost thought he would be getting in trouble for being near her. Why was the wealthiest man in town's daughter in town with no one around? Tyler almost looked scared, she must be a fool for talking to him. "I'm Tyler." He said in a choked tone. "You arn't lost are you?" He said in a concerned tone, he would get her home if he had to, he would take her home with Lucas and the buggy, no way did she need to walk. She was to nice to walk.

[Mercy Scarborough]

Mercy couldn't say she was surprised by the man's reaction and a blush crossed her face. She had been expecting either this or disgust. She supposed this was better than disgust though. "No," she said, shaking her head. "I'm not lost." Jotti came and sat beside her, apparently unwilling to leave the side of her new owner.

"You don't need to look so concerned for me," she said to him, a small and very pretty smile crossing her face. "I know my way around town." You could tell from the almost wicked look on her face that this wasn't the first time she'd gone out when she wasn't supposed to and without an escort. "But if you don't mind, I probably could use someone to walk with me. I don't really want that man coming back for repayment for me taking away his dog that he was only going to shoot anyway." No, nobody would want that. The thought made Mercy shudder. Considering this man had just saved her, well, that made her put a bit of faith in him. Just a bit. After all, she wasn't stupid and didn't know this man, save for his first name.

"And yes, Scarborough," she arched a slender, challenging brow. She knew exactly what must be going on in his head. Perhaps she shouldn't have told him her last name. "If you have any issues with my last name sir, then by all means, feel free to make up a new one." She gave him a charming smile, joking of course. Though she wouldn't mind in the least if he made another name for her. So long as it wasn't insulting that is... Mercy wouldn't hesitate in slapping him.

[Tyler Van Helsing]

Tyler only smiled at her, his face turning red too. He kind of felt sorry for acting the way he had. He couldn't help but let a even wider smile cross his face when she said she knew her way around town. He didn't know if that was a good or bad thing, but he let it go and shook his head slightly. "Your father must think of you as a rebel now doesn't he?" he said with a little chuckle.

"Come with me." he said, not touching her though. He didn't know if she wanted that, and he didn't know if the new dog would try anything. He planned on letting her ride in the buggy, and he didn't think she would want to be seen riding on the bench next to him, atop of the cab she would be sitting in. He led her back toward the docks, where Lucas, the black Percheron was standing, half asleep.. attached to the buggy since they left right after Ty's first job to drive around and pick up the drunken rich. "Lucas can take you home." he said, opening the door for her.

[Mercy Scarborough]

"Rebel is an understatement," Mercy said with a devilish smile for Tyler, arching her brow. She followed close by him when he told her to follow him and she did so without hesitation, the dog following behind her. She wasn't usually so quick to follow strangers... but this man was different for some reason. Something about him drew her in.

When he opened the door for her, both she and the dog looked at Tyler, surprisingly similar looks in their eyes. "If you're worried about being seen with me sir, I can assure you, nobody will cut off your head for being near me." She was the devil, never caring what people thought. Well, with some things she cared. She didn't want people to call her a floozy or anything. With a hand on her slender hip, she looked up at him, wondering if he would be surprised by her willingness to sit next to him. The dog would sit between them of course. She wasn't that carefree. You could certainly tell, Mercy was fiery and stubborn.

[Tyler Van Helsing]

Tyler's green eyes stayed on Mercy for a few moments, brow raised and a look of amusement crossing his face. While still looking at her, he closed the door. "Well excuse me for being careful." he said with a slight laugh. That was the difference between most poor people and rich people. Poor people seemed to have a laid back attitude and don't expect to be treated in a proper manner, that's why Tyler found it so funny that Mercy was the way she was.

He walked over to the front of the carriage, looking behind her. "Are you going to be able to get up here without ripping your dress." Tyler stepped away, almost as if she was going to hit him for saying that. He would let her try it first, and be here to catch her just encase her ego was too big for her common sense. He then looked down to the dog, rolling his eyes, he would have to toss the dog up there too.

His green eyes looked over to Lucas, who's head was turned in their direction, even he was surprised the rich looking girl didn't get in the cab part of the carriage. Tyler started to pat his horse's side, waiting for Mercy to attempt to get into the drivers bench.

[Mercy Scarborough]

Mercy smiled someone when he asked if she would be able to make it up without ruining her dress. "Hopefully," was all she said to that. "The dog is another story though." She looked up at the front seat of the carriage and bit her lip. It was higher up and she was wearing a dress. "Okay, maybe I could use a bit of help," she said, looking over at him. Her ego wasn't that big after all.

"Please?" she asked him, knowing she needed a hand. A lot of rich girls wouldn't say please to a man of a lower status. But I'm sure we've already established how different Mercy is. She gave him a pretty smile, hoping he would be willing to help her more than he already was. The dog wagged her tail, whining at Tyler.

[Tyler Van Helsing]

Tyler rolled his green eyes, knowing she was going to ask for his help. He went forward, shifting his arm under her, so his hand wasn't grabbing her butt. He then lifted up her upwards easily, like she didn't weight a pound. He made sure she had her footing and he watched her sit. "Ok, sit still a moment." He said, grabbing the dog around the stomach and tossing her up their too. The dog jumped up onto the bench, wagging her tail and whining.

Throwing himself up into the seat too, Tyler smiled slightly at Mercy, knowing this must be way different than what she was used to. Inside a cab of a carriage was way different than being atop it, driving it around. He grabbed the reins, snapping them and clucking to Lucas. "Get on." he said, pulling off onto the cobblestone road, and heading up toward Benedict lane. "Benedict was what you said, right?" he asked, brow arching as he looked over to her.

Ty's face was flushed because well, some people stared. It was a different sight to see, one of the richest girl's in town atop of a carriage with a poor man, than inside the cab where it was safe and away from the wind. "Are you sure your not going to get me shot?" he asked her. "Lucas here needs to eat, and he'll be mad if I get shot." He said, motioning to the huge horse pushing the carriage...