"Hm? Oh, yeah, sure." Said Warren as he took the cookie and began eating around the edges. He was doing that thing again where he zones out and doesn't pay attention to whoever's in the room. Dick. Still, Aesop wasn't in the position to call anyone a dick. Evidently he was the biggest dick in the room, ass stuck in a big wodden box and all. Suddenly Warren's foot came crashing through the side.
"THE FUCK MAN???"
Ignoring Aesop, Warren continue "Yep, fragile as shit. Take my hand." He offered it to Aesop, making the man be thankful that he wasn't pulling any of his usual crazy shit. Aesop swore he could feel splinters.
=====================================================================
Heath stayed silent as a ghost throughout the entire meeting. He was wearing clothes so boring he was totally indistinguishable from the other hunters. He tried to keep subtle, not making his presence known with overblown dramatics, but not hiding his face under his hat either. People could see him, but no one paid him any mind. Perhaps one with a keen eye, but even then Heath didn't seem any different than any other Bounty Hunter in the room. Boring and plain, yet outlandish and cocky was the attitude on display, just like most of the others. He left the estate and made his way to his motorbike and set on his way back to Father. He should know all.
Meanwhile Austin was leaning on the outside wall of the RV strumming his guitar once again. His chlidren were scrambled about, some inside taking maintenance of the weapons, some out in the stores checking out some gear, and the littlest ones playing in the sand. One of the elder ones, a teenager came out of a store carrying some spare tires when the motorbike came trailing down the road, kicking up dust in a cloud that went so high it hung in the air making passers by cough. The bike stopped by the RV where Heath got off and made his way to Austin.
Austin smiled in surprise as he saw him and slung his guitar over his back. "Heath?"
"Father," said the man as they embraced each other in a hug.
"How are you my son? You're as big as your old man now," chuckled the robed leader.
"Thank you father but, still not as strong," smiled Heath.
"Nobody is son. Nobody is." He lead the man inside and they sat down on a nearby table, the children inside waving hello to Heath. Austin continued once they were sat, "So tell me son, what brings you all the way out here?"
"I heard from one of my sisters that you were coming here. She called me but she couldn't be here to greet you, she was apparently arrested for killing another pretender." Said Heath as he rested his hat on the table.
"Good girl, good girl. I'll be sure to send someone to free her from this injustice. But you still haven't told me why you came, although I much enjoy your company son."
"Well, I heard of something very intersting. I was looking for some work to support my little brothers up in the city-" he was swiftly cut off by the 'father'.
"Wait you left them there alone!" Roared Austin, causing the other young'uns in the RV to panic.
"No, no of course not, I'm sorry I should have said they are with one of the eldest. His name is Victor do you remember? He's gotten quite strong now." Heath had some fear in his voice as he spoke.
"Ah," sighed Austin, "Victor yes, ginger?" Heath nodded in response. "Ah I see, good good. Excellent we all need to be strong. Anyway you were looking for work?"
"Yes and the Lord Dio Basilio has apparently ran into trouble."
There was silence for a moment as Austin twiddled his thumbs. "Another pretender I see."
"Yes..." said Heath again, hoping he had masked his fear.
"And..." Silence for at least the better part of an excruciatingly long minute. "Why, should we concern ourselves with their matters when all they serve to do is TAUNT ME!" He slammed his fist down upon the table as the others stood to leave. "No no. Stay. Kids sit down right now." They did as they were told and awkwardly sat down as he turned his attention back to Heath. "Tell me son."
Mustering up his courage Heath said with little hesitation, "Father, we can use him. He is in need and will pay handsomely. We can do the job, take his money, and then kill him and any other pretenders who dare to live. With enough of us here we could take his whole estate father. And believe me, there were many pretenders in that house."
Austin thought for a moment. More than a moment. It felt like an eternity to the young Heath, until his father reached over and placed the hat atop his son's head. "Good job son. Good job." Heath smiled proudly, so happy to please his father, it was like no other feeling in the world. It overwhelmed him, it consumed him, it made him feel like his life was totally worthless and corrupt up until this point. "Now, tell me of his... 'plight'." Austin spat out the last word.
"Right..." Heath went on to tell the tale of the Iron Maidens and how they had snatched his betrothed.
"The Iron Maidens? They have a ship, and they spend a large amount of time in the air. It would be difficult to get on. We would have to get them during a stop or them stealing or something, and even then the others would probably keep flying. Does he want just the Captain or the whole crew?"
"He wants them all to pay, but the captain especially."
"And he doesn't care about the wife?"
"No and, well she is young father. I think we should save our sister."
"I see, I'm proud of you Heath. You've done a lot of good for our family my son. Send out some feelers, find out any and all information that we can. I want that crew, I want to kill the Pretender Basilio and... I want that ship."
"THE FUCK MAN???"
Ignoring Aesop, Warren continue "Yep, fragile as shit. Take my hand." He offered it to Aesop, making the man be thankful that he wasn't pulling any of his usual crazy shit. Aesop swore he could feel splinters.
=====================================================================
Heath stayed silent as a ghost throughout the entire meeting. He was wearing clothes so boring he was totally indistinguishable from the other hunters. He tried to keep subtle, not making his presence known with overblown dramatics, but not hiding his face under his hat either. People could see him, but no one paid him any mind. Perhaps one with a keen eye, but even then Heath didn't seem any different than any other Bounty Hunter in the room. Boring and plain, yet outlandish and cocky was the attitude on display, just like most of the others. He left the estate and made his way to his motorbike and set on his way back to Father. He should know all.
Meanwhile Austin was leaning on the outside wall of the RV strumming his guitar once again. His chlidren were scrambled about, some inside taking maintenance of the weapons, some out in the stores checking out some gear, and the littlest ones playing in the sand. One of the elder ones, a teenager came out of a store carrying some spare tires when the motorbike came trailing down the road, kicking up dust in a cloud that went so high it hung in the air making passers by cough. The bike stopped by the RV where Heath got off and made his way to Austin.
Austin smiled in surprise as he saw him and slung his guitar over his back. "Heath?"
"Father," said the man as they embraced each other in a hug.
"How are you my son? You're as big as your old man now," chuckled the robed leader.
"Thank you father but, still not as strong," smiled Heath.
"Nobody is son. Nobody is." He lead the man inside and they sat down on a nearby table, the children inside waving hello to Heath. Austin continued once they were sat, "So tell me son, what brings you all the way out here?"
"I heard from one of my sisters that you were coming here. She called me but she couldn't be here to greet you, she was apparently arrested for killing another pretender." Said Heath as he rested his hat on the table.
"Good girl, good girl. I'll be sure to send someone to free her from this injustice. But you still haven't told me why you came, although I much enjoy your company son."
"Well, I heard of something very intersting. I was looking for some work to support my little brothers up in the city-" he was swiftly cut off by the 'father'.
"Wait you left them there alone!" Roared Austin, causing the other young'uns in the RV to panic.
"No, no of course not, I'm sorry I should have said they are with one of the eldest. His name is Victor do you remember? He's gotten quite strong now." Heath had some fear in his voice as he spoke.
"Ah," sighed Austin, "Victor yes, ginger?" Heath nodded in response. "Ah I see, good good. Excellent we all need to be strong. Anyway you were looking for work?"
"Yes and the Lord Dio Basilio has apparently ran into trouble."
There was silence for a moment as Austin twiddled his thumbs. "Another pretender I see."
"Yes..." said Heath again, hoping he had masked his fear.
"And..." Silence for at least the better part of an excruciatingly long minute. "Why, should we concern ourselves with their matters when all they serve to do is TAUNT ME!" He slammed his fist down upon the table as the others stood to leave. "No no. Stay. Kids sit down right now." They did as they were told and awkwardly sat down as he turned his attention back to Heath. "Tell me son."
Mustering up his courage Heath said with little hesitation, "Father, we can use him. He is in need and will pay handsomely. We can do the job, take his money, and then kill him and any other pretenders who dare to live. With enough of us here we could take his whole estate father. And believe me, there were many pretenders in that house."
Austin thought for a moment. More than a moment. It felt like an eternity to the young Heath, until his father reached over and placed the hat atop his son's head. "Good job son. Good job." Heath smiled proudly, so happy to please his father, it was like no other feeling in the world. It overwhelmed him, it consumed him, it made him feel like his life was totally worthless and corrupt up until this point. "Now, tell me of his... 'plight'." Austin spat out the last word.
"Right..." Heath went on to tell the tale of the Iron Maidens and how they had snatched his betrothed.
"The Iron Maidens? They have a ship, and they spend a large amount of time in the air. It would be difficult to get on. We would have to get them during a stop or them stealing or something, and even then the others would probably keep flying. Does he want just the Captain or the whole crew?"
"He wants them all to pay, but the captain especially."
"And he doesn't care about the wife?"
"No and, well she is young father. I think we should save our sister."
"I see, I'm proud of you Heath. You've done a lot of good for our family my son. Send out some feelers, find out any and all information that we can. I want that crew, I want to kill the Pretender Basilio and... I want that ship."