The Ashlanders - Chapter 6: The Blind Man's Last Gambit (Closed, Started)

[Evrant-Knight]

"Viola... You... I can't believe..." Said Hannibal as they made their way down the stairs. Viola turned to look at him, and she could see a strange half smile expression on his face. Was this because she turned down the offer? Had to have been. She returned the smile as they got to the second floor.

"What? Can't believe that I turned down the offer of killing Pym in exchange for Lady Maribel's location? If I'm honest, there was a part of me that considered accepting; seemed so simple, go to the party, mingle with the guests, then wait for the appropriate moment to drop that little white pill. But in the end, something just didn't fit. However, this does leave us with a bit of a problem. Not exactly sure as to where we go now." Viola remarked with a shrug of the shoulders and a sigh as they reached the first floor.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Lilith groaned as she felt something digging into her ribs.

"Cranston's callin' fer ya', you lazy slut!"

Weakly rolling onto her side, she wiped the drool from her face. How many hours had she had? Couldn't have been more than three or four.

"I need to stop caring so much" She muttered, her voice cracking. Pushing herself into a sitting position she rubbed the weariness from her eyes. The girl hadn't even changed into her night stuff, not that she had any, she had given her last t-shirt to Elizabeth.

"Sprout, I'm nickin' a shirt." She said softly , still half asleep as she got to her feet. Unbuckling her trousers, she let them fall to the ground, stepping out of them as she pulled off her shirt, leaning over Axel's backpack, she pulled out the first shirt she could find, and quickly pulled it over her head. "I'll bring you some breakfast." She muttered, as she snapped open her bra with one hand, pulling out through one of the sleeves. Unceremoniously throwing the garment over her shoulder, it landed at Sprout's feet.

As she made her way into the kitchen, she flopped onto one of the chairs, her eyes still half closed. Without speaking a word, or looking at anyone else in the room, she grabbed a slice of bacon with her hand and began nibbling at it.

Her chewing slowed to a crawl as realisation washed over her.

"Did I just do what I think I did?" She whispered to herself.

===============================


"If she doesn't come back, we'll search for clues in the morning. No point stumbling around in the markets at night."

"We should go to a bar." Asad suggested.

"What? She might be a drinker!"

 

[Dogmatic99]

"Anyway, it's hardly a secret that the prime suspect for the assassination attempt is the Wilkes-Vine crime family. May I ask..." he smiled again. "Are you really such fools as to believe it?"

"It does not matter what we believe." Vasa said hoarsely and taking out his own cigarette case and lighting up. "Now state your purpose." Blunt, yes but skirting a subject had never been the way of things among the syndicate families of Frostfall.

Their past negotiations and meetings usually had the social grace of a sledgehammer fight... so in retrospect this was rather polite of them. No one's mother had even been insulted yet. Truly thse were times of great change.

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

Amy had always been told she was beautiful. Either by clients, or by the other girls she worked with. Before now, she'd always supposed that they were right. However, never had she really felt beautiful. What she had felt was difficult to explain. It was either a large void of nothing, or such a swirling maelstrom of different things, that no one opinion of emotion regarding her self-esteem could be accurately distinguished. Nevertheless, when Amy had looked in the mirror, she had seen a combination of marketable features, rather than a face, a canvas on which to paint whatever persona best fitted the occasion, rather than a person.

This morning, however, she felt positively radiant.

She didn't have long to be herself though. Today was a crucial day, and as the newest member of the crew, Amy was determined to fulfil her role to the best of her ability. Once again, the mask would have to go on. After having revealed more of herself than she ever imagined showing to another person, let alone over the course of a single day, to get back to business was, for once, not a prospect she welcomed. However, she would do it nonetheless. When the time to meet with Payton Wilkes-Vine came, no-one in that room would be able to ignore her presence, and when they looked to her, they would know exactly what kind of power backed up Pixie's words. The special relationship that existed between The Golden Rose and The Gentleman was not the most common of knowledge. However, to the likes of Payton, Amy's presence would mean a lot more than just a whore.

Once she was finished in the shower, and moved on to getting dressed, Amy discarded her usual soft blue colour scheme, in favour of something more formidable. A black, strapless dress, who's V was split down almost to her navel, with another slit rising halfway up her thigh. Her eye-shadow was dark, the taper curling back in on itself into lethal-looking sickle shapes, the tip of their hooks resting above the height of her cheekbones, with matte-black lipstick to match. This, matched with the glowing gold of her hair, jewellery, fingernails and stiletto heels, gave her the much fiercer appearance than she usually adopted, with a striking resemblance to an angry hornet. Finally, Amy checked over her weapons, the first being a Walther PPK-S, given to her by The Gentleman on one of their early meetings. The grip was custom moulded to fit her hand perfectly, according to his own design, made of a durable polymer and engraved on its left side with a gilded rose. Amy holstered the handgun in a garter that she wore high up on her right thigh, so that it was completely concealed, though still easily accessible through the slit in her dress. Secondly, she sheathed a small, but sharp, double edge knife at the small of her back. While it was true that she was no master marksman, in a close, confined space, Amy would be very quick on the draw. What's more, and likely the largest advantage, was that with the sizable arsenal that Pixie and some of the others would be packing, Amy would not appear to be an obvious threat.

Hopefully, however, there would be no need for any of that kind of business today. They were hoping to enlist Payton's help, after all. Amy was under no illusion what a nest of snakes they were willingly walking into though.

Emerging into the living area, Amy allowed herself just one furtive, yet glowing glance at Pixie (there was hardly any point being secretive, the rest of the crew would have to have been very deep sleepers indeed not to have heard their antics last night) before putting her game-face on. Secretive or not, Pixie's job was to be a Captain today, and Amy wasn't going to undermine that by hanging off her all day... no matter how much she may have wanted too.

"Eat up kids, if we're lucky we'll 'ave somethin' ta' shoot later."

"I'm ready, Captain." Amy said, though in truth she wished that the two of them still had several hours left to talk. Amy couldn't help but worry that perhaps she'd gone too far last night. Pixie had been receptive, and enthusiastic, as ever. However, she'd been that way ever since the first time they'd slept together. Amy needed to know if last night had been as special for Pixie as it had been for her, or else if Pixie was in any way concerned about how fast things were moving. Try as she might, she still couldn't silence Bennie's voice in her head, saying "she helps." over and over again. Had he been right, and if so, was he still right, or had Amy's contributions yesterday, the parts of herself that she had shared, changed things between them?

'Stop it.'

She wasn't going to do this to herself. Not now, at least. Right now, she was happy, tangibly, giddily happy for the first time in her life, and no matter what else would follow, Amy was determined to hold on to that feeling, and not spoil it for herself by over-thinking.

===============================================================================================

"It does not matter what we believe. Now state your purpose."

"On that, I must beg to differ." The Gentleman replied "For what you believe has a great deal to do with my purpose here.

Officially, I am here on behalf of Meredith Monroe, Captain of the Iron Maiden. She has a vested interest in Wilkes-Vine right now, and would appreciate it if you kept whatever little retribution you may or may not be planning out of their affairs. Of course, if you were to be persuaded that Payton Wilkes Vine was in no way behind the attempt on your life, such a discussion may well be rendered moot. In any case, she could have sent any of her lackeys to tell you that. No, I have other business to discuss with you, related business, but of my own making.

I have a fairly good idea who actually was trying to kill you, or rather, trying to make it look like they were trying to kill you, and I offer you the chance to get your own back that would otherwise be beyond your reach... if you meet my price, of course."

 

[Terratina.]

"LILITH! MARIA! BREAKFAST!"

"Five more minutes. Gimme that." A small whimper came out from a pile of pillows as Cranston called out. Maria didn't want to get up just yet. Besides, she felt terrible. Her head was thumping, her hair felt a bit a bit greasy, not to mention the echoes of the night before. Something about boobs and Elizabeth... Whatever that was. Maria dressed slowly, the only comfort being the feel of those gorgeous leather boots. Finished, she went to the kitchen and joined the others. Maria piled on anything that looked greasy - the fat would help with her hangover, hopefully. Her eyes scanned the space about the table, Lilith and Elizabeth were hardly dressed and looked like their undead equivalents had taken their place. To be fair, Maria really didn't look any better.

"So." She said to the two other women, "Is this a t-shirt day or something?"

***​

"If she doesn't come back, we'll search for clues in the morning. No point stumbling around in the markets at night."

"Roger that, Commander." Jun replied. Well, so much for the main part of the mission starting soon. Instead, just more waiting around and playing detective. When Bryan found that bullet casing, he shouldn't have been that surprised. This was the Ashlands, the Rock, the place where bandits preyed upon the weak and where the nobles played the lives of others. No wonder his home dome had chosen to reject the outside world and had fed its citizens lies about it. Still, with escaping that environment came freedom, freedom he didn't know what to do with. At least being ordered took that away. What was there to complain about anyway? It wasn't like he wasn't used to just waiting around for something to happen.

 

[Fappy]

"Is this a t-shirt day or something?"

Elizabeth looked down at the shirt she was wearing and scratched her head, "I don't know where this shirt came from, but," She grinned. "I think I can count the number of times I have worn a 't-shirt' on one hand."

With the last of the food prepared, Cranston sat down at the table and began eating, "So," He started, staring down at his plate. "I found Gorgon last night." He spoke in a casual tone.

**********************************************************************************************************************************************************

"I'll bring you some breakfast."

Sprout looked on in bewilderment as Lilith half-stripped down right in front of him. After she walked out of the room, he stared down at the bra on his feet. Furrowing his brow, he wiggled his foot, pushing it off to the side and laid back down.

You okay, Lily?

**********************************************************************************************************************************************************

"Fine by me. Hey, maybe if we show her the cat, she'll come with us quietly,"

Tsubaki didn't comment. Instead, she simply knelt down and scooped up the mangy, little thing. She cracked a grin as it began licking her thumb.

"We should go to a bar."

Tsubaki shot him a suspicious look.

"What? She might be a drinker!"

"Well," Tsubaki began, prying her eyes away from Asad and onto her dress. "If we're going to scout out Feroxi's nightlife I think I'd rather change into something less..." She paused for a moment. "Conspicuous."

**********************************************************************************************************************************************************

Bennie entered the kitchen a little while after Ruffles.

"I'm taking a god damn nap in the back seat is what I'm doing. You know, I can't wait to see Florian again, seeing as he's the closest thing we got to a therapist."

Placing a hand on his shoulder as he walked by, he took his seat and grinned, "You wanna ride with me, Jake? I'm not in much of a talkin' mood this morning, anyway."

**********************************************************************************************************************************************************

"I'm ready, Captain."

"Good," Pixie chirped. "Get some fuel. It's a bit of a drive." She ordered, not missing a beat. The only hint that she'd treated Amy as anything more than a subordinated was in the subtle way her eye peeled away the girl's black dress. She'd have to take special care not to let Amy's figure distract her. Perhaps she'd have her on her flank. Distract Payton's men with her beauty.

Pixie remained leaning against the counter as Amy took her seat at the table. After putting away a few more bacon strips, she addressed everyone in the room, "I know some'a y'all don' trust Wilkes-Vines. That's fine, I don' reckon I can either. But," She gritted her teeth. "We're doin' this 'cause we ain't got any other options. Austin's got an' army. We don'. Not ta' mention, there are a few of y'all I'd rather not 'ave lookin' down the barrel of a child's gun."

"So," She crossed her arms. "Understand we're treadin' carefully here. If thin's go south with Payton we cut 'ar losses an' we find another way. Okay? An' don' go tryin' ta' pick a fight with any of 'is men. This is diplomatic, alright!?"

Bennie stopped eating as she spoke. His eyes remained glued on her the entire time, "Ya' got somethin' ta' say, Carmine?" Though it was certainly phrased that way, Pixie's tone wasn't at all accusatory.

Bennie remained silent for awhile before muttering, "No."

"Okay," Pixie glanced around the room once more. "Anyone 'ave any questions? Concerns?"

 

[Daystar Clarion]

"Is this a t-shirt day or something?"

Lilith did little more than grunt as she nibbled unenthusiastically at her breakfast.

"I think I can count the number of times I have worn a 't-shirt' on one hand."

"You're welcome." The girl muttered. 'Don't be daft, of course she wouldn't remember, she was pissed off her arse.

Choking down more of her food, she began to drink from the mug of tea Cranston had brewed for her.

"I found Gorgon last night." She stopped mid-sip, her heart stopping in her chest. Quickly regaining her composure, she gently placed the mug back on the table. "Oh?" Lilith queried, her bloodshot eyes resting on the old man.

'Finally'

 

[Fappy]

"If we're going to scout out Feroxi's nightlife I think I'd rather change into something less... conspicuous."

Bryan grinned. "See that's why me and Asshole dress for style points. Can't say the same about the grumpy gunman, though."

Tsubaki's eyes found their way to two men walking side-by-side towards them.

"Well then," Tsubaki said as she started down the street. "I suppose you two can get a head start." The two men nodded to their group as they passed. Samsara's relief. They understood their orders. If they stopped and chatted it would look suspicious for anyone that may be watching them from the shadows.

Turning on her heel, the cat still in her hands, Tsubaki called out, "Which bar are we meeting at?"

Asad grinned, "Which one?" He pushed his hands into his pockets. "Hmmmm, which one has the most questionable name?" He thought aloud, looking at Bryan.


Bryan's grin widened until it looked as though it might split his head. "Ah, there's a pub a few streets over called the Cock and Bulls. They do some good ales there, too!"


Was the Commader seriously going along with this? Jun started to turn his head towards Tsubaki in order to gave a questioning look, but settled to stare at the cat instead. He could already see what was ahead of him and he didn't like it one bit.

"Somewhere a 'Lady' would frequent, not a whore!" Tsubaki shouted as she continued back towards the tower.

Later...

Tsubaki smuggled the small creature through the checkpoint in her purse. What was she thinking? She couldn't possibly take care of a pet with the job she had? Well, maybe she could. Perhaps she could make it work?

He was a cute little rascal, after all.

After opening a small can of tuna she found in the fridge, she laid it down on the kitchen floor next to a small saucer of water. He went to town immediately, giving Tsubaki the opportunity to sneak away while he was distracted.

The mission.

This wasn't like her at all. Letting something so trivial distract her from her duty. She'd already held her men up long enough.

Why does it matter, Tsu? You know full well you won't find Lady Maribel this way. So, why?

"I need a drink," She muttered to herself, under her breath as she changed out of her flamboyant outfit and into a more casual red tank-top and jeans combo. After slipping her feet into her black pumps, she was good to go.

Later-er...

Tsubaki stepped into the crowded, musty bar with a look of bewilderment on her face. It had been a long, long time since she'd properly 'gone out'. Scanning the crowd, she spotted her squad sitting at a round table near the back. It didn't look like they'd been there long.

Pushing through the crowd, Tsubaki found her way to the table and pulled out a seat for herself, "Busy place?"

"Ah, I've come here a few times," said Bryan after a large swig from his pint. "It's usually this busy. Good place. And 'cause it's so busy, it's a good place if someone wants to bob in for a drink without being noticed, ya get me?"

With his serious appraisal out of the way, Bryan nodded at Tsubaki. "I'm about finished," he waved his near depleted glass. "What're ya drinking? It's my round."

Tsubaki thought for a moment, "Anything this place is know for?"

Bryan shrugged. "They do good scotch, and there's a cocktails board over there," he pointed. "Standard stuff, Sex On the Beach, Daquiries and Jaegarbombs and all sorts. And there's what I'm drinking. It's a pale ale called FUBAR. Stands fer 'Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition'. It's surprisingly fruity, actually. It's nice. And the name's just a name. Anyway, I know the barman, so when I go over there, I'll ask if he's seen anyone fitting our lass's description."

"I'll take that then," Tsubaki said as she looked towards the bar. "I'm surprised you haven't already asked about her." She sounded disappointed.

Bryan shrugged as he got to his feet. "Thought we'd wait for you," he replied.

Asad downed his whiskey. "Why can't people just pick a real drink. I mean, Jaegarbombs?" He shook his head, grinning. "For fuckin' real?"

Tsubaki gave Bryan a look of acknowledgement as he left the table before turning her head towards Asad, "And what constitutes a 'real' drink?" She asked, amused.

"Anything I drink, of course." He smiled. "Dunno why people find that so hard to follow."

Tsubaki allowed herself a small grin, "Of course, Harel. You are quite clearly the resident booze expert. There's no way it can be the Irishman, right?" Glancing over at Jun, she winced before she spoke. She could see his displeasure in his rigid posture. "What about you, Moon?"

"Probably just anything non-alcohol, Com--" Jun interrupted himself. Of course, they were supposed to be undercover, right? He recoved with, "I mean, Tsubaki."

Apparently booze made things fun, apparently some drinks tasted really nice. However, all that got to Jun was the stench of alcohol. Sometimes Bryan's morning breath - especially if he had been out boozing the night before - was so bad, it seemed like it could knock out a horse.

Tsubaki studied his body language as he replied. While Tsubaki simply felt out of her element here, Jun appeared to be utterly uncomfortable. She frowned, "You look like you could use a little of... something, Moon. Consider getting a drink. On me."

She furrowed her brow, "This isn't an order. Just a suggestion. But... everyone's got to loosen up once in awhile. You know?" Tsubaki was in rare-form, indeed.

Bryan ordered the drinks. Two FUBARs for him and Tsubaki, a neat scotch for Asad, and some sake for Jun. Bryan couldn't resist.

While he was waiting, he struck up a conversation with a couple of women. Apparently they were visiting from Calico, and wasn't Feroxi just an awesome city to do some shopping in?

Then the drinks arrived, and Bryan and the bartender put their heads together. Unfortunately, Gates was unable to help him. Bryan thanked him and paid him. As he carried the drinks back, he glanced at the line of yard glasses on the wall. Should he, or shouldn't he? He decided to wait and see.

Back at the table, he passed out the drinks, grinning as he put the sake in front of Jun. "Well Tsubaki, Gates can't help. Ain't seen anyone fitting our lass's description. It were a long shot, anyway. But heyho." He sat back down and sipped his pint.

"I guess..." Jun replied to Tsubaki, eyes low.

Then a strange, but somehow elegant, pottery set was placed in front of him - one large vessel and one small. He gazed down the taller of the tall and saw a colorless liquid in it. Going off assumptions, he poured a small amount from the ceramic flask into the cup and drank, even swallowed.

The first thing Jun noticed was the taste of alcohol and that it when down very smoothly indeed.

Bryan slapped the table enthusiastically. "There ya go, mate! Get it down ya, lad!"

After another swig of beer, he said more levelly, "So, Tsu. What's the plan? We finishing our drinks and pushing on?"

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

"Anyone 'ave any questions? Concerns?"

"Just two." Amy spoke up, business-like. "The first, where exactly are we meeting with Payton and his men? I imagine some neutral ground has been chosen. Secondly, in the worst case scenario that things turn sour, if perhaps Payton has decided he'd rather sell you out for one of the numerous bounties on your head... then do we have an escape strategy that goes beyond 'shoot anything that moves'?"

 

[ProtoChimp]

Spoiler: Dreamy Times

"Okay, okay okay okay. If I can make this jump, you name the kid after me okay?" Sillah spoke as he was perched atop a ledge adjacent to another ledge, with a rather long way down. Not enough to kill him, but certainly enough to break his coccyx and get a whooping from his dad. But he was certain he could make it, whether or not physics was on his side was unclear at this moment in time.

"At least do a bigger jump man, I could step over that fucking thing." Peter yelled up from between the buildings on the ground below.

"You're legs are tree trunks that doesn't fucking count!" The little brown mixture yelled from the rooftop. He walked to the other side getting as much as a run up as he could, when suddenly the door burst open from the stairwell into the rooftop.

"Sillah Marino! What the fuck do you think you're doing!" The young man's eyes widened as he turned to see Alex staring daggers through him. "Do you want to get yourself killed you dumb piece of shit?"

"I uh..." A few of his friends who had been standing around the rooftop cheering him on and taking turns were stuck for words. Those who had already made it over were trying to hide their presence behind the ledge, to no avail.

"I can see you too back there! Keats! Emilio! Arin! You don't hide very well!" She roared at all of them. "Seriously what the fuck guys you're cops this is the kinda shit we bust school kids for!"

"Um," Sillah spoke meekly, "technically I am a school kid?" He raised his hands with absolutely no confidence.

She jumped in his face forcing him to lean back so much he nearly fell back on his behind. "You leave school in 2 months you jackass! And even then, even if you were still a god damn recruit this is stupid shit I expect from kids who don't know better! Not the kind of people my family entrusts with guns every single day!"

One of them, a girl only 12, just training to be an officer came forward. "I just went along with what they-"

She was immediately interrupted. "Okay, you know that thing your parents say, 'If everyone was jumping off a bridge would you do it?' THIS IS LITERALLY THE GOD DAMN TERM! Honest to fucking god a couple fucking brain cells wouldn't hurt." She was sweating with rage.

"Alex come on you're just hormonal." Spoke a voice near the edge of the building. Everyone's eyes went wide and in an instant the roof was empty as her cheek twitched in anger.

Sillah was downstairs and ran up to Peter who was looking up at the shouting. "Um, Pete what's she gonna do to him?" He asked tentatively.

"Well," Peter began to answer, "the building is uh, well not tall enough that he'd die if he fell of so um..."

Sillah's eyes widened. "Wait what!"

"Relax," Peter chuckled. "She's probably just giving him an earful-oh shit he actually looks like she's gonna push him QUICK GRAB THAT DUMPSTER!"

Meanwhile on the rooftop the cop was having his head pushed over the ledge of the building. "Look down at that you shit!" Spoke Alex in a damn near disgusted voice. "You fall at a slightly wrong angle and you're dead, do you fucking hear me?" The man nodded in agreement as sweat trickled off his brow and onto the street below. "If I ever, and I mean fucking ever, hear about something like this again," she whispered into his ear, "I'll throw you in for reckless endangerment. You got me you sorry excuse for a cop?" He nodded even quicker than before as she flung him onto the safety of the rooftop. "Get the hell outta here, you're on triple duty this week." Double duty was hell, triple duty, especially in Yuteni, was physically impossible. She leaned over the edge and shouted down to her boyfriend. "You!"

"Oh dear." Said Peter.

"Words!" She continued.

"I doubt many of them will be pleasant." Sillah interjected.

"I heard that!" She boomed causing him to jump out of his skin.

Aesop woke up damn near eating his pillow. "Phwar?" He spat a few times trying to get the taste of pillow thread out of his mouth. He sat up and scraped his tongue with his teeth as he thought about his dream. That wasn't an unpleasant dream. His dreams are usually terrible. Recently however they had been so nice. So pleasant. Flashbacks since before he fucked up his life. When he had friends who had had grown up with, and a city which he had pride in protecting or at least being part of a force that did. With a best friend who...

"Great. Right back in a bad mood." He nodded to himself. He knew how to take care of this. He wrapped his hand around his ponytail and began punching himself as hard as he could in the thigh. He grunted as he tried to focus on the irritation of hairpulling and the pain he was giving to his leg. It wasn't working. It wasn't working.

"Because I'm in your life again my boy." Aesop saw Austin sitting next to him out the corner of his eye. He turned to look but he was gone. His heart was pounding and his blood was pumping faster than ever. He couldn't focus cos he was back in his life again. For a few hours the night before he managed to forget, but today he would be all he could think about, but not just him the whole crew. They were meeting with the WV yes, but the reason was because of Austin. Mother fucker was ruining his life again!

"You need guidance son. Please let me help you" The voice was coming from behind now. He turned around and socked Austin right in the... air. He wasn't there. Of course he wasn't, he was on the god damn maiden! "This is just what I need to save the world." Aesop forced out a guttural scream and took a long swing and his fist met with the wall instead of satisfying flesh. He groaned out as he held his knuckles. "Thick FUCKIN wall." He whispered angrily to himself. He breathed out and sighed. His hand wasn't even in pain, it had become accustomed to fighting his whole life, but he felt absolutely sick. His bones could damn well be made of sawdust right now, his brain a soggy goo, and his liver... damn how he wanted to poison that little bastard.

He shut his eyes tight. Counted to ten. Made a wish. And thought about his most fulfilling fantasy. The one gift Santiago gave him was making this fantasy not just cathartic for him, but enjoyable as all hell. Along with adding some more content to it.

Aesop began chuckling to himself, quietly at first, getting progressively louder. Not incredibly loud, but enough to be heard from outside. 'Aesop stop please!!! I can't take anymore, please, I can't-Ahh ahh AHHHHH ARRGG GOD STOP PLEASE!'

'Oh so you believe in God now do you? I thought he was just a trap for pretenders!'

'AAAAARRRRRHHHHHHHH FUCK PLEASE NO I CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE!'

'Swearing now are we? Oh my the children wouldn't like to hear that either. This tongue is just too dangerous for anyone to hear it again.'

'What? No. NO NOO GET OFFFFFFF FUUMMPPHHHHHH'

"Hehehe, its gonna be me you bastard." He spoke only to himself, only he would hear these words, for now at least. "I'm gonna be the one to stop you. I'm gonna be the one to kill you." Aesop kept laughing as he got dressed. One thing he could kiss Carlos for; he too had a penchant for waistcoats. A fine jet black, with bold, defined, thin purple stripes going down it. He threw on a long sleeve white dress shirt and the waistcoat along with some fancy looking leather pants. For once he wasn't going to wear anything trashy, today called for class. Not to impress those Wilkes Vines bastards but because well, Aesop really needed it.

"Selfish boy. So selfish. Only thinking of yourself."

"Actually not true," he chirped, "I think about disembowelling you too." He grabbed some squeaky clean black boots and a matching belt before heading out to breakfast.

"I'm taking a god damn nap in the back seat is what I'm doing. You know, I can't wait to see Florian again, seeing as he's the closest thing we got to a therapist." Aesop laughed at Ruffles.

"Y'know, the one upside to a boozeless life is that fine gentleman such as myself and Padre can laugh at yo hungover asses." He stuffed his mouth with bacon and toast as he mocked the poor bastards.

"We're doin' this 'cause we ain't got any other options. Austin's got an' army. We don'. Not ta' mention, there are a few of y'all I'd rather not 'ave lookin' down the barrel of a child's gun."

He damn near choked on his food as she said his name. "You can't push me out. I'll be with you forever. You need a father my boy."

'I have a father you fuck. His name is Ruben. Not Peter, and certainly not Austin.'

"But can you really kill my children? Your brothers and sisters?"

...

"You can't can you?"

'I can and I will if it means I can put my fist through your heart!'

"Sure my boy. Lets wait and find out."

An' don' go tryin' ta' pick a fight with any of 'is men. This is diplomatic, alright!?" The mood he was in, that was easier said than done. But he wasn't THAT stupid.
==============================
If I'm honest, there was a part of me that considered accepting; seemed so simple, go to the party, mingle with the guests, then wait for the appropriate moment to drop that little white pill. But in the end, something just didn't fit.

As judgemental as it was he was uncomfortable that she had thought about it. But some people are just more opposed to killing, when it came to Viola, thank a God that forgot about Hannibal that she had a code to follow. Thus he felt bad for judging her for something she couldn't have done anyway.

However, this does leave us with a bit of a problem. Not exactly sure as to where we go now.

"Who cares!" He said what actually sounded happy. "As long as we aren't murdering someone, and as long as someone who isn't trying to kill us doesn't get hurt, it doesn't matter what we do right? We can find her." He almost wanted to make a joke but he wasn't quick witted enough to think of one. This delusional state of happiness was overwhelming him a bit, but he wasn't aware.

"Hanny my boy?" And suddenly he was right back in reality. With his sense of dread as evident as ever. "We need words. Now." It was him. The man from the bottom floor. They were so close as well, they were on the last set of stairs but he was just waiting for them as the bottom. "Your Gunslinger friend can wait outside. I ba'lieve we need a lil private chat."

 

[Fappy]

"The first, where exactly are we meeting with Payton and his men? I imagine some neutral ground has been chosen. Secondly, in the worst case scenario that things turn sour, if perhaps Payton has decided he'd rather sell you out for one of the numerous bounties on your head... then do we have an escape strategy that goes beyond 'shoot anything that moves'?"

Pixie smiled, "Glad you asked, Amy. We're meetin' 'im at an old saloon called the 'Red Lamb'. It's in a fuel village a few clicks south'a Feroxi. One of 'ar Maidens, Tallahassee, has been stakin' out the place since before Payton's crew showed up. So far they've been keepin' clear'a the North gate as per 'ar agreement."

"Payton ain't one ta' go back on a deal. But," Her eye narrowed. "Be ready fer anythin'. If thin's get ugly we gun down anythin' between us an' the North gate. Got that?"

"He has gone back on deals before." Bennie muttered.

Pixie cocked an eyebrow, "What was that, Carmine?"

His expression hardened, "Just sayin', there's a precedent."

"Noted," Pixie muttered. "Anyway, if y'all 'ar outta questions I reckon we should start loadin' up the crawlers." Pixie chugged a glass of orange juice and started down the hall towards the garage

*********************************************************************************************************************************************************

"Oh?"

Cranston looked up from his meal, meeting Lilith's gaze, "Yeah..."

Spoiler: Last Night...

Going down the list of informants, Cranston hadn't had much luck figuring out where Gorgon had gone. Sure, people had seen his men around town since the Market incident, but no one had bothered tracking them to their hideout. Consolidating the intel he'd received from Viola's investigation and that of a few witnesses, Cranston was able to deduce that they were setup somewhere in the manufacturing district. Unfortunately, however... it was a pretty huge place.

After running the well dry on informants, Cranston was left with no other choice than to stalk the district. After three hours, he hit gold. A group of three flannel-wearing men, armed with sidearms and swimming in booze, were staggering down the street together. Evidently they had enjoyed quite a night at the bars. He followed them back to an old, rundown glass-works plant.

Sneaking past the sentries and in through one of the second story windows, Cranston clung to the shadows as he explored the building. Gorgon had a lot of men, it turns out. Eventually, he found his way to what he figured was a makeshift war room. An old factory office on the ground floor.

There were patrols all over, so he only had a small window to listen in on the men within, "Landon, I swear man. We are NOT leavin' until I have her on her knees BEGGING for me to end it!"

Yeah, it was definitely Gorgon, "She fuckin' mutilated me man! TOOK MY FUCKIN' EYE! So I am gonna do the same... and then some. She's gonna be beggin' fer death LONG before I give it to her!"

That was all Cranston heard before a patrol got too close and he had to back off. After another sweep of the building, he left.

Cranston kept his eyes on Lilith's as he recounted last night's events. When he was done, his expression hardened, "Lilith, Gorgon will stop at nothing until he gets his revenge. He will do whatever it is he can." He swallowed hard. " If he gets his hand son you, he will rape you and he will break you before it's over. Are you sure you still want to come with me? You've never been the target of something like this before. If we make a mistake, I," He sighed. "Pixie would never forgive me if I let anything happen to you."

Looking to Lilith, Elizabeth furrowed her brow, "You aren't seriously going, are you?"

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Lilith's expression remained unchanged as Cranston recounted his observations.

You've never been the target of something like this before. If we make a mistake. "Pixie would never forgive me if I let anything happen to you."


The old man was right. She had encountered bounty hunters before, sure, but that was always in a professional capacity. Well, as professional as an encounter between hunters and bandits could get.


"You aren't seriously going, are you?"

Lilith locked eyes with the younger woman. "He's after me, there's nothing I can do to change that." her expression hardened. "If he finds me, he finds Axel. I can't let that happen." She crossed her arms over her chest, sitting back in her chair. "Cranston is good, the best, but he's only one man. If we don't deal with this situation soon, then we'll be fighting on their terms, with a wounded boy in tow, as well as two women who can barely hold a gun, let alone use one." Her expression softened gently. "No offence, ladies." She glanced over to Maria before returning her attention to Elizabeth. "These people may be bounty hunters, but they're criminals like the rest of us, the only difference is where their payout comes from."

Her tone was uncharacteristically sombre. "We deal with this tonight. I won't let any of you get hurt because of me." Her eyes softened slightly. "The boy already paid for that once already."

Grabbing a slice of toast, she moved her gaze downwards. "I'm sorry about all this." She muttered, "One way or another, he won't come looking for you guys."

Glancing to her side, she met Cranston's gaze with a look of apprehension. "I'm gonna need night time gear, and a silenced pistol." She spoke quietly.

These were not the feelings she had hoped to have.


Lilith was terrified.

 

[Evrant-Knight]

"Who cares!" Hannibal said, sounding remarkably happy. "As long as we aren't murdering someone, and as long as someone who isn't trying to kill us doesn't get hurt, it doesn't matter what we do right? We can find her."

"Yeah, I guess your right. Still don't really have many other leads to pursue at the moment. Guess it might just boil down to looking for her street by street." Viola remarked as they were heading down the steps to the ground floor. It was then however that the shady man from earlier appeared, waiting at the bottom.

"Hanny my boy?" He said with surprise. "We need words. Now." His tone suddenly became more cold and malicious, Viola could already tell that this man meant to do Hannibal some harm. "Your Gunslinger friend can wait outside. I ba'lieve we need a lil private chat." Instinctively Viola stood between the two, putting herself in harms way if needs be.

"I don't think so mister." Viola was visibly scanning the man, trying to get a fix on who he was before it came to her.

"I find that there is quite a few people looking for Hannibal at the moment. I take it your one of Gunderson's men?"

The man possessed one of the most irritating laughs Viola had heard in her life, an obnoxious, wheezing chuckle. "Clever girl," he spoke, "clever clever clever little girl." He looked up to her on the stairs and walked up a couple steps. "But all I wanna do is talk t' tha lil grey haired wheasal." He chuckled again. "Maybe I came on a tad too strong."

"Like hell that's all you want to do with him. And before you say anything, yeah, he's told me all about the little incident at the storage lot and the ensuing gunfight between your boss's men and the drug suppliers that were occupying many of the surrounding units." Viola said with her arms crossed, not budging an inch.

"Explosion?" The man asked. "So you where there 'ey Hanny boy?" He said, turning his attention to the smuggler. Hannibal's heart jumped down his throat. "Well Noah Gunderson's dear baby brotha' died there Hanny. How abou'chu tell me how?"

"I-I uh-" Hannibal stuttered endlessly.

"And why it blew up in tha' firs' fuckin' place!" The bandit returned.

"He didn't mean to do it intentionally you know. No offence to the lad, but he doesn't exactly have expert knowledge of creating and handling high grade explosives. However one could also make the arguement that the firefight was a contributing factor to that explosion. A careless shot or grenade thrown in the wrong place could have set off a chain reaction which resulted in the explosion, and subsequent death of Noah's brother. So in a way, both sides are to blame."

"Both sides?" Asked the man, smiling wickedly now. "So, you're saying Hannibal caused the explosion?"

Hannibal wanted to defend himself. He wanted to say his side of the story, but all the courage he had earlier he been crushed out of him like a vice grip.

"Like I said, he didn't mean to do it intentionally mister. Hannibal was just trying to finish off a job that someone else started." Viola said, trying her best to defend Hannibal whilst thinking of a way to end this conversation; though she was possibly not doing such a stellar job of it.

"Thanks missy," The man took off his hat and wiped his brow before putting it back on. "Tha's all I needed ta hear." His hand flexed, reaching for the holster on his hip. Viola noticed the movement and immediately went to draw her revolver, spinning it once before aiming it at the man's chest.

"I don't think that is such a smart idea. Wouldn't want to risk a fire fight in such a crowded area, especially with all these civilians around. Don't you agree? Spare yourself a little dignity, and back down."

Hannibal's eyes darted back and forth as if he was watching a high paced tennis match. "Hehehe, alright missy." He put his hands up and did a jazz hands motion. "Jus' watch ya'self around tha' lil dirtbag there." He pointed accusingly at Hannibal. "Lil fucker can't do anythin' right."

"I DIDN'T BLOW HIM UP A GRENADE BLEW UP THE BOMB I WAS MAKING FOR YOU COS MCGREGOR TOLD ME TO!" He didn't even realise he had shouted until the man began laughing at him again.

"Jumpy lil ******." He turned on his heel and made his way out. "Noah gon' hear wha'chu did boy." And with that he was gone.

Hannibal began hyperventilating. He was 100% sure now. Gunderson wanted to kill him. What could he do? He couldn't fight them and he couldn't run forever. He was... "I'm... so screwed." He didn't know if that was a swear word, and he didn't like saying it anyway, but it was true. He was screwed.

Viola turned round and saw that Hannibal was in a pretty bad state, she felt partially responsible for what had happened; after all she was the one who was speaking in the defense of the boy. So she knelt down and looked at Hannibal with a loving, almost motherly expression on her face.

"Easy there now Hannibal, you don't want to cause yourself a mischief just because of what that man said. You may feel like the world is collapsing all around you, but rest assured you can defeat this, you've just got to believe in yourself Hannibal. All of this fear, it's all in your mind. If you can face your fears, and overcome them, you can accomplish anything. I'll try and help you as much as I can. Now then, how about we head on back?"

"Y-Y-Yeah, s-sure." He spoke. He listened to her words, but how could he conquer them? They were an entire bandit clan, and one of their bosses was now dead. And now they would all be blaming him. What could he have done? He was dead, even Viola couldn't protect him. He became docile as he followed every order she told him.

And he was in such a good mood as well. Viola sighed as Hannibal retreated into his shell of docile and complacent nature once more. It was going to take a miracle for him to break out of it, and a lot of work too. No sense in trying to start today, but they'd have to at some point, events were catching up to them. After a moment to regain their composure, the pair soon left the Grand Hotel, and made it back to where they were staying, stopping briefly at the brothel to send another status report to Cranston.

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

"Anyway, if y'all 'ar outta questions I reckon we should start loadin' up the crawlers."

Amy watched her leave, forgetting her mask for a second and allowing her gaze to un-self-consciously fix on Pixie's retreating form. When she realised what she was doing, Amy blinked stupidly and stared determinedly down at her breakfast, waiting until she was certain that either no-one had noticed, or that they weren't going to say anything if they had.

'Snap out of it girl!'

Looking back up at the rest of them, Amy leaned over to Bennie, who was looking grumpier than she'd ever seen him (and that was saying a lot). She knew that they'd be little point in asking what personal vendetta he had against Payton. If Bennie wanted to tell her, he would. Instead, she asked, "Is there really no-one else we can look to for help? I know it's short notice, but perhaps I could persuade The Gentleman to lend us a few of his agents... that is, if you trust him any more than you trust Wilkes-Vine."

 

[Terratina.]

'Christ.'

Maria frowned as Lilith went about Gorgon. The bleak atmosphere was somewhat sobering, thought it was kind of unfair for Lilith to talk such a serious topic when Maria had just woken up. Sure, the guy was out for Lilith's blood, but there was still that nagging feeling in the back of Maria's mind, alongside the headache. What was the number of bodies she had buried with the help of that oversized hoedad? Too many. Despite Lilith's flaws, Maria didn't want to watch her go away just to be killed. Maria reached for Lilith's hand and grasped it - her face full of worry.

"Just try not to die, okay?" She beseeched her.

 

[Fappy]

"So, Tsu. What's the plan? We finishing our drinks and pushing on?"

Before she answered him she took a sip of her drink.

It was fruity. And good.

So, she took another, larger 'sip'.

"Yes," She started, her cheeks already beginning to glow. "If she's clearly not here there is no point in lingering."

Bryan shrugged. It was a shame they couldn't enjoy a night out, but he supposed they did have a job to do. "So where do you suggest we look? I reckon we could try just fanning out from the Herring and seeing if anyone recognised her description or something."

Asad silently sipped at his whiskey, before scratching at the stubble on his chin. "We won't find her here." He said simply. "Think about it, she's a noble girl, she's getting outside help, otherwise we would have found her already, twiddling her thumbs in her room, not knowing what to do next." He pursed his lips. "Or she's dead. Either prospect doesn't bode too well for us."

One sip of the sake was enough for Jun, he didn't mind leaving the ceramic flask more than three-quarters full. At least talk turned to the actual mission itself, and the possiblilty of leaving the damn establishment.

And so, Jun's thought turned to the mission. The room in the Red Herring was empty, a gun casing was left on the floor and there was the relief squad staking out the place in case she had come back...

He drummed the table with his fingers and muttered, his speech already affected by the strong rice wine, "Were we too slooow?"

Bryan stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Thing is, if she's had help, where's it from? We'd know if her family, or one close to 'em had helped her. Dio's well updated with the Maribels, ain't he? So unless someone completely out of the blue has taken her away, I reckon she's probably still around somewhere."

Tsubaki sighed in frustration, "Here's what I don't get. Why are we saying 'get help'? Get help from whom?" She took a liberal swig of her drink. "Shouldn't she be actively seeking us out? As far as she's concerned, the Maidens captured her while she was on her way to her wedding. Shouldn't she still be on the run from them? If the Maidens haven't found her, then who would be hiding her from them?"

"Well," Bryan said. "Do we know who would want to keep her from help? Unless she got mugged in an alley or some shit and got killed... but no, who do we put on our list of suspects?"

He drained his glass and set it down.

Asad crossed his arms over his chest. "None of this adds up. If out intel is correct, she got away from the Maiden. Why not seek out Dio's men? Why run away?" The man clenched his jaw.

"I don't like it."

Jun thought on it - a Noble girl who was captured by the Maidens, who was now on the run from them with just inns and hotels and the like to turn to, whose world was turned upside down as soon as she was dragged out from her Noble life... As the alcohol flowed through Jun's bloodstream, he found it somewhat easier to speak his thoughts, even if he didn't know the full situation.

Still drumming his fingers, he muttered possibilities, "Panic, recaaaptuuure..."

Still, boozed up or not, he stopped himself before he began to ramble.

Bryan reached across and clapped Jun on the shoulder. "That's a point," he said. "The Maidens are fucken connected, right? How do we know some of their guys here in Feroxi didn't just get a radio call and snatch her the fuck up?"

Tsubaki ignored Jun's rapidly deteriorating mental state as she thought on Bryan's point. After another swig she was beginning to feel it. The effects of the booze were evident enough on her face. Her cheeks were glowing red, "That could have happened, yes, but the innkeeper said he saw her this morning and she had already been staying there for a few days." She closed her eyes and stroked her chin. "Why didn't she go to Basilio Tower straight away?"

Bryan leaned across the table and moved the sake bottle away from Jun, lest the man consider it again. "Well, they could have just snatched her up today. And anyway, she was on that ship for a while, and it ain't uncommon knowledge that Monroe's out to get Dio. Could be she put ideas in his head, convincing her he's a psychotic sicko or something."

'Don't scream.'

Tsubaki clutched her forehead as painful, vivid memory washed over her. She damn-near knocked her drink over as she frantically reached out for it. After taking another large swig, she muttered, "Yeah," Looking at Bryan through her fingers, she continued. "C-could be that Monroe's brainwashed the poor girl."

"Either way, I don't see much happening tonight." Asad smiled weakly. "Seriously, what's the fucking deal with your types and booze? Jesus..." He chuckled as he took a swig of his own drink.

"Agreed on both counts," said Bryan with a forced laugh. "Anyway, maybe you've had enough, Tsu." In any other situation he would have laughed at two grown adults cathalling after one drink, but this time it didn't even occur to him.

Jun ignored the fact that his precious, precious sake had been taken away from him and Asad's quip about his and the Commander's inebriation.

"What to do about Miss. Maaaribel, then?" He thought aloud.

Tsubaki held her drink close to her chest and shook her head at Bryan, "I'm finishing it."

Asad ran a hand through his hair. "We have no leads, and no indication that she's even in Feroxi anymore." Frowning, he sighed through his nose. "We're good, but we ain't that good."

Bryan shrugged at his Commander's protectiveness over her drink. Turning in his seat, he exchanged a series of gestures with Gates the barman, pointing at the sake bottle and the door, then at himself, and walked his fingers through the air, then back at the bottle again. The barman shrugged and nodded.

"Right Jun, you can take this with you. I'll bring it back next week or some shit. Just go easy on it. Anyway, I guess we could do the next best thing and go looking for any Maidens what might be hidden in the city. Even if we don't find out what we need, getting rid of Maidens is probably seen as a service to ol' Dio."

Jun looked down for a moment. Under his breath, he muttered, "Finding her is our orders."

There was just no other to put it. To Jun, failure was not an option. Orders had to be carried out even if they were impossible. Hell, in the first place he had taken Tsubaki's suggestion to drink something as an order - look where that got him.

He silently acknowledged Bryan, it would probably be good to sip the rest during the evenings or something. The old cliché of drowning one's sorrows was probably true for Jun - because of the alcohol, somehow he felt better.

Tsubaki nodded, polishing off her drink, "H-h-he's right," She stuttered, planting both elbows on the table while lurching forward. "They're our orders. We follow them. We complete the mission. Simple as that." She scowled at the empty bottle before her. "Besides," She looked to Bryan. "What do you know of 'serving' Lord Basilio anyway? What have you had to do for him, huh?"

She pointed at him and gritted her teeth, "You're in it for the money, Bryan. Asad too." Her words dripped with venom. "You're not like us." She pointed between herself and Jun. "We're loyal. We'll do what we're ordered no matter what! Anything at all!"

Looking past Bryan, her jaw went limp as her mind wandered, "I'd do what ever he asked." Still staring one-thousand yards away, her lower lip began to quiver.

Asad pursed his lips.

"Only an idiot acts without thought." He snatched up his glass and downed the rest of the liquor. "You think Dio cares if we all died right now? This very second? You think that would even reach his desk?" He smirked. "Of course not, we're tools to him, we're not people."

The man got to his feet. "He keeps paying me, I'll keep working for him. But 'serving'?" He shook his head. "I need another drink."

Bryan had been staring in no particular direction after Tsubaki's outburst, lost in memory. "Never thought you'd turn down utter wealth, Mister O'Lafferty... I wonder what's changed?"

"Another one for me too, Asshole. And pour a shot of whiskey in it." He turned back to Tsu and Jun. "I think you two are at your limit though. If we do end up going back out there, maybe you two should go somewhere quiet and wait until you're seeing single again."

He ignored O'Lafferty completely and only focused on the other man's words. Fuck it, fuck what Asad said. He knew nothing about loyalty! Nothing about sacrifice in the name of duty. Jun bit his lip, he would have been an uncle by now if things had went swimmingly. Of course Dio didn't care, like the majority of citizens who had been reminded about the noble 'sacrifice' of those condemned to the mines. Jun's fist tightened and then relaxed, 'No, this has nothing to do with that.'

"Woorking or serving, we need to find that noooble. I doubt that Lord Basilio tolerates faaailuuures." Jun retaliated.

Absent-mindedly, Tsubaki nodded in agreement. Jun was right. Dio didn't tolerate failures. What of all this doubt she'd been feeling lately? Was she losing faith in him? Was she failing him?

Suddenly, Tsubaki's blank expression sank into a frown. Burying her face in her arms on the table, she groaned, "I need more. Make sure Bryan gets me more."

Bryan contemplated refusing. But Tsubaki would only go and get it herself if he did, and then glare at him. "Alright Tsu," he said. "Be right back."

Getting to his feet, he headed over to the bar, pushing through the crowd. "Hey Gates," he called out."

"Yeah, man?" replied Gates as he poured the drinks Asad had ordered.

"You still got those non-alcoholic beers you use to dick with the underage kids?"

"Yeah man, why?"

"My boss is insisting on more and she's near comatose after one. Pour one into a glass for me, yeah?"

"Sure thing."

Nodding, Bryan waited for the faux-beer, and then took it to Tsubaki. "There ya go, lass. Go easy on it."

"Thanks," Tsubaki muttered as she immediately brought it to her lips. After a sip, she sighed. "Do you think Lord Basilio wants us to kill her." Her words were hallow. It was as if she wasn't even paying attention to what she was saying at all.

Jun shrugged. Like he knew the thoughts of his superiors.

"Elizabeth?" Bryan replied, curiously. "I don't see why. I mean she was kidnapped. I think he'd have to be seriously fucked to want to kill his fiance for that."

Tsubaki was quiet for a long time before she replied; just staring at the glass in her hand, "The assignment we were given before Frostfall. The one regarding the wedding," She locked eyes with Bryan. "We were ordered to assassinate her. During the ceremony." There wasn't a hint of emotion in her voice.

Perhaps there was a reason Tsubaki didn't drink.

Approaching the table, Asad paused. "What?" He muttered angrily. "Are you fucking shitting me?" Asad slammed his drink down on the table.

Jun let a sigh, memories of that mission was flowing through his mind.

Bryan blinked. "THAT'S what our assignment was!? Jesus... I figured there'd be like... a guest at the wedding he wanted to get rid of. Shit... that's fucked."

Tsubaki didn't react to their outbursts. After a brief period of silence, she looked down at her hands and whispered, "It is what we are given. It is our duty."

Jun nodded. He felt that knew that more than anybody in the squad: duty or death.

"Fuck this," exclaimed Bryan. "I'm getting wrecked." He chugged the spiked beer with the ease of long practice.

"Duty my ass." He picked his jacket from off his chair. "Since when is murdering innocent girls, 'duty'" He stormed passed the table. "You can have my drink, I don't want it anymore."

That hit Jun hard. Innocent girls?! He had done that in the past, but he reminded himself that it was truly duty or death then - regardless of the outcome. He kept reminding himself that, in spite of the memory of her sweet face. Jun swallowed and then said, "Duuuty is duuuty. It is either that, or being killed by his other paaawns."

Bryan put down his glass. It sickened him that Jun would rather violate his moral code on such a base level than be killed for sticking to it. He didn't comment on this, though. Instead, he stood up and headed off to the bar, shouting, "hey Gates, gimme a yard of ale. We're fecking doing this right!"

Tsubaki had been rubbing her eyes in an attempt to will the booze away with Bryan ordered more drinks. By the time she'd regained some degree of composure, Asad had already crossed the bar and was heading out the door, "HEY!" She barked, stumbling out of her chair. Pushing through the crowd, she marched out the door. She was numb to the cool as it hit her face.

"ASAD!" She barked again, "WHERE THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?" Scrambling up behind him, she lowered her voice. "I don't recall dismissing you!"

Asad ignored the woman, until she was right on his ass. "I don't recall being okay with killing girls either, but that's the outcome of this job if we finish it." He said sternly, still walking at a brisk pace.

"No," Tsubaki chased after him. "We don't know that. Our orders are to bring her to the tower! What happens after that is anyone's guess!"

"The girl knows." Asad kept his eyes on the path in front of him. "She fucking knows she's a dead woman if Dio gets his hands on her." He clenched his jaw. "That's why we won't find her." He glanced at the woman, his eyes boring into her's. "It all makes sense now."

"Harel," She grabbed him by the sleeve and tugged him backwards. "Asad... we are soldiers. We follow orders. It is not our place to speculate the motivations of our superiors. We do as they say. Is that clear?" Her voice was firm, resolute even, but her eyes told a different story. She was distressed.

He stopped his march as the woman grabbed him, turning to look her straight in the face. Something was different. "Yeah?" He muttered, pulling his arm from her grasp. "You don't even believe your own bullshit anymore, so why should I?"

"Don't speak to your superior that way!" She shot back, looking up at the much taller man with scorn in her eyes. "Know your place, Harel!"

He searched her face, his own expression softening. "Like you know yours?" He muttered. "Must be so gratifying, being an unquestioning lapdog." He crossed his arms across his chest. "Tell me, if he asked you to screw yourself, because he's far too busy murdering children to do it himself, would you? Of course you would, and you'd thank him for the honour too."

Tsubaki's hands balled into fists, "HOW DARE YOU!" Her blood was boiling. "Yo-you h-have no right to talk to me that way! NO RIGHT!" Closing her eyes and gritting her teeth, she reeled her hand back. A loud slap echoed down the street. By the time she'd opened them again, Asad's face was turned to the left and her palm was stinging relentlessly.

Panting heavily, tears began to well-up in her eyes as she stared the man down.

Asad didn't move for a few moments, before a small smirk curled the corner of his mouth. "Careful, Tsu, don't want to let emotions get in the way of the 'mission'." His eyes softened, as he raised a hand to his face, rubbing his cheek, he tutted. "Striking a subordinate."

******************************************************************************************************************************************************

"Is there really no-one else we can look to for help? I know it's short notice, but perhaps I could persuade The Gentleman to lend us a few of his agents... that is, if you trust him any more than you trust Wilkes-Vine."

Bennie's apprehensive disposition remained as Amy spoke, "No," He started, before realizing he was wearing his discomfort on his sleeve. He sighed and forced a grin. "To be honest, Amy, I wouldn't trust either of them with this. I can't argue the Captain's point though. As far as she's concerned, I need to re-earn my place. The last call I made on her behalf got a lot of people killed."

Getting up from his seat, he put a hand on her shoulder, "Look, I trust her more than anyone on the Rock. If she says this is our best bet, then I ain't gonna argue the point. Despite how crazy she seems sometimes, she's got a sharp mind. She can probably see this whole situation better than any of us," He chuckled. "Even with just one eye. Now, come on." He beckoned, as he started after Pixie.

 

[Terratina.]

Bryan was vaguely aware of Tsubaki heading out the door behind him. Any other time, this would have concerned him. However, his emotions were in conflict, and he'd just been given the cure. The sea of people were surrounding him now, yelling "chug, chug, chug, chug!"

So he did. The meter tall glass emptied quickly.

Jun just sat there as Bryan finished his drink. The Commander did what she wanted, after all, she was his superior. Even if it was just walking away.

Bryan slumped down in his seat after pushing through the cheering crowd with two more mundane glasses of ale in his hands. Pushing the sake bottle back at Jun, he said, "drink."

He immediately drank another shot of sake. Why was he even obeying that order? Regardless, he felt the same sensation as the rice wine when down his throat. He just felt more... mellow.

Bryan took a drink from one of his pints and stared at Jun. "Let me ask you man, seriously. Orders is orders, but are you seriously fuckin' comfortable with killing this girl just fer the bad luck of knowing that fucker?"

"I have done worse." Jun admitted.

"And when I were on the streets, I ate bread I saw someone piss on," Bryan shot back. "Don't mean I were comfortable with it. Answer the question."

Jun had killed any objection he had long before. One girl's life didn't matter, out here in the Ashlands, it was all about survival. The question was sobering, to say the least. He steeled himself and answered, "Yes."

Bryan chugged more of his drink and sat back forlornly. "Then you're even more of a robot than I gave ya credit for," he said. Congratulations."

[i']I don't even deserve the status of a human.'[/i] Jun thought to himself. He didn't have a reply ready for Bryan. He just sat there and accepted the insult.

Bryan finished the first of the two pints, watching Jun as he did so. Insulting the autistic bastard wouldn't get him anywhere.

"Fuck this, I'm gonna go find the others before they start beating on each other." He got up and headed to the exit, pausing to shake his head clear.

Jun was left with the flask of sake, maybe he would finish it...

The colder air hit Bryan in the face as he barged out into the street, making a shocking change from the pub's stifling interior. He looked in both directions. Nobody to be seen aside from various flocks of strangers. He headed left around the corner. No Asad or Tsubaki to be seen, but he kept going. He was about to turn back when he heard a yell and the sound of a bin being knocked over.

After a moment's consideration, he headed into the alley. What he saw was a kid sprawled on the ground, getting the shit kicked out of him by some middle aged guy. The kid, Bryan recognized.

***​

Everyone had left, therefore Jun had to leave too. He had no pity for Asad as the man rubbed his cheek. He simply said, "Returning to the barracks might be aaadviiisaaable, Commander."

 

[The Funslinger]

"Even with just one eye. Now, come on."

"Yeah, sure thing," replied Ruffles, getting to his feet and taking a stack of toast with him. "If anyone wakes me up before we get there, I'mma taze their asses, by the way."

As they made their way out, Ruffles bent down and filched a small cushion that decorated one of the sofas and took it out to the Crawler. Bounding into the back seat, he stuck his feet out under the seat in front of him, wedged the pillow behind his head and shut his eyes.

 

[The Funslinger]

"You fucking try to steal my money, ya little shit? YOU'RE GONNA FUCKING PAY FOR THAT ONE!" snarled the man, still with his back to Bryan as he assaulted the boy Bryan had taught to pick pockets earlier that day.

Bryan advanced quietly despite being somewhat drunk. When he was close enough to smell the sweat coming off the other man, he reached out and grabbed one of his arms, bringing it up and back, then down in a sharp motion. The man only had time to gasp in surprise before there was a crunch and a pop as his arm was wrenched from its socket to hang limply at his side. He fell to his knees, uttering a scream that was barely human. People blocks away might hear that, but it meant nothing to Bryan.

Spinning the man around, he shoved him so he sprawled on his back. Pausing only to grasp hold of the brass knuckles still hanging from his neck and snap the cord, Bryan dove on the assailant, bringing his fist down again and again and again and again...

After some time, he got to his feet, moving on from the mesh of meat, cartilage and broken teeth and started stamping on the man's chest and gut, much as he had been doing to the boy. The boy was still lying on the ground, clutching his midsection and this topped off Bryan's almost wavering fury.

After a while, he stopped and collapsed against the wall of the alley. His right forearm and boot were soaked in blood, and it was speckled heavily across his face and shirt. The boy had sat up, now and was watching him.

"Can ya stand?" Bryan asked. The boy got to his feet, grunting. But he managed it. "Can ya walk?" Bryan asked. The boy thought and nodded.

"There's some charitable old doc operating out of that old hostel on Teak Street. You know where that is?"

The boy nodded a third time.

"Ya want me to take ya?"

The boy shook his head, and limped away. Sighing, Bryan put a hand on the neck of the man he had beaten down. No pulse. Well shit. He continued to sit there, not really caring. That kid... it seemed like he just had a pair of cracked ribs, but Jesus... reaching into his jacket, Bryan pulled out his flask and took a swig. Pocketed it again, and got up. Then wandered back out of the alley. He felt very tired all of a sudden.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

"Careful, Tsu, don't want to let emotions get in the way of the 'mission'... Striking a subordinate."

Tsubaki was burning up. Her whole body was trembling. She had no idea what to do. How to proceed.

"Returning to the barracks might be aaadviiisaaable, Commander."

"Harel," She started, looking at her feet now. Her voice was weak. "Show Moon back to the barracks, please. He has had too much to drink."

"Moon can find his own damn way back to the barracks." He glanced at the other man. "Sorry bro." Turning his attention back to Tsubaki, he crossed his hands across his chest. "What happens when people refuse to do what you order them to?"

Jun just blamed Bryan and Tsubaki for getting him to drink, of course Asad had nothing to do with it and of course Asad would have nothing to do with a lowlife like Jun. He accepted that and began to wander towards the barracks.

"That was an order, Harel." She muttered. Her struggle to hold it together was painfully obvious.

Asad smiled slightly. "Oh? And what if I decide I don't work for the asshole anymore? What then?" He was pushing it, really pushing it. The real question was how far?

"Do-don't call him an asshole, Harel. Don't do that," She staggered forward clutching Asad's jacket with one hand and holding her knee with the other. Her legs were giving out. "He-he, Lord Ba-basilio is a good man. He's an honorable man. He saved me, Asad."

She grabbed his jacket with her other hand and pulled herself up, looking him in the eyes. Her cheeks were stayed with tears, "Whatever he says... whatever he needs me... us to do. We will do it. Don't you understand that, Asad? It's for the good of the people." She bowed her head. "I 'd do anything he asked."

Asad raised an eyebrow. "Asshole wants us to send a girl to her death. Pretty asshole behaviour to me." Grabbing one the woman's arms, he helped her stay on her feet. "Christ, you're drunk." He chuckled.

Tsubaki looked back up at him through the tears, "Fuck you, Asad! Don't laugh at me!" She began sobbing as she rested her forehead against his chest. "You-you don't understand! You can't understand! You don't know the kind of man he is!" Her voice softened. "He's... gentle. He's so... nice to me."

"So what? He's nice to you? What does that even mean?" Grabbing her by the shoulders, Asad pushed Tsubaki away from his chest. "Seriously? 'He's nice to me!'" He mocked.

Tsubaki stumbled backwards, her rear falling hard against the cobblestone street. Reeling forward, she planted her hands on the ground in front of her. Her head hung low as she continued to whimper through her tears, "You-you don't get it, Asad. He's a good man. He-he-he-he's a GREAT MAN!"

She choked up a bit. Her head and stomach were swimming. She felt like she was about to vomit again, just like earlier this morning, "I-I-I would never let anyone less than that do those... things to me! Don't you get that!? I wouldn't!"

Asad squatted down beside the inebriated woman. "Hmm? Did what?" He queried.

Tsubaki went still, realizing what she had just said. Keeping her eyes glued to the ground, she whimpered, "Fuck you, Asad." Was all she could say.

He grinned. "Well, whatever you get up to when you're off duty is none of my concern." He held out a hand. "Now, are you gonna decorate the sidewalk all night, or do you want me to take you back to your place? Since gravity seems to be kicking your ass right now."

"No," She muttered, meeting his gaze. She leaned back and began wiping the tears from her eyes. "I don't need your help. I don't fucking want it, either." Crawling over to a nearby building, she struggled to her feet against the wall.

"Go back to the barracks. Get some rest," She sighed. "We still have our mission." And with that she started down the street, the opposite direction Jun had left down. Wherever it was she was going, she clearly wanted to go alone.

"Yeah, no, my mom would kick my ass if she knew I let a wasted friend walk home on their own." He paused for a second before smirking. "Jun isn't my friend."

Tsubaki ignored him as she continued down the street; turning in at the first alleyway she came across. Perhaps he'd give up and go home. That was all she wanted right now. To be left alone.

"You're going the wrong way." Asad cooed. "Pretty sure that way leads to inevitable regret and possible stabbings." Putting his hands in his pockets, he began to follow her.

She could hear his footsteps behind her and continued to ignore them. Then, about halfway down the alley, she spilled against the wall, falling to her knees. Her hands planted firmly against the brick, she lurched forward and vomited in the space between her knees.

She felt absolutely horrible.

Sauntering his way over to the vomiting woman, he crossed his arms, leaning his back up against the wall behind her. "Need me to hold your purse, or hair, or fuckin' whatever?" He was enjoying this far more than he should have been.

After heaving a few more times, she began panting heavily. Her whole body was on-fire and she suddenly felt very lightheaded. Despite all that, Asad's words still made it to her, "N-no, please..." She clutched her forehead with one hand. "Just leave me alone... Please..."

"Leave you alone to spew your insides out in the gutter? Have you even met my mother?" He chuckled. "She would literally kick my ass." Sighing, he pushed himself away from the wall, leaning over beside the woman, he looked in her in the eye. "Are you okay?" He asked softly.

She glanced up at him, her head still bowed. She coughed, "Do I look okay to you?!"

"I dunno, wipe that mystery chunk off your bottom lip and nobody would be any the wiser." Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a handkerchief and offered it out to her. "I haven't used it, don't worry."

Tsubaki hesitated a moment before reluctantly accepting it. Wiping her mouth off, she furrowed her brow, "Why are you doing this? After everything you said to me? Don't you hate me?" She rested her forehead against the brick wall and closed her eyes. "I'm just a mindless 'lapdog' to you, aren't I? I thought you were different, Asad. I really did. I'm sure you know... all the things they say about me."

Tears began to well up in her eyes once more, "I pay most of them no mind. If they're too weak to say it to my face there's no point fretting over them. But my superiors," She looked at Asad. "They never let me hear the end of it. They're always pushing me. Prodding me. They call me his 'pet'. Do you know how DEMEANING that is?!"

"Tsu-Tsu, you are a lapdog." His expression hardened. "You would have killed that girl, and thought nothing of it, because Dio the Untouchable told you to." His expression didn't change as he grabbed her chin, lifting her head, "He told you to fuck him didn't he." He wasn't asking. "Surely even you can see it."

Tsubaki's lower lip began to quiver as she searched his eyes frantically, as if she were looking for some kind of way to escape the conversation. As his words sank in, her heart dropped into her stomach and she just felt... defeated. Collapsing into his arms, she began sobbing uncontrollably.

If that wasn't a validation of Asad's claims, nothing was.

"Shhhh." Comforted the woman as she wept into his jacket. His favourite jacket. "It's okay, I only think about thirty percent less of you now, no big deal." He joked as he tried to lighten the mood. Stroking the back of her head, he sighed. "Jesus, woman, what were you thinking?"

Tsubaki shook her head, smearing her tears all over his jacket, "I don't know," She whimpered as beliefs she didn't recognize began to tumble through her mind and out of her mouth. "I-I-I was afraid to say 'no'. I didn't know what he would do, or-or... how he would feel. He's done so much for me. He's given me my life back, an-and a purpose!" Her words got caught behind a knot in her throat. "Wh-what right do I have to refuse him?!"

"Christ..." Asad chuckled. "You have every right to refuse his creepy ass advances." Cupping the side of the woman's face, he wiped away her tears with his thumb. "I ain't sayin' you're stupid for thinking so highly of the creepy bastard, but you're stupid." He furrowed his brow. "Think about it, what kind of man does that to a woman? To anybody? Do you think that makes him deserving of respect? I get it, you think you owe him, but I bet he wasn't helping you because he wanted to help you. Only himself."

Tsubaki withdrew her head halfway through his explanation and stared into his eyes. He was trying to help her. Even though he was saying these terrible things about her lord, he was trying to comfort her. She could tell. Was he not like everyone else? Did he really mean this? Did he really care for her?

Her eyes quivered as they lost themselves in his. She felt funny. And then, oddly, she felt a tugging sensation in her chest. Evidently, her body was several steps ahead of her mind as she threw herself at Asad. Grasping the side of his face with one hand, she pulled herself in for a passionate, clumsy kiss.

The poor man was caught completely offguard, almost tumbling backwards as the woman tackled his face with her face. For a brief few moments, he had no idea how he felt about the entire situation, before settling into the kiss for a few short moments.

Gently peeling himself away from Tsubaki, he chuckled, "Mmmm, booze and vomit." He closed his eyes and gave her a toothy grin.

"My favourite"

Tsubaki's eyes looked as if they'd returned from the back of her head as she and Asad looked at eachother once more. Completely flustered, she put her hand over her mouth, "I am so sorry, I-I-I," She blinked frantically. "That was so inappropriate!"

"Inappropriate..." He trailed off, an eyebrow raised. "That's one word, I suppose." He smirked. Helping the woman to her feet, he peeled the jacket from off his back, draping it over the smaller woman's shoulders. "C'mon, let's get you home, before you do anything else you'll be regretting in the morning." He smiled as he placed his hands in his pocket, holding out a bent arm for her to hold.

Tsubaki struggled at first, but thankfully Asad managed to support enough of her weight for her to walk straight. As they started for the base, Tsubaki blushed and looked at her feet, "Let's not mention this to anyone... ever." She whispered in embarrassment.

"Oh?" Asad smiled. "But I can mention it when it's just the two of us, yeah?" He chuckled. "Because frankly, Tsu-Tsu, I don't think I could live with myself if I didn't bring it up at every opportunity."

"Remind me to fuck you up when I am sober," Tsubaki allowed herself a small laugh. "Thanks."

"By 'fuck up' you mean..." He gave the woman a cheeky grin.

"God dammit. Shut up."

"Just checking."