November 23rd
The little coffee stand that Rayvinn frequented for a special blend of chai tea was closed this evening as the sun had already set. Since the bizarre happenings around the city, many smaller businesses had been packing up early, figuring the few coins they might make if they remained open wouldn't be enough for their loved ones to pay for their burial plot.
With a furrowed brow, she made her way towards Dockside where her second favorite coffee shop was located. Didn't the crazy elf know better than to push her luck by going to the docks after dark? The fog should be rolling in soon, after all. Of course, Raye wasn't naive...but she realized that whatever could possibly be lurking around the night covered docks was more in danger from her than she was from it.
She didn't try to soften the sound of her steps as she moved along the Boardwalk, the clacking of the heels of her boots tapped out a solitary rhythm interrupted by the frequent calls of the brothel whores and bawdy laughter of the sailors on shore leave. Rayvinn was comfortable here, not feeling that she was under the constant scrutiny of whomever it was that was watching her that day. Paranoid, she had been called before, and she wore her paranoia with honor; she knew what some others didn't...it wasn't paranoia if someone really was watching.
Sidetracked by a particularly loud group of fishermen that were gathering up their equipment after a semi-lucrative day; Raye laughed heartily as one of them waved her over, the others all whistling. "No thanks boys, I am far too much woman for the lot of you to handle." This brash comment was met with approving laughter and not a single man strayed from his task. Sometimes people just needed a laugh and Raye was happy to provide one.
*Finally* reaching her second favorite coffee shop, she frowned ferociously at the sign that deemed the place closed. "Apparently I am meant to be drinking more than tea tonight after all," she muttered to herself as she moved down the steps, hooking her thumbs into the belt loops of her favorite pair of worn jeans. She paused for a few moments to decide where she was planning to go tonight. Going back to the Inn was her least favorite idea; she grew tired of the endless stream of fools since she was now living there.
It was that time of the month; no, he wasn't in a bad mood, he just wasn't looking forward to what had to be done. The air by the sea had a mind of its own. It could be freezing cold inland and somehow be a comfortable bite close to the water; conversely, it could be hot inland and cold by the ocean. Regardless, at least the ride was enjoyable.
She could hear the bike approaching from behind her and, upon a glance, she'd recognize that blood-red customized softail. Going slowly enough to glance over and see a familiar face, his left foot found neutral and he ground to a halt just in front of her. She had a view of that wide rear tire and a laughing pair of eyes as he glanced over his shoulder. Hitting a button, the engine died so that they could talk without having to yell over the thunderous idle. Reaching down under the gas tank, a hidden toggle switch was hit and the frame of the bike dropped with a hiss of air. No need to drop a kickstand (which was missing on this bike), the bike parked itself right on its framerails.
?Well, well, well...If it isn't Billy Bad Ass.? A smirk, looking her over as he considered something. "Why not?", his eyes seemed to say.
?What're you doin' all the way out here?? His question was an obvious pleasantry, nowhere near what he was thinking about inviting her along to.
Rayvinn arched a brow as Dave stopped and parked the bike. "Who is this Billy Bad Ass and why are you calling me by his name?" Hand met jutting hipbone as she gave him a quick once over before giving the bike a nice lingering look. "Nice bike. Too nice for your ass to desecrate it." He received a crooked grin as she shrugged. "I was planning to get a job in that brothel over there. Or perhaps be a freelance whore on that dock right there." Her free hand pointed across the Boardwalk. Surely he would understand sick humor.
He laughed for her playful insult, shaking his head in appreciation as he extended his arm to her. ?Come on, then...You can turn your first trick. I could use some backup? No amount of backup would help him but he wanted her to meet him. ?Got an errand to run. Pays good too.? His hand turned palm up and he beckoned her to him with two fingers. His arm stayed out so as to make it easier to climb on behind him. ?Watch the exhaust, now. It's as hot as you are, Billy.?. Payment would be discussed if she accepted.
With a shrug of thin shoulders, she stepped off the curb and swung the length of one of those make-your-jaw-drop legs over the bike. She swatted his arm aside with a grin, "This ain't my first ride, Davie boy." Settling herself on the seat behind him, legs were lifted to rest boot heels upon the footrest, and she slipped her arms around his waist. "Got nothin' better to do right now. And don't get excited, I'm just holding on for dear life. What am I backing you up on anyway?" Yeah, she climbed onto his bike for parts unknown to back him up doing gods only knew what. Crazy, right? This was the sort of life Raye enjoyed...never knowing what was gonna happen next..
He chuckled. ?If that's your way of saying 'thanks for the work' then you're welcome. Just a little job. Stand there, keep your hand on your weapon and look pretty.? That advice was bad advice and he knew it. Especially the looking pretty part. Just couldn't resist putting her into the sort of predicament that was out of her control. He wanted to see how she'd react. ?Five hundred now, five hundred if we walk out alive. Easy as pie.?
"You can keep your money, Dave. I have no need for it. You will owe me a favor with no questions asked when we walk out alive." Having someone owe you...worth far more than gold. As for his advice, she merely rolled her eyes. "Like I can do anything and *not* look pretty. Maybe your eyesight is bad and I should be driving this thing. Hm?" He received a light pinch to the stomach as she laughed. "You are welcome, by the way, for keeping your ass alive in a few minutes."
?No go.? A shake of his head. ?You're doing me the favor, not the other way around. You take the money or you take some form of payment.? He shifted on his seat, turning his back so that he was somewhat facing her. No smirk here. He was dead serious.
?What do you want? A slave? An appointment at the local f-ucking spa? Speak up.? Business before pleasure, as always. His words didn't carry the usual sarcasm that they did. He wanted to sort out the payment before they went any further. After all, a favor with no questions asked was a favor any businessman could do without.
"What the f*ck would I need a slave for? Where the hell would you even get one?" Raye still had no idea what it was that Dave did for work. "What I want is someone to have my back if I find myself in a situation I can't get out of. Someone that isn't going to ask me a hundred questions or give me lectures like I am some overgrown child. Deal or no deal, Dave?" She had plenty of friends to bail her out if she needed it but most were far better people than she and some of the situations she found herself in called for a certain type of backup.
He blinked for that first question. She had to be f'ing kidding him. He licked his lips as she spoke, listening to her explanation of what a 'favor with no questions asked' was. ?You got yourself a deal, Billy.?
The little coffee stand that Rayvinn frequented for a special blend of chai tea was closed this evening as the sun had already set. Since the bizarre happenings around the city, many smaller businesses had been packing up early, figuring the few coins they might make if they remained open wouldn't be enough for their loved ones to pay for their burial plot.
With a furrowed brow, she made her way towards Dockside where her second favorite coffee shop was located. Didn't the crazy elf know better than to push her luck by going to the docks after dark? The fog should be rolling in soon, after all. Of course, Raye wasn't naive...but she realized that whatever could possibly be lurking around the night covered docks was more in danger from her than she was from it.
She didn't try to soften the sound of her steps as she moved along the Boardwalk, the clacking of the heels of her boots tapped out a solitary rhythm interrupted by the frequent calls of the brothel whores and bawdy laughter of the sailors on shore leave. Rayvinn was comfortable here, not feeling that she was under the constant scrutiny of whomever it was that was watching her that day. Paranoid, she had been called before, and she wore her paranoia with honor; she knew what some others didn't...it wasn't paranoia if someone really was watching.
Sidetracked by a particularly loud group of fishermen that were gathering up their equipment after a semi-lucrative day; Raye laughed heartily as one of them waved her over, the others all whistling. "No thanks boys, I am far too much woman for the lot of you to handle." This brash comment was met with approving laughter and not a single man strayed from his task. Sometimes people just needed a laugh and Raye was happy to provide one.
*Finally* reaching her second favorite coffee shop, she frowned ferociously at the sign that deemed the place closed. "Apparently I am meant to be drinking more than tea tonight after all," she muttered to herself as she moved down the steps, hooking her thumbs into the belt loops of her favorite pair of worn jeans. She paused for a few moments to decide where she was planning to go tonight. Going back to the Inn was her least favorite idea; she grew tired of the endless stream of fools since she was now living there.
It was that time of the month; no, he wasn't in a bad mood, he just wasn't looking forward to what had to be done. The air by the sea had a mind of its own. It could be freezing cold inland and somehow be a comfortable bite close to the water; conversely, it could be hot inland and cold by the ocean. Regardless, at least the ride was enjoyable.
She could hear the bike approaching from behind her and, upon a glance, she'd recognize that blood-red customized softail. Going slowly enough to glance over and see a familiar face, his left foot found neutral and he ground to a halt just in front of her. She had a view of that wide rear tire and a laughing pair of eyes as he glanced over his shoulder. Hitting a button, the engine died so that they could talk without having to yell over the thunderous idle. Reaching down under the gas tank, a hidden toggle switch was hit and the frame of the bike dropped with a hiss of air. No need to drop a kickstand (which was missing on this bike), the bike parked itself right on its framerails.
?Well, well, well...If it isn't Billy Bad Ass.? A smirk, looking her over as he considered something. "Why not?", his eyes seemed to say.
?What're you doin' all the way out here?? His question was an obvious pleasantry, nowhere near what he was thinking about inviting her along to.
Rayvinn arched a brow as Dave stopped and parked the bike. "Who is this Billy Bad Ass and why are you calling me by his name?" Hand met jutting hipbone as she gave him a quick once over before giving the bike a nice lingering look. "Nice bike. Too nice for your ass to desecrate it." He received a crooked grin as she shrugged. "I was planning to get a job in that brothel over there. Or perhaps be a freelance whore on that dock right there." Her free hand pointed across the Boardwalk. Surely he would understand sick humor.
He laughed for her playful insult, shaking his head in appreciation as he extended his arm to her. ?Come on, then...You can turn your first trick. I could use some backup? No amount of backup would help him but he wanted her to meet him. ?Got an errand to run. Pays good too.? His hand turned palm up and he beckoned her to him with two fingers. His arm stayed out so as to make it easier to climb on behind him. ?Watch the exhaust, now. It's as hot as you are, Billy.?. Payment would be discussed if she accepted.
With a shrug of thin shoulders, she stepped off the curb and swung the length of one of those make-your-jaw-drop legs over the bike. She swatted his arm aside with a grin, "This ain't my first ride, Davie boy." Settling herself on the seat behind him, legs were lifted to rest boot heels upon the footrest, and she slipped her arms around his waist. "Got nothin' better to do right now. And don't get excited, I'm just holding on for dear life. What am I backing you up on anyway?" Yeah, she climbed onto his bike for parts unknown to back him up doing gods only knew what. Crazy, right? This was the sort of life Raye enjoyed...never knowing what was gonna happen next..
He chuckled. ?If that's your way of saying 'thanks for the work' then you're welcome. Just a little job. Stand there, keep your hand on your weapon and look pretty.? That advice was bad advice and he knew it. Especially the looking pretty part. Just couldn't resist putting her into the sort of predicament that was out of her control. He wanted to see how she'd react. ?Five hundred now, five hundred if we walk out alive. Easy as pie.?
"You can keep your money, Dave. I have no need for it. You will owe me a favor with no questions asked when we walk out alive." Having someone owe you...worth far more than gold. As for his advice, she merely rolled her eyes. "Like I can do anything and *not* look pretty. Maybe your eyesight is bad and I should be driving this thing. Hm?" He received a light pinch to the stomach as she laughed. "You are welcome, by the way, for keeping your ass alive in a few minutes."
?No go.? A shake of his head. ?You're doing me the favor, not the other way around. You take the money or you take some form of payment.? He shifted on his seat, turning his back so that he was somewhat facing her. No smirk here. He was dead serious.
?What do you want? A slave? An appointment at the local f-ucking spa? Speak up.? Business before pleasure, as always. His words didn't carry the usual sarcasm that they did. He wanted to sort out the payment before they went any further. After all, a favor with no questions asked was a favor any businessman could do without.
"What the f*ck would I need a slave for? Where the hell would you even get one?" Raye still had no idea what it was that Dave did for work. "What I want is someone to have my back if I find myself in a situation I can't get out of. Someone that isn't going to ask me a hundred questions or give me lectures like I am some overgrown child. Deal or no deal, Dave?" She had plenty of friends to bail her out if she needed it but most were far better people than she and some of the situations she found herself in called for a certain type of backup.
He blinked for that first question. She had to be f'ing kidding him. He licked his lips as she spoke, listening to her explanation of what a 'favor with no questions asked' was. ?You got yourself a deal, Billy.?