Topic: Dangerous New Friend

Tommy

Date: 2006-06-20 21:31 EST
?Tonight we?re going recruiting. If we?re gonna kick some ass and start making some serious coin, we?re gonna need some more muscle.? Tommy watched Skyler over the horizon of his wineglass as he sipped. They were dining alone in the back room of Ruth?s Steakhouse, seated in a dim booth in the corner. An oil lamp at the end of the table was the room?s only light. It glowed only enough to illuminate their plates and hands, leaving their faces in shadow. On each of their plates was a big, fat, juicy steak.

Skyler gave a nod, but was more interested in watching his boss eat. The smell of raw meat hung in the air as the Figure cut into his runny sirloin, cooked rare. Tommy had a way of snarling as he ate, as if he was a wild animal tearing into his prey. Skyler seemed to find it fascinating. Others found it disgusting.

?Who are we looking for?? the boy asked.

Tommy croaked back at him, his lips glistening with greasy blood. ?You told me this is some medieval fantasy geek city. I want someone who can cast some spells and kick some ass.? He paused to chew thoughtfully. ?A sorcerer. That?s who we need. Let?s find us a sorcerer.?

Skyler looked disappointed. ?I hate sorcerers. They think they?re so cool with their stupid magic powers.?

?You afraid of a little magic?? Tommy glared at him with a mouth full of steak. ?Don?t be a bitch. He?ll be working for us.? He swallowed and picked up a napkin to wipe steak juice from his chin.

?I thought we were going to burn down that orphanage tonight,? the youth complained, glumly.

?We?ll do that later,? Tommy barked back at him. ?Got any idea where we should start looking??

Skyler looked down at his plate and shrugged. ?The Red Dragon Inn, I suppose.?

Tommy took another sip of his wine and nodded vaguely. He bit down hard into a bite of steak. It made a moist squishing sound as grease squirted from his mouth and hit the plate.

When their meal was consumed, the two of them left the steakhouse and made their way to the Inn, moving purposefully through the night.

They reached the establishment around midnight. Tommy strode up the stairs and shoved through the door like he owned the place. Skyler followed behind him.

?I?m looking for a sorcerer. Anyone in here know how to use magic?? Tommy scowled from face to face, waiting for a response.

Gasher

Date: 2006-06-20 21:44 EST
Late one night, a gaunt young sorcerer named Gasher Gogandantes Timecloak entered the Red Dragon Inn. He was lean an insubstantial, dark of hair and eye. He was broke, penniless and melancholy. He wore a huge sombrero as wide as his body. The collar of his long black robe was flipped up, a discretionary measure. He slipped into a booth and hunched over the table as if hiding from someone. No one could see his face, obscured by the massive hat.

Then, one of the biggest, most terrifying men Gasher had ever seen came through the door. He was an enormous thug, with rings on his fingers, bracelets on his wrists, chains around his neck, and tatoos on his forearms. He stood amongst the patrons, gazing around at them like an angry, drunken father who'd just returned home to find his annoying children underfoot. A teenage boy with long pretty black hair and smooth skin followed behind him, arms folded over his slender chest, glancing about skeptically.

?I?m looking for a sorcerer. Anyone in here know how to use magic?? The man scowled from face to face, waiting for a response.

Gasher glanced up and peered at the thug from beneath the brim of the sombrero. Tentatively he raised his hand. ?I do.?

When the thug saw Gasher he stomped over to the booth that he occupied and sat down across from him. ?The hell's your name, jackass?"

The teenager followed in the large man's wake and took a seat at his side, scowling at Gasher with distrust and dislike. ?What kind of magic can you do? Probably gay magic, eh? Loser.?

Gasher felt threatened by the volatile young man, afraid to respond.

"Speak up! I'm Skyler Jackson Chamberland, the Vile Villain, and this is Tommy Hill Figure. Don't mess with us, dude. We'll kill you."

Gasher studied the two of them nervously and gave an uneasy shrug. ?I know a few spells. I can make myself . . .dim. I can manipulate fire.? He lowered his voice. ?You guys hiring? I need a job bad.?

Skyler glanced up at Tommy to see what the man thought of this prospect. ?Tommy, I think he's gay. Let's find someone else.?

?Shut-up,? Tommy scolded him. ?Don't be calling anyone gay with hair like you got.? The Figure?s cruel eyes flashed back to the sorcerer. ?So you're a sorcerer, huh? Prove it. I wanna see a spell.?

Gasher pressed his eyelids closed. The light around him flickered oddly. Slowly he faded from view, until it appeared the bench he occupied was entirely empty.

?CREEP!? Skyler shouted, pointing an accusatory finger at Gasher. ?I bet you use that trick to sneak into women's bedrooms at night and watch them undress.?

Tommy smiled grimly, impressed by the sorcerer. He swatted Skyler on the back of the head. ?Shut-up. You're only saying that cause that's what -you'd- do if you could turn invisible. Do something else,? the Figure prodded Gasher. ?Do something with fire.?

Gasher hesitantly watched the two of them from beneath his sombrero (ever the shy and nervous type), then went about his next display. He fixed his gaze on Skyler and parted his lips. Inside, a flame sprang to life near the back of his throat, illuminating the cavern of his mouth. His eyes flashed orange, as if flames danced behind them. Then, he exhaled at Skyler, a fine plume of fire issuing from his mouth and warming the air between them.

The boy lurched back and shrank from the flames. ?Cut it out, prick!?

Tommy began to laugh, an evil-sounding raspy dirge. ?Good. Very, very good. What's your name??

?Gasher Gogandantes Timecloak.? He lowered his chin to his chest, hiding his bashful eyes from the two of them.

?You don?t have very much self-esteem, do you?? Tommy asked.

The sorcerer shook his head.

?Well, Gasher. Want a job?? Tommy's cruel gaze bore into him, daring him to say no.

The sorcerer nodded. He needed some income, badly. ?For how long??

?This job is permanent. You'll have a salary and do whatever I tell you to do. You game?? There was no turning it down. Tommy's tone of voice left no room for a rejection.

Gasher was relieved. ?Yes.?

?Then let's go,? ordered Tommy. ?Get your ass out the door. We got an orphanage to burn down.?