I'm standing back with my arms crossed this whole time, watching this little exchange unfold, when the new arrivals show up with someone on a stretcher. I tap Sash, and whisper, "go get Fleece... Let 'em know someone's looking for 'em."
I found Fle…
Like how she just diffused a bomb of a situation for us downstairs?"Yes. Yes I do." I pause a moment before adding, "but that's up to you. You earned your keep today."
My fist finds its way to a nearby wall, hard enough that I have to shake off the pain of hitting a stud. "This witch comes into our fekin' home, lets a bunch of raiders sack one of our carriages, takes the fekin' loot from the raiders, gives a small…
I shake my head, and take a step closer to her."Sierra, if anyone's put a target on my back today, it's me. I ain't some innocent soul that needs savin'. Say you're right, and some crazy witch is watchin' you, plottin' the demise of folks around you…
Honestly, that whirring noise is feking everywhere... I'd basically drowned it out. It took me a few tries to catch it."Yeah. I hear it lots. The room is yours, Sierra... All night. No interruptions, if you want it. A deal is a deal..."
I don't bother following her into the room. I realize it may not sound like it, but her privacy in that room was a part of the deal, and I respect deals in this establishment. She thanks me, and I nod. "Right... Well, we're just downstairs if you ne…
I follow her eyes down to my hand, and watch the color drain from her face. My eyes narrow, and I gently put a hand on her cheek."I like dangerous." My fingers slip down to her chin, and I brush her soft skin... "Why don't you head on back to my roo…
That catches me off guard; nothin' about today is exactly straightforward, but I'm not so sure I grasp exactly what she's sayin' now. I've heard-tell of this "feed" some folks talk about, but I can't say I believe it. Not really... I don't think les…
Shite... I'm so fekin' terrible at this... I get down on the floor next to her, and gently rest a hand on her shoulder. Her skin's so fekin' soft compared to folks born in here. It's smooth. Cared for. It's the kind of thing I teach my girls to fake…
I search the bathroom for her when I open the door, then I spot her on the floor, and step inside, closing the door behind me. It wouldn't be the first time I've been in here with some poor girl – usually drunk, or doped, out their mind – wipin' puk…
I take a deep breath, and lean closer to the door. She's here... That sure as shite ain't OK."You decent? I'm comin' in..."
I give her a moment to object before reachin' for the knob.
I'm practically up to the bathroom by the time I notice Sasha comin' up to give me a piece of her mind — whatever the hell that's about ― and I shove a finger in her face, and shake my head."Now would be a bad fekin' time, Sash. Cook off."
People t…
What the blazin' hell just happened? I'm standin' here with my mouth ajar, watchin' Sierra bolt for my room, wondering whether I should chase after her or not... I think I should, but duty calls... I crane my neck around, to catch Ziggy's peripheral…
Fekin' JD. Our hands are drippin' in blood, not unlike the times we've gutted a few delinquent road agents for fekin' up our action. Granted: nobody was gunna miss them cookin' low-lives, and I seem to remember tellin' JD at one point that, "we didn…
So now I'm famous? News to me... I get to work, slittin' throats until there ain't none left but Ziggy's, and Preen's. Then, for good measure, I point JD to Preen as I take up a place behind Ziggy, gently placing my knife at her throat, without actu…
I chuckle to myself. Shake my head."I feel like that's a crime... Smart, pretty girl like you." I look over, watch her hands shake, but decide not to say nothin' — at least not yet.
The statement almost sounds ridiculous — but the lady has certainly given me an opening... I slip to the back of the bunch, and pull out a knife — I ain't got a problem slitting the throats of these blazebrains. I take my knife, and bring it up to t…
Hearin' Sierra call my name is like being asked to dance a jig when you're fried out your fekin' mind on a ball of dope the size of your fist... I heard what she said, but I wasn't aware of nothin' that came before it."We wot now?" I clear my throat…
I grit my teeth, and barely contain a wild sneer. I dunno what the fek she's talkin to Sierra 'bout — but this will not stand. I send Marigold off regular to poach new girls from the Depot once a year — this is one of them trips. She ain't exactly o…
Shite.
My eyes narrow into thin slits, and my hand gets itchy for that knife in my jacket... I could just knife this ugly cookin' witch, and be done with it; but I get the impression these rocksuckers, especially that pretty one with the chainsaw, …
My brow furrows, and I shake my head — disappointed like."Ziggy," I whisper, low and raspy, "you're talkin' to a man that funds the people who do that kind of work... Those kinds of threats, scary as they are, gotta mean you'd be the one doin' the l…
I'd say I let the insult roll off me like water off a duck's back; but first of all, what's a cookin' duck, and secondly, I don't take kindly to people disrespecting me in my own joint."Esco. My boy JD is back there behind the bar." I toss a thumb o…
Shite – I was hoping she'd come in here direct to me – let me keep one hand on Cooker. I kick JD below the bar, and make my way out to her when the music finally stops. "Ziggy," I call, all professional and shite, "I presume..."