Ask Whatever Pays Well

[Matias Vale]

Bakura​

Matias was assimilating to his new environment better than expected but the transition still could have been smoother. There were striking similarities between Savareen and Bakura that were discovered almost immediately. When he was dropped off in the capital city by the woman, he had been floored by what he first witnessed. Abandoned dust and mining towns were the grandest sights he had seen back on his planet but giant metal skyscrapers towered over him on this one, humbling and reminding him just how small he really was. Instead of sand dunes and cracked earth, lush green fauna surrounded him on all fronts, enveloping everything and a direct opposite to the desert. Where his body had grown accustomed to dry heat and a blazing sun, the cloudly skies and almost routine downpour were nearly a shock to his system. Everything was new to him, the lights, structures, people, everything and he soaked it in.

Upon his arrival, there was a brief period of time when there was only one item on Matias’ mind and that was food. Money was an issue as only a little amount had been saved by him when he was with the gang, the earnings split between them all. In order to save what he had, it resulted in him swiping whatever food he passed, open kiosks and other restaurants that were too busy to notice. It was common for him most nights to have a dinner date with an alley wall, dirty bowls and plates near him as he ravaged every meal. From tough hided animals he hunted to “served” and steaming food, he was in paradise as he ate his fill.

That window of bliss only lasted for so long as his thieving exploits became known quickly, security heightened within the markets and snuffing out that option. At that point he needed work and that’s when he found the similarities between the two. There were multiple sectors within the city, some poorer than others and leaving them lawless areas. Gangs ruled the territory and were a spitting image of back home, the strong preying on the weak. It was one of the rare times that the young man was actually thankful for Kodo’s harsh lessons. Matias was able to carve out his own little pocket in due time, the harsh lifestyle preparing him well as he found his footing and began to thrive in his own way.

Currently, Matias was in one of the slightly well-off sectors, patrols at least combing through the streets at responsible hours but that was about it. Clouds formed above as he rode down the narrow avenue on his bike, the engine rumbling softly as the sound echoed between the buildings. Passerbys ignored him, the sight a common one in this place. At the corner of the street was a cantina, other bikes resting at the front and where he pulled his into. Covered fiery optics flicked left then right before the speeder was shut off and dismounted from in one motion. Matias pulled down the wrap that covered his lower face and then the goggles, large specks of dried blood covering his left cheek. Both of his gloves were then slipped off, and his knuckles reddened and bloodied as well from his recently completed small job.

He entered the half-filled cantina, the door groaning loudly as his eyes swept to the counter first and to the older woman behind it wiping the surface down. She neared seventy years old, her white hair wrapped in a bun as she only wore civilian clothing. Despite her appearance, she was the local fixer of the sector and even Matias realized shortly that you don’t cross Milly. Upon hearing the door swing open, she raised a hardened gaze up toward him before pointing a finger, “No bleeding in my goddamn bar, Four.” A quick self-inspecting glance was offered before he strolled toward the counter, rolling with his nickname as he admitted gruffly, “Ideal it isn’t mine then.” With his foot, a stool was pulled out so he could sit. Milly remained quiet, one eyebrow arched at him before he simply rolled his eyes and reached into his jacket to toss a metal box before her. “There,” he murmured tiredly before pulling out a cigarra.

@Sreeya

 

[Edin Frost]

Bakura was a smuggler’s dream planet, but Edin had truthfully never bothered frequenting it. However, there were several jobs on the planet that appealed to him. One was to assassinate a high profile crook and another was to break into his hideout and rob him blind. There were tons of goodies Edin could sell on the black market. The trouble was that it was more than a one person job for the latter, so Edin would have to settle for just the hit job.

The Firrerreo found himself in a seedy cantina, walking in shortly after a dude that managed to get snapped at by the barkeep. He scoffed to himself but took a seat next to the man, slapping down a few credits to order himself a chocolate milk. Edin looked over towards where his target was seated at the back of the cantina with a group of people around him. It was a sleazy togruta man in a suit surrounded by rodians and trandoshans.

Edin smelled the cigarra near him, but he paid it no heed, his sharp gaze taking in sight of the man and rapidly committing details to memory. He wasn’t the Basilisk right now - he was a simple civilian that looked largely unassuming. As unassuming as Firrerreo could look anyway with his fangs and slightly elongated claws.

 

[Matias Vale]

Milly got the Firrerreo's order without a mention, she knew everyone had their personal tastes and if they paid for them, all the better. The customer accommodated, she reached for the box and slid it to her to open at an angle that only she could view. While she inspected it, Matias couldn't help but slowly bring his gaze to the man sitting next to him, questioning why he had to sit right beside him. He sought his own personal space but he agreed to be on his best behavior when on Milly's premises. Just as slowly as the first time, his gaze returned to the old woman as he took a long drag.

The inspection was signaled to a close when the compartment was shut and placed behind the counter, tucked away for her own deals. As she bent over to secure the box, she traded him with a credit chip slid across the counter and right into his hand. Matias gave a tilt of his head as he slipped the chip into his jacket, glad to see she was pleased as a verbal bite didn't accompany the payment.

That being said, she didn't leave him unscathed, her words undecipherable whether they held sarcasm, "I'm surprised the contents didn't come back to me shattered." Milly's gaze didn't lift once to him, her concentration on her work as she wiped down the counter. She would even smack both his and Edin's arms with the rag if they didn't move them for her.

Matias leaned back in his chair, smoke billowing out of his mouth and then caught by his nose before he replied nonchalantly, "You croak a lot when it keeps coming to a job well done." Numerous jobs had already been turned in by him, that evident with the number of bruises and cuts he had underneath his clothes.

Milly finished with the counter and threw the rag underneath the counter before offering to refill Edin's chocolate milk as she spoke, "Because I'm not your fucking agent. I have other customers. I didn't give you a fucking business card to clean me out." If Edin accepted the refill, she would take the assembled credits into a stack before smacking it on the wood twice, offering to leave the carton if he paid double. It wasn't a common purchase with her usual crowd.

Matias smirked before he pointed out quickly, "You could have kicked me out anytime. There is a reason I'm Four." Milly still hadn't learned his name and why she awarded him that title.

That fact made her quiet but only for a moment, "Fine, you want work. This should be simple enough." She then directed her attention to Edin, "Scat. Business." Milly's tone wasn't cold but it was clear for him to find a new seat. Once the Firrerreo was out of human earshot, she leaned on the counter and nodded to the Tortuga in the corner, "The cuck in the back. His name is Rashad Tybeth, a black arms dealer. Just strolled in and been facing some heat lately." It appeared that's why he was just sitting in the open.

Matias sighed softly, smoke escaping from his nose and creating a personal fog around his face before he turned slightly to glance at the Torgruta.

 

[Edin Frost]

Edin half listened to the conversation between the barkeep and the guy next to him. His main focus was on Rashad, profiling the men surrounding him. The Firrerreo glanced over when the woman refilled his glass and told him to get lost. Edin stared at the woman for a moment, an icy gaze in his eyes. However, he said nothing, calmly getting up to walk over to a table closer to his target.

The Firrerreo gathered that Rashad intended to visit a brothel after this and wanted two of his boys to go with him. This worked out in Edin’s favor. Being in this line of work for so long meant he usually networked accordingly. He spoke to crooks, prostitutes, orphans and everyone in between to learn every detail that could help his jobs. He knew exactly where Rashad’s treasure trove was and how to get to it and he also knew it was well guarded. It was enough to decide it wasn't worth pursuing.

It wasn’t long before the men rose to leave. Edin remained seated, slapping down a few more credits for tips. The Firrerreo would follow a few minutes later, keeping a fair distance. He watched the group disappear into the brothel and he kept his distance. The Firrerreo remained in an adjacent alley, watching for a specific woman. When he spotted her, he flagged her over.

“I’ll get in trouble if i’m here too long,” The pink twi’lek said as she arrived in the alley, glancing over her shoulder, “Can’t be lookin’ like I favor someone,” She grinned, “Though I wouldn’t mind giving you a discount,” She winked.

Edin only smiled in return, “Thanks for coming out,” He said, “Need to have eyes on the Togruta. Need his men pulled away from him and for me to have a way in.”

The twi’lek sighed, “I knew you were gonna ask for something that’s a pain in the ass,” She rolled her eyes, “You got credits for this? And we can't have bloodshed in the house, so you best have a better plan."

“You know I’ll take care of you,” Edin quipped right back, glancing over her shoulder towards the brothel entrance before he looked back at her, “May take a couple other girls to orchestrate this.”

 

[Matias Vale]

For a man with a price on his head, Rashad didn't display any concern, the man accompanied by two others as they drank and laughed it up. Matias scanned them all within a few blinks before returning his attention to Milly, another slow drag taken from his cigarra. "You want me to stoke the flames when he leaves?" The question was asked with genuine curiosity as he knew that her cantina was a neutral zone, a rule that even all the gangs respected within the sector.

Milly shook her head, "No, he hired my services. It just so happens you freed yourself up. That's what he's been waiting for." She didn't seem too pleased that he had been staying that long within her bar. In her line of work, she was privy to the actual price and tidbits of who was involved.

Matias couldn't help but chuckle then, "A protection gig. I'm starting to see how you plan on getting rid of me now." A suspicion was brewing within him that a few players were involved in this. If he was in the position to say no, he might have but that wasn't reality.

The older woman smiled somewhat humorlessly, "Two birds, one stone. I just signaled him on the comm. He'll be outside for you." Matias let out a soft sigh but stood up without breaking eye contact with Milly. As Rashad and his friends finally exited, he spun on his heel, breaking the silent clash before taking his leave too.

Approaching the others and barely taking a few steps toward them, Rashad turned to him and stated, "Know your role and keep your distance. We'll be visiting a few places and at the end of the night you'll get your payment." One of his friends spoke up, chuckling first as the alcohol on his breath was apparent, "You can even ease up, we'll take of him just fine." Rashad just jabbed his friend lightly in the chest with a laugh before motioning forward, "Let's get going."

Matias realized quickly what type of night this would be, the group barely lucid and not even bothering to ask his name. He wondered if could turn in the bounty himself despite already accepting the contract. Nonetheless, he followed after the group silently from the rear and kept vigilant. They quickly navigated to the nearest brothel and the headache this would turn into was just unfolding in front of him. As they approached the door, there were four guards, two with blaster rifles and the other with concealed weapons. One of them stepped forward toward Rashad but primarily looked at the rest, voice deep as a canyon, "No weapons. Rashad, you good."

Spotting the opportunity before him, Matias stepped forward quickly, tossing his cigarra as he bumped into Rashad. Through the contact, he slipped his knife smoothly into the man's back pocket. In front of the rest, he pulled out his blaster first and handed it to the guard, only glancing back to Rashad before murmuring, "My bad." Once the others were cleared, the group entered into the establishment without a hitch.

 

[Edin Frost]

Lexi, the twi’lek contact, guided Edin along towards a separate entrance. Edin had to pose as a client, and the fact that he was in civilian attire certainly helped. He had no real say on where his blaster could be stashed so he had to watch as Lexi casually slipped it down her underwear. He wasn’t one to judge, but clam grease was certainly not something he planned on dealing with when it came to using his weapon today. The Firrerreo kept his thoughts to himself as he followed her into the building.

It was a large facility with a wide space in the middle and rooms dotting the four walls for multiple stories. Girls were lined along the balconies inside, giving sultry looks and glances at the men walking in. Edin came in through the second story, looking down towards Rashad. He recognized two of the men, but why did he have a third with him? A second glance confirmed it was the guy that was sitting next to him at the cantina. Shit.

The Firrerreo sighed and looked at Lexi, “Can you get rid of the three tagalongs?”

The twi’lek pulled up her comlink and said a few words. Almost at once, two girls came out towards Rashad. They were both stunning and appeared to be Zeltron twins, “Hey big boy,” One of them purred as she dragged her fingers along his chest, “Today’s your lucky day. We got a two for one deal, but only for you,” She said as she cast a glance at the others that accompanied him and giving an almost pouty frightened look, “Your…friends look scary.”

Edin watched it play out from above, keeping a low profile. He just needed Rashad alone to finish the job and this was possibly the only time to get him isolated.

 

[Matias Vale]

Music practically pounded against his bones, reverberating through him, piercing Matia's core as he adjusted to the difference. Lights shifted from a variety of colors, filling the entire building with different hues of neon. It was recognizable, almost immediately, that the establishment was completely out of his payroll. Half naked Women lined the balconies and walked the floors, loose garbs covering them and most of them even donning maks that covered only the top or bottom of their faces. Their arms slithered out to whoever drew too close, trapping them within their embrace with expertise. He almost got caught himself, only avoiding the woman's grasp by pressing on and reminding himself of the point he was there.

They made it about halfway through the room before a new pair approached them, two pink-shaded girls who were completely striking. Matias couldn't even resist having his gaze scan over their features, drinking in their details without shame. At the same time, the pheromones struck him as well, unknowingly making him take a step closer toward the pair. Only when he saw one side of Rashad's face as he pulled one of them in, it gave him a rope to climb out of his haze. A shake of his head was given to fully clear him of it as his gaze focused back on his mark, solidifying his stance once more.

The two really spoke of just him, Matias the only one who wasn't drooling with his mouth agape at their figure. Instead of Rashad breaking his attention from the girls, he raised and then waved his hand. A new group of women came over, eagerly taking the opportunity as they pulled up to the other three. Both of the arms dealer's friends were easily distracted and found themselves pulled off to their own room or balcony. The third one tried to lead Matias away by tugging on his jacket but he countered and pulled her back into him. His gaze bore down on her as he gave a smirk, two pinched fingers lightly colliding against her chin to tilt her head up slightly before he took a step back, "Another time darling." Any other day, he would have dropped almost anything.

Snapping his head in the direction of last he saw Rashad, he found the man being walked to a red cushioned door, the "VIP" room. Matias sighed to himself before pushing through the crowd to reach the very door. When he finally caught up, Rashad finally turned to take a peek at him, groaning before commenting, "I guess I can't get rid of you. C'mon." There was irritation in his voice but he paid for his company, just like the girls.

 

[Edin Frost]

“Fuck,” Was all Edin could muster as he watched the target disappear into the VIP room. He turned to Lexi with a glare.

“Don’t blame me!” Lexi quipped back, “I didn’t know that dude was gonna bring his guard in for an orgy too,” She glanced over the balcony, “That’s a new one.”

“Ugh, is there another way in?”

“Not unless you cut out of the building, circle back around and get in that way orrr..”

“Or what?”

“You know, going through the good old vents.”

“I’m cutting down a portion of your earnings for this banthashit,” Edin said with a grumble.

Before long, the Firrerreo was crawling through the vents and the shaft that extended to above the VIP room. His smaller frame allowed him to fit through easily enough and he made his way over to peer down below. While he had no desire to watch the show below, his job was to find an opening to kill Rashad and book it. Edin had his gun ready and would just need to pop the grate and shoot him in the head.

 

[Matias Vale]

Unfortunately for the girls and Edin, he wasn't drunk or forgetful enough to consider that idea yet as he still recognized how much heat he had on himself. Even though this was all for pleasure, he still wanted to be alive the next morning.

A response wasn't mustered from Matias as he didn't need to provide actual reasons to be dismissed. If there was anything going to happen tonight, it was retrieving the credits he had been promised.

The group approached the entrance, Rashad flashing some type of reflective card to the bouncer that was recognized immediately. Without a word spoken, the man reached to the side and pulled open the door for them. There was no hesitation within Rashad as he pulled the girls after him energetically, each one giggling in their company. A stark opposite, Matias paused at the door, his optics trained forward on the next entry down the short hall. A soft exhale was pushed out, the moving neon lights causing him to squint slightly in discomfort. After a moment of acclimating and roll of his shoulders, he finally stepped forward and caught up with the others.

The VIP room was massive and lit once again like the rest of the brothel, neon lights flashing and switching in and out from different colors and music that bounced from wall to wall. In the middle of the space, the floor was sunken a little, the square inhabited by rows upon rows of occupied beds, tangled bodies on each one. Moans frequently mixed in with the music as the room smelled of sex and sweaty bodies. A large stream of people walked around the perimeter, a majority of them naked men and women that spectated lustfully, pleasuring themselves or others. A few of them would randomly step down, inspecting the prospects before hopping in themselves. Waiters and waitresses equally as clothed slithered in between beds and people, wearing masks as they often looked away from whoever picked up a glass.

Above the square, suspended in the middle of the air right over the beds, with steel ropes was a single room, a box with the outside painted completely white. The true VIP experience, Rashad made his way toward the room, Matias following him as they cut through the mass of people and toward a set of open black stairs that extended above the square too. It connected to a small glass bridge that extended to the box, sheets of white canvas acting as the walls and caking the elevated hallway in whatever light flashed through. As they ascended and walked across, Matias couldn't help but peek through the glass, catching the sight below in awe as one woman looked up at the same time, sticking out her tongue at him.

They eventually reached the door that led into the private box, the girls entering first as Rashad spun on his heel to walk into it backward, "Enjoy yourself, buddy." A soft snicker followed his words before he disappeared after the women. Matias stared at the door for a moment, thinking to himself that a bonus was in order after this and he just shook his head. Expecting a wait, a cigarra was pulled out of his jacket to be ignited. But, when he glanced up, he saw the vent above that blew a gust of wind down on him, ceasing any effort. Smacking his lip, a few steps were taken before Matias posted over by the door so he could finally enjoy his cigarra.

 

[Edin Frost]

“Goddddd damn it,” Edin muttered to himself as he saw how busy the room was. Not only were the rows of people in the lower levels serving as witnesses, but the damn bodyguard Rashad had accompanying him stuck to him like glue. The Firrerreo would have to resort to some more desperate measures, “I’m gonna kill you, Lexi,” He growled to himself before he shuffled back through the vents, plotting a new plan.

He could still hear the echos of Lexi’s laughter following him as he adjusted the outfit around his crotch. It was way too damn tight and he felt as if he couldn’t breathe. Edin was beyond furious, but he knew this would pay off in the end. He was dressed in extremely tight, black pleather shorts that left very little to the imagination when it came to his nether regions and the outlines. He wore no shirt, but had a neat little bow tie around his neck. He also had a cowboy hat on his head.

Edin had to practice with Lexi several times on getting his expression right - the Firrerreo almost always had a cool and frosty expression and that wouldn’t do here. Lexi had told him that while Rashad came for the girls, the ultimate treat for him was a handsome man willing to do whatever he pleased.

Music​

Edin had a tray of the next order of drinks when he walked in through the lower levels of the VIP room. He could smell everything going on around him and he had to keep from scrunching up his face. His slim, but muscled torso was on display and he certainly cut an attractive figure. He strode in as rigid as always, but Lexi’s pointers resounded in his head. He grumbled to himself and added a bit of a swing to his hips, feeling utterly ridiculous as he did so.

With that, he made his way up the stairs towards Rashad with the drinks. Lexi mentioned that Rashad usually preferred to be entirely alone when he grew intimate with a man - it was all hush hush for him. This would work to Edin’s advantage for what he needed to do.

His icy gaze first landed on the bodyguard and Edin thought of all the ways he wanted to backhand him off this level. Instead, he flashed the man a teasing, fanged grin before casting a flirtatious look towards Rashad. He set the drink tray down and took an unnecessarily long time to bend down suggestively right in front of the client.

 

[Matias Vale]

There wasn't much for Matias to do at the door. Within the first few minutes, what had first been giggles later transformed into a combination of moaning and creaking. The only reaction given was a stretched-out exhale and his head lightly smacking the wall as he fully realized how much time he was most likely going to spend before his contract came to a close that night. To distract himself, his hand reached into his right jacket pocket and retrieved one of the cigarras there; damning the rules as he couldn't even get a drink from his location.

Igniting the cigarra in one smooth motion, smoke pillared upward as Matias took a long drag before slipping the lighter into his pocket. Almost immediately, the nicotine began to flood his lungs as his body experienced a sort of buzzed feeling spread throughout. While he savored the sensation, he leaned back against the wall, his gaze transfixed ahead as the hallway routinely switched in colored hues, from blue to green, pink, and many more, each one reflected in his eyes. There was what some would consider a true spectacle below him with his view but that thought didn't appeal to the young man. This was one of the first times he had ever found himself in a place like this and it was overwhelming as he begged internally to just leave every second, almost surprising himself.

But as he just stared ahead, that's when he saw the top of a cowboy hat peek out from the stairs and earned a questioning raise of Matias' eyebrow. He wasn't aware of anyone else joining Rashad but then again they also weren't the best of buddies. Instinctively, his right hand slid into his pant pocket naturally and felt the comfortable weight of his knife residing there. Nothing was given away as a subtle step to the left was taken in order for him to be right in front of the door.

Calmly, he still smoked his cigarra, the smoke departing from his mouth before being recaptured by his nose while he waited. Edin would finally step onto the bridge with the outfit proving effective as it even caught Matias' eyes, surprised shorts could even be comfortable like that. The feeling of being out of place never felt as powerful as it did then for him and his face gave the sarcastic and silent message, "This gets better and better..."

When the distance was closed between the two, Matias just gave Edin a slight cock of his head in response to his fanged grin. Instead of audibly saying anything, the cigarra would become pinched in between his lips to allow his left hand to be lifted in the air. A single finger would be raised before it was rotated in a circle, basically ordering the worker to spin around for him to be scanned for weapons.

 

[Edin Frost]

Really? A weapon check when his outfit didn’t leave much to the imagination? Edin smirked at the guard. Admittedly the man was easy on the eyes. If he weren’t on the job, he’d have even entertained drinks. However, he did as asked and even threw in a twirl to show that he had no weapons on him. Flashing the guard a wink, Edin stepped through the door and found Rashad entangled with the two ladies.

“Well hot damnnnn,” Rashad murmured, staring openly at the Firrerreo. The women gave Edin a knowing grin, having been given the details in advance thanks to Lexi. He swayed his hips sensually before setting the drinks down and climbing on the bed towards Rashad.

Moments later, Matias would hear the high pitched, terrified screams of the two women. If he burst into the room, he’d be treated to the sight of a dead Rashad with his neck practically torn out. The damage was extensive enough to where it was unclear what kind of weapon was used. To Matias’ surprise, when others burst into the room, the women both pointed at him.

“HE DID THIS!”

Edin, of course, was nowhere to be seen. He jumped down from the balcony on the other end of the VIP room and dropped right into the mess of people. Removing his cowboy hat meant he blended in with the crowds. Matias would promptly be blamed by the women inside the room. He had mere seconds to act before other guards arrived.

 

[Matias Vale]

As long as the man didn't hold any weapons, they wouldn't have an issue. Edin performed the spin without complaint, adding a little flourish at the end for Matais' entertainment. While the cowboy was far from his type, a smirk couldn't help but etch across his face at the move, a certain grace to the Firrerreo that even he couldn't deny.

With no apparent blaster or blade, the finger used to issue the spin would instead be replaced with his thumb as it was jutted toward the door. As Edin walked past and gave him a wink, he would receive a slight nod before the tipping of an invisible cowboy hat from Matias in return. Once the Firerreo exited his view, he returned to his nicotine and took another long drag to the point that he finished the cigarra to a little stub. Pinching the remains, Matias simply flicked it over the railing and down below as he tracked it with his eyes. Hopefully, with the inclusion of a third, Rashad would wear himself out and want to return home shortly.

Unfortunately, that hope became reality in its own twisted way. A piercing scream erupted from inside the room, one that immediately drew the attention of Matias as his eyes snapped to the door. His stomach dropped to the floor, already understanding what type of scene earned that reaction. Practically lunging at the velvet entry, a kick was placed dead-center to open the door as it flung wide and smashed into the wall.

A handful of moments after he entered, a small audience had gathered as well, all of them inspecting the bloody scene. Before he could even wrap his head around how it happened, one of the girls pointed right at him and put all the blame on his feet. A step was taken back almost out of pure shock until he realized what was happening. The cowboy was the only one it could be as neither girl was bloody. Clearly, it was a setup.

Before Matias could even open his mouth to speak, a hand clasped down on his shoulder and squeezed tightly. It had been one of the nearby guards and in turn, before he could say anything, an elbow was launched right into his nose to shatter it. Another scream was let out as the guard stumbled back and into the crowd of prostitutes and whatever else. Spinning on his heel, Matias charged right for the balcony, even able to see the trail of blood that led to it as he ran. Shit, shit, shit, shit, were the words replaying in his mind as the feet between him and the railing closed rapidly but there was no time to slow down. The only sounds that could be heard were the beat and a culmination of voices telling him to stop but he paid no heed.

Both of his hands shot onto the railing before Matias simply heaved himself over and plummeted straight below. Bracing as best he could, he crashed right on top of a bed before rolling off painfully, a few bystanders knocked to the ground because of it. The sudden drop of his body had freaked out the crowd around the bed, making them disperse as chaos started to spread. What was once a clear path to the exit became hectic instead, it either becoming clogged with bodies or shut off by guards.

 

[Edin Frost]

Edin was making good progress out of the area until he heard a commotion behind him. A quick glance revealed that the guard from earlier swan dived right into the orgy pit. Damn it! Clearly the security couldn’t contain him after he was framed. This posed a problem as the exit was quickly being covered by guards. Screams and panic erupted behind him as naked people all pushed and shoved to run in different directions.

The Firrerreo couldn’t remember the last time he was this disgusted as he shoved past sweaty and smelly bodies all around him. It didn’t help that he had a ridiculous outfit on, his tight pants tearing halfway through right near his ass. As he approached a tall guard that was poised to contain the crowd, Edin abruptly dropped to the ground. While the guard focused on the people running at him, Edin was crawling on the ground, easily passing in between the guard’s legs and out the door.

The Firrerreo broke into a run into a corridor before darting out into a back alley behind the establishment. He paused for a moment to catch his breath, taking a second to actually laugh at the absurd situation. He shook his head as he walked down the alley in those torn up leather pants as he pulled out a cigarra and lit it. He managed to keep his pack even with the outfit change.

Edin turned the corner and into another alley, hoping to put the entire mess behind him.

@Orbit

 

[Matias Vale]

Matias really had no indication where he was landing as he turned so that his back faced the brunt of the damage. The freefall only lasted for moments before he finally slammed into people and the bed, feeling both elbows and knees jab right into his back. They did nothing to impede his speed as he only knocked people over before colliding into the bed next to roll off onto the ground. Pain exploded throughout his body, specifically his ribs as he writhed on the ground for a brief moment.

Even though pain clouded his thoughts, he still recognized the situation that he was in. Clearing his mind with a shake, a roll was conducted after so that he went underneath a couple of beds. When he rolled past the second one, Matias would finally stand up, fully mixed in the crowd as he glanced around. Trying to remember where he saw the cowboy last, he pushed to the center of the room amongst the panicked VIPS. One of them even ran into him, earning a swift reaction as both hands were used to push off the naked man, snarling out at the same time, "Get the fuck off me!" The VIP was simply launched back as he flipped over a table and knocked over drinks and toys.

When Matias glanced around again, he was completely lost as to where the assassin went, glancing in each direction to find only scared people. As he turned to look once again where he last saw Edin; that's when he found a guard blitzing right at him amongst the crowd and clocking him right in the cheek. The strike dazed him momentarily as he stumbled back, the guard closing in once again to hit him but he was growing sick of it. As the second punch was thrown, Matias slipped his arm right into the nook of it, blocking the strike and then twisting so that his arm ended up underneath and pushing upward. It halted the guard completely as his elbow nearly broke from the amount of force. The man was held close and used as a shield while another check was taken.

Frustrated at the lack of success, Matias glanced down at the guard's belt and found a blaster nestled there. Reaching for it with his free hand, he yanked it out right from the holster before holding it up in the air and firing. Two shots were let out as lights shattered and glass fell, causing everyone to duck and cover their heads at the same time. That gave Matias the opportunity to see Edin turning the corner for the alley outside. Recognizing the direction he was going, Matias kicked the guard off him before sprinting through the crowd.

As Edin turned into the new alley, one of the windows above from the second floor would suddenly shatter as Matias jumped through it, his jacket pulled off and in front of him for the glass. Once again he came crashing down but this time; it would be right on top of Edin as they would tumble into the pavement together.

 

[Edin Frost]

Edin thought he was home free when a crash erupted above him. He whirled to the side right as the figure fell. Being Firrerreo meant his reflexes were better than a human’s and a thunderous crash from above would put him on edge. He stepped just out of impact from where the other man fell like a sack of turnips on the alley street. The Firrerreo didn’t attack only because he was wondering if this was some sort of suicidal resident from one of the apartments above that had a bad breakup.

Closer inspection revealed it was the bodyguard from his client.

“Fuck,” Edin said simply as he quickly reached for his blaster to remember he didn’t have one. He had nothing but skin-tight gigolo pants. Not waiting around to allow this man to eat him alive, he bolted into a run again. Another turn and he realized he came across a dead end. There was a tall wall that could be crossed if he had a way to boost himself up. Looking around, Edin began to hastily pull a dumpster towards the wall.

He could hear the distant shouts of the guards from the brothel still giving chase. They quickly rounded into the alley where Matias fell. Edin hoped the lumbering idiot would keep them off his trail.

 

[Matias Vale]

From what Matias remembered, he had aimed for the cowboy the best he could when he had jumped through the window. There wasn't an opportunity to check really when he crashed through the glass as his jacket covered his vision. He free-fell through the air, expecting to once more collide into elbows and other limbs but instead, he slammed straight into the asphalt. Instead of landing gracefully, he roughly tumbled into the side of a dumpster, the entire container rattling violently from his sudden weight.

The landing also wasn't silent, a loud and pained grunt erupting out from him when he first hit the ground. At the collision with the dumpster, he let out a pained groan as he rocked on his back for a few moments. Already, one of his sides was most likely purple from his dive off the balcony earlier and this certainly didn't help. As he grabbed onto the dumpster to help himself up, mumbling to himself loudly and strained, "Motherfucker..." Bloody cuts and bruises covered his face but it was the least of his pain.

On his feet, after a slight stumble, that's when he heard the sound of footsteps and he looked to find the cowboy just starting to run again. Matias couldn't help but sigh as he stared up at the sky for a moment, his lungs already burning as he took deep breaths. "Come on," he muttered exhaustively, one of his arms placed on the lid of the dumpster to collect his breath as he watched Edin make an escape. He just wanted to be paid and now he was chasing after a practically naked cowboy while also being chased himself by guards believing he was the murderer. Matias had no clue how the fuck his night ended up here.

The window to recoup was shortlived as he soon heard guards by the window he jumped out of. Matias glanced up only to find a majority of them start running for the stairs. His reaction was short-lived out of necessity, "Fuck!" He did a throwing motion with his jacket but didn't let go, only wishing that it was brick. Realizing that it was time for him to move, Matias pushed off the dumpster before forcing his legs one after the other as he began the chase again.

Matias had lost him at first, just going down the alley and only catching Edin out of the corner of his eye last minute. Slamming on the breaks, he slid past with a squeak until he came to a stop and rushed to the mouth of the alley. He saw Edin attempting to move over the trashcan and was about to pull out his stolen blaster when he heard footsteps. On cue, about six to ten guards came past the turn to his dismay.

If Edin glanced back, instead of a barrel at the end of the alley, he would find Matias barreling straight toward him and seeming more focused to get over the wall just like him.

 

[Edin Frost]

Edin glanced over as the idiot bodyguard came over. He had to think quickly as he saw the man with the blaster. They could either both get caught, or there was another way. The Firrerreo threw his hands up to show he wasn’t armed as he stared at the bodyguard. If the man took the time to shoot Edin, it would only further incriminate him as a murderer.

“Get in the dumpster,” Edin told the bodyguard as he flipped open the lid of the largest dumpster, “Don’t waste time, get your fucking ass in there,” He hissed. His expression made it clear he wasn’t fucking around. The sounds of the guards giving chase grew louder.

If the man did as Edin asked, the Firrerreo would casually lean against said dumpster and smoke a cigarra. Within seconds, the group of guards turned into the alley to find Edin standing there in his outfit. He made a show of eyeing the men up and down.

“Hey gents, lookin’ for a good time?” He flashed them a wink, completely changing his voice from what Matias heard, “I’m on break now but I can squeeze you in later if you want,” He gave a breezy laugh.

“Ugh,” One of them remarked gruffly, “You see a guy come through?” They described Matias in great detail. Edin shrugged vaguely and ashed his cigarra.

“I see plenty of guys come, candypants,” Edin winked again.

“Ughhhhhhhhhhhh,” The guard sighed, “All right well tell us if you see or hear anything suspicious.”

“Sure thing, boo,” Edin wiggled his fingers to say bye.

There was a bit of grumbling between the men before the guards all turned and left the alley. One of them even told Edin to return to work. The Firrerreo remained standing for a minute or two till the guards were completely out of the area before knocking on the top of the dumpster.

 

[Matias Vale]

Matias closed in on the assassin quickly, gun raised and aimed right at him. While he wasn't the best shot, the distance was close and he was competent enough that he could get one off that maimed him in some capacity. He would just have to figure out how to deal with the guards afterward.

But, to his utter shock, instead of hopping over and continuing the chase, Edin simply turned around and offered himself up. Or at least that's what he thought until he was told to get in the dumpster. "What?" Matias replied back instantly, genuine confusion within his voice as a moment ago he was just about to pull the trigger on the Firrerreo. An answer would be provided for the two almost instantly as the chorus of footsteps after him grew louder and louder.

Matias bounced his gaze between the mouth of the alley and the cowboy, realizing he need to make a decision. The idea to rely on Edin in this and take his help almost made him puke but he had no other choice or he would be outnumbered. With an unpleased grunt, he put the blaster down before hopping into the dumpster and letting the lid close over him.

As he waited inside, he scooted over to the corner and jammed the barrel of his blaster against the wall, right where he last saw Edin. It was flimsy metal and a bolt would have pierced straight through it and the assassin's heart if he tried anything. Unfortunately, though, that meant he had to wait and his nose crinkled at the smell that assaulted it. The only help was the conversation taking place as Matias focused on it instead, stifling a couple of quiet snickers at what was being said.

When he was finally given the signal that it was all clear, Matias immediately stood to his full height and knocked the lid completely back as his gaze locked onto Edin. As he stepped out, he aimed his blaster once more at the cowboy but his eyes didn't hold the conviction that he had when he initially chased him. For some reason, the assassin had helped him out and with how he was raised, a favor given couldn't be ignored.

Matias suddenly shook his head as he muttered to himself, "Shit..." The blaster was placed on one shoulder as he spun on one heel and used another to kick the ground in frustration. He completely turned his back as he walked a few steps, pinching his eyes at the same time as he thought about what to do, utterly lost. Once again he questioned how the fuck his night ended up here.

Finally turning around, he tossed the blaster in the dumpster before admitting, "Alright, we're square on killing each other." Dropping his hand from his face, he spat out a glob of blood onto the asphalt before speaking again, "How do we want to handle this? I still need to get paid. I most likely now have a bounty I need to pay off because of you."

 

[Edin Frost]

Edin calmly smoked his cigarra as he eyed the other man, staring at him instead of the blaster. The smell was unbearable for his Firrerreo senses and he was thankful his own smoke was helping cover it up, “You’re not going to get a bounty over someone that had a notable bounty,” He explained, “The guild would clear that,” It dawned on him that the guy likely didn’t know that his client had a bounty on him.

“As for your pay…” Rashaed at the very least knew he had a bounty on him, so he likely paid a substantial amount to keep a bodyguard, “I can’t help you there because you technically failed at your job,” Edin smirked as he crossed his arms over his chest, “However, it just so happens that Rashad has a little treasure trove filled with some things that’ll fetch a pretty penny from Syndicate space. If you work with me, we can make off with a haul that’ll get you your pay and then some.”

With that, he extended his hand to shake the man’s. However, he remembered he just went swimming in a dumpster and withdrew his hand, simply nodding instead.