The weather has taken a turn for the hot and dry and Trixie finds herself having to haul water from the river over to her makeshift veggie garden. It's long, hard work.
Taskmaster appears, briefly tense as always in the first half-second of standing in a place he's never been before. It passes, however, and yellow eyes blink in the shade of his hood--ah, there she is.
The dogs wuffle and bound up to greet their new visitor. Did he bring treats? DID HE? Should we eat him? Snuffle? CROTCH-FACE.
She carefully shucks the water-yoke, winces and wanders over. "How're ya at? And no, I was looking for a break. You wanna sitdown in the shade? Have a drink? I've beer in the cooler, yeh?"
Note to self: next time, bring something to distract the dogs with so he won't have to do so much awkward dodging and--did she just mention beer? Why yes! Yes she did!
"Ah ha, my one weakness, but-" a quick, regretful headshake and a raised hand. "-I can't right now, sorry. There's a bit of a crisis, we got a guy missin'. Any chance your magic can take a crack at it?"
"Sure, I can give it a shot. Whatcha got of his and whatcha willin' ta pay?" She takes out a handkerchief and wipes off her forehead.
"Feck-me, twice. It's hot as sin out here. Darlin'? Since yer working an' it ain't right to tempt a man with beer when he can't have any, I'm gonna go sit in the shade, talk shop and drink some ice tea like a civilized lady."
Hint, hint. Go sit under the rather large tree just over that-a-way with some beat up lawnchairs under it. She's going to fetch something cold.
"I got a friend of his waitin' for a call from me, she oughta be able to get hold of somethin'. Anything of his that'd work best? As for price, name it, cause this is an I-owe-a-guy kinda thing."
He nods politely, something in the glow of his eyes looking a little amused. Consider the hint taken. Heh, civilized, she says. As the daintiest of tea cups, right?
Daintiest you ever saw. Trixie returns with an earthenware jug and two mugs - the tea is very cold, very sweet and minty.
"I'd want something that means something to him and something physical - blood or hair'll do-me fine. Now, fer price, I don't do cash, 'cause it's worth jack-all out here. I want saffron."
"Saffron it is, then. Gimme a sec, I'll ring her up real quick."
Slouching back, he unfolds something from a pocket in his uniform--the headset--which has been rewired in all sorts of new and interesting ways, to work in situations just like this one. Ah, Nexus tech.
After a few moments of conversation, the call ends.
"At the risk of repeatin' myself, heh, she's on her way," he says, not sounding relieved at all, no sir, as he folds the headset and puts it away. "Swear to God, superheroes are a mess and a half to deal with."
"Heh, 'bout the same. My rent gets paid, I stay anything but bored, and I ain't been shot once in weeks. All in all, got no complaints."
At the whistling in the tree, he looks over, watching it thoughtfully for a moment. "This is a hell of a nice place, you know? If I could work from outside a city, I'd find a corner like this in my world in a heartbeat."
"I can't work inna city. Need the land, yeh? Space ta stretch in. An' well, sometimes I get some 'interesting' visitors that I don't think a landlord would like ta have around."
Zombies, vampires, ghosts and all other manner of dead and undead aren't exactly the greatest guests when you're worried about a lease.
"Yeah, most landlords definitely ain't much for surprises. Bribery's another story, thank whoever for small favors. It's kind of a pain, but right smack in New York City's where you go to be up to your ears in mercenary work, so I deal."
"Probably just as well your work is fit for a place like this. I can't imagine any landlord'd be too pleased with the dogs, at the very least, heh."
"Heya, Trixie! Am I interruptin'?"
Reply
She carefully shucks the water-yoke, winces and wanders over. "How're ya at? And no, I was looking for a break. You wanna sitdown in the shade? Have a drink? I've beer in the cooler, yeh?"
Stupid dogs. "G'wan, go lay down."
Reply
"Ah ha, my one weakness, but-" a quick, regretful headshake and a raised hand. "-I can't right now, sorry. There's a bit of a crisis, we got a guy missin'. Any chance your magic can take a crack at it?"
Reply
"Feck-me, twice. It's hot as sin out here. Darlin'? Since yer working an' it ain't right to tempt a man with beer when he can't have any, I'm gonna go sit in the shade, talk shop and drink some ice tea like a civilized lady."
Hint, hint. Go sit under the rather large tree just over that-a-way with some beat up lawnchairs under it. She's going to fetch something cold.
Reply
He nods politely, something in the glow of his eyes looking a little amused. Consider the hint taken. Heh, civilized, she says. As the daintiest of tea cups, right?
Reply
"I'd want something that means something to him and something physical - blood or hair'll do-me fine. Now, fer price, I don't do cash, 'cause it's worth jack-all out here. I want saffron."
Reply
Slouching back, he unfolds something from a pocket in his uniform--the headset--which has been rewired in all sorts of new and interesting ways, to work in situations just like this one. Ah, Nexus tech.
And he makes the call.
Reply
"At the risk of repeatin' myself, heh, she's on her way," he says, not sounding relieved at all, no sir, as he folds the headset and puts it away. "Swear to God, superheroes are a mess and a half to deal with."
Reply
"So, we're gonna make small-talk until the girl arrives, yeh?"
Reply
"Ahh, I think I could live with that, yeah. Business still treatin' you well?"
Reply
Mmminty iced tea. When the wind blows through the tree branches it catches on the bottles and makes a strange, hollow whistling.
Reply
At the whistling in the tree, he looks over, watching it thoughtfully for a moment. "This is a hell of a nice place, you know? If I could work from outside a city, I'd find a corner like this in my world in a heartbeat."
Reply
Zombies, vampires, ghosts and all other manner of dead and undead aren't exactly the greatest guests when you're worried about a lease.
Reply
"Probably just as well your work is fit for a place like this. I can't imagine any landlord'd be too pleased with the dogs, at the very least, heh."
Reply
Leave a comment