The Ravager Faction leader barges through the old-fashioned, swinging doors of the block-style building, his dark red eyes scan across the cozily appointed foyer and land on the sharp-featured woman behind the tall reception desk.
"Captain Udonta!" the woman smiles happily as the Centaurian strides toward her. "S-so pleased you've made it…"
"Alrigh' boys, bring 'em in," he calls to his men who linger in the doorway. They whoop and holler and heft a number of large crates into the middle of the room. "Miss Pris, lovely ta see you ag'in. Delivery," the Captain waves to the containers, "as agreed."
"Mhmhmhmm," the receptionist hums seductively and grabs Yondu's shirtfront, dragging the pirate Captain to the counter. She leans forward and presses her lips to his. "Madam will be right out," Miss Pris murmurs, she leans in again, but is startled by a small sneeze that sounds like it came from Udonta's coat pocket.
Miss Pris gives the Ravager Captain a confused look and carefully lifts open the lapel of Yondu's duster as she leans even farther over the counter, nearly resting her forehead against the Centaurian's nose. The brothel receptionist finds two, big, blue, humanoid eyes staring fearfully up at her from under Yondu's arm. Pris smiles and winks at the child when she sees its skinny fingers tighten around the Captain's beltloop.
"Oooh, Captain… It's s-so cute," Miss Pris coos, "What is it?"
Yondu chuckles, whores always have a soft spot for children. "He's a Terran," he replies quietly, "You watch 'im fo' me, whilst I attend to yor Madam?"
"Aw, it's a boy? Of cours-se I'll watch him."
The Ravager looks down at the boy clinging to his hip. "You hear that?" Yondu asks and the kid nods, "Good."
A door whooshes open at the back of the room and Yondu's attention turns right to it.
"There she is!" he exclaims, stepping away from the counter, "Tha mos' beautiful lady in the quadrant!"
Miss Pris snakes her long, iridescent arm over the counter and around the Terran child's shoulder, she gives him a meaningful look and holds him close to the desk. The boy stares at her for a moment before turning his attention to the foyer full of raucous pirates.
"Let the Madam through, boys," the Captain hollers, "She ain' here fo' you!"
"Yondu! These are perfect! Jus-st what the Madam ordered!" Madam Sol'ya, proprietress of the Serpent's Garden, happily proclaims, "Our arrangement is-s concluded, let's-s get back to business as usual!"
The rose-skinned Madam undulates enticingly, and she grows taller and taller. The child gasps with wonder; where the beautiful Sol'ya's hips should part into legs, they continue, instead, in the body of a great serpent.
"Oh, my Darling's-s," the naga-like woman calls out, and the Ravagers cheer, "We have guests!"
Doors all around the foyer and second-floor landing open, and scores of "ladies" of all sorts of races pour into the room to the cheers and whistles of the gathered pirates. Yondu sweeps the delicately-scaled Madam into his arms and heads for a particular door next to the reception desk.
"Treat 'em right, boys!" Udonta yells to his men and disappears through the particular door with the Madam.
Chaos ensues as the Ravagers hoot and holler and climb over one another to get to their favorite prostitute. The boy tries to become a part of the desk, and unthinkingly wraps his small hands around Miss Pris' fingers as they rest on his shoulder. The commotion gradually settles as pirates and whores disappear together, 'til only he and the alien receptionist are left.
Miss Pris leans over her counter again and gives the child's shoulder a gentle shake. "S-so, cutie, do you have a name?"
"Peter Quill," he replies quietly.
"Peter… Well, you're s-safe now. It'll be hours-s before we'll s-see anyone again."
Quill sags with relief.