Chapter 3 - Hotel: Decent


Catching her breath, she exhaled sharply before stretching out her hand to him, "Hi! I'm Bulma Briefs. I don't believe we've been properly introduced!"

He looked at her, his expression somewhere between disgust and confusion. Taking a few seconds, he reluctantly reached out his hand, shaking hers, his grip firm as she'd expect. "Vegeta", the raspy voice said.

"Vegeta, pleased to meet you! I swear I've never felt this pleased to meet anyone before, as it is you who's responsible for getting me in this pickle", she said, her tone light and playful while his face depicted unease from every angle. "Didn't I tell you, I'm not leaving you alone, mister. You're gonna drop me back to my place. I've already seen you have money on you in your wallet, so we're gonna stay at a motel till the morning, then head to Kelsingate Town to retrieve my luggage, and go straight all the way to Estehaven, come on!", she said, her usual enthusiasm finding it's place back.

He continued to look uncomfortable, not moving an inch. "Come on, you can keep brooding all the way there if you like", she said with a chuckle, before starting to walk up ahead.

The road lay before them like a tarmac ribbon; albeit, one that had been worn over time. A white line ran down the center, bearly visible due to lack of light, and relatively unbroken compared to the scarred concrete. Houses lined the street like broken teeth, laden with random gaps in between. Every house was a unique, bespoke structure. She felt it was unusual for a city not to have every house in the row identical in architecture and colour scheme. Some had pitched roofs, some flat, some were single story and others double. There were no cars, no people. It was rather the trees and the ivy that ruled the dishevelled landscape. The branches of the trees hung low, reminding her of her mothers arms when she would return from the grocery stores, laden with winter squash and carrots.

"Wow. Now this is quite a creepy picture. I feel like I'm in a Branson Krackman movie, ready to fight ghosts at any given time", Bulma giggled. She wouldn't lie, normally this kind of a landscape would freak her out but this was no regular night. It had been full of unexpected events and it was madness that she found the light at the end of the tunnel. Well Mr. Brooding, or Vegeta, she corrected, may be no light but he sure was her only way to get back home safely. Yes he hardly spoke, probably thought she was nuts, but he didn't completely rebuff the idea of helping her, thus she just wasn't going to let one crappy landscape spoil her mood.

"I don't recall us being on picnic, woman. You surely are twelve", Vegeta said as he came alongside her, his expression stoic.

"Oooo, and how old are you?", she teased him cheeiky. "You board a train but you don't know where it goes, you board off at an unknown station, then you drive like a madman, almost taking our lives, after which you reach here; and what here? Walking a dark path all alone in the mighty streets of Ratlegate Town", she continued enthusiastically, her voice shifting between various pitches for dramatic effect. "Damn, what is your problem after all? Sorry sorry, you don't share your problems with anyyone, rightt"

"I'm not the one who missed a train twice", he said with a side glance her way.

"Noo, I imagine you're so responsible", she continued to tease him, hearing him grunt in return. "We're gonna be walking for a long time aimlessly like this, why don't you check where the closest motel even is?", she suddenly realized.

"Check it on what?", he asked incredulously.

"On your phone duh", she said.

"I don't have it", he said simply.

"You don't what? Really? So you're just literally walking around aimlessly?", she said, only partly shocked at this point. "So you have your wallet but not your phone?"

"I emptied my pockets. It turns out I only emptied one", he said.

"Hmm I see, and not much else came out of this pocket?", she rhetorically asked as if this was the most normal thing she had heard. "You know come to think of it, you must've taken the same route as I had, the one with many women in the way", she narrowed her eyes at him playfully. "Is that what it takes to get a reserved man such as yourself to enter a street?"

"Vulgar woman! No, I don't think you would've known either what was occupying the street before you entered it", he replied, his hurried voice alone indicating he was most probably blushing.

"Nope", she laughed. She didn't know why but it was quite fun pushing his buttons, at least that would get a reaction out of him.

"I find it hard to believe someone such as yourself is from Estehaven. I've known people from there. Reserved snobs", he said.

"Oh yeah totally", she said casually, without any hint of sarcasm. "But not my family, and certainly not my friends! You could count on us to lighten the mood", she smiled to herself. "On the other hand, reserved snob does totally fit your bill", she winked at him.

"I am not a snob, woman! I simply keep to my aims. I don't care about anybody's business", he said haughtily.

Well, you're helping my aim now, she thought to herself, though she knew it was only a matter of circumstance and coincidence. Helping her wasn't interrupting anything he was doing, what with him wandering about randomly, and she didn't mind at all. She simply needed his help and that was that. Though she wasn't about to let this walk become quiet and boring, that she naturally couldn't allow with the mouth she'd been given. "So you don't watch Branson Krackman movies? After that display on the taxi I would've thought you were his biggest fan", she asked, not even needing to fake curiosity.


Vegeta wasn't sure how long it'd been since they'd been walking in the dingy street. The sounds of crickets acted as background score for the blue womans chatter. He supposed it was better than the monotonous business talk he'd have to sit through at Z Star, especially since he didn't give a damn about said business. Not that he gave a damn about this Branson Crackman fellow she kept mentioning, but he concluded it was slight improvement.

"Look!", she said, pointing ahead at what seemed to be something lit up, though they weren't close enough to make out what. "We must've found it!", she rushed.

He didn't feel the need to pick up his pace, taking his time. He still had his mind made up about revenge, he knew it was going to happen. The only problem was, he had no leads. He hadn't been in contact with Icejin since Frieza died, he didn't know where the new headquarters were after the explosion, or if they even existed. He did have contacts he could reach for information, but dammit he left his phone. Sighing, he picked up his pace to catch up with her, curious now too as to what awaited them.

Walking the final steps to it, they were greeted by a massive sign reading 'DECENT' in a thick bright yellow font on a bleeding red blackground. The sign was atop an old single storey that had somehow elbowed it's way between two warehouses. Upon staring at it for closer inspection, he noticed a tiny 'HOTEL' accompanying the massive 'DECENT' below it. Hotel? This was a hotel? There was a small four-step stairway leading the way up to a glass door with a massive 'Welcome' painted on it. Beside the entrance was yet another DECENT, this one vertical, on a board. Any hotel that had to call itself decent was anything but.

"What're you waiting for?", she said, already pushing through the entrance, seemingly oblivious.

He reluctantly joined her inside. After all he needed a place to crash too for the night. Without a phone or vehicle, this was his best bet. Come tomorrow morning, we're both setting off in our respective cabs, he thought to himself.

Walking in, his suspicions about it's tackiness were confirmed. This was no 'chocolate on the pillow' hotel. From behind the wooden reception desk covered in celebrity strickers, sat a man in a beanie paired with a white jacket and a red scarf, a smile on his face. The walls were covered in a white wallpaper filled with yellow flowers, featuring a huge calendar and a framed print of the infamous Marilyn Monroe photo on the back wall behind the man. The floor carpet seemed a decade too old, with an old fashioned pattern of large flowers interrupted by worn and threadbare patches. The large windows were covered in heavy colourful drapes with some dirt on visible panes. As they walked closer, the receptionist smelt of stale perfume and Vegeta spotted an ashtray hiding itself behind a vase of bright flowers. Decent indeed.

"Do you accept credit card?", Vegeta asked, straight to the point.

"No credit, only cash", replied the man.

"Credit card", Vegeta clarified. "What's the tariff?"

"What?", asked the man, dumbfounded.

"How much do you charge for a night?"

The man then glanced to the both of them. "Would you like it per hour or—", the receptionist was in the middle of asking, matter-of-factly.

"Listen, only answer as much as I asked. How much do you charge for a night?", he asked again, just as the blue woman jumped in.

"Why would we need it for a whole night though? We aren't gonna be staying all day", she said to him.

"I'm handling it, woman"

"Yeah, handling it great! There's no need to book extra, besides it'd help if weeconomize for the travel tomorrow", she said in a low voice to him, before turning to the receptionist. "We'll book per hour!", she said.

"Woman, you're not understand what he's saying—"

"Be practical come on, there's no need to be ashamed, our stay's only gonna be a few hours at most", she cut him short before turning to face the amused man. "We'd like it per hour please!", she boldly repeated again.

The receptionist then looked between them before settling his gaze on Vegeta. "Uh... so how many hours?"

Rolling his eyes, he motioned with his hands to the blue woman, letting her fill in.

She pondered for a few seconds, before coming up with, "Two? Would two be fine?", she looked to him, his expression incredulous at her obliviousness. "Okay safe side three? Three's gotta be more than enough!"

It was the first time that day that Vegeta felt a laugh threatening to break free, the movement of his lips most likely giving it away. This blue woman was nuts. "Three hours then", he said to the still smiling receptionist.

The man rose both eyebrows before replying, "Sure, sir"

As Vegeta made the payment, the blue woman started looking around the hotel reception. The receptionist took the opportunity to come closer to Vegeta and whispered, "Where'd you find her?"

"In the train", he whispered back.

"The train?", he looked bewildered. "That's a good idea! Never thought of it before", the man whispered as Vegeta backed up, getting ready to move it. "Three hours, enjoy", he winked as Vegeta parted.


The room was quite similar to the reception, sharing the same wallpaper and carpet. Though it was much bigger in size, and had too many female model posters, at least three on each side of the wall. There were no drapes required as the basement room only had hopper windows. The rest of the decor was just as tasteless as one could expect from a 'decent' hotel. There was a king size bed to the left side of the entrance, while the right made a sitting area, featuring a couch made of the same flowery fabrics with a small glass table in front, and a wooden chest of drawers ahead of it. There were also two mashroom shaped lamps on each corner of the room.

"What were you chattering about with the him?", the blue woman asked petulantly, sat on the couch to his right as he entered.

"You're a cartoon", he said, walking over to lean against the cabinet, arms crossed in typical manner.

"May be, but I know karate", she said hauntingly.

"So?"

"So, just informing you. I'm most definitely equalivant to the brown belt as they say"

"Oh, so you're warning me in case I make a move on you, that you'll go all karate on me?"

"May be! I mean yes, most definitely. I look beautiful and harmless but I've taken down many people!"

"Well I am not interested to make a move on you in the first place, woman"

"You can't"

"I don't want to!"

"Even if you wanted to, you couldn't"

"Are you luring me into making a move on you?"

"No, I'm just clearing things up. I suggested we hit a motel, but I wouldn't know what would be going on in that head of yours. That also a man like you"

"A man like me?", he looked bewildered.

"Yeah, those bad boy types, with girls losing their heads over you left and right, but let me be clear that I'm not one of those girls", she continued petulantly.

"Woman! I've already told you I am not interested!", he said, a blush colouring his face. He then made his way to the toilet, a door beside the bed.

As he left, Bulma noticed his wallet slip out of his pocket. He didn't even notice. Sighing, she picked it up with the intention of simply placing it on the chest of drawers, but something caught her attention mid way. There on the floor was a small ID photo of a seemingly petite blonde woman, her eyes ice cold, her face expressionless. She was indeed pretty. Could this be this girlfriend? He had a girlfriend? Her curiosity and excitement was at its peak. Who knew Mr. Brooding was the romantic type, storing photos in his wallet.

"Woman, have you not heard of privacy? Quit snooping around my items", Vegeta said as he took the scene in after exiting the toilet, startled. He really hadn't noticed his wallet drop off.

"Who is she? A girlfriend of yours?", she asked ethusiactally as she held up the photo, completely ignoring his question.

"What are you talking about?", he asked as he came close. He knew he didn't keep photos of people in his bloody wallet. What is this woman on about? "Let me see it", he snatched it out of her grip, his face aghast as he stared at it. "What is this doing here?", he thought out loud.

"Quite the romantic type, aren't we?", she playfully elbowed him.

"What are you saying woman? I had no knowledge of this photograph hiding in my wallet!", he said truthfully, irritated as to what it was doing here.

"Hmm, so women just randomly happen to drop their pics in your wallet?", she giggled.

"I don't know! I knew this woman, we were together. But it was pointless. Why did she put this here? I don't want anything to do with her"

Bulma didn't have a hard time believing it didn't work out. She could hardly imagine these two making conversation, what with how stoic they both were. But she was no one she judge, she amended. Then suddenly a thought crossed her mind, turning her expression into a mischievous smirk. "You know what we do back home when we don't want anything to do with an ex?", she said, her eyes going huge as she picked up a lighter from the table. "We take the photo and burn it, then flush it off to hell! Just like Krackman does in Break Point!", she grinned to him. She didn't have anything against the stoic blonde, it was just that this crazy ritual got them all pumped whenever they did it, it was a call for celebration. They'd been doing it since high school, herself and Krillian being the only ones with exes to participate. She thought it was only fair he got to experience it.

"Woman, are you nuts? I don't do such absurd things", he immediately dismissed it.

"Seriously, it's a great feeling! There's nothing to lose, come on give it a go! If nothing else, you'd be able to tell me I was wrong", she rose her brow, reaching out the lighter to him.

"Stop pestering me", he said, snatching the lighter away from her, making his way to the toilet with the woman on his heels. He was only doing this to shut her up of course.

He pushed the button on the lighter as the photo began to turn black at the bottom, melting away. Then he casually dropped it in the toilet bowl before the sound of it being flushed filled his ears.

It felt good. He didn't give a damn about her, but she was Icejin. It felt good to flush anything Icejin he had. Burnt and flushed away, like an invisible tornado taking them to their doom. Of course he wasn't going to let the blue woman know, who was already screaming excitedly.

"See, now did that feel good or what?!", she said, her huge eyes shining. "You know, if blondes are your type, you'd get along with my sister", she teased him. "What do you think of how I look? If you like me, you'd love my sister!"

"What !-", he managed before a loud bang on the door stole both their attentions.

As they rushed to get the door, they could see the beanie receptionist running down the hallway screaming, knocking on doors, "Open the door! Get ready to leave! Quick!"

"What's happening?", Vegeta called out to him.

"Raid! Get ready to run, everybody get your clothes on!", his voice echoed in the narrow hallway as doors started opening left and right with men and women spilling out, some running underdressed, others pulling their pants up in haste.

"What's going on?", Bulma asked.

"We have to run!", Vegeta replied.

"Why?"

"Police", he said before they followed the swarm of people running to the left and up the stairs to get out of the basement they were in.

"Out the back entrance guys! Almost there", the receptionist called out as they finally reached outside, people still moving left and right haphazardly as they got out.

"I don't get it, why're we all acting like smugglers?", Bulma asked, perplexed to her core.

"Next time remember to bring a suitcase to show the police so we can say you're a family", the receptionist said to her, panting.

"Huh? But all my stuff's in the train", she said, only processing half the man's words as footsteps and panicked voices interrupted him.

"Oh this is the first time I'm meeting a train girl!", he said excitedly. "Why don't you book a compartment in the train, like those meant only for two people—"

"Yeah, we'll tell you next time", Vegeta's voice came in, nudging her ahead to get into spacious area. They got themselves into a street, before taking a left into an alley. The shimmering glow of the moon giving them direction in what would otherwise be a maze of impenetrable blackness.


"Oh lord, this might've been the most eventful night of my life, so much so that I'm actually tired!", Bulma sighed. They'd found a pile of buses lined up not far from the hotel, before finding one that had a stop at Kelsingate Town. Or at least the board on the wall had indicated that. She'd immediately made her way inside as Vegeta checked around for timings.

The bus was completely vacant, the moon giving off the only light apart from the streetlights whose rays died inches from the dirty bulbs.

"Bus leaves at six o'clock", Vegeta said as he entered and slumped in a seat.

She sighed again, before remembering, "Wait so where were we? Your ex, right! How'd it feel to flush her away?"

"Absurd woman", he simply said, sat a few rows ahead of her on one of the two-seaters.

"Wait no, I was asking what you thought of me! C'mon, do you find me attractive or not?", she asked again, smirking as she got up from her seat to sit on the same row as him, on the other column.

He grunted. What was in this womans head instead of her brain? She was absurd, still looking at him with her brows raised. He considered it. What did he have to lose after all?, "Fine, yes, so?"

"Of course you do", she winked at him. "You'd like my sister then. I mean no pushing, do what you like, but I'd say it'd be a good match if you're into blonde quiet women", she winked again before giggling. It was was fun messing with him, and who knew, maybe Tights was his type?

He grunted before replying, "Do you always talk nonsense or is this a special occasion?"

"Nahh, I'm always talking nonsense", she chuckled, amused at his comment. "You?", she asked, her brow raised as she slumped back, her back towards the window, her front facing him.

"My first time. Never met one like you", he said dryly.

She laughed, "Come to Capsule Corp, I'll show you". She saw him shake his head in a sign, before slumping in his own chair. She wasn't sure if she was hallucinating or if she really did see his features soften as he rested his head against the window, slowly shutting his eyes. The moonlight from outside splashed its white-silver glow onto him, bathing and illuminating him. She found herself enjoying the view before her. No brooding, no irritation. He was attractive indeed. Just like that, eventually her own eyelids gave up, dropping closed.


Authors note: Don't tell me you don't watch Branson Krackman movies :o