Chapter 10: To mope
Jeri walked with a very angry look on her face as she passed through the transparent curtain that gave access from the reception through to the bar annex waiting area of The Pink Stocking. She sighed irritated when she did not see Jewels around. Where was her sister when she needed her? Ofcourse she had been stubborn when the receptionist already told her Jewels was occupied. Jeri, as always, wanted to see for herself.
And as expected, Jewels proved not to be present.
Jeri let her head hang when she looked around the room for a moment. She really had the need to talk to somebody right now. But she could not blame Jewels for not being around when she needed her. With a sad face she realized she was standing there alone, besides some of the girls that passed her on their way out. To her surprise there was hardly anybody present while usually the place would be packed with the men and women working here or with waiting costumers making a choice of their liking for a pleasurable evening of fun.
"She has a rather important customer and won't be down for another few hours," Levina said. Jeri looked at the woman that addressed her. She had seen Levina before but did not know her very well. Apparently she had bar duty tonight. Jeri folded her shoulders, crossing her arms in front of her and nodded, she knew that already. Levina smiled. "But you're welcome to wait here for her if you like," she said warmly. The woman pointed at one of the empty spots near her bar. Jeri hesitated for a moment, looking at Levina -who uncorked a bottle and poured a drink in a glass from a cabinet beneath the bar- and looked at Jeri with a special smile. The gesture too inviting to say no to when she offered her the drink.
Jeri made herself comfortable by letting herself fall with a thud in one of the bar chairs that had these lovely comfortable thick blue and pink cushions.
"If it is really important I can always ask her down for you?" Levina mentioned. Jeri shook her head. It wasn't important enough to disturb Jewels in her work. But she wanted to talk to someone so badly she was willing to wait if she had to. And Jewels was usually the first person she turned to when she was in trouble or created a mess. Jewels would listen to her, hear her out and then point out the good and the bad things of the situation. Weighing them as if they were on a scale. After that she would always advise her in some way to do what was best. It was a guidance Jeri sometimes needed. Something she could not ask her mother for. This was a sister thing. And Jewels was her favourite.
Jewels seemed to be a bit more realistic and logical in comparison to Jeri, who would let her emotions do the talking instead of reason with herself. More unlike Snowy, her sitwin sister, whom liked to be on top of things and arrange things needed. Both Jeri and Snowy and Jeri shared more traits then she liked to admit, such as the same foulmouthed way of talking sometimes. Though Jeri seemed better at blurting out things then Snowy, they looked alike, unhappy as it made Jeri to think she resembled more of her twin then she did with Jewels. Jeri was best described as short fused and highly explosive, like a badly attuned bomb.
Snowy had similar treats to her character. Not unlike their fourth sister in Area 52. But Brazzle, or Sparkle as she was nicknamed, was next to Jewels the most sensible one. But she wasn't here. Jewels was. And Snowy was on the other side of the world in Undercity.
Then there was Adinna, a cousin, but Jeri did not feel like taking this problem to her. The woman would only bounce up and down and be angry about anything Jeri was angry about without helping her reason about the situation. She really needed Jewels for this.
"Do you not want your drink?" Levina inquired. Jeri looked up, absently, disturbed from her train of thoughts and quickly nodded. "Yes, sorry, thank you very much," she said.
"You look worried?" Levina noticed. Jeri bit her lower lip, was it that obvious. "It's fine, I'll wait for Jewels to come down when she is ready," she said in a sulky tone. Levina nodded and gave her a smile. Jeri looked into her glass, it was a dark brown substance which smelled of alcohol, it was good. Anything with alcohol would do right now. The first sip was bitter but ultimately had a faint anise aftertaste. Jeri closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the aftertaste as she grew more comfortable in her sulking mood hanging at the bar and moping about the situation.
Jeri leaned her elbows on the bar, nearly knocking off a pile of magazines that lay next to her. She frowned in a curious way when she saw the covers, showing pictures of women in rather strange poses. "Ugh...," Levina heard Jeri say as she shoved the magazines aside. Not motivating enough to pick one up and read it. The woman smiled. "They're actually good," she said. "Seriously? People actually read that stuff?" Levina nodded. Jeri smirked sarcastically. "Most customers that have to wait enjoy reading the magazines The Pink Stocking provides for entertainment," she explained. Jeri could only imagine what perverted stories the magazines could contain, understanding it was quite normal for an establishment such as this to keep track of reading material like that. She did not so much mind the stories or its content, more the fact it seemed to be a new trade to see all these fancy magazines pop up, with goblin cover girls that were so much younger and prettier than she was. She seen Jatfast with plenty of those magazines, to her irritation.
But she understood that it probably made the customer work his imagination before going up with one of the girls or men when they came here.
Levina looked at her while she held her head slightly to the side, eyeing Jeri from another angle with a specific smile. Jeri looked back at the human female. She was a pretty girl for a human. Levina was wearing a blue corset that was barely fit for her bosom. It was trimmed with light blue mini bows at the top and the bottom for decoration. She had matching stockings to go with her corset Jeri had already noticed when she leaned a little further over the bar to look at the woman. Finding her to wear stockings, panties and her fancy corset. She guessed with high heels, as she could hear the ticking of the heels on the wooden floor boards.
The bar was situated in a corner of the room where customers could wait. It gave an opportunity to eat and drink, made use off by most regular Pink Stocking customers when they had to wait for their favourite lady or gentleman. Because there were also two gentlemen working here.
The waiting room was nicely separated from the reception. Making sure if somebody entered they could not immediately see who was walking around, unless they came through the curtain.
The transparent curtain also gave atmosphere to the place. Both the bar and the waiting area were dressed in a variety of different tones of pink and blue, giving it a cosy atmosphere. With deep-seated cushions and benches where you could lounge or doze off while killing time. The seats at the bar held the same fine cushions that made you sit comfortably. The decorations on the wall were mostly paintings. They showed rather scantily clad ladies and gentlemen posing in wild scenes. There was also a large portrait in the centre of the room, portraying the original founders of the 'business' as it was called indoors. Showing a clumsily painted couple of two goblins that were supposed to be the original owners of the very first Pink Stocking. Jeri thought it fitted in nicely with the rest of the decoration of the brothel. If there was anything you could say about the house was that the staff was friendly. Jeri loved coming here. Unlike some she knew who had a sister or friend working as a lady of pleasure in a brothel, she was not offended nor embarrassing that her sister had chosen a profession like this. Jewels wasn't afraid to admit she was doing a good job and she held happy customers that returned.
It seemed Jewels was cut out for this line of work and never held back she was what she was. Started as one of the girls, but later growing into better ranks over the years.
Jewels had already risen in the ranks of Madame, sharing the title with a couple of other ladies. Madame was actually the next step up. There were a few other titles you could receive, the higher the title the fewer likely to share with others, also making you one step higher than the rest. Also making your responsibilities change as well as your duties that came along with the title. As 'Madame' was already a big step forward for Jewels, she still a long way to go before she would ever be nominated for the highest title in The Pink Stocking; Duchess of Loose Morals.
Being a Madame meant that you had more privileges than the regular girls. You say she could be pickier in the choice of customer. Even refuse one, reschedule, write out a voucher, order around others and be pretty while being bossy. Or so it seemed to Jeri.
The Bruisers doing duties in the brothel area worked together with the bouncers that were mainly hired by the owners of the brothels. Sometimes they were Bruisers off duty earning a little extra money, sometimes they were random individuals such as Greymur once was. Jeri knew from experience Asalt made sure he would sent boys that behaved themselves. The last thing he could use were Bruisers having a night out while they were supposed to be on shift. Even though Jeri herself would never choose a profession like this, she was still proud of Jewels doing it. Respect was perhaps the better word.
The Pink Stocking was only a small brothel, but a merry one. You could find any type of class here. The core staff had a rotating system where all the ladies and gentlemen working would do different chores. Sometimes they were there purely as a hostess, making sure the food was served, people got their drinks and if they had to wait too long to make sure the customer did not walk away. Or they would have the bar shift like Levina had right now. Sometimes they would be hosting the reception or simply work to please the customers in the rooms upstairs. Though the brothel was a well-known establishment it seemed rather quiet right now.
"Where is everybody?" Jeri dared to ask. Levina smiled. "This is what they call 'dinner time' where employees can either chose to have a break to eat or do something else before they come back to work. It varies a bit. It's always fairly quiet at this time of day, but there will be booming business later in the evening I'm sure," she said.
"I'm sure it will be if I hear Jewels sometimes," she agreed a bit sombre. Jeri emptied her glass with brown liquid in one go, then sighed. Time did not go fast enough for her. Levina gave her a questionable look before she poured Jeri another drink from the same bottle without asking if she even wanted it. She observed her, Jeri instantly saw that as Levina did not hide her interest in the woman. "Would you like to talk about it?" she inquired. Jeri looked rather surprised. Levina gave her a beautiful smile as she kept looking at Jeri.
Jewels always said most of the girls were sweethearts. Levina proved to be one right now. Jewels sometimes talked about the girls and their habits. Funny things they would say or do during their shifts. Not that she would go into details, but she would mention things casually. Jeri could not quit remember what it was Jewels said about Levina. "You're welcome to share the bar with me and keep me company until Jewels is ready. Maybe I can...distract… you for the time being?" she said with a joyful tone in her voice. Jeri looked at the woman. She regretted that she could not remember what exactly Jewels had told her.
She eyed the woman. In front of her stood a very attractive young woman with long blond hair held together by a headband. Levina had a very nicely shaped figure with what Jatfast would call "huuuuuuuuuge rounding's" but there was something about her... What was it again? Except that she was beautiful Jewels had been enthusiastic about the woman, and Jeri annoyed herself she could not remember. She grumbled to herself.
The words kind, pretty and helpful popped up in her mind, but that was not it when she tried again. She sighed, it would probably come back to her again.
The woman did not insist on her previous proposal, something Jeri liked about her. She mentioned it once, but gave Jeri the choice to either leave it or do something with it. Levina just gave her one of those enchanting smiles as she engaged herself in arranging different types of glasses and mugs behind the bar. "You know, it's actually nothing special, just some bogus," Jeri finally said, still a bit annoying about her situation. She looked down and touched her half-empty glass with a finger, letting her nail softly follow the curve of the rounding. Levina tilted her head and glared at her. Long enough to tell Jeri she did not believe it was a simple matter.
"Depends on the situation," Levina said and threw in one of those charming smiles again. Jeri sighed, why this woman did had such a gorgeous smile! "It's all so confusing," she confessed with a sigh, setting the real tone of her mood. "Sounds as if you could do with another drink, as you sound rather heavy on the subject," Levina said in a sincere way. Jeri eyed her. "Have you never had the feeling that everything was suddenly weird? As if you were being left out and there was nothing you could do about it? That a situation looked different from your point of view but nobody would tell you anything?" she asked. Levina thought for a moment, throwing her fine blond hair over her shoulder.
"Probably," she said eventually. Jeri blew a strand of her own hair from her eyes and arranged it behind her ear. "Last week was such a weird week, so much things happened that I just do not know where to begin," Jeri complained. Levina looked at her with interest.
"I'm sorry, I feel quite angry right now. Especially now all my friends seem to be running wild because of that stupid elf woman who was on the shiny shit list but a week ago," she said stiffly.
"I do not want to be rude, but what exactly is a shiny shit?" she wanted to know. Jeri sighed. Ofcourse Levina did not know that term. Nobody knew that term unless they were befriended with Jeri and her group. Or they would know about the weird sort of fun they had about shiny shits.
"Shiny shits are the persons who walk into Ratchet thinking they own the place. You know the type that comes straight of the boat, all dressed up in mostly shiny or new armour that has never seen a scratch before. They come barging in thinking they will make a fortune in the Barrens the moment they take a turn. Probably hoping to run into some forgotten treasure. Or they surround themselves with such air they think they can dissolve anything by simply staring at it. You know, the rather extreme people who think that nothing can harm them. We always have to laugh a bit about those types, me and my friends. But it was not intended that the latest shiny shit suddenly appeared into the house of my orc friend, as if she was a new addition to our group!" Jeri said with a sigh.
"Do you know her? Or have you been introduced before? Because it sounds like you're struggling with this woman?" Levina said, fixing a bottle to the wall. Jeri thought for a moment, apparently that thought had not crossed her mind. Well it had, but she would not have listened anyway knowing herself. So she shrugged when she could give a straight answer to that question.
"Have you asked why she was there," Levina asked. Jeri shook her head. No she didn't. What she mostly did was explode in anger, yelling at Greymur for being a turncoat and hitting the woman in the face. "Asking is not my greatest asset I fear," she sounding sadistic when she remembered her instant readiness to smash her fist into the woman's face. She remembered she was especially very angry when she found out the wench was familiar with Jatfast and turned out to be the cause of his prison adventure, or so she interoperated it. All Jeri wanted was to punch the woman's lights out, which she didn't, but the cracking bone of her nose was close enough.
"I just do not understand why that woman was suddenly in Greymur's house," she muttered. "Greymur?" Levina repeated the name with a knowing smile. Jeri wondered what Levina knew more than she did.
"Your sister will soon have a 'date' with him, right? "Jeri nodded slowly. Looking as neutral as possible. She did not say anything about the "date" being a rather involuntary scheme where she had simply exchanges the options Greymur or Hurias to Jewels to obtain that voucher. It was a case of life or death Jeri kept telling herself.
"I've seen him around, big grey orc hunter, well-built man," she said and subtly licked her lips when she said that. She smirked when Jeri gasped at her. "What? He's a very attractive man for his species and your sister is looking forward to her date with him. Some envy her for finally getting him in. It's not like he seems to jump in with anybody when I see him. Or take his pleasure in a brothel," Levina said and chuckled. Jeri had to rethink about that.
Greymur attractive? Jeri laughed out loud for a moment, finding the whole idea all very amusing. If Greymur was considered attractive here, where would the world end? She wisely did not reply to that. But she would use the information to tease him, if they would ever be alright again.
"Men can be so stupid sometimes," Jeri said instead. Levina looked at her and grabbed the bottle again. She filled a clean glass and shoved in into Jeri's direction as she took the empty glass away to wash up.
"I'm sure they can," she said with a smile and splashed the empty glass in soapy water she held behind the bar in a bucket. "Yes, that's true. But it was all so weird when I came in and saw her sitting there. It seemed like everybody was aware of something and they did not let me in on the big secret," The corners of Jeri's mouth pulled down.
Levina was silent for a moment. Then her face brightened again. "I would say, if it bothers you so much, why not go back to Greymur and ask him about it?" she said, looking closely at the glass before drying it off with a linen cloth. Jeri said nothing, she only sighed deeply. "You know," Levina began, and bend over as she leaned her arms on the bar," sometimes you have to look at things in another perspective to clarify them. A situation can look far less horrible once you have let it rest for a while. Do something else, get your mind off of things," she pursed her lips slightly as she eyes Jeri's reaction. The goblin nodded briefly, the face of the woman was now very close to hers she realized.
"Also ... when…well, when you did something you know wasn't the right thing…but you kind of wanted to? Like whack a specific person right in the face with your fist? After realizing that you kind of secretly….well…regret you did that…. because you kind of forgot to ask and instantly jumped to conclusions first?" she asked. Levina smiled, then nodded. "Sometimes…strange things need to happen to straighten things out," she said, in a husky tone. Her nose almost touching Jeri's nose by now. Jeri swallowed uncomfortable and blinked her eyes when the woman came so close it felt like she was invading her personal space. She straightened herself by sitting a bit back on her stool. Leaving a large gap between Levina and the bar. Levina grinned lightly as she took the hint. Jeri was doubtful about what she had done so far. When the beautiful woman smiled at her again she didn't know what to think. The woman's beautiful blue eyes pierced into Jeri's eyes, holding her gaze as if she tried to hypnotize her.
Darn…she really did have beautiful eyes, even Jeri had to agree on that. She instantly slapped herself, what was she thinking!?
"Here," Levina said to Jeri with a radiant little smile. The goblin looked at the glass. Feeling she had consumed a lot of alcohol by now. "Are you trying to get me drunk or something?" Jeri looked with the keen eye of an experienced alcoholic at the woman in front of her, already far passed the line of being tipsy she realized. "Not necessarily, only if you want to," was the answer. Levina chuckled when she saw Jeri stuck out her tongue at the beautiful woman. Levina blew her a hand kiss to which Jeri - before she realized what she was doing – caught with her hand. She stared at her own hand. Solemnly as if she was counting her odds. What was she doing?
Was she really so drunk that she was even responding to the advances of a woman?
Suddenly she remembered again!
A blurry stream of a conversation she had with Jewels about some of the girls once. Jewels had been full of praise about Levina, not only about her appearance. She was particularly delighted with the 'multiple skills' the women seemed to have. And she was not only pleasant to look at, her greatest assets were that of a 'versatile' person as Jewels had said. Jeri remembered that Jewels translation that as somebody who was interested in both men and women.
Jeri's jaw dropped when the copper coin finally fell in her mind. She let herself fall back on the cushion with a thud. "Woa woa woa…I may be drunk, but I'm not retarded! Hold on here!" she replied in a silly way, making Levina chuckle louder. "Damned Levina...you were flirting with me the whole time?" Jeri had finally discovered the obvious. Levina laughed heartily.
"It was mostly to tease, and not the whole time. Only the last hour," she said. "Jewels instructed us that you were not into women," she said. "But you looked like you could use a talk with a semi stranger. And before I knew it I was doing things I would usually do to my customers. Trying to cheer you up with my feminine charms," she laughed. "You looked so astray when you came in…," she told Jeri.
Jeri raised an eyebrow and looked at the woman again. Jatfast would have poked her, trying to convince her to dive into it, adding a third addition to their party. But she was not here with Jatfast. He was still on her list of idiots right now. Jeri looked sullen for a moment. She smirked. Darn, that woman did a good job! No wonder Jewels was so smitten with her.
"I'm flattered, I truly am. Would I have been a guy I'm sure I would have been interested," she said and then grinned at Levina. "At least you are smiling again," she said with a twinkle in her eye. Jeri realized she was.
"If you were a guy?" the tone of a different voice made them both look up.
"Jeri, what am I hearing here? Should we start getting worried about you?" Jeri looked less pleased when she heard the familiar voice beside her. She did not want to look sideways at the man that seated himself next to her, uninvited. Hazer never asked if the seat was taken. He plainly sat himself down, his right as a costumer she supposed, yet he could have considered the conversation Jeri was having and not disturb her.
"A drink mister Hazer? "Levina inquired subtle and leaned a little bit more forward, giving a perfect view of her pretty round shapes. She smiled as she looked at Jeri, noticing the distasteful look on Jeri's face when she saw Hazer. The head jailor cleared his throat. "Same as before, pretty lady, only then I will be able to subdue my need to run away while Hazer sits next to me," Jeri held her hand up, holding the empty glass as Levina poured her another drink. Jeri decided now she was drunk, she would use the advantage of her alcoholic intoxication, hoping she could block out Hazers annoying voice and mostly his irritating chatter. Gazing at Hazer's toothy grin did not help.
"Say Jeri! What are you doing here anyway? You do not work here...do you?" he inquired boldly. Jeri frowned as she looked pityingly at Hazer. "What do you think? Because my sister works here I work here too? Perhaps if you would not have interfered with my conversation- since you only heard half of it – you will recall I'm in business opportunities," she replied with a rather acid filled tone of voice. Levina chuckled lightly. Hazer gave her sour grin.
"Charming as ever," he replied. Jeri looked into the face of the dastardly head jailer, not hiding she wasn't exactly thrilled to see him. He did not help improve her mood. Apparently she did improve his.
"What are you doing here anyway?" Jeri sounded blunt. Hazer was silent for a moment, before coming a bit closer to her and whispered: "I'm her to redeem a voucher," he said. A rather large grin forming on his sleazy face.
Oh yes, the voucher, the deal...again...that too seemed to follow her around like a disease. She almost wished she had never made the bloody deal. Jewels had handwritten it herself. Jeri had known that the thing would go to Hazer and that he would not swop it to somebody else.
"Mister Hazer, our receptionist wants to know what your preferences are." Levina inquired in between the strange conversation Jeri and Hazer seemed to have. Hazer looked at her questionably. The woman put down the voucher in front of him he had exchanged at the reception a while ago.
"What exactly do you mean by that?" Hazer looked at her, then at Jeri for help.
"The voucher mister Hazer, gives you the right to make a choice for a lady ... or a gentleman. The choices are goblin, human, gnome or dwarf," she told him. Hazer's face instantly seemed to glow. He seemed rather uncomfortable about this sudden question. Something that made Jeri laugh out loud in his face as she pointed a finger in his direction, exaggerating her reaction mostly thanks to the alcohol. He looked confused for a moment, looking at Levina for more explanation.
"Do you perhaps require a specific desire in a woman…or a man? Such as fleshy, round, tall, slim, small or curvaceous perhaps?" she described. "Um...," Hazer swallowed noisily.
"You should see your own face right now Hazer! It looks so dumb!" Jeri whistled loudly and hit him rather harshly on his shoulder. He swung forwards, grabbing the bar not to fall of his stool. "I didn't know you were so prudish Hazer," she chuckled loudly again. Hazer did not look very pleased. "You look like you're going to show us a proper pout any moment! Like a girl," she nearly pissed her pants from laughing at him.
"Yeah, you can stop laughing now, I think the whole of bleeding Ratchet heard you by now," he muttered, almost sorry he ever considered sitting next to her.
Hazer looked at Jeri, who finally stopped laughing. "Owww…you've got feelings too don't you? And I just trampled all over them, didn't I? Hhmmm, I'm sooo amazing," she grinned wickedly. Hazer gasped at her.
"Buuuut, that issh not whooo I usually am," Jeri was shaking her head, trying to come up with a legal way to apologize to him for her rude behaviour but could not think of one. "I'm sorry…I'm sorry…my head is a bit blurry…you see I'm…sliiiiightly…tipsy," she finally said. Hazer did not look at her. Here he was perhaps not the big horrible jailor he was in prison, but he was not pleased to be joked around.
"Yeah yeah, I know you're drunk Jeri, and that tells me enough," he said. She flushed her eyelashes at him which rewarded her with a snort.
"Oke…'handsome', I'll stop laughing…honestly," she promised him solemnly. He gave her a strange look. "Perhaps while you think about a witty answer to say to me instead of the horrible lurking you always do, you can also make up your mind about that choice you have? Hmm? The pretty lady over there is waiting for an answer. Or is it hard for you to multitask?" she said bluntly, pointed at Levina, who did a very good job in remaining neutral.
"Oh yes…uhm ... r-round ... and a little bit fleshy perhaps? Slightly curved, not too tall?" she heard him gently say, no idea what to think.
"Excellent choice," Levina said, as if he just chose a refined wine instead of a girl. "I will pass on to the reception that Madame Larisa Nour will come and get you as soon as she is available," Levina said with one of her enchanting smiles. He looked crestfallen when she walked away. "You really have no idea what you just chose did you? "Jeri looked rather smug with that statement. He looked away from her.
"Awww…common Hazer! I did not mean to be rude! Who did she say again?" she wanted to know. "A Madame Larisa Nour," he said, not so sure on his choice. Jeri chuckled thoughtfully. She was silent for a moment. She could not bring a face to the name instantly. It sounded like a gnome. She even though she met the woman once.
"Oooww that…Madame Larisa Nour!" she suddenly cried out, as if she had made the discovery of the century. "Now that is a really really…ehm…interesting Madame. A very nice lady with pink hair Hazer! She does special things. That is really a good choice!" she said enthusiastically, recalling the gnome again. "Really?" Hazer only believed her half. Jeri nodded. "And how do you know all this information?" he asked suspiciously. Jeri shrugged and looked at him cross-eyed with a half-drunken grin. "Duuuh…I have a sister working here…, inside information! I have my sources…not only my sister," she said and grinned.
"I bet you do," Hazer said not exited and feeling far from comfortable. Especially now that he did not know whether Jeri fooled with him or not. He grabbed one of the magazines and flipped through it. She observed him while he tried to read the magazine with all sorts of erotic stories, giving an approving grin as he went to another page. The front of the magazine he held up portrait a lady goblin in only her underwear and a pair of sexy leather boots while resting in a rather strange pose on a motorized vehicle.
"Nice boots, ugly woman," Jeri proclaimed without disguising her annoyance about the magazines again. Hazer looked at her. "Do you mind? I'm reading here!" he said. She shook her head. "I do, because you were having a conversation with me!" she said and pulled the magazine from his hands. "Besides who wants to read idiotic stuff like that, when they can have a conversation with me?" she mentioned, pointing at herself with a giggle.
"The real story behind miss warm weather! The bare facts by Quickie McFingers," Jeri read aloud. Hazer ripped the magazine from her fingers and held it in front of his face. Blocking her view. "Aawww common Hazer!" she whimpered in a sad tone. He snorted again. "Quickie McFingers? Who calls himself Quickie ... McFingers, "she shrieked in a girlish way, not trying to hide the upcoming laughter. With a flat hand striking the bar with a loud bang because she found it sounded so amusing.
"That is surely the most original name I've ever heard ... NOT!" Jeri cried out in sheer amused of hearing herself giggle again. Damned, that alcohol sure was doing a very good job she realized, she was having so much fun tormenting Hazer.
Hazer looked his over his magazine to Jeri, not entirely sure of what he had to say to her since she made fun out of anything he said. "Does Jatfast know you're here?" he asked eventually. Jeri shook her head. "Jatfast is too busy with his beautiful new neighbour…the lovely stupid elf with the looooong pretty auburn hair and the round round round round boobs…. so I do not know," she said, pulling an angry face and making a rude gesture. He dropped his magazine.
"The blood elf?" he looked surprised. "Yes, the ugliest woman ever! Seems she was the cause of my fine fellow spending a few days in your rotten prison, she felt the need to cause that incident in the tavern. And what do you think….I walk into Greymur's house and there she was! Miss looking good, sitting at my spot at my friends table! What was she thinking?" Jeri grumbled, again making herself angry about the situation.
"Jatfast was in the same prison row as that woman he told me, you put them there! Gazlowe let her be moved from the prison after that angry blonde came to make a huge fuss at the prison. Hazer remembered that. "So…I'm sure Asalt had something to do with her being there. Seems Gazlowe asked him for a special job concerning the lady," Hazer said with an al knowing grin. Jeri looked at him in a daze.
"Why the hell would Greymur be asked to do that? He does not even know her!" Jeri whined. "I can tell you that ugly wench suddenly sat at Greymur as if she was the newest addition to my group of friends," he heard Jeri say as her voice angered. She was clearly not done with the whole situation yet. "She's at Greymur's huh? ... good choice Gazlowe," Hazer thought out loud with a sly grin. Jeri looked at him viciously when she heard him say that.
"Oh great, you were in on THE BIG SECRET! YOU knew about it too? Was there anybody in Ratchet that did not know?" she asked. She felt offended and left out.
"No it wasn't like that Jeri, you have to understand. It was a bit more complicated than that," he tried to say. She cut him off with another rude gesture. "Complicated my arse! I've had it with complicated!" she yelled.
"Have you seen the elf? The aggressive one?" he asked her, looking seriously now. She frowned, aggressive elf?
"No," Jeri answered being all obnoxious about the whole thing. "More elves? Oh, please. I will punch them all in the face if I have to! Like I did with her!" she warned, waving around a dangerous fist to prove her point. Hazer shook his head. She did not understand, that was obvious.
"Maybe you should just go home Jeri," he suddenly said to her. "Sleep on it for a night, and maybe Jatfast can explain things tomorrow," he advised her. She pulled a pout and looked sad. "Everyone is against me," she said defiantly.
Hazer looked really serious now. "No Jeri, I mean well, I'm not against you, ask Gazlowe, he'll explain," he said, wanting to leave it with that. Jeri felt the alcohol was raising her temper in a bad way. She was jumping from one mood to another. "Yeah, well, nobody wanted to tell me why she was there in the first place…so I do not care. For all I care they can steal her!" Jeri said, grabbing the magazine from Hazer's hands again and rolled it up.
"Mister Hazer? The Madame is ready to receive you," Levina said. Hazer looked up in curiosity. A small gnome female walked in, planting her hands on her hips. The Madame had pink hair that was braided in a complicated sort of tower on her head. The candy pink corset she wore fitted her short stature and matched her hair.
"Mister Hazer?" she said with a subtle smile and watched the goblin tightly. "Uh ... yes, that's me!" he said and tried to look imposing instead of overwhelmed.
Madame Larisa Nour had a heart shaped face with big beautiful blue eyes, a small fine mouth with dark lipstick. She looked at the man from head to toe while he felt awkwardly. "I heard you were head jailer in our beautiful city," she said and looked at him. "Um ... yes, yes that's right," he said slowly. "Hmm ...," she answered in a way that made him more nervous when he looked at her smile. "I think we will have a lot of 'fun' doing things that has to do with jailors and criminals the next few hours ... I do so like that game ...," she remarked laughing. To Hazer the room seemed to turn a few hundred degrees in warmth when she grabbed him by the hand and pulled him from his seat.
"Come on sir prison warden, I suppose you want the next couple of hours well spent," she said with a wink. Madame Larisa Nour gave him a firm slap on his butt while she escorted him towards the large staircase that lead to upstairs. "Now there's a sight I won't lose for decades," Jeri moaned. Levina grinned.
"Another drink perhaps?" she asked instead. Jeri shook her head. "I think I had quite enough. Maybe I should go home and sleep on it," she said and stood up.
"I will tell Jewels you were here," Levina promised. Jeri gave her a grateful look. With that she left the Pink Stocking and ventured home.
When she stepped outside, she realized she was still holding the magazine she practically stole from Hazer. She grinned as she looked at the rolled up magazine in her hand, using it to slap her own tight with, crying out: "Oooohhh ... Madame Larisa ... not so hard!" She laughed out loud, smirking satisfied about herself. Hazer had no idea what was coming to him.
With the magazine rolled up under her arm she strolled off toward her house. Having trouble keeping herself straight thanks to the amount of alcohol she had consumed.
Asathar gasped for air, his breathing erratic and difficult. His hands whiter than usual. His fingers trembled as he touches the brick wall of the building he had chosen to rest aside at for a moment. His problem was catching up on him, eating away his last energy before he had to renew it. Past few hours he had seen several patrols passing the building while he pressed himself to the dark shadow of the building. They never noticed him. Pesky goblins!
They were all liars these pesky goblins. Not only when they told him she was not there, but also the one who told him he would hand her over in an easy way.
He paid the man enough for the effort!
If it was about money then goblins knew their price. But the small pesky goblin did not deliver her to him, instead he had to tell him she was gone, and he had not authority there. Bloody half goggles.
He pushed against the side of the wall that concealed him. The Bruisers passing him weren't the same as that had chased him. It appeared they had given up on him. He smirk lightly, wondering how their big boss would react.
The two Bruisers that had followed him earlier met with his rain of fire, it had delayed them enough to work in his advantage. He made himself scarce the moment the mind control broke and kept running, not looking back.
He had heard their screams when they were running after him, threatening they would catch him, but he outwitted them. Moving into the area where the raptors lived close to Ratchet they stopped following him. He had taken a long detour to get back into Ratchet again, stealing a cloak from a washing line that hung laundry out to dry. Leaving his well carved staff behind not to be recognized. Bleu wasn't exactly his colour.
He hid in the crowded tavern for a long time. There were more elves so he was safe. He looked tired at his ghostly white hands, they almost seemed like claws now. He growled, a gurgling sound from deep within his throat.
Gazlowe had lied to him! She was here. He had seen her himself!
He knew very sure this time. He had seen her, first at the tavern and later, when he was deeply hidden in his cloak and moving among the crowd of the market, near the wharf. He had seen the orc carry her for some strange reason. Attracting too much attention to see a chance to make sure she knew he was a flash he had recognized her. Mostly because of her long auburn hair! It had to be her!
He was glad his mother was not here to see his failures so far. She would have beaten him to his senses. If his brother would not have done that for her.
His brother loved brute force. Like his mother loved her secrecy. But he was not completely useless. She knew that, otherwise she would not have sent him. Though he had to prove himself. Over and over, to show he was true to his word.
Now he knew she was here he had to act fast. Cursing the three stupid idiots he hired who had brought him the wrong woman. By the time they brought him the woman they had already given her all of the precious elixir. They had managed to get her upstairs and tie her to a chair in the room they had rented in the tavern. She was still whining, quite loudly. Too loudly.
And that idiot of a human hunter wanted to slap her in the face to keep her quiet. He was so glad he sent them downstairs to do the job himself. He did his job undisturbed and quickly. Making sure he got any information from the woman, she was little useful to him in the end. To his surprise he did discovered she held a small amount of mana. Enough to help him burn down his craving. Keeping him on the edge while he siphoned it away from her. After that he drained what was left of her life energy, leaving her in shock.
By then his elixir numbed her limbs and her heart finally stopped beating.
She resembled Riselle a little bit, long brown hair, same height, but she was human. Not an elf. He sighed for the stupidity of some petty thieves. Brains must have been scares when they were born.
They literary delivered him what he had requested. A small slender woman with long brown hair ... of the wrong race. He should have made clear he was looking for an elf woman, not a human.
And to think she had probably been right within his grasp. How could he have been so stupid! He wasn't worried about the woman. Nobody survived that large quantity of the elixir they had given her. He was sure of that. When his accomplices had come back inside, she was already half comatose. The rogue had stabbed her a few times, wanting to make sure she would not live to tell the tale. He left her body for them to get rid of. Which they did, and got caught doing something idiotic. By that time he had already gone, leaving them to venture for themselves, never receiving the other half of the small fortune he had bribed them with.
He shook his head and growled again, low and menacing. Panting to regain his breath once more. The shadows were growing longer, calling in the end of the day. But it would still take a couple of hours before darkness would fall. He would use it to his advantage and escape this hole for the time being.
But before he could leave he had to siphon some form of magic ... he had to give into his craving to keep himself from losing himself. To keep him on edge. He was able to think best if he was on edge…never enough, and always craving for more.
After his adventure in Ratchet his brother would surely not be happy to see him return. For once his mother might be happy to see him.
She had her end of the deal to answer for. A faint smirk played around his thin lips. Mother, he thought, going through such length to get what you want. He hoped it was worth it. After all, he only agreed to this because she promised him the impossible. In his heart he hoped her secret circle was able to live up to the promise she had made him. If not, he would make his end of the deal her end.
He took a deep rasping breath, keeping himself under control from gurgling out in dismay of the pain that constantly caused him more pain no matter if he moved or not. All his limbs felt tired. If he would not help himself he would not make it home.
And he had do see the alchemist. The man would provide him with the crystals he yearned for. His mother would surely have some leftovers of her rituals that could help him regain some strength. Lohurin would be too busy when he returned, not even realizing he was out here cleaning up his mess. Lohurin never helped him. Lohurin was waited on as if he was the bleeding Regent-Lord himself. His mother made sure of that. Ever since he gained the title of Champion Lohurin had been worse than ever.
Meanwhile he was sent out to clean up after his older brother. Such a messy boy his older brother. He made a 'tssk' sound when he shook his head.
The elf looked to the sky that slowly changed colours. He felt his long blond hair unpleasantly stick to his face and scalp from the sweat. He felt another chill take over his body. He breathed deeply, oppressing the pain in his chest. Tonight Ratchet would not miss one or two of its many visitors. He would not kill them, only drain them. Siphoning away their energy to a minimum to survive, or steal their mana if they had any. And he would be long gone before they would find the victims. Yes, that sounded good enough. He closed his eyes briefly, hoping that the night would come soon.